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 iZ^^t^<Ly 
 
WI^HMHW 
 
 m MEMORIAM. 
 
 n 
 
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 ISAAC MCCONIHE 
 
 ■*»»»■ 
 
 FAMA SEMPER YIYAT. 
 
 * i > > ^1 ■ . » -^ 
 
 TKOY, N. Y. : 
 
 PRINTED AT THE OFFICE OF THE DAILY PRESS. 
 
 <^^7 
 
 L • 
 
'Of 
 
 
Isaac McConiiie was bom at Merriinac, New 
 Haini)siiire, on the 22d day of August, 1787. 
 
 He was the ^'oun2;est son of Jonx McConihe 
 of that })hiee, and was of Scotch descent. — 
 His grandfather was born in Argyleshire, 
 Scotland on the 22d (hiy of December, 1669, 
 and in eai'iy life emigrated to this country and 
 settled in the State of New^ Hampshire. 
 
 His ancestry can be traced back to the 
 fourteenth century. In 1369 Sir Neil Camp- 
 iiKLL, of Lockawe, Argyleshire, Chief of the 
 [)owerftil Clan .of Campbell, married the sister 
 of llo]>KKT Brlce, and from thence the Camp- 
 liFj.Ls of Argyleshire descended. Duncan 
 Campbell, the grandson of Sir Neil the founder 
 of the Clan or Sept of the Campbells of In- 
 vera\ve according to a Highland custom, as- 
 sumed the name of Donachie or "The Mac- 
 donachie," which translated is " the Son of 
 
^ 
 
 Duncan" his fatliei's name having- been 
 Duncan. 
 
 Some of his descendants dropped the name 
 of "Cani})l)ell," wliile other branches or ca- 
 dets took the i)atronymic of .\rACONocniE. In 
 the old acts of Parliament, and in the old 
 titles, the name is variously spelt, .AlAroxocjiv, 
 McCoxAHY, McCoxniE. In 1()(U, Macoxochv, 
 of In vera we, was second in command of the 
 Earl of Argyle's army against the icigning 
 house of Stuart, and he is fre([uently men- 
 tioned in the Earl's ti'iah The same year his 
 estate and family titles wciv forfeited and 
 attainted and sold by the Crown. In 1(>G(S 
 after tlie Revolution, the attaindei' of the 
 Earl of Argyle and his adherents was le- 
 versed and MACoxoruv of Invi^rawe ])aid a 
 sum of money by the government in lieu of 
 his estate at Inverawe. With tliis remune- 
 ration the estate called Meado\\'bank. in Mid- 
 Lothian, was purchased, and it has been in 
 possession of the familv ever since. 
 
The present representative and Chief of 
 the Clan of the ancient line of Campbell's 
 and Maconochie's, is Alexander Maconochie 
 witli the title of Loid Meadowbank, residing 
 on his estate near Edinburgh, 
 
 Isaac McCoxuik graduated with distinction 
 from Dartmouth College in the Class of 1812, 
 
 and came to Troy. X. Y., the same year. He 
 commenced the study of the law with Steph- 
 en Koss, a lawyer of high stauding, with 
 whom, after haviug been [idmitted to the Bar 
 in iSl.x he formed a co-partuership for the 
 practice of Ids profession. His liealth fail- 
 ing, in isbs he tra\elled nearly two years 
 through all the Middle, Southern and West- 
 ern States, and Territories. He had in view 
 the seh^ction of a place which otfered more 
 ad\antagcs for the practice (jf his profession. 
 But tailing to find one in accordance with his 
 views he returned to Troy to nuike it his per- 
 nument home, and trom that time identified 
 himself with all the business interests and 
 philanthropic enterprises of the city. 
 
Soon after his return lie \N'as appointed a 
 Justice of the Peace, ^\hich othce he hehl ten 
 years; also, a Counnissic^ner of Deeds, and 
 Master and Examiner in Chancery. 
 
 In 1826 he married Miss Sarah S. Strong, 
 daughter of H. ^V. Stnmg of Andierst, Mass., 
 grand-daughter of Sin§)n Strong, Judge of 
 the Supreme Court of Mass. 
 
 He was in 1828 ajipointed Judge of the 
 Coiut of Common Pleas of Jiensselaer coun- 
 ty, and in 1831 County Treasurer, which 
 office he held tor several years. He held the 
 office of Postmaster under ditfeient iuhninis- 
 trations from 1882 to 18-12, and was for sev- 
 eral terms one of the Su])erviso]'s of the 
 county of Rensselaei*. 
 
 He tilled with ahility many positions of 
 trust and honor involving large lesponsibili- 
 ties, being for many years a Bank Director; 
 Pailroad Dii'cctor: President of the Tioy Ly- 
 ceum of Natural History; Vice President of 
 the Troy Association for the lm})rovement of 
 
the Condition of the Poor; Tmstee of the 
 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Trustee of 
 the Troy Orphan Asylum; President and 
 Treasurer of a Bridge Company, and a Turn- 
 pike Company; Vice President, Treasurer 
 and Trustee of the Troy Cemetery Associa- 
 tion; Senior Warden of St. Paul's Church, 
 Troy. c^'C, &c. 
 
 Judge McConihe being a patron of the 
 Arts and Sciences received many appoint- 
 ments of honor. He was corresponding 
 member of the New York Historical Society, 
 Fellow of the Northern Academv of Arts and 
 Sciences, honorary member of the Ncav Eng- 
 hmd llistoricid and Genealogical Society, hon- 
 orary member of tlie American Statistical 
 Association, member of the Association for 
 the Advancement of Science, and Doctor of 
 Laws, the honorary degree of L. L. D. having 
 been conferred upon him by Racine College, 
 Iiacine. Wisconsin. 
 
 He was verv much attached to his Alma 
 
^ 
 
 6 
 
 Mater, and held all his classmates in affec- 
 tionate remembrance. In 1862 he initiated 
 and arranoed a meetino' of his classmates to 
 celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of tlieir grad- 
 uation. A semi-centennial celebration was 
 held, but alas ! how few ; less than half a 
 score of the many who composed the hirge 
 class of 1812, re-assembled in the halls of 
 DartuK^uth. to revive the memories of their 
 College days. 
 
 Judge MoCoxiHE early in life actively en- 
 gaged in politics, haA'ing espoused the ])i'inci- 
 ples and policy of the Democratic j>arty. For 
 several years he w^as Chaiinian of the Rens- 
 selaer County Democratic Central Committee, 
 and was looked upon as a safe and sagacious 
 counsellor. He enjoyed the confidence and 
 esteem of the leading men of Ids j)arty 
 throughout the country, and was always faith- 
 ful in the support of its measures. During 
 the war of the rebellion in bSiJl, he sus- 
 tained the Constitutional Government with 
 
 JBL 
 
7 
 
 all Ills energy, and sent forth three of his sons 
 to battle, one of whom, Col. John McConihe, 
 169th Reg. N. Y. S. Vols., fell mortally 
 wounded while leadins; his command in the 
 bloody battle of Cold Harl)or, Virginia, on the 
 1st of June, 1864. 
 
 He was a consistent and faithful member 
 of th;:' Protestant Episcopal church ; had been 
 a couimuuicant for forty years in St. Paul's 
 church. Troy, and was Senior Warden of that 
 cliurcli at the tinu' of liis deatli. A man of 
 excjllent Judgment, his opinions and views 
 always commanded the respect of his asso- 
 ciates. He was an exemplar of absteimious- 
 ness. [)unctuality and temperance, a good 
 citizen, a kind father and faithful husband. 
 
 On the morning of October 26th, 1867, he 
 \sas taken seriously ill, and on the afternoon 
 of jS'ovend)er 1st, he fell asleep, we trust, in 
 Jesus, to awake to a blessed immortality. 
 
 The sudden death of Judge McConihe, so 
 hmg identitied with all the interests of the 
 
8 
 
 
 
 city, created a profound sensation. The mem- 
 bers of the bar, and the various organizations 
 with which he was connected, asseml)led and 
 passed resokitions of esteom and condolence. 
 
 His funeral took ])hiceon Monday, Novem- 
 ber 4th, from St. Paul's church, in Troy. The 
 solemn service of tlie Episcopal church, })re- 
 liminary to the public obsequies, were con- 
 ducted at his residence by the Rev. Dr. T. W. 
 Coit, his pastor, and Eev. Edgar T. (Iiapnmn. 
 The services of the church were conducted by 
 the Rev. T. W. Coit. D. I).. L. L. 1)., assisted by 
 Rev. John Ireland Tucker, 1). 1)., Re^ . Edgai' 
 T. Chapnuin, Rev. Albert Danker and Rev. J. 
 N. Mulford. The members of tlie bar, direc- 
 tors and trustees of the several associati(jns 
 in the city, with which he was connected, at- 
 tended in a body. Several institutions were 
 closed out of respect U) liis memory. 
 
 The pall-bearers were tlie lion. Ira Karris, 
 and the Hon. Erastus Corning, of Albany, 
 Major-General AYool, Hon. J. C. Heartt, Hon. 
 

 9 
 
 C. R. Iiigalls. Philander AVells. K. A. ramien- 
 ter and Wni. Saj2:e, of Tioy. 
 
 He left a family eoniposed of his wife, a 
 daimhter and five sons. 
 
 I)cro)'( dccKti (dldt't (ic'ito. 
 
 ( 
 
^ 
 
 10 
 
 DEATH OF JUDGE McCONfflE. 
 
 From Troy Daily Times, November 1st, IStu. 
 
 The apprehensions expressed in our first 
 edition in regard to the fatal termination of 
 the severe ilhiess of Judge McConihe, were 
 sadly realized at 22 o'clock this afternoon, at 
 which hour this venerable citizen i)assed 
 aw^ay. For upwards of half a century Judge 
 McCoxniE has been a resident of Twy, and 
 during his residence here he held many posi- 
 tions of honor and importance, such as Mas- 
 ter in Chancery, Judge of the Common Pleas, 
 Postmaster, Supervisor, as well as trusts of a 
 benevolent and religious nature. He was 
 born in Merrimac, jS". IL, in the year 1787, 
 and was consequently eighty years of age. 
 The disease of which he died was dysentery, 
 aggravated by an attack of congestion of the 
 lungs. 
 
11 
 
 THE DEATH OF JUDGE McCONIHE. 
 
 From Troy Daily Whig, NovL'iuber M, 1SC7. 
 
