The first of record in the Clute family of Cohoes here under consideration was Frederick Clute. Through intermarriage they are connected with the oldest among the Dutch families of the Mohawk Valley: The Du Monds, Marselis, Van Epps, Heemstraats, Van Bommels, Schermerhorns, Vroomans, De Graffs and others.
(I) Frederick Clute came from Kingston, New York, in 1703, and bought land of Johannes Clute in Niskaguna [i.e., Niskayuna]. He married Fruneyntje Du Monds, who bore him ten children.
(II) Jacob, fourth child and second son of Frederick Clute, married, in 1727, Maria Brower, in Albany, New York. They had five children.
(III) Pieter, third child of Jacob and Maria (Brower) Clute, was born October 13, 1731, in Albany. He was a soldier of the revolution, serving in the Second Albany County regiment of New York militia under Colonel Abraham Wemple and Captain Jesse Van Slyck. He married Catherine Marselis, who bore him sixteen children. She was a daughter of Dirk and Lysbet (Van Epps) Marselis, granddaughter of Ahaserus and Sara (Heemstraat) Marselis, great-granddaughter of Marselis Janse Van Bommel and his wife, Annetje Gerritse. Marselis Janse Van Bommel was born in Bommel in the Netherlands, Province of Guilderland, and to designate him particularly Van (from) Bommel (his native town) was added to his name.
(IV) Nicholas, fourteenth child of Pieter and Catharine (Marselis) Clute, was baptized December 24, 1775. He married, in 1799, Helena Schermerhorn; both died in 1832. She was a daughter of Richard and Natje (Van Vetchen) [Van Vechten?] Schermerhorn, granddaughter of Ryer (2) and Maria (Veeder) Schermerhorn, great-granddaughter of Johannes and Elzetjhe (Vrooman) Schermerhorn, and great-great-granddaughter of Ryer (1) Schermerhorn, who married the widow of Helmer Otten. Ryer (1) Schermerhorn was one of the patentees of the grant of 1684 and settled at Schenectady. New York. He was a son of Jacob Schermerhorn, born in Holland, 1622, lived in Albany before 1648; was a wealthy and important man. He married Jannetie Seeyers Van Voorhandt, and died in Schenectady, 1688.
(V) Pieter (2), eldest child of Nicholas and Helena (Schermerhorn) Clute, was born May 31, 1800. He married Maria, daughter of Peter De Graff. Children: Nicholas, Abraham, John, Jacob, Frederick H., mentioned below.
(VI) Frederick H., son of Pieter (2) and Maria (De Graff) Clute, was born in Rotterdam, New York, June 8, 1833, died at Waterford, New York, December 1, 1907. He was a millwright and machinist and was for a long term of years with the Cohoes Iron Foundry. He was an attendant of the Dutch Reformed church, and was until just before his death a Democrat. He married Eunice W. Veeder, born in Guilderland, Albany county, New York, December 22, 1828, died December 1, 1880, at Cohoes, daughter of Simon Veeder, who was born and died in Guilderland; he was an active leading Republican of his district and served in the New York legislature. Children:
- Veeder Simon, see forward.
- Alfred J., born in Cohoes, June 3, 1867; partner with his brother in the firm of Clute Brothers; married (first) Louisa Purdy; children: Gerald Purdy and Dorothy Elizabeth; married (second) Elizabeth, daughter of John and Mary (Long) Dawson.
(VII) Veeder Simon, eldest son of Frederick H. and Eunice W. (Veeder) Clute, was born at Callanan's Corners, Albany county, New York, July 26, 1863. He was educated in the Cohoes public school, and for a number of years was a mill worker. In 1889 he formed a partnership with his brother, Alfred J. Clute, under the firm name of Clute Brothers, for the sale of electric supplies, to which they added a line of dynamos and electric machinery. In 1908 they began the operation of a factory for the manufacture of cotton batting, and are agents for a well known maker of automobiles since 1905. The firm is an active, prosperous one. Veeder S. Clute is a Republican, but not active in public affairs. He is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Cohoes, and for years librarian of the Sunday school. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Mystic Club of Cohoes. Mr. Clute married, August 1, 1887, in North Troy, New York; Minnie F., daughter of James Hammond, a manufacturer of woolen goods, and his wife, Silva (Van Arman) Hammond. Besides their daughter, Minnie F. (Hammond) Clute, they have three sons: James Hammond, with the General Electric Company, Schenectady: Charles Hammond, with his brother-in-law, Veeder S. Clute; Merritt Hammond, engaged in the insurance and real estate business in Schenectady, New York. Children of Veeder S. and Minnie F. (Hammond) Clute:
- Frederick Veeder, graduate of Waterford high school at age of fourteen, now a student at the Troy Conservatory of Music.
- Bertha R., graduate of Waterford high school, class of 110.
- Bessie I., twin of Bertha R., graduate of Albany Business College.