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Schermerhorn Genealogy and Family Chronicles:
Chapter II: Descendants of Ryer Jacobse Schermerhorn (Part 3 of 4)

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

[This information is from pp. 104-121 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

41

JOHN B., son of (21) Bartholomew Schermerhorn and Annatje Teller; b. Oct. 12, 1787; bp. in Schenectady; d. July 16, 1845; m. Apr. 3, 1805, GITY VAN PATTEN; bp. Aug. 4, 1787, in Schenectady; d. Nov. 20, 1844; dau. of Andries Van Patten and Engeltie Beck.

Children, bp. in Schenectady:

In 1808, John B. Schermerhorn was a Lieutenant in Brig. Gen. Gerrit Van Schaick's Albany Co. Regt. In 1814, he was Captain in the 57th Regt., N. Y. Militia, Schenectady Co., John Veeder, Lieut. Col. He resigned in 1818. He was deacon in the 1st Reformed Church of Schenectady, in 1838 and 1839.

John T. Schermerhorn, son of Bartholomew T., was 1st Sergt., Co. H., U. S. Sharpshooters, in the Civil War. He enlisted Sept. 17, 1861, and was mustered out Sept. 16, 1864, as Company Commander. He resided at Norfolk, Va., and was engaged as Marine Engineer. In 1892 he was employed by E. P. Allis Co., at Milwaukee.

42

BARTHOLOMEW, son of (21) Bartholomew Schermerhorn and Annatje Teller; b. Dec. 8, 1789; bp. in Schenectady; d. Dec. 1, 1867; bur. in Vale Cem.; m. Mch. 18, 1830, in Schenectady, MARGARET SWITS; b. Apr. 21, 1796; d. Oct. 29, 1864; bur. in Vale Cem.; dau. of Gen. Jacob Swits and Margrieta Van Eps.

Children, bp. in Schenectady:

Bartholomew Schermerhorn attended Union College, Schenectady and was a member of the Class of 1809. He was Supervisor of Schenectady in 1820 and of Rotterdam in 1827. His son Bartholomew moved West and for many years was a physician in a Western city.

43

WILLIAM B., son of (21) Bartholomew Schermerhorn and Annatje Teller; b. Oct. 28, 1796; bp. in Schenectady; d. Nov. 21, 1871; m. Dec. 18, 1817, SARAH KELLY; d. Nov. 8, 1856; dau. of William Kelly and Sarah Taylor.

Children, bp. in Schenectady:

William B. Schermerhorn was a prominent member of the 1st Reformed Church of Schenectady, N. Y. He was deacon in 1828, 31 and 32 and was elder in 1834, 35, 43, 44, 55, 56.

Bartholomew W. Schermerhorn, son of William B., removed to Cass County, Michigan, after his marriage, and became there a man of means and prominence. He filled the offices of Sheriff and Member of Legislature, and at the time of his death had been Justice of the Peace for 30 years.

Solomon K. Schermerhorn removed to Selma, Ala. His children are still living in the South.

44

BARNHARDUS, son of (21) Bartholomew Schermerhorn and Annatje Teller; b. Dec. 22, 1801; bp. in Schenectady; d. Aug. 25, 1871; m. (1) Jan. 27, 1825, in Schenectady, ANNE DELMONT; m. (2) REBECCA MARIA VAN PETTEN.

Children by first wife:

Children by second wife:

Barnhardus Freeman Schermerhorn, was occupying his father's farm at Rotterdam at the time the latter made his will in 1837. His son Bartholomew T. was deacon in the 1st Reformed Church of Schenectady in 1846 and 47, and was elder in 1856 and 57.

49

GEN. ISAAC MAUS, son of (26) Maus Schermerhorn and Catharine Swits; b. Jan. 2, 1790; bp. in Schenectady; d. Jan. 30, 1849; m. ELIZABETH McGOFFIN; b. Jan. 5, 1795, in New Jersey; d. Sept. 14, 1862, in New York City.

Children:

Isaac Maus Schermerhorn was educated at Union College, Schenectady. In 1820, he was surgeon's mate of the 57th Regt., N. Y. Infantry, and in 1821, surgeon of the same Regt. He was Mayor of Schenectady in 1816, 25, 28, 29, 30. In 1830, he was Brigadier General of the 14th Brigade, 14th Division, N. Y. State Militia. He was Supervisor of the 1st Ward of Schenectady in 1832, 34, 35, and 36.

