Surnames: Casler, Hand, Mabie, Moran, Newkirk, Pinkney
Variations: Cassler, Mabee, Mebie, Maybee
Source: History of the Mohawk Valley - Gateway to the
West - 1614-1925
Covering The Six Counties of Schenectady, Schoharie,
Montgomery, Fulton, Herkimer and Oneida.
Volume IV, Illustrated; Page
835
Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1925
Gilbert Horatio Quackenbush, a substantial retired farmer and landowner of Fort Hunter in Montgomery County, was born in the town of Glen, New York, on December 17, 1869, a son of Harmon and Abigail (Newkirk) Quackenbush. Harmon Quackenbush also was born in the town of Glen, and died at Fort Hunter. His occupation was farming. He was the son of John and Elizabeth (Mabie) Quackenbush. John Quackenbush, paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Glen and spent his life there. He was a carpenter and builder. Elizabeth (Mabie) Quackenbush, his wife, was born in the town of Glen and died in the town of Perth in Fulton County. Abigail (Newkirk) Quackenbush, mother of Gilbert H. Quackenbush, also was born in the town of Glen, October 10, 1847, and is now residing with her daughter in Fort Hunter. She is a daughter of Jacob and Susan (Pinkney) Newkirk. Her father, a carpenter and builder, was born in the town of Glen and spent his life there. Susan (Pinkney) Newkirk, his wife, also was born in the town of Glen and her last days were spent in the town of Perth in Fulton County.
Gilbert H. Quackenbush received his early schooling in the public school at Auriesville, in Montgomery County, and supplemented this by attendance at the Christian Biblical Institute at Stanfordville. He early became associated with his father in farming and remained on the home farm until he began farming in his own interests on a farm which he rented in the Fultonville neighborhood. After working there for two years he rented the old Enders farm near Fort Hunter and continued to rent there until the death of the owner, Jacob Enders, after which he purchased the property and continued farming as proprietor until his retirement in April, 1924, making twenty nine years he farmed at that location.
On the 4th of June, 1890, in the town of Glen, Mr. Quackenbush was united in marriage to Miss Grace E. Casler, daughter of John J. and Charity E. (Hand) Casler. She was born on December 3, 1871. John J. Casler was born in the town of Glen and died on the Enders farm near Fort Hunter. Charity E. (Hand) Casler was born in the town of Oppenheim, and died on the Enders farm. Mrs. Gilbert H. Quackenbush is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Fort Hunter and takes an active interest in the Ladies Aid Society of the church and in the Rebekah Lodge of Amsterdam.
Mr. and Mrs. Quackenbush have three children, De Milt Aird Quackenbush, their eldest son, was born at Fort Hunter on January 28, 1898. He was graduated from the high school there in 1915. He then entered Cornell University at Ithaca, where he took a special course for two years, graduating in 1917. He was a member of the Aero and Rifle Clubs while at Cornell. He enlisted in the army at Albany during the World war, was trained at Camp Dodge (Iowa) and with the Eighty-eighth Division went overseas and saw service in France. He was honorably discharged on June 15, 1919, and is now associated with the John J. Turner & Son Contracting Company at Amsterdam. On September 11, 1920, he was united in marriage to Miss Mildred Moran, daughter of George Moran of Fort Hunter. They have one child, Bettie May Quackenbush, born on September 8, 1921. Stewart A. Quackenbush was born at Fort Hunter on November 2, 1903. He was graduated from the high school at Fonda in June, 1922, then took a course in the Amsterdam Business College and is now working for the John J. Turner & Son Company at Amsterdam. Alice C. Quackenbush was born at Fort Hunter on February 24, 1908. She is now (1925) a student in the Amsterdam high school.
During the World war Gilbert H. Quackenbush assisted in taking the local military census and was an active member of the Liberty Loan and Red Cross committees. He was supervisor of the town of Florida from January, 1920, to January, 1924, and also has rendered public service as president of the board of health. He is president of the Montgomery County Farm Bureau and is also vice president of the local Dairymen's League of Fonda. He is a trustee of the Engine and Hose Company of Fort Hunter and treasurer of the Auriesville Cemetery Association and of the Mohawk Valley Breeders Association. Mr. Quackenbush holds membership in Schoharie Tribe No. 125, I.O.R.M.; Amsterdam Lodge No. 101, B.P.O.E.; Fort Hunter Lodge No. 637, I.O.O.F., and the Star Encampment, No. 33. He is also a Mason, a member of Welcome Lodge at Amsterdam. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Fort Hunter and is a trustee of that church and a member of its official board. He and his wife are republicans.
