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Schermerhorn Genealogy and Family Chronicles:
Chapter V: Descendants of Cornelius Jacobse Schermerhorn (Part 3 of 4)

Go back to: part 2 of Chapter 5 | ahead to: part 4 of Chapter 5

[This information is from pp. 340-362 of Schermerhorn Genealogy and Family Chronicles by Richard Schermerhorn, Jr. (New York: Tobias A. Wright, Publisher, 1914). It is in the collection of the Grems-Doolittle Library of the Schenectady County Historical Society at 929.2 Sch.]

Sixth Generation

286

JOHN HENRY, son of (274) Frederick Schermerhorn and Sarah Van Hoesen; b. Nov. 3, 1788; bp. in Claverack; d. May 4, 1870; m. Nov. 7, 1810, SARAH (SALLY) BARRINGER; b. 1790; d. 1869; dau. of Coonrad Barringer and Gertrude Overbagh.

Children:

John H. Schermerhorn was a resident of Cairo, N. Y. His farm adjoined that of his father's and he subsequently became owner of both farms. Here he lived and died, a highly respected Christian gentleman. The Schermerhorn homestead was regarded as one of the most delightful homes in the county, noted for its hospitality and an ever ready "Welcome" to friends and relatives. The grand-children still hold it in memory as the "dearest spot on earth." After John Schermerhorn's death, Simon and Peter bought the farm and continued sole owners until 1888, when Simon sold to Peter and went to live with his nephew, Albert, in Cairo Village. The widow of Peter Schermerhorn (now Mrs. Cecil Walker) still owns and lives at the "Homestead at Round Top." John Schermerhorn was a volunteer in the war of 1812 and was stationed at Sackett's Harbor.

287

JOHN W., son of (276) William Schermerhorn and Mary Van Hoesen; b. Oct. 17, 1800; d. Apr. 7, 1889; m. SARA SMITH; b. Sept. 25, 1802; d. Sept. 9, 1898, at Reading, Mich.

Children:

John W. Schermerhorn was born in Kinderhook, Columbia Co., N. Y., and later lived in Clyde, N. Y. He removed to Michigan about 1842 and settled in London, Mich., where he took up the occupation of farmer. He later removed to Ransom and then to Reading, Mich., where he died.

Charles Schermerhorn was first a farmer, then a merchant and later a manufacturer of portable seating in Reading, Mich., in which he was engaged at the time of his death. His son George D., still carries on the business, which is under the name of the Acme Chair Company.

John T. Schermerhorn served in the Civil War, and was Orderly Sergeant of Co. F., 18th Michigan Infantry. He was killed in the Battle of Athens, Alabama, Sept. 24, 1864.

288

JACOB VAN HOESEN, son of (276) William Schermerhorn and Mary Van Hoesen; b. Sept. 25, 1802; d. Dec. 10, 1858, in Chatham, N. Y.; m. ALIDA LAPIUS; b. Jan. 25, 1825; d. Oct. 3, 1863.

Children:

Jacob V. H. Schermerhorn was a resident of Chatham, Columbia Co., N. Y. He was postmaster of the town for some years. His son George W. and Charles S. are glove manufacturers in Gloversville, N. Y. George W. Schermerhorn was elected Mayor of Gloversville, N. Y., in Nov., 1913.

289

FRANCIS V. H., son of (276) William Schermerhorn and Mary Van Hoesen; b. Apr. 24, 1812; bp. in Nassau; m. REBECCA KONINE.

Children:

Francis V. H. Schermerhorn lived in Chatham, N. Y., where he owned a large tannery, a carriage repository and harness shop, and an upholstering establishment. He was a man of generous disposition and went security on a friend's note for a large sum, which finally came back to him and which he was obliged to pay. This was the cause of serious financial embarrassment to him, and he soon afterwards removed to Wisconsin. His family is widely scattered.

290

ABRAM, son of (278) Jacob T. Schermerhorn and Sarah Shutts; b. Nov. 28, 1802; d. Apr. 10, 1888; m. (1) Dec. 25, 1826, SARAH VANDERBERG; m. (2) Jan. 20, 1839, in Prattsville, SARAH NICHOLS.