Maus Schermerhorn, son of Gen. Isaac M., was a lawyer, and in 1848, his office was at 80 Nassau St., N. Y. City. He and his mother resided at 57 Amity St., N. Y. City. They are buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn.

50

HON. ABRAHAM MAUS, son of (26) Maus Schermerhorn and Catharina Swits; b. Dec. 11, 1791; bp. in Schenectady; d. Aug. 22, 1855; buried in Mt. Hope Cem., Rochester; m. MARY KENT ADAMS.

Children:

Abraham Maus Schermerhorn was graduated from Union College, Schenectady, with high standing. He received degrees of A. B. and A. M., and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. In 1818, he removed to Cherry Valley and was appointed cashier of the Cherry Valley Bank, a new institution. Banking in the State, west of Albany, was then in its infancy. He had the entire management of the business, discharged the various duties of bookkeeper, teller, cashier, president and director, and so conducted the affairs of the bank as to secure a high reputation as a successful banker. He remained there until 1824, when the charter of the Bank of Rochester was obtained and then removed, upon invitation, to the (then) Village of Rochester, and became the first cashier of the new Bank, which position he occupied with distinctive ability until 1829, when the Bank of Monroe was chartered (an institution of much larger capital than the Bank of Rochester), and became its president. He presided over it several years and was regarded, if not the foremost banker, at least one of the foremost bankers in western New York.

In 1834, he was one of the three Supervisors of Rochester, when the city charter was granted. In 1836, he was elected Mayor of the city, but served only three months. In 1848, he was elected to the U. S. Congress and was re-elected in 1850, continuing to represent the district for four years. He was regarded at Washington as a clear-headed business member.

Extract from Reminiscences of Levi Beardsley, 1852, N. Y.: "The bank (Central Bank of Cherry Valley) went into operation in the autumn of that year (1818) under the auspices of Abraham M. Schermerhorn, as cashier, who is a member of the present Congress from Rochester, Monroe Co., and was also a member of the last. Mr. Schermerhorn was a man of decided talents, managed the bank with great ability, and finally went to Rochester, six years afterwards, where for many years he was the leading and most popular financier in western New York. He is shrewd, kind-hearted, sincere and ardent in his friendships, and I have always regarded him as a high-minded, honorable and honest man."

51

[Painting: original size (17K) | 4x enlarged (46K)] JACOB MAUS, son of (26) Maus Schermerhorn and Catharina Swits; b. Nov. 12, 1804; bp. in Schenectady; d. Feb. 23, 1890, at Syracuse, N. Y.; m. Oct. 26, 1831, LOUISA ANNA BARBER; b. June 2, 1810; d. Jan. 18, 1899; dau. of Jedediah Barber and Matilda Tuttle, of Homer, N. Y.

Children:

Jacob Maus Schermerhorn was graduated from Union College in 1834 with degree of A. B. and was admitted to the Bar in 1836 and in the same year went to Rochester where he practised law until 1837. In that year he and his brother Abraham formed the Bank of Monroe in Rochester which was conducted by them until 1842, when Jacob M. moved to Homer, N. Y., which he made his home thereafter. In company with others he was instrumental in building the Syracuse and Binghamton R. R., and was President of the same for ten years, when he sold the majority of the stock to the Lackawanna. During his incumbency he made a contract for the transportation of coal, with the Lackawanna R. R., which has been maintained and in constant use for over 50 years.

George J. Schermerhorn, son of Jacob M., attended Union College with the class of 1860. He removed in later years to New York City, where he practised until the time of his death.

Jacob Maus Schermerhorn, Jr., was born in Homer, N. Y., and was prepared for college at Phillips Andover Academy, Andover, Mass., class of 1865. He was graduated from Williams College in 1869 with degree of A. B. and in 1872, degree of A. M. He was engaged in steel manufacturing in Syracuse for about fifteen years, also in manufacturing in New York City for the same length of time, retiring from business about 1904. He is a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity and the University and Union League Clubs of New York City. He is a resident of New York City, his summer home being at Narragansett Pier, R. I.

