The families of Wademan and McNab were early settlers in Albany county, where their descendants are still numerous. They have been agriculturists for many generations and men and women of both character and substance.
(I) John J. Wademan was born in the town of Guilderland, Albany county, New York, April 9, 1815, died in the town of Bethlehem, same county, in 1903. He was an energetic, successful farmer, and notwithstanding his many years retained his activity to the very last. He was a man of upright character and honorable in all his dealings, and was respected wherever known. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and served on the official board. He was a Whig and later a Republican, supporting that party with all his energy. He married, in Guilderland, Elizabeth Ostrander, of the same town, born, of Dutch ancestors, January 15, 1819, died 1902, in her eighty-fourth year. She was an active Methodist and an earnest Christian. Children:
- John H., born October 24, 1838, died February 15, 1894; he was a farmer of the town of New Scotland, and died on his farm in the Helderbergs. He married Margaret Warner, who survives him, a resident of Schenectady; children:
- Etta, deceased, married Burton Albright;
- Anna, married James Campbell.
- Aaron, see forward.
- Mary F., born July 27, 1842, died February 12, 1878, unmarried.
- William J., born August 28, 1848, died May 16, 1874.
(II) Aaron, second son of John J. and Elizabeth (Ostrander) Wademan, was born on the farm in New Scotland, Albany county, New York, that was owned and operated so long by his father, July 13, 1841, died there August 27, 1900. He was educated in the town schools, and always lived on the farm. In his younger days he assisted his father, and at the death of the latter inherited the farm. He made many improvements during his lifetime, and brought the land under a high state of cultivation. He developed the fruit department of the farm and planted orchards of the best varieties suited to the soil and climate, added to the home and buildings, and left the farm one of the best improved in the town. He was well known, and bore the best of reputations as a man and a neighbor. He was a capable business man, which fact added to his industry brought him a good degree of this world's goods. His genial nature won him many friends, and he died deeply regretted. He was a Methodist and a Republican. He married, December, 1861, in the town of Berne, Albany county, Hannah McNab, born in Berne, April 14, 1842. She survives her husband and owns the homestead farm which she makes her home. She is a daughter of Jasper and Maria (Pier) McNab, both born in Berne. Jasper McNab, born August 16, 1812, died June 26, 1894, in New Scotland. He was a farmer and a member of the Reformed church. His first wife, Maria Pier, died aged thirty-five years. She was a daughter of Jacob and Hannah (Severson) Pier, both of Scotch parentage. Jasper McNab was a son of Hugh and Angelica (Hallenbeck) McNab, of Berne and New Scotland, the former being of Scotch, and the latter of Dutch ancestry. They were members of the Presbyterian church, and lived to be very old. Jasper and Maria McNab had children:
- Sarah J., see forward;
- Jacob, died young;
- James, died young;
- Hannah M., married Aaron Wademan;
- Mary E., died aged twenty years;
- Jacob (2), married and resides in New Scotland; six children;
- Helen, died in childhood.
Jasper McNab married (second) Angeline Radley Wright; children:
- Ellen, twice widowed; lived at Feurabush; died November 20, 1910;
- Carrie, married Kenney Parish, of New Salem, New York;
- Amos, a teamster of the town of Colonie;
- Alida, married Lewis Pier, a farmer of Bethlehem;
- John P., a bill clerk in Albany; married; no children.
Children of Aaron and Hannah (McNab) Wademan:
- Elizabeth, born June 16, 1864, in New Scotland; married William, son of James H. Coughtry; children:
- Howard, died aged nineteen years;
- James, lives with his parents;
- Harold, died aged twelve years;
- Minnie A.;
- Frank;
- Harriet.
- Minnie, born in New Scotland, 1866; resides at home.
- Emma, born 1868; married Frank Martin, a farmer of Feurabush; child, Catherine.
Sarah J., eldest child of Jasper and Maria (Pier) McNab, was born in the town of Berne, Albany county, New York, May 26, 1836. She married (first) Durham Nelson, a farmer of the county, who died leaving two children, Celestia and Jasper Nelson. She married (second) Hezekiah Van Buren, by profession a carpenter, a cousin of President Van Buren; children:
- Anna, married Oscar Haswell, of Delmar;
- Hattie, died in infancy.
She married (third) Henry A., son of David Mallary. He was a prosperous business man of Bethlehem. By a first marriage to Ellen Bullock he had six children, of whom Thomas, Anna, Henry and Hiram are living. Sarah J. Mallary survives her husband, and resides in Delmar, New York.