C. Alonzo Meeker, Northampton

Originally posted for the Holiday Extravaganza 2003 Families

Transcribed by Joanne Murray. Contributed by Lisa Slaski.

Meeker, C. Alonzo, was born in Northampton, Fulton County, N.Y., in 1833. His grandfather on the paternal side was a native of Connecticut and moved to Vermont where he was engaged in farming until 1850, when he moved to Michigan. His grandfather on the maternal side was Judge Macomber of Essex County, and his mother was a first cousin to General Israel Putnam. His father was the Rev. Cyrus Meeker, who was born in Vermont, was a Methodist preacher and was for many years a member of the Troy Conference; he died at Buskirk, N.Y., in 1893, and was ninety-three years old. His mother, Mary Macomber, was born in Keeseville, Essex County, and died at Ballston, N.Y., in 1846.

C. Alonzo received his education in the public schools and academy at Shelbourn, Vt., and learned the carpenter’s trade and later he worked at Glens Falls, and came to Rensselaer County where he remained until 1857 when he went to Illinois for two years. He then came to Troy, and in 1863, with a Mr. Shanahan, organized the contracting and building establishment of Shanahan & Meeker. Mr. Shanahan died in 1871 and Mr. Meeker has continued the business alone. Among the buildings for which he has done the carpenter work is the Troy Savings Bank, St. Paul’s Chapel, William H. Frear’s residence, the Griswold Opera House and the Unitarian Church and many others. He has represented Secondward in the Board of Aldermen and has also been supervisor. He belongs to King Solomon’s Lodge, F. & A. M., Raymond Chapter of Hoosick Falls, and has taken both the Egyptian and Scottish Rites up to and including the ninety-fifth degree. He married in 1859, Mary E. Ostrander, of Hoosick Falls. He has one daughter, Mrs. William J. Herbage, of Round Lake, N. Y.

Source: Anderson, George Baker. Landmarks of Rensselaer County New York. ©1897. Pp. 232-233. Syracuse, NY. D. Mason & Company, Publishers.