52

PETER VANDER VOLGEN, son of (27) John Schermerhorn and Susanna Vander Volgen; b. Aug. 2, 1809; bp. in Schenectady; d. Aug. 27, 1887; m. Mch. 21, 1830, in Johnstown, N. Y., ELIZABETH DOCKSTADER.

Children:

Peter V. Schermerhorn attended Union College, Schenectady, with the class of 1829. He later had his home at Fonda, N. Y. He studied for the law, but did not practice.

John P. Schermerhorn is a Civil Engineer and is employed as Assistant Engineer in the Department of Parks, New York City. He had charge of the construction of the Speedway, along the Harlem River. In early years he was connected with the Engineer Corps in the construction of the Union Pacific Railway in Colorado. He has been with the Park Department of New York City for thirty-three years.

53

HENRY, son of (29) Jacob Schermerhorn and Catharine Sitterley; b. June 4, 1821; d. May 22, 1888; m. PAMELIA A. LE VALLEY.

Children:

Henry Schermerhorn was a farmer. He removed to Wisconsin early in life but returned to Oswego Co., N. Y., and in 1856 located in Boylston. His son Alfred H. was the owner of several large farms, two of them in Sandy Creek, Oswego Co., N. Y. He served the town of Boylston at different times as assessor and also commissioner of excise. Herman H., son of Alfred, was graduated from Yale University in 1904, with degree of A. B.

54

MAJ. BERNARD FREEMAN, son of (30) Rev. John Freeman and Catharine Yates; b. Dec. 13, 1821, in Middleburgh, Schoharie County; d. Apr. 24, 1883, in Delphi, Ind.; m. June 22, 1868, in Delphi, Ind., JOSEPHINE CASE.

Children:

Bernard Freeman Schermerhorn was graduated from Union College in 1840, with degree of A. B. He took up the practice of law in Delphi, Ind., to which place his family had moved while he was in college. He was Major of the 46th Indiana Volunteers during the Civil War, and served through the siege of Vicksburg and in the campaign down the Mississippi. He was judge in Carroll County, Indiana, and a member of the State Legislature.

55

CAPT. JOHN INGOLD, son of (30) Rev. John Freeman Schermerhorn and Catharine Yates; b. Jan. 13, 1824, in Middleburgh, Schoharie County, N. Y.; d. Jan. 16, 1876, in Dedham, Mass.; m. June 3, 1862, in Dedham, Mass., LOUISA TURNER; b. Aug. 25, 1834, in Dedham, Mass.; d. Sept., 1906.

Children:

John Ingold Schermerhorn was Captain in the U. S. Marine Corps. He enlisted in 1858 and retired in 1871.

Bernard Turner Schermerhorn was graduated from Harvard University in 1888, with degree of A. B. He is a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity.

56

[Photo: original size (23K) | 4x enlarged (85K)] JUDGE WILLIAM WALLER HENING, son of (30) Rev. John F. Schermerhorn and Eliza Hening Spotswood; b. Feb. 1, 1839; d. Sept. 12, 1893; m. (1) Nov. 24, 1861, EMMA SHROPSHIRE; b. ————; d. Nov. 27, 1871; dau. of S. G. Shropshire and Margaret Armstrong of Augusta, Ky.; m. (2) 1891, ISABELLE YOUNG; no issue.

Children:

William Waller Schermerhorn was born at Germana, Orange Co., Va. After the death of his father in 1851 he made his home with his brother Bernard in Delphi, Ind. He studied law at Bloomington College, Ind., and was one of the charter members of the Lambda Chapter of "Sigma Chi." After his marriage in 1861 he assisted his father in the management of a farm in Clark Co., Mo., where the latter had retired at the beginning of the war. In the autumn of 1866, he went to New Orleans, where he remained until the death of his wife in 1871. He then resumed the study of law and rose high in his profession, which is not surprising, as his grandfather, for whom he was named, was the celebrated Wm. Waller Hening of Richmond, Va., author of about 15 volumes on law. He died in 1893 at Aurora, Mo., from a chill contracted on a hunting trip. He was the author of several poems, one of which, "Easter," published just before his death, showed deep thought and religious fervor. He traveled extensively in North, South and Central America and his letters descriptive of these places are both interesting and instructive. His daughters reside in New Orleans, La.