Children:

Abram Schermerhorn was born in Lexington, Greene Co., N. Y., and settled near his father. His first house was built of logs and some of the elder children were born there. Just before the middle of last century a new frame house was built and the old log house removed, and the younger children were born and reared in a more comfortable home.

The daughters all married and became good prudent housewives. Peter V. became a clergyman and after his death his family became widely scattered. Jacob T. became a machinist and resided in Schenectady and David N. became a farmer and still dwells on the old homestead. D. Abram, after taking a course at the State Normal College at Albany, and graduating from the American Art and Scientific College, at Wooster, Ohio, became a successful teacher of penmanship and art. He finally became a real estate operator and broker in Lestershire and Binghamton, N. Y., and in 1911 moved to Hudson. He was President of the Hudson City Lodge, No. 142, and on Jan. 7, 1913, was installed as Noble Grand of the same order.

291

CASPAR, son of (278) Jacob T. Schermerhorn and Sarah Shutts; b. Aug. 11, 1806; m. (1) 1830, MARIA A. JOHNSON; b. 1805; d. Oct. 23, 1856; m. (2) MRS. ELIZABETH HAWVER.

Children:

Caspar Schermerhorn was a resident of Prattsville, N. Y.

Paul A. Schermerhorn of Prattsville, N. Y., was a soldier in the Civil War. He enlisted in the 120th N. Y. Regt., Aug. 10, 1862, and was discharged June 2, 1865. Abraham P. Schermerhorn was also a soldier of the Civil War. He enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, in Co. D., 120th N. Y. Vols., and was discharged June 3, 1865. He was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863.

292

HENDRIKKA (HENRIETTA), dau. of (279) Casper L. K. Schermerhorn and Annatje Sheffer; b. Dec. 4, 1789; bp. in Linlithgo; d. Aug. 20, 1859, in Poughkeepsie, N. Y.; bur. in Prattsville; m. Dec. 25, 1808, DANIEL LE FEVRE; b. Nov. 6, 1784; bur. in Prattsville; son of Isaac and Maria Le Fevre.

Children:

Henrietta Schermerhorn and her husband Daniel Le Fevre purchased the farm and tannery of Casper L. K. Schermerhorn and resided there until Daniel Le Fevre's death.

Hon. Isaac Le Fevre established a tannery in Northville, Fulton Co., in 1845, in 1865 moving to Albany where the firm of Rathbourne and Le Fevre was established, with a leather commission store at 24 State St., a tanning plant being erected at Beaver Falls, Lewis Co. This business finally passed to Martin R. Le Fevre, son of Isaac. Isaac Le Fevre was elected to the State Assembly in 1855, representing Fulton and Hamilton Counties.

293

ANNA, dau. of (279) Caspar L. K. Schermerhorn and Annatje Sheffer; b. Apr. 23, 1792; bp. in Linlithgo; d. Apr. 2, 1851; m. Apr. 5, 1810, GILBERT DECKER; b. Apr. 20, 1788.

Children:

Caspar G. Decker, grandson of Anna Schermerhorn and son of Caspar Schermerhorn Decker, is president of the Elmira Knitting Mills, Elmira, N. Y.

Frank Allaben, great-grandson of Anna Schermerhorn and grandson of Angelina Decker, is president of the Frank Allaben Genealogical Co., and publisher of the journal of American History.

294

URIAL WRIGHT, son of (280) Cornelius Schermerhorn and Matilda Dayton; b. Nov. 19, 1798; d. 1843 in Little Falls, N. Y.; m. Jan. 18, 1821, OLIVE CAHOON.

