The Troy branch of the Ives family descend from Lazarus Ives, who was born in Wales, 1733, died in Sand Lake, Rensselaer county, New York, 1812. He came to America when a young man in company with his brothers, John and Benjamin. Lazarus settled in Connecticut, but before the revolution removed to New York, settling at Sand Lake, where he leased several hundred acres of ground, engaging in farming and stock raising. He prospered, became a large owner and the founder of a numerous and influential family of the county. His wife, Lydia Gremes, died 1824, aged eighty-three. She bore him sons: Lazarus, Christopher, see forward, and three daughters.
(II) Christopher, son of Lazarus and Lydia (Gremes) Ives, was born in Sand Lake, Rensselaer county, New York, 1764. He was a farmer. He married and has sons:
- Jacob, born 1789; he was a noted wrestler in his younger days; he removed to Illinois, where he died;
- Abijah;
- Ranson;
- Truman, see forward;
- John.
(III) Truman, son of Christopher Ives, was born in Poestenkill, Rensselaer county, New York, died in Troy at the age of eighty-four. He was reared on the farm and followed agricultural pursuits for a great part of his active life. He removed to Troy, where he was connected with the city's business enterprise until his years prevented active effort. He married Betsy Snyder, who bore him seven children:
- Augustus, soldier of the civil war.
- Chester.
- Harrison, also a veteran of the civil war.
- Chester, served in the war with his brothers, Augustus and Harrison.
- Truman, see forward.
- Amanda.
- Elizabeth, married George Mosley, of Albany.
Mr. and Mrs. Truman Ives are buried in Mt. Ida Cemetery, Troy, New York.
(IV) Truman (2), son of Truman (1) and Betsy (Snyder) Ives, was born in Poestenkill, Rensselaer county, New York, September 24, 1817, died in Troy, December 18, 1899. He was educated in the public schools of his district, and was reared on the farm of his father, where he acquired the practical knowledge that decided the future. When young he removed to Troy, New York, and began market gardening for the Troy market. He at first cultivated rented ground, and as his means allowed he purchased small tracts of land, and in this way acquired a large holding of real estate that increased in value with the growth of the city. He conducted a large wholesale business, supplying hotels, steamers and other dealers. He had a retail stand in Fulton market which he occupied for fifty years, becoming a well-known figure to the patrons of the market of two generations. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He married (first) Martha Cushing, who died in Troy, 1861. She bore him six children:
- Catherine, born 1838.
- Sarah E., December 28, 1841; married Reuben S. Goodfellow.
- Charles H., May 17, 1844.
- Lionel, April 4, 1850.
- Myron C., January 1, 1855.
- Walter, died May 17, 1860, an infant.
Mr. Ives married (second) January 16, 1867, Mary Augusta Bates, born in Troy, New York, December 2, 1838. Children, all born in Troy:
- Truman C., April 10, 1868; married (first) Norma Ham; children: Truman E., Leland H., George and Harold; married (second) Flora Seymour; children: Norma, Donald S., Edna and Willard H.; he is engaged in the grocery business in Troy.
- Lillian Bates, January 12, 1870; married Charles A. Roemer.
- George Henry, August 14, 1872; married Margaret Hale.
- Reuben Goodfellow, July 23, 1874; married Maria Rattigan.
- Mary Frances, March 25, 1876, unmarried.
- Charles C., February 25, 1878; a bookkeeper and real estate agent.
- Grace, September 18, 1883, died January 10, 1885.
Mrs. Truman Ives survives her husband and resides in Troy, near her children, who are all well settled in life. Mrs. Ives is the daughter of Calvin Bates, whose life and business was ordered very much as was her husband's. He was a market gardener and was a familiar figure in Fulton market, Troy, where he had a stand for about fifty years. He was a son of David Bates, of Chelsea, Massachusetts. Her mother was Phoebe Miranda Harmon, born 1820, died 1888, in Troy, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Bates are buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Troy. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Mrs. Ives (Mary Augusta) was the eldest; Lorena E., Cornelia, Anna, Frances, George H. and Julia.
(IV) Chester, fourth child of Truman (q. v.) and Betsy (Snyder) Ives, was born in Troy, New York, 1827, died there in 1903. He was educated in the Troy schools, and during the earlier years of his life was engaged with his brother Truman in raising market produce. Later he apprenticed himself to a mason and builder with whom he served until he had mastered the mason's trade. After sufficient experience had been gained as a journeyman, he started in business as a contractor. He became well and favorably known as a reliable, competent builder and continued in business during his active life, but was living retired at the time of his death. He was a Republican in politics, but never took an active part in public affairs. He was a man of quiet, domestic tastes, very charitable, known and respected by all. He married Bridget, born in Troy, New York, 1830, died there in September, 1871, daughter of John Pratt, of Troy. Children:
- Chester John, see forward.
- Mary, born 1850; wife of M. Broderick; resides in Troy.
- Anna, 1853; married John H. Tappan, of Troy.
- Elizabeth, died young.
- Albert, married, and a resident of Denver, Colorado.
- Josephine, died in infancy.
(V) Chester John, eldest child of Chester and Bridget (Pratt) Ives, was born in Troy, New York, November 3, 1848. He attended the Troy schools until the age of twelve, when he went to Chicago with his father and began working in a grocery store there. Upon attaining a suitable age, he began working with his father at mason work, continuing for several years, becoming an expert workman. His ambition was to become an employing contractor, which he later accomplished. He has built many of the blocks and residences of Troy and is rated a successful, reliable contractor. He has always taken an active part in the political life of his city, and is now serving his second term as supervisor of the first ward. He is an alert, energetic man with a high sense of his obligations as a citizen. He serves his ward faithfully, and is keenly alive to all that pertains to their welfare. He is a Democrat, and is highly regarded by his party. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church and faithfully fulfils his obligations as a Christian man. He belongs to the fraternal order of that church, the C. M. B. A., in which he takes a deep interest. Mr. Ives married (first) Delia, born 1849 in Waterford, New York, died in Troy, September 8, 1871, daughter of Patrick Raney. No children. Married (second) Marsella Cooney, born in Victory Mills, Saratoga county, New York, January 28, 1856, died in Troy, New York, December 6, 1884. Children:
- Bridget, born March 31, 1874.
- Marietta, born October 4, 1875, in Troy; married Myron Lawson, of Troy.
- Chester, born in Troy, September 10, 1877, died February 14, 1890.
- Charles A., born July 26, 1879, in Troy; he follows the trade of his father and grandfather, and is a skillful mason and bricklayer; married Mary Cannon and has a son, Chester.
- Marsella.
Mr. Ives married (third) 1886, at Troy, Elizabeth Carroll, born 1856, in Troy, died there December 11, 1908.