57

JOHN W., son of (31) William J. Schermerhorn and Anna Wessels; b. Apr. 18, 1798; bp. in Schenectady; d. May, 1848; m. Nov. 9, 1820, ANN SCHERMERHORN; b. Mch. 28, 1802; d. May 18, 1891; dau. of Andreas Schermerhorn and Nancy Clyde.

Children:

Andrew M. Schermerhorn was a printer. One of his sons, Charles, was living in Brooklyn, N. Y., as late as 1903.

58

JOHN, son of (32) John I. Schermerhorn and Maria Slater; b. Jan. 25, 1810; d. Jan. 4, 1898; m. Oct. 27, 1838, in Schenectady, REBECCA VEDDER.

Children:

59

WILLIAM, son of (32) John I. Schermerhorn and Maria Slater; b. Mch. 6, 1812, in Rotterdam, N. Y.; d. Jan. 22, 1870, in Nottawa, Mich.; m. Dec. 24, 1832, MARGARET SCHERMERHORN; b. Feb. 19, 1815, in Fulton County, N. Y.; d. June 8, 1886; dau. of Nicholas and Maria Schermerhorn.

Children:

In the summer of 1844, William Schermerhorn was clerking in a small store in Schenectady, N. Y. It was the year of a Presidential campaign and James K. Polk was on the Democratic ticket and Henry Clay on the Whig ticket. William was for Polk, while his employer was for Clay. One day the latter came to William and said, "I want you to vote for my man for President." "No," said William, "I won't do that." "I will give you ten dollars if you do," said his employer. "No, sir," said William, "you can't buy my vote." "Very well, if you can't support my President, I can't support you, and we will settle up and call it quits." And they did, the next day. William tried hard to get other suitable employment, but was unsuccessful, and came home one day with a sad heart and asked his wife what she thought was the best thing to do. "Go West," said she. "We can sell our place. It will bring enough money to take us to Michigan." In a short time they were at Fawn River, Mich., and the day following their arrival, William set out to look for employment. He approached the proprietor of a store in town. "What can I do for you?" said the latter. "Perhaps you could do quite a good deal for me, if you felt so disposed," said William. "Can you do anything at carpentry?" said the man. "I can saw a board straight," rejoined William. "All right," said the former, "I will give you a dollar a day. Do you see that man at work on that building over there? You go and tell him that I sent you to work with him." The man who was working on that building was William, son of Nicholas Schermerhorn. The two Williams worked well together, for the one was a first-class carpenter.

In a short while Margaret Schermerhorn, wife of William, bargained with her brother for 40 acres of wild land in Nottawa Township, Mich. They built a log house and became settled in the early part of that winter. William and his wife were both resourceful. She looked well after the needs of her household. They soon had a flock of sheep from which she spun the wool and made cloth that kept her family warm in winter. The children were taught to work and were of much help. They did not need Indian Clubs or dumb-bells with which to improve their muscular condition. They were a happy family and it was often said of them that they were good folks to know.

In 1853 they had 30 acres of land all paid for, and about 50 acres under cultivation. They had many fruit trees of different kinds and though there was no market for fruit, it was Margaret's motto to "Waste not, want not," so they dried their fruit and were enabled to sell it thus to the merchants in the neighboring towns. In those days peaches pared, sliced and dried sold for 25c. a pound. They had horses, cows, sheep, pigs and chickens. That winter they sold their land and bought a large tract of wild land, built another log house in the woods and worked to make a new home. Here William and Margaret Schermerhorn lived until they had finished their mission on earth. The old log-house is in a good state of preservation and is owned by their daughter, Gesina. She was a small child when her parents moved away from Schenectady. She was always persevering and was a teacher in the district school near the family homestead. In the Spring of 1870 she embarked in the millinery business in Centerville, Mich., where she still resides and conducts the same business. Mrs. Marvin (Margaret Ann Schermerhorn) was born in Michigan. She is a widow, but has three children, all of whom are married. She rents out her own farm and lives on the old homestead, and is as comfortable and independent as one would wish to be. Mrs. Forsman (Sarah M. Schermerhorn) and her husband, a retired business man, have their home and 11 acres of land that borders on the shore of Crystal Lake, Nottawa, Mich. They rent furnished cottages to people from the city in vacation time. — (Account by Mrs. Forsman).

