I Yale University Library
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YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

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BI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF ALBANY.

HISTORY

COUNTY OF ALBANY,

NT. Y.,

FROM 1609 TO 1886. ¦ A.

WITH PORTRAITS, BIOGRAPHIES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

HOWELL, £W._ ^m*"# T E N N E Y, •

ASSISTED BY

LOCAL WRITERS.

NEW YORK:
W. W. MUNSELL & CO., PUBLISHERS,

1886,

PREFACE

CyoHIS volume is the work of many writers. It will therefore exhibit various characteristics
of style, and each writer will be responsible only for what he wrote, and the Editor-in-
Chief answers only for the outward form of expression, and not for the substance of the
narrative. The publishers have shown no little perseverance in overcoming obstacles in the progress of
the work, and have spared no pains or expense to secure a valuable history for the subscribers
and the public.
An exhaustive history of Albany and its many thousands of citizens would need twenty
volumes of the size of this to include a full history of all the men, women and events that have
contributed both directly and indirectly to its history and present prosperity.
A judicious selection of material has, therefore, been found necessary, and even some prun
ing to make publication possible.
The issue of the work has been delayed beyond our hopes and expectations simply on account
of the immense labor in accumulating facts and reducing them to a connected narrative.
Not only was it necessary to embody here for the present generation the history of the past,
but also to present a pen picture of what A Ibany and Schenectady Counties, are at the present time
for the benefit of future generations.
It has been the aim of the publishers to have given also biographies of some of the represent
ative men of all professions, and a representative exhibit of the various industries in the two
counties. It is the hope of all concerned in the book that a valuable contribution to the history of two
of the oldest counties in the State is now offered to the public.

Minute, a, MrubdUb ,

PREFACE.

CTOHE part we have performed in the preparation of this History of the County and City of
Albany is indicated at the headings of the principal divisions and in the Table of Contents.
The labor involved in this planning, writing and editing is far greater than we had anticipated,
or than any but a careful historian can appreciate.
We have had valuable aid in special contributions from writers whose names are given; and
many others have contributed facts and suggestions which have been gratefully received.
We have sought for "the truth of history" from every source in our reach, and patiently
gathered what seemed best fitted to our purpose.
We could have made a smaller volume, but many facts and factors demanded recognition.
More easily we could have made a larger one, but duty to our worthy publishers urged all
possible condensation.
We think all will notice with approval the strictly topical presentation and discussion of
our subjects. We have tried to, make a book of facts, well selected and well arranged. We have
sacrificed nothing to figures of speech or " words of learned length."
We commit this volume, with its excellencies and defects, to the friends who have encouraged
us, and whom we have tried to please; and to no one with more confidence than to the honest and
faithful student of history, who will most readily appreciate what is good and pardon what is
faulty in it.

^z^^^-Q^C*

Editor.

INDEX.

HISTORY OF ALBANY COUNTY.
Table of Contents.
I' AGE
I. Outline History of the State of New York
(edited by Prof. Jonathan Tenney)  i-ii
Chapter I. Discovery of New York. Indians of
the Five Nations  I
Chapter II. New York under the Dutch. English
Governors to 1765  2
Chapter III. War with France and Commence
ment of the Revolution  4
Chapter IV. Revolutionary Events in New York.
The State Government established  6
Chapter V. The War of 1812 between the United
States and Great Britain  7
Chapter VI. Internal Improvements. Constitu
tional Amendments, Schools, Statistics  9
II. History qf the County of Albany (by
Prof. Jonathan Tenney)  12-432
¦ Topography  12
• Sand Surface  12
• Geography: Hills, Islands, Ponds, Rivers, Hud
son River  12
- Geology: Soil  17
Mineralogy  18
Paleontology  19
Botany  21
Natural History: Quadrupeds, Birds, Fishes,
Reptiles, Entomology  29
Meteorology: Tables of Rainfall and Tempera
ture  32
Iroquois Indians: Indian Lands, the Indian Edu
cation and Christianity, Indian Treaties,
Trade and other affairs, Indian Commissioners 34
Early Discovery: Verrazano, Henry Hudson and
his followers  42
New Netherlands: the English Claim  44
The United New Netherlands Company  45
The Dutch. West India Company  45
The Dutch Governors  46
The First Settlement  48
Rensselaerwyck and Beverwyck  49
Stuy vesant and the English Conquest  67
Organization, Divisions and Boundary of the
County  69
Outline Sketches of the Towns of the County:
Berne, Bethlehem, Coeymans, Cohoes, Guil-
derland, Knox, New Scotland, Rensselaerville,
Watervliet, Westerlo  72
History of the Board of Supervisors, by L. B.
Proctor  80-123
The Bench and Bar; or, Legal History: Robert
Yates, John Lansing, Jr., Abraham Van
Vechten, John V. Henry, John V. N. Yates,
Martin Van Buren, Benjamin F. Butler,
Greene C. Bronson, Marcus T. Reynolds,
Samuel Stevens, John C. Spencer, James
Edward, Azor Taber, Amos Dean, Henry G.
Wheaton, Nicholas Hill, Peter Cagger, Ira
Harris, Rufus W. Peckham, Lewis Benedict
and list of living lawyers, by L. B. Proctor. 123-154
Judges and other Court Officers  1 54
Biographies of Lawyers, with portraits, by L. B.
Proctor  15S-202

PAGE
Medicine in Albany County: Chronological
List of County Medical Society, Officers of
the Society, by Dr. F. C. Curtis  203-222
Introduction and Progress of Homoeopathy, by
Dr. H. M. Paine  222-230
Eclectic Medical Society  230
Female Physicians  230
Biographies of Physicians, with Portraits  231-241
Biographical Notes of some Physicians  241-247
History of Education: Dutch Colonial, English
Colonial, Higher and Professional, After the
Revolutionary War, County Superintendents,
Teachers' Institutes, Geological Survey, Re
gents of the University, General Notes  248-269
Table of Villages, Post Offices, Railway Sta
tions, Distances, Local Names, etc  269
1 History of Population  27 1-276
, Anti-Rentism, by Hon. A. J. Colvin  277-285
, The Manor and the VanRensselaers: Attorneys,
Legal Points, Sketches of the Patroons, Hen
drick Van Rensselaer Branch, Females  286-292
. Land Patents, Settlements, Leases, Titles and
Boundaries  293-295
The Beaver and the Fur Trade  296-3CO
, Slavery  3°°-3°3
Homicides, by Elisha Mack  304-309
Travel and Transportation  3°9-3T3
Railroads: Central, Hudson River, Albany and
Vermont, Boston and Albany, West Shore,
Susquehanna, Albany and Depots (see also
P- 676)  313-317
Express Business: American, National, Western,
Baggage  317-322
Telegraph Business  322-324
Telephone and Messenger Service  325
. Agriculture in Albany County  326
' ' Farm Animals  329
" Horticulture, Floriculture and Rural
Literature  333
' ' New York State Agricultural Society 335
" Albany County Agricultural Society. 336
The Shakers  337-34°
, Temperance Work  340-344
Secret Temperance Orders: Sons of Temper
ance, Temple of Honor, Good Templars .... 344-346
The Old Stadt Huys, or City Hall  346
Albany County Jails  , . . . 347-349
" County Aims-House  349~352
" Penitentiary  352
County Legislative Officers: Senators, Assembly
men ; also Treasurers  353-356
Journalists and Journalism, with Biographies:
Jesse Buel, Moses I. Cantine, William Cas-
sidy, Edwin Crosswell, Sherman Crosswell,
Hugh J. Hastings, Charles R. Webster, Thur
low Weed, and other biographies with por
traits  35^-374
Albany County Press: Past, Present, Outside
of Albany  375-378
English Colonial Governors of New York  379-382
Colonial Military Affairs and Wars in Albany
County  382
King William's War  384
Queen Anne's War  386
King George's War  387

INDEX.

PAGE
Old French and Indian Wars  388
American Revolutionary Period : Militia of 1775
-76, Mayor and Common Council, Committee
of Safety, Colonial, Provincial and Continental
Assemblies, Continental Conventions  391-419
War of 1812  419-422
The War with Mexico  422
War of the Rebellion ( see also " Military
Organization " on pp. 709-718)  423-428
West Point Cadets  429
County Inspectors  429
Board of Charities: Its Work in Albany County,
by Mrs. E. L. Tenney  429-432
III. United States Buildings and Institutions
in Albany County: U. S. Arsenal; Govern
ment Building ; Albany Post Office; U. S.
Custom-House; U. S. Internal Revenue Office;
Steamboat Inspectors; U. S. Circuit Court;
U. S. District Court; U. S. Signal Service;
United States Officers, Natives or Residents
of Albany, by Prof Jonathan Tenney, Editor. 433-441
IV. State Buildings and Officers in Albany Co. :
Constitutional Conventions ; Constitutional
Commission ; Public State Officers ; Governors'
Mansions in Albany; State Legislatures; Old
State Hall; Geological Hall; New State Hall;
The Old Capitol; The New Capitol; Stone
work, by Prof. Jonathan Tenney, Editor. . .441-457
V. History of the City of Albany, Prof.
Jonathan Tenney, Editor: Early History,
Settlement, Made a City, Natural Features,
Relations to the County, Situations, Names,
Boundaries and Changes, Square Miles, Rela
tions to the River and the Sea  458-774
Municipal History and Charters  461-485
Navigation of the Hudson : Steamboats, Ferries,
Bridges Across the Hudson  485-496
Docks, Wharves and Basin of Albany, by Gen.
S. V. Talcott  496-503
Sewerage of Albany  503
Streets of Albany  504
Water Supply  512
Street Lighting  515
Public Parks  517
Street Railways  5 19
Fire Department  519
Erie Canal as related to Albany  523
Albany Insurance Companies  526
Banks and Bankers; Savings Banks; with Biogra
phies of Bankers  527-555
Manufacturing Interests of Albany, with Biogra
phies of Manufacturers  555-609
Commercial Interests of Albany  609-651
Albany Hotels  65 1
Public Halls  654
Police Department  654
Mayors of Albany: Biographical Sketches .... 657-666
Views in Albany about 1800. Illustrated  666
Old Houses and Landmarks. Illustrated  672
Churchyards and Cemeteries  674
Mohawk and Hudson River Railroad  676
City Buildings : Old City Hall; New City Hall;
City Building  677
Schools and other Literary Institutions : Union
University ; Normal School ; Law School ;
Dudley Observatory; Albany Academy; Al
bany Female Academy; Convent and Academy
of the Sacred Heart; St. Agnes' School; Chris
tian Brothers' Academy; Albany Business Col
lege; Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle;
Industrial School; State Library; Albany Insti
tute; Young Men's Association; Dana Natural
History Society; The Dickens Club ; Public Ed-
ucation ; Lancaster School ; Public Schools ;
High School ; Tables  679-699
Printers and Printing  699
Law Book Publishers  702

PAGE
Photography  7°2
The Albany Stage, by Henry P. Phelps  7°3
Dentistry  7°7
Centennial Celebration, July 22, 1786  7°9
Military Organizations. Aided by Major McFar-
lane, Sergeant Wolfe, and others  709-7 18
Secret Orders: Free Masons; Odd Fellowship;
Knights of Pythias  7'8
Mutual Aid Societies  72I
Political Clubs  72i
Labor and Laborers  72z
Colored People of Albany  725
St. Andrew's Society  726
St. George's Benevolent Society  726
Public Bath  727
Christian Work : City Tract and Missionary So
ciety; Young Men's Christian Association; So
ciety of St. Vincent de Paul; Orphan Asylum;
St. Vincent's Female Orphan Asylum; Orphans'
Home of St. Peter's Church; House of Shelter;
Home for the Friendless; Home for Aged Men ;
Children's Friend Society ; Child's Hospital;
Women's Christian Temperance Society ; Open
Door Mission; Hospital for Incurables; Wo
men's Union Missionary Society ; Woman's Ex
change; Women's Indian Association  727
The Albany Woman's Suffrage Society, by Miss
Kate Stoneman  735—737
Art and Artists, by Mrs. E. L. Tenney  737—739
Engraving  739
Architecture  739
Surveyors and Engineers  741
Music in Albany  742
Social Clubs and Sporting Associations  745
Military Bands and Orchestra  748
Religious Institutions: Adventists ; Baptists ;
Catholic; Christian; Congregational; Episco
pal; Evangelical; Hebrew; Liberal; Lutheran;
Methodists; Presbyterian; Quakers; Reformed;
Spiritualists; Unitarian; Universalist. Assisted
by Revs. C. A. Walworth, G. W. Dean, W.
W. Battershall, J. L. Reese, D. L. Schwartz, P
P. Harrover, E. F. Gee, H. M. King, Max
Schlesenger, Hon. A. B. Pratt, M. McGowan,
Esq., and others  749~774
Towns and Villages of Albany County, Rev.
George R. Howell, Editor:
(See, also, Outline Sketches in Table of Contents)
Berne, by Rev. Robert Doig  775-800
Bethlehem, by Jacob S. Markle  800-823
Coeymans, by Jacob S. Markle  824-840
Cohoes, by Rev. Wm. M. Johnson  949-974
Guilderland  840-869
Knox  869-889
New Scotland, by Jacob S. Markle  889-911
Rensselaerville, by Norman W. Faulke  911-921
Westerlo, by Jacob S. Markle  921-928
Watervliet, by Jacob S. Markle  929-949
West Troy, by V. J. Oothout  974-997
Green Island, by V. J. Oothout  994-997

GENERAL INDEX TO HISTORY OF ALBANY
COUNTY.
Agriculture. See County.
Albany, City of—
Architecture  739
Art and Artists  737
Assessors  485
Basin, Docks and Wharves  4^5
Banks and Banking  527, 538
Board of Contract and Apportionment  483
" Equalization of faxes  , jg
Bonded Debt paid since 1851  I0g
Bridges  4q,
Budget, City and County yj
99, 102, 104, 106, 107, 108, 483

INDEX.

Buildings, The City  677, 678
" and Builders  587
Cemeteries. See Churchyards.
Canal, The Erie  523
Chamberlain, The City  83, 478-482
Christian Work in  727
Charter, The General Provisions of  484
Churchyards and Cemeteries  674
Commercial Interests of  609
Corporation, Executive Power of  481
" Counsel of the  482
Docks and Wharves  496-499
Engineer and Surveyor, The  483-512
Excise  100-102
Fees, Official. See Salaries
Ferries, The  489 '
Fire Alarm Telegraph  521
' ' Department  519
" Prevention of  485
" Hall, The  114-116
" History of  458-461
Inspectors of Weights and Measures  484
" Steamboats  438
Insurance Companies  526
Lamps, Gas and Electric Lighting, Bureau of. . 512
Law School, The  680
Manufacturing Interests of  555
Marshal, The  484
Mayors of, The  83-126, 657-666
" Court, The  126
Municipal History of  ,  461-485
" Officers. See Officers.
Music in  742
Officers  477-480
" Appointed by Mayor  482
f Election of  485
" Fees and Salaries of  484
Pavements  509
Physicians of  483
Property, Private, taken for Public Use  484
Protective Patrol  527
Parks, Public  517
Receiver of Taxes  482
Salaries and Fees of Officers of  484
Schools and Literary Institutions  679
Sewerage of  503
Steamboat Inspectors  438
Steamboats  487
Street Commissioner  483
" Department  511
" Improvements  512
" Lighting  515
" Railways  519
Streets of.  504
Superintendent of Poor-House  484
Taxes. See Budget.
" Board of Equalization of.  116
" Table of Equalization of, 1872-73, 1883
103, 104, 106, 120
" Receiver of  v  482
" Rates of  .*  122
Theatres in  703
Treasurer's Report  122
Town Boundaries, Alteration of.  84
Union of City and County Affairs  82
Valuation of, The Equalized  122
Views in, about 1800, Some  666
Water Supply  512
Weights and Measures, Inspector of  484
" " Sealer of  108
Albany County —
Agriculture in  326
Agricultural Literature in  333
" Society of  336
Aims-House  349-352
Amendments, Constitutional  9
Anti-Rentism in  277-285
Architecture in Albany  739
Art and Artists  737
Assembly, Members of, from  354

PAGE '
Assessors  4^5
Attorney-General  442
Audits of, Publication of  106
Banks  4&5
" and Bankers  527
" designated for Deposit  4^3
" Savings  533
Basin, The Albany  499
Bath, Public  727
Beaver and Fur Trade, The  296-303
Bench and Bar of  123-203
Beverwyck and Rensselaerwyck  49-66
Birds of  29
Board of Canvassers  82
Charities  429-432
" Finance  80-122
" Supervisors  80-123
Books of Records  115, 122
Boundaries of.   292
Botany of  21-28
Bounty Fund  100
Budget  98, 99, 104, 108
Buildings  82, 86, 106
" Sites of, The  82
Charities, Board of.  429-432
Claims against the  '.  86
Colonial Military Affairs and Wars in  383-390
Constitutional Conventions, in, State  441
Coroners  116, 119, 121
District Attorney  83, 84, 86, 117
Early Courts of  123
Education, History of.  248-270
Entomology of  3°
Express Business in  3 ' 7
Farm Animals in  329
Farming in  326
Fishes of  30
Floriculture in  333
Geography of  12
Geology of  17
Hills  12
History of, The Early  80
" Board of Supervisors  80-122
" Bench and Bar of  123-203
Homicides in  304
Horticulture in  333
Indians in  34
" Lands in  36
" Education and Civilization in  37
Indian Treaties, Trades, etc  40
" Affairs, Commissioner of  41
Industries of, Special Officers connected with . . . 429
Islands of  13
Jails  99. 347
Journalists and Journalism in  356-378
Judges, Salary of  103
Land, Surface of  12
Lands of, The Public  82
Land Patents, Settlements, Leases, Titles, etc., 292-295
Legislative Officers from  353
Manor and Van Rensselaers, The  286-291
Medicine in, History of  203-247
Members of Assembly from  354
Meteorology of  32, 33
Mineralogy of  18
Natural History of  29
Newspapers Published. See Journalists, etc.
Officers, Public  442
Organization and Division of  ;  69
Overseers of the Poor. See Poor.
Paleontology of, The  19
Penitentiary, The  352
Population, History of  271-276
Ponds of  14
Press, The County  375
Prominent Lawyers  128
Quadrupeds of  29
Railroads of  313
Rainfall of  33
Redistribution of  113

INDEX.

PAGE
Registry Laws  98
Rivers of  14
Salaries of Officials  84
School Commissioners  266
Senators, United States, from  353
Severe Punishments  125
Shakers in  337
Sheriff, The  '  156
Slavery in  300
Soil  18
Special Sessions  97
Superintendents in County Schools  265
Supervisors, The Board of, History of  80
" Members of, List of, 1818-84  87-92
" Powers of Local Legislation of. ... . 85
" Proceedings of, 1861-84  92-123
" Salaries of  84, 85
" Sessions of, 86, 98, 99, 102-104, IC|6, 108,
109, 112, 116, 117, 120
" Standing Committees of  103
" Statutory and Legal History of . . . 82
State of New York: Its Buildings, Public Offices,
etc., in  441
Supreme Court  126
" under the First State Constitu
tion  .  130
Surrogates  155
Taxes  117
' ' Receiver of  482
Teachers in, Early  265
Telegraph Business in  325
Telephone and Messenger Service  325
Temperature of  33
Temperance Work in  340-346
Topography of  12
Travel and Transportation in  309
Treasurer's Reports and Statements,
98, 99, 101, 105, 108, 113, 132, 355, 482
United States Officers, Public Buildings, and
other Institutions in  433
War Loan Bonds of  107
Watchman of Clerk's Office  115
Biographies of Physicians  241
Birds of the County  29
Board of Canvass  82
' ' Charities  426
" Contract and Appropriation  483
" Finance  482
" Equalization of Taxes  1 16
" Supervisors and the Penitentiary  83
Books of Record of County  115
Botany of the County  26
Boundaries  292
Buildings and Builders  587
" for the Insane  97
" County  86
" " Sites of  82
Bureau of Engineering and Surveying  512
" Lamps, Gas and Electric Lighting  512
" Street Improvements  512
Canal Commissioners  443
Canvassers, Board of  82
Capitol, The Old   446
" New  449
" Commissioners of  450
Centennial Celebration of 1786, The  709
Census, U. S., of 1790-1880, in County  276
Chamberlain, The City  83, 478
Charitable Institutions —
Aged Men, Home for  432, 732
Albany Orphan Asylum  43^ 729
" Guardian Society and Home for the
Friendless  43!, 731
" City Hospital  221,431
" " Homoeopathic Hospital  431
" House of Shelter  731
" " St. Vincent's Female Orphan  432, 729

PAGE
Babies' Nursery   43 1
Bath, The Public  '.'.'.'.'.'.'.  727
Buildings for the Insane  97
Children's Friend Society  431, 732
Child's Hospital  222, 431, 732
City Homoeopathic Hospital  222
Female Orphan Asylum of St. Vincent. . . .431, 432, 729
Friendless, Home for the  431
Guardian Society and Home for the Friendless. 43 1, 731
Home for the Aged, Little Sisters of the Poor .431, 432
" Aged Men  432, 732
" the Friendless and Guardian Society. 431
" the Orphans of St. Peter's,  432, 729, 730
Hospital, Albany City  221, 222, 431
" Alms-house  222
" Child's  222, 431, 732
" Homoeopathic and Dispensary . 105, 222, 229
" for Incurables  222, 734
" St. Peter's  221, 222,431
House of Shelter, The Albany  432, 731
Incurables, Hospital for  222
Insane, Buildings for  97
Juvenile Delinquents  108
Little Sisters of the Poor  431,432
Albany Babies' Nursery  431
Open Door Mission  432
Orphan Asylum, The Albany  431, 729
" " St. Vincent's Female  432
Home of St. Peter's Church  432, 729
Public Bath  727
St. Joseph's Industrial School  431
Shelter, House of, The Albany  432, 731
St. Peter's Church, Orphan Home of  432, 730
" Hospital  221, 222,431
St. Vincent de Paul, The Society of  728
St. Vincent's Female Orphan Asylum  432, 729
Charities, The Board of  429
Charter, The General Provisions of  484
Cholera Epidemic of 1832, The  214
Christian Work in Albany  727
Churches —
Adventists  749
Baptists  749
" First  749
" " African  750
" Second "  750
" Calvary.  750
" Emanuel  750
" State Street  750
" Tabernacle  749
" Washington Avenue  750
" " Street  750
Catholic (Roman) Assumption, Church of the. .756,757
" Holy Cross (German)  756
" " Immaculate Conception, Cath
edral of  754
" Our Lady of Angels (German) . 756
" " Our Lady Help of Christians.. . 756
" " Sacred Heart of Jesus, Parish of 757
" St.ifhn's.  756
" " St. John's  754
" St. Joseph's  755
" " St. Mary's  750
" St. Patrick's  756
Congregational, First  758
" Second  758
Evangelical  762
" German Associated, Church of . . . . 763
' ' First German Lutheran  763
" St. John's  763
" St. Paul's  763
' ' Trinity  763
Episcopal  758
" All Saints, Cathedral of  761
" St. Paul's  760
" St. Peter's  758
" Trinity  760
" Grace  762
" Holy Innocents  ™g,
Hebrew  763

INDEX.

PAGE
Hebrew, Anshe Emeth  763
" Bethel  763
" " Jacob  763
Liberal  763
" Albany Associated  764
Lutheran  763
" First German  763
Methodist Episcopal  764
" " Ferry Street  768
" " Hudson Street  768
" " Mission, The Open Door. . . 733
" " Open Door Mission  431
Presbyterian  768
" First  769
" Second  769
" Third  !  769
' ' Fourth  769
" Fifth  769
" Sixth  769
State Street  770
" United  770
" West End  770
Quakers  770
Reformed  770
" First  770
" Second  771
Third  771
" Fourth  77 1
" Holland  771
Spiritualists  771
Universalists  772
Unitarian  772
Circuit Court United States  439
Citizens' Association of Albany  121
City Hall, The Rebuilding of  114
" Officers  477-479
" Physicians  483
Claims against the County  86
Clubs and Sporting Associations  745
Cohoes Jail  117
Colored People of.  725
Colonial Conferences  417
' ' Dutch Period  2-248
" English "  3-248
" Military Affairs, Wars, etc  385
Commercial Interests of Albany  609
Comptroller, The  97, 443
Congresses, State, Provincial and Continental  418
Constitutional Commissions  442
" Amendments  9
Contest over a Lawyer's Bill  95
Contract and Apportionment Board  483
Convention, The Provincial  418
" " Constitutional  418
Corporation Counsel^ The  481 482
Coroner, The  1 16, 1 19, 121
Courts —
Circuit  439
District, United States  439
First after the Revolution .».  129
" at Albany under the Constitution  130
Last Colonial at Albany  128
Mayor's  I
Supreme, under first State Constitution  130
County Bounty Fund  100
Dentistry  707
Department, Fire, The  519
Draft, Objections to the  94
Discovery of New York  1
" by Hudson  44
" by Verrazano  42
District Attorney of County, The  86, 117
Dudley Observatory, The  682
Dutch Colonial Period  248
" Governors, The  46
" West India Company  45
Early Courts of Albany County  123
" Legislative Acts  82

PAGE
Early Teachers in Albany County  265
Education, History of  248
Educational —
Albany Academy  683
' ' Female Academy  685
" Institute  690
Business College  688
Christian Brothers' Academy  687
College Graduates  261
Dudley Observatory, The  682
Education, Higher and Professional  260
" Dutch and English Colonial  248
High School  697
Industrial School  688
" " St. Joseph's  432
Lancaster School  694
Law School  680
Libraries, Early  260
Normal School  266, 679
Private Education  258, 259
Public Education  694
" Schools  695
Regents of the University  267
Sacred Heart, Academy of  :  686
St. Agnes' School  687
St. Joseph's Industrial School  432
School Commissioners  266
Schools after the Revolution  263
State Superintendence  268
Teachers' Institutes  267
Elections  82, 117
Electors  440
English Governors  2
Engineer and Surveyor, The  483
" " State  443
Engraving  737
Entomology of the County  30
Excise  100
Express Business in County  317
Farm Animals in County  ,  329
Farming in County  326
Ferries  489
Finance, Board of  482
" Department  519
Fire Alarm Telegraph  521
Fires, The Prevention of  485
First Settlement  48
Fishes of the County  30
Floriculture in County  333
France, War with  4
Freemasons  718
Funded Debt, The  315
Geography of County  12
Geology of the County  17
Geological Hall, The  445
" Survey of the State  267
Governors, The English  2, 379
" " Dutch  46
" Lieutenant, The  442
Governors' Mansions, The  443
Health, The State Board of  116
High School, The  697
Hills of the County  12
History of County, The Early  80
Homicides in County  304
Homoeopathy in County, Polemics of  228
Horticulture in County  333
Hospital, Albany  221
" St. Peter's  221
" Homoeopathic  229
House of Shelter, The  43!
Hudson River, The  1 r
Hudson's Discovery of New York  44
Indians, Affairs, Commissioners of  41
" Education and Civilization of  37
" Five Nations  i

INDEX.

PAGE
Indians, Iroquois, The  34
" Lands  36
' ' Trades, Treaties, etc  40
Inspector of Steamboats  484
" Weights and Measures  484
Insurance Companies of Albany  526
" Patrol  527
Internal Improvements  9
" Revenue  438
Iroquois Indians, The  34
Islands of County  13
Jails of County  99, 347
' ' Cohoes 
Journalists and Journalism  356-377
Judges, Salary of.  103
Knights of Pythias  720
Lieutenant-Governor  442
Land Surface of County  12
Lands of Albany County  82
" Patents, Titles, etc  292
Last Colonial Court at Albany  128
Lawyers of the Colonial Period, The  128
" in Albany in 1884, List of  152-154
Legal —
Albany County Bench and Bar, History of  123
Clerks  156
Courts, of Appeals  127
" of Common Pleas  126, 155
" Early, The  123
" First Under Constitution  130
" First After Revolution  129
" Last Colonial  128
" Mayor's  126
" Probate  155
" Sessions  124, 158
" Supreme  126
" " Under First State Constitution . 130
District Attorney  156
Judges and Other Court Officers  154
Grand Jurors. See Jurors.
" Oath of  127
Jurors, Drawing of  106
" Grand  77, 102
Legislative Officers from Albany County  353
Mansions, The Governors'  443
Marshal, The City  484
Manufactures —
Agricultural Machinery  573
Albany Saw Works  575
" Steam Trap Company  574
Bakers  562
Baking Powders  563
Beef, Mutton and Pork  563
Beer, Lager  556
Biscuit Works, The Larrabee  563
Blinds, Sashes and Doors  593
Boilers, Engines, etc  574
Boots and Shoes  605
Brass Works  ;  594
Brewing  556
Brewers, List of  558
Brick  582
Brushes  606
Bureau of Engineering and Surveying  512
Butchering and Marketing  563
Car Wheels  575
Carriages, Sleighs and Trucks  593
Cigars  403
Coach Furnishing  581
Coffee and Rice Mills  564
Cooperage  594
Cork Works  600
Dentistry  707
Distilling  561
Doors, Blinds and Sashes  593
Drain Tiles  , , . 585

PAGE
Dredges  Sjjj
Emery Wheels  5SI
Enameled Cloth  599
Engineers  ¦  5
Farming  43
Files and Rasps  575
Fur Goods  603
Furniture and Other House Supplies  599
Globe  •¦¦¦¦ 6o°
Harness and Saddlery Goods, Trunks and Coach
Furnishings  S^1
Hats and Fur Goods  °°3
House Supplies  599
Ice Boxes  580
Iron Machines and Furnishings  574
" Ware  5Sl
" Works  573
Japanned Ware  5^2
Labor and Laborers  722
Lager Beer  556
Larrabee Biscuit Works, The  563
Lasts  597
Law Book Publishers  '  7°2
Leather and Findings  594
Lumber  607
Machinery, Agricultural  573
Maltsters and Brewers  556-558
Manufacturing Interests of Albany  555
Marble and Monumental Works  585
Milling  561
Nail Works  572
Nickel Works  582
Oil-cloth  599
Oils  566
Paper-Hangings  602
" Works  602
Pattern "  ,  594
Photography  702
Piano Manufacture  600
Painting, Plain and Decorative  599
Pottery  587
Powders, Baking  563
Pork, Butchering  563
1 Printers and Printing  699
7 Saddlery  581
Sashes and Blinds  593
Saw-Sets  580
" Works  575
School Furniture  599
Ship-building  600
Shirts, Collars and Cuffs  606
Silverware  582
Sleighs and Trucks  593
Snuff  603
Soap and Candle-making  566
Special Officers Connected with the Industries of
Albany County  429
Spice and Coffee  564
Spokes  594
Stationery  112
Steam Dyeing and Scouring  607
" Trap Company, The Albany  574
Stoves  566
Table and Enameled Oil-cloths  599
Tobacco and Snuff  603
Tin Plate Goods and Japanned Ware  582
Townsend Furnace and Machine Shop  572
Towing Lines  489
Trucks  593
Trunks  581
Vinegar  566
Wire Goods  581
Wood Machinery  594
" Packing Boxes  594
Mayors of Albany —
Abeel, John  658
Bancker, Evert  658
Banks, A, Bleecker  666
Barclay, John  66i
Beekman, John Jacob  662

INDEX.

VI 1

PAGE
Bleecker, Charles E  665
" Janjanse  658
" Johannes, Jr  659
' ' Rutger  660
Bloodgood, Francis  664
Corning, Erastus  661
Cuyler, Abraham C  661
" Cornelius  661
" Johannes  . . 660
De Peyster, Johannes  660
Dudley, Charles E  662
Douw, VolkertD  661
Hansen, Hans  ,  660
" Hendrick  658
Holland, Edward  660
Humphreys, Friend  664
Jenkins, Elisha  662
Judson, Edmund L  665
Lansing, John, Jr  662
Livingston, Robert  659
Paige, John Keyes  664
Parmalee, William  665
Perry, Eli  665
Rathbone, Jared L  664
Ryckman, Albert  659
Sanders, Robert  661
Schuyler, David  659
' ' Johannes  659
" John, Jr  661
" Myndert  659
" Peter  658
Spencer, Ambrose  662
Staats, Barent P  664
Swinburne, Dr. John  666
Taylor, John  665
Ten Broeck, Abraham  661
" Dirck  '  661
Thacher, Geo. H  665
Townsend, Franklin  665
" John  66-5
Van Brugh, Peter  658
Van Rennselaer, Philip S  662
Van Schaick, Sybrant G  661
Van Vechten, Teunis  664
Wessels, Dirck  658
Yates, Abraham  662
Medicine in Albany County, History of  206
Meteorology of the County, Tables of, etc  32 -33
Mexican War, the  422
Military —
Cadets at West Point  429
Grand Army of the Republic  712
Independent Companies  713
Military Organizations  709
The Militia of 1775-76  401
Revolutionary War, After the  263
Services of Albany Physicians  215
War Loan Bonds  105
" Proceedings of the War of 1862  93
Mineralogy of the County  18
Mortgages, Re-indexing  94
Music in Albany  742
Mutual Aid Societies  72 1
Natural History of the County  29
" " Society, The Dana  690
Navigation of Hudson River, Opening and Closing of,
1645-1885  16
New Capitol  450
New Netherlands, The English Claim to  44
New York Discovery of.  i>42,44
Newspapers in County .See Journalists and Journalism.
" Temperance  341
" Published in Towns  378
Normal School, The State   266
New York State Library  688
Odd Fellowship  719
Officers City  47^, 482,

PAGE
Officers Connected with Industries of Albany County,
Special  429
Organization and Division of County  69
Outline Sketches of Towns in County  72
Overseers of the Poor. See Poor.
Paleontology of County  19
Papers Published in Albany  375
" Official County, The  96,99,121
Parks, The Public  517
Pavements  507
Penitentiary  83,352
Physicians, Biographical Notes of  241
" The City  483
Pier, The  489
Polemics of Homeopathy in County  228
Police Force  107
Political Clubs  721
Poor, Overseers of  83, 484
" Temporay Relief of  83
" House  43. 432
Population of County  273
Post Office, U. S  436
Private Property Taken for Public Uses  484
Property Assessed  107
Provincial Assemblies and Conventions  418
Public Education  694
' ' Officers  ;  442
" Schools  695
Quadrupeds of County  29
Railroads in County  313
Rainfall, Table of  33
Real Estate, Valuation of  121
Rebellion, War of, The  423
Receiver of Taxes  482
Records and Books the Public  122
Religious Institutions  749-774
Rensselaerwyck and Beverwyck  49
Reptiles of County  30
Revenue Office, The U. S. Internal  438
Revolution, Commencement of  4
' ' Events of  6
' ' First Court after  129
Rivers  14
Savings Banks  533
Schools of the State  9
Schools, the State Normal  269
" Commissioners in County  266
" Superintendents in County  265
Senators, U. S., from Albany County  356
Settlement of Albany, First  48
Sewerage  503
Shakers in Albany County  337
Signal Service, The U. S  439
Sinking Fund  472
Slavery in County  300
Sloop and Schooner Navigation  486
Societies— Adelphi  ,  746
Agricultural, The N. Y  335
Albany Bicycle Club  747
" Curling Club  746
" Citizens' Association  121
" Missionary and Tract  727
" Musical Association  744
' ' Philharmonic  745
" Tennis Club  746
" Women's Exchange  734
" Women's Suffrage Society  735
" Yacht Club  748
Apollo Singing  745
Association, The Albany Musical  744
" Sporting  745
Bands and Orchestras  748
Boat Club, The Mutual  747
Cecilia Singing Society, The  743
Canoe, The Mohican  748

INDEX.

PAGE
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle  688
Christian Temperance Union, The Missionary. . 733
Dana Natural History Society  690
Dickens' Club, The  691
Freemasons  718
Fort Orange Club  746
Gesang-Verein Eintracht  744
Good Templars, I. O. of  345
Independent Order of Good Templars  345
Indian Association, The Albany Women's  734
Island Park Racing Association  745
Knights of Pythias  720
Military Bands and Orchestras  748
Mohican Canoe Club  748
Mozart, The  745
Musical Association, The Union  743
Mutual Aid Society  721
" Boat Club  747
New Harmonia  745
Nott, The John C, Association  747
Odd Fellows  ,719
Philharmonic, The Albany  745
Political Clubs  721
Racing Association, Island Park  745
The Ridgefield Club  747
Roller Skating Rinks  746
Secret Orders  718
Social Clubs  745
Society, Christian Friend  732
" Temperance  340-344
' ' Musical  745
Sons of Temperance  344
Sporting Association  ,  745
St. Andrew's Society, The  726
St. George's Benevolent Society, The  726
St. Vincent De Paul  728
Suffrage Society, The Albany Women's  735
Temperance Society, The  340-344
" Sons of  344
' ' Secret Society of  344
Temple of Honor  345
Tennis Club, The Albany  746
Union Musical Association  743
Walnut Club, The  746
Women's Christian Temperance Union, The  733
Workingmen's Assembly  121
Women's Union Missionary Society  734
" Exchange, The Albany  734
! " Indian Association, The Albany  734
" Suffrage  73c
Young Men's Association  690
" " Christian Association  727
The Railroad 728
Stage, The Albany Theatrical  703
Steamboats  487
Superintendents in County Schools  265
Supervisors, Board of  80-123
State of New York —
Agricultural Society, The  335
Attorney-General  442
Board of Contract and Apportionment 48?
" of Health  '.'.'.'.'.'.'. 186
Buildings and Public Offices in Albany  441
Canal Commissioners  447
Capitol, The New  .'.'.'.'...'.' 449
" " Commissioners of  aaq
" The Old  Y.'. £g
Comptroller  . . ,
Officeof  ..I" 57
Census, 1814 to 1880  276
Constitutional Conventions  44!
" Commissions  418, 441, 442
Contest Concerning Clerk  97
Early Legislative Acts Relating to  82
Elections, Change of Time for Holding  82
Electors  [[ 440
Engineers  443
Geological Hall  44c
" Survey, The  267
Governors' Mansions  443

PAGE
Governors, The Lieutenant  442
Hall, The New  446
" The Old  444
" The Geological  445
Health, State Board of  1 16
Inspectors of Weights and Measures  484
Library of  688
Legislature  444
State of New York  44«
Statistics of  II
Mansions of Governors  443
Normal School, The First  266
Officers  442
Public Buildings  441
Railroads of  19
Provincial Congress of  4'8
Schools of  9
Secretary of  442
Treasurer of  113, 442
Superintendents  450
Surveyor-General  443
Supervisors, Board of County, 35, 80-85, 92> 99> io8> l°9
Surveyor-General, The  443
Surveyors and Engineers  443
Streets  504
" Commissioners of  483
" Department of  511
" Improvements  512
" Lighting  515
Taxation, Equalization of  ic6
" Percentage of  98
' ' Receiver of  482
' ' State and County  117
Teachers, Early, in Albany County  265
Telegraph, The Fire Alarm  521
Temperature, Table of  33
Temperance Work in County  340
" Newspapers  341
Theatre, see Stage.
Topography of County  12
Towns of Albany County —
Berne, Outline Sketch of  72
Bethlehem, " ' _  73
Coeymans, " "  74> 75
Cohoes, " "  75
Colonie, " "  76
Guilderland, " "  \[ 76
Knox, " "  77
New Scotland, " "  77
Rensselaerville, " "  78
Watervliet, " "  78
Westerlo, " <¦  80
Town Boundaries, Alteration of  84
Townships, Cities, Incorporated Villages, Villages
and Neighborhoods in County, List of  269, 276
Travel and Transportation — ' 309
Basin, The Albany  499
Bridges across the Hudson  493
Canal, Erie: Its Relations to Albany  ' ' ' 523
Docks, Wharves and Basin  496 499
lorries  ' 4gq
Hudson, The Navigation of  485
Navigation, Sloops and Schooners  .'.'.'' 486
pier, The  489
Railways, The Albany  519
" Albany and Vermont  315
" Albany and Susquehanna  314
Boston and Albany  315
' ' Depots  3,7
" street  ;;; rIq
West Shore  3,7
Sloops and Schooners, Navigation  486
Treasurer, County. 98, ioi,io?,io5, 108, 113, 122,355,446,482
State  442
United States—
Buildings, Public  433, 435j 44I
Courts, Circuit  4™
District  " ' ' 439

INDEX.

ix

Congress, Representatives from Albany  440
Custom House  438
Electors, Presidential  440
Government Buildings, see Buildings.
Inspectors of Steamboats  438
Internal Revenue Office  438
Institutions in Albany County  433
Officers in Albany County  433, 439, 440
Post Office in Albany  436
Presidential Electors  440
Representatives in Congress  440
Revenue Office, Internal  438
Senators from Albany County  440
Signal Service  439
Steamboat Inspectors  438
Union of City and County Affairs  82
Valuation of Real Estate, Increased  121
Verrazano, Discovery by  44, 438
War with France  4
with Mexico  422
of 1812  7i 419. 422
of the Rebellion  423, 428
" Revolution  4, 391, 419
King George's  387
" William's  384
Queen Anne's  386
Old French and Indian  388, 390
Water Supply, The City  512
VIEWS.
Map of Albany and Schenectady Counties  front.
Old English Church and Fort Frederick  392
Ground Plan of old Fort  394
Government Building  435
Geological Hall  445
New State Hall  446
The New Capitol  449
The Steamer Clermont  487
X Plan of Albany, 1676  504
V " " 1695  5°5
'- " Washington Park  517
State Street, looking East  666
The Wendell House  667
The Stephenson House  667
North Pearl and State Streets  668
" " Street, above Maiden Lane  668
" " " first view  669
" " " second view  670
Market Street, near State  670
" " first view  671
" " second view  671
Old Staats House  672
" Lansing House  672
Van Der Heyden Palace  673
Patroon's Mansion  673
Schuyler Mansion  674
Robert Yates' House  674
Lodge at Rural Cemetery  675
First Steam Passenger Train in America  677
City Hall  678
Old Normal School  679
New Normal School  680
Dudley Observatory  682
Albany Academy  683
Female Academy  6S0
St. Agnes' School  6S7
Lancaster School  695
V Albany High School  698
Home for Aged Men  732
The Old Dutch Church  749
St. Mary's Church  751
Old Dutch Pulpit  77°
Colvin, J. J. Residence  S3S
PORTRAITS.
Appleton, William  Facing page 558
Ames, Ezra  739
Bancroft, Le Grand  '94
Boulware, J. R  23'
Bacon, J.N  " 5&4

Belknap, G  J631
Becker, A. W  J794
Baker, Cornelius V  ,  J95
Becker, Hiram  J309
Burton, William   946
Cooper, J. S  Facing page J200
Corning, Erastus, Sr  " 535
Chase J. G  " 644
Colvin, J. J  " 838
Cornell, Latham  " 948
Crounse, Henry P  064
Crounse, Frederick  865
Crary, Denison  885
Crounse, Hiram  910
Dawson, G  Facing page 360
Davis, W. G  866
Davenport, S. B  886
Eaton, J. W  Facing page 448
Emmett, J. K  " 706
Edwards, Isaac  201
Fowler, A  Facing page 233
Fraser, H.D  " 626
Fuller, Aaron  " 853
Frederick, S. V  k°i
Frink, Charles G  »88
Gray, James A  601
Griggs, H  862
Harris, Ira  Facing page 147
Harris, Hamilton  " >62
Hale, Matthew  " 173
Hand, Samuel  " '79
Hunter, Gilbert  " 608
Harper, Robert  " 627
Hawkins, H. D  " 628
Hunter, A. R  " 643
Hinckel, F  " 559
Hawe, Matthew  595
Helme, Thomas  868
Kinnear, Peter  Facing page 597
Learned, W. L  " 169
Lathrop, D. S  " 576
Lefevre, Isaac  641
Lundergan, John  947
Moak, N. C  " 176
Meegan, E. J  " 188
Manning, Daniel  " 3^5
Munsell, Joel  facing title page
Mather, Joseph  Facing page 491
McCredie, T  " 560
McGarvey, M  " 569
McCarthy, T  " 5?5
McKissick, Stuart  632
Munson, S. L  " 606
Mead, M. N  " 616
Merchant, Lansing  " 628
Miles, N. B  " 638
Meads, John  " 639
McKown, James A  199
McGarvey, Charles M  570
Moore, James C  583
Manson, William  ^86
Mattoon, David  °ifa
Moseley, Benjamin F  °|5
Nott, J. C  Facing page 185.
Northrup, J. N  " 234
Osborn, J. H  Facing page 629
Oliver, Robert K  59°
Perry, Eli  Facing page 545
Pumpelly.H  " 549
Pettengill, M  5b3
Perry,J.S  " 57"
Pohlman, H. N  " 772
Parker, Amasa J  '57
Paddock, William S  197
Parker, John N  5°8
Patten, James  821
Rossman, J. 1?  Facing page 235
Roessle, T  " 653
Read, M. H  55°
Smith, H  Facing page 191

INDEX.

Swinburn, John  Facing page
Shattuck, J. A  "
Sumner, Alanson "
Scott, W. B 
Stickney, Leander 
Stephens, Thomas 
Sawyer, William 
Shaver, Peter 
Schoonmakt- r, Peter 
Tremain, Lyman  Facing page
Tucker, L  "
Thatcher, Geo. H  '.".'""
Thatcher, J. B. .
Treadwell, G. C  '.
Thomson, Lemon  "
Thomas, J. , Jr  "
Tower, F. D  "
Tweddle, John  t 
Tenney, Jonathan  .' 
Van Schaick, Tobias  Facing page
Van Allen, A  "
Vosburgh, Isaac W  "
Ward, S. B  "
- Winne, Walter  "
WKippIeTSquii-e 
Wood, D. S 
Wickham, R  "
White, Douglass L  <<
Whitney, W. M 
Weidman, D  "
Winne, John L  "
Willard, Sylvester D  . 
Wilson, James A 
Watson, Simeon
Woollett, William L  ".'.'. '. '. .'.'.'.'.'.'..'. \ \ \ .
Wiltsie, Ambrose, Jr 
Winne, Jurian  " [
Wood, Thomas j 

236
5»9617629
565 591
649

1S1
36957S
5 So
604617
645 633
552692
400 553
638238
492494574592618
" 623
" 630799
 240
 630
 646
 741
 796
 798
 822
BIOGRAPHIES.
Abeel, John  6,g
Allen, Campbell  6^6
Ames, Ezra  ' " " 717-710
Appleton, William  '.'.'.'  .'  rrjj
Artcher, John   f g4
Bacon, Samuel N  ...'.  ?64
Bailey, Francis E  656
" William Howard  241
Baker, Cornelius V. . . . ,„,
Ban, o. d  ;...::::::::  1%
Bancker, Evert  6c8
Bancroft, Le Grand   lq4
Banks, A. Bleecker  .'  6g6
Barclay, John  ' '  66l
Barker, James F  , AO
Bartlett, Ezra A  2f2
Becker, Albertus W. . .  .1.
Hon. Hiram  \\\\\  ££
Beekman, John Jacob   gg2
^elk,n ^P.Zebina  '. .'.'.'.'.'.'..'. .635, 636
Bendell, Herman  242
-Benedict, Lewis  '..'.'.'.'.'.  K0-K2
Benjamin, Samuel G. W " ' b JJt
Bigelow, John Milton ... ' " " '.'
Bingham, Reuben H   Jit.
Blake, Adam...  S°\
Blatner, Joseph H   lA\
Bleecker, Charles E .  gS
" i™j*°k-.  :::::::::'::::: e5s
Johannes, Jr  <^
Rutger  6gg
Bloodgood, Francis..  fifi.
Boughton, George H  '.'.'.'.'.'.'."" ,°Z
Boulware, Jeptha R  .'  „,S
Bradley, John E  3 fi3e
Bronson, Greene C  Z%
Brown, Henry K "  '39
Richard j'"  737
Buel, Jesse  .'.  242
Burchard, Joseph T  3^6. 357
r J  919

PAGE
Burton, William  946
Buder, Benjamin F  I37~'39
Cagger, Peter  146, 147
Campbell, Hon. Geo  973
Cantine, Moses- 1  357
Carpenter, Francis B  '  737
Chase, S. G  644
Classen, Frederick L  242
Cole, J ohn Orton  655
Colvin, John J  838
Conklin, John Bliss  242
Cooper, John Tayler-  200, 201
Corning, Erastus, Jr  540-545
" ^  535-538
Cornell, Latham  948
Crary, Denison  885
Croswell, Edwin  359
" Sherman  359
Crounse, Henry P  864
Frederick, M.D  865
" Hiram, M.D  910
Culver, Charles M  242
Curtis, Frederick C  243
Cuyler, Abraham C  661
" Cornelius  661
" Johannes  660
Davenport, S. B  886
Davis, Willard G  866
Dawson, George  360-364
Dean, Amos  143, 144
Delavan, John Savage,.  243
De Peyster, Johannes  660
De Witt, Simeon  74i
Dix, Charles T  737
Doolittle, Edwin S  737
Douw, Volkert P  661
Dudley, Charles E  .'.'.' 662
Durand, Asher B.  " _ 738
Eaton, James W  .448, 449
Edwards, Isaac  2oi
" James  '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 142, 143
Elliott, Charles L  738
Emmett, Joseph K  ' '706 707
Fish, Frank H  ".".'.'.'".'.'.'.. 243
Fleischman, David  24"
Fowler, Amos  ' 2-!^_2-?c
Fraser, Henry D  '.'.'.'.". .'.".'.'.'."..".'.'.'. 626
Frederick, Stephen V  .".'.'." 867
Freeman, James E. . . 7,8
CanielH  '.'.'.'.'.'.'..'.'. .".".'.".' 243
Frink, Charles G  888
Fryer, William J  621
Fuller, Aaron  ' 8c-?
Gansevoort, Peter   ,nfi m
Gay, Edward  '..'.'.'.".'.'.'.'.'.'.'." 7%
Gorham, George E  243
Gray, James A  ...'.'..'.  601
Gregory, Matthew  551
Griggs, Hiram  [[[[  gg2
Hailes, William  2 .,
Hale, Matthew  '.'.'..'.'.'."" "17-175
Hand, Samuel  170-181
Hansen, Harris  ....'...'.... 660
" Hendrick  '"' g-g
Hankins, Horace D  :.....  628
Harper, Robert   g27
Ha''Hs' i^milton  '.'.'."".'.*.".'.'.'.'..;;: 162-164
Hart, James M. '.'.'.["  Hh l£
" William  ""  lit
Hartley,J.S  ] [ ] [ [ ] ] [ ] ] ][ ] [ [ [ "[ ] ' ' ' ' M
Hastings Hugh J  7A
Hawe, Matthew  ijl
Hayes, William N  .".'.'.".'.'.".'.'"" 244
Helme, Thomas  868
Henry, John V  " ",  ,',, ., .
Hill, Nicholas  r3/' \ZAi
Hinckel, Frederick ....  45' '?„
Holland, Edward  .'  ¥£
Huested, Alfred B  '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'" ^Z

INDEX.

PAGE
Humphrey, Friend  664
Hunt, William M  738
Hunter, Andrew R  644
" Gilbert  607
Hunting, Nelson  244
Huntington, Daniel  738
Inman, Henry  738
Jenkins, Charles M  78
Jenkins, Elisha  662
Johnson, William H  726
Judson, Edmund L  665
Keegan, P. J  244
Kinnear, Peter  597
La Moure, Uriah B  244
Lansing Family  93 1
Lansing, John Jr  131, 132, 662
Lathrop, Daniel S  575—578
Learned, Billings P  533
Learned, William L  169-172
Lefevre, Isaac  641
Lewi, Maurice J  244
Livingston, Robert  659
Low, William H  738
Lundergan, John  947
Mack, Elisha  309, 656
Manning, Daniel  365-367
Manson, William  586
March, Henry  244
Macfarlane, Robert  607
Martin, Homer D  738
Mather, Joseph  491, 492
Mattoon, David  615
McAllister, John  244
McCarthy, Thomas  585
McCredie, Thomas  560
McGarvey, Charles M  569, 570
" Michael  - 569
McKissick, Stuart  632, 633
McKown, James A  199, 200
Mead, Melvin N  616
Meads, John  639
Meegan, Edward J  188-191
Melius, W. B  114
Merchant, Lansing  628
Mereness, Henry E  244
Merrjll, Cyrus S  244
Milbank, William E  245
Miles, Noah B  638
Moak, Nathaniel C  176-178
Moore, Edward  245
" William  583
Morrill, Frederick D  245
Moseley, Benjamin F  625
Munsell, Joel  367, 368
Munson, George S  245
Samuel L  606
Murray, William H  245
Nellis, Theodore W  245
Nolan, Michael N  :  666
Northrop, Joseph N  234
Nott, John C  185-188
Okott, Thomas W  53°
Oliver, George W  656
Oliver, Robert K  589
Osbom, James H  629
Paddock, William S  197, 198
Page, William  738
Paige, John Keyes  664
Palmer, Erastus D  73f
Walter S  738
Papen, George W  245
Parker, Amasa J  I57-16i
" JohnN  5=8
Parmalee, William  665
Patten, James  821
Peckham, Rufus W  148-150
Perry, Eli  545-549, 665
» Isaac G  456
•' John S  57o,57i
" T. Kirkland  245

PAGE
Pohlman, Henry N  772~774
Porter, Charles H  245
Pumpelly, Harmon  549, 550
Rathbone, Jared L  664
Read, Matthew H  550, 551
Reynolds, Marcus T  139, 140
" Porter L. F  246
Riley, Joseph W  246
Ritzman, Otto  246
Roessle, Theophilus  653, 654
Rossman, John B  235
Ryckman, Albert  659
Sanders, Robert  661
Sawyer, William  648
Schoonmaker, Peter  884
Schuyler, David  659
' ' Johannes  659
John, Jr.  ¦.  658
" Myndert."  659
" Dr. Nicholas  205
" Peter  658
Philip  397
Scott, William B  629
Shattuck, James A  589
Shaver, Peter  863
Shelvin, Dennis P  246
Skillicorn, John H  246
Smith, Henry  191-194
" S. L  739
Slingerland, William H  742
Snow, Norman L  246
Spencer, Ambrose  662
" John C  141-144
Staats, Barent P  664
Starkweather, H. R  246
Steenburg, B. U  246
Stephens, Thomas  591
Stevens, Samuel  14°, H1 J.
Stevenson, James  663 ]f>
Stickney, Leander  565
Stonehouse, John B  246
Stringer, Dr. Samuel  205
Sumner, Alanson  617
Swinburne, John  235-237, 666
Tabor, Azor  143
Taylor, John  665
Ten Broeck, Dirck  661
Tenney, Jonathan  691-694
Thacher, George II  578, 579, 665
JohnB  579.580
Thomas, John, Jr  645
Thompson, John  246
" Lenron  617, 618
Tower, Franklin D  633, 634
Townsend, Franklin D.. Jr  247, 633-635
" John  663
Tread well, George C  604
Trego, Thomas M  247
Tremain, Lyman  181 -185
Tucker, Luther  368-371
Willis G  247
Tweddle, John  35r-353
Twitchell, Asa W  739
Van Allen, Adam  553-555
Van Buren, Martin  i35-!37
Van Broeck, Abraham  661
Van Brugh, Peter  658
Van der Veer, Albert  247
Van Olinda, Gerrit (Death of)  97
Van Rensselaer, Philip S  662
Van Schaick, Sybrant G  661
" Family of  400
" Tobias  400
Van Vechten, Abraham  132
1 ' Teunis  664
Vosburgh, Isaac W  638 .
Ward, Samuel B  238, 239 I
Watson, Simeon  646 •
Webster, Charles R  371, 372
Weed, Thurlow  372"374

INDEX—CORRIGENDA .

PAGE
Weidman, Daniel  630-632
Wessels, Dirck  658
Wheaton, Henry G  144
Whipple, Squire  494. 495
White, Douglass L  618
" Isaac  622, 623
Whitney, W. M  623
Wickham, Richard  592
Wiles, Lemuel M  739
Willard, Dr. Elias  205
" Dr. Moses  205
" Sylvester D  240, 241
" James A  630

PAGE
Wilson, John  247
Winne, Walter  492
Wood, Darius S  574
Woodruff, Dr. Hunloke  206-208
Woolett, William L  740, 741
" " M  740,741
Wiltsie, Ambrose, Jr  796
Winne, Jurian  798
Wood, Thomas J  822
Whitbeck, Andrew W  931
Yates, Abraham, Jr  662
" John V. N  134, 135
' ' Robert  131

CORRIGENDA

Inaccuracies in proof-reading, easily corrected by any in
telligent reader, are not noted.
Page 1. — The note at the bottom of the page, contradicting
the text, inserted without the knowledge of the writer,
is regarded by him as making statements not founded
on the best authority.
Page 2. — Omit the two last periods in Chapter II, first par
agraph, beginning with "The Hudson River;" also,
the gratuitous note at the bottom of the page.
Page 14. — Last line, first column, read "2.61 feet" instead
of " 17^ feet; " and in the note, a little less than three
feet.
Page 41. — Under July, 1698, read "Hendrick Hansen" in
stead of " House."
Page 43. — Last line save one, in first column, "probably"
should read "properly."

Page 73.— Line 11, from bottom of second column, read
"Joel" instead of "Jared L." Mayer, 1838-41. Also,
line 20, "Colonel Philip," of revolutionary fame, and
not "Mayor Philip," had his seat at Cherry Hill. See
page 291.
Page 618. — Tabernacle in place Emmanuel.
Page 675. — First line of note, read "Barnard" instead of
"Brainard."
Page 679.— David P. Page was first Principal of Albany
Normal School. The "Legislative Act" was passed
' May 7, 1844.
Page 691.— Read "Academian" in place of "Academi
cian."
. Page 697.— In line 33, second column, read 1849, and
"Lodge" in place of "Lady's."

INDEX OF NAMES
MENTIONED IN THIS VOLUME.

Aarnout, 777; Abbey, 375, 701; Abbott, 77, 177, 341, 376,
406, 416, 419, 605, 703, 758, 870, 950, 971, 988; Abeel, 41,
126, 154, 155, 254, 354, 658, 659; Abercrombie, 389; Able,
490; Ablett, 962; Abrahamse, 272; Abrams, 295, 936, 948,
975, 997; Aburliss, 769; Acker, 152, 721; Ackerman, 637,
716, 831; Acres, 621; Adams, 90, 98, 100, 102, 135, 156,
175, 209, 211, 224, .257 263, 344, 354, 355, 373, 395, 4I5;
419, 441, 474, 475, 479, 480, 485, 491, 524, 533, 562, 568,
650, 655, 677, 690, 691, 781, 784, 788, 789, 792, 793, 810,
860, 874, 932, 951, 954, 956, 957, 960, q67, 968, 970, 973, 988,
996; Addington, 152; Adey, 971; Adgate, 354, 406, 413,
418; Adriensen, 294, 295; Adkins, 924; Adler, 789, 996;
Adsil, 612; Aemhout, 906; Agassiz, 682; Agnew, 245;
Ahern, 308; Aiken, 957, 972; Ainsworlh, 425, 710, 711;
Aird, 959, 964; Aitken, 970, 971, 972; Albani, 744, 755;
Albaugh, 705; Albers, 717; Alberse, 274; Albertsen, 489;
Albright, 152, 892, 899, 901, 905, 907; Alcott, 494; Alden,
173, 266, 679, 749, 950, 956, 957, 958; Aldridge, 828;
Alerdice, 971; Alexander, 88, 112, 154, 211, 340, 474, 479
5oo, S3o, 531. 533. 534, 621, 677, 731, 793; Aley, 91, 92,
355, 912, 9[3. 9'6, 92°; Afford, 424; Alison, 768; Allanson,
106, 429, 717; Allcott, 443; Allen, 5, 90, 137, 152 159, 173,
179, 211, 212, 384, 393, 394, 396, 406, 407, 425, 474, 475,
477," 478, 485, 486, 521, 532, 655, 656, 67^, 680, 710, 725,
769, 810, 812, 870, 871, 872, 874, 875, 880, 892, 895, 904,
907, 963, 987; Allerton, 937; Alston, 927; Alberson, 814,
817; Alvord, 639; Amber, 772; Amerman, 834; Ames, 529
632, 708, 718, 737, 739, 764, 765, 772; Amherst, 389, 390!
400, 759; Ammenheauser, 587; Amsdell, 475, 476, 479 ciQ
556, 557. 558, 55o; Amsden, 987; Anable, 426, 427, 475
592, 637; Andes, 7io; Anderson, 103, 118, 180, 209, 304!

430, 639, 739, 812, 819, 881, 926, 980, 987; Andre, 7, 912;
Andrews 39, 152, 158, 175, 375, 376, 562, 613, 669, 830, 987,
988; Andnessen, 294; Andros, 3, 10, 272, 289, 292, 379,
380, 381, 383; Andrus, 694; Annesley, 737; Angus, 376^
426, 545; Anthier, 378, 969,970; Anthony, 243, 305, 306,
735; Anton 450; Antwerp, 732; Appel, 252, 273, 295';
Apple, 156, 841, 842, 844, 845, 851, 891; Applebee, 900,
907, 910, 914; Appleton, 558, 559, 708; Archambeault, 212,
214; Archibald, 963; Arey, 266, 679; Argou. 750, Aristotle,
135; Arkell, 377; Arkles, 419, 782; Armitage, 962; Armour,
606; Armsby, 210, 211, 213, 219, 220, 221, 234, 236 242
243, 244, 268, 498, 518, 737, 866; Armstrong, 355, 440!
519, 870, 871, 873, 874; Amis, 906; Arnold, 6, 7, 80, 394,
395, 397, 399, 409, 534, 574! Artcher, 152, 156, 278. 279,
419, 583, 584, 585, 635, 732, 735, 782, 860, 895, 896, 91a
920, 923, 928, 942; Arthur, 80, 109, 266, 750, axi, 041,
985; Asbury, 765, 786, 834; Asher, 911; Ashley 742;
Aslimead, 795 ; Aspinwall, 479, 597, 753; Astor, 546;
Atherley, 211; Atherton, 419; Atkins, 750, 924; Atkinson
969; Auchempo, 872; Auchempaugh, 870, 871, 872, 873,
875; Auchmuty, 261 ; Aud, 559; Aukus, 385; Aultman,
789; Austin, 92, 152, 474, 475, 48o, 521, 527, 611, 684, 708,
730, 743, 748, 882, 903, 962; Averill, 687; Avery, 594;
Ayers, 378, 969. ' " '
Abbey, D. & S. A., 375; Abbott & Crosby, 376; Abbott &
S?".J- [- .703; Aiken, W. H- & Co., 957; Adams & Sprang,
562; Albright ,V Stanwix, 152; Allerton, Dutcher & Moore,
937; Alden Frink& Weston, 957; Ames & Co. 632; Ams-
(tell Geo. I. & Theo. M., 556; Amsdell Brothers, 559;
Appleton & Welsh, 559; Arnold & Co , 613; Arnold, Folsom
& Co., 613; Ayres & Co., 378.

INDEX OF NAMES.

Xlll

3B
Babbington, 347; Babbitt, 613, 964; Babcock, 89, 113, 115,
156, 210, 211, 214, 219, 355, 375, 474, 479, 535, 544, 584,
642, 652, 699, 743, 748, 761, 777, 780, 788, 789, 790, 792,
793. 819, 926, 928, 960, 997; Babington, 156; Bachelder,
693; Bachelor, 832; Backer, 295; Backus, 345, 375, 500,
613, 650; Bacon, 168, 564, 565, 758, 936; Baddo, 785;
Badgeley, 625, 626; Badgley, 630; Bageley, 625, 626;
Bagley, 337, 621; Bagwell, 750; Bahler, 834; Bailey, 74,
156, 181, 198, 211, 212, 214, 219, 221, 241, 320, 399, 429,
438, 439. 440,441, 474, 629, 655, 656, 771, 784, 788, 792,
844, 858, 956, 961, 963, 964, 968, 969 ; Bailley, 642; Bain,
88, 529, 637; Baird, 180; Baker, 152, 188, 212, 220, 226,
266, 311, 334, 383, 411, 424, 433, 526, 532, 534, 558, 621,
675. 691, 780, 793, 795, 796, 800, 820, 829, 879, 887, 907,
923, 924, 925, 926, 934, 969, 970, 973; Balch, 212, 219, 220,
221, 222, 242, 485, 711, 739, 772; Baldwin, 155, 409, 410,
413. 524, 564, 723, 95°. 960, 977, 994; Balentine, 371, 375,
700, 765; Ball, 212, 219, 242. 283, 287, 304, 401, 427, 597,
716, 801, 802, 803, 805, 808, 809, 812, 813, 815, 816,
817, 818, 819, 820, 874, 972; Ballagh, 812, 880, 899, 900;
Ballantine, 560; Ballard, 188; Ballentine, 601; Ballock, 973;
Ballou, 605, 977; Balsom, 420; Bamuis, 839; Bamman,
652; Bancker, 41, 42, 349, 354, 464, 658, 660; Bancroft,
177, 192, 194, 195, 196, 396, 476, 478, 479, 533, 613;
Bandorf, 648; Bangor, 944; Banker, 154, 402, 841; Banks,
no, 151, 152, 354, 355, 426, 477, 479, 480, 485, 519, 522,
532, 626, 666, 690, 702, 71 1; Bantam, 669; Bantham, 599 ;
Banyar, 262, 523, 528, 679, 760; Baptist, 274, 288; Barber,
355, 358, 368, 375, 632, 639, 722, 752, 819, 870, 879, 927,
963; Barbour, 700; Barckley, 91, 427, 840, 871, 872, 875,
880; Barclay, 39, 261, 274, 401, 403, 404, 406, 407, 412,
414, 415, 417, 661, 759, 760, 826, 829, 841, 845, 883;
Bardine, 179; Barent, 214, 671 ; Barentse, 385; Barentsen,
46; Barhydt, 476, 477, 478; Baricausky, 907 ; Baricker,
406; Barker, 242, 354, 634; Barkley, 92, 870; Barlow, 154,
523,828,872; Barman, 305; Barnard, 169, 268, 354, 367,
375, 420, 440, 441, 532, 613, 691, 712, 934; Barnes, 377,
4io, 439, 570, 592. 690, 691, 702, 705, 735, 736, 942; Barnet,
605; Barnett, 593, 987; Barney, 210, 213, 613; Barnum,
712; Barr, 179; Barrentse, 385; Barret, 407; Barrett, 152,
173, 186, 307, 308, 401, 704, 845, 846, 847; Barringer, 991;
Barron, 129; Barrows, 855; Barry. 356, 620, 750, 751;
Barstow, 625; Bartlet, 987; Bartlett, 212, 214, 219, 242,
308, 566, 567, 734, 744, 771, 841, 963; Bartley, 102, Barton,
702, 854,855, 869,910; Bartow, 530, 531; Basset, 584; Basser,
919; Bassett, 520, 771, 996; Bassler, 89, 725, 801, 802, 804,
809,810, 870, 871,872, 883, 911, 939, 940;Bassor, 9i9;Bastia-
ense, 273; Batchelder, 479, 527, 532, 533, 625,711; Batchel-
ler,355, 592, 613; Batcher, 870, 871, 872, 873, 874, 881 ; Batey,
879; Batterman, 76, 77, 88, 89, 156, 562, 740, 816, 841, 844,
847, 848, 852, 860; Battersby, 353, 356, 564, 639; Battershall,
550,553. 760; Battin, 516; Bauchry, 891 ; Bauer, 7o8;Baumes,
785, 788, 793, 828, 829; Baxter, 708, 873, 874, 875; Bay,
129, 208, 209, 210, 213, 262, 354, 405, 406, 409, 648, 677,
768; Bayard;2giJ_.424i754; Bxyen, 279; Bayeaux, 714,
715, 716; JBayley, 5267963T Bayn, 647; Bayo, 559; Beach,
168, 173, 183, 191, 376, 567, 996; Beak, 835; Beal, 310,
439, 618, 964; Beam, 402; Bean, 969 ; Beardslee, 690;
Beardsley, 90, 139, 149, 325, 342, 640, 924, 928, 983;
Beasley, 7^9; Beattie, 973; Beaudry, 995; Beiver, 841;
Beck, 75, 208, 209, 210, 213, 215, 220, 221, 268, 3 6, 480,
513, 626, 632, 643, 665, 684, 685; Becker, 80, 93, 103, 104,
106, 118, 119, 127, 211, 252, 272, 305, 354, 355, 401, 406,
678, 713. 777, 781, 784, 788, 790, 793, 794. 795. 800, 805,
806, 818, 836, 840, 841, 843, 846, 854, 855, 873, 882, 901,
907, 908, 909, 910, 911, 919, 923, 925, 926, 931, 961, 987;
Becket, 479, 480; Beckett, 211, 214, 218; Beckey, 156;
Beckwith, 80; Bedell, 152, 648, 839, 982, 995, 974; Bedford,
220, 694; Beebe, 91, 634, 841, 846, 847, 848, 849, 850,
870, 872, 977, 989; Beeby, 410; Beecher, 417, 592, 617,
716, 750, 882 ; Beecker, 252 ; Beekley, 154, Beeckman,
I0. 75, 354, 401, 402, 403, 407, 412, 417. 469 ;
Beekman, 126, 129, 273, 333, 376, 620, 662, 671, 673, 832,
844, 870, 871; Beeman, 420; Been, 127; Beens, 420; Beers,
156, 544, 761; Begs, 907; Behan, 753; Belamy, 902, 915;
Belcher, 563; Belden, 180, 860; Belknap, 474, 635, 636, 995 ;
Bell, 212, 427, 428, 449, 474, 637, 715, 793, 809, 817, 847,
849, 850, 874, 875, 883, 969; Belle, 420; Belletti, 743; Bel
lini, 743; Bellomont, 3, 10, 274, 298, 299, 382, 385, 386,

659; Bellows, 152; Belmont, 618; Beman, 344, 914; Bemet,
625,923, 927; Bement,328, 329, 330, 332, 333, 334; Bemerick,
968; Bemis, 967; Bencker, 379; Benckes, 40; Bendell, 211,
214, 216, 217, 439, 699; Bender, 89, 90, 92, 94, 95, 96, 98,
99, 378, 474, 479, 480, 534, 613, 629, 650, 777, 789, 793,
800, 904, 905; Benedict, 150, 151, 152, 156, 355, 410, 438,
530, 613, 614, 621, 637, 675, 677, 712, 743, 962, 968; Ben
jamin, 212, 227, 440, 737; Benn, 420; Benner, 448; Bennet,
694, 923; Bennett, 152, 307, 613, 632, 639, 787, 793, 900,
901, 904, 905, 925, 928; Bensen, 841; Sensing, 385;
Benscotten, 850; Benson, 91, 534, 645, 727; Bent, 566, 567;
Benthuysen., 494; Bentler, 153; Bentley, 89, 91, 92,
96, 98, 152, 402, 438, 710, 744, 925, 928; Benton, 266, 269,
711, 958, 959; Berger, 402, Beringer, 406, 703-4; Ber
nard, 125, 575; Berrian, 257; Berry, 279, 354; Best, 402;
Betts, 474, 980; Bettys, 304, 393; Beune, 980; Bever, 846:
Beyea, 420; Beyer, 841, 844, 848; Bichat, 707; Bicker,
894; Bicknell, 613; Biddle, 331; Biegler, 222, 223; Bierl,
754; Bigelow, 109, 210, 212, 213, 214, 220, 221, 242, 690;
Bigler, 325; Bilhaueser, 789; Bill, 93, 354, 642; Billsen;
945; Billson, 931; Billings, 113, 115, 116, 118, 119, 121,
177, 225, 226, 971, Bingham, 118, 286, 461, 474, 475, 476,
477. 478, 479. 480, 481, 485, 5°3, 5IZ, 742, 848, 849, 963,
967; Bininger,i79; Binns, 967; Biofore, 308; Birch, 156, 230,
437, 626, 793; Bird, 923; Birdsall, 304, 558, 613, 640;
Birdseye, 169, 952; Birley, 559; Birmingham, 475; Bishop,
43°. 743, 762, 765, 928; Bissell, 961, 982; Bissels, 50; Bis-
sikummer, 479, 652; Bizzee, 869; Blachley, 883; Black,
305, 750; Blackburn, 635, 934; Blackel, 694; Blackhall,
355; Blackman, 975, 982; Blade, 817, 818; Blaine, 174,
366, 973; Blair, 119, 597, 809, 812, 848, 858, 899; Blais-
dell, 74, 211, 218, 426, 828, 829, 833, 835, 839, 840; Blake,
620, 652, 704, 707, 717, 725, 730, 735; Blakeman, 650;
Blanchard, 137, 155, 156, 234, 424, 531, 572, 715, 716,964;
Blassie, 712; Blatchford, 996; Blatner, 212, 214, 242, 644;
Blayney, 768; Bleecker, 41, 42, 88, 126, 128, 155, 156,
267, 299, 401, 403, 405, 406, 408, 409, 411, 412,
413, 420, 440, 463, 465, 466, 477, 478, 493, 500,
524, 528, 533, 534, 568, 589, 621, 658, 659, 660, 662,
665, .671, 690, 944; Bleeckman, 400; Bleeker, 125,
138, 273, 341, 354, 385, 741, 974, 975; Blendell, 242;
Blessing, 331, 355, 420, 574, 634, 779, 841, 843, 848, 849,
851; Blinn, 964; Bliss, 229, 995; Block, 44, 775; Block-
sidge, 599; Blodget, 90, 835; Blodgett, 120, 784, 830, 832,
834, 839, 896; Bloemaert, 50; Bloemart, 13; Bloemendall,
841; Blood, 154; Bloodgood, 200, 261, 279, 301, 327, 375,
376, 416, 429, 438, 486, 498, 500, 526, 528, 529, 663, 664,
665, 667, 714, 765; Bloomer, 785; Bloomindall, 841; Bloom-
ingdale, 420, 613, 621, 850, 852, 853, 859, 906; Boardless,
170; Boardman, 60, 61, 62, 91, 534, 600, 626, 743, 761, 769,
924, 946; Bochtonitz, 624; Bocking, 765; Bocks, 170;
Boehm, 743, 744, 745; Boer, 771; Bogardus, 41, 73, 90,
127, 253, 273, 295, 3S4, 380, 708, 809, 817, 841, 846, 847,
858, 871, 872, 873, 875, 879, 880, 901, 902, 905, 926, 939,
940, 994, 995 ; Bogart, 204, 272, 337, 405, 406, 424, 485,
486, 500, 517, 768; Bogert, 408, 409; Bogue, 951, 957, 971,
972; Boice, 792, 899, 907, 924,; Bolster, 820; Bond, 627;
Bonday, 676; Bonney. 73, 292, 734, 777; Bonsilate, 599;
Bonzey, 874; Boom, 420, 826; Boomhower, 843; Boork,
305; Booth, 118, 119, 526, 686, 704, 705, 789; Borghgaert,
124; Borghghardt, 254; Borghgherdt, 126; Borden, 568;
Bordwell, 637, Bork, 784, 808; Borst, 708; Bortell, 964;
Borthwick, 911; Bortle, 102, 479; Bose, 901; Boss, 083,
691; Bo-stick, 716, 717; Bothrick, 643; Botsford, 982; Bott,
517, 691, 744; Bottom, 971; Bouck, II, 158, 443, 817; Bou-
drias, 212, 214; Boughton, 266, 634, 736, 737, 739, 916;
Bouler, 882; Boulware, 112, 214, 218, 231, 232. 233, 476;
Bounds, 420; Bourgeois, 305; Bouton, 632, 728, 816, 817,
913, 916, 928; Bouse, 892, 902; Bowditch, 567; Bowe, 112,
113, 115, 892; Bowers, 655; Bowman, 844, 845; Bowne,
159, 226; Boyce, 212; Boyd, 210, 212, 213, 214, 220, 221,
222, 375, 376, 377, 413, 500, 520, 534, 556, 558, 559, 579,
611, 621, 640, 641, 677, 685, 688, 745, 945; Boyington,
749; Boyle, 154, 307, 474, 587; Braat, 908, 931; Brace,
261, 835, 978; Brackley, 870; Bradley, 73, 78, 227, 268,
420, 440, 691, 697, 698, 749, 788, 809, 810, 817, 820, 927;
Bradford, 3,46, 648, 683, 685, 771, 797, 956, 981; Brad-
shaw, 41, 272; Bradstreet, 73, 390, 717, 780; Bradt, 42, 98,
336, 405, 420, 474, 479, 490, 525, 632, 970; Bradts, 327,
648, 776, 777, 778, 793, 810, 81 1, 892, 894, 901, 902, 905,
906, 907, 910, 932-, Brady, 120, 121, 183, 355, 480, 573,

INDEX OF -NAMES.

645, 906, 977, 983, 994; Brainard, 438, 675, 694, 747; Bra-
man, 354, 355, 987, 993, 997; Brandenburg, 425, 711;
Bradford, 997; Brannigan, 651; Brandon, 702; Brandt, 36,
410; Branet, 973; Brant, 7, 396, 911, 917, 919; Brass, 152;
Brat, 272, 273; Brate, 711, 817, 892, 906, 910; Bratt, 272,
274, 413, 429, 520, 776; Brayton, 156, 474, 652, 793; Bra-
zee, 715, Breakey, 210; Breeckman, 379; Breed, 982; Bree-
man, 559; Brennan, 116, 152, 306, 477, 478, 485, 752;
Brenton, 694; Bresler, 112; Bretton, 635; Brewster, 98,
820, 936; Brice (Bries), 73, 95, 96, 273, 385, 402, 585, 814,
815, 987; Bridge, 564; Bridges, 582; Bridgeford, 450;
Bridgford, 517, 861, 952; Bridgeman, 731; Bridgman, 592;
750, 881, 900; Bries (Brice), 73, 95, 96, 273, 402, 385, 585, 655 ;
Bridgen, 155; Brigham, 355, 426, 518, 927; Briggs, 212, 308,
828, 830, 831, 832, 835, 839; Bright, 901; Brilleman, 479,
Brinchall, 562; Brinckerhoff, 550, 572, 611, 635, 671;
Brindle, 793; Brink, 410, 836, 940; Brinkerhoff, 540; Biin-
tall, 420; Brisbin, 9; Briselt, 634; Bristol, 345; Bristow,
743; Britton, 772, 906, 907, 987; Broaclhurst, 156, 272;
Brock, 76, 420; Brockholles, 10, 379; Brockway, 492,
708, 951, 957, 962, 973; Brodhead, 43; Brodt, 841, 873;
Broeck, 855; Broecks, 583; Bromley, 304. 490, 652; Bronck,
295, 354, 406, 425, 438, 485; Bronk,485, 681, 711, 826, 827,
829,834,839,870,871,872,939,981; Bronson, 139, 145, 149.
154,170,210,680,686, 749; Brook, 378; Brooks, 92, 160,
212, 225, 354, 532, 537, 642, 711, 782, 788, 793, 894, 971;
Brooksby, 586; Brother, 828; Brouck, 274; Brougham, 161;
Broughton, 426, Brouwer, 50, 826; Brower, 426, 468, 582;
Brown, 8, 77, 108, 109, 152, 210, 213, 219, 242, 279, 354,
371, 375, 394, 395. 39s, 407. 412, 420, 474, 475, 498, 500,
526, 527, 544, 611, 643, 648, 672, 682, 690, 708, 716, 736,
737. 744, 753, 759. 760, 761, 762. 764, 782, 801, 802, 814,
841, 844, 846, 847, 870, 879, 881, 882, 911, 918, 923, 926.
945, 951. 960, 961, 962, 968, 970, 977, 984. 988; Browne,
378, 442, 478, 479, 681, 716, 735; Brownell, 209, 420, 879;
Broyce,9il; Bruce, 91, 438, 584, 613, 892, 985; Brumaghin,
307,479.533; Brummel, 725; Brundage, 785; Brunow, 377,
683; Brunysen, 295; Brust, 852, 853; Bryan, 424, 519, 529,
710, 715; Bryant, 225, 582, 688; Bryce, 480, 481, 587;
Buchanan, 152, 160, 177, 192, 194, 196, 519, 559, 715, 785,
968,970,971; Buchar, 906; Bucher, 902; Buchler, 562;
Buck, 860, 879, 880, 987; Buckelew, 926; Buckingham, 216;
Buckley, 639; Buckmaster, 76; Buel, 90, 261, 268, 286,
323, 328, 329, 333, 335, 354, 356, 357, 370, 373, 375, 376,
378, 533, 534, 677, 700, 752; Buffington, 212; Bulger, 306,
752, 793; Bulkley, 114, 152, 173, 268, 421, 575, 621; Bull,
187, 334, 420, 836; Bullions, 684, 967; Bullock, 88, 211,
329, 532, 613, 684, 785, 788, 789, 793, 837, 866, 890, 894,
904,905,907,935,964; Bulking, 931; Bumford, 79,433;
Bumps, 911; Bundy, 873, 875, 879; Bunza, 872; Bunzer,
420; Bunzey, 420; Burbank, 210, 817; Burch, 479, 480, 665 ;
Burchard, 919, 926; Burdett, 442; Burdick, 377, 378, 702,
716, 843; Burdsall, 944; Buren, 213; Burger, 835, 960;
Burgess, 422, 637; Burgher, 924; Burgoyne, 6, 76, 80, 131,
206, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 416, 662, 674, 840, 922, 979;
Burhans, 354, 424, 425, 635, 787, 789, 792, 793, 794; Burk,
307, 749! Burke, 120, 181, 478,480, 704, 729, 743, 749, 756;
Burleigh, 791; Burley, 335; Burlingame, 152,476,690, 744,
875; Burnet, 4, 10, 382; Burnett, 422, 533, 919; Burns, 304,
601, 602, 711, 743; Burnside, 234, 401, 895, 907; Burr, 132,
141, 261, 367, 440, 441, 674, 746, 934; Burrell, 558, 708;
Burrett, 926; Burrows, 188, 210, 974; Burst, 850; Burt,
211, 308, 426, 531, 556, 559; Burton, 88, 89, 210, 426, 566,
946, 947, 95°, 95'. 964, 967. 968, 969. 973; Bury, 760;
Bush, 244, 593, 690, 906, 927, 964, 966, 968, 973; Busham,
713; Bushmore, 900; Bushnell, 541 ; Buskins, 785; Busley,
605; Bussell, 793; Bussing. 777, 781; Bussey, 420; Butcher,
881; Butler, 36, 75, 136, 137, 138, 139, 142, 156, 219, 226,
268, 325, 341, 354, 359, 396, 410, 420, 440, 526, 568, 599,
69'. 755. 971, 9°2; Butterfield, 319, 321, 322, 323, 782, 847,
879; Buyshe, 751, 843; Buzzee, 849, 850; Byers, 825;
Byron, 703, 728; Byrne, 92.
Babcock & Hopkins, 652; Babcock, Shannon & Co., 642;
Bacon & Stickney, 564, 565; Bacon, Stickney & Co., 564;
Backus & Whiting, 375; Bailley & Brooks, 642; Bailley &
Howard, 320; Baker & Son, C. V., 334; Baker, Waldridge &
Halsted, 311; Ballentine & Co., Wm., 601; Ballentine &
Webster, 371,375; Bancroft & Co., II. A., 613; Banks, Bros.,
702; Bantham, Bros., 599; Barber & Bennett, 632, 639;
Barber, John & Robert, 375; Barnes & Godfrey, 377; Bart-

left, Bent & Co., 566; Batchelder & Sherman, 625; Bayn's
Sons, Benj., 647; Beach, Denio & Richards, 376; Becker &
Hilton, 854; Belcher & Larrabee, 563; Belknap &Son,Z., 636;
Bell & Ledger, 637; Bender, Martin & Thomas, 613; Bene
dict & Co., Lewis, 687; Benedict & Roby, 637; Benedict
& Son, J., 613; Bernard & Co., F. J., 575; Birch & Co.,
Geo. A., 626; Birdsall, John & Geo., 558; Blackburn &
Jones, 635; Blair & Kinnear, 597; Bleecker, B.&J.G.,67i;
Bloodgood & Van Schaick, 376; Boardman & Bro., G.
626; Boardman & Gray, 600-2; Bogart & Cuyler, 517;
Borden & Stowe, 568; Bouton & Geer, 632; Boyd & Co.,
613; Boyd & Bro., 559; Boyd & McCulioch, 558; Boyd &
McHinch, 621 ; Boyd, P. & John I., 621 ; Bridge & Davis, 564 ;
Briggs & Son, Wm. S., 830; Brockway & Kurtl, 957; Brower
& Son, S. D., 582; Bryant & Stratton, 688; Bull & Wilson,
334; Bullock & Co., 613; Bullock & Many, 613; Burdick
& Taylor, 377, 378, 702; Burton & Co., Wm., 946; Burton
& Vine, 626; Butterfield, Wasson & Co., 319, 321.

Cabot, 2; Cacknard, 420; Cady, 134, 140, 179,345,762,
969, 982; Cagger, 141, 146, 147, 173, 179, 185, 191, 197,
476, 477, 676, 729; Cahall, 358; Cahill, 485; Cain, 972;
Calder, 187, 427, 923, 024; Caldwell, 76, 92, 498, 500, 528,
603, 620, 621, 625, 684, 937; Caley, 841; Calhoun, 373,
644; Calkins, 967, 968, 970, 973; Call, 813; Callahan, 95,
336; Callanan, 266, 777, 780, 789, 792, 831, 837, 894;
Callans, 406; Callender,'6i2, 613; Callicot, 364, 377; Calve,
379; Calvin, 259, 6i3;Caly, 841 ; Camberling, 677; Cameron,
'52, 784, 850, 896, 963; Campbell, 152, 181,210, 213, 260,
268, 305, 355, 415, 420, 429, 477, 583, 613, 620, 684, 685,
686, 694, 742, 750, 768, 771, 784, 847, 850, 851, 854, 875,
881, 935, 943. 95i. 958, 959. 964. 969, 973. 984, 987;
Campion, 476, 477; Campston, 620; Canaday, 708, 818,
871; Canady, 870, 872; Canassatego, 38; Canier, 931;
Cannon, 989; Cantine, 357, 359; Cantwell, 634; Canull,
817; Capron, 118, 119, 534, 561, 666,850,945; Capson,
628; Carbine, 620; Carey, 98, 100, 378, 480, 481, 485,
620, 626, 790, 818, 830; Carhart, 266, 304, 420, 688,
78o, 785, 832, 836, 860, 962 ; Carknard, 906, 907;
Carl, 926 ¦ Carleton, 6, 394, 395, 737 ; Carlin, 94, 306;
Carhsle, 480, 638; Carmichael, 438, 477, 675, 708; Car-
mody, 729, 759; Carnell, 688; Carney, 306; Carnisie, 125;
Carpenter, 226, 341, 377, 474, 476, 477, 478, 515, 699, 737,
741, 850, 907, 926, 968, 970; Carperse, 272; Carr, 231,272,
305, 420, 475, 647, 648, 710, 717, 836, 905; Carrier, 564;
Carngan, 958; Carroll, 94, 108, 109, 221, 226, 306, 342,
376, 420, 521, 556, 568, 613, 635, 674, 716, 737. 752. 837,
840, 845, 907, 960, 962; Carson, 376; Carstens, 272; Cars-
tense, 273; Carter, 180, 210, 213, 214, 321, 323, 375, 708,
950, 968, 969, 973; Cartier, 758; Carthy, 981; Cartwright,
69, 828, 927; Cary, 519, 613, 625, 644, 817, 951, 987, 988;
Case, 210, 211, 212, 2.3, 214, 475, 496, 534, 701, 788, 848,
851, 906, 941; Casey, 116, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 478,
479. 635, 699, 790; Casler, 212; Caspers, 304; Casperse,
274; Casman, 808; Cass, 152,841; Cassidy, 232, 306, 357,
358, 359. 365. 366, 375, 376, 377. 406, 441, 442, 474, 475,
517, 524, 525, 527. 564. 639, 676, 685, 690, 750, 751, 752,
757, 773, 841, 987; Castle, 813, 926; Caswell, 713, 831;
Caulkms, 985; Cavanaugh, 479; Cavart, 879, 880; Carver,
648; Caw, 92, 968; Celeste, 704; Center, 500, 526, 530,

lin, 711; Chambers, 90, 211, 295, 304. 392, 620; Champion,
872, 874; Chandler, 604, 621; Chanfrau, 705; Chapin 211,
214, 425, 53i, 602, 625, 652, 677, 684, 736; Chapman, 90,
92, 360, 534, 603, 6n, 630, 632, 726. 737, 77,, 785, 870,
871, 874, 879, 917, 975, 976, 977; Charles, 533, 574, 637,
652- 701, 750; Chase, 152, 564, 565, 604, 6,3, 6I4
645, 690 711, 841, 872, 881, 996; Chatfield, 335. 474; Chat-
terton 785; Chec-sbm, 90, 871, 872, 873, 874, 879, 880,883,
907; Chcesebro, 420, 966, 967; Cheesebrough, 604, 860,
870, 900, 901; Cheesman, 765, 944; Cheever, 129, ice;
Cheney, 209, 318, 593; Chesbro, 972; Chesebro, 108, 109
Hi, 113, 1 [5, 116, 355, 805, 806,860, 870, 879, 902;
Chester, 152, 198, 346, 439, 559, 686, 699, 769, 923, 047
Chestimtt, 3c7; Chickering, 600; Child, 376; Childs, 716
926; Chism, 355, 843, 845, 849, 869; Chittenden, 677, 916,

INDEX OF NAMES.

xv

926; Chrisler, 874; Chrittenden, 91, 156, 399, 410; Christian
566; Christie, 210, 902, 988; Chrysler, 872; Church, 98,
281, 307, 710, 772, 815; Churchill, 701, 703; Chollar, 977;
Cirill, 840; Civil, 828, 833; Claese, 519; Claesse, 272;
Clancy, 860; Clafflin, 179; Clapp, 521, 648, 749; Clapper,
843, 906; Clark, 4, n, 90, 91, 116, 118, 173, 176, 177, 212,
373. 374, 375. 420, 426, 428, 442, 443, 491, 531, 568, 573,
611, 613, 614, 617, 642, 647, 771, 778, 805, 820, 836, 844,
848, 901, 907, 9X5. 92°. 926, 928, 934, 957, 960, 969, 97°.
972; Clarke, 10, 42, 91, 210, 212, 377, 379, 382, 562, 621,
643, 700, 950, 963, 970, 971, 973; Clarkson, 385; Classen,
119, 121, 212, 242, 559; Claw, 127; Claxton, 375; Clay,
'36, 175. '92, 280, 365, 373, 715; Cleever, 757; Clement,
210, 412, 474, 499, 647, 835; Cleminshaw, 562; Cleveland,
II, 174, 175, 176, 178, 366, 367, 444, 457, 563, 592, 716,
717, 735, 911; Clickman, 870, 872, 881; Clifton, 704; Clin-
ton, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, n, 36, 129, 131, 132, 133, 134, 137, 141,
177, 262, 264, 266, 267, 268, 275, 291, 328, 339, 357, 373,
379. 387. 388, 396> 400, 403. 404, 405. 419. 443. 448, 5°o,
518, 523, 524, 644, 662, 663, 676, 677, 690, 704, 737, 803,
843, 844, 918; Clove, 3, 10, 46; Clow, 791, 817, 818, 879;
Clowe, 907; Clowes, 683, 700, 759, 760; Clough, 95; Cluet,
931, 932; Cluett, 601; Clute, 77, 152, 155, 420, 479, 521,
522, 632, 634, 635, 639, 841, 843, 846, 869, 880, 882, 883,
934, 935. 939- 940, 943, 944, 95°, 95 '. 958, 959, 96o, 968,
969, 972, 973, 984, 987, 988, 995; Clyckman, 870, 871;
Clymer, 220; Coats, 870, 985; Coates, 533, 806; Cobb, 212,
568, 997; Cobes, 156; Coburn, 819; Cockburn, 815;
Cocheris, 180; Cochoran, 205; Cochran, 76, 152, 679;
Cochrane, 163, 183, 266, 355, 426; Coe, 712; Coeler, 879;
Coeyman, 74. 292, 327, 824; Coffee, 613; Coffin, 154, 780,
814, 958; Coggswell, 219, 236; Cogswell, 210, 213, 533,
592, 748; Cohn, 152; Coit, 169; Coke, 765; Colburn, 307,
376, 420, 613, 743, 771, 995; Colden, 4, 5, 10, 156, 293, 379,
382, 392, 918; Cole (Koole), 160, 183, 194, 268. 307, 309,
375, 376, 402, 420, 421, 438, 474, 476, 477, 558, 601, 602,
655. 656, 657, 697, 699, 712, 714, 716, 719, 735, 736, 834,
835, 839, 906, 914, 926, 936, 995; Coleman, 102, 103, 355,
522, 527, 559, 995; Coles, 637; Coley, 677, 736, 749, 843;
Coligan, 987; Collier, 140, 212, 274, 601, 635, 704, 743, 744,
834, Colling, 329; Collins, 42, 124, 126, 127, 354, 355. 426,
429, 832, 914, 948,-9^1, 977, 980, 987, 988, 991; Colliton,
887; Columbus, 448; Colvard, 156, 354, 556, 913. 920;
Colve, 380; Colvin, 74, 75, 92, 152, 156, 265, 277,286,287,
291, 354, 742, 828, 830, 834, 838. 839, 840, 958; Colwell, 987;
Combs, 478, 716, 717; Comings, 164; Compton, 880. 898;
Comstock, 90, 175, 309, 359, 365, 375, 377, 43s, 521, 655,
657; Conant, 700, 846; Conboy, 973; Conden, 817; Condict,
 895; Condon, 104; Cone, 742; Coney, 93; Conger, 93, 94,
96, no, 112, 113, 115, 116, 355, 420, 802, 817, 819, 892, 934;
Congdon, 781, 782; Connie, 354; Conklin, 242, 304, 526,
814, 913, 916; Conkling, 143, 362, 440, 621, 813; Conley,
152, 717; Conerogatchie, 300; Connell, 911; Connelly, 558,
996, 997; Conner, 278, 425; Connick, 596; Connolly, 305;
Connor, 88, 89, 120, 152, 705, 920; Connors, 307; Conrad,
38; Conroy, 676, 686, 729, 730, 753, 754, 755, 756, 965;
Consaul, 940; Consaloe, 931; Converse, 832; Conyes, 920;
Conway, 116, 118, 152; Cook, 118, 142, 152, 170, 212, 214,
308, 373. 375, 477. 530, 559. 594. 599. 625. 627, 684, 685,
716, 717, 727, 736, 744, 748, 817, 906, 915, 963, 989, 995;
Cooke, 426, 619,690; Cookingham, 226; Coole,9ii; Cooley,
613, 736 748, 906, 982; Coon, 345, 713, 849, 919, 996;
Cooney, 860; Coonley, 635, 834; Coonleys, 832; Coons,
910, 911; Cooper, 127, 129, 134, 152, 155, 156, 180, 185,
200, 201, 209, 442, 446, 500, 526, 567, 613, 699, 701, 732,
735. 76o, 777, 781, 785, 799. 827, 841 901 911, 914, 942;
Coorn, 14; Coote, 379; Coper, 777; Copeland, 708, 832;
Copp, 319; Copper, 681; Corbitt, 962; Corcoran, 485;
Cordell, 307, 812, 941; Corlear, 385, 556; Corliss, 712, 713;
Cornbury, 4, 10, 2C4, 292, 382; Cornehsse, 273, 274, 385;
Cornelissen, 295, 611, 825; Cornell, 11, 355, 361, 444, 450,
489, 519, 564, 793, 814, 817, 834, 926, 948; Corning, 29, 74,
116, 161, 268, 328, 329, 330, 331, 334, 342, 440, 441, 473.
474, 475, 476, 477, 480, 491, 5'4. 515. 5'9. 526, 527, 53',
532> 534. 535. 536, 537, 53/, 539. 5f. S4J. 542, 543, 544,
545, 567, 572, 591, 611, 636, 637, 643, 662, 664, 677, 678,
687, 690, 713, 718, 729, 738, 745. 75L 76i, 779. 79i. 934!
Cornwall, 184, 914; Cornwell, 42; Corry, 127, 128, 129,
983, 990; Corstiaenssen, 2, 13, 44.455 Corstiaensen, 611,
775; Cortell, 91; Corwin, 926, 963; Cory, 210, 943, 997;
Cosby, 4, 10, 379; Cosford, 765; Coss, 843, 869; Costello,

307, 343, 491; Coster, 273, 519, 659; Costigan, 525; Cott,
912; Cotrell, 526, 533, 604, 634; Couchman, 813, 814, 915,
916, 919. 921; Coughtry, 785, 894, 902, 903; Coul?on, 427,
766; Coup, 593; Countermine, 735, 770; Countryman, 114,
152, 153, 160; Courcelles,38z; Couse, 785, 788, 793 ; Courtney,
156, 163, 164, 34.2, 343, 490, 570, 744, 877. 9°5', Courtnght,
344; Covel, 406,. 749; Covelens, 252; Covenhoven, 841;
Coveny,97i, 972; Covert, 437, 877, 992; Covill, 74; Cowan,
170; Cowell, 475; Cowen, 145. 149; Cower, 958; Cowper -
thwaite, 257; Cox, 222, 225, 226, 229, 329, 474, 475, 839, 977;
Cov, 210; Coyendell, 489; Coyle, 355, 756; Crab, 592;
Crabbe, 669; Craft, 477, 642; Cragiers, 935; Craig, 211,
213, 214, 218, 221, 425, 438, 439, 474. 477. 613, 614, 834,
861, 970; Cram, 841; Cramer, 623, 940, 941, 989; Cramme,
843, 869; Crampton, 813; Crandall, 156, 227, 402, 420, 519,
928; Crane, 613, 620, 621, 640. 652, 690, 951; Crannell,
152, 637, 714, 715; Crary, 420, 817, 870, 871, 872, 873, 874,
875,879,880,882,883,885,887; Cranse, 970; Cranston,
971; Crantz (Crounse), 401, 402; Craven, 102, 103, no,
113, 115, 116, 117, 119, 120; Craver, 788, 977; Craw, 744,
834; Crawford, 74, 154, 174. 213, 3!9. 355. 373. 553. 635,
786, 820, 894, 961, 973, 977, 980, 995; Crawley, 307;
Creble, 355, 792, 893, 902, 904. 90-, 910; Crehan, 527;
Cregier, 273, 931; Crippen, 266, 814; Cristtle, 97 1 ; Critten
den, 268, 561, 686; Crocker, 91, 613. 789. 820, 911, 914,
926, 927, 996; Crofts, 622; Croysant, ^80; Crol, 204, 271;
Crombie, 821; Cromwell, 226; Cronk, 828; Crook, 564, 633;
Crooke, 127; Crooks, 906, 987; Croorn, 54, 55'. Cropsey,
739; Crosby, 90, 200, 210, 354, 376, 440, 594, 820, 982,
984; Crost, 972; Croswell, 358, 359, 374, 375. 531. 7°';
Crothers, 212; Crounse, 90, 93. 210, 211. 212, 420, 425, 426,
811, 812. 840, 841, 843, 844. 846. 847, 848, 850, 851, 854,
8s5, 856, 857, 865, 869, 871, 872, 873 877, 879, 881, 882,
883, 887, 894, 900, 904, 905, 906, 907, 908, 910; Crousler,
899,901; Crowe, 854; Cruikshank, 652; Crukshank, 376;
Crumb, 833; Crummy, 562; Cruttenden, 652; Cucchiarini,
756; Cuddy, 119, 120, 121; Cull, 521. 749; Cullen, 230, 613,
839, 997; Cullman, 984; Cullings, 613, 895; Culvard, 804,
805; Culver, 213, 242, 804, 911, 916. 94^, 997; Cumming,
632; Cummings, 306,605,769.777,781,817,977; Cunning
ham, 474, 713, 983, 987; Curley, 747; Curran, 355, 802;
Curtis, 139,203, 212, 214, 219, 221, 222, 243, 345, 378, 402,
604, 618, 81 1, 959, 973, 974, 980, 984; Curtin, 753; Curtius,
251 ; Cushing,342; Cushman,5 19, 651, 705, 706, 97S ; Cutchen,
895; Cutler, 98, 152, 324, 355, 593, 624, 725; Cutter, 744;
Cuyler, 41, 42, 90, III, 134, 156, 210, 261, 273, 342, 354,
364. 377. 385, 401. 403, 405, 406. 407, 409, 412, 413, 416,
418, 446, 467, 468, 477, 478, 480, 517, 521, 526, 527, 528,
620, 621. 658. 660, 661, 664, 679, 708, 716, 744, 760, 934;
Cagger & Hand, 173, 179; Cagger, Porter & Hand, 179,
185; Cagger & Porter, 179; Calder & Son, W. D., 924;
Caldwell. Frasier & Co., 937; Calvin, Cooley & Co., 613:
Campbell & C'uje, 959, 960; Carlisle & Hill, 638; Carwell
& Carhart, 688; Carr & Clark, 647; Carrol, J. H. &
Colburn, W. M., 376; Carroll, J. K. & McDonald,
D., 557; Carrier, J. T., 564; Cary & Salisbury, 613;
Capron & Woolverton. 561; Chad wick & Cor, 956;
Chandler & Starr, 604, 621 ; Chapin & Co., D., 602; Charles
& Co., 574; Chase & Co., L. A., 564,565; Chase & Co.,
S. G., 645; Chase & Delehanty, 152; Chri-tian & Bros., J.
M , 566; Churchill & Abbey, 700; Clark, Decker & Gardner,
805; Clark & Hale, 173; Clark & Holsapple, 957; Clark &
Van Alstyne, 491; Clarke, Geo. W. & Thomas J. J., 377;
Claxton & Babcock, 375 ; Clement & Grose, 647 ; Cleminshaw
& Son, J. B , 562; Cleveland Bros, 563; Cluett & Sons,
601. 634; Coats & Smith, 806; Coffee, Biuce & Co., 613;
Coffin&Co.,Wm.E.,958; Coleman & Bro., 557, 559; Coles
& Woodruff, 637; Collender & Mason, 613; Collin & Jones,
951; Conkling & Herring, 621; Cook & Son, Adam, 594;
Cook&Meutch, 559; Cook & Co , Wm., 625; Coolidge,
Pratt & Co., 556, 559; Coonley & Waldron, 635; Corning &
Co., 637; Coming-, Horner & Winslow, 540; Corning &
Latham, 331 ; Corning & Norton, 567, 572 ; Corning & Walker,
6^6; Corning & Winslow, 541 ; Cottrell & Leonard, 604, 634;
Cowen & Hill, 145; Crab & Doig, 592; Craft, Wilson & Co.,
642; Cranston & Belden, 997; Crawford & Livingston, 635;
Croswell & Co., H., 375; Croswell & Frany, 375; Croissant
& Bro., 580; Crook&Co., Thos. P., 564; Crounce& Hilton,
854; Cullen & Jones, 613; Curtis & Co., 957, 959; Curtis,
Beals & Fearing, 618; Cushman & Co., P., 651; Cuyler,
Gansevoort & Co., 620; Cuyler & Henley, 377.

INDEX OF NAMES.

ID
Dailey, 907, 964, 987; Dalchen, 743; Dale, 694, 695;
Daley, 701; Daliba, 433; Dalton, 476, 612; Daly, 103, 104,
109,110,111,112,476,478,983; Damon, 814, 877; Damp,
307; Dana, 690, 691; Danaher, 738; Dane, 870, 879; Dan-
f'orth, 173, 179,920; Dang, 100; Dangler, 125; Danhauser,
439; Daniels, 567, 571, 881; Dankers, 297, 298, 327, 844;
Danks, 425; Dann, 985; Dans, 855; Dantz, 848; Dare, 918;
Daretha, 295; Darling, 769; Dauchy, 945; Davenport, 762,
870, 871, 873, 874, 884, 886, 887, 914; David, 417; David
son, 91, 212, 334, 355, 489, 530, 533, 534, 537, 637, 655,
788; Davis, 90, 92, 183, 184, 195, 212, 257, 308, 340, 354,
415, 425, 4^8, 494, 564, 600, 602, 613, 621, 628, 632, 642,
646, 648, 690, 711, 744, 769, 771, 780, 784, 787, 803, 812,
816, 817, 818, 830, 831, 832, 834, 839, 841, 843, 846, 851,
853, 858, 859, 860, 866, 869, 875, 920, 922, 973, 995; Daw,
967; Dawson, 358, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 377, 392, 413,
426, 438, 480, 517, 519, 701, 702, 713, 960; Dawyer, 826;
Day, 152, 750, 788, 865, 907, 908; Dayton, 83, 89, 104, 106,
108, 109, no, 111, 112, 210, 354, 527, 818, 844, 908, 913,
916, 920, 962, 991, 995, 997; Deacon, 989; Dean, 143, 144,
160, 169, 202, 220, 230, 341, 344, 376, 417, 438, 486, 675,
680,681,690,762,769,972; Dearstyne, 485, 491; Dear
born, 8; De Bakker, 295; De Baum, 940, 941; De Bow,
300; De Brouwer, 273; De Callieres, 383, 505; De Camp,
945; de Chas'.ellux, 674; De Chaumont, 335; Decker,
757, 805, 814, 854, 906; Deckerman, 744; De Decker,
46, 65, 301; Dederick, 573, 589, 728; De Forest, 90, 91,
273, 402, 420, 540, 613, 690, 841, 846, 893; De Freest,
401, 402, 407, 785, 843, 869; De Freist, 932; De Freisto, 412;
D'Foreest, 273; Degan, 479; Degarno, 621; De Graff, 211,
568, 677, 788, 849, 852, 855; De Grove, 639; De Haas, 932,
934, 939! De Heyden, 794; De Hinse, 205; De Hooges, 294;
De Hulter, 582; Deilz, 354, 801, 802, 804, 806, 808, 809,
812, 814, 815, 817, 819, 820, 822, 853, 855, 872, 917;
De la Barre, 3; de la Court, 288; De Laet, 13, 50; De La
fayette, 797; Delahanty, 355, 638, 699, 973, 974; De Lain-
court, 497; De La Mater, 266; De Lamater, 209, 211,
907; Delamater, 219, 788, 915; De Lancey, 4, 155, 261,
379. 382, 388, 405, 4'3; De Lancy, 10, 128, 156, 392, 541;
Delaney, 968; Delano, 980; Delavan, 216, 225, 226, 243,
335, 34i, 342, 375, 376, 439, 459. 5°°> 53'. 652, 684, 729,
752; De La Vergne, 928; Delehanly, 98, 152, 474, 475,
476,478,479, 515, 519, 597; Delevan, 690; Dellius, 41, 272,
466, 659, 771; De Long, 96, 793, 830, 892, 893, 903, 906,
910; Delong, 98, 354, 852, 894; Delve, 996; De Maiollo,
1; De Marguerites, 705; Demarest, 809, 926, 939, 940; De
Marks, 935; Demerest, 899; De Meyer, 253; De Milt, 951;
Demgen, 789; Deming, 152; Dempsey, 190; Demers, 361;
Denaher, 152; Denbergh, 934; Denio, 159, 281, 282, 286,
287, 367, 375, 376, 934; Denison, 711, 8or, 814, 819, 823,
870, 879; Dennian, 267; Dennick, 210, 788, 902, 907, 908;
Denier, 705; Dennison, 103, 104; Denniston, 525, 529,620;
Denny, 704; Denonville, 3; De Norman, 73; Dent, 553;
Depew, 450; De Peyster, 42, 155, 379, 661; de Peyster,
660; Dei-boos, 926; Derby, 613; De Reamess, 892; de Rens,
51; de Rham, 445; De Ridder, 794; de Rochambeau, 674;
De Roseers, 973; Dermott, 982; Derveer, 214; De Sales,
752; De Salle, 729; Desmond, 308; Destillator, 763; De
Tiere, 587; Develin, 983; Devendorf, 629; Devereaux, 526;
Devereux, 104, 106, 108, 914, 915, 918, 919, 920; Devine,
191; Devoe, 90, 92, 93, 401, 766, 809, 817, 820, 826, 841,
843, 847, 849, 906; Devol, 211, 235, 295, 861; DeVries, 13,
53; Devyr, 376; De Wever, 273; Dewey, 176; De Witt, 44,
152, 171, 261, 267, 336, 440, 443, 446, 447, 523, 526, 527,
529. 53'. 534, 613, 635, 735, 741, 761, 771, 772, 919; De
Wolf, 234, 450; Deyermand, 479; Dexter, 89, 640, 647, 648,
667; Deyo, 726; De Zeng, 76; De Zouche, 212; Dibble,
911; Dick, 42, 127; Dicker, 987; Dickey, 568, 571; Dicker-
man, 479, 481, 521, 706, 710, 717; Dickerson, 179; Dickin
son, 163, 925, 975; Dickson, 210, 436, 517, 632, 716, 726,
740, 771, 788, 893, 904, 907, 924; Diedrick, 936; Diefen-
dorf, 811; Dieskau, 389; Dietz, 73, 401, 441, 559, 597, 598,
723, 844; Dillenbeck, 613; Dillius, 39; Dillon, 479; Ding-
man, 274, 906, 907; Dings, 941, 945; Dingwell, 335; Din-
neford, 704; Dircks, 125; Dirkse, 272, 273; Difibroe, 971;
Disbrow, 92, 93, 354, 923, 926, 928; Dix, n, 178, 268, 269,
354, 375. 376, 440, 442, 444, 448, 675, 692, 715, 737, 760,
964; Dixon, 441, 585, 586, 587, 967, 968, 971, 972, 973;
Doane, 544, 687, 759, 760, 761, 762, 960, 961; Dobler, 559;

Dockstader, 968; Dodds, 425, 711; Dodge, 102, 103, 104,
605, 619, 937, 960, 962, 971; Dodworth, 744; Dodker, 731;
Doerscher, 934; Doherty, 626; Doig, 592, 800, 810; Dolan,
92, 987; Dollar, 841, 901, 903; Dom, 987; Domery, 655;
Domke, 789; Donahoe, 474, 479, 480; Doncaster, 521,
594, 972; Dongan, 10, 12, 69, 71, 72, 272, 289, 298, 379,
383, 458, 461, 463, 657, 987; Donge, 726; Dongon, 3; Don-
Ion, 968; Donlop, 556, 752; Donnelly, 147, 307; Donohue,
476, 987, 988; Donovan, 716; Doody, 98; Dooley, 98;
Doolittle, 197, 737, 915; Doran, 677, 729, 753, 756; Dore-
mus, 734; Dorman, 354, 831, 923, 928, 989; Domett, 637;
Dorr, 155, 210, 440, 529, 603, 934; Dotey, 971 ; Dotter,
102, 103, 108; Doty, 354, 800, 806, 809, 820, 886, 951, 964;
Doubleday, 700; Dougherty, 656; Douglas, 841; Douglass,
230, 526, 532, 571, 611, 620, 637, 708; Douw, 40, 42, 128,
129, 155, 261, 273, 274, 337, 353, 385, 391, 399, 401, 405,
407, 411, 412, 413, 418, 469, 494, 528, 534, 572, 611, 620,
621, 632, 642, 660, 661, 679, 731, 945; Dover, 848; Dowd,
91; Dowdney, 761; Dowling, 565; Downey, 308; Downing,
152, 245, 333, 375, 747; Dows, 558, 644; Dox, 156, 340,
401, 438, 442; Doyle, 154, 568, 957, 968> 97'. 973! Draeyer,
156, 380; Drake, 424, 550, 704, 752, 912, 914; Draper, 152,
198, 346, 355, 699; Drew, 489, 705; Dreyer, 152; d'Rid-
der, 385; Drisius, 251; Drum, 924; Drumm, 843, 869;
Drummond, 789; Duane, 42, 130, 131, 354, 410, 523, 622;
Dubois, 413, 420, 940, 926, 988; Du Bois, 212, 230; Du
buque, 620; Ducharne, 427; Dudley, 173, 354, 440, 524,
526, 529, 611, 662, 663, 677, 682, 732, 738, 751, 752; Duel,
817; Duell, 877; Duer, 131, 138, 142, 154, 267, 354, 359,
373, 760; Duff, 190; Duffan, 752; Duffy, 304, 376, 704, 705,
750, 751, 970, 973, 977, 988; Dugan, 308, 638, 763; Dugas,
756, 757, 758; Dugast, 966; Dulin, 343; Dummer, 621, 637;
Dumont, 103, 899; Dunbar, 305, 760; Duncan, 354, 962,
963, 964; Dunham, 613, 616, 977; Dunison, 402; Dunkel-
meyer, 211; Dunlap, 558, 703, 942, 945, 962; Dunlop,
90, 91, 260, 355, 559, 560, 694, 752, 977, 982, 991;
Dunmore, 5, 10; Dunn, 328, 332, 334, 621, 647, 651,
671, 686, 687; Dunnigan, 164, 306, 307; Dunphy, 119;
Dunsbach, 308, 935, 958; Dunscomb, 613; Dupany, 305;
Durand, 589, 737, 738; Duran, 738; Durant, 78, 92, 500,
526, 534, 6n, 621, 632, 633, 639, 650, 699, 744, 770, 913,
987, 997; Durfee, 850; Durfy, 820; Duryee, 279; Dusen-
bury, 210, 613; Dutcher, 147, 613, 749, 870, 871, 937, 984;
Duyster, 49; Duyvepagh, 931; D'Wandeluer, 272; Dwight,
194, 266, 268, 321, 375, 376, 377, 430, 606, 639, 679, 716,
743, 803; Dwyer, 108, 109, 481, 485, 651, 717, 963, 997;
Dyckman, 46, 61, 62, 65, 297; Dyer, 92, 152, 266, 308,
817, 819, 820, 926, 977; Dyne, 406; Dyness, 306.
Dalton & Kibbe, 612; Davenport & Crowe, 854; Dav
enport & Fredericks, 854; Davis & Bancroft, 195; Davis
& Center, 438; Davis & Co., R. C, 642; Davis & Craft,
642; Davis, Craft & Wilson, 642; Davis & Son, J. A., 600;
Davis & Van Vechten, 195; Dawson & Co., 377; Dawson &
Lennox, 960; Dayton, Ball & Co., 597; Dederick Bros.,
589; Dederick & Co., P. K, 573; De Forrest, Patten &
Co., 613; De Graff & Co., O. D., 568; Delehanty & Son,
M., 638; Denio, John & Richards, Seth, 375; De Witt &
Nephew, 613; De Witt & Spoor, 152; Dey, Wm., 646;
Dickson & Son, V. A., 924; Douw & Co., V. P., 642;
Dows & Gary, 644; Draper & Chester, 152, 198; Drum &
Possom, 924; Duffy & Forrest, 704; Duffy, McCulioch &
Angus, 376; Dunham & Co., J. W., 613; Dunn & Co., R.
G.,641, 671; Durant & Co., 632, 639; Durant & Elmore,
639; Durant & McKissick, 632; Durant, W. & C, 632.
IE
Eadie, 923; Earl, 881, 882, 901, 905, 974; Earle, 159;
Earls, 841, 849; Earley, 91, 92, 93. 834; Early, 94; Easterly,
420, 646; Eastman, 113, 115, 430, 643, 937; Easton, 16, 268,
394, 613, 614, 678, 690, 699, 861, 993; Eastwood, 963, 971,
972; Eaton, 152, 261, 267, 448, 449, 450, 498, 587, 613, 614,
728, 743, 800, 882, 995, 996; Ebel, 562; Eberling, 763;
Ebert, 562; Eccles, 971, 972; Ecclesine, 168; Eckhart, 907;
Ecker, 128, 152, 872, 875, 876, 923, 927; Ecob, 733, 769;
Eddington, 906; Eddy, 173, 523,960; Edgar, 996; Edgerton,
420, 740, 996; Edie, 896; Edmeston, 98, 99, 100, 211, 218,
613; Edmonds, 157, 158, 211, 281, 344, 708; Edson, 559,
690; Edward, 42, 78; Edwards, 141, 142, 143, 152, 170,
189, 201, 202, 203, 342, 533, 680, 68i, 699, 834, 911, 912,
960; Egan, 951, 970, 973; Egberts, 89, 132, 950, 956, 957,

INDEX OF NAMES.

961, 967, 968, 969; Egerton, 518, 519; Eggleston, 559;
Ehle, 621; Ehler, 573; Eidlitz, 450; Eights, 209, 213, 214,
267, 401, 407, 498, 620,669, 725. 946; Elbertsen, 295; Eld-
ridge, 567, 814; Elias, 621; Eliot, 39; Elis, 911; Elkins 13,
45. 458, 648, 706, 725, 775; Ellicott, 524; Elliott, 379,
429. 524, 737. 73s; Ellis, 119, 372, 617, 650; Ellison, 249,
267, 759, 760, 765; Ellmaker, 950; Ellsworth, 425, 736,
Elmendorf, 73, 212, 420, 648, 669, 731, 771, 835; Elmore,
639; Elsass, 854; Ely, 835; Embury, 761; Emerich, 919;
Emerson, 752, 961; Emery, 474, 832, 903; Emmet, 132,
134, 135, 141, 592, 945; Emmett, 706, 707; Emmons,
180, 220, 267, 333, 375; Emmott, 844; Emory, 218;
Emrick, 911; Enders, 934; Enearl, 950; Eneral, 971,
Engel; 652, 743, 805, 81 1, 818, 817, 820, 870; Engle-
hart, 91; English, 918; Ennis, 770, 941; Enos, 420; En
sign, 951; Erdmann, 748, Ericsson, 541; Ermand, 77,
646, 690; Erskine, 193; Ertle, 754; Ertzberger, 420; Erwin,
305, 781,892, 901, 903, 905, 906,910, 911; Esleeck, 525;
Esselslyn, 406; Estes, 377; Estway, 781, 789; Evans, 237,
410, 427, 477, 526, 592, 645, 940, 967, 977, 982; Evart, 940;
Evarts, 148, 161, 175, 180, 191, 212, 287; Everett, 168,
682, 685, 750; Evers, 355, 474, 477, 478, 559; Everts, 948;
Evertse, 10, 379, 519; Everlsen, 535, 633, 722; Evertson,
519, 535, 980; Ewen, i90;Ewings, 190; Emrigs, 818; Ey-
tinge, 705.
Earing Bros., 562; Easton & Co., C. P , 613; Eaton &
Kirchney, 448; Edson & Co., Cyrus, 559; Edwards &
Meads, 201; Edwards & Sturtevant, 189; Egberts & Bailey,
956; Eggleston & Mix, 559; Eidlitz, Richardson & Co., 450;
Ellis & Co., Edwin, 650; Elsacs & Phillev, 854; Ermand &
Co., 646; Evans & Bro., J. R., 645.

¦ Fabritius, 764; Faby, 479, 480; Fair, 450, 517; Fairbank,
235; Fairchild, 1 79, 443; Fairman, 718; Fairlee, 804, 813,843,
854,873,874,877,940; Fakle, 716; Falardean, 073 ; Fal-
ardo, 154; Fales, 575; Falke, 632, 906; Fanner, 367; Fargo,
319, 321; Farguchee, 817; Fanning, 829; Farley, 419, 478,
479; Farlin, 677; Farmer, 448; Farnham, 420, 704, 752;
Farnsworth, 422, 480, 519, 709, 711; Farr, 343, 785; Far-
rell, 337, 477, 519, 639, 980; Farren, 152; Farrington, 911;
Fasoldt, 641; Fassett, 93, 613, 614, 685, 744; Faulk, 154,
914,917,918,920; Faulke, 911; Faulkner, 704,784,960;
Faxton, 322, 323; Fay, 90, 210, 341, 713; Fayerweather,
605; Fayles, 476, 519, 712; Fearey, 605, 644; Fearing, 618;
Featherby, 639; Featherstonhaugh, 152, 153, 212, 214, 221,
973; Federick,92; Fegan, 212; Fellows, 92, 212, 399, 940, 972;
Felter, 92; Felthousen, 426; Feltman, 98, 99, 100, 102, 474,
641, 750; Fenn, 157; Fennelly, 212, 983, 997; Fenner, 278;
Fenton, n, 161, 216, 219, 306, 444, 753, 813; Fer, 426; Fergu
son, 211, 739, 882, 906, 926, 971,972; Fero,940; Feros, 935;
Ferrell, 972; Ferris, 616, 685, 686, 771, 914; Fessenden,
692, 744; Fetherly, 564, 841, 846, 847, 851; Fetter, 920;
Ffrance, 273; Fiddler, 558; Fidler, 556, 566; Field, 173,
558, 715, 996; Filkin, 802; Filkins, 171, 172, 230, 266,355,
361, 420, 425, 438, 712, 804, 808, 818, 819, 820, 823, 863;
Fillmore, 674, 715, 996; Finch, 230, 820, 854, 870, 871,
872, 873, 980; Fink, 91, 235, 518; Finley, 749; Finn, 106,
154, 521; Finneran, 755; Firman, 785; Fish, II, 150, 210,
278, 420, 443, 603, 712, 728, 785, 925, 947; Fischer, 804,
809; Fisher, 91, 154, 301, 302, 584, 677, 704, 763, 769, 817,
835, 841, 900, 928, 960, 988; Fisk, 173, 213, 243; Fitch, 30,
156, 226, 410, 436, 448, 479, 7U, 712, 788, 841, 853, 893,
900, 902, 906, 907, 910, 91 1 ; Fitchett, 491,988, 997; Fitts, 154;
Finney, 971; Fitzgerald, 100, 106, 638; Fitzpatrick, 109, 616,
754, 755. 973; Fitzsimmons, 478, 983; Flagen, 793; Flagg,
134,269,438,443.677, 708; Flagler, 103, 112, 113, 115,
210, 354, 742, 743, 781, 785, 892, 900, 905, 928; Flanagin,
987; Flanegan, 103; Fleischman, 213, 243, 740; Flems-
burgh, 817, 870, 871, 905, 906, 907; Fleming, 518; Fletcher,
3, 10, 253, 274, 379. 38l, 385. 386, 410, 638, 906, 950, 963,
971, 972; Flinn, 632, 699; Flint, 406, 817, 964;- Flodden,
825; Flood, 478; Floyd, 410, 424; Flud, 624; Flynn, 109,
no, in, 307, 479; Fodder, 972; Fogg, 613; Foland, 106,
478; Foley, 877; Folger, 175, 713; Foljamb, 750; Folsom,
613,688; Folts, 592; Fonda, 76, 209, 211, 354, 4°i> 402,
403, 406, 412, 413, 415. 523. 533. 534, 620, 647, 699, 855,
93i, 932, 934, 935, 939, 940, 95o, 970, 973. 9»5; Monday,
931; Fondey, 479, 592, 637; Foot, 261, 265, 268, 685 980;
Foote, 137, 143, 153; Forbes, 262; Forby, 420; Ford, 92,

216, 354, 437, 526, 621, 631, 646, 671, 749, 853, 897, 920,
922, 923, 924, 925, 926, 928, 975, 977; Forman, 987; For
rest, 704, 705; Forsyth, 355, 421, 526, 544, 621, 761, 888,
981, 997; Forsythe, 500; Fort, 643, 812, 834, 893, 899, 920,
935, 984, 989; Forth, 624; Foster, 158, 355, 430, 522, 527,
677, 749, 850, 945, 948, 967, 969, 980; Fotens, 605; Fowler,
88, 89, 211, 213, 233, 234, 526, 529, 531, 546,621,634,
681, 686, 687, 817, 850, 906, 956; Fox, 962, 989; Foy, 91,
116, 176; Fradenburgh, 765; Fradgley, 620; Fraley, 935;
Fraleigh, 935 ; Fraligh, 420; Francis, 306, 411; Frank, 562,
644; Franks, 474; Franklin, 38, 343, 392, 412, 436, 479,
674, 699, 718; Franquinet, 753; Frary, 375; Fraser, 626,
627, 647, 712, 977, 989, 992; Frasier, 785, 792; Frazer, 858,
988; Frazier, 789, 937; Fredenburg, 210; Fredenburgh,
213, 832, 835; Fredenhall, 424; Fredenrich, 474, 521, 564;
Frederick, 93, 94, 95, 96, 100, 101, 102, 356, 362, 364, 420,
425, 841, 843, 846, 848, 852, '855, 867, 869, 906; Fredericks,
840, 854; Frederickse, 272, 301, 463; Free, 519; Freeligh,
354; Freeman, 39, 209, 210, 213, 219, 221, 243, 439, 587,
605, 738, 880; Freemont, 217; Freer, 932; Fredendall, 710,
850, 854; Freidenrich, 639; Freighley, 872; Freleigh, 80,
945; Freligh, 210, 934, 948; Frelinghuysen, 771; Freltie,
931; Fremont, 174; French, 91, 354, 500, 567, 599, 647,
788,838, 852, 855, 975; Frey, 763; Freydendall, 846, 847,
849, 851; Freylinghausen, 703; Friday, 785, 789, 792, 854;
Friedendall, 845; Friedlander, 424, 710; Friedmann, 763;
Friednichte, 748; Frisbee, 558; Frisbie, 354, 420, 422, 790;
Frisby, 354, 428, 700, 715, 916, 971; Frink, 91, 119, 120,
817, 870, 871, 872, 874, 881, 887, 888, 956, 957, 958, 976;
Froment, 564; Frontenac, 3, 390; Frosser, 788; Frothing-
ham, 74, 92, 103, 152, 425, 439, 648, 681, 748, 860; Frost,
613, 632, 941, 942, 964; Fry, 76, 375, 611, 700, 722; Fryer,
90, 91, 367, 425, 526, 613, 614, 621, 840, 841, 843, 849, 859,
902; Fuhr, 420; Furbeck, 841, 892, 893, 906, 924; Fuller,
78, 90, 116, 118, 119, 120, 122, 354, 355, 420,438,450,
585, 729, 740, 838, 843, 848, 850, 853, 869, 892, 8oo, 901,
910, 912, 913, 916, 950, 951, 961, 968, 969, 973; Fulhngton,
872; Fulton, 15, 312, 363, 487, 749; Furmanr376; Futhier,
973; Fyne, 272.
Fairlie & Elsars, 854; Fassett & Co., 613; Fassett, Son
& Co., 613; Fassett & Washburn, 613; Fearey & Son, J.,
644; Fearey & Sons, T., 605; Ferris & Armour, 606;
Fiddler & Taylor, 558, 566; Fish & Bro., J., 603; Fisher,
J. & G, 960; Fitchett & Smith, 491 ;Fitzgerald & Son, E.,
638; Flud & Bochlowitz, 624; Fogg, Patten & Co., 613;
Fonda & Co., D. H., 647; Ford & Son, T. W., 631; Fort
& Son, P. V., 437, 643; Forth & Co., T. W., 624; Fraser,
Lockwood &Co., 647; Friel & Cosgro, 960; Frost & Dillen-
beck, A., 613; Friday & Sharp, 854; Fuller & Wheeler, 740;
Frink & Weston, 956.
Or
Gable, 467; Gaffers, 997; Gafney, 438; Gaffney, 685,
971; Gage, 89, 90, 106, 613, 832, 836, 846, 870, 871, 872,
873, 874, 881, 882, 883; Gaige, 874; Gaines, 461, 759; Gale,
652, 924, 925. 928, 947, 973. 975. 989. 99'; Gallager, 935;
Gallez, 100; Gallop, 910; Gallup, 73, 92, 120, 122, 152,
156, 354, 355, 420, 438, 441, 476, 477, 480, 485, 531,
613, 643, 788, 801, 804, 805, 814, 817, 818, 819, 820, 844,
870, 871, 872, 874, 876, 879, 880, 888, 902, 937; Galpin, 375,
376, 377; Gambell, 681; Gamble, 718, 860, 896; Gan
non, 93, 210, 651, 705; Gansevoort, 73, 126, 128, 129,
155, 156, 206, 210, 267 272, 292, 302, 391, 393, 396,
397, 399. 407, 409, 412, 4H, 415, 4i6, 418, 421, 441,
47i, 490, 5 '3, 520, 523, 524, 526, 528, 556, 620, 652,
670, 675, 685, 844; Gansvoort, 6, 353, 354; Gansvort,
127. 129; Garbutt, 212; Gardenier, 273, 429; Gardiner,
88, 145, 544, 761, 834, 879, 920, 996; Gardineer, 742; Gar-
dinier, 402, 593; Gardner, 89, 140, 159, 273, 281, 294,
331, 354, 406, 420, 55s, 621, 780, 805, 817, 84;, 851, 869,
900, 901, 904, 910, 920, 995, 996; Garfield, 102, 167, 531,
963; Garitt, 854; Garner, 938, 952, 954, 955; Garnsey, 621;
Garrahan, 980; Garrett, 322, 626, 643, 750; Garretson, 74,
764, 833; Garrison, 786, 900; Garrity, 651; Gasbeck, 92,
191; Gates, 6, 80, 268, 304, 394, 395, 397, 398, 399, 400,
414, 41.6, 650, 684, 744, 922, 979, 995; Gauff, 208, 209;
Gaus, 108, 109, 147, 711, 712; Gavin, 861; Gavit, 739,742,
744; Gavitt, 91; Gay, 604, 639, 738; Gaylor, 113, 115;
Gaylord, 333, 378, 720; Gazeley, 585; Geary, 92; Gebhard,
17; Gedney, 828, 832, 834, 839; Gee, 603; Geer, 116, 117,

xvm

INDEX.

118, 119, 120, 611, 632; Gemp, 188; Genge, 995; Genore'
968; Geoghan, 212; Geoghegan, no, 210; George, 721;
Geough, 752; Gerling, 428; Gerome, 738; Gerritse, 42,
155, 252, 272, 273, 463; Gerritse, 385; Gerritsen, 49, 71,
73, 294. 295, 380, 460, 462, 465, 611, 779, 825; Gerritzey,
273; Gesler, 907; Getman, 997; Getty, 154, 980, 987, 989;
Gibbs, 234, 355; Gibbons, 209, 354, 355, 434, 435, 492, 524,
525, 635, 639, 677, 780, 832, 923, 924, 925, 926, 927, 928,
937. 974, 975. 976. 981, 992, 997; Gibson, 137, 306, 417,
544, 613, 647, 740, 761, 960; Gick, S87; Gifford, 817, 870,
871, 874, 883, 926; Gilbert, 129, 273, 378, 422, 474, 533,
631, 782, 812, 958, 980, 995, 996, 997; Giles, 964; Gil
christ, 530, 598; Gildea, 973; Gilfret, 704; Gill, 534, 556,
567, 621, 635, 964; Gillespie, 91, 476, 612, 618; Gillet, 420,
940; Gillice, 643; Gilligan, 211; Gilliland, 417; Gilman,
968, 971, 972, 987; Gilmartin, 307; Gilmore, 971, 972; Gil-
mour, 618, 726; Gingrich, 988; Gips, 624; Giraty, 479;
Given, 156; Gladding, 599, 727; Glandorf, 254; Glass, 988,
995, 996; Glazier, 479; Gleason, 154, 420, 988; Glen, 42, 61,
29S, 354, 385, 4io, 412, 418, 440, 523, 528, 661, 933, 936;
Glenn, 273, 407; Glick, 785; Gloeckner, 335, 599, 639;
Goddard, 665; Goddell, 995 ; Godfrey , 1 79, 377, 424, 531, 704,
710, 782. 935, 996; Godkin, 180; Godwin, 477; Godyn, 13,
50; Goelet, 132; Goeway, 521; Goewey, 226, 230, 231,557,
641; Goetz, 119, 120, 121; Goff, 920, 963, 964, 971, 972;
Goffe, 647, 972; Goheen, 694; Golden,' 108, 109, 474, 475,
476; Golding,2i2; Goldsmidt, 743; Goldwaite, 420; Gomph,
601, 635, 744; Gonsalus, 100, 101; Gooch, 961; Goodell,
963; Goodenough, 879; Goodhue, 787; Goodfellow, 841,
844, 846, 852; Goodrich, 582,686; Goodwin, 152,371,477,
568, 575, 602; Goodyear, 441; Goold, 500, 531, 534, 593,
665, 676; Gorden, 237, 440; Gordon, 307, 354, 613, 749,
790, 901, 970; Gore, 936, 997; Gorham, 227, 243; Gorman,
355. 479. 480, 987; Gornay, 936; Gorsline, 688; Gorton,
934, 984; Gosman, 920; Gott, 354; Gouche, 305; Gough,
603; Gould, 120, 152, 159, 160, 164, 165, 169, 170, 177, 212,
476, 480, 493, 526, 532, 567, 621, 683, 698, 702, 758, 828,
928,961, 972; .Gourlay, 356, 619, 729, 730, 941; Gowey,
152, 636; Graef, 585; Grace, 958; Graham, 129, 134,
155, 226, 227, 289, 354, 677, 699, 810, 935; Grandjean,
113, 115; Grant, 80, 91, no, 112, 113, 115, 210, 258,
302, 35s, 39°, 396, 460, 506, 533, 703, 715, 716, 717,
721, 778, 850, 907, 923, 962, 968, 972, 973; Grange,
401; Granger, 361, 559, 640; Grass, 876; Grathen, 817;
Gratwick, 613; Graveline, 112, 212; Graveret, 826; Graves
|62, 597, 7j6, 7'7; Gray, 74, 77, 220, 335, 424, 594,
600, 601, 602, 620, 650, 690, 710, 728, 731, 733,
743, 749. 846, 850, 961, 964; Greeley, 375, 376, 686;
Green, 78, 210 213, 214, 215, 337, 420, 531, 785, 830, 831,
832, 834, 835, 836, 911, 914, 923, 926, 928, 975, 977; Greene,
«9, 213, 394, 477, 49'. 508, 532, 737, 972; Greenman, 322,
323, 562, 989; Greennay, 780; Greenwood, 727; Greer, 355,
603; Gregg, 99, 095; Gregory, 152, 153, 210, 211, 429,
477, 53o, 557. 558, 613, 637, 640, 651, 652, 714, 766, 832,
951, 957, 961, 963, 968, 981, 982, 983, 987; Gresser, 308;
Grey, 543, 727, 841, 844; Gridley, 281; Griffen, 607, 702
840, 928; Griffin, 90, 92, 102, 116, 118, 119, 120, 210, 364
377, 378, 424, 477, 521, 522, 708, 833, 834, 928, 952, 960,
962, 969, 971, 973, 997; Griffing, 153; Griffith, 227, 341,
596. 754; Gnggs, 77, 98, 100, 102, 103, 104, 106, 108, 100,
154. 173. 283, 355, 849, 850, 854, 863, 912, 913, 973; Grin.
nell, 493; Grismer, 861; Griswold, 540, 541, 613, 615, 647-
Groat, 844, 849, 879, 880, 931, 994; Groats, 840; Groenen-
dyke, 42, 156; Groesbeck, 969; Groosbeck, 793; Grosbeck
42, 125, 213, 273, 289, 420, 526, 531, 620, 636, 669, 906, 931
934. 935- 977; Grosbeek, 210, 526; Grogan, 106, 477 007'
Grote 846 848, 906, 935; Groom, 477; Groot, 295'
401; Gros, 693; Grose, 647; Gross, 642; Grosvenor, 136-
Urounds, 941; Grover, 141; Groves, 113, 115 116 ii8:
Grovesteen, 743; Grundhoeffer, 745 ; Grundy, 138; Grune!
wad, 172; Guest, 526; Guinan, 116, 638; Gulich, 898;
Oulnck, 899; Gunnison, 835, 927, 989; Gurdon, 879; Gurr
963; Guthrie, 153; Gutman, 153, 568, 655; Guy, 396, 587 '¦
Gwyrrne, 961, 970; Gysberse, 272; Gysbertse, 273.
Galpin & Cole 375; Galpin & Sturtevant, 376; Garner
& Co 952, 954; Garrett & Beck, 626, 643; Gay & Quimbv
639; Gaylord & Tucker, 378; Gee & VanSlyke, 603; Gi£
bons & Burhans 635; Gill & Campbell, 621; Gill, Cooper
Co WP- GfT6' ?W'e & C°"6l2> 6'8: GilmourP&
^•(6.l8^.ps & Co., E., 624; Goold & Co., James, 593;
Gott & Palmer, 554; Gould & Banks, 702; Gould & Co

Wm., 702; Gould, J. & T., 621; Gould & Olin, 170; Gour
lay & Co., J., 619; Grace & Co., Horace, 958; Gratwick &
Fryer, 613; Gray & Sprague, 650; Graves, Ball & Co., 597;
Gregory & Heller, 957; Greene & Mather, 491; Greer &
Sons, 603; Gregory & Bain, 637; Gregory & Co., 637;
Griffin, M. & E., 377, 378, 702; Griffin & Co., R. M., 377,
378; Griswold, Mattoon & Co., 615; Groesbeck & Belknap,
635; Groesbeck, W. & C. W., 621.
131
Hackett, 704, 705, 748; Haden, 498; Hadley, 172, 197,
308, 629; Hagadorn, 103, 655, 731, 782, 911, 919; Haga-
man, 420, 643; Hagedorn,i2i; Hageman, 928; Hagen,
920; Hague, 750; Hahnemann, 223; Haight, 573, 901,
902, 903; Hailes, 212, 214, 220, 221, 243, 594, 727; Haines,
467, 601. 635, 923, 927, 928; Hair, 427; Hakes, 785, 964;
Hale, 6, 121, 153, 170, 173, 174, 175, 179, 212, 214, 318,
354, 399. 441, 442, 444, 446, 485. 486, 523, 528, 556, 558,
620, 680, 682, 685, 791; Halcott, 740; Halenbeck, 415,509,
834; Haliday, 812; Hall, 10, 18, 19, 21, 141, 153, 212, 267,
301, 310, 354, 442, 641, 648, 664, 676, 691, 712, 742, 785,
823, 848, 849, 881, 915, 944, 971, 977, 984, 991, 997; Hal-
lam, 703; Hallen, 154, Hallenbake, 305; Hallenbeck, 90, 91,
210, 213, 293, 532, 788, 818, 841, 843, 844, 848, 851, 853, 859,
°°9> 877, 887, 892, 899, 900, 905, 906, 907, 910, 920, 931 ; Hal-
lers, 902; Halley, 619, 732, 744, 769, 774, 941, 942; Halpen,
102,103; Halpin, 104, 153, 755; Hafpine, 171, 172; Hals, 272;
Halsey, 874; Halstead, 832; Halsted, 311; Ham, 153, 832,
877; Hamil, 977; Hamilton, 7, 8, 76, 88, 92, 131, 132, 133,
141, 147. 1.53. 207, 262, 277, 286, 304, 324, 354, 440, 527,
554, 602, 632, 674, 708, 851, 927,963;Hamley, 686; Ham
lin, 581; Hammer, 718; Hammersley, 239; Hammond, 143,
156, 210, 236, 237, 268, 375, 402, 613, 677, 729, 770, 785,
817, 8S0, 984; tiancock, 366, 616; Hand, 103, 153, 155,
'73, '76, 179, 180, 181, 185, 210, 476, 613, 690, 835, 870,
871, 915 ; Handel, 743 ; Handl, 681; Handy, 897, 952;
Hane, 870, 871, 872; Haner, 304; Hanes, 832, 876, 881,
923, 924; Hanks, 976, 992; Hanlon, 585; Hanna, 307, 768;
Hannah, 155, 987; Hannan, 212; Hannay, 80, 102, 103,
104, 820, 922, 926, 927,928; Hanney, 872; Hannum, 977;
Hansbrough, 231; Hanse, 272, 273, 385; Hansen, 41, 42,
261, 410, 412, 490, 658, 660, 704, 750; Hanson, 38, 660;
Hanton, 970; Harbeck, 630; Harcourt, 96, 354, 475, 479,
677, 7io, 716; Harden, 304; Hardenburgh, 858; Hardie,
967; Hardin, 187, 273, 331, 378, 990, 996, 997; Hardy, 4,
379. 389. 686, 687, 980; Harens, 713; Harflinger, 562;
Hargrave, 557; Haring, 131; Harkley, 857, 874; Harlow,
2*1,474. 565; Harmense, 272, 273, 462; Harmesen, 655;
Harmon, 951, 962; 997; Harmons, 466; Harmony, 952,
953; Harnden, 318, 319, 320, 321; Harney, 306; Harnett,
475; Harper, 153, 156, 355, 605, 627, 628; Harrigan, 479,
647, 713, 983; Harrington, 186, 187, 772, 847, 848, 993,
997; Harris, 103, n4, 147, 148, 153, ,54, ISS, ,56, loo,
161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 197, 199, 200
217, 220, 234, 254, 268,, 280, 342, 355, 364, 425, 420, 440,
%l' %°' H5' f°' 4&I' 485' *?> 534. 592! 595, 635, 6$
675, 680, 681, 697, 711, 745, 788, 828, 881; Harrison, 132
137, 138, 142, 292- 554. 718, 950, 971; Harrower, 340, 785;
Hart, 89, 212, 474, 501, 502, 526, 536, 620, 717 738 710
806, 807, 840, 8V 848,5879,S9^;3934.977.79872,79374,^;
988; Hartdegen, 744; Harte, 440; Hartgers, 295 ; Hartley,
738, 987; Harthne, 96; Hartman, 854; Hartnell, 639, qqi;
Hartnett, 475, 564, 574; Hartsen, 520; Hartt, 626; Har-
tung, 164, 182, 187, 306; Hartwell, 343, 772, 926; Harvey,
926 980; Hascy 477, 521, 613, 614; Hasely, 407, 717, 740;
Haskell, 100, 108, 109, 212 337, 480, 564, 573, 7,6 Has!
key, 853; Haskins, 102, 108, 211, 214, 218, 480, 717; Hast
ings, 183, 364, 365, 376, 420, 475, 519, 521, 530, 531, 701,
934, 964; Haswell, 156, 268, 354, 699, 777, 789, 792, 793
794. 795. 870, 871, 872, 873, 876, 880, 989, 997; Hatch, 78
319, 9". 9'2; Hater, 385; Hathaway, 758, 813, 980, 982,
987; Halt, 153 728; Haverley, 112, 870, 873, 874, 880;
Haverly, 118, 809, 817, 8!8, 872, 883; Haven, 962; Ha-
yens, 211, 244, 587, 716, 872, 877, 996; Haverland; 80, 923;
Hawe, 594, 595. 596, 5?7! Hawes, 328, 332, 632, 752;
Hawkins, 342, 628; Hawfey, 153, 211, 243, 268, 376, 420
500, 516, 526, 614, 675, 679, 906, 928; Hawthorne, 179,
749; Hay, 415, 802, 951, 964, 972, 973; Hayden, 113, 116,
118, 119, 120,512, 973, 987; Haydn, 743; Hayes, 153, 179
243, 287, 699, 734, 752, 809, 920; Haynes, 80, 212, 355, 420,

INDEX.

xix

787, 914,926, 973; Hays, 212, 244, 677, 810, 814, 817, 906;
Hayward, 968, 988; Hazelius, 148, 772; Hazen, 341, 343,
375, 376, 439; Hazleton, 361, 420, 688, 829,. 836; Headlam,
343, 685; Headlum, 613; Healey, 121, 212; Heamstreet,
950; Heath, 394 399, 850, 861, 957, 962, 972, 995,
Heck, 843, 857, 869; Heckendon, 934; Heathcote, 255;
Heckman, 770; Hecock, 987; Hedges, 712; Hedrick, no;
Hedstrom, 925; Heemstraat, 940; Heeley, 729; Heenan,
187, 266; Hegeman, 209; Hein, 850, 869; Heinmiller, 378;
Heller, 899; Hellenbeck, 892; Hellicar, 872; Helligus, 420;
Helme, 211, 217, 266, 848, 850, 853, 855, 868, 869; Helmer,
416, 620; Helmrick, 971; Helno, 77; Hemon, 877; Hemp
stead, 156, 210, 213; Hemstrat, 931; Hemstreet, 770, 961;
Hemstraat, 304; Hench, 602; Henderson, 306, 754, 840,
845, 846, 851, 895; Hendrick, 77, 334, 335, 533, 726, 777,
791; Hendricks, 366; Hendrikse, 272, 273, 658; Hendrick -
sen, 295 ; Hendrickson, 163, 322, 349, 665, 899, 901 ; Hen
ley, 376, 377; Henly, 105, 377, 701; Hennessy, 764; Hen-
ningway, 643; Henratty, 687; Henrick, 101; Henry, 15,
9°, I33, '34. '38, 200, 261, 262, 286, 319, 322, 354, 365,
399. 441, 443. 554. 620, 640, 650, 679, 683, 684, 686, 704,
742; Hepinsall, 526; Herb, 377; Herbert, 474; Herbertsen,
294; Herkimer, 6, 397; Hermance, 354, 567, 907; Hermans,
526, 567; Heron, 376, 705, 784, 911, 996; Herrick, 98, 117,
153. !56. !72, 353, 355. 477, 605, 634, 835, 880; Her
ring, 526, 621; Herrington, 212; Hersberg, 153, 789;
Hertill, 764; Hertz, 599, 639; Hervey, 438; Hess, 153,438,
757, 780, 905, 911, 917, 921; Hessberg, 485; Heth, 705;
Heugh, 273; Heusted, 647 ; Hevenor, 153 ; Hewetson,
413; Hewitt, 850; Hewson, 307; Heyden, 115 272;
Heyliger, 673; Heywocd, 153; Hickey, 747; Hickox, 335,
744; Hicks, 265, 599, 639, 789, 902, 980; Hidley, 601, 635,
743; Hifford, 308; Higgins, 113, 115, 116, 156, 480, 676,
738, 906, 972, 989; Hilderbrant, 792; Hiidreth, 139, 257;
Hill, n, 140, 145, 146, 147, 153, 193, 197, 276, 287, 444,
478, 581, 613, 638, 651, 704, 736, 919, 970, 987, 988; Hiller,
967, 972, 973; Hillebrant, 274; Hillhouse, 80, 90, 97, 328,
332, 429, 675, 686, 936, 945, 948; Hilligas, 620; Hillis,
153, 154, 980; Hills, 476, 477, 479, 480, 481, 485, 526,
935- 951. 957. 963. 969. 973. 987. 997; Hilson, 858;
Hilton, 92, 95, 127, 306, 330, 336, 337, 346, 582, 590, 592,
593,. 714, 784, 790, 810, 811, 820, 840, 841, 843, 844, 848,
849, 850, 854, 867, 869, 873, 879, 880, 890, 904, 906; Hinck-
el> 557. 559. 560; Hinckle, 782; Hinckley, 80, 210, 213,
420,817, 830, 831, 835, 923; Hinckcliff, 971; Hindman,
697; Hine, 708; Hines, 964, 995; Hinman, 74, 394,914,
997; Hinley, 751; Hiscock, 160, 183, 307; Hitchcock, 89,
420, 813, 814, 840, 928, 951, 967, 968, 972, 980, 989; Hitt,
153, 485, 632, 716; Hoag, 278, 744; Hoagkirk, 401; Hoar,
161; Hobbs, 427; Hobart, 130, 131, 261; Hockridge, 987;
Hockwell, 338; Hockstrasser, 621, 670, 801, 802, 805, 810,
817, 818, 820, 876; Hodge, 562, 749; Hodgeman, 943;
Hodgsett, 716; Hodgson, 882, 968; Hoes, 902; Hoesem,
385; Hoey, 306; Hoff, 211, 217, 424; Hoffendahl, 223; Hoff
man, 11, 113, 115, 133, 140, 141, 170, 216, 358, 373, 376,
441, 442, 444, 450, 557, 567, 628, 641, 650, 681, 708,
709, 717, 740, 760, 763, 938, 987; Hogan, 88, 272,
354, 401, 407, 478, 519, 655, 687, 716, 717, 742, 752,
792, 793, 799, 832, 833, 934; Hogeboom, 273, 286,
354; Hogel, 708; Hoghkerks, 582; Hoit, 212, 688, 997;
Holbrook, 188, 651, 728, 833, 972, 987; Holcomb, 354;
Holderness, 392; Holding, 748; Holdridge, 420, 819, 988;
Holie, 272; Holland, 41, 42, 156, 321, 348, 657, 660, 705,
760, 840, 997; Hollands, 154, 378, 983, 990; Hollenbeck,
355,921; Holler, 120; Holley, 524, 541; Holliday, 793,
890,900,902, 904; Hollister, 913, 950; Holloway, 771;
Holly, 443; Holmes, 208, 340, 420, 585, 587, 669, 728, 770,
771, 785, 788, 828, 832, 834, 835, 836, 840, 843, 869, 900,
926, 927, 935, 964,988; Holsapple, 957, 963; Holstein, 376,
628; Holt 597; Home, 845, 846; Homer, 675,982; Homes,
153,440; Hone, 677; Hood, 641; Hooftyling, 273 ; Hoofty-
lingh, 274; Hoogabome,oo3; Hooges, 51; Hooghtind, 190;
Hoogkirk, 407; Hoogtaling, 777, 892; Hook, 964; Hooker,
376,529,604,704,740,759,764; Hooper, 712; Hoosett,49;
Hooster, 903; Hoskins, 105, 607, 632, 648, 652, 690, 729,
977, 985; Horan, 480, 987; Horer, 919; Horne, 697; Hor-
nell, 665; Horner, 343, 537, 567, 637; Horrobin, 959; Hor-
rocks, 956, 971, 972; Horsey, 619; Horsford, 650; Horth,
642,934; Horton, 226, 603, 703, 851; Hosford, 341, 376,
700; Hosmer, 638; Hotaling, no, 113, 114, 116, 118, 153,
156, 198, 306, 355, 428, 647, 785, 788, 789, 793, 800, 828,

829, 832, 849, 892, 894, 900, 902, 905, 907; Hotan, 841;
Hotchkiss, 550, 613; Hotchstrassee, 354; Houck, 100, 156,
652, 798, 872, 873, 892, 893, 894, 899, 901, 904, 906, 900;
Houghtaling, 210, 354, 415, 420, 702, 800, 827, 894, 910;
Houghton, 841, 873, 906, 952; Houlehan, 973; Hourigan,
153; Houce, 987; House, 41, 154, 926, 968, 970, 973;
Houten, 46; Houseman, 593; Howard, 190, 320, 558, 560,
567. 726, 813, 841, 842, 972; Howarth, 971; Howe, 6, 205,
226, 375, 390, 429, 525, 581, 621, 697, 728, 841, 846, 900,
911, 960, 967, 973; Howell, 635, 736, 963, 964; Howlett,
750; Hoxie, 478, 559, 566; Hoy, 582, 605; Hoystradt, 710;
Hoyt, 102, 103, 430, 478, 501, 502, 635, 699, 787, 861, 901,
963; Hoxie, 717; Hubbard, 154, 373, 527, 914, 918, 950,
068, 973, 980; Huberdeault, 757, 758; Hubbell, 613, 614,
801, 804, 838; Hubbert, 764; Huber, 424, 477, 478, 574,
710, 716; Huddleston, 213, 256; Hudson, 1, 29, 43, 44, 48,
154, 310, 371, 450, 458, 944; Huested, 211, 221, 244; Hufe-
land, 223; Huggins, 694; Hughes, 305, 308, 568, 571, 704,
748, 750, 754, 755, 788; Hughson, 613, 936; Hulbert, 74,
'53. '55. 424. 426. 429. 562, 769; Hull, 212, 399, 828, 829,
832,834, 835; Hulsapple,977,983; Hume, 963; Humphrey,
89, 209, 210, 213, 268, 354, 474, 524, 526, 531, 534, 637,
638, 664, 716, 750, 841, 960, 970; Hun, 116, 121, 153, 164,
209, 210, 211, 213, 215, 219, 220, 221, 222, 235, 247, 354,
401, 403, 429, 469, 671, 678, 680, 687, 790, 843; Hund, 968;
Hunderman, 781; Huner, 841; Hungerford, 100, 102, 153,
210, 355, 420, 615, 801, 812, 817, 819, 820, 841, 870, 871,
873; Hunt, II, 112, 113, 115, 319, 443, 541, 542, 613, 737,
738, 746, 832, 838; Hunter, 4, 37, 103, 206, 253, 274, 376,
379, 382, 387, 485, 53«. 532. 584. 587. 607, 608, 613, 643,
644, 707, 728, 911; Hunting, 226, 244, 874, 879, 881;
Huntingdon, 739, 769; Hurcombe, 377, 517; Hurdis, 90,
91, 599; Hurley, 751, 834; Hurlburt, 654, 664; Hurst, 329,
336, 474, 782, 793, 870, 871, 905; Husen, 869; Hussey, 632,
639, 716; Husted, 924, 996; Hustes, 402; Hutman, 647;
Hutchings, 153; Hutchins, 375, 377; Hutchinson, 103, 231,
495, 589, 844, 846, 918, 920; Hutt, 320, 785; Hutton, 529,
621, 722, 940, 983; Huybertz, 273; Huyck, 420, 791, 829,
831, 832, 833, 839, 914, 916, 919,928, 931; Hyatt, 474, 476,
477,498, 567, 597. 598: 599. °'3. 704. 7n; Hyde, 109, 209,
213, 308, 379, 916, 927, 928, 995; Hydeman, 624; Hyed-
man, 928; Huyland, 213; Hynes, 997; Hyndman, 88, 89,
928. Hagaman & Co., W., 643; Hallenbeck & Bloomindale,
853; Haines & Bro., 601; Haines & Co., 635; Hale &
Bulkley, 173; Hale & Smith, 173; Hand & Babbitt,
613; Hand & Hale, 173, 179; Hand, Hale & Buckley,
173; Hand, Hale & Swartz, 173, 179; Hand, Hale,
Swartz & Fairchild, 173, 179; Hawer & Baker, 946;
Harris Brothers, 960; Harnden & Co., 319, 320, 321;
Hart & Hoyt, 501; Hart & Smith. 536; Hatch & Co.,
Geo., 319; Hawley & McNamara, 153; Hazen & Carson,
376; Hazen & Son, J. T., 340; Headlum & Son, W., 613;
Heermans, Rathbone & Co., 567; Hemingway & Co., H.
F., 643; Henry & Co., 319; Henry, McClallen & Henry,
620; Henry, Palmer & Newton, 554; Heron, Furmen &
Thornton, 376; Herrick & Freeman, 605; Herrick & Os
borne, 634; Hickey, Downing & Curley, 747; Hill & Co.,
Thomas, 613; Hill, Cagger & Porter, 147, 173; Hill & San-
ford, 613; Higbie, Hammond & Co., 613; Hoffman & Potts,
567; Holbrook & Taylor, 987; Holt, J. & C. B., 597; Hor-
ner & Sparhawk, 637; Horrocks & Van Benthuysen, 956;
Hosford, E. & E., 650, 700; Hosford & Wait, 376; Hotal
ing & Saxton, 647; Houck & Trenhard, 831; Howard &
Ryckman, 558, 560; Hubbell & Hill, 613; Hubbell & Keith,
838; Huber & Hartnett, 574; Hudson & Godwin, 371;
Hughson & Co., 613; Humphrey & Co., 637, 638; Hum
phrey & Lansing, 638; Hunter & Hoffman, 376; Hunter &
Son, G., 613; Hutton, I. & G., 621; Huyck & Co., J. C,
791; Huyck & Dorman, 831; Huyck & Son, 831; Huyck
& Morris, 831; Huyck & Morris, J. L., 613; Hyatt & Co.,
597- I
Ide, 745, 749 ; Ilishan, 562, 736, 763; Ilpendam, 295,
582; Ilsley, 743; Imbrie, 91, 788, 793; Imrie, 153, 562; In-
galls, 923, 924, 927, 928; Ingersoll, 934; Ingham, 212; In-
glis, 657; Ingoldsby, 4, 10, 41, 379, 385, 386, 387; Ingra
ham, 211, 420, 647, 892, 894, 901, 908; Inman, 738; Irland,
936; Irons, 817; Isbell, 861; Irvin, 307, 841; Irving, 673;
Ives, 629, 952; Izard, 8.

INDEX.

Jackson, 78, 137, 138, 174, 305, 373, 376, 413, 4i9i 426,
442, 443, 572, 585, 616, 715, 717, 725, 844, 849, 892, 895,
900, 906, 907, 972; Jacobs, 193, 319, 320, 326, 466, 654,
706; Jacobse, 272, 273, 462, 519; Jacobsen, 294, 295, 582;
Jacobson, 841, 844, 846, 847; Jacques, 330; Jaeger, 750;
Jagger, 780, 791; Jaques, 66, 327; James, 209, 214, 345, 375,
376, 430, 500, 524, 525, 533, 534, 566, 601, 602, 611, 620, 640,
686, 726, 737, 769, 770, 948; Janes, 354, 740, 780, 793, 825;
Jans, 658; Janse, 272, 273, 274, 385; Jansen, 51, 294, 295,
650, .825 ; Jardine, 712; Jarvis, 606, 792, 921; Jay, 11, 130,
131, 133, 302, 420. 443, 444; Jaycox, 925; Jeffers, 120; Jeffer
son, 135, 599, 703, 707, 835,987; Jeffrey, 744, 749; Jencks,
657, 924, 928; Jenkins, 78, 133, 153, 267, 286,-287, 354, 355,
500, 525, 526, 528, 530, 621, 622, 662, 716, 790, 912, 913,
916, 968; Jenks, 88, 210, 305, 924, 928; Jennings, 186;
Jennison, 624; Jenny, 424; Jermain, 80, 116, 376, 519, 526,
534, 621, 632, 728, 732, 936, 942, 983; Jermein, 153; Jer
vis, 677; Jessop, 467; Jessup, 416, 613; Jewell, 648; Jewett,
281, 843; Job, 621; Jochimse, 273; Jacobi, 763; Jogues,
750; Johnson, 4, 36, 39, 40, 41, 43, 75, 91, 92, 93, 118, 120,
135. ^37: 153, 155. :59> l6°, l84, 209, 211, 230, 257, 261,
262, 268, 281, 305, 320, 321, 323, 345, 354, 359, 362, 375,
376, 388, 389, 392> 396, 399. 407, 410, 4", 414, 420, 443.
444. 474. 475. 476, 480, 495. 5'9. 531. 570, 601, 650, 655,
689, 690, 726, 743, 759, 761, 765, 771, 795, 828, 832, 835,
838, 839, 848, 855, 879, 882, 907, 910, 017, 942, 949, 938,
951, 952, 955, 963, 964, 971, 973, 984, 985; Johnston, 319,
324, 621, 951, 953, 956, 959, 961, 967, 968, 969, 971; Joice,
841; Jolly, 75, 780, 785, 789, 833, 839; Jolley, 336, 832,
834; Jones, 90, 91, 132, 182, 212, 226, 261, 262, 324, 427,
535. 572, 603, 613, 635, 647, 687, 699, 735, 749, 752, 780,
817, 882, 879, 899, 923, 924, 951, 958, 984, 987, 977;
Jordan, 160; Joris, 10; Jonse, 46; Joshlin, 420, 811, 914;
Jost, 853; Joy, 341, 526; Joyce, 845; Judd, 78, 790, 895;
Judge, 474, 475, 476, 477, 485, 626; Judson, 89, 90, 156,
173, 180, 190, 474, 476," 477, 478, 479, 521, 526, 527, 532,
534. 546, 564. 613, 621, 665, 666, 675, 690, 912; Jump,
688, 733; June, 847; Jury, 273.
Jacobs & Procter, 654 ; James & Vail, 620 ; Johnston &
Reilly, 621, 624 ; Jones & Colvin, 838, 839 ; Jones & Co., 613;
Jones & Goynes, 960 ; Jones & Ryan, 958 ; Jones & Sons,
J. M., 992 ; Judson, Parsons & Haskell, 564.
is:
Kahl, 562 ; Kaley, 843, 869 ; Kalm, 37, 300, 485, 496, 506,
5I2> 5'3, 6n ; Kampfer, 153, 557 ; Kanary, 102 ; Kane, 89,
119, 120, 210, 309,326, 509, 524, 621 ; Kane, 655, 657,769,
929 ; Karslake, 613 ; Kash, 934 ; Kautz, 699 ; Kaut, 900 ;
Kavanaugh, 98 ; Kay, 106, 108, 308 ; Kays, 906 ; Kean,
103, 476, 704, 996 ; Kearnan, 756 ; Kearney, 93, 279, 355,
356, 474. 476, 5!9> 521, 557. 676; Keating, 717, 995 ; Keay,
212 ; Keays, 109 ; Kee, 308 ; Keeble, 705 ; Keefer, 74, 94,
832, 839, 840; Keegan, 113, 115, 116, 118, 221, 244;
Keeler, 74, 89, 156, 189, 190,365, 438, 474, 479, 480, 611,
643, 651 ; Keenan, 970, 983, 987 ; Keenholts, 881, 901 :
Keenholtz, 92, 94, 841, 847, 848, 849, 870, 872, 873, 940;
Keeley, 755 ; Keely, 754 ; Keep, 324 ; Keese, 760 ; Keeven,
426 ; Reiser, 716 ; Keith, 255, 642, 839 ; Kelchar, 635 ;
Kelcher, 699 ; Kelder, 841 ; Kelderhouse, 850 ; Keller, 828
834, 839 ; Kelley, 103, 153, 355, 420, 439, 613, 614, 834,
987 ; Kellogg, 173, 493, 567, 744, S76, 959 ; Kelly, 98, 113,
305, 343, 344, 356, 587, 620, 626, 635, 699, 753, 754, 75S)
812, 848, 849, 877, 969, 970, 987, 988 ; Kelsey, 589, 749,
914, 918, 985, 989 ; Kelso, 92, 93 ; Kemble, 704 ; Kemmey,
797 ; Kemp, 601, 936 ; Kendall, 322 ; Kendrick, 92, 528,
530, 969 ; Kennard, 750 ; Kenneally, 102, 103, 424 ; Ken-
near, 108 ; Kennedy, 101, 119, 120, 227, 305, 346, 356, 427,
475, 476, 477, 533, 567, 688, 771, 784, 973 ; Kennev, 963 ;
Kenny, 582 ; Kent, 136, 138, 154, 261, 267, 441, 686 ;
Kenyon, 613, 646, 761 ; Kernan, 175 ; Kershow, 899 ;
-Kerslake, 993; Ketcham, 765, 854, 876 ; Ketchum, 558,
613, 873, 874, 940 ; Ketelheyn, 272, 273 ; Kettelhuyn, 295 ;
Kettletas, 768 ; Keveny, 964, 965, 973 ; Keyes, 269, 377,
699 ; Keys, 694 ; Kial, 750 ; Kibbe, 612 ; Kibbee, 480, 614 ;
KirJd, 14, 232, 356, 382, 438, 476, 477, 519, 550, 624, 731 ;
Kidney, 414, 417 ; Kieft, 2, 3, 10, 46, 47, 49. 54, 55. 67, 68,
271 ; Kiegan, 212 ; Kielyey, 92, 485 ; Kiernan, 491 ; Kier-
stede, 295 ; Kilboume, 212 ; Kilby, 989 ; Kilderhouse, 789 ;

Kilgour, 993; Killan, 304; Kilmer, 179, 211, 792; Kim
ball, 91, 153, 163,424, 425, 480, 515, 744, 945 ; Kimberly,
977, 985, 986; Kimmey, 95, 96, 97, 336, 354, 777, 780, 785,
788, 79°, 793.8oo, 837 ; King, n, 91, 123, 136, 142, 152,
153, 160, 261, 266, 267, 302, 306, 344, 410, 443, 444, 5l8,
519, 526, 527, 529, 546, 592, 603, 613, 621, 640. 675, 690,
7l5,7l6,75o, 758, 817, 934, 972, 980; Kingsbury, 527,
593, 546, 691 ; Kingsley, 412, 424, 450, 479, 710, 715, 716 ;
Kinnear, 474, 594, 597, 598, 599, 726 ; Kinney, 310, 790,
985 ; Kip, 125, 153, 273, 735, 760, 870 ; Kipp, 871 ;
Kirchner, 108 ; Kirchney, 153, 448 ; Kirk, 556, 557, 558,
559, 632, 733. 769, 896, 947, 987 ; Kirkland, 36, 39, 77,261,
384, 408, 892 ; Kirkpatrick, 106, 108, IC9, 559 ; Kirtland,
479 ; Kissam, 784, 834, 894 ; Kisselburg, 364 ; Kitchner,
124; Klein, 756 ; Klien, 748 ; Kline, 962; Kloett, 932;
Klomp, 295 ; Kloek, 385, 854, 881 ; Knap, 402 ;
Knapp, 245, 320, 426, 556, 650, 730, 750, 928,
941; Knauff, 208, 209, 213; Kneeland, 764; Knell,
895 ; Knickerbacker, 406, 469, 989 ; Knickerbocker, 200,
213, 642, 645, 685 ; Kniffen, 926, 968 ; Knight, 589, 931 ;
Knights, 170 ; Knieskem, 801, 802, 809, 810, 812, 873, 880 ;
Kniskem, 817, 876 ; Knower, 440, 442, 500, 529, 531, 534,
621, 854, 952. 991, 997 ; Knowles, no, in, 112, 355, 868,
927, 928; Knowlson, 997; Knowlton, 211, 559, 623, 848 ;
Knott, 116, 957 ; Knox, 77, 425 ; Koch, 745 ; Koecher, 708;
Koen, 777 ; Koeterer, 756; Koeymans, 611, 825,826, 827;
Konnings, 274 ; Koonz, 91, 92, 94, 95, 96, leg, 474, 624 ;
Koonze, 108 ; Kosciusko, 15 ; Koyman, 385 ; Koymans, 825 ;
Kossuth, 546, 547 ; Krank, 153, 427, 479, 716, 748 ; Kreis-
kem, 874 ; Kresser, 94, 95, 756 ; Kirchner, 559 ; Kriechke-
beeck, 46 ; Krien, 562 ; Krol, 46, 49 ; Krum, 862 ; Krumb-
holz, 153 ; Krutz, 613, 646 ; Kshinka, 103, 104, 153, 355 ;
Kuehn, 763 ; Kunholtz, 841 ; Kyte, 632, 753, 983, 984.
Kane Bros., 671 ; Kane, J. & A., 621 ; Kearney &
McQuade, 557 ; Kelchar & Wood, 635 ; Kelley & Co., J. B.,
613 ; Kellogg & Hale, 173 ; Ketchum, Scott & Simpson,
613 ; Ketchum & Sons, R., 613 ; Kenyon & Winne, 613 ;
King & Co., R. H., 621 ; Kingsbury & Whitehead, 593.

Labadie, 46, 295 ; Labagh, 809 ; Lacey, 210, 747, 759,
760 ; Lackey, 304 ; Lacy, 149, 534, 633, 726, 727 ; Ladd,
651 ; Ladu, 997 ; Ladue, 988 ; La Fayette, 751, 979 ; La
fayette, 644, 652, 714 ; La Grand, 869 ; Lagrange, 212,
272, 894 ; La Grange, 403, 777, 841, 842, 843, 844, 845,
846, 847, 848, 849, 850, 859, 891, 905, 906, 907,910 ; Lain-
court, 609, 612 ; Lainhart, 869, 843 ; Laird, 834 ; La Jeun-
esse, 744, 755 ; Lake, 430, 857, 872, 926 ; Lamb, 91, 92,
100, 102, 103, 153, 211, 394, 907, 923, 924, 925, 938, 956,
968, 980 ; Lambert, 273, 498, 928, 973 ; La Montagne, 46,
69 ; La Monte, 624 ; L'Amoreaux, 129, 155, 526, 831, 832,
834, 839 ; Lamoreux, 420 ; La Mountain, 973 ; Lamoure,
212; La Moure, 91, 116, 119, 120, 214, 244; Lamphere,
892, 903 ; Lampman, 420 ; Lamprey, 140 ; Lanahan, 478,
479, 512, 596 ; Lancaster, 694; Landers, 188 ; Landolt,
242 ; Landon, 950, 968, 971, 972, 987 ; Landrum, 872 ;
Lane, 306, 977, 980 ; Lanehart, 841, 848, 849, 851, 997 ;
Lang, 371 ; Langdon, 490, 979 ; Lansing, 7, 42, 88, 89,
no, in, 112, 125, 129, 131, 132, 133, 134, 143, 153, 154,
155, 187, 207, 211, 212, 219, 220, 234, 236, 267, 268, 272,
273, 278, 283, 343, 354, 357, 401, 402, 403, 405, 406,
408, 409, 412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 418, 439, 441, 442, 447,
463, 465, 469. 479. 49°. 498, 499. 520, 521, 523, 526, 527,
528, 531, 533, 534, 573, 575, 589, 624, 626, 638, 640, 661,
662, 664, 669, 671, 672, 683, 685, 690, 699, 710, 712, 728,
734, 735. 739. 784. 791. 841, 879, 899, 900, 901, 905, 910,
93i, 932, 934. 935. 937. 938. 940, 943, 944, 945, 948, 950,
951, 957, 961, 963, 967, 968, 969, 972, 973, 976, 983, 988,
996, 997 ! Lansingh, 155, 212, 354; Lanson, 832 ; Lapaugh
921, 925, 926, 928; Lapham, .613; La Porte, 756, 757,
758 ; Larabee, 331, 425, 563 ; Laraway, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98 ;
Larcom, 977 ; Larrison, 309 ; Lark, 632 ; Larkin, 156,
973 ; La Rose, 593 ; La Salle, 965, 966 ; Lasell, 968 ;
Lasch, 106, 108, 118, 119, 121, 651 ; Lascher, 212, 788, 792,
796, 800, 832, 834, 835, 840, 849 ; Latham, 331, 450, 476,
477, 521, 634, 923, 935 ; Lathrop, 208, 209, 438, 526, 527,
575. 576, 577. 578, 593. 630, 652, 690, 729, 901 ; Latta,
420, 903, 904, 906 ; Lattimer, 341 ; Lattimore, 725 ; Lau
der, 573 ; Lauer, 853 ; Laughlin, 478 ; Lause, 272, 274 ;

INDEX.

xxi

Lautman, 402 ; Lauton, 829 ; La Velenure, 751 ; Laven-
tall, 624, 676; Law, 169; Lawders, 308; I.awler, 603,
647 ; Lawlor, 705 ; Lawless, 91, 118 ; Lawrence, 261, 324,
726, 744, 820, 907, 955, 956, 977, 984, 989, 992, 997 ; Law-
renssen, 611 ; Lawson, 80, 153, 180, 685, 691, 765, 817,
819, 834, 903, 927 ; Lawton, 156, 828, 832, 839 ; Lawyer,
210, 420, 621, 860 ; Lay, 210, 854, 925, 927, 928 ; Layman,
920 ; Leach, 176 ; Leadings, 305 ; Leake, 357, 359, 406,
568, 641, 704, 745, 872 ; Learned, 103, 114, 153, 155, 169,
170, 171, 172, 181, 532, 533, 568, 680, 682, 685, 686, 689,
699, 735, 976, 977 5 Leavy, 307 ; Le Bceuf, 736, 910, 969 ;
Le Breton, 625 ; Le Bron, 952 ; Leckey, 971 ; Le Coul-
teaux, 750, 751 ; Leddy, 305, 607 ; Lederer, 92; Ledger,
637 ; Leduce, 986 ; Lee, 6, 79, 176, 188, 337, 338, 339, 394,
411, 423, 426, 532, 533, 543, 573, 690, 731, 818, 870, 871,
873. 875, 911, 941, 973 ; Leenderse, 273 ; Lefevre, 641, 642 ;
Lefferts, 957, 960,972 ; Leffers, 971 ; Lefler, 811 ; Le Galley,
716 ; LeGallez, 595, 717 ; Legget, 334, 793, 811, 820, 960 ;
Le Grange, 199 ; Leh, 870, 871 ; Leik, 873 ; Leisler, 3, 10,
379, 381, 385, 448 ; Leland, 652, 654, 705, 716 ; Lelie,
877 ; Lemley, 861 ; Le Mair, 708 ; Ledrum, 887 ; Lenne-
backer, 354; Lennenbacker, 934; Lennox, 711, 892, 960,
973 ; Lent, 558 ; Leonard, 98, 210, 213, 526, 604, 634, 635,
640, 749. 772, 861, 910, 933, 962 ; Le Roy, 355, 951, 956,
967, 968, 969 ; Lesage, 756, 757, 758 ; Leslie, 93, 305, 376,
521, 830 ; Lester, 912, 913 ; Leivens, 272 ; Levy, 603 ;
Lewi, 118,211, 214, 244; Lewis, n, 136, 179, 201, 212,
261, 372, 377, 395. 399. 420, 443, 447, 651, 699, 737, 739,
792, 943, 996 ; L'Hommedieu, 261, 336 ; Liddle, 355 ;
Liesler, 658 ; Lieverse, 950 ; Liew, 853 ; Lightbody, 641 ;
Lightfoot, 476 ; Lighthall, 961 ; Liewis, 385 ; Lilenthal,
624 ; Lincoln, 9, 78, 148, 210, 216, 239, 284, 374, 399, 423,
53°, 54i, 553, b5°. 7'5. 736, 737. 9". 912. 9'8, 977 ; Lind,
546, 743 ; Lindon, 743 ; Lindsay, 156, 345 ; Lindsley, 835,
895 ; Link, 967 ; Linn, 261, 771 ; Linter, 267, 881 ; Lipman,
624, 699 ; Liscomb, 566 ; Lisk, S32, 835 ; Lister, 928 ; Liston,
230 ; Litchfield, 153, 156, 354 ; Litner, 30, 31, 32, 691, 735 ;
Litschoe, 62 ; Little, 80, 366, 557, 592, 702 ; Littlefield, 568,
690, 900, 997 ; Littlejohn, 742, 743 ; Littleton, 196 ; Liverse,
931 ; Livingston, 15, 42, 88, 89, 124, 125, 130, 131, 132,
136, 155. !56, 235, 261, 262, 273, 290, 312, 319, 320, 321,
323. 327. 335. 336, 354, 381, 38S. 389. 394, 398. 399. 406,
407, 410, 411, 412, 416, 418, 420, 447, 463, 488, 523, 529,
574, 622, 635, 640, 643, 651, 659, 668, 677, 679, 738, 771,
808, 840, 841, 843, 846, 847, 848, 849, 851, 852, 861, 864,
890, 995 ; Lloyd, 581, 584, 593, 743, 744, 893, 894, 904,
907 ; Loam, 987; Loatwall, 420; Lobdell, 805, 923, 924,925,
975, 980, 982, 984, 989, 991, 993 ; Lochner, 643 ; Locke,
135 ; Lockhart, 205 ; Lockhead, 961 ; Lockley, 710 ; Lock-
row, 427,941 ; Lockwood, 212, 599, 647, 749, 769, 854, 879,
923, 924, 926, 991 ; Lodeman, 829; Lodewick, 402 ; Lodge,
425, 715, 744 5 Loese, 272 ; Loew, 440 ; Loe.teridge, 467 ;
Lomas, 79, 338, 378 ; Lomax, 763, 764 ; Lombard, 648 ;
Long, no, 153, 395,481, 485, 793, 820, 841, 892, 902, 906 ;
Longley, 961, 971 ; Loockermans, 295 ; Look (Luke), 401 ;
Lookermans, 54, 272, 273 ; Loomis, 158, 179, 526, 527, 700,
924, 987, 995 : Lord, 98, 103, 104, 234, 613, 626, 650, 688,
710, 766, 772 ; Lorimer, 749 ; Lorman, 987 ; Losee, 212, 406,
613; Lossing, 92, 312; Lotridge, 490; Lott, 180; Loucks,
153, 632, 777, 785, 832, 892, 904, 936, 910, 927 ; Loudon,
389, 700, 936 ; Loughlin, 952 ; Loughran, 601 ; Louns-
bury, 819, 912 ; Lourenzen, 295 ; Love, 750 ; Lovelace, 3,
4, 10, 74, 252, 379, 380, 393, 825, 891 ; Loveland, 612, 618;
Lovell, 640, 926 ; Loveridge, 309, 376, 655, 657 ; Lovett,
156, 421, 441, 526, 532, 534 ; Low, 104, 106, 108, 209, 210,
213, 420, 567, 568, 737, 738, 848 ; Lowe, 354, 635, 848,
855 ; Lowenstein, 171, 172, 177, 308 ; Lowrey, 966, 973 ;
Lowenthal, 960; Lowry, 179; Loyd, 788; Lozier, 677;
Luby, 438, 479, 600 ; Lucas, 970 ; Lucase, 272, 273 ; Luce,
880 ; Luckey, 810, 987 ; Ludden, 378, 596, 754, 811, 817,
843, 854, 857, 869, 876, 881 ; Luddy, 969 ; Ludington, 691;
Ludlow, 686, 768, 771 ; Ludrum, 873 ; Ludwig, 712 ; Luke,
554, 777, 9°5> 9°6 ; Lundergan, 947, 997 ; Luscom, 344 ;
Lush, 91, 129, 155, 156, 353, 354, 413, 469. 513. 525. 520>
528, 640, 671, 672, 709, 752, 844, 944 ; Luther, 420, 474 ;
Luyck, 251 ; Lydius, 39, 154, 508, 673, 771 ; Lyell, 13 ;
Lyman, 98, 477, 522, 606, 686, 717, 740; Lynch, 90, 523,
635, 699 ; Lynd, 102, 567; Lynom, 116; Lyon, 136, 212,
213, 3S&, 581, 599, 634, 639, 817, 879, 880, 970, 997 ; Lyons,
104, 109, 308, 480, 485.
Lansing & Co., J. T., 574 ; Lansing, A. & W., 153; La

Rose Man. Co., 593 ; Larrabee & Co., E. J., 563 ; Lawler
& Son, D.A., 603, 647 ; Lawson, I. & J. M., 153 ; Lawton
& Willis, 839 ; Learned & Thacher, 568 ; Learned, Wilson
& Cook, 170 ; Le Gallez, A. & W., 595 ; Leonard & Young-
man, 635 ; Le Roy & Lamb, 956 ; Levy & Bro., S., 603 ;
Lipman & Co., H. W., 624 ; Little & Co., W. C, 702 ;
Livingston & Co., J. S., 643 ; Livingston, Crawford, Wells
& Co., 319 ; Livingston, Fargo & Co., 319, 321 ; Living
ston & Shelvin, 574 ; Livingston, Wells & Co., 319, 321 ;
Lloyd & Co., S. H., 593 ; Lobdell & Sons, J. D., 993 ;
Loomis & Co., G. J., 700 ; Loser & Co., S., 613 ; Loucks &
Beck, 632 ; Louden, S. & J., 7C0 ; Low & Leake, 568 ;
Luther & Sons, G.W., 635. ILv£
Mabee, 928 ; Mabey, 923 ; Macaulay, 738 ; Mace, 813,
814 ; Macrarlane, 104, 106, 108, 378, 607, 717, 718, 72b ;
MacGuire, 971 ;MacGregor, 212 ; Machin, 944; Mack, 304,
309, 345, 606, 656, 657 ; Mackay, 15 ; Mackessy, 153 ;
Mackey, 90, 92, 93, 914, 920, 928 ; MacNiven, 972 ;
Macomber, 648 ; MaoNaughton, 664, 691 ; Madden, no,
996 ; Madison, 418 ; Maeder, 705 ; Magee, 402, 406, 764,
774 ; Magill, 850 ; Magoon, 650, 749 ; Magivny, 98, 100,
102, 920 ; Maguire, 212, 343, 757 ; Mahan, 521, 621 ;
Maher, 109, no, in, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119. 147,
355, 480, 517, 534, 626, 637,. 639, 678, 752, 784, 817 ;
Mahoney, 751 ; Main, 521, 793, 850, 869; Maise, 613;
Major, 940 ; Malay, 305 ; Malcolm, 257 ; Malendy, 972 ;
Maley, 528, 671 ; Malindy, 971 ; Mallison, 925 ; Mallon,
308 ; Malone, 210 ; Maloy, 479, 657 ; Mallory, 414, 984 ;
Manaham, 137 ; Mancius, 156, 203, 207, 2c8, 2C9,
437, 438, 625, 626, 648, 667, 671 ; Mandeville, 268,
769; Mangael, 125; Mangan, 115, 116; Marshall,
562 ; Mamer, 995 ; Manse, 125 ; Mansion, 981 ; Man-
son, 153. 479, 585, 586, 587 ; Maney, 567 ; Many, 879 ;
Mann, 213, 533, 621, 624, 677, 841, 846, 849,852, 857, 899,
900, 901, 904, 906 ; Manning, 69, 93, 156, 358, 365, 366,
367, 375, 377. 380, 480, 519, 53i, 592, 9°7, 95' ; Many,
571, 613 ; Marcella, 771 ; Marcelis, 273, 295, 498, 584 ;
Marcellus, 109; March, 164, 208, 210, 211, 213, 214, 215,
219, 220, 243, 244, 268, 726, 728, 866 ; Marcy, 11, 134, 149,
262, 268, 421, 440, 443, 686, 714, 715, 995 ; Marechal,
966 ; Mark, 979, 997 ; Markay, 210 ; Markes, 899 ; Markey,
305 ; Markle, 13, 21, 334, 343, 775, 824, 889, 890, 892, 899,
900, 901, 905, 906, 9.8, 921, 929, 935, 941 ; Marks, 490,
621 ; Markoe, 247 ; Marryatt, 618 ; Marselis, 413, 464, 485,
486, 512, 823, 873, 874 ; Marschalk, 659 ; Marsh, 156, 211,
641, 744, 747, 991 ; Marshall, 94, 95, 402, 412, 424, 559,
601, 710, 720, 761, 882, 962, 968, 979, 989 ; Marsham, 905,
906 ; Marston, 171 ; Martense, 273 ; Martin, 90, 91, 102, 209,
210, 420, 476, 477, 48o, 515, 516, 526, 527, 531. 532, 533.
534, 549, 574. 607, 632, 663, 666, 682, 690, 716, 738, 769,
770, 820, 839, 852, 853, 890, 892, 900, 911, 924, 925, 928,
983 ; Martineau, 624 ; Martinse, 272 ; Martyn, 925 ; Mai vin,
158, 161, 171, 340, 500, 526, 530, 531, 532, 541, 544, 613,
621, 625, 687, 761 ; Mascraft, 752 ; Masselis, 272, 401, 405,
406 ; Mason, 520, 613, 684, 885, 932, 982 ; Masten, 378,
410, 963, 967, 969, 970, 973 ; Masterson, 1 16, 118 ; Mastin,
306 ; Mather, 76, 267, 416, 427, 491, 492, 526, 528, 575,
621, 626, 632, 937, 977, 989, 997 ; Mathews, 42, 139, 153,
345, 424, 677, 686, 725, 760, 839; Mathias, 90, 91,
881, 893, 894, 901, 906, 911 ; Mattice, 153, 613,
800, 817, 818, 820, 919 ; Mattier, 613 ; Mattimore,
153, 211, 218, 474, 479, 635, 647, 676, 729 ; Mattise, 892 ;
Mattison, 981 ; Mattoon, 615, 616 ; Maude, 15, 513 ;
Maxted, 305 ; Maxstadt, 562 ; Maxwell, 640, 816, 973 ; May,
10 ; Mayell, 88, 603, 620 ; Mayer, 438, 562, 742, 743, 772,
856 ; Mayham, 441 ; Mayhew, 188, 903 ; Maynard, 361,
963, 970 ; Mayo, 772 ; McAllister, 212, 244, 708, 988 ; Mc-
Alpine, 416, 443, 450, 514 ; McAnemy, 94 ; McArdle, 730,
753 ; McBain, 934 ; McBride, 91, 477, 626, 663, 890, 892 ;
McCabe, 587, 639, 713, 725, 764 ; McCaffery, 91 ; McCaf
frey, 91, 669; McCall, 95, no, 112, 113, 115,118, 119, 153,
266, 268, 475, 582, 584, 681, 699; McCallion, 983 ; Mc-
Cammen, 526, 527 ; McCammon, 601, 602, 635, 713 ; Mc-
Cann, 1 18, 119, 121, 163, 164, 306, 477, 479,480, 485,
587, 717 ; McCardle, 424, 676 ; McCarley, 74 ; McCarthy,
129, 235. 415, 429. 562, 584, 585 ! McCarty, 75, 155, 306,
3°7. 354. 475. 476, 772, 817 ; McCauley, 173 ; McChesney,
667, 906 ; McClallen, 76, 442, 620 ; McClary, 102 ; Mc-

xxii

INDEX.

Clellan, 192, 207, 208, 215, 236, 427, 547, 669, 713, 988 ;
McClelland, 209, 213,235, 585,736; McCloskey, 686, 729,
752, 7S3, 754, 755. 756. 964 ; McClullen, 406 ; McClung,
406; McClure, 341, 526, 602, 647, 681, 731, 732, 735, 772,
891, 897, 941, 942 ; McClusky, 93 ; McCollum, 476 ; Mc-
Comb, 523 ; McConnell, 708 ; McCormick, 96, 98, ic6, 109,
480, 592, 712, 777, 782, 800, 987 ; McCotter, 116, 307 ; Mc-
Coubry, 996 ; McCoughtry, 892, 895 ; McCoy, 340, 341, 343,
377. 568, 680 ; McCracken, 410, 787 ; McCreary, 960, 967,
972 ; McCredie, 556, 557, 560, 561, 726 ; McCrossin,
306 ; McCroy, 90 ; McCulioch, 77, 266, 376, 427, 556, 558,
559, 892, 893, 894, 900, 902, 903, 906, 907, 910 ; McCul
lough, 963, 971, 972 ; McCullom, 940 ; McDermoit, 96, 97,
424, 426, 710, 968, 973 , McDonald, 101, no, 112,
165, 211, 266, 267, 308, 356, 375, 556, 614, 683, 699,
7oo, 703, 712, 726, 768, 770, 789, 849, 874, 890 ; McDongal,
841, 971 ; McDonough, 8, 153, 355, 650, 754, 764 ; Mc-
Duffie, 156, 582, 607 ; McDuffle, 89 ; McDo.ugai, 375, 393,
737 ; McDowell, 957 ; McEaton, 448 ; McElroy, 96, 334, 343,
364, 473, 5!9, 526, 527, 611, 685,834, 903, 907; McEnroe,
306 ; McEvoy, 91, 490, 585 ; McEvers, 750 ; McEwan, 427,
480, 563, 564, 635, 645, 710, 726, 744, 973 ; McEwen, 91, 156,
331, 352, 480, 522 , 648, 893, 894, 906 ; McFarland. 77, 425,
713 ; McFarlane, 377,711 ; McFalls,9ii, 918 ; McGaghen,
920 ; McGangen,j6i3 ; McGarth, 108, 983 ; McGarrah, 744 ;
McGarvey, 568, 569, 570; McGee, 972; McGeorge, 694;
McGeough, 756 McGill, 420, 793, 950 ; McGinn, 756 ;
McGinnes, 647 ; McGlashan, 376, 701 : McGowan, 120,
643 ; McGowen, 119, 343, 613 ; McGown, 305, 422 ; Mc-
Graw, 521, 643, 710, 755 ; McGregor, 76, 879 ; McGae, 9?,
477. 637 ! McGuire, 92, 94, 305, 427, 428 ; McGuirk, 103,
104 ; McIIaffie, 103, 104, 624 ; McHarg, 90, 95, 96, 153,
210, 474, 500, 526, 534, 611, 621, 699, 722, 777, 784, 785,
789. 793. 800, 904 ; McHugh, ^96 ; Mclnnerney, 307 ; Mc
intosh, 420, 637, 674, 817, 8i9,"967, 972 ; Mclntyre, 92, 93,
329. 440, 443. 472, 476, 480, 524, 675, 683, 716, 725, 726,
770, 987, 988, ; Mcjimpsey, 683 ; McKean, 712 ; McKee,
75, 261, 378, 835, 836, 837, 841 ; McKelway, 239, 268, 364,
377; McKenna, 102, 153, 351, 480, 481, 485, 699; Mc
Kenzie, 785, 905 ; McKeon, 640 ; McKeown, 640 ; Mc-
Kerch:r, 333, 376, 636 ; McKesson, 261 ; McKim, 592 ;
McKinley, 819 ; McKinney, 479 ; McKinny, 573 ; Mc
Knight, 92, 474, 534, 556, 559, 560, 685, 690 ; McKissick,
632, 633, 699 ; McKollock, 897 ; McKoun, 526 ; Mc-
Kown, 77, 88, 97, 103, 156, 199, 200, 211, 226, 268, 342,
354,358, 425,473. 5°l. 526, 546, 843, 846, 847, 848, 849,
861, 869; McLachlan, 210, 220; McLaren, 192, 631 ;[Mc-
Laughlin, 901, 905, 980^ McLean, 154, 188, 211, 345, 640,
973, 977, - 980, 997 J McLure, 637 ; McLush, 558 ; Mc
Loughlin, 55$*McLuckey, 971 ; McMahon, 90, 91, 343 ; Mc-
Manenry, 996 ;WcMichael, 179, 829, 839 ; McMickin, 92, 420;
McMillan, 266, 621 ; McMilLn, 843, 892, 900, 902, 903, 987;
McMullen, 90; McMuliin, 77; McMurdy, 211, 648; Mc-
Murray, 103, 586, 700, 726 ; McNab, 906 ; McNamara, 80,
'53- 519. 559. 603, 628, 734, 835 ; McNary, 788, 836; Mc-
Naughton, 153, 210, 21 1, 213, 214, 220, 532, 534, 581, 592,
726, 731, 735, 758 ; McNeal, 308 ; McNierney, 596, 597,
754, 756, 757, 965, 966; McNiren, 970; McOmber, 594,
712 ; McOnly, 613 ; McPherson, 376, 626 ; McQuade, 476,
477, 479, 521, 522, 557, 564, 639, 712, 752 ; McRoberts,
708, 728 ; McSorley, 585 ; McTamany, 973 ; McWilliams,
902, 903 ; Meacham, 339, 601, 743 ; Mead, 90, 91, 153, 211,
214, 480, 481, 613, 616, 617, 500, 544, 716, 784, 788, 793,
800, 832, 834, 849, 850, 892, 894, 900, 901, 904, 910, 980 •
Meads, 639, 640, 671, 680, 685, 760, 761 ; Mee, 108, 522
716; Meech, 89, 90, 349, 705 ; Meed, 106, 116; Mergan'
121, 153, 188, 189, 190, 191, 478; Meeker, 962 ; Meersen,
295 ; Mees, 295 ; Megapolensis, 38, 203, 204, 205, 251, 750,
77°, 771. 938, 949 : Meigs, 677 ; Melcher, 320 ; Meley, 211 •
Melgertse, 273 ; Melick, 527, 573, 581 ; Meline, 752 ;'
Melius, 113, 115, 122, 736, 843; Menand, 334, 936 ;
Meneely, 522, 705, 734, 975, 977, 987, 991, 992 ; Mendels
sohn, 743, 744 ; Mentsch, 559 ; Mercelis, 872 ; Merchant
155, 262, 529, 616, 628, 629, 667, 679, 683 ; Meredith, 962,
995; Mereness, 112, 212, 214, 244, 716; Merkel, 811 •
Merket. S56 ; Merns, 755 ; Merriam, 997 ; Merrick, 743'
841 ; Mernfield, 630, 690, 782 ; Merrihew, 744, 817, 877 •
Merrill, 212, 220, 221. 222, 244 ; Merriman, 425, 428, 711 :
Mernngton, 212 ; Merric, 834; Merritt, 179, 450, 712, 971: ¦
Mersehs 91 809, 871 ; Merwin, 683, 765 ; Mesick, 420
844, 848 ; Messenger, 337 ; Messer, ic6, 186, 306 ; Metcalf,

212, 433, 563 ; Metz, 647 ; Mey, 44, 45, 775, 776 ; Meyer,
102, 179, 345, 683 ; Meyers, 93, 341, 725 ; Michaelis, 221,
433 ; Mezick, 841 ; Michell, 524, 599 ; Michelsen, 294 ;
Michielse, 273; Middleman, 900; Middlemas, 812, 899;
Miggael, 364, 377, 378 ; Milbank, 226, 245, 793 ; Milbanks,
91 ; Milborne, 381 ; Miles, 179, 613, 637,638; Milhau,236;
Millens, 427; Miller, 8, 89, 91, 153, 156, 174, 213, 235,
373. 378, 4^2, 413- 4i6, 425. 43°. 5°4, 5°5. 522, 526,
584, 602, 621, 625, 684, 736, 750, 764. 771. 772, 773. 778,
790, 797, 809, 812, 814, 817, 818, 837, 865, 881, 901, 906,
911, 928, 962, 964, 967, 969, 970, 972, 995, 996,-997 ; Mil-
liman, 988 ; Millington, 260 ; Millmon, 420 ; Mills, 153,
421, 477, 613, 728, 740, 985 ; Millspaugh, 890, 899, 900,
905 ; Miln, 25b, 759, 760 ; Milroy, 726; Milton, 915; Milwain,
02, 93 ; Mincher, 962, 972 ; Miner, 153, 900 ; Mingael, 273 ;
Mink, 521, 522, 907 ; Minne, 385 ; Minor, 690 ; Mintz, 763 ;
Minuit, 2, 10, 46, 47, 611; Mitchel, 683, 894, 900;
Mitchell, 154, 169, 213, 336, 354, 375, 420, 424,
524, 625, 744, 750, 973, 989; Mix, 156, 474, 519,521,
559, 592. 64i ; Moak, 153, 156, 172, 176, 177, 178, 192,
194, 196, 681, 682, 788, 813, 814, 853, 892, 897, 899,
902, 905, 906, 907, 926 ; Moe, 934, 989 ; Moeller, 77, 811,
856, 881 ; Moench, 562 ; Moffat, 356, 477 ; Moffatt, 744 ;
Moir, 544, 612, 613, 618, 761; Molinard, 429; Molloy,
655 ; Monckton, 4, 10, 379 ; Monell, 493 ; Money, 153 ;
Monier, 413 ; Monisette, 187 ; Monk, 969, 970 ; Monroe,
212, 664, 708, 744; Montagne, 204, 205; Montcalm, 4,
389 ; Monteath, 626, 630, 735, 745 ; Montignani, 153, 635,
726 ; Montgomerie, 4, 260, 379 ; Montgomery, 5, 394, 395,
396, 400, 412, 656 ; Montross, 835 ; Moon,' 643 ; Mooney,
603 ; Moore, 5, 78, 90, 98, 109, no, 112, 113, 115, 119, 129,
155, 211, 213, 214, 216, 219, 245, 262, 265, 306, 379, 382,
424, 427. 478, 479. 485. 49°. S2t, 582, 583, 584, 605, 612,
703, 717. 75°. 758, 759. 814. 846, 912, 920, 923, 927, 937,
946, 949. 969. 972, 973. 982 ; Morange, 153, 341, 517, 597,
647, 729, 750, 752, 990 ; Mordecai, 433 ; More, 790, 913 ;
Morehead, 958, 959 ; Moreness, 809 ; Morey, 987 ; Morgan,
n, 113, 151, 160, 212, 236, 266, 269,-324, 325, 374, 399,
427, 444, 477. 612, 613, 616, 655, 656, 697, 699, 715, 725,
738, 812, 851, 882, 932, 934, 945 ; Morgridge, 345 ; Moris,
973; Morrill, 213, 245, 699; Morris, Il8, 119, 130, 131,
261, 330, 331, 412, 426, 427, 478, 494, 523, 575, 625, 636,
677, 699, 713, 925, 931, 935 ; Morrison, 306, 307, 708, 834,
9H, 921. 925. 95°. 958, 959. 977. 994 ; Morrow, 212, 221,
322, 699, 770 ; Morse, 15, 322, 513, 738, 749, 924 ; Morton,
725 ; Mosely, 308, 624, 625 ; Moser, 214, 216 ; Mosher, 21 1.
220, 304, 355, 474, 690, 699, 777, 780, 785, 788, 789, 828,
832, 835, 843, 900, 906, 977, 980, 991 ; Moshier, 814;
Mosier, 813 ; Moss, 427 ; Mott, 342, 735, 920, 927 ; Moul-
throp, 972 ; Moulton, 602, 657 ; Mounsey, 558 ; Mount,
427 ; Moussart, 50; Mowers, 420 ; Mowry, 179, 533, 980;
Mozart, 743 ; Muckle, 266 ; Mudge, 911, 926, 961 ; Muhlen
berg, 856; Muir, 420,937, 811; Mukle, 881 ; Mulcahy, 475,
476, 951 ; Multord, 89, 640, 641, 675, 850, 913, 916, 920 ;
Mulhall, 476, 477, 478,479 ; Mulholland, 424, 710; Mull,
3°5, 521, 522, 594, 736, 788, 800, 832, 836; Mullen, 676; Mul
ligan, 477, 716, 717 ; Mullock, 755 ; Mullon, 485 ; Munger,
425 ; Munders, 869; Munvo, 413, 759, 760; Munsell, 180,
207, 293, 342, 367, 368, 376, 377, 439, 547, 700, 701, 851 ;
Munson, 212, 221, 245, 602, 605, 606, 607, 747 ; Murdock,
704; Murphey, 566; Murphy, 90, 104, 109, no, 118, 119,
153, 210, 211, 218, 307, 343. 355, 427, 458, 477, 480, 566,
589, 613, 648, 781, 834, 893, 894, 899, 901, 906, 907, 914,
915, 919, 921, 971, 972 ; Murray, no, 113, 115, 116, 117,
T' III' It1' \l2' 2I2' 2I4' S45' 0246' 3°5. 307, 392, 480,
481, 666, 684, 685, 735, 744, 841, 844, 962 ; Mussey, 971 ;
Myers, 80, 153, 182, 211, 223, 420, 439, 474, 567, 613, 621,
784, 789, 809, 922, 923, 928, 961 ; Mygatt, 344, 928;
Myhan, 754 ; Mynders, 843 ; Mynderse, 221, 353, 354, 841,
843, 844. 845, 846, 849, 852, 854, 855 ; Mynderstsen, 49 ;
Mack & Co., 606 ; Mahar, J. & J., 621 ; Mancius & Le
Breton, 625.
Maney & Ward, 567 ; Mann, Waldman & Co.,621 ; Mann
& Witherwax, 852 ; Manson & True, 153 ; Many & Co.,
W. C, 571, 613 ; Marse & Bicknell, 613 ; Marse & Hoffman,
641 ; Marshall, James & Traver, 601, 602; Marshall &
Traver, 601 ; Marshall & Rapp, 559 : Marshall & Wendell,
601, 602; Martin & Frost, 632; Marvin & Co., A., 625 ;
Marvin & Co., R.,621 ; Mather Bros,, 626, 632 ; Mather, E.
& W., 621 ; Mather & Co., Thos., 76 ; Mattice & Simons, 613 i
Mattier & Simons, 613 ; Mattimore & Son, 635 ; Mattoon &

INDEX.

Robinson, 613, 615 ; McBride, John & W. M., 626 ; McCaf
frey & Holmes, 669; McCammon& Co., Wm., 602;
McClalland & Graef, 585 ; McClallen & McGregor, 76 ;
McClure&Co., 647 ; McClure & Co., 637 ; McCoy & Clark,
568 ; McCoy, Clark & Co., 568 ; McCoy & Quackenbcss,
568 ; McDonald & Sterry, 703 ; McKvoy & Moore, 490 ; Mc-
Gangan & McOnly, 613; McGowen & Co., M., 613; McGur &
O'Brien, 637 ; McHaffee & Co., L., 624; Mcintosh, E.C.
& W., 637 ; McKee & Springstead, 378, 837 ; McKinney &
Son, J., 573 ; McKnight & Son, J., 559 ; McKown, J. V. H.
&J., 200; McLeish & Birrell, 558; McMurray & Brooksby,
586 ; McMillan & Bagley, 621 ; McNamara & McLoughlin,
559 ; McPherson & McKercher, 376 ; Mead, J. H. & F. A.,
639 ; Mead, Dunham & Co., 616 ; Mead, Myers & Bennett,
613 ; Meacham, J. & H., 601 ; Menand & Sons, L., 334 ;
Meneely & Co., 992 ; Meneely & Oothout, 992; Meneely,
E. A. & G. R., 992 ; Meneely & Son, Andrew, 592 ; Mer
chant, L. & W., 629 ; Metz & Son, J., 647 ; Miller & Sherman,
837 ; Miles & Co., 613 ; Mills & Tower, 634; Moore & Calen
der, 612 ; Moore & Hiller, 946 ; Moore & Zimmerman, 583 ;
Moore & Zimmerman, R. H. & J., 612 ; Morgan & Lapham,
616 ; Monteath, Bageley & Co., 626 ; Morris & Hilligas,
620 ; Morrison, Colwell & Page, 958 ; Moseley, J. E., 625 ;
Moseley & Van Gaasbeck, 624, 625 ; Moulton & Goodman,
602 ; Mulford & Wendell, 641 ; Mulford, Wendell & Co.,
641 ; Mullon & Sons, J., 647 ; Munsell & Co., 377 ; Mun-
sell & Sons, J., 700 ; Munson & Co., 605 ; Munson, Richard
son & Co., 606 ; Murphey & Liscomb, 566 ; Mynduse &
Pangburn, 854.
Nack, 273; Nadeau, 116, 118, 119, 120; Nan, 125; Nanfan,
3, 5, 10, 299, 379 ; Nary; 973 ; Nash, 492 ; Naughton, 306;
Naugle, 613 ; Nasholds, 818, 873, 874 ; Nason, 897 ; Neef,
230, 771 ; Needer, 790 ; Neeper, 906 ; Neil, 635, 699, 768,
769, 957 ; Nellegar, 648, 741 ; Nelligan, 103 ; Nellis, 212,
245, 967 ; Nelson, 139, I45, 521, 613, 708, 787, 817, 926 ;
Nephews, 613; Ness, 272, 586; Neubauer, 756; Neuw-
komm, 743 ; Newbury, 420, 817 ; Newcomb, 100, 101,
153, 192, 210, 211, 214, 217, 427, 535, 708 ; Newdorf, 424 ;
Newland, 671, 743 ; Newman, 424, 519, 638, 641, 956 ;
Newsham, 520 ; Newton, 79, 89, 532, 554, 584, 632, 727,
935, 941; Nicholas, 768; Nichols, 73, 153, 613, 614,
633, 637, 705, 735, 740, 753, 781, 9>?> , 9'3. 966 ;
Nicholson, 3, 10, 376, 379, 381, 387, 788 ; Nickerson, 321 ;
Nicol, 301, 412 ; Nicoll, 155, 261, 353, 354, 401, 407, 418,
777, 793 ; Nicolls, 3, 10, 68, 69, 252, 293, 379, 391, 661,
911, 918; Niell, 683, 684; Nienenhuysen, 758 ; Niew-
enhuysen, 771 ; Nihell, 706 ; Niles, 75, 78, 91, 155,
402, 708, 832, 835, 839, 916, 920, 938, 961 ; Niver, 153,
154, 346, 650, 744, 728, 784, 789, 793, 800, 839 ; Nixon,
399 ; Noble, 210, 343 ; Nodine, 829, 832, 834, 839 ;
Norethen, 756,757; Nolan, no, 112, 116, 119, 120, 121,
190, 238, 245, 355, 441, 476, 478, 479. 48o, 557, 559. 626,
666, 678 ; Noonan, 534, 753 ; Norman, 102 ; Norris, 42,
535, 831, 834, 93' ! North, 354, 523, 944, 95'. 957- 960,
967; Northrop, 211, 234, 235, 420, 817, 819; Northrup,
169, 214, 475 ; Norton, 100, 153, 479, 485, 5°°. 526> 53',
534. 537. 539. 540, 567. 568, 57'. 572, 604, 613, 637, 746,
762 ; Norwood, 120, 920, 921 ; Notrander, 765 ; Nott, 74,
78,95, 141, 153, 155, 185, 186, 187, 188, 198, 200, 262, 266,
268, 334, 335. 342, 355, 472, 479. 567. 655, 679, 716 721,
747, 768, 793, 848, 879 ; Nouck, 911, 918, 919 ; Noxon,
210, 213, 256, 533, 788, 835, 936; Noyes, 245, 532, 800, 948;
Nugent, 153,474, 476, 477, 694; Nuttall, 963; Numpler,
613 ; Nussbaum, 153, 655 ; Nuttall, 956 ; Nye, 644.
Neil & Harris, 635 ; Neil & McDowell, 959 ; Newbury &
Chapman, 855 ; Newman & Adams, 956 ; Newton & Co.,
584; Newton, Wm. & John, 632; Nichols & Mills, 613;
Norris & Bro., 837 ; Norton & Bentler, 153 ; North &
Doyle, 957 ; Norton & Co., 613 ; Norton & Corning, 540 ;
Nott & Co., 567 ; Nye & Blatner, 644.

Oadthout, 944 ; Oakes, 231 ; Oakley, 137 ; Oathout, 792,
981 ; Oatwell, 586 ; Ober, 605, 728 ; Oberly, 982 ; O'Brien.
94, ici, 112, 113, 115, 153, 181, 307, 480, 521, 637, 751,
820, 892, 997 ; O'Byrne, 479 ; O'Callaghan, 49, 210, 249,
306, 596, 703 ; Occum, 39 ; O'Connor, 98, 140, 159, 193,

983 ; O'Dea, 106, 108 ; O'Donald, 877 ; O'Donnell, 210 ;
Ogden, 354, 436, 679, 698, 727, 740, 879 ; Ogilvie, 759, 76c 1 ;
O'Gorman, 751 ; Ogsbury, 94, 840, 841, 843, 844, 846,
847, 848, 849, 850 853, 854, 869 ; O'Halloran, 307 ;
O'Hara, 485, 512 ; O'Haire, 993, 997 ; O'Heany, 343 ;
O'Kane, 376; O'Keefe, 477; Okott, 153, 188, 337,
376, 480, 516, 517, 519, 526, 529, 530, 53'. 534.
592, 640, 662, 669, 675, 680, 681, 803, 942, 989 ;
O'Leary, 106, 108, 211, 214, 218, 221, 424, 438, 479, 481,
485, 699 ; Olin, 169 ; O'Linda, 154, 210, 213, 471 ; Oliver,
127, 305, 464, 479, 534, 558, 567, 587, 589, 590, 655, 656,
690, 710, 711, 745, 748, 785, 871, 900, 907, 908,925;
Olmstead, 90, 91, 621, 742, 938, 950, 951, 952, 957, 968;
Olmsted, 450 ; O'Malley, 153 ; Onderdonk, 88, 257, 760,
784, 800, 814, 870, 871, 872, 928, 931, 940, 950,960, 969,
982 ; Onderkerck, 273 ; O'Neal, 906 ; O'Neil, 307, 967 ;
O'Neill, 753 ; Oothoudt, 155, 353, 354, 4°', 4 '8 ; Oothout,
.-72, 354, 412, 945, 974, 987, 99', 993 5 Oppenheim, 153 ;
Opply, 840 ; Orcutt, 587 ; Ordway, 612 ; Orelup, 870, 871,
962, 968, 971, 972 ; Orlop, 973 ; Orlops, 935 ; O'Kielly,
323 ; O'Rorke, 687 ; Orr, 98, 427, 475, 597, 790 ; Orton,
655 ; Gsbora, 306, 307, 333, 374, 375, 377, 378, 601, 629,
716, 719, 834, 854, 861 ; Osborne, 4, 10, 379, 474, 477, 562,
634, 714, 728, 996 ; Osgood, 581, 636; Osnam, 728 ; Ost,
987 ; Osterhout, 420, 8s6, 811, 834, 835, 849, 874, 888, gco,
940, 950,-971, 972 ; Ostrander, 354, 373, 4°6, 4°8, 420, 785,
841, 844,846, 847, 848, 850, 854, 873, 874 ; Ostrom, 401,
686, 817, 935, 941, 943, 945 ; O'Sullivan, 154, 559 ; Otien-
haus, 756, 789 ; Oswald, 355, 977, 987, 991 ; Ouimet, 708 ;
Outhout, 273, 931 ; Overbagh, 834 ; Owen, 104, 624, 708,
763, 764, 956, 961, 962, 970, 973 ; Otis, 418 ; Ott, 573.
O'Brien & Maher, 637 ; Ogden & Wright, 679, 740 ;
Ogsbury & Vanderpool, 854 ; Orr & Blair, 597 ; Osborn &
Taber, 854.

Pabst, 605, 789 ; Packard, 376, 377, 568, 650, 700, 701,
742, 743, 814, 934; Packer, 880; Paddock, 98, 112, 186,
197, 198, 420, 474, 476, 477, 479. 562, 604, 665, 675, 914,
961 ; Paff, 716 ; Page, 140, 266, 573, 621, 679, 728, 737,
738, 749, 860, 951, 958, 959 ; Paige, 102, 153, 158, 179,
268, 440, 474, 475. 477, 478, 5'3- 53'- 538, 664 665, 809,
988 ; Pain, 975 ; Paine, 213, 222, 224, 225, 226 ; Pallat,
562 ; Palm, 856 ; Palmateer, 831 ; Palmer, 74, 78, 115, 116,
289, 307, 354, 408, 420, 532, 533, 534, 544, 554, 582, 599.
627, 687, 712, 737, 738, 758. 76o, 761, 79'. 797. 834, 835,
839, 914, 915, 919, 920, 972 ; Palneeter, 849 ; Pangborn,
420, 849, 910 ; Pangbutn, 621, 841, 843, 845, 854, 869,
892 ; Panhart, 817 ; Papen, 212, 245 ; Pardoe, 753 ; Paris,
844 ; Park, 187 ; Parke, 603 ; Parker, 93, 103, 106, 153,
154, '55, '57, 158, 159, 160, 161, 173, '75. '76, 194. 268,
272, 355, 420, 44', 463. 476, 477. 478, 532, 538, 545. 5,88,
589, 621, 680, 681, 686, 690, 701, 711, 712, 727, 753, 813,
861, 879, 918, 995 ; Parkhurst, 744 ; Parkman, I, 2 ; Parks,
962 ; Parmalee, 665 ; Parmele, 211 ; Parmelee, 155 ; Parr,
90, 116, 119, 153, 156, 355. 378, 521 ; Parrish, 819 ; Parrot,
4c6 ; Parsons, 377, 378, 424, 425, 474, 476, 477. 479. 5°3,
564, 589, 621, 645, 655, 657, 686, 701, 702, 715, 785, 956 ;
Partington, 338 ; Patchin, 529 ; Patin, 161 ; Patrick, 490,
963 : Patridge, 980 ; Patten, 78, 89, 155, 265, 420, 613,
675, 73', 735. 803, 805, 806, 817, 818, 820 821, 822 ;
Pattengill, 964; Patterson, 77, 91, 290, 291, 376, 625, 677,
750, 777, 785, 792, 79^, 800, 881, 891, 892, 893, 903, 906 ;
Pattison, 345, 975 ; Pattkammer, 750 ; Patton, 98, 613,
879, 892, 894, 904, 910, 911 ; Paul, 560, 725, 750, 957 ;
Paulding, 7, 188; Payn, 91, 603, 748, 946; Payne, 210,
703, 762 ; Peabody, 535 ; Peacock, 687 ; Peale, 737 ; Peak,
977, 985 ; Pearce, 210 ; Pearl, 849, 850, 852, 860, 906 ;
Pearse, 100, 102, 103, 104, 106, 108, 119, 402, 766, 784,
789, 800, 899, 900, 931, 934, 935. 941. 945- 964, 969;
Pearson, 367, 638. 667, 843 ; Peaslee, 220 ; Peasly, 256 ;
Peck, 21, 212, 267, 373, 691, 694, 903, 913, 923, 958, 961,
064, 971, 972 ; Peckham, 78, in, 114, "5, 148, 149, '52,
153, '55. 156, 163, 164, 170, 172, '75, '8i, 183, 184, 193,
197, 226, 232, 429, 44', 48o, 5'3. 5'7. 9'2. 927 ; Peddle,
7=0- Peel, 562; Peelan (Pylen), 13 ; Peelen, 51 ; Peers,
88 752, 928 ; Peloubet, 926 ; Pelton, 906 ; Peltz, 153, 735,
834 • Pemberton, 621, 625, 626 ; Penn, 70 ; Penme, 153,
559, 595, 613; Penio, 944; Penniman, 566, 650, 951 ;
Pennock, 960, 964 ; Penrey, 749 : Penton, 827 ; Peoples,

XXIV

INDEX.

635 ; Pepper, 89 ; Pepson, 587 ; Perkins, 220, 266, 268,
572, 679, 691, 708 ; Perrigo, 997 ; Perry, 8, 78, 198, 210,
212, 214, 221, 245, 331, 340, 355, 421, 426, 440, 44', 457,
470, 474, 475, 476, 5'9. 526, 53'. 532, 545. 546, 547, 548,
549, 55o, 559. 564. 567. 568, 569, 570, 57'. 572, 652, 665, 720,
75°, 779, 942. 992 ; Pester, 562 ; Peter, 621 ; Peters, 169,
213, 971, 973, 974 ; Petras, 940 ; Pettengill, 562, 563 ;
Pettier, 212, 973 ; Pettinger, 850 ; Pettis, 971 ; Pettit, 427,
477 ; Pfcrdt, 335 ; Phelps, 177, 190, 191, 306, 343, 445,
47'. 655, 706, 739, 911, 918, 950 ; Philips, 742 ; Phillips,
213, 307. 4'3. 425. 475. 526, 613, 629, 699, 817, 948, 981 ;
Phillipse, 272 ; Phillipsen, 295 ; Philley, 854 ; Phinney,
944 ; Phipps, 613 ; Phisterer, 710; Phcebus, 765 ; Pickett,
307; Pickney, 870; Pier, 420, 873, 874; Pierce, 149,279,356,
637, 9", 923. 957 ; Pierson, 268, 325, 335, 355, 424, 623;
Pieterse, 274, 659, 825, 891 ; Pietersen, 295, 658 ; Pike, 850;
Pilsbury, 352; Pinkerton 997; Pinney, 613, 925; Piston, 682;
Pitcher, 872, 873, 874, 926, 939, 940 ; Pitkin, 605, 759, 760;
Pitman, 784, 860; Pitt, 4 ; Pittinger, 852 ; Pitts, 193, 948,
997 ; Pixley, 914; Place, 364, 420; Pladwell, 737, 906;
Planck, 51 ; Plank, 911, 919, 920 ; Plantz, 971 ; Plase, 127 ;
Piatt, 304, 310, 336, 341, 354, 420, 442, 526, 529, 533, 651,
732, 743, 844 ; Platto, 841 ; Platz, 972, 973 ; Plunket, 952 ;
Plympton, 686 ; Pohlman, 341, 764, 772, 773, 774 ; Poincel,
973 ; Poinier, 558 ; Polhemus, 301 ; Polk, 138, 158, 280 ;
Polland, 342 ; Polliner, 378 ; Pomeroy, 227, 319, 321,
394, 906, 962 ; Pomfret, 211, 214, 216, 220, 426, 772, 788 ;
Pond, 378, 836 ; Pool, 785 ; Poole, 234 ; Poor, 399, 785 ;
Pope, 926; Porter, 90, 102, 146, 152, 155, 163, 179, 180,
185, 199, 211, 214, 217, 220, 232, 245, 439, 519, 523, 529,
531, 640, 642, 720, 772, 787, 987, 992, 995 ; Porth, 94 ;
Possing, 813 ; Posson, 818, 870, 871, 872, 873, 874, 880,
924 ; Post, 804, 817, 917 ; Potter, 154, 268, 355, 635, 675,
679, 681, 682, 759, 760, 761, 843, 915, 920, 961, 962, 982,
984, 985. 99s; Potts, 533, 567, 568 ; Powell, 91, 100, 109,
266, 267, 376, 828, 831, 832, 834, 835, 839, 860, 887, 896,
903, 928; Powers, 104, 106, 108, no, 112, 113, 115, 118,
"9. 354. 378, 475. 476, 5'2, 704; Preside, 753 ; Pratt,
100, 153, 188, 225, 226, 238, 261, 268, 355, 371, 410, 494,
500, 526, 534, 556, 559, 568, 621, 632, 691, 700, 715, 841,
847, 848, 851 ; Pieisser, 757 ; Prentice, 73, '321, 328, 329,
333, 334, 34i, 5'9, 53'. 603, 604, 675, 681, 780, 782, 985 ;
Prentiss, 321 ; Prescott, 324, 513, 646, 691, 757 ; Prest, 95,
96, 97, 764; Preston, 226, 265, 676, 704, 705, 914, 915,
9'9, 924, 927 ; Pretty, 70, 156, 463 ; Prettyman, 740 ;
Prevost, 8 ; Price, 129, 354, 401, 403, 406, 407, 626, 642,
643. 7°i. 760, 877, 901; Priest, 210; Prime, 103, 106, 441 ;
Prince, 104, 333, 354, 573 ; Pringle, 923 ; Procter, 123 ;
Proctor, 328, 334, 654, 706 ; Proinst, 947 ; Prosser, 80,
645. 923. 927. 928 ; Prosseus, 632 ; Proudfil, 262 ; Prout,
850, 854, 855 ; Prouty, 702 ; Provoost, 156 ; Pruyn, 83, 89,
90, 91, 93, 116, 161, 179, 268, 273, 354, 355, 366, 401,
420, 426, 427, 430, 440, 442, 443, 450, 477, 479, 493, 519,
526, 5/7, 53', 534. 558, 573. 575. S89, 590, 599, 637. 638,
678, 690, 731, 732, 736, 760, 790, 931 ; Pryce, 892 ; Puffs,
625; Pullen, 319; Pulling, 532, 553; Pullman, 920 ;
Pulver 829 ; Pumpelly, 443, 526, 534, 549, 550, 760, 968,
969 ; Punngton, 917 ; Purple, 212 ; Purvis, 677 ; Putnam,
89. 394, 635, 728, 740, 753, 759, 813, 829, 926, 931 ;
Pye, 304; Pynes, 113, 115, 116; Packard & Co., B. O.,
376, 377 ; Packard & Conant, 700 ; Packard, Hoffman &
White, 650 ; Packard & Van Benthuysen, 701 ; Packer,
Prentice & Co., 604; Paddock, Draper & Ches'er, 198-
Paddock, S. & W. S., 198 ; Page & Son, Isaiah, 573 ; Page
& Sons, E., 958 ; Page & Sill, 573 ; Palmer & Co., L.M.,
627 ; Parker & Baker, 621 ; Parker & Countryman, 153, 160 •
Parsons & Co., J. H., 956 ; Parsons & Griffin, 377 ; Patten,'
M.& J., 821 ; Payn's Sons, Benj., 603 ; Peckham & Tre-
main, 164 ; Peele & Co., A. G., 958 ; Pemberton Bros., 626 •
Pemberton & Mitchell, 625 ; Pennie & Wolfinger, 613 ; Perry
ir,C<\',-571 ' Perry> Treadwell & Norton, 568 ; Pettengill &
Metcalf, 563 ; Phillips & Dunscomb, 613 ; Phillips & Elsacs
& Warner, 854 ; Pistor & Martins, 682 ; Polliner C. G. & A.,
T1,7 '„ „ 5°y & Co-' 3'9. 320, 321 ; Porter & Frazee, gg2 ;
1 owell & Co., C. F., 376 ; Pratt & Doubleday, 700 ; Pratt &
Durant, 621 ; Pratt & Treadwell, 568 ; Prentice, Finn & Co.,
603 ; Prentice, Packer & Co., 603 ; Price & Knickerbocker,
642 ; Price & Weatherhead, 626 ; Proseus & Rowley, 632
Pruyn & Gadner, 621 ; Pruyn & Hvatt, 599 ; Pruyn &Lan-
smg, 373. 589 ; ; Pruyn & 01mstead,'62i ; Pruyn & Son, L.,
637 ; Pruyn, Wilson & Vosburgh, 636, 638 ¦ Pullen ft Co.

320 ; Pullen & Copp, 319 ; Pullen.Virgil & Co., 320, 321 ;
Putnam & Hoyt, 635. Q,
Quackenbos, 523, 639, 931 ; Quackenbosh, 220; Quack-
enboss, 128, 129, 273, 354, 406, 440, 568 ; Quackebosse,
272 ; Quackenbush, 88, 89, 91, 155, 198, 210, 213, 215,
333, 344, 37s. 401, 4°6, 409, 412, 446, 447, 613, 662,
665, 652, 690, 725, 841, 843, 844, 845, 848, 849, 851,
869, 964 ; Quay, 266, 428, 872, 873, 874, 876, 879,
887, 888 ; Quayle, 739 ; Queen, 304 ; Quimby, 639 ; Quincy,
877 ; Quin, 474, 478 ; Quinn, 441, 475, 478, 557,559. 647.
666, 699, 717, 751, 983 ; Quinton, 734 ; Quirk, ic6 ; Quit
man, 772.
Quay B. & M., 559 ; Quinn & Nolan, 559.
Raby, 92 ; Radcliff, 91, 92, 210, 261 ; Radcliffe, 94 ; Rad-
ley, 582, 893, 894, 902 ; Radliff, 892 ; Rafferty, 635, 980 ;
Rahill, 109; Rain, 971, 972, 973 ; Raleigh, 729; Ralyea,
848 ; Rambant, 749; Ramier, 911 ; Ramsay, 337,777, 845,
846, 925 ; Ramsey, 77, 153, 177, 412, 429, 474, 628, 841,
892, 906, 911 ; Randall, 195, 266, 269, 780, 914; Randel,
225, 226 ; Randolph, 136, 137 ; Rankin, 153, 717, 956 ;
Ranney, 934, 976; Ranny, 977; Ransom, 474, 5 17, 5^3,
567, 568, 574, 615, 671, 791 ; Rapine, 603 ; Rapp, 559 ;
Rapson, 987; Rascone, 911; Ratcliffe, 273; Ratecliffe,
464 ; Rath, 975, 980 ; Rathbone, 73, 153, 171, 236, 334, 421,
426, 443, 5'6, 521. 526, 53', 567, 568, 571, 589, 592, 621,
625, 613, 614, 632, 641, 664, 686, 687, 710, 713, 720, 782 ;
Rausier, 918; Rawdon, 739; Rawle, 850 ; Rawls, 551;
Ray, 132, 906, 967 ; Raymond, 940 ; Raynsford, 109, 626,
662, 841, 892, 893, 897, 902, 903, 904,905; Rayensford,
109, no, 112, 113, 115, 337, 354; Reab, 620; Read, 80,
427, 440, 533, 55°. 55' ; Reagles, 860 ; Reamer, 98, 99,
8l7. 853, 854, 872, 874, 940, 973 ; Reardon, 153 ; Reary,
no ; Rearey, 951 ; Rector, 91, 305 ; Redell, 782 ; Redden,
92, 987 ; Redfield, 474 ; Redinbergh, 127 ; Redmond, 968 ;
Redway, 624 ; Reed, 153, 226, 424, 601, 635, 664, 717,
743. 761, 855, 964 ; Reedy, 120 ; Reely, 877 ; Reese, 220,
555, 761 ; Reeves, 749 ; Regna, 928 ; Rehan, 705 ; Reid,
77. 78, 89, 345, 355, 521, 819, 867, 892, 893, 894, 902,
905,906,910,920; Reiley, 113, 115, 116, 118, 119, 153,
353. 443, 587, 621, 624, 632, 991 ; Reily, 286, 980 ; Rei-
mann, 164; Reinhart, 106, 108, 211, 8r8, 817, 849, 850,
877 ; Reis, 744 ; Reiss, 789 ; Relyea, 420, 642, 785, 841,
843. 844, 845, 847, 850, 859, 894, 906 ; Remer, 640 ; Rem
ington, 995, 996; Remmert, 744; Remsen, 938, 951, 952;
Reneault, 757 ; Renehan, 755 ; Rennick, 961 ; Reno, 717 ;
Rennselaer, 42, 126, 257, 7C9, 890; Requa, 113, 115, 116,
118, 119, 120; Retelheyen, 273; Reusior, 912; Revere,
425 ; Reyckersen, 295 ; Reynolds, 91, 94, 95, 10 1,
112, 119, 120, 139, 140, 141, 144, 145, 146, 147, 149,
'5°. '53. l63. 197. 211, 214, 218, 226, 246, 287, 342,
378, 441, 475. 476, 533, 699, 711, 782, 923, 924, 928,
941 ; Rhaligan, 113, 115 ; Rhein, 708, 709 ; Rhein-
nart, 810 ; Rheinmann, 306 ; Rhinehart, 420, 818 ;
Rhoades, 147 ; Rhoda, 911 ; Rhodes, 961, 980; Rice, 10,
91,92, 93, 266, 268, 311, 320, 324, 425, 426, 428, 450, 474,
475. 47», 499- 5'9. 527. 534, 647, 690, 696, 704, 747, 765,
942, 978 ; Richards, 375, 376, 613, 645, 768, 977, 991 ;
Richardson, 154, 232, 450, 606, 635, 677, 934, 975, 989, 995;
Richie, 750 ; Richies, 931 ; Richmond, 120, 235, 366, 973 ;
Richter, 872; Richtmeyer, 641 ; Rickerson, 915 ; Rickett,
907 ; Rider, 88, 89, 254, 919, 920, 932 ; Ridgway, 638 ;
Ried, 904 ; Riedesel, 397 ; Rietz, 743 ; Riggles, 841 ;
R'ley. 32, 154, 213, 246, 304, 476, 655, 977, 997 ; Rimmey,
780 ; Ring, 494 ; Ripley, 882 ; Riter. 870 ; Ritzmann, 212,
246 ; Rivets, 831,835 ; Rivinburg, 914 ; Roach, 873, 876 ;
Roark, 118, 119 ; Robb, 624, 835, 837, 840, 967 ; Robbins,
861, 972, 976 ; Roberts, 161, 376, 420, 532, 604, 613, 641,
708 ; Robertson, 11, 211, 214, 216, 355, 356, 375, 379, 558,
613, 690, 699, 880, 894, 926 ; Robichaux, 750 ; Robison,
528; Robins, 634, 831, 923, 928; Robinson, 11, 77, 155,
177, 180, 188, 227, 305, 358, 420, 444, 528, 535, 556, 615,
620, 703, 712, 725, 742, 839, 846, 852, 853, 883, 977, 980,
989, 994, 997 ; Roby, 637 ; Rochefort, 359; Rochester, 373;
Rock, 480, 635 ; Rockefeller, 897, 920 ; Rockenstire, 934 ;
Rocknian, 714; Rockwell, 118, 210, 213, 975 ; Rockwood,

INDEX.

XXV

880 ; Rodgers, 153, 211, 267, 426, 475, 476, 477, 478, 700,
879, 996 ; Roe, 850, 983 ; Roelantsen, 249 ; Roessle, 592,
652, 653, 654 ; Roff, 304, 620, 943, 944 ; RoBs 935 ;
Rogers, 156, 169, 231, 413, 424, 427, 475, 476, 613, 626,
652, 664, 691, 712, 771, 862, 901, 958, 961, 977, 987 ; Rolls,
648 ; Roman, 854 ; Romain, 375 ; Romaine, 376, 613 ;
Romeyn, 240, 262, 267, 594, 669, 700, 768, 898, 899;
Rommey, 701 ; Ronan, 153, 355, 522, 647, 713 ; Roof,
983 ; Rooker, 364, 378 ; Rooney, 108, 481, 485, 643 ; Roor-
bach, 408 ; Roosa, 207 ; Roosevelt, 165 ; Root, 138, 234,
373, 53L 538, 558, 613, 956, 957, 967, 968, 973; Rose, 96, 335,
345> 735. 964, 995 ; Rosecrantz (Rosenkranz, Rosekrantz,
Rosekranz, Rosenkrans), 90, 103, 282, 354, 617, 784, 820,
928 ; Roseboom, 41, 126, 273, 302, 385, 403, 408, 410, 416,
661, 777, 93' ! Rosendale, 103, 153, 179, 477,478, 479, 519,
599 ; Rosenstein, 223 ; Rosenthal, 480 ; Rosie, 272 ; Ross,
118, 613, 614, 973 ; Rossini, 743.; Rossiter, 805, 811 ; Ross-
mann, 210, 213, 235, 648 ; Roswell, 919 ; Rouchel,
213, 231 ; Rounce, 963 ; Round, 963 ; Rouker, 837 ;
Rouse, 492; Rousseau, gg3 ; Row, 833; Rowe, 92, 112,
"3. 556, 708, 712, 792, 893, 894, 906; Rowland, 541,
641, 726 ; Rowan, 716 ; Rowley, 410, 632 ; Roy, 538, 988,
989, 991, 997 ; Rube, 846 ; Ruby, 934, 936 ; Rudd, 114,
153, 163, 690 ; Ruddee, 726, 761 ; Ruger, 186 ; Rugg, 324,
708, 746 ; Ruggles, 280, 281 ; Ruleson, 212 ; Rundell, 926,
928, 935 ; Rushmore, 902, 905, 907 ; Runkle, 153, 943 ;
Rusk, 210 ; Ruland, 928 ; Ruso, 153, 699 ; Russel, 526, 621,
870, 879, 894, 903 ; Russell, 153, 213, 221, 268, 471, 474,
500, 531, 527, 533, 534, 546, 564, 601, 6n, 621, 632, 646,
647, 648, 677, 686, 713. 7'4. 740, 742, 743. 762, 769, 788,
821, 880, 945 ; Russ, 638 ; Rust, 273 ; Rutger, 262, 413 ;
Rutgers, 659 ; Rutgersen, 73 ; Rutherford, 42, 708 ; Ruyck-
man, 463, 659, 683 ; Ryall, 894, 906 ; Ryan, 116, 429, 755,
958 ; Rycker, 272, 789 ; Ryersen, 73 ; Rykman, 277, 385,
526, 527, 531, 556, 558, 560 ; Rykse, 273.
Rafferty & Co., T. C. 635 ; Rankin & Featherstonhaugh,
153 ; Ransom, E. D., 574 ; Ransom & Co., S. H., 567, 568;
Ransom & Rathbone, 567 ; Rathbone & Co., 567; Rathbone,
&Co., Wm., 632 ; Rathbone & Gallup, 613 ; Rathbone, J.
& J- F., 334 ; Rathbone & Kennedy, 567 ; Rathbone &
Lefevre, 641 ; Rathbone, Sard & Co., 521, 567, 589 ; Rath-
bun & Co., 613 ; Rawdon & Balch, 739 ; Read & Rawls,
551 ; Read & Son, M. H., 551 ; Reed & Co., 855 ; Reynolds
& Woodruff, 147 ; Rice & Baker, 311 ; Ridgway & Russ,
638 ; Rielly & Bro., J. T., 632 ; Robb & Carroll, 837 ;
Roberts & James, 376 ; Robertson & Edmeston, 613 ; Rob
ertson, J. & A., 375 ; Robinson & Hale, 620 ; Rock &
Casey, 635 ; Roessle, Son & Co., T., 652, 654 ; Rogers &
Callender, 613 ; Romaine & Co., J. P., 613 ; Roman & Co.,
854 ; Rooney & Co., James, 643 ; Root & Sons, J. G., 956 ;
Root & Youngs, 613 ; Roseboom & Co., 620 ; Ross &
Colburn, 613 ; Ross & Crocker, 613 ; Ross & Karslake, 613;
Rosseau & Eaton, 993 ; Rosseau & Harrington, gg3 ; Ros
siter, Settle & Taylor, 805 ; Roy & Co., ggl ; Royalton &
Co., James, ggl ; Russell, T. & J. & E., 646 ; Russell,
Thos. & Joseph, 621. s
¦Schiffer, 632 ; Schiflerdecker, 102, 355 ; Schill, 230 ;
Schimerer, 557 ; Schindler, 559 ; Schlenk, 763 ; Schles-
inger, 763 ; Schneider, 479 ; Schnellar, 342 ; Schneller,
729, 753, 755 ; Schnellendrussler, 771 ; Schneyder, 808 ;
Schoellkopf, 605 ; SchoepHle, 831 ; Schofield, 213 ; Schoe-
newolf, 744 ; Schoolcraft, 17, 265, 354, 441, 474. 53'. 782,
843, 845, 846, 847, 850, 869 ; Schoonmaker, 88, 96, 98, 100,
102, 103, 104, 278, 355, 4Z°, 79°, 800, 8cg, 810, 812, 829,
832! 839, 870, 871, 872, 873. 874, 879, 882, 883, 884, 887,
888, 911, 961, 972 ; Schoonhoven, 272, 354, 716, 841 ;
Schreiber, 745, 748 ; Schreiver, 308 ; Schrimpton, 975 ;
Schrodt, 480, 557 ; Schultes, 809 ; Schultz, 568 ; Schurr,
IOO, 427, 479, 713 ; Schurtz, 402 ; Schutter, 213 ; Schuyler,
4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13. 41, 42, 61, 73, 80, 88, 89, 91, 124, 125,
126, 131, 133, 154, 155. 205, 206, 213, 257, 258, 259,
262, 267, 272, 273, 288, 290, 291, 292, 2g5, 302, 310, 33'.
344, 353. 354, 379, 380, 385, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390. 39',
393. 394. 395. 396. 397, 398, 399. 400, 401, 402, 403, 4°&,
408, 410, 411, 412, 413, 4'4, 4'5, 4'8, 420, 440, 443. 444.
463, 465, 466, 469. 474, 477. 489, 49°. 49'. 597. 5°9> 5'9.
520, 523, 524, 527, 528, 533, 657. 658, 659, 660, 6bi, 664,
674, 679, 766, 777, 808, 844, 891, 931, 934, 936, 943. 945,

974, 975, 976, 981, 982, 984, 985, 989, 99°. 993. 997 ;
Schwartz, 564, 763, 789, 970 ; Schwikhardt, g8g ; Scofield,
83g ; Scoon, 211 ; Scott, 8, 15, go, gl, 93, 116, 130, 154,
261, 278, 374, 401, 420, 422, 478, 532, 613, 626, 629,
630, 677, 714, 715, 717, 737, 79'. 849, 850, 870,
871, 905, 906, 920, 927, 928, 957, 970 ; Scottson, 726 ;
Sedam, 691 ; Sedgwick, 556, 684, 769 ; See, 771, 777, 796 ;
Seerles, 304 ; Seeley, 102, 769 ; Seelman, 154 ; Seger, 144,
212, 354, 403, 777, 788, 844, 845, 846, 891, 892, 893, 901,
903, 904, 906 ; Segers, 73 ; Segsbee, 781 ; Seib, 308 ; Sel
kirk, 210, 593, 761, 784, 789, 800, 833 ; Selden, 282 ; Selt-
Pagh, 127 ; Scovel, 742 ; Scovell, 420, 625 ; Scoville,
987 ; Scrafford, 119, 120, 420, 810, 841, 842, 843,849, 869 ;
Scrapper, 841, 846; Scribner, 879; Scully, 102, 118, 119,
121, 308; Scutt, 906, 910, gn ; Seabridge, 75, 834, 835 ;
Seabury, I7g, 819, 872, 874, 882 ; Seaport, 969, g7o, g73,
974; Sear, 436; Searle, 771 ; Searles, 477, 831 ; Searls,
355, 832 ; Sears, 645, 653, 896 ; Secor, 812, 876, 877, 881 ;
Seney, 758 ; Senderling, 774 ; Sennett, 343 ; Senrick, 478,
479, 59g, 6gg ; Serls, gi ; Servis, 744 ; Sessions, g72 ; Settle,
89, 354, 639, 790, 803, 804, 805, 808, 809, 820, 817, 870,
871, 877, 879 ; Severson, 420, 710, 840, 841, 844, 848, 849,
854, 899, 95g ; Sevant, 408 ; Sever, 402 ; Severance, g6, 98 ;
Sewall, 210, 342 ; Seward, II, 140, 142, 182, 278, 320, 373,
443. 444. 554. 596, 701, 7'4. 743, 816 ; Sewertse, 273 ; Sex
ton, 344, 911, 962 ; Seymour, 11, 88, 92, g4, 180. 182, 215,
220, 354, 420, 422, 438, 443, 526, 527, 531, 650, gs8, g6g,
g92, 995 ; Shackeford, 960 ; Shadbolt, 420 ; Shafer, 92, 156,
266, 278, 354, 420, 788, 793, 810, 811, 812, 817, 819, 820,
823, goo ; Shaffer, 425, 005 ; Shagnon, 788 ; Shaler, 428 ;
Shanelley, 102 ; Shankland, 521 ; Shanklin, 7'3 ; Shanks,
211 ; Shanky, 41 ; Shannahan, g83 ; Shannon, 427, 642,
951, 961 ; Sharp, 304, 402, 420, 656, 704, 841, 847, 848,
849, 854, 931, 996 ; Sharts, 376 ; Shattuck, no, in, 587,
589, 632, 716 ; Shaver, 90. 441, 841, 842, 844, 845, 846,
847, 848, 962, 972 ; Shaw, 89, 90, 93, 156, 210, 234, 266,
336, 354, 402, 481, 593, 650, 6S4, 712, 841, 963, 970 ; Shay,
912, gi4 ; Shear, 74, 88, 8g, g2, 93, 94, 96, 98, 99, 100,
101, 102, 103, 119, 266, 354, 568, 829, 830, 832, 835, 839,
906, 907 ; Sheehan, 475, 754, 958, 985 ; Shehan, 6j6 ;
Sheldon, 210, 213, 526, 532, 621, 812, 951 ; Shelley, 643;
Shelvin, 246 ; Shepard, 88, 89, 90, 154, 195, 355, 426, 429,
438, 476, 498, 533, 6n, 624, 640, 690; Shepardson, 413;
Shepherd, 305, 338, 344, 413, 589 ; Shepley, 9g2 ; Sheriff,
156, 211 ; Sherlock, 103; Sherloyn, 273; Sheridan, 739,
752; Sherman, 75, 378. 531, 534, 613, 617, 619, 625, 644,
716, 827, 828, 830, 832, 836, 837, 961 ; Sherrill, 443 ;
Sherwin, 177, 190, 191, 743 ; Sherwood, 159, 691, 744,
926, 995 ; Shetlers, 127 ; Shevelin, 119, 574; Shield, 603 ;
Shields, g8g ; Shiland, 211, 212, 214, 997 ; Shirley, 4, 205,
389; Shneider, 743; Shoemaker, 605, 911, 987; Shofher,
81 1 ; Shotwell, 500 ; Shook, 849 ; Short, 861 ; Shorts, 714,
Shoudy, 841, 847 ; Shouts, 420 ; Shover, 850 ; Showers,
926 ; Shnmpton, 985 ; Shufelt, 877 ; Shultes, 355, 801,
802, 806, 808, 812, 813, 817, 818, 819, 887 ; Shurtleff,
354 ; Shutt, 274 ; Shutte, 252 ; Shuttle, 90 ; Sibbinck, 295 ;
Sible, 793 ; Sickels, 154 ; Sickler, 475 ; Sickles, 74, 91,
354, 427, 681, 682, 788, 790, 834, 836, 900, 935 ; Sid
ney, 413 ; Siegrist, 763 ; Sigsbee, 90, 211, 785, 812, 849,
850, 892, 902 ; Sigsby, 879 ; Sigourney, 941 ; Silcox, g7i ;
Sill, 88, 8g, 92, 103, 129, 354, 476, 532, 533, 573, 781,
793, 812, 946, 961, 968 ; Silleck, 321 ; Silliman, 378,
447, 526, 567. 946, 95'. 975. 963. 964, 967, 969, 980;
Silvester, 405, 407, 418, 440 ; Simmons, 8g, 104, 106,
log, no, 112, 113, 115, 478, 479. 643, 755. 772, 784,
785, 803, 805, 806, 818, 894, 901, 903, 957, 958, 961, 968,
985 ; Simons, 479, 613, 645. 817, 877, 935, 972 ; Simp
son, 420, 474, 546, 587, 793, 951, 967, 968; Simpkins,
926; Simms, 958, 968, 969; Sims, 211, 304; Sinclair,
558, 952 ; Sinkle, 420 ; Sisim, 849 ; Sisson, 266, 819 ; Sis-
ton, 156; Sisterly, 841, 842, 843, 848; Siver, 841, 847,
848, 850 ; Siverson, 846 ; Sixby, 841 ; Skeels, 862 ; Skiff,
223; Skillicorn, 118, 119, 213, 246, 587; Skillings, 613;
Skillman, 784 ; Skinner, 90, 373, 421, 574, 650, 652, 700,
708, 722, 727, 870, 879, 911 ; Slack, 613, 625, 797 ; Slacks,
613 ; Slade, 90, 91, 793, 820, 920, 925 ; Slater, 179,953 ;
Slattery, 324 ; Slauson, 899, 900, 923 ; Slavin, 968 ; Slaw-
son, 344, 345, 55s ; Sieicher, 377 ; Sleight, 369 ; Slicht,
714 ; Slingerland (Slingerlant), 74, 92, 93, 104, 108,
i'3, "5. 273, 3C6, 320, 327, 330, 336, 354, 355,
401, 471, 520, 554, 555, 611, 626, 655, 742, 777, 781,

INDEX.

784, 785, 790, 793, 845, 848, 849, 852, 894, 899, g28,
828, 835, 83g, 841, 891, 892, 893, 900, 905, 906, 907,
910, 926, 927, 961 ; Sloan, 89, 90, 420 ; Slocum, 736,
812, 880, 963 ; Sloughter, 3, 10, 253, 379, 381, 384, 385 !
Sluyter, 297, 298, 327 ; Sly, 321 ; Smallie, 427 ; Small-
ing, 971 ; Smart, 726 ; Smith, 10, 40, 44, 75, 88, 91, 99,
106, no, 112, 114, 120, 131, 132, 138, 141, 154, 156,
170, 171, 173, 177, 184, 188, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195,
196, 211, 226, 231, 260, 261, 268, 300, 305, 306, 308,
325. 333, 338, 34', 342. 354. 355. 361, 375, 376,
379, 392, 397, 420, 426, 429, 475, 477. 480, 481,
491, 500, 527, 531, 533, 535, 536, 56', 574,
584, 587, 602, 604, 611, 613, 621, 625, 639, 642, 648, 651,
666, 681, 682, 685, 690, 694, 704, 705, 716, 717, 736, 739,
725, 726, 750, 752, 753, 758, 761, 768, 772, 782, 806, 813,
817, 820, 835, 841, 844, 846, 849, 850, 851, 864, 874, 892,
899, 900, 905, 906, 907, 911, 913, 914, 919, 923, 925, 926,
928, 956, 959, 968, 969, 971, 972, 973. 982, 985. 987. 988,
991, 992, 997 ; Smyth, 174, 180, 212, 361, 362, 438, 535,
547. 559- 575 '. Snedeker, 159 ; Snell, 907 ; Snider, 402 ;
Sniveley, 150, 200, 760, 763 ; Snodgrass, 963 ; Snooks, 305 ;
Snow, 212, 214, 217, 221, 246, 485 ; Snyder, 266, 282, 304,
351. 355, 420, 480, 558, 626, 656, 719, 793, 819, 828, 831,
841, 842, 854, 855, 870, 871, 872, 873, 880, 915, 928 ; Solo
mon, 292, 603 ; Sommer, 856, 880, 881 ; Son, 763 ; Soop,
777. 788, 781, 790, 791, 792, 800; Sotham, 330 ; Sothern,
705 ; Southard, 828, 901, 910 ; Southwick, 91, 156, 267,
328, 333, 358, 3&7. 368, 369. 375. 376, 4'9. 438, 5 9. 690,
700, 704, 714, 813, 814 ; Spaarbeck, 841 ; Spafford, 76, 264,
447 ; Spalding, 210, 213, 841, 845 ; Spanwick, 962 ; Spar-
hawk, 637; Spauldmg, 154, 648, 788, 835, 844, 923, 925,
928, 972 ; Spawn, 91, 613, 785, 789, 817, 849, 852, 855,
860 ; Speir, 154, 612 ; Spelman, 624 ; Spellman, 716 ;
Spence, 970 ; Spencer, 90, 92, 133, 136, 138, 141, 142, 145,
147. '54, '97. 211, 261, 265, 267, 268, 269, 321, 335, 357,
373, 394, 4'o, 421, 440, 44', 447. 472, 500, 534, 535, 536,
564, 567, 611,621,637, 640, 662, 663, 664, 688, 760, 872,
873, 934., 97', 972, 973 ; Spensley, 734 ; Spies, 763 ; Spindler,
789 ; Spofford, 375 ; Spohn, 744. ; Spooner, 384, 762 ; Spoor,
152, 154, 273, 420,- 680, 681, 682, 841 ; Spoore, 940, 945 ;
Spor, 960 ; Sporburg, 746 ; Spore, 904, 910; Spose, 900;
Sprague, 311,- 334, 367, 3/5, 628, 650, 675, 705, 742, 764,
766, 769, 841, 907, 960 ; Sprang, 562; Spriggs, 191 ; Spring
stead, 154, 163, 210, 426, 427, 833,- 834, 837 ; Springs'.eed,
89, 224, 225, 226, 355, 648, 788 ; Springsted, 793, 828, 832,
8.33. 892 ; Spur, 852 ; Squier, 367, 440 ; Squire, 375, 535,
785, 852 ; Staats (Staets), 41, 83, 88, 89, 90, 94, 95, 96, 97,
98, ico, 154, 164, 204, 210, 211, 213, 214, 218, 272, 295,
3°'. 327. 342, 354, 385, 400, 401, 402, 407, 412, 413, 462,
474, 477, 478, 490, 526, 582, 611, 621, 640, 664, 688, 717,
725, 8co, 826, 905, 911, 968; Stackhouse, 112, 120,
4Z6, 589 ; Stackman, 119, 120, 121 ; Stacpole, 711 ;
Stafford, 526,- 529, 567, 621, 818, 848, 849, 850,854,869,
870, 874, 877 ; Standish, 173, 648 ; Stanford, 440, 459, 934,
935, 940, 945; Stanley, 174, 338, 341, 996 ; Stanton, 75, 80,
9°. '54, 441, 53°, 532, 611, 621, 625, 664, 690, 735, 745,
769, 813, 814, 835, 844, 921, 924, 925, 926, 927, 928, 969 ;
Starinix, 152, 154, 490, 583 ; Stansbury 768; Stantial, 995;
Stalker, 817, 877, 892, 901, 906 ; Staples, 613 ; Starin, 734;
Staik, 6, 393, 396, 398, 405, 621, 624 ; Starkey, 760 ; Starks,
573, 962 ; Starkweather, 112, 113, 115, 116, 212, 222, 246,
798, 879 ; Starling, 304 ; Starr, 134, 354, 604, 621 ; Stead,
812 ; Steadman, 516 ; Stearns, 209, 213, 686, 985 ; Sted-
man, 80, 154, 592, 605, 936 ; Stebbins, 765, 960 ; Steel, 88;
Steele, 154,158, 159, 371, 372, 532, 581, 602, 603, 637, 650,
690, 729. 73', 739. 858, 940; Steenberg, 211, 212, 214,
246, 950 ; Steenbergh, 943, 962, 997 ; Steenburgh, 971 ; Steers,
849, 93', 94' ; Steigleman, no ; Stein, 14, 54, 55, 566 ; Stein-
art, 211; Steinhart, 475; Stenkle, 420; Stephen, 292;
Stephens, 75, 154, 354, 587, 591, 699, 828, 830, 831, 870, 871,
872, 873, 874 ; Stephenson, 156, 413, 528, 712, 726 ; Sterling,
233 ¦ Stern, 154, 712 ; Sterne, 180, 844 ; Sternburg, 871 ;
Sternburgh; 870 ; Sterry, 703 ; Stevens, 140, 141, 143, 144,
'47. '54. 201, 211, 214, 217, 220, 262, 342, 407, 439, 632,
643, 672, 727, 728, 743, 872, 874, 877, 911, 971 ; Steves,
764, 967 ; Stevense, 273 ; Stevenson, 126, 179, 514, 516,
526, 527, 572, 626, 640, 663, 667, 760 ; Stewart, 102, IC9,
37.3. 477, 528, 592. 621, 725, 914, 927, 937, 938, 977, 988 ;
Stickney, 564, 565, 566, 735 ; Stiles, 154, 781, 782, 831 ;
Stillman, 212, 900; Stillwell, 354, 526, 530, 611 ; Stiner,
8c6, 807, 817, 873, 874, 877 ; Stinson, 154, 211, 321, 420,

478 ; St. John, 744, 820, 901, 922, 924, 925, 927, 928 ;
Stobel, 774 ; Stock, 562 ; Stocking, 761 ; Stockwin, 727 ;
Stoddard, 80, 922, 972 ; Stokes, 183, 184, 753 ; Stone, 319,
354, 367, 373, 375, 376, 377, 420, 525, 605, 701, 704, 916,
969 ; Stonehouse, 212, 214, 246, 710, 744 ; Stoneman, 736 ;
Stoner, 902 ; Stool, 402 ; Storer, 923 ; Storke, 325 ; Storrs,
882 ; Story, 164, 355, 557, 8c8 ; Stouppe, 259 ; Stover, 665,
962 ; Stow, 969 ; Stowe, 568, 737 ; Strain, 279 ; Strang,
304 ; Strasser, 603 ; Strattier, 901 ; Stratton, 688, 758 ;
Street, 375, 376, 675, 705 ; Stremple, 713 ; Strevell (Strevel),
77,94, 116, 118, 122, 156, 814, 817, 820, 832, 843, 869;
Strickland, 582 ; Stringer, 205, 207, 405, 406, 408,
409, 648, 672, 718, 760 ; Stringham, 817 : Strong,
154, 369, 425, 533, 538, 570, 621, 742, 934, 945,
973, 961, 983, 984, 995 ; Stryker, 154, 425, 812 ;
Stuart, 91, 312 478, 596, 635, 676, 925, 926 ; Stumpf 306 ;
Sturges, 266, 871 ; Sturtevant, 154, 189, 376, 474, 476, 477,
870, "873, 874 ; Stuben, 674 ; Stutz, 793 ; Stuyvesant, 3,-10,
13, 46, 47, 48, 49, 55, 56, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64. 67, 68, 69,
71, 77, 251, 271, 288, 297 ; Styles, 210; Sukles, 712; Sul
livan, 7, 92, 112, 113, 115, 188, 206, 226, 305, 379,394,476,
477, 573, 748 ; Sully, 737 ; Suppes, 744 ; Summer, 355 ;
Sumner, 474, 519, 521, 613, 617, 726 ; Sunderlin, 355 ; Sun
derland, 286 ; Surrington, 750 ; Sutherland, 964 ; Sutliff,
92 ; Sutta, 788 ; Suydam, 989 ; Swan, 77, 750,^870, 871,
872, 874, 882, 892, 934; Swart (Swartt), 63, 156, 211, 252,
354, 407, 418, 761, 788, 870, 872, 882 ;' Swarthout, 819 ;
Swarfwout, 420, 677, 910, 923, 926, 927, 928, 987 ; Swart-
out, 973; Swartz, 103, 173, 179; Swatling, 972, 997;
Swayne, 174 ; Sweat, 911 ; Sweet, 78, 171, 188, 331, 443,
582, 781 ; Swertteger, 416 ; Sweny, 991 ; Swift, 355, 424,
710,902,903; Swinburne, 116, 117, 164,190, 210,213,
214, 219, 220, 222, 235, 236, 237, 238, 242, 245, 441, 480,
481,666,690; Switcher, 851; Swits, 226, 403 ; Switzer,
900; Swope, 857 ; Swerckhammer, 811 ; Sykes, 621 ; Syl
vester, 128, 129, 135, 412, 948; Symington, 433 ; Sage
& Co., H. W., 613 ; Satterley, E. R.& E., 626 ; Sands,1 A.
B. & D., 648 ; Sands & Son, 854, 855'; Sanders, B. & J. B.,
650 ; Sanders & Co., B. B., 632, 639 ; Sanford & Page,
621 ; Saul, Keith & Ward, 642 ; Saxe Bros., 613 ; Sayles,
J. & E. M., 625 ; Schiffer & Co., 632 ; Schwartz & Co.,
George, 564 ; Scott & Son, John, 957 ; Scovill, N. & C,
625 ; Selkirk & Gardinier, 593 ; Seward & William, 373 ;
Shaw & Bennett, 593 ; Shaw & Rose, 593 ; Shear, Packard
& Co., 568 ; Sheehan, James & Ryan, 958 ; Sheldon &
Sykes, 621 ; Shepard & Boyd, 640 ; Shepley & Smith,
992 ; Sherman, S. H. & E.J., 378, 837 ; Shoemaker & Pabst,
605 ; Shield & Son, 603 ; Silliman & Miller, 378 ; Sim
mons & Co., D., 958 ; Simmons & Page, 958 ; Sinclair &
Walsh, .558; Simons & Griswold, 613; Simons &Richards,6i3;
Skillings & Whitney Bros., 613 ; Skinner & Co., E.W., 372,
650 ; Slack, J. & R. F., 625 ; Slacks & Davis, 613 ; Sleight &
Tucker, 369 ; Slingerland & Son, H. H., 626 ; Smith & Bro.,
613 ; Smith & Bancroft, 177 ; Smith, Bancroft &Moak, 177,
192, 196 ; Smith, Cary & Moseley, 625 ; Smilh & Co., 613 ;
Smith & Co., A., 959 ; Smith, Covert & Co., 437 ; Smith,
Craig & Co., 613 ; Smith & Co., J. S., 340 ; Smith, Moak &
Buchanan, 177, 192, 194 ; Smith, Story & Co., 621 ; Smith
& Wood, 632 ; Smyth & Walkee, 557, 559 ; Snyder & Prout,
854 ; .'¦pawn & Son, E., 852, 855 ; Spelman, B.R.& R. L.,
624 ; Spencer & Co., John, 536, 637 ; Spencer, Daniels & Co.,
567 ; Spencer, Stafford & Co., 637 ; Stafford, R. F. & E. E.,
647 ; Stafford, J. & S., 621 ; Staples & Van Allen, 613 ; Stark
& Co., B., 621, 624; Starks & Pruyn, 573 ; Steele & Co.,
D., 650 ; Steele & Durrie, 650 ; Steele & King, 603 ; Steele
& Warren, 637 ; Stein & Co., 566 ; Stevens & Cagger, 141,
147 ; Stevens & Sons, James, 643 ; Stevenson, Douw & Ten-
Eyck, 572 ; Stewart & Townsend, 663 ; Stone & Co., 377 ;
Stone & Henley, 376, 377 ; Story Bros., 557 ; Story, Russell &
Co., 621 ; Strasser& Co., M.,603 ; Strickland & Co., R., 582 ;
Stringer & Bay, 648 ; Strong & Co., A. M., 621 ; Strong,
Russell & Lawyer, 621 ; Strong, Whitney & Co., 621 ; Sulli
van & Elder, 573 ; Sumner & Co., 613 ; Sumner & Hasey,
613. T
Taaffe, 603; Taber, 286, 342, 354, 621, 801, 817, 854,
870, 879, 882 ; Tabor, 143, 144, 210, 211, 971, 972, 973 ;
Taintor, 330 ; Talbot ; Talcott, 138, 139, 267, 433, 443,496,
613, 732, 942, 988 ; Talleyrand, 751 ; Tallmadge, 525, 639;

INDEX.

xscvi-i

Talmadge, 906 ; Talmage, 787, 940 ; Tallman, 613, 914 ;
Tails, 879 ; Tanbert, 743 ; Taney, 138 ; Tanner, 103, 154,
377, 601, 915, 920; Tappan, i8->, 982; Tarbell, 426; Tar-
panny, 870 ; Tarpenny, 844, 871 ; Tatlock, 572, 759, 760 ;
Tasler, 676 ; Tayler, .155, 200, 267, 354, 418, 419, 442, 500,
513, 523, 525, 528, 529, 759, 660, 844, 892, 944, 989 ; Tay
lor, 90 91, 94, 103, 129, 138, 142, 185,209, 227, 341, 342,
365. 376, 377, 378, 406, 408, 416, 422, 446, 459, 474, 476,
477,. 514, 521, 526, 527, 531,532, 533, 534, 546, 556, 557, 558,
559. 566, 581, ,611, 621, 624, 635, 650, 665, 675, 702, 705,
7'4. 7'5. 7i6, 726, 728, 759, 760, 777, 813, 814, 817, 820,
823, 860, 881, 885, 891, 892, 894, 901, 904, 905, 906,
937, 940, 944". 972, §82, g84, 986, 988, ggl, 977 ; Teachout,
963. 973 ; Teals, 834 ; Teats, 813, 928 ; Tebbutt, 103,
l°4. 47.7. 647 ; Teeple, 914 ; Teeter, 916 ; Teeven,
, 3°5 5 Jefft, 212, 829 ; Teller, 125, 156, 272, 295, 334, 354,
648, 891; Templar, 905; Temple, 422, 498, 514, 624;
Templeton, 533, 534. 605, 690, 6gg, 728; Ten Brock,
42, 385 ; Ten Broeck, 125,. I2g, 155, 261, 262, 277,
290, 292, 353, 354, 356, 385, 391, 3gg, 400, 401,
403, 405, 406, 407, 409, 410, 411, 412, 418,
429. 440, 444, 467, 485, 486, 490, 523, 528, 658, 660, 661,
669, 679, 846, 906, 941, 944 ; Ten Eyck, 42, 74, 75, 76, 88,
89, go, 91, 92,. 103, 104, Iu6, 125, 126, 128, 129, 155, 156,
212, 219, 261, 273, 322, 323, 336, 353, 354, 401, 405, 407,
408, 409, 410, 412, 413, 415, 416, 418, 420, 424, 440, 474,
475, 476, 477, 478, 480, 513, 515, 519, 524, 528, 531, 534,
564, 566, 572, 611, 621, 630, 635, 660, 601, 671, 691, 692,
693, 694. 7Pi, 702, 777, 780, 784, 785, 789, 792, 793, 794,
826, 827, 828, 829, 832, 833, 836, 839, 936, 944, 952, 958,
971, 984; Tennant, 717, 768 ; Tenney, 248, 269, 271, 286,
39'. 433, 441, 458, 656, 690, 733 ; Termouth, 677 ; Ter-
penning, 875, 872 ; Terrell, 364, 712 ; Terry, 744, 756,
899, 964, 966, 968 ; Terwiliger, 892, 894 ; Terwilhger, 450,
712, 699; Tessier, no; Teuniss?, 272, 273, 274, 385;
Teunissen, 294 ; Terrise, 273 ; Terrisse, 273 ; Thacher, 93,
95. 'oo, 154. '73, 180, 189, 206, 207, 354, 426,474,477,
478, 479. 532, 533. 575, 577, 578, 579, 580, 639, 665, 666,
745, 753 ; Thalhimer, 977 ; Thatcher, 738; Thayer, 100,
266, 344, 345, 450, 75', 772, 928, 985 ; Thibeault, 757 ;
Thieroff, 854; Thiers, 308; Theyer, 101 ; Thomas, 116,
226, 304, 333, 377, 378, 394, 532, 534, 563, 564, 567, 614,
621, 634, 642, 645, 646, 652, 676, 715, 716, 843 ; Thom-
asse, 272, 385 ; Thompson, 154, 213, 246, 261, 267, 305,
307, 341, 354, 368, 378,. 4'8, 420, 424, 429, 440, 447, 477,
527, 567,.57',634, 650, 652, 669, 683, 691, 694, 732, 735,
737, 8oi, 816,- 828, 942, 957, 960, 963, 987, 997 ; Thomson,
476," 477, 613, 614, 617, 618, 735 ; Thorburn, 90, 334 ;
Thorn, 870, 871, 951, 952, 955, 956, 968, 969, 973;
Thome, 6n, 813; Thornton, 98,, 376, 480, 485; Thorp,
311 ; Thorpe, 531, 705; Throop, n, 443, 677, 735;
Thumb, 705; Thurston, 195,; Tibbetts, 708, 710, 975 ;
Tibits, 420 ; Tibbitts,' ,545, 993 ; Tibbutt, 120 ; Tice, 485 :
Ticknor, 606 ; Tiercks, 273 ; Tiernan, no ; Tierney, 988 ;
Tietz, 601, "635 ; Tighe, 355 ; Tigner, 920; Tilden, II, 145,
170, '73, '8p, 366, 444,: 7'7, -799; Tillinghast, 5I9, 527,
53z, 557, 5g2, 611; Tillman, 402; Tillotson, 528; Tim-
mer, 870 ; Timnard, 977 ; Timon, 755 ; Tinker, 402, 694 ;
Tiiikham, 632, 643 ;, Tinklepaugh, 266; Tinslar, 980;
Tisdall, 977 ; Titcomb, 691 ; Tiius, 535, 916 ; Todd, 436,
744, 870, 877, 879 ; Toedt, 744 ; Tols, 870, 871 ; Tomassen,
295, 611 ; Tombley, 770 ; Tomlinson, 425 ; Tompkins, I, 8,
136, 142, 154, 262, 290, 291, 304, 329, 356, 420, 43g, 441,
442, 443, 545. 785. 789. 792, 831, 832, 834, 836, 839, 840,
893, 906, 916, 920, 924, 928 ; Tomlinson, 711 ; Tompson,
200, 687, 892 ; Toorn, 301 ; Topp, 725 ; Torrance, 154 ;
Torrence, 995, 996, 997 ; Torrey, 967 ; Torry, 970 ; Tor-
ren, 744; Totten, 841, 845, 851 ;' Tottie, 987; Tower,
562, 632, 633, 634, 861,882; Town, 569; Towner, 613,
614 ;. Townsend, 90, 91, 209, 211, 212, 213, 214, 220, 247,
268, 335, 355, 424, 426, 438, 439, 49°, 5°°, 5'3, 5'4, 5'8,
524, 526, 527, 528, 529, 530, 531, 533, 534, 544, 567, 572,
573, 574, 599, 601, 621, 640, 663, 064, 665, 677, 690, 699,
710, 716, 733, 734, 735," 750, 761, 877, 887, 942, 982 ;
Traber, 841, 842, 844, 845 ; Tracey, 154, 210, 426, 475,
476, 5'9> 534, 559, 651, 676, 686, 699, 729, 753, 756;
Tracy, 268, 361, 441, 442, 474, 493, 561, 625, 626, g6o,
g88 ; Trainor, 307 ; Trask, 535 ; Traver, 74, 90, 211, 601,
622, 708, 743, 744, 832, 987 ; Travis, 951, 962, 967, 969,
971 ; Treadwell, 78, 90, 102, 261, 354, 427, 527, 567, 568,
57°, 57', 581, 604,. 605, 634, 699, 713, 728, 743, .744, 750,

844, 912, 915, 920, 921 ; Treanor, 378, 990,- 997 ; Treat,
210, 416 ; Tredwell, 354 ; Trego, 212, 247 ; Tremain, 103,
ill. 149, 152, 154, 163, 164, 167, iSi, 182, 183, 184, i8v,
'9', '94, 232, 355, 426,428, 443, 479, 690, 733, 760, 911,
916, 940, 963, g64 ; Tremper, 637, 710,; Trenchard, 831 ;
Treskatis, 211; Trico, 46; Triger, 716; Trimble,
654, 705, g97 ; Tripler, 236 ; Tripp, 926 ;
Troop, 442 ; Trotter, 210,500, 620, 621; Troup, 138;
Trowbridge, 498, .516, 559, 632, 923, 927, 934, 987";
Truax, 156, 401, 420, 818, 840, 841, 845, 846, 847, 851,
870, 871, 872, 888, 931, 933, 945 ; True, 153, 154 ; , Trull,
967,970; Trumbull, 376, 395, 411, 714, 738; Trunipp,
750 ; Tryon, 5, 10, 11, 275, 379, 382, 403 ; Tubbs, 960,
g62 ; 968, 970 ; Tuck, 820, 823 ; Tucker, 212, 214, 220,
221, 247, 333,-359, 369, 370, 371, 375, 378, 544, 680, 761,
948, 984 ; Tuder, 41 ; Tuffs, 154, 479, 530, 611, 621 ; Tul-
ler, 813, 814 ; Tulley, 210 ; Tully, 234 ; Tupper, 677 ;
Turk, 156, 273, 420 ; Turner, 129, 304, 305, 402, 420, 648,
814, 819, 823, 906, 925, 943, 946 ; Tuttie, 95, 188, 266,336,
793, 785, 789 ; Tweddle, 337, 440, 443, 532, 551, 552,
553, 559, 99' ! Tweed, 160 ; Twiller, 10 ; Twing, 982 ;
Twist, 977 ; Twitchell, 74, 737, 73g ; Tygert, 843, 852,
853, 860, 869 ; Tyler, 90, 142, 156, 354, 613, 805, 813, 817,
818, 879, 880, 977 ; Tymese, 273 ; Tymerson, 931, 963,
972, 973 ; Tyse, 273 ; Tyssen, 49 ; Taaffe & Gough, 603,
Taber & Marks, 621 ; Tallmadge & Co., 639 ; Tallman
& Co., J., 613 ; Tanner & Son, R. W., 601 ; Taylor Bros.,
937 ; Taylor, Hamlin & Co., 581 ; Taylor & Sons, J., 559,
621 : Taylor & Waterman, 624 ; Tayson, Wendell & Co.,
581 ; Ten Eyck & Brinkerhoff, 635 ; Ten Eyck & Co., 621 ';'.
Ten Eyck & Co., W. J., 958 ; Ten Eyck & Parker, 621 ;
Thacher & Co., 568, 575 ; Thacher & Co., G. H., 575 ;
Thacher, Lathrop & Co., 575 ; Thomas & Co., W. G., 613 ;
Thomas, Lowe & Potts, 635 ; Thomas & Potts, 567 ;
Thomas & Wells, 567 ; Thompson & Co., 320, 321 ;
Thomson & Co., L., 613, 617 ; Thomson & Hyatt, 613 ;
Thomson & Lefferts, 957, 960 ; Thorne & Sons, R. P.,
641 ; Thorp & Sprague, 311; Torrence, Merriam & Co.,
997 ; Tonner & Co., J. O., 613 ; Tonner & Son, B. A.,. 613;
Townsend & Blessing, 574 ; Townsend & Jackson, 572 ¦
Townsend, I. & J., 572 ; Townsend, J. & I., 663 ; Tracey
& Cooper, 154 ; Tracey & Son, J., 559 ; Tracey, Woolverton'
& Wilson, 625, 626 ; Treadwell &Co., 604, 634 ; Treadwell'
& Co., G. C, 634 ; Treadwell & Perry ; 567, 568 ; Trearior,
& Hardin, 378, 990; Trotter & Tuffs, 621 ; Tubbs &
Humphreys, 9159 ; Tubbs & Seberson, 959 ; Tucker, G. M. &
Son, L.; 333, 371, 378 ; Tucker, L. H. & G. M., 333, 378 ;
Turner Brothers, 648 ; Turner & Powers, 378 .; Tygert &
Martin, 853.
TJ
Ubsdell, Pierson & Co., 621, 623 ; Ubsdell, 623 ; Udell,
89, 793, 926 ; Ufford & Latham, 993 ; Uline, 211, 324, 325,
522 ; Uldrick, 931 ; Ullman, 212, 214 ; Underhill, 47 ; ,
Unholtz, 763 ; Upfold, 204, 209, 694, 765 ; Upham, 950,-. '
968 ; Upjohn, 759, 961 ; Upson, 268, 769, 774 ; Uran, 420 ;,
Urquhart, 753 ; Usher, 345 ; Utter, 829.
"V
Vail, 325, 566, 620, 844, 975 ; Valentine, 268, 376 ; Val- ,
kenburgh, 90, 321, 624 ; Valks, 892 ; Valois, 970 ; Vaughn, ,
985 ; Van Acerman, 843 ; Van Aden, 274 ; Van Aecklen, 295 ; .
Van Aerden, 77; Van Aernden, 870; Van Aernam,; 308,.
401, 406, 840, 842, 844, 846, 847, 849, 851, 943 ; Van Aiken,
420 ; Vanakers, 914; Van Ale, 463 ; Van Aken, 869;, Van
Alen, 254 ; Van Allen, 91, 213, 221, 334, 335, 356, 401,
407, 413, 415, 516, 521, 527, 533, 553, 554, 555- 581, 6n,
74', 777, 778, 784, 789, 800, 826, 829, 835, 853, 879, 880,
892, 894, 905, 976; Van Alstyne, 114, 126, 154, 155, 187,
210, 212, 213, 238, 254, 354, 402, 406, 412, 415, 441, 49r,
53'. 637. 7'4, 835, 840, 879, 906,907, 975,997 ; VanAttan,
910 ; Van Atten, 899, 900, 906 ; Van Arnum, 841, 845, 931,
962, 975, 976, 977 ; Van Arsdale, 812 ; Van Auken, 90, 94,
95. 355, 793, 841, 842, 843, 846, 848, 849, 851, 859, 871,
872, 873, 881, 883, 850, 854, 869, 900, 904, 905, 938, 950,
952, 968, 969 ; Van Antwerp, 156, 210, 413, 420, 426,
429,. 478, 480, 517, 519, 529, 534, 832, 942; Van Baal,
891 ; Van Beaumont, 288; Van Benson, 911 ; Van Ben-
thusan, 116, 791; Van Benthuysen, 375, 49c, 494, 529,

XXV11I

INDEX.