Children:

Urial Wright Schermerhorn was named after the Rev. Urial Wright, a friend of the family. He was a contractor and had contracts on both the Erie and Black River Canals. The canal locks near Troy, N. Y., were constructed by him. After his death, his children, Levi D., Otis T., Jacob K., Cornelius H. and Elizabeth O., removed to Tubby Hook, now Inwood on the Hudson, Manhattan Island. There Levi D. and Otis T. entered into business as architects and builders. They built Washington Irving's greenhouse at Sleepy Hollow, Irvington, which was considered at that time the largest in the country, the dome being eighty feet high. After the death of Levi, his brother Otis continued the business alone. Jacob, who had been gold-mining in California with no success, left there and went to New Orleans. The Civil War broke out and he was drafted into the Confederate army. He forged the signature of his commanding general to a pass, and by that means, got through the Confederate lines. He then came North and entered into business with his brother Otis. John D. Schermerhorn, another brother, removed to California shortly before the Civil War. Mary M. Schermerhorn who married David H. Hull, remained in Little Falls until 1868, when her family removed to Syracuse. The other brothers and sisters, excepting Elizabeth, who resides in Rochester, N. Y., moved to the West after their father's death, where their families still reside. James Schermerhorn was also a soldier in the Civil War.

Linda Hull Larned, daughter of Mary Schermerhorn Hull and grand-daughter of Urial W. Schermerhorn, is a writer and lecturer and resides with her mother in Syracuse, N. Y. She is the author of The Little Epicure, the Hostess of To-Day and many magazine articles on domestic science, and is associate editor of the Good Housekeeping magazine. She has addressed hundreds of women's clubs on the subject of household economics. She has for four years been President of the National Household Economic Association, which is the authority on household economics and matters pertaining to the home.

Cornelius H. Schermerhorn, son of Urial W., moved to New York in 1836 and was graduated from Grammar School No. 52 in 1858. In Sept., 1858, he entered the College of the City of New York but in 1861 he left his studies to enlist in the Civil War. On April 19 of that year he enlisted in Co. F., 5th N. Y. Vols (Duryea) and was in the first real engagement of the war, June 10, 1861. He participated in all the engagements of the Army of the Potomac up to the battle of Charlottesville, May 4, 1863, being mustered out May 14 of the same year. He then appeared before the Board for Military Examination for promotion, passed the examination and was assigned to duty as Major, 17th U. S. C. T., June 19, 1863. He was promoted to Lieut. Colonel, Sept. 8, 1864, and to Colonel, July 20, 1865.

After the war he began a career as school teacher at Wellesville, N. Y., in Dec., 1866, and soon after accepted a post as professor of mathematics in Alfred College. In 1867, he resigned and went to Michigan, where he was married. In May, 1868, he removed to Jackson, Mich., and became connected with the Engineer Dept. of the F. W. I. & S. R. R., and in July, 1869, he took a railroad contract, completing this in 1871. He was alderman in 1872, Mayor in 1873 and a representative from the 3rd District in the Legislature.

In 1875 he became one of the Supervising Architects of the Michigan State Capitol and in 1877 went to Texas in the employ of the Syndicate who built the Capitol. In 1879 he furnished plans and was placed in charge of construction of the Harrison County Court House at Houston, Texas. In 1882 he removed to Olean, N. Y., where he practiced his profession as architect until 1900, in this year retiring from business and removing to Greene, Chenango Co., N. Y., where he now resides. He has held the office of Aide to the Commander-in-Chief of the G. A. R. since 1897 and has been on several occasions Delegate to the National Encampment.

295

[Painting: original size (15K) | 4x enlarged (57K)] JOHN VAN RENSSELAER, son of (281) Cornelius Schermerhorn and Catherine van Rensselaer; b. Oct. 8, 1795; bp. in E. Greenbush; m. Apr. 24, 1817, AMIA CHARLOTTE MANTZ; b. Jan. 14, 1796, in Frederick, Md.; d. July 14, 1878, in Buffalo, N. Y.; dau. of Isaac Mantz and Charlotte ————.

Children:

John V. R. Schermerhorn was born in Albany, N. Y., and lived during his early manhood in Geneva, N. Y., where the family had removed. He returned later to Albany and was for a time agent for the Penn Yan Line. In 1840, he removed to New York City, where he was customs officer until the time of his death in 1852. He was killed during the discharge of his duty on board the ship "St. John," lying off Jackson St., through an accident occurring during the unloading of cargo.

