The Fonda Blog

1. Adam Douw Fonda; Tryon County Judge, State Assemblyman, Safety Committee Member, Revolutionary War Officer (Lt. Col.); born 26-Dec-1736, died 8-Nov-1808 at 71 years of age; b. Schenectady, Schenectady, New York; d. Johnstown, Montgomery Co., New York; bur. Old Caughnawaga Cemetery, Fonda, New York; Lt. Col. in Tryon County Militia, 3rd Battalion (Mohawk); Adam and his brother John were captured by the British in 1780 when they came into the Mohawk Valley, raiding and burning houses. they both were taken to Canada where they eventually escaped; DAR Patriot Index Centennial Edition; Adam’s will was dated 29-May-1806 mentions wife Neeltje, sons Henry and Douw, daughters Wyntie and Maritje; see Stories for more…
2. Henry Adam Fonda; New York State Legislature, War of 1812 Officer; born 20-Aug-1766, died 17-Sep-1828 at 62 years of age; b. Caughnawaga (now Fonda), Montgomery, New York; bur. Old Caughnawaga Cemetery, Fonda, New York; Brig. Gen. Henry Adam Fonda (1766-1828) was an officer in Maj. Gen. Jacob Brown’s Infantry Regiment, later in Maj. Gen. Henry Dearborn’s Regiment and participated in the Lake Ontario Skirmishes during the War of 1812 against Canada and the British. He was appointed Brig. Gen. of the 11th Infantry in 1820. During 1807, 1816 and 1819, he was a member of the New York State legislature.
3. Henry Veeder Fonda; Attorney, Major in New York Militia; born 20-Aug-1788, died 1-Mar-1824 at 35 years of age; b. Schenectady, New York. Henry V. Fonda, born August 20th, 1788, a graduate of Union College in Schenectady in 1810, and was a successful legal practitioner at Schenectady. He died March 1st, 1824, unmarried. War of 1812 Service Records: Fonda, Henry 10th Regiment (Prior’s), New York Militia (Major).
4. Jacob Glen Fonda; Attorney, County Clerk, Revolutionary War Soldier; born 29-Aug-1761, died 8-Dec-1859 at 98 years of age; b. Schenectady, Albany Co., New York; 1850 U.S. Census, New York, Schenectady, Glenville; d. West Glenville, New York; served as private under Lieut. Abraham Ten Eyck, New York regiment. He was admitted to practice law in the State Supreme Court as an attorney, but abandoned that profession soon after 1800, and removed to his farm in Glenville. He was for many years employed as deputy clerk of Schenectady County, and died on his farm in West Glenville, aged ninety-eight; DAR Patriot Index Centennial Edition
5. Jellis Abraham Fonda; County Clerk, Revolutionary War Officer; born 25-Oct-1759, died 27-Aug-1834 at 74 years of age; b. Schenectady, Albany Co., New York; d. Chittenango, New York; held the commission of Lieutenant in Van Schaick’s regiment, which he resigned for a Captaincy in Colonel Willet’s Independent Corps, under whom he served to the close of the war (1777-1780). thereafter, he was for many years Clerk of Schenectady County,
6. John Douw Fonda; Tryon County Committee Man, Captain in French & Indian War, Private in Revolutionary War; born 8-Mar-1741, died 14-Feb-1815 at 73 years of age; b. Schenectady, Schenectady, New York; d. Montgomery Co., New York; bur. Old Fonda Cemetery, Fonda, New York; had been an officer in the early wars, served in the Associated Exempts under Capt. Giles Fonda at the battle of Oriskany. He also served as a committee man of Tryon county. Buried in Fonda Burial Ground back of County Fairground in Fonda.
7. Jellis Douwe Fonda; Merchant, Landowner, Judge, Senator, Revolutionary War Officer (Major); born 24-Mar-1727, died 23-Jun-1791 at 64 years of age; b. Schenectady, Schenectady, New York; d. Palatine, New York; bur. Old Caughnawaga Cemetery, Fonda, New York; Caughnawaga Cemetery Fonda, Montgomery Co New York 61, Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots, Vol.2, p. Serial: 12449; Volume: 6; DAR Patriot Index Centennial Edition.
