Curtis N. Douglas, son of John Pettit and Henrietta (Hughson) Douglas, was born at Watertown, New York, May 28, 1856. He attended Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute from 1864 to 1870, and John C. Overheisus Classical School from 1871 to 1873. He then entered the University of Rochester, from which he was graduated, class of 1877, with the degree of A.B. He at once began an active business life; from 1877 to 1880 he was secretary and assistant to his father, the most extensive land owner in Jefferson county, New York. He assisted in the management of farms, stock breeding and lumber operations, all of which were of large proportions requiring expert knowledge and careful supervision. But his tastes were not satisfied by a business life, being inclined towards a literary or professional career. From January until June, 1881, he was head master of Betts Academy at Stamford, Connecticut, and from there went to J. H. Massis College Preparatory School in New York, where he was assistant master. From 1882 to 1886 he conducted a college preparatory school of his own. In 1886 he returned to commercial life and since that date he has been general manager of L. Thomson & Company, wholesale lumber merchants of Albany, New York. He has always taken a lively interest in public affairs. In 1894 he represented the tenth assembly district of Albany in the state legislature, and in 1899-1900 was state senator from Albany county. He is an ex-president of the Young Men's Christian Association of Albany. He married, June 24, 1886, Nancy Sherman, daughter of Lemon Thomson, of Albany, and granddaughter of Augustus Sherman, of Glens Falls, New York. (See Thomson IV). Mr. and Mrs. Douglas have three children: Kenneth Thomson, Dorothea and Gertrude Thomson.
(The Thomson Line)
Douglas and Thomson is a blending of Scotch-Irish blood that has produced, as it always does, men and women of high character and strong physical as well as mental attributes. The name of Thomson is common to England, Scotland and Ireland, differing only in the addition or omission of the letter P. Douglas is the name of an ancient Scottish clan whose history has been told in story and song for centuries. Both families have produced men of note in the political, military, literary, professional and business life of the United States. New Jersey was the home of John Thomson, shot and scalped by Indians, and his wife, Juda, who drew her little son John two hundred and fifty miles over the mountains of Pennsylvania after the killing of her husband. They were the grandparents of Judge Thomson, of Hunterdon county, New Jersey.
(I) Benjamin Thomson, American ancestor of this branch of the Thomson family, was born in the north of Ireland, died at Elizabeth, New Jersey. The date of his emigration and settlement in New Jersey is not definite. He was a magistrate under the Crown, and a man of importance and means, as his son received a college education. His wife came from Scotland. They were both members of the Presbyterian church.
(II) Charles, son of Benjamin Thomson, was of Elizabeth, New Jersey. He was a graduate of Princeton College, and during the war of the revolution went to England, where he married the widow of an Episcopal minister. He returned to America, where he died, leaving two sons.
(III) Charles C., son of Charles Thomson, was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, July 8, 1788, died in Johnsonburg [Johnsburg?], New York, March 1, 1860. He married, about 1819, Susanna Harris Williams, a daughter of Joseph Williams, a soldier of the revolution, who was wounded in battle and received a pension. Their children were
- Lemon, see forward;
- Edward, married Maria Morehouse;
- William;
- Susan, married John Wakely.
(IV) Lemon, son of Charles C. Thomson, was born in Athol, Warren county, New York, January 22, 1822. He was educated in the public schools, and at the age of seventeen began teaching, and when twenty-one was elected county superintendent of schools. He prepared for college at Glens Falls Academy, and at the age of twenty-five entered the sophomore class at Union College, graduating in 1850. After leaving college he read law with Judge Rosekrans, but never practiced, prefering a commercial career. In 1855 he removed to Albany, where he formed a partnership with his father-in-law, Augustus Sherman, under the firm name of L. Thomson & Company. The firm owned large tracts of timber in Northern New York, and dealt extensively in manufactured lumber. He was a very energetic, capable business man and ranked among the leading successful merchants and bankers of Albany. His religious connection was with Emmanuel Baptist Church, of which he was an active member and liberal supporter. In politics he was originally a Democrat, but when slavery became the issue joined the Republican party. He was a frequent contributor to the papers and periodicals of his day. His articles, mostly on local or political subjects, were both pleasing and logical, displaying a broadness of vision and deep familiarity with the topics he was discussing. He served the city of Albany as alderman from 1864 to 1867. In councils he was an early advocate of reform and economy in the administration of city business. In 1882 he was a candidate for congress on the Citizens' ticket. In the board of trade, in business associations and party conventions he was active and progressive, always advocating measures tending to the public good.
Mr. Thomson married, June 25, 1851, Abby G., died February 24, 1907, daughter of Augustus Sherman, of Glens Falls, New York, a descendant of Roger Sherman, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Their children were:
- Burke, who died in infancy.
- Hattie Darling, who died in childhood.
- Gertrude Alden, who became the wife of John A. Dix.
- Nancy Sherman, wife of Curtis N. Douglas, mentioned above.