My Genealogy Hound

HON. WILLIAM H. WAIT, President of the Farmers and Merchants’ Bank of Watkins, is a native of Hoosick Corners, Rensselaer County, N. Y., and was born July 26, 1842, the son of Nathan and Maria (Bowers) Wait. His father was twice married, and by his first wife, formerly Lucy Millerman, he became the father of one child, Bety, who is now deceased. His first wife died in Hoosick, and for his second wife he married Maria Bowers. William H., our subject, is their only child.

Nathan Wait was a native of Genesee County, and after locating at Hoosick became very extensively engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods. Fortune smiled on his labors, and he accumulated what passed for a very handsome competence in those days. He removed from Hoosick to Hector (then in Tompkins County), and there he served as Justice of the Peace for several years. He was also elected by the people’s vote to the position of Justice of Sessions. In early life he was a Whig, but when the Republican party rose into prominence out of the wreck of old political organizations that preceded the Civil War, he fell into its associations, and became an active worker in its behalf. He was always actively interested in local politics, and felt that no citizen had a right to shirk his duty. At his residence in Hector, he died, October 23, 1863, and his wife died in that village about the year 1889.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the district school, at Professor Gillett’s school at Peach Orchard, and at the Rochester Business College. On leaving school he returned to the farm in the town of Hector, and continued there until 1881, when he removed to Watkins, and in May of that year engaged in the banking business, in which he has continued up to the present time.

In March, 1872, Mr. Wait married Miss Mary E. Wickham, daughter of George C. and Martha Wickham, of Hector. To them have been born four children, namely: George C., who is assistant cashier of the bank; Esther W., Robert D. and William B., all of whom have had good educational advantages. Mrs. Wait is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

As the candidate of the Republican party, in the fall of 1891 Mr. Wait was elected a Member of the Legislature as the representative from Schuyler County, and in 1892 was re-elected. He has always been a Republican, and has been an active worker in the interests of the party. Socially he is identified with the Masonic fraternity.