 One bv one our old landmarks are fallins;. 
 One by one, and day by day, we are called 
 upon to record the departure from amongst 
 us of some one of those who, for a long decade 
 of years, have been recognized and known 
 amongst us as one of our oldest, most respect- 
 aV>le and enterprising citizens. This, to our 
 great regret, is our melancholy dut}' to-day. 
 The Hon. Isaac MrCoxiuE. who, for more than 
 a half century last past, has resided in our 
 city, is no more. He dei)arted this life, full 
 of honors, yesterday afternoon about three 
 o'clock, after a brief illness of but two or 
 three days, liut few men ever resided in 
 Troy who made themstdves more useful to 
 their country or fellow-ini^n than Judge Mc- 
 CoxiHE ; no man ever deserved the credit of 
 being a good citizen and an industrious man 
 more than he did. He was almost constantlv 
 
12 
 
 engaged during liis residence amongst us, in 
 promoting some landable object, or in the 
 [)erformance of some useful duty, and ever 
 took a lively interest in all that ai)i)ertained 
 to the interest of Tioy. and tlie prosperity 
 and happiness of liis fellow-citizeus. |)ai-ticu- 
 larly the cause of Cihication. For a long 
 number of years lie ^\■as a trustee of th- 
 Rensselaer PolytcM'hnie Institute, aud eou- 
 tributed largely by his intluenee, liberalits 
 and exertions, to the ])ros])ei'ity and success 
 of that now unrivaliMl institution. Ko 
 appeals were ever imuU', to him for echica- 
 tional purposes in vain: h(^ was truly the 
 benefactor of all br;nich"s of education. As 
 the Director of a Bank, hi' was always disci'oct 
 and libi'ral. taking esjjecial delight in aiding 
 men of small means, and in assisting tlicni 
 to make the rough road of lifi' smooth and 
 easy. There -dw many men now living in 
 Troy, who can tjuly say, that but for the 
 interest J udue McCumiu: took in their wil- 
 
13 
 
 fare, tlieir way in life would liave been rugged 
 indeed. To our eliaritable institntions lie 
 was always a friend, and to the widow and 
 or[)lian lie was partieularly so, Wateldul 
 and careful of the interest they entrusted to 
 him, they always found in him a kind and 
 judicious advisei". As a member of a 
 (Inistian Chur(!li. the Episcopal, he was 
 always consistent and sincere, as ^vell as tole- 
 rant and liberal towards those of other 
 denominations, and as a lawyer, though not 
 what some call a brilliant one, he was sound, 
 clear-headed, ftuthful and successful, always 
 making the interest of his client his own. 
 Com icons and frank with his opponents and 
 fellow--i)ractiti()nei-s, he always connuanded 
 the respect of the bar, and the gratitude of 
 its yomiger mend)ers, to w liom he was always 
 v>'illing to contribute the benelits of his great 
 and valuable experience. AVe have not time 
 at this late hour to recount the nund)er of 
 offices held bv the Judge, the duties of w hich 
 
11 
 
 he always performed in a faithful and upright 
 manner. For many years he occujjied the 
 position of Postmaster, also of Justiee of the 
 Peace, Judge of the Court of Commcm Pleas, 
 Bank Director, &c., and at the time of his 
 decease was the oldest member of the l)ar of 
 Ren-sselaer County. 
 
 Judge McCoNiHE was born at Merrimae. in 
 the State of New Hampshire, on the 22d day 
 of xiugust, 1787, and at the time of his death 
 was in the eighty-lirst year of his age. He 
 completed his studies at Hanovc^r College, 
 N. H., and graduated at that institution 
 at the age of tw(^nty-two years, in ISv-i), and 
 immediately commenced the study of the law. 
 Two years theivaftci-. in 1812, he settled in 
 Troy, and commenced its j)iactice in this 
 county, and was tlii' cotem})ora]}' of the tlien 
 bright luminaries of the {)3()f(!ssion in this 
 comity and vicinity, viz.: W. L. iMarcy, Mar- 
 thi Van Bin-en, David Heed, Jr., Woodwcntli, 
 Bird, Tillman. A'anness. antl a host of others 
 
lo 
 
 in tlie profession, who Iuiac jxone ])etbro liini 
 to the spirit hmd. In ])olitics, the Judge was 
 always a warm, eonsistent, nnd devoted Dem- 
 ocrat, honest in Ids opinions, and faitldul to 
 liis })arly. It was his boast, that lie never 
 voled any otlier than the Democratic ticket, 
 and truly may it be said, he was the father 
 of the j)arty in this county. During the re- 
 bollion he stood faithfully by the Union, send- 
 ing three of his sons to the war, one of whom 
 serdxl his devotion to the Union with his 
 blood, at ShiU)h, and with his life, at Cold 
 Harbor. Tlie second was scNerely A\-ounded 
 in the battle of ('hancellorville, while the 
 thii-d. who. after fighting all the battles in 
 Virginia, from I<S()2 to the close of the war, is 
 still serving his country in the army of the 
 I'liited States near tlie Kocky Mountains. 
 The Judge leaves a widow, a daughter, and 
 thi'oo other sons, of which our respected fel- 
 low-towiisman. Col. Isaac McConihe is one. 
 ^^ c tender to each and all of them our sym- 
 pathies for the great loss they have sustained. 
 
IG 
 
 OBITUARY. 
 
 From Troy Daily 1'r-ss, Novfiiiber 2d, 1S6T. 
 
 Last Friday, at lialt-])ast two, P. M.. an 
 honored and l)elovod old Q:entlenian of this 
 
 city i)assed cahnly and i)aiidessly from life to 
 death. We refer to the decease of Hon. Isaac 
 McCoxniK. The circle of liis friends]ii})s was 
 co-extensive witli the range of his acijuaint- 
 ance, and he was piobahly l^etter and more 
 intimately known than any otlier man in this 
 connty. Tntil witliin a week an old Gentle- 
 man npwards of ei^iihty, was (hdly seen ii[)on 
 our streets, passinis; with an nnstcad}'. but, 
 fur one of his years, a rapid pace, howing 
 familiarly and pleasantly to nearly every man 
 lu' met. with intelligence, good-humor and 
 humanity beauung upon his iVaidv, am})le 
 face. Every man who met him, though a 
 stranger, could say, •■ There is a man to 
 whom, whatever my comi)laint, Avould listen 
 with kind, resi)ectfui and altentive sympathy 
 
17 
 
 to my story, and I'endev nie any assistance in 
 his power." Tliis ])atriar('li was Jiidae Mc- 
 CoNiiiP]. wliose loss we are moved to lament 
 to-day. 
 
 He was boin at Merrimac, in the State of 
 New Hampshire, in the year 1787. of Scotch 
 ancestry. In 1812, he gradnated at Dart- 
 month College, at Hanover, N. H., and shortly 
 after came to this city, where he had no ac- 
 (piaintance, and studied law in the othce of 
 Stephen Hoss. one of the leading lawyers in 
 Troy at that time. By industry and polite- 
 ness, the two ])Owers by which he wronght 
 success, he soon accpiired a good re])utation 
 as a lawyei'. and was a])[)ointed and elected to 
 several offices of trust and honor. He was a 
 Master in Chanceiy, Police Justice of this 
 city, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of 
 this county, and afteiwards Postmaster oi' 
 Troy for ten years in succession, under the 
 administration of Jackson and Van Buren. 
 In 1820. he married the accom])lished lady 
 
 
18 
 
 who has lived to mouni liis death, — Miss 
 Strong, sister to the hiinented State Senator 
 Henry W. Strong. A noble fimiily of children 
 was the result of this alliance. 
 
 Three of his sons, with the approbation 
 and benediction of tlie father, went as officers 
 of Yohmteers, to sustain the Go^'ernnlent in 
 the late Southern conflict. John, the gallant 
 Colonel of the IBOth Regiment, fell with his 
 face to the enemy at Cold Harbor, on the 1st 
 day of June, 1864. Samuel was a J^rigadier- 
 General of Volunteers, and is mnv a First 
 Lieutenant in the V. vS. Army, serving with 
 his command in Arizona. The other, Wil- 
 liam, was a Captain in the 2d Regiment, and 
 afterwards Major by Brevet. Another, Isaac, 
 Jr., is a leading merchant here, and has been 
 Mayor of this city. 
 
 The old Judge was extensively connected 
 with public institutions, Avas a Director of a 
 Bank al)Out fifty years. Director of a Railroad, 
 President of the Troy Academy, Trustee of the 
 
19 
 
 Rensselaer Polyteclinie Institute, Trustee of 
 tlie Troy ()r})lian Asylum, Corresponding- 
 Member of the N. Y. Historical Society, Cor- 
 responding Member of the Xew England 
 Historic Geneological Society, President and 
 one of the founders of the Troy Lyceum of 
 Natural History, Honorary Mend)er of the 
 American Statistical Association, Member of 
 tlie Xorthern Academy of Arts and Sciences, 
 and Member of the American Association for 
 the Advaiu'euient of Science. He was the 
 oldest meuiber of the l^ar of Kensselaer coun- 
 ty ; had been a Warden of St. Paul's Episco- 
 l)al church foi- about lifty years, and was the 
 oldest l^ank Director in this city. The col- 
 lege at Pacine, Wisconsin, conferred upon 
 him the degi'ee of L. L. 1).. in 1859, 
 
 The Judge was a lawyer of good standing, 
 an anti(|uary of considerable research, a lover 
 of literature, i)ossessing an admii'able miscel- 
 laneous lil)rai'y, and especially de\'oted to the 
 study of the ancient classics, reading the 
 
20 
 
 Greek and Latin autliors witli skill and taste. 
 
 He was of most industrious habits. His 
 office hours up to within a week of his death, 
 numbering more than almost any other man 
 in the city, his light burning (juite unifoi'mly 
 until after nine o'clock each nio'ht. 
 
 During his long life he was a zealous but 
 charitable christian, devoted to the i)rosperity 
 of the church and the welfare of humanity. 
 He was a life-long Democrat, and in his 
 younger days a leader in the j)arty. 
 
 "With malice toward none, with charity 
 for all," he followed his ])ure and honorable 
 path of life, and if there be rewards hereafter 
 for a life of faith and good works, as Ave 
 know there is, this loveal)le and beloved old 
 gentleman has entered upon a gloiious immor- 
 tality. 
 
21 
 
 DEATH OF HON. ISAAC McCONIHE. L.L.D. 
 
 From Tri)y J);iily Tiinc'^, Xovcinhcr -M. IsdT. 
 
 Our second edition of yesterday l)ore the 
 sad intelli«:ence to oni* citizens tliat tlie ven- 
 erable Judg-e McCoxihk was no more. At 2i- 
 o'clock yesterday afternoon, after an illness 
 of but two ()!• tliive days, deatli closed liis 
 long and useful career. Full of yeai's and 
 honors, he rests from his lal»ors. and to-day 
 "the mournei's iio al out the streets.'' 
 
 Judt!:e McCoxTuv, was horn at Merrimac, 
 X. H., August 22d, 1787. He graduated at 
 Hanover College in 1809. and immediately 
 commenced the study of law. In 1812 he 
 sjttle 1 in Tr,)y, wliere he ({uickly established 
 a successful i)ractice in his ])r()fession, which 
 in this vicinity was then adorned by such 
 men as W. L. Marcy, Martin Van Buren, 
 David liuel. jr.. Woodworth. Tillman. Bird, 
 Van Xess, and others of h(moi-able eminence. 
 Though not j»eriia])s in the highest sense a 
 
22 
 
 l^rilliant lawyer, he was a wise connsellor, 
 sound and learned, and distinguished for a 
 sterling integrity which placed him high in 
 popular confidence. During his life he held 
 many positions of honor, among wliich were 
 Justice of the Peace, Postmaster for tlie city 
 of Troy, Judge of the County Court, Bank 
 Director, &c. He was also a Trustee of the 
 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and at the 
 time of his decease was the senior member 
 of the bar in Rensselaer county. 
 
 But it was not by professional achievements 
 or oihcial honors that Judge M( Comuk won 
 his highest place in the esteem and yenera- 
 tion of his fellow citizens. He was a good, 
 noble man, in all his relations to society — 
 public spirited, generous alike to public and 
 priyate necessities, and withal a pious and 
 deyoted member of a Christian chuch. The 
 city of his adoption is immeasurably indebted 
 to him for the aid which he gaye to its pro- 
 gress by his wise and enlarged ideas of 
 
23 
 
 municipal government, and his energy and 
 generosity in forwarding every i)nl)lie enter- 
 prise. Besides, he was a warm friend of the 
 })0()r, and many a citizen now in the full tide 
 of prosperity, owes the beginning of a success- 
 ful career to tlie substantial aid tendered by 
 Judge MeCoxniE, wliile "the widcjw and fath- 
 erless" rise up to call him blessed. In the 
 cause of education, he always manifested the 
 deepest interest, and sought by every means 
 within his control to advance its objects. In 
 politics he was always a Democrat, and often 
 blasted that he never voted any other than 
 a Democi'atic ticket. But he })Ossessed a 
 ])uie and earnest patriotism, and when the 
 Hag of the Republic was tired upon at Sum- 
 ter, he was among the first to denounce the 
 treason and the insult to national authority. 
 Through all the nation's tiery trial he stood 
 faithful to its cause, sending three sons to 
 the battle Held, one of whom was wounded 
 at Shiloh and afterwards slain at Cold Har- 
 

 24 
 
 hor, while anotlier was severely wounded at 
 Cliancellorsville. The third foiiglit through 
 all the battles of Virginia, from 18()2 to the 
 close of the war, and is still doing service in 
 the army of the United States, near the 
 Eocky Mountains. The Judge leaves a widow, 
 a daughter and live sons, of whom our 
 esteemed fellow townsnuiu, Col. Isaac McCon- 
 ihe, jr., formerly Mayor of the city, is one. 
 
