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Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs:
Wiltsie

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[This information is from Vol. IV, pp. 1773-1774 of Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs, edited by Cuyler Reynolds (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1911). It is in the Reference collection of the Schenectady County Public Library at R 929.1 R45. Some of the formatting of the original, especially in lists of descendants, may have been altered slightly for ease of reading.]

(VIII) John, son of Ambrose (q. v.) and Magdelena (Miller) Wiltsie, was born on the old Wiltsie homestead in South Bethlehem, Albany county, New York, and died on his own farm in that town, July 26, 1863. He was an energetic farmer and capable man of business, ranking with the prosperous men of his town. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed church, and a Republican in politics. He married, in Bethlehem, Hannah Hicks, of Dutchess county, daughter of one of the old families in that section. She was a devout church woman; her death preceded that of her husband. Children: Caleb; John; Ambrose, of further mention; Hannah; Margaret; Julia. Other children died in infancy; those mentioned grew to maturity and most of them married.

(IX) Ambrose, son of John and Hannah (Hicks) Wiltsie, was born in the town of Bethlehem, Albany county, New York, near the South Bethlehem railroad station, in 1847, and died on his own farm in the same town April 2, 1867, at the age of twenty years and six months. He was a farmer, and possessed elements of character that promised a successful future when his life suddenly terminated. He was a member of the Methodist church, and married, in Bethlehem, Mary K. Shaffer, born in that town in 1847, who survives him and continues to reside on the farm left her by her first husband. She married (second) Henry Rupert, born in Germany, who came to the United States early in life and settled in South Bethlehem, where he died leaving: Walter, Israel, Anna, Catherine and Mamie. Ambrose and Mary K. (Shaffer) Wiltsie had two children:

  1. John A., of further mention; and
  2. George, born July, 1866, a carpenter and farmer of South Bend; married Ada Robertson, widow of Barnet Ten Eyck, child, Charles; by a second marriage he has Rupert, Pearl, Blanche and Florence.

Mary K. (Shaffer) Wiltsie, is a daughter of George Shaffer, born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, in 1838. He was educated in the State Church government schools (Lutheran) and grew up a farmer. His brother Henry, who had previously emigrated to the United States, returned to his native town and by his persuasions induced George Shaffer to accompany him to the United States. Before leaving, Henry Shaffer married Mary Ringle, his brother George having married three years before her sister Margaret. They all came to the United States in 1845, landing in New York City, where George Shaffer remained. Henry and his wife continued their journey northward, finally settling in the town of Bethlehem, Albany county, New York. George Shaffer remained in New York City about one year, and then removed to the town of Ballston, Saratoga county, New York, where he remained until 1857, when he joined his brother in Bethlehem. Here he purchased a farm which he cultivated successfully until his death in February, 1902. His wife died March 20, 1856. He was a Lutheran in religion and a Republican in politics. George and Mary (Ringle) Shaffer had:

  1. Margaret, born in Germany in 1843, being two years of age when her parents came to the United States; married John Carkner, a farmer of Bethlehem, and has Richard, George and Eliza.
  2. Mary K., born in Ballston, Saratoga county, New York, June 1, 1846, the first American-born child of her parents; she married (first) Ambrose Wiltsie, (second) Henry Rupert; both of whom she survives.
  3. Maria, married Silvanus Misner; resides at Cedar Hills, New York, and has: Lester, Amanda, Lester (2).
  4. Elizabeth, married (first) John Snyder, deceased, leaving children: Steven, Arthur, Catherine and Frederick. John Snyder was killed in the disastrous quarry explosion which brought sorrow and desolation into so many homes in that section. She married (second) Charles Mosher, and has a daughter, Nellie.
  5. Catherine, married Elmer Brown, of Cedar Hills, New York.

Henry Shaffer, brother of George, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, in 1815, died on Thanksgiving Day in 1895, in Duanesburg, Schenectady county, New York. He came to the United States, spent two years in the city of Albany, and then returned to the land of his birth, where he married Mary, sister of Margaret Ringle, wife of George Shaffer, and all came to the United States together in 1845. Henry settled in the town of Bethlehem, where his wife died in 1853, leaving children: Elizabeth, John H., George H., Robert, the latter dying young. He married (second) Mary Beaneau, of Albany, who died in Duanesburg, September 7, 1910, aged eighty-seven years, leaving children: Henry, Anson, Charles, Catherine, Peter (deceased), and John.

(X) John A., son of Ambrose and Mary K. (Shaffer) Wiltsie, was born on his father's farm near South Bethlehem station, Albany county, New York, February 20, 1865. He was but an infant when his father died. He received a good education in the public schools, and was reared a farmer, which occupation he followed all his life. In 1890 he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in South Bethlehem, near his birthplace, which has ever since been his home and the scene of his activities. He has prospered in business and is a man highly respected in his community. He is a member of the Methodist church of South Bethlehem. He married, in Bethlehem, December 2, 1883, Minnie E. Ferrell, born in Summit, Schoharie county, New York, May 26, 1860, daughter of Ebenezer H. and Emmeline A. (Boughton) Ferrell. Ebenezer Ferrell was born in Schoharie county in 1836, removed to Bethlehem, Albany county, where he died in 1872, son of Andrew and Emmeline (Hicks) Ferrell, of Dutchess county, New York. He resided in Schoharie county from the date of his marriage until 1866, when he removed to Bethlehem, where he died a few months afterward at the age of fifty-two years. They were both devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife, Emmeline A. (Boughton) Ferrell, was born in Schoharie county, New York, May 14, 1838, died in Bethlehem, March 11, 1904, daughter of Henry and Rosanna (Rowland) Boughton, both born in Schoharie county, lived in Rensselaerville, Albany county, on the Schoharie line for many years, where he kept a hotel. Ebenezer H. and Emmeline A. (Boughton) Ferrell have two children:

  1. Minnie, married John A. Wiltsie;
  2. Emmett, with W. Sandford Van Derzee, married Elizabeth Van Allen, of Bethlehem, and has
    1. J. Allen, born 1890, now a student in the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, and
    2. Margery, born 1897.

John A. and Minnie (Ferrell) Wiltsie have four children:

  1. Mary K., born October 28, 1884; married Charles Baumes, educated in the State Normal College, formerly a teacher in the public schools, now employed in the clerical department of the General Electric Works at Schenectady.
  2. Anna E., born December 23, 1886.
  3. Roy, born July 14, 1888.
  4. Edith M., born April 12, 1890.

The family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

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