60

JACOB J., son of (33) Johannes J. Schermerhorn and Catherine Bradt; b. Feb. 28, 1789; bp. in Schenectady; d. Apr. 20, 1849; m. Feb. 5, 1814, MARIA VEDDER.

Children:

Jacob J. Schermerhorn lived in Rotterdam, where his descendants reside to the present day. In 1826, he was Superintendent of the Poor, in Schenectady.

Clarence Schermerhorn, grandson of Jacob J., lives in Rotterdam in the old homestead, being of the eighth generation to live there.

61

NICHOLAS V., son of (34) Lourens Schermerhorn and Geesie Viele; b. Oct. 21, 1776; bp. in Schenectady; d. Nov. 29, 1821; m. MARIA SCHERMERHORN; bp. June 22, 1777, in Schenectady; dau. of Jacob Schermerhorn and Maria Vedder.

Children:

62

AARON A., son of (36) Andreas Schermerhorn and Nancy Clyde; b. Feb. 28, 1788; bp. in Schenectady; d. May 8, 1870, in Rotterdam, N. Y.; m. Feb. 6, 1811, MARIA AKIN.

Children:

Aaron A. Schermerhorn inherited from his father the property called the "Hook."He lived in Rotterdam and was a farmer. He served in the War of 1812. His son, Myndert A., was a soldier in the Mexican War and was one of the early gold miners of California. He also made several whaling voyages and served three years in the Civil War, enlisting first in the 134th N. Y. Infantry. He finally returned to Rotterdam, the home of his youth, and lived there for the remainder of his life.

63

SIMON, son of (37) Jacob S. Schermerhorn and Engeltie Bradt; b. Oct. 14, 1797; bp. in Schenectady; d. 1873; m. CORNELIA SCHERMERHORN; dau. of Evert and Elizabeth Schermerhorn.

Children:

Simon Schermerhorn was Supervisor at Rotterdam, N. Y., in 1828, 30, 31 and 39. In 1818 he was ensign at the 57th Regt., N. Y. Militia.

64

JACOBUS (JAMES) BRADT, son of (37) Jacob S. Schermerhorn and Engeltie Bradt; b. Apr. 5, 1801; d. July 16, 1842; m. Dec. 20, 1827, in Schenectady, CATHARINA SCHERMERHORN; dau. of Bartholomew Schermerhorn and Annetje Teller.

Children:

65

[Photo of his coach: original size (58K) | 4x enlarged (171K)] DANIEL DAVID CAMPBELL, son of (37) Jacob S. Schermerhorn and Engeltie Bradt; b. Mch. 10, 1803; bp. in Schenectady; d. Nov. 1, 1891; m. JULIA SITTERLEY.

Children:

Daniel David Campbell Schermerhorn was a grand nephew and heir of Angelica Bradt Campbell (wife of Daniel Campbell of Schenectady). He took the name of Campbell as a stipulation of the will, and his descendants bear the name of Campbell.

66

ABRAHAM, son of (39) Abraham Schermerhorn and Maria Sixberry; b. Jan. 15, 1791; bp. in Schenectady; d. Nov. 24, 1873; m. Jan. 19, 1815, MARY HEATON; b. Aug. 6, 1796; d. Jan. 5, 1881.

Children:

Abraham Schermerhorn settled in Newtown, Buck's County, Pa., about the year 1812. He served in the War of 1812, enlisting in a company of Pennsylvania Volunteers. In 1814 he was stationed at Marcus Hook, below Philadelphia. Both he and his wife are buried in the "Old Methodist Burying Ground," New Hope, Pa. Joseph Plumly Schermerhorn is buried in Riverview Cemetery, Lambertville, New Jersey.

Charles Hill Schermerhorn, Sr., was the oldest telegrapher in the world at the time of his death. He became the personal friend of General Ulysses S. Grant through professional services rendered the General during the Civil War. He was buried in Plainfield, N. J., together with his son Charles Hill, Jr.

Joseph Anderson Schermerhorn and his wife are both buried in Riverview Cemetery, Trenton, N. J. He had two children and his son Abraham lives in Trenton, N. J.

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