699, 700, 701, 935, 938, 954, 956, 970 ; Van Ben-
scroten (Van BenScroten), 854, 855, 873, 874, 877 ;
Van Bergen, 273, 406, 413. 777 ; Van Buren, 413, 415, 841 ;
Van Broeckelen, 51 ; Van Brugge, 46, 57, 62 ; Van Brugh,
41, 42, 272, 289, 658 ; Van Buren, II, 75, 125, 127, 132,
'35, '37, '42, 149, 158, 159. 210, 267, 268, 342, 358, 359,
368, 373, 401, 402, 4'2, 429, 439. 440, 442, 443, 647, 663,
658, 714, 728, 738, 752, 780, 785, 961 ; Van Bylel, 288 ;
Vance, 358, 376, 714 ; Van Campehondt, 966 ; VanCorlaer,
272, 556 ; Van Cleeck, 842 ; Van Corllandt, 261, 288,
289, 662 ; Van Cott, 180, 793 ; Van Courtland, 399 ;
Van Curler, 51, 53, 55, 295, 990; Van Daalston,
829 ; Van Dalston, 832 ; Van Dalssen, 832 ; Van
Dam, 4, 10, 273, 379, 658 ; Van Decar (Van Der-
kee), 870, 879, 882, 985 ; Vandenberg, 620 ; Van De-
mark, 972 ; Vandenberg, 491, 582 ; Van Denmark, 210 ;
Vanderbelt, 543, 900 ; Vanderbilt, 317, 489, 526, 527, 566 ;
Vander Bergh (Van Der Bergh, Vanderberg), 401, 402, 412,
420, 777, 846, 849, 899, 907, 931, 932, 934, 935, 940, 962,
993 ; Vander Bogaert, 46 ; Vander Cook, 104, 970 ; Van
der Donck (Van der Donk), 52, 53, 55, 73, 250, 949 ;
Van Doren, 771 ; Van Dervort, 971 ; Vander Heyde,
272 ; Vanderheyden (Vander Heyden, Van Derheyden),
90, 402, 464, 528, 620, 673, 793, 978, 979, 980; Van-
derhoop, 425 ; Vander Huygens, 54, 55 ; Van Derlip
(Vanderlip), 425, 613, 900 ; Vanderpoel (Van der Poel, Van-
derpool, Van Der Poel, Van Der Poell), 91, 154, 164, 173,
211, 212, 213, 214, 220, 247, 301, 401, 402, 406, 412, 415,
420, 444, 477, 614, 788, 832, 841, 842, 847, 848, 849, 851,
854, 858, 902, 910 ; Van derUythof, 272 ; Vanderveer (Van
der Veer, Van Der Veer), 74, 211, 214, 217, 220, 221, 242,
245, 247, 481, 485, 926 ; Van Derwerken, 304, 950, 960,
961, 970, 997 ; Vanderwilhger, 777 ; Van Der Zee
(Van Deizee, Vanderzee), 89, 90, 91, 103, 104, 119,
154, 227, 266, 272, 355, 401, 415, 420, 777, 785,
788, 790, 792, 793, 794, 8co. 829, 832, 893, 905,
934, 939 ; Van Dnessen, 39, 660, 771 ; Van Deusen,
209, 308, 416, 812, 817, X20 ; Van Dusen, 127, 213,
582, 777, 837, 894, 906,931 ; Van Duser, 156 ; Van Duzen,
89, 163 ; Van Dyck, 42, 62, 273, 354, 380, 409, 411, 413,
414, 440, 620, 701, 828, 911, 946; Van Dyke, 358,
376, 916, 917, 919, 934 ; Van Eckkelen, 252, 253 ;
Van Embden, 295 ; Van Eps, 658 ; Van Elten, 355, 899 ;
Van Fleet, 860 ; Van Gaasbeeck (Van Gaasbeck), 426, 437.
624, 625 ; Van Guysling, 837, 934 ; Van Hagen, 402 ; Van
Hart, 782 ; Van Heusen, 566, 637, 652, 701, 735, 841, 843,
848, 858 ; Van Hoese, 272, 273 ; Van Hoesen, 295, 307,
475. 476, 479, 594 ; Van Hook, 809 ; Van Home, 261 ;
Van Husen, 622 ; Van Huysen, 78, 553, 787, 894, 898, 899,
903 ; Van Ingen, 88, 354, 441, 486, 526, 527. 528 ; Van
Keuren, 926 ; Van Kleeck, 156, 809, 841, 846 ; Van Liew,
809 ; Van Leuven, 80, 924, 928 ; Van Leyden, 295 ; Van
Loon, 274, 406, 567 ; Van Namn, 708 ; Van Natta, 873,
874; Van Nattan, 910; Van Munickendam, 51 ; Van Ness
(Vanness, Van Nes), 89, 129, 135, 136, 273, 295, 354, 380,
385, 414, 582 ; Van Nest, 841 ; Van Nostrand, 533 ; Van
Olinda (Van O'Linda, Van Olinde), 93, 94, 95, 97, 213, 272,
376, 420, 422, 899, 904, 905, 931, 932, 935, 936, 939, 940,
950 ; Van Orden, 354 ; Van Ostrand, 777 ; Van Palten,
304, 354. 587. 840, 841, 842, 844, 845, 846, 851, 987 ; Van
Petten, 273 ; Van Reath, 964 ; Van Rensselaer (Van
Renslaer), 8, 14, 37, 41, 42, 47, 49, 50, 52, 55, 62, 65, 66,
69. 72, 73. 74, 76, 77, 129, 136, 138, 154, 155, 200, 210,
221, 261, 267, 268, 271, 273, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282,
287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 310, 328, 329,
334, 335. 353. 354. 355. 385. 39'. 394, 399, 4°', 402, 403,
407, 408, 410, 412, 4'3, 4'6, 4'8, 4'9, 420, 421, 422, 429,
438, 440, 44', 442, 443. 444, 446, 447, 462, 466, 469, 491,
497, 498, 5'3, 523, 524, 526, 527, 528, 532, 534, 613, 621,
629, 631, 656, 658, 659, 661, 662, 667, 674, 675, 676,
677, 679, 683, 684, 694, 714, 715, 718, 735, 752, 758, 760,
762, 780, 782, 783, 796, 810, 825, 826, 838, 842, 844, 845,
897. 899, 911, 915, 924, 926, 932, 933, 936, 938, 943, 944,
95°. 95'. 952, 964, 974. 99°. 993 ; Van Sante,
403; Van Santford, 448, 479, 613, 614, 637;
Van Santvoord, 621, 645, 834, 899, 900, 950;
Van Santvoordt, 405, 406, 408, 409 ; Van Schaack, 125,
128, 436. 463, 892, 893, 894, 901, 903 ; Van Schaaik, 407,
826 ; Van Schack, 465, 467 ; Van Schaick, 89, 90, 124, 129
'55, 156, 273, 274, 294, 353, 355, 375, 376, 390, 391, 397,
398, 399, 400, 402, 406, 409, 410, 413, 414, 415, 524, 526,

528, 620, 621, 661, 841, 944, 950 ; Van Schelluyne, 69,
288, 403 ; Van Schie, 771 ; Van Schlechtenhorst, 288 ; Van
Schoik, 843 ; Van Schoendenwoert, 659 ; Van Schoonhoven,
355. 523. 95°, 989 ; Van Schwaick, 528 ; Van Slechtenhorst,
55, 56, 57, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 380, 658, 931 ; Van Slyck,
273, 355 : Van Slyke, 126, 212, 214, 220, 424, 603, 647,
771 ; Van Sleenberg, 159, 211, 218; Van Tienhoven, 62,
250 ; Van Toper, 467 ; Van Twiller, 2, 46, 47, 55, 59, 67,
288 ; Van Valkenburgh, 200, 325, 355, 402, 526, 613, 840,
841, 842, 843, 847, 848, 901, 948 ; Van Vechten, 88, 131,
'32, 133, 136, 138, 154, 156, 195, 266, 267, 273, 286, 353,
355. 393, 399, 4c6, 440, 441, 443, 444, 5°°, 502, 519, 526,
528, 620, 650, 664, 671, 686, 687, 752, 838, 926, 932, 945,
952, 961, 969 ; Van Veghten, 401, 407, 409, 410, 412 ; Van
Vorst, 162, 163, 272, 345, 690 ; Van Vranken, 212, 214,
402, 412, 417, 931, 935, 940, 945 ; Van Wagenen, 809 ;
Van Wagner, 343 ; Van Waggoner, 841, 842, 849 ;
Van Waggden, 385 ; Van Weely, 47 ; Van Wely, 55,
288 ; Van Wey, 273 ; Van Wie, 91, 154, 401, 780, 781,
785, 792, 800, 817, 841, 843, 869, 894, 901, 906, 944;
Van Will, 777 ; Van Woert, 180, 401, 626 ; Van Wonner,
534, 568, 569, 570, 587. 840, 842, 846, 849, 904 ; Van
Wyck, 310; Van Yansen, 254; Van Zandt, 80, 89, 90,
91, 92, 210, 305, 355, 426, 528, 612, 845, 846, 892, 899,
901, 906, 907, 934. 982 ; Varick, 137 ; Vasser, 533 ;
Vaughn, 402 ; Vedder, 186, 420, S09, 880, 891, 910, 934,
945 ; Verder, 209, 353, 355, 401, 402, 412, 415, 702, 837,
841, 842, 844, 845, 846, 847, 848, 849, 855, 894, 898, 900 ;
Veghts, 124 ; Vellencure, 966 ; Verbeck, 272, 295 ; Ver-
beeck, 288 ; Verbrugge, 658 ; Verdi, 228, 229 ; Verhulst,
10, 46 ; Vermilye (Vermilyea), 771, 860, 969, 970 ; Vernon,
704, 705 ; Verplanck, 75, 88, 125, 156, 273, 355, 463 ; Ver-
plank, 74, 520, 659, 708, 826, 829, 830, 831, 832, 834, 836,
839. 844, 928, 931 ; Verraline, 862 ; Verrazano, I, 42, 43 ;
Verrazzano, 458 ; Ver Vanger, 614 ; Vescher, 406 ; Vibbard,
489,533; Vicher, 973; Viele, 211, 337, 429, 532, 624,
637, 688, 728, 732, 735, 942, 994, 995, 996 ; Viets, 209,213 ;
Viggers, 480 ; Viller, 708 ; Villeroy, 273 ; Vincent, 378;
417, 688, 832, 836, 924 ; Vine, 91, 626, 841, 842, 846, 847,
849, 850 ; Vinegar, 566 ; Vinhagen, 273 ; Vint, 737 ; Vin
ton, 424 ; Virgil, 319, 320, 321 ; Visbeck, 273 ; Vischer
(Visher), 129, 156, 302, 355 ; (Visscher), 401, 403,
405, 406, 410, 414, 415, 416, 417, 424, 425, 465,
469, 499, 673, 715, 750, 931, 972 ; Viselaer, 272 ;
Vonda, 272, 273; Vonner, 380; Von Pullhammer, Voor-
hees (Voorhuyse), 102, 118, 119, 154, 212, 401, 439, 784, 894,
902, 908 ; Vores, 895 ; Vose, 568, 613 ; Vosburgh, 125, 127,
'54, 273, 355, 402, 440, 521, 636, 637, 638, 716, 717, 850;
Vrooman (Vroman), 90, 154, 2C9, 355, 410, 418, 647, 704,
777, 779, 784. 792, 795, 832, 834, 839, 841, 844, 845, 848,
849, 872, 891, 906, 928, 945, 986.
Van Aernam & Steiner, 854 ; Van Allen & Henry,
554 5 Van Alstyne & Son, 637 ; Van Aimes & Chase, 634 ;
Van Benschoten & Warner, 854, 855 ; Van Benthuysen &
Co., 701 ; Van Benthuysen & Wood, 375, 700, 701 ; Van
Bonghee & Son, 924 ; Van Buren, 647 ; Vance & Wendell,
376; Van Gaasbeck & Co., A. B., 624; Van Heusen &
Charles, 325, 637, 701 ; Van Rensselaer & Co., 613 ; Van
Santford & Anable, 637 ; Van Santford & Co., A., 645 ;
Van Santford & Eaton, 448, 613 ; Van Schaick & Co., J.
B., 376 ; Van Slyke & Co., 603, 647 ; Van Valkenburgh &
Co., J. B., 613 ; Van Valkenburgh & Co., S.M., 624 ; Van
Wormer & Co., J., 569 ; Van Wormer & McGarrey, 568,
569 ; Van Wormer & Sons, C, 587 : Virgil & Rice,
320 ; Vose & Co., 568 ; Vroman & Co., S., 647.
Waas, 743 ; Wachburn, 923 ; Wachter, 652 ; Wacker-
hagen, 581, 772, 811 ; Wade, 80, 154, 210, 211, 664, 681,
935 ; Wademan, 785, 872, 902, 910 ; Wadhams, 154, 671,
728, 729, 753, 754, 757 ; Wadsworth, 182, 493, 524, 971 ;
Wager, 378, 934, 950, 957, 964, 967, 970, 989, 995 ;
^^•s'^VV63, 772, 78o, 785, 817, 832, 841,
842, 846, 847, 849, 850, 893, 907, 908 ; Whalen, 476 ; Waine,
329, 613 ; Waite, 178, 355, 376, 521 ; Wait, 170, 558, 742,
920 ; Wakeman,957, 992 ; Watbeck, 400 ; Walch, 754, 834,
944 ; Walden, 631, 803, 804, 805 ; Waldman, 519, 621 ;
Waldo, 226 ; Waldridge, 311 ; Waldron, 355, 635, 829, 832,
8.33, 840 842, 846, 847, 848, 863, 9,4, 961 f Watford, 681;
884 ; Walker, 77, 375, 421, 429, 477, 526, 529, 530, 557,

INDEX.

XXIX

559, 6", 621 626 632, 636, 637, 643, 647, 663, 742,
842, 847, 848, 849, 850, 851, 871, 882, 960 ; Wallace, go,
9'. '54, 226, 376, 424, 596, 787, 074 ; Wallack, 704 ; Wal-
len, 600 ; Waller, 210, 213 ; Walley, 785, 7g3 ; Walls, 305 ;
Walsh, 100, 154, 304, 425, 477, 524, 526, 528, 558, 587,
621, 639, 664, 672, 754, 755, 757, 987 ; Walshe, 154 ;
Walters, 186, 599 ; Walton, 683 ; Waltmeyer, 393 ; Wal
worth, 341, 592, 677, 680, 753 ; Wandell, 901, 977, g7g,
980, 984, 986; Wands, 77, 89, 92, 94, 104, 211, 212, 788,
789, 793, 855, 892, 893, 894, 902, 903, 904, 905 ; Waoter-
hagen, 573 ; Ward, 90, 103, 106, 116, 154, 212, 216, 220,
221, 223, 224, 238, 239, 284, 342, 344, 365, 394, 448, 476,
481, 485, 500, 567, 613, 642, 677, 690, 691, 710, 819, 841,
841, 842, 848, 854, 924, 926, 928, 985 ; Warden, 689, 988 ;
Wardwell, 637 ; Warford, 154, 980, 987 ; Waring, 331, 812 ;
Warker, 526 ; Warmington, 426, 782 ; Warner, 5, 89, 92,
93, 98, 233, 376, 3g4, 399, 401, 420, 527, 602, 713, 750,
801, 804, 809, 810, 811, 813, 814, 817, 819, 854, 855, 872,
873, 879, 881 ; Warnck, 872, 873, 874, 875, 879, 900, 901 ;
Warring, 159 ; Warren, 205, 210, 213, 214, 336, 342, 420,
477, 553, 558, 613, 637, 705, 742, 743, 788, 790, 875, 893,
904, 906, 963, c-75, 9go : Warrington, 426 ; Wart, 7; Wash
burn, 154, 535, 587, 613, 621, 634, 74g, 927, 980, g8g, 995 ;
Washington, 290, 304, 394, 396, 400, 405, 418, 429 ; Wasler,
706 ; Wasserbach, 211 ; Wasson, 92, 319, 321, 333, 376, 378,
438, 480, 513, 568, 574, 729 ; Waterbury, 154, 266, 641,
679, 680, 914, 916, 926, 935 ; Waterman, 156, 479, 485,
592, 624, 632, 639, 699, 732, 735, 934, 936, 942, 945, 957,
966, 967, g74, 977 ; Waters, 414, 671, 777, 781, 880 ; Wat-
kins, 735; Watson^ 76i781881i55, 281, 300, 310, 355,1
5°7, 5°9. 523. 524. 558T735T59<559. 624, 63A 646, 694,*
760c 810, 817, 850, 881, 913, 916, 920, 97oYWatt, 77;
Watts, £62, 523, 719, 962; Way, 519, 874, -"945 ; Way-
land, 749 ; Waugh, 993, 997 ; Wayne, 292, 597, 598,
607, 893, 8g4, 902, g04, 906 ; Weatherby, 635 ; Weather-
head, 626 ; Weatherwax, 321, 527, 854, 935 ; Weaver, 98,
100, 101, 102, 103, 118, 345, 479, 592, 612, 728, 841, 842,
844, 847, 850, 906, 924, 931, 944, 982; Webb, 500, 516,
53'. 545. 558, 57'. 621, 637, 718, 743, 749, 764, 970;
Weber, no, 120, 559, 743, 973 ; Webber, 706 ; Webster, 209,
220, 318, 335, 340, 358, 367, 371, 372, 375, 376, 419,448, 5°°,
533, 534, 567. 611, 650, 667, 692, 695, 700, 702, 944, 981 ;
Wedell 621 ; Weddin, 751 ; Weed, 142, 144, 356, 358, 359,
361, 372, 373, 374, 376, 377, 378, 421, 424, 425, 521,
529, 589, 596, 617 ; Weed, 679, 687, 701, 702, 704, 743, 768,
806, 860; Weeden, 926 ; Weeks, 995 ; Weems, 4, 386 ; Weid-
man, 72, 212, 526, 621, 630, 631, 632, 801, 802, 804,
805, 808, 809, 810, 813, 814, 818, 820, 823, 9C6, 923, 927,
961, 968, 970 ; Weiger, 402 ; Weir, 586, 737, 968 ; Weise,
I, 43 ; Weiser, 38 ; Weitzel, 842, 851, 870 ; Welch, 90, 92,
191, 211, 334, 342, 613, 638, 650, 675, 749, 750, 941, 988 ;
Weld, 539; Weller, 568; Welles, 281; Wellington, 210,
562 ; Wells, 134, 154, 318, 319, 320, 321, 323, 337,
355, 359, 566, 567. 705, 7'9, 785, 94°. 961, 962 ; Welton,
769 ; Wemp, 295, 348 ; Wemple, 93, 108, 109, 156, 475,
477, 478, 529, 728, 793. 800, 901 ; Wendel, 273, 385 ;
Wendell, 41, 42, 107, ill, 112, 113, 125, 133, 154, 155,
209, 213, 267, 272, 325, 355, 356, 358, 370, 377, 401, 403,
405, 406, 407, 409, 410, 412, 415, 440, 442, 462, 466, 471,
474, 491, 517, 531, 532, 581, 601, 602, 603, 620, 621, 635,
640, 641, 653, 654, 659, 667, 671, 675, 709, 722, 932, 940;
Wendt, 643 ; Wentz, 677 ; Wenz, 643 ; Werden, 420 ,
Werles, 744 ; Werner, 378, 736, 820, 872, 874, 880 ;
Wessel, 273 ; Wessells, 386, 464, 658, 659 ; Wessels, 41,
274, 385, 462, 463 ; West, 355, 441, 657, 812, 817, 820,
911, 920; Westbrook, 165, 190; Westcott, 599, 962,
963; Westerlo, 79, 80, 262, 267, 290, 441, 524, 679,
771, 921, 939; Westervelt, 211, 784, 800, 834; West-
fall, 784, 788, 810, 817, 842, 843, 869, 899, 906,
956, 957, 958 ; Weston, 172, 308 ; Wetherbee, 791 ;
Westveer, 900, 926 ; Wetzel, 512 ; Wetzell, 344, 773 ; Wha
len, 476, 478, 305 ; Wharton, 640, 648 ; Wheaton, 138,
144, 145, 149, 156, 197, 342, 355, 440, 923, g26 ; Wheeler,
g2, g6, 98, 100, 101, 102, 103, 210, 239, 273, 321, 346, 355,
44', 573, 600, 602, 652, 708, 740, 906, 928, 971, 972, 974,
977, 989 ; Wheelock, 39, 40, 188, 679 ; Whelan, 751 ;
Whelpley, 89, 91 ; Whetsell, 841.; Whipple, 73, 355, 399,
494, 491;, 496, 513, 613, 802, 805, 810, 817, 818, 823, 849,
870! 872, 873, 877, 882 ; Whiler, go8 ; Whitbeck, 88, go,
91, 92, 93, 266, 355, 572, 708, 709, 826, 827, 828, 832,
835, 839, 840; Whitcomb, 604; White, 90, 91, 92, 103,

104, 209, 212, 235, 321, 345, 378, 406, 409, 412, 416, 420,
474, 521, 53'. 533- 534, 557, 559, 585, 592, 611, 612, 614,
618, 619, 621, 622, 623, 624, 635, 642, 650, 685, 699, 732,
752, 788, 805, 817, 818, 820, 842, 847, 849, 861, 870, 871,
872, 873, 87g, 9C6, 907, 912, 914, 915, 918, 938, 944, 948,
?5'> 952> 957, 960, 962, 964, 968, 969, 970, 971, 987, 997 ;
Whitehall, 973 ; Whitehead, 593, 791, 825 ; Whiteman,
118, 485, 828; Whiteside, 355 ; Whitfield, 996; Whiting,
355, 375, 563 ; Whitlesey, 373 ; Whitlock, 613, 614 ; Whit
man, 106, 109, 116; Whitmore, 154; Whitney, 429, 438,
549, 621, 623, 624, 708, 718, 742, 744, 996; Whittaker,
338 ; Whittingham, 762 ; Whittle, 335 ; Whittlesy, 142 ;
Whitty, 92, g3, 98 ; Whitwell, 972, 973 ; Wilbor, 377 ;
Wickham, 587, 592, 593, 831, 834, 928 ; Wickes, 53, 93,
210, 27g, 916, 952 ; Wickoff, 952 ; Widdman, 716 ; Wider-
hofer, 244 ; Widdow, 272 ; Widmer, 905 ; Wiedman, 626 ;
Wilbeck, 907, 989 ; Wilber, 872 ; Wilbore, 841, 844 ;
Wilbur, 211, 2ig, 230, 613, 623, 873, 874 ; Wilcox, 89, 346,
402, 545, 625, 755, 817, 962 ; Wild, 19, 533, 952, 953, g68 ;
Wilda, 420; Wilday, 817; Wilder, 526, 611, 621, 719,
87°, 871, 955, 963 ; Wiles, 474, 475, 739, 744; Wiley, 112,
"3, ' '5. 355. 564, 639 ; Wilgns, 977, 989 ; Wilkes, 92, 93,
136, 793 ; Wilkins, 92, 842, 848, 849 ; Wilkinson, 8, 154,
343, 421, 572, 701, 946, 951, 960.; Wilks, 420; Willard,
179, 205, 209, 211, 213, 214, 215, 236, 266, 441, 526, 571,
655, 729, 813, 820, 971, 988 ; Wilier, 127 ; Willes, 88, 89, 355,
556, 685, 789, 804, 817, 818 ; Willett, 6, 355, 396, 397, 603,
671, 708 ; Williams, 7, 88, 121, 136, 148, 156, 209, 213, 215,
273, 355, 373, 389, 401, 407, 4'4, 420, 527, 532, 534, 537, 589,
603, 604, 613, 621, 636, 639, 641, 691, 6gg, 702, 715. 725,
734, 744, 75°. 7&4. 769, 785, 800, 802, 833, 847, 848, 870,
871, 872, 873, 874, 877, 879, 880, 882, 886, gt2, 5,34, gS6,
958, 960, 962, g67, 969, 970, 972, 973, 977, 989, 991 ; Wil
liamson, 406, 428, 559, 586, 772, 870, 871, 872, 873, 938 ;
Willinglon, 213 ; Willis, 784, 828, 834, 835, 839 ; Williston,
913 ; Willsey, 803, 822, 817, 818, 835, 907 ; Wilson, 170,
210, 211, 214, 230, 247, 304, 305, 306, 333, 334, 343, 376,
420, 424, 474, 475, 477. 52i; 526, 527, 532, 557. 577. 582,
600, 613, 620, 625, 626, 630, 634, 636, 638, 641, 642, 673,
690, 694, 699, 715, 730, 759, 760, 784, 817, 839, 849, 855,
879, 907, 926, 934, 960, 967, 989 ; Wiltsie, 211, 777, 780, 785,
789, 792> 796, 797, 800, 829, 832, 835, 837, 839, 910, 911,
924, 928 ; Wimple, 92 ; Winans, 914, 919, 969 ; Winants,
88, 744 ; Winantse, 463 ; Winegar, 882, 924, 926 ; Wingar,
914 ; Wing, 2C9, 213, 214, 215, 240, 355, 533, 626, 640,
645 ; Wingate, 843 ; Wink, 743 ; Winne, 42, 74, 93, 94,
119, 120, 127, 156, 210, 211, 212, 272, 273, 336, 355,
401, 416, 437, 477, 486, 492, 500, 526, 528, 534, 553, 613,
621, 634, 677, 690, 708, 709, 714, 732, 735, 769, 777, 781,
784, 785, 79°, 793, 797, 798, 799, 800, 812, 817, 840,
841, 842, 843, 847, 874, 892, 893, 901, 905, 906,
912, 93', 933, 934, 945, 952, 98', 984, 987, 995 ;
Winslow, 46, 38g, 537, 540, 541, 572, 637, 648 ; Winston,
80, go3, go4, go6, gio, g23, 925, 926 ; Winterbum, 574 ; Win-
throp, 381, 385, 657 ; Wise, 120, 626, 627, 763 ; Wiswall,
975, 98q, ggi ; Witbeck, 74, 154, 173, 211, 283, 401, 402,
797, 829, 830, 831, 832, 834, 835, 836, 905, 922, 928, 932,
934, 935. 939. 94-, 95', 948, 975, 977, 987, 992, 997 ;
Witherwax, 843, 852, 869 ; Withford, 847 ; Witlock, 615 ;
Witmarsh, 987 ; Witsen, 775 ; Witter, 818, 854, 870, 871,
872, 873, 874, 879, 880, 881, 883 ; Witters, 91 ; Woglom,
272; Wolcott, 489; Wolcutt, 42; Wolenman, 643; Wolf,
632, 840 ; Wolfe, 154, 708, 716, 746, 834 ; Wolfenden, 750 ;
Wolford, 91, 92, 152, 155, 355, 818, 841, 870,871,874, 913,
937 ; Wolfinger, 613 ; Wolverton, 516 ; Wood, 90, 109, 118,
119. 120, 154, 2'2, 268, 308, 323, 341, 342, 343, 355, 375,
376, 377, 439. 440, 441. 5'3. 53'. 544, 559. 573. 574. 584,
621, 626, 632, 635, 684, 687, 692, 699, 700, 701, 703, 708,
734, 735, 737, 758, 761, 769. 79°. 79'. 793, 801, 804, 806,
808, 810, 817, 822, 823, 842, 848, 849, 861, 872, 874, 881,
8g4, g04, go6, 913, 924, 957, 962, 972, g8o, g84, 987, 996, 997;
Woodbury, 901 ; Woodford, 448 ; Woodhall, 425, 710, 711 ;
Woodruff, 147, 206, 207, 209, 213, 477, 637, 665, 668,
768; Woods, 156,355; g8i ; Woodward, 2og, 212, 231,
234, 376, 581 ; Woodworth, 134, 261, 267, 406, 413, 416, 443,
524, 526, 843, 844 ; Wool, 8, 420, 421, 422, 715 ; Wool-
cott, 399 ; Wooley, 336, 474, 475, 744, 941 ; Woolford (see
Wolford) ; Woollett, 728, 740, 741, 997 ; Woolworth, 266,
268, 679 ; Woolverton, 561, 605, 623, 625, 626 ; Wooster,
89, 106, 108, 109, no, 112,394, 533, 570, 592, 599, 632,
639, 724, 735, 740, 923, 928 ; Worcester, 744 ; Wor-

XXX

INDEX.

den, 212, 541, 938; Wordsworth, 443, 738; Wormer,
777, 810, 842, 844, 848, 850, 851, 902 ; Worth, 8,
207, 421, 422, 433, 508, 52g, 714, g4i ; Worthen,
g52, Worthington, 690, 982 ; Wright, II, 21, 91, 112, 154,
'55. '59. 211, 282, 339, 358, 385, 427, 443, 4gg, 516, 531,
581, 584, 632, 639, 640, 642, 647, 679, 698, 722, 740, 763,
764, 785, 812, 816, 817, 820, 850, 854, 863, 894, 901, 903,
905, 906, 925, 963 ; Wurmer, 841 ; Wurts, 330 ; Wyatt,
733 ; Wyckoff, 209, 211, 342, 343, 622, 771, 938, 951, 961,
981, 983, 984 ; Wygant, 322, 385 ; Wylie, 642, 726 ;
Wyman, 834 ; Wynant, 940 ; Wyncoop, 5-4, 641 ; Wyngar,
790. Waine & Andrews, 613 ; Walker & Pratt, 632 ; Walker &
Williams, 960 ; Walsh & Co., D., 621 ; Walsh, J. H. & E.
A., 587 ; Walsh & Son, W. E., 634 ; Ward & Derby, 613 ;
Ward & Sons, J. C, 613 ; Wardell & Bordwell, 637 ; War
ner & Hooker, 376; Warren Bros., 990;. Warren & Sons,
613; Warren, Wilbur & Co., 613; Washburn &Knower, 621;
Waterbury & Jones, 647 ; Waterman & Bennett, 632 ; Water
man & Son, J., 639 ; Weaver & Co., W. H., 612 ; Webb &
Co., H. & C, 636 ; Webb & Dummer, 621, 636 ; Webster,
C. R. & G., 372, 375, 650 ; Webster & Skinner, 372, 373,
700; Webster & Wood, 376 ; Weed, Becker & Co., 806 ;
Weed, Dawson & Co. ,.377 ; Weed & Parsons, 701 ; Weed,
Parsons & Co., 378, 701 ; Weller, Goodwin & Adams, 568 ;
Wells, Butterfield & Co., 319; Wells & Co., 3ig, 321 ;
Wendell & Co., C. E., 601, 635 ; Wendell & Co., Wm.,
640 ; Wendell & Feltham, 641 ; Wendell & Jenkins, 621 ;
Wendell & Trotter, 620 ; Wendell & Roberts, 641 ; Wenz &
Co., J., 643 ; Wheaton, Doolittle & Hadley, l97 ; Wheeler
& Bromley, 652 ; Wheeler, Melick & Co., 573 ; White &
Co., 612, 618 ; White & Co., D. & L., 612, 618 ; White, J.
J. & E.M., 623 ; While, Loveland & Co., 612, 618 ; White
& Moir, 612, 618; White, Olmstead & Co., 95i ; White &
Sons, J., 621. 623, 624 ; White & Sons, J. G., 557 ; White
head & Bro., 837 ; Whiting, Backus & Whiting, 375 ; Whit-
lock & Fassett, 614 ; Whitney & Co., W.M., 621,624; Wick
& Strong, 602 ; Wiedman & Kelly, 626 ; Wilbur & Co., 623 ;
Wilbur & Son, N.R., 613 ; Wilder, Hastings & Co., 621 ;
Wiley & Bro., 639 ; Williams & Co., C. P., 613 ; Williams,
Parke & Co., 603 ; Williams, Ryan & James, g58 ; Wil

liamson & Sons, J., 559 ; Wilson & Badgley, 630 ; Wilson
& Co., 557 ; Wilson & Co., M.E., 960 ; Wilson & Gross,
642 ; Wilson, Lansing & Co., 626 ; Wilson & Monteath, 626,
630 ; Wilson, Rathbone & Chapin, 625 ; Wilson & Son, J.,
641 ; Wilson & Son, J. & S., 376, 600 ; Wilson, Thorburn &
Keller, 334 ; Wing Sons & Co., A., 626, 645 ; Winne &
Co., 492 ; Winne & Garnsey, 621 ; Winslow & Co., 572 ;
Winslow, Griswold & Holley, 541 ; Witbeck & Jones, g92 ;
Wolenman & Lochner, 643 ; Wood & Acres, 621 ; Wood,
Pierce & Co., 957 ; Wood & Co., D. S., 55g ; Wood, J. S.
& B., 377 ; Woodward & Hill, 581 ; Woodward & Packard,
376; Woolverton & Co., 605 ; Woolverton. & Co., G. A.,
623 ; Wooster & Co., B. W., 639 ; Wooster & Co., F., 632 ;
Wright & Anderson, 639 ; Wright & Co., N., 581 ; Wyn-
gaard, 252 ; Wynkoop, 129, 491, 620.

Yagger, 837; Yates, 7, II, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132,
'54, '54, 155, '56, 210, 212, 213, 262, 267, 269, 272, 353,
355. 368, 39°. 397. 401, 403, 405. 406, 407. 408, 4°9. 4'0,
411, 412, 413, 415, 418, 436, 437, 438, 440, 442, 446, 467,
468, 469, 472, 473, 497, 524, 528, 529, 534, 640, 662, 665,
669, 674, 677, 679, 704, 709, 718, 750, 763, 771, 944, 961,
985, 994 ; Yeardsley, 427, 935 ; Yerks, 643 ; Yetts, 125 ;
Young, 11, log, no, 112, 113, 115, 116, 142, 150, 154, 156,
210, 211, 214, 218, 266, 269, 274, 280, 323, 355, 373, 406,
411, 4'3, 433, 443, 4&4, 474, 524, 526, 527, 533, 534, 613,
621, 667, 674, 677, 704,712, 729. 743. 747, 769, 802, 816,
852, 879, 880, 881, 892, 893, 899, goo, 905, gn, gi2, 9ig,
931, 980; Younger, 562; Youngs, 848, 874, 915 ; Young-
love, 355, 937, 938, 95', 952, 967, 968 ; Youngman, 635,
728. Yates & Mclntyre, 472 ; Young & Ehle, 621 ; Younglove
& Co., T. G , 937 ; Yuck & Norris, 837.
z
Zandt, 810 ; Zea, 855 ; Zeh, 103, 104, 801, 802, 804, 805,
809, 810, 811, 812, 817, 820, 879; Zeigler, 828; Zeil-
man, 712 ; Zeiser, 716 ; Zelter, 652 ; Zimmerman, 355, 479,
583, 612, 716 ; Zinger, 4 ; Zinck, 906.

SCHENECTADY COUNTY, N. Y.

ALBANY COUNTY, N. Y.

OUTLINE HISTORY

STATE OF NEW YORK
REVISED AND CORRECTED BY PROF. JONATHAN TENNEY, PH.D.

CHAPTER I.

DISCOVERY OF NEW YORK  THE INDIANS OF THE FIVE
NATIONS.

IN 1 524, John de Verazzano, a Florentine naviga
tor in the service of P'rancis I. of France, made
a voyage to the North American coast, and, as is
believed from the account which he gave, entered
the harbor of New York. No colonies were plant
ed ; no results followed ; and the voyage was
almost forgotten.
Though discoveries and settlements were made
by the French north from this point, and colonies
were planted by the English farther to the south, it
is not known that New York was again visited by
Europeans till 1609,* when the Dutch East India
Company sent Henry Hudson, an Englishman
by birth, on a voyage of discovery, in a vessel
called the Half Moon. He reached the coast of
Maine, sailed thence to Cape Cod, then south
westerly to the mouth of Chesapeake Bay ; then,
coasting northward, he entered Delaware Bay, on
the 28th of August. From thence he proceeded
northward, and on the 3d of September, I609,
* And yet there is abundant evidence from the older French, Spanish
and Italian writers of the frequent visits of French traders to that part
of America lying between the northeastern part of Florida and the
coast of Newfoundland, and even up the Hudson River to Cohoes
Falls. This view is confirmed by the map of Visconte de Maiollo of
Genoa, in 1527, where the territory above named is clearly shown by a
boundary line and the arms of France, with the name of Francesca
designating it, and capes and headlands all along the coast indicated
and named : by the map of Gerard Mercator, made in Duisburg in 1569,
where the Hudson River is shown to the north of the junction of the
Mohawk: and by the map in the " Cosmographie Universale " of
Andre Thevet, printed in Paris in 1575, where the Hudson River is
shown as in the map of Mercator above mentioned. The very name
of this section of the country, Norumbega, is doubtless of French
origin, being a corruption of " L'anorme berge," "the great rock
ledge, or escarpment," now caUed the Palisades. For these facts and
for an examination of the maps mentioned, I am greatly indebted to the
late work of Mr. A. J. Weise, entitled, " Discoveries of America to
G. R. H.

anchored in New York Bay. On the 12 th he en
tered the river that bears his name, and proceeded
slowly up to a point just above the present site of
the City of Hudson ; thence he sent a boat's crew
to explore farther up, which probably passed above
Albany. September 23d he set sail down the
river, and started on his return to Europe, Oc
tober 4th.
In 1609 Samuel Champlain, a French navigator,
sailed up the St. Lawrence, explored its tributaries,
and on the 4th of July, in that year, discovered the
lake which bears his name.
At the time pf the discovery of New York by the
whites, the southern and eastern portions were in
habited by the Mohegan Indians ; while that por
tion west from the Hudson River was occupied by
five confederate tribes, afterwards named by the
English the Five Nations, by the French the
Iroquois, and by themselves called Hodenosaunee
— people of the Long House. The Long House
formed by this confederacy extended east and west
through the State, having, at its eastern portal, the
Mohawks, and at its western the Senecas ; while
between them dwelt the Oneidas, Onondagas, and
Cayugas ; and, after 1714, a sixth nation, the
Tuscaroras, southeast from Oneida Lake. Of
these Indians, Parkman says that at the commence
ment of the seventeenth century, " in the region
now forming the State of New York, a power was
rising to a ferocious vitality, which, but for the
presence of Europeans, would probably have sub
jected, absorbed, or exterminated every other In
dian community east of the Mississippi and north
of the Ohio."
' ' The Iroquois was the Indian of Indians. A
thorough savage, yet a finished and developed
savage, he is. perhaps, an example of the highest
elevation which man can reach without emerging
from his primitive condition of the hunter. A geo
graphical position, commanding, on the one hand,

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

the portal of the great lakes, and, on the other,
the sources of the streams flowing both to the
Atlantic and the Mississippi, gave the ambitious
and aggressive confederates advantages which they
perfectly understood and by which they profited to
the utmost. Patient and politic as they were fe
rocious, they were not only the conquerors of their
own race, but the powerful allies and the dreaded foes
of the French and English colonies ; flattered and
caressed by both, yet too sagacious to give them
selves without reserve to either. Their organiza
tion and their history evince their intrinsic superior
ity. Even their traditionary lore, amid its wild
puerilities, shows at times the stamp of an energy
and force in striking contrast with the flimsy crea
tions of Algonquin fancy. That the Iroquois,
left under their own institutions, would ever have
developed a civilization of their own, I do not be
lieve." These institutions were not only characteristic
and curious, but almost unique. Without sharing
Morgan's almost fanatical admiration for them, or
echoing the praises which Parkman lavishes on
them, it may be truly said that their wonderful and
cohesive confederation furnished a model worthy to
be copied by civilized nations ; while, so long as
they were uncontaminated by the vices of civiliza
tion, they possessed, with all their savagery, many
noble traits of character, which would adorn any
people in their public, social, or domestic rela
tions. They made themselves the dreaded masters of all
their neighbors east of the Mississippi, and carried
their victorious arms far to the north, the south
and the east. Their dominance is thus eloquently
pictured in Street's ' ' Frontenac " :
" The fierce Adirondacs had fled from their wrath,
The Hurons been swept from their merciless p ith ;
Around, the Ottawas, like leaves, had been strewn.
And the lake of the Eries struck silent and lone.
The Lenape, lords once of valley and hill.
Made women, bent low at their conqueror's will.
By the far Mississippi the Illini shrank
When the trail of the Tortoise was seen on the bank ;
On the hills of New England the Pcquod turned pale
When the howl of the Wolf swelled at night on the gale ;
And the Cherokee shook in his green, smiling bowers
"When the foot of the Bear stamped his carpet of flowers."
It will hereafter be seen that the Iroquois acted
an important part in the early history of the
State. Space will not permit a description of their
league, or confederation, a sketch of their tribal re
lations, and their religious, social, and domestic
customs, or a history of their warlike achievements.
Nor is it necessary. Every one has heard or read
the story.

CHAPTER II.

NEW YORK UNDER THE DUTCH  ENGLISH GOVERNORS
TO 1765.

IN 1 6 10,' another vessel was sent from Holland to
trade with the natives. Soon after others fol
lowed. A small fort and a few rude buildings
were erected at the southern extremity of Manhat
tan Island, in 1612, and the place was named New
Amsterdam. In 1614, the States General of Hol
land granted a charter to the merchants engaged in
these expeditions, under the title of United New
Netherlands Company, giving exclusive privileges
of trade for four years. The Hudson River had
been ascended by Hendrick Corstiaenssen, and
in 1623 a fort and trading house were erected on
the east bank of the river about fifteen leagues above
Manhattan Island, called Fort Nassau. This was
the first of four forts built by the Dutch on the
Hudson River, all of which were erected in the
same year.*
In 1621, the Dutch West India Company was
chartered, and in 1623, a small fort was built near
the Hudson River, in what is now the City ot
Albany, called Fort Orange, and traders were sent
to occupy and to carry on traffic in furs and peltry
with the Indians. In 1626, Peter Minuit, as direc
tor-general of the province, arrived with other set
tlers, and purchased the island of Manhattan from
the Indians for trinkets valued at about $24. In
1629, the Company offered grants and privileges
to patroons who should found settlements in the
province of New Netherlands of fifty or more
adults. Several availed themselves of this offer.
In 1632, Minuit was recalled and Wouter Van
Twiller appointed in his place. During his ad
ministration a controversy concerning jurisdiction
was commenced between the Dutch and the Eng
lish. The latter claimed the country on the ground
of prior discovery by Cabot and the grant of James
I. covering the territory.
In 1638, the weak and rapacious Van Twiller
was succeeded in the government of the colony by
William Kieft. Hostilities, long and merciless,
occurred with the Indians, for which the rash and
* The first Dutch traders on their arrival at the present site of
Albany, found the remains of a fort or chateau on Castle Island, took
measuremenls of it (which are recorded on an old map in the New
York State Library) and called it Fort Nassau, but they at that time
built no fort there. The old fort on Castle Island, which suggested the
name for the island itself, was undoubtedly the relic of a previous oc
cupation by the French as a trading port. The name ol Fort Orange,
a fort on the mainland at the foot of Slate Street, Albany, was on
September i, 1673, changed to Fort Nassau, and the name of the settle
ment Beverwyck to Willemstadt. Q r. h.

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

cruel Kieft was deservedly censured. He was re
called, and succeeded by the sturdy and honest
Peter Stuyvesant, in 1647. Controversy concern
ing jurisdiction and general disorders troubled
his administration, till, in 1664, Charles II. of
England, regardless of the claims of the Dutch,
granted to his brother, the Duke of York and
Albany, afterwards James II., the whole country
from the Connecticut to the Delaware, including
the entire Dutch possessions. A fleet was sent
under Col. Richard Nicolls by the Duke, to enforce
his claim, and on the 3d of September, 1664, the
province was surrendered without bloodshed, and
the government of New Netherlands passed into
the hands of the English.
Col. Nicolls at once assumed the functions of
governor ; the name New Amsterdam was changed
lo New York, and Fort Orange to Albany ; laws
for the government of the province were prescribed,
and courts for their administration established. In
1 668, the unpopular Nicolls resigned, and was suc
ceeded by the odious Col. Francis Lovelace. Eng
land soon became involved in a war with Holland.
July 30, 1673, New York surrendered to the Dutch
without resistance. Capt. Anthony Colve became
Dutch governor ; but on the conclusion of peace
between the two powers, February 9, 1674, the
province, by treaty, reverted to the English. A
new patent was issued to James, confirming the
first, and Sir Edmund Andros was commissioned
governor. The despotic agent of a despotic ruler,
he was unpopular, and became involved in diffi
culties with the neighboring colonies. He was re
called, and Thomas Dongan, his successor, ar
rived August, 1683. October 17th of the same
year, the first Colonial Assembly was convened ;
many needed reforms were instituted, counties were
erected, and better times appeared to have dawned.
The most important act of this Assembly was the
adoption of a charter of liberties and privileges, or
bill of rights. The hopes thus raised were soon
disappointed. On the accession of James II. to
the English throne, in 1685, he refused confirma
tion of the privileges which had been granted while
he was Duke of York, prohibited the Assembly.
forbade the establishment of a printing press in the
colony, and filled the principal offices in the prov
ince with partisan Roman Catholics. During
Dongan's administration, a war broke out between
the Iroquois and the French. The country of the
former had been invaded by De la Barre and M.
Denonville successively; and, in retaliation, the Iro
quois, twelve hundred strong, fell upon the French
on the south side of the island of Montreal,

" burned their houses, sacked their plantations,
and put to the sword all the men, women and chil
dren without the skirts of the town. A thousand
French were slain in this invasion, and twenty-six
Were carried into captivity and burned alive." The
French yielded their claim to the territory south of
Lake Ontario, and peace returned.
In 1688, New York was placed in the same
jurisdiction with New England ; the liberal Dongan
was recalled, and Francis Nicholson temporarily
succeeded him. The arbitrary and foolish King
James II. abdicated in 1688, and in 1689 William
and Mary ascended the English throne. Sir Ed
mund Andros was seized at Boston, and the
popular Jacob Leisler held the fort at New York,
awaiting the policy of the new sovereigns. During
the two years of Leisler's control, the French and
English made a descent on Schenectady, February
8, 1690, and massacred about sixty of the inhabit
ants. The danger by which they were threatened
induced all the people, many of whom were op
posed to Leisler — to submit to his authority for the
time. On the arrival, in March, 1691, of Col.
Sloughter, who had been commissioned governor,
Leisler was unfairly tried by a special commission,
>and unjustly sentenced to death. The governor
refused to sign his death warrant, until over-per
suaded while intoxicated. Leisler was murdered
by his enemies before the governor had recovered
from his intoxication. Sloughter died after a weak
administration of only a few months.
In August, 1692, Benjamin Fletcher arrived with
a commission as governor. He was narrow, violent,
avaricious and bigoted, and his administration was
a continual exhibition of these qualities.
During his time, the Episcopal Church became
the religion of the province, as the Dutch Reformed
had previously been. In 1696, Wm. Bradford es
tablished the first printing-office in New York.
Bold piracies, reaching into the very harbor
of the city, crippled the commercial inter
ests. The war with France raged, and the French
and Indians under Count Frontenac invaded the
country of the Iroquois, killing and taking prison
ers. The Indians retaliated by hostile incursions
among their enemies, but the peace of Ryswick,
between France and England, in 1697, terminated
these hostilities.
Gov. Fletcherwas succeeded in 1698 by Richard,
Earl of Bellomont. He died in 1701, leaving a
name honored for integrity, capacity and sympathy
with the people. In his time the citizenship and
estate of the Leisler family were restored, and piracy
was checked. John Nanfan succeeded him till the

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

arrival of the next governor, Lord Cornbury, in
1702. The administration of this governor was
chiefly distinguished for religious intolerance, dis
honesty and licentiousness — the worst governor
under the English regime. He was succeeded, in
1708, by Lord Lovelace, who soon died. Under
Lieut. -Gov. Ingoldsby, who administered the gov
ernment after his death, an unsuccessful expedition
against Canada was undertaken, and he was re
moved. June 14, 1 710, Gov. Robert Hunter ar
rived. In 171 1, another disastrous expedition
against Canada was made ; but in 171 3, the treaty
of Utrecht terminated the war between England
and France. In 1 7 1 9, Hunter returned to England,
in failing health, and Peter Schuyler was governor,
ad interim, till the arrival of William Burnet in
1720. On the accession of George II. the accom
plished Burnet was transferred to the government
of Massachusetts, succeeded, in 1728, by John
Montgomerie, who died in 1731. Rip Van Dam,
by virtue of seniority in the council, was his suc
cessor, till William Cosby, the next governor, be
gan, in 1732, an administration memorable for its
arbitrary proceedings and tumult, rather than for
striking or important events. The libel trial of
Zenger was in his term. Cosby died in 1736, and
was succeeded by George Clark, senior counselor
after Van Dam. Clark was commissioned lieutenant
governor in the following October. During his
term, the " negro plot " and the disfranchisement
of the Jews were leading matters. An antagonism
had been growing during some time between the
democratic and the aristocratic parties in the col
onies. Clark, at first, sought to conciliate both,
but in the end had the confidence of neither, and
his retirement, on the arrival of his successor, Ad
miral George Clinton, in 1743, was little regretted.
The administration of Governor Clinton was
characterized by a continual conflict with the peo
ple, represented in the provincial Assembly. Un
able by repeated prorogations and dissolutions to
coerce them into submission, he resigned after an
administration often years, and was succeeded, in
!753> by Sir Danvers Osborne. After an adminis
tration of a few days he committed suicide by hang
ing, deranged, probably because of the. embarrass
ment by which he was surrounded and domestic
grief. He was succeeded by Lieut. -Gov. James
De Lancey, till the arrival, in 1755, of Sir Charles
Hardy, who though nominally governor, surren
dered the duties of the office into the hands of De
Lancey. Gov. Hardy resigned in 1757, and De
Lancey became governor. He died in 1760, and
Cadwallader Colden, president of the council, took

charge of the government until October, 1761,
when Gen. Robert Monckton assumed the guber
natorial functions; but on the 13th of the follow
ing month he left the administration of affairs in the
hands of Colden, and went on an expedition against
Martinique. Colden's administration continued
till 1765.

CHAPTER III.

WAR WITH FRANCE AND COMMENCEMENT OF THE
REVOLUTION.
AS early as 1722, a trading post was established at
Oswego by Gov. Burnet, with the view of
establishing others farther west on the lakes, and se
curing the trade of the western Indians. To inter
cept this, and secure this trade for themselves, the
French established a post and erected a fort at Ni
agara, with the design of extending a chain of
military posts to the Ohio River, and thus limiting
the English trade.
In March, 1744, war was declared between
France and England, in which the colonies of New
York and New England participated. During its
continuance the country north from Albany was
frequently ravaged by parties of French and In
dians. Saratoga was burned, and nearly all the in
habitants either killed or made prisoners, and the
village of Hoosic taken.
In 1746, an unsuccessful expedition against
Canada was undertaken, for which the colony of
New York furnished sixteen hundred men. Peace
was concluded at Aix La Chapelle in 1748, and a
period of nominal tranquillity followed, though the
frontier was desolated by savage parties, encouraged
by the French.
In 1755, with the view of checking their en
croachments, four expeditions were sent against
them, two of which were in the colony of New
York. One of them, that against Niagara, under
Gov. William Shirley, was unsuccessful ; and the
other, against Crown Point, under Sir Wm. John
son, achieved only a partial success.
It was not till 1756 that the English ministry
aroused from its imbecility and formally declared
war. In the campaign of 1756, the English and
colonial forces met with no success, but the two
forts at Oswego were lost, with 1,600 prisoners and
much war material. The campaign of 1757 was
equally unsuccessful and disastrous. Fort William
Henry, on Lake George, with 3,000 men, fell into
the hands of the French under Montcalm.
On the accession of William Pitt to the head of

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

the British ministry, in 1758, new energy was in
fused into its measures, and a fresh impulse given
to the colonies. Success soon turned in favor of
the English, and, with few exceptions, continued
till Canada was subdued. Louisburg surrendered
in 1758 ; Ticonderoga; Crown Point, Niagara and
Quebec fell in 1759 ; and Montreal, Detroit, Mich-
ilimackinac and all other Canadian posts in 1760.
The French power in America was ended. A
great obstacle to the prosperity of New York was
removed by the conquest of Canada. There were
no further hostile incursions of French and Indians
into its territory. The treaty of peace was signed
in 1763.
During many years the government of Great
Britain had attempted to make encroachments on
what the colonists regarded as their rights, but
without complete success. The taxation of the
people without their consent was sought to be ac
complished in some insidious manner, and was
steadfastly and watchfully guarded against by the
colonists through their representatives in the
colonial Assembly. In 1765, the notorious Stamp
Act was passed, and its enforcement in the City of
New York and elsewhere attempted. It was re
sisted by the populace ; the effigy of Gov. Colden,
who was charged with its execution, was hanged
t and burned in the streets, and a quantity of the
stamped paper was seized and consumed in a bon
fire. Through the influence of London merchants,
whose colonial trade suffered by reason of the act,
the odious law was repealed in 1766 ; but its re
peal was followed by a declaration by Parliament
of the right " to bind the colonies in all cases what
soever." Troops were quartered in New York
City, for the purpose of enforcing the laws that
Parliament might enact. Collisions occurred be
tween these troops and the people, and the As
sembly refused appropriations for their support.
Parliament declared the legislative powers of the
Assembly annulled until compliance with the de
mands of the government. In June, 1767, a bill
was enacted by Parliament imposing duties on tea
and certain other articles imported into the colonies.
This was followed by a revival of the non-importa
tion agreement that had previously been entered
into by the colonists, and again the interests of the
English merchants procured the repeal of all these
duties, except that on tea.
Sir Henry Moore succeeded Gov. Colden in
1765, and his administration continued till his
death, in 1769, when the government again de
volved on Cadwallader Colden. Between the

soldiers and the Sons of Liberty animosities con
tinued to exist. On the 18th of January, 1770, a
collision between patriot citizens and the soldiery
occurred at Golden Hill, in New York City, in
which several of the citizens were wounded.
In October, 1770, Lord Dunmore superseded
Colden. In 1 771, he was transferred to Virginia,
and succeeded in New York by William Tryon.
The non-importation agreement was continued
so far as related to tea, and the East India Com
pany suffered severely in consequence. Deter
mined to maintain the assumed right of taxation,
the British government remitted to the company
the export duty on tea shipped to the colonies, and
demanded 3d. per pound to be paid in America.
Regardless of this appeal to their cupidity, the
people made such demonstrations of resistance that
the consignees in New York resigned, and when
an attempt was made to land a quantity of tea
clandestinely, it was thrown overboard by the
vigilance committee, April 22, 1774, as it had been
done in Boston on the 16th of the previous De
cember. It is hardly necessary to say that the op
pressive acts of the King and Parliament met with
as firm resistance in the other colonies as in New
York. The battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775,
was the signal for a general rush to arms through
out all the colonies. The first Continental Con
gress met September 5, 1774.
In New York City the arms in the arsenals were
seized and distributed among the people, and a
provisional government for the city was organized.
Ticonderoga was seized on the 10th of May, 1775,
by Vermont and Connecticut patriots under Col.
Elthan Allen, and two days later, Crown Point was
taken by Seth Warner. Thus the command of
Lake Champlain was secured.
The adjourned Continental Congress, with five
members from New York, assembled in Phila
delphia on the 10th of May. The Provincial Con
gress assembled vin New York April 20th and May
22d. It authorized the raising of two regiments, en
couraged the making of powder and muskets,
projected forts, and appointed a Committee of
Safety. In the autumn an armament was collected by
Gen. Philip Schuyler, at Ticonderoga, and an ex
pedition went against Canada, under Gen. Richard
Montgomery, who fell at Quebec, December 31,
1775. The forts at Chambly, St. Johns and
Montreal were taken, and Quebec was assaulted ;
but the colonial force was finally repulsed by over
whelming numbers, and driven out of Canada,

6

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

after much brave fighting and heroic endurance,
in the summer of 1776.

CHAPTER IV.

REVOLUTIONARY EVENTS IN NEW YORK — THE STATE
GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED.

WASHINGTON, by appointment of Congress,
took command of the Continental army
July 3, 1775, at Cambridge, Mass. Early in 1776,
Gen. Charles Lee, with a force of twelve hundred
men, occupied the City of New York against Sir
Henry Clinton. On the 25th June, General Howe,
who had previously evacuated Boston and sailed
for Halifax, appeared off Sandy Hook with his
army, where he was soon afterwards joined by his
brother, Admiral Howe, with a force of British
regulars and Hessians, and Clinton, on his return
from an unsuccessful attack on Charleston, making
an aggregate force of about 30,000 men.
The Provincial Congress of New York adjourned
to White Plains, where it convened on the 9th of
July, and ratified the Declaration of Independence
by the Continental Congress, made July 4, 1776.
On the 2 2d of August, a British force landed on
Long Island, and on the 27th a battle was fought,
resulting in the defeat of the Americans, who, on
the night of the 29th, favored by a thick fog, re
treated to New York. We have not space to tell
the horrible story of the New York prisons and
prison-ships, nor of the barbarian execution of
Nathan Hale. The plan had been formed to cap
ture New York, ascend the Hudson, effect a junc
tion with a force from Canada under Gen. Carleton,
and thus cut off communication between the pa
triots of New England and those of the middle and
southern colonies ; but the precautions of Wash
ington and the failure of Carleton frustrated the
plan. On the 15th of September, Gen. Howe took pos
session of New York, and the Americans retreated
to Harlem Heights. Gen. Howe sought to gain
their rear, but Washington's movements frustrated
his designs. On the 28th of October, was fought
the battle of White Plains. Fort Washington and
Fort Lee were taken by the British in November.
Opposed to Gen. Carleton at the north was Gen.
Gates, who abandoned Crown Point and concen
trated his forces at Ticonderoga. A small squadron
was formed and placed on Lake Champlain under
command of Arnold in August. An action took
place in October between this squadron and the

fleet which Carleton had prepared at St. Johns, in
which the Americans were defeated and fell back
on Ticonderoga. Not deeming it prudent to at
tack them there, Gen. Carleton withdrew to Canada.
The whole affair reflected credit on American skill
and bravery in naval contest.
On the 2 ist of April, 1777, the first State Con
stitution was adopted at Kingston, and under it
George Clinton was elected governor.
The principal object of the British in the cam
paign of 1777, was to carry out the cherished design
of separating the eastern from the southern colonies
by controlling the Hudson River and Lake Cham-
plain. Gen. Burgoyne, who had superseded Gen.
Carleton, was to force his way from Canada, and
meet Sir Henry Clinton at Albany, while Col. St.
Leger was to ascend the St. Lawrence, and, with a
force of loyalists and Indians, sweep through the
Mohawk valley from Oswego and Rome, and join
them at the same city.
In June, Burgoyne moved on Ticonderoga,
which Gen. St. Clair evacuated on July 5th. The
American army retreated to Fort Edward. At
Bennington, the Americans, under Gen. John
Stark, achieved a splendid victory over a detach
ment of the enemy under Col. Baum, on the 1 7th
of August.
Col. St. Leger invested Fort Schuyler, situated
where now is the village of Rome. Gen. Gans-
voort was in command of the fort, called later Fort
Stanwix, to whose relief Gen. Herkimer was sent
Under him was fought, August 5th, the fierce bat
tle of Oriskany against Tories and Indians from the
forces of St. Leger. The bravery of Marinus Wil-
lett and Gen. Arnold saved the fort and led St
Leger to withdraw on the 2 2d of August.
Gen. Philip Schuyler, in command of the north
ern army, continued his retreat before Burgoyne,
until he reached Van Schaick's Island, at the
mouth of the Mohawk, where he threw up in-
trenchments and awaited the approach of the
enemy. Here he was superseded by Gen. Gates,
who advanced his forces to Bemis Heights, in
Stillwater, where were fought the desperate and de
cisive battles of the 19th of September and 7th of
October, and Burgoyne was forced to surrender, on
the 1 7th of October, his whole army and military
equipage. #
While operations were in progress in the vicinity
of Saratoga Sir Henry Clinton sought to make a
diversion in favor of Burgoyne. He proceeded up
the Hudson, captured Forts Montgomery and
Clinton, devastated the settlements along the banks
of the river, burnt Kingston, and, on learning of

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

the surrender of Burgoyne, returned to New York.
In the campaigns of 1778 and 1779, no vel7 im~
portant operations were carried on in New York.
The Indians of the Six Nations (except some of the
Oneidas and a few others) were induced by the
Tories to carry on against the Americans their
savage and cruel warfare, and devastation, slaughter
and massacres were the result. To arrest these
depredations Gen. John Sullivan, in the summer of
1779, with an army of 3,000 men, ascended the
Susquehanna to Tioga Point, where he was joined
by Gen. James Clinton with a thousand men.
With these forces they penetrated the country of
the savages, destroyed their towns, and laid waste
their cornfields and orchards, all through Western
New York. Though not subdued by this punish
ment, they were so crippled that their inroads were
less frequent and destructive.
During the years 1780 and 1781, the Mohawk
valley was the scene of devastation by the savages
of the Six Nations, particularly the Mohawks, under
their celebrated chief Brant. The oft-told tales of
massacre at Wyoming, Cherry Valley, Minnisink,
Cobleskill, and other peaceful homes along the
Susquehanna, Mohawk, Schoharie and Delaware
valleys, require no repetition. Aside from these,
New York was not the scene of important hostile
operations. The year 1780 was made memorable
by the treason of Arnold. This brave and daring
officer had, for some irregularities in Philadelphia
in 1778, been court-martialed and sentenced to be
reprimanded by the commander-in-chief. He ap
parently acquiesced in the sentence, but his pride
was deeply wounded, and he thirsted for revenge.
He solicited and obtained command of West Point,
and entered into negotiations with Sir Henry Clin
ton for the delivery of that fortress into the. hands
of the British. In the course of these negotiations
Major John Andre, of the British army, met Gen.
Arnold on the banks of the Hudson. In attempt
ing to return he was captured, about thirty miles
from New York, by three militiamen, named John
Paulding, David Williams and Isaac Van Wart,
who refused his offered bribes, and delivered him
to their commander. He was tried, condemned,
and executed as a spy, October 2, 1780.
The Revolutionary War virtually closed with the
surrender of CornwaUis and his army at Yorktown
on the 19th of October, 1781. A treaty of peace
was entered into on the 3d of September, 1783,
and on the 25th of November in the same year the
British troops evacuated New York. Washington
laid down his command in December.
After the United States had achieved their inde

pendence, it was early perceived that the confeder
ation, which had been established for a particular
purpose, lacked that cohesive force which was re
quisite for an effectual national government.
Measures were accordingly instituted, first for a re
vision of the Articles of Confederation, but, finally,
the formation of a national Constitution was deter
mined on ; and such Constitution was formed by
the Convention in Philadelphia, in 1787. Hamil
ton, Yates and Lansing were the delegates from
New York. After its adoption by the requisite
number of States, it was ratified in Convention by
the State of New York, on the 26th of July, 1788,
by a vote of 30 to 27, and seven not voting.
The difficulties arising out of the conflicting
claims of New York and New Hampshire to the
territory now comprising Vermont, since 1763,
which had been held in partial abeyance during
the Revolutionary struggle, were finally settled by
the admission of the disputed territory into the
Union, in 1790, under the name of Vermont, as
the fourteenth State.
By reason of indefiniteness and confusion in the
original grants, Massachusetts made valid claim
upon a portion of the territory of New York. This
claim was settled by the cession to Massachusetts
of all rights, except that of political sovereignty, over
about one-fourth of the State. The largest tract of
these lands, embracing what has been known as
the Genessee country, was sold by Massachusetts
for the sum of one million dollars.

CHAPTER V.

THE WAR OF 1 8l 2 BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES
AND GREAT BRITAIN.

EARLY in the present century difficulties arose
between this country and Great Britain con
cerning the rights of neutrals on the seas, and the
alleged aggressions of the British became a subject
of bitter animosity.
The English government claimed the right to
search American vessels and impress into its ser
vice such of their crews as it chose to regard as
British subjects. Claiming that the vindication of
the national honor demanded it, war was declared
by the United States on the 19th of June, 181 2.
To this measure there was a strong opposition,
both in New England and New York. Party spirit
ran very high. War crippled commerce and every
industry, and cost money and men. To carry it
on, an invasion of Canada was determined on,

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

and forces were collected in the vicinity of Platts
burg, on Lake Champlain, under Gen. Henry
Dearborn, and at Lewiston, on the Niagara River,
under Gen. Stephen Van Rensselaer. A naval
force was fitted up on the lakes, and Commodore
Chauncey was placed in command of it. Unsuc
cessful attempts were made by the British fleet on
Sackett's Harbor and Ogdensburg. The British
vessel Caledonia was captured at the foot of Lake
Erie. An attack was made on the heights at
Queenstown, on the Canadian side of the Niagara ;
and though at first the Americans were successful,
they were finally compelled to retreat.
Early in the spring of 1813, a successful expe
dition to Canada was made from Ogdensburg. In
retaliation, an attack was made on that place, some
stores were taken, several vessels destroyed, and
the property of citizens injured. In April, a suc
cessful expedition was sent by Gen. Dearborn
against York, now Toronto. In May, the British
were driven from Fort George, on the Niagara
River, near Lake Ontario, and the enemy's post on
that frontier was evacuated. Sackett's Harbor was
attacked by the British, who were repulsed. An
unsuccessful attack was also made by them on the
village of Black Rock.
The brilliant victory of Commodore Oliver H.
Perry, on Lake Erie, was achieved on the 10th of
September, 1813. The operations on Lake On
tario were less decisive. Late in the autumn, an
unsuccessful attempt was made to invade Canada
under Gen. Wilkinson. The American generals
Izard and Hampton were repulsed near the border
of Franklin County. In December the British
took Fort Niagara, and massacred a large part of
the garrison, and even hospital patients. Lewis-
ton was burned, and the villages of Youngstown,
Manchester, Schlosser and the Indian village of
Tuscarora were devastated by the enemy. The
villages of Black Rock and Buffalo were also
burned, and thus the desolation of the Niagara
frontier was completed.
Early in 18 14, an attempt was made by the Brit
ish to capture some military stores at Oswego
Falls, but without success. On the 3d of July,
1 814, Fort Erie was taken by the Americans, and
on the 25th a battle was fought at Lundy's Lane.
In August, Fort Erie was besieged by the British,
who were compelled to retire. Scott, Wool,
Brown, Miller and other American commanders
showed remarkable skill and bravery in these bat
tles ; but many noble lives were lost and little
gained in compensation.
The plan of a dismemberment of the Union, by

possessing Lake Champlain and the Hudson River
and capturing New York, was again formed. It
was hoped that discontent and opposition to the
war in New England, and possibly in New York,
might lead to the conclusion of a separate peace
with these States. The people, however, were fully
aroused, and the defenses of New York were
strengthened and strongly garrisoned. An invasion
was undertaken from Canada, and a descent was
made upon Plattsburg by an army of 11,000 men
under Sir George Prevost. A severe engagement,
on the 1 1 th of September compelled him to retire
with great loss. The British fleet, under Commo
dore Downie, was on the same day captured on
Lake Champlain by Commodore McDonough. No
further invasion of the New York frontier took
place. On the 24th of December, 1814, a treaty
of peace was concluded at Ghent. The cruel war
was ended, and the Union was made stronger.
Daniel D. Tompkins was the great war governor,
and was left almost single-handed to protect our
northern frontier, New England, excepting Ver
mont, being filled with discontents. No State
suffered more than New York, or gained more by
the return of peace.
No other serious interruption of the peaceful
relations between this country and England has
occurred. Some infractions of the neutrality laws
have been attempted on the Canadian frontier, the
chief of which took place during the Canadian re
bellion, commonly known as the "Patriot war,"
in 1837-38.
What were known as the ' ' anti-rent disturb
ances," growing out of the manorial claims, com
menced as early as 1839, and were not terminated
till 1846. Laws were enacted to modify the pro
cess of collecting rents and to extend the time for
' ' re-entry " on lands where rents were in arrears,
and quiet was finally restored.
The annexation of Texas to the United States
led to hostilities between Mexico and this nation,
and on the nth of May, 1846, Congress declared
that, by the acts of the Mexicans, war existed be
tween the two nations. The Americans were vic
torious in all important engagements with the
Mexican army, and the part taken by the troops
from the State of New York, under Generals Worth
and Wool, was conspicuous and highly creditable
to their valor.
From lime to time, the Legislature enacted laws
concerning slavery, down to the year 1819. A law
passed in 1799 provided for the gradual extinction
of slavery in the State. In 181 7 a further act
was passed decreeing that there should be no slav-

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

9

ery in the State after the 4th of July, 1827. Ten
thousand slaves were set free by this act, and the
dark stain was wiped out.
The recognition of slavery in the Territories of
the United States was earnestly resisted during
many years, and the controversy finally resulted in
a gigantic civil war. On the election of Abraham
Lincoln to the Presidency, in i860, on the platform
of avowed hostility to the extension of slavery,
and the failure to effect a compromise by which the
institution should be recognized or tolerated in
any of the Territories, the Southern States deter
mined to secede from the Union and establish a
separate government. The attack by the Confede
rates, as these States styled themselves, on Fort
Sumter, was the first overt act of the Rebellion,
and its occurrence, in April, 186 1, was the com
mencement of active hostilities. Before the close
of that year the State of New York had placed in
the field one hundred and fifteen regiments.
In July, 1863, during the execution of a \ draft
ordered by Congress, an alarming riot occurred in
the City of New York. The police were unable to
check its progress, and during several days the city
was convulsed with lawlessness, rapine and murder.
The outbreak was finally quelled by military force,
but not until a large amount of property had been
destroyed and many lives sacrificed. The war
was prolonged till April, 1865, when it terminated
with the complete success of the Union arms and
dispersion of the rebel army. This State had done
its part in this great struggle.

CHAPTER VI.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS  CONSTITUTIONAL AMEND
MENTS  SCHOOLS  STATISTICS.
IN 1 791, the Legislature ordered an exploration
and survey to ascertain the most eligible meth
od of removing obstructions from the Mohawk and
Hudson Rivers, with a view to improve their navi
gation by the construction of canals. In 1792,
two companies were incorporated, styled the North
ern and Western Inland Lock Navigation Com
panies, for the purpose of facilitating navigation by
connecting Lake Ontario with the Mohawk and
Lake Champlain with the Hudson by canals.
Among the prime movers were Gen. Schuyler and
Elkanah Watson.
In 1 8 10, a provision was made by the Legislature
"for exploring the route of an inland navigation
from Hudson's River to Lake Ontario and Lake
2

Erie." It was at first proposed to solicit aid from
the general government to carry out this work; but
in 18 1 2, a commission reported to the Legislature
that sound policy demanded that this should be
done by the State. War with Great Britain inter
rupted the project.
On the termination of the war the project was
revived; and notwithstanding the formidable char
acter of the undertaking, and the difficulties in its
way, through the untiring energy and perseverance
of De Witt Clinton, an act prepared by him was
passed in April, 1817, authorizing the construction
of the work. This — the Erie Canal — was com
menced on the 4 th of July in that year, and on the
26th of October, 1825, the first flotilla of boats left
Buffalo for New York. Its departure was commu
nicated to New York in one hour and twenty min
utes by the discharge of cannon stationed within
hearing of each other. This was then regarded as
a rapid transmission of intelligence.
The first railroad in the State, between Albany
and Schenectady, was chartered in 1826, and
completed in 1831. Other roads through the cen
tral portion of the State were soon constructed,
and railroad connection between the great lakes
and Hudson River established. In 1851, these
different roads were consolidated into the present
immense New York Central Railroad; and, subse
quently, connection was made by the Hudson
River Railroad, with the City of New York. In
1833, the New York and Erie Railway was com
menced, and completed in 1852. The enlarge
ment of the Erie Canal to its present capacity was
commenced in 1835 and completed in 1862.
These constitute the main avenues of travel and
transportation through the State, between its eastern
and western extremities. Connecting routes in
every direction have come into existence, and the
facilities for transportation and travel in this State
are not excelled by those of any other. It is hardly
necessary to call attention to the telegraph lines
that ramify through all parts of the State.
It has already been stated that a State Constitu
tion was adopted in 1777. Seveial amendments
to this Constitution were adopted in the Convention
of 1 82 1, and the new Constitution was adopted in
1822, at a popular election held for that purpose,
by a large majority in a vote of 116,919.
On the ist of June, 1846, another constitutional
convention met at Albany, which continued in
session more than four months. The amendments
adopted by that body were ratified by the people
in the following November, by a majority of more
than 20, 000 votes.

10

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

In June, 1867, another constitutional conven
tion assembled. The amended Constitution framed
by this convention, submitted to the people in No
vember, 1869, resulted in its rejection, except the
article making changes in the judiciary, by a ma
jority of more than 66,000. The judiciary article
was accepted by a small majority.
In 1872, a commission of thirty-two persons was
appointed to propose to the Legislature amend
ments to the Constitution. In 1873 several im
portant amendments were recommended, and rati
fied at the election in 1874. It is a notable fact
that, as changes have been made in the Constitu
tion of the State, the elective franchise has been
extended. In 1784, a law was enacted incorporating the
Regents of the University of New York. They
were entrusted with the higher education of the
State, as imparted or to be imparted in colleges
and academies. The first academies incorporated
by them were Erasmus Hall of Flatbush, and
Clinton Hall of Easthampton, both on Long
Island, and both incorporated November 20, 1787.
In their report for 1793, they called attention to the
importance of instituting a Common School System.
At different times, from 1787 to 1795, Gov. Clin
ton called the attention of the Legislature to the
same subject. In the latter year, an act was passed
appropriating $50,000 annually, ibr five years, for
the encouragement of schools. In 1805, after
attention had repeatedly been called to the subject
by the different governors, the Legislature passed
an act laying the foundation of the present com
mon school fund. In 181 2, the common school
system was adopted, comprising substantially the
features of the system as it existed up to 1840. In
1854, a Department of Public Instruction was
established, and Victor M. Rice made the first
Superintendent. Under his administration of nine
years, Normal Schools were established, County
Supervision and Teachers' Institutes made more
efficient, the odious rate bill was abolished, and
other improvements inaugurated, which lay at the
foundation of all that has since been done under
our grand school system.
The State Agricultural Society, which has been
productive of such great benefit, was organized
at a convention in Albany in 1832. It was reor
ganized in 1 84 1, and measures were adopted for
raising funds and holding annual fairs.
In 1836, the Legislature ordered a scientific
survey of the State for the purpose of developing
a knowledge of its geology, mineralogy and nat
ural history. The published reports of this survey

are of very great value. To Prof. James Hall is
chiefly due this great work.
The following list of the Governors, Lieutenant
Governors and Presidents of the Council who have
administered the Government of the Colony and
of the State of New York from 1629 to the present
time, will be found convenient for reference :
Under the Dutch. — Directors General — Adriaen
Joris, 1623 ; Cornelis Jacobsen May, 1624 ; Willem
Verhulst, 1625; Peter Minuit, 1626; The Coun
cil, 1632; Wouter Van Twiller, 1633; William
Kieft, 1638; Peter Stuyvesant, 1647.
Under the English. — Colonial Governors, etc.,
1664-73 — Richard Nicolls, 1664; Col. Francis
Lovelace, 1667.
Under the Dutch again, 1673. — Cornelis Ev-
ertse, Jr. , Jacob Benckes, and Council of War,
August 19; Anthony Colve, September 19, 1673.
Under the English. — Colonial Governors, etc —
Major Edmund Andros, 1674 ; Anthony Brock- I
holies (Commander-in-Chief), 1 677 ; Sir Edmund
Andros, 1678; Anthony Brockholles, 1681; Col.
Thomas Dongan, 1682; Sir Edmund Andros,
August n, 1685 ; Francis Nicholson (Lieutenant
Governor), October 9, 1688; Jacob Leisler,
1689; Col. Henry Sloughter, March 19, 1691;
Major Richard Ingoldsby, July 26, 1691 ; Col.
Benj. Fletcher (Commander-in-Chiei), 1692 ;
Richard, Earl of Bellomont, 1688; John Nanfan
(LieutenantGovernor), 1699; Earl of Bellomont,
1700; William Smith (eldest Councillor), 1701 ;
John Nanfan (Lieutenant Governor), 1701 ; Lord
Cornbury, 1702; John, Lord Lovelace, 1708;
Peter Schuyler (President), May 6, Richard In
goldsby (Lieutenant Governor), May 9, and Peter
Schuyler, May 25, and Richard Ingoldsby (Lieu
tenant Governor), June 1, 1709; Gerardus Beeck-
man, April 10; Brigadier Robert Hunter, June
14, 1 7 10; Peter Schuyler (President), 1719 ;
William Burnet, 1720; John Montgomerie, 1728;
Rip Van Dam (President), 1731 ; Col. Wm. Cosby,
1732; Geo. Clarke (President), 1736; Admiral
Geo. Clinton, 1743; Sir Dan vers Osborne, Octo
ber 10, and James De Lancey (Lieutenant Gov
ernor), October 12, 1753; Sil" Charles Hardy,
1755; James De Lancey (Lieutenant Governor),
1757; Cadwallader Colden (President), 1760;
Major-General Robert Monckton, October 26, and
Cadwallader Colden (Lieutenant Governor), No
vember 18, 1 76 1 ; Major General Robert Monck
ton, 1762; Cadwallader Colden, 1763; Sir Henry
Moore, 1765; Cadwallader Colden, 1769; John,
Earl of Dunmore, 1770; William Tryon, 1 771 ;
Cadwallader Colden (Lieutenant Governor), 1774;

OUTLINE HISTORY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

11

William Tr>on, 1775; Janus Robertson, 1780;
Andrew Elliot (Lieutenant Governor), 1 783.
Governors of the State: George Clinton, 1777 ;
John Jay, 1795 ; George Clinton, 1801 ; Morgan
Lewis, 1804; Daniel D. Tompkins, 1807; De
Witt Clinton, 18 17; Joseph C.Yates, 1822; De
Witt Clinton, 1824; Martin Van Buren, 1828;
Enos T, Thrqop, 1830 ; William L. Marcy, 1832 ;
William H. Seward, 1838; William C. Bouck,
1842; Silas Wright, 1844; John Young, 1846;
Hamilton Fish, 1848; Washington Hunt, 1850;
Horatio Seymour, 1852; Myron H. Clark, 1854;
John A. King, 1856; Edwin D.Morgan, 1858;
Horatio Seymour, 1862; Reuben E. Fenton,
1864; John T. Hoffman, 1868; John A. Dix,

1872; Samuel J. Tilden, 1874; Lucius Robinson,
1876; Alonzo B. Cornell, 1880; Grover Cleve
land, 1883; David B. Hill, 1885.
The population of the colony and State of New
York was, in 1698, 18,067; 17°3> 20,665; 1723,
40,564; 1731, 5°,824; 1737, 60,437; 1746,
61,589; 1749, 73.348; 1756, 96.790; 1771,
J63,337; 1790,340,120; 1800, 586,756; 1810,
959,049; 1820, 1,372,812; 1830, 1,918,608;
1840, 2,428,921; 1850,3,097,394; i860, 3,880,-
735 5 1870, 4,3^2,759; l88°. 5.°84,i73-
Of ihe total population there were in 1790,
21,324 slaves; in 1800, 33,343; *8io, 15,017;
1820, 10,088; 1830, 75; 1840, 4.

HISTORY

OF THE

COUNTY OF ALBANY
written and edited by
PROF. JONATHAN TENNEY, PH.D.

TOPOGRAPHY.
THE County of Albany, one of the original ten
counties of the present State of New York,
bears the name of the Scotch title of the Duke of
York and Albany, afterwards King James II. of
England. It was incorporated under Gov. Thomas
Dongan, November I, 1683, and confirmed
October 1, 1691. It is situated on the west bank
of the Hudson River, about 165 miles from its
sources in the Adirondacks, and 168 miles from
its mouth at the Atlantic Ocean, reckoning from the
Mohawk. It lies at the head of tide water, and
of sloop and steamboat navigation. Its latitude is
between 42" 23' and 42° 49' N. Its longitude is
between 2U 40' and 3" 15' E. from Washington, and
1 5' and 20' W. from New York City. Its extent,
east and west, is about 25 miles ; north and south,
2 2 miles. It has an area of about 544 square miles,
or 348,160 acres. Its northern and southern
boundaries are nearly parallel, and its western
boundary, throughout its whole extent, is under
stood to run equidistant from the course of the
Hudson River in all its windings.
LAND SURFACE.
The land surface of the county is strikingly diver
sified. Alluvial flats, varying from about a quarter
of a mile to one mile in breadth, lie along the Hud
son, from which hills arise, by slopes now gentle,
now abrupt, to an elevation of from 100 to 200 feet.
From these extend undulating plains, varied by
fields of sand and clay, small marshes and ravines
made by the waterways, until the foot of the
Helderbergs is reached on the west, making a total
rise of from 400 to 800 feet above the tides. Then
come these Helderberg hills, rising from 300 to
1,000 feet higher, and often forming a precipitous
wall of 100 feet or more. There are no isolated
peaks to these hills. Beyond, sloping gradually
toward the west and south, are irregular and rocky
plateaus in the towns of Berne and Rensselaerville.

Along the Mohawk the land is broken and rugged.
Rocky ridges, deep gullies and hills and plains of
clay and sand, are abundant throughout the county.
The highest elevation in the county is at the
place called the "Helderberg Station" of the
United States Coast Survey, a location which
ought to have a more distinctive name. Its sum
mit is 1,823 feet above sea level. It lies in the
town of New Scotland. The Helderberg Hills
are a leading feature of the county, whether we
consider their prominence, their geological struc
ture, or their relation to soil and climate. Their-
' ' romantic wooded rock scenery, dark caverns,
sprayey waterfalls, varied landscape and accessible
mountain grandeur render them of interest to the
artist, author, student, poet, tourist and rusticator,"
says Colvin. GEOGRAPHY.
Hills. — The name Helderberg signifies Clear
Mountain. Its hills and ranges connect with
the Catskills, of which they are outlying spurs.
They are a continuation of the Allegany Moun
tains, running northerly across our county,
and a part of the great Appalachian system to
which belong the Adirondacks, the Green Moun
tains and the White Hills. No description of
these hills so graphic as that written by Yerplanck
Colvin, of Albany, and published in Harper's
"Monthly Magazine," for October, 1869, has yet
been seen or read. He tells you of their dark, gray
cliffs, their fearful overhanging precipices, their
rock-filled gorges, their gloomy recesses untrodden
hy man, their dripping rocks, their domes and
dark intricate caverns, their waterfalls that drop
into caves, and, after subterranean flow, appear
again as tributaries to larger streams ; of their
sequestered dens, once the resort of savage beasts
and more savage Indians and Tories ; of the Indian
trail and Indian ladder ; of shell-covered cliffs and
limestone rocks charged with fossils that tell us

GEOGRAPHY.

In O

that once they formed beds of the old ocean. As
cending the summits, he shows you the sutured
plateaus and the splendid scene in the widespread
panorama of field and forest and distant hills
around you.
The learned Sir Charles Lyell, of England, visited
this region and viewed its varied wonders with
amazement, and spoke of them as a new world,
forgotten by men of science, abounding in
striking peculiarities worthy of close study.
Dr. Markle remembers his remark that the
' ' Helderbergs are a key to the geology of North
America. "
Recently they are much visited, and are becoming
a favorite summer resort to the weary student and
the tired and stifled denizens of the city, as well as
to the appreciative lover of nature. Better facilities
for access to them, and pleasant homes upon their
slopes and summits, are now provided.
There are other hills in the county that ' ' have
a local habitation and a name," as Cedar Hill, in
Bethlehem; Mossy and Gedney Hills, in Coeymans ;
Grippy and Irish Hills, in Berne ; Sittles Hill, in
Knox ; Bennett's, Mount Pleasant and Copeland's
Hills, in New Scotland — all spurs or elevations of
the Helderbergs.
Islands. — In the acts .establishing the river
boundary of Albany County all islands in the Hud
son that are nearest the western shore are included
in our county of Albany. There are several of
these, some of which are of considerable importance.
Of these Van Rensselaer's or Westerlo Island is the
largest, containing about 160 acres of fertile land,
adapted to garden culture, producing fine crops in
favorable seasons. The northern part is occupied
by extensive iron works. Its lower grounds are
subject to the heavy floods. In May, 1833, it was
occupied by eleven farms, which were overflowed,
causing a damage of $6,000 to the crops. It is
recorded, in October, 1850, that it had been
flooded eight times that year. Historically, this is
our oldest island.- To say nothing of the tra
ditionary occupation by Spanish or French adven
turers, at an earlier date, which, if true, is of little
importance, as they left no name and no trace in
our history, we are certain that Hendrick Corstiaen-
sen, in 16 14, with his companions, occupied the
island, under the patronage of the United New
Netherlands Company, for the purpose of trading
in furs, and remained until the spring floods
destroyed their works. Then they removed further
down on elevated grounds, near the mouth of the
Normanskill. It is said that they erected a stockade
as a defense against the Indians, with whom they

carried on a profitable trade. This fortification was
about 50 feet square, surrounded by a moat 18
feet wide, defended by 1 1 stone guns and 2 can
non, and garrisoned by 12 men under Jacob
Jacobsen Elkins, who succeeded Corstiaenssen.
The name of Kasteel or Castle Island was taken.
It is called by this name by many early writers, and
in the later reports and papers of Gov. Stuyvesant.
In 1639, it was visited by De Vries, who found it
occupied by Brandt Pylen, or Peelan, under lease
from the patroon and his co-partners, Godyn,
Bloemart, and De Laet. It was well stocked and
successfully farmed. Indians were fishing around
its shores. The island has been spoken of at
various times as Welysburg, Van Der Donk's, Mar
tin Gerritsen's, Sweaton's and Boyd's Island, prob
ably from its leading occupants. It belongs to the
town of Bethlehem. On the Coast Survey maps it
is written as Westerlo Island — a preferable name, as
the name of Van Rensselaer was, long ago, given
to the island opposite Albany and belonging to Rens
selaer Count)-, upon which are situated the Boston
and Albany Railroad shops.
Near the junction of the Mohawk and Hudson
are Haver Island, on which, as tradition tells us,
was Moenemines Castle, once an important Mo
hawk village ; Van Schaick's Island, on which
Gen. Schuyler, in 1777, retreating from Burgoyne's
advancing march, stitioned his army behind in-
trenchments, hoping to stay the progress of the
British army towards Albany at that point ; and
Whale Island, now covered with sand and water,
and interesting only as the stranding place of that
' ' monster of the deep, " which wandered up the
river in 1.646, hoping, no doubt, to find a passage
to Greenland this way, but instead meeting his
death, losing his blubber, greasing the river, and
creating a great stench for miles around, by his
atmospheric cremation.
Green Island, directly opposite Troy, is a village,
incorporated October 14, 1853, and May 12, 1869.
It is the seat of extensive manufactures, producing
railroad cars, stoves, sash and blinds, etc. It also
has the repair shops of the Rens. and Sar. Railroad,
foundry and machine shops, malleable iron works
and many mechanic shops. It is connected with
Troy by a bridge 1680 feet long, and by street cars
with Cohoes, Troy, W. Troy and Albany. It has
five or six churches, railroad stations of the New
York Central and Rens. and Sar. Railroads,
and village schools. It was once called Tibbett's
Island. Pleasure Island, a short distance above Albany,
is a summer resort, having a race-ground and

14

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

other attractions for sporting men and pleasure-
seekers. Beeren Island (Beeren Eylandt), or Bear's
Island, in the Hudson, about n miles below
Albany, belongs to the town of Coeymans, and lies
near the shore, a little southeast of the village. Its
area is about two acres, its northern aspect being an
abrupt rocky promontory, from which it gradually
slopes to its southern terminus. Its soil was
never adapted to agriculture ; trees and a thin
growth of grass cover it in patches ; it has been
a good place for fishing. Claimed by the patroon,
it was chosen early as a fine place for fortifications
to keep off intruders upon his lands, his timber,
his trade and his home. Accordingly, in 1643, a
fort, named Rensselaer Stein, was erected, defended
by mounted cannon and a garrison, and placed in
charge of Nicholas Coorn as wachtmeister. Each
skipper, on passing the island, was to lower his
flag in acknowledgment of the rights of the patroon
and pay a tribute of five stivers. This caused bit
ter but bloodless contention for a time between the
officers of the patroon and of the West India Com
pany. This company denied the exclusive claim to
the navigation of the river made by Van Rensselaer.
The fort and the controversy ceased when the Eng
lish came in possession in 1664. Dim history tells
us of its occupancy, at one time, by a few Indian
hunters ; at another, by the Coeymans family as a
defense against the Indians ; at another, as a
quarantine station for vessels coming up from New
York City ; at another, by hunters digging for the
hidden treasure of Capt. Kidd. For a generation
past it has been a favorite resort for Sabbath-school
and other picnic excursions. For this purpose it
is well adapted by location, neatness and fine
accommodations. Other islands in the Hudson, belonging to
Albany County, that have a name, beginning
southerly and coming up the river, are Shad and
and Schermerhorn— the latter called sometimes
Neifer — Wooden and Poplar, opposite Coeymans ;
Sill's or Van Woert, Bear, Beacon or Bisby, Cab
bage or Jolly, Marsh and Bogart's, opposite Beth
lehem ; Lower Patroon, Patroon, Cuyler, Hill-
house or Glen, and Breaker, opposite Watervliet.
On the Mohawk, above the Cohoes Falls, are
Fonda and Cobble islands.
Ponds.— The ponds or lakes of the county are
few and small. In Rensselaerville are two small
ponds, dignified by the name of Big and Little
Lake; Werner's Lake in Berne; Thompson's in
Berne and Knox ; Lawson's in New Scotland, and
Coeymans. Tivoli Lake is one of the sources of

the water supply of Albany, lying in what is now
Watervliet, at the north of the city. Deer Pond
also is in Watervliet.
The lakes Werner and Thompson, on the hills,
are becoming places of delightful resort in summer,
for which ample accommodations are made.
Rivers. — The notable rivers that water the county
are the Hudson, the Mohawk, the Catskill, the
Schoharie and the Normanskill. To these all other
streams are tributary. Indeed, all the others and
their supplies find their way to the Atlantic through
the Hudson.
The streams in the county take the arbitrary
designation of river, creek, kill or brook. The
direct tributaries of the Hudson are Catskill,
Coeymans, Haana-Krois, Vlamans, Normans,
Beaver, Rutten, Foxen, Patroon, Ralger, Ceme
tery, Dry and Mohawk. Those - o£ the Mohawk
are the Schoharie, Lisha's, Town and Donkers.
Of the Catskill, Eight-Mile, Ten-Mile, Scrub,
Fox and Wilbur. Of the Schoharie, Beaver
Dam, Foxen and Switz. Of Normanskill, Vly
or Fly, Bozen or Boza, Honger, Wildhause and
Krum. Other sub-tributaries are the Swart or
Black, Oneskethau, Basic, Hockatock, Mill, El
der, Spruyts, Provost, Steinhook, Pitchtaway,
Wolf, Fly, Bethlehem or Mud, and several smaller
brooks. The Beaver or Buttermilk, Rutten and
Foxen Kills, in Albany, are used now mostly for
sewer drainage.
Most of the streams which run into the Hudson
have worn deep gullies in the sand and clay. Some
of these are a hundred feet in depth and extend
nearly to the river flats. In the western part of
the county the streams generally flow through
narrow ravines bordered by steep banks. Most of
the streams are very rapid and subject to extremes,
rising rapidly during a powerful rain and as rapidly
falling. The spring melting of the winter snows
fills the channels; the summer drought reduces
them to very low water. There are a few natural
falls upon several of these kills or creeks, and
facilities for increasing greatly their hydraulic
power. Vly Kill has a remarkable cascade of 60
leet, and another of 40 feet is in the Oneskethau.
But, except at the mouth of the Normanskill
and at Cohoes, on the Mohawk, little is done
with the water power, except the erection of a
few grain and saw mills for local accommoda
tion. With enterprise and money they might be
come agents in adding vastly to the productive in
dustry of the county. As contributing to an abun
dant water supply for man and beast, irrigation to

GEOGRAPHY.

15

the lands and diversity to our scenery, they can
not be too highly valued.
Hudson River. — In many respects the Hudson
is one of the most important. and interesting rivers
in the world. It was first made known to the
civilized world by Henry Hudson, in 1609, he hav
ing entered it and proceeded by ship and boat,
probably nearly to the mouth of the Mohawk, and
spent most of the month of September, in that year,
upon its waters. From its sources in Essex and
Hamilton counties, among our northern moun
tains, to its mouth at Sandy Hook, its length is
about 325 miles. Its head branches are the small
streams of Adirondack, Boreas, Indian, Schroon,
and the larger Sacandaga. Its eastern tributaries,
besides many smaller streams, are the Battenkill,
Hoosac, Kinderhook, Claverack, Rbeliff Jansen,
Wappinger, Fishkill'and Croton ; its western, the
Mohawk, Normanskill, Catskill, Esopus, Rondout
and Murderer's, and .numerous other little creeks
and brooks. While -these streams increase the vol
ume of the majestic river, the alluvion which they
carry down form obstructions to navigation in the
shape of bars and fiats of sand and deposits of mud,
especially for some thirty miles below the sprouts
of the Mohawk. The most remarkable of these
are the Overslaugh and Winne's bar, in this county,
opposite Bethlehem. 'Many devices, much labor,
and heavy expense have been employed for their
removal, with only temporary success. As long as
water runs the difficulty will remain, although
money and toil lessen it. The destruction of the
northern forests, unless speedily arrested, must
sensibly lessen the water supply of this noble
stream, impairing its navigation and damaging
every interest in every city and town upon its
borders. Among the names known to have been given
this river are Cohatatea, by the Iroquois ; Maha-
ganeghtuc and Shatemuc, by the Mohegans ; Great
River, by Hudson and his crew ; River of the
Mountain; North River, to distinguish it from
the Delaware, called South River by the early
Dutch ; also, Mauritius or Maurice, in honor of
Prince Maurice of Netherlands ; Manhattes ; and
Hudson, given very appropriately by the early
English, and readily adopted by all people.
Baker's and Glen's Falls, in the upper part, are
the only rapids of note. The course of the stream
is southerly, with only slight curves, and its surface
is generally smooth. . The elevation above the sea
at Albany is only 1 7-^ feet* The tidal influence is
* The fall of the river from Albany to New York is a little over
three ieet. G. R. H.

noticed at Albany, although the tide proper can
hardly be said to flow so far. The mean tide here
is 2.46 above that at Governor's Island. The river,
in fact, is an estuary or long arm of the sea, as far
up as the Mohawk. The narrows at the High
lands, 53 miles from New York City, making a
pass of about 16 miles, present scenery picturesque,
grand and exciting. A steamboat ride the whole
length of its navigable channel presents a continu
ous scene of surpassing beauty and sublimity. It
is the classic river of our young country, conse
crated by the fascinating pages of Irving, Paulding,
Cooper, and Lossing, the fine touches of the
Harts, Cole and other artists, and the verse of
many a local poet. Its waters and its banks are
associated with some of the most interesting events
of our history, connected with our early discoveries
and settlements, the arts of peace and the arts of
war. Eminent scholars, writers, philanthropists
and patriots have dwelt near its shores, now conse
crated by their monuments and the memories of
their deeds.
Chancellor Robert R. Livingston, in 1 797, assisted
by Nisbet, an Englishman, experimented in build
ing a steamboat to navigate the Hudson. He was
ridiculed as a visionary humbug when he applied,
in 1798, for Legislative aid, but failed in his object
when he could not navigate his boat of 30 tons, four
miles per hour. It was upon the Hudson that
Robert Fulton, encouraged by Livingston, though
ridiculed by many, first placed his steamer, the
Clermont. September 4, 1807, at 7 a. m., he left
New York for Albany, which he reached the next
day at about 1 1 p. m. This was the beginning of
steamboat navigation on the Hudson.
On the banks of the Hudson dwelt Henry and
Morse, inventors of the telegraph. Here is New-
burgh, once the headquarters of Washington ; and
here West Point, pregnant with thrilling historic
events, where repose the dust of Kosciusko, Win-
field Scott, and many othei s of our nation's patriots.
Here is the school-house of our army officers. At
every step along its shores, the traveler — be he
scholar, student of history, artist, poet, lover of
his country, lover of arts, or lover of nature — finds
something to instruct, delight and inspire.
Pleasant villages and flourishing cities charm the
traveler sailing down the stream to New York,
which owes much of its marvelous commercial
prosperity to the river which, for many years, was
almost its only channel for bringing into its marts
the rich products of the North and the West
through the Champlain and Erie Canals. And it
may as truly be said of Albany and Troy, that they

16

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

are the gift of the Hudson, as it was said by them
of old, that Egypt was the gift of the Nile. Of the
commercial and economical relations of Albany
county to this river the reader" will see in other
parts of this history.
Maude, traveling here in 1 800, writes : ' ' The
Hudson is one of the finest rivers in America, and
superior to them all in romantic and sublime scen
ery." Says Charles Mackay, in 1858 : " I found abun
dant reason to agree with the most enthusiastic ot
Americans that no river in Europe, unless it be
the Clyde, surpasses the Hudson in natural beauty,
and that the Rhine itself, deprived of its ruined
castles, could not stand a comparison with this
splendid stream."
The opening and closing of the navigation of the
Hudson River at Albany each year, so far as the
dates can be found, is here tabulated from the best
authorities.

Closed.

Opened.

1645 . .
1786..1787..1788..1789.179°..I79L.I792-.r793--•794- •
•795- •
1796..I797--
1798.. 1799- •
1800. .
1801 . .
1802. .
1803.. 1804. .
1805 . .
1806..1807..1808..
1809.. 1810..
1811..1812..1813..
1814..1815..
1816..
I817.. 1818..1819.. 1820. .
1821..1822..

Nov. 24.

.Mar. 23.

.Feb. .Dec.
.Dec..Dec.
.Jan..Jan. .Nuv. Nov.
.Nov Jan.
.Jan..Feb.

3, Dec. 8  Mar. 27.
8  Mar. 17.
12  Mar. 6.
26  Mar. 17.
12  
22  
28  
26  
23  

3  Feb. 28.
3, Dec. 16  

Jan. 12, Dec. 13  Apr.

Jan..Dec.Jan. .Dec. Jan.
.Dec. .Dec.
.Dec. Dec.
.Dec.
.Dec.
.Dec..Dec
.Dec. .Nov Dec.
.Dec,

9  Feb. 20.
»  Apr.8.
4  Mar. 10.
9  
19, Dec. 14  
20  
21  
22  Mar. 12.
10  
2  
16  . ."' 
7  Apr-3-
H  Mar. 25.
13  Apr. 3.
¦ J3  Mar. 25.
'3  Mar. 15.
 Mar. 15.

24.

Closed.
1823  Dec. 16.
1824  Jan. 5...
1825  Dec. 13.
1826  Dec. 13.
1827  Nov. 25 ,
1828  Dec. 23.
1829  Jan. 14. .
1830  Dec. 25. ,
1831  Dec. 6...
1832  Dec. 21.
1833  Dec. 13..
1834  Dec. 15.
1835  Nov. 30.
1836  Dec. 7..
1837  Dec. 14.
1838  Nov. 25.
1839  Nov. 18.
1840  •. . . . .Nov. 5. .
1841  Nov. 19.
1842  Nov. 28.
1843  Dec. 10. ,
1844  Dec. 17. .
1845  Dec. 3..
1846  Dec. 14..
1847  Dec. 25.
1848  Dec. 27.
1849.  T)ec. 26- •
1850  Dec. 17.
1851  Dec. 14.,
1852  Dec. 23. .
1853  Dec. 21. ,
1854  Dec. 8...
1855  Dec. 20..
1856  Dec. 14..
1857  Dec. 27..
1858  Dec. 17..
1859  Dec. 10..
i860  Dec. 14. .
1861  Dec. 23.,
1862  Dec. 19.,
1863  Dec. 11.
1864  Dec. 12.
1865  Dec. 16.
1866  Dec. 15.,
1867  Dec. 8..
1868  Dec. 5..,
I869  Dec. 9 . . .
1870  Dec. 17. ,
1871  Nov. 29.
1872  Dec. 9...
1873  Nov. 22..
1874  Dec. 12.
1875  Nov. 29.,
1876  Dec. 2..,
1877  Dec. 31.,
1878  Dec. 20.,
1879  Dec. 20 ,
1880  Nov. 25.
1881  Jan. 2...
1882  Dec. 4..,
1883  Dec. 15..
1884....   ..
1885   ..

Opened.
. .Mar. 24.
..Mar. 3.
. .Mar. 6.
...Feb. 25.
. .Mar. 20.
..Feb. 8.
. .Apr. 1.
, .Mar. 15.
..Mar. 15.
..Mar. 25.
..Mar. 21.
..Feb. 25.
. .Mar. 25.
. Apr. 4.
..Mar. 27.
. .Mar. 19.
. .Mar. 25.
...Feb. 25.
. . Mar. 24.
...Feb. 4.
..Apr. 13.
..Mar. 18.
.Feb. 24.
..Mar. 18.
..Apr. 7.
. .Mar. 22.
. .Mar. 19.
. .Mar. 10.
.Feb. 25.
..Mar. 28.
. .Mar. 23.
, .Mar. 17.
, .Mar. 27.
..Apr. II.
..Feb. 27.
. .Mar. 20.
..Mar. 13.
..Mar. 6.
. Mar. 5.
.Apr. 4.
• Apr. 3.
.Mar. 11.
.Mar. 22.
.Mar. 20.
.Mar. 26.
.Mar. 24.
..Apr. 5.
.Mar. 31.
.Mar. 12.
.Apr. 7.
.Apr. 16.
.Mar. 19.
.Apr. 13.
.Apr. 1.
.Mar. 30.
.Mar. 14.
.Apr. 4.
.Mar. 5.
.Mar. 21.
.Mar. 8.
.Mar. 29.
.Mar. 27.

GEOLOGY.

17

GEOLOGY.
The geology of the county is included in the
"Helderberg Division," belonging to the upper
Silurian system, and comprising nearly all the
rocks of the "New York system," from the
Utica slate to the corniferous limestone. It em
braces rocks varied in mineralogical character,
chemical composition, and abounding in fossil
remains. It contains subordinate beds of clay and
silicious grits. In consequence of these rocks
being so well developed in the Helderberg hills,
forming a natural group, the term of "Helder
berg Division " is used to designate them.
The limestone in which the fossils occur is
usually a gray, but in some places a reddish
crystalline stone. The fossils are a crystalline
carbonate of lime, and are so numerous that they
attract the attention of the observer when traveling
along the road.
The Delthyn's shaly limestone is one of the
thickest and most extensive members of the
Helderberg Division. This rock is well developed
and is frequently quarried as a building stone.
The stone fences and roadsides often exhibit
the remains of ancient life. This is well exposed
on the road from New Salem to Clarksville. The
middle subdivision is a slaty limestone, and contains
fossils of many varieties washed clean by the rains
and ready for the collector. These again are nu
merous in the vicinity of Clarksville and near
New Salem.
The lower subdivision is a mass of slaty-argillo-
silicious limestone, and may be seen one mile
north and northwest of Clarksville.
The Onondaga limestone and Schoharie grit are,
also, found about Clarksville, and contain many
fossils. The argillaceous and shaly rocks are nu
merous on the summits of hills.
The lowest rock is the Utica slate cropping out
on the Hudson, Normans Kill and Mohawk.
Above this are the graywackes and shales of the
Hudson River group, which appear in the valleys
of many streams, and apparently underlie a part of
the county.
The rocks of the Erie division occupy in the
aggregate a thickness of several hundred, probably
two thousand feet. The division that is worked
for economical purposes is a strata of flagging
stone which is from seven hundred to one thou
sand feet above the Helderberg limestone series.
This stone is extensively quarried for flagging
and building purposes in the southeast part of
Berne and in Coeymans. The red rocks which
form the base of the Helderbergs, probably be

long to the Medina sandstone series, sometimes
confounded with the red shales of the Onondaga
salt group. Next in order above this, and forming
the first terrace of the mountains, is the water line
group, from 50 to 200 feet thick, and furnishing
both water and quicklime. Next in order is the
pentamerus limestone, 50 feet in thickness, of im
pure gray and black limestone, mixed with slate
and shale, well developed in Berne and Bethlehem.
Overlying this is the Catskill limestone, from 50 to
180 feet in thickness, consisting of thick com
pact masses of limestone, alternating with thin
layers of shale. This, also, is used for building
purposes and lime.
The Oriskany sandstone next appears in a stra
tum two feet thick, well exposed in Berne, Knox
and Bethlehem, followed by the cauda-galli grit,
from 50 to 60 feet thick. This last has a fine grit
and resembles black or gray slates, but crumbles
upon exposure to the air. The Onondaga and
coniferous limestones next appear, the latter form
ing the summits of mountains. These rocks
furnish excellent building material, and a superior
quality of lime. Above the rocks, in the east part
of the county, are deposits of drift, consisting of
sand, gravel and clay. The high lands west of the
City of Albany are covered to the depth of forty feet
with sand, which rest upon a bed of clay estimated
to be one hundred feet deep. These clay beds
extend into several of the adjoining townships.
In this drift are sometimes found beds of bog ore,
chalybeate and sulphureted springs. In the lime
stone regions are caves, sink-holes and subter
ranean water-courses.
Clay forms the subsoil, or exists at a great
depth below the gravel and sand beds which form
the plains and elevations.
There are two kinds, the blue and the gray.
They are almost uniform by association, the blue
lying below the gray. These clays may be used
to improve .the soil, for the manufacture and glaz
ing of stone ware, and for brick and tile, of which
many millions are made at Albany.
The geological formations of Albany County are
given by J. G. Gebhard as follows :
Hamilton, Marcellus, Corniferous, Onondaga,
Schoharie grit, Cauda-galli grit, Oriskany sand
stone, Upper Pentamerus, Delthyn's shale, Penta
merus Galeatus, Tentaculite, Water limestone, Co-
raline, Pyritous slate, Hudson River sandstone.
The following, abridged from the pen of Henry
R. Schoolcraft, a native of this county, in regard
to its geology, is worthy a place here.
The most prominent feature of the county is the

18

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

range of the Helderbergs, an offshoot of the Cats-
kill Mountains. This highest range divides the
county into twc general levels of unequal width,
characterized as being above or below that elevation.
The lower level is distinguished for its diluvial and
drift deposits of arable layers, clays, sands, anal
ogic pebbles and boulders. The rock strata, as
generally denoted by geologists, and more parti
cularly described by Prof. James Hall, are, begin
ning at the apex of the Helderberg, chertz lime
stone, neutral colored sandstones, fossiliferous
limestone, graywacke, sedimentary, horizontal
slate, or graywacke slate and argilite.
The City of Albany rests upon the edges and
top of the terraceous blue clays, and their asso
ciated sand strata. This terraceous clay is covered
with a mantle or plateau of diluvial sand, which
extends northwestwardly from the Hudson to the
Valley of the Mohawk.
This mantle of sand rests, throughout its entire
extent, upon the terraceous blue capitoline clay.
Rains and atmospheric moisture speedily sink
through it, until arrested by its impervious alumin
ous basis, by which it finds an outlet on the sur
face of these clay beds into the nearest streams.
It is by the union of several of the outlets of
these spring gorges of the pine plains, that the
Honger Kill is formed. Small in its volume, it
flows with sufficient force to sink its channel
through the deep clay stratum, and enter its recip
ient, the Normans Kill, through the boulder and
pebble drift. Feeble as the action of the stream is,
it has been sufficient to reveal a formation of red
sandstone, which, apparently, underlies the under
Helderberg series of graywacke and slates, and the
upper series of fossiliferous limestone, and its su
perimposed porous and marly horizontal new
sandstones. This disclosure was made in a depressed part of
the Honger Kill Valley. The rock, in colors and
grain, resembles the Piedmont or Haverstraw sand
stones of the lower Hudson. The localities of
these observations are at the now decayed manu
facturing village of Hamilton, within about a mile
from the entrance of the stream into the Normans
Kill. The deepest cutting into the geological col
umn of the county is made by this Tawasentha.
This stream in its western fork, the Bozen Kill,
originates on the Helderberg range. In passing
through the series of newer sandstones, lime
stones and graywackes, it lays bare the succession
of rocks, and hurries with a rapid channel to its
junction with the Black Creek and the Tiergaca, or
northeast branch. Reinforced by these tributaries,

it sweeps its way through the alluvial coverings to
the Hudson. In its progress it sinks its level
quite through the graywackes and deeply into the
Tawasentha slate. At the rapids, in passing
through Guilderland, this rock stands in perpen
dicular facades, from 80 to nearly 120 feet high.
The stream finally enters the Hudson, two miles
south of the City of Albany, near the ancient Iro
quois cemetery of Tawasentha.
The cuttings of the Normans Kill and the con
struction of railroads reveal the Hamilton group at
these points.
Soil. — The soil of any territory in its primitive
state, before the hand of cultivation has transformed
it, is determined by its geology, vegetation, mois
ture and temperature.
The soil upon the intervals is a rich alluvial
loam, used largely for garden purposes. In Water
vliet, Albany, and the eastern parts of Guilderland
and Bethlehem, it consists largely of sand, with
strips of clay along the banks of the streams. This
combination of soil is well adapted for the growth
of some grains and grass. The belt of land lying
between the sandy region and the foot of the Hel
derbergs is principally a clay and gravelly loam,
receiving the drainage from the limestone hills,
which renders the soil very productive. Upon the
Helderbergs the soil is colder, consisting of alter
nate layers of clay, slate and gravel, with a subsoil
of tenacious clay or hardpan. Some portions are
stony, wet and cold. These are not very produc
tive. Some of these lands are favorable for grazing.
On the Mohawk the land is uneven and natur
ally sterile. Most of the soil in the county is sus
ceptible of culture, and has within its limits the
material needed to make it productive. The facts
relating to its husbandry and productions will ap
pear under the head of Agriculture.
MINERALOGY.
Among the minerals of the county, as given
by Mather and Beck, are bog iron ore in a few
localities ; snowy gypsum along the Helderbergs
and in Coeymans ; marl beds of some extent in
Bethlehem and Coeymans; calcareous spar on
the banks of the Normans Kill, in a cavern a
few miles from Albany, also in the town of
Knox and in the McCullough quarries of New
Scotland. Epsom salts have been found in small
quantities in the form of efflorescences in Coey
mans, on the east face of the Helderberg, and in
the townships of Bethlehem and Guilderland.
Rock and quartz crystals are picked up in several
localities. These minerals are of very little value;

PALEONTOLOGY.

19

but the county is rich in geological formations,
as appears elsewhere.
The mineral springs of the county comprise the
following : Acidulous, saline, chalybeate waters,
near Boyd's brewery, Albany, were found in a slate
strata after boring 300 feet below tide ; another
sulphurous spring was found by boring 100 feet;
also a carbureted gas spring — both in the same
vicinity. Sulphurous springs have been found at
Wendell's Hollow, near the city ; at Coeyman's
Landing ; near McKown's, in Guilderland ; in
Watervliet, near Van Rensselaer's, and in Rensse-
laerville. White sulphur springs exist in Berne,
and on the farm of James Hendrick, in New Scot
land. The mineral springs issue from the slate
rocks of the Hudson group. The white sulphur
springs especially are visited by invalids.
PALEONTOLOGY.
The Cohoes mastodon is the most remarkable
of the ancient fossils in this county. The fol
lowing notes in regard to it are taken from the
"Notes and Observations" of Dr. James Hall,
our citizen geologist, whose fame in the fields of
science makes him a citizen of the world of
scholars :
In the month of September, 1866, the workmen
engaged in excavations for the foundations of a
new mill to be erected by the ' ' Harmony Mills
Company of Cohoes, N. Y," discovered the lower
jaw of a mastodon, with a single foot bone, resting
upon a projection of rocks between two depres
sions or concave walls of small pot-holes, in the
margin of what afterwards proved to be a large pot
hole. At this time the excavation had been carried on
to the depth of about twenty-five feet from the
original surface.
The discovery of a jaw with a single bone in
such a position naturally led to the inference that
the other parts of the skeleton would be found at
the bottom of the pot-hole, could it ever be
reached, and the progress of the excavation was
watched with great interest. In the bottom of this
cavity, lying upon a bed of clay, broken slate,
gravel and water-worn pebbles, and covered
with river ooze and vegetable soil, lay the principal
parts of the mastodon skeleton. The first parts
uncovered were the bones of the hind legs, with a
portion of the pelvis. The head, with tusks un-'
broken and undisturbed, was directed to the east
ward and partially inclined against the sloping
walls. The vertebrae, with exceptions, the ribs in
part, one fore limb and scapula followed, the pos

terior parts lying more to the westward and south-
westward, but all in juxtaposition. The absence
of the lower and some of the larger limb bones
was obvious, and but for these we might have sup
posed that the entire skeleton had been drifted in
to this pot-hole and covered with river ooze and
peaty soil. On further examination other bones
were discovered thirty or forty feet distant, and at
a somewhat lower level than the main part of the
skeleton, but still above the gravel. Expecting to
find some, at least, of the remaining bones, efforts
were made to remove all the peaty earth and loose
materials, but this was not fully accomplished.
At a later date, some time in February, 1867,
during excavations upon another part of the
ground outside of the mill, a small pot-hole was
opened in which were found bones of the right fore
leg and foot. This point is more than sixty feet to
the southwest of the place where the principal
bones of the skeleton were found, and at least
twenty feet higher.
All the parts of the skeleton found at the differ
ent points designated were presented to the State
Cabinet of Natural History by Alfred Wild, Esq. ,
President of the Harmony Mills Company, and
have been mounted in their proper position. The
missing bones were modeled from opposite cor
responding parts or from adjacent ones, and after
wards cast in plaster-of-Paris. In some instances
recourse was had to the Warren mastodon skele
ton, of which careful examinations and comparisons
were made.
In the following spring and summer a careful
survey of the Cohoes Falls and the surrounding
country was made, mainly with a view of deter
mining the relations of tke pot-holes, in which the
mastodon remains were found, to those of the river
bed and adjacent valley. From this survey it was
clearly ascertained that the large and deep pot-holes
were entirely outside the present river channel ;
that all the pot-holes existing within limits over
flowed by the present Mohawk River are shallow
basins. We therefore began to distinguish them
as ancient and modern, and, with few exceptions,
above the falls all those of the river bed seem to be
of modern origin.
We have, by these observations, determined that
the water of the present river, neither above, below
nor at the falls, produces pot-holes of the character
of those in which the mastodon bones were found.
In the bottom of all the ancient pot-holes there
is a considerable space occupied by gravel and
pebbles, which are chiefly or almost wholly of hard
quartzite, a partially metamorphic condition of the

20

HISTORY OF THE .COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Potsdam sandstone. Turning to the northward,
we find large exposures of the sandstone or quartz
ite, from which these pebbles might have been de
rived, had there been the means of transporting
them. The breaking down of these rocks, and the
transport is usually attributed to the action of ice,
and the rounding of these into pebbles is due to
the action of water. The agency which trans
ported the quartz pebbles of the Mohawk valley
was doubtless the same as that which transported
the remains of the mastodon found in the pot-holes
at Cohoes. I do not believe that any of the mas
todon remains which we find are of animals that
wandered into swamps or sought their food in such
localities, and thus became mired.
Returning to the consideration of the geo
graphical and geological surroundings of the
Cohoes mastodon, we find the following condi
tions : The Mohawk River, having an easterly direc
tion, makes a bend toward the northward after
leaving Schenectady ; at Crescent it turns abruptly
to the southeast, uniting with the Hudson River
below Waterford, and at a point ten miles above
Albany. The Cohoes Falls is on the Mohawk,
about one mile above its junction with the Hudson
River. The area to the southward is covered by
drift and estuary deposits in the order of boulder-
clay and gravel below, above which is an evenly
stratified clay, graduating into a loam, and finally
to a fine yellow sand, which covers much of the
area between Albany and Schenectady,
The relation of the clay and gravel are often
seen in excavations ; they are often found restino-
upon a boulder-clay, or a mixture of clay and
gravel, the whole covering an extremely uneven
surface of slate rock, as is often seen along the
Hudson and at a few points along the Normans
Kill. Throughout all parts of the river bed and chan
nel we search in vain for evidence of pot-holes of
the character of those described as containing peb
bles of quartzite, and in which the remains of the
mastodon were found. These ancient pot-holes
are of all dimensions, from one foot to fifty feet in
depth and diameter.
The pot-holes of the river bed exhibit all stages
of formation and obliteration. The shales of the
Hudson River Group present everywhere a surface
quite rough in detail, though even and regular in
its general features. An insensible gradation may
be seen above the crest of the fall, from irregular
hollows, bounded by sharp fractures of slate, to
deep, rounded, smoothed pot-holes. Upon the

plateau below the fall the few remaining pot-holes
are filled nearly to the brim by gravel and mud.
The typical form of these pot-holes is a cylinder,
with rounded bottom and rounded brim. The
type is modified by the enlargement of the mouth,
by expansions and constrictions in the shaft, and
other irregularities. The interior surfaces are
rounded, smoothed and even polished, especially
at the bottom. In my examination I saw nothing
to controvert the theory that they were formed by
the grinding action of stones moved by water.
The rock over which the Mohawk flows, from
the Cohoes Company's dam to the Hudson, is of
very uniform character.
Excavation has revealed in Cohoes and vicinity
a number of pot-holes found anterior to the pres
ent gorge of the Mohawk. The great difference
between the pot-holes of the shore and of the river
bed appears to be that of size. Half of those dis
covered on the eastern shore outrank the largest of
the modern. The mastodon pot-hole was probed
to a depth greater than the river bed can show.
The gravel from the ancient pot-holes is all well
rounded, while the modern ones contain many
boulders that are but partly so.
The water makes no clear leap in Cohoes Falls ;
for a distance of 400 feet the .descent is 14 feet on
a gradual plane, and from the crest to the base, on
a curved slope, 57 feet. Above Cohoes town the
bed rock of the west shore is, to a large extent,
hidden by the hills of drift and a terrace of clay.
On the east side, an area nearly a mile broad and
two miles long shows the bed rock, covered by a
thin clay soil derived from the decomposition of
the rock itself. This area is elevated about 175
feet above the water of the Hudson. Its eastern
boundary is a line of drift hills and terrace. The
latter is of clay, covered by sand, and extends some
distance up that river. The drift hills frequently
rise above the level of the terrace.
The rock plateau below Cohoes Falls is the base
line for sections near the falls ; it is 61 feet above
tidewater. The upper level of the Cohoes Com
pany's race is 94 feet above plateau and 188 above
tide; cliff near the falls, 115 feet above plateau,
and 1 76 feet above tide ; plateau west of Albany,
225 feet above tide ; top of gravel hill near " Pa-
troon's, " about 225 feet above tide. Gravel banks :
At the Patroon's a remarkable inclined bed of clay
lies under and over gravel in the following order :
Soil, slightly sorted gravel, red clay, blue clay,
stratified, coarse and fine sand, with rarely lenticu
lar beds of coarse gravel. These gravel banks ex
tend nearly to Cohoes. The coarser materials of

BOTANY.

21

the gravel hills near Albany are chiefly of the con
glomerate of the Hudson River Group and con
glomerates and jaspers of the Quebec Group.
Massive quartz, white or yellow (Potsdam ?), is
commonly met with, and, in some hills near the
Mohawk, seem even to predominate. They are
the best worn of all the pebbles, but the boulders
generally are not so well rounded as those turned
by pot-holes.
The numerous fossil shells referred to under the
head of ' ' Geology, " in connection with the rock
formations, properly come under this head. They
all have a specific name which we cannot repeat
here. They may be often seen in the flagstones
that cover our city sidewalks, and the rough stones
in the roadside walls. They tell us of the inhabit
ants that dwelt, countless ages ago, in the now up
heaved bed of the old ocean that once surged over
"the places where we dwell.
BOTANY.
The Flora of the county of Albany is rich in
the number and variety of its plants, almost
every natural order and genus common to the
State being represented in this county. The
hills and valleys, fields and forests, lakes, brooks
and swamps, all contribute to adorn nature with a
profusion of vegetable beauty, and invite the prac
tical student to gather these treasures so liberally
spread before him.
The amateur and student in Botany will find few
localities in the State from which he can secure a
greater variety of interesting plants than in Albany
county. Nature has, indeed, been lavish in her
gifts to our county, as seen all over its surface,
made picturesque and charming by the grand Hel
derbergs, the noble Hudson, its crystal lakes, its
rapid streams tumbling over cataracts, running
through deep ravines, its caverns and rocky re
cesses and steep precipices, its forest trees and
shrubs, its varied and beautiful flora, its fields of
grass and grain, and its variety of sedges, mosses,
rushes and ferns in the by-places.
We are indebted to Torrey's ' ' State Botany, "
Wright & Hall's "Plants About Troy, " Prof. C. H.
Peck and Dr. J. S. Markle for valuable aid in this
chapter. In the list of the trees, shrubs and plants found
in the county, only such as are indigenous or
naturalized are included. They are grouped
under their natural orders, and the generic, specific
and common names are given. Exotic and green
house plants will be omitted from our list. All
descriptions, for want of space, are left out. The

simple list will tell our wealth and make a useful
guide to the student. RANUNCULAC^E.
Order. Common Namf..
Clematis, Virginiana  Virgin's Bower.
C  verticillaris  Whorl-leaved V. B.
Anemone, nemorosa  Wood Anemone.
A  Pennsylvanica  
A  cylindrica  
A  Virginiana  Virginia Anemone.
Hepatica, triloba  Liverwort.
H  acutiloba  •  ¦
Ranunculus, Flammula...,  Small Spearwort.
R  recurvatus  Hooked Crowfoot.
R  fascicularis  Early Crowfoot.
R  abortivus  Round-leaved Crowfoot.
R  sceleratus  Celery Crowfoot.
R  acris  Butter-cups.
R  bulbosus  Bulbous Crowfoot.
R  Pennsylvanicus .... Bristly Crowfoot.
R  multifidus  Yellow Water Crowfoot.
R  repens  Creeping Crowfoot.
Caltha, palustris  Marsh Marigold.
Coptis, trifolia  Goldthread.
Aquilegia, Canadensis  Wild Columbine.
Actaea, spicata var  Red Baneberry .
A  rubra  White Baneberry.
Thalictrum, dioicum  Early Meadow Rue.
T  purpurascens  Purple Meadow Rue.
T  Cornuti  Meadow Rue.
T  anemonioides  Rue Anemone.
MAGNOLIACE^E.
Liriodendron, Tulipifera  White Wood. Tulip Tree.
MENISPERMACEjE.
Menispermum, Canadense  Moon Seed.
BERBERIDACE.E.
Podophyllum, peltatum  May Apple. Mandrake.
Caulophyllum, thalictroides  Blue Cohosh.
CABOMBACE^E.
Brasenia, peltatum  Water Target.
NYMPtLEACE^.
Nymphcea, odorata  Water Lily.
Nuphar, advena  Yellow Pond Lily.
N  Kalmiana  Kalm's Pond Lily.
SARRACENIACE.E.
Sarracenia, purpurea  Side-saddle Flower.
PAPAVERACE.E.
Sanguinaria, Canadensis  Bloodroot.
Chelidonium, majus  Celandine.
FUMARIACE.E.
Dicentra, cucullana  Dutchman's Breeches.
D  Canadensis  Squirrel Coon.
Adlumia, cirrhosa  Mountain Fringe.
Corydalis, glauca  Glaucous Corydalis.
CRUCIFERE^E.
Capsella, Bursa-pastoris  Shepherd's Purse.
Lepidium, Virginicum  Wild Pepper-grass.
L  cainpestre  .Yellow Seed.

22

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

CRUCIFERE/E.
Draba, verna  Whilbow Grass.
Nasturtium, palustre  Marsh Watercress.
Barbarea, vulgaris  Winter Cress.
Arabis, Canadensis  Sickle Pod.
A  lyrata  Wall Cress.
A  laevigata  Smooth Wall Cress.
A. . . . hirsuta  Hairy Wall Cress.
Cardamine, hirsuta  Small Bittter Cress.
C  rhomboidea  Spring Cress.
C  Pratensis  Field Cardamine.
Dentaria, diphylla  Pepper Root.
D  laciniata  Tooth Wort.
Sisymbrium, officinale  Hedge Mustard.
Erysimum, cheiranthbides  Wormseed Mustard.
Sinapis, nigra  Black Mustard.
S  arvensis  FieldMustard. Charlock.
CAPPARIDACE/E.
Polanisia, graveolens  . 
VIOLACEyE.
Viola, cucullata  Hood-leaved Violet.
V. . . . sagittaria  Arrow-leaved Violet.
V. . . . Selkirkii  Selkirk's Violet.
V  palmata  Palmated Violet.
V — pedata  Pedate Violet.
V. . . . blanda  Sweet-scented Violet.
V. . . . lanceolata  Lance-leaved Violet.
V . . . . rotundifolia  Round-leaved Violet.
V  Canadensis  Canadian Violet.
V . . . . pubescens  Common Yellow Violet.
V  Muhlenbergii  Muhlenberg's Violet.
V  rostrata  Beaked Violet.
DROSERACE^E.
Drosera, rotundifolia  Round-leaved Sundew.
D  longifolia  Long-leaved Sundew.
PARNASSIACE/E.
Parnassia, Caroliniana  Grass of Parnassus.
CISTACE^.
Lechea, major  Larger Pinweed.
L  minor  Smaller Pinweed.
Helianthemum, Canadense  Rock Rose.
Hudsonia, Tomentosa  Woolly Hudsonia.
ELATINACE^E.
Elatine, Americana  Mud Purslane.
HYPERICACE^E.
Hypericum, pyramidatum  Giant Hypericum.
H  perforatum  Common St. John's-wort.
. H  corymbosum  Spotted St. John's-wort.
H  mutilum  Small St. John's-wort.
H  Canadense  Canadian St. John's-wort.
Elodes  Virginica  Marsh St. John's-wort.
ILLECEBRACE.E.
Anychia, dichotoma  Forked Chickweed.
Spergula, arvensis  Corn Spurry.
CARYOPHYLLACE^E.
Stellaria, media  Chickweed.
S  longifolia  Long-leaved Stitch-wort.

Cerastium, vulgatum  Mouse-ear Chickweed.
C  viscosum  Sticky Chickweed.
C  arvense  Field Chickweed.
C  nutans  Nodding Chickweed.
Arenaria, stricta  Straight Sandwort.
A  serpyllifolia  Thyme-leaved Sandwort.
Sagina, procumbens  Creeping Sandwort.
Mollugo, verticillata  Carpet Weed.
Silene, antirrhina  Snap-dragon Catch-fly.
Silene, noctiflora  Night-flowering Catch-fly
Lychnis, Githago  Corn Cockle.
Saponaia, officinalis  Common Soap wort.
Scleranthus, annuus  Knaivel.
PORTULACACE.E.
Portulaca, oleracea  Purslane.
Claytonia, Caroliniana  Spring Beauty.
C  Virginica  Virginian Spring Beauty.
MALVACEAE.
Malva, rotundifolia. ..."  Low Mallow.
Abutilon, Avicennae  Velvet-leaf Mallow.
LINACE^E.
Linum, Virginianum  Virginian Flax.
L  usitalissimum  Common Flax.
GERANIACE.E.
Geranium, maculatum  Spotted Geranium.
G  Robertianum  Herb Robert.
G  Carolinianum  Carolina Crane's bill.
BALSAMINACE/E.
Impatiens, pallida  Touch-me-not.
I  fulva  Jewel Weed.
OXALIDACE^E.
Oxalis, Acetosella  Common Wood Sorrel.
O  violacea  Violet Wood Sorrel.
O  stricta  Yellow Wood Sorrel.
ZANTHOXYLACE^E.
Zanthoxylum, Americanum  Prickly Ash.
ANACARDIACE^E.
Rhus, glabra  Smooth Sumac.
R  typhina  Stag-horn Sumac.
R  copallina  Mountain Sumac.
R. . . . venenata  Poison Sumac.
R . . . . Toxicodendron  Poison Ivy.
R  aromatica  ; Sweet Sumac.

Tilia, Americana

TILIACE/E.
 Linden, Bass Wood.

VITAGE/E.
Vitis, Labrusca  Large-Blue Grape.
V. . . cordifolia  Frost Grape.
V. . . aestivalis  Summer Grape.
Ampelopsis, quinquefolia. . . .Woodbine. Virginian Creeper.
ACERACE,E.
Acer, rubrum  Swamp Maple.
A . . . . dasycarpum  White Maple.
A . . . . saccharinum  Sugar Maple.
A. . -. nigrum  Black Maple.
A — Pennsylanicum  Striped Maple.

BOTANY,

23

Acer, spicatum.

ACERACE.E.
 Mountain Maple.

CELASTRACE.E.
Staphylea, trifolia  Bladder Nut.
Celastrus, scandens  Climbing Bitter Sweet.
RHAMNACEyE.
Ceanothus, Americanus  Jersey Tea.
POLYGALACE.E.
Polygala, verticillata  Whorl-leaved Polygala.
P  Senega  Seneca Snake-root.
P  paucifolia  Fringed Polygala.
LEGUMINOS^E.
Ervum, hirsutum  Hairy Vetch.
Apios, tuberosa  Ground- Nut.
Amphicarpaea, monoica  Hog Nut.
Tephrosia, Virginiana  Goat's Rue.
Trifolium, repens  White Clover.
T  aevense  Haresfoot Trefoil.
T  pratense  Common Red Clover.
T  agrarium  Field or Hop Trefoil.
Melilotus, officinalis  Yellow Melilot.
M  alba  White Melilot.
Medicago, lupulina  Nonesuch.
Astragalus, Canadensis  Canadian Vetch.
Desmodium, nudiflorum  Naked-flowered Desmodium.
D  acuminatum  Pointed-leaved Desmodium.
D  '. . canescens  Hoary Desmodium.
D  Canadense  Bush Trefoil.
D  cuspidatum  Cuspidate Desmodium .
D  paniculatum  Panicled Desmodium.
D  rotundifolium  Round-leaved Desmodium.
Lespedeza, capitata  Bush Clover.
L  hirta  Hairy Lespedeza.
L  procumbens  Trailing Lespedeza.
L  violacea  Violet Lespedeza.
L  sessilliflora  Sessile-flowered Lespedeza.
Lupinus, perennis  Common Lupine.
Baptisia, tinctoria  Wild Indigo.
Cassia, marilandica  American Senna.
C  Chamaecrista  Dwarf-Cassia.
C  nictitans  Wild Sensitive Plant.
ROSACEA.
Prunus, serotina  Black or Wild Cherry.
P  Virginiana  Choke Cherry.
P  Pennsylvanica  Wild Red Cherry.
P  pumila  Sand Cherry.
P  Americana  Wild Plum.
Crataegus, coccinea  White Thorn .
C  Crus-galli  Cockspur Thorn.
C  punctata  Thorn.
Pyrus, arbutifolia  Choke-Berry.
P  Americana  Mountain Ash.
Amelanchier, Canadensis  Shad-Berry, Bill-berry.
Rosa, Carolina  Swamp Rose.
R  lucida  Shining or Wild Rose.
R.... blanda  Bland Rose.
R  rubiginosa  Sweet Brier.
Rubus, villosus  High Blackberry.
R  hispidus  Bristly Blackberry.
R  Canadensis  Low Blackberry.

Rubus, odoratus  Rose-flowering Raspberry.
R  strigosus  Wild Red Raspberry.
R .... occidentalis  Black Raspberry.
R  triflorus  Three-flowered Raspberry.
Potentilla, Norvegica  Norwegian Potentilla.
P  Canadensis  Common Cinquefoil.
P  argentea  Silvery Cinquefoil.
P  anserina  '  Silver Weed.
V  arguta  White floweredPotentilla.
P  . palustris   Marsh Cinquefoil.
Fragaria, Virginiana  Wild Strawberry.
F. Vesca  Alpine or Wood Straw
berry.
Dalibarda, repens  False Violet.
Waldsteinia, fragarioides.  Dry Strawberry.
Geum, rivale  Purple Avens.
G  strictum  Yellow Avens.
G  Virginianum  White Avens.
Poterium, Canadense  Burnet Saxifrage.
Agrimonia, Eupatoria  Agrimony.
Spiraea, tomentosa  Hardback.
S  salicifolia  Queen of the Meadow.
S  Opulifolia  Nine-bark.
LYTHRACE.E.
Decodon, Verticillatum  
ONAGRACE^E.
Epilobium, angustifolium  Willow Herb.
E  Coloratum  Colored Epilobium.
E  hirsutum  Hairy Epilobium.
Oenothera, biennis  Common Evening Prim
rose.
CE  pumila  Dwarf Evening Primrose.
Gaura, biennis  Biennial Gaura.
Circaea, Lutetiana  Enchanter's Nightshade.
C  alpina  Alpine Nightshade.
CUCURBITACE^f.
Sicyos, angulatus  Single-seeded Cucumber.
Echinocystis, lobata  Wild Balsam-Apple.
GROSSULACEiE.
Ribes, fioridum  Wild Black Currant.
R . . . . prostratum  Fetid Currant.
R ... Cynosbati  : . . . . Prickly Gooseberry.
R . . . . rotundifolium  Wild Gooseberry.
CRASSULACE^E.
Sedum, Telephium  Common Live-forever.
Penthorum, sedoides  Virginia Stone-Crop.
SAXIFRAGACE^E.
Saxifraga, Virginiensis  Early Saxifrage.
S  Pennsylvanica  Tall Saxifrage.
Heuchera, Americana  Alum Root.
Mitella, diphylla  Bishop's Cap.
M . . . . nuda  Leafless stemmed Bishop's
Cap.
Tiarella, cordifolia  '. . . Mitre Wort Gem Fruit.
Chrysosplenium, Americanum. . . .Water Carpet.
HAMAMELACE.E.
Hamamelis, Virginica  Witch Hazel.

24

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

UMBELLIFER^E.
Hydrocotyle, Americana  Pennywort.
H  umbellata  Umbellate Pennywort.
Sanicula, Canadensis  Canadian Sanicle.
S  Marilandica  Long-styled Sanicle.
Cicuta, maculata  Water Hemlock.
C  bulbifera  Narrow-leaved Hemlock.
Sium, latifolium  Water Parsnip.
S. . . . lineare  Linear-leaved Water Par
snip.
Cryptotaenia, Canadensis  Hone-wort.
Zizia, Aurea  Golden Alexander.
Z . . . . inregerrima  Entire leaved Golden
Alexander.
Archangelica, atropurpurea  Angelica.
A  hirsuta  Hairy Angelica.
Daucus, Carota  Wild Carrot.
Pastmaca, sativa  Common Wild Parsnip.
Heracleum, lanatum  Cow Parsnip.
Osmorrhiza, longistylis  Sweet Cicily.
O  brevistylis  Short-styled Cicily.
Conium, maculatum  Poison Hemlock.
ARALIACE^E.
Atalia, nudicaulis  Wild Sarsapatilla.
A  racemosa  Spikenard.
A  hispida  Bristly Aralia. [Ginseng.
Panax, trifolium  .....Ground Nut. Dwarf
P  quinquefohum  Ginseng.
CORNACE^E.
Cornus, stolonifera  White-berried Cornel.
C  sericea  Red Osier.
C  circinata  Round-leaved Dogwood.
C  alternifolia  Alternate-leaved.
C  paniculata  Panicled Dogwood.
C  florida  Flowering Dogwood.
C  Canadensis  Low Cornel, or Dogwood.
CAPRIFOLIACE.
Lonicera, hirsuta  Hairy Honeysuckle.
L  parviflora  Small-flowered "
L  ciliata  Fly Honeysuckle.
Diervilla, trifida  Bush Honeysuckle.
Triosteum, perfoliatum  Fever-wort.
Symphoricarpus, racemosus  Snow-berry.
Linnaea, borealis  Twin-flower.
Sambucus, Canadensis  Common Elder.
S  pubens  Panicled Elder.
Viburnum, lantanbides  Hobble-bush.
v  opulus  High Cranberry.
V  acerifolium  Dockmackie.
v  Lentago  Sweet Viburnum.
v  nudum  Swamp Viburnum.
v  dentatum  Arrow-head.
v  pubescens  Downy Viburnum.
RUBIACE^E.
Galium, asprellum  Rough Cleavers.
G  trifidum  Small Bedstraw.
G  triflorum  Sweet-scented Bedstra w .
G  Aparine  Common Cleaver?.
G  boreale  Northern Galium.
G  circsezans.  Cimea-like Galium.
Mitchella, repens  Partridge Berry.

Hedyotis, ccerulea  Dwarf Pink.
H  longifolia  Long-leaved Dwarf Pink.
Cephalanthus, occidentalis  Button Bush.
COMPOSITE.
Eupatorium  Trumpet- weed.
E  purpureum  
E  sessilifolium  Sessile -leaved Eupatorium
E  perfoliatum  Thorough wort. Boneset
E  ageratoides  Nettle-leaved Eupatorium
Tussilago, Farfara  Colt's-foot.
Aster, corymbosus  Corymbed Aster.
Aster, macrophyllus  Large-leaved Aster.
Aster, cordifolius  Heart-leaved Aster.
A  undulalus  Wave-leaved Aster.
A. ... patens  Spreading Aster.
A  laevis  Smooth Aster.
A. . . . puniceus. . . .,  Red-stalked Aster.
A. . . . Novae Angliae  New England Aster.
A . . . . Tradescanti  Tradescant's Aster.
A  miser   Starved Aster.
A  simplex  Willow-leaved Aster.
A . . . . tenuifolius  Narrow-leaved Aster.
A. . . . dumosus  Bushy Aster.
A. . .. ericoides  Heath-like Aster.
A . . . multiflorus  Many-flowered Aster.
A  acuminatus  Acuminate Wood Aster.
Sericocarpus, conyzoides ....  Broad-leaved Sericocarpus.
Erigeron, bellidifolium  Robin's Plantain.
E  Philadelphicum.  Narrow-leaved Robin's
Plantain.
E  annuum  Common Fleabane.
E  strigosum  Fleabane. White Weed
E  Canadense  Canadian Fleabane.
Solidago, lanceolata  Grass-leaved Goldenrod.
S  squarrosa  Ragged Goldenrod.
S  bicolor  White Goldenrod.
S  latifoha  Broad-leaved Goldenrod.
S  caesia  Blue-stemmed Goldenrod.
S  nemoralis  Gray Goldenrod.
S  arguta  Sharp-toothed Goldenrod
S  Canadensis  Canadian Goldenrod.
S  seriotina  Late Goldenrod.
S  altissima  Tall Goldenrod.
Inula, helenium  Elecampane.
Heliopsis, laevis  Ox-eye.
Rudbeckia, lanciniata  Smooth Rudbeckia.
R  hirta  Hairy Rudbeckia.
Helianthus, annuus  Common Sunflower.
H  decapetalus  Ten-rayed Sunflower.
H  divaricatus  Spreading Sunflower.
H  strumosus  Wild Sunflower.
Helenium, autumnale  American Sneeze-wort.
Maruta, Cotula  May-weed.
Achillea, Millefolium  Millfoil. Yarrow.
Leucanthemum, vulgare  Ox-eye Daisy.
Bidens, frondosa  Leafy-bur Marigold.
B  connata  Trifid-bur Marigold.
B  cernua  Water-bur Marigold.
B  chrysanthemoides  Radiate-bur Marigold.
Senecio, aureus  Golden Sehecio.
Artemisia, vulgaris  Mugwort.
Gnaphalium, polycephalum ..... . Fragrant Life-everlasting.
G  decurrens  DecurrentLife everlasting.
G  uliginosum  .Mud Life-everlasting.

BOTANY.

25

COMPOSITE.
Antennaria, margaritacea  Pearly Life-everlasting.
A  plantaginifolia  Plantain-leaved Life-
everlasting.
Erechthites, hieracifolia  Fir- weed.
Xanthium, strumarium  Clot- weed.
Ambrosia, trifida  Tall Ambrosia.
A  artemisiaefolia  Hog-weed.
Lappa, major  Burdock.
Cirsium, arvense  Canada Thistle.
C  lanceolatum  Common Thistle.
C  muticum  Swamp Thistle.
Onopordon, acanthium  Scotch Thistle.
Krigia, Virginica  Dwarf Dandelion.
Cichorium, Intybusth  Succory. Chiccory.
Lactuca, elongata  Wild Lettuce.
Hieracium, venosum  Veiny-leaved Hawkweed.
H  paniculatum  Panicled Hawkweed.
H  scabrum  Rough Hawkweed. [tuce.
Nabalus, albus ,  Lion's-foot White Let-
N  altissimus  Tall Nabalus.
N  Fraseri  Gall of the Earth.
Taraxacum, Dens-leonis  Dandelion.
Sonchus, oleraceus  Common Sow Thistle.
S. ..  asper  Rough Sow Thistle.
LOBELIACE.E.
Lobelia, cardinalis  Cardinal Flower.
Lobelia, inflata  Indian Tobacco.
L  syphiltica  Blue Cardinal Flower.
L  spicata  Clayton's Lobelia.
L  Dortmanna  Water Lobelia.
CAMPANULACE^E.
Campanula, rotundifolia  Hare Bell.
C  Americana  American Bell-flower.
ERICACEAE.
Gaylussacia, resinosa  Black Whortleberry.
Vaccinium, corymbosum  High Whortleberry.
V  vacillans  Low Blueberry.
V  Pennsylvanicum  Dwarf Blueberry.
V  stamineum  Dewberry.
Oxycoccus, vulgaris  Small Cranberry.
O  macrocarpus  Large Cranberry.
Arctostaphylos, Uva-ursi  Bearberry.
Andromeda, polifolia  Marsh Andromeda.
A  ligustrina  Panicled Lyonia.
Cassandra, calyculata  Leather-leaf. [berry.
Gaultheria, procumbens  Wintergreen. Checker-
Epigaea, repens  Trailing Arbutus. May
flower.
Kalmia, latifolia  Mountain Laurel.
K  angustifolia  Sheep Poison.
K  glauca  Swamp Laurel.
Rhododendron, nudiflorum  Swamp Pink.
R  viscosum  Clammy Swamp Pink.
Ledum, latifolium  Labrador Tea.
Pyrola, rotundifolia  Round-leaved Pyrola.
P  chlorantha  Green-flowered Pyrola.
P  elliptica  Shin-leaf.
P  secunda  One-sided Pyrola.
Chimaphila, umbellata  Prince's Pine. Pipsissewa.
C  maculate  Spotted Wintergreen .
i

Monotropa, uniflora  Indian Pipe.
M  hypopitys  Pine Sap.
Pterospora, andromedea  Giant Bird's Nest.
AQUIFOLIACE^E.
Prinos, verticillatus  Black Alder. Winter-berry.
PRIMULACE^E.
TrientaUs, Americana  Chickweed Wintergreen.
Lysimachia, stricta  Loosestrife.
L  ciliata  Ciliate-leaved Loosestrife.
L  quadrifolia  Four-leaved Loosestrife.
L  thyrsiflora  Tufted Loosestrife.
Anagallis, arvensis  Poor-man's Weather Glass.
PLANTAGINACE^E.
Plantago, major  Common Plantain. Ribwort.
Pr  lanceolata  Lance-leaved Plantain.
P  Rugelii  Rugel's Plantain.
LENTIBULACEyE.
Utricularia, vulgaris  Common Bladderwort.
U  minor  Smaller Bladderwort.
U  cornuta  Horned Bladderwort.
OROBANCHACE,E.
Aphyllon, uniflorum  One-flowered Broomrape.
Conopholis, Americana  American Broomrape.
Epiphegus, Virginiana  Beech-drops.
SCROPHULARIACE^E.
Verbascum, Thapsus  Common Mullein.
V  Blattaria  Moth Mullein.
Linaria, vulgaris  Toad Flax. Snap-dragon,
L  Canadensis  Canadian Snap-dragon.
Scrophularia, nodosa  Figwort.
Chelone, glabra  Snake-head.
Pentstemon, pubescens  Beard-tongue.
Mimulus, ringens  Monkey Flower.
Gratiola, aurea  Golden Hedge Hyssop.
G  Virginiana  Virginian Hedge Hyssop.
Veronica, Americana  Brooklime.
V  Virginica  Culver's Physic.
V  scutellata  Marsh Speedwell.
V  officinalis  Officinal Speedwell.
V  peregrina  Purslane Speedwell.
V  agrestis  Field Speedwell.
V  serpyllifolia  Thyme-leaved Speedwell.
Gerardia, purpurea  Purple Gerardia.
G  tenuifolia  Small Purple Gerardia.
Dasystoma, quercifolia  Oak-leaved Dasystoma.
D  flava  Downy Dasystoma.
D  pedicularia  Lousewort Dasystoma.
Pedicularis, Canadensis  Lousewort.
Melampyrum, pratense  Cow Wheat.
VERBENACE^E.
Verbena, hastata   Vervain, Simpler's Joy.
V. ..... . urticifolia  Nettle-leaved Vervain.
Phryma, leptostachya  Phryma or Lopseed.
LABIAT.E.
Mentha, Canadensis  Horsemint.
M  viridis  Spearmint.
M  piperita  Peppermint.

26

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

LABIATE.
Isanthus, caeruleus  Blue Gentian.
Lycopus, sinuatus  Water Hoarhound.
L  Virginicus  Bugle Weed.
Monarda, didyma  Mountain Mint.
M  fistulosa  Horsemint, Wild Berga-
mdt.
Origanum, vulgare  "Wild Marjoram.
Hedeoma, pulegioides  Pennyroyal.
Melissa, officinalis . . . . 4  Balm.
Collinsonia, Canadensis  Stone-root.
Scutellaria, galericulata  Common Scull-cap.
S  lateriflora  Mad-dog Scull-cap.
Brunella, vulgaris  Self-heal. Blue-curls.
Nepeta, cataria  Catnip, Catmint.
N  Glechoma  Gill-over-the-ground.
Physostegia, Virginiana  Lion's Heart.
Lamium, amplexicaule  Henbit.
Leonurus, Cardiaca  Motherwort.
Galeopsis, Tetrahit  Hemp Nettle.
Stachys, aspera  Hedge Nettle.
Marrubium, vulgare  Hoarhound.
Trichostema, dichotomum  Blue-curls.
Teucrium, Canadense  Wild Germander.
BORRAGINACEtE.
Echium, vulgare  Viper's Bugloss.
Symphytum, officinale  Comfrey.
Lycopsis, arvensis  Wild Bugloss.
Qnosmodium, Virginianum  False Gromwell.
Lithospermum, arvense  Corn Gromwell.
L. (Batschia), canescens  Puccoon.
Mertensia, -Virginica  Virginian Lungwort.
Cynoglossum, officinale  Hound's Tongue.
C  Morisoni  Beggar's Lice.
Echinospermum Lappula  Burr-seed.
HYDROPHYLLACE/E.
Hydrophyllum, Virginicum  Virginian Water-leaf.
CONVOLVULACE^E.
Convolvulus, arvense  Small Bindweed.
C  purpureus  Common Morning Glory.
Calystegia, spithamaea  Sweet Bindweed.
c  sepium  Hedge Bindweed.
Cuscuta, Gronovii  Dodder.
SOLANACE^E.
Datura, Stramonium  Thorn Apple.
Hyoscyamus, niger  Common Henbane.
Physalis, viscosa  Ground Cherry.
Solanum, Dulcamara  Woody Nightshade.
S ....... . nigrum  Common Nightshade.
GENTIANACE.E.
Gentiana, saponaria  Soapwort Gentian.
G  quinquefiora  Five-flowered Gentian.
G  crinita  Blue-fringed Gentian.
APOCYNACE^E.
Apocynum, adrosaemifolium  Dogbane.
A  cannabinum  Indian Hemp.
ASCLEPIADACE.E.
Asclepias, Cornuti  Common Silkweed.

Asclepias, phytolaccoides  Poke-leaved Silkweed.
A  incarnate  Rose-colored Silkweed.
A  quadrifolia  Four-leaved Silkweed.
A  tuberosa  Butterfly Weed.
A  verticillata  Whorl-leaved Silkweed.
A  obtusifolia  Obtuse-leaved Silkweed.
OLEACE/E.
Fraxinus, Americana  White Ash.
F  sambucifolia  Black Ash.
F  pubescens  Red Ash.
ARISTOLOCHIACE^E (ApetalaeJ.
Asarum, Canadense  Wild Ginger.
CHENOPODIACEyE.
Atriplex, Hortensis  Garden Orache.
A  patula  Spreading Atriplex.
A  rosea  Rose Atriplex.
Blitum, capitatum  Strawberry Blite.
Chenopodium, album  Pig Weed.
C  hybridum  Tall Goosefoot.
C  anthelminticum .... Worm Seed.
C  Botrys  Jerusalem Oak.
AMARANTHACE^E.
Amarantus, albus  ,  White Amaranth.
A  blitoides  Low Amaranth.
A  retroflexus  Pigweed.
A  viridis  Green Amaranth.
POLYGONACE^E.
Polygonum, aviculare  Knot-grass.
P  erectum  Knot-grass.
P  Hydropiperoides  Water Pepper.
P  Persicaria  Lady's Thumb.
P  Pennsylvanicum  Pennsylvanian Knot-grass
P  Virginianum  Virginian Knot-grass.
P  articulatum  Jointed Polygonum.
P  sagittatum  Scratchgrass.
P  arifolium  Hastate Knot-grass.
P  Convolvulus  Knot Bindweed.
P  cilinode  Hairy node Polygonum.
P  dumetorum  False Buckwheat.
Rumex, crispus  Yellow Dock.
R  verticillatus  Swamp Dock.
R  Britannica  British Water Dock.
R  obtusifolius  Bitter Dock.
R  Acetosella  Field Sorrel, Horse Sorrel.
PHYTOLACCACE/E.
Phytolacca, decandia  Poke, Garget Weed.
LAURACE.E.
Benzoin, Lindera  Fever Bush, Spice Wood.
Sassafras, officinale  Sassafras.
SANTALACE^E.
Comandra, umbellate  Bastard Toadflax.
Nyssa, multiflora  Pepperidge.
THYMELACE.
Dirca, palustris  Leather- wood.
ULMACE.E.
Ulmus, Americana  American Elm, White
Elm.
U  fulva  Slippery or Red Elm.

BOTANY.

27

EUPHORBIACE^.
Euphorbia, Corollata  Flowering Spurge.
E  Cyparissias  Cypress Spurge.
E  Lathyrus  Caper Spurge.
E  hypericifolia  Eye-bright.
E  maculate  Spotted Spurge.
Acalypha, Virginica  Three-seeded Mercury.
PLATANACE^E.
Platanus, occidentalis  Button Wood, Sycamore.
URTICACE.E.
Morus, rubra  Red Mulberry.
Laportea, Canadensis  Wood Nettle.
Pilea, pumila  Richweed, Stingless Net
tle.
Urtica, dioica  Stinging Nettle.
U  urens  Burning or Dwarf Nettle.
Boehmeria, cylindrica  False Nettle.
Humulus, Lupulus  Common Hop.
Parietaria, Pennsylvanica  Pellitory.
JUGLANDACE^E.
Juglans, cinerea  Butternut.
J  nigra  Black Walnut.
Carya, alba  Shag-bark Hickory.
C  tomentosa  Mockernut Hickory.
C  porcina  Hog Walnut.
C  amara  Bitternut Hickory.
CUPULIFER.E.
Quercus, alba  White Oak.
Q  macrocarpa  Bur Oak.
Q  Prinus  Swamp Chestnut Oak.
Q  bicolor  Swamp White Oak.
Q  montana  Rock Oak,
Q  rubra  Red Oak.
Q  coccinea  Scarlet Oak.
Q  tinctoria  Black Oak.
Q  ilicifolia  Scrub Oak.
Q  prinoides  Chinquepin Oak.
Castanea, vesca .  Chestnut.
Fagus, ferruginea  Beech .
Corylus, Americana  Hazel .
C  rostrata  Beaked Hazel .
Ostrya, Virginica  Iron Wood .
Carpinus, Americana  Hornbeam. Water Beech.
BETULACE^E.
Betula, lenta  Black Birch.
B  lutea  Yellow Birch.
B  populifolia  White Birch.
B  papyracea  Canoe Birch.
Alnus, incana  Common Alder.
A . . . . serrulate  Smooth Alder.
MYRICACE/E.
Comptonia, asplenifolia  .Sweet Fern .
SALICACE/E.
Salix, discolor  Bog Willow.
S  petiolaris  Petioled Willow.
S  Sericea  Silky Willow.
S  viminalis  Basket Osier.
S  purpurea  Purple Willow.

Salix, cordata  Heart-leaved Willow.
S . . . . longifolia  Long-leaved Willow.
S . . . . lucida  Shining Willow.
S. . . . nigra  Black Willow.
S. . . . alba  White Willow.
S . . . . myrtilloides  Myrtle Willow.
S . . . . humilis  Low Willow.
S  tristis  Dwarf Gray Willow.
S  livida  Livid Willow.
Populus, tremuloides  American Aspen, White
Poplar.
P  grandidentata  Large-toothed Aspen.
P  dilatata  Lombardy Poplar.
P  monilifera  Necklace Poplar.
P  Candicans  Balm-of -Gilead.
CONIFER/E.
Pinus, resinosa  Norway or Red Pine.
P  rigida  Pitch Pine.
P  Strobus  White Pine.
Abies, Canadensis  Hemlock.
Larix, Americana  American Larch.
Thuja, occidentalis  Arbor Vitae.
Juniperus, communis  Common Juniper.
J  Virginiana  Red Cedar.
Taxus, Canadensis  , Dwarf Yew.
ARACE^E.
Arisaema, triphyllum  Jack-in-the-Putpit.
A  draconhum  Green Dragon.
Peltandra, Virginica  Arrow Arum.
Calla, palustris  Wild Calla.
Acorus, Calamus  Sweet Flag.
Symplocarpus, fcetidus  Skunk Cabbage.
TYPHACE^E.
Typha, latifolia  Cat-tail, Reed Mace.
Sparganium, eurycarpum  Bur Reed.
NAIADACEyE.
Zannichellia, palustris  Horn Pond weed.
Potamogeton, Claytoni  Clayton's Pondweed.
P  hybridus  Pondweed.
P  lucens  Shining Pondweed.
P  amplifolius  Large-leaved Pondweed.
P  pusillus  Small Pondweed.
ALISMACE^E.
Alisma, Plantago  Water Plantain.
Sagittaria, variabilis  Arrowhead.
S  pusilla  Puny Arrowhead.
S  heterophylla  Various-leaved Arrow
head.
HYDROCHARIDACE^E.
Anacharis, Canadensis  Waterweed.
Vallisneria, spiralis  Eel Grass.
ORCHIDACE^E.
Microstylis, ophioglossoides  Adder's Mouth.
Liparis, liliifolia   Tway -blade.
Corallorhiza, odontorhiza  Coral Root.
C  multiflora  Many-flowered Coral
Root.
Orchis, spectabilis  Showy Orchis.
O  psycodes  Purple Fringed Orchis.

28

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ORCHIDACE/E.
Platanthera, lacera  Ragged Orchis.
P  • Hookeri  Hooker's Orchis.
Arethusa, bulbosa  Bulbous Arethusa.
Pogonia, ophioglossoides  Pogonia.
Calopogon, pulchellus  Grass Pink.
Spiranthes, gracilis  Ladies' Tresses.
Goodyera, pubescens  Rattlesnake Plantain.
G  repens  Small Rattlesnake Plan
tain.
Listera, cordata  Tway-blade.
Cyp'ripedium, acaule  ""  Purple Lady's Slipper.
C  parviflorum  Yellow Lady's Slipper.
C  spectabile  Showy Lady's Slipper.
COMMELYNACE.E.
Tradescantia, Virginica  Spider Wort.
XYRIDACE^E.
Xyris, Caroliniana  Yellow-eyed Grass.
•AMARYLLIDACE.E.
Hypoxys, erecta  Star-grass.
IRIDACE^E.
Iris, versicolor  Blue Flag.
Sisyrinchium, anceps  Blue-eyed grass.
SMILACE^E.
Smilax, rotundifolia  Greenbrier.
s  herbacea  Carrion Flower.
TRILLIACE^E.
Trillium, cernuum  Nodding-flowered Trill-

T  ery throcarpum .
T  erectum 

. . . Smiling Wake-robin.
. . .Bath Flower Purple Trill
ium.
T  grandiflorum  Large White Trillium.
Medeola, virginica  Cucumber Root.
LILIACE^E.
Lilium, Canadense  Yellow Lily.
L  superbum  Turk's Cap.
L  Philadelphicum  Field Lily.
Erythronium, Americanum  Yellow Erythronium.
E  albidum  White Erythronium.
Allium, tricoccum  Lance-leaved Garlic.
A  Canadense  Canadian Garlic.
A  vineale  Crow Garlic.
Smilacina, bifolia  Two-leaved Solomon's
Seal.
S  trifo,ia  Three-leaved Solomon's
Seal.
S  stellate  Star Solomon's Seal.
S  racemosa  Clustered Solomon's Seal.
Clintonia, borealis  Wild Lily of the Valley.
Polygonatum, biflorum  Smaller Solomon's Seal.
P  giganteum  Giant Solomon's Seal.
Uvularia, sessilifolia  Bellwort, Wild Oats.
U  perfoliate  Mealy Bellwort.
V  grandiflora  Large-flowered Bellwort.
Streptopus, roseus  Rose Twist-foot.

POJNTEDERIACE^i.
Pontederia, cordata  Pickerel Weed.
MELANTHACE/E.
Melanthium, Virginicum  Bunchflower.
Veratrum, viride. . ,  White Hellebore.
The class of plants known as Cyperacea, or
Sedges, are well represented in the county, but as
they are in general little used for food or in the
arts, no special notice or arrangement of the differ
ent species will be given. Their coarse herbage is
often eaten by cattle, yet they are quite destitute
of the sweet and nutritious properties of the grasses.
Of so little value, apparently, their abundance
seems to authorize the belief that they subserve
some important purpose in the economy of nature.
The sedges grow in almost all localities, but are
more common in the meadows, marshes and
swamps. The Graminece or Grasses, are universally dif
fused, having no other limits than those that bound
vegetation in general. But the species and their
characteristics are widely different as affected by
climate and cultivation. This family of plants
contribute more to the sustenance of man and
beast than all others combined. Their sweet and
nutritious properties reside both in the farinaceous
albumen of the seed and in the herbage. To this
order belong the several kinds of grain and grass
that are cultivated in the county. The stems of.
many grasses contain sugar in variable quantities.
The grains usually cultivated are Triticum
sativum, Winter wheat; T. aestivum, Spring wheat ;
T compositum, Egyptian wheat ; Secale cereale,
Rye; Hordeum vulgare, Barley ; H. disfichum,
Two-rowed barley; Avena sativa, Common oat; with
the varieties Black and Horse-mane oats ; Zea Mays,
Maize or Indian corn; Sorghum saccharatum,
Broom corn.
The most important of the cultivated grasses are
Phleum pratense, Timothy ; several species of Poa,
Spear grass, Rough meadow grass, Blue grass,
Meadow red-lop, Dactylis glomerate, Orchard grass;
Agrostis, Red-top, White-top, Bent-grass, and some
others. The genus Festuca gives Slender fescue,
Tall fescue, Meadow fescue, and Hard fescue grass.
Other common grasses are Hair grass, Red or
Blue-joint, Fox-tail, Finger grass, Wild timothy,
Seneca or Sweet Vernal grass, and Chess or cheat.
Filices or Ferns are a large and interesting order
of flowerless plants — admired for their elegant,
graceful and plume-like foliage and distinguished
by their remarkable method of reproduction, the
organs of which, examined with the aid of a good
lens, cannot fail to interest the student. Their

NATURAL HISTORY.

29

locality is scarcely limited by geographical lines.
The more common species grow upon hard moun
tain soil and in swamps or moist woods. Their
economic uses are limited, so far as now known,
to their medicinal properties. They are much
sought and cultivated for ornament.
Poly podium vulgare, Common polypod ; P. Phe-
gopteris, Triangular polypod, Aspidium acrostich-
oides, Christmas fern ; A. Thelypteris, Marsh shield
fern ; A. marginale, Marginal shield fern ; A.
dilatatum, Broad shield fern ; Asplenium ebeneum,
Ebony spleenwort ; A. Trichomanes Dwarf spleen-
wort A. Angustifolium,- Narrow-leaved spleen-
wort ; A. Ruta-muraria, Wall-rue spleenwort;
A. Filix-foemina, Lady fern ; Woodsia llvensis,
Rusty Woodsia, Pteris aquilina, Common brake ; P.
atropurpurea, Rock brake; Adiantum pedatum,
Maidenhair ; Dicksonia pilosiuscula, Fine-haired
mountain fern; Osmunda cinnamomea, Cinna
mon-colored fern; O. regalis, Royal-flowering
fern ; Cystopteris bulbifera Bulb-bearing Cystopteris ;
C. fragilis, Brittle fern ; Onoclea sensibilis, Sensitive
fern — are among the ferns found in Albany County.
The Equisetacecs or Horsetails, (Rushes), an order
of vegetables growing in wet grounds, on river
banks and borders of moist woods, are represented
in the county by Equisetum hyemale, Scouring
rush; E. arvense, Field horsetail; E. limosum,
Pipes and E. sylvaticum, Wood horsetail.
Of the LycopodiacecB or Club mosses, we have Ly-
copodium clavatum, Common club moss ; L. com-
planatum, Ground pine ; L. Dendroideum, Tree
club moss ; Selaginella rupestris, Rock club moss.
NATURAL HISTORY.
Quadrupeds. — Two hundred and seventy-five
years ago, in ascending the noble river that bears
his name, Henry Hudson saw upon its banks a
race of people clad in rude garments and armed
with the ancient bow and arrows. They were na
tives of the forest ; and, like the animals about
them, wild, fierce and savage. The early immi
grants to this country met the same wandering na
tives of the woods, and with them the wild beasts
that roamed both hill and valley, a terror and dread
by day and by night. Where are they now ? The
laws of civilization, the ax and the plow, have
wonderfully interfered with their rights and des
troyed their freedom of domain. No more is
heard in our county of the savage war-whoop of
the Indian, the ferocious bark of the wolf, the
piercing cry of the wild cat, the growl of the bear,
or the plaintive bleat of the deer. These animals,
once common in the county and familiar to the

early settlers, have disappeared. No longer does
the beaver afford profit or amusement to the
hunter. The otter, too, has gone, and with it the
hedge-hog and the porcupine. Two years ago,
near the farm of Hon. Erastus Corning, a porcu
pine was shot, which is preserved as a specimen
in the Museum of Natural History, at Albany.
The noble bison and elk, monarchs of the forest,
if they once roamed . our forests in freedom, as
some believe, have sought more secure and favored
retreats. Among the primitive quadrupeds yet to be found
in the county are the fox, raccoon, woodchuck,
skunk, grey and white rabbit, muskrat, mink,
weasel, grey and red squirrel, striped and flying
squirrel, mole, mice of several kinds ; all insig
nificant as compared with those proud occupants
of our old forests.
Birds.— The birds form no small part of the
natural history of the county. Many of them,
with their joyous songs, are welcome harbingers of
spring, assuring us that the icy fetters of winter
are broken, that the mild rays of the vernal sun
will soon warm the earth. The husbandman is
made glad when he hears the first note of the blue
bird, the rapturous music of the robin, or the
mellow call of the whip-poor-will.
Among our rapacious birds are the great hen-
hawk, goshawk, pigeon-hawk, shrike -or butcher
bird, the grey, horned and barn owl, crow, great
blue heron, small heron, bittern and kingfisher.
But few game birds are found in the county, and
these are protected by stringent laws. During the
few months in which they can be legally killed,
the huntsmen seem to have no thought for the
future, but are so reckless that few remain for the
next season's reproduction. Partridge, woodcock,
snipe, plover and, rarely, a quail, with an occa
sional meadow lark, comprise the list.
Among the song birds are the robin, golden and
orchard oriole, brown and wood thrush, cat-bird,
bobolink, bluebird, grey and hedge sparrow,
chirp and yellow bird, titmouse, red and black-
winged phcebe, bluejay, kingbird, blackbird,
barn, chimney and mason swallows, several kinds
of woodpeckers, crested tit, house wren, cuckoo,
dove, whip-poor-will, night-hawk and several vari
eties of the humming-birds, and the cedar or
cherry bird. The habits of these birds are as
various as the classes they represent. The greater
number are migratory, arriving here during the
spring months. The first to leave is the bobo
link ; others follow at irregular intervals. Almost
the last to leave for a more genial clime is the

30

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

robin. The indiscriminate and wanton destruction
of our harmless birds by the ruthless sportsmen
is having a marked effect upon the increase of
insects and worms, injurious to vegetation.
Fishes. — The creeks running through the
county, as well as the Hudson, early abounded in
fish. Pike and sturgeon were caught even in Fox
Creek, now filled up or used as a covered sewer.
A sturgeon was sold for a knife in that early day.
Salmon has rarely been found in our river, the fish
preferring clearer, rocky rivers, like the Connecticut
and Kennebec. Herring once made Saratoga
Lake their grand rendezvous, and were in plenty.
The dams have turned them away. Shad and
bass are not plentiful so far up stream as our county
for lack of suitable accommodations ; but they are
abundant in the river, as are also the usual variety
of small fish. Trout was once very abundant in
the clear streams of the county.
The sharp-nosed sturgeon, caught in the Hud
son, is from four to eight feet in length, and varies
in weight from ioo to 450 pounds. A few years
ago one was caught weighing 486 pounds. The
annual catch commences in April and continues
into the autumn. This fish is caught in most of
the fishing places from New York bay to Troy,
and is a great favorite in the river towns. It is
sometimes called " Albany beef. " Its oil is used
for the same purpose as sperm oil, and in the treat
ment of cuts and bruises. A favorite place for
spawning was once at the bottom of Cohoes Falls.
Its roes or eggs furnish one of the most alluring
bates to the angler, as bass and many other fish
delight in them for food.
Reptiles. — Of snakes there are very few, and of
the poisonous class none. The rattlesnake, once
so common in the county, is no more to be
dreaded. The list comprises the black-snake and chaser,
milk, water, garter and green snakes. Some
lizards, newts and toads of several varieties are
found. Entomology. — Varied as are the subjects con
nected with the Natural History of Albany County,
that of entomology is not the least. Many insects
are known to be injurious to trees, shrubs and
plants under cultivation ; many are destructive to
domestic fabrics, and in many ways are pests in
the house, in the garden, and in the field and for
est. A knowledge of their history, habits, charac
ter, propagation and natural enemies, with practical
suggestions for their control, and the best means
and remedies for their destruction, should be of
much interest and value.

The Entomological History of New York State
was under the supervision of Dr. Fitch for many
years, who made very extensive collections in
Albany and Washington counties. For ten years
after Dr. Fitch's death no work was done by the
State in that branch of natural history, and much
valuable time was lost.
In 1870, the work was resumed by Dr. J. A.
Lintner, who was appointed State Entomologist.
For the last fifteen years, large and extensive col
lections have been made by him and his associates
for the State collection, for private cabinets, and
for distribution in various parts of the United
States and in Europe.
Albany County has a favorite insect-collecting
ground at the " Center, " on the N. Y. Central R. R. ,
a few miles North West from Albany. This also
affords many plants for the botanist not obtained
anywhere else. The Scientific American says, ' ' The
butterflies — Lepidoptera — collected in this place are
more extensive than in any other locality." This
is one of the localities in the State where the 17
year locusts, Cicada-Septemdecim, will appear in
1885. Dr. Lintner has given special attention to the
many injurious species, in order to counteract their
ravages and confine their area of depredations by-
proper remedies, and to the best means for their
eradication. The subject is one of great interest
to the farmer and the cultivator of every species of
plant-life. Flies, beetles, moths, worms, etc., are
the bane of the progressive agriculturist, who is con
stantly subjected to the ravages of these pests. Our
space allows only a brief notice of a few of the
more injurious pests that are common in the county.
The wheat-midge, Diplosis tritici, was formerly
very destructive, but of late years its effect upon
the wheat crop has not been perceptible. The
apple-tree borer, Sapcrda Candida, and the peach-
tree borer, JEgeria exitiosa, are so common to the
orchardist that they need no special description.
Unless they meet with constant warfare, the trees
in time succumb to their work. In May and
October every tree should be carefully examined,
and if any bark-dust or gnawings are seen at the foot
of the tree, use a sharp knife and destroy the grub ;
or, with a wire, follow the channel made, and put
an end to further progress.
To prevent eggs being deposited, a shield of tin
or tarred paper may encircle the tree for 1 8 inches
in height.
The injuries of the currant worm, Nematus ven-
tricosus, have been quite severe with the currant and '
gooseberry crop; but it has had a vigorous attack

NATURAL HISTORY.

31

made upon it by a minute parasite, which oviposits
in its eggs and destroys them, and has thereby done
very much towards arresting its ravages. Among
the remedies most potent for the destruction of the
currant worm is Persian insect powder, or Pyre-
thrum, and powdered Hellebore dusted upon the
leaves when moist with dew or rain. The Helle
bore may be used mixed with water, and sprinkled
from a water-pot having a fine rose.
The Colorado potato-beetle, Doryophora 10-lin-
eata, made its appearance in Albany County in 1874,
since which time it has been a plague to the farmer.
With perseverance and occasional application of
Paris-green incorporated with ground plaster, or
thoroughly mixed with water, the ravages of the
grub can be controlled. It has many enemies ;
nearly 30 other insects prey upon it.
The carpet beetle, Anthrenus scrophularice, re
ceived its first scientific notice in this country by
Dr. Lintner, of Albany, in the year 1876. From
examples taken in Schenectady, its true character
was first ascertained, and its habits and life-
history established. It has been very abundant
and destructive in Schenectady and Albany, in the
latter city abounding in the early summer upon
umbelliferous plants in Washington Park. Its dis
tribution through the State and other States is rapidly
extending. Every effort should be made to arrest
its spread by the free use of benzine in its haunts.
The white-marked tussock moth, Orgyia leucos-
tigma, has been a great pest in Albany and Schen
ectady for a number of years, having, at times,
almost defoliated the elms and horse-chestnuts of
our streets, and the plum-trees of our gardens. It
is believed that the great increase of this pest in
recent years is due to the introduction of the Eng
lish sparrow, which makes war upon and drives
away the few birds that feed upon the hairy cater
pillars, of which the Orgyia is one.
Another pest that has been quite destructive of
late years, is the rose-bug, or Macrodaclylus subspin-
osus. The cabbage worm — larva of a butterfly, order
Lepidoptera — was first noticed in Albany County by
Dr. Lintner, in July, 1870. It was introduced into
this country about 1857. It came to Albany and
vicinity in July 1870. This butterfly is the bane of
every cabbage grower, and its larva is the dread of
every cook. It is a voracious eater, and great
numbers of worms are often found in a single head
of cabbage. The natural enemy of the chrysalides
is the larva of a minute parasitic fly, known as
Pteromalus puparum. Another parasite of the cab
bage worm is known as Apanteles congregata.

Another parasite is the larva of a two-winged fly,
belonging to the genus Tachina. This Tachina has
been bred in considerable numbers by Dr. Lintner.
The following remedies for the cabbage worm
are used: hot water, 1300 Fahrenheit, the water to
be boiling hot, when put in the watering-pot ;
Pyrethrum, or Persian insect-powder, half-ounce,
with two gallons water, or half an ounce mixed
with some dry substance, and sprinkled on the
cabbage. There are many hedges of spruce in Albany
County, and the tree is extensively planted for shade
and ornament; therefore, it may be well to notice
an enemy, recently discovered, which has proved
to be very destructive to the spruce and fir trees. It
is called elsewhere the Spruce-bud Tortrix
Fumiferana. Besides climatic causes, the spruce
is likely to meet with the ravages of this new enemy ;
and if once introduced, our hedges will be at their
mercy. It has appeared in the State already. The
defoliation of spruce-trees is sufficient either to kill
the trees outright, or so weaken them, that bark-
boring beetles can complete the work of destruction.
Trees attacked by these caterpillars look as if a
light fire had passed through them. It feeds upon
the leaves or needles of the terminal shoots, and
while at its work scarcely alters the appearance of
the tree, and its presence is known only when the
worms are abundant enough to defoliate the trees.
The imported elm-leaf beetle, Gallerucella Xan-
thomelcena. — The depredations of this pest have
become widely extended throughout the North
eastern States, preying upon the elms. The eggs
are deposited in an upright position upon the under
side of the leaves, generally in two, more or less
irregular rows. The eggs are close together and
firmly fastened to the leaf; they vary in number
from four or five to twenty-five ; in shape, oblong,
oval, obtusely pointed at the tip, and of a straw-
yellow color. The duration of the egg-state is
about one week. The larvae are destructive to the
foliage from May to August, and have about two
weeks of active life between the egg and pupa
state. During this time they devour the leaves,
which become skeletonized. The beetle assists
the worms in its destructive work, but the worms
do the most damage. In the month of September
the beetles prepare for hibernation, seeking shelter
in hollow trees, in the ground, under old leaves,
and remain dormant until the following spring.
The remedies recommended are many — such as
tarring the trees, oil and tar gutters around the base
of the tree, hot water and tobacco juice, arsenical
preparations, Paris-green, London purple, in pro-

32

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

portion, one-half pound, flour three quarts, and
water 40 gallons.
In the wide range of insect life few forms
possess a greater vitality than is found among the
bark-lice, and none are more readily transported
upon plants from place to place, and from one
country to another. Among the remedies the
following is one which was proved in practice
useful when a moderate quantity of emulsion is
required :
Kerosene two gallons, common soap or whale-
oil soap one-half pound, water one gallon. Heat
the solution of soap and add it boiling hot to
the kerosene. Churn the mixture thoroughly,
which, when cool, forms a thick cream ; "dilute,
before using, one part of the mixture with nine
parts of cold water. The above gives three
gallons of emulsion, arid makes, when diluted, 30
gallons of wash. The percentage of oil can be
considerably increased, as can also the amount of
soap, without danger to most trees or plants.
Kerosene differs from most other remedial agents
in being entirely harmless to tender young growths,
blossom buds and young fruit, if properly diluted.
It may therefore be applied to bearing trees at
seasons when other insectcides would cause more
or less loss of growth and of fruit. The most
favorable season for applying kerosene washes is,
undoubtedly, early spring, as soon or as all danger
of frost is past.
The reports of Prof. Riley, of the Department of
Agriculture, and of Prof. J. A. Lintner, State
Entomologist, have been very helpful in the prepara
tion of this section. Much more might be added,
if our space would allow.
METEOROLOGY.
The principal timber or trees yet growing upon
the hills and in the small patches of forest are
pines, white, yellow and pitch ; oaks, several vari
eties ; maples, birch, beech, elm, hemlock, chest
nut and hickory; on the sandy regions, dwarf
species of evergreen trees. Red cedar grows to a
limited extent in several localities, particularly

upon rocky wastes. The law of demand has
asserted its prerogative in the general physical
characteristics of the county, which is well illus
trated by the rapid denudation and recent
destruction of forests for the requirements of
modern progress and internal improvements.
While these add largely to the wealth of the
country, agriculture is in a" measure deprived of
its greatest need, an abundant rainfall. The one
thing essential to fertility is a constant supply
of water, and this is supplied by condensation from
the atmosphere, which appears in the form of snow
or rain, depending upon the temperature and
surrounding physical condition of the locality.
When we estimate the number of acres of forest
that are required for fuel and building material,
and the almost unlimited demand made to supply
the railroads, we can readily see how, in a few-
years, the whole character of the climate and
productions of a region may be changed by the
destruction of its - forests. Trees, with forest
vegetation, perform an important function in the
great economy of nature. They furnish natural
barriers against sudden floods; their roots permeate
the soil, and thus prevent torrents from sweeping
away the soil and conveying the accumulated debris
in heaps upon the cultivated land. The foliage of
the trees, which present such an immense surface,
condenses the atmospheric moisture, which would
otherwise be taken on the aerial currents and
carried away. Physical geography, demonstrates
this fact, that the destruction of forest growth
diminishes the amount of rainfall in that region.
In accordance with natural laws, the fertility
depends, in a great degree, upon this. Therefore,
to destroy the forests is to diminish one of the great
sources of productiveness of the soil. It is clear,
therefore, that the destruction of the forests has a
direct influence upon agriculture, by diminishing
the quantity of rainfall, inducing drouth by
uninterrupted rays of the sun, and by the wind
currents which meet with no obstructions and
cause less deposit of moisture.
Under this head other facts of interest will be
given in the history of the City of Albany.

METEOROLOGY.

33

Table showing monthly rainfall and mean temperature, for each month of the year, from 1874 to 1884,
inclusive, as obtained from the records of the "United States Signal Service," at Albany, kept
by Major John 6. Barnes. RAINFALL.

January 
February 
March 
April 
May 
June 
July-- 
August 
September 
October 
November 
December 
Total for year

1874.

Inches.

3.612.90 '-97
4-97 2.32
4'1 6.78 1.94
4.01 1.77
2.19
0.76

I87S-

Inches.

2.14 1. 6S
3-273-362-57 3 9»
2.466.552.635-972.29 1. 11

37-93 3825 38.19

1876.

Inches.

"•57
4.09 4.28
2.964.40 4-97
0-53 1.64
2.65
2.42

1877.

Inches.

I-9S
0.36 3-33 1.42
2.77
4.60 4.00 4-57 1.82
7.86 2.70
0.71

3°-°9

1878.

Inches.

4-45
4.12
.2.18 3-99 3-°S
4-54 5-523-373.203-37
4-43 6.16-

49-37

1879.

Inches.

2.542.803-793-17
0.894.62 5. 10
4.253-47 1.24
2.56
4,23

38.56

1880.

Inches.

2.962.672.17
2.753-382.213-782.842.862.45
2.49 2.01

32-54

Inches.

2.862.50
3-8o i-54
3-9°
3-762.222.07
2.383-'9 3-44
4.88

1882.

Inches.

2.64
3-31 1.791.27
4- IS
3-98 3-97 1.38
7-79
0.27
0.97 2.24

36-32 33-7°

1883.

Inches.

2-43
3.00 1.77
2.65
3.206.305.963-69
3-193-49 1. 14
2-55

39-37

Inches.

2.98
3-854.002.092.79 1.80
5-°4
5-27 1.80
2.643-44
3.20

38-9°

The greatest rainfall for any year was in 1878. The least rainfall in 1880. The greatest rainfall
for any month was October, 1877. The least for any one month was October, 1882. The total rainfall
for the full ten years was 380.38 inches, and the average yearly rainfall for 10 years was 38.038 inches.

TABLE OF MEAN TEMPERATURE AS RECORDED AT ALBANY BY U. S. S. S.

January . . .
February . .
March 
April 
May 
June 
July 
August
September .
October. ..
November .
December.

Average for each
year 

Highest in the
year 

Lowest

1874.

Degs.

28.222.2
32.2 36.6
5°-5 66.9
69.966.863- 1
48.8 36-428.0

46-392 16

1875-

Degs.

14
15
26 39
576669.8 70.7
58.5
46.43i 8
26.8

43-690 18

1876.

Degs.

29.224.829.9
42.9 57-' 7i-5
73-7 72.7
46.0 39-5 17.2

46.9

93

1877.

Degs.

17. 1
28.83°-4
46 -3
575 68.271 I
63.8
49-5 40.431 3

48.1 92 7

1878.

Degs.

23.124-338.4
51-556-5
65.0 73-670.2
63-7 52.4
37-827.7

48.7

92

1879.

Degs.

17.919-3
3°S
42.060.8 66.071. 1
67.9
59-6 58.9
37-3 28.6

46.7

91

1880.

Degs.

3°28.32-49,66.7i- 74-
7064.Si-37-25-

5°-4
93 10

1 881.

Degs.

.8

19

¦3

27

¦7

38

7

47

¦4

65

.8

65

9

73

9

73

9

7i

-4

55

.8

43

.2

3»

5i-4 96 10

1882.

Degs.

27.4
32.638.8
47.0 55-9
69.0 73-873°
65 1
56-441.4
31.2

Si.o 92 14

1883.

Degs.

23-328.730.1
47-3 59 1
72.072.8
69.961.2 5°-9
44.0 31.0

49.2 94 8-5

Degs.

23.6
33 -°
35-8
47.8 59-i 72-570.772.6
67-5sl'*38-427.8

5°-392.2 15-9

Average temperature for ten years, 48.23 degrees. The highest temperature for any year was 1881,
and the lowest, 1875. The coldest month was January, 1875. The coldest days were in 1875 and
1878. The hottest month was July, 1880. The hottest day was in 1881.
5

34

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

THE IROQUOIS INDIANS.
The early history of Albany County, like that of
every section of our country, is more or less in
timately connected with that of the aboriginal In
dian. When the Half-moon first entered the
"great river" which gives, "as long as water
runs," immortality to the name of Hudson, it met
hostility and murder from the savages that dwelt
around its lower waters. Sailing up the river, a
few days later, with the same ship and crew, it is
recorded of the savages that ' ' we found ver)' loving-
people and very old men, where we were well
used." These Indians belonged to two great
families. The former were of the Algonquins or
Adirondacks, of which the Manhattan and the
Delaware tribes occupied the territory about New
York City and the valley of the Delaware River.
With these the early settlers upon Manhattan and
Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley had
much trouble, involving destruction of property
and barbarian devastation and murder. The lat
ter were called Iroquois by the French ; Five,
afterward Six Nations, by the English ; and, by
themselves, Aquanuschioni, signifying a united
people, or Ongue-houwe, a superior people. These
were divided into tribes, under the separate names
of Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas and
Senecas, to which were added later the Tuscaroras.
At the time the early traders came up the Hud
son, these tribes claimed most of the territory now
constituting the State of New York and a portion
of Pennsylvania, as their hunting grounds. Here
they had their villages, and the lands they claimed
as their own. No one could tell how they came
here or when. They were distinguished above all
other Indians of North America for intelligence,
eloquence, endurance and cruelty. But they re
ceived the early Dutch traders in the most friendly
manner, and for a great many years retained with
them most peaceful relations in trade, even while
carrying on war with others in a spirit of inplacable
revenge, with all the varieties of torture and bar
barity of which the race was capable.
A firm and lasting treaty of alliance and peace,
it is said, was made between the great confederacy
of the Five Nations and the Dutch, in 1618, as be
fore suggested, on the hill Tawasagunshee, near the
banks of the Tawalsontha Creek, now Norman's
Kill, just south of Albany. There was no love be
tween these contracting parties, any more than is
usual between nations who make politic treaties of
amity and commerce. It was a contract of selfish
ness and shrewdness. And as long as it was
mutually advantageous it was unbroken.

Let us explain the circumstances. The Dutch
came here for money-making. They saw a rich
mine in the fur trade. The Indians knew the
places of the beaver and the otter, and how to
place their furs in the hands of these eager traders.
They, in turn, desired the European trinkets, the
white man's fire-water, and his fearfully destructive
fire-arms. These mutual interests would best be
secured by mutual peace and helpfulness.
These Five Nations — made Six Nations by the ac
cession of the Tuscaroras in 1714 — had formed a
confederacy of tribes long before this date. The
Mohawks were the most powerful ; the Onondagas
kept the great council fire ever burning, near where
now is the City of Syracuse. They all had their
villages and patches of ground, where dwelt their
squaws, who cultivated corn, peas, beans, po
tatoes, melons, and cared for the infant papooses.
They also had rude castles, made with palisades
and brush work. The Mohawks, as told to us,
had five castles in 1630, viz. : Moenemines Castle,
situated on Haver Island, at the mouth of the
Mohawk River ; one at Schenectady ; one at
Fort Hunter, at the outlet of Schoharie Creek,
called Ticonderoga ; one in the present town ot
Mohawk, called Caughnawaga; one, the great
castle, in the present town of Danube, called Cana-
joharie. At this time they numbered about 600
warriors. While their castles were on or near the
Mohawk, their ownership in the soil extended, on
the west side of the Hudson, as far south as the
Catskills, 'north to the Canadas, and west includ
ing the present counties of Saratoga, Schenectady,
Montgomery, Herkimer, Schoharie, Otsego, Greene
and Albany. The Oneidas and Cayugas were
understood to be the younger members of the con
federacy. The Senecas dwelt farthest west, and
were remarkable for their fierce and implacable
nature. When first known to Europeans, they
were unitedly engaged in war with nearly all the
surrounding tribes.
These confederates did not unite in the interest
of peace and progress, but for war and revenge.
Of all employments, war was their delight. Noth
ing was sweeter to them than revenge. They were
cunning and daring, alert and brave, unfeeling
and cruel. With the war club, the tomahawk,
the bow and the arrow, rude weapons of war,
they had carried terror to the wilds of Canada ;
had gained victories on Lake Huron ; had made
tributary the Delawares and the Mohegans, and
had, with unfeeling arrogance, brought into sub
mission the weaker tribes in their reach, and, by
reckless courage and formidable numbers, com-

THE IROQUOIS INDIANS.

35

manded the respect and awe of most of the power
ful tribes from the Mississippi to the Atlantic. Such
was the state of things when Samuel Champlain
came up the beautiful lake that bears his name,
only about two months before the Mohawks so lov
ingly welcomed Hudson. At this time the
Iroquois were waging relentless war with the
Hurons and Adirondacks. Entering into an al
liance with these Canada tribes, Champlain fur
nished them with fire-arms and taught their use.
The astonished Iroquois found themselves defeated
in almost every encounter. They were humbled.
Smarting under disgraceful defeat, they hailed the
advent of the Dutch with delight, as a new people
coming among them with the terrible enginery of
powder and guns, as against the arrow and the
tomahawk. They cultivated their friendship, and
aided their enterprises with alacrity. Such were
the circumstances that led to that treaty on the
banks of the Norman's Kill, which, as tradition has
it, was early made between the Dutch and the Iro
quois. By this treaty, the Dutch secured for them
selves the quiet possession of the coveted Indian
trade, and the Six Nations obtained the means to
assert that ascendancy which they long after main
tained over neighboring tribes, inspiring terror, far
and near, among the other savages of North Amer
ica. Delighted with their improved weapons of death,
the Iroquois put them in immediate use. They
had at least 3,000 warriors ; they were free men
and united ; they were at home in their well-trod
den warpaths, hunting grounds and wilderness
fastnesses. Champlain was compelled to retreat
from his invasions into the Mohawk territory. The
Hurons were pursued without mercy, and entirely
dispersed ; the Eries were extirpated, leaving as
their monument their name only upon the beauti
ful lake on the shores of which they dwelt ; and
the more formidable Andastes were blotted from
existence. New France, with its allies, for many
years suffered from their menaces, incursions and
sanguinary conflicts. Even Quebec, its leading
city, was threatened with devastation.
The policy followed by the early Dutch traders
of Albany was well adapted to attach the Indians
to them. It appealed to their self-interests. It
aided them in their favorite pursuits of hunting and
war. It gratified their love of trinkets and orna
ments ; it gave them strong water to drink,
powder and guns, knives and hatchets. It re
strained none of their vices or habits of cruelty
when they did not interfere with the profits of
trade. The English successors of the Dutch con

tinued their policy. The unprovoked attack of
Champlain upon the Iroquois in 1609 engendered
intense hatred towards Canada and the whole
French race and its allies for long years. No op
portunity for revenge was neglected. In the con
tests for territory that followed, with slight inter
ruptions, until the fall of Quebec in 1759, and the
surrender of the North American possessions of
the French to the English, the Six Nations were,
with few exceptions, faithful friends to the English
colonies, shielding them on many occasions from
hostile attacks, and aiding them in the hour of
battle. Whatever, then, relates to their history is perti
nent to the history of Albany County.
During all this period — -extending over 150
years, until the Revolution — the Mohawks gener
ally continued the friends of Albany, remembering
the belt of peace, the token of eternal union,
given and received on the banks of that romantic
stream. As the oldest, bravest and most powerful
of the confederate tribes, they shaped their general
policy and conduct. Most warlike, rapacious,
treacherous and cruel, they were, it must be seen,
kept on terms of peace and friendship only from
motives of fear, want, self-preservation and vanity.
They were a protection against the -warlike tribes
on the north, east and south, because all stood in
fear of them. To them these tribes were in sub
jection ; to them they paid tribute as a token of
servitude. It is well known that the Mohawks of Caughna-
waga were seduced by the French about the year
1 67 1, and removed to Canada. It was these In
dians who visited Schenectady with the French,
February 8, 1690, desolated the village in the
night by fire, and murdered and carried captive its
peaceful inhabitants. This event deeply stirred
the people of Albany, and taught them more fully
how little reliance they could place upon these
savages, uncontrolled by self-interest, unrestrained
by fear. Nothing but a belief that the city was well
protected and prepared against them prevented
these vandals from making a like attack upon Al
bany. Indeed, it is believed that the expedition
was planned in Canada and undertaken against
Albany. But the severe cold, deep snows, long
march and hunger, led them to change their plan
and fall upon the nearer and weaker town of
Schenectady. Except these few, then, who were led by the
French Jesuits to remove to Canada and join the
interests of the French, the Iroquois were true to
the Dutch ; and, after the government passed into

36

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

the hands of the English, they adhered to the
" Corlear " or British interests against the " Yonon-
dio " or French nation. They continued to do all
in their power against the Canadian Indians and
the Canadian towns until the fall of Quebec brought
them in subjection to Great "Britain. Thus they
proved serviceable to the colonies up to the time
of the American Revolution. During this dark
and painful struggle with the Mother Country
many of them, under the influence of Sir John
Johnson, Guy Johnson, Joseph Brandt, the But
lers and other Tories, became a terror to their for
mer friends, and carried fire, devastation and
murder into many new settlements. The story of
Cherry Valley and of the Valley of Wyoming re
cords their savage cruelty ; and many homes in
the Valley of the Mohawk, of Schoharie, of the
Delaware and the Minnisink witnessed their base
treachery and pitiless murders. " The whole con
federacy," says De Witt Clinton, "except a little
more than half the Oneidas, took up arms against
us. They hung like the scythe of death upon the
rear of our settlements, and their deeds are in
scribed with the scalping knife and the tomahawk,
in characters of blood, on the fields of Wyoming
and Cherry Valley, and on the banks of the Mo
hawk." The Mohawks, once sustaining the most inti
mate relations with the Dutch and English col
onial fur traders, were the most active and cruel
enemies of the Americans in these bloody scenes.
Thayendanega, known as Col. Joseph Brant, a
Mohawk chief, educated by Sir William Johnson
in the Lebanon school, under the wise and pious
Wheelock, was their leader. They were obliged,
at the close of the Revolution, to leave the State
and take refuge in Canada. Most of the Oneidas
were true to the Colonies through the influence of
that wise and good man, Rev. Samuel Kirkland,
who came among them from Connecticut as a mis
sionary, in 1769. He was aided by the chief
Shenandoa, who was greatly attached to him.
Some of the Tuscaroras also took sides with the
Colonies. The fragments of the great confederation
that remain are entirely changed in character and
habits. They have lost their ancient power and
their prestige.
These New York Indians, who were led by Tory
gifts, promises and lying statements, to take sides
against the colonists in favor of the King of Great
Britain, gained no advantage. They lost most of
their best warriors and their lands, and have since
been poor outcasts. This they saw at the close of
the war, and expressed deep regrets at their folly.

Brant died on the west shore of Lake Ontario ih
1807, expressing regrets at many of his deeds of
cruelty, and endeavoring to persuade the historian
to remember that he was far better than his Tory
and British associates. Shenandoa died in the
Christian faith in 18 16, at the age of no, and was
buried by the side of his beloved Kirkland, that he
might "go up with him at the resurrection."
Red Jacket, Corn Planter, Farmer's Brother, Half
Town and Big Tree, after the Revolution, were
true and faithful allies to the United States. Their
conduct inspired respect, and brought much sym
pathy and favor towards their nation, the Senecas.
The aggregate number of the Iroquois confed
eracy at the time when the Hollanders first began
trade on the Hudson is estimated at about 40,000.
Of their descendants probably not more than
5,000 remain. A very small remnant, weak, de
pendent and peaceable, remain in this State. In
the State Census of 1875, only one was found in
Albany County, and none in Rensselaer, Saratoga,
Schenectady, Montgomery and Schoharie.
It is worthy of remark that the County of Albany
was exempt from depredations by Tories and In
dians during the entire War of the Revolution,
while all around, in the old Tryon and Schoharie
Counties, the settlers were kept in almost constant
fear of sudden invasion and carnage. The only
exception occurred in the present town of Berne,
near Schoharie County, where the Dietz family of
eight persons were murdered or taken captives by
the Indians. This was done, it is presumed, by a
misunderstanding, or from private revenge.
This deliverance is generally attributed to the fact
that the county abounded in Tories, who had here
their rendezvous in caves and out-of-the-way
houses, and were in constant communication with
the Tory leaders of these savage bandits. By the
aid they rendered them, good will and personal
safety were secured. Along and near the valleys
of the Mohawk and Schoharie, were twenty-four
forts environing the county. These were only a
partial defense. The City of Albany was well pro
tected by forts and arms.
INDIAN LANDS.
As the only object of those who first came to
this region, as is well known, was trade with the
Indians, no land was called for except what was
needed for trading posts. We have no mention of
any purchases of territory here before the initiatory
steps to the settlement of Rensselaerwyck were
taken. Before this the natives attached no value to
land, if so be that their own pursuits were not im-

THE INDIAN IN EDUCATION AND CHRISTIANITY.

37

peded. We take it that they were delighted to see
the trader's cabin, his trading house and his rude
fort, and never thought of invasion of their own
rights so long as trade was free and profitable — so
long as they could obtain clothing, rum, guns and
trinkets in return for corn and beans, venison
and beaver. The forts on Castle Island, on the
Tasawantha and Fort Orange were, we think,
erected without formal consent and held by peace
able possession. They were obtained by good
will, good hopes and politic presents. The servants
of the Netherland companies came on hire, not to
stay — came only as agents of adventurers, and had
no need to.own land. They were temporary squat
ters. Their shelters were traders' tents and hunters'
camps. Thus it was, probably, until about 1630. When
the charter of privileges and exemptions was made
in 1629, for the encouragement of colonization in
.New Netherlands, by making conditional grants to
patroons who would take certain lands and occupy
them with settlers, Kilian Van Rensselaer pur
chased the titles of the Indians as his potent and
wise policy dictated. The territory selected by
him occupied twenty-four miles on each side
of the Hudson River, and extended twenty-four
miles up and down the river, including all of Albany
County and most of Rensselaer and a part of
Columbia County, as they now exist. This grant
was understood by the patroon to include also Fort
Orange and Beverwyck, and so it was subse
quently decided by the English Crown. This
claim was given up by the patroon before Albany
was chartered as a city in 1686. All other land
titles in this county, it is believed, are derived
from the manorial rights thus purchased from
the agents of Kilian Van Rensselaer. By the
terms of this grant they extinguished all Indian
claims.
THE INDIAN IN EDUCATION AND
CHRISTIANITY.
As early as 1642, a French Jesuit visited the
Mohawk settlements with the pious design of
introducing the Christian religion, and the patri
otic purpose of bringing over the Mohawks to the
interests of the French. Several other of these
persevering missionaries followed this pioneer dur
ing the succeeding 40 years, and labored with a
fair measure of success, amid great hardships. As
previously stated, in 1671 a large number left the
Caughnawaga Castle and removed to Canada, where
their descendants may be found to this day in an
Indian village a little above Montreal. They still

speak the Mohawk dialect, and have devotional
books printed in that language.
French missionaries were found among all the
Indian tribes at an early date after the discovery of
Canada, many of them talented, learned, devoted
and pious. They endured much from destitution,
wearying toil and even suffered death, while en
deavoring to convert these savages to the religion
of Jesus. These were in a condition of heathen
ism, and capable of inflicting pitiless revenge and
barbaric cruelty upon their prisoners. Many
were reckoned as converted and received baptism.
But few learned to forgive their enemies or to
leave off, for a long time, the vices and habits of
their usual lives of degradation and wickedness.
Yet, it is believed that some did, indeed, receive
the benignant influences of the lessons of the
Saviour of Men into their hearts, and lived better
lives. The Dutch and English clergy, also, endeavored
to teach Christianity to the Indians, but their suc
cess was no better than that of the Catholics, unless
it was preceded by civilization, education and good
examples. Unfortunately, but little was thought
of making the Indian a better man by most of the
mercantile men of colonial days. To make him
serviceable in trade and in war seems to have been
the leading policy of the European colonists of
every nation and religion.
Says Peter Kalm, in 1749, speaking of- Indian
conferences at Albany : ' ' Sometimes their delib
erations turn upon their conversion to the Christian
religion." Then he goes oh to tell — as an indi
cation of the Indian feeling at that time — that
Gov. Hunter, on one of these occasions, after he
had presented the Indians with many clothes and
other gifts in the name of Queen Anne, told them
that their good mother, the Queen, had not only
generously provided them with clothes for their
bodies, but likewise intended to adorn their souls
by sending them good ministers to teach them the
gospel. Upon this announcement one of the oldest
sachems arose and replied that, in the name of all
the Indians, he thanked their gracious mother, the
Queen, for the fine clothes she had sent them, but
as to the ministers, they had already had some of
them, who, instead of preaching the holy gospel
to them had taught them to get drunk, to cheat
and to quarrel. He then entreated the Governor
to take from them these preachers and some other
Europeans who dwelt near them ; for before they
came among them the Indians had been honest,
sober and innocent ; but now mpst of them had
become rogues. If he would do them any favor,

38

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

he would ask him to send two or three blacksmiths
among them to teach them how to work iron.
As further illustrating the estimation which many
of the leading Indians placed upon the kind of Chris
tianity which was manifested in the conduct of the
early settlers and teachers of this vicinity, we give
the following as told by Dr. Benjamin Franklin.
Canassatego was an Onondaga chief, living about
1 740 : ' ' Conrad Weiser, our interpreter, had
been naturalized among the Six Nations, and
spoke well the Mohawk language. In going
through the Indian country to carry a message
from our Governor to the council at Onondaga, he
called at the habitation of Canassatego, an old
acquaintance, who embraced him, spread furs for
him to sit on, placed before him some boiled beans
and venison, and mixed some rum and water for
his drink. When he was well refreshed and had
lit his pipe, Canassatego began to converse with
him ; asked how he had fared the many years
since they had seen each other ; whence he then
came, what occasioned the journey, &c. Conrad
answered all his questions. The Indian, to con
tinue,: said : ' Conrad, you have lived long
among the white people and know something of
their customs. I have been sometimes at Albany,
and have observed that once in seven days they
shut up their shops and assemble in the great
house. Tell me what that is for ? What do they
do there ? ' ' They meet there,' said Conrad, ' to
hear and learn good things.' ' I do not doubt,'
said the Indian, ' that they tell you so. They have
told me the same ; but I doubt the truth of what
they say ; and I will tell you my reasons. I went
lately to Albany to sell my skins and buy blankets,
knives, powder, rum, &c. You know I used gen
erally to deal with Hans Hanson, but I was a little
inclined this time to try some other merchants.
However, I called first upon Hans, and asked him
what he would give for beaver. He said he could
not give more than four shillings a pound ; "but,"
says he, "I cannot talk on business now. This is
the day when we meet together to learn good
things, and I am going to the meeting.'' So I
thought to myself, since I cannot do any business
to-day, I may as well go to the meeting too, and I
went with him. There stood up a man in black,
and began to talk to the people very angrily. I
did not understand what he said, but, perceiving
that he looked much at me and at Hanson, I
imagined he was angry at seeing me there. So I
went out, sat down near the house, struck fire and
lit my pipe, waiting until the meeting should break
up. I thought, too, that the man had mentioned

something of beaver, and suspected it might be
the subject of their meeting. So when they came
out I accosted my merchant. ' ' Well, Hans," says
I, "I hope you have agreed to give more than four
shillings a pound." "No," says he, "I cannot give
so much. I cannot give more than three shillings
and sixpence." I then spoke to several other
dealers, but they all sung the same song — three and
sixpence, three and sixpence. This made it clear
lo me that my suspicion was right, and whatever
they pretended of meeting to learn good things,
the purpose was to cheat Indians in the price of
beaver. Consider a little, Conrad, and you must
be of my opinion. If they met so often to learn
good things, they certainly would have learned
some before this time. But they are still ignorant.
You know our practice. If a white man, in travel
ing through our country, enters one of our cabins,
we all treat him as I do you. We dry him if he is
wet, we warm him if he is cold, and give him meat
and drink that we may allay his thirst and hunger,
and we spread soft furs that he may rest and sleep
on. We demand nothing in return. But if I go
into a white man's house at Albany, and ask for
victuals and drink, they say, "Get out, you Indian
dog." You see they have not learned those little
good things that we need no meetings to be
instructed in, because our mothers taught them to
us when we were children. And therefore it is
impossible that their meetings should be, as they
say, for any such purpose, or have any such effect
They are only to contrive the cheating of Indians
in the price of beaver.' "
Megapolensis, the first Dutch minister in Al
bany, speaks of the Mohawks as "entire strangers
to all religion." "When we pray," he writes,
"they laugh at us. When we have a sermon,
sometimes ten or twelve of them, more or less,
will attend, each having a long tobacco pipe, made
by himself, in his mouth, and will stand awhile and
look, and afterwards ask me what I was doing and
what I wanted, that I stood there and made so
many words, while none of the rest might speak.
I tell them that I admonish the Christians that
they must not steal, nor commit lewdness,
nor get drunk, nor commit murder, and that
they, too, ought not to do these things, and that
I intend, in process of time, to preach the
same to them, and to come to them in their
own country and castles when I am acquainted
with their language. They say I do well to teach
the Christians, but immediately add: 'Diatennon
jawij ' Assyreoni hagiowiskp' — i. e. , ' Why do so many
Christians do these things ?' " And then he adds :

THE INDIAN IN EDUCATION AND CHRISTIANITY.

39

"But though they are so cruel, and live without
any punishments for evil-doers, yet there are not
half so many villainies or murders committed
amongst them as amongst Christians."
There was, at different times, much effort made
to convert the Indians to Christianity by French,
Dutch and English. It was done by Government
approval, and with aid from corporate companies
and Indian agents, as a matter of policy. Often
the missionaries were men of talent, piety and wis
dom, and quite as often they were wanting in these
gifts. Sometimes they were unprincipled, dishon
est and self-seeking. Sometimes the best efforts of
the wise and good were hindered by the conduct
of so-called Christian traders, Governors and mili
tary men. Wild war and greedy traffic are not
means of grace. Schoolcraft well says : ' ' The
pernicious examples of the whites in the Indian
trade, their injustice, treachery, licentiousness and
greed created a deep disgust toward the European
race in the minds of the Indians. "
In and near Albany County, Reformed Dutch,
Episcopalians, Presbyterians and Lutherans all did
missionary work among the Six Nations during the
colonial period. The Mohawks, being nearest the
white settlements, received special attention. De
nominational jealousies often appeared. There
were few missionaries of so devoted and exalted
character as was that of Samuel Kirkland. Hence
few had such faithful disciples as Shenandoa. Few
understood as did the New England John Eliot,
the translator of the Indian Bible, and Eleazer
Wheelock, the founder of the Indian Charity
School of Dartmouth College, the power of early
practical education and pure Christian example as
foundations of a lasting Christian civilization.
Hence there were few ' ' praying Indians, " and no
Sampson Occum among the Six Nations who
brought their trade to Albany and killed their ene
mies. While the Colonial Government spoke fa
vorably of efforts to Christianize the Six Nations,
they did nothing beyond paying a small stipend to
the clergymen of Albany to attend to the wants of
such as might come to them. Dominie Dellius
baptized many, but his scandalous conduct in the
matter of Indian lands showed how false he was to
his own teachings. Dominies Lydius and Van
Driessen tried to convert some. Rev. Messrs.
Barclay, Freeman, Andrews and others labored
amid great discouragements, testifying that the con
duct of those who professed to have received Chris
tianity was so evil that they could scarce be reputed
Christians. Sir William Johnson was friendly to the
missionaries as far as they contributed to his advan

tage ; but his own shocking licentiousness was too
well known to give him any influence in favor of
temperance, purity, or any other form of practical
godliness. The Society for Promoting the Gospel
in Foreign Parts, managed by the Church of Eng
land, made attempts to convert the savages. But
little real good was accomplished by the best of
men, who understood but little of the language
and character of the Indian, and considered too
little the influence that their own habits and those
of their "Christian" neighbors had upon them.
For they counted all the whites as Christians, and
judged of the Christian religion by their conduct.
The following anecdote from O'Callaghan well
illustrates the usual results of missionary efforts in
those days : "A clergyman had succeeded in
teaching one young savage the prayers so that he
could repeat the responses in the church, and also
to read and write well. He was then furnished
with a Bible and sent to evangelize the heathen.
But he pawned the book for brandy, became a
thorough beast, and did more harm than good."
Rev. Mr. Barclay, an Episcopal missionary,
giving up his work in 1710, writes to the society in
England that employed him : "I am afraid the
missionaries that are coming over will find hard
work of it, and if the commander of that fort (in
Albany) be not a person of singular piety and vir
tue, all their endeavors will be ineffectual. These
here that trade with them are loath that any re
ligion get any footing among them. Besides, these
savages are so given to drinking that nasty liquor,
rum, that they are lost to all that is good. "
But little was attempted by the early colonists of
the Hudson and Mohawk toward educating the
Indian children.
It is well known that Rev. Eleazer Wheelock,
about the middle of the last century, had a school
for the education of Indian youth in Lebanon, Conn.
His benevolent design was to take the young Indian
away from the surroundings of his tribe and inter
est him in learning and Christianity, and train him
to become a teacher and preacher to his own peo
ple. Sir William Johnson, among other leading
men, favored his plan and sent him pupils, among
whom was the celebrated Joseph Brant. Of these
pupils Dr. Wheelock writes in 1763 : "Joseph
and the rest of the boys from your quarter are well,
and make good progress in learning. Joseph is,
indeed, an excellent youth. He has endeared
himself to me as well as to his master and to
everybody else by his good behavior. "
This school was removed to Hanover, N. H.,
in 1769, and made a part of the working plan of

40

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Dartmouth College — "vox clamantis in deserto "
— a leading idea of the good first President being
to educate Indian boys there, and much of this
work has been done in this institution.
In 1762, Sir William Johnson writes to Mr.
Wheelock : "I agree with you in the opinion that
the Indian children will not improve in their
studies near so much from the method proposed of
erecting schools in their nations as they would do
according to your plan of education, whereby they
are kept out of the way of and uninfluenced by
bad example."
For some years, near the close of the French
war in 1763, it was proposed to change the loca
tion of this school from Lebanon to some place
nearer the Indian population, where there were
more lands and less people. Several places in
this State were considered. Among other loca
tions the City of Albany was considered. A free
correspondence was held with the Mayor from
1766 to 1768 in regard to the school. The corpo
ration had offered to give ^"2,300 to Dr. Wheel
ock, on condition that he would remove his insti
tution from Lebanon to Albany. Volkert P. Douw
was Mayor and favored the movement.
Other attempts were made, by good men, to
teach the Indians to read and write, and other
lessons of science and civilization, at sundry times
and in sundry places ; but these attempts had little
success, and were of brief duration. Nothing was
done that accomplished results so good, so broad
and so lasting as what was done by Eleazer
Wheelock. We let him tell his own story : ' ' Among
those whom I have educated there have been near
forty who were good readers and writers, and were
instructed in the principles of the Christian religion
as their age and time would admit, and were suf
ficient masters of English grammar, arithmetic,
and a number considerably advanced in Greek and
Latin, and one of them carried through college
and was a good scholar, and others carried through
a course of learning with not less expense for each
of them than would have been necessary to have
supported an English youth through a course of
collegiate studies, and they have generally behaved
well while they were with me, and left my school
with fair and unblenr'shed characters, and under
the influence of every motive I could set before
them to a good improvement of the distinguishing
talents which God had committed to them, and
many of them have gone immediately from my
school with good and reputable business, and such
business as they were equal to, and generally to
serve as schoolmasters, but some as interpreters,

&c, and nothing has prevented their being em
ployed usefully and reputably in various capacities
until this day but the want of fortitude to resist the
power of those fashionable vices which were ram
pant among all their tribes. * * * Of all the
number before mentioned I don't hear of more
than half who have preserved their characters un
stained, either by a course of intemperance or un-
cleanness, or both, and some who, on account of
their parts and learning, bid the fairest for useful
ness, are sunk down into as low, savage and brut
ish manner of living as they were in before any
endeavors were used with them to raise them up ;
and there are some of whom I did and do still
entertain hope that they were really the subjects of
God's grace who have not wholly kept their gar
ments unspotted amongst the pots. And six of
these who did preserve a good character are how
dead. " — Wheelock' s Narrative, 1 7 7 1 .
As a specimen of the language spoken by the
Six Nations that once frequented Albany County,
we give the Lord's Prayer, copied from ' ' Smith's
Hist. New York " :
So-ung-wau-ne-ha cau-ro-unk-yau-ga, teh-see-
ta-ro-au, Sauk.son-e-you-sta, esa, saw-an-e-you,
o-ket-tauh-se-la, eh-ne-au-wong, na, cau-ronunk-
yawga, naugh-wou-shauga, ne-at-te-weh-ne-sa-lau-
ga, taug-wau-nau-to-ro-na-an-tough-sick, to-an-
tang-we-lee-whe-you-staung, che-nee-yeut, cha-
qua-ta-leh-whe-you-staun-ne, tough-sau, taugh-
wam-sa-re-neh, ta-waut-ot-ten-au-gal-ough-toung-
ga, nas-aw-ne, sa-che-au-tang-was co-an-teh-sal-
oh-aun-za-ick-au, esa, saw-au-ne-you, esa, sash-
autz-ta, esa, soung-wa-soung, chen-ne-auh-a-aug-
wa, au-wen.
INDIAN TREATIES, TRADE AND OTHER
AFFAIRS.
Indian affairs were from the very first, by com
mon consent, managed by the citizens of Albany.
They were nearly all Indian traders, and were in
constant intercourse with them. The acquaintance
thus formed, their business interests, and their
frontier situation, fitted them for the duties in
volved. There was only one beaver dam, so far as we
have learned, in Albany County, and that in the
town of Berne ; at least there is no trace or record
of any other. But beaver skins and other furs and
peltry were brought from a widely extended terri
tory — from the whole State of New York as occu
pied by the Iroquois, far away from the wilds of
Pennsylvania and Ohio, and even from the Canadas,
and from New England, The unscrupulous zeal

INDIAN TREATIES, TRADE AND OTHER AFFAIRS.

41

of the bosch-loopers or runners, knew no bounds.
They invaded, when they could do so without too
much risk, the territorial rights of the Frenchman
and the New Englander, regardless of anything but
gain. The Indians were met on their way to the
city by these primitive drummers, and bargains
were made in advance of the market. Albany
claimed a monopoly in the fur trade as against
other people or other localities. Their claim was
confirmed by the Dongan Charter of 1686. But
squatters all about, and especially the early settlers
on the Mohawk flats, caused great trouble and
grief to Albany traders.
Philip Pieterse Schuyler came from Amsterdam,
Holland, and settled in Beverwyck as early as
1647. He was a trader far above the average in
ability and character, and his dealings with the
Indians were fair and honorable. They became
much attached to him, and chiefs often visited him
at his farm-house, four miles up the Hudson, and
he had a house built especially for their entertain
ment near his residence in Albany. In 1665, he
attended a council held with the Mohawks, as
delegate from Albany, after which he had much to
do with the frequent negotiations with the Five
Nations. He assisted in inaugurating what became
the settled policy of the province — to treat the
Indians as friends and allies. His son Peter, who
continued the same policy after his father's decease
in 1683, acquired a great influence over these pecu
liar people.
Under the Dutch Government, the Director-
General and Council of New Netherland managed
the Indian affairs. As the relations with the
tribes became more complicated and varied after
the English conquest in 1664, it became nec
essary that some persons residing at Albany
should be appointed to receive communications in
regard to them, and to treat with them in emer
gencies. The Governor's residence at New York
was inconveniently distant. Hence, the origin of
the Indian Department, in 1684. The magistrates
of the City of Albany were first appointed. In 1690,
a distinct Board was constituted, acting under the
Governor in all matters of this department, without
salary. As most of its members were traders, and
had the handling of moneys and other presents, the
office of Indian Commissioner became one of great
importance and profit. Their records are missing,
and are said now to be in Canada. In 1755, the
English Crown assumed control of Indian affairs,
dividing the culonies into northern and southern
departments, and appointing Sir William Johnson
as northern Superintendent, who, at his death in

1774, was succeeded by his nephew, Col. Guy
Johnson. "The diplomacy, statesmanship, and good faith
exhibited in the earliest management of Indian
affairs reflect the highest credit on those charged
therewith, and laid the territorial foundations of the
Commonwealth on the secure basis of honorable
treaties honorably kept. The inspiration and guid
ance in these relations came largely from the Schuy-
lers, under whom Sir William Johnson was trained."
The adoption of the Federal Constitution super
seded the State supervision, which now has to do
only with certain lands and some other matters
connected with the reservations in the State.
COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.
These officers were once, perhaps, the most im
portant in their functions, of any in Albany County
and the territory extending a great distance around
it. The men who held it were leading men of the
time, and their names should here be recorded.
1684.
Mayor and Magistrates of Albany.

Joachim Staats,
Johannis Wendell,
Johannis Bleecker,
Matthew Shanky,
George Bradshaw,

October 19, 1690.
Peter Bogardus,
Ryer Jacobz Schermerhorn,
Mayor of Albany.
1 691. Peter Schuyler,
John Tuder,
Dirck Wessels.

August 10, 1696.
Peter Schuyler, Evert Bancker,
Godfrey Dellius, Dirck Wessels,
Mayor, or the Mayor for the time being.
July, 1698.
Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen and Commonalty.
Dirck Wessels, Hendrick House.

Peter Schuyler,
Capt. Weems,
The Mayor,
Johannis Abeel,
Kiliaan Van Rensselaer,

1706. Myndert Schuyler,
Johannis Cuyler,
Evert Bancker,
Henry Holland,
Peter Van Brugh,

Hendrick Van Rensselaer.
April 25, 1710.
Kiliaan Van Rensselaer, Johannis Cuyler,
John Abeel, John Schuyler,
Evert Bancker, Myndert Schuyler,
Hendrick Hansen, Peter Van Brugh,
Johannis Roseboom.
1712.
Peter Schuyler, Johannis Schuyler,
Kiliaan Van Rensselaer, Hendrick Hansen,
Richard Ingoldsby, Myndert Schuyler,
Peter Van Brugh.

42

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

July 23, 1715.
Peter Schuyler, John Schuyler,
Kiliaan Van Rensselaer, Myndert Schuyler,
Peter Matthews, Robert Livingston, Jr.,
Hendrick Hansen, John Cuyler,
Peter Van Brugh.

Peter Schuyler,
Hendrick Hansen,
John Cuyler,
Peter Van Brugh,
Evert Bancker,
Henry Holland,
Peter Van Brugh,
John Collins,
John Cuyler,
Evert Bancker,
Capt. Cornwell,
Capt. Norris,
Philip Livingston,
Henry Holland,

Philip Livingston,
Myndert Schuyler,
Evert Bancker,
Rutger Bleecker,
Henry Holland,
Stephanus Groesbeck,
Peter Van Brugh,
Johannis Cuyler,
Abraham Cuyler,

November 12, 1720.
Henry Holland,
Philip Livingston,
John Collins,
John Wendell,
John Bleecker.
1724. Philip Livingston,
Johannis Wendell,
Evert Wendell,
Hendrick Van Rensselaer,
David Van Dyck.
1726. John Cuyler,
Peter Van Brugh,
Evert Bancker,
John Collins,
Henry Rensselaer.
September 13, 1728.

Hermanus Wendell,
Johannis Roseboom,
Jeremiah Van Rensselaer,
Nicholas Bleecker,
Evert Wendell,
Philip Schuyler,
Ryer Gerritse,
Barent Sanders,
Johannis Lansing,

November i, 1732.
The preceding with Henry Van Rensselaer,
Johannis Schuyler, Dirck Ten Broeck.

July
Philip Livingston,
William Dick,
Myndert Schuyler,
John Schuyler,
Hendrick Van Rensselaer,
Rutger Bleecker,
Stephanus Groesbeck,
Philip Schuyler,
Jeremiah Van Rensselaer,
Edward Holland,

13, 1734-
Nicholas Bleecker,
Ryer Gerritse,
Dirck Ten Broeck,
Johannis Lansing, Jr.,
John De Peyster,
Jacob Glen,
Cornelius Cuyler,
John Schuyler, Jr.,
Edward Collins,
Abraham Cuyler.

1738.
Philip Livingston, Edward Clarke,
Commandant at Albany,
Members of Assembly for Albany, Rensselaerwyck and
Schenectady,
Mayor, Recorder and Sheriff of Albany.
December 5,

The Council,
Commandant at Albany,
Mayor and Recorder of AI
bany,
Jeremiah Van Rensselaer,
Peter Winne,

1739-
Stephanus Groesbeck,
Rutger Bleecker,
John De Peyster,
John Schuyler, Jr.,
Jacob Glen,
Arent Bradt,

Edward Collins,
Myndert Schuyler,
John Schuyler,
Philip Livingston,
John Rutherford,
Myndert Schuyler,
Abraham Cuyler,
Nicholas Bleecker,
Johannis Lansing, Jr.,
Cornelius Cuyler,

Cornelius Cuyler,
J ohannis Lansing, Jr. ,
Hendrick Ten Eyck.
1742. Mayor Dirck Ten Broeck,
Recorder Hendrick Ten Eyck,
Rutger Bleecker,
John De Peyster,
Stephanus Groesbeck,
Ryer Gerritse,
Edward Collins.
1745-
The preceding with Stephen Van Rensselaer,
1746.
Commissary for Indian Affairs, William Johnson.
November, 1752.
Commissioners, The Council, Commandant at Albany,
Members of Assembly of Albany, Rensselaerwyck, Sche
nectady and Livingston Manor,
Mayor and Recorder of Al- Hendrick Bleecker,
bany, John Buchanan,
Myndert Schuyler, Peter Groenendyck,
Cornelius Cuyler, Johannis Lansing, Jr.,
Jacob C. Ten Eyck.
June 15, 1754.
Mayor and Recorder of Al- Cornelius Cuyler,
bany, John Buchanan,
Commandant at Albany, Jacob C. Ten Eyck,
Myndert Schuyler, John Rensselaer,
Peter Winne, Sole Superintendent, April 15, 1755.
February, 1756.
William Johnson, Sir Wm. Johnson, Bart.
July, 1774.
Guy Johnson, Volkert P. Douw,
State Commissioners, Timothy Edward,
Philip Schuyler, Oliver Wolcutt,
James Duane.
It has not been our purpose to discuss the
Indian speculatively in regard to his origin ; nor
in regard to his personal appearance, his dress,
food and habits, his manner of life, or his
views upon government and religion. We have
confined ourselves to his relations to the early
settlers of Albany County and vicinity, and their
successors, and to the characteristics developed by
the educational, moral and religious influences to
which they were subjected here in the affairs of
peace and war. We have the Indian of the Six
Nations only before us as he was in our local
history; as he mingled with our people as a fur-
trader, in treaties of peace, in our county, in our
wars, in our records of treachery and carnage.
More will be said of Indian treaties, trade and
other local matters in the history of Albany City.
EARLY DISCOVERY— VERRAZANO.
There are geographers who believe that Giovanni
da Verrazano, a Florentine navigator, commanding
a French crew, sailing across the Atlantic, and,

EARLY DISCOVERY— VERRAZANO.

43

cruising up the Eastern coast of what is now the
United States, entered the Bay of New York in the
spring of 1524. After a brief tarry, he made
no farther sail up the great river, no farther exam
ination of its beautiful shores, but went on his
way. Coasting along New England, and returning
to France, he made a report of his hurried and
comparatively unimportant trip to Francis I. , King
of France, in July following. If this is true, the
Dauphin was the first European vessel that
touched the waters of our Hudson River. But
the French monarch, so far as appears, took no
notice of this discovery. Subsequent French
navigators paid no regard to it. Carrier, in 1534,
and others near his time, did not follow in his
track, but went to the more chilly latitudes and
more inhospitable shores of the St. Lawrence to
found New France. Could they have been ignorant
of the voyages of Verrazano ? And Champlain
sailed up the lake that bears his name almost to
the upper waters of the Hudson in 1609, entirely
ignorant of French claims, or oblivious of them if
he even heard of them. This neglect of the alleged
Verrazano report, in an age of discovery, and
when the eyes of all Western Europe were turned
toward these shores, and all its monarchs were
eager to increase wealth and power by territorial ex
tensions in America, is not easily explained. Hence,
many regard the report as a historic fraud, and the
whole matter as a fable. We give the facts, but
express no opinion in this place. One thing is
certain, that there is no credible evidence that any
subsequent settlements or trade ever resulted from
this alleged discovery of Verrazano; nor is "the
city and county of Albany " indebted to it for its
planting and growth. Nothing came of it ; hence
it probably has noplace worthy of special discussion
in this history. *
* See note, page i. Furthermore, it is here proper to quote again
fronl "Discoveries in America to 1525," by A.J. Weise, pp. 361, 362 :
" The fact that the French had ascended the Grande River (Hudson
River, to the height of its navigation, to trade with the Indians, long
before Henry Hudson explored it, is corroborated by still stronger
testimony than that already presented. One of the earliest maps
representing the territory of Nieu Nederlandt (New Netherland), or
that part of New France which the French had called La Terre
d'Anormee Berge, is the Figurative Chart presented to their High
Mightinesses, the Lords States General of the United Netherlands, on
the nth of October, 1614, by a number of Dutch merchants, praying
for a special license to navigate and traffic within the limits of this
part of North America. [Says John R. Brodhead, the historian:
'This map (made in 1614) is undoubtedly one of the most interesting
memorials we have. It is about three feet long, and shows, very
minutely, the course of the Hudson River from Manhattan to above
Albany, as well as a portion of the sea-coast ; and contains, likewise,
curious notes and memoranda about the neighboring Indians. The
work, perhaps, of one of the companions of Hudson himself, and made
within five years of the discovery of our river, its fidelity of delinea
tion is scarcely less remarkable than its high antiquity.'] One of
these explanatory notes contains the undeniable testimony that the

At the convention at Albany in the year 1754,
held by the Indian Commissioners, as reported
among the papers of Sir William Johnson, a speech
was made by one of the Indians, in which he gives
the following account of the first advent of the
white race to the Hudson River. ' ' Our fathers
had a castle on this river. As one of them walked
out he saw something on the river, but was at a
loss to know what it was. He took it at first for a
great fish. He ran into the castle and gave
notice to the other Indians. Two of our forefathers
went to see what it was, and found it a vessel with
men in it. They immediately joined hands with
the men in the vessel and became friends. The
white people told them they should not come up
the river any farther at that time; and said to them
they would return from whence they came, and
come again in a year's time. According to their
promise they returned in a year's time, and came as
far up the river as where the old fort stood. Our
forefathers invited them ashore and said to them, we
will give you a place to make you a town. It shall
be from this place up to such a stream (meaning
Patroon's Creek), and from the river back up to
the hill."
In an able document sent by "The People of
New Netherlands" to "The High and Mighty
Lords States General of the United Netherlands,"
on the 28th July, 1649, occurs the following, the
insertion of which seems pertinent here :
"In the year of Christ 1609 was the country, of
which we now propose to speak, first found and
discovered at the expense of the General East India
Company — though directing their aim and design
elsewhere — by the ship de Halve Mane, whereof
Henry Hudson was master and factor. It was
afterward named New-Netherland by our people,
and that very justly, for it was first discovered and
taken possession of by New Netherlanders and at
their expense, so that even at the present day the
natives of the country, who are so old as to
remember the event, testify that, on seeing the
Dutch ships on their first coming here, they knew
not what to make of them, whether they came
down from heaven or were devils. Some of them
on its first approach, even imagined it to be a fish or
French were the discoverers of the Grande River, and that they had
been trading with the Mohawks long before the Half -Moon sailed up
the river. The plain language of the inscription makes all explanation
of ils meaning unnecessary : ' But as far as one can understand by
what the Maquaas (Mohawks) say and show, the French- come with
sloops as high up as their country to trade with them.' Kfac simile
of this map is in the State Library, and the inscription above referred
to is as follows : ' Ma so vele men heeft connen verstaen uyt i seggen
ende beduyen van de Maquaas so comen de Francoysen met sloupen
tot bovem aen haer land met haerluy handeln.' " G. R. H.

44

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

some sea-monster, so that a strange rumor con
cerning it flew through the whole country. We have
heard the Indians also frequently say that they
knew of no other world or people previous to the
arrival of the Netherlanders here. "
EARLY DISCOVERY— HENRY HUDSON
AND HIS FOLLOWERS.
Henry Hudson first made known to the civilized
world "the great river of the North," which we
now call Hudson in honor of this bold discoverer.
He was an English navigator, an intimate friend of
the famous Captain John Smith, who had been
employed by London merchants in the vain search
for a passage to India by the Northern seas. The
pursuit being abandoned by them, as is said, it was
continued by the Dutch East India Company. On
the 4th of April, 1609, he sailed from Amsterdam,
with a crew of about 20 English and Dutch sailors,
in the Half-Moon, a yacht of about 80 tons. Impas
sable ice turned his prow. Steering across the
Atlantic, touching the shores of the Penobscot Bay
and Cape Cod, he proceeded to the capes of the
Chesapeake,, which he reached early in August.
Thence he sailed northerly along the coast,
entering rivers' mouths, until he anchored in
New York Bay early in September. On the
1 2th, he commenced sailing up the river, advancing
as far as he found it safely navigable, probably to a
point near the present site of Hudson City. Anchor
ing here on the 19th, he sent a boat with his mate
and four men further up the river, which, no doubt,
passed the site of Albany. He may have proceeded
the whole length of the present county, as far as the
sprouts of the Mohawk, On the 23d, convinced
that this "River of the Mountains" furnished no
shorter route to China and -the Indies, he leisurely
returned down the stream, sailing out to sea, and
reaching England November 7th. He had many
interviews with natives along the shores, generally
of the most friendly character. They came to him
in boats laden with fruit, meat, furs, and their own
manufactures; they received trinkets in return with
great delight. He found the inhabitants below the
highlands more savage and faithless than those far
ther north. Delighted with the noble stream, its
banks rich in autumnal foliage, fertile in fruits,
splendid in varied scenery, and coursing through a
region evidently abounding in large resources for
adventure and wealth, his report to the Dutch
Company was most favorable. It was not forgotten
by them. The next year, another vessel was sent
out by shrewd merchants of Amsterdam, which
made a successful adventure in the fur trade along

the Mauritius, as the Dutch first named the Hudson.
Other vessels followed in 1611, 1612, 1613 and
1 6 1 4, on voyages of discovery and trade. Captains
John DeWitt, Hendrick Corstiaensen, Adrian Block,
and Cornelius Jacobsen Mey were foremost in these
enterprises. The coast, with contiguous islands,
river mouths and bays, all along from Nahant to
Delaware Bay, were visited by them. The Fresh
or Connecticut, and other rivers were ascended so
far as they could be navigated. Manhattan Island
was made the chief depot of trade, and Corstiaensen
was appointed agent for the Holland fur traffickers.
In this same year, 161 2, he began laying the foun
dations of the future commercial metropolis of this
now great Republic in the construction of a small
fort with a few rude buildings, on the southern
extremity of the island.
NEW NETHERLANDS — THE ENGLISH
CLAIM.
In 1 6 14 the territory extending from Cape Cod
to the Delaware River was called New Netherlands,
and claimed as under the States General of Hol
land. Its limits' were not well defined, but it was
understood to include all the coasts and islands
herein and adjacent, and the lands upon the Dela
ware, Hudson and Connecticut rivers, so far as
the Dutch needed them for settlements and trade.
But the claim was not admitted by England. The
English Cabots had — as was then believed — been
the first of Europeans to discover the coast of North
America. The whole territory in North America, lying be
tween the 34 th and 45th parallels of latitude, was
claimed by England by right of prior discovery.
The claim extended from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
In 1606, on April 10th, two patents were granted
by James I. , King of Great Britain, dividing this
territory into North Virginia and South Virginia —
the former was given for the purpose of colonization
to the Plymouth Company ; the latter to the Lon
don Company. The settlement of Jamestown in
1607, and Plymouth, in 1620, resulted.
It was in 16 13 that the English made their first
demonstration against the Dutch possessions.
Governor Samuel Argal, of Virginia, on his return
from a hostile expedition against the French settle
ments in Acadia, "found at Manhattan Isle four
houses built and a pretended Dutch governor,"
says Captain Smith. Says Chalmers, there was only
"a trading house " there. Be this as it may, Argal
visited the Governor and demanded possession,
alleging that Hudson, an English subject, could
not alienate from the English Crown what was

THE DUTCH WEST INDIA CO.

45

properly a part of Virginia. Incapable of resistance,
Corstiaensen, then in command, peaceably submitted
himself and his colony to the King of England.
It is well known that New England never had any
respect for the Dutch claim. The Holland com
panies kept possession for fifty years longer, and laid
their foundations, some of which still remain in the
New York of to-day. From the western part of
Long Island, and up the Hudson to the Mohawk,
including Albany and adjacent settlements, it re
mained New Netherlands, with little disturbance
from the English, until 1664, when might decided
the question of right.
THE UNITED NEW NETHERLANDS CO.
The importance of establishing a trading post near
the head of the navigable waters of the Mauritius
early attracted the attention of Hendrick Corstiaen
sen and other enterprising Hollanders. A general
charter of concessions to discoverers of new coun
tries was passed by the Holland Government, at
Hague, March 27, 1614. A special charter was
granted by the States General, under date of Oct.
11, 1614, to a company of Amsterdam merchants
and others of the United New Netherlands Co. , giv
ing them the monopoly, until January 1, 1618, of
all travel and trade in the New Netherlands, during
which time they were authorized to make four voy
ages. In 16 14, with a few trappers and traders, Cors
tiaensen sailed up the river, and erected a fort and a
store house, upon what was then named Kasteeul,
or Castle Island, just below the site of the later Fort
Orange, and carried on a brisk trade in furs and
peltry with the Indians. The fort was called
Nassau. The island, now called Van Rensselaer,
is situated in the town of Bethlehem. Corstiaensen
was murdered shortly after by a malicious Indian
in his employ, and Jacob Jacobsen Elkins, his
lieutenant, succeeded him as agent for the com
pany. Nothing was done for the settlement or de
velopment of the lands.
The spring floods so disturbed the works on the
island that Elkins removed them, some time after,
to the mouth of the Tawasentha, now Norman's Kill,
where there is said to have once been a Mohawk
castle and burial place. Here, tradition has it, as
stated elsewhere, was concluded, about this time,
the first formal treaty of friendship and alliance with
the Indians.
Their charter expiring January 1, 16 18, this
company unsuccessfully petitioned for its renewal.
Either the returns made to the Holland capitalists
had been unsatisfactory, or a more powerful in

fluence was at work towards getting up another
company to occupy their hunting grounds.
During the more than five years of interval be
tween 161 8 and 1623, tradition has it that Elkins
and some of his traders still remained and carried
on, with the aid of the Holland ships, a lucrative
trade, there being none to dispute. It is thought that
some of these adventurers remained and joined
themselves with those who came under the new
company in 1623. During these five years there
might have been free trade. But those who had
been longest on the ground had, of course, the ad
vantage. Elkins evidently was not pleased with
his treatment by the States and the West India
Company, as appears further on by his return, in
1633, with an English ship.
THE DUTCH WEST INDIA CO.
June 3, 1 62 1, the congress or government of
Holland, called the " States General, " incorporated
the Dutch West India Co. , investing it with almost
regal powers for carrying on tiade and planting
settlements from Cape Horn to Newfoundland, for
a period of 24 years. Its jurisdiction over the
Province of New Netherlands, the special object of
its enterprise, was exclusive. It was authorized to
appoint governors with the approval of the ' ' States, "
to colonize territory, erect forts and administer jus
tice. Its executive management was given to a
Board of nineteen Directors, one to be appointed
by the "States," the remaining eighteen by the
company, to be distributed through five separate
chambers, in five different cities of Holland. The
Province of New Netherlands was assigned to the
Amsterdam Chamber. The company was not fully
organized until the spring of 1623, when it vigor
ously entered upon extensive operations. At this
time the English ambassador at The Hague, for
mally protested against these encroachments of the
Dutch fur traders ; but no armed force was moved
to prevent carrying out their plans.
In April, 1623, a vessel under command of
Cornelisen Jacobsen Mey, as Director, came over
from Holland with thirty families, chiefly Walloons,
or French Protestants, and landed at New Amster
dam. Of these, it is said, that eight families came
up the Hudson as far as the present site of Albany,
where they built Fort Orange, about two miles
above Fort Nassau — the location being near the
present steamboat square.
Maurice, of Nassau, Prince of Orange, who, at
the age of 18, had succeeded his murdered father
in the government of the Low Countries, was the
Washington of his country. By his wisdom,

46

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

bravery and industry he strengthened and confirmed
the new republic of Netherlands, and ranked among
the first generals and statesmen of his age. He was
much beloved and esteemed by his countrymen.
In his honor they named the river Mauritius, and
the forts Nassau and Orange. Another Fort Nas
sau was built near this time on the Delaware River.
The Walloons were French Protestants who re
sided on the borders between Belgium and France,
and were distinguished for industry and valor.
From this race descended many families in this
State. The first white child born in New Nether
lands was Sarah Rapelje, daughter of one of the
Walloon settlers, whose birth occurred June 7,
1625, and whose descendants are still to be found
on Long Island and vicinity.
Catelyn Trico, born in Paris, France, is claimed
to have been the first white woman in Albany.
This claim is based on her own testimony, made in
1688, when she was 83 years old, which makes her
born in 1605, and coming to Albany in 1623, when
she was 1 8 years old. She testifies that she came to
this country in the first ship, called the Unity, com
manded by Adrien Jorise, that came from Holland
to New Netherlands for the West India Company.
She tells us that two families and six men were sent
to Hartford, Connecticut; two families and eight
men to Delaware River ; eight men were left at
Manhattan, and the rest went as far up as Albany,
which they called Fort Orange. She says that
those who came to Albany and made a small fort
were eighteen families ; that they made themselves
some huts of bark. Adrien Jorise remained all
winter and sent his son home with the ship. She
represents the Indians as very peaceable, and car
rying on a very active trade in beaver and peltry.
After three years she left Albany and went to New
York, and afterward to Wallabout. She states that
the other women on board, four in number, were
married and went to the Delaware River. Consid
ering her age and the interval of time, her state
ment, while it may be correct in the main, is to be
taken with some allowance. It is remarkable that
only one woman came up to Fort Orange at that
time and remained as the first and only female
here for three years. The number of " eighteen
families " differs from all other statements in our
knowledge. The Commissaries at Fort Orange or Beverwyck,
now Albany, were Vice-Directors of the West
India Company. They were commanders, also, of
the fort. We find the names of the following :
Daniel Krieckkebeeck, Peter Barentsen, Bastian
Jansen Krol, Jorissen Houten, Hannan Mynderts

Van der Bogaert, Carl Van Brugge, Jan Labadie,
John Dyckman, John De Decker, John La Mon-
tagne. The Dutch Directors-General, otherwise called
Commanders and Governors, under the West
India Company and the States General of Holland,
from 1623 to 1674, were as follows :
DUTCH GOVERNORS.
Adrien Jorise  1623
Cornelius Jacobsen Mey  1624
William Verhulst  1625
Peter Minuit  May 4, 1626
Wouter Van Twiller  April, 1633
William Kieft  March 28, 1638
Peter Stuyvesant, May 11, 1647, to September 8,
1664, when the city was surrendered to the
English.
Anthony Colve, September 19, 1673, when the city
was retaken by the Dutch, to November 10,
1674, when, by treaty, it was again given over
to the English.
These officers had their seat at the Manhattans or
New Amsterdam, now New York, which was rec
ognized as the capital of New Netherlands, and
the centre not only of civil power, but of trade.
All emigrants from Europe landed here, and all
who returned took ship here. Here were collected
all furs, peltries, grain, &c, and from this port
transhipment was made to Holland ; and all goods
intended for the use of the colonists, or for trade
among them or the Indians were here received,
duly entered, and from thence sent forth to their
destination. The first two Governors were skippers of vessels
that took over some of the first immigrants under
the West India Company, and had something to
do with locating Fort Orange, in the year 1623, or
as some of the early documents say, in 1624. The
former date is supported by the best authorities.
Of Verhults we find nothing.
Minuit,, the first fully empowered Director-Gen
eral, purchased of the Indians the Island of Man
hattan, in 1626, for a sum equal to about $24. He
was a deacon in the Church of Wesel, whence he
came, and, so far as we leam, was a peace-loving
man and a just public officer. His correspondence
with Governor William Bradford, of Plymouth, was
dignified, courteous and honorable. It related to
territorial jurisdiction. About 1627, Bradford, hear
ing that the Dutch were encroaching by sending
ships to Narragansett Bay to trade, sent Mr. Edward
Winslow to remonstrate. Soon after, Minuit sent a
very friendly letter to Governor Bradford, congrat
ulating Plymouth Colony upon its prosperity, and
proposing trade and friendly relations in the future.

THE DUTCH WEST INDIA CO.

47

To this the Governor of Plymouth replied in most
friendly terms, alluding to the hospitality which the
Pilgrims had received in Holland a few years pre
vious, and assuring the Governor of New Nether
lands that they and their children after them would
never forget the same. At the same time he as
sured Governor Minuit that he must respect the
rightful claims of the Pilgrims of Plymouth, and
not allow his skiffs to come to Narragansett for
beavers. He also complained that the Dutch were
selling muskets, powder and shot to the Indians.
Other courtesies of the most pleasing character
were kept up during the time of Minuit, in which
each manfully asserted what he regarded as right,
while there arose no unfriendly words. Minuit
erected Fort Amsterdam near the site of the present
Battery, and directed all his energies to founding a
State similar to that in Fatherland. By his concili
ating disposition, he kept on pleasant terms with the
Indians. After his recall, he went to Sweden, and
afterward appeared as the leader of 50 Swedish im
migrants who, in April, 1638, landed on the site of
New Castle and founded New Sweden, which was
broken up by the rapacious Stuyvesant in 1655,
and subjected to the West India Company.
Van Twiller married into the Van Rensselaer
family, and came to New Netherlands in conse
quence, as the patroon's agent in selecting and
locating lands. He afterward was one of the
executors of the estate of Kiliaan Van Rensselaer,
and, with John Van Weely, a guardian of his son
Johannis, during his minority. As Governor he
was faithful to the West India Company, but noted
for his want of good judgment and executive
abilities. His dealings with the English, who took
up claims upon the Connecticut River in 1640,
were characterized by ridiculous bluster and ignoble
failure to carry out his threats. He was equally
unsuccessful in his attempt upon the fort at Beeren
Island. He was greedy of gain and successful in his
greed ; great in paper protests, timid in action.
He lived peaceably with the Indians, and had little
trouble with his subordinates.
It was in 1633, during the time of Van Twiller,
that the first English ship, the William, sailed up the
Hudson River. It was commanded by Elkins,
who had spent some years in trading with the In
dians in this vicinity under the United New Neth
erlands Company. In spite of the refusal of the
Dutch Governor at New Amsterdam to give him a
license, he, asserting the English claim to the terri
tory, defiantly proceeded to a place about a mile
below Fort Orange, where he landed, pitched his
tent, and, for a few weeks, pursued a lucrative

trade in furs. The traders at Fort Orange protested,
and soon after, with the aid of ships and crews sent
up from Fort Amsterdam, compelled the bluff
captain to strike his tent, re-ship his goods and
take his furs down the river. His ship was con
voyed to sea, and he, utterly discomfited, returned
to London.
Kieft was avaricious, rash and unscrupulous.
He kept himself and his colony in constant excite
ment and trouble. He quarreled with his under
officers; he was vindictive toward those who dif
fered from him in matters of public policy; he was
oppressive and arbitrary among the people. With
the English in Connecticut, the Swedes on the
Delaware, the Indian tribes on every side, and the
colonists at his own door, he was in continual
strife. By his own abandoned folly he aroused the
Indians in the vicinity of New Amsterdam, who
had been friendly under his predecessors, to deeds
of fiery hatred and savage vengeance. His thirst
for blood seemed to equal that of the savages, and
he expressed himself determined upon a war of
extermination of the natives. Neither life nor
property was safe. War raged for years. Fields
were devastated; homes desolated ; and the blood
of the innocent citizen and the ferocious savage
flowed freely on every side. The very existence of
the colonies in and near Manhattan was menaced.
Help finally came from New England under Capt.
Underhill, for Kieft had no leader. The war
ceased. Kieft, recalled for his offences, gathered
his treasures and took ship for Europe. He was
never heard of more. His vessel was wrecked
on the coast of Wales, and the bad man was en
gulfed in the angry waves with all his ill-gotten
treasure. The Indian wars had lasted about five of the
eight years' reign of this infamous wretch, during
which he had, like an arrant coward as he was,
stayed in his fort and exulted in the ruin around
him and his own personal safety. At the begin
ning of these wars the population of New Nether
lands was about 3,000; at its close, less than
1,000. New Amsterdam contained only about 100
people when peace came, August 31, 1645. His
unlamented end was regarded as an act of retribu
tive divine justice.
We find no evidenee in the record of these times
that the savage wars of the lower Hudson seriously
disturbed the dwellers about Fort Orange. No
doubt they had accessions from those who fled
from the cruel carnage. No doubt they had fears
of similar outbreaks, which, probably, were hin
dered by their pleasant relations in trade to the

48

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

powerful Mohawks, who were a wall, for many
years, to this weak frontier people.
Much may be seen of the character of Stuyve-
sant under our Rensselaerwyck heading. He was
a brave man — decided in his convictions, persistent
in carrying them into action. He aimed to be
true to his trust. He restored peace, and dealt
prudently with his Indian neighbors. When these
savage tribes broke out in their savagery he was
equal to the emergency. They found him not
wanting in courage and energy, nor in prompt
justice. There were then no settlements from Fort
Amsterdam to the Catskills, except at Esopus, now
Kingston. The restless and blood-thirsty Indians
about here were effectually reduced and put in sub
jection under his management in 1663. . He was a
rnan of military experience ; honest, but im
perious ; a believer in prerogatives ; arbitrary in
action. He was strangely inclined to arresting
and shutting up, in prison those who opposed his
views, and to confiscating their estates as if guilty of
treason against the government. He quarreled
with his Vice-Director and other officers ; he, as will
appear farther on, was in a continual contention
with the officers of the patroon at Beaverwyck.
He was feared, but not beloved. He did not
make friends with the Yankees, the Swedes, or the
Dutch. The States General disapproved his
course, and the West India Company, which ap
pointed him and long sustained him, doubted the
wisdom of many of his transactions.
FIRST SETTLEMENT.
The first settlement of Albany County has been
written down under the date of 1609, when Hud
son's boat, probably, passed the site of our city; in
1 6 1 o, when certain Holland skippers were prospect
ing along our shores ; in 16 14, when Captain Cor
stiaensen and his hunters and trappers planted
themselves, for trade in furs, on Kasteel Island ; in
1 62 1 , when the Dutch West India Company was first
established; and in 1623, when, according to the
best evidence we now have, this same company
actually landed a few Hollanders upon the territory
now called Albany, to engage, as their factors and
servants, in the collection and transmission of furs
and peltries. None of these events can be reckoned
as dating the first settlement of our county.
Probably not a drop of the blood of any of
those early adventurers courses in the veins of any
white citizen of this State or nation. Few, if any,
had families. Some died here and turned to dust ;
others returned to their native land when their
service was over. They did not come to stay. None

came as colonists, occupying land and cultivating it.
Fish, deer, wild fowl and other game abounded.
Native fruits were plenty. Possibly, a few vegeta
bles, and some corn and other grain, were raised in
patches near the fort. Some food was brought
over in ships. For a few trinkets the rest was
purchased from the Indian squaws, who cultivated
them. They were no more "first settlers," than
were the first adventurers that went out from our
States to the mines of California, 40 years ago, the
first settlers of that great State and its San Fran
cisco, now the gem of the Pacific.
' ' It never began to be settled until every one had
liberty to trade with the Indians, inasmuch as up
to this time no one calculated to remain there
longer than the expiration of his bounden time,
and therefore did not apply themselves to agricul
ture." Thus says a Dutch writer of that day. The
"Free Trade Liberty" began about 1640.
These fictions of history are not the solid facts
for us to build upon. Those "first families" did
not give us our ' ' blue blood. " They who did this
came later. Our real history began later. Indeed,
it is, at the best, a vain boast for any individual or
people to boast of a misty antiquity or of blood
that has flowed down from moneyed and titled sires
of the old times. To deserve well of our children's
children, to earn and transmit a heritage of noble
aims and noble deeds, is a far better ambition. It
is told in old Grecian history of an idiot, who was
boasting of his noble sires, when a bystander per
tinently silenced him by asking, ' ' What are you
doing to honor the memory of your sires ?"
The -States General of Holland saw how little
progress was making in colonizing the New Neth
erlands ; what an unstable and unreliable people
went out and came back ; how poor in kind and
few in number was the population.
The first reference to population which we find
is made in October, 1628, in a work published in
Amsterdam, which says, " There are no families at
Fort Orange * * * they keep ~five or six and
twenty persons, traders, there."
In October, 1626, the Ship Arms of Amsterdam
reached Amsterdam from New Netherlands. Its
cargo shows the variety and amount of its trans
ported products at that time, which consisted of
7,246 beaver, 853-J- otter, 81 mink, 36 wild cat and
34 rat skins ; also, ' ' samples of summer grain, such
as wheat, rye, barley, oats, buckwheat, canary
seed, beans and flax."
The Assembly of XIX. reports to the States
General, in 1629: "All who are inclined to do
any sort of work here procure enough to eat

RENSSELAERWYCK AND BEVER WYCK.

49

without any trouble, and are, therefore, unwilling
to go far from home on an uncertainty." This
from Holland, and is written to explain the diffi
culty of sending out persons suitable, from the
country, for colonizing New Netherlands. It is
added, " The people conveyed by us thither, have
therefore found but scanty means of livelihood up
to the present time, and have not been any profit,
but a drawback, to this (West India) company.
The trade carried on there in peltries is right ad
vantageous ; but one year with another, we can,
at most, bring home only fifty thousand ($20,000)
guilders. "
A new scheme was planned and adopted, singu
lar, indeed, in its provisions ; unlike anything be
fore attempted in the New World. It was approved
and carried out by men of wealth and sagacity,
and of experience in trade and government. Its
prime object was to increase money and power. It
included the colonization of farmers and artisans
— providing a new home and better prospects for
the boors of the Belgic race, and a field for the
ambitious and enterprising, who had no room at
home. It was partially successful. It brought
over all classes. But not a few industrious, high-
minded, discreet families came to stay. They laid
foundations broad and deep. We are to-day
enjoying the benefits of their wisdom and energy.
In the 'men who came here from Holland
during the middle years of the 1 7th century, were
exhibited elements of character which have been
found in many of their descendants ; men of ex
alted patriotism, inflexible integrity and cultivated
intelligence, who have helped to upbuild, presetve
and adorn our Republic. We say this with a full
knowledge of the faults of the manorial system, of
the men who lorded it, and of the men who have
suffered from it, or contended against it.
RENSSELAERWYCK AND BEVERWYCK.
The history of Rensselaerwyck, in all its rela
tions, is so largely the history of this County and
of the State even, that we give it much space, but
no more than its importance demands. With it
begins the real settlement of the city and county
of Albany, in 1630, when a company of real set
tlers came over with a purpose, under the patron
age of Kilian Van Rensselaer, the first patroon.
We have followed Dr. O'Callaghan in the record
of what follows during the exciting struggle for
wealth and power between the agents of the
patroon and of the West India Company, in the
27 years from Kieft, in 1637, until 1664, when that
arrogant tyrant, Peter Stuyvesant, reluctantly

yielded to the English power and ceased to war
upon the patroons. The people were weary of
him, and the patroon was glad to have no more
of the West India Company.
In 1629, a charter of privileges and exemptions
was passed for the encouragement of patroons to
settle colonies. In the following year, several
wealthy and influential Directors of the Dutch
West India Company hastened to avail themselves
of its advantages. Bastiaen Jansen Krol, Com
missary, and Dirck Cornelissen Duyster, Under
Commissary, at Fort Orange, having learned that
a tract of land called Sannahagog, lying on the
west side of the North River, extending from Bee
ren Island, by the Indians called Passapenock, up
to the Smackx Island, and in breadth two days'
journey, was for sale, purchased the same from
the native proprietors, for Kilian Van Rens
selaer, a pearl merchant in Amsterdam and one of
the Directors of the West India Company. Three
months afterward Gillis Hoosett purchased, in the
presence of Jansen Myndertsen, Wolfert Gerritsen
and Jan Tyssen, trumpeter, for the same gentle
man, the lands lying south and north of Fort
Orange, and extending to within a short distance
of Moenimines Castle, then situated on what is
now called Haver Island, at the mouth of the
Mohawk, and from one of the chiefs, his grounds,
called Semesseeck, stretching on the east side of the
river from opposite Castle Island to a point facing
Fort Orange, and thence from Poetanock, the Mill
Creek, north to Negagons. These conveyances
were subsequently ratified by the respective parties,
in the presence of the Director-General and Coun
cil of New Netherland, who signed an instrument
to that effect, ' ' sealed with the seal of New Neth
erland in red wax, " on the same day that the char
ter of 1629 was proclaimed at Fort Amsterdam.
Nearly seven years afterward — namely, on the 13 th
April, 1637 — all the intervening district, called
Papsickenekaas, or Papsekanea, as the name is
now pronounced, lying also on the east side of the
river, and extending from opposite Castle Island
south to the point opposite Smackx Island, and
including the adjacent islands and all the lands
back into the interior, belonging to the Indian
owners, was purchased " for certain quantities of
duffels, axes, knives and wampum, " also for Mr.
Van Rensselaer, who thus became proprietor of a
tract of country twenty-four miles long and forty-
eight miles broad, containing, as is estimated, over
seven hundred thousand acres of land, which now
compose the counties of Albany, Rensselaer, and
part of the county of Columbia.

50

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

On the ist of October, 1630, a copartnership
was entered into between Kilian Van Rensselaer,
Samuel Godyn, Johannis de Laet and Samuel
Bloemaert, with whom were associated Adam
Bissels and Toussaint Moussart, who, by the terms
of the contract, were constituted co-directors of
Rensselaerwyck. The common stock of this asso
ciation was divided into five shares, of which Van
Rensselaer held two ; De Laet, one ; Godyn, one ;
and Bloemaert and his associates, one. The man
agement of the affairs of the "colonie" was com
mitted to a board consisting of four persons or votes,
of which Van Rensselaer represented or held two ;
Bloemaert, or Bissels, one ; and De Laet, or
Moussart, one. Van Rensselaer was, however,
not to have any rank or authority in the " colonie"
superior to his associates, except the title of Pa
troon, which, with all its feudal honors, was vested
in him alone, the partners binding themselves to
do fealty and homage for the fief on his demise, in
the name and on the behalf of his son and heirs.
Preparations were also made to expedite farmers
and cattle to Rensselaerwyck ; and everywhere, at
home and abroad, things wore the aspect of pros
perity. -
The condition of the Dutch settlements on the
North River, at this time, is thus alluded to by a
contemporary English writer : ' ' This which they
have settled in New England, upon Hudson's
River, with no extraordinary charge or multitude
of people, is knowne to subsist in a comfortable
manner, and to promise fairlie both to the State
and undertakers. The cause is evident. The
men whom they carrie, though they be not many,
are well chosen and known to be useful and ser
viceable, and they second them with seasonable and
fit supplies, cherishing them as carefully as their
owne families, and employ them in profitable
labors, that are known to be of speciall use to their
comfortable^ subsisting. " So said The Planters'
Plea, London, 1630.
The inhabitants of Rensselaerwyck in 1640,
who numbered at the time as many traders as in
dividuals, noting the avidity with which the Mo
hawks sought after fire-arms, willingly paying the
English ' twenty beavers for a musket, and from
ten to twelve guilders for a pound of gunpowder,
were desirous to share so profitable a trade!
They commenced, accordingly, to furnish fire
arms to these Indians. The profits which accrued
became soon known, and traders from Holland
introduced large quantities of guns and other muni
tions of war into the interior.
The Mohawks, thus provided with arms for four

hundred warriors, swept the country from Canada
to the sea-coast levying tribute on the surrounding
terror-stricken tribes.
The Patroon's Charter of 1629 having provided
that every ' ' colonie " should contain, within
four years after its establishment, at least fifty
persons over fifteen years of age, one-fourth
of whom should be located within the first
year, the parties interested in the settlement
of Rensselaerwyck lost no time in complying
with these conditions. Early in the spring of the
following year, 1630, a number of colonists, with
their families, provided with farming imple
ments, stock and all other necessaries, sailed from
the Texel, in the company's ship, the Endracht,
Capt. Jan Brouwer, commander, and arrived in
safety at the Manhattans, after a passage of sixty-
four days. In a short time afterward they landed
at Fort Orange, in the vicinity of which they were
furnished with comfortable farm-houses and other
dwellings at the expense of the patroon and his
associates. Other settlers followed, with addi
tional stock, each succeeding season, and thus were
laid the foundations of those wealthy and prosper
ous settlements which we now behold in and
arou-nd the present City of Albany.
Invested, as well by the Roman law as by the
Charter, with the chief command and lower juris
diction, the patroon became empowered to ad
minister civil and criminal justice, in person or by
deputy, within his "colonie ;" to appoint local of
ficers and magistrates ; to erect courts and to take
cognizance of all crimes committed within his
limits ; to keep a gallows, if such were required,
for the execution of malefactors, subject, however,
to the restriction that if such gallows happened,
by any accident, to fall, pending an execution, a
new one could not be erected, unless for the pur
pose of hanging another criminal. The right to
inflict punishments of minor severity was necessa
rily included in that which authorized capital con
victions. Accordingly, we find various instances,
throughout the record of the local court, of per
sons who had, by breaking the law, rendered them
selves dangerous to society, or obnoxious to the
authorities, having been banished from the "col
onie," or condemned to corporal chastisement,
fine, or imprisonment, according to the grade of
their offences.
In civil cases all disputes between man and man,
whether relating to contracts, titles, possessions,
or boundaries ; injuries to property, person, or
character ; claims for rents and all other demands
between the patroon and his tenants, were also

RENSSELAERWYCK AND BEVERWYCK.

