Mrs. Lillian Dockstader Van Dusen, whose name initiates this review, has back of her ancestry that in years past made distinguished history in the Mohawk valley. She was born in the town of Mohawk, New York, on June 11, 1886, her parents being John H. and Anna Mary (Getman) Dockstader. John H. Dockstader was born in Palatine, New York, on June 17, 1856, and died on January 27, 1924. His occupation was farming. He was the son of Joseph and Harriet (Tiffany) Dockstader. Joseph Dockstader, paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Palatine, on May 7, 1824, and died there on December 8, 1900. He was a farmer. His wife, Harriet (Tiffany) Dockstader, was born in town of Mohawk, on October 24, 1835, and died on August 28, 1919, at Johnstown. Joseph Dockstader was the son of John I. and Laney (Ecker) Dockstader. John I. Dockstader was born in the town of Palatine, in 1784, and died in 1808. His wife was born in 1789 and died in 1846. John I. was the son of John F. and Barbara (Ecker) Dockstader. John F. Dockstader was born in 1752, and died in 1839 in the town of Palatine. His occupation was farming. His wife, Barbara (Ecker) Dockstader, was born in 1757 and died in 1835. John F. Dockstader was a private in Colonel Frederick Visscher's Company of Tryon County Militia in the Revolutionary war, and Mrs. Van Dusen now possesses the flintlock gun which he carried through the Revolution. Anna Mary (Getman) Dockstader, mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in Fulton county, on July 8, 1857, and died on January 30, 1911. She was the daughter of Thomas and Alida (Vrooman) Getman. Thomas Getman was born in Fulton county, on February 10, 1831, and died on June 8, 1914, in Johnstown. He was a carpenter and builder. His wife, Alida (Vrooman) Getman, was born on May 21, 1832, in Montgomery county, and died on January 10, 1917, in Johnstown. Thomas was the son of Robert and Lucy (Young) Getman. Robert Getman was born on May 4, 1805, in Fulton county, and died on March 4, 1872. His wife was born on August 23, 1808, and died on March 12, 1872. Robert Getman was the son of George T. and Margaret (Cook) Getman. George T. Getman was born on January 1, 1774, and died on June 23, 1834. His wife was born on July 14, 1771, and died in 1849. George T. Getman was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Helmer) Getman. Thomas Getman was born in 1752 and died on December 25, 1820. He was a private in Colonel Klock's Regiment of Tryon County Militia in the Revolutionary war. His wife, Elizabeth (Helmer) Getman, was born in 1753 and died on October 6, 1837. Thomas Getman was the son of George and Udelia (Shoemaker) Getman. George Getman was born on May 1, 1723, and died on September 17, 1789. He also was a private in Colonel Klock's Regiment of Tryon County Militia. His parents were Frederick and Mary (Bierman) Getman. Frederick was the progenitor of the Getman family in America. He is said to have settled in Stone Arabia, New York, in 1722 or '23 and to have possessed seven hundred acres in Stone Arabia patent in one parcel. The names of both Dockstader and Getman are of Palatine or Holland Dutch ancestry.
Lillian Dockstader was graduated from the high school in Fonda, New York, in 1904, and from the Gloversville New York Business College in 1920. On May 23, 1906, she was united in marriage to William Taylor Van Dusen at the old Vrooman homestead in the town of Mohawk. William Taylor Van Dusen was born on July 16, 1881, his parents being Winslow and Mary E. (Lotridge) Van Dusen. Winslow Van Dusen was born in the town of Mohawk, on September 29, 1853, and is now living in Fonda as a retired farmer, aged seventy-one years. His wife, Mary E. (Lotridge) Van Dusen was born in the town of Mohawk, on September 11, 1848, and died on December 2, 1919, in Fonda. The parents of Winslow Van Dusen were Mathew and Nancy (Sterling) Van Dusen. Mathew was born in the town of Mohawk in 1817, and died on February 15, 1879. He was a farmer. His wife was born in 1818, and died on September 24, 1902. Mathew was the son of John M. and Elizabeth (Lathers) Van Dusen. John M. Van Dusen was born in 1786 and died on August 26, 1878, his wife was born on June 14, 1796, and died on April 17, 1869. Mary E. (Lotridge) Van Dusen, mother of William T. Van Dusen, was the daughter of William Taylor and Catherine (Schuyler) Lotridge. William Taylor Lotridge was born in the town of Mohawk in 1834, and died in 1902 in Fonda. He was the son of Cornelius and Alida (Wemple) Lotridge. Catherine (Schuyler) Lotridge was born in 1837 in the town of Mohawk, and died in Fonda in 1909. The name Van Dusen is of Holland Dutch ancestry and that of Lotridge is Scotch.
William Taylor Van Dusen acquired his education in the public and high schools of Fonda. He began clerking in the grocery store of F. S. Fritcher and remained nine years. He then became associated with John E. Wyman, druggist, and remained in his employ one year. For the past four years he has been with the Mohawk Glove Corporation at Fultonville, New York, as shipping clerk. He is a Mason and a member of Fultonville Lodge, No. 531. He is a member of the Dutch Reformed church and in politics is a democrat. Mrs. Van Dusen is a member of Caughnawaga Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution of Fonda; and Mohawk Valley Chapter No. 489, Order of the Eastern Star, and is matron of the chapter. She is also a member of the Montgomery County Historical Society and of the Dutch Reformed church of Fonda. She is a republican in politics and finds much diversion in the reading of history and also is fond of historical and genealogical research.