The Amsterdam family of McFarlan are of Scotch descent, and have inherited the limitless energy that is an invariable Scotch asset, which, added to their hard, determined natures, makes them desirable members of any community in which they settle. The American founder of this particular family was Archibald McFarlan, born in Perthshire, Scotland, about the year 1770. He remained in his native country until he had reached the age of twenty years, when he emigrated to the United States, arriving in the year 1790. He settled in Fulton county, New York, in the town of Perth, then Broadalbin, afterward named in honor of the many Scotch settlers from Perthshire, Scotland, who had made their homes in that section. The country was at that time mostly virgin territory, inhabited only by the wild things of forest and stream, with an occasional farm wrested from the wilderness by the hardy pioneers. Into this region he came, and securing a tract of land began the clearing of a farm. His tract was heavily timbered, but in the end was converted into a fertile farm, on which he died September 25, 1837, after an American residence of forty-seven years. He married, in Fulton county, New York, October 14, 1793, Isabelle Robb, born in Perthshire, Scotland, September 28, 1774, died August 18, 1836, daughter of an old Scotch family of Perth. She came to the United States with her brothers James, William and Peter Robb, about the year 1791, settling on lands in the town of Perth, where she was married to Archibald McFarlan. Children:
- Alexander, born December 29, 1794, died August 13, 1831.
- Margaret, February 23, 1797, died January 16, 1837, married James Stewart, who afterward removed to Michigan, where he died, leaving a family.
- Jeanette, April 14, 1799; died unmarried, April 6, 1845.
- Patrick, see forward.
- Isabella, April 19, 1803, died in 1861, at Vail Mills, Fulton county. She married William George, a farmer of Mayfield, who survived her six years. They left a son Archibald George, who married Emily Waite, daughter of Greene Waite, a well known politician of the state, at one time Port Warden of New York City. With his father-in-law, Archibald George, he built and for many years conducted, the hotel "Sir William Johnson," at Johnstown, New York.
- Archibald (2), July 4, 1804, died in Johnstown in 1875; was a successful attorney of the county. He married Jane Murray, who bore him six children; one, Mrs. Sarah Potter, survives him, resident of the state of Florida.
- James, June 20, 1807. In early life he removed to Mexico, where he died unmarried.
- Elizabeth, May 25, 1809, died March 16, 1836; married John Stewart, and left a son Thomas, who died in young manhood; and a daughter Margaret, who married William Waite, author of Waite's Law and Practice, a standard authority on New York state jurisprudence.
- William, March 28, 1811, died February 23, 1881, a well-known attorney of Broadalbin.
- Ann, died in infancy.
- Ann (2), born August 6, 1817, died June 4, 1835.
(II) Patrick, fourth child of Archibald and Isabelle (Robb) McFarlan, was born (as were all of his brothers and sisters) in Perth, Fulton county, New York, April 4, 1801, and died September 18, 1885. He was reared on the homestead farm cleared by his father, and later became the owner. He was not only a successful, prosperous farmer, but prominent in public and business affairs. He was elected to the state legislature from the district composed of Fulton and Montgomery counties, and during the session of 1856 and 1857. He was one of the organizers of the Fulton and Montgomery County Insurance Company, and served as its president until his death. He married, in Mayfield, Milly Eleanor Carmichael, born in that town in 1804, died 1889, daughter of Peter and ———— (Newton) Carmichael, her father a native of Perthshire, Scotland, her mother of England. They resided on a farm in Mayfield, where they died at advanced ages. Children of Patrick and Milly E. (Carmichael) McFarlan:
- Archibald (3), born 1826, resides at Vail Mills, Fulton county, aged eighty-three years. He married Emily Beercroft, of English parentage; died at the age of sixty-five years, leaving a daughter Jennie, who married Charles Peddie, of Glens Falls, New York.
- Mary, married David Selmser, and had: Annie, married a Mr. Shankwelly of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Mary, deceased; Kate, married Albert Haywood of Flushing, Long Island; Guy, of Waterloo, New York.
- Peter, a farmer of Broadalbin, married Mary Kinley and had Ray and Mack.
- Isabelle, married (first) Jacob Radcliffe, and had a son Lewis, deceased; she married (second) Earl Gillette. This family are all deceased.
- Alexander, mentioned below.
- Helen, married Archibald Campbell of West Galway, New York, and has a daughter Sarah.
- Ann, married Dr. Alonzo Putman of Amsterdam, whom she survives.
(III) Alexander, fifth child of Patrick and Milly E. (Carmichael) McFarlan, was born on the old homestead in Perth, March 6, 1839. He was educated in the public schools, and followed the business of a farmer until 1887, when he retired to Amsterdam, New York, where he engaged in the real estate business. He was for several years a member of the board of sewer commissioners in that city, which is his present home; he married, in Perth, February 1, 1871, Isabella Creighton, born in that town May 17, 1842. (See Creighton.) Children:
- Byron, born May 19, 1872, a groceryman of Schenectady, New York.
- James P., March 14, 1882, married Ina Thompson. He is connected with the Model Heating Company as manager, and resides in New York City.
(The Creighton Line)
The American ancestor of Mrs. Alexander McFarlan was Daniel Creighton, born in Perthshire, Scotland. He came to the United States when a young man, and settled in Fulton county, where he cleared and improved a farm. He married, in Fulton county, Isabella Cameron, born in Scotland, a member of the numerous and powerful clan of that name. They both lived to be old people and left a numerous family. Children:
- John, emigrated to Canada in early life and there lived and died.
- Jeannette, married Alexander McVein, a farmer of Livingston county, New York, later of Michigan.
- Isabella, married John McIntyre; both deceased.
- James, mentioned below.
- Daniel, married Mary Butler; had four children.
- Margaret, died at the age of fifty years, unmarried.
- Peter, married Julia Griswold; he was a lawyer, died at the age of seventy years, without issue.
- Duncan, married Ursula Major; left a son and a daughter.
- Mary, married, John Clark, had five children, three of whom are living.
(II) James, fourth child of Daniel and Isabella (Cameron) Creighton, was born in Perth, Fulton county, New York, November, 1804, died June 1, 1891. He was reared a farmer, and passed his life on the Creighton homestead farm in Perth. Both he and his wife were members of the United Presbyterian church. He married Ann Frasier, born November 22, 1808, died August 20, 1871. Children:
- Jane, married James Major, whom she survives, resident of Rochester, New York, with their only child, Anna Major.
- Margaret, died in youthful womanhood.
- Isabella, see forward.
- William C., born March 26, 1843, died in Perth, March 21, 1907; married Elizabeth Hill, who survives him, resident of Broadalbin, with children:
- Margaret, married a Mr. Boynton of Broadalbin, and has Elizabeth and Josephine Boynton;
- William, of Rochester, New York;
- Alexander, of Broadalbin;
- Frances M., of Gloversville.
- Mary, married Alexander Carmichael, a retired farmer of Gloversville; no issue.
(III) Isabella, third child of James and Ann (Frasier) Creighton, was born in Perth, Fulton county, New York, March 17, 1842, married February 1, 1871, Alexander McFarlan. (See McFarlan.)