296

[Painting: original size (15K) | 4x enlarged (59K)] HENRY VAN RENSSELAER, son of (281) Cornelius Schermerhorn and Catharine Van Rensselaer; b. Mch. 24, 1797; bp. in Albany; d. May 20, 1870, in Springfield; m. Sept. 6, 1826, HANNAH BUCKMINSTER DWIGHT; b. Jan. 5, 18o6; d. Mch. 14, 1838, in Geneva, N. Y.; dau. of James Scutt Dwight and Mary Sanford.

Children:

Henry Van Rensselaer Schermerhorn was born in Albany, N. Y., and practised law in Geneva, N. Y., from 1819 to 1845. For a time he operated a farm at Seneca Lake, N. Y., and in 1861 removed to New York, where he resided until the time of his death. In 1820, his name appears as Judge Advocate on the rolls of the 4th Brigade Artillery of Ontario County.

297

[Photo: with family original size (10K) | 4x enlarged (32K)] MORGAN LEWIS, son of (281) Cornelius Schermerhorn and Catharine Van Rensselaer; b. Nov. 26, 1806; bp. in E. Greenbush; m. May 6, 1833, ELIZABETH COLT; b. 1809; dau. of Joseph Colt and Elizabeth Cole.

Children:

Morgan L. Schermerhorn was born in Albany, N. Y. He was an attorney in Geneva in 1830, where the family had removed, and later he returned to Albany. He was in the State employ for quite a number of years, located at the Capitol. He was a member of Grace Church in Albany and was elected vestryman Apr. 26, 1859, and Apr. 23, 1860.

Edward Baker and his wife, Matilda Schermerhorn, eventually removed to England, the home of Mr. Baker. Their son, Edward Morgan, is a clergyman, and is at present connected with St. John's College, Brisbane, Australia. Their daughter, Elizabeth Colt, married the Rev. Evan Edwards and they reside in Aberystwyth, Wales.

298

CATHARINE VAN RENSSELAER, dau. of (281) Cornelius Schermerhorn and Catharine Van Rensselaer; b. Nov. 10, 1813; d. Aug. 28, 1840; m. July 30, 1834, in Albany, FRANCIS DWIGHT; b. Mch. 14, 1808; d. Dec. 15, 1845; son of James Scutt Dwight and Mary Sanford.

Children:

Francis Dwight was graduated from Harvard College in 1827, finished his law studies in 1830, and after a long tour in Europe was admitted to the bar of Massachusetts in 1834, of Michigan in 1835, and of New York, in Geneva, where he lived, in 1838. In 1840 he began in Geneva, the publication of a monthly entitled the District School Journal, which in 1841 he removed to Albany. He continued this publication until his death. His father, James Scutt Dwight, was a prosperous merchant in Springfield, Mass. He maintained stores in at least half a dozen New England towns.

Francis D. Dowley is a resident of New York City and is a practicing lawyer. He has one child, Dwight Van Rensselaer, b. May 13, 1913.

299

[Photo: original size (6K) | 4x enlarged (17K)] RACHEL, dau. of (282) Jacob Schermerhorn and Maria Vanderheyden; b. Dec. 28, 1800; bp. in Troy; d. Nov. 30, 1866; bur. in Oakwood Cem.; m. Dec. 21, 1824, WILLIAM GILLILAND; b. Sept. 11, 1796; d. Mch. 30, 1878.

Children:

William Gilliland was a merchant of Troy, N. Y. The Caswell family reside at Malden-on-the-Hudson, on an estate formerly used as their summer home. Mrs. Corse has one daughter, Edith, b. 1878, who married John C. Hillman and resides in California. Her only son Harold Thorne, was born in 1873 and died in 1894. Mrs. Wolfe has one son, Guedon Caswell, b. 1890. Herbert Caswell resides in Albany and has one daughter, Barbara Flack, b. 1897. Eleanor and William Pike reside in Troy, N. Y. Mrs. Barnes resides in Schenectady, her husband being Secretary of Union College and Professor of Languages. Both the Pikes and Caswells were well known families in Troy and Lansingburgh during the past generation.