51

investigated and decided by these courts ; from
the judgment of which, in matters affecting life and
limb, and in suits where the sum in litigation ex
ceeded twenty dollars, appeals lay to the Director-
General and Council at Fort Amsterdam. But the
sagacious local authorities, it must be added, were
so jealous of this privilege that they required the
colonists, on settling within their jurisdiction, to
promise not to appeal from any sentence of the lo
cal tribunal.
The laws in force here were, as in other sections
of New Netherland, the Civil Code, the enactments
of the States General, the ordinances of the West
India Company, and of the Director-General and
Council when properly published within the "col
onie," and such rules and regulations as the patroon
and his co-directors, or the local authorities, might
establish and enact.
The government was vested in a General Court,
which exercised executive, legislative, or municipal
and judicial functions, and which was composed
of two Commissaries and two Councilors, who
answered to modern justices of the peace.
Adjoined to this court were a Colonial Secretary,
a Sheriff or Schoui-fiscaal, and a Court Mes
senger or Constable. Each of these received a
small compensation, either in the shape of a
fixed salary or fees ; the Commissaries and Magis
trates, fifty, one hundred, or two hundred guild
ers, annually, according to their standing; the
Secretary, one hundred guilders, and the Court
Messenger, one hundred and fifty, with the addition
of trifling fees for the transcript and service of papers.
The magistrates of the "colonie" held office for a
year, the court appointing their successors from
among the other settlers, or continuing those already
in office, at the expiration of their term of service,
as it deemed proper.
The most important functionary attached to this
government was the Schout-fiscaal, who, in dis
charge of his public functions, was bound by in
structions received from the patroon and co-di
rectors. No man in the "colonie" was to be
subject to loss of life or property unless by the sen
tence of a court composed of five persons, and all
who were under accusation were entitled to a speedy
and impartial trial. The public prosecutor was
particularly enjoined not to receive presents or
bribes, nor to be interested in trade or commerce,
either directly or indirectly; and, in order that he
might be attentive to the performance of his duties,
and thoroughly independent, he was secured a fixed
salary, a free house, and all fines amounting to ten
guilders ($4.oo), or under; besides the third part

of all forfeitures and amends over that sum were
his perquisites.
Jacob Albertsen Planck was the first sheriff of
Rensselaerwyck. Arendt Van Curler, who originally
came out as Assistant Commissary, was appointed,
soon after his arrival, Commissary-General, or
Superintendent of the "colonie," and acted as
Colonial Secretary until 1642, when he was suc
ceeded by Anthony de Hooges. Brant Peelen,
Gerrit de Rens, Cornelis Teunissen van Broeck-
elen, Pieter Cornelissen van Munickendam, and
Dirck Jansen were, if not the first, at least among
the earliest magistrates of the' settlement.
The population of the "colonie" consisted at
this remote period of three classes : Freemen,
who emigrated from Holland at their own expense ;
farmers and farm-servants, who were sent out by
the patroon, who judiciously applied his large
resources in promoting the early settlement of the
country, and in assisting the struggling industry of
his people. To accomplish this laudable object, a
number of farms were set off, on both sides of the
river and the adjoining islands, on which he caused
dwelling-houses, barns and stables to be erected.
These farms were suitably stocked with cows, horses
or oxen, and occasionally sheep, and furnished
with plows, wagons and other necessary agricul
tural implements, all which preliminary expenses
were defrayed by the proprietor, so that the farmer
entered on the property unembarrassed by the want
of capital. Some of those farms were then valued,
and an annual rent was fixed, equivalent, in some
sort, to the interest of the capital expended on their
improvement, and payable semi-annually in grain,
beavers and wampum. Other farms were let out
for one-half or for the one-third of their produce.
The patroon was entitled, at the same time, to half
the increase from the stock ; he reserved to himself
one-tenth of the produce of each farm, and, in
various instances, stipulated for a yearly acknowl
edgment of a few pounds of butter. The tenant
was privileged, however, to compound by the
payment of a fixed " annual sum for the tenths
of the farm, or for his halves or thirds. He was
bound, at the same time, to keep the fences,
buildings or farming implements in repair, and to
deliver them up in the same good order in which
he had received them, subject, in all cases, to ordi
nary wear and tear. But the patroon bore all risks
of destruction of the buildings, cattle, and other
property, which might accrue from war or mis
understandings with the Indians. Wild or unim
proved land was usually leased for a term of ten
years free of rent, or for tenths, subject, however,

52

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

to be improved by the lessee, all improvements
falling to the patroon on the expiration of the lease.
In addition to the facilities above enumerated,
each of the settlers, on leaving Holland, was
generally furnished with clothing and a small
sum in cash, the latter to be repaid on some
future occasion in produce or wampum with an
advance on the principal of fifty per cent. This,
however disproportionate it may now seem, cannot
be considered unreasonable or extravagant when it is
understood that the difference at the time between
colonial and Holland currency was nearly forty per
cent., while between the latter and wampum, it was
vastly larger. The patroon was bound, at the same
time, to supply his colonists with a sufficient num
ber of laborers to assist them in the work of their
farms. As compensation for his trouble in engag
ing these, and for his advances in conveying them
to America, he was entitled to the sum of sixteen
guilders, or six dollars, per annum for each laborer,
over and above the yearly wages which the farmer
was to allow such servants, and which ranged from
forty to one hundred and fifty guilders and board.
This sum provided these servants with necessary
clothing, and, in the course of time, placed at their
disposal the means to enter on a farm on their own
account. It is to be remarked, however, that the
first patroon seriously complained that his settlers
not only threw altogether on him the payment of
these wages, but took large quantities of goods
from his store, for which they made no returns
whatever, though they were bound to settle at the
end of each year, and to hand in an account of the
produce of the farm, distinguishing the patroon's
tenths, halves or thirds, the amount paid for wages
and their own expenses, so as to allow him to
ascertain what his own profits and losses were at the
close of each year.
In return for his outlay and trouble, the Civil
Code, which, it must be always borne in mind, was
the fundamental law of this "colonie," vested in
the patroon several privileges common to the feudal
system. At the close of the harvest, the farmer was
bound to hand in a return of the amount of grain
which he had for sale, after deducting what was due
to the landlord by the lease, and offer to him or his
commissary the pre-emption of such produce. In
case he refused to buy it, then the farmer was at
liberty to sell the same elsewhere. The like rule
obtained in regard to cattle. When these were to
be sold, the first offer was also to be made to the
patroon, in order, we presume, that he should
have an opportunity of retaining the stock within
the "colonie." Every settler was, likewise, obli

gated to grind his corn at the patroon's mill, and
the latter was equally obligated to erect and keep
such mill in repair at his own expense, for the
accommodation of his colonists. No person could
hunt or fish within the limits of the "colonie,"
without license from the patroon, who, on the ex
change, sale and purchase of real estate within his
jurisdiction, was entitled to the first offer of such
property ; or, if he declined to assume it, to a cer
tain portion of the purchase money, except such
mutation occurred in the natural line of descent.
Finally, it was his right, as "lord of the manor,"
to succeed to the estate and property of all persons
who might die intestate within his "colonie."
Under the fostering care of its first patroon, and
the prudent management of its local magistracy,
the "colonie of Rensselaerwyck" progressively,
though slowly, advanced. Portions of its inhabi
tants occasionally returned to "Fatherland" to
spread the tidings of their prosperity, and to invite
their friends and relatives to join them in their new
houses, which, from the abundance and cheapness
of provisions, deserved truly to be called "a land
flowing with milk and honey." A hamlet gradu
ally arose. On account, it is said, of the crescent
form of the bank of the river at this point, this
hamlet was first called the Fuyck, or Beversfuyck,
and afterwards Beverwyck, by which name the
present City of Albany was legally known until
1664, though it was familiarly called the Fuyck by
the Dutch for many years after the entire country
had passed into the hands of other masters.
Mr. Van Rensselaer, some allege, visited the
"colonie" in person in 1637. This, however, is
not certain.
Adrian Van der Donck, "a free citizen of
Breda," and a graduate of the University of
Leyden, was selected as the successor of Sheriff
Planck. He entered on the performance of his
duties as Schout-fiscaal of Rensselaerwyck in the
course of a month or two after his appointment
One of the principal aims of the first founders of
Rensselaerwyck seems to have been to secure for
themselves the valuable trade in furs, the chief
mart for which centered at the point where they
made their purchase and commenced their settle
ment. To engross this the more effectively, all
foreign and unlicensed traders were rigidly ex
cluded from the colony. The patroon and his
partners were the only privileged importers of
European merchandise, the West India Company
having, in consequence of the Indian War about
Fort Amsterdam and other causes, ceased to keep
Fort Orange supplied with foreign goods. All

RENSSELAERWYCK AND BEVERWYCK

53

settlers were bound under oath not to purchase
any peltries from the Indians, on pain of forfeiting
their goods and wages, unless duly licensed to
carry on such trade ; for such a privilege was ex
clusively vested in the patroon. The majority of
the settlers subsequently obtained such permis
sion, received goods on credit from the patroon's
store, and ' ' every farmer, '' as De Vries observes,
"became a trader." They were, however, obliged
to bring in all the furs which they purchased to
the patroon's magazine, to be sent over to Holland
to him, he retaining as his share half the profits.
This condition was afterward modified so far as to
allow him to retain only the sixth beaver and one
guilder recognition, or duty, on each of the re
maining five-sixths. Competition raised the price
of peltries nearly one hundred per cent. Prior
to 1642 the price of a merchantable beaver, which
averaged about an ell square, was six hands, or
fathoms, of wampum. In the course of that
year the article commanded from seven to seven
and a half; but when the traders found that the
agents of the patroon, as well as the officers at
Fort Orange, did not refuse paying that price, they
immediately offered nine, and in the following
year advanced the rate to ten fathoms of white
wampum for each skin. A joint proclamation was
hereupon issued by the authorities of Rensselaer
wyck and those of the Fort, fixing the price of furs
at nine fathoms of white, or four and a half of
black wampum, and forbidding all persons whatso
ever, whether servants of the company or residents
in the colony, from going into the woods to trade
in advance with the Indians, on pain of seizure of
all their goods. Another proclamation was, also,
issued, prohibiting all traders to come with their
sloops within the limits of the colony, under the
penalty of forfeiting the same. And on the follow
ing court day a third proclamation followed, for
the better securing the monopoly of the import
trade to the patroon, by which the inhabitants of
the colony were absolutely forbidden purchasing
any goods from the local traders.
At this time, between Sheriff Van der Donck
and Van Curler and the other officers of the colony,
considerable jealousy and ill-feeling existed. The
representations of Van der Donck had, eventually,
such an effect on the public mind that a con
spiracy was formed against Commissary-General
Curler among several of the colonists, who drew up
a strong protest against that officer, which, in
order that they might remain undiscovered, the
ringleaders signed in the form of a "round robin,"
affixing to the paper their signatures in "a

circle." This done, they next denounced Van
Curler in the most vehement terms. Some pro
posed driving him from the colony as a rogue ;
others, more vindictive and turbulent, in-isted on
taking his life. These threats, fortunately for the
character of the settlers, were not followed up by
any overt act. Van der Donck professed, all the
while, an honest desire to promote the wishes of
the constituted authorities. But, when the time for
testing his sincerity arrived, he was found wanting.
It became apparent from the ill feeling which
existed between Sheriff Van der Donck and the
other functionaries in the colony, which had
already caused, in two instances, an exchange of
blows, that the former could not comfortably pro
long his stay in Rensselaerwyck, or hold his office
very agreeably much longer. He determined to
return to Holland in the course of the next year.
In September, 1643, there was conveyed to New
Netherland by the patroon's ship, The Arms of
Rensselaerwyck, an assorted invoice of merchandise,
consisting of woolen, linen and cotton goods, ready-
made clothing, silks, glass, crockery, le.ather, fruit,
cheese, spices, brandy, gin, wines, cordials, tobacco,
pipes, nets, looking-glasses, beads, axes, adzes,
razors, knives, scissors, bells, nails, spoons,
kettles, thimbles, pins, needles, threads, rings,
shoes, stockings, gloves, combs, buttons, mus
kets, pistols, swords, shot, lead, canvas, pitch and
tar, candles, stationery, and various other commod
ities, valued at twelve thousand eight hundred and
seventy guilders, to be bartered with the Indians
and other inhabitants of the country for tobacco,
furs, and other produce. To insure entire success
for this venture, the skipper, supercargo and pilot
of the ship were allowed a direct pecuniary interest
in the proceeds of the voyage.
The system of license introduced by the pa
troon, and the profits which resulted, had already
incited a number of private individuals to embark
in the fur trade. As a consequence, this staple was
altogether taken out of the hands both of the pa
troon's and the company's servants, who could pur
chase scarcely a skin, while private traders exported
thousands of peltries. A number of unlicensed
traders now resorted to the colony, who drew the
Indians away into " secret trading places," where,
by means of higher prices, they obtained posses
sion of the most valuable furs, ' ' not caring whether
or not the trade was so injured as to render the
patroon unable to meet the expenses of his colo
nie." Having thus "debauched" the savages,
these interlopers succeeded, by means of " wine
and strong drink, which they sold at an usurious

54

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

rate," in perverting many of the colonists, from
whom they got not only peltries, but even large
quantities of grain, which the farmers disposed of
without either respecting the patroon's pre-emption
right, or paying the tenths, or accounting for the
halves or thirds which they were bound by lease to
pay. To arrest these illicit proceedings, the patroon
adopted two measures which would, he expected,-
put a stop to the injuries which his interests were
sustaining from the competition that was then ex
hausting and impovishing his colony. One of
these was the erection of a fortified post and
trading-house on Beeren Island, the southern
boundary of his estate, which, by commanding
the channel of the river, would exclude all vessels,
but his own and those of the West India Company,
from the upper waters of the Hudson. The other
was to send out a stock of goods sufficient to sup
ply, through his establishments at Beverwyck
and Beeren Island, the Mohawks and River In
dians, and all the neighboring settlers, with what
soever they might require in barter for their pro
duce, whether furs or corn. It was with a view
to carry out the latter part of this project that the
ship Arms of Rensselaerwyck now sailed from
Holland with the above mentioned valuable cargo.
She arrived at the Manhattans while the war
with the Indians was at its height, and at the mo
ment when Director Kieft was sorely distressed for
clothing for the troops which he had enlisted. A
requisition was immediately made on Pieter Wyn-
coop, the supercargo of the ship, for a supply of
fifty pairs of shoes to be distributed among the sol
diers, payment for which was offered "in silver,
beavers, or wampum, at such price as the super
cargo might demand." But Wyncoop, perceiving
that he could sell these goods to more advantage
to the inhabitants than to the Director, injudicious
ly refused to comply with this requisition. A
forced levy was the result, and as many soldiers
were equipped with shoes from the ship as "killed
five hundred of the enemy." The evil conse
quence of Wyncoop's refusal did not stop here.
The ship was immediately overhauled by author
ity of the Director and Council, and a consider
able quantity of powder and a number of guns
found on board, which were not enumerated in
the manifest, and which Wyncoop was charged
with intending to sell to the savages. These ar
ticles having been made contraband by law, and
their introduction forbidden on pain of death,
were, together with the ship, forthwith confiscated..
The vessel sailed soon after for Holland, whither

Van Curler also proceeded to give an account of
his stewardship.
In the meantime Nicolaus Coorn, ' ' Wacht Mees-
ter " or commander, in the service of the patroon,
had completed his fort on Beeren Island, on which
he mounted a number of cannon, sufficient not
only for its defence, but for the complete command
of the river. A claim to "staple right" was then
boldly set up — a toll of five guilders, or two dollars,
imposed on every trading-craft passing up or down,
which were also obliged to lower their colors in
honor of Rensselaer Stein. And thus a sovereign
jurisdiction was asserted over this navigable high
way against all persons, save and except the ser
vants of the West India Company.
It was the summer of 1644 that the yacht Good
Hope, of which Govert Lookermans was master,
sailed from Fort Orange for New Amsterdam.
Passing Beeren Island,' the craft was hailed, and
peremptorily ordered " to lower his colors." On
being asked for whom, the commander replied,
' ' For the staple right of Rensselaerwyck. " But
the skipper refused, with an oath, to strike his flag
" for any individual save the Prince of Orange and
the lords, his masters." Whereupon Coorn fired
several shots at the vessel, ' ' one of which, '' says the
record, ' ' perforated our princely flag, " about a foot
above the head of the skipper, ' ' who kept the colors
constantly in his hand."
Such an outrage as this could not fail to create
excitement in New Amsterdam, when the particu
lars became known. Coorn was summoned to ap
pear immediately at Fort Amsterdam, to answer
for his conduct. He pleaded the authority of his
patroon. But this was considered no justification.
He was condemned in damages, and forbidden to
repeat the offence on pain of corporal punishment.
He was further required to obtain Van Rensselaer's
approval of the sentence, which should be executed
on him without fail, if that approval were not
forthcoming. This proceeding was followed,
soon after, by a strong protest from Attorney-
General Van der Huygens, against the establish
ment on Beeren Island, which was declared to be
inconsistent with the privileges granted to pa
troons and lords of manors. No patroon, it
was maintained, could extend his colony more
than sixteen miles along the bank, or eight
miles on both sides of the river, while Beeren
Island was more than eight miles from the limit of
the colonies. The bold attempt to construct a fort
there, to command the river and to debar Fort
Orange from free navigation would, it was added,
be ruinous to the company. It was, therefore,

RENSSELAERWYCK AND BEVER WYCK

55

peremptorily ordered that no building whatsoever,
much less a fortification, should be constructed be
yond the limits of Rensselaerwyck.
But Nicolaus Coorn, Commander of Rensselaer-
Stein, was not to be intimidated by the paper
bullets of Director Kieft's Attorney-General. "As
the Vice-Commander of the honorable Van Rens
selaer," he replied, "I carl on you, Cornelis Van
der Huygens, Attorney-General of New Nether-
land, not to presume to oppose and frustrate my
designs on Bear's Island, to defraud me in any
manner, or to cause me any trouble, as it has been
the will of their High Mightinesses, the States-Gen
eral and the privileged West India Company, to
invest my patroon and his heir with the right to
extend and fortify his ' colonie, ' and make it
powerful in every respect. If you persist in so
doing, I protest against the act of violence
and assault committed by the honorable Lords-
Majors, which I leave them to settle, while
this undertaking has nothing else in view than to
prevent the canker of free-traders entering his
' colonie. ' "
In the spirit in which this protest was drafted
were the feudal pretensions of the Lord of Rensse
laerwyck asserted and maintained during the re
mainder of the patroon's life. The same policy
was steadily continued by his executors for several
years after his death, which event took place in
Amsterdam, in the year 1646.
With the demise of the first patroon terminated
also Van der Donck's connection with the
"colonie." He was succeeded in his office of
fiscaal by Nicolaus Coorn. He did not, however,
quit Rensselaerwyck before experiencing a heavy
loss in the destruction of his house on Castle
Island, by fire, in consequence of which he and
his wife temporarily removed to Van Curler's resi
dence, the hospitalities of which were generously
offered to him by its proprietor. Differences of
opinion now arose between him and Van Curler,
as to the party on whom the loss of the house
should fall— one maintaining that the property was
at the risk of the patroon, the other of the lessee.
A quarrel ensued. Van der Donck gave Van
Curler the lie, whereupon the latter ordered him
out of his house. Van der Donck removed imme
diately to Fort Orange, where he remained until
the opening of navigation, whence he pro
ceeded to Manhattan.
Rensselaerwyck was the only "colonie" which
remained uninjured by Kieft's Indian war. As a con
sequence, its population generally prospered, and
sundry farms were taken up. Beverwyck continued,

however, in swaddling-clothes ; for the city which,
in 1885, holds about 100,000 inhabitants, con
tained, in 1646, no more than ten houses. Several
farmers had, at an early date, begun another settle
ment south of Beverwyck, to which they gave
the name of Bethlehem. A few bouweries were
also cultivated on the east side of the river, oppo
site Fort Orange, in what is now Greenwich.
Katskill and its fertile bottoms had engaged, at
an early date, the attention of the settlers at Rens
selaerwyck, but the pretensions of opposite parties
prevented any planting of consequence in that
quarter; and Van Slyck, who had received a
patent for lands there, had as yet made no com
mencement. The country between Rensselaer
wyck and Manhattan, on both sides of the river,
still remained a wilderness. It is true that the
Hollanders had built a fort at Esopus, in the
year 16 14, contemporaneously with the erection of
their post on Castle Island. This possibly might
have been followed by the clearing of some small
portions of land in that vicinity ; but it is very
doubtful whether any such settlements survived the
destructive Indian war of 1644-5.
Such was the state of public affairs in Rensselaer
wyck and vicinity when General Peter Stuyve
sant assumed the government of New Nether-
land in 1647.
Johannes Van Rensselaer, heir to the patroonship
of Rensselaerwyck, being a minor at his father's
decease, the care of his interests devolved on his
uncle, Johannes Van Wely, and Wouter Van
Twiller, executors to the last will and testament of
the first patroon, who immediately rendered fealty
and homage for "the colonie" to their High
Mightinesses, in the name and on the behalf of
their ward.
The immediate management of this estate was
entrusted to Brant Arent Van Slechtenhorst, of
Nieukerke, in Guilderlandt, who was appointed
Director of the Colony, President of the Court of
Justice and Superintendent of all the bouweries,
farms, mills and other property belonging to the
patroon, at a salary of seven hundred and fifty flo
rins ^$300) per annum, to reckon from the date of
his arrival out, together with a house, four milch
cows, two horses, eight acres of tillage and eight
acres of pasture land. He was specially charged
to uphold, maintain and defend the freedoms and
privileges with which the colony was invested ; to
promote the interests and advance the settlement
of Beverwyck and its immediate neighborhood ;
and to acquire, by purchase, the lands around Kats
kill, for the greater security of the colony, inas-

56

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

much as the colonists, through a notion of acquiring
property in that quarter, were forming companies
or associations to remove thither and abandon
Rensselaerwyck. He was further ordered to ex
plore the country for minerals, and to report to his
superiors in Holland whatever success might crown
these labors. Thus commissioned and instructed,
the newly- appointed Director sailed with his family
and servants and arrived in the colony in the latter
part of March. His son, Gerrit Van Slechten-
horst, was to act as Officier or Schout-fiscaal, at
a salary of six hundred florins ; but he filled the
office only two months, when it was merged in
fhat of the Director.
From the moment that colonies began to be
planted by patroons in New Netherlands the Di
rectors of the Amsterdam Chamber became jealous
of their existence and opposed to their continuance.
They considered them injurious to the settlement
of the country and the increase of its population.
By the repurchase of Pavonia and Zwanendaal, in
1634, they took the earliest and easiest means to
check the evil. In the prosecution of their policy,
they endeavored to induce the patroon of Rens
selaerwyck also to cede to them his rights, privileges
and possessions; but, having failed in effecting
this, they now changed front, and determined to
circumscribe a jurisdiction and weaken a power
which they could not buy off, and which they
wished to destroy. Gen. Stuyvesant and Brant
Van Slechtenhorst were the champions of these
hostile interests and opposing^ views. The former
claimed to be supreme ruler of the whole country,
irrespective of the special rights and feudal privi
leges granted— as well by the Charter of 1629 as by
the civil law — to the local authorities of independ
ent fiefs. The latter, thoroughly conversant with
the immunities claimed for manors and municipal
ities in continental Europe, recognized the exercise
of no authority within his limits, save that of his
patroon, or such as was approved and sanctioned
by his legal representatives. Whatever orders or
placards the Director-General of New Netherlands
might issue were, he maintained, null and power
less, unless endorsed and countersigned by his
commander and executed by the officers of his
court. It was easy to foresee that pretensions so
opposite could not fail to lead to collision ; and
Slechtenhorst had not been much more than a
month at his post when an explosion took place.
A copy of a proclamation ordering the first Wed
nesday in May, 1 648, to be observed as a general fast,
and the performance of public worship in the several
churches of New Netherlands, was duly forwarded

to Rensselaerwyck. It was received by the authori
ties of this place, not in that spirit of submissive
obedience which the Director-General demanded
for all his orders ; but as an invasion of the rights
and authority of the Lord of the Manor, against
which Van Slechtenhorst forthwith protested.
This proceeding did not comport with Stuy-
vesant's ideas, either of law or propriety. To cor
rect the abuse, he resolved to visit the "colonie,"
where, accompanied by a military escort, he soon
after landed, his arrival being most loyally greeted
by salvos from the patroon's artillery. Summoning
Van Slechtenhorst, he called in question his pre
tensions, and charged him with infringing the West
India Company's sovereignty. But the sturdy
commander retorted: "Your complaints are un
just ; I have more reason to complain on behalf of
my patroon against you." The Director-General
fulminated thereupon a lengthy protest, in which
Van Slechtenhorst was accused with having con
veyed lots and authorized the erection of buildings
in the immediate vicinity of Fort Orange, in disre
gard not only of the sovereign authority, but in
contempt of the Director-General's commission,
thus infringing the privileges granted by their High
Mightinesses and destroying the security of the
fort. Such proceeding was totally repugnant to
"military discipline and tactics." He therefore
ordered, " in a friendly manner, " a stop to be put
to all building within range of cannon shot, un
less specially ordered by the Lords Majors. He
further commanded that no new ordinances affecting
the sovereign authority, or relating to commerce or
the public welfare, be issued without the previous con
sent of their High Mightinesses or their representa
tive in New Netherland, and that no exclusive
right to any branch of trade be rented, nor any
grain, masts or other property belonging to the
Company's servants be seized, unless the prosecu
tions on such suits were disposed of without delay.
The practice of compelling the inhabitants of the
colony to sign a pledge that, as defendants, they
should not appeal to the Supreme Court of New
Netherland from judgments rendered by the Court
of Rensselaerwyck was pronounced ' ' a crime,"
an infraction of the law of the land, and a subver
sion of the Charter. To prevent the recurrence of
this illegal practice, an annual return to the Direc
tor and Council of all the affairs transacted in the
colony and of the proceedings of the court was in
sisted on. And, as Van Slechtenhorst claimed, in
direct contradiction to the charter and the Director-
General's commission, to the vilification of the
latter's office and in disrespect of the Lords

RENSSELAERWYCK AND BEVERWYCK.

57

Majors, not to be responsible to the govern
ment at Fort Amsterdam, he was called on to
produce his authority, either from the States-
General or the Directors of the Chamber at Amster
dam, for such pretension. Failing in this, the
Director-General protested against him for disobe
dience of orders.
Commander Slechtenhorst was, in the estima
tion of his opponents, ' ' a person of stubborn and
headstrong temper. " He was, besides, fully con
fident that he had law and custom on his side ; he
was sure that he had the instructions of his super
iors in his pocket, and was therefore determined
not to abandon the rights of "his orphan patroon."
He answered protest by protest. He charged, in '
his turn, the Director-General with having pro
claimed a day of fasting and prayer in Rensselaer
wyck, ' ' contrary to ancient order and usage, as if
he were the lord of the patroon's colonie. "
He accused the company's servants at the fort,
with having cut without permission the best tim
ber and firewood in the patroon's forests, " as if
these were their own;" and with having ranged
through the whole colonie, along with people
from Manhattans, ' ' with savages by their side to
serve as brokers, " trading publicly with the abori
gines, as if the place were their property ; all this
without license from the patroon or his authorized
agents, and without paying either duties or recog
nitions. As for the order not to build within a
prescribed distance of Fort Orange, it was an ag
gression which could not be justified. The pa
troon's trading house stood, ' ' a few years ago, "
on the border of the moat which surrounded that
fort. That soil, with all around, belongs still to the
patroon ; he was never disturbed in its possession
until Director Stuyvesant sought now ' ' by unbe
coming means " to oust ' ' his orphan heir, " to
deprive him of the benefit thereof, and to appro
priate the soil to himself; threatening to destroy
the patroon's buildings by cannon shot. Van
Slechtenhorst is hereby prevented erecting "even
a hog pen " on the patroon's own land ; and
Stuyvesant has become a judge in his own case.
The assertion that the objectionable buildings en
dangered the security of the fort was a mere pre
text. They were more than five hundred rods
from the fort or trading-house ; and it was added,
eight houses already intervened between them and
Fort Orange.
In keeping with that spirit here displayed did
Van Slechtenhorst continue his improvements in
Beverwyck. Another protest from the Director at
Manhattan followed, warning the patroon's agent
8

that force should be used if he did not desist.
But this had the effect only of calling forth " a
counter blast." No suit, he insisted, could be in
stituted, nor execution issued in another district,
without previous consent of the Schout-fiscaal or
Court of that jurisdiction on the pain of nonsuit and
arbitrary correction, and therefore the present pro
ceeding was informal. The pretensions now put
forth were, moreover, at variance with those which
had already been promulgated and in contradiction
to practice even at New Amsterdam. The Director-
General claimed, in July, that all the territory
within range of cannon shot belonged to Fort
Orange ; now he reduces the circle to the range of
a musket ball, within which he will not allow a
house to be built, "notwithstanding he permits
whole streets to be filled with houses in view of
Fort Amsterdam."
This continued contumacy served but to irritate
the New Amsterdam executive. The freshets of
the past winter had nearly destroyed Fort Orange;,
and the West India Company's Commissary had
received orders to surround that fort with a solid
stone wall in lieu of the wooden fence by which it
had hitherto been encompassed. But scarcely
had a rod of the work been finished, when Van
Slechtenhorst forbade Carl Van Brugge "in an im
perious manner" to quarry stone within the col
ony, or to fell a tree either for the repair of the
fortification or for firewood. The farmers and in
habitants were also ordered, contrary to the prac
tice of former magistrates, to convey any such ma
terials thither. The Company was thus deprived
of articles necessary to build forts, or other edifices,
and compelled either to beg them from their vas
sals, or, ' ' what is worse, " to purchase them at
enormous prices. Whilst thus opposing repair of
the public works, Van Slechtenhorst actively con
tinued his own buildings ' ' even within pistol shot
of Fort Orange. "
On receipt of this intelligence, General Stuyves
ant resolved to maintain his authority by force.
Six soldiers were dispatched to Van Brugge's as
sistance, with orders to demolish the. offending
house ; to arrest Van Slechtenhorst ' ' in the most
civil manner possible, " should he offer any opposi
tion, and to detain him in custody until he delivered
a copy of his commission and his instructions, and
had declared that he had no other. He was finally
summoned to appear at Fort Amsterdam to answer
for his conduct. Orders were at the same time
issued, prohibiting the importation of guns into the
" colonie " without license from the Lords Majors.
Such arms, when imported, were to be sold only to

58

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

the West India Company at a fixed price of two
beavers each.
The excitement produced in the hitherto peace
ful hamlet of Beverwyck on the appearance of
this armed posse may be easily conceived. The
oldest inhabitant had not seen a soldier nor heard
the sound of a drum in that place until the Direc
tor-General's visit in the course of the last summer.
And now, when another armed band arrived, with
the hostile design of razing the houses of quiet and
inoffensive settlers, they were sorely amazed and
much alarmed.
Those whom the Director-General had dispatched
to enforce his orders, were not, in truth, the best
qualified for the performance of this delicate mis
sion. They were very zealous " when the patroon's
timber was to be cut, or his deer killed," and were
not slow to exhibit their insolence by grossly in
sulting the commander " when walking the public
street " in company with his deputy, Andries de
Vos, cursing them and "abusing God's holy
name," because "they had not bade them good
evening." This rude conduct, and the unconcealed avowal
of their mission, aroused the indignation, not only
of the settlers, but even of the Indians. These
assembled in a tumultuous and angry manner, and
demanded if ' ' Wooden Leg, " in whom they had
confided as their protector, intended to tear down
the houses which were to shelter them in stormy
and wintry weather ? When they learned that all
the trouble was about a few rods of land, they told
the commander to accompany them home, and
they would give him plenty of land ' ' in the Ma
quaas country;" so that "more kindness was
evinced by the unbelieving savages than by our
Christian neighbors, subjects of the same sovereign,
bound by their oaths to protect us against insult
and outrage. "
The soldiery were disposed to celebrate what
ever victory they obtained by firing a feu-de-joie.
They accordingly discharged three or four volleys.
This brought the Indians again together. Slech
tenhorst succeeded, however, in soothing their irri
tation, and persuaded them to depart. They
returned shortly in increased numbers, and
inquired in angry terms, "If Wooden Leg's
dogs were gone ? " They were assured that all
would yet be well ; that they had been mis
informed, that the houses should not be pulled
down. A threatening storm was thus happily
averted ; for the Director-General's rash conduct
had well-nigh produced bloodshed, "and the ruin,
not only of the ' colonie,' but of the Manhattans

and of the Christians within this land, who are all
at the mercy of the savages " — especially had these
been joined by some Christians, ' ' as might have
been the case."
Van Slechtenhorst's indignation at this encroach
ment on the patroon's privileges was not so easily
removed. He gave vent to his feelings in a long
and angry protest. The demand for a copy of his
commission, and the summons to appear at Fort
Amsterdam, he answered by calling for a copy in
writing of the Director-General's claims and com
plaints. "The noble patroon had obtained his
possessions and immunities, was invested by the
States-General with high and low jurisdiction and
the police of the most privileged manors; and were
he, as his agent, now so base as to crouch before
the present unwarrantable proceedings, and to pro
duce his commission, before he had received orders
to that effect from his lords and masters, not only
would they be injured, but he be guilty of a viola
tion of his oath and honor, a betrayal of his trust
and a childish surrender of the rights of his pa
troon." He could not, therefore, obey such de
mands, the illegality of which was only rendered
the more flagrant by the unusual and insolent man
ner in which they were made.
Such illegal conduct betrayed a deep contempt of
the patroon and his court, as well as of the sover
eign whom they represented. Those who have been
guilty of similar violations of law in Fatherland
"had often been apprehended, and condemned to
bread and water for the space of five or six weeks ;
yea, were sometimes brought to the block, " so
jealous was every local jurisdiction of the least en
croachment on its privileges.
As for preventing timber being cut within the
colonies, "Is the patroon," he demanded, "not
master on his own land ? Is he not free to cut his
timber as well as his corn ? And can he not arrest
these, when cut by others without his permission ?
It is notorious that all the present proceedings em
anated from party spirit, had no foundation in reason,
and were as justifiable as the complaint in .<Esop's
fable of Cousin Gysbert, who, whilst drinking on
a hill from a waterfall, quarreled with a lamb, who
stood below, for disturbing the water and making
it muddy." This protest produced a long replication from
Director Stuyvesant and Council, whose power, it
was maintained, ' ' extended to the colony of
Rensselaerwick, as well as to the other colonies."
Stringent orders were issued to Van Brugge and
Labadie to prosecute and complete the repairs of
the fort ; to procure, for that purpose, timber

RENSSELAERWYCK AND BEVERWYCK.

59

anywhere within the limits of New Netherland ;
to quarry stones from the mountains, rocks and
plains, and have them conveyed from any place,
and in the most convenient manner, except from
farms and plantations which are fenced and culti
vated, or about being so." The jurisdiction of
the company, and ' ' the ancient and uninterrupted
use of the gardens and fields near the fort," were
to be rigidly maintained, and the destruction of the
buildings within musket or cannon shot proceeded
with forthwith.
The Schout-fiscaal of New Netherland averred
that it was long since notorious that the Director
and Council had been treated with disrespect by Van
Slechtenhorst. Van Slechtenhorst was summoned to
appear al Fort Amsterdam. He could have obeyed
without inconvenience as ' ' the river remained open,
the winter pleasant, and several vessels sailed up
and down during the whole month of Novem
ber. " Now, however, to remove all doubt, the cita
tion was again renewed, and the commander was
peremptorily ordered to appear at Fort Amsterdam
on the 4th of April next ensuing, by the first sailing
vessel, "when he will be informed of the com
plaint against him. " The prospect from Fort Orange
ought, in his opinion, to be unobstructed, at least
within circle of cannon shot. There were plenty
of vacant lots along the river, on which the in
habitants could construct their dwellings, yet they
persist, "through pride," in building near the
walls. But the truth was, it was neither through
pride nor obstinacy that the colonists at this early
day persisted in clinging to Fort Orange. This
post supplied them in their feebleness with security
against the Indians, and they were loath to forego
its protection.
Removed from the contentions which were dis
tracting the capital of New Netherland, Com
mander Van Slechtenhorst was actively extending
the limits of Rensselaerwyck by the purchase of the
Mohegan lands to the south of that "colonie."
On the 4th of September, 1648, he had acquired
for the patroon the tract called Paponicuck, in
exchange for some thirty ells of duffels and a
few handfuls of powder ; and this spring pur
chased Katskill and Claverack. On the other side
of the Atlantic, Wouter Van Twiller was boldly
laying claim to the control and monopoly of the
upper waters of the Hudson River in behalf of his
ward, the orphan patroon, and publicly announcing
his determination not to permit any merchant ves
sel to pass Beeren Island, or to trade in the vicinity
of Rensselaerwyck. For he maintained that Fort
Orange had been built on the patroon's territory,

and that none — "not even the West India Com
pany" — had a right to permit others to erect houses
or to pursue any branch of business thereabout.
Feudal law and feudal privileges thus brought along
with them, into these parts, the old feudal quarrels
of Europe for the free navigation of nature's high
ways to the ocean, and the question was, whether
the North River should be open to all their High
Mightinesses' subjects, or whether these should be
debarred from its use by the garrison on Beeren
Island, now named "in such a lofty way, 'The
place by right of arms.' "
The absurdity of the claim to the soil on which
Fort Orange stood was clearly established by the
fact that the fort was built and garrisoned by
the West India Company full 15 years before
the existence of Rensselaerwyck ; that up to
the year 1644 the West India Company had
the exclusive enjoyment of the fur trade, which the
company intended to reclaim ' ' whenever it shall
be able to provide its magazines with a sufficient
store of goods." In view, therefore, of all these
circumstances, and in order to correct a state of
things of which the merchants generally com
plained, the Directors determined to use their sov
ereign rights — to the confusion of Van Twiller,
' ' that ungrateful individual, who had sucked his
wealth from the breasts of the company which he
now abuses. " They accordingly dispatched orders to
remove all obstructions to the free navigation of the
North River and commercial intercourse with Fort
Orange. If Van Twiller should again plant guns
near that river, they were to be seized ; and if any
person dared to exact tolls, or salt duty on any
rivers, islands or harbors within the company's
limits, to the injury of the inhabitants or traders
generally, such were to be prevented by all means
possible — even by force if necessary — as it was the
firm determination of the Directors never to part with
these pre-eminences or jurisdictions to any colonists
whatsoever. Previous to this date Van Slechtenhorst had
granted several leases for land in Katskill. But
the Directors refused to admit the patroon's pre
tensions to that section of country, as it had
already been granted to another. In conformity
with his instructions, Stuyvesant now protested
against those leases, and announced his resolution
to oppose these encroachments. The authorities
of Rensselaerwyck were consequently much em
barrassed, and therefore remonstrated that they had
only obeyed the orders of their superiors in Hol
land. They therefore requested the Director-
General to defer further proceedings in the matter

60

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

until they should communicate with their superiors,
and promised, in the meanwhile, neither to send
nor allow to be sent any settlers or cattle to the
land in dispute. Thus was impeded the early set
tlement. In 1 65 1, the call for a subsidy from Rensselaer- •
wyck brought on another collision between the au
thorities of that colony and the New Amsterdam
Provincial Government. The latter had already
peremptorily demanded the excise on wines and
strong. liquors consumed in the patroon's district,
which was refused. It was considered an invasion
of the freedoms, and in direct opposition to the
custom, of Fatherland. The patroon had de
frayed, from his own resources, the salaries of the
minister and other public servants, as well as the
general expenses attendant on the settlement of
the country. These had amounted, on the 30th of
June, 1650, to the sum of twenty-five thousand
seven hundred and seventy-three guilders, or more
than ten thousand dollars, no part of which had
been paid either by the company or the Co-direct
ors of the colony. It would be, therefore, sub
mitting to a wrong to consent to the demand
now put forth. As it was a matter, however, that
concerned the common interests of the country
and the privileges of the colony, Commander Van
Slechtenhorst was commissioned to proceed to
New Amsterdam to remonstrate with the Director
and Council against it.
He arrived at the Manhattans towards the close
of the month of April, and took the earliest oppor
tunity to represent how contrary to reason, law and
usage were the proposed exactions. But Stuyvesant
was inexorable, and Slechtenhorst on his side was
equally unyielding, "for it was a matter of great
importance, whicli may cause not only tumult, but
bloodshed in the country." The parties separated ;
but Slechtenhorst had not yet finished his dinner,
when a messenger summoned him before the Di
rector-General and Council. Immediately on his
appearance the authorities proceeded to pronounce
sentence against him, animadverting in strong
terms on his conduct, especially in reference to the
settlement of Katskill. Slechtenhorst, no ways
daunted, demanded if a man could be condemned
unheard ? The only answer he received was an
order for his arrest. He was detained four months
at the Manhattans, notwithstanding he repeatedly
protested against his detention, and the authorities
of Rensselaerwyck made several applications for
his release. Finally, seeing no prospect pf obtain
ing permission to depart, he embarked in a sloop,
and returned to Fort Orange, having given a guar

anty to the skipper to see him harmless, should he
be prosecuted for having received him on board.
It was well for the skipper that he had taken this
precaution, for, on his return to the Manhattans,
his vessel was arrested, and he was fined two hun
dred and fifty guilders and costs. Van Slechten
horst estimated his expenses in consequence of
these proceedings at about four hundred dollars.
Three years had now elapsed since Director
Stuyvesant set up a claim for a separate jurisdiction
for Fort Orange, distinct and independent from
that of Rensselaerwyck. Yet the question remained
still unsettled. Lines were not drawn in those
days with as much precision as in our times. The
Indians measured by the day's journey, Stuyvesant
by the cannon-ball. The jurisdiction of the fort,
as claimed by him, extended over a circumference
within the range of gunshot, which he esti
mated at six hundred paces of five feet to
a pace, a distance subsequently estimated at
one hundred and fifty rods. As the hamlet of
Beverwyck, now becoming every day more popu
lous and valuable, would, by this operation, be
severed from the colony, and as the West India
Company could not fail, in consequence, to secure
the greater part of the fur trade, to the serious in
jury of the patroon, considerable opposition was
manifested against Stuyvesant's pretension. The
authorities of Rensselaerwyck maintained that the
fort stood on the patroon's soil ; that the whole
territory, from Beeren Island to the Cohoes, was
his, and that consequently the fort could have no
jurisdiction beyond its walls. As for trading in
furs, or cutting timber, it was, they insisted, a fla
grant spoliation of the patroon's property.
Jean Baptiste Van Rensselaer, the first of that
family who visited this country, was elected one of
its magistrates, whilst this controversy was at its
height. Shortly afterwards, an order was issued
that all the freemen and inhabitants should take
the oath of allegiance to the patroon and his repre
sentatives. These conflicting pretensions were necessarily
productive of a bad state of feeling between the
opposing parties. On New Year's night, some
soldiers, armed with matchlocks, sallied from the
fort and fired a number of shots at the patroon's
house. Several pieces of ignited wadding settled
on the roof, which was of reed, and had caused
the destruction of the building, had not the in
mates been on the alert. On the following day,
the soldiers assaulted the younger Slechtenhorst in
the street, " and not only beat him black and blue,
but dragged him through the mud and mire-in the

RENSSELAERWYCK AND BEVERWYCK.

61

presence of Johannes Dyckman, the company's
Commissary, who cried out all the time, ' Let him
have it now, and the devil take him ! ' " Philip
Pietersen Schuyler, who had married a daughter of
Van Slechtenhorst, endeavored to save his brother-
in-law. Dyckman, hereupon, drew his sword, and
threatened to run Schuyler through if he interfered.
The soldiers struck others of the commander's
children, and threatened to shoot them, but were
prevented. The friends of the family were justly
incensed at this outrage, and menaced revenge.
This coming to Dyckman's ears, he, it is repre
sented, ordered the guns of the fort to be loaded
with grape, with the intention of blowing down
the patroon's house.
Things were in this unpleasant state, when Stuy
vesant sent up some placards relating to the limits
of Fort Orange, which he ordered to have pub
lished in the colony. Dyckman, accompanied
by six followers and three soldiers, ' ' armed with
carbines and pistols," proceeded to the house
where the magistrates were in session, and de
manded of Slechtenhorst to make a minute of what
he was about to require. As it was contrary to
law for any man to enter another's jurisdiction with
an armed posse, without the previous consent of
the local authorities, Dyckman's conduct was
looked upon as an additional insult, against which
Slechtenhorst protested, ordering the Commissary
at the same time to quit the room. Dyckman re
tired; but, "as force hath more to say here than
justice," he returned with increased numbers, and
demanded that the placards should be published
throughout the colony by the sound of the bell.
"It shall not be done so long as we have a drop
of blood in our veins," replied the Court, "nor
until we receive orders from their High Mightinesses
and our honored masters." But Dyckman, never
theless, persisted, and ordered the porter to ring
the bell. This was opposed also. Dyckman now
proceeded to the fort, ordered the bell there to be
rung three times; then returned to the patroon's
court-house, ascended the front stoop, or steps,
with his armed followers, whilst the wondering
burghers stood around, and directed his deputy to
make proclamation of the placards. The latter
was about to obey, when Van Slechtenhorst, rush
ing forward, tore the placards from his hands, "so
that the seals fell on the ground. " Another long
protest followed from the authorities of the colo
ny, whilst young Van Rensselaer facetiously said
to the crowd, "Go home, good friends; 'tis only
the wind of a cannon ball fired six hundred paces
off!"

On receiving the report of these occurrences,
Director-General Stuyvesant immediately dis
patched another placard to Dyckman, again de
claring the jurisdiction of Fort Orange to extend
within a circumference of six hundred paces of said
fort, " and, in order that no man shall plead ig
norance, we further charge our Commissary, after
publication hereof, to erect on the aforesaid limits,
north, south and west of the aforesaid fortress, a
post, marked with the Company's mark, and to
affix, on a board nailed thereto, a copy hereof."
Within these bounds no house was, for the future,
to be built, except by consent of the Director
and Council, or those authorized to act for
them. This violent and illegal act, violating at
once the rights of property and of the Charter
of 1629, severed, now and ever after, the town of
Beverwyck from Van Rensselaer's colony. It was
not, however, quietly submitted to by the authori
ties of the latter, for they immediately ordered their
constable to remove the posts forthwith, ' ' protest
ing before Almighty God and the States-General
against all open force and violence, and insisting
on reparation for all losses and damages which
might accrue or be caused thereby."
On the same day the Court drew up "a long re
monstrance ' ' against the unbecoming pretensions
and attacks of the Director and Council of New
Netherland," in which they denied that the latter
had any authority over the colony; they had
never sworn allegiance to the Company, much less
to Monsieur Stuyvesant, and owned no masters
but the States-General and their own immediate
superiors, whose lands have been erected into a
perpetual fief, with high, middle and low jurisdic
tion ; and he who would now destroy this must be
more powerful than the Company, "yea, than
their High Mightinesses."
This paper was declared by the Director and
Council "a libellous calumny." Secretary de
Hooges was called on to furnish the names of the
magistrates who had voted in favor of it, and
threatened, in case of disobedience, to prosecute
him for contumacy.
In the meanwhile the question of jurisdiction
presented itself in a new shape to agitate and dis
turb still further this infant hamlet. A negress be
longing to Sander Leendertsen Glen, charged with
theft, caused several "decent persons" to be
prosecuted as receivers of stolen goods. She was
ordered to be arrested for defamation, and Dyck
man proceeded to take up the wench. Her master
refused to surrender her that evening. Dyckman,
offended at this, told the burgher that he had power

62

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

to send him and all his family to jail; to pull his
house down about his ears, and trample it under
neath his feet, "as it was erected on the com
pany's soil." "I have nothing to do with you," re
plied Glen; " I cannot serve a new master until I
am discharged from the one I live under." The
Commissary threatened him with Stuyvesant, but
the other thought he should fare as well at the Di
rector-General's hands as he. This retort over
threw Dyckman's temper. He drew his rapier and
threatened to run his adversary through. But
Glen was not afraid. He seized a stick to repel
his assailant, who then retired. Next morning he
was summoned to the fort and placed under arrest.
Rumors now became rife that Stuyvesant was about
to visit the place, and the Commissary went so far
as to give out that a new gallows was building for
Slechtenhorst and his son, and for young Van
Rensselaer, who were put down as the fomentors of
this rebellion.
The Director was at this time occupied in rid
ding himself of all that remained of his opponents
at New Amsterdam. The only one undisposed of
was Attorney-General Van Dyck, and his hour had
not arrived.
From the moment that he had been commis
sioned he was treated by Stuyvesant with marked
contumely, and excluded from the Council for
over two years after his arrival in the colony. In
the exercise of his office he was most commonly
employed as a scrivener, to copy legal papers, the
drafts of which the Director-General usually pre
pared; at other times hewas "charged to look
after the pigs arid keep them out of the fort — a
duty which a negro could very well perform."
When Van Dyck happened to object, the Director
"got as angry as if he would swallow him up;" or,
if he presumed to disobey, "put him in confine
ment, or bastinadoed him with his rattan." A
series of ill-usage such as this naturally drove the
Fiscaal into the ranks of the opposition.
But in the spring of this year a silly lampoon
against the Director-General made its appearance,
and Van Dyck was put down as its author. The
Council was convoked to consider, this mighty
affair of State, and a resolution followed dismissing
the Schout-fiscaal from office, ' ' on account of the
multitude of his misdemeanors and connivances."
This resolution purported to be " by and with the
advice of the Nine men;" but these repudiated the
assertion, and declared " that they never had any
knowledge of the Commonalty as having com
plained of Van Dyck; that they never had agreed
to the resolution ordering his dismissal; that Stuy

vesant had passed it on his own authority, and
that the Secretary had falsely appended to it their
names. "
To fill this vacancy, Cornelius Van Tienhoven,
the putative author of the above intrigue, received
the appointment of Attorney-General; Carl Van
Brugge, "an Englishman," succeeded him as
Provincial Secretary, and Adrian Van Tienhoven
became Receiver-General in place of his brother.
"Were an honorable person appointed in my
stead, " says Van Dyck, commenting on these pro
ceedings, " the false accusations against me, which
have been so long resolved upon and written,
might have some semblance of truth ; but the
person whom the Director-General hath, on his
own mere motion, made Fiscaal, is his perjured
Secretary, who returned here contrary to their High
Mightinesses' prohibition ; a public, notorious, and
convicted whoremonger and oath-breaker ; a re
proach to this country, and the main scourge of
both Christians and heathens, with whose sen
sualities the Director himself has been always
acquainted." <;The fault of drunkenness could
easily be noticed in me, but not in Van Tienhoven,
who has frequently come out of the tavern so full
that he could go no further, and was forced to lie
down in the gutter."
Having thus disposed of Van Dyck, Stuyvesant
turned his attention to Van Slechtenhorst, and to
conclude all difficulties with him, repaired to Foit
Orange and called on the authorities of Rensselaer
wyck to state where their bounds commenced. It
was indifferent to him from what point, north or
south, they should start. The exemptions allowed
them four miles on one, or two miles on both
banks of the river, and he was prepared to concede
to that extent ; but he warned them, if they should
refuse this ' ' reasonable offer, " he would proceed
ex-parte. They replied that they had no instruc
tion to act in the premises, and requested delay,
until they advised with the interested parties
in Holland. The delay was granted ; but the
question of supremacy over Beverwyck was not so
easily settled.
Sergeant Litschoe presented himself, with a
party of soldiers, before the patroon's house, and,
having stationed his followers at the door, or
dered Van Slechtenhorst to strike the patroon's
flag. The latter peremptorily refused to obey,
whereupon "fourteen soldiers armed with loaded
muskets, entered the enclosure, and, after firing
a volley, hauled down the lord's colors. "
Stuyvesant followed up this act by issuing a pro
clamation erecting in Fort Orange a Court of Jus-

RENSSELAERWYCK AND BEVERWYCK.

63

tice for the Village of Beverwyck and its dependen
cies, apart from and independent of that of Rens
selaerwyck. This placard having been affixed to
the court-house of the colony, was torn down by
Van Slechtenhorst, who, in return, posted a pro
clamation vindicating the patroon's rights, and de
nouncing the pretensions of those who infringed
them. This was removed by those of the fort.
From the date of Gen. Stuyvesant's proclama
tion above mentioned reckons the establishment
of a legal tribunal in Beverwyck, and consequently
in the present City of Albany. This was April
10, 1652. It was an exercise of the prerogative
which followed naturally the high-handed procla
mation of the 5th of March preceding.
Van Slechtenhorst's reign was now evidently
drawing to a close. For four years he had man
fully defended the rights of his "orphan patroon,"
and unflinchingly contended against the invasions
of superior force. But what, in those days, could
avail in New Netherland the opposition of one man
against the attacks of the Executive ? Nine armed
soldiers burst into his house and, without exhibiting
any authority for the act, dragged him a prisoner,
" against all his protests," to Fort Orange, "where
neither his children, his master nor his friends were
allowed' to speak to him," whilst "his furs, his
clothes and his meat were left hanging to the door
posts," and his house and papers were abandoned
to the mercy of his enemies. He was next con
veyed on board a sloop lying in the river, and re
moved in charge of a guard to New Amsterdam,
"to be tormented, in his sickness and old age,
with unheard-of and insufferable prosecutions by
those serving a Christian government, professing
the same religion, and living under the same
authority. "
Jan Baptist Van Rensselaer succeeded Van
Slechtenhorst as Director, and Gerrit Swart was
appointed Sheriff, or Schout-fiscaal, of Rensselaer
wyck in his place.
Information was received by the patroon and
co-directors of Rensselaerwyck of the high-handed
measures which Stuyvesant had exercised in the
early part of this year in regard to their colony.
They thereupon sent in to the Amsterdam Chamber
a remonstrance, complaining, ist, that the Direc
tor-General had dared to intrude in their colony,
and had commanded the patroon's flag to be
hauled down; 2d, that he had caused timber
to be cut on the complainants' lands without
either their knowledge or their permission ; 3d,
that he had claimed for the West India Company
the right of jurisdiction and property over all the

land within a circumference of one hundred and fifty
rods of Fort Orange, where he had erected a court of
justice, notwithstanding the soil hadbeen purchased
from the right owners by the patroon, with the
jurisdictions thereunto belonging, whereby the col
onists were reduced to a state of dependency, ab
solved from their oaths, "transformed from free
men to vassals, and incited to disregard their former
solemn compacts and their lord and master ;''
4th, he had, moreover, discharged Sheriff Swart
from his oath of office, and obliged him to
swear allegiance to the company ; 5th, demanded
copies of all the rolls, protocols, judgments,
resolutions and papers relative to the colony and
its affairs ; 6th, ordered his Commissary to force
Van Slechtenhorst's house, and to toll the bell at
the publication of his illegal placards ; 7th, ar
rested by force and arms the Director of the Col
ony, had him conveyed to the Manhattans, where
he illegally detained him in custody; 8th, taxed
the colony to swell the company's revenues,
licensed those who quit the patroon's service to sell
articles of contraband to the savages, and, in addi
tion to the exaction of the tithes, had raised a tax
by farming out the excise on wines and beers —
' ' thus, in every respect and everywhere using
violence and infringing rights, jurisdictions and
pre-eminences, apparently determined to take our
goods and blood, contrary to all laws, human and
divine ; declaring, over and above all this, that he
is continued in his administration solely in the
hope and consideration that before his departure
he should ruin this colony. " The patroon and co-
directors solemnly avowed their intention "to em
ploy all lawful remedies to preserve and maintain
their rights and privileges, and to protect their col
onists against such lawless aggressions," and in
sisted that the West India Company should forth
with order their Director to abandon these
attempts, repeal his placards, and compensate for
the injuries which he had inflicted. But if the
Directors were of opinion that they had any just
cause of complaint, they were then called on to
appear in any court of justice to make good their
pretensions before our common judges. Failing
to answer categorically the above accusations
within four-and-twenty hours, the interested parties
threatened to "complain where they expect they
shall be heard."
The Directors answered, in vague terms, that
they were unwilling to commit an infraction on
any person's privileges, But this not being deemed
satisfactory, the patroon and his friends addressed
a memorial to their High Mightinesses, the States-

64

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

General, of whom they demanded justice and re
dress. This paper was immediately sent to the
Department of Amsterdam, which, after considerable
delay, returned a reply to some of the charges
brought against their agent in New Netherland.
They denied all knowledge of the patroon's flag
having been hauled down, of his colonists having
been released from their oaths, of any of his lots
having been taken away, and of the establishment
of a Court of Justice in Fort Orange. The timber
was removed from a place so limited as to injure
no one, and all complaints against the extension of
the jurisdiction of Fort Orange were without found
ation. That jurisdiction was determined "before
the colony of Rensselaerwyck was granted." " The
limits of the colony were, therefore, fixed above and
below the fort, under whose walls the petitioners
were afterwards permitted to shelter themselves
from the savages, but from this concession no right
or title can be imagined or acquired." Gerrit
Swart was not discharged from his oath to the pa
troon. He was only obliged to take a second '
one to the company, remaining subject to both
masters. The demand of the rolls and papers be
longing to the colony, as well as the levying tithes
and excise therein, was authorized by the charter.
As Van Slechtenhorst would not "toll the bell,"
on the publication of the placards, it was unavoid
ably necessary that it should be executed by others;
and his arrest was imperatively demanded in order
"to curb the insufferable insolence, effrontery and
abuse of power," of which he was guilty. The au
thorizing the sale of arms and ammunition to the
savages was acknowledged. "It was deemed
prudent that it should be now and then permit
ted." Having thus disposed, in one way or another,
and as best they could, of the charges which were
brought against them, the Directors now assumed
the offensive, and presented against the patroon and
co-directors of Rensselaerwyck a number of
counter-charges, in justification of the measures
which they had adopted, or as an offset to those
accusations made against themselves.
They had, it was averred, exceeded their lawful
limits, and were now called on to record their
boundary lines in the land-office of the Company,
otherwise the latter would have the survey made
by its own orders. They had attempted, against
all law, to extend their lines along the North River,
to monopolize the trade, to the ruin of private per
sons. They refused to permit any vessel to pass by
a certain house, called Rensselaers-Stein, and
claimed, without any foundation, the privilege of

staple right. They exacted seven per cent, duty
on each beaver and five per cent, on other goods,
enforcing these pretensions with cannon shot,
which they discharged into yachts that refused to
come-to. They have endeavored, "by perverse
machinations," to possess themselves of Fort
Orange, and when frustrated herein, they under
took to lease lots in its vicinity and erect buildings
thereupon. " They had dared to grant commis
sions to individuals to sail to the coast of Florida,"
and forbade colonists to move within the com
pany's limits, on pain of corporal punishment, con
fiscation of property and banishment ; to cut or
cart wood for the inhabitants of Fort Orange ; to
pay to the latter what they owed them ; or to ap
peal from any judgments over fifty guilders, as they
were privileged to do. They declined to furnish
any extracts of their proceedings or judgments ; to
make returns to writs of appeal ; to publish pla
cards, or permit such publication by others, but
tear them by force from the hands of court messen
gers, and destroy their seals ; and if any writ be
served by the company's officers, they incite the
parties summoned not to appear. Over and above
all this, the oath which the colonists are compelled
to take is "seditious and mutinous ;" for no notice
is taken therein, either of their High Mightinesses
or of the company. No report has been made of
the state of the colony, as should have been annu
ally done, nor have the instructions issued for the
administration of the colony been ever communi
cated, as the charter required. ' ' From all which
flow, as a natural consequence, an insolent and
overbearing demeanor, on the part of their com
manders, to their inhabitants ; insufferable protests,
injuries, menaces, disputes and provocations against
the company's ministers ; and, lastly, a general
disobedience of all the company's commands and
ordinances, to such a degree that they would not
permit the Director and Council to proclaim even
a day of prayer in the colony in the same manner
as in all other parts of New Netherland."
The limits between Fort Orange and the colony
were, in 1654, still undetermined. Some confusion
as to jurisdiction necessarily ensued, to remove
which Director-General Stuyvesant called again on
the patroon's agents to fix on their point of depart
ure, as he was willing to allow them, agreeably to
the charter, four miles on one side or two on each
bank of the river, ' ' without the limits of Fort
Orange." The magistrates of the colony being
unprovided with instructions from their superiors,
requested delay ; and Stuyvesant seized an oppor
tunity which offered, shortly after, to enlarge his

RENSSELAERWYCK AND BEVERWYCK.

65

jurisdiction. The Court of Rensselaerwyck was
about to farm the excise, and demanded how far
they could collect this impost. The answer was
an order to the Court of Fort Orange to collect the
duties on all wines, beers and spirituous liquors
sold by retail "within a circuit of one thousand
rods of the fort." The colony was hereby de
prived of a very important source of revenue, and
fresh fuel was heaped on the old fires of litigation
and trouble. As if the elements of strife were
not sufficiently numerous, a claim for tenths was
also put in. Counter-orders were given by the pa
troon's officers to their vintners to refuse the pay
ment of the excise, on the ground that the general
government defrayed none of the local charges ;
and, as for the tenths, ' ' neither the inhabitants of
the colony nor those of Beverwyck could be in
duced, either by monitions or persuasions, to pay
them. "
Commissary Dyckman, whose violent demeanor
might, long ere this, have justified doubts of the
soundness of his mind, became now so unques
tionably insane that the magistrates were forced to
represent his condition to the Supreme Council,
which, thereupon, appointed Johannes de Decker
Vice-Director, "to preside in Fort Orange and Vil
lage of Beverwyck, in the Court of Justice of the
commissaries aforesaid, to administer all the affairs
of police and justice, as circumstances may re
quire, in conformity with the instructions given by
the Director-General and Council, and to promote
these for the best service of the country and the
prosperity of the inhabitants. "
The difficulties about the excise in the colony
remaining still unsettled, orders were sent up by
the Director and Council to arrest and convey the
contumacious tapsters to New Amsterdam. De
Decker, accordingly, invited one of them to his
house, where, on his arrival, he made him pris
oner. The sloop in which he was to be conveyed
down the river not being ready to sail until the
next day, De Decker, for greater security, lodged
his prisoner, through the night, in the same bed
with himself. Through the connivance of the
soldiers on guard, the tapster contrived to escape
from the fort on the morrow, and repaired forth
with to the patroon's house. Hither De Decker
followed, and ordered him to return to the fort;
but he refused. The other tapsters now made
common cause with the fugitive, and, arming
themselves, remained together to protect each other
from the emissaries of the law. The Vice-Direc
tor, esteeming it an absurdity to suffer an asylum
for fugitives from justice to exist in the very center

of his jurisdiction, was preparing to execute his
orders by force, when John B. Van Rensselaer
pledged himself to repair to the Manhattans and
arrange the matter with the supreme authorities.
To avoid bloodshed, De Decker acquiesced in this
proposal; but another order arrived a few days after
wards, directing him to send down the tavern-
keepers forthwith.
In obedience to these instructions, he proceeded
with an armed posse to the houses of the parties,
where he again met Van Rensselaer and "his
associates." He summoned them, in the name
of the Director and Council, to surrender and
accompany him to the fort ; whereupon they
each answered, "There sits the lord; he will
answer for me." Van Rensselaer acquiesced
herein, and again bound himself to produce the
tapsters when required. De Decker, finding it
useless to continue the discussion, protested, and
Mr. Van Rensselaer proceeded to New Amsterdam.
Here, on his arrival, he presented a strong remon
strance against the course which the Government
was pursuing. Their exactions, he insisted, were
contrary to the Charter. Instead of the Directors
having any claim on the patroon, the contrary
was the fact.
The West India Company had guaranteed to
defend the colonists against all violence, yet
the latter had thrice come forward, at great ex
pense, to assist Fort Orange — first, during the war
with the French savages ; secondly, in the
trouble with the English ; and, lately, during
the unhappy misunderstanding with the Indians
around the Manhattans. Whenever there was
any prospect of trouble, they were the first to
appease the savages by presents. The losses
which the latter inflicted on the colony, by
the killing of cows, horses and other cattle,
amounted annually to several thousand guilders.
In addition, the patroons and Co-directors main
tained, at their own expense, all the ministers and
officers of the colony. In the face of these
facts, it was manifestly unjust to seize now on the
excise, and to insist on the payment also of the
tenths. However, to prevent all further disturb
ance, he was willing to permit the payment of the
former under protest, if the Director and Council
pledged themselves to refund the money, should a
final decision be given against them by impartial
judges, either here or in Holland.
This remonstrance was at once pronounced
"frivolous" by the Director-General and Council,
whose "high office and quality permit them not to
stoop so low as to enter the lists with their subjects

66

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

and vassals, much less to answer their frivolous
and unfounded protests with a pusillanimous diffi
dence." Their duty was rather "to correct such
absurd assertions, and to punish the offenders."
Wherefore, as a public example, the protestor was
fined twenty guilders.
Having thus, as they considered, vindicated
their dignity, Van Rensselaer was informed that his
colonists were bound equally with other settlers in
the Province to contribute to the public burdens,
not only by the very nature of civilized govern
ment, but by the Charter of 1629; and this they
ought to do, without suspecting any infraction on
their privileges or jurisdiction. The excise due
from this colony, which amounted, by estimate,
to fifteen hundred guilders, must, therefore,
be paid, together with all damages which may
have accrued by the delay. The tavern-keepers
must, moreover, submit to the gauging of their
stock as often as the same may be required ;
and as John Baptiste Van Rensselaer was himself
the original cause that the excise is resisted, he was
called on to give a bond of three thousand guilders
for the personal appearance of the "contumacious
tavern-keepers;" otherwise, he was to remain at
the Manhattans under civil arrest.
The Director and Council, also, insisted that the
colony was obliged to pay the tithes. If Mr. Van
Rensselaer would agree with some of his colonists
on a round sum, in lieu of these, it would be ac
cepted until instructions should be received from
Holland ; if the Directors or arbitrators should de
cide afterwards that the colony was not subject to
tenths, the amount paid should be reimbursed.
The assertions that the colonists assisted the Com
pany in its difficulties " were made, but not proved. "
It is true they promised to assist in putting Fort
Orange in a state of repair at the time of the
troubles with the English ; but it was not less true
that, after having given three or four days' labor,
" they left us to shift for ourselves. " The Director
and Council were entirely ignorant of being under
any obligations to them "during the late troubles. "
This rejoinder was followed by a proclamation,
ordering all the towns and colonies in the province
not to remove their crops before they settled with
the company's commissaries for the tenths. A
copy of this placard was sent for publication to. the
authorities of Rensselaerwyck, but they refused to
publish it.
It was during this misunderstanding that the
'^contumacious tapsters," having been guaranteed
by the Director and Court of the colony against
damage, arrived at the Manhattans to answer for

their conduct. The plea of residence in the col
ony and of acting according to superior orders,
availed them nothing. One was fined two hundred
pounds, failing payment of which he was to be ban
ished ; the other was mulcted in eight hundred
guilders. The patroon subsequently made good
both these fines. The difficulties about the tenths
were not settled until July, 1658, when the colony
compounded for them by the yearly payment of
three hundred schepels of wheat. * * *
Jeremias Van Rensselaer succeeded his brother
Jan Baptist as Director of the colony in 1658,
and administered its affairs for sixteen years with
great prudence and discretion. He was much re
spected by the French, and exercised an influence
over the Indians surpassed only by that of Van
Curler. On the change of government and the break
ing out of the war, considerable difficulty was
experienced in obtaining a patent for the Manor
from the Duke of York. To obviate this, some per
sons of influence advised him to take out one in his
own name, he being qualified as a British subject
to hold real estate. To his great honor it is re
corded, that he rejected the offer, for he was only
co-heir and could not thus defraud his brothers
and sisters. He was a man of great industry, and
communicated to Holland an account of various
occurrences in this country under the name of the
' ' New Netherland Mercury. " His correspond
ence, from 1637 to his death, still in good preser
vation, affords a valuable and interesting comment
ary on private and public, aff airs, and contains a
relation of facts and incidents which otherwise
would be irreparably lost. He died on the 12th
October, 1684, and was followed to the grave by a
large concourse of mourners.
The Rev. Isaac Jogues, a French Jesuit, taken
captive by the Mohawks, and suffering every tor
ture, finally made his escape to Fort Orange and
visited New Amsterdam. This was in 1642-43.
He was kindly treated in both places. Falling
into the hands of the Mohawks a second time, he
was treacherously and barbarously murdered in
October, 1646, in the fortieth year of his age. He
speaks, in nearly these words, of Fort Orange and
Rensselaerwyck: "There are two things in this
settlement * * * ; ist, a wretched
little fort, called Fort Orange, built of stakes, with
four or five pieces of cannon of Breteuil and as
many swivels. This has been reserved, and is
maintained by the West India Company. This
fort was formerly on an island in the river; it is
now on the mainland towards the Iroquois, a little

STUYVESANT AND THE ENGLISH CONQUEST.

67

above the said island ; 2d, a colony sent here
from Rensselaer, who is the patroon. This colony
is composed of about 100 persons, who reside in
some twenty or thirty houses built along the river,
as each one found it most convenient. In the
principal house resides the patroon's agent. The
minister has his apart, in which service is per
formed. There is also a kind of bailiff who ad
ministers justice. All their houses are merely of
boards and thatched. As yet there is no mason
work, except the chimneys. The forests furnish
ing many large pines, they make boards by means
of their mills, which they have for the purpose.
They found some pieces of ground all ready,
which the savages had already prepared, and in
which they sow wheat and oats for their beer and
horses, of which they have a great stock. There
is little land fit for tillage, being crowded by hills,
which are a bad soil. This obliges them to be
separated one from the other, and they occupy
already two or three leagues of territory. Trade is
free to all. This gives the Indians all things
cheap, each of the Hollanders outbidding, and
being satisfied, provided he can gain some little
profit." Most who came over in the eaily years of New
Netherlands came because they were not wanted at
home. They belonged to the over-plus class who
have no steady employment, no fixed homes, no
friends, no character. They shipped as servants,
as farmers and planters. But of these last there
were, as to-day, various grades. So was it with
the numbers who came as hunters, trappers and
traders. Fishermen and sailors and soldiers were
represented. Also some mechanics ; as we find
men registered as tailors, shoemakers, bakers,
coopers, carpenters, masons, painters, wheel
wrights and rope-makers. But few were master
mechanics among these first settlers of Rensse
laerwyck. The maltster and brewer are specially
noted. The clerk at Fort Orange is named, and
so is a surgeon, Staes, by name, in 1642, and a
Consoler of the Sick, who is said to have served
as a teacher of boys when he had nothing else
to do. The girls in that day were not often taught
"book learning." The schoolmaster is referred
to a few times in that elder day ; but he had only
a name to live. Trading in furs paid better
than teaching. The clergyman will be spoken
of further on. As nearly as we can make out,
the first was sent over by the patroon, and had
but little encouragement among a people who had
no religion, and cared for neither grace nor learn
ing. We do not include the leaders and public

officers in these statements. Some of them were
men of marked ability. Among the later comers
we find women, wives, maidens, nurses and
servants mentioned.
The early immigrants to New Netherlands are
generally spoken of as Hollanders, or Dutch. Un
doubtedly this is true of the majority. But not a
small proportion are known to have been Wal
loons, or French Protestants of like faith with the
Huguenots. Few came after the English conquest.
But among those who came over in ships before
that time as traders, farmers, trappers and servants,
we find Swedes, Danes, Norwegians, Swiss, Portu
guese, Scotch, and men from Friesland, Ham
burgh and Bremen; from Picardy, Calais and Paris;
from Utrecht and Normandy, and a few other
places. None are named from England. They
went to Virginia or New England. The Catholic
French went to Canada and Arcadia; the Spaniards
to South America and Mexico.
STUYVESANT AND THE ENGLISH
CONQUEST.
The stormy administration of Peter Stuyvesant
had come to its end. The imperious and arrogant
autocrat was humiliated. One man had come with
a power which his threats could not alarm; who
could not be arrested and imprisoned at his
bidding. In the learning of his day, Stuyvesant was su
perior to the other Directors-General of the West
India Company. He was far above Van Twiller
and Kieft in character. We believe he was honest,
clean, and even religious. His self-reliant energy
of character made him a man of extraordinary ad
ministrative ability. But his impetuous self-will
made his conduct sometimes reckless, and seem
ingly unscrupulous.
He had much to do, as he must have seen, to
organize a government made up of such ill-assorted
materials as New Netherlands. Here were con
gregated men of all nations, with no other pur
pose but gain — gain regulated as little as possible
by law. He had succeeded the stupid and avari
cious Van Twiller and the cowardly and wicked
Kieft, both despised by all that had to do with
them. He had much to mend.
He derived all his authority from "the Com
pany, " which was subordinate, in some respects, to
the "States General." He was determined to ad
vance the interests of his employers. His under
officers he literally kept under himself— not often
asking or regarding their opinions. He treated
them as servants; he did not make them friends.

68

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The people were so far removed from him in every
point that could ever awaken sympathy and confi
dence, that he treated them only as cattle. It is
true he thought they needed schoolmasters and re
ligious teachers; but he did little to bring them
under their influence. He had no respect for the
laboring classes, except that they serve and obey.
This they could do in silence, while they feared
and hated the oppressor.
Then came in another element, the English —
English from England or New England ; all the
same. He had learned something of their charac
ter, and would like them as subjects. He admired
their intelligence and energy. He needed it. But
he feared their indomitable push and inflexible love
of freedom. But they came, encouraged by him,
and soon occupied lands upon Long Island, and
any place of profit or power which they could find
open in New Amsterdam. When ' ' Peter the Head
strong " opened his gates to these people, he received
into his fort the Wooden Horse.
When Stuyvesant came into power, in 1647, the
whole population of New Netherlands amounted to
about one thousand souls, a falling off, since 1643,
of 2,000 under Kieft's foolish reign, while the New
England colonies had increased in about the same
number of years, to nearly 60,000. And these
"Yankees" were free-born Englishmen who had
their free churches, and their free schools, and at
tended them ; who cherished their homes and tilled
their lands ; who made their own laws and chose
their own men to execute them. While they loved
their own homes, they were always seeking to make
them better; when they sought new places, it was
to make them better than the old. They took with
them their principles and their institutions, and did
the best they could with them, with no unnecessary
delay, no timid lack of self assertion.
Coming to Manhattan, few at a time, yet rapidly
increasing compared with the Hollanders, using
the present, and waiting for the future, they solved
the problem of English sovereignty in 1664, and of
free government about one hundred years later.
While Stuyvesant was successfully reducing the
savage Indians near Manhattan and at Esopus, and
removing the inoffensive Swedes on the Delaware ;
while he was vainly endeavoring to subject Con
necticut, and violently resisting the claims of the
patroon of Rensselaerwyck, and quarreling with his
own officers at New Amsterdam, he was losing
what he ought to have seen he would lose, the
affection and respect of all classes. All men of his
character are blind. His house was a house divid
ed against itself. The struggle for popular rights

was deeper and stronger than he knew. It was
pent up much in men's minds. It slept as sleeps
the mighty earthquake. It kept up a constant
muttering like distant thunder.
The election of eighteen "respectable persons,"
from whom the Governor selected a Privy Council
of " Nine men," was a gain for the people, even if
they had power to give advice only when it was asked.
The establishment of a republic in England, as brief
and faulty as it was, after the beheading of Charles
I, in 1649, produced a profound sensation all over
the then civilized world. It was felt in New Nether
lands because it was felt in Holland and in New
England. Tyranny quaked ; freedom gained.
When the people openly discussed the wicked
ness of Kieft, Stuyvesant became alarmed that they
had come to this, that the acts of Governors could be
criticized. When the "Nine men" severely cen
sured Gov. Stuyvesant himself for his trading in fire
arms, and other articles, "both lawful and contra
band," and even sent to the Fatherland a remon
strance against the habit of arresting, of confiscating,
and covetous speculations in trade and manufac
tures, he became still more alarmed. The "States"
rebuked him for his course. "The Company"
sustained him. Thus the conflict went on. We
need not further detail matters that did not im
mediately affect Beverwyck and Rensselaerwyck.
These details belong to general history. We here
only indicate the causes at work to bring an end
to the government of Stuyvesant and the Province
of New Netherland at the same time.
In another place we have spoken of the English
claim. England had never yielded this claim. It
had only awaited its opportunity. The English
Revolution of 1649 was ended, and harmony was
re-established in the person of Charles II. The
good-natured King had kindly given to his brother
James all the territory that had been occupied and
governed under the name of New Netherlands.
This was done on the 12th of March, 1664, thus
expelling Holland from the New World. The time
had come to take possession.
The province had fully 10,000 inhabitants ; and
New Amsterdam had grown up to a population of
1,500. There was general satisfaction among the
people, with their lands and their trade. But they
did not like the government. They were ready for
a change, hoping for something better.
The Duke of York placed Col. Richard Nicolls
in command of the expedition to "reduce the
Dutch to subjection," and establish his claim.
On the 31st of July, 1664, Gov. Stuyvesant had
gone up to Fort Orange for rest and business, not

ORGANIZATION AND DIVISION OF THE COUNTY.

69

dreaming of the approach of an English squadron.
Soon he was recalled by a messenger. He returned
August 25 th, to find business suspended and gen
eral alarm in New Amsterdam. There were four
English frigates in the bay, near Sandy Hook ; and
a few days later three more were seen in Nyack Bay.
The excited chief magistrate sent for help to Fort
Orange ; but it was too late.
Beverwyck and Rensselaerwyck could send no
help. The defenses of New Amsterdam were not
equal to a siege. Its crumbling fort was built only
as a protection against the hatchets, arrows and
musket balls of the savages ; the enclosure was un
protected by ditch or palisade ; there were not 500
pounds of powder ; not a well of water in the fort,
and provisions were low. The small garrison was
composed of the off-scourings of Europe, worthless,
dissolute men, ready to fight for pay under any
banner. Worse than all, the Governor had not the support
of his Council or of the citizens. The peremptory
summons, made August 30th, to surrender, was,
after a brief delay, in useless remonstrance with
Commander Nicolls, reluctantly heeded with
out bloodshed. On the 8th of September, Stuyves
ant signed the articles of surrender, and the Eng
lish took formal possession in the name of James,
Duke of York and Albany. New Amsterdam was
named New York, and Fort Amsterdam was
named Fort James.
Fort Orange next received attention. The at
tempt of Johannes de Decker, who hurriedly took
a trip up the Hudson to persuade the garrison of
Fort Orange and the people of its vicinity to resist
any demand for surrender which the English might
make, was fruitless.
On Wednesday, September 10th, Nicolls sent
Sir George Cartwright, with a small company of
soldiers, to Fort Orange with the following
orders :
"To the present Deputy Governor or the magis
trates and inhabitants of Ffort Aurania:
"These are to will and require you and every of
you to bee ayding and assisting Col. George Cart
wright in the prosecution of his Majesty's interest
against all such of what nation so-ever as shall op
pose the peaceable surrender and quiet possession
of the ffort Aurania, and to obey him, the said
George Cartwright, according to such instructions
as I have given him in case of the Mohawks or
other Indians shall attempt anything against the
lives, goods or chattels of those who are now under
the protection and obedience of his Majesty of
Great Brittaine ; wherefore you nor any of you are

to fayle as you w ill answer the contrary at your
utmost perills.
"Given under my hand and seal att Ffort James
in New Yorke on Manhattans Island, this 10th day
of September, 1664. R. Nicolls."
When the paper of Col. Nicolls was presented to
the Vice- Director, John de La Montague, on the
24th of September, he quietly surrendered Fort
Orange to Col. Cartwright. The names of Bever
wyck Village and Fort Orange were, at once,
changed to Albany. Fort Albany was manned by
English soldiers, and Capt. John Manning was put
in command. Dirck Van Schelluyne, who had held
the office in Beverwyck, was made Clerk of the
Court of Albany, which had been established by
Stuyvesant. Jeremias Van Rensselaer took the oath
of allegiance to King Charles II. of England and
the Proprietor James.
Thus we have brought down the Civil history of
New Netherlands, so far as connected with that of
Albany County, to the English Conquest of 1664.
With all his great faults, there is much to admire in
the character of Peter Stuyvesant. He did his best,
under most trying circumstances, to serve faith
fully his government. He was true to the last.
After he found everything against him, he settled
down, a peaceful citizen, and lived a secluded life,
on his own "Bowerie, " in the City of New York,
and there died in 1672. His remains were en
tombed at his Chapel in the Bowery, where is now
St. Mark's Church.
His country vindicated his conduct. But what
ever good, in the Providence of God, may have
grown out of them in the history of our Nation,
there is but one voice among the careful students of
history, in reviewing the transactions of the English
government at this time, and that is one of the
severest condemnation.
ORGANIZATION AND DIVISION OF THE
COUNTY.
On the 1 7th of October, 1683, the first "General
Assembly" of the "Colony of New York," chosen
by "the planters or inhabitants of every part
of the government," met at Fort James, in the
City of New York, with "free liberty to consult
and debate among themselves all matters as shall
be apprehended proper to be established for laws
for the good government of the said Colony of New
York and its dependencyes. "
The warrants calling this assembly were issued
by Lt. Gov. Thomas Dongan and council, on the
1 3th of September preceding. The Duke of York

70

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

and Albany had given his unwilling consent in
obedience to the clamors of the people, the wise
counsel of William Penn, and his own self interest.
Coming to the throne of England as James II, in
1685, he withdrew his consent and dissolved the
assembly the year after.
But the people had, after years of struggle, met
in lawful assembly and put on record, in fitting
words, the ' ' Charter of Liberties and Privileges, "
such as they would have, and passed other laws.
They had placed New York by the side of Virginia
and Massachusetts in the claim for heaven-born
rights. Among other similar warrants, it was "ordered
that the Sheriff of Albany and Rancelaers Colony
cause the freeholders to meet and choose two per
sons to be their representatives in the General
Assembly, to be holden at the City of New York,
Octobr ye 1 7th, 1683."
It would be interesting to know when, where,
and how these "office holders voted at this, their
first general election in this county ; but history is
silent on this point, . nor can the names of the "two
representatives "' be found. The journals of this
assembly are lost. Richard Pretty, who served the
warrant, an Englishman, was the Sheriff from Oct.
1680 to March 1691. He died in 1695.
Among the Acts passed, was one ' ' To divide
this province and dependencyes into shires and
countyes," — "for the better governing and setling
the courts in the same. " It was also enacted, ' ' that
there shall be yearly and every year, an High Sher-
riffe constituted and commissionated for each county,
and that each Sherriffe may have his under Sher-
riffe Deputy or Deputyes." All laws had the con
currence of the Governor and Council, who were
in session at the same time.
This Act, dated Nov. 1, 1683, divided the pro
vince into twelve counties, viz : New York, West
Chester, Ulster, Albany, Dutchess, Orange, Rich
mond, Kings, Queens, Suffolk, Dukes, and Corn
wall, the two latter taking their territory in Massa
chusetts and Maine. " ' ' The County of Albany to
containe the Towns of Albany, the Collony Rens-
laerwyck, Schonecteda, and all the villages, neigh
borhoods, and Christian Plantations on the east
side of Hudson River from Roelof Jansen 's Creeke,
and on the west side from Sawyer's Creeke to the
Sarraghtoga. "
It will be seen that the names of these counties
are English. Subsequent divisions gave names
very largely in honor of our own patriots and
statesmen, while a few preserve the memory of our

native Indian tribes. The Scotch title of King
James II. gave name to Albany County.
At a session of the Council, held at Fort William
Henry, in New York City, Oct. 1, 1691, another
' ' Bill for dividing this province and dependancyes
into shires and countyes" was enacted, chiefly
confirmatory of the above. In describing the
County of Albany, there was the omission of ' ' the
Town of Albany ;'' a substitution of ' ' Mannor of
Ranslaerswyck," for the ' ' Collony of Renslaerwyck, "
and ' ' to the uttermost end of Sarraghtoga, " instead
of "to the Sarraghtoga. "
At a session of the Council, held at Fort George,
in New York City, May 27, 1717, the county was
further enlarged by ' ' An Act for annexing that part
of the Mannor of Livingston which now lyes in
Dutchess County, unto the County of Albany. '"'
The Counties of Dukes, consisting of Nantucket,
Martha's Vineyard, Elisabeth Island and No Man's
Land, now in Massachusetts, and Cornwall, con
sisting of Pemaquid and adjacent lands and islands,
now in Maine, which were included in the patent
to the Duke of York, were set off on the reorgani
zation of the colonial government about 1691, soon
after the abdication of King James II, and the
succession of William and Mary to the English
throne. From this time until 1770, the colonial govern
ment continued with these ten original counties,
and with but slight territorial, changes. They were
not surveyed, and their boundaries were loosely
defined. That of Albany, especially, was vastly
larger than those early Governors and Legislators
knew, embracing the whole territory lying north of
Ulster and west of the Hudson River, and taking
in nearly the whole State, even to Canada and the
Lakes ; and north of Dutchess, on the east side of
the Hudson, including the whole of what is now
the State of Vermont. Indeed, the State of Vermont
and the fifty counties of the State of New York,
erected since this date, were all formed from the
original territorial limits of the Albany County of
1683 and 1691, except Putnam, Sullivan, Rockland,
and part of Green and Delaware.
The ten thus formed directly from Albany Co. ,
are chronologically as follows, viz.:
1. Gloucester, March 16, 1770, including what
is now Orange, Washington, Caledonia, Orleans,
and Essex, Vermont.
2. Tryon, March 12, 1772, changed to Mont
gomery, April 2, 1 784, from which and the wilder
ness then known only as Indian land, the counties
west of Green, Schoharie, Schenectady, Saratoga,
and the Adirondacks, have since been formed.

ORGANIZATION AND DIVISION OF THE COUNTY.

71

3. Charlotte, March 12, 1772, changed to Wash
ington, April 2, 1784, from whose territory . have
since been erected Warren, Clinton, St. Lawrence,
Essex, and Franklin.
4. Cumberland, April 4, 1786, covering the
present Counties of Bennington, Windsor, Wind
ham, Rutland, Addison, and Chittenden, Vermont.
5. Columbia, April 4, 1786.
6. Rensselaer, Feb. 7, 1791.
7. Saratoga, Feb. 7, 1791.
8. Schoharie, April 6, 1795.
9. Greene, March 25, 1800.
10. Schenectady, March 7, 1809.
What a mother of counties is old Albany !
The boundaries of the county are defined by
sundry statutes, and at different periods, in con
nection with the formation of other counties from
its territory. This is done in Chap. 63, Laws of
1788, passed March 7, when it included what are
now Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady and a
part of Washington, Schoharie, and Greene Coun
ties; in Chap. 4, Laws of 1791, passed Feb. 7,
when Rensselaer and Saratoga, and a part of Wash
ington Counties, were set off. In this Act, Rens
selaer County, on Hudson River, is described as
"on the east side of a line drawn through the
middle of the main stream of Hudson's River, with
such variations as to include the islands lying nearest
the east bank thereof," being adjacent to Albany
County on the west of such line. And the County
of Saratoga, so far as it is adjacent to Albany County
on the Mohawk River, is defined as bounded,
"southerly by the middle of the most northerly
branch of the Mohawk River and the middle of the
said river." "And the bounds of the several towns
in the said respective counties, adjacent to and
limited by the Hudson's River and Mohawk River,
are hereby extended to and limited by the bounds
of the said respective counties herein described."
Chap. 163, Laws of 1801, passed April 7th,
names the towns of Schenectady, Princetown and
Duanesburgh, now in Schenectady County, and
Berne, Bethlehem, Coeymans, Rensselaersville and
Watervliet, describing their limits, as belonging to
Albany County, besides the City of Albany.
Chap. 65, Laws of 1809, passed March 7th, sets
off Schenectady County with minutely described
bounds, and declares "that the remainder of the
County of Albany shall be called and known by
the name of County of Albany. "
This was three-quarters of a century ago, and
old Albany has given birth to no more children.
Schenectady is its youngest. Physically it has re
tained its outward features, all the same, for 75

years. But time and toil have wrought changes in
her internal constitution. The potent voice of the
law has always been directing changes. But she is
still ' ' at home, " and ever ready to welcome her
numerous sisters, children, and grandchildren, as
they come up to visit her, at their annual convoca
tions. As the county now exists, its form and bounda
ries may be thus described : It is bounded on the
north by the counties of Saratoga and Schenectady;
on the west by the County of Schoharie; on the
south by the County of Greene, and on the east
by the County of Rensselaer. The Hudson River
boundary, dividing Albany and Rensselaer coun
ties, is described by "a line drawn through the
middle of the main stream" of said river, "with
such variations as to include the islands lying near
est to the west banks thereof within the limits of
Albany County. The boundary between Albany
and Saratoga counties is made by a line beginning
at a point in the middle of the main stream of
Hudson River in the westerly boundary of Rens
selaer County, opposite to the middle of the most
northerly branch of the Mohawk River, and running
thence through the middle of said northerly branch
and of the said Mohawk River westerly, to a point
in said river where it is nearest the north line of the
manor of Rensselaerwyck, at Niskayuna." Its
northern and southern boundaries are supposed to
be parallel ; as are, also, its eastern and western,
each following the variations of the current of the
Hudson. Its general form is rhomboidal. That
so old a county has never had a complete and ac
curate survey is a matter of surprise and regret,
which will remain, probably, until the present State
survey is accomplished.
When this county was created in 1683, it had no
towns with corporate limits. Albany received a
charter from Gov. Dongan, dated July 22, 1686,
declaring "that the said City of Albany, and the
compass, precincts and limits thereof, and the juris
diction of the same, shall from henceforth extend
and reach itself, and shall and may be able to reach
forth and extend itself, as well in length and in
breadth, as in circuit, on the east by Hudson's
River, so far as low water mark ; to the south, by a
line to be drawn from the southernmost end of the
pasture at the north end of the said island, called
Martin Gerritsen's island, running back into the
woods sixteen English miles due northwest to a
certain kill or creek, called the Sandhill; on the
north, to a line to be drawn from the post that was
set by Gov. Stuyvesant, near Hudson's River, run
ning likewise northwest sixteen English miles; and

72

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

on the west, by a straight line to be drawn from the
points of the said south and north lines. "
In 1687, Gov. Dongan, in his report to the
English Board of Trade, says: "The town of
Albany lyes within the Ranslaers' Colony; and, to
say the truth, the Ranslaers had the right to it, for
it was they settled the place, and upon a petition
of one of them to our present King, about Albany,
the petitioner was referred to his Majesty's council
at law, who, upon a perusal of the Ranslaers'
papers, made their return that it was their opinion
that it did belong to them. * * * The town
itself is upon a barren sandy spot of land, and the
inhabitants live wholly upon trade with the Indians.
I got the Ranslaers to release their pretence to the
town and sixteen miles into the country for com
mons to the King, with liberty to cut firewood
within the colony for one and twenty years. After
I had obtained this release of the Ranslaers I
passed the patent for Albany. "
This "Ranslaers' Colony," otherwise the
' ' Manor of Rensselaerwyck, " was erected into a
district, March 24, 1772, and subdivided soon after
the war of the Revolution, March 5, 1779, into
east and west districts. The west district included
the whole of the territory now called Albany
County, except the City of Albany as above de
scribed, and certain State lands, so called, located
in the northeast part of the town of Watervliet.
All the rights therein remaining to the Patroon,
the late Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer, of revered
memory, upon his death, January 26, 1839,
descended to his son Stephen, while those of the
east district, formerly including most of Rensselaer
and a part of Columbia counties, descended to his
other son, William P.
It will thus be seen that the whole territory of
this county was once included within the Colony
of Rensselaerswyck, the history. of which appears
under its appropriate head.
With the exception of the City of Albany, the
whole of the territory now called Albany County,
and including most of that now constituting the
town of Niskayuna, in Schenectady County, was
incorporated March 7, 1788, into a town by the
name of Watervliet. Niskayuna was set off March
7, 1809, making the county limits coincide with
those of the west Manor of Rensselaer.
From this territory the following towns in Albany
County have since been incorporated :
Names. Date. From what other town.
Rensselaerville . March 8, 1790. Watervliet.
Coeymans  March 18, 1791 . "
Bethlehem  March 12, 1793 . "

Names. Date. From what otker town.
Berne  March 17,1 795 Rensselaerville.
Guilderland .. .Feb. 26, 1803. Watervliet.
Colonie  April 11, 1808. "
Westerlo  March 16, 1815. Coeymans & Rensselaerville
Knox  Feb. 28, 1822 . Berne.
New Scotland. .April 25, 1832. Bethlehem.
Cohoes  May 19, 1869 . Watervliet.
The local history of these towns, as fully as space
will allow, will be written by others. We give a
summary of some facts of general interest.
It will be seen that no town organization existed
in Albany County until after the Revolutionary war
and the adoption of the Federal Constitution, when
Watervliet, as above stated, was organized March 7,
1788. Before this, except what jurisdiction in
hered in the Manor of Rensselaerwyck, all civil,
judicial, and other matters of common interest,
were managed at Albany, made a city more than
100 years prior to this date. The City of Albany
was then, except in territory, the County — the center
of business, of military and civil power, and of
social interest.
OUTLINE SKETCHES OF THE TOWNS
OF THE COUNTY.
Bern. — More recently and generally spelled
Berne ; named from Berne, Switzerland, the native
place of Jacob Weidman, one of the first settlers.
It was formed from Rensselaerville, March 17, 1795,
and embraced what is now the town of Knox,
which was taken off from the north part February
28, 1822. It is the middle of the three western
towns of the county ; about 20 miles from Albany ;
has an area of 38,782 acres, and is bounded
north by Knox, east by New Scotland, south by
Westerlo and Rensselaerville, and west by Scho
harie County. The Helderbergs lie along its east
ern border, the western slope of which gives a
broken surface, varied by hills, ravines and plateaus.
The soil is a loam formed of sand, gravel and clay;
a fine calcareous, argillaceous loam abounds in the
valleys ; and marsh, bog, clay and marl patches are
found. Brooks are numerous, most of them find
ing their way to Schoharie creek. The lofty ledges
of the hills on the eastern border are interesting
natural features. Thompson's Lake, on the Hel
derbergs, and White Sulphur Springs, in Berneville,
are places of much resort.
Good flagging stone is quarried near Reidsville,
and mineral springs and limestone caverns are
found in the town.
The first settlers were mostly Germans who came
and occupied manorial lands about 1750. A

OUTLINE SKETCHES OF THE TOWNS OF THE COUNTY.

73

number of Scotch settlers came about the time of
the Revolutionary war.
During the anti-rent troubles, this town had
more leased lands than any other in the county.
The number has been rapidly decreasing by settle
ment of claims, much to the advancement of in
telligence, independence and wealth. The anti-
rent feeling arose to its highest pitch in this town,
leading to deeds of violence and outrage.
There were many Tories in this territory during
the Revolutionary war. Here, it is said, was a
rendezvous for them, where plans were made, and
from which went forth bands to co-operate with the
Indians in their cruel barbarities against the patriot
settlers. In 1777, out of a company of 85 militia
raised here, 63 joined the British, and 22 were
with the Americans against Burgoyne, at Saratoga.
In 1779, Capt Dietz and two boys, named John
and Robert Brice, were taken captives from the
western part of this town. Dietz died at Montreal,
and the boys, after the war was over, were ex
changed and returned home.
Berneville, once called Beaver Dam, was stock
aded during the Revolutionary war.
The first church established was the Dutch Re
formed, in 1763, which received, as its first pastor,
Rev. Johannes Schuyler, in 1767. A parsonage
farm, given by the Patroon, is situated about mid
way between Peoria and Berneville, and is held in
common by societies in both villages. This is the
oldest church in the county, outside of Albany.
Among the prominent natives of the town are
Hon. Joseph P. Bradley, of the United States Su
preme Court ; the widely known Capt. A. H. Bo-
gardus, Albert Gallup, County Treasurer, and
others. Bethlehem. — It is stated that several farmers
who came at an early date to Beverwyck began
another settlement, south of Fort Orange, to which
they gave the name of Bethlehem, with reverent
regard for the city of Palestine, where our Saviour
was born.
It is believed that the first trading house in this
county was erected in 1614, upon Castle Island, in
the Hudson, by Dutch traders under the lead of
Skipper Corstiaensen. This island, containing
about 160 acres of land, is in this town, opposite
that part of Albany which was set off from Bethle
hem in 1870. It has been designated by various
names, but is now called Van Rensselaer or
Westerlo Island. In the original charter limits of the
City of Albany in 1686, it is called Martin Gerritsen's
island. The trading house was stockaded and
garrisoned as a protection against predatory traders
10

and hostile Indians, and named Fort Nassau. Two
or three years later it was moved by Elkins to the
elevation near the mouth of the Tawasentha, on
account of the spring floods. Here it probably
remained until the erection of Fort Orange, in
Beverwyck, in 1623.
As a township, Bethlehem was erected from
Watervliet, March 12, 1793, including what is now
New Scotland, which was taken off April 25, 1832,
and the southeast part of Albany, which was taken
off April 6, 1870. It has an area of 31,549 acres,
including Van Rensselaer and other islands in the
Hudson, west of the middle of the stream. It is
bounded, north by Albany, east by Hudson River,
south by Coeymans, west by New Scotland.
Its surface consists chiefly of rolling upland, with
high bluffs rising above the fertile alluvial flats on
the Hudson. There are ridges of sand and rock
near the center. The soil, under good tillage, pro
duces a great variety of fruits, vegetables and other
farm and garden products for the near Albany
market. A few small caves and sulphur springs are found.
The exact date when the early Dutch farmers
began to occupy the river lands of this town cannot
now be known ; probably between 1630 and 1640.
Albert Andriessen Bradt, de Norman, came over in
1630, and had a farm and mills on Norman's Kill,
which was named for him. Adrien Van der Donk,
Martin Gerritsen, and Cornelis Segers, early occu
pied Castle Island. Ryckert Rutgersen and Jan
Ryersen were settlers about 1650. The territory
now, or until recently, called Bethlehem, has been
occupied by many distinguished persons. Philip
S. Van Rensselaer, for more than twenty years
subsequent to 1798 the Mayor of Albany, had his
seat at Cherry Hill. He was succeeded by his son,
Gen. Solomon Van Rensselaer, and by his son-in-
law, Dr. Peter E. Elmendorf. Here was born
Mrs. Catharine V. R. Bonney, author of "Historical
Gleanings." Here lived John Whipple, a worthy
citizen, who was shot by Strang in 1827. Near
Mount Hope, which now is the Academy of the
Sacred Heart, lived Jared L. Rathbone, Mayor,
1838-41, who purchased "Rensselaer's Mills," and
named the hamlet Kenwood, after a beautiful spot
in Scotland which he had visited. Ezra P. Prentice
for many years made Mount Hope a magnificent
residence. The "Whitehall House," built in part
by Gen. Bradstreet, which is said to have been a
secret resort for Tories during the Revolution, was
subsequently the home of Judge Leonard Ganse-
voort. The mansion of the venerable. Col. Francis
Nichols was situated on Bethlehem flats, which has

74

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

long been considered as furnishing some of the finest
sites in the vicinity of Albany for homes and culti
vation. The greenhouses of Erastus Corning, just
below Kenwood, are very rich in rare exotics, and
his large farm in choice horses and stock. This
farm of 560 acres, and the residences of Hon.
Worthington Frothingham, Erastus D. Palmer, the
sculptor, and Judge Elisha P. Hurlbut, lying near
the river, are worthy of special mention. Many of
the busy men of Albany are making their homes in
this town. Among them are the artist, Asa W.
Twitchell; the book-seller, Stephen R. Gray; Attor
ney Nathan P. Hinman, Sheriff Wm. H. Keeler,
Surveyor Wm. H. Slingerland, and others.
It is claimed that an Indian castle and burial
place occupied a spot near the mouth of the Ta
wasentha, a long time ago. Here Longfellow, in his
Hiawatha, has the home of his Indian "Singer
Nawadaha," who "sang the song of Hiawatha."
On a hill near by this stream, Ss tradition has it,
was held the first council of alliance and aid be
tween the Indians and the Dutch, about two and
three-quarter centuries ago.
" In the vale of Tawasentha,
In the green and silent valley,
By the pleasant water-courses,
Dwelt the Singer Nawadaha;
Round about the Indian village.
Spread the meadows and the cornfields.
And beyond them stood the forest,
Stood the groves of singing pine trees,
Green in summer, white in winter.
Ever sighing, ever singing.
And the pleasant water-courses : —
You could trace them through the valley
By the rushing in the spring-time.
By the alders in the summer.
By the white fog in the autumn.
By the black line in the winter;
And beside them dwelt the singer,
In the vale of Tawasentha,
In the green and silent valley.
There he sang of Hiawatha,
Sang the song of Hiawatha."
The first church in town was formed in early
colonial times by the Reformed Dutch. The
"Parsonage farm," a tract of 100 acres, was given
to the society in 1 794 by Gen. Stephen Van Rens
selaer. Hon. Benjamin Nott resided here ; and his son,
Hon. John C. Nott, Hon. John M. Bailey, Rev.
William Bailey, Hon. Jurian Winne, were born in
this town.
Coeymans was named from Barent Pieterse Coey
mans, an emigrant from Utrecht, in 1636, who,
having previously been a miller on Patroon's Creek
and Normanskill, under lease from the Patroon,
purchased land from the Katskill Indians, cover
ing this territory, in 1673, and secured a patent

from Gov. Lovelace on the 7th April in that year.
A conflict of title with Van Rensselaer resulted
in the purchase of the Patroon's claims, pay
ing a quit-rent of nine shillings annually, under
date of October 22, 1706. August 6, 17 14, he
finally secured letters-patent from Queen Anne,
confirming a perpetual title to him and his heirs.
The patentee built the first mills at Coeyman's
Falls, and settlements were made by the Dutch
within the first years of the eighteenth century.
Among the early settlers we find the names of
Witbeck, Keefer, Traver, Verplank, Vanderveer,
Ten Eyck, McCarley, Colvin and Shear.
The township was formed from Watervliet, March
18, 1 79 1, including the eastern part of Westerlo,
which was set off on the formation of that town,
March 16, 181 5. It has an area of 30,408 acres,
including Beeren and other islands in the Hudson.
It is the southeast town of the county, and is
bounded, north "by Bethlehem, west by Westerlo,
south by Greene County, and east by the Hudson.
The surface rises from the river, with a bluff of from
200 to 400 feet, continuing, with broken ridges and
hills, some 100 to 200 feet higher, to the Helder
bergs. The soil is sandy in the eastern part, and
gravelly in the western. Limestone and marl are
abundant. Blue flagging stone has been quarried
at Mossy Hill, and shipped since 1828. Magne
sian springs and limestone caverns are found. The
fossil remains of an animal like the elephant were
found on the farm of Mr. Shear a few years since.
Hay is the leading farm product. There are
many excellent farms in this town, especially upon
the Haanakrois Creek, which have long been
owned and cultivated by an industrious, frugal
and intelligent class of citizens.
There has long been a landing at the mouth of
Coeymans Creek, at the wharves of which is con
siderable trade carried on by the near farmers,
manufacturers and merchants. John J. Colvin
was for many years a successful shipper, now re
tired, and succeeded by Henry Slingerland. Ice-
cutting is an important industry.
Rev. John Crawford, about 1789, organized the
first Methodist class here, and a stone edifice for
their worship was erected in 1793, said to have
been the first Methodist church west of the Hud
son. The celebrated Freeborn Garretson was pre
siding elder of an extensive district up and down
the river. March 5, 1793, the Reformed Church,
Rev. Jacob Sickles, pastor, was organized; in 1797
it built a large brick church.
The Coeymans Academy was established by
Fletcher Blaisdell, Theophilus Civill and Peter

OUTLINE SKETCHES OF THE TOWNS OF THE COUNTY.

75

Seabridge, in 1858. The fine buildings for a new
literary institution, recently erected by Anton Civil,
of this town, are not yet opened. Sawmills were
erected on the creek just north of Beeren Island as
early as 1651.
The Coeymans Gazette was started in 1863, edited
by Prof. Thomas McKee, who afterward took it
to Greenbush and published it until his death as
the Rensselaer County Gazette. The Coeymans
Herald is published weekly by S. H. and E. J.
Sherman. For several years after the Revolution a few
Oneida Indians called the Aquetucks resided in
this town.
Among the prominent citizens of this town
during the past century may be named John and
James Colvin, John and David McCarty, Hugh
Jolly, Archibald Stephens, Andrew and Anthony
Ten Eyck, Abraham and Isaac Verplanck, Moses
Stanton, Dr. Jesse Smith, Nathaniel Niles, John
P. Beeckman, and many others. Hon. Andrew J.
Colvin was born in Coeymans, April 30, 1 808 ; was
educated at Albany Academy under Dr. Beck;
read law with Van Buren & Butler ; began practice
in Albany in 1 830 ; has been Corporation Counsel,
District Attorney and State Senator. He was in
the Senate in 1861 when the Rebellion broke out,
and has been spoken of as "the very first Demo
cratic official who threw up a rocket in favor of
equal constitutional freedom for all." He is now,
at the age of seventy-seven, actively engaged in
professional practice.
Cohoes was formed from Watervliet and incor
porated as a city, May 9, 1869. It previously,
from April 12, 1855, had been an incorporated
village of Watervliet. It has an area of 1,575
acres. The history of this city is recent, and is, chiefly,
a history of its manufactures. These are well
written up by Rev. Wm. H. Johnson, and will
appear in this work. The antiquities of this local
ity and its natural wonders are presented in an ex
cellent manner, in connection with other points of
interest relating to its growth and present condition,
in "Masten's History of Cohoes, " a volume reflect
ing great credit upon its painstaking author.
Colonie, once an incorporated town and village,
is entitled to a place in our history, although its
existence as such was brief, and is now obsolete.
Its name is still preserved in one of the streets of
Albany. The term "the Colonie" was undoubtedly ap
plied originally to all the colonized territory of
Rensselaerwyck. But it came to be limited, it

appears, to that portion lying outside of the City
of Albany, especially north of it, in which were
situated the mansion of the Patroon, with his mills
and offices, the residences of his officers, and the
homes of his immediate farmers, gardeners and
other dependents. We find it frequently used in the
time of Stuyvesant and other Dutch governors.
"The limits of the Colonie were fixed above
and below the fort," say the Directors of the
West India Company in 1652. "The limits be
tween Fort Orange and the Colonie were, in
1654, still undetermined." Some confusion as
to jurisdiction between Gov. Stuyvesant and the
Patroon's agents necessarily followed. The -Gov
ernor was willing to allow the Colonie four miles
on one side or two on each bank of the river, with
out the limits of Fort Orange. The question as to
jurisdiction remained unsettled until 1664, when
England assumed jurisdiction over the whole Prov
ince of New York, no longer New Netherlands.
During the years that followed the English con
quest, ' ' the Colonie " continued as a local designa
tion of the district lying without the city, and north
of it. Its southern limits were defined by Quacken-
bush street, and Patroon street, now called Clinton
avenue. It was outside the stockade, which lat
terly had its palisades a little north of Orange and
Van Tromp streets. When Watervliet was formed,
in 1788, coextensive with the western district of
Rensselaerwyck, "the Colonie" was, of course,
a part of its territory. The Hudson marked its
eastern limits; but its western and northern were
not defined. It was understood to include the
' ' Upper Hollow " and the settlements and business
places therein, the Mansion House and its office,
and the lands near them. Kenwood was the
"Lower Hollow."
It was set apart as a district, March 31, 1791,
and again, by an additional act, March 30, 1801.
April 9, 1 804, it was incorporated as a village in
the town of Watervliet, and organized as a separate
town, April 11, 1808, as described by the Legisla
tive act following :
"Beit enacted, &c. , That from and after the first
day of April next all that part of the town of
Watervliet, beginning at the west bank of Hudson's
River and in the northeast corner of the bounds of
the City of Albany, and extending northerly along
the said river, about three-quarters of a mile, to
what is called the Mill-creek : thence running
westerly, one mile, up along the said creek : thence
southerly with a line parallel to the said river, till it
intersects the north bounds of the said city : thence
easterly, along the said north bounds to the place

76

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

of beginning, shall be and is hereby erected into a
separate town, by the name of the Colonie. ''
It was divided, February 25, 18 15, and its legal
existence as a town terminated by giving ' its terri
tory to Albany and Watervliet. The Albany por
tion was made the "Fifth Ward" for many years.
It was a small town, less in area than any other
town in the State. Its population in 18 10 was
only 1,406, and in 181 5, 1,657, having 245
houses and stores, and thirty slaves. The houses
' and stores were principally on one street, except
near Albany.
In 18 1 8 an effort was made to restore it to town
privileges, but did not succeed.
In Colonie, in 18 13, were "the Public Garden
of Mr. Buckmaster," two breweries, a distillery,
two large tanneries, a tallow chandlery, rope walks,
a grain mill and several other manufactories, in
cluding a part of the "' ' tobacco works " of Mr.
James Caldwell, which were on Mill Creek, mostly
on the north or Watervliet side. There was also
"a Seceders' Church," whatever that might be,
and "a large brick edifice filled with military stores
belonging to the State of New York and the United
States," called "The Arsenal," standing "on the
east side of the principal street," "connected with
which is a large yard. "
Says Spafford in 1813, in his "Gazetteer of New
York:" " The compact village of Colonie is con
tinuous with Albany, of which it forms a large and
populous suburb, though legally organized under
a separate municipality. " ' ' That part necessarily
belongs to Albany in a general view of its popula
tion, resources, wealth, trade and general char
acter. "
In Fry's Albany Directory for 181 3, the first
published in the city, we find no name of a citizen
of Colonie except ' ' Spafford, Horatio G. , author
of Geography and Gazetteer, Colonie, two doors
south of Arsenal." Mr. Fry makes this explana
tion in his prefatory "Notice :" "Should this pub
lication meet its hoped-for encouragement, in the
sale of the books, the next may be accompanied
with a list of inhabitants in the Colonie and a map
of the city. "
Guilderland was named from Guilderlandt in
the Netherlands. It was formed from Watervliet,
February 26, 1803. The northwest portion of the
city of Albany was annexed to this town, February
26, 1 871. It is bounded, north by Schenectady
County, east by Watervliet and Albany, south by
Bethlehem and New Scotland, west by Knox, and
has an area of 38,784 acres, the largest number of
any town in the county. Its outline is very singu

lar, suggesting a rhombus in general form, the
apexes of the two acute angles of which are fifteen
miles apart northwest and southeast.
The surface is quite varied, from the sandy ridges
and the marshes of the eastern part of the town
to the higher hills of the Helderbergs on the west.
The soil is a barren sand in the northeast; but
there are many fertile farms of sandy loam well
improved by cultivation in other parts of the town,
producing excellent grass, grain and fruits, which
find a ready market in Albany.
The Indian Ladder Gap, supposed to mark an
ancient Indian trail, is in this town, and remark
able for picturesque scenery.
Formerly the town was distinguished for certain
manufactures. In 1792 glass works were com
menced in this town, eight miles from Albany.
Among the proprietors were Jeremiah Van Rens
selaer, John Sanders, Abraham Ten Eyck, Elkanah
Watson, Frederick A. De Zeng, K. K. Van Rens
selaer, Douw Fonda, Walter Cochran, Thomas
Mather and Samuel Mather.
In 1796 the ground was laid out in streets and
house lots, and plans for a church and school
house were made. The project of a manufactur
ing town, to be called Hamilton, in honor of
Alexander Hamilton, was considered. The Legis
lature, as an encouragement, exempted the com
pany and the workmen from taxation for five years.
The corporation was called the Albany Glass Com
pany. At the first, it was owned by McClallen,
McGregor & Co., the Co. being James Caldwell
and Christopher Batterman; and a loan was
granted to the proprietors by the State to the
amount of ^"3,000 for eight years — three years
without interest and five years at five per cent. In
1795 Robert McGregor left the firm, and anew
company, under the name of Thomas Mather &
Co., was formed. At one period 500,000 feet of
window glass was manufactured annually. The
works were discontinued in 18 15, as it is said, for
want of a suitable supply of sand and fuel.
Abel French, of Albany, established a factory
near the center of the town in 1800, and the place
was named French's Mills. In 1795 clothing mills
were erected here by Peter K. Broeck. In 1800
Knowersville had a cotton factory, and later a hat
factory. The first tavern in town was kept here by
Jacob Acker during the Revolution.
Whigs and Tories dwelt here in constant feud
during the trying days of 1775-83. The feelings
then engendered between discordant families long
remained. The exultant Whigs, on getting news
of the surrender of Burgoyne, it is said, illuminated

OUTLINE SKETCHES OF THE TOWNS OF THE COUNTY.

77

the surrounding country by burning a hollow-
chestnut tree filled with tar, standing upon a high
hill. St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church was
organized October 13, 1787, Heinrich Moeller,
first pastor.
Among the natives of this town are Judges James
A. McKown and Jacob H. Clute, Edward
Robinson, Wm. Dey Ermand, John M. Batterman,
Stephen R. Gray, Peter Walker, Hiram Griggs,
Wm. D. Strevell, Dr. Thomas Helm, and many
others well known in the county.
Knox was named from John Knox, the emi
nent divine and bold reformer of Scotland. It was
formed from Berne, February 28, 1822. It has the
smallest area of any town in the county, containing
26,402 acres. It is situated in the northwest corner
of the county, and is bounded, north by Schenec
tady County, east by Guilderland, south by Berne,
and west by Schoharie County.
Its surface is an elevated plateau, inclining
slightly toward the northwest from the Helderbergs,
which lie on its eastern border. Small hills diversify
the surface. The soil is generally of good quality,
and arable, composed of a gravelly, calcareous
loam mixed with clay, overtopping hardpan.
Several small caves are found in this town.
It is a farming town, with a few grist, saw and
woolen mills for local manufacture.
The first settlers were Dutch, who took leases
from Van Rensselaer before the Revolution. After
this war, from 1788 to 1790, several families from
Connecticut came to settle. Among them were
Samuel Abbott and Andrew Brown. Tories were
there during the Revolution until the surrender of
Burgoyne, when they went to a more congenial
home in the Canadas. Capt. Jacob Van Aerden was
the leading man among the Whigs of that day.
The first church is said to have been the Dutch
Reformed. There long existed a public library in this town.
In 1824 it numbered about 400 volumes. It was
modeled after the New England town libraries,
and was helpful in forming the character of the
people to habits of intellectual culture and good
morals. The anti-rent feeling in this town was general
and intense. Most of the farmers held manorial
leases, and resisted the collection of rents with in
flexible determination. Collectors, sheriffs, and
ihe posse comitatus were often unsuccessful. Resort
was had more than once to the military, who, with
out bloodshed, caused arrests and trials in courts.

Strifes of this sort began soon after the death ot
"the old Patroon," in 1839, who had been very
indulgent to his tenants. It pervaded all the towns
of the county, and all the people who occupied
leased lands. It entered into local and State poli
tics. No towns, perhaps, showed more active re
sistance than Berne and Knox. It lasted several
years, and was terminated only by the decisions of
the courts and the enforcement of law. Even as
late as July, 1866, a detachment of 100 men under
Capt. James McFarland, of the 10th regiment,
went from Albany to Knox and secured the arrest
of nine respectable citizens, who, no doubt, hon
estly felt that they were resisting unjust claims.
New Scotland. — Among its early settlers are to
be found these Scotch names: Reid, Wands, Watt,
Swan, Kirkland, Patterson, Ramsay, McMullin,
McCulioch, and others. Through the influence of
these natives of Scotland, no doubt, came the name
of the town. About 1758, Teunis Slingerland, a
Hollander, purchased 9,874 acres of this territory
from the Indians, located on the Oneskethau Flats,
and erected the first mills. * He is considered the
first settler. The town was erected from Bethlehem,
April 25, 1832; has an area of 34,324 acres, and
is the central town of the county, and the young
est, if we do not reckon the city of Cohoes as a
town. It is inclosed by other towns, as follows :
Guilderland, north ; Bethlehem, east ; Coeymans
and Westerlo, south ; Westerlo, Berne, and Knox,
west. Rensselaerville and Watervliet and the
cities of Albany and Cohoes alone do not touch it.
The surface is elevated, consisting, in the eastern
and central portion, of rolling lands varied by hills
of moderate height. The Helderbergs border the
western limits, their highest peak being situated at
the Helderberg Station of the Coast Survey, 1,823
feet above the sea, and near the southwest
corner of the town. Gravelly loam with clay inter
mixed makes a productive soil under proper cul
ture. The town has striking geological features which
have attracted the interest of many geologists in
the State ; limestone caves, sink hills and subter
ranean streams, are among the natural curiosities.
Sulphur springs are found, stones for flagging and
building are quarried, and plaster is ground in this
town. Mr. James Hendrick has a farm of 165
acres under the highest culture, on which are the
"Font Grove Nurseries, " and where are carefully
cultivated outdoor and greenhouse plants; also
flowers and fruits in the greatest variety. He has
twelve large greenhouses. The farm and green
houses will repay a special visit.

78

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The inhabitants are chiefly descendants of the
Dutch, the Walloons and the Scotch. Many are
from New England.
Isaac Perry, an emigrant from France, was one
of the earliest settlers. The hewn stone house,
built by his son Nicholas before the Revolution, is
still standing near Wolf Hill on the Helderbergs.
George Reid and other Scotch immigrants came at
an early day,
A Dutch Reformed Church was organized at
Jerusalem about 1 780. The house of worship was
erected in 1 790. Harmanus Van Huysen was the
first pastor, who subsequently organized the church
at New Salem and became its pastor. The New
Scotland Presbyterian Church was organized about
1787, and had, as its first pastor, Rev. Benjamin
Judd. Rensselaerville was named in honor of Gen.
Stephen Van Rensselaer, the "Old Patroon," and
is the first town formed from old Watervliet. It
was erected, March 8, 1790, and included Berne,
taken off, March 17, 1795, and the westerly part of
Westerlo, taken off March 16, 181 5. It contains
37,354 acres ; is in the southwesterly corner of the
country, and is bounded, north by Berne, east by
Westerlo, south by Green County and west by
Schoharie County. The terminal ville is appro
priate to the village, but inappropriate as a part of
the name of the town.
The surface is mostly upland broken by spurs or
ridges from the Catskill Mountains, with deep and
narrow fertile valleys that are watered by the rapid
streams that run on their way to the Hudson by
way of Catskill Creek. The upland soil is a gravel
loam lying upon hardpan. It is productive of ex
cellent grass for dairy products, and of oats, buck
wheat, rye and potatoes.
There is a fall of 100 feet on the Ten Mile Creek,
and of 40 feet on Willow Brook.
The town once abounded in varied useful
industries. Its rural villages were formerly well
filled with skilled artisans, and its creeks supplied
water power to numerous mills. It was a model
of an intelligent and orderly town, 2 5 miles from
the city. Its early settlers came mostly from New
England soon after the Revolution. Among them
were Apollos Moore, a soldier of the Revolution, and
first Judge of the County; Major John Edward, a
revolutionary officer; Samuel Jenkins, who built'
the first mill; Silas Sweet, Joseph Lincoln, the
Hatch brothers, and Rev. Samuel Fuller, the first
minister of the gospel, a graduate of Dartmouth,
and many others, some of whom came later by
way of Long Island and Dutchess and Ulster

Counties. They were mostly young men of steady,
industrious, frugal habits. Its timber has been
used, and it has no near railroad.
The first church was the Presbyterian, of which
Samuel Fuller was, for 16 years, the first pastor.
It was organized in 1792. A Baptist Church was
formed about the same time, with Timothy Green,
pastor ; a Friend's meeting, Reuben Palmer,
preacher, was organized in 1795, and a little later,
a Methodist Church. Rev. Samuel Fuller left
the Presbyterian Church in 18 10, and organized an
Episcopal Church, of which he was for 31 years
rector. The town has been remarked for good roads
and good district schools. Select schools were
sustained when needed. In the Academy at Rens
selaerville, Judge Bradley, now of the United States
Supreme Court, received his early academic edu
cation. Among natives of the town who have
attained to public distinction, we have found the
names of the late Judges Rufus W. Peckham, Sr.^ 1
Hand Malbone Watson^ of the Supreme Court of If
this State ; Judge'Addison Niles, of the Supreme
Court of California ; and Judge Mortimer M.
Jackson, of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin.
Moses Patten, born in New Hampshire, was an
early school teacher, and afterward a Surrogate of
the County and a leading citizen. Valentine
Treadwell was some years an Assemblyman and
a prominent man. John Watson, a wealthy manu
facturer of New York City, was born here, and so
were Robert H. Moore and Edward P. Durant, of
Albany. The town used to have much of the New
England characteristics. It has made a good
record. Among its sons is Charles M. Jenkins,
son of Jonathan Jenkins, of Connecticut stock,
who graduated at Union College, under Dr. Nott,
in 1829, and at the old Litchfield Law School,
and has been in the practice of law in this city for
50 years.
It is worthy of note that Samuel Boughton had
21 children born to him in this town. Daniel
Shay, of the " Shay Rebellion " notoriety, resided
here a few years about 1795 to 1800.
Two weekly newspapers have been published in
this town, each having a brief existence — the
Rural Folio and the Rensselaerville Press.
Watervliet, signifying water flood, and so called,
probably, on account of its peninsular situation,
partially surrounded by the Hudson and the
Mohawk, was the first incorporated town in the
county. It was formed March 7, 1788, and then
included all of West Rensselaerwyck, and all of
the present county, except the City of Albany, as

OUTLINE SKETCHES OF THE TOWNS OF THE COUNTY.

79

it was at the date of its charter in 1686. After
parting with its territory to form the nine other
towns of the county, it took back a part of Colonie
in 1 8 1 5, and gave up the same, with considerable
more, to the City of Albany in 1870. In the same
year Albany offered to give Watervliet its sparsely
settled and sterile lands in the northwest part of
the city, which, the town having declined to receive
the gift, was the next year transferred to Guilder-
land. By the session laws of 1830 and 1833, a
portion of its lands were conditionally ceded to
the United States, ' ' for the purpose of erecting
and maintaining thereon arsenals, magazines,
dockyards and other necessary buildings. " Niska
yuna, in Schenectady County, was formed in 1 809,
largely from Watervliet. Cohoes was incorporated
as a city May 19, 1869.
The census of 1875 gives the town an area of
30,697 acres. Its boundaries are : north, by
Schenectady County and Mohawk River ; east, by
Cohoes, the Mohawk and the Hudson Rivers, taking
in the islands west of the middle of said rivers ;
south, by Albany ; and west by Albany and Guil
derland. The surface of the town is considerably varied.
Along the Hudson extend wide alluvial lands,
rising above which are moderate hill slopes, fur
nishing fine suburban building sites, and a soil
well adapted for gardens and small farms. Most
of the surface is an upland of light sandy loam,
100 to 300 feet higher than the river, intersected by
ravines formed by numerous small streams. With
its river confines, its steam and horse railroads, and
its canals, it has rare facilities for transportation and
travel. To say nothing of its flourishing villages of
Green Island and West Troy, its location near
Albany, Troy, Cohoes and Schenectady gives ex
traordinary facilities for marketing its products and
for trade. Milk, culinary vegetables and fruit find
a ready market near home.
These inducements have led to the settlement
and cultivation of a territory, most of which is not
very fertile or attractive by nature.
The first settlers were, undoubtedly, Dutch
farmers holding manorial leases. They were poor
and their progress was slow.
The first organized Church was the Dutch Re
formed at the Boght, a bow made by the junction
of the Hudson and Mohawk. It was established
by Rev. Eilardus Westerlo, of Albany, April 17,
1784. The Shakers, a peculiar religious sect, came to
Watervliet and established a community in 1776.
They were under the leadership of "Mother Ann

Lee," their founder, a native of Manchester,
England. Here she died, September 8, 1784, at
the age of 48 years, and here was buried. They
now number about 300. They occupy 3,500
acres of well-improved land, watered by four ponds
of about 10 acres each. Their dwellings and other
buildings are neat and convenient ; their farms
are well stocked. As a people they are remarkable
for habits of industry, frugality, order, neatness and
integrity in their dealings. The}- eschew war and
politics. Of course they are prosperous. They
have their religious meeting house and their
schools, and publish The Shaker, a monthly edited
by G. A. Lomas.
Besides the towns before named, out of the ter
ritory of Watervliet have been formed six incor
porated villages and one city since this century
began, viz : Watervliet, March 30, 1801, changed
to Colonie, April 9, 1804, now obsolete and an
nexed to the City of Albany ; Gibbonsville, April
23, 1823, changed to West Troy, April 30, 1836 ;
Cohoes, April 12, 1855, changed to City of Cohoes,
May 19, 1869; Green Island, October 14, 1855,
and May 12, 1869.
Loudonville, on the old Loudon road, three
miles from Albany ; Newtonville, named for John
M. Newton, four miles from Albany ; and
Menands, two miles from Albany, are very pleasant
hamlets in which many of the business men of
Albany reside.
West Albany is situated two miles northwest from
the city, about the center of the south line of
Watervliet. It contains the extensive repair shops
of the New York Central Railroad, and has, for
many years, been widely known as one of the
largest cattle markets in the United States. It is
connected with the city by street cars, as well as by
the Central Railroad.
The United States Arsenal, situated on 105 acres,
lying on the Hudson, near West Troy village, be
longing to the United States Government, was lo
cated in 1813. The building was commenced
under Col. George Burnford in 18 14.
The Albany Rural Cemetery, the St. Agnes
Cemetery, the Anshe Emeth, lying contiguous to
each other, unsurpassed in this country for natural
and artistic fitness to their purpose, are situated in
Watervliet, about two miles north from Albany.
The very conveniently located and well-appointed
County Agricultural Fair Grounds are nearly two
miles north of Albany. The State Fairs have been
held here.
The New York Central and Rensselaer and Sara
toga Railways, the Erie Canal, the Champlain

80

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Canal and the Watervliet Horse Railway all
traverse portions of this town. Few towns surpass
this in traveling facilities.
The Schuyler Residence, at ' ' the Flats, " just
south of the village of West Troy, near the banks
of the river, is an interesting spot, associated as it
is with the interesting scenes in the life of "Aunt
Schuyler," Mrs. Grant's "American Lady." Dr.
James Wade, Dr. E. M. Wade, Edward Wade,
Esq. , Gov. Leland Sanford, J. B. Jermain, Thomas
Hillhouse, Isaac Lawson, Joseph M. Lawson, Geo.
L. Stedman, John W. McNamara, Dr. Michael
Freleigh, Weare C. Little, Charles Van Zandt, are
among the well-known natives or long-time resi
dents of this, our oldest town. Hon. Benj. F.
Wade was once a teacher in this town, and Rev.
William Arthur, father of Chester A. Arthur, taught
a boarding school in one of its villages.
Westerlo was named in honor of Rev. Eilardus
Westerlo, a Dutch clergyman, who was pastor of
the First Reformed Church in Albany from 1 760 to
1790. It was formed from Coeymans and Rens
selaerville, March 16, 1815 ; has an area of 3 5, 976
acres ; and is bounded, north by Berne and New
Scotland, east by New Scotland and Coeymans,
south by Greene County, and west by Rensselaer
ville. Its surface is broken and hilly, inclining southerly
for the most part. Its valleys are narrow ravines ;
its ridges are adapted to pasturage. Sand and

gravel mixed with muck and clay, lying on hard-
pan, form the arable soil. Stone used in field
walls is plenty, and flagging stones are taken from
several fine quarries. The highest elevation is about
800 feet above sea level.
The leading industry is agriculture, hay being
the principal product for the market.
The manufactures are chiefly those demanded by
a rural population. There is a cheese factory near
Chesterville. The settlement of the town began before the
Revolution. Among the early settlers were Nicholas
Stoddard, Rev. Reuben Stanton, Josiah Hinckley,
Isaac Winston, Dr. Jonathan Prosser, James Arnold,
William Read, Abram Becker, William Haverland,
Jacob and Lodowick Haynes. Philip Myers, a na
tive of Germany, came in 1763. Andrew Hannay
came from Scotland later. In 1777, inspired by
a spirit of patriotism, he raised a company of
volunteers and came as far as Albany with them,
to join Gen. Gates against Burgoyne, too late for
service. Yankees came into the settlement more freely after
the Revolution. The people, as a whole, are re
markable for good habits rural tastes, and domestic
virtues. About 1800 the Baptist Church, at Chesterville,
was formed, with Roswell Beckwith, first pastor.
About the same time, the Dutch Reformed Church
at Van Leuven's Corners was formed.

HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF ALBANY COUNTY.

EARLY HISTORY— The office of Supervisor
is one of the most ancient town and county
offices in this State. It was established, though
with ill-defined powers, under what is known as the
"Duke's laws," or Laws promulgated soon after
the Duke of York acquired the title to the territory
embraced in the province of New York — formerly
New Netherlands — through the Charter of his royal
brother, Charles II.
Under the Duke's Laws the province was method
ically laid out into towns and counties, and pro
visions were made for a Supervisor in each town,
whose duty it was to oversee the financial affairs of
the towns and counties. Provisions were also
made for an annual meeting of all the Supervisors in
the county, constituting a Board of Supervisors, with
powers to audit the accounts of the County Officers,
etc.

At first, as we have seen, the office in this State
was confined to the supervision of the finances of
the town and county ; but, as time went on, its
powers and jurisdiction were enlarged, until it be
came essentially a legislative body — in a word, the
legislature of the county, having the same relation
to the county that the legislature has to the State,
each town in the county occupying the position in
regard to the Board of Supervisors that the counties
do to the State Legislature. *
*Under the State Laws, a Supervisor is a public officer, charged with
certain duties to his town, his county and lo the public at large. He is
a creature of the Statute Law, and has no powers or rights other than
those which the Legislature has expressly conferred upon him, and those
which are incident to and necessary for a proper exercise of such express
powers and rights. His functions are three fold : First, as. a town
officer, and which are to be discharged by him either individually or in
connection with other town officers ; second, as a member of the Board
of County Canvassers; third, as a County Officer, and which are to
be discharged in connect on with the other Supervisors of the county
sitting as a board.

HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

81

One of the remarkable features in its history is the
manner in which its local legislative powers have in
creased. For many years the office was limited to
the duties we have described.
On June 19, 1703, the Provincial Legislature
or General Assembly passed an act, enlarging the
powers and duties of Supervisors, which act was en
titled "An Act for the better explaining and more
effectually putting in execution the duties of Super
visors and other town officers. "
The curious and somewhat significant language
of the following preamble to this act exhibits the
construction which those early legislatures gave the
duties and powers of the office.
Preamble. "Forasmuch as many disputes, cavils, con
troversies and mistakes have happened and been occasioned
as well by the Generality of the Words in a Certain Act of
General Assembly, entitled ' An act for defraying of the
publick and necessary charge throughout this Province,
and for maintaining the poor and preventing Vagabonds, '
as many other Omissions and Defects Experience has found
and observed in the same Act."
The act provides for the election, by the free
hold inhabitants of each town in every county in
the Province, of one Supervisor, a freeholder of
the town, whose duty — to use the language of
the act —
" It shall be to compute, ascertain, examine, oversee and
allow the contingent, publick and necessary charge of each
County; and also there shall be in each town, manor and
precinct, by the freeholders thereof annually chosen, two
Assessors and one Collector, which Supervisor, Assessors
and Collector shall be annually chose in every town, on
the first Tuesday in April.
" The Supervisors so chosen shall meet annually at the
county town in each respective county, on the first Tuesday
in October, and at such other times as they shall deem
necessary to examine and compute all such publick necessary
contingent charges as they shall find their respective counties
properly chargeable with, and all such sum or sums of money
as shall be brought and exhibited before them shall be im
posed and laid on the same counties, as provided by the law
uf the Colony."
Provisions were made for the collection of the
said moneys by taxation on the valuation of the
real estate in each of the towns in the county, and
hence the question of establishing the valuation of
the lands in the respective towns early became one
of paramount importance.
After the collection of the money, under the pro
vision of the act, it was paid into the hands of the
County Treasurer, to be disbursed by that officer
very much in the manner in which the county funds
are now disbursed by the County Treasurer.
This brings us to consider briefly the office of
County Treasurer, whose duties are largely con
nected with the Board of Supervisors. This is
another very ancient office in the State, one of the
first established under the English Colonial laws;
indeed, an office quite similar to that of County
Treasurer which existed under the Dutch Colonial
Government. The duties of this officer under the act of 1 703
differed but very little from those of County Treas
urers at the present time. He exhibited to the
Supervisors a yearly account of all moneys received
and disbursed by him during the year, with a state
ment of the sources through which he received the
money, and the account upon which he disbursed

it. He was then, as now, liable to an action at the
suit of the Supervisors for any default or miscarriage
in the discharge of the duties of his office.
Any Supervisor, Assessor or Collector refusing to act
respectively forfeited five pounds, to be recovered by any
person delayed, wronged or injured by any such refusal to
act. It will be seen that Assessors and Town Collectors are of
ficers of great antiquity, and the reader of Colonial and State
history is surprised that so many of the present State, County
and Town officers, with similar powers, existed during the
English Colonial Government of the province, notwithstand
ing the sweeping innovations made by the State Constitution
and State laws.
The act of 1 703, concerning Supervisors, contin
ued in existence with some slight changes until
March 24, 1772, when it was amended, so far as
the County of Albany was concerned, to authorize
the annual election of Supervisors in that County to
take place on the first Tuesday of May. This act
also provided for the election in Albany County, at
the same time, of two Overseers of the Poor, two
Constables, two Fence Viewers and one Town Clerk.
The duties of the office of Town Clerk were pre
viously to this discharged by the Supervisor of the
Town. None but freeholders could vote for these
respective officers. After the adoption of the first
State Constitution, the office of Supervisor, and the
time of their election was changed by an action of
the State legislature, passed March 7, 1788, which
provided for the holding of town meetings in the
various towns in the State for the choice of Town
Officers. The time for holding these meetings was on the
first Tuesday in April of each and every year. At
these meetings the following officers were elected in
each town: A Supervisor, Town Clerk, one As
sessor, Collector, Overseer of the Poor, Commis
sioners of Highways, Overseer of the Highway or
Pathmaster, four Constables, Fence Viewers and
Pound-master. By this act the Town of Albany
was empowered to elect two Assessors instead of
one, as in other counties.
Among the duties .imposed by this act on the
Board of Supervisors of the County of Albany, and
many other counties in the State, but more largely
exercised in Albany, was that of overseeing and
executing the laws relative to the poor of the county
and towns through the Overseers of the Poor elected
in the various towns.
The office of Superintendents of the Poor was not
then in existence, and never has existed in the
County of Albany.
In our history of the Charities of the County and
the Executors of the Poor Laws, it will be seen that
the ancient office of Overseers of the Poor, with
largely increased powers, still exists in the County
of Albany. Their powers and duties will be more
fully considered hereafter.
The manner in which the powers and duties of
the Board of Supervisors have from time to time
been enlarged and extended will be described under
the head of "Statutory and Legal History of the
Board." There has been considerable litigation in the State
concerning the powers and duties of the Supervisors.
The case of Downing vs. Rugar, reported 21 Wen-

82

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

dell, 1 8 1, will be read with profit and interest.
The office of Supervisor and the duties of Boards
of Supervisors continued to be the subject of legisla
tive enactment, varying the duties of the office in
minor particulars, down to the adoption of the Re
vised Statutes by the State Legislature in 1830, by
which their powers and duties were greatly enlarged
and the Board rendered more emphatically a legis
lative body, with powers of local legislation, since
greatly enlarged.
The powers and duties of Supervisors in regard
to the poor and charitable institutions of the County
of Albany differ in many respects from those of
Supervisors in that regard in other counties of the
State. This subject will be more fully considered
in another part of this work, in the chapter on Pub
lic Charities, in which the duties of Overseers of
the Poor, the Superintendent and Overseers of the
Almshouse, and other charitable institutions will
be described.
From the foregoing it will easily be seen that the
history of the Board of Supervisors of the County of
Albany is of the greatest importance, from the fact
that it embraces such a variety of historical matter.
STATUTORY AND LEGAL HISTORY OF
' THE BOARD.
EARLY LEGISLATIVE ACTS.
One of the earliest acts of the Legislature touch
ing the Supervisors of Albany, was an
Act of 1792. — An act passed the nth of April,
1792, made it the duty of one of the judges and
one of the Supervisors of the Counties of Colum
bia, Rensselaer and Saratoga to meet once in every
year with the Supervisors and one or more of the
judges of the County of Albany for inspecting and
examining the mortgages, minutes and accounts of
the Loan Officers appointed in the County of Al
bany. This act was amended on February 25,
1799, rendering it lawful for Supervisors of the
County of Albany, or a majority of them, together
with one or more of the said judges of the
said county, and such of the judges and Super
visors of the other counties as might appear,
to perform the duties mentioned in the Act of
April, 1792.
Act Concerning Public Lands of County. —
Doubts having arisen upon the operation of con
veyances of land, made to the Supervisors of the
counties in this State for the use of such counties
for public buildings and other county purposes, an
act was passed April 25, 1799, vesting in the
Supervisors of the counties in this State respective
ly and their successors such estate in the lands
aforesaid, for the purposes aforesaid, as every such
conveyance shall import to grant and convey for
the uses therein expressed.
This is a very important act, establishing the
right of counties, through the respective Boards of
Supervisors, to hold lands in fee for court-houses,
jails, poor-houses and alms-houses, and other lands
to be used for county purposes.
Change of Time for Holding Elections. —
Down to April, 1825, the annual meetings of the

Board of Supervisors in the County of Albany
were held in April. On April 29, 1825, an act
was passed directing that the Supervisors of
Albany and some other counties should hold
their annual meetings on the Tuesday next after
the annual election in each and every year,
and at the places before provided for by law
for the meeting of the Board of Canvassers for the
votes at the annual election in the County of Al
bany and other counties.
A Board of Canvass. — It was also enacted that
in the County of Albany and some other counties
the Board of Canvassers, including the Clerk
of said counties or their deputies, should, on the
Tuesday next after the annual election, meet at the
places where the said respective Boards of Supervis
ors were in session, and then and there proceed to
canvass and certify the votes given at such election
in manner provided by the tenth section of tbe act
entitled "An act for regulating Elections," passed
April, 1822. The act of April 19, 1825, was after
ward substantially extended to all the counties in
the State. As may be seen, it made the Board
of Supervisors in the County of Albany, as
well as in all other counties, except New York, a
Board of Canvassers.
Appointing Power. — By the act to which we
have referred the Supervisors of Albany County
had conferred upon them the power, with the
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, of appoint
ing Justices of the Peace, and Commissioners to
take the acknowledgment of deeds in the county,
and for that purpose they met on the Wednesday
next after the annual election in each and even-
county, in each and every year, at their usual place
of meeting.
Sites for County Buildings. — By an Act
passed April 16, 1830, the Supervisors of
the City and County of Albany were authorized
to raise, levy and collect, in four annual
installments, on and from the taxable prop
erty in said city and count)-, in the same
manner as other count)' charges are levied and col
lected, the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, for the
purchase of a site and for the erection of a build
ing in the City of Albany for city and county pur
poses, which sum, to be raised, levied and collect
ed, was to be paid over to the Mayor, Aldermen
and Commonalty of the City of Albany, to be ap
plied for the purposes aforesaid.
Unison of Affairs of City and County. — This
act shows how closely the municipal affairs of the
city and the affairs of the county were united — a
unison that has continued, more or less, down to
the present time.
By the said act the Supervisors of the City and
County were required, in addition to the fifteen
thousand dollars, to raise upon the taxable prop
erty of the City of Albany alone such sums of
money, not exceeding the sum of $40,000, to be
applied to the purchase of the site and the erection
of a building for city and county purposes. This
building was what was known as the New City Hall.
Abolishment of the distinction between Town and
County Poor, in the City and County of Albany. — A

HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

83

law abolishing the distinction between town and
county poor in the City and County of Albany
was passed March 17, 1832. This act made it
lawful for the Board of Supervisors of the County
of Albany, and the Mayor, Aldermen and Com
monalty of the City of Albany, to enter into any
contract or agreement between them to abolish all
distinction between town and county poor in the
said city and county, from and after the first day of
May then next, and for appropriating the alms
house and farm belonging thereto, in the City of
Albany, for the support of all poor in the city and
county, transient and resident, and for the allow
ance of such sum, to be paid to the said city by the
county for the use of the same, and for any addi
tional building and appurtenances, as the said Su
pervisors and the said Mayor, Aldermen and Com
monalty may agree upon. The act further pro
vided as follows :
" Every poor person entitled to support, in the City and
County of Albany, shall from and alter the ist day of May,
1832, be supported and maintained by the Mayor, Alder
men and Commonalty of the City of Albany, at the expense
of the county. All such poor persons shall be removed by the
Overseers of the Poor of the several towns, and the Over
seers of the Poor of the City of Albany, to the said Alms
House, at the expense of the several towns and the city ; and
thereafter the necessary expenses of the removal of any poor
person from any town in the county shall be paid on the
certificate of the Keeper of the Alms House by the Cham
berlain of the City of Albany. ' '
Mayor of Albany to have Charge of Alms
House. — It was also provided that the Mayor, Al
dermen and Commonalty of the City of Albany
should have the charge and care of said Alms
House and farm, and of all the said persons who
might be removed there for support, and that, they
should appoint a superintendent and physician,
and employ other persons necessary for the man
agement and government of the same. All moneys
which should be received by the Commissioners of
Excise, and all moneys received by the Overseers
of the Poor in their official capacity, were to be paid
over to the Chamberlain of the City, for the Mayor,
Aldermen and Commonalty, within thirty days af
ter the receipt thereof.
Temporary Relief for the Poor. — The act pro
vides that temporary relief might be granted to
poor persons by the several Overseers of the Poor of
the county, not exceeding the sum of ten dollars
for any one person or family, without the assent of
the Supervisor of the town where such relief is
granted, or, if in the City of Albany, without the
consent of the Board of Magistrates for the relief
and support of the poor of the cit)'. This written
consent must accompany the order of the Justice
granting such relief, and entitle the overseer to re
ceive any sum paid in pursuance of such order,
from the Chamberlain of the city.
City Chamberlain and Supervisors. — It was
provided that at the next annual meeting of the
Board of Supervisors, after the passage of the said
act, and at each annual meeting thereafter, there
shall be a general settlement between the Chamber
lain of the City and the Board of Supervisors in re
gard to the disbursements of all moneys connected

with the poor, and all other matters connected with
the poor of the county.
It was provided that the act to which we have
referred should continue in force for five years
from the first day of May, 1832. Most of its pro
visions were retained by subsequent acts for many
years, and some of them in a varied form down to
the present time. It was one of the most impor
tant and practicable acts touching the maintenance
of the poor in the county and city, and the man
agement of the Almshouse ever enacted, and it is
the first act which fully and equitably abolished the
distinction of county and city poor.
Overseers of the Poor. — An act of April 15,
1837, rendered it unnecessary for the Overseers of
the Poor to obtain an order from Justices to au
thorize temporary relief.
Salary of District Attorney. — By the act of
February 21, 1840, the Supervisors were empow
ered to fix the salary of District Attorney. The
act of May 14, 1840, fixed the time for the annual
meeting of the Board of Supervisors for the first
Monday of August of each year. The Board of
Supervisors were to cause a corrected assessment roll
of each town or ward in the city and county, or a
fair copy thereof, to be delivered to the Collector of
each town or ward on or before the 15th day of
September of each year.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE PENI
TENTIARY.
The first step taken toward the erection of the Peniten
tiary in the County of Albany was the act of April 13,
1844, entitled "An Act for the construction of a Penitentiary ,
and in relation to the relief of the Poor in the County of
Albany." We shall refer more at length to this act in an
other part of this work, in our chapter on Penitentiaries and
punitive establishments.
The act directs that the Board of Supervisors of the
County of Albany shall cause to be erected, at such place
within the limits of the county as shall be directed, a suita
ble building or buildings for a Penitentiary, for the safe
keeping and employment of vagrants, disorderly persons
and all prisoners (except in cases of conviction for felony),
who shall be sentenced to confinement at hard labor, or to
solitary imprisonment, by any Court held in the said county
or in the City of Albany.
The act appointed Samuel Pruyn and Barent P. Staats,
of the City of Albany, and Louis M. Dayton, of Rensselaer
ville, in said county, commissioners to select a proper loca
tion for the site of the said Penitentiary, with proper grounds
to be attached thereto, within six months after the passage
of the said law, and to report such location, with a detailed
plan for the construction, management and discipline of the
Penitentiary, and an estimate of the expenses of the said land
for the site, and of the construction thereof, to the Board of
Supervisors. Upon the receipt of the said report the Board
of Supervisors, with the Mayor and Recorder of the city,
associated with the said Board for that purpose, were di
rected to examine the same and determine thereupon ; and
the said Supervisors, Mayor and Recorder were empowered
to alter, modify, reduce or increase the site, plan or expense
of construction of said Penitentiary, as specified in the plan ot
said commissioners, in any manner as to them shall seem fit
or necessary. The commissioners, at the expiration of
ninety days after the making and delivery of said report to
the chairman or clerk of the Board, were to procure the
lands necessary for the site of the said Penitentiary, and pro
ceed to construct the same at such place and on such plan in
all respects as the said Board of Supervisors, the Mayor and
Recorder have approved and directed.
The act further empowered the Board of Supervisors to
borrow money, on the expense of the county, necessary to

84

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

defray all the expenses of procuring the site and completing
the erection of the said Penitentiary. The act further em
powered the Board of Supervisors to rent of the Common
Council of the City ot Albany the Almshouse and farm in
the said city, together with all the fixtures and appurtenan
ces thereto (the property of the Common Council), upon
such terms as could be agreed upon between the said Com
mon Council and the said Board of Supervisors. It also
empowered the said Board of Supervisors, and the Mayor
and Recorder of the city, by their votes in joint meeting, to
let or farm out the aforesaid Almshouse and farm (with all
the fixtures and appurtenances thereto), with the inmates
therein, for a term of years not exceeding five, and to ap
point one or more persons to exercise a supervisory inspect
ing and directing power over the general treatment, fare and
well-being of the paupers. The Supervisors, Mayor and
Recorder were directed to make such rules and regulations
in relation to temporary relief to the poor, by the Overseers
of the Poor in the city, and in the several towns in the
said county, as they shall deem expedient. They also reg
ulate the salaries of the Overseers of the Poor, look to the
payment of physicians, council fees relating to the poor — in
cases relating to the poor accruing in the said city.
(The foregoing prescribes the duties assigned the Super
visors touching the erection of the Penitentiary. It is an
other important instance in which the interests of the city
and county are intimately united. The directions as to the
management, etc., of the Penitentiary will be considered
elsewhere.) This act of April 13, 1844, was amended by an act
passed May 13, 1847. The Penitentiary had then been lo
cated and erected in the City of Albany, and had been the
receptacle of prisoners for over one year and a half. The
amendment to which we have alluded, therefore, referred
to the convicts in the said Penitentiary, their government
and management, etc.
Another Act in Regard to the District
Attorney. — The act of 1849 repealed the law di
recting the Board of Supervisors to fix the fees of
District Attorneys. About that time, that office
was a salaried office, the salary being fixed by the
Board of Supervisors.
Alteration of Town Boundaries. — The duties
of the Legislature in regard to the alteration of
town boundaries and the erection of new towns
had increased to such an enormous extent that the
matter of vesting in the Board of Supervisors certain
legislative powers began to be largely agitated in
the State. This agitation culminated on April 3,
1849, m an act entitled
" An Act to vest in the Board of Supervisors certain
legislative powers, and to prescribe their fees for certain
services." Section 1 of the act empowers the Board of Supervisors
to alter the town boundaries upon the application to the
Board of at least twelve freeholders of the town, and, with
Sec. 3, prescribes the necessary steps to be taken in re
gard to the alteration of boundaries or the erection of new
towns. Sec. 3 authorizes them to name the new town, and
under what circumstances the new name shall be given.
Sec. 4, with fourteen subdivisions thereto, authorizes the
Supervisor to purchase lands on which to erect poor-
houses; to purchase any real estate necessary for the erec
tion of any court-house, jail, Clerk's or Surrogate's office,
poorhouse, or any other county buildings, and to erect
such buildings; to fix the site of any such building; to au
thorize the sale or leasing of any real estate belonging to
the county; to remove or designate a new site for any county
building when such a removal shall not exceed one mile; to
raise money by tax for the erection of such buildings, not
exceeding the sum of $5,000 in any one year; to borrow
money for the use of such county, to be expended in the
purchase of real estate or the erection of public buildings;
to authorize any town in a county, by a vote of such town,
to borrow any sum of money, not exceeding #4,000 in one

year, to build or repair any roads or bridges in such town,
and to prescribe the time for the payment of the same,
which shall be within ten years, and for assessing the prin
ciple and interest thereof upon such town; to fix the time
and place for holding their annual meeting; to extend and
determine, by resolution at their annual meeting, the time
when each collector in the county shall make return to the
county treasurer; but such time shall in no case extend be
yond the first day of March then next.
To make laws, and to provide for the enforcement of the
same, for the destruction of wild beasts, thistles and other
noxious weeds; to prevent the injury and destruction of
sheep by dogs, and to levy and enforce the collection of any
tax upon dogs, and to direct the application of such tax ; to
provide for the protection of all kinds of game; of shell
and other fish within the waters of their respective counties.
This section repealed all laws of this State then
existing in relation to preserving or destroying and
taking wild beasts or birds, fish and shellfish,
which repeal took place on the first day of January,
1850. County Officers to Report Concerning Salary.
— An important feature of this act required any
officer of Albany County and other counties, whose
salary is to be paid by the county, to make a re
port under oath, to the Supervisor of the county,
on any subject or matter whatever connected with
the duties of their office; and to make such report
whenever called upon by resolution of any such
board. A neglect or refusal on the part of an)- such
officer was made a misdemeanor. Provisions are
made in the said act for loaning money from the
Comptroller, by towns, on the execution by the
Supervisor of such towns. The act established the
following Fees for Supervisors :
Each Supervisor shall receive, over and above the per
diem compensation now allowed by law, eight cents per
mile for all necessary travel in the discharge of his official
duties, and three cents for each name (for making a copy of
the assessment roll of his town, and making out the tax bill
to be delivered to the collector) for the first hundred names,
two cents per name for the second hundred names, and one
cent per name for each name over two hundred. But no
per diem allowance shall be made to any Supervisor while
employed in making out such copy or tax.
Supervisor a Salaried Officer. — An important
act touching the office of Supervisor in the County
of Albany was passed, April 13, 1857; it made it
a salaried office, and regulated the compensation
of the clerk. We give the act entire :
Section 1. Every Supervisor elected for any town or Super
visor district in the County of Albany shall receive, as a com
pensation for his services and expenses as such Supervisor, a
salary as such Supervisor of one hundred dollars per annum,
besides the travel fees now allowed by law; and no such
Supervisor shall be paid or shall receive any other or
greater sum than as herein provided for any services or ex
penses as such Supervisor, or as an agent or committee ot
the Board of Supervisors of said county.
Sec. 2. It shall not be lawful for the Board of Supervisors
of said county to pay for the services of any clerk or clerks
of the said Board a greater amount in the aggregate than
the sum of five hundred dollars in any one year.
Sec. 3. No member of the Board ot Supervisors of the
County of Albany shall vote for any extra allowance to any
person who is paid by salary; nor shall the Treasurer of
said county knowingly pay to any such person any extra
allowance. Every offense against the provisions of this
section shall be a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not
less than the amount of such extra allowance, or by im
prisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding six
months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Sec. 4. This act shall take effect immediately.

HLSTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

85

By the act of April 15, 1S59, the Supervisors of
each ward of the City of Albany are directed to be
elected at the Charter election held upon the
second Tuesday of April of each year. The act
repeals all other laws inconsistent therewith.
Salary of Supervisors. —The Act of May 3,
1 87 1, fixed the salary of the Supervisors of Albany
County, in the following language :
Sec. 1. Every Supervisor hereafter to be elected for any
town or ward in the County of Albany shall receive as a
compensation for his service and expenses as such Super
visor a salary of three hundred and fifty dollars per annum,
besides travel fees now allowed by law; and no such Super
visor shall be paid or shall receive any other or greater sum
than is herein provided for any services or expenses as such
Supervisor or as an agent or Committee of the Board of
Supervisors of said County, except for copying assessment
books, for which the Supervisor of the town of Watervliet
shall receive not to exceed the sum of seventy-five dollars,
and the Supervisors of the remaining towns and wards of
the County not to exceed twenty-five dollars each.
Sec . 2. Every offense against the provisions of the above
section shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not
less than fifty nor more than five hundred dollars, or by im
prisonment in the County jail for a period not exceeding six
months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Amendment of above Act. — The Legislature
passed an act June 7,1875, amending section 1
of the act in relation to the salary of Supervisors
of Albany County above described, so as to read
as follows : supervisors' compensation.
Every Supervisor hereafter to be elected for any town or
ward m the County of Albany shall receive as a compensa
tion for his services and expenses as such Supervisor a sal
ary of three hundred and fifty dollars per annum, besides
travel fees now allowed by law; and no Supervisor shall
be paid or shall receive any other or greater sum than is
herein provided for any services or expenses as such Super
visor, or as an agent or Committee of the Board of Super
visors of said County, except for copying and extending as
sessment books, for which the Supervisor of the town of
Watervliet shall receive not to exceed the sum of seventy-
five dollars, and the Supervisors of the remaining towns
and the City of Cohoes not to exceed twenty-five dollars
each. The work of copying and extending the assessment
books of the several wards of the City of Albany shall be
hereafter done by the assessors of the said City of Albany,
who shall be paid for such work not to exceed in all the sum
of twenty-five dollars for each ward in said city.
Further Powers of Local Legislation. — We have
already referred to the powers of local legislation of Boards
of Supervisors, by an act of the Legislature, passed June 7,
1875. Further powers of local legislation and administration
were conferred on the Boards of Supervisors in the several
counties of this State, except in cities whose boundaries are
the same as those of the county, to make and administer
within their respective counties laws and regulations as
follows: To purchase,or otherwise acquire for the use of the county,
real estate for sites for court houses, clerks' offices, and other
buildings for county offices, and for jails and such other
places of confinement as may be authorized or required by
law; to borrow money on county bonds, or other county
obligations, for a period not exceeding fifteen years, to be
paid in annual installments, for the purposes specified in this
subdivision ; but in all cases where a supposed issue of county
bonds shall, with the amount of bonds issued under any
previous authority and still outstanding, exceed the sum of
$1,000, no additional issue shall be authorized, except in the
Counties of Albany, Erie and Kings, unless by the consent
of a majority of all the electors voting on the question; to
change the location of county buildings, and to sell or apply
to other county uses the old sites and buildings in cases where
the location may be changed, and to apply the proceeds

toward the payment of obligations incurred for new sites
and buildings, and subject to Section 15, Art, 6, of the con
stitution; to fix the salaries and per diem allowance of county
officers, whose compensation may be a county charge and
which shall not be changed during the term of such officers
respectively, and to prescribe the mode of appointment and
to fix the number, grades and pay of the deputies, clerks
and subordinate employees in such offices; to authorize the
location and construction of any bridge (except on the Hudson
River below Waterford, and on the East River or over the
waters forming the boundaries of the State ) which shall be
applied for in any of the towns jointly, or by any corporation
in form pursuant to the general laws of the State, or by any
corporation or individual for private purposes; and in case
of a public bridge erected by a corporation, to establish the
rates of toll collected for crossing such bridge. Where any
bridge crosses any navigable stream or water, a suitable draw
must be erected to prevent any impeding of the navigation
in such stream or water, and in case of a private bridge the
draw shall be kept open to permit all vessels to pass without
loss of headway. Where any bridge shall be on any stream
or water forming at the point of crossing the dividing line of
counties, the action of the Board of Supervisors of each
county shall be necessary to give the jurisdiction permitted
by the act; to apportion the expenses of bridges over streams
or other water forming boundary line of counties, and in all
such counties shall each pay not less than cne-sixth of the
expenses of such bridge. If the bridge is of great benefit to
the county, and the payment of two-thirds of the expenses
by the towns liable would be unjust to the towns, the Super
visors shall determine the additional proportion, and
what proportion of such expenses to be borne by the
counties; to direct that the care of the bridges, the main
tenance of which are a joint charge on the counties; to
authorize the towns to borrow money for bridge purposes.
The Supervisors have powers, under certain conditions,
over plank, macadamized or turnpike roads, and over
streets and avenues in territories adjoining a city; to lay
out highways of a less width than is required bylaw, and of
reducing highways now in existence ; to cause surveys to
be made, at the cost of the town, of any and all highways in
such town, and to make a complete and systematic record
thereof, and to cause records to be placed with the Town
Clerk; to authorize the County Treasurer to extend the
time for collection of State, county and town taxes in
any town or ward, to a period not beyond the first day of
April in any year, under certain conditions ; to impose taxes
on dogs ; to direct the payment by Justices of the Peace of
all fines and penalties imposed by and paid to such Justices;
to enact laws for the preservation of game and fish ; to di
rect the employment of offenders below the grade of felons;
to establish the jail limits of the county jails for the pur
poses defined by statutes ; to call and hold special town-
meetings ; to authorize any town, under certain conditions,
to purchase a site for a town or village hall, and to pur
chase or erect buildings for such a hall, and to raise money
for the care, preservation and improvement of such
halls ; to authorize any incorporated village, under certain
conditions, whose charter does not give sufficient power, to
purchase apparatus for the extinguishing of fire, etc., etc. ;
to give the proper authorities general power over
village or town cemetery lots ; to authorize any town which
shall make application therefor, by the vote of an annual
town meeting, to elect a receiver instead of a collector of
taxes, whenever the aggregate of State, county and town
taxes in such town shalt exceed the sum of fifty thousand
dollars ; to authorize the annual town meetings and all
special town meetings in a town to be held by election dis
tricts; to designate, under conditions, the number of Assess
ors in each town, and to increase the compensation to an
amount not exceeding three dollars per diem ; to au
thorize Trustees of Boards of Education, in any union free
school district established according to law, to sell or ex
change real estate; to determine after the 15th of Novem-
per, 1875— except in the County of Kings— in what newspa
pers, not exceeding two, the election notice issued by the
Secretary of State, and the official canvass, shall be pub
lished, and to fix the compensation for such publication ; but
in places where publication shall be ordered to be made in
two newspapers, such papers shall be of opposite political
character.

86

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Extending the Term of Supervisors. — The act
of May 14, 1878, provides that the Supervisors of
the several towns and wards in cities, in the Coun
ties of Albany, Livingston, Rensselaer and Mon
roe, shall be elected and hold office for a term of
two years ; it is also provided that all acts or parts
of acts inconsistent with this act, so far as the same
applies to the County of Albany, are repealed ; and
the said act took effect at the first election in
1879. Claims Against the County. — A very important
act in relation to the powers and duties of the
Board of Supervisors of Albany County was passed
by the Legislature, May 14, 1881. This act was
in reference to claims and demands against the
County of Albany, making it necessary to have all
such claims passed upon by the Board of Super
visors, and that all claims presented to the Board
in the form of accounts must be itemized and veri
fied, and after being presented to the Clerk of the
Board they are to be printed under the direction of
the said Clerk, at an expense not exceeding the or
dinary price for such work, and distributed under
his direction to each member of the Board within
eight days after such accounts have been presented.
No claim or demand against the county of the
above character shall be in any manner acted upon
by the Board (except to refer the same
to an appropriate committee for examination
and report) until three days after such account
has been printed and distributed as required. It
is a misdemeanor to neglect the directions afore
said. " The account," continues the act, " must state when and
where the work was performed and material furnished, under
what contract or under what authority it was performed and
the materials furnished ; and must state, with reasonable de
tail, the character and amount of the work done, and the ma
terials furnished. It must contain the name of each person
interested in the same, or who makes any claim to any share
or portion of the sum to be paid."
Verification.— It must be verified by one, at least, of
the parties in whose name the same is presented, and must
be to the effect that the same is presented in the name or
names of the real party or parties in interest, and that the
contract was not made, or the work performed, or materials
furnished, in the name of one person for the interest of an
other; and that no county officer, or member of any board
or commission of the county or salaried employee thereof, is
or has been, directly or indirectly, interested therein, either
in the doing of the work or furnishing the material, or has
been paid or promised anything for the letting of the con
tract; that the work, as charged, was actually done, and the
material specified was actually furnished and used at the
time and places mentioned, and are of the value charged, or
at the prices specified in the contract ; that no bill has been
presented nor claim made therefor, for the payment of such
work or materials, or for any part or item of such work or
materials, except as therein stated; and if such bill has been
theretofore presented, or such claim has been theretofore
made for the whole, or any part thereof, it shall be stated to
whom or what board, body or commission it was presented
or made, the time or times thereof, and the action of such
person, board, body or commission thereon, and when such
action was taken.
In no county of the State is the law touching the presen
tation and payment of claims to the Board of Supervisors
more strictly or more properly guarded than in Albany
County. ¦ Blanks for Verification. —The Clerk of the
Board prepares a printed blank form of verification,

to be approved by the District Attorney, gratui
tously to all persons demanding the same.
Proceedings to be Printed. — The proceedings
of the Board of Supervisors must be printed and
distributed under the direction of the clerk within
the time mentioned for the printing and distribution
of the aforesaid accounts.
Payment of Ten Dollars. — Upon payment of
ten dollars to the County Treasurer of the county
any tax-payer may have for one year a printed copy
of the proceedings of the Board, and of the printed
bills as they are from time to time distributed,
and at the times above described for their delivery
to the members of the Board, delivered to him at
some place to be designated by him, and within
one- quarter of a mile from the place where the
Board holds its meetings.
Persons Exempted. — None of the provisions of
this act shall be held to effect the salaries of county
officers, or the mode or manner in which payment
is made, nor the wages of the laborers of the City
of Albany. None of the provisions of this act shall
apply to the employment of counsel to aid the Dis
trict Attorney in any legal matters in which the
county is interested when such employment is by
authority of law.
Extending Powers of Local Legislation. — The
act of 1875, conferring on Boards of Supervisors
further local powers of legislation and administra
tion, and regulating the compensation of Super
visors, was amended by an act of the Legislature,
passed April 10, 1882; but the Counties of Albany,
New York, Rensselaer, Kings, Oneida and Erie
were exempted from the amendments of that act.
supervisors and district attorneys.
The act of May 22, 1882, empowers the District Attorney
of any county in which a capital case is to be tried, with the
approval in writing ot the County Judge of the county, which
shall first be filed in the County Clerk's office, to employ
counsel to assist him on such trials, at the cost and expense
of the county, after being audited by the Board of Super
visors of the county in which the indictment on the case was
found; and the amount shall be assessed, levied and collected
by the Board of Supervisors of such county at its next annual
assessment, levy and collection of county taxes after such
services shall have been performed, and thereupon paid to
the party entitled to the same.
County Buildings. — Some of the provisions of
the act of April 3, 1849, are modified by the act of
May 28, 1884 (as well as some acts previous to
this date), especially in that it requires
Detailed statements to be made and proposals for doing
work and furnishing goods for any county buildings. It
directs the form of the proposals, and that they shall be
presented to the County Treasurer; defines the duties of the
County Treasurer touching the same, and in case he shall
refuse to order the materials to be furnished, or the work to
be done, under any of the proposals, on the grounds that the
work is unnecessary, or that its expense is not a county
charge, or that he has reason to believe that any fraud is
being practiced upon the county connected with it, he shall
give the county officer or person making the requisition, and
also to any tax-payer filing with him written objections to
his granting an order for work or materials, written notice,
of a time and place within ten days after receiving the re
quisition, when the matter will be brought to the attention
of the County Judge. The act then defines the duties of
the County Judge as to hearing the matter and things con
nected therewith and the time and place of hearing and

HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

87

within what time his order or decision in the matter shall be
made, and provides for an appeal to the General Term of
the Supreme Court from his order or judgment.
It defines the duties of officers having charge of county
buildings in the County of Albany, in regard to the work of
superintending repairs or alterations to be made by them on
such buildings. It renders it obligatory on him to super
intend such work. It defines the duties of the treasurer
of Albany County in regard to the payment of bills for such
work; and if the treasurer refuses to pay any bill for fur
nishing material or doing such work, under the provisions
of this act, the parties not paid may present their account
to the Board of Supervisors of the County in the form and
maimer, and with the verifications required by the law we
have already quoted, a verified claim thereof, attaching
thereto a copy of the detailed statement made in respect
thereto, etc., etc.
Expense Limited by Act. — No expense exceeding two
hundred dollars in amount shall be incurred during any one
period of six months, from January first or July first, in any
year, for any one alteration or repair, or for alterations or
repairs of the same character to or in connection with any
one building, or except for fuel, or any materials, or supplies
of the same general character or class, to or in connection
with the use of any one building, unless it shall have been
previously authorized by a Board of Supervisors of the
County of Albany.
The act makes strong regulations in regard to any sta
tionery or printing of any kind, including blank forms used
in the Surrogate's and District Attorney's offices.
It directs that the salaries of the Members of the Board of
Supervisors of Albany County shall be paid, one-half there
of on December first in each year, and the other half at the
time of final adjournment sine die, every fall session of said
Board. It also directs that the provisions of the act shall
not apply to the Penitentiary, Almshouse, the City Hall in
the City of Albany, or to the care, repairs, alterations or
management thereof.
We have now given the statutory and legal his
tory of the Board of Supervisors of Albany County.
In it will be found, substantially, all the important
acts of the Legislature concerning the powers and
duties of these Supervisors from the organization
of the State Government down to the present time.
It is interesting to observe how those powers and
duties gradually extended and widened out from a
mere Board of County and Town Audit into a leg
islative bod)' which has taken from the State Leg
islature a very large part of its powers to enact
local laws touching towns in the County. These
powers having been conferred upon the Board of
Supervisors from time to time.
Owing to the loss and partial destruction of
many of the records containing the proceedings of
the Board of Supervisors, we have found it very
difficult and in some cases impossible, to prepare
a connected history of its proceedings. We find
but little history of the Supervisors, from the adop
tion of the first Constitution to 1 8 1 8. We are only
able to give a list of the Supervisors from that
period to 1 86 1. From that time we are enabled to
give a condensed history of the proceedings of the
Board down to and including 1884.
LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE SEVERAL BOARDS
FROM THE YEAR 1818 TO i860, INCLUSIVE.
1818.
City  First ward  George Shepard.
Second ward  John Van Schaick.
Third ward  Nicholas Bleecker.
Fourth ward 
Fifth ward  Isaac_Fryer.

Towns  Berne  John Jost Dietz.
Bethlehem  Moses De Long.
Coeymans  Archibald Stevens.
Guilderland  William McKown.
Rensselaerville  Asa Colvard.
Watervliet  John Schuyler, Jr.
Westerlo 
John Schuyler, Jr., Moderator.
1819.
City  First ward  George Shepard.
Second ward  John Van Schaick.
Third ward  Nicholas Bleecker.
Fourth ward  Peter Boyd.
Fifth ward  Jno. N. Quackenbush.
Towns  Berne  Gideon Taber.
Bethlehem  David Burhans.
Coeymans  John N. Huyck.
Guilderland  William McKown.
Rensselaerville  Eli Hutchinson.
Watervliet  John Schuyler, Jr.
Westerlo  William Wheeler.
John Schuyler, Jr., Moderator.
1820.
City  First ward  James La Grange.
Second ward  Isaac Hamilton.
Third ward  Nicholas Bleecker.
Fourth ward  Benjamin Knower.
Fifth ward  Isaac I. Fryer.
Towns . . . Berne  Gideon Taber.
Bethlehem  David Burhans.
Coeymans  John N. Huyck.
Guilderland  William McKown.
Rensselaerville  Eli Hutchinson.
Watervliet  John Schuyler, Jr.
Westerlo  Sylvester Ford.
John Schuyler, Jr., Moderator.
1821.
City  First ward  Jesse Buel.
Second ward  Isaac Hamilton.
Third ward  Nicholas Bleecker.
Fourth ward  Alexander Davidson.
Fifth ward  Jno. N. Quackenbush.
Towns  Berne  Malachi Whipple.
Bethlehem  Henry L. Mead.
Coeymans  John N. Huyck,
Guilderland  William McKown.
Rensselaerville  Eli Hutchinson.
Watervliet  John Schuyler, Jr.
Westerlo  Moses Smith.
John Schuyler, Jr., Moderator.
1822.
City  First ward  John J. Ostrander.
Second ward  Isaac Hamilton.
Third ward  Nicholas Bleecker.
Fourth ward  Alexander Davidson.
Fifth ward  Jno. N. Quackenbush.
Towns  Berne  Jesse Wood.
Bethlehem  William N. Sill.
Coeymans  Israel Shear.
Guilderland  William McKown .
Knox  Malachi Whipple.
Rensselaerville  Nathaniel Rider.
Watervliet  John Schuyler, Jr.
Westerlo  Thomas Smith.
John Schuyler, Jr., Moderator.
1823.
City  Firstward  Isaac Denniston.
Second ward  John F. Bacon.
Third ward  Nicholas Bleecker.
Fourth ward.  William Mayell.
Fifth ward  Jno. N. Quackenbush.
Towns  Berne  Jesse Wood.
Bethlehem  William N. Sill.
Coeymans  Israel Shear.

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Towns . . . Guilderland  William McKown.
Knox  Malachi Whipple.
Rensselaerville  Nathaniel Rider.
Watervliet  John Schuyler, Jr.
Westerlo  D. J. D. Verplanck.
John Schuyler, Jr., Moderator.
1824.
City  First ward  James McKown.
Second ward  Isaac Hamilton.
Third ward  Teunis Van Vechten.
Fourth ward  William Mayell.
Fifth ward  Jno. N. Quackenbush.
Towns. . . Berne  Stephen Willes.
Bethlehem  William N. Sill.
Coeymans  Israel Shear.
Guilderland  William McKown.
Knox  Malachi Whipple.
Rensselaerville  Isaac Gardiner.
Watervliet  Lucas G. Whitbeck.
Westerlo  D. J. D. Verplanck.
Teunis Van Vechten, Moderator.
1825.
City  First ward  James McKown.
Second ward  Isaac Hamilton.
Third ward  Nicholas Bleecker.
Fourth ward  Peter Bain.
Fifth ward  Jno. N. Quackenbush.
Towns  Berne  James D. Gardiner.
Bethlehem  William N. Sill.
Coeymans  Israel Shear.
Guilderland  George Batterman.
Knox  Erastus Williams.
Rensselaerville  Joshua Gardiner.
Watervliet  Lucas G. Whitbeck,
Westerlo  Moses Smith.
John N. Quackenbush, Moderator.
1826.
City  Firstward  James McKown.
Second ward  Isaac Hamilton.
Third ward  Nicholas Bleecker.
Fourth ward  William Mayell.
Fifth ward  Jno. N. Quackenbush.
Towns  Berne  James D. Gardiner.
Bethlehem  Matthew Bullock.
Coeymans  Abraham Verplanck.
Guilderland  George Batterman.
Knox  Egbert Schoonmaker.
Rensselaerville  Wheeler Watson.
Watervliet  Lucas G. Whitbeck.
Weslerlo  Henry Peers.
James McKown, Moderator.
1827.
City  First ward  Barent P. Staats.
Second ward  Isaac Hamilton.
Third ward  Nicholas Bleecker.
Fourth ward  William Mayell.
Fifth ward  Jno. N. Quackenbush.
Towns  Berne  Chester Willis.
Bethlehem  Matthew Bullock.
Coeymans  Abraham Verplanck.
Guilderland.  George Batterman.
Knox  Egbert Schoonmaker.
Rensselaerville  Wheeler Watson.
Watervliet  Francis Lansing.
Westerlo  Henry Peers.
John N. Quackenbush, Moderator.
1828.
City  First ward  Barent 1'. Staats.
Second ward  William Seymour.
Third ward  Nicholas Bleecker.
Fourth ward  William Mayell.
Fifth ward  Jno. N. Quackenbush.
Towns  Berne  Henry H. Lawson.
Bethlehem  Gerrit Hogan.

Towns  Coeymans  Abraham Verplanck.
Guilderland  George Batterman.
Knox  Egbert Schoonmaker.
Rensselaerville  Joseph Connor.
Watervliet  Francis Lansing.
Westerlo  Thomas Jenks.
John N. Quackenbush, Moderator.
1829.
City  First ward  Barent P. Staats.
Second ward  William Seymour.
Third ward  Nicholas Bleecker.
Fourth ward  Joseph Alexander.
Fifth ward  Jno. N.Quackenbush.
Towns. . . . Berne  Albert Gallup.
Bethlehem  James Alexander.
Coeymans  Andrew Whitbeck.
Guilderland  •  George Batterman.
Knox  Egbert Schoonmaker.
Rensselaerville  Joseph Connor.
Watervliet  Francis Lansing.
Westerlo  Thomas Jenks.
John N. Quackenbush, Moderator.
1830.
City  First ward  Barent P. Staats.
Second ward  Josiah Winants.
Third ward  Nicholas Bleecker.
Fourth ward  Stephen Fowler.
Fifth ward  Jno. N. Quackenbush.
Towns  Berne  Henry H. Lawson.
Bethlehem  James Alexander.
Coeymans  Andrew Whitbeck.
Guilderland  George Batterman.
Knox  Egbert Schoonmaker.
Rensselaerville  John Niles.
Watervliet  Francis Lansing.
Westerlo  Peter Onderdonk.
John N. Quackenbush, Chairman.
1831.
City  First ward  Barent P. Staats.
Second ward  William Seymour.
Third ward  Nicholas Bleecker.
Fourth ward  Lemuel Steele.
Fifth ward  Robert Shepard.
Towns .... Berne  Malachi Whipple.
Bethlehem  Leonard G.Ten Eyck.
Coeymans  Andrew Whitbeck.
Guilderland  Aaron Livingston.
Knox  Egbert Schoonmaker.
Rensselaerville  John Niles.
Watervliet  Francis Lansing.
Westerlo  Charles Hyndman.
Nicholas Bleecker, Chairman.
In this year Supervisor Staats made a motion
that the Board should agree to a resolution, with a
recital, which was read and unanimously agreed to,
and is in the words following, to wit :
Whereas, James Van Ingen, the present Clerk of this
Board, was appointed to that office on the 6th day of Octo
ber, 1807, in the room of Jacob Bleecker, Jr., Esq., deceased,
and has unanimously continued as Clerk ever since his ap
pointment, and has uniformly given satisfaction to the sev
eral Boards of Supervisors whose Clerk he has been; there
fore, Resolved, That the said James Van Ingen be continued
as Clerk to this Board for the current year.
1832.
City  First ward  Barent P. Staats.
Second ward  John I. Burton.
Third ward  Nicholas Bleecker.
Fourth ward  Samuel S. Fowler.
Fifth ward   Jno. N. Quackenbush.
Towns  Berne  Malachi Whipple. " _
Bethlehem  Leonard G. Ten Eyck.
Coeymans   Henry Niles.

HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

Towns  Guilderland  Aaron Livingston.
Knox  Frederick Bassler, Jr.
Rensselaerville  Nathaniel Rider.
Watervliet  Francis Lansing.
Westerlo   Charles Hyndman.
John N. Quackenbush, Chairman. Thomas W. Harmon, Clerk.
1833.
City  First ward  Barent P. Staats.
Second ward  John I. Burton.
Third ward  Egbert Egberts.
Fourth ward  Samuel S. Fowler.
Fifth ward  Jno.N. Quackenbush.
Towns  Berne  Daniel Simmons.
Bethlehem  William N. "Sill.
Coeymans  Henry Niles.
Guilderland  Chris. Batterman.
Knox  Frederick Bassler, Jr.
New Scotland  James Reid.
Rensselaerville  Nathaniel Rider.
Watervliet  John C. Schuyler.
Westerlo  Anthony Miller.
John N. Quackenbush, Chairman .
1834.
City  First ward  Angus McDuffle.
Second ward  Ichabod L. Judson.
Third ward  Egbert Egberts.
Fourth ward  Daniel Wilcox.
Fifth ward  John Van Ness, Jr.
Towns .... Berne  Lawrence Van Duzen.
Bethlehem  Leonard G. Ten Eyck.
Coeymans  Henry Niles.
Guilderland  Chris. Batterman.
Knox  Frederick Bassler.
New Scotland  James Reid.
Rensselaerville  Charles L. Mulford.
Watervliet  John C. Schuyler.
Westerlo  Anthony Miller.
Leonard G. Ten Eyck, Chairman. Heman C. Whelpley, Clerk.
1835.
City  First ward  Stephen Paddock.
Second ward  John I. Burton.
Third ward  Egbert Egberts.
Fourth ward  Samuel S. Fowler.
Fifth ward  Robert Shepard.
Towns  Berne  James G. Gardner.
Bethlehem  Daniel Springsteed.
Coeymans  Cornelius Vanderzee.
Guilderland  Chris. Batterman.
Knox  Frederick Bassler.
New Scotland  James Reid.
Rensselaerville  Charles L. Mulford.
Watervliet  John C. Schuyler.
Westerlo  David Wooster.
Samuel S. Fowler, Chairman. Calvin Pepper, Clerk.
1836.
City  First ward  Stephen Paddock.
Second ward  John I. Burton.
Third ward  Egbert Egberts.
Fourth ward  ,  Peter P. Staats.
Fifth ward  Jno. N. Quackenbush.
Towns. . . Berne.  Moses Patten.
Bethlehem  James B. Wands.
Coeymans  Cornelius Van Derzee.
Guilderland  Chris. Batterman.
Knox  Frederick Bassler.
Rensselaerville  James Reid.
Watervliet  John C. Schuyler.
Westerlo  David Wooster.
John N. Quackenbush, Chairman.
1837.
City  First ward  Chris. W. Bender.
Second ward  Hazael Kane.
12

City  Third ward  Friend Humphrey.
Fourth ward  Peter P. Staats.
Fifth ward  Harman V. Hart.
Towns . . Berne  Moses Patten.
Bethlehem  James B. Wands.
Coeymans  Cornelius Van Derzee.
Guilderland  Chris. Batterman.
Knox  Frederick Bassler.
New Scotland  James Reid.
Rensselaerville  Samuel Niles.
Watervliet  John C. Schuyler.
Westerlo  William Bentley.
Christopher Batterman, Chairman.
Calvin Pepper, Jr., Clerk.
1838.
City  First ward  Chris. W. Bender.
Second ward  Hazael Kane.
Third ward  Friend Humphrey.
Fourth ward  Charles A. Keeler.
Fifth ward  Giles Sandford.
Towns  Berne  Moses Patten.
Bethlehem  Joshua F. Babcock.
Coeymans  Jonas Shear.
Guilderland  Chris. Batterman.
Knox  Egbert Schoonmaker.
New Scotland  James Reid.
Rensselaerville  Louis M. Dayton.
Watervliet  Jeremiah Schuyler.
Westerlo  William Bentley.
Christopher Batterman, Chairman. Calvin Pepper, Jr., Clerk.
1839.
City  Firstward  Chris. W. Bender.
Second ward  William Newton.
Third ward  George Dexter.
Fourth ward  Henry Greene.
Fifth ward  Giles Sandford.
Towns  Berne  John Warner.
Bethlehem  Joshua F. Babcock.
Coeymans  Jonas Shear.
Guilderland  Chris. Batterman.
Knox  Egbert SchooDmaker.
New Scotland  Aaron Van Schaick.
Rensselaerville  Louis M. Dayton
Watervliet  Gilbert I. Van Zandt.
Westerlo  Zelum Hitchcock.
Christopher Batterman, Chairman.
1840.
City  First ward  Chris. W. Bender.
Second ward  William Newton.
Third ward  George Dexter.
Fourth ward  Henry Greene.
Fifth ward  Daniel D. Shaw.
Towns. . . .Berne  Jacob Settle.
Bethlehem  Abner Udell.
Coeymans  Jonas Shear.
Guilderland  Henry Sloan.
Knox  Potter Gage.
New Scotland  Aaron Van Schaick.
Rensselaerville  Joseph Connor.
Watervliet  Gilbert I. Van Zandt.
Westerlo  Zelum Hitchcock.
Christopher W. Bender, Chairman.
Calvin Pepper, Jr., Clerk.
1841.
City  First and Second wards . . Andrew Moore.
Third ward  Chris. W. Bender.
Fourth ward  Horace Meech.
Fifth ward  George Dexter.
Sixth ward  Samuel Pruyn.
Seventh ward  Daniel D. Shaw.
Eighth ward  James A. Putnam.
Ninth and Tenth wards. . John D. Livingston.
Towns. . . . Berne  Jacob Settle.
Bethlehem  Abner Udell.

90

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Towns  Coeymans  Garret Whitbeck.
Guilderland  Henry Sloan.
Knox   Potter Gage.
New Scotland  William Murphy.
Rensselaerville  Benjamin E. Mackey.
Watervliet  Gilbert I. Van Zandt.
Westerlo  Fred. H. Rosekrantz.
Christopher W. Bender, Chairman. C. J. Cuyler, Clerk.
1842.
City  First and Second wards. . Andrew Moore.
Third ward  W. J. Fryer.
Fourth ward  Horace Meech.
Fifth ward  Elisha W. Skinner.
Sixth ward  Samuel Pruyn.
Seventh ward  Daniel D. Shaw.
Eighth ward  W. B. Stanton.
Ninth and Tenth wards . . George Traver.
Towns. . . .Berne  Henry I. Devoe.
Bethlehem  And. Vanderheyden.
Coeymans  Garret Whitbeck.
Guilderland  Peter Shaver.
New Scotland  William Murphy.
Knox  Alexander Crounse.
Rensselaerville  Benjamin E. Mackey.
Watervliet  Gilbert I. Van Zandt.
Westerlo  Fred. H. Rosekrantz.
Gilbert I. Van Zandt, Chairman.
Jacob M. Shuttle, Clerk.
1843.
City  First and Second wards . . John McEvoy.
Third ward  Stephen Van Schaick.
Fourth ward  Levi Chapman.
Fifth ward  Elisha W. Skinner.
Sixth ward  Samuel Pruyn.
Seventh ward  David Martin.
Eighth ward  Heman A. Fay.
Ninth and Tenth wards. . William H. Bender.
Towns  Berne  Henry I. Devoe.
Bethlehem  And. Vanderheyden.
Coeymans  Garret Whitbeck.
Guilderland  Peter Shaver.
Knox  Alexander Crounse.
New Scotland  William Murphy.
Rensselaerville  James G, Clark.
Watervliet  Gilbert I. Van Zandt.
Westerlo  Abram Griffin.
Gilbert I. Van Zandt, Chairman.
Joseph P. Sigsbee, Clerk.
1844.
City  First ward  John McEvoy.
Second ward  Peter P. Staats.
Third ward  Charles A. De Forest.
Fourth ward  Horace Meech.
Fifth ward  William Thorburn.
Sixth ward  Samuel Pruyn.
Seventh ward  George W. Welch.
Eighth ward  Heman A. Fay.
Ninth ward  Bradford R. Wood.
Tenth ward  Jesse Buel.
Towns  Berne  Oscar Tyler.
Bethlehem  And. Vanderheyden.
Coeymans  John Mead.
Guilderland  Peter Shaver.
Knox  Charles Cheesbro.
New Scotland  William Murphy.
Rensselaerville  Shadrach I. Porter.
Watervliet  Gilbert I. Van Zandt.
Westerlo  Abraham Griffin.
Gilbert I. Van Zandt, Chairman.
Jacob P. Sigsbee, Clerk.
1845.
City  First ward  William Chambers.
Second ward  Peter P. Staats.
Third ward  John C. Ward.

City  Fourth ward  Horace Meech.
Fifth ward  William Thorburn.
Sixth ward  Samuel Pruyn.
Seventh ward  George W. Welch.
Eighth ward  Heman A. Fay.
Ninth ward  Ichabod L. Judson.
Tenth ward  Jacob Henry.
Towns. . . .Berne  John Crosby.
Bethlehem  Francis I. Shaver.
Coeymans. . ,  John Mead.
Guilderland  Peter Shaver.
Knox  Charles Cheesbro.
New Scotland  Coonrad Mathias.
Rensselaerville  Valentine Treadwell.
Watervliet  Thomas Hillhouse.
Westerlo  Abram Vrooman.
Peter P. Staats, Chairman. Hugh Scott, Clerk.
1846.
City  First ward  Bernard Lynch.
Second ward  Andrew Moore.
Third ward  Silvester F. Shepard.
Fourth ward  Charles S. Olmstead.
Fifth ward  Thomas McMullen.
Sixth ward  Samuel Pruyn.
Seventh ward  J. Van Valkenburgh.
Eighth ward.  William Jones.
Ninth ward  Isaac N. Comstock.
Tenth ward  William Beardsley.
Towns .... Berne  , . . . Samuel H. Davis.
Bethlehem  John McHarg.
Coeymans  Elwell Blodget.
Guilderland  John Fuller.
Knox  David Van Auken.
New Scotland  Coonrad Mathias.
Rensselaerville   Valentine Treadwell.
Watervliet  Gilbert I. Van Zandt.
Westerlo  Abraham Vrooman.
Gilbert 1. Van Zandt, Chairman. Peter Settle, Clerk.
1847.
City  First ward  Bernard Lynch.
Second ward  Brown S. Spencer.
Third ward  Sylvester S. Shepard.
Fourth ward  Charles S. Olmstead.
Fifth ward  Coonrad A.TenEyck.
Sixth ward  Samuel Pruyn.
Seventh ward  Parker Sargent.
Eighth ward: :  Oliver Wallace.
Ninth ward . ;  Christopher Adams.
Tenth ward  Adam Van Allen.
Towns  Berne  Samuel H. Davis.
Bethlehem  John McHarg.
Coeymans  Elwell Blodget.
Guilderland  John Fuller.
Knox  David Van Auken.
New Scotland  Robert Taylor.
Rensselaerville  S. M. Hallenbeck.
Watervliet  Archibald A. Dunlop.
Westerlo  Avery Slade.
Charles S. Olmstead, Chairman. Peter Settle, Clerk.
1848.
City  First ward  Richard Parr.
Second ward  Matthew McMahon.
Third ward  John Hurdis.
Fourth ward  Franklin Townsend.
Fifth ward  William White.
Sixth ward  Samuel Pruyn.
Seventh ward  George W. Welch.
Eighth ward  Oliver Wallace.
Ninth ward  James A. Tremere.
Tenth ward  Adam Van Allen.
Towns . . . .Berne  John J. Bogardus.
Bethlehem  Jeremiah Mead.
Coeymans  John Van Derzee.

HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

91

Towns  Guilderland  Jacob J. Fryer.
Knox  Perez Fink, Jr.
New Scotland  Robert Taylor.
Rensselaerville  Stephen Hallenbeck.
Watervliet  Archibald A. Dunlop.
Westerlo  Avery Slade.
Samuel Pruyn, Chairman. James F. Whelpley, Clerk.
1849.
City  First ward  John McEvoy.
Second ward  Matthew McMahon .
Third ward  John Hurdis.
Fourth ward  Franklin Townsend.
Fifth ward  William White.
Sixth ward  Samuel Pruyn.
Seventh ward  Josiah Patterson.
Eighth ward  James M. French.
Ninth ward  Richard J. Grant.
Tenth ward   Joshua G. Cortell.
Towns  Berne  Daniel G. Fisher.
Bethlehem  Jeremiah Mead.
Coeymans  John Van Derzee.
Guilderland  Jacob J. Fryer.
Knox  Perez Frink.
New Scotland  Robert Taylor.
Rensselaerville  William Aley .
Watervliet  Gilbert I. Van Zandt
Westerlo  Caleb Smith.
Samuel Pruyn, Chairman. James M. Whelpley, Clerk.
1850.
City  First ward  James McCaffery.
Second ward  Matthew McMahon.
Third ward  Charles A. De Forest.
Fourth ward  Charles S. Olmstead.
Fifth ward  William White.
Sixth ward  David Martin.
Seventh ward  Charles H. Radcliff.
Eighth ward  Samuel N. Payn.
Ninth ward  William McBride.
Tenth ward  Joshua G. Cortell.
Towns  Berne  Henry A. Van Wie.
Bethlehem  Jeremiah Mead.
Coeymans  Nathaniel Niles.
Guilderland  Elijah Spawn.
Knox  Lyman Witters.
New Scotland  John McEwen.
Rensselaerville  William Aley.
Watervliet  Gilbert I. Van Zandt.
Westerlo  Caleb Smith.
Gilbert I. Van Zandt, Chairman.
Orville H. Chittenden, Clerk.
1851.
City  First ward  Philip Foy.
Second ward  Matthew McMahon.
Third ward  John A. Sickles.
Fourth ward  Henry C. Southwick.
Fifth ward  Michael Clark.
Sixth ward  J. V.P. Quackenbush.
Seventh ward  Charles Miller.
Eighth ward  Oliver Wallace.
Ninth ward  Isaac Vanderpoel.
Tenth ward  Adam Van Allen.
Towns.... Berne  Henry A. Van Wie.
Bethlehem  Elias Milbanks.
Coeymans  Nathaniel Niles.
Guilderland  Elijah Spawn.
KnOX  Lyman Witters.
New Scotland! .' . .'  John McEwen.
Rensselaerville  Daniel A. Mackey.
Watervliet  Archibald A. Dunlop.
Westerlo  Samuel F. Powell.
Matthew McMahon, Chairman. Orville H. Chittenden, Clerk.
1852.
City  First ward  Philip F°y-

City  Second ward  ,  John Reynolds.
Third ward 
Fourth ward  William Boardman.
Fifth ward  Michael Clark.
Sixth ward  ,  Stephen Lush.
Seventh ward  Charles Miller.
Eighth ward  Thomas Gillespie.
Ninth ward  Ten Eyck La Moure.
Tenth ward  Adam Van Allen.
Towns  Berne  Jackson King.
Bethlehem  Elias Milbanks.
Coeymans  Willet Serls.
Guilderland  Wendell Vine.
Knox  Stephen Merselis, Jr.
New Scotland  ' . John Mathias.
Rensselaerville  William Aley.
Watervliet  James H. Brisbin.
Westerlo  Samuel F. Powell.
James H. Brisbin, Chairman. George Wolford, Clerk.
1853.
City  First ward  John Lawless.
Second ward  John Stuart.
Third ward  Alexander Davidson.
Fourth ward  William Boardman.
Fifth ward  Michael Clarke.
Sixth ward  Stephen Lush.
Seventh ward  Charles Miller.
Eighth ward  Lawrence Dowd.
Ninth ward  John Sager.
Tenth ward  Andrew Fisher.
Towns  Berne  Jackson King.
Bethlehem  George F. Imbrie.
Coeymans  Willet Serls.
Guilderland  Wendell Vine.
Knox  Stephen Merselis, Jr.
New Scotland  John Mathias.
Rensselaerville  Benjamin F. Sayre.
Watervliet  John C. Schuyler.
Westerlo  Samuel F. Powell.
Alexander Davidson, Chairman.George Wolford, Clerk.
1854.
City  First ward  John Lawless.
Second ward  James Taylor.
Third ward  Geo. A. H.Englehart.
Fourth ward  Abram Koonz.
Fifth ward  Michael Clarke.
Sixth ward  Stephen Lush.
Seventh ward   John Benson.
Eighth ward  William B. Scott.
Ninth ward  William McBride, Jr.
Tenth ward  Andrew Fisher.
Towns  Berne  :  Silas Wright.
Bethlehem  John Patterson.
Coeymans  Garrit Whitbeck.
Guilderland  George Y. Johnson.
Knox  Henry Barckley.
New Scotland  Wm. Van Allen.
Rensselaerville  William Aley.
Watervliet  Dillon Beebe.
Westerlo  George H. Bentley.
Abram Koonz, Chairman. George Wolford, Clerk.
1855.
City  First ward  James Lamb.
Second ward  John M. Kimball.
Third ward  William H. Rice.
Fourth ward  Henry Rector.
Fifth ward  John E. Gavitt.
Sixth ward  James C. Crocker.
Seventh ward  Thomas Earley .
Eighth ward  James Jones.
Ninth ward  Alonzo Bruce.
Tenth ward  B. S. De Forest.
Towns  Berne  Silas Wright.
Bethlehem  Leonard G.Ten Eyck

92

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Towns. . . . Coeymans  Gerrit Whitbeck. .
Guilderland  George Y. Johnson.
Knox  Henry Barckley .
New Scotland  P. V. W. Brooks.
Rensselaerville  Norman A. Ford.
Watervliet  Gilbert I. Van Zandt.
Westerlo  George H. Bentley.
George Y. Johnson, Chairman. George Wolford, Clerk.
1856.
City  First ward  James Lamb.
Second ward  William J. Caldwell.
Third ward  William H. Rice.
Fourth ward  Abram Koonz.
Fifth ward  Robert Raby.
Sixth ward  David V. N. Radcliff.
Seventh ward  Thomas Earley.
Eighth ward  William Redden.
Ninth ward  Philip Spencer.
Tenth ward  Ezra A. Sutliff.
Towns  Berne  Samuel H. Davis.
Bethlehem  Leonard G.Ten Eyck.
Coeymans  Gerrit Whitbeck.
Guilderland  George Y. Johnson.
Knox  John Keenholtz.
New Scotland  Peter V. W. Brooks.
Rensselaerville  Norman A. Ford.
Watervliet  Gilbert I. Van Zandt.
Westerlo  Abraham Griffin.
Abraham Koonz, Chairman. William Aley, Clerk.
1857.
City  First ward  William Welch.
Second ward  William J. Caldwell.
Third ward  Thomas O. Wands.
Fourth ward  Isaac Lederer.
Fifth ward  Silas B. Hamilton.
Sixth ward  D. V. N. Radcliff.
Seventh ward  Thomas Earley.
Eighth ward  Thomas Dolan.
Ninth ward  James D. Wasson.
Tenth ward  Charles L. Austin.
Towns  Berne  Samuel H. Davis.
Bethlehem  Leonard G.Ten Eyck.
Coeymans  Gerrit Whitbeck.
Guilderland  Henry Hilton.
Knox  John Keenholtz.
New Scotland  James Slingerland.
Rensselaerville  '  Norman A. Ford.
Watervliet  William J. Wheeler.
Westerlo  Abram Griffin.
Charles L. Austin, Chairman. William Aley, Clerk.
1858.
City  First ward  William Welch.
Second ward  Charles E. White.
Third ward  Thomas O. Wands.
Fourth ward  Abram Koonz.
Fifth ward  Silas B. Hamilton.
Sixth ward  D. V. N. Radcliff.
Seventh ward  Thomas Earley.
Eighth ward  Philip McGuire.
Ninth ward  John Lossing.
Tenth ward  Joseph Fellows.
Towns  Berne  Zebadiah A. Dyer.
Bethlehem  Leonard G.Ten Eyck.
Coeymans  John B. Shear.
Guilderland  Henry Hilton.
Knox  Samuel Gallup.
New Scotland  James Slingerland.
Rensselaerville  Andrew Felter.
Watervliet  William G. Caw.
Westerlo  , . . , . v. Thomas Saxton.
Leonard G. Ten Eyck, Chairman. Allen B. Durant, Clerk.

1859.
City  First ward  Jeremiah Kieley.
Second ward  Charles W. Bentley.
Third ward  Matthew W. Bender.
Fourth ward  John McMickin.
Fifth ward  John Van Gaasbeck.
Sixth ward  D. V. N. Radcliff.
Seventh ward  Thomas Earley.
Eighth ward  Timothy Seymour.
Ninth ward  William T. Wooley.
Tenth ward  Thomas W. Griffin.
Towns  Berne  Zebadiah A. Dyer.
Bethlehem  John Wilkes.
Coeymans  John B. Shear.
Guilderland  Henry Hilton. .
Knox  Samuel Gallup.
New Scotland  Samuel Rowe.
Rensselaerville  Andrew Felter,
Watervliet  William G. Caw.
Westerlo  Thomas Saxton.
Henry Hilton, Chairman. James A. Colvin, Clerk.
1860.
City  First ward  Daniel Sullivan.
Second ward  Charles E. White.
Third ward  Matthew W. Bender.
Fourth ward  Francis N. Sill.
Fifth ward  Isaac A. Chapman.
Sixth ward  Wm. Frothingham.
Seventh ward  Thomas Earley.
Eighth ward  Stephen McKnight.
Ninth ward  William McBride,
Tenth ward  James Milwain.
Towns. . . .Berne  Henry I. Devoe.
Bethlehem  John Wilkes.
Coeymans  David A. Whitbeck.
Guilderland  Leonard Wilkins.
Knox  Samuel Warren.
New Scotland  James Slingerland.
Rensselaerville  James E. Mackey.
Watervliet  William G. Caw.
Westerlo  Abijah C. Disbrow.
Stephen McKnight, Chairman. G. V. Shafer, Clerk.
HISTORY OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF
THE BOARD FROM 1861 TO 1884.
No regular record of the proceedings of the
Board of Supervisors of Albany County is now in
existence, except that which begins with the year
1861. From that time down to the present writing
the records of the Board are well preserved, from
which we compile the remainder of our history of
the Board.
Proceedings of the annual session of the Board,
held pursuant to statute, at the City Hall, in the
City of Albany, commencing on the 14 th day of
May, 1 86 1.
The following were the members of the Board
present :
Albany  First ward  Patrick Whitty.
Second ward  Matthew Kendrick.
Third ward  James Mclntyre.
Fourth ward  John Kelso.
Fifth ward  Abraham A. Wimple.
Sixth ward  Thomas Earley.
Seventh ward  Hugh Byrne.
Eighth ward  George N. Geary.
Tenth ward  James Milwain.
Towns  Bethlehem  John Wilkes.
Berne  Henry I. Devoe.
Coeymans  David A. Whitbeck.
Guilderland  Stephen B. Frederick.
Knox  Samuel Warner.

HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

93

Towns  New Scotland  Henry Crounse.
Rensselaerville  James E. Mackey.
Watervliet  Garrit Van Olinda.
Westerlo  Abijah C. Disbrow.
Abijah C. Disbrow, Chairman.
G. V. Thacher, Clerk.
Dr. Staatz Winne was duly elected County
Physician for the ensuing year.
John Gannon was elected doorkeeper.
. At the next meeting the Chairman announced the
following standing committees :
Finance, and to Examine Treasurer's Accounts. — Messrs.
Whitbeck, Earley and Milwain.
To Examine the Books, Mortgages and Minutes of the
Loan Officers, and Commissioners of Loans.— Messrs. De
voe, Wemple and Kelso.
On all Accounts and Matters Relating to the Poor. —
Messrs. Earley, Whitty and Wemple.
On all Accounts of "Judges, Justices of the Peace, Dis
trict Attorney, Coroner, and Criers of Courts. — Messrs.
Wilkes, Devoe and Warner.
The annual statement of Thomas Kearney, the County
Treasurer, shows the receipts into the Treasury for the year
ending December, 1861, from all sources, to be $253,881.26;
the disbursements to be deducted therefrom to be $253,-
881.26; the balance-sheet of the Treasurer showed there
was due the County, in his hands, $8,300.30.
The Committee on . Equalization agreed upon
the following valuation, per acre, in the several
Towns :
Berne, $17.50; Bethlehem, $56.50, Coeymans, $35,50;
Guilderland, $37.50; Knox, $17.50; New Scotland, $38.00;
Rensselaerville, $18.50; Westerlo, $20.50; Watervliet,
$60.00. The percentage of taxation was as follows :
For the City, $1.61 per $100; Berne, $1.58 per $100;
Bethlehem, 75 cents per $100; Coeymans, 84 cents per
$100; Guilderland, $1.28 per $100; Knox, $1.13 per $100;
New Scotland, 96 cents per $100; Rensselaerville, go cents
per $100. Westerlo, 94 cents per $100; Watervliet, 94 cents
per $100; Village of West Troy, 97^ cents per $100; Vil
lage of Cohoes, 95^ cents per $100.
The total amount to be raised by tax that year
in the City of Albany was $391, 533-30.
The towns most burdened for building and re
pairing roads and bridges that year were :
Berne, $100; Coeymans, $110; Bethlehem, $100; Guilder-
land, $120; Knox, $30; New Scotland, $100; Rensselaer
ville, $100; Westerlo, $90; separate road districts, Ninth and
Tenth Wards, $250; total, $1,000.
A motion to enlarge the Penitentiary was lost by
a vote of 7 to 11. A resolution was adopted de
claring the Registry Law vexatious, exhaustingly
expensive to taxpayers, and should be repealed.
proceedings of 1862.
The annual meeting of the Board of Supervisors
began at the City Hall, in the City of Albany, May
13, 1862. The following members of the Board
were present :
First Ward, Patrick Whitty; Second Ward, Richard H.
Scott; Third Ward, James Mclntyre; Fourth Ward, Francis
N. Sill; Fifth Ward, John N. Parker; Sixth Ward, Daniel
Shaw; Seventh Ward, Asa Fassett; Eighth Ward, Henry
N. Wickes; Ninth Ward, Wm. McClusky; Tenth Ward,
Benjamin F. Rice; Berne, David Conger; Bethlehem,
Albertus W. Becker; Coeymans, Jonas Shear; Guilderland,
Stephen V. Frederick; New Scotland, James Slingerland;
Rensselaerville, George H. Lara way; Westerlo, Abijah C.
Disbrow ; Watervliet, Garrit Van Olinda.
Abijah C. Disbrow was elected Chairman of the
Board, George V. Thacher Clerk; Dr. John J.

Meyers was elected County Physician, and Fred
erick M. Johnson doorkeeper.
The death of Samuel Pruyn, Esq., one of the In
spectors of the Penitentiary from its first organiza
tion, and for many years one of the Supervisors of
the City and County of Albany, was announced.
The resolution was adopted directing the Treas
urer to pay each member of the Board for the year
i860 the sum of ten dollars and traveling fees
allowed by law for services rendered as canvassers
of the special election for members of Assembly.
The Atlas and Argus, Times and Courier, Morn
ing Express and Evening fournal were designated
as the papers to publish the proceedings of the
Board. Mr. D. A. Manning was designated as
reporter for the Atlas and Argus, Mr. Edward
Leslie for the Times and Courier ; Mr. Coney of the
Watervliet Democrat was also appointed a reporter.
A special meeting of the Board, called to devise
measures to aid in the enrollment of a regiment in
the 13th Senatorial District, convened at the City
Hall on the 29th of July, 1862. Patriotic resolu
tions were passed to take measures to sustain the
President in a call then recently made for 300,000
additional volunteers to supply the places of those
who had fallen victims to the casualties of war,
and to so increase the strength of our effective
force as to crush the rebellion. A bounty of fifty
dollars was established for each recruit enlisted in
the Albany Co. regiment in addition to the boun
ties before offered by the general and state govern
ments. The proceedings of this session were all
directed to patriotic purposes.
The annual November session of the Board of
Supervisors commenced on the nth of Novem
ber, 1862.
The apportionment of the city and county tax
was reported at the following ratio of taxation :
City east of Partridge street, $1.80 per Sioo ; city westof
Partridge street to Allen, $1.45 per $100; city west of Allen,
$1.39 per $100; Berne, $1.65 per $100; Bethlehem, 92c.
per $100 ; Coeymans, 95c. per $100 ; Guilderland, $1.48
per $100 ; Knox, $1.44 per $100 ; New Scotland, $1.19 per
$100; Rensselaerville, $i.i6per $100 ; Westerlo, $1.15 per
$100; Watervliet, $1.06 per $100 ; West Troy, $1.07^ per
Sioo; Green Island, $1.14 per $100; Cohoes, 1.06J per
$100. The Chairman of the Finance Committee sub
mitted an annual statement of moneys received and
disbursed from Dec. 10, 1861, to Dec. 10, 1862.
The report showed a balance in favor of the
county of $15,690. 78, made up as follows :
Due redemption fund  $1,037 °°
" court "  3,24909
" military "  971 72
Total  $5,257 81
Balance applicable to county purposes  $10,432 97
Out of that balance there was paid at that time
on account of election expenses since Dec. 10,
1862  1,579 25
Leaving  $8,853 72
The annual report of Thomas Kearney, County
Treasurer, shows that there was paid into the
county treasury during the year from all sources
$368,638.49. There was disbursed the sum of

94

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

$368,638.49. The amount of bounties paid that
year was $175,000.
There was a balance belonging to the county
bounty fund of $18,400.
Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors at their
May session, held at the City Hall, in the City of
Albany, May 12, 1863. The following supervisors
were present :
First Ward, Joseph Kresser ; Second Ward, Philip
O'Brien ; Third Ward, Martin V. B. Winne ; Fourth Ward,
Abram Koonz ; Fifth Ward, Barent P. Staats ; Sixth Ward,
David V. N. Radcliffe ; Seventh Ward, Thomas Early ;
Eighth Ward, Timothy Seymour ; Ninth Ward, 'Frederick
Porth ; Tenth Ward, Thomas O. Wands ; Berne, William
D. Strevell ; Bethlehem, William Kimmey ; Coeymans,
Jonas Shear ; Guilderland, Stephen V. Frederick ; Knox,
John Keenholts ; New Scotland, John R. Taylor ; Rens
selaerville, George H. Laraway ; Watervliet, Gerrit Van
Olinda ; Westerlo, Jared T. Reynolds.
George H. Laraway, Esq., appointed chairman ;
George V. Thacher, clerk ; Dr. Winne was
elected physician, and James Ogsbury, of Knox,
was appointed doorkeeper.
Mr. Staats submitted a report showing that the
expenses of the county and the Excise Commis
sioners, "for driving rum out of the city and
county," was something over $16,000 for the pre
ceding year.
The Board adjourned till the 10th of November,
1863. Proceedings of the November session of the
Board of Supervisors, held at the City Hall in
Albany, commencing November 10, 1863.
On the opening of the session, November n,
the death of Frederick Porth, late Supervisor of the
Ninth Ward, was announced, and resolutions ex
pressive of the sorrow of the Board at his loss were
unanimously passed.
The Treasurer reported the amount of fines re
ceived by the Justices of the Peace of the county
to amount to the sum of $1,122.
Amount of moneys borrowed and received from
all sources for the . support of the war during the
year was $205,098. 13.
re-indexing mortgages.
A resolution had been adopted, that the County
Clerk be authorized to re-index the mortgages of
record in his office pursuant to a system of vowel-
ization, and to transcribe and anange the index of
deeds upon the plan followed in directories and
dictionaries. This work had been successfully
prosecuted, according to the report submitted by
the Clerk, in which it appeared that a great number
of errors, and some very dangerous ones, had been
discovered and rectified. That the contents of the
old indexes — eight in number, and comprising the
period from 1753 t0 1863 — thus sifted and verified,
were contained in two books, arranged upon the
new or vowelized system. That the work done
down to that time had been upon the indices of
grantors, including the period from 1656 to 1863.
That the work already completed comprised 3, 54 1
pages, or 106,320 names. That his account for

indexing, as referred to in the above report,
amounted to $10,623.
Mr. Staats presented a statement from the United
States Collector, showing the number of liquor
dealers in the city and county of Albany to be
1,013, as follows :
West Troy, 105 ; Watervliet, 45 ; Sixth, Seventh and
Eighth Wards, 181 ; Fifth Ward, 41 ; Fourth Ward, 83 ;
Third Ward, 92 ; First and Second .Wards, 178 ; Tenth
Ward, 53 ; Ninth Ward, 88 ; Knox, Guilderland and Berne,
22 ; Bethlehem and New Scotland, 45 ; Coeymans, West
erlo and Rensselaerville, 18 ; Cohoes, 62.
A report from the Excise Commissioners showed
that out of a large number of prosecutions for in
fractions of the excise law only $450 had been col
lected ; the cost of collection was double that.
The Committee of Equalization in the city and
county fixed the valuation of the towns as follows:
Berne, $17.50 per acre; Bethlehem, $57.50 per acre;
Coeymans, $35.50 per acre; Guildeiland, $37.50 per acre;
Knox, $17.50 per acre; New Scotland, $38 per acre; Rens
selaerville, $18.50; Westerlo, $20.50; Watervliet, $60.
The annual statement of the County Treasurer
shows that there was received in his office from all
sources $419,460.18; the disbursements from the
office, $419,460.18.
There was paid to the Sheriff this year for serv
ing notices, etc., etc., $2,637.95; board of prison
ers, $6,718; making in all a total of $9,355.95.
There was paid to reporters the sum of $499.
The expense of City Government was $240, 700;
police force, $40, 000.
Annual May Session of the Board of Supervisors
held at City Hall, in Albany, May 10, 1864.
Supervisors present :
First Ward, Joseph Kresser; Second Ward, Philip O'Brien;
Third Ward, James M. Carlin ; Fourth Ward, Abram Koonz ;
Fifth Ward, Barent P. Staats; Sixth Ward, James H. Carroll;
Seventh Ward, Thomas Early; Eighth Ward, Philip Mc-
Guire; Ninth Ward, Frank Marshall; Tenth Ward, Chris
topher W. Bender; Berne, David Conger; Bethlehem, William
Kimmey ; Coeymans, Peter Keefer; Guilderland, Stephen V.
Frederick; Knox, Ira Van Auken; New Scotland, John R.
Taylor; Rensselaerville, George H. Laraway; Watervliet,
Gerrit Van Olinda; Westerlo, Jared I. Reynolds.
George H. Laraway, Chairman.
George V. Thacher, Clerk.
Dr. Barent P. Staats, County Physician.
James McAneeny, Doorkeeper.
A statement of the moneys borrowed by resolu
tion of the Board, December 17, 1863, and dis
bursed to pay bounties from December 4, 1863, to
July 18, 1864, inclusive, showed that $1,074,217. 28
had been disbursed in that time. There was a
balance on hand of $227,442.97; the interest due
on bonds, September 1, 1864, amounted to
$26,071.50. OBJECTION TO THE DRAFT.
When this statement was given, Dr. Staats rose
and said that the draft was not in accordance with
our State Constitution; that that instrument was
opposed to lotteries, and the draft was nothing
more nor less than a lottery, only there were
more prizes in a draft than in a lottery.
He "believed in making the rich man, whose
property and interests were at stake, pay liberally

HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

95

toward saving the country from a draft, by fur
nishing money to procure volunteers, and moved
that the Board favor the paying of a bounty."
His resolution was adopted. He then moved that
a committee of six be appointed to draft resolu
tions and report a plan to fill the quotas under the
President's last call for 500,000 men. This resolu-
sion was also adopted, to the effect that it was de
sirable and expedient to fill the quota of Albany
by volunteers, instead of by draft.
Active measures were taken to carry this resolu
tion into effect. Lincoln's proclamation.
Several special meetings were called to consider
the President's proclamation, made July 18, 1864,
calling for 500,000 volunteers for the military ser
vice. Without going into particulars, it is suffi
cient to say that the action of the Board of Super
visors in regard to that proclamation was prompt,
patriotic and in every sense efficient, showing that
the capital county of the State was foremost in
coming to the rescue of our country.
The Board of Supervisors convened on the 1 5th
of November, 1864, all the members of the board
being present.
The City Budget, presented on the 21st of
November, showed a gross amount of $370,000.
Mr. Staats called attention to the fact ' ' that many
charges are made against the county for post
mortem examinations, when there was never the
slightest necessity for such examinations." He
instanced ' ' one case where a bill for $30 had been
presented, and it was ascertained that the man
died from having the bones of his head knocked
in ; when the physicians were asked why they
made such examination, they replied, for their own
information and nothing more, and now they pre
sent a bill for $30, and in this manner nearly one-
half of coronors' bills are gotten up."
This year L. C. Tuttie and Hon. John C. Nott,
now county judge, were school commissioners
of the county.
The annual statement of Thomas Kearney shows
that the receipts of the county treasurer during the
year from all sources was $472,945.19; the dis
bursements amounted to $472,945.19. He also
presented his annual statement of money received
and disbursed on account of bounty fund from
Dec. 4, 1863, to Dec. 10, 1864, which amounted
to $1,914,642.62. CONTEST OVER A LAWYER'S BILL.
Mr. J. R. Hilton, attorney for the Excise Com
missioners, having obtained judgment to the
amount of $6,472.76 against the county, on pre
senting his bill for the same the Supervisors refused
to pay the judgment in full. A long controversy
ensued in regard to the matter, Mr. Hilton refus
ing to accept any sum except the full amount of
his claim. The matter was finally referred to the
committee. A referee reported in favor of a sum
due Mr. Hilton, including costs and interest, of
#6,355.31.

Mr. Staats offered a resolution that the sum of
$6,472.76 be allowed Mr. Hilton. This resolu
tion was adopted.
The equalization of real estate in the city and
county of Albany was fixed as follows :
Berne, per acre, $17.50 ; Bethlehem, per acre, $57.50 ;
Coeymans, per acre, $35.50; Guilderland, per acre, $37.50;
Knox, per acre, $18 ; New Scotland, per acre, $38; Rens
selaerville, per acre, $18.50; Westerlo, per acre, $20; Water
vliet, per acre, $60.
The meeting of this board continued by adjourn
ments until March 6, 1865.
Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors at their
annual session, May 9, 1865. Members present:
First Ward, Joseph Kresser; Second Ward, James Brice;
Third Ward, Lee Chamberlain; Fourth Ward, Abram
Koonz; Fifth Ward, Barent P. Staats; Sixth Ward, W. C. Mc
Harg; Seventh Ward, David Prest; Eighth Ward, John
McCall; Ninth Ward, Frank Marshall; Tenth Ward, Chris
topher W. Bender; Bethlehem, Wm. Kimmey; Berne, David
S. Dyer; Coeymans, Peter Keefer; Guilderland, Steven
V. Frederick ; Knox, Ira Van Auken ; New Scotland, Daniel
Callahan: Rensselaerville, George H. Laraway; Water
vliet, Gerrit Van Olinda; Westerlo, Jared T. Reynolds.
George H. Laraway, Chairman; George V. Thacher, Clerk;
Barent P. Staats, County Physician; Joseph W. Reynolds,
Doorkeeper. As soon as an organization was effected Mr.
Brice, from the Second Ward, arose and in touch
ing, eloquent language announced the death of
President Lincoln. Having concluded his re
marks, he presented an appropriate preamble and
resolutions expressive of the feelings of the mem
bers of the Board in regard to the awful crime
which resulted in the President's death, and of
their veneration for him, and that they recognized
in him "that able executive ability, tempered with
that mild and genial feeling of mercy, which has
engraven his name in the hearts of his countrymen,
and left him a character on the scroll of fame
which no time can erase."
The City Budget was presented November 22,
1865, and amounted in all to $446,703.05, of
which $10,000 was the Sinking Fund account,
$40,000 temporary outdoor relief of the poor,
$42,979.44 for public schools, pursuant to chapter
516, laws of 1855; $80,123.61 of this was the pro
portionate part of the Police expenses apportioned to
the City of Albany for the fiscal year ending Octo
ber 1, 1866, and for deficiency to October 1, 1865,
pursuant to section 46, chapter 554, laws of 1865.
At the meeting of the Board, November 28, 1865,
an interesting statement showing the war expenses
of the whole county during the war, which
amounted in grossto $4,485, 276.45. The statement
also shows that the county paid bounties, accord
ing to different quotas, for the years 1862, 1863,
1864 and 1865, to 8,456 men. This, it will be
seen, does not include i86i,northe full number
of men enlisted in Albany County during the war.
A statement showing this will be found elsewhere in
this work. In addition to the above amount, hand-
money and other expenses were paid during the
years 1863, '64 and '65, amounting to $93,403.72.
The following table shows the bonds issued in
Albany County:

96

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

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On December 5, 1865, on motion of Mr. Mc
Harg, the salary of the District Attorney from and
after the first of January, 1866, was fixed at the
sum of $3, 500 per annum.
A voluminous document, containing the names
of all persons licensed to sell liquor during the
year down to December 5, was presented, from
which we make the following recapitulation :
Albany. — First Ward, 122; Second Ward, 75; Third Ward,
96; Fourth Ward, 103; Fifth Ward, 47; Sixth and Eight
Wards, 118; Seventh Ward, 90; Ninth Ward, 58; Tenth
Ward, 97; total, 806.
Towns. — Watervliet, 59; Berne and Guilderland, 21;
Bethlehem and New Scotland, 40; Coeymans and Westerlo,
15; West Troy, 112; Cohoes, 67; total, 314; city and towns,
1,120. On December 6, 1865, the County Treasurer pre
sented a County Budget amounting in all to $766,-
094.89. On the 14 th of December, Mr. Frederick, of the
Finance Committee, offered the following resolu
tion :
" Resolved, That there be assessed upon the taxable
property of the county $766,094.89, the same to be applied
for the purpose mentioned in the County Budget as pre
sented on the sixth of December; also the sum of $87,114.91,
for Audited Accounts. ' '
Which resolution was adopted. Mr. Frederick
also reported the City Budget, as adopted by the
Common Council and presented to the Board on
the 2 2d of November, at $446, 703.05, also the sum
of $8,423.06 for Audited Accounts, and the same
was adopted.
The equalization of Real Estate in the City and
County of Albany was fixed at the rate per acre :
Berne, $17.50; Bethlehem, $57.57; Coeymans, $35.50;
Guilderland, $37.50; Knox, $18; New Scotland, $38.50;
Rensselaerville, $18.50; Westerlo, $19.50; Watervliet, $60.
The County Treasurer reports the receipts of
money this year to the amount of $1,083,013.66,
and the disbursements to the amount of $1,083,-
013.66. The Argus and The Express were designated for
the county papers FOR 1 866,
and the Albany County Democrat, Freie Blatter and
Evening Post were authorized to publish the
County Audits.
The Board adjourned, sine die, December 14,
1865. The proceedings of the Board of Supervisors of
the county of Albany at the annual meeting held
at the City Hall, in the city of Albany, May 8,
1866. Members present :
First Ward, Robert J. McCormick ; Second Ward, James
Brice ; Third Ward, John W. Harcourt ; Fourth Ward,
Abraham Koonz ; Fifth Ward, Barent P. Staats ; Sixth
Ward, David Rose ; Seventh Ward, David Prest ; Eighth
Ward, John McElroy ; Ninth Ward, Mathias J. Severance ;
Tenth Ward, Christopher W. Bender ; Berne, David Con
ger ; Bethlehem, William Kimmey ; Coeymans, John B.
Shear ; Guilderland, Stephen V. Frederick ; Knox, Peter
Schoonmaker ; New Scotland, Nicholas A. Delong ; Rens
selaerville, George H. Laraway ; Watervliet, William J.
Wheeler ; Westerlo, Charles Bently. Chairman, George .
H. Laraway ; Clerk, Owen McDermott ; County Physi
cian, Dr. B. P. Staats ; Doorkeeper, Christian Hartline.

HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

97

Death of Gerrit Van Olinda. — The board
being thus organized, Dr. Staats arose and an
nounced the death of Mr. Gerrit Van Olinda,
long a useful and honored member of the board
from Watervliet.
After the transaction of some business the board
adjourned to June 19, 1866.
Special Session.
On Tuesday, June 19, the board met pursuant
to Chapter 607 of the laws of the State of New
York for 1866.
Jurors' Pay. — Mr. Prest, from the finance com
mittee, offered the following in regard to pay of
grand and petit jurors :
" Whereas, The Legislature of the State of New York,
on the 31st of March, 1 866, passed an act which reads as
follows : The several boards of supervisors in this State
may, at their first or any subsequent meeting after the
passage of this act, direct a sum not exceeding two dollars
a day to be allowed to every grand and petit juror, for
attending the courts of record held within their several
counties ; and they may also direct an allowance to be
made to such jurors for traveling in coming and returning
from such courts, not exceeding five cents a mile; there
fore, " Resolved, That the county treasurer be authorized and
directed to pay to every grand and petit juror who shall
have been regularly drawn from the box since June 1,
1866, provided by law for attending the courts of record
held in and for the said County ot Albany, the additional
sum of fifty cents for each day's attendance, and also that
each juror who shall have been so drawn as aforesaid
shall be allowed five cents per mile for coming to and
returning from the City Hall, the place of holding the
several courts of record for this county."
At November session, Nov. 13, 1866, the board
met pursuant to adjournment as a board of can
vassers, the members all being present. Having
completed the canvass the board adjourned until
the 14th.
At this meeting the comptroller presented the
following communication :
Comptroller's Office, Albany, Sept. 29, 1866.
Contest Concerning Clerk. — It will be seen
that Owen McDermott was elected clerk of the
board at the annual meeting. This was done
against considerable opposition, which was not
quieted by his election. The matter rested, how
ever, until the special session of June 19, when
Mr. Kimmey presented the following :
" Whereas, The appointment of the present clerk of this
board was forced upon the board against the wishes oi a
large majority of its members; and
" Whereas, Said board are not satisfied, and do not con
sider said clerk competent to fully discharge the duties of
his position ; therefore
"Resolved, That George V. Thacher be, and he is hereby
appointed clerk of said board for the ensuing year, in place
of Owen McDermott, removed."
After considerable discussion the resolution was
adopted by a vote of eleven ayes and seven noes.
The board voted Mr. McDermott the sum of
$100 for his services.
The following communication from the Comp
troller of the State was read by the Clerk :
13

To the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of the County
of Albany :
Sir: — The Board of Equalization of Taxes, in pursuance
of chapter 312 of the Laws of 1859, have fixed the aggre
gate valuation of property in your county at the sum of
$42,403,645, upon which amount a State tax of $235,870.28
must be levied for the current year, being 5^ mills on the
dollar, for the following purposes, viz. :
For Schools, % of a mill, per chapter 555, Laws of 1864.
For General Purposes, 1% mills, per chapter 677, Laws
of 1866.
For Canals, j of a mill, per chapter 271, Laws of 1859.
For Canals, ^s of a mill, per chapter 219, Laws of 1866.
For Extension of Chenango Canal, ^ of a mill, per chap
ter 649, Laws of 1866.
For Champlain Canal, ^ of a mill, per chapter 156,
Laws of 1866.
For Bounty Debt, 2\ mills, per chapter 325, Laws of
1865. Total, s^mills. Your obedient servant,
Thos. Hiixhouse, Comptroller.
P. S. — The non-resident taxes credited to your county for
1865 amount to $537.76.
Referred to Finance Committee.
A communication was received from Mr. Mc
Dermott, the removed Clerk of the Board, stating
that by his removal he had sustained pecuniary
loss, and he asked the Board for an appropriation
to indemnify him in some degree for the injury
sustained by such removal . This elicited a spirited
debate. The friends of Mr. McDermott insisted
that his removal was the result of personal and
political hatred. The communication was referred
to the Committee on Grievances.
Buildings for the Insane.
At a meeting of the Board, November 20, Mr.
Staats offered the following :
Resolved, That a committee be appointed from this Board
to confer with a committee of the Common Council of the
City of Albany, for the purpose of erecting suitable accomo
dations for the insane of the county, and to apply for such
Legislative aid as maybe necessary to accomplish the above
object. Mr. Staats, in support of said resolution, said :
That "not only humanity, but the best interests of the
county require that suitable buildings be erected for the
insane; that our State institutions are entirely inadequate
to contain half the applicants for admission, and that the
price of admission was exorbitant. We are paying six
thousand dollars a year to the Utica Asylum, besides having
over one hundred in our Alms House, without the means of
proper care and treatment. That a building properly con
structed, and a law permitting the taking of boarders from
other counties, would be a self-sustaining institution."
The resolution was adopted.
The City Budget was presented November 21,
which amounted in all to $496,832.
Excise. — James A, McKown, in 1858, was ap
pointed, upon the recommendation of a committee
of the Board of Supervisors and his -Honor the
Mayor of the City of Albany, a Special Police Con
stable, for the purpose of reporting violations of
the Excise law, and was also reappointed for the
same duty in the years 1859, i860, '61, '62, '63
and '64; and that from 1859 t0 l0>°4, inclusive, he
received the following amount : $1,820.50. And
he also received from the county for licenses granted,
for the same time, the amount of $137,028.63.

98

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

At a meeting of the Board, November 28, the
account of Henry Fitch, Sheriff, was presented, in
which he claimed $17,131.72, which account was
allowed at $15,131.72.
County Budget. — On December 7, 1866, the
County Budget was presented, which amounted
to $876,053.28.
Anti-Rent Difficulties. — During the year 1866,
the anti-rent difficulties in the county had increas
ed to such proportions that the Sheriff was obliged
to call on the military to aid in serving and en
forcing processes. This was attended with con
siderable expense to the county, and we give the
following claims as ah interesting item in the his
tory of the anti-rent difficulties : Claimed. Allowed.
Leonard &Bradt  $1,295 72 $1,26859
Edward Scannell  1,053 °° 576 °°
Tenth Regiment, N. G. S. N. Y. .. 992 25 992 25
Company F, 25th Regiment " .. 76224 76224
Company C, " " " . . 626 40 626 40
Company G, " " " . . 256 92 256 92
Lord & Thornton  500 02 498 02
Albany & Susquehanna R. R. Co. . 228 80 228 80
John Cutler  157 OO 150 00
Augustus Brewster  122 00 80 00
Walter S. Church  1 15 00 Disallowed.
At a meeting of the Board of Supervisors, held
December 14, 1866, the Treasurer's Annual State
ment of Receipts of money for the year 1866 was
presented, which amounted in all to $1,355, 794.62.
He disbursed the sum of $1,355,794.62. He
also reported a balance on hand December 1,
1866, of $14,658. 20.
Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors of the
City and County of Albany at the annual meeting,
held at the City Hall, in the City of Albany, May
14, 1867.
The following were the members present :
First Ward, Robert J. McCormick; Second Ward, Michael
Delehanty ; Third Ward, Jonathan R. Herrick ; Fourth Ward,
William Orr; Fifth Ward, Barent P. Staats; Sixth Ward,
Alexander A. Edmeston; Seventh Ward, Michael Lyman;
Eighth Ward, Michael D. McGue; Ninth Ward, M. Joseph
Severance ; Tenth Ward, Christopher W. Bender; Bethlehem,
George C. Adams; Berne, Adams J. Warner; Coeymans,
John B. Shear; Guilderland, Hiram Griggs; Knox, Peter
Schoonmaker; New Scotland, Nicholas Delong; Rensse
laerville, George H. Laraway; Westerlo, Charles Bentley;
Watervliet, Wm. J. Wheeler.
Chairman, Wm. J. Wheeler.
Clerk, George V. Thacher.
County Physician, Dr. Barent P. Staats.
Doorkeeper, Edward Dooley.
On May 15 the Board met according to ad
journment, and in the usual order of business the
Chairman announced the standing committees for
the ensuing year.
After some immaterial business, the Board ad
journed. At a meeting of the Board of Supervisors at the
City Hall,' in the City of Albany, pursuant to ad
journment. November 12, 1867, all the members being
present. After discharging their duties as County
Canvassers, the Board adjourned.
On November 19 the Board met according to

adjournment, at which meeting the City Budget
was presented, which amounted to $493, 202.
Grand Jurors. — The apportionment of Grand
Jurors according to the census of i860 was as
follows :
First Ward, 24; Second Ward, 13 ; Third Ward, 15 ; Fourth
Ward, 10; Fifth Ward, 6; Sixth Ward, 9; Seventh Ward, 17;
Eighth Ward, 21; Ninth Ward, 22; Tenth Ward, 28; Bethle
hem, 19; Berne, 8; Coeymans, 8; Cohoes, 23; Green Island,
4; Guilderland, 9; Knox, 5; New Scotland, 9; Rensselaerville,
9; Westerlo, 9; West Troy, 23; Watervliet, 16; total, 300.
REGISTRY LAW.
At a meeting of the Board of Supervisors held
Dec. 5, 1867, Mr. Staats made an attack upon the
registry law, asserting in an address on the subject
that the law was very onerous and expensive, and
did not answer any good or useful purpose.
On December 6 the County Budget was pre
sented, amounting in all to $776,990.21, to which
was added audited accounts of $1,334. 15.
COUNTY TREASURER'S REPORT.
Stephen Frederick also submitted his annual
statement of money received and disbursed from
the first day of January, 1867, to Dec. 1, 1867,
which showed that he had received from all sources
$886,414.58; that he had paid out during that
time the sum of $886,4 14.58.
The equalization of the value of real estate in
the County of Albany was fixed by the committee
of equalization as follows :
Berne, per acre, $17.50; Bethlehem, per acre, $57.50;
Coeymans, per acre, $35.50; Guilderland, per acre, $37.50;
Knox, per acre, $18; New Scotland, per acre, $38; Rens
selaer, per acre, $18.50; Westerlo, per acre, $19.50; Water
vliet, per acre, $60.
It was also adopted that in the city of Albany
the assessed valuation be the equalized valuation.
After a spirited debate it was resolved that the
County Treasurer be authorized to borrow $100,000
upon the credit of the county to pay bonds due
March 1, 1868.
Percentage of Taxation. — The following was
reported as the percentage of taxation in the city
and several towns, which was agreed to :
City, 3.56; city west of Partridge street, 3.09; city west
of Allen street, 3.00; Berne, 3.60; Bethlehem, 1.86; Coey
mans, 1.84; Guilderland, 2.96; Knox, 3,08; New Scotland,
2.30; Rensselaerville, 2.18; Westerlo, 2.48; Watervliet,
1.72; West Troy, 2.04; Cohoes and Green Island, 2.04.
Adopted.
Annual Session of 1868 — May 12, 1868.
Supervisors present :
First Ward, William J. Weaver; Second Ward, Lawrence
Carey; Third Ward, John Kelly; Fourth Ward, John C
Feltman; Fifth Ward, Barent P. Staats; Sixth Ward
Alexander A. Edmeston; Seventh Ward, Bernard Kavan
augh; Eighth Ward, Henry T. O'Connor; Ninth Ward:
Edward Whitty; Tenth Ward, Christopher Bender; Berne.
James A. Reamer; Bethlehem, George C. Adams; Coey
mans, John B. Shear; Guilderland, Hiram Griggs; Knox
Peter Schoonmaker; New Scotland, Samuel Patton; Rens
selaerville, William Magivny; Watervliet, William J
Wheeler. William J. Wheeler was elected chairman,
George V. Thacher, clerk; Dr. Barent P. Staats, county
physician ; William Doody, doorkeeper.

HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

99

On Wednesday, May 13, the Chairman an
nounced the standing committees.
BAD CONDITION OF THE COUNTY JAIL.
The Chairman presented a communication from
Hon. Henry Smith, District Attorney, showing the
lamentable condition of the County Jail. He says :
" In the main apartment you will find sixty male pris
oners, including some children, confined in one common
room, where those youthful in years, and those who have
committed their first criminal error, perhaps those who are
entirely innocent, are exposed to the influences, and often
to the physical tortures, of the most depraved of men.
" In another room, of about fifteen by eighteen, you will
find some twenty-two females of various ages, even to ex
treme old age; some reasonably tidy and others repulsively
filthy; some apparently well and others suffering from loath
some diseases, crowded together in a space where there is
scarcely room for all to lie down at once. In short, you
will find a state of things that would, shame a semi-civilized
community, and would not be tolerated by the people of
this county for one hour if they could for a moment look in
upon the appalling horrors of that fearful den, kept under
their authority, for the detention of persons accused of
crime. This state of affirs, " Mr. Smith continues, " is no
fault of the Sheriff or Jailer, but results from want of suitable
rooms." Mr. Smith's report of the condition of the jail
produced the most profound sensation throughout
the city and county, resulting, as we shall see, in
an entire change in the management of the jail. A
special committee was appointed with power to
expend at least $4,000.
The following was adopted :
Resolved, That the Superintendent of the Capital Police
be and is hereby instructed to notify the several captains
and sergeants of the Police of the Town of Watervliet to
convey prisoners under sentence to the Penitentiary, in
place of leaving them at the County Jail.
A Special Meeting was held June 16, 1868.
The principal business under consideration was
the improvement of the County Jail. The follow
ing resolution was adopted :
Resolved, That the Special Committee, to whom was re
ferred the necessity of altering the County Jail, be author
ized to receive proposals in accordance with the plans sub
mitted to the Board, with the additional story with a wing
on the east side, as presented by Mr. Edmeston, at an ex
pense not exceeding $2, 500.
NOVEMBER SESSION.
The Board convened as County Canvassers,
November 10, 1868, all the Supervisors present.
After concluding the canvass, the Board adjourned
until Wednesday, November n.
Mr. Edmeston offered the following :
Resolved, That the County Treasurer be and he is hereby
authorized to pay to the contractors upon jail improvement
the sum of $4,000, upon the said contractors presenting
certificates, sighed by the architect and Chairman of the
Committee on Jail Improvement, stating that such sum is
actually due them.
Which was adopted.
Mr. Reamer offered the following :
Whereas, The enlargement of the County Jail during the
summer has been a source of great inconvenience to the
Jailer, and attended with considerable extra expense, he
having been obliged to send his family into the country for
several months ; therefore

Resolved, That the County Treasurer be authorized to
pay Albert Gallup extra compensation as Jailer of the
County of Albany.
Which was adopted.
Grand Jurors. — On December 8 Mr. Shear pre
sented the following apportionment of Grand
Jurors in and for the County of Albany:
City— First Ward, 21; Second Ward, II; Third Ward, 11;
Fourth Ward, 10; Fifth Ward, 6; Sixth Ward, 9; Seventh
Ward, 14; Eighth Ward, 21; Ninth Ward, 21; Tenth Ward,
30. Towns — Berne, 7; Bethlehem, 16; Coeymans, 10;
Guilderland, 11; Knox, 6; New Scotland, 9; Rensselaer
ville, 9; Westerlo, 8; Cohoes, 15; Green Island, 5; West
Troy, 24; Watervliet, 16.
City Budget. — Mr. Bender presented the City
Budget. This amounted, in gross, to the sum of
$616,611.37, of which the sum of $82,766. 87 was
the proportionate part of Police expenses appor
tioned to the City of Albany for the fiscal year end
ing October 1, 1869, pursuant to section 45, chapter
544, laws of 1865.
Improvements on Jail. — Mr. Edmeston, from
the Special Committee on the improvements of the
Jail, presented a report showing, among other
things, that the total cost of the entire improvements
on the Jail amounted to $8,142.18.
Official County Papers. — The Argus and Ex
press were, on ballot, designated as the official
county papers.
County Budget. — On December 11 the County
Budget was presented, which amounted to $585,-
168.29. On motion of Mr. Gregg it was
Resolved, That there be levied and assessed upon the
taxable property of the County the sum of $660,000, being
the amount mentioned in the County Budget presented this
day to the Board, and including the audited accounts of
this Board.
The resolution was adopted.
Death of Supervisor Reamer. — On the as
sembling of the Board in the afternoon of Decem
ber 11, Supervisor Schoonmaker arose and, in
touching language, announced the death of Super
visor Reamer, of Berne. The tribute he paid to his
memory was as just as it was eloquent and impres
sive. He closed by saying:
" I feel a bereavement which will cast a deep gloom over
all who are numbered as his acquaintances. A political
antagonist and a neighbor, never has an event occurred to
mar the harmony of our intercourse, and no man could have
been taken from us whose loss all would more deeply
deplore." He then submitted an impressive preamble, fol
lowed by equally impressive resolutions, touching
the exemplary life and useful career of the deceased
Supervisor. Among the resolutions was one to
the effect that the Chairman's and Clerk's desks
and the vacant chair of the deceased be draped in
mourning. It was also resolved that the Board at
tend the funeral in a body, and to adjourn until
Tuesday next at 3:30 p. m.
Mr. Feltman, in seconding the resolutions,
which were adopted, paid a well-deserved tribute
to the memory of the deceased.
Treasurer's Annual Statement. — On Decem
ber 15, 1868, the Board met pursuant to adjourn-

100

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ment, and Stephen V. Frederick presented his an
nual statement of moneys received and disbursed
from the ist day of December, 1867, to the ist day
of December, 1868, which amounted in all to
$857,492.54; disbursements amounted to $857,-
492.54. His report showed a balance in his hands
°f $h 537- 7°.
County Bounty Fund. —
Receipts:
Balance on hand  $3>3!3 °°
Proceeds of sale of County Bonds  150,000 00
Premiums  3, 618 76
Transferred from General Fund  213,000 00
$37o,03i 76
Disbursements:
Cash paid bonds due March 1, 1 868  $248,100 00
Cash paid bonds due March I, 1867  2,200 00
Six per cent, interest on $29,000  870 00
Coupons due March 1, 1868  58,329 25
Coupons due September 1, 1868  53,744 00
Coupons due March 1, 1867  267, 75
Coupons due September 1, 1867  1,603 °°
Coupons due March 1, 1865  105 00
Coupons due September 1, 1865  299 25
Certificate of bond to Ira Heaphy  552 50
Certificate of bond to Nelson Van Patten to
S. Tuttie  587 50
Interest on $30,000 to Loan Committee  2, 100 00
Balance  1,273 26
$370,031 76
Excise. — The whole number of licenses granted
in the County for the year 1868 was 640.
The County was divided this year into three
licensed districts, each placed in charge of one excise
commissioner. Mr. S. F. Powell was one; Mr. E.
Newcomb was the second; Mr. Gonsalus was the
third The whole number of licenses granted in Mr.
Powell's district was 161, at $30 each, making
$4,830. The whole number issued in Mr. Newcomb's dis
trict was 159 ; 157 of which were at $30 each, one
at $150, and one at $75.
The whole number in Mr. Gonsalus' district,
was 140, as follows :
West Troy, 55 ; Cohoes, 33 ; Green Island 6 ;
Watervliet, 16 ; Seventh Ward, 30 ; total,
140, at $30 each, amounting to  $4,200 00
Paid county treasurer  3,55o 00
Balance on hand  $650 00
Sum total of Mr. Powell's district  $4,830 00
" " " " Newcomb's district  4,93500
" " " " Gonsalus' district  4,20000
Total  $13,965 00
Total amount paid to county treas
urer by Mr. Powell  $3,500 00
Total amount paid to county treas
urer by Mr. Newcomb  4, 105 00
Total amount paid to county treas
urer by Mr. Gonsalus  3,550 00
 $11,155 °°
Total  $2,810 00

The excise question this year, and for several
years previous, was a matter of great embarrass
ment and expense to the county. A large number
of suits for the violation of excise laws had been
commenced. Numerous judgments had been
obtained without any return to the county, and at
a very heavy expense to the taxpayers. This sub
ject occupied much of the time of this session.
Finally on Jan. 6, 1869, on motion of Mr. Weaver,
the Board resolved to settle all judgments now on
file for violation of the then present excise law for
the sum of twenty-five cents on the dollar upon all
sums represented by such judgment and costs, pro
vided the amount was paid to Geo. V. Thacher,
the present Clerk of the Board, on or before the
first day of April, 1869.
Mr. Staats introduced a resolution denouncing
the excise law, and moved that the committee on
application to the Legislature be requested to pre
pare a law which will invest the whole power of
excise in the Police Commissioners so far as the
police districts exist in this county, and that where
they do not exist the supervisors of the several
towns shall grant licenses for the sale of malt and
alcoholic liquors. This resolution was adopted.
Mr. Weaver moved that the following be added
to the resolution relative to judgments obtained by
the Excise Commissioners :
Resolved, That if it be found that any of the parties
against whom these judgments are held are in such cir
cumstances that they are utterly unable to pay the same,
that such non-payments be, upon the recommendation of
the supervisor of the ward or town in which such parties
reside, canceled for the sum of one dollar.
Adopted.When it is known that each of the defendants in
those judgments could, on executions issued
upon them, have been arrested and imprisoned for
non-payment, the lenity of the Board in regard to
them will be fully appreciated. After some other
business the board adjourned sine die.
Proceedings of the Annual Spring Session of the
Board of Supervisors of the City and County of
Albany, held in the City Hall, in the City of Albany,
May 11, 1869.
Members present :
First Ward, Wm. J. Weaver; Second Ward, Lawrence
Carey; Third Ward, Aaron B.Pratt; Fourth Ward, John C.
Feltman ; Fifth Ward, Wm. Haskell ; Sixth Ward, Alexander
A. Edmeston ; Seventh Ward, John Fitzgerald ; Eighth Ward,
James D. Walsh; Ninth Ward, Christian Schurr; Tenth
Ward, Dr. Gallez; Berne, Alfred Hungerford; Bethlehem,
George C. Adams; Coeymans, JohnB. Shear; Guilderland,
Hiram Griggs; Knox, Peter Schoonmaker; New Scotland,
Nicholas B. Houck; Rensselaerville, William Magivny;
Watervliet, Wm. J. Wheeler; Westerlo, Julius Thayer.
Chairman, Wm. J. Wheeler.
Clerk, Charles J. Pease.
County Physician, Milton M. Lamb.
Doorkeeper, Anthony Daug.
The Board met according to adjournment on
May 13, 1869. The minutes of the last meeting
read and approved.
The Chairman then announced the Standing
Committees for the ensuing year.
After conducting some business, the Board ad
journed till the

HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

101

NOVEMBER SESSION.
On November 9, 1869, the Board convened ac
cording to adjournment; all the Supervisors present.
In the absence of Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Shear was
chosen Chairman pro tem.
After discharging the duties of County Canvass
ers, the Board adjourned.
At the meeting held November 10, an interesting
statement in regard to taxes in the County was pre
sented. Mr. Weaver presented this statement to the
Board, in the following manner :
ALBANY CITY.
We here find that the assessed value of real and personal
estate for the City of Albany has increased from i860 to
1868 $1,118,426, being an increase of four and one-half per
cent. ; while the equalized value in the same period has in
creased $3,158,461, being an increase of thirteen and one-
sixteenth per cent.
Now, while the assessed value of the City of Albany has
increased four and one-quarter per cent., the assessed value
of all the towns combined has increased eighteen and one-
sixth per cent., and while the equalized value for the City of
Albany has increased thirteen and one-sixteenth per cent. ,
the increase in all the other towns combined is but nine and
one-half per cent.

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In the above table nearly $1,000,000 of the in
creased assessed value in the town of Watervliet is
credited to the year 1868;
City Budget — For the year 1869 amounted in
all to $601,188.29.
The salary of the County Physician was fixed
by resolution at the sum of $500 per annum.
County Budget. — The county budget for the
year 1869 amounted in all to $583, 517. 98.
County Treasurer. — Mr. Theyer presented the
bond of County Treasurer-elect Alexander Kennedy,
Esq. It was signed by Jonathan R. Henrick,
Jas. A. McDonald and Philip O'Brien. It was in
the penalty of $100,000.
The supervisor of the town of Coeymans was
authorized to borrow on the credit of the town the
sum of $2,000 to pay damages and expenses in
rebuilding and repairing bridges and roads damaged
by a flood in the said town.
Excise. — The Commissioners of Excise, Messrs.
E. Newcomb, J. Reynolds and G. W. Gonsalus,
reported the following as the whole number of
licenses and amounts of money received for the
same for the year 1869 :
Whole number granted at $30.
ic II I. 11 IO
II II <I (I Hj-
" " " " 150.
419 27 1
I
Total number in the county  448
As follows: 419 at $30  $12,570 00
27 " 10  27000
1 " 75  75 °°
1 " 150  15000
Total receipts  $13,065 00
Paid county treasurer  11,163 0o
County Treasurer's Statement. — The County
Treasurer transmitted his annual statement of
money received and disbursed from the first day of
December, 1808, to the first day of December,
1869, showing a balance on hand :
Receipts from all sources  $818,158 54
disbursements.
Resolution  $305 89
Audit accounts  130,640 11
Total with remainder of
disbursements 
318,158 54
Stephen V. Frederick, County Treasurer, in ac
count with County of Albany :
1868. Dr.
Dec. 1, to balance on hand  $1,273 26
March I, to net proceeds from sale of Albany
County bonds  253,76l 55
Transferred from general account  205,000 00
1869.
December, to balance.
$460,034 81
 $1,13° 56
1869. Cr,
Paid bonds due March, 1869  $348,000 00
" " " " 1868  70000
' ' interest on $29,000 (6 per cent . )  870 00
" coupons of 1867, 1868, 1869  109,334 25
By balance   1, 130 56
, $460,034 81
Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors of
Albany city and county at the annual meeting held
102

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

at the City Hall in the City of Albany, May 10,
1870. The members present were :
First Ward, Wolfgang Meyer ; Second Ward, Frederick
Schifferdecker ; Third Ward, Wm. J. Weaver ; Fourth
Ward, George P. Lynd ; Fifth Ward, Thomas H. Craven ;
Sixth Ward, John C. Feltman ; Seventh Ward, Abraham
B. Garfield ; Eighth Ward, Henry R. Haskins; Ninth Ward,
James Bartley ; Tenth Ward, Thomas Kanary; Eleventh
Ward, John R. Stewart; Twelfth Ward, John McKenna;
Thirteenth Ward, Philip Frederick; Fourteenth Ward, M. H.
Kenneally; Fifteenth Ward, David W. Seeley; Sixteenth
Ward, George B. Hoyt. COHOES.
First Ward, Joseph Coleman ; Second Ward, W. Taylor
Dodge; Third Ward, John Scully; Fourth Ward, Solomon
Dotter. towns.
Berne, Alfred Hungerford ; Bethlehem, George C.
Adams ; Coeymans, John B. Shear ; Guilderland, Hiram
Griggs; Knox, Peter Schoonmaker ; New Scotland, Alonzo
B. Voorhees; Rensselaerville, Wm. Magivny; Watervliet,
Wm. J. Wheeler; Westerlo, Orson L. Hannay. Chairman,
Wm. J. Weaver; Clerk, Charles J. Pease; County Physician,
Milton M. Lamb; Doorkeeper, Daniel McClary.
After the transaction of some unimportant busi
ness the Board adjourned.
A special meeting of the Board took place in the
Common Council Chamber, at which all the mem
bers were present. This meeting was called for
the purpose of hearing a report from the special
committee appointed to take charge of the altera
tion of the Supervisors' room. A somewhat heated
discussion arose, after which the report was read,
showing that the work had been let to Messrs.
Norman and Treadwell, architects, of Albany, who
made plans and specifications for the work which
had been adopted.
They advertised in the county papers for pro
posals for the work as follows :
For carpenter work.
For carpenter and mason work.
For carpenter, mason work and painting.
For mason work.
For painting.
The committee had awarded the work as fol
lows :
Carpenter work to George Martin, Troy, for. . . . $963 43
Mason work to Alex. Shanelley for  70 00
Painting to Wm. Griffin  184 00
Total  $1,217 42
The committee sold the old furniture and
carpets at auction for $79, less 87.90 expenses.
Fall Session. — The Board convened November
5, 1870. A full Board present, except Supervisor-
Fredericks. An Interesting Question touching Excise. —
at a previous meeting of the Board, a resolution
was adopted denying the Commissioners of Excise
the right to employ counsel to prosecute suits for
them and conferring the right to employ counsel
for them upon the Law Committee of the Super
visors. The Commissioners denied the right of the
supervisors to interfere in the matter. Litigation

ensued and the case finally terminated in the Court
of Appeals, which court decided that the Commis
sioners of Excise had the power to employ counsel
to prosecute such claims as they decided were
proper to prosecute for any violation of the excise
law. On Nov. 21, 1870, the report of the Com
mittee on Equalization was presented. It is an
interesting and instructive report, too long, how
ever, to be inserted in this work; but the reader is
referred to pages 37-38 of the journal of the Board
of Supervisors for 1870 for the tabulated report,
and to pages 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 for the pro
ceedings of the Supervisors, and the opinion of the
Attorney General in relation to the said report.
On November 28, Joseph C. Y. Paige, City
Chamberlain, made a report to the Supervisors of
the county, pursuant to chapter jj, section 43,
laws of 1870, that according to his estimate it
would require for the expenses of the District
Attorney's office for the ensuing year ending Oct.
31, 1871, the sum of $3,000 for the following pur
poses, viz. :
Salaries of two special officials at $1,200  $2,400 00
Traveling and other necessary expenses  600 00
Total  $3,000 00
Grand Jurors. — On December 1, 1870, Mr.
Adams, from the committee appointed to appor
tion the Grand Jurors for the County of Albany,
reported as follows :
First Ward, 8; Second Ward, 8; Third Ward, 9; Fourth
Ward, 13; Fifth Ward, 10; Sixth Ward, 14; Seventh Ward, 6;
Eighth Ward, 10; Ninth Ward, 8; Tenth Ward, 6; Eleventh
Ward, 13 ; Twelfth Ward, 9; Thirteenth Ward, II; Four
teenth Ward, 9 ; Fifteenth Ward, 11 ; Sixteenth Ward, 11.
TOWNS.
Berne, 7 ; Bethlehem, 15 ; Coeymans, 10 ; Knox, 6 ;
New Scotland, 9 ; Rensselaerville, 9 ; Guilderland, 1 1 ;
Westerlo, 8 ; Cohoes, First Ward, 7 ; Cohoes, Second
Ward, 5; Cohoes, Third Ward, 8; Cohnes, Fourth Ward, 5;
Green Island, 5 ; West Troy, 24 ; Watervliet, 15.
City Budget. — On December 5 the City
Budget was presented to the Board, which
amounted in all to $675,573, $195,730 of which
was for the support of Public Schools, pursuant to
chapter 444, laws of 1866.
County Treasurer. — On December 7 Alexan-
ander Kennedy, County Treasurer, transmitted his
annual statement of money received and disbursed
from January 1, 1870, to December 1, 1870.
The receipts amounted to  $891,000 67
The disbursements were  891,000 67
EQUALIZATION OF ASSESSMENTS, COUNTY OF ALBANY,
ANNUAL SESSION OF 1 87 1.
The Board convened pursuant to statute, at the
City Hall in the City of Albany, Tuesday, May
9, 1871. Supervisors present:
ALBANY.
First Ward, Peter Halpen; Second Ward, Frederick
Schifferdecker ; Third Ward William J. Weaver ; Fourth
Ward, Richard Bortle ; Fifth Ward, Thomas H. Craven ;
Sixth Ward, John C. Feltman ; Seventh Ward, Ira Porter ;
Eighth Ward, Henry R. Haskins ; Ninth Ward, Andrew

HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

103

Kean; Tenth Ward, Andrew R. Hunter; Eleventh Ward,
JohnMcHaffie; Twelfth Ward, John McKenna; Thirteenth
Ward, Edmund J. Lord ; Fourteenth Ward, Michael H.
Kenneally; Fifteenth Ward, Jacob H. Ten Eyck; Sixteenth
Ward, Patrick H. Daly.

First Ward, Joseph Coleman ; Second Ward, W. Taylor
Dodge ; Third Ward, John Scully ; Fourth Ward, Solomon
Dotter.

Berne, William Zeh; Bethlehem, Albertus W. Becker;
Coeymans, John B. Shear; Guilderland, Hiram Griggs;
Knox, Peter Schoonmaker; New Scotland, Robert Taylor;
Rensselaerville, Walter R. Tanner; Watervliet, Emmet
Flagler; Westerlo, Warren Rosenkrans.
The following were the officers chosen for the
year 1871 :
President, William J. Wheeler; Clerk, Charles L. Pease;
County Physician, Dr. Milton M. Lamb; Doorkeeper, Ed
ward J. Flanegan.
Standing Committees. — On May 10, 1871,
the President announced the Standing Com
mittees. Fall Session. — The Board met according to
adjournment, November 14, 1871, all members
being present. After attending to the duties re
quired of them as a Board of Canvassers, they ad
journed. County Judge's Salary. — On November 21,
1 87 1, a communication was presented to the Board
of Supervisors, signed by Hon. Hamilton Harris,
Hon. Wm. L. Learned, Hon. Amasa J. Parker,
Hon. Lyman Tremain, Hon. Samuel Hand, War
ren S. Kelley, Esq., Simeon W. Rosendale, Esq.,
M. Frothingham, Esq., N. Swartz, Esq., and
nearly every member of the profession in the city,
setting forth that the duties of the County Judge
would thereafter be very largely increased, in con
sequence of the enlarged jurisdiction given to the
County Courts by the late amendments of the Con
stitution of the State, and that a salary of $5,000
per year would be no more than an adequate com
pensation for the performance of the duties of
County Judge ; and, therefore, as a matter of
justice to the occupant of the office as for the
dignity of the position, they respectfully ask the
Board to fix the future salary of that office at a
sum not less than $5,000. In accordance with
this communication a resolution was- adopted
fixing the salary of County Judge on and after
the ist day of January then next at $5,000, in
quarterly payments.'
The County Treasurer transmitted his annual
statement of moneys received and disbursed from
the ist of December, 1870, to the ist of Decem
ber, 1 87 1, showing a balance on hand.
The whole amount of such receipts amounted
to the sum of $1,164,420.11; the disbursements
amounted that year to $1,164,420.11.
Equalized valuation of the City and County of
Albany :
President Weaver, from the Committee on Equal
ization of Taxes, made the following report, which
was adopted :

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annual spring session, 1872.
Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors of the
City and County of Albany, held at the City Hall,
in the City of Albany, May 14, 1872. Members
present: ALBANY.
First Ward, Charles A. Dennison; Second Ward, Peter
Halpen; Third Ward, Moses White; Fourth Ward, Thomas
H. Craven; Fifth Ward, Francis N. Sill; Sixth Ward,
Horatio P. Prime; Seventh Ward, Marshall Tebbutt;
Eighth Ward, John Daly; Ninth Ward, James McMurray;
Tenth Ward, Leopold C. G. Kshinka; Eleventh Ward,
John McHaffie; Twelfth Ward, William Hutchinson; Thir
teenth Ward, Edmund J. Lord; Fourteenth Ward, Jacob
H. Ten Eyck; Fifteenth Ward, George B. Hoyt; Sixteenth
Ward, Robert S. Dumont.
First Ward, Michael Sherlock ; Second Ward, W. Taylor
Dodge; Third Ward, James McGuirk; Fourth Ward,
William Nelligan. TOWNS.
Berne, William Zeh; Bethlehem, Albertus W. Becker;
Coeymans, Cornelius Van Derzee; Guilderland, Hiram
Griggs; Knox, Peter Schoonmaker; New Scotland, Robert
Taylor; Rensselaerville, William R. Tanner; Watervliet,
Emmet Flagler ; Westerlo, Orson L. Hannay .
Mr. Flagler offered the following resolution :
Resolved, That the following-named persons be and are
hereby appointed permanent officers of the Board of Super
visors of Albany County for the ensuing year:
President, Hiram Griggs; Clerk, William Anderson;
County Physician, James F. McKown; Doorkeeper, Richard
B. Hagadorn.
Ata meeting of the Board May 15, 1872, the
Chairman announced the standing committees.
104

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

At a meeting of the Board December 7, 1872,
the Chairman from the Committee on Equaliza
tion reported as follows :

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T. Dodge, H. A. Prince, A. W. Becker, 0. L.
Hannay, Wm. R. Tanner, L. C. G. Kshinka,
Peter Halpin, Committee.
Report adopted.
The City Budget was also presented at this
meeting. Mr. Schoonmaker, Chairman of the Finance
Committee, moved that $200,000 of the war debt
of the County be funded, which motion was
adopted. County Budget. — A motion was presented order
ing that the sum of $771,626.31 be levied and
assessed on the taxable property of the County of
Albany, to be applied for various purposes, among
which were the following :
State and school tax  $452,323 39
Support of Alms house  15,000 00
Support of Patients in State Lunatic Asylum. . 25,000 00
Supervisors and officers  13,000 00
Principal due on County bonds  174,000 00
Audited accounts  1 10,000 00
Contingents  15,000 00
Making with other items  $971,626 39
Less the sum of $200,000 ordered funded by the
Board.
The ratio of taxation for State and County pur
poses was fixed by the Board at $1.54. The ratio
of taxation in the City of Albany, City of Cohoes,
and the several towns was fixed as follows :
City of Albany, $4.10; City of Cohoes, $1.72; Berne,
$3.96; Bethlehem, $1.70; Coeymans, $1.80; Gilderland,
$2.88; Knox, $2.00; New Scotland, $1.64; Rensselaerville,
$3.00; Westerlo, $2.40; Watervliet, $2.24.
The great looseness in the form of accounts for
legal services which had been presented to the
Board, and also in the manner of their verification,
led to the following by Mr. Kshinka :
Resolved, That no accounts for legal services rendered in
any proceedings before any Justice of the Peace or Police
Justice, shall be audited by the Board of Supervisors of
Albany County, unless certified by the Justice before whom
such proceedings shall be had that such services were ac
tually necessary and rendered at his request, and all such
accounts shall be accompanied by a statement showing the
result of the proceedings in each case; which resolution was
adopted. The salary of the District Attorney was fixed and
established at $4, 500 per annum, commencing on
the ist of January, 1872.
Mr. Schoonmaker, from the Finance Committee,
reported the following :
Resolved, That there be levied upon the taxable property
of Albany the sum of $867,562.15 for the following pur
poses:City Budget  $631,441 57
Police Department  1 16,500 00
Park Commissioners  61,864 56
City charges  11,79429
Unpaid Taxes due the County  45,961 73
Total  $867,562 15
The Board adjourned December 19.
1873 — annual spring session.
The board met at their rooms in the City Hall,
Tuesday, May 13, 1873.
Supervisors present: ALBANY.
First Ward, Charles A. Dennison; Second Ward, John
Lyons; Third Ward, Moses White; Fourth Ward, James
Macfarlane; Fifth Ward, Alexander H. Wands; Sixth
Ward, Horatio P. Prime; Seventh Ward, Marshall Tebbutt;
Eighth Ward, John Daly; Ninth Ward, James Condon;
Tenth Ward, Leopold C. G. Kshinka; Eleventh Ward, John
McHaffie; Twelfth Ward, Wm. E. Murphy; Thirteenth
Ward, Edmund J. Lord; Fourteenth Ward, Jacob H. Ten
Eyck; Fifteenth Ward, Charles L. Pease; Sixteenth Ward,
Warren S. Low. COHOES.
First Ward, Silas Owen ; Second Ward, George E.
Simmons; Third Ward, James McGuirk; Fourth Ward, Cor
nelius Vandercook. towns.
Berne, William Zeh; Bethlehem, Albertus W. Becker;
Coeymans, Cornelius Vanderzee; Guilderland, Hiram
Griggs; Knox, Tunis Slingerland; New Scotland, Horace
T. Devereux, Watervliet, Jesse C. Dayton; Westerlo,
Orison L. Hannay. Chairman, Hiram Griggs; Clerk,
Michael J. Powers; County Physician, Dr. J. F. McKown.
This session of the Board of Supervisors in its
organization and appointments resembled the
Assembly in many respects.
HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

105

Among the matters of resemblance, two pages
were on motion appointed, and their appointment
was given to the Chairman, and seats were drawn.
Spectators were impressed with the dignity, ability
and courtesy which characterized the proceedings
of the Board. It was indeed in all respects what
the Legislature of the capital county of the State
ought to be.
After the usual routine of business the Board
adjourned. Special Session. — August 20, 1873, the Board
met in special session. On the 26th of August the
Supervisors met the State Board of Assessors at
Albany. This meeting was the only business trans
acted at this session, and that was of little impor
tance. Fall Session. — The Board met November 11,
1873; all the members present. After concluding
their business as canvasseis they adjourned till
November 12, and proceeded with the regular
order of business, presentation of petitions, of
accounts, reports of standing committees and mis
cellaneous business.
A communication was read from N. K. Hopkins,
Comptroller of the State, stating that the Board of
Equalization of Taxes, in pursuance of chapter 312
of the laws of 1859, had fixed the aggregate
valuation of property in Albany County at the
sum of $49,631,006, upon which a State tax
of $344,935.49 had to be levied for the then
current fiscal year beginning October .1, 1S73,
being 6^- mills on the dollar, for the following
purposes :

Mills.
For schools  ij
For general purposes  \\
For bounty debt  2
For new Capitol  1 \
For asylums and reformatories -^
For canal floating debt under
chap. 171, laws 1859  £
For new work on canals and
extra repairs  i
For payment of awards by
Canal Appraisers and Canal
Commissioners, pay certifi
cates of indebtedness and
deficiency in sinking fund... -^
For academies and union
schools  T\

Per chap. Laws of

756 7^5
765 765
7^5 765766

708765

1873
18731873 18731873
1873 1873

1873i873

Total.

The following interesting report shows the
amount which had been contributed from criminals
by way of fines and penalties to the treasury of the
County during the year 1873 :
From Court of Oyer and Terminer and Court of
County Sessions  $575 °°
Amount due County Treasurer last report  55 °°
By amount paid County Treasurer  $63° °°
U

From Court Special Sessions  $1,514 28
Amount due City Chamberlain last report  182 00
$1,696 28
By amount paid City Chamberlain  !>633 28
By amount due " "  $6300

COUNTY TREASURERS REPORT.
The County Treasurer's report from January 1
to November 29, 1873, inclusive, shows that the
receipts to that time were $1,211,922.53; the dis
bursements were $1,211,922.53. The amount on
hand as per report was $52,500.
Printing Accounts. — Among the accounts for
printing was the Times printing account, which
was allowed and audited at $1,648.25. The
amount paid the Argus Company for printing was
allowed at $3,868.04.
Henly & Co. were also allowed the sum of
$1,690.36 for printing; the Albany Knickerbocker,
$789.75; Albany Evening Post, $627.75; Albany
County Democrat, $209.25; Albany Publishing
Company, $861.75; William Bean, $320; making
a sum total of $9,955. 14.
War Loan Bonds. — As there was to fall due on
the istof March, 1874, the sum of $183,000 of War
Loan Bonds of the County, the payment of which
would largely increase the rate of taxation, already
excessively large, it was proposed that the Finance
Committee borrow, on the credit of the County,
that sum and issue County bonds therefor, with
interest payable semi-annually, and the principal
in three annual installments, payable March 1,
1881, 1882 and 1883. That such bonds be issued
in the sums of $100, $500 and $1,000 each.
Coroners. — The amount of Coroners' and Phy
sicians' fees for holding post mortem examinations
from December 31, 1868, to December 31, 1873,
inclusive, amounted to the sum of $13,742. As
these bills were yearly in the increase, many of the
members of the Board pronounced the charges ex
orbitant, and therefore proposed to make the office
of the Coroner of Albany County a salaried office,
giving the Board of Supervisors power to determine
the amount.
The assessment roll of the city this year showed
a total value of real estate to be $29,417,870; per
sonal, $4,970,457-5°; total, $34,388,327.50.
The assessment roll of the City of Cuhoes for
the year showed a total valuation of real estate to
be $3,084,208; personal, $378,400; total, $3,462,-
608. The assessment rolls of the towns in the County
of Albany showed a total valuation of real estate to
be $11,610,523; personal, $1,158,899. 17; making
a grand total of $12,769,422.17.
Grand totals of Albany, Cohoes, and the towns
in the county, $50,610,357.67.
Homeopathic Hospital. — The sum of $1,000
was ordered to be paid by the County Treasurer
toward the Homeopathic Hospital.

