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Backus, F. Albertine.-The late Phineas R. Backus was born in Chatham, Columbia county, N. Y., in 1822, educated in the district schools and was a merchant by occupation. In 1844 he married Charlotte E. Hicks of Brainard, Rensselaer county, and four children were born to them: Eugene, who died in infancy; Asbury C., Merville L. and F. Albertine. Asbury C. died at Andersonville prison; Mervile L. was also a soldier as well as a sailor, at Seattle, Washington. F. Albertine, born in Monroe county, resides in Waterford with her aunt, Sarah S. Proper. Mr. Backus traced his ancestry to William Backus who settled in Connecticut as early as 1637; he died in Mendon in 1849; his widow remarried and survives at this date (1898). Miss Backus's grandfather, Thomas Hicks, traces his ancestry to Robert Hicks, who came over in the ship Fortune in 1621, and settled in Duxbury, Mass.; he was captain in the early war. Miss Backus's uncle, John Proper, was born in Dutchess county, in 1808, of Holland parentage. In 1837 he married Sarah J. Hicks of Rensselaer county, moved to Waterford in 1849, and took an active interest in business and in the government of the village of Waterford, holding at different times responsible positions. He died in 1891 and his wife still survives, 1898.

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