300

CATHARINE, dau. of (282) Jacob Schermerhorn and Maria Vanderheyden; b. May 24, 1803; bp. in Troy; d. Aug. 11, 1892; m. June 10, 1835, REV. FAYETTE SHIPHERD; b. Aug. 18, 1797, in Granville, N. Y.; d. Aug. 14, 1878, in Sidney, Ohio.

Children:

Fayette Shipherd was the son of Zebulon R. Shipherd of Granville, Washington Co., N. Y. He was an elder brother of the Rev. John J. Shipherd, founder of Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, and also Olivet College, Mich. He studied for the ministry and early in his career was the highly esteemed associate of Rev. Dr. N. S. S. Beman, in the pastorate of the First Presbyterian Church of Troy, N. Y., and later was pastor of the Congregational Church of Troy, which was located on Seventh Street. Later, he preached in several towns in Eastern and Northern New York, removing in 1858 to Oberlin, Ohio, where his children were educated. He died at Sidney, N. Y., at the age of 80. From his obituary is taken the following: "Few men of such remarkable talents have been content to forego deliberately every opportunity for personal preferment for the single privilege of 'preaching the Gospel to the poor' in literal obedience to the Master's command."

Jacob R. Shipherd was a clergyman and later a lawyer, residing in New York City and vicinity the greater part of his life. His son Theodore is a clergyman now located in Omaha.

George C. Bragdon, husband of Catherine E. Shipherd, was a well known newspaperman and editor, and was connected with many of the large newspapers of Central New York. His son, Claude F., is a well known architect in Rochester, N. Y., where Mrs. Catherine Bragdon and her daughter also reside.

301

DERICK VANDERHEYDEN, son of (282) Jacob Schermerhorn and Maria Vanderheyden; b. Jan. 14, 1805; d. Mch. 1, 1861; bur. in Oakwood Cemetery, Troy, N. Y.; m. May 26, 1836, MARY McCHESNEY; b. Apr. 23, 1814; d. Apr. 7, 1905; dau. of William McChesney and Margaret McChesney.

Children:

Derick V. Schermerhorn was the only son of Jacob Schermerhorn and Maria Vanderheyden. He spent his early youth assisting his father on the farm, and after receiving a fair education from the local schools, became a school teacher at an early age. Previous to the founding of the Rensselaer School in 1824, there were no schools in the locality excepting the district schools and these were often crude enough. Thus the possession of scholarly attainments depended more upon a person's desire to acquire them, rather than the formal pursuit of any regulated course toward their realization. Derick Schermerhorn took full advantage of all his opportunities for book-learning and was by reputation the best educated man in the neighborhood. He was not strong physically in his young manhood, and a sea voyage was suggested for the benefit of his health. He sailed on a vessel bound for Greenland and Labrador on May 1, 1833, when he was 28 years of age, and was gone for nearly six months. He sailed from New York City and the vessel returned by way of Boston, where he disembarked and walked the entire distance from Boston to his Rensselaer County home. In February of the following year his parents deeded to him 50 acres of their property and assisted him to set up an establishment of his own. During the next year or so he erected a complete equipment of farm buildings, and for the remaining years of his life engaged in farming, and later adding to his farm acreage, was highly successful in his calling. He died at the age of 56 years, almost in the prime of life, with much of his life's work uncompleted, and leaving a family of young children. But his wife took up with courageous spirit the task left to her, and the children received good educations and were well brought up. She lived to a ripe old age, her death occurring in her 91st year. An obituary notice from a Troy newspaper reads as follows:

"The funeral of Mrs. Derrick Schermerhorn, one of the oldest residents of this section, was held at the homestead, Rev. C. H. Magill of the Memorial Presbyterian Church officiating. Mrs. Schermerhorn, whose maiden name was Mary McChesney, was a native of this county, having been the daughter of William and Margaret McChesney, well known among the early residents of this section. She was born April 23, 1814, and in a few days would have been 91 years old. She was a devoted member of the First Presbyterian Church of this city. The death of Mrs. Schermerhorn is like destroying a link with the past. She lived and died on the farm which has been in the family since the middle of the 18th century. Before the Declaration of Independence was signed, the tract of land now occupied by the estate was taken up and cleared by John C. Schermerhorn, grandfather of Derrick Schermerhorn, husband of the deceased. His title dates back to 1760. The original dwelling, now quaint and brown, still stands, hidden by the hills and trees. Near it is the ancient graveyard, where many generations of the family found their last resting place. The dwelling is one of the best examples of Dutch Colonial farm houses now in this section, where they were once common, and is still occupied by descendants of the first settler."