106

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

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City Budget. — The amount levied upon the tax
able property of the City of Albany this year was
$201,444.11; as follows :
Police Department  $116,500 00
Park Commissioners  35,431 00
City charges  15,013 00
Unpaid taxes due county  34,500 1 1
Total  $201,444 11
There was levied on the taxable property of the
county this year the sum of $955,162.49, less
$150,000, ordered funded by the Board, the same
to be applied to the salaries of officers, etc. The
largest item in the making of this account is the
State and school tax, which amounted to $344,-
935-49- Publishing the Audits. — The Sunday Press,
the Cohoes News, and Times and Post, were desig
nated as papers to print the county audits.
New County Buildings. — On December 10,
1873, Hon. Amasa J. Parker and Hon. Henry
Smith addressed the Board concerning the erection
of a new county building. Among other things,
Judge Parker recommended that the lot fronting
on Maiden lane, between the City Hall and jail,
be obtained for the purpose of erecting thereon a
suitable county building, so that prisoners could
be conducted immediately from the jail to the
court-room without danger of escape, and with no
undue exposure. It would seem that the conve

nient causeway between the jail and the New City
Hall was the result of Judge Parker's suggestion,
referred to in his address.
The County Treasurer's report for the year 1873
shows that his receipts amounted to $1,211,922.53;
the disbursements amounted to $1,211,922.53; the
balance on hand was $52,500.
Town Audits. — The town audits for this year
were as follows :
Berne  $3,618 87
Bethlehem  z,933 25
Coeymans  1,954 89
Guilderland  2,024 68
Knox  ;  •. 762 1 1
New Scotland  1,050 51
Rensselaerville  4,368 22
Westerlo  1,423 91
Watervliet  46,875 85
Election accounts and town elections :
Cohoes City, election accounts arising in the sev
eral wards at the general election of 1873 . . . $688.89
Albany City  362,007.51
1874  SPRING SESSION.
The Annual Spring Session of the Board of Su
pervisors for this year commenced on Tuesday,
May 12. Supervisors present :
First Ward, Augustus Whitman; Second Ward, Peter
Lasch; Third Ward, John H. Finn; Fourth Ward, James
Macfarlane; Fifth Ward, James Allanson; Sixth Wrard,
Horatio P. Prime; Seventh Ward, Worthington Foland;
Eighth Ward, John Daly; Ninth Ward, John Kirkpatrick;
Tenth Ward, George Messer; Eleventh Ward, Edward
Kays; Twelfth Ward, John H. Grogan; Thirteenth Ward,
Charles H. Smith; Fourteenth Ward, Jacob H. Ten Eyck;
Fifteenth Ward, Charles L. Pease ; Sixteenth Ward, War
ren S. Low, Jr. COHOES.
First Ward, Thomas O'Dea; Second Ward, George E.
Simmons; Third Ward, James Quirk; Fourth Ward, Mau
rice Fitzgerald. TOWNS.
Berne, George H. Reinhart; Bethlehem, Albertus W.
Becker; Coeymans, Nelson Schermerhorn; Knox, Hiram
Gage; Guilderland, Hiram Griggs; New Scotland, Henry
H. Meed; Rensselaerville, Horace T. Devereux; Westerlo,
Daniel M. Wooster; Watervliet, Jesse C. Dayton.
The following officers were elected :
President, Jesse C. Dayton ; Clerk, Michael J. Powers ;
County Physician, Dr. D. V. O'Leary; Doorkeeper, James
McCbrmick. At a meeting held May 14 the President an
nounced the Standing Committees.
The Albany Argus and Express were appointed
to be the county papers for the ensuing year.
Drawing of Jurors. — It was
Resolved, That a wheel-box, similar to those usually used
in drafts for military purposes, be procured, to be used by
the County Clerk, Judge and Sheriff in the drawing of
Grand and Petit Jurors; that these officers superintend such
drawing ; that any member of this Board may at any time
visit said box and see that all the names are placed therein.
Fall Session. — The Board convened on No
vember 10, 1874, all the members being present.
After discharging their duties as County Canvassers
the Board adjourned.
The County Buildings. — The committee to
whom the subject of erecting County Buildings was

HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

107

committed submitted a very able and elaborate re
port. They reported a building providing accom
modation for all the County officers of the Tenth
regiment, a County Court-room much larger than
the present one, and a smaller Court-room which
might be used when, as frequently occurs, several
Courts are in session at the same time. If the
building was entirely fireproof it would cost
$164,000; if only basement and first floor fireproof,
$124,000. To this the cost of property to be purchased of
private parties had to be added. The site was
between the City Hall and the County Jail, running
through from Pine street to Maiden lane, and was
owned in part by the City of Albany, the County
of Albany and private parties.
Assessed Value of Property. — The assessed
value of real estate in this county for the year 1869
was $35,345,497- The State Board of Equaliza
tion placed the equalized valuation at $40,000,000,
being $4,654,503 above the assessed value.
The assessed value of real estate for the year
1873 was  $44,188,851
While the equalized was placed at  43, 161, 203
Being less than the assessed  $ 1,027,648
Thus it will be seen that in 1870 the county was
equalized above assessed  $4,654,503
While in 1873 the equalized was less than  1,027,648
Making a sum of  $5,682, 15 1
The Chairman presented a communication,
showing the number of days which had been oc
cupied by the different Courts in the city during
the year :
Special Term, 16 days ; General Term, 51 ; Circuit and
Court of Oyer and Terminer, 102; County Court and Court
of Sessions, 95 ; Special Session Supreme Court, 54— mak
ing in all 318 days.
City Budget — Amounted this year to the sum of
$732,230.83. The amount of uncollected personal tax was
$18,717.14. Unlicensed Physicians. — The following was
adopted :
Resolved, That hereafter this Board will not allow any
physician's claim unless he be a member of a county medical
society, or has received a license to practice his profession
from some medical college or board of censors.
The annual account ofN. D. Wendell, Treasurer
of the County, shows receipts from all sources
amounted this year to $1,250,840.19. Disburse
ments were $1,250,840. 19. The balance on hand
was $57,000.00.
Albany Police Force. — The sum of $114,000
was designated as the sum required to defray the
expenses of the Police force of the City of Albany
for the year ending November 30, 1875, pursuant
to the provision of Sec. 37, Chap. 77 of the Laws
of 1870.
The Special Committee appointed to make the
apportionment of Grand Jurors for the different
cities and towns reported as follows :

ALBANY CITY.
First Ward, 8; Second Ward, 10; Third Ward, 10; Fourth
Ward, 14; Fifth Ward, 10; Sixth Ward, 11; Seventh Ward,
7; Eighth Ward, 13; Ninth Ward, 9; Tenth Ward, 11;
Eleventh Ward, 13; Twelfth Ward, 10; Thirteenth Ward,
11; Fourteenth Ward, II ; Fifteenth Ward, 10; Sixteenth
Ward, 11. TOWNS.
Bethlehem, 11; New Scotland 8; Guilderland, 10; Coey
mans, 9; Berne, 6; Rensselaer, 7; Westerlo, 6; Knox, 5.
cohoes city.
First Ward, 9; Second Ward, 8; Third Ward, 9; Fourth
Ward, 5; Green Island, 5; West Troy, 2 1 ; Watervliet, 12.
assessment rolls.
City of Albany, for 1875.
Value of real property  $30,386,889 00
" personal property  4,284,°5° °°
Total  $34,670,939 °°
City of Cohoes.
Value of real property  $3,182,069 00
" personal property  425, 9°9 0o
Total  $3,607,968 00
Tennis.
Value of real property  $1 1, 734,174 60
" personal property  1,128,03860
Total  512,862,212 20
Grand total of real and personal property. $51, 140,110 20
ALBANY COUNTY WAR LOAN BONDS.
A Tabular Statement of Principal and Interest coming due
yearly from 1875 lo 1886, inclusive. Principal pay
able 'March 1. Interest payable semi-annually on the
first days of March and September.

1875-*

1876.

Principal.

Interest.

Principal.

Interest.

$174,900 00
71,600 00

$71,600 00

$126,000 00
70,000 00

$70,000 00

$246,500 00

$196,000 00

1878.
Principal.
Interest.
Principal.
Interest.
$150,000 00
61,200 00
$61,200 00
$250,000 00
50,700 00
$50,700 00
5211,200 00
$300,700 00
1879.
1880.
Principal.
Interest.
Prmcipal.
Interest.
$87,000 00
33,000 00
$33,000 00
$87,000 00
27,000 00
527,000 00
$120,000 00
$114,000 00
* Leaving $1,000,000 outstanding afier those due in 1875 are paid.
108

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

1881.

1882.

Principal.

Interest.

Principal.$50,000 00
17,500 00

Interest.

$50,000 00
21,000 00

$21,000 00

$17,500 00

$71,000 00

$67,500 00
1883.
1884.
Principal.
Interest.
Principal.
Interest.
$50,000 00
14,000 00
$14,000 00
$50,000 00
10,500 00
$10,500 00
$64,000 00
$60,500 00
1885.
1886.
Principal.
Interest.
Principal.
Interest.
$50,000 00
7,000 00
$7,000 00
$50,000 00
3,500 00
$3,500 00
$57,000 00
$53,500 00
1875.  ANNUAL SPRING SESSION.
The Board met at their rooms in the City Hall,
Tuesday, May 11, 1875. Supervisors present:
First Ward, Charles Kirchner; Second Ward, Peter
Lasch; Third Ward, Samuel J. Mee; Fourth Ward, James
Macfarlane; Fifth Ward, Peter Kennear; Sixth Ward, E. C.
Koonze; Seventh Ward, H. R. Haskins; Eighth Ward,
William Dwyer; Ninth Ward, John Kirkpatrick; Tenth
Ward, James Rooney; Eleventh Ward, Edward Kays;
Twelfth Ward, William J. Carroll, Charles Gaus; Thirteenth
Ward, Charles H. Gaus; Fourteenth Ward, William H.
Haskell ; Fifteenth Ward, Charles L. Pease; Sixteenth
Ward, Warren S. Low, Jr.
First Ward, Thomas O'Dea; Second Ward, Frank Brown,
Jr. ; Third Ward, Thomas B. Golden; Fourth Ward, Solomon
Dotter. TOWNS.
Berne, George H. Reinhart; Bethlehem, John Wemple;
Coeymans, Nelson Schemerhorn; Knox, James M. Chesebro;
Guilderland, Hiram Griggs; New Scotland, Tunis Slinger
land; Rensselaerville, Horace T. Devereux; Westerlo,
Daniel M. Wooster; Watervliet, Jesse C. Dayton.
OFFICERS.
President, Henry R. Haskins; Clerk, M. J. Powers;
County Physician, Dr. D. V. O'Leary; Doorkeeper, Tohn
McGrath, Jr. * J
After drawing seats and the appointment of pages
the Board adjourned until the next day, when the
President named the Standing Committees.
Jail at West Troy.— After the announcement
of the Standing Committees Dr. Buffington was ap
pointed Physician at West Troy.
The several justices of the peace of the county
were on motion directed to forward to the Board,
by the 15th of November, their next report of the
names of all persons sentenced to confinement in
the Albany jail since January 1, 1875.
Extra Session. — An extra session of the Board
convened August 3, 1875, for the purpose of con
sidering the census claims. All the members were
present. After full consideration and settlement
of this matter the Board adjourned until the fall
session. Fall Session. — This session convened Tuesday,
November 9, 1875, all the members present
except President Haskins, whereupon Hiram Griggs
was elected president pro tem.
City Budget. — On November 30 the city
budget was received from Martin Delehanty, Clerk
of the Common Council, which amounted in gross
to $599,05046. Under a recent act the adoption
of the report of the budgets required a vote of two-
thirds of all the members. As two-thirds of the
members present voted in favor of the budget, it
was adopted.
County Treasurer's Report. — On December
2 the County Treasurer submitted the annual
report, showing that the money received by him
during the year from all sources amounted to
$1,146,128.92; disbursements, $1,146,128.92.
This report was submitted to the Finance Com
mittee. Sealer or Weights and Measures. — On a formal
ballot J. D. Burger was elected sealer of weights
and measures for the then ensuing year .
Juvenile Delinquents. — By the laws of 1874,
page 570, section 29, boards of supervisors, as we
have seen, in the several counties, are empowered
to determine the compensation of officers conduct
ing juvenile delinquents to the House of Refuge,
and of lunatics to the Lunatic Asylum. A resolu
tion was therefore presented to the Board fixing the
compensation fees for such services as follows:
For conveying one prisoner  $20 00
Two prisoners on one day  35 00
County Budget. — On December 7, 1875, the
county budget was presented and adopted, which
amounted in gross to $739,667.40; this sum was
less amount funded $100,000. The following
was adopted:
Resolved, That there be levied upon the taxable property
of the city of Albany the sum of $839,367.40, less one hun
dred thousand dollars ordered funded by the Board, and
that the same be applied according to the amounts named in
the said budget.
Physicians and Coroners Again. — The difficulty
and embarrassment connected with the fees of phy
sicians and coroners continued, notwithstanding
strenuous efforts to adjust the difficulties, until De
cember 23, 1875, when the Board went into Com
mittee of the Whole, Mr. Haskell in the chair, on
the following resolution:
Resolved, That all physicians of this county shall receive
for their services, when attending post mortem examinations
by order of a coroner, the following fees :
HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

109

For viewing the body and external examinations, and a
certificate given to show cause of death, three dollars.
For viewing a body as to external appearances, with de
scription of bruises, cuts, etc., five dollars.
Post mortem examination of thoracic cavity and dissection
of heart and lungs, seven dollars.
Post mortem examination of thoracic and abdominal cavi
ties, with dissection of their respective organs, ten dollars.
Post mortem examination of thoracic and abdominal
organs and dissection of brain, fifteen dollars.
Examination as to sanity, five dollars.
Examination microscopically of the muscular tissues, as in
trichinosis, by order of the Board of Health, twenty-five
dollars. The title was fixed, " Regulating the fees of physicians of
Albany County." This resolution was ordered to a third
reading. On January 6, 1876, the Board went into Com
mittee of the Whole on the following:
Resolved, That no coroner of the county shall hereafter
order a post mortem examination of any case unless there is
a suspicion that death has been caused by foul play or other
mysterious cause, nor until he shall have consulted with the
District Attorney of the county or his deputy, and received
the opinion of those officers as to the propriety of such ex
amination. No claim for post mortem examination shall be hereafter
audited unless bearing the affidavit of the coroner that the
services therein charged were in fact rendered, and the
certificate of the County Physician and District Attorney or
his deputy that such examination was, in their opinion,
necessary. Hereafter the coroner shall be allowed no fee
for mileage while attending an inquest within the limits of
the city in which the coroner resides.
The title was fixed, "An act providing for the manner of
holding post mortem examinations," and was ordered to a
third reading.
The Annual Spring Session of the Board of Su
pervisors was held at the City Hall,- in the City of
Albany, May 9, 1876.
The following members present:
ALBANY CITY.
First Ward, Augustus Whitman; Second Ward, John
Lyons; Third Ward, Robert J. McCormick; Fourth Ward,
Edward A. Maher; Fifth Ward, Wm. J. Flynn; Sixth Ward,
E. C. Koonz; Seventh Ward, James Young; Eighth Ward,
Wm, Dwyer; Ninth Ward, John Kirkpatrick; Tenth Ward,
Thomas Hyde; Eleventh Ward, Edward Keays; Twelfth
Ward, WiUiam A. Carroll; Thirteenth Ward, Charles H.
Gaus; Fourteenth Ward, Wm. H. Haskell; Fifteenth Ward,
Patrick H. Daly; Sixteenth Ward, D. J. Norton.

First Ward, Thomas Murphy; Second Ward, Frank
Brownjr.; Third Ward, Thomas B. Golden;Fourth Ward,
Joseph Stewart; Fifth Ward, George E. Simmons.

Berne, T. J. Wood; Bethlehem, John Wemple; Coey
mans, James N. Powell; Guilderland, Hiram Griggs; Knox,
James M. Cheseboro; New Scotland, D. J. Raynsford;
Rensselaerville, Albert T. Moore; Westerlo, D. M. Wooster;
Watervliet, J. C. Dayton.
The calling of the roll of members proceeded
until Wm. Dwyer, of the Eighth Ward, was called,
when Mr. Wm. Rahill presented a protest against
calling the name of any person from the Eighth
Ward, as Supervisor, except his own, and sub
mitted a certificate of that office from the Common
Council of the City, and also the certificate of the
County Clerk that he had duly qualified as required
by law.

The Board adjourned till afternoon, when a
somewhat bitter contest ensued over the matter. A
motion to adjourn was lost; but after more argu
ment an adjournment until evening was agreed to.
At five o'clock, there being no quorum, the Board
adjourned. In formal session, November 20, 1876, the Board
convened; the Board was present with the excep
tion of Messrs. Brown and Moore.
The Board assembled to take action in regard to
the death of Michael f. Powers, late Clerk of the
Board. Appropriate resolutions expressive of esteem were
presented by the Chairman of the Committee, Mr.
Wm. J. Flynn, which were adopted.
At a meeting held November 21, 1876, the
Board proceeded to ballot 'for officers, which re
sulted as follows:
President, Wm. H. Haskell.
Clerk, Daniel Fitzpatrick.
Journal Clerk, John Marcellus.
Doorkeeper, George Carroll.
County Physician, John M. Bigelow.
The President announced as pages Charles Sands
and John Arthur.
At the afternoon session the President announced
the list of Standing Committees.
At a meeting of the Board December 4, 1876,
the Annual Report of the County Treasurer,
showing receipts and disbursements of the office
for the year ending November 30, 1876 :
Balance on hand at last report  $1,700 03
Total receipts  51,081,008 16
Disbursements :
State general tax  $327,817 40
Rejected taxes  784 33 $328,601 73
City of Albany.
School fund  $45,864 00
Alms house. .  20,000 00
District Attorney's office. . . 2,500 00
Water rents, 1875  11,519 55
City of Cohoes.
Schoolfunds  $9,723 44
County Towns.
Schoolfunds  $27,058 87
Audited accounts  14.0, 807 65
Asylum accounts  51,627 99
Court expenses  41,969 92
Salary account  35,763 g7
Balance  44,646 26
Other items not here included which make
up a total  $1,081,008 16
Estimate of disbursements for December  50.000 00
The Chairman presented the following resolu
tion :
Resolved, That the Board of Supervisors of the County
be and are hereby requested to cause to be raised, assessed
and collected by tax upon the taxable property in the City
of Albany, in the manner provided by law, the following
sum: $609,409.25.

110

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Then follows a table setting forth the different
uses for which the sum is to be expended.
The Mayor, Hon. A. Bleecker Banks, presented
the following amendment, which was accepted :
I approve all the items in the foregoing, except the follow
ing, to which I object :
Homeopathic hospital  $2,000
Albany hospital and dispensary  3, 000
St. Peter's hospital and dispensary  3, 000
$8,000
Leaving the sum to be raised by tax at
$601,409.25. The sum of $1,000 was apportioned to the
Committee on Roads and Bridges for the different
towns in the county.
At a meeting of the Board Friday, December 8,
the Committee on Finance reported favorably on
the adoption of the following :
Resolved, That the Finance Committee be and they are
hereby authorized to borrow on the credit of the county the
sum of $100,000, to pay a portion of the bonds maturing
during the year 1877, and to issue therefor county bonds
with interest at six per cent., payable semi-annually, and
the principal payable March I, 1889 and 1890, $50,000
each; and that each bond be signed by the Chairman of this
Board and the County Treasurer; and that such bonds be
issued in the sum of $1,000 each; and that the bonds be sold
at public auction on the 15th of February, 1877, the sale to be
advertised for two weeks in the official county papers; and
that the Finance Committee receive proposals for engrav
ing and printing such bonds, and let the same to the lowest
responsible bidder; and that the Finance Committee pay to
the County Treasurer the proceeds of the sale of said
bonds. The Finance Committee were also directed to
apply to the next Legislature for a law authorizing
this County to issue bonds to the amount of $100,-
000, to replace in part the amount coming due
March 1, 1877.
The following is a statement of the real and
personal property of Albany County as assessed in
1876: City of Albany.
Total real estate  $31,759,294 00
Total personal  3,857,850 00
Grand total  $35,617,144 00
City of Cohoes.
Total  $3,273,9!3 °°
Total personal  420,200 00
Grand total  $3,694, 1 13 00
Towns.
Total real estate  $12,006,691 00
Total personal  1,022,100 68
Grand total  13,028,791 68
The grand total of Albany, Cohoes and towns :
Real estate  $47,039,898 00
Personal  5,300,150 68
Grand total  $52,340,048 68
Report on equalized valuation of real estate
per. acre in the towns of the County are as follows:
Berne, $17.45; Bethlehem, $65.20; Coeymans, $40;
Guilderland, $28.35; Knox, $16; New Scotland, $39.50;
Rensselaerville, $18.25; Westerlo, $19.77; Watervliet,
Sfi5-73^-

It was also adopted that the rates of taxation be
fixed as follows:
City of Albany, for that portion added to the city in 1870,
$2.18; portion west of Allen street, $2.38; remainder of the
city, $3.38.
On each $100 of the assessed valuation for city
and county purposes:
For the town of Berne, $2.74; for the town of Bethlehem,
$1.53; for the town of Guilderland, $1.60; for the town of
Knox', $1.66; for the town of Rensselaerville, $1.96; for the
town of Westerlo, $2.04; for the town of Coeymans, $1 50;
for the town of Cohoes, $1.36; for the town of Watervliet,
$2.08; for the town of New Scotland, $1.36.
At a meeting of the Board, December 13, the
balloting for papers to publish the audits at $60
per paper. The following were the papers
designated: Argus, Cohoes Daily News, Evening
fournal, Rensselaerville Press, Cohoes Democrat,
Evening Times, Morning Express and Albany
Herald. The death of Warren S. Low, a former member
of the Board of Supervisors, was announced by
Mr. Norton, who offered a preamble and resolu
tions, which were copied and transmitted to the
family of the deceased.
The proceedings of the annual spring session of
the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of
Albany, held May 8, 1877.
Members of new Board:
ALBANY CITY.
First Ward, Jacob Steigleman; Second Ward, Thomas
Powers; Third Ward, Edward H. Long; Fourth Ward,
.Edward A. Maher; Fifth Ward, Wm. J. Flynn; Sixth Ward,
James A. Shattuck; Seventh Ward, James Young; Eighth
Ward, Michael J. McDonald; Ninth Ward, Mathew J.
Tierran; Tenth Ward, John Hedrick; Eleventh Ward,
Isaac N. Lansing; Twelfth Ward, William H. McCall;
Thirteenth Ward, Charles H. Smith; Fourteenth Ward,
Charles R. Knowles; Fifteenth Ward, Patrick H. Daly;
Sixteenth Ward, Wm. H. Murray.

First Ward, Thomas Murphy; Second Ward, Frank C.
Reavy; Third Ward, Frank Tessier; Fourth Ward, John P.
Weber; Fifth Ward, George E. Simmons.

Berne, Frederick W. Conger; Bethlehem, W. C. Rotat
ing; Coeymans, J. H. Powell; Guilderland, J. C. Grant;
Knox, J. M. Chesebro; New Scotland, D. V. S. Raynesford;
Rensselaerville, Albert T. Moore; Watervliet, Jesse C.
Dayton; Westerlo, D. M. Wooster. President, J. C. Day
ton; Clerk, Thomas H. Craven; County Physician, William
Geoghegan, Jr.; Journal Cleric, Wm. E. Murphy; Sealer of
Weights and Measures, Philip Madden ; Doorkeeper, James
Nolan. The Board adjourned till May 8.
The Supervisors convened at 2.50 o'clock on
Wednesday, May 8; the minutes of the former
meeting read and approved, after which the Presi
dent made the announcement of standing com
mittees for the ensuing year.
Mr. Daly offered the following, which was
adopted: Whereas, At a meeting of the Board of Supervisors held
December 8, 1874, a resolution was adopted authorizing
the governors of the Albany Hospital to execute a mort
gage on the hospital lot and buildings in this city to the ex- \
tent of $30,000;

HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

Ill

Whereas, The said hospital is in an embarrassed condi
tion, judgments are recorded against the hospital, and the
property is advertised to be sold at sheriff's sale; therefore,
Resolved, That a committee of three members be ap
pointed, together with the District Attorney, to look after
the interest of the County.
Messrs. Flynn, Daly and Knowles were appointed such
committee. BALLOTING FOR THE ELECTION OF COUNTY PAPERS.
The Argus and Times were chosen as County
papers. Board adjourned.
Fall Session. — November 13, 1877, the Board
convened. All members present. On motion of
Mr. Maher the Board adjourned as a Board of
Supervisors, and agreed to meet as a Board of
Canvassers November 14.
TROUBLE WITH NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS.
By the provisions of chapter 2 1 5 of the laws of
1870, it was made the duty of each supervisor in
the State, at the annual meeting of the boards, to
appoint printers for publishing the laws of their
respective counties. The act provides that the act
shall be made as follows :
Each member of the Board shall designate by ballot one
newspaper printed in the county to publish the laws, and the
paper having the highest number of votes, and the paper
having the next highest number of votes, shall be the papers
designated for printing the laws; provided such papers be of
the opposite politics and fairly represent the two political
parties into which the people of the county are divided; and
if said papers so balloted for and chosen are not of oppo
site politics, and do not lairly represent the two principal
political parties into which the people of the county are
divided, such balloting and such choice shall be of no effect,
and the balloting shall continue until two papers, if there be
such in the county, are chosen that meet the requirements
above set forth.
It was claimed that the Board and each member
thereof entirely neglected the said law and its in
structions, whereupon a mandamus was served
upon the Chairman of the Board to compel obedi
ence to the said law in the case of The People ex
rel. Jacob C. Culyer vs. The Board of Supervisors
of Albany County, Peckham and Tremain, attor
neys for relator.
After the reading of the mandamus Mr. Flynn
said it was quite clear that the Board must pro
ceed to a designation of papers, and he presumed
the matter would be satisfactorily disposed of at
their next meeting.
At a meeting of the Board, held November 20,
on motion of Mr. Shattuck, the Board proceeded to
ballot for county papers, which ballot resulted in
the election of the Argus and Express as county
papers for the ensuing year, thus ending all further
difficulty in the matter.
At the meeting of the Board December 4, the
Chairman presented the
TREASURER'S REPORT OF RECEIPTS.
Balance on hand at last report  $44,646 26
Total amount of receipts  $1,071,547 25
Disbursements  $l,°7i>547 25
Balance on hand  $78,796 49

December 6, 1877, the Chairman presented the
following communication from the citizens of
Albany :
To Hon. Jesse C. Dayton, Chairman of the Board of Super
visors of Albany County.
Dear Sir : The undersigned citizens and taxpayers of
the City of Albany have been pleased to see that your Board
has disallowed the large claims presented by various news
paper proprietors for the unauthorized publication of laws,
proceedings, etc. The allowance of such illegal charges has
been a great grievance and is becoming absolutely intoler
able. We trust that your Board will firmly adhere to its de
cision in spite of any clamor and denunciation in which the
disappointed parties may indulge. We trust, too, that it
will in a like manner discountenance and disallow all im
proper and illegal charges from whatever source they may
come. By so doing, although you may incur the ill-will of
baffled raiders on the county treasury, you will receive the
support and praise of all good citizens.
Dated December 5, 1877.
This communication was signed by twenty-one
of the first citizens of Albany, and was ordered
filed. Also the following communication from Mr.
Nathan D. Wendell, Count)' Treasurer :
The following is a statement of the balance due the county
from the several cities and towns at this date, November 30,
1877:
City of Albany  $17,734 87
City of Cohoes  2,21609
Town of Berne  2,566 77
Town of Bethlehem  1,058 57
Town of Coeymans . :  61 91
Town of Guilderland  213 92
Town of Knox  93 83
Town of New Scotland  31 93
Town of Rensselaerville  2, 191 92
Town of Westerlo  489 33
Town of Watervliet  715 58
Total  $27,469 72
The report of the Committee on Assessment
Rolls presented the following report :
The assessed value of the real and personal property in
the county as assessed in 1877 is as follows :
Total assessed value of real and personal property :
City of Albany  $36,164,284 00
City of Cohoes  3,641,49400
Towns  12,773,362 40
Grand total  $52,580, 135 40
On the 7th of December Mr. Lansing offered the
following, which was adopted :
Whereas, The term of office of Supervisors is fixed by law
at one year; and
Whereas, The duties of said officers are onerous and of
grave responsibility, and members of the Board are held to
a strict accountability by their immediate constituency, and
it is impossible for a Supervisor to learn the whole duties in
one term ; and
Whereas, The said Board of Supervisors should be a con
tinuous body, and the members thereof should be elected for
a term of three years, similar to the Senate of the United
States, one-third expiring every year; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Committee on Application to the Leg
islature petition that body on behalf of this Board, at trie
next session, for an act making the election of Supervisors
of this county for a term of three years, and one-third there
of expiring and electing yearly.
On December 8 the President from the Com
mittee on Equalization presented the following
statement :

112

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The equalized valuation of real and personal
property in the City of Albany amounts to. .$34,357,310 90
City of Cohoes amounts to  4,041,494 00
Towns  14,181,33050
Total  $52,580,135 40
On December 27 Mr. McDonald called up a
resolution naming the following papers as papers
de-ignated to publish county audits : Argus, Times,
Freie Blatter, Albany County Democrat, Morning Ex
press, Rensselaer Press, Coeymans Herald, Albany
Evening Post, Albany Herald, Cohoes Daily News.
Mr. Smith moved to amend by making the
amount to be paid for the same $60 per paper.
Adopted.Adjourned December 28, sine die.
ANNUAL SESSION, MAY 14, I878.
Supervisors present. ALBANY.
First Ward, Frederick U. Bresler; Second Ward, Thomas
Powers; Third Ward, John Bowe; Fourth Ward, Timothy
J. Sullivan; Sixth Ward, Ignatius Wiley; Seventh Ward,
James Young; Eighth Ward, Michael J. McDonald; Ninth
Ward, William Wright; Tenth Ward, Herbert R. Stark
weather; Eleventh Ward, Isaac N. Lansing; Twelfth Ward,
William H. McCall ; Thirteenth Ward, Charles R. Smith;
Fourteenth Ward, Charles K. Knowles; Fifteenth Ward,
Patrick H. Daly; Sixteenth Ward, James Stackhouse.
COHOES CITY.
First Ward, William O'Brien; Second Ward, Truman W.
Reynolds; Third Ward, Daniel Sullivan; Fourth Ward,
Lucius Alexander ; Fifth Ward, George E. Simmons.
TOWNS.
Berne, Frederick W. Conger; Bethlehem, William Flag
ler; Coeymans, John A. Hunt; Guilderland, John C. Grant;
Knox, William J. Haverley; New Scotland, D. V. S. Rayns-
ford; Rensselaerville, Albert T. Moore; Watervliet, Jesse
C. Dayton; Westerlo, Daniel W. Wooster.
Jesse C. Dayton was elected Chairman; Thomas
C. Cravan was elected Clerk; Dr. J. R. Boulware
was elected County Physician; Patrick H. McCaf-
fery, Doorkeeper.
The following gentlemen were elected Coroner's
Physicians, by ballot :
Dr. R. H. Starkweather, Dr. L. C. B. Grave-
line, Dr. J. W. Moore, Dr. Henry E. Mereness.
JOINT BOARD.
A joint meeting of the Supervisors of the County,
together with the Mayor and Recorder of the City,
was held at Supervisors' rooms May 15, pursuant
to chapter 152, laws 1844.
Present, Hon. M. N. Nolan, Mayor; Hon. Wm.
S. Paddock, Recorder,* and all the Supervisors of
the County and City. The Mayor acted as Presi
dent and the Recorder as Secretary.
The matter of the large number of industrious,
worthy mechanics out of employment, caused by
the general depression of business, owing, as was
alleged, to the interference of prison labor with
legitimate trades, was presented to the meeting by
Mr. Daly, who offered a resolution that a com
mittee be appointed to inquire into the manner in
•See Biography ol Recorder Paddock, in another part of this work
under head of Legal Biographies.

which contracts were made for labor, and the com
pensation received for the same by the Superin
tendents of the Penitentiary ; the quantity, quality
and value of the manufactured articles, and the
relative cost of the labor on such articles compared
with the cost of labor of similar articles produced
by our local manufacturers ; the effect of prison
labor as conducted in this institution on skilled
labor in the County ; the effect on our local manu
facturers engaged in the production of such articles
as produced by the convicts in said Penitentiary ;
and in what manner, if any, it affected the skilled
labor employed by them ; also to investigate as to
the general and financial management of the affairs
of the institution, and that the said committee
have power to send for persons and papers.
After an animated debate Mr. Daly's motion
prevailed, and the Mayor appointed the following
committee to act with the Mayor and Recorder, as
provided in the preamble and resolution : Messrs.
Daly, Maher, Rowe, Bresler and Young.
The meeting then adjourned.
On Thursday, May 16, 1878, the Chairman
announced the Standing Committees, 6.
FALL SESSION, NOVEMBER 12, 1 878.
All the Supervisors present.
The session continued on, with one or two brief
adjournments, until January 10, 1879, when it
adjourned sine die.
According to the annual report of N. D. Wen
dell, County Treasurer, the money received by
him during the year from all sources amounted
to $1,078,885.76. The amount disbursed by him
was $1,078,885.76.
Estimated disbursements for December, 1878 :
Supervisors' salaries and accounts  $20,000
Salaries County Officers  5, 000
Asylum Accounts  5,000
Court expenses  10,000
Audited and miscellaneous  10,000
$50,000
REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY ASSESSED IN ALBANY
COUNTY IN 1878.
City of Albany  $36,342,890 00
Cohoes  3,620,426 00
Towns  12,717,524 88^
Grand totals  $52,680,840 58^
Equalized valuation of real and personal property
in 1878 was :
Afany City  $34,458,018
City 01 Cohoes  4,041,494
Towns  .'  14,181,328
Grand totals  $52,680,840
RATE OF TAXATION.
Berne, $2.24; Bethlehem, $1.12; Coeymans, $1.14;
Guilderland, $1.56 ; Knox, $1.36 ; New Scotland, $1.08 ;
Rensselaerville, $1.62 ; Westerlo, $1.66; City of Cohoes,
$1.10. Stationery. — The stationery furnished the Cir
cuit Courts, Special Term, and the County Courts,
for three years ending December 31, 1878, was

HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

lie

as follows: 1876, $2,078.60; 1877, $2,135.41;
l87°\ $1,310.43.
1879. — The annual spring session of the Board
of Supervisors met May 13, 1879; the following
members present : ALBANY CITY.
First Ward, Henry Hoffman; Second Ward, Thomas
Powers; Third Ward, John Bowe ; Fourth Ward, E. A.
Maher; Fifth Ward, T. J. Sullivan; Sixth Ward, Ignatius
Wiley; Seventh Ward, James Young; Eighth Ward, Rich
ard Rhatigan; Ninth Ward, Stephen P. Eastman; Tenth
Ward, H. R. Starkweather; Eleventh Ward, W. H. Gay-
lor; Twelfth Ward, W. H. McCall; Thirteenth Ward,
JohnB. Slingerland; Fourteenth Ward, Wheeler B. Melins;
Fifteenth Ward, Michael E. Higgins; Sixteenth Ward, Wm.
H. Murray. COHOES CITY.
First Ward, William O'Brien; Second Ward, John H.
Pynes ; Third Ward, Peter Grandjean; Fourth Ward,
John Groves; Fifth Ward, George E. Simmons.
TOWNS.
Berne, Frederick W. Conger; Bethlehem, Wm. Flagler;
Coeymans, John A. Hunt; Guilderland, John C. Grant ;
Knox, I. W. Chesebro; New Scotland, D. V. S. Raynsford;
Rensselaerville, Albert T. Moore; Watervliet, John Reiley ;
Westerlo, A. C. Requa.
President, Edward A. Maher; Clerk, Thomas H. Craven;
Journal Clerk, John C. Morgan; County Physician, Dr.
James L. Babcock ; Doorkeeper, Michael Hayden ; Cor
oner's Physicians, Dr. H. R. Starkweather, Dr. Wm. H.
Murray, Dr. P. J. Keegan, Dr. G. H. Billings.
The members proceeded to ballot for County
papers. The Argus and Evening fournal were de
clared elected as such.
Mr. Sullivan offered a resolution appointing
Joseph Levi as Sealer of Weights and Measures for
Albany County, which was adopted.
The President announced the Standing Commit
tees. At a meeting of the Board held May 15, Mr.
Higgins offered a resolution recommending five
members of the Board to form a committee to inquire
into the manner and mode of making contracts in
the Albany County Penitentiary, and that they have
power to send for persons and papers, and to em
ploy counsel to ascertain what powers this Board
has in that institution.
Report of ex-County Treasurer Wendell from date
of his last report, November 30, 1878, to
fanuary 1, 187 p: RECEIPTS.
Balance on hand November 30, 1878  514,621 78
From collectors  3,771 00
City of Albany, tax 1877  37,775 94
City of Albany water rents of 1878  4,208 55
Redemption of land sold for taxes  7,912 85
Temporary loan  35,ooo 00
L. Hotaling, District Attorney, costs collected. 203 71
Account back taxes for towns  :  41 95
Si °3, 535 78
DISBURSEMENTS.
Audited accounts  517,440 82
Miscellaneous  430 73 $17,871 55
15

Brought forward  $17,871 55
Salaries  4,980 75
Interest  3,208 33
Redemption of land sold for taxes  5,436 36
Publication of tax list  4S5 00
Marshall Infirmary  65 00
Jurors  $914 30
Constables  2,619 5°
J. Fencham  276 co
Stenographer  120 00
Court Crier  252 00
Justices  158 50
Court orders  198 20 $4,618 50
Bonds paid  5, 600 00
Coupons paid  203 00
Balance paid Henry Kelly, Treasurer-elect. . . 61,067 29
s 103, 535 78
Redistributing the County. — A special meet
ing held June 17, 1879, was held to re-apportion
Assembly Districts, twenty-eight members being
present. The Board proceeded to redistribute the County
according to law, and discharged their duty in a
most satisfactory manner.
The proceedings were published at the time in
the daily papers, and they may be found fully pub
lished in the proceedings of the Board of Supervis
ors for the year 1879, page 23.
Treasurer's Report. — At a meeting of the
Board December 2, the President presented de
tailed report, showing the receipts and disburse
ments of the office from January 1 to November
30, 1879, one month having been included in the
report of Mr. Wendell, the late Treasurer :
Total receipts  5843,298 50
Total amount paid out  5844,286 30
Total amount disbursed  5744,286 30
Total amount received  843,298 50
Leaving treasury overdrawn  $987 80
The following balances are due the County at
this date, viz. :
City of Albany  $28,901 14
City of Cohoes  4,002 07
Town of Berne  3,002 14
Bethlehem  '67898
Guilderland  503 06
Knox  371 83
New Scotland  no 14
Rensselaerville  2,732 58
Town of Westerlo  65 1 01
Westervliet  2, 137 64
Tot:l1  543,189 59
The Town of Coeymans has a credit balance of
SH3-74. At the meeting of the Board held December 5,
the report of the Committee on Assessment Rolls
was received, and the amount assessed on real and
personal property in the
City of Albany for 1879 is  $37,647,975 00
City of Cohoes for 1879  3,591,098 00
Towns in 1879  12,192,128 21
Making a grand total of  553,431,201 2 1

114

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The Committee on Equalized Valuation pre-
seated the following report :
Equalized value of real and personal property in
theCity of Albany for 1879  $33,746,992 40
City of Cohoes for 1879  5,341, 100 00
TOWNS.
Berne  $699,074 30
Bethlehem  2,224,973 56
Coeymans  1,344,564 79
Guilderland  1,218, 169 08
Knox  469,717 5°
New Scotland  1,564,741 43
Rensselaerville  746,37' °°
West Troy and Green Island  2,972,978 5 1
Watervliet  2,857,945 76
Westerlo  744,482 88
Grand total  $53,731,201 21
Destruction of the City Hall by Fire. —
On the 10th day of February, 1880, the City Hall
was destroyed by fire. *
Special Meeting of the Board. — On Febru
ary 16, 1880, the Board convened a special session
in the Justices' Court-rooms, City Buildings; the
meeting convened in pursuance of a written call
signed by all the members of the Board for the pur
pose of taking such steps as the Board might deem
necessary in view of the destruction of the City
Hall by fire. All the members of the Board were
present. The proceedings were very interesting. Many
valuable communications from the most eminent
citizens were read, among which were the proceed
ings of a meeting of the Albany Bar held at the
Justices' Court-rooms, City Buildings, on the nth
day of February, 1880, at which the following reso
lution was adopted:
Resolved, That the site of the City Hall, recently de
stroyed by fire, is the most appropriate and convenient for a
building for the County Court and County officers, and the
members of the Albany County Bar hereby unanimously
urge the Board of Supervisors to take immediate steps
toward the erection of said building or another upon the
City Hall site for the use of the County Courts and officers.
Henry Smith,
Chairman.
Wm. P. Rudd, I Secretari,s
Alpheus T. Bulkley, \ i'ecretan"-
The Board had been strongly urged to purchase,
or lease, the property in the City known as Martin
Hall for the use of the County and City offices.
The members of Albany Bar, deeming this building
as entirely unfit for such purposes, by reason of its
location and construction, united in a written pro
test against purchasing or leasing it, directed to the
Board, urging upon the members not to consider
further the proposition to do so.
An interesting letter from Hon. W. L. Learned
to Edward A. Maher, Esq., Chairman of the
Board, relative to the packages of half-burned and
wet package of papers rescued from the City Hall
while burning. Judge Learned recommended some
immediate action to prevent them from being
entirely ruined.
* For a more full description of City Hall, old and new, see chapter on
Public Buildings.

" If allowed to dry in their present condition," he said,
"they will stick together and, perhaps, mildew so as to be
utterly illegible. They should be taken to some safe and
dry place, opened carefully, spread out separately to dry.
As Clerk of the Court and as President of the Board you
know the great value of these papers, and as such Chair
man you can give some official direction to the necessary
expense. I cannot think that there would be any hesitation
in paying whatever this most important work may cost. I
therefore beg leave to press on you, and through you the
County Clerk, the necessity of immediate action."
The public spirit and forethought of Judge
Learned in thus calling attention of the Board to
the important matter contained in his letter was
warmly commended by the public. As the Board
acted upon his timely recommendation, papers and
documents of immense value were saved to the
County. deserved recommendation to w. b. melius.
E. A. Maher, Esq.— Dear Sir : We think the Board of
Supervisors should by resolution, or in some other
expressive manner, while commending the firemen and
others who so bravely worked to save the property of ihe
city and county from the fire at the City Hall, not omit to
speak specially of the great and extraordinary services of
W. B. Melius, to whose exertions we are all indebted for the
preservation of the most valuable records. Hamilton Harris,
R. W. Peckham,
T. J. Van Alstyne,
L. Hotaling,
E. Countryman.
This reference to the services of Mr. Melius by
these distinguished citizens was eminently just, and
shows how generously they appreciated his almost
superhuman efforts. The members of the Board,
acting under the recommendation of this letter,
adopted a handsomely worded preamble and reso
lutions expressive of their high appreciation of the
valuable services of Mr. Melius in thus saving the
property of the city and count)-.
Mr. Melius has been connected with the County
Clerk's office, officially, at least eighteen years, and
in all, for twenty-five years. No man understands
the records of the County as fully as he.
The fire in the City Hall broke out about one
o'clock on the morning of the 10th of February ._
It was bitterly cold, and an icy wind was blowing.
Mr. Melius was one of the first to reach the clerk's
office, and began the work of rescuing the precious
volumes containing the records of mortgages, deeds,
judgments, decrees, etc.; notwithstanding the
blinding and almost suffocating smoke that filled
the room, he passed 700 volumes, weighing from
12 to 16 pounds each, through a narrow window in
the searching room to a place of safety. A few
moments after the last one was passed out the
flames swept fiercely and destructively through the
rooms. The loss of these records would be im
mense and irreparable to all owners of real estate
situated in the County of Albany and to all persons
interested in mortgages, decrees and judgments
contained in these volumes.
Mr. Melius was quite overcome with his efforts
and had to be assisted in reaching his home. -
Interest of the County in the City Hall
Building. — Measures were taken at this meeting to

HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

115

ascertain what interest the County of Albany had
in the City Hall building then lately destroyed by
fire, and Hon. R. W. Peckham was employed to
assist a committee appointed for the purpose of
ascertaining the said interest of the County.
Books of Record of the County. — The County
Clerk was by resolution authorized to make true
and perfect copies of all the books of record of the
County mutilated, damaged and defaced in the
then recent burning of the City Hall, and that he
be paid the ordinary legal rates by the County
Treasurer, and he was further authorized to re
arrange, sort and label all papers disarranged and
confused by the same fire, and that he be reason
ably compensated therefor. Mr. Melius was, on
motion, authorized to assist the County Clerk in
the foregoing designated work.
Other important business touching the matters
growing out of the destruction of the City Hall was
transacted; also at the adjourned meeting held
March I, 1880, other important measures were
taken in regard to the same, which will be found
in the MS. record of proceedings of the Board, from
page 9 to 20, inclusive.
1880. — Annual Spring Session held at their
rooms, No. 38 Beaver street, May n, 1880.
. The following members of the Board were present:
First Ward, Henry Hoffman; Second Ward, Thomas
Powers; Third Ward, John Bowe; Fourth Ward, E. A.
Maher; Fifth Ward, T.J. Sullivan; Sixth Ward, Ignatius
Wiley; Seventh Ward, James Young; Eighth Ward,
Richard Rhatigan; Ninth Ward, Stephen P. Eastman;
Tenth Ward, H. R. Starkweather; Eleventh Ward, W. H.
Gaylor; Twelfth Ward, W. H. McCall; Thirteenth Ward,
John B. Slingerland; Fourteenth Ward, Wheeler B. Melius;
Fifteenth Ward, M. E. Higgins; Sixteenth Ward, W. H.
Murray. cohoes.
First Ward, Wm. O'Brien; Second Ward, John H.
Pynes; Third Ward, Peter Grandjean; Fourth Ward, John
Groves; Fifth Ward, George E. Simmons.
TOWNS.
Berne, Frederick W. Conger; Bethlehem, William
Flagler; Coeymans, John A. Hunt; Guilderland, John C.
Grant; Knox, J. W. Chesebro; New Scotland, D. V. S.
Raynsford; Rensselaerville, Albert T. Moore; Watervliet,
John Reiley; Westerlo, A. C. Requa.
At the election of a chairman of tbe Board for
the ensuing year suggestions were made as to the
legality of the election of the members of the Board
for the term of two years, whereupon the following
officers were elected for the ensuing year.
Edward A. Maher, President; John A. Mangan, Journal
Clerk; Thomas H. Craven, Clerk; Dr. James L. Babcock,
County Physician; Michael Hayden, Doorkeeper; Edgar
Palmer, Sealer of Weights and Measures. The following
gentlemen were elected coroners: Dr. W. H. Murray, Dr.
A. R. Starkweather, Dr. P. J. Keegan, Dr. G. H. Billings.
night watchman for county clerk's office.
At a meeting of the Board, May 12, the Presi
dent presented a communication signed by a large
number of the leading citizens of Albany request
ing that the services of a night watchman at the
County Clerk's office should be continued, and
they further recommended that the night watch
man be made a permanent employee.

On motion of Mr. Bowe it was resolved to
authorize the County Clerk to continue the
services of night watchman until otherwise directed
by the Board, his salary not to exceed $75 per
month. The Board met according to adjournment on
November 22, when Mr. Weaver presented the
following report of the Committee on State
Equalization :
Albany County assessed value of real estate
for the year 1878  $47,702,870
Equalization in the year 1879 at  64,295,172
Equalization over assessed value  $16,592,302
The Board of Equalization of Taxes, in pursu
ance of chapter 312, laws of 1859, fixed the aggre
gate valuation of property in Albany County at
the sum of $68,426,226, upon which a State tax of
$239,491.80 must be levied for the current fiscal
year commencing October 1, 1880, being three and
one-half mills on the dollar :
Mills. Chap. Laws.
For schools  irlonr 5T5 l88°
For general purposes  ItVitV 5'5 1880
For new Capitol  -fg 515 1880
Canals  3^% 248 1880
Total  6J
A report giving a statement of the receipts and
disbursements of the County treasury was sub
mitted on December 2, as follows:
Receipts and disbursements from December 1,
1879, to November 30, 1880:
receipts.
Total amount received  $996,299 99
Disbursements  996,299 99
Amount on hand  '  39,oo8 46

The amount of real and personal property
assessed in Albany County in 1880:
City of Albany, real and personal  $37,085,425 00
" "Cohoes, " "  3,648,09300
Towns, real and personal  12,330,250 26

Grand total  $53,o63>768 26
On December 6 the President received the fol
lowing statement from the County Treasurer, being
the balance due the County at that date:
City of Albany  S42, 193 55
" Cohoes  1,620 45
Town of Berne  3,039 50
" Bethlehem  1230
' ' Coeymans  42 86
Guilderland  45801
Knox  197 94
" New Scotland  12194
" Rensselaerville  2,849 74
Westerlo  58122
Watervliet  4,66418

Total  ^55,163 69
THE EQUALIZED VALUATION FOR l88o.
City of Albany, real and personal  $32,883, 306 03
'• Cohoes " "  5,394,92756

Makmg a total  $53,063,768 26

116

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

On January 5, 188 1, Mr. Murray, in a well-
worded resolution, made a motion that a tax of
$100.08, assessed on the premises No. 117 Beaver
street, in this city, and used by Dr. John Swin
burne as a Dispensary, be canceled, and the
Board of Assessors were directed to omit said
property from its lists of taxable property and
assessment roll, so long as the property is retained
for dispensary or hospital purposes.
This was unanimously adopted, inasmuch as Dr.
Swinburne is known to devote largely of his own
time and money to the charitable care of the sick
poor of the city, and employing assistants, and
keeping and sustaining a private dispensary wholly
from and upon his own personal means, for the
purpose of relieving the sick poor and unfortunate
of the city.
Adjourned January 24, 1881.
Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors at the
annual meeting held May 10, 1881, in Martin
Hall. Members present :
First Ward, Augustus Whitman; Second Ward, John
Ryan; Third Ward, William Casey; Fourth Ward, Edward
A. Maher; Fifth Ward, George L. Thomas ; Sixth Ward,
John Parr; Seventh Ward, James Young; Eighth Ward,
Michael J. Hayden; Ninth Ward, James A. Lynom; Tenth
Ward, Mathew C. Clark; Eleventh Ward, William B. Scott;
Twelfth Ward, William Guinan; Thirteenth Ward, Joseph
C. Griffin ; Fourteenth Ward, Robert Geer; Fifteenth
Ward, Michael E. Higgins; Sixteenth Ward, Wm. H. Mur
ray; Seventeenth Ward, Frank Brennan.
cohoes.
First Ward, John Clark; Second Ward, John H. Pynes;
Third Ward, C. M. Nadeau; Fourth Ward, John Groves;
Fifth Ward, Charles Knott.

Berne, Frederick W. Conger; Bethlehem, W. C. Hota-
ling; Coeymans, Estes H: Strevell; Guilderland, Aaron
Fuller; Knox, Izrahiah Chesebro; New Scotland, Henry H.
Meed; Rensselaerville, Hercules Sayre; Watervliet, John
Reilly; Westerlo, Anson C. Requa.
President — Edward A. Maher.
Clerk — Thomas H. Craven.
Journal Clerk — John. C. Mangan.
County Physician — Dr. U. B. La Mcure.
Doorkeeper — James A. McCotter.
Coroners' Physicians — Doctors P. J. Keegan, H. R.
Starkweather, R. D. Clark, G. H. Billings.
Sealer of Weights and Measures — Edgar Palmer.
Counsel for Overseer of Poor — Martin D. Conway,
Pages— John Ward, Joseph Foy.
County Papers. — Argus and Express.
COMMISSIONERS TO REPAIR OR REBUILD CITY HALL,
By the laws of 1880, Chapter 285, M. H. Nolan,
Edward Maher, Barclay Jermain, Charles Van
Bentheusan, Robt. C Pruyn, C. P. Easton, Erastus
Corning and Leonard G. Hun were appointed
Commissioners to repair or rebuild the City Hall
in this city. The names of the gentlemen com
posing this Committee was the highest guarantee
that the important duties committed to them would
be performed with the utmost ability, exactness
and dispatch.
At this meeting of the Board, in pursuance of
Section 8 of the said act of 1880, this Committee
presented a succinct and ably drawn petition to
the Board, requesting that body to direct the issue

of bonds of the County of Albany, to the amount
of $145,000, to be negotiated by the Chairman of
the Board of Supervisors and the Treasurer of the
county, at such times and in such amounts as may
be required by the Commissioners ; such bonds to
be signed by the Chairman of the Board of Super
visors and the Treasurer, to bear semi-annual in
terest at the rate of four per cent per annum, and
payable, one-third thereof in twenty years, and one-
third thereof in twenty-two years, from the date of
their respective issues.
The Commissioners presented a resolution to the
Board, in conformity with the said petition, which
directed that the said sum of $145,000 be paid, as
stated above, to wit: $50,000 in the year 1901,
$50,000 in 1902, $45,000 in 1903.
Committee on Coroners and Physicians. — This
Committee is very important, and for a time was
very onerous, requiring a clerk ; but by the law
touching the salaries of physicians appointed to
make post mortem examinations, and by a law of
the Board letting by contract the burial of paupers
under said contract, the Committee were relieved
from much of their labor, so it became unnecessary
to keep a clerk, and a resolution was presented for
the discharge of the clerk, but it was tabled ;
whereupon it was moved by Mr. Higgins that a
clerk be elected, and "Jcrhn P. Masterson was
elected clerk to the Committee. Adopted.
Special Meeting, August 12, 1881. — Called
under a written request and signed by all the mem
bers of the Board, to enable the Finance Commit
tee and County Treasurer to borrow money to
meet deficiencies and transact such other business
as might be necessary. The sum required was not
to exceed $120,000, and was for the purpose of
paying State tax, which was to fall due on the ist
of September then next. This amount was directed
to be raised in conformity to the foregoing.
State Board of Health. — At a meeting,
November 15, an important communication was
received from the State Board of Health in regard
to the amendments of laws designed to secure
the complete registration of births, marriages and
deaths, and especially to give the greatest possible
accuracy to the record of the causes of death and
burial of ihe dead.
The Board of Equalization of Taxes fixed the
aggregate valuation of property in Albany County
at #67,372,736, upon which amount a State tax of
$151,588.66 was to be levied for the current fiscal
year commencing October 1, 1881, being z\ mills
on the dollar, for the following purposes :
For Schools  ffc mills, per Chap. 453, Laws 1881.
" General purposes. 3^ " " " 453, " 1881.
" Canals  ^ " •< " 595, " 1881.
Total  2 J- mills.
The non-resident taxes credited to the County
for 1880 were $202.92.
At a meeting of the Board November 21, 1881,
a communication was read in regard lo the Stale

HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

117

Board of Assessors and the Stale Board of Equal
ization.The assessed valuation of real estate in Albany
County in 1880  $49,151,808
Personal estate  3,911,960
Total  $58,063,768
To the assessed valuation the State Board have
added $14,308,968; this made the equalized valua
tion of real estate $63,460,776; to this add the per
sonal, $3,911,960, which makes the sum $67,372,-
736, upon which we pay a State tax this year.
In the year 1881 there was added to our assess
ed valuation  ,  $14,695,025
In the year 1880  14,308,968
An apparent reduction of  $386,057
The increase in the assessed valuation of the
whole State for 1880 was $24,935,164, or .0107
per cent.
The increased assessed valuation of Albany
County for 1880 was but $18,000, or .0004 per
cent. It should have been quite as much as that
of the State.
An article contained in the Evening fournal,
signed "H.," containing alleged misstatemenls
touching the acts of the Board relative to the print
ing of 250 copies of its rules, was made the subject
of a question of privilege in order that the said
statement should be promptly refuted. It was de
nounced and proven to have done injustice to the
Board. A communication was also received from Dr.
John Swinburne asking to be relieved from taxes
assessed on his private hospital, which was granted.
Arsenal. — The estimates of the expense of fit
ting up for rooms in the arsenal for the benefit of
the military of the city.
The contract was awarded by. the proper Com
mittee, so far as building lockers, etc., was con
cerned, at $2,439.
Election Notice. — The Argus and Morning
Express were designated as papers to publish
election notices.
The Treasurer's Account, for the year
ending November, 188 1, was presented
December 2, 1881, showing the receipts of
his office for that time to be  $1,032,444 88
Disbursements  $1,032,444 88
Statement of real and personal property
assessed in the County of Albany, 1881:
Real  $61,422,635
Personal  7,5°7,755
Total  $68,930,390
On December 8, on motion of Mr. Conger, a
resolution was adopted authorizing the Finance
Committee to borrow, on the credit of the Count)',
the sum of $50,000 to pay bonds in like amount
maturing March 1, 1882, and to issue therefor
county bonds bearing interest, not to exceed 4 per
cent, per annum, payable semi-annually, the prin

cipal payable March 1, 1904. The said bonds
were to be registered or coupon, and they were to
be sold at public auction on February 15, 1882,
after being advertised two weeks.
Equalized Valuation of Albany Co., 1881:
ALBANY CITY.
Real estate  $48,886,198 00
Personal  7,5°7,755 00

Total  556,393,953 00

Cohoes City real estate 
" " personal estate.

$9>455,-°72 00
336,644 00

Total  9,791,716 06

Albany City, Cohoes and towns,
real estate  $81,453,069 25
" " personal  8,889,220 18

Grand totals  $90,342,289 43
State and County Tax. — The rate of State and
County tax was fixed by resolution at fifty-four
cents on each $100 of the equalized valuation of
this county.
Special Meeting. — Monday, December 12, 1881,
a special meeting convened pursuant to a call pre
viously made for the purpose of fixing the rate of
the city of Cohoes, and of the town of Watervliet.
The rate of taxation for the city of Cohoes for 1881
was fixed at $1.25 upon each $100. The rate for
Watervliet for 1881 was fixed as folio ws :

On each Sioo of the assessed valuation
Watervliet, First District 
West Troy and Green Island 

$75 68

District Attorney's Report. — D. Cady Herrick
presented his report of the costs received by him,
and also a statement of the fines imposed since
January 1, 1881, which by recapitulation shows as
follows :

Costs and judgments 
Fines iu Oyer and Terminer.
" " County Sessions 
" " Special Sessions . ...

$1,526 26
275 00
409 00
954 00
$3,155 26
Cohoes Jail. — By resolution the County Treas
urer was authorized to pay the city of Cohoes $500
for rent of jail pursuant to Sec. 15, Chap. 60,
Laws of 1 88 1.
Previous to the adjournment of the Board, on
December 20, 1881, Supervisor Geer, in a pleas
ing and finely worded speech, on behalf of the
members of the Board, presented President Maher
an elegant watchchain and charm. Mr. Maher
received it with a very feeling and appropriate
address. Supervisor Murray then arose, and, on
behalf of the members of the Board, presented
Mr. Thomas H. Craven, Clerk of the Board, with
a valuable silver service.
In presenting it, Mr. Murray made some timely
and exceedingly well received remarks touching
the high esteem in which Mr. Craven was held bv
the Board. The latter thanked the Board in a very

118

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

happy manner. The whole proceeding gave great
satisfaction to the Board and public.
The Board of Supervisors of the city and county
met at their Annual Session at their rooms in Music
Hall, May 9, 1882.
The following members were present:
CITY OF ALBANY.
First Ward, Agustus Whiteman; Second Ward, Thomas
Powers; Third Ward, Wm. Casey; Fourth Ward, Edward
A. Maher; Fifth Ward, John Cook; Sixth Ward, John D.
Capron; Seventh Ward, Edward Roark; Eighth Ward,
Michael J. Hayden; Ninth Ward, Daniel J. Murphy; Tenth
Ward, Mathew C. Clark; Eleventh Ward, Alfred Booth;
Twelfth Ward, William H. McCall; Thirteenth Ward,
Joseph C. Griffin; Fourteenth Ward, Robert Geer; Fifteenth
Ward, James Skillicorn; Sixteenth Ward, Alonzo B. Voor-
hees; Seventeenth Ward, Thomas J. Reilly.
COHOES.
First Ward, John Clark; Second Ward, Frank Rockwell;
Third Ward, Charles M. Nadeau; Fourth Ward, John
Groves: Fifth Ward, Neil Morris. TOWNS.
Berne, Thomas J. Wood; Bethlehem, W. C. Hotaling;
Coeymans, Estes H. Strevel; Guilderland, Aaron Fuller;
Knox, Wm. J. Haverly; New Scotland, Hiram Becker;
Rensselaerville, Hercules Sayre; Watervliet, Joseph Ander
son; Westerlo, Anson C. Requa.
President, Edward A. Mayer.
Clerk, Thomas H. Craven.
Journal Clerk, John A. Lawless.
County Physician, Dr. R. D. Clark.
Doorkeeper, Bernard Ross.
Coroners' Physicians, Drs. H. R. Starkweather, P. H.
Keegan, M. J. Lewi and G. H. Billings.
County Sealer of Weights and Measures, John Powers.
Counsel for Overseers of the Poor, Mr. D. Conway.
County Papers, Daily Argus and Daily Express.
After considerable business relative to peniten
tiary matters, of which we shall give an account in
another place, the Board adjourned.
At a special meeting held May 24 the President
announced the Standing Committees for the ensuing
year. At a meeting of the Board held July 27 it was re
solved that the office of the Coroners of Albany
County should be located in the rooms of the Su
pervisors, and that John P Masterson be and he
was appointed a clerk to said Coroners, his duties
to assist as clerk to each of said Coroners in their
official duties, and to keep a record of and file each
inquisition; also to act as Clerk to the Committee
on Coroners and Physicians of the Board, the
salary not to exceed $100 per month, the County
Treasurer to pay the same.
At a meeting held November 14 the Clerk pre
sented the following statement :
The Board of Equalization of Taxes have fixed the
aggregate valuation of property in the County of Albany at
the sum of $74,051,676, upon which amount a State tax of
$181,426.61 must be levied for the current fiscal year begin
ning October 1, 1882, as provided in chapter 312, laws of
1859, and amendments thereto, by chap. 351, laws of 1814,
being 2 -$$ mills on the dollar, for the following purposes:
For schools  1 ^j- mills, chap. 296, laws 1882
For general purposes. . . . -j-^jr " " 296 " 1882
For canals  £fa " " 208 " 1882
Total  2fJ0 mills.
Non-resident taxes credited to Albany County for 1881
amounted to $19.74.

On November 21 Mr. Weaver, from the Com
mittee on State Equalization, presented the follow
ing statement :
Equalized valuation of real estate of Albany
County for the year 1881  $63,460,776
Amount the County should have increased to
retain its relative proportion with other coun
ties in the State  1,906,772

The amount it would then have been equalized
on real estate for 1882  $65,367,548
The amount it is equalized for 1882  65, 162,456

Amount of reduction .

$205,092

Amount of Albany County's increase  $1,906,772
Amount added by State Board of Equalization . 1,701,680

Difference in favor of Albany County . . . $205,092

The amount of State tax for this year is $29,837.94
greater than last year, and is accounted for as follows :
Increase of personal estate  $4,977,260
Increase of real estate  , 1,701,680

$6,678,940

This amount, multiplied by last year's rate,
2% mills on the dollar, produces  $15,027.61
Total amount of equalized real and personal
($74,051,676) for 1882, multiplied by one-fifth
of a mill, the increase over 1881  14,810.33

$29,837-93
On November 28 the Clerk presented the Annual
Report of the Coroners.
The report of Richard Scully shows that from
October 16, 18S1, to November 10, inclusive, there
were 33 post mortem examinations with juries con
ducted before him. Peter Lasch reports 44 inquests
held by him during the years of 1881-2 with jurors.
The first annual report of James McCann states
that he held 30 inquests during the year 1882, from
January 22 to November 24.
Richard Johnson reported 19 inquests held by him
since November 24, 188 1, to September 26, 1882.
On December 4 Mr. Sayre, from the Committee
on Assessment Rolls, presented the following:
Statement of the Real and Personal Prop
erty in Albany County as assessed in 1882.
Total real in City of Albany .
Total personal " "

51,117,810 00
6,432,332 °°

Real in City of Cohoes  $3,410,079 00
Personal " "  361,50000

^67,550,34200

Towns, real estate  $17,076,329 73
personal  1,053,33493

3,771,579 00

18,129,66466
Grand total  $89,451,585 66
It was also resolved to raise by tax on property in
the City of Albany the sum of $720,789.37 for the
several contingent expenses of the city for hospitals,
nurseries and temporary out-door relief of the poor,
and for rebuilding Beaver Creek arch, at Philip
street. On December 8 Mr. Requa, from the Committee
on Equalization, presented the following report,
which, on the next meeting, December 9, was
adopted:

HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

119

equalized valuation of 1882.
City of Albany, real  $48,977,620 00
" " personal  6,432,53200
 $55,410,152 00
City of Cohoes, real  $9,472,697 00
" " personal  361,50000
 9,834,19700
Towns, real  51,604,218 73
personal  7,847,366 93

Grand total, including towns  $89,451,585 66
On December 14 a special session of the Board
met at two p. m., pursuant to a call of the Presi
dent. The object of this call was "for the purpose of
taking suitable action regarding the death of the
wife of Supervisor Geer, of the Fourteenth Ward."
A motion was made to appoint a committee of
three to draft resolutions to be reported at evening
session. Messrs. Voorhees, Capron and McCall
were named by the President as such committee.
On motion the Board adjourned.
At the evening session Mr. Voorhees reported
the following:
Resolved, That the members of this Board most sincerely
sympathize with their associate, Robert Geer, in the irre
parable loss he has sustained in the death of his wife, and
extend to him the assurance of their heartfelt sorrow.
At the meeting of the Board, held December 22,
that body tendered their most cordial thanks to
their efficient President, Edward A. Maher, for
the impartial manner in which he had presided
over their deliberations; and they collectively and
individually conveyed to him in the resolution the
official and personal assurance of esteem and
regard. It was further resolved that the members of the Board
"not only recognize but fully appreciate the invaluable
services of the attentive, courteous and competent Clerk,
Thomas H. Craven, and that we not only deem it a pleasure,
but feel it to be a duty, to thus publicly and officially recog
nize our obligations to him for the faithful and conscientious
performance of his important duties."
After a very pleasant but brief address from the
President the Board adjourned sine die.
1883. — Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors
of Albany County at their annual meeting, May 8,
1883. Members present :
ALBANY CITY.
First Ward, George J. Goetz; Second Ward, Thomas
Powers; Third Ward, Wm. Casey; Fourth Ward, Patrick
Cuddy; Fifth Ward, Peter J. McGowan ; Sixth Ward,
Andrew Vanderzee; Seventh Ward, Edward Roark; Eighth
Ward, Michael J. Hayden; Ninth Ward, Daniel J. Murphy;
Tenth Ward, Frederick Stackman ; Eleventh Ward , Alfred
Booth; Twelfth Ward, Wm. H. McCall; Thirteenth Ward,
Joseph C. Griffin; Fourteenth Ward, Robert Geer; Fifteenth
Ward, James Skillicorn; Sixteenth Ward, Edwin Ellis;
Seventeenth Ward, Thomas Reilly.
city of cohoes.
First Ward, Marcus Kennedy; Second Ward, Truman
W. Reynolds; Third Ward, Charles M. Nadeau; Fourth
Ward, Jared H. Blair; Fifth Ward, Neil Morris.

Berne, Thomas J. Wood; Bethlehem, John L. Winne;
Coeymans, Lansing Shear; Guilderland, Aaron Fuller;
Knox, Charles G. Frink; New Scotland, Hiram Becker;

Rensselaerville, Hercules Sayre; Watervliet, Nicholas Kane;
Westerlo, Anson C. Requa.
President, Anson C. Requa; Clerk, Thomas H. Craven;
Journal Clerk, John J. Dunphy; Doorkeeper, John J. Mc
Caffrey; County Physician, U. B. La Moure; Counsel to
Overseer of Poor, George Parr; County Sealer of Weights
and Measures, Jacob S. Scrafford.
At a meeting of the Board, held May 24, the
President announced the Standing Committees.
At the next meeting, November 14, the balloting
for coroners' physicians resulted as follows :
Dr. J. H. Moore, Dr. F. L. Classen, Dr. D. P. Shevelin
and Dr. G. H. Billings.
The Argus and fournal were declared as County
papers. Charles L. Pease was appointed Committee Clerk
to this Board.
It was resolved that the regular sessions of the
Board should be held on Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday at 8. 1 5 p. m.
The Clerk presented the following statement :
The Board of Equalization of Taxes, in pursuance of
chapter 312 of the laws of 1859, fixed the aggregate valua
tion of property in Albany County at the sum of $76,442,516,
upon which amount a State tax of $248,438.18 must be
levied for the current year, commencing October 1, 1883,
as provided in said act and amendments thereto, by chapter
351, laws of 1874, being 3^ mills on the dollar, for the
following purposes:
Schools  Itwo" ttliIIs, per chapter 376, laws 1883.
General purposes. . iy1^^ mills, per chapter 376, laws 1883.
For Canals  lyr^o" Ta^s> Per chapters 373, 471, 495,
laws 1883. 
Total  Ztvs mills-
The non-resident taxes credited to the County for 1882
amount to $273.50.
Coroners' Reports. — The Second Annual report
of James J. McCann gives the number of inquests
held by him during the years 1882-3 to be 44.
The Third Annual report of Richard Scully for
the same years shows 1 6 cases.
Coroner Thomas Nolan reported 12 inquests
held by him during the year 1883, from January
8 to October 30.
The Third Annual report of Coroner Peter Lasch
shows that 40 inquests were held by him during
the years 1882-3, from December 2, 1882, to No
vember 16, 1883.
At the meeting of the Board held November 1 2
the President presented the
Report of the Committee on State Equaliza
tion. — There had been two tables presented by
the State Assessors to the State Board of Equaliza
tion for adoption, but neither were accepted. On
October 10 a table was presented which was further
amended, and the Committee adopted ; it was as
follows :
Assessed valuation of real estate  $81,604,218
Deduction made from real estate  13,009,069
Equalized real estate.  $68,595, !49
Personal estate  7,847,367
Total equalized real and personal, as corrected. $76,442,516
Making a reduction, as between the tables of
October 4 and 10, of  $912,879

120

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The Clerk presented the following :
Bonds of the-City of Albany to the amount of $ioo;OOo,
bearing interest at the rate of seven per cent. , were issued
for the construction of the High School building, the prin
cipal of which is payable in ten annual installments of
$10,000 each. There will be required for the said annual
payment $10,000, and for interest on bonds $1,050, as fol
lows : Six months' interest on $20,000, $700, and six months'
interest on $10,000, $350.
The Committee on Assessment Rolls presented
the following report :
Statement of the Real and Personal Property of Albany
Coimty as Assessed in 1883.
City of Albany, real estate  $60,750, 120 co
" " personal  6,480,73500
Total  $67,230,855 00
City of Cohoes, real  $3,403,827 00
" " personal  399,99000
Total  $3,803,817 00
Towns, real estate  $20,338,235 18
" personal  1,107,89600
Total  '  $21,446,131 18
Grand total  $92,480,803 18
Mr. Fuller, from the Committee on Equalization
of Taxes, presented the following report :

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At a meeting of the Board December 7 the
following was adopted :
Resolved, That the rate of taxation be fixed as follows for
the following towns and the City of Cohoes for the year
1883 on each $100 of the assessed valuation :
Berne, $1.04; Bethlehem, $1.36; Coeymans, $1.42; Guil
derland, $1.34; Knox, $1.44; New Scotland, 82 cents;
Rensselaerville, 86 cents; Westerlo, 66 cents; Watervliet,
ist district, 86 cents; Watervliet, 2d district, West Troy
and Green Island, 78 cents; City of Cohoes, $1.76.
County Treasurer's Report. — Robert Gallup,
County Treasurer for the County of Albany, states
in his report that the amount on hand at last re
port was $1,050. 53. This amount, together with
all receipts of the office for the year ending No
vember 30, 1883, amounts to $928,229.81. The
disbursements for the same time amount to
$928,229.81, including a balance on hand of
$19,591.61. The Board adjourned January 11, 1884, after
tendering sincere and heartfelt thanks to President
Anson C. Requa, and the Clerk, Thomas H.
Craven, who replied in very eloquent addresses.
1884. — Annual Spring Session held at their
rooms in the New City Hall, in the City of Albany,
May 13, 1884. Members present:
ALBANY CITY.
First Ward, George J. Goetz; Second Ward, Michael J.
Nolan ; Third Ward, William Casey ; Fourth Ward, Patrick
Cuddy; Fifth Ward, Peter J. McGowan; Sixth Ward,
Thomas C. Jeffers; Seventh Ward, Marshall Tebbutt;
Eighth Ward, Michael J. Hayden; Ninth Ward, Wm. F.
Reedy; Tenth Ward, Frederick Stackman; Eleventh Ward,
Meredith Burke; Twelfth Ward, James J. Wise; Thirteenth
Ward, Joseph C. Griffin; Fourteenth Ward, Robert Geer;
Fifteenth Ward, John T. Brady; Sixteenth Ward, James
Stackhottse; Seventeenth Ward, George Holler.
First Ward, Marcus Kennedy; Second Ward, Truman W.
Reynolds; Third Ward, Charles M. Nadeau; Fourth Ward,
John P. Weber; Filth Ward, George W. Smith.
Beme,Thomas J. Wood; Bethlehem, John L. Winne;
Coyemans, Richard S. Blodgett; Guilderland, Aaron Fuller;
Knox, Charles G. Frink; New Scotland, Charles Wood;
Rensselaerville, Jacob B. Norwood; Watervliet, Nicholas T.
Kane; Westerlo, Anson C. Requa.
Chairman, Anson C. Requa; Clerk, Thomas H. Craven;
Journal Clerk, Elbert E. Richmond; Doorkeeper, Joseph
Johnson; County Physician, Dr. U. B. La Moure; Coun^-el
to Overseer of Poor, Thomas F. Connor; Sealer of Weights
and Measures, Jacob S. Scrafford.
A recess was taken till the afternoon, when a
joint meeting was called.
The committee appointed introduced Hon. A.
Bleecker Banks, Mayor, and Anthony Gould,
Recorder. The Mayor acted as Chairman and the Recorder
as Secretary of the meeting, and Mr. T. H. Craven
Clerk. Mr. Greer offered a resolution in which the
Superintendent of the Penitentiary should be re
quested to furnish the Board with copies of all con
tracts made by him for the labor of prisoners; also
for copies of contracts made with the United States
and with counties in regard to the terms on which
HISTORY OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

121

their prisoners are maintained in that institution,
etc. It was also resolved that the Superintendents and
Inspectors of the Penitentiary be and are pro
hibited from renewing existing contracts, or making
any new ones, for the maintenance of prisoners of
other counties or of the United States.
Working Men's Assembly. — This organization,
one of the most important in the City of Albany,
often memorialized the Board in regard to matters
touching the interests of the laboring classes,
always respectfully. The)- were always given
a respectful hearing.
Special Meeting. — On August 18 the Board
met to take action relative to the death of William
Casey, Supervisor of the Third Ward, City of
Albany. A committee of five, consisting of Messrs.
Brady, Nolan, Goetz, Cuddy and Stackman, was
appointed to draft suitable resolutions.
Mr. Brady addressed the Board in touching and
appropriate language, and at the close of his ad
dress the Committee presented their resolutions,
which were adopted. The address and resolutions
are in every respect worthy the character of Mr.
Casey, while they reflect great credit upon their
authors and are embellishments to the records of
the Board of Supervisors of the County.
The Board thereupon adjourned.
Regular Session of the Board of Supervisors
.met at the City Hall, November 12, 1884, for the
fall session. All members present.
The election of Coroners' Physicians then took
place. The following were elected:
Drs. S. C. Healey, Frederick L. Classen, J. H.
Billings, Wm. Hagedorn.
County Papers. — The ballot for the County
papers for the ensuing year resulted in the election
of the Argus and Express.
On motion the salary of the Coroners' Physicians
was fixed at $600 per annum, their term of office
to begin November 20, 1884.
Annual Report of the Coroners. — The an
nual account of Michael H. Murray shows 29 in
quests held by him during 1884; James C. Mc-
Cann shows 28 inquests; Richard Scully, 17;
Thomas Nolan, 9; Peter Lasch, 2; total, 85.
An Unconstitutional Law relative to Grand furors.
— By chapter 532 of the laws of 1881, an impor
tant innovation was made relative to the selection
of Grand Jurors in Albany and one or two other
cities in the State. It provided :
That the duties assigned the Supervisor, Town Clerk or
Assessors by the Revised Statutes in regard to Grand
Jurors should be performed by the Recorder of the City of
Albany. It provided that in Albany County Grand Jurors
should, after the passage of that act, be drawn from the
box containing the names of Petit Jurors selected for said
County, in the same manner as Petit Jurors, and that there
after no separate list of Grand Jurors should be prepared
for said County. Under this law a Grand Jury was drawn
which convened for the May Term of the Albany Oyer and
Terminer for 1882, at which Term, and by said Grand Jury,
one James Dempsey, and two others, were indicted for 
16

On that trial they were convicted, and the verdict was ap
pealed from to the General Term of the Supreme Court,
where the conviction was affirmed . From the judgment of
the Supreme Court an appeal was taken to the Court of
Appeals, where the judgment of conviction was set aside
on several points raised by the counsel for the prisoners,
but chiefly on the ground that the Act of 1881, to which we
referred, was unconstitutional, in that the bill resulting in
the act was a private or local bill and against the provisions
of Article 3, Sec. 18, of the Constitution as amended No
vember 3, 1874, which provides that the Legislature shall
not pass a private or local bill in any of the following cases:

Selecting, Drawing, Summoning or Impaneling Grand or
Petit Jurors. — As this provision is qualified by Section 25
of the same article, which provides :
" Sections 17 and 18 of this Article shall not apply to any
bill or the amendments to any bill which shall be reported
to the Legislature by Commissioners who have been ap
pointed pursuant to law to revise the Statutes ; that the
Statutes show that there had been no such officers as ' Com
missioners who had been appointed pursuant to law to re
vise the Statutes ' subsequent to May I, 1878, and, there
fore, said chapter 532 could not have been reported as pro
vided for in said section 25 ; "
The counsel for the defendants, Mr. E. J. Meegan,
brought all the Acts of 1870, 1873, 1874, 1876 and 1877 in
regard to the amendment of the Code and of the various
constitutional amendments touching the Political Code, the
Penal Code, the Code of Civil Procedure and the Civil Code
into consideration against the constitutionality of the Act of
1881, to which we have alluded, and, as we have said, the
Act in regard to the drawing of Grand Jurors in the County
of Albany was declared unconstitutional. It therefore be
came the duty of the Supervisors of Albany County for 1884
to select Grand Jurors for the then ensuing year, under the
general law, which requires that the Board shall prepare a
list of 300 men between the ages of twenty-one and sixty,
owners of real estate either in their own names or in that of
their wives, or assessed on personal property for at least
the sum of $250, and inhabitants of the town or ward in
which they were selected.
The importance of the foregoing to this work, and to the
general reader, will be appreciated. We have presented
the subject at some length, because it is not only one of the
most interesting but important matters found in the history
of Supervisors of Albany County.
Citizens' Association of Albany. — We have occa
sionally alluded to this highly important organiza
tion. It is proper to add that it has been engaged for
some years, with the assistance of counsel, in the
examination of County charges, and the legal
grounds and authority for the same.
The citizens comprising this association have
always been of the highest standing. A careful ex
amination of their work in regard to bills, especially
their work for 1884, convinces us, as it would all
who examine it, of the great value and usefulness
to the County of this association, and the conscien
tious manner in which they discharged their duty.
The Executive Committee of rF for 1884 were Mar
cus T. Hun, C. P. Williams and Mathew Hale.
Increased Valuation of Real Estate. — The
Committee appointed to appear before the State
Board of Equalization in behalf of the interests of
Albany County reported that the total increased
assessed valuation of real estate of the State for the
year 1883 was $111,954,771, of which Albany's
portion would be $3,000,246. This, assuming
the equalization of 1883 correct, would have made
the equalization of 1884 as follows :

122

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Equalization of real estateJbr 1883  $68,595,149
To which add above increase  3,000,246
$71,595,395
Equalization made by State Board, 1884.  71,273,649
Reduction on equalization for 1884  $321,749
Making the following statement of Albany
County for the year 1884 :
Equalized valuation of real estate  $71,273,649
To which add personal property  7,558,621
$78,832,270
While the foregoing statement is, to some ex
tent, gratifying, yet it does not measure out to Al
bany County that degree of justice to which it is
entitled. Assessment of Property, 1884. — At a meeting
of the Board, December 2, Mr. Brady, Chairman
of the Committee of Assessments, presented a state
ment of the real and personal property in the
County of Albany, as assessed in 1884 :
City of Albany, real  $60,961,465 00
" " personal  6,339,41700
Total  $67,300,882 00
City of Cohoes, real  $3,580,205 00
" " personal  394, 120 00
"Total  $3,974,325 00
Towns, real  $21,909,250 29
personal  i,558,553 94
Total  $23,467,804 23
Grand total  $94,743,01 1 23
Equalized Valuation. — On December 4, Mr.
Fuller, from the Committee on Equalization of
Taxes, presented a statement exhibiting the
equalized valuation of the County of Albany for
the year 1884:
City of Albany, real estate  $51,993,990
" " personal  6,339,417
Total  *58,333,4°7
Cohoes, real estate  $10,080,177
" personal  394,120
Total  $10,474,297
This amount, with the real and .personal property
of the towns, which comprised the value of 301,-
328^ acres, amounted to:
Total real estate  $86,450,920 29
" personal  8,292,090 94
Grand total  $94,743,01 1 23
Albert Gallup, County Treasurer, presented the
following communication to the President of the
Board :
"The following balances are due the County of
Albany, Dec. 4, 1884, as shown by the books in
the Treasurer's office :"

City of Albany  $82,593 I2
" Cohoes  5,102 65
Town of Berne  4,237 13
" Bethlehem  389 53
" Coeymans  1,055 °4
' ' Guilderland  288 47
" Knox  35 90
New Scotland  146 85
" Rensselaerville  3,536 76
" Westerlo  662 12
$98,047 57
Town of Watervliet has a credit balance  ... 260 14
Leaving amount due county  $97,778 43
Rate of Taxation of City of Albany. — The
rate of taxation for the City of Albany was fixed as
follows upon each $100 of the assessed valuation
for City and County purposes:
City of Albany, for . that portion added to the city in
1870, $1.03; portion west of Allen street, $1.04; remainder
of city, $2.04; corporations which pay State tax to Comp
troller, 81. 78X.
The rate of taxation fixed for the town of Water
vliet for 1884 on each $100 of assessed valuation:
Watervliet, First District, 72c; Watervliet, Second
District, West Troy, Green Island, 75c.
treasurer's REPORT.
The Treasurer's report of the County for the
year ending Nov. 29, 1884, shows the re
ceipts in his office to have been  $903,149 38
Disbursements  903,149 38
Balance on hand  $18,597 86
Burial and Headstones for Soldiers. — On
January n, 1884, the Board adopted a resolution
requiring the Clerk to keep an account of the
amount paid for the burial and for headstones for
deceased soldiers of the late war, under section 4,
chapter 354, laws of 1884. In pursuance of said
resolution and said law, the Treasurer presented a
very interesting and extended report showing the
number of soldiers who had died in the County of
Albany during the year 1884, the name of each
soldier, the company and regiment to which he
belonged, his age, time and place of death, the
amount of expenses paid for burial and to whom
paid. The report shows the number of soldiers
who died in the County during the year to be 46.
The burial expenses of each soldier was $35. The
total amount paid for these burials during the
year was $1,600.
PRESERVATION OF PUBLIC RECORDS AND BOOKS.
On Dec. 17, 1884, Wm. D. Strevell, Clerk of
the County, presented an interesting communica
tion to the Board, stating that a quantity of valua
ble record books removed from the City Hall at
the time of the fire were scattered over the floor in
a confused condition in one of the rooms in the
tower of the new City Hall, where they had been
placed after its completion. The communication
also showed that further neglect would be highly
injurious to them; that Messrs. Wheeler B. Melius
and Daniel Casey, long familiar with the records
of the County Clerk's office, had offered to arrange
the papers, records and books for the sum ©f $1,000;

THE BENCH AND BAR.

123

and it was strongly recommended that the sum be
appropriated for that purpose.
The Citizens' Association having examined the
records referred to in the communication, Hon. J.
Howard King, President of the Association,
indorsed the said communication, whereupon it
was adopted by the Board by a vote of 24 ayes to
1 no. It is gratifying to state that at this writing,
March 11, 1885, the work referred to in this com
munication, important and difficult as it was, has
been completed in a most satisfactory manner, and
the books, papers and records are easily accessible
to all parties desiring to examine them.
The last proceedings of the Board which we have

been able to obtain were under date of Dec. 18,
1884, which includes the above.
Thus we conclude our history of the Board of
Supervisors of the County of Albany, embracing a
period of over a century and a half. Notwith
standing the difficulties we have encountered in
obtaining a regular line of records by lapse of
time, and the destruction of some by fire, we feel
it is not affectation to say that through the courte
ous aid of the custodian of papers and documents,
and of the generosity of private citizens and former
officials who have valuable documents, we have
been able to present a history which must be of
much value and interest to the people of the
County.

THE BENCH AND BAR,

OR

LEGAL HISTORY OF ALBANY COUNTY.

33y- L. B. PROCTOR, Esq.

ALBANY has long been the seat of the law-mak
ing power of the State ; here the great courts
of dernier ressort have held their sittings since the
adoption of the first constitution. Here, too, the
Supreme Court of the State, presided over by the
ablest jurists in the nation, has held its regular terms,
from 1777 down to 1885. Here, also, fornearly two
centuries, other important courts have pronounced
the laws.
Among the judges and lawyers who have con
ducted these courts " there have been many diver
sities of talents and abilities. There have been
those of the Bar who were listened to wholly for
their intellectual qualities, for the wit or the wis
dom, the learning or the philosophy, which charac
terized their efforts. There have been those whose
main attraction was a curious felicity and facility of
illustration and description, adorned by the richest
gems which could be gathered by historical re
search or classic study. There have been those to
whom the charms of manner, the graces of elocu
tion and the melody of voice were the all-sufficient
recommendation to applause. There have been
those who owed their success more to opportunity
and occasion, to some stirring theme or some ex
citing emergency, than to any peculiar attributes
of their own. And we may say that there have
been those who combined in a large degree all of
these qualities. "

In writing the history of the Bench and Bar of
Albany County one feels as though he was writing
the Bench and Bar of the State itself, such is the
commanding influence they have had and still have
in legal history. In entering on our duty we shall
begin with the first organization of courts of justice
in the county.
EARLY COURTS.
Courts of justice were organized in the colony
of New York by the English, under the authority
of the code known as the " Duke's Laws." The
principal courts were, at first, the Court of Sessions
and Town Courts, but very soon after authority was
given for the organization of Courts of Oyer and
Terminer. The Dutch Court of Burgomasters and
Schepens was changed to Mayor's Court.
The above comprised what may be called the
first judicial system, which existed from 1665 to
1683; we do not find the record of any Court of
Oyer and Terminer, or of Court of Sessions, or of
Town Courts, that were held in the County of
Albany during this period.
The second judicial system existed from 1683 to
169 1. The Town or Justices' Courts, Court of
Sessions and of Oyer and Terminer were continued,
and a Court of Chancery established.
The third judicial system was inaugurated in
1 69 1, and continued during the colonial period.

124

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

It preserves the courts previously established, and
added for the first time a Court of Common Pleas
and a Supreme Court.
The Court of Oyer and Terminer was made a
criminal side of the Supreme Court, as it is now of
the present Supreme or Circuit Court. We find no
record of the proceedings of any of those courts
of the County of Albany during this period of any
importance, excepting the Court of Common
Pleas, and some proceedings of a Court of Sessions
that seems to have existed. There was, during
this period, a Mayor's Court in the City of Albany
having civil and criminal jurisdiction, composed of
the Mayor and Aldermen.
In 1683 an act was passed "to settle courts of
justice," which directed a Court of Oyer and Ter
miner to be held in the respective counties of the
province, composed of one judge, assisted by four
justices of the peace of each county.
In the City of New York and the City of
Albany, the Mayor, Recorder and four Alder-
* men were associated with the judge. This
court had jurisdiction over all capital criminal
causes, trials at common law. It had appellate
jurisdiction of five pounds or upward ; the au
thority for holding the court was derived from the
Provincial Governor ; the court was abolished May
6, 1691. Though this court held its sittings regu
larly at Albany, no record of any importance can
be found of them.
Court of Sessions. — In 1683 an act was passed
directing that a Court of Sessions be held, by three
justices of the peace, in each of the twelve counties
of the province, as follows: In New York four times,
in Albany three times, and in the remainder of the
counties twice in each year. In the City of New
York this court was held by the Mayor and four
Aldermen. In the City of Albany it was held by
the Mayor and the Justices of the Peace. It deter
mined all causes, civil and criminal, by a jury; but
actions exceeding five pounds could be removed,
upon application, to the Court of Oyer and Termi
ner. Its officers were a marshal, a crier and a
clerk. We find a record of a Court of Sessions held at
Albany in 171 7, as follows :
"At a Court of Sessions, held in the City
Hall of Albany, this 4th day of January,
1717.
" Present — Robt. Livingston, Jr. , Esq. , Mayor. "
Here follow the names of eight Justices of the
Peace who were associated with the Mayor in
holding the Court.

" The Court opened and the Grand Jury called,
who were sworn."
There were fifteen Grand Jurors present, and
Richard Kitchner was made foreman.
" The Grand Jury being sworn and charge
given, the Court adjourned until three o'clock in
the afternoon.
' ' The Court opened according to adjournment.
The Sheriff moves that Ruben Veghts, who was
summoned for a Grand Juryman, may be amerced
for not appearing, who is hereby amerced accord
ingly. "The Court adjourned till to-morrow morning."
The record shows that the Court met according
to adjournment the next morning.
' ' The Sheriff moves that Daniel Kitchner, who
was a constable of Half Moon & Schatkook, may
be amerced 1 3/1 8 for not appearing and attending
this Court, which was granted accordingly."
The Court then adjourned sine die.
It appears that no business was transacted at
this Court except opening it, calling, charging and
swearing the Grand Jury, and amercing one juror
and a constable for non-attendance.
The next Court was held on the first day of
October, 171 7, but no particular business was
transacted except organizing the Grand Jury.
"At a Court of Sessions, held in the City
Hall of Albany, this 4th day of October,
1721.
"Present — Myndert Schuyler, Esq., Mayor,
and twelve Justices.
1 ' Conradt Borghgaert and Elias Van Schaick,
being called to appear to answer to the indictment
brought against them by the Grand Jury for steal
ing potatoes, they both appear. The indict
ment was read to them and asked whether they
were guilty or not guilty. They plead not guilty.
The Petit Jury was called and sworn. Four wit
nesses were sworn. The Jury went out and a
constable was sworn to keep them. The jury re
turn and find Conradt Borghgaert and Elias Van
Schaick not guilty. singular judgment.
' ' Mr. Collins, Attorney for the King, moves that
they be discharged, paying costs of suit ; the Court
give judgment for costs accordingly."
The Colonial Courts had a singular way of con
ducting business. Here were two persons indicted
for stealing, who plead not guilty ; were brought
to trial before a jury, who pronounced them not
guilty; whereupon the Attorney for his Majesty
the King of England moves that they be dis-

THE BENCH AND BAR.

125

charged, paying -the costs of their trial, and the
Court directed a judgment to be entered against
them for the costs accordingly, although found in
nocent of any crime. The question occurs to us,
what would have been their fate had they been
found guilty ?
We find the following entry in the records
of the Court of Sessions, held on the 6th day of
June, 1722 :
" The Grand Jury sent in a presentment against
Jacob Vosburgh, Esq., for giving a judgment
which was not in his power, concerning a cow, the
goods of John Bernhard.
' ' Entered, that Peter Van Buren, Esq. , acquaint
Jacob Vosburgh, Esq., of the presentment brought
against him, concerning the judgment, that he had
no business to give, that he may appear at next
Court of Sessions to make answer to ye same. "
The following subpoena was issued in the case of a
negro woman, named Nan, arrested for willfully set
ting on fire and burning the stable of Johanis Wen
dell, of the City of Albany :
' ' City and County of Albany, ss. :
" George, By the grace of God, of Great Britain,
France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith,
&c. "To Eliza Lansing and Hendric Ten Eyck. We
command you and every of you that, all and sin
gular, your business set aside, and all excuses ceas
ing, you and every of you, in your proper persons,
be and appear before our Court of Sessions of the
City and County of Albany, in the City Hall
therein, on the thirds-day of this instant July, atone
o'clock in the afternoon of that day, to testify all
and singular, those things which you or any of you
of your knowledge or notice may know in a certain
cause now depending before the said Court, and on
behalf of his Majesty, by bill or information, against
a negro woman, of Abraham Kip, of the city, called
'Nan,' on suspicion of burning the stable of
Johanis Wendell, of the said city. And of this you
and every one of you must by no means omit, un
der" penalty of £ 1 00.
"Dated, in Albany, the second day of July, in the
eighth year of his Majesty's reign, A. D. 1722.
' ' Per cura,
' ' Philip Livingston. "
severe punishment.
The negro woman Nan was brought to trial
at the time mentioned in the said subpoena, and
was convicted of burning the building therein
named, whereupon the following sentence was pro
nounced :

" It having been adjudged that the said negro
woman, called 'Nan,' is guilty of the crime
charged against her ; she shall, therefore, within the
space of ten days, be whipped behind a cart, on
the naked back, twenty lashes, round this city, at
the places following : Before the City Hall ; at the
corner of the house of Johs. Teller ; at the corner
of the house of Jacob Yetts, Jun. ; at the corner
of the house of Johs. Ten Broek ; before the gate
of John Wendell, and before the gate of Anthony
Van Schaack, double the lashes ; then at the cor
ner of the house of Stephanis Groesbeck ; at the cor
ner of the house of Jan Jans Bleeker ; at the
corner of the house of Johs. Bleeker, Jun. ; at the
corner of the house of Philip Livingston"; at the
corner of the house of John Manse ; at the corner
of the house of the widow of John Dircks ; at the
corner of the house of Jacob Lansing ; at the cor
ner of the house of Johs. Dangler ; at the corner of
the house of Anna Mary Carnisie ; at the Great
Bridge, and then at the City Hall, five lashes ; after
that to be imprisoned for the space of one year,
unless her master will enter into bond and suffi
cient security to export her out of this province,
and pay the charge of her imprisonment.
" Copy of this judgment given to a constable to
be executed. "
refusal to drink the royal family's health.
At a Court of Sessions held in the City of Albany,
at the City Hall, on the 4th day of August, 1722,
the Grand Jury sent up the following presentment :
' ' The jurors of our Sovereign Lord the King,
impaneled and sworn to enquire for the body of
the City and County of Albany, on their oath pre
sent Philip Verplanck, of the City of Albany, sur
veyor, for that he, the said Verplanck, on the 28th
day of May last, without the gates of the said city,
at a bonfire, did make disturbance, and hindered
Myndert Schuyler, Esq., one of his Majesty's
Justices of the Peace of the said city and county,
in drinking the health of the Royal Family at the
said bonfire. "(Signed) Johs. Mangael, Foreman."
The following entry was made, at a subsequent
day of said term, and the case was thus disposed
of: " Philip Verplanck, of this city, who was bound
over to appear at this Court by recognizance, being
called and appeared ; ordered that he be discharged
on paying the fees."
There are some records of the Colonial Court of
Sessions missing after the term of the Court held
January 8, 1723 ; but it continued to hold its reg-

126

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ular sessions down to 1775, when it was discon
tinued by the opening scenes of the Revolution.
The Mayor's Court of Albany, to which we
have referred, was a very important tribunal; there
exists a pretty full record of its proceedings in
Albany, entitled, " Minutes of the Mayor's Court of
Albany." Many persons are inclined to the opinion,
from some of the entries in these records, that it
had the jurisdiction and was a court of sessions;
we find no other record of a court of sessions of
that period.
In 1686 Albany was incorporated as a city, and
provisions were made for holding a Mayor's Court
three times a year. The Mayor, Recorder and four
Aldermen were associated with the judge in holding
the Courts of Oyer and Terminer. We shall give
some of the proceedings of this court hereafter.
The Supreme Court was originally established
in this State by Act of the Colonial Legislature,
May 6, 1691, and continued by limitation to 1698;
after this it was continued by proclamation, and
finally by ordinance of the Governor-General and
Council, dated May 15, 1699.
It was empowered to try all cases, civil or crimi
nal, with jurisdiction and procedure like the Eng
lish courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas and
Exchequer, and was possessed of all the powers of
those courts ; but it had no equity side. By a sub
sequent act of the General Assembly the judges
were made Judges of Nisi Prius, and annually
performed a circuit through the counties of the
State, at which time they had a commission of
Oyer and Terminer and General Jail Delivery, in
which some of the county judges were joined.
Regular terms of Nisi Prius, or Trial Courts,
were held at Albany after the act of the Assembly
we have referred to. This was the Colonial
Supreme Court, with a Nisi Prius branch now
known as the Circuits.
We have briefly described the Courts during the
Colonial period. Among these Courts, the Court
of Common Pleas was one of the most important.
It was established in New York and Albany by the
Charter of 1686; by the Act of 1691, a Court of
Common Pleas was established in each county in
the State ; at first it was composed of one judge
and three justices, but in 1 702 it was ordered that
the judge be assisted by two or more justices in
holding the courts, all of whom were appointed by
the Governor, and held office during his pleasure.
It had cognizance of all actions, real, personal
and mixed, where the amount sued for exceeded
five pounds. Its practice assimilated to the King's

Bench and Common Pleas at Westminster. Its
errors were corrected in the first instance by Writs
of Error into the Supreme Court. Appeals were
allowed to the Supreme Court for any judgment
where the amount involved exceeded twenty pounds.
The clerks were appointed by the Provincial Gov
ernor — except the clerk at Albany, who, in some
instances, was appointed by the King.
The Mayor, Recorder and Aldermen of the City
of Albany, or any three of them, were, in 1686,
ex-officio members of the Court of Common Pleas,
acting when no judge was present. On May 27,
1691, Peter Schuyler was appointed the Presiding
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Albany ;
May 27, 1702, he was succeeded by John Abeel,
who served until October 14, 1702, when Peter
Schuyler was reappointed. Judge Schuyler pre
sided for the long term of fifteen years, when, on
December 23, 1717, he was succeeded by Killian
Rensselaer, who presided till 1726, when Rutger
Bleecker succeeded him. Judge Bleecker pro
nounced the laws from the bench of Common Pleas
till 1733, when he was succeded by Ryer Gerritse,
who, on November 28, 1749, was succeeded by
Robert Sanders.
The court then consisted of Robert Sanders,
Esq., and Sybrant G. Van Schaick, judges ; John
Beekman,Leonard A. Gansevoort and Robert Rose
boom, assistants. The first records which can be
found of the proceedings of this court that can be
regarded as reliable are as follows :
"At an Inferior Court of Common Pleas, held
inNand for the City and County of Albany, at the
City Hall of the said city, on Tuesday, the 5th day
of June, 1750. Present —
" Robert Sanders, ]_ Esqr's.,
" Sybr't G. Van Schaick, j Judges.
" John Beekman, \
' ' Leonard A. Gansevoort, >- Assistants.
" Robert Roseboom, )
' ' Commission read, Court opened.
" The following were among the cases called :
" Gerret Borghgherdt, by A. Collins, his Attorney,
vs. Isaac Van Alstyne, by Richard Stevenson, his
Attorney. " The Sheriff returns the venire ; the action de
ferred till next Court, the Deft, being sick.
"Jacob C. Ten Eyck, by Richd. Stevenson, his
Attorney, vs. Albert Van Slyke, by A. Collins, his
Attorney, who Confesses Judgment to the Plaintiff
for the Sum of one hundred and forty-three Pounds,
one half Penny, with Lawful Interest, and costs.
Whereupon Judgment is Granted Accordingly.

THE BENCH AND BAR.

127

"The next case was France Claw, Junr., by A.
Collins, his Attorney, vs. Joh's Van Duesen, by A.
Crooke, his Attorney.
' ' The Sheriff returned the venire with a panel of
the Jury, who, being called, the following appeared,
and were sworn, viz. :
" Albertus Becker, Philip Shelters, Pietrus Bogar-
dus, William Plase, HansT. Wilier, George Redin-
bergh, Richard Oliver, Philys Selt-Pagh, Martin
Cooper, Paul Dick, Kihan Stafle Been, Benj'n
Hilton. ' ' Pleading read.
' ' The following evidence sworn for the Plaintiff. "
Here follows the names of seven witnesses for the
plaintiff, one of them ("Isaac Vosburgh) sworn on
his Voire Dire." Four witnesses were sworn for
the plaintiff.
"Declaration and Affidavit of the widow Cobus
read for the plaintiff ; Court duly addressed by
Counsel for the parties.
"Jury charged. Two Constables sworn to keep
the Jury, and the Jury go out.
"France Claw, Junr., by Collins, vs. Joh's Van
Duesen, by Crooke.
" The Jury returned, and, asked if they were agreed
on their verdict, answered, 'Yes.' Being asked for
whom they found it, answered, 'for the Plaintiff,
Sixteen Pounds damages, and Sixpence costs.'
Whereupon, Mr. Collins said : ' May it please the
Court, the Pltf.'s Att'y remits eight Pounds of the
damages, being more than he sued for.' Where
upon, on motion of the Plaintiff's Attorney, the
Court grants Judgment for the remaining eight
Pounds and costs of suit."
The proceedings of the court at that early day
were very similar to those in the courts at the pres
ent time. For instance : The following is the
proclamation of the crier before the presiding judge
charges the grand jury :
" Hear Ye ! Hear Ye ! All men or persons are
strictly charged and commanded to keep silent
whilst his Majesty's Commission of the Inferior
Court of Common Pleas is reading."
Proclamation to open court :
' ' Hear Ye ! Hear Ye ! All men or persons that
have anything to do at this Inferior Court of Com
mon Pleas, let them draw near, give their attention,
and they shall be heard. "
Proclamation to adjourn the court :
" Hear Ye ! Hear Ye ! All men or persons that
have here appeared at this Court of Common Pleas
may for the present depart, and attend again as the
Court orders, "

Juror's Oath : ' ' You shall well and truly try the
issue joined between A. B. , Plaintiff, and C. D.,
Defendant, and a true verdict give according to the
evidence, so help you God !"
It appears that in those days there were two
constables sworn to attend the jury, with different
oaths ; one of them was probably to sit at the out
side door of the jury-room, and the other to sit by
the door on the inside. Their oaths will be re
garded by the officers of the present court as some
what singular. The outside constable's was as
follows : GRAND JUROR'S OATH.
"You shall go out with such jurors as shall have
leave of the Court ; you shall not suffer any person
to speak to them, neither shall you speak to them,
but bring them in presently, so help you God."
Constable's oath who attended the jury inside :
' ' You shall well and truly keep every person sworn
on this jury together in some private and convenient
room, without meat, drink, fire, candle or lodging,
or anything that shall minister to their comfort ;
and you shall not suffer any person whatever to
speak to them, or any of them, neither shall you,
yourself, speak to them, unless it be to ask them
whether they be agreed on their verdict. So help
you God."
One of the most stubbornly contested cases was
that of Masta Winne, who appeared in person
against Hendrick Van Buren, by Rutgert Corry,
his attorney. The case was tried by a jury, and a
large number of witnesses were sworn for the re
spective parties. The jury found a verdict for the
defendant, upon which judgment was entered.
Whereupon Mr. Winne moved for forty days to file
his declarations, and the defendants moved for
forty days more to file their pleas, which the court
granted accordingly. appeals.
This procedure will hardly be understood by
lawyers of the present day. As we understand it,
however, this was the course adopted to remove
the case to an Appellate Court. When a party was
defeated, he asked leave to file his declaration or
plea, as the case might be. This compelled the
other party to do the same. At the expiration of
the time for filing the respective pleadings, and
they being filed, the case was appealed ; the pro
ceedings were stayed on granting the first motion.
Judge Gansvort was one of the judges of the
Court of Common Pleas under the. Federal Gov
ernment.

128

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

At a Court of Common Pleas for the City and
County of Albany, held at the City Hall, in the
City of Albany, on the 2d"of October, 1759, Yolkert
P. Douw was one of the judges of that court. This
is the first time we find Judge Douw occupying the
Bench of the Colonial Court of Common Pleas.
He continued to preside on the bench until Janu
ary 10, 1771, when hewas succeeded by Rensselaer
Nicolls. The Colonial Court of Common Pleas continued
to hold its regular terms of court under the Colo
nial laws until January, 1776, when the increasing
spirit of American Independence caused it to dis
solve. Its last presiding judge was Henry Bleeker;
its last term began at the City Hall, in the City of
Albany, January 19, 1776.
LAST COLONIAL COURT.
There is a singular incident connected with the
recorded proceedings of this term. Opposition to
all manner of British rule, executive, legislative and
legal, had now manifested itself to such a degree
that the judges and officers of the court at the term
about which we are writing organized under the
immediate fear of a popular outbreak. Neverthe
less the court convened and proceeded with its busi
ness. The sheriff returned a few writs, a few judg
ments by confession and by default were taken, and
some unimportant business was transacted, when
the following cause was reached :
Solomon Ecker
agst.
Harme Quackenboss.
The entry in the rule book then proceeds as fol
lows : ' ' On motion of Peter W. Yates, attorney for
the defendants, ordered that the plaintiff show
cause at  ." Here the entry is suddenly broken
off, probably by fear of the popular outbreak of the
Sons of Liberty, and it is the last proceeding of the
Colonial Court of Common Pleas.
On July 26 following the Declaration of Inde
pendence was read in front of the City Hall to a
vast assembly of the citizens of Albany and the
surrounding country.
It is proper to add that the only attorney present
at the court we have described was Peter W. Yates.
Henry Ten Eyck was sheriff at this time, the last
under the English government ; Stephen De Lancy,
clerk. The associate judges were fohn H. Ten
Eyck and Henry Van Schaack. Judge Van Schaack
had just been appointed. He was a lawyer con
trolling a very respectable practice.
It was the practice of the clerk of the Colonial
Court to enter in the common rule book at the

term of court the names of all the lawyers having
causes to dispose of, as follows:
" Mr. Gansevoort's rules." Then would follow a
list of his causes, and the manner in which they
were disposed of. Then would follow:
"Mr. Peter W. Yates," and his causes and the
manner of their disposition, and so on.
At some of the terms the leading lawyers would
have from ten to twenty cases under their rules,
with a brief entry opposite each cause, like the fol
lowing: "The deft in this cause has confessed the
action and suffered jud. before Judge Douw for
£6 4s. 2d. damages, besides costs of suit. On
motion of Mr. Gansevoort, attorney for pl't'f, judg
ment is ordered for the same." Often the entry
would be, " Interlocutory judgment."
PROMINENT LAWYERS.
Of the lawyers whose names most frequently
appear in those courts were Richard Gansvort, A.
Sylvester, Mr. Corry, Robert Yates, Peter W. Yates,
Mr. Bleeker. The two Yateses, Robert and Peter
W., seem to have controlled for many years an ex
traordinary amount of legal business.
The Court of Common Pleas which we have de
scribed was establishsd in the State of New York
by the Provincial Governor and Council, May 15,
1699, and continued in the County of Albany
down to January 19, 1776. But we can find ho
earlier record of the court than we have given.
This court had cognizance of causes above five
pounds, and, as we have seen, had three judges
and three assistant judges. With some of the jus
tices they held at the same time a Court of General
Sessions of the Peace for the trial of criminals.
After the adoption of the first Constitution this
Court of Common Pleas was reorganized without
any material change in their procedure; it continued
in existence in this way until the adoption of the
Constitution of 1821, when some changes were
made in it, one of which was increasing the number
of judges in some counties to the number of
twelve. The Constitution of 1821 provided for the ap
pointment by the Governor of five judges in each
county, of whom one was designated as First fudge.
This court continued until it was abolished by the
Constitution of 1846, and a county court instituted
in its place.
The First Judge of the Albany County Court of
Common Pleas was Volkert P. Douw. He was ap
pointed First Judge of the county by a provincial
convention, by which he was commissioned January
6, 1778.

THE BENCH AND BAR.

129

FIRST COURT AFTER THE REVOLUTION.
We have seen that Judge Douw was presiding
judge of the Court of Common Pleas for many
years; he served with ability and learning down to
May, 1775, when, moved by his patriotic spirit, he
declined to hold his office under the British Gov
ernor-General of New York, and resigned.
Owing to the unsettled state of the country, few
courts were held under the Constitution of the State
until after the close of the war. We can find no
record of any court at which Judge Douw presided,
nor of any court in the County of Albany until
1785. In the meantime Judge Douw was by
reason of his age compelled to retire from the
bench, and on March 6, 1781, Abram Ten Broeck
was appointed by Gov. George Clinton First
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Albany
County. Peter Van Ness, John Price and John M.
Beekman were appointed associate judges or jus
tices. The first record of the sittings of the Court
of Common Pleas in the County of Albany after the
Revolution, which can be found, is the following:
" At a Court of the Common Pleas, held for the
City and County of Albany, at the City Hall, in
the City of Albany, on Tuesday, the 10th day of
January, 1785. Present —
"Abraham Ten Broeck, Esq., First Judge.
" Peter Van Ness, Esq., \
"John Price, j- Associate Judges.
" John M. Beekman, )
"After organizing the court adjourned until the
19th day of January, 1785.
"The court met pursuant to adjournment,
January 19, 1785. Present —
" Peter Van Ness, Esq., \
' ' John Price, y Associate Judges.
"John M. Beekman, )
' ' On reading a license under the hand of Richard
Morris, Esq., for the admission of Killiaen Van
Rensselaer, Esq., to the bar of the Supreme Court,
ordered that the said Killiaen Van Rensselaer be
admitted an attorney and counsellor at law in this
court, " Abraham Ten Broeck, Esq., First Judge, took
his seat." LAWYERS PRESENT.
Among the attorneys present at this court were
Mr. Visscher, who had a large number of causes
on the calendar; Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Gansevoort, Mr.
Wynkoop, Mr. Bay, Mr. Sill, Mr. Graham, Mr.
Sylvester and Mr. Lush. These gentlemen repre
sented a large number of causes, of which^there
17

were 131 on the docket; but none of them appear
to have been tried, although several were referred,
showing that the practice of trying causes in that
manner was as prevalent then as at the present.
There were several judgments taken by default,
and many " interlocutory judgments" entered. It
seems to have been a law term of the court, as there
is no record of a grand or a petit jury.
This term of court was succeeded by regular
terms thereof down to 1821. The following is a
list of the first or presiding judges of that court
down to 1846 :
Leonard Gansvort, appointed March 19, 1794;
John Taylor, appointed February 7, 1797; Nicho
las N. Quackenboss, appointed January 13, 1803;
David McCarthy, appointed March 13, 1804;
Charles Cooper, appointed March 29, 1806; Jacob
Ten Eyck, appointed June 8, 1807; Apollo Moore,
appointed June 6, 1812.
Mr. Judge Moore discharged the duties of this
office till March 15, 1828, when he was succeeded
by James L'Amoreaux, who discharged the duties
of the office till March 12, 1833, when he was
succeeded by Samuel Cheever. Judge Cheever
was, on the 17th day of May, 1838, succeeded by
Jacob Lansing, who presided till April 17, 1843,
when he was succeeded by Peter Gansevoort, who
held the office of First Judge until the court was
abolished by the provisions of the Constitution of
1846. This court was continued without material
change by the Constitution of 182 1 until its
abolishment in 1846. The judges were appointed
by the Governor and Senate for a period of five
years. By the Constitution of 1846 all judicial
officers were made elective.
The following is a record of the earliest Mayor's
Court we can find:
"At a Mayor's Court, held at- the City of
Albany, at the City Hall of the said city, on the
20th day of May, 1 760. Present —
"Sybrant G. Van Schaick, Esq., Mayor.
"Jacob Ten Eyck, Esq.
"Jacob Lansing, Esq.,
" Benson Turner, ) by Corry.
agt. [
"John Barron, ) by Yates.
"The sheriff returned the venire in the above
cause with the panel of the jurors annexed. "
Then follow the names of twelve jurors, after
which appear the names of the witnesses sworn,
and the following entry: "The jury charged and

Aldermen.

130

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

retired under two constables. The jury returned,
and being asked whether they were agreed on their
verdict answered 'Yes;' being asked for whom
they found it, answered ' for the plaintiff, thirty-
nine pounds damages, and six pence costs. '
"On motion of Mr. Yates, attorney for the
defendant, the judgment being deferred until
next court."
There were seventy-five causes on the calendar.
At this term ' ' Robert Yates produced license
appointing him an attorney at law for the Mayor's
Court and for the Court of Common Pleas for the
City and County of Albany, and was accordingly
admitted." Mr. Yates was one of the most dis
tinguished lawyers of his times.
The last record of the Mayor's Court under the
Colonial government closes with the year 1768. It
was a court of much importance, and had, as we
have said, both civil and criminal jurisdiction.
After the adoption of the Federal Constitution an
other Mayor's Court was organized for the City of
Albany, to which reference will be made hereafter.
The Supreme Court under the First State
Constitution. — On the 19th of February, 1777,
the ' ' Convention of the Representatives of the
State of New York," assembled by adjournment to
Kingston, N. Y., and on the 20th of April suc
ceeding adopted, agreeably to the recommenda
tions of the Continental Congress, the first Constitu
tion of the State of New York. In it the existence
of the present Supreme Court of the State was
recognized. On the 3d of May, 1777, the Con
vention elected John Jay Chief Justice, and Robert
Yates and John Morin Scott Associate Justices.
Scott, however, declined, and John Sloss Hobart,
who received the next number of votes, was de
clared elected. Judge Hobart was one of the most
distinguished men of his times. He was one of
"the Sons of Liberty," organized in the City of
New York in November, 1765, to oppose the exe
cution of the Stamp Act. From that time till the
day of his death, February 4, 1805, he was con
stantly in public life, serving in various legislative
and judicial offices, as United States Senator and a
Judge of the United States Court in New York.
When Hobart was appointed a Justice of the Su
preme Court, Robert R. Livingston was appointed
Chancellor, and Egbert Benson Attorney-General.
Fifteen persons were, on the same day, elected a
Council of Safety to carry on a temporary govern
ment until the Constitution could be put into oper
ation. On the 8th of May, 1777, a plan of gov
ernment was reported, in which were the names of

the above members of the Supreme Court, as were
those of the Chancellor and Attorney-General, and
was adopted by the Convention. The plan also
provided for the election of a Governor, Lieuten
ant-Governor, a Senate and an Assembly.
The Convention dissolved on the 1 3th of May,
and on the 14 th the Council of Safety went into
operation. On the 20th a commission for holding
Courts of Oyer and Terminer and General Jail De
livery in the State, drafted by Chief-Justice Jay, was
issued by the Council. On the 5th of June follow
ing the Council directed that, until Legislature
should otherwise provide, the Supreme Court
should sit at Kingston, and that the terms should
be the same as throughout 1774. These terms
were the same as provided for in the ordinance of
1760. The seal of the Supreme Court was like
wise ordered to be delivered to the Council.
On the 9th of August, 1777, the first term of the
Supreme Court of the State under the Constitution
was held, and Chief-Justice Jay delivered the first
charge to the Grand Jury.
In 1778 the Judges of the Supreme Court were
empowered to devise a seal, and it was directed
that all proceedings of the Court should be before
the "People of the State of New York," instead
of, as heretofore, ' ' Before our Sovereign Lord the
King," etc.
On the 1 8th of May, in 1784, the first Grand
Jury of the Court of Oyer and Terminer after the
Revolution sat in the City of New York. Judge
Hobart, with whom was associated James Duane,
Mayor of the city, held the court ; Judge Hobart
delivered the charge to the Grand Jury.
First Court under the Constitution held at
Albany. — On January 1, 1785, the terms of the
Supreme Court were directed to be held at Albany
on the last Tuesday of July and the third Tuesday
in October, and that in the City of New York on
the third Tuesday in January and April in every
year ; the April and October terms to continue for
three weeks, and the January and July terms for
two. Accordingly the first term of the Supreme
Court ever held in the City of Albany convened on
the last Tuesday of Jul)', 1785. Hon. Richard
Morris, who had been appointed Chief Justice in
place of John Jay, presided.
From that time down to the present the Supreme
Court of the State has held regular terms, accord
ing to appointment, in the City of Albany.
The most practical and, perhaps, the most per
fect manner of presenting the" history of the Bench
and Bar of Albany County is to give it in the lives

THE BENCH AND BAR.

131

of the judicial officers, the eminent jurists and law
yers, who made that history. We begin with
ROBERT YATES.
Robert Yates was an eminent jurist, prominent
in the legal and legislative history preceding and
during the Revolution. With John Jay, John
Sloss Hobart, William Duer, Gouverneur Morris,
Robert R. Livingston and others, he was a mem
ber of the memorable committee appointed on the
first of August, 1776, to prepare a form of govern
ment for the then new State of New York. The
committee reported March 12, 1777, which report
was debated until April 20 following, when the
first constitution of the State of New York was
adopted. He was a member of the first Provincial
Congress, which assembled May 22, 1775, and
adjourned the following November. He was also
a member of the second Congress, which convened
February 12, 1776, and adjourned May 13 follow
ing. On May 8, 1777, he was appointed a Jus
tice of the Supreme Court of the State, serving till
October 28, 1790, when he was appointed Chief
Justice of the State. In 1787 Judge Yates was
appointed by the Legislature of the State, with
Alexander Hamilton and John Lansing, Jr., a del
egate to the convention which formed the Consti
tution of the United States. According to the
form of the resolution, they were appointed " for
the sole and express purpose of revising the Ar
ticles of Confederation, and reporting to Congress
and the several legislatures such alterations and
provisions therein as shall, when agreed to in Con
gress and confirmed by the several States, render
the Federal Constitution adequate to the exigencies
of government and the preservation of the Union."
Chief-Justice Yates and John Lansing withdrew
from the convention, because it did not more ef
fectually secure the rights of the individual States;
they were anti-Federalists or Republicans.
"To these men and their copatriots the nation
is indebted for the ten important amended Articles
which were subsequently made a part of the Con
stitution." Hamilton was the only delegate from
this State who signed it.
Judge Yates was also a commissioner to settle
the rival land claims of New York and Vermont,
also of Massachusetts and Connecticut. He was
born in 1738 and removed to Albany early in life,
where he spent the remainder of his days. He
died in 1801. JOHN LANSING, Jr.
John Lansing, Jr., was born at Albany, on the
30th of January, 1785. He studied law with Robert
Yates, afterward Chief Justice, in Albany, and with
James Duane, in the City of New York.
In 1776 and 1777 he was the military secretary
of Major-Gen. Schuyler, Commander of the
Northern Department, and who was engaged in
the summer of the latter year in active operations
to resist the advance of Burgoyne. In a letter to
James Duane, dated at Saratoga (now Schuyler-
ville) on the 30th of November, 1776, Mr. Lan

sing declined accepting, by reason of his holding the
above post under Gen. Schuyler, a commission
of lieutenant in the new levies of troops.
After being admitted to the Bar, Mr. Lansing
pursued the practice of his profession in the City
of Albany with great success.
From 1 780-1 to 1784 he was a member of
Assembly (the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Sessions) from
the City of Albany.
On the 3d of February, 1784, he was appointed
Member of Congress, under the articles of confed
eration, and on the 26th of October following was
reappointed. Un the 13th of January, 1786, he was elected
Speaker of the New York Assembly. On the
28th of April following he, together with John
Haring, Melancthon Smith and Robert Yates,
was appointed (in place of John Jay and Walter.
Livingston, resigned) on the commission that met
at Hartford, in that year, and made final decision
of the territorial claims of New York and Massa
chusetts. On the 29th of September, in the same year, he
was appointed, by the Council of Appointment,
Mayor of Albany.
In 1786 he was again elected Member of As
sembly from the City and County of Albany.
On the 26th of January, 1787, he was once more
delegated a Member of Congress under the Confed
eration. On the 6th of March, in the same year, the New
York Legislature appointed Mr. Lansing, Alex
ander Hamilton and Robert Yates to the Phila
delphia Convention, which assembled on the 25 th
of May, and framed a Constitution of the United
States. Mr. Lansing, together with Mr. Yates, was
opposed to the principles of the Constitution, as
presenting a system of consolidated government at
variance with the rights of the States. He retired
from the Convention with Mr. Yates, on the 5th of
July, 1787, before the Constitution had been defi
nitely settled upon by that body, but not until it
was seen how it was to be established, and published
his reasons for so doing in a letter jointly with Mr.
Yates to Gov. George Clinton.
In 1788 Mr. Lansing was again a Member of
the New York State Convention which ratified the
Constitution from Albany County.
On the 1 2th of December, 1788, the Assembly
of the State of New York re-elected him Speaker.
By an act of March 6, 1790, he was appointed
by the Legislature one of the commissioners on
the part of the State of New York to settle the
controversy of that State with Vermont; and on
the 28th of September following he was appointed
one of the justices of the Supreme Court of the
State. In the succeeding year, by an act of the Leg
islature passed on the 6th of July, Judge Lansing,
Abraham Van Vechten and Robert Yates were ap
pointed commissioners to determine the claims of
citizens of the State of New York to lands situated
in Vermont, ceded by New York at the settlement
of the controversy, and what portion of certain
moneys ($30,000) each claimant should receive.

132

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

On the 15th of February, 1798, Judge Lansing
received the appointment of Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of the State, in place of Chief-
Justice Robert Yates, who had resigned under the
constitutional limit of sixty years.
On the 2 ist of October, 1801, Chief-Justice
Lansing was appointed Chancellor of the State of
New York, in place of Chancellor Robert R. Liv
ingston, who had also resigned under the above
limit. On February 4, 1804, Chancellor Lansing was
nominated by a Republican legislative caucus to
the office of Governor of the State of New York,
but in a letter of the 18th of that month he de
clined the nomination.
On the 28th of January, 1817, he was appointed
a Regent of the University.
. In 1824 he was chosen a Presidential Elector
from the City and County of Albany.
On December 8, 1829, Chancellor Lansing
visited the City of New York on business, which
detained him several days. He was a guest at the
City Hotel. The evening of December 12 was
dark and stormy. Having an important letter for
Albany, which he desired to mail, he left the hotel
with a view of depositing it in the mail box on
board a steamer that was to leave New York
that evening. He did not return to the hotel, and
was never seen or heard from after leaving it. It
is generally believed that he fell into the river and
was drowned, and yet his body was never re
covered. Fifty-five years have passed away and the mys
tery that hung over this sad event has been deepened
by the lapse of each succeeding year. The sudden
disappearance of a citizen so illustrious, whose long
life had been mostly devoted to the interest of the
State, produced a sensation at Albany as deep as
did that of the sudden death of De Witt Clinton,
a little less than a year previous. Although Chan
cellor Lansing was in his seventy-sixth year at the
time of his death, he was vigorous and active in
mind and body. In person he was large and
handsome, with remarkably fine features. He was
a fascinating conversationalist, dignified and impres
sive in his bearing.
He was married in 1781 to Miss Ray, daughter
of Robert Ray, Esq., a distinguished citizen of the
City of New York; four children, all daughters,
were born to this marriage.
Chancellor Lansing was the author of a small
volume entitled " Reports of Select Cases in Chan
cery, and in the Supreme Court of the State of New
York, in 1824 and 1828," viz., in Chancery, Lan
sing v. The Albany Insurance Company, March
24, 1824; Egberts v. Lansing, September 7, 1822 ;
Lansing v. Goelet ; Supreme Court, Globe In
surance Company v. Lansing, February Term,
1826.
ABRAHAM VAN VECHTEN.
Among the great American lawyers whose
names appear on the roll of the Albany Bar is that
pf Abraham Van Vechten. No name is more
honored in the history of the State than his —

honored not only as a learned, eloquent and emi
nently successful lawyer, but as a legislator whose
wisdom and profundity are seen in the enactment
of many of the laws that have given protection
and greatness to the State of New York.
He was born at Catskill, December 5, 1762,
He received his elementary education at Esopus,
now Kingston, New York, completing his educa
tion at Kings, now Columbia College. At the
close of the revolutionary war he commenced the
study of law under the direction of Chancellor
John Lansing. He was one of the first lawyers
admitted to the Bar after the organization of our
government. Immediately after his call to the Bar
he opened an office at Johnstown, Montgomery
County, New York, but was soon invited to oc
cupy a more extensive field in the City of Albany.
The high places at the Bar were then occupied
by gifted advocates, among whom were Hamilton,
Burr, Harrison, Jones and Livingston. But the
brilliancy of such names could not cast young Van
Vechten in the shade. He soon ranked among
the illustrious seniors as an equal and a compet
itor for the highest professional eminence ; untir
ing in his efforts, the naturally great powers of his
mind were continually developed and expanded.
His intellect was formed to grapple with the
most abstruse and difficult Subjects of legal and
judicial investigation; and he early inured himself
to the most intense application of mental industry.
In acuteness and the ready comprehension of any
subject presented for his investigation, he had few
equals. Nature seemed to have furnished him with
powers eminently adapted to the illustration of
legal principles, but he made no display of legal
lore; his learning seemed incorporated with all his
thoughts. What he once read was well digested
and remained ever ready for application.
A large portion of his life was spent in the dis
cussion of legal questions in our highest courts of
law and equity; he was always listened to with pro
found attention by the ablest judges in the State
and nation. His arguments, clear and learned,
always elucidated and instructed, and greatly aided
the tribunals to which they were addressed in
coming to correct conclusions. His style was re
markable for perspicacity and strength, enforced
by thoughtful logic.
In his manner he was usually calm and unim-
passioned, yet earnest and forcible. His talents
were too conspicuous to allow him to confine his
efforts to the Bar. He was repeatedly chosen to
represent his fellow citizens in both branches of the
Legislature. The State Senate Chamber was the
theatre of some of his highest intellectual efforts.
As a member of the Court for the Correction of
Errors he has left behind him enduring monu
ments of his legal learning.
On February 13, 1813, he was appointed At
torney-General of the State. He was the successor
of that illustrious lawyer, Thomas Addis Emmet.
In February, 1 8 1 5, he was succeeded by Martin
Van Buren. The high and responsible duties of
Attorney-General were never discharged with more
ability and success than by Mr. Van Vechten.

THE BENCH AND BAR.

133

During the administration of Gov. John Jay,
that great statesman, in recognition of Van Vech-
ten's commanding talents as a lawyer, tendered him
— then one of the youngest members of the Bar — the
office of Judge of the Supreme Court of the State.
The offer was modestly declined, as Mr. Van
Vechten preferred to practice his profession instead
of presiding on the bench. The lawyer and the
student are often astonished at the vast number of
our reported cases heard in the Supreme Court and
Court for the Correction of Errors in which Mr.
Van Vechten represented one of the parties litigant.
"Over a half century his brilliant mind was con
stantly shedding its light over the jurisprudence of
the State and nation. The Bar long delighted to
accord to him its highest honors."
To the younger members of the profession he
greatly endeared himself by his kind and courteous
manners; and by all he was venerated as an illus
trious model of professional excellence. In his
daily consultations with his clients he was em
phatically a peacemaker. It was his constant
habit to advise the settlement of disputes without
recourse to litigation, allowing no selfish interest
to influence his advice or bias his mind in giving
his opinions.
He was Recorder of the City of Albany from 1797
to 1808; Regent from January, 1797, to 1823;
State Senator from 1798 to 1805; member of As
sembly from 1805 to 181 5 ; Attorney-General for the
year 18 10, and again appointed in 18 13 — serving
two years, and was a member of the Constitutional
Convention of 1 8 2 1 .
His character as a citizen in the private walks of
life afforded a model of excellence. "He con
stantly displayed in his intercourse with his neigh
bors and acquaintances the most amiable social
qualities. To his other traits of character was
added one which is justly deemed of far the most
importance; he was a sincere believer in the
Saviour of the world and a venerated member of
the Dutch Reformed Church of Albany. In his
judicatories his parental counsels were received
with reverence as eminently calculated to promote
the peace and prosperty of the church. His dis
interestedness was a prominent feature in his char
acter and was the foundation of that unbounded
confidence which was reposed in him by all who
knew him. "
On May 24, 1784, Mr. Van Vechten was united
by marriage to Miss Catharine Schuyler, daughter
of Philip P. Schuyler and Anna Wendell. This
union proved eminently happy, and Mr. Van
Vechten's domestic life was proverbial for the
felicities it afforded.
JOHN V. HENRY.
John V. Henry was one of the earliest members
of the Albany Bar. He was admitted to practice
as an attorney at law at a term of the Supreme
Court held at Albany in January, 1782. Col.
Aaron Burr was admitted at the same term. On
the 14th of April following Mr. Henry and Burr
were admitted to practice as counselors at law.
The advantages of a finished classical and legal

education, united to great native mental powers,
very soon gave Mr. Henry a commanding position
in his profession, and he rapidly attained a State
and national reputation, ranking with Hamilton,
Burr, Hoffman, Lansing, and other great lumina
ries that adorned the Bar.
Possessing attractive elocutionary powers, con
trolled by close and ready logic, enlivened and
strengthened by extensive reading, stimulated by
ambition, it was natural that he should be attracted
to the political arena. Here his abilities were
speedily recognized and appreciated, and he be
came a leader.
In 1800 he was chosen Member of Assembly for
Albany County. By re-election he represented this
county in the Assembly in the Legislature 01
1 801-2. He was the acknowledged leader of the
Federal part)- in those bodies. So moderately and
so justly did he govern and exercise his political
sentiments that he gained the esteem and friendship
even of his political opponents, with a very few ex
ceptions. Hence his great influence in the Legis
lature. In January, 1800, Mr. Henry was appointed
Comptroller by John Jay, then Governor of the
State. As he was eminently qualified for the duties
of this office, his appointment was very popular.
George Clinton, who had been Governor from
1777 down to 1794, was in 1795 succeeded by Jay,
elected in the Gubernatorial election of that year.
Gov. Jay was re-elected in 1798. In 1801
Gov. George Clinton was re-elected. Mr. Clin
ton, though apparently friendly to Mr. Henry,
suddenly removed him from the office of Comp
troller. At the time of this removal the Governor
had been in office but a few months. Mr. Henn's
successor was Elisha Jenkins, a merchant of Hud
son, N. Y. — a man in every sense Mr. Henry's in
ferior. -This appointment of Jenkins was made at
the instance of Ambrose Spencer, at that time a
political boss, with powers equal to any of the
modern rulers of political parties. Spencer after
ward became a Judge of the Supreme Court and
Chief Justice of the State, ranking among the
greatest and purest^of American judges.
Though Mr. Henry's removal from office greatly
disgusted him, we must, on the whole, regard it as
a fortunate circumstance in his life. It caused him
to adopt an irrevocable resolution never again to
accept any office, but devote himself entirely to the
practice of his profession. This resolution gave
him that commanding position at the Bar of the
State and nation we have already described.
For many years his practice was confined to the
General Term of the Supreme Court, the Court for
the Correction of Errors, and in the United States
Supreme Court.
To use the language of another, "The great
superiority of Mr. Henry as an advocate consisted
in his skill in condensing his arguments — in saying
everything which could be said in favor of the posi
tion he wished to establish with the fewest words.
These words were selected in the best possible
manner. He never used a word except the very
best to express his ideas. He was not generally

134

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

florid, and seldom aimed at brilliancy, though, if
the occasion required, he could be impressive,
brilliant and powerfully eloquent." He continued
to devote all his time, talents and energies to his
profession until the 22d day of October, 1829, when
he was suddenly removed from the scenes of his
earthly labors and ambition by the hand of death.
We give the following account of Mr. Henry's
death as we find it in the Albany Gazette of October
24, 1829:
"Mr. JohnV. Henry, one of the most distinguish
ed lawyers in the State, is no more. He attended
the Supreme Court on Wednesday morning ; on his
way from the court-room at the Capitol, about 1 1
o'clock in the forenoon, when opposite the resi
dence of Chandler Starr, in State street, he was
seized with an apoplectic fit. He was taken into
Mr. Starr's and medical aid was immediately ren
dered. He lingered until half-past two o'clock
yesterday afternoon, when his mighty spirit was
yielded up to the God who gave it. His age was
about sixty-four.
"The death of Mr. Henry is a public calamity.
The tears his family shed over his lifeless form fall
not alone. Those who respect the probity, the in
dependence, the gallant bearing, and the high
talents which sometimes redeem human nature
from suspicion, must also lament the fall of such a
man as this, in whom these traits were so happily
combined. "And so depart, with fearful rapidity, the sages,
the statesmen and the jurists of our day. Clinton
and Wells, and Emmet and Henry, have, in their
turn, ceased to be. And what a lesson to mankind
do their sudden deaths impart. One by one the
wise and virtuous fall into the deep gulf of Time,
and yet thousands tread thoughtlessly on the sol
emn verge.
"The Supreme Court of the State, in session in
the City of Albany, adjourned on Friday without
doing any business in consequence of the death of
JohnV. Henry."
At this time John Savage was Chief Justice,
William L. Marcy and John Woodworth were
Associate Justices of the Supreme Court.
At the opening of the couit on Friday morning, the
day after Mr. Henry's death, that great lawyer,
Daniel Cady, in the presence of those illustrious
judges, and distinguished lawyers from all parts
of the State, arose and in a voice indicative of the
deepest sorrow announced the death of Mr. Henry.
So sensible and deep was Mr. Cady's emotion that,
with all his commanding powers of eloquence and
his usual self-control, he could at first hardly pro
ceed with his announcement. Gaining composure,
he pronounced a beautiful and touching eulo-y
upon the distinguished deceased. He concluded by
moving that the court adjourn until the next day.
The Chief Justice, after observingthat the motion
of Mr. Cady accorded well with the feelings of the
court, who deemed it due the memory of so dis
tinguished a lawyer as Mr. Henry that this mark
of respect should be shown, directed that the court
adjourn until the next day.

JOHN V N. YATES.
This distinguished lawyer, scholar and politician
was a son of Chief-Justice Robert Yates. He was
born at Albany in 1779. After receiving a liberal
education he entered the office of John V. Henry,
under whose tuition he prepared for the Bar.
After receiving his degree as Attorney at Law, he
began practice in Albany. With the advantages of
extraordinary talents, an excellent classical and
legal education and influential friends, he rapidly
made his way to the front rank of his profession.
In 1803 the Legislature appointed him one of
a committee with John Cuyler and Charles D.
Cooper to report an estimate of the cost of a State
and Court House in Albany.
On March 7, 1804, they submitted their report
to the Legislature, and it was adopted.
On April 6 following an act was passed author
izing the erection of the building.
In 1808 he was appointed a Master and Exam
iner in Chancery. In June, 1 808, he was appointed
Recorder of the City of Albany.
In January, 1809, he was removed, to make
place for Mr. Graham, and was restored in 18 11,
serving till July 8, 18 16, when he was again
removed, as before, for political purposes. In the
administration of this office Mr. Yates exhibited
rare judicial abilities.
In April, 18 18, he was appointed Secretary of
State, serving till February 13, 1823, when he was
re-appointed, serving till 1826, when he was suc
ceeded by Azariah C. Flagg.
In the administration of this office he exhibited
abilities which commended him largely to public
favor. In 1808 Mr. Yates became embroiled in a mem
orable legal contest with Chancellor Lansing.
This contest grew out of an attempt of the Chan
cellor, in his official capacity, to punish Yates for
malpractice and contempt of court. The case
was seriously important in many senses, one of
which brought the Court of Chancery and the
Supreme Court of the State in collision.
At the time of which we are speaking Yates was
a Master in Chancery. By the ninth section of the
act then in existence concerning Attorneys, Coun
selors at Law and Solicitors in Chancery, all these
officers were forbidden to bring any action in the
name of another attorney or solicitor, without his
knowledge and consent.
At this time Yates was not a solicitor of the
Court of Chancery, but began an important suit in
that court, using the name of one Peter W. Yates,
a solicitor, without his knowledge, against the
statute. Complaint was presented to Chancellor
Lansing, who granted an order for the arrest of
Yates. He insisted that he appeared as solicitor
with the consent of Peter W. Yates, but that gen
tleman denied the consent.
Mr. Yates excepted to the issuing of the order
for an arrest ; he insisted that the charge against
him was a crime ; that the Court of Chancery had
no criminal jurisdiction ; that whether he was
guilty or not was a question which the consti-

THE BENCH AND BAR.

135

tution provided should be tried by a jury. But the
Chancellor took a different view of the case. Mr.
Yates was denied bail, and sent a prisoner to the
old Albany jail.
He was highly popular with the people, and
his imprisonment caused great excitement.
He was a proud, high-minded man, inflexible in
his purposes, ardent in carrying them into execu
tion, and he determined to contest what he deemed
to be the high-handed course of the Chancellor to
ward him, and he carried his determination with
unequaled earnestness into effect. He retained
Thomas Addis Emmet as his counsel, who applied
to Judge Spencer for a writ of habeas corpus for the
release of his client from imprisonment, which was
granted, and, after a full hearing, Mr. Yates was
discharged. Whereupon, by order of the Chancel
lor, Mr. Yates was re-committed to prison, on the
ground that the Supreme Court had no right to in
terfere with the proceedings of the Court of Chan
cery. The General Term of the Supreme Court
opened about that time at Albany, and Mr. Emmet
immediately moved in open court for another writ
of habeas corpus to bring before it the body of Mr.
Yates. He was brought before the court, and after
a full argument the first and second arrests of Yates
were sustained, and he was remanded to prison.
The case was immediately removed to the Court for
the Correction of Errors, the Chancellor using every
effort to prevent the allowance of the writ; but
he was defeated and the case was brought to argu
ment in that court. A judgment of the court was
finally rendered, declaring the arrest of Yates illegal
and directing his discharge. Soon after being re
manded to jail he obtained bail. The case will be
found in 6 Johnson's Reports, 335. Yates imme
diately brought an action against Lansing for false
imprisonment, and another long legal contest en
sued, in which the Chancellor succeeded on the
ground that he was not liable, as he acted in a
judicial capacity.
Mr. Yates was afterward appointed by the Legis
lature to add notes, references and succinct mat
ters touching the laws under our colonial govern
ment to the revised laws of New York of 18 13 — a
duty which he discharged with singular ability and
success. He was afterward the recipient of many distin
guished official positions.
Mr. Yates was a valuable contributor to the lit
erature of his country, and until a short time pre
vious to his death the productions of his pen
added largely to his own honor and to that of the
city in which he lived. He died in Albany, January
10, 1839, a&ed sixty years.
MARTIN VAN BUREN.
Martin Van Buren was born in Kinderhook,
then in the County of Albany, now Columbia,
December 5, 1782. In his boyhood he exhibited
a love of knowledge, a fondness for books, "a
quickness of apprehension, a shrewdness of obser
vation ; but the limited means of his father denied
him the advantages for an education, except those
taught in a common school." He soon mastered

all the branches taught in that humble institution
of learning, and became a teacher in the common
schools. In this occupation he acquired the means
of defraying the expenses of an education at the
Kinderhook Academy for two or three years. In
this institution he acquired an excellent English
education and became a very fine Latin scholar.
"Asa student," says one of his biographers,
"young Van Buren was distinguished not only for
his industry and application, but for his unwilling
ness to take anything upon trust, and his conse
quent habit of investigation and reflection. He
was fond, too, of argumentative discussions; he
had never studied dialectics as taught in the schools
and knew but little about Aristotle or Locke, yet
he was a natural logician, and handled the weapons
of those whose very names he was ignorant with great
skill and ability. He was ambitious to surpass his
companions in extemporaneous speaking and
English composition; many were the encomiums
he received for his excellence in these branches."
Mr. Van Buren, like Ben Jonson, who pursued
his classical studies with a trowel in his hand, was
always a student; always found time, especially in
his earlier years, to devote to classical studies. A
desire to become a lawyer by profession was his
early ambition, so strongly indulged that he began
his legal studies at the early age of fourteen. His
preceptor was Francis Sylvester, Esq., a leading
member of the Bar. He pursued his legal studies
with unwearied diligence and much -success. At
the age of eighteen he began to try causes in
justices' courts, those tribunals which afford the
legal student such a field for improvement in public
speaking, in examining witnesses, in arranging
testimony and in sharpening the perceptive facul
ties. He soon became famous as an advocate in
these courts, acquiring a large and lucrative prac
tice therein. He often met as opponents the lead
ing members of the Columbia Bar, whose respect
he gained by the exhibition of his rare abilities, his
courteous and high-toned bearing.
While a student he was an active politician and
gave his allegiance to the Democratic party. His
regard and admiration of Thomas Jefferson were
almost unbounded. In the great contest between
Adams and Jefferson, he advocated and defended
the Republican principles with much ardor and
ability. Though yet in his teens, he addressed
Republican gatherings, wrote resolutions, memo
rials and pamphlets. In the autumn of 1800,
when only eighteen years of age, he represented the
Democrats of his native town in a Congressional
convention. Mr. Van Buren completed the last
year of his studies in the office of William P. Van
Ness, of the City of New York, one of the brilliant
lights of the Bar, and subsequently one of the
justices of the Supreme Court of the United States
for the Southern District of New York. At a term
of the Supreme Couit of the State, held at Albany,
October, 1803, Martin Van Buren was called to
the Bar. After remaining in Albany a few months
he returned to Kinderhook and actively began his
professional career. The Columbia County Bar at
this time was one of the strongest and most brilliant

136

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

in the State. Here William W. Van Ness, Elisha
Williams, Thomas P. Grosvenor and Jacob Rustin
Van Rensselaer, all of them prominent Federal
ists and distinguished lawyers and politicians,
seemed to stand in the way of Mr. Van Buren's
professional and political advancement.
He was a Democrat; they were Federalists.
They belonged to the aristocratic families of the
county and State; Van Buren to the humbler
ranks of life. They were wealthy and powerful;
Van Buren was poor, with nothing to rely upon
but his own energy and talents; these, it seems,
were sufficient; with them he won his way to dis
tinction, triumphing over his powerful and disdain
ful rivals. His business increased, his clientage
daily became more numerous and influential, and
it was not long before he became the acknowl
edged leader of the Columbia Bar.
In the meantime he was as active, energetic and
powerful in politics as he was in his profession.
Space will not permit us to enter into any descrip
tion of his splendid and eventful career; but from
1808 to 1837 the history of that career is the
political history of the State; at least, that history
could not be perfectly written with the career of
Martin Van Buren omitted.
On the 20th of March, 1808, he was appointed
Surrogate of the County of Columbia. The manner
in which he discharged the duties of this office
largely enhanced his professional reputation.
About this time he removed to Hudson, a measure
which contributed largely to his advantage. At
this time Elisha Williams, undoubtedly the most
gifted and eloquent lawyer of his time, whose
magnificent oratory rendered him famous at the
American Bar, was a resident of Hudson. Martin
Van Buren soon became the rival of this great
lawyer. In order to grapple with his formidable
opponent Van Buren was compelled to submit to
the most intense study; when the day's work was
ended, after a little rest, he retired to his study and
gave himself to his books with such deep applica
tion that frequently the dawning day paled the
light of his lamp. In this way he successfully
armed himself to meet his antagonist in the arena
he had entered.
His great success at the bar, his acknowledged
abilities as a politician, soon led him to that legisla
tive career which gradually advanced him to the
most exalted position in the nation. In 181 2 he
was nominated by the Democrats of the Middle
Senatorial District, of which Columbia County was
a part, as their candidate for State Senator. He
was opposed by a no less distinguished opponent
than Edward P. Livingston, then a member of
the State Senate. Mr. Livingston was a Democrat ;
but there was something in his connection with
the Bank of America which rendered his nomina
tion distasteful to the Democrats, or a large ma
jority of them, and they refused to renominate
him, preferring Van Buren. Nevertheless he re
ceived the nomination, and received the support
of the entire Federal party, together with the
friends of Gov. Lewis. This was a powerful
combination, but Van Buren overthrew it, after a

desperate struggle ; but his majority was only two
hundred in a poll of over 25,000.
He entered the State Senate at an extra session,
November 3, 181 2, and became the leader of his
party in that branch of the Legislature. From
this time he remained almost constantly in public
life down to the time of his retirement from the
Presidential chair.
In the spring of 1 816 he was re-elected to the
Senate, and shortly afterward became a resident of
the City of Albany. This removal became neces
sary on account of the great increase of his profes
sional business, and to give him greater facilities
for discharging his official duties.
In 1817 Benjamin F.Butler, his distinguished
pupil, who reflected so much honor upon his pre
ceptor, became his law partner, forming one of the
most influential legal firms in the State.
On February 6, 1821, Mr. Van Buren was
elected by the Legislature a Senator in Congress.
This caused him to partially withdraw from his
practice, leaving his large business to Mr. Butler.
He was occasionally employed in very important
cases, among which were the cases of Wilkes vs.
Lyon, argued in the Court for the Correction of
Errors in 1823, and that of Varick vs. fohnson,
argued in the same court in 1828 ; reported in 2
Cowan, 338; 2 Wendell, 166. These cases have
always been read by the lawyer and the student
with great interest and profit. The arguments of
Mr. Van Buren appear at length in them. The
briefs were prepared by Mr. Butler.
Mr. Van Buren appeared for the last time before
a jury in the trial of the Astor case, and that of the
Sailor's Snug Harbor, in the fall of 1827. His
speech in the State Senate on the disputed accounts
of Gov. Tompkins — the last he ever delivered
in that body — was a memorable and magnificent
production. The Constitutional Convention of 1821 was
composed of the ablest men connected with the
great political parties in New York. Among
them were James Kent, Rufus King, Am
brose Spencer, Abraham Van Vechten, Elisha
Williams and Peter R. Livingston. Foremost
among these was Martin Van Buren. He took
part in all the important discussions, and estab
lished the claim of his friends that he was a high-
minded, gifted, eloquent and independent states
man. In his speeches there was none of that ad
captandum eloquence calculated to touch the pas
sions of the multitude ; they were the offsprings of
research, of an enlarged and liberal mind, with
statesman-like views. In the Senate of the United
States, then composed of the ablest and most illus
trious statesmen of the nation, Mr. Van Buren
took a commanding position.
He was early committed against the policy of
distribution of the public lands, subsequently advo
cated with so much zeal and ability by Mr. Clay.
He was never friendly to a high protective tariff,
but voted for the tariff of 1824, though not entirely
satisfied with all its details. He delighted to repeat
the witty remark of John Randolph concerning
the tariff movement of 1827-8, which he regarded

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137

almost wholly of a political character. "That
tariff," said Mr. Randolph, ' ' does not refer to
manufactories of any sort or kind, except to the
manufacture of a President of the United States. "
After the death of Mr. Clinton, in February,
1828, Mr. Van Buren became Governor of the
State, but on being appointed Secretary of State
under President Jackson, he resigned the Governor
ship. This event took place March 12, 1829.
He subsequently became Vice-President of the
United States, and at a Democratic National Con
vention held at Baltimore in May, 1835, he was
unanimously nominated a candidate for President
of the United States. Col. Richard M. Johnson
was nominated for Vice-President. Mr. Van Buren
was inaugurated on the 4th of March, 1837, and
entered upon the duties of his great office.
The subject of the abolition of slavery constituted
an important feature in his inaugural address ;
the agitation of this great question had begun in
the year 1834-5 in the Northern States. Mr. Van
Buren and his friends strongly opposed the move
ment. Though he brought to the office much
ability as a statesman, the highest and most consci
entious patriotism, there were many unfortunate
circumstances that tended to render his adminis
tration in a measure unpopular. We cannot say
that at this time his opposition to the anti-slavery
question injured him as much as has been alleged.
The measure had not then been far enough ad
vanced in a political sense to have a bearing upon
his administration. What tended most to injure
it was the terrible revulsion, or financial crisis,
which prostrated the industry and commercial in
terests of the nation. The Whig party adroitly
took advantage of this unfortunate state of things
and attributed the financial depression of the coun
try to the policy of Mr. Van Buren's administra
tion. This resulted in his defeat for re-election in
1840 and the elevation of Gen. Harrison. He
retired from the Presidential chair to private life.
His nomination by a wing of the Democratic party
at Buffalo in 1848, and his defeat, are events too
well known to need any description here.
BENJAMIN F. BUTLER.
Benjamin F. Butler, an historic name in the
State and Nation, a lawyer of the highest ability,
a scholar of rare endowments, and a citizen of
great purity of character, was born at Kinderhook,
in the County of Columbia, December 17, 1795.
His father was a merchant at that place ; a man of
strict integrity, industrious in his vocation, and
honorable in his relations to the society in which
he lived.
The early years of young Butler were passed in
attending a common district school and in assist
ing his father in his store. He was a boy of re
spectful manners and an intellectual turn of mind.
While engaged in the store, he became a favorite
of a learned and distinguished Presbyterian clergy
man, who resided near his father ; from this
gentleman he received his first knowledge of
books and the rudiments of a classical education.
At the age of fourteen, Benjamin, already far
18

advanced in his studies, was sent to Hudson
Academy, where he remained several years, an
energetic and successful student. When his aca
demic course was ended, he entered the office of
Martin Van Buren, then a young lawyer who had
been at the Bar but a few years, but who was
regarded as a young man of great promise, and
who had already secured a respectable position at
the Columbia Bar. This was in the year 18 12.
In the year 181 6 Mr. Van Buren removed to
Albany, where he entered upon his extraordinary
official career. Young Butler accompanied him.
In 1 8 18 Mr. Butler was called to the Bar, and im
mediately became the partner of Mr. Van Buren,
a relation which existed until February, 1821,
when Mr. Van Buren was appointed a Senator in
Congress. In 1827 Mr. Butler was united in
marriage to Miss Allen, a young lady of many
accomplishments and many mental and personal
attractions. She was a sister of the gallant Lieuten
ant William H. Allen, who distinguished himself
in the engagement between the frigate "United
States" and the British ship-of-war "Macedonia,"
in 181 2, and who was afterward killed by pirates
in the Gulf of Mexico.
The firm of Van Buren & Butler was the most
distinguished legal firm in the State. The senior
member stood at the head of the State Bar, and his
practice at the United States Supreme Court and
his position as a Senator in Congress gave him a
national reputation.
Mr. Butler, with his unwearied industry, tena
cious memory and active intellect, followed rapidly
in the footsteps of his preceptor and former partner.
Among the important cases which, by Mr. Van
Buren's retirement from the firm, were left for Mr.
Butler to conduct, were Wilkes vs. Lyon and
Varick vs. fohnson. These cases attracted great
attention throughout the State, and for a consider
able time occupied the attention of the Court for
the Correction of Errors.
The labor necessary to their preparation for argu
ment was immense ; but Mr. Butler brought to the
task that industry and research for which he was so
distinguished. After several weeks of labor he
placed in the hands of Mr. Van Buren a thoroughly
arranged, exhaustive and perfect brief. Mr. Van
Buren argued the cases, assisted by Mr. Butler.
For two years after his admission to the Bar Mr.
Butler confined himself to the Circuit Courts, at
taining a highly respectable reputation as a jury
lawyer. He first appeared in a General Term of
the Supreme Court in October, 1820, when he
argued the case of the People vs. Foote ; his oppo
nent was the late Thos. J. Oakley, who then ranked
among the great lawyers of the State. Soon after
this, he argued, in the same court, the celebrated
case of the President and Directors of the Bank of
Auburn vs. Blanchard et al. ; his opponent was
Daniel Cady, an illustrious character in the legal
history of the State.
One of Mr. Butler's first cases in the Court for
the Correction of Errors was that of Manaham -vs.
Gibson — a case of historic importance. The op
posing counsel was that giant of the Bar, J. V.

138

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Henry. In the celebrated case of Troup vs. Smith,
and that of Morton vs. Cragan, Mr. Butler was
associated with Samuel A. Talcott, one of the bril
liant ornaments of the New York State Bar.
Mr. Butler appeared so often in the Supreme
Court that a history of his cases he conducted in
that court would fill several volumes.
On February 19, 1821, he was appointed
District Attorney of Albany County, discharging
the duties of this office till January, 1825, when he
was succeeded by Edward Livingston.
Though the labors of this office were heavy, and
for one so young its responsibilities great, Mr.
Butler's success was in proportion to his labor, and
he retired from the office with the well-earned
commendations of the public. Before his official
term expired, a law was passed by the Legislature
of 1824, appointing Chancellor Kent, Erastus Root
and Benjamin F. Butler commissioners to revise
the laws of the State ; but these gentlemen did not
enter upon the duties thus assigned them, as the
Legislature of 1825 passed an act by which Mr.
Butler, John Duer and Henry Wheaton were made
commissioners to revise the statute laws. Not long
after the passage of this act, Mr. Wheaton was ap
pointed charge d'affaires to the Court of Berlin, and
John C. Spencer was appointed in his place.
As was said by a distinguished member of the
Bar, "the selection of Mr. Butler, who had then so
recently commenced his practice, for a position so
high and responsible, carried with it the evidence
of the high estimation in which he was held by the
Legislature. It was an undertaking of great hazard
to his professional reputation, as well as an im
mense labor. It involved for a time the entire
sacrifice of his business, as he was obliged to devote
his time almost exclusively to that business. He
undertook it, and, notwithstanding the prejudices
it at first encountered, it was carried to a successful
termination." In the language of Judge Kent, "All who knew
the indomitable energy of John C. Spencer will
naturally believe that his spirit pervaded the whole
work ; but, judging from internal evidence, I can
not avoid believing that much of the essential excel
lence of the Revised Statutes, and more of the
labor which adapted them to our general system of
jurisprudence — the plan and order of the work, the
learning of the notes, the marginal references, and
the admirable index which accompanies it — should
be ascribed to the labor, the patient touches of
unwearied art, bestowed by Mr. Butler. The
statutes, however, reveal the learning, skill, labor
and ability of each of their great authors. "
Three years later a new edition of the statutes
was deemed necessary, and the revisers were once
more called to the work of revision. The whole
existing statute laws of a general nature, all the acts
of the Legislature passed since the year 1825,
were carefully examined ; the statutes themselves
critically reviewed and re-arranged, with annota
tions and references made by the Supreme Court,
the Court of Chancery and the Court for the Cor
rection of Errors.

This new edition was reported to the Legislature
at its annual session in the winter of 1836, and by
appropriate acts was passed as the Statutes of the
State of New York. Other editions have succeeded
it, embracing acts since passed. They are volumin
ous but indispensable works in the library of a
practicing lawyer.
Mr. Butler was elected a member of the Legisla
ture of 1828, and left on its records indubitable
evidence of his ability as a legislator.
In 1833 Mr. Butler was appointed commissioner,
with Theodore Frelinghuysen, to settle the long-
disputed boundary line between New York and
New Jersey, and brought this difficult question
to a highly satisfactory adjustment. In the autumn
of 1833, before the labors of the New Jersey
commission were terminated, Mr. Butler was ap
pointed Attorney-General of the United States, in
place of Roger B. Taney, appointed Chief Justice of
the United States. A few days before Mr. Butler's
departure for Washington to enter upon the duties
of his office, the citizens of Albany, without distinc
tion of party, assembled and publicly expressed
their regard for his virtues as a citizen and their ad
miration of his talents as a lawyer. Among those
who addressed the meeting were Stephen Van Rens
selaer, Abraham Van Vechten and Harmanus
Bleecker. In October, 1836, while discharging his duties
as Attorney-General, Mr. Butler was appointed
Secretary of War in the Cabinet of President Jack
son. He discharged the duties of the two offices
until the 4th of March, 1837. In the Department
of War there was at this time a large accumulation
of business, owing to the Seminole war; but Mr.
Butler, by his assiduity and systematic method,
brought up the arrears of business, and left the de
partment in a satisfactory state to his illustrious
successor, Felix Grundy, of Tennessee.
The legal opinions rendered by Mr. Butler while
Attorney-General are still read and admired for
their profundity in substance, their perfection in
diction ; they are also established as reliable prece
dents. On the 4th of March, 1837, President Van Buren
entered upon the duties of his administration. Mr.
Butler continued to discharge the duties of Attor
ney-General until January, 1838, when he resigned
and returned to the practice of his profession.
Within a few months, however, the office of United
States District Attorney for the Southern District of
New York became vacant, and Mr. Butler was ap
pointed to fill that office. He discharged these
duties until the inauguration of President Harrison,
when he resigned. When President Polk assumed
the executive chair he tendered Mr. Butler the
office of Secretary of War, but the offer was respect
fully declined for reasons which were entirely satis
factory to the President. Not long after, however,
the President tendered to Mr. Butler the office of
United States District Attorney for the Southern
District. This position Mr. Butler did not hesitate
to accept, as it did not interfere with the duties of
his profession. He discharged these official duties
until after the election of Gen. Taylor, when he

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139

was removed for political reasons. In the mean
time Mr. Butler had become a citizen of the City
of New York.
In the summer of 1856 he made a visit to Eng
land, but returned very soon to complete a profes
sional engagement of great importance. This was
the great case of Levit vs. Curtis, which had been
before the court for a long time, and was then
pending in the Court of Appeals. He was com
pelled to terminate his European tour in order to
conduct the argument of the case at a term of the
court then approaching.
In 1835 the Council of the University of the City
of New York having decided to establish a faculty
of law in that institution, Mr. Butler was requested
to prepare a plan for its organization. He com
plied with the request, and on the 29th day of May,
1835, submitted to Rev. J. N. Mathews, then
Chancellor of the University, a document entitled
" A Plan for the Organization of a Law Faculty
and for a System of Instruction in Legal Science in
the University of the City of New York." His
plan was warmly approved by the Council and
promptly accepted by the most flattering resolu
tions. Mr. Butler continued to devote his entire ener
gies to the duties of his profession ; but it was ap
parent to his friends that his health was rapidly
failing, and they prevailed upon him to visit Europe
again. Accordingly, in October, 1868, he em
barked on the steamer Arago, bound for Havre,
intending to remain abroad two years. On the
29th of October he landed at Havre. He visited
Harfieur and Rouen, and on the 3d of November
he arrived at Paris. The next day he wrote a long
and interesting letter to his son, William Allen
Butler, Esq. In the evening of that day he was
taken ill, and his disease rapidly progressed, and
finally, on the 8th of November, his earthly career
ended.
GREENE C. BRONSON.
Among the illustrious legists whose names em
bellish the roll of lawyers of Albany County is
Greene C. Bronson, who for twenty years and up
ward was a gifted and successful contestant at the
Albany Bar.
He was born at Utica, Oneida County, N. Y.,
in 1789. He began his practice at Utica about
the year 1815; he early developed a peculiarly
strong judicial mind and method, in recognition of
which hewas, on April 13, 18 19, appointed Surro
gate of Oneida County. He discharged the duties
of this office for two years with singular ability. In
the fall of 1822 he was elected member of Assembly
Irom Oneida County, and was honored by the posi
tion as chairman of the Judiciary Committee. The
next year he was tendered a renomination, but de
clined, and devoted himself to his profession.
On February 27, 1829, he was appointed Attor
ney-General ot the State, the successor of Samuel
A. Talcott, universally acknowledged one of the
greatest of American lawyers. Mr. Bronson dis
charged the duties of this office till January 12,
1836, when he was appointed one of the Justices of

the Supreme Court. We should have said that
about the time he was appointed Attorney-General
he removed to Albany, where he resided over
twenty successive years.
On March 5, 1845, he was appointed Chief Jus
tice of the State, in place of Hon. Samuel Nelson,
appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of
the United States. Few members of the American
Bench rank higher than Judge Bronson ; the opin
ions written by him always command the respect
and admiration of the student and the practitioner ;
the ingenuity and exactness with which they are
written, their polemical strength and the extent of
their erudition, are hardly equaled by those of any
other judge. He occupied the Bench as Chief
Justice two years, when he resigned, and was suc
ceeded by Samuel Beardsley, the last of the Chief
Justices under the Constitution of 182 1.
In 1853 he was appointed Collector of the Port
of New York, and removed from Albany to that
city. In 1859 he was Corporation Counsel for the
City of New York, serving until 1863, when he re
tired to private life.
In politics Judge Bronson was a Democrat, and
during the divisions of the Democratic party into
Hard Shell and Soft Shell factions, he was the
leader of the Hard Shell wing. Some of his
speeches delivered in defense of his position created
marked attention throughout the nation for the
skill of their argument, the beauty and strength of
their diction, and, more than all, for their boldness,
and, as the opposition journals termed, for their
audacity. Judge Bronson died in the City of New York,
September 3, 1863.
MARCUS T. REYNOLDS.
During a period of twenty-six years Marcus T.
Reynolds was one of the leading members of the
Albany Bar. The history of his career during that
time is the history of the Supreme Court, Court for
the Correction of Errors and the Court of Appeals.
For ten years previous to that time he often ap
peared in the different courts that held their sit
tings in Albany ; an examination of the reports
of the cases argued in the Appellate Courts of the
State from 18 17 to 1853 shows that Mr. Reynolds
represented more cases adjudicated in the Supreme
Court and Court of Errors than almost any other
lawyer in the State.
He was born at Florida, Montgomery County,
N. Y., December 22, 1788. When he was ten
years of age he was placed in a high school at
Canajoharie, where he remained three years. Leav
ing Canajoharie, he entered a collegiate school at
Utica, where he was fitted for college. In 1805 he
entered Union College, from whence, in 1 808, he
was graduated, standing second in his class.
While in college he developed those polemical
and elocutionary talents, that keen and sparkling
wit, which distinguished him as an advocate. Hav
ing graduated, he began the study of law in the
office of that truly great lawyer, Matthias B. Hii
dreth, of Johnstown, N. Y. Mr. Hiidreth was for
several years Attorney-General of the State.

140

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Young Reynolds was a particular favorite with
his learned preceptor, who spared no pains in
advancing his student in acquiring that knowledge
necessary for a profound and successful lawyer.
On October 12, 1811, Reynolds was called to the
Bar. About this time Addison Gardner, Samuel
Stevens, John A. Collier, Charles O'Conor,
William H. Seward, Ogden Hoffman and Alonzo
C. Page were called to the Bar.
Mr. Reynolds began his practice at Johnstown,
N. Y.; here he was compelled to contend with
Daniel Cady, of whom it may be said he was a
gladiator in. the legal arena of uncommon prow
ess. Other eminent lawyers became the antago
nists of Mr. Reynolds, and in contending with
legal giants he rapidly grew to be one himself.
He continued to practice at Johnstown until
1828, when he removed to Albany, where he spent
the remainder of his life, and where he retained
that position which has given him an undying fame
in the legal history of the State.
The legal speeches of Mr. Reynolds were
natural, easy, replete with argument, never too
artificial, and recherche. His gestures were very
few, generally with his right arm, and forefinger,
occasionally dropping the palm of his left hand
upon the table, if one was before him ; if not, he
balanced it before him in an easy, natural manner.
He had the faculty of passing from ' ' grave to
gay, from lively to severe," with surprising facility.
This is illustrated by his arguments in cases like
Mabee vs. Peck, and cases like The People vs. Lam
prey. So widely did these intellectual efforts differ
from each other that a stranger would naturally
have believed them to be the productions of
different minds. The former case involved the
consideration of mere abstract questions of law,
and his argument abounded in nothing but reason,
relieved by no lucid narration — no appeal to the
feelings— no address to the imagination, and yet it
was an intellectual triumph ; those who listened to
him could hardly think it possible for a feeling of
pathos, sympathy or pleasantry ever to enter his
bosom, so thoroughly prosaic was his speech.
Lamprey was tried for the murder of his own
nephew. There were many circumstances in the
case which appealed strongly to sympathy, and
Mr. Reynolds interposed a powerful and successful
defense, founded not only upon the facts, but
upon grave and intricate questions of law. His
address to the jury was an inimitable specimen of
legal oratory. It was often enlivened by momen
tary displays of wit and humor ; it abounded in
exquisitely wrought passages, in which pathos and
argument were interfused. Even on the discussion
of the legal questions in this case, ' ' he cast the
playful hues of his fancy ; " so that it was difficult
to determine whether at the bar he was the giant
or magician — Briareus or Prospero.
He carried his cases by being thoroughly imbued
with them himself, and then, by a clear and well-
defined statement to court and jury, imparting the
impression that he had no doubt of the right of his
case. Before a jury he had a sort of magnetic power,

by which he photographed his own ideas and rea
sons upon the minds of the jury.
Many years before his death he was thrown from
a horse ; the fall produced an injury to one of his
knee-pans of such a serious character that ampu
tation became necessary. Immediately after the
accident he was taken into a store, and the wound
was examined by one of the most skillful surgeons
in Albany, who became convinced that amputation
must inevitably follow, and he so informed the suf
ferer, stating further that perhaps it had better be
done on the following day.
' ' I wish you to proceed instantly. I cannot have
the matter upon my mind," said Reynolds. The
surgeon obeyed. This was before chloroform was
used by surgeons, but Mr. Reynolds submitted to
the operation without a groan. After the loss of
his leg he generally conducted his causes sitting.
In person he was slightly above the ordinary
stature ; his frame was slender, but well propor
tioned ; in his earlier years his form was more
athletic. His face was thin ; his high forehead
evinced intellectual power ; he lived a life of devo
tion to his profession, never seeking or holding
public office. Simple and retired in his tastes and
habits, a warm and generous friend, an open and
manly adversary. Many of the religious, charita
ble and literary institutions of Albany are indebted
to him for pecuniary aid and valuable assistance.
For many years he was a member of St. Peter's
Church, and for a long time one of the vestry.
In his social relations, Mr. Reynolds possessed
those qualities which accompany a refined and sen
sitive mind, causing him to be greatly beloved
in the sacred circle of home.
He died on the 13th of July, 1864, in the seven
ty-seventh year of his age.
Ten years previous to his death, owing to ill
health, he retired from the Bar, and nearly with
drew from former associations and society. At last
his splendid intellect vanished, and his last years
were passed in mental darkness.
SAMUEL STEVENS.
It would be impossible to give a history of
the Bar of Albany without some description of
Gen. Samuel Stevens. From the year 1837
down to the adoption of the Code of Procedure
Samuel Stevens, Marcus T Reynolds and Nicholas
Hill were, perhaps, three of the most prominent
lawyers in the State. They were constantly engaged
in the principal courts, often on the same side,
but more frequently opposed to each other.
Gen. Stevens was a lawyer of rare accomplish
ments, an advocate of great power. Like Ogden
Hoffman, he contrived to give interest to a dry de
tail of facts by a happy adaptation of his mind to
them ; he could, on the instant, select from a
variety of matters those which would make the best
appearance and be least exposed to observation
and to answer. " He could estimate the probable
case which was hid in his adversary's brief, and
prepare his own to elude its force." As a speaker
he was as effective before the court as either Hill or
Reynolds ; as a jury lawyer he was more successful

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141

than the former, because he was more emotional,
more vivacious and more vehement. His gesticu
lation was active and frequent, and he often illus
trated his argument with a humorous story which
contained force and point; his good nature always
prevailed at the Bar, accompanied by an incisive
wit ever at his command, ever agreeable, because
it never descended to offensive satire. In his man
ner he was what might be called free and easy ;
like Martin Grover, when at the Bar, his mouth was
always occupied by a quid of tobacco, by no
means infinitessimal in size. He was popular with
the people, and thus he had one quality of the suc
cessful politician. He was first known to the polit
ical world as one of the ablest and most eloquent
supporters of DeWitt Clinton in the State.
In 1825 he represented his native county* Wash
ington, in the Assembly, and although one of its
youngest members, he was regarded as the leader
of the Clintonian party in that body. In 1827
he was again elected to the Assembly. In Feb
ruary of that year he delivered a speech in the
House on that part of the Governor's Message
which referred to internal improvements. This
speech gave him a State reputation as an ingenious
reasoner and an accomplished legislative debater.
He afterward identified himself with the Whig
party, and in the Legislative Caucus held in Feb
ruary, 1839, was strongly sustained for candidate
for Attorney-General ; Willis Hall, of New York,
was, however, the successful candidate, on a vote
of 45 to 42. He was never again before the pub
lic for any civil office, excepting once when he was
nominated for Lieutenant-Governor.
In personal appearance Gen. Stevens differed
materially from both Hill and Reynolds ; he was
short, thickset, tending to corpulency ; his eye
lids were always partly closed, as though they were
affected by the light. He was of nervous tempera
ment, active, energetic and restless.
The names of Hill, Reynolds and Stevens are
strongly associated together ; at the Albany Bar
there was scarcely a case of importance tried
in which one of the three did not appear as
counsel. Gen. Stevens was not so long identified with
the Albany Bar as Hill and Reynolds, but he has
left on its history a name and fame of which this
Bar may be justly proud.
He was for a time a partner of James Edwards,
Esq., a distinguished member of the Albany Bar,
and afterward he was the law partner of Peter
Cagger, under the firm name of Stevens & Cagger,
which became one of the most powerful in the
State, and continued for several years.
JOHN C. SPENCER.
John C. Spencer, ranking among the ablest of
American lawyers, was for many years a member
of the Albany Bar. Here he achieved his greatest
legal and political triumphs. His name is not
only identified with the legal but with the political
history of the State.
The political career of De Witt Clinton is largely
blended with that of John C. Spencer.

He was born at Hudson, N. Y., August 12, 1786;
he was a son of Ambrose Spencer, to whom we
have often referred in this work. From his earliest
years he was accustomed to the society of distin
guished, learned and gifted men. His first knowl
edge of politics was drawn from witnessing the con
test of our great American politicians who flour
ished in the early part of the present century. He
saw how causes were tried by witnessing the legal
contests of Hamilton, Burr, Hoffman, Emmet and
other great lawyers.
He prepared for college at Hudson Academy,
and entered Union College in 1799. During his
collegiate course a friendship began between him
self and Dr. Nott — afterward for many years the
distinguished president of that college — which
warmed as it ripened, and continued until the death
of Mr. Spencer.
As a student young Spencer was distinguished
for close and thorough application to his studies,
for the same thoughtful reserve, the same dignified
reticence, which marked his character as a lawyer,
legislator and cabinet minister.
In July, 1 803, at the age of seventeen, Spencer
graduated with scholarly honors exceedingly grati
fying to all his friends. On leaving college he
began the study of law with his distinguished
father. In July, 1 809, he was called to the Bar ;
very soon after this he was united in marriage to a
daughter of James Scott Smith, a highly respected
citizen of New York City. Miss Smith was a lady of
rare accomplishments, with that high cast of char
acter which eminently qualified her for the wife of
John C. Spencer. At this time Western New York,
though mostly a wilderness, was attracting the at
tention of the enterprising and intelligent people of
the eastern and southern parts of the State. The
beauty of its scenery, embellished by lakes, rivers
and hills, with their grand old forests, and its
prospects for speedy settlement and future great
ness, were vividly portrayed by tourists.
Among those who decided to emigrate to that
country was Mr. Spencer, and in September, 1 809,
he became a resident of Canandaigua. With a
few law books and fifteen dollars in money he
began that professional career which has rendered
his name memorable in the State and nation.
He used to describe, in a pleasing manner, the
first dinner of which he and his wife partook in
their "own hired house" at Canandaigua.
' ' Our meal was served on a plain kitchen table.
I was seated on a cheap, old-fashioned chair — the
only one we boasted of — and Mrs. Spencer occu
pied a common wooden stool. But everything on
the table, though simple, was nicely cooked, and
we enjoyed our meal with a relish never equaled
at the more sumptuous repasts of our more pros
perous days."
In 1809 Ontario County embraced within its
limits all that territory included within the Coun
ties of Yates and Wayne, together with all that
part of Monroe and Livingston lying east of the
Genesee River. After Mr. Spencer became a resi
dent of Western New York the population rapidly
increased, and its great agricultural and other ad-

142

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

vantages developed to a surprising degree. The
Ontario Bar became one of the most eminent in
the State, at the head of which Mr. Spencer always
stood. In February, 1818, he was appointed by Gov.
Tompkins Prosecuting, or District, Attorney
for the five western counties of the State. It was
a position of great responsibility and labor, but he
discharged his duties with great alacrity and suc
cess. In the spring of 181 7 he was elected a rep
resentative in Congress, taking his seat in that
body December 1, 181 7, remaining in the House
during its fifteenth session. While in Congress he
received the nomination for United States Senator
by the Clintonian members of the Legislature.
Col. Samuel Young and Rufus King were his
opponents. He received 64 votes, Col. Young
57; but Mr. King was elected. For a politician as
young as Mr. Spencer then — only twenty-eight
years of age — this development of strength was
exceedingly flattering to him. In the autumn of
181 9 he was elected member of Assembly, and
when the Legislature convened on January 2, 1820,
Mr. Spencer was chosen Speaker. He was re
elected in the fall of 1821, and again a candidate
for Speaker, but was defeated by a few votes. He
was elected to the Legislatures of 1831 and 1833.
Mr. Spencer represented the old Seventh Sena
torial District in the State Senate from 1825 to the
close of the year 1828. He left the impressions of
his great learning and genius on the records of
both branches of the Legislature of this State, and
many enactments of importance which make a
prominent part of our legal structure owe their
existence to his learning and genius.
In 1826 the abduction of Morgan created an
unparalleled excitement in the State. To secure
the conviction of the abductors the great abilities
of Spencer were invoked, and he was appointed by
Gov. Van Buren a special public prosecutor for
that occasion.
But so skillfully and so secretly was the crime
committed that all efforts of Mr. Spencer, aided
by the power of the State, failed to bring the cul
prits to justice, and the mystery which hung over
the affair at that time rests upon it now. Out of
it grew the Anti-Masonic party, the foundations of
which were laid by Thurlow Weed, William H.
Seward, John C. Spencer, Frederick Whittlesy,
Bates Cook and others. For a time it was very
powerful, particularly in the western part of the
State. It was short-lived, however, and soon
withered away, or, rather, was absorbed by the
Whig party, which was founded on broader princi
ples of State polity.
Mr. Spencer, with Seward, Weed and others,
became leaders of the Whig party.
In the autumn of 1836 he removed from Canan
daigua to Albany, where he resided the remainder
of his life. He aided materially in the election of
Gen. Harrison, who died very soon after assum
ing the executive chair. John Tyler, who suc-
succeeded him, appointed Mr. Spencer his Secre
tary of War, and though the Whig party dissolved
all connection with Tyler, Spencer continued to

adhere to him through his administration. He
advocated the election of Gen. Taylor and
the election of Gen. Scott. After the Presiden
tial election of 1852 he never mingled in politics.
This, in brief, was the career of John C. Spencer
as a politician ; the history of his legal career
would fill volumes. A distinguished part of
his legal work was in the part he took as one of
the revisers of the New York Statutes. Gov.
Clinton died on February 28, 1828. Before his
death he appointed commissioners for the revis
ion of the Statutes ; they were John C. Spencer,
John Duer and Benjamin F. Butler. These gen
tlemen were selected for their high standing as
lawyers, regarded, as they were, as the most
learned of the profession in the State. The success
ful manner in which they discharged their duty is
too well known to need comment here. The Re
vised Statutes of the State of New York are grand
and enduring monuments of the genius, the learn
ing, the purity and wisdom of John C. Spencer,
John Duer and Benjamin F. Butler. Though,
through the innovation of subsequent law-makers
and codifiers, many of their sections have been re
pealed, yet many remain, indispensable to the
practicing lawyer.
In 1849 he was appointed one of the codifying
commissioners, but to the great regret of the judi
ciary, the profession and the public he declined
the appointment and retired to private life.
Few men were more beloved in Albany than
Mr. Spencer ; its public interests seemed to be his
interest, and his relations to its society were of the
most pleasing nature. To his efforts the Albany
Hospital owes, in a measure, its existence. As
was said by a distinguished citizen of Albany,
speaking of the hospital, "Its interests and welfare
never ceased to occupy his mind ; and I have no
doubt his agency in its foundation was a rich con
solation on his bed of death. "
The State Asylum for Idiots is another institu
tion which owes much to his influence and
generosity. In many other benignant and public
matters his name is honorably identified. He con
tinued the dispenser of charities, public and
private, until his death.
About the middle of May, 1854, he visited the
City of New York, being then an invalid. While there .
his disease took a more violent and dangerous
turn, which rendered it apparent that the life of the
great statesman and lawyer was about to close. He
lingered until about the 20th of May, when he
quietly and peacefully passed away. He was then
in the sixty-eighth year of his age.
In the lovely cemetery of Albany, among all the
beautiful and artistic monuments which embellish
it, speaking its silent language of respect for the
dead, none is oftener visited, none elicits more
veneration, or brings up historic associations more
vividly, than the shaft which commemorates the
spot where repose the remains of John C Spencer.
JAMES EDWARDS.
Mr. James Edwards was a member of the
Albany Bar, whose professional acquirements,

THE BENCH AND BAR.

143

scholarly attainments and high character gave him
a State reputation.
He was born in Greenfield, Saratoga, N. Y.,
December 9, 1799. He removed to Albany in
1 816 ; here he began the study of law in the office
of his uncle, Hon. Alfred Foote, at that time one
of the most eminent lawyers in Albany. In 1822,
at a term of the Supreme Court held in Albany, he
was admitted to the Bar, and soon afterward
formed a partnership with Gen. Samuel Stevens,
whose biography appears in this work. The busi
ness of the firm was large and important, extend
ing into very many of the counties of Central and
Southern New York.
To use the language of the Albany Argus, " Mr.
Edwards brought to his practice many admirable
qualifications. He was always distinguished for
his sound practical judgment, his solid legal attain
ments, his promptness and accuracy in business,
energy, firmness and integrity of character,
and conscientious fidelity to the interests of his
clients. Among his clients and friends and the
citizens of Albany he was always regarded as
a most substantial, upright and leading man. He
was kind-hearted, true in his friendship, warm and
generous in his sympathies, ever open to the
appeals of the poor and suffering, and ever seeking
to rule his life in accordance with Christian princi
ples. He was a liberal-minded, public-spirited
and valuable citizen, always seeking a warm inter
est in all measures for the promotion of public in
terests. "
Mr. Edwards died suddenly on May 21, 1868,
aged sixty-nine years. AZOR TABOR.
Azor Tabor was born at Knox, in the County of
Albany, May 1, 1798. After a careful and thor
ough classical education he entered the office of
John Lansing, Chancellor of the State, where he
prepared for the Bar. After his admission to prac
tice he opened an office at Albany. A prosperous
and distinguished legal business opened to him,
and he pursued a long and honorable career at the
Bar. He ranked among the ablest lawyers of the
State, discharging the duties of a very large legal
practice with fidelity and capacity, which com
manded universal approbation.
His chosen profession was his almost exclusive
pursuit. From this he was rarely tempted to turn
aside. The only position he ever held was State
Senator from the Albany district. He was elected
in November, 1 851; took his seat in the Senate
July 6, 1852, closing his Senatorial career Decem
ber 31, 1854. As a member of the Judiciary Com
mittee — as an occasional debater — he exhibited
that power and compass of mind, that extraor
dinary condensation of language, which rendered
him so distinguished at the Bar. But as his am
bition was confined to his profession, he had no
taste for legislative honors, and, declining a re-
nomination, he left the Senate and a most honor
able Senatorial record, to pursue without interrup
tion his duties at the Bar.
In April, 1833, he formed a partnership with that

accomplished lawyer and highly esteemed citizen,
Amos Dean. This relation was highly advanta
geous to both parties and continued several years.
In 1854, owing to failing health, he retired from
the profession and became a resident of Knox, his
native town, where, on June 10, 1855, he died.
As has well been said, "his life was that of an
honest, earnest, able man, and he left a memory
upon which there is no stain. "
In the character of Azor Tabor the strength and
vigor of manhood was softened by the gentleness
of manners and tastes which belong to and adorn
the other sex. We may say without affectation that
the history of the Albany Bar is enriched and em
bellished by his learning, his unostentatious and
yet powerful eloquence, and by his virtuous and
blameless life. AMOS DEAN.
Amos Dean was born at Barnard, Vt., January
16, 1 803. Like many other prominent lawyers and
jurists of this State, he acquired his early education
in the common schools, where he prepared for the
great calling of teaching. Engaged in this occupa
tion, he sustained himself while pursuing his
academic course preparatory to entering college.
He entered Union College in 1823, and graduated
from thence in 1826.
At this time his uncle, Jabez D. Hammond, a
distinguished lawyer and writer, was in partnership
with that illustrious judge, Alfred Conkling.
Mr. Dean began the study of law in their office;
he was a diligent student; one of those who de
lighted in the nice distinctions and the philosophy
of the law as a science. Intricate and dry as is the
study of law to some, to young Dean it had
attractions that amounted to fascination; and so he
came to study it as a matter of recreation, blending
instruction with delight. Long before his admis
sion he had the gratification of hearing his uncle
say: "Amos is a very thoroughly read lawyer
already. "
He was admitted to practice at the May Term
of the Supreme Court in 1829, and went at once
assiduously and earnestly to the work of his pro
fession. For several years, and during the earlier period
of his practice, he was associated with Azor Tabor,
then recognized as one of the most eminent of the
Albany Bar. Says the Albany Evening fournal :
" Professor Dean never assumed to attain celebrity
as an advocate before juries. While he possessed
marked abilities as an orator, which could have
been educated to an eminent order by practice, his
instincts and tastes led him to another field of in
dustry in his profession. His amiability of dispo
sition, his natural reserve, his kindly nature, his
guilelessness and his overflowing charity repelled
him from the theatre of professional strife and con
flict. He was peculiarly adapted to the duties of
the office and the counsel room. Here he became
eminent for wisdom, prudence and sagacity.
These qualities, added to that higher and nobler
one of an unimpeachable integrity, brought to him
clients, success and fame.

144

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

' ' Professor Dean was a scholar by education,
study and taste. This led him to appreciate the
benefits of a popular education, and to aid in its
popular advancement. Impelled by such purposes,
he conceived, in early manhood, the plan of estab
lishing associations for the mental improvement of
young men.
"In 1833 he gathered about him a few young
friends of kindred tastes in an office in Albany, and
there planted the germ of the ' ' Albany Young
Men's Association." From this beginning hun
dreds of kindred institutions that have since blest
the country by their beneficent influences abroad.
"Upon the organization. of this association, Mr.
Dean was unanimously selected as its first presi
dent. By the energy and sagacity of his adminis
tration the foundation of that noble edifice of pop
ular education, from which, for so many years, so
much moral and intellectual light has been shed
upon the youth of our city, and which has been
the model for so many like structures in all sec
tions of the Union.
"In 1833 he was associated with Drs. March and
Armsby in establishing the Albany Medical College;
from that time to 1859 he held in it the position of
Professor of Medical furisprudence. When the
law department of our university was established
Mr. Dean was wisely and appropriately chosen one
of its professors. In this sphere, so well adapted
to his tastes, his talents shone out most brightly.
His pupils, scattered all over the land, bear testi
mony to the value of his instruction.
"Professor Dean has attained considerable emi
nence in the field of authorship and literature. In
early life he delivered a series of able and interest
ing lectures on phrenology, a science then in its
infancy. These lectures were afterward embodied
in a book.
" In early life he was the author of a Manual of
Law, which proved a valuable aid to business men.
He delivered several valuable addresses and lec
tures upon subjects of public interest. In 1833 ne
delivered the Annual Address before the Albany In
stitute. He pronounced a eulogy upon the death
of Jesse Buel before the State Agricultural Society,
and an Annual Address before the Senate of Union
College. But his greatest achievement in literature
was not given to the world, because of his death.
This was the History of Civilization, upon which he
had been engaged for several years previous to his
death.* ' ' His industry, research and ability gave assur
ance of the merit and attraction of his work.
' ' We have spoken of Professor Dean only as a
professional and public man. If we sought to add
panegyric to what we have said, we should speak
of his qualities as a man and of his virtues in
private life. Herein, if possible, his character was
higher and nobler than in any other walk of life.
"To the qualities which we have described he
united a pleasing address, a quiet demeanor, a
generosity of sentiment and an absence of guile

* Since the death of Professor Dean, his great work, upon which
he spent so many years, has heen published in seven octavo vol-

that endeared him strongly to the circle of his
companionship. "
Such was the tribute paid to Professor Dean by
that eminent journalist of the State, Thurlow Weed.
Those who remember Professor Dean — and there
are many still in Albany who do — will bear ample
testimony to the truth and fitness of Mr. Weed's
beautiful sketch of his life.
HENRY G. WHEATON.
' In the year 1828 Mr. Wheaton graduated with
the highest honors at Union College, and immedi
ately commenced the study of law at Albany. At
the May term of the Supreme Court he was ad
mitted to practice and opened an office at Albany.
As he had been an ardent, close and apprecia
tive student both in law and in the classics, as he
possessed those mental endowments so necessary
for a lawyer, he rose rapidly to distinction.
As has been said of Mr. Wheaton by another
intimately acquainted with him, "He was accom
plished in mind and manners, irreproachable in
character and habits, and elevated in aspirations.
All who saw him enter upon the battle of life an
ticipated for him a prosperous, brilliant and hon
orable career. He married an attractive young
lady, descended from one of the oldest and most
wealthy families in Albany, and lived in a style be
coming his position and prospects. He devoted
himself industriously to his profession, of which he
soon became an ornament." He took rank with
Reynolds, Stevens, Tabor and other leading members
of the Albany Bar. By many he was regarded the
superior of either of those exceedingly able lawyers,
especially before a jury.
He represented Albany County with marked
ability in the Legislatures of 1835, 1840 and 1841.
We have said he was in the Assembly of 1835.
Mr. Wheaton was a candidate for Assembly in the
autumn of 1834 for Albany County. His opponent
was David G. Seger. The canvass was very close,
and each candidate claimed the certificate of elec
tion; but it was given to Mr. Wheaton, and he took
his seat in the Assembly, January 6, 1835. Mr.
Seger, however, contested his seat with such suc
cess that on January 9, 1835, Mr. Wheaton was
ousted and Seger took his seat. The former and
his friends, of which he had many, alwavs insisted
that Seger succeeded by partisan influence, and
not on the merits of his case. They afterward
pointed contemptuously to what they had deemed
(but with how much reason we are unable to state)
Mr. Seger's humble career as a legislator, in' con
trast with what Mr. Wheaton would have been, and
what it subsequently was.
As we have said, he was elected to the Legisla
tures of 1840 and 1 84 1, and was regarded as one of
the most eloquent and influential members of the
House in both of those sessions. Some of his
speeches made on its floor are almost unrivaled as
specimens of legislative eloquence.
On March 30, 1841, Mr. Wheaton was ap
pointed District Attorney of Albany County. He
made a useful and exceedingly able public prosecu
tor. It was an unfailing custom in those days to

THE BENCH AND BAR.

145

appoint none but the most eminent and successful
advocates to the office of District Attorney. It
was justly regarded as a most important and re
sponsible position— the people's advocate, com
pelled, in the discharge of his duties, to oppose the
strongest and most gifted of the profession. In
the year 1855 the management of a large estate in
the City of New York compelled him to take up
his residence there. The care of this property and
some unfortunate turns it took greatly impaired his
health, rendering him despondent.
On August 26, 1865, Mr. Wheaton, in attempt
ing to cross the railroad track near Yorkville,
caught one of his feet in what is known as a frog,
and was thrown to the ground. Before he could
extricate himself an approaching train passed over
him, instantly killing him.
NICHOLAS HILL.
It is said in the Bench and Bar of New York
that Nicholas Hill, in some of his characteristics,
resembled John C. Spencer; they were both men
of strong intellectual powers, active, restless men
of vast research, vigorous logic, unwearied industry
and capable of immense mental labor. Both were
wanting in imagination; both were learned, close,
critical polemical lawyers. But here the analogy
ends; for much of the power which impelled Spencer
to action was political ambition; this led him
into a career which in a measure subordinated his
professional zeal to politics, to divide his great
talents and learning between the Bar and the polit
ical arena, between the duties of the legislator and
the Minister of State.
Mr. Hill, on the contrary, concentrated all his
mental powers upon his profession; this gave him
a mastery at the bar which few men are capable of
attaining. He disliked politics, and there was
nothing in official position that could attract him
from the sphere to which he had devoted himself.
He was ambitious, but his ambition was confined
to his profession; all his study and reading was
subservient to that ambition; therefore his knowl
edge of the law, his power of applying it to prac
tical use, of wielding its subtleties with facility, and
separating truth from error in a manner which ren
dered him unqualed at the bar of the State, and
we may say of the nation.
His life was unvaried by those events which excite
the ambition of the politician and the statesman.
It was spent over books, in the contests of the
forum, before learned and venerable judges, whose
deliberations were aided and enlightened by his
learned and powerful arguments.
Nicholas Hill was born in the County of Mont
gomery, New York, October 16, 1806. His
father was a revolutionary soldier, who, on leav
ing the army, became a useful preacher of the
gospel. Young Hill early exhibited a love of books, a
quick comprehension of their contents, an unusual
tenacity of memory. An indomitable energy and
perseverance enabled him, with the aid of his
father — who was an accomplished scholar — to
acquire a very excellent classical education.

Choosing the legal profession for his avocation in
life, he began the study of law with Daniel Cady, of
Johnstown, with whom he prepared for the Bar.
After obtaining his degree as an Attorney at Law,
he commenced piactice at Amsterdam, New York,
meeting with but little success, his practice being
largely confined to the justices' court. At length
he removed to Saratoga, New York, where he made
the acquaintance of that illustrious judge, Esek
Cowen, "whose life and career seemed to offer
that example of singleness of purpose, devotion to
his profession and unwearied industry upon
which he molded his career." Judge Cowen soon
discovered in Hill those mental qualities which
constitute a successful lawyer, and he gave him
his influence and advanced his professional interests
in many ways. At length he formed a copart
nership with Sidney Cowen, Esq. , a son of Judge
Cowen. Associated with Mr. Cowen, he prepared
that great work known to the legal profession
throughout the nation and in England as Cowen
6V Hill's Notes to Phillips on Evidence, which re
mains a lasting monument to the ability, energy,
industry and learning of its authors — a work which
may be considered a law library by itself.
The unassuming manner and native modesty of
Mr. Hill tended at first to retard his progress at
the Bar. Though a close and powerful reasoner,
he did not possess those showy elocutionary qual
ities which dazzle the multitude and bring a lawyer
rapidly into notice.
Though he loved the forum and delighted in its
contests, yet there were many of the attributes of
the retiring scholar in his nature, and hence he
derived the most sincere pleasure in the silence and
retirement of his study.
He had many qualities which constitute the
successful jury lawyer, and gradually attained a
high position as an advocate. Marcus T. Reynolds
and Samuel Stevens, for several years his great
rivals in the profession, had been distinguished at
the Bar of the Supreme Court in banc and in the
Court for the Correction of Errors a long time be
fore Mr. Hill was known in either of those tri
bunals. But from his first appearance there he created a
very favorable impression on the minds of all the
members of the Court. In the case of Tilden vs.
Gardiner, which was one of the earliest argued by
him before the General Term, his argument was
listened to with profound attention by both the
Bench and the Bar. ' ' We shall hear from that
man very often hereafter," said Chief-Justice Nelson
to Judge Bronson, as he was folding the papers in
the case, after the conclusion of Mr. Hill's remarks.
Doubtless the reputation which the Notes to Phillips
on Evidence had given aided him in gaining the
confidence of the judges, and in obtaining the ap
pointment of State Law Reporter in 1841. The
manner in which he prepared these reports greatly
enhanced his reputation. They are characterized
by the same methodical and expansive mind which
is conspicuous in all his works.
He was one of the most accomplished and accu
rate pleaders in the State, and few exceeded him

146

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

in the faculty of analyzing a complicated question
or clinching a contested conclusion. These quali
fications greatly aided him in the labors of report
ing the adjudicated cases of the State Courts, en
abling him to adjust them so that the student or
the practitioner could determine at a glance the
real points decided in them. Soon after receiving
this appointment, he removed to Albany, where he
resided the remainder of his life.
He occupied the position of State Reporter five
years, when his increasing legal business compelled
him to resign. Soon after his resignation he
formed a copartnership with Peter Cagger and
John K. Porter, constituting a firm which com
bined every variety of legal talent — a firm which
was distinguished for its capacity and for the vast
amount of legal business which it controlled.
Each of its members possessed attainments which
gave them superiority at the Bar, or in whatever in
tellectual field they chose to enter.
Mr. Hill devoted himself to the General Term
and the Court of Appeals; at length his business at
the latter Court increased to such extent that he
was compelled to confine himself almost exclusively
to that tribunal.
Mr. Hill's manner at the Bar was calm, dig
nified, natural and unassuming. The vivacity and
strength of his mind, his prodigious quickness of
conception, his plain but ready language, rendered
him an effectual speaker, in the forum. He gained
the attention of the jurors by the natural force of
reason; his language was never above or beyond
them; it went direct to their understanding. He
considered the case at bar with them, viewed it
from their stand-point, and he ' ' dexterously ac
commodated himself to what he detected to be the
passing mood of each of the twelve," leading them
instead of driving them to their conclusions.
One of the most powerful weapons which an ad
vocate can use is candor. This was possessed by
Mr. Hill, and it was, indeed, formidable in his
hands. Without any parade of learning, he con
vinced the judges that he had examined every
phase of the question he was arguing, and was,
therefore, capable of enlightening their minds and
aiding them in their deliberations; hence he was
strong at Nisi Prius, still stronger before the Court
in banc.
His habits of life were regular and frugal, the
only excess in which he indulged being his in
tense, never-ceasing application to his books, the
study of his cases and his briefs.
At length the physical powers of Mr. Hill, which
were never strong, began to yield to constant and
unrelaxed labors ; with the flight of each week this
became more and more apparent, until finally his
friends persuaded him to suspend his professional
toils. He yielded to their advice, and they soon had
the satisfaction of seeing his bodily strength and
vigor return and his energies revive ; thus he con
tinued for several weeks, until he believed himself
able to resume his usual duties. But, alas ! Even
at the moment when hope was highest, with the
prospect of returning health, he suddenly fell be
fore the destroyer, and Nicholas Hill was numbered

with the dead. This sad event occurred on the
first day of May, 1859. He was then in the fifty-
fourth year of his age — at that period when he yet
had years of activity, labor and usefulness before
him. The intelligence of his death produced the most
profound sorrow throughout the State, particularly
among the members of the legal profession. When
it was announced in the Court of Appeals, in that
arena where he had so long been a prominent con
testant, where he had occupied a place since the
organization of the court, a scene of sorrow un
equaled on such occasions and in such places
followed. Mr. Hill's death was announced in the Court of
Appeals, by Hon. John H. Reynolds, in a eulo-
gium which will never be forgotten. He was emi
nently qualified for that delicate and responsible
duty. Mr. Reynolds was one of the ablest members of
the Albany Bar ; a man of rare argumentative
powers, enlarged and liberalized by scholarly train
ing and set off by literary accomplishments. He
had been the law partner of Mr. Hill, and knew
him, perhaps, better than any other man, and was
tenderly attached to him.
Mr. Reynolds' professional endowments, his pure
and elevated character, endeared him to his brethren
of his profession ; in a word, he was one of those
whose names adorn the history of the Albany Bar.
PETER CAGGER.
Few members of the Albany Bar left a brighter
or more lasting record, not only as a lawyer, but in
all that makes up an esteemed and useful citizen,
than Peter Cagger.
He was born at Albany, July 6, 181 2. His
parents were natives of Ireland, where his father
was extensively engaged in business. Before the
birth of Mr. Cagger, his father removed his family
to the United States, and for a brief period were
residents of the City of New York, but they soon
removed to Albany, where they spent the remainder
of their lives.
We cannot describe the career and character of
Mr. Cagger in more fitting language than the fol
lowing, written by a distinguished journalist of
Albany :
' ' The record of Mr. Cagger's life exhibits a series
of happy antitheses. A Democrat of the Demo
crats, the bold, sagacious and widely known par
tisan, almost upon all occasions the sole daring
manager of the interests of a great party, and the
absolute controller of its fortunes and destiny —
local, State and national ; he was so happily con
stituted as to attract, without effort, in seasons of
fierce political excitement, the most potential among
those of antagonistic sentiment, and to number
among his friends his most bitter political oppo
nents. A Catholic of the Catholics, his very name
a tradition and a household word among the people
of his faith ; largely identified with the early history
of the old church in Albany ; an intelligent, consci
entious and faithful believer, he was, at the same
time, the chosen confident, the familiar friend, the

fezyi^iscs

THE BENCH AND BAR.

147

trusted, most honored and reliable adviser of
many whose peculiar religious bias might have
suggested other- counsel and far different associa
tions. To the young, to the middle-aged, his co-
temporaries, and to the old there was something
so genial, so magnetic and so inspiring about Peter
Cagger that the abrupt intelligence of his sudden
and unlooked-for death will be clothed with addi
tional pain. We might detail, if we chose, un
numbered instances of his kindness, his noble
charities, the beautiful traits and Christian influ
ences which accompanied him through the years
which Providence has bestowed, and which will
live before Heaven, and before men, perhaps, when
the record of the lawyer has faded, and the mem
ory of the politician is extinct. The poor, the
widow, the orphan, the unprotected, never appealed
to him in vain ; the tears of his own fatherless and
bereaved family will mingle, as it were, with a tide
of grief from hidden sources, and the hearts his
own kind heart made happy, and the homes his
liberality blessed, will keep his memory bright when
even the marble has crumbled upon his grave. "
Michael Cagger, the elder brother, was a young
man of great promise, of thoughtful, philosophic
mind, and attracted the attention of distinguished
men, who discovered in him unmistakable elements
of future greatness. He died in the very prime of
life. William Cagger, another brother, was for a
time engaged in business in Albany, and afterward
in the New York Custom House, in which position
he died. Mr. Cagger married Maria Maher,
daughter of James Maher, well known for a con
siderable period as State Librarian, and in the War
of 1812 as the gallant Captain of the "Irish
Greens," a military company originating in Albany
and which bore a prominent part in the famous con
flict at Sackett's Harbor. A daughter, the sole
remaining issue of this marriage, survives him.
At an early period of life he was placed in the
then celebrated law office of Reynolds & Woodruff.
Even as a clerk his remarkable administrative
capacity began to manifest itself, and the efficiency
of his labors was occasionally recognized in the
most handsome manner by the distinguished princi
pals of that powerful firm.
Mr. Cagger afterward associated himself with
Mr. Samuel Stevens, and the firm name of Stevens
& Cagger became speedily potential in legal circles.
After a successful practice of some years, Mr.
Stevens, a very able man and the peer of renowned
lawyers in the legal arena, yielded to excessive
labor ; and shortly after his decease a new legal
firm, that of Hill, Cagger & Porter, was established,
which will go down to posterity as one of the most
remarkable combinations of ability and fitness for
the several departments of a great law office ever
known in the annals of the State.
"The great intellect of Hill shone in the court of
last resort, where his genius coruscated, and in
which his profound learning, and the unbending
integrity of his character, secured reverence even
of the Bench ; the commanding eloquence, the
penetrating mind, the admirable sagacity of Porter
took easy precedence of all others at Nisi Prius;

and the extraordinary administrative talent of Cag
ger, ready at once and at a moment's beck for
abstruse pleadings, for the minutiae of petty liti
gation, with its inexhaustible fund of device and
ingenuity ; instinctively prepared for all combina
tions, of finance, of politics, and at home in im
portant business negotiations — all these things com
bined to make this famous trio so constituted as if
every requisite and possible demand had been fore
seen and provided for."
In the midst of his successful career as a lawyer
and politician Mr. Cagger was suddenly summoned
from earth. On the 6th of July, 1868, while riding
with a friend in the City of New York, he was
thrown from his carriage and instantly killed.
This distressing event cast a gloom over his
native city, whither his remains were tenderly car
ried. At the time of his death Mr. Cagger was fifty-six
years of age. IRA HARRIS,
Distinguished as a lawyer, judge, and Senator
in Congress, was born at Charleston, Montgomery
County, N. Y. , May 31, 1802. His father was
Frederick Waterman Harris; his mother's maiden
name was Lucy Hamilton. When he was six years
old his parents removed from Charleston and be
came residents of Preble, N. Y. Here his father be
came one of the extensive landowners in the County
of Cortland. Ira prepared for college at the Homer
Academy, and in September, 1822, became a
member of the Junior class in Union College, from
whence he was graduated in 1824. He im
mediately entered the office of Augustus Donnelly,
a highly respectable counselor at law, of Homer,
N. Y. , where he remained one year, and then went
to Albany, N. Y, where he continued his legal
studies under that great jurist, Ambrose Spencer.
He continued with Judge Spencer until his call to
the Bar in 1827. Opening an office in Albany,
he began his practice under favorable circum
stances. At the end of six months he formed a co
partnership with Salem Dutcher, Esq., one of his
associates in college, which proved to be a very
successful relation. It continued until 1842, when
it was dissolved by the removal of Mr. Dutcher to
New York. His next law partner was Julius
Rhoades, Esq. His knowledge of law, his rare
professional accomplishments, brought him rapidly
before the public. As an equity lawyer he stood
pre-eminent. In the autumn of 1 844 he was elected to repre
sent Albany County in the Assembly. In 1845 ne
was re-elected, and in the spring of 1846 was
chosen as a delegate to the Constitutional Conven
tion which assembled in June that year. In this
bod)', as in the Legislature, Mr. Harris took a very
conspicuous position. In the fall of 1846 he was
elected to the State Senate, but after serving one
session he was elected a Justice of the Supreme
Court, and resigned his seat in the Senate for one
on the Bench. At the expiration of his term, then
four years in duration, he was elected for the full
term, which had been extended to eight years. To

148

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

use the language of another, " It was not until his
elevation to the Bench that the abilities of Judge
Harris were fully displayed. He exhibited profound
knowledge of the law, much judicial capacity and
severe, though courteous, impartiality."
His charges to juries were models of excellence
in the clearness with which the facts proven and the
law bearing upon them were presented. The pub
lished opinions of Judge Harris during the twelve
years he sat upon the Bench evince extensive learn
ing and strength of reasoning.
Upon leaving the Bench he spent a year in
Europe. On his return home he was, in 1861,
elected to the Senate of the United States. His op
ponents for this distinguished position were Horace
Greeley and Wm. M. Evarts. In the Senate his
abilities were recognized; he was placed upon the
Committee on Foreign Relations, the Judiciary,
and the Select Joint Committee on the Southern
States. He soon became the intimate and trusted
friend of President Lincoln. In the darkest hours
of his administration Mr. Lincoln always found
light in the co-operation of Senator Harris, and in
his moments of despondency sympathy and sup
port. During the civil war Senator Harris was
most efficient in raising a regiment of cavalry for
the Union, which was called after his name, as was
also a regiment of infantry.
In 1868 the Senatorial term of Mr. Harris ex
pired and he returned to private life, having won
the distinction of a wise, useful American statesman.
Hardly had he become accustomed to his home life
when he was again summoned by his fellow
citizens into public service. He was again elected
to a seat in a constitutional convention — the con
vention of 1867. In this body he especially dis
tinguished himself in his famous -speech on
"Government of Cities." When this convention
adjourned Judge Harris had been in public life
over twenty-three years.
He had been connected with the Albany Law
School from its organization in 1850, and lectured
to the students whenever his official duties permit
ted. He now accepted the appointment of Profes
sor of Equity Jurisprudence and Practice, devoting
himself wholly to the school down to the time of
his death, which took place December 2, 1875.
The lectures of Judge Harris proved eminently
popular and useful. He was for many years Presi
dent of the Board of Trustees of Union College;
he was President of the Albany Medical College,
and of the Board of Trustees of Vassar College; he
was one of the founders of the Rochester University
¦ — its first and only Chancellor.
Among the public addresses of Judge Harris was
an oration delivered on the occasion of a jubilee
anniversary of the old academy at Homer, a lecture
delivered at Albany upon the life and character of
Roger Williams. For many years he held the
office of deacon in the Emanuel Church in Albany,
and was also President of the American Baptist
Missionary Union.
In 1869 he conferred the degrees upon the stu
dents at the commencement exercises of Union
College. On the 2d of December, 1875, Judge

Harris was summoned from the scenes of earth
"to that better land." His death caused great
sorrow at Albany and throughout the State ; his
funeral was one of the largest that ever took place
in the city. The. Bench and the Bar testified- their
respect for his memory, and for his brilliant career
as a lawyer, judge and citizen, in eloquent and ap
propriate eulogies. All classes of citizens united
in honoring the departed jurist, statesman and
esteemed citizen.
Judge Harris was a brother of Hon. Hamilton
Harris. He left a widow, two sons and four
daughters. Col. William Hamilton Harris, the
eldest son, served thirteen years in the U. S. Army,
and afterward, at his own request, was honorably
discharged. Capt. Ira Harris, his other son,
served ten years in the U. S. Navy. Resigning his
commission, he became an extensive iron manufac
turer at Kansas City, Missouri.
RUFUS W. PECKHAM
was a learned, distinguished lawyer and jurist.
His early training was favorable to the develop
ment of his strong mental powers, and the scenes of
his professional activity were propitious for their
exercise. He was called to the Bar at a brilliant period in
its history. He studied his profession under the
instructions of illustrious jurists, and among his
companions were those whose names are bright on
the historic page.
He was born at Rensselaerville, in the County of
Albany, December 30, 1809. In his early boyhood
his father removed to Otsego County, near
Cooperstown, where young Peckham grew into
manhood. Like most boys at that period, he was
sent to the common district school — that time-
honored and still valuable institution — to attain a
primary education. When he was thirteen years
of age he became a student in Hartwick Seminary,
under the management of Rev. Dr. Hazelius. In
this institution he prepared for college. In 1825,
when in his sixteenth year, he entered Union Col
lege, taking an advanced standing, which enabled
him to join the graduating class of 1827.
"While, in college he displayed a degree of
natural quickness and talent which enabled him
easily to maintain a high rank in a class distin
guished for scholarship. He early manifested a
taste for military pursuits, and while in college de
voted a portion of his time to the study of military
tactics, his proficiency in which secured for him
the rank of captain in the celebrated battalion of
Union College Cadets, one of the most highly
creditable organizations in point of soldierly bear
ing and discipline in the entire State. Throughout
life he exhibited the bearing and many of the
characteristics of the trained soldier, and was pos
sessed in an eminent degree of the qualities of
moral and physical courage which remained dis
tinguishing traits down to the last moment of his
life." Having a brother, who was a distinguished
physician, living in Utica, he went to that city for
the purpose of preparing to enter the legal profes-

THE BENCH AND BAR.

149

sion. At this time Greene C. Bronson and Samuel
Beardsley — whose names are indissolubly connect
ed with the learning and dignity of the old Supreme
Court, and with the honors and erudition of its
Bench — were practicing lawers, as a legal firm,
which ranked first in the State of New York.
It was in the office of these gentlemen that
young Peckham studied his profession. It is a
singular coincidence that these eminent lawyers
and their student should each in after life attain
high judicial honors, and pronounce the law from
high appellate courts of the State, the student from
the court of dernier ressort, leaving a record over
which the practitioner and the legal student love
to linger.
The advantages of such tutorship of these emi
nently learned and gifted lawyers was duly appre
ciated by young Peckham, and it left its impress
upon his whole professional career. He was
guided by them up to a distinguished professional
position. He continued with them until 1830,
when he was called to the Bar. This event took
place immediately after attaining his majority. Six
years later, on January 6, 1836, Greene C. Bron
son was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court
of the State, and on March 5, 1845, he was made
Chief Justice of that Court.
Early in February, 1844, Esek Cowen, one of
the most illustrious of American judges, then a
Judge of the Supreme Court, died, and Samuel
Beardsley was appointed to succeed him on the
Bench, a fit representative of his great predecessor.
In 1845 Greene C. Bronson departed this life,
and Samuel Beardsley was appointed Chief Justice
in his place. Before Judge Bronson and Judge
Beardsley ascended the Bench they were both the
recipients of high official honors. The former was
appointed Attorney-General of the State, serving
from February, 1821, till February, 1829, when be
was succeeded by Mr. Beardsley, who served till
January, 1836. In 1831 Mr. Beardsley was elected
to Congress, serving in the Twenty-second, Twenty-
third, Twenty-fourth and Twenty-eighth Congress.
During his service he became, as has well been
said, one of the pillars of President Jackson's ad
ministration. After his admission to the Bar Mr. Peckham
became a partner of his brother, George W. Peck
ham, Esq., who had then become a member of
the Albany Bar. The firm was prosperous from
the beginning. The Albany Bar, always brilliant,
learned and commanding, was especially so at this
time. With its powerful gladiators young Peckham
was compelled to contend in his struggle for the
eminence he attained. In the contests with such
opponents he derived strength and courage, which
at length made him their equal. Among his com
petitors were Marcus T Reynolds, Samuel Stevens
and H. G. Wheaton, then the principal jury lawyers
at the Albany Bar. It was not long before Peck
ham was regarded as a successful rival, found on
one side or the other of most of the leading cases
tried at the Albany Bar. He was what may be
called an eloquent, terse, logical, legal orator.
In 1839 ^e was appointed by Gov. Marcy

District Attorney of Albany County, discharging
its duties with singular ability till 1841, when he
was succeeded by Henry G. Wheaton.
In 1 84 5 he was a candidate for Attorney-General,
his opponent being John Van Buren, by whom he
was defeated by a single vote.
In 1852 he was elected a representative in Con
gress from the City and County of Albany; he took
his seat on January 2, 1853, serving through the
administration of President Pierce.
"Although a life-long Democrat, and elected by
the Democratic party, he refused to be bound by
party ties when the interests of the nation were at
stake, and exercised an independence as wise and
honorable as it was fearless. He opposed the
passage of the Nebraska bill by voice and vote; his
thorough grasp of the problems of the day enabled
him to discern the effects which that measure would
be likely to produce — an effect which he foretold
with wonderful accuracy." After retiring from
Congress he continued the practice of his profession
in Albany, associating himself with Lyman Tre-
main, then a young lawyer, but who afterward
won a name conspicuous in the history of the
State. In 1859, accompanied by Chief- Justice Beards
ley, he visited Europe. On his return in the fall of
that year he was elected a Justice of the Supreme
Court, serving his term of eight years. He was
unanimously re-elected; before this term closed he
was elected a Justice of the Court of Appeals. Few
American judges possessed rarer judicial accom
plishments than he. The truth of this remark is
fully sustained by the legal reports of the State.
" On the 5th ot November, 1873, Judge Peckham
and his wife sailed for Europe on the ill-fated
steamer Ville du Havre, of the French line, which,
on the 2 2d of the same month, when in mid-ocean,
collided with the British ship Loch Earn, and
went down in the darkness of the night, carrying
two hundred and twenty-six souls into eternity;
among those who perished were Judge Peckham
and his affectionate wife. Even the awful nature
of the impending calamity served but to bring out
those noble qualities of heart and soul for which he
had through life been distinguished. In this su
preme hour of peril his tall form took its place
among the helpless and abandoned ones. Grasp
ing his loving wife by the hand, he endeavored to
sustain and cheer those around him, and, uttering
those memorable words which, borne to us by a
survivor, have sent a thrill of admiration over two
continents, 'If we must go down, let us die
bravely !' sank into the deep waters of the At
lantic." Judge Peckham was twice married. His first
wife, a daughter of the Rev. Dr. Lacy, formerly
Rector of St. Peter's Church, Albany, was the
mother of his two sons, Wheeler H. Peckham,
of New York, a distinguished lawyer, and Rufus
W. Peckham, of Albany, now one of the Justices
of the Supreme Court of the State.
The profession throughout the State, and we
may say largely throughout Ihe nation, testified
its high respect for the memory of Judge Peck-

150

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ham and their sorrow for his death in expressions
of grief and in tributes of respect and admiration.
Memorial services were held in St. Peter's
Church, Albany, in his honor, December 14, 1873,
and were attended by a vast number of friends and
sympathizers. The judges of the Court of Appeals attended in
a body, wearing mourning badges on their left
arms. The whole service was intensely impressive.
Perhaps no better description of Judge Peckham
can be given than that' which we copy from the
sermon delivered at the funeral by Rev. W. A.
Snively, rector of the church:
"Beneath the courtly dignity of his manner and
the almost austere aspect of his outward bearing,
there was a heart of almost feminine tenderness, a
truly reverent spirit and an amiability and a patience
which no contradiction could exhaust. His integ
rity was not an official assumption — it was a per
sonal fact. The rectitude of his judicial character
expressed itself in the daily relations of life, in the
amenities of social intercourse, and in the intima
cies and refinements of his own generous hospitality.
Even in the freedom of recreation from professional
toil there was no lowering of his personal dignity
and his courtly bearing ; and in the sacredness of
his home and the intimate relations of personal
friendship, that dignity was sweetened by a tender
ness, a simplicity and an affection which in such a
combination are as beautiful as they are rare. And
the closing hour of his earthly life blended both of
these characteristics as with the same breath he
cheered and sustained the hearts around him that
were paralyzed by fear and spoke his last recorded
words, which showed that even in that supreme
moment he was his own grand and heroic self."
LEWIS BENEDICT*
Col. Lewis Benedict, son of Lewis and Susan
Benedict, was born at Albany, N. Y., September
17, 1 81 7.
His early studies were prosecuted at Cayuga
County, N. Y., but his preparation for college was
made mainly at the Albany Academy. In 1834
he entered the Sophomore class of Williams Col
lege, and was graduated in 1837. Immediately
after graduating he entered the office of the late
John C. Spencer, at Canandaigua, where he com
pleted his legal education.
In January, 1841, he was licensed to practice at
a General Term of the Supreme Court, held at
Albany. He commenced practice in that city,
and quickly took a respectable position at the
Albany Bar. In 1845 hewas appointed City At
torney, and at the expiration of his term was re
appointed. In 1847 he was appointed Judge-Advocate-Gen
eral on the staff of Gov. John Young. In 1848
he was elected Surrogate of the City and County
of Albany for the term of four years. His entire
vote greatly exceeded the strength of his party. In
*The author is under obligations to a " Memorial of Brevet Brigadier-
General Lewis Benedict, Colonel of the i62d Regiment, N. Y. V. I.,"
published in 1864, for some of the facts in this sketch.

1849 he received the appointment of Judge-Advo
cate-General from Gov. Hamilton Fish.
In 1852, and also in i860, he was the candidate
of the Whig party for the Recordership of the city,
and shared in the defeat of its nominees.
In 1854 he was appointed, by the Controller,
one of a board of commissioners charged to as
certain and report concerning the pecuniary and
other conditions of the several state prisons, and
also to devise laws for their better regulation and
discipline. The results of the labors of this com
mission are contained in a voluminous - report
made to the Assembly in 1856.
In the fall of the year i860 he was nominated
by the Union men of his district for member of
Assembly and elected, being the only Union can
didate returned from the county at that time.
This was the last public position of a civil character
held by him.
Both the beginning and the end of his life de
velop the same characteristics — great fondness for
ease and recreative enjoyments — yet with ready
power to subordinate such tastes, or repress them
altogether, in obedience to the claims of any se
rious engagements.
As a boy, he was noted for his zeal and diligence
in study, and not the less for enterprise in play.
His collegiate career resembled his academic; it
was successful to whatever degree he chose to make
it. A classmate, now president of a college, de
scribing him, says : " It is doing injustice to none
of his classmates that in mind, as in person, he had
no superior among them all. His rank as a
scholar was high, and he could have made it
higher. His mind was quick and clear, and he
learned with great facility. His critical power was
unusual, and no one could detect the weak points
of an argument or the incorrect use of terms
sooner than he."
He graduated with distinction, and three years
afterward was appointed to deliver the Master's
oration. While a student at law he maintained sufficient
ardor of pursuit to enable him to acquire a knowl
edge of the elements of that science; but his taste
for general literature was decided enough to save
him engrossment by studies purely professional.
The uncommon facility with which he acquired
knowledge — the result of his quick perception
and retentive memory — afforded him intervals to
indulge his tastes without neglecting his proper
studies; he therefoie read much besides law, and
digested well what he read.
On his admission to the Bar, Marcus T. Rey
nolds, then in the zenith of his professional fame,
received him as his law partner, and elevated him
at once to a high position in the practice. Other
connections and associations occurred to make his
entrance upon his professional career one of the
most promising that could fall to the lot of a young
practitioner. The City Attorneyship, which Col. Benedict held
two terms, was the first political appointment he
ever received. From that time, however, he was
actively and earnestly a political partisan, and ap-

THE BENCH AND BAR.

151

peared less and less in the forum and more and
more in the committee-room and upon the hus
tings. The tersest record of his political labors
would be the history of every party struggle, State
or national, that occurred from his entrance into
political life until he joined the army. He was
always a leader. He was often delegate to con
ventions, State and county ; chairman of commit
tees, general and local ; a prolific author of
addresses and resolutions, and a frequent speaker
at political assemblages.
He was acute in his perceptions of the qualities
of men, and accurate in his estimate of moral
worth. In his various public services he manifested capa
bilities which provoke regret that they were not
also used for purposes of a less general character.
The judicial duties of the Surrogate are not gener
ally appreciated; yet there is no jurisdiction within
which more complex or nice questions present
themselves for adjudication, to say nothing of the
enormous pecuniary interests and the multitudi
nous personal rights which are involved.
The clearness of his mind and the equity of his
convictions receive some illustrations from the cir
cumstance that, of the many judgments pronounced
by him during the term he held the office, but one,
and that made in the beginning of his official
career, is known to have been reversed.
In the Legislature Col. Benedict took a highly
honorable position. As the Chairman of the In
surance Committee, he exhibited useful administra
tive abilities. On the floor of the House, as a
speaker, he always commanded respect and atten
tion. He never addressed the Speaker unless he
was master of the subject he proposed to present
or advocate.
He was in the Legislature at that period when
every lover of the Union began to feel the peril it
was approaching. As no one loved the Union of
States more deeply than Col. Benedict, none was
an earlier or a more active supporter of it.
As early as January, 1861, Gov. Morgan endeav
ored to impress upon the Legislature the im
mediate necessity of placing the State on a war
footing. Col. Benedict comprehended the impor
tance of prompt action, for he anticipated the com
ing conflict. He therefore sustained the Governor
with all his ability and eloquence.
He rejoiced when the President called for volun
teers, but regretted that the number was so small.
Writing to a friend after that call, he said : "The
sentiment of the North is not" satisfied with the
present call for troops. The Government would
be justified in demanding three hundred thousand
men." Upon this call Gov. Morgan, by a special mes
sage, requested the action necessary on the part
of the Legislature, and that body responded by
"An Act to Authorize the Embodying and Equip
ment of a Volunteer Militia, and to Provide De
fense." This act was passed April 16, 1861.
This act authorized the enlistment of thirty thou
sand men, and appropriated three millions of dol
lars for the purpose.

The passage of this act was largely due to the
energies and exertions of Col. Benedict.
It was largely through his instrumentality that
the selection and appointment of officers of the
organization contemplated by the act was directed
to be made, according to Sec. 11, Art 11, of the
Constitution, the importance of which was that the
force should have a voice in the choice of officers
to command it.
After this Col. Benedict gave all his time to the
imperiled Union.
Col. Benedict had had considerable experience
as a citizen soldier, and stood high among the
efficient and well-drilled officers of the accom
plished military corps of Albany, and had been
promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel of
the City Cavalry. Soon after leaving the Legisla
ture, in the spring of 1861, he decided to enter
the service of his country in the tented field. The
New York Fire Department, while recruiting the 2nd
Fire Zouaves, conferred upon him the Lieutenantcy
of the proposed regiment. He was commissioned
in June, 1861. The regiment was ordered to
Washington, where it arrived on the 24th of Jul)'.
Difficulty having occurred as to what brigade it
should be attached, it was finally decided, after
some delay, by the War Department, to attach it
to the Excelsior Brigade, after which the regiment
was known as the 73d Regiment, Excelsior Brigade.
During the Winter of 186 1-2, the regiment did
picket duty and advanced itself, by constant drill,
to be one of the most competent and accomplished
in the brigade.
The affection with which Col. Benedict was re
garded by his men was demonstrated by daily
incidents, and never more touchingly then when
some of his wild boys preferred to share the hor
rors of a rebel prison with him than to leave him
in his helplessness on the field of Williamsburg.
The history of his career as a soldier from that
time until he fell in battle is one of singular,
almost thrilling, interest.
After his capture at Williamsburg, he was taken
to Richmond, and afterward to Salisbury, N. C.
His imprisonment ended after several months by an
exchange. In September, 1862, one month after
his exchange, he was commissioned Colonel of the
i62d (3d Metropolitan) Regiment. In October
following the regiment proceeded to New Orleans ;
but owing to various mishaps to the fleet, it did
not reach the city until December. In January,
1863, he was designated Acting Brigadier, and in
that capacity was actively employed, rendering
important service previous to the siege of Port
Hudson, where he was conspicuous in most
of the terrible fights during that memorable
siege. He was foremost in the terrible slaugh
ter of June 14, 1863. When it was decided to
storm the fort, Col. Benedict was given command
of the Second Battalion, selected to serve "as
the forlorn hope." This selection was a tribute to
his coolness and courage. From that time forward
he followed Gen. Banks through all his! marches
and victories. His last command, the 3d Brigade
of the ist Division and 19th Corps, was composed

152

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

of the 1 1 6th, i62d and 165th New York, two
Maine regiments and an independent battery. No
brigade fought more courageously or did more to
turn the tide of battle.
The Red River campaign under Gen. Banks
will ever be read with the deepest interest. It pre
sents a series of bloody battles almost unequaled
in the heroic conduct of the officers and soldiers
engaged in it. When the army reached Pleasant
Hill, about the 7th of April, there occurred a series
of conflicts unparalleled in the history of the war.
On the 9th of April, 1864, the final contest of the
campaign took place. It was a day long to be
remembered, a day when the tide of battle repeat
edly changed, when the surging columns of the
enemy were driven from their position, to return
reinforced to a terrible and often successful charge,
and so the conflict continued.
" In the conflict on the slope, and perhaps in
the melee of that critical moment, when the rein
forced enemy caused our line to hesitate and even
to recoil, and the fortunes of the day seemed
doubtful, when by almost superhuman efforts on
the part of the officers the men were rallied to
that frantic charge which gave victory to the Union
arms and saved its army, its navy and its juris
diction in the Southwest."
In this charge Col. Benedict, leading his
brigade, in full view of the whole line of the enemy,
fell pierced with several bullets. He was first
wounded in the right arm and soon his horse was
wounded; but still he pressed on, and in a few
moments was shot through the head and died
instantly. No death could have produced more profound
sorrow in the army, nor have occasioned a greater
loss to it. When the intelligence of his death
reached Albany, the home of his youth, where he
was so generally beloved, it wrapped the city in
general gloom.
On May 2, 1864, his remains reached this
city and were received by a committee of the Com
mon Council. Another committee met the remains
on their arrival in New York City and accom
panied them home.
The respect paid by the authorities and citizens
of all classes to the dead soldier attested the high
esteem in which he was held and the sorrow felt
for his death.
On May 7, 1864, the members of the Albany
Bar convened at the Capitol in large attendance to
do honor to his memory. Hon. Rufus W. Peck
ham was called to the chair. Messrs. Wolford and
Edwards were made secretaries. A series of
eloquent resolutions were adopted, expressing the
estimation in which Col. Benedict was held by
his brethren of the profession. An eloquent, im
pressive eulogium was pronounced by the Hon,
Lyman Tremain, followed by remarks from Hon.
John K. Porter, Hon. Clark B. Cochrane, Hon.
Hale Kingsley, Isaac L. Edwards, Esq., and Hon.
C. L. Austin. The press of the city also paid the
memory of Col. Benedict brilliant tributes of
respect, and he was finally laid at rest amid tears
and benedictions of the people of his native city.

LIST OF LAWYERS IN ALBANY CITY IN
1884.
J. J. Acker, 496 Broadway.
George Addington, 2 5 North Pearl.
George W. Albright, Beaver Block.
Albright & Stanwix, 10 Beaver Block
Wm. A. Allen, 18 Douw's Building.
Arthur L. Andrews, 444 Broadway.
Buel C. Andrews, 14 North Pearl.
Austin Artcher, 18 Douw's Building.
Frederic Baker, 1 1 9 State.
Isaac B. Barrett, 50 State.
E. A. Bedell, Attorney-General's Office.
Edwin P. Bellows, 119 State.
James W. Bentley, 18 South Pearl.
James J. Bennett, 52 State.
Richard W. Brass, 73 State.
Edward J. Brennan, Chapel, corner Maiden Lane.
Walter M. Brown, 55 State.
C. I. Buchanan, Chapel, corner Maiden Lane.
A. T. Bulkley, 25 North Pearl.
Eugene Burlingame, 452 Broadway.
Henry D. Burlingame, 50 State.
Fred W. Cameron, 37 Maiden Lane.
Duncan Campbell, 6 Tweddle Building.
Lewis Cass, 55 State.
Chase & Delehanty, 25 North Pearl.
J. H. Clute, 12 Tweddle Building.
Alden Chester, 18 and 19 Tweddle Building.
J. H. Clute, 12 Tweddle Building.
Wm. K. Clute, City Building.
Mark Cohn, 29 North Pearl.
A. T. Colvin, 3 North Pearl.
L. Lorenzo Conley, 7 Partition, E. A.
Thos. F. Connor, Beaver Block.
Joseph A. Conway, 82 State.
Martin D. Conway, 1 1 6 State.
John T. Cook, 37 Maiden Lane.
J. F. Cooper, 24 North Pearl.
Edwin Countryman, 99 State.
Monroe Crannell, 69 State.
Walter S. Cutler, 192 North Pearl.
Franklin M. Denaher, 78 State.
Edwin G. Day, 31 North Pearl.
F. B. Delehanty, 25 North Pearl.
John A. Delehanty, 3 Douw's Building.
Philander Deming, 12 Jay.
DeWitt & Spoor, 35 to 38 Tweddle Building.
George Downing, 94 State.
Herbert T. Downing, 94 State.
Draper & Chester, 18-19 Tweddle Building.
Louis Dreyer, 75 State.
Z. A. Dyer, 44 State.
James W. Eaton, Jr., 17 Museum Building.
Jerome W. Ecker, 78 State.
James J. Farren, 49 Stale.
George W. Feathcrstonhaugh, 31 North Pearl.
Walter D. Frothingham, 69 State.
Worthington Frothingham, 69 State.
J. E. Gallup, 94 State.
John J. Gallup, 94 State.
George N. Gowey, 72 Hudson avenue.
Scott D'M. Goodwin, r. 6 Albany Savings Bk. Bldg,
Anthony Gould, 55 State.
Clifford D. Gregory, 99 Stale.

THE BENCH AND BAR.

153

George Stuart Gregory, 49 State.
J. Wendell Griffing, 864 Madison avenue.
Alfred A. Guthrie, 3 North Pearl.
W. R. Guthrie, 77 State.
John Gutmann, 80 State.
Mathew Hale, 25 North Pearl.
William H. Hale, 59 North Pearl.
Lewis B. Hall, Room 6, 89 State.
Daniel P. Halpin, 37 Tweddle Building.
Fred. C. Ham, 74 State.
Thos. H. Ham, 74 State.
A. Hamilton, 29 North Pearl.
Samuel Hand, 25 North Pearl.
Ira Harper, 41-42 Tweddle Building.
Frederick Harris, 20-23 Tweddle Building.
Hamilton Harris, 20-23 Tweddle Building.
Julius F. Harris, 31 North Pearl.
William B. Harris 82 Livingston avenue.
Samuel S. Hatt, 86 State.
Nathan Hawley, 30 Douw's Building.
Hawley & McNamara, 82 State.
William Hayes, 21 Green.
D. C. Herrick, 5 Douw's Building.
Isban Hess, 1 1 Douw's Building.
Albert Hersberg, 7 Albany Savings Bank Building.
W. S. Hevenor, 9 Douw's Building.
B. R. Heywood, 79 Chapel.
George D. Hill, 3 North Pearl.
Wm. J. Hillis, 18 South Pearl.
N P. Hinman, 49 State.
G. R. Hitt, 55 State.
Henry T. Homes, 25 Tweddle Building.
Lansing Hotaling, 74 State.
Wm. F. Hourigan, 40 State.
Leonard G. Hun, 25 North Pearl.
Marcus T. Hun, 25 North Pearl.
Oliver M. Hungerford, 74 State.
C. B. Hutchings, 15 Douw's Building.
G. D. Hurlbut, 119 State.
Robert Imrie, 93 State.
Charles M. Jenkins, 452 Broadway.
J. B. Jermein, 2 James, corner State.
James C. Johnson, 55 State.
Frank Kampfer, 80 State.
W. S. Kelley, 17 Tweddle Building.
J. M. Kimball, Beaver Block.
Charles B. King.
Dwight King, 108 Hudson avenue.
J. H. King, 69 State.
Wm. H. King (patent law a specialty), 3 1 N. Pearl.
Leonard Kip, 24 Tweddle Building.
George W. Kirchwey, 7 Museum Building.
C. Krank, 74 State.
Arno F. Krumbholz, 76 State.
L. C. G. Kshinka, 50 State.
Desmond S. Lamb, 18 Beaver.
A. & W. Lansing, 26-27 Tweddle Building.
Peter C. Lansing, 320 Clinton avenue.
Herman S. Lary, Bank Building, Greenbush.
I. & J. M. Lawson, 37 Maiden Lane.
J. A. Lawson, 37 Maiden Lane.
W. L. Learned, 298 State.
H. C. Littlefield, North Pearl, corner Pleasant.
Orville S. Long, 9 Douw's Building.
Wm. Loucks, 50 State.
20

Wm. J. Mackesey, 18 South Pearl.
John F. Manson, 68 State.
Manson & True, Ferry, cor. Broadway, Greenbush.
H. S. McCall, 5 Douw's Building.
H. S. McCall, Jr., 5 Douw's Building.
John T. McDonough, 1 14 State.
W. C. McHarg, 50 State.
James A. McKown, 114 State.
Wm. H. McNaughton, 44T4 5 Tweddle Building.
James C. Mathews, 18 South Pearl.
J. W. Mattice, 9 Tweddle.
P. F. Mattimore, 841 Broadway.
Charles W. Mead, 86 State.
Edward J. Meegan, Beaver Block.
Thomas A. Meegan, Beaver Block.
Payton F. Miller, 25 North Pearl.
Charles H. Mills, 44-45 Tweddle Building.
Charles W. Mink, 225 Green.
G. W. Miner, Albany Savings Bank Building.
N. C. Moak, Chapel street, corner Maiden Lane.
John F. Montignani, 73 State.
W. D. Morange, 69 State.
Judson H. Morrey, Jr., 62 Tweddle Building.
Wm. T. Murray, Room 8, Museum Building.
Max Myers, 72 State.
Wm. D. Murphy, 421 Clinton avenue.
Edward Newcomb, 5 Albany Savings Bank Build'g.
M. C. G. Nichols, 187 Livingston avenue.
Nathaniel Niles, 7 Albany Savings Bank Building.
Frank S. Niver, 99 State.
Norton & Bentler, 73 State.
John C. Nott, 50 State.
Edward W. Nugent, 52 State.
Myer Nussbaum, Albany Savings Bank Building.
Smith O'Brien, 9 Tweddle Building.
John J. Olcott, 69 State.
John B. O'Malley, Rooms 7-8, 44 State.
Myron H. Oppenheim, Tweddle Building.
Leonard Paige, 55 State.
Parker & Countryman, 99 State.
A. J. Parker, Jr.
George Parr, 74 State.
R. W. Peckham, Room 7 Albany Sav. Bank.
John DeWitt Peltz, 35-38 Tweddle Building.
John C. Pennie, 149 Madison avenue.
A. B. Pratt, 94 State.
Charles H. Ramsey, 71 State.
Joseph H. Ramsey, 71 State.
Rankin & Featherstonhaugh, 31 North Pearl.
Wm. F. Rathbone, 79 Chapel.
Cornelius B. Reardon, 24 North Pearl.
Edward T Reed, 39 Tweddle Building.
Hugh Reilly, 29 North Pearl.
Dexter Reynolds, 25 North Pearl.
Simon W. Rosendale.
S. C. Rodgers, 52 Tweddle Building.
Edward D. Ronan, 34 Tweddle Building.
Wm. P. Rudd, 20-23 Tweddle Building.
J. G. Runkle, iS High.
James M. Ruso, 52 Tweddle.
Joseph W. Russell, Jermain's Building, 2 James st.
J. H. Sand, 114 State.
Bleecker Sanders, 24 North Pearl.
H. T Sanford, 74 State,
Thomas Sayre, 443 Broadway.

154

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Robert G. Scherer, 73 State.
Wm. M. Scott.
Andrew G. Seelman, 80 State.
Osgood H. Shepard, 443 Broadway.
S. 0. Shepard, 443 Broadway.
Hiram E. Sickels, 25 North Pearl.
George W. Smith, 74 State.
Horace E. Smith, 43 Tweddle Building.
Stuart G. Speir, Museum Building, Room 9.
C. T. F. Spoor, 35 to 38 Tweddle Building.
Nathaniel Spaulding.
B. I. Stanton, 22 Tweddle Building.
David H. Stanwix, Beaver Block, Room 10.
J. Stedman, 443 Broadway.
P. A. Stephens, 78 State.
John B. Steele, Jr.
Henry E. Stern, 37 Maiden Lane, Room 2.
George H. Stevens, 48 Tweddle.
John A. Stephens.
Clarence Strevell, 24 North Pearl.
Elliott I. Stiles, 5 Partition, E. A.
Henry C. Stryker.
J. B. Sturtevant.
Geo. V. Thatcher.
Wm. W, Thompson, 74 State.
Geo. L. Thompson, 444 Broadway.
C. M. Tompkins, Albany Savings Bank Building.
Tracey & Cooper, 24 North Pearl.
A. H. Tremain, 13 Tweddle Building.
George M. True, 66 State.
Lucien Tuffs, Jr. , Beaver Block.
Thomas J. Van Alstyne, 9 Douw's Building.
Andrew Van Derzee, 14 Tweddle Building.
W. Bayard Van Rensselaer, 25 North Pearl.
Abram Van Vechten, 3-5 North Pearl.
Lansing Van Wie, 16 Second avenue.
Alonzo B. Voorhees, 73 State.
Fletcher Vosburgh.
Isaac H. Vrooman, 282 Hamilton street.
Edward Wade, 93 State.
Frederick E. Wadhams, 33 Tweddle Building.
R. B. Wagoner, 86 State.
Augustus H. Walshe, 85 Hawk.
John W. Walsh, 79 Chapel.
Walter E. Ward, $j Maiden Lane.
Hiram L. Washburn, Jr., 44 State.
Cyrus Waterbury, Jr., 44 State.
Robert H. Wells, 94 State.
Jacob Wendell, 184 Elm.
W. S. Whitmore, 86 State.
Thos. F. Wilkinson, 16 Douw's Building.
John S. Wolfe, 14 North Pearl.
Bradford R. Wood, 25 Tweddle Building.
J. Hampden Wood, 25 Tweddle Building.
Horace I. Wood.
Francis H. Woods, 1 1 6 State.
O. M.Wright, 25 North Pearl.
Edwin Young, 79 Chapel.
William A. Young.
MEMBERS OF THE ALBANY COUNTY BAR OUT
SIDE THE CITY OF ALBANY.
BERNE.
Z. B. Dyer, Edward V. Fillcin,
John D. White.

C. M. Barlow,
W. Scott Coffin,
J. M. Harris,
James F. Crawford,
Charles F. Doyle,
Peter G. Falardo,
George H. Fitts,
Lawrence B. Finn,
Isaac W. Hiller,
Murray Hubbard,
Hiram Griggs,

Lawrence Faulk,

coeymans. S. Springstead,
Cornelius Vanderzee,
Gerrit Witbeck.
cohoes. Rosin J. House,
John E. McLean,
Peter D. Niver,
James R. Stevens,
Earle L. Stimson,
Henry A. Strong,
James Wallace.
guilderland. Atchison Mitchell.
NEW SCOTLAND.
B. H. Staats.
RENSSELAERVILLE. Norman W. Faulk,
William R. Tanner.

WESTERLO.

Farley Fisher,
Geo. F. Alexander,
L. R. Beekley,
E. L. Blood,
James W. Boyle,
John H. Gleason,
F. L. Getty,
J. D. Hallen,
William Hollands,
C. D. Hudson,
Isaac W. Lansing,

Alonzo Spaulding.

WEST troy.

A. D. Lyon,
Eugene McLean,
Volkert J. Oathout,
D. J. O 'Sullivan,
Isaac B. Potter,
Alfred W. Richardson,
Thomas F. Riley,
Peter A. Rogers,
Elias Van O' Linda,
James W. Warford.

GREEN ISLAND.
James R. Torrance.
JUDGES AND OTHER COURT OFFICERS
For Albany County, or Residents of the County.
Masters of Colonial Court of Chancery.
John Abeel and Evert Banker, Oct. 13, 170? ¦ P P
Schuyler, 1768. J> / 5 >
Chancellors of State Court of Chancery.
John Lansing, Jr., Oct. 21, 1801 ; James Kent, Oct 25,
1814 ; Reuben H. Walworth, April 22, 1828.
Chief Justices from Albany County of the Supreme
Court from 1777 to 1847.
Robert Yates, September 28, 1790; John Lansing, Jr.,
February 15, 1798; James Kent, July 2, 1804; Smith
Thompson, February 3, 1814; Ambrose Spencer, February
9, 1819; Greene C. Bronson, March 5, 1845.
Puisne Justices of Supreme Court.
Robert Yates, May 8, 1777; John Lansing, Jr., September
28, 1790; Ambrose Spencer, February 3, 1804; Greene C.
Bronson, January 6, 1836.
A Circuit Court was created by the Constitution
of 1 82 1. It was the Nisi Prius, or Trial Court of
the Supreme Court. The State was divided into
eight districts or circuits, corresponding to the
Senatorial Districts. At least two Circuit Courts
and Courts of Oyer and Terminer were required to
be held in each county annually, the Circuit Judge
presiding. Each of the Circuit Judges was to ap
point a clerk for the Court of Equity, to be held
by each judge respectively.
Circuit Judges from Albany County.
William A. Duer, April 21, 1823; James Vanderpoel,
January 12, 1830; Amasa J. Parker, March 6, 1844.

THE BENCH AND BAR.

155

The Constitution of 1846 abolished the old Su
preme Court, the Court of Chancery, Court for the
Correction of Errors, and the Circuit Courts; insti
tuting a Court of Appeals, a Supreme Court with
an Equity side, and retaining the Court of Oyer
and Terminer. The Judges of these Courts were
all made elective.
Judges of the Court of Appeals from the County of
Albany.
Alexander S. Johnson, November 5, 1851; John K.
Porter, Jan. 2, 1865; Rufus W. Peckham, May 17, 1870;
Samuel Hand, June 11, 1878.
Judges of the Supreme Court under the Constitution
of 1846.
Ira Harris, June 7, 1847; Elisha P. Hurlbut, June 7, 1847;
Malbone Watson, June 7, 1847, and Nov. 8, 1853; Amasa J.
Parker, June 7, 1847; Ira Harris, November 4, 1851; Deo-
datus Wright, April 20, 1857; Rufus W. Peckham, Novem
ber 8, 1861; Wilham L. Learned, June 21, 1869; Rufus W.
Peckham, Jr., November 6, 1883; William L. Learned, No
vember, 1884.
Judge Peckham is a son of Hon. Rufus W.
Peckham, a judge of the Court of Appeals, who
was a passenger on the steamer Ville du Havre,
which, on the night of November 22, 1873, in
mid-ocean, collided with the British iron ship Loch
Erin. Two hundred and twenty-six souls, among
whom were Judge P. and his wife, were drowned.
Court of Common Pleas and Special Sessions.
A Court of Common Pleas was established in
Albany County by the provisions of the Dongan
Charter, 1686. A Court of Common Pleas was es
tablished in each County by an act of the Colonial
Legislature in 1691. The first State Constitution
retained the Court of Common Pleas, varying its
procedure to accord with the State Government.
The Constitution also organized a Court of Ses
sions, it being the criminal side of the Common
Pleas, as the present Court of Sessions is the crimi
nal side of the County Court. The judges were
appointed by the Governor and Council of Ap
pointment down to 1 82 1, when the latter body
was abolished, and the Common Pleas judges were
appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice of
the Senate, down to the Constitution of 1846, which
abolished the Court of Common Pleas, created a
County Court, a Court of Sessions to be presided
over by one County judge in each County elected
by the people. It provided for the election of two
justices in each County who, with theCounty judge,
constituted a Court of Sessions for the trial of
criminals. These session justices, with a justice of
the Supreme Court, constituted the Court of Oyer
and Terminer in each County for the trial of crimi
nals of a higher grade.
We give the names of the First Judges of the
Court of Common Pleas during its existence, fol
lowed by the County Judges appointed or elected
since under the first Constitution of 1777, and of
the Constitution of 1846 :
Mayor, Recorder and Aldermen of Albany, or any
three of them, from 1686.
Peter Schuyler, May 27, 1691; John Abeel, May 27, 1702;
Peter Schuyler, Oct. 14, 1702; Killiaen Van Rensselaer,
Dec. 23, 1717; Rutger Bleecker, Dec. 23, 1726; Ryer

Gerritse, Dec. 23, 1733; Robert Sanders, Nov. 28, 1749;
Sybrant Goose Van Schaick, Jan. 5, 1758; Rensselaer
Nicoll, May 14, 1762; Abraham Ten Brock, March 4, 1773;
Walter Livingston, March 22, 1774; John H. Ten Eyck,
March 21, 1775; Volkert P. Douw, Jan. 6, 1778; Abram
Ten Broeck, March 26, 1781; Leonard Gansevoort, March
19, 1794; John Tayler, Feb. 7, 1797; Nicolas N. Quacken
bush, Jan. 13, 1803; David McCarty, March 13, 1804;
Charles D. Cooper, March 29, 1806; Jacob Ten Eyck,
June 8, 1807; Apollos Moore, June 6, 1812; James L'Amo-
reaux, March 15, 1828; Samuel Cheever, March 12, 1833;
John Lansing, May 17, 1838; Peter Gansevoort, April 17,
1843; William Parmelee, June, 1847; Albert D. Robinson,
Nov., 1851; George Wolford, Nov., 1859; Jacob H. Clute,
Nov., 1863; Thomas J. Van Alstyne, Nov., 1871; John C.
Nott, Nov., 1883. Court of Probate.
By an Act of 1787, Surrogates were empowered
to be appointed, the Judge of the Court of Probates
holding jurisdiction in cases of decease out of the
State, or of non-residents within the State. On
March 10, 1797, an act was passed providing that
the Court of Probate should be held in Albany,
and that the judge and clerk should remove the
books, papers and documents of that court to that
city, and reside there. This court held appellate
jurisdiction over the Surrogate's Court, On March
21, 1823, it was abolished, and its jurisdiction
conferred on the Chancellor, who exercised it until
the Court of Chancery was abolished in 1846.
Its jurisdiction was then conferred on the new
Supreme Court. The records of this court were
deposited in the office of the Court of Appeals at
Albany. The following are the Albany County
Judges of the Court of Probate :
Leonard Gansevoort, April 5, 1799; T. Van Wyck Gra
ham, March 16, 1813; Gerrit Y. Lansing, July 8, 1816.
Surrogates.
Surrogates, under the first Constitution, were ap
pointed for an unlimited period by the Council of
Appointment, and an appeal lay from their decis
ions to the Judge of the Court of Probates of the
State. Under the second Constitution they were
appointed by the Governor and Senate for four
years, and appeals lay from their decisions to the
Chancellor. The Constitution of 1847 abolished the office of
Surrogate, except in counties where the population
exceeded 40,000, and devolved its duties on the
County Judge. In counties exceeding this popu
lation the Legislature may authorize the election of
Surrogates. They are elected for six years, and
are allowed to take the acknowledgment of deeds
and administer oaths in the same manner as County
Judges. Surrogates of Albany County.
John DePeyster, April 3, 1756; William Hannah, Novem
ber 18, 1766; Peter Lansingh, Decembers, 1766; Stephen
DeLancey, September 19, 1769; John De Peyster, March
23, 1778; Henry Oothoudt, April 4, 1782; John De
P. Douw, April 4, 1782 ; Abraham G. Lansing,
March 13, 1787; Elisha Dorr, April 12, 1808 ; John
H. Wendell, March 5, 1810; Richard Lush, June II,
1811 ; John H. Wendell, March 3, 1813; George Merchant,
March 17, 1815; Christopher C. Yates, April 19, 1815;
Ebenezer Baldwin, July 7, 1819; Abraham Ten Eyck, Jr.,
February 19, 1821; Thomas A. Brigden, April II, 1822;
Anthony Blanchard, April 9, 1831; Moses Patten, Febru-

156

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ary 28, 1840; Anthony Blanchard, February 28, 1844;
Lewis Benedict, Jr., June, 1847; Orville H. Chittenden,
November, 185 1; James A. McKown, November, 1855;
Justus Haswell, November, 1859; Israel Lawton, Novem
ber, 1863; Peter A. Rogers, November, 1871; Francis H.
"Woods, November, 1883.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
This officer was at first Assistant Attorney-Gen
eral. The counties were divided into districts, in
which he had jurisdiction; hence the name of Dis
trict Attorney.- The act of February 12, 1796,
divided the State into seven districts; that of 1801,
into thirteen districts. By the laws of 1 8 1 8, each
county was constituted a separate district for the
purposes of this office. Under the second Consti
tution, District Attorneys were appointed by the
Court of General Sessions in each county. Under
the Constitution of 1846, they were made elective.
Abraham Van Vechten, February 16, 1796; Samuel S.
Lush, April 6, 1813; David L. Van Antwerp, June 21, 1818;
Samuel A. Foote, July 3, 1819; Benjamin F. Butler, Febru
ary 19, 1821; Edward Livingston, June 14, 1825; Rufus W.
Peckham, March 27, 1838; Henry G. Wheaton, March 30,
1841; Edwin Litchfield, March 30, 1844; Andrew J. Colvin,
March 21, 1846; Samuel H. Hammond, June, 1847; An
drew J. Colvin, November, 1850; Hamilton Harris, Novem
ber, 1853; Samuel G. Courtney, November, 1856; Ira
Shafer, November, 1859; Solomon F. Higgins, November,
1862; Henry Smith, November, 1865; Rufus W. Peckham,
Jr., November, 1868; Nathaniel C. Moak, November, 1871;
John M. Bailey, November, 1874;. Lansing Hotaling, No
vember, 1877; D. Cady Herrick, November, 1880.
COUNTY CLERKS.
The County Clerk, during the colonial period,
was Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, Clerk of
the Peace, and Clerk of the Sessions of the Peace,
in his own county. Under the first State Consti
tution, it was his duty to keep the County Records,
and act as the Clerk of the Inferior Court of Com
mon Pleas and Clerk of the Oyer and Terminer.
These last duties were conferred upon him by the
Act of February 12, 1796. The seals of the Coun
ty Clerk were the seals of the Court of Common
Pleas in their respective counties. County Clerks
are now Clerks of the Supreme Court, Court of
Oyer and Terminer, County Court and Court of
Sessions. The term of office since the adoption
of the Constitution of 182 1 has been three years.
Ludovicus Cobes, 1669; Robert Livingston, 1675; Johan
nes Cuyler, March 2, 1690; Robert Livingston, 1691; Wil
liam Shaw, 1696; Robert Livingston, 1705; Philip Living
ston, 1721; John Colden, February 23, 1749; Harme Gan
sevoort, September 25, 1750; Witham Marsh, 1760; Stephen
De Lancy, January 25, 1765; Leonard Gansevoort, May 8,
1777; Matthew Vischer, 1778; Richard Lush, September 29,
1790; Charles D. Cooper, March 3, 1808; William P. Beers,
February 28, 1810; Charles D. Cooper, February 5, 1811;
John Lovett, March 3, 1813; George Merchant, March 31,
1815; Henry Truax, June 6, 1820; George Merchant, Feb

ruary 19, 1821; L. L. VanKleeck, November, 1822; Conrad
A. Ten Eyck, November, 1828; Henry B. Haswell, No
vember, 1837; William Mix, November, 1843; Lawrence
Van Dusen, November, 1846; Robert S. Lay, November,
1849; Robert Harper, November, 1852; Robert Bab
cock, November, 1855; Smith A. Waterman, November,
1 86 1; Giles K. Winne, February 9, 1865; Isaac N. Keeler,
June 20, 1868; John McEwen, November, 186S; Albert C.
Judson, November, 1871; William E. Haswell, November,
1874; John Larkin, November, 1877; William D. Strevell,
November, 1883. SHERIFFS.
This officer, during the colonial period, was ap
pointed annually by the Governor-General and Colo
nial Council. Under the first Constitution, he was
appointed annually by the Council of Appointment,
and no person could hold the office for more than
four successive years ; he could hold no other office,
and must be a freeholder. Since the adoption of
the Constitution of 1821, he has not been required
to be a freeholder, is elected for three years, and is
ineligible for the next succeeding term.
John Manning, April 6, 1665 ; Gerrit Swart, Aug. 17,
1668 ; Andrew Draeyer, Oct., 1673 ; Michael Siston, Nov.
4, 1674 ; Johannes Provoost, Oct., 1677 ; Richard Pretty,
Oct., 1678 ; Lodovicus Cobes, Oct., 1679 ; Richard Pretty,
Oct., 1680; Gaspar Teller, March 1, 1691 ; John Apple,
Dec. I, 1692 ; Simon Young, June 19, 1696 ; Johannes
Groenendyke, Oct., 1698 ; John Williams, Oct., 1699 ;
Jonathan Broadhurst, Oct., 1700; Jacohus Turk, Oct.,
1702 ; David Schuyler, Oct., 1705 ; Henry Holland, Oct.,
1706 ; Thomas Williams, Oct., 1712 ; Samuel Babington,
Oct., 1716; Gerrit Van Schaick, Oct., 1719; Henry Hol
land, Oct., 1720 ; Philip Verplanck, Oct., 1722 ; Thomas
Williams, Oct., 1723; Goose Van Schaick, Oct., 1728;
James Stephenson, Oct., 1731 ; James Lindsay, Oct.,
1732 ; Henry Holland, Oct., 1739 ; John Rutger Bleecker,
Oct., 1746 ; Jacob Ten Eyck, Oct., 1747 ; Thomas Wil
liams, Oct., 1748 ; Richard Miller, Oct., 1749 ; Abraham
Yates, Oct., 1754 ; Abraham Yates, Jr., Oct., 1755 ; Jacob
Van Schaick, Oct., 1759 ; Hermanus Schuyler, June 18,
1761 ; Henry Ten Eyck, Oct., 1770 ; Hendrick J. Wendell,
Sept. 27, 1777 ; John Ten Broeck, March 22, 1781 ;
Hendrick J. Wendell, Nov. 29, 1782 ; John Ten Broeck,
Sept. 29, 1786 ; Peter Gansevoort, Jr., Sept. 29, 1790 ;
John Ostrander, Jr., Sept. 29, 1792 ; John Given, Sept.
29, 1796 ; Hermanus P. Schuyler, Feb. 25, 1800 ; John J.
Cuyler, Jan. 28, 1801 ; Hermanus H. Wendell, Jan. 12,
1803 ; Lawrence L. Van Kleeck, Feb. 28, 1807 ; Solomon
Southwick, Feb. 10, 1808 ; Jacob Mancius, Feb. 13, 1810;
Peter P. Dox, Feb. 12, 181 1 ; Jacob Mancius, Feb. 23,
1813 ; Isaac Hempstead, March 17, 1815 ; Leonard H.
Gansevoort, March 6, 1819 ; Cornelius Van Antwerp, Feb.
12, 1821 ; Cornelius Van Antwerp, Nov., 1822; C. H. Ten
Eyck, Nov., 1825 ; John Beckey (removed Oct. 5, 1829),
1828 ; Asa Colvard, Nov., 1829 ; Albert Gallup, Nov.,
1831 ; Angus McDuffie, Nov., 1834; Michael Artcher, Nov.,
1837 ; Amos Adams, Nov., 1840; Christopher Batterman,
Nov., 1843 ; Oscar Tyler, Nov., 1846; William Beardsley,
Nov., 1849 ; John McEwen, Nov., 1852 ; William P.
Brayton, Nov., 1855 ; Thomas W. Van Alstyne, Nov.,
1858 ; Henry Crandall, Nov., 1861 ; Henry Fitch,
Nov., 1864 ; Harris Parr, Nov., 1867 ; George A. Birch,
Nov., 1870 ; Albert Gallup, Nov., 1873 ; John Wemple,
Nov. 6, 1876 ; James A. Houck, Nov., 1879; Wm. H.
Keeler, Nov., 1882.

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157

Hon, AMASA J. PARKER.

AMASA J. PARKER.

Amasa J. Parker was born June 2, 1807, at
Sharon, Parish of Ellsworth, Litchfield County,
Conn., where his father, the Rev. Daniel Parker, was
settled for twenty years as a Congregational clergy
man. On both sides Mr. Parker traces his de
scent from families distinguished in the early history
of Ne.w England, sharing in the perils and occupa
tions of Indian warfare, and, at a later day, in our
Revolutionary struggle. His maternal grandfather,
Thomas Fenn, of Watertown, Conn., represented
-that town for more than thirty sessions in the
Legislature of his State.
The Rev. Daniel Parker removed into New York
State with his family, when his son Amasa was nine
years of age.
Great pains were taken with his education, and
under the personal instruction of his father, as well
as of other capable teachers, he completed, with
great thoroughness, a full collegiate course of study,
and in June, 1823, when but sixteen years old,
though having the personal appearance of more
advanced age, he was appointed Principal of the
Academy located at the City of Hudson, an institu
tion chartered by the Regents of the University of
this state, and entered immediately upon the duties
of the position, He remained there four years,
and on the first of May, 1827, resigned his place
to prosecute the study of the law. During the last
year of his service in the academy, he had entered
the office of Hon. John W. Edmonds, but his du

ties elsewhere gave him but little time for his legal
studies. He was eminently successful in his labors as
principal of the Academy. Under his charge the
institution acquired distinction and attracted stu
dents from different and distant parts of the coun
try. He resigned his trust with the various depart
ments of the academy full of students and in the
height of its prosperity, because he felt that the
time had come for him to devote his whole atten
tion to the necessary preparation for his intended
profession. An incident occurred when he was in charge of
the academy worthy of mention. The friends of a
rival and successful institution in a distant town of
the same county, in order to promote its interests,
made capital of the fact that the principal of the
Hudson academy was not himself a graduate of
any college. To put such an objection at rest,
young Parker, in the summer of 1825, presented
himself at Union College; submitted to an exam
ination for the whole college course of study, and
graduated with the class of 1825. The singular
fact occurred that one of his own former students
graduated with him in the same class.
On resigning the charge of the academy in May,
1827, Mr. Parker entered the office of his uncle,
Amasa Parker, Esq., an eminent lawyer of Delhi,
Delaware County, who had been established there
many years. Upon his admission to the Bar in
October, 1828, he entered into a copartnership

158

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

with his uncle, and the firm of A. & A. J. Parker
(well known to the profession throughout the
State) was not dissolved till Mr. Parker's appoint
ment to the Bench in March, 1844.
During all that time Mr. Parker was engaged in a
large professional business, perhaps more extensive
and varied than that of any other country law of
fice in this state. He soon acquired a professional
¦ standing that secured him a large practice as counsel
in the highest courts of the state. He attended quite
regularly the circuits of Delaware, Greene, Ulster and
Schoharie counties, and occasionally those held in
Broome, Tioga and Tompkins counties, and in
other counties more distant, as well as the stated
Terms of Chancery and of the Supreme Court, as
the printed reports of those courts show. It has
been said, by those acquainted with the subject, that
at the time of his appointment to the Bench he had
tried more cases at the Circuit than any other law
yer of his age in the State.
Mr. Parker always insisted that his success, in
establishing a large practice as attorney and
counsel, was owing to his promptness, system and
method rather than to any other peculiar talent.
It was the rule of his life never to fail to answer a
business letter on the same day on which it was re
ceived, to send to his client a check for money
collected by the first mail, and never to fail in keep
ing an appointment at the precise time fixed for it.
This latter practice he never omitted on the bench,
having rarely if ever failed to open his Court at
the precise hour appointed. In this way he en
forced the most punctual attendance of counsel,
parties and witnesses, and by it he was enabled to
accomplish much more business.
During the fifteen years of Judge Parker's prac
tice, before he was appointed to the bench, he
mingled somewhat actively in political contests of
the day. In the fall of 1833 he was elected by the
Democratic party to the Assembly without opposi
tion, and served in 1834. In 1835 he was elected
by the Legislature of this State a Regent of the
University of the State, being then twenty-seven
years of age, and was the youngest person ever
elected to that distinguished trust. He held it for
nearly ten years, and resigned it when appointed to
the bench. In November, 1836, he was elected
to the Twenty-fifth Congress to represent the dis
trict then composed of the Counties of Delaware
and Broome. This time also he ran without op
position, no candidate being nominated by the
opposite party. He entered upon the duties of
the office at the extra session held in September,
1837, and served during the three sessions of
that Congress. These were exciting and some
times stormy sessions. The Sub-Treasury measure
was proposed by Mr. Van Buren at the extra ses
sion of 1837, and was warmly advocated by Mr.
Parker and others, but it did not secure the sup
port of all the Democratic members. Upon it
Congress was very nearly divided, and ques
tions were frequently decided by the casting
vote of the Speaker, Mr. Polk. It was not till
a later Congress, when the measure had become
better understood, that it was passed into a law,

and it still remains in force, its wisdom being now
admitted by all parties.
During his service in Congress, Mr. Parker was
actively engaged in the duties it imposed, on com
mittees and in the discussions in the House. His
speeches on the Mississippi Election case, on the
Sub-Treasury bill, on the Public Lands, on the
Cilley and Graves duel and on other subjects, are
reported in the proceedings of that Congress.
Hiram Gray, Richard P. Marvin, Henry A. Foster,
Arphaxad Loomis, John T. Andrews and Amasa J.
Parker were the last six survivors from this State
of that memorable Congress.
Mr. Parker, at the close of his term, returned to
the practice of his profession.
In the autumn of 1839 he was nominated as a
candidate for State Senate from the Senatorial dis
trict then corresponding nearly in boundary to the
present Third Judicial District of this State. There
were two vacancies to be filled in addition to the
term then expiring. There were, therefore, three
Senators to be chosen. The year before, Alonzo
C. Paige had been elected by less than fifty majority.
But on this occasion the three Democratic candi
dates were all defeated by a majority little more
than nominal.
In the spring of 1834 Mr. Parker was appointed
District Attorney of Delaware County, which place
he held for three years and till the expiration of
his term, and was not a candidate for reappoint
ment. The later incidents of Judge Parker's life are
more familiar to our readers. He was appointed,
by Gov. Bouck, Circuit Judge and Vice-Chancellor
of the Third Circuit on the 6th of March, 1844, and
immediately removed to the City of Albany, where
he has since resided. He held that office till the
spring of 1847, when it was terminated by the
adoption of the Constitution of 1846. He was
then elected in the Third Judicial District a justice
of the Supreme Court of this State for a term of
eight years.
At no time in the history of this State have the
judicial labors devolved upon a judge been more
difficult and responsible than those which he was
called on to discharge during his twelve years of
judicial service. It was during this time that the
Anti-Rent excitement which prevailed throughout
a large portion of his judicial district was at its
height, crowding the civil calendar with litigation,
and the criminal courts with indictments for acts
of violence in resisting the collection of rents.
The trial of ' ' Big Thunder, " before Judge
Parker, at Hudson, in the spring of 1845, lasted
two weeks, and the jury failed to agree. When
the next Court of Oyer and Terminer was held in
that county, Judge Parker was engaged in holding
the Court in Delaware County, and Judge Ed
monds was assigned to hold the Columbia Oyer
and Terminer in his place. At that Court "Big
Thunder" was again tried and was convicted and
sent to the State prison.
In the summer of 1845 Osman N. Steele, Under
Sheriff of Delaware County, while engaged with a
posse in his official duties in the collection of rent

THE BENCH AND BAR.

159

due from Moses Earle, at Andes, in that county,
was violently resisted by about two hundred men
armed and disguised as Indians, and was shot and
killed by them. Intense excitement prevailed in
the county. A great struggle followed between
those who resisted and those who sought to en
force the laws.
On the 25 th of August, 1845, Gov. Wright de
clared the County of Delaware in a state of insur
rection, and a battalion of light infantry was de
tailed to aid the civil authorities in the preservation
of order and the making of arrests. At the in
quest held on the body of Sheriff Steele and at a
Court of General Sessions, the whole subject was
fully investigated. Some indictments were found
for murder, but most of them were for manslaughter
and lesser offenses.
Over two hundred and forty persons were in
dicted, most of whom were arrested and in custody
awaiting trial at the then approaching Oyer and
Terminer. The regular jail and two log jails, temporarily
constructed for the purpose, were filled with
prisoners. Under these discouraging circum
stances, and with armed men stationed in the
Court room and throughout the village to preserve
order, Judge Parker opened the Oyer and Terminer
at Delhi on the 2 2d of September, 1845. A brief
statement of these proceedings and an extract from
the charge of Judge Parker to the Grand Jury will
be found in the History of Delaware County, by
Jay Gould, published in 1856 and dedicated to
Judge Parker.
After charging the Grand Jury he gave notice
that, whatever time it might take, he should con
tinue to hold the court till every case was tried
and the jails were cleared.
The indictments were prosecuted by the District
Attorney, assisted by John Van Buren, then At
torney-General, and by Samuel Sherwood, a dis
tinguished member of the Bar, then of New York,
but who formerly resided at Delhi, and the prison
ers were defended by able counsel, among whom
were Samuel Gordon, Mitchell Sandford and
Samuel S. Bowne.
John Van Steenburgh was first tried and con
victed of murder. Edward O'Connor was next
tried with a like result. Both were sentenced to
be executed on the 29th of November, then next;
four others were convicted of felony and sent to the
State Prison for life, and thirteen were sent to the
State Prison for different terms of years. A large
number who had been engaged in resisting the
sheriff, but who had not been disguised, pleaded
guilty of misdemeanors. Some of these were fined,
but as to most of them, and as to some who plead
ed guilty of manslaughter, sentence was suspended,
and they were told by the Court they would be
held responsible for the future preservation of the
peace in their neighborhoods, and were warned
that if any other instance should occur of resisting
an officer, or of a violation of the statute, which
made it a felony to appear for such purpose armed
and disguised, they would at once be suspected,
and might expect to be called up for sentence.