 A meeting of the bar of Henssehier 
 county will be held in the Supreme Court 
 room, at the Court House, on Monday next, 
 at 9 o'clock A. M. precisely, to take suitable 
 action in reference to the demise of the kite 
 Judge McCoxiuK. Tlie obsequies will take 
 place from St. Paul's clnnch, at 11 o'clock a. 
 M., on Mondav, the 4tli instant. 
 
25 
 
 DEATH OF HON. ISAAC McCONIHE. 
 
 From Troy Northern Biuli,'Pt. November ;ki. 1S07. 
 
 Hon. Isaac McCoxihe, L. L. 1)., an old and 
 lionored citizen of Troy departed this life on 
 Friday last, after an illness of six days. 
 Until a few lionrs befoie liis death, the syni})- 
 tonis of his disease weie not considered 
 alarming, but it was working; steadily toward 
 Ihe citadel of life. A once powei'ful constitu- 
 tion iinj)aired by ureal age (for the .ludge 
 was uunv than eighty yeai's old) yielded 
 p-aci'billv and easily lo death. Judge Mc- 
 CoMiii; was born at Mei'riinac. X. 11.. on the 
 22(1 <hiy of August. \1H7. In the year 1812 
 he graduated at Daitniouth College, that 
 famous intitution of his mitive State which 
 can boast the proud distinction of being- the 
 Alma Mater of Daniel ^^'ebstel•. His course 
 through college having been studious, he 
 graduated with honor and felt himself strong 
 for the struggle of life. He came to this 
 
26 
 
 city during the year in wliicli he left college, 
 and began the study of \a\\ in tlie office of 
 Stephen Ross, Esq., at that time, we believe 
 a lawyer of celebrity. The deceased was 
 soon appointed a Master in Chancery, and 
 elected Justice of the Peace of this city. In 
 1826 he married Miss Sarah S. Strong, a sister 
 of the brilliant lawyer Henry W. Strong, who 
 died at about thirty years of age having 
 honorably tilled the office of State Senator. 
 In 1828 he was appointed Judge of the Court 
 of Common Pleas of this coiuity, the youngest 
 Judge who ever pi'csided at that court. Four 
 years aftar he was a])pointed Post-nuister of 
 Troy and held the office for ten consecutive 
 years under Presidents Jackson and Van 
 Buren. He was the eldest mendjer of the 
 Bar of Rensselaer county, and had been a 
 Bank Director for tifty years, and remained 
 such to the time of his decease. He was 
 also a Railroad Director and President and 
 trustee of several local institutions of learn- 
 
 
27 
 
 ing and cliaritv, and corresponding member 
 of lialf a score of Literary and Scientitic 
 Associations. Eacine college, in the year 
 1859, did itself the honor to confei' npon him 
 the degree of Doctor of Laws. The Judge 
 was a clnistian and has l)een such for many 
 years, and had l>een a warden of St. Paul's 
 cliurcli since al)()ut 182(1. In ])()Htics, lie was 
 a Democrat and was for a long })eri()d chair- 
 man of tlie central couimittee of the county. 
 He was an excellent classical scholar and 
 conyersant with nearly all the Greek and 
 Latin Authors, and read tliem with delight. 
 His hahits were studious and laborious. 
 Eyery day found him at his ottice engaged in 
 his yarious attairs and his otlfice light, eyen 
 within the last month, was wont to bui'u far 
 into the night. He was as well and admir- 
 ingly known as any man in this county and 
 had a yery large circle of friends. He was 
 yery })0])ular among the young men of his 
 profession, and they feel that they haye lost 
 
28 
 
 a valued friend. He was distinguished, among 
 many other noble (lualities, for honor, integ- 
 rity, fidelity, charity and })oliteness. His 
 virtues may be summed u]) by saying that 
 he led a ])ure and upright life. The kind old 
 gentleman will be missed and mourned by 
 manv hundreds of his fellow citizens. 
 
 & 
 
29 
 
 THE LATE HON. ISAAC McCONIHE. L.L.D. 
 
 From Troy Daily Wliiir, November 4th. 18«7. 
 
 Tlte Mediw) of the Bar this Mornwg — Some 
 Ohscrrations Ipon flic Character o/' the Dis- 
 tinguhhed Dead. 
 
 Tlie meeting of the Bar of Rensselaer to 
 be held at nine o'clock this morning in the 
 Supreme Court Room in reference to the 
 death of the late lamented Judge McConihe, 
 will doubtless l)e a large and impressive 
 assemblage of the laAvyers and jurists of 
 the county. The heaviness of heart of the 
 gathering will be all the more composed and 
 subdued, but none the less keen and solemn, 
 the wonderful event, follows so soon after a 
 similar melancholy occasion whereat the 
 deceased himself paid an eloquent and sin- 
 cere tribute to the memory of his distin- 
 guished brother of the i)rofession who had 
 then been cut down in the prime of his 
 nuijestic and useful career, and whose i*e- 
 
30 
 
 mains were then awaitincr their consiocn- 
 ment to the tomb. The mournful and som- 
 bre feeling which will to-day find expression 
 alike at the bar of justice, and the altar of 
 religion will be unreserved, candid and wholly 
 inartificial as becomes the ingenuousness of 
 the noble man who is this day to receive 
 imder the arches of St. Paul's the final 
 honors of earth — the last tributes paid by 
 the living to the dead. The writer hereof 
 who earnestly revered and L^ved him in lii'e 
 will be a sincere mourner at the grave of the 
 venerable citizen and jurist so recently gone 
 hence. He is doubtless now joined to that 
 band of ]X)werful and immoi'tal advocates 
 who have vindicated the supremacy of the 
 law in this Commonwealth during the past 
 half a century, and who, friends of his 
 younger years as well as cotemporaries of 
 his earliest and ablest standing at the Bar 
 of the State, have l)ut gone before. His 
 companionship is now beyond a doubt fully 
 
'^ 
 
 31 
 
 renewed with Marcy, Van Yectlien, Elislia 
 Williams, Martin Van ]^uren, David Buel, jr., 
 Kent, Jol) Pierson, Sanniel Ste^'ens, David L. 
 Seymour and all the others of that brilliant 
 and able galaxy who so largely and usefully 
 contributed by their wisdom and counsels as 
 advocates and Jurisconsults to the sound and 
 enlightened expositions of the connnon law 
 of this age. 
 
 Judge McConihe's knowledge of the law 
 was laid broad and deep on a comprehensive 
 and solid foundation. His diligence and 
 vigilance were equally untiring, and admir- 
 al )ly marked and accompanied by habits 
 of self-discipline and restraint which the 
 younger and coming meml)ers of the bar he 
 so adorned l)y his practical learning will do 
 well to grasp and retain in the process of 
 forming their own personal and professional 
 characters. The deceased jurist was likewise 
 a man of wise and earnest self-culture in 
 directions other than those susffested bv 
 
'^ 
 
 82 
 
 the profession of tlie law, as is evident from 
 the great number of learned societies in the 
 country of which he was a tnisted and 
 honored member and supporter. He was 
 constant in his friendship, of the most 
 unswerving probity, singularly candid and 
 straightforward in his walk and conversation, 
 entii'ely blameless in the equitableness as 
 well as generosity of his dis])osition. We 
 who survive will long and gratefully remem- 
 ber the exalted elevation of his character, 
 and the splendid simplicity of his life. 
 
 Judge McCoxniE was t(^ iis all an ever- 
 present model of an uiliane, courteous and 
 dignified citizen, whose public career was 
 altogether free from tarnish, while his juivate 
 life was uncommonly pure and lustrous He 
 was also a citizen of deep and unobtiusive 
 piety, his convictions having early taken a 
 strong hold upon the truths and promise of a 
 holy faith. His trusting credence is now j^er- 
 fect enjoyment. He has gone from our midst 
 
33 
 
 in full and nnsiillied I'ipeness of veavs. wlieii 
 tliecoiu]>at of life — always stern, and marked 
 by roiioi) I'ivalries, high lieats, and severe, 
 though eoui'tly contestations — has ];een nobly 
 linishatl, and the victory, the su])dual, the 
 ascendency — liis, beyond recantation. His 
 death became his life — phicid, gentle and 
 • resigned ; and the siniset glory of his ability, 
 learning and piety will long linger in our sky, 
 a rich an<l [)riceless legacy to all whom he 
 leaves behind, in the nature of a noble exam- 
 ple of exalted private and public worth. 
 
^ 
 
 34 
 
 FUNERAL OF JUDGE McCONIHE. 
 
 From Troy Daily Timop. November 4th, IStiT. 
 
 The funeral of the late Hon. Isaac McCon- 
 iiiE, took place from St. Paul's church this 
 morning, at 11 o'clock. There was a large 
 attendance of mourners, members of the l)ar, 
 the Directors of the Troy City l^ank, the 
 faculty and trustees of the Rensselaer Insti- 
 tute, and of other bodies with which the 
 deceased formeily held official relations. 
 The Rev. Dr. Coit, assisted by the rectois of 
 the several Episcopal churches of the city, 
 read the impressive funeral ceremony for tlie 
 the dead, and the efticient ([uartette choir 
 of the church, with Mr. Guy at the organ, 
 rendered some choice nuisic. The pall beaivi's 
 Avere the Hon. Ira Harris and Hon. Erastus 
 Corning, of All)any, and Gen. Wool, Hon. 
 C. R. Ingalls, Hon. J. C. Heartt, Philander 
 
1^ 
 
 35 
 
 Wells. William F. Sage, and R. A. Panuen- 
 ter, of this city. 
 
 The meeting of the bar this forenoon to 
 take action in regard to the death of Judge 
 MoCoNiiiE was largely attended, and was of a 
 most interesting character. Judge Ingalls 
 presided, and Messrs. J. Romejai and William 
 Shaw wei*e ap])ointed Secretaries. Elo<iuent 
 and deserved tiihutes were laid u])on the bier 
 of the deceased hy Judge Ingalls, Judge 
 Mann, li. A. Parmenter. F. J. Parmentei*. J. B. 
 Parmenter, John H. Colby, II. M. Townsend 
 and Irving Hayner. Appropriate resolutions 
 were adopted, and the meeting adjourned. 
 
nHHH 
 
 36 
 
 DEATH OF JUDGE McCONIHE- 
 
 Fron New York World, Xoveniber 4th. 1S.I\~. 
 
 Hon Isaac MoCoxitie died quite suddenly 
 at his residence in Ti'ov, on Friday. He was 
 lM)rn at Mei'rimae, N. H., Angnst 22, 1787: 
 graduated witli distinction at Dartnioutli Col- 
 lege in the year 1812; settled in Ti*oy in the 
 same year and studied and practiced law: 
 afterwards was apiK)inted a Master in Chan- 
 cery, and then elected a Police Justice. In 182() 
 he married Miss Stnmg, sister of the lamented 
 State Senatoi', Hemy W. Strong. In 182S 
 he was api^ointed Judge of the Comt of Coui- 
 nion Pleas of the County of Rensselaer — the 
 youngest Judge who had evcu- srd on that 
 heneh. Four years hitei' ho was a])j)ointed 
 Postmaster of Troy; was ro-appointed !)}• 
 President Jackson, and for the third tiuie by 
 President Van Buren, holding the otlfice for 
 ten years. He was the oldest Bank l)ii*ector 
 in Trov, and the oldest member of the Bar of 
 
37 
 
 Rensselaer Comity. For upwai'ds of til'ty 
 years he had been a warden of St. Paul's 
 (Episcopal) Church, and his association with 
 public institutions — benevolent, educational, 
 scientific, literary, and monetary — was very 
 extensive. 
 