8. Staats Lansing Fonda; Attorney; known as “Lansing”; born 28-Nov-1848, died 17-Nov-1888 at 39 years of age; b. Clifton Park, Saratoga Co., New York; bp. Reformed Dutch Church Of Amity, Visscher’s Ferry, Saratoga, New York; 1850 U.S. Census, New York, Saratoga, Clifton Park; moved family to Iowa in 1869, where he practiced law and was mayor of Sigourney, Keokuk Co., Iowa.

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1. Bridget Jane Fonda; Actress; born Jan-27-1964 in Los Angeles, California; studied theater at New York University; she married Danny Elfman in 2003; Musician, Composer; born 1954; see Wikipedia, Biographies for more…
2. Carol Fonda; Dancer, Teacher, Choreographer; see www.stepsnyc.com; danced with the San Francisco Ballet, Ballet de Lyon, et al; has taught master classes and workshops throughout the United States, Europe and Central America; has an M.A. in theater from the University of Miami, Florida and an M.F.A. in Dance from New York University’s Tisch School of Performing Arts; currently Artistic Director of Dance Forum and Resident Choreographer for Carol Fonda & Company.
3. Douw Fonda; Radio Actor, Manufacturer’s Representative; born Sep-30-1912, died May-7-1997 at 84 years of age; b. Omaha, Nebraska; d. Denver, CO; attended the University of Nebraska; He had been a radio actor in New York City before he moved to Denver to start his own business. He was president of Douw Fonda Co. for 50 years. He retired as a manufacturer’s representative.
4. Harry Stuart Fonda; Landscape Artist; see www.askart.com; born 24-Aug-1863, died Aug-10-1942 at 78 years of age; b. San Francisco, CA; 1870 U.S. Census, California, San Francisco, San Francisco Ward 12; 1880 US Census, San Francisco, CA; Fonda, Harry Stuart 1863-1942, Artists of the American West. A biographical dictionary; see Biographies for more…
5. Henry Jaynes Fonda; Actor; born May-16-1905, died Aug-12-1982 at 77 years of age; b. Grand Island, Hall Co., Nebraska; 1930 Census, Nebraska, Douglas, Omaha, District 114; d. Los Angeles, CA; Academy and Tony Award-winning film and stage actor who as a young man portrayed honest, hardworking men, and as an adult often played heroic characters. He appeared in nearly 90 films, which include the Grapes of Wrath (1940), Young Mr. Lincoln (1939) and On Golden Pond (1981); see Wikipedia, Biographiesfor more…
   1. 1st wife Margaret Brooke Sullavan; Actress; born May-16-1911, died Jan-1-1960 at 48 years of age; b. Norfolk, VA; d. New Haven, CT; committed suicide by drug overdose;
   2. 2nd wife Frances Ford Seymour; Actress; born Apr-14-1908, died Apr-14-1950 at 42 years of age; dau. of Eugene Ford Seymour and Sophie Mildred Bower; d. Craig House (sanatorium), Beacon, Dutchess County, New York; committed suicide. (see “Don’t Tell Dad” autobiography by Peter Fonda). 1st marriage 1931 to George Tuttle Brokaw who died in 1936. She had one child with her 1st husband, Frances and two with Henry Fonda, Jane and Peter;
   3. 3rd wife Susan Blanchard; born 1928; stepdaughter of Oscar Hammerstein II, theatrical lyricist and producer; studied at the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania;
   4. 4th wife Afdera Franchetti; Baroness; born 1933; International jet-setter, daughter of Italian aristocrat and explorer, Baron Raimondo Franchetti, who was assassinated while on an envoy to Mussolini on the orders of Churchill; Afdera had alleged affair with John F. Kennedy during the very week he entered the White House; once arrested for drug smuggling; detailed in her 1987 autobiography “Never Before Noon“;
   5. 5th wife Shirlee Mae Adams; Stewardess, Model; born 1932.
