The Haslett family was established in the Mohawk Valley by Thomas Haslett, great-great-grandfather of Frederick Sternberg Haslett, who came here from England and took up his abode in Greenbush. His son, a hatter by trade, moved to Florida, Orange county, where he settled for the rest of his life. The latter married Eunice Curtiss, daughter of Gideon Curtiss, one of the early settlers of Florida who came originally from New Haven, Connecticut. Of their eight children, William Haslett, born in Florida on April 23, 1804, was the oldest. On the 25th of May, 1826, he married Elizabeth Becker, daughter of Matthias Becker, and the same month moved to Fort Plain. He had already learned his father's trade of a hatter and in Fort Plain erected a shop and dwelling on the site now occupied by the residence of Frederick Sternberg Haslett of this review. William Haslett was one of the original stockholders and directors of the Fort Plain Bank and in January, 1858, was elected to the presidency of that institution. When the National Fort Plain Bank was organized he was made the president of the new bank and occupied that position until his death on October 13, 1874. As a democrat he was active in local politics and in 1848 was elected to the state assembly as representative from this district, but he declined a renomination to that office. His last political office was as delegate to the state convention held in Syracuse in 1874, the year of his death. William Haslett's only child, John Becker Haslett, was born in Fort Plain, March 10, 1827. He was educated in the local schools and in an academy at Poughkeepsie, following which he became associated with his father in the latter's business interests. For a few years after the father's death he carried on the business alone. Much of his time in mature life was devoted to the work of the National Fort Plain and the Fort Plain National Banks, in each of which institutions he held the office of vice president. As a young man he gave his political allegiance to the democratic party, of which his father was so loyal a supporter, but after 1880 he cast his vote for the republican ticket. John Becker Haslett, however, had no personal interest in political affairs and was never an aspirant for the honors of public office. He was twice married. His first wife, to whom he was married on the 21st of October, 1851 was Miss Margaret Lasira Martin of Michigan. On the 3d of February, 1858, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Sternberg, daughter of Jacob Sternberg of Albany, by whom he had one child, Frederick Sternberg Haslett, born in Fort Plain, October 6, 1862. John Becker Haslett survived his father by less than a dozen years, passing away on the 30th of January, 1886.
Frederick Sternberg Haslett has spent practically his entire life in Fort Plain. His education obtained in the local schools was supplemented by a course in the Clinton Liberal Institute, from which he graduated in 1881. The following year he entered the employ of the National Fort Plain Bank as a clerk. In 1886 he was elected assistant cashier and two years later was promoted to cashier, which position he held until 1900. For several years he has been directing the affairs of the bank as its president.
On the 23d of September, 1891, Mr. Haslett was united in marriage to Miss Edith Catherine De Graff, daughter of Alfred De Graff of Fonda, Montgomery county, who passed away in January, 1923. No children were born to this union. Mr. Haslett was married to Miss Alice Wagner Walter on January 9, 1924. Mr. Haslett is a trustee of the Reformed church of this village and socially is identified with the Fort Plain Club. His vote is regularly cast for the republican party.