This family, without reasonable doubt, descends from the same Dutch ancestor as the Serviss family of Montgomery county. Just where the change in spelling was made, or why, does not appear. The first of record in the line we are following was Christian Servoss, of Glen, whose tragic death by drowning is well remembered by the older settlers of the county. His father was killed at Oriskany.
(I) Christian Servoss was born in the town of Glen, Montgomery county, New York, of pioneer Dutch ancestors. He there grew to manhood, married, and followed farming as an occupation. His death occurred in middle life. He was returning one dark winter's night from Albany with an empty market sled drawn by a team of horses, which had carried a load of produce to the market of that city. One half the bridge across Schoharie creek, near where it enters the Mohawk river, on which he had crossed in the morning, had been carried away during the day by the ice. Not knowing this he drove his horses on the bridge and into the creek, where all perished, his body not being recovered until months afterward. His two sons, John and James, who were with him, had gotten so cold that they were running some distance behind the sled to get warmed from the exercise. This fact saved their lives as, warned by the crash, they stopped and did not take the fatal plunge. He had married, in Glen, a Miss Pettengill, of an early Montgomery county family, who survived him many years. They were members of the Dutch Reformed church. Children: John, James, Cholatt, a son and three daughters whose names are not recorded.
(II) Dr. Cholatt, son of Christian Servoss, was born in Glen, Montgomery county, New York, 1813, died 1892. He was a man of versatile talent, a doctor of good local reputation, a musician of more than ordinary ability, and a genius in many ways. He married, in Florida, near Minaville, Christina McMichael, born in Florida, who survived him and was well known for her many womanly virtues and devout Christian character. Children:
- Antoinette, married Abram Jewell, and had William and Jennie Jewell, the latter now wife of B. W. Kellogg, of Buffalo, New York.
- Harriet, twice married and now a resident of Los Angeles, California.
- William, see forward.
- Jeanette, wife of John Beveridge.
- James, married Lydia Scase and has a son Charles and a daughter Anna; James is a carpenter and builder of Los Angeles, California.
(III) William, eldest son of Dr. Cholatt and Christina (McMichael) Servoss, was born November 23, 1841, in Florida, Montgomery county, New York. He was a natural mechanic, and at the age of thirteen began working at the carpenter's trade, at which he later continued several years. He began later in the lumber business by operating a saw mill. He afterward purchased an old mill site on Chuctenunda creek at Mudge Hollow, where he erected a substantial three-story mill. This building, the foundation of which contained three hundred yards of solid masonry, included a flour, saw and cider mill. The machinery for these different mills was all installed by Mr. Servoss and was operated first by water and steam auxiliary power, now by electricity, generated by a fifty horsepower dynamo. Here he did a good business, becoming prosperous, and earning the title of "Servoss, the honest miller." He and all his family are members of the Reformed church, which he has served as treasurer for twenty-one years. He is an elder of the church and a liberal supporter of its varied benevolences. With his sons he gives his musical ability to the church choir in which they have sung for many years. His political preference and that of his sons is for the man and measures of the Republican party. He married, in Florida, 1871, Mary E., born in town of Glen, August 18, 1845, daughter of Peter and Maria (Van Horne) Williams, both natives of Glen, but residents of Florida, dying in Amsterdam at ages seventy-seven and eighty. Children:
- Emily, married W. J. Sweet (deceased), of the Dr. Leonard Sweet family.
- Mary E., (Mrs. William Servoss).
- Sally, married Albert Francisco, a farmer of Florida.
- Jane, died unmarried at age of fifty.
- Cornelius, married Cora Wright, and has issue; he is an extensive and successful dairyman and milk dealer of Schenectady.
- Ada.
- Charles.
Children of William Servoss and wife:
- Arthur P., born November 28, 1876; educated in Amsterdam high school and Amsterdam Business College, now head bookkeeper for the Pioneer Broom Company of that city; married Georgiana Munroe, of Florida.
- Earl V., November 6, 1885, educated in Amsterdam high school and is his father's assistant in the milling business; married, October 17, 1906, Edith Baird, born on Baird homestead farm in Florida, October 16, 1879, educated in the city schools.