Under this assurance they were set at liberty, and
it is but justice to them to say that they became the
best possible conservators of the peace, and that no
resistance of process by violence has ever since oc-
cured in that county.
At the close of the third week of the court, all
the cases had been disposed of. No prisoners
were left in jail except those awaiting execution or
transportation to the State Prison ; the military
were soon after discharged, and the log jails taken
down, and peace and good order have ever
since reigned in the county.
A report of the trial of Van Steenburgh, with a
note referring to the business of that court, will be
found in I. Park, Cr. Rep. , jp. The sentences of
Van Steenburgh and O'Connor were subsequently
commuted by Gov. Wright to imprisonment for
life ; and, about a year later, all those in the state
prison were pardoned by the successor of Gov.
Wright. Great credit was awarded to Judge Parker for
his successful discharge of the delicate and difficult
duties devolved upon him at the Delaware Oyer
and Terminer, and at the next commencement the
degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred on him by
Geneva College.
As has been stated, Judge Parker's services as
Circuit Judge and Vice-Chancellor terminated in
1847 by the adoption of the new state constitu
tion of 1846, under which an elective judiciary
succeeded to the exercise of the judicial powers of
the state. In all the counties of the Third Judicial
District, meetings of the Bar were held, and com
plimentary addresses to Judge Parker were signed,
approving his judicial course, and from his associ
ates on the Bench of the Rensselaer Oyer and Ter
miner he received a similar earnest recognition of
his services and of their personal respect.
Judge Parker was one of four Justices of the
Supreme Court, elected in the Third Judicial Dis
trict in June, 1847, being chosen by a very large
vote; and he entered upon the duties of this office
on the first of July, 1847. During his term, he
served one year, during the year 1854, in the Court
of Appeals. His term of service as a Justice of the
Supreme Court expired on the 31st of December,
1855. His opinions in causes pending in that
Court will be found in the first twenty-one volumes
of Barbour's Supreme Court Reports. In the year
1854 Judge Parker served in the Court of Appeals,
and was there associated with Judges Gardner,
Denio, Alexander S. Johnson, Allen and others.
His opinions in that court are reported in ist and
2d volumes of Kernan's Reports. Among those
most worthy of reference, is the case of Snedeker
vs. Warring, reported in 2d Kernan, 170, a case
which attracted much attention at the time, for the
reason that it presented a very nice question, and
one that had not been before decided either in this
country or in England. It was finally decided on
the authority of cases adjudged under the civil law
on the continent of Europe. It involved the
question whether a statue, colossal in size, erected
as an ornament on the grounds in front of a coun
try residence, and securely attached to the earth by

160

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

its weight, was real or personal property. The
case was argued by very able counsel, and it hap
pened, by the practice of the Court, in turn, to
fall to Judges Johnson and Parker to write opin
ions. At the close of the argument, as the
judges were separating for the day, in a few words
of consultation that took place between the judges
who were to write, Judge Johnson said he had an
impression that the statue was real property.
Judge Parker said his impression was that it was
personal. A month later, after both the judges
had spent much time at the State Library in exam
ining the authorities, but without having again
spoken together on the subject, and after each had
written his opinion, ready to be read and discussed
at the next meeting of all the judges, Judge Parker
met Judge Johnson and said to him: " I have
changed my opinion, and have come to the con
clusion that the statue is real property. " And Judge
Johnson said in answer, ' ' and I have changed
mine, and have concluded it is personal property."
When the meeting of the judges was held for con
sultation soon afterward, both opinions were read
after discussion; the vote stood four and four, and
thus it remained till near the end of the year, when
on further discussion and consideration, five voted
with Judge Parker and two with Judge Johnson,
and the case was decided
Judge Parker was nominated by the Democratic
Convention for re-election in the autumn of 1855,
Ambrose Z. Jordan being the candidate of the
Republican Party, then newly organized, and
George Gould that of the "Know-Nothing," an
American party. Prominent members of the last
named party proposed to nominate Judge Parker,
but he declined being: its candidate. A very small
vote was cast for Mr. Jordan, but Judge Gould
was elected. That was the year when the American
"Know-Nothing" party, suddenly springing up,
swept the State by large majorities. Judge Parker
was very largely ahead of his ticket, being beaten
by the American candidate by only about a thou
sand votes ; while the state officers on the American
ticket in the same judicial district had a majority
of several thousand.
Judge Parker then resumed the practice of his
profession at Albany, and though afterward re
peatedly offered nominations for the Supreme
Court and for the Court of Appeals, when the
Democratic party to which he belonged was in the
majority in his district and in the State, he always
declined, and preferred the independent practice of
his profession.
In the fall of 1856 he was nominated by the
Democratic State Convention for the office of Gov
ernor. The opposing Republican candidate was
John A. King. Erastus Brooks was the "Ameri
can " candidate. Though Judge Parker received
several thousand majority in the judicial district
where he was beaten the year before by about a
thousand majority, he was defeated in the State,
Gov. King being elected by a heavy majority. Mr.
Buchanan, who was elected President that year by
the votes of the other States, and against whom the
majority in the State of New York was nearly ten

thousand votes more than the majority against
Judge Parker, who ran largely ahead of his ticket,
tendered to the latter offices of distinction, which
the latter declined. And later in his administra
tion, he nominated him for U. S. District Attor
ney for the Southern District of New York, and the
nomination was confirmed by the U. S. Senate,
without reference, but Judge P. refused to qualify,
preferring his own private professional practice.
In the fall of 1858 the Democratic State Con
vention again nominated him for the office of Gov
ernor. His Republican opponent was E. D.
Morgan, who was elected by about 17,000
majority, though Judge Parker ran again largely in
advance of the rest of the ticket.
Since that time Judge Parker has not been a
candidate for any office except that he was elected
in 1867 a delegate from the County of Albany to
the State Constitutional Convention, in which he
served in the years 1867 and 1868, as a member of
the judiciary and other committees. The judiciary
article framed by that convention was the only por
tion of the constitution finally adopted by the
people. On Judge Parker's retirement from the Bench,
he engaged at once in the practice of his profession
at Albany, taking into partnership in 1865 his son,
Amasa J. Parker, Jr., and adding to the firm in
1876 Ex-Judge Edwin Countryman, under the
name of Parker & Countryman. He devoted him
self with great industry and success to his profes
sional duties. He had a great love for his pro
fession and for the principles upon which the law
and its administration are founded. He was en
gaged in a large professional practice and in many"
of the most important cases that have come into
the courts, as is shown by the State and Federal
Reports. Among the most notable litigations in
civil cases was a question of the right to tax
National Banks, which he argued before the Supreme
Court of the United States, in the employment of
the city of New York, reported in 4 Wallace Rep. ,
244; and in this State, the title of Trinity Church
to property in the city of New York; the Levy will
case, reported in 33 N. Y, 97 ; the famous con
troversy between the Delaware & Hudson Canal
Company and the Pennsylvania Company; and
that of the boundary line between the States of
New York and New Jersey, reported in 42 N. Y.
Rep., 283. He rarely engaged in criminal cases,
and his defense of Cole for the murder of Hiscock,
and his acting in two or three other murder cases,
were exceptional. He declined a retainer of
#5,000 offered him to act as counsel in the defense
of Tweed.
With the late Judge Ira Harris and Amos Dean,
he engaged, in 185 1, in the founding of "the
Albany Law School," which established a high rep
utation under their government and care, and he
continued for about twenty years one of the pro
fessors in that institution, and resigned only be
cause of the pressure of his professional practice.
He had found time while on the bench and after
ward for preparing for the press some law books
which he thought needed, ainong which were six

THE BENCH AND BAR.

161

volumes oi Reports of Criminal Cases. He also,
assisted by two other gentlemen of the profession,
edited the fifth edition of the Revised Statutes of
this State.
He was an earnest advocate of the reforms inau
gurated in the State Constitutional Convention of
1847, by which the Court of Chancery was abol
ished and law and equity powers were vested in the
same tribunal, and the practice of the courts sim
plified. He visited Europe in 1853 while similar
reforms were under consideration in England, and,
at the request of Lord Brougham, he addressed the
Law Reform Club of England at its annual meet
ing, explaining to its members the results of his
experience on the Bench in regard to the changes
that had been made in this State, especially as to the
administering of law and equity in the same Court.
In politics he was, throughout his whole life, an
active member of the Democratic party. Believ
ing thoroughly in the principles of that party as
founded by Jefferson, and that their success was
indispensable to the welfare and prosperity of the
country, he advocated them with earnestness, but
always with due respect for the judgment of those
who differed from him.
He labored strenuously to avert the catastrophe
of civil war, and presided at the famous State
Democratic Convention held at Tweddle Hall, in
Albany, in February, 1861. He always believed
afterward, as he believed then, that with temperate
counsels, on the part of the Republican leaders
then about entering upon the control of the Fed
eral Government, civil war could have been
avoided; but when the first blow was struck at Fort
Sumter, and rebellion was thus inaugurated, he did
• not hesitate to regard the die as cast, and became at
once an earnest advocate of a vigorous prosecution
of the war on the part of the Government, and
freely contributed his own money and time to the
raising of men and means for that purpose.
But his patriotism did not prevent his earnest
protest against what he deemed the gross abuse of
power practiced, for merely partisan purposes, by
high Federal officials, in the making of unnecessary,
arbitrary arrests of Northern men, whose only of
fense was an honest and independent difference of
opinion, and a free confession of it, on subjects of
mere party difference in no way involved in the
prosecution of the war to put down the rebellion.
This tyrannical exercise of power and gross viola
tion of the right of personal liberty he stoutly re
sisted, and not only denounced it on the stump, at
the hazard of his own personal liberty, but he
freely gave his professional services to obtain re
dress for such wrongs.
A notable instance of this character occurred in
the case of Patin vs. Murray, tried at the Greene
Circuit before Judge Ingalls in June, 1864, by
Judge " Parker as counsel for plaintiff, in which a
jury composed of men of both political parties gave
to this plaintiff for such an arrest and false imprison
ment a verdict of $9,000 damages. An attempt was
made to remove this case, after verdict and judg
ment, for retiral, into the U. S. Circuit Court, under
an act of Congress that had been conveniently

passed for the purpose of defeating such recoveries.
Judge Parker insisted that the act was unconstitu
tional, being in violation of the seventh article of
the amendments of the U. S. Constitution, and
under his advice the State authorities refused to
make a return to the writ of error. Application
was then made to the U. S. Circuit Court to com
pel the return, and on demurrer, a peremptory man
damus was adjudged. To review that judgment
a writ of error was brought by Judge Parker, and
the case was removed into the United States Su
preme Court held at Washington. It was first
argued, in that court, in February, 1869, by Judge
Parker for the plaintiff in error, and by Mr. Evarts,
then Attorney-General of the United States, for the
defendant in error.
The Judges were divided upon the question and
ordered a re-argument, which took place in Feb
ruary, 1870, Attorney-General Hoar then appearing
for the defendant in error, and Judge Parker again
arguing for the plaintiff in error. The judgment
of the U. S. Circuit Court was then reversed and
the unconstitutionality of the act of Congress was
established. The case is reported in 9 Wallace U. S. Rep., 274.
During a long life of professional labor, Judge
Parker never lost the tastes acquired in early life for
classical study and literary pursuits, and he was in
the habit of setting apart a stated portion of his
time for such purposes. He enjoyed an occasional
return to the reading of the Greek and Roman
authors ; and those, with the attention given to the
current literature of the day and a mingling in the
duties of social life, afforded him an agreeable re
laxation from severer studies and a healthful change
to the mind. These tastes brought him in con
nection with the educational institutions of the State,
in several of which he served for many years as a
Trustee. Among other duties of that character, he was for
many years President of the Board of Trustees of
the Albany Female Academy, President of the
Board of Trustees of the Albany Medical College,
a Trustee of Cornell University, and one of the
Governors of Union College.
When a member of the Assembly in 1834, Mr.
Parker, as chairman of a select committee, had made
an elaborate report urging the establishment of a
State Hospital for the Insane, which led to a more
full consideration of the subject by the people,
though it was not till several years afterward that
the first State Hospital for the Insane was estab
lished. Doubtless it was owing to the interest Mr.
Parker had taken in the subject that he was, after
ward, appointed by Gov. Fenton one of the Trustees
of the Hudson River State Hospital for the Insane
at Poughkeepsie, a trust which he held till 1881,
when he resigned, and Gov. Cornell appointed the
son of Judge Parker in his place.
Judge Parker mairied, in 1834, Miss Harriet
Langdon Roberts, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire,
and of his large family of children, Mrs. John V. L.
Pruyn, Amasa J. Parker, Jr., Mrs. Erastus Corning
and Mrs. Selden E. Marvin, all residents of Albany,
still survive.

162

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

HAMILTON HARRIS.
While a biographical memoir ought to be strict
ly adapted to its subject in all its lights and shades,
it ought also, with a certain measure of indepen
dence in the writer, to be adapted as far as possi
ble to various tastes.
The reflective man will read it for instruction,
the frivolous for amusement, and the critic, accord
ing to his disposition either to detect faults or to
display its beauties.
The first will require fidelity in the narrative;
the second, variety in the incidents, and the third,
a watchful attention to the rules of good writing.
But, after all, the success of the biographer depends
upon the character he describes, just as the pencil
of the artist depends for success on the contour of
the features he reproduces upon canvas.
In entering upon the duty of presenting to all
classes of readers the life and career of Hamilton
Harris, such are the facilities presented in the mind,
character and career of our subject, that we feel a
consciousness that the fault will be ours if the men
tal portrait we are about to give is deficient in its
lineaments or wanting in that which truth de
mands; for there are elements in his character
-which should render the task successful.
No name is more conspicuously associated with
the Albany, and we may well say with the State
Bar, than his. Few lawyers have brought to the
Bar a more energetic mind, a more fortunate com
bination of legal and scholarly acquirements, or
stronger or more practical administrative abilities.
" All professions," says Burke, "particularly the
legal, narrow and dwarf the intellect by chaining it
rigidly to rules, precedent and procedure." Doubt
less Mr. Harris has felt the full force of this re
mark, for he has always found time in the midst ot
his most engrossing political and official duties to
continue his early classical studies, and a critical
reading of history, and the productions of the great
English writers. In literature as well as law he
has submitted to the most laborious and persever
ing process of private study.
In the preparation of this biography reference
has been had to the public journals of the day, from
which extracts have been freely made.
Hamilton Harris was born at Preble, Cortland
County, N. Y, May i, 1820. His parents were
natives of the State of New York, but his father was
of English and his mother of Scotch descent. At
an early period in the history of Cortland County
they settled at Preble, and they may therefore be
regarded as pioneers of that delightful part of the
State. When old enough, young Harris began his
education in the common school of his native
town, and after mastering all the branches taught
there, he entered Homer Academy. After success
fully pursuing his studies in that institution for a
time, he became a student in the Albany Academy,
where he completed a preparatory course for col
lege. He entered Union College in the class
which graduated in 1841. At college he was
known as a diligent and successful student. We
are assured that there was much in his collegiate

course that pointed to future success in life. He
was vigorous in health, elastic in spirits, in temper
enthusiastic yet self-governed, with powers active
and well disciplined, and thus he was in every
way fitted to enter upon this critical era of his life
well prepared for the intra-mcenial influences
which surrounded him.
The little strifes, rivalries and jealousies of
Union were encountered with the same equanimity
of temper with which he encountered the more en
grossing rivalries and contests of the Bar, and his
own rank in scholarship was from the beginning to
the conclusion of his collegiate career of the high
est order.
In 1 84 1 he was graduated with a high reputa
tion as a classical scholar. He distinguished him
self at the commencement exercises by a veiy able
and admirably delivered address. The magnitude
of the subject was equaled by the maturity of
thought which he brought to its consideration, and
it was indeed as strong in reasoning as it was ele
gant in diction.
All of the college productions of Mr. Harris in
dicate his conviction that language is not merely
the dress, but the very body of thought ; that it is
to the intellect what the muscles are to the princi
ples of physical life ; that the mind acts and
strengthens itself through words ; that it is chaos
till defined and organized by language. The at
tempt to give clear, precise utterance to thought is
one of the -most effectual processes of mental dis
cipline; Of his graduating address we shall have
occasion to. speak hereafter.
Through all his college course it was evident
that the mind of Mr. Harris was gravitating to
ward the legal profession. At this time the Hon.
Ira Harris, his brother, afterward one of the ablest
and most eminent of the Judiciary of the State and
a United States Senator, was and had been for a
long time in the midst of an extensive practice at
the Albany Bar. Young Harris entered his law
office as a student, where he carefully and labori
ously prepared for his admission to the Bar. His
call to practice took place in 1845. Having de
cided to make Albany his future residence, he
opened an office in that city and began the practice
of his profession.
Though surrounded by learned, experienced and
gifted rivals, the progress of his reputation was soon
a matter of common remark ; he seemed to pos
sess a natural adaptation for legal polemics ; he
entered the contests of the Bar with an industry
which no excess of toil could weary, and with a
self-command and practical ability which showed
that he possessed in extenso the qualities and ac
quirements which would soon render him an
accomplished advocate. He gradually exhibited a
masculine eloquence which ignored superfluous
decoration and fancy, alike strong in reason, at
tractive in ethical beauty and logical skill.
The following are his business connections which
have diversified his legal life. In 1848 he became
a partner with Hooper C. Van Vorst, afterward a
Judge of the Common Pleas of New York City.
This relation was dissolved in 1853 by the removal

¦cttu^Z^f

THE BENCH AND BAR.

163

of Mr. Van Vorst to the City of New York. Soon
after this he was associated with Samuel G. Court
ney, a son-in-law of Daniel S. Dickinson, and for
several years United States District Attorney for the
Southern District of New York.
In 1857 he formed a copartnership with those
brilliant lawyers, Clark B. Cochrane and John H.
Reynolds. This was one of the strongest legal
firms that ever existed in Albany.
During this connection Mr. Cochrane and Mr.
Reynolds both became Members of Congress. The
copartnership ended with Mr. Cochrane's death in
1867, but Mr. Harris and Mr. Reynolds continued
their association till the latter's death in 1875.
Mr. Harris has now associated with him in the
practice of his profession his son, Frederick Harris,
and William P. Rudd.
In the autumn of 1853 he was nominated and
elected District Attorney of Albany County, serv
ing until January 1, 1857. Mr. Harris' adminis
tration of this important office is remembered as
largely enhancing his reputation and advantageous
to the public. During his administration he
conducted several of the most important and
stubbornly contested prosecutions for murder ever
tried at the Albany Bar ; indeed, we know of few
more important cases in legal history.
Among these was the trial of the People vs.
Hendrickson, indicted for the murder of his wife
by poison, in 1853, and the several trials of Mc-
Cann for the murder of his wife in 1856.
Mr. Harris entered upon his duties as District
Attorney of Albany County on the first day of Jan
uary, 1854. Hendrickson had been tried and con
victed of murder in the first degree, but the prisoner,
through his counsel- — Hon. John K. Porter — had
brought error to the Court of Appeals, and it had
not been argued when Mr. Harris entered upon
his duties, and the duty of conducting it in the
Appellate Court fell upon him.
Mrs. Hendrickson died suddenly at Bethlehem
on the morning of March 7, 1853. She was dis
covered by her husband dead in bed, at about two
o'clock in the morning. He aroused the family,
who saw by her appearance that she had been dead
but a few moments. In the evening of that day,
at . the Coroner's inquest, Hendrickson stated
under oath the circumstances of her death. He
said he went to church with her in the afternoon of
the day previous, returning in the evening ; his
wife complained of ill-health, retiring about eleven
o'clock. He awoke at about two in the morning
by a noise in the barn. On speaking to his wife,
he found her motionless, and her face cold ;
thinking her dead, he alarmed the family.
When asked as to his having been in Albany, he
said : "I was there two weeks ago last Saturday."
" Have you been there since ?" After pretending
to reflect, he said : " Oh, yes, I think I was there
one week ago last Saturday." "Have you not
been there since ? He replied : " I was there last
Saturday." When asked what he went for, he
said he took a load of timber to the mills there ;
his brother was with him ; he then gave the names
of the different places he visited with his brother.

He did not remember going to Springstead's drug
store, nor any other drug store. When the ques
tion was again directly put to him, "Were you not
in some drug store in Albany ?" he was in a some
what reclining position in his chair, as if grieving ;
the question seemed to startle him, and, after some
hesitation, he finally replied: " I do notremember."
On the trial, the People offered to prove the state
ments of Hendrickson before the coroner. The
evidence was objected to as inadmissible, but the
Court admitted it under an exception. The Peo
ple offered to prove, as a motive for the act, that
Lawrence Van Duzen, the father of Mrs. Hen
drickson, by his last will, gave all his property to
his wife for life, with a remainder over, one-half to
his only son, the other half to be equally di
vided between Mrs. Hendrickson and her sister.
This evidence was objected to, but admitted under
an exception. This case required in the counsel
for the People, not only great legal learning, but
a thorough acquaintance with medical jurispru
dence, particularly in the science of toxicology,
as it was insisted that the victim died from
the effects of strychnine. Hendrickson was con
victed, as before stated, and sentenced to be
hanged. The duty of conducting this case in the Appel
late Court placed Mr. Harris in a most responsible
position, involving much labor and learning.
The counsel for the defense relied upon their ex
ceptions to the admission of the evidence we have
referred to as involving sufficient error to give them
a new trial.
The exhaustive and admirably prepared brief of
Mr. Harris, and its logical reference to authorities,
on which was founded a very able argument, fully
sustained the rulings of the Judge at the trial, and
in due time the decision of the Court was handed
down, affirming the conviction of Hendrickson.
The case was reported in 10 N. Y. Reports, 13.
The trials of McCann, for the murder of his wife,
which took place July 8, 1856, was another great
case. On the morning following her death, the
dead body of Mrs. McCann, the wife of the prison
er, was found on the floor of one of the rooms in
the house occupied by him and his wife, with a
ghastly wound over the right eye, which fractured
the skull and opened the brains. There were
eight wounds on her head, disfiguring her to such
an extent that those who knew her best could
hardly recognize her. Suspicion at once fell upon
McCann. There were several strong motives
proven that induced him to commit the murder,
and it was evidently done with deliberation — as the
law has it, "with malice prepense." He was in
dicted and brought to trial at a Court of Oyer and
Terminer, in November, 1856. Mr. Harris as
District Attorney appeared for the People ; Hon.
Lyman Tremain, Hon. Rufus W. Peckham and
J. M. Kimball, Esq., conducted the defense,
which was insanity. It was insisted by the defense
that McCann killed his wife while suffering from
delirium tremens, under the delusion that he was
resisting the attack of persons determined to kill
him. There were several circumstances proved

164

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

which the defense insisted established this theory,
one of which was that McCann used two axes in
killing his wife, or rather that he killed her with
one ax and chopped her to pieces with another ;
that he seized them both to fight the men whom
he believed were assaulting him. He made no
attempt at flight, but remained near the body of
his victim nearly all night. Neither did he make
any attempt to conceal the body.
The defense of delirium tremens was held to be
no defense until Chief-Justice Story laid down
the law which settled that a man committing a
crime, suffering under this disease, is not responsible
for it.
The defense summoned to the trial some of the
ablest physicians of the times, including Dr. Alden
March, Dr. Thomas Hun, Dr. S. O. Vanderpoel,
Dr. J. Swinburne and Dr. B. P. Staats.
It is said that Mr. Tremain never in the course
of all his practice made a more powerful defense
than on this trial. Mr. Harris, however, was
equal to the occasion. His cross-examination and
examination of the medical witnesses might easily
have caused a stranger to believe him some emi
nent physician, experienced in treating cases of in
sanity, so ready was his understanding of that
disease. The medical testimony was of great value, and
has been repeatedly used as precedent in similar
cases, particularly that of Dr. Hun. It is doubt
ful whether the subject of delirium tremens was
ever more admirably dissected or more ably ex
plained than on this trial.
McCann was convicted and sentenced to ¦ be
hanged. The execution was fixed by the judges on Janu
ary 23, 1857. A few days before the execution
was to take place his counsel removed his case to
the General Term, where the conviction of McCann
was affirmed. From the judgment of the General
Term his counsel brought error to the Court of
Appeals, and after argument of Messrs. Peckham
& Tremain on the part of the defense, and of Mr.
Harris on the part of the People, a new trial was
ordered. The new trial commenced in November, 1857.
Another long and exciting contest took place, re
sulting in the disagreement of the jury. In March,
1858, McCann was again placed at the bar for
trial, and for the third time the public interest was
aroused over this truly great case. This trial, like
the second, resulted in a disagreement of the jury,
there being eleven for conviction and one for ac
quittal. The jury deliberated nearly sixty-three
hours, and during all this time the one juror stood
alone against the pressure of his fellows.
To use the language of a leading journal of the
day :
"The case was summed up for the defense by the Hon.
R. W. Peckham in a most admirable manner. He was
followed by Hon. Hamilton Harris on the part of the Peo
ple. The intense earnestness and powerful eloquence of
this gentleman gave him in this case, as in all others, great
influence with the jury. "
A proposition was finally made to have McCann
plead guilty to manslaughter in the first degree,

which was accepted by Mr. Harris, and the pris
oner was sentenced to State Prison for life. Thus
ended a trial which is without precedent in the
criminal trials of the State. The case is reported
in 16 N.Y. Reports, 58, and is regarded as an im
portant and leading one.
Among other important murder cases which Mr.
Harris conducted were those of The People vs.
Phelps, The People vs. McCrossen, The People
vs. Dunnigan and The People vs. Cummings.
In all these cases Mr. Harris was opposed by the
ablest lawyers of the time. The success that at
tended him sufficiently attests his accomplishments
as a prosecuting officer. The comments of the
press upon the manner in which he conducted his
arduous duties are gratifying testimonials.
One important criminal case in which Mr.
Harris appeared against the prosecution was the
case of The People vs. Reimann, indicted for com
plicity in the murder of Emil Hartung. Reimann
was at first indicted as accessory before the mur
der, the principal being Mrs. Hartung, wife of the
deceased, but he was subsequently indicted as
principal for causing Hartung's death by adminis
tering to him arsenical poison. The case created
great interest ; indeed, there were features in it
which invested it with dramatic interest.
Mr. Harris appeared for the defense ; the prose
cution was conducted by District Attorney Ira
Shaffer, assisted by Samuel G. Courtney.
Mrs. Hartung had been convicted of the murder
of her husband by poisoning, and was sentenced to
be hanged. It was contended by the counsel for
the People that Reimann was her guilty paramour.
She was a handsome and attractive woman, with
whom Reimann was passionately in love, and he
aided in the taking off of her husband, to permit
him to marry her. Much time was consumed in
obtaining a jury, and more in taking the evidence.
After the people rested, Mr. Harris made a motion
for the discharge of Reimann on the ground that
the evidence was insufficient to convict him. The
motion was supported by an elaborate and cogent
argument, to which Mr. Courtney replied with
force and eloquence. The Hon. George Gould,
who presided at the trial, after a learned and criti
cal review of the whole evidence and the argument
of the respective counsel, granted Mr. Harris'
motion, and Reimann was discharged. But there
were two more indictments against him ; one for
being accessory before the fact, the other for being
accessory after the fact, and he was remanded to
jail. A motion soon followed to admit him to bail,
and another sharp legal contest ensued. He was
finally discharged.
A history of the causes celebres in which Mr.
Harris has been engaged has filled volumes, inter
esting to both practitioner and student. From
1 816 down to 1876 there had been forty-three
murder cases tried in the County of Albany, and
Mr. Harris appeared as the leading counsel in no
less than ten, either for the People or the defense.
Though he is not what might be termed a
criminal lawyer, it has been his fortune, as we have
seen, to be engaged in very many important crimi-

THE BENCH AND BAR.

165

nal trials. This practice has always had strong at
tractions for accomplished legal minds ; it gives
ample room for the exercise of well-disciplined
imagination and sympathy ; it gives scope to a
critical knowledge of the Statute laws, common
law and the law of evidence. It requires a deep
insight into the springs of human action ; therefore
no man can become a really successful criminal
lawyer without becoming equally successful in
other departments of practice.
By a well-sustained progress Mr. Harris has at-'
tained a reputation in the trial and argument of
civil actions that ranks him among the ablest law
yers of his .time.
As he advanced in his profession he devoted
himself exclusively to civil business, to the entire
exclusion of the criminal, and the result has been
that he has enjoyed for a long time an extensive
and lucrative practice as well as a high reputation
in the courts. The reported cases in the Supreme
Court and the Court of Appeals argued by him
show in some degree the extent of the business and
the magnitude of the cases in which he has been
engaged and the important questions of the law
which he has argued. The following quotations
from leading newspapers express the public esti
mate of Mr. Harris as an advocate. The Albany
Press of January 6, 1884, in a review of the law
yers of Albany, says of Mr. Harris: " He is an
able and adroit lawyer, logical in argument and
brilliant in speech. He excels more especially
as a jury lawyer, and as such ranks among the
best at our bar." The Albany Evening fournal of
January 17, 1885, in speaking of Mr. Harris' law
firm, said :
"It possesses probably the largest and most lucrative
patronage, and is one of the most successful firms in Albany.
To this result Senator Harris' eminent ability as a pleader,
his thorough knowledge of the law, his forensic powers and
his winning personality have largely contributed."
The Albany Argus of May 10, 1885, in com
menting upon an important railway case then be
ing tried at the Circuit Court, spoke of Mr. Harris
as follows :
" No man could study a case harder than does Hamilton
Harris. He masters every detail of fact, knows exactly
what his witnesses will testify to, and as for the law, long
experience in this class of cases has made him, so to speak,
an encyclopedia of railroad decisions. Hamilton Harris'
manner in court is quiet and highly dignified. He pays
close attention to the conduct ot the case. His voice is
strong and harsh to one unaccustomed to hear him speak,
and his style of delivery is plain, but earnest and effective.
His manner is blunt, gruff and, to a certain extent, dicta
torial ; but no juryman ever sat in a box and listened to him
through a case without feeling that, back of his manner, was
not only great power of mind, but an honest, kindly heart.
Few lawyers conduct a case with so much earnestness.
When you hear him speak, you feel immediately that he is
in earnest. This quality and his shrewdness and policy
make him one of the most successful lawyers that ever de
fended a corporation."
Our space will not permit of a general review of
the important civil cases in which he has been en
gaged. We shall only allude to two of the later
ones, which were of great public interest, and in
which Mr. Harris won great distinction throughout
the State.

During the Legislative session of 1884 William
McDonald was arraigned at the bar of the Senate
for refusing to answer questions before a Legisla
tive committee. He was committed by the Senate
to imprisonment in the common jail for contempt.
In proceedings taken in the courts for his release
Mr. Harris appeared as one of his counsel, and his
argument for McDonald, which required and re
ceived at his hands as much research and learning
as has been displayed in any case brought before
the courts in late years, greatly extended his repu
tation as a profound lawyer. The commitment
was declared by the General Term of the Supreme
Court illegal, and McDonald was discharged. The
case is reported in 32 Hun, 563.
During the Legislative session of 1882 Mr.
Roosevelt preferred charges against Mr. Justice
Westbrook, of the State Supreme Court, for misfeas
ance and malfeasance in the discharge of his
judicial duties. It was alleged, among other things,
that the Judge, "Without stint and without regard
to judicial propriety, had appointed relatives to
office, in which they had received large fees ; that
he had been guilty of judicial impropriety in the
celebrated Manhattan Elevated Railroad case ; that
he had improperly given advice aiding the defense
of the Manhattan Company, and that he had im
properly informed Jay Gould and others touching
certain actions of the Court." The charges against
the Judge, taken together, made a strong prima
facie case against him. The alleged facts were in
geniously marshaled and strengthened by accu
mulated allegations. They were sent to the Judi
ciary Committee of the Assembly for investigation,
after a spirited debate.
Mr. Harris was retained by Judge Westbrook to
conduct his case before the committee. The in
vestigation before the committee began on April 2 1,
1882, and finally closed on the 27th of the following
May, Mr. Harris making the closing argument.
Judging from the comments of the press, his ar
gument was one of extraordinary power and elo
quence. The Troy Press, speaking of it, says :
" The argument of Mr. Harris was very able, and
exposed the wickedness and absurdity of the charges
against Judge Westbrook." The Albany Evening
fournal says : ' ' There can be no answer to Mr.
Harris' defense of Judge Westbrook, the only
counsel before the committee who can be truly
said to enjoy a large experience in his pro
fession." The New York World of May 29, in an able re
view of the case, said : " Mr. Hamilton Harris'
argument in vindication of Judge Westbrook fills a
closely printed pamphlet of nearly fifty pages ; but
so close and clear is his presentation of the case,
that no lawyer will object to its length." After
quoting to some extent from the argument, the re
view continues its favorable comment upon it, and
the whole article is highly complimentary to Mr.
Harris. The Judge was honorably acquitted.
We have thus given a sketch of Mr. Harris as a
lawyer. We shall now briefly consider his politi
cal career, which, though extended, has been sub
ordinate to his profession.

166

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Quite early in life he became prominent in the
Whig party in Albany County, advocating its
measures on the platform and with his pen with
such fidelity and ability that he soon took his place
among the leaders of the party in the county and
State. In the autumn of 1850 he was elected
member of Assembly from the County of Albany.
It was at this session of the Legislature that the
building of the State Library and the improvement
of the State Capitol became a prominent subject of
legislation. Its success was largely due to the
efforts of Mr. Harris. He was also a member of
the joint committee of six to call State conventions
and to construct a new party platform, which was
one of the first steps in the formation of the Re
publican party. Mr. Harris aided largely in
founding the Republican party, and has always been
justly regarded as one of its strongest and ablest
champions. From 1862 to 1870 he was a mem
ber of the Republican State Committee ; from 1862
to 1864 he was chairman of the Executive Com
mittee ; from 1864 to 1870 he was chairman of the
Republican State Committee, in which position he
displayed great executive ability, and by his skillful
political management more than once led his party
to -victory in closely contested State elections. As
has been said of him by a prominent writer : " His
keen intuitions and his rare skill as an organizer,
with a singular union of discretion with boldness,
render him a natural leader of men." As a delegate
in many State and national conventions, Mr. Har
ris was active and strongly influential in sustaining
the measures of his party.
At the Legislative session of 1865 the question
of erecting a new capitol at Albany, which had
been agitated for many previous sessions, culmi
nated in more decisive action. Mr. Harris was
elected President of a new Board of Capitol Com
missioners, serving until 1875 with ability and
success so marked that he has been frequently
termed ' ' The Father " of that great measure. The
Buffalo Commercial Advertiser, commenting upon
the subject, says : " Let the people of Albany re
member that to Hamilton Harris more than any
other man they are indebted for the new capitol
from its inception in 1865 to its progress in 1879."
To this the Albany Evening fournal 'made answer :
" Never fear : Albanians will always remember it."
The Albany Express, speaking of Mr. Harris'
labors in behalf of the new capitol, says: "In
other hands all the doubtful elements of the situa
tion would have worked against it. Not so in the
hands of Mr. Harris. The leader of the Senate, by
force of character, and with a strong cause com
mitted to him, his uniform courtesy and persistent
labor carried the project through the crisis." The
Albany Evening fournal, the New York Sun, the
Ogdensburg Journal, the Troy Daily Times, all con
tain extended editorials commendatory of Mr.
Harris' able and successful efforts in behalf of the
new capitol. The latter paper, in speaking of the
structure, says : " The father of this structure,
which is to rank foremost among the majestic
buildings of the world, is Hamilton Harris. Al
bany owes a debt of gratitude to Senator Harris

for his advocacy of the stupendous enterprise and
for his labors in carrying it on, which it can never
repay. " He studied hard to devise means to have
the new building- completed as soon as possible,
without having the burden of taxation fall upon
posterity. His bills relating to the matter were
framed with great fairness, practicability and good
sense, and the citizens of the State of New York
will always applaud his earnestness, zeal and perse
verance in the great cause in which he was en
listed. In the autumn of 1875 he was elected to the
Senate of the State from his district. On taking his
seat in that body he entered into its deliberations
and its proceedings with a facility that indicated
natural legislative abilities.
As chairman of the Finance Committee, of the
Committee on Joint Library, and of the select
Committee on Apportionment, his labors were use
ful and exhaustive.
On the floor of the Senate he always took a
prominent part in the discussion of leading public
questions ; his arguments never failed to command
respect and attention.
At the expiration of his Senatorial term he was,
in 1877, re-elected by a large majority. Having
served his second term in a manner which brought
to him high Senatorial honors, he decided to abandon
public life and devote himself exclusively to the ex
tended duties of his profession. From this resolu
tion he has deviated but in one instance. In the
fall of 1884 he ran as one of the Republican Elec
tors on the State ticket. In October, 1879,
his name was prominently brought forward for re
election to the Senate, and under circumstances so
flattering that few could have resisted the nomina
tion. But Mr. Harris, adhering to his resolution,
on October 3, 1879, in a brief note published in
the Evening fournal, most respectfully, but peremp
torily, declined to accept the nomination under any
circumstances. Among his Senatorial addresses which have
passed into history are those touching the New
Capitol ; on the question of Convict Labor ; on
the Grand Army bill ; on the question of historical
societies holding real estate for preservation and
monumental purposes ; on Higher Education ; on
Sectarian Appropriations, and on Taxation. He
closed his Senatorial career under the following high
tribute from the Morning Express : " Mr. Harris
is a natural leader ; he unites discretion with bold
ness. His zeal is regulated by mature reflection.
His knowledge of men is intuitive, and his intui
tions have been sharpened by wide intercourse.
He is a close thinker, a cultured scholar, a thor
ough lawyer, a skillful organizer and ready debater,
and he has a wide knowledge of, and devotion to,
the interests of the State. "
We shall close our sketch with some remarks
touching his literary acquirements and labors, and
as we conceive him to be in private life.
Mr. Harris is one of those who believe that to
complete a lawyer's education, lo enable him to
take an elevated. position in it, much more is needed
than mere knowledge of law ; but that he should

THE BENCH AND BAR.

167

honor and cultivate, as unspeakably useful, that lit
erature which corresponds to and calls forth the
highest faculties, which expresses and communi
cates energy of thought, fruitfulness of invention,
force of moral purpose, a thirst for the true and a
delight in the beautiful.
Mr. Harris has exhibited his literary taste and
culture, and abilities as a writer, on the lecture
platform, and as a speaker in the popular assem
bly. He possesses the rare faculty of putting his
readers or his audience in full possession of his
thoughts, and in keeping the communication be
tween himself and them always open ; always
avoiding those affected grasps after originality on
the the one hand, and that sicklyprettiness of style
on the other, so much sought after by common
place lecturers and writers.
Several of his addresses have been published.
We cannot avoid, in this connection, some refer
ence to an admirable lecture delivered by him on
the subject, "Politics and Literature," before the
Young Men's Association of Albany. To use his
own language : "Politics and Literature was the
theme of the speaker long years ago, when he bade
' good-by ' to college halls and boyish fancies, and
stepped upon the stage of active duties to play his
humble part in the great drama of life. "
Mr. Harris took up his subject from the stand
point of long experience, as he says, in the strug
gles of the world ; and thus it was full of most val
uable thoughts and suggestions. The Albany Ar
gus, in speaking of it, says : " Mr. Harris was able
to give to the literary discussion of politics in the
abstract the fruits of an experience in the concrete
which few men can claim — an experience which
has covered a long period of time, notable
associations, occasional vicissitudes and refreshing
successes. "
He denied that public men and politicians are
absolved, in any degree, from the obligations of
strict honor and morality. He insisted that politi
cal power is not a prize which justifies mean acts
and compliance with usages that would be scorned
in private life ; that platitudes, intrigues, hollow
pretensions and appeals to base passions deserve
signal rebuke when employed to compass political
ends. "The man," said the lecturer, "who devotes himself to
politics as a business, for the purpose of securing position
for support, is worthy of little consideration, and gathers the
least satisfaction that can be derived from any of the em
ployments oi men. His existence is a miserable one of ser
vility and solicitation, delays and disappointments, to end
generally in poverty and obscurity. He who would best
serve the state and win a name and secure public confidence
should possess lofty principles, a keen faculty of vision to
discover the wants and interests of society, an accurate ac
quaintance with current events, opinions and social tenden
cies, a deep penetration into the motives of human action,
and a. clear determination of the results of measures and
movements." The manner in which Mr. Harris illustrated the
advantage of combining literary attainments with
political acumen was very forcible and happy. He
gave many instances from history, where the treas
ures of literature increased the usefulness and
strength of political labor.

" The low ambitions of life," he said, "and the grosser
pleasures of sense, are characteristic of the illiterate. Liter
ature is the source of refinement and enlightenment ; it im
parts wisdom, elevates thought and adorns character."
The numerous favorable comments of the press
upon this address evince at once its ability and its
effect upon the public mind.
An address delivered by Mr. Harris before the
Young Men's Association of Albany, on "The
Tower of London," was a production that created
great interest on its delivery, and was eagerly read
after its appearance in the public journals. It is
remarkable for its historic research, and for the
pleasing diction with which he so vividly described
that grand old fortress of the past, around which so
many historical incidents cluster, and where so
many precious relics of the grandeur, power, and,
we may say, weakness of England are gathered.
This structure has often been described by tourists,
but few, if any, have described it in the manner
and in the light of history, which Mr. Harris did in
his address.
"Its story "he said, "is interwoven with the annals of
Great Britain. The historic memories of eight centuries
cluster around it. The history of many of the bravest as
well as the darkest deeds of the Empire is written in its
walls. With it is associated the glory of proud triumphs
and gorgeous ceremonials, together with the pathetic and
tragic vicissitudes and mutations of human fortune."
These deeds and the worthiest actors in them
attracted the pen of the lecturer. His portraiture
showed a wide range of reading and the appre
ciative and discriminating hand of a close student.
Another of his productions which was listened
to and read with interest was his lecture before
the Young Men's Working Society. The subject
was " No Royal Road to Knowledge. "
A Fourth of July oration, delivered by him in
early life before the Young Men's Association of
Albany, was quite out of the order of such pro
ductions in thought and originality.
We might take many interesting extracts from
many other addresses and give extracts from many
of Mr. Harris' literary productions, but space will
not permit. It is proper to say, however, that some
of his most pleasing productions are his memorial
tributes to departed distinguished jurists and legis
lators. Perhaps nowhere in the language of eu
logy can there be found a more well-deserved and
more touching and well-expressed tribute than
that paid by Mr. Harris to the memory of John
Morrissey in the Senate of this State.
The ' ' Memorial Wreath, " as he appropriately
called his beautiful eulogy upon that great lawyer
and beloved citizen, Lyman Tremain, commanded
general admiration, in that, as in all other like pro
ductions, Mr. Harris did not become the extreme
panegyrist. He drew his mental portrait with truth
to the original, avoiding on the one hand inordi
nate praise, and on the other a stinted denial of
true merit.
His tribute to James A. Garfield was a most
adequate eulogy upon the Glorious Martyr. It
was a touching and attractive portraiture of the
martyred President drawn with a master hand,
guided by an oppulent mind.

168

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The literary taste of Mr. Harris is exhibited in
his elegant home, which abounds in books. The
recondite productions of great and gifted writers
of all ages are found in his large, valuable and
carefully selected library. To use the language of
another, ' ' Mr. Harris has made the selection of
books a specialty; he has brought together on his
shelves all the principal works of eminent English
and American statesmen, orators, poets, jurists and
scholars from Lord Bacon to Edward Everett."
He spends much of his time in his library; to
him it is peopled with living minds, speaking to
him of history, of philosophy, eloquence and all
the riches of ancient and modern literature. Here
voices come to him from the Athenian Arena;
from the Roman Forum; from the English Parlia
ment; from the American Senate; from our own
great scholars, writers and scientists; from the
Bench and Bar of the world.
It is natural that a mind thus devoted to books
and research should be a friend to the cause of
education and the diffusion of knowledge by the
establishment of schools and colleges. And we
find that not only in private life, but in his legis
lative career, he has been the warm advocate of the
cause of popular and higher education.
One of his ablest speeches in the Senate was in
support of higher popular education. This speech,
which was widely circulated through the State by
the friends of popular education, was delivered
January 29, 1879, m committee of the whole, hav
ing under consideration the Governor's Message.
That document recommended the abandonment
of the system of aiding the public high schools,
which had prevailed so many years in the State.
The Governor in his Message took strong grounds
against the State's aiding in giving higher educa
tion to the children of the poor, terming it legal
ized robbery to do so. Hon. Thomas C. E. Ec-
clesine, Senator from the City of New York, strong
ly sustained the Governor in a speech delivered in
the Senate. He insisted that higher education
disqualified the poor for the duties and labors to
which alone they are by nature adapted, and that
injustice is done by trying to educate the children
of the poor for callings which they can never fill.
This attack upon the education of the poor
brought Senator Harris to his feet, and he repelled
it in the admirable speech to which we have al
luded. The debate was long and ardent, continu
ing at intervals until the 5th of February, 1879,
when Mr. Harris closed it. He reviewed the va
rious laws which had passed favoring popular edu
cation and the great advantages flowing to the
people from these laws.
"The true theory," he said, "upon which the State
educates its children is not simply for the benefit or advance
ment of the individual, but it is to enlarge his mind and
elevate his character, so as to increase his efficiency and
value as a citizen, and thus add power and influence to the
community in which he lives, contributing thereby to the
prosperity and elevation of the State. Ihe time has ar
rived in the history of the world when a nation takes rank
according to the intelligence and elevation of the people.
The hope for the prosperity of free institutions especially
rests upon popular education." Again Senator Harris said
that " the doctrine that higher education disqualifies the

poor for their duties and labors is the old doctrine of caste
and aristocracy, which debars the people of despotic coun
tries from rising above the condition in life in which they
were born. It is the expression of the belief that all men
are not equal. It is the utterance of a disbelief in the first
principles upon which our government was founded. It is
not the doctrine of America, which throws wide open the
door of every school-house, that all children may receive
the benefit of the best education, so that they may better
their own condition in life, and thus better the condition of
the State itself. If the views of the Governor should be
adopted, the State would step back a half century instead of
advancing, and the children of poor men would have to
dismiss all desire and ambition to improve their condition,
and be kept in the position in which they found themselves
by the accident of birth. Many of our greatest men, men
of eminence in public life and in the professions, have been
taught in our free schools, and sprung from the lower con
ditions of life. Had the views of the Governor prevailed,
many of the men who have molded the opinions of the
country, framed its laws and upheld its institutions, would
have been forced to pass their lives in following the same
narrow path that their fathers trod and remain in the condi
tion in which they were born. I say, then,that the proposi
tion that a higher education than the rudimentary one of the
common schools is not a benefit to the poor man, that the
children of the poor should only learn to labor and not to
think, is monstrous, even though it comes from the Execu
tive Chamber. ' '
Such was the champion which the cause of
popular education found on the floor of the Senate
in Hamilton Harris. We could cite many other
instances where he strongly advocated our system
of popular education, did space permit.
Thus he naturally became popular with the
friends of education throughout the State. Early
in the year 1885 two vacancies occurred in the
Board of Regents of the University. When the
Legislature convened that year his name was very
soon brought forward as a candidate to fill one of
the vacancies. The members of the Senate and
Assembly, fully appreciating his accomplishments
for this honorable position, and his services in the
educational interests of the State, favored his ap
pointment. On the 10th of March, 1885, the Re
publican members of the Senate and Assembly
convened to nominate Regents, and Mr. Harris,
with Mr. Beach, of Schuyler County, was unani
mously elected.
This action, being ratified by the Legislature of
our State in joint convention, was greeted with
general approbation by the press and the voice of
the public. Speaking of it, the Evening fournal
said :
"The position of Regent of the University is the single
honor within the power of the State to bestow upon its
scholars, and the unanimous accord of the nomination for
that position to the Hon. Hamilton Harris, of this city, and
to Mr. Daniel Beach, of Schuyler County, was a fitting and
especially appropriate tribute to the learning and ability of
the two gentlemen chosen. To be chosen out of the many
public-spirited scholars of the State would be a great com
pliment to confer upon any citizen. To be chosen unan
imously and without the consideration of any other name
is a recognition that has seldom been awarded by the State
to learning. The designation of Senator Harris, of Albany,
for the position is one the propriety of which our citizens
will gratefully recognize. Although Mr. Harris' reputation
through the State rests chiefly on his political and profes
sional achievements Albanians know him also as a man
of research and attainments in the field of literature, and
in those general studies which bring grace and symmetry
to the mind. His interest in the educational affairs of
the State and of the city has been often demonstrated,

-..-.¦¦¦

^Z^^-^Lj^

THE BENCH AND BAR.

169

and he will bring to the Board of Regents a practical
knowledge of the requirements of our school system that
cannot but be of advantage to the State."
Thus we have rapidly traced the early life of Mr.
Harris, his entrance into his chosen profession, his
successful career as a lawyer, writer and speaker,
his career as a Legislator, and in other public
places. His private life needs no mention here.
He has been singularly fortunate in his domestic
relations. In 1850 he married, in Buffalo, Lucy
Moody Rogers, the eldest daughter of the late Na
thaniel Rogers, of that city, and has two children — ¦
Frederick Harris, who is now associated with him
in the practice of law, and Lucy Hamilton Harris.
He, with his refined and highly cultured family,
occupies and adorns a distinguished position in the
brilliant social circles of the Capital City.
He may be called a positive man. It has been
said of him truthfully that "he throws himself
heart and soul into whatever business he does and
whatever cause he espouses." His opinions both of
persons and things are decided and confident. In
forming them he is entirely free from the errors
which spring from undue examination or want of
just appreciation. In other words, he weighs men
very much as they are, regardless of adventitious
circumstances. Long a prominent resident of
Albany, he has exhibited, as we have seen, the
character of a liberal and public-spirited citizen ;
has identified himself with all prominent measures,
tending not only to the advancement of the city,
but of the State and country, and has fairly won
for himself an honorable place in history.
WILLIAM L. LEARNED.
The judiciary is a department in our govern
ment of higher importance than all others. It
was this department which gave force and vitality
to the Constitution, which, till its formation, was
almost inert in the exercise of its power. It is
about the only department untainted from the cor
ruptions of politics. While politicians expend
their zeal on transient interests which derive their
chief importance from their brief connection with
a party, it is the province of the Judge to apply
those solemn and universal laws of rectitude on
which the security, industry and prosperity of the
individual and the State essentially depend.
That we should naturally reverence and honor
our judicial officers ; that we should select them
with care and sedulously weigh their qualifications
for the office, their merits and demerits, in the
balance, is natural, and when not found wanting,
vouchsafe them the large honors which are their
due. In view of these reflections we enter upon the
task of briefly tracing the life and career of the
distinguished jurist and long-experienced Judge
whose name stands at the head of our sketch — the
Hon. William Law Learned. For many years he
has been a delegated minister of justice and has
received an uncommon evidence of the esteem in
which he is held by the Bar and the public by his
recent election for the second time to the office of

Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New
York. The career of such a man is eminently worthy a
place in history ; it is pleasant and profitable to
give that history to the public, and we perform our
grateful task as follows :
Judge William L. Learned is a native of New
London, Conn., bom there July 24, 1821. His
father was Ebenezer Learned, who was twice mar
ried, his second wife being Lydia Coit, the mother
of Judge Learned, he being the only child of the
second marriage.
Both his parents descended from early New
England settlers. His paternal ancestor, William
Learned, was a native of England, who came to
this country and became a resident of Charlestown,
Mass. John Coit, his maternal ancestor, was a
native of Wales, who left that country about 1638,
and became a resident of Salem, Mass. , for we find
his name in the records of that town in that year.
His grandfathers, Amasa Learned and Joshua
Coit, were representatives in Congress ; the first
from 1 801 to 1805, the latter from 1793 to 1798.
They were both men of distinction and took con
spicuous parts in the public affairs of the State.
Judge Learned seems to have inherited his love
of the legal profession, for his father was a dis
tinguished lawyer who for many years occupied a
respectable position at the Bar, but who later in
life became the cashier of one of the banks of the
State of Connecticut.
Young Learned began his education at the
Union School in New London, an institution of
high repute, in which he prepared for college.
Yale became his Alma Mater. He entered that
time-honored institution in 1837, from whence he
was graduated in 1 84 1. His college course was
characterized by diligence and conscientious de
votion to his studies. As a result, he stood high
with the students and was a favorite with the
faculty. His rank as a student is indicated by the
fact that he was salutatorian of his class, and his
popularity by his membership of the society
known as the Skull and Bones.
Among his classmates were several who have
since become distinguished. Among them is
Donald G. Mitchell, favorably known as "Ik
Marvel," author of " Reveries of a Bachelor " and
other pleasing productions.
Three Justices of the Supreme Court of the State
of New York, Joseph F. Barnard, Lucien G.
Birdseye and Gilbert Dean, were classmates of
Judge Learned.
William E. Robinson, a prominent politician; B.
G. Northrup, a well-known educator; Stephen D.
Law, a very acceptable writer on the laws of
patents, and Rev. Thomas F. Peters, eminent for
his works of benevolence in the City of New York,
were also members of this class.
Immediately after leaving college Mr. Learned
entered the law office of Wm. F. Brainard, of New
London, with whom he pursued his studies one
year. Having formed a pleasant acquaintance with
those highly respected lawyers, Messrs. Gould &
Olin, of Troy, N. Y., he accepted an invitation

170

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

from them to continue his studies in their office.
This was about the year 1842.
In recognition of his learning, ability and great
purity of character, Mr. Gould, the senior partner,
was elected Mayor of Troy in 1852, and in Novem
ber, 1855, he was elected a Justice of the Supreme
Court of the State for the Third Judicial District.
Mr. Learned's associate in the office of Gould &
Olin was George C. Waite, a brother of Chief-
Justice Waite, of the United States Supreme
Court. Young Learned was called to the Bar at the fall
term of the Supreme Court of the State in 1844,
which held its sittings at Rochester. This was the
old "Supreme Court of Judicature of the People
of the State of New York," Chief-Justice Samuel
Nelson presiding, Esek Cowan, Greene C.
Bronson; — names illustrious in legal history —
associates. Mr. Learned decided to make Albany the place
of his future residence, fully aware that, in his pro
fessional career in that city, he would be compelled
to contend with what may be well termed giants of
the Bar. With a well-balanced confidence in his
own abilities, with a consciousness that his intel
lectual weapons would be stronger, brighter and
more effective by wielding them in the conflict
against great and accomplished minds, he entered,
confidently and determinedly, into the honorable
rivalry he had sought.
This selection of a field of labor was judicious
and fortunate. If he met the usual embarrassments
and discouragements of young lawyers, he over
came them by severe application, steady persever
ance, and the happy adaptation of his vigorous
mind to his pursuit. Prosperity attended him, and
he gradually but surely moved on to the front rank
of his profession, and from thence to the distin
guished judicial position he now occupies.
In 1850 he formed a copartnership with the late
Gilbert L. Wilson, who afterward .became secretary
of the New York Central Railroad Company.
After this partnership had existed some time,
James C. Cook became a member of the firm,
which now took the name of Learned, Wilson &
Cook. After the withdrawal of Wilson the firm
was known as Learned & Cook. It took a very
high and influential position, controlling an ex
tended and important clientage ; it continued until
1867, when Mr. Cook decided to retire from prac
tice ; this dissolved the firm, and its business de
volved upon Mr. Learned.
The large responsibility which now rested upon
him was met with talents, ability and learning,
which added largely to his reputation as a lawyer.
Perhaps no practicing lawyer at that time stood
higher in public estimation than did Mr. Learned.
He continued his practice until the summer of 1870,
when that distinguished jurist, Rufus W. Peckham,
who had been one of the Justices of the Supreme
Court since 1861, was appointed a Justice of the
Court of Appeals. This left a vacancy on the
Bench of the Supreme Court, and Mr. Learned
was immediately appointed by Gov. Hoffman
in place of Judge Peckham.

In the autumn of 1870 Judge Learned was
nominated by the Democratic party of the Third.
Judicial District as a Justice of the Supreme Court ;
his Republican opponent was the late Henry Smith,
an acknowledged leader of the Bar and a man of
commanding eloquence. Judge Learned was,
however, elected for the full term of fourteen years.
He entered upon his judicial duties with that
ability and success which his high reputation as a
counselor at law fully indicated he would. As a
trial judge he possessed that urbanity and patience
in the conduct of those difficult cases so wearying
and patience-trying to the judge in a manner that ¦
rendered him popular with the Bar, jurors and the
general public.
In January, 1875, he was appointed Presiding
Judge of the Third Department by Gov. Til
den. This appointment was made to continue
during the remainder of his term. His associates
were those eminent jurists, Hon. Douglass Board-
man, of Ithaca, and Hon. Augustus Bockes, of
Saratoga Spa. The ability and celerity with which
the Supreme Court for the Third Department con
ducted its work elicited general commendation
from the Bar. Though its calendars were very
large, embracing many important cases, the business
of the court was not permitted to accumulate, and
its calendars were cleared to such an extent that
cases were disposed of with great rapidity and sat
isfaction. It is said that the New York judges are
overworked, from the Court of Appeals to the
County Court. This, to a large extent, is true.
Perhaps no men in the State are subjected to such
constant and exhaustive labors as the judges of our
courts. Certainly the justices of the Third Depart
ment may be said to be overworked in their en
deavors to prevent -that accumulation of business so
disastrous to litigants.
The first opinion pronounced by Judge Learned
was delivered in the case of Gould vs. The Town of
Oneonta, at the January Term of 1875, very soon
after assuming the duties of presiding justice. It
is reported in 3 Hun, 404. This was followed
by several cases in which he pronounced the opin
ion of the Court. He seemed to come to his judi
cial duties with that ease and directness which in
dicated a natural talent for their discharge. In
1874 he was appointed one of the Faculty of the
Albany Law School. His associate members were
Hon. Ira Harris, Hon. Matthew Hale and Isaac
Edwards. The department of jurisprudence to
which he confined his lectures at first was The
Civil" Law. These lectures required the expendi
ture of much labor and research — the most exten
sive legal learning. The success which attended
them, their popularity with the students, is a sure
indication that this demand was fully supplied. In
the course of a few years two other departments
were taken up as the theme of his lectures, one on
Equity, the other on the Trial of Causes. These
three courses he continues to deliver.
Among Mr. Learned's literary work was the duty
performed by him as editor of an edition of Mad
am Knight's fournal and an edition of ' 'Earle's
Microcosmography. "

THE BENCH AND BAR.

171

A very valuable article from the pen of Judge
Learned on "The Tardiness of Justice" appeared
in the North American Review for June, 1885.
It commends itself strongly to the judge, the lawyer
and, above all, to the business man ; for, really,
the tardiness of justice is one of the great evils of
the times, and Judge Learned deals with the
subject as one who speaks with knowledge and
with authority. He says :
" One cannot begin a lawsuit that involves a considerable
amount, with any hope of a reasonably speedy decision ; a
year's time would be short for its termination ; and the
plaintiff may not reach the end in three, four, five or
six years. A short time since a counsel, in arguing a mat
ter, referred to a case that had been pending eighteen years,
and was just at issue for trial. The case may be found re
ported as early as 1873, in one of its 'many steps,' and
was in fact begun in 1869 (Smith vs. Rathbun, 66 Barb. ,
402 ; 13 Hun, 47). It has graduated some of its counsel to
the bench, and has seen several of the judges who sat in it
carried beyond the term of their judicial career. Another
case pressed forward by the plaintiff and entitled to a pref
erence on the calendar of the courts was begun in 1874,
and, after four trials, reached its happy end in 1880. These
are not unusual instances.
" In civil matters, the delay of Justice is a great wrong.
Bis dat qui cito dat is a maxim as true in law as of charity.
Men can bear what they believe to be a wrong decision, if
it be made promptly ; but they cannot bear the uncertain
ties of delay. ' Hope deferred maketh the heart sick.'
It is-the weary watching by the bedside, not the fatal ter
mination, that tries the mind and body. And so with a
pecuniary claim which one man makes against another. * * *
Perhaps there is no other cause of delay so great as the ex
tensive right of appeal given by our present system. In
many matters that belong merely to the preliminary skir
mishing, as it might be called, appeals to the General Term
can be taken, with the result of delaying the trial ; such
matters, for instance, as motions to change the place of
trial. Yet these are often questions, to a great extent, of
good discretion, in which the discretion of one judgejnight
better be made conclusive, for the sake of preventing delay.
This, however, is of less importance than the freedom of
appeal after trial. It may be said generally that, after trial,
the defeated party has three appeals, under any ofwhich
he may obtain a new trial. First, he may apply to the
court before which the case was tried. If unsuccessful, he
may appeal to the General Term. It unsuccessful there, he
may appeal to the Court of Appeals. In the crowded con
dition of the calendars, this assures him a very comfortable
postponement of the final result. When, however, he shall
at last have his cause decided by the highest court, and shall
have succeeded^ and shall have obtained a new trial, he
will not have reached the end. He must go back and try
the case again. And, armed with the decision of the high
est court in his favor, he will probably succeed in his de
fense, at the trial. That, however, is not the end. The
plaintiff will now appeal ; and when the defendant once
more reaches the higher court, he may find that there is a
distinguendo, and that that court didn't mean quite what he
thought they meant.* Once more, then, there must be a
new trial. And once, more he may climb the ladder of
appeals, and get a new lesson in wisdom from its topmost
round — at least a new lesson of patience."
The Judge points out, with much ability and
discernment, the serious - evils, the delay and
expense, in the practice of referring causes for
trial. " References," he says, " are very expensive, and the
expense falls on the defeated party. They are always pro
tracted, because the convenience of two or more of the
counsel and of the referee must be consulted, and because
the referee cannot exercise that power of compelling prompt
ness which can be exercised by the Court. Thus a trial,
*Marstonvs. Sweet, 66 N.Y., 206, and S. C. 82N.Y., 526; Urqu-
hart vs. Ogdensburgh, 91 N. Y.

which before a court or jury might be finished in a few
days, will be before a referee lor months, by reason of short
sessions and long adjournment. It is to be hoped that
since the recent increase in the number of judges, there will
be a return to that practice when nothing was referred,
except long accounts. * * * It is certainly the duty of
the State to provide a sufficient number of Judges ; so that,
if they do their duty faithfully, there should be no delay in
reaching a cause soon after it is ready for trial. ' '
On the 27th of May, 1855, Judge Learned was
united by marriage to Phebe Rowland Marvin,
daughter of Alexander Marvin, a distinguished
merchant of Albany. This accomplished and
highly esteemed lady died March 31, 1864, leav
ing three daughters. On January 15, 1868, Mr.
Learned was married to Katherine S., a daugh
ter of the late Clinton DeWitt, one of the most
accomplished members of the New York City
Bar, whose exalted career had been suddenly
terminated while yet in early manhood. In 1878
Yale College conferred upon Judge Learned the
degree of LL. D.
As we have said, Judge Learned was elected for
the long term of fourteen years. As this term was
to terminate with the expiration of 1884, he was
nominated by the Democrats of the Third Judicial
District as their candidate for the office of Justice
of the Supreme Court for that district.. He was
elected, and in January, 1885, entered upon the
discharge of his judicial duties with the experience
of over fourteen years ot arduous labors on the
bench. His appointment as presiding Justice of the
Fourth Department removed him from the circuit,
or Nisi Prius, the duties of which, as we have seen,
he discharged with singular ability. It was his for
tune while presiding as a Circuit Judge to try
several exceedingly important criminal cases. So
important were some of them that they attracted
the attention of the press and the public throughout
the nation. Space will not permit any description
of these cases, but our work would not be complete
without some reference to two of them, one The
People v. Loivenstein, the other The People v. Filkins,
for the robbing of an express car near Albany on
the 6th of January, 1 871.
The questions of fact involved in these cases
were most remarkable, remotely connected, some
of them obscure and apparently unimportant, yet
when cleared of obscurity, clearly developed and
fairly connected, formed a chain of evidence of
such unerring certainty that they resulted in the
conviction of both Lowenstein and Filkins. A
brief reference to the cases of Filkins and Lowen
stein belong appropriately to this biography :
On the 6th of June, 1871, Thomas A. Halpine, a messen
ger for the American Express Company, got into his car at
Albany twenty-five minutes past five, P. M., in the rear of
the express office. The car was drawn by an engine to the
bridge, now known as the Upper Bridge ; a train came
over, to which the car was attached. Its doors were ajar a
few inches ; the safe was locked and the key in Halpine's
pocket. A few moments after the car started a man sprang
in, shut the door through which he entered, jumped over
and shut the other door. After a few words passed between
the men, the stranger presented a pistol and shot Halpine
through the neck. He fell, and the shot was repeated.
This shot entered under Halpine's right eye ; the shot was

172

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

again repeated, taking effect near the right ear. The victim
was insensible, and apparently dead. When the car
reached the Green street station Halpine recovered sufficient
consciousness to recall what had taken place. The car had
stopped. By a strong effort he reached the door, faint and
bleeding. He called for assistance, which resulted in his
being taken from the car. An examination of the safe
showed it had been unlocked and a large sum of money
taken therefrom. The key had been taken from the pocket
of Halpine, and with it the safe was unlocked. The
circumstances created great excitement, and for a time the
affair was wrapped in mystery. At length suspicion began
to attach itself to John A. Filkins so far as the Express Com
pany was concerned. On learning this he fled to Canada,
but was followed and arrested, indicted and brought to
trial .
What most embarrassed the prosecution was the fact that
Filkins bore a good reputation, and on the trial he proved
that at about the time the crime was committed he was at his
home far up the hill on one of the streets of the city. It was
difficult to believe he could have crossed the river and
reached his home in so short a time. But his pistol was
found near the spot where the crime was committed, by a
boy, and Halpine positively identified him as the robber who
had assailed him. There were many other facts in the case,
on both sides, rendering it, as we have said, one of great
difficulty and interest.
The prosecution of Filkins was conducted with
great skill and vigor by that distinguished lawyer,
Hon. Rufus W. Peckham, then District Attorney,
and now a Justice of the Supreme Court. He was
aided by William J. Hadley, whose opening ad
dress was most clear and forcible. Hon. N. C.
Moak, so well known for his thorough research
and unwearying ability, was counsel for the pris
oner. The charge of Judge Learned to the jury is re
membered as one of great ability and fairness.
With exact analysis he went through the conflict
ing evidence, disentangling the material from the
immaterial, and presenting it clear and direct to the
jury, who, after due deliberation," returned a ver
dict of guilty, and Filkins was sentenced to States
Prison at Clinton for a term of twenty years. He
had not been there long when he made his escape,
and has never since been heard from.
It was never known by the public how much
money was taken from the safe, but it was sufficient
to induce the company to offer a reward of $5,000
for the apprehension and conviction of the robbers.
The Lowenstein case, like the Filkins case, was
one of great importance.
At this time Hon. N. C. Moak was District At
torney, and he conducted the case for the people
with masterly ability, and Hon. D. Cady Herrick,
who has since filled admirably the office of District
Attorney, was counsel for Lowenstein.
On August 7, 1873, a man happened to take a short cut
in crossing from the turnpike over the farm of one Jones.
On reaching a fence that crossed his course, he discovered
in a hollow, or basin in the ground, a man apparently
asleep, but on attempting to awaken him he was startled to
find that he was dead. His throat was cut and he had been
shot in the head, and there were nine bullet holes in differ
ent parts of his body.
In his pocket was found a card of Theodore Grunewald,
barber and hair-dresser, 35 Atlantic street, South Brook
lyn. On inquiring of Grunewald it was learned that he did
not know the deceased ; but it was learned that a former
workman of his had left his shop early in the morning and
taken his wages and other implements with him. On going

to his residence it was learnd that his name was Lowenstein,
and that he lived in the house of John D. Weston, who an
swered the description of the deceased.
Weston had recently drawn four hundred and fifty dol
lars from the bank, and, on the morning of August 5, got up
between four and five, went away and was never afterward
seen, except that he took the Harlem train at nine A. M.,
which reached Albany at five P. M.
Lowenstein was absent from home on August 5, but re
turned about nine A. M., the 6th, saying he had been to Phil
adelphia. Though a man of small means, he soon had
plenty of money, purchasing a barber shop and paying for
it the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars.
For some reason, on the nth of August, he hurriedly fled
and went to St. Catherines, Canada, but not till several cir
cumstances were discovered pointing so strongly to his guilt
that warrants for his arrest were issued, with which he was
followed to St. Catherines, arrested, brought to Albany and
committed to jail.
Near where Weston's body was found, on the lower board
of the fence, a razor marked L. VII. When Low
enstein was arrested there was found in his possession
a set of razors similarly marked and numbered from I. up
ward to VI. ; it was proven that he had given away one
similar to the others, and marked L. VIII.
The account he gave of himself on the trial was, that he
had been to Philadelphia, and was there when the murder
was committed ; that he went to obtain a sum of four hun
dred and fifty dollars in money which he had previously
hidden in a hole m the wall of Moyamensing prison. The
point most embarrassing to the prosecution was, that Low
enstein was away only the 5th of August, returning
at nine A. M. of the 6th, while Weston must have been
killed the night of the 5th, a few miles west of Albany, not
far from the Central Railroad track.
On the trial Lowenstein produced a very respectable
woman, a. resident of Philadelphia, who swore positively
that she saw him in Philadelphia on the 5th, having con
versed with him on the occasion. When Lowenstein fled to
Canada, for some reason, he went by way of . Philadelphia,
and it was contended by the prosecution that the woman
was mistaken in the time of meeting Lowenstein.
The trial began January 28, 1874, and was, perhaps, one
of the most protracted of any criminal case ever tried in Al
bany. It was one of those difficult cases of fact and law ex
tremely exhausting to the Court, but the well-balanced
mind, judicial fairness and learning of Judge Learned en
abled him to preside with great success. Like his charge to
the jury in the Filkins case, his charge was a model of
judicial ability. Lowenstein was convicted and executed.
" Of Judge Learned's eminent abilities as a jurist
or judicial officer, of his superior qualities of mind
and character, and, of course, of usefulness, it is
unnecessary to speak here ; to do so would be but
the work of supererogation ; suffice it to say, he
has left the impress of his large abilities and ex
tended learning upon the history of the State."
The numerous opinions which he has delivered
enrich the learning of our reports from the 3d of
Hun down to the present time. Distinguished
and useful as has been his public life, his life as a
citizen is in every way in harmony with his public
life, and therefore it is no affectation to say he oc
cupies an exalted position among the people of the
Capital City.
Whatever tends to the advancement of its public
interests, to the promotion of religion, of educa
tion and the proper embellishment of the city, has
always found in Judge Learned an ardent, able
and successful advocate. He is now President of
the Albany Female Academy and of the Albany
Law School, and for many years has been one of
the trustees of those two corporations and of the
Albany Academy.

(tZCkjuJ) >AraXjL<

't,tj fj,y ::K th :1s Sons.Mu- ibrk..

THE BENCH AND BAR.

173

MATTHEW HALE.
The records of the courts of the State of New
York bear ample evidence of the high abilities and
successful career of the distinguished lawyer whose
name stands at the head of this chapter, and whose
life we are now to briefly trace. His is a life and
career which it is a pleasure to record; though it
may contain no striking events, no sensational
vicissitudes, it still contains very much of interest to
the scholar, the jurist and the lawyer, It is replete
with those incidents in the life of all criminal law
yers which attract to it the interest of all intelligent
classes. Matthew Hale was born at Chelsea, Vt. , June
20, 1829. His father was Harry Hale, Esq., a
descendant of Thomas Hale, who came to New
bury, Mass., in 1638. This Hale was the son
of an English yeoman from Hertfordshire, Eng
land. Matthew Hale's mother was Lucinda Eddy, a
descendant of Miles Standish and of John Alden,
the son of Miles Standish having married the
daughter of John Alden and Priscilla, his wife.
After a careful preparatory training, young Hale
entered the University of Vermont at Burlington.
At college he excelled, especially in languages,
standing first in his class in this department, and
was a favorite with his class and with the
faculty. He was graduated in 185 1. In 1854 he
delivered the Masters Oration. In 1883 the Col
lege conferred upon him the degree of LL. D.
Having chosen the legal profession for his future
occupation, he commenced the study of law in the
office of Kellogg & Hale, at Elizabethtown, Essex
County, N. Y. The senior member of this firm
was the Hori. Orlando Kellogg, and the junior
member the late Hon. Robert S. Hale, an older
brother of Matthew, who served two terms in Con
gress with distinction, and was for many years prior
to his death in 1881 a Regent of the University.
In 1 853 Mr. Hale was admitted to the Bar at the
Geneial Term held at Salem, N. Y. He chose Pough-
keepsie, N. Y., as his first field of professional
labor, practicing there from 1853 to 1859. His
first law partner was his brother, Henry Hale, now
at St. Paul, Minn. After the dissolution of this
firm by the removal of his brother to the West he
formed a business relation with Gen. A. B. Smith,
under the firm name of Hale cV Smith. In 1859
Mr. Hale removed to New York City, and became
the law partner of the late Lot C. Clark, under the
firm name of Clark & Hale. This firm was suc
cessful, gaining remunerative practice and taking
a respectable position in the city and in Richmond
County, where it had the leading business. It
continued until 1863, when Mr. Hale removed to
Elizabethtown, N. Y. Here he became a member
of the firm of Hand <2f Hale, consisting of the late
Hon. A. C. Hand, his father-in-law, R. L. Hand,
Esq., and himself. The senior member of the firm,
A. C. Hand, had been one of the first Justices of
the Supreme Court elected under the Constitution
of 1846. This firm was distinguished for the
varied ability which its members brought to its

large practice, and it obtained an extended reputa
tion. After the death of Mr. Cagger, which occurred
in the summer of 1868, by which the firm of Cag
ger & Hand was dissolved, Mr. Hale decided to
remove to Albany, and he has here resided since
that time.
On his removal to Albany he became the law
partner of Hon. Samuel Hand. He continued
his relations with Judge Hand until 1881, though
during this time there were several changes in the
firm. It was for a time Hand, Hale & Swartz, and
Hand, Hale, Swartz & Fairchild, afterward
Hand, Hale & Bulkley. These firms succeeded
to the business of Hill, Cagger & Porter and Cag
ger & Hand, and acquiring many new clients, had
an extensive practice in the State and Federal
Courts. Since 1881 Mr. .Hale has been in partnership
with Mr. A. T. Bulkley, under the firm name of
Hale & Bulkley. We have thus given the various
business relations of Mr. Hale since he commenced
his practice.
It has been Mr. Hale's fortune during his prac
tice to conduct, as counsel, a large number of
cases in the Federal and State Courts, which
may well be termed "heavy causes," exceed
ingly interesting not only to the legal profes
sion but to the public. Ihe following important
cases in which he was counsel will give the reader
some knowledge of the magnitude of his business
as an advocate and counselor :
He appeared for the Ramsey Board of Directors
in the great legal contest with Fisk and Gould for
the control of the Albany and Susquehanna R. R.
Company in 1869 and 1870. This is one which
may be called an historic case, summoning the
ablest lawyers in the State to it. Mr. Hale's asso
ciates in the case were Judge W. F. Allen, A. J.
Vanderpoel, Geo. F. Danforth and Henry Smith.
Among the opposing counsel were David Dudley
Field, William C. Barrett and Hon. A. J. Parker.
Although not seeking employment in criminal
cases, Mr. Hale has been engaged in many important
criminal trials. He was associated with Hon. Wm.
A. Beach for the prosecution in the trial in Saratoga
County of Wm. Witbeck for the murder of Millard
Griggs, a deputy sheriff, in the execution of a writ of
possession in one of the anti-rent cases ; and has
successfully defended many cases for murder and
other offenses in the State and United States
Courts, the last being the defense of Levi McCauley,
who was acquitted of the murder of his wife, at the
Essex Oyer and Terminer, in June, 1884.
Few cases created more public interest than the
proceedings brought by the English stock owners
of the Erie Railway Company in 1872 to obtain
the control of that corporation. In this contest
Mr. Hale appeared for the English stockholders.
He was also engaged in the Mayoralty suit be
tween Messrs. Judson and Thacher, in 1872 ; for
the People in the Canal suits instituted by Gov.
Tilden ; in the trial before the Senate of John F.
Smith ; in a large number of cases brought against
the N. Y. C. and H. R. R. R. companies, tried at

174

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

the Albany Circuit. He was counsel for the Albany
National Exchange Bank in what were known as
The Bank Tax Cases, in one of which he obtained
a decision in the Supreme Court, holding that the
State law taxing shareholders in National Banks
was, to some extent, unconstitutional. He was
counsel associated with Gen. Wayne Swayne, of
New York, for the Western Union and other tele
graph companies in the suits brought by the At
torney-General to recover taxes of these corpora
tions under the Jaws of 1 88 1.
In the investigation . of the charges against John
F. Smyth, before the Senate, in 1877, Mr. Hale ap
peared as one of the counsel for the people. This
case began March 7, and continued several weeks.
Its proceedings occupy about 550 pages. Mr.
Smyth was Superintendent of the Insurance De
partment, and was tried before the Senate for de
liberately and wantonly violating the law known
as chapter 593 of the laws of 1873. Mr. Hale
appeared, as we have said, for the people ; his
closing argument, or summing up, was an effort
of extraordinary ability and learning. It was
listened to with profound interest, and gained for
its author the approbation of the public. Smyth
was acquitted of the charge against him by the
Senate by a vote of nineteen to twelve.
The argument of Mr. Hale in the case of the
Supervisors of the County of Albany, plaintiffs in
error, vs. Edward N. Stanley, in the United States
Supreme Court, largely increased his reputation as
a lawyer before the Court in Banc.
It is impossible to read Mr. Hale's argument in
this case without being impressed with the precision
and clearness with which he presented the real
points in issue, or, to use the language of Mr. Jus
tice Miller to Mr. Hale during the argument, "the
manner in which he came to the very marrow of
the case." He conducted the argument with the
calm confidence of one who felt that he could rely
upon himself in any emergency. When replying to
the authorities brought by his antagonists, he ex
hibited great skill and the nicest discrimination,
destroying in a few words their position.
In 1884 Mr. Hale was appointed one of the Com
missioners of Appraisement of the lands proposed
to be taken for a Park, or State Reservation, at
Niagara Falls, and wrote the opinion of the Com
missioners in the case.
Like most lawyers, Mr. Hale has participated to
some extent in the politics of his times. He early
gave his political allegiance to the Republican
party, but always maintained that independence of
thought and action through which he exerted his
honest convictions in regard to men and party
measures, never permitting his conscience to be
governed by party supremacy. He supported all
the Republican candidates for President, excepting
Mr. Blaine.
On October 8, 1884, Mr. Hale addressed a let
ter to Grange Sard, Esq., which was read at a mass
meeting in Albany, on that day, giving in an able,
thoughtful and scholarly manner his reason for
supporting Mr. Cleveland instead of Blaine. "For
myself," he said among other things, "after long

deliberation, and with great reluctance, I have
come to the conclusion that Mr. Blaine is un
worthy of support. With great reluctance, because,
having given my first vote at the Presidential elec
tion for Gen. Fremont in 1856, and having voted
for every Republican candidate for that great office
since, I would much prefer to continue to support-
the party of my first choice ; because I thoroughly
appreciate the traits which make Mr. Blaine so at
tractive and agreeable to those who know him
socially; because, from education, from association,
from conviction, and, perhaps, somewhat from
prejudice, I am not an admirer of the Democratic
party. " He then gives the reasons for refusing to
support Mr. Blaine.
It is not our province to analyze those reasons;
but it is proper for us to say that they bear the im
press of thoughtful candor, of careful consideration,
and a thorough knowledge of all the bearings- and
details of his subject. His letter was published in
many of the Democratic and Independent journals
throughout the nation, and was a valuable cam
paign document for Mr. Cleveland.
In 1880, when it became apparent that Gen.
Grant was to be urged by a portion of the Repub
lican party for a third-term nomination for Presi
dent, Mr. Hale was one of the first to declare
against the nomination. On January 3, 1880, a
very large meeting of the Republican citizens of
Albany convened at Martin Hall, in that city, and,
after a full exchange of views in relation to the
President for the next term, it was unanimously
resolved that the nomination of any man for the
third term for the Presidency was contrary to the
spirit of our Federal Union, and a resolution was
adopted to form a club opposed to any man for a
third term. At a public meeting held in the same
hall on January 7, 1880, the committee on officers,
appointed at a previous meeting, reported the name
of Hon. Matthew Hale as president of the club.
On receiving notice of this appointment, Mr. Hale
signified his acceptance in a letter in which his
views of the third-term question were forcibly and
eloquently set forth. On Monday evening, April
26, Mr. Hale delivered a lecture on the Conditions
and Limits of Party Fealty, in Steinway Hall, in the
City of New York. The significant title of this
lecture, and the ability of the lecturer, drew an im
mense audience. It began with a brief history of
parties in America, tracing it down to the origin of the
Republican party and to the close of the war. He
then considered the party platform since the war,
taking up the electoral system and its design, as
explained by Hamilton, and why this design was
not fulfilled. He then reviewed the plan of Ben
ton and Sumner; the abandonment of the caucus
system, and its causes. In connection with this,
he directed the attention of his audience to the
Presidential election of 1824, in which Wm. H.
Crawford was nominated for President by the
Democratic caucus. He showed that prior to
this time Congressional caucuses had selected the
candidate already designated by popular expecta
tion; but in 1824 the caucus candidate turned out
to be the third on the list. Andrew Jackson and

THE BENCH AND BAR.

175

John Q. Adams each received more electoral votes
than Crawford, none of the candidates having a
majority, and the election was thrown into the
House of Representatives, and, by a combination
between the friends of John Quincy Adams and
Henry Clay, the former was elected President;
the first and only case, up to this time, in which
a President had been nominated by the House of
Representatives. Mr. Hale then gave the origin
of the National Convention system, and how ma
chines control these conventions, and considered
how resistance to these machines became a duty, to
suppress party despotism. We have only time' to
glance at this important party document, so poten
tial in arousing that independent spirit in politics,
which it is believed will eventually result in the
overthrow of that despotic party leadership, the
bane of our political institutions.
Though Mr. Hale has never, in any sense,
sought office, yet he has consented in two instances
to accept the nomination for honorable official po
sitions. He was elected a delegate to the Consti
tutional Convention which assembled at Albany
June 4, 1867, and adjourned sine die February 28,
1868; but an adjournment from September 24 to
November 12, 1867, had been agreed to by the
convention. Mr. Hale represented the Sixteenth Senatorial Dis
trict. His high rank as a lawyer, and his scholarly
attainments and practical oratorical powers, gave
him a high position in that convention. He was
on the Judiciary Committee, of which Hon. Chas.
J. Folger was chairman. The other members
were: Wm. M. Evarts, Chas. Andrews — now of the
Court of Appeals, Amasa J. Parker, Francis Ker-
nan, George F. Comstock, and other distinguished
lawyers. It is a significant fact that Mr. Hale was
put in nomination as a delegate to the convention
by both political parties. In November, 1867, he
was elected to the State Senate, serving in 1868-9.
Here again, in the Senate, Mr. Hale's abilities were
liberally recognized. Though he did not often
claim the attention of the Senate as a speaker,
when he did, he was listened to with profound at
tention, and his speeches were always considered
weighty and cogent. He was a member of the Ju
diciary Committee. The severe and constant la
bors of Mr. Hale, as a member of this committee,
have left their impress upon the record of its pro
ceedings. After his removal to Albany, Mr. Hale, in 1871,
received the nomination of the Republicans for the
Assembly, but declined to accept it. In 1883 he
received the Republican nomination for Justice of
the Supreme Court in the Third Judicial District,
but was defeated by Hon. Rufus W. Peckham,
though he was far ahead of his ticket in this strong
Democratic district.
Mr. Hale's ability as a writer is generally ac
knowledged; he always throws a strong light upon
his subject, and never loses sight of the substance
of it in the style. Though he seldom indulges in
flights of fancy, or excursions of the imagination,
he unites the two extremes of refinement and
strength. We have already alluded to some of his

written productions. A paper, submitted by him
to the State Bar Association, at its annual meeting,
November 16, 1880, on Illegal and Erroneous Tax
ation and Its Remedies, was read with marked in
terest throughout the State. In considering this
important subject, he has examined with the
most critical care all the cases adjudicated in
our courts — and there are very many touching the
question of taxation and of assessments. It is,
therefore, full of instruction, not only to the lawyer
and layman, but of great value to town officers,
especially assessors, supervisors and collectors.
Perhaps no matter has been brought before the Bar
Association more interesting or more profitable
than this paper.
In April, 1880, there appeared in the National
Quarterly Review a very elaborately written article
on the third-term question from the pen of Mr.
Hale. We have alluded to some of his other
efforts on this question, but the article now
under consideration was a far more exhaust
ive review of the whole case than any of
the productions of other writers on this subject.
Aside from the beauty of its diction, the perspicuity
and erudition of his reasoning gave the article
great popularity, and added largely to the numbers
of those who opposed the third Presidential term.
There is that about it which gives it perpetuity,
and it will long exist a powerful and unanswerable
argument against a third election of candidates to
the Presidential chair.
Harper's Weekly for April' 4, 1885, contains a
very able article from the pen of Mr. Hale, entitled
"The Lessons of the Elections of 1884," which
has been read with marked interest.
Speaking of the allegiance of the people to party
rule and discipline, he says: "There are a few ob
vious lessons taught by the election of 1884 —
obvious, but still liable to be overlooked. The
first, and perhaps the most important, is, that
party discipline can no longer be relied on to carry
a Presidential election. Men have ceased to re
gard the support of party nominations as a sacred
duty. They refuse blindly to obey the dictates of
party conventions. They will even vote for the
candidate of the party to which they have always
been opposed, if they believe the good of the
country will be thus promoted."
Mr. Hale proves that the election of Mr. Cleve
land in 1884 was effected by men who were really
opposed to the Democratic party, believing they
could best serve their country by voting against
their party.
He has always occupied a high rank as a
citizen of Albany. Few are more respected; few
carry into society more of those attributes which
render it attractive than he. He has been for
many years a trustee of the Albany Savings Bank,
one of the oldest, largest and most conservative of
these institutions in the State. He has been, from
its foundation, one of the trustees of the Fort
Orange Club, and has been connected with various
other social and charitable organizations in Albany.
As a conversationalist he is always interesting, and
knows how to blend instruction with delight.

176

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

In 1856 he was married to Miss Ellen, daughter
of Hon. A. C. Hand; but after eleven years of
married happiness he suffered a deep afflction in
her death. In 1877 he married Mary, daughter of
Col. Francis L. Lee, of Boston, Mass. His home
is one of refinement and taste — a happy retreat
from the cares and turmoil of his profession and
from his public duties.
NATHANIEL C. MOAK.
Mr. Moak occupies so high a position at the Al
bany bar, and we may say at the bar of the State,
that their history without his character and career
would be wanting in much that would be interest
ing and instructive.
The life and career of one who, like him, has
the erudition of a scholar, is accomplished in the
learning of his profession, experienced and skillful
in the contests of the forum, and has seen life and
human nature only as such lawyers can see it, must
of necessity reveal much that is akin to the romance
of real life reflected from every phase of human
character. This renders the work of sketching his life, in
which we are engaged, we trust, one of interest
and of instruction, valuable to all the citizens of
Albany and Schenectady Counties and the general
public. Nathaniel Cleveland Moak was born at Sharon,
N. Y., October 3, 1833. His father, Jacob M.
Moak, was a descendant of the Albany County
Moaks, and his mother, Amy Cleveland, was a
daughter of Henry Cleveland, a descendant of the
Clevelands, of Woburn, Mass. Jacob Moak, the
father of Nathaniel, was a farmer, who at an early
period of his life removed to Sharon, and followed
his occupation. Like all farmers at that compara
tively early period, his means were too limited to
give his son any large advantages for an education,
though the mind of young Moak very early exhib
ited those traits which, under proper instruction,
develop into the accomplishments of the scholar.
Happily he possessed the qualities of industry and
unwearied perseverance in whatever he undertook.
These directed to overcoming the obstacles in his
way to an education resulted in success. He be
gan his education attending the common schools ;
when old enough to labor on the farm he could
only attend school during the winter months ; but
every leisure moment opened to him the treasures
of knowledge, for books were his constant compan
ions. In 1849, at tne age of sixteen, he attended two
or three terms at the Cherry Valley Academy,
gaining money for his expenses by working on a
farm. From 1850 to 1851 he attended the acade
my at Cooperstown, N. Y, the principal of which
was John Leach. Never was there a more ardent
or successful student. Very rapidly he trod the
paths of literature and science. While a student at
Cooperstown Academy he made much proficiency
in the study of anatomy and physiology in the
office of Dr. Fox. The knowledge he attained in
these branches has been of immense advantage to

him in the practice of his profession ; it laid the
foundation for his remarkable practical knowledge
of medical jurisprudence.
Young Moak's favorite studies were mathemat
ics, the sciences and the English classics ; of these
through life he has been a close and critieaWstu-
dent. He particularly admired the healthy hon
esty and manliness developed in their style, senti
ment and philosophy.
In the winters of 185 1-2 and 1852-3 he taught
a district school. The benefit he derived from this
occupation was of great value to him. It gave his
mind a peculiar discipline ; it taught him the art
of self-government, and the government of others;
the school-room to him was a fountain of learning.
In teaching others he taught himself, and thus, like
many statesmen, jurists, divines and gifted men in
all the avocations of life, he learned from his ex
perience as a teacher that which was of inestimable
value to him in after life. It was his early ambi
tion to become a lawyer, and to this he subordi
nated all his energy, his industry and his study. In
the autumn of 1853 he became a student in the
law office of James E. Dewey, of Cherry Valley.
He commenced his studies with energy, and a keen
appreciation and love of the science of jurispru
dence. He soon obtained sufficient knowledge of
the law to begin practice in justices' courts.
It was not long before he became a cham
pion in these courts, and his services as a coun
selor in them were sought for far and near. He
frequently met lawyers of ability and standing, al
though these courts were then, as they are now, a
practicing school for young lawyers, legal skir
mish grounds for older ones. Here young Moak
met every variety of mind and ability ; here he
learned to grapple with the sharp and obtuse ques
tions of law which often occur in these Courts ;
here he practiced the rules of evidence, and learned
to examine and cross-examine witnesses. Thus
he acquired that confidence in himself so necessary
in a young lawyer.
He continued his studies and his practice in jus
tices' courts till January, 1856, when he was called
to the Bar. He 'remained in the office of Mr.
Dewey until November 1, 1859, when he became
the law partner of Judge Edwin Countryman, then
an eminent member of the Otsego Bar, residing at
Cherry Valley, and now a leading member of the
Albany Bar, in partnership with Hon. Amasa J.
Parker. Mr. Moak continued in partnership with Judge
Countryman until January, 1862, when the latter
removed to Cooperstown. Mr. Moak then formed
a partnership with Edwin Clark, with whom he
continued till September, 1865. The Rebellion
was, during that period, at its height. Mr. Moak
entered heart and soul into the cause of the Union,
while Mr. Clark was equally patriotic. As it was
hardly possible for both partners to enter the Union
army, they entered into an agreement that one of
them should do so; that the other should remain
at home and pay to the family of the absent partner
bis share of the firm's earnings; that the partnership
should not be dissolved. Both members were

THE BENCH AND BAR.

177

equally willing to go, but which should be^the one ?
This important question they decided to settle by
casting lots, and the duty of becoming a'soldier
fell upon Mr. Clark. They immediately proceeded
to raise Company G, of the 121st N. Y. Vs. Mr.
Clark was made captain, and moved to the front.
Mr. Moak remained and conscientiously carried
out the agreement with Captain Clark.
In the autumn of 1865 Mr. Moak removed to
Oneonta, N. Y, opened an office, and began there
the practice of his profession under very favorable
circumstances. In the fall of 1 867 he was invited to
and became a member of the firm of Smith & Ban
croft, composed of the late Henry Smith and the
late Le Grand Bancroft. The new firm was known
as Smith, Bancroft & Moak.
In January, 1880, Mr. Bancroft died. Mr.
Chas. J. Buchanan had, a short time previous to
the death of Mr. Bancroft, become a member of
the firm, and it was now known as Smith, Moak
& Buchanan. This became one of the most con
spicuous law firms in the eastern part of the State.
Mr. Smith died December 1, 1884.
Albany opened an appropriate field for the exer
cise of Mr. Moak's talents, and he naturally took
a high position at its Bar. Retainers of great im
portance and interest rapidly came to him. The
trial of many of the important cases of the firm
fell to him, and were conducted with great ability,
learning and success, whether conducted at the
Circuit or in the Court in Banc. He was retained
by Mr. Ramsey in his famous "Susquehanna war"
with Gould and Fisk. This was an historic litiga
tion, and the scene of the contest was shifted to
Rochester, on which battle ground it measurably
terminated. In November, 1871, Mr. Moak was elected Dis
trict Attorney of Albany County, and entered upon
his duties January 1, 1872. The manner in which
he administered the duties of this highly respon
sible office largely increased his reputation. Bril
liant, learned and successful as were his predeces
sors, he lost nothing when compared with them.
It was during his administration that the trial of
the celebrated case of The People vs. Lowenstein
took place, and of course Mr. Moak conducted
the prosecution.
The crime was most appalling. The circum
stances connecting Lowenstein with it were at first
remote and doubtful, but, by a singular and ad
mirable process of synthesis, Mr. Moak so com
bined them that the product was an inevitable con
clusion of the prisoner's guilt.
His argument to the jury was confessedly a very
able and successful effort. He made no attempt
at high-wrought eloquence; he invested his argu
ment with no far-fetched decorations of elocution;
its strength was its profundity, comprehensiveness
and ingenuity. It was enriched in language pleas
ing and significant, and it completely overthrew
the hypothesis of the defense, founded on the sin
gular circumstances of the case. It is one which
the practitioner and the student read with pleasure
and profit. It is richly interlarded with quotations
from legal authorities, both European and American,

and exhibits immense reading and close analytic
research. Lowenstein was convicted and executed.
Among other important cases which he con
ducted was that of The People vs. Chine and others
(the Modocs), and The People vs. Phelps, for plun
dering the State treasury.
His term expiring, he was appointed by Gov.
Dix as special counsel in the Phelps cases. All the
convictions were affirmed in the Court of Appeals.
As an instance of his persistence and untiring in
dustry may be mentioned the case of Frank R.
Sherwin, the broker through whom Phelps dis
posed of the State drafts. Sherwin, having been
subpoenaed as a witness on the Phelps trials, a few
days before their commencement, went to Europe
and failed to appear. Mr. Moak had him indicted
in 1874 for criminal contempt ; watched for him
until he came to New York City in 1882 ; caused
his arrest, voluntarily, and without compensation;
followed his case, on habeas corpus, to the Court of
Appeals; afterward tried and convicted him on
three indictments, for which he was sentenced to
the Albany Penitentiary for two years and to pay a
fine of five hundred dollars, and followed the con
victions, on appeal of Sherwin, to the Court of
Appeals. After retiring from the office of District Attorney
he confined himself mostly to civil cases, though
occasionally he accepted retainers in important
criminal cases.
In 1878 he conducted the prosecution of one of
the most important and singular cases in legal his
tory — the case of The People vs. fesse Billings,
fr., indicted for shooting his wife. This crime
was committed at Northumberland, Saratoga
County, on the 5th of June, 1878, at about eight
o'clock in the evening. The trial commenced at
Balston Spa early in September, 1878, and con
cluded on the evening of October 13.
Mr. Moak began his address to the jury Oc
tober 7, and closed it on the nth. Here Mr.
Moak again exhibited his rare accomplishments as
an advocate. His argument is before us as we write,
and we write after a close and thorough examina
tion of it. On our table are the arguments of sev
eral great advocates in great criminal cases, with
which we have carefully compared that of Mr.
Moak, and we do not hesitate to say that it com
pares favorably with that of the almost unequaled
argument of Ogden Hoffman in the case of The
People vs. Robinson. His argument occupied four
days, in which a vast number of circumstances and
a large amount of precedent were examined, and
yet from its commencement to its close compelled
the closest attention of the Court, jurors, and a
vast audience. The trial lasted six weeks. The
jury did not agree, and on the second trial Billings
was acquitted on grounds difficult to be under
stood, for Mr. Moak's conduct of the case left little
doubt in the public mind of Billings' guilt.
Mr. Moak has done a large amount of intellect
ual labor outside of his profession. "In 1869,"
says a writer, "he edited Clarke's Chancery Re
ports, contributing elaborate notes. Speaking of
this edition of these reports, the Messrs. Abbott

178

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

say, in the preface to their digest : ' Much addi
tional value has been given to the collection in a
new edition by N. C. Moak, of Albany, who has
enriched nearly all the cases with instructive notes,.
which bring together concisely the result of much
research and experience.'
"Mr. Wait, in the preface to his digest, says:
'A new edition, edited by Nathaniel C. Moak,
Esq., appeared in 1869. Mr. Moak's notes are
very clear, accurate and valuable, and give evidence
of great learning and experience.'
"In 1873 Mr. Moak edited Van Sanlvoord's
Pleadings, bringing the work down to that time,
doubling its matter and adding largely to its value.
It has remained the standard upon pleading in New
York and several other States which have adopted
its Code.
" In 1872 he began the republication of the cur
rent English cases, under the title oi English Reports,
with elaborate notes. Thirty-five volumes have
been published, circulating in all States of the
Union, and giving him a national reputation as an
excellent and learned lawyer. In 1881 he pub
lished an edition of Underhill on Torts, greatly en
larged. Mr. Moak seems to 'revel in work,' hav
ing also, in addition, gratuitously prepared a set of
legal forms for use by the profession, and a cata
logue of law books — almost a legal bibliography —
for gratuitous circulation.
" Mr. Moak never forgets his own early struggles,
and no lawyer in the State is more ready and will
ing to freely aid young lawyers in the conduct of
their cases."
Listening to the legal arguments of Mr. Moak,
one is impressed with . the opulence of his mind
and the evidence of his research. To use his own
language, in a celebrated case, "a lawyer one day
may be engaged in a case involving the laws of
steam or electricity ; the next in a case of mal
practice, involving the anatomy of the human sys
tem ; the next in a case in which knowledge of
toxicology is required ; or one involving the con
sideration of some literary or scientific production. "
Certainly these have many times entered into cases
conducted by him, in each of which he exhibits a
familiar and practical knowledge. Of course, such
a man requires a large amount of varied intellectual
aliment ; this he derives from one of the largest and
best selected private libraries in the State, both
legal and miscellaneous.
His law library contains all the American,
English, Irish, Canadian and other reports, and is
one of the most valuable in the Union. His miscel
laneous library numbers some 5,000 volumes, care
fully selected, of great value and practical utility.
Few men possess a more chaste and appreciative
literary taste than Mr. Moak ; this he exhibits in
his written productions, in his speeches, and in his
conversation. A strong friendship existed between Mr. Moak
and Gov. Dix. Perhaps no man had a more thor
ough appreciation of Gen. Dix's literary accom
plishments than Mr. Moak. Among the works of
the former was his translation of Dies Irce and that
of Stabat Mater. Though they were privately

printed, they found their way into Judge Nott's
" Seven Hymns of the Mediaeval Church " and
other kindred publications. A part of Dies, the first
translation thereof, appeared in Bayard Taylor's
"Faust," whereupon Mr. Moak, in a happily
worded letter, congratulated the Governor upon his
name being so favorably mentioned, in such a great
work, and by such an accomplished scholar. In
reply, Gen. Dix wrote Mr. Moak an elegant letter,
descriptive of the circumstances attending the trans
lation to which we have referred. This letter, full
of instruction and interest, is found on pages 233-
34, vol. 2, of the "Life of Gen. Dix," by his son,
Rev. Dr. Morgan Dix.
"The first translation," says the letter, "was
made during our Civil War, while I was in com
mand of the department of Virginia, and when I
had many weighty matters to divert my time and
thoughts from literary occupation. Although it
had been much commended, I was never satisfied
with it, and a few months ago I printed it privately,
and now I send you a revised rendering of that
immortal hymn. The translation of Stabat Mater
was made while I was Minister to France. It was
more leisurely prepared, and I see no reason to
correct it, though I cannot say that it is what I
should wish it to be. The stanza of the former
quoted by Bayard Taylor is as follows :
" ' Day of vengeance without morrow,
Earth shall end in flame and sorrow.
As from saint and seer we borrow.'
"It is this stanza (the first) which has always
proved most troublesome to translators, and it is
the one with which I was dissatisfied more than
with any other in my translation, when I allowed it
to go to the press. My dissatisfaction was greatly
increased a few years later on finding, in one of
Thackeray's novels — I do not, at this moment,
recollect which — a passage somewhat like this :
' When a man is cudgeling his brains to find any
other rhymes for "sorrow" than "borrow" and
' ' morrow, " he is nearer the end of his woes than he
imagines. ' I felt instinctively that any one familiar
with this passage would, on reading my translation,
be conscious, at the very commencement, of a
sense of the ludicrous altogether incompatible with
the solemnity of the subject. * * *
' ' With a pleasant remembrance of our associa
tion in Albany, I am, dear sir,
' ' Very truly yours,
" N. C. Moak, Esq. John A. Dix."
In politics Mr. Moak is a Democrat, but he is
in no sense aggressive in his advocacy of his prin
ciples, and, though prominent in his party, has
never sought office, or been an active politician,
except in 1879, when chairman of the State Com
mittee of the Anti-Tilden wing of the party, and in
1880, as a delegate of that wing to the Cincinnati
Convention. In 1884 he was a warm supporter of
Gov. Cleveland for President, taking the stump
and making speeches in all parts of the State. He
was one of the most interesting, cogent and effect
ive speakers of that hard-fought campaign, doing
yeoman service in the cause which he so ardently
espoused.

THE BENCH AND BAR.

179

SAMUEL HAND.
Samuel Hand was born, May i, 1834, in the
County of Essex, in the State of New York. He
is a son of the Hon. Augustus C. Hand, an ex-
justice of the Supreme Court for the Fourth Ju
dicial District of the State, who was elected, June
7, 1847, at the first judicial election under the
Constitution of 1846.
Among the distinguished jurists called to the
Supreme Court with Judge Hand at that election
in that district, was Hon. Daniel Cady, Hon.
Alonzo C. Paige, Hon. John Willard. Judge Hand
also represented the Fourth Senatorial District of
the State in the sixty-eighth, sixty-ninth and seven
tieth senatorial sessions.
Samuel, at an unusually early age, exhibited a
remarkable progress in study, so that at the age
of fourteen he was fully prepared for college.
He accordingly entered Middlebury College, in
Vermont, but at the end of his sophomore year,
in 1 85 1, he was transferred to Union College, from
whence he graduated under circumstances gratify
ing to his friends.
He immediately entered his father's office and
commenced the study of law. Here he enjoyed
rare advantages for attaining his legal education;
advantages of which he fully availed himself, and
he went to his examination for admission to the
bar thoroughly prepared to enter upon the brilliant
career which lay before him. .
In May, 1854, his examination and. call to the
bar took place.
After practicing at Elizabethtown, New York,
about three years, he removed to Albany, where he
formed a very advantageous, partnership with the
late John V. L. Pruyn: this was in October,-
1859. He continued a partner of Mr. Pruyn
until 1 86 1, when he became a member of that
distinguished law firm, Cagger eV Porter, which,
after his connection with it, was known as Cagger,
Porter & Hand.
Few legal firms have ever existed in the State
that controlled so large and extended business as
this. Its career is brilliantly recorded in the ex
ceedingly large number of cases found in the Law
Reports of the State and in those of the Federal
Courts. In January, 1865, Mr. Porter was appointed a
Judge of the Court of Appeals, and the firm was
known as Cagger & Hand, down to July 6,
1868, when the sudden and melancholy death of
Mr. Cagger dissolved it. In another part of this
work -we have given a brief biography of Mr.
Cagger, and an account of his tragic death, which
threw a gloom not only over the city of Albany,
but over the whole State. After the death of Mr.
Cagger, Mr. Hand associated himself in business
with Hon. Mathew Hale and Nathan Swartz. The
fatter, who had been a member of the firm of
Cagger & Hand, continued in the new firm,
under the name of Hand, Hale & Swartz. This
firm did an immense business, as the records of the
State Courts show. In 1873 Charles S. Fairchild,
subsequently Attorney-General of the State, be

came a member of the firm, which was known
as Hand, Hale, Swartz &• Fairchild, under which
title it continued until the autumn of 1875, when
Mr. Fairchild was elected Attorney-General. In
1877 Mr. Swartz removed to Colorado, and the
firm was continued under the name of. Hand <5f
Hale until 1880, since which time Judge Hand has
been practicing alone, doing an extensive business
as a counselor. We should have said that the
partnership of Hand & Hale was interrupted in
1878 by the appointment of Mr. Hand as a Judge
of the Court of Appeals in the place of Hon. Wm.
F. Allen, who died June 3, 1878.
Judge Hand carried to the Bench the same un
wearied industry that distinguished him at the Bar.
His opinions exhibit the extent of his labor ; they
are written in a concise, clear and dignified style,
strong and logical, comparing in every sense favor
ably with those of his learned brethren on the
Bench. He was appointed June 10, 1878, and imme
diately took his seat on the Bench. On June 1 7,
seven days after taking his seat, the case of Mowry
vs. Rosendale was argued. Judge Hand wrote the
opinion of the Court ; it was his first opinion.
The case was decided September 17, 1878 (74
N. Y, 360).
On June 19, 1878, the case oi Lewis vs. Seabury
was argued ; Judge Hand delivered the opinion of
the Court and the case was decided September 24,
1878 (74 N. Y, 409).
The following are among the cases in which
Judge Hand wrote the opinion of the Court : The
People of the State of New York vs. The Mutual Gas
Light Company, of Brooklyn. (74 N. Y., 434),
Read vs. The City of Buffalo (74 N. Y, 463),
Hayes vs. Hawthorn (74 N. Y., 487), Bowery
National Bank vs. Duryee (74 N. Y., 491), Dick
inson vs. City of Poughkeepsie (75 N. Y., 65), Can-
field vs. The Baltimore <5f Ohio R. R. Co. (75 N. Y,
144), Bardine vs. Stevenson (75 N. Y.', 164),
Clafftin vs. Meyer .(75 N. Y., 260), Slater vs.
Merritt (75 N. Y., 268), Miles vs. Loomis
(75 N. Y., 288), Barr vs. Bininger (75 N. Y.,
344), Godfrey v. Godfrey (75 N. Y., 434).
The last case decided by him v;a.s t McMichael vs.
Kilmer (76 N. Y., 36). This case was argued
December 13, 1878, a short time before the Judge
left the Bench. The case of Lowry vs. The Brooklyn
City R. R. was argued December 11, 1878, Judge
Hand writing the opinion in both of the above
cases while in office, and they were adopted by the
Court. He left the Bench of the Court of Appeals
December 31, 1878, and very soon he appeared at
its Bar and argued the important case of Wells-
borough vs. The New York <Sf Canada R. R. Co.
(reported in 76 N. Y., 182). From that time to
the present his practice has been largely confined
to the Court of Last Resort.
When Judge Hand left the Bench he was suc
ceeded by Hon. Geo. F. Danforth. He returned
to the practice of his profession with a large
business in the Court of Appeals. His busi
ness has so rapidly increased that since 1870
he commands a practice not excelled by any

180

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

lawyer in the State. In the argument of cases
his exposition of the precedents upon which he
relies, or which are cited by his opponents, are
always full, and if occasion requires, very minute;
he develops with care and precision the principles
on which they turn, distinguishes them from
analogous or conflicting decisions, and as his
purpose requires, either presents their reasonings
and conclusions in a clear and familiar light,
or forcibly assails them with the weapons of learn
ing and logic. He maintains throughout the argu
ment a correct and attractive diction, and always
retains the attention of the judges, enabling them
to see the real character of the case.
The following are some of the important cases
in which Judge Hand has taken a distinguished
part :
Susquehanna Litigation of 1869, '70 and '71;
Von Woert vs. The City of Albany. There were
thirty of these cases, all of them vitally affecting
the interests of the city. The quo warranto case,
between Thacher and Judson, rival claimants for
the office of Mayor of Albany, tried in 1873.
The impeachment in 1879 offohn F. Smyth, Super
intendent of Insurance. Judge Hand conducted
the prosecution of this case for the People on the
retainer of Gov. Robinson.
The People vs. Belden, action brought in 1876 by
the State to recover about $400,000. This case
is remembered as one of the most important ever
litigated in this State. It was conducted by Judge
Hand from its commencement until after its trial
and report of the Referees. These gentlemen were
Judge Emmott, Judge Tappan and Isaac Lawson;
they made a report in favor of the State to the
amount of nearly $400,000.
Judge Hand was counsel for the Canal Investi
gating Commission of Gov. Tilden in 1875-6.
In 1877 he was engaged in the Elevated Railroad
litigation, as counsel for the Metropolitan Railroad,
In this case the constitutionality of the Rapid
Transit act was passed upon. In 1884 he was
engaged as counsel in the $1,000,000 Water Meter
suit, better known under the title of Baird vs. The
Mayor of New York. This list of cases might be
greatly enlarged, but, as we have said, it is suffi
cient to give the reader an insight into the exten
sive practice of Judge Hand.
Judge Hand has been honored with several
important official positions, of which we shall give
some account. In the beginning of his profession
al life, he became attached to the Democratic party,
to which he has ever since given a firm and con
siderate allegiance. His high professional stand
ing and learning, his large acquaintance with
leading men of the State and Nation, has ranked
him among the leaders of the Democratic party.
Had not a love of his profession and professional
ambition been paramount to political ambition,
there is no doubt but he would have long ago occu
pied a very exalted official position, for such has
been tendered him, and been respectfully declined.
In 1863 he was appointed Corporation Counsel
of Albany, and was re-elected, and continued in
office until the spring of 1866, when the control

of the city government passed into the hands of
the Republicans. During his administration of
this office the city paid no counsel fee, except in
one instance.
He was appointed reporter of the Court of
Appeals, January, 1869, serving till March, 1872.
The six volumes of his reports are from 40 to 45
N. Y, inclusive.
In 1872, on account of his large and increasing
counsel business, he was compelled to resign
his position as reporter. In 1875 he was ap
pointed Judge of the Supreme Court for the Third
Judicial District, by Gov. Tilden, but declined.
After the nomination and declension of Horatio
Seymour, as the candidate for Governor in 1876, by
the Democratic State Convention, it was the wish of
Gov. Tilden — then in nomination for President —
that Judge Hand should be placed on the Demo
cratic ticket as Governor in place of Mr. Seymour.
Accordingly, at the instance of Mr. Tilden, it was
agreed by the leaders of the party to place him in
nomination at an adjourned convention to be held.
Though everything then pointed to the success which
crowned the Democratic party that year, Judge
¦Hand, for reasons which controlled him, reluc
tantly declined to become a candidate for Governor.
In November, 1875, according to a concurrent res
olution of the Legislature, Judge Hand was ap
pointed a commissioner to devise a plan for the
government of cities. The other members of the
commission were Mr. Evarts, Judge Lott, Edward
Cooper, E. L. Godkin, of the Nation, Simon
Sterne, James C. Carter, Dr. Anderson, of the
Rochester University, and Hon. Joshua R. Van
Cott. On June 25, 1884, the degree of LL.D. was
conferred upon him by Union College.
His love of study, as we have said, was one of
the earliest traits of character which he developed.
This love of study has strengthened as he has
advanced in life. Though the study of his profession
has been intense, yet he has never neglected a
judicious continuation of his classical studies. His
literary taste, refined and elevated by a familiar
acquaintance with the best authors, ancient and
modern, renders him an appreciative and gener
ous critic, a pleasing and instructive companion.
In 1 86 1 he edited notes to the American edi
tion of. " Philobiblon," written by Debury, Bishop
of Durham, and Chancellor of Edward III. This
edition is a carefully revised Latin text, and trans
lation of three French prefaces of M. Cocheris, a
learned French writer and editor. This work was
published by Joel Munsell, of Albany.
Judge Hand was one of the first Vice-Presidents
of the New York State Bar Association, and was
President of that institution in its third and fourth
years, succeeding Judge John K. Porter, its first
President. At the annual meeting of the Associa
tion, in the second year of his presidency, Judgt
Hand prepared and delivered an elaborate and
highly popular address.
This address has been published in the proceed
ings of the Association, and large parts of it in the
Albany Law fournal and other periodicals and

c(^r~f

OL^C^T^l)

L'iiij " by /" /¦; //nl/ s So/is, /V?l<; Yah

THE BENCH AND BAR.

181

journals. He is now President of the Chi Psi
Alumni Association of Northern New York and
the Mohawk and Hudson River Valleys.
In his domestic relations, Judge Hand is happy,
and he is held in high esteem, not only by the
citizens of Albany, among whom he has long been
a resident, but by the citizens of the State generally,
with whom he has been brought in intimate relations.
In 1863 he was united in marriage, by the Rev.
Dr. John Campbell, to Miss Learned, daughter of
Billings P. Learned, Esq., President of the Union
Bank, and a niece of Judge Wm. L. Learned, of
the Supreme Court.
Judge Hand is still in the vigor of his manhood,
at the head of his profession, with a large and in
fluential and opulent clientage ; he has, therefore,
many years of usefulness and distinction before
him.
LYMAN TREMAIN.
Lyman Tremain, an honored name in the history
of the State of New York, was the son of Levi and
Mindwell Tremain, and was born at Durham,
Greene County, N. Y., June 14, 18 19. "The
ancestor from whom he derives his Christian name,
and who was the progenitor of the Lyman family
in America, came among the first colonists to Bos
ton in 1730. Not long after he penetrated the
wilderness to the westward into what is now Con
necticut, and became one of the founders of
Hartford." Lyman Tremain's paternal grandfather
was a soldier in the Revolution, belonging to the
Connecticut line, and participated in many of the
battles of that great struggle for liberty.
His father was among the earliest settlers of the
County of Greene — one of its pioneers. He was a
farmer and an extensive business man, generally
respected for sound sense, intelligence and honor
able dealings in the society in which he lived.
With his other qualities, he was a lover of books,
reading with pleasure and profit the great English
and American authors. To his father young Tre
main was indebted for that desire for knowledge
which continued fresh and warm down to the clos
ing scenes of his life.
He obtained the rudiments of his education in
the best school of his native town, very soon mas
tering all the branches taught there, and then took
up the study of the higher branches, which he
pursued with great energy and profit without an
instructor. He seems to have pursued a judicious
course of reading, and he early became enamored
with the classical writers of the old English school,
of Milton and Dryden, of Shakespeare and Pope.
From the solid sense, beautiful diction and imagery
of these writers he derived that almost perfect use
of language, that versatility of thought and ex
pression, which subsequently enlivened his legal
arguments, and gave such attractions to his written
productions. It was Edmund Burke who said that ' ' without
a system of self-culture no man can become accom
plished in polemics."
At the age of thirteen young Tremain entered
Kinderhook Academy, where, under the instruction

of a distinguished linguist, he pursued for two and
a half years the study of Greek and Latin and
mathematics, obtaining an excellent practical edu
cation. Leaving the Academy, he entered the
law office of John O'Brien, Esq., and began the
study of law, afterward completing his legal educa
tion with Sherwood & White, a highly respectable
legal firm of the City of New York.
In 1840 he was admitted to practice, and imme
diately returned to Durham, where he formed a
partnership with his former preceptor, Mr. O'Brien.
The young lawyer received a warm welcome from
the people of his native town, and when only
twenty-two years of age, they elected him Super
visor, although he was a Democrat and the town
was decidedly Whig in politics. After four years'
practice, he was, in 1 844, appointed District Attor
ney of Greene County. The Constitution of 1846
made this office elective, and established a County
Court in place of the old Court of Common Pleas.
At the first judicial election under the new Consti
tution Mr. Tremain was elected County Judge and
Surrogate of Greene County. He was then at the
age of twenty-seven. These offices he held three
years, discharging their duties with marked ability.
In the fall of 1851 he was renominated by the
Democrats for County Judge; his opponent was
Hon. Alexander H. Bailey, subsequently a State
Senator. The contest was very animated and
close, and the result doubtful, and depended upon
the action of the Board of Canvassers as to whether
a certain alleged return from an election district in
the Town of Catskill should be rejected for irregu
larities or counted. The Board rejected the return,
awarding the certificate to Judge Tremain, and ad
journed sine die. Mr. Bailey contested this ques
tion by the usual process of an alternative manda
mus, returnable at the General Term for the Third
Judicial District.
This writ required the Supervisors to show cause
why they should not meet again and re-canvass the
votes. After elaborate argument, the General Term
refused the mandamus, holding that the adjourn
ment of the Supervisors terminated their power to
re-convene and re-canvass; that the remedy of Mr.
Bailey was to be sought through a writ of quo war
ranto. This left Judge Tremain in possession of
the office. But such was his keen sensibility he
would not accept the office, where there existed the
least doubt of his legal election, and he declined
the certificate and Mr. Bailey became County
Judge. In the meantime his practice had rapidly in
creased, requiring his frequent attendance at the
Court of Appeals and the General Term at Albany.
A warm friendship had long existed between
himself and the late Judge Rufus W. Peckham,
which resulted in Judge Tremain's removal to
Albany and becoming the law partner of Judge
Peckham, a relation which continued till i860,
when the latter was elected a Justice of the Su
preme Court.
Mr. Tremain's reputation had preceded his re
moval to Albany, and at once gave him a high
rank at its Bar.

182

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Long before the meeting of the Democratic State
Convention he was prominently mentioned as a can
didate for Attorney-General. A little incident oc
curred in connection with the subject that exhibits
Judge Tremain's high sense of honor. He was invited
by a distinguished politician to attend the State
Convention, under the assurance that his personal
attendance would secure him the office of Attorney-
General. "I should like the nomination for At
torney-General very much, but it would lose all its
pleasures were I to go to Syracuse and personally
seek it." He did not go; but he was there nom
inated by acclamation, and at the ensuing election
he was elected, serving two years.
One of the important cases which he conducted
was that of the People vs. Mrs. Hartung, indicted
for the murder of her husband. Mr. Tremain as
sisted the District Attorney of Albany County at
this trial.
Mr. Tremain experienced in this case one of the
greatest difficulties of an advocate — that of trying a
cause against a prepossessing woman.
The prisoner was a young and handsome wom
an, the motive for her crime being her love for
another man. Her modest appearance, quiet de
meanor, her youth and beauty, created the strongest
sympathy for her. She was ably defended, but the
proofs of her guilt were strong, and presented
to the jury by Mr. Tremain in such a convincing,
able and exhaustive manner that she was convicted.
Her case was removed to the Supreme Court,
where the conviction was affirmed. An appeal
was taken to the Court of Appeals, where her
conviction was again affirmed. In both these
tribunals Mr. Tremain conducted the argument for
the people.
Another very important criminal case in which
he assisted the District Attorney of New York
County occurred while he was Attorney-General —
the case of the Italian, Cancemi, charged with the
murder of a police officer in the City of New York.
After some progress in the trial, the prosecution
learned that one of the jurors was corrupt. The
matter was finally arranged by a stipulation, signed
in open court by the prisoner, his counsel and the
counsel for the people, providing for a verdict by
the remaining eleven, and that it should be the
same as though tried by the twelve. The trial
proceeded and Cancemi was convicted; where
upon, notwithstanding their solemn agreement in
writing, the prisoner's counsel took an appeal to
the General Term of the Supreme Court, alleging,
as a ground of error, that this stipulation was ille
gal and void, on the ground that the prisoner or
his counsel cannot consent to a trial by less than
the number of twelve jurors. The Court held
with the prisoner's counsel, and the conviction was
set aside.
In 1859, as Mr. Tremain's official term was
drawing to a close, he was again put in nomination
by the Democrats of the State, but it was carried
by the Republicans; Hon. Charles G. Myers, his
opponent, was elected. While Mr. Tremain was
Attorney-General he had, upon the request of the
Senate, given to that body an elaborate opinion

covering the question of the constitutionality of
repealing the act for the Collection of Tolls, com
ing to the conclusion that the act was valid.
His successor, by request, in March, i860, sent
a communication to the Legislature that, in his
opinion, the repealing act was unconstitutional,
and he brought an action to test the constitution
ality of the act, and to recover back tolls from the
railroad company. Mr. Tremain was employed to
defend such claim as senior counsel. On trial at
the Circuit a non-suit was granted; the people ap
pealed to the General Term, and the non-suit was
affirmed. They then appealed to the Court of
Appeals, and the non-suit was again affirmed. This
ended the litigation. Mr. Tremain's arguments
were masterly vindications of the power of the Leg
islature to pass the repealing acts.
This was exceedingly gratifying to him, as Attor
ney-General Myers had strenuously held to the
reverse of this. Thus he stood a leader in his pro
fession, taking part in the most important cases in
the State, when the War of the Rebellion broke
out. We have seen that down to this time Mr.
Tremain was a Democrat; but after occupying the
position in opposition to civil war for some time,
he became convinced that it was the duty of every
patriotic citizen to use every exertion to sustain the
Government in the Rebellion, and he gradually
gravitated toward the Republican party as the Re
bellion increased in its dangerous proportions,
and when the only questions at issue became the
approval of certain of the acts of the Administra
tion, and their probable or possible effect, not only
upon the war itself, but after the return of peace.
He was charged by his old political friends with
inconsistency in separating from his life-long po
litical friends and joining, as he did, the Repub
lican party; but he felt compelled to this by a
sense of duty to his country. In proof of his sin
cerity, he gave his first-born son, "his beautiful
and his brave," a mere stripling, to the service of
his country; but he parted with the brilliant youth,
and, alas ! he parted with him forever.
In the autumn of 1862 he was, without solicita
tion, nominated for Lieutenant-Governor, with
Gen. Wadsworth as the candidate for Governor,
against Horatio Seymour and David F. Jones,
Democratic candidates for Governor and Lieutenant-
Governor. The Republican ticket was defeated by
a majority of about 10,000.
Mr. Tremain now returned with a renewed vig
or to his large legal practice, not forgetting,
however, to use his influence and his eloquence in
aiding a vigorous prosecution of the war. About
this time he was retained in the famous legal ten
der cases, the question involving the constitution
ality of that section of the law of Congress which
gave the greenback its legal tender quality. His
argument in the Court of Appeals was a powerful
vindication of that clause. The constitutionality
of it was upheld by a divided vote, and thus an
appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States
was prevented, and greenbacks as legal tenders
were made lawful. He was also retained to defend

THE BENCH AND BAR.

183

the banks upon the claims made to tax the
shares in national banks created under the act of
Congress. Mr. Tremain took the ground that
such taxation was illegal, but the Court of Ap
peals held against him. He then appealed to the
United States Supreme Court, where the judgment
of the Court of Appeals was reversed. Thus he
continued in one of the most distinguished pro
fessional careers in the State, advocating in the
meantime the vigorous prosecution of the war to
its close ; but just prior to that happy event he
sustained a terrible affliction in the loss of his gal
lant and almost idolized son, Col. Frederick L.
Tremain, who, young as he was, only about 2 1
years of age, had been promoted for gallant con
duct on the field to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel
in the 10th Regiment of New York Cavalry, and
fell at the head of his regiment at Hatcher's Run,
Va. , February 6, 1865.
In the fall of 1865 Mr. Tremain was nominated
and elected Member of Assembly from Albany
County. His colleague was the Hon. Clark B.
Cochrane. On the meeting of the Legislature Mr.
Tremain was elected Speaker. The history of
that remarkable session bears indubitable evidence
of the great ability with which he discharged the
duties of this office.
He was engaged with the District Attorney of
Albany in the prosecution of Gen. Cole, who had
in a cowardly manner assassinated L. Harris His-
cock, a member of the Constitutional Conven
tion of 1867 (8), at Stanwix Hall. Cole was de
fended by James T. Brady and William A. Beach.
The defense was insanity, superinduced by the
alleged criminal intimacy of Hiscock with the wife
of Cole. The case was twice tried, the jury on
the first trial disagreeing ; on the second trial the
prisoner was acquitted, the jury rendering the
Singular verdict that just before and just after the
murder Cole was sane, but that he was insane
when it was committed. Mr. Tremain's argument
to the jury has passed into legal history as one of
the most splendid efforts ever made at the Bar.
During the whole of Mr. Tremain's professional
life he had been subject to frequent and painful
attacks of inflammatory rheumatism, which would
come suddenly upon him. He would frequently
retire at night in perfect health, but before morning
would be perfectly helpless, suffering indescrib
able anguish. All prescriptions produced only
temporary relief, and in 1869 he decided upon a
voyage to Europe, his wife and daughter accom
panying him ; he was absent about one year. On
his return to Albany, nearly or quite restored to
health, as he believed, he was tendered a public
reception by citizens who held him in the
highest esteem. In 1872 his name was promi
nently brought forward as a candidate for Gov
ernor, but he respectfully but firmly declined the
proffered honor. In the autumn of 1873 he
was unanimously nominated for Congressman-at-
Large on the Republican ticket and was, with the
rest of the ticket, elected. "He entered the Forty-
third Congress with a constituency of 4,000,000 of
people. On taking his seat in the House the

Speaker assigned him the second place on the Judi
ciary Committee in advance of several old and ex
perienced members. He performed all his arduous
duties as a member of this committee in a manner
that gave him a national reputation."
In 1 87 1 he was called to assist the Attorney-
General and Mr. Wheeler H. Peckham, of New
York, in the prosecution of the astounding frauds
of the Tweed Ring. The great legal contest
which this prosecution brought on is one of the
most remarkable in legal history, equal in impor
tance and interest to the trial of Warren Hastings
on the Begum and other charges. To attack
Tweed and his ring was a herculean effort ; their
power, wealth and influence seemed so great as to
defy the law and crush all efforts to convict them.
On Tweed's first trial the jury failed to agree ;
he was again brought to trial in the fall of 1873,
before Judge Noah Davis and a jury. The care
and scrutiny which Messrs. Tremain and Peckham
bestowed upon the selection of a jury was a striking
and interesting incident in this great trial, with the
eyes of the world resting upon it. But a jury of
honest, unbiased men were obtained and Tweed
was convicted upon the great number of counts in
the indictment.
After strenuous efforts for an arrest of judgment,
he was sentenced upon a number of counts in the
indictment, all of them aggregating to a term of
imprisonment in the penitentiary for many years.
' ' Congratulations poured in upon the counsel for
the people from all sides, and Mr. Tremain had
the satisfaction of bringing to punishment the
greatest criminal of the age." Appeals were taken
to the higher courts to test the power of the Oyer
and Terminer to inflict these several sentences, the
result of which was the reduction of the number of
sentences to one term of imprisonment.
When Edward S. Stokes startled the whole
country by assassinating James Fisk, Jr. , it became
a question of intense interest to learn who he would
select from among the great lawyers of the times
as his leading counsel. When, after the most
earnest consultation on the subject with his friends,
it was known that his choice fell upon Mr. Tre
main, every one believed that he had taken the
surest step possible to shield himself from punish
ment ; nor were they mistaken, as the result
showed. The sentiment of the community was
decidedly against Stokes, and that sentiment in a
large degree pervaded the jury box. In many
respects it was a trial for which Mr. Tremain's
mind was peculiarly fitted ; in conducting it he
showed uncommon tact in sifting testimony, de
tecting motives, and great art in the examination
of the evidence. When occasion occurred for the
use of keen satire and scorching sarcasm he used
it with powerful effect.
Perhaps no advocate, except William H.
Seward, in the defense of Freeman, ever stood
more squarely between his client and public
opinion than did Mr. Tremain in the Stokes case.
Though determined to save his client from the
gallows, he had little hope of securing his acquittal
before a jury. It was, therefore, his policy, while

184

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

exerting every effort in his behalf, to secure suffi
cient points to obtain a new trial on exceptions in
case his client was convicted. The jury did con
vict him, and Mr. Tremain did save sufficient ex
ceptions on the trial to obtain a new trial. In
this he exhibited all the acumen of a thoroughly
learned lawyer, for it was his deep knowledge of
the law that saved Edward Stokes from the gal
lows. After his conviction the case was removed
to the Supreme Court, where the conviction was af
firmed, " the Court holding that while there was
error in the charge of the Judge in his definition of
murder, the law inferred malice from the fact of
the killing instead of leaving to the jury to find
malice as a fact ; yet the Court held the error had
not been productive of harm to the prisoner when
other portions of the charge were examined." The
case was removed to the Court of Appeals. Mr.
Tremain's argument in that tribunal was one which
the lawyer, the student and the scholar will ever
read with delight and profit ; it bears the impress
of a gigantic intellect and vast research. As a
specimen of acute and powerful reasoning, enlivened
occasionally by glowing eloquence, it ranks among
the finest efforts of American legal oratory. As
Dr. Johnson said of a similar effort at the English
Bar, " It was bark and steel to the mind."
Mr. Tremain's triumph in results was equal to
his great argument. The Court of Appeals re
versed the judgment of the Supreme Court and the
verdict of the jury, granting Stokes a new trial.
Tremain had now obtained his great object ; he
had shielded his client from the influence of public
opinion ; he had given public indignation time to
cool ; he had taught the Courts to fear him, and
when the new trial took place he entered upon it
confident that he should shield his client from the
gallows. Judge Davis, who presided, held every
intendment against the prisoner, which was an em
barrassment for Mr. Tremain ; but he overcame
whatever obstacles there were in Judge Davis'
course, and with an almost superhuman effort
defeated a conviction for murder in the first de
gree, securing a verdict for manslaughter only, on
which Stokes was sentenced to State prison for
only four years. Thus the astute and long-sighted
policy of Mr. Tremain prevailed, and now, though
his truly great defender is sleeping in an honored
grave, Edward S. Stokes has for several years been
a wealthy, successful and luxurious citizen of New
York. So exhausted was Mr. Tremain after the
last trial of Stokes, that he fell asleep at the dinner
table in his hotel while the jury were deliberating.
During that trial his old disease afflicted him,
but he resisted it as best he could with medical
aid. In the second session of Congress he took his
seat in that body, ranking among the leaders of
the House. His speeches on the important ques
tions that arose show that he was as accomplished
in parliamentary debate as he was in the discus
sions of the Bar. Many of his speeches outlived
their times, and they will be read as fine specimens
of parliamentary eloquence and logic for years to
come. Among these was that upon the subject of
"The Disposition of the Balance of the Money

received from England by virtue of the Qeneva
Award." This speech was read with profound in
terest through the United States and Europe. His
Congressional career ended March,_*i875, and he
retired exhausted and suffering from the repeated
attacks of disease, aggravated by the unwholesome
air of the House.
He returned to Albany, but, unable to resume
his business, he decided upon another voyage to
Europe with his wife. He returned much im
proved, though not restored to health. Soon after
his return he was unfortunately induced to under
take the defense of Frederick Smith, tried for mur
der at the Fulton Oyer and Terminer early in
1876. This case was to the people of Fulton
County what the Stokes case was to the City of
New York. Public opinion was strongly against
the accused, as was also the evidence. The court
room was crowded, the air in it poisonous to Mr.
Tremain, and he became so ill that court was
compelled to adjourn, and for a time he was con
fined to his bed. As soon as he felt himself able,
weak as he was, he took his place at the Bar and
the trial was resumed. The energy he exhibited
was a matter of wonder to all ; suffering as he was,
he entered on the duty of addressing the jury in a
manner so surprisingly powerful that it was hard
to believe him suffering from a disease which had
a fatal hold upon him. "He stood before the
jury for hours, pleading with them by turns, with
all his old-time voice and • charm of manner, and
then clearly and forcibly disintegrating the evi
dence for the people, denouncing in deep and
stern tones its flimsy character. The jury ac
quitted the prisoner, and the verdict was due to
the able manner in which Mr. Tremain tried the
cause and to the magnificent manner in which
he closed it. " This was his last important case ;
his strength never returned ; he breathed with
difficulty and his spirits were clouded. He went
to his office, but was too ill to take any part
in business. At this time his partners were Rufus
W. Peckham, son of his old friend and former
partner, and now a Judge of the Supreme Court,
and his son Grenville Tremain.
We have thus sketched the professional, politi
cal and public life of Lyman Tremain, of whom it
is no affectation to say that he was one of the most
brilliant lights of the Bar of the State of New York,
with full mastery of the eloquence of the Bar in
its best days.
It remains now to consider briefly his private
life. That such a man as Mr. Tremain should be
a favorite in the high circle in which he moved is
natural. At the head of a refined and happy
family, in which centered great domestic happiness,
surrounded by all that could make life happy, ad
mired and honored by his brethren of the Bar, it
would seem that he was beyond the reach of afflic
tion and sorrow.
In August, 1842, he was united by marriage to
Miss Helen Cornwall, of Catskill, N. Y., a lady of
much personal worth and many accomplishments.
Never were husband and wife more strongly at
tached. The sufferings of the former from the painful

J< 'y£, /77>&r-

THE BENCH AND BAR.

185

attacks of the disease we have mentioned rendered
him an object of the tenderest care and solicitude
to the wife. Her gentle, loving and faithful minis
trations did much to sustain him and retard the
ravages of disease, strengthening him and enabling
him to continue his brilliant and ardent career
down to the time when human efforts to succor
him became of no avail.
Four children, three sons and one daughter, were
born to this marriage, The sons all passed from
earth before the death of Mr. Tremain. Their
first-born, Frederick, as we have seen, fell in bat
tle. The sorrow and gloom which the death of this
gallant young soldier produced in Albany and
elsewhere is recorded in a volume devoted to
the history of his life. In the fall of 1868, a bright
and beautiful boy of seven was suddenly taken
away, under the most painful circumstances. He
died from the effects of a fall over the banisters of
a stairway in his father's house, almost under his
father's eyes. His other son, Grenville, his law
partner, inherited all his father's talents, all his
eloquence, and all his personal worth. Young as
he was, he attained a commanding position at the
Bar; so commanding that in 1877 he received
the nomination, by acclamation, of Attorney-Gen
eral from the Republican party. This was a spon
taneous and splendid tribute, all unsought, both to
father and son. The Republican ticket was not
successful in the State, but young Tremain re
ceived a most flattering vote, running largely ahead
of his ticket, and obtaining a majority of votes in
Albany County.
But this young man, so gifted, so winning,
so idolized by his parents, was suddenly stricken
by a fatal illness, which terminated fatally in a very
few days. From this terrible blow Mr. Tremain
never recovered. The deep fountains of sorrow were
opened for him ; over his heart a wintry change
had come, and the sunlight of his life was shad
owed. But he lingered through the summer and
fall of 1878, dying on the 30th of November. His
death, though not unexpected, created a most pro
found sensation throughout the State. The Bench,
the Bar and the Press attested their respect for
his memory ; the former by proceedings character
ized by the deepest solemnity and sorrow ; the
latter by tributes the most respectful and of the
highest ability. The popular favor which he en
joyed in such unmeasured profusion was exhibited
by many unusual demonstrations of public and
private sorrow ; every degree of talent and of elo
quence offered to his memory green and fragrant
garlands. In person Judge Tremain was above the
middle height, of strong, vigorous mould and dig
nified presence. His face was uncommonly at
tractive, with large blue eyes, broad, open fore
head, mouth and teeth of great beauty, and a smile
unusually winning and cordial. In private life
those who knew him best felt for him the sincerest
affection. He was a model husband, father and
friend ; his disposition was amiable and generous.
During his long and at times distressing illness he
governed himself with rare self-restraint. His un

wearied, heroic patience, unfailing good humor
and cheerful courage rendered attendance upon
his needs a pleasure to all. Mr. Tremain was a
sincere, devoted believer in the teachings of the sa
cred Scripture. His primary characteristic, that
which gave him his peculiar weight in the com
munity, was the force of his moral, religious princi
ples ; a force which operated with the steadiness of
a law of nature, blending harmoniously with his
brilliant talents. To live religiously he did not
think himself called to give up the proper pursuits
and gratifications of human nature. He believed
that religion was in harmony with intellectual im
provements, with the pleasures of imagination and
society, and especially with the kindly affections,
and thus religious principle added tenderness,
steadiness, dignity, to the impulses of nature.
Without pretension or show, or any striking dis
coveries of emotion, he felt the claim of everything
human upon his sympathy and his service, and
his strong abiding hope of a blessed immortality
beautifully sustained him during the fatal illness
that terminated his life. Finally, may we not say
that he whose life and acts we have recorded is
really the speaker ? That it is he rather than his
biographer who teaches us from the tomb where
his head now lies low, or rather from that world
into which his soul has passed, such valuable les
sons as may be drawn from his example in the an
nals of his life. Reflecting on that life, recalling
its modest beginnings and its solid achievements,
his fidelity to duty and his loyalty to principle, the
soundness of his judgments and the just balance of
his thoughts, the simplicity of his character and his
winning personal traits ; considering the range of
offices well filled, his obligation to his clients well
and honorably discharged ; reflecting on all this,
do we not find the elements of a picture of what a
man ought to be — the portraiture of the son, the
husband and the parent, the student, the scholar,
the lawyer, orator, patriot and Christian.
JOHN C. NOTT.
Judge John C. Nott was born at Norman Vale,
the old Taylor homestead in Guilderland, Albany
County, N. Y., August 15, 1835. His father was
Hon. Benjamin Nott, son of Dr. Eliphilet Nott,
for many years President of Union College.
Judge Nott's mother was Elizabeth Cooper, a
sister of Gen. John Taylor Cooper, of Albany,
and a granddaughter of Gov. John Taylor, a
distinguished character in the early history of the
State of New York. In 1843 Hon. Benjamin
Nott became a resident of Bethlehem, Albany
County. In his early boyhood young Nott attended the
common school of Bethlehem, where he acquired
a rudimentary education. He prepared for
college at the Albany Academy, and entered Union
College, from whence he was graduated in the
class of 1856. He took his degree, with the repu
tation of an excellent scholar.
In conformity with his intention of entering the
legal profession, he became a student at law in the
office of Cagger, Porter cV Hand, of Albany, a

186

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

distinguished law firm, with a State and national
reputation. The advantages which young Nott
derived from his studentship in this firm of ac
quiring a solid, practical legal education have been
manifested in his professional and judicial career.
He was also a student in the Albany Law School,
and is an alumnus of its class of 1863, and in that
year he was admitted to the Bar.
One or his early traits was a marked love for mil
itary affairs ; to these he gave such attention that
he became an accomplished citizen soldier, exhib
iting such decided abilities that in 1865 he was
promoted to the rank of Colonel of the Eighty-
second Regiment, N. G., S. N. Y. The efficient
and practical knowledge he brought to his office
exhibited itself in the drill and discipline of his
command. In 1866 he formed a partnership with the late
Hon. Wm. S. Paddock, of Albany, in the practice
of his profession, under the firm name of Paddock
& Nott. This same year he was elected School
Commissioner for the First District of Albany
County, and although the business of his law firm
was large and extended, he found time to discharge
in a faithful and acceptable manner the duties of
his office. His relation with Recorder Paddock
continued to the year 1874, when hewas nomi
nated for Police Justice by the Democrats of Al
bany. He was elected by a plurality of 2,400.
In 1878 he was renominated and elected by a ma
jority of 3,700 over his Republican competitor.
In 1882 he was a third time nominated, and was
elected by a majority of about six thousand. These
repeated elections, with such largely increased ma
jorities, eloquently attest the ability with which he
discharged his first judicial duties, and the estima
tion in which he was held by the citizens of Al
bany. In 1882 he formed a partnership with Isaac B.
Barrett, a gentleman whose legal attainments are
generally acknowledged, and who occupies a high
standing at the Albany Bar. This partnership still
continues, and is a leading firm of Albany.
The appreciation of Judge Nott was manifested
in a higher and more marked degree by his eleva
tion to the Bench of the County Court of Albany
County. On October 10, 1883, the Citizens' Association
of Albany nominated him for County Judge. Three
days later he received the indorsement of the Dem
ocratic County Convention, and was elected at the
general election in November following, by an un
usually large majority of five thousand nine hun
dred and seventy-seven, being the highest majority
of any nominee on the ticket.
He brought to the Bench all those qualities that
rendered him so useful and popular in his former
official position. He exhibited familiarity with
statute law, criminal law and the laws of evidence.
In the trial of causes he grasped the facts with rapid
precision, and decided both questions of law and
fact promptly and without circumlocution.
" On the bench he is not given to verbosity. In
passing upon questions of law in a civil action, or
imposing its penalties on convicted criminals, he is

always brief and to the point. He does not wander
off into a maze of decisions, theories or parallel
cases, nor does he read vapid homilies to them."
He pronounces his decisions in terse, positive lan
guage, and he comes to his sentences of criminals
with directness and dignity. His severity is always
adequate to the. crime of which the criminal is
convicted, and he gives due consideration to prop
erly established mitigating circumstances.
One of the first trials at which Judge Nott
presided was of absorbing interest. It was
at the April, 1884, term of the Court of Ses
sions, and the manner in which he presided com
mended him alike to the admiration of the Bar and
the respect and confidence of the public. Alfred
F. Vedder, a minister of the Gospel, was arraigned
for procuring an abortion to be performed upon
one Anna A. Walters, a young lady who had been
one of his flock. The story she told was highly sen
sational, relating to their first meetings, their visits .
together to different hotels and to different cities,
and in many of the details her story was strongly
corroborated by circumstantial evidence. The de
fense was conducted with great earnestness, and
every possible point made and saved for review.
Judge Nott held the scales of justice evenly bal
anced, ruled promptly on the many law questions
presented, and at the close of the evidence, in a
lucid charge, submitted the case to the jury, which
rendered a charge of guilty, and Vedder was
sentenced to State -Prison for four years.
Many difficult law questions were debated on
the trial. Was Miss Walters an accomplice of the
prisoner ? became a very important question. If
she was, her evidence required corroboration under
section 399 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
It was argued for the defense that she was a party
to the crime, consenting, and equally guilty with
the prisoner. Judge Nott held that she was not an
accomplice, but rather a victim. An appeal was
taken to the General Term of the Supreme Court,
and the conviction was affirmed by a divided
court. A further appeal was taken to the Court of
Appeals, and that court unanimously confirmed
the conviction, and thus settled in this State the
mooted question of whether a woman who submits
to an abortion is an accomplice of the procurer.
The opinion of that court was written by Chief-
Justice Ruger, and contains a review of the trial,
and expressly affirms every ruling made on the
trial. This case justly added to the reputation of
Judge Nott, and placed him in the ranks of the
ablest of our trial judges.
His written opinions have the impress of reflection
and learning, always interlarded with sufficient pre
cedent to sustain his conclusions; but they were never
loaded down with pedantic quotations. From his
written opinions we have room to refer to only two.
Although very brief, they are very important, and
give the reader a very adequate knowledge of the
character and style of his judicial mind and
method. The first of these cases is that of The People vs.
fohn Harrington and George Messer, fr., in the
Albany County Sessions. The defendants, at the

THE BENCH AND BAR.

187

June term in 1883, Judge Van Alstyne presiding,
pleaded guilty to an indictment for burglary in the
second degree. Their sentence was suspended and
they were discharged from custody. In November,
1884, they were committed to jail by one of the
police justices, charged with another crime;
whereupon the District Attorney, on December 5,
1884, caused them to be brought into that court,
Judge Nott presiding, and moved that each be
sentenced under his plea of guilty, entered at the
June term of 1883. Their counsel objected to
the sentence, under which a very interesting law
point was raised and elaborately argued, touching
the rights of the court to suspend the sentence of
convicted criminals and discharge them indefinitely,
and the right of a court to inflict a sentence at any
subsequent time on motion of the District At
torney. At the time the plea of guilty was entered both
defendants were under sixteen years of age. When
brought up for sentence, Harrington yet was under
sixteen, but Messer was over that age.
"In the case of the People vs. Monisette (20 Howard
Pr., 1 18)," says Judge Nott in his opinion, " the Court of Oyer
and Terminer refused to suspend sentence,-holding that no
suspension of sentence or stay is authorized, except upon a
certiorari or writ of error, on application in arrest of judg
ment, or for a new trial; but this ruling is contrary to the
current of cases in this country, and the precise point has
been recently determined in the Fourth Department of the
Supreme Court in the People vs. Graves. Says Hardin, J.:
' We regard the essential question in this case so firmly re
solved against the appellant by the authorities that we do
not deem it useful to open the question for fresh investigation
and adjudication (2 N. Y. Crim. Rep., 227). It is just and
proper that the power to suspend sentence should exist in
the Superior Criminal Courts. Great harm might flow to
society in the destruction of the means of those charged
with the administration of criminal justice, to expose through
this aid dangerous conspiracies to person and property.' ' It
would seem,' says Dixon, J., ' that it is stating the matter too
broadly to assert that it is always the imperative duty of a
court to render judgment on a conviction of crime, unless
some legal proceedings for review be interposed; considera
tions of public policy may induce the court to stay its hand
(State vs. Addy, 14 Vroom, 113-39, -^m- Kep., 546).' In
the case of Harrington, the clemency of this court seems to
have had no salutary effect upon him. We find him again
in the custody of the law, charged with crime, and our duty
is to impose sentence upon him, which is that he be con
fined in the House of Refuge during the pleasure of the
managers (Park vs. People, 1 Lansing, 263). In Messer's
case a different question is presented . In his case, at the
time of his plea of gttilty%he was one of that class of crim
inals recognized as juvenile delinquents, and the sentence of
the court might and probably would have been to the House
of Refuge, where his mind would have been properly trained
and means taken to reform and educate him, and although
but for the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure
(sec. 832), he would be disqualified as a witness (People vs.
Park, 41 N. Y., 21), yet his right to vote at any election when
arriving of age would not be taken away (Penal Code, 711).
He is now over the age of sixteen years, and if sentenced
he must be imprisoned in a State prison for not more than
ten years nor less than five years (Penal Code, 507), or
to the Elmira Reformatory, wherefrom he may be trans
ferred to a State prison.
" A sentence now under the plea of guilty would be add
ing an additional penalty to that which might and probably
would have been suffered if sentenced at the time he
entered his plea, that of disfranchisement. It is an exem
plary rule that any law that changes the punishment and
inflicts a greater punishment than the law annexed to the
crime when committed is void (Calder vs. Bull., 3 Dall.,
386-390), and the rule is the same when the law is changed

after conviction (Hartung vs. People, 22 N. Y., 95). The
humanity of our law and the genius of our Constitution
require that no severer penalty should be imposed on a.
criminal than that which existed when the offense was com
mitted or a conviction had. In State vs. Addy (43 New
Jersey Law Reports, 113), it was held on a conviction of
maintaining a nuisance, the court having suspended sentence
on payment of costs, so long as the defendant should abate
the nuisance, that a sentence of imprisonment at a sub
sequent time was void.
" The charity of a court should not be allowed to work an
injustice to a defendant. Independent of the question of
disfranchisement, there is such a marked difference between
the methods and prison discipline of the House of Rtfuge
and a State prison that it is apparent that a sentence now of
Messer to a State prison would be harder and more severe
than if sentenced over a year ago, when the plea was
entered ! Entertaining these views, the court declines to
sentence Messer on his plea of guilty, and remands him
into the custody of the Sheriff, under the later criminal
charge, upon which he was committed to jail, to be proceeded
against as the law directs."
This decision, it will be seen, is sustained by
acute reasoning, strongly fortified by legal author
ities and common sense suggestions, and exhibits
an able, fearless and humane judicial officer.
The other case to which we alluded is that of
Heenan vs. The West Shore Railroad. It is of great
importance, as it settles the jurisdiction of the
County Court over the person in regard to the ser
vice of processes from it, and what constitutes the
legal residence of domestic corporations.
Heenan brought an action against the West
Shore R. R., in the County Court of Albany
County, to recover damages for injury to personal
property, caused in defendant's negligence in operat
ing its railroads through the village of West Troy,
in Albany County.
The complaint alleges that the defendant is a
domestic corporation, engaged in the carrying of
freight and passengers for hire in various parts of
the State, including the County of Albany; that a
part of its line of road is located in this county.
The answer of the defendant admits that it is a
domestic corporation, and avers that its principal
place of business is, and was at and long before the
commencement of this action, established by its
articles of association and actually located in the
City of New York; that its principal place of bus
iness never was established or located in the County
of Albany, and that the summons was served upon
the defendant in the City of New York. The
answer also puts in issue the various allegations- in
the complaint.
On the trial it was established that the defendant,
being a railroad corporation, operated its road
through various counties of the State, including
Albany County; that by the articles of association
and in fact its principal place of business is and
was. located in the City of New York; that the
summons in the action was served upon one of the
officers of the defendant in the City of New York.
The plaintiff had a verdict, whereupon the de
fendant moved for a new trial and a dismissal of
the complaint.
"Two questions," said Judge Nott, " are presented for the
consideration of the court: first, has the court such juris
diction as to entertain the action ? second, if it has not, has
the defendant waived, or is he precluded from raising, the

188

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

point, he having appeared and answered? The Code of
Civil Procedure provides that for the purpose of determin
ing the jurisdiction of the County Court a domestic corpora
tion or joint stock association, whose principal place of bus
iness is established by or pursuant to a statute or by its
articles of association, or is actually located within the
county, is deemed a resident of the county, and personal
service of a summons made within the county, as prescribed
by the Code, is sufficient (sec. 541). Our jurisdiction, there
fore, by this provision, in the case of a domestic corpora
tion, depends, first, upon the location within our county of its
principal place of business, whether by force of a special
statute or its articles of association, or its actual location ;
and secondly, personal service of the summons within the
county upon one of those of its officers who may be served
under the Code of Civil Procedure with a summons in an
action against it.
" The provisions of the Constitution in reference to the
County Court (art. 6, sec. 15) are broad enough to permit
the Legislature to confer this power upon the County
Court, and that it is so eminently proper to cover cases
where large business enterprises are carried on within the
county, and some of its chief officers within the county di
recting its principal offices, although the principal office
may be located in another county (Gemp vs. Pratt, 7 Daly,
197, distinguishing Landers vs. The S. I. R. Co., 53 N. Y.,
450)." The conclusions the Court arrives at are as fol
lows :
' ' Here the principal place of business of the defendant,
by its articles of association, and in fact, is located within
one county, and the summons was not served in this
county. The conclusion reached is, that this Court has
not jurisdiction over the defendant. This brings us to the
conclusion of the second question: Has the defendant
waived, or is it precluded from raising the objection. The
plaintiff insists that, the defendant having answered and ap
peared generally in the action, although by its answer it
raised the issue of its residence, it cannot now say it is a
non-resident of the county, as the Court could acquire juris
diction of the defendant by the service of the summons
upon a proper officer of the company within the county,
which could not be done in the case of an individual.
" I am of opinion that the allegations of the complaint as
to residence were sufficient, and as the defect of which the
defendant complains did not appear on the face of the com
plaint, he could not demur (Code, sec. 488). The objec
tion to the jurisdiction was, therefore, properly taken
by answer (Code, sec. 498) ; Holbrook vs. Baker, 16
Hun, 176; Mayhew vs. Robinson, 10 How, 162-5),
and was not waived by appearance in the action, and
an answer therein setting up the objection (Sullivan vs.
Frazer, 4 Robt, 620; Wheelock vs. Lee, 74 N. Y., 497-8).
In opposition to the rule at common law, under the Code,
a defendant may plead as many defenses as he has, wheth
er, as formerly denominated, to the jurisdiction in abate
ment or in bar (Code, sec. 507; Sweet vs. Tuttie, 16 N.
Y., 465). It follows, therefore, tha^thTgeneral appearance
of the defendant, distinctly" by its pleading giving notice of
its intention to raise the question of jurisdiction, is no
waiver, nor does it preclude the defendant from insisting on
the want of jurisdiction of this Court (Landers vs. The S. I.
R. Co., 53 N. Y., 450; Davidsburgh vs. The K. L. Ins.
Co., 90 N. Y., 526). The cases cited by the plaintiff's
counsel (Paulding vs. Hurd Man. Co., E. D Smith, 38;
Ballard vs. Burrows, 2 Robt., 206; Olcott vs. McLean, 73
N. Y., 223) do not apply to this case. An order must be
entered granting the motion of the defendant and awarding
a new trial, and the complaint should be dismissed."
This case was appealed to the General Term,
and the opinion of Judge Nott was there cited'
with approval, and unanimously confirmed.
Judge Nott takes much interest in secret benev
olent organizations, known as Masonery, Knights
of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows
and the Order of United Friends, to all of which
he has belonged for several years, and is held in

high estimation by his brethren of these orders. He
finds great pleasure in advancing their interests,
and his influence is recognized as salutary and
advantageous. In 1879 he was elected Grand
Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, and in 1881
he represented the Grand Lodge in the Supreme
Lodge. In December, 188 1, on the organization
of the Order of United Friends, he was elected
Imperial Chancellor for the term of two years.
The benefits of his administration among the be
nevolent orders of the United States are generally
and warmly acknowledged.
In politics Judge Nott is a Democrat. To this
party he gave his adherence early in life, under the
conscientious conviction in the rectitude of its
principles, though he is willing to acknowledge all
real merit in opposing parties and political oppo
nents, recognizing the necessity of political parties
in a government organized like our own. While
he is strong in his political predilections, he is in
no sense a political bigot. In the discharge of
his judicial duties he forgets politics, partisans,
and political distinctions, deciding whatever mat
ters come before him from the stand-point of
strict impartiality.
Judge Nott carries into social life the amenities
of a gentleman by intuition and association. What
ever sternness there is in his nature is exhibited only
on the bench, and there only as occasion requires.
In his social relations he is genial, easy of ap
proach, attached to his friends, and attaches them
to himself in those reciprocal relations, always
agreeable in private life. Judge Nott has been,
and still is, attached to the cause of education, and
in this respect is also a very useful member of so
ciety. Such are the characteristics and such the
career, down to this writing, of Judge John C.
Nott, stated without embellishment or amplifica
tion. Readers of all classes will concede that an
honorable place in the history of Albany County
justly belongs to him.
EDWARD J. MEEGAN.
Mr. Meegan possesses endowments that natur
ally qualify him for attaining success in his profes
sion. Bold, ardent, self-reliant, clear in his con
ceptions, with an extensive knowledge of books.
To these qualities may be added much ingenuity
and a quick and ready use of his learning in the
trial and conduct of causes, united with the ability
to protect himself against the coup d'etat oi the most
learned and experienced opponent, and in his
turn is formidable in the attack, quick in detecting
the errors and omissions of others.
Thus equipped, though quite young, he has
reached the head of the junior, if not the senior,
Bar of his native city. His singular success in the
management of important causes in all of the State
Courts is proverbial. Some of these causes have
passed into history, made interesting to the student
and practitioner by the new and original points
which determine cases in his favor. As is natural
with one of his ambition, he has found in politics
a sphere congenial to his tastes, in which he has
gained a position of such eminence and influence

THE BENCH AND BAR.

189

that he has become a power and a leader in the
Democratic party, to which he gave his early alle
giance, as we shall more fully see in tracing his life
and career.
He was born at Albany, N. Y., September 28,
1846. His parents were Thomas and Sarah Mee
gan, natives of the County of Tyrone, Ireland, from
whence they came to this country in 18-24, and
became residents of Boston, Mass. In 1826 they
removed to Albany, where they were highly re
spected, and there resided until their death.
Young Meegan developed a love of learning,
his amusement being found in books and the
practical reading of works apparently beyond his
comprehension. As the means of his parents were
limited, he was compelled to rely much upon his
own resources in attaining his education ; thus his
capacity was not obscured nor his mental growth
retarded by pampered indulgence or the want of
strong incentive to action. Accustomed to early
self-reliance, he entered the battle of life to become
a victor. At an early age he was placed at St. Joseph's
Parish School, Albany, where he was carefully and
profitably educated. It was in this institution that
he gave indubitable evidence that his future life
would be devoted to one of the learned professions.
Indeed, one of the dreams of his early ambition
was the hope of becoming a lawyer, and it is pleas
ant to record the manner in which those pleasing
dreams became reality.
At the early age of thirteen these dreams began
to take the form of reality and action. Young in
years but precocious in intellect, he entered the law
office of Edwards <Sf Sturtevant, a highly respecta
ble firm at Albany. He at once entered upon the
practicable duties of a legal clerkship, learning
that detail of a lawyer's life by witnessing and, in a
measure, participating in the most important part
of a lawyer's life and duties in the law office ; and
thus we may say that Mr. Meegan was, in the
fullest sense, bred to the law.
He continued with this firm and with Isaac Ed
wards, Esq., distinguished as the author of "Ed
wards on Bills and Notes," and a highly approved
work on Bailments, etc., until his admission to the
Bar. This event took place in 1867, as soon as he
reached the constitutional age of twenty-one years.
He opened an office at Albany, surrounded by the
highest legal talent and experience, and entered
ardently and self-reliant into the practice of his
profession. He had passed with great credit through the
teachings of his profession; his studentship was full
and unconditional. He gave to the office in which
he studied his entire time and attention — much
more time than the law requires to fit a student for
examination. He read with ambitious fidelity to
his calling, and conducted with his own hands
many hundred' cases through all the intricacies of
the Code ; so that when he began practice for him
self, young as he was, he was a trained and experi
enced lawyer. With these advantages, and unflag
ging energies, quickened by ambition, it is not
strange that signal success at once attended him.

In May, 1869, he was elected by the Common
Council of Albany Corporation Counsel, having
then been only two years at the Bar. Perhaps no
higher compliment could be paid to the talents of
the young lawyer than this. The duties of the
office demanded high abilities, learning and pru
dence. Happily, both for the city and him, he
brought to it all these endowments.
When he commenced his official duties there
were many unfinished suits, and he was confronted
by an accumulation of official work that would
have been almost appalling even to an older and
much more experienced lawyer. But he entered
ardently and sagaciously into the work before him.
By his executive ability, professional skill and vigi
lance he saved the city over half a million of dol
lars. This was recognized by the city authorities,
eliciting thanks from Mayor Thacher. Mr. Mee
gan continued to discharge the duties of Corpora
tion Counsel until April, 1874. In the meantime
his other legal business continued to increase
until few, if any, lawyers in the city commanded a
larger or more profitable clientage.
He adopted no specialty in his profession, for
he had prepared himself for a general law practice.
He devoted himself mostly to what is known as
civil cases, but he found in the criminal law a field
of usefulness and profit. The success which has
attended his career at the Bar is the best demon
stration of his character and capacity as a lawyer.
Mr. Meegan, having relinquished the office of
Corporation Counsel, continued his practice with a
useful experience in the management of city cases,
particularly actions to vacate assessments for irregu
larity, etc. He was retained in a very large num
ber of these cases, and was successful in every one.
The best evidence of a lawyer's career is what he
does and the results ; we, therefore, select a few
from the many cases conducted by Mr. Meegan as
interesting matter, not only to the profession, but the
general reader. Some of these cases are largely
connected with the history of the City and County
of Albany, and are, therefore, appropriate matter
for this work. From our limited space, however,
we can only give a sufficient abstract of these cases
to put the reader in possession of the questions in
volved in- them, and a knowledge of the manner
in which they were conducted.
Perhaps one of the most important and interest
ing cases conducted by Mr. Meegan was that of
Wm. H. Keeler, Sheriff of the County of Albany,
in which the attempt was made to take from the
sheriff the essential powers of his office ; in other
words, to denude the office.
On May 31, 1882, an act was passed by the
Legislature directing the Sheriff of Albany County
to remove all the prisoners from the Albany County
Jail to the Albany County Penitentiary, designating
that institution as the County Jail of Albany
County, making the keeper of the said penitentiary
the jailer of the said county. He was to be ap
pointed by the joint board of the Supervisors of the
county and the Mayor and Recorder of the City of
Albany. The said Superintendent was to have the
custody and control of all persons confined in the

190

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

penitentiary, the same as the sheriff of the county
would have were the law not enacted, and no
jailer could, therefore, be appointed by the sheriff.
This act was a strange innovation upon the
rights and powers of the sheriff, inasmuch as the
control and charge of the prisoners in the county
have been for centuries the prerogative of the
sheriff. Wm. H. Keeler was elected in November, 1882,
and entered upon the duties of his office January
1, 1883, restricted by the act to which we have
alluded. The act had been pronounced constitutional by
many leading members of the Bar, but Mr. Keeler
decided to test the matter thoroughly. Accord
ingly, on January 1, 1883, he addressed Mr. Mee
gan a letter, requesting him to give him his written
opinion as to the validity of the act. Mr. Meegan
prepared an opinion, in which he elaborately re
viewed the law touching the case, coming to the
decision that the act was unconstitutional. This
opinion was generally acknowledged by the Bar to
be singularly learned and exhaustive, and added
largely to the reputation of its author as a learned and
critical lawyer. As a legal document it is prolific in
thought, strong in argument — a condensation of a
vast number of authorities to a single focal point,
and that the evident unconstitutionality of the act.
Strengthened by this opinion, Mr. Keeler invoked
the aid of the courts. Litigation followed, result
ing in a decision declaring the law unconstitutional
and void.
It was a signal triumph both for the sheriff and
his counsel. The case created intense interest,
and Mr. Meegan undertook it with the prevailing
opinion of the Bar against him. It is a case of
historic interest, reported as The People ex rel. Mc
Ewen vs. Keeler, 29 Hun's Reports, 175.
Another case of equal interest and importance
was that of The People vs. fames M. Dempsey et al. ,
involving the constitutionality of chapter 532 of the
Laws of 1 88 1, amending the Code of Civil Pro
cedure in regard to the method of selecting Grand
Jurors in Albany County.
Grand jurors were annually selected by the Su
pervisors of Counties under the Revised Statutes
(3d R. S., 6th ed., 1015; 3d R. S., 7th ed., 2558).
The amendment of the Code to which we have
referred changed the method of selecting grand
jurors in Albany County,- providing that the Re
corder of the City of Albany perform the duties
imposed upon the Town Clerk, Supervisor and
Assessor of Towns in regard to the drawing of
grand jurors, instead of drawing the said jurors
under the provisions of the Revised Statutes. The
change was sweeping, completely revolutionizing
the grand jury system, so far as Albany County
was concerned.
It provides that the grand jurors in Albany
County shall be drawn from the petit jurors' box, and
that the names of the proposed petit jurors are se
lected, not, as heretofore, by the seventeen Super
visors, but by the Recorder of the City of Albany.
The grand jury, as organized under this act, found
an indictment against James M. Dempsey et al.

for an alleged violation of the Election laws. Mr.
Meegan was retained to defend. This, like the
Keeler case, created great interest. It involved an
elaborate study of a large number of authorities.
Meegan took the ground that the Code, as amended
by chapter 532 of the Laws of 1881, so far as it
affected the City and County of Albany, is in con
flict with the Constitution, as amended November
3, 1874. Article 3 of section 18 of the Constitu
tion provides that " the Legislature shall not pass
a private or local bill in any of the following cases :
***** selecting, drawing,
summoning or impaneling grand or petit jurors. "
The case was ably and learnedly conducted by
the District Attorney, but it resulted in an order ot
the Court declaring the indictment void and of no
effect, on the grounds of unconstitutionality.
From this order an appeal was taken by the Dis
trict Attorney to the Supreme Court. A motion
made by Mr. Meegan for a dismissal of this appeal
was successful. His arguments in the different and
difficult phases of this case were, by common con
sent, pronounced masterly efforts. A report of the
case will be found in 66 Howard's Pr. Reps., 371,
and 65 Howard's Pr. Reps., 365; will be found in
People vs. Duff — Judge Westbrook's opinion.
In the case of The People vs. Petrea, indicted
for grand larceny in September, 1881, by a grand
jury organized under the amendment of the Code
to which we referred in the foregoing case, Mr.
Meegan, in conducting the case for the accused,
interposed the same defense of unconstitutionality
that he did in the case of Dempsey et al. , and with
the same results. The Laws of 1881 amending the
Code were declared unconstitutional (65 Howard's
Pr. , 59). The question was again raised in the case
of The People vs.Hooghtiud, 67 Howard's Pr. Reps. ,
256. Judge Andrews, as will be seen by consult
ing page 259, expresses the strongest disapproba
tion of the Court at longer tolerating a system so
directly in conflict with the provisions of the Con
stitution as that provided by the amendment of the
Code to which we have referred.
In 1872 Mr. Meegan had charge of the defense
in the celebrated case of The People ex rel. Edmund
L. fudson agst. George H Thacher, involving the
title to the office of Mayor of the City of Albany.
The trial of the case resulted in a verdict for the
defendant. An appeal to the Court of Appeals re
sulted in an order for a new trial, but, pending the
new trial, Mr. Thacher resigned, having served
twenty months of his two years.
In 1882 Mr. Meegan was retained for the de
fense in another contest over the office of Mayor of
the City of Albany, that of The People ex rel. John
Swinburne vs. Michael Nolan. A long litigation
followed, but, after holding the office fifteen
months, Nolan resigned, and Swinburne served the
remainder of the two years' term. These cases are
so fresh in the recollection of the public that a
minute description of them is unnecessary.
Perhaps no case which has occurred in Albany
for years has created so much interest as that of
The People vs. Frank R. Sherwin. It arose out
of the defalcation of Deputy State Treasurer Phelps.

THE BENCH AND BAR.

191

When his case was brought to trial, Sherwin was
subpoenaed as a witness, and refused to attend, and
for such refusal was indicted. Under the provis
ions of the Statute rendering it indictable for every
person subpoenaed in a case like that of Phelps
guilty of willful disobedience of the subpoena
shall be guilty of a criminal offense and a misde
meanor. One of the points raised by the defense was that
it was not shown that Sherwin willfully and inten
tionally disobeyed the subpoena, that the burden
of dispelling every possible reason which might be
regarded by the court as good or otherwise for the
non-attendance of the witness rested with the pros
ecution. Mr. Meegan took no part in the trial,
which resulted in the conviction of Sherwin, and to
a sentence of one year in the penitentiary and a
fine of two hundred and fifty dollars. This was on
December 28, 1883. On January 30, 1884, Mr.
Meegan was retained. Wm. M. Evarts, Wm. A.
Beech, Gen. Tremain and J. Thomas Spriggs
had been in the case at different stages. At the
urgent solicitation of the defendant, Mr. Meegan
accepted a retainer for the purpose of avoiding his
sentence upon procuring bail, etc.
Then began a succession of motions and appli
cations in various forms, numberless arguments be
fore the judges of the Supreme Court;' at length the
indomitable counsel procured stays of the sentence
and had Sherwin admitted to bail in the sum of
$3,000. Mr. Meegan had to impeach the indictments;
but as there were two pleas of guilty, he could ob
tain no relief for his client unless he could show
cause in the record. He spent many months in
diligent and unremitting labor on the case, and at
last succeeded in releasing his client on bail until
the final decision of the appeal, which is pend
ing. Few lawyers have been more successful in criti
cising and analyzing indictments than Mr. Meegan,
and when his objections were overruled in the Oyer
and Terminer, they have been sustained in the Ap
pellate Courts.
In the celebrated case of the People vs. Devine,
indicted for mayhem, the District Attorney had
followed the form in Wh orton, but omitted
the words "on purpose." Although the in
dictment contained every other element of the of
fenses, it was quashed.
In another very important case, that of the
People vs. Gassbeck, indicted for burglary, Mr.
Meegan, for the defendant, succeeded in quashing
the indictment on an ingenious point after an elab
orate and well-sustained argument.
The cases which Mr. Meegan has conducted are
too numerous to be even mentioned by their titles
for want of space. An examination of his briefs
proves them to be copious and learned legal pro
ductions and their author an adroit and skillful
legal logician, capable of the most patient and per
severing energy and research, which no difficulties
can baffle, no embarrassments perplex, no amount
of professional labor fatigue or discourage. As a
forensic speaker, he is always calm; methodical in

the arrangement of his matter; terse, vigorous and
pointed in his phraseology, and accurate in the
choice of his words. It would be strange indeed
if a person of Mr. Meegan's professional and -social
standing and ardent mind should keep aloof from
politics. He is a Democrat, thoroughly imbued
with the belief that the principles of Democracy
should prevail. In the advocacy of those prin
ciples, he has brought to bear that intellectual
strength, that singular versatility and imperturb
able energy which characterize his professional
career. Before reaching his majority, he exhibited the
qualities of an accomplished politician.
When he was twenty-one years of age, he as
sumed the leadership of one of the wings of the
Democratic party in Albany, and in the vicissi
tudes of the political contest that followed, he took
the place of one of the most skilled and distin
guished politicians of the State, Peter Cagger, in
which he has sustained himself with consummate
ability and skill.
Without attempting any description of his po
litical career, we may say with truth that he has
exhibited on several occasions the fact that he is a
power in politics, by no means local, but felt
throughout the State. Yet he is still a young man.
His success as a politician has not been at the ex
pense of his profession, to which he subordinates
politics and everything that can encumber the
growth of his professional reputation. But his
success and distinction in politics may fairly be
considered as the stepping stone to the highest po
litical honors whenever he shall enter the political
arena to contend for them.
Having thus described Mr. Meegan as he stands
before the public, as a lawyer and politician, it
remains for us to say a few words in regard to his
position in private life.
On the fifth of June, 1878, he was united by
marriage to Miss Kate E. Welch, of Albany.
This union was a happy one, and the domestic
relations of Mr. Meegan may be said to have been
truly enviable. But on the 10th of January, 1884,
after the enjoyment of less than six years of wed
ded happiness, he suffered an irreparable loss in
the death of his wife.
As a citizen Mr. Meegan occupies a high position,
possessing those attractive endowments which
render him a pleasing and instructive companion.
A large and admirably selected library affords him
ample intellectual aliment and the giatification of
a cultured literary taste.
HENRY SMITH.
Henry Smith was born in Cobleskill, Schoharie
County, N. Y., March 14, 1829. His father,
Thomas Smith, was for a long time at the head of
the Schoharie Bar, and afterward he was a distin
guished member of the Albany Bar.
His son, Henry, like many other distinguished
legists and advocates, laid the foundation of his
education in the common or district schools,
which, humble as they were, have attached to them

192

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

memories and associations that touch the heart
and bring up sympathies in the mind of many an
occupant of places of distinction and honor. In a
word, they were and are the corner-stone of our sys
tem of education.
One of the principal books used in the common
schools at that time was Lindley Murray's English
Reader, still remembered for the purity, elegance
and taste of its diction, the versatility, elevation
and excellence of its matter. It was, perhaps, the
study of this work that gave Smith the strong, per
spicuous, affluent style that characterized his oral
and written productions.
What he could not learn in the district school he
studied with success under the tuition of his father.
At length he entered the academy at Esperance, N.
Y. , at the head of which was a scholarly, though
somewhat eccentric, Scotch gentleman of the name
of Wm. McLaren. He was particularly gifted in the
art of imparting instruction by a thorough, practical
discipline. Young Smith, who was a favorite with
him, acquired those scholarly habits, devotion to
study, and the knowledge how to study, which was
of such advantage to him in life. He was untiring
in his devotion to books, and his tenacious memo
ry took the impression of what he read, like char
acters made in softened steel, hardening when the
page was closed, so that he never lost the thought
or theme of an author.
Young Smith first conceived the idea of becom
ing a merchant ; accordingly, in 1 844, he went to
Detroit, Mich., where he engaged as a clerk in a
hardware store ; but whatever hours of leisure he
had were devoted to his books, and he was em
phatically a student and a man of business. He
soon became convinced that he did not possess the
requisite qualities for a successful merchant, and
reflection brought to him the consciousness that he
was better qualified to enter the profession of which
his father was a distinguished member.
After remaining at Detroit a year he returned.
home and entered his father's office as a student
at law. Few students read law as closely, as
systematically and as successfully as did young
Smith ; he loved the quaint style, the meta
physical subtleties of the early black-letter law-
writers, and the pages of Bracton, Briton, Fleta,
Glanville and Coke-Littleton became familiar to
him. Eighteen months passed away in this entire de
votion to study, and then, although but eighteen
years of age, he applied for admission to the Scho
harie Court of Common Pleas. On the 10th of
June, 1847, he passed a critical and successful ex
amination and was admitted to practice as an at
torney of the court. Immediately after attaining
his majority he was admitted to the Supreme Court,
and entered zealously into the practice of his pro
fession at Cobleskill. In the autumn of 1854 Mr.
Smith received the nomination for county judge of
Schoharie County from the Whig party, to which he
had given his allegiance. His party, however, was
largely in the minority, and he was of course de
feated, but the large vote he received was a flatter
ing testimonial of his popularity.

The talents, industry and energy of the young
lawyer brought an abundant reward, and he
soon attained a high rank at the Schoharie Bar.
His practice soon extended into adjoining counties,
and his clientage became so large and important
that he decided upon a larger sphere of action,
and in February, 1857, he removed to Albany.
By this decision he was conscious that he was
entering a legal arena famous in the annals of the
State — a bar composed of strong, expert, elegant
and accomplished lawyers. But he had already
developed abilities upon which he felt he could
rely for success in the brilliant field of labor he had
selected. Physically, he was of stalwart mold, his mental
structure was strong and vigorous, and his energy
and determination were as boundless as his ambi
tion. If he did not leap, Pallas-like, into full pro
fessional honors and success, he reached them by
safe and sure approaches. To facilitate him in
this, he possessed what may be called a legal mind
and method ; an oratory at once bold, ingenious
and persuasive.; the suavity of his manner, the
equable fairness and honor in which he conducted
his practice won for him the friendship and esteem
of his brethren of the Bar. That success should be
the result of these endowments must be considered
almost a matter of course. Professional rivalry,
envy, and the hate of defeated suitors and political
antagonists might, and did, doubtless, as they ever
do, magnify those errors and faults which Mr. Smith
shared, in common with mankind.
He brought to the Bar a drastic, physical
strength that enabled him to endure the most ardent
and exhausting labors. The examination of his
cases was close and critical. He firmly rested
upon the result of his conclusions concerning them,
and never willingly relinquished their advocacy
until the final and authoritative judgments of the
court were pronounced upon them. He also
brought to them a careful, independent, keen dis
crimination, a quick and ready use of his learning.
Wit and humor, ridicule and invective, he employed
as circumstances required.
He could on the most exciting occasion be calm
and self-possessed, but it was the calmness of stern
resolve, persistent and tenacious in its triumphs
over passion and irritability. His first law partner
after coming to Albany was, we believe, Mr. Hugh
W. McClellan. He was for a time a partner with
Edward Newcomb, Esq. In 1864 the famous firm
of Smith, Bancroft & Moak was formed, which ex
isted until the time of Mr. Bancroft's death, early
in 1880. After the death of Mr. Bancroft, the firm
was known as Smith, Moak & Buchanan, Mr. B.
having been previously made a member of the firm.
Like most lawyers, he had ambition for political
success, and he early gave his allegiance to the old
historic Whig party, so grand, we had almost ^said
' ' so sublime in the lustre of the great names that
sustained it." The allegiance he gave it came
warjjri from the depths of his heart. His first great
political sorrow came to him while yet a youth
with the defeat of his ideal of all that was illustri
ous in American statesmanship, Henry Clay.

THE BENCH AND BAR.

193

In 1856, after the dismemberment of the Whig
party by its divisions on the question of slavery,
the Republican party came into existence, and Mr.
Smith at once joined his political fortunes to it,
giving it his influence and laboring diligently for
its success, and he soon became one of its recog
nized leaders in the City and County of Albany.
Although in that exciting period of our history
he entered ardently into the political arena, he did
not forget that success in his profession was the
paramount object of his life. Perhaps we may say
that he only sought politics as a relaxation from
his professional cares and labors, and thus he
never permitted the lawyer to be lost in the poli
tician. In 1862 Mr. Smith received the nomination for
Congress in the Fourteenth District. This, how
ever, was merely complimentary, as the Democrat
ic majority in the district was overwhelming. In
1865, and for several years previous, the Democrats
had controlled the office of District Attorney in the
County of Albany. In the fall of that year Mr.
Smith was nominated for District Attorney by the
Republicans, and after an unusually hot contest he
was elected by a small majority. As has well been
said, " The duties of this responsible office were
discharged by Mr. Smith to the entire satisfaction
of the community, and with much success. His
administration was signalized by a notable increase
in the number of convictions for grave crimes.
Through his efforts a severe blow was dealt to the
criminal classes, in high as well as low places. On
the 31st of December, 1868, he was succeeded by
that distinguished lawyer, Rufus W. Peckham, Jr.
In the autumn of 1866, while discharging the du
ties of District Attorney, he was nominated by the
Republicans of Albany for Member of Assembly.
Though the Democratic majority in the county
was very large, and the prospect of his election
quite dubious, yet he was elected by the very flat
tering majority of 564 votes." This circumstance
sufficiently attests the popularity of Mr. Smith. He
took his seat in the Legislature January 1, 1867.
The Republicans had a large majority in the House,
and Edmund L. Pitts, of Orleans County, was
elected Speaker. In recognition of Mr. Smith's
. abilities, he was placed second on the two most
important standing committees of the House — the
Ways and Means and the Judiciary Committees.
To the duties of these committees Mr. Smith
brought talents and acquirements that rendered
him one of the most useful and successful mem
bers ; but they also brought a vast amount of labor,
research and patience. An examination of the
various committee reports of which he was the au
thor is the best evidence, perhaps, of the manner
in which he discharged his legislative duties, and it
cannot be denied that he stood foremost among the
able orators who occupied seats in this Legislature.
In 1868 he was nominated for a member of the
constitutional convention from Albany, but was
defeated. Such was the increase of his professional duties,
that he was obliged to devote himself with unre
mitting zeal to his clients, and it is said that he
25

had decided in his own mind to abandon politics
forever. But in the fall of 1 871 he was persuaded
to accept the nomination for member of Assembly
from the Second Assembly District of Albany, and
was elected by a "highly respectable majority.
The legislative session opened January 2, 1872.
Mr. Smith was with great unanimity brought for
ward as a candidate for Speaker. In the Republican
caucus, held January 8, he was nominated for
this important office and the next day was elected.
Mr. Smith's address on taking the Speaker's chair was re
garded as a model inaugural. It was liberal and statesman
like; with no pretensions to eloquence, it was the embodiment
of eloquence ; though condensed and brief, it was ample and
explicit, and withal, it had in it much of that magical viva
city which enlivened all his public addresses and entered
into his conversation.
"Every right-minded legislator," he said, "must be
deeply and solemnly impressed with the awful responsibility
which rests upon him here ; and while it requires the exer
cise of the very best ability, it also requires that it should be
exercised with purity, and with a sole desire to the public
good ; party considerations, political considerations, pri
vate considerations, every consideration must be made
subservient to the common good of all, and I feel assured
that we, as a body, realize these things, and that no man
here will permit, in a direct or indirect manner, his judg
ment to be affected, or himself to be swerved in the slightest
degree. To make laws is the highest and most responsible
duty ever undertaken by man. We are called here as law
makers ; let us see to it that we make such laws as shall tend
to the protection and welfare of the people of this State."
In appointing standing committees he exhibited
his high appreciation of worth and ability by
appointing several of the most pronounced Demo
crats. As an instance, he appointed Mr. Jacobs,
of Kings, on the Committee of Ways and Means,
and he gave the Hon. David B. Hill, of Chemung,
a place on the Judiciary Committee. Other leading
Democrats were liberally remembered in making
up committees.
We cannot follow Mr. Smith's career as Speaker
through this remarkably important legislative ses
sion. Suffice it to say, it was characterized by a
high degree of ability, and in all its details he ex
hibited the qualities of an accomplished parlia
mentarian. The session closed May 14, 1872,
and with it the public political career of Mr. Smith.
Having thus briefly described Mr. Smith as a
legislator, we shall now trace a little farther his
career at the bar in his maturer years, as we have
already described him as a young lawyer. In the
contests of the bar he was frequently defeated ; but
he never lost a cause by inattention or neglect.
Charles O'Conor once remarked that " the lawyer
who won one-half the causes committed to him
must be regarded as eminently successful." Judg
ing Mr. Smith by this standard, we must say that
he has been, and is, eminently successful. He
never lost a cause by inattention, neglect, or from
the want of a full understanding of the law and
facts of the case. One strong characteristic was
his lucid, concise and suggestive manner of stating
facts to the jury. This, in opening a case, is es
sentially effective. According to Lord Erskine's
view, a cause skillfully opened to a jury is already
half tried. Perhaps the greatest strength of Mr.
Smith at nisi prius was his manner of examining

194

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

and cross-examining witnesses, especially the man
ner in which he conducted the latter. Whatever
power and effect there may be in a skillful and
eloquent address to the jury — and there is much —
still it must yield to the effect of an ingenious
cross-examination. It is one of the most difficult
and important duties which an advocate can per
form ; it requires a knowledge of human nature,
quick sensibilities in discerning the characteristics of
a witness, and a subtle discrimination in detecting
his peculiarities. When not founded on materials
of contradiction, to obtain some information which
the witness would be willing to give, it proceeds
on the assumption that the party interrogated has
sworn an untruth, which he may be compelled or
induced to vary. But it is often the means by
which good and trustworthy evidence is mischiev
ously weakened or destroyed. In this branch of
practice Mr. Smith was eminently effective, pos
sessing the power of reading the thoughts of a
witness, of anticipating his answers, of ascertaining
his peculiarities, his subterfuges, and finally of
drawing forth from unwilling witnesses facts which
they struggled hard to conceal. His cross exam
ination, like James T. Brady's, had the talismanic
power of bringing truth out of falsehood, and of
often showing dishonest suitors and witnesses the
force of the Bible adage, "Be ye sure that your
sins will find you out."
Mr. Smith once remarked that he seldom, if
ever, failed to detect perjury in a witness, by his or
her manner, while testifying. "To the keen,
watchful and practical observer," he said, "there
is always something in the glance of the eye, some
thing in the manner and the speaking of false
witnesses, that betrays them."
We have already alluded to his remarkable
memory. He forgot nothing. Every fact, every
rule, every principle, once attained, remained with
him forever'. This was another invaluable faculty
to him as a lawyer.
In conducting a purely legal argument, or in
conducting an argument founded on facts alone,
he proved himself a strong legal logician, with
flexible powers of illustration and condensation,
demonstrating, in many respects, Cicero's views,
" the eloquent lawyer who speaks with sense and
candor, in the forum and in civil causes, in such a
manner as to prove, to delight and to persuade."
Mr. Smith's knowledge of the law was founded on
a close and critical study of the books. This is
evidenced by his well-considered, well-reasoned
and learned legal arguments at the bar, which may
be regarded as able contributions to the learning
of the profession.
Among the many important civil cases conducted
by Mr. Smith was that of the Walton Dwighl's
Executors against the Germania Life Insurance
Company, tried at the Chenango Circuit in the fall
of 1883. The details of this great insurance case
are so familiar to the public that it needs no de
scription here. Suffice it to say, that it is by far
the most important and interesting case growing
out of policies of insurance ever tried in ihe United
States. Mr. Smith appeared for the plaintiff; he

opened the case to the jury on the 12 th of No
vember, 1883, and began his summing up to them
on the the 10th of December following. A close
inspection of these efforts of Mr. Smith's, as pub
lished, is indubitable evidence, not only of schol
arly and legal lore, but of the highest merits of legal
oratory. The part he took in this trial was a
task for which his mind was peculiarly fitted. His
keen sagacity and thorough knowledge of the
human heart, and his peculiar force of expression
and power of analysis, had the widest scope for
their exercise, and he used them with a power of
reasoning which the final result of the great case
fully demonstrated.
In the great case of the People agt. Cole, for
killing Hiscock, a member of the constitutional
convention, Mr. Smith was associated with the
Hon. Lyman Tremain and Hon. Amasa J.
Parker. This was a case that called into action all
the sympathies of Mr. Smith's nature, and all his
talents, and in a manner which aided largely in
conducting the case to a successful issue for his
client. He was one of the leading counsel in the
famous Susquehanna R. R. litigation, and distin
guished himself in the uncommon ability which he
displayed. It would require volumes to give any
adequate description of the numberless trials in
which he was engaged through his long and con
spicuous professional career. The history of those
cases is interspersed through the history of the
Federal courts.
We do not insist that Mr. Smith was a perfect or
unrivaled lawyer, or that he was not in any re
spect open to criticism, for there are few who are
not ; but with every liberal deduction for his faults
which truth demands, we are sure that an appeal
to the candor of those who have long watched his
career at the Bar will decide that he made for
himself a name and record which we have not
exaggerated, and which is destined to live and
shine in legal history.
Mr. Smith was a man of extended learning,
general as well as professional, possessing a finely
cultivated literary taste and an acquaintance with
the best authors, ancient and modern, and he
wielded a pen of classic elegance and power.
Genial in his temperament, possessing a fund of .
agreeable anecdote and a happy manner of relat
ing them, he was attractive and interesting in his
social relations and surrounded himself with many
friends. He continued devotedly attached to his profes
sion, as a member of the distinguished law firm,
Smith, Moak & Buchanan, until his relations with
them were severed suddenly by his death, which
took place December 1, 1884.
LE GRAND BANCROFT.
Mr. Bancroft was a man whose life and career as
a lawyer, a citizen, a husband and father is sur
rounded by pleasing memories and associations.
Through the long period of forty years he was a
resident of Albany, and held by its citizens in the
highest respect and esteem. He possessed charac-

THE BENCH AND BAR.

195

teristics that naturally inspired and retained these
sentiments. He had those qualities of thought, of '
feeling, of judgment ; that refined delicacy and
sensibility, that devotion to truth and honor, which
goes beyond respect and esteem, and inspires
admiration. As a lawyer, his talents, his in
dustry, erudition and honorable devotion to his
clients naturally gave him a high place in the
profession. His benignity, equability and remarkable can.
dor enabled him to pass through the collisions and
turmoil of his profession without making an enemy.
A distinguished jurist of Albany said at the time
of his death : "I believe I can say of Le Grand
Bancroft that he died without an enemy ; " so it is
quite impossible for his biographer to give any just
description of his life and character, without using
the language of eulogy.
Mr. Bancroft was born at Elmira, N. Y. , May 4,
1 8 1 8. He was a son of Dr. Rulandus Bancroft,
one of the most distinguished physicians and sur
geons in the southern tier counties.
He received an excellent rudimentary education,
and, at the age of fifteen, became a pupil of Hon.
A. S. Thurston, a prominent lawyer and highly
cultured scholar of Elmira. With Judge Thurs
ton, young Bancroft continued the study of Latin
and other classical studies, which he began in his
primary course. Judge Thurston was at this time
a highly popular classical teacher of Elmira, with an
extended pupilage. The young man soon com
mended himself to his instructor by his generous
and noble qualities of mind, his intelligence, and
more than all by the devotion and progress he
made in his studies — a characteristic always attrac
tive to conscientious teachers.
Our duties in describing the early character of
Mr. Bancroft cannot be discharged more profita
bly than by using the language of a beautiful letter
from Judge Thurston to Miss Jean T. Bancroft, a
daughter of the subject of this sketch.
" I can seem to see him now," says the letter,
" resting his head upon his two hands, poring over
his books, scarce lifting his eyes from them from
morning till night ; and then, his demeanor, so
gentle, so respectful, so polite, attached me to him
as I was never attached to any other scholar.
"After I commenced the practice of law in El
mira, and I think it must have been in the year
1837, your father entered my office as a student,
and here he was just as studious and indefatigable
as he had been as a pupil at school. His tastes
seemed to incline him more to that part of the pro
fession relating to Land Titles and Real Estate
generally than in any other department. In his
habits he was rather retiring, and the ' rough and
tumble' of the forum and the practice before the
country Justices of the Peace were altogether dis
tasteful to him.
"I don't know what year it was— as my register
has been destroyed — that he left my office ; it was,
probably, about the year 1839 or '40. But I remem
ber well that, when he did go out from me, I gave
him an open letter, in which I stated, as near as I
could, what kind of a young man he was.

" His father, not being in a situation to pay out
money, and your father, fully appreciating the situ
ation, was determined to carve out his own for
tune. With my letter in his hand — perhaps with
other letters — he made his way to Albany, and,
knowing no person in the city, he formed the ac
quaintance of the late Teunis Van Vechten, with
whom he made an arrangement to enter his office
and complete his legal studies. What year he was
admitted to the Bar, I am unable to state. * * * *
"Of your father's subsequent career as a practi
tioner at the Albany Bar, there are those who can
better speak of it than I can. I can only say that,
during all the years he lived in Albany, I never
failed, but always made it my first business, when
visiting that city, to call upon him ; he was so re
liable, so unselfish and generous, I could not but
always love and admire him. What Marc Anto
ny said of Julius Caesar cannot be too truly and
emphatically said of your father :
' ' ' This was the noblest Roman of them all.
His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in
him that Nature might stand up and say to all the
world, " This was a man." ' "
Such is the tribute paid to Mr. Bancroft by one
who knew him from early boyhood, through his
student days, and through his long and honorable
career at the Bar. It is a testimonial as eloquent
as it is just and true that radiates his whole life. It
is very rare indeed that such tributes are paid to
public and professional men. Certain periods of
their lives are often made the subjects of eulogy,
but this one, as we have said, covers a whole life,
in which no part is omitted.
As we have seen by Judge Thurston's letter,
when Mr. Bancroft came to Albany he entered the
office of Teunis Van Vechten, then in partnership
with John Davis, Esq. Mr. Bancroft had become
so proficient in the learning of his profession that,
on the death of Mr. Van Vechten, he entered into
partnership with Mr. Davis, under the firm name
of Davis & Bancroft ; this was a profitable business
arrangement, and existed several years. It was
while a student in the office of Davis & Van Vech
ten that Mr. Bancroft was called to the Bar. On
June 17, 1845, Mr. Bancroft was united by mar
riage to Miss Emeline Randall, of Albany, N. Y.,
a lady of many accomplishments and many men
tal and personal attractions. This union was an
exceedingly happy and fortunate one. Mrs. Ban
croft survives her husband, enjoying the esteem and
affectionate regard of all who know her.
At the dissolution of the firm of Davis & Ban
croft, the latter formed a copartnership with S. O.
Shepard, Esq. , which continued until the breaking
out of the late Civil War.
Mr. Bancroft for some time had entertained the
thought of devoting the remainder of his life to
agricultural pursuits ; accordingly, on dissolving
with Mr. Shepard, he retired to his farm at Elmira,
N. Y., the home of his youth. Three years' ex
perience in conducting his farm convinced him
that he was not exactly constituted for a farmer ;
at any rate, his love for his profession and his pro
fessional associates at Albany was so strong and

196

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

increasing that it overcame whatever attractions
there were for him in a farm life, and he returned
to Albany, entering again into the active duties of
his profession.
In 1864 he became a partner of those truly
prominent lawyers, Hon. Henry Smith and N. C.
Moak, under the firm name of Smith, Bancroft &
Moak. This connection, we believe, existed down
to the time of Mr. Bancroft's death, with the change
made by the admission of Mr. Charles J. Buchanan
to the firm. As we have seen, Mr. Bancroft's tastes
led him to that most intricate and subtle department
of legal learning connected with Real Property.
Few persons studied the law of Real Property
more assiduously than Mr. Bancroft. Beginning
with Littleton's Treatise upon Tenures, published
more than four hundred years ago, he made him
self familiar with the successive writers who have
discussed that subject in all its bearings down to
the present time. Few persons were better ac
quainted with the changes made in the Laws
of Real Estate by the Revised Statutes, and with
the Amending Statutes which have followed them,
than he. He was, therefore, considered high au
thority in all law touching Real Property, and
his knowledge of the land titles, not only in the
City but County of Albany, was unsurpassed.
In social life Mr. Bancroft was a favorite. To
use the language of the Albany Law fournal : " He
had ready wit, excellent judgment and a keen ap
preciation of the ridiculous. Grave indeed must
have been the affair out of which he could not ex
tract either pleasantry or consolation. His knowl
edge of human nature was such, and his tact and
patience so great, that, however complex the mat
ter intrusted to his charge might be, or how bitter

the respective litigants to the actions were, he al
most invariably succeeded in disentangling the
knotty questions' involved in ' the controver
sy, and in bringing about a better feeling to the
suit. His family relations were without reproach. ,
He was a devoted husband, a kind and affection
ate father. He will ever be remembered by all
who knew him for his sterling manhood, his fidel
ity to his clients, his friendship for all, and his en
gaging manners.
" One of the most attractive features of Mr. Ban
croft was his sincere, unobtrusive piety ; piety
which exhibited itself in every phase of his life, not
by presuming demonstrations, not by words, but
by corresponding actions. Such was his charitable
piety that to him could have been addressed the
language of the Saviour : ' As ye did it unto the
least of these, ye did it unto me.'
" At an early age, he received the rites of baptism
from that distinguished and venerated divine, Dr.
Welch, of Albany, and became a member of the
Pearl Street Baptist Church, and afterward of
Emanuel Baptist Church.
' ' Through all his years, till the close of his life,
he adorned his religious professions as an humble
and useful follower of his master.
" Our profession can ill afford to lose such
members. "
Mr. Bancroft died at his residence, No. 46 Lan
caster street, Albany, on the evening of January 20,
1880, at the age of 62 years. His disease was
paralysis of the heart.
His departure was a shock to the city, particu
larly to his brethren of the Bar. He died in the
midst of his usefulness, of his fame, surrounded by
all that makes life sweet and happy.

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197

'"*

^L^-^r~^-^-

WILLIAM S. PADDOCK.
William S. Paddock was a lawyer whose mem
ory the Bar of Albany will always hold in the high
est respect — a respect approaching to veneration.
Not only will his memory be thus cherished by the
Bar, but it will be equally honored by the people
of the City and County of Albany with those other
names so bright in their legal and civil history.
His large learning, his professional industry, his
judicial purity, his integrity, his devotion to all
his public duties, and his social worth, justly en
title him to be thus remembered.
He was born at Bethlehem, Albany County,
N. Y, May 23, 1821. His ancestry were of Eng
lish descent; his grandfather, Job Paddock, was
an early settler at Amsterdam, N. Y, where the
father of Recorder Paddock was born, but who re
moved very early in life to Bethlehem, where he
resided for many years, one of its most respected
citizens. At a very early age young Paddock was
placed at the old Lancasterian School, in Albany,
and, after a thorough discipline in that institution,
he entered Albany Academy, one of the most pop
ular academic institutions in the State.
There he passed advantageously through a thor
ough English and classical course, acquiring a high
reputation for his scholarly attainments.
At first his mind was directed to mercantile pur
suits, and for two or three years he sedulously de
voted himself to the occupation of a merchant

But his native love of study, his devotion to books
and his scholarly turn of mind were not exactly
adapted to the calling of a tradesman ; besides, dur
ing all his student days, he had a natural admiration
for the legal profession. It was his delight to spend
his leisure hours in the court-rooms of the city,
and witness the contests of the forum, in which
the great lights of the Albany Bar were engaged.
Here he saw how causes were tried by Hill, Rey
nolds, Spencer, Harris, Wheaton, Peckham, Cag
ger and others whose names are bright in legal
history. From them, and from their forensic ef
forts, he caught the "Promethian spark," which,
at length, lit his own way to an honored place at
the Bar.
Relinquishing his mercantile business, he entered
the office of Wheaton, Dooliltle £f Hadley, a legal
firm, each of whose members was prominent in
the -profession — a legal firm almost unrivaled in
strength and versatility of talents and learning.
With these accomplished lawyers, young Paddock
prepared for the duties of his profession. He
studied under the nice mathematical process and
subtle distinctions of Special Pleading, but he was
called to the Bar in 1847, when the Code of Pro
cedure was a few months old. Accordingly he
began his practice under the new regime. His
thorough discipline under the old practice, how
ever, sharpened and invigorated his mind, and gave
him peculiar qualifications as a pleader under the
Code.

198

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

His admission to the Bar took place in 1847,
and in the following August he entered into part
nership with his cousin, Stephen Paddock, Jr., a
highly respectable lawyer of Albany, under the firm
name oi S. & W. S. Paddock. This was a fortu
nate business arrangement for both partners, and
existed ten years, when the senior partner, Stephen
Paddock, retired, and Mr. W. S. Paddock formed
a copartnership with Hon. John M. Bailey, which
continued until Mr. Bailey was elected District At
torney. Mr. Paddock then entered into partnership
with Hon. John C. Nott, at this writing the Coun
ty Judge of Albany County. He continued with
Judge Nott until the election of the latter to the of
fice of Police Justice, when the firm was dissolved.
His next professional connection was with Messrs.
Draper & Chester, under the firm name of Paddock,
Draper <Sf Chester. This relation continued until
July 1, 1882, when it was dissolved. All of Mr.
Paddock's legal partners were gentlemen of high
legal standing and accomplishments ; they were
profitable and honorable relations, each partner
holding the other in the highest respect and
esteem. The abilities and high character of Mr. Paddock
as a lawyer summoned him to judicial duties. In
1856 he was elected to the ancient and honorable
office of Recorder of the City of Albany. When he
entered upon his first administration, the exciting
Mayoralty controversy between Hon. Eli Perry
and Dr. John P. Quackenbush was at its height.
Each of these gentlemen claimed to have been
elected Mayor of the city. The singular turn which
this contest took added, as we shall see, largely to
the responsibilities of Recorder Paddock, and it al
so greatly increased his reputation. " Each of the
contestants maintained his right to act as Mayor,
and both appeared at the meetings of the Common
Council as its presiding officer. The matter was
taken to the courts, under a compromise by which
Recorder Paddock was to act as Mayor pending the
litigation. The case was never brought to trial, and
the City of Albany enjoyed a season of prosperity
and success under the administration of William S.
Paddock, acting in the dual capacity of Mayor and
Recorder." To say that his administration in both
positions was successful, is but to repeat well-known
facts of history; but he received only the salary of
Recorder, while Messrs. Perry and Quackenbush
each received the full salary of Mayor. He was
three times elected Recorder, the first time, as we
have seen, in 1856, and the last time in 1876. Dur
ing this long term of judicial service he won the
confidence and esteem of the members of the Bar

and of the general public to a degree almost un
precedented. He was one of those men who made
his way so quietly through the paths of usefulness
to public honors that the voice of envy and jeal
ousy was never raised against him, and never ques
tioned his integrity or doubted his ability.
To use the language of the Albany Evening four
nal : ' ' Mr. Paddock was known to the profession
as a very careful lawyer, his fealty on the side of
the right being paramount to all other considera
tions. Never, in the whole course of his life, was
he known to do a wrongful act intentionally. If
he believed his convictions were right, he would ad
here to them, come what might. "
Again, as was said of him by another: "He
was a polished gentleman, loved by those who had
the pleasure of being admitted to the list of his in
timate friends. As a magistrate, if the occasion
demanded, he was stern and uncompromising, but
always courteous and accessible. He was always
liberal, his purse always open to deserving want,
and his sympathies as deep as his charities were
wide. Mr. Paddock early in life associated him
self with the Democratic party, and was to the day
of his death a faithful and consistent member of
that organization, and one of its acknowledged
leaders. "He was a member of Master's Lodge, No. 5, F.
and A. M. ; Temple Chapter, No. 5, R. A. M.;
Temple Commandery, No. 2, K. T, and of the
Masonic Relief Association."
Recorder Paddock's domestic relations were ex
ceedingly happy. On May 20, 1851, he married
Miss Magdalene, daughter of Gerrit and Cornelia
Hotaling, of Albany ; five sons and one daughter
were born to this marriage, all of whom survive
him but one son. They are Howard, William
G., Edward, George and Carrie Paddock.
Such was the life and career of William S. Pad
dock, a man of large influence and usefulness in
his profession, in his official capacity and as a pri
vate citizen. It is hardly necessary for us to say
that the death of such a man, genial and generous,
should produce profound sensation and sorrow in
the city where he had long occupied so conspicuous
a position. Up to 1880 he enjoyed the most ro
bust health. In May of that year he had an ap
oplectic attack, which left the base of his brain
affected ; he, however, recovered, so he was able,
to an extent, to conduct his business. In the sum
mer of 1882 he was again prostrated with the same
disease ; at length, about the last of December, the
last and fatal attack came. He lingered until the
19th of January, 1883, when he died.

THE BENCH AND BAR.

199

^/fattef, J^.^y^/^^^

JAMES A. McKOWN.
Mr. McKown, who occupies a highly respectable
position at. the Albany Bar, was born at Guilder-
land, Albany County, March 19, 1819. His
father was Absalom McKown, a prominent and
much esteemed citizen of Albany County. His
mother's maiden name was Edith Le Grange,
daughter of John Le Grange, Esq., a man of high
standing in his day.
The advantages of young McKown for obtaining
an education were confined principally to the com
mon district school. In his youthful days our present
system of general education was unknown, and in
stitutions ranking above the common schools were
few ; but he utilized to the fullest extent every ad
vantage he had ; he obtained a very good practical
education, with which he attained his success in
life, through his own unaided efforts. He, there
fore, belongs to that large and valuable class of
men with which the legal, and generally all pro
fessions, abound — self-made men. It was his
early ambition to become a lawyer ; to that end he
directed every, energy.
In recognition of his intelligence, sound judg
ment, practical good sense and legal information,
he was quite early in life elected a Justice of the
Peace at Guilderland, serving in a very acceptable

manner for the almost unprecedented long period
of eighteen years.
His eminent services as a Justice of the Peace
were fully recognized, not only by the people of
Guilderland, but by the people of the county at
large, and this, in 1852, brought him forward as a
candidate for the office of Associate Judge of Al
bany County. He was elected, and took his seat
on the bench of the County Court and Court of
Sessions. In 1853 hewas re-elected. His judi
cial term extended two years, and was very ac
ceptable to the people of the county.
Mr. McKown was a close, industrious and ap
preciative legal student; but he did not apply for
admission to the Bar until 1853, when, on motion
of that distinguished jurist, Hon. John K. Porter,
he was admitted to practice in all the courts of this
State; and, in 1865, he was, on motion of Hon.
Ira Harris, admitted to the United States Supreme
Court. In April, 1856, Mr. McKown made the City of
Albany his residence, where he has continued to
reside from that time down to this writing, 1885.
His judicial mind and method prepared the way
for his election to the office of Surrogate of Albany
County. This event took place in the fall of 1855.
The duties of this office are important and difficult.
No judicial position is more so than that of Surra-

200

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

gate. It requires a peculiar cast of mind and
much depth of learning to successfully discharge
the duties of the office.
We can say without affectation that Mr. Mc
Kown brought to the office abilities, learning and
industry of a high order, which rendered his ad
ministration successful, and he retired from the
office with the good wishes and good opinion of
the Bar and the public.
In his practice he has had no specialty, but has
conducted a general legal business with success,
and has always surrounded himself with a respect
able and profitable clientage.
His long identification with the Albany Bar, his
high and upright character, his honorable course
as a practitioner, has given him an eminent place in
his profession.
Mr. McKown belongs to the Republican party.
He espoused the tenets of that party under the
firm belief that they are the safest and best for the
State and nation. Though he is decided in his
political opinions, he is in no sense aggressively so.
He is not, and never has been, a seeker after
office or place.
In his religious proclivities he favors the Baptist
Church. In 1837 he was united by marriage to Miss
Alida Van Valkenburgh.
In his official career Mr. McKown, as we have
seen, commanded the respect of the people of Al
bany County. As a lawyer and citizen, and in all
relations of private life, he has always had in a large
degree the confidence and esteem of the public ;
and, finally, few, if any, are more entitled to hon
orable mention in the history of Albany County
than James A. McKown.
MAJOR-GEN. JOHN TAYLER COOPER.
Major-Gen. John Tayler Cooper was born in
Albany, in April, 1798, and died August 13, 1878,
in his eighty-first year. His father was Dr. Charles
D. Cooper, who, in his time, was one of the most
distinguished of Albany's physicians. His mother
was the niece and adopted daughter of the wife of
Gov. John Tayler, who was Lieutenant-Gov
ernor of the State of New York from 18 13 to 1822,
and Acting-Governor part of the time. His brother,
Charles D. Cooper, became a noted Episcopal cler
gyman of Philadelphia, and survived him. He had
two sisters, one of whom, Elizabeth, married Ben
jamin Nott, and became the mother of Hon. John
C. Nott, of Albany, and the other, Margaret, mar
ried Joel B. Nott. Benjamin and Joel B. Nott
were sons of Dr. E. Nott, president of Union Col
lege. Gen. Cooper attended the best schools of Al
bany, and subsequently entered Union College,
where he graduated, after four years' study, in 181 8.
Afterward he entered the law office of Messrs. John
V. Henry and James McKown. and studied for the
Bar, being admitted to practice in 1S21. Form
ing a copartnership with Simeon DeWitt Blood-
good, who was at one time editor of the Advertiser,
printed by Webster on the old Elm Tree corner, he

practiced his profession until Mr. Bloodgood's re
moval to New York, when he retired permanently
from legal life. He had inherited a fine fortune
indirectly from Gov. John Tayler, and was
not, therefore, dependent upon his own exer
tions for a livelihood ; but his years were not to be
passed idly, for the care of his property and his de
votion to matters of interest to him kept him fully
occupied almost to the day of his death.
His youth had compassed the period of the second
war with Great Britain, and the exciting scenes of
his boyhood imbued him with a martial spirit, and
he manifested an active interest in military affairs.
Shortly after graduating from college he entered
Col. Knickerbocker's regiment as adjutant, and
was active in promoting its efficiency. He was
successively promoted to be major and lieutenant-
colonel, and finally succeeded to the command of
the regiment. When the Marquis de La Fayette
visited America in 1824, Col. Cooper was dis
patched by the Common Council of the City of Al
bany to meet the great champion of Liberty at Kin
derhook and escort him to Albany, where high
honors were paid him. On his leaving, Col.
Cooper was in command of the escort which ac
companied the distinguished visitor as far as New
Lebanon. Afterward he was promoted to the
major-generalship of the Third Division, New York
State Militia, a position which he held for many
years, until he was retired at the commencement of
Gov. Fenton's term of office, a law being en
acted in that year which abolished all of the old
militia offices and established the 'National Guard
of the State of New York. Published accounts of
the obsequies of Gov. Marcy in 1857 show
that Gen. Cooper took a prominent part in the
funeral arrangements and ceremonies. He is re
membered as a firm and helpful friend of the Al
bany Burgesses' Corps, of which he was a life
member. Gen. Cooper was twice married. His first
wife, whom he married in 1822, was Miss Char
lotte Henry, daughter of John V. Henry, the emi
nent attorney in whose office he studied law. She
died childless, and some years later Gen. Cooper
married the widow of Clarkson F. Crosby, of
Watervliet, whose maiden name was Schuyler, and
who was descended from the famous family of that
name who bore so conspicuous a part in the early
history, not alone of New York, but of our country.
There was no issue by this marriage. His stepson,
J. Schuyler Crosby, married Harriet Van Rensselaer,
youngest daughter of Stephen Van Rensselaer, of Al
bany, and became Governor of Montana Territory
and subsequently Assistant Postmaster-General of
the United States ; and of his two stepdaughters,
the elder married William L. Thompson, son of
John C. Thompson, of Troy, and the younger, in
1878, became the wife of Rev. Thaddeus A. Sniv-
eley. Rev. Howard Crosby, D.D., of New York,
is their father's brother.
The freedom from business care's, which was
such a marked feature of Gen. Cooper's life,
permitted him several times to visit Europe and to
travel quite extensively in the most interesting por-

JOHN TAYLER COOPER

THE BENCH AND BAR.

201

y^_^< ^r^^^zu^-^s^

tions of the old world, including Russia, Egypt
and Syria.
The private life of Gen. Cooper was quiet and
unostentatious. He ranked as one of the most
highly respected and universally esteemed citizens
of Albany, adding much to its prosperity and con
tributing to the growth of many of its important in
stitutions. Of the most pronounced "Old School"
Democratic proclivities, he was not a politician,
and never held any civil office, the only positions
not military in their character which he ever ac
cepted being those of warden of St. Peter's Episco
pal Church and president of the Home for Aged
Men. To the strictness of his habits may be at
tributed his long and, for the most part, robust
life. In personal appearance he was erect, finely
proportioned and of martial bearing. He was
known to possess strong sympathy with the poor,
and, in a private way, he dispensed charities with a
liberal hand. His public donations to various
charitable objects were not inconsiderable. Noted
for his wise and prudent management of business
affairs, he left a large and valuable estate, consist
ing of real and personal property, in Albany, be
sides an extensive farm near Cedar Hill, on the
Hudson, about nine miles distant from the city,
which he called " Guy Park." His death was not
entirely unexpected, and it was deeply regretted by
the many who knew him, not alone in Albany, but
throughout the State. He is remembered as one
of the few Albanians who, in their closing years,
linked the Albany of three-quarters of a century

ago with the Albany of the modern period ; and his
name is not likely to soon pass from the scenes amid
which he was worthily born, lived an admirable
life and died at peace with God and his fellow men.
ISAAC EDWARDS.
Isaac Edwards was born in Corinth, Saratoga
County, N. Y., August 30, 18 19, and at the time
of his decease, March 26, 1879, was nearly sixty
years of age. He was the second son of John and
Sarah (Cooper) Edwards. His parents were of
good New England stock and had removed from
Watertown, Conn., to Corinth. His father was a
thrifty farmer, and desired that his four sons
should succeed him in the same occupation. The
early years of young Edwards were passed on his
"father's farm. His school education was com
menced in the public schools of his native town,
and continued in the Waterford Academy, under
the care of that excellent instructor, the late Prof.
Taylor Lewis, of whom he often spoke in the high
est terms of admiration. His law studies were
pursued in Albany, in the office of Messrs. Ed
wards & Meads, with the strictness and fidelity
which ever marked his subsequent course. After
his admission to practice, at the July term of
Court in 1843, he formed a partnership with his
uncle, the late Mr. James Edwards, which was
not long continued, his uncle soon forming a
partnership with the late Mr. Samuel Stevens, and
Mr. Edwards, preferring the independence of a

202

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

single office, formed no other partnership, but
almost at once entered upon his successful career
as a lawyer and author. His clients were among
the most respectable merchants of the city, and he
retained their business year after year.
His duties and labors were of such a nature that
they afforded him much time for the hearing of
references, and during the twenty years preceding
his death he undoubtedly heard and decided
more important cases than any other lawyer in
this section of the country. His mind was emi
nently judicial and adapted to the hearing of long
and intricate cases, and so well balanced that, in
the weighing of evidence, he had no superiors.
However much any party or attorney may have
been disappointed by his adverse decision, no one
ever charged him with being influenced by fear,
favor or friendship. Absolute justice was his sole
aim and endeavor. In 1855 appeared Mr. Ed
wards' work on "Bailments." It was welcomed by
the Bench and Bar as the best American work on
the subject, and it has been growing in favor with
the legal fraternity since. In 1878 the work was
revised, portions of it were rewritten, later decis
ions were cited, and new chapters were added.
Since the publication of the first edition, commer
cial transactions have been widely extended, busi
ness has been enlarged, and many new and per
plexing questions have come before our numerous
courts for discussion and adjudication. The most
marked developments have reference to pledges, or
collateral securities, transportation and telegraphic
messages. Upon these subjects the second edition
is full and explicit, and demonstrates that in this
branch of the law Mr. Edwards was thoroughly in
formed as to the decisions of the courts. In 1857,
two years after "Bailments," appeared his work on
"Bills and Notes," a treatise complete in itself, and
surpassing that of every other author who had writ
ten upon the same subject in the English language.
A second edition was published in 1863. Both of
these valuable works are intended for the' practi
tioner as well as for the student. To be appreci
ated they must be read and utilized by the practical
lawyer. In 1870 he published an essay upon
"Factors and Brokers " In this he exhibits the
same fullness and clearness of definition which
characterize his larger works. Mr. Edwards wrote
and published several essays and biographical
sketches of different members of the Bench and Bar,
all of which demonstrates the clearness of his mind^
his just appreciation of the merits of others, and'
his happy faculty of presenting his views in an in
teresting and instructive manner. He thoroughly
understood the law, and he loved to elucidate its
principles. His estimate of justice and the law to
establish and enforce it can be best expressed in
his own words :
"Justice being the supreme interest of mankind,
the law established to enforce it is a most worthy
object of labor and study. Aside from its value as
the measure and conservator of our rights, the law
is one of the noblest of the applied sciences. It is
beneficent in its purpose ; it aims to secure equal
ity between men in their dealings with each other.

It lies at the foundation of our system of govern
ments; it is both a source and a principle of au
thority in our halls of legislation and in our tribu
nals of justice. It underlies our institutions and
conserves them. It reaches the individual reason
and covers with its protecting power social interest
and every relation of life. It is the conscience of
the state, everywhere present in the manifold ac
tivities of her citizens."
Many years of his later life were passed in incul
cating principles like the above on the mind of
youth. Years ago the question of the improve
ment of the public schools of Albany was agitated,
and Mr. Edwards took a prominent position in
favor of advanced education. His relations to Mr.
Carlton Edwards, one of the editors of the Morn
ing Express, were such that the columns of that
paper were freely offered for his use, and from time
to time appeared powerful and pungent articles
from his pen. Many of these articles were pub
lished under Mr. Edwards' care and scattered
broadcast over the city, and aided much in pro
ducing in the minds of its citizens a desire for the
improvement which has been wrought in its public
schools. Shortly before the death of Prof. Amos
Deari, Mr. Edwards was invited to deliver a few
lectures before the Albany Law School. His clear
ness of diction, his fullness of illustration and his
correctness of definition proved his fitness to fill
the position of so distinguished a lecturer as Prof.
Dean, and upon the death of the latter he was
unanimously elected to the vacant professorship,
and from that time until his death he was the mov
ing spirit and power of the Law School, delivering
about one-half the lectures, and presiding at nearly
all the courts of exemplification and instruction.
The position of the Albany Law School may be at
tributed more to the standing and reputation of
Mr. Edwards, as professor and author, than to any
other of its instructors. His duties were laborious
and exacting, and it is no discredit to the late
Prof. Dean to say that he brought to the school
knowledge and capability equal to those of his pre
decessor ; and the classes graduated under him are
witnesses to the excellence both of the matter and
the manner of his instructions. Four years before
his death he was chosen a member of the Board of
Public Instruction. As chairman of the Law Com
mittee his reports on subjects referred to that com
mittee were always clear, strong and convincing.
His great interest in popular education made the
work connected with this trust a veritable labor of
love. As a politician Mr. Edwards was not a partisan,
although in his early life a Whig and afterward a
stanch Republican. As a speaker he was clear,
logical and forcible, using nice distinctions and
strong illustrations ; and his early success before
juries and in several political campaigns gave as
surance that, had he turned his attention more di
rectly to other branches of his profession, he
would have taken high rank as an advocate.
Mr. Edwards was an earnest and devoted Chris
tian. He early united with the Second Presby
terian Church. When the movement was made to

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

203

organize a Congregational Church he was one of
the first to give support to the enterprise, and as
one of the committee chosen to prepare its articles
of faith and mode of government, he did much to
ward shaping and guiding the measures which
have given the organization such prominence in
the city.
He was a conscientious member of his pro
fession, a clear and careful author, a loving and be
loved instructor, the eminently true and social
friend and the good citizen, bearing with fidelity
no small share of the public burdens.
His works will be perused by eager students
when most of his contemporaries are forgotten.
His influence as a professor and teacher, although
wide and extended, will become wider as the years

go by. While we speak of him as a lawyer, teach
er and author, we will not forget his higher virtues
as a man. So far as is the lot of mortals, his was
a spotless character. Although competent to fill
the highest places, he sought the humblest stations.
With learning to which we all who knew him bowed
with respect, he walked humbly before God and
man. Beyond the members of his family circle
and intimate friends, he will be remembered by
the Bar, among whom his daily life was passed, by
clients who depended upon his counsel, by his
pupils who treasured his lectures and advice, by
good citizens who were charmed by the graces of
his private life, and by the wide circle of the public,
who will long remember his instruction and treasure
his counsel.

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

By FBEDERIC C. CXJE.TIS, M. D.

WHEN Henry Hudson came up the Grande
River in the first decade of the seventeeth cen
tury, and on a lovely September afternoon, when the
hills were clothed in autumn red, dropped anchor
off the point where Albany now stands, there is no
doubt that he would have found on inquiry that
the dusky aborigines interestedly watching his move
ments from the shore were not unfamiliar with the
medicine man. In one fashion or another medi
cine has been practiced in all ages. It is not the
purpose of this narrative to trace the medical
affairs of this locality back among the Mohawks
and Mohegans; to commence the history of them,
even during the century which followed the build
ing of Fort Orange, a limited array of facts are
found. In the voluminous records of our early his
tory scant reference is made to the medical events
which formed a part of it. To construct in any
detail a sketch of them would require a fund of as
yet unpublished traditions of an unbroken line of
Dutchmen, all to the manor born, or a draft on
the imagination unworthy of the truthful chronicler.
It is not remarkable that this should be so,
for in a community intently occupied in obtaining
the necessaries of life, subduing forests, planting
settlements, and meeting the dangers that sur
rounded it from unfriendly natives, contentious
governments, and a rigorous climate, there was little
time to think of more domestic matters, and few, es
pecially among these Dutch Colonies, where com
mercial tastes ruled, and learning was backward, to
make note of them. The healthy, laborious people

who came to these shores required few physicians,
and they and their surroundings presented few
attractions to Old World practitioners. Still
they were not unmindful of their need of the
medical man, and there were those among them
who in some sort practiced the art or the domestic
traditions of medicine.
During the early years of all the American
Colonies there were many who were looked to for
advice in sickness who possessed but the simplest
knowledge of medicine. The literature of the
profession was not so voluminous but that any
educated man might make himself familiar with
the theories and practices of the times. School
masters," clergymen and government officials were
frequently somewhat versed in medicine ; the
clergy especially gave attention to the subject, as
missionaries of the present day often do, by study
prior to leaving the Old World. This was
more frequently the case in the New England
Colonies, but was also true here. Among the
Dutch dominies, Rev. Dr. Megapolensis is said to
have made some pretense to a knowledge of medi
cine. He might better have stuck to preaching, how
ever, if his practice was of a piece with the advice he
gives, in writing on the medical usages among the
Mohawk Indians, and which the good vrouws to
whom it was addressed very sensibly repudiated.
Another of the medico-clerics was Dominie Man
cius, who educated his son in'medicine so that he
was for a lifetime one of the prominent physicians
of Albany. It is worth mentioning in this connec-

204

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

tion that, nearly two hundred years later, George
Upfold, a young physician here, studied theology,
and eventually became Bishop of Indiana. The
Indians had learned the medical value of some
indigenous herbs, and the Indian medicine man
may be mentioned as one of the accessories of
early colonial practice. He sometimes won a wide"
reputation. The story of the High Rock Spring,
first disclosed to white men by the wonderful re
sult upon Sir William Johnson, who was carried to
it by the Indians, is familiar to all. x Their theories,
so far as they had any, were essentially supernat
ural, as is at the present time commonly the case
among barbarous and ignorant people.
The Dutch West India Company are said to
have been exceptional in their care for the health
of their sailors, all their vessels being provided
with a surgeon, or some one having a familiarity
with medicine. They extended the same con
sideration to their colonies. Reference to it re
peatedly recurs in their regulations, one of which
is as follows: "The patroons and colonists shall,
in particular and in the speediest manner, endeavor
to find ways and means whereby they may support
a minister and a schoolmaster, that the service of
God and the zeal for religion may not grow cold
and be neglected among them, and that they do
for the first procure a comforter of the sick." This
functionary, variously termed in the original kranck-
besoecker or zieckentrooster, is the first recognized
person charged with the care of the sick in the
Dutch Colonies. He was probably of an infe
rior order of clergy, for he is mentioned as conducting
the religious service on Sundays. But he is also
often found serving in other capacities and holding
civil office, in which, however, he was not peculiar,
for the duties of the preacher, doctor, soldier and
government official were frequently performed by
one individual in primitive times.
The first comforter of the sick at Fort Orange was
Sebastian Jansen Crol. His earliest appearance in
the history of the New Netherlands, in which he
played a considerable part, was in this capacity at
Fort Amsterdam. He came to this colony in 1626,
two years after it was established, having been ap
pointed Vice-Director and Company's Commissary
to Fort Orange. It is a matter of justifiable infer
ence that he continued his medico-clerical duties
here, in addition to those of the office to which he
was appointed. He appears to have been a judi
cious man, and served the colony well in his vari
ous capacities for twenty years.
He was succeeded in official position, in 1646,
by Harm anus Myndertse van der Bogart. It is

only in this official capacity that Van der Bogart is
spoken of, but there appears no doubt that he is
identical with the ship surgeon of the same name
who came to New Amsterdam in 1 630 in the Een-
draght. His term of service here was short, for he
is said to have been burned to death in 1648 in an
Indian wigwam on the Mohawk River.
To another than Surgeon Van der Bogart, how
ever, belongs the honor of having been the first reg
ular physician who came to this locality. In 1642
the number of tlje colonists had become sufficiently
large for the Patroon to comply with the West India
Company's requirements to provide them with the
services of a clergyman. He accordingly fitted out
a ship, which airived here in August of that year,
bringing Rev. Dr. Megapolensis, and in his most
worthy company Surgeon Abraham Staats. Whether
he was employed, as was the minister, to serve the
colony in his professional capacity, is not recorded.
Nor are we told what were his professional attain
ments. His clientele at first was not large, for Albany
consisted at this time of a hamlet of twenty-five or
thirty houses, built along the river as each found it
convenient, in proximity to the wretched little log
fort, the population being about one hundred. A
burial ground had been found necessary, however,
and was laid out on our present Church street.
Whatever his skill may have been, oversight of which
by the diarist of the day is not to be wondered at,
Dr. Staats was an enterprising citizen and filled his
abundant professional leisure with other work. He
was the first presiding officer of the village council
of Rensselaerwyck, and once assisted in making an
important treaty with the Indians. On week days
he was a captain, and on Sunday an elder. We are
left to our unassisted inferences as to the perquisites
of our primitive doctor, although the dominie's
salary is matter of history. In 1642 his house, at
Clavarack, was burned by the savages, who seem to
have had a penchant for cremating doctors, and his
wife, with others of his family, perished. He became
the owner of Fort Orange, it is said, and the ground
on which it stood has ever since remained in the
possession of his descendants. A son studied medi
cine in Holland and rose to eminence in New
York. Johannes de la Montagne, a Huguenot gentle
man, played a political part only in the history of
Fort Orange. He came to New York in 1637, and
was Vice-Director of Fort Orange from 1656 to
1664 ; he also held various other offices of trust in
the colony. He is said to have been a skillful phy
sician, but was not expert enough to distinguish be
tween gold and pyrites in some war-paint of the

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

205

natives that was submitted to him for assay, and
which excited much interest for a time. What is
supposed to be the first enactment to regulate the
practice of medicine at New Amsterdam was the
following: "Ordered, that ship barbers shall not
be allowed to dress wounds, nor administer any
potion on shore, without the consent of the peti
tioners [the local chirurgeons], or at least of Dr.
La Montagne."
Surgeon De Hinse, a Frenchman, was resident
physician at the Fort in 1666. While he was here
a body of French soldiers in pursuit of the Indians
from Quebec found their way to Fort Albany, as it
then chanced to be called, having been surrendered
to the English two years before by La Montagne,
and De Hinse is on record as having received offi
cial thanks for professional services to them. Sur
geons on duty at the Fort served, at that time, at the
pay of 2s. 6d. per diem.
In 1689 a Scotch physician, Lockhart by name,
practiced in Albany, and was surgeon to the Fort.
Albany was at this time a large stockaded village.
At a later date, a son of Dr. Megapolensis was a
chirurgeon of this colony; but both he and his
brother Samuel, both graduates of Leyden, spent
most of their lives in New York.
It is probable that there were other practitioners
of medicine during the first hundred years of our
history; but these are all that appear, after consider
able research, until we pass well on into the
eighteenth century. The names of less than forty
physicians are known as coming to the entire prov
ince of New York in the course of the seventeenth
century, and of most of these but little more is
known than their names. The various lineage of
these here mentioned, coming as they probably did
chiefly from Holland, shows how that country was
then the asylum for people of all nationalities.
The prominent events of the eighteenth century
around which to cluster matters of medical interest
are the French War and the War of the Revolution,
in both of which Albany was at times an important
center. The medical science of a country is al
ways advanced by wars ; they demand skilled
medical officers, and so encourage the progress of
medicine. Besides, they furnish a school for prac
tice and observation. The French War especially
gave an impetus to the profession, then entirely
dependent on Europe for its education. The na
tive had no means of acquiring knowledge at home
except in a sort of apprenticeship way. The Eng
lish army was accompanied by a highly respect
able medical staff, who contributed much to the

education of many young Americans through the
military hospitals which were established.
Dr. Samuel Stringer, a native of Maryland, and
educated in Virginia, where a medical school had
just been started, was the most prominent physi
cian in Albany during the eighteenth century, and
was connected with both of the wars. In 1755 he
was appointed by Gov. Shirley an officer in the
medical department of the British army in this
country. He accompanied Abercrombie, in 1758,
and was present when Lord Howe fell in advanc
ing to the siege of Ticonderoga. He served until
the war ended, when he settled in Albany, married
here, and remained here in practice until the out
break of the Revolution, when he was appointed
by Congress Director- General of Hospitals in the
Northern Department. In this capacity he accom
panied the troops on the invasion of Canada. He
was a friend and probably the family physician of
Gen. Schuyler, the ill-favor which befell whom,
there seems reason to believe, he participated in.
At any rate, he was removed from his position, an
act which called forth a very angry remonstrance
from the General to Congress. This was in 1777,
and he then returned to Albany, where he spent the
rest of a long life. It is said that he always ad
hered to the style of dress of the olden time — the
cocked hat, tight breeches, and shoes with large
buckles. Dr. Nicholas Schuyler was another of the sur
geons of this locality who was connected with the
Federal army of the Revolution. He was an ardent
patriot and an intelligent surgeon. After perform
ing valuable service during the war he returned to
Albany; he died in Troy in 1824.
Dr. J. Cochoran, of Pennsylvania, served as sur
geon in the Revolutionary army and was high in
position. He became Surgeon-General of the
.Middle Department, and in 1781 was made Direc
tor-General of the Hospitals of the United States.
After the war was over he settled in Albany.
At one time the brothers Moses and Elias Wil
lard were physicians of Albany. They were na
tives of New England, and, with their father, had a
hand in the bloody struggle at Lexington. Elias,
before the war, had begun to study medicine, and
after a brief service as a common soldier he entered
a military hospital in Boston, which, under Dr.
John Warren, brother of the hero of Bunker Hill,
was made a training school for the much-needed
medical men. Two years later he was appointed
surgeon of a Maine regiment, and served till the
close of the war. He came to Albany in 1801 and
practiced here for twenty-five years. His brother

206

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

was younger and entered the service later ; he re
sided here for several years.
Every one at all familiar with the medical men of
Albany a hundred years ago knows the name of
Hunloke Woodruff. He was a graduate of Prince
ton, and shortly before the commencement of hos
tilities between the colonies and the mother coun
try had begun the study of medicine, had taken
up his residence in Albany, but soon was ap
pointed surgeon of one of the New York regi
ments, and served until peace was declared. He
accompanied the northern army to Canada, and
was with Col. Gansevoort during the siege of
Fort Stanwix, and attended Gen. Sullivan in
his expedition against the hostile Indians of West
ern New York. He settled here to practice after
the war and spent the best of his life here, highly
esteemed as a learned physician.
Several of these men, it is observed, were con
tributions of the army to Albany.
As an incident of the French War it is said, in
the "Memoirs of an American Lady," that when
the wounded troops poured into Albany from the
Ticonderoga battle-field a hospital was established
in a large barn belonging to Madame Schuyler, and
was attended there by a band of ladies. Thacher,
a considerable historian of medical events of that
time and a surgeon of the Revolution attached to
this northern division of the army, says that a hos
pital was erected here during the French War. He
says of it, as he saw it in 1788 : " It is situated on
an eminence overlooking the city. It is two stories
high, having a wing at each end and a piazza in
front, above and below. It contains forty wards,
capable of accommodating 500 patients, besides
the rooms appropriated to the use of the surgeons
and other officers." After Burgoyne's defeat at
Saratoga, Albany was for several months filled
with sick and wounded from the battle-field..
There were not less than one thousand of these
victims of war thrown into the city, filling the hos
pital, the Dutch Church and some private houses.
Most of them remained till the following June,
when the military hospital was removed to the
Highlands of the Hudson. Dr. Thacher says :
"We have thirty surgeons and mates, and all
are constantly employed. The wounded of the
British and Hessian troops are accommodated in
the same hospital with our own and receive equal
attention. The foreigners are under the care of
their own surgeons. I have been present at sev
eral of their capital operations and remember that
the English surgeons perform with skill and dex
terity, but the Germans, with few exceptions, do no ;

credit to their profession." He did not find the
inhabitants of the city of a social disposition.
They are chiefly Low Dutch, he says, and not in
clined to associate with strangers. Nevertheless,
Mars and Venus have in all ages been mutually
attractive, and ' ' a charming Miss M. H." was cap
tivated by one of the surgeons. A surgeon's pay
in our army was $33.33 a month, and of a mate
or assistant surgeon $18, that of a colonel being
$75. At a later date there was a military canton
ment and hospital in Greenbush, which was main
tained until 1822.
Medical history is not altogether biographical,
and some notes may be made of other events of
the earlier time before the present century began.
Henry Hudson said, when he returned with
the report of his discoveries : "It is as fair a land
as can be trodden by the foot of man," and the
graphic pen of Irving has been taxed to all its re
sources in delineating this lovely valley before it had
been marred by the hand of civilization. It was
not only fair, but by all testimony it was salubrious.
As early as 1628 one writes in a letter home : "The
climate is healthful, notwithstanding the sudden
changes from heat to cold. Roots and herbs are
found, good for eating and for medicinal uses,
working wonderful cures too long to relate. " The
sudden and extreme variations in temperature ap
pear to have been the principal complaint, and
were certainly very marked to those who had been
accustomed to the equable climate of Holland and
England. Gov. Hunter wrote in 17 10: "Here
is the finest air to live upon in the universe."
Many instances are related of cures of consump
tion among those coming to the new country.
They were mainly due, no doubt, to the less
sedentary life of necessity led here, and absence of
the insanitary influences that accumulate with the
passage of years of habitation.
In this province there were fewer serious
epidemics than in .the New England and Virginia
Colonies, where they early prevailed extensively.
Fevers of acclimation or of an indigenous source
were rare. The colonists did not, however,
escape some most severe and fatal epidemics
of imported disease. Of these, small-pox made
the most grievous ravages. In 16 13 it broke
out and spread with fearful rapidity, among
Europeans and savages. Twelve of the slender
population of Beverwyck died in one week and a
thousand perished among the Iroquois tribes.
For two months Connecticut maintained a quaran
tine against the New Netherlands. Another

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

207

equally severe epidemic broke out some years later.
Prior to 1730 this outdid all other pestilences with
its ravages, ceasing at one time, it is said, only for
lack of material to work upon, every susceptible
person having had it. Inoculation began to be
practical about 1730, and became quite general,
the mortality from it being reported as compara
tively small. "In 1799," writes Dr. Thacher,
"the glorious discovery of the vaccine disease,
which renders the human system insusceptible to
small-pox, was announced in our newspapers and
in the Medical Repository, of New York, " and the
reign of what might well have been called the king
of terrors came to an end.
In 1746 a malignant epidemic of what was
called the Barbadoes distemper, and also various
other names, reached Albany. It was imported
from foreign ships, and, beginning in August, ended
with frost. From the description it was clearly yellow
fever. It carried off 45 victims, mostly robust men.
Spotted fever is mentioned as occurring in 1752.
An interesting episode in connection with yellow
fever, and a glimpse of affairs as they existed a
century ago, is obtained from the following "Notes
from the Newspapers," in Munsell's Annals of
Albany :
"September 21, 1793. — The citizens were
alarmed by a letter from Judge Lansing, informing
them that a vessel had passed New York having
two persons on board infected with yellow fever,
which was then raging at Philadelphia. Meetings
of the citizens and of the Common Council were
held, and measures adopted to prevent the passing
of any vessel above the Overslaugh without an ex
amination, and the ferry-men were directed how to
proceed on occasions when any suspicion attached
to travelers presenting themselves to be ferried over.
The Common Council recommended the observ
ance of the first day of October as a day of fasting
and prayer for the aversion of the dreaded con
tagion. "September 23. — On Monday evening last ar
rived at Greenbush, opposite the city, from the
seat of Government, Hon. Alexander Hamilton,
Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, and
his lady. As Col. Hamilton and lady were sup
posed to have been afflicted with the yellow fever,
then prevalent at Philadelphia, the physicians of the
city, by request, immediately visited them, and on
their return published the following certificate :
' This is to certify that we have visited Col. Hamil
ton and his lady at Greenbush this evening and
that they are apparently in perfect health, and from
every circumstance we do not conceive there can

be the least danger of their conveying the infection
of the pestilential fever, at present prevalent in
Philadelphia, to any of their fellow citizens.
" '(Signed) Samuel Stringer,
" ' W. Mancius,
" ' H. Woodruff,
" 'W. McClellan.
" 'Cornelius Roosa.'
" In consequence of which on Tuesday morning
an order was granted by the Mayor that Col.
Hamilton and lady be allowed to cross the ferry,
but only after quite a spicy correspondence be
tween the Mayor, physicians and Gen. Schuyler,
whose daughter was Mrs. Hamilton."
Aside from these outbreaks, Albany maintained
its repute for healthfulness throughout the eighteenth
century. During the winter of 1785, it is said
that but one burial took place for the space of
three months, in the Dutch church-yard, and that
was of a small child accidentally run over by a
sleigh. This burial place has been recently brought
to light again by excavations in State street, at the
corner of Broadway, human bones being found,
and bricks from the old church edifice. One writes
of Albany in 1796 : "It enjoys a salubrious air, as
is evidenced by the longevity of its inhabitants. "
Concerning the now very fertile theme of the
water supply of the city, a visitor to Albany, in
1785, wrote that "the well water in the city is
very bad, being scarcely drinkable by those not
accustomed to it, imbibing particles from the stiff
clay through which it oozes ; indeed, all use the
river water for cooking, and many families drink it.
But water works are about to be constructed to
bring good water to the city. "
In the year 1800 Albany was already an old
city. In some respects this was a turning point
in its history. About this time it began to have
additions to its population from New England
and to become impressed with New England ideas.
Previously it had been entirely Dutch ; its people,
its habits, its physiognomy, its architecture were
all Dutch ; it is said that even its horses and dogs
were Dutch. It had many usages brought from
the provincial towns of Holland. A graphic pic
ture of it at that time may be found in Random Rec
ollections of Albany from 1800 to 1808, by Gor-
ham A. Worth. The placid Dutchman smoked
his evening pipe on the settee of the stoop in front
of his gable-ended house, undisturbed by a care
for the outside world, perfectly content with him
self and his surroundings, with no welcome for
strangers and their innovations. In a population

208

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

of 5,000 there were not more than five New Eng
land families. The city had no pavements and no
street lamps. It had little or no foreign commerce.
It needed a new element to give it an impulse,
without which the nineteenth century gave promise
of leaving it in a Rip Van Winkle dream, or stranded
where the eighteenth was hardly holding it
afloat. A change, restless and iconoclastic, began
to come over it about this time ; the progressive
spirit of this century began to disturb its quietude,
and new blood was transfused into it. The Erie
Canal began to be talked about ; it became the
capital city, and very soon after Fulton ran the
Clermont up the river.
The general character of the medical profession
began to improve. The means of education here
tofore had been very limited, and the mass of prac
titioners throughout the country had been deplor
ably ignorant. In an address before the Regents,
Dr. T. Romeyn Beck stated that, of the 700
physicians in the State at this time, not more than
twenty held the degree of Doctor of Medicine.
Indeed it was not sought for, save in the large
cities. The education of physicians prior to 1750,
unless obtained in Europe, was restricted to a sort of
apprenticeship and personal instruction. In 1750
the first regular medical instruction was attempted,
a course of lectures on anatomy being given in
New York by a Dublin graduate, Samuel Clossy.
During the remainder of the century four medical
schools were established ; in Philadelphia, New
York, and at Harvard and Dartmouth Colleges.
The difficulty of reaching these precluded most
from attending them. Their influence was, how
ever, being felt toward the close of the century.
Just what might have been considered a medical
education at this time, even at its best, it would be
hard to define. There was hardly any facility for
acquiring a practical knowledge of anatomy by
dissection, so that a student could have no ade
quate idea of the vital organs in health or as
changed by the processes of disease. When Dr.
March, twenty years latter, began to give instruction
here in anatomy, by lectures and dissections, he
for a long time encountered much opposition in
his good work. Surgery was rude and simple,
as viewed from the light of to-day. Diseases could
not be distinguished by our present knowledge,
as, for instance, that of auscultation and percus
sion of the chest, and all our instruments of re
search were unknown. Pharmacy was as rude as
the means of diagnosis, but faith in it was vastly
more profound than now. The physician became
skillful and renowned, as many of them did, only

as he became shrewd in observation and expe
rienced by years ; gray hairs were the only passport
to popular confidence. Oliver Wendell Holmes
pictures him, from vivid recollections of his early
life, as " he would look at the tongue, feel of the
pulse, and shake from his vials a horrible mound
of ipecac, or a revolting heap of rhubarb — good,
stirring remedies that meant business, but left a
flavor behind them that embitters the recollections
of childhood." Little of our present knowlege of
the control of epidemics was possessed ; small-pox,
often devastating as a tornado, was just then about to
be robbed of its terrors, and the preventable diseases
generally, to which so much attention is now given,
and which if completely held in check would in
finitely lessen the rate of mortality, were neither
studied as a class nor controlled by organized
boards of health. No better contrast can be shown
between then and now than is seen in the state
ment that by data, gathered from all sources, it is
found that the sum total of human life has been
lengthened in civilized countries 25 per cent.
since the beginning of the century. Dr. Holmes
says : " It is but a fractional power that the physi
cian has over disease, and a comparatively small
fraction over the issues of life and death." But
what he lacks in his control of the individual is
well complemented by the general work, as is
proven by this general result.
Besides the men already mentioned, there are a
few others then practicing here who should be spo
ken of. The oldest physician in Albany was Dr.
Wilhelmus Mancius, the son of the Dutch dominie,
who practiced medicine as well as theology in the
early history of the colony. He was now past
sixty years of age, over six feet in height, and a
man of great popularity. He received his educa
tion from his father, and probably had more skill
than learning. In his arguments with his younger
and more liberally educated partner, Dr. Wood
ruff, he saved himself from being worsted by "Ah,
de cure, Hunloke; de cure is de great ting. I
cure." Dr. William McClelland was a Scotchman,
an Edinburgh graduate, and for the times an edu
cated man. He was the first president both of the
County and the State Medical Societies. His part
ner for a time was Dr. Wm. Bay, whose long life
extended to the easy recollection of many of the
present citizens of this vicinity. Dr. Knauff, then
advanced in years, was more an apothecary than
physician. Dr. Gauff, also an old man, had been
for many years a practitioner of Bethlehem, and Dr.
Oliver Lathrop was a physician of Watervliet, then
in middle life. Younger than any of these was

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

209

Dr. Jonathan Eights, a most exact and methodic\ .
man, who through the first half of this century was
held in high esteem as a family physician, and
made many contributions to medical literature.
Dr. John Stearns, a Massachusetts man and a Yale
graduate, then thirty years old, was for a number
of years a practitioner here, and deserves especial
honor from the profession, as to his efforts were
due the existing law, enacted in 1806, under which
our State and County medical societies have been
incorporated. The notable event in medicine at the beginning
of this century was the establishment of the County
Medical Society. This is undoubtedly the oldest
medical society in the State, having been estab
lished in July, 1806, immediately after the passage
of the incorporating law. The reason urged for
the passage of this act was the abundance of char
latanry and the necessity for combining the legiti
mate members of the profession to control it. The
universal testimony is that at this time the country
was overrun with empyrics. Dr. R. M. Wyckoff,
to whose paper on Early Medicine in New York I
am indebted for much information, says that
medical practice in earl)' times was pure, but
that about the middle of the eighteenth cen
tury the charlatanry of the Old World, which was
quackish to the core, began to find a field in the
New. For its own respectability and the people's
good the time had come for the profession to assert
itself; it did so by bringing the reputable physicians
together and separating them from the disreputable.
In this way the society has done more to suppress
quackery (which the people should know is vastly
more an evil to them than to the profession)
than all the restrictive legislation that was en
acted year after year for the next forty years.
Dr. Thomas Hun wrote in 1 844, what is always per
tinent and true: " Quackery must be suppressed,
not by legislation, but by enlightened public opin
ion of its dangers. The respectability of our pro
fession is to be promoted, not by asking for legal
privileges, but by an increase of individual zeal and
co-operation." In this State no one is entitled to
professional consideration unless he is a member of
his County Medical Society.
From the beginning the society has maintained
regular meetings for mutual improvement. It has
always been a means of co-operating against local
epidemics and bad sanitary conditions. Its opin
ion and advice has often been asked by the Mayor
and Common Council. It has kept up the social
relations of its members, and perpetuated their
27

memory by printed biographies and portraits, of
which it has a considerable collection. It has ex
plicit laws for disciplining unprofessional members,
but has very seldom made use of them. It has
been of a liberal spirit, and was one of the first so
cieties to admit women to membership. The entire
number of its members from first to last has been
about 425. The following list includes all of the
members of the Society since the organization, and
nearly all the physicians of this county during the
present century. CHRONOLOGICAL LIST
OF THE
Medical Society of the County of Albany from
its Organization, with Year of Admission and
Place of Graduation. The Living Resident
Members are indicated by a *.
1806, Hunloke Woodruff, New York City; died 181 1,
aged 56. William McClelland, Edinburgh; died 1812,
aged 43. Charles D. Townsend, Columbia College,
Medical Department, 1802; died 1847, aged 70. John G.
Knauff, probably in Germany; died 1810. Elias Wil
lard, Boston; died 1827, aged 71. Wilhemus Mancius,
studied medicine with his father, Rev. G. W. Mancius, 1758;
died 1808, aged 70. William Anderson, University of
Pennsylvania; died 1811, aged 40. Joseph W. Hegeman,
Princeton; died 1837, aged 65. Cornelius Vrooman, Jr.,
University of Pennsylvania; died 181 1, aged 30. Alexan
der G. Fonda, licensed 1806; died 1869, aged 84. Caleb
Gauff; Bethlehem. Augustus Harris, licensed by Su
preme Court, 1800; died 1857, aged 81. Augustus F. R.
Taylor, University of Pennsylvania, 1804; died 1841,
aged 58.
1807, Peter Wendell, University of Pennsylvania, 1807;
died 1849, aged 64. Jacob L. Van Deusen, Regent's de
gree, 1806; resigned 1825.
1808, Archibald H. Adams, University of Edinburgh;
died 1811, aged 42. Charles D. Cooper, New York;
died 1831, aged 63. Isaac Hyde, probably licensed; died
1833, aged 61. James Low, University of Edinburgh,
1807; died 1822, aged 40.
1809, Simon Veeder, licentiate of this society, 1807;
died i860, aged 72.
1810, William Bay, Columbia College, Medical De
partment, 1797; died 1865, aged 93. Jonathan Eights,
certificate of two physicians; died 1848, aged 75. John
Sterns, University of Pennsylvania; died 1848, aged 65,
1 81 1, T. Romeyn Beck, College of Physicians and Sur
geons, 181 1 ; died 1855, aged 64.
1812, Jonathan Johnson, licentiate of this society, 1812;
died i860, aged 75. Erastus Williams, licentiate Ver
mont State Society, 1800; died 1842, aged 69. Peter De
Lamater, studied medicine 1794; died 1849, aged 77.
1813, Enoch Cheney. Oliver Lathrop, studied with
Dr. White, of Cherry Valley; died 1824, aged 57.
1816, Moses Brownell; died March 12, 1879, aged 90.
Richmond Brownell, filed diploma with County Clerk,
1816; removed to Rhode Island. Samuel Freeman, Dart
mouth; removed to Saratoga; died 1862. George Upfold,
Jr., College Physicians and Surgeons, 1816; died 1872,
aged 76 Platt Williams, Columbia College, Medical
Department, 1810; died 1870, aged 86. Joel A. Wing,
licentiate Montgomery County Society, 181 1 ; died 1852,
aged 65.
1817, Thomas J. Gibbons, College Physicians and Sur
geons, 1817; died 1819, aged 22.
1819, William Humpfreys, College Physicians and Sur
geons, 1819; died 1826, aged 31. Charles Martin, licen
tiate of this society, 1818. Ashbel S. Webster, College
Physicians and Surgeons, 1819; died 1840, aged 44. Caleb
Woodward; soon left the city.
1820, John James, College Physicians and Surgeons,
1819; died 1859, aged 70. Roger Viets, died 1853.

210

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

1821, Moses Clement, licentiate of New Hampshire
State Society, 1807; died 1831, aged 51. Henry B. Hal
lenbeck, licentiate of this society; died 1825, aged 29. Ly
man Spalding, died 1841, aged 46. Barent P. Staats,
licentiate New York State Medical Society, 1817; died 1871,
aged 74. Samuel S. Treat, College Physicians and Sur
geons, 1821; died 1832, aged 33. Peter Van O'Linda,
licentiate New York State Medical Society, 1820; died 1872,
aged 75. Christophf.r C. Yates, licensed by Supreme
Court, 1802; died 1848, aged 70.
1822, Valentine Dennick, licentiate of this society,
1822; date of birth and death not known.
1823, John W. Bay, College Physicians and Surgeons, 1823 ;
died 1877, aged 76. Lewis C. Beck, licentiate of this so
ciety, 1818; died 1853, aged 55. Alden March, Brown
University, 1820; died 1869, aged 73.
1824, Michael Freligh, licensed by civil process; died
1853, aged 83.
1825, Rensselaer Gansevoort, College Physicians and
Surgeons, 1824; died 1838, aged 35. John W. Hinckley,
licentiate of this society, 1825; died i860, aged 57.
1826, Charles E. Burrows. David W. Houghtal-
ing, licensed 1822; died 1829, aged 33.
1827, Hazael Kane, licentiate of this society, 1822 ;
died at Nassau. Henry Van O'Linda, licentiate of Mont
gomery County Society, 1826; died 1846, aged 41.
1828, James P. Boyd, University of Pennsylvania, 1825;
died May 10, 1881, aged 77. James M. Brown, licentiate
of this society, 1825; died 1854, aged 50. Elisha S. Bur
ton, Berkshire Medical College, 1827; died 1873. *Benj.
B. Fredenburg, licentiate Columbia County Society, 1819.
Samuel Humpfreys, licentiate State Society, 1821; died in
Liberia, 1832, aged 30. Edward A. Leonard, Yale Col
lege, Medical Department, 1827; died 1837, aged 31.
Michael Malone, licentiate State Society, 1826; died
1844, aged 46. James McNaughton, University of Edin
burgh, 1816; died 1874, aged 78. Peter McNaughton,
University of Edinburgh, 1825; died 1875, aged 75. Wil
liam Noble; removed to Albion, Orleans County. Peter B.
Noxon, licentiate of this society, 1824; died April, 1882,
aged 86. Peter P. Staats, licentiate State Society, 1825;
died 1874, aged 71. William Tulley, licentiate Connec
ticut State Society, 1810; died 1859, aged 74. Henry Van
Antwerp, licentiate State Society, 1825; died 1859, aged
57. Luke Wellington, Berkshire Medical College, 1825;
removed. Asa Burbank, Berkshire Medical College, 1823
died 1832.
1829, Ebram T. Bigelow, Fairfield Medical College;
died about 1868. Henry Green, Fairfield Medical College,
1814; died 1844, aged 54. Isaac Hempstead, licentiate ot
this society, 1827; died 1852, aged 48. Augustus F. Law
yer, Fairfield Medical College; died March 27, 1883, aged
75. Solomon Lincoln, licentiate State Society, 1829;
removed. Nicholas Markay; died. Francis N. Sel
kirk, licentiate of this society, 1829; died 1849, aged
40. John Styles; removed to New York City. Ben
jamin Van Zandt; died. James Wade, licentiate
Schenectady County Society, 1812; died 1867, aged 78.
Nanning V. Winne, Yale Medical School, 1828; died
1858, aged 51.
1830, Henry Bronson; removed to New Haven, Conn.
Jonathan H. Case, Fairfield Medical College, 1828; died
1865, aged 58. Obadiah Crosby, in New York, 1828;
died 1838, aged 38. Vernor Cuyler, licentiate State Soci
ety, 1822; removed.  Davidson. "Thomas Hun, Uni
versity of Pennsylvania, 1830; Albany. James S. Low; died.
David McLachlan, University of Glasgow, 1829; died
1858, aged 55. Richard Murphy, licentiate State Society,
1830. William O'Donnell; removed to New York City.
William Pearce. Alva W. Rockwell, Berkshire Medical
College, 1820; died 1837, aged 41. Nelson Rusk, licentiate
Chautauqua County Society; at Stuyvesant, N. Y. Samuel
Shaw, removed to Massachusetts. Guy Spalding, died
1854, aged 75. John F. Townsend, University of Penn
sylvania, 1830; died 1874, aged 65.
183 1, David R. Burrus, Vermont Academy of Medi
cine, 1833; removed to Saratoga County, 1859. Hiram
Christie. Lansing Cory. Darius Coy; removed to
Cobleskill. Palmer C. Dorr, licentiate of this society,
1824; died 1840, aged 43. Richard J. Dusenbury; re
moved to Chicago. Edward "W. Ford, University of Penn

sylvania, 1831; died 1855, aged 45. Ten Eyck Ganse
voort, University of Pennsylvania, 1825; died 1843, aged
40. Lewis B. Gregory, Fairfield Medical College, 1830;
died 1838, aged 30. Abraham Groesbeck; removed to
Chicago, Illinois. Ammond Hammond, Vermont Academy
of Medicine; died 1849, aged 46. Alson J. Hallenbake,
licentiate State Society, 183 1; died 1846, aged 38. Car
roll Humphrey, University of Pennsylvania; died at Cal
cutta, 1834, aged 29. E. A. Lacey. David Springsteed,
licentiate of this society, 1830. Luther M. Tracey. John
T. Van Alstyne, Fairfield Medical College, 1823; died
1876, aged 76. Leonard G. Warren, Vermont Academy
of Medicine, 1826, died 1866, aged 63.
1832, Jarvis Barney, died 1838, aged 33. Stephen D.
Hand, Berkshire Medical College, 1831. Josiah W. Lay,
licentiate Green County Medical Society, 1816; died 1862,
aged 71. Platt Wickes, removed.
1833, Levarette Moore, Berkshire Medical College,
1829; removed to Ballston.  Van Denmark.
1834, James H. Armsby, Vermont Academy of Medicine,
1833; died 1875, aged 66. Frederick Crounse, Albany
County. Samuel Dickson, licentiate State Society, 1829;
died 1858, aged 51. N. L. Hungerford, licensed 1830; died
1839, aged 34. Westley Newcomb, Vermont Academy
of Medicine, 1832; removed to Ithaca. William G. Rad
cliff, removed to Philadelphia. Bernhard Sabalis,
returned to Holland. Sidney Sawyer, removed to Chi
cago, Illinois. Herman Wendell, College Physicians
and Surgeons, 1832; died 1881, aged 72.
1837, William F. Carter, Dartmouth Medical College,
1834; died 1866, aged 54. H. A. Grant, removed to Con
necticut. Francis W. Priest, left city after short resi
dence. J. B. Rossman, Fairfieid Medical College, 1829;
died December 23, 1883, aged 77. Edward Q. Sewall,
removed to Canada. John H. Trotter, licensed to prac
tice; died 1861, aged 48. John Van Buren, University of
the City of New York; died 1856, aged 48. Alexander
Van Rensselaer, removed to New York City.
1839, John Babcock, Vermont Academy of Medicine,
1838; died March 13, 1879, age(i 65. John Van Alstyne,
died at sea, 1844. Peter Van Buren, College Physicians
and Surgeons, 1823; died 1873, aged 71. John Wilson,
Fairfield Medical College (?); died 1877.
1840, Mason F. Cogswell, College Physicians and
Surgeons, 1833; died 1864, aged 54. Otis Jenks, licensed
by State Society, 1840; died 1854, aged 55.
1841, John O. Flagler, died December 17, 1882. E. B.
O'Callaghan, licentiate State Society, 1841; died 1880,
aged 80. Charles H. Payne, removed to Saratoga. U.
H. Wheeler, died in Brooklyn.
1842, Selah B. Fish, Berkshire Medical College, 1841;
removed from the county.
1844, John Campbell, Albany Medical College, 1843;
entered United States Army in 1847. C. E. Dayton.
Patrick Gannon, in New York; died 1854, aged 74.
David Martin, Fairfield Medical College, 1828; died
1853, aged 53. William J. Young, removed.
1845, Uriah G. Bigelow, Albany" Medical College,
1843; died 1873, aged 52. Christopher C. Griffin,
licentiate of this society, 1843; died 1856, aged 41. Ed
ward Perry, University of New York; died at the age of
43. J. V. P. Quackenbush, Albany Medical College,
1842; died in 1876, aged 57. Richard H. Thompson,
Albany Medical College, 1842; died 1864.
1846, Isaiah Breakey, Royal College of Surgeons,
Dublin, 1816; died 1848, aged 59. "Samuel H. Freeman,
Albany Medical College, 1846; Albany.
1847, Henry B. McHarg, Albany Medical College,
1847; died 1848, aged 22. Benjamin A. Sheldon, Al
bany Medical College, 1847, died September 10, 1864, aged
39. "John Swinburne, Albany Medical College, 1846; Al-
any. C. C. Waller, left the city, 1855.
1848, Edward H. Clarke, Albany Medical College,
1848; removed to Buffalo. Henry B. Fay, Albany Medi
cal College, 1843; removed to New York City. William
Geoghegan, Royal College Surgeons, Dublin, 1837; died
1877, aged 62. Alexander W. McNaughton, Albany
Medical College, 1848; died January 7, 1865, aged 36.
Paul Todd Taber, Albany Medical College, 1848; died
1851, aged 25. Howard Townsend, Albany Medical
College, 1846; died January 15, 1867, aged 44. Sylvester

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

211

D. Willard, Albany Medical College, 1848; died April 2,
1865, aged 40.
1849, David Wiltsie, Albany Medical College, 1847;
died 1875, aged 55.
1850, Abram H. McKown, Albany Medical College,
1845; died 1853, aged 33. Thomas H. Neeley, Albany
Medical College, 1850; died 1851, aged 25. Jacob Rein
hart, Heidelburg and Gottingen, 1847; died i860, aged
35. James H. Sallisbury, Albany Medical College, 1850;
removed to New York City. Augustus Viele, Fairfield
Medical College, 1837; died February 12, 1882. Alonzo
G. Westervelt, Albany Medical College, 1850; removed
to Durham, Green County.
185 1, James L. Babcock, Albany Medical College, 1850;
died February 13, 1881, aged 58. J. R. Bullock, Fairfield
Medical College, 1836; Albany County. Ira M. De La-
mater, Albany Medical College, 1850; died September,
1864, aged 45. David E. Fonda, Fairfield Medical
College, 1838; died January 12, 1883, aged 66. Wil
liam A. Hawley, Albany Medical College, 1851; re
moved to Syracuse. Charles D. Marsh, Albany Medi
cal College, 1850; removed from the city. William
B. Sims, Albany Medical College, 1850; died October 18,
1881. S. O. Van Der Poel, Jefferson Medical College,
1845; removed to New York, 1881. I. N. Wyckoff,
Albany Medical College, 1852; never practiced medicine;
died. 1852, F. L. R. Chapin, Albany Medical College, 185 1;
removed to Glen's Falls. Samuel Ingraham, Albany
Medical College, 1849; removed to Palmyra. "Joseph
Lewi, University of Vienna, 1847; Albany. Levi Moore,
Albany Medical College, 1851; died June 30, 1880, aged
53. Henry F. Spencer, Albany Medical College, 1852;
died at sea, 1862, aged 36.
1853, Hiram A. Edmonds, Albany Medical College,
1853; died 1857, aged 29. "Henry March, Albany Medi
cal College, 1853; Albany. J. H. Scoon, Albany Medical
College, 1849; died July 22, 1880, aged 54. John P.
WlTBECK, Albany Medical College, 1852; died 1873, aged
44.' Harvey B. Wilbur, Berkshire Medical College, 1842;
removed to Syracuse.
1854, *William H. Bailey, Albany Medical College,
1853; Albany. *Willi am H. Craig, Albany Medical Col
lege, 1852; Albany. "Charles Devol, Fairfield Medical
College, 1831; Albany. Alexander H. Hoff, Jefferson
Medical College, 1843; died 1876, aged 55. S. P. Uline,
Vermont Academy of Medicine, 1852; removed to Lowville.
1855, Stephen J. W. Tabor, College Physicians and
Surgeons, 1841 ; removed to Iowa. Dan'^.l Wasserbach,
University of Hague, 1843; died Septem\ - 11, 1880, aged
66. " \
1856, Frederick C. Adams, Albany Me\ .al College,
1847; died 1862, aged 40. *Amos Fowler, University of
New York, 1846; Albany. *Henry G. McNaughton,
Albany Medical College, 1856; Albany. Staats Winne,
Albany Medical College, 1851; died May 30, 1880, aged 53.
1857, O. C. Alexander, Albany Medical College,
1854; Albany. "Hiram Crounse, Vermont Academy of
Medicine, 1847; Albany. "George H. Newcomb, Albany
Medical College, 1855; Albany. William C Rodgers,
Albany Medical College, 1854; died i860, aged 30.
*A. Shiland, Albany Medical College, 1853 ; West
Troy. John I. Swart, Albany Medical College, 1853 ;
died Nov. 24, 1878, at Schoharie, aged 47. Alfred
Wands, Albany Medical College, 1845 ; died 1870,
aged 48.
1858, John H. Becker, Albany Medical College, 1853 ;
died 1873, aged 45. *H. S. Case, Albany Medical College,
1853 ; Albany. Alex. A. Edmeston, Albany Medical
College, 1853; died 1871, aged 42. "Thomas Helme, Albany
Medical College, 1854 ; McKownsville, Albany Co. Mil
ton M. Lamb, Vermont Academy of Medicine, 1856 ; re
moved to Lansingburgh, 1873. J. J. Myers, Albany Med
ical College, 1857 ; Albany. James E. Pomfret, Albany
Medical College, 1858 ; died Feb. 22, 1869, aged 43. Leroy
McLean, Albany Medical College, 1855 ; removed to Troy.
GEORGE Steinart, University of New York, 1855 ; re
moved to New York City. ANDREW Wilson, licentiate
Columbia County Society ; died 187 1, aged 56.
1859, "Charles H. Porter, Albany Medical College,
1859 ¦ Albany. R. S. McMurdY, Albany Medical College,

1847 ; removed to Minneapolis, .1873. *R. H. Sabin, Al
bany Medical College, 1856 ; West Troy. "Charles H.
Smith, Albany Medical College, 1859 ; Albany. Thomas
Smith, Albany Medical College, 1845 ; died 1862. Charles
P. Staats, Albany Medical College, 1853 ; died April 16,
1884, aged 53. Oscar H. Young, Albany Medical Col
lege, 1858 ; removed to Michigan.
i860, Joseph Atherley; died 1864. "J. R. Boulware,
Albany Medical College, 1859 ; Albany. William B. Cham
bers, Albany Medical College, 1858 ; removed to Fulton
County. A. S. Harlow, Albany Medical College, 1859 ;
removed from the county. Washington Kilmer, Albany
Medical College, i860 ; removed to Florida. John V.
Lansing, New York Medical College, 1854 ; died May 9,
1880, aged 56. Martin L. Mead, Albany Medical College,
1859; removed to Ohio, 1 871. "J. W. Moore, Vermont
Academy of Medicine, 1859 ; Cohoes. "Cornelius D.
Mosher, Albany Medical College, 1859 ; Albany. Joseph
N. Northrop, Vermont Academy of Medicine, 1839 ; died
Sept. 17, 1878, aged 61. John Sheriff, Albany Medical
College, 1859 ; removed. J. L. Welch, Albany Medical
College, 1859 ; died June 23, 1878, aged 54.
1861, Wesley Blaisdell, Castleton, Vt. ; died 1864, aged
49. "Frank G. Mosher, Albany Medical College, 1848 ;
Coeymans. 1862, "Thomas Beckett, Albany Medical College, 1 861;
Albany. Asahel Burt, Jr., Albany Medical College, 1861 ;
removed. Henry R. Haskins, Albany Medical College,
1861 ; died March 31, 1883, aged 48. J. D. Havens, Al
bany Medical College, 1861 ; died Feb. 12, 1875, aged 40.
Frank J. Mattimore, Albany Medical College, i860 ;
died 1863, aged 29. F. B. Parmele, Albany Medical Col
lege, 1842 ; died Jan., 1882, aged 68.
1863, John F. Crounse, Albany Medical College, 1868 ;
died 1872.
1864, Stephen Johnson, Albany Medical College, 1849 ;
resigned 1875. Jacob S. Mosher, Albany Medical College,
1863 ; Albany ; died August 13, 1883, aged 49. C. B.
O'Leary, Albany Medical College, i860; died 1877, aged
38. *H. W. Steenberg, Fairfield Medical College, 1837 ;
Green Island. Silas P. Wright, Albany Medical College,
1862 ; removed.
1865, Gideon H. Armsby, Albany Medical College,
1864 ; died Nov. 20, 1881, aged 39. Myron Knowlton,
Castleton, Vt., 1837 ; removed to Rochester. P. L. F.
Reynolds, Albany Medical College, 1861 ; Albany.
Charles A. Robertson, Jefferson Medical College, 1853 ;
died April 1, 1880, aged 51. William Sigsbee, Vermont
Academy of Medicine, 1852; removed to Illinois. "Ezekiel
Mulford Wade, Vermont Academy of Medicine, 1839 ;
Watervliet. 1866, Charles S. Allen, Albany Medical College, 1864 ;
Rensselaer Co. "Herman Bendell, Albany Medical Col
lege, 1862 ; Albany. John Ferguson, Vermont Academy
of Medicine, 1836 ; died 1874, agtd 62. Michael Gilligan ;
removed. George T. Stevens, Vermont Academy of
Medicine, 1857 ; removed to New York City. Gustavus
Treskatis, Albany Medical College, 1865 ; removed to
New York City. "Albert Van der Veer, National Med
ical College (Med. Dep. Columbia Col. , Washington), 1862 ;
Albany. Warner Van Steenberg, University of Vermont
(Med. Dep.), 1856 ; died at Cohoes, May 3, 1880, aged 48.
1867, James S. Bailey, Albany Medical College, 1853 ;
died July 1, 1883, aged 53. "A. De Graff, Albany Medical
College, 1858; Guilderland. "Alfred B. Huested, Albany
Medical College, 1863 ; Albany. John R. Gregory, Al
bany Medical College, 1858 ; removed to Trumansburg.
Edward R. Hun, College Physicians and Surgeons, 1866 ;
died March 14, 1880, aged 38. James F. McKown, Albany
Medical College, 1866 ; Albany. "P. M. Murphy, Albany
Medical College, 1863; Albany. *D. V. O'Leary, Albany
Medical College, 1866 ; Albany.
1868, L. M. Dunkelmeyer ; removed to Cincinnati, O.
Alexander McDonald ; died 1877, aged 33. "John
Thompson, University of New York, 1868 ; Albany.
Richard D. Traver, St. Louis Medical College, 1869 ;
removed to Troy, N. Y. *C. E. Witbeck, Albany Medical
College, 1866 ; Cohoes.
1869, "Hiram Becker, Albany Medical College, 1864 ;
New Salem. Daniel M. Stimson, College Physicians and
Surgeons, 1868 ; removed to New York City, 1871.