 The Judge was a staunch Democrat, hvm 
 his youth to his old age. Often, and for many 
 years at a time, he was Chairman of the 
 Democratic central committee of his county. 
 He reai'ed and educated a large family. One 
 of his sons is a prominent merchant and the 
 youngest Mayor Troy has ever elected Three 
 sons were otMcers in the late conflict with the 
 South. One (the young and gallant John 
 McConihe, Colonel of the One Hundred and 
 Sixty-ninth N. Y. V.) was killed at the head 
 of his regiment on that bloody day at Cold 
 Harbor, June 1, 1864. Another (Samuel) was 
 a Brigadier General of volunteers, and is now 
 a lirst lieutenant in the United States army. 
 
38 
 
 FUNERAL OF JUDGE McCONIHE. 
 
 From Troy Daily Whi^'. November 4th. 18(j~. 
 
 The funeral of the late Judge McConhie, 
 which took place from St. Paul's church yes- 
 terday, was lai'gely attended hy the friends 
 and relatiyes of the deceased, including many 
 persons from abroad. The members of the 
 bar attended in a body, as did likewise the 
 Directors of the Troy City Bank, and the fac- 
 ulty and trustees of the Rensselaer Institule. 
 The seryices, which were conducted by the 
 Rey. Di*. Coit, \yere yery solemn and im- 
 pressiye. The pall bearers Ayere the Hon. Ira 
 Harris and the Hon. Erastus Corning, of 
 Albany, and Gen. Wool, Hon. C. R. Tngalls, 
 Hon. J. C. Heartt, Philander Wells, William 
 F. Sage and R. A. Parmenter, of this city. 
 The impressiye and solemn burial seryices of 
 the Ei)iscopal church were intoned by the 
 Rey. Thomas W. Coit, D.D., LL.D., assisted 
 by Rev. John Ireland Tucker. D.D., of the 
 
39 
 
 Holy Cross, Eev. Edgar T. Chai)inan, of St. 
 Mark's, Rev. J. X. Miilford, dirist chiirdi, 
 and Eev. All)ert Danker. Tlie chnrcli was 
 tilled l)v a large number of our most disting- 
 uished citizens from all the walks of public 
 and i)rivate life, among Avhom we observed 
 Hon. Hanil)al Green, ex-United States Sena- 
 tor Harris, ex-Senator Thomas B. Carroll, 
 Maj. Gen. John E. Wool, of the United States 
 Army, Rev. George C. Baldwin, D. D., Hon. 
 George Gould, LL. D., ex-Judge of the Court 
 of Ap})eals, Hon, Erastus Corning of Albany, 
 II. A. Parmenter, Esq., and a large number of 
 others. The remains of the eminent dead, 
 enclosed in an elaborate casket, freely adorned 
 with dowers and other funeral mementoes, 
 were deposited in front of the chancel of the 
 church, immediately after which the last sad 
 rites were performed. Major Wm. McConihe, 
 of the Department of tlie Interior in Wash- 
 ington, was the only one (^f the absent sons 
 of the deceased who was able to be present. 
 
40 
 
 Gen. Samuel McConilie and Douglass, the 
 youngest, were not present, the former serv- 
 ing in the regular army of the United States, 
 on the Plains, and the latter l)eing now a 
 resident of California. The deceased Judge 
 had but recently visited Washington, where 
 the venerable citizen was received with much 
 attention by the President of the United 
 States, the gentlemen of the Cabinet, and the 
 heads of other departments. His social inter- 
 view with the President, we have I'eason to 
 know, was both most gratifying and comi)li- 
 mentary. The remains of the deceased were 
 conveyed to Oakwood Cemetery. Thus passed 
 to his last long resting i)lace one of our 
 oldest and most resi)ected citizens. 
 
 The Polytechnic Institute and the Academy 
 were closed yesterday on account of the 
 funeral of the late Judge McConihe. 
 
Kruiii l-'iiUlic S|pirii. Tr.'.v \. V.. Dccinli.-i-. ImIT. 
 
 Since the hisl piihlicnl ion dl' this jom-iinl. 
 lln*(M' (iistiiiLLiiislu'd Ainciicnii citi/ciis li:iv(^ 
 l»('(Mi siiniiiioncd 1(» llicii' liniil I'l'Wiiid. \\ t* 
 refer to Hon. .)olin A. Aiuh'ew. ex-lioNcM- 
 iior of M;iss;ieliusetts : Hon. Isaac MeCoxniK. 
 LL. I)., and Hon l)a\id Lowrey S(\vnionr. LL. 
 I)., of IIh' Stale of Xew Yoi'l^. The se\-eial 
 LL'entlenien wci-e eacli eminent in the ])i-o])er 
 disch.ai'.Li(^ of the iiraNc duties of tlie Innnaii 
 eai'eei'. and each leaxcs beliind him an un- 
 hlemished recoid for inteiiiity and exalted 
 tideiily in all the lelations of a pioloniied. 
 active and well spcjit lite. The Ncnerahle 
 and learned JiMlLL'e McCoxim: was a gvntle- 
 man hehl in the hi.iihest esteem for hismoial. 
 intellectual and chi-istian culture, no less than 
 foi- liis iri-(-it influence on ordei' and social 
 elevation, anti his steiliiiii' j)atiiotism on all 
 (occasions when that element of character 
 
42 
 
 was to be illustrated by genuine deeds. In 
 his death, the National American Associa- 
 tion for the Advancement of Science, loses 
 a most devoted, keen, patient and |)ain stak- 
 ing adherent and member, while a large num- 
 ber of leading institutions of learning dotting 
 the countrv, and includins: the ancient Dart- 
 mouth College in New Hampshire, will realize 
 the departure hence of a wise counsellor, a 
 hearty friend, and a great und good man. 
 Judge McCoxiHK ])assed away in the eighty- 
 tirst year of his age, and was, we believe, the 
 oldest svrviving graduate of Dartmouth Col- 
 lege, Daniel Webster's Alma Mater. 
 
43 
 
 PROCEEDINGS OF THE VESTRY 
 
 Of St. Paul's Church. 
 
 At a iiieetini!.' C)t* tlic A^estrv of St. Paiirs 
 eliuidi, at tlic Rectory on Saturday tlie 
 2(1 of November, asseiHl)le(l to place on 
 record tlieir deej) feelino' on the sad event 
 which had called theiii togetlier, the sndden 
 removal by death, of our Senior AVarden, the 
 Hon. Isaac McComuk. Therefore, 
 
 Reno/m/, Tliat we desire to exja-ess our 
 personal grief at the h)ss of a friend, with 
 wliom we have long been associated, an offi- 
 cer of our church, whose zeal and devotion to 
 its interests have maiked liis connection 
 with it to the elosi' of his life. 
 
 fi'rso/rrd That we tender to the widow and 
 relations of the deceased, oni- sincere sym- 
 pathy in their afflicting bereavement. 
 
 Rcsolmi Tliat a co|)y of tlicse resolutions 
 be furnished to the family. 
 
 H. B. DAbCHV. Clrrk, 
 
44 
 
 DEATH OF HON. ISAAC McCONIHE. 
 
 From the 'Pioy D.iily I^ii-ris. 
 
 Proc<f'<li)i(/s of the liiiissdarr ( 'oimfi/ Bar. 
 
 on f/ie Occdsioii of iliP DaitJi of Hon. IsOitc 
 
 MrCoinlw. LL. I). 
 
 The iiieetin<i: of the Bar of Keiisselaer 
 connty, lield Mondiiy >«oveiiiber 4th, 1H()7, 
 at 9 a. m., in the Supreme Court Kooui. at the 
 Coiiit House, to take action in icfcivnce to 
 the (leuiisc of the hnuentcd Hon. Isaac Mc- 
 ( oxniK, was hiriiely attended. 
 
 Tlic meeting was called 1o order l>y Hon. 
 (\ L. Ti'acy. who nominated ('. W. Intialis 
 as President, aiul Tlun. Kiaiici-^ X. Mann 
 was nonnnated as \' ice- President. Hon. .1. 
 Komeyn and \Vm. Shaw, Ks(|., were apiK)inted 
 Secretai-ies. Messrs. F. .). Paiinenter. .lames 
 Forsyth and (r. B. Kellofig were a[)i)ointed a 
 committee to draft resolutions suitable to the 
 occasion. 
 
 The (Vunmittee haviuii: withdrawn, the 
 
4,5 
 
 Cliairman of tlic meeting'. Hon. Charles R. 
 liigalls. said : 
 
 (ienfUnnen of the Har : 
 
 ^^ e are assembled to I'eiider a tribute of 
 i'es]HM*t to the memory of a deeeased brotliei', 
 who has been suddenly summoned from time 
 into eternity. AMieii we have met on former 
 oeeasions to hnnent the de])arture of one and 
 another of oui' brethren. Judire McConiue was 
 careful to be ])resent, and his expressions of 
 grief and affection, not unfrequently' aecom- 
 ])anied with tears, evinced the sincerity of 
 lis mourning. He ivspected and valued this 
 sacred and time honored custom, which we 
 this day appropriately observe. Jndge Mc- 
 CoxruK was at his decease the senior member 
 of the Bar, having attained the advanced age 
 of eighty years, and his life was characterized 
 by industry, energy, and ])erseverance, in a 
 Held of labor and nsefulness not restricted to, 
 but extending far beyond the limits of his 
 profession. 
 
 
46 
 
 As a citizen lie was true, fjiitliful and 
 patriotic, and dcAoted to the best interests of 
 the city and the country. He evinced a deep 
 interest in the lelijiious, educational, and 
 cliaritable institutions of the city, and Avas 
 indefatigable in his exertions to ])ronjote and 
 advance all such objects. He ex])ended 
 money, and devoted his time freely, and with- 
 out reward, save the consciousness that he 
 was doing; good. As a friend, he was waiiu- 
 hearted, sincere, reliable, and luiseltish, ever 
 untiring in his ettbrts to serve those who had 
 his confidence and esteem. He ])Ossessed 
 rare social qualities, whicli made him a 
 welcome and agreeable com})anion of the 
 young and the old. He was no dissembler,' 
 but honestly and fearlessly avowed his senti- 
 ments, and acted in accordance therewith. 
 In his death, his family, his friends, and the 
 community have suffered an irre})arable loss. 
 When the last solenni summons came, he was 
 })repared, and with true Christian tVu'titude 
 
m 
 
 47 
 
 and resignation. V)owe(l submissively to the 
 mandate, and ])assed away without a mur- 
 mur. 
 
 On tlie return of the committee on Resohi- 
 ti(ms. F. J. Paiinenter, the ehaiinian of such 
 committee read the following pi'eamhle and 
 resoluti(ms: 
 
 In the lipened years of a laborious and use- 
 fullife, but in the full exercise of his vigor- 
 ous and numly intellect, the Honorable Isaac 
 McCoMUK having paid the last tribute ex- 
 acted from humanity by the unerring law of 
 a righteous God. to whose su])i'eme decree we 
 bow with saddened hearts, yet submissively 
 and with reveience ; and we. the mend)ers of 
 the Ransselaer County Bar, having assembled 
 to lecoi'd our appreciation of the exalted 
 character of our distinguished brother, whose 
 voice so lately was heard in this place, 
 embalming with generous and noble senti- 
 ments, the memoiy of his illustrious friend 
 and cotemporary ; therefore. 
 