6. Jane Seymour Fonda; Actress, Writer, Model, Producer, Activist, Fitness Guru; born Dec-21-1937; b. New York City, New York; attended Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York, 1960, Actors Studio, New York City, studied with Lee Strasberg. She was named after one of Henry VIII’s wives, Lady Jane Seymour; since coincidently, her father’s middle name was Jaynes and her mother’s maiden name was Seymour; see Wikipedia, Biographies, Storiesfor more…
   1. 1st husband Roger Vladmir Vadim; Director, Writer, Actor, Producer; born Jan-26-1928, died Feb-11-2000 at 72 years of age;
   2. 2nd husband Thomas Hayden; Politician, Author; born Dec-11-1939;
   3. 3rd husband Robert Edward Turner III; Media mogul and philanthropist; born Nov-19-1938 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
7. Joseph Fonda; Musician, Composer, Producer; see www.joefonda.com; born Dec-16-1954; b. Amsterdam, Montgomery Co., New York; Berklee College of Music, Boston, Massachusetts 1975; composer, bassist, recording artist, interdisciplinary performer and producer; an accomplished international artist, has performed as a leader in his own ensembles throughout the United States and Europe, and as a sideman with other bands as bassist.
8. Mina M. Fonda; Portrait Artist; see www.askart.com; born 28-Mar-1862, died 1924 at 62 years of age; m. Burlington Twp, Chittenden, Vermont; 1880 US Census, Laconia, Belknap, New Hampshire; Fonda, Mina M.; Dictionary of Women Artists. An international dictionary of women artists born before 1900; 1985; Who Was Who in American Art. Compiled from the original thirty-four volumes of [American Art Annual: Who’s Who in Art, Biographies of American Artists Active from 1898-1947.]; 1985.
   1. married Leonard Ochtman; Impressionist Artist; see www.askart.com; born 21-Oct-1854, died Oct-10-1934 at 80 years of age; b. Zonnemaire, the Netherlands; d. Greenwich, Connecticut;
   2. dau. Dorothy Fonda Ochtman; Still-Life Artist; see www.askart.com; born 1892, died Apr-26-1971 at 79 years of age; b. Riverside, Connecticut; d. Greenwich, Connecticut; graduate of Smith College, Bryn Mawr and National Academy of Design. Was a Guggenheim Fellow for study in Europe in 1927-28. Won many awards, among them the first prize of the Greenwich Society of Artists in 1947 and 1951, the Hooker Prize and best-in-show of the Greenwich Art Society in 1960, and the National Association of Women Artists in 1952.
9. Peter Seymour Fonda; Actor, Director, Writer, Producer; born Feb-23-1939; b. New York City, New York. Educated at the University of Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska; left a year before graduating; Peter Fonda, a longtime friend of Thomas McGuane, first saw Montana during the filming of 92 In the Shade (1975), which McGuane wrote and directed. Fonda married Portia Rebecca Crockett (McGuane’s ex-wife) in 1977 and moved to Livingston, Montana soon after. they have been permanent residents ever since; see Wikipedia, Biographiesfor more…
   1. 1st wife Susan Brewer; Actress, Artist; her stepfather was Howard Hughes’s right-hand man;
   2. 2nd wife Portia Rebecca Crockett; nickname “Becky” g4-granddaughter of Davy Crockett; aka Becky McGuane; son Thomas IV from previous marriage to Thomas McGuane.
10. Sybil Clark Fonda; Impressionist Artist; Illustrator of “Palatines Along the Mohawk” by Great-Aunt Ada Laura Fonda Snell; born Jun-17-1923, died Jan-15-1998 at 74 years of age; b. Fonda Farm, Town of Mohawk (near Fonda), Montgomery, New York; 1930 Census, New York, Montgomery, Mohawk, District 44; d. Norristown, Pennsylvania; attended Mount Holyoke College; then Univ. of Iowa, MFA degree in 1948; taught Art at Tribes Hill, near Fonda, New York; member of Art Student League of New York and Columbia U.; granted a Fulbright Scholarship in 1954 to study Art in Paris for one year; resided on the Fonda Farm while exhibiting her art work locally, regionally, and nationally. see Website

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1. Jacob Douw Fonda; Minister; born 19-Oct-1793, died 3-Mar-1856 at 62 years of age; b. Watervliet, Albany, New York; a graduate of Union College in Schenectady in 1815; 1850 U.S. Census, New York, Rensselaer, Schaghticoke; d. Schaghticoke, Rensselaer, New York; the Rev. Jacob D. Fonda, was the last regular pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church of Fonda, serving from 1836 to 1842. (A split in the congregation occurred and a new church was built in 1843 which was called the Reformed Church of Fonda.) It is interesting to note that his wife was a sister of Dr. Scudder, the first medical missionary to India. Rev. Fonda then served from 1842-1848 as pastor for the Greenport Church in Johnstown, New York.