Derick Schermerhorn was always known as a practical man with distinct business ability, but if there can be two sides to a man's nature, then it may be said he was a poet as well. This spirit is indicated in the diaries he kept for many years, portions of which have fortunately been preserved. He was an extravagantly religious man, and perhaps the atmosphere he imbibed in close contact with church affairs had much to do with this excess of sentiment. He was a leading member of the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church of Troy, and was ruling elder from 1838 to 1842. It is said he was most eloquent in prayer and religious discourse. As an illustration of old fashioned expression and phraseology it is interesting to quote extracts from his diary, taken from the period immediately following his arrival in Boston from his sea voyage, his journey home and subsequently:

Oct. 15, 1833. May the Lord assist in writing this little manuscript or account book and make it to me useful and interesting. I left Boston yesterday morning (after having shipt my trunk for Troy) and laid my course for Andover. I passed through Charlestown, Medford, Stonington and Reading, which are all pleasant little villages. I traveled this distance alone and on foot and was much entertained and delighted with the rural scenes and objects along the way. For the first time since I left my home, was I permitted the privilege to walls through the lonely but pleasant woods and through the Orchards loaded with delicious fruit. How delightful and charming was the prospect around me.

Oct. 15th. * * * It has been a pleasant day and I have enjoyed it quite well. There has been little on the road, but I have not been lonesome. The drumming of the partridge and the song of the blue-jay and many other things have made my walk entertaining. * * *

16th. I left the Inn this morning at 6 oclk. and have walked three miles and most of the way through a forest, — a pleasant morning walk indeed. It was cloudy but the air very serene and calm. The distant lonely sound of the cow-bell was music in my ear and the song of the forest birds and music of the squirrels and the loneliness of the way afforded me much thought and contemplation.

2 oclk. P. M. Am seated in a pleasant valley, shaded from the heat of the sun by the green trees and fanned by the gentle and cooling wind of heaven. I have come fourteen miles to-day, most of it on foot. Am now in the County of Merrimack, town of Hookset. Crossed the Merrimack at Hookset village. Here are a few stores and a factory. It is a pleasant day and I am quite happy.

Oct. 18th, 2 oclk. P. M. How beautiful and pleasant is this day, how charming the notes of the feathered songsters and how delightful the prospect as I travel on from one summit to another and through the plains and valleys and along the smooth waters of the river, — and how soul reviving to kneel down in some lonely and secluded spot and worship that God who is the Author and Giver of all those rich and entertaining favors. * * *

Oct. 21st, Evening. I have traveled thirty-four miles of my journey to-day. * * * I feel happy in the thought that soon I shall be home, shall enjoy the blessed company of society of Christian brethren and sisters, and soon be at peace and at rest at a father's mansion, — eat at his table, sit by his fireside in company with those whom I so much love, and enjoy all those rich blessings that home and fireside afford. Home has a more powerful attraction as I draw nearer to it, — it lengthens out my pace and stimulates my nerves and joints. The country and prospects around me have less novelty than they had when I was two hundred miles from home.

Oct. 24th. Evening. Home! Home! I am at home, rich and blessed home. I have found all my friends comfortable and enjoying every necessary blessing, and O, what a happy and joyful meeting it was when we had the privilege of embracing each other again after an absence of almost six months. How beautiful was the prospect of the homestead farm and with what delight and pleasure did I roam through the fields and woods and gaze upon the scenery around me. It appeared like fancy or a dream and not reality that I were home and enjoying all its blessings. The hour for worship in the family arrived and we once more engaged in this blessed business with warm and grateful hearts, — a sweet and precious season indeed. * * *

25th. This is a happy morning and it is through the goodness of the Lord that I am permitted to enjoy it. With much pleasure I walked out this morning and I delighted myself with the pleasant prospects and objects around a father's mansion. How pleasant the fields and woods where I have spent so many happy days, how sweet those lovely places where I so often have poured out my soul in prayer to God. How sweet and cheering the embraces and company of a father and mother and sisters. How flourishing and fragrant the fields and meadows. O, dreary and barren Labrador! How desolate and forlorn dost thou appear to me.