--IS 
 
 Rrmhrd, That in the deatli of* the Honora- 
 ble Isaac McCoxiiie, we have lost an emi- 
 nent lawyer, whose jwwerful mind was richh' 
 stored with legal knowledge which rendered 
 him a safe and judieions counsellor; that in 
 the prosecution of his professional duties, 
 he brought to the aid of his clients, extraor- 
 dinary abilities, a sound judgment, and untir- 
 ing in(histrv: and all regulated by a con- 
 scientious and high-minded love of right 
 and justice, which won our admiration and 
 comnuuided our esteem ; that as a classical 
 scholar, he was ei'udite and brilliant; that in 
 the prouiotion of geueral litci-ature, he was 
 active and indefatigal)le ; and that his con- 
 nection with various institutions of learning 
 througiiout the countiy was as useful to them 
 as honorable to him; that as a public uuin 
 and ])ri\ate citizen he was kind, courteous 
 and amiable ; that in all the vai'ied relations 
 of life, as our i)rofessional brother, as friend. 
 as coui])anion, as a j)olitican, as a husl)and 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 m^immPins^Mmi^ 
 
41) 
 
 and father, and as a Clnistian gentleman, we 
 have seen in his honest purpose and integrity 
 of conduct much to admire and nothing to 
 condemn, 
 
 Resolved, That in extending (jur s^^mpathy 
 to the bereaved family of the deceased, we 
 venture to express the hope that each mem- 
 ber of that stricken household may be recon- 
 ciled to the departure of our beloved brother 
 for a better world, by the reflection that his 
 life was prolonged by the mercy of God, 
 beyond the ordinary period of human exis- 
 tence, and passed its latest hour in useful 
 and honorable employment; and that the 
 confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens 
 were his to the end, and that their love for 
 him will live long after his grave is green. 
 
 Resolved, That we will attend the funeral 
 of the deceased in a body, and wear the 
 usual badge of mourning, 
 
 SPEECH OF r! a. PARMENT'ER. 
 
 R. A. Parmenter then addressed the meet- 
 
50 
 
 ing in support of the Eesolutions, and said : 
 Mr, Chairman — In moving the adoption 
 of the resolutions just presented, I am ren- 
 dering not only appropriate service to the 
 memory of our deceased brother, but also 
 discharging the sacred obligation of friend- 
 ship due to an esteemed personal friend, 
 Judge McCoNiHE, resided in this city for the 
 period of fifty years. Many of my brethren 
 present may have known the deceased much 
 longer than I have, but I enjoyed the pleasure 
 of his acquaintance for twenty years, and was 
 his law partner eight years. Our relations 
 were intimate, and, in many respects, confi- 
 dential. He was an eldei'ly gentleman when 
 I became associated with him in business. 
 He was old and I was young. My comrades 
 discouraged me from forming the partner- 
 ship, on the ground that the disparity of our 
 ages, tastes and habits, would inevitably lead 
 to disagreements, but they little knew what 
 I afterwards learned, that the old man's 
 
^ 
 
 51 
 
 heart was in its boyhood still. He resj^ected 
 and trusted me, and in turn I loved and 
 honored him. It is a pleasant reflection that 
 he never gave me an unkind word, nor did 
 he ever receive one from me. 
 
 In whatever aspect we may contemplate 
 the character of Judge McConihe, we shall 
 arrive at the conclusion that he was a man 
 of marked distinction and a benefactor of the 
 race. The honest poor man always found 
 in him a sympathizing friend. He was 
 eminently a practical man, and possessed 
 of strong, vigorous common sense, which 
 never forsook him. His qualities were solid 
 rather than brilliant. He was of Scotch 
 descent, and entertained strong prejudices, 
 but it should be remembered that his love 
 and affection, were equally tenacious. The 
 deceased was born in Merrimac, Hillsborough 
 county, N. H., August, 22, 1787, and grad- 
 uated with honor at Dartmouth College in 
 1812, and during the same year, if I am not 
 

 52 
 
 mistaken, lie came to Troy, then a village. 
 He entered as a student, the law office of the 
 late Stephen Ross, whose partner he became 
 on his admissisn to the Bar. He pursued the 
 practice of the law in this city, more tlian 
 half a century, and, although a wealthy man, 
 yet he occupied as a tenant the same law 
 office thirty consecutive years. As a lawyer, 
 he was noted for integrity, prudence, caution 
 and accuracy. Although entirely familiar 
 with the forms and practice under the former 
 system, he never attcmpied to familiarize 
 himself with foiins and practice under the 
 Code. Like many other old practitioners he 
 regarded the Code, as an inovation of ques- 
 tionable utility. 
 
 In early life 1 he Judge entered the political 
 arena, and was tlie peer and co temporary of 
 many distinguished statesmiMi, who have pre- 
 ceded him to 
 
 " That undiscovered country, from whose bourne 
 No traveler returns.'" 
 
 iMw.iftj jjftjumRhiMMjii,.iiLimij m. u i.^^JMiuw»^wimj<i.i»j^iM^ 
 
53 
 
 In all the sliifting j^hases of political life, 
 he never swerved from the doctrinal tenets of 
 his party. In a word, he enjoyed the confi- 
 dence of his own party, without incurring 
 the dis])leasure of his opponents. And conse- 
 quently from time to time, he held responsi- 
 ble and lucrative offices, and justified the 
 confidence thus reposed in him by discharg- 
 ing his official duties with entire accuracy 
 and unquestionable integrity. 
 
 Our charitable institutions were liberally 
 patronized by the dececased, and the scien- 
 tific and literary soc^ieties found in him a 
 valuable contributor. His services were al- 
 w^ays gratutiously given in promoting any 
 worthy object. Few indeed are the men who, 
 without pecuniary reward, have contributed 
 in time and labor as much as he towards 
 the maintenance of benevolent institutions. 
 Hundreds of persons will regret his death 
 and recall to mind special acts of kindness 
 bestowed upon them by the old man. He 
 
54 
 
 delighted in rendering assistance to industri- 
 ous and honest men of small means. As 
 Bank Director, he was ever ready to mark 
 for discount small notes made by that class 
 of men. I have known him as Director to 
 decline the approval of a note of a perfectly 
 responsible party offered for discount at the 
 bank with which he was connected, on the 
 ground that he i:>referred to use whatever 
 authority he might claim as Director in ren- 
 dering assistance to industrious l)usiness men 
 of limited means, who really needed it. 
 
 It was such noble sentiments daily reduced 
 to practice, without any ostentations display 
 on his part, that kindled in the breasts of 
 the masses undying love and admiration for 
 the name of Judge McConihe. The poor 
 tenant who came to his office to i)ay a 
 month's rent, could command as much of 
 his time and attention as his most affluent 
 neighbor. 
 
 As testimonials of the esteem in which he 
 
55 
 
 was held, it may be proper here to enumerate 
 the several official stations he occupied dur- 
 ing a long and eventful life. He was a 
 Justice of the Peace ; Master and Examiner 
 in Chancery ; one of the Judges of the Rens- 
 selaer Common Pleas; County Treasurer; 
 Postmaster of the city of Troy from 1832 to 
 18^2; often Supervisor; a Bank Director; 
 also a Railroad Director; President and 
 Treasurer of a Bridge Company, and a Turn- 
 pike Company ; Commissioner of Deeds over 
 fifty years; Vice-President, Treasurer and 
 Trustee of the Troy Cemetery Association ; 
 President of the Troy Academy; President 
 of the Tioy Lyceum of Natural History; 
 Trustee of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Insti- 
 tute; Senior Warden of St. Paul's Church, 
 Troy ; Trustee of the Troy Orphan Asylum ; 
 Vice-President of the Troy Association for 
 the improvement of the condition of the 
 Poor; Honorary member of the Northern 
 Academv of Arts and Sciences ; Correspond- 
 
56 
 
 ing Member of the New York Historical 
 Society ; Honorary Member of the American 
 Statistical Association ; Honorary Member 
 of the New England Historical and Genea- 
 logical Society; and Member of the Ameri- 
 can Association for the advancement of 
 Science; and in 1859 the Honorary degree 
 of LL.D. was conferred on him by Racine 
 College, at Racine, Wisconsin. 
 
 Titles and degrees do not make the man, 
 but in this instance living witnesses are not 
 wanting to attest that they have been appro- 
 priately conferred upon our deceased brotlier. 
 
 But let me for a moment intrude ui)()n tlie 
 family circle, all stricken with grief. There 
 the Judge was an idol, because he was a 
 kind husband, an atfectionate father and 
 genial companion. His love for his family 
 was intense, nor was it unieci])r()cate(l by 
 any member of the household. 
 
 Twice before has that fireside been invaded 
 bv the destrover, death. Once a cherished 
 
57 
 
 daiigliter, lierself a wife and mother, yielded 
 to the inexorable mandate of cniel disease; 
 and again a beloved son and gallant colonel, 
 fell on the battle field while leading his regi- 
 ment in defense of his country. Now sorrow 
 is intensified by the loss of the central figure 
 of that family circle. 
 
 However terrible this dispensation of Pro- 
 vidence may be to the bereaved family, there 
 is left to them the priceless consolation that 
 he, whose death they now mourn, and whose 
 virtues we this day commemorate, enjoyed, 
 through a protracted and busy life, the confi- 
 dence and esteem of the community in which 
 he lived, and at last in the fullness of years, 
 gently and calmly took his dei^arture from 
 this world, confident that there was reserved 
 for him the good man's reward, proclaimed 
 by the word of Revelation and seen only 
 with the eye of Faith. 
 
 Judge Mann then addressed the meeting 
 as follows : 
 
 rMHrami 
 
58 
 
 SPEECH OF FRANCIS S. MANN. 
 
 Mr. Chairman : I desire to say a few words 
 in relation to our departed brother, who has 
 so long been the senior member of our bar, 
 and has been spared to us longer than any 
 member of it that has gone before him. 
 
 He was a man of action. He died with 
 his harness on, and as much involved in 
 business as at any time during his life. Few, 
 indeed, luive enjoyed such uniform good 
 health and continued in active business so 
 long. As a lawyer and counsellor he was 
 capable, laborious and useful. Preferring 
 peace to litigation, he seldom allowed his 
 cases to go into higher courts if they could 
 be settled beneficially to the interests of his 
 clients. As a politician, he was a Democrat, 
 and was honored by his i)arty with the office 
 of Postmaster, County Judge, Justice of the 
 Peace and Supervisor. 
 
 He was an active promoter of education. 
 For more than twenty years he was Presi- 
 

 59 
 
 dent of the Board of Trustees of the Troy 
 Academy; also, he was a Trustee of the 
 Renssehier Institute, and connected with 
 other literary institutions. He was a friend 
 to the widow and orphan, their counsellor 
 and guardian, and his death will be to them 
 a great loss. He was a Trustee of the Troy 
 Orphan Asylum, and a devoted friend of the 
 Day Home. Fidelity characterized in all his 
 transactions; his word and promise were 
 sure to be kept. Promptness was an element 
 of his nature. His motto was a little before 
 the time, rather than one moment too late. 
 He was a practical, common sense, business 
 man, and a genial, social man, and abounded 
 with anecdotes and stories, which were not 
 only pertinent as an illustration of his case, 
 but greatly amusing and instructive. He 
 was loyal to his country. He loved it, and in 
 the late conflict with the South did all he 
 could to sustain its institutions, advance its 
 glory, preserve and protect the Union, As a 
 
 
60 
 
 citizen he mingled with all, and supported 
 all laudable and philanthrophic enterprises. 
 As a professor of religion, he was exemplary, 
 consistent, and as he openly confessed Christ 
 before man, he will confess him before his 
 Father in Heaven. Oh! how frequently 
 within a few years we have been called 
 together on occasions like this. If our 
 departed brethren, who were so lately with 
 us, could be assembled in this bar, how 
 respectable they would be, both as to the 
 numbers and talents. We would see Willard, 
 Beach, Stow, Lee, Blair, Davis, Seymour, and 
 our departed McConihe. How soon have 
 they passed away, and what a warning to us 
 their survivors, for we know not the hour of 
 our departure or who of us will be first sum- 
 moned to follow them. 
 
 Judge Mann was followed by John H. 
 Colby who said: 
 
 '•It were better that some older member 
 of the profession should pay a fitting tribute 
 
61 
 
 to the memoiy and virtues of the ilkistrious 
 dead, but the peers of the deceased, the men 
 of co-ordinate genius who hy their learning 
 and ability were his equals and associates, 
 Willard, Davis, Pierson, Seymour and others 
 who counselled and advised with him as the 
 leaders of a powerful political association, 
 and as members of a learned profession have 
 preceded him in passing from our immediate 
 notice, and but few of those who are left feel 
 competent to present in fitting terms the 
 characteristic ability and intellectual attain- 
 ments whicli distinguished Judge McCox- 
 
 IIIE. 
 
 It is my fortune to trace my lineage to the 
 old Granite State, and among her numerous 
 sons who have sought a residence in the 
 Empire State, Judge McConiue was univer- 
 sally looked up to as one of their most i)rom- 
 inent men, and the many i)ublic jiositions of 
 honor and trusts which he has held for years, 
 showed that distinctions had been showered 
 
&Bmaim^^mmm^Kmm^f^ 
 
 62 
 
 where they best belonged. Many honorable 
 places he filled with dignity and respect. 
 Besides the great interest which he felt in all 
 matters that pertained to science, literature, 
 and art, his life was an active one in mer- 
 cantile and business circles, and he filled 
 with great fidelity and financial ability, 
 many responsible positions as a director in 
 the banking corporations and railroad enter- 
 prises connected with the city. As a mem- 
 ber of the bar, in former years, he presided 
 with honor as a judge on the bench with great 
 satisfaction to the people, and witli the entire 
 respect and confidence of the bar. About 
 the time of my first association willi il;e 
 Democratic central committee of this ccunty, 
 he was its chairman and his counsels wcie 
 always listened to as those of a discreet and 
 honorable advisor. In political life, aho, he 
 was honored with many stations, the duties 
 of which he discharged with integrity and 
 great executive ability. Besides his position 
 
MMH 
 
 63 
 
 upon the bencli, he was appointed a Master 
 and examiner in the old Court of Chancery, 
 and was placed by his party before the peo- 
 ple for the responsil)le offices of member of 
 Assembly and County Judge. He was also 
 Postmaster of tliis city, and as such, was 
 re-appointed by President's Jackson and Van 
 Buren. Considering the many honored sta- 
 tions he has so faithfully filled, it may be 
 said, "Titles of honor add not to his worth, 
 udio is an honor to his title." 
 
 His life was an active and busy one, his 
 pressnce will be missed, his counsels and 
 advice will not be readily supplied, a void 
 will 1)3 k^ft among tlie patrons of science and 
 historical learning. Another of our brethren 
 whose classic mind was stored with legal 
 lore has left us. The business and commer- 
 cial interests of the city have lost a staunch 
 advocate, and the merited enconiums and 
 deserved tributes which have to-day been so 
 feebly paid to tlie memory and attributes 
 
64 
 
 of Judge McCoNiHE, will receive a heaity 
 response from all who knew him/' 
 
 "Sure tlie last end of the (^ootl man is peace, how calm 
 
 his exit. 
 Niglit dews fall not more gently to the ground. 
 Nor weary worn out winds expire so soft." 
 
 SPEECH or F. J. PAKMENTER. 
 
 Mr. Chairman: Less than a month apo, 
 when we were assembled here to honor tl :e 
 memory of a distinguished member of tli's 
 bar, he, towards whom we are now discharr- 
 ing the same sad and saci'cd duties, stood n 
 our midst, with form and voice somewltat 
 broken by the toils and cares of moic iLi n 
 three-quarters of a centuiy, and with Lis 
 strono: l)reast shaken bv the emotions called 
 out by the solemn occasion, and almost with 
 tears in his eyes, ui-ging us to continue this 
 "beautiful custom," as he termed it, so often 
 as death should claim one of our number. 
 
 While I listened to his rcnuirks, I could not 
 help thinking, as I saw how deeply Time had 
 furrowed that frame and brow, that in the com- 
 
65 
 
 111011 course of nature, the funeral knell of that 
 bent old man would probably be the next 
 that would summon us together. So it has 
 |)roved, and Isaac MoCoxihe has severed his 
 connection with all earthly things. When I 
 came to this city to reside, Judge McConiiie 
 was tlie first of the members of this bar with 
 whom I became ac(iuainted. Mr. R. A. Par- 
 menter was then liis law partner. With 
 tliem 1 remained for about two years; and 
 after that, for eleven years, I occupied an 
 office in the same building as the Judge. 
 Dui'ing all that time, which continued up to 
 the moment of his death, scarcely a day has 
 })assed tliat I have not exchanged greetings 
 with him. So constantly was he at his oftice, 
 and so fre(iueiitly have we interchanged these 
 civilities, that from mei'e force of habit. I was 
 on the point of saying " Good morning, 
 Judge!" as I passed his open oftice door a 
 short time since, and was overcome with grief 
 
by the sad reflection that lie could return my 
 salutations no more. 
 
 Under such circumstances I could not 
 avoid being intimate with liim, notwithstand- 
 ing the disparity of our years, and my incli- 
 nations led me to court his society, iind Ihe 
 good old man gave me every encouragement. 
 Yes, sir; T knew him intimately and thor- 
 oughly; and the more intimate our intei- 
 course, the better I loved him; ibi* he had 
 (qualities most attractive and pleasing to his 
 juniors. Many a time have I passed more 
 than half the night with hiui in his ofHce, 
 listening to his (puiint anecdotes and remin- 
 iscences of persons and events that lived and 
 occurred in the olden time; foi- he had a won- 
 derful memory, and with him a good joke, 
 like ])ure gold, uevei- lost its lusti-e. And his 
 peculiar manner of telling it, and his hearty, 
 boisterous laugh at its conclusion, lendeied 
 it ever fresh and new, no matter how many 
 times he narrated it. 
 
Though tlie buitlen of eip:hty years j^ressed 
 ii])Oii his brow, liis lieait (letii'd tlie I'avages 
 of time, aiul was as yoiiiiir at tlie liour of his 
 death as wlien hushed on liis luotlier's bosom. 
 It was liis gi'eatest deliglit to be sin'rouiided 
 l»y young ])eo])U'; and on sucli occasions ••the 
 old man would shake his years away, and be 
 again a boy." 
 
 He was a man of very sti'ong feelings, of 
 strong ])rejudiees. He was tine and faithful 
 in his friendshi])s. "The friends he had, and 
 their a(loi)tion tiied, he grai)ple(l to his soul 
 with hooks of steel." Although when roused 
 to anger, or moved to sympathy, his passions 
 were mighty, yet he had a wonderful com- 
 mand of them. In all our long and intimate 
 ac(iuaintance, I never saw him but once com- 
 pletely ovci'whelmed by the sti-ength of his 
 emotions. The occasion was a trying and 
 terrible one. It was after his gallant son 
 John had fallen at Cold Harbor, at the head 
 of his regiment, pierced through the heart by 
 
68 
 
 the enemies bullets. I had unconsciously 
 intruded upon him as he sat alone in his 
 office holding in his hand the ])hotogi'ai)h of 
 that brave officer. The dn)[)s of anguish 
 coursed down those fuiTowed cheeks in a 
 copious shower; and that strong frame quiv- 
 ered and swayed, and liowed under his great 
 grief like a pine in the tenq^est. 
 
 JudQ:e McCoNiuE Avas one of the most in- 
 dustrious men I have ever known. He ])i()l)- 
 ably passed more hours in his office than any 
 meml)er of this l)ar, scarcely ever leaving it 
 till eleven o'clock at night. Those indus- 
 trious hal)its remained with him to the last, 
 and he died with his armor on. lie was a 
 good business man, and scrui)ulously honest 
 in all his dealings. He discharged all liis 
 multifai'ious duties with groat ])unctuality. 
 He held his various business matters well in 
 his hand, and could tell in a moment liow 
 they all stood. A characteristic anecdote of 
 the ]unictilious method in which lie con- 
 
69 
 
 ducted every species of business, was men- 
 tioned to me by a member of liis family. 
 Ahnost the last words that fell from his lips 
 was a direction to pay his office boy, whose 
 weekly wages became due that day. Shortly 
 afterwards I saw the boy, Francis A. Woods 
 by name, a bright lad of twelve years; and 
 his voice trembled, and the tears stood in his 
 eyes, as he spoke of his kind employer. 
 AVhen childhood sheds the sympathetic tear 
 for old age, rest assured it flows for one who 
 is worthy of its sori'ow. Death is seldom a 
 welcome visitor; but when can his inexorable 
 summons be less reluctantly obeyed than in 
 such a case as this? Our deceased brother 
 had seen almost as many years as his coun- 
 try. 
 
 '' And tliat wliieh slioiild ac'('oin]);my old age. 
 As liniior, love, ()])edicTK'e, trt)Oi)s <»f friends," 
 
 were his to the last moment of his life. 
 
 I leave my seniors to speak of Judge Mc- 
 CoxiuE as a lawver, for he had retired fi-om 
 
 ^ 
 
 
70 
 
 active practice when I first knew him. I 
 prefer to speak of liini as a man, and as a 
 personal friend, for in those relations I was 
 more familiar with his character. I have 
 much more to say of this remarkable old 
 gentleman, whom I have loved so long and 
 so well, and who has left vacant so many 
 places of trust and honor, which for lialf a 
 century he has filled with such credit to him- 
 self and so acceptably to the public ; but the 
 funeral liour draws near, and I nnist give 
 place to others, who, I am sure, will not 
 willingly let this opportunity pass without 
 expressing their high appreciation of the ster- 
 ling virtues that animated the heart of our 
 departed IViend and brother. 
 
 SPEECH OF 11. M. TOWxXSEND. 
 
 Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of flie B(tr: 
 Being admonished by the late hour of this 
 meeting, that the time of the funeral services 
 of our deceased friend has almost arrived, I 
 cannot enter upon any extended remarks on 
 
71 
 
 ]iis general character and history. Other 
 gentlemen here present have ah'eady antici- 
 l)ated what I might have said, and in their 
 remarks have done better justice to his mem- 
 ory than I could hope to do. 
 
 But I may be indulged in referring to a few 
 facts and incidents in the history of our de- 
 ceased brother, illustrativ^e of his character, 
 and which have made lasting impressions on 
 my mind, and which will keep him forever 
 fresh in my memory and my grateful remem- 
 brance. 
 
 When I first came to this city to read my 
 profession I was a young man, and I was a 
 stranger in the city, and being in the midst 
 of strangers, I was wholly without friends 
 here. And as I had determined to sustain 
 myself, without hell) from my parents, it 
 was necessary for me, at times, to have ]3ecu- 
 niary aid beyond my power to supply ; and 
 in my necessity. Judge McCoNmE kindly of- 
 fered to hel[) me, because I was young and 
 
72 
 
 among strangers, and without friends here, 
 and he caused me to have what aid I needed 
 at one of our city banks, for a term of years ; 
 and whenever, in succeeding years, I luive re- 
 curred to that period of my life, and to tliosc 
 entirely generous acts of the deceased, I have 
 always felt deeply the value to me of those 
 noble deeds of kindness, and now at this time 
 and under these solemn circumstances, they 
 come fresh again, and awaken in me grateful 
 memories that can never be foigotten. Oh, 
 how rich and glorious is the past to OAcry 
 one when he can truly connect it with exhi- 
 bitions of kindness and generosity, and noble 
 acts of humanity and encouragement to him 
 in his liours of doubt, hesitation and need. 
 It is by such acts of goodness many times 
 that the young are raised from depression 
 and despondency, and raised into permanent 
 success, and enabled to obtain pi'osi)erity 
 and happiness for life. 
 
 In the remarks of one gentlemen present, 
 
78 
 
 he referred to the great and overwhehiiing 
 grief of the deceased on tlie receipt by him 
 of the report of the heroic death of his noble 
 and patriotic son John, wlio fell leading his 
 command in that daring and determined 
 charge on the enemies of his country at Cold 
 Harbor, and well might the father then weep 
 bitter tears of sorrow and grief, for this be- 
 loved son was the i)ride of his family and the 
 glory of his country. 
 
 But when the war of the rebellion broke 
 out, in 1861, Judge McConihe embarked 
 with his whole heart and with the strongest 
 determination in the defence of his countr}^ 
 and Government, in its then great jjeril, and 
 under the true Democratic doctrine under 
 which he was early trained, he said the Gov- 
 ernment shoidd be defended and sustained 
 when attacked by any enemy, whether right 
 or wrong, and with that feeling he gave all 
 his energies and three of his sons to the de- 
 fence of his Government and country. 
 
74 
 
 Again, on the 15th day of Jnly, 1863, 
 when the Troy mob was brouglit out to aid 
 the rebellion, and was in fact attacking the 
 inhabitants of onr city, and demolishing their 
 homes, and when defenceless women and 
 children were fleeing for safety, terror- 
 stricken, from their burning and ruined 
 dwellings, Judge McConihe, aged and infirm 
 as he was, came to tlie rescue, and well and 
 manfully he braved this storm of maddened 
 rage and fury, and at the hazard of liis life, 
 all that day and niglit of desolation and sor- 
 row, he labored with unwearied and unceas- 
 ing effort, by persuasion and by argument, to 
 save the lives and property of our citizens, 
 and to restore order, and peace, and quiet in 
 our city ; and well do I remember, as thougli 
 it was but yesterday, that when at midnight, 
 after tlie city authorities, wlien called on to 
 protect certain dwellings and families, that 
 had been threatened all day, and had been 
 saved from the mob bv certain noble and 
 
75 
 
 good citizens, refused to furnish {iny ])rotcc- 
 tion, tins mob rusjied in tlie dwelling of one 
 of those families and commenced destroying 
 it with a perfect desti'uction, and threatened 
 the lives of any that o])j)osed, Judge McCon- 
 iiiE rushed into the midst of the crowd with 
 his bended form, and called for the military, 
 and when told that they were shut uj) in the 
 Armory, and not allowed by the city authori- 
 ties to come out. he exclaimed, '• if no one 
 Cise will bring the military, I will," and he 
 went for tliem. and in an incredibly short 
 time, he returned with the artilleiT, and the 
 cannon was ])lanted and al^out to l)e tired. 
 aiK^l the mob \vn- dispersed iuumMliab^ly. 
 
 1 mention these acts performed in this time 
 of excitement and teri'or. to show how truly 
 these bold and noble deeds exhibit the great 
 diffeience between the true patriot and the 
 men who acted with the conspirators in their 
 effort to destroy our Government. 
 
 But our deceased brother has performed 
 
 Bi 
 
76 
 
 his last work, botli ])iil)lic and private, hei-e 
 on earth, and takes his departure into that 
 future world that lies just before us all, «nnd 
 he has left us to mourn his loss, and to emu- 
 late everything in his life and eharacter that 
 is ^\orth\•, and good, and honorable, and of 
 good report. 
 
 At our very recent meeting in this place, 
 to mourn the death of our late brother 
 D. L. Seymour, we uuist all remember that 
 the now deceased, at the close of his remarks, 
 asked, with the deepest solemnity. " which of 
 us will be next called to follow ?" And now 
 his own death has given us the sad answer, 
 and the same question again ccmies to us 
 with redoubled force, which of us in the mys- 
 terious Providence of God, will next be called 
 to follow him. 
 
 SPEECH OF JEROME B. PARMENTER. 
 
 Mr. Chairman : I would prefer to remain 
 silent and listen to the words of otheis. 
 
77 
 
 But the fitness of this sad ceremony, iii)on 
 the death of a member of our Bar was often 
 remarked upon l)y tlie deceased, on occasions 
 like this, and the continuance of the practice 
 recommended, And only a few weeks since, 
 while paying his tril)ute to the memory of 
 the departed Seymour, in his last address in 
 this room, and I l)elieve, his last [)ul)lic ad- 
 dress on eai'th, — he repeated his '' Esto jicr- 
 
 llemembering and resj^ecting his wish, I 
 Avill say but a few words in relation to one 
 feature of his character. 
 
 Unless Avlien his sense of right and propri- 
 ety was offended by some base act, he never 
 s])oke ill of any person. And this Avas not be- 
 cause policy stood sentinel over his tongue, 
 l)ut because goodness and humanity had their 
 habitation in his soul. He was singularly 
 free from malice and always ready to excuse 
 or i)alliate the faults of others. Humane in 
 thought and act, and gentle of speech, he 
 
 L.ofC. 
 
78 
 
 made feAV enemies and many friends. 
 
 Some features of his cliaracter may have 
 l^een negative, but those which prochximed 
 him a gentleman in the best and only correct 
 sense of the word were positive, and wei'e tlie 
 out-growth of a good heart and warm sympa- 
 thies with liis kind, not enthusiastic, but nor- 
 mal and habitual. Wishing to be respected 
 by all, he was resi)ectful to all. 
 
 This goodness of his nature was exhibited 
 in his manner towards the younger members 
 of his profession, and in the interest he took 
 in them. He was always accessible to them 
 and loved to talk with them and give advice 
 and encoiu'agement, when doubt and perplex- 
 ity overwhelmed them. Unmindful of suj)e- 
 riority of person or position, he never wraj)- 
 ped himself in a mantle of frigid dignity, 
 thus chilling their timid advances, but came 
 down to their level for the occasion and talked 
 with them as with an equal. Such was my 
 experience, and if the experience of other 
 
70 
 yoiino: men leads them to ii (liiterent coiiclu- 
 sion, they may seek tlie reason in themselves. 
 And this was his aeeustomed manner. To 
 old as well as yonnjj; ; to the poor as well as 
 to the rich, to one and all, gentle, ccmsiderate 
 and kind. And thus he hofe through his long 
 pilgrimage, withou' oftence or tarnish to the 
 noblest title man can wear, — passing the de- 
 corations of kings and emperors — " the grand 
 old name of gentleman." 
 
 I cannot better express the feelings of this 
 community, as they listen to the solenni liell 
 which reminds them of the vacant i)lace so 
 lately and so honorably lilled, than by rever- 
 ently parodying tlie words which embalm the 
 memory of the noble Bayard, "The good old 
 man, without stain and without reproach."' 
 
 SPKKCII OF lUVINO UAYN(M:. 
 
 - J//'. Prcsn/nff : It seems to me appro])riate 
 that the younger members ot the ])n)fessiou 
 should lay a single leaf of sorrow on tlie cof- 
 fin of our agvd and respected brother, ^ly 
 
80 
 
 acquaintance with .Judge McComhe began 
 about six yeavs ago. Tlie ciicunistance 
 out of which it aiose was this : AVlien (len. 
 Alden was President of the Young Men's As- 
 sociation Debating Society of this city, the 
 debating season w^as chased with ])ul)lic exer- 
 cises, in wliich several of the s])eakers of the 
 winter took part. Judge McConiuk attended 
 those exercises, and at their cl(^se moved that 
 a vote of tlianks l)e extended to tlie young 
 men who had taken ])art, and expressed him- 
 self highly gratitied with tlie entertainment. 
 The next day I met him on the street, when 
 he conferred u])on me the honorof his ac<puiin- 
 tance. and spoke to inc winds of coninicnda- 
 tion and enc'ouragement. Since then I have 
 met him frequently on the street, and at his 
 office. His manner towards me on such occa- 
 sions has always been kind, his words ex[)res- 
 sive of synqjathy and friendship. Not only 
 have the older members of the bar lost a friend 
 but the younger members also. If when I 
 
SI 
 
 go down life's western slope, I bear with me 
 one-lialf of the honors and snccesses that he 
 has l)orne with him, to life's setting; snn, I 
 shall consider niy life not a failnre, but a 
 oTand sneeess. [ cheerfully concur in the 
 resolutions offered, Mr. President, and move 
 their ado])ti()n. 
 
 The resolutions wei'e then ado])ted by an 
 unanimous vote, and it was ordered that a 
 co])y of the ])roceedings, signed by the officers 
 of the meeting, be jn'esented to the family of 
 the deceased, and that the same be ])ublisli- 
 ed in The Trov Dailv Press. 
 
82 
 
 Proceedings of the Rensselaer Polytechnic In- 
 stitute, Troy. 
 
 At a meeting of tlie Rensselaer Polytecli- 
 nic Institute, held November 2(1. 1SH7, on 
 motion, it was 
 
 Rpsolrrf/. That by tlie deatli of Hon. Isaac 
 McCoMHE this board has lost its oldest, and 
 one of its most zealous mend)ers; one who 
 was present and active at the oriscinal oi'iran- 
 ization of the institution in I(S24; and who 
 has ever since been one of its Trustees, and 
 an active member of its Presidential ( om- 
 mittee. devotino' to its iutei-ests much time 
 and attention, and endeavorin.u' in eveiv way 
 to ])r()inote its j)i-()s])ei'ily. 
 
 J{rs{}/rrt/, That we assure his family of oiii' 
 sympathy with them in tlu'ii' bcreavemc^it. 
 
 Rfu^olrcil. That va' will attend his fuiii'ral 
 and wear the usual hadg'e of moiii-ninii'. 
 
 Rcsolri'd. That the Secretai-y scud a co])y 
 of thesv^' resolutions to the family. 
 
 Wm. Gi hley, Secruiarif. 
 
Proceedings of the Troy Oakwood Cemetary 
 Association. 
 
 At a iiieetiiif!: of the Trustees of tlie Troy 
 Oakwood ('einetery Association, liekl at their 
 ofhee on tlie 2d inst., tlie following resolutions 
 were unanimously a(k)])ted : 
 
 ResolreiJ^ That in the death of Hon. Isaac 
 McCoMUK this hoard is deprived of one of its 
 most useful members, an<l the Association a 
 Trustee, wliose untirina: dilio:ence and fidelity 
 has contributed larp:ely to place its affairs on 
 a well orjranized and secure basis. To his 
 l)niden(^e and sag'acity as Treasurer of its 
 funds this board beai's cliecrful rtM'ord. and 
 the ProvidiMicc that se])ai'ates us from one 
 whose ri])e ex])erience and judg-uKMit was 
 always at command and cheerfully im])arted. 
 leaves a vacancy which cannot be filled. 
 
 Rvxuln'il, That this hoard will attend the 
 funer^d of tlseir deceased associate, and wear 
 the usual badge of mourning for thii'ty days. 
 
 RemJrcih That the Secretary be requested 
 
 
 5 
 
84 
 
 to cause these ])roceedin^s to be ])ul)lished 
 and fui'insh a copy of the same to the family 
 of tlie deceased. 
 
 Wm. F. Sacik, Pirslihut. 
 Joiix B. PiEKSOx, H('cref(U'ij pro tvm. 
 Trov, Nov. 2d, 18(U). 
 
<sr) 
 
 Proceedings of the Troy Orphan Asylum. 
 
 At the annual meeting of Board of Trustees 
 of the Troy Orphan Asylum, held on tlie 4th 
 day of December, 1867, tlie President stated 
 tliat two of our members, Isaac McConihe 
 and Xathaniel B. Starbuck, have departed 
 tliis life during tlie past year, and recom- 
 mended that suitable memorial resolutions 
 should be adopted. The following committee 
 on resolutions was a|)pointed : Francis X. 
 Mann. Silas K. Stow and Charles L. Richards, 
 who re])orted the following resolutions, which 
 were unanimously ndo])te(l: 
 
 Rrsoh-cii. That in the death of Isaac Mc- 
 CoxiuK this board has sustained a great loss, 
 that he for luaiiy years has been a ju-ompt 
 and an ehicient mend)er, discharging his 
 duties faitlifuily and with a sincere desire to 
 ])romote its inteiests, his counsel and active 
 efforts in its behalf show that he was the 
 or])han's IViend, and we gladly bear our testi- 
 mony to departed worth and virtue. 
 
86 
 
 Resolved, That a copy of these resohitioiis, 
 duly signed by the President and Secretary, 
 be presented to the widow of the deceased 
 and published in the Troy }>apers. 
 
87 
 
 Proceedings of the Troy Academy. 
 
 At a meeting of the Triistees of the Troy 
 Academy, occasioned l)y the death of Hon. 
 Isaac McConiiie, LLD.. tlie following i)i*eam- 
 ble and resolutions were adopted : 
 
 ]V//(r('ffs, Oni' veneral)le President has 
 been called to his long home, and will no 
 more assist ns l)y his wisdom and counsel in 
 the great cause of education, which he has 
 so long and faithfully advocated both by pre- 
 cept and exam] )le ; therefore. 
 
 Rf^solvc'l. That while we are thankful that 
 a kind and beneficent Providence spared to 
 us so long our efticient presiding officer, nev- 
 ertheless we sincerely mouin the death of him 
 who has so long, faithfully and ably dis- 
 charged his duties. l)eing ever ready to give 
 his counsel and advice, as well as time and 
 talents, to aid in discharging our highly ini- 
 l)ortant and responsible duties. 
 
 Resolved, That we sympathize with the 
 
88 
 
 family of the deceased in their great loss, and 
 will attend his funeral in a body. 
 
 Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions, 
 signed by our Vice-President and Secretary, 
 be furnished the family of the decased. 
 
 George C. Baldwin, Vice-President. 
 
 T. Newton Willson, Secretary. 
 
89 
 
 Proceedings of the Troy City National Bank. 
 At a meeting of the Directors of the Troy 
 City National Bank, held this day, the follow- 
 ing resolutions were adopted : 
 
 Remlvpd, That in the death of Hon. Isaac 
 McCoMHE, the Directors of this Bank feel 
 that they have lost one of tlie oldest, most 
 discreet and valued associates; and while 
 pronouncing their I'cgret at the loss to the 
 institution, of which he was a director, they 
 desire also to express their ai>preciation of 
 the character of the deceased as one who, in 
 all the walks of life, commended himself for 
 his ])ul)lic s])irit, his urbanity of manner and 
 strict integrity. 
 
 Resolved. That a coi)y of these resolutions 
 be transmitted to the widow of the deceased, 
 with sentiments of oui* deepest connnissera- 
 tion in her irre])arable loss. 
 
 Rso/rel That we will attend the funeral 
 in a body, and wear the usual badge of 
 mourning thirty days. 
 
 JoTix A. GmswoLD, Prefiulmt. 
 
9(1 
 
 Extracts From a Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Coit, 
 at St. Paul's Church, Troy, Nov. 4, 1867. 
 
 "And I heard a voice from Heaven saying, 
 right blessed are the dead which die in tlie 
 Lord from henceforth, yea, saith the spirit, 
 that they may I'est from their lahoi's; and 
 their works do follow thenr" — Rev. xiv., 18. 
 
 Yon well i-emember the occasion, brethren, 
 which made this text onr theme, only three 
 short weeks ago. There was an eye fixed 
 upon me with unusual intentness, which to- 
 day is closed and clouded in the grave. The 
 eye of one, too, familiar with the Chnrcli from 
 the day of its erection, and who has watched 
 over its welfare with ))arenlal and othciid 
 li(h^lity foi- many a yeai'. [t seems not inu])- 
 j)ro])riate, under such circumstances, tliat I 
 should return to the theme 1 then descanted on. 
 
 You will doubtless lecollect that 1 then 
 dwelt rather u])on the fact that the dead have 
 a rest, than upon the chai'acter ov conditions 
 of their rest. 1 ])ropose now to look more 
 
 memss 
 
particularly at the qualities of tlie rest, unto 
 which they who die in the Loirl are ])ermitte(l 
 and made welcome to entei'. 
 
 The dei)arted believer has a benediction 
 over his ashes, and he enjoys a rest, which is 
 one of the j)rinci])al elements of this heavenly 
 blessing. It is a rest which is contrasted 
 stron^rly with that state of unrest through 
 wliich a de])arted Christian has just ])assed. 
 A state of inestimable I'est. as regards the 
 liody. the mind, tlie soul. 
 
 His body, in the language of the service 
 with which it is jdaced in its tinal abode, will 
 b;^ committed to the ground, with the solenni 
 leminisccnce, '' P^arth to earth, ashes to ashes, 
 dust to dust,"" but it will never be I'csunied in 
 the condition in which it was laid in the 
 grave. It is as an A])ostle informs us, but 
 the forerunner of something uns])eakably dif- 
 ferent, is but the seminal of scmething alto- 
 gethei' more vital, and incalculably more 
 noble. 
 
92 
 
 There is no body of linmiliation or degene- 
 racy for a saint who has died under the bene- 
 diction of his Saviour. Tlie i)ains, sorrows 
 and disap]X)intnients wliich arrise from bodily 
 disorders, Avill all liave left him forever. He 
 will now be not angelic sim|)ly, but as our 
 Savior's self said, an angel's ecjual. He will 
 be endowed with inexhaustible vitality and 
 vigor. He will always ])ossess the elasticity 
 of youth, the maturity of manhood, the in- 
 delil)le stamp of immortality. 
 
 He will be measurable like God himself, 
 as to the transitions and vicissitudes of time ; 
 one day will be to him a thousand years, and 
 a thousand years as one day. Death, with 
 all its baleful concoiuitants, will be utterly 
 unknown to him; they will have tied away 
 like spectres before the ladience of morning. 
 
 And will not this be a rest of no mean 
 estiuiaticm? Will it not be a snr])assiug 
 wonder to have vitality inherenent in our 
 frames? to require no sleep, no food, no reju- 
 
98 
 
 YOiiatioii, to 1)0 always iVest and animated! 
 Oil. Avliat a life ! could iK^t sncli pevogatives 
 sustain, and lieigliteii, and biiohteii! And 
 how might eontrilmte to the ascension and 
 ex])ansion of that onward innuortality. which 
 is re])resented as the ])rogTessof those having 
 begnn to a])|)i'oximate God on earth will l)e 
 drawing neaiei* to him everlastingly. 
 
 But their is a higher rest than I'esting from 
 this woiid's hoddy intinnities. it is a resting 
 from infirmities and ])erplexities of the nnnd. 
 Certainly the watchword of sce])tics is in 
 no instance the attainment of lindted com- 
 pivliensions. Pry as k^'cidy as we may. 
 tliere is alwtiys a veil which we cannot 
 pierce, a deficiency we cannot sup])ly. an 
 aching void whose ciavings wt^ cannot satiate. 
 The linuted can never cross the great gnlf 
 •which se])arates the tinite from the infinite, 
 can never disenduii'iass itself of time and its 
 changes, and scan the day of eternity." And 
 no donbt hesitancy, timidity and dread, will 
 
94 
 
 always haunt and overshadow the l)riglitest 
 intellect of which this world can boast. 
 
 But the mind which is emancipated from 
 the infirmities of this contracted state, will 
 grow, under the tuition of a Mind whose 
 range is limitless, who never eirs, yet com- 
 prehends and appreciates all things. What 
 joy unspeakable to see truth, and only truth, 
 on all sides, al)ove, below and far, far as 
 thought can reach, adown the vista of an in- 
 terminable future! What will the philosoi)hy 
 and science of this wc^rld be, to a mind which 
 receives light from the Fountain-head of per- 
 fect and boundless knowledge. 
 
 But there will be a rest not for the body 
 only, in reference to all physical intirniities, 
 not for the mind, in reference to all intellect- 
 ual short-comings, l)ut foi' the soul, since that 
 will be at rest from temptation, from sin, and 
 from Death, which is sin's wages, and its in- 
 evitable end. 
 
 Oh, what priceless fredom to be disl)ur- 
 
9.1 
 
 (leiied from all temptations to do wrong, all 
 a])prehension of doing wrong hereafter. To 
 do the will of God supremely and incessantly. 
 This is not simply Heaven's highest duty and 
 noblest aehievement, it is its highest l)liss. 
 It is Heaven, and all Heaven, to be in perfect 
 conformity with God's unfolding pleasure. 
 An archangel could not yeai'u after a loftier 
 or more ins])iring destiny. 
 
 So, then, when you think of the rest of the 
 dead, tliink not of it as a rest wliich untits 
 them for future activity, or ])r()gress, for the 
 attainments tlie most unbounded, for distinc- 
 tion the most su])lime. It is rest from weak- 
 ness, and weariness and i)ain, from error and 
 solicitude, from temptation and sin. It will 
 l)e a rest, therefore, like that wliicli invigo- 
 rates a man for a new I'ace, and which will 
 be the harbinger of new life, of higher 
 achie^ements. of nobler virtues. A rest 
 which may be compared to the occupation of 
 those livino; creatures whom St. John saw 
 
imimM 
 
 m 
 
 around tlie Tlirone of a svi])eriial Teini)le, and 
 wlio rest not day nor niglit from anthems of 
 adoration. 
 
 Towards tlie footstool of tliat Tlirono, do 
 we devoutly hope, that he whose loss puts 
 our Chureh and eongTegation td'resh in mourn- 
 ing:, has now eomuieneed an unim})eded 
 ()rogress Irom the infirmities of body and of 
 mind, and of s])irit, whieh j)i'essed lijxm him 
 on earth, and that he is now emancipated 
 forever. Age clings to him no more, erroi* 
 no more beclouds his understanding, sin no 
 more agitates his heai't. Of the territic in- 
 tji'u-al and un(iuenchal)le sti'ife between 
 strong conviction, and ol'ten sliongei- ])i-opcn- 
 sity. that sti'ife which is the Chrislian's life- 
 long sorrow, he will lia\'e no future ex])eii- 
 ence. He is now tlie Lord's own freeman, 
 disenthralled iVom all human sla\eries. lie 
 is now a citizen ncfiKilli/ (d' ;• kingdom to 
 which lie once belonged in ])resumption. 
 
 Oiu' deimrted Senior A\ arden wants none 
 
e 
 
 1)7 
 
 of eartirs distinctions, not a i)enny of earth's 
 I'iclu's now. He is. we elieerfnlly believe, 
 witli tlie just in the Chnrcli of the first-born, 
 and to s|)eak of liis ])0siti()n in tliis woild, 
 wonld seem to ])nt woids to Avaste, like echoes 
 rolling; alon<r the eni2)ty air. " Let ns leave 
 him in the l)osom of Ins Father and his God." 
 " Now nnto Him that lovetli ns, and hath 
 waslied us from our sins in His own blood, 
 and Iratli made us a kinpixlom of ])riests nnto 
 God, even liis Father, to him be glory and 
 dominion foi'cver and ever! Amen." 
 
 
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