2. Jesse Isaac Fonda; Minister; ordained 1-Aug-1809, Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, Nassau, Rensselaer, New York; Installed Pastor of the German Reformed church at Montgomery Sep 28, 1817; had also been Pastor for several years of the old 1st Dutch Reformed Church in New Brunswick and the Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor, Michigan.; born 27-Apr-1786, died 2-May-1827 at 41 years of age; b. Colonie, Albany, New York; bp. First Dutch Reformed Church, Albany, Albany, New York; bur. Brick (German) Reformed Church Cemetery Orange County, New York; a graduate of Union College in Schenectady in 1806 and the theological Seminary in New Brunswick, New York; res. Watervliet, New York and Montgomery, New York.
3. Jesse Lawrence Fonda; Minister; born 1842 in Pulaski, Oswego Co., NY, died 14-January-1925 in Oak Park, Cook Co., IL; graduate of Wheaton College; School Teacher, Reverend, Healing Thru Mind Practitioner; Leader of Third Church Scientist, Chicago; Congregational Work in Minnesota, 1832 – 1920; Independent (Congregational) Ministerial Register, 1892-95 in Providence IL.
4. Donald Albert Fonda Jr.; Minister; born 17-August-1938 in Washington, D.C., died 11-October-2008 while visiting Venice, Italy; a graduate of Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, W.Va., with a History degree and the former Colgate Rochester Divinity School in Rochester, N.Y. with a Master of Divinity degree; ordained as an American Baptist minister in 1966 at the Gaines-Carlton Larger Parish of Albion, N.Y.; during his 35 years in ministry, served churches in CT, OH, MA and RI; volunteer with the Greater Lawrence Habitat for Humanity from 2002 to 2004; board member of the Refugee Immigration Ministry in Malden, from 2005 to 2006.

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1. Albert Dow Fonda; Dairy Farmer; Cornell University Agriculture College graduate 1917; born 9-Mar-1893 in Fonda, N.Y., died 19-Jan-1962 in Fonda, N.Y.; enlisted in U.S. Marines right after college graduation, assigned to Key West flight training school, WWI ended prior to completion; worked in New Jersey Creamery until logging accident partially disabled his father, thereupon returned home to help on the farm; continued with successful farming career, taking after his father who had farm machinery dealership and owned one of the first steam tractors in the area; believed strongly in education, sending his children to (better) neighboring Johnstown schools and supporting them all in college educations; later helped foster the Fonda-Fultonville Centralized School, crusading against local rivalries; see Stories for more…
2. Charles Henry Fonda; Cotton Planter; born Aug-16-1904, died Feb-9-1979 at 74 years of age; b. Memphis, Shelby Co., TN; 1930 Census, Tennessee, Shelby, Memphis, District 53; d. San Antonio, Bexar Co., Texas; bur. Tunica, Mississippi; res. Deerlake Plantation, in both Tennessee and Arkansas; graduate of Washington & Lee University.
3. Clinton Jesse Fonda; Dairy Farmer; born 14-Oct-1861; b. Watervliet, Albany, New York; 1870 United States Census, Watervliet, Albany, New York; 1880 United States Census, Watervliet, Albany, New York; 1930 Census, New York, Albany, Colonie, District 126; lived on old family homestead near Crescent, New York.
4. Douw Henry Fonda; Dairy Farmer; born 21-Jul-1809, died 11-Nov-1895 at 86 years of age; b. Caughnawaga (now Fonda), Montgomery, New York; Douw Henry and Henry Douw were twins; 1850 U.S. Census, New York, Montgomery, Mohawk; 1880 United States Census, Mohawk, Montgomery, New York; Douw Henry Fonda (1809-95) owned 233 acres; he m. Ann Veeder, (1810-90) d. of Albert, son of Col. Abraham Veeder.
