The Ostranders have been for several generations residents and natives of New York state. The first of the line herein recorded was John Ostrander, who lived near Round Lake, Saratoga county. He married Rebecca, daughter of Stephen Southard, who served in the revolutionary army as sergeant of Colonel Pope's Tenth Massachusetts regiment. He fought at the battle of Saratoga, and soon afterward made permanent settlement near Round Lake.
(II) Nelson, son of John and Rebecca (Southard) Ostrander, was born at Stillwater, Saratoga county, New York. He was a farmer, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he was a Whig and Republican. He married Eliza Baker. Children: George W., Perry N., Bell, Rose, Helen and Frankie.
(III) George W., eldest son of Nelson and Eliza (Baker) Ostrander, was born in Stillwater, Saratoga county, New York, in 1840. He was a real estate broker and a lumberman. He was a veteran of the civil war, having served three years in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Regiment, New York Volunteers. He was a Republican in politics. He married Hortense Lewis, born 1853, died 1898.
(IV) George Nelson, son of George W. and Hortense (Lewis) Ostrander, was born at Troy, New York, July 11, 1869. He was educated in the public schools of Albany, New York, Troy Conference Seminary, Poultney, Vermont, Clinton Liberal Institute, Fort Plain, New York, and Albany Business College. He decided on the profession of law, made the necessary preparation, passed the required examinations, and was admitted to the bar of New York state in 1899. Since that time he maintained an office in Albany and continuously practiced his profession. He has other important business interests. In 1890 he engaged with his father in the real estate business in Albany, and since 1906 has been a member of Finch, Pruyn & Company, paper manufacturers of Glens Falls, New York, and manager of their timber land department. He is also a director of the Glens Falls Trust Company, of Glens Falls, New York. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Episcopal church. His fraternal orders are: The Free and Accepted Masons and the Knights of Pythias. His clubs are the Albany of Albany, New York; Republican of New York City; Glens Falls of Glens Falls, New York; Saratoga and the Saratoga Golf of Saratoga, New York. He married (first) in Albany, December 22, 1894, Augusta Turner, born in Albany. He married (second) June 22, 1907, Harriet E. Smith, born in Northville, New York. Child of first marriage:
- George N., born November 23, 1898.