212

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

1870, "John M.Bigelow, College Physicians and Surgeons,
1870 ; Albany. J. Myers Briggs, Albany Medical College,
1869 ; died 1874, aged 29. Thomas D. Crothers, Albany
Medical College, 1865; removed to Hartford, Conn. "J. R.
Davidson, Albany Medical College, 1869 ; South Bethle
hem. Eustis H. Davis, Albany Medical College, 1854 ;
removed to Watkins. "J. D. Featherstonhaugh, College
Physicians and Surgeons, 1870 ; Cohoes. H. D. Losee,
Albany Medical College, 1868 ; died 1874, aged 25. Wil
liam Morgan, Albany Medical College, 1869 ; Albany; re
signed 1883. "Wm. H. T. Reynolds, College of Physicians
and Surgeons, 1870; Albany. "Charles F. Scattergood,
Albany Medical College, 1868 ; Albany. "A. P. Ten Eyck,
Albany Medical College, 1866 ; Rensselaer County.
1871, L. R. Boyce, licentiate Otsego Co. Society, 1862 ;
resigned 1877. Orson F. Cobb, Albany Medical College,
1868 ; West Troy ; suspended 1876. P. J. C. Golding ;
removed to Massachusetts. *L. C. B. Graveline, Albany
Medical College, 1862 ; Albany. "Lorenzo Hale, Albany
Medical College, 1868 ; Albany. K. V. R. Lansingh, Jr.,
Albany Medical College, 1870 ; died April 13, 1879. "Wil
liam H. Murray, Albany Medical College, 1869; Albany.
E. B. Tefft, Buffalo Medical College, 1864 ; removed.
Barnabas Wood, University of Nashville, 1852 ; died 1875,
aged 56.
1872, "Frederic C. Curtis, College of Physicians and
Surgeons, 1870 ; Albany. Isaac De Zouche, Albany Med
ical College, 1869 ; removed to Gloversville, 1875. "WlL-
liam Hailes, Albany Medical College, 1870 ; Albany.
S. A. Ingham, Albany Medical College, 1871 ; removed to
Little Falls. J. H. Lagrange, Albany Medical College,
1871 ; removed to Columbia County. J. H. Lasher, Al
bany Medical College, 1871 ; died 1873, aged 25. Caleb
Lyon, Albany Medical College, 1871 ; removed to New York
City. Philip J. Maguire, College Physicians and Surgeons,
1871 ; removed to Brooklyn. *B. U. Steenberg, Albany
Medical College, 1870; Albany. "John Ben Stonehouse,
Albany Medical College, 1871; Albany. "Willis G. Tuck-
er, Albany Medical College, 1870 ; Albany. "Eugene Van
Slyke, Albany Medical College, 187 1 ; Albany. *R. H.
Starkweather, Albany Medical College, 1871 ; Albany.
*G. L. Ullman, Albany Medical College, 187 1 ; Albany.
1873, Almon S. Allen, Albany Medical College, 1872 ;
removed to Pittsfield, Mass. "John U. Haynes, Albany
Medical College, 1872 ; Cohoes. "Joseph H. Blatner,
Albany Medical College, 1872 ; Albany. George A.
Jones, Albany Medical College, 1869 ; died 1875.
James C. Hannan, University of New York, 1873 ;
removed to Hoosick Falls, 1 881. "James P. Boyd,
Jr., College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1871 ; Albany.
Frank Garbutt, Albany Medical College, 1872 ; re
moved to Mechanicsville. *C. E. Seger, Albany Medical
College, 1863 ; Adams Station. "Patrick E. Fennelly,
Albany Medical College, 1869 ; West Troy. "Octavius
H. E. Clarke, McGill University, Montreal, 1870 ; Cohoes.
Alfred L. Wands, Albany Medical College, 1869 ; re
moved. 1874, "J. L. Archambeault, Laval University, Quebec,
1870; Cohoes. "Lewis Balch, College Physicians and Sur-
feons, 1870 ; Albany. "O. D. Ball, College Physicians and
urgeons, 1867 ; Albany. George H. Benjamin, Albany
Medical College, 1872; removed. *L. Boudrias (DeMorat),
Victoria University, Montreal, 1870 ; Cohoes. C. E. Buffin-
ton, Albany Medical College, 1874; West Troy. "Daniel
H. Cook, Albany Medical College, 1873 ; Albany. Herman
C. Evarts, Albany Medical College, 1873 ; removed to
Carthage, N. Y. James A. Hart, College Physicians and
Surgeons, 1873 ; removed to Colorado about 1877. Wil
liam W. MacGregor, Albany Medical College, 1873 ; re
moved to Glen's Falls. "Cyrus S. Merrill, College Phy
sicians and Surgeons, 1871 ; Albany. LinzeeT. Morrill,
Albany Medical College, 1873 ; removed. "Nelson Mon
roe, Vermont Academy of Medicine, 1840 ; Green Island.
"George W. Papen, College Physicians and Surgeons,
1874; Albany. "A. T. Van Vranken, Albany Medical Col
lege, 1873 ; West Troy- "Felix Weidman, Albany Medical
College, 1847; Westerlo.
1875, "Harvey W. Bell, Albany Medical College, 1866;
removed to East Albany. "Mary Du Bois, Woman's Medical
College of Pennsylvania, 1871; Albany. Harris I. Fel
lows, Albany Medical College, 1874; died August 29, 1881,

aged 44. Hiram T. Herrington, Albany Medical Col
lege, 1873; removed to Rensselaer County. Henry V.
Hull, Albany Medical College, 1874; removed to Sche
nectady, 1880. "Henry E. Mereness, Albany Medical
College, 1874; Albany. John E. Metcalf, Albany Medi
cal College, 1874; removed to Ketchum's ' Corners, N. Y.
Franklin A. Munson, College Physicians and Surgeons,
1873; died December 8, 1878, aged 26. "Norman L. Snow,
College Physicians and Surgeons, 1861; Albany. *T. M.
Trego, College Physicians and Surgeons, 1874; Albany.
Thomas Wilson, Albany Medical College, 1874; removed
to Claverack, 1876. Edward Yates, Jefferson Medical
College, 1869; died 1876, aged 29.
1876, *R. D. Clark, Long Island Medical College; Al
bany. William A. Hall, Albany Medical College, 1875;
removed to Fulton, Oswego Co. "J, M. Haskell, Univer
sity of Michigan; Bath-on-the-Hudson. "P. J. Keegan,
University of New York; Albany. *T. K. Perry, Albany
Medical College, 1875; Albany. *W. L. PURPLE, Albany
Medical College, 1875; Albany. Elbert T. Rulison,
Albany Medical College, 1875; removed to Amsterdam.
"Seth G. Shanks, Albany Medical College, 1875; Albany.
A. H. V. Smyth, Albany Medical College, 1875; removed
to Minaville. "Samuel B. "Ward, Georgetown Medical
College, 1864; Albany. "Harriet A. Woodward, Syra
cuse University, 1875; Albany.
1877, "James F. Barker, Albany Medical College, 1877;
Albany. "William N. Hays, Albany Medical College,
1875; Albany.
1878, "Jesse Crounse, Albany Medical College, 1877;
Knowersville. *W. O. Stillman, Albany Medical College,
1878; Albany.
1879, *E. A. Bartlett, Albany Medical College, 1879;
Albany, *G. Upton Peltier, Bishop's College, Quebec,
1873; Cohoes. "James C. Healey, Albany Medical Col
lege, 1877; Albany. "A. W. Kilbourne, University of the
City of New York, 1874; Albany. "Lansing B. Winne,
College Physicians and Surgeons, 1878; Albany. "Frank
lin Townsend, Jr., College Physicians and Surgeons,
1876; Albany. "Otto Ritzmann, Albany Medical College,
1879; Albany. "John C. Shiland, Albany Medical College,
1878; West Troy. "UriahB. Lamoure, Albany Medical Col
lege, 1878; Albany. Wm. J. Lewis, College Physicians and
Surgeons, 1878; removed to Hartford, Conn. "Maurice J.
Lewi, Albany Medical College, 1877; Albany. Thomas B.
Van Alstyne, Albany Medical College, 1879; removed to
Richmondville, N.Y., 1880. P. B. Collier, Long Island Col
lege Hospital, 1866; Albany. "Edward E. Brown, Albany
Medical College, 1879; Albany. M. W. Brooks, Univer-
sity of Vermont, 1879; removed to New York City, 1880.
"J. E. Hall, Albany Medical College, 1877; Green Island.
S. O. Van der Poel, Jr., College Physicians and Sur
geons, 1876; removed to New York William Geoghan,
Albany Medical College, 1874 ; removed to New York.
"John D. R. McAllister, Albany Medical College, 1879;
Albany. Thomas Featherstonhaugh, Albany Medical
College, 1877; 1882, removed to New York. Sheldon
Voorhees, Albany Medical College, 1879; removed to
Auburn, 188 1.
1880, "Daniel C. Case, Albany Medical College, 1870;
Slingerlands. "Theo. P. Bailey, College Physicians and
Surgeons, 1880; Albany. A. P. Casler, Albany Medical
College, 1880. "Frank J. Merrington, Albany Medi
cal College, 1880; Albany. "Sam'l R. Morrow, College
Physicians and Surgeons, 1878; Albany. John W. Gould,
Albany Medical College, 1880; removed. John J. White,
Albany Medical College, 1879; removed to New York.
"George E. Elmendorf, Albany Medical College, 1875;
Coeymans Hollow. M. R. C. Peck, College Physicians
and Surgeons, 1876. Thomas D. Worden, Albany
Medical College, 1880 ; removed. Lehman B. Hoit,
Albany Medical College, 1880; removed. John Thomas
Keay, Albany Medical College, 1879; died January 4,
1881, aged 28. Daniel Fegan, Queen's University, Dub
lin, Ireland; removed to Ireland.
1881, "George S. Munson, Albany Medical College,
1880; Albany. John F. Lockwood, Albany Medical Col
lege, 1 881; removed to Wisconsin. S. Edward Ullman,
Albany Medical College, 1880; Albany. *T. W. Nellis,
Albany Medical College, 1881; Albany. *W. J. Nellis,
Albany Medical College, 1879; Albany. *F. L. Classen,

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

213

Albany Medical College, 1881; Albany. "Howard Mil
ler, Albany Medical College, 1881; Albany. "Howard S.
Paine, Albany Medical College, 1881; Albany. "Lauren-
tine Rouchel, Buffalo Medical College; Albany.
Thomas G. Hyland, Bellevue Medical College; removed.
Carrol H. Phillips, Albany Medical College, Watervliet;
died February 14, 1883. C. W. Green, Albany Medical
College; removed. Charles F. Huddleston, Albany
Medical College; removed.
1882, *W. B. Sabin, Albany Medical College, 1882; West
Troy. "Samuel Peters, Vermont Academy of Medicine,
1846; West Troy. Frank S. Peters, Albany Medical
College, 1874; died 1883. "Henry Hun, Harvard Medical
School, 1879; Albany. "George E. Lyon, Albany Medical
College, 1882; West Troy. *W. H. Fowler, Jefferson
Medical College, 1879; Albany. "David Fleischman, Al
bany Medical College, 1881; Albany.
1883, "William L. Schutter, Albany Medical College,
1883; Albany. "Frank H. Fisk, Albany Medical College,

1883; Albany. "Charles IC. Crawford, Albany Medical
College, 1881; Albany. "J. W. Riley, Albany Medical
College, 1882; Albany. Walter W. Schofield, Albany
Medical College. 1882: removed to Massachusetts. *C. M.
Culver, Albany Medical College, 1881; Albany. J. W.
Mann, Albany Medical College, 1882; died 1884.
1884, "J. H. Mitchell, Albany Medical College, 1882;
Cohoes. *R. J. Brown, Albany Medical College, 1S82;
Albany. *T. F. C. Van Allen, Albany Medical College,
1882; Albany. "Joseph D. Craig, Albany Medical Col
lege, 1884; Albany. "Edgar C. Hallenbeck, Bellevue
Medical College, 1881; Bethlehem. G. S. Knicker
bocker, College Physicians and Surgeons; removed.
C. C. Schuyler, Albany Medical College; Troy (non
resident). 1885. "Selwin A. Russell, Albany Medical College,
1877; Albany. "Frederick D. Morrill, Albany Medical
College, 1881; Albany. "John H. Skillicorn, Albany
Medical College, 1883; Albany.

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY FROM ITS ORGANIZATION.

Year. 18061807 1808180918101811181218131814
.1815 1816 1817 1818
1819 182018211822
1823 182418251826182718281829183018311832«8331834«83S183618371838"83918401 841
1842
184318441845 1846
18471848184918501851 1852
185318541855185618571858

President.
Hunloke Woodruff 
Wm. McClelland 
Jonathan Eights 
(Ct '.
John Stearns 
James Low 
Jonathan Eights 
C. C. Yates 
William Bay 
tttt
Joel A. Wing 
a
Piatt Williams 
(«
Charles D. Townsend.
Alden Mai'ch 
Barent P. Staats 
<«
John W. Bay 
James P. Boyd 
Jonathan Eights 
Peter Van Buren 
1 1
Thomas Hun 
<(
Mason F. Cogswell . . .
ce
James McNaughton . . .
a
James H. Armsby 
J. V. P. Quackenbush
Uriah G. Bigelow
1 1
Samuel H. Freeman. .
Sylvester D. Willard.

Vice-President.
Wm. McClelland 
((
Cf i (
Charles D. Townsend.
Isaac Hyde 
Erastus Williams 
John Stearns 
James Low 
tt
William Bay 
Jonathan Eights 
a
Peter Williams 
Charles D. Townsend
Barent P. Staats 
Guy Spalding 
B. B. Fredenburgh...
Peter B. Noxon 
Alva W. Rockwell...
L. G. Warren 
Peter McNaughton . . .
tt cc
John S. Van Alstyne .
(C tt
Henry Van O'Linda.
Mason F. Cogswell . . .
R. H. Thompson 
ct
John Swinburne 
Wm. F. Carter 
it
U. G. Bigelow 
It
Samuel H. Freeman. .
tt
Sylvester D. Willard .
S. O. Vanderpoel 

Secretary.
Charles D. Townsend
tttttt
J. L. Van Deusen 
T. Romeyn Beck 
a
Peter Wendell 
tt.1
William Humpfrey . . .
Ccttittt
Peter Van O'Linda. .
James P. Boyd 
Luke Wellington 
it
Elisha S. Burton 
tt
Herman Wendell. . . .
n
tt
Abraham Groesbeck .
(C
ct
Peter Van Buren ....
Henry Greene 
CC
Jonathan Case 
John Campbell 
tt
J. V. P. Quackenbush
Benjamin A. Sheldon.

Sylvester D. Willard . .

Treasurer.

John G. Knauff.

Peter Wendell.

Joel A. Wing.

Levi Moore.

Barent P. Staats.
Peter Van O'Linda.
John W. Hinckley.
Roger Viets.
Edward A. Leonard.
Isaac Hempstead.
Carroll Humpfrey. CC
Jarvis Barney.

John F. Townsend.
Henry Greene.
Henry Van O'Linda.

E. B. O'Callighan. Hit
C. C. Waller.
J. B. Rossman. tt (C
C. C. Waller. ti a ( t
William H. Bailey.

214

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY— Continued.

Year.

1859i860 1861
1862 18631864 1865
1866 1867 1868186918701871187218731874187518761877
1878
187918801881188218831884

President.
William F. Carter 
S. O. Vanderpoel 
ct
Howard Townsend. . . .
Peter McNaughton ....
Peter P. Staats 
Levi Moore 
James E. Pomfret 
R. H. Sabin 
James L. Babcock 
William H. Craig. . . .
William H. Bailey 
Joseph Lewi 
Albert Van Derveer ....
John Swinburne 
James S. Bailey 
Henry March 
Joseph N. Northrop . . .
Charles A. Robertson . .
Frederic C. Curtis 
John M. Bigelow 
A. Shiland 
Jacob S. Mosher 
Norman L. Snow 
Herman Bendell 
J D. Featherstonhaugh

Vice-President.
S. O. Vanderpoel 
Leonard G. Warren. . .
tc
Joseph Lewi 
Levi Moore. . .' 
Frank G. Mosher 
R. H. Sabin 
tt
James L. Babcock ....
J. W. Moore 
C. D. Mosher 
Andrew Wilson 
Amos Fowler 
A. Shiland 
H. W. Steenberg 
C. E. Witbeck 
J. D. Featherstonhaugh
William H. Murray. . .
Louis Boudrias 
A. T. Van Vranken . . .
B. U. Steenberg 
William Hailes 
John U. Haynes 
D. C. Case 
J. L. Archambeault 
T. Kirk Perry 

Secretary.
Levi Moore 
Oscar H. Young ....
CC
tc
J. R. Boulware 
CC
Martin L. Mead 
CC
George T. Stevens. .
Charles H. Porter...
CC
John M. Bigelow
Frederic C. Curtis..
tt
Joseph H. Blatner. . .
Lewis Balch 
B. U. Steenberg 
Eugene Van Slyke. .
T. Kirk Perry 
Lorenzo Hale 
CC
T. Featherstonhaugh
M. J. Lewi 
E. A. Bartlett 
Jno. Ben. Stonehouse

Treasurer.

William H. Bailey.
George H. Newcomb.
Henry March. CC
H. R. Haskins.
F. L. R. Chapin.
Thomas Beckett.
CC
Andrew Wilson.
CC
D. V. O'Leary. CC
William H. Murray.
W. H. T. Reynolds.
ti.
D. H. Cook.
A. T. Van Vranken.
H. E. Mereness. CC
G. L. Ullman. CC
M. J. Lewi.
Uriah B. La Moure.

The publications of the society have been quite
remarkable. The entire Transactions of the society
have been printed in three volumes of 400 or 500
pages. The first was prepared by Dr. S. D. Wil
lard, and extends to 1850; the second, chiefly by
Dr. J. S. Bailey, covers the next twenty years, and the
third, chiefly by Dr. F. C. Curtis, recently printed, is
filled by the ten years following, down to 1 880. These
volumes contain biographies of nearly two hundred
members, and a number of portraits of deceased
and prominent members. The society also has
maintained for five years a monthly journal, the
Albany Medical Annals. Dr. March, in 1830,
wrote "A Plea for Establishing a Medical Journal
in Albany." Our periodical, which is largely
made up of material presented at the monthly
meetings of the society, has a considerable circula
tion outside of the society's territory, and extracts
from it frequently appear in other journals. The
Editorial Committee are Drs. F. C. Curtis, A. Van
der Veer, Lorenzo Hale, J. B. Stonehouse and
Willis G. Tucker. Probably no other society in
the country has done so much in the matter of
publication. The cholera epidemic of 1832 was an important
epoch in the annals of medicine. This disease,
which in its European and American history be
longs to this century, made its first appearance on
this continent at Quebec in 1832, and a fortnight
later broke out in Albany. It justly created great
alarm. At the request of the Mayor, a meeting of the

Medical Society was called to devise means to arrest
its progress, and a staff was organized, consisting
of Drs. Eights, Wing, Greene, Boyd, Townsend,
Wendell, James, McNaughton and March. The
physicians of the city met every evening at the City
Hall, where an album was kept in which to enter the
names of the deceased. The number of reported
cases was 1,147, of which 422 were fatal. Two
years later, on a fresh outbreak, there were 1 24 cases,
with 78 deaths. No such fatal disease had pre
vailed since the small-pox epidemics of early his
tory. Conspicuous among the younger men then was
Dr. James P. Boyd. His faithful work at that
time gave him an impetus, and he secured a posi
tion which made him for very many years one of the
first physicians in the city. The brothers James
and Peter McNaughton were older by several years.
The former had been a professor in a medical
school then for twelve years, and at the time of his
death, in 1874, he was the senior teacher of medi
cine, probably, in the world. He was made at
this time President of the Board of Health, and
wrote a paper on the disease, which was in much
demand. His brother, in a less public way, was,
perhaps, even more active as a practicing physician.
Both of them, in civil as well as medical relations,
were for half a century among the first citizens of
Albany. The brothers Staats, of the same name as .
our earliest historical physician, were well known
men here for many years. The elder, Dr. Barent,
was prominent in politics, and was also a trustee of

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

215

numerous mercantile concerns. He was at this
time Health Officer of the port. Dr. Alden March
was a'well-established physician, having come here
from New England in 1820. In the fifty years that
he practiced he made a world-wide reputation as a
surgeon and teacher. The Doctors Beck were, in
some respects, the most remarkable men in our
history. One of them was sent at this time by the
Governor to visit the northern frontier for the pur
pose of procuring information and organizing
boards of health. Dr. T. Romeyn Beck is known
over the civilized world as the author of " Medical
Jurisprudence." Both of the brothers devoted most
of their lives to teaching and scientific literature.
Younger than any of them was Dr. Thomas Hun,
just entering practice then, and the only one of that
time now living, having, however, well earned retire
ment from active work by over fifty years of service,
which brought him a reputation second to none in
the country. This strong body of men, most of
them of thorough literary and medical education,
formed the body of the profession through the two
middle quarters of this century, and all of them
lived so nearly up to the present time that there are
few Albanians to whom they are not perfectly
familiar. They had a hand in every important
event, professional or civic, that transpired through
the long period that they worked together, during
which the city doubled its population two or three
times. As in the last century the wars were iniportant
periods in our medical history, so in this. In the
war of 1 81 2, which was partly at our door, a few
of the local physicians were engaged. Most prom
inently was Dr. Piatt Williams, a graduate of Wil
liams College, and prepared by a long course of
professional study. The war broke out soon after
he began to practice, and he immediately received
from Gov.' Tompkins the appointment of surgeon
to the Second Regiment of Riflemen. He served
through the war on the Niagara frontiers. Two
years later, having returned to Albany, he was ap
pointed post surgeon of the cantonment at Green
bush, and retained the position till its abandon
ment in 1822.
Dr. Henry Greene, a native of Rhode Island, im
mediately after his graduation in 1814, was made
assistant surgeon of the Twenty-fifth Regulars, and
saw hard service in Canada, remaining in the army
till peace was declared. He came to Albany in
1828, was prominent herein the cholera epidemic,
and was one of the first faculty of the Medical Col
lege.

Dr. Joel A. Wing was for thirty-eight years a
physician of Albany. Almost as soon as he gradu
ated he was, without his knowledge, appointed
surgeon in the army, which he did not accept, so
that his connection with the war was but nominal.
He, however, was made post surgeon of the Green
bush barracks in 1844. On his first visit to the
barracks, being young, undersized and unimpres
sive, he was treated with some insolence by the
orderly, or nurse. He knocked the man down,
and it took all the money he had to pay the fine
imposed by the justice ; but he secured wholesome
respect afterward. Dr. Wing worked very hard in
the cholera epidemic and was himself taken with
the disease, his recovery speaking well for his asso
ciates. In the course of his life he held various
important civil positions.
The Mexican war was enacted at a remote point,
and none of the profession of this county appears
to have served in it.
The late Civil war furnishes a point around
which to group a very considerable number of the
men and events of our peaceful profession. The
men who participated in it were for the most part
those of to-day. Its outbreak found Dr. S. O.
Vanderpoel, then one of the most active physicians
in the city, in the office of Surgeon-General of the
State, which place he filled from 1859 to 1863,
under Gov. Morgan. It gave him the medical
direction in the formation of all regiments sent
from this State, the examination of all applicants
for and filling of all vacancies in the medical staff
of each regiment. He had at the end of his term
of service over 600 surgeons in the field. He
established promotion by grade in medical corps
instead of regimental. During a portion of Mc-
Clellan's advance in the Peninsula, and in the first
battle of the Wilderness, he went as volunteer sur
geon. Subsequently he was inspector of hospitals
for the Sanitary Commission. After the war Dr.
Vanderpoel was for eight years Health Officer of
the Port of New York. He was also for many
years on the Medical College faculty and physician
to the hospitals. In 1881 he removed to New
York City.
Dr. J. V. P. Quackenbush was Surgeon-General
from '63 to '65, under Gov. Seymour, and carried
out its arduous duties almost to the end of the war
He spent his entire professional life in Albany, one
of its prominent physicians, a leading citizen and a
most popular lecturer at the Medical College and
hospitals. Dr. S. D. Willard succeeded him in official posi
tion, but died during the same year. He had pre-

216

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

viously seen considerable service at the front as
volunteer surgeon, especially in 1862, after the
battles of the Peninsula, to look after New York
soldiers. The profession, of Albany especially, is
indebted to him for much laborious work on medi
cal and historical literature, and Willard Asylum
was justly named after him for his efforts toward its
establishment. Dr. James D. Pomfret was Surgeon-General from
'65 to '69, under Gov. Fenton. In '62 he was ap
pointed surgeon of the 113th Regiment, which was
raised entirely in this county ; it was changed to
the 7th Heavy Artillery, and till May, '64, was
placed in the defenses of Washington, during
which time he acted as Brigade Surgeon. It then
being sent to the front, he was made Division Sur
geon, and later Surgeon-in-Chief of the 2d Army
Corps. After his return home he had charge of the
Soldiers' Home here and was connected with the
college and hospitals.
Dr. Jacob S. Mosher was the last of the Albany
physicians to hold the office of Surgeon-General,
from '69 to '73, under Gov. Hoffman. He served
as volunteer surgeon from his graduation in '63 to
the close of the war in the hospitals of the Army of
the Potomac and at Washington. While there he
was appointed Asst. State Medical Director at
Washington, holding the position till '67. From
'70 till '76 he was Deputy Health Officer of the
Port of New York, was on the Yellow Fever Com
mission appointed by Congress, and till his death,
in 1883, was prominent in various departments of
medicine and in civil life, being one of the most
variously gifted men Albany has ever had.
Dr. J. W. Moore entered the navy in '6 1 as Asst.
Surgeon, and served in the Chesapeake Bay and
Potomac River for fourteen months as Surgeon of
the Flotilla, participating in many battles, begin
ning with that of Sewall's Point, the first naval
battle of the war. He was in the same fleet with
the Monitor during its fight with the Merrimac.
He also, served in the North Atlantic Squadron and
was Fleet Surgeon of the St. John's River Flotilla.
For six months he was with the frigate Florida,
which was fitted out to cruise for the Alabama.
After serving for a year in the U. S. A. General
Hospital he returned home to Cohoes, where he has
since been actively engaged in private practice.
Dr. J. Savage Delavan was appointed Asst. Sur
geon, 1 69th Infantry, in'63, but notbeingmustered,
owing to lack of numbers in the regiment, entered
hospital service at Washington. After a time he
was commissioned by Gov. Buckingham ist. Asst.
Surgeon, ist Connecticut Artillery, and remained

with that regiment through the war, declining the
surgeoncy of ist N. Y. Cavalry, offered him by
Gov. Seymour. He was in all the artillery battles
before Petersburg down to the repulse of the Con
federates at Fort Steadman, and was at the "mine"
and the taking of Fort Fisher. Before the war he
was for some time Pension Examining Surgeon, and
was again appointed after the war. He was Vice-
Consul at Geneva, Switzerland, for two years.
Having resumed practice in Albany, he is one of
the physicians to the Homoeopathic Hospital, and
has been one of the three State Commissioners of
Health of the State Board of Health since it was
first organized.
Dr. Herman Bendell served in the Army of the
Potomac and of the Shenandoah from '62 to the
close of the war. He was first appointed Asst.
Surgeon, 6th N. Y. Artillery; in December, '64, he
became surgeon of the 86th N. Y. Vet. Vols. During
the final campaign to Richmond he was surgeon
in charge of the Depot Field Hospital. He was
discharged as Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, N. Y. V.
After the war he was Superintendent of Indian
Affairs in Arizona Territory, and has now for sev
eral years been engaged in private practice here.
He now holds the office of Pension Examining
Surgeon. Dr. Samuel B. Ward during a part of 1862 was
in the service of the Sanitary Commission on trans
ports of sick to northern ports. In September of
that year he became, by contract with the Medical
Director of the Department of Washington, acting
Medical Cadet, and afterward acting Assistant Sur
geon. Having obtained his degree in medicine, he
was appointed, after examination, Assistant Surgeon,
New York Volunteers, by President Lincoln, and
served till the close of the war. He has been con
nected with the National Guard since 1872, being
now surgeon of the Ninth Brigade. He came to Al
bany in 1876, and has since been one of the faculty
of the Medical College and connected with the hos
pitals. Dr. Charles A. Robertson was commissioned Sur
geon of the 159th New York Volunteers in 1862.
He was at Irish Bend, the siege of Port Hudson,
Donaldsonville and Vermillion Bayou. Before
Port Hudson, he was acting Division Surgeon of
Field Hospitals. He was on special service through
the Teche country. Prior to the war he had prac
ticed ophthalmology in Boston, and after his ser
vice he came to Albany and was the first specialist
in this branch of practice, in which he was remark
ably skillful. He was attached to several hospitals
and had a large practice till his death in 1880.

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

217

Dr. Thomas Helme, of McKownsville, was com
missioned Assistant Surgeon, 148th New York Vol
unteers, in November, 1863. His grandfather was a
revolutionary soldier and a prominent man in Rhode
Island; his father was in the war of 18 12 in some
military capacity. In 1865 Dr. Helme was pro
moted to Surgeon of the 85th Regiment. He saw
service in the Carolinas and Virginia, was in all the
battles before Petersburg, and at the taking of Fort
Harrison was wounded while on a charge, so that
he was laid up for several weeks. Otherwise he
was on active service to the close of the war, when
he returned to this county, where he is still in active
practice. Dr. Charles H. Porter was made Assistant Sur
geon, 40th New York Volunteers, in November,
1862, but was not mustered. In January, 1863, he
was commissioned Surgeon of the Sixth Artillery, to
which regiment Dr. Bendell was attached, serving
with it to the close of the war, being mustered out
with the rank of Brevet Colonel, New York Volun
teers. He has since practiced in Albany and for
several years has been one of the pension examin
ing surgeons.
Dr. Alexander H. Hoff came to Albany in 1853,'
and was Surgeon-General from 1854 to 1856. For
several years he was examining surgeon at the
United States rendezvous here. He entered the
army as Surgeon of the Third New York Volunteers,
becoming the same year Medical Director under
Gen. Fremont, and Chief of Hospital Supplies. In
1 864 and till the close of the war he was Medical
Director of Transportation. In 1867 he entered
the regular army as Surgeon and Brevet Colonel,
United States Volunteers, and remained in the
service till his death in 1876. His son is now
Assistant Surgeon, United States Army.
Dr. N. L. Snow entered the service as Assistant
Surgeon, 153d New York Volunteers, in August,
1862, was promoted Surgeon, February, 1864, and
was discharged October, 1865. He was in the
defense of Washington, was with Sheridan in the
Shenandoah, and with Banks on his Red River
campaign. During the summer of 1865 he was
Health Officer of the District of Savannah. He
practiced a number of years at Canajoharie, and
about 1875 came to Albany. He has hospital and
college connection, and is now President of the
Board of Aldermen.
Dr. Albert Van Der Veer was appointed Medical
Cadet at the Ira Harris Hospital in June, 1861.
The following year he was made Medical Cadet in
the army, being one of the original one hundred.
He served in this capacity at Columbia College
28

Hospital, Washington, until December, 1862, when
he was appointed Assistant Surgeon, 66th New
York Volunteers, joining his regiment at Fal
mouth, Va. In August, 1864, he was promoted
surgeon of the same regiment. For over two
years he was surgeon in charge of one of the oper
ating tables of the First Division Hospital, Second
Army Corps, during the time also having charge
of locating the hospital supplies, building winter
quarters, etc. He was mustered out with his regi
ment, which had participated in many of the bat
tles of the Army of the Potomac, August, 1865,
and returned to Albany, where he has since been
engaged in active practice. Since 1876 he has
been a member of the Medical College Faculty as
Professor of Surgery, in which department he is
pre-eminent in the annals of Albany, besides hav
ing a very extensive general and consulting practice
in a large region about this city. He is a frequent
contributor to medical literature, and is a member
of many home and foreign societies, being at this
time President of the State Medical Society.
Dr. A. B. Huested served as Hospital Steward
of the 1 13th New York Volunteers (Seventh Heavy
Artillery) from 1862 to 1864, the regiment being
on garrison duty near Washington. March, 1864, he
became Assistant Surgeon, 21st New York Cavalry,
and served as such till July, 1866, seeing very active
service in the Shenandoah and on the overland
stage route north of Denver, along which the
regiment was distributed after the war. He has
since resided in Albany, and is now one of the
faculty of the College of Pharmacy.
Dr. George H. Newcomb was commissioned,
August 1862, Assistant Surgeon, 113th New York
Volunteers (Seventh Heavy Artillery) and served
with it till May, 1865, being promoted Surgeon,
February, 1865. This regiment, which was raised
in this county, was on garrison duty at Washington,
and saw service, in all of which he participated,
from Spottsylvania to Petersburg.
Dr. George T. Stevens was Surgeon 77th New
York Volunteers from October, 1861, to December,
1865, and was present at nearly all the battles of
the Army of the Potomac after the first Bull Run,
and of the Shenandoah under Sheridan. In 1862
he was appointed Operating Surgeon of the Third
Brigade, and during periods was in charge of the
division hospital. After the battles of the Wilder
ness, he had charge of wounded officers of the
Sixth Corps, who were taken to Fredericksburg.
He has contributed largely to the surgical history
of the war and is author of "Three Years with
the Sixth Corps." He practiced in Albany for

218

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

several years after the war, and for a time was con
nected with the Medical College; he now resides
in New York.
Dr. P. M. Murphy entered the service as Assist
ant Surgeon, 134th N. Y. V., March, '64, and was
mustered out with his regiment, June, '65. He
was in the Army of the Cumberland, in the South
east, with Sherman, and in the March to the Sea;
he participated in all the engagements of the
20th Corps — about twenty-seven in all. He was
commissioned Surgeon of the 89th Regiment, but
not mustered. Since the war he has resided in
this city.
Dr. A. A. Edmeston entered service as Assist
ant Surgeon, 18th N. Y. V., in '61, and was soon
after promoted surgeon of the 92d Regiment, and
served through the war. He participated in many
of the battles, whose names are familiar, in Vir
ginia and North Carolina. Once he voluntarily
accompanied a body of sick and wounded men to
Libby Prison and remained there several weeks.
While in the army he contracted chronic diarrhoea,
from which he never recovered; he died in 1871.
Dr. Frank J. Mattimore was appointed Assistant
Surgeon, i8thN. Y. V., in 1862. He saw arduous
service at Antietam and the disaster of Fredericks
burg. He was mustered out with his regiment in
1863 and returned home, where he died a few
months later from the effects of swamp fever which
he had contracted in the service.
Dr. Wesley Blaisdell was also a martyr to the
war. He was a practitioner of Coeymans, and in
August, '62, enlisted as Assistant Surgeon, 113th
N. Y. V., being transferred a few months later to
the 75th Regiment. In July following, having
served at the siege of Port Hudson, he resigned.
After a short time he went back to the army and
was sent to Newburn, where he contracted yellow
fever, which terminated fatally.
Dr. C. B. O'Leary was professionally connected
with the army almost throughout the war, with in
tervals, and with various regiments. He was
Assistant Surgeon of the 25th and 145th Regi
ments, and Surgeon of the 175th, serving with the
Army of the Potomac and at Port Hudson. He
returned to Albany, and died here in 1877. His
brother, Dr. D. V. O'Leary, was recently health
officer and is now postmaster of the city, being
also on the medical staff of St. Peter's Hospital.
Dr. Warner Van Steenberg entered the army in
'61, as Assistant Surgeon, ist N. Y. Inf ; a year
after was promoted Surgeon of the 55th, and after
ward was transferred to the 1 20th. He was mus
tered out with his regiment, with the rank of Brevet

Lieutenant-Colonel. He settled to practice in
Cohoes, where he remained until his death in 1880.
Dr. P. L. F. Reynolds was commissioned As
sistant Surgeon, 169th N. Y. V., September, '62;
he resigned December, '63. The regiment saw
service in Virginia and the Carolinas. In March,
'65, he received a commission as Assistant Surgeon,
94th N. Y. V., but was not mustered. He is now
practicing in Albany.
Dr. William H. Craig, then a practitioner for
eight years in this city, was commissioned, October,
'62, Surgeon 177th N. Y. V., a regiment which
was raised in Albany, to serve nine months, and
seeing service at Ponchatoula, Scivique's Ferry and
Port Hudson. He remained with his regiment
until the expiration of its service. Since the war
he has resided in Albany, and has for several
years held the office of postmaster.
Dr. Jephtha R. Boulware served as Assistant
Surgeon of the same regiment with which Dr. Craig
was connected, the 177th, as did also Dr. Oscar
Young, who resided here for several years. Dr.
Boulware has been a prominent practitioner in
Albany since his war service, and for a time was
Surgeon of St. Peter's Hospital.
Dr. Henry R. Haskins was commissioned Sur
geon of the 1 9 2d N. Y. V., which was partly raised
in this county, in February, '65, and was mustered
out in the August following. He practiced in
Albany till his death in 1884; was for several years
Professor of Anatomy at the Medical College, and
was prominent especially as a surgeon.
Dr. Thomas Beckett was made Assistant Surgeon,
25th N. Y. Nat. Guard, April, '61, and served
with it for five months in Virginia. October, '62,
was again mustered as First Assistant Surgeon 4th
Regiment (Corcoran's Brigade), consolidated with
the 175th N. Y. V., and sent to Louisiana. For
a time he was detached and placed in charge of the
sick of General Emory's Division. He accompa
nied his regiment on the expedition to Plaquemine
and the T&che raid, and at the battle ofBrisland
was three days and nights on the field; at Port
Hudson he had become so reduced in health that
he was discharged, June, '63, with the rank of
Brevet Major, N. Y. V. In '65 he was placed
on duty as Acting Assistant Surgeon at the Ira
Harris Hospital here, and served to the end of the
war. Dr. Charles P. Staats was made Assistant Surgeon,
67th New York Infantry, in 1863, seeing service for
a year and a half with the Army of the Potomac.
After being mustered out with his regiment he
returned to Albany, where he died in 1 884.

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

219

Dr. John H. Wilbur, now a practitioner of
Cohoes, enlisted in the 44th New York Volunteers
in 1861, and after two years' service was discharged
on account of physical disabilities. In September,
1 866, he was commissioned by Gov. Fenton Surgeon
of the 108th Infantry, and served till the regiment
disbanded. Dr. R. H. Sabin, of West Troy, received a com
mission as Assistant Surgeon, Seventh New York
Artillery, but was prevented by domestic affairs
from serving.
Besides these there were a number of Albany phy
sicians who, while having no regular regimental
attachment, saw considerable service in army hos
pitals and at the front after severe battles. Dr.
Mason F. Coggswell, a practitioner here since 1833,
and having held various offices of responsibility, was
at the outbreak of the war appointed Examining Sur
geon. He was surgeon of a post hospital in 1862,
and served as volunteer surgeon after the battles of
the Wilderness. In 1863 he visited hospitals in the
West with Dr. Thomas Hun, for the Christian Com
mission. His death in 1865 was attributed partly to
his hard work in Virginia. Dr. J. V. Lansing was
examiner of recruits here, where a large number of
regiments were organized. He also served as con
tract surgeon, or acting assistant. For many years
he was connected with the college and hospital
here; he died in 1880, while surgeon to Danne-
mora prison. Dr. Henry March was assistant volun
teer surgeon, sent by the State in 1 86 1-2 ; he was on
hospital service at Fortress Monroe and at Fred
ericksburg. Dr. Wm. H. Bailey, for many years
a leading physician of Albany, was sent to Wash
ington and the army to look after the welfare of New
York troops, several times by the Governor and the
Christian Commission. He is now connected with
the Albany Hospital ; is one of the pension exam
ining surgeons, and a late president of the State Medi
cal Society. Similar special service was rendered
by Dr. John Swinburne, a sketch of whose life may
be found on another -page, Dr. Levi Moore, Dr. J.
L. Babcock, and probably others. Dr. Alden
March gave his valuable services to the inmates of
the Soldiers' Home located here. Dr. James.
H. Armsby rendered the same patriotic service.
Dr. Ira M. Delamater, Dr. S. H. Freeman
and Dr. A. P. Ten Eyck were likewise con
nected with the work in this home for disabled
soldiers. Besides those who have served in a professional
capacity, there are a few among the physicians here
who may be mentioned for other service during the
war.

Dr. O. D. Ball enlisted, November, 1861, in the
Third New York Light Artillery as Quartermaster-
Sergeant; in 1864 he was commissioned Second
Lieutenant, and a few months later was promoted
to First Lieutenant and assigned to duty as regi
mental quartermaster, and for a time was acting
Assistant Adjutant-General. He went up the
James River with the army under General Butler
as ordnance officer, and was engaged in the pre
liminary battles and siege of Petersburg, the
battles of James River and Wilson's Landing. He
served through the war and came to Albany in
1874, after several years' practice in Otsego County.
Dr. Edward E. Brown entered the service in
September, 1862, as First Lieutenant Fifth New
York Heavy Artillery, and was promoted Captain,
serving through the war. He saw service principally
in the defenses of Washington ; was engaged in the
taking of Harper's Ferry. Since graduating at the
Albany Medical College he has practiced in Bethle
hem, and now is settled in Albany.
Dr. E. A. Bartlett, a descendant of the Dr.
Josiah Bartlett, signer of the Declaration of In
dependence, enlisted as private in the Fourth
United States Artillery in 1863, for five years,
and participated in twelve engagements of the
Department of the Cumberland and Tennessee.
He was wounded at Pulaski in January, 1865.
In 1866, the war having ended, he was, through
Senator Harris, discharged, in order to complete his
collegiate education. His professional life he has
spent in Albany. He is a contributor to literature,
general and medical, his latest work being a popu
lar brochure on cholera.
Dr. F. C. Curtis enlisted in the spring of 1864,
with a large part of his college class, as private in
the 40th Wisconsin hundred days' regiment, and
saw service during the summer chiefly in the de
fenses of Memphis.
Dr. Lewis Balch, although not in the army dur
ing the war, may be mentioned as a prominent
medical officer of the National Guard, in which he
is a senior surgeon, 10th battalion, with rank of
major. He is connected with the college and the
hospitals here, and is now health officer of the
city. As completely as possible the military history of
medical men in this county has been presented in
recognition of the important relation that exists be
tween war and the science of medicine.
During this century the city and county have
maintained the early repute for healthfulness, the
cholera epidemics already referred to being the most
notable inroad upon it. The topographyj soil and

220

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

drainage are favorable to salubrity. The city espe
cially is admirably situated, with its succession of
slopes and valleys draining rapidly into the all-ab
sorbing river, and it needs but a decent attention to
artificial aids for removing waste and moisture, with
an abundance of pure water, to keep it the healthiest
city in the world.
The various medical institutions which have
been brought into existence during the century are
important features of our medical history. The
Albany Medical College was organized in 1838,
and is one of the oldest schools of medicine in this
country. ..As early as 182 1 Dr. Alden March be
gan to give a course of instruction in anatomy by
lectures and dissections, and continued it until the
organization of the College ; for ten years of the
time also holding the chair of anatomy and physi
ology in the Vermont Academy of Medicine. He
began in 1830 to agitate the propriety of establish
ing a college and hospital here. Soon after this
Dr. James H. Armsby became associated with Dr.
March in his private school, at the same time also
lecturing at the Vermont institution. He delivered
several courses of public lectures on anatomy, and
did much thereby to awaken the interest of promi
nent citizens in the subject. This resulted in a
meeting of citizens in 1838, at which the prelimi
nary steps were taken toward its organization,
some of the best men in the city co-operating for
the purpose. Funds were subscribed, a faculty
and board of trustees selected, and the Lancaster
school building leased, rent free, of the Common
Council. The first course of lectures began in
January, f839, to a class of fifty-seven students,
and an extensive museum, chiefly contributed by
Drs. March and Armsby, was displayed to the
public. This museum has received further contri
butions from Drs. March, Armsby, McNaughton,
Van Der Veer and others, until now it is one of the
largest in the country, and. is still, on stated days,
open to the public. During the first few years Dr.
Armsby and Mr. Amos Dean, who was professor
of medical jurisprudence, delivered public lectures
in the evening, which added much to the interest
in the institution. In 1841 the Legislature made
an appropriation of $15,000 to it, and subsequently
$6,000, and the citizens of Albany contributed
$10,000 for its establishment. The first class that
graduated numbered thirteen. Since then the col
lege has contributed 2,000 men to the medical
force of the country, all over which they are scat
tered, and many of them the leading men of their
localities. The college has had on its board of

trustees the first citizens of Albany, and the leading
physicians have been on its faculty or board of
curators. Within a few years the demand for
higher education has been met by the requirement
of a preliminary examination of all applicants for
admission, by the establishment of a three years'
graded course of study, and by monthly written
examinations. But very few medical schools in
this country are thus exacting ; this one, conse
quently, stands high. The final examination by
the faculty is a written one, and after it the gradu
ate has still to pass another by the board of
curators. The course is not only scientific but
practical, by the exhibition of cases, operations
and laboratory work, and a number of prizes
stimulate the students to their best efforts.
The following is a historical list of the college
faculty from its beginning until now, in the
order of their appointment : Drs. Ebenezer
Emmons, James H. Armsby, David M. Reese,
Alden March, Henry Greene, David M. McLach-
lan, Amos Dean, Esq. ; Drs. Thomas Hun,
Gunning S. Bedford, James McNaughton, Lewis
C. Beck, T. Romeyn Beck, Howard Townsend,
Ezra S. Carr, J. V. P. Quackenbush, Charles H.
Porter, G. F. Barker, Jacob S. Mosher, S. O.
Vanderpoel, James E. Pomfret, John V. Lansing,
PL R. Haskins, Albert Van Der Veer, E. R. Peas-
lee, Meredyth Clymer, W. P. Seymour, George T.
Stevens, John M. Bigelow, Maurice Perkins, Ira
Harris, Esq., LL.D.; Drs. Willis G. Tucker,
William Hailes, H. E. Webster, M. A., Drs. John
Swinburne, Lewis Balch, Samuel B. Ward, John
P. Gray, Edward R. Hun, James P. Boyd, Jr., C.
S. Merrill, S. O. Vanderpoel, Jr. , Franklin Town-
send, Jr., Frederic C. Curtis and Henry Hun.
Of these a few had but a short connection
with the institution, and a few were non-residents
of this city.
On the present faculty are : Dr. Thomas Hun,
LL.D., Dean, and Dr. S. O. Vanderpoel, LL.D,
both Emeritus Professors; Dr. Albert Van Der Veer,
Surgery ; Dr. Maurice Perkins, Chemistry ; Dr.
John M. Bigelow, Materia Medica; Dr. Lewis Balch,
Anatomy; Dr. Samuel B. Ward, Practice of Medi
cine ; Dr. John P. Gray, Psychological Medicine ;
Dr. James P. Boyd, Obstetrics and Gynecology;
Dr. Willis G. Tucker, Chemistry ; Dr. William
Hailes, Histology ; Dr. C. S. Merrill, Diseases of
the Eye and Ear; Dr. Franklin Townsend, Physi
ology ; Dr. Frederic C. Curtis, Diseases of ihe
Skin, and Dr. Henry Hun, Nervous Diseases.
Dr. Henry March is Curator of the Museum, Dr.
E. Van Slyke, Demonstrator of Anatomy; and Dr.

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

221

S. R. Morrow, Lecturer on Surgery. Dr. A. L.
Carroll, Secretary of the State Board of Health,
has also delivered a course of lectures on Hygiene.
Most of the faculty are connected with one or more
of the hospitals of the city. In years past summer
courses of lectures have been given, at which many
of the physicians of the city have assisted the regu
lar faculty. These are now suspended, and the
regular course of six months lasts from early in
September till March. The Curators of the Col
lege are : Drs. Samuel H. Freeman, William H.
Craig and Norman L. Snow, of Albany, Dr. James
D. Featherstonhaugh, of Cohoes, and Dr. Barent
A. Mynderse, of Schenectady.
The college owns a valuable library, particularly
rich in rare old works, much of which was selected
by Dr. T. Romeyn Beck. It has laboratories that
are extensive and complete, having been recently
rebuilt. Alumni Hall, a wing of the college, is a
gathering place for all medical organizations, its
walls being covered with portraits of members of
the County Medical Society. There is a large
Alumni Association, holding annual meetings on
commencement days, through whose members the
college gets much of its patronage.
The Albany College of Pharmacy is another
medical institution that deserves mention. Like
the Medical College, it is a department of Union
University by the Board of Governors of which it
was created in 1881. Its course extends over two
years, lectures being given in the evening. It is
required of the students to spend four years with a
reputable pharmacist. The faculty consists of Dr.
Willis G. Tucker, Dr. A. B. Huested and Mr. G.
Michaelis. The late Dr. Mosher was connected
with it up to the time of his death.
Albany is fortunate in the possession of sev
eral hospitals, a fact which speaks well for its
benevolent spirit. Reference has already been
made to the military hospitals. The Albany Hospi
tal was founded in 1849. For the first few years it
occupied buildings on the corner of Madison
avenue and Dove street. In 1854 the present fine
building on Eagle street near the Medical College
was secured for it, having been used as a county
jail till then, and remodeled at a cost of over
twenty thousand dollars. This was largely due to
the unremitting efforts of Dr. James H. Armsby,
to whom more than any other citizen Albany is in
debted for its educational and benevolent institu
tions. He gave his professional services to the
hospital during his life, and raised over one hun
dred thousand dollars for it by personal applica

tion. In 1872 a large addition was built, and with
numerous and costly improvements since it has
been made one of the most perfect hospitals pos
sible, with accommodation for about 150 patients.
It has as an especial feature a large number of
private rooms, respectively fitted up by and named
after the various Protestant churches in the city,
and no hospital in the country is so homelike to
those so unfortunate as to need its care. Patients
taking private rooms may be attended there by
their own physicians. It is under the care of a
board of fifteen governors, who are elected annually
by the members of the corporation, a gift of fifty
dollars entitling the donor to a vote for life.. It is
supported by private contributions, by the income
of an endowment fund and from the rent of private
rooms, and by the payment from the city and county
towns for the care of the sick. The present staff of
the hospital consists of Dr. Thomas Hun, consult
ing physician ; Drs. Samuel H. Freeman, Joseph
Lewi, John M. Bigelow and Samuel B. Ward, at
tending physicians ; Drs. Albert Van Der Veer,
William Hailes and Normon L. Snow, attending
surgeons ; Drs. Cyrus S. Merrill and Herman Ben-
dell, eye and ear surgeons; Dr. William H. Bailey,
obstretrician ; Dr. James P. Boyd, gynecologist,
and Dr. Frederic C. Curtis, diseases of the skin.
The hospital has a dispensary for the care of out
patients, to whom advice and medicines are fur
nished gratuitously. It is open daily. Several
thousands are thus treated yearly.
St. Peter's Hospital was opened in 1869, in the
building on the corner of Broadway and North Ferry
street, which was for many years occupied by
Stephen Van Rensselaer, son of the late Patroon
This building has been much enlarged by more re
cent additions. It is in charge of the Sisters of
Mercy, with the co-operation of an advisory board
of forty gentlemen. Being near the railroads, it re
ceives a great many cases of accident. It has also
a dispensary for out patients to which many, not
only from the city but from neighboring counties,
come for treatment, not less than twenty-five thou
sand persons having been treated gratuitously there
since it was opened. The staff of physicians con
sists of Dr. Thomas Hun, Samuel B. Ward and
Daniel V. O'Leary, consulting physicians ; Drs.
A. Van Der Veer and Lewis Balch, consulting sur
geons ; Drs. Henry Hun, Selwyn A. Russell and
T. Kirk Perry, attending physicians ; Drs. S. R.
Morrow, P. J. Keegan and William Hailes, at
tending surgeons ; Dr. J. M. Bigelow, laryngo
scopy and throat diseases ; Drs. C. S. Merrill,
G. A. Munson and T. F. C. Van Allen, ophthalmic

222

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

and aural surgeons ; Drs. James P. Boyd and
Franklin Townsend, obstetric surgeons; and Dr.
F. C. Curtis, physician for diseases of the skin.
The Child's Hospital, one of the most effective
institutions in the city, was organized in 1875. It
is under the charge of the Sisters of the Order of
the Holy Child Jesus. A board of lady managers
has the care of its financial management. The
total number of beds is 75, three of which are en
dowed. It is mainly supported by voluntary con
tributions. On its medical staff are Drs. Thomas
Hun and John Swinburne, consulting, and Dr.
Lewis Balch, Henry Hun and T. M. Trego, at
tending physicians, Dr. C. S. Merrill having
charge of diseases of the eye and ear, and Dr. J. W.
Cox of the homoeopathic ward.
The Albany City Homoeopathic Hospital was
chartered in 1872, and in 1875 was consolidated
with the dispensary, which was incorporated in
1868. It is under the charge of a board of
managers, and its staff includes most of the
homoeopathic physicians of the city. The institu
tion furnishes accommodation for 30 patients, a
large part of whom are charity cases, although it
has several private rooms for paying patients. Its
support comes from voluntary contributions and a
yearly appropriation from the city. The part that
homoeopathic physicians have had in our medical
history will form a separate chapter.
The Alms House Hospital and Insane Asylum
has capacity for the sick poor and insane of the
county. It is situated at the outskirts of the city,
on the grounds and under the management of the
Alms House officials, Dr. R. H. Starkweather
having its professional charge as city physician.
The work of the hospitals is very well supple
mented by the Open Door Mission and the Hospi
tal for Incurables, the youngest of the benevolent
institutions. Their purpose is to care for the
indigent sick and crippled who, being incurable,
cannot be provided for by the hospitals. Besides
these there are a considerable number of asylums
and homes in the city which need and receive medi
cal care.
During the century Albany has grown nearly
twenty times in population, Cohoes has become a
considerable city, and West Troy a large village of
thirteen thousand inhabitants. Instead of a dozen
physicians, mostly dwelling near the site of Old
Fort Orange, there are now not less than one hun
dred and seventy-five throughout the county.
There is hardly a specialty in medicine which is
not ably and abundantly represented here. These,
with the hospitals, the medical school, the medical

journal, the exceptionally central and accessible
location of the city, and a body of general practi
tioners of as high character and capability as any
in the country, have made Albany the metropolis
and center for an extensive territory. No locality is
more free from empyrics than is this city and
county of Albany; there is none in which the
esprit du corps of the profession is better, and none
in whose history and development more able and
forceful medical men have borne an active part.
It is an honor to be the chronicler of so good
representatives of a profession which is one of the
most useful in the elements of human weal and
advancement. Lack of space has prevented the
mention of many who should be spoken of and of
the high offices that have been held ; but enough
has been detailed to show the very considerable
part the profession has taken in bringing this old
place to its good position in history. However
rapidly Albany may grow in the future, its past and
present gives evidence that the medical profession
will keep pace with it in strength, energy and
capacity.
HISTORY OF THE INTRODUCTION AND
PROGRESS OF HOMCEOPATHY
IN ALBANY COUNTY.

BY H. M. PAINE, M. D., OF ALBANY, N. Y.

This historical sketch embraces :
I. History prior to the organization of the County
Homoeopathic Medical Society.
II. History subsequent to the organization of
the Albany County Homoeopathic Medical Society.
III. Abstracts of the Proceedings of the Society,
showing titles of papers and contributions to med
ical science; also the position of the society regard
ing the polemics of homoeopathy.
IV. History of the Albany City Homoeopathic
Hospital and Dispensary.
1. — history prior to the organization of the
albany county homoeopathic medical soci
ETY.
The homoeopathic system of medical practice
was first introduced into the City of Albany by Dr.
Augustus P. Biegler, in the autumn of 1837.
At that early period only a few persons had
heard of the new system, and a still smaller num
ber of its adherents were willing to trust it in
severe forms of disease. There were a few, how-

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

223

ever, who were thorough converts to the new
method. Their confidence in the efficacy of ho
moeopathic treatment was such that they adhered
to it alone, even in the most rapid and dangerous
diseases. Among this class of firm believers in the new
system, the name of Rev. Dr. Myers, pastor of the
First Lutheran Church, deserves special mention.
The reverend doctor, at that early day, had pro
cured from Leipsig a number of homoeopathic rem
edies and a small book, printed in the German
language, giving directions for the proper adminis
tration of the medicines.
By these firm believers in homoeopathy Dr.
Biegler was cordially welcomed and zealously
supported, and the system he represented, by turn
earnestly advocated and fearlessly defended.
Dr. Biegler was born in Prussia; he resided, at
the time of graduation from the University of
Berlin, at St. Wendel; his diploma is dated March
29, 1832, and bears the signature, among others,
of Christian G. Hufeland. He received letters of
recommendation from Dr. Hufeland and others to
professors in another German university, in which
also he pursued medical studies subsequent to his
graduation at Berlin.
He began the practice of homoeopathy at Albany
in November, 1837. In the next year (1838) he
passed the requisite examination, and was ad
mitted to membership" in the Medical Society of
the City and County of New York.
Dr. Biegler remained in Albany until the spring
of 1 840, when he removed to Schenectady, and in
the autumn of that year became a permanent resi
dent of Rochester, Monroe County, N. Y.
During this journey westward, which occupied
several months, Dr. Biegler delivered lectures on
homoeopathy in the principal cities along the
route. These lectures awakened great interest in
the new system, and resulted in the addition of
many converts to the homoeopathic method of med
ical treatment.
Late in the autumn of 1840 Dr. Biegler left
Rochester for the purpose of visiting Hahnemann,
at Paris. He remained at that city about one
year. As a testimonial of esteem, Hahnemann
presented him with a beautiful carnelian stone
ring, on which a profile of the head of Hahnemann
was engraved; also a lock of his own hair, with a
note from Madame Hahnemann.
After his return to this country Dr. Biegler re
sumed practice at Rochester, where he remained
until his death, which occurred in 1849, at the age
of 59 years. Dr. Biegler enjoyed the rare oppor

tunity of a long personal acquaintance with
Hahnemann. Soon after Dr. Biegler's advent Dr. Rosenstein
established himself at Albany. The two physicians
formed a partnership in business, which was termi
nated in a few months by the removal of Dr.
Rosenstein from the city.
Dr. Biegler was succeeded, in the spring of 1840,
by Dr. Charles Frederic Hoffendahl. Dr. Hoffen-
dahl was born, June 28, 1799, at New Branden-
burgh, in Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He began med
ical studies at the age of seventeen years, at the St.
Joseph's Academy of Vienna, a training school for
military surgeons.
In 1820, having passed his examination,. he was
attached to an Austrian infantry regiment (entitled
Wurtemberg) and accompanied it during a cam
paign in Italy. He then, in 1828, finished his
studies and obtained his degree at the Medical
University of Berlin.
It is probable that he became a homoeopathic
practitioner soon after graduation, having previously
acquired a knowledge of homoeopathy while in
the Austrian army, through the kindness of Regi
mental Surgeon Schmidt.
Dr. Hoffendahl came to this country in 1837,
and settled at Philadelphia, where he remained
until 1 840, when he became a resident of Albany.
He remained at Albany two years, and then, in
1842, removed to Boston, Mass., where he died,
April 24, 1862, at the age of sixty-three years.
In 1 84 1 Dr. Isaac M. Ward, of Newark, N. J. ,
came to Albany. After a very successful and re
munerative practice of seven years, he retired to
New York in the autumn of 1847. Dr. Ward has
long since retired from active practice. He resides
(1885) at Elizabeth, N. J.
Dr. Charles H. Skiff came to Albany in 1842.
Dr. Skiff was born at Spencertown, Columbia
County, N. Y., May 12, 1808. The greater part
of his boyhood was spent with his grandfather,
Nathan Skiff, on Skiff Mountain, in the town of
Kent, Litchfield County, Conn. He was graduated
from the Berkshire Medical College, at Pittsfield,
Mass., September 5, 1832.
After the death of a dearly beloved daughter
and a severe illness of his own, during which he
obtained evidences of the practical superiority of
the new over the old method, he fully adopted the
homoeopathic system.
He remained at Albany less than one year, and
thence, in the fall of 1843, removed to New
Haven, Conn., where he resided, with the ex
ception of two years spent at Brooklyn, N. Y., to

224

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

the time of his death, in 1875, at the age of sixty-
seven years.
He was the first physician to practice homceo-
pathically at New Haven ; he was one of the
founders of the Connecticut State Homoeopathic
Medical Society, and also one of the original mem
bers of the American Institute of Homoeopathy.
Dr. Henry D. Paine came from Newburgh,
Orange County, to Albany in 1845. He formed
a partnership in business with Dr. I. M. Ward.
The partnership continued two years, and was ter
minated by the removal of Dr. Ward to New York.
Dr. Paine removed from Albany to New York in
the spring of 1865, where he is still (1885) partici
pating in professional duties.
Dr. E. Darwin Jones began the practice of ho
moeopathy at Albany in the spring of 1 846. He had
been an old-school practitioner several years. On a
careful and thorough investigation of the homoeo
pathic system, he became convinced of its superior
ity, and immediately adopted it in practice. At
the present time (1885) Dr. Jones is still engaged
in active practice at Albany.
Dr. David Springsteed had also been an old-
school physician several years. He was induced
to read homoeopathic publications, and to test the
utility of homoeopathic remedies in certain diseases.
After a prolonged examination, involving many
practical experiments, in the spring of 1846, he
openly announced himself a convert to the new
system. Dr. Springsteed then resided in the town
of Bethlehem, Albany County. He removed to
the city of Albany in 1861.
By reason of advanced age, in 1880, he retired
from active practice and removed to Saugerties,
Ulster County, and subsequently, in 1882, to Brook
lyn, N. Y., where at the present time (1885),
although feeble in bodily strength, he is enjoying
the evening of life in the possession of all his men
tal faculties.
Dr. John Alsop Paine began practice at Albany
in January, 1847. Dr. Paine was born at Whites-
town, Oneida County, N. Y., July 10, 1795. He
received an academical education at Clinton,
Oneida County, N. Y., and was graduated from
the Medical Department of Yale College in the
spring of 1825.
In the course of his long and eventful career he
engaged successfully in practice in Volney, Oswego
County; Paris, New Hartford and Utica, in Oneida
Countv, N. Y., and Newark, N. J., from which.
place he removed to Albany. He remained six
years in Albany, and died at Lake Forest, 111.,
June 16, 1 87 1, in the 76th year of his age.

He practiced the old-school system prior to the
year 1844, at which time, being detained several
weeks at Albany tor the purpose of giving evidence
in a suit to recover damages for injuries received in
this city by a patient who had been a long time
under his care, he availed himself of the oppor
tunity thus afforded for witnessing the application of
the new system, as illustrated by the practice of
Dr. I. M. Ward, at that time a resident of Albany.
On returning to his home at New Hartford, he at
once instituted a series of trials, at first in cases in
which the usual old-school remedies had failed.
These tests resulted in demonstrating to his entire
satisfaction the availability of a method having a
far wider range of application — one opening up a
greater wealth of resources in its applicability in the
treatment of even the most dangerous and rapidly
fatal diseases — than any he had hitherto witnessed.
These advantages he quickly perceived and
speedily availed himself of in daily practice, and
held to them during the remaining years of his pro
fessional life with singular tenacity, seldom, ex
cept under the most urgent necessity, ever resorting
to old school palliative or alterative treatment.
Dr. Paine was elected to a number of official po
sitions in connection with the medical associations,
old-school and new, in which he held membership.
He was a skillful and successful physician; he
was genial in disposition, judicious and exemplary
in his daily life. His influence over his patients
was marked by characteristic cheerfulness, hopeful
ness and unusual urbanity of manners. His
presence in the sick room was often an inspiration,
prompting a faithful co-operation in the use of the
remedial measures suggested.
He manifested decided originality in determin
ing the active as well as the predisposing causes of
disease; hence his opinion regarding the diagnosis
of difficult and obscure cases was frequently de
sired by his professional associates.
Dr. Henry Adams, son of Dr. Peter C. Adams,
was born at Coxsackie, N. Y., July 6, 1787. He
pursued the study of medicine under the super
vision of his father, and was admitted to practice in
the twenty-first year of his age.
During the war of 1 8 1 2 he was appointed sur
geon in the American army, and was stationed at
Sackett's Harbor, N. Y. At the close of the war
he returned to Coxsackie and resumed practice.
About the year 1846 he was persuaded to inves
tigate the claims of homoeopathy, and was not slow
to accept its principles as an improvement upon -the
old method. His confidence in the new system
never wavered.

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

225

He came to Albany in 1848, remaining two
years. He removed to Cohoes in 1850, where he
resided to the time of his death, which occurred
July 6, 1857, on his seventieth birthday.
He possessed great individuality and originality
of method. He was firm and positive in his con
victions, and pursued a course, once decided on
after mature deliberation, with untiring persever
ance. He was a man of few words. His thoughts
and opinions were expressed in strong, terse lan
guage and laconic sentences.
Dr. Horace M. Paine, son of Dr. John A. Paine,
was graduated from the Medical Department of the
University of the City of New York, in March,
1849. He at once began practice in Albany, re
maining until 1855, when he removed to Clinton,
Oneida County, N. Y., where he resided until 1865,
returning that year to Albany.
Prior to the year 1849 the accessions to the
ranks of homoeopathic practitioners were from
among those who had been previously engaged for
several years in old-school practice. Dr. Paine was
the first young physician who began the practice of
homoeopathy immediately after graduation.
Dr. Paine at the present time (1885) is a resi
dent of Albany, and is engaged in active
practice. In 1 851 a physician by the name of Brooks
came to Albany. He had been an old-school
practitioner fifteen or sixteen years, and had re
cently become a convert to the new system. He
remained at Albany two or three years, and then
removed elsewhere.
Dr. William H. Randel was graduated, in the
spring of 1 85 1, from the Medical Department of
the University of the City of New York, and im
mediately thereafter began the practice of homoeo
pathy in Albany.
Dr. Randel visited Europe in 1867, and spent a
greater part of a year in observing the results of
treatment adopted in the principal hospitals in
England and on the Continent. He is still (1885)
a resident of Albany, and is engaged in active pro
fessional duties.
Dr. James W. Cox was graduated, in the spring
of 1852, from the Albany Medical College, and at
once began the practice of homoeopathy in Albany.
He entered into partnership in business with his
former preceptor, Dr. Henry D. Paine. The
partnership continued seven years, and was then
dissolved by mutual consent. Dr. Cox subse
quently formed a partnership with Dr. John S.
Delavan. Dr. Cox is, at the present time (1885),
engaged in practice in Albany.
29

Dr. C. G. Bryant was graduated, in the spring of
1852, from the Albany Medical College. He as
sociated himself in business with his former precep
tor, Dr. D. Springsteed. He remained one year in
Albany, and then removed to San Francisco, where
he died in 1866.
Dr. Lester M. Pratt, of Fulton, Oswego County,
N. Y., came to Albany in August, 1854. He
was graduated in the spring of that year from the
Homoeopathic Medical College of Philadelphia.
He formed a partnership in business with Dr. H.
M. Paine, which continued one year, and was termi
nated by the removal of Dr. Paine to Clinton,
Oneida County, N. Y. Dr. Pratt has, on two
occasions, entered into partnership with Dr. John
S. Delavan. Dr. Pratt, at the present time (1885),
is engaged in active practice at Albany.
Dr. George H. Billings was graduated from
Castleton Medical College in 1857, and the same
year began the practice of homoeopathy at Cohoes.
He remained at Cohoes seven years, and then re
moved to Brooklyn. He returned to Cohoes in
1870, where he is now, in 1885, engaged in active
professional duties.
These seventeen physicians, the pioneers of our
school in Albany County, espoused the homoeo
pathic system when its very name was, in the esti
mation of the dominant school, a synonym of
reproach, and, as indicative on the part of the
homceopathist, of a deficiency of sound judgment.
Homceopathists were regarded as visionary in their
conceptions and superficial in their attainments.
Many of the pioneers of homoeopathy, however,
were men of profound learning; they were ripe
scholars, and were in full possession of all those
mental qualities required for originality of thought
and independence of action.
At that early day the opposition to homoeopathy
was intense. The intimation of the slightest predilec
tion toward the new system vfas sure to cover the of
fender with obloquy, and ultimately result in al
most complete professional ostracism. The
homceopathist was speedily expelled from the
medical organizations to which he belonged, and
was henceforth debarred all professional fellowship
with his former medical associates. Hence, to
break away from esteemed friends, and to exclude
one's self from the fellowship of those whose aid
would be frequently extremely desirable, was a test
of courage and self-reliance to which few were willing
to subject themselves.
It has been repeatedly asserted that the earlv
homceopathists renounced the old-school system of
practice on account of the probable pecuniary ad-

226

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

vantages to be gained thereby. The pioneers
themselves, however, are conscious of being un
influenced by mercenary motives. They adopted
the homoeopathic system only after repeated trials
had proved its superior curative advantages, and
they adhered to it in the confident expectation that
these points of intrinsic excellence would ultimately
establish its claims for public recognition and general
adoption. They broke away from — nay, rather were driven
out of — the old-school because they believed that
they could more effectively serve the public; they
were confident of accomplishing better results in
practice; of saving a larger proportion of human
life, and of contributing to the diminution of the du
ration and intensity of diseases which afflict man
kind. Whether their reward would come during
their life time they could not foretell; but of its
coming at some future day they had no reason to
doubt. And when they relinquished the old method it
was a radical and entire separation. Indeed, the
completeness of the renunciation of old-school
methods is a marked characteristic of many of
the earlier converts to homoeopathy. They appeared
to have a morbid dread of even an occasional
resort to the milder cathartics and narcotics, which
the younger homceopathists — those who have had
a shorter practical knowledge of the old methods
— have never experienced.
When they gave up the old system, they re
nounced it wholly; when they adopted the new,
there was no reservation at any point in favor of
the old. There was no blending of the two op
posite systems. The new method, to them,
seemed to act more in harmony with natural con
servative forces, hence was considered preferable in
all curable diseases.
A review of the work accomplished by these
pioneers of our school in Albany County, even at
this early period, shows that their confidence in
the new system was well founded, and that we
are, at the present day, measurably enjoying the
fruition of their self-sacrificing labor.
Nine of the seventeen are still living, and with
one or two exceptions all are engaged in the
active duties of professional life.
II. — HISTORY SUBSEQUENT TO THE ORGANIZATION OF
THE ALBANY COUNTY HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL
SOCIETY.
The development and progress of the homoeo
pathic school is indicated, approximately at least,
by the growth and influence of the number and

standing of its public and private institutions.
The history of the society and cognate organiza
tions, therefore, marks the advances and resources
of the school and measures the degree of public
approval and adoption of its system of therapeutics.
The Albany County Homoeopathic Medical
Society was organized at Albany, January 24, 1861,
twenty-four years ago. It was organized under
the provisions of a general law authorizing the for
mation of county homoeopathic medical societies,
passed in 1857.
The names of the members of the society are
as follows:
1 86 1. Dr. David Springsteed, Albany, 1861,
1862. 1 86 1. Dr. Henry D. Paine, Albany,
1861. Dr. E. Darwin Jones, Albany, 1863.
1861. Dr. Lester M. Pratt, Albany, 1864, 1878,
1884. 1861. Dr. James W. Cox, Albany, 1867, 1882,
1883. 1861. Dr. William H. Randel, Albany, 1865.
1862. Dr. J. Savage Delavan, Albany, 1866.
1864. Dr. William S. Baker, Cohoes, 1868.
1866. Dr. Horace M. Paine, Albany, 1874.
1867. Dr. Harman Swits, Schenectady, 1870.
1867. Dr. Joseph C. Butler, Albany.
1867. Dr. J. H. A. Graham, Berne.
1867. Dr. Heman B. Horton, Albany.
1867. Dr. Joseph N. White, Amsterdam, 1869.
1868. Dr. James F. McKown, Albany, 1877.
1869. Dr. George A. Cox, Albany.
1869. Dr. P. L. F. Reynolds, Albany, 1873.
1869. Dr. Nelson Hunting, Albany, 1876.
1870. Dr. Edward A. Carpenter, Albany.
1870. Dr. John Smithwick, Albany.
1870. Dr. Stephen H. Carroll, Albany, 1871.
1871. Dr. Henry G. Preston, Albany, 1872.
1 871. Dr. Phillip I. Cromwell, Albany.
1871. Dr. Edward C. Howe, New Baltimore.
1 87 1. Dr. John H. Fitch, Gallupville.
1 87 1. Dr. Frederick W. Thomas, Albany.
1871. Dr. George H. Billings, Cohoes, 1879,
1880, 1881.
1872. Dr. D. A. Cookingham, West Troy.
1873. Dr- Charles E. Jones, Albany, 1875.
1873. Dr. Townsend Bowne, Albany.
1873. Dr. William E. Milbank, Albany.
1874. Dr. Rufus Reed, Cohoes.
1874. Dr. Catharine E. Goewey, Albany.
1876. Dr. Howard L. Waldo, West Troy.
1876. Dr. R. B. Sullivan, Albany.
1876. Dr. James J. Wallace, Albany.
1876. Dr. John J. Peckham, Albany.

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

227

1876. Dr. William H. Van Derzee, Albany.
1877. Dr. Edwin B. Graham, Albany.
1877. Dr. George H. Benjamin, Albany.
1877. Dr. John N. Bradley, Adamsville.
1877. Dr. G. P. H. Taylor, Stillwater.
1878. Dr. William H. Griffith, Albany.
1878. Dr. Gertrude A. Goewey, Albany.
1879. Dr. Mary G. Pomeroy, Albany.
1879. Dr. George E. Gorham, Albany.
1882. Dr. Edward L. Crandall, Albany.
1882. Dr. Robert Kennedy, Green Island.
1884. Dr. Walter F. Robinson, Albany.
The first seven names are those of the original
members and founders of the society, those who
were present at its first meeting or united with
it during the first year of its existence ; the figures
at the right indicate the date of election to the presi
dency ; those at the left, the date of election to
membership in the society.
Of the founders of the society, all are still living,
and, with one exception, all are engaged in practice.
Of the remaining forty-three, all, except four or five,
are living, and are at the present time (1885) par
ticipating in the duties and bearing the responsi
bilities of professional life. Of the whole number,
nineteen are residents of and active practitioners in
Albany County.
III. — ABSTRACT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY,
SHOWING TITLES OF PAPERS AND CONTRIBU
TIONS TO MEDICAL SCIENCE; ALSO THE POSITION
OF THE SOCIETY REGARDING THE POLEMICS OF
HOMCEOPATHY.
Abstract of Titles of Papers Presented al Meetings
of the Society. — A large proportion of the reports of
scientific work accomplished by resident homceo-
pathists has been published in books or widely
separated medical journals, hence no list showing,
even approximately, the number and quality of
these papers is obtainable. Neither do the records
of the society furnish evidence of a tithe of the con
tributions to current medical literature. Refer
ence to the more prominent, however, of the papers
and reports presented from time to time and read
at its meetings show a wide range of investigation,
and results extracted from rich mines of practical
clinical experience. They are as follows :
Diseases of the Throat and Air Passages. — Car
bolic acid in the treatment of chronic laryngitis,
April, 1867; nasal catarrh treated by inhalations,
August, 1870; hay fever, September, 1871; chronic
catarrh of the air passages, January, 1872; pneu
monia, October, 1874; croup and diphtheria differ
entially considered, December, 1876; malignant

diphtheria, July, 1883; chronic tonsilitis, April,
1884. Diseases of the Pelvic Organs. — Improved form
of speculum, January, 1867; carbolic acid in the
treatment of ulceration of the os uteri; for the re
lief of leucorrhceal discharges, and for chronic
cystitis, April, 1867; fissure of the rectum, January,
1870; intra-uterine treatment by means of medi
cated suppositories, August, 1871; spermatorrhoea,
three papers, September, 1871; difficult, tedious
and instrumental labors, September, 1871; puer
peral convulsions, September, 1 871; enuresis noc-
turna, December, 1871; methods of intra-uterine
treatment, May, 1872; infiltration of urine into
cellular tissue, May, 1873; degeneration of the
placenta, July, 1882; congenital phimosis in an
adult, July, 1882; hygiene and therapeutics of
uterine and ovarian diseases, January, 1883; cases
of spasmodic dysmenorrhoea, January, 1883; ap
paratus for conveniently applying the hot water
douche, April, 1884.
Cerebral and Nervous Diseases. — Causes of in
sanity, September, 1871; paralysis following diph
theria, August, 1877; apoplexy, August, 1877;
tinnitus aurium, July, 1882; cerebral congestion,
simulating yellow atrophy of the liver, April, 1884;
nervous and lung diseases, utility of erythroxylon
cocoa in the treatment of, October, 1868.
Diseases of the Skin. — Carbolic acid applied ex
ternally for the cure of scabies, April, 1867; taenia
capitis, April, 1869; varicella, April, 1878.
General Diseases. — Sporadic cholera, July, 1866;
dropsy, cases of, July, 1867; intermittent fever,
August, 1 871; spinal meningitis, August, 1871;
lead colic, August, 1871; osteo-sarcoma of the su
perior maxillary, September, 1871; local cellulitis,
September, 1871; fungoid tumor, September, 1871;
records of two post mortems, September, 1871;
biliary calculi, September, 1871; typhoid fever,
December, 187 1; tumor in the region of the sub
clavian triangle, December, 1871; abdominal tu
mor, January, 1872; cerebro-spinal meningitis,
April, 1872; constitutional predisposition to cer
tain diseases, April, 1874; dysentery, April, 1874;
spinal meningitis, April, 1874; record of prevailing
diseases for six months, in connection with mete
orological observations for the same period, Janu
ary, 1877; iris versicola, for the relief of sick head
ache, November, 1876; iodia in the treatment of
syphilis and scrofula, June, 1877; cancer of the
stomach, July, 1878; traumatic peritonitis, April,
1879; the utility of lycopus in the treatment of di
abetes, April, 1879; the importance of having all
plumbing work done under competent supervision,

228

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

July, 1879; tne applicability of massage in the
treatment of certain diseases, April, 1879; record
of a post mortem, July, 1882; the use and abuse
of tonics, July, 1882; the deleterious effects of
feeding swine slaughter-house offal, October, 1882;
typhoid fever, October, 1882; urinary analysis and
Bright's disease, January, 1883; diabetes insipidus,
July, 1883; typhoid fever, April, 1884; therapeuti
cal indications for the administration of pilocar
pine, June, 1877.
The Polemics of Homoeopathy. — The contest be
tween the old school and the homoeopathic has
been a long and bitter one. Homceopathists jus
tify themselves in maintaining adherence to the
tenets of their system on the ground of its superior
qualities when subjected to practical tests in the
treatment of disease. The old school, on the other
hand, justify their hostility to homoeopathy on the
ground of the alleged absurdities of its principles.
Homceopathists admit that the theoretical for
mulas promulgated by Hahnemann, regarding the
smallness of the dose and the methods by which
the medicines are prepared, are strangely absurd
and unreasonable; at the same time they hold that
these absurdities do not in any manner represent
the principles on which the homoeopathic system of
therapeuties is constructed. They also hold that
the essential elements of homoeopathy are reason
able, sound, and an exemplification of a natural
law of cure.
Hence they further hold, that the measure of
liberality within the old school ought to have been
sufficiently broad to have afforded all the freedom
required by homceopathists in the exercise of a
right which every educated physician should be
permitted to enjoy, to the unrestricted employment
of any and all therapeutic methods extant. In
short, they hold that educational qualifications
alone should regulate membership and standing
in medical as in other scientific associations.
Happily time has softened the asperities of the
old school. Indeed, many of the objectionable
features of old-school practice, which mainly, on
account of their repulsiveness, forced the homoeo
pathic system into existence, have long since been
discarded, and many of the essential elements of
the new system have been substituted. All are
now willing to admit that the harshness of the old-
school method has been greatly modified since the
introduction of the homoeopathic.
The history of the Homoeopathic Medical Society
of Albany County embraces the second quarter
centennial covered by the great medico-ethical
controversy of this century. Its records show that

the members of the society have been active parti
cipants in the work of securing for themselves and
their system a legal status equal in every respect
to that of their old-school rivals. The following
extracts, selected from many of similar import, set
forth the animus and purposes which have success
fully controlled the active participants in the
polemics of homeopathy.
The first extract is taken from a report of the
proceedings of a meeting held December 9, 1873.
It has reference to the refusal of the American
Public Health Association to admit to its mem
bership Dr. T. S. Verdi, a homoeopathic physician,
residing at Washington, D. C.
Resolutions Protesting Against the Illiberality of
the American Public Health Association. — How
ever undesirable it may be, we are very frequently
reminded of the dissensions among medical men.
The origin and progress of the contest between the
two principal rival schools demonstrate the fact
that all overt acts of intolerance have been per
petrated by our opponents. Homceopathists, in
every instance, have acted on the defensive.
It would appear that our old school oppo
nents intend to continue this internecine strife until
compelled, by force of public sentiment, to recog
nize homoeopathic physicians as equals, and en
titled to all the amenities of professional inter
course. The only question at issue between the repre
sentatives of the two rival schools is simply one in
volving a difference of opinion regarding the ap
plication of remedies in the treatment of disease.
The old-school, according to the recent testimony
of professors in the medical department of the
University of Michigan, has "no general law" on
which to base appropriate treatment. The homoeo
pathic school, on the other hand, founds its system
of practice on a well-defined and philosophical
principle, which is applicable in a large per cent-
age of curable cases ; hence its superior suc
cess. * * *
Homceopathists are clearly entitled to member
ship in the National Association. They and their
friends in all parts of the country will, if necessary,
throw their whole influence into this contest, and
will continue to do so while necessity calls for
action. The old-school fraternity may as well
conclude, without unnecessary delay, that, in all
public affairs, they must consider homceopathists
equal with themselves in every respect, and entitled
to the full enjoyment of all the rights, privileges
and immunities accorded any portion of the regu
lar medical profession.

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

229

The following resolutions wete unanimously
adopted :
Whereas, Dr. T. S. Verdi, a graduate in medicine,
holding diplomas from various medical colleges, and a
practitioner in good and regular standing, has been duly
appointed a member of the Board of Health of the District
of Columbia by the President, which appointment has
been confirmed by the Senate of the United States ; and
Whereas, The zeal, energy and success manifested by
Dr. Verdi, in the discharge of his duties as a member of the
Board of Health, has received the merited respect and con
fidence of the people of Washington ; and
Whereas, His Excellency, the Governor of the District
of Columbia, duly appreciating the services and integrity of
character of Dr. T. S. Verdi, appointed him a special san
itary commissioner to visit European cities ; and
Whereas, Dr. Verdi, in the performance of said official
functions, has exhibited in his recent mission to European
cities unusual ability ; and
Whereas, Dr. C. C. Cox, President of the Board of Health
of Washington, being an active member of the American
Sanitary Association, has proposed the name of Dr. Verdi
for membership in the same ; and
Whereas, Said association, at its annual convention,
held in New York, November 12 to 15, 1873, declined
to elect Dr. Verdi a. member, for no cause except
adherence to homoeopathy in his private medical practice ;
and Whereas, Such a course must be considered arbitrary
and mischievous ; therefore,
Resolved, That any association, the object of which is
the advancement of general public interests, sanitary or
otherwise, which circumscribes its boundaries of member
ship within the narrow limits of sects, either religious, medi
cal or political, fails in its mission, and subverts the very
principles of its existence ; is contrary to the genius of Amer
ican institutions, being a direct violation of the great prin
ciples which involve the very foundation of free govern
ment, and is guilty of a course of action as pernicious in
principle as it is unwise and impolitic in practice.
Resolved, That the American Health Association, in re
fusing membership to two officers of the Board of Health
of the District of Columbia, appointed thereto by the Presi
dent and confirmed by the Senate of the United States, as
proposed by Dr. Cox, President of said Board of Health,
has, by that act, subverted the advancement of sanitary
reform for the benefit of the people.
Resolved, That Drs. T. S. Verdi and D. W. Bliss, being
both federal officers, exercising their prerogatives of office
for the people of the District of Columbia, their proscrip
tion from the Public Health Association is an insult to the
President and people of the District of Columbia.
Resolved, That the unanimity of public approval in the
removal of Dr. Van Aernam, late Commissioner of Pensions,
for having attempted to raise the issue that adherence to a
particular creed or belief- ^should constitute a qualification
for official position, deal -demonstrated the opposition of
the American people to sii. N acts of proscription.
Resolved, That the Amen Health Association will not
be entitled to receive the respect and moral support of the
people of this country, until it shall have removed the pres
ent sectarian barrier to membership.
Resolved, That this society, as a representative of a large
and respectable class of scientific medical practitioners, repels

the insult offered to the school of medicine to which it ad
heres, and calls upon all just and fair men to condemn the
illiberal course of the American Health Association.
Resolved, That trie Homoeopathic Medical Society of Al
bany County tenders thanks to Dr. C. C. Cox for his
manly defense of the rights of men before the American
Public health Association, and for his scathing denunciation
of partisanship and sectarianism.
Resolved, That we respectfully request the members of
Congress from this State to approve the legal recognition of
the American Health Association, only when convinced that
the articles of incorporation embrace a provision prohibiting
the exclusion of members on account of adhesion to any
preferred theory of medical treatment.
Resolutions AdvocatingEqual Representation of Old-School
and Homoeopathic Physicians in a State Board of Health.
Whereas, Strenuous efforts have been made during the
past few years to enact a law creating a State Board of
Health, so constructed as to provide for the appointment
in said board of old-school physicians only ; and
Whereas, No good reason exists why the control of all
the sanitary affairs of the State should be intrusted to one
school of physicians, to the exclusion and detriment of an
other ; and
Whereas, Such exclusive control would indirectly estab
lish a sectarian medical monopoly ; therefore,
Resolved, That while we earnestly advocate the enact
ment of such sanitary measures as have for their end the
prevention of diseases and lengthening of human life, we
earnestly protest against the passage of any health bill, pro
viding for the appointment of medical men, which does not
recognize an equal numerical representation by name of
the two dominant systems of medical practice.
Resolved, That we cordially assent to, and respectfully
request the passage, by the next State Legislature, of a law
securing equal representation from both the old-school and
homoeopathic schools of medicine.
Resolved, That copies of these resolutions be forwarded
to State officers, members of the legislature, officers of
State and County medical societies and their legislative
committees ; also, to the committee on Legislation of the
American Institute of Homoeopathy.
IV.  HISTORY OF THE ALBANY CITY HOMOEOPATHIC
HOSPITAL AND DISPENSARY.
Two public charitable institutions, a hospital
and a dispensary, now united and maintained as a
single organization, have been opened and suc
cessfully conducted by the homoeopathic profession
of Albany.
A proposition to open a public homoeopathic free
dispensary was first made at a meeting of the Albany
County Homoeopathic Medical Society, held early in
the year 1865. During the following two years
various plans were offered and an interest in the sub
ject was sustained, which culminated, in the fall
of 1867, in the establishment of a free dispensary, at
that time the only public institution in Albany for
furnishing gratuitous medical service and medicines
to those who choose to avail themselves of its
advantages.

230

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Since the organization of the dispensary, seven
teen years ago, it has gratuitously afforded medical
and surgical aid to more than sixty thousand appli
cants. It is, at the present time (1885), in as
flourishing a condition as at any period since its es
tablishment, the number of prescriptions ranging
from three to five hundred per month.
The dispensary service soon revealed the fact that
many of the applicants required hospital accom
modations. With a view, therefore, of enlarging
its usefulness, and placing its work and operations
upon a permanent foundation, a building was pur
chased in the summer of 1872, and supplied with
the requisites for both dispensary and hospital uses.
The building at first selected having been found
undesirable, in 1875 a larger and more suitable
one was provided.
The present hospital and dispensary building is
centrally and conveniently located at 123 North
Pearl street; is large and complete in its appoint
ments, and is provided with all suitable appliances
for accommodating upward of fifty patients.
There are enrolled upon its staff the names of all
the resident homoeopathic physicians in Albany,
and in addition thereto, two of Albany's ablest old-
school surgeons; a fact which clearly indicates the
obliteration of sectarian barriers to unrestricted pro
fessional fellowship.
The resources of both the hospital and dispen
sary are derived from sums appropriated by the city
goverment and from private sources. Although
these institutions are incumbered with a debt of
several thousand dollars, the income has been
hitherto sufficient to meet all claims for current
expenses. ALBANY CO. ECLECTIC MEDICAL
SOCIETY.
In compliance with the act for the incorpora
tion of the Eclectic Medical Society of the State
of New York, which was incorporated April 24,
1865, and by the written advice of the honorable
secretary of that body, under date of May 19, 1874,
and in pursuance of a cordial invitation, the friends
of medical reform assembled at the office of Dr.
Robert Liston, in the City of Albany, June 1, 1874,
to organize a County Eclectic Medical Society,
auxiliary to the Eclectic Medical Society of the
State of New York. Dr. R. Liston was appointed
to the chair, and Dr. John Wilson, secretary. The
constitution of the State Eclectic Medical Society
was read and approved, and a constitution and by
laws were presented and adopted. After signing

these papers, the following officers were elected for
the ensuing year :
President, R. Liston, M. D. ; Vice-President,
J. T. Johnson, M. D.; Secretary, N. S. Dean;
Treasurer, Dr. W. S. Filkins. The secretary was
ordered to file in the County Clerk's office a copy
of these proceedings, with a list of the 1 7 corporate
members. The County Society presented a petition to the
State Society at its meeting, October 22, 1874,
for recognition as an Auxiliary Society, signed by
R. Liston, M. D., S. J. Birch, M. D., J. F. Neef,
M. D., which was granted on the same day.
The regular meetings now are four in each year,
on the first Thursdays in January, April, July,
October. Membership now is 23. Of these, the
following practice and reside in Albany County :
A. Cullen, West Troy.
James Douglass, West Troy.
Morgan L. Filkins, Albany.
Welcome L. Filkins, Albany.
Isaac Finch, Rensselaerville.
Jacob F. Neef, Albany.
Gustave B. Schill, Albany.
John H. Wilbur, Cohoes.
John Wilson, Albany.

FEMALE PHYSICIANS.
The practice of medicine in Albany by females
properly educated dates in 1873, only 12 years
ago. Up to about that time, the prejudice, not
only of most male physicians, but of the people
generally, was very strong against them. But the
few who have settled in practice have come so
well prepared, and have pursued their work so
courageously, and yet so modestly and skillfully,
that they have disarmed prejudice and taken
respectable rank in the profession and in society.
Dr. Mary DuBois was born in the State of New
York. She was reared in affluence and in the en
joyment of educational advantages of the highest
order. In 1870, she received her degree of M. D.
at the Woman's College in Philadelphia. The two
years following she spent in a Boston hospital as
house physician. She came to this city in 1873,
where she has ever since been actively engaged in
an extensive practice.
Dr. Catherine E. Goewey came soon after, and
has secured a valuable practice in the homeopathic
school by her skill and energy. She is a native of
this State, and graduated from the Woman's
Homoeopathic College in New York City.

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

231

Dr. Harriet A. Woodward is of English descent,
sprung, as it were, from a family of doctors, her
grandfather and three uncles having been educated
in medicine at Oxford University, Old England.
The doctor was born in 1 840, in Hector, N. Y., and
early received a thorough training in the usual
English branches and some of the higher branches,
with Latin. She has always cultivated a fondness
for history and natural science. In 1868 she began
the study of medicine under the direction of Dr.
A. B. Smith, of the Hygienic Institute, Geneva,
N. Y. In 1 8 7 2 she entered the College of Physicians
and Surgeons at the Syracuse University, where she
graduated in 1875, with honors. She came to
Albany the same year; was admitted to member
ship in the County Medical Society; also to the
Academy of Medicine, where she held office for two
terms, first as secretary, then as treasurer ; was
also one of the Board of Censors in the County
Society, and delegate to the American Medical Asso
ciation. She stills holds her membership in the
society, and is in active and successful practice in
her chosen profession.
Dr. Laurentine Rouchel was born in France,
in 1846; came to the United States with her
parents when very young ; received her early edu
cation in the district schools and in the Lowville
Academy. Tuition in the French and German
she received from private native teachers, and speaks
both languages fluently. She began the study of
pharmacy and medicine in 1879, in St. Elizabeth's
Hospital, Utica, N. Y., under the direction of Dr.
Edwin Hutchinson, surgeon in charge of the in
stitution ; continued her studies under the direc
tion of Dr. John F. Oakes, of Rochester ; then
graduated from the Medical Department of the
University of Buffalo. She began the practice of
medicine in Croghan, Lewis County, and has
continued the same in this city since 1881.
Dr. Anna Goewey practiced here some five years
ago ; then went to New York. Mrs. Carr is now
in practice here as a homceopathist.

JEPTHA RICHARD BOULWARE.
Jeptha Richard Boulware, a distinguished
physician and surgeon of Albany, was born in
Franklin County, Kentucky. His parents, whose
ancestors came from Scotland, were both natives
of Virginia. His father, the Rev. Theodrick
Boulware, was a Baptist clergyman, well known
in the churches of his denomination in Kentucky,
Illinois and Missouri. He was an earnest and
consistant Christian and a devoted pastor, appre
ciating fully the dignity of his office, and causing

it to be respected by those with whom he asso
ciated. He was for a time the settled pastor of a
church, and for many years a circuit preacher in
the three States mentioned above, performing the
varied duties of a clergyman with a hearty willing
ness and an intelligent discretion that savored
rather of the apostolic age than of the nineteenth
century. During these years of earnest work, he
never received — it being inconsistent with his
principles to receive — a single cent for his clerical
labors. He was a man of strong and original
mind and an earnest character, forcible in the ex
pression of his ideas and fond of theological con
troversy. He led a life of almost puritanic sim
plicity, combining religious fervor with practical
sagacity, having a wise care for the things of this
world, as well as of the next. He accumulated a
handsome property, and died at the advanced age
of eighty-seven years, loved and respected by all
who knew him.
Of his three daughters, the eldest married Joseph
Hansbrough, a bold and successful merchant of
Independence, Missouri. The second daughter
was not married; she died soon after arriving at
the age of womanhood. The youngest daughter
married Joseph S. Rogers, a wealthy and enter
prising farmer and stock-breeder in the "blue-
grass region " of Kentucky.
Of his six sons, three were enthusiastic farmers
who earnestly devoted themselves to agricultural
pursuits and stock raising.
The second son became a physician, practicing
his profession in New Orleans, La. He soon ac
quired a lucrative practice, but died while a com
paratively young man. The sixth and youngest
son is a distinguished lawyer, still living in Mis
souri, noted for his eloquence and persuasive
power with a jury.
The fourth son was Jeptha R. Boulware, the
subject of this sketch, who, with the restless spirit
of many young men, left his comfortable home
and the easy life of a school boy, and wandered
forth without any very definite aim, excepting to
see the world and make a place for himself in it.
He had received a liberal education so far as the
schools of his neighborhood afforded, besides
careful instruction from his father. For a boy of
his years he was intelligent and well informed, but
he soon found a marked difference between a life
in a home of plenty and an existence dependent
for its continuance upon his own labor. Young
in years and slight in form, without a trade, unused
to severe labor, he had to accept such various em
ployments as he chanced to find and was capable
of performing.
For a short time he worked as a farm laborer,
but ultimately attended the Rock Spring Seminary,
in Illinois, and soon taught school, in which pur
suit he was so successful that in four years after
leaving his father's house he returned to it in a
reasonably prosperous condition.
After remaining home a year, devoting his time
to study, he again went forth and resumed the oc
cupation of a school teacher. While teaching, he
became interested in phrenology, and carefully

232

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

perused the works of Combe, Spurzheim and other
writers upon that subject. His interest in this
science led him to a thorough study of the anatom
ical structure of the human brain, and eventually
led to his becoming a physician. Though suc
cessful as a teacher, he again returned home, at the
solicitation of his father, who gave him " a farm
and hands," letting him take his choice out of half
a dozen farms. He then married and settled
down, applying himself to agricultural pursuits for
a few years. He married Miss Sarah J. Kidd, the
eldest daughter of Mrs. Hannah Kidd, at Nashville,
Washington County, Illinois. Seldom has wedded
life proved more satisfactory than in this instance.
Dr. Boulware has often said that the success, both
professional and financial, which he attained in after
life, was due to the patient, inspiring and cheerful
influence which he received from his wife. She
was his support and helpmeet in adversity and a
patient, loyal companion in prosperity. Their
union was blessed with two children, Theodrick
K. Boulware and Hannah J. Boulware. Theodrick,
on completing his general education, began the
study of law in the office of Rufus W. Peckham
and Lyman Tremain, both eminent lawyers of
Albany. The former was for many years one of the
Justices of the Supreme Court of the State of New
York, and afterward a Judge of the Court of Ap
peals. The latter declining judicial honors, was
Attorney-General of the State, and among the most
distinguished advocates of the country. Theodrick
also, studied in the Albany Law School, and was
admitted to practice on graduation, after examina
tion by the professors in that institution; but, de
clining to enter the profession in that way only, he
presented himself before the committee appointed
by the Supreme Court of the State, and after
examination was admitted to practice. He was
a young man of sterling character, modest and
unassuming. His mental characteristics, his good
habits and earnest application, made it apparent
that he would distinguish himself in his chosen pro
fession. But soon declining health made it evident
that his own and his parents' hopes were to be
blighted. He accepted the inevitable with charac
teristic calmness, and after lingering a few years,
died, respected and beloved by all.
Hannah married John A. Richardson, a manu
facturer. Her husband's health gradually became
impaired, a result of his exposure as a Union
soldier in the war of the Rebellion, as well as by
his persistent devotion to business. After a few
years he retired from business, and has since re
sided most of the time at the South, seeking to
regain his health.
Dr. Boulware, a few years after his marriage,
removed to Albany, N. Y, which place has since
been his home, and where he now stands in the
front rank of the medical profession, both as a
physician and a surgeon. By teaching school and
by working at various mechanical employments,
in which he was successful, although he never
served any apprenticeship, he secured sufficient
funds to support his family and to systematically
pursue the study of medicine.

He was graduated from the Albany Medical
College in 1859. His earnest and intelligent in
terest in medicine secured for him, early in his
student life, a warm friend in Professor Howard
Townsend, M. D., who encouraged him by per
sonal attention and advice, and gave him free ac
cess to his large professional library, of which great
use was made by him to his manifest profit, at a
time when his pecuniary circumstances did not
allow him to purchase the rarer and more expen
sive medical works. During two winters he also
pursued the practical study of analytical chemistry
in the laboratory, under the instruction of Pro
fessor Charles H. Porter, M. D. The late Hon.
William Cassidy, LL. D., was another distin
guished and influential friend who took an active
interest in the young physician's success, and,
upon his recommendation, Dr. Boulware was ap
pointed to several medico-political offices, that not
only supplied him with some money, but also gave
him, what he regarded as more important, oppor
tunities for increasing his professional knowledge.
For several years in his student and early pro
fessional life Dr. Boulware was in charge of the
Albany County Hospital for the Sick and Insane.
He made its great clinical resources yield him a
rich harvest of positive knowledge by the thorough
system of careful observation which he at once
adopted and diligently pursued.
It was his custom in each case under his care to
write down the diagnosis, with a minute record of
all the symptoms observed, and when a death oc
curred he made a careful autopsy, comparing the
pathological conditions with his previous notes.
In this institution, and during his earlier profes
sional life, he made for himself and others, and for
legal purposes, over four hundred elaborate post
mortem examinations, and carefully dissected
several hundred human brains. His unwearied
attention to his business, his sagacity and common
sense, and his thorough theoretical and practical
knowledge of his profession, early gained him, not
only a large and lucrative practice, but also the sin
cere respect and esteem of his fellow practitioners.
He soon became prominent as a surgeon as well
as a physician. For many years he was the sur
geon of the principal hospitals in Albany, and was
called to fill other positions of trust and honor.
He successfully performed many capital operations,
such as excision of the hip joint, lithotomy and the
operation for strangulated hernia. He successfully
treated several cases of femoral and popliteal an
eurism by compression, using for the purpose an
ingenious instrument of his own construction.
Dr. Boulware has very frequently been called
upon as an expert in medico-legal cases. His
sound surgical and medical knowledge, and his
practical sagacity and tact, have always secured
from the most unwilling counsel a fair presentation
of his views, and very frequently the public com
mendation of the presiding judge, for the clearness,
learning and skill displayed in his testimony. He
has long been a prominent member of the Medical
Society of the County of Albany, and has held most
of the responsible offices of that organization, rep-

c'rrU)

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

233

resenting it for several years as a delegate to the
Medical Society of the State of New York, of
which latter society he has also been a permanent
member since 1868. Dr. Boulware has presented
numerous reports of cases and pathological speci
mens occurring in his practice to the County
Medical Society, and a number of papers on
medical and surgical subjects to the State Medical
Society, which have been published in their Trans
actions. In the war of the Rebellion Dr. Boulware
served as assistant surgeon in the 177th Regi
ment of the New York Volunteers during its
continuance in the field. He was universally
respected by the soldiers for his attention and kind
ness to them during the war, and to this day the
same respect is shown him by soldiers who were in
the field.
He was afterward Surgeon of the Tenth Regiment,
National Guard of the State of New York, and for a
long period was Brigade Surgeon of the Ninth
Brigade of the National Guard of the State of New
York. He is unusually liberal in his views of medicine,
and kindly charitable to all practitioners, as the
records of the Medical Society of the County of
Albany abundantly show.
At the annual meeting of the Medical Society of
the County of Albany, held at Albany, November
14, 1876, Dr. J. R. Boulware offered the following :
Whereas, There is a decided difference of opinion
among members of this society regarding certain points re
lating to Medical Ethics, and in order that the society may
definitely express itself upon them, for the guidance of its
members, the following resolutions are offered for its consid
eration :
Resolved, That it shall not be deemed improper by this
society for "regular" and "Allopathic" Medical Colleges
to educate and graduate Homoeopathic students.
Resolved, That it shall not be deemed improper by this
society for any of its members to consult professionally with
any physicians recognized by the laws of this State as legal
practitioners. Resolved, That it shall not be deemed improper by this
society for any one of its members, or any association of two
or more of them, to advertise in medical journals, or in the
local or other newspapers, their names and addresses, to
gether with any specialty they may assume to practice or
teach. Whereas, The "regular Allopathic" hospitals of this
city are supported by the taxpayers of this county ; and
Whereas, The " medical staffs " of these hospitals refuse
to allow other physicians than themselves to send and treat
pay patients in the said hospitals ; and
Whereas, Such action prevents materially the increase of
the indigent fund in charitable hospitals ; therefore,
Resolved, That it shall not be deemed improper by this
society for any of its members to professionally treat their
pay patients in the Albany City Homoeopathic Hospital.
While these resolutions were not adopted by the
County Society, they excited comment and inquiry.
A few years later they were embodied in the New
Code adopted by the Medical Society of the State
of New York. Among those most earnest in the
advocacy of the New Code were a large number
who worked and voted against Dr. Boulware's
30

resolutions. In this case, as in others, Dr. Boul
ware's views were in advance of the times, but
happily, in this instance, only a few years in ad
vance, and his medical brothers have now caught
up with him.
Having acquired an abundant competence, and
still being in good health, though advancing in
years, Dr. Boulware has been for some time grad
ually withdrawing from practice, believing it
wiser to gracefully leave the field to younger men
before feebleness and old age should compel him
to retire; but, honored and esteemed by his pro
fessional brethren, and looked up to with confi
dence, affection and respect by a host of families
whose trusted physician he has been for many
years, he is often called in consultation, and so
long as he lives he will never be able to entirely
abandon the functions of a medical adviser.
His genial temperament, his unselfish devotion
to medical science, his benevolence to the poor,
and his kindly sympathy with the suffering, have
endeared him to his fellow citizens.
He has often been solicited to accept nomina
tions to office, for which his unbounded popularity ,
makes him peculiarly eligible; but the modesty of
his character makes -him averse to political life.
Yet while he has always declined political honors,
and has held but two offices, and those of a medical
character, he has always, as a good citizen, been
interested in politics. He has had for many years
a quiet but decided political influence, much
greater than that of most men, and it has always
been exerted in the interest of good government
and for the substantial good of the community.
He is one. of those of whom the poet says:. They
" do good by stealth and blush to find it fame."
AMOS FOWLER, M. D.
Mark Fowler, uncle of Gen. Amos Fowler
and Rev. and Hon. Orin Fowler, removed at an
early day from Lebanon, Conn., to Herkimer
County, N. Y. He and his numerous family of
sons were pioneers in clearing away the forests and
laying the foundations of some of the thriving cities
of central New York. He died in Jefferson County,
April 27, 18 13. His wife was Miriam Sterling,
widow of Reuben Warner. Of their nine children,
Alvin, the father of Amos Fowler, M. D., of
Albany, was the youngest son. When Alvin
Fowler was about two years old he met with an
adventure so singular and so perilous as to render
it unique in the annals of border life. He had only
recently learned to walk, and, one day, as he was
enjoying the freedom of the cleared space about
his father's house, he was seized by a bear, which
had been caught and chained near the door, and
hugged gently in her embrace all day, despite the
frantic efforts of his mother to induce the bear to
give up the child. No pen could do justice to the
mother's agony, her awful suspense, while making
her futile attempts to rescue her baby, and watch
ing it through the long day, expecting at any mo
ment to see its life crushed out before her eyes. It
was not until nightfall, when the father came

234

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

home, that the bear was compelled to relinquish
the child. At that time the family lived at Frank
fort, near the present site of Utica. Bears, wolves
and other wild animals were plenty, and wolves
howled around the doors of the settler's cabin till
driven away with firebrands. Alvin Fowler pur
sued the trades of clothier and stone mason. His
wife was Miss Olive Lord, whom he married in
1 8 1 9, she having emigrated from Saybrook, Conn. ,
with her father's family, two or three years earlier.
Of their four children, Dr. Amos Fowler was the
eldest. He was born in the town ofCohocton,
Steuben County, N. Y., July 5, 1820. His father
removed to Evans' Mills, Jefferson County, while
Amos was yet an infant, and thence to Fayetteville,
Onondaga County, when the lad was seven years
old; there he owned and operated some mills, and
a factory for the manufacture of woolen cloths, till
1836, when he again removed to a farm in the
town of Victory, Cayuga County. Young Fowler
was educated mainly in the public schools, but
was also a student at the academies in Fayetteville
and Victory, working on the farm summers and
attending school winters. Leaving school, he be
came a teacher, teaching two winters in Wayne
and one in Cayuga County. While thus engaged
he began reading medicine in the office of Dr.
Blanchard, of Victory. Later he was a student and
assistant of Dr. Root's, at Memphis, Onondaga
County. He entered the Geneva Medical College,
and finished his prescribed course at the University
of the City of New York, graduating in 1846.
Dr. Root died just before Dr. Fowler's gradua
tion. Already well established in the confidence
of Dr. Root's patrons, he returned to Mem
phis and took up the Doctor's practice. In
1850 he removed to Sand Lake, Rensselaer County,
and from thence, in 1854, to Albany, locating on
Second street, nearly opposite his present residence
and office. Since coming to Albany, as before,
Dr. Fowler has enjoyed an extensive practice.
His standing in his profession is high, and he has
served the Medical Society of Albany County as its
vice-president and its delegate to the State Medical
Society. Dr. Fowler was married, August 30, 1850,
to Miss Caroline M. Harris, daughter of Nicholas
Brown Harris, M. D., of Sand Lake, Rensselaer
County, who bore him four children, two of whom
died in infancy. She died, April 3, 1880, at Savan
nah, Ga., while returning with her husband from a
journey in the South. Their son, Warren Hamilton
Fowler, studied medicine at the University of the
City of New York, graduated from Jefferson Medical
College, Philadelphia, and is now practicing his
profession in Albany.
Their daughter, Caroline I. Fowler, is a mem
ber of her father's household. July 25, 1882, Dr.
Fowler married his present wife, Mrs. Mary Poole,
a native, and, for most of her life, a resident of Al
bany. Though not active in politics, the Doctor
has pronounced views on public questions and is
an adherent of the Republican party. He was reared
within the pale of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
but for some years has been a member of the
Fourth Presbyterian Church of Albany.

JOSEPH N. NORTHROP, M. D.
Dr. Joseph Norman Northrop was born at Deca
tur, Otsego County, New York, in 181 7, and was
in the sixty-first year of his age at the time of his
death, which occurred September 17, 1878. He was
a son of Abner Northrop and Jerusha Gibbs, both
of whom were natives of Connecticut. He had
two brothers and two sisters, only one of whom,
the youngest brother, survives him. His father was
a farmer, and the early part of the life of Dr. North
rop was spent at home upon the farm. The founda
tion of his education was obtained in the common
school. At the age of thirteen he went to the
Oneida Institute, a manual labor school, where he
spent three years. Leaving school, he came
to Albany, where, after passing a year as a
clerk in a drug store, he entered the office and
family of Dr. Samuel Shaw, and began the study of
medicine. When about eighteen years of age he
entered the Vermont Academy of Medicine, grad
uating in 1839. His diploma was signed by Dr.
William Tully, Professor of Theory and Practice
and Materia Medica; Theodore Woodward, Pro
fessor of Surgery and OBstetrics; James H. Armsby,
Professor of Anatomy and Physiology; and John
De Wolf, Professor of Chemistry and Natural His
tory. He had a great admiration for Dr. Tully,
whose name and sayings were frequently on his lips
in later years. After graduating, he attended a
course of medical lectures at the Transylvania
University, at Louisville, Ky. , defraying his expen
ses by conducting a writing school and by a little
practice among Northern people residents there.
He began his professional work as a salaried
physician upon a plantation of about six hundred
negroes, in Mississippi, being the only medical man
within twenty miles. He staid there a year and a
half, taking the yellow fever, from which he nar
rowly escaped with his life. This necessitated his
removal north. After spending a year in Albany,
he returned to his native place, where he practiced
his profession for twenty years. In 1840 he mar
ried Miss Mary Jane Lansing, the only daughter of
Col. Robert C. Lansing, of Decatur. His practice
there was large, embracing long rides into the ad
joining counties of Delaware and Schoharie. He
held for some time the office of division Surgeon of
Militia, Gen. Burnside being division General. The
only civil office that he filled outside of his profes
sion was that of supervisor, which he held for two
years. He was elected delegate to the State Medi
cal Society from Otsego County, and became a
permanent member of the society in 186 1. In
1859 he returned to Albany and entered upon a
general practice there, which became extensive and
lucrative. He joined the Albany County Medical
Society in i860, and held for several terms the
office of censor, and was elected president in 1876.
His death, which occurred nearly twenty years
after he came to Albany to reside, was startlingly
sudden in its circumstances, taking place upon the
anniversary of his wedding-day. Preparations hav
ing been made for the customary celebration of
this anniversary, he went early in the evening to

H"W"WiHiam3 ,

jtj^.

Ei-i'>-y li.l-.JbM's Sims. New T;r~k.

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

235

make a professional call a few blocks away. In
stead of sending for his carriage, as he usually did,
even when going but a short distance, he walked.
He was troubled with dyspnoea on exertion, due
to an affection of the heart. He saw his patient,
and, while preparing medicine in an adjoining
room, he suddenly gasped for breath, fell from his
chair, and in a few minutes died.
This is a brief sketch of the life of Dr. Northrop,
which covered forty years of professional work, and
ended in the midst of his greatest usefulness, while
he was fully entering into all that went to makeup
life for him. He passed away at the full tide; he had
not started on the down-hill side of life. There
are not many lives that are marked with great in
cidents ; nevertheless, this outline of his career
brings out a fact which has in it much to admire,
that, starting in the world with nothing, he gained,
by his own unaided efforts, education, a worthy
place in an honorable profession, a competence,
and the high esteem of his associates and fellow
citizens. In character, he was a genial, open-heart
ed man, whom many knew well and whose loss is
sincerely lamented. While his life was unmarked
by great events, it was always attended with de
votion to duty, to his profession and to his fellow
men. His grave does not inclose the memory of
these virtues, nor limit the worthiness of his ex
ample. Two years before his death he became a
member of the First Reformed Church of Albany.
JOHN B. ROSSMAN, M. D.
Dr. John Buskirk Rossman was born, September
27, 1806, in Johnstown, Columbia County, N. Y.
He was the seventh child of a family of sixteen
children. Fourteen grew to maturity. Four of
the sons were physicians. His father, John J.
Rossman, was a worthy man, much respected in
the community in which he lived. He was elected
sheriff of Columbia County for two or three con
secutive terms. With a family so large and facilities
for education so limited, Mr. Rossman was not
able to give his children a liberal education, yet he
gave them the best that could be obtained in the
schools in his vicinity. John not only attended
the district school, but was sent to a neighboring
academy, where he made proficiency in the higher
English branches. He is represented as having
been a lad of excellent morals and of studious
habits. In order to be able to continue his studies
and to fix more permanently his elementary educa
tion, he taught a district school several winters.
He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. T.
Broadhead, of Clermont. We next hear of him in
the law office of Mr. Killian Miller, of Hudson.
He remained there only a short time, the law not
being congenial with his tastes. He then resumed
the study of medicine with Dr. McClelland. From
this office he went to Hudson, in the office of
Dr. Samuel White. He attended medical lectures
at Fairfield, Herkimer County, N Y., and received
his degree there in 1829. After graduation he re
turned to Johnstown, his native town, and com
menced the practice of his profession. Although

young, he was earnest, and attended closely to busi
ness. His genial manner and sympathetic nature
soon made him popular. His reputation increased,
and the young physician was called to longer dis
tances and to families of greater intelligence.
Previous to this Mr. John Richmond, an English
gentleman, had purchased from Mr. Livingston,
while in London, the tract of land called Living
ston Manor. Mr. Richmond had taken possession
of hrs purchased property, and to his house Dr.
Rossman was called. Here it was that the Doctor
first met his future wife, Miss Elizabeth Mary Fair-
bank, the granddaughter of Mr. Richmond, and
the great-granddaughter of the Earl of Preston.
About two years after his marriage Dr. Rossman
moved to Richmondville, Schoharie County. He
remained there about eight years, when he came to
Albany. City life is always attractive to a country
practitioner, and almost as often as the change is
made there is serious disappointment. But with
Dr. Rossman it was different. Practice came
slowly, but patient waiting and prompt attention
to every call secured business. A few years found
him in the midst of a lucrative practice. In 1827
he was made a member of the Medical Society of
the County of Albany, of which he was treasurer in
1849 and 1850.
He enjoyed a reunion with Dr. Thomas Hun
and Dr. Charles Devol to celebrate their semi
centennial in practice, given by the County
Medical Society. He was elected alderman from
his ward about 1856, which office he filled with
credit to himself and satisfaction to his con
stituents. Dr. Rossman was a kind and affection
ate husband, an indulgent and attentive father,
and a true and steadfast friend. His peculiarities
were the eccentricities of his head, and not of his
heart. His wife, Elizabeth Mary Fairbank, died
July 27, 1868. She had eight children — four sons
and four daughters. Three sons and two daugh
ters are still living. In 1869 he married Miss
Rebecca P. McCarthy. By this union he had one
son and two daughters, all of whom are living.
Soon after he located in Albany Dr. Rossman
united with the Middle Dutch Church, and led the
life of a consistent and devoted Christian. His
last few years gave decided evidence of increasing
age. He continued to grow more and more
feeble until December 23, 1883, when he peace
fully and hopefully passed away to receive the re
wards of a life well spent.
HON. JOHN SWINBURNE, M.D.
John Swinburne was born to Peter and Artemesia
Swinburne, at their homestead on the Black River,
Lewis County, May 30, 1820. His father, a native of
Ireland, was a farmer and also largely engaged in
business. He died while Dr. Swinburne was a mere
child, and the latter's early years were spent under
the care of his mother, a native of Connecticut, and
a woman of rare mental activity and great force of
character, who, after the death of her husband, took
entire charge of the family ; and to her careful
training the doctor ascribes much of his success in

236

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

life. His early education was gained in the com
mon schools of the neighborhood and in the
academies of Lowville and Denmark, in Lewis
County, and that of Fairfield, in Herkimer County.
Having passed his early years at his birthplace, at
times teaching school, at the age of twenty-one he
determined upon the study of medicine for his pro
fession, and began reading at twenty-three, when
he entered the Albany Medical College, registering
as a student in the office of the late Dr. James
H. Armsby, of Albany. Graduating in 1846 with
the degree of Doctor in Medicine, Dr. Swinburne
determined to make Albany his home, and opened
an office for the practice of his profession. In 1847
he was appointed Demonstrator of Anatomy in the
Albany Medical College, and continued to teach
that branch of medicine for several years. In 1 8 5 1
he received his first public appointment, being
made an almshouse physician at a time when what
was known as "ship fever" was raging as an epidemic,
treating during his term of office over eight hundred
cases, and finally falling a victim to the disease
himself. From this time up to the breaking out of the Re
bellion the Doctor devoted his time to his private
practice, which was constantly enlarging. In 1861
he was again called upon to give his services to the
public, and was put in charge of the sick at the re
cruiting depot in Albany, serving as chief medical
officer on the staff of Gen. John F. Rathbone.
Until the spring of 1862 he remained at this post,
1,470 sick passing under his care, out of which
large number only twelve died. April 7, 1862,
Dr. Swinburne was appointed one of the auxiliary
corps of volunteer surgeons who went from the
State of New York to the war, serving without pay.
He proceeded to Fortress Monroe, and shortly
after his arrival received orders to report for duty
to Dr. Tripler, Medical Director of the Army of
the Potomac. In company with Drs. Willard,
Coggswell and Lansing, of Albany, he set out for
the White House, the head of navigation on the
Pamunkey River, where Dr. Tripler had his head
quarters, reaching there May 18. The establish
ment of a hospital at this place, to which the
wounded could be sent from the front, being de
cided upon, Dr. Swinburne and his companions
were requested to found the same. After render
ing valuable services at this station, the Doctor,
early in June, returned to Albany, and on the 12th
of that month (1862) received a commission from
Gov. Morgan, as Medical Superintendent of the New
York State wounded soldiers, and was sent to Wash
ington with a letter from the Governor to the Secre
tary of War. Upon the Secretary's indorsement, Sur
geon-General Hammond entered into a contract
with Dr. Swinburne for "medical and surgical
services to be rendered with the Army of the Poto
mac," and the Doctor accordingly again reported
to Medical Director Tripler. In section 9, Special
Orders of the War Department, appears the following:
"Acting Assistant Surgeon John Swinburne will report
to Surgeon J. J. Milhau, U. S. A., Medical Director, Third
Army Corps, for special duty at Savage's Station.
" By command, Major-Gen. McClellan."

With this order the Doctor immediately complied,
receiving further orders to establish a general hos
pital at Savage's Station, Virginia, of which he was
to take charge, with instructions to make requi
sitions for the necessary materials and stores.
With his accustomed energy, the Doctor set about
the work given him to do, but unforeseen difficul
ties arose, greatly delaying the construction of the
hospital. On the 26th of June, when the hospital
was not more than half prepared, owing to the non
fulfillment of his requisitions, wounded men began
to be brought in in large numbers, and the Doc
tor's surgical labors began. On the 28th he was
informed by Dr. Tripler that it would be necessary
for him to remain at the hospital, the army being
about to change its base of operations, which
would put the enemy in possession of Savage's Sta
tion in a few hours, at the same time giving him a
letter from Gen. McClellan to the Commander of
the Confederate forces explaining his (the Doc
tor's) position. After the action of Sunday evening,
the 29th, the hospital, with all it contained, was in
the hands of the Confederates. From this time up
to the 26th of July Dr. Swinburne remained with
his charge, struggling with his assistants through
increasing hardships and privations, day by day
having less of the necessaries for the proper man
agement of the sick and wounded, buying food for
the hospital with his own funds, until at last, after
repeated communications with the authorities in
Richmond, on the 26th of July orders came allow
ing the removal of the sick and wounded, with
their attendants, to City Point. Reaching the
latter place on the 27th, the Doctor turned over
his' command to the proper officers and returned
to Albany on sick leave, suffering from a chronic
dysentery brought on by exposure and improper
food. In the winter of 1862-63 he and Dr. Willard
were appointed by the State Medical Society a com
mittee to confer with the Legislature upon the sub
ject of the further relief of the wounded, the result
of such conference being the unanimous passage
of a bill granting $200,000, to be applied to the care
of the sick and wounded of the State of New York,
and the Doctor was once more sent to the front.
Returning again in 1864, he was appointed by Gov.
Seymour (Democrat) Health Officer of the Port
of New York, and had the satisfaction of having his
nomination unanimously confirmed by a Republi
can Senate. At that time the provisions for a quar
antine station were very inadequate, and the Legis
lature, acting upon the suggestions of the Doctor,
began the construction of the two artificial islands
in the lower bay now used for that purpose. The
idea of building an island in fifteen feet of water,
exposed to the force of storms and tides from 3,000
miles of the Atlantic Ocean beating against it, was
deemed almost impossible, but the Doctor demon
strated it could be done, and to his energy and
perseverance New York is indebted for one of the
best planned quarantine stations in the world.
In recognition of this distinguished service, the
Legislature, by an act, named the first of the two
islands thus constructed " Swinburne Island

Atlantic TuliIisTiuig &Ijigii7iri£ CoTTwTurk

Uyrtsi^4/-~^/U^AaLr

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

237

Hospital." Up to 1870 Dr. Swinburne remained at
quarantine ; he then went abroad with his family,
being desirous of rest and recreation. But he was
not a man who could "take his ease at his inn."
The Franco-Prussian war having broken out, Dr.
Swinburne, being in London, on September 4, 1870,
received an earnest request from Minister Wash
burne and the American Sanitary Commission to
come to Paris and take charge of the American Am
bulance in that city. Laying aside his personal
comfort, he acceded to the request, and lost no
time in reaching Paris. There he remained as
Surgeon-in-Chief of the American Ambulance un
til March, 1871, leaving as the Commune was
coming into power. How highly his labors were
appreciated by the American International San
itary Committee we will leave Dr. Thomas Evans,
President of the Committee, to state. In his report
of the doings of the American Ambulance, the
distinguished physician says :
' ' In securing the services of Dr. John Swinburne as Sur
geon-in-Chief of the Ambulance, the committee was partic
ularly fortunate. Dr. Swinburne was a surgeon par excel
lence. He had had an extensive professional experience,
and had obtained a justly acquired and widely-known home
reputation. Thoroughly acquainted with military medicine
and the constitution and management of army hospitals, an
earnest advocate of conservative surgery, an enthusiast even as
regards the conservative treatment of compound-fractures, a
skillful operator whenever operations were required, he pos
sessed a rare and highly valuable quality — a knowledge of the
way how to deal with men ; in a word, he knew how to man
age both his patients and his assistants; and not infrequently
was he called upon to exercise this special knowledge.
Associated, as he was constantly, with a body of forty or
fifty persons, all volunteers, holding a certain social posi
tion, uncontrolled by the restraints of a military discipline,
all naturally ambitious to excel, and perhaps occasionally
even over-jealous of the success of their fellows, Doctor
Swinburne knew how to direct these energetic elements,
obtain from them the largest amount of labor, and maintain
in every department of his service his own personal as
cendancy. " — (See ' ' Sanitary Associations During the Fran
co-German War," Vol. I, 1870-71.)
In recognition of his services, Dr. Swinburne
had the rare distinction conferred upon him by the
French Government of being made a Knight of
the Legion of Honor, also receiving the Red Cross
of Geneva. Having finished his labors in the Am
bulance, he resumed his travels, spending his time
in different parts of Europe until the fall of 187 1,
when he returned to his home in Albany.
A predominant feature of Dr. Swinburne's prac
tice has been conservative surgery, especially in
the treatment of fractures. Shortly after graduating
in medicine he directed his attention to treating
fractures upon other principles than those in vogue
at that date, and in 1848 he discarded the use of
such splints, bandages and apparatus as were gen
erally employed, relying upon extension alone to
accomplish the sought-for result. Such a depar
ture was a bold procedure, and after having fully
tested and proved his method of treatment, in both
private and hospital practice, in 1859 he published
in the Transactions Medical Society of the State
New York of that year an article on the treat
ment of these injuries by extension. During this
year he also reported a case of death by the entrance
of air into the uterine sinuses (caused by an abor

tionist), at which time it was said and believed to
be almost the only case of the kind on record. —
(Philadelphia Medical and Surgical Reporter, 18 sp. )
In 1 86 1 appeared another paper on the treatment
of fractures by simple extension and counter-exten
sion. — (Transactions of the Medical Society of the
State of New York, 186 1. ) In the next year a re
view of the case of the People against Rev. Henry
Budge, indicted for the murder of his wife, tried at
Oneida, N. Y., in August and September, 1861, in
which Dr. Swinburne forcibly criticised the medical
testimony of the defense, and combatted the ground
assumed by them by numerous experiments. —
(Transactions of the Medical Society of ihe State of
New York, 1862. ) In the same year he also pub
lished in the Medical and Surgical Reporter of Phila
delphia a synopsis of the trial of Hendrickson, who
poisoned his wife by the administration of aconite.
This trial also caused much discussion in the medical
world, and although the Doctor was severely handled
by other professional men for his views as expressed
when on the witness stand, he proved his position to
have been perfectly correct. In 1863 he published
his report to Surgeon-General Hammond, with his
experiences in the Peninsular campaign, " Resection
of Joints and Conservative Surgery. " — (Transactions
of the Medical Society of the State of New York,
186 j.) In 1864 two more papers in the same
journal, one upon " Compound Comminuted Gun
shot Fractures of the Thigh ; ~the Means for their
Transportation and Treatment ;" and the other the
"Report of the Committees appointed by the
Society to Confer with the Governor and Legisla
ture relative to the Additional Relief of the Sick
and Wounded Soldiers from the State of New York. "
The Doctor also proposed and advocated for the
transportation of those suffering from fractures of
the leg or thigh a stretcher so arranged that exten
sion and counter-extension could be maintained
without pain or discomfort to the patient, or any
material alteration of the stretcher. — (Lessons in
Hygiene and Surgery, by Dr. Gorden, C. B. ;
Transactions of the Medical Society of the State of
New York, 1864.) He also strongly advocated the
resection of shoulder joints instead of amputation,
and many are the grateful letters he has since re
ceived from those whose limbs he saved to them.
In 1863 Dr. Swinburne was elected a permanent
member of the Medical Society of the State of
New York. In November, 1872, he was chosen
president of the Medical Society of Albany County.
In 1876 he was chosen Professor of Fractures and
Dislocations and Clinical Surgery in the Albany
Medical College. He was one of the four surgeons
to the Albany Hospital from its foundation up to
1864 ; also consulting surgeon to St. Peter's
Hospital, and for a number of years has been
surgeon-in-chief of the Homoeopathic and Child's
Hospitals. In 1879 he established in the City of
Albany a Dispensary for the treatment of all man
ner of diseases and fractures. This Dispensary was
established on a humanitarian basis, where the
sick, maimed and lame were invited to come and
be made whole, without money and without price.
From its foundation the Doctor has himself had a

238

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

general supervision of all that was going on, and
had as assistants a corps of surgeons trained under
his own tuition in conservative surgery. In ad
dition to his large private practice nearly 60,000
people have been treated at the dispensary up to
the close of last year, at least 25,000 of these being
surgical cases. For the year 1884 the register gives
the number of new cases treated as 7,502, of which
4,340 were medical cases and the remaining 3,156
surgical. During the year 250 fractures were
treated, 178 of which were of the upper extremities
and the remainder of the lower limbs. In the
treatment there has not occurred one poor result,
a record unequaled by any institution in the annals
of surgery. During this period not an amputation
of any nature has been performed, the Doctor
maintaining that the too frequently indulged in use
of the amputating knife is barbarism. His con
servative doctrine is to save the limb and help
nature in the work of curing. He has paid out of
his private funds upward of $5, 000 per annum to
carry on his dispensary since its foundation, and
now proposes, if the State will not do so, to found
a dispensary in addition to ihe one he now runs
for the care and treatment exclusively of injured
railroad men.
His career in public life has been almost as
marked as that of his professional.
In 1882, the citizens of Albany, irrespective of
party, organized to effect a reform in the municipal
affairs of the city, and after much persuasion in
duced the Doctor to run as the People's candidate
for the mayoralty. The election was a bitterly
contested one on the part of the ring, who
desired to retain power, and on the part of the citi
zens, who demanded a reform. By a manipulation
of ballots the voice of the people was frustrated and
his opponent inducted into the office. The frauds,
however, were too glaring, and at a public meeting
the evening after the results were announced the
people there convened decided to commence legal
action to set aside the declaration and award the
office to Dr. Swinburne. After nearly a year and
a half of maneuvering in court by the incumbent's
counsel, in taking advantage of the law's delays, the
case was finally set for a definite day for trial. As
soon as this judicial order was made, the incum
bent, Michael N. Nolan, resigned the office, and Dr.
Swinburne, by order of the court, took possession.
In the spring of 1884, he was again nominated by
the citizens and indorsed by the Republicans, but
was again counted out by a small majority. Suffer
ing at the time from blood poisoning, having been
infected while performing an operation, he could
not and would not consent to a contest for the
office in the courts, although his friends were satis
fied they could prove a large majority in his favor,
and went west for his health. Returning home
with his powers recuperated and his vigor restored,
he was greeted with a reception unequaled in
previous days, the streets being figuratively a mass
of blocked humanity. The citizens again as
sembled, and knowing there was more protection
at the ballot box in national than civic elections,
and appreciating the worth and ability of the Doctor,

nominated him for Congress. The nomination
was indorsed by the Republicans, and when the
ballot was counted it was found that he had a
majority of 2, 504 over the then sitting member,
T. J. Van Alstyne, recognized as one of the very
strongest men in the district. By this election the
political complexion of Albany County was changed
over 7,000 votes.
Dr. Swinburne was married in 1847 to Miss
Harriet Judson, of Albany, by whom he has had
four children, one of whom is living.

SAMUEL BALDWIN WARD.
The ancestry of an eminent physician is always
important to those who would intelligently study
his career and character. The study will explain
what debt he owes to the past and to circumstan
ces, and to what measure he has been the architect
of his own fortune. We are all of us sensible
enough to know that good birth, in the American
significance of the word, is a valuable fact in the
same sense in which good health is, and that
creditable as unaided effort or the overcoming of
difficulties is, they whose equipment for the labor
of life has been insured by nurture, counsel and
culture are most apt to prove themselves com
pletely competent for the manifold duties of pro
fessional work in the world. The pride of "self-
made " men, who are as a rule half-made men,
and who invariably worship their creator, is in the
fact of their having attained to such a position of
strength as will enable them to give to their child
ren the initial advantages which were denied to
themselves. No "self-made" man expects his
sons to be " self-made " men. He wants them to
escape the hardships of their father. He desires to
make the beginnings of life easier for them than
they were for himself. The conquest of early
obstacles is laudable. The necessity to encounter
them is regretable. They consume time and effort
which must be subtracted from the act of starting.
Both the fact of a sturdy ancestry of achieving
freemen and the fact of careful preparation for his
profession must be predicated of the cultivated
physician and surgeon of whom we write. Lebbeus
Baldwin Ward, the father of our subject, who was
born in New Jersey, April 7, 1 800, and who died
in New York City, June 15, 1885, was directly
descended through his father from revolutionary
soldiery, and though his mother from the celebra
ted Dod family of Newark and Princeton,
renowned as teachers and exponents of natural
forces, and conspicuously identified with the institu
tions and literature of science. The mother of Dr.
Ward, nee Miss Abby Dwight Pratt, of Hatfield,
Massachusetts, was descended through both
parents from the best Old England and New
England stock, and was the daughter of a clergy
man of marked strength of intellect and character.
The father of Dr. Ward, whose recent death be
came the occasion of marked tribute to his worth
and deeds by the press of the State, was first an
engine builder and then a maker of wrought-iron

T+aaL

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

239

forgings, being the founder of the Hammersley
Forge Works, at the foot of Fifty-ninth street, New
York, on the North River. He was an occupant
of many business, judiciary and religious trusts, a
member of the State Assembly when the position
was honorable in fact as well as in designation,
and a Commissioner of the Metropolitan Board of
Police, in the first years of its establishment.
Of Revolutionary and Puritan forces the repre
sentative, Samuel B. Ward was born in New York
City on June 8, 1842, in the large stone house
which his father had built in the English style,
near the forge works, as a homestead. Early in
life he put forth the evidences of the qualities which
have since conspicuously marked him. He was
studious, practical, a lover of nature, fond of
physical sports and accomplishments. He was
generous, unsuspicious and winningly frank.
He had the ability to inspire confidence among
fhose with whom he contended for the prizes of
youth in manly emulation. The society of an
ideal home made his progress in the studies of
boyhood easy, inciting and rewarding, and at the
age of 16 he entered Columbia College in his
native city, well prepared for the course of training
to which he was subjected in that institution. He
graduated with honors in 1861. Not only did he
stand among its first in academic honors, but he
was chosen by his classmates to the highest posi
tions within the gift of their friendly suffrages.
His scholarship and his popularity were thus
attested on the threshold of his active life. After a
year of as much study as slower or duller men
diffuse into three years, young Ward was appoint
ed a medical cadet in the United States Army.
The position enabled him to combine with the
continued study of medicine and surgery such
clinical instruction and such administrative experi
ence as were extremely valuable. In 1863 he was
commissioned by President Lincoln an Acting
Assistant Surgeon of the United States Army, and
in 1864 an Assistant Surgeon of the United States
Volunteers, a little in advance of the completion of
his medical studies, which he successfully pursued
in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New
York, and in the medical department of George
town University, in the District of Columbia. He
was matriculated from the latter school.. The
army medical experience of Dr. Ward was mainly
that comprised by hospital service in Washington,
Alexandria and the vicinity. It was such as
brought him into contact with a great variety of
complaints and injuries. It enabled him to work
with and under the ablest minds in his profession.
It familiarized him with the relations of govern
ment service to great sanitary undertakings. It
devolved large responsibilities on him, and he
showed coolness, readiness and resource in meet
ing them.
At the close of the war, though accorded the op
portunity of remaining in the service of the
government in the line of his profession, Dr. Ward
began the practice of it in his native city. He
was made Professor of Anatomy and then of Sur
gery in the Women's Medical College. He met

with decided success in the practice of his profes
sion. His class lectures at the first showed that
crispness, aptness and directness, the ability to en
lighten and to incite students, which they possess
in marked degree. He was chosen a member of
the Northwestern Medical and Surgical Society of
the metropolis and was made its secretary. He
began and has since continued the contribution of
accounts of cases to the Medical Record and to the
New York Medical fournal. He became and has
remained an active companion of the first class of
the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. In 1871,
he married the late Nina N. Wheeler, daughter of
William A. Wheeler, Esq., of New York City, of
whom death bereaved him in October, 1 883. Dur
ing his residence in New York Dr. Ward was
elected Assistant Surgeon of the famous Seventh
Regiment, with the rank of captain, on June 1,
1872, a position he held until June 12, 1876, the
year in which he removed to Albany.
The activities and honors of his profession have
crowded on this gentleman at the State capital.
His position as the Professor of Pathology, Prac
tice, Clinical Medicine and Hygiene in the Medical
College of Albany has made him widely known
throughout the profession. He has long been the
surgeon of the Fifth Brigade, formerly the Ninth
Brigade of the State National Guard. He has,
since September, 1883, been a member of the
Board of Health of the city, and since January,
1885, one of the Civil Service Examiners for State
officers. A member of the New York County and
Albany County Medical Societies, Dr. Ward has
several times been elected a delegate to the
American Medical Association, and he is a per
manent member of the State Medical Society. In
all the movements of his profession, within the
capital or the State, he has been required to become
meritedly prominent on the demand of his
brethren, while the State and municipal authorities
have availed themselves of his knowledge and skill
in the counsel they have taken touching large
sanitary subjects. He became A. M. by the act of
Columbia College, his alma mater, in 1864, and he
received the degree of Ph. D. from Union Univer
sity on June 28, 1882. In 1885 hewas confirmed
by the Board of Regents of the University of the
State as a member of the executive committee of
the State Normal School, at Albany, in place of
the Hon. St. Clair McKelway, resigned.
The citation of the proofs of professional and
public preferment could be continued. But enough
has been given to serve the purpose of showing
that Dr. Ward has won a distinguished position in
his profession alike by the concession of its mem
bers and in the opinion of the public. The
enumeration of the dignities and trusts he has re
ceived does not touch the question of his personality;
neither can the essentially narrative nature of an
outline biography do so. Those who stand to
him in the relation of personal friends or profes
sional colleagues know that there are few men in
the world of so attractive and worthy personal
parts, and that his culture, knowledge and judg
ment, developed by study and labor in his own

240

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

SYLVESTER D. WILLARD, M. D.

land and by study and travel in many foreign
countries, are as distinctive and pronounced as are
his qualities of fellowship. As the physician and the
friend, the best record he has made is in the
hearts of those with whose sorrows and joys his
own life has been blended. That record is un-
reportable and sacredly privileged from the public
gaze. SYLVESTER D. WILLARD, M. D.
Dr. Sylvester David Willard was born in
Wilton, Conn., June 19, 1825, and died in
Albany, April 2, 1865. He came of the same
family as those eminent divines, the Rev. Samuel
Willard and the Rev. Dr. Joseph Willard, the former
of whom was a Vice-President and the latter Presi
dent of Harvard College. His father was a highly
respectable physician and an honored citizen ; his
mother, who was of a much esteemed family of
Albany, was a lady of great moral and Christian
worth. Young Willard received his literary train
ing at an academy in his native place. In the fall
of 1845 he came to Albany, upon invitation of
his relative, Dr. Wing, with whom he became a
student. He entered the Albany Medical College,
graduating therefrom in the winter of 1848.
After serving for some time as an assistant to Dr.
Wing, he began practice on his own responsibility,
and very early attracted the attention and the confi
dence of that eminent citizen, the late Dr. T. Romeyn

Beck, to whom, perhaps, more than to any other
individual, he was indebted for the earliest expres
sions of public respect and confidence that were
awarded to him. Shortly after he began practice
he became connected with the Albany County
Medical Society, and served successively as its
secretary, vice-president and president. In 1858
he was a delegate to the State Medical Society,
and was appointed its permanent secretary, an
office which he signally honored, especially by
preparing each successive year, with great ability,
a volume of the Society's transactions.
From the opening of the Rebellion, in 1861, his
whole heart went into every movement connected
therewith; and, in the spring of 1862, he went,
with two other prominent physicians of Albany, to
act as a volunteer surgeon to the Army of the
Potomac. From Fortress Monroe he proceeded to
White House, where he was invested with an
important agency in establishing a large field hos
pital, which brought immediate relief to many
hundreds of our wounded soldiers. During a brief
sojourn there, he suffered the severest hardships
of labor and exposure, and contracted a disease
which developed itself more fully after his return,
and which there is some reason to believe was never
entirely dislodged from his constitution. He made
one or two attempts afterward to return to this field
of labor, but was obliged to abandon his object.
But the most important public enterprise in
which Dr. Willard engaged was the establishment

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

241

of an institution for the relief of the chronic
insane. His mind had been directed to this sub
ject for a considerable time, and he had collected
a vast amount of information bearing upon it,
which he had embodied in a luminous and
elaborate report That report had met with a
most respectful attention from the Legislature,
and everything indicated the speedy carrying out
of the plan which he had proposed, when Dr.
Willard found that his days of activity on earth
were numbered. The Willard Asylum for the
Insane, so named as a memorial of him, has
been established since his decease. At the time
of his death he was holding the positions of
Secretary of the State Medical Society, Examining
Surgeon for the Pension Office, and Surgeon-Gen
eral of the State, all of which were to him posts of
arduous labor and unceasing fidelity. But the
duties of these offices, in addition to his more
private professional engagements and other diver
sified claims upon his time, imposed upon
him a burden greater than his physical constitution
was able to bear. A sudden attack of disease,
superinduced by excessive exertion, accomplished
its fatal work within a very few days. The
solemnities of his funeral, as well as the warm
memorial tributes of different bodies, including the
Legislature of the State, furnished the most un
questionable evidence that his death was regarded
as a public calamity.
Dr. Willard's intellectual character was marked
by quick perception, sound judgment, retentive
memory, and much more than the ordinary power
of analysis and investigation. A diligent student
of books and a close observer of men and things,
he acquired a very large amount of general as well
as professional knowledge, and he devoted much
time to the local history and biography of the
medical profession, the results of which appear in
"Albany Medical Annals," Vol. i. He possessed
large executive ability, and power of readily bring
ing other minds into harmony with his own. He
had, moreover, an exquisite taste, an eye to discern
whatever is beautiful in nature or art, and the deli
cacy of his perceptions, especially in regard to
architectural proportions, was well-nigh unrivaled.
His moral qualities were akin to his intellectual
ones. He had great simplicity and directness of
character. With him the question, ' ' what is right ?"
was all absorbing, and he sought to settle it by
light from above and from within, without listening
to the pleas of expediency or of imagined self-
interest. His spirit was eminently genial and
cheerful, and, with his fine intellectual qualities and
more than ordinarily attractive manners, rendered
him a most agreeable companion. He was, withal,
a man of great benevolence. There was a chord
strung in his heart that vibrated quickly to every
form of human suffering.
But the intellectual and moral qualities with
which Dr. Willard was originally endowed were
essentially modified in their action by the influences
of Christianity. When about sixteen years old,
during an extensive revival of religion in his
native place, he entered upon the Christian life,
31

and shortly after he joined the Congregational
Church at Wilton, and on his becoming a resident
of Albany transferred his membership to the Second
Presbyterian Church of this city, which was unbroken
during the remainder of his life. For several years
he superintended the mission school in Lydius
street with great fidelity and success, though it
must have been at no small inconvenience, in view
of his daily professional engagements. In his med
ical practice he often prescribed for the spiritual
as well as the physical man. The grand enterprise
for the relief of one of the most terrible forms of
human woe, which he had so much at heart in his
last days, was evidently prosecuted not merely
from considerations of public expediency, nor yet
merely or chiefly from the influences of a naturally
benevolent spirit, but from those higher principles
and feelings which it is the province of Christianity
alone to inspire.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES OF SOME
PHYSICIANS.
William Howard Bailey was born in Bethle
hem, Albany County, December 28, 1825. He
was the seventh ' child of Dr. Solomon Bailey.
When about five years of age his father discontin
ued • the active practice of his profession and re
tired to a farm. His father had always manifested
a great interest in the education of the young, and
was for years the active school officer of the town.
His family received his first and continued atten
tion, and to him more than to the schools in the
neighborhood were they indebted for their educa
tional foundation upon which to build in after life.
After the death of his father, which occurred when
he was thirteen years of age, he continued his
studies at Albany Academy, the Academy at Utica,
the State Normal School at Albany, and the
Seminary at Cazenovia. Five years he devoted to
teaching. While having the charge of the Union
school in Trumansburg, he commenced the study
of medicine. He continued it all spare hours
during the two years that he had charge of male
academy in Cassetor, Alabama. He returned to
his native county, attended lectures at the Albany
Medical College, from which he graduated in 1853.
His mother, living in Utica, induced him to com
mence the practice of his profession there, but in
September, 1854, he removed to Albany, where he
has been in practice since. He was made mem
ber of the Albany County Medical Society in 1854;
was four years its treasurer, delegate to the Medical
Society of the State of New York, and President of
the County Society; was made a permanent mem
ber of the Medical Society of the State of New
York in 1864, and was Secretary of the same from
1865 to 1875. He was elected President in 1880.
He received the honorary degree of M. D. from
Soule University, Texas, in 1871, and the degree
of LL. D., in 1877, from the Washington and Jeff
erson College, Penn. He was elected . Alderman
of Albany in 1874. In 1882 he was appointed
one of the consulting board of the Hudson River
State Hospital for the Insane at Poughkeepsie, a

242

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

position he continues to hold. ' He was Obstetrician
several years at Albany Hospital ; also U. S. Ex
amining Surgeon for Pensions.
0. D. Ball was born, 1 840, in Otsego County ;
educated at Hartwick Seminary; received his A.
M. degree at Union College ; entered the army in
1 861; served as Regimental Quartermaster, Third
New York Artillery; as Ordnance Officer, Third
Division, Eighteenth Army Corps, and Assistant
Adjutant-General, Department N. C. Graduated
in medicine from New York College of Physicians
and Surgeons, 1867; practiced medicine in Otsego
County until 1874; then removed to Albany, and
continued the practice ever since. Was Coroner
of Otsego County three years; President of Otsego
County Medical Society, and for three years Dem
onstrator of Anatomy in Albany Medical Col
lege. James F. Barker was born in Schenectady
in 1 85 1. He is of New England ancestry. He
graduated from Union College in 1874. He studied
under Dr. James H. Armsby, of Albany, and
graduated from the Medical College in that city in
1877. In the same year he began practicing With
Dr. Gideon H. Armsby. He is a member of the
Albany County Medical Society. Among the papers
written by him is a biographical sketch of Dr.
Gideon H. Armsby, who died in 1882.
Ezra Albert Bartlett comes of a historic
family,, his great-grandfather, Josiah Bartlett,
M. D., being one of the signers of the Declaration of
Independence. Dr. Bartlett served three years in
Battery " M," Fourth U. S. Artillery, during the
war of the Rebellion. He received the degree of
A. B. from Rochester University in 1870, and
that of M. D. from Albany Medical College in
1879, since which he has practiced in Albany. He
was married in 1871 to Miss Jennie Sargent, of
Rochester, N. Y. The name of Bartlett abounds
in every department of literary and professional
life in this country, especially in New England.
Herman Bendell began practicing in Albany
in 1876. He has met with success;- and while
he is well versed as a general physician, he
has made his specialty diseases of the eye and ear.
In this difficult branch he has acquired high repu
tation. He is a member of the Board of Public
Instruction, and has been its President for one
term. John Milton Bigelow was born in Albany,
August 22, 1846. He graduated from Albany Aca
demy in 1863, from Williams College in 1866, from
the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York
City, in 1869, and received the degree of M. D.
from the Albany Medical College in 1870. He
began practice in Albany. His specialty is diseases
of the throat, air passages and heart. He is a
member of the County Medical Society, and the
State Society. He was County Physician for 1876
and 1877. In 1870 he was appointed Professor
of Materia Medica and Therapeutics and Attending
Physician to the Albany Hospital, and in 1876 to
St. Peter's Hospital. He has written papers on
"Idiopathic Peritonitis," "Croup," " Hyperi-

drosis," "Tobacco Poisoning," and other sub
jects. Joseph H. Blatner, of German descent, was
born in Albany, August 20, 1848. He attended
private schools, the Albany Academy, Amherst and
Williams Colleges, and graduated from the Albany
Medical College in 1872. He studied abroad for
two and one-half years, entering at Leipsic, Prague
and Vienna, and visiting the large hospitals of
Germany, England and France. While at Prague
he received the degree of M. A. O. During the first
two years of his practice he was in partnership
with Dr. A. Vanderveer. He was a member of
the Albany Dispensary Staff, and is a member of
the Albany County Medical Society. His spe
cialties are obstetrics and diseases of women and
children. Richard J. Brown was born in 1849, in
Lanark, Perth County, Canada. He attended
school there until 1 7 years of age, when he entered
the printing office of the Perth Standard. He was
a reporter for one year ; then went on the Toronto
Globe. He left this business and entered St.
Michael's College, Toronto. After meeting with
many reverses he removed to Albany in 1870,
making it his home ever since. He entered the
office of Swinburne & Balch, graduated from the
Albany Medical College, and, in 18S1, began the
practice of his profession.
Frederick Luke Classen was born in Albany,
July 7, 1857. He was educated in the public
schools, graduating from the High School ; gradu
ated from Albany Medical College in 1881, and at
once began practice. He is a member of the Al
bany County Medical Society, and has been one
of its Censors. He has held, since 1883, the posi
tion of Coroner's Physician. His specialty is dis
eases of the throat and lungs. He is author of
' ' Aneurism of the Aorta," " Water as a Surgical
Dressing," and " Hydro Nephrosis."
John Bliss Conklin was born in Sand Lake,
Rensselaer County, in 1832. His family moved to
Illinois in 1 884. He graduated at Chicago Medi
cal College in 1852. He read homoeopathy and
graduated in that school in Detroit in 1854. He
practiced in Bennington, Vt, one year. Made
cancers a specialty, and practiced in Buffalo, N. Y. ,
six months ; in San Francisco, Cal. , eighteen
months ; and in Mexico, six months. Returning,
he settled in Albany in 1862, where he has since
continued practicing his profession.
Charles M. Culver was born at West Troy,
September 28, 1856. He graduated from Union
College in 1878, and from Albany Medical College
in 188 1. He attended at the University of Berlin
for eight months, going thence to Paris, where
his studies were pursued for ten months ; thence
to London, returning to Albany in 1883, where
he began practice as an oculist and aurist. He
is a member of the Albany County Medical
Society. During the present year, his translation
from the French of Dr. Landolt's (Paris) work
on "Refraction and Accommodation of the Eye"
will be published.

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

243

Frederic C, Curtis, though of New England
parentage, was born in South Carolina. He
graduated from Beloit College in 1866, and
received his M. D. from the College of Physicians
and Surgeons, New York, in 1870, after which he
took a year of travel in Europe. He was estab
lished here in 1871. He is an ex-President of the
County Medical Society, permanent member of
theState Society, and member of American Public
Health Association and American Dermatological
Association, editor of "Albany Medical Annals,"
and of Vol. Ill of "County Society Transactions."
He is Professor of Skin Diseases in the Albany Med
ical College, and physician in the same department
in Albany and St. Peter's Hospitals. He is also a
member of the State Board of Health.
John Savage Delavan was born in Ballston,
Saratoga County, October 18, 1840. He was a
student at Military Institutes and at Union College.
He graduated from Albany Medical College in
1 86 1, practicing in Albany for one year. During
the Civil War he served as surgeon in various posi
tions. At the close of the war he returned to
Albany, and was appointed Pension Examining
Surgeon, which he held, with the exception of
about one year passed in Europe on account of
poor health, until 1875. Under the administra
tion of Mr. Hayes he was Vice-Consul at Geneva,
returning to Albany in 1879. He was appointed,
in 1880, one of the Commissioners of the State
Board of Health. His specialty is diseases of
women. He is author of many papers, among
which are '"Vital Registration," "Use of Alcohol
in Health," and a series of articles entitled " Obstet
ric Hints for Young Practitioners. "
Frank H. Fisk was born, August 6, 1853, in
Salisbury, Ct. He attended the public schools of
Bridgeport, Ct. ; studied medicine in Springfield,
Mass. ; graduated from Albany Medical College in
1882, and at once began his practice in Albany.
His specialty is surgery, and he has performed
many capital operations. He is a member of the
County Medical Society.
David Fleischman was born in Albany, March
12, 1859. He graduated from Albany High
School in 1875, Yale College in 1879, and Albany
Medical College in 1881. He began practice in
Albany in November, 1882; making throat dis
eases his specialty. He is the author of "Nasal
Polypus;" is a member of the County Society, and
physician for throat diseases in the Albany Hospi
tal. Samuel Huntington Freeman is a lineal descend
ant of Edward Freeman, who came from England
in 1635, and was one of the first settlers of Plym
outh. He is a grandson of Hon. Jonathan Freeman,
one of the founders of the township of Hanover,
N. H, and of Dartmouth College, of which he
was trustee and treasurer for forty years, and a
member of the. United States Congress when
Washington was President, a member of the Com
mittee of Safety during the Revolutionary War, and
filled many other important trusts in the history of

the State and Nation. Jonathan Freeman, Esq. ,
the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in
Hanover, N. H., where he was greatly esteemed
for his unostentatious charities and probity of
character. Besides filling other important offices of
trust, he was Justice of the Peace and Quorum
for more than forty years. Dr. Freeman was born
in Hanover, N. H, August 24, 1821, and was grad
uated at Dartmouth College in 1843. He studied
medicine at Dartmouth Medical College, and
graduated at the Albany Medical College in 1846.
He afterward became associated with his former
preceptor, Dr. James H. Armsby, as partner in
professional business, which continued for twelve
years. He has been an active member of the
Albany County Medical Society, and has contrib
uted monographs on various subjects of profes
sional interest. He was twice elected President of
this Society. His address on " Human Longev
ity and Hygiene " was published in the Transac
tions of the State Medical Society, of which he was
elected a permanent member in 1862. He mar
ried, in 1851, Sarah Elizabeth, daughter of Hon.
Gideon Hawley, of Albany. He is President of
the Board of Curators of the Albany Medical Col
lege, and a member of the Medical Staff of the
Albany Hospital, which positions he has filled for
many years;
George E. Gorham was born at Le Raysville,
Bradford County, Pa., November 8, 1850; attended
Le Raysville Academy and Waverly High School,
and graduated from Hahnemann College, Chicago,
111., in 1874. He located in Athens, Pa., remain
ing there until 1878, when he removed to Albany.
He is a member of the American Institute of Ho
moeopathy, the New York State Society, the Albany
County Society, and the Society of Northern New
York. He was Secretary and Treasurer of the
County Society, is now its Vice-President, and Sec
retary and Treasurer of Society for Northern New
York. He is the author of " Treatment of Croup
by Inhalation of Bromine," "Common Sense
Therapeutics," and "Acute Yellow Atrophy of the
Liver," with cases.
William Hailes, Jr., was born in Albany,
October 14, 1849. He was educated in the
public schools and at the Albany Classical Insti
tute under Prof. C. H. Anthony. During 1868
and 1869 he studied under the late Dr. Alden
March, and classified his notes, which had been
accumulating for fifty, years. During this time he
articulated a skeleton, which is yet in the College
Museum. He graduated from the Albany Medi
cal College in 1870, being class valedictorian, re
ceiving a competitive prize. In 1872 he estab
lished himself in practice in Albany, which has
been interrupted only by two trips abroad — one
taken in 187510 Germany and Italy; the other,
three years later, to Paris and London, where he
attended lectures. During 1869-71 he was resi
dent physician in the Albany Hospital, and is now
attending surgeon to the same, and to St. Peter's
Hospital. In 1872 he was Demonstrator of Anato
my; in 1873, Lecturer on Surgical Dressings and

244

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Appliances; and since 1874 has been Professor of
Histology and Pathological Anatomy in the Albany
Medical College. He has daily classes in practical
microscopy, held in Alumni Hall of the college. He
frequently lectures before medical and other societies
upon technical, scientific and popular subjects.
He has performed many capital operations, his
specialties being surgery, cathology and micros
copy. - He is Vice-President of the County Medi
cal Society, and delegate to the British Medical
and New York State societies.
William N. Hays was born in New Scot
land, Albany County, in 1850. He studied higher
mathematics, natural sciences and classics at Falley
and Whitestown seminaries until 1872. He then
began the study of medicine with Prof. James H.
Armsby, and graduated with honors from the Al
bany Medical College, in 1875. He has been resi
dent physician at the Albany Hospital.
Nelson Hunting was born in Wrights, Scho
harie County, November 21, 1837; attended the
Academy in Gallupville, the State Normal School,
Albany, and graduated from New York Homoeo
pathic Medical College in 1869. He practiced
for three years in Gallupville, removing to Albany
in 1872. He is a member of the American Insti
tute of Homoeopathy, the New York State Society
and the Albany County Society.
Alfred B. Huested received his diploma from
the Albany Medical College in 1863, and in
1 868 opened a retail drug store on the corner of
Eagle and Daniel streets. Dr. Huested, in Sep
tember, 1883, was appointed Professor of Botany
-and Materia Medica in the Albany College of Phar
macy, of which he was one of the founders ; and
in July, 1884, a member of the State Board of
Pharmacy. P. J. Keegan is a well-known physician and
surgeon of Albany. Formerly he was house physi
cian at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, and is
now visiting surgeon to St. Peter's Hospital, Home
for the Aged, and of the Little Sisters of the Poor
at Albany.
Uriah B. LaMoure was born, March 4, 1844,
in Albany; attended the Albany Academy; gradu
ated from the Albany Medical College in 1878,
and began practice. He is member of Albany
County Medical Society, and is now its treasurer.
He received the appointment of County Physician
four years ago, which he still holds. His specialty
is diseases arising from the abuse of stimulants.
Maurice J. Lewi was born in Albany on the ist
day of December, 1857. After graduating from
the Albany Free Academy (High School) he took
a private Cornell course with Prof. Altmeyer, at the
same time taking up the study of medicine. He
graduated in January, 1877, and acted as class
orator. Was appointed to the house staff of the
Albany Hospital, serving for one and one-half
years. He continued his studies in 1878, at the
University of Heidelberg, and in 1879 at the Vienna
University, where he became one of the assistants
in the Children's Hospital under Prof. Widerhofer.

On his return from Europe he commenced the act
ive practice of medicine, devoting himself more
particularly to diseases of women and children, on
which subjects he has delivered several courses of
lectures in the Albany Medical College. He is an
ex-President of the Academy of Medicine, has been
Secretary of the Albany County Medical Society,
member of the Executive Committee of the Alum
ni Association, and is connected with the Dispen
sary Staff of the Albany Hospital. He has con
tributed variously to the literature of medicine,
more particularly in his special branches of prac
tice. He is a member of various fraternal bodies,
and at present senior deacon of Wadsworth Lodge,
No. 417, of Free Masons.
John McAllister was born in Brooklyn, March
5, 1858, and attended the Catholic Brothers' Col
lege, Chicago, 111., and the public schools of Al
bany ; graduated from Albany Medical College in
1879, and at once began practice. His specialty
is insanity and diseases of the nervous system ;
often called to testify as an expert. He is a mem
ber of the Albany County Medical Society.
Henry March, son of Dr. Alden March,
was born at Albany, N. Y, December 13, 1827.
He was educated in New Haven and Fairfield,
Conn., and in Albany, graduating from Albany
Medical College in 1853. He is a member of
Albany County Medical Society, of the New York
State Medical Society, of the American Medical
Association, and Curator of the Albany Medical
College. He was president of the County Society
in 1876, and its treasurer in 1863. He is the
author of papeis, read before the County Society,
on " Anesthetic Agents," " Polypus of Uterus,"
"Paracentesis-Thoracis," etc.; and "A Biograph
ical Sketch of Jeremiah O. Havens, M. D."
During the civil war he served for a brief period
as volunteer surgeon. In 1862 he married a
daughter of Walter R. Bush, Esq., of Troy, N. Y.
Dr. March is a director of the Y. M. C. A, and
manager of the City Tract and Missionary Society.
Henry E. Mereness was born at Sharon Center,
Schoharie County, March 19, 1849. He was edu
cated at the public schools, Fort Plain Seminary,
Knoxville Academy, and the State Normal School
at Albany, where he graduated in 1869. He
studied medicine with Dr. James H. Armsby, and
graduated from the Albany Medical College in
1874, and began practice in Albany. His spe
cialty is obstetrics. He was valedictorian of his
class, and was for some time Treasurer of the Al
bany County Medical Society. Since 1879 has
been Acting Assistant Surgeon of the Marine Hos
pital service for the Port of Albany. He is Sur
geon on the staff of Albany Burgesses Corps, and
Treasurer of the same.
Cyrus S. Merrill was born in Vermont. He
graduated from Amherst College in 1867, and from
the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York,
in 1870, and settled in Albany, making a specialty
of Ophthalmology and Otology. He is a member
of the American Ophthalmology Society, of the
American Otology Society, and of the Albany

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

245

County Medical Society. He has received ap
pointments as Professor of Ophthalmology in the
Albany Medical College, Ophthmalic and Aural
Surgeon to St. Peter's Hospital, the Albany City
Hospital, to the Child's Hospital in Albany, and to
the Troy Hospital. He is the author of many
papers upon his specialty.
William E. Milbank was born in Coeymans,
Albany County, March 8, 1841. He graduated
from the Albany Academy in 1859, and from the
Albany Medical College in 1872. He is a mem
ber of the Albany County Homoeopathic Society, of
the New York State Society, and the American In
stitute of Homoeopathy, being for several years Sec
retary of the County Society. His specialty is Sur
gery. Edward Moore, M. R. C. V. S., located in
Albany in 1872. He went abroad and matriculated
at the Royal Veterinary College, London, receiving
honors. He was there offered, by the Privy
Council, the position of Inspector under the pro
visions of " The Contagious Diseases Act." In
1877 Dr. Moore returned to Albany. He has
been veterinary editor of the Cultivator and Country
Gentleman for seven years, and is a Fellow of the
Veterinary Medical Association of London, Eng
land. His reputation as a cattle pathologist is well
established, and his practice extends throughout
the United States and Canada.
Frederick D. Morrill was born in Wakefield,
Mass., August 3, 1855. He attended the gram
mar schools of Boston and the public schools of
Albany, N. Y. ; graduated from the Albany Med
ical College in 1880, beginning practice the same
year. During 1879, '80, '81 he was resident physi
cian of the alms-house, and is now City District
Physician. His specialty is diseases of women and
children ; is author of ' ' Injections and their Uses
in the Practice of Medicine. " He is a member of
the Albany County Medical Society.
George S. Munson was born in Waterford, Sara
toga County, April 4, 1856. He was educated by
private tutors, at Anthony's Classical Institute and
Princeton College, and graduated from the Albany
Medical College in 1 880. The two years following
were passed in New York under the teachings of
Drs. Knapp, Noyes and Agnew, and while there
he was First Assistant to the New York Ophthal
mic and Aural Institute, Dr. Knapp, Surgeon-in-
Chief. He began practice in Albany in 1882, and
was married in 1884 to Miss May S. Downing, of
the city. He has been for two years Ophthalmic
and Aural Surgeon to St. Peter's Hospital, and is
a member of the Albany County Medical Society.
Wm. H. Murray was born in Pound Ridge,
Westchester County, December, 1845; graduated
at Union College, 1867, and Albany Medical Col
lege, 1868; settled in Albany, 1870; was Supervisor
of Sixteenth Ward, 1877, and held the position four
years. He was elected Alderman, 1 882, and Presi
dent of the Common Council. By virtue of that
office, was sworn in as Mayor when Mayor Nolan
resigned, and held the office till the Courts gave it
to Dr. John Swinburne. Has held the offices of

Police Surgeon, District Physician, Coroner's Phy
sician, and now holds the office of Physician to
Penitentiary. Has held the office of Vice-President
and Treasurer of Albany County Medical Society.
Theodore W. Nellis was born at Schoharie
Court House. He graduated from the Schoharie
Academy in 1869, and the Albany Medical Col
lege in 1 88 1. His specialty is the treatment of
hernia and kindred diseases ; he is the manufac
turer of trusses and other surgical appliances, and
conducts the business of druggist and apothecary.
He is a member of the Albany County Medical
Society, treasurer of the Alumni Association of
the College, and a member of its executive com
mittee. William J. Nellis was born at Schoharie Court
House, September 3, 1855. He graduated from
the Schoharie Academy in 1872, and from the Al
bany Medical College in 1879, and at once began
practicing in Albany. He is a member of the Al
bany County Society, and for two years, 1883 to
'85, served as Censor.
George W. Papen was born in Albany in 1854 ;
graduated at the Columbia Medical College of
Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, in 1874.
He has practiced his profession in Albany for the
last eleven years.
T. Kirkland Perry was born in Dublin,
Cheshire County, N. H, June 16, 1852. He
attended the public schools of Albany, graduating
in 1866, and received a classical education through
private tutors. He served several years with Messrs.
Clement & Rice, as their prescription clerk; studied
under Dr A. Vanderveer, and graduated from the
Albany Medical College in 1875. He was essayist
of his class, and received a prize for his thesis. He
at once began practice. He is a member of the
County Society; was its secretary in 1878, and is
now its vice-president. He is author of papers
upon "Clinical Thermometry," "History of
Anencephalic Monsters," " Scarlatina, with Un
usual Complications," and an address, entitled
" Obstetric Memoranda," delivered as Vice-Presi
dent of the County Society, in 1884. He has
' been, since 1876, member of the dispensary staff
of the City Hospital, and is attending Physician at
St. Peter's Hospital. He was married, in 1878, to '
Grace Crosby Moore, who died in April, 1885,
leaving two children.
Charles H. Porter, of Dutch and New Eng
land ancestry, wds born in Ghent, Columbia
County, November 11, 1834. He was educated
in Hudson, N. Y., Philadelphia, Pa., and at
Yale College, where he was made A. M. in 1857.
His medical studies were pursued in the Albany
Medical College, whence he graduated in 1861.
He settled in this city, making a specialty of med
ical jurisprudence. He is a member of the New
York State Medical Society, and of the Connecticut
Academy of Science. He has been a frequent con
tributor to professional journals; for two years he
was Professor of Chemistry in the Vermont Medical
College, and from 1855 to 1862 Professor of
Chemistry and Medical Jurisprudence in the Albany

246

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Medical College; from 1872 to 1874 hewas at
tending Surgeon to St. Peter's Hospital, Albany.
In the late war he was Assistant Surgeon, Fortieth
Regiment, New York Volunteers ; and, from 1862
to 1865, Surgeon Sixth Regiment, New York Heavy
Artillery. He has been United States Examining
Surgeon since 1871.
Porter La Fayette Reynolds was born in
Cabot, Washington County, Vermont, in 1823.
He graduated from the Albany Medical College
in 1 861; he practiced for six months in Troy, N.
Y. ; then became Assistant Surgeon to the One
Hundred and Sixty-ninth New York Volunteers,
removing to Albany in December,. 1863. He is a
member of the Albany County Homoeopathic So
ciety, and of the American Institute of Homoeop
athy. Joseph Warren Riley was born in West Troy,
Albany County; attended the public schools of
Troy and graduated from the Troy Academy. Be
gan the study of Medicine, 1878 ; graduated from
Albany Medical College, 1882. Served two years
as resident physician of the Albany alms-house,
and one year as city physician ; has been practicing
since 1882 in the city of Albany,
Otto Ritzman was born in Albany, April 7,
1857, and received a common school education ;
graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1879,
and at once began practice. He was appoint
ed District Physician in 1879, "which he still holds.
He is a member of the County Society. In 1884,
in partnership with W. H. Murray, M. D. , he es
tablished a drug store.
Dennis P. Shevlin was born, August 3, 1858, in
Albany. He graduated from the Christian Broth
ers' Academy in 1876, and from Albany Medi
cal College in 1880 ; practiced at Saratoga Springs
for three years ; located in Albany in 1883 ; was
coroner's physician, 1883, '84. His specialty is dis
eases of the throat and lungs. He is member of
the Albany County Medical Society, Union Med
ical Association, Saratoga County Medical Society,
and is Physician to the Catholic Benevolent Society
of Albany.
John Henry Skillicorn was born in Albany, Dec.
25, i860, and educated at Albany High School,
Cornell University, and Albany Medical College,
from which he graduated in 1883. He was pro
sector of anatomy in the Medical College, for the
years 1882, '83, '84, and was the first to successfully
carry an independent quiz class through the year.
He is a member of the County Society and author
of " How to Study Anatomy Scientifically," "Re
ports of Complicated Cases of Typhoid Fever " and
contributor of various articles upon popular medi
cine. His specialty is surgery, particularly frac
tures. Norman L. Snow was born in Root, Montgomery
County, April 7, 1839. He graduated from Union
College, 1859, and from the College of Physicians
and Surgeons of New York City in March, 1861.
From 1862 to 1865 he served in the United States
-army; then practiced at Canajoharie, N. Y, remov

ing in 1875 to Albany. He was a member of the
Montgomery County Medical Society, and is a
member of the Albany Medical Society, the New
York State Medical Society, and of the American
Medical Association. From August 23, 1862, to
February 18, 1864, he was Assistant Surgeon in
the United States army, and Surgeon from Feb
ruary 18, 1864, to October 18, 1865. During the
summer of 1865 he was health officer of the dis
trict of Savannah, Ga. He was President of the
Albany County Society in 1882. He has served as
Alderman-at-large, and is now President of the
Albany Common Council. Dr. Snow's literary
contributions are many, among which are: "Syph
ilitic Degeneration of Arteries as a Cause of
Aneurism," "Strangulated Hernia, with Result
of Nine Operations," and " Some Practical
Facts in Fractures of the Thigh," verified by the
treatment of twenty-five cases occurring in private
practice. H. R. Starkweather was born in Montgomery
County, June 11, 1850. Graduated at the Albany
Medical College in 1871. Since that time has
been engaged in the practice of medicine in
the city of Albany. Was elected Supervisor in 1 878,
and continued in the board three terms. Served
five years as coroner's physician and is now city
physician. B. U. Steenberg, born in Malta, Saratoga
County, April 18, 1839; graduated from Albany
Medical College, 1870; was Secretary of the Albany
County Medical Society in 1876, and Vice-Presi
dent, 1879.
John Benjamin Stonehouse was born in Albany,
June 4, 1852. He graduated from the Albany
Academy in 1869, and from the Medical College
in 1871, from which time until November, 1874,
he was Assistant Surgeon in "Sanford Hall," a
private insane asylum at Flushing, L. I. ; he then
came to Albany, remaining until 1876, when he
became Resident Physician, one year, at ' ' Brigham
Hall," Canandaigua, N. Y. His specialties are
nervous and mental diseases. He is Secretary of
the County Medical Society. For three years he
served as Lecturer on Nervous and Mental Dis
eases in the Albany Medical College, and now has
charge of that department in the Hospital Dispen
sary. He is one of the editors of the Albany Med
ical Annals. Among works by him are: "General
Paresis of the Insane, " " Syphilitic Nervous Dis
eases," "Delirium Tremens." In May, 1882, he
published the result of " Niter of Amyl in Opium
Poisoning, " which he claims was the first case ever
so treated. As President of the Union Medical
Association he read, in 1883, a paper entitled
" Historical Retrospect of the Care of the Insane."
John Thompson was born at Athboy, County of
Meath, Ireland, December 10, 1837, and emigrated
to this country in 1847. He was educated in the
public schools at Binghamton, and graduated from
the Medical Department of the University of the
State of New York in 1868, and at once began
practice in Albany. He is a member of the Albany
County Medical Society.

MEDICINE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

247

Franklin Townsend, Jr., was born in Albany,
November 4, 1854. His education was pursued
at the Albany State Normal School, the Albany
Academy, and Williams College, where he grad
uated in 1873 ; three years later he graduated
from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New
York; and during 1876-7 was House Surgeon in
Charity Hospital, New York. He then pursued
his studies at Vienna, Strasburg and London,
returning in 1878, and commencing practice in
Albany. He is attending Physician at St. Peter's
Hospital, and to the Protestant and the Catholic
Orphan Asylums; he is a member of the Albany
County Medical Society, of which he has been
Censor. His specialty is Diseases of Women and
Children. Among papers of which he is the author
are: " Ovulation and Menstruation, considered in
their Physiological Relations," " Treatment of
the Parturient Breast," " Some Considerations on
Uterine Congestions," and "Parturient Haemo
philia." Thomas M. Trego was born in New York City,
August 30, 1847. He graduated from Rutgers
College, N. J., in 1870; he studied medicine un
der Drs. S. O. Vanderpoel, Thomas, and Edward
R. Hun, of Albany, and Thomas M. Markoe, of
New York City, and graduated from the College
of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, in 1874.
He returned to Albany, where he held the position
of Resident Physician to St. Peter's Hospital, which
he soon resigned and began practice. He was
shortly appointed attending Physician at the Child's
Hospital and St. Agnes' School. In 1878 he
visited England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany and
France, resuming, upon his return, his practice.
Willis G. Tucker, Ph. G., Ph. D., was born,
Albany, October 31, 1849. He was educated
at the Albany Academy and the Albany Medical
College, receiving his degree of M. D. in 1870.
Dr. Tucker's professional life has been a success
ful and busy one. The offices held by him are :
Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Albany Medical
College, 1 87 1-4 ; Lecturer on Materia Medica
and Assistant Professor of Chemistry, 1874-5; Ad
junct Professor of Materia Medica and Chemistry,
1875-6; Professor of Inorganic and Analytical
Chemistry, 1876-1882,10 which has been added
Professor of Medical Jurisprudence and Registrar
of the Albany Medical College, since 1882; Pro
fessor of Natural Science, St. Agnes' School, since
1873; Instructor in Chemistry, Albany Academy,
1874, etc., etc. He was one of the founders of the

Albany College of Pharmacy, .and is a member of
the leading American medical and scientific socie
ties. During 1881-84 he was analyst to the State
Board of Health. Dr. Tucker, in addition to his
professional work, has been a contributor to various
scientific periodicals.
Albert Vander Veer was born, July 10, 1841,
in Root, Montgomery County. He attended
lectures at the Albany Medical College, the
National Medical .College and the , College of
Physicians and Surgeons of New York, grad
uating in December, 1862, from the National
Medical College (Medical Department of the
Columbia College, Washington, D. C). He re
ceived the degree of M. D. from the Albany Med
ical College in 1869, and settled in Albany.
In 1874-75 he spent six months in the hos
pitals of London and Paris. He is a member
of the Albany County Medical Society, of which he
was president in 1873; the New York State Med
ical Society, of which he was elected president in
February, 1885; the American Medical Association,
and of the British Medical Association. He was
appointed Medical Cadet in the United States army
in June, 1862; Assistant Surgeon of the 66th New
York Volunteers in December, 1862, and Surgeon
in the same regiment in June, 1864; in 1869 he
was made attending Surgeon of the Albany Hos
pital, and in 1874 of St. Peter's Hospital. Hewas
elected, in 1869, Professor of General and Special
Anatomy in the Albany Medical College, and, in
1876, Professor of the Principles and Practice of
Surgery in that institution. His specialty is sur
gery, in which he has performed, successfully,
many major operations. He is also the writer of
many valuable contributions to medical literature.
John Wilson was bom in Ireland in 1812,
emigrating to this country twenty-one years later.
He received a theological education in a school
founded by the Government, and taught one of the
first public schools ever established in Ireland.
He lived in Albany from 1833 to 1843, when he
went to Syracuse, graduating from the Syracuse
Eclectic Medical College in 1847; he received
a diploma from the New York Eclectic College
some years later. From 1853 to 186 1 he lectured
upon medical subjects throughout central New
York, and returned to Albany in 1862. He isa
member of the Albany District Eclectic Medical
Society, and has served as its secretary and
treasurer. He also belongs to the State Eclectic
Society.

248

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

HISTORY OF EDUCATION.

By Prof. JONATHAN TENNEY, Fli. D.

OF all the colonies only Massachusetts and Con
necticut made early provision for a common
school education for the whole people. The other
New England colonies made similar provision as
soon as their numbers and organization made it
expedient. With these colonies it was, from the first,
an established principle that all government must
proceed from the people, be formed by the people
and for the people. Intelligence and virtue were
regarded as its only safeguards. All children
should early be instructed in lessons of obedience
to wholesome law, in virtue as its foundation, and
in knowledge enough to make them understand
.their rights as citizens and how to defend them, and
their duties to each other and how to discharge
them. It was established that self-preservation
demanded that the state should insist that
the money of the state, duly raised by taxation and
fairly apportioned, should educate the children of
the state. To this principle there was rare dissent.
The crowning glory of New England, giving its sons
everywhere prosperity, influence and power, comes
from its free schools.
Tyranny was afraid of intelligence among the
people. In some colonies, as in Virginia, free
schools and a consequent free press were openly
opposed. In New York, governors seldom dared
open opposition; but the schools were degraded by
indifference and neglect.
dutch colonial period.
The men who held public trusts during the
Dutch colonial period, such as Directors, Vice-
Directors, and officers under the Patroons, received
their education in Holland. This was true, also,
of the few clergy and other men of the literary
professions of law, medicine and teaching. During
the English colonial period, at first the same class of
men came over, educated in the English schools.
They belonged to the aristocratic or wealthy classes.
As a rule, they all regarded the laboring classes as
born to toil and servitude, having little time for
anything but drudgery, and little need of knowing
anything else. One of the governors boldly
declared that all the common people needed to

know was how to earn money to pay their
taxes. In the Charter of Freedoms and Exemptions
granted by the West India Company to all patroons,
masters, or private persons who " will plant col
onies in New Netherlands," under date of June 7,
1629, occurs the following:
"XXVII. — The Patroons and Colonists in par
ticular, and in the speediest manner, must endeavor
to find out ways and means whereby they may
supply a minister and schoolmaster, that thus the
service of God and zeal for religion may not grow
cool and be neglected among them, and they shall,
for the first, procure a comforter of the sick
there. "
In the new project of freedoms and exemptions
made in 1630, the same condition was re-enacted
in terms as follows:
"The patroons shall, also, particularly exert
themselves to find speedy means to maintain a
clergyman and schoolmaster, in order that Divine
Service and zeal for religion may be planted in that
country, and send, at first, a comforter of the
sick thither."
In the articles and conditions drawn up and
published by the Chamber of Amsterdam, in 1638,
for the colonization and trade of New Netherlands,
under the West India Company, appears the fol
lowing: "Each householder and inhabitant shall
bear such tax and public charge as shall hereafter
be considered proper for the maintenance of
clergymen and comforters of the sick, school
masters, and such like necessary officers; and the
Director and Council there shall be written to
touching the form hereof, in order, on receiving
further information thereupon, it be rendered the
least onerous and vexatious."
It is here to be noted that the comforter of the
sick and the schoolmaster were usually united in
the same person; that he was first to wait on the
sick and render other service as helper to the
clergyman; and that care of the boys and teach
ing them was only occasional, and directed mostly
to religious catechisms and a little reading and
spelling, with much moral and physical discipline.

EDUCATION.

249

A recent intelligent writer observes: "Religion
was the leading idea in Dutch teaching. I have
seen a Dutch Primer, or A B C Book, as it is
called (Amsterdam), similar to our New England
Primer. It has a large rooster on one page, and a
picture of a Dutch school on the other. The
master has a cap on his head and a bunch of twigs
in his hand. The class stands before him and
other boys are seated at their desks. After a very
little spelling, succeeds the Lord's Prayer, Creed,
Decalogue, Morning and Evening Prayer, Grace
before and after meat. The instruction is al
together religious, which feature (I suppose) is
retained in our Catholic schools to this day. The
English Episcopalians also had their Primer,
corresponding to the Dutch and New England
Primers. "
Adam Roelantsen, previously a schoolmaster in
New Amsterdam, came to Rensselaerwyck as a
settler in 1639. From all that has been learned,
he appears to have been the first schoolmaster at
New Amsterdam from 1638 to 1639. He appears
in several law suits from 1638 to 1653. We hear
of him last in Manhattan.
We are sorry to find that his character was one of
great rashness and imprudence; that he was easily
provoked and frequently engaged in quarrels and
lawsuits with his neighbors. In one of these he
was found guilty of adultery and sentenced to be
publicly flogged. Indeed, the character of the
early clergy and schoolmasters was often such as
to be a scandal to "the Divine Service " and to the
service of educating the children.
Dr. O'Callaghan well says: The state of
morals in New Amsterdam was, at this period
(1638), by no means healthy, owing as well to the
description of persons which trade brought thither,
as to the absence, in a great part, of an agricultural
population. This remark applies as well to Bever
wyck, and to other years than 1638.
The mass of the people who came to New
Netherlands were unable to read or write. Most of
them were indifferent to the matter. Hence,
schools, when opened, were kept irregularly, by ill-
qualified and unprincipled men, and as a temporary
service. The better educated and more prosperous spoke
and wrote of the' importance of good school
masters. But the money and effort necessary to
secure them were seldom given. These were
needed in the interests of trade.
That a school was needed and in contemplation
in Beverwyck as early as 1643, is made manifest
by a letter of the worthy Arendt Van Curler to the

patroon. But we find no evidence that this "con
templation " resulted in action. Indeed, very little
is said about schoolmasters or schools in Rens
selaerwyck or Beverwyck during the whole Dutch
period. A schoolmaster, in 1644, was estimated at one-
fourth the value of a clergyman, or thirty florins
per month, finding his own rations. In 1661, his
pay had advanced to eighteen guilders per month
and board-wages. It may have been all he was
worth. The commonalty were required to have the youth
instructed by good schoolmasters. But the require
ment was seldom enforced. The common people
were poor; the government had matters to see to of
more personal interest. It will be noticed that the
schools were not free so long as the patroons were
required to pay for them.
The schoolmaster of that early day "acted many
parts. " He was expected to be especially helpful
to the minister and the church out of school as well
as in. It was his duty to "promote religious
worship, " to " read the word of God " at the open
ing of service, and sometimes to ' ' exhort the
people." Hewas a "consoler of the sick." He
attended the consistory. He was church clerk,
sexton, bell-ringer and grave-digger, and usually
served as foresinger, precentor or chorister. A
very useful man he might be; but how much of a
teacher could he be !
"A comforter of the sick who could also act as
schoolmaster." "A precentor who could also
act as schoolmaster." Old documents often use
these expressions.
The historian of the town of Flatbush writes:
"From the records of the town.it appears that the
schoolmaster acted as town clerk, and as the rates of
tuition were low, previously to the American revolution,
the offices of sexton and "foresinger," or chorister of the
church, were conferred upon him, with a view to increase
his emoluments. He received all interment fees for infants
and adults, according to a scale of established prices, and
for his services as chorister he was paid an annual salary
by the consistory of the church. The chorister, in addi
tion to his duty of taking the lead in setting and singing the
Psalms and Hymns, was also required to ring the bell for
all public services, to read the commandments at the com
mencement of the morning worship, and the Apostles'
Creed in the afternoon. These latter services were all
performed in the Dutch language, and uniformly continued
so until about the year 1790, at the time when Mr. Gabriel
Ellison, the first English schoolmaster, left the village."
Flatbush did not differ much from other settle-"
ments of those days.
It is deemed worthy of note by an observer in
1647, that a college had been founded in Massachu-

250

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

setts some ten years before; but little or no efforts
had been made by the authorities of New Nether
lands to establish even a primary school in any part
of the country. It was asserted that " the youth is
spoiled," and needed a school that they might be
"kept out of the street" and "under strict subor
dination." Grog-shops and houses where tobacco
and beer could be had were plenty. They were
sometimes kept by discouraged schoolmasters.
In the remonstrance against the management of
the West India Company, made by Adrien Van
der Donck and others, claiming to represent the
people of New Netherlands, and addressed to the
Lords States General, in 1649, occurs the follow
ing: "There ought to be, also, a public school,
provided with two good teachers, so that the youth
in so wild a country, where there are so many
dissolute people, may, first of all, be instructed
and indoctrinated, not only in reading and writ
ing, but also in the fear of the Lord. Now the
school is kept very irregularly, by this one or that,
according to his fancy, as long as he thinks
proper. "
In his reply to this remonstrance, in the same year,
Secretary Van Tienhoven, in behalf of the Director-
General, admits that the new school-house has not
been built, and that "there is no Latin school or
Academy;" but claims that a place has been
selected for the school of Jan Cornelissen, while
other schools, enough for " the circumstances of
the country," are kept by "other teachers" in
"hired houses." But little credit can be given to
any statements made by this corrupt man and ser
vile tool of the West India Company. His history
shows him to have been most corrupt in morals
and false to every trust.
Later, the remonstrants, complaining of the
neglect of the interests of New Amsterdam by "the
Company" and its Director, say: "The plate has
been for a long time passed around for a common
school, which has been built with words; for as yet
the first stone is not laid. Some materials only
have been provided. However, the money given
for the purpose hath all disappeared and is mostly
spent, so that it falls somewhat short; and nothing
permanent has, as yet, been effected for this pur
pose." This complaint was made in 1650. Its
statements, no doubt, represent the true state of
matters in regard to educating the common people
of New Netherlands during the Dutch colonial
period. It is true that the ' ' Dutch, " as Broadhead
tells us, "were eminently a charitable, well-edu
cated, moral people." Holland had eminent
scholars and educated and pious ministers; but

they did not often come to New Netherlands in the
seventeenth century, with the West India Company
traders or the patroons. That the traders of " the
Company" or the merchants of Amsterdam gave
themselves much trouble, beyond a few words,
about the schooling of their countrymen and their
children in the Valley of the Hudson, does not
appear in history. In the inflated speeches and
writings of some ill-advised orators and writers of
more recent times only, do we read erroneous state
ments on this subject. History should be true, to
be valuable. The best principles of Holland
patriots, scholars and Christians did not shine forth
in the representatives of the West India Company
who came to early New Netherlands as agents and
traders. It is false to history to color them as
scholars, philanthropists and saints.
The local authorities were sometimes earnestly
besought to provide the inhabitants with a proper
schoolmaster. ' ' Perceiving how necessary such a
person was to the establishment of a well-consti
tuted republic," a committee was appointed to
build a school-house and to collect funds for
defraying whatever expenses might be incurred.
Andries Janse was appointed to take charge of this
institution in the course of the following year, and
received a present, on entering upon the discharge
of his duties, of $20. This was at Beverwyck in
1650; but his services appear to have been of short
duration. Rev. Gideon Schaets, who was ' ' called as min
ister to Rensselaerwyck" in 1652, and was after
ward, at the request of the inhabitants of Fort
Orange and Beverwyck, minister of the latter
place, was directed to teach, also, the Cate
chism there, and instruct the people in the Holy
Scriptures, and to pay attention to the office of
schoolmaster for the old and young." History is
silent in regard to his service as a schoolmaster.
His ministerial service was a turbulent one enough.
About 1656, the Holland City of Amsterdam
offered certain conditions to emigrants to New
Netherlands, which were submitted to the Directors
of the West India Company, and received their
approval. These are found among them :
" 7. Said city shall cause to be erected about the
market, or in a more convenient place, a public
building for Divine Service : item, also, a house for
a school, which can likewise be occupied by the
person who will hereafter be sexton, psalmsetter
and schoolmaster ; the city shall, besides, have a
house built for the minister.
" 8. The city aforesaid shall provisionally provide
and pay the salary of a minister and schoolmaster,

EDUCATION.

251

unless their High Mightinesses or the Company
think otherwise."
The cities did not like to pay taxes; and " the
Company" and "their High Mightinesses"
usually thought "otherwise." These inducements
to emigration remained on paper.
After giving an extended account of the wretched
condition of the churches throughout the colony
in 1656, Dr. O'Callaghan truly remarks: "Bad
as it was with the churches, it was worse as
regards schools; not one of all these places,
whether Dutch or English, had a schoolmaster,
except the Manhattans, Beverwyck and Fort
Cassimer." We can produce no stronger testimony in regard
to the state of popular education in the colony of
New Netherlands, even toward the latter part of
its existence, than what follows. These clergy
men had spent some years in the colony, the
former as the first spiritual guide sent out to Rens
selaerwyck by the patroon, and the latter as the
minister of New Amsterdam.
Revs. John Megapolensis and Samuel Drisius
write, in 1657, after making some statements in
regard to the churches in the province, that "It
is to be added that (to our knowledge) not one in
all these places, whether Dutch or English Villages,
hath a schoolmaster, except Manhattans, Bever
wyck, and now one, also, at Fort Cassimer on South
River; and though some parents would give their
children some instruction, yet they experience
much difficulty, and nothing else can be expected
than a ruined youth and a bewilderment of men's
minds. Scarcely any means can be seen to remedy
this evil: First, because some villages are only in
their first establishments, and whilst people come
naked and poor from Holland, they have not
means to provide a minister and schoolmaster;
Second, because there are few qualified persons in
this country who can or will teach."
However much Stuyvesant may have valued
learning, and seen the need of it among the com
mon people, and made promises, he subordinated
everything to the immediate interests of the West
India Company, whose servant he was; and spent
revenues and time freely for garrisons and for
military excursions to extend and preserve their
territorial and mercantile advantage against the
Swedes, the English, the French and the Indians.
He had no money for schools. He got
up collections which were never used for the
purpose; he suggested the outhouses of the govern
ment buildings as good enough places for common
schools : and suffered intemperate, illiterate and

vicious schoolmasters to have charge of them.
Schools on paper were often referred to by the
public officials; and school-rooms in out-of-the-
way places, with lack of proper provisions for seat
ing, light and warmth, were rented when not
needed for any other purpose, so long as the
schoolmaster saw fit to occupy the gloomy places.
The clergy were poorly enough paid, unless they
became favorites of the government or entered into
land speculations; but public schoolmasters, as
well as official " dog-whippers, " often failed to
receive for their menial service even the salary or
tuition promised. They usually secured some
more desirable place as soon as possible. Some
turned to trade, others to tavern-keeping, and not
a few became servitors in some capacity under the
government. ' Whatever the schools were during the latter part
of the Dutch colonial period was largely due to
the clergy of the villages, most of whom seem to
have been educated in Holland, England, or New
England before they came here. They and the
leading officers of the government and some of
their agents were usually men of diligence and obser
vation, and learned for those times. Gov. Stuyve
sant employed a private tutor, thus showing his
esteem for learning and his lack of confidence
in the other schools of New Amsterdam.
The first Latin high school of the province,
taught by one Dr. Curtius, was established in 1659,
in New Amsterdam, and patronized chiefly by
the aristocratic classes. It soon came into trouble
on account of the peculiar notions of some of the
parents and the lack of firm and independent
government on the part of the learned school
master. Plis pupils "beat each other and tore the
clothes from each other's backs," while " some of
the parents forbade him punishing their children."
Dr. C. returned to Holland in disgust, and Rev.
Mr. Luyck, private tutor to the sons of Mr. Stuyve
sant, succeeded him. Students came to him from
other villages, and even from the colonies of
Delaware and Virginia, to acquire a classical edu
cation. In 1663, there were two pupils from Fort
Orange, and we may believe there were others from
its vicinity. Previous to this, the nearest Latin
school was in Boston. We hear no more of Dr.
Luyck and his school after 1664.
Such was the condition of public education in
New Amsterdam, in Beverwyck, and places adjacent,
down to the close of the administration of Peter
Stuyvesant, in 1664, as shown by the best docu
mentary and other evidence that has come down
to us.

252

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

EDUCATION IN ENGLISH COLONIAL NEW YORK.
In the office of the Secretary of State is found the
following license :
Whereas, the teaching of the English tongue is neces
sary in this government ; I have, therefore, thought fitt to
give License to John Shutte to bee the English Schoolmaster
at Albany ; And, upon condition that the said John Shutte
shall not demand any more wages from each Schollar than
is given by the Dutch to their Dutch Schoolmasters, I have
further granted to the said John Shutte that hee shall bee
the onely English Schoolmaster at Albany.
Given under my hand, at Fort James, in New York, the
12th day of October, 1665. Rich'd Nicolls.
An order for Jan Jeurians Bleecker [Beecker, or
Becker] to be schoolmaster at Albany, granted
by Gov. Lovelace, reads :
Whereas, Jan Jeurians Beecker had a Graunt to keep ye
Dutch school at Albany for ye teaching of youth to read &
to wryte ye which was allowed of and confirmed to him by
my predecessor . Coll. Richard Nicolls. Notwithstanding
which severall others not so capable do undertake ye like
some perticular tymes & seasons of ye yeare when they have
no other Imployment, where by ye Schollars removing from
one Schoole to another do not onely give a great discour
agement to ye maister who makes it his businesse all ye
yeare but also are hindred & become ye more backwards in
there learning ffor ye reasons aforesaid I have thought fitt
that ye said Jan Jeurians Beecker who is esteemed very capa
ble that way shall be ye allowed schoolmaster for ye instruct
ing of ye youth at Albany & partes adjacent he following ye
said Imployment Constantly & diligently & that no other be
admitted to interrupt him. It being to be presumed that ye
said Beecker for ye youth & Jacob Joosten who is allowed
of for ye teaching of ye younger children are sufficient for
that place.
Given under my hand at ffort James in New Yorke this
1 6th day of May, 1670. Francis Lovelace.
Prof. Jonathan Pearson is authority for the item
following: "On the 4th of April, 1 676, Gerrit Swartt,
Jan Becker and Arien Appel were chosen school
masters of Albany. They were then to be the sole
schoolmasters of the village ; but shortly after, the
same year, Luykas Gerritse [Wyngaard] was also
appointed schoolmaster, because he was impotent
in his hand."
Gerrit Swartt had held the office of Sheriff of
Rensselaerwyck from 1668 to 1673. Out of poli
tics, he took up teaching. Becker was an inhabi
tant of Fort Cassimer, on the Delaware River, in
1656, and church clerk there ; in 1660 he read ser
mons on Sunday at Altoona, and was keeping tav
ern. He was soon after convicted of selling liquor
to the Indians, in violation of law, and fined 500
guilders for the offense. For this he was pardoned,
because he was no worse than many others. We
next find him petitioning for a clerkship under

"the Company," at Esopus, or anywhere else, be
cause he had lost in keeping tavern, and became
poor and needy, and finally begged that he might
' ' be permitted to keep school to instruct the youth
in reading and writing, " if he could get no other
position. It seems that he got a school at Bever
wyck, and was confirmed " to keep ye Dutch School
at Albany" by Gov. Nicolls, and afterward by Gov.
Lovelace. In 1663 he had his home at Greenbush,
and was notary public as well as schoolmaster at
Beverwyck, and was esteemed "very capable that
way, whilst Jacob Jooste Covelens was allowed for
teaching the younger children." He finally re
moved to Albany; was alderman, 1690-92, and
died about 1697. .. Appel came from Leyden; had
a lot at Beverwyck in 1654, conditioned that he
build a house to be used as an inn for travelers and
not an ordinary tippling house. Two years later
he sued his truckman for the loss of an anker of
brandy ; and after residing awhile at New Amster
dam, became one of the four schoolmasters of Al
bany, from 1676 to 1686. Wyngaard became a
baker and occupied the south corner of Broadway
and State street as a shop in 171 5. Such were
some of the early schoolmasters of Albany County.
As the teacher, so is the school. As the school, so
are the people who sustain it. No further comment
is necessary. It is to be regretted that so few authentic records
are in existence touching the educational efforts
made by the body of the learned clergy of Reformed
Dutch Church in America. That they were earnest
and as effective as the times allowed is undoubted.
We give the following Articles of Agreement made
between the consistory of the church and magis
trates of Flatbush, on the one side, and Johannes
Van Eckkelen, accepted schoolmaster and chorister,
on the other, in October, 1682, as a sample of
what was expected of the schoolmasters of 200 years
ago in provincial New York. Eckkelen was a
young man from New Albany:
School Service.— I. The school shall begin at eight
o'clock, and go out at eleven ; and, in the afternoon shall
begin at one o'clock, and end at four. The bell shall be rung
when the school commences.
II. When the school begins, one of the children shall read
the morning prayer, as it stands in the catechism, and close
with the prayer before dinner; in the afternoon it shall be
gin with the prayer after dinner, and end with the evening
prayer. The evening school shall begin with the Lord's
prayer, and close by singing a psalm.
III. He shall instruct the children on every Wednesday
and Saturday in the common prayers, and the questions and
answers in the catechism, to enable them to repeat them the
better on Sunday before the afternoon service, or on Mon
day, when they shall be catechised before the congregation.

EDUCATION.

253

Upon all such occasions, the schoolmaster shall be present,
and shall require the children to be friendly in their appear
ance, and encourage them to answer freely and distinctly.
IV. He shall be required to keep his school nine months
in succession, from September to June, in each year, in case
it should be concluded upon to retain his services for a year
or more, or without limitation; and he shall be required to
be regulated by these articles, and to perform the same du
ties which his predecessor, Jan Thibaud, above named, was
required to perform. In every particular, therefore, he shall
be required to keep school, according to this seven months
agreement, and shall always be present himself.
Church Service. — I. He shall keep the church clean,
and ring the bell three times before the people assemble to
attend the preaching and catechism. Also before the sermon
is commenced, he shall read a chapter out of the Holy
Scriptures, and that between the second and third ringing
of the bell. After the third ringing he shall read the ten
commandments, and the twelve articles of our faith, and
then take the lead in singing. In the afternoon after the
third ringing of the bell, he shall read a short chapter, or
one of the Psalms of David, as the congregation are assem
bling, and before divine service commences, shall introduce
it, by the singing of a Psalm or Hylmn.
II. When the minister shall preach out of town, he shall
be required to read twice before the congregation, from the
book commonly used for that purpose. In the afternoon he
shall also read a sermon on the explanation of the cate
chism, according to the usage and practice approved by the
minister. The children, as usual, shall recite their ques
tions and answers out of the catechism, on Sunday, and
he shall instruct them therein. • He, as chorister, shall not
be required to perform these duties, whenever divine ser
vice shall be performed in Flatlands, as it would be un
suitable, and prevent many from attending there.
III. For the administration of Holy Baptism, he shall
provide a basin with water, for which he shall be entitled
to receive from the parents, or witnesses, twelve styvers.
He shall, at the expense of the church, provide bread and
wine, for the celebration of the Holy Supper. He shall be
in duty bound promptly to furnish the minister with the
name of the child to be baptised, and with the names of
the parents and witnesses. And he shall also serve as mes
senger for the consistory.
IV. He shall give the funeral invitations, dig the grave,
and toll the bell, for which service he shall receive for a per
son of fifteen years and upwards, twelve guilders, and for
one under that age, eight guilders. If he should be re
quired to give invitations beyond the limits of the town, he
shall be entitled to three additional guilders, for the invita
tion of every other town, and if he should be required to
cross the river, and go to New York, he shall receive four
guilders. School Money.— He shall receive from those who attend
the day-school, for a speller or reader, three guilders a
quarter, and for a writer, four guilders. From those who
attend evening school, for a speller or reader, four guilders,
and for a writer, six guilders shall be given.
Salary.— In addition to the above, his salary shall con-
sist of four hundred guilders, in grain, valued in Seewant,
to be delivered at Brooklyn Ferry, and for his services from
October to May, as above stated, a sum of two hundred and
thirty-four guilders, in the same kind, with the dwelling
house, barn, pasture lot and meadows, to the school apper

taining. The same to take effect from the first day of Octo
ber, instant.
Done and agreed upon in Consistory, under the inspec
tion of the Honorable Constable and Overseers, the 8th of
October, 1682.
I agree to the above articles, and promise to perform
them according to the best of my ability.
Johannes Van Eckkelen.
In the Dutch period all private schoolmasters
were required to be duly licensed by the civil and
ecclesiastical authorities. This requirement, in
substance, was continued and enforced by the
English. We quote as follows :
INSTRUCTIONS TO GOVERNOR DONGAN, GIVEN AT WINDSOR,
MAY 20.TH, 1686.
38. And wee doe further direct that noe Schoolmaster bee
henceforth permitted to come from England & to keep
school within Our Province of New York without the license
of the said Archbishop of Canterbury ; and that noe other
person now there or that shall come from other parts, bee
admitted to keep school without your license first had.
Similar instructions were given to Gov. Sloughter,
January 31, 1689; Gov. Fletcher, in 1691 ; to the
Earl of Bellomont, August 31, 1697, and to Gov.
Hunter, December 27, 1709, except that the
Bishop of London, instead of the Archbishop of
Canterbury, was named in each of these cases.
Soundness in the beliefs and practices of the Eng
lish Church was especially required.
The licenses to teach school have generally been
issued by the authority of the Colonial officers ;
but we now find one granted by municipal author
ity as early as January, 1 700 :
Att a meeting of ye Mayor, Aldermen and Common Coun
cil held in ye Citty Hall of Albany, ye 23d of January
1 609
1 inn-
The request of Cornelis Bogardus by ye mouth of Mr.
Willm de Meyer to be admitted a schoolmaster for ye Citty
is taken into consideration and unanimously doe graunt ye
same, as also a freeman of this Citty upon his arrivall.
On the 27th of November, 1702, "Anactfor
the encouragement of a Grammar Free School
in the City of New York, " was passed by the Gen
eral Assembly of the province. This is believed
to be the first legislative act for the encouragement
of public education passed within the colony.
" One able, skilfull and orthodox person" was to
be the schoolmaster ; "youth and male children
of French and Dutch extraction, as well as of Eng
lish," were to receive instruction "in the lan
guages or other learning usually taught in Gram
mar schools," and £^o annually were to be paid
the said schoolmaster, who was to be licensed by
the Bishop of London or the Governor of the
province, upon the recommendation of the Com-

254

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

mon Council of New York City. Lord Cornbury
gave his official approval to the act, but it is not in
evidence that he took any interest in the school.
Under date of April 25, 1704, he licensed George
Muirson to teach English, Latin, Greek, writing
and arithmetic, and gave an order for the payment
of his half-yearly salary, October 20, 1704. Soon
after the schoolmaster left for England and Andrew
Clarke was licensed as his successor several months
later. But that he ever taught does not appear.
The act limited the school to seven years, and we
hear no more of it. It seems to have failed of suc
cess. Nor is it worthy of mention, except as one
step, however faltering, on the part of the people,
to secure benefits for themselves and their children.
It is, also, an interesting fact in our history to put
on record that John Abeel, member of the General
Assembly from Albany County (1702-04), was one
of the committee that reported the bill to the
House. Cornbury was ever ready to sign his name to
licenses, accompanied by feathery displays of
titles, because the times seemed to call for school
masters. Several licenses were granted to candi
dates for teaching in towns on Long Island, in
Westchester, in Kingston and New York cities dur
ing the administrations of Cornbury and Hunter.
But we find but little said of the schools. Some of
the teachers are found, soon after the date of their
licenses, in speculative trade, in subordinate public
office, in brawls and lawsuits, either as plaintiffs or
defendants, or in taking clerical orders in the
church. It is evident that families of wealth and
political position took but little interest in public
schools ; their taxes went to support them, and the
children of the poor attended them. The poor
then had no votes; yet they had a strength to
which some respect must be paid. That respect
was paid mostly in promises.
A Dutch schoolmaster seems to have been em
ployed at Kinderhook as early as 1 702, as appears
from the following certificate in favor of Mr. Van
Kleck :
Kinderhook the 3othNovemb., AnnoDomine 1702.
In the first year of the Reign of her Majesty Anne, Queen
of England, Scotland, Ireland and France, Defender of the
Faith, We the undersigned inhabitants of Kinderhook
patent acknowledge and Declare that Paulus van Vleg
during the whole of the time that he hath resided here and
since he was accepted as Precentor and schoolmaster of our
Church hath truly comported himself to the Great content
of our congregation. Yohannes van Alen,
coenrast borghghardt,
Abram van Alstyn,
Zammert van Yansan.

An early Albany schoolmaster has, perhaps, no
other memorial of service in this capacity than the
following :
At a Common Councill held in ye Citty Hall of Albany this
first of May, 1703.
Evert Ridder of the Citty of Albany makes his humble
application to the Mayor, Aldermen and Assistance to be
permitted to teach schoole in the Citty aforesaid, which re
quest is taken into consideration, and granted accord
ingly. Nearly twenty years later we find the following:
Att a Common Council held in the City Hall of Albany, the
8th day of April, 1721.
Whereas it is very requisite and necessary that a fitt and
able Schoolmaster settle in this city for teaching and in
structing of the youth in speling, reading, writeing and cyf-
fering, and Mr. Johannis Glandorf having offered his ser
vice to settle here and keep a school if reasonably encour
aged by the corporation, It is therefore Resolved by
this Commonalty, and they do hereby oblidge themselves
and their . successors to give and procure unto the said
Johan's Glandorf free house rent for the term seaven years
next ensueing for keeping a good and commendable school
as becomes a diligent Schoolmaster.
That a "diligent schoolmaster" was "very requi
site and necessary " at that time is made patent by
this very document of the City Fathers.
It afterward appears that Mr. Glandorf com
plained that the house assigned him was too small,
and, on his petition, the Common Council, on the
21st of July, 1721, resolved to hire for him a
larger house at ^"10 per annum, to commence in
the next November. After this, we hear no more
of Glandorf or his school.
Passing over all these feeble efforts in the cause
of public education, it is proper for us here to say
that no effort seems to have been made to revive
this free school act of 1702, nor to make like pro
visions by law for the encouragement of schools of
any kind, for a period of more than 30 years after
ward. Nor do we find any record whatever of
legislation in the interests of primary education
during the colonial history of the State, nor until
after the State became one of the United States of
America. The common schools, as intimated previously,
gave little attention to any except the most common
branches, such as spelling, reading, writing and the
fundamental rules of arithmetic in their simplest ap
plications to accounts. Much attention was given
to the catechisms and formulas of religion as taught
in the dominant church. The Ten Command
ments, Lord's Prayer and other portions of the
Bible were taught. The Apostles' Creed was some
times included.

EDUCATION.

255

The study of the mathematical sciences was gen
erally regarded as more important than the studies
of nature, belles-lettres and language. The pri
vate schools of the highest order were expected to
teach arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry,
surveying, gauging and navigation. Very little at
tention was given to geography and the natural
sciences. Little was known of them.
In the cities, some French, fancy work, dancing,
formal religion and social formulas, with a
little English language and literature, were taught
in one class of private schools. In another class,
boys were taught something of Latin, Greek
and practical mathematics, with grammar rules and
reading, spelling and writing. The student of an
cient documents and records must see, in the bad
penmanship, miserable spelling and imperfect or
barren sentences, how little was acquired in these
schools. But the people of that day had much physical
activity and energy, with much keenness and acute
observation. They were fully alive to the opportu
nities in their way, and had about all the learning
that their times and situation demanded. Schools
and books and teachers and a broader and deeper
mind culture were sleeping in a future, in the dawn
ing only of which, we may hope, we are now liv
ing. The world moves slowly ; but it moves. We
must speak charitably as well as truly of the past,
modestly of the present, and hopefully of the future.
The venerable ' ' Society for the Propagation of
the Gospel in Foreign Parts," incorporated in the
year 1701, sent many missionaries to this province
until nearly the period of the Revolution ; and, at
the suggestion of Col. Caleb Heathcote, furnished
a number of schoolmasters for various settlements
of the province, during a period of more than fifty
years. The following extracts from the official his
tory and reports of the society more fully exhibit
the facts on this subject.
One of the first acts of the society was to send to
the English colonies on this continent, a mission
ary to make personal examination. The person
selected was the Rev. George Keith, whose journal
relative to this tour is contained in the "Collections
of the Protestant Episcopal Society."
After Mr. Keith came over and had made a sur
vey of the field before him, he, in conjunction with
the few clergymen then in the northern part of the
colony, made the following statement in November,
1702 :
New York.— There are some counties, five of which are
inhabited by Dutch and those of Dutch extraction, viz. : Al
bany Ulster, Dutchess, Orange and King's County, in

which the Church and Church of England Schools have not
yet been settled, but the Presence of the present Governor of
that Province, his Excellency the Lord Cornbury, has
mightily influenced many of the people of the said counties
to desire that Church of England Ministers and schoolmas
ters may be sent amongst them ; particularly Albany repre
sentatives have desired his Lordship that an English School
master might be established in that county. * . * * This
Province, though it hath a great number of inhabitants, could
never yet obtain a public legally Established School.
A provision is made by law for six ministers. There is yet
no provision for Schoolmasters made by law, though by the
zealous recommendation of the Lord Cornbury to the gen
eral Assembly, a legal maintenance is undoubtedly expected,
and till then the Church of England Schoolmaster in the
county of New York, as heretofore, will be supported by the
voluntary contributions of those whose children are instruct
ed by him; notwithstanding it is humbly conceived that an
annual Pension for the support and further encouragement
of some Ministers and Schoolmasters in poor Towns will be
of great use and service to the Church.
No School house yet erected in this Province.
In all these Counties where the Church is established by
the law of this Province, the People generally are in a readi
ness to embrace the Doctrines and Worship of the Church,
and to Encourage Free Schools.
. Col. Heathcote seems to have conceived a plan
for the establishment of schools throughout the
province, having written to the Secretary of the
"Venerable Society," under date of April 10,1704,
as follows :
I had once formed a projection for fixing schools in this
country for the benefit of all the youths therein, in order to
their being trained up, not only in learning but in their ten
der years to ingraft them in the Church, but the storm
which was lately raised upon me concerning church affairs,
made me lay the thought of it aside for a while. However,
if God is pleased to spare my life a little longer, I will, with
His assistance, set it on foot, and hope it will be blessed with
its desired effect.
This society was very active, not only in edu
cating the youth of the Church, but in furnishing
opportunity everywhere in the province to people
of every kind, even negroes and Indians, for ac
quiring the elements of temporal knowledge and
lessons in religion as taught in catechisms, horn
books and primers. Efforts were made to teach
the Mohawks and other Iroquois tribes for many
years, but with little success. Their wild and per
verse nature, their roving, restless life, were all
against the missionary and the schoolmaster.
They, after several years of faithful trial, "aban
doned this miserable race of men." This was in
1 71 8. Some fifteen years later, further efforts to
instruct the Indians were made, with better success.
The following specimen quotations from the
society's annual "Abstracts of Proceedings" are
of interest in this connection ;

256

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Besides the Missionaries, there has been a great Demand
upon them for Catechists and School-Masters to Instruct
not only the Servants and Slaves (who have heretofore lived
as without God in the World) but also the Children of the
Planters, especially the poorer sort, in Reading, Writing,
and the Principles of the Christian Religion, as Taught and
Professed in the Church of England; but the Narrowness
of their fund having obliged the Society to send but few of
these, a worthy member of their body, Colonel Heathcote of
New York, has suggested an expedient of maintaining a
great many more School-Masters, at the easy rate of Five or
Six Pounds per annum, which the Society has most readily
embraced, and referred it to the Governor himself, and the
Missionaries of that Province, to put the proposal into
practice. Mr. Hudlestone, Schoolmaster at New York, teaches fifty
poor children on the Society's Bounty to read and write,
and instructs them in the Church Catechism, many of which
are now fit for any Trade; and as they go off, his number is
always kept up, poor People daily coming to see if there is
any vacancy to admit their Children, being not able them
selves to pay for their Learning.
The Society also have received an Account from Mr.
Peasly, in 1731-33, Schoolmaster at Albany, in the Province
of New York, That he hath lately instructed 8 negroes,
viz. : 6 Adults and 2 Children, who have been baptized by
the Reverend Mr. Miln, the Society's Missionary at Albany.
Mr. Noxon, the Schoolmaster, writes from New York,
August 6, 1738, That he hath upwards of fifty poor Chil
dren, whom he teaches to read, write and cypher upon the
Society's Charity ; and brings to Trinity Church, on Wednes
days, Fridays and Holy Days, to be catechised. He adds,
there is great want of Common Prayer-Books and Psalters.
And as the maintenance of a learned and orthodox
Clergy abroad, though the principal, is not the only Intent
of this Corporation, but they are also to make such other
Provision as shall be found necessary for the Propagation
of the Gospel in Foreign Parts : The Society have done all
in their power to encourage the setting up of Schools, that
the rising Generation may be brought up in the Nurture and
Fear of the Lord, and they give Salaries to three Catechists
and twelve Schoolmasters for this purpose.
We give a few extracts from the standing orders
of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in
Foreign Parts relating to the schoolmasters :
I. That no person be admitted a Schoolmaster, till he
bring Certificates, with respect to the Particulars following:
1 . The Age of the Person.
2. His Condition of Life, whether Single or Married.
3. His Temper.
4. His Prudence.
5. His Learning.
6. His sober and pious Conversation.
7. His Zeal for the Christian Religion and Diligence in
his Calling.
8. His Affection to the present Government.
9. His Conformity to the Doctrine and Discipline of the
Church of England.
II. That no Person be sent, as a Schoolmaster by the So
ciety, till he has been try'd and approv'd by Three Mem
bers, appointed by the Society or Committee, who shall
testify, by Word or Writing, his Ability to teach Reading,

Writing, and the Catechism of the Church of England, and
such Exposition thereof, as the Society shall order.
Instructions for schoolmasters employed by the
Society: I. That they well consider the End for which they are
employed by the Society, viz. : The instructing and dispos
ing Children to believe and live as Christians.
II. In order to this End, that they teach them to read
truly and distinctly, that they may be capable of reading
the Holy Scriptures, and other pious and useful Books,
for informing their Understandings and regulating their
Manners. III. That they instruct them thoroughly in the Church-
Catechism ; teach them first to read it distinctly and exactly,
then to learn it perfectly by Heart; endeavoring to make
them understand the Sense and Meaning of it, by the Help
of such Expositions, as the Society shall send over.
IV. That they teach them to Write a plain and legible
Hand, in order to the fitting them for useful Employments;
with as much Arithmetick, as shall be necessary to the same
Purpose. V. That they be industrious, and give constant Attend
ance at proper School-Hours.
VI. That they daily use, Morning and Evening, the
Prayers composed for their Use in this Collection with their
Scholars in the School, and teach them the Prayers and
Graces composed for their Use at Home.
VII. That they oblige their Scholars to be constant at
Church on the Lords- Day Morning and Afternoon, and at
all other Times of Publick Worship ; that they cause them
to carry their Bibles and Prayer Books with them, instruct
ing them how to use them there, and how to demean them
selves in the several Parts of Worship ; that they be there
present with them, taking Care of their reverent and decent
Behaviour, and examine them afterwards, as to what they
have heard and learned.
VII. That when any of their Scholars are fit for it, they
recommend them to the Minister of the Parish, to be
publickly Catechized in the Church.
IX. That they take especial Care of their Manners, both
in their Schools, and out of them; warning them seriously
of those Vices to which Children are most liable; teaching
them to abhor Lying and Falsehood, and to avoid all Sorts
of Evil-speaking; to love Truth and Honesty; to be
Modest, Gentle, Well-behav'd, Just and Affable, and
Courteous to all their Companions; respectful to then-
Superiors, particularly toward all that minister in holy
Things, and especially to the Minister of their Parish ; and
all this from a Sense and Fear of Almighty God; endeavor
ing to bring them in their tender Years to that Sense of
Religion, which may render it the constant Principle of
their Lives and Actions.
X. That they use all kind and gentle Methods in the
Government of their Scholars, that they may be lov'd, as
well as fear'd by them; and that when Correction is neces
sary, they make the Children to understand, that it is given
them out of kindness, for their Good, bringing them to a
Sense of their Fault, as well as of their Punishment.
XI. That they frequently consult with the Minister of the
Parish, in which they dwell, about the Methods of manag
ing their Schools, and be ready to be advised by him.
XII. That they do, in their whole Conversation, shew
themselves Examples of Piety and Virtue to their Scholars,
and to all, with whom they shall converse.

EDUCATION.

257

The labors of these schoolmasters and catechists
seem to have been very self-denying, devoted and
useful. They continued from about 1702 to 1776.
The annual salaries paid varied between £j and
£50, the clergy receiving the highest salary.
Says Rev. Dr. Berrian, speaking especially of
Trinity Church :
There is nothing with which I have been so much struck
and impressed, in the investigation of the early history of
this Parish, as the zeal, the earnestness, and devotedness of
the schoolmasters and catechists of that day. The former
appear to have been selected from among the laity with
great caution and care, and to have been persons of respect
ability and worth. The latter were occasionally laymen,
but more commonly such as were preparing for holy orders,
or who had actually received them. Some of these were
men of liberal education, who in the commencement of
their professional life were full of promise, and who ended
it with respect and honor. But they all seem to have en
tered with the same spirit upon their humble labors, and
to have prosecuted them with a patience, an interest and a
blessed result, which put ours to shame at the present day.
Intellectual was not then, to the extent that it is now,
separated from religious improvement, but both went hand
in hand throughout the week. The whole of early life was,
in a certain measure, devoted to Christian instruction, and
not merely reserved for the scanty intervals between the
hours of worship on the Lord's Day.
It is delightful to observe, in the annual reports of the
schoolmasters and catechists to the Society for the Propaga
tion of the Gospel, with what cheerfulness and industry
they appear to have labored in their useful but lowly em
ployment. We have given enough to show that, however
lowly and incomplete were the labors of the
schools of this society for the education of the
children of the humbler classes in this State for the
first three-quarters of the last century, the work was
a noble one, and is specially deserving as it was
about the only work of the kind that was pursued
with zeal and patience during this long period of
general disturbance in public affairs. The instruc
tion was purely elementary. John Adams, who
visited Rye in 1774, where this society sup
ported a school from 1707 to the period of the
Revolution, says: "They have a school for writ
ing and cyphering, but no Grammar School."
Rye belonged to Connecticut until 1683, and its
schools in its early history, we infer, were not in
ferior to those of any other settlement in the prov
ince of New York.
The establishment, in 1773, of "a public school
to teach Latin, Greek and Mathematics, in the
City of New York," under authority of an act of
the General Assembly of the province, may be
regarded as an event of considerable interest in the
history of public education in this colony; though,
like the Grammar Free School of 1 702-1 709, it
33

seems to have flourished during a period of only
about seven years. Both the schools referred to
may have been vitally, if not formally, connected
with the repeated proposals and attempts, begin
ning as early as 1 703, to found a college in this
province; though of this there seems to be no offi
cial evidence.
This latter school was incorporated, October 14,
1732, with Alexander Malcolm as schoolmaster.
He was required to admit and teach gratis as
many as twenty youths, apportioned among
the ten counties, of which Albany County had
two assigned. Candidates were not to be under
14 years of age, to have been "well in
structed in reading and writing of English," and
to be recommended by the Justice of Sessions, or
by Mayor, Recorder and Alderman in cities.
This act was renewed for one year, amid much
opposition, December 1, 1737. The members for
Albany County, Col. Rensselaer and Col. Schuyler,
favored the bill. Its conditions were not essentially
changed. Female teachers were not plenty, as nearly as we
can learn, in the early history of New York; not
one do we find in New Netherlands. Some appear
in the schools of Long Island and Westchester,
where were many settlers from New England, in
the latter part of the seventeenth century. They
were, no doubt, importations from Connecticut,
where females were early employed, especially
in the summer schools. One writer thinks that
Rachel Spencer, who taught school in Hemp
stead, and died in 1687, was the first schoolmistress
on record in the provinces; and that the nameless
"traveling woman who came out of ye. Jerseys, and
kept school at several places in Rye Parish," about
17 1 6, was second schoolmistress in the provinces, of
whom we have any record. In this, however, we
think, he errs; as, in an old account book noticed
by Mr. H. Onderdonk, in Flushing, the book
keeper, in 1681, reckoned with Elizabeth Cowper-
thwaite, about " schooling and diet for children,"
and in 1683, with Martha Johanna "upon an
agreement for thirty weeks schooling, paid for by a
red petticoat." In 1685 Goody Davis keeps
schools at Jamaica in " a little house," soon after
used "as a shoppe."
At a much later period, the girls in Mr. Hil-
dreth's school, at New York City, "in the after
noon learned to write, being the rest of the day
under the care of a schoolmistress employed by
the Vestry, " by whom they were ' ' taught needle
work. "

258

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Who was the first schoolmistress in Albany
County ? We have, thus far, asked in vain.
Some are and must be brighter and greater than
the rest. While wealth is no measure of wit or
learning, it affords larger opportunities for the culture
of whatever tact or talent may be native. And as
long as learning adds grace to riches and respect to
public and social position, it will be sought by
families who have money to aid in its attainment.
Hence, the children, especially the sons, of the
wealthy families of the colonial period in this
State were often placed under a private tutor, who,
sometimes, was the parish clergyman. Tuition
schools, usually of only temporary duration, were
established in the larger towns, especially in New
Amsterdam, to which the favored children of for
tune resorted.
Under the English Government, private or sub
scription schools were to be found all over the
country. In some neighborhoods Dutch was
taught. Before the Revolution, if but little attention was
given to the mental culture of young men in the
schools, there was still less given to the young
women. Most in the humbler walks of life re
garded themselves as born to household drudgery.
Beyond this few attained. In the realm of letters
they were usually ambitionless. Many bright
daughters, who married worthy men and became
excellent wives and mothers, could read only sim
ple reading and rarely write at all, or, if at all,
only their names.
Those who attained more than this were usually
daughters of men of fortune and unusual intelli
gence, who early manifested marked fondness for
knowledge and tact in acquiring. They learned
of parents or older brothers at home, or of private
tutors. Observation, books and conversation did
much for girls of active minds who had access to
these great educators.
As a remarkable illustration of a woman of those
days educated without the ' ' advantages " of schools,
we quote what Mrs. Grant tells us, in her "Mem
ories of an American Lady," of Miss Margaretta
Schuyler, who afterward became the wife of her
cousin, Col. Philip Schuyler, and the honored
Madame Schuyler. Her mind from her earliest
years was distinguished for maturity and remarka-
able aptness. Its culture came about by the keen
appreciation of her talents and the wise direction of
her mental training by her uncle, Col. Peter Schuy
ler, after the early death of her father, Col. John
Schuyler. "He was at the pains to cultivate her

taste for reading which soon discovered itself, by
procuring for her the best authors in history, divin
ity and belles-lettres. The few books of this
kind that she possessed were very well chosen; and
she was early and intimately familiar with them.
Whatever she knew she knew to the bottom; and
the reflections which were thus suggested to her
strong, discerning mind were digested by means of
easy and instructive conversation." Col. Schuyler
was acquainted with the families of rank in New
York, where he had many relatives. Spending a
portion of every winter there, ' ' he often took his
favorite niece along with him," who soon attracted
attention by her personal graces as well as by the
charms of her conversation. " Here she was much
admired, because such " cultivation and refinement
were rare" — out of the routine common to young
women of her time — and she had a mind strong
enough to bear the admiration bestowed upon her
without the conceit and pedantry of weaker minds.
She was never taught that the great motive to ex
celling was to "dazzle or outshine others; she
never thought of despising her less fortunate com
panions, or of assuming superiority over them.
Her acquisitions were never shaded by affectation."
Such was "Aunt Schuyler" of Albany in her
early womanhood, according to one who wrote of
her, long years after, as the model ' ' American
lady." She was a queen all her life in the wide
circle that knew her. The women she lived
among "were all natives of the county, and few
had more than a domestic education." But men
who possessed the advantages of early culture and
usage of the world daily arrived in New York and
Albany. "Female elegance" in the colony was
not common. Says Mrs. Grant: " The supply was
not equal to the demand." Mrs. Schuyler received
due attention. " She was respected for the strength
of her character, the dignity and composure of her
manners, " her unusual mental culture and her
practical common sense,
"The Mohawk language was early familiar to
her. She spoke Dutch and English with equal
ease and purity; was no stranger to the French
tongue, and could read German." And yet we do
not find that she ever attended a fashionable ladies'
school. ' ' Books are, no doubt, the granaries of knowl
edge; but a diligent, inquiring mind, in the active
morning of life, will find it strewed with manna
over the face of the earth, and need not, in all
cases, rest satisfied with intelligence accumulated
by others, and tinctured with their passions and
prejudices. Whoever reads Homer and Shake-

EDUCATION.

259

speare may daily discover that they both describe
nature and art from their own observation.
"The enlarged mind of 'Madame Schuyler'
and her simple yet dignified manners made her
readjly adapt herself to those with whom she
conversed, and everywhere command respect and
kindness, and, on a nearer acquaintance, affection
followed. But she had too much sedateness and
independence to adopt those caressing and insinuat
ing manners by which the vain and artful soon
find their way into shallow minds. Her character
did not captivate at once, but gradually unfolded
itself. You always had something new to dis
cover. Her style was * * * without the least
embellishment, and at the same time so pure that
everything she said might be printed without cor
rection, and so plain that the most ignorant and
most inferior persons were never at a loss to com
prehend it. It possessed, too, a wonderful flexi
bility; it seemed to rise and fall with the subject.
I have not met with a style which to a noble and
uniform simplicity united such variety of expression.
Whoever drinks knowledge pure at its sources,
solely from the delight in filling the capacities of a
large mind, without the desire of dazzling or out
shining others; whoever speaks for the sole pur
pose of conveying to other minds those ideas from
which he himself has received pleasure and advan
tage, may possess this chaste and natural style.
But it is not to be acquired by art or study. "
We have given this example of Miss Schuyler,
afterward known as Madame Schuyler, as an ex
hibition of the best type of an educated woman in
the New York colonial period, before the forma
tion of our government, when female education
was generally little thought of, when scarcely any
public provision for it was made. She was an
Albany lady. She lived in the days of our grand
mothers. The methods of her education, the use
she made of it, and its reflex influence on her
character, are deserving the careful consideration of
the girls of this generation, when the avenues to
knowledge are as plenty and free as water.
Lossing, in his Life and Times of Gen. Philip
Schuyler, tells us that young Schuyler (born in
1733), when a little more than 14 years of age,
"had studied the ordinary branches of a plain
education under the instruction of his mother,
for the schools of Albany were very indifferent.
He also had the advantages of listening to the con
versation, and perhaps actually receiving instruction
from educated French Protestants, who had ever
been welcome visitors to the mansion of Gen.

Schuyler at the Flats. He received some instruc
tion in the science of mathematics from one of
those Huguenots who may have been employed as
a private tutor in some wealthy families at Albany. "
Young Schuyler's education was directed toward
a mercantile life. He was sent to school, when 1 5
years of age, to New Rochelle, in Westchester County,
among the sons of French Huguenots and New
York merchants. At that time, no class of people
in the province was more thrifty and progressive;
none had superior culture in good manners and the
learning of the day. They were religionists of the
John Calvin school, and were matched only by the
Puritans in their zeal for mental and spiritual
progress, and for the rights of conscience and
popular government. This school, kept among
those French refugees of the latter part of the
seventeenth century and their descendants, was the
only one in New York, at that time, where was
taught the French language, and few, if any, taught
so well other subjects needed by an intelligent mer
chant. Its principal, Rev. Mr. Stouppe, was a
Swiss, and pastor of the French Protestant Church
of the settlement. Three years later, Schuyler was
spending his summers among the hunters and
trappers of the upper Hudson. He became influ
ential among the Indians. He spent several weeks
every autumn and winter with his relatives and
friends in the City of New York, where he found
congenial society. Large landed estates soon de
manded his care, and the affairs of his country de
manded his influence, his wealth, his talents and
his acquirements of head and heart. He is given
here as one of the best examples of the methods
and influence of the education of his times among
the young men of good family and ample means,
and who were not aiming at law, medicine or
divinity. Schools in New York were of a very low order as
late as 1760. Said a writer of that time: "The
instructors want instruction, and through a long,
shameful neglect of all the arts and sciences our
common speech is extremely corrupt, and the evi
dences of bad taste as to both thought and lan
guage are visible in all our proceedings, public and
private." Reading was neglected by all classes;
education was regarded as an affectation of learn
ing, and a student was rarely found outside the
professions of law, medicine and divinity.
Some few of the young men were sent over to
Europe for education. They belonged to families
of wealth or social and political influence. There
were no higher schools for the people — for the
poor and toiling classes. If they obtained rank by

260

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

learning, wealth and title, it was the expression of
an irrepressible energy that nothing human could re
sist. Such expression has become common all over
our country now.
Commerce engrossed the energies of the princi
pal families of New York, in provincial times, as we
have often had occasion to say. It was the surest
avenue to wealth and social distinction. The young
men destined to these pursuits attended schools
for teaching writing and accounts ; went thence to
the counting room ; and, in due time, were sent on
some short trading trip, usually to the West Indies.
Affairs, society and the activities of the day did the
rest. The leading hindrances to the promotion of
learning, especially of the masses, during the whole
English colonial period, may be summed up as
follows :
i. The helplessness of the working classes. A
large portion regarded themselves as born to igno
rance and servitude, as powerless of infiuence, and
destined to nothing but lives of drudgery. Such
were most of the tenants, farm laborers and ordi
nary mechanics and traders in Albany County.
2. The general indifference of the officers and
friends of royalty to anything that could elevate the
masses. Education set people to reading and think
ing, as it did in New England. It led them to
know their rights, and knowing, to dare resist
tyranny and assert popular sovereignty. Royal
governors were afraid of schools for the common
people. 3. The aristocratic class, which possessed wealth
and some learning, were fond of association with
men of royal rank, fond of having dependants,
eager for increase of wealth and power. They were
quite willing to keep the poor in blissful ignorance
and poverty. They disliked paying taxes for
schools, and despised labor.
4. Wars, and rumors of war, characterized all
this period. These called for forts and munitions
of war, for training for war, and for active service
against the enemy. The arts of peace were ne
glected or perverted. Schools were hindered when
contemplated, and interrupted when in operation.
So things continued until the close of the Revolu
tionary war. Then men began to think and read
and talk of rights and duties.
HIGHER AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION.
There were no schools of medicine, law or
divinity ; no normal schools for teachers. The
young disciples of Esculapius used " to ride " with
" the old doctor, " and visit with him his bedside

clinics, and witness his office consultations and
treatment. Coke and Blackstone were read in the
office of some eminent knight of the green bag ;
and young aspirants sat at the feet of some learned
Gamaliel and listened to his wisdom, took in his
advice, and saw how he managed causes in the
courts. But it is said that Albany had no pro
fessional lawyer for over 100 years. Students who
contemplated the ministry read courses in theology
in "the study" of some leading clergyman, and
prepared sermons subject to his criticism. The
clergy often gave academic instruction to those who
came to them, especially to young persons of their
parochial charge.
Gov. Montgomerie had the largest private library
in the province of New York previous to the Revo
lution. It numbered 1,341 volumes. Judge Smith,
the historian, had a library of about 1,000 volumes,
including his lawbooks. The first law library we
hear of was that of Broughton, Attorney-General,
1 70 1 to 1705, which contained only 36 volumes.
In 1730, Dr. Millington, of England, bequeathed
a thousand volumes to the "Society for the Propa
gation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," which was
sent to New York City, and kept in the old City
Hall, for the use of the clergy and gentlemen of
New York, and the neighboring governments of
Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, upon
giving security to return them. In 1754, 700 vol
umes of well-selected books were purchased by
subscription, for the commencement of a public
library, which was the origin of the New York
Society Library. The libraries of our own city and
county, and of more recent times, will receive at
tention later.
According to Judge Campbell, in his Annals of
Tryon County, Rev. Samuel Dunlop, of the Scotch-
Irish race, educated at Edinburgh, came to Cherry
Valley, as pastor of the Presbyterian Church there,
in 1 74 1. He opened a school for the instruction of
boys in the classical and other branches of higher
education, which continued for many years. It
was the first school of this grade west of Albany.
His boys were received into his house and made a
part of his family. They came from Albany, Sche
nectady and other towns along the Mohawk and
Hudson. Some of them became conspicuous dur
ing the trying times of the Revolution.
There were but few academies in this State where
higher and classical studies were pursued before the
nineteenth century dawned. The boys went to the
New Rochelle School for French and business
training. In Kingston, Kinderhook and Schenec
tady they pursued studies preparatory to college,

EDUCATION.

261

Academies were established in various parts of the
State soon after the Revolution, among which were
Dutchess County, Canandaigua, Erasmus Hall,
East Hampton, Farmer's Hall, Jownstown, Lan-
singburg, Montgomery, Oxford, Union Hall and
Washington, furnishing increased facilities for
higher instruction.
Albany Academy, for boys, was incorporated in
1 813, and has always held a high rank and been a
great force in the educational movements in this
county. A more detailed history will appear in the
City of Albany.
Rensselaerville Academy, now taught by Prof.
B. F. Eaton and wife, has long been in operation,
has taught a teachers' class for many years, and
has been well attended and done good work
in the southwest part of our county, reflecting
the intelligence and good sense of its Yankee
founders. Knoxville Academy has done much to promote
intelligence in the Town of Knox and vicinity.
During the late war of rebellion eleven had entered,
from among its students, into the military service for
the Union.
Coeymans Academy, established in 1858, pros
pered under the Misses Brace and Thomas McKee.
There has been, during these last eighty years, select
schools and various institutions for educating the
young in New Scotland, Watervliet and other towns
in the county, useful, no doubt, but brief in dura
tion. After the conquest of New Netherlands by the
English, no encouragement was given to the sub
ject of education by the Colonial Government. For
almost a century ' ' there was no institution in the
province where an academic education could be
acquired." The historian, Chief-Justice Smith, referring to
this matter, while making allusion to the action
of the Legislature of the State in 1746, authorizing
the raising of £2, 2 50, by lottery, for founding a
college, says: "To the disgrace of our first planters,
who beyond comparison surpassed their eastern
neighbors in opulence, Mr. DeLancey, a graduate
of the University of Cambridge, England, and Mr.
Smith were for many years the only academics in
this province except such as were in holy orders."
Although about one hundred and twenty years had
passed since the Dutch had commenced the settle
ment of New Amsterdam, and about eighty years
since it came under the English Crown, the above
lottery law was the first legislative movement
toward founding a college in the present territory
of New York State.

Harvard, Yale, William and Mary and other
early American colleges became the first nursing
mothers of some of the boys of the province of
New York. A careful examination of general
catalogues gives us the names of those who were
graduates of American colleges, natives or residents
of New York, prior to the year 1800. We may
have omitted some few; but the list at best indicates
the great difference in favor of New England in the
zeal for higher education in those years. Some of
these graduates were New Englanders, who came to
New York after graduation; some less known to
fame are, no doubt, omitted.
The graduates from Harvard were Benjamin
Pratt, 1737; Samuel Auchmuty, 1742; John Van
Horne, 1744; Daniel Treadwell, 1754; Philip
Livingston, 1755; Peter Livingston, 1757; Rufus
King, 1777; John Jeremiah Van Rensselaer and
Stephen Van Rensselaer, 1782; Ambrose Spencer,
1783; John Thornton Kirkland, 1789.
From Yale, Samuel Johnson, 171 4; William
Smith, 1 719; Peter Van Brugh Livingston, 1731;
John Livingston, 1733; Henry Barclay, 1734;
Benjamin Nicoll and William Nicoll, 1734; Jacob
Cuyler and Philip Livingston, 1737; William Liv
ingston, 1 741; Samuel Buel, 1741; Hendrick
Hans Hansen and William Peartree Smith, 1742;
William S. Johnson, Caleb Smith and Benjamin
Woolsey, 1744; John Morin Scott, 1746; Richard
Morris, 1748; Gideon Hawley, 1749; Thomas
Jones, 1750; Ezra L'Hommedieu, 1754; John
Sloss Hobart, 1757; John H. Livingston, 1762;
Stephen Van Rensselaer, 1760; John De Peyster
Douw, 1777; James Kent, 1781; Francis Blood-
good, 1787; John Woodworth, 1788; Samuel A.
Foot, 1797.
From Princeton, John McKesson, 1753; Peter
R. Livingston, Philip P. Livingston and Jeremiah
Van Rensselaer, 1758; Peter V. B. Livingston,
1756; Samuel Kirkland, 1765; Aaron Burr, William
Linn and William S. Livingston, 1772; Morgan
Lewis and John Blair Smith, 1773; Henry B.
Livingston, 1774; Henry P. Livingston, 1776;
Edward Livingston, 1781; Derrick Ten Eyck,
1782; Nathaniel Lawrence and Jacob Radcliff,
1783; Abraham Ten Broeck and Peter R. Living
ston, 1784; JohnV. Henry, 1785; Maturin Liv
ingston and Peter William Livingston, 1786; Smith
Thompson, 1788; Jacob Ten Eyck, 1792; John
H. Hobart, 1793; Abraham Ten Eyck, 1795.
From Rutgers, Simeon DeWitt, 1776; Pierre Van
Cortlandt, 1783.
From Kings, now Columbia, Philip Van Cortlandt,
1758; Philip Livingston, 1760; John Jay, 1764; Eg-

262

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

bert Benson and Robert R. Livingston, 1765; Henry
Rutgers and John Watts, 1767; Benjamin Moore,
Gouverneur Morris, John Stevens, Gulian Verplanck
and Peter Van Schaick, 1768; Alexander Hamilton,
1774; DeWitt Clinton, 1786; John W. Yates, 1787;
Samuel Jones, 1790; Alexander Proudfit, 1792;
John Forbes, 1794; Daniel D. Tompkins, John
B. Romeyn, Rensselaer Westerlo, 1795, and others
less known to the public. Taken all in all, the
early sons of these early colleges were a Titanian
progeny; sons of thunder born in tempestuous times
and for great emergencies.
The intelligent student of local history will notice
that a good proportion of these graduates were
natives of Albany County, or were identified with
it as their home or by their distinguished public
careers while residents.
The first graduating class of King's College was
in 1758, and numbered seven. From 1776 to 1786
there were no graduates, the college buildings
having been taken for military purposes. This in
stitution, the first of the kind in the State, has
produced many patriots, statesmen, divines and
scholars who have reflected honor on the college
and given useful lives to the State. Its first
medical class graduated in 1769. In 1797, it gave
Albany Dr. William Bay. It early contributed to
rendering the science and practice of medicine
more respectable than it had hitherto been.
But sectarian feeling, as well as the all-absorbing
struggle for freedom at that period, did much to
retard the early growth of the college. The Episco
pal Church had the political power under the Royal
Government; but the Dutch Reformed and Presby
terian Churches were a power among the masses, and
had much wealth and influence. There was great
jealousy of a church establishment, especially of a
church that had a bishop at its head. William
Livingston led the opposition, but not as against all
religion. In that day, the divorce between learning
and religion was not thought of. The State had
authorized a lottery, in 1746, which realized about
£2, 500. This was to go for founding a college.
The opposition to the charter was virulent, and
based on the principle that it ought not to
be controlled by any one sect, as its funds
were raised under State law for a non-sectarian
college. . .
Something of the character of the times is shown
by the remark made by Rev. Dr. Johnson, President
of the College, in 1762, that " it is a great pity,
when patents are granted, as they often are, for large
tracts of land, no provision is made for religion or
schools."

King's College, now and since 1 784 Columbia,
was founded in 1754, after the long colonial days
of popular ignorance and official tyranny. Harvard
dates its beginning in 1638, and Yale in 1701. It
was not lack of wealth or power that kept home
facilities for a higher education from the sons of
New York. New Jersey had its Presbyterian Prince
ton before the Episcopal King's of New York, and
its Dutch Reformed Queen's, now Rutgers, soon
after. And even Dartmouth, which came near
raising its voice in Albany County, appeared
among the rocky hills of New Hampshire, " vox
clamantis in deserto," as early as 1769.
The Regents of the University came in 1784; re
organized in 1787; and have ever since been the
active, discreet and earnest guardians of academic,
collegiate and professional learning all over the
State, granting charters to academies and other
schools, providing funds, encouraging sound in
struction, and diffusing in various ways that
' ' intelligence" which, as Jefferson says, ' ' is the
life of liberty. " Their office is kept in Albany and
all their meetings are held here.
Union College has been an important educa
tional factor in Albany County as well as in Schenec
tady, for about ninety years past. Its history ap
pears in the latter county, because it is located there.
It appears that a project giving it a start as
Clinton College originated in 1779. One motive
is declared to have been to educate ' ' men of
learning to fill the several offices of Church and
State." Among these earliest and earnest movers
to establish a college in what was then Albany
County were Rev. Eilardus Westerlo, Gen. Philip
Schuyler and other prominent citizens of Albany.
When it went into operation in 1795, seven of its first
trustees were Robert Yates, Abraham Yates, Jr.,
Abraham Ten Broeck, Goldsbrow Banyar, John V.
Henry, George Merchant, Stephen Van Rensselaer
and Joseph C. Yates, all of Albany.
Eliphalet Nott graduated at Brown in 1793, and
William L. Marcy twelve years later. Dr. Nott came
to Cherry Valley as teacher and preacher, and thence
to Albany, in 1798, as pastor of the First Presby
terian Church. From this church he went forth
as President of Union College in 1804, and, for 62
years, was distinguished as a skillful manager of
boys. The influence of this college upon the cause
of learning in Albany County cannot be over-esti
mated. Some of its most talented and useful sons
and citizens have been educated among its nearly
7,000 graduates. Albany Medical School, Albany
Law School and Dudley Observatory, with Union
College, now constitute Union University.

EDUCATION.

263

The law and medical schools of Albany, for
many years important agencies in educating our
sons, are specially mentioned in another part of
our work. So, also, is the Lancasterian School,
and other important schools, both public and
private, that have existed in this century, or do
now exist, in our capital city.
But not all the parents of Albany boys believed
in a collegiate education. The following anecdote
comes to us from an old Albany merchant, as illus
trative of the feelings of a type of utilitarian men
who are not all dead yet. Our Dutch citizen was a
man of hoarded wealth, who had one only son,
named Dirck. He was advised to give him an
education. After some thinking, he gravely re
plied :
" If I educate Dirck in college, and he dies, the
money I spend on him is lost."
Dirck did not go to college. He never earned
any money, but was clothed and fed and sheltered
by the savings of his ancestors. He was a wild
boy; he drank freely and kept bad company. He died
in the gutter one night, after a drunken carousal,
without the expense of a college education.
It is evident, then, that previous to the Revolu
tionary war no general system of education was
established. It was confined chiefly to the wealthy
classes. The importance of schools for all the
people had not been recognized in New York.
All schools that were in operation were of a private
character, or were incorporated by special legisla
tion. Often favored children received instruction
from the parish clergyman, or from some young
student who became a sort of family tutor while
pursuing his own studies. Rarely, some father,
elder brother or other relative gave direction and
stimulus to some bright mind which had the
taste, strength of mind and energy to acquire valu
able and systematic knowledge and discipline
without school or schoolmasters.
In all its years of feudal power and inherited
wealth, years of control by a rich company of mer
chants or by royal governors who grew rich by
selfish rapacity, there were no free schools for the
people, reckoning down t© the close of the Revo
lutionary war, and all along the rich valley of the
ever-trading Hudson from the sea to the Mohawk
Flats. Consequently, New York had no Benjamin
Franklin, plebeian born and educated in the free
schools of Boston.
No, nor any Samuel and John Adams, and many
others of their spirit, whose first lessons were taken

in the intelligent homes and free colleges of the
common people.
But this spirit of liberty could not be confined.
It came to New York, especially to the city, from
New England, and inspired the Sons of Liberty to
resist oppression and establish freedom.
AFTER THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
The manorial lands of this county, after the
Revolution, were rapidly taken up by industrious
farmers, and the shops in the villages and the mills
along the streams were occupied by busy mechanics.
No provision had been made by the patroon for the
schooling of the children. Among the early settlers
upon the farms all over the county were not only
the frugal Hollander, but the peace-loving Hugue
not, the hardy Scot and the earnest German. Nor
was the New Englander absent. Indeed, he was
"all about," and couldn't be content until his chil
dren could have a school.
The Yankee schoolmaster was on hand, and a
spare room of the farm-house of some well-to-do
farmer was fitted up for a school a part of the year.
The school was started by a voluntary agreement to
pay so much for each pupil's schooling. Fuel was
cheap and readily contributed by the farmers ; the
"master" or older pupils attended to building
the fires and cleaning the school-room. The
teacher "boarded around." The schools were
modeled upon the plan of the country schools in
the "Eastern States," from which most of the
teachers and many of the patrons came.
So matters went on for many years. The boys
and girls were taught spelling, reading and writing,
some arithmetic, and many other useful things.
Good manners were not left out. They were
waked up ; they were inquisitive ; many of them
read the weekly paper, the catechism, the New
Testament, and various books that belonged in
families, and were loaned to any one who would
read them.
Schools of to-day, many of them, are imperfect
enough in all conscience ; but just consider them
as they were, with very few exceptions, at the be
ginning of the present century, and even later.
The school-houses, if any, were usually located
in one of the most God-forsaken spots that could
be found, where white beans and buckwheat would
not grow ; on some bleak hill or on some arid or
swampy place, surrounded by the drifting snows of
winter or the sands and miasma of summer. If in
a city, the location selected must be in some by-
place, where the land was cheapest, where business
was dullest and dirtiest, where the best families

264

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

would not be disturbed by the sight of the uncouth
garb and uncultivated noise of free-school children.
The rooms and surroundings were lacking in every
element of health, comfort or decency. Temperature
uneven, ventilation entirely disregarded, light bad
for eyes, seats and desks bad for bones, muscles
and lungs, — everything was provocative of weari
ness, disease, mischief, dullness and bad morals.
The schoolmasters were usually more noted for
hate than love, for brutal severity and repulsive
manners than for that magic, winning power that
rules without ruining children. Few taught be
cause they loved instruction or humanity. They
stepped into some other vocation at any early op
portunity. Money, learning, life, church and
state have lost unmeasured values from such school-
houses and school-keepers 1
Later, when summer schools began to be taught
by females, many might have said, as did one hon
est "schoolma'am," "'tis little they pays me, and
little I teaches 'em." They were generally worthy
dames, who taught their pupils good manners ;
to rise and stand when the minister and school
officer visited the school ; the girls to make a low
courtesy, and the boys to take off their hats and
make a bow to all strangers and others whom they
met on the way to and from school, to perform the
same reverential duty to the teacher as they entered
the school-room door, and on making their exit.
There was much of reading the stories of the Bible,
and much of teaching maxims of piety and duty,
with oral instruction in matters of simple, every
day knowledge.
Some of these worthy pioneers in the exercise
of woman's rights and duties, were exceedingly
lacking in scholastic knowledge. Some could
write only their names, in ill-favored letters, and
could teach only "easy reading," and in cypher
ing were limited to the simplest problems and
tables in the fundamental rules. But they were
women of common sense, good conscience and
exemplary lives; and did much to help hard-work
ing mothers to take care of their children, and
teach them obedience, order, neatness, and respect
for superiors. Knitting, sewing, patchwork and
lettering samplers were usually taught the" girls in
these " woman schools ; " sometimes painting
in water colors and fancy needle-work, especially
in the private schools. The use of the rod was not
confined to the schoolmasters.
Such were most of the schools of the county in
the fifty years after the close of the war of the
revolution.

At the first meeting of the State Legislature, after
the adoption of the constitution, George Clinton,
then Governor, in his address, remarked that "ne
glect of the education of youth is one of the evils
consequent upon war."
Gov. George Clinton was evidently a friend
of public schools for all the people, and used his
official influence in their favor. At the opening of
the legislative session of 1795, he says : "While it
is evident that the general establishment and liberal
endowment of academies are highly to be com
mended, and are attended with the most beneficial
consequences, yet it cannot be denied that they
are principally confined to the children of the
opulent, and that a great portion of the commu
nity is excluded from their immediate advantages.
The establishment of common schools throughout
the State is happily calculated lo remedy this incon
venience, and will therefore engage your early
and decided consideration."
April 7, 1795, theState Legislature appropriated
the sum of ,£20,000 annually for the term of five
years, for encouraging and maintaining schools in
theState. Of this sum, .£1,590, or $3,975, was
allotted to Albany County. This was regarded as
a long stride toward a general free school system.
In 1 813, Mr. Spafford, of Albany, author of the
Gazetteer, thus Expresses himself in regard to the
schools of our State and County : "At present the
modes of common school instruction in this State
are liable to many objections. In this respect, we
are considerably behind the New England States,
who have reduced this branch of education to a
system. But their method is rapidly gaining
ground, and common schools have considerably
increased in number and respectability within a
few years ; and this amelioration is more percept
ible in the country than in populous towns, where
our schools for the elements of a common educa
tion are not so good as in the country.
' ' The wealthy spare no expense in the education
of their sons, principally at academies and colleges,
though some continue the practice of former times,
having private tutors in their families.
' ' The yeomanry and the ranks of middling wealth
resort to day and boarding schools ; the most com
mon kind being the former, supported through the
year or only in the winter, and too little attention
is paid to the qualifications of instructors.
' ' The recent introduction of schools on the plan
of the benevolent Lancaster promises very bene
ficial results to the poor in populous towns ; at
present, these are confined to the cities of New
York and Albany.

EDUCATION.

265

Of female education, he remarks : ' ' The rich
spare no expense, and much time is spent in the
frivolous accomplishments of a genteel education,
to little purpose. Music and drawing, except in
cases of decided propensity, are of little ornament
and less utility, though they may amuse the idle."
He then admits that they ' ' afford elegant and
agreeable diversion when cultivated with taste,"
and may " expand the mind formed for expansion."
Better facilities for the higher education of girls
began to engage the attention of intelligent parents
in Albany, early in this century. Private schools
were started with varied success. The most im
portant enterprise of this kind was the Union
School, so called, started by Ebenezer Foot, in
Montgomery street, in 1814, from which grew the
excellent and widely useful Albany Female Acad
emy, a history of which will be given in the history
of education in the city of Albany. We mention it
here only to say that its doors have always been
open to girls residing outside the city at reason
able rates of tuition ; that it has usually had the
best of instructors and a wise supervision ; that its
course of study has favored the liberal and practi
cal branches, and that its influence upon female
education in this county has been most benefi
cent In 1838, the distinguished English traveler,
Buckingham, made a brief sojourn in Albany, and
closely studied its institutions. In the Female
Academy he says he found about 250 in attend
ance from the city and 140 from the country. The
school instruction and management, then for about
twenty years in charge of that eminent educator,
Alonzo Crittenden, he found most admirable. He
adds: "This experiment, which has now been
continued for upward of twenty years, has proved
abundantly what many have affected to disbelieve
or doubt, that the female intellect is in no degree
whatever inferior in its capacity to receive and re
tain instruction in the highest and most difficult
branches of learning to the male ; that their
powers of application and their zeal for informa
tion are, also, quite equal to that of the other sex ;
and that such differences as have hitherto existed
between the intellectual .condition of male and
female youths have been wholly owing to their be
ing subjected to different modes of education. "
These sentiments, regarded as questionable
sixty years ago, have been so firmly established by
the observation of teachers and school officers that
" experiment " is no longer called for, and " dis
belief and doubt" are no longer found, even among
the oldest of the "old fogies" in education.
31

In Preston's Statistical Report of the county for
the year 1820, we find enumerated in the county,
155 common schools, "exclusive of parts of
schools adjoining other towns," to wit: in Albany,
25 ; Bethelehem, 25 ; Coeymans, 15 ; Westerlo,
16; Rensselaerville, 18; Berne, 30 ; Guilderland,
1 1 ; Watervliet, 1 2 ; also an academy of 1 50
students, Lancasterian school of 400 pupils, and a
mechanic school, all in the city of Albany. The
Albany Female Academy, although then in opera
tion, is not named. The same writer, John
Preston, an old teacher of his day, residing in
Westerlo, says : "Our country schools, and many
in cities, at present are too tedious and too
expensive in teaching children the elementary
parts of sciences. " He places a high estimate upon
the now exploded Lancasterian system of school
management, as " surpassing anything of the kind
heretofore discovered. "
Henry R. Schoolcraft tells us that his great-
grandsire was a schoolmaster, and taught the first
English school in Schoharie County, in his old
age, and was known as one of the very few promi
nent ones in the region of Albany County, at that
early day.
Apollos Moore came from Berkshire County,
Mass. , and settled in Rensselaerville soon after the
Revolution, where he was long and widely known
as a successful schoolmaster. From 181 2 to 1828,
he was County Judge, and for many years a lead
ing citizen of the county. Moses Patten, from
New Hampshire, also resided in this town, and was
a leading teacher of public schools for many years.
He held the office of Surrogate from 1840 to 1844.
Hon. A. J. Colvin speaks of William Hicks as a
leading schoolmaster in Coeymans in the early
part of this century. He was a great speller,
and teaching spelling was his hobby. Only the
' ' common branches " were taught. The ' ' criminal
stick " recorded punishable crimes, and woe to the
young culprit who earned the ferule or the birchen
rod. John Preston, of Westerlo, was one of the best
Yankee schoolmasters that taught in the country
towns of the county in the first part of this cen
tury. We wish we could give a complete list of these
pioneers, but it is not possible at this writing.
County Superintendents of Common Schools. — The
legislature passed an act, drawn by Hon. John C.
Spencer, May 26, 1841, requiring County Boards
of Supervisors to appoint biennially a County
Superintendent of Common Schools, charged with
the general supervision of the public schools in his

266

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

jurisdiction. The office was abolished, November
13, 1847. The following gentlemen served in this
office in Albany County : Royal Shaw, Francis
Dwight, Rufus King, Horace K. Willard, Abraham
Van Vechten, Henry S. McCall.
This office was abolished ' ' without petitions from
any considerable number of people and without
proposing a substitute." It became unpopular be
cause, in some cases, incompetent men, appointed
as partisans, abused their trust ; and the small salary
was claimed by the niggardly as an added burden
upon the taxpayer. It was a backward step, and
so regarded by the best friends of education every
where. It left all school supervision to Town
Superintendents, who, with rare exceptions,
neglected trusts for which they had no fitness.
Such was the united testimony of Samuel Young,
N. S. Benton, Christopher Morgan, Henry S.
Randall, Samuel S. Randall, Victor M. Rice, and
other prominent State officers and educators.
School Commissioners of counties are chosen for
a term of three years by the electors of their com
missioner district. There are now three districts,
in Albany County, exclusive of the cities of Albany
and Cohoes, with the supervision of whose schools
these officers have nothing to do. Local school
boards are chosen by the cities to manage their
own school affairs. These school boards usually
elect an agent called Superintendent of Schools.
The County Commissioners are required to exam
ine and license local public school teachers, except
such as hold State or Normal School diplomas; to
visit their schools; to aid in organizing teachers'
institutes; to do several other duties, and to report
annually to the State Superintendent.
ALBANY COUNTY, FIRST DISTRICT.
1856, John B. Shear, Coeymans; 1858, John G. Vander
zee, Cedar Hill; 1 861, L. Carter Tuttie, Cedar Hill; 1864
John C. Nott, Albany; 1867, William E Whitbeck, Beth
lehem Center; 1870, Leonard A. Carhart, Coeymans; 1873,
John F. Shafer, Cedar Hill; 1876, David D. L. McCulioch
New Salem; 1879, Alexander F. Baker, Cedar Hill; 1882
Samuel F. Powell, Coeymans ; 1885, John J. Callanan
Callanan's Corners. SECOND DISTRICT.
Peter Tinklepaugh; Edward V. Filkins, Berne; 1861,
George L. Boughton, Rensselaerville; 1867, Zina W. Sny-
der, Potter's Hollow; 1870, Julius Thayer, South Westerlo;
1864 and 1873, Zebediah A. Dyer, East Berne; 1876, Sanford
Sisson, Rensselaerville; 1879, Rufus T. Crippen, Rensse
laerville; 1882, Elias Young, Reidsville; 1885, Charles De
La Mater, Medusa. THIRD DISTRICT.
1856, John H. Sand, Knox; 1858, William Arthur, Jr.,
West Troy; 1861, Thomas Helme, Guilderland; 1867,

George H. Quay, Knox; 1864 and 1870, John P. Whitbeck,
West Troy; 1873, Thomas Helme, McKownville; 1876,
Wilham J. McMillan, West Troy; 1879, Charles E. Sturges,
Knox; 1882, Thomas P. Heenan, West Troy; 1885, George
McDonald, West Troy. FOURTH DISTRICT.
1856, John Muckle.
The Commissioners whose terms expired De
cember 31, 1856, were four in number, one from
each Assembly district. They were appointed by
the Board of Supervisors about June 1, soon after
the passage of the act constituting them. After
this the county was divided into three School Com
missioner Districts, not including the cities and
villages having special school acts relating to su
pervision. Since November, 1857, the Commis
sioners have been elected at the annual State elec
tion, and commence their official term of three
years on the ist day of the January succeeding."
The first State Normal School was located in Al
bany by law, May 7, 1844, under the supervision
of the State Superintendent and the Regents of the
University. We give a more extended history
of this institution in another place. We mention
it here as one of the great events in the history of
education, occurring in this county over forty years
ago, and, ever since, shedding its benignant influ
ence upon all the schools in the State, but es
pecially upon those of Albany County. It was,
with the characteristic conservatism of the educa
tional legislation of the times, limited to an exist
ence of only five years. DeWitt Clinton, in 1826,
and other eminent statesmen of that day, who saw
that poor teaching was the great obstacle to the
progress of popular education, had spoken of the
importance of such an institution. The best edu
cators and school officers urged it. Its establish
ment as an experiment was a necessity. It was
opened as a school, with twenty-nine pupils, De
cember, 1844. It has never been closed. April
12, 1848, it was made a "permanent establish
ment" by law. July 31, 1849, it occupied its
present building. This autumn it is to be removed
to its new building on Washington Park, admirable
for location, architecture, and all needful appoint
ments for its appropriate work.
Its successive principals are thus named : David
P. Page, George R. Perkins, Samuel. B. Wool-
worth, David H. Cochrane, Oliver Arey, Joseph
Alden, Edward P. Waterbury.
Teachers' Departments in academies were pro
vided for by a legislative act of March 30, 1849,
and kept up to this day by subsequent acts, by
which, under certain conditions, in academies se-

EDUCATION.

267

lected by the Regents of the University, a class of
pupils receive special instruction in the art of man
aging and teaching schools a portion of each year.
Under this act I find that Rensselaerville Academy
and Knoxville Academy have done some useful
service in this way; but it has been very limited in
quantity and variable in quality.
Teachers' Institutes have been a popular and
powerful agency in the working educational forces
of the State and County. The first in the State
was opened at Ithaca, April 4, 1843, by Prof. John
S. Denman, of Tompkins County, and held two
weeks. Salem Town, James B. Thompson and
David Powell were the assistants. Twenty-eight
teachers attended. A law providing for holding
them annually in each county was passed, Novem
ber 13, 1847, appropriating sixty dollars to each
county which should comply with its provisions.
We add as complete a list as we can now make
out of those held in this county. We do not find
that Albany County was among the earliest to com
ply with the terms of the act.
For some years they were not held regularly,
and were thinly attended. Indeed, to this day, the
attendance embraces but a small part of the teach
ers of the county, and but little popular or pro
fessional enthusiasm has ever been awakened in
these State institutions in Albany County. The
years and places of holding, and the number of
members enrolled for twenty years past, are here
given :
1865.— Clarksville, 118; East Berne, 106;
Watervliet, 173.
1866.— Chesterville, 181 ; Watervliet, no.
1867. — Cohoes, 93.
1868.— Chesterville, no; Knowersville, 73.
1869. 
:87c — Chesterville, 140 ; Coeymans, 66.
1 87 1. — Watervliet, 71.
1872. — Chesterville, 172.
1873. — East Berne, 167.
1874. — Knowersville, 131.
1875. — Clarksville, 144.
1876. — New Salem, 132.
1877. — Knowersville, 144.
1 878.— New Salem, 163 ; New Salem, 89.
1879.— Clarksville, 102; Adamsville, 75.
1880.— Knowersville, 145; Berne, 157.
1881.— New Salem, 120; Coeymans, 78.
1882.— Chesterville, 146; Knowersville, 108.
1883. — New Salem, 62.
1884. — Coeymans, 121.
1885. — Knowersville, 97.
The Slate Geological Survey was authorized by
law, April 15, 1836, and was carried on in four
districts. Albany County was included in the first

district. The following distinguished scientific
men residing in Albany were engaged with others
in that survey as principals or assistants : Prof
William G. Mather, in geology; Prof. Ebenezer
Emmons, in geology and agriculture ; Dr. James
Eights, in geology ; Prof. James Hall, in geology
and paleontology. The work commenced in 1836
and terminated with their first reports in 1841, ex
cept that of paleontology, which is still continued
under Dr. James Hall, who has served in this de
partment since 1843. Besides the five annual re
ports, twenty-one huge printed volumes, abounding
in facts and illustrations, attest to the extent and
thoroughness of the work done.
The State Museum of Natural History, recently
placed in the State Hall, of which James Hall has
been director since 1866, is a wonderful collection,
a great and impressive teacher of science, an out
growth of this survey, continually increasing un
der the fostering care of the Regents of the Univer
sity, who are its legal trustees, and by the wise and
devoted activity of its museum staff, consisting of
Profs. James Hall, geologist ; Joseph A. Lintner,
entomologist, and Charles H. Peck, botanist.
In 1820, sixteen years before the above State
survey was commenced, a Geological and Agri
cultural Survey of Albany County was made by
Prof. Theodoric Romeyn Beck. This was the
first undertaking of the kind in the State.
Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer, with character
istic public spirit and zeal for promoting valuable
knowledge, employed Prof. Amos Eaton, then of
Albany, to make a geological examination of the
rocks along the line of the Erie Canal. His
report was published in 1824, and was a work of
decided merit, considering the state of science at
that date.
Regents of the university, except ex offtciis,
appointed since 1787, and having residence in
Albany County, with year of appointment, have
been as follows :
John Rodgers, 1787; Philip Schuyler, 1787;
Dirck Romeyn, 1787; Eilardus Westerlo, 1787;
John McDonald, 1787; Abraham Van Vechten,
1797; Thomas Ellison, 1797; Simeon De Witt,
1798; James Kent, 1800; John Tayler, 1802;
Ambrose Spencer, 1805; Elisha Jenkins, 1807; De
Witt Clinton, 1808; Peter Gansevoort, Jr., 1808-
Joseph C. Yates, 181 2; Solomon Southwick, 1812
Smith Thompson, 1813; John Woodworth, 181 3
Martin Van Buren, 1816; John Lansing, Jr., 181 7.
John DeWitt, 1 8 1 7 ; Samuel Young, 181 7; Stephen
Van Rensselaer, 1819; William A. Duer, 1820;
Harmanus Bleecker, 1822; Samuel A. Talcott,
1823; James King, 1823; Peter Wendell, 1823;

268

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

William L. Marcy, 1823; Jesse Buel, 1826; Ben
jamin F. Butler, 1829; Gerrit Y. Lansing, 1829;
John Keyes Paige, 1829; John Tracy, 1830; John
A. Dix, 1 831; Erastus Corning, 1833; James Mc
Kown, 1834; Amasa J. Parker, 1835; Joseph Rus
sell, 1839; John C. Spencer, 1840; Gideon Haw
ley, 1842; John V. L. Pruyn, 1844; Martin Van
Buren, 1845; Jabez D. Hammond, 1845; Philip
S. Van Rensselaer, 1849; John N. Campbell, 1851;
George W. Clinton, 1856; George R. Perkins,
1862; Henry R. Pierson, 1872; Anson J. Upson,
1874; John A. Dix, 1876; Charles E. Smith, 1879;
St Clair McKelway, 1883; Hamilton Harris,
1885. Standard historians have scarcely noticed the sub
ject of education. We have had little help from
them. They write of wars, and the strifes of kings
and other men struggling "for wealth and power.
Theirs is a record of contending factions in Church
and State. From them the student of history learns
little of the homes of the people, of the training of
the young, of the pursuits of the student of
science and literature, or of the mighty influences
that come from wise and godly men and women,
working for humanity and country, in quiet places.
And yet these are all of vital importance.
School statistics, as published in our school docu
ments, possess little value previous to about 1857.
Mr. Victor M. Rice is entitled to the credit of or
ganizing a plan for them, but little improved since.
He had able clerks in his department; and county
school commissioners were trained by him to a
habit of making intelligible and truthful reports.
An examination of the State Annual School Reports
for thiity years past will enlighten the student of
education, as he can be enlightened in no other
way, in regard to the progress of education in our
State and County. We would be glad to collate
facts and make comparisons from these tables, but
space forbids.
The influences that have been working for a
century past to advance the education of the masses
in this State, have been many. Albany County,
as embracing the State Capital, and the temporary
homes, at least, of legislators, statemen, jurists,
educators and philanthropists, from whom these
influences have proceeded, has had great advan
tages. In the City of Albany these influences have
been powerfully felt. They have led to the estab
lishment of our many private schools, our excellent
academies and public schools, our schools of
law and medicine, our Dudley Observatory, our
libraries and Cabinets, and all our facilities for
advancement in knowledge.
It must be admitted that these influences have
slowly entered into our country towns. We have

no doubt that the manorial system, so long existing
in these towns, has been the chief paralyzing cause.
It made men groveling and ambitionless. A better
day for these beautiful valleys and hills, these
. homes and villages, is lifting. Schools and school-
houses are better, and men and women of intelli
gence and influence are multiplying.
No one can question that these good influences
had their origin and stimulus from New England.
The immigration from that land, which began im
mediately after the Revolution, and has continued
ever since, has spread and intensified these influ
ences. Among the men whose exertions and influence
have essentially contributed to the establishment of
the schools referred to, and to the securing, finally,
of a real, permanent school system, free for all the
people, may be named the following who have had
residence in this county, not to speak of Governors,
Regents, and State Superintendents named else
where :
Gideon Hawley, Eliphalet Nott, Alexander G.
Johnson, Henry B. Haswell, John O. Cole,
Franklin Townsend, John V. L. Pruyn, Bradford
R. Wood, Friend Humphrey, Henry Mandeville,
Alonzo Potter, Jabez D. Hammond, John C.
Spencer, Daniel D. Barnard, Ebenezer Foot, T.
Romeyn Beck, Francis Dwight, Alonzo Crittenden,
Benj. F. Butler, Thomas W. Valentine, John W.
Bulklej', Samuel B. Woolworth, Alden March,
James H. Armsby, Daniel J. Pratt, Henry S. McCall,
Charles P. Easton, John E. Bradley, Merrill E.
Gates and many others, including, of course, all
competent and faithful educators, male and female.
Of these twenty-nine, nineteen are natives of New
England. They were acknowledged leaders.
Others, "of every kindred, every tribe," have
cheerfully co-operated or followed, and enjoyed
the benefit of their labors.
After years of struggling in the dark, without
system, Gideon Hawley, of Connecticut, was elected
State Superintendent of Common Schools, in 18 13,
and held the office, with a salary of $300, for eight
years. "To no individual in the State are the
friends of Common School Education more in
debted for the impetus given the cause of element
ary instruction in its infancy than to Gideon Haw
ley." Organization, supervision, practical knowl
edge of minute details, patience, perseverance,
honest work and sincere love for the cause were
the requisites in one man. Mr. Hawley united all
these. He settled in Albany, was long time Sec
retary of the Board of Regents, and lived to see
the reward of his labors. Many followed him

EDUCATION.