5. Douw Jellis Fonda; Dairy Farmer; see www.rootsweb.com; born 22-Aug-1700, died 22-May-1780 at 79 years of age; b. Schenectady, New York; bur. Old Caughnawaga Cemetery, Fonda, New York; moved from Schenectady, New York to Caughnawaga (now Fonda) in 1751. Douw was killed by Sir Wm. Johnson’s Indians on 22 May 1780. His house was plundered & burned, sons John & Adam were made prisoners and taken to Canada. His will was dated 16-Dec-1779, proved 13-Dec-1791. the Village of Fonda, New York was named for him; DAR Patriot Index Centennial Edition; see Stories for more…
6. Evert Yates Fonda; Farmer; born 1824, died 1-Mar-1870 at 46 years of age; b. Fulton, Montgomery Co., New York; d. Shopiere, Rock Co., WI; migrated from New York to Wisconsin in the late 1850’s. Evert was a prosperous farmer in the Shopiere, Wisconsin area. The road south from Hodson’s mill was called “the Evert Y. Fonda road” (from “the Centennial History of the Town of Turtle, 1836-1936” by Annie McLenegan). Evert died young due to diabetes.
7. Jesse Abraham Fonda; Farmer, School Trustee, Overseer of Highways; born 14-Jan-1834, died 16-Dec-1891 at 57 years of age; b. and d. Watervliet, New York; bp. Boght-Becker Dutch Reformed Church, Colonie, Albany, New York; 1870 United States Census, Watervliet, Albany, New York; 1880 United States Census, Watervliet, Albany, New York; 1870 United States Census, Watervliet, Albany, New York.
8. Johannes Peter Fonda; Farmer, Landowner; Captain in Revolutionary War Militia; born 12-Oct-1735; b. Albany, New York; the Fondas lived on what was called the “Flatts,” a district along the Poestenkill Creek on the east border of Troy, near the bridge crossing the creek and leading to Albany. they owned a large estate in this vicinity, over 500 acres, it is said. Where the present pond is formed by a mill dam connecting with a collar shop, was an orchard, and the house was near the present bridge. this family was one of the first settlers of Hoosick Falls, Albany Co., New York; DAR Patriot Index Centennial Edition
9. Martin Jacob Fonda; Farmer, Civil War Soldier; born 1819, died Mar-1864 at 45 years of age; b. New York; 1850 U.S. Census, New York, Rensselaer, Troy Ward 5; Military Record: Residence: New Chester, Wisconsin; Enlisted as a Private on 06 February 1864; Company E, 7th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin; Died of disease Company E, 7th Infantry Regiment Wisconsin on 26 March 1864 in Baltimore, Maryland.
10. Peter John Fonda; Farmer, Boatman; born 3-Jan-1778, died 14-Nov-1848 at 70 years of age; b. Caughnawaga (now Fonda), Montgomery, New York; d. Fultonville, New York; bur. Old Cemetery, Fultonville; In 1783, the Consistory met at the parsonage with Dominie Romeyn to listen to the petition of those who resided on the south side of the river to establish a free ferry to the church (DRC of Fonda). It was agreed that wood be delivered by the congregation on both sides of the river at the home of John Wemple, who consented to keep and run for the congregation, Sundays and other church days, a ferry, for those who attended church. John Fonda agreed to allow a road over his lands to the ferry. this ferry was in operation as late as 1825, when it was conducted by Peter Fonda.
11. Robert Mitchell Fonda; Dairy Farmer; born 15-Aug-1824, died Aug-10-1913 at 88 years of age; b. Montgomery, Fulton County, N.Y.; 1860 Census in Clayton Co., Iowa; 1880 Census, Monona, Clayton, Iowa; d. Monona, Clayton, Iowa; R. Mitchell Fonda, farmer and dairyman, Monona Township, and one of the enterprising citizens of Clayton County, Iowa was born in Montgomery, now Fulton County, New York In 1855 Mr. Fonda left his home in New York with his family and emigrated to Clayton County, locating in Giard Township, one mile east of Monona, where he remained until 1864, when he purchased his present farm of 256 acres. History of Clayton County, Iowa, 1882, Monona Township, p. 1040-1041.
12. Stephen Sammons Fonda; Farmer, Oil Dealer, Town Sheriff, Lumberman, Civil War Soldier; Hop Grower and Farmer on leases of Douw A. Fonda, Sheriff of Fonda, New York; born 23-Apr-1832, died Jan-15-1917 at 84 years of age; b. Reformed Protestant Dutch Church Of Caughnawaga, Fonda, Montgomery, New York; 1850 U.S. Census, New York, Montgomery, Mohawk; Co. A, 99 N. Y. Infantry, Private, 132 N. Y. V., Union; 1880 United States Census, District 2, Mohawk, Montgomery, New York; 1900 United States Census, Fort Plain, Montgomery Co. , New York; d. Fort Plain, New York.

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