Feb. 19, 1834. (At noon day.) The wind blows fresh from the south, the sky is clouded, and the appearance of the heavens and of the face of nature is gloomy, but I am at home surrounded with friends and every other thing which is necessary to render me happy. My peace is multiplied within and without. I strive for an endeavor to cultivate a contented mind and thus my happiness is greatly increased. * * * I am filling the last page of this manuscript and it is dear and interesting to me. It was my companion in my travels through New England on my way home and it contains many incidents and thoughts which I shall often read with delight in days and perhaps years to come when they should have been lost in memory if these pages had not been written. I now lay you by, blessed book and your contents, to peruse your pages in a future day, when you will afford me comfort and grace and pastime.

Jane Margaret Schermerhorn, eldest daughter of Derick, was educated at the Emma Willard Seminary, Troy, and Oberlin College. Edward, the second son, enlisted in the Civil War as a Volunteer, when but a lad, in the 1st N. Y. Regt. of Mounted Rifles. He died soon after his return from the war as a result of disorders contracted while at the front. William F., the fifth son, left five children, Ida, Arthur, Fayette, Mabel and Walter. Elmer E., the youngest son of Derick, is a resident of Chicago, Ill., and is in the employ of the Commonwealth Electric Company, as district superintendent.

302

[Photo: original size (6K) | 4x enlarged (17K)] CAROLINE (TINEY), dau. of (282) Jacob Schermerhorn and Maria Vanderheyden; b. June 16, 1810; bp. in Troy; d. Aug. 17, 1892; m. Apr. 15, 1835, GEORGE F. MICHAEL; b. 1804; d. June 7, 1855; son of George Michael.

Children:

Oscar Tessier, son of Caroline E. Michael, is Asst. Engineer in the employ of the Board of Water Supply, City of New York. His brother, Mortimer V., is an artist and illustrator.

303

ALVIN, son of (285) Peter Schermerhorn and Catharine Letts; b. Oct. 15, 1810; d. Oct. 25, 1888; m. Oct. 1, 1835, RUTH THATCHER BAKER; b. ————; d. June 28, 1876.

Children:

Alvin Schermerhorn was born in Schoharie County, N. Y., probably at Sharon. He removed to Rhode Island in 1847, and became a builder, engaged principally in mill construction. His daughter, Elvira, has two children, George A. and Edna, the latter a school teacher in Fall River, Mass.

304

WILLIAM HENRY, son of (285) Peter Schermerhorn and Catharine Letts; b. Apr. 11, 1819; d. 1886; m. Oct. 23, 1839, HANNAH DINGMAN; b. ————; d. 1882; dau. of Killian Dingman.

Children:

William H. Schermerhorn was born in Schoharie County, probably at Sharon, and moved to Greene County, in 1864. He had taken up shoe and harness making and took charge of a tanning shop in Prattsville at a time when the industry was very thriving at this place. He lived in Prattsville for eight years, until the business was given up, and finally moved to Sharon, Schoharie County, where he bought a little place, where he and his wife lived until their deaths. His son, James Schermerhorn, still resides in Prattsville, and is in the harness and tanning business. Scott, son of James, is a school teacher. Wellington Schermerhorn resides in Conway Springs, Kansas, where he conducts a general hardware and merchandise business.

305

JANE, dau. of (285) Peter Schermerhorn and Catharine Letts; b. Mch. 29, 1822; m. GEORGE RICH.

Children:

306

EMELINE, dau. of (285) Peter Schermerhorn and Catharine Letts; b. Apr. 23, 1828; m. DANIEL GUERNSEY, son of Elisha Guernsey.

Elisha Guernsey was united with the Troy Conference, M. E. Church, in 1873. He is at present pastor of the M. E. Church in Warrensburgh, N. Y.

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