McNaught article by Karen
McNaught Brothers
By Karen Cuccinello 3-2019
The McNaught brothers were prominent figures born in Stamford, NY. One in the legal field and the other engaged in the automobile industry.
Both of the boys were born to Andrew J. and Cora L. (Thompson) McNaught. First there was a sister Henrietta L. (February 10, 1901- September 12, 1970), then Andrew J. Jr. ( September 15, 1902 – June 1976) and finally George T. (October 22, 1910 – April 1984).
Their father Andrew (1873-1943) was a lawyer and became the Delaware County Judge in 1919. He died six months before he was set to retire. Their mother Cora (1876-1964) was active in community affairs and a delegate to the Republican convention in 1928. The McNaughts were married January 31, 1900 and lived at 78 Main Street, Stamford now owned by the Slatins since 1986.
Andrew graduated valedictorian from Stamford Seminary in 1920 then went to Amherst College in Massachusetts. He graduated Yale University and Yale Law School and passed his NYS bar exam in January 1928. The next year he opened a law office in the Farmer’s National Bank building in Deposit. Two years later he became a law partner with district attorney Donald H. Grant both of Oneonta. He was a member of the newly formed NYS Bar Association membership committee for the Sixth Judicial district in 1933. While living at 35 Cedar St. Oneonta he enlisted and served with the NYS National Guard 1941-1943. In 1943 he planned to maintain a law office in the National Bank of Stamford, formerly occupied by his father. He was a faculty adviser to the Hartwick College Pre-law club in 1947. Andrew retired from practicing law about 1973.
On September 15,1928 Andrew married Margaret/Marguerite Fetzer. Three children followed: Earl Deforest, Mary Ann (Mrs. Richard C. Tarr) and Andrew J. the 3rd.
Andrew was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Oneonta, the NYS Bar Association, the Otsego County Bar Association, the Alumni of Yale University and the Oneonta F. and A M. 466. Masonic Lodge. At the time of his death in 1976 he and his wife where living at 12 Myrtle Ave.,Oneonta.
The first tid-bit I found in the newspaper about George was that he was recovering from a recent attack of influenza in 1919. In the same year his sister Henrietta graduated from Stamford Seminary and went on to Goucher College for girls. In September 1927 he was enrolled as a student in the Manlius Military Academy. George was injured while playing basketball for the Stamford Seminary team in 1929 and 1931. Also, in 1931, he attended a national rifleman’s camp, near Cleveland, OH. George became an officer of the Fire Department in 1933. In December 1933 he was appointed an agent for the Chevrolet line and received his first load of automobiles March 1934 to his garage at 3 North Delaware Ave. Stamford. Oldsmobile was added to his dealership in 1936. George enlisted in the Army February 3, 1941 and listed as a Lieutenant at Camp Rucker, AL in 1943. In 1957 his garage became one of the new official NYS motor vehicle inspection stations. Henrietta worked at the garage in the office. George tragically died April 1984 when his tractor rolled over on him at his camp on Kemper Mountain Road. The building and apparatus were sold after his death.
I spoke to Andrew J. McNaught III, of Davenport, and he told me a couple of cute tid-bits about his grandfather. He recalls that his aunt Henrietta often drove his grandfather, the judge, around to his official duties. His grandfather’s license plate was 3X3. The 3X meant it was issued in Delaware County and his was the third plate. After the grandfather died Henrietta got the plate, then George, then he got it and still uses 3X3 to this day. I asked him what the “J” initial stands for in Andrew J. because everything I found never listed the full middle name and he was not sure about his father and grandfather but his middle name is James.
I spoke to Sandy Ferris whose father Cliff Simonson worked for George for about 50 years until George’s death. She often hung out at the garage and remembers that George and Henrietta were both very nice down to earth people. Every fall George would hold an open house to show off the newest Chevrolets and Oldsmobiles and everyone who attended received a tiny souvenir bottle of Windsong cologne. She also remembers a big celebration, probably held in 1983, at the Red Carpet where George was honored by Chevrolet for servicing their cars for 50 years. Her father also often drove Judge McNaught to court in Delhi, Franklin and other courts around Delaware County.
All are buried in the McNaught plot at Woodland Cemetery, Delhi.
Thank you to Anne Slatin who also helped with this article. Photos from the Stamford Village Library.