Among the early Palatines that settled in Montgomery county and founded the town of Palatine, was a family by name Walrath. The head of this family was either the father or grandfather of Josiah Walrath, now head of the family under consideration. The story of the Palatines has often been told and need not be repeated. The first of the line of record was Adolph, whose father was one of the early Mohawk Valley settlers.
(I) Adolph Walrath was born in St. Johnsville, Montgomery county, New York, September 30, 1767, died in 1833. His boyhood days were spent in that locality, and in early manhood he is found the owner of a newly made farm in the town of Minden of the same county, south of St. Johnsville. He further improved this farm by clearing and adding to its area from the surrounding wilds. This farm was for generations the family homestead and was at the time of his death a well improved property. He married, probably in Minden, Gertrude Fiske, born July 23, 1768, died in 1855. Children:
- Adolph (2), born August 28, 1791, died aged eighty years. He married Lena Young, daughter of a Herkimer county farmer; they settled in the town of Danube, where they spent their remaining years and reared a family.
- Catherine, born February 17, 1797; married John Cronkhite, a native of Danube, their residence and birthplace of their children.
- Abram, see forward.
- Dolly (or Dorothy), born November 30, 1800; married John Hoke; they settled in Starke, Herkimer county, where they lived many years and had issue.
- Mary, born July 1, 1804; married Abram Arndt; they settled in Minden where they died, both having passed their seventieth year; they left a large family.
- Solomon, born October 22, 1806; removed to St. Lawrence county, married and left issue.
- Elizabeth, born April 10, 1809; married Isaac House, of Minden, where he died; the widow and her children then removed to Beloit, Wisconsin, where she died at an advanced age.
- Daniel, born November 1, 1811, died unmarried at age of seventy.
(II) Abram, third child of Adolph and Maria Walrath, was born in Minden, Montgomery county, New York, August 10, 1799, died in September, 1881. After his marriage he settled on a farm in Minden, where he ever afterward lived. He was a successful and prosperous farmer, one of the best in the county, where he accumulated a large estate. He was a devoted Lutheran as was his wife, and they were pillars of strength in the church of their choice and most liberal in the benevolences. He was in early life a Whig, strongly anti-slavery, and upon the formation of the Republican party became an earnest supporter. He married Eva Baum, born of German ancestors, October 24, 1802, died in 1889. Her forebears were patriots of the revolution and are said to have come to America with the troops of France under Lafayette. She was a devoted wife and mother, bringing her children up in the faith of her church and ably seconding the efforts of her husband in his church and secular labors. Children:
- Henry, born October 20, 1823, died in Minden about 1889; married Elizabeth Smith, also deceased; children: Edwin, Alonzo, deceased; Ida and Nettie.
- Josiah, see forward.
- Maria, born February 18, 1831; married Gibson Elwood, who died at his home in St. Lawrence county, New York, leaving sons, George and Charles Elwood, the latter a professor in Columbia College, Missouri; Mrs. Elwood yet survives her husband (1909) at Briar Hill, New York.
- Nancy, born February 26, 1834, married Peter Moyer, whom she survives, residing at Fort Plain, New York; no issue.
- James, born August 10, 1836, died at Fort Plain, New York, July 1, 1909; he was a merchant; married Nancy Bleeker, now a resident of Fort Plain, mother of one son Carl, of New York City.
- Alfred, born February 3, 1838; married Margaret Smith; children: Eugene and Emma; they reside on their farm at Dutchtown, Minden.
- Matilda, born February 4, 1841; married Reuben Evans, a merchant of Hammond, St. Lawrence county, and has a son, Fred.
- Frank, born September 16, 1843, died July 2, 1909; he succeeded to the old homestead farm in Minden, now owned by his son, which makes the family ownership of the farm cover a period of over one hundred years; married Mary Smith, who survives her husband with children: Alice, Eva and Williard.
(III) Josiah, second child and son of Abram and Eva (Baum) Walrath, was born on the homestead in Minden, July 29, 1829. He grew up on the farm, received a good common school training and had the exceptional advantage of a seminary education, which has contributed largely to his success in life. He purchased, after marriage, his present farm at Yankee Hill, south of Fort Hunter. This is one of the finest, best managed estates in the county, where Mr. Walrath is rated among the best and most successful of agriculturists. He is a member of the Reformed church, whose material interests are advanced through his liberality. He is politically a staunch Republican. He married, September 7, 1854, at Indian Castle, Danube, Herkimer county, New York, Caroline Greene, born there August 5, 1822, died at her beautiful home on Yankee Hill, October 2, 1894. She was a daughter of Lyman and Polly (Harden) Greene, both natives of Danube, and the parents of four other children:
- Maria, married Jacob Walrath, both deceased, leaving George, Amanda, Amelia, Emily and Margaret Walrath.
- Jane, married James Bellinger, both deceased; children: Carrie, Flora, Clara and John Bellinger.
- Ruth, married Daniel Purdy, whom she survives with children: George A. and Laura Purdy; she resides in Manchester, Vermont.
- Willis, married Maggie Larowe, and lives on the old Greene homestead at Indian Castle, with their only child, Lyman Greene.
Mrs. Josiah Walrath was a devoted member of the Reformed church and shared with her husband the good will and respect of the community for her upright Christian life and character. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Walrath:
- Horace, see forward.
- Charles, born July 1, 1862; owner of a fine farm of one hundred and fifty acres near Fort Hunter on which they reside; married, April 4, 1888, Ella McClumpha, and has a son Frank, born July 28, 1897.
- An infant born October 13, 1863.
- George, born April 22, 1867; married, Delia McClumpha; children:
- Charles Haslett, born August 9, 1896, and
- Helen L., born January 29, 1898;
(IV) Horace, eldest son and child of Josiah and Caroline (Greene) Walrath, was born May 14, 1857. He was educated in the town schools of Florida and at Whitestown Seminary. He adopted farming as his life work and has proved the wisdom of his choice. He is the owner of a good farm of one hundred and fifty acres near Minaville, which is carefully tilled and well stocked with choice Holsteins and other thoroughbred stock. Since 1883 he has resided upon his farm, earning fairly a first place among the many successful, practical agriculturists of Montgomery county. In political faith he is a Republican. His church connection is with the Reformed congregation of the town, a faith that is inherent in this family, and one that has been his for many years. He married, October 4, 1882, Mary B., born March 14, 1859, daughter of Reuben M. Hartley. She is also a member of the Reformed church, her membership extending over a long period of time. Child:
- Jennie, born June 15, 1902.