269

most worthily. The work was carried on in
the Secretary of State Department, with increased
experience, by such men as Yates, Flagg, Dix,
Spencer, Young, Benton, Morgan and the Ran
dalls. In 1854 Superintendent Rice took the helm,
followed by Weaver and others. But none after
Hawley had a home in this county except during
their official terms. Jonathan Tenney and Addi
son A. Keyes are the only Deputy State Superin

tendents of Public Instruction who were perma
nent residents in Albany County.
The Educational growth of our County has
been very rapid during the last one hundred years,
and especially so during the last fifty years. Its
history, to which we have given a few pages only,
could easily be expanded into a volume. In the
special history of Albany City we shall give more
attention to its local institutions of learning.

A LIST OF THE TOWNSHIPS (/.), CITIES (c), INCORPORATED VILLAGES (i. v.),
VILLAGES (v.), HAMLETS (h.) AND NEIGHBORHOODS (».) IN
ALBANY COUNTY,
WITH THEIR DISTANCES FROM ALBANY CITY IN MILES, THEIR POST-OFFICES, RAILWAY STATIONS, LOCATION
IN TOWN, LOCAL NAMES, ETC., BY PROF. J. TENNEY.

Towns, Cities,
Villages, etc.

Post-offices.

Railway Stations.

Distances in Miles
from State
Capitol.

Location in
Town.

Local Names and Other Notes.

P. 0.
Albany P. O.
it tc
<c ti
(t *t
tt a
il it
P. O.
P. O.
Berne P. O.
P. O.
P. O.
P. O.
W. Berne P. O.
P. O.

I N. Y. C, )
| B. & A., etc. j

I X
i'A11
2
2323 19
21
2727 16
17 568
5 8
3 2
4
10 7
10 453
13
21 1618'3
13
20
2022 20 9
9
IS13
13 12

N. S.S.
N.N.
W. N.
'n.'
N. E.
S.
N. W.
N. W.
S. E.
N. E.
C.' s.
c.
S. E.
N.E.
N. E.
E.
N. W.
S.
N. E.
E.
E.
s'.'w. S. E.
S. C.
E.
S. E.
N.
N. W.
s. w.
s. w.
E.
N. W.
E. C.
C.

f Fort Orange, The Fuyck, j
j Beverwyck, Aurania, Or- 1
| anienberg, Williamstadt, f
[were early names. J

c.

Arbor Hill 

Annexed from Bethlehem.
Named for George Martin.
Annexed from Watervliet.
n.
n.
n.
n.
Washington Park ....
West Albany 
Public Park.
Mostly in Watervliet.
n.
N. Y. C.
v. t.
Beaver Dam, Corporation.
Philla, 11. Warner's Lake.
v.
h.
h.
Mechanicsville, Peoria.
Named for Peoria, Ills.
Named for Sandy Reid.
Summer Resort.
h.
h.
h.
Thompson's Lake. . . .
h.
Bethlehem Center P.O.
P. 0.
P. O.
P. 0.
P. O.
Albany P. O.
CC CC
j Adamsville or )
1 Albany P. O. ,
P. O.
P.O.P. O.
Adamsville P. O.
P. 0.
Bethlehem Center P.O.
P. O.
P. 0.
P. O.
P.O.
Coeymans P. O.
Coeymans P. O.
P.O.
P.O.
t.
A. &S.
Adamsville. The Hook.
Babcock's Corner.
Steamboat Landing.
v. h.
h.
n.
11.
W. S.
Mouth of Normanskill.
Upper Hollow.
v.
h.
Selkirk
W. S.
A. & S.
W. S.
n.
v.
So. Bethlehem 
Upper Hollow 
Janes' Corners.
Normansville.
V. n.
W. S.
n.
n.
1.
Stephensville.
Peacock's Corners.
v.
h.
Coeymans Hollow. . . .
Coeymans Junction. . .
Coeymans Landing. . .
Indian Fields 
Keefer's Corners 
Mossy Hill
v.
W. s.
h.
v.
h.
Named for Balthus Keefer.
».
n.
Stephensville 
Alcove P. 0.
P. O.
P. O.
P. O.
Fuller's Sta. P. 0.
P. O.
P. O.
v.
1 R. & S. and I
1 T. & S. \
c.
Colonie 
j A town from 1808-15, 1
j now a part of Albany. j"
Named for Christopher Dunn.
Named for Abel French.
Named for Maj. John Fuller.
Bangall.
Guilderland 
t
h.
French's Mills 
Guilderland Center. . .
W. s.
h.
270

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

A LIST OF THE TOWNSHIPS,

CITIES, INCORPORATED

VILLAGES, ETC., ETC.

Towns, Cities,
Villages, etc.

Post-offices.

Railway Stations.

Distances in Miles
from State
Capitol.

Location in
Town.

Local Names and Other Notes.

P. 0.
Guilderland P. O.
P. O.
P. 0.
Guilderland P. O.
P.O.
Knox P. O.
Knox P. 0.
P. O.
P. O.
P. 0.
P. 0.
P.O.
Jerusalem P. 0.
P. O.
P. O.
P. 0.
P. O.
Voorheesville P. 0.
P. 0.
Union Church P. 0.
P.O.P. O.
Rensselaerville P. 0.
P. O.
Rensselaerville P. O.
P.O.

A. &S.

14 8
'7 48
2121
22 '9
23 8
1212 9
iS 9
12 8
1114 9
9
1113
23 322933 322328 28 10 38
12 6 7
10 39
69 3
12 3S26 65936
2222
20262420
22

s. w.
E.
W. C.
S. E.
E.
c'.'N.
E.
W. E.
S.E.
S. W.
S. E.
N. W.
S. E.
N. W.
E.
N. E.
S.
E.E.N.
W.
s.'w. s. w.
S.E.
s.'w.
s. W.
N. E.
S.E.
N. W.
'n'.' E.
N.
W. E.E.
N. C.
W. c.
N. W.
S.
N. E.
E.
C.
w'.' s.
c.c.E.N. S.
E.
'c.' E.
s. w.
s.
N.
c.

//

Hamiltonville 

N'd for Hon. Alex. Hamilton.
Named for Hon. Benj. Knower.
Named for Hon. Jas. McKown.
Hamiltonville, Sloans.

v.

McKownville 

A. &S.

V. Il:

V.
Knox 
t.
The Street.
It
Knox Station 
A. & S.
n.
New Scotland 
v.
V.
t
Callanan's Corners . . .
h
v.
W. S.
Jerusalem.
h
n.
Jerusalem 
w. s.
Feura Bush.
h
v.
h.
New Scotland Station.
j A. & S. and )
1 W. S. ,
w. s.
w. s.
)' A. & S. and )
1 w. S. \
Voorheesville. Tarrytown. Unionville.
v. h
Unionville 
h. h
Voorheesville 
Wolf Hill 
j Named for 1
j Hon. A. B. Voorhees. j
v.
Rensselaerville 
t.
Cooksburg 
Named for Thomas Cook.
Williamsburg. Hall's Mills.
Obsolete; Willow Glen.
Named for Samuel Potter.
Named for John Preston.
( Named for )
j Gen. S. Van Rensselaer, j"
Named for Moses Smith.
Connersville.
h
Medusa 
h
Potter's Hollow 
P. 0.
P. O.
P. 0.
Medusa P. O.
Rensselaerville P. O.
v.
Preston Hollow 
Rensselaerville 
Smith's Corners 
h
Watervliet 
h
t.
Boght 
Cohoes P. O.
Albany P. O.
Karner P. 0.
Groesbeck's Corners.
j Rural, St. Agnes and |
j Anshe Emeth Cemeteries, j
Karner.
Railway Station.
Named for James Gibbons.
Tibbitt's Island.
The Boght.
Named for Rev. Selah Ireland.
Named for Theodore Karner.
j Town House and I
j Van Vranken's Corners, j
Named for Lord Loudon.
On the Mohawk.
Named for Florist Menand.
Named for John M. Newton.
Named for Peter Schuyler .
Shaker Community since 1776.
Named for Julius A. Spencer.
Van Vranken's.
Town House Corners.
Port Schuyler.
h
R. &S.
N. Y. C.
T. &S.
R. &S.
R. &S.
h.
Center  ;
h
Crescent 
h
West Troy P. O.
P. O.
Cohoes P. O.
Loudonville P. O.
P. O.
Cohoes P. O.
P. 0.
P. O.
Groesbeck's Corners. .
h
Ireland's Corners 
• N. Y. C.
h
Latham's Corners 
h
Lisha'sKill 
h
Loudonville 
Menand's 
Albany P. 0.
P. 0.
A. &T.
h.
P. O.
West Albany P. 0.
Cohoes P. O.
Cohoes P. O.
Spencerville 
Town House Corners..
N. Y. C.
v. It
Van Vranken's Corners
h
Washington 
h
Watervliet Center . . .
P. 0.
P.O.
P.O.P. 0.
Westerlo P. 0.
P. O.
So. Westerlo P. O.
P. O.
Westerlo P. 0.
CC CC
N. Y. C.
R. &S.
Partly in Albany City.
( Includes former Port Schuy- j
-] ler, Gibbonsville and \
( Washington. )
t
Chesterville 
Named for Rev. John Chester.
Named for Daniel Dorman.
Dormansville 
k.
Lamb's Corners 
h.
South Westerlo 
v.
Van Leuven's Corners.
1 Once Sackett's Corners and 1
¦! Preston's Corners; named >
( for Isaac Van Leuven. )
n.
Westerlo Center 
n.
POPULATION.

. 271

HISTORY OF POPULATION IN ALBANY COUNTY.

By Prof. J. TENNEY.

THE legitimate purpose of the Census seems to
be to determine matters essential to an intelli
gent and equitable administration of public affairs.
At first nothing was taken account of except the
population classed by ages, sexes, and sometimes
by races. In this way the strength of a people for
the productive pursuits of peace or the destructive
hazards of war, was measured. And when some
respect began to be given to the popular demand
for natural rights, it was important, to begin with,
to have some scale of representation.
As imperfect as these census takings confessedly
are, they are valuable as an approximate measure
of the growth and prosperity of a people. To
take them as they come to us is the best we can
do, when we propose to show the historic move
ment of population and the great events and in
dustries that accompany it or depend upon it.
Hence, we have carefully collated, from every re
source in our reach, this chapter as a valuable con
tribution to our history.
As will be seen, the statements of population
during the Dutch Colonial period are but little
better than estimates; and even when taken by di
rection of government officers, not only in the
English Colonial times, but even in this day, by
so many "enumerators," and from the mouths
of so many dishonest, ignorant or timid people,
the tabulated reports have never yet reached per
fection. Our facts and inferences in regard to the number
and condition of the population of New Nether
lands during the Dutch period, and of New York
during the English period, are derived from the
documents and other historic papers of those
periods. Wassenaer's Historia Van Europa, Amsterdam,
1621-1632, says: "There are now no families at
Fort Orange. They are all brought down. They
keep five or six and twenty persons, traders, there.
Bastiaen Jansz Crol is Vice-Director there. He re
mained there since the year 1626, when the others
came down."
This helps confirm our opinion that no perma
nent settlements in or near what is now Albany

were made prior to 1630; perhaps we ought to
say, prior to 1639.
The same writer, speaking of Fort Amsterdam,
says: "The population consists of 270, including
men, women and children. " Fear of the savages,
and the dreary state of things about frontier Fort
Orange, thus early led the "families," "the women
and children," to "come down" to a place of
better security.
That the early population of both Manhattan
and Beverwyck consisted of few persons, except
the officers and servants of the West India Com
pany, is well agreed. A little band of colonists
came over in 1630 as farmers and farm servants
under the patroon, and did service under leases or
otherwise, on the manor lands of Rensselaerwyck.
Few had families.
In 1638, most of the population was confined to
New Amsterdam and Fort Orange.
Their "High Mightinesses" had information in
April, 1638, that "the population in New Nether
lands does not only not increase as it might, but
even that it is decreasing," which they attribute to
the neglect of the West India Company to properly
encourage immigration and provide for the protec
tion of the immigrants by proper "inducements
and pre-eminences."
Free trade, in 1638, gave some impetus to im
migration; but most who came over preferred trad
ing with Indians to cultivating the soil. In 1646,
as shown by the Van Rensselaer papers, only 2 1 6
colonists had been sent over to Rensselaerwyck in
sixteen years, reckoning from the first arrival in
1630. Governor Stuyvesant tells us that, in 1647, soon
after he came in charge of New Netherlands,
"The whole province could not muster 250 or, at
most, 300 men capable of bearing arms." This
includes, of course, all the settlements in and
around New Amsterdam, Esopus and Beverwyck.
This he attributes in part to the "exceedingly det-
. rimental, land-destroying and people-expelling wars
with the cruel barbarians" that were aroused and
carried on under Kieft. In this connection he
speaks of his "troublesome neighbors of New

272

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

England," whose population numbered "full fifty
to our one." Not far from this time New England
was dotted over with agricultural and commercial
settlements, many of which had organized as inde
pendent towns; and its population was reckoned
at 60,000.
Until 1656, the little church of nine benches
satisfied the religious worshipers of Fort Orange
and the Colony. The early population of Bever
wyck was an unsettled one. Some few of the better
class purchased lands beyond the limits of Fort
Orange, and settled down as industrious farmers;
some returned to Fatherland; and others retired to
the more stirring town of New Amsterdam, down
by the sea. Population increased slowly upon the
frontiers up the Hudson and Mohawk. Many
were vagabonds of the lowest character; most
unfit as founders or builders of a permanent and
prosperous society.
In 1673, nme years after the English came in
possession, we are told: "They and as many of
the Dutch nation as are yet residing under this
government is calculated to amount, women and
children included, to about six thousand."
In 1678, Gov. Andros writes: "Inhabitants and
planters about 2,000 able to bear armes; old in
habitants of the place or of England, except in
and neere New York, of Dutch extraction, and some
few of all nations."
"The town itself is upon a barren spot of land,
and the inhabitants live wholly upon trade with
the Indians." Gov. Dongan in 1687, says this of
Albany. The first attempt at taking a census in the Prov
ince of New York, was made in 1686 by Gov.
Dongan, by request of the Board of Trade and
advice of Council. The Sheriff had the matter in
charge, assisted by constables or other under-offi-
cers, and reported on or before the ist of April to
the Governor. A LIST OF THE HEADS OF FAMILIES,
And the number of men, women and children in
each household in the City and County of Albany,
June 16, 1697: Chil-
Men. Women, dren.
.Joannis Harmense  I 1 1
Myndert Schuyler  I 1 1
Joannes Schuyler  1 1 11
Aryantie Wendels  o 1 3
Alida Schuyler  '.  o 1 4
Pieter Van Brugh  1 1 1
Marities Lervens  o 1 3
Margaret Schuyler  o 1 o
Melgert Abrahamse  1 1 3
Wouter Van Derzee  1 1 o
Pieter Van Olinde  I 1 3

Chil-
Men. Women, dren.

David Schuyler  1
Mrs. Bradshaw  o
William Ketelhyn 
Lucas Lucase 
Jan Bratts Widdow 
Roelof Gerritse 
Jan Rosie 
Isaac Caeperse 
Hendrick Masselis 
Hendrick Hals 
Joannis Becker, Jun'r 
Jacob Staets 
Dirk Van der Heyde 
William Hogan (I.) 
Joannis Teller 
John Fyne 
Hendrick Lansing 
Woter Wan der Uyfhof 
Paulus Martinse 
John Carr (E.) 
James Parker (F.) 
Hendrick Oothout 
Colo. Pieter Schuyler 
Pieter Van Woglom 
Jacob Winne 
Teunis Dirkes 
Abraham Staets 
Benoni Van Corlaer 
Jurian Van Hoese 
Joseph Yeats (E.) 
Joseph Janse (Sp.) 
Jonathan Broadhurst (E ) 
Jan Verbeeck 
Eghbert Teunisse 
Leendert Phillipse 
Albert Ryckman 
Fredrick Harmense 
Jacob Cornelisse Bogart 
Omie Lagrange, Jun'r 
William Holie 
Harman Gansevoort 
Jan Quackebosse 
Jan Salomonse 
Godefridus Dellius 
Hendrick Hause 
Catelyntie Schuyler 
Jacobus Schuyler 
Geart Hendrikse 
Jacob Van Schoonhoven 
Joannis Bratt 
Wessel Ten Broeck 
Frans Winne 
Maria Lookerman 
Gerrit Rycker 
Ryer Getritse 
Jan Vond a 
Harpert Jacobse 
Willem Gysberse 
Takel Dirckse 
Jan Cornelisse Viselaer 
Jacob Teunisse 
Anna Ketelheyn 
Johannis Thomasse 
Erne Lause 
Johannis Hause 
Barent Albertse Brat 
Cornelis Van Ness 
Anna Vander Heyden 
Volkert Van Loese 
Tierck Harmense 
Anthony Brat 
Jacobus Van Vorst 
Thomas Harmense 
Joannes D'Wandelaer, Junior 
Jan Van Ness 
Gerret Van Ness 
Willem Claesse 
Myndert Fredrickse  4
Tryntie Carstens  o

2 1
2
3S
6
o 3
o 2 3 1
4
3 3
o 2
o I
o o
S 4o
o II
5 1
6
2 4
o 5
o
5 27o
o6 69

oo4o 1
4 3 1
oo 1
o 5 1
o 6 3 1
o 1
3 S
44o 2
o
4 23
o 2

POPULATION.

273

Chil.
Men. Women, dren
Sweer Marcelis  I
Pieter Bogar3us . .  3
Hendrick Van Rensselaer  1
Abraham Wendel  1
Evert Wendel  2
Dirk Wessel  2
Anthony Coster  1
Isaac Ouderkerk  1
Bastiaen Harmenss  I
Thomas Williams  1
Anthony Van Schaick  1
Hendrick Roseboom  1
Jonathan Janse  1
Ryer Jacobse  1
Cornelis Schermerhoom  1
Abraham Kip  I
Jacob Lookerman  1
Frans Pruyn  3
Anthony Bries  I
Catalyntie Jacobse  o
Gysbert Marcelis  1
Warnaer Carstense  [
Wouter Quackenboss, Junior  I
Claese Ry rse Van Dam  1
Abraham Lansing  1
Evert Wendel, Junior  1
Geertie Ten Eyck  o
Barent and Hendrick Ten Eyck ........ 2
Abraham Cuyler  .-...'  1
Steven Groesbeck  1
Martin Cregier  I
Jillis Vonda  I
Johannis Roseboom  I
John Gilbert (E.)  1
Daniel Brat  1
Abraham Schuyler  1
Esther Tiercks  o
Joannes Appel  1
Claes Jacobse  2
William Jacobse  1
Lucas Gerritse  3
Johannis Beekman  I
Isaac Verplanck  2
Robert Livingston (Sc. )  3
Phillip D'Foreest  1
Hendrick Van Dyck  1
Jacobus Turk  -.  I
Harmanus Wendel. . . . ;  I
Phillip Wendel  1
Melgert Wendel  1
Joannes Lucase  1
Melgert Melgertse  1
Joannes Bleeker, Junior  I
Joannis Glenn  i
Jan Janse Bleeker  2
Hendrik Roseboom, Junior  1
Nanning Harmense  1
Abraham Tewisse  1
Pieter Mingael  1
Claes Rust  2
Jan Vinhagen.  2
Gerrit Lansing  2
Jan Nack   3
Jan Lansing :  2
Gerrit Roseboom 
Cornelis Slingerland 
Albert Slingerland 
Gerret Lucasse 
Cornelis Sherloyn 
Myndert Roseboom 
Dirck Brat 
Joannes Outhout 
David Ketelheyn 
Maes Cornelisse 
Hillegont Rykse 
Maes Rykse 
Wednwe Gerritze 
Jan Gerritze 
Daniel Retelheyn 

o33o 24o 1
5
3 4 1
o 4 2
3o 4 2 1
3oo oo 6
4 o 3o S
o 4 5
o 2 1
o I
2 I
665 5
44o 3 7 11
2o 1
2
3 oo o 1
3 1
4 33 11
5 o3 4 1
52

Men. Women.
Mees Hogeboom .....  ,  ,,.•¦¦• 2 1
Pieter Villeroy (F.)....,  1 1
Marcellis Ffranse  I *
Rachel Ratcliffe  ° 1

IN RENSSELAERWYCK, OR THE COLONIE.

Kiliaen Van Rensselaer  1
Henrich Van Ness  3
Harman Janse  2
Andries Gardenier  I
Douwe Vonda  2
Wouter Quackenboss  1
Jan Dirckse  I
Evert Ridder  I
Cornelis Teunisse  3
Dorothe Douw  o
Andries Douw  3
Geestruy Janse  o
Thomas Janse  1
Lucas Janse  1
Marten Cornelisse  :  2
Gerrit Gysbertse  I
Claes Van Petten.  2
Joannes Onderkerck  4
Joannes Onderkerck, Junior  I
Henrick Beekman  I
Barent Coeymans  4
Pieter Van Slyck  1
Teunis Van Slyck  *. . . 1
Barent Gerritzey  2
Cornelis Hendrikse  2
Elizabeth Hendrikse  o
Gerretie Jacobse  o
Jan Spoor 
Levinus Winne 
Casper Leenderse 
Daniel Winne  '. 
Gerit Van Wey 
Ryk Michielse 
Jan Huybertz and his mother 
Claes Sewertse 
Neeltie Van Bergen 
Richard Janse 
Matthys Hooftyling 
Arent Slingerland 
Solomon Van Vechten 
Cornelis Tymese 
Joannes Hanse 
Cornelis Stevense 
Cornelis Martense 
Tys Janse 
Robert Tewise 
Isaac Janse 
Nicolaes Janse 
Jan Tewise 
Servis Abrahamse 
Jacob Janse 
Hans Jury's wife 
Jari Salisbury ...'.' 
Joannis Visbeek 
Ffrarich Hardin". ; 
Jan Van Hoese 
Carl Hanse 
Jochim Lamberts 
Isaac Vosburgh. . .-  '. 
Gerret Jacobse 
Andries Heugh 
Samuel Gardner 
Lambert Jochimse 
Edward Wheeler (E.) 
Jacob Bastiaense 
Pieter Vosburgh  , 
Pieter Martense 
Jan Ty se 
Hendrik De Brouwer 
Jan De Wever 
Abraham Janse 
Lambert Janse. 

o 1
o o
o

Chil
dren.

o6463
4 o34 1
oo o2 I
55
o 4S 3
4 1
4o 1

o 50330o 694 3
4 2 4 1
3 74 1
5
7 0 S4
4 2 5
3 2 36 3 3 1 12 2
4

274

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Men. Women.

Adam Dingmans  I
Lawrence Van Aden  5
Jannetie Bevers  6
Andries Lause  2
Frans Pieterse  1
Johannes Janse  1
Coenraedt Hooftylingh  1
Helmer Janse  I
Phillip Konnings  I
Jan Casperse  1
William Janse  I
Michiel Collier  ,  1
Jan Alberse  I
Jacob Casperse  I
Andries Bratt  1
John Van Loon  1
Jan Brouck  3
Andries Janse  3
Gerrit Teunisse  3
Jonas Douwe  1
Jan Baptist  I
Dirck Teunissee  4
Gysbert Cornelisse  2
William Jan Shutt  .' . 3
Hillebrant  I

Children. 3 2

At this count Benjamin Fletcher was Governor,
Simon Young, Sheriff of Albany County, and
Dircke Wessels, Mayor of Albany. The "list" is
specially interesting as containing the names and
enumeration of the ancestors, nearly two hun
dred years ago, of many of the people of Holland
blood now living in this county. The census aggre
gates 1,452, of which 379 are men, 270 women and
803 children. Of the letters in parentheses, E.
denotes English; F., French; Sp., Spanish; Sc,
Scotch; I., Indian. The others are supposed to be
Dutch. The population of the city and county of Albany,
as taken by the order of Governor Bellomont, in
1698, at the close of King William's war, consisted
of 382 men, 272 women, 805 children and 23
negroes. In 1689, at the beginning of this war,
it had been 662 men, 340 women and 1,014
children. The decrease during the war was re
ported as follows ; Men. Women. Children.
Departed  142 68 209
Taken prisoners  16
Killed by ye enemy  84
Dyed....,  38 .. \\\

Total  280

68

209

The effect of the war of 1689-98 on the Five
Nations is reported as follows :

The Mohoggs  270
The Onneydes  180
The Onnondages  500
The Cajouges  320
The Sennekes  1,300

1698.
no 70
250
200600

Total .

 2,550 1,230
In 1703 the population of Albany city and
county is reported to have been 2,273.

Rev. Thomas Barclay, in September, 1710,
writes : "In the city and county of Albany, there
are about 3,000 souls, besides the garrison. Most
of the inhabitants are Dutch, the garrison excepted,
which consists of three companies, each company
one hundred men."
Governor Hunter writes to the Board of Trade,
under date of June 23, 171 2 : "I have issued or
ders to the several counties and cities for an
account of the numbers of their inhabitants and
slaves, but have never been able to obtain it com
plete, the people being deterred by a simple super
stition and observation that sickness followed upon
the last numbering of the people."- In 171 5 he
writes further that, " The superstition of this peo
ple is so insurmountable that I believe I shall never
be able to obtain a complete list of the number of
inhabitants of this province. "
Governor Hunter, in April, 1716, writes to the
Board of Trade : " The number of militia in this
province, by my last account, is 5,060. I cannot
say that the inhabitants increase in that proportion
as they do in the neighboring provinces, where the
purchases of land are easier."
In June, 1720, "A list of the Freeholders of the
City and County of Albany " was taken, by order
of the Court of Judicature, under direction of Gar
rett Van Schai'ck, High Sheriff. The county then
included Kinderhook, Claverack, Schaghtioke,
manor of Livingston, Niskayuna, Schenectady,
Half Moon, Coxackie and Catskill. In the pres
ent territory of Albany County, 153 freeholders
were reported for the city, and 8 1 for the manor of
Rensselaerwyck. In 1723, there were reported as whites, 1,512
men, 1,408 women, 1,404 male children, 1,369
female children — 5,693 ; and " of negroes and other
slaves," 307 men, 200 women, 146 male children,
155 female children — 808. Total, 6,501.
Gosen Van Shaick, Sheriff in 1731, enumerates :
White males above 10 years old  2,481
" females " " " "  1^255
White males under 10  2',r2
" females " "  ......1,212
Black males above 10  ' c(,$
" females " "  ig*
" males under "  346
" females " "  174
TotaI  .8,573
The remarkable excess of the male population
at this time is worthy of notice. The population
of New York City at this lime was 8,622, with no
remarkable difference in the sex population.
Sheriff Van Schaick thus remarks upon the matter :
"It is remarkable that in New York there are,

POPULATION.

275-

above ten years, 147 males and 995 females more
than in Albany, and 1,029 males and 185 females
(under ten) more than in New York; which is
accounted for by this part being a trading place,
and many of the males go abroad; of course, many
females lye fallor; and perhaps in the county
they are better breeders, I believe many younger."
In 1737 the Albany County population is stated
as follows :
White males above 10 years  3,209
" females " " "  2,995
" males under " "  1,463
" females " " "  1,384
Black males above " "  714
" females " " "  496
" males under " "  223
" females '  197
19,681
This is an increase of 2,108 since 1731, and ex
ceeds that of New York County by 1 7.
An account of the number of inhabitants in the
Province of New York was taken, June 4, 1746,
by order of Gov. Clinton. Every county was
taken except Albany. Upon this it was noted:
"Not possible to be numbered on account of the
enemy. " This was during King George's war of
1744-48, called the war of the Austrian Succession;
At the enumeration taken by order of Gov. Clin
ton, May 10, 1749, after this war was over, Albany
County contained :
Males under 16 years  2,249
" 16 and under 60  2,359
' ' above 60  322
Females under 16  2, 137
" 16 and upward  2,087
Total whites  9,154
Male blacks under 16  309
" " 16 and under 60  424
" "60 and upward  48
Female blacks under 16  334
" " 16 and upward  365
Total blacks  1,480
The whole province at this time contained 6,275
whites and 10,692 blacks.
The sheriffs of the several counties made another
enumeration in 1756, during the French and In
dian war. The returns of Albany County showed:
Males under 16  3,474
" above 16 and under 60  3,795
" 60 and upward  456
Females under 16  3,234
" above 16  3,846
Total whites  14,805
Black males under 16  658
" " over 16 and under 60  786-
" " 60 and upward  76
" females under 16  49^
" " above 16  403
Total blacks  2,619

In 1771 Gov. Tryon ordered a census, which re
sulted for Albany County as follows :
Males under 16  9,74°
" above 16 and under 60  9,822
" 60 and upward  1,136
Females under 16  9,086
" above 16  9>°45
Total whites  38,829
Black males under 16  876
" " above 16 and under 60  1,100
" " 60 and upward  250
" females under 16  -.  671
" " above 16  980
Total blacks  3,877
Total population  42, 706
This was the last counting of the people under
the Colonial Government of New York. Less
than four years later the war for independence had
actually begun. The population during these
troubled times made slow increase. It probably
did not exceed 45,000 in Albany County during
the Revolutionary war. But it must not be for
gotten that Albany County then included what are
now Columbia, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schoharie,
Greene and Schenectady Counties. A part of Ver
mont was also claimed.
Gov. Tryon, in 1774, makes the following re
marks concerning the population of the province,
which includes Albany County : "The high price
of labor and the plenty and cheapness of new land
fit for cultivation, as they increase the means of
subsistence, are strong additional incitements to
marriage, and the people entering into that state
more generally, and at an earlier period of life than
in Europe, the proportion of marriages and births
so far exceeds that of populous countries that it has
been computed the colonies double their inhabit
ants by natural increase only in twenty years. The
increase in this colony has been nearly in the same
proportion." He adds: "The accession to our
own numbers by emigrations from the neighboring
colonies and from Europe has been considerable,
though comparatively small to the number thus
acquired by some of the southern colonies. "
The necessities of the Revolution made a fair
census desirable in all the thirteen colonies. Ac
cordingly, one was ordered by the Continental Con
gress in 1775, to be taken by committees in each
county. But the returns were imperfect, and only
fragments are preserved.
Another census, for the purpose of assigning
State quotas and means, was ordered in 1782.
A census was also taken in 1786 under the Con
federation.

276

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The first Federal census was taken in 1790, and
has been repeated every tenth year since by United
States marshals and their deputies, and has formed
the basis of representation in Congress. Besides
the enumeration of the people, classed in different
ways, almost every conceivable subject connected

with our nation's development has come to
be included in our decennial census returns.
But our purpose and space limits us chiefly to
population. Some of the most valuable facts
gathered for this county will appear in their appro
priate places.

UNITED STATES CENSUS FOR ALBANY COUNTY.

Towns.

Albany 
Berne 
Bethlehem ....
Coeymans 
Cohoes 
Colonie 
Guilderland.. . .
Knox 
New Scotland . .
RensselaervilleWatervliet 
Westerlo 

1790.

1800.

1810.

1820.

1830.

1840.

1850.

i860.

1870.

1880.

3,506

5,289

9,356

12,630

24,209

33,762

5o>763

62,367

69,422

90,758

5,134

5-531

3,607

3,740

3,44i

3,065

2,562

2,616

4,43°
5,"4
6,082
3,238
4,102
5,644
6,950
3-752
3,574
2,872
2,723
3,107
3,050
3>n6
3,o77
15,357
2,912
19,416
1,406
2,476
2,270
2,742
2,79°
3,279
3,246
3,132
3,459
2,189
2,1432,912
2,021 3,459
2,025
3,304
1,656
3.4"
1,694
3,251
2,777
5,928
3,435
3,685
3-705
3,629
3,008
2,492
2,488
7,667
2,365
2,806
4,962
10,141
16,675
25,449
22,609
22,220
3,458
3,32i
3,°96
2,860
2,692
2,384
2,324
In cor-
porated.
16861795
17931791186918081803182218321790
1788
,1815
Notes. — In 1790 our present county had only the City of Albany and the Towns of Watervliet and Rensselaerville.
The column giving date of incorporation indicates when new towns have been made out of the same territory. These towns
have made some changes by division. The varying influences of manufactures and trade, the facilities of modern commerce
and travel, and the demands of modern life have made marked changes in their population.
The first State Constitution, adopted in 1777,
provided that a septennial census of electors should
be taken as a basis of representation in the Senate
and Assembly of the State. Under this authority
a census of this class was taken in 1790, 1795,
1801, 1807, 1814 and 1821, each provided for by
special acts. The persons counted were divided
into four classes, viz. :
1. Those allowed to vote for Senator, Governor
and Lieutenant-Governor, and required to be worth
$250 and over.
2. Those worth from $50 to $250.
3. Those not freeholders, but who rented es
tates for $5 annually.
4. Those with no property qualifications, but
were freemen in New York City, October 14, 1775,
or in Albany, April 20, 1777.
No returns beyond these inquiries were made
before the fifth State census, made in 1814, when
directions were given to ascertain the total popula
tion. The last census under the first Constitution
was taken in 1821.
The revised Constitution of 182 1 ordered a State
census to be taken in 1825, and every tenth year
thereafter, for the purpose of equalizing their pre
sentation. Changes have been made in the meth
ods of enumeration and in the number of facts to
be gathered.
NEW YORK STATE CENSUS, GIVING THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE COUNTY.
Towns.
1 . Albany 
2. Berne 
3. Bethlehem
4. Coeymans 
5. Cohoes 
6. Colonie  "'. .
7. Guilderland 
8. Knox.. 
9. New Scotland..
10. Rensselaerville
1 1 . Watervliet 
12. Westerlo 
1814.
10,083 4,4474.3253>272
1,657
2,264
5.3332,564
1821.
1825.
15,971
I835-
28,109 3,956
3.303 2,957
2,8032,2623.1303.5076,961
3.074
1845.
42,139 3.667 3.315
2,978
2,9952,1613,2883,589
11,209 2,957
i855-
57.333 3,2065,i5i2,963
3,188 1,888
3,227
3,088
20,889 2,648
1865.
62,613 2,8515,9283,264
3,207 1,809
3.3»2,745
27,279 2,497
1875.
86,541 2,565
3.7463,122
17.943
3.502 1,641
3.264 2,579
20,894. 2,316
1885.
We regret that all our researches have failed to give us the United States Census returns for the country towns in the
county in 1800, andof the State census returns in 1821 and 1825.
The act 'passed by tlie Legislature of 1885, providing for taking the State decennial census of that year, was vetoed by
Governor Hill, and no census has been taken.
ANTI-RENTISM.

277

ANTI-RENTISM IN ALBANY COUNTY.

ITS ORIGIN, RISE AND PROGRESS— ITS ADVENT AS A POLITICAL POWER, AND ITS DECLINE AS SUCH— REMARK
ABLE SHERIFF S POSSE AND MILITARY DEMONSTRATIONS  THE LEGAL CONTROVERSY  THE QUARTER
SALE AND ITS OVERTHROW  MANOR PROPRIETORS FINDING THAT THEY ARE NEITHER
LORDS NOR PATROONS, NOR LANDLORDS, SELL THEIR DISPUTED INTEREST 
FORFEITURE AND CONFISCATION OF LANDS, WITH THE BUILDINGS
AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS ENFORCED BY SPECULATORS —
PRESENT STATUS OF THE CONTROVERSY.

By- Hon. A.NX)RE~W J. COLVIN.

ANTI-RENTISM had its origin in Albany
County. It started into existence very soon
after the death of Stephen Van Rensselaer, the last
holder of the manor of Rensselaerwyck under the
British crown. His death occurred on the 26th
day of January, 1839. He was known to that
generation as the patroon, sometimes the good
patroon, and after his death as the old patroon.
The manor was more than a principality in size,
and comprised the greatest portion of the lands —
cultivated and wooded — in the present counties
of Albany and Rensselaer.
As primogeniture was the law of inheritance in
England, so it was of the colonies, and this Stephen
Van Rensselaer, therefore, as the eldest son, inher
ited this manor of Rensselaerwyck. The revolution,
and the laws following, changed the rule of inheri
tance, and gave to all the children alike.
To break the force of this radical change, and
to keep this vast landed interest in the hands of his
two eldest sons that might be, and their descend
ants, if possible, this Stephen Van Rensselaer on
arriving at his majority adopted the system of sell
ing his lands in fee, reserving to himself in the con
veyances, and to his heirs and assigns, all mines
and minerals, all streams of water for mill pur
poses and the like ; and then certain old-time feu
dal returns, denominated rents, payable annually,
at the manor house in Watervliet, such as a speci
fied number of bushels of good, clean, merchant
able winter wheat, four fat fowls, and one day's
service with carriage and horses ; and, finally, the
reservation or exaction of one-quarter of the pur
chase price on every vendition of the land.
This patroon was advised that he could do this,
even on grants in fee ; and it is reported that Alex
ander Hamilton framed the form of conveyance to
be adopted.

There was at this time an English statute, known
as the statute of Quia Emplores, which rendered it
impossible for a subject, on a conveyance in fee of
his land, to make, or if made to enforce by re
entry or forfeiture, such feudal reservations. That
was a right remaining in and belonging to the
crown alone.
It was, probably, assumed by Mr. Hamilton
that that statute was never in force in the colony,
and that it, therefore, had no existence in the State,
or any statute tantamount to it ; or he may, per
haps, have had no knowledge of the English
statute, as it was adopted so long ago as the reign
of Edward I.
However that may have been, it is certain that
this patroon, acting upon such advice from some
quarter, sold in fee, with warranty of title, his
farming lands in Albany and Rensselaer counties,
the deeds containing the feudal reservations above
mentioned. The system seemed to work smoothly
enough during his life and the lives of the first pur
chasers; but, on his and their death, the successors
of the latter, as owners, began to grow restive
under the burdens imposed; and, on being urgently
pressed after the death of the patroon by his sons
Stephen and William to make payments of the
rents in arrear as reserved in the deeds, they — the
owners of the lands — began to question the legality
of the reservations.
The patroon, by his will, devised all his interest
in the lands thus sold by him in fee, with the re
servations of rents, to his two oldest sons, Stephen
and William P.; the scrivener who drew the will
and himself undoubtedly supposing that he verily
owned the escheat or reversion of such lands; in
other words, and in more familiar language, that
he still owned or retained the soil thereof. To the
oldest son, Stephen, was given the rents in Albany

278

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

County; and to William P., the second son, the
rents in Rensselaer County, as reserved in the
conveyances. Here, on the death of the father, commenced
the first troubles of the landholders, or the tenantry,
as they were called by the manor proprietors.
While the old patroon was one of the most
gentle, kind-hearted and benevolent of men, and
often generously reduced the rents, and by many
sympathetic acts called forth the gratitude and love
of the landholders, the young patroons, — proud,
perhaps, of the great acquisitions, and it may be
withal in need of money, as the rents, after the
father's death, came in sparingly and reluctantly, —
were sternly exacting, and they required full and
prompt payments, and omission to pay was fol
lowed by prosecution and threatened eviction.
It was not long, under these circumstances, be
fore strong hostility was exhibited to the fee-farm
rent system in these two counties, soon extending
into adjacent counties affected by the same system.
It is remarkable, on taking advice of counsel,
as the landholders did, that no opinion was given
or suggestion made that the deeds of the patroon
being absolute conveyances of all his interest in the
lands, the reservations were, for that reason, invalid
as incumbrances, made so by the English statute
before mentioned.
The counsel consulted were either ignorant of
the existence of that statute or they dismissed the
consideration of it on the assumption that it was
never the law of the Colony or of the State. Had
that statute, at the time of the anti-rent outbreak,
been recognized as the law of the State, it is not too
much, probably, to assert and believe that, before
the distinguished judges who then adorned the
bench, with the Senate composing the court of last
resort — a popular as well as judicial body — the
anti-rent controversy would have been spared more
than a quarter of a century of political and legal
conflict, and the feudal-burdened counties have
become as enlightened, prosperous and free as their
sister counties of the State.
The anti-renters, desirous of compromising the
disputed matters on some equitable, even liberal
basis, early in the spring of 1839 held a conven
tion or meeting, numerously attended, on the
Helderbergs, in the town of Berne, and appointed
a committee to wait on Stephen Van Rensselaer,
the eldest son of the old patroon, for the purpose
of ascertaining if an amicable settlement of manor
claims for rents in arrear could not be effected,
and to learn, in the language of the day, upon
what terms the soil could be bought, ignorant that

they owned the soil already by their deeds of con
veyance. The committee, consisting of such sterling men
as Lawrence Vandusen, of Berne, afterwards elected
county clerk, who acted as chairman; Edgar
Schoonmaker, Hugh Scott, Joseph Connor and
John F. Shafer and others ofthat town, and Deni
son Fish, Lawrence Fenner, Isaac Hoag and others
of Rensselaerville, and other representative men of
the hill towns and towns below the hill, on the
2 2d of May, 1839, went to the manor office in
Watervliet to see and converse with Mr. Van Rens
selaer on the subject for which they were appoint
ed; but he refused to speak to or recognize them
even by a nod. Passing into the inner office oc
cupied by his agent, Douw B. Lansing, he held a
somewhat lengthened and confidential conversa
tion with him, and the agent then came out and
said that Mr. Van Rensselaer would communicate
with them in writing. This excited great indigna
tion, the committee feeling that they had been
treated with lordly and haughty contempt.
Mr. Van Rensselaer did some time subsequently
address a letter to Mr. Vandusen, the chairman of the
committee, which was read at meetings of the anti-
renters held at East Berne on the Helderbergs, and
other places in the summer of 1839. In this com
munication Mr. Van Rensselaer declined to sell on
any terms, saying, among other things, that he
would be doing injustice to himself, to his family
and to society at large should he consent to do so.
This determination of the manor claimant on
the Albany side of the river led to the wildest ex
citement in the anti-rent towns of Albany County,
and open resistance to the collection of rents was
boldly urged and practiced. Rent agents were in
sulted, and were not safe among the excited peo
ple. Sheriffs were resisted in discharge of their
duties, by men masked and dressed in calico and
Indian costume; their horses were shorn of mane
and tail; the wheels of their vehicles were removed
and hidden; firearms were displayed; tar and
feathers threatened, and strong demonstrations of
force generally exhibited.
Such was the extent of the resistance that early
in December, 1839, the Sheriff, Michael Artcher,
called to his aid, in serving process, the posse com
itatus, or power of the county. Among many prom
inent citizens summoned was ex-Gov. Marcy, who,
amid much laughter, declared grimly and facetious
ly his readiness to go; and he did actually go
with the/<wse on foot as far as Adamsville, where
a gentleman friend found him and conducted him
in his carriage as far as Clarksville, and- there the

ANTI-RENTISM.

279

Governor remained until evening, when he returned
with the posse to Albany.
The Sheriff, with his posse, consisting of six hun
dred citizens, started from Albany on the third day
of December, 1839, for Reidsville, a hamlet on the
Helderbergs, about sixteen or "eighteen miles from
Albany. On arriving within a few miles of the
place, the Sheriff, selecting from the body of the
posse a committee of seventy-five of the stoutest
hearted, left with them for Reidsville, where it was
understood the anti-renters were collected in force.
Just before reaching Reidsville the Sheriff and his
committee encountered a body of fifteen hundred
mounted men posted across the public highway,
barring and refusing their further progress, and or
dering them to go back. Whereupon the Sheriff
and the committee returned obediently as directed;
and on making report to the main body of the
posse of the formidable resistance encountered, the
whole body gladly took the backward march to
Albany, where they arrived in safety the same even
ing at 9 o'clock.
People generally at the time, in discussing this
unheard of posse and its ridiculous termination,
declared that a bold front on the part of the Sheriff,
with twenty resolute men, would have enabled him
to pass through the mounted horsemen without
injury, and do what he desired to accomplish of a
legal character.
On the morning after his return, the Sheriff gave
the Governor — William H. Seward — an animated
if not exaggerated account of the resistance he
had met with.
The Governor deemed it his duty, under the
circumstances detailed, to call out the military, and
he did so promptly and efficiently, for he ordered
out a force sufficient to capture every man, woman
and child on the Helderbergs. It was composed
of the Albany Burgesses Corps, Captain Bayeux;
Albany Union Guards, Captain Brown; Albany
Republican Artillery, Captain Strain; First Com
pany Van Rensselaer Guards, Captain Kearney;
Second Company Van Rensselaer Guards, Captain
Berry; Troy Artillery, Captain Howe; Troy Citi
zens Corps, Captain Pierce; and Troy City Guards,
Captain Wickes.
This formidable body of citizen-soldiery, in
general command of Major William Bloodgood,
headed by Sheriff Artcher, started for Reidsville, on
the Helderbergs, December 9, 1839, to encounter
and overcome the rent-resisters. With colors fly
ing, drums beating, cannon rumbling, and bayo
nets gleaming in the wintry sun, its march from
Albany was imposing.

It reached the Helderbergs without a shadow of
resistance, and, encamping at Reidsville, found no
enemy there to attack or oppose. It remained in
camp and on duty at that point, and other places,
for a week, and then returned to Albany, greatly
chagrined and sadly bedraggled, amid the peltings
of a pitiless rain storm of almost unexampled
severity. Similar but much smaller demonstrations, under
proclamations of subsequent governors, set on foot
by rent claimants and timid sheriffs, have occurred
several times since.. The object has always seemed
to be, not to serve and enforce process, for that was
never really impossible in the hands of a vigorous
and courageous officer, with only a respectable
posse; but by military exhibitions of display, ac
companied by sheriffs' posses in force, to intimidate
and drive the landholders into settlement and pay
ment of iniquitous demands.
The resistance to the collection of rents and at
tempted enforcement of collections went on for
some time in the tumultuous manner stated, with
out successful or encouraging results on either
side. The landholders hoped the petty and threat
ened acts of resistance made by them might induce
Mr. Van Rensselaer to offer some terms of com
promise; but he refused all compromise unless his
tenantry, as he called them, would cease all further
opposition, acknowledge themselves in the wrong
and pay up what they owed.
This obstinate state of the controversy led the
landholders, under the advice of some antiquarian
adepts in legal lore, to question the Van Rens
selaer title to the manor. It was insisted that the
letters patent were invalid on many grounds, not
necessary now to be stated, as it would lead to
fruitless discussion. It is enough to say of it that
it soon brought the feudal rent conflict into the
arena of politics.
Politicians, always keen to scent the advent of a
new and potent power for votes, were quick in
seizing this opportunity and putting the land
holders in shape for political action. They must,
it was urged, have a public press to make their
cause and their grievances known to the people,
and this was done with little delay.
The Freeholder, published in the City of Albany,
became the organ of the embryo party. It was
conducted for many years with great ability. Both
of the old political parties, to a greater or less ex
tent, entered into the controversy, although the
National Republican or Whig party, then the op
position party to the Democratic, furnished, appar
ently, the largest number of anti-rent or land-

280

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

holders' advocates. The landholders now sought,
through political agitation, the enactment and en
forcement of laws to protect them against the feudal
exactions. Their first object, therefore, was to se
cure the Governor and a controlling number of
members of the Legislature ; and at once, in the
elections, they made their power felt. Rensselaer,
Columbia, Dutchess, Sullivan, Ulster, Greene, Del
aware, Otsego, Schoharie, Schenectady and Mont
gomery Counties promptly sent representatives of
the landholders to the Legislature ; and Albany
County espoused their cause by overwhelming ma
jorities. Ira Harris, as their especial representa
tive, was elected to the Assembly in 1845 Dy a
majority exceeding two thousand votes. In 1846
he was elected a delegate to the Constitutional Con
vention, and in the same year again to the Assem
bly, and subsequently to the Senate, and finally to
a seat on the bench of the Supreme Court. Silas
Wright, whose name was a tower of strength, and
who, as the Democratic candidate for Governor,
carried the State in 1844 for Polk as President
against Henry Clay, was beaten for re-election by
John Young in 1846, because his action as Gov
ernor with respect to the anti-rent outbreak in Del
aware County, in which Steele, a deputy sheriff,
was killed, had given offense to this new and potent
organization. It would be out of place, in a his
tory of Albany County, to detail the successes or the
defeats of this organization in other counties or in
the State, or its fate in the Legislature, or its decline
as a political body. It is sufficient to say that the*,
landholders' party, as a political organization, with
its organ, the Freeholder, died out gradually, and
that the contest subsequently became strictly legal
in its character.
Among the conditions contained in the manorial
grants in fee, as well in Albany as in other counties,
was a provision that the grantee, his heirs or as
signs, was to pay to the lord or proprietor of the
manor, on every sale or vendition of the land ad
infinitum, one-quarter of the purchase price ; so
that, if a given farm — worth, for instance, $2,000 — ¦
with all its buildings and other improvements, put
on it by the landholder himself, was sold four
times, the manor proprietor would get the whole
value of the farm, including the improvements ;
that is, $500 on each vendition, making the full
sum of $2,000 on the fourth sale.
Litigation in the courts first assumed shape on
this quarter-sale provision in 1848, and in 1852 the
question was carried into the Court of Appeals for
final adjudication. The ground taken there by the
counsel for the landholders in opposition to the

quarter-sale was, that the condition was void .be
cause it was a fine upon alienation, repugnant to
the grant and against public policy ; but Judge
Ruggles, who delivered the opinion of the court,
placed the decision in effect upon the statute of
iquia emptores, which, although he concluded was
not in force within the colony, and, therefore, not
in the State, yet, in his own words, "that
our statutes of escheats and of tenures, the
one passed in 1779 anc' tne other in 1787,
acting retrospectively, performed the same func
tions and wrought the same changes in the
feudal tenures of this State as the statute of quia
emptores did in England. They put an end to all
feudal tenure between one citizen and another,
and substituted in its place a tenure between
each landholder and the people in their sov
ereign capacity ; and, by taking away the grantor's
reversion or escheat, they removed the entire foun
dation on which the power of the grantor to restrain
alienation by his grantee formerly rested, and they
placed the law of this State, in respect to the ques
tion in controversy, on the same footing on which
the law of England now stands and has stood since
the reign of Edward the First" — that is, since
1290, when the statute of quia emptores was
passed. Judge Ruggles also said : " The right of re-entry
for non-payment of rent, or the non-performance
of other covenants, is not such an interest in the
estate as makes the condition in question valid.
It is not a reversion, nor is it a possibility of re
version, nor is it any estate in the land. " And
again he said : " A rent is not a reversion or a pos
sibility of reversion, and nothing but such a rever
sionary interest in the land has ever been held to
authorize a condition against alienation. "
And Judge Ruggles adds, in the same opinion, \
that, although the quarter-sale condition is valid \
in leases for lives and years, for there the lessor has I
a reversionary interest in the land, yet on convey
ances in fee it is void, for he has no reversionary /
interest left. And such was the unanimous judg- '
ment of the Court of Appeals ; and so ended all
further enforcement of this hoary-headed exaction.
The life and soul of this decision is this: the
manor proprietors by sale and conveyance of their
lands in fee divested themselves of all estate in the
lands, and no relationship whatever of a legal charac
ter thenceforth existed between them and their
grantees. They were not landlords, and the
grantees were not tenants; for it is idle to call him I
landlord who does not own the land, and him
tenant who does own it. And so quarter-sale con-

ANTI-RENTISM.

281

dition died^ and by parity of reasoning so died

also all other attempted feudal restrictions, by way
of covenants or conditions in deeds in fee, to free
commerce in manor or other lands in the State of
New York.
The Court of Appeals at the time of this
decision was composed of the following Judges:
Charles H. Ruggles, Chief Judge, and Addison
Gardner, Freeborn G. Jewett, Alexander S. John
son, John W. Edmonds, Malbone Watson, Philo
Gridley and Henry Welles, Judges.
The Court of Appeals, in a subsequent decision,
pronounced in 1859, by Judge Denio, dissented
from the opinion of Judge Ruggles with respect to
the existence of the statute of quia emptores here,
and held that that statute was always the law of
the colony, and that it was the law of the State as
well before as after the passage of our act concern
ing tenures in 1787. "A contrary theory, " said
Judge Denio, "would lead to the most absurd con
clusions. We should have to hold that the feudal
system, during the whole colonial period, and for
the first ten years of the State government, existed
here in a condition of vigor, which had been un
known in England for more than three centuries be
fore the first settlement of this country. "
After the decision of the Court of Appeals in
1852, the Van Rensselaers and other manor pro
prietors were advised by their counsel to sell, as it
was evident that the other feudal conditions, such
as the payment of wheat in bushels, fat fowls,
days' service with carriage and horses and the like,
contained in the conveyances, and forfeiture of the
land in case of non-payment, must rest and be
rejected upon the same principle as the quarter-
sale condition, to wit, want of relation of landlord
and tenant between the parties; for if that relation
ship did not exist in the one case, it was obvious
that it did not exist in the other, and could not,
therefore, exist at all.
While the manor proprietors, tired of the long
" continued resistance and the failure to collect al
leged rents, had, previously to 1852, in a few in-
tances, sold to some submissive landholders the
soil of their farms, as it was called, they now,
under the adverse litigation attending the quarter
sale, on the advice of counsel mentioned, expressed
a willingness to sell at prices ridiculously
small, if they really believed the rents claimed
were legal and collectable; and speculators or ad
venturers in numbers, ever ready to take chances,
however desperate, or, if possibly successful, how
ever detrimental to the general welfare, pressed
forward to buy; and they bought. The chief or

principal purchaser was Walter S. Church, then of J
Allegany County, New York.
It must be here observed, once for all, that the
term speculator or adventurer in this case is not
made use of in an invidious or offensive sense, el
even reproachfully, but by way of designation or
discrimination. He is not an inheritor of manorial
rights, and he does not take by devise. He simply
comes in as a stranger on speculation, and buys
casual or disputed claims, as he would buy lottery
tickets or stocks in Wall street. He is, therefore,
a speculator or adventurer in the contest, in which
he purchases chances. If successful in the ven
ture, his fortune is made, and he can take his
ease, and live and spend and entertain freely and
handsomely. If unsuccessful, he is no worse off
than other speculators who spend on a hazard all,
perhaps, they possess, and all they can borrow.
The last mentioned purchaser or speculator has,
for more than thirty years, made a busy and
troublous time of the venture for himself and for
the landholders.
That he has been indefatigable in it, is saying
little. His labors and his activity have been im
mense, and his presence, wherever or however re
quired to promote or protect his interest, has been
almost ubiquitous. Did the controversy drift into
the Legislature, as it did from time to time, he con
fronted it there, at every step, with an energy un
tiring and sleepless, and open house and ample
table as potent auxiliaries. When it went into
the courts in the form of multiplied ejectment
suits, prosecuted under his personal direction and
in his interest, he was there alike active, untiring
and vigilant; and it must be written, or this histor
ical sketch will be imperfect, honored judges did
not deem it improper, and have not considered it
incompatible with their position, to accept the
proffered hospitalities of his bachelor home, par
take of his sumptuous repasts, sip his costly wines,
and receive his courtly attentions; and distin
guished lawyers, and lawyers engaged in the cases
against the " landholders, have participated in the
entertainments; even Governors and Lieutenant-
Governors have-not refused to join in them.
It may be said that these social entertainments
have exercised no control in the judgments pro
nounced by the courts. That may be so. But in
cases involving civil rights, the forfeiture of real
property and enormous pecuniary exactions be
sides, it cannot be expected that the landholders,
victims in the actions, have regarded their possible
influence with indifference. In a great controversy
like this, in which judgments are given upon the

282

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

statutes of landlord and tenant — where such statutes
cannot possibly apply— the rule oi stare decisis should
not be allowed to prevail; and therefore the judges
should keep their minds open to further argument
and decision, without possible bias in any way or
from any direction; for it has been well said that a
single decision has never, in any case, been al
lowed to stand if found opposed to principle, and
in a conflict of decisions the doctrine of stare decisis
does not hold.
It is familiar to every well-read lawyer that
there are hundreds of cases in the books that have
stood settled as law for centuries, which have been
overturned by the broad, luminous and analytical
mind of a Mansfield or a Marshall, a Spencer or a
Kent — intellects which have elevated and ennobled
the race, not debased and degraded it — and it will
scarcely do to say that this generation of judges
is infallible, or wiser and greater than those illus
trious prototypes.
If it be asked how the controversy has progress
ed since the purchase by the adventurers, and how
it stands to-day between them and the landholders,
it may be summed up briefly.
In 1858, in the case of Van Rensselaer against
Ball, first, among many cases, that went to the
Court of Appeals after decision in the quarter-
sale suit, the right of the manor proprietors,
or the purchasers of their interest, to maintain
actions of ejectment against the landholders, was
put by that Court, in the opinion written by Judge
Denio, before alluded to, upon a statute passed by
the Legislature in 1805, authorizing grantors of
lands to have the same remedies for the recovery of
rents as if the reversion had remained in them.
Now, this statute was passed after the manor
proprietors had sold their lands, with scarcely an
exception, and could not, therefore, be legitimately
employed in ihe office it was called on to perform;
that is, it could not confer a right if none existed
before. But this was not all; Judge Denio then
proceeded to apply the statutes of landlord and
tenant to the cases, after he had demonstrated
beyond all contradiction that these statutes could
not by any possibility be made to apply, in con
sequence of the prohibitory statute of quia
emptores, and our statutes of tenures and escheats.
This decision so shocked the public conscience,
that the Legislature in i860 promptly repealed the
statute of 1805, so far as conveyances executed be
fore that time were concerned.
After that statute was repealed, the feudal rent
litigation was renewed; and other cases, having
gone through the lower courts, were carried to the

Court of Appeals for renewed decision, where they
were decided in 1863. That Court then took a new
departure, and held that the statute of 1805 was
not necessary to the maintenance of the actions,
but that the provisions of a statute enacted in
1846, abolishing distress for rent, and for other
purposes — a statute passed in the interest of the
landholders, through the agency of their own
representatives in the Legislature — supplied the
place of the statute of 1805. The opinion in the
case was written by Judge Henry R. Selden.
Judge Selden, after relying on the statute of
1846, as Judge Denio had done on the statute of
1805, to sustain the actions, undertakes to uphold
them on the strength of an opinion expressed by
Sugden in his work on "Vendors and Purchasers,"
and on two or three controverted English cases.
But neither Sugden nor the disputed cases ad
vance the idea, or even hint at it, that there can be
any forfeiture of land for non-payment of rent, out
side the relation of landlord and tenant ; and it
may be asserted, without fear of contradiction, that
no case can be found, English or American, where
re-entry, or ejectment for default in the payment of rent,
has been had or allowed, except where the relation of
landlord and tenant existed, or was supposed to
exist. It has been shown that the decision in the
case of Ball, in 1859, in which Judge Denio
wrote the opinion — is no exception to this
rule — for the judgment in that case was ex
pressly affirmed, by help of the statute of 1805,
upon the statutes of landlord and tenant. And
Judge Selden, in his opinion in the Reid case,
written in 1863, is forced finally to admit and de
clare that the actions are not maintainable, except
the relation of landlord and tenant exists between
the parties. His very language is here copied, and
is as follows : "In many cases in our courts, between
parties similarly situated, they have been spoken of and
treated as landlords and tenants, and ihe decisions in
the cases of Van Rensselaer v. Snyder (ijN. Y.,
2pp) and Van Rensselaer v. Ball (ip N. Y., 100)
can be sustained on no other ground, as they depended
entirely upon a statute applicable only to parties hold
ing that relation (2 R. S., p. 50 j, §Jo)."
Of the eight judges who composed the Court of
Appeals in 1863, when Judge Selden wrote his
opinion, it is notable that two of the most distin
guished Judges of the Court, Wright and Rosekranz,
who heard the arguments, refused to take part in
the decision. They could not be brought to as
sent to the remarkable doctrines announced by
Judge Selden.

ANTI-RENTISM.

283

Upon this indefensible assumption by Judge
Selden of the relationship of landlord and tenant
between the parties to this controversy (where
such relationship does not exists), hangs the
enormous exactions thereafter, and even now, bit
terly wrung from the cultivators of lands absolutely
owned by themselves.
The workings of the system, thus naugurated
by the Court of Appeals, may be illustrated by a
few out of many examples :
On the 17th day of February, i860, one of the
coldest days of the winter, the principal adven
turer in the claims, accompanied by the Sheriff
and his posse, some fourteen or fifteen in num
ber, armed with pistols and clubs, and handcuffs to
bind any that might be found to oppose, made a
sudden descent upon the farm and premises of
Peter Ball, situated on the Helderbergs, near the
village of Berne. The farm had been his and his
forefathers for generations, but then and there, in
the midst of a furious mountain snow-storm, they
cast him, with his family, consisting of his wife, a
sick daughter and an aged colored servant, from
the dwelling, out upon the public highway.
The value of this farm, within the very limits
of the village, with its new, convenient and
handsome dwelling-house, and other improve
ments, made by Peter Ball himself, was very con
siderable. It was one of the most desirable and
picturesque places on the Helderbergs ; and as the
poor old people, the sick daughter and the aged
servant were forced to leave, their cries and their
tears touched many a tender heart.
It may be truthfully asserted that when the Pa
troon sold his lands on the Helderbergs, there was
not probably an acre that was worth more than
twenty-five cents. The value was given afterward
by the buildings and other improvements put upon
the lands by the purchasers.
It was necessary, it was said, to make an exam
ple of Peter Ball, because he had been a leading
and persistent anti-renter, for the influence it might
exert at the time upon other anti-renters to come
forward and settle exacted claims.
Martinus Lansing, whose extensive farm lay on
the east or Greenbush side of the river, in view, prob
ably, from the pinnacles of the Capitol, beneath which,
in august dignity, now sits the Court of Appeals,
is a more recent and flagrant case of dispossession.
On this farm, worth not less than twenty-five thou
sand dollars, it has been estimated there was an un
paid rent claim of about eight hundred dollars.
Mr. Lansing was required to pay six thousand dol
lars to be reinstated. He paid four thousand dol

lars, and because he did not promptly pay the other
two thousand, although he subsequently offered to
pay it, and the payment was refused, he and his
family were removed from their dwelling-house by
an armed body of officers and men. The great
farm, with all its buildings and other improve
ments, put on it by Mr. Lansing's forefathers, with
extensive additions and betterments by Mr. Lan
sing himself, was immediately taken possession of
by the chief speculator ; and he is to-day occupying
the fine dwellings and large barns, and planting
and reaping the broad acres, and pocketing the
fruits, rejoicing in the great acquisition, and mak
ing exhibitions of it to admiring friends.
The reader will not be surprised to learn that
Mr. Lansing died of a broken heart, poor and pen
niless, and that his unmarried daughters, forced to
support themselves as best they may, or dependent
upon the liberality of relatives, have suffered a
desolation, distress and mortification over which
sympathetic neighbors and friends have dropped
many a tear of charily.
Another case of dispossession was that of Will
iam Witbeck, of Greenbush, whose farm lay west
of Mr. Lansing's, and nearer the river. The Olcott
place, which occupies a site commanding a view
of all Albany, forms in part its western boundary.
As a grass and stock farm, with its buildings and
other improvements put on by the Witbeck family,
it was very valuable — -worth not less, probably, than
fifteen thousand dollars.
Witbeck had paid all assumed rent claims against
this farm, but there was yet unpaid, it seemed, the
costs of the ejectment suit, amounting perhaps to
one hundred and fifty dollars. These, by some over
sight, had not been paid. They niight have been col
lected at any moment upon execution, if Witbeck
had refused to pay, as he had much cattle and other
property on this and other farms in the same neigh
borhood. But this was not what the principal specu
lator in fee-farm rents was seeking. Witbeck, he in
sisted had been contumacious, and had forfeited his
right to retain the farm, and he declared his inten
tion, therefore, to take possession. For this purpose
Hiram Griggs, a deputy of the Sheriff of Rensselaer
County, with an armed posse, was dispatched to
take possession. Witbeck, as he had given out he
would do, resisted, and in the encounter which
followed Griggs was shot, and subsequently died.
Witbeck and his two sons were arrested and in
dicted for Griggs' murder. They were tried in
Saratoga County, and were acquitted. In the
meantime, secured against further resistance, the
speculator obtained peaceable possession of the.

284

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

farm, and he retains it to this day, with its bounti
ful ingathering of harvests and fruits.
Such are some of the results of landlord and
tenant statutes, where such statutes do not apply.
It is the merciless taking and appropriation of land
(by judicial accomplishment), with all the buildings
and other improvements, put on it by the owners
themselves, which never belonged to the manor or
proprietors nor to the purchasing speculators ; here
in the State of New York, near the close of the
nineteenth century, in a manner equal to anything
in atrocity that could have occurred in the bar
barous ages of the ninth century, when feudalism
was first forced on allodial soil and on free men.
The system of swooping in farms, with the
buildings and other improvements, now practiced,
under the same incongruous statutes, (made pos
sible by the like judicial action) maybe illustrated
by the method in which it is done:
Ejectment suits are brought to recover one year's
rent claimed to be due — generally the last year —
and recovery of possession of the farm for non-pay
ment. The landholder, on prosecution, goes to
the office in Albany to pay the year's rent sued for,
and the costs of the action. Payment will not be ac
cepted unless he will also pay all rents claimed to be
in arrear ; it may be for fifteen or twenty, perhaps
thirty years. The landholder remonstrates, on the
ground, as often happens, that he has only owned
the farm a few years, and should not be asked to
pay longer than he has owned. He is told that
that makes no difference ; the farm is liable, who
ever may have been the owner, and he must pay
all rents claimed or lose the farm. On inquiry as
to the amount claimed, he is startled to learn that
it exceeds the value of the farm, perhaps, with all
the buildings and other improvements. That result
is brought about by charging the fullest prices for
the wheat, the fat fowls and the days' service with
carriage and horses, with annual accumulations of
interest on each. It is the old story ; the succes
sors of the old Patroon chastised the landholders
with whips ; the adventurers chastise them with
scorpions. The distressed farmer, sued for one year's rent,
goes home and communicates to his astonished
family the ruin that impends over their peaceful
habitation ; and ruin promptly comes in the person
of the speculator, with the sheriff and posse at his
back, who speedily close the scene upon the
wretched family by pitiless dispossession unless
every claim be paid.
The prices of rents claimed have been greatly in
creased by the speculators since the days of the

Patroons ; then the fat fowls and the days' service
with carriage and horses, etc., were put at uniform
rates of moderate character ; now they are ad
vanced to the extremest tension. It is this feature
of the fee-farm rent system, among others, which
makes it so bitter, harsh and unendurable. Iri
cases between landlord and tenant, where that re
lationship actually exists, the landlord must specify
in his petition or complaint the exact amount of
rent claimed to be due, so that the tenant may
know what he has to pay, and he pays it, or leaves
the premises at his option, to which premises the
tenant makes no claim, for he never owned them.
He has added nothing to their value by buildings
or other improvements, and he leaves them with
out loss or distress.
Very different from this is it with the fee-farm rent
system. Here the courts do not require the specu
lators, on prosecution, to fix the amount of rent
claimed to be due. That is left to their tender
mercy after they have got their ejectment judg
ment ; and if the landholder don't then pay as
required, he loses his farm, with all the build
ings and other improvements put upon it by
himself. These buildings and other improve
ments, even more valuable, perhaps, than the
land itself, the Court of Appeals declared in 1852,
in the opinion delivered by Judge Ruggles in the
quarter-sale suit, never belonged to the manor
proprietors, and certainly, therefore, never belonged
to the speculators in the manor claims. Yet these
speculators are now allowed, under the statutes of
landlord and tenant (with assistance of the courts),
to take the buildings and other improvements as
well as the land itself, which the Court of Appeals,
in 1852, as above declared never belonged to the
manor proprietors.
This category of the fee-farm rent system places
it in a light of terrific injustice.
It may be asserted, boldly and unflinchingly,
that the declaration of the Court of Appeals, before
mentioned and transcribed, that because, in many
cases, the parties lo this controversy have been spoken
of and treated as landlords and tenants, therefore,
their status as such is forever fixed and cannot be
changed, where that relationship does not exist, is ju
dicial legislation and tyranny. *
* This language is used advisedly. Writers on social science con
cede that the courts in this country have assumed legislative power.
Lester F. Ward, A.M., of the Smithsonian Institution, in a recent
work on " Dynamic Sociology," says : *' There are two classes of law
making bodies — courts and legislatures. The growth of law through
the courts is almost unrecognized by the people at large ; yet its de
velopment by this agency is, perhaps, more rapid than by legislation."
The author is inclined to approve this usurpation, unmindful that judi
cial legislation is insidious despotism, paving the way for imperialism ;
destructive assuredly of our system of government described by Pres
ident Lincoln as the "government of the people, by the people, for
the people,"

ANTI-RENTISM.

285

This judicial legislation on this rent question
makes him who does not own the land, landlord,
and him who does own it, tenant, and gives the
former the latter's land, with all the buildings and
other improvements, without compensation.
The question admits of no dispute, and is of
ready solution : it is determined by inalienable
law, and all the courts in the civilized world can
not controvert or change it.
Suppose a man, owning one of these manorfarms,
dies without will, and without heirs, lineal or col
lateral, to inherit, to whom does the farm escheat
or revert, to the manor lord, or in this case to the
speculator who has purchased his interest, or to
the people of the State in their sovereign capacity ?
Every tyro in the law knows that it goes to the peo
ple. Why ? Because the reversion or escheat of
all lands held in fee is in the State.
This point may be further illustrated by the man
ner in which the taxes upon these "anti-rent" lands
are assessed and paid; which is matter of interest to
distressed taxpayers generally, and to opponents of
non-taxable Government bonds. The speculators
have never been assessed for or paid any taxes on
these lands which they claim to own as landlords over
, a peasant tenantry. If it be said that the manor
proprietors, or the speculators who have purchased
from them, are not bound to pay the taxes because
of the original indentures by which the farms were
acquired, that does not obviate the difficulty of
the assessment of the taxes. If the speculators
were the owners of the lands, the assessment would
be levied against them as the owners ; whereas, it
is a well-known fact that such taxes have always
been assessed to and paid by the farmers, as the
owners in fee of the lands, and not as tenants either
of the manor proprietors or of the speculators.
The speculators have not only paid no tax or
assessment of any kind on these "anti-rent" farms,
but they have successfully resisted the payment of
any tax on the vast amounts of rents which they
have collected from the owners of these lands, as
the tax receivers in the towns will testify. Hence
it has now come to be understood that the specu
lators have here, under the aegis of the courts,
a bonanza ; a property superior to any other
in the country ; far better than non-taxable
United States bonds, for they have a limit of
existence, while this rent exaction is claimed to
be indestructible ; assuming always that the de

cisions of the courts are never to be reversed on
this question.
The people of the State, therefore, are land
lords of all these manor lands, as well as of all
other lands held in fee, and no individual grantor,
be he whom he may, has the slightest interest or
possibility of interest in any land after he has made
a deed of conveyance thereof.
Servitude to the soil in perpetuity, or involun
tary servitude (better known to early ages as feudal
servitude, the lords in which were known as lords
superior, and the cultivators of the land as vassals,
feuds or bondsmen), was imposed upon France by
despotic rulers in the ninth century. It was brought
from Normandy and planted on the allodial soil
of England in the eleventh century by William the
Conqueror. It was extirpated thence, in 1290, by
the statute of quia emptores.
That statute was the law of the colony of New
York, and it and tantamount statutes have always
been the law of the State. Yet the degrading sys
tem, attempted to be fastened upon the eastern
counties of New York by pseudo-Patroons and
manor lords, has been actually fastened upon them
by judicial legislation, under anomolous statutes
of landlord and tenant, where such statutes do not
and cannot be made to apply, even by legislative
enactment; for our Legislature is not omnipotent,
like the British Parliament, but is controlled in its
action by both national and State constitutions.
Whether the system is to be perpetuated for the
benefit of the speculators and their assigns, or
their posterity, by judicial fiat, remains to be
seen. However that may be, candid and generous men
will acknowledge that to the derided " anti-renters '
must be accorded the honor of arresting the
progress over the continent of this revival of me
diaeval despotism ; for there is no telling to what
length it might have extended over land in vast
tracts, comprising millions of acres, held by cor
porations and wealthy capitalists, had it not been
for the determined and world-wide known resolute
resistance to the enslaving system by anti-renters
of the State of New York.
Through their sturdy resistance, the constitutional
convention of 1846 put the system under ban for
all future time throughout this commonwealth,
whence it is not likely'ever to have further resurrec
tion.

286

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

THE MANOR AND THE VAN RENSSELAERS.

By Prof. J. TENNEY.

A HISTORY ought to be fair and unprejudiced;
and on a question which has caused so much
political and legal strife as was made by the con
test between the opposing claimants upon the ma
norial estates in Albany County, under the Van
Rensselaer leases or deeds, both sides should be
permitted to make the amplest statements. With
this view, I had early and frequent conversations
with Mr. A. J. Colvin and Mr. C. M. Jenkins,
lawyers upon opposite sides of the controversy
when it was in the courts; both eminent for learn
ing and ability; both natives of the county, and
now among the few still living, at a venerable age,
who knew the whole matter from their personal
and local relations to it. I invited both to present,
in writing, the historical and legal points in a con
troversy that, in its day, in this locality, was hardly
excelled by that of anti-slavery in intensity of in
terest. Mr. Colvin only has responded to my re
quest, giving, from his view-point, the only consec
utive and detailed account of the contest in its
historical and legal aspects, and in its progressive
steps and present status, that has ever been given.
The preceding article commends itself by its clear
statements of both sides of the question, by its
forcible arguments, and its evident desire to be fair
to all parties and true to history.
The student of history will be interested in the
facts which we give below, gathered as reminiscen
ces from some of the oldest living lawyers, and
from other reliable sources.
Alexander Hamilton, brother-in-law of Gen.
Stephen Van Rensselaer, the "old Patroon," is
said to have been his early legal counsel after he
came in possession of the manor, in 1785. After
the death of Hamilton, in 1804, if not before that
event, John V. Henry, who died in 1829, and
Abraham Van Vechten, who died in 1837, among
the most eminent lawyers of their time, were em
ployed as his counsel. It is said he paid them
each a salary of $1,000 per annum. The following
anecdote has been given: About 1815, Mr. Van
Rensselaer notified Mr. Henry that he could no
longer pay his salary. "Very well," replied Mr.
H., "then I shall be at liberty to accept a retainer

from your tenants, and I will then show you that
they are no longer your tenants, but the owners of
the lands." The stipend was continued to the
close of Mr. Henry's life.
Teunis Van Vechten succeeded Abraham Van
Vechten as the Patroon's counsel. Then Teunis
Van Vechten formed a copartnership with Daniel
Cady, the distinguished lawyer, and they became
the counsel of the new manor proprietors on the
Albany side of the river, and David Buel, of Troy,
on the east side of the river. Jonathan Jen
kins, of Rensselaerville, father of Charles M. Jen
kins, acted as counsel for the "old Patroon," and
later for the "young Patroon," in the country,
while the Van Vechtens were acting as such in
Albany. After the decision in 1852, in the quarter-sale
suit, it was David Buel, of Troy, one of the most
able real estate lawyers in the State, who publicly
declared that that decision put an end to the rent
controversy, and he would never after that defend
further any of the manor cases.
The lawyers that argued the quarter-sale case
for the so-called tenants, were Henry Hogeboom,
of Hudson, and Azor Taber, of Albany, a native
of Knox. Josiah Sutherland, of New York, after
ward a Supreme Court Judge, argued the case for
the manor proprietors.
After the decision of this case, Andrew J. Colvin,
of Albany, and Anson Bingham, of Nassau, Rens
selaer County, were employed in a number of cases
arising out of these claims for rents; Mr. Colvin
taking the Albany County cases, and Mr. Bingham
those of Rensselaer County. They took the posi
tion that, if the quarter sales were invalid, so were
the rents in bushels of wheat, fat fowls, days' ser
vice, and such like, on the same grounds, viz. :
that the manor proprietors had sold their lands,
not leased them. This led to acquaintance be
tween these gentlemen, and finally to a copartner
ship, with office in Albany. The first of their suits
which went to the Court of Appeals were the Ball
and Hayes cases, decided by that Court in 1859,
Judge Denio writing the opinion. Associated as
counsel with Colvin and Bingham, a.nd pres.ent in

THE MANOR AND THE VAN RENSSELAERS.

287

Court at the argument, were William M. Evarts, of
New York, and Nicholas Hill and John H. Rey
nolds, of Albany; Mr. Bingham and Mr. Reynolds
making the argument for the farmers, and Mr.
Charles M. Jenkins, of Albany, of the firm of
Jenkins & Cooper, for the rent claimants.
Some years afterward, Mr. Peter Cagger became
the lawyer for the rent claimants; then Samuel
Hand, with Mr. Cagger; then Hand & Hale and
Schwartz; then Mr. Rufus W. Peckham; then
Peckham & Rosendale; and finally Rosendale and
Hessberg, who now act as attorneys for Walter S.
Church. THE LEGAL POINTS.
The historical sketch of anti-rentism by Mr.
Colvin, and the novel legal questions growing out
of it, have induced me, at the suggestion of some
legal friends, to look over the briefs or points of
the counsel on the argument of the Ball and Hayes
cases and the decision of the Court of Appeals in
those cases, made in 1859. On examining these
points on both sides, I found them elaborated by
extensive arguments and citation of authorities.
Deprived of the prolixity of legal technicality, the
pith of the points appears to be as follows :
Mr. Jenkins, who made the argument for the
manor proprietors, or those who purchased their
interest, presented, in substance, the following
propositions : 1. That, while by the Van Rens
selaer indentures, the grantees or purchasers took
an estate in fee or of inheritance in the land con
veyed, yet taken and held under agreement expressed
in the conveyances, to yield and pay rent, the fee
was conditional and defeasible and not absolute.
2. That reversion, or the relation of landlord and
tenant, was not necessary to sustain the actions, be
cause of the contract by which the grantees or pur
chasers agreed, for themselves and their assigns, to
pay \he rents, whereby such rents became annexed to
the land and passed with it as part of the tenure by
which it was held. 3. But if these positions were
untenable, then Mr. Jenkins submitted that the
relation of landlord and tenant existed between the
manor proprietors and their grantees, and between
the assigns of each, because the King, as lord par
amount, had here erected and granted to the orig
inal proprietor or patentee under the British Crown,
a lordship and manor to all intents and purposes;
and thereby licensed the Patroon to be chief lord of
the fee or manor, with power to make tenants in
fee or perpetuity, holding of him; and, therefore,
the statute of quia emptores never applied to this,
the manor of Rensselaerwyck.

The answer of the opposing counsel in sub
stance was, that the manor of Rensselaerwyck was
not and never had been a lordship in fee, and was
not excepted from the operation of the statute of
quia emptores ; that Mr. Van Rensselaer was simply
an individual and not a chief lord, and was, there
fore, like other individuals, subject to the opera
tions of the statute. That statute made it impos
sible for him on the sale of his lands, to make, or
attach to the conveyances by agreement, condi
tions for the payment of rents of any description,
and forfeiture of the lands for non-payment. It
was out of his power on absolute sale to make a
conditional or defeasible estate or fee for non-pay
ment of rent, whatever the language of the convey
ances. There was no escaping or avoiding the
force of the statute by any contract contrived or
entered into by the parties to overthrow its effect.
Its essence was explicit and might be put in the
following language : ' ' Individuals may lease their
lands for life or lives, or for years, and attach
thereto covenants and conditions for payment of
rent, but they shall not do it if they sell their
lands." Covenants and conditions are allowable
between landlord and tenant, but impossible be
tween seller and purchaser of lands. So much, and
just so much, was resolved and accomplished by the
statute oi quia emptores, in uprooting the feudal sys
tem ; and Mr. Van Rensselaer having sold, and
not leased, his lands, was prohibited from burden
ing them with conditions for rent payments.
In deciding these cases, the Court of Appeals, as
expressed in the opinion of Judge Denio, held
that this statute — the statute of quia emptores — was
always the law of the colony and that it had always
been the law of the State; and as Mr. Van Rensse
laer had sold his lands, and not leased them, he
brought himself within the principles of its pro
visions. His grantees became owners of the lands,
and not tenants, and the relation of landlord and
tenant never subsisted between him and them; and,
therefore, it was impossible to put on the lands,
when sold, conditions for the payment of rents.
Any mind can see that such is the inevitable corol
lary from this decision.
It would seem to the common-sense mind that
this announcement put an end judicially, not only
to the Ball and Hayes cases, but to the anti-rent
controversy as well. Not so, however. Judge
Denio announced the judgment of the Court
against Ball and Hayes upon the condition con
tained in the conveyances, as though it had been
made between parties occupying the relation of
landlord and tenant; and as though Ball and Hayes

288

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

were tenants and the manor proprietors and the
purchasers of their interest were landlords; for he
applied to the cases the remedies for the recovery
of rent provided by the Revised Statutes by a land
lord against his tenant, on a term for years.
The state of the controversy now seems to be
this : No landlord and tenant in law, but landlord
and tenant to collect rents.
THE PATROONS.
I. — Killian, son of Hendrick and Maria (Pa-
fraats) Van Rensselaer, pearl and diamond mer
chant of Amsterdam, Holland, was a man of
character and substance, of ancient family, de
scended in the thirteenth generation from Henry
Wolters Van Rensselaer. He was a director in
the Dutch West India Company, of the Amsterdam
Chamber, established in 1621, and was one of the
foremost in availing himself of the advantages of
the "Charter of Privileges and Exemptions,"
passed by the States General in 1629, for the en
couragement of Patroons to settle colonies in the
New Netherlands. It does not appear that he
ever saw the rich and extended territory, twenty-
four miles up and down the Hudson and twenty-
four miles on either side of that noble river, which
came into his possession. But, by the aid of his
co-directors and his agent, Wouter Van Twiller,
and others, he gained lawful possession by extin
guishing the Indian titles, securing patents and ful
filling, as nearly as could then be done, the condi
tions as to colonial settlements on his vast acres,
within the limited time. His patents gave him
feudal honors and powers. He freely assisted his
immigrant farmers with stock, tools, clothing, pro
visions and even money, until they got a fair start.
He leased his lands on certain stipulated condi
tions, which do not seem very hard, and we
have no evidence that he was, in any way, disposed
to be oppressive. His policy was not to sell his
lands, but to allow them to pass, according to the
laws of primogeniture of that day, to the eldest
son or heir, with all their privileges and exemptions
and increased values. At first he reserved all
rights in trade, including the trade in furs with the
Indians; but these were so modified about 1638, as
to become open and free to all settlers. Many
of them neglected farming and engaged in the
more profitable fur trade. The Patroon also re
served all mines, which were never of value in this
county; and all mill privileges, which he improved
by erecting grain and lumber-mills, of great utility
to himself and the settlers.

Killian married, first, Hillegonda Van Bylet, by
whom he had one son, John or Johannes. For
his second wife, he married Anna Van Wely, by
whom he had eight children, viz. : 1, Maria; 2,
Jeremias, who married Maria Van Cortlandt; 3,
Hillegonda; 4, Jan or John Baptiste, who married
Susan Van Wely; 5, Eleanora; 6, Susan, who
married Jan de la Court; 7, Nicolaus or Nicholas,
who married Alida Schuyler; 8, Ryckert or Rich
ard, who married Anna Van Beaumont. Killian
died in 1646, without sight of the promised land,
and was succeeded by
II. — John or Johannes, his eldest son, then a
minor. We find some mention of him in certain
official or business papers, but learn of nothing
done by him, except that he married his cousin,
Elizabeth Van Twiller, and had a son named Kil
lian, who died early and without issue. He never
came to Rensselaerwyck. The plucky Brant Van
Schlechtenhorst had charge of his interests in the
manor about six years, until 1652, when he was
succeeded by Patroon John's brother, Jan Bap
tiste, as director.
In 1658, Jeremias succeeded his brother, Jan
Baptiste, as director, and 'finally became proprietor.
He held his position sixteen years, until his death,
October 12, 1674. He is reported to have been a
man of learning for his times, and much wisdom.
He discharged his trust with great acceptance to
all who were immediately interested. The contest
for rights claimed by Governor Stuyvesant, the di
rector of the West India Company, is discussed in
the chapter entitled Rensselaerwyck and Beverwyck,
pp. 49-67-
When, in almost the last extremity, under the
Stuyvesant dynasty, a General Assembly of dele
gates from all the towns and colonies was called,
to meet at New Amsterdam, in the City Hall, April
10, 1664, Rensselaerwyck was represented by Jere
mias Van Rensselaer and Dirck Van Schelluyne, and
Fort Orange by Jan Verbeeck and Gerrit Schlech
tenhorst. Van Rensselaer was made president of this
convention of twenty-two members. It adjourned
without giving any support to Stuyvesant and the
West India Company.
When Fort Orange surrendered to the
English, on demand, September 24, 1664, and
was named Fort Albany, Jeremias Van Rensselaer
peaceably took the oath of allegiance to Charles II
and James, Duke of York and Albany. No change
was then made by the English proprietor James, as
to the rights and privileges of the lord of the manor
of Rensselaerwyck.

THE MANOR

6
AND

THE VAN RENSSELAERS.

289

Jeremias, two years before this, July 12, 1662,
had married Maria Van Cortlandt, who survived
him fifteen years. She died January 29, 1689. They
had two sons: Killian, born August 24, 1663, and
Hendrick, born October 23, 1667. This family
had its home in Greenbush. When Jeremias died,
October 12, 1674, his eldest son was in his twelfth
year, and as eldest surviving male descendant in the
line of Patroons of his generation, was the heir ap
parent to the manor. Jan Baptiste, who returned
to Holland and died in 1678, had released all his
rights in the manor to this Killian. The heirs of
the original co-directors of the first Patroon Killian,
had sold their claims. Nicholas, the clergyman,
who came over from Amsterdam in 1675, and
Richard, who came soon after, succeeded their
brothers, Jan Baptiste and Jeremias, as directors of
the manor during the minority of their nephew,
the heir to Rensselaerwyck. Madam Van Rensse
laer acted as treasurer of this colonie, and her
brother, Stephen Van Cortlandt, had charge of the
books. III. — Killian, son of Jeremias, born August
24, 1663, was the first Patroon who resided in the
manor. His house was probably situated near
where the Patroons have ever since resided. He
came to his trust in 1684, and held it during those
troublous times, so far as we can learn, with much
discretion and approbation. The patent was con
firmed to him by the Duke of York, October 1 7,
1685, and reconfirmed by Queen Anne, May 20,
1704. Before this time, Jeremias had represented
to the English government that the manor included
Fort Orange and vicinity, territory which Stuyve
sant had claimed as belonging to the Dutch West
India Company, and had forcibly seized, set-off,
and held by military possession. It was his request
that the government look into the matter and
restore to the Patroon his territorial rights. The
decision of the English crown ' ' upon a perusal of
the Ranslaer's papers," was in favor of the claim
of the Patroon, ' ' that it did belong to them. " The
injustice and arrogance of Stuyvesant was discov
ered. Says Gov. Dongan, " The town of Albany
lyes within the Ranslaer's colony." " They
settled the place." Orders were issued to put the
Patroon in possession of Albany, and conditions of
rent were fixed "that every. house should pay,
some two beavers — some more, some less, accord
ing to their dimensions — per annum, for twenty
years, and afterwards the Ranssalears to put what
rent upon them they could agree for." These
orders were placed in the hands of Gov. Andros,
but not put in execution. When the honest Don-
37

gan became governor of the province the orders
were brought to him. He frankly declined putting
them in execution for this very sensible reason:
" I thought it not convenient to execute, judging it
not for his majesty's interest that the second town
in the government, and which brings his majesty
so great a revenue, should be in the hands of any
particular men." But, wishing justice and peace,
he adds: "By meanes of Mr. James Graham,
Judge Palmer and Mr. Cortlandt, that have great
influence on that people, I got the Ranslaers to
release their pretense to the town and sixteen
miles into the country for commons to the King,
with the liberty to cut firewood within the colony
for one and twenty years. After I had obtained
this release of the Ranslaers I passed the patent
for Albany." Albany received its charter July 22,
1686, and thus early was it done because of the
magnanimous generosity of the Van Rensselaers
and the sagacity of Gov. Thomas Dongan.
Killian II, probably, came in possession as sole
proprietor and lord of the manor on attaining his
majority in 1684. He conveyed to his brother
Hendrick, June 1, 1704, a few days after his
patent was fully confirmed by Queen Anne, all of
Claverack or the lower manor, and 1,500 acres of
the upper manor, including an island in the Hud
son, and Greenbush running back one mile. He
seems to have been a man of public trust and in
fluence. In 1693 he was Captain of a troop of
horse and Justice of the Peace. During the time of
Leisler he was strenuously opposed to his govern
ment, and went as delegate to Connecticut to secure
military aid in the troubles that threatened Albany.
From 1 69 1 to 1703 he represented Rensselaerwyck
in the Provincial Assembly, and was a member of
the Council from 1704 to 1719. The important
office of Indian Commissioner was held by him
from 1706 to 1720.
His will, made in 1718, was proved May 10,
1720, probably soon after the date of his decease,
at the age of 57. He married Maria Van Cortlandt,
October 15, 1701, by whom he had nine children,
six of whom survived him. From him and his
brother Hendrick, of Greenbush, who married
Catharine Van Brugh, came all the blood of the
Van Rensselaers in this country.
IV. — Stephen I, son of Killian and Maria (Van
Cortlandt) Van Rensselaer, was born March 23,
1707. He became Patroon in 1728, eight years after
the death of his father, and married Elizabeth
Groesbeck, Julys, !729- They had six children, be
sides others that died in early infancy. Among these
were Elizabeth, born July 12, 1734, who became,

290

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

in 1753, the wife of that eminent man, Gen. Abra
ham Ten Broeck, and Stephen, who succeeded his
father. Of Stephen I we find no record of public
office, except that of Indian Commissioner in 1745.
He was seemingly a modest, quiet man, faithfully
devoted to the interests of his princely territory.
He was buried at the Mills, July 1, 1747, at the age
of 40. His wife, Elizabeth, was buried December
3i, 1756.
V. — Stephen II, son of Stephen and Elizabeth,
was born June 2, 1742, and came to his manorial
trust in 1763. His health was feeble and his life
was short. He died of pulmonary disease in 1769,
at the age of 27. January 23, 1764, he married
Catharine, daughter of Philip Livingston, the
Albany signer of the Declaration of Independence.
One daughter and two illustrious sons were the
fruit of this marriage : Stephen, the sixth Patroon,
and Philip Schuyler, born April 15, 1756. Philip
S. held many important trusts, among which was
that of Mayor of Albany for nineteen years, from
1799 to 1816, and 1819 to 1821. In 1765, that
grand old structure, the present manor-house, so
long the abode of plenty, refinement, intelligence
and hospitality, was erected by Stephen II. It
took the place of a building situated near by, which
had, for many years, been the family home of the
patroons, and was so arranged as to serve the Pur
pose of a fortress as well as of a dwelling. His
widow, Catharine, married, in 1775, Rev. Dr.
Eilardus Westerlo, for many years pastor of the
First Dutch Reformed Church. He died in 1790.
VI. — Stephen III, son of Stephen and Catha
rine (Livingston) Van Rensselaer, was born No
vember 1, 1764. At the age of five years he was
an orphan. Gen. Ten Broeck, his uncle by mar
riage, was his guardian during his minority. Dur
ing some of his early years he was under the super
vision and direction of his talented and accom
plished mether, whose influence did much to give
bent to his life in those elements of religious faith
and regard for holy things which always marked
his character. His school-days were spent in the
school of John Waters, near his home ; afterward
in Elizabethtown, N. J.; and then in Kingston
Academy, where he made preparation for college.
One year he spent at Princeton, and then entered
Harvard College, where he graduated in 1782.
In 1825, Yale conferred upon him the degree of
LL. D. Before he was 20, he married Margaret,
daughter of Gen. Philip Schuyler, who became the
mother of three children, and died March 7, 1801.
In May, 1802, he married Cornelia Patterson, of
New Jersey, who died August 6, 1844, having

given him nine children, four only of whom sur
vived him. His death occurred January 26, 1839,
at the age of 75 years. His life was truly full of
years and honors, distinguished by Usefulness,
good examples, public confidence, and the affection
of all that best knew him. From his earliest man
hood he was a devout and consistent Christian, in
the communion of the church of his fatherland and
of his fathers. He was a sublime moralist; a pa
tron of learning; a friend of the poor; a kind
neighbor; a public-spirited citizen, and an unflinch
ing patriot. He was born under a king; by in
heritance a feudal lord of vast wealth ; a pro
nounced advocate of the federal constitution that
succeeded the war of revolution, and a zealous poli
tician of the Washington, Adams, Jay and Hamil
ton school; which, with all its mistakes, was the
purest and most intelligent party that ever had a
name in our political history.
His policy as a land-holder was to dispose of
his large- landed estate to actual tillers of the soil.
He adopted the plan of offering what were called
leases in fee, and at what was considered moderate
rent. In this way he succeeded in bringing most
of his lands, situated in Albany and Rensselaer
Counties, into cultivation. These brought him a
good income.
" He had none of that morbid appetite for
wealth which grows ravenous by what it feeds on."
Nor could he "bring himself to feel and indulge
that passion for profit and gain which consumed
those around him." Hence, he was a kind, in
dulgent man with the farmers, whom he regarded
as his tenants. He had no schemes for making
larger profits, none for mere speculation. He
made no change of policy for such purpose. He
was always giving to the poor; always forgiving
their dues to the unfortunate; always helpful in pro
viding good schools and promoting religious in
struction among the manorial farmers. The peo
ple all loved him, and often called him "the good
Patroon, "or " the good old Patroon," as he came
to venerable age.
But our space will allow us to name the honora
ble positions of trust which he held, and scarcely
more — positions held to adorn by his character and
benefit by his influence. In military life, for which
he had no special fondness, he was made a Major
in 1786, a Colonel in 1788, and Major-General of
cavalry in 180 1. As is well known, he reluctantly
took command of the militia, as Major-General in
the northern department, in the war of 1 8 1 2, from
motives of patriotism and public policy. He was
appointed by Governor Tompkins, and did heroic

THE MANOR AND THE VAN RENSSELAERS.

291

service at Queenstown and elsewhere. In polit
ical life, he was Member of the Assembly in 1789,
1808, 1 8 10 and 1818; of the Senate, from 1791 to
1795; of the Constitutional Convention of 1801 and
1821. He was Lieutenant-Governor, 1796 to 1802;
Member of the Council of Appointment in 1792; and
of the United States House of Representatives from
1823 to 1829. In 1801, he was the candidate of the
Federalists against George Clinton for Governor
of the State, and in 181 3, against D. D. Tompkins,
with a very strong vote. In literature, he was
trustee and benefactor of local schools and acade
mies; President of the Albany Institute from 1824
to 1839; a Regent of the University from 1819;
and Chancellor from 1835 until his death in 1839.
He was on the Erie Canal Commission from 18 10,
and President of the Canal Board fifteen years. He
was one of the founders of the New York State
Agricultural Society, and its first President. In
Masonry he became Master of the Grand Lodge of
the State. In the early banking and railroad move
ments, and other matters of public improvement,
he was among the foremost. The Rensselaer Poly
technic Institute, Troy, was founded by him; and
he was a constant patron of literature and literary
men. When he died, none ever had a simpler funeral.
It was his own request. His body was borne to
the tomb of his fathers on men's shoulders. The
family mourners and the citizens that knew him
and loved him so well, followed from the North
Dutch Church to his last resting place on foot.
There was no parade, no ostentation of any kind.
Albany never buried a man who was loved more
sincerely or mourned more sorrowfully. In many
ways he was a great man; in all ways he was, what
is better, a good man.
His estate, under the United States Constitution
and the laws of 1787, could not descend to the
oldest son. The last Patroon died with him. His
landed interests were divided between his sons
Stephen and William Patterson, the Albany County
lands going to the former; those of Rensselaer
County to the latter.
VIL— Stephen IV, only son of Stephen and
Margaret (Schuyler) Van Rensselaer, was born
March 29, 1789. He had possession of the man
sion, and was usually called, by courtesy or cus
tom, " the young Patroon. " He married Harriet
E. Bayard, of New York, and had eight children,
six of whom survived him. His death occurred
May 25, 1868, in his eightieth year. He never
sought official honors, but lived a quiet and unob
trusive life. He was interested in many charitable

objects, and a liberal giver. In the church of his
fathers, of which he was a prominent member and
officer, he was always valued. He was called Gen
eral, a title which belonged to him as an officer of
that rank in the State militia. The anti-rent con
troversy, described by Mr. Colvin, broke out and
raged in his time.
William Patterson, oldest son of Stephen and
Cornelia (Patterson) Van Rensselaer, was born
March 6, 1805, -and occupied for a time, his lands
in Rensselaer County. He built what is now
called Forbes Manor for his residence ; but never
occupied it. He resided, for a while, in the build
ing in Albany now converted into St. Peter's Hos
pital, and after his financial affairs became compli
cated, he made his residence in and near New
York City, the rest of his life.
Thus closes our brief history of the Patroons —
men who held that title for about 238 years, and
whose relationship to the landed interests, to the
business interests, and, indeed, to every interest in
this county, was peculiar and lasting. Taking all
in all, they and their descendants generally deserve
to be spoken of with respectful consideration, some
of them with distinguished gratitude and praise.
THE HENDRICK VAN RENSSELAER
BRANCH.
Many of the descendants of Hendrick, the sec
ond son of Jeremias, and brother of Patroon
Killian, deserve place in our history, as persons
who have led lives of eminent usefulness and
honor. We only wish we had space to render
them the honor they deserve. Among them
we may name, as especially eminent, Colonel Kill
ian, son of Hendrick, who was once Chairman of
the Committee of Safety. He had four distin
guished sons, General Henry K. , a brave revolu
tionary officer, who was crippled for life by wounds
received in battle at Fort Ann, July 8, 1777; Col.
Philip, who was for many years Commissary of
Military Stores in the northern department, and
who built the Cherry Hill Mansion, and died there
in 1798; Colonel Nicholas, who was one of Gen
eral Montgomery's aids at the storming of Quebec,
December 31, 1775, and was afterwards aid to
General Schuyler, and fought at Ticonderoga,
Fort Miller, Fort Ann and Bemis Heights. He it
was who bore the news of Burgoyne's defeat to Al
bany, October 17, 1777. Another son, Killian
K., was an eminent lawyer in Albany, and repre
sented the County in United States Congress, ten
years, from 1801-1811. General Solomon, son of
General Henry K,, was one of the bravest of patri-

292

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

otic men, and an eminent civilian. He fought the
Indians at Maumee with Wayne and Harrison in
the Northwest, and was also at the battle of Queens-
town as aid to General Stephen. In both battles he
was seriously wounded. He was for sixteen years
Adjutant-General of the State ; four years in the
United States Congress, and many years Postmas
ter of Albany. His brother, Killian H, was a
Lieutenant in the United States Navy. Jeremiah,
Hendrick and John B., represented Rensselaer
wyck in the colonial assemblies, filling up the
thirty-five years between 1726 and 1761. Another
Jeremiah, son of John, was Lieutenant-Governor
of the State from 1801 to 18 10. John S. was a
brave soldier in the war of 181 2. Robert was a
delegate to the Provincial Congress in 1775-77.
Colonel James was one of Montgomery's aids at
Quebec; and many others of this branch filled up
the measure of good citizenship.
Females of the Family. — Three distinguished
patriots of the revolution married Van Rensselaer
daughters : General Philip Schuyler married Cat-
rina, daughter of John ; General Abraham Ten
Broeck, Elizabeth, daughter of Stephen, the fourth
Patroon; and General Leonard Gansevoort, Maria,
daughter of Colonel Killian. Mrs. Catharine Viss-
cher, youngest daughter of General Solomon, and
widow of Rev. Samuel W. Bonney, author of

"Legacy of Historical Gleanings," and now Presi
dent of Claremont College, Catawba County, N. C. ,
deserves special mention here, as a lady of exalted
worth and fine accomplishments. The female
members of the Van Rensselaer family with very
few exceptions, make a long list of excellent daugh
ters, wives and mothers, ornaments to their name
and their sex.
Representation. — Rensselaerwyck had a repre
sentation in the colonial assemblies, separate from
Albany, from April 9, 1691 to April 3, 1775, a
period of eighty-four years. The representatives
were: 1 691 to 1704, Killian Van Rensselaer; 1701-2
and 1715-26, Andries Coeymans; 1703-4, An
dries Douw; 1705-14, Hendrick Van Rensselaer;
1726-43, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer; 1743-61, John
B. Van Rensselaer; 1761-75, Abraham Ten Broeck.
It is worthy of remark that all the members of
this wealthy and aristocratic family were always
found on the side of popular liberty. As citizens,
they voted on that side; as civil officers, they con
tended for it even when in a minority and against.
the English crown; as soldiers, they bravely fought
for it and generously spent of their wealth for it.
And yet they must have known that a simple rep
resentative free government would, as it did, at
once abridge and finally destroy their feudal de
scended rights and powers.

LAND PATENTS, SETTLEMENTS, LEASES, TITLES
AND BOUNDARIES.

THE claims of the native proprietors to the soil
were admitted by the Holland companies and
the Patroon, and purchases of lands were made from
the Indian owners "for certain quantities of duf
fels, axes, knives and wampum." In this manner
purchases were made by the Van Rensselaer
Patroons and others, who made original purchases
of Indian tracts of lands. The general policy of
these Patroons was to lease lands and transmit
them to their heirs, not to sell them. This has
been briefly spoken of in other parts of our volume.
Much could be said under our heading, but we
propose to say but little — just enough to give a few
facts and suggestions on a subject of great interest
and extensive relations.
In 1678, Governor Andros thus writes of land
grabbing: "New York is in 400 35', Albany abt.
430. The Colony is several long narrow stripes of

wh. a great part of the settlemt. made by adventu
rers before any Regulacon by wh. Incroachmts.
without pattents, wh. towns have lately taken but by
reason of continuall wans noe Survey made &
wildernesse, no computacon can be made of the
planted and implanted." True to his King, this
Governor endeavored to place a check upon such
proceedings. But with poor success.
The extravagant land grants made in this State,
to private persons, by some of the English Govern
ors were in such vast parcels that the government
thereby lost much revenue, which caused much
uneasiness and discontent. Individuals came into
collision on account of the irregular manner in
which the grants usually were located — without
surveys or boundaries. The most reckless gover
nors in these transactions were Governors Fletcher
and Cornbury. Lands by 50,000, 100,000, and

LAND PATENTS, SETTLEMENTS, LEASES, TITLES AND BOUNDARIES. 293

even a million of acres were placed in the hands of
unscrupulous speculators. Conflicting claims made
great trouble ; honest settlers were defrauded ; and
the settlement of good lands by worthy citizens
greatly hindered. The King interfered ; called
home some governors in disgrace, and vacated
some of the grants. No State in the Union has
suffered so much by the extravagant and unguarded
distribution of its domain as the State of New York.
The hurtful consequences have always been felt as
prejudicial to the public interests.
The recognized claim of the Patroons, dating so
far back, and being so well established by the ex
tinguishment of the Indian claims and the actual
occupation of the land, prevented any trouble from
such grants in Rensselaerwyck.
While the title of the lands in this county could
not be disputed, having been duly purchased of the
aboriginal owners by the Van Rensselaers and con
firmed by the States General of Holland, the man
ner of dividing off the farms was not well considered.
Land was plenty and the value small. Patents and
farms were located by spotted trees, stones, streams,
and other points subject to decay, removal or other
change. One badly defined lot was bounded as lying
next to another just as badly defined. Lots over
lapped each other, and gores or other shapes were
left between lots without a legal occupant. Lands
were stepped off, or measured with a pole, a rope,
or the ' ' leading line " of a harness. Courses were
run by unskilled surveyors, running northerly
or north-by-west from any evanescent or un
certain point that first came to notice in the line.
In after time came the difficulty of finding
the old points and retracing the old lines. This
has cost labor, expense and perplexity. Many
questions pertaining to the farm lands in this
county are yet unsettled, the farmers wisely con
cluding that it would cost more than it would
come to to hire a surveyor ; much more to go
to court. So, by some neighborly compromise, the
unsettled line of division has long remained un
settled ; and we may hope that it long may, except
it be peaceably.
Joel Munsell tells us that the boundaries and
tracts were quite indefinite, and as they became
cultivated, all traces of the described bounds utterly
ceased to be distinguishable. For instance, a farm
now in the heart of the City of Albany, leased by
the Patroon to Isaac, son of Casper Halenbeck, is
thus described in the lease : ' ' Bounded on the
north by the plain and hill ; on the east by the
swamp ; on the south by the Bever Kit ; on the
west by the woods." Nothing now remains but

the Kil to mark the boundaries of this tract, and
that is partially arched over and used as a sewer.
The hill was long since leveled, the swamp filled
in and built upon, the woods cleared up, and the
area occupied by streets and a dense population.
The Duke of York, as proprietor and as King, as
well as his successors, saw the good policy of treat
ing the Hollander well, and readily confirmed the
rights and patents that dated under the government
of the States General or of the Dutch West India
Company. All other lands were claimed as belong
ing to the English crown ; and, after satisfying the
Indian title as a matter of policy, all grants were
finally subject to the approval of the King.
The acknowledgment of the just title of the
Patroon of Rensselaerwyck to the territory that
became the City of Albany in 1686, unfairly disputed
by Governor Stuyvesant, reflects credit on the
policy of the English government at that time, as
discussed in another place.
The claim of England to the territory of New
Netherlands, by right of prior discovery, has been
referred to elsewhere, and needs no further discus
sion here. It was at a time when might made right.
Indeed, when and where in the world's history has
it not been so ? But how little did King James
realize the value of his province of New York !
Nor was George III much wiser.
Writing concerning the state of lands in the
Province of New York in 1732, Cadwallader
Colden, Surveyor-General, says: "By the 3d
article of Surrender agreed to with the Dutch
Govt, it is stipulated (in 1664) that 'all people
shall continue free denizens, and enjoy lands,
houses, goods, ships, wheresoever they are within
the country, and dispose of them as they please.'
And by the nth article, ' The Dutch here shall
enjoy their own customs concerning inheritances.'"
In pursuance of this the inhabitants took out
confirmations of their lands and tenements under
the hand and seal of Colonel Nicolls, the first
English Governor under the Duke of York, in which
their title under the Dutch is recited. The form
of these confirmations appear to be everywhere the
same. Governor Nicolls likewise, granted unimproved
lands to any who were willing to settle and improve
them; and these first grants were made without any
previous survey or without reciting any certain
boundaries, but only to contain, for example, 100,
200, or 300 acres adjoining such another man's
land or a certain hill, or river, or rivulet.
Subsequent governors made land grants with
surveys or without, as it pleased them. Some parted

294

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

with valuable lands and large tracts for a mere trifle
to their favorites. Land was plenty. The few who
had influence with the government, and desired in
crease of power and wealth, saw their opportunity
in large territory which they might settle with de
pendents. The evil that came from such a policy
has cursed this State even to our day; giving us
confusion of titles and boundaries; vexatious and
expensive lawsuits; many bitter contentions, that
have grown so mighty as to move the whole body
politic; and kept many hard-working tenants and
their families in a condition but little better than
abject servitude, with all its consequences in ig
norance and lawlessness. Albany County is a
witness of this condition of things. The article
on Anti-rentism in this volume clearly exhibits
the evils that have sprung from feudal tenures,
rents conditioned upon leases in perpetuity, and
exacted by the Patroons and their assignees. The
conflicting opinions of learned legal authority are
perplexing to the lay citizen. The financial ruin
of many so-called tenants, and the physical, mental
and moral degradation frequently consequent
upon this condition of things, are too patent for
denial, and excite commiseration. This state of
things shows that a great wrong has been the nat
ural outgrowth of the policy of such land grants
made long ago, no doubt, at first, with a worthy
purpose. Nor is there any doubt that the Patroons,
or original landholders, regarded their manorial
claims as beneficial to the State as well as advan
tageous to themselves. They designed to treat the
farmers who occupied their lands with justice, and
usually did treat them with a policy both benevo
lent and lenient. The evils that resulted were the
fruits of the system. One of the worst ills that has
resulted from the lease system in this county has
been its effect upon the family of the lessee, which
has occupied the same soil for many years without
owning anything.
If men do not possess the right of soil, however
cheap the lease rents, they never can be indepen
dent citizens. They are always under the influence
of their landlords. Their minds are apt to be
come debased and their enterprise destroyed.
When their vassalage becomes hopeless, they live
as dumb, driven cattle.
The exact boundaries of our county, and of the
towns of which it is constituted, are not accurately
defined. Says Mr. J. T. Gardner, in State Survey
Report for 1877 :
" Less than one hundred years ago, however, sur
veyors, carrying only the compass, chain, ax and
rifle, contending with innumerable obstacles in

pathless forests, forced their way to the utmost
limits of a wilderness stretching from the Hudson
River to Lake Erie. They traversed every part, and
roughly measured lines, dividing the lands into tracts
of suitable size for coming settlers, and marking the
lots by notching or ' blazing ' surrounding trees.
" There has been no survey of the State since
the pioneer surveyors ran their compass lines
through the woods.
"The maps of New York are false to the extent
of one, two, and even three miles in the positions
ascribed to prominent points. * * * It is
well known that we are far behind the rest of the
world in knowledge of our own territory. "
What is true of the State is measurably true of
the smaller divisions of the State, of which it is
composed. There is something yet to be done by
the surveyors and engineers of the future.
The sagacity of the Dutch settlers is shown in
their selection of lands, and the tenacity with
which they held possession of them. They rarely
occupied the hills. Their native Holland was a flat
country, abundant in water, lying by the sea, and
traversed by rivers and canals. The early colonists
of this county planted their homes, usually, upon
level tracts, upon the rich alluvium of the Hudson
River, or other streams that run into it. These
they were apt to leave to their heirs. The later
German took the best he could find in the valley of
the Mohawk, or else looked for his home on some
fertile spot but a little removed from some stream.
The following is a list of patents of lands located
in or near Albany County by the Dutch Govern
ment from 1630 to 1634, so far as they now have
been found recorded in the Book of Patents and
Town Records. It will interest the many de
scendants of our original landholders:
Kiliaen Rensselaer: Indian land east of Hudson,
Rensselaerwyck, August 6, 1631; Indian land west
of Hudson, Rensselaerwyck, August 13, 1631;
Indian land, Papskenea, Rensselaerwyck, April 13,
1637; Indian land, Katskill, April 19, 1649; In
dian land, Claverack, May 14, 1649. Jan Michelsen:
a lot, Beverwyck, May 23, 1650. Rutger Jacob-
sen: a lot, Beverwyck, April 23, 1652. Goosen G.
Van Schaick: a lot, Beverwyck, April 23, 1652.
Anthonie De Hooges, a lot, Beverwyck, April 23,
1652. Cornelis Teunissen: a lot, Beverwyck,
April 23, 1652. Andries Herbertsen: a lot, Bever
wyck, April 23, 1652. Dirck Jansen: a lot, Bever
wyck, April 23, 1652. Arent Andriessen: a lot,
Beverwyck, April 23, 1652. Volkert Jansen: a
lot, Beverwyck, April 23, 1652. Albert Gerritsen:
a lot, Beverwyck, April 23, 1652. Jacob Adrien-

LAND PATENTS, SETTLEMENTS, LEASES, TITLES AND BOUNDARIES. 295

sen : a lot, Beverwyck, April 23, 1652. Willem
Teller: a lot, Beverwyck, April 23, 1652. An-
netje Bogardus: a lot, Beverwyck, April 23, 1652.
Teunis Jacobsen: a lot, Beverwyck, April 23, 1652.
Rut Adriensen: a lot, Beverwyck, April 23, 1652.
Jacob Janz Schermerhorn : a lot, Beverwyck, No
vember 9, 1653. Jochem Backer: a lot, Bever
wyck, April 23, 1653. Pieter Loockermans: a
lot, Beverwyck, July 7, 1653. Hans Kierstede: a
lot, Beverwyck, July 18, 1653. Ryer Elbertsen:
a lot, Beverwyck, October 25, 1653. Laurens
Lourenzen: a lot, Beverwyck, October 25, 1653.
Jochem Kettelhuyn: a lot, Beverwyck, October 25,
1653. Evert Janz Van Embden: a lot, Bever
wyck, October 25, 1653. Casper Jacobsen: a lot,
Beverwyck, October 25, 1653. Michel Reycker-
sen: a lot, Beverwyck, October 25, 1653. Hen
drick Andriessen: a lot, Beverwyck, October 25,
1653. Jan Verbeck: a lot, Beverwyck, October
25> 1653. Thomas Jansen : a lot, Beverwyck, Oc
tober 25, 1653. Andries DeVos: a lot of wood
land, Beverwyck, October 25, 1653. Thomas
Sandersen: two lots, Beverwyck, October 25, 1653.
Rut Adriensen: a lot, Beverwyck, October
25, 1653. And. Janz Appel Van Leyden: two
lots, Beverwyck, October 25, 1653. Jacob Janz
Schermerhorn: two lots, Beverwyck, October 25,
1653. Jan Labadie: a lot, Beverwyck, October
25, 1653. Laurens Jansen: a lot, Beverwyck,
October 25, 1653. Captain Abram Staets, a lot,
Beverwyck, October 25, 1653. Jacob Hendrick
Sibbinck: a lot, Beverwyck, October 25, 1653.
Jacob Symonz Klomp: a lot, Beverwyck, October
25> 1653. Hags Brunysen: a lot, Beverwyck,
October 25, 1653. Jan Frs. Van Hoesen: a lot,
Beverwyck, October 25, 1653. Gillis Pietersen: a
lot, Beverwyck, October 25, 1653. Captain Abram
Staets: Cicheckawick, north of Claverack, March
17, 1654. Leendert Phillipsen: a lot, Beverwyck,
March 24, 1654. Hendrick Marcelis: a lot,
Beverwyck, March 24, 1654. Gillis Pietersen: a
lot, Beverwyck, April 14, 1654. Wynent Gerrit
sen: a lot, Beverwyck, August 29, 1654. Ad. J.
Van Leyden Appel : a lot for an inn, Beverwyck,
December 16, 1654. Ph. Pietersen Schuyler: two
lots, Beverwyck, June 16, 1656. Adrien Janz
Ilpendam: a lot, Beverwyck, October 28, 1656.
Mattheus Abrams: a lot, Beverwyck, October 28,
1656. Claes Hendricksen: two lots, Beverwyck,
September 25, 1657. Pieter Jacobsen: a lot,
Beverwyck, February 23, 1658. Jeremias Van
Rensselaer: a lot, Beverwyck, February 25, 1658.
Sander Senderts Glen: a lot, Beverwyck, July 13,
1658. Ph. Pietersen Schuyler: a lot, Beverwyck,

September 10, 1658. Pieter Meersen: a lot,
Beverwyck, October 31, 1658. Thomas Cham
bers: a lot, Beverwyck, November 8, 1653.
Volckert Jansen, et al. : a plantation, Fort Orange,
March 31, 1659.  Andriessen: a plantation,
Fort Orange, March 19, 1659. Arent Van Curler:
a plantation, Beverwyck, March 23, 1659. Pieter
Hartgers: two lots, Beverwyck, September 1, 1659
Jan Daretha: a lot, Beverwyck, February 5, 1660
Peter Jacobsen: a lot, Beverwyck, February 23
1660. Peter Mees: a lot, Beverwyck, August 17
1660. Jan Costers Van Aeck en: a lot, Beverwyck
March 7, 1661. Jan Tomassen: two lots, Bever
wyck, March 10, 1661. Rutger^ Jacobsen, et al
Pachnach Killick Island, near Beverwyck, March
10, 1661. Rutger Jacobsen: Constable's Island,
Beverwyck, March 19, 1661. Arent Van Curler;
et al. : Indian land, Schonowe, July 27, 1661.
Schenectady, Great Flatt confirmed April 6, 1662.
Jan Jansen Van Hoesen: Indian land, Claverack,
June 5, 1662. J. B. Wemp, et al. : Martin's
Island, Schenectady, November 12, 1662. Peter
Bronck: a lot, Beverwyck, 1663. Symon Symonz
Groot: a lot, Beverwyck, May n, 1663. Casper
Jacobsen: a lot, Beverwyck, December 29, 1663.
Jan Tomassen: a lot, Beverwyck, March 10, 1664.
Cornelis Van Nes: twenty-one morgen, Schenec
tady, June 1, 1664. Teunis Cornelissen: twenty-
four morgen, Schenectady, June 16, 1664. Sy
mon DeBakker: twenty-four morgen, Schenectady,
June 19, 1664. Pieter Adriensen: twenty-six mor
gen, Schenectady, June 16, 1664. Willem Teller:
twenty-three morgen, Schenectady, June 16, 1664.
Ph. Pietersen Schuyler: Indian tract, Half-Moon,
July 10, 1664.
All lands within this State are allodial, so that,
subject to their liability to escheat, the owners
have entire and absolute property in them, accord
ing to the nature of their respective estates. No
leases can now be made of agricultural lands for a
time longer than twelve years, and all quarter sales
or other restraints upon alienation, reserved in any
grant hereafter made, are void in law.
Albany County never had any State lands except
those occupied by State buildings. It has no
United States land except that occupied by the
Watervliet Arsenal and the Government building in
Albany. It has had no Gospel or school lands, no
literature lands, no military land grants, nor were
any patents covering its territory or any part of it,
ever granted originally by the English government
Some of its citizens, as the Livingstons, the Schuy-
lers, and the Van Rensselaers, had large patents
located in other parts of the State.

296

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

THE BEAVER AND THE FUR TRADE.

THE earliest industry in the territory now called
Albany County was the beaver trade. Nothing
else brought the first Dutch adventurers to New
Netherlands, as nothing but the love of gold led the
earliest adventurers from our Eastern States to the
mines of California. Had it not been for the beaver,
we cannot tell how much longer the settlement of
our county would have been deferred. A brief ac
count of this fur-bearing rodent, and of the impor
tant relation he sustained to our early history, seems
due to him. Without it our work would be in
complete. How much he was esteemed is shown in part by
the local preservation of his honored name in
Beverwyck, Beaverkill, Beaver street, Beaver block
and the like.
We begin with a description in popular language
of the beaver himself, that we may better under
stand his character and habits.
The beaver is one of the' most extraordinary of
all animals. It is between three and four feet in
length, and weighs from forty to sixty pounds. Its
teeth, which are long, broad and sharp, project
considerably beyond the jaw, and are curved like
a carpenter's gouge. In its fore-feet the toes are
separated, as if designed to answer the purposes of
fingers and hands. Its hind-feet are accommo
dated with webs, suited to the purpose of swim
ming. In no animal does the social instinct and
habit appear stronger or more general than in the
beaver. Wherever a number of these animals are
found, they immediately form an association to
carry on their common business. Their societies
are generally formed in June and July, and fre
quently number two or three hundred, all united
in promoting the interests of the whole community.
The society of beavers seems to be regulated alto
gether by natural dispositions and laws. It is one
of peace and affection, guided by one principle.
No contention or disagreement is ever seen among
them; but harmony and unity prevail throughout
their dominion. The principle of this union is not
the superiority of any individual; there seems to be
among them nothing of the authority or influence
of a leader or chief. Their association has the as
pect of a pure democracy, founded on the principle

of perfect equality and the strongest mutual attach
ment. When these animals are collected together, they
give attention, first, to their public affairs. Being
amphibious, they spend part of their time in the
water. Their first work is to find a situation con
venient for both their land and water purposes. A
lake or a running stream of water is chosen for
their habitation, selected always of such depth that
they may have sufficient room for swimming under
the ice. They seem to have an eye to undisturbed
possession. Such is their foresight or instinct, that
they are said never to form an erroneous judgment
Having selected their site thus carefully, they next
construct a dam; and so well chosen are both the
place and form of this, their home, that no engi
neer could give them a better, either for conven
ience, strength or duration.
The materials used are wood and earth. If there
be a tree on the side of the river which would nat
urally fall across the stream, several beavers go to
work with their teeth, with great diligence, to fell
it. Trees twenty inches in diameter are thus
thrown across a stream as the formation of their
dam. Others are cutting down smaller trees, which
they divide into convenient lengths. Others serve
as porters, conveying the trees to the needed places;
and others, still, engage in the masonry of the
work. The earth is brought in their mouths,
formed into a kind of mortar with their feet and
tails, and spread over the interstices between the
stakes in such a way as to render the whole imper
vious to water. The magnitude and extent of these
dams is marvelous when we consider the artisans
and their instruments. They are from fifty to one
hundred feet in length, and from six to twelve feet
thick at the base, forming ponds, frequently of
500 or 600 acres.
When the public works are completed, their
domestic concerns next engage their attention.
The beavers separate to build houses, each division
for itself, along the borders of the pond. These
houses are of an oval form, resembling a haycock
in appearance, and varying from four to ten feet in
diameter, according to the number of families they
are designed to accommodate. In these huts the
families of beavers live, enjoying the fruits of their

THE BEAVER AND THE FUR TRADE.

297

labors. But if any injury is done to their public
works, the whole society unites to repair it.
Nothing can exceed the peace and regularity
which prevail through the whole commonwealth.
No discord ever appears in any of their families;
every beaver knows his own apartment and store
house, and there is no pilfering or robbing from
one another.
The color of the beaver varies with the climate,
being nearly black in the colder regions, and grow
ing brown in the warmer. Its fur is of two sorts,
one being long, coarse and of little use; the
other consisting of a fine, thick down, about three-
quarters of an inch long, which has the com
mercial value.
The beaver attains its greatest magnitude and its
highest perfection of society only where it is un
disturbed by man. Hence it makes its home only
in uncultivated regions, retreating as man ap
proaches. Some idea of the trade in beaver, in those prim
itive times, may be gathered from the facts which
follow. The ship Nieu Nederlandt took 1,500 beaver
and 500 otter skins from Fort Orange at the close
of the first season.
The number of beavers reported from New
Netherlands in 1624, as Hazard tells us, were
4,000; also 700 otters — all valued at 27,125 guild
ers. About 10 years later the returns were 14,891
beavers and 1,413 otters, estimated at 134,000
guilders. The ship Arms of Amsterdam sailed from New
Amsterdam September 23, 1626, and arrived in
Amsterdam, November 4th, following, with a cargo
of 7,246 beaver skins, 853! otter skins, 48 mink
skins, 36 wild cat skins, 33 mink and 34 rat skins,
besides some wheat, rye, barley, oats, buckwheat,
canary seed, beans and flax, and considerable oak
and hickory.
In 1632, the Dutch Colonists were reported
to have sent over to Holland "15,000 beaver
skynnes, besides other commodities."
About 1633, it was estimated that about 16,000
beaver skins were sold in the Hudson river trade,
mostly at Fort Orange.
The value of furs exported in 1626 was reckoned
at about $19,000; in 1632 it had been raised to
$50,000. In 1638, the States General observe that nothing
comes from New Netherlands but beaver skins,
minks and other furs. About this time the fur trade
was made free. Every boor became a fur trader.

The trade in furs at Albany was very flourish
ing in the years from 1645 to 1660.
In 1645, an arrival of tobacco and beavers is
reported in Amsterdam — the latter invoiced as "10
cases containing 2,137 pieces of beavers," which,
valued at 7 guilders, amount to 14,959 florins.
The number of furs exported from Fort Orange
and vicinity in 1656, amounted to 34,480 beaver
and 300 otter skins. In 1658 the number reached
57,640 beaver and 300 otter skins.
In 1657, according to the record of Johannes
Dyckman, 40,940 beaver and otter skins were
shipped to New Amsterdam from Fort Orange, now
Albany. Here we take note of the commercial value of
beaver. When specie was scarce and paper money had
not come into use, beaver skins and wampum, or
seawant, were used among the people as currency.
In 1656 a beaver skin was worth 8 to 10 guilders,
or $3. 50 to $4. The former was the usual price,
the real value of which would be $3. 20 in our cur
rency. One guilder equals 40 cents.
In 1676 "good merchantable beavers" were
valued at 1 2 shillings a piece or 9 shillings a pound.
A negro boy, nine years old, hale and sound, was
valued at the sum of twenty-eight merchantable
beavers in this same year.
Wheat and other goods were often sold at
" beaver price. " In 1678 five schepels, equal to
about three pecks, of wheat were valued at one
beaver. In April, 1680, the Labadists, Dankers and Sluy-
ter paid each one beaver price, 25 guilders in
seawant, for their boat passage from New York
to Albany. A guilder seawant was worth about
one-third as much as a guilder beaver.
In 1705 thirty beavers were valued at £\%.

During these years the boschloopers or bush-run
ners, who made it their business to meet the In
dians on their trails to Albany and go to their vil
lages with the purpose of intercepting their trade,
caused much excitement. In 1655, orders forbid
ding this kind of traffic were made by the Court.
These ancient drummers were not allowed to drive
trade in this way ; nor were the merchants allowed
to allure the Indians having peltry to sell, to their
own houses. After this the magistrates rescinded
the order. Governor Stuyvesant was next called
in by the savages themselves to interfere ; and in
1660, at a meeting with the Indians, he assured
them of his displeasure at the conduct of these in-

298

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

terlopers, who interfered with their right to trade
with whom they chose, and promised his protec
tion if they used even blows to keep off these offi
cious middlemen or any other mercenary inter-
meddlers, who shut them into their houses to
compel their trade while in Beverwyck.
The fur trade was so profitable at Fort Orange,
that fur traders from New Amsterdam, and others
who had no residence near this fort, engaged suc
cessfully in competition with the Patroon and his
officers and merchants, by intercepting the Indian
hunters and by advancing the price, much to the
detriment of the Beverwyck traders. This led to
a great deal of trouble. The fort erected on
Bearen Island and the controversy that followed, as
stated in another part of this work, were the out
growth of this foreign intermeddling in what the
Patroon, for a time, regarded as his exclusive
right. There can be no question that this trade did
much to demoralize the inhabitants of Rensselaer
wyck. Agriculture for a long time was neglected,
and every other pursuit, except hunting and trad
ing in furs. Every farmer left tilling his land and
became a fur trader as soon as the restrictions
were taken off and the trade was free to every one.
Legitimate methods of securing the wealth that
this business promised, were violated. Not only
were the Indian trails filled with drummers, and all
the arts of flattery and special attention bestowed
upon the fur-bearing traveler from the woods as he
came to the village of Beverwyck, but he was
bribed by trifling gifts and made drunk with fire
water. Strifes arose among the people, and quar
rels among the savages. Cheating became common.
The Dutchman's hand balancing a pound of bea
ver in the scale, and his foot two pounds, as stated
by the veritable Knickerbocker in his "History
of New York, " if not strictly true, as it may have
been, illustrates one of the methods of cheating the
Indian. The trade in fur began seriously to diminish
about 1660. The beavers had either been trapped
and skinned, or had retreated to regions north and
west, farther away from the white man. The - re
sources of the Indians in the neighborhood of
Beverwyck had become nearly exhausted. Scarcity
of furs on their tramping ground was felt by them
and the traders. They had sold some of their
land, and what remained possessed no value to
them. They parted with it for trifles to the settlers,
who now began to give more attention to cultivat
ing the soil as their best resource for a livelihood.
About this time (1661) several important families,

including Commissary Arent Van Curler, the In
dians' friend, purchased the "Great Flatts," where
now is Schenectady, and began a settlement. This
diverted much trade from Beverwyck, which led
to rivalry and much bitter feeling between the two
neighboring villages.
Dankers and Sluyter, in 1680, made the fol
lowing entry in their journal, speaking of Fort
Orange :
" As this is the principal trading fort with the
Indians, and as the privilege of trading is granted
to certain merchants, there are houses or lodges
erected on both sides of the town, where the In
dians who come from the far interior to trade, live
during the time they are there. This time of trad
ing with the Indians is at its hight in the month
of June and July, and also in August, when it falls
off, because it is then the best time for them to
make their journey there and back. "
In 1687, Governor Dongan speaks of the inter
meddling of the Governor of Canada with the fur
trade. Sixty young men of Albany and some Al
bany Indians had undertaken a trading expedition
to the distant tribes, and on their return were in
tercepted and taken prisoners, with their goods, by
the French and Canada Indians. He complains
that the revenue of the province was very much re
duced by the course taken by Canada in persuad
ing the Indians to take their furs to Montreal, or
by depredations like the above. He adds, "in
other years we used to ship off for England 35,000
or 40,000 beavers, besides peltry, and this year
only 9,000 and some hundreds peltry in all."
In 1699, the Indians in council at Albany, com
plained of the diminishing value of the beaver
trade, alleging that the earlier traders lived in small
huts, but now are grown rich and high, and wear
fine clothes and dwell in great houses, and all this
from profits on the beavers, which they brought
from afar on their backs. And now they paid little
for beaver and put a large price on their goods.
In 1700, the vigilant and judicious Governor
Bellomont writes to the Lords of the Admiralty:
"The beaver trade here and at Boston is sunk to
little or nothing, and the market is so low for beaver
in England that 'tis scarce worth the transporting.
I have been told that in one year, when this prov
ince was in possession of the Dutch, there were
66,000 beaver skins exported from this town (New
York), and this last year there was but 15,241
beaver skins exported hence, from 24th of June,
'99, to 24th of June, 1700. * * * A few years
ago beaver skins sold in London at 14 shillings
a pound, and then the custom was but 4d. the

THE BE A VER AND THE FUR TRADE.

299

skin. Now beaver has fallen to 5 shillings per
pound in England and pays 9d. per skin here,
3d. per skin freight, and i2d. when it is un
shipped in England." The Governor then urges
the bad effects of such a state of things on popula
tion and trade, and advises free trade in peltry.
He also claims that it is wise to keep the Indians in
favor with the King, by a policy that will encourage
him in his favorite pursuit of hunting and selling
beaver. On the 19th of July, 1701, the Sachems of the
Five Nations deeded all their beaver hunting lands
in the Province of New York and vicinity to King
William III of England and his successors. The
quit claim deed was made at Albany, signed and
sealed by Governor John Nanfan and the Sachems
of the Senecas, Mohawks, Cayugas, Onondagas and
Oneidas, and comprehended a territory claimed as
extending 800 by 400 miles. John J. Bleecker,
Mayor, and the Aldermen and other city officers
were present as witnesses. The only consideration
seems to have been protection of their persons and
possessions against the French. The only reserva
tions made were peaceable homes and free hunting
to themselves and their descendants.
It having been found that the French, through
their missionaries, were rapidly gaining upon the
English in the matter of profitable trade, Governor
Bellomont, in January, 1701, proposes to the Lords
of Trade some course by which this trade could be
diverted from the French and turned from Missis
sippi, Canada and Nova Scotia to the English col
onies. He writes thus from New York: " In order
to this design the beaver trade ought to be encour
aged by Parliament — all duties wholly taken off,
both here and in England, from beaver and other
peltry exported from this Province. * * * *
The French King, to encourage the beaver trade,
has ordered the Parliament of Paris to put forth
and requiring all the hatters to mix a certain
quantity of beaver's furr in all their hats, under a
severe penalty, which is a wise course, and I wish
our Parliament would take such a course to help
the consumption of beaver, which at present is
grown almost out of use in England since Carolina
hatts have been so much and fur hatts so little in
fashion." The following table gives the value of
furs imported from the Province of New York for
the years from 1717 to 1723:

£ s'
1717-18  10,704 3
1718-19  7,138 2

£ s. d.
1720-21  6,659 4 u
1711-22  7,045 3 10

1719-26  7,48716 5!i722-23  8,333 5 4
In 1 72 1, the Worshipful Mayor, Aldermen and
Commonalty of the City of Albany adopted most

stringent rules, designed to put an end to long-ex
isting abuses in the Indian trade. They forbade,
under penalties of ^5 and upwards: 1. Receiving
or concealing in their houses or elsewhere any
packs of furs belonging to any Indian. 2. Lodg
ing and entertaining any Indian or squaw, except
Sachems, in their houses or other buildings. 3.
Conveying any Indian, his wives or children in any
wagon or cart from the westward towards Albany,
or any of his goods, without payment. 4. Carry
ing Indians or their goods, in like manner, for any
other person for a price or a gift. 5. Speaking to
any Indian outside the stockades and coming from
the West, or enticing them to trade. 6. Employ
ment of brokers.
The whole purpose of the ordinance was to
leave the matter of trade with the Indians them
selves, they going to any person whom they chose
without influence or hindrance.
At other times orders were passed restricting the
sale of firearms and intoxicating drinks to the sav
ages. The importance of the trade, the character of the
traders, and the evils that existed are made evident
by these ordinances.
The struggle between the English in New York
and the French in Canada for the control of the
beaver trade was verv great, especially during the
first fifty years of the eighteenth century-. This was
carried on by regulating the prices paid the Indian
hunters, who carried their goods where they could
secure the best returns. The prices paid depended,
of course, very much upon what the colonial
traders could realize in the European market. It
appears that the beaver had taken himself from the
beaver dams of New York to more secluded places
in Canada and the North, because he was more re
mote from danger. But the hunter found him in
his northern resort and took the precious fur beaver
in great numbers. Canada had the advantage of a
near market; but the English took good advice,
and, with Anglo-Saxon good sense, offered the fur
merchants free trade and a better price, and made
it up by increased manufactures, and sales at ad
vanced rates. The Indians were better paid by the
English colonial trader and carried their furs to the
better paying market. So it appears from the cor
respondence of the colonial traders and Governors
in the Colonies both of Canada and New York,
during the years from about 1720 to 1750. The
English thus secured the most of the Five Nations
as their friends — a great loss to the French. And
yet, by priestly art and smuggling, the Canadians

300

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

had, much of the time, a good trade. In the
two years 1746 and 1747, the French Company of
the Indies realized a profit of 430,785 livres from
the beaver trade alone.
Peter Kalm, the intelligent Swedish naturalist,
who visited Albany in 1749, throws light upon the
fur traffic as it appeared to him at that time. He
writes: "Albany carries on considerable commerce
with New York, chiefly in furs, etc. * * *
There is not a place in all the British Colonies, the
Hudson Bay Settlements excepted, where such
quantities of furs and skins are bought of the In
dians as at Albany. Most of the merchants in this
town send a clerk or agent to Oswego, an Indian
trading town upon the Lake Ontario, to which the
Indians resort with their furs. * * * The mer
chants from Albany spend the whole summer at
Oswego, and trade with many tribes of Indians
who come to them with their goods. Many people
have assured me that the Indians are frequently
cheated in disposing of their goods, especially when
they are in liquor, and that sometimes they do not
get one-half or even one-tenth of the value of their
goods. I have been a witness to several transac
tions of this kind. The merchants of Albany glory
in these tricks, and are highly pleased when they
give a poor Indian a greater portion of brandy than
he can bear, and when they can, after that, get all
his goods for mere trifles. The Indians often find,
when they are sober again, that they have been
cheated. They grumble somewhat, but are soon
satisfied when they reflect that they have, for once,
drunk as much as they are able of a liquor which
they value beyond anything else in the whole

world, and they are quite insensible to their loss if
they again get a draught of this nectar. Besides
this trade at Oswego, a number of Indians come to
Albany from several parts, especially from Canada;
but from this latter place they hardly bring any
thing but beaver skins. There is a great penalty in
Canada for carrying furs to the English, that trade
belonging to the French West India Company ;
notwithstanding which the French merchants in
Canada carry on a considerable smuggling trade.
They send their furs by means of the Indians to
their correspondents in Albany, who purchase it at
the price they have fixed upon with the French
merchants. The Indians take in return several
kinds of cloth and other goods, which may be got
here at a lower rate than those which are sent to
Canada from France."
Smith, the historian, in 1757, speaks of the fur
trade as "very much impaired by French wiles
and encroachments."
Coneiogatchie, one of the Chiefs of the Iroquois,
in a speech made in council in 1782, said: "Your
traders exact more than ever for their goods and our
hunting is lessened by the war, so that we have fewer
skins to give for them. This ruins us. We are poor. "
Elkanah Watson, in 1788, speaks of the trade in
furs at Albany as extinct. The British Hudson
Bay Company was then carrying on the trade.
The Albany Gazette, in 1796, speaks hopefully of
a revival of the fur trade in the city, nine wagon
loads of furs and peltries having been received by
one of the merchants from the Northwest territory.
But it was only a temporary matter. The old-time
fur trade was no more.

SLAVERY IN ALBANY COUNTY.

SLAVERY was introduced at an early day into
the American colonies. The first introduction
of African slaves was in 161 9, by a Dutch vessel
sailing up the James River in Virginia, and selling
twenty negroes from Africa to the planters. The
trade in negro slaves did not increase very rapidly
until after 1700. In 1714 the whole number of
slaves in the colonies was 55,850; of this number
about 30,000 had been imported. In 1808, the
total number imported was not less than 400,000.
The United States Constitutional Convention of
1774 resolved to discontinue the slave trade. In
1789, the Convention to frame the Federal Consti
tution looked to the abolition of the traffic in 1 808,

On March 2, 1807, Congress passed an act against
the importation of African slaves into the United
States after January 1, 1808.
In violation of these laws, the trade continued to
an alarming degree for many years; and as late as
1855, New York city was largely engaged in the
nefarious business. An article in De Bow's Re
view in 1855, quotes Captain Smith, who says:
" New York is the chief port in the world for the
slave trade, and is head-quarters for fitting out ves
sels for all the slave ports."
As early as 1628, frequent mention is made 01
blacks owned as slaves in the colony of New
Netherlands. The West India Company in 1629,

SLA VERY IN ALBANY COUNTY.

301

granted to "all persons who will plant colonies
in New Netherlands, to supply them with as many
blacks as they conveniently can, on condition and
in such manner that they shall not be bound to
act for a longer time than they shall think proper."
It appears that parties who leased land from the
Company also leased servants or slaves from indi
viduals for a term of years. The Company itself
was not above this business, since we learn that in
1644, Nicholas Toorn, of Rensselaerwyck, acknowl
edges the receipt of a young black girl to be re
turned at the end of four years, ' ' if yet alive, " to
the Director-General or his successor. In 1650,
the West India Company sold at Albany "a farm
house, hay-loft, two mares and a horse, and a
negro, all now in use by Thomas Hall. "
In 1650, the States General of Holland sub
mitted a plan to the deputies of the West India
Company that the inhabitants of New Netherlands
shall be at liberty to purchase negroes wheresoever
they may think necessary, except on the coast of
Guinea, and bring them to work on the bouweries
on payment of a duty. They also gave permission
to import as many negroes as were required for
the cultivation of the soil under certain conditions
and regulations.
In these early days of slavery the price varied,
$100 to $200 being the value. Rev. Johannes
Polhemus, a colonial minister, paid, in 1664, $175
for a slave. Rensselaer Nicol gave permission to
Jan De Decker, October 8, 1664, to sail from
Albany with eight negroes for the French planta
tions of Martinico and Guadaloupe. Slaves could
be emancipated after eighteen or nineteen years of
service to the Company. At a court of Mayor and
Aldermen for the city of Albany, Myndert Freder-
ickse's negro, Hercules, was found guilty of steal
ing a chest of wampum from his master, and the
court sentenced him "to be whipped throu ye
towne att ye cart tale by ye hands of ye hangman
forthwith, for an example to oyrs, and his masters
to pay ye costs." He confessed the theft, and said
he entered by an open window. This appears in
City Records, 1686. In the Records of 1679 it is
resolved, "That all Indians within the colony were
free, nor could they be forced to be servants or
slaves. "
The Colonial General Assembly in 1683 enacted
laws defining the privileges of slaves; also empow
ering officers to follow and arrest runaway slaves.
They could not give, sell, or trust any commodity
whatsoever, under penalty of corporal punishment;
neither was any person allowed to buy of a slave
or trade with one. The old colonial statutes are

filled with laws relating to negroes and slaves. We
quote the substance of some of them. In 1 704,
liquors were not to be sold to negroes or Indians
on the Sabbath, and tavern keepers were forbidden
to entertain or harbor them in their houses. In
1705, an act was passed to prevent negro slaves
from running away from Albany to the French in
Canada. Other acts, passed at sundry times, for
bade all trading with those who were in bondage;
allowed owners to punish with discretion; no more
than three slaves to meet together under penalty of
whipping; provided that a slave who struck a man
or woman professing Christianity must be im
prisoned fourteen days; the testimony of negroes
good only in plotting among themselves; forbade
slaves to be further away from Albany than Sara
toga under penalty of death, except with master or
mistress; encouraged the baptizing of negroes,
Indians, and mulattoes. The law of 1730 pro
vided that no person shall traffic with a slave;
that no one shall sell to a slave rum or other strong
drink under a penalty of forty shillings; that each
town or manor have a whipper of slaves, to be paid
not exceeding three shillings a head ; that any one
harboring a slave shall forfeit to the master ^"5 for
every twenty-four hours, but not to exceed the
value of the slave; that the owners of slaves are
liable for thefts; and that no slave shall carry fire
arms. In 1775, a law was enacted that slaves must
do military duty in cases of imminent danger, and
that one or more slaves above the age of fourteen,
in time of invasion, found a mile or more from
the habitation of his master, without his consent
or a written pass, was adjudged a felon, and it was
lawful for the person so finding any slave to shoot
him. The early laws of the State relative to slaves,
referred to their services in the American army.
The act of 1788 revised many of the existing laws,
and, in 1793, a law existed binding all owners of
slaves to have them housed at an early hour. In
1798, the corporations of Albany and New York
frequently granted warrantee deeds of slaves.
The price of slaves was as changeable as other
commodities. In 17 10, Melgert Vanderpool sold
a negro for £65, and a negress for ^35. In 1790,
Captain Bloodgood, of the sloop Olive Branch,
carried a slave from Albany, the property of Mrs.
Staats, to Antigua, and sold him for /"51.
In 1 76 1 a law was passed which laid a fine of
^"10 on every master who allowed a slave to beg.
In 1 710, Harmanus Fisher, of Albany, states
that his negro, Yorke, had been found guilty of
burglary and sentenced to be whipped round the

302

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

city, to receive nine lashes on his bare back at
every corner. The sentence was not executed, but
the sheriff dunned Fisher for ^"13 7s., the amount
allowed by law for the service.
In November, 1793, several attempts were made
to fire the city of Albany by slaves. Some were ar
rested and confessed their guilt. In January, 1794,
Pomp, the property of Matthias Visscher, bought of
Jacob Roseboom, Jr., in 1788, for ^90, a negro slave,
was charged with having set fire to the stables of
Leonard Gansevoort. He was tried and found guilt)'.
Bett and Deane, two female slaves, were also tried
as accomplices and convicted of the same offense.
All were sentenced to be hanged. On January 24th
the sentence was respited for six weeks. The two
girls were hanged on the 14th March, and Pomp on
April nth.- The gallows was erected on Tyburne
Hill, in the rear of the house of the late Rufus
H. King, near the lower part of Fayette street.
The concourse of people to witness the executions
was immense.
A custom prevailed in slavery days of advertising
them when for sale, and the newspapers generally
had one or more of these "Negro for Sale" adver
tisements in them. We give a few samples : In
1784, the executors of Mrs. Schuyler offered for
sale at auction, at Lewis' Tavern " A likely negro. "
In 1796, we find : " To be sold.— A healthy, active
negro wench in her nineteenth year. Can be rec
ommended for honesty and sobriety, and sold for
no fault. " "A negro wench about thirty years old,
strong and healthy, for sale." "For sale. — A
healthy negro wench about thirty years old ; can
be recommended for honesty and good conduct.
Also, her two male children, both in good health.
One, nearly three years old, until he arrives at the
age of twenty-five years. The other, about four
weeks, will be sold for life. "
The abolition of slavery in the State of New
York was agitated at the formation of the first
constitution in 1777. When John Jay urged the
early abolition of slavery he declared, "Till America
comes to this measure, her prayers to heaven
will be impious." Other early statesmen and philan
thropists advocated this great doctrine of law and
liberty, and claimed freedom and protection as the
inherent right of all men.
The agitation was continued in this and other
States. The first to abolish slavery were Penn
sylvania and Massachusetts in 1780; New Jersey,
provisionally, in 1784 — all children born of a
slave woman after 1804 to be free in 1820. In
1784 and 1797, Connecticut provided for gradual
extinction. In Rhode Island after 1784, no person

could be born a slave. The ordinance of 1787
forbade slavery in the territory northwest of the
Ohio. New York provisionally abolished slavery
in 1799; twenty-eight years' ownership being al
lowed to those born in slavery after this date.
This was the commencement of successive legisla
tive acts and amendments for the years including
1801-04-07-09-10. In 1813, laws were enacted
relative to vagabond slaves, and to prevent kidnap
ping, with severe penalties. In 1817, a new law
was passed with more severe penalties, and a more
important amendment — no less than a final decree
of abolition of slavery in the State of New York —
was added as follows : "And be it further enacted
that every negro, mulatto or mustee within the
State, born before July 4, 1799, shall from and
after the 4th day of July, 1827, be free." This
law was passed by twenty affirmative votes, out of
a total of thirty-two in the Senate; and by seventy-
five, out of a total of 128, in the Assembly. It was
signed by Governor De Witt Clinton.
The enactment of 1 819 made it a misdemeanor
to send away from the State any slave or servant
except such as might have been pardoned by the
Executive for some offense ; and owners of slaves
who resided for a time in other States were for
bidden to sell to parties not resident within the
State. This was the last enactment, and the in
stitution ceased to exist in the Empire State, July
4, 1827.
For the most part the slaves of the Dutch were
employed as domestic servants, and their condition
was not as hard as that of those who performed out
door work. The treatment of the negroes was gen
erally humane. Stories of cruelty among Albany
County slaves were seldom heard. Laws, it is true,
were passed for their punishment as well as for their
protection. Among slave-owners, in many in
stances, an attachment was formed that lasted
through life. The slaves were usually faithful and
true to their masters and mistresses, and aside from
their being bond slaves and chattels, their lot was
comparatively happy. The blacks who were farm
ers or mechanics were allowed their own domestic
animals. Negro slavery existed in its mildest form in Al
bany County, not only in the Dutch, but in the
English colonial days, and in its latter years, after
the Revolution. Individual exceptions to this
statement were very rare. It was so among the
farmers and mechanics of Rensselaerwyck, as well
as among the merchants and gentry in and near the
City of Albany. The testimony of the excellent
Mrs. Grant, in her "Memoirs of an American

SLA VERY IN ALBANY COUNTY.

303

Lady," is appropriate here. She writes : "In the
society I am describing, even the dark aspect of
slavery was softened into a smile. And I must,
in justice to the best possible masters, say that a
great deal of that tranquillity and comfort, to call
it by no higher name, which distinguished this so
ciety from all others, was owing to the relation be
tween master and servant being better understood
here than in any other place. Let me not be de
tested as an advocate for slavery, when I say that I
think I have never seen people so happy in servi
tude as the domestics of the Albanians. One rea
son was that each family had few of them, and that
there were no field negroes. They would remind
one of Abraham's servants, who were all born in
the house, which was exactly their case. They were
baptized too, and shared the same religious instruc
tion with the children of the family, and for the
first years there was little or no difference with re
gard to food or clothing between their children and
those of their masters. I have nowhere met with
instances of friendship more tender and generous
than that which here subsisted between the slaves
and their masters and mistresses."
Affectionate and faithful as these home-bred
servants were in general, there were some in
stances, but very few, of those who, through levity
of mind, or a love of liquor or finery, betrayed
their trust or habitually neglected their duty. In
these cases, after every means had been used to
reform them, no severe punishments were inflicted
at home. But the terrible sentence, which they
dreaded worse than death, was passed; — they were
sold to Jamaica.
One must have li\ ed among those placid and
humane people to be sensible that servitude— hope
less, endless servitude — could exist with so little
servility and fear on the one side, and so little
harshness or even sternness of authority on the
other. Amidst all this mild and really tender indulgence
to their negroes, these colonists had not the small
est scruple of conscience with regard to the right
by which they held them in subjection. Had that
been the case, their singular humanity would have
been incompatible with continued injustice. But
the truth is, that of law, the generality of those
people knew little; and of philosophy, nothing at
all. They sought their code of morality in the
Bible, and there imagined they found this hap
less race condemned to perpetual slavery; and

thought nothing remained for them but to lighten
the chains of their fellow Christians, after having
made them such.
Arguments for the right are of small account as
weighed against interest. The irrepressible con
flict at last came, and involved the nation in
a cruel, bloody and expensive civil war. It decided
that the system of human slavery was a national
evil, and could not be extended and protected as a
national institution. Blood and iron in this great
conflict severed the fetters of every black man in
the land, and legalized slavery was blotted for
ever from the constitution and the laws of the
United States. The people of Albany County did
well their part in this great struggle.
Records and statistics relating to the number of
slaves in this county are very incomplete, and not
wholly reliable. Those given below are compiled
from census returns and other sources. The same
may be said of the enumeration of negroes or
blacks, as the early record did not often distinguish
the slaves. It may be presumed that most persons
counted as negroes before 1800 were slaves.
The following lists exhibit all we are able to
give at this writing:
1. Negroes in the State census, including slaves,
in specified years: 1790, 25,978; 1800, 31,320;
1810, 40,350; 1820, 39,367; 1830, 44,949-- 1840,
50,031; 1850, 49,069; i860, 49,145; 1870,
52,549; 1880, 56,121.
2. Negroes in Albany County, inclusive of
slaves, in the years specified: 1698, 23; 1714, 213;
1723, 808; 1731, 1,273; l737, 1,630; 1749, 1,480;
1756, 2,H9; 1771, 3.877; 1795, 4,094; 1800,
2,094; 1810, 1,638; 1820, 1,271; 1830, 1,595;
1840, 1. 314; 1850, 1,194; i860, 939; 1870, 1,095;
1880, 1,367.
3. Colored persons in the towns of Albany
County in 1880, were as follows:
Albany, 1,036; Berne, 1; Bethlehem, 91; Coey
mans, 59; Cohoes, 17; Guilderland, 2; Knox, 2;
New Scotland, 25; Rensselaerville, o; Watervliet,
131; Westerlo, 3; total 1,367.
4. We gather the following census of slaves in
this County by towns:
Albany, 1810, 256; 1820, 109. Berne, 1810,
35; 1820, 30. Bethlehem, 1810, 137; 1820, 73.
Coeymans, 1810, 101; 1820, 36. Colonie, 1810,
30. Guilderland, 1810, 66; 1820, 47. Rensse
laerville, 1790, n; 1810, 21; 1820, 14. Water
vliet, 1790, 730; 1810, 128; 1820, 96. Westerlo,
1820, 8. Total 1790, 741; 1810, 772; 1820, 413.

304

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

HOMICIDES IN THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Collected and Arranged by ELISHA MACK.

1 687 ~ J0HN CASPERS> indicted for caus
ing the death of his negro girl. No
record of trial.
1767. — Jack, the negro of James Starling, in
dicted for murder.
Two indictments against Sarah Seecles for child
murder. 1780. — Pomp, indicted for the murder of Pete,
both negro slaves of George Sharp.
1782. — Joseph Bettys, convicted of treason and
murder. Conditionally pardoned by General
Washington. Recaptured for murder and hanged.
1806. — Daniel Chambers, Jr., indicted for kill
ing Peter Roff. Tried and convicted of man
slaughter. Sentenced to State Prison for thirteen
calendar months.
George Van Derwerken and John C. Hemstraat
were indicted for killing Peter Roff. Tried and
acquitted. John Pye, innkeeper, whose house was feloni
ously entered in the night-time, shot and fatally
wounded the burglar — a case of justifiable homicide.
1807. — Benjamin Gates, indicted for the murder
of an Indian named Joe. Tried and acquitted.
18 1 1. — Isaac Kilian, indicted for manslaughter
in the first degree. Tried and acquitted.
1 8 13. — Thomas Burns and Joseph Mosher, in
dicted, tried and convicted for the murder of John
E. Conklin and sentenced to be hanged. Burns
was executed. Mosher was respited. by Governor
Tompkins until the meeting of the Legislature.
He was subsequently pardoned.
181 5. — Anson Spooner was sentenced to State
Prison for manslaughter for the term of five years.
David Allen, Jr., indicted for murder, was dis
charged by order of the court.
1816. — James Walsh, convicted of manslaughter.
1818. — James Hamilton, indicted, tried and
convicted for the murder of Major Benjamin Bird-
sail. He was sentenced to be hanged. Executed
November 6, 181 8.
1820. — Jack Van Patten, indicted for murder
and assault and battery. Tried. Verdict: "Not
guilty of murder, but guilty of assault and battery
only." Sentence: County Jail for thirty days.

1823. — Robert Anderson — trial for murder — was
acquitted. 1824. — Barent Haner, indicted for killing a
negro with a club. Tried, convicted and sen
tenced to State Prison for ten years.
1825. — William Bell and Samuel Bromley, in
dicted for manslaughter. Tried. Bromley was
convicted and sentenced to State Prison for ten
years. Bell was acquitted.
1826. — James Wilson, indicted for the murder
of John Queen. Tried and acquitted.
Robert Carhart, indicted for murder, was tried
and convicted of manslaughter. Sentence: State
Prison for twelve years.
1827. — Jesse Strang, indicted, tried and con
victed for the murder of John Whipple. He was
sentenced to death, and executed August 24,
1827. Elsie D. Whipple, indicted as accessory before
the fact, for the murder of her husband, John
Whipple. Tried and acquitted.
1829. — George Thomas, indicted for murder.
Tried and convicted of manslaughter in the second
degree. Sentenced to State Prison for seven
years. 1831. — John Snyder, indicted for murder. Con
victed of manslaughter and sentenced to State
Prison for two years.
William Wilson, for killing Thomas Piatt, was
indicted for manslaughter. Convicted of an assault
and battery, and sentenced to the County Jail for
three months.
William Lackey, indicted for the murder of Peter
Turner. Tried and found guilty of manslaughter
in the third degree. Sentenced to State Prison for
three years.
1 833. — Geerge Sims, convicted of manslaughter
in the fourth degree. Sentence: State Prison for
two years.
1835. — Daniel Riley, tried for murder. Ac
quitted. 1836. — John Hamilton, indicted for the murder
of William Duffy. Tried and acquitted.
Sally Ann Harden, indicted for murder. Tried
and acquitted.

HOMICIDES IN THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

305

1837. — Daniel Murray, convicted of manslaugh
ter in the fourth degree. Sentence: Jail for forty
days. 1838. — Thomas Rector, indicted for the murder
of Robert Shepherd by striking him on the head
with a wooden bar, fracturing his skull. He was
tried and convicted. A new trial was granted, the
venue fixed at Ballston, Saratoga County, where
he was convicted of manslaughter in the second
degree. Sentenced to State Prison for seven
years. George Thompson, indicted for the murder of
John Johnson by striking him on the head with a ¦
cart-stake, fracturing his skull. Tried and con
victed. Sentenced to be executed; commuted to
State Prison for life.
Jane Dupang, indicted for the murder of her in
fant by drowning. Tried. The jury did not agree.
Prisoner discharged.
1839. — Isaac Hallenbake, indicted for man
slaughter in the fourth degree, causing the death of
Seth B. Barman, under twelve years of age, by ad
ministering to him spirituous liquors. Acquitted.
1840. — Jacob Leadings, indicted for murder —
killing his wife, Harriet, by shooting her with a
gun. Tried, convicted and sentenced. Was exe
cuted December 29, 1840.
Edward Snooks, indicted for the murder of Mary
Jenks. Tried and acquitted.
1 84 1. — Henry P. Van Zandt, indicted for mur
der. Tried and acquitted.
Aaron Hughes, indicted for murder. Tried and
convicted of manslaughter in the second degree.
Sentence: State Prison for seven years three months
and eleven days.
Bridget Hughes, indicted for murder. Ar
raigned and discharged.
1842. — Louis Bourgeois, indicted for manslaugh
ter in the third degree by stabbing James Kennedy.
Tried and convicted. Sentence: State Prison for
four years.
Christian Boork killed his wife by striking her on
the head with an ax, crushing her skull. He
ended his life by hanging himself.
1845. — Robert Black and Patrick Markey, in
dicted for manslaughter in the fourth degree by
running their sleigh into another sleigh in which
was Miss Lydia Oliver, who was thereby instantly
killed. Tried and convicted. Sentence: State
Prison for two years.
Harman B. Campbell, indicted for manslaugh
ter. Tried and acquitted.
George Wilson, held to bail for manslaughter in
the fourth degree, whereby Mrs. Anthony, of Co

hoes, was instantly killed by a locomotive running
over her. Wilson was not indicted.
1846. — Charles Gouche, Joseph and Charles
Malay, indicted for murder by shooting John Bar
man. On trial, Gouche was convicted of man
slaughter in the first degree and sentenced to Stale
Prison for life. The Malays were acquitted.
1847. — Jeremiah and Eugene Sullivan, indicted
for the murder of James Smith. On trial, Jeremiah
was convicted of manslaughter in the third degree.
Sentence: State Prison for four years. Eugene was
acquitted. Michael Teeven struck Michael Walls on the
head with a stick of wood, causing death in a few
hours. Teeven escaped.
1848. — John McGuire, indicted for murder —
killing, by kicks and blows, James Connolly. Tried
and acquitted.
Thomas Kelly, a lunatic, killed, by shooting and
stabbing, James C. Mull. Kelly died in the State
Lunatic Asylum in Oneida County.
James Whalen, for the murder of Peter Turner,
by beating and kicking and throwing him in the
canal, causing death. Tried and convicted of
manslaughter in the third degree. Sentence: State
Prison for seven years.
George Erwin, bailed for manslaughter in the
second degree. Can find no record of trial or
acquittal. William Maxted killed Michael McGown by
stabbing him with a knife. Tried. Convicted
of manslaughter in the third degree. Sentence:
State Prison for four years.
1849. — Barney Leddy, for the murder of his
wife by kicks and blows. Convicted of man
slaughter in the first degree. Sentence: State
Prison for life.
Three unknown assassins robbed and murdered
Joseph N. Becker. No capture.
John Robinson, indicted for the murder of Chris
topher Jocelyn by striking him on the head with a
heavy club. Tried and convicted of manslaughter
in the second degree. Sentence: State Prison for
seven years.
Eseck Carr, indicted for the murder of his wife,
Jane, by poison. Tried and acquitted.
1850. — Reuben Dunbar, indicted for the mur
der of two small boys, Stephen V. and David L.
Lester. Tried, convicted and sentenced to be
hanged. Executed January 31, 1851.
John S. Jackson, indicted for the murder of
his mother-in-law, Margaret Thompson. Tried
and convicted. Sentenced to State Prison for
four years.

306

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

1 85 1. — In the night-time, one or more assassins
killed, by kicks and blows, Harriet Smith. No
capture. John Osborn killed, by beating with a stone,
Teunis S. Slingerland. Osborn escaped.
Susan Gaynor, for manslaughter in the fourth de
gree. Sentenced to the Penitentiary for six months.
John Moore killed his wife, Elizabeth, by shoot
ing her, tearing off the upper part of her skull. He
then shot himself, causing instant death.
1852. — Patrick McEnroe killed, by kicking and
beating, Thomas Cassidy. Tried. Convicted of
manslaughter in the third degree. Sentence: State
Prison for two years.
James Moore, indicted for murder — killing his
wife, Elizabeth. Tried and convicted of man
slaughter in the third degree. Sentence: State
Prison for two years.
John Henderson, convicted of manslaughter in
the third degree. Sentence: State Prison for two
years. 1853. — John Hendrickson, Jr., indicted for the
murder of his wife, Maria, by administering to her
poison. Tried and convicted. Sentenced to be
hanged. Executed May 4, 1854.
Richard Dyness, indicted for manslaughter in
the fourth degree. Tried, convicted, and sen
tenced to the Penitentiary for four months.
1854. — John H. Phelps, indicted for the mur
der of his wife, by stabbing her with a dirk. Tried,
convicted and sentenced to be executed. Com
muted to State Prison for life.
John H. Hotaling stabbed William Gibson,
causing his death. Tried. Convicted and sen
tenced for manslaughter in the third degree. Sent
to State Prison for four years.
Catharine Slingerland, an imbecile, killed her
infant. Indicted for murder. Pleaded guilty of
manslaughter in the fourth degree. Sentenced to
the Penitentiary for one year.
1855. — John Dunnigan, indicted for murder —
killing his wife, Catharine. Tried and convicted.
Sentenced to be hanged. Commuted to State
Prison for life.
William McCrossin, indicted for the murder of
Michael Brennan, by shooting him with a pistol,
causing instant death. Tried and acquitted.
1856. — Patrick Lane, indicted for manslaughter
in the second degree, by kicking and beating,
causing the death of James Carlin. Tried and
convicted. Sentence: State Prison for four years.
Francis McCann, indicted for the murder- of his
wife, Agnes, by striking her on the head with an
ax. Arraigned. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter

in the first degree. Sentenced to State Prison for
life. John Cummings, indicted for murder, by shoot
ing with a gun Frederick Stumpf. Tried and con
victed. Sentenced to be executed. Commuted
to State Prison for life by Governor King. Par
doned by Governor Fenton.
James Carney, indicted for the murder of Patrick
Carroll by throwing stones and otherwise beating
him, causing his death. Pleaded guilty of man
slaughter in the first degree. Sentenced to State
Prison for life.
Assassins, unknown, killed Mrs. Anastatia Bul
ger. 1857. — Robert Morrison, indicted for man
slaughter, by keeping bears on a public thorough
fare, whereby one John Hoey and an Indian
named Joseph Harney were killed. Tried and
acquitted. Susan Anthony, indicted for murder — strangling
her infant. Tried and convicted of manslaughter
in the first degree. Sentenced to State Prison for
life. 1858. — Robert Morrison, Jr., held to bail for
manslaughter in the third degree. No record of
trial found.
Michael Naughton, a boy, indicted for murder —
killing, by stabbing in the breast with a knife,
Joseph O'Callaghan, Jr. Pleaded guilty of man
slaughter in the fourth degree. Sentenced to the
House of Refuge.
Thomas N. Francis, indicted for the murder of
Rachel Hilton, by beating her with a bar of wood.
Tried. Verdict: guilty of manslaughter in the first
degree. Sentence: State Prison for life.
John Wilson, indicted for the murder of Patrick
McCarty, by striking him on the head with a
hatchet. Tried and convicted. Sentenced to be
executed. Commuted to State Prison for life.
1858. — Mary Hartung, indicted for the murder
of her husband, Emil Hartung, by administering
poison to him. Tried, convicted and sentenced
to be executed. Proceedings stayed. Discharged.
William Rheinmann, indicted as accessory for
the murder of Emil Hartung. Tried and ac
quitted. 1859. — Oscelia Mastin, indicted for causing the
death of a young woman pregnant with child, by
abortion. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the
second degree. Sentence: State Prison for four
years. Catharine Messer, causing the death of an infant
by giving it poison in porridge. Find no record'
of trial.

HOMICIDES IN THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

307

Jefferson W. Bennett, indicted for the murder of
Robert Morrison. Tried and acquitted.
Michael O'Brien, indicted for the murder of
his wife by beating her. Tried and convicted.
Sentenced to be executed. Executed June 3,
1859. John Osborn, indicted for murder. Pleaded
guilty of manslaughter in the fourth degree. Sen
tenced to the Penitentiary for one year.
John Irvin, indicted for murder, by beating his
wife with a club. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter
in the second degree. Sentence: State Prison for
four years.
Adam Murray, indicted for murder — killing John
Cahill by stabbing him with a knife. Pleaded
guilty of manslaughter in the second degree. Sen
tence: State Prison for four years.
i860. — John McCotter, indicted for the murder
of Thomas O'Halloran by stabbing him with a
chisel. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the
third degree. Sentenced to State Prison for two
.years. Terence Leavy, indicted for the murder of
Michael Burk by stabbing him with a knife.
Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the third degree.
Sentence : State Prison for three years.
1861. — Walter Barrett, indicted for the murder
of Terence Boyle by stabbing him with a knife.
Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the third degree.
Sentence: State Prison for three years and eight
months. 1862. — Michael Hewson, indicted for the mur
der of Thomas Costello by stabbing him with a
knife. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the
second degree. Sentence: State Prison for two
years and eight months.
1863. — William J. Church, indicted for the
murder of his wifea Ann, by stabbing her with a
knife. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the sec
ond degree. Sentence: State Prison for twenty
years. Patrick Flynn, indicted for the murder of John
N. Colburn by striking him on the head with a
heavy stave. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in
the second degree. Sentence: State Prison for
seven years.
Matthew Brtimaghim, indicted for the murder
of Charles Phillips by shooting him with a pistol.
Tried and acquited.
1864. — Mackey Dunnigan, indicted for the
murder of John Connors by shooting him with a
pistol. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the
third degree. Sentence; State Prison for two years
and two months.

Bridget and David McCarty, indicted for the
murder of Michael Gilmartin by beating him with
a stove cover and a stone or brick-bat No record
of trial.
George E. Gordon, indicted for murder in kill
ing Owen Thompson by beating him with a club.
Arraigned and tried. Convicted of murder. Sen
tenced to be executed. Exceptions taken and
carried to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.
Final sentence: State Prison for life.
John P. Cordell, Philip Damp, and Frederick
Damp, indicted for manslaughter in the first degree,
by causing the death of the wife of Frederick
Damp by inflicting upon her blows and otherwise
brutal treatment. Acquitted.
David Crawley, indicted for murder. Tried.
Verdict: guilty of manslaughter in the second de
gree. Sentence: State Prison for seven years.
1865. — Some four or five persons were suspected
of throwing the missile that struck John Mclnner-
ney on the head, fracturing his skull and causing
his death a few days after the fatal deed. The
criminal was never captured.
1866. — Michael Chestnutt, without felonious
intent, struck John Hanna a blow with his fist,
causing him to fall, striking his head against some
hard substance, fracturing his skull, of which
injury he died. Chestnutt was indicted for man
slaughter in the first degree. Convicted of man
slaughter in the fourth degree. Sentenced to pay
a penalty of fifty dollars.
Judson W. Palmer, indicted for murder. On
trial the jury did not agree upon a verdict. Dis
charged. 1867. — George W. Cole, indicted for the mur
der of Hon. L. Harris Hiscock by shooting him
with a pistol. The jury did not agree. On the
second trial the prisoner was acquitted.
1869. — Henry Trainor, indicted for manslaugh
ter in the second degree, for -killing John Donnelly.
Tried and convicted. Sentence: Penitentiary for
one year.
1870. — Lorenzo Murphy, indicted for man
slaughter in the second degree. Sentence: Peni
tentiary for one year.
Robert Pickett, indicted for murder. On trial
the jury was withdrawn and the prisoner dis
charged. John O'Neil, indicted for murder. Pleaded
guilty of manslaughter in the third degree. Sen
tence: House of Refuge.
1871.— Lemuel P. Van Hoesen, killed his wife,
Harriet A., by beating her head with a stew-pan,
fracturing her skull. The prisoner was declared

308

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

insane. A few years since he committed suicide
at Omaha, Neb.
1872.- — -William Wilcox, indicted for murder of
John Seib by shooting him with a pistol. Tried.
Convicted of manslaughter in the fourth degree.
Sentence: State Prison for four years.
Michael Hifford, convicted of manslaughter in
the third degree. Sentence: House of Refuge.
1873. — Emil Lowenstein, indicted for the mur
der of John D. Weston, by shooting him with a
pistol. Tried and convicted. Sentence: death by
hanging. Executed April 10, 1874.
Margaret Lyons, indicted for the murder of an
infant by administering phosphorus. Pleaded
guilty of manslaughter in the fourth degree. Sen
tenced to State Prison for one year.
1874. — David Landers was tried for killing
Thomas Van Aernam by hitting him on the head
with a stone. Verdict: guilty. Sentenced to pay
a penalty of one hundred dollars.
1875. — Rachel Bartell, indicted for causing
death by abortion. Tried and convicted. Sen
tenced to the Penitentiary for eighteen months.
John Barrett, indicted for killing Ira B. Mosely
by stabbing him with a carving knife in the breast,
penetrating a lung. Find no record of trial or
acquittal. 1876. — Lewis Theus, indicted for murder in the
first degree by throwing a butcher's knife, striking
John Gresser, aged fourteen years, causing death.
Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the third degree.
Sentenced to the Penitentiary for three years.
Mary A. McDonald, indicted for manslaughter
in the third degree for shooting her husband, Rob
ert McDonald. Tried and acquitted.
1877. — Edward Scully killed John Davis by
stabbing him with a knife. Scully escaped cap
ture. 1878.— Daniel Van Deusen, indicted for murder
in the first degree by stabbing with a knife Philip
Hyde. Pleaded guilty of murder in the second
degree. Sentence: State Prison for life.
1879. — John C. Hughes, indicted for murder in
the first degree by stabbing William J. Hadley
with a knife, causing death. Tried. Verdict: mur
der in the second degree. Sentenced to State
Prison for life.
Helaire Latromouille, indicted for murder in
the first degree by stabbing with a knife Cath
erine Dunsbach. Tried. Verdict: guilty of mur
der in the first degree. Sentence: death by hanging.
Executed August 20, 1879.
Thomas Mallon, indicted for murder in the first
degree by shooting his wife, Ann, with a gun.

Tried and convicted of manslaughter in the fourth
degree. Sentence: State Prison for two years.
Person unknown murdered Stephen Dugan.
1880.- — William McNeal, indicted for murder in
the first degree, by stabbing with a knife, his wife
Catharine. Tried. Verdict: murder in the second
degree. Sentence: State Prison for life.
Hiram G. Briggs, indicted for murder in the first
degree by shooting Erskine Wood. On motion,
the indictment was quashed. The prisoner was
arraigned on a new indictment similar to the
former. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the
third degree. Sentenced to the Penitentiary for
two years.
Charles Burt killed, by shooting with a pistol,
Catharine Smith. He immediately shot and killed
himself. 1883. — William Dyer, indicted for manslaughter
in the second degree by carelessly driving a two-
horse team attached to a truck wagon, and running
over a small boy named Charles Cook, causing his
death. Tried and convicted. Sentenced to the
Penitentiary for one year.
Person or persons unknown killed Michael Bio-
fore. 1884. — Peter Edwards killed his wife, Cornelia,
by beating her with a hammer and stabbing her
with a butcher's knife. He inflicted injuries upon
himself of which he died.
Catharine Schreiver, wife of Christopher Schreiver,
in one night killed four of her children by cutting
their throats. She then caused her remaining
child, a daughter nine years of age, to accompany
her to a place half a mile distant on the New York
Central Railroad, known as Black Rock, where
the affrighted child, in obedience to the stern
command of her crazed mother, sat upon the rail,
while the mother prostrated herself across the rail
road track. Soon the down train came rapidly,
decapitating the mother and so mangling the child
that she too was soon numbered with the dead.
Michael Downey, indicted for murder in the
first degree by shooting with a pistol, Dennis Des
mond. Arraigned. Pleaded guilty of murder in
the second degree, and was sentenced to State
Prison for life.
Ah Kay, indicted for murder in the first degree
by shooting Wee Kee. Both were Chinese. Ar
raigned and tried. Convicted for murder in the
second degree. Sentenced to State Prison for
twenty years.
Mrs. Margaret Ahem, indicted for murder in
the second degree by maliciously pushing Peter
Clark off a stoop, causing instant death. Tried.

TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION.

309

Verdict: manslaughter in the second degree.
tence: Penitentiary for three years.
Assassin unknown killed James Larrison.

Sen-

Elisha Mack, who industriously and conscientiously
compiled this paper on "Homicides in Albany Co.," is
able to give a more extended history of most of them. He*
has also written out, very fully, the history of other noted
criminals in this city and county, many of whom were
brought to justice by his own detective skill, while he was
(for nearly twenty years) on the Police force. No man ever
held this trust with more integrity, and few with more
acceptance. The Police records, kept by those high minded
Police Magistrates— Cole, Kane, Comstock and Loveridge—

testify to his sagacity and skill in making important arrests,
and bringing to light cunningly hidden iniquity. Want of
space prevents us from inserting some of his marvelous de
tails, told, as he tells them, with remarkable clearness and
delicacy. If they could be printed in book form the record
would be valuable to the police, the lawyer and the Courts
everywhere. Mr. Mack was born in Windsor, Berkshire
County, Massachusetts, February 7, 181 1. He came to
Albany in 1816, and still lives among us, active and highly
respected, in his 75 th year.
It is worthy of note that the number of murders is very
small for a county so old, and with so large a population
made up of people of such varied nationality and pursuit.
The number convicted, sentenced, and punished with the
extreme penalty, is also remarkably small.

TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION IN ALBANY COUNTY.

THE native Indian, in his journeyings, had mark
ed out his paths by the courses of the streams,
by the peaks of the hills, and observations of the sun,
moon and stars. We have named them Indian trails,
and early European hunters, trappers and settlers
found them very useful. When the Indian came
to navigable waters he paddled his light canoe,
which he took up when he came to dangerous
rapids or wished to cross from one water to another,
and launched in the desired place in his route.
When the early immigrants from Holland came
to this country, they came up the Hudson in the
sailing craft of their time. The Dutch knew how
to construct and navigate ships. The water-way
between New Amsterdam and Fort Orange, after
wards New York and Albany, was much traveled
by the early adventurers in the fur trade; by colonial
farmers, settlers, and speculators of every name; by
curious travelers; and by public functionaries of the
Patroons, of the Dutch West India Company, and of
the English crown. All came and went in canoes,
batteaux, rafts, or some kind of ship. Trade was
carried on in the same way ; and the trade, of bring
ing supplies for a people whose chief business
was hunting and trading, whose manufactures and
farming were of the most simple kind, was large.
It took in return, to the New York, West India
and European marts, furs, peltries, and, after a
time, the surplus products of the forest and farms.
In all the years from the discovery of the Hudson
to the war for American independence, the carriages
and the carrying, both by land and water, were
essentially the same. Most of the settlements here
abouts were from the Atlantic waters along up the

Hudson River and the Mohawk. Those few who
dwelt a little way off from them or other waters,
got to them, when necessity or profit impelled,
either on foot, bearing their bearable burdens on
their backs, or using the rudest conveyances that
ox or horse ever dragged or drew.
Some improvements in carriages were introduced
by the English in the later colonial period and
especially by those who came from New England.
But the best of these, rude as they were compared
with those of to-day, were few and owned only by
the wealthy. The enormous carts or wagons which
the early immigrants from New England used in
which to bring their families and their household
goods, created amazement and amusement to the
natives along the Hudson and the Mohawk. But
these moving Saxons from "the Eastern States "
brought ideas with them and cute ways of doing
things. Heavy wagons were used for transporta
tion in this vicinity during the revolutionary war;
but the lighter travel was pursued on horseback or
on foot, for long journeys. For some years after
the dawning of the present century, there were no
light wagons in the new settlements and no roads
for them. The dominie made his parish visits on
horseback; the doctor visited his distant patients
on horseback, carrying his medicines in saddle-bags;
and the lawyer, taking his green bag, rode to court
on horseback. Social visits were interchanged
between friends residing at remote distances in
this same way. Church-goers in neighboring
towns came on horseback, several miles, to attend
service in Albany, taking all day and often spend
ing the night with friends. The same horse carried

310

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

the wife, sitting on the pillion behind the husband,
and frequently an infant for baptism. When they
could not ride, parents and older sons and daugh
ters often walked long distances to do an important
errand, to visit friends, or to listen to their pastor's
Sabbath instructions. In one or the other of these
ways the grist was taken to mill, the fleece to the
wool-carder and clothier, and the little surplus
produce to the city merchant.
Time makes many changes to meet the require
ments and necessities of mankind. New inven
tions to economize domestic affairs and to lighten
the burdens of toil were sought ; many rude im
provements were the result. New and better con
veyances, first used by the more prosperous citizen,
were introduced, while the laborer back in the
forest long continued to ride in his rudely con
structed cart, often drawn by a yoke of oxen.
When the carriage and coach made their appear
ance for the aristocracy, the farmer was usually
content in the comfort he realized from the rude
wagon, the workmanship of home skill. All these
vehicles were improved to meet the demand of
progress. The years that followed the first quarter
of this century witnessed rapid strides in better
facilities for intercommunication and the convey
ances for travel and transportation.
Travel from Albany to distant points began to
assume considerable proportions as new fields of
enterprise were opened. Increase of population,
the multiplied demands of agriculture, manufac
tures and home industries, brought a corresponding
increase in travel, trade, and other branches of
business which contribute to prosperity. Among
the first considerations of a practical kind was to
find a market for surplus agricultural products
and manufactures. These found a natural outlet
by the ritfer, and commodities were usually shipped
upon it by sloops or schooners. Trade was open
ing beyond Albany westward, along the Mohawk
valley to Johnstown and even to Cherry Valley.
Roads must be made. At first they naturally
followed the Indian trails. Those from the north
and west were by five routes centering in Albany.
In time they were improved and used as wagon
roads by early travelers, and served during the
revolution for transporting supplies and for other
military purposes.
The earliest traveled route, as has been said,
between Albany and New York was by the Hudson
River. In 1785, the Legislature granted to Isaac
Van Wyck, Talmage Hall and John Kinney, the
exclusive right to drive stage wagons on the east
side of the river for the term of ten years.

The fare was fixed at four-pence a mile. A year
later, communication with Springfield, Mass., was
opened, and in 1789 a stage commenced running
to Lansingburgh.
Public wagon roads, about 1790, were opened
for travel east ; also to Whitestown on the west,
which soon extended to the Genesee country.
Thus was a new idea suddenly brought to .the no
tice of active men, from which they hoped to realize
success in new enterprises. Among the first was
a line of stages by way of Schenectady to Johns
town, Canajoharie, Fort Plain and Warrensbush.
In 1790, the Legislature granted to Ananias Piatt
the exclusive right to run a stage between Albany
and Lansingburgh. In 1791, a stage route was ex
tended by the Legislature to Bennington, Vt. In
1792, aline of stages was established from Albany
to Whitestown, performing the journey once in two
weeks. In the spring of 1793, Moses Beal carried
passengers from Albany to Canajoharie once a
week ; the fare was three cents a mile. About
this time John Hudson established an opposition
line to Schenectady ; fare, four shillings. A line
connecting Albany with the Connecticut River Val
ley was soon started. In 1 794, Mr. Piatt ran his
stage between Lansingburgh and Albany twice a
day. So great was the increase in travel, that in the
winter of 1795 the number of daily trips was six ;
and in the summer of 1796, it was necessary to
employ twenty stages daily between Waterford,
Lansingburgh. Troy and Albany, averaging more
than one hundred and fifty passengers daily. The
mails in 1796, were carried between Albany and
Philadelphia in three days. This year there were
five post routes centering in Albany. The fare
to New York was reduced from ten to eight
dollars. After the war of the revolution, there was general
activity in the direction of internal improvements.
The great object was to connect existing highways
with the Mohawk River, extend trade to other
places, and bring the products west of Schenectady
to Albany, and thence to New York for a market.
The Mohawk not affording a continuous route,
on account of the Cohoes Falls, to obviate this ob
struction, and to secure a more economical and
expeditious method, the Northern Inland Lock
and Navigation Company was organized as early
as 1790, followed in 1792 by the Western Inland
Lock Navigation Company, to connect the central
lakes with the Mohawk. Philip Schuyler was
president, and Barent Bleecker was treasurer ;
Elkanah Watson and Stephen Van Rensselaer were
active in the enterprise. In 1796,. $4Q) oco worth

TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION.

311

of furs and peltries were received by one Albany
house from Western companies, and trade was in
creasing rapidly. The heavy lumbering wagons
with their four and six horses, loaded with tons of
produce and merchandise, formed a line on this
road not unlike an Eastern caravan. It is recorded
that, in the winter of 1795, one thousand two
hundred sleighs passed through this city in three
days with emigrants to the Genesee Valley.
They were from New England — ancestors of the
prosperous citizens of the farms and shops of West
ern New York. They soon had abundant products
to sell and demanded a highway of trade. It was
for the interest of Albany and New York that it be
made. Following the enterprise of a few public
benefactors, improved facilities for transportation
on the Mohawk to Schenectady were undertaken.
In 1797, was incorporated the Albany and Sche
nectady Turnpike, then one of the most important
roads in the State. It became the leading highway
for travel and traffic connected with the wonderful
progress then developing in the western part of the
State, opening lateral outlets of vast importance.
This road continued to be profitably patronized
until the opening of the Erie Canal in 1823, when
its usefulness and profit were diminished. The
Hudson and Mohawk Railroad in 1832 was a great
competitor. Turnpikes became an enterprise in
which capitalists eagerly invested. They were a
great improvement upon the old roads; but few of
them proved profitable to the stockholder, and
several of them are now abandoned.
The trade that centered in Schenectady was a
source of rivalry. To obtain a share of the business
and to secure a portion of this coveted treasure,
the Troy and Schenectady Turnpike was incorpo
rated in 1 806, which, after a few years of successful
operation, shared the fate of other similar roads.
Travel and freight have been diverted to other
methods, and are now conveyed by the agency of
steam. In 1798, the Legislature chartered the Lebanon
and Albany Turnpike; in 1799 the first company
of the Great Western Turnpike was chartered; in
1804 the Bethlehem Turnpike; and in 1805 the
Albany and Delaware Turnpike. A turnpike on
the west side of the river to Catskill was chartered
about this time. All these roads had in view the
concentration of travel to Albany, and for many
years Albany was the starting point of a score of
stage lines, and mail routes diverged in all direc
tions, extending west as far as Buffalo.
After 1.800, until the completion of the canal,
travel and transportation to Buffalo and other points

were exclusively performed by heavy wagons drawn
by four or six horses.
After the completion of the canal, Albany became
a great highway for travel; for many years the
packet boats were well patronized, as they offered
the passengers many comforts, and facilitated
social enjoyment. The first packet boat on the
canal, direct frbm Albany, that visited Buffalo was
the Benjamin Wright, which arrived October 29,
1825. The event was duly celebrated in that village.
In 181 1, a line of stages was started from Albany
to reach Niagara Falls in three days, thence to
Buffalo. The fare to Canandaigua was $16.25.
The old swinging stage coach rumbled over
these roads, and its departure or arrival was hailed
with interest by the villagers, who gathered at the
taverns to gossip, to hear the news and to see the
sights. The stage owners located at Albany were Thorp
& Sprague, Rice & Baker, Baker & Waldridge, Hal
sted, and some others. These parties owned a good
number of horses; but upon the completion of
the railroads, the glory and usefulness of their
business departed, and the iron horse now super
sedes the weary men and jaded horses.
The year 1807 marked a new era and introduced
a new power in the economy of travel. From that
year to the present, steam has wrought wonderful
changes, and the Hudson River claims the honor
of the first successful steamboat enterprise. Since
the establishment of this mode of travel on the
Hudson River, steamboats have been improved,
from the simple craft of Fulton — which left New
York on September 5, 1807, with twenty-seven pas
sengers, and October 7th with one hundred pas
sengers, taking from 24 to 36 hours time to make
the trip — to the gorgeous and spacious floating
palaces of the present, which make the trip in nine
hours or less, and have accommodation for 6co to
800 passengers, and often carry a larger number.
The fare on Fulton's boat was seven dollars, now
it is from one dollar to one dollar and fifty cents.
In 1 8 1 1 there were two steamboats carrying pas
sengers to New York, the Hope and North River.
In 1836 there were twelve steamboats and seven
towing boats. The steamboat travel on the river
in past years has been immense, but the railroads
on either side of the river have become formidable
rivals to the once monopolized privileges of the
passenger boats, so that the number has somewhat
diminished as compared with former years. We
have space to give the names only of a few of the
principal steamboats that have ploughed the Hud
son River.

312

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

In 1820, the Chancellor Livingston, 175 x 50 feet.
Had beds for 160 passengers and settees for 40.
Fare, eight dollars.
In 1823, the Constitution, Constellation, Swift-
sure and Saratoga began to run.
In 1828, the North America, "the most beautiful
and swift of the floating palaces on the Hudson;
or, as I believe, I may add with truth, in the
world," says Dr. Charles Stuart.
In 1835, the Champlain followed by the Dia
mond, Swallow, Reindeer, Henry Clay, Hope and
Columbia'. After 1850, by the Alida, New World,
Francis Skiddy, Empire City, Jonas C. Heart.
After i860, came the Armenia, Daniel Drew,
Isaac Newton, Mary Powell, St. John, Chauncey
Vibbard, Vanderbilt, Dean Richmond, and the
Albany. Many of these recent steamboats have made the
trip between New York and Albany in seven hours
forty-five minutes, and sometimes in six hours forty-
two minutes.
In the words of Lossing: "The steamboat itself
is a romance of the Hudson. Its birth was on its
waters, where the rude conceptions of Evans and
Fitch were perfected by Fulton and his successors.
How strange is the story of its advent, growth and
achievements! Living men remember when the
idea of steam navigation was ridiculed. They re
member, too, that when the Clermont went from
New York to Albany without the use of sails, against
wind and tide, in thirty-two hours, ridicule was
changed to amazement. The steamboat was an
awful revelation to the fishermen, the farmers, and
the villagers. It seemed like a weird craft from
Pluto's realm, — a transfiguration of Charon's boat
into a living fiend from the infernal regions. Its
huge black pipe vomiting fire and smoke, the
hoarse breathing of its engine, and the great splash
of its uncovered paddle-wheels filled the imagina
tion with all the dark pictures of goblins that ro
mancers have invented since the foundation of the
world. Some thought it was an unheard of mon
ster of the sea ravaging the fresh waters; others re
garded it as a herald of the final conflagration at
the day of doom. Some prayed for deliverance;
some fled in terror to the shore and hid in the re
cesses of the rocks; and some crouched in mortal
dread of the fiery demon.
" The Clermont was a small thing compared with
the great river steamers of the present time. Ful
ton did not comprehend the majesty and capacity
of his invention. He regarded the Richmond (the
finest steamboat at the time of his death) as the per
fection of that class of architecture. She was a

little more than 100 feet in length, with a low,
dingy cabin, partly below the water-line, dimly
lighted by tallow candles, in which passengers ate
and slept in stifling air, and her highest rate of
speed was nine miles an hour. Could Fulton re
visit the earth and be placed on one of the great
river steamboats of our time, he would imagine
himself to be in some magical structure of fairy
land, or of forming a part of a strange romance; for
it is a magnificent floating hotel, over four hundred
feet in length, and capable of carrying a thousand
guests by night or by day at the rate of twenty
miles an hour. Its gorgeously furnished parlors,
lighted with gas, and garnished with rich curtains,
mirrors and elegant furniture; its cheerful and well-
ventilated dining-room; and its airy bedrooms, high
above the water, compose a whole more grand and
beautiful than any palace dreamed of by the Ara
bian story-tellers. It is the perfected growth of the
Indian's bark canoe. "
For a few years, about 1850, plank roads were
chartered, and five were constructed in the county.
These for a time were a novel enterprise, and com
manded a large share of local travel; but now they
are mostly abandoned, except on short lines, the
travel having been diverted to lateral railroads.
Since the first railroad — the Mohawk and
Hudson — was built, and began to be operated in
this county in 1832 with its open coaches, a new
system of journeying began at once to be intro
duced. The facilities centered at Albany, by railroad and
steamboat, for reaching any given point, will com
pare favorably with any city in the State. Roads
center here from all points, and connections are
made with other and continuous lines leading to
everywhere. The New York Central and Hudson River Rail
road, with its consolidated branches from New
York to Buffalo, makes Albany a great thorough
fare. During the year 1883 this road carried on
its several branches nearly eleven million passen
gers. During the month of May, 1885, there were
sold at the Union Depot, Albany, 53,228 passen
ger tickets. In the same month sixty-five passenger
trains were dispatched daily. The fare on this road
averages about 2.05 cents per mile.
The Delaware and Hudson Canal Company's
Railroads are of immense utility to this County.
This great corporation leases and operates, among
other roads, the Albany and Susquehanna, the
Rensselaer and Saratoga, and the New York and
Canada, which start from Albany. The number of
passengers carried on these roads in 1884 was

RAILROADS IN ALBANY COUNTY.

313

2,622,174, and for the month of May, 1885, there
were sold at the Albany office 56,823 passenger
tickets, and seventeen regular passenger trains were
sent out daily. The fare on this road is three cents
per mile.
The Boston and Albany Railroad has its station
in the Union Depot. This road carried in 1883
over eight million passengers; and in the month of
May, 1885, sold at the Albany office 37,099 pas
senger tickets, and despatched seven regular pas
senger trains daily.
The New York, West Shore and Buffalo Rail
road was opened to Albany in 1883. There were
sold from the Albany offices for the month of May,
1885, 9,095 passenger tickets, and eleven trains
were sent out daily with passengers. The fare is
three cents per mile.

The Troy and Boston Railroad sends six daily
trains. It passes through Hoosac tunnel.
The several railroads that center at Albany sent
out for the month of May from this city about 105
passenger trains daily, and the same number
arrived daily. The total number of passenger
tickets sold at the Albany offices for the same
month was 156,243.
The whole number of passengers carried on the
several steamboats from Albany for the season of
1884 was about 1,500,000.
Stages run daily from the city to New Scotland,
New Salem and Berne; also to Clarksville, Westerlo
and Rensselaerville, via Bethlehem Centre; to
Guilderland Centre every afternoon; to New-
tonville, Nassau and East Schodack daily; and to
Greenbush every fifteen minutes.

RAILROADS IN ALBANY COUNTY.

ALBANY has become a very important railroad
center. It was one of the earliest points of rail
road interest in the United States. The construc
tion of a railroad parallel with the Hudson River,
connecting the City of New York with the City
of Albany, affording a communication between
the two cities at all seasons, was considered an
object of so much importance, that, in 1832, a
number of enterprising citizens obtained from the
Legislature a charter with a capital of $3,000,000,
and powers to construct the same. But a sufficient
amount of the capital stock was not subscribed,
and the project was abandoned for about twenty
years. The then estimated cost of the road for
a single track was $12,000 per mile, which would
amount to nearly $2,000,000 for the whole line.
It was believed that branches of this road might
easily be constructed to Hartford and New Haven,
and a large amount of business might be expected,
not only from the eastern counties of this State,
but from Berkshire County, Mass. , and Litchfield
and Fairfield Counties, Conn. The railroad com
missioners of 1833 have this curious speculation
concerning the profits of the proposed road: That
it would accommodate a large number of the pop
ulation in the vicinity of the route; that jhe amount
of transportation which would be paid to the road
by this population, on produce, minerals, manufac
tures and merchandise would amount to $350,000,
to which was added a larger amount to be ob-
40

tained from travelers and light freights between
New York and Albany, particularly in the winter;
that the annual income of the proposed road would
amount to $852,000. "This railroad," says this
report, "will connect at Albany with the grand
chain of railroads now in progress, or contem
plated, from Albany to Buffalo, viz. : the Mohawk
and Schenectady, completed; Utica and Schenec
tady, in progress; Syracuse and Utica, contem
plated; Auburn and Syracuse, stock subscribed;
Auburn and Rochester, contemplated; Tonawanda,
contemplated, from Rochester through Batavia to
Attica. " Fifty-two years ago there was no railway
between Albany and Buffalo, except the short line
then known as the Mohawk and Schenectady, and
no railway connection between New York and
Albany; and the great road now known as the New
York Central and Hudson River Railroad was not
in existence.
The Albany and Schenectady road had been in
operation since September 12, 1831, under the
name of the Mohawk and Hudson. The Hudson
River Railroad, chartered in 1832, and abandoned
for lack of the necessary capital, obtained a new
charter May 12, 1846, and on October 3, 1851,
the road was opened from New York to East Al
bany. November 1, 1869, the New York Central
Railroad and Hudson River Railroad companies
were organized by consolidation. The New York
Central Railroad Company was organized April 2,

314

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

1853, authorizing the consolidation of the railroads
between Albany and Buffalo, as follows:
Albany and Schenectady; Schenectady and
Troy; Utica and Schenectady; the Mohawk Val
ley; the Syracuse and Utica; the Syracuse and
Utica direct; Rochester and Syracuse; Buffalo and
Rochester; the Rochester, Lockport and Niagara
Falls; the Buffalo and Lockport.
Articles of agreement, taking effect May 1,
1853, were filed May 15, 1853. The first Board
of Directors was elected July 6, and the whole
line delivered to the new company August 1,
1853- The first railroad ever built in the State was the
Albany and Schenectady, chartered in 1826 as the
Mohawk and Hudson. It was opened September
12, 183 1. In 1847, the name was changed to Al
bany and Schenectady.
Previous to the consolidation of the Hudson
River Railroad with the New York Central, the
Troy and Greenbush road, chartered in 1845, was
leased to the Hudson River road, June 1, 1851, for
seven per cent, on $275,000 capital stock. The
lease runs during the time of the charter, or any
extension of the same. It was assumed by the
New York Central and Hudson River road on
consolidation. The New York and Harlem, chartered April 25,
1831, is one of the routes from Albany to New
York — formerly from Greenbush — the corporate
existence of which was extended December 28,
1874, four hundred years. It leased its steam por
tion, running to Forty-second street, New York
City, April 1, 1873, to the Central. This lease ex
pires April 1, 2274, the annual rent being the in
terest on its funded debt and eight per cent on its
capital stock.
Before the construction of the railroad bridges
which span the Hudson at Albany, all passengers
and freight arriving at Albany en route for New
York or the East were shipped by ferry to Green
bush. The two bridges now crossing the Hudson
to East Albany are owned nominally by a separate
organization called the Hudson River Bridge
Company. The ownership, however, is vested
really in the New York Central and Hudson
River Company three-fourths, and the Boston and
Albany Railroad one-fourth. Except for foot pas
sengers, they are used exclusively for railroad pur

poses. Each company pays its proportion of main
tenance in operating. The cost of the road, con
solidated, with all its rolling stock, etc., was $114,
731,917. Two hundred and ninety-five miles of
the road between Albany and Buffalo has four
tracks; between Albany and New York there are
four tracks. It owns, in all, 2,361 miles of track,
and controls by lease 324 additional miles; it owns
655 locomotives, 361 first-class passenger cars and
22,973 freight cars. It employs 15,355 persons,
paying them during the year 1883, $8,401,208 for
services. During the railroad year ending Decem
ber 31, 1883, it carried 10, 746, 925 passengers and
10, 892,440 tons of freight; the average rate per
mile per passenger was: through, 2.05 cents; wayt
2.04 cents. The freight rates per ton per mile are
.69 cents on through freight; .67 cents on way. To
tal earnings, $33,770,721, from which is deducted,
including an 8 per cent dividend amounting to
$7,148,131, $33,591,697, leaving a balance in
favor of the road of $179,024.
ALBANY AND SUSQUEHANNA RAILROAD
COMPANY.
This road was incorporated under the General
Railroad Law, April 19, 1851. It was open for
travel and traffic from Albany to Central Bridge, a
distance of thirty-five miles, September 16, 1863,
and to other points at various dates, and to its ter
minus at Binghamton, January 14, 1869. The
property of the company was leased February 24,
1870, to the Delaware and Hudson Canal Com
pany for the term of its charter, one hundred and
fifty years from April 19, 1851, paying a rental as
follows: Six per cent, upon the Albany City bonds;
seven per cent, upon the first, second and third
mortgage bonds and first consolidated mortgage
bonds; seven per cent, upon the capital stock;
and $1,000 for maintaining the organization.
The interest and dividend are paid by the lessees
directly to the stock and bondholders. A payment
of $5,000 semi-annually is also made by the lessees
to the trustees of the sinking fund of the City of
Albany, and is invested by the latter in certain
funds for the ultimate payment of the Albany City
bonds. The following statement shows the condition of
its funded debt:

RAILROADS IN ALBANY COUNTY.

315

STATEMENT OF FUNDED DEBT.

Kind of Bonds
or
Obligations.

If and How
Secured.

Date of
Issue.

When Due.

Rate of
Interest.

Amount of
Authorized Issue.

Amount
Actually Issued.

Outstand ing.

Second mortgage 
First consolidated mort.
Albany City 

By mortgage.
By mortgage.
By mortgage.
By mortgage.
By mortgage.
By mortgage.
By mortgage.

July I, 1863.
Oct., 1865.
April 1, 1876.
Nov. 6, 1865.
May 1, 1866.
Nov. 1, 1866.
May 1, 1867.

July 1, 1888.
Oct. 1, 1885.
April 1, 1906.
Nov. 6, 1895.
May 1, 1896.
Nov. 1, 1896.
May 1, 1897.

.07
.07.06 and .07
.06.06.06
.06

$1,000,000 00
2,000,000 00
"10,000,000 00
250,000 00
250,000 00
250,000 00
250,000 00

$1,000,000 00
2,000,000 00
4,556,000 00
250,000 00
250,000 00
250,000 00
250,000 00

$998,000 00
1,627,000 00
4,556,000 00
250,000 00
250,000 00
250,000 00
250,000 00

Albany City 

Albany City 

Albany City 

Total 

$14,000,00 000

$8,556,000 00

Total outstanding . . .

$8,181,000 00
* Includes $3,450,000 to be used in exchanging other classes of bonds, as per terms of amended lease.
Albany is largely interested in various ways in
the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad Company.
The total cost and equipment of the road was
$6, 701, 691. 55. The following is the balance sheet
for the year 1883, showing the moneyed interest
of the City of Albany therein:
Dr.
BALANCE SHEET AT END OF YEAR.
Cr.
Cost of road and equipment 
Additions and betterments made by the
lessee 
Sinking fund in the hands of the trus
tees of the City of Albany, applicable to
retiring the Albany City bonds issued to
this company 
New York and Albany Railroad Company
stock 
Cash by last report  $487 88
Trustees' account by last report 419 58
Cash by this report  $887 90
Trustees' account by this report 419 58
Other assets 
Income account  '. 
Total 
By last
Report.
$6,701,691 55
4,706,255 91
237,466 54
7,00000 90747
419 H
52,513 30
$11,706,25591
By this
Report.
$6,701,266 55
5,689,786 63
260,237 37
7,000 00
1,307 48
30,18860
$12,689,786 63
Capital Stock. .
Funded Debt..
Unfunded Debt
Total.,
By last
Report.
$3,500,000 00
7, 134,000 00
i,°72,255 91
$11,706,255 91
By this
Report.
$3,500,000 00
8,881,000 00
1,008,786 63
$12,689,786 63
Income or Profit and Loss Account.
Debit balance of income account, Sep. 30, 1882.. $52,515 30
Deductitems of gain  22,326 10
Balance of income account, Sep. 31, 1883  $30,186 60
THE ALBANY AND VERMONT RAILROAD.
This road was chartered October 17, 1857, and
was leased in perpetuity to the Rensselaer and Sar
atoga Railroad Company, June 12, i860, and is
operated by the Delaware and Hudson Canal Com
pany. The main line of the road from Albany to
Waterford Junction, is twelve miles in this State.
Its capital stock, as authorised by charter and paid
in, is $600,000; number of shares, 6,000; number
of stockholders, 47.
The total earnings of the road for the year end
ing 1883 were $21,060.00. The charges against
these earnings were $19,200, giving surplus of
$1,860. BOSTON AND ALBANY RAILROAD.
This important and thoroughly equipped rail
way, uniting Albany with Boston, was chartered
November 2, 1870. It is made up of a combina
tion or consolidation of roads, as follows: Western
Railroad Corporation, established by the Common-
316

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

wealth of Massachusetts March 15, 1833; Castle
ton and New Stockbridge Railroad Company, in
corporated by New York May 5, 1834. Its name
was changed to Albany and West Stockbridge Rail
road Company by an act of May 5, 1836.
On November 11, 1841, a permanent contract
was made for transportation by the Western
Railroad Corporation and the Albany and West
Stockbridge Railroad Company for the operation
of the latter by the former.
On the 24th of May, 1867, the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts passed an act consolidating the
Western Railroad Corporation with the Boston and
Worcester Railroad Company, under the name of

the Boston and Albany Railroad Company. This
was done under authority of an act of the Legisla
ture of the State of New York, passed May 20,
1869. By an act of the Commonwealth of Massa
chusetts, passed May 23, 1869, the Boston and
Albany Railroad Corporation, the Albany and
West Stockbridge Company, and the Hudson and
Boston Railroad were united, and became the
Boston and Albany Railroad Company. This
grand scheme of consolidation was consummated
November 2, 1870.
It is a direct route from Albany to Pittsfield,
Worcester, Springfield and Boston. The Albany
station, at this time, is Union Depot.

STOCK AND DEBT.

Capital stock as authorized by charter 
Capital stock as since fixed 
Capital stock subscribed 
Capital stock paid in 
Funded debt 
Unfunded debt 
Total funded and unfunded debt 
Average rate per annum of interest on funded debt .
Number of shares of ordinary stock 
Number of stockholders 

By last Report.

$27,325,000 00
20,000,000 00
20,000,000 00
20,000,000 00
10,858,000 00
1,012,722 15
11,870,722 15
5, 6 and 7 per cent.

By this Report.

$27,325,000 00
20,000,000 00
20,000,000 00
20,000,000 00
10,858,000 00
906,729 58
11,764,72958
5, 6 and 7 per cent.
200,000 6,124

The cost and equipment of this road was $2 8, 3 63, -
874.78, of which $1,215,000 is invested in loco
motive engines and fixtures; $408,000 in passenger

and baggage cars; $1,442,400 in freight and other
cars; $1,182,731.13 in bridges. It has 244 loco
motives, 229 passenger cars, 5,437" freight cars.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ROAD.

Main line of road from Albany to Boston 
Main line laid 
Branches owned (built) 
Lines leased (built) or operated 
Total main line (laid), branches owned, and lines leased or operated 
Second track on main line 
Second track on branches owned, or lines leased or operated 
Total second track 
Third track on main line 
Fourth track on main line 
Total third and fourth tracks 
Sidings and turnouts on main line 
Sidings and turnouts on branches owned, and on lines leased or operated .
Total sidings 
Aggregate of all tracks on main line, branches owned and lines leased or
operated, including all sidings and turnouts 

Length in
this State.
Miles.

39-3°

39-30 17-33

56.63

39-3° 1 .00

40.30

24.81 6.99

3180

128.73

Length out
of this
State.

162.35

162.35 81.25 74 03

3I7-63

162.35 8 22

170.57

8.36 8-35

16.71

125.05 38.72

163-77

668.68

Total
Length. Miles.

201.65201.65 98.5874-03
374 26
201.65 9.22
210.87 8.36
_8_35 16 71
149.86 45-71
"95-57

797-41

EXPRESS BUSINESS IN ALBANY COUNTY.

317

Expenses for operating the road for the year
1883, including expenses for specific purposes,
#3>2°5,358.65. Of this sum $161,740.06 was
paid conductors, baggage and brakemen of pas
senger trains, and $345,879.10 to freight con
ductors, baggagemen and brakemen; $795,383.49
was expended for fuel; $61,328.08 for oil and
other lubricants and waste; for loss and damages
of goods and baggage, $10,342.89; for damages
to property, including damages by fire and cattle
killed on road, $7,116.73; for damages for injury
to persons, $17,259.61; for stationery and print
ing, $33-56o-°5; advertising, $6,268.44; legal ex
penses and counsel fees, $12,685.11; telegraph
services, $17,402.20.
Total earnings of the road, $8,539,875.88.
Charges against these earnings, including dividends
dated quarterly and rate eight per cent per annum
on all stock, except that owned by the State of
Massachusetts, for which was given in exchange,
$3,858,000 five per cent, bonds, $1,407,100;
making all charges against earnings $8,303,904.07,
leaving a surplus for the year of $235,971.81.
Of the 8,079,072 passengers carried over the
road during the year 1883, not a person was killed
or injured. Of the 3,411,324 tons of freight car
ried, but a small per cent, of the same was injured.
WEST SHORE RAILROAD.
This railroad is properly the New York, West
Shore and Buffalo Railroad. For a long time the
project of building a road along the west shore of
the Hudson, from Weehawken, through Albany,
and thence westward to Buffalo, was considered.
But the difficulties of construction, especially
along the Hudson, were so great, that the plan
was delayed until some time in 1880, when it took

definite and active form, and June 14, 1881, it
received its charter. It was prosecuted with such
vigor, that on July 9, 1883, it was opened for pas
sengers to Albany, and on January 1, 1884, it was
opened to Buffalo. Albany is connected with the
main line by a branch from Coeymans, a distance
of twelve miles south. It is 407 miles by the road
from Weehawken to Buffalo. There are, at this
writing, 135 locomotives, about 70 passenger
cars, and over 3,234 freight cars. The depot
of this road is at the foot of Maiden lane, at the
Delaware and, Hudson River Canal Company's
Depot. During most of the year of 1884-5, through
the sharp competition between railroads, resulting
in what was termed a "railroad war," rates for
passengers were cut to such an extent, that but one
cent per mile was charged on all railroads leading
out of Albany. The "war" was closed in the
Autumn of 1885, and the West Shore is now said
to be under control of Win. H. Vanderbilt, and
running as before at the old rates.
RAILROAD DEPOTS.
With all the railroads passing in and out of Al
bany, there are really but two depots in the city.
The Central and Hudson River and the Boston and
Albany Railroads occupy the Union Depot just
north of Maiden lane and east of Broadway. The
Rensselaer and Saratoga, the West Shore, and the
Susquehanna division of the Delaware and Hud
son Canal, have their depot at the foot of Maiden
lane. The cars of the latter pass the steamboat
landings, and during river navigation, passengers
desiring to take the boats leave the train. The
West Shore trains arrive at and depart from the
depot at the foot of Maiden lane.

EXPRESS BUSINESS IN ALBANY COUNTY.

IN the early history of this county we find
pack-horses, then lumbering wagons, and then
stage-coaches drawn by four, six or eight horses,
were the usual vehicles for transportation. The
cross-road post and the village or country tav
ern served as package offices. These, in time,
were superseded on certain lines by the steamboat
and canal boat. Then the advent of those more
formidable rivals, the railroads, wrought a change
truly marvelous.

For many years the stage-coach served as a
" carry all," the driver of which was employed to
perform many errands, and empowered to transact
important commissions of trust, including a mul
titude of messages, bills to collect and money
packages to deliver, for which trouble he received
a very small perquisite. It may be recorded to
their credit, that for honesty and faithfulness, few
men have a better record. There are no authentic
cases in which they proved recreant or dishonest

318

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

in the performance of the trust committed to
them. Before the introduction of railroads, the stage
coach lines that centered in Albany were numerous,
and. considered among the most useful and even
necessary institutions contributing to the business
interests of the city. These lines extended in all
directions. Every post-road and turnpike was a
mail-route. The inhabitants of every village and
hamlet anxiously waited for the arrival of friends,
of the mail, and of important messages and pack
ages by stage.
The stage-coach and carrier of the post were as
indispensable then as the steamboat, railroad and
express systems are now. But their rough life and
hard experience was a source of excitement. The
stage-driver was a jolly, jovial Jehu, with his four-
in-hand team, the envy of all the bigger boys. In
the important positions they occupied, they were as
proud of their "rig," as the modern locomotive
engineer is of his seventy-ton engine, or the con
ductor of his lightning express or palace-car train.
Now their swinging throne and exalted occupation
are gone.
Providence seems to govern all things for man's
welfare. The inspirations that bring forth such
marvelous inventions as the whole system of rail
way and steamboat locomotion, the telegraph and
ocean cable, the telephone and electric light, may
be regarded as of more than human origin.
To William F. Harnden belongs the credit of
recognizing a public want before the public had
any definite idea of what that want was; and not
merely recognizing it, but going practically to -
work with energy to supply it.
He was the beginner and earliest practical
worker of an institution which, for rapid growth
and business importance, is without a parallel.
The package express of modern times was un
known until Harnden started it in 1839; although
special expresses for the transmission of important
private and public intelligence have been in use,
occasionally, for hundreds of years past.
Special expresses for the conveyance of im
portant public news were sometimes employed by
enterprising newspaper proprietors, as in the case
of the Websters, early journalists of Albany.
The origin of the express, as an institution, was
brought about by the introduction of the railway,
which made a revolution in former methods.
Business men began to require a more rapid and safe
delivery of valuable packages and sundry parcels.
The old way demanded large confidence, and
sometimes became a burden and an inconvenience

to friends and acquaintances. There are now
living those who well remember how anxious men
were to send by some friend going to New York or
Boston, parcels of bank notes, drafts, bills collect
able, or other valuables; and it was expected to
be cheerfully performed as a favor. Mutual con
fidence among men at that time prevailed; misap
propriation was almost unknown; embezzlement
was punished; and honesty generally regarded as
necessary to respectability.
William F. Harnden in the spring of 1834,
was conductor on the first train of the Boston
and Worcester Railroad. He continued to serve
on this road until the close of the year 1838.
Weary of working sixteen hours a day, he told
his friend "Jim" Hale, one day, that the confined
employment of the past years had injured his
health, and he was determined to seek some more
active business. James W. Hale, the originator of
cheap postage between Boston, New York and
Philadelphia in 1837, and in a measure the father
of the express business in this country, is now
"hale" and hearty at 84 years old. Hale ad
vised him to do errands between New York and
Boston; that there was an urgent want of a parcel
express which would command the patronage of
all classes of business men. He at once secured
facilities and a contract on the Boston and Prov
idence Railroad.
Little did Harnden, or any other living man,
dream what immense results his humble express
was leading to.
The earliest public hint of this enterprise is
contained in a Boston Newspaper, dated February
23, 1839, in which Harnden advertises: " He will
accompany a car himself for the purpose of pur
chasing goods, collecting drafts, notes and bills,
delivering packages, bundles and forwarding mer
chandise, etc."
The "extra car" was a little play of fancy;
an ordinary valise serving to hold all that the
original expressman had to carry for months
after this time. The identical valise is now in
the possession of Benjamin P. Cheney, Boston.
For the first few months, Harnden served as his
own messenger; but business soon increased so
that he was obliged to extend facilities and employ
help. The burning of the Lexington on Long Island
Sound, January, 1840, was a bitter experience to
this enterprise.
In 1842, Harnden was upon the top wave of
popularity, and his lines began to reach in all
directions. When Henry Wells had urged upon

EXPRESS BUSINESS IN ALBANY COUNTY.

319

him, a year or two before, the importance of ex
tending his line to Albany and Buffalo, and thence
Westward, Harnden replied: " Put a people there,
and my express shall soon follow. "
THE AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY.
In 1 84 1, or a little earlier, Henry Wells, agent
of Harnden at Albany, suggested to George Pom
eroy that it would pay to start an express from
Albany to Buffalo. Pomeroy made three trips.
His express had been relinquished for some time,
when Crawford Livingston proposed to Wells that
he should join him in resuming the enterprise.
Wells consented, and Pomeroy & Co. 's Albany and
Buffalo Express was established. Its transporta
tion at that time was by railroad to Auburn; thence
by stage, twenty-five miles, to Geneva; thence by
Auburn and Rochester Railroad to Rochester;
thence to Lockport, sixty miles, by stage; thence to
Buffalo, thirty miles, by private conveyance; from
Rochester to Batavia, thirty-four miles, by Tonan-
anda Railroad; and thence to Buffalo, forty miles,
by stage. The trip was made once a week, and
occupied four nights and three days. It is now
accomplished in about nine hours.
About 1843, Pomeroy & Co. commenced run
ning a Hudson River Express. They had for
competitors Pullen & Copp. This continued only
a few months, when Pullen & Copp gave up the
Albany and Western business, acting as messengers
on the Troy route for Pomeroy & Co.
In the winter of 1843-44, Harnden & Co. sold
their Philadelphia Express to George Hatch & Co.,
who run it for a short time and then sold it to
Johnston and William A. Livingston. In a month
or two the latter sold out to the former and went
to Albany, where William A. Livingston engaged
in the express business.
About 1844, the firm of Livingston, Crawford,
Wells & Co. was established. This firm continued
until the latter partof 1846, when W. A. Living.
ston bought the Wells interest in the Western Ex
press, and Livingston & Fargo became a company.
W. A. Livingston acted for many years as the
agent at Albany for Livingston, Wells & Co.
About this time Henry & Co.'s Express started
a short-lived business upon the Albany and Buffalo
route. Crawford Livingston died in 1847, aged thirty-
four; Harnden died January 14, 1845, aged thirty-
three. In the autumn of 1849, an opposition express
was started over the New York Central Railroad

by Butterfield, Wasson & Co. James D. Wasson
was then postmaster of Albany. Both partners
had formerly been stage proprietors.
The American Express Company as now exist
ing, is a consolidation of Wells & Co. , Livingston &
Fargo, and Butterfield, Wasson & Co. These were
merged into Wells, Butterfield & Co., and Living
ston, Fargo & Co., which comprise the joint stock
concern of 1850. It was then valued at $500,000.
In 1854, the United States Express Company
suddenly started into existence as a joint stock
company; but after a few months it was merged in
the American.
The present United States Express Company was
organized in 1854, with a view of doing business
on the New York and Erie Railroad. This rail
road company for a time transacted its own express
business; but in August, 1858, transferred its ex
press to the United States Express Company, which
had no operations east of New York. Another,
called the United States and Canada, which trans
acted an express business from Albany to points
East and West, in June, 1882, united with the Erie
and New England Express from Boston to Bing
hamton, over the Fitchburg Railroad, via Hoosac
Tunnel, and the Delaware and Hudson Canal Com
pany. In June, 1883, the United States and
Canada Express passed into the hands of the Amer
ican, while the United States withdrew, June, 1885,
in favor of the National Express Company.
The Merchants' Union was consolidated with
the American, December 1, 1868, and had an
office in Albany, southwest corner of Broadway
and Maiden lane during its existence there. Mr.
D. T Hunt was agent.
THE NATIONAL EXPRESS COMPANY.
The original projector of this excellent company
was J. A. Pullen. He was an early and efficient
aid of Harnden, and served as messenger in 1842,
between New York, Albany and Troy, via the Hud
son River steamboats.
In the winter of 1843-43, Harnden having sold
out his Hudson River Express, Pullen & Copp started
a like business from New York to Albany, Troy,
and Saratoga Springs. At this time Pomeroy & Co.
were doing business between Albany and Buffalo.
In 1844 or 1845, these two companies made a
division of their routes, Pullen & Copp taking Troy,
north; Pomeroy & Co., Albany, west. Copp re
tired and Major Pullen took E. L, Stone as a part
ner. In 1843, Mr. Jacobs had started an express
from Albany to Montreal. E. H. Virgil acted as

320

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANl.

his messenger and agent for about a year, and then,
in company with N. G. Howard, purchased Jacobs'
interest. Its route was by packet boats or stage
from Albany to Whitehall; thence, north, by other
conveyance. It connected at Troy and Albany
with Pullen & Co. Early in 1844, H. F. Rice
bought Howard's interest, and the firm became
Virgil & Rice. Soon after it changed to Pullen,
Virgil & Co.'s Express. Office in Exchange
Building. Upon the opening of the Albany Northern Rail
road in 1845, Robert L. Johnson and others estab
lished a northern express, under the style of
Johnson & Co., from Albany to Rutland. This
enterprise came in competition with Pullen, Virgil
& Co. In the spring of 1855, it became a joint
stock express under the style of the National Ex
press Company. E. H. Virgil, of Troy, was super
intendent of the routes, and Robert L. Johnson,
agent, located in Old Exchange Building. At the
present writing, in 1885, the record of this com
pany- in the county is as follows: Commenced
business in 1849 in the Exchange Building, the
ground now occupied by the Government Building;
in 1873 removed to the corner of Maiden lane and
Dean street, in a large, capacious building owned
by the company, in which are their several offices.
James W. Hutt, General Superintendent; George
W. Slingerland, Assistant Superintendent. The
railroads upon which this company does business to
or from Albany are the Rensselaer and Saratoga;
Albany and Susquehanna; New York, West Shore
and Buffalo. There are, in the county, twenty-six
offices, one hundred and twenty-eight employees,
and twenty-two horses in daily use.
THOMPSON & CO.'S WESTERN EXPRESS
Was commenced in 1841 by William F. Harn
den. Its route was from Boston to Albany, and its
original agent in Albany was Henry Wells. In 1 844,
Harnden & Co. sold this Western Express to James
M. Thompson, its agent. The new proprietor
was shrewd, systematic and persevering. E. Lamb
Stone, Thompson's earliest agent in Albany, was
succeeded in the autumn of 1844 by Robert L.
Johnson, then only seventeen years old. He had
been, for a year or two, a clerk for Pomeroy & Co.'s
Express. When, in May, 1845, Thompson & Co.
occupied the same premises, Exchange Building,
in Albany, he acted as their agent. In 1847, R-
L. Johnson, the Albany agent, started an express
between Albany and Troy, over the Troy and
Greenwich Railroad, acting as his own messenger.

He continued in this service until the spring of
1853, when he was taken into the partnership of
Thompson & Co. This company connected at
Albany with the American Express Company, and
Johnson acted as agent.
The Albany, Springfield and Boston route was
sold to the American by J. M. Thompson, R. L.
Johnson and William N. Melcher in 1861.
HOWARD & CO.'S EXPRESS.
N. G. Howard was agent for Harnden & Co. at
Albany in the summer of 1842. In the following
year he became associated with E. C. Bailey, under
the style of Bailey & Howard. Harnden, desirous
of connecting at Albany with some other express
than Pomeroy & Co., brought into existence Bailey
& Howard, which firm soon dissolved. Shortly
after abandoning his Albany and Buffalo enterprise,
Howard joined E. H. Virgil in running an express
between Albany and Montreal. This proving up
hill work, Howard accepted an offer from Harnden
to take charge of the Philadelphia office, which he
did in the spring of 1844.
In 1866 The Merchants' Union Express Com
pany was organized as a stock company of- prom
inent men, with a large capital. This proved un
successful, and the company was consolidated,
December 1, 1868, with the American, under the
name of The American Merchants' Union Express
Company. This name was retained until Febru
ary 1, 1873, when it was changed to
THE AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY.
By these consolidations, and the vast growth of
its operations in the Far West, the capital of the
American was increased to $18,000,000. Its
managing forces were augmented by the accession
of Messrs. Theo. M. Pomeroy, General John N.
Knapp and William H. Seward, and two other
business men of capital, enterprise and approved
judgment, thus rendering it without a superior
among the mercantile institutions of America.
The American Express Company doing busi
ness in Albany County is largely the growth from
seed sown by such men as Henry Wells, Crawford
Livingston, William A. Livingston, R. L. Johnson
and George Pomeroy. More than two-score years
ago, in 1841, when Harnden induced Henry
Wells to serve him as agent, Wells, then young,
sanguine, full of energy and willing to work, fixed
his headquarters in Albany. He became associ-
ciated with George Pomeroy and Crawford Liv-

EXPRESS BUSINESS IN ALBANY COUNTY.

321

ingston, in 1842, in the Hudson River Express,
and having been an agent and runner for the river
steamboats, he was well schooled for this special
enterprise and proved a valuable partner. Craw
ford Livingston at this time was a coal merchant,
with only a few hundred dollars at his command,
With his associates and unremitting hard work, he
commanded respect and was in a measure pros
perous, Pomeroy and Wells had, so far, served
as the two messengers of the concern, having a
desk in the Exchange Building, where the first ex
press business was transacted in this city. Many
years afterwards it was a daily scene of hurry and
commotion. Dispatch and delivery were executed
promptly. Crawford Livingston was on hand here
daily, a most indefatigable agent, clerk and man
ager, his firm representing both Pomeroy & Co.
and Harnden & Co. Samuel Carter became assist
ant agent in this office. Crawford Livingston re
moved to New York to take charge of the business
of the new firm of Livingston, Wells & Co., William
A. Livingston taking his brother's place in Albany.
Soon after this, in 1844, the Western Express
Forwarders became identified with a new force,
the late William G. Fargo becoming resident part
ner and manager at Buffalo, assisted, subsequently,
by his brothers, James C. and Charles Fargo. The
Western Express firm name was Livingston,
Fargo & Co., its style in Albany being originally
Livingston, Wells & Co., and after Crawford Liv
ingston's death, in 1847, Wells & Co. "Robbie"
L. Johnson at that time was label boy and general
helper in the Albany office. He was a bright,
rosy-faced, energetic, honest little fellow, and grew
into great popularity and prosperity in the express
service in Albany. He became a partner and local
agent for Pullen, Virgil & Co.'s Troy and Montreal
Express, now the National Express Company;
also partner of Thompson & Co. Mr. Johnson
was a man remarkable for his strict integrity, great
financial and executive ability, and superior busi
ness qualities. In his social relations he was re
spected by all, a worthy citizen of whom Albany
was proud. He died here a few years ago. The
agents who have served the American at Albany since
the beginning, in 1842, have been Henry Wells,
Agent of Harnden's Boston and New York Express
and Pomeroy & Co.'s Hudson River Express, which
were merged in Livingston, Wells & Co. in 1843,
with Crawford Livingston as Agent; in 1845, Will
iam C. Spencer was Agent. In 1850, Butterfield,
Wasson & Co.'s Express was consolidated with it,
under the corporate name of The American Express
Company. Henry Wells was President ; John

Butterfield, Vice-President; William C. Fargo, Sec
retary; and Alexander Holland, Treasurer, who
served for thirty-five years.
The Superintendent of the New York State East
ern Division of the American, M. B. White, long
resided at Albany. He was, in October, 1867,
succeeded by E. H. Sly, who as clerk, messenger,
and line superintendent or route agent between
Albany and New York, resided here. For a year
past C. W. Selleck has served the company in like
capacity. It has headquarters on the second floor
of the Express Building, corner of Broadway and
Steuben streets. John L. Van Valkenburgh, who
was first employed by the company in March,
1863, succeeded Mr. Sly as superintendent, Feb
ruary, 1874. He is still the highly esteemed,
popular and faithful agent of the popular Amer
ican, with a force of fifteen clerks, forty messengers
and general supervision. The business requires
the services of twenty-four horses, twelve drivers,
and other helpers as needed.
The business of this company was originally
from Albany to New York City by the river, and
extended to Buffalo, via several short railroads
and stage lines, in 1845. Now, and for thirty-five
years past, it is making full use of the Hudson
River Railroad and the New York Central, with
their connections, and the Boston and Albany
Railroad. It has exclusive control of 34,417
miles of railroad, 4,718 offices and 7,053 em
ployees. Other line superintendents are or have been A.
G. Nickerson, J. Schermerhorn, H. M. Dwight,
and John B. Prentiss, with headquarters at Syra
cuse. The American is fortunate in retaining the best
of its employees, and when, after many years faith
ful service, they decline into the sear and yellow
leaf, and, unfitted for the active duties of express
men, become superannuated, the company accords
them pensionary support adequate to their neces
sities, and respects them for their past fidelity and
usefulness. Among this class in Albany, the most
worthy of honorable mention are Andrew Weather-
wax and B. P. Wheeler, who have served as ex
press messengers thirty-two years each. Alexander
Stone, in the American's service twenty-five years;
is still on a money wagon, performing daily duty,
greatly respected by the company and its many
customers in this city.
The writer is specially indebted to A. L.
Stimson and John L. Van Valkenburg for kindly
giving aid and counsel in making up this express
history.

11

322

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

BAGGAGE EXPRESS.
This branch of business was begun in Albany as
early as 1868, by Ransom Garrett and Thomas H.
Wygant, from and to the railroad and steamboat
depots. Wygant & Co. have been represented byT
H. Wygant, T. B. Morrow and George Hendrickson.
The firm is now composed of T H. Wygant and
George Hendrickson. Baggage is received, deliv
ered or transferred, at small expense, to the several
railroad depots, steamboat landings, hotels or pri
vate residences in any part of the city. Agents pass
through the principal and express passenger trains
when nearing the city, collect checks, and upon
arrival deliver the baggage with promptness. They
also answer calls by telephone and receive orders
by call books in the baggage-rooms of the differ

ent depots and several designated places in the
city. The charges are : Inside of Lark, Arch and
Livingston avenues, thirty cents for a single piece
of baggage, and twenty-five cents for each addi
tional piece, and special rates for combinations,
with charges according to distance, beyond speci
fied rates. Union Depot, Delaware and Hudson
Canal Company and West Shore Railroad Depots
are the principal offices. The company employs
fifteen persons and thirteen horses. Connected
with their business is a boarding stable located at
46 Spencer street.
The Albany Five Cent City Express is located at
No. 8 James street and does a good business.
The Cohoes, Troy and Lansingburgh Express
has an office at 74 State street. It transports mer
chandise, etc., by wagons.

TELEGRAPH BUSINESS.

1"* HE City of Albany is very intimately connected
with the early history of telegraphy. Per
haps, with the exception of S. F. B. Morse, no one
performed a more important part in discovering the
means of transmitting intelligent sounds through
wire by magnetic force than Joseph Henry, a native
of Albany, who from 1826 to 1832 was one of the
professors in the Albany Academy. It was in an
upper room of the academy building that Henry
first demonstrated the theory of the telegraph, by
the transmission of the tones of a bell through a
mile of wire strung around the room. It has been
well said : ' ' The click heard from every joint of
those mystic wires which now link together every
city and village all over this continent, is but the
echo of that little bell which first sounded in the
upper room of the Albany Academy." Professor
Henry had long been a sanguine believer that elec
tricity would ultimately accomplish all it has in
the transmission of sound, and as early as 1829,
by successful experiments, had discovered many of
the fundamental principles of telegraphy. An
article on this subject written by him, and pub
lished in a scientific journal in 1831, attracted
much attention. In fact so many important dis
coveries on this subject were made by Professor
Henry, that some of the scientific men of to-day
regard him as the originator of the underlying
principles of the Morse system of telegraphy. The
relationship between Henry arid Morse was close
and intimate, as revealed by the friendly corre

spondence between them on a subject so dear to
both, a number, of years prior to Morse's well-
known triumph in 1844. From Professor Henry,
Morse admitted having not only received much
encouragement, but much practical assistance.
Our venerated townsman, Professor Philip Ten
Eyck, once a professor in Albany Academy, well
remembers Professor Henry's experiments and the
assistance he rendered.
After Morse had demonstrated the success of his
experiments, by sending a message over a wire
stretched from Baltimore to Washington in 1844, it
was not long before men of capital began to take
hold of the scheme.
Prominent among the men in this State to be
come interested in the new telegraph enterprise in
1845, were Theodore S. Faxton, John Butterfield
and Hiram Greenman, three men well known in
Albany at this time as pioneers of the old stage
line through central and eastern New York. They
went to Washington, and with the utmost care
made themselves familiar with all the details, and
formed a favorable judgment of an invention then
but little understood, and looked upon with incre
dulity. Early in June, Mr. Butterfield closed a con
tract with Mr. Kendall to erect a line of the Morse
telegraph between Springfield, Mass., and Buffalo,
via Albany, and from Albany to New York.
July 16, 1845, an association was formed in
Utica to construct the Springfield, Albany and
Buffalo Telegraph Line. Trustees were appointed.

TELEGRAPH BUSINESS.

323

These were Theodore S. Faxton, John Butterfield,
Hiram Greenman, Henry Wells and Crawford Liv
ingston. The capital was fixed at $200,000, with
power to increase it to $250,000. The trustees be
came the contractors to construct the line, which
was to consist of two copper wires.
At this time this enterprise was looked upon as
foolish and impracticable. Steps were soon taken
to prove it could be made of practical utility. In
September, 1845, a wire was stretched from Utica
to the fair grounds, and the successful working of
the system was regarded with wonder and amaze
ment. November 7, 1845, a wire was run from
Buffalo to Lockport, being the first line opened in
America for regular commercial business. Mean
while the State was canvassed and a fair subscrip
tion secured. No interest was taken, strange to
say, by Albany capitalists in this movement.
The first section of the new line was built between
Albany and Utica. To this Mr. Faxton devoted
his whole time. In this city, where he was well
known, he did not receive much encouragement;
some of his friends even laughed at what they con
sidered his foolish zeal, and predicted naught but
failure. The line between Albany and Utica was finished
and ready for business, January 31, 1845. The
Albany office was located in the old Exchange
Building, and was under the management of O.
S. Wood and S. P. Carter. The opening of this
office caused great excitement in the city. The
newspapers of that day show how intensely the peo
ple were moved. One of the earlier feats of these
primitive times was to telegraph from Albany to
Utica the New York news brought up by the
Albany boats which arrived in Albany in the
morning. The line from Albany to New York was com
pleted July 3, 1846; to Hudson, October 28, 1846;
Troy, August 7th; Syracuse, May ist; Auburn,
May 25th; to Geneva, November 9th.
When the office was opened in Rochester, June
ist, the whole city seemed in a general excitement
The papers gave glowing descriptions of the ma
chinery and the influence which the telegraph was
to exert on human history.
Connection was made with Buffalo, July 3, 1846;
and the whole line from Buffalo to New York com
pleted September 9, 1846.
January 5, 1847, Governor Young's message of
5,000 words was sent from Albany to New York in
two and one-half hours by W. C. Buel and John
Johnson. This was regarded as a wonderful per
formance.

During the winter of 1846-7, a severe sleet storm
nearly demolished the wires from Albany to Am
sterdam, and from Troy to Hudson, suspending
operations for six weeks. The comparative strength
of iron and copper wire to withstand the force of a
severe storm was then demonstrated in favor of
iron wire, now in universal use.
May 1, 1847, when the Albany office had been
removed to the Delevan House, Mr. Carter, the
manager, while receiving a message from Utica,
found the paper had become twisted. As he with
difficulty attempted to translate, W. C. Buel, the
assistant manager, who was sitting near, said: "I
think Utica asks ' if the nine o'clock train has ar
rived.'" Scarcely knowing how the intelligence.
came to him, Carter was much astonished to find
it correct. Mr. Ten Eyck, of the Evening fournal,
who was present, made the incident the subject of
an article, which was extensively copied, even in
Europe. Thus Buel is justly claimed to be one of
the original sound readeis.
The success of the Springfield, Albany and
Buffalo Company awakened opposition. About
two years after the establishment of this line,
the House State Printing Telegraph Company
constructed a line from New York to Buffalo
by way of Albany, and opened an office in this
city in the Exchange Building; but subsequently
removed to the old Museum Building. The
method of receiving messages by this company
was somewhat different from the Morse -system,
which at this time consisted of certain signs punc
tured on white paper, to be translated by the oper
ator. By the House method the messages as
received were printed in Roman characters, the
wires being connected with a type machine, with
alphabetical keys similar to the present type-writing
machines. A short time after the House Company
became established, the Merchants' State Telegraph
Company was constructed from New York to
Buffalo. This company used what was known as
the Bain patent. The existence of this line was
mainly owing to the exertions of Henry O'Reilly,
of Rochester, and by his name the company was
generally known. Its office in this city was in the
old Museum Building. This line was run as an
•opposition line to the Springfield, Albany and
Buffalo Company and the House Company, until
1852, when it was consolidated with the former
company. In 1857, the American and the New York, Al
bany and Buffalo lines were formed. The latter
company at this time purchased the property and
rights of the House Printing Company. The office

324

HISTORY OF THE dOUNTY OF ALBANY.

of the American was located at 450 Broadway, and
in 1864, removed to the corner of State and Broad
way. It had connections with Boston, Providence,
St. Johns, Pittsfield, Springfield, Hartford, Port
land, Halifax, and intermediate places, with con
necting lines to all other parts of the Eastern States
and the British Provinces.
From 1864 to 1866, the United States Telegraph
Company had an office in this city in the Exchange
Building. In 1864, the Western Union Company was
formed. It was originally a Western line, known
as the Mississippi Valley Telegraph Company, its
lines running from Mississippi to Buffalo. In. the
same year it purchased the New York, Albany
and Buffalo line, and the Springfield, Albany and
Buffalo line, which, from 1845 t0 this date, had an
office in this city. Thus was opened up a direct
communication between the West and New York
City. The central office in Albany was located in
the old Museum Building, under the management
of George B. Prescott. Up to the time of the sale
of the Springfield, Albany and Buffalo line to the
Western Union, its affairs had been managed in this
city, besides those already mentioned, by C. S.
Cutler, J. R. W. Johnston, S. C. Rice, E. S. Keep,
C. S. Jones, M. L. Morgan and Fred H. Law
rence. In 1866, the Western Union purchased the
United States line, and from this time to 1870,
when the Atlantic and Pacific line was constructed,
had a monopoly of the telegraph business in this
section. The Atlantic and Pacific Company's office was first
located at 463 Broadway, and afterwards removed
to 444 Broadway, with branch offices in the Lum
ber District and at the Capitol.
In 1877, this company was consolidated with the
Western Union. The Western Union had no other
competing line in this city until the American
Union line was constructed in 1880, with an office
at 444 Broadway. But this company was in
existence but a short time, when it was consolidated
with the Western Union.
In 1882, two competing lines were constiucted,
with offices in Albany, the Mutual Union and the
American Rapid. The former opened an office at

462 Broadway and the latter at the corner of State
and James. Neither existed as a separate com
pany more than a year, the Mutual Union becom
ing consolidated with the Western Union, and the
American Rapid being leased to the Bankers' and
Merchants'. In 1884, the Bankers' and Merchants' and the
Baltimore and Ohio opened offices in this city, the
former at 444 Broadway and the latter at 462 Broad
way. The Bankers' and Merchants', a short time
ago, was sold to the United line. Its office
in this city is now under the capable management
of J. H. Rugg, who for many years has been
connected with the telegraph business in Albany.
The Baltimore and Ohio in this city is under the
management of E. J. Slattery. This company has
branch offices in this county at West Troy and
Coeymans. The central office of the Western
Union in this city is located in the old Museum
Building at the corner of State and Broadway,
with branch offices at the Capitol, West Albany,
Delevan House, Union Depot, Lumber District,
People's Line Office, Delaware and Hudson Canal
Railroad Office, and at the Kenmore Hotel. Out
side of this city, within the county, it has offices at
West Troy, Cohoes and Coeymans. Its local man
agement is under F. W. Sabold.
In 1871, the New York Central and Hudson
River Railroad and the Delaware and Hudson Canal
Company constructed a line of telegraph alonw
their respective roads and opened offices in this city.
These lines are still in use, but only for the accom
modation of the respective railroad companies, and
not for the general public.
The American District Telegraph Company,
chartered in 1875, is simply a local telegraph line,
with messenger service for the City and County of
Albany. It went into operation in 1876, with a
central office at 444 Broadway, afterwards removed
to 468 Broadway. It is now owned by the Com
mercial Telephone Company, under the manage
ment of A. B. Uline.
The Capital District Telegraph Company, similar
to the American District, went into operation in
this city in 1881, with a central office at No. 100
State street, and is now under the management of
W. H. Hamilton.

THE TELEPHONE AND MESSENGER SERVICE.

325

THE TELEPHONE AND MESSENGER SERVICE.

THIS comes from one of the most recent and
remarkable inventions which contribute to
man's innumerable wants. In this county it was
the outgrowth of the American District Telegraph
Company, located in the City of Albany, and char
tered in November, 1875. It began operations in
February, 1876, by instituting messenger service,
which has been, in part, superseded by the tele
phone. The American District Telegraph Company
made a contract with the Bell Telephone Company,
of Boston, for the use of the latter's instruments, in
March, 1878, and in May established a telephone
exchange in Albany, with about one hundred sub
scribers. The Albany District Company controlled
the business until July, 1879, when the Commer
cial Telephone Company began operations in the
city. The owners of the Commercial Company ob
tained control of the American District in Novem
ber, 1 880, and the two companies were consolidated
in January, 1881, under the name of the Com
mercial Telephone Company.
This company was located at 468 Broadway
(Van Heusen & Charles' Marble Building), with
branches at 68 Washington avenue and corner of
South Pearl and Hamilton streets. The officers
were: Henry R. Pierson, President; N. D. Wen
dell, Treasurer; J. L. Van Valkenburgh, Secretary;
A. B. Uline, Manager.
The Hudson River Telephone Company began
operations in 1883, and are now the owners of the
Commercial Company, with lines and commu
nication extending to the following places in the
county: The Abbey, Berne, East Berne, West
Berne, Cedar Hill, Coeymans, Clarksville, Cohoes,
Green Island, Hurstville, Chesterville, London-
ville, Menands, Potter's Hollow, Slingerlands,
Sloans, West Albany, West Troy, Watervleit
Centre, Newtonville, New Scotland, Delmar,
Rensselaerville, Bethlehem, Guilderland, Preston
Hollow, with about 2,000 stations or instruments
distributed in the city and county. The employees
number about one hundred.

The officers of the Hudson River Company are:
J. Bigler, President; H. L. Storke, Secretary and
Treasurer; A. B. Uline, General Manager. Direc
tors: J. Bigler, H. L. Storke, A. B. Uline, C. S.
Beardsley, D. A. Smith, A. O. Morgan, Theo. N.
Vail. General office, No. 468 Broadway, Albany.
Branch offices: 68 Washington avenue and corner
South Pearl and Hamilton streets.
The Messenger Service, beginning here in 1875,
under the American District Telegraph Company,
has been fully identified with the business interests
of the city as one of its very useful, almost neces
sary modern conveniences. The system adopted
is for each subscriber to have a box, and by pulling
down a crank, a number peculiar to that box is re
corded at the office, which is answered promptly
by a uniformed messenger boy. This method is
still used to some extent, the telephone in a great
measure taking its place. The Commercial Tele
phone Company became the owners of the Amer
ican District Telegraph Company, both of which
are now owned by the Hudson River Telephone
Company. From forty to sixty boys are employed.
Boxes are placed at convenient locations free of
cost, subscribers paying only for service. The
rates are: For 30 minutes or less, 10 cents; 30 to
45 minutes, 15 cents; 45 to 60 minutes, 20 cents;
each continuous hour after the first, 15 cents. The
boys are called to perform all kinds of errand work.
They distribute invitations, wedding cards, circu
lars, packages, etc., etc. Offices for this service
are at the Hudson River Telephone Company's
offices. This company now controls all the terri
tory from New York City to Clinton County east
to the State line, and- west fifty miles along the
Hudson River to Jersey City, It is the only com
pany operating from this city or in the county.
In 1880, the Construction Telephone and Sup
ply Company contracted to build lines and ex
changes throughout the State. A. B. Uline,
President and Manager; W. B. Butler, Secretary
and Treasurer. This was finally purchased by the
Bell Telephone Company, of Boston, and afterward
sold to the Hudson River Telephone Company.

326

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

AGRICULTURE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

AGRICULTURE, or the cultivation of the soil,
is the first and one of the most important
occupations of the human family, having been in
stituted and blessed by the Creator as soon as the
earth was ready for man's habitation. Then was the
command given that by the sweat of his brow was
man to earn his bread. Agricultural art is a factor
in molding human events and in adjusting the in
terests of communities. Its rational pursuit is not
incompatible with the highest intellectual attain
ments and the best development of the individual
citizen and of the public service.
Many of the sciences are useful servants of agri
culture, and the most learned often become its most
skilled exponents.
The energies of the thrifty husbandman lead to
substantial comforts, and no one better deserves
and enjoys the luxuries of life.
In the early settlement of this county, its agricul
tural inducements were not very inviting. For
many years, little progress was made in this direc
tion. The land was covered with a heavy growth
of trees that required to be felled and removed be
fore the soil could be planted and tilled. Sturdy
blows from the pioneer's ax cleared the forest for
an opening upon which to erect his log cabin and
extend his fields for culture. Here, too, he was
met by Indians and wild beasts — enemies cruel,
treacherous and savage, which were to be tamed or
subdued. In these days the settler and his family
experienced the greatest hardships and difficulties.
Useful implements and other conveniences were
needed, the lack of which made his labor burden
some and of slow progress. Another and, per
haps, greater want was that of domestic animals,
then introduced only to a limited extent for food
or for assistance in the daily demands of labor.
The poor man dwelt in his cabin-home and pa
tiently wrought, with spade and grub-hoe, a scanty
subsistence from the soil. The native forest fur
nished him with wild game and the streams an
abundance of fish.
Nine-tenths of the farmers of that day com
menced life bare-handed, as tenants or in debt for
land, with small means for purchasing stock, im
plements or necessaries. Yet they possessed rug
ged constitutions, a determined spirit, and a will to

labor. None knew, from hard experience, better
than these farmers and their wives, the necessity of
self-denial, unflinching industry and careful econ
omy, in their heroic struggles to secure a home and
rear a family ; nor the firm reliance and strength-
giving trust in God and each other needed to sus
tain them through the long years of discouraging
trials and unceasing toil.
There were conditions and unfavorable sur
roundings which attended these early adventurers
in their choice of occupancy. Many of these
early farmers were unused to labor of this kind,
having been engaged by the West India Company
as traders or servants. But dependence on this was
not proving permanently profitable to the Dutch
boor. He at first selected lands of easy culture
near Fort Orange. Small beginnings were made.
In time others followed, extending their possessions
farther in the forest, seeking the best lands within
easy communication. At the same time he held
his trade with the Indians as well as he could for
the benefit of the company. Farming was neg
lected in these early years and by these first col
onists. The West India Company, by their charter, had
the right to navigate the rivers of New Netherlands;
and in 1623 equipped a vessel of 130 lasts, called
the New Netherland, whereof Cornelis Jacobs,
of Horn, was skipper, with thirty families, mostly
Walloons, to plant a colony. They sailed in the
beginning of March, and in May entered the River
Mauritius. Eight of these families came to Albany.
But they came not as farmers.
In 1625 and 1626, "there arrived for New
Netherlands, at Mauritius, 103 head of cattle — stal
lions, mares, steers and cows, hogs and sheep, for
breeding and multiplying." Few, if any, were
taken to Fort Orange. The Patroon charter of
1629, provided, that within four years, at least fifty
persons over fifteen years of age, one-fourth of whom
should be located within the first year, should settle
in every colony. Early in the spring of the follow
ing year, a number of colonists with their families,
and provided with farming implements, stock and
other necessaries, sailed from Texel and landed in
safety at the Manhattes. In a short time afterwards
some of them landed at Fort Orange, and were

AGRICULTURE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

327

soon furnished with" farms, houses and other
dwellings at the expense of the Patroon and his
associates. Other colonists followed each succeed
ing season. Needful supplies of stores were kept
by the agents of the Patroon and sold to the col
onists. In 1644, Priest Jogues, says of Bever
wyck : ' ' There are twenty- five or thirty houses
along the river, built of boards and thatched.
They cultivate some land for their horses, of which
they have a large stock."
Among the products cultivated were Indian
corn, wheat, flax, hemp and tobacco. Sugar made
from the maple was a substitute for cane-sugar.
These articles were bartered with the agents of the
company in return for foreign goods for household
and domestic use.
There seems to have been very little progress
made or interest developed in farming until after
English rule in 1664, when a change in govern
ment brought some encouragement to the few
tillers of the soil. Hardships were many; the
winters were severe, with cold and snow; the
travel was bad; the means of living scanty; the
surroundings cheerless and exposed to dangers.
From this time to 1700, the condition of the few
colonists upon lands of the Patroon were not much
improved, although some progress was apparent
in the increased acres under cultivation, the addi
tions to stock and the increased quantity of grain
and other farm products. The few bushels of
grain, or pounds of flax, hemp and tobacco that
could be exchanged, were taken by the agent. In
1665, wheat, corn, or any sort of grain was not
allowed to be transported from the city down the
Hudson River. Some produce was exported in
1678. In 1680, when Dankers and Sluyter were
in this county, wheat and rye were cultivated, and
a trade with the West Indies was carried on. The
soil of the farming lands was well adapted to the
growth of every variety of grain, fruit and vegeta
bles. The low lands along the streams furnished
luxuriant pasture and abundant hay. Wheat, in
1692, was sold at four shillings per bushel.
The settlement of lands on the manor was slow.
In 1 714, there were only 427 white persons and
181 slaves. In 171 9, there were very few leases in
the hands of the settlers. As late as 1767, from a
map made for the Patroon, the number of families
on the west side of the river is given as 148. This
number does not probably include those on the
Coeymans and Slingerland patents of 1673 and
1685. There were a few families of Bradts who had
settled under the shelter of the Helderbergs,

along the Normanskill, and in the northeast part
of the county. After the close of the Indian and
French disturbances, there was a marked increase
of permanent settlers throughout the county, some
of whom . had been soldiers, and now exchanged
the sword and musket for the ax and plow. These
men were bred farmers in their native land, and by
industry and frugality became worthy citizens.
The tenants of the Patroon brought their rent and
surplus grain to his store-house at Albany. Ship
ments down the river were under his control. In
1770, there were several sloops trading at Albany,
loaded with grain and other farm produce, evidence
of growing prosperity of the farmers.
The period from 1780 to 1800, witnessed the
change from war to peace; from foreign power to
an independent government. It was a new era in
the development of agricultural pursuits, as well as
in social and political life.
During the hostile years of revolutionary war, the
agricultural interests of this county were not ma
terially affected. There were no serious conflicts be
tween the contending parties nearer than Saratoga,
and the farmers, many of whom remained at home,
were ready and anxious to furnish needed supplies
from their cultivated acres. After hostilities ceased,
and peace spread her protecting wings over the
valleys and plains of this region, new life and en
couragement was assured to the practical farmer.
Prominent men engaged in the work, and gave
the results of their experience to others.
As early as 1784, an agricultural society was
formed, and an annual fair for the sale of cattle
was held in Albany. Chancellor Livingston, in
1790, introduced the use of gypsum as a fertilizer.
In 1785, grain and other farm products weie
shipped from Albany ; and in 1790, Capt. Blood-
good loaded a vessel with surplus local products,
among which was a negro slave, the property of
Mrs. Staats, which he sold in Antigua for fifty-one
pounds. In 1794, trade in wheat and other giain
was quite extensive. The yield was from sixteen
to twenty bushels per acre, and it brought seven
shillings a bushel. In 1799, it was sold at fourteen
shillings a bushel.
Farming lands in the county began to be held,
generally, by a class of men who brought experience
and knowledge to practical farming. Wheat was
the staple product, and the soil gave generous
yield; rye, oats, corn, buckwheat, hemp, flax and
root crops were cultivated. Sheep were a source
of profit, as they could be kept on the new and
unimproved lands. Neat-cattle, of native stock,
were raised only for home demands. During the

328

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

war of 1812, wheat was sold for $2.00 and $3.00
per bushel.
This date marks another era of improvement in
all branches of agriculture and domestic hus
bandry. Its interests, as connected with the pros
perity of the State, enlisted the attention of public
officials and all men of intelligence. Among the
men most actively interested near this time, and de
serving of special mention, were Matthew Bullock,
De Witt Clinton, Solomon Southwick, Stephen
Van Rensselaer, Jesse Buel, C. N. Bement, Ezra
P. Prentice, Erastus Corning, Thomas Hillhouse,
Christopher Dunn, and Proctor & Hawes.
Hemp and flax culture has almost or quite dis
appeared as a paying branch of farming. Cotton
has, to a great extent, taken their place in domestic
fabrics as being more readily obtained and more
economic in the family. The rope-walk, spinning-
wheel, and farm-house loom have nearly disap
peared, and millions of dollars are now invested in
machinery and factories employing thousands of
operatives and producing millions of yards of
woolen and cotton fabrics in this county.
The cultivation of hops has in a large measure
been substituted for hemp and flax. Increased
acreage is devoted to small fruits and garden
products, now largely cultivated in the count)-.
The near-by city markets consume the supply of
fered. These and the orchard products are a prof
itable source of income to the farmer. In 1865
there were produced in the county 46,585 pounds
of hops, and in 1885, 250 acres were under culture,
with an estimate of 150,000 pounds. The value of
orchard products of all kinds, sold or consumed in
1879, was $138,881; of market products, $208,420.
Hay is one of the staple products, and for the
past thirty years has been the main crop relied
upon for prompt sales and largest returns. The
hay crop of 1864 was 74,133 tons, and in 1879 i*
equaled 95,137 tons. Albany County has a terri
tory extensive and varied enough; a soil suited to
almost every variety of grain and vegetable, fruit
and flower.
The grain crops in this county have been re
markably free from the ravages or destruction caused
by the pests which sometimes commit fearful waste.
The Hessian fly has never been troublesome.
About 1833 the grain-worm and weevil made their
appearance, and for several years were very de
structive to growing wheat. This compelled farm
ers to abandon this crop altogether. Other grain
was more largely cultivated ; more acres were
given to grass; more orchards were planted, For

the past twenty years there has been a steady in
crease in the acreage of wheat, with a fair yield. In
1864, the number of bushels harvested was 1,858,
and in 1879, 23> I28- AU the usual cereals are
grown in the county, and furnish a range for the
rotation system. Rye produced in 1864, 114,785
bushels; in 1879, 158,600 bushels. Oats in 1864,
259,694 bushels; in 1879, 787,529 bushels. Corn-
in 1864, 159,200 bushels; in 1879, 296,145
bushels. Barley in 1864, 10,017 bushels, and in
1879, 17,952 bushels. Buckwheat in 1879, 211,-
225 bushels. Potatoes as a farm crop in 1879
amounted to 495,402 bushels.
Farm implements and machinery of improved
invention are extensively in use.
The following items are taken from census re
turns for 1880: Value of all farms in the county,
including fences and buildings, $19,898,866. In
1865, the same were valued at $16,966,583. Value
of farming implements and machinery in 1865,
$797,486; in 1880, $1,047,171. Estimated value
of farm products, sold or consumed in the year
1880, $2,783,028.
The present condition of agriculture in the
county is encouraging, and the average crops that
contribute to the prosperity of the people will com
pare favorably to-day with other counties. Changes
have been necessary to meet the demands of suc
cessful farming. Productive new methods, experi
mental systems, scientific investigations, and im
proved machinery have been introduced to make
labor easier, to lessen cost, and to increase
returns. The better construction of farm buildings is an
evidence that improvement upon the past has been
made. Spacious mansions, beautiful farm-houses,
and well arranged cottages, with barns, stables,
sheds, and other necessary structures, all planned
and finished with architectural skill, attest the
owner's wealth and taste. His material prosperity
results from an intelligent knowledge of the best
methods for producing desired returns, which crown
the laborer and reward him for his toil and perse
verance. The key to unlock the golden treasure
hidden in the earth is "first and last, lots of
manure and lots of brains." The manure is the
easier to get and the sooner to give out
The following farm and agricultural statistics for
Albany County are taken from the tenth census of
the United States, 1880. -
Total number of farms, 3,325; number less than
3 acres, 2; number of 1,000 acres, 1; average
acres per farm, 92; value of farms and improve
ments, $19,898,866; value of machinery and im-

FARM ANIMALS IN ALBANY COUNTY.

329

plements, $1,047,170; value of farm products,
$2,783,028. Number of farms cultivated by owner, 2,635;
number rented for fixed money rental, 381; num
ber rented for share of products, 309.
Number of acres in county, 306,257; number of
acres improved, 254,521; number of acres unim
proved, 51,737; improved and covered by woods,
43.307- Barley, acres, 1,077; bushels, 17,952. Buck
wheat, acres, 14,774; bushels, 211,225. Corn,
acres, 11,845; bushels, 296,145. Oats, acres,
30,169; bushels, 787,529. Rye, acres, 14,710;

bushels, 158,600. Wheat, acres, 1,652; bushels,
23,128. Potatoes, bushels, 495,402. Hay, tons,
95,137- Whole number of horses, 9,469; whole number
of swine, 12,027; whole number of milch cows,
13,042; gallons of milk sold or sent to factory,
1,390,662; pounds of butter made, 1,154,969;
pounds of cheese, 6, 560; pounds of honey, 64, 267;
pounds of wool, 115,847.
Value of orchard products, $138,881; value of
grain products, $208,420. Barn-yard poultry,
number, 118,348; dozens of eggs produced,
627,374.

FARM ANIMALS IN ALBANY COUNTY.

AMONG the first to import into this county im
proved breeds of foreign cattle was Matthew
Bullock, an Englishman, who bought a farm in
now New Scotland, where he resided until his
death. The property remained in the possession
of his sons for a few years, and is now owned and
occupied by Robert Hurst Mr. Bullock was a suc
cessful farmer, and noted breeder of improved short
horn cattle, which became celebrated throughout
the United States. The introduction of this breed
of cattle into the county is of so much importance
that a special record is given, the facts of which
are obtained from authentic sources. Previous
to 1 8 1 5, an Englishman by the name of Cox, who
lived in Rensselaer County, imported from one of
the established herds of England, a bull, cow and
heifer which were pure short-horns, and are said
to have been bred by Robert Colling, of Brampton,
England, whose herd was sold in 18 10, one ol
his bulls bringing one thousand guineas. Mr.
Bullock purchased his stock of him in the year
181 5. Upon the death of Cox, his cattle and their
produce were purchased by Bullock, who bred
them with the bulls Comet and Nelson, im
ported by Matthew Bullock and John Waine, in
June, 1 82 1. The herd, in 1843, passed into the
hands of his sons, one of whom, William M., con
tinues to breed them with some degree of purity.
The descendants of this stock were remarkable
for their robust size and extraordinary milking
qualities, and for several years in succession, after
1 818, at fairs and cattle shows, Mr. Bullock was
awarded premiums for the best cattle exhibited.

About 1815, Jesse Buel, of Albany, purchased
of Mr. Cox an imported short-horn bull and two
cows, which were crossed with the above-named
Comet and Nelson.
In 1823, Gen. Stephen Van Rensselaer imported
from the herd of Mr. Champion, the bull Washing
ton and the cows Pansy and Conquest. Pansy
has many descendants, which were distributed
through many of the States.
In the year 1835 or 1836, Ezra P. Prentice, of
Albany, began breeding short-horns from the stock
of Van Rensselaer ; and from 1838 to 1841, he
made several importations of this breed from vari
ous herds in England. He bred his stock with
such skill and success that it was much sought
after by purchasers from other States and Canada.
In 1842, he added to his stock, by importation,
Ayrshire or Scotch cattle; and in 1837, he imported
a choice flock of Southdown and Cotswold sheep.
The encroachments of the city upon his Mount
Hope Farm compelled him to discontinue this
branch of farming, in which he took so much
interest. He disposed of his stock in 1850, the
sheep being purchased by Mr. Mclntyre.
About the year 1836, Erastus Corning, Sr., im
ported the cow Wildair, and a bull and heifer.
This cow has progeny mentioned in the American
Herd Book.
C. N. Bement, as early as 1835, had on his Three
Hills Farm, Durham short-horn registered cattle,
and in 1838 a cow and a bull of the Hereford
breed. Benjamin Tompkins commenced the
breeding of this variety of cattle about 1766, near

330

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Hereford, England. In 1819, his herd of fifty-two
head was sold at auction for .£4,673. They were
originally brown or reddish-brown, with white
faces, and came, probably, from Normandy. The
first importation to this country was made about
1817, by Henry Clay, of Kentucky. Massachusetts
farmers began to import them in 1824.'
The first direct importation of these cattle into
this county was by Wm. H. Sotham in 1840.
The Hon. Erastus Corning, of Albany, was inter
ested in this transaction. The Albany Cultivator
said: "One of the most important importations
of cattle and sheep that has ever taken place in
this county has been made by the Hon. Erastus
Corning, of this city, and Wm. H. Sotham, of
Jefferson County. It consists of twelve cows,
calves and heifers, and twenty-five sheep. The
cattle are the very best animals that could be
selected, and the expense of this importation was
nearly $8,000." At this time was imported the
celebrated stallion Sampson, a heavy draught
horse of fine proportion. The progeny of this
horse possessed marked features, which hav« been
transfused with native stock, and is yet counted
in the pedigree of his direct offspring.
Messrs. Corning & Sotham continued together
in breeding Herefords until July, 1847, when the
firm was dissolved, and Mr. Sotham took a portion
of the herd and removed to Black Rock. Mr.
Corning retained a portion, and his son, Erastus
Corning, Jr., maintains the reputation of the her,d
by occasional importations. In 1853, he imported
three fine Herefords, a bull and two cows, selected
in England especially for him, from Lord Berwick's
prize stock. Stock from this choice herd are in
demand, and are sold to all parts of the United
States and Canada.
A strain of Durham or short-horn cattle called
"Cream Pots," originated with Col. Jacques, by
a cross with Ccelebs and Flora, in 181 9; and for
several years Hon. Wm. H. Slingerland has been
a successful breeder of this choice stock, celebrated
for their remarkable milking qualities as well as
butter makers. Jenny Lind, a cream-pot cow,
the property of Mr. Slingerland, in 1859 was
awarded the first prize at the State Agricultural
Fair as the best butter and milk cow exhibited.
Jenny Lind, in her prime, gave thirty-six quarts
of milk a day.
The first record of the Devon breed in this
county, was a bull and cow, the property of Caleb
N. Bement, of the Three Hills Farm, as early
as 1839. Since that time the breed has been in
troduced by several practical farmers, and has pro

duced satisfactory results. The largest breeder
and owner of this fine stock in the^county is
Captain Joseph Hilton, whose herd contains some
of the choicest specimens in theState. Mr. Hilton
is a very successful breeder, and is usually awarded
first and second prizes for herds or single animals.
His bull, Prince of Wales, has been the winner
of first prizes at State Fairs for several years. This
animal stands at the head of the best herd of
prize Devons, and is considered the finest Devon
bull in America.
The origin of the Jersey cattle is quite obscure.
They probably came first from Normandy and
Brittany with the early settlers, and thence to the
Channel Islands, where they developed character
istics that are modified to a remarkable degree from
those on the mainland.
The Channel Islands are English possessions, and
are composed of Guernsey, Aldernej', Jersey and
Sark. Within the past 30 or 40 years, efforts have
been made among breeders of dairy cattle to develop
a greater degree of docility of disposition with
continuous milking tendency and extreme richness
in butter qualities. Cattle from the Channel
Islands were selected for this purpose by parties in
England. As early as 1817, Mr. Richard Morris,
of Philadelphia, describes "a cow of the Alder-
ney breed " imported by Mr. Wurts. Early im
portations from these islands were usually shipped
from a port in Alderney; hence the common name
of "Alderney." This breed was imported to
some extent into the United States by Mr. John
A. Taintor, of Hartford, Conn., about the year
1850, and has been a favorite with special regard
to their rich milking qualities, possessing many of
the characteristics of the cattle from Jersey.
The Jersey cow is a product of the Island of
Jersey. Its genial climate has produced a small,
docile, useful and beautiful domestic animal.
These fine qualities are said to be greatly due to
the constant care and presence of women; for in
Jersey the women have charge of the cattle.
The primary object in breeding the Jersey cow
is for family use and butter dairies. This animal
is simply a machine for first-class milk and butter.
She produces the richest of milk, from which butter
can be made of superior flavor, finer texture and
richer gold color than any other. It also com
mands higher prices in the market. The im
portations made about the year 1850, by farm
ers near Hartford, Conn., were the foundation
stock, which was largely distributed in several
States. Numerous importations have been made
since then. The finest herd of registered Jerseys

FARM ANIMALS IN ALBANY COUNTY.

331

in this county is the property of Erastus Corn
ing, collected from his own importations and
selected with great judgment. Other parties in the
county who have imported animals of this stock,
are E. J. Larabee, John McEwen, G. E. Waring
and L. S. Hardin.
In 1840, an importation of Guernseys was made
by Nicholas Biddle, of fine animals from the Island
of Guernsey. Since then several importations have
been made, and the cattle have been received with
favor and are considered but little inferior to the
best Jerseys, which they resemble in some points.
There are in the county some fine animals.
Those belonging to the herd of John S. Perry
have been selected with great care from direct im
portations or progeny of imported stock.
The first importations into Massachusetts of the
Dutch Holstein-Friesian, were made as early as
1852. In May 1885, the breeders and importers
of Dutch cattle adopted the name of "Holstein-
Friesian " as their title.
Mr. C. L. G. Blesssing is the largest and most
extensive breeder and importer of Dutch cattle in
the county. In 1881, he was the owner of an im
ported cow ; in 1882, he imported six head of Frie-
sian cattle ; and in 1884, he made a successful
importation of fifty-one head, selected by himself
from the best herds of Holland. Schuyler Brothers,
E. Sweet, John Gardner, Martin J. Blessing, and a
"Tewothers of this county, have individual animals
or small herds of choice and blooded stock, which,
since their recent introduction, have acquired a high
reputation for their many excellent qualities.
The improvement in neat cattle has been quite
successful. There is scarcely a distinguished herd of
short-horns, Devons, or Herefords in England, Ayr-
shires in Scotland, or the more recent introduction
of Jerseys, Alderneys and Guernseys, or of the Hol
stein-Friesian from Holland, that has not its repre
sentative in this county. The grades and crosses have
made a decided impression upon the general utility
and produce of this class of animals, which return
thefarmergreatprofitsinmilk, butter and beef. The
number of milch cows in the county in the year
1820, was 8,995. In 1865, cows, 10,615 ; heifers,
9,388 ; oxen, 792. In 1875, cows, 11,951; heifers,
4,029 ; oxen, 964. In 1880, cows, 13,042 ; heif
ers, 7,314; oxen, 515. Number of pounds of
butter made in 1879, i,i54,969; of cheese, 6, 560.
Number of gallons of milk sold or taken to cheese
factories, 1,390,663.
To write up fully the subject of horse-raising and
breeds introduced in the county for the past eighty

years, would require more time and space than
can be given in these pages. Although a subject
of much interest, it has received, until recently, but
little consideration compared with other advanced
farming industries from which success has resulted.
The earliest historic locations to which we can
trace back the modern horse on this continent,
are found in New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah.
No horses, either wild or domestic, existed on this
continent at the time of the Spanish conquest of
Mexico in 1556 ; but those introduced at that
time escaped, and multiplied rapidly on the plains
of South America and Texas. In time they spread
to the Western prairies.
The several breeds that were early found in this
county came from thorough-bred stock, and the
points of excellence they possessed were adapted
to the requirements of that period. Of this class
were the stallions Eclipse, Goldfinder, Blucher,
Mambrino, Albion, Diomede, Messenger, and
others. The Messenger stock, through its de
scendants, has in a wonderful manner perpetuated
the endurance and the quality of speed that was
characteristic of its ancestors.
Later, the Morgan, Black Hawk, Hambletonian,
and Henry Clay stock, introduced a strain of blood
into previously well-bred animals, and this infusion
has had a decided and valuable influence in pro
ducing a class of horses possessing superior action
as coach and roadsters. Many of them have rec
ords of great trotting speed.
In 1840, Messrs. Corning & Latham imported
into this county, from England, the draught-horse
Sampson, which, with the native mares, produced
a class of horses possessing qualities desirable in
a horse for farm work, and enhanced his market
value as a draught-horse.
At the present time the Percheron, Norman and
Clydesdale are being introduced and bred with
native mares, and the experiment is attended with
fair results The Percheron is a pattern of strength,
and impresses this character upon his progeny. As
a race they are remarkably hardy, of excellent tem
per, docile, of great endurance, with a disposition
and willingness to work. The horse that the
farmer needs is one that can do his work with ease
on the farm, be active enough for the road and
market, with style and action to command pur
chasers. One of the reasons why the breeding of horses
as an industry is very much depressed in this
county is, that farmers, for several years past, have
largely bred from fancy or trotting stock without
regard to size, figure, usefulness or local require^

332

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ments. The number of horses in the county in
1820 was 8,893; in 1865, 10,529; in 1875,
8,963 ; in 1880, 9,469.
Sheep husbandry supplies two of the great ne
cessities of life— warm clothing and nutritious
food. When the slopes and hill-sides of our county
were first cleared, they furnished natural pasturage
which the farmer stocked with sheep, and from
which he realized a large return for his capital and
labor. They required herding at night as a pro
tection from the ravages of wild beasts, then com
mon in the forests.
For many years, the farmers of this county gave
considerable attention to this branch of industry —
almost every farm had more or less sheep. But
many have latterly abandoned sheep husbandry
to devote their lands to greater breadth of grain
crops, potatoes and fruit. After hay became a
staple commodity for transportation, many a farm
er found greater profit in growing hay ; the sheep
pastures were generally abandoned and converted
into meadows.
The destruction of many sheep by the unrestrict
ed control of dogs, was a great detriment to this
special interest, and many have abandoned the
business from this cause alone. In some of the
towns containing hill-side or rough lands, small
flocks are yet to be found.
As early as 1838-40, some of the improved
English stock were introduced, and a few farmers
now have small flocks. The. varieties of improved
.breeds are fairly represented in the county. Yet,
it is a fact, that sheep husbandry has steadily de
creased for the past thirty or more years, and it is
evident that the business of wool-growing has
ceased to be a profitable branch of general farming
in this county. Number of sheep in the county in
1820, 52,613; in 1865, 33,543; in 1875, 18,120;
in 1880, 24,393. The clip of wool for 1880 equaled
115,847 pounds.
Improvement marks swine-raising in this county.
The days when the only care that hogs received was
a rustic ornament about their necks and a horse

shoe nail twisted in their nose, have passed away.
When not confined in filthy pens, they ranged the
highways and trespassed on their neighbors, or
were turned in autumn into the woods or weedy
pastures to seek their own living.
The long-eared, slab-sided and lank hog with
protruding nose, is a relic of the past. As early
as 1832, S. Hawes, who came from England and
settled about three miles west of Albany, brought
Berkshire hogs and New Leicester and Southdown
sheep. But the credit for the first introduction of
Berkshire hogs belongs to Thomas Hillhouse,
who, in 1824, at the Albany County Fair and
Cattle Show, exhibited this improved breed. After
Hillhouse, Christopher Dunn and C. N. Bement,
in 1835, were engaged in breeding Berkshires and
improved China hogs from New Jersey stock.
There is now a fair exhibit of all the different im
proved breeds in the county, including fine speci
mens of Berkshires, Chester Whites, Cheshires,
China Reds, Poland, Essex, Suffolks and York
shires. The number of swine in the county
in 1865 was 11,450; in 1875, 8,814; in 1880,
12,027. Poultry-raising and the production of eggs is an
industry that receives great attention. Almost
every farm has its brood of hens, from which a
fair profit is realized for a small outlay. With ju
dicious management and proper selection of stock,
this branch should be a source of pleasure as well
as gain. Since 1 8 50, the improved varieties have
largely increased, and the introduction of these,
with crosses, have produced many desirable quali
ties for both market-fowls and eggs. Beside barn
yard fowls, many farmers profitably raise turkeys,
geese and ducks. Among the wonders of the age
is the invention and machinery for artificial hatch
ing, brooding and raising of poultry, which is rap
idly improving and becoming a special industry.
Not a few of these incubators are already in opera
tion both in the city and county towns. The
census report of 1880 gives 118,348 as the number
of barn-yard or domestic poultry, and the produc
tion of eggs, 627,374 dozen.

HORTICULTURE, FLORICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL LITERATURE. 333

HORTICULTURE, FLORICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL
LITERATURE IN ALBANY COUNTY.

SOLOMON SOUTHWICK came from Rhode
O Island to Albany in 1792; became connected
with The Albany Register, and in 1808, its pro
prietor. In 1819, he conducted The Ploughbqy,
the first agricultural paper published in the county,
under the nom de plume of Henry Homespun.
The Farmers' , Mechanics' and Workingmens Ad
vocate, daily, was started in 1830 by McPherson &
McKercher, and the next year it appeared as The
Daily Freeman's Advocate and Farmers', Mechanics'
and Workingmens Champion, and was published for
a year or two.
The American Quarterly Hemp Magazine was com
menced in 1833 and continued two years.
The Silk-worm, monthly, was commenced in
1835, published two years, then changed to The Silk
worm and Sugar Manual; discontinued in 1838.
The Cultivator, monthly, was established in 1834,
by Jesse Buel, who came to Albany from Connec
ticut in 18 1 3; and soon after established The
Albany Argus, his interest in which he sold in 1820,
and purchased a farm of eighty-five acres on the
sand barrens west of Albany. Here he was very
successful in experimental and improved husband
ry, proving that these sand lands, before considered
as worthless, could be made highly productive, and
the returns made remunerative. He gave the public
the benefit of his labors through the columns of
The Cultivator. The system he adopted was heavy
manuring, under-draining, thorough tillage, clover
seeding, root crops, and fallow crops for naked
fallow. This was his practical farming. He was
also an advocate for improved farm stock, of
which he possessed many fine specimens. He also
established, in 1838, the first nursery of fruit trees
in the county, with James Wilson as partner. In
this nursery were grown millions of Morus multi-
caulis trees. At this time the country was in a
fever and excitement over the silk-worm humbug.
Mr. Buel was a member of several agricultural so
cieties in different States and foreign countries; was
several times the honored President of the State
Agricultural Society. In 1839, he was President of
the Horticultural Society of the Valley of the Hud
son; also of the Albany County Horticultural So
ciety. His writings comprise his many addresses

on agricultural subjects, six volumes of The Culti
vator; "The Farmers' Instructor;" and "Farmers'
Champion." Connected with him in conducting
The Cultivator were J. P. Beekman and J. D. Was
son. Th§ Cultivator was,, subsequently published by
Luther Tucker, W. Gaylord, associate editor, in
November, 1839. January, 1840, The Genessee
Farmer was consolidated with The Cultivator, and
conducted by L. Tucker & Son.
The Country Gentleman was started at Albany,
January, 1853, by J. J. Thomas and L. & L. H.
Tucker. It was afterward published by L. Tucker
& Son, and, in January, 1866, was united with The
Cultivator. Since the death of Luther Tucker in
1873, The Country Gentleman has been conducted by
his sons, Luther H. & Gilbert M. Tucker, with dis
tinguished ability and devotion to the interests of
progressive .agriculture, diffusing practical knowl
edge as to the best methods. Its circulation is very
large. The American Quarterly fournal of Agriculture
and Science was commenced in January, 1845, by
Dr. E. Emmons and A. T. Prince. In 1846, it was
changed to a monthly and published by E. Em
mons and A. Osborn. In 1848, it was sold to
Caleb N. Bement, and discontinued in December
of the same year.
The Horticulturist and fournal of Rural Art and
Rural Taste was commenced in July, 1840; pub
lished by Luther Tucker, and edited by A. J.
Downing. In 1854, it was removed to Rochester;
in 1855, was published in Philadelphia by R. P.
Smith; and in 1858, brought to New York and pub
lished by C. M. Saxton, with J. J. Smith, editor.
The fournal of the New York State Agricultural
Society was commenced in 1850, and published an
nually. Forest, Forge and Farm started in June, 1883;
H. S. Quackenbush, editor, Tweddle Building.
The Poultry Monthly commenced in November,
1879; published by the Ferris Publishing Com
pany, at 481 Broadway.
Mount Hope Farm, since 1834, has been the
property of Ezra P, Prentice, succeeded by his son.

334

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The plot was originally owned by Maria, wife of
Philip Van Rensselaer, and by her conveyed to her
daughter, Harriet, wife of General Solomon Van
Rensselaer, in 1805. It was used, in 1827, as a sum
mer resort. After Mr. Prentice got possession, he
erected new buildings and otherwise improved the
premises and stocked them. He was an eminent
stock-breeder as well as practical farmer. His 102
acres of improved land supported fifty head of cat
tle, six horses, fifteen to twenty swine, and a flock
of sheep. Adjoining Mr. Prentice on the south,
were Joel & John F. Rathbone's premises, upon
which attractive improvements were madeini835,
the grounds laidjDut and beautified, green-houses
erected, and other buildings constructed with cul
tivated taste. This property is now owned by the
Catholics, upon which is the College of the Sacred
Heart. Other men in this county who deserve special
mention for their intelligent and practical ex
periments in advancing the best interests of agri
cultural pursuits, at this period, are Christopher
Proctor, Christopher Dunn, C. N. Bement, Joel
B. Nott, the Watervliet Shakers, and some others.
These men were ever ready to communicate
their individual experience that others might be
benefited, and their influence was a force in com
munity exerted to obtain better results from given
methods. The practical effects resulting from the
teaching of these men can be measured only by the
value that has been realized in the development
and formation of better methods with increased
production, establishing a system of higher agricul
ture. They introduced a superior grade qf neat
cattle and farm stock in general. Experience is a
teacher, and ihey are wise who follow its teachings.
The farmers of this county are intelligent as a
class ; many of them are foremost in adopting and
applying new methods with satisfactory results.
Many farmers have engaged in growing garden
vegetables, and other staple products included in
" truck-farming," denominated horticulture. A few
acres are devoted to this branch, from which is
realized a fair profit. The small farms near the
city are almost wholly cultivated in this way.
Among the men who are largely engaged in truck-
farming may be mentioned Messrs. C. V. Baker &
Son, at Fair View Farm ; James Hendrick, of
Font Grove ; E. Van Allen, and many others.
The several islands and river flats of the Hudson
are almost exclusively planted with cabbages, of
which many thousands are grown.
The earliest nursery established in the county
was by Bull & Wilson, 1839. Wilson, Thorburn

& Teller had nurseries about 1848. George A.
Legget and Erastus Corning, in Bethlehem; James
McElroy and Markle Brothers, of New Scotland;
and James Hendrick, of Font Grove, have been
prominent nurserymen. At the present time there
are no nurseries devoted wholly to fruit trees and
small fruits ; a few of the florists cultivate a limited
stock in connection with their green-houses and
shrubbery culture.
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the first
green-house in Albany about 1824, which at that
date was the only green-house this side of New
York City. Along the river were those of Dr.
Hoosick, near that time. James Wilson was gar
dener for the Patroon. It was in these houses that
the century plant — Agave Americana, or aloe —
bloomed in 1842. The plants and stock of these
houses were ultimately disposed of to different
parties and the buildings taken down. The grape-
house is now doing service on the farm of James
Hendrick. James Wilson established his green-houses with
small fruits and trees in 1835, on what was then a
waste place in this city, at the corner of South Knox
and Morris streets. His grounds were about three
acres, on a sloping hill-side ; this was carefully
cultivated and planted with nursery stock and flow
ering shrubs. Mr. Wilson was the originator of
the famous "Wilson strawberry." He died in
1855. His widow and son continued the business
until 1866, when it passed into the hands of
John Sprague, then of Fredk. J. Welch, and,
about 1870, of Thomas Davidson, the present pro
prietor. Mr. Davidson has six green-houses and
an extensive collection of plants.
At Kenwood, the Rathbones built green-houses
in 1837. After the property changed owners, many ¦
of the choicest plants were taken to the city, where
they now beautify and ornament the private con
servatory of General Rathbone.
Louis Menand located, in 1842, upon the Troy
road and established his present green-houses and
nursery. He has about ten acres of land, upon
which are twelve green-houses containing m&ny
rare and valuable plants, with a large stock of
flowering and ornamental shrubbery and fruit trees.
The whole plot and surroundings are attractive and
beautiful for situation. L. Menand & Sons also
conduct green-houses near the rural cemetery.
Erastus Corning, on his farm below Kenwood,
on the River road, erected a green-house in 1845.
Since that date extensive improvements have been
made, grading, filling and planting the inclosure

THE NEW YORK STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

335

of ten acres with native and foreign trees, many of
which are very ornamental, rare and valuable.
This private park contains fourteen extensive green
houses connected with gardeners' cottages. The
grounds in summer are very delightful. The
houses contain many rare and beautiful tropical
and other exotic plants. The collection of orchids
is the most extensive of any green-houses in this
country; probably the finest in the world. Mr.
Wm. Gray is superintendent and gardener. Ta-
wass-a-gun-shee, is the Indian name given to
these green-houses, meaning a place of much
water. John Dingwall, in 1847, located and erected
green-houses upon eight acres of land on the Troy
road, opposite the Van Rensselaer mansion
grounds, where he has six green-houses well-
stocked with a fine collection of valuable plants.
Nursery stock is cultivated in the open spaces.
This garden occupies the ground made memorable
as the spot upon which Daniel Webster delivered
his great Albany speech in the Harrison campaign
of 1840, heard by 10,000 listeners.
Louis Gloeckner has green-houses and shrub
bery at the rural cemetery for cut flowers, plants
and other decorative supplies.
P. G. Pfordt's Sons conduct green-houses in the
City of Albany, on North Broadway, for the culti
vation and sale of plants and flowers. These were
formerly located on the Shaker road, north of West

Albany, and were conducted by Joseph G. Pfordt,
as nurseryman, florist and farmer.
A. F. CHATFiELn, florist and proprietor of Ex
otic Green-houses, is located at 66 Chestnut street,
Albany City. Established in 1858.
James Hendrick, of Font Grove, at Slinger-
lands, established extensive green-houses in 1869.
He, for a time also engaged in the cultivation of
fruit trees and nursery stock. He has twenty-one
green-houses, 15 x 100 feet, which occupy, with
out-door culture, about six acres, for, cut flowers
and plants to supply his trade. He has an office
at 36 North Pearl Street, Albany.
Whittle Brothers erected extensive green
houses on a plat of five acres on Madison avenue,
Albany, in 1884. Here are grown plants and
ornamental shrubbery in great variety, for cut
flowers, bouquets and the trade. Connected with
these green-houses is a store in Tweddle Building.
Washington Park, Albany, has extensive green
houses for cultivating plants and shrubbery,
under the care of Matthew Fink, superintendent.
These were built in 1883, upon a portion of the
Alms-house property, on the New Scotland plank
road and near the Lexington avenue entrance to
the park.
A. J. Binley, No. 323 Clinton avenue, first lo
cated on First street in 1880, has a green-house
and lot for the cultivation and sale of plants and
flowers.

THE NEW YORK STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

WAS organized by a few public-spirited men,
assembled in Albany in the year 1832 from
different parts of the State. A constitution was
adopted and the following officers elected: Le Ray
De Chaumont, President: Ambrose Spencer, Jacob
Norris, Edward P. Livingston, Robert R. Rose,
Vice-Presidents; Philip S. Van Rensselaer, Record
ing Secretary; Jesse Buel, Corresponding Secretary;
Charles R. Webster, Treasurer; Henry W. Del
avan, Horatio Hickox, John Townsend, Executive
Committee. The society held a cattle show and
fair the next year; but the want of funds prevented
a continuance of fairs. The charter was granted
for twenty years. It was renewed in 1842. An
act passed by the Legislature for the encourage
ment of agriculture, appropriating $8,000 for five

years, to be divided among the societies, gave the
friends of agriculture renewed courage. The soci
ety was reorganized in 1841, with Joel B. Nott, of
Bethlehem, as President. The first fair was held
the same year at Syracuse, and in Albany the next
year. Since that date the society has held fairs and
agricultural exhibitions, as well as floricultural and
mechanical displays, at Albany in the following
years: 18-50, 1859, 1871, 1873, 1876, 1880 and
1885. The annual fairs, with a change of location each
year, have become one of the institutions of the
State; and ther- throngs of people who annually
flock to its exhibition grounds from all classes and
ranks of society, give very gratifying evidence of
high public appreciation.

336

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The society meets annually at its rooms in Albany
and has a winter exhibition of agricultural and
dairy products. Connected with this State society is
the interesting Agricultural Museum, which oc
cupies rooms in the building on State street, corner
of Lodge, in which are the offices of the society and
special accommodations for its extensive depart
ments. On the 19th of November, 1784, an an
nual fair for vending cattle was held in Albany'.
Chancellor Livingston was a farmer of intelligence.
He is credited with introducing gypsum as a fertil
izer as early as 1789.

In 1790, a Society was instituted for the Pro
motion of Agriculture, Arts and Manufactures.
Among its active members were Chancellor Liv
ingston, Simeon De Witt and Ezra L'Hommedieu.
The society continued its labors and issued its
publications until 1804, when it was merged into
the Society for the Promotion of the Useful Arts.
It subsequently was merged in the Albany In
stitute. The first anniversary address was delivered be
fore the society, January, 1792, by the learned
Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell.

ALBANY COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

IN 1818, an Albany County Agricultural Society
existed, which received $350 from the State,
and held three annual fairs. The first annual ex
hibition of the Albany and Rensselaer Horticul
tural Society was held in the Geological Rooms,
Albany, September, 1848. Fairs and exhibitions
followed in 1849 and 1850. The town of Coey
mans organized an Agricultural Society in 185 1,
with James W. Jolley, President. This was after
ward merged into the County Society.
Thursday, May 14, 1 853, a meeting was held in the
rooms of the State Agricultural Society at Albany
for the purpose of organizing an agricultural soci
ety for the County of Albany. At this meeting
James W. Jolley, of Coeymans, was called to the
chair, and Joseph Warren, of Albany, acted as
Secretary. After the usual preliminary discussion,
the organization was effected by the election of the
following officers : President, James W. Jolley ;
Treasurer, E. E. Piatt ; Secretary, Joseph Warren ;
with a Vice-President for each town.
The first annual fair of this society was held at
Bethlehem Centre, October 4, 5 and 6, 1853. The
receipts were $900. The fair grounds were lo
cated too far from the city, with no conveniences
for reaching them.
The second annual fair took place on the Wash
ington Parade Grounds in November, 1854.
1855. — The third annual fair was held on
Washington Parade Grounds, September 25, 26
and 27.
January 2, 1856, the society was reorganized,
with Levi Shaw, President ; Richard Kimmey,
Vice-President ; Charles R. Wooley, Secretary ; L.
G. Ten Eyck, Treasurer.

1856. — The fourth annual fair was held on
Washington Parade Grounds, September 23, 24
and 25.
1857. — Joseph Hilton, President. Fair was
held in Albany in October.
1858. — William Hurst, President. Fair held on
Washington Parade Grounds, September 21, 22,
23, 24.
1859 and i860. — William Hurst, President.
Fair held at Albany, September 18, 19, 20, 21.
1 86 1. — Wm. Hurst, President. No fair this
year. 1862. —William Tuttie, President.
May 8, 1862, was organized the Town Union
Agricultural Association of the County of Albany.
The following officers were elected: President,
Jurian Winne; Vice-President, James W. Jolley;
Treasurer, Wm. H. Slingerland; Secretary, Samuel
C. Bradt
June 7, 1862, The Town Union Agricultural
Association, at a special meeting, changed its title
to Albany County Agricultural Society. Its organ
ization was made to conform to the Act of April
13, 1855. The officers chosen were: President,
Jurian Winne; Vice-President, James W. Jolley;
Treasurer, Wm. H. Slingerland; Secretary, Samuel
C. Bradt. No fair held this year.
1863. — Jurian Winne, President Fair held on
Washington Parade Grounds, September 29, 30
and October 1 and 2. Receipts, $4,000.
1864. — Leonard G. Ten Eyck, President. Oc
tober 4, 5, 6 and 7. Fair held on Parade Grounds.
1865. — Henry Callahan, President Albany and
Rensselaer Counties jointly held a fair on Island
Park, September 19, 20, 21 and 22.

THE SHAKERS OF ALBANY COUNTY.

337

1866. — Jacob Messenger, President. Fair held
last week in September.
1867. — The Albany City and County Agricul
tural and Industrial Societies held a fair and exhi
bition in Albany in September.
1869. — Joseph Hilton, President. The above
societies held their fair and exhibition at Albany
the first week in October.
1 871. — William Ramsay, President; D. V. S.
Raynsford, Treasurer; Thomas Bagley, Superin
tendent; John H. Farrell, Secretary. August 13 th
of this year the society was organized as a stock
company. A fair was held at Hurstville in Octo
ber. The weather was rainy and unfavorable,
and financially it was a failure, being remote
from the city and attended with many incon
veniences. 1872. — -George Tweddle, President. No fair.
1873. — December 2d, the Albany County Society
held a meeting to elect officers.
1873. — In trie month of June the Albany Agri
cultural and Art Association was organized; Presi
dent, Thomas W. Olcott; Vice-President, Maurice
E. Viele; Treasurer, Wm. H. Haskell; Secretary,
Volkert P. Douw.
The society purchased about forty-four acres
of land four miles north of the city, between

the Watervliet turnpike and horse railway on the
east, and the Albany and Saratoga Railroad on the
west. This location was adapted to the purposes
intended by the society as permanent exhibition
grounds, with all the necessary buildings, ma
chinery and other facilities to render them attract
ive, convenient and comfortable for general and
special purposes.
The ground was planned by John Bogart, who
superintended the grading, road-making, plant
ing trees and other improvements. The soci
ety erected buildings, sheds, machinery depart
ments, offices and other structures, at a cost of
$30,000. The ground was inclosed by a close
fence. On the west, platforms were erected for
railroad conveniences. The New York State Agri
cultural Society held their fair on these grounds
after completion of buildings in 1873.
1874. — Thomas W. Olcott, President. This so
ciety, with the Albany County Society, held a joint
fair on these grounds September 22, 23, 24, 25.
Volkert P. Douw, Superintendent.
The last officers elected for Albany County Agri
cultural Society were George Tweddle, President;
John H. Farrell, Secretary; D. V. S. Raynsford,
Treasurer. The society has held no fairs since
1874.

THE SHAKERS OF ALBANY COUNTY.

THE United Society of Believers, called Shakers,
reside in the township of Watervliet, and are
located at Shaker Post-office, six miles north of
Albany. The post-office was established in 1871.
This settlement was founded as a religious and
secular society in the year 1775, by Ann Lee,
born in Manchester, England, in 1736. She
came to America when she was 38 years old,
with a few of her followers.
The society now has four families, called the
Church family, the North family, the West family
and the South family, all numbering about 300
souls. Mother Ann, as she was called, died Sep
tember 8, 1784, and is buried in the Shaker
cemetery, in a plain plat of inclosed ground, with
nothing to mark the spot save a simple slab of
white marble inscribed with the name of the dead.
Our article is compiled from verbal statements
and from a volume prepared by Calvin Green
and Seth Y. Wells. The doctrine and faith
13

of this society are fully treated in this book
as those which Mother Ann taught. They are sub
stantially as follows : The second appearing of
Christ in person; that all will become Christ's when
fitted by self-denial; that Jesus became the Christ
at His baptism; the community of all temporal
things and effects; a life of consecrated celibacy;
non-resistance and freedom from the strifes of war;
and non-interference with political parties, with no
distinction of government.
The society owns about 3,000 acres of land in
different parts of the town, which is in a good
state of cultivation, and upon which productive
crops of grass, grain, broom corn, vegetables and
fruit are grown. About 100 head of neat cattle
furnish the several families with the necessary dairy
supplies, and 50 horses are required for labor on
the farms, trucking and marketing. The pursuits
of the people are varied according to the wants of
the society and the demands of trade, Some are

338

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

engaged in agriculture, some in horticulture, and
some in the mechanical arts. Still others are en
gaged in canning fruit and vegetables, while the
saw-mill, broom factory and several other shops
give employment to many busy hands.
The domestic and household affairs are presided
over by faithful superintendents, assisted by the
necessary help. Order, system, neatness and punc
tuality prevail in every department.
Their dwellings, offices, factories, shops, store
houses and farm-buildings of every description are
all substantial, plain structures, built for use, not
ornament, containing all the necessary improve
ments of modern invention that skill can devise for
the convenience of man and the comfort of
domestic animals. The mechanical work in its
several branches is performed by members of the
society, many of whom are skilled workmen.
Water and steam power are used for manufacturing
purposes. During the season of general admission
to their Sabbath worship, great crowds from the
surrounding country visit them, mostly to hear their
impressive singing and witness their peculiar danc
ing. Their present church edifice is a large plain
building, having a seating capacity for 1,000 persons.
In their moral training they are carefully taught
to regard the principles of honesty, punctuality and
uprightness in all their conduct; to keep a con
science void of offense towards God and all men ;
to be neat, cleanly and industrious; to observe the
rules of prudence, temperance and chastity; to
subdue all feelings of selfishness and hatred; to let
the law of kindness, love and charity govern all
their feelings towards each other; to shun contention
and strife; careful neither to give nor take offense; to
conduct themseves with civility, decency and good
order before all people; to promote the happiness
of each other; and to live in gospel purity, peace,
union, and social harmony. These are among
those virtuous principles which actuate the people
of the United Society in all their temporal concerns,
and which tend greatly to promote the health and
prosperity of the society, and insure the blessings
of divine providence upon all their labors.
A well conducted monthly, called the Shaker
Manifesto, is published in this community, edited
by Rev. G. A. Lomas. All visitors, if courteous
themselves, are treated with marked attention and
courtesy. The business relations of these people
with merchants, and all others who have dealings
with them, are those of well-established integrity
and trust.
The history of this interesting society in its
origin is so peculiar, and so largely identified with

our county, that we give it more in detail. Mother
Ann, while in England, was often shamefully
abused and a number of times imprisoned upon
various charges brought by her enemies ; after a
time her people were allowed to enjoy their faith
in peace, but their public testimony ceased in
England about a year before they embarked for
America. Mother Ann was, by a special revelation, direct
ed to repair to America, and this revelation was
communicated to the society, which was confirmed
by signs, visions and manifestations to many of the
members, who were given permission to accompany
her. Accordingly, those who became the com
panions of Mother Ann in her voyage to America,
and professedly members of her society, were
Abraham Stanley, her husband, William Lee, her
brother, James Whittaker, John Hocknell, Richard
Hocknell, James Shepherd, Mary Partington and
Nancy Lee.
Having settled their affairs, they embarked at
Liverpool on board the ship Mariah, Captain Smith,
of New York, and sailed on the 19th of May, 1774.
After enduring the storms and dangers of the sea in
an old leaky ship, they arrived safely in New York
on the 6th of August following.
After Mother Ann and her little family arrived in
this country, they passed through many scenes of
difficulty of a temporal nature. Being strangers in
the land and without any means of subsistence,
they were obliged to seek employment where they
could find it, and at the same time arrange plans
for their future residence. Accordingly, William
Lee and John Hocknell went up the river and con
tracted for a lot of land in the County of Albany.
Mother Ann, her brother William, and the others
went to Albany, where they found employment.
But she did not reside there permanently. In the
beginning of the autumn of 1775 Abraham Stanley
was taken sick, and, after his recovery, and before
he was fully able to labor, he began to associate
with the wicked and lewd, and lost all sense of
religion. Unwilling to forsake his wicked ways,
the relation between Mother Ann and her hus
band ceased. John Hocknell, with his family, re
turned from England December 25, 1775, and
met Mother Ann in New York, where they re
mained until February following, and then went
on to Albany by land. Having brought their
effects from New York after the opening of the
river, their next object was to prepare for a settle
ment in the wilderness by clearing their land,
erecting suitable buildings and making other nec
essary provisions, which they accomplished in the

THE SHAKERS OF ALBANY COUNTY.

339

course of the summer, and in the month of Sep
tember, 1776, they took up their residence in the
woods of what is now Watervliet, about six
miles northwest of Albany City. These lands were
in the Van Rensselaer manor and were leased from
the Patroon on the usual terms and conditions, and
were mostly the light sandy plains of the vicinity.
Here, in a wilderness state, they began with zeal
and industry, through sufferings, to prepare the
way for a permanent settlement. Here they held
their meetings for three years and a half, until the
way was opened for giving their testimony to the
world in the spring of 1 780.
During this year the society was encouraged in
its work by additions to their numbers; new con
verts were added, and their meetings were largely
attended by persons from a distance, notably from
New Lebanon. From various parts of the country
many embraced the faith of the society. This new
sect and their religion were looked upon by the
world as fanatical. The country being at war,
these people were accused of being enemies to
freedom. The charge of treason was publicly made
against them. In consequence of these accusa
tions, Mother Ann and a number of the leading
characters were, in the month of July, imprisoned
in Albany. This naturally excited great sympathy,
and as they appeared an inoffensive people, many
from various quarters visited them and were soon
convinced not only of their innocence, but of the
truth of their testimony.
Their enemies were highly offended when they
saw their object defeated, and concluded that by
separating Mother Ann from her followers, the so
ciety would come to an end. They sent her down
the river about the middle of August, with a view
to banish her to the British army, then in New
York; but not being able to accomplish their ob
ject she was landed at Poughkeepsie, and impris
oned in the jail of that town.
About the 20th December following, those who
had been confined at Albany for five months were
released without trial. They immediately visited
Mother Ann at Poughkeepsie, and through their
intercession with Governor George Clinton, she
was released about the last of December. Thus
ended the only imprisonment they suffered in
America. On May 3, 1781, Mother Ann, with some
of her followers, set out on a visit to Harvard,
in Massachussetts. But here, as usual, she met
enemies, and persecution was at once set in mo
tion. Every evil report and every wicked device
were called forth to render them odious in the eyes

of the people. The usual charges of being enemies
to the country, of living in debauchery and prac
ticing witchcraft were alleged against them.
In consequence of these accusations they
suffered much personal abuse, and were shame
fully and cruelly treated. These persecutions, how
ever, like the imprisonment at Albany, served only
to accelerate the means of extending the testimony,
which greatly increased the number of believers.
About the beginning of July, 1783, they left Har
vard to return westward, and on their journey
visited the other societies. Leaving New Lebanon
on the 4th September, they returned to Water
vliet, having been absent two years and three
months. In July, 1784, the society was called to sustain a
severe trial in the death of Elder William Lee.
This event was soon followed by another, in the
loss of the visible presence and protection of their
dearly beloved Mother. Being herself sensible
that her time was short, she often reminded the
people of it and exhorted them to faithfulness and
perseverance in the way of God. Having finished
her work on earth, she was called to bid adieu to
all worldly things, and was released from her labors,
her sorrow and sufferings, and calmly resigned her
soul to God, on the morning of September 8, 1784.
The society being now deprived of their faithful
friend and guide, Elder James Whittaker succeed
ed her in the ministry, and was henceforth called
Father James. The society labored on in the
work before it, and, with increasing prosperity,
saw the necessity of being gathered into a more
united body, for greater protection and a further
increase of their spiritual travail.
In the autumn of 1785, was raised the first house
of public worship ever built by the society. From
this time the affairs of the society began to assume
a more regular form and order. This house still
stands, well preserved.
Father James died July 20, 1787, and was suc
ceeded in the ministry by Joseph Meacham and
Lucy Wright, who was appointed as the first lead
ing character in the female line. These two were
established by the gift of God as spiritual parents
in church relation and first ministers of gospel
order. Under their ministration the people were
gathered into a united body, and were gradually
formed into church relation at New Lebanon, unit
ing their interests in one common stock, both
spiritual and temporal, having all things in com
mon. Mother Ann possessed remarkable powers and
faculties of mind by nature, which were greatly

340

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

enlarged and strengthened by the gift of God. At
times, when under the power and operation of the
Holy Ghost, her countenance shone with the glory
of God, and the influence of her spirit at such
times was great beyond description, and no one

was able to gainsay or resist the authority by which
she spoke. Her whole soul appeared to be always
engaged in the work of God, and the Spirit of God
seemed to breathe through all her words and
actions.

TEMPERANCE WORK IN ALBANY COUNTY.

PEOPLE of different countries have many cus
toms, habits, and social relations in common.
These are dependent, in a measure, upon educa
tion, temperament, and constitutional heredity.
In the settlement of this county, it shared in
both the good and the bad elements that were
brought by the settlers. Perhaps no two greater
evils could, by any possibility, have been introduced
and fostered, under sanction of custom and law,
than human slavery and intemperance caused by
the use of alcoholic beverages. Both evils made
rapid growth: the first through the slave trade, and
the latter by .immigration. Human slavery was
abolished by statute in this State and county in
1827, without the loss of life or bloodshed; but
the institution, as a national evil, existed in other
States until 1863, when, through a war which cost
thousands of lives and millions of dollars, slavery
was forever abolished in the United States.
The future of this law-protected evil, the manu
facture and traffic in alcoholic and malt liquors, is
becoming a national danger, and its final overthrow
will require heroic measures. How to accomplish
this is a momentous question, and has occupied
the consideration of worthy and thoughtful men.
It is not by any sudden or arbitrary legislation that
great social evils and the burdens of human woes
are lessened. Let children and youth have light.
Let us have more formation and less reformation
will be needed. Few are made drunkards after
they are forty years old. Few are reformed after
they reach that age.
After many years of experience, temperance re
formers have learned that victorious parties are
born of many elements in citizenship, gathered
about one great issue of paramount importance,
and parties die when they fail to force that issue
upon the conscience and manhood of a free
people. For fifty years, or more, men and women have
zealously labored to modify the traffic and sup
press the ravages of intemperance in this county,

and whatever of success has attended these efforts
for mitigating the evil, opposing forces and special
interests, arose dissensions and differences of
opinion in regard to methods brought divisions;
and numerous societies and organizations followed.
Temperance societies in the county did not
assume much importance until about 1 830.
One of the earliest societies was organized in
1828, in the school-house near Chesterville. The
meeting was called and presided over by Deacon
Holmes. Two persons signed what was called
the open pledge, which allowed the person to
drink all beverages but distilled liquors. Mr.
Evans, one of the signers, is dead; the other, Peter
P. Harrower, is living in Albany, an honored
minister of the Methodist Church. This pledge
proved a complete failure. A few years later, the
principles of total abstinence were advocated and
inserted in the pledges. Men who were at first
unwilling to give this subject careful thought,
began to investigate the facts that were presented,
and many prominent citizens became convinced
and identified with the efforts of societies that
followed. The following memoranda of early temperance
movements and societies in Albany were furnished
by Professor McCoy.
1. In the year 1832 there were fourteen temper
ance societies in Albany, with an aggregate mem
bership of 4, 164.
2. The First Ward Temperance Society, Erastus
Corning, President, and Gerrit L. Dox, Secretary,
had 1,227 members.
3. The Second Ward Temperance Society,
Charles R. Webster, President, and Eli Perry,
Secretary, had 410 members.
4. The Third Ward Temperance Society, Uriah
Marvin, President, and Israel Williams, Secretary,
had a membership of 410.
5. The Fourth Ward Temperance Society, Joseph
Alexander, President, and John Davis, Secretary,
had 270 members.

TEMPERANCE WORK IN ALBANY COUNTY.

341

6. The Fifth Ward Temperance Society, H. A.
Fay, President, and George W. Carpenter, Secretary,
had 349 members.
7- There was a Canal Temperance Society, of
which Thaddeus Joy was President, and Horace
Meech, Secretary.
8. The Albany Apprentices' Society numbered
1 1 1 members. E. J. Hosford was President, and
William Bleeker, Secretary.
9. The Furriers' Temperance Society had 112
members. Ezra P. Prentice, President, and C. J
Taylor, Secretary.
10. The Hibernian Temperance Society, Rev.
Charles Smith, President, and P. M. Morange,
Secretary, had 123 members.
11. The African Temperance Society had 192
members, with B. Lattimer, President, and Rich
ard Thompson, Secretary.
12. The Albany Young Men's Temperance
Society, Bradford R. Wood, President, and Archi
bald McClure, Secretary, had 500 members.
13. There was an Albany County Temperance
Society, membership not given, of which A. Piatt
was President, and Benjamin F. Butler, late
Attorney-General of the United States, was Vice-
President 14. The Albany Academy Temperance Society,
W. P. Pohlman, President, and E. T. Griffith,
Secretary, numbered 1 50 members.
15. In some cases one person probably be
longed to two societies. Perhaps the total mem
bership in Albany County included 8,500 persons.
The total population of Albany in 1832, was
26,000. 16. 1832 was the year of the cholera. The
whole number of deaths by cholera in Albany, of
persons over ten years old, was 336. Of these but
two were members of temperance societies.
17. The Albany Young Men's Temperance So
ciety probably led to the formation of the Albany
Young Men's Association. The members of the
former, Amos Dean, Bradford R. Wood and others,
were founders of the latter.
• The organization of these societies was largely
due to the heroic labors, resolute purpose, and
powerful influence of Edward C. Delavan, of
Albany, a wine merchant, the great and well-known
apostle of temperance, who, with a terrible fear
lessness and zeal advocated the suppression of the
sale of intoxicants and the awful danger of drink
ing habits. He revolutionized customs which had
been long in existence. His zeal in this reform
was so great, that his opinions were at times uttered

with great vehemence and enthusiasm. His oppo
nents he treated with fairness; yet he never receded
from what he believed to be right and just
A temperance sentiment began to grow in
Albany. It gained the attention of a few clergy
men and prominent citizens, who examined and
approved the necessity of action in this reform.
Public meetings were held, at which free discussion
and inquiry were made. These meetings caused
the organization of temperance societies as above.
Public sentiment was changed. Clergymen did
not hesitate to express their opinions. Eminent
judges saw the evil. Chancellor Walworth said :
"It was his opinion that the time would come
when men would as soon be engaged in poisoning
their neighbors' wells as dealing out to them in
toxicating drinks as a beverage. "
As auxiliaries in this great reform, one of the
most potent means early employed was the publi
cation of tracts and papers devoted to this subject,
which were distributed in the community as edu
cators. For the first twenty-five years of this re
form they exerted a powerful influence. Added
to public addresses, numerous societies and other
practical methods, the newspaper, the lever that
moves the world, has contributed its full share of
influence. The following have been published in
Albany in the interest of temperance reform :
The Temperance Recorder, monthly, was pub
lished in 1 83 1 by the State Temperance Society.
American Temperance Intelligencer was com
menced in January, 1834. Published monthlv.
The Youth's Temperance Enterprise, monthly,
was started November, 1842, by J. Stanley Smith,
and continued three years.
The Sons of Temperance and Rechabile, an 8vo
monthly, was published in 1846, by J. Stanley
Smith & Co.
The Telegraph and Temperance fournal was com
menced in 1848 by S. Meyers, and continued four
years. The Temperance Courier was commenced Feb
ruary, 1849, by Jasper T. Hazen, and subsequently
published by J. T. Hazen & Son.
The Washingtonian and Rechabile was issued in
1849, by J. T. Hazen. In 1855 Jt was united with
the Courier.
The New York Reformer was published for ten
months; edited by John Abbott.
The Prohibitionist, monthly, was commenced in
1854 as the organ of the New York State Temper
ance Society. It was edited by A. McCoy, and in
1857 it was united with ihe fournal of the American
Temperance Union.

342

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

July 4, 1844, J. Hyatt Smith and Isaac Edwards
delivered orations at Guilderland Centre. These
were printed by Joel Munsell.
In 1854 was published an address delivered in
the Assembly Chamber by E. C. Delavan before
the New York State Temperance Society.
In i860, E. C. Delavan published "Temperance
in Wine Countries." He also had printed and pub
lished for free distribution numerous papers, ad
dresses, tracts and other matter relating to
temperance. After the libel suit against him in
1840, he had the proceedings of the trial pub
lished in pamphlet form.
February 12, 1835, an article ably written ap
peared in the Albany Evening fournal, charging that
John Taylor, the brewer, used for malting purposes
filthy and stagnant water, taken from a small pond
then in existence at or near the present location of
the Trinity Methodist Church. For this an action
was soon after laid for libel, with damages. It
was not until April 21, 1840, that this case was
brought to trial, and the record is as follows:
John Taylor vs. Edward C. Delavan; prose
cuted for an alleged libel; tried at Albany circuit,
April 21, 1840, Judge Cushing presiding. Coun
sel for plaintiff: Messrs. Stevens, Reynolds, McKown
and Van Buren; for defendant: Beardsley, Taber
and Wheaton. Libel published as above, and
charged "that Taylor, the plaintiff, caused his
malting establishment, on the hill (corner of State
and Lark streets) in Albany, to be supplied with
filthy, stagnant, putrid water, such as is taken from
pools, gutters and ditches, in which were dead
animals; that the water was often so foul and pol
luted as to be green on the surface and nearly as
thick as cream with filth; and that such water had
been used for malting, etc. "
This trial occupied six days. Seventy witnesses
were examined pro and con. The jury rendered a
verdict for the defendant with costs. Other suits
had been instituted with damages of over $300,-
000, but were never prosecuted. Delavan was
victorious, and the friends of temperance and re
form were encouraged to renewed efforts in the
work. Higher ground was taken ; more aggressive
and stringent methods advocated, and a general
interest for the cause manifested by the addition
to its ranks of many men of intelligence and
character, who earnestly and fearlessly entered
upon the work as lecturers or organizers of various
societies. In 1840, the Albany City Temperance Society
was organized, with Israel Smith as President,

In 1840, Rev. J. A. Schnellar, Pastor of St.
Mary's Catholic Church, Albany, organized a tem
perance society, with a test pledge for one year;
and in May, 1841, reorganized with a pledge for
life, including this condition: that if a person
wished to be released from his or her obligation,
he must present his petition to the pastor of this
church. July 4, 1 84 1, the temperance societies of the city
joined in a procession to the Second Presbyterian
Church, where an oration was delivered by Ben
jamin Nott.
In 1842, the Washingtonian movement reached
Albany. The Washingtonian Total Abstinence So
ciety was organized with a large membership, and
efficiently presided over by John C. Ward, who was
a pioneer in the work, and has been a zealous and
faithful member of various societies.
Meetings were of frequent occurrence, many emi
nent public speakers and prominent reformers
addressing them. Hawkins and Pollard, Wash ing-
tonians, were engaged to address large assemblies,
at which the pledge was always presented for sig
natures. The influence of this remarkable agita
tion infused new life into the old societies, and
called into existence the secret orders.
In June, 1842, a day was devoted to a great
temperance celebration in the city.
July 4, 1842, in the afternoon, the wives and
children of the Washingtonian temperance societies
formed a procession, with banners and badges, and
marched to the National Garden on Broadway,
where they had a celebration.
In 1843, the following citizens, members of the
State Temperance Society, addressed a letter to
Drs. Warren, Mott and Horner for their opinion in
regard to the drawings of Dr. Sewall, representing
the pathology of drunkenness, for the use of
schools: Azor Taber, Ira Harris, I. N. Wyckoff,
B. T Welch, Erastus Corning, B. R. Wood and
Barent P. Staats.
In 1844, was instituted Albany Division, Sons of
Temperance, No. 24.
July 4, 1845, temperance societies celebrated the
day with enthusiasm. Samuel G. Courtney and
John H. Carroll delivered orations, and Jacob C.
Cuyler read the Declaration of Independence.
In the year 1846, Tivoli Temple of Honor and
Temperance, No. 22, was organized. Albany So
cial, No. 22, was connected with this temple.
During 1844 and 1S46, these several temperance
organizations were. instituted: I. O. of Rechabites
— Forest Tent, No. 75, and Sche-negh-ta-da Tent,
No. 304; Order of Social Circle — Albany Circle,

TEMPERANCE WORK IN ALBANY COUNTY.

343

No. i, Constellation Circle, No. 4; Albany Dorcas
Temperance Society ; and Albany County Tem
perance Society.
June, 1849, the Temperance Pavilion, a large
tent, was erected in North Pearl street by Mr. Van
Wagner, the " Poughkeepsie Blacksmith," in which
were held meetings that were crowded to excess.
In 1849, Father Mathew, the Irish orator and
apostle of temperance, came to Albany and deliv
ered lectures to great multitudes of people. His
intense discourse and fervent appeals touched the
hearts of many. His mission was successful, and
the good he wrought has borne fruit for all the
years since.
October, 1851, a City Temperance Society was
organized, with Bradford R. Wood as President.
During Father Mathew's second visit to Albany
in 1 85 1, at one of his meetings, September 19th,
Mrs. Susannah C. Maguire, wife of Martin J.
O'Heaney, signed pledge numbered 6,100,990.
This represented the number of pledges given to
him at that date.
January 27 and 28, 1852, State temperance so
ciety and temperance organizations of the city held
meetings which were attended by large numbers.
Many persons were turned away for want of room.
Great enthusiasm prevailed. Albany Social, No.
22, was organized.
October, 1852, State Temperance Convention.
January 19, 1853, temperance meetings were
held in the city churches, with crowded houses.
January 21, 1853, a delegation of the Women's
State Temperance Convention was permitted to
enter the Assembly Chamber for the purpose of
presenting memorials signed by 28,000 persons,
petitioning for the abolition of the sale of intoxi
cating liquors.
April 10, 1855, the Delavan House was splen
didly illuminated, on the occasion of the passage of
the temperance bill, and a supper was given to the
friends of the measure.
January 7, 1861, a lecture was given at Tweddle
Hall by Professor Amasa McCoy, on the "Curious
and Humorous Phases in the History of Temper
ance," and a City Temperance Society was organ
ized, with "Rev. Dr. I. N. Wyckoff President; Jas
per T. Hazen, Corresponding Secretary; Wm.
Headlam, Recording Secretary; Wm. McElroy,
Treasurer; and Philip Phelps, Auditor.
July 4, 1869, was celebrated in a fine grove on
the farm of Rensselaer Markle, near the village of
New Salem, by the several divisions of Sons of
Temperance in the county. A large concourse of
people assembled in the grove to partake of the

bounties spread before them by the generous
hearts and hands of the Sons and Daughters. A
spirit of enthusiasm, mingled with enjoyment, pre
vailed. The speakers were Revs. A. A. Farr, J.
G. Noble and others.
In 1869, a series of temperance meetings, con
ducted by the Christian Temperance Committee,
were held in Washington Park and elsewhere on
Sunday afternoons. Among the speakers were Dr.
Wilson, of Albany, who delivered several ad
dresses. St. Joseph's Total Abstinence Society, of Albany,
owes its origin to the zeal and perseverance of
Messrs. James J. Hartwell and James Wilkinson.
The organization was perfected January 13, 1870,
under the title of St. Joseph's Temperance
Society. During the year 1875, the members
thought the word Temperance did not clearly
indicate the scope of the society, and the name was
changed to its present title.
The society holds weekly meetings in St. Joseph's
Hall, corner of North Pearl and Colonie streets.
It uses the Father Mathew Pledge, as follows:
"I solemnly promise, with Divine assistance, to
abstain from all intoxicating liquors, and to pre
vent, by advice and example, intemperance in
others. " Wine and cider are strictly prohibited.
The present officers are James H. Dulin, Presi
dent; John J. McMahon, Vice-President; M. F.
McGowan, Recording Secretary; Wm. Sennett,
Financial Secretary; James J. Hartwell, Treasurer;
R. J. Kelly, Clerk; Patrick Costello, Marshal.
Another society, connected with St. Joseph's
Church, meets in St. Joseph's Hall, of which
Thomas Murphy is President St. Mary's Guild
meets in St. Mary's Church, corner of Pine and
Chapel streets; J. J. Franklin, Regent
Societies throughout the county have been
numerous. Some maintained their organizations
for many months, and then disbanded, to be again
reorganized through the efforts of lecturers, many
of whom have addressed large audiences in the
rural districts.
In the summer and autumn of 1878, Mrs. T.
L. Courtney lectured in several of the townships
under the auspices of the Women's Christian Tem
perance Union, and organized auxiliary societies.
At the present time there is in West Troy a
Lodge of Good Templars and a Women's
Christian Temperance Union.
Green Island has a Lodge of Good Templars,
of which John P. Lansing is presiding officer; and
Cohoes has a Women's Christian Temperance
Union; also a Gospel Temperance Association,

344

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The pledging of men and women against the
manufacture, sale and use as a beverage of all that
can intoxicate, has been the foundation of all these
societies. For this purpose we have Women's
Christian Temperance Unions, The Sons of Tem
perance, The Temples of Honor, The Good
Templars, Father Mathew Societies, Blue Ribbon
Leagues, and many other organizations with rec
ords of two-score years or more of labor in the
cause of total abstinence.
In the past fifty years the people of this county
have witnessed great changes in the customs,
habits and public sentiment wrought through the
efforts of these societies. At that time the use of
ardent spirits was well nigh universal, and men
of all classes and professions indulged freely with
out losing caste. Then officers and members of
churches considered it no impropriety. Ordina
tions, weddings, christenings, funerals, and in
fact every assembly and gathering was considered
incomplete without a plentiful supply of spirituous
liquors. But these customs of the people have un
dergone a change, and reform marks a higher
standard of sobriety and moral intelligence.

A brewery was erected in Albany, on the Rut-
ten-Kill, as early as 1637, with the exclusive right
to supply retail dealers with beer. About the
beginning of the present century, Mr. Gill was
proud of the fact that he produced 1 50 barrels of
beer yearly in Albany. During the year 1883,
there was manufactured in this county 353,133
barrels, or 11,123,689 gallons, of malt and brewed
liquors; and for the year 1884, 369,977 barrels, or
11,654,275 gallons. The several malt-houses,
during the year, manufacture about 1,200,000
bushels of malt, with a capacity for 1,500,000,
bushels. There are not less than 1,200 places in Albany
where distilled and malt liquors are sold; in
Cohoes, 160; West Troy, 140; Green Island, 40;
and in the several towns about 100, making a total
of nearly 1,650 licensed and unlicensed resorts for
the sale and traffic in these beverages.
From the Supervisor's Report of Albany Peni
tentiary for 1884, the following facts and figures
are taken: Total number received, 2,270. Of this
number, 658 were from Albany County. Of the
2,270, 1, 894 admitted themselves to be intemperate.

SECRET TEMPERANCE ORDERS.

SONS OF TEMPERANCE.
rpHE organization called Sons of Temperance
1 was brought into existence in the City of New
York September 29, 1842, and consisted of sixteen
members. Not long after this event, Selick Slaw-
son, a member of the Washingtonian Society of
Albany, brought this new organization to the at
tention of his associates, who became pleased with
its methods. A subordinate division was institu
ted here March 7, 1844, by Grand Deputy John
W. Edmonds, under the name of Delavan Division.
The name was changed, December 23, 1844, to
Albany Division, No. 24, Sons of Temperance.
The installation took place in the building then
standing corner of State and South Pearl streets,
now occupied by the Globe Hotel. Its charter
members were Thomas Mygatt, Smith Quacken
bush, John C. Ward, Selick Slawson, Alexander
Shepherd, Jacob Wetzell, Daniel Luscom, Joseph
Courtright, Allen Adams, and John W. Dean.
These, with others, were duly initiated. Its first
officers were : Thomas Mygatt, W. P. ; John C.

Ward, W. A. ; William C. Schuyler, R. S. ; Daniel .
Salisbury, A. R. S. ; Smith Quackenbush, T. ; John
King, Chap. ; Jacob Wetzell, A. C. ; Selick Slawson,
I. S. Most of the members had been members of
the Washingtonian Total Abstinence Society. After
forty-one years of action and faithful membership
in this and other societies, two of the charter mem
bers are among the living — John C. Ward and Selick
Slawson. The present officers of this division are James
Kelly, W. P. ; Charles Sexton, W. A. ; A." P. Thayer,
Chap. The division meets at 586 Broadway, oppo
site Delavan House.
For the years intervening between 1865 and
1875, the growth of this order in the county was
rapid. Numerous divisions were instituted and
the membership increased, including many men of
prominence and influence. In 1865 there was one
division; in 1868, nine; and in 1872, twenty-four
divisions in the county.
After this the decline was as rapid. Interest in
the good of the order and attendance upon its
regular services were neglected. In some instances

SECRET TEMPERANCE ORDERS.

345

jealousy and dissensions arose, and the disband-
ment and surrender of charters followed. Of the
many once flourishing divisions in the county, only
one now exists, No. 24, of Albany City, the first one
instituted.
THE TEMPLE OF HONOR.
The first Temple of Honor was organized in De
cember, 1845, by prominent Sons of Temper
ance. Although in its infancy as compared with
other societies embodying benevolent features, it
has steadily advanced until temples have been
reared in every State, and Albany records five
temples and councils in working order.
The Temple of Honor is a secret organization,
and has its signs, grips, and other tests to secure
friendship and protection, and enable brethren to
recognize each other whenever and wherever they
chance to meet.
In the council department of the order are con
ferred the three degrees of Love, Purity and Fidel
ity, and the sublime, solemn and impressive de
grees of Tried, Approved and Select Templars are
adorned with appropriate paraphernalia.
Every member of the order in good standing
who can pass a medical examination, may become
a participant in the endowment fund.
The Junior Templars of Honor is an order
where youths are taught the principles of total
abstinence from intoxicating drinks, obedience to
the laws of God, parents, and country. No boy
under twelve is admitted, and he must possess a
good moral character, and use no profane, improper
or indecent language. At the age of fifteen the boy
maybe initiated into the Degree of Honor; and
any Junior Templar on arriving at the age of
eighteen years may be received into membership in
the Temple of Honor.
The Social Department is where women can
join hands in this labor of love. All worthy Tem
plars and all ladies of good moral character are
eligible to this department, to which are attached
three degrees.
The following are the subordinate temples in
the County in working order :
Tivoli Temple of Honor, No. 22, organized at
Albany City, 1846 ; meets at 586 Broadway. Wm.
H. Mogridge, W. C. T; C. H. Meyer, W. V.;
O. C. White, W. R.; A. P. Thayer, Chaplain.
Among its first members were Daniel L. Weaver,
David Rose, Selick Slawson, Elisha Mack, and
John Reid.
Excelsior, No. 23, Albany City, organized 1866;
meets in Lavantall's Hall. Officers: J. Edward

Stremple, W. C. T. ; Wm. S. Pattison, W. V ; A.
C. Van Vorst, W. R.
Capitol Council, No. 4, Select, Albany, organ
ized 1866. Officers: A. P. Thayer, C. ofC; O.
C. White, R. of C. ; John Reid, Chap.
Itruria Council, No. 3, Select, Albany, organ
ized 1868; meets 66 South Pearl Street Officers : J.
Halley Lindsay, C. ofC; Wm. S. Pattison, R. of C.
D. J. Johnson Temple of Honor, No. 33,
Cohoes, organized 1873. George Mathews, W.
C. T; Archibald McLean, W. V.; David White,
W. R. In 1872, there were three temples, three
councils and two social temples.
The Grand Temple of Honor has been repre
sented in its sessions by the following Albany
members : Elisha Mack, G. W. Vice-Templar ; J.
Halley Lindsay, G. W. Usher; A. P. Thayer, G. W.
Chaplain.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF GOOD
TEMPLARS.
In the year 1851, Daniel Cady, of Poughkeepsie,
came to Utica and instituted an order known as the
Knights of Jericho. There were three lodges of this
order in Oneida County. The lodge at Utica had,
among other members, L. E. Coon, J. E. N. Backus
and Thomas L. James, afterward Postmaster-Gen
eral. The order had a fantastic initiatory ceremony
and did not please some of the members. One
evening, L. E. Coon made a motion to change the
name to the Good Templars. After some debate
the motion was carried, and in two weeks eight
lodges were instituted. Thus was organized in
New York State the first lodges of this order.
The first Good Templar paper was the Crystal
Fount, published at Hamilton, N. Y., by T. L.
James and others.
On August n, 1852, a Grand Lodge was formed
at Syracuse, with Nathaniel Curtis, G. W. C. T.
The revised ritual was written by Rev. Dr. D.
W. Bristol, of Ithaca; accepted by the Grand Lodge,
without alteration, in 1853. Regalia was provided
and the State divided into districts. Thus was the
order fully established and prepared for that won
derful growth which it has enjoyed for so many
years. The degrees were written by Dr. Bristol,
and this year, in December, at a convention held in
Pennsylvania, a seal was adopted, with a device
representing the three great principles of this order:
Faith, Hope and Charity.
This order takes the broadest ground upon all
questions connected with the temperance reform.
The following platform was adopted at the annual
session in 1859:

346

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

i. Total abstinence from all intoxicating liquors
as a beverage.
2. No license, in any form or under any cir
cumstance, for the sale of such liquors to be used
as a beverage.
3. The absolute prohibition of the manufacture,
importation and sale of intoxicating liquors for
such purposes. Prohibition by the will of the
people, expressed in due form of law, with the
penalties deserved for a crime of such enormity.
4. The creation of a healthy public opinion
upon the subject by the active dissemination of
truth in all the modes known to an enlightened
philanthropy. 5. The election of good, honest men to admin
ister the laws.
6. Persistence in efforts to save individuals and
communities from so direful a scourge, against all
forms of opposition and difficulty, until our success
is complete and universal.
Women are admitted and are entitled to all the
honors of the order. In the obligation, initiation
and solemn ceremonies of this organization, signs,
grips, pass-words and signal raps are used, with
pledges of secrecy.
In May, 1867, a resolution in favor of juvenile
societies was adopted, and in 1870, the Cold Water
Temple was adopted.
The order in the county was tardy. Not until
1867 was a lodge instituted, and that owed its ex
istence and much of its prosperity to Andrew S.
Draper, a representative of Albany, who stands as
high as any living Good Templar in the regard of
the order.
Hon. A. S. Draper was initiated into the order
December, 1866, atWestford, Otsego County, and
in July, 1867, he assisted in the organization of the
first Good Templar Lodge in Albany County, named
Harrison Lodge, and became its first W. C. T.

At the Rochester session, in 1869, hewas elected
a member of the first Board of Managers. In 1873
he was elected G. W. Counselor, and in 1874
and 1875, G. W. Treasurer. In 1876, at the Sar
atoga session, he was honored with the highest
office in the gift of the Grand Lodge.. At the thir
teenth annual session of the Grand Lodge of New
York, held at Elmira, August, 1877, he presided
as G. W. C. T. At the Cooperstown session of
the Grand Lodge, he was, for the fifth time, elected
G. W. C. T. In 1879, at the R. W. G. L, held
at Detroit,- he was elected R. W. G.. Counselor.
He resigned the office of G. W. C. T, January 1,
1 88 1, having been elected a Member of Assembly,
but in August; 1882, attended the Grand Lodge
session at Ithaca as P. G. W. C. T. He has many
times been a representative in the R. W. G. L.
About thirty lodges have been instituted in the
County, some of which have ceased to exist.
Albany County Lodge was instituted 1869.
Holds meetings quarterly and annual meetings in
September. The present officers are: C. C. T,
John B. Hilton; C. S., Fred. F. Wheeler; C. D.,
Richard Kennedy; G. D. D, Rev. C. I. Wilcox.
At the session of the Grand Lodge of New York,
held at Elmira, August, 1877, Albany County re
ported nine subordinate lodges, and the county
was represented by Andrew S. Draper as G. W.
C. T. ; Alden Chester and George H. Niver, Repre
sentatives. At the annual session of the Grand
Lodge, held at Ithaca, August, 1882, Albany
County reported twenty-one subordinate lodges.
At this session Mrs. George H. Niver was elected
General Superintendent of Juvenile Temples, and,
with A. S. Draper, P. G. W. C. T, were officers
of the Grand Lodge. The county was represented
by Alden Chester.
Mrs. George H. Niver, C. S., Albany, reports for
the year 1882, nine juvenile temples in the county.

THE OLD STADT HUYS.

THIS venerable building has been used as a City
Hall, a County Court Building and Prison, and
as a State House. It was also the place where con
ventions, councils, and other gatherings of a pub
lic nature were held in the elder days. From its
uses it may properly be counted among the county
institutions. It stood on the northeast corner of
what is now Broadway and Hudson avenue, just
inside the stockades. It is uncertain at what ex
act period it was erected; but, as near as the time
can be ascertained, it was about 1635, while the
Colony of New York was under the control of the

Dutch. We are led to the belief that this was the
time ' of its erection from some minutes in the
journals of Wouter Van Twiller, the sixth Dutch
Governor of the province. It is certain that some
punitory building was erected on that spot under
the direction of Van Twiller that year. As Albany
was then a frontier trading town, a substantial
building for Courts of Justice, in which should be
a proper prison for the confinement of criminals
and desperadoes, was necessary. According to an
account given of it in 1646, it was a substantial,
and, for that time, large, solid, three-story building,

ALBANY COUNTY fAILS.

347

the lower story being of stone, which was used as a
jail. The building was surmounted by a cupola
or belfry, from which rose a vane ornamented with
a gilt ball. In the belfry was a bell brought from

THE OLD STADT HUYS OR C1TV HALL.
Holland, and placed there soon after the completion
of the building. For nearly one hundred and sixty
years it was rung on all public occasions to sum

mon legislators, lawyers, judges, and municipal
officers to their duties in the rooms below.
After the building was demolished, the bell was
placed in the cupola of the new capitol, where it
hung for many years, discharging the same duties
it had done in the tower of the old Stadt Huys. At
last it was taken down. What became of it is
somewhat uncertain; it is believed that it now
hangs in one of the churches at Ballston, N. Y.
In this building was held the provincial courts
under the Dutch and English laws. Here the
Common Council held its first meetings after its
organization under the Dongan Charter, in July,
1686. In front of this building, in July, 1776, the
Declaration of Independence was read for the first
time in Albany, to an immense crowd of people.
This building was, for a time, the Capitol of the
State, in which the Legislature under the first con
stitution held several sessions.
A few years ago a memorial slab was placed in
the front walls of the commercial building on
Broadway, standing on the spot where this old
structure stood, with appropriate addresses and
other ceremonies.

ALBANY COUNTY JAILS.

THE lower story, or basement, of the old Stadt
Huys in Albany was used as the jail of the
county for many years. It was made of stone, and di
vided into cells of sufficient strength and size for
the confinement of prisoners from the large territory
which, for many years, was embraced in the County
of Albany. Heavy iron bars or grates protected
the windows. The massive doors were made
double, of heavy three-inch oak plank, fastened
with strong iron bolts. A diamond-shape opening,
a foot in size, near the top, let in light and air.
These doors were secured by ponderous locks, to
turn whose keys required the whole strength of a
man. Chains, with rings and clasps attached, for the
more secure confinement of desperate characters,
were fastened in the solid stone wall. On the
whole, it was a grim, but secure place of confine
ment. It might have more properly been called a
dungeon. After the lapse of years, although some
repairs had been made, the building began to
assume a dilapidated condition, and that part used
as a jail became so insecure that the escape of pris
oners from it was a matter of such frequent occur
rence, that the High Sheriff, Samuel Babbington,
appeared at the Bar at the Court of Sessions, in Oc
tober, 1 718, and formally protested against the jail
as follows :

"I urge upon your Worships that care may be
taken to have y" same Jail sufficiently repaired to
keep such bad prisoners as I may take for debt, &c. ,
safely from escaping, as is now often ye case."
After hearing the Sheriff's complaint, the Court
made the following order:
" It is resolved by this Court, in consideration of
ye insufficiency of y° said Jail, that a letter be forth
with writ to y" representative of y" General Assem
bly of ye Province, to desire leave of that honor
able body now sitting, that they may bring in a
bill to raise ye same, not exceeding one hundred
and forty pounds for repairing y" Jail, and that y"
repairs be directed to y° management of y" Jus
tices of ye Peace of ye City and County of Albany,
or the major part of them."
There had been several attempts to erect a jail
or prison apart from the City Hall. An applica
tion of this kind was made to the Common Council
in August, 1700. On the 14th of October follow
ing, an application having been made to the Super
visors for a new and common jail, the matter came
up in February, 1701, and was disposed of as fol
lows :
' ' Relateing ye Prepareing of y" Court-house and
Common Goal], which y" Justices of y6 Citty and
County on ye 26th of Feb'y instant Recommended
to be laid before y" Supervisors, is referred to their
Consideration, who of the County Positively Re
fused to Contribute anything unto ye same, alleadg-
ing that it must be Repaired out of y" 2 per cent

348

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

to Defray ye necessary charges of ys Citty and
County." Accordingly, the General Assembly passed a gen
eral bill for the making or repairing of the jails in
the Province of New York.
At a Court of Sessions, held in the City Hall
October 7, 171 9, the following order concerning
the jail of the County of Albany was made and
entered in the records of the Court.
"Pursuant to an act of the General Assembly of
the Colony of New York, entitled an Act to Author
ize ye Justices of the Peace to Build and Repair
Jails and Court-houses in the Several Counties of the
Province, whereby y° Justices in each County are
Impowered (upon their own view) on any Insuffi
ciency or Inconveniency of their County Jail or
Prison, or ye Inconveniency of their Court House,
to Conclude and agree upon such sum or sums of
money, as, upon examination of sufficient and able
workmen, shall be thought necessary for building,
Finishing and Repairing a Public Jail, etc.
" It is therefore Resolved, that any five or more
of His Majestie's Justices shall make a computa
tion with sufficient and able workmen, what a suffi
cient Jail, etc., for y" Citty and County of Albany
may cost, and bring a report thereof at the next
meeting of this Court and the Justices thereof. "
This order caused much discussion in the county,
a portion of the people desiring to erect a new
court-house and jail, while others were equally de
sirous that the city hall, and the jail in the base
ment thereof, should be thoroughly repaired. At
length, at the Court of Sessions held in the City
Hall, it was decided to repair the State House and
Jail, according to the following resolution :
" It is Resolved that the City Hall shall be repaired
and an addition be made of fifteen foot in length to
the south'd, and in breadth to the Court Hall,
and joyned in the roof of the same, made up with
boards without as the present old house, with a
sufficient stone seller under y" same, the north end
thereof partitioned off with oak boards. To have
one window with cross-iron bars therein, one cross
window to the south'ard, one to the eastward and
one to the westward in the first room. "
The resolution continues:
"The door which stands to the South in the
Court Hall, to be removed in the fore room, and
in the room above to the south'ard. The gable
end of the house to the westward be repaired; the
room above the new floor on the top of the old
floor with one and one-half inch boards. The
windows are to have strong cross iron bars, and the
glass windows and wall repaired, all good and
sufficient work. Also a convenient place for the
Jury to sit in, and the bench for the Justices' seats
made larger and more convenient.
"The Justices have agreed with John Wemp to
make and repair the said building according to the
above dimensions, all well finished, for the sum of

;£" 140, which he promises shall all be done by or
before the first of January next. "
These repairs were made; but those of the jail
were so negligently done that the escape of prison
ers from it was still of common occurrence. Henry
Holland, Esq., then High Sheriff of the City and
County, appeared at the Court of Sessions, October
4, 1721, and represented the insecure condition of
the jail. Whereupon the following order was
made: "Henry Holland, Esq., High Sheriff of the
City and County of Albany, informs this Court that
though the City and County of Albany Jail has been
lately repaired, it is still very insufficient, and he
desires it may be made sufficient. As it is, it can
not secure any prisoner, as several have gained
their liberty by breaking Jail. It is therefore or
dered that meet and proper repairs at said jail be
at once made under the direction of the said
Sheriff." Substantial repairs soon followed. With occa
sional and slight repairs, the city hall and jail con
tinued as described until the building was demol
ished somewhere about the year 1803.
That the lower story of the city hall was occu
pied for a jail, is evidenced by the fact that there is
an account of " the prisoners in the old city hall,
which was the jail," celebrating the fifth of July,
1790 — the fourth being on Sunday. The fifth
toast drank on the occasion was : ' ' May the time
soon come when no honest man shall be confined
for debt."
In 1 791, the Legislature passed a law authorizing
the city authorities to raise £2, 000 towards the com
pletion of the court-house and jail.
It was some time before this appropriation was
agreed to by the city and county authorities; and
it was not until 1803 or 1804, perhaps as late as
1 809, that the new jail was completed. The prem
ises on which this jail stood occupied about 80
feet on State street ; 84 on Maiden lane ; and
116 on Eagle street. It was sold at auction on
August 11, 1832, in behalf of the trustees of the
Albany Academy.
On November 1, 1831, the grand jurors visited
the jail, and found it so much out of repair that
they recommended to the Board of Supervisors the
building of a new jail without the compact part of
the city, " inasmuch as this building, which had
stood twenty-two years was fast decaying, very illy
constructed, and too small in order to health, com
fort and convenience, and situated in too thickly
settled a locality." There were, at that time, fifty-six
persons in confinement. If the jail, accordino- to
the above statement, had stood twenty-two years

ALBANY COUNTY ALMS-HOUSE.

349

then, of course, it must have been built in 1 809.
We are inclined to the belief that there was some
mistake about its having "stood twenty-two years,"
but that it was built somewhere near 1804, and
succeeded the old jail in the Stadt Huys, on the
corner of Broadway and Hudson avenue. It was
sold at auction, August 11, 1882.
The next jail built, stood on the ground at the
corner of Eagle and Howard streets, and was com
pleted in the latter part of the year 1834.

Early in April, 1834, the masons at work upon
it struck, but the difficulty was adjusted.
This building was occupied as the county jail
until the spring of 1854, when the jail on Maiden
lane was erected, and the old jail fitted up with
great taste and convenience for a hospital, and
opened for that purpose August 8, 1854.
In May, 1854, John Hendrickson was executed
in the jail on Maiden lane, for the murder of his
wife.

ALBANY COUNTY ALMS-HOUSE.

THE County of Albany, unlike most other coun
ties in the State, has not made any material
distinction between the poor of the towns and the
poor of the county. It has no Board of Superin
tendents of the Poor.
The poor laws are executed by the Superintend
ent of the Alms-house, Overseers of the Poor, and
other charitable institutions.
The office of Overseer of the Poor is one of the
most ancient in the State. It existed long before
1703, and has always been very important in the
City and County of Albany. The powers of the
office were considerably increased by the act of
1703, which continued through the colonial pe
riod, and was retained almost intact by the Legis
lative Act of March 7, 1788. This act makes
provision for establishing an Alms-house in Albany.
This was the first of the kind known in the State
under the laws of the State. The churches had
what were known as church or parish alms-houses.
Thus, in the act incorporating the Reformed Prot
estant Dutch Church in the City of Albany, passed
August 10, 1720, we find that a certain tenement
and lot of ground, commonly called poor-house or
alms-house, situated in the First Ward of the City,
is described as follows: " Bounded on the south by
the High street that leads to the burying-place, to
the north of the Rutten Kill, and to the east of
Harmon Rutgers', and to the west by the lot of
Garrit Bancker, containing in breadth towards the
street that leads to the Lutheran Church by the
said Rutten Kill, six rods one foot; and the like
breadth in the rear; and in length on the east side
eight rods and two inches, all Rhineland measure."
The act of 1788 gave the Overseers of the Poor,
with the consent of the towns, power to build, pur
chase or hire houses for the accommodation of the

poor. It also gave the Overseers power to purchase
materials for setting the poor at work, and to ap
point proper persons for keepers. It provided that
if any poor person refused to be kept in such
houses, he or she was denied relief from the town
or county. This act was made more favorable to
Albany than to other towns.
By an act passed April 2, 1819, the act of 1788
was amended. The powers and duties of the Over
seers of the Poor were extended to lunatics, habitual
drunkards and poor children. It gave Overseers
the right to bind out poor children; power over
illegitimate children chargeable to the public; to
•sue for penalties incurred by bets or wagers, and
for penalties under the excise laws.
The Supervisors have the power, under certain
restrictions, to abolish the distinction between town
and county poor, making them all chargeable to
the county.
This law provides that, in those counties where
the poor are made a charge upon the counties,
there shall be a Superintendent of the Poor, with
the same powers and rights as the Overseers of the
Poor, in respect to compelling relatives to maintain
their paupers, and in respect to the seizure of prop
erty. But there are no Superintendents of the
Poor in Albany.
The charter of April 23, 1883, and the city or
dinances under it, passed May 5, 1884, provide
that the Overseer of the Poor of the City of Albany
shall have the charge of and shall apply and dis
tribute the funds for the temporary relief and sup
port of the poor of the city. It also provides that
the father, mother or children, when of sufficient
ability, of a poor person of the City of Albany un
able to work by disease or decrepitude, are com
pelled to maintain or relieve such poor person. The

350

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Overseers of the Poor of Albany shall exercise and
perform the same powers and duties, relative to
compelling such relatives to afford such relief, as
are in like cases vested in and exercised by Over
seers of the Poor of the respective towns of the
County of Albany.
By the Act of the Legislature passed May 24,
1884, it is made the duty of the Overseers of the
Poor of the several towns of the County of Albany;
of the Village of West Troy; of the City of Cohoes;
and of the City of Albany, whenever any idiot,
lunatic person of unsound mind, deaf mute or
pauper within the jurisdiction of the said of
ficers respectively, whenever any such person
shall become chargeable to the county, and shall
be lawfully liable to be committed to the alms
house or asylum, or other place for the safe keep
ing of such person or persons, to take and deliver
him or her to the alms-house in said city, under
certain conditions and restrictions provided by
statute. Superintendents to make quarterly re
ports to County Treasurer, giving full details of all
circumstances and expenses of the asylum. When
ever any child shall be in danger of becoming a
charge upon the County of Albany, the Overseers
of the Poor having jurisdiction of the place of resi
dence to take the child before some magistrate,
who shall examine such child and its parents and
other persons, touching its age, condition, and the
condition of the poor parents, and all other cir
cumstances connected with the child; and if the
circumstances warrant it, may be placed in the
alms-house under the restriction of the act
The present Alms-house is situated on the road
south of Washington Park, and west of the Peni
tentiary. There is a very finely cultivated and pro
ductive farm of 1 1 6 acres belonging to this institu
tion, known as the Alms-house Farm. The
productions of this farm, besides furnishing fine
vegetables and some fruit for the poor establish
ment, are a source of some income.
Connected with the Alms-house are the poor-
house, lunatic asylum, hospital, pest-house, etc.
This is the poor establishment of the city and
county, the former paying sixty and the latter forty
per cent, of the cost of maintenance. Under the
State charitable laws, paupers who have not been
residents of any county for sixty days are called
State paupers, and are received here and boarded
at the rate of $2.50 per week, chargeable to the
State. By the statutes, the Superintendents of the Alms
house are required to make annual reports to the

Secretary of State on or before the 10th day of
January of each year, covering the year ending
November 30th.
The lands granted the city under the Dongan
charter of 1686 have all been alienated by the city,
excepting the 116 acres known as the Alms-house
Farm, and what was known as the Washington
Parade Ground on Willett street, and the old bury-
ing-ground on State street, both included in Wash
ington Park.
The Alms-house is under the management of an
officer called the Superintendent of the Alms-house.
The City Physician has the right to purchase any
stores, drugs, medicines, or articles required by the
institution, under the direction of the Superintend
ent of the Alms-house.
The general regulations of this poor establish
ment are admirable. Perfect care and scrutiny is
directed to the health, cleanliness, and comfort of
the paupers, who are carefully distributed in dif
ferent rooms — persons of different sex in different
rooms. When a child attains the age of two years, it is
placed in the children's department.
Profane or indecent conversation, quarreling,
drunkenness, disorderly conduct at meals, and
criminal or immoral conduct of any kind are strictly
forbidden in or about the Alms-house. Suitable
and wholesome punishment for the above offenses
is provided. All paupers who are able are kept employed
without compensation.
Careful medical attendance and nurses are pro
vided for the sick, both adults and children.
Children belonging to the Alms-house of suitable
age, attend the school established for their instruc
tion, and are instructed in reading, writing, and
arithmetic. The girls are taught plain needle-work
and knitting, and when they arrive at the proper age
are bound out to suitable trades or occupations.
The paupers are suitably clothed and have a
change of linen at least twice every week during
the year. The linen of the paupers is numbered
and is distributed among them.
Careful attention is paid to cleanliness, to ven
tilation and airing of the rooms, clothes, beds, etc.
All the fuel required is distributed throughout the
Alms-house. The meals are served at stated hours
in a clean and decent manner.
Spirituous liquors are not allowed in the Alms
house except by order of the attending physician.
At nine in the evening the fires and " lights
throughout the Alms-house are extinguished, ex
cept in the hospital and asylum.

ALBANY COUNTY ALMS-HOUSE.

351

The inmates of the Alms-house assemble for
religious worship in the chapel every Sabbath at
the hours of ten a. m. and two p. m. Some person
or persons appointed by the Superintendent reads
suitable forms of prayer, approved sermons, and
portions of scripture at such meetings.
In the morning some clergyman of the city, of the
Protestant faith, and in the afternoon a clergyman
of the Catholic faith, conducts religious services in
the chapel each Sunday.
Some of the buildings are old and time-worn,
but are kept in as comfortable condition as the cir
cumstances will admit. They were first erected in
1826, at a cost of $14,000. The number of per
sons occupying it that year were as follows:
White females between the ages of 19 and 80,
44; of these 13 were sick and lame and 3 insane.
Thirty-eight children between four months and
eight years of age.
Three black males between the age of 45 and
80; 8 black females between the age of 35 and 80;
and 30 white males; in all, 123.
The architect of the Alms-house was Henry W.
Snyder. In the Report of 1857, the Alms house, or Poor
Establishment, is described as follows: "It em
braces four buildings constructed of brick, two
stories in height above the basement; one in size,
40 x 70 feet; and two others, 32 x 90 feet; con
nected with a farm of 216 acres, yielding an annual
revenue estimated at $6,000. The basements of
one building are used for domestic purposes; the
others are unoccupied.
" In the Poor-house proper are ten rooms,
warmed by furnaces and stoves, but with but little
ventilation. " This building was erected thirty-four years ago.
From 6 to 40 paupers were placed in a single
room. The whole number of inmates was 319:
120 males, 299 females. Of these three-fourths
were foreign born/'
In the asylum are fifty insane paupers. All in
curables are sent to the asylum at Ovid. A pest-
house has been erected on the outer limits of the
farm, which will accommodate about fifty persons.
The unclaimed dead of the streets, the river, and
penitentiary are buried in these grounds, and the
cattle and geese are here impounded.
Visitors are admitted every day except Sunday.
Albany has been for some time burdened with
paupers who are not properly charges for the county.
The West Shore Railroad, when nearing the com
pletion of its road, discharged a number of its labor
ers near the city, most of whom were suffering from

malaria or similar disease. The city being the ter
minus of the canal, draws many known as alien
paupers to Albany, where they apply for aid. If
sent for any reason to the Penitentiary, after serving
for sixty days, they remain in Albany and apply to
the Overseer of the Poor for aid. If by physical
or mental defect they need care, Albany County
cares for them. In tracing their records, some are
found to have been paupers in other cities and in
other States.
The number of inmates in the Alms-house Depart
ment April 30, 1884:
Remaining at the last report  254
Admitted during the quarter  no
364
Discharged during quarter  103
Absconded  19
Died  9
Insane transferred to State Asylum  2
Sick transferred to City Hospital  1
Sick transferred to St. Peter's Hospital. . . 1
Alien transferred to Italian Consul  1
Alien transferred to Commissioners of
Emigration  1
Children adopted  1
 138
Inmates April 30, 1884  226
Of those admitted during the quarter there were
males, 72; females, 38.
Total number of weeks' board furnished during
the quarter, 3,274; increase over last quarter, 254.
The cash receipts for the quarter, $165.39; ex"
pendilures for the quarter, $5,381.71; average cost
per day for each pauper was twenty-nine cents.
The employees of the Alms-house are: Overseer,
monthly salary, $50; baker, monthly salary, $25;
teamster, monthly salary, $30; night watchman,
monthly salary, $60; hostler, monthly salary, $15;
cook, monthly salary, $16; hospital cook, monthly
salary, $5; hospital nurse, monthly salary, $20;
hospital nurse, monthly salary, $5; two hospital
nurses, each, monthly salary, $3; keeper of asy
lum, monthly salary, $50; matron, monthly salary,
$20; cook, monthly salary, $5; carpenter, monthly
salary, $50; farmer, monthly salary, $30; matron,
monthly salary, $20; children's nurse, monthly
salary, $5.
The report claims that the amount expended for
the support of alien paupers for the last twelve
months would have kept the institution in hospital
supplies for a year.
Superintendent, John McKenna.

352

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Inmates July 31, 1884, 184; inmates October
31, 1884, 198. Of those admitted 92 were males;
52 females. Average cost of maintenance per
day, each, thirty cents.
Cash receipts for the quarter, $183.30.
The amount paid into the city treasury by the
Superintendent of the Alms-house, for the year
ending October 1, 1884, was $19,649,81.

The amount paid towards the maintenance of
Alms-house from the treasury, $30,104.49.
On December 5, 1884, a resolution was passed
by the Board of Supervisors to levy a tax, to be ap
plied in several ways, among which was an appro
priation of the sum of $26,000 for the Alms-house
for the ensuing year, and also $2, 000 to meet the
deficiency of the past year.

ALBANY PENITENTIARY.

A BILL passed the Legislature incorporating
the Albany Penitentiary about April 9, 1844,
and on December 19th of that year the Supervisors
directed a proper site to be purchased for the erec
tion of the buildings. In 1846, it was first opened,
the work on the building having been done princi
pally by prisoners, who were taken to and from the
jail each day. It is situated in a park of about fif
teen acres, located south of Washington Park.
Amos Pilsbury, of Connecticut, was appointed
Superintendent in 1844, and continued in office
until his death, in 1872. No essential change has
been made in the working plans of the institution,
as put into practice by him with such wonderful
success as to gain a world-wide admiration. It
cannot be detailed in our space. The silent or
Auburn system was adopted at the beginning.
The prisoners are marched in lock-step to and from
their work, and are not permitted to converse with
each other. They are kept at work. Some are
employed in the manufacture of brushes and chairs,
but the chief employment is in the shoe shops.
A great source of financial success in this institu
tion comes of receiving prisoners from other coun
ties. Contracts are made with the Supervisors of
other counties for the board and care of their crim
inals. , Many have also been received from the
United States Courts. For these board has been
paid to this Penitentiary. These prisoners have
been put at work, and their labor is let to con
tractors at remunerative wages.
Originally the prison had but 90 cells; now it has
625. The building has been enlarged to nearly
six times its original dimensions. New work-shops
have been erected, and the whole yard has been
inclosed by a high wall.
The greatest number of commitments is caused
by intemperance. In 1855, there were 801 com
mitments. Of these 771 admitted themselves to be
intemperate.

The prisoners are confined in separate cells at
night, but work in the shops during the day. The
discipline seems almost perfect.
In 1872, General Pilsbury died, and was suc
ceeded by his son, Louis D. Pilsbury, who, by con
tinuing to improve in conducting the system begun
by his father, brought the institution to its present
prosperous condition. He has, since leaving this
Penitentiary, been in charge of the institution on
Ward's Island, and been Superintendent of all the
New York State Prisons. Mr. John McEwen, since
1879, has held the position of Superintendent.
Each year the Penitentiary pays into the treasury
a handsome surplus from the earnings of the insti
tution, and thereby lessens taxation throughout the
county. Under the present Superintendent the
amount paid to the credit of the county in actual
money is about $75,000.
All short-term prisoners are cared for without
expense to the county. Without the Penitentiary,
it is estimated that the expense to the county would
be at least $50,000 per annum.
The following is a summary of statistics from the
Report of the Superintendent, filed with the Clerk
of the Board, February 3, 1885:
The number of prisoners received during the
year has been 2,270; added to those in confine
ment October 31, 1883, 837; making a total of
3,107. Discharged by expiration of sentence,
2,012; pardoned by President, 4; discharged by
order of Secretary of War, 2 : pardoned by Gov
ernor, 6; commuted by Governor, 1; discharged by
remission of fines, 8; discharged by court or mag
istrate, 25; discharged by appeal, certiorari, etc.,
22; discharged by payment of fine to justices, 113;
died, 15; total discharged during year, 2,208;
leaving in confinement October 31, 1884, 899.
Of these 785 were males, 114 females. Of the
above number received during the year there were:
Males, 1,962; females, 308; total, 2,270.

LEGISLATIVE OFFICERS.

353

Of these there were born in the United States,
1,480; Ireland, 409; Germany, 115; England,
90; Scotland, 25; Canada, 75; France, 10; Italy,
Poland, Wales and Norway, 17; Sweden and
Switzerland, 20; Denmark, Holland and New
foundland, 4; Prussia, Australia and New Bruns
wick, 8; Russia, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward's
Island, 17; total, 2,270.
Of these 1,644 could read and write; 216 could
read only; 410 could neither read nor write; 1,894
admitted themselves to be intemperate; 376 claimed
to be temperate; 822 were or had been married;
1,448 were single; 379 were sent from the City of
Albany; 179 from the town of Watervliet; 1 from
Bethlehem; 98 from the City of Cohoes.
Of these 1,398 were sentenced for a term less than
six months; 578 for six months each; 57 from seven
months to one year; 84 for one year; 20 for one
year, and fine from $100 to $500; 46 for terms
over one year, not exceeding two years; 38 for
over two and not exceeding three years; 29 for

three and not exceeding four years; 16 for four
years, not exceeding five; 13 for terms from six to
ten years; 1 for life. 273 were under twenty years
of age; 906 were between twenty and thirty years;
527 were between thirty and forty years; 318 were
between forty and fifty years; 246 were over fifty
years. Early in the Legislature of 1885, a bill was intro
duced to relieve the Board of Supervisors of Albany
County, and the Mayor and Recorder of the City
of Albany, from all responsibility in regard to the
maintenance and care of the Penitentiary. On
May 11, 1885, the bill became law.
The Penitentiary Commission consists of D.
Cady Herrick, District Attorney; John Battersby,
County Treasurer; and John Reilly. The Peniten
tiary has been under their control since May, 1885.
The Superintendent receives a salary of $3,000 per
annum. A deputy, two clerks, three matrons and
several subordinates are employed. The shops are
in immediate charge of faithful overseers.

LEGISLATIVE OFFICERS FROM ALBANY COUNTY.

SENATORS.
UNDER the first Constitution of the State, the
Senate consisted of twenty-four members, ap
portioned among four great districts. After the first
election they were divided by lots into four classes,
so that the terms of six should expire each year. An
additional Senator was to be added to each district
whenever, by a septennial census, it was shown that
the number of electors in the district had increased
one twenty-fourth. This increase was to be al
lowed till the number reached one hundred. The
census of 1795 made the number foity-three. In
1801, the rule being found unequal in its opera
tion, the Constitution was amended so as to fix the
number of Senators permanently at thirty-two,
which has ever since been retained. By the Con
stitution of 1 82 1, the State was divided into eight
great Senatorial districts, each of which was enti
tled to four Senators, one being elected every year.
Their term of office was four years. Under the
present Constitution the State consists of thiity-two
Senatorial districts, in each of which a Senator is

elected each odd year. The Senate district must
consist of contiguous territory, and no county can
be divided unless entitled to two or more Senators.
Abraham Yates, Jr., 1777-90; Dirck W. Ten
Broeck, 1777-78; Anthony Van Schaick, 1777-78;
Rinier Mynderse, 1777-78.
The first session of the Legislature of this State
was in 1777, assembling at Kingston, September
9th. On October 7th following it was dispersed
by the British troops. The second meeting of this
session was held at Poughkeepsie, beginning Jan
uary 15th and ending April 4, 1778.
Rinier Mynderse, 1778-81; Dirck W. Ten
Broeck, 1778-83; Philip Schuyler, 1781-84, 1786-
88, 1792-97; Henry Oothoudt, 1782-85; Volkert
P. Douw, 1786-93; Peter Schuyler, 1787-92;
Leonard Gansvoort, 1791-93, 1797-1802; Stephen
Van Rensselaer, 1791-95; Anthony Ten Eyck,
1797-1801; Anthony Van Schaick, 1797-1800;
Abraham Van Vechten, 1 798-1 805, 18 16-19;
Francis Nicoll, 1797-98; John Sanders, 1799-
1802; Stephen Lush, 1801-2; Simon Veeder,
1804-7; John Veeder, 1806-9; Joseph C. Yates,

354

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

1806-8; Charles E. Dudley, 1820-5; John Mc
Carty, 1827-30; Peter Gansvoort, 1833-6; Friend
Humphrey, 1 840-1; Ira Harris, 1847; Valentine
Tredwell, 1848-49; Azor Taber, 1852-53; Clark
son F. Crosby, 1854-55; John W. Harcourt,
1856-57; George Y. Johnson, 1858-59; Andrew
J. Colvin, 1860-61; John V. L. Pruyn, 1862-63;
Lorenzo D. Collins, 1866-67; A. B. Banks, 1868-
69, 1870-71; Charles H. Adams, 1872-73; Jesse
C Dayton, 1874-75; Hamilton Harris, 1876-79;
Waters W. Braman, 1880-81; Abraham Lansing,
1882-83; John B. Thacher, 1884-85.
MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY.
Gerrit Abeel, 1796; Mathew Adgate, 1780-85;
Flores Bancker, 1779-80; Thomas E. Barker, 1798
-99; Daniel D. Barnard, 1838; Frederick Bassler,
Jr., 1840; George Batterman, 1825; John Bay,
1779-80; Abraham Becker, 1784-85; John Beek
man, Jr., 1804; John H. Beekman, 1782-83; John
James Beekman, 1780-83; Sidney Berry, 1791-92;
James Bill, 1796-1800; Harmanus Bleeker, 1814-
15; David Bogardus, 1807, 181 2-13; Leonard
Bronck, 1786-93; Abraham Brooks, 1823; John
Brown, 1808-9; Jonathan Brown, 1791; Jesse
Buel, 1823; Daniel Burhans, 1804-6; John H.
Burhans, 1808-9, 1816-17; Benjamin F. Butler,
1828; Asa Colvard, 1806-7, 1811—12, 1820;
John Colvin, 1810; Philip Conine, Jr., 1796-97,
1800; Clarkson F. Crosby, 1845; Abraham Cuyler,
1784; Jacob Cuyler, 1777-78; John Cuyler, Jr.,
1777-78; John Davis, 1839; Adam Deitz, Jr.,
1804-6; Johan Jost Deitz, 1798-1804, 1807-9,
1811-14; Johannes Deitz, 1792-96; David Delong,
1811; Abijah B. Disbrow, 1832; John A. Dix,
1842; David Dorman, 1836; Prince Dot)', 1798-
1802; James C. Duane, 1796-97; William A. Duer,
1818-19; John Duncan, 1788-89; Peter Flagler,
1840; JellisA. Fonda, 1792-94; Jacob Ford, 1781-
85; Sylvester Ford, 1814-15 ; Michael Freeligh,
1816; Abel French, 1810; Philip Frisbie, 1781-82;
John Frisby, 1803; John Fuller, 1847; John I. Gal
lup, 1847; Leonard Gansvoort, 1778-79, 1788; Leon
ard Gansvoort, Jr., 1795; Peter Gansvoort, 1830-
31; James D. Gardner, 1829; John Gibbons, 1812-
13; Henry Glen, 1786-87; James Gordon, 1777-
81, 1784, 1786-90; Theo. V. W. Graham, 1794;
Daniel Hale, 1807; Willis Hall, 1843; Isaac Ham
ilton, 1827; Ira Harris, 1845-46; John Haswell,
1827; And. N. Heermance, 1798-99; John V.
Henry, 1800-2; Jacob Hotchstrasser, 1794-97;
Gerrit Hogan, 1820-21; Lawrence Hogeboom,
1786; James Holcomb, 1796-97; Aaron Hough

taling, 1841; W. D. Houghtaling, 1819; Cornelius
Humphrey, 1779-80; Thomas Hun, 1794-95;
Elishama Janes, 1812-13; Jonathan Jenkins, 1808-
9, 1820; Richard Kimmey, 1837; Francis Lan
sing, 1841; JohnLansing, Jr., 1780-84, 1786-89;
Jeremiah Lansingh, 1798-99; Philip Lennebacker,
1832; Leonard Litchfield, 1845; Aaron Livingston,
1834; Edward Livingston, 1833, 1835, 1837; John
Livingston, 1786-87; Peter R. Livingston, 1780-81;
Walter Livingston, 1777-79, 1784-85; James S.
Lowe, 1830; Samuel S. Lush, 1825-26, 1830;
Stephen Lush, 1792-93, 1803-6; David McCarty,
1792; James McKown, 1820-22; William Mc
Kown, 1822; Hugh Mitchell, 1779-80; Nich. V.
Mynderse, 1804-5 ; Francis Nicoll, 1792-93;
1796-1800; William North, 1792, 1794-96; Na
thaniel Ogden, 1796-98; Henry Oothoudt, 1779-
80; Volkert D. Oothout, 1822; John I. Ostran-
der, 181-6-17; Cornelius G. Palmer, 1842; George
Palmer, 1781-82; Stephen Piatt, 1794-95; Will
iam Powers, 1787; John Price, 1814-15, 1820;
John Prince, 1796-98; Henry Quackenboss, 1779—
80; Edmund Raynsford, 1838; Abraham Rose-
crantz, 1823; James Sacket, 1818; J. W. Scher
merhorn, 1 791; Maus Schermerhorn, 1803-4;
John Schoolcraft, 1816; Jacob Schoonhoven, 1786;
John C. Schuyler. 1836; Peter Schuyler, 1784;
Peter S. Schuyler, 1802-4, 1820; Philip P. Schuy
ler, 1796-99; Stephen J. Schuyler, 1777-79; David
G. Seger, 1835; Jacob Settle, 1833; Paul Settle,
1838; William Seymour, 1832, 1836; Thomas L.
Shafer, 1846; Levi Shaw, 1844; Israel Shear, 1833;
John P. Shear, 1822; Jonas Shear, 1842; Joseph
Shurtleff, 1798-99, 1800-2, 1804-7; Thomas
Sickles, 1787-88; Richard Sill, 1789-91; William
N. Sill, 1828; John I. Slingerland, 1843; Jesse
Smith, 1816; Moses Smith, 1804-5, 1814, 1820-
21; Barent P. Staats, 1834; Chandler Starr, 1829;
Archibald Stephens, 1824; Samuel Stephens, 1844;
John Stillwell, 1824; Henry Stone, 1827; Dirck
Swart, 1780-85; Gideon Taber, 1816-18; John
Tayler, 1777-81, i786-87;-Jacobus Teller, 1778-
79; Dirck Ten Broeck, 1 796-1 802; John Ten
Broeck, 1792-93; Samuel Ten Broeck, 1781-83;
Andrew Ten Eyck, 1826; Henry Ten Eyck, 1792;
Jacob Ten Eyck, 1800-3 ; J- De Peyster Ten
Eyck, 1788; Israel Thompson, 1781-82, 1784-85;
Joel Thompson, 1798; John Thompson, 1788-89;
Valentine Treadwell, 1847; Jesse Tyler, 181 2,
1814-15; Ab. J. Van Alstyne, 1786; Cornelius
Van Dyck, 1788-89; Dirck Van Ingen, 1788;
Peter Van Ness, 1782-84; Hezekiah Van Orden,
1788; Andrews Van Patten, 1795; H. K. Van
Rensselaer, 1788-90; J. Van Rensselaer, 1788-89;

COUNTY TREASURER.

355

J. Van Rensselaer, Jr., 1780-81; Killian Van Rens
selaer, 1777-79; Robert Van Rensselaer, 1777-81;
Stephen Van Rensselaer, 1789-90, 1808-10, 1818;
Aaron Van Schaick, 1843; J- Van Schoonhoven,
1791; Corn. A. Van Slyck, 1791-93; Abraham
Van Vechten, 1800, 1808-13; Corn. Van Vechten,
1789-90; John G. Van Zandt, 1812; Jacob Vee
der, 1807-8; Simeon Veeder, 1844; Abraham
Verplanck, 1837; David I. D. Verplank, 1828;
Mathew Visscher, 1784-85, 1787; Isaac Vrooman,
1779-82; PeterVrooman, 1777-79, 1786-87; Corn.
H. Waldron, 1819; Tobias T. E. Waldron, 1835;
Robert D.Watson, 1846-47; Rufus Watson, 1816-
17, 1839; Wheeler Watson, 1831; Edmund Wells,
1781-82; John H. Wendell, 1796-98; Peter West,
1798, 1800-2; Henry G. Wheaton, 1835-41;
Malachi Whipple, 1826; Phineas Whiteside, 1779-
80; William B. Whiting, 1777-80; Stephen Willes,
1820-21, 1825; Erastus Williams, 1830; Prentice
Williams, Jr., 1834; Jacob Winne, 1 800-1; John
D. Wirfne, 18 14-15; John L. Winne, 18 14; Peter
W. Winne, 1831; Jesse Wood, 1824; Christopher
Yates, 1782-85; J. Van Ness Yates, 1819; Peter
W. Yates, 1784-85; John Younglove, 1782-85,
1788-90. Charles H. Adams, 1858; William Aley,
1866; Cornelius W. Armstrong, 1858; Daniel L.
Babcock, 1872; Robert Babcock, 1851; Dwight
Batcheller, 1858; A. Bleecker Banks, 1862; Hiram
Barber, 1849; Lewis Benedict, Jr., 1861; Robert
C. Blackall, 1871; Martin J. Blessing, 1855; James
Brady, 1856; Waters W. Braman, 1874-75, 1877,
1879; Henry A. Brigham, 1848; Israhiah Chese-
bro, 1854; John C. Chism, 1868; Clark B. Coch
rane, 1866; Thomas D. Coleman, 1876; Lorenzo
D. Collins, 1859-60; Hugh Conger, 1867, 1869;
Almerin J. Cornell, 1862; Edward Coyle, 1871;
James F. Crawford, 1866; Henry Creble, 1859;
John Cutler, 1852; Edward Curran, 1877-78;
Alexander Davidson, 1855; Archibald A. Dunlop,
1854; John Evers, 1857; Morgan L. Filkins, 1859,
1864; Wm. W. Forsyth, 1853; John N. Foster,
1878; Jay Gibbons, 1861; Samuel W. Gibbs, i860;
Hiram Griggs, 1878-80; Robert Harper, 1852;
Hamilton Harris, 185 1; Jonathan R. Herrick,
1877; Stephen M. Hollenbeck, 1854; Orville M.
Hungerford, 1865; Henry Jenkins, 1856; Thomas
Kearney, 1853; William J. Maher, 1876-77; Will
iam D. Murphy, 1870-71; Michael A. Nolan,
1865; Joel B. Nott, 1850; William L. Oswald,
1863-64; Harris Parr, 1864; Eli Perry, 185 1;
Henry R. Pierson, 1873; Oscar F. Potter, 1867;
Robert H. Pruyn, 1848-50, 1854; Terence J.
Quinn, 1874; John Reid, 1853; Alexander Robert

son, 1865, 1867; Edward D. Ronan, 1870; John
Sager, 1877; George M. Sayles, 1852; Fred. Schif
ferdecker, 1874; Peter Schoonmaker, 1874; Wil-
lett Searls, 1862; William S. Shepard, 1850; Adam
I. Shultes, 1851; John I. Slingerland, i860; Peter
Slingerland, 1875-76; Adam W. Smith, 1869;
Henry Smith, 1867, 1872; William J. Snyder,
1863; Stephen Springsteed, 1872; James T. Story,
1878; Jackson A. Summer, 1868; William D.
Sunderlin, 1871; Hugh Swift, 1852; John Tighe,
1869-70; Franklin Townsend, 1857; Lyman Tre
main, 1866; Adam Van Allen, 1857; David Van
Auken, 1849; Cornelius Vanderzee, 1850; Harmon
H. Vanderzee, 1865; John Vanderzee, 1862;
James B. Van Etten, 1855; J. W. Van Valken
burgh, 1873; T. Van Vechten, Jr., 1852; Theo.
Van Volkenburgh, 1868; Francis W. Vosburgh,
1875; Henry L. Wait, 1863; William J. Wheeler,
1861; Isaac Whitbeck, 1856; Edward S. Willett,
1848; Joel A. Wing, 1849; George Wolford, 1858;
Francis H. Woods, 1868; William A. Young,
1859; Alfred LeRoy, 1876; Leopold C. G. Kshinka,
1874-5; George B. Mosher, 1872-73; Charles
Knowles, 1879; Thomas H. Greer, 1879; William
H. Slingerland, Ignatius Wiley, Joseph Haynes,
Thomas Liddle, 1880; Miner Gallup, Andrew S.
Draper, Aaron B. Pratt, George Campbell, 1881;
Michael J. Gorman, Aaron Fuller, Amasa J. Par
ker, John McDonough, 1882; Daniel P. Winne,
Warren S. Kelley, Edward A. Maher, Joseph Dela-
hanty, 1883; John Zimmerman, Hiram Becker,
Edward A. Maher, James Forsyth, Jr., 1884;
Lansing Hotaling, 1885.
ALBANY COUNTY COUNTY TREASURER.
This ancient officer was known before the revo
lution. He is the custodian of the funds of the
county, and also disburses them. He is re
quired to give heavy bonds for the faithful
performance of his duties. He is required to
report to the Board of Supervisors annually.
They audit his accounts. His salary is fixed
at the annual sum of $5,000. Among his du
ties is to direct the sale of property for unpaid
taxes — in fact he has large duties connected with
the taxes of the county. Under the direction of
the Board of Supervisors he often borrows money
in the credit of the county, cancels taxes, etc. On
the whole, it is one of the most important offices
in the county. The Treasurer was formerly ap
pointed by the Board of Supervisors; but by the
statute provisions of 1846, he is now elected for a
term of 3 years by the people, in November. The

356

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

following is a list of the County Treasurers under
the Constitution of 1846: James Kidd, 1848;
Cornelius Ten Broeck, 1851; Richard J. Grant,
1854; Adam Van Allen, 1857; Thomas Kearney,

i860; Stephen V. Frederick, 1866; Alexander
Kennedy, 1869; Nathan D. Wendell, 1872;
Henry Kelly, 1878; Albert Gallup, 1881; John
Battersby, 1884.

JOURNALISTS AND JOURNALISM IN ALBANY COUNTY.

ALBANY has always been conspicuous for the
ability of its editors, publishers and printers.
Its history is embellished with the career of illus
trious journalists. Here the press has wielded an
influence that may truly be called national.
The history of the Albany press began in No
vember, 1771, when Alexander and James Rob
ertson issued the first number of the Albany Gazette,
a journal which had its birth and death within the
space of one year. But it was the pioneer under
taking. Down to 181 1 there were but thirty-four news
papers in the State. "The paper," says Mr.
Weed, "on which they were printed resembled
ordinary wrapping-paper in texture and hue, and
the type, in most cases, was worn well down to
ward the first nick. The New York Columbian
was printed on a sheet as blue as indigo, while the
Hudson Bee rejoiced in colors as yellow as Mrs.
Skewton's bed-curtains. " Considering the material
and conveniences of that day, printing was done
with wonderful rapidity. In Albany, as early as
18 16, Governor Tompkins' last message was print
ed and republished in Canandaigua within five
days. Canandaigua, at that time, was as far from
Albany, in length of time, as San Francisco is now.
Alexander & James Robertson, the pioneer
printers of Albany, having established the Gazette
in 1 77 1, Albany was the second city in the State in
which a regular newspaper was published. It was
printed on a small sheet, about one-fourth the
size of the Evening fournal.
At the time it was started, and during its exist
ence, New York was a province of Great Britain,
though the growing spirit of liberty was fast pro
ducing the crisis which resulted in the revolution
and American freedom. It was, doubtless, the
turbulent state of the times that caused the Robert
sons to suspend the Gazette. They were loyal to
Great Britain, and left, it is said, for Nova Scotia.
The editors of the Gazette, January 13, 1772, make
the following quaint apology;

' ' The printers of the Gazette, from motives of
gratitude and duty, are obliged to apologize to the
public for the omission of one week's publication;
and hope the irregularity of the mail from New
York since the first great fall of snow, and the se
vere cold preceding Christmas, which froze the pa
per prepared for the press so as to put a stop to its
operation, will sufficiently account for it."
The liberal manner in which merchants- adver
tised at that day, is indicated by the advertisement
of Thomas Barry, a leading merchant of Albany,
whose store stood near the Dutch Church, at the
foot of State street. His advertisement occupies a
column of the Gazette, giving a description of his
goods quite as eloquently written as that of the
popular merchants of to-day. Among the articles
advertised, we find the following: "None-so-
pretty of various colors, and black breeches pat
terns." Another firm, James Gourlay & Co.,
largely advertise, stating particularly that their
"store is to be found in Cheapside street, next
door to the King's Arms."
Jesse Buel. — Among the most prominent names
among the great journalists of Albany, is that of
Jesse Buel.
He was born in Coventry, Conn., January 4,
1778, the youngest of a family of fourteen children!
His father, Elias Buel, was an officer in the
army of the revolutionary war. At the age of
fourteen, he entered the printing-office of a Mr.
Lyon, at Rutland, as appientice. The first four
years of his term were spent in unremitted atten
tion to his calling. Having purchased of Mr.
Lyon the unexpired three years of his time, he
began the life of a journeyman printer. After a brief
stay in the City of New York, he worked a short
time with Mr. McDonald of Albany; also at
Waterford and Lansingburgh. In connection with
Mr. Moffat, of Troy, he began in June, 1797, the
publication of the Troy Budget. In September
1804, he left the Budget. About that time he
married Miss Susan Pierce, of Troy.
In October, 1801, he was in Poughkeepsie, pub
lishing a weekly paper called the Guardian. This
was discontinued after about one year. He began

fOURNALISTS AND fOURNALISM.

357

the publication of the Political Banner, which was
also short-lived.
At the close of 1802, he established a paper in
Kingston, called the Plebian, which he conducted
with marked success until the close of the year
18 13. Six years after he came to Kingston, he
was appointed Judge of the Court of Common
Pleas of Ulster County.
While at Kingston, he gained the lasting friend
ship of that illustrious jurist, Ambrose Spencer.
Through Judge Spencer's influence, he removed
to the City of Albany and commenced the Albany
Argus. The next year he was appointed State
printer. He occupied the editorial chair of the
Argus with distinguished ability till 1820, when
he decided to abandon the duties of journalist and
printer. Judge Buel, during all his career as a journalist,
insisted upon spending a portion of his time in
setting type and working at the press.
Disposing of the Argus, which he had founded,
he purchased a farm near the City of Albany, and
assumed the life of a farmer. While residing on
his farm, he was a member of the State Assembly
during the session of 1823.
His attention to agriculture met with such suc
cess, that he became one of the most distinguished
agriculturists in the State. In March, 1834, the
Cultivator was commenced, under the auspices of
the State Agricultural Society, and Judge Buel be
came its editor. From a small monthly sheet,
issued at the price of twenty-five cents per year, it
rapidly increased in size and in subscriptions until,
in March, 1838, its subscription list amounted to
23,000." On commencing the fifth volume, it was
increased in size, and took its place among leading
agricultural journals.
In 1821, he was elected a member of the Mass
achusetts Agricultural Society; in 1829, of the
Horticultural Society of that State; in 1830, of
the Monroe Hortcultural Society of Rochester;
in 1831, of the Charleston Horticultural Society in
South Carolina; in 1832, of the Hampshire,
Franklin and Hampden Society in Massachusetts,
and of the Hamilton County Agricultural Society
at Cincinnati ; in 1833, of the Tennessee Agricul
tural and Horticultural Societies; in 1834, of the
Horticultural Society of the District of Columbia;
in 1838, of ihe Philadelphia Society of Agriculture;
and in 1839, of the Albemarle Agricultural Society.
In 1838, he was chosen President of the Horticul
tural Society of the Valley of the Hudson, and was
several times chosen President of theState Agricul
tural Society. Thus is seen the regard in which
he was held. Judge Buel's efforts were by no
means confined to agricultural pursuits. The
motto of his Cultivator was "To improve the soil
and the mind."
His system of education, like his system of agri
culture, was practical. He would guide the effort
of muscle by the direction of the mind. While
cultivating the land he would enjoy the landscape.
The efforts of Judge Buel greatly tended to make
honorable, as well as profitable, the pursuits of
agriculture. He delivered addresses before agri

cultural and horticultural societies in various parts
of the Union, and always drew large audiences to
listen to him.
On September 22, 1839, while at Danbury,
Conn. , he had a severe attack of bilious colic, fol
lowed by bilious fever, which terminated fatally
October 4th. His death produced a profound sen
sation and general sorrow.
Judge Buel was a practical illustration of repub
lican simplicity — always plain in dress and ap
pearance, and unassuming in his manners. He
was hospitable without display, pious without pre
tension, and learned without pedantry. As a writer
his style was well adapted to the nature of his com
munications. With him words meant things, and
not simply their shadows. He came to the com
mon mind like an old familiar acquaintance, though
he always brought new ideas.
His writings are principally found in the many
addresses he delivered; in the six volumes of his
Cultivator; in the small volume made up from ma
terials taken from the Cultivator, published by the
Harpers; and in the "Farmer's Companion," the
last and most elaborate of his works. It was written
expressly for the Massachusetts Board of Education,
and was one of the most popular works of the kind.
Moses I. Cantine was born at Catskill, New
York, December 14, 1774. He received a prepar
atory classical education and entered the office
of Chancellor John Lansing, at Albany, under
whose instruction he qualified himself lor admis
sion to the Bar. He was made an attorney-at-
law at Albany, in October, 1798. Opening an
office at Catskill, he was not long in attaining a
highly respectable position in his profession. March
5, 1 801, he was appointed by Gov. George Clin
ton, Assistant Attorney-General for the Third Dis
trict of the State, and was reappointed February
8, 1808, and February 15, 181 1. On June 19,
1818, hewas appointed first Judge of the Greene
County Court of Common Pleas.
Judge Cantine, at an early period of his life
exhibited the qualities of an easy, ready and at
tractive writer. His contributions to the Catskill
Recorder and Albany Argus attracted much admi
ration. In December, 1820, he retired from the Bench,
and, with I. Q. Leake, purchased the Albany Argus
and became editor-in-chief. The next year the
Argus was made the State paper, and rapidly
increased in influence. Judge Cantine and Mr.
Leake continued to conduct the paper until Jan
uary, 1823, when a change took place in its man
agement by the sudden and greatly lamented
death of Mr. Cantine. Thus the editorial duties
of the Argus were committed to Mr. Leake, a
man of learning and talents, distinguished for his
literary and scientific attainments and abilities as
a journalist; but, feeble in health, he was soon
compelled to relinquish the trust.
William Cassidy.— The history of journalism is
best found in the lives of those who have been
journalists,

358

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Prominent among those who aided in making
the journalistic history of Albany, is William Cas
sidy. With Webster, Barber, Southwick, Croswell,
Weed, Dawson, Manning, and others, he aided in
making that history foremost in the annals of the
nation. He was born in Albany, August 12, 181 5.
The grandfather of William emigrated from
Ireland and settled in Albany in 1790. His father
was John Cassidy, who with his uncle, Patrick Cas
sidy, were esteemed citizens.
At an early age, Cassidy began his classical edu
cation at the Albany Academy, and at the age of
sixteen was admitted to Union College in the
Senior class, graduating in 1833, after remaining
in the college one year, He studied law in the
offices of Judge McKown and John Van Buren.
His articles on political subjects, written at his leis
ure and published in Democratic journals, found
favor with the public. The taste thus cultivated
and encouraged, induced him to leave his legal
studies and adopt the profession of journalism.
At a time of life when other young men are
scarcely through with their collegiate education,
Mr. Cassidy's brilliant gifts as a writer were win
ning wide recognition, and he was acknowledged
by the leaders of the Democratic party as one of
their ablest and most effective political writers. At
the age of twenty-five he first entered the field of
journalism as a regular, writing for the Plaindealer
and Rough Hewer, then published in Albany.
From 184 1 to 1843 he was State Librarian.
In the spring of 1843 he became connected with
the Albany Atlas, a daily paper started in 1841 by
Vance & Wendell, and, with Henry H. Van Dyke,
edited that journal. The Atlas was founded as
the organ of the "Barn-burner" section of the
Democratic party, and recognized as such during
its existence.
The contest between the "Barn-burner" and
" Hunker" factions of the Democratic party will
long be remembered as mpre bitter than that which
the former party waged against the Whigs. The
Atlas entered the political arena as the opponent of
a majority of the Democratic party led by the Argus,
a veteran in the politics of the State. At this
time Edwin Croswell, wielding a bold, gigantic
pen, was the editor of the Albany Argus. The
sharp and bitter antagonism between that journal
and the Atlas was what might have been expected.
Cassidy, as the friend of Silas Wright and the
" Free-soilers" and "Barn-burners," vigorously
maintained his position against his formidable
opponent. The contest continued with unabated
ardor until 1856, when the advent of the Repub
lican party, and the great power it developed,
with other causes, led the factions in the Demo
cratic party to unite and the Atlas and Argus became
consolidated. This event was a triumph for Mr.
Cassidy. He had exhibited such brilliant talents
and such lofty character, such admirable manage
ment in editing the Atlas, that he was selected, with
Mr. Croswell's approval, as the editor of the new
paper, which received the new name of the Atlas
and Argus. Under his editorship the Atlas and
Argus, rapidly attained a high and commanding

position in the State. In a short time Cassidy be
came its principal proprietor.
In 1865, the Argus Company, a joint stock
association, was formed, and Cassidy became its
president. He continued to edit the paper for the
remainder of his life. In 1866 he made the tour
of Europe, enriching the literature of his native
county by many charming and elegantly written
letters, which first appeared in the Argus, and were
copied into various journals. Mr. Cassidy always
persistently refused official position, though in 1867
he was elected a member of the Constitutional
Convention, and in 1872 was appointed by Gov
ernor Hoffman on the State Commission to Revise
the Constitution. He accepted both these posi
tions with reluctance, and they were the only ones
he ever held.
As Governor Robinson said, in addressing the
Commission after Mr. Cassidy's death: "No
temptation would lead him from those funda
mental principles which he had imbibed from con
scientious conviction, deep thought and study.
The welfare of the State was his sole concern, and
his advice to his associates was summed up in his
remark: 'See that your constitution enunciates
principles, and those, principles of elevated states
manship.'" As has been said, his career was that of the
political editor. He helped to make and un
make men. His own life was that of the sanctum,
the library and the social circle. His influence
was such as is wielded by a matchless pen ; his
achievements those of a master of thought, the
exponent of party, and the leader of political
councils. He combined in a superlative degree
the qualities which distinguish the wit, the scholar
and the politician. These, with his fine taste and
culture, made him one of the most brilliant and
accomplished men of his time. He had an emi
nently social nature and loved the social circle.
John G. Saxe, the poet, paid a pleasing and deli
cate compliment to Mr. Cassidy, when he dedi
cated a volume of his poems to him, as a tribute
to his scholarship.
Mr. Cassidy's personal appearance and bearing
were striking and noble. His manner was uni
formly courtly and dignified in its courtliness ; un
studied, yet perfect. His love for his native city
was not the least of his characteristics. He be
lieved in Albany, and never failed to enlarge upon
its advantages of position and the manifest evi
dences of its marked progress. He lent every
energy towards ils improvement, and as a member
of the Board of Commissioners of Washington
Park, he entered into every project looking to the
expansion of that beautiful spot, and urged every
wise scheme for kindred purposes.
But his active and useful life terminated sud
denly, with brief warning to his friends that he
was soon to leave them for ever. He died at his
home in Albany, January 23, 1873, after a very
short illness.
On the formal announcement of his death,
both branches of the Legislature adjourned, after
appropriate eulogistic remarks in both bodies by

fOURNALISTS AND fOURNALISM

359

distinguished Legislators. The Delta Phi Frater
nity, the Park Commissioners of Albany, the Board
of Trade, the Young Men's Catholic Lyceum, the
Trustees of S. Agnes' Cemetery, the Typographical
Union, the Employees of the Argus Company, and
the Directors of the National Commercial Bank,
all passed resolutions of condolence and apprecia
tion. Letters of regard were received by the
family from prominent men of the country.
Mr. Cassidy was a life-long member of the
Catholic Church, and died in that faith. In 1856
he was married to Miss Lucie Rochefort, who sur
vives him. He left three sons.
Edwin Croswell, whose name ranks high
among the illustrious journalists of the past, was
born at Catskill in 1797. At the age of four
teen he entered the office of the Catskill Recorder
as an apprentice. At this time Moses I. Cantine
was a distinguished lawyer and writer, with an
interest in the Recorder. Young Croswell was
favorably brought to his notice. Time passed,
and Judge Cantine became a resident of Albany,
and one of the editors and proprietors of the Argus.
Young Croswell, in the meantime, had worked his
way to assistant editor of the Recorder. When, in
1823, Judge Cantine died, Croswell attended his
funeral at Albany. The death of Judge Cantine
and the poor health of Mr. Leake, left the Argus
comparatively without an editor. Mr. Croswell,
as one of the editors of the Catskill Recorder, had
exhibited marked abilities as a political writer, and
rendered that paper a power in the State. As he
was about returning to Catskill, after the funeral,
Martin Van Buren, Benjamin F. Butler, and Judge
Duer, then leaders of the Democratic party in the
State, and deeply interested in the Albany Argus,
strongly urged him to become assistant editor with
Mr. Leake, and soon the name of Edwin Croswell
became identified with that paper.
In 1 83 1, Sherman Croswell became associated
with Edwin in the editorial management July
26, 1834, Sherman Croswell became a proprietor
and editor, and so continued till January, 1855.
Edwin Croswell, having withdrawn from the Argus
August 18, 1854, was succeeded by Gideon J.
Tucker, who was made Secretary of State in 1857.
In 1855, Sherman Croswell and Mr. Tucker trans
ferred their interest to James I. Johnson, who asso
ciated with him Calvert Comstock as editor.
It was not long after Edwin Croswell had entered
on the editorial duties of the Argus, before he be
came a power in the politics of the State and nation.
His vigorous mind and ready and powerful pen
were devoted to the interests of the Democratic
party and the discussions of the great questions
which then divided the public mind. As a political
writer it is not too much to say that, during the
period of his active life, he had no rival as a polit
ical journalist, except Thurlow Weed. In the course
of the long political warfare conducted by these
eminent editors, he never allowed himself to be
thrown off his guard by friend or foe. Few Amer
ican journalists ever exhibited more ability in con
ducting controversy, or in quieting animosities

among his own friends, than Edwin Croswell. His
advantages for obtaining an education were limited;
but he understood and practiced the art of self-cul
ture with success. He became familiar with the
English classics. The sententious purity of Swift
was to him a delight and a model. From Swift he
learned how to express his ideas with vividness and
force. From the pages of Junius he learned the
art of binding ideas together ' ' in close compacted
masses." But it was in the printing-office, that
practical school of knowledge, that he made his
way to the highest rank of a political journalist.
A distinguished contemporary writer of Mr. Cros-
well's, speaks of him as follows : "As a party
political editor he has few, if any, superiors in the
United States. Always cool, collected, sagacious
and cautious, he seldom, if ever, allowed himself
to be guilty of any indiscretions. His style of
writing is more highly polished than that of most
American journalists; indeed, it is somewhat re
markable that a man educated to practical business
pursuits should acquire so nice and cultivated lit
erary taste, and a style of writing so pleasing and
perspicuous." Sherman Croswell, another eminent journalist
of Albany, was born in New Haven, Conn., May 4,
1803. His father, Rev. Harry Croswell, D.D.,
was rector of Trinity Church in New Haven.
Young Croswell was graduated at Yale College in
1822. He studied law and was admitted to the
Connecticut Bar in 1826. In 1831, he came to
Albany, where he was associated with his cousin,
Edwin Croswell, in the editorial management of the
Albany Argus, from which he finally retired in 1885.
Mr. Croswell became reporter for the Argus in
the Assembly in 1833, and for twenty-five succes
sive years, with the exception of the session of 1 854,
he regularly reported the proceedings for the Argus,
closing with the session of 1857, two years after
its consolidation with the Atlas. At the time of
his retirement, probably, he had no superior as a
reportorial writer in this country.
Mr. Croswell became one of the proprietors and
editors of the Argus, July 26, 1834, and so remained
until January 1, 1855.
A distinguished citizen of Albany who knew him
very intimately, paid the following tribute to his
memory at the time of his death: " For a man so
widely known, he was, indeed, known to few. He
did not make many friends, but the few he made
were life-long and true. Eminently courteous in
his manners to all, he was a man of reserve. His
confidence was given slowly, and even reluctantly,
but when given was never withdrawn without the
strongest cause for withdrawal. "
His poetic, imaginative mind rendered the duties
of a political editor, at first, uncongenial to him.
But by determination he warped his mind to the
calling he selected until he loved it.
A service of nearly a quarter of a century, first as
an assistant, and subsequently as chief editor of one
of the most influential political papers in this coun
try, had not been without its influence upon Mr.
Croswell's character.

360^

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

No one familiar only with the always vigorous
and sometimes trenchant style of the Argus of that
day, would have suspected that many of its most
characteristic articles came from the pen of a writer
whose temperament was essentially a poetic one,
and whose feelings were much more in harmony
with whatever is beautiful in nature or art than in
the details of politics. He died March 16, 1859.
GEORGE DAWSON.
The name of George Dawson ranks high among
American journalists. The influence which the
daily press has attained is largely due to his pen
and his vigorous mind. As has well been said: "He
was a journalist of the old school, wedded to the
tradition of days when party organs were the lead
ing newspapers of the country. " And yet such was
the versatility of his talents, that he was at home in
any field where the newspaper existed. He pos
sessed the sound judgment, the large circumspec
tion, which enables men to weigh the relative value
of either reason or facts; he was cautious enough,
and drew sufficiently from his imagination in form
ing his hypotheses to render his writings attractive;
and he was not deficient in the happy sagacity which
pierces through apparent dissimilarity and ranges
things seemingly unlike under the same class. In
a word, he was an excellent collector of facts and a
successful, active and bold reasoner upon them.
These qualities rendered him powerful in the po
litical arena and made him among the first poli
ticians of his times.
As a politician he was eminently distinguished
for the two great virtues of inflexible steadiness to
his principles, and invariable gentleness and ur
banity in his manner of asserting them. Yet, if
occasion required, he could be rancorous, could
dip his pen in gall, or move it responsive to the
keenest satire, the liveliest wit, the most polished
humor. With his wit he could make any subject
repulsive, or render a repulsive subject agreeable.
In his writings, whether literary or political, all
his wit was argument, and each of his delightful
illustrations a material step in his reasonings.
Elegant and graceful as was his style of writing,
it was distinguished more for its practicability and
its strong sense than its beauty and elegance. But
the former often enabled him to state a strong ar
gument or a nice distinction in a more striking and
pleasing way, and actually with greater precision,
than could have been attained by the severer forms
of reasoning.
Mr. Dawson's pen was not confined to politics
alone; he relieved the tedium, the responsibility
and the aggressiveness of partisan journalism by
the cultivation of a beautiful and enlivening litera
ture. A lover of rural life, the forests, the stream and
the lake, his pen often painted scenes from these
in life-like beauty; indeed, we have sometimes
thought that there is nothing, even in the Bucolics
or the Georgics of Virgil, or the enlivening piges
of Thompson, more redolent with fragrance of the
forest and the field; or which brings home more

forcibly the attractions of the stream, touches more
exquisitely on pastoral life, and gives the viscissi-
tudes of the changing year, more truthfully and
graphically than the pen of Dawson.
He was born in Falkirk, Scotland, March 14,
1813. His father, after whom he was named — a
book-binder by trade, and the son of a gardener,
residing near Edinburgh — was for manyyears in the
employ of the famous publishing house of the Con
stables, at Edinburgh. In 18 10, he married Mary
Chapman, and soon after removed to Falkirk, the
birthplace of George.
From his parents George derived no patent of
peerage, but he inherited from them those sterling
qualities of Scottish character: industry, integrity
and reverence for God. He was a child of the
Covenanters. In 1816, the father, for the purpose
of bettering his fortunes, crossed the Atlantic and
found employment in the City of New York.
Thither, in 1 818, he brought his wife, with young
George and an elder brother, James, born in 18 11,
and a younger sister, Ellen, born in 181 5. The
father remained in New York till 1818, when he
removed to Toronto, then Little York, Canada,
where he followed his occupation six years, after
which he lived in Niagara Count}', and afterwards
in Rochester, in both places continuing his occu
pation. In 1836, he removed to Royal Oak, Mich
igan. The advantages of young George for an educa
tion were meager; but his intellect was active, and
he sought and attained knowledge almost intuitively.
He was one of those who obtain an education with
out teachers— always in school and always learn?
ing. When he was eleven years old, he was entered as
an apprentice to the printing business in the office
of the Niagara Gleaner, where he remained till
1826, when his parents removed to Rochester. At
this time Thurlow Weed was the editor of the Anti-
Masonic Inquirer. In the office of that journal
young Dawson found employment, and in this way
he was brought in contact with the powerful intel
lect and rare journalistic qualities of ils distin
guished editor. The relations thus begun were
fortunate for both parties, and continued through
life; each evolved and radiated the talent of the
other. During his apprenticeship, young Dawson's leis
ure hours were devoted to his books; they were his
companions, the fountain of his pleasure. He might
almost have adopted the language of Horne Tooke,
when he said to Erskine: "If you had obtained ten
years of life for me in a dungeon, with my books,
pen and ink, I should have thanked you." He
eagerly read the translations of Greek and Roman
history and literature.
He once said to a gentleman in Rochester, now
living: "You would, perhaps, be astonished at
the progress one can make by devoting to study
but one hour of each day. I used to average more
than that each day, taking time which was employed
by others in amusement. In this way I made my
self a proficient in several branches, particularly in
belles-lettres, history and political economy."

Ca. 4%a^ty^*-^*. —

fOURNALlSTS AND fOURNALlSM.

361

It is impossible to read either his political or lit
erary productions without being convinced that
they are the offspring of a cultivated and polished
mind. There is a classic excellence about them,
showing that, in some way, he certainly attained
scholarly profundity and finely balanced powers.
Early in 1830, political anti-masonry attained a
strength which enabled it to contend, apparently
with success, for the supremacy of the political
power of the State, and the project of starting a
journal at Albany devoted to political anti-masonry
was broached. It was advocated by such men as
Francis Granger, Abner Hazleton, Millard Fill
more, William H. Maynard, Albert H. Tracy and
others, and with their influence the proposed meas
ure took definite form. The new paper was called
the Albany Evening fournal, with Thurlow Weed as
its editor. Accordingly he removed from Roches
ter to Albany, and assumed editorial duties which
have given his name to history.
George Dawson accompanied him and became
foreman in the office of the fournal, the first num
ber of which appeared in March, 1830. It is said
by those who knew him in the printing-office, that
he was an accomplished, practical printer — at the
case, a rapid and correct compositor; as a fore
man, perfect in order and discipline; courteous
and amiable in his intercourse with the employees
of the office. It was not long before he began con
tributing to the columns of the fournal, and his
contributions bore the impress of a master hand,
adding largely to the ability and influence of the
paper. Fifty years after the first edition of the fournal
appeared, it was said in an anniversary editorial,
that the first edition of the paper "did not vary
materially in appearance from the present one.
The main head-line was in plain, clean-cut capitals
bespeaking the well-defined and upright purpose of
the projectors."
In the Legislative session of 1 83 1, George Dawson
was the reporter for the Evening fournal. His re
ports were hardly equaled for their freshness, vigor
and ingenuity, and they brought him favorably be
fore the public. He continued as reporter for the
Journal until the spring of 1836, when he was called
to the editorship of the Rochester Daily Democrat,
and thus he entered upon his long, successful and
brilliant editorial career. In looking over some
of his editorials in the Democrat, one is struck
with their incisive strength, their keen and subtle
point. As the editor of the Democrat, he made himself
a reputation so extended, that in August, 1839, he
was called to take editorial charge of the Detroit
Advertiser. Before leaving the Evening fournal ihe
Anti-Masonic party had passed away — absorbed, as
some have said, in the Whig party — and George
Dawson was one of the founders of the Whig party,
advocating its interests with his pen and occasion
ally in the rostrum. It was as a Whig that he as
sumed the editorship of the Detroit Advertiser,
and it was largely through his instrumentality that
the State of Michigan was secured to the Whig
party. 16

Very soon after Mr. Dawson became editor of
the Advertiser, he was appointed State Printer,
which position he held until 1842, when the office
of the Daily Advertiser was destroyed by fire.
About that time he received a flattering invitation
to resume the editorial chair of the Rochester Daily
Democrat, which he accepted. His return to
Rochester was attended with many pleasing circum
stances. Complimentary notices of his return
appeared in all the Rochester papers, and also in
very many of the leading journals in and out of the
State; while the journals of Detroit and in other
parts of Michigan contained sincere and pleasingly-
worded regrets at the loss of " a journalist so dis
tinguished; one whose abilities and rare social
qualities had made him hosts of friends in the State
of Michigan."
Early in the summer of 1846, Mr. Dawson was
urgently solicited by Mr. Weed to accept the posi
tion of associate editor of the Albany Evening four
nal. But Mr. Dawson had become attached to
Rochester and Western New York by many strong
affinities, many pleasing associations. In the soci
ety of Rochester he was a favorite. Besides, the
beautiful lakes and bright streams of Western New
York and Northern Pennsylvania afforded him fa
cilities for enjoying the favorite pastime of an
angler. He would often leave the sanctum and
seek the waters of lake or stream, and,
" Under an oak, whose antique roots peeped out
Upon the brook that brawls along the wood, ' '
spend many hours in quiet happiness. He, there
fore, reflected long and seriously before sundering
these pleasant associations. But at length, in
August, 1846, yielding to repeated solicitations, he
returned to Albany, and entered upon his duties as
associate editor of the Evening fournal.
During the whole of Mr. Weed's administration,
the Journal was omnipotent with its party. It gave
the word of command and the lesser organs made
haste to regard its behest. The orders which all
obeyed, came from the capital. The fournal
spoke with authority. It dictated party policies,
controlled appointments, and marshaled all the
forces of political campaigns. In the management
of the Evening fournal, Mr. Dawson shared with his
senior the enjoyment of the ' ' power behind the
throne;" was thoroughly acquainted with his plans,
proved an able lieutenant in his political encoun
ters, and fully indorsed his political and journalistic
views. In 1862, Mr. Weed retired from the editor
ship of the fournal, and Mr. Dawson became the
senior editor and proprietor. He continued to fill
this position till 1877, with the exception of a short
time in 1871, when the late George W. Demers oc
cupied the editorial chair. In 1877 he sold his
interest in the fournal to Mr. Charles E. Smith,
now editor of the Philadelphia Press. After that
time Mr. Dawson did only occasional work on the
paper until February, 1880, when Mr. Smith re
tired from the editorship on account of his course
in indorsing Governor Cornell's nomination of
John F. Smyth as Superintendent of the Insurance
Department, which was disapproved by the con
trolling partners. At the request of the proprie-

362

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

tors of the paper, Mr. Dawson temporarily re
sumed the editorship, and did some of the best
work of his life in the remarkably bitter fight waged
against Mr. Smyth's confirmation, and subse
quently against "machine" dictation, unit rule
and the bosses. His pen was also especially pun
gent and forceful in the senatorial contest which
resulted in the retirement of ex-Senator Roscoe
Conkling to private life.
Mr. Dawson retired finally from the editorial
work on ihe fournal, September 2, 1882, and was
succeeded by Mr. Harold Frederick. His valedic
tory, published in ihe fournal, was an ably written
production, exhibiting the elastic vigor of his in
tellect and the strength of his memory. The
pathos with which he refers to old associations,
with its brief but touching reminiscences, gained
it universal admiration.
In 1861, Mr. Dawson, without solicitation on his
part, was appointed postmaster at Albany. He
held the office six years, when he resigned, being
unwilling to continue under President Johnson's
administration, which he opposed. This, we be
lieve, is the only civil office he ever held. Though
abundantly able to have filled a prominent place
among the distinguished politicians of his day, he
had little fondness for official life, and could not
consent, for the sake of personal interest or official
advancement, to resort to the wearisome corre
spondence with local great men, and to those plati
tudes necessary, at the present day, to attain the
rewards of party labor. Adroit and keenly saga
cious as a party manager, he never turned to his
own advantage topics which happened, for the mo
ment, to attract public attention. He never fished
" with ever freshly-baited hook in the turbid waters
of an ephemeral popularity."
In a word, George Dawson was in no sense a
demagogue. In his political career there was
no shade of selfishness. Had he been willing to
purchase advancement at the price often paid
for it, there was never a moment from the time
he first made himself felt and known, that he
could not have commanded almost anything which
his party could bestow. But, as we have said,
he desired none of the rewards or honors of party
success. Personally, he regarded office as a bur
den, an obstacle to the enjoyment of his tastes.
It was said of Mr. Dawson that "his vigorous in
tellect — shrewd, far-sighted and restless — impelled
by well-balanced instincts of policy and aggressive
ness, furnished with all that general knowledge
which the newspaper man must necessarily acquire,
lacked that breadth of classic information, that
catholicity of tastes and sympathies, which are de
manded to-day in the average leader writer." We
do not believe Mr. Dawson lacked breadth of clas
sic information, or that catholicity of taste required
by an editor of the present time. We have already
seen how ardently in his youth he devoted himself
to solitary study, and how he familiarized himself
with the classics. The felicitous classical quota
tions with which his writings abound, exhibit the
result of his studies. His fondness for books
through his whole life was a striking characteristic;

the heart of his home was his library. Hither he
retreated from the cares and labors of his business
to discourse with the great spirits of other times,
yielding with unfailing delight to the lofty stimulus
of great minds, communing with them as with
familiar friends. We believe that most of his
leaders rank in ability, in argumentative and
analytic power with those pf any contemporary
journal. We close what we have to say in regard to Mr.
Dawson as a political writer, in the language of an
other. ' ' He was a man of magnificent pluck. He
loved thrust, parry and retort of newspaper battle.
In every encounter he was cool, confident, wary,
sometimes audacious. He spied the weak point in
his antagonist's defense and made his lunge instan
taneous with the discovery. George Dawson's last
great feat in journalism was an assault on Roscoe
Conkling; indubitably the most severe, pointed,
and serious attack to which Mr. Conkling has ever
been exposed."
We have thus far reviewed the life and career of
Mr. Dawson as a political journalist and party-
leader. Politics, though they make the intellect
active, sagacious and inventive, within a certain
sphere, generally extinguish its thirst for universal
truth, paralyze sentiment and imagination, corrupt
simplicity of mind, destroy confidence in human
virtue, and finally ends in cold and prudent selfish
ness, if not in that insincerity which amounts to
turpitude. Dawson, however, passed through
all this with the ardor of moral feeling and the
purity and enthusiasm of his youth uncontaminated.
May we not say he was exalted by his trial? It
now remains to consider briefly another phase of
his life.
As a writer, Mr. Dawson devoted his pen con
siderably to literature. His powers of description,
particularly those of stream, lake and forest, have
already been referred to, as also his love of an
gling. His description of the manner in which he
indulged this love, portrayed in his admirable
work, entitled "The Pleasures of Angling," is in
tensely interesting — an excellent model of angling
literature — the finished work of a mature man and
graceful writer, natural and unaffected in style, and
brimful of sentiments which are shared by all
genuine followers of the craft.
He loved angling for its refining influences and
for its associations; he indulged in it as a medi
cine, as a better preventive than cure; he loved it
with unselfish devotion and courtesy. "I have,"
he says, in one of his essays on angling, "often
to assure my critical and incredulous friends that
it is by no means all of fishing to fish. The appre
ciative angler, who has inherited or acquired the
true spirit of the art, is not alone happy while ply
ing his vocation, but happy also in the recollection
of what has been and the anticipation of what is to
be. To him, memory and hope are equally satisfy
ing, the one luminous with the sunshine of the re
cent past, and the other all aglow with the assured
cheer of the near future. Nor is the pleasure de
rived from a review of the last outing, wholly or
chiefly associated with its material results. ' Cast-

fOURNALISTS AND fOURNALISM.

363

ing ' and ' striking ' and ' killing ' belong to the mere
mechanism of the art. Its real fascination lies in
what one sees and feels in mountain and valley;
in river and lake; in sunshine and shadow; in the
exhilarating atmosphere and delectable odors of
the virgin forests; in the music of singing birds
and in the soothing monotone of running waters;
in the quiet and repose best found in the solitary
places where anglers most do congregate. It
strikes me like the sound of a trumpet to remem
ber my fights with three-pound trout, five-pound
bass, or thirty-pound salmon, but I find intenser
ecstasy when I recall the circumstances and sur
roundings of these material experiences. The
transparent brook, whose ripples were rendered as
dazzling as molten silver by sunshine glints which
fell upon them through the ever-waving branches
of the pine, or birch, or hemlock which over-arched
it like a benediction; the pellucid waters of
river or lake, whose unruffled surface trembled as
the fly and leader touched its bosom; the deep
pool, cast into deeper shadow by the giant bould
ers, near which the lordly salmon rests on his up
ward journey; and a thousand other things of
beauty which fill the eye and ravish the senses
while watching and waiting and casting for a
' rise. '
"These are the pictures most distinctly photo
graphed upon the memory of the appreciative
angler, and which come up most vividly before
him when he looks back on what has been."
What a vivid picture this ! Can the pencil's
mimic skill, in the hand of the most accomplished
artist, throw more exquisite coloring, more natural
light and shade blended in a more entrancing
scene? Has not the mind that can thus describe
nature penetrated those secret recesses of the soul
where poetry is born and nourished ?
We do not know that Mr. Dawson ever wrote
poetry, but he had an imagination which might
have made him a poet had he indulged it. He be
lieved that the poetic fictions of great intellects are
often the vehicles of the sublimest verities; that
even when the letter is false the spirit is the pro-
foundest wisdom ; and he enlivened his writings
with extracts from poets bearing the seal of genius,
inspiration, learning and taste.
In 1 876, he published his book already alluded to.
This work was first published in sketches in the
Evening fournal, at long intervals, during the three
years antedating its appearance. They were eagerly
read, and added largely to the circulation of the
paper. When the work appeared it was immensely
popular, not only with the lovers of angling, but
by all lovers of true literary merit, and still contin
ues to be a favorite work with the reading public.
Said one of his friends, a delightful writer and
critic: "Mr. Dawson wielded a trenchant pen; when
he turned from the conflict of parties to the praise
of his favorite pastime ' of simple wise men ;' his
essays, limpid as the crystal stream, are aglow with
the soft summer sunlight, and melodious with the
song of birds. When angling was the theme, he
wrote from a full heart and closest sympathy. The
effect of his writings is, therefore, magical, like

that of the mimic players in Xenophon's Memo
rabilia. He who reads, if he be an angler, must go
a fishing; and if he be not, straightway then he must
become one."
This is the feeling which the reading of his
" Pleasures of Angling " inspires. It is descriptive
of his fishing adventures in the waters of the Cas-
capedia, the St. Lawrence, in Canadian streams,
and in the home of the finny tribes of our own
State and Pennsylvania. He introduces the reader
to his delightful friends and associates in these ex
cursions, and, finally, ere he is aware, the reader
himself is one of the party engaged in the exciting
and pleasurable scenes.
The characteristics of Mr. Dawson which secured
respect and affection are not difficult to depict; for,
with the qualities which made him eminent, there
were blended simplicity and artlessness open to
every eye. He possessed excellences which, at
first, seemed to repel each other, as his political
aggressiveness, though in truth they were of one
genial family. In the political contest he was
aggressive, triumphant over fear, gathering strength
and animation as the conflict deepened, bound
closer to duty as its hardships and the difficulties
that surrounded it increased; yet, at the same time, he
was a child in simplicity, innocence and benignity.
He was singularly alive to the domestic affec
tions. In the bosom of his family he exhibited the
deep sympathies and affections of his nature. His
home was pervaded by his love as by the sunlight,
and very much of his life was centered there. But
the peculiar charm, over all, lay in the junction of
intellectual power with religious and moral worth;
his honor was superior to every temptation by
which the world could assail him.
No one who ever met Mr. Dawson in the so
cial circle can easily forget the attraction of his
manner and conversation, for he possessed the
power of communicating with ease and interest
the riches of his mind. He carried into society a
cheerfulness and sunshine of soul which, without
effort, won the hearts of those in his presence to a
singular degree.
Mr. Dawson was one who may well be called a
Christian gentleman. As early as 1831, in the early
dawn of his manhood, he united with the Baptist
Church at Rochester, and his connection with that
denomination continued to the day of his death.
On coming to reside permanently at Albany, he
attended the North Pearl Street Baptist Church,
which then stood on the site of Perry Building.
The North Pearl Street Mission had been estab
lished at this time, under the auspices of this
church, on North Pearl street, above Wilson, and
nearly in the rear of Mr. Dawson's residence on
Ten Broeck street. He devoted himself to the
care of this mission, became its superintendent, and
through his efforts it was finally incorporated under
the name of the Tabernacle Baptist Church, with
the Rev. J. D. Fulton, pastor, on October 29, 1859.
After that time Mr. Dawson's efforts to build up
and add to the new church were unswerving. The
new church thrived and increased in membership
to such an extent that a more pretentious edifice

364

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

became necessary. A fine site on the corner of
Clinton avenue and Ten Broeck street was pur
chased. It cost $20,000; and with $54,000 addi
tional the building was constructed. On February
14, 1877, it was formally dedicated and occupied.
During the work of building, Mr. Dawson spent
much of his time in superintending it. How much
of his means were contributed will doubtless never
be known, as he was as unostentatious as he was
liberal in his benefactions. It is known, however,
that his contributions were very large.
His zeal in the cause of the Church did not end
with the completion of the Tabernacle Baptist
Church. There was established, in North Albany,
a Mission School, under the auspices of the Taber
nacle Church. To the promotion of this enterprise,
Mr. Dawson bent his efforts. Every Sunday he
was found attending to his duty there, discussing
doctrine to the youthful and old alike, and edu
cating them in the knowledge of religion. As a
lay preacher he was without a peer. His vigorous
and timely discourses will long be remembered by
the attendants of this mission.
The various pastors of the Tabernacle Church
always found in him a zealous supporter; and the
congregation and Sunday-school a disinterested
friend. In June, 1834, Mr. Dawson was united by mar
riage to Miss Nancy M. Terrell, a native of Tol
land, Conn. His married life was fortunate and
happy ; his home, as before said, the center of
happiness, of refinement and comfort Three sons
were born to the marriage : the first died in in
fancy; the second, George S. Dawson, imbued with
a patriotic spirit, entered the service of his country
in the darkest days of the rebellion, and gave his
life to the cause for which he left his home and all
its attractions. For him, in recognition of his
valor and patriotism, the well-known George S.
Dawson Post of the G. A. R., of Albany, was
named. The other son, Burritt S., with Mrs.
Dawson, still survives.
After retiring from active life, Mr. Dawson gave
more of his time to his favorite pastime of angling,
to occasional contributions to the press, to works
of charity and benevolence, and to the society of
his cherished friends. And thus the afternoon
sun of what we may truly call his beautiful life,
gradually descended toward the night. But that
night drew on much sooner than his robust and
apparently healthy condition indicated, closing
after an illness of less than a week. He died Feb
ruary 17, 1883, at the age of seventy years.
The death of such a man, as might be expected,
produced a profound sensation. Seldom has the
death of any one in this State called forth more
general expressions of sorrow from the press than
the death of Mr. Dawson. The popular favor
which he enjoyed in such unmeasured profusion,
was indicated in many ways. Every degree of
talent, of eloquence, of learning, and of distinction
laid upon his fresh made tomb, green and fragrant
garlands. The editorial fraternity of the city met, and a
committee of one from each newspaper represent

ed, was appointed to prepare an expression of the
collected sense of the profession on the career and
character of Mr. Dawson. This committee was
composed of St. Clair McKelway, Argus ; T. C.
Callicot, Times ; J. C. Cuyler, Express ; Harold
Frederick, fournal ; H. M. Rooker, Press and
Knickerbocker ; R. M. Griffin, Post ; Edward Mig
gael, Friee Blaetter; Wm. Kisselburgh, Troy Times;
John A. Place, Oswego Times; Wm. H. McElroy,
New York Tribune. At 12.30 on the day of the
funeral, the representatives of the Albany press,
and those from other parts of the State, met at the
City Hall, and from there moved in a body to the
Tabernacle Baptist Church, where the funeral took
place. During the services many of the prominent
places of business were closed and flags were at
half-mast. Among the many tributes of respect paid to the
memory of Mr. Dawson, was one — the act of
private friendship — so touchingly appropriate and
beautiful, that we cannot refrain from describing it;
and with this we close our notice.
In the southwest corner of the Tabernacle Bap
tist Church, Albany, there was -erected on January
3, 1885, a handsomely proportioned, highly-pol
ished granite tablet, bearing the following inscrip
tion : George Dawson.
Born March 14, 1813.
Died February 17, 1883.
His renown as a Journalist, Author and Party Leader;
His eminence as a citizen and statesman;
His life of probity and spiritual elevation,
Commanded the admiration of all who value
goodness and greatness.
His labor and munificence in its establishment
and maintenance endeared him to this church,
in which he illustrated the nobility of an
exalted Christian manhood.
Private affection placed this tablet to commemorate
his virtues and worth.
This chaste, enduring and eloquent memorial of
Mr. Dawson was erected by Hon. Hamilton Har
ris, a long cherished friend.
Hugh J. Hastings was born in the North of Ire
land, August 20, 1820, and came to this country
when eight years of age, accompanied by his
mother, brothers and sisters, his father having
preceded them. The family settled in Albany.
There were eight children, Hugh being next to
the eldest. He began work at an early age, and
helped support his parents and the younger chil
dren. His first labors were as an errand boy in
a dry goods store in William street, New York.
This kind of work, however, was unsatisfactory to
the ambitious boy, who longed for a chance to
better his condition. He was a great reader, and
managed, by utilizing his spare time, to acquire
much general information.
His tastes led to writing for the newspapers, and,
being encouraged by the success of his first at
tempts, he resolved to make newspaper writing his
business. He was first a reporter on the Albany
Evening fournal. In 1840 he assumed the publi
cation of a Whig campaign paper called the Union.
At the close of the canvass he became a reporter

Atlantic PTLbllaliins, & Eittji-aviittj Cu.NY

JOURNALISTS AND JOURNALISM.

365

on the Albany Atlas, and made quite a hit by the
crisp, lively manner in which he wrote up local
items. But the measure of his ambition was not
to be filled in this way. He longed to have a
newspaper of his own, and he resolved to have one.
With a capital of only $7.50, he founded the
Albany Knickerbocker in 1843, a daily paper, which
grew to be very valuable property and an able and
influential journal.
Mr. Hastings also took an active part in politics.
His natural talents lay in that direction, and he
entered into the field of political discussion with a
vigor that was the result of a lively inborn interest
in the subject. He was for "Tippecanoe and
Tyler too," before he was able to vote. He ad
mired Clay, and was a great friend of General
Taylor, who, when he became President, made
Mr. Hastings Collector of the Port of Albany. He
resigned this position when President Fillmore
assumed office.
In 1867, he determined to embark in metropoli
tan journalism, and purchased a controlling inter
est in the New York Commercial Advertiser, of which
he was editor and proprietor at the time of his
death. Mr. Hastings was passionately fond of his
newspaper work, but was preparing to leave the
active conduct of the paper to his nephew, John
Hastings, and the publication entirely to his son-
in-law, Mr. Ward. In 1843, he married Miss
Mary Keeler, daughter of Mr. Henry Keeler, of
Albany. The fruits of this marriage were four chil
dren, three daughters and one son. One daughter
was married to Dr. Henry, and another to Mr.
Ward, the business manager of the Commercial Ad
vertiser. Mr. Hastings died in the City of New
York, September, 1883, after a life that made a
mark
Hon. DANIEL MANNING.
Hon. Daniel Manning was born in Albany, Au
gust 16, 1 83 1. He was of sturdy parentage, which,
in its ancestral lines, ran into Irish, English, and
Dutch sources, combining the main stocks which
have settled Albany, and impressed upon its life
and growth its staid qualities with its progressive
movement. From earliest boyhood he felt the
desire and formed the purpose of self-help. While
at school, the disposition to be doing was dominant
in him. It was his conviction, before he could
shape it into statement, that he could unite the get
ting of an education with the work of supporting
himself. He resisted the policy of confining him
self to the routine of schooling for a set number of
years before he attacked industry itself. So, as soon
as he acquired the rudiments of learning, he ob
tained, at eleven years of age, a situation as boy-of-
all-work in the office of the Albany Atlas, which
was subsequently merged into the Argus, with
which establishment he has ever since been con
nected, rising through every stage of service to the
presidency of the company and the executive pro
prietorship. In this adherence to one vocation in
one establishment, the qualities of attachment, per
sistence and application, for which he is rightly
noted, are exemplified. ,

Many are the relations and responsibilities grow
ing out of his connection with the Argus, but they
all radiate from it; and the journal and his own
personality have had a marked reciprocal influence
upon one another. The three-fold form of news
paper work is apparent. It comprises printing,
literary work, and business management, to each
of which Mr. Manning served a long tutelage, and
in each of which he mastered the art. From one
to the other he graduated in due course. Over all
of them he qualified himself to exercise supervision.
By thorough knowledge of the details of each
branch, he became able to manage them simul
taneously in their affiliated bearings, however large
or however minute. His life has been spent in the
city of his birth. His associates have been those
who were the companions of his youth. His
political opinions have been in harmony with the
journal which he has promoted. The position of
that journal in the politics of the State, and the
nation, has required him to scrutinize and weigh
the large responsibilities which, in time, he has had
to wield and temper in its name.
Journalism is becoming the educating force of
the people who have to do with it. Most of all, is
it an educating force to those who, from boyhood
to mature manhood, have had to do with it in all
its trinity of activity. Mr. Manning's career, passed
at the center of political competition of the Empire
State, has partaken of the administration of succes
sive Governors and the course of successive Legisla
tures. It has brought him into relations of con
fidence and co-operation with many able minds.
It has tested the qualities by which influence is
wrought or wrecked. It has been a school of
faculty and character, conceivably second to none
other in American affairs. It can be advisedly said
that Mr. Manning's discharge of every trust in this
relation has earned him promotion to one beyond
it, until he reached the summit of opportunity and
power in the field in which he worked. From the
time of his identification with the news and editorial
work of the Argus, his relation was a most con
fidential one. He represented the paper in the
Legislature, in which it has always been recognized
as the monitor and exponent of one of the great
contending parties. Its duty was to organize, lead,
reflect, and restrain its party clientele, and to ex
ample the press of its party in the State always; and
often in the nation. Prevision, steadiness, sagacity,
and honor were demanded. The vigilance and
power of great antagonists had to be challenged.
The irresponsible freedom of remote journalism
was impossible. In this work, Mr. Manning was
the assistant of Calvert Comstock, the partner of
William Cassidy; and he became the successor of
both. He never affected their ornament of method;
but his tempering thought, worldly wisdom, ever
sedate judgment, imperturbable repose, and far-
reaching sight, were helpful to their brilliant pow
ers of statement; and his share in their successes
and reputation is no small one.
No public man of either party in State service at
Albany for years past, has failed to feel the govern
ing strength of Mr. Manning's mind on the higher

366

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

and larger interests of politics. He grew to his
influence by long and legitimate preparation. On
the death of Mr. Cassidy, in 1873, Mr. Manning
took full charge of the Argus and became president
of the company. Since then, his political life has
been one of unsought prominence and influence
within the party in the State, and, latterly, through
out the Union. He was a member of the Demo
cratic State Convention which met at Syracuse in
1874, and nominated Governor Tilden, and of
every Democratic State Convention during the
succeeding ten years. He has been a member of
the Democratic State Committee since 1876, and
was its Secretary in 1879 and 1880, and its Chair
man in 1881, 1882, 1883, and 1884. In 1876, he
was one of the , seventy-two delegates from New
York to the National Convention at St. Louis,
which nominated Governor Tilden for the presi
dency. He was a member of the New York dele
gation to the National Convention at Cincinnati,
which nominated General Hancock, in 1880, and
was unanimously chosen its chairman. His part
in the presidential contest of 1884 has passed into
history. Nothing that could be said in these pages
would add to its repute. Comment on his ability
as an organizer, his knowledge of men and meas
ures, and his skill in reconciling conflicting in
terests, would be forceless side by side with a state
ment of the results of their influence upon the
political history of the period. Avoiding serious
collision with the opponents of Mr. Cleveland at
the Democratic State Convention at Saratoga, by his
tact and ingenuity, Mr. Manning was instrumental
in securing a two-thirds majority of the State dele
gation for the nomination of his candidate.
At the Chicago Convention, he was unanimously
chosen Chairman of the New York Delegation.
From the first he was implicitly trusted by his own
delegation; and, from early in the deliberations of
the Convention, by the Cleveland delegates from
all parts of the Union. Exhibiting rare tact in
handling questions as they arose, he met emer
gencies with admirable insight and promptitude,
and accomplished the nomination of Mr. Cleveland
in a manner which won the approval of the
country at large. But with that great task achiev
ed, the work Mr. Manning had in hand, both as
Chairman of the State Committee and as Governor
Cleveland's chosen friend and adviser, was only
begun. There followed a campaign memorable
for its conflicting elements, and marred by fac
tional animosities and bitter personalities hitherto
unknown. The herculean task was before the
managers of the Democratic party of healing, or
at least checking, its internal dissensions in New
York. Upon Mr. Manning, in great measure,
devolved this apparently impossible work. Har
mony was measurably secured upon national issues,
thus assuring the success of the party in the State
and the casting of New York's decisive electoral
vote for Cleveland and Hendricks. The same
courageous and quiet dignity that marked Mr.
Manning's conduct during the campaign, and with
which he had met the fierce tactics of the forces
arrayed against Mr. Cleveland, characterized his

work during the trying period succeeding the elec
tion, when desperate opponents were clamorously
charging fraud upon the Democratic management,
and claiming the election of Mr. Blaine with a
persistent plausibility that for a time deceived more
than half the country.
Much of the aggressive work the State Democ
racy has accomplished within the last twelve years
has been shaped by Mr. Manning's influence upon
its organization and policy. To the duties before
exercised by Dean Richmond, and then by Samuel
J. Tilden, in the leadership of leaders, Mr. Man
ning has succeeded, and has impressed on the posi
tion his own methods and qualities. These com
prise a confident reliance on principle, and on the
public capacity and disposition to respond to it; a
making of issues broad, sharp and commanding;
a policy of campaigning marked by candor, evi
dence and aggression; a calculation of the people
as the decisive factor. His trust in the honesty and
intelligent self interest of the masses is marked.
His perceptions are intellectual, his tactics are
ethical; his consciousness that neither political
party is as good as it ought to be, leads him to
strive to make the one with which he acts better.
His relations with the statesmen of his party have
long been intimate, and the best of them are his
personal friends. Never relishing, and reluctantly
accepting, political responsibilities, Mr. Manning
would now retire from them altogether, and would
have done so long since had he been permitted to
act upon his own choice. Never consenting to
hold political place, though often urged to do so,
his political stewardship has been marked by prin
ciple, by high honor, courage and unselfishness.
The placing of a great party in a position to de
serve and to achieve success, is to him far more
important than any personal credit that he may
derive from it.
In the affairs of his native city, no man has at
tained to greater influence than Mr. Manning, yet
no one has more sturdily refused to identify himself
with official position. He has recognized a sole
duty in administering unselfishly and unhamperedly
the great public journalistic and unofficial political
trusts which have been his. His business gifts
have, however, not permitted him to devote them
exclusively to the work of publishing. He has
long been a Director for the City in the Albany and
Susquehanna Railway Company. From 1869 to
1882, when he resigned, he was a Director in the
National Savings Bank of Albany. In 1873 he
became a Director in the National Commercial
Bank of Albany; in 1881 hewas chosen its Vice-
President; and upon the death of Robert H. Pruyn,
in 1882, he succeeded to the presidency. He be
came a Park Commissioner of the City in 1873,
and resigned the charge in 1884; and is one of the
trustees of the Fort Orange Club.
Married to Miss Mary Little, a lady of English
parentage, he suffered her loss by death in 1882.
Two sons and two daughters are the crown of this
union. His sons are James Hilton and Frederick
Clinton Manning, the former being managing
editor of the Albany Argus. In November, 1884,

fOURNALISTS AND fOURNALISM.

367

Mr. Manning married Miss Mary Margaretta
Fryer, daughter of William J. Fryer, of Albany.
His brother, John B. Manning, was elected Mayor
of Buffalo as the successor of Grover Cleveland,
now President of the United States. A life of be
neficent activity, cultured by informing studies,
ballasted with many responsibilities, tempered by
intercourse and friendship with able and illustrious
men, and inspired by a high and practical sense of
honor and duty, has been that of Daniel Man
ning, who, still in the prime of his faculties, has,
it is hoped, many years of honor and usefulness
before him, in which his past would be a proof of
his probity and power. And it is an excellent at
testation of the possibilities and product of what
is best in American character, by self-help, under
American institutions.
Mr. Manning now fills the distinguished po
sition of Secretary of the Treasury in the cabinet
of President Grover Cleveland, the duties of which
he is believed to be discharging with characteristic
independence, industry and energy, and with due
fealty to party and country as he regards his obli
gations to both. He entered upon the duties of
this appointment March 4, 1885.
JOEL MUNSELL.
Joel Munsell was born in Northfield, Mass.,
April 14, 1808. His parents were Hezekiah and
Cynthia (Payne) Munsell, who came from Hart
ford, Ct, to Northfield. Here young Munsell
spent the first seventeen years of his life in boyish
sports, in the schools of the town, and in working
with his father at the trade of a wheelwright. At the
age of 17, in 1825, he was a regular apprentice in
the printing-office of the Franklin Post and Chris
tian Freeman, published in the near village of
Greenfield. December, 1826, found him still "at
the case," but at another office in the same village.
John Denio, his next employer, took him to Al
bany, the next May, as his clerk in a bookstore.
But he was a printer, and preferred this art. After
a month on the National Observer, published by
Solomon Southwick, he was, about the ist of Jan
uary, 1828, a journeyman printer, two days in the
week, on the Masonic Record; helping Mr. Denio
in his bookstore at spare moments; and printing,
editing, publishing, and distributing from door to
door his own paper, the Albany Minerva. He
issued eight numbers. Much of his time was now
spent in reading, studying, and making collections
of papers and binding them. His employment for
a second time, for a few months, in Mr. Denio's
bookstore, and in job work and journeyman work
on various newspapers, as. he was needed, occupied
him quite busily for nearly a year and a half, end
ing June, 1829. From this date until his return
to Albany, January 4, 1830, he was visiting friends
in Northfield and seeking a journeyman's work in
Hartford and New Haven. Having no steady em
ployment at his trade, he gave his spare hours in
New Haven to attending lectures and reading use
ful works in science and literature. In Albany
again, he spent a few more years in irregular em

ployment as a printer. But like many other
printers, whose lives have become eminently useful
and successful, his simple habits of economy and
constant devotion to gaining valuable knowledge
did not forsake him.
In 1834, he was associated with Henry D. Stone,
for two or three years, in the successful publication
of the Microscope. From his savings he purchased
material in October, 1836, and set up a job print
ing-office for himself at 58 State street. Here his
skill and industry found appreciation. In these
respects he had no superior. ' ' Joel Munsell, the
Albany printer," from this time forth made himself
more fully known as the master of his art, as the
enterprising publisher, the faithful annotater and
compiler, and the generous friend of students and
writers in genealogy, local history, and antiquities.
A list of books and pamphlets of this kind from his
press makes a volume. We can name but few here.
His volumes are seen and his imprint known
wherever books are read by intelligent students ot
American history and genealogy. The first work
compiled and published by him was called " Out
lines of the History of Printing," in 1839.
Albany owes him much for work done upon its
local history. His "Annals of Albany," in 10
volumes, i2mo, were begun in 1849 and finished
in 1859. " Collections on the History of Albany,"
in 4 volumes, royal 8vo, were issued between 1865
and 1 871. They embody a mass of matter relat
ing to the earlier and later history of Albany, which,
with the help of indexes, is exceedingly valuable
for reference. Their preparation shows fondness for
work, patient industry, great courage, and consci
entious fidelity. He was much aided in some
parts of the work by Professor Jonathan Pearson,
of Union College, and others. He must have
spent untold hours among old records, old news
papers, and old tombstones, to have amassed such
an amount of unassorted material.
Another monument of his industry is found in
' ' The Every Day Book of History and Chronol
ogy," compiled by him and published in two
volumes, i2mo, in 1843.
" Webster's Annual Almanac," started by Charles
R. Webster in 1 784, had been prepared and issued
by Mr. Munsell since 1843; and is now continued
by his youngest son, Frank. Some volumes of the
Albany Directory were prepared and published
by Mr. Munsell. "Joel Munsell's Sons," Charles
and Frank, are still carrying on his work as printer
at 82 State street.
In the field of local journalism, Mr. Munsell,
besides his own Albany Minerva, published in 1840,
a daily campaign paper, edited by Hon. Daniel D.
Barnard; in 1842, The Lady's Magazine, edited by
E. G. Squier; also, The Northern Star and Freeman s
Advocate, in 1844; The Spectator, edited by Rev. Dr.
W. B. Sprague, in 1845; The Guard, an Odd Fel
lows' paper, edited by C. C. Burr and John Fanner;
also, at various times, The New York State Me
chanic, The Unionist, The Stale Register, The Typo
graphical Miscellany, The New York Teacher, The
Morning Express, and The Daily Statesman. Some
of these were partly edited by him, and contribu-

368

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

tions from his pen, on matters of local importance,
were frequent.
Ten volumes of valuable historical matter were
issued by him, in limited editions, with excellent
paper, 4to size, and faultless typography. They
were called "Munsell's Historical Series," and
published, as were his "Historical Collections,"
and many other volumes, at a pecuniary loss. He
scarcely ever refused to put in print a valuable
manuscript, because "it wouldn't pay." His un
selfish zeal for the preservation of historic truth led
him to forget the question, "Is there money in
it?" Mr. Munsell took great interest in that valuable
quarterly, now in the forty-first year of its publica
tion, called the New England Historic-Genealogical
Register, of Boston, which he published for three
years. He was one of the original founders and constant
members of the Albany Institute, and published its
Transactions and Proceedings. For forty years, up
to his death, he was its treasurer.
For forty-three years he was a faithful supporter
of the Lutheran Church in this city, and one of its
tiustees for over twenty years. Many historical,
genealogical, and antiquarian societies showed
their appreciation of his great life work by electing
him an honorary member.
He died after a brief illness, January 15, 1880.
He had worn himself out. His funeral was
largely attended by the members of the press, the
Albany Institute, the Lutheran Church, and many
citizens, who sincerely mourned the loss of a most
useful man. All who knew him esteemed him
highly. He was small in stature. In expression he was
usually cheerful; his features, in his later years, told
of thoughtful care and hard work. In conversation
he was often jocose and facetious. In manner he
was quiet and unobtrusive, but always easily ap
proached. His portrait, appropriately inserted in
its early pages, illustrates this work.
One of the most distinguished characters in the
history of journalism of Albany County, is Solomon
Southwick. Not only was he conspicuous as a
journalist, but his influence as a politician was, at
one time, almost unbounded, approximating that
of more modern political leaders.
Mr. Southwick was born in Newport, R. I.,
December 25, 1773. His father was early identi
fied with the struggle for American independence.
He was a printer, and editor of the Newport Mer
cury, a journal heartily committed to the cause of
independence. His patriotism drew upon him the
hatred of the Tories, and cost him a hard-earned
fortune, compelling his son to begin life in a bit
ter struggle with poverty.
After engaging in several humble employments,
young Southwick drifted to New York City, where
he apprenticed himself in a printing establishment.
The Albany Register was then conducted by his
brother-in-law, John Barber.
After remaining in New York a little over a year,
young Southwick went to Albany as an assistant in

the office of Mr. Barber. His ability and industry
very soon made him Mr. Barber's partner.
On the death of Mr. Barber in 1808, Mr. South
wick succeeded to his interest in the paper. His
talents, energy and ambition soon placed him at
the head of the Democratic party, of which the
Register was the organ and champion.
He continued in charge of the Register for many
years, during which time he successively held the
position of Clerk of the Assembly, Clerk of the
Senate, Sheriff of the County, Manager of the State
Literature Lottery, State Printer, Regent of the Uni
versity, and Postmaster of Albany. After the dis
continuance of the Register, he established and con
ducted an agricultural paper called the Ploughboy,
first, under the anonymous designation of Henry
Homespun, Jr., and subsequently in his own name.
At about the same period, he became editor of the
Christian Visitant, a periodical devoted to the inter
ests of religion and morality, and to the refutation
of infidel principles. Subsequently he assumed
editorial charge of the National Democrat, during
which time he presented himself to the electors of
the State as a candidate for Governor, in opposition
to the regularly nominated candidate of the Demo
cratic party, Joseph C. Yates. During the preva
lence of the anti-masonic excitement, he established,
and for several years conducted, the National Ob
server, a prominent organ of anti -masonry, and
was soon after nominated as candidate of that party
for the chief magistracy, in opposition to Martin
Van Buren and Smith Thompson.
Failing of success, and disgusted with the mani
fold vexations of political strife, he withdrew from
the turbulent arena of public life, and sought in the
congenial atmosphere of the domestic and social
circle that happiness and peace of mind which he
had failed to experience in the restless career of
personal and political ambition.
The remainder of his life was devoted to study,
to his family fireside, and to the dissemination of
religious, moral, and intellectual truth.
From 1 83 1 to 1837, he delivered a course of
lectures on the Bible; another on Temperance; and
another on Self-Education, which were much ad
mired. He published the ' ' Letters of a Layman "
under the signature of Sherlock.
This publication was followed by "Five Letters
to Young Men, by An Old Man of Sixty."
For the last two years of his life he conducted
the editorial department of the Family Newspaper,
published by his son, Alfred Southwick.
On the 1 8th of November, 1839, while returning
with Mrs. Southwick from a social visit at the
house of a friend, he was attacked by an affection
of the heart, which terminated fatally. His age was
sixty-six. Few men ever experienced more vicissitudes of
fortune than Mr. Southwick. He was a self-made
man, owing all his knowledge and mental culture,
his success and distinction in life, to his own ex
ertions. He loved to encourage the laboring
classes, the young, the obscure and friendless; to
teach them the knowledge of their power and to
aid the advancement of their personal and pecuni-

i ' Smi-flL.T"

^^^e^r.

fOURNALISTS AND JOURNALISM.

ary interests. His address at the opening of the
Apprentices' Library in Albany was an earnest, im
passioned and eloquent appeal in behalf of the
young mechanic.
A few months previous to his death, he projected
the establishment of a literary and scientific insti
tute in this city, to be placed under his personal
control and supervision, for the purpose of afford
ing the requisite facilities to young men desirous
of pursuing a course of self- education.
In person, Mr. Southwick was somewhat under
the medium size, with a countenance full of be
nignity, and expressive of an enthusiastic, ardent
and sanguine temperament. An insidious disease,
the result of sedentary and studious habits, had un
dermined his health and deprived the evening of
his life of that full enjoyment which he might
otherwise have enjoyed.
LUTHER TUCKER.
Luther Tucker was born in Brandon, Ver
mont, May 7, 1802. The death of his mother,
which followed almost immediately, broke up the
family — his father and the older children shortly
afterward joining the tide of migration to which
Vermont has always furnished so large an army of
recruits, while the subject of this notice was
adopted in the house where he had been cared for
in the hours of motherless infancy. At the age of
fourteen he was apprenticed to Timothy C. Strong,
a printer, of Middlebury, encountering, in connec
tion with the instruction he received, the rough
fare and hard work that were natural enough at
the time, but very different from the customs of the
present. Mr. Strong removed to Palmyra, N. Y.,
in 1817, taking the young apprentice with him;
but the connection between them ended two
years later, before the expiration of the term of
apprenticeship. Mr. Tucker thus entered upon the
prosecution of his craft as a journeyman somewhat
prematurely, making his way, with intervals of
work at various intermediate points, toward his old
friends in Vermont, for whom and for his native
hills, then, as through all subsequent changes, he
entertained the warmest affection. A tour of work,
on which he soon set out, carried him, in the
course of the five succeeding years, to various
points in the north and east, and to Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Washington, and New York. In
the spring of 1825, he entered into partnership, at
Jamaica, Long Island, with Mr. Henry C. Sleight,
whose business was chiefly the publication of
standard works for New York houses. Some vol
umes, now in possession of his sons, bearing the
imprint of Sleight & Tucker, chiefly English re
prints of a moral or theological kind, are strikingly
characteristic of the condition of American publish
ing at the time; but, in freedom from typographical
errors and excellence of press-work, they suffer
nothing in comparison with the larger and more
hurried editions of the present generation.
In his travels as a journeyman, Mr. Tucker had
passed through Rochester in 1823, and witnessed
the first crossing on the aqueduct over the Gene-
47

see, of the Erie Canal; and, though the place was
then little more than a village, he was struck with
its evident capacities for future growth and pros
perity. And when he began to look for a wider
field than that afforded at Jamaica, Rochester was
the point that occurred to him. Encouraged by
his partner, who aided him with capital as well as
with advice, at the age of twenty-four he turned
his steps thitherward, and, entirely unknown among
its people, began the publication of the Rochester
Daily Advertiser — the first daily newspaper to
spring into existence west of the City of Albany,
in the boundless and then undeveloped territory
that extends to the Pacific. Its initial number ap
peared October 27, 1826, and, as we learn from con
temporary notices, at once attracted attention as
showing the remarkable progress of the place.
In referring to its establishment, the New York
Evening Post oi October 31, 1826, said: ''Nothing
can show, in a more striking point of view, th#
rapid increase of our population and internal com
merce, than the fact that Rochester, which wjth,in
a few years was a wilderness, is now enabled, fey
the number of its inhabitants and the activity of its
trade, to support a daily paper."
This enterprise, in proportion to the business
transactions of the day, and the simpler customs of
a young and still struggling Western town, was a
success. But we have been already too long in
tracing the steps by which Mr. Tucker reached
what became the all-absorbing work of his, life, tq
allude even briefly to his associates, or to the part
he took in the active and often heated political dis^
cussions of a peculiarly exciting period. Wher
ever he had traveled he had been struck with the
backwardness of our agriculture; the lack of inter
communication among our farmers; the tendencies
of all-prevailing practice towards the deterioration
of the soil; the almost universal absence of agri
cultural reading. His taste was strongly for farm
ing, and other business he regarded as simply the
resource from which he hoped to buy and cultivate
land of his own, without indebtedness to others,
and with reasonable provision in case of bad sea
sons and slow returns.
From this ambition, and his very considerable op*
portunities of observation among farmers in widely
scattered localities, arose the establishment of the
Genesee Farmer, January 1, 1831, while still pub
lishing the Daily Advertiser. Mr. Tucker's aim in
a paper for the practical benefit of farmers, was to
provide them with a means of communication
touching the details of their experience and modes
of practice, and to bring their example, so to speak^
within the personal knowledge of his readers, look
ing to what had been accomplished, or was actu
ally going on among the most intelligent and
enterprising, for guidance as to what might or
should be done, rather than to scientific investiga
tion or the theories of the closet. It may not be
too much to claim that the Genesee Farmer, though
preceded in date of issue by a few other agricultural
journals here or in Great Britain, \yas the first to be
gin from this end. Its circulation rapidly increased,

370

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

and this notwithstanding the establishment of the
Cultivator at Albany by Judge Buel, under the aus
pices of the State Agricultural Society, in 1834,
when some falling off might have been expected
from the division of the field with a rival so able
and influential; and it was somewhat to Mr. Tuck
er's surprise, on the union of the two journals,
some years later, to ascertain that the circulation of
his own was much the larger of the two.
Having at last attained what was to have been
his great object, the purchase of a farm near Roches
ter, the daily paper was sold in 1839. It still exists
as one of the leading and most popular journals of
Western New York, under the name of the Roches
ter Union and Advertiser. Farming and the
publication of the Farmer were to be the sole ob
jects of the future. But before a single season had
passed, Judge Buel's death left the Cultivator with
out a head, and. a proposition was made to Mr.
Tucker for the combination of the two papers, that
seemed in many respects so advantageous, that the
farm was sold, and the number for January, 1840,
was published from Albany and bore the title of the
Cultivator : a consolidation of Buel s Cultivator and the
Genesee Farmer. A New Genesee Farmer subse
quently led a brief and flickering existence, and
after the second part of the Cultivator's title had
been dropped as too cumbersome, other Genesee
Farmers came into fitful being — the last calling it
self "the oldest paper," because of its borrowed
title — -an attempt at appropriating a history as well
as a name of which there have been many other
specimens in our periodical literature, but about
which Mr. Tucker may, perhaps, have been excus
able in feeling somewhat sensitive.
In respect to the details by which Mr. Tucker
was led' into his life-work, we have spoken more
fully, because no notice would be fitting, as it
seems, without at least an outline of those prelim
inary steps by which, and through which, it came
about that all the efforts he could put forth were
thereafter devoted to the cause of agriculture.
Without the genius for manipulation, which seems
to be essential in the political managers of the
present day, it is possible that with all his energy,
judgment and industry, he might not have attain
ed, by continuing in the political field, the leading
rank among those who have the credit of making
or unmaking aspirants for public positions. With
the same qualities, coupled with an admirable appre
ciation of the real wants of the community, agricul
tural or educational — but without training in that
administrative capacity which consists so largely in
the selection and employment of deputies by whom
all details can be wrought out under general guid
ance and supervision — for a long time he retained
in his own hands and under his own eye every de
partment, business and editorial, and never felt
quite satisfied when anything that could possibly
be done by himself was left to another. The un
tiring work he thus assumed was often far too
much for the individual energies of any one, but
with heart and soul fully engrossed in its accom
plishment, he escaped from serious results until the
confinement to labor began to tell, and he felt

more and more, with the enfeebling heat of each
successive summer, that some measure of respite
was absolutely essential. For a number of years
prior to his death, he had been forced from con
stant application, by absolute inability to continue
it, and a large part of his last summer he spent in
freedom from care at various resorts. But as soon
as he was at home, he was only contented with a
certain measure of the office work; and it may be
truly said of him, if the saying is anywhere strictly
correct, that "he died in the harness." In the
wandering of his mind, after fever had set in, he
urged that manuscripts should be sent him for
scrutiny before publication, specifying some that he
remembered as coming in before he left the office;
and, recollecting that the State Agricultural Soci
ety was about to hold its annual meeting, he was
full of anxiety lest his illness might prevent his son's
attendance, and eager to be up and at his desk for
work. But his work was over. He died Sunday,
January 26, 1873. He had been at the office on
the 14th for several hours, although not yery well
or strong, and on the morning of the 15th found
himself too ill to leave his bed. Inflammation of
the lungs followed, attended at the last by defective
and irregular action of the heart, and when the fever
left him his strength gradually failed, until he en
tered into the rest of the unending Sabbath beyond
the grave. With his native predisposition for agri
cultural pursuits, it had been his task for many
long years to weigh the merits of discussion after
discussion and question after question, endeavor
ing to give due prominence to each in turn accord
ing to its deserts. Without prejudice or partiality,
he admitted to publication what was counter to his
own views, that it might stand upon its merits, and
provoke thought among his readers. Clear, point
ed and accurate in the use of language, what he
wrote always came with weight. During his lat
ter years, with manual difficulties of penmanship
rendering any prolonged exertion irksome, he
wrote but little; but the guidance of his judgment
and advice was ever present. Whatever he wrote
was in all respects as he intended it to appear, and
if he had been content to leave for printers the task
of deciphering illegibilities and correcting sen
tences — in other words, to abridge his own labor
at the expense of others — he would probably
have written more and at greater length. But to
the last he was equal to the work of editing and
correcting the manuscript of others, however much
it wore upon him; for the great aim of his labor
was to give voice to experience that might other
wise be unknown, and he would rather take in hand
a few pages from some unlettered correspondent
embodying the actual results of his experience, than
deal with folios of correctly written and diffuse
ramblings from writers whose syntax and etymol
ogy were above their actual knowledge of their
subjects. For over forty years at the head of the
Country Gentleman, and constantly in communica
tion with those who acted under his supervision, as
with many correspondents at a distance personally
unknown, Mr. Tucker seemed -to possess an un
usual power of attracting friendship and affection,

fOURNALISTS AND fOURNALISM.

371

of which evidences have often come from quite un
expected sources.
The publication of the paper has been continued
successfully since Mr. Tucker's death by his sons,
Luther H. Tucker and Gilbert M. Tucker, under
the firm name of Luther Tucker & Son, and, as in
the past, it ranks among the leading agricultural
journals of the United States.
In his personal relations, Mr. Tucker was for
many years a man of sorrow. Fairly under way at
Rochester, with the promise of his new experiment
with a daily paper just budding into fruition, the
cholera season of 1832 that swept like a pestilence
over the country, visited that place with unusual
severity. His young wife and a boy of special
promise, in his fifth year, after but a few days' strug
gle, were carried to the unending repose of the cem
etery at Mt. Hope; but they lingered for forty years
longer in a recollection that, until the last, was never
revived- without the deepest emotion. The surviv
ing husband and father fell into a decline from which
it was long thought that he could scarcely recover.
Marrying the sister of his former wife, she suc
cumbed, in 1844, to consumption, the scourge of
her native New England climate, preceded by one
daughter and soon after followed by another.
Smitten by repeated blows, though assuaged by all
that could tend, in social and business relations, to
mitigate their severity, he became constantly less
inclined to mingle in public occasions, and more
bound up in the welfare of those who were left to
him. Since his third marriage, over a quarter of a
century had elapsed at the time of his death — a
period of exemption from afflictions, and gradually
closing over the scars of former wounds — but he
seldom, if ever, accepted invitations likely to bring
him into prominent notice. During the hot
months of summer, which were especially trying to
his constitution, he was often so greatly enfeebled as
to excite the serious apprehensions of his family.
Of unvarying sweetness of disposition in the home
circle to which he was so much devoted, the char
ity that speaketh no evil was equally prominent in
his judgment of other men and their motives. The
memory of an injury was far less permanent in
his mind than the recollection of favors received,
kindly words when the business horizon was
clouded, and warm sympathies at times of trial.
That the struggle of life had wearied him there can
be no doubt; but his faith and gratitude, and un
selfish efforts for the happiness of others, never
wavered ; and when his task on earth was over, it
may be truly said that he fell asleep with a con
science void of offense toward God and toward
man, and a heart unspotted from the world.
In May, 1782, Charles R. Webster made his
appearance in Albany. His long and conspicuous
career forms an interesting chapter in the history
of the City and County of Albany.
On his arrival he at once began with Solomon
Balentine the publication of the New York Gaz
etteer or Northern Intelligencer. The only existing
copies of this paper are in the Albany Institute.

In 1783, Mr. Webster withdrew from the Gazette
and removed to New York. The paper was en
larged, and continued by Mr. Balentine down to
May, 1784, when it was discontinued.
The first pocket almanac ever published in Al
bany was printed by Mr. Balentine. It is a cu
rious and antique specimen of that kind of pub
lication. In the latter part of May, 1784, Charles R.
Webster returned to Albany and began the pub
lication of the Albany Gazette. A regular file of
this paper, from the sixteenth number down to the
time of its discontinuance in .1845, 's preserved
in the State Library. At that time it was seventy-
two years old — the oldest newspaper in the State.
It was conducted with marked ability, and is
an excellent record of the proceedings of the
Legislature of the State, the Courts of Justice, of
the Common Council of Albany, and of the gen
eral events of the time in which it existed.
On November 17, 1793, the Gazette printing-of
fice was consumed by a terrible conflagration, which
broke out on Sunday evening in an out-house be
longing to Leonard Gansevoort.
Mr. Webster is justly called the "Father of
printing " in Albany. He was born at Hartford,
Conn., September 30, 1762. His father was
Matthew Webster, and his mother's maiden name
was Mabel Pratt.
When Charles was seven years of age, his father,
by an unfortunate turn in his affairs, was reduced
to poverty, and young Webster was apprenticed to
Hudson & Goodwin, publishers of the Connecticut
Courant, to learn the printer's trade.
The opportunities afforded the boy for school
ing were limited to two quarters in a select school.
His subsequent education was pursued in silent
study in hours which most other boys devoted to
play. At the age of nineteen he was one of the com
pany who marched to New Haven to repel the
threatened attack of the British upon that town.
In 1781 or 1782, when about twenty years of age,
he came to Albany and entered into partnership
with Solomon Balentine, the only printer in the
city at the time. About the first production be
side their paper, was a work entitled " Plain Rea
sons, " a dissuasive from the use of Watts' version of
the Psalms, executed with neatness and accuracy.
Balentine & Webster began the Gazette in 1782.
In 1783 the latter left partnership with Balentine
and went to New York. Immediately after the
evacuation of the city by the British, in company
with John Lang he commenced the publication
of the New York Gazette.
In 1784, he returned to Albany, and commenced
the Albany Gazette. Mr. Balentine had removed,
and Webster was the only printer in the city.
In 1787, he was married to Miss Rachel Steele,
of Hartford, who died March 31, 1794. Two
children survived her, a son and a daughter. The
former was the Rev. Charles Webster, long a
pastor of the Presbyterian Church, Monmouth
County, N. J. The daughter married Mr. Brown,
of Albion.

372

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

April 2, 1 796, Mr. Webster was married to Miss
Cynthia Steele, a sister of his first wife.
Though the columns of the Gazette were open to
both Federalists and Republicans, it was regarded
as a Federal organ. This led to the establishment
of a rival paper and printing-office. But the rapid
settlement of Western New York furnished abun
dant patronage for both papers, and largely in
creased the book-selling and printing business.
About this time Mr. Webster associated with him-
s"elf his brother, George, and some time after, his
ngphews, Elisha W., Hezekiah and Daniel Skinner,
Became partners. He was active in the establish
ment of the Mechanics' Academy, and when that
school Was abandoned, he became interested in
the Lancasterian School and the Apprentices'
Library. He never held any public office, except that of
Acting Deputy to the County Clerk of Albany
County for a brief period.
Ahlld all the exciting events that attended the
wat of 1 8 1 2, he, though a warm Federalist, main
tained a dignity in the tone of his paper, a freedom
from ribaldry and personal invective, never com
promising his character for fidelity and devotion to
the c^use he served. No indictments for slander,
no suits for libel, were brought against him. He
abhorred defamation. Morgan Lewis, when a can^
didate for Governor, thanked him for his gener
osity ih repelling an unjust attack made on him as
SOOn as it met his eye, although he was busily en
gaged in using all honorable means to defeat Mr.
Lewis' election.
On approaching sixty years, he made a settle
ment of all his affairs. A division of the prop
erty was amicably made, and the firm of Websters
& Skinners was dissolved by the withdrawal of
the three younger partners. The book-selling,
printing and binding was carried on at the old
stand by C. R. & G. Webster. This firm was
dissolved in 1821, by the death of Mr. George
Webster. The surviving brother purchased his
half in the property at the Elm-tree corner, for
$13,000, and the firm, E. W. Skinner & Co., pur
chased one-half the stock for $10,000. The new
firm of Webster & Skinners continued till his death,
July 18, 1834. His failing health induced him to
visit Saratoga Springs. He made his will and
left his home, never to return. His last letter was
written July 14, 1834, and, in view of the near ap
proach of death, contained these words: "The
aim of my life has been to have my heart right
with God and my trust in the merits of the Re
deemer." He expired almost instantly, without
the slightest appearance of pain, July 18, 1834,
and was buried from his residence in Albany, on
the 20th. He was about six feet in height, well
made in person, erect and easy in motion. His
manner was dignified, full of courtesy and sweet
ness. His conversation was interesting, pure, in
structive, entertaining and edifying. The great
aim of his life seemed to be the elevation of the
masses, especially of all classes of mechanics, in
mind and morals. Albany County never possessed
a nobler class of toiling men than during his day.

Thurlow Weed had no superior as a political
journalist in his day. He was born at the small
village of Acra, in the town of Cairo, Green County,
November 15, 1797. His parents were natives of
Connecticut. His father was Joel Weed. His
paternal grandfather was Nathan Weed, a soldier of
the revolution, who, with a large family, removed
from Connecticut at the close of the war, and settled
in the place of Thurlow's birth. Mr. Weed's
mother was Mary Ellis, a native of New Haven.
He was the eldest of three brothers and two sisters,
all of whom he survived, except his brother Osborn.
Mr. Weed's father was an honest, amiable man,
"doomed," as Mr. Weed says, "to earn his bread
by the sweat of his brow, in the most literal sense.
He was bred a farmer; but in 1799 removed to
Catskill to become a carman." He continued
poor, " sometimes very poor," through life. It is
easy to see that, under these. circumstances, Thur
low had no advantages for attaining an education.
His first occupation in life was blowing a black
smith's bellows, for which he received six cents per
day, which he expended towards the support of his
father's family. When nine years old he obtained
a situation as cabin boy on board a North River
sloop. This brought him to the City of New York.
The occupation of cabin boy was very much to
his taste, and he indulged in the ambition of be
coming a sailor. As he says, ' ' but for an infirm
ity, which incapacitated him for the most essential
part of a sailor's duty, his occupation would have
been that of a seaman instead of a printer."
After serving on different vessels on the Hudson,
he removed, in 1 808, with his father, to the town
of Cincinnatus, Cortland County, then almost a wil
derness. His father attempted to bring a piece of
land, covered with woods, to the condition of a
farm; but, like all his other adventures, it proved a
failure. The boy did what he could to aid his
father in erecting a log-house, and to make a clear
ing in which to plant corn, potatoes, etc. One of
his occupations was aiding in making "Black
Salts," by leaching ashes gathered from burned
log-heaps. He relates that at this time his parents were
so poor, that in winter he was compelled to
tie pieces of rag-carpet around his feet instead of
shoes, and thus equipped he chopped wood and, in
spring, gathered sap. In this wilderness he evinced
a strong desire for information. But there were
few books, and the pleasure of reading was denied
him. Having heard that a family living several
miles distant owned a history of the French Revo
lution, he set out bare-footed through the snow,
and obtained the book after considerable entreaty.
Candles in his father's house were unknown, and
he read the book evenings, after the dav's work
was done, by the light of pine-knots. In 1809
his father removed from Cincinnatus to Onondaga
Hollow, where Thurlow obtained work in an ash-
ery, and in doing such odd jobs of labor as offered
themselves. After abandoning the idea of becoming a sailor,
his ambition turned to the life of a printer, which,
at last, became irrepressible. After several attempts

fOURNALISTS AND JOURNALISM.

373

to get a place, he became an apprentice in a print
ing-office in Onondaga Hollow. The work pleased
him, and he soon became very useful in the office.
Every leisure moment he employed in reading the
office newspapers and such books as the village
afforded. Here he remained until the war of
1812 broke out.
The printing-office in Onondaga was closed, and
he secured a place in the old town of Scipio, where
was published a paper called the Tocsin. Soon
after, he entered the printing-office of Messrs.
Seward & Williams, in Utica. The war was then
waging, and Mr. Williams, one of his employers,
enlisted in the army, and young Weed went with
him. After serving in the lines a part of the cam
paign of 1813, he obtained his discharge, went to
Albany, and obtained employment in the office of
Webster & Skinner, publishers of the Albany Gazette.
After working a while at Albany, he went to Her
kimer and obtained employment in the office of
Xhe^American, published by Wm. L. Stone, after
wards distinguished as editor of the Northern Whig,
in Hudson; the Mirror, of Hartford; the Daily
Advertiser, in Albany; and the Commercial Adver
tiser, in New York. Here he made the acquaint
ance of Michael Hoffman, and Alvan Stewart, the
anti-slavery lawyer. At this early day, Mr. Weed
made the acquaintance of very many men who
became distinguished actors with him in the polit
ical arena.
After working in several places as a journeyman
printer, he again, in 18 15, became a resident of
Albany. During the Sessions of the Legislature
he listened to its debates, conducted by such men
as Martin Van Buren, Erastus Root, and Nathan
Sandford in the Senate, and Elisha Williams, Will
iam A. Duer, and Samuel Young in the Assem
bly. Here he took his first lessons in politics.
Early in 1816, he began work in the office of
the Albany Argus, of which Jesse Buel was editor.
In 18 1 7, Israel W. Clark, editor and proprietor of
the Albany Register, invited Mr. Weed to become
foreman of the office. It was while here that
he first tried his "'prentice hand" on editorials.
Of these first efforts, he says: "I first wrote brief
paragraphs upon common subjects, taking great
liberties with the King's English, for f was ignorant
of the first principles of grammar; but Mr. Clark,
the editor, would good-naturedly point to these
blunders and say encouragingly, ' I would improve
with time.'" He did; and he became one of the
most trenchant and powerful political writers in the
State. In the split which occurred in the Repub
lican party in 181 8, one faction was headed by
Governor De Witt Clinton, the other by Martin
Van Buren, leading to a political and personal
warfare of great bitterness, in which the pen of Mr.
Weed became a somewhat powerful instrument.
In the fall of 18 18, Mr. Weed purchased the print
ing establishment of John F. Hubbard, of Nor
wich, Chenango County, and established the Agri
culturist, a paper favorable to Mr. Clinton. After
conducting this some fourteen months, he disposed
of the establishment, returned to Albany, and be
came foreman in the office of the Albany Argus.

In April, 1818, Mr. Weed was married to Miss
Catherine Ostrander, of Cooperstown. In his auto
biography, he says: "To this marriage I am in
debted for as much happiness as usually falls to the
lot of man. She more than divided our labors,
cares and responsibilities. But for her industry,
frugality and good management, I must have been
shipwrecked during the first fifteen years of trial.
Economy and a well-regulated system in household
affairs were virtues I did not possess, and their
presence in her saved us from disaster." Mrs.
Weed died, deeply mourned, on the fortieth anni
versary of their marriage.
Mr. Weed became foreman in the Argus office
in 1 82 1. In 1822, after a brief residence in Man-
lius, he became a resident of Rochester, then a
new, straggling village, containing but a few hun
dred inhabitants. Here he found occupation as a
journeyman printer in the office of the Telegraph, a
Clintonian paper published by Everard Peck. Mr.
Weed's residence at Rochester in a measure laid
the foundation of his future political life. Here he
made the acquaintance of Frederick Whitlesey,
Derrick Libley and Colonel Nathaniel, Rochester.
Mr. Whitlesey, afterwards a Vice-Chancellor of the
State, with Wm. H. Seward, Bates Cook and Thur
low Weed, became the founders of the Anti-Ma
sonic party.
In 1823, the Rochester Telegraph placed the
name of John Q. Adams for President under its
editorial head. This was the first paper nominat
ing Mr. Adams. As Mr. Weed was soon known
throughout the State as one of the chief supporters
of Mr. Adams, he was fairly launched on the sea
of politics.
In the singular campaign of 1824, in which
Jackson, John Q. Adams, William H. Crawford,
Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun were candidates,
Mr. Weed and the Telegraph were the energetic and
efficient friends of the successful candidate, Adams.
In September of that year, an accident to a stage
coach in Rochester, containing William H. Seward
and Judge Miller, of Auburn, his father-in-law, led
to Mr. Weed's acquaintance with the former.
"This acquaintance grew rapidly," says Mr. Weed,
"on subsequent occasions, when Mr. Seward was
called to Rochester on professional business. Our
views on general politics were not dissimilar, and
in regard to anti-masonry he soon became imbued
with my opinions."
Political anti-masonry, which had lurked in pri
vate dwellings, affecting town politics and creating
neighborhood feuds, was at this time gathering
strength from pamphlets and newspapers, under the
leadership of Messrs. Seward, Weed and John C.
Spencer, and soon began to exhibit the strength
and influence of a new and powerful party.
Though the Anti-Masonic party was short-lived, it
developed many distinguished men, who are now
ranked among the statesmen of the nation. Space
will not permit us to follow all the windings of the
partisan conflicts in which Mr. Weed was an ac
knowledged leader.
His singular abilities for molding and control
ling public opinion, was first and most admirably

374

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

exhibited in the manner in which he manipulated
the excitement growing out of the alleged murder
of William Morgan by the Masons — molding it
into a powerful party.
Mr. Weed was elected Member of Assembly
from Monroe County to the session of 1825, and re
elected to the session of 1830.
After retiring from the Legislature, he left
Rochester, and again became a resident of Al
bany. At this time Edwin Croswell was editor of
the Albany Argus.
While Mr. Weed was in the Assembly in 1830, a
project began to be discussed, which in time was
carried into effect, and exerted a powerful influence
in shaping the future events of his life. This
project had in view the establishment of a new jour
nal in Albany, devoted to the interests of the Anti-
Masonic party. The first number appeared March
22, 1830, and was called the Evening Journal.
Political anti-masonry soon passed away. The
Whig party coming into existence; the Evening
Journal became a leading organ. Years passed,
and the Whig party also passed into history.
As it is our purpose to speak of Mr. Weed as a
journalist and not as a politician, this sketch will
be confined mostly to his journalistic career. It is
proper, however, to say that, as a journalist, he was
one of the founders and supporters of the Whig
part)', and, as such, he was equally influential
in forming and sustaining the Republican party
through all its triumphs, down to the time when
he retired from the editorial duties of the Evening
Journal. Next to the New York Tribune, through all the
history of the Whig and Republican parties, the
Evening Journal has been a leading organ of the
former, as it now is of the latter party. A contem
porary, writing of Mr. Weed when in the zenith of
his influence, says: "Everything written by him
affords evidence of a powerful mind. His sar
casms are keen, his wit pungent. He knows how
to touch the most sensitive part of his adversary.
Every blow he strikes is felt. Few editors in Amer
ica possess more of party tact than Thurlow Weed.
He affords decisive evidence of being by nature
a great man. He has risen from an obscure situa
tion in life to eminence, and in all the positions
which he has occupied he has discovered new re
sources of mind fully adequate to those poweis
requisite to meet the exigency."
In contact with all classes of men, he gained
a wonderful knowledge of human nature — the abil
ity to read men, to understand their motives, to
scan the true spirit of the times — which gave him
superiority and influence as a politician. A strong,
vigorous and graceful writer, his pen was a source
of strength and a defense to his party, to his friends
and to himself. Allegiance and fidelity to his
friends was a cardinal principle of Thurlow Weed.
He was a politician in every sense of the word,
excepting in low devices and platitudes. Mag
nanimous and generous toward rivals ; severe, de
termined and untiring in his opposition to polit
ical enemies; his contests were honorable and high-
minded.

In 1840, he was appointed State printer, by the
removal of his great rival, Edwin Croswell. Mr,
Weed always took commendable pride in his call
ing as a printer and in his connection with the
Typographical Society. In January, 1851, writing
to the New York Typographical Society, he said :
"It is now forty years since I was apprenticed to
the ' Art preservative of all arts. ' * * * Accord
ing to all accounts I was then a very verdant youth.
My master not unfrequently proposed to get ideas
into my head with the 'mallet,' and on one occa
sion I evaded a well-aimed experiment in the same
direction with the ' sheep's-foot' only by an ' artful
dodge. ' * * * But now only one branch of
our trade is taught to apprentices. A printer is
no longer connected with the 'press-room.' The
printer of the present day is a stranger to its health
ful toil, its rich humors, its merry laugh, its habit
ual jests, and, I am constrained to remember, its
too frequent revelries. The customs of the press
room, along with its labors, are all obsolete. * * *
Upon the years of my life which glided away as a
journeyman printer in New York, I look back with
exceeding gratification. It was a period of high,
healthy, buoyant spirits and fresh enjoyment I
was never for a day out of work, and with a hardy
frame and willing hand was enabled from my
wages to gratify every rational wish. Few journey
men made a larger figure in the '-bill-book ' of a
Saturday night than myself. "
The last time that Mr. Weed ever set type was on
the 8th of November, 1854. On receiving the news
that Myron H. Clark was elected for Governor, he
rushed into the composing-room, "seized a 'stick,'
and, himself, threw into 'brevier' these expressive
sentences: 'Let the eagle scream! Myron H. Clark
is elected II'" Such was Thurlow Weed as an appren
tice, journeyman printer and editor. His career as
a politician and Statesman is written conspicuously
in the history of the State and nation.
In 1869, Mr. Weed retired from journalism, after
forty years of unwearied devotion to his duties as
an editor. From that, to the day of his death,
his time was spent in the genial companionship of
his home friends ; in correspondence with absent
ones, among whom were ranked the most distin
guished names in America and Europe ; and in
reading and in writing reminiscences of his times.
He often wrote for the press. Finally, surrounded
by everything conducive to happiness, the sun of
his life went down. He died in the City of New
York, on Wednesday, November 22, 1882, in the
eighty-sixth year of his age. His death was peace
ful and painless. "A short time before it occurred.
while his mind' was wandering, he seemed to be
carrying on a conversation with President Lincoln
and General Scott in regard to the late war. At
the conclusion he ordered a carriage, and then,
after a moment's pause, said: ' I want to go home I '
These were his last words."
The facts of this notice are largely abridged from
Mr. Weed's autobiography.

The past has given to Albany many other edit
ors and periodical writers whose graceful pens have

JOURNALISTS AND JOURNALISM.

375

delighted and instructed the public here and else
where. Many of them became eminent in other
fields of literature. Some were here but a brief
time only; but they are worthy of mention.
Among them we record the names of William L.
Stone, Harry Croswell, Nathaniel H. Carter,
James R. Boyd, S. De Witt Bloodgood, John B.
Van Schaick, Henry James, Horace Greeley,
Francis Dwight, Ebenezer Emmons, S. H. Ham
mond, Daniel D. Barnard, Jabez D. Hammond,
A. J. Downing, William B. Sprague, E. G.
Squire, E. C. Delavan, Jasper Hazen, John A. Dix,
A. George Johnson, Alfred B. Street, S. C.
Hutchins, and J. Wesley Smith. Not one survives;
but their writings remain.

It might seem invidious to speak of the living,
some of whom have recently been called to similar
duties in a larger sphere; others of whom have re
tired with laurels; and still others of whom are dili
gently toiling among us with prospects of
a bright fame. As exponents of public sentiment,
as teachers of the people, as dispensers of such
knowledge as every one seeks to gain, such men
ought to fill no second rank in personal character
and in general esteem.
THE ALBANY COUNTY PRESS.
Under this head we attempt to give a list of all pe
riodical publications of any importance issuing from
the press of the county since the very first newspaper
printed in the city in 1771. Our sources of in
formation have often been contradictory as lo dates
of the minor papers, and we do not vouch for the
accuracy of all. But a list of them is very sug
gestive and instructive.
1 77 1. — November. Albany Gazette, published
by James & Alexander Robertson. Discontinued
about 1776, the publishers having joined the British
and gone to New York City.
1782. — June 3. New York Gazette, or Northern
Intelligencer, weekly. Balentine & Webster, pub
lishers. The name was changed and Balentine
left out.
I784^ — May 28. The Albany Gazette, weekly.
Charles R. Webster, publisher. May 25, 1789,
semi weekly. United with the Albany Advertiser,
March, 1817, and so continued until April 14,
1845- t788. — January 26. The Albany Journal, or
Montgomery, Washington and Columbia Intelligencer.
Charles R. & George Webster, publishers. Semi-
weekly, winter and summer. In connection with
the Gazette. Discontinued May 25, 1789. Febru
ary n. The Federal Herald. Removed from
Lansingburgh by Claxton & Babcock, and soon
after returned. The Albany Register, weekly;
John & Robert Barber until 1808; Solomon
Southwick until 181 7. Revived in 18 18 by Israel
W. Clark.

1796. — November. The Chronicle, John Mc
Donald. Joseph Fry, printer, whom Henry C.
Southwick succeeded. Discontinued in 1799.
1 797. — The Albany Centinel. Loring C. Andrews;
afterwards Whiting, Backus & Whiting. Discon
tinued, November 10, 1806.
1806. — November 11. The Centinel revived in
The Republican Crisis. Backus & Whiting, and
then Isaac Mitchell, publishers. 1808, Harry
Croswell & Co.; William Tucker, printer. In
1809, name changed to The Balance and New
York State Journal. Croswell & Frary. Re
moved to Hudson in'1811.
1807. — The Guardian. Van Benthuysen & Wood,
Court street, three doors below Hudson street.
Continued about two years.
1 8 1 2. — April 1 1 . The Albany Republican. Sam
uel R. Brown. Succeeded by Mr. Romain. Fi
nally taken to Saratoga.
1 8 13. — January 26. The Albany Argus, tri
weekly, semi-weekly and weekly. Founded by
Jesse Buel. A daily in 1825. The Croswells, Com
stock, Cassidy and Manning have been among its
publishers and editors. Now the Argus Co. publish
it. 1813-14. — The Stranger, 8vo, published by
John Cook.
1815. — June. The American Magazine, monthly.
Horatio Gates Spofford. Discontinued May, 1 8 1 6.
September 25, Albany Daily Advertiser. Theodore
Dwight, editor. John W. Walker, printer. In
March, 181 7, William L. Stone consolidated it
with the Albany Gazette. Published by the Websters
as Albany Gazette and Advertiser until April 14,
1845. June 3. Christian Visitant, 4to, by Solo
mon Southwick. Continued two years. The Friend,
8vo, monthly, by D. & S. A. Abbey. Con
tinued one year. The Statesman, published and
edited by Nathaniel H. Carter, a graduate of
Dartmouth College. Removed to New York in
1818. 1 81 9. — June 5. The Ploughboy. Solomon South
wick, editor; John O. Cole, printer.
1820. — Albany Microscope, started by Charles
Galpin and continued a few years.
1822. — August 3. The Oriental Star, weekly.
Religious. Bezaleel Howe.
1823. — National Democrat. William McDougal.
Published at Albany and New York. Discontinued
April 7, 1824. Revived April 20, by Solomon
Southwick. 1824. — May. Religious Monitor, monthly.
Chauncey Wrebster. Removed to Philadelphia.
1825. — August 8. The Albany Patriot and
Daily Commercial Intelligencer. George Galpin.
1826. — July 25. National Observer, weekly and
semi-weekly, by George Galpin. Continued four
years. Edited by Solomon Southwick.
1826. — April 22. Albany Daily Chronicle. Chas.
Galpin & M. M. Cole; also, Albany Morning
Chronicle, John Denio & Seth Richards. Dis
continued in 1827.

376

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

1826. — Escritoire, or Masonic and Miscellaneous
Album, started by E. B. Child. February 3,
1827, changed to American Masonic Record and
Albany Saturday Magazine, E. B. Child. Changed
to American Masonic Record and Albany Literary
Joumal,i]a.nustTy 30, 1830. May, the Alb.my Chris-
Han Register, by L. G. Hoffman. J. R. Boyd,
editor. Christian Register and Telegraph united
with ihe Journal (of Utica) and published by Hos
ford & Wait as the Journal and Telegraph, No
vember 21, 1831. About this time Lewis G.
Hoffman published the American Masonic Register ;
five years.
1827. — May. The Antidote, by Solomon South
wick, editor ; Webster & Wood, publishers. The
Standard, weekly, by Matthew Cole. August 4. The
Comet, by Daniel McGlashan, editor. October 13.
The Albany Signs of the Times and Literary Writer,
Daniel McGlashan, publisher ; J. B. Van Schaick
and S. D. W. Bloodgood, editors.
1828. — The Morning Chronicle, daily, by Beach,
Denio & Richards. Albany Chronicle, semi-weekly.
1828. — The Age, by Galpin & Sturtevant.
1828. — December 27. Albany Times and Lit
erary Writer, James McGlashan, publisher; Blood-
good and Van Schaick, editors.
1828. — Albany Minerva, by Joel Munsell.
1 830. — January 30. The Albanian, semi-monthly,
Arthur N. Sherman. March 22. The Albany Even
ing fournal, Thurlow Weed, editor ; B. D. Pack
ard & Co., publishers. April 3. Farmers', Me
chanics', and Workingmen's Advocate, McPherson &
McKercher. April. Albany Bee, J. Duffy, W. S.
McCulioch & C. Angus.
1 83 1. — September 7. Albany Literary Gazette,
John P. Jermain, editor ; James D. Nicholson,
publisher. November 21. fournal and Telegraph,
Hosford & Wait Temperance Recorder, monthly.
1832. — January 5. Daily Craftsman, Roberts
and James, editors. The Albany Quarterly, 8vo, by
Albany Historical Society; edited by J. R. & S.
M. Wilson. One volume issued.
1833. — February. American Quarterly Hemp
Magazine. Continued two years.
1834. — March. The Cultivator, conducted by
Jesse Buel, J. P. Beekman, and J. D. Wasson.
April 5. The Daily News, Hunter & Hoffman.
Albany Whig, by J. B. Van Schaick & Co.
1834. — January. American Temperance Intelli
gencer, monthly.
1835. — October 12. The Albany Transcript, C.
F. Powell & Co. ; a penny paper.
1835. — Albany Bouquet and Literary Spectator,
by George Trumbull; monthly.
1835. — May. The Silk Worm, monthly; two
years; then changed to The Silk Worm and Sugar
Manual; discontinued in 1858.
1836. — The Zodiac, Monthly, by Gen. De Cou-
drey Holstein. The Common School Assistant, by
J. Orville Taylor.

1838. — January 6. The Family Newspaper,
weekly, by Solomon Southwick. July 4. Daily
Patriot, an*anti-slavery paper, by J. G. Wallace.
1840. — The feffersonian, a campaign paper, by
Horace Greeley. September 19. The Unionist,
a daily campaign paper, by J. Munsell, C. Love-
ridge, and others. Tomahawk and Scalping Knife,
short time. Albany Patriot, by J. C. Jackson, four
years. The Rough Hewer, daily, campaign.
1841. — Albany Atlas, by Vance & Wendell. Will
iam Cassidy and H. H. Van Dyke became editors in
1843- 1842. — The Irishman, by H. O'Kane, seven
weeks. The Sunday Tickler, by C. W. Taylor.
Albany Switch, by H. J. Hastings; afterwards by
E. Leslie. November 13. Youth's Temperance
Enterprise, J. Stanley Smith; three years.
1843. — September 4. Daily Knickerbocker, by
Hugh J. Hastings. Weekly Knickerbocker, June 8,
1857. The Subterranean, by James Duffy.
1844. — Albany Spectator.
1845. — April 9. The Albany Freeholder, a week
ly anti-rent paper, by Thomas A. Devyr. The
Gavel, by Joel Munsell. The Scourge, by Wood
ward & Packard. Vesper Bell, by Abbott & Crosby.
1846. — December 8. Albany Herald, by A. B.
Van Olinda. The Balance. December 17. Al
bany Morning Telegraph.
1847. — District School fournal, by FraDcis
Dwight. The Castigator, by M. J. Smith. Sep
tember 13. Albany Morning Express, a penny
paper, by Stone & Henley; discontinued March
22, 1856. Albany Weekly Express, issued Febru
ary 1, 1 85 1.
1848. — Christian Palladium, by Jasper Hazen;
removed to New Jersey in 1855; was called Chris
tian Herald from 1849. The Busy Bee. by E.
Andrews, two years. The Castigator, by Mortimer
Smith, editor.
1849. — May 15. The Albany Daily Messenger,
a penny paper, by B. F. Romaine, editor. June
30. Sunday Dutchman.
1850. — February 16. Albany Daily Times, by
Heron, Furman & Thornton. Half-Dollar Month
ly, B. F. Romaine. fournal of the New York Slate
Agricultural Society ,- published many years. Al
bany Evening Atlas.
1 85 1. — September 1. Albany Daily Eagle, a
penny paper, by John Sharts; four months. Janu
ary 4. American Mechanic, by J. M. Patterson.
Carson League, removed from Syracuse, by J. T.
Plazen & T. L. Carson. Albany Minor and Lit
erary Cabinet, by J. H. Carroll & W. M. Colburn.
October n. The Cithren, by Warner & Hooker.
Northern Light ; continued about three years; con
ducted by Messrs. Dix, Beck, Dean, Delavan,
Hawley, Johnson, Olcott, and Street; a well edited
literary paper, as its editors' names indicate.
1852. — Temperance Recorder. September n.
Family Intelligencer, by Rev. Jasper Hazen ; then
by J. T. Hazen. The New York Teacher, con
ducted by James Cruikshank, T. W. Valentine,

fOURNALlSTS AND JOURNALISM.

377

Francis Dwight, and other teachers, as the organ of
the New York State Teachers' Association, for several
years. Albany Freie Blaetter, by August Miggael.
1853. — February 1. Evening Transcript, first
Albany penny paper, by Cuyler & Henley. Pro
hibitionist, organ of New York State Temperance
Society; edited by Prof. A. McCoy; in 1857, united
with fournal of American Temperance Union.
1854. — Family Dental fournal, monthly, by D.
C. Estes.
1855. — July 21. State Police Tribune, by S. H.
Parsons & R. M. Griffin. Removed to New York.
1856. — March 23. Albany Daily Statesman.
April 21. Albany Morning Times, by Stone & Co.
September 8. Albany Evening Union, a penny
paper; James McFarlane. Albany Volksblatt, by
George Herb.
1857. — Albany Microscope, Charles Galpin. May
4. Albany Morning Express, J. C. Cuyler, editor;
Stone & Henry, publishers. Albany Evening Her
ald, changed to Albany Evening Union, June 29,
1857. 1858. — American Citizen. Evening Courier. Aug
ust The Hour and the Man, daily and weekly,
by George W. Clarke & John J. Thomas. October.
Mercantile Horn, weekly, gratis. Voice of the
People, campaign paper. December. Evening
Standard, by R. M. Griffin & Co. Independent
Press ; only a few months. Astronomical Notes,
edited by Prof. Brunow. American Magazine,
monthly, by J. S. & B. Wood; about one and a
half years. The Gavel, two years, by John Tan
ner. State Military Gazette, by C. G. Stone; re
moved to New York.
1863. — January 17. Standard and Statesman.
1865. — October. Albany Evening Post, a penny
paper, by M. & E. Griffin.
1883. — Outing, by Outing Publishing and Print
ing Company, 59 North Pearl street. Removed to
Boston. 1 88 1. — The Inquirer and Criterion, weekly, by
Charles S. Carpenter; February 20, 1882, by Bur
dick & Taylor. Discontinued January 5, 1884.
Republished as The Inquirer, April 30, 1884. Now
discontinued.

There are, doubtless, a great many others of
ephemeral existence, inspired by personal am
bition, or by matters of local and temporary inter
est, such as campaign issues, society organs, school
boy discussions. The cacoethes scribendi has had
a large development in this city. A collection of
all these newspapers in some of our institutions
would be interesting and valuable. Many of them
are to be found in the State Library and Albany
Institute. Some in old chests and garrets. Many
more have been consumed by the tooth of time,
the flames, or the grinding paper-mill.
18

NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN ALBANY AT
THE PRESENT TIME.
The Albany Argus made its first appearance on
Tuesday, January 26, 18 13. It was published
semi-weeklv; Jesse Buel, editor and owner. On
August 18, 1825, it issued its first daily paper.
The Daily Argus and The Albany Evening Atlas
were united February 18, 1856, under the name of
Atlas and Argus, with Calvert Comstock and Will
iam Cassidy, publishers and editors. On April 6,
1865, they were succeeded by William Cassidy.
It became The Argus again, Monday, May 15,
1865. On May 6, 1865, The Argus Company
was organized. William Cassidy, editor; Daniel
Manning and J. Wesley Smith, associates. S. C.
Hutchins and St. Clair McKelway have been re
cent editors. James H. Manning is present editor.
Sunday paper issued since May 13, 1877. Argus
Building, southwest corner of Broadway and
Beaver street.
Albany Evening fournal. B. D. Packard & Co.
published the first number of The fournal, March
22, 1830. It was a strong Anti-Masonic paper.
Thurlow Weed was the editor for over thirty years,
and rendered it highly influential over the entire
State. George Dawson succeeded him as editor.
Weed & Dawson Co., and Dawson & Co. have
been publishers. The Albany Journal Company
published its first copy under the editorship of
John A. Sleicher, March 17, 1884, with W. J.
Arkell as President; J. W. Drexel, Secretary; James
Arkell, Treasurer. The printing-house and office
are at No. 6 1 State street.
Albany Evening Times, originally the Albany
Morning Times, was started Monday, April 21,
1856, by Barnes & Godfrey; then published by
Alfred Stone, David M. Barnes and Edward H.
Boyd; later by Samuel Wilbor. March 1, 1861,
the Times was consolidated with the Evening
Courier, and was first issued as an evening paper
September 25, 1865. Albany Weekly Times first
appeared July 16, 1872. It was for a few years
published by the Times Company. Since May,
188 1, Theophilus C. Callicot has been the editor
and proprietor, at No. 401 Broadway.
Albany Morning Express was started September
13, 1847. In 1854 it was published by Munsell
& Co. In 1856 its name was changed to the Daily
Statesman. The Express was revived by Stone &
Henley, its original proprietors, May 4, 1857, with
J. C. Cuyler, editor. In i860, the publishers were
Hunt & Co. Albany Weekly Express, issued Aug
ust 4, 1 881; Sunday edition, March 4, 1883.
Albany Express Company: Edward Henley, J.
C. Cuyler, Addison A. Keyes and Nathan D. Wen
dell. Printing-house, southwest corner Green and
Beaver streets. A recent change has made Prof.
Lewis, editor, and W. F. Hurcombe, publisher.
Daily Press and Knickerbocker. First number of
Sunday Press, May 13, 1870; Daily Press, Febru
ary 26, 1877; Daily Knickerbocker, September 4,
1843; Press and Knickerbocker united, August 10,

378

History of the county of Albany.

1877. The Weekly Press and Legislative fournal
was issued for the first time, January 8, 1873.
The Press Company is composed of John H. Far
rell, Myron H. Rooker and James Macfarlane.
Printing-house, 1 8 Beaver street.
Evening Post. First issued October, i860, by
R. M. & E. Griffin; editor, R. M. Griffin. Present
publishers, M. & E. Griffin, No. 7 Hudson avenue.
Albany Evening Union. The Union Printing and
Publishing Company first published this paper
Monday, May 29, 1882, at their office in Beaver
Block, South Pearl street. On Monday, July 16,
1883, John Parr became editor and proprietor,
and published the paper from No. 28 Beaver street.
Fred. W. White is now president and editor.
¦ Freie Blaetter, started by Henry Bender & Aug
ust Miggael in 1852; now and for many years con
ducted by August Miggael at No. 26 Beaver street
German daily paper. Der Sonlagsgast, issued
since 1882 as a supplement to the Saturday edition.
Office, No. 44 Beaver street.
Taglicher Albany Herald. This German daily
was first published by Jacob Heinmiller, Tuesday,
October 10, 1871; was issued as Der Albany Her-
old on February 11, 1869. The present office is
at No. 87 Westerlo street
The Cultivator and Country Gentleman, a weekly-
paper i-ince January 4, 1866. As a monthly it
was fiist published as the Cultivator, in March,
1834, and conducted by Jesse Buel, J. P. Beek
man and J. D. Wasson. It was subsequently pub
lished by W. Gaylord & L. Tucker, and by L.
Tucker & Son, who united it with The Country
Gentleman, which was started by Luther Tucker
and John T. Thomas, January 6, 1853. It is
ably conducted by L. H. & G. M. Tucker, editors
and proprietors.
. The Catholic Telegraph, first issued in Albany,
January, 1880. Telegraph Publishing Company
was incorporated June, 1882. M. J. Ludden,
editor. The Guide, I. O..O. F. D. H. Turner, editor.
Fir-t published, February 15, 1881. Issued every
two weeks. D. H. Turner & G. B. Powers,
publishers. Albany Law fournal. Monthly. First number
publi.-hed January 9, 1870. Isaac Grant Thomp
son, editor; Weed, Parsons & Co , publishers,
Nos. 39 and 41 Columbia street. Present editor,
Irving Browne.
Our Work at Home. Monthly. Was first pub
lished at the rooms of the City Tract and Mission
ary Society, September, 1875. Charles Reynolds,
editor. The present editor is George Sanderson,
Jr. Office, No. 9 North Pearl street. It is the
organ of the City Mission and Tract Society.
The Voice was first published as a monthly,
January, 1879, at 401 Broadway. Edgar S. Wer
ner, editor and proprietor, No. 59 Lancaster
street. Forest,. Forge and Farm. Published in Albany
since June, 1882. H. S. Quackenbush, editor
and publisher, Tweddle Building.

Poultry Monthly. First issued by the Ferris Pub
lishing Company, November, 1879. Office, 481
Broadway. The Medical Annals was first published in Jan
uary, 1883, by a Committee of Albany County
Medical Society. Burdick & Taylor, 481 Broad
way, are the present publishers. Dr. F. C Curtis
and others, editors.
NEWSPAPERS PUBLISHED IN OTHER
PLACES IN THE COUNTY.
Coeymans.
Coeymans Gazette; started in 1863 by Gilbert C.
Vincent; sold to Willard Pond in 1864; then to
Henry Brook; afterwards to McKee & Spring
stead. Professor Thomas McKee became sole
editor and proprietor in December, 1869, and
finally took it to Greenbush as the Rensselaer
Gazette. Coeymans Herald, weekly. S. H. & E. J. Sher
man, editors and proprietors. Cohoes.
The Cohoes Advertiser ; started in February, 1847,
by Ayres & Co.
The Cohoes fournal and Advertiser succeeded
the above in January, 1848; continued by same
firm until January, 1849.
The Cohoes Cataract succeeded the above; pub-
Ished by Silliman & Miller from June, 1849, to
September, 185 1; then sold to James H. Ma.st.en,
who published it until January, 1867; then sold it
to Anthony S. Baker, its publisher until January,
1870, when it was bought again by J. H. .Masten.
Cohoes Daily News. J. H. Masten, proprietor.
Cohoes Regulator. Alexis Wager, publisher;
weekly. La Patrie Nouvelle. J. M. Authier, editor and
publisher; weekly. Green Island.
Green Island Review. Henry L. Gilbert, editor'
and proprietor; weekly. Knowersville.
-Knowersville Gazette; a local weekly, recently
published. Rensselaerville.
The Rural Folio, started in January, 1828, by
C. G. & A. Polliner, and continued two years.
-West Troy.
West Troy Advocate; started October, 1837, by
William Hollands; continued by his widow and
son, after his decease.
Watervliet Daily Democrat; started by Allen
Carey, January 20, 1859.
Albany County Democrat; started in i860. Allen
Carey, editor; weekly.
Watervleit fournal. ' Treanor & Hardin, proprie
tors; weekly. Shakers (P. O.)
Shaker Manifesto. Edited and published as a 4to
monthly, by Rev. G. A. Lomas.

ENGLISH COLONIAL GOVERNORS OF NEW YORK.

379

ENGLISH COLONIAL GOVERNORS OF NEW YORK.

Names.

Nicolls, Richard 
Lovelace, Francis 
Evertse, Cornelis  I
Bencker, Jacob  j
Calve, Anthony 
Andros, Edmund 
Brockholles, Anthony 
Andros, Edmund 
Brockholles, Anthony ....
Dongan, Thomas 
Andros, Edmund 
Nicholson, Francis 
Leisler, Jacob 
Sloughter, Henry 
Ingoldsby, Rkhard 
Fletcher. Benjamin 
Coote, Richard 
Nanfan, John 
Coote, Richard 
Smith, William. 
De Peyster, Abraham. .
Schuyler, Peter 
Nanfan, John 
Hyde, Edward 
Lovelace, John 
Schuvler, Peter 
Ingoldsby, Richard 
Schuyler, Peter 
Ingoldsby, Richard 
Beeckman, Gerardus 
Hunter, Robert 
Schuyler, Peter 
Burnet, William 
Montgomerie, John 
Van Dam, Rip 
Cosby, William 
Clarke, George 
Clarke, George 
Clinton, George 
Osborne, Danvers 
De Lancey, James 
Hardy, Charles 
De Lancey, James 
Colden, Cadwallader 
Colden, Cadwallader. . . .
Monckton, Robert 
Colden, Cadwallader. . . .
Monckton, Robert 
Colden, Cadwallader. . . .
Moore, Henry 
Colden, Cadwallader....
Murray, John 
Tryon, William 
Colden, Cadwallader . . .
Tryon, William 
Robertson, James 
Elliott, Andrew 

Service Began-

Sept. 8, 1664 .
Aug. 17, 1668.
Aug. 12, 1673.
Sept. 19, 1673.
Nov. 10, 1674.
Nov. 16, 1677.
Aug. 7, 1678..
Jan. 13, 1681..
Aug. 27, 1683.
Aug. 11, 1688.
Oct. 9, 1688. .
June 3, 1689. .
March 19, 1691
July 26, 1691.
Aug. 30, 1692
April 13, 1698.
May 17, 1699.
July 24, 1700.
March 5, 1701
May 19, 1701.
May 3, 1702. .
Dec. 18, 1708.
May 6, 1709 .
May 9, 1709. .
May 25, 1709.
June 1, 1709. .
April 10, 1 7 10
June 14, 1710.
June 21, 1719.
Sept. 17, 1720.
April 15, 1728
July 1, 1731..
Aug. I, 1732..
March 10, 1736
Oct. 30, 1736.
Sept. 2, 1743..
Oct. 10, 1753.
Oct. 12, 1753..
Sept. 3, 1755.
June 3, 1757..
Aug. 4, 1760. .
Aug. 8, 1 761. .
Oct. 26, 1 76 1.
Nov. 18, 1761.
June 14, 1762.
June 28, 1763.
Nov. 13, 1765.
Sept. 12, 1769.
Oct. 19, 1770.
July 9, 1771..
April 7, 17 74-
Tune 28, 1775.
March 23, 1780,
April 17, 1783.

Time of
Sekvice.
v. M. D.

3 i' 9
4 11 25
1 7
1 21
o 6
8 21
5 6
7 H
11 14

9 1
7
3 1
3
o 6
10 1
1
3

28
24 16 7
4
13 4 7
11

2 14

11 14

10 2
o 2

IS18 3
16 6
9
4 7
26
6 28
2 16

7

20

10

2

1

8

2

10

21

9

0

2

1

0

4

2

18

22

7

22

0

14

4

15

9

29

1

7

8

20

8

28

2

21

8

25

0

24

7

8

Rank.

Colonel 
Sir, Colonel 
Council of War 
Director-General 
Sir, Knight 
Military Commander.
Sir, Knight 
Captain 
Colonel 
Sir, Knight 
Major 
Merchant 
Colonel 
Major 
Military Officer 
Earl of Bellomont . . .
Earl of Bellomont. . .
(Councilor 
I Councilor 
( Councilor 
Lieutenant-Governor. .
Lord Cornbury . . .
Lord Lovelace ....
Councilor 
Major 
Colonel 
Major  ,
Councilor 
General 
Councilor 
Councilor 
Colonel 
Admiral 
Sir, Baronet 
Lawyer 
Sir, Knight 
Lawyer 
General 
Sir, Baronet 
Earl ot Dunmore . .
Military Governor.
Military Governor.

Character.

I'd and prudent.
ibitrary and oppressive.

Prudent and energetic.
Arbitrary and odious.
A hated tyrant.
Liberal and politic.
Arrogant and selfish.
Brave, irascible, loose morals.
Bold, honest and earnest.
Intemperate and licentious.
Haughty and insolent.
Bigoted, weak, covetous and corrupt.
Energetic and discreet.
A worthy officer.
Wise and true; friends
of the people of the
Colony.
Haughty, vicious, intolerant.
Weak and inactive.
A true patriot.
Arrogant and exacting.
Vigilant and trusty.

Liberal and just.
Judicious and equitable.
Vain and useless.
Upright and trustworthy.
Universally detested.

Unreliable and unpopular.
Committed suicide.
Decided and energetic.
Loyal and influential.
Scientific, unpopular.
Honest, impolitic.
Loyal, not popular.
Learned, not gracious.
Genial and incompetent.
Lacked popular sympathy.
Unscrupulous and infamous.
Loyal, but not popular.
Learned, esteemed, but hated.
Respected, but not loved.
Amiable.

We have, partly in order to save space, given
the above tabular history of the Colonial Governors.
Dates often conflicting have been written down
from sources considered most reliable. So far as
Albany County is concerned, there is little more to
be said about them. The official residence was in
New York City, and they seldom came to Albany
except for a recreition trip, or for making a show
Of their importance, and to receive demonstrative

recognition from the well-to-do and loyal people
of the second city in their government. Good
policy made it best for them, sometimes, to meet
the Indians here in council, to make presents and
have a good talk with them. They came with
pomp, dressed in blue and gold-trimmed coats, with
gold-laced hats and showy ruffles. They expected
processions and feastings, and every demonstration
of joy and respect from the people, Policy grapted.

380

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

as much; but sensible men were glad when it was
over and expenses paid.
These men were usually of intemperate and
licentious habits; of weak or mediocre talents;
given to their appetite; -ruled by their mistresses
and favorites. Dissolute in morals, they were
often broken down in strength. They gave formal
attention to the religion of the Church which best
pleased the King.
They generally had no interest in the welfare of
the people. All were foreign born; most of them
incompetent pets or members of the English aris
tocracy. Penniless, useless and dependent at
home, they were sent abroad to get rich by
robbing the people, and to serve the King — whose
sycophants they were — in any way to please him
and aggrandize themselves. They sought to asso
ciate with themselves the wealthy and influential,
from whom they received adulation and flattery,
in order to secure favors in petty offices, sen
sual pleasures and land grants. They kept aloof as
much as possible from the toiling people, and
asked of them only taxes to pay exorbitant salar
ies and carry out selfish schemes.
The powers of these Governors were legislative
and executive. Outside their favorites they sought
no counsel. They had to do with forts, garrisons
and all military matters in peace and war; with
keeping the Indians on good terms; with church
affairs; with the excise; with regulating trade;
with granting lands; with appointing civil and
military officers; with weights and measures; and
even with licensing teachers and midwives and
regulating marriage and divorce. Most were in
terested specially in making land grants, because
most productive of wealth. No industries were
encouraged. Rents were fluctuating; lands were
at low value; trade was paralyzed; taxes high and
oppressive during most of these years.
The official terms of most of these Governors
were short, and marked by few incidents of impor
tance as proceeding from them. They were often
recalled on account of manifest incompetency or
glaring dishonesty and fraud. In vain the public,
as they gladly saw the departure of a ruling gov
ernor, hoped that the next would be a wiser and
better man.
The constant call of the people for something
better did not reach the ear of royalty except to
irritate the selfish and heartless King or Governor.
Despising the clamors of their subjects, they
neither attempted to soothe them, nor understood
how to do it. These colonial years were years
of one long and grievous cry for relief from
burdens, for heaven-born rights, for representation
of their interests. It is easy to see what Albany
thought of these matters by the class of men put
forward to direct public affairs at home, or to rep
resent them in the Assemblies when they were
allowed. ' Though generally loyal subjects of the
government, at the same time they were friends of
popular representation and the advancement of
the true interests of the colony. Aside from these
remarks, we shall have little to say of individual
Governors; of some, nothing.

There is no doubt that the influence of the Eng
lish, particularly those from New England, many
of whom resided in New York City, at that time
engaged in commerce, had much to do with over
riding the will of Peter Stuyvesant, and forced him
to a reluctant and bloodless surrender of the Dutch
power in 1664. These people, tired of the stub
born tyranny of the inflexible old Governor, were
longing for the liberties allowed in New England.
They expected them under Governor Nicolls, but
they were disappointed. His administration was
a mild one; he did not impair the city liberties of
Albany, nor interfere with its trade. After its
peaceable surrender, September 24, 1664, things
went on as usual. During his time the "Duke's
Laws " were framed, but no popular representa
tive was allowed; no new franchises conceded. It
was decided that the Dutch patents must be re
newed as invalid, bringing wealth to the Governor
by his enormous fees for granting new titles. The
Mohawks made a fearful raid into Canada in 1666,
which the French returned. But the colonists had
peace. The odious Lovelace listened to nothing asked
by the people. He told them that their business
was to work and pay their taxes. He ordered
their remonstrance to be burned by the common
hangman. His term came to a sudden end.
New York was retaken by a Dutch fleet without
firing a gun. Lovelace was away enjoying his
ease ; while Captain John Manning, in charge of
Fort James, probably for a bribe, surrendered
August 9, 1673, at tne first summons. The dis
appointed Dutch were willing. No one cared ex
cept the King and his loyal adherents.
Anthony Colve, who was made Director-General,
took possession. Old titles and officers were re
stored. Albany surrendered to the new govern
ment. Fort Albany was named Fort Nassau, and
the village of Beverswyck was called Willemstadt
The Reformed Church was specially protected
while other religions were tolerated, Andries
Draeyer was made Commandant of the Fort.
Gerrit Van Slechtenhorst, Cornelis Van Dyck,
David Schuyler and Peter Bogardus were made
Schepens of the village, and Martin Gerritsen,
Pieter Vounen, and Hendrick Van Ness, Schepens
of Rensselaerwyck.
But the restored Dutch dynasty was brief. At
this time England and Holland were at war.
Peace was settled at Westminster, and Governor
Colve formally gave over the New Netherlands and
its dependencies to Governor Andros, representing
his Britannic Majesty, November 10, 1674, and
English rule was restored before the Dutch system
had fairly begun again. Duke James took out a
new patent to save all controversy in relation
to his title in America, and the old names of vil
lages and forts were restored.
Andros held sway over a colony of unsubmissive
subjects. He filled his position as Governor about
five years and a half in all, and never secured con
fidence and respect. He visited Albany in 1675
and instituted a court to hold sessions every year,
beginning in June, to decide civil causes under

ENGLISH COLONIAL GOVERNORS OF NEW YORK.

381

500 guilders. Robert Livingston was clerk of this
court. He established the Board of Indian Com
missioners. In his time the bloody King Philip's
War was raging in Massachusetts, which brought
great alarm to Albany and Rensselaerwyck. He
also made a new treaty with the Mohawks in
August, 1675, to foil the designing intrigues of
the French Jesuits with this tribe. At a second
visit, in February, 1676, it was found that the Mo
hawks had just returned from a successful attack
on King Philip's Indians, and thus allayed the fears
of the people of Albany. They had no trouble
with Philip, and rendered no aid to their New
England neighbors in this direful war.
This year the old fort was so dilapidated that it
was deserted — a new stockaded one, by order of
Governor Andros, having been built near the pres
ent site of St. Peter's Church, so as to defend
and command the whole town of Albany. It had
four bastions and room for twenty-four guns. It
was occupied in June, in command of Captain
Sylvester Salisbury. During his time he was fre
quently called upon in settling church difficulties
at Albany, and settling Indian questions, which he
generally adjusted acceptably. Andros was loyal
to his King, but oppressive. In 1689, he was ar
rested in Boston by the people, confined in the fort,
and his under officers shipped to England.
Dongan called the first representative Assembly,
which met at Fort James, October 17, 1683. The
names of the two members from Albany and two
from Rensselaerwyck are not known. This Assem
bly adopted a charter of liberties, and divided the
province into counties, as stated in another part of
this volume. During his time, the claim of the
Patroon over the territory of Albany, neglected by
Andros, was adjusted amicably and wisely, and
Albany received its city charter July 22, 1686.
King Charles II died February 16, 1685, and
James II, Duke of York, Albany and Ulster, the
King's brother, and proprietor of New York and
dependencies, became King of England. His rule
was fickle and arbitrary. The wishes of the people
were not regarded by him. Dongan, though not
in sympathy in religious views with a majority of
the people, was a man of moderation and gentle
manners, and attended faithfully to the interests
of the colony in the matters of the French, who
were still endeavoring, by religious influence, to
seduce the Mohawks. He visited the new city
several times, and advanced its policy by good
counsel and good appointments. There was some
feeling against him, chiefly on account of his reli
gion, at a time of less liberality than now.
King James was forced to abdicate his throne,
and William III was proclaimed King, February
16, 1689. Mary, a Protestant sister of James, was
his wife, and Queen. This event led to great ex
citement throughout the colony, particularly in
New York and Albany. The government and peo
ple of this city hailed the news of a new King and
Queen with great demonstrations of joy. They met
on the ist of July, 1689, at the City Hall, and with
' ' y8 greatest solemnity that could be used in so
short a time " marched to the Fort, where public

proclamation was made in English and Dutch,
guns fired, and loud acclamations of " God save
King William and Queen Mary," were made, con
cluding with the " Ringing of y8 Bell, Bonfyres,
fyreworks, and all oyp Demonstrations of joy."
The assumption of authority by Jacob Leisler, a
merchant and militia captain of New York City,
made much trouble in Albany. He held his posi
tion with the approval of the people. The aristoc
racy were opposed to him as a Commander-in-
Chief of the Province. He was acting governor
for the time. Lieutenant-Governor Nicholson had
gone to England, and the colony had no governor.
Leisler may have been ambitious, but he was honest
and patriotic. He was brave and popular. It was
his purpose to give up the trust committed, him by
the people as soon as a Governor appointed by
William and Mary should reach New York.
Meanwhile he proffered aid to protect the frontiers
at Albany and Schenectady, now in danger of in
vasion from the French and Indians, and claimed
possession of the fort at Albany and recognition of
his right to command. He sent his son-in-law,
Jacob Milborne, to persuade the people of Albany
to yield to Leisler's government. Some of the
people looked favorably upon the matter. But the
city government regarded the course of Leisler and
Milborne as without authority of William and Mary,
and therefore seditious. The Mayor, Peter Schuy
ler, took charge of the fort, and successfully resisted
all attempts of Milborne and his troops, who had
been sent up from New York for that purpose, to
take possession of it. The citizens were divided
in their sympathies. They sent for aid to Con
necticut, and aid came; to Massachusetts, and they
were advised to yield to Leisler and have peace.
This they did, because of their fear, especially after
the burning of Schenectady, of invasion and devas
tation. Leisler at once prepared for defense, and
sent forces, made up of friendly Indians, soldiers
of Albany County and from Connecticut, against
Canada. The latter, to the disgust of Leisler, re
turned August 20, 1690, having seen no enemy and
effected nothing. Leisler imprisoned the com
mander of the expedition, General Winthrop, of
Connecticut, and some other officers; established a
local government for the City and County of Al
bany, to control affairs, and returned to New York
City. The city was in great fear and disquiet
during the winter of 1690-91.
Governor Sloughter came with a commission from
the Crown, March 19, 1691. Leisler readily yield
ed the authority, claimed as from the people. He
was no usurper. But the aristocratic haters of popu
lar rule were not satisfied. They caused the im
mediate arrestof Leisler and Milborne, and had
them cast in prison, tried and convicted on the
charge of treason. Sloughter, during a drunken
debauch, signed the sentence of execution, and
they were hanged May 16, 1691. History writes
the actors in this malicious murder as traitors
against freedom and humanity.
Governor Fletcher, one of the most arrogant and
covetous of the Governors, visited Albany as most
of the Governors did, to display his authority, and

382

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

to hold a meeting with the Sachems. He planned
in 1693, at this city, an unsuccessful expedition
against Canada. His dishonest conduct, especially
in the matter of giving grants of land to his favorites,
caused him to be recalled in disgrace. Boastful of
military skill, he was cowardly and imbecile in
action. A hater of all religion, he was a professed
Episcopalian, and made himself odious by an
endeavor to make it the only sect recognized by
the State and supported by general tax. The brief
terms of fhe Earl of Bellomont were those of judi
cious management. They embraced the period of
the famous piracy of William Kidd. Lord Corn
bury left a record of unscrupulous villainy and
licentiousness that puts his name in lasting con
tempt. Governor Hunter promoted the immigra
tion of the Palatinates, kept peace with the Indians,
and encouraged improvements.
Governor Burnet was interested in regulating trade
with Canada; in cultivating friendly relations with
the Indians; and making forts and other defenses
more secure. Cosby was narrow in his prejudices
and a petty tyrant. The famous Zenger libel case
occurred in his time, in 1734. His triumph has
been called "the Morning Star of the Revolution."
It was, at least, one of the stars. Governor Clarke's
administration covers the disgraceful negro plot of
1 74 1, equal in folly to the Salem witchcraft. Gov
ernor Clinton's long term was not successful in pleas
ing the people. He was afraid to displease King
George, and all his attempts in public matters
displayed ignorance and timidity. Saratoga was de
stroyed by the French and Indians in 1747.
Governor James De Lancey was a man of liberal
culture, an able lawyer, a French Protestant and

a Loyalist. He understood the people and did not
boldly oppose them. He was President of the no
table Convention held at Albany in 1754. Cadwal
lader Colden, who, as President of the Council and
Lieutenant-Governor, attended to the affairs of the
province several years, and most of the time indeed
between 1760 and 1774, was a friend of the in
terests of the colony, as he regarded them. As sur
veyor he did much in the settlement of land ques
tions. But his inflexible adherence to the English
government, his decided want of sympathy with pop
ular feeling of the time, made him odious and his sit
uation unpleasant. Governor Colden had his Maj
esty's service sincerely at heart, and looked upon all
as rebels who questioned its wisdom. He was con
fident that all men of property and all pious people
who had not been poisoned against the King by
the Boston party would be true to him. Hewas,
no doubt, honest in his sentiments. He was often
at Albany, and was quite actively interested in
his efforts to force the Green Mountain Boys to
submit to the government of New York. He in
sisted upon Connecticut River as the eastern bound
ary of this colony. Sir Henry Moore spent much
of his time socially at Albany. The most marked
feature of his brief administration was his regrant-
ing of the townships in the New Hampshire Grants,
as a part of Vermont was then called, and the ex
action of large fees for these unjust transactions.
William Tryon served his King well, and inflicted
all the injuries he could upon the patriots of the
revolutionary period, both before and after the
declaration of independence. He was the last of
the royal Governors, and went back to England in
1780.

THE COLONIAL MILITARY AFFAIRS AND WARS IN
ALBANY COUNTY.

THE storms of rude war were ever beating about
Albany during its colonial history. It was a
city always under arms. Here were stockaded forts
and garrisons. Soldiers were often billeted upon
the people; military parade was frequent; the vices
of the camp were seen in the street and carried
their influence into families. Here was constant
fear — fear of foreign foes, of treacherous savages,
and of the very soldiers who were sent here to pro
tect life and liberty.
We propose to give enough of the history of
these wars to show the relations which the County
of Albany sustained to them; the state of the pub
lic mind; the condition of the military service; and
in general, what was done or borne in Albany by
its inhabitants or the soldiers who centered here.
The French in Canada had much reason for
unfriendly feelings towards the Mohawks dwelling
along the Mohawk River, in fortified castles,
approaching Albany. They were jealous of the

Dutch and the English, because these Indians were
on terms of amity and commerce with them; and
there were suspicions that some of the hostile
deeds of these savages were prompted by their
rival traders at Albany. Hence, Albany was in
great fear of the French and their Adirondack
allies. We give the following account of the first
experiences which our city had of these French
invaders, in the language of the times.
In February, 1666, Monsieur Courcelles, Gover
nor of Canada, made an unsuccessful expedition
against the Mohawks, coming unwittingly "within
two miles of a small village called Schenectade,
lying in the woods beyond Fort Albany in the
territoryes of his Royall Highness. He fell into
an ambush and lost some of his men. Seven who
were wounded were sent the next day to the village,
where they were carefully drest and sent to Albany.
The Dutch bores carryed to the camp such provis
ions as they had, and were too well paid for it;

colonial Military affairs and wars.

383

especially peaz and bread, of wch. a good quantity
was bought. He inquired what garrison or fort
was at Albany. 'Twas told him a Captain and 60
English Soldyers with 9 pieces of ordinance in a
small fort of foure Bastions, and that the captain
thereof, Capt Baker, had sent for 20 men from
annother garrison of the King's at Sopes."
During the dire war of King Philip, 1674-76,
when New England settlements were kept in con
tinual alarm by the wanton cruelties of the Indians,
the settlers had no help from New York except
what was rendered by Mohawk raid against
Philip. For two years, wherever were white set
tlements in thevalleys of New England, there were
confusion, desolation and death. They defended
their own homes; they fought their own battles.
Governor Andros officially reports in 1678:
"The Militia is about 2,000, of wch. about 140
horse in three troops, the foot formed in Com-
panyes, most under 100 men each, all indiffer
ently armed with fire-armes of all sizes, ordered and
exercized according to law, and are good firemen.
One standing company of Souldiers with gunners
and other officers for the fforts New York and
Albany alwayes victualled in October and Novem
ber for a year." He adds: " Albany is a small,
long stockaded fort with foure bastions in it, 12
gunns, sufficient ag' Indians."
Governor Dongan in 1687, reports- to the Com
mittee of Trade:
"At Albany there is a Fort made of pine trees,
fifteen foot high, and foot over, with Batterys and
conveniences made for men to walk about, where
are nine guns, small arms for forty men, four Barrils
of powder with great and small Shott in propor
tion. The Timber and Boards being rotten were
renewed this year. In my opinion it were better
that fort were built up of Stone and Lime which
will not be double the charge of this years repair,
which yet will not last above 6 or 7 years before it
wid require the like again, wheieas on the con
trary, were it built of Lime and Stone it may bee
far more easily maintained. And truly its very ne
cessary to have a Fort there, it being a frontier
place both to the Indians and French."
On Friday, September 9, 1687, information being
received by Governor Dongan and Council, "That
y8 ffrench at Canada are providing 1,500 pairs of
Snowshews;" it was ordered " that the Mayor and
Magistrates of Albany send orders to the five Na
tions to bring Doun their Wives, children and old
men least y8 ffrench come uppon them in the
Winter, and none stay in the Castles but ye young
On the next Sunday, September nth, it is

men.

stated that "letters from Albany giving account
that the people there are in great consternation
thro' apprehension that y8 ffrench will come doun
uppon them this winter. " Whereupon it was ' ' re
solved, that every tenth man of all y8 Militia troups
and Companys within the Piovince, Except those
that were out y8 last yeare a whaling, be drawn
out to go up hither. "
In 1689, Chevalier de Callieres, Governor of
Montreal and Commander of the Troops and
Militia of Canada, planned an expedition of 2,000

men against Orange (Albany) and Manathe
(New York). He writes: "The plan is to go
straight to Orange, the most advanced toun of
New York, one hundred leagues from Montreal,
which I would undertake to carry, and to proceed
thence to seize Manathe, the capital of that colony,
situated on the Sea Side." He designed to take his
picked soldiers by canoes and flat batteaux, by
Richelieu River and Lake Champlain ; thence to
march along the Hudson direct to Albany, pillag
ing by the way. Of Albany, he says, "The town
is about as large as Montreal, surrounded by pic-
quets, at one end of which is an Earthen Fort de
fended by palisades & consisting of four small
bastions. There is a garrison of 150 men of three
companies in the fort, and some small pieces of
cannon. Said town of Orange may cqntain about
150 houses and 300 inhabitants, capable of bearing
arms, the majority of whom are Dutch, and some
French Refugees with some English.
"After having invested the town and summoned
it to surrender with promise not lo pillage if it
capitulate, I propose, in case of resistance, to cut
or burn the palisades in order to afford an opening,
and enter then, sword in hand, and seize the fort.
These being only 14 feet high can be easily es-
caladed by means of the conveniences we shall find
when masters of the town, or by blowing in the
gate with a few petards or two small field pieces,
which may be of use to me, and I shall find means
of conveying there.
"After I shall have become master of the town
and fort of Orange, which I expect to achieve be
fore the English can afford it any succor, my inten
tion is to leave a force of 200 men in the fort with
sufficient supplies, which I shall find in the city,
and to disarm all the inhabitants.
" I shall seize all the barks, batteaux, and canoes
that are at Orange, to embark my force on the river,
which is navigable down to Manathe, and I shall
embark wilh the troops the necessary provisions
and ammunition, and some pieces of cannon to be
taken from Fort Orange to serve in the attack on
Manathe." But his plans failed. He never reached Albany.
The wars of the English colonial period were
not provoked by any indiscretions of the colonists.
They weie not originated by them nor in their
interest They were forced upon them by the
European government in the supposed interest of
the King, for the increase of his wealth and power;
or for some petty caprice; or for keeping the sol
diers and the people occupied in other matters than
in meddling with the prerogatives of kings and
governors. The colonists preferred the peaceful
pursuits of industry. In war these were endan
gered. In war their settlements were liable to
pillage ; their homes to murders and burnings;
their every interest to ruin. * They were to do the
fighting, endure the suffering, and pay the expenses
of these wars. This chiefly, and gain nothing..
In all these wars the northern American colonies
suffered, some of them greatly. Of New England
this remark is especially true. Its whole northern
frontier without defenses, was exposed to sudden

384

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

invasion from the savage. It had no well defended
forts, but it had many growing villages and many
farm-houses, filled with valuable booty for the
plundering Indian. The blood-curdling story of
their cruelties has been read in every family. They
were encouraged in their deeds of cruelty by the
Canadian French, a race with whose trade, poli
tics, and religion the English had no common
sympathies and interests. Besides murder and out
rage, many women and children were led to a
captivity worse than death. All small articles of
worth that could sell for what the Indian valued
more, were carried away and sold. Silver spoons
and plates taken as plunder from New England
homes, were offered for sale by these savages, not
only in Montreal and Quebec, but in Albany and
Schenectady. Although the Indians disliked all
Europeans, they hated the English colonists of
New England most. Their farms spoiled their
hunting grounds, and their increase crowded out
the Indians. Then the Indian had not forgotten
the Pequod, King Philip, and other early destruc
tive wars. The less aggressive and more seductive
French pleased them better. The Iroquois were
less friendly to the French. Champlain had taken
sides with their Algonquin foe ; and they had made
terms of amity and trade with the early Dutch and
later English. They had fallen upon La Chine in
Canada, and committed terrible massacre, and done
them all the mischief they could, in sundry places
and at sundry times. Later, some of the Mohawks
were seduced by French Jesuits, settled in Canada,
and took sides against their old friends. But most
of these people were true to the Dutch and the
English during the whole colonial period, and took
sides with the Tories during the Revolution, except
ing a part of the Oneidas who had been brought
under the influence of Rev. Samuel Kirkland, a
New England missionary.
During the French and Indian wars in the eight
eenth century, New York was the only northern col
ony which was virtually uninjured. Its territory was
not invaded ; few of its men went into the service.
Farms continued to be taken up ; trade prospered
about as usual.
Albany County was subject to alarms, but it had
no invasions. It had forts and garrisons, and many
wise and prudent citizens to see that the city suf
fered no detriment.
There was contention among themselves as to
matters of policy in government ; there were social
distinctions ; there were cliques and parties. The
Conservatives, the Loyalists, and the claimants for
the rights of the people for popular representative
government, were all busy. There were brains
and mediocrity; wealth and poverty. But all
agreed that wars were a luxury not to be desired.
Albany was the great center of trade to these
Iroquois. Here they often met in business and in
council. Here they had many friends. They had
here bought many valued trinkets, received many
politic courtesies and presents, and had many a
drunken carousal. They had seen Albany's fort
and stockades.

This statement is given to explain why this city,
during all the wars, suffered no ravages from the
Indians, who long remember favors and never
rush into seen dangers.
The story of the burning of Schenectady has
been told again and again. It is given in detail
in the history of that county. We need not repeat
it. It shows the character of the French and In
dian mode of warfare at that time.
KING WILLIAM'S WAR.
James II, once Duke of York and Albany, and
proprietor of the Colony of New York, was a Ro
man Catholic. While he was not generous to
the territory named after him, he was especially
cruel to New England. He became so odious at
home that he was driven from his throne, and
succeeded by William, Stadtholder of Holland and
Prince of Orange, who had married Mary, eldest
child and Protestant daughter of James. In No
vember, 1688, William and Mary landed in Eng
land and were proclaimed joint sovereigns in
February, 1689. This was an era in English
liberty. Poor James fled to Louis XIV, Catholic
King of France, who espoused his cause. This
brought on open hostilities between England and
France, which extended to the American colonies,
and led to those seven years of dire conflict known
as "King William's War," extending from 1689
to the treaty of Ryswick, in Holland, 1697.
There were constant fears in Albany. The
Indians were known to be treacherous and re
vengeful. They were on every side, and often in
the city, or very near it, in considerable force. The
jealous French were using their influence against
the Dutch and English, especially those of Albany,
because of their advantage in trade. They feared
the Iroquois, and wished, by cunning art, to gain
them to their interests ; they hated them, and
wished to punish them for some remembered cruel
ties ; and the English and French in Europe never
loved each other.
To keep the Indians on good terms with the
English, and in fighting trim against the French,
it seemed necessary for every Governor to meet their
Sachems at Albany, have a talk, and make presents.
This was especially important when wars were
impending. The importance of Albany to the English crown
is strikingly set forth by Governor Sloughter, on
the eve of King William's war.
The preservation of Albany was regarded as of
great importance as being the only bulwark and
safeguard of the King's government on the fron
tiers of the colony. Says Governor Sloughter:
"If the French should assault and gain Albany, all
the English colonies on both sides of us would be
endangered. For we have nothing but that place
that keeps our Indians steady to us, and the loss
of that must be the loss of all the King's interest on
this continent "
But war had begun ; something must be done.
A meeting was held at Albany, November 24,
1689, at which were present: " Y8 Commissioners

COLONIAL military affairs and wars.

385

for y8 Citty and County of Alb advysing with
Sundrey officers of y8 Militia There, where upon It
is Resolved That y8 following Persones be commis-
sionated, vizt. : Captain Jochim Staets Comdr. of
Fort Orange always to keep under command in sd
fort sixty men; Lieut. Jonathan wrigt; Ens: John
Hater. For the city of albany, Pieter minne, Toune
Major, Capt. Johannis wendel, Melgert Wynants,
Ens : Regnier Barentse, Capt. Pieter van waggden^
Leift. Robt. Sanders, Ens: Joh: Bleeker, Jun'
Capt. Barnet Liewis, Leift. Marte Klock, Ens. For
the County of Albany, Capt. Martin gerritse, Lieut.
Evert d'Ridder, Ens : Zymon van ness, Capt. Alex
ander glen, Leift. Johannis glen, Ens: douwe Au-
kus, Capt. Johannis Bensing, Leift. Andries Bar-
rentse, Ens. Johannis Janse.
"Ordered That y8 aforesaid Commissionated offi
cers now are Established, and shall from this time
forth Remaine and be in full Power & y8 Authority,
& y8 Authority for y8 Militia of this & County,
To act & to doe in all matters and things relating
Militarie affaires, according to y" Rules & deci-
pline of war, until, further order from his Majestie
King William of England, Scotland, French &
Ireland, &c."-
"In 1689," says Broadhead, in his history of
the State, ' ' the City of Albany was not much more
than a large stockaded village, of which the two
chief streets crossed each other at right angles.
The one, ' Handelaer's Straat,' or Market street,
ran nearly north and south, skirting the river, pro
verbially apt to overflow its banks in times of great
floods. "The other, running about east and west, a little
way up a steep hill, was called ' Yonkheer's Straat, '
now known as State street.
"About halfway up the hill stood the fort, just
outside one of the city gates."
At this time Albany was the center of the great in
ternal traffic of the province with the Indians. Her
importance was second only to that of the metrop
olis, and her city officers always maintained their
official dignity and their loyalty to the Government.
In a Report on the State of the Militia in their
Majesties Province of New York, made in April,
1693, by Governor Fletcher:
"The Militia of the County of Albany, com
manded by Major Peter Schuyler, being five com
panies of Foot and one Troop of Horse, now
formed into Dragoons by the Governor, consisting
of 359." The aggregate in the Province was 2,932.
" In the List of the Officers of the Militia in the
Province of New York, " made in November, 1 700,
in the time of Governor Bellomont, the officers of
the Regiment of Militia in the City and County of
Albany, is given as follows: Field Officers— Peter
Schuyler, Colonel;  , Lieutenant-Colonel;
Dyrck Wessels, Major.
Of a Foot Company in the City of Albany: Com
missioned Officers— Johannes Bleeker, Captain;
Johannes Rosebaum, Lieutenant; Abra. Cuyler,
Ensign. Of another Foot Company in the said City: Al
bert Rykman, Captain; Wessel Ten Brock, Lieu
tenant; Johannes Thomasse, Ensign.

Of another Foot Company in the said County:
Martin Cornelisse, Captain; Andries Douw, Lieu
tenant; Andris Koyman, Ensign.
Of another Foot Company in said County:
Gerrit Teunisse, Captain; Jonas Douw, Jochem
Lamerse, Lieutenants; Volckhart V. Hoesem,
Abra. Hause, Ensigns.
Of the Troop of Horse in y8 said Regiment:
Kilian Van Renslaer, Captain; Johannes Schuyler,
Lieutenant; Bennone V. Corlaer, Cornet; Anthony
Bries, Quartermaster. This Regiment consists of
Three hundred and Seaventy-one men.
' ' The Governo' hath established a Court Martiall
att Albany, whereof Major Rich'd Ingoldsby is
President & Robert Livingston, Judge Advocate,
who, with other commissionated Captains at Albany,
have power to exercise Martiall Law, being a fron-
tear Garrison and in actuall Warr. " M. Clarkson,
Secry. The people of Albany were in great alarm when
they learned of the fearful fire and massacre that
came upon the near City of Schnectady in 1690.
The expedition was sent by Count Frontenac, Gov
ernor of Canada, and came so suddenly upon the
doomed village on that gloomy winter night in
February, and without provocation, that no peo
ple felt safe from savage invasion and cruelty.
An expedition was sent from New England and
New York against Canada, under command of
General Winthrop, of (fonnecticut, its purpose be
ing punishment for wrongs inflicted on the borders,
and for conquest of the troublesome French.
Some troops, from New York and Connecticut,
with Indians of the Five Nations, placed under the
command of Colonel Peter Schuyler, left Albany
early in July, 1690, and pushed toward the St.
Lawrence, where they met Frontenac in August,
and were repulsed. Milborne, by direction of
Leisler, furnished subsistence for this army. Feuds
betweeen these motley and undisciplined troops
caused the failure of the expedition. A part of
the force under Winthrop went no farther than
Wood Creek, at the head Lake Champlain. All
returned to Albany where they met the amazed and
indignant Leisler, who caused the arrest of Win
throp and some of his leading officers and put
them in confinement.
In July, 1691, Governor Sloughter, after a visit
to Albany, writes: "I returned from Albany on the
27th past, where I left all things in good posture,
and with much difficulty have secured the Indians.
I found that place in great disorder, our plantations
and Schenectady almost ruined and destroyed by
the enemys dureing the time of the late confusion
there. I have garrisoned Schenectady and the
Halfe Moon with some of the hundred fusileers
raised by our Assembly; the remainder, with one of
the King's Companys, are posted at Albany."
Major Peter Schuyler, then Mayor of the City,
marched from Albany June 21, 1691, with a few
soldiers and Indians. On the ist of August he
came upon a French Settlement near Montreal, and
killed about 200 of the French and Indian inhab
itants, with a loss of only 43, of whom 22 were
Indians.

386

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

. After this, Major Ingoldsby commanded at
Fort Orange, while the county militia were placed
by Governor Fletcher under command of Major
Peter Schuyler, in all 359 men.
In June, 1693, the Governor held another Con
ference with the Five Nations at Albany, to coun
teract, if possible, the artful efforts of the French
to excite them against the colony. By bountiful
gifts and flattering words, the conference greatly
delighted the Indians and secured their friend
ship. The sum of £i,S°° had been appropriated for
the repair of Fort Orange. In September, 1693,
560 new palisades were collected and "sett up
against the old Stockadoes." No effort was omitted
that the defenses of the city might be kept in good
condition and the soldiers on a war footing.
Bands of Canadian Indians often came near the
city in 1696-97, causing great alarm to the inhab
itants. Houses and barns were burned and cattle
killed on the farms in the county, and many left
their homes, so great was the fear of savage mur
der. After the peace of Ryswick, ending this war, a
census was taken, as given in the article on popu
lation, in which it was made to appear that the popu
lation of the county, as it then was, had been
reduced from 662 men, 340 women, and 1,014
children in 1689, to 382 men, 262 women, and
805 children in 1698. There had left the city and
county during the war, 142 men, 68 women,
and 209 children; and 84 men had been killed,
38 had died, and 16 had been taken prisoners.
Early in July, 1698, a general peace was con
cluded at Ryswick. The Earl of Bellomont was
then Governor-General of the Province of New
York. The following paper was drawn up and
presented at a meeting of the Common Council
held in the City of Albany, the 2d day of August,
1698. It shows the public feeling at that time.
The Common Council are unanimously of the opinion
to address his Excell. the Earl of Bellomont on the following
heads: I. To thank his Lordship for bringing y8 joyfull news of
ye Peace.
2. To acquaint his Lordship ye great hardships this
poor Citty has labored under for these 9 years dreadful and
bloody warr; during which time they have not only been
at an Excessive Charge and Expense in quartering ye officers
and souldiers sent hither from time to time, but have been
obliged, for their own security, to fortify y» towne twice
with Palesadoes, and build 5 block houses, all at their
own charge, which hath so much impoverished ye Inhabi
tants y' most have deserted.
3. That this Citty doth wholly rely and depend upon
ye Indian Trade, upon which account it was first settled,
and have obtained a Charter whereby y» Sole trade with ye In
dians is confined within y° walls of sd Citty, doth there
fore humbly addresse his L d p to protect and defend them
in there Rights and Priviledges, and doe thank his Ldp for
his great trouble and care in treating with y° 5 'na
tions for ye Public good and advantage to this Citty, and
doe further return there best thanks for y" good
Instructions his Ldp hes been pleased to give them, as
suring his Ldp that they will not be wanting in useing there
utmost endeavors to unite all parties, and restore this
Citty to its Priviledges and Rights; that they will also ob
serve all y oyer articles Mentioned in his Ldp's instruc
tions.

QUEEN ANNE'S WAR.
When James II died, an exile in France, in
1 701, his friend, the French King, proclaimed
James Francis, his son, King of England. Anne,
the second daughter of James, had been crowned
the English Queen. She was a Protestant War
was declared against France in 1702, because of
this affront to the sovereign of England. It was
known as the War of the Spanish Succession in
Europe, but as "Queen Anne's War" in America.
It lasted until April n, 1 713, when a treaty of
peace was concluded at Utrecht.
During this war, blood flowed in nearly every
village and valley in New England. The atroc
ities of the French and Indians were so mon
strous in New England, that the conquest of
Canada at any cost, seemed to be looked upon as
a necessity. And all that blood and treasure
could do was offered by the northern colonies to
accomplish this purpose. But help from Eng
land was an abortion, the causes of which we
proceed to show.
During the time of peace that preceded Queen
Anne's War, the soldiers who composed the garri
son at Fort Orange were much neglected. In
1700, Governor Bellomont writes: "Some of the
inhabitants of Albany who are now here [New
York City] tell me the Soldiers there in Garrison
are in that shameful and miserable condition for
the want of Cloaths, that the like was never seen."
Even the Indians were disgusted as they observed
their situation. The Governor continues: "Per
sons assure me that some of the old crafty sachems
of the Five Nations have asked 'em Whether they
thought 'em such fooles as to believe our King
could protect 'em from the French when he was
not able to Keep his Soldiers in a Condition as
those in Canada are Kept. "
In October of this year the Governor visited
Albany to look after the Indians. While there he
reviewed the two companies in the garrison under
Major Ingoldsby and Captain Weems. Of them he
writes: "I never in my life saw so moving a
sight as that of the Companies at Albany; half the
men were without breeches, shoes and stockings
when they mustered. I thought it shameful to the
last degree to see English soldiers so abused. They
had like to have mutinied. " He found the forts
"scandalously weak;" and adds: "The inhabi
tants came all about me at my leaving Albany, and
told me in plain terms that if the King would not
build a fort there to protect 'em, they would, on
the first news of war between England and France
desert the place and fly to New York rather than
they would stay there to have their throats cut."
"There are half a dozen at Albany who have com
petent estates, but all the rest are miserable poor."
At this time the City and County of Albany fur
nished 371 militiamen, under command of Colonel
Pieter Schuyler, with Dirck Wessells as Major. In
the colony there were 3, 182 eniolled militia.
In 1702, Colonel Schuyler's regiment of the
Militia of the County of Albany was pronounced in
pretty good condition, owing to his care.

COLONIAL MILITARY AFFAIRS AND WARS.

387

In July, 1702, when Cornbury visited Albany,
just on the eve of another war, he found the fort
"in a miserable condition, "the stockadoes
about all roten to such a degree that I can with
ease push them down. " The garrison, still com
manded by Major Ingoldsby, composed of 176
soldiers besides officers, was still in sad want of
clothing and provisions.
It was heard at Albany that the French and In
dians were making great preparations at Montreal,
supposed to be against Schenectady and Albany.
Something was done to repair the old fort in 1704,
by putting up new palisades. The new fort was
begun, but, for want of money, left incomplete.
It was not finished until 1735.
A large number of soldiers and Indians were
brought together at Albany in the summer of 1709,
prepared to invade Canada. The command of
these provincials was given to Colonel Francis Nich
olson. Albany entered warmly into this scheme of
conquest. The quota was furnished, and volun
teer Companies were organized. Under the influ
ence of Peter Schuyler, the Five Nations took up
the hatchet and sent 500 warriors to join the expe
dition. The outrages upon Deerfield and other
New England villages had aroused the northern
colonies, and led the British Ministry to fall in
with this plan for seizing the French possessions in
America. It contemplated an attack upon Quebec
by water, while the troops of New York and New
England were to make an attempt on Montreal by
way of Lake Champlain. New York had, at her
own expense, opened a military road for the more
easy movement of troops and supplies from Albany
to the Lake, beginning at the present village of
Schuylerville and running through dense forests by
way of Fort Edward and Wood Creek. They had
erected on the way, three wood forts, and built bat
teaux and canoes. All being ready, the army left
Albany and encamped at the middle fort, named
Fort Ann, waiting to hear from the naval expedi
tion against Quebec. When it was learned that it
was sent against Spain instead, the troops were dis
couraged ; many were sick, and died with a malig
nant disease. They broke camp and returned to
Albany. Colonel Schuyler and other leading men of Al
bany, who saw that there could be no lasting peace
until the French were driven out of Canada, were
greatly chagrined at the failure of this expedition.
In 1 710 he took with him five Indian Sachems and
sailed for England, hoping to interest the Crown in
this matter.
Through his influence, a fleet with 5,000 troops
was sent from England to help the provinces in
another attempt to subject Canada. This was in
171 1. On the last day of July, a fleet of twelve
men-of-war and forty-six smaller vessels left Boston
for the St Lawrence, having Montreal as its ob
jective point. Here was to be a junction with a
strong force mustered at Albany, under the com
mand of General Nicholson. In the latter part of
August, Nicholson, with an army of 2,000 English,
1 000 Germans, and 800 Indians, moved from Al
bany toward Lake Champlain, They took the

Lake George route. Meanwhile the English fleet
had, in a thick fog, struck upon rocks ; lost eight
transports and 800 men, and returned to England.
Hearing of this disaster, General Nicholson or
dered an immediate return to Albany, and Canada
was safe for many years longer. Colonels Schuyler,
Whitney, and Ingoldsby were in this expedition.
The peace of Utrecht ended this expensive and
foolish war, the French acknowledging the Five
Nations as British subjects, and promising to let
them alone. These two abortive attempts cost
New York alone ,£30,000 sterling. The Colonists
were disgusted and disheartened, and the Five Na
tions began to show signs of alienation from the
English, whose failures they regarded as weak and
cowardly. The following record shows the military con
dition of Albany just on the eve of the preparation
for this last expedition.
May 20, 171 1, Robert Hunter, Captain-General
and Governor-in-Chief of the Province of New
York, called the troops from Albany to the Manor
of Livingston, and directed that the Militia of Al
bany be called to arms to protect that city in the
absence of the garrison. Accordingly, the Mayor
and Aldermen met May 21, 171 1, and sent the fol
lowing letter to his Excellency.
"Albany, y8 21st of May, 1711.
"May it please your Ex'cy.
"Your Ex'cys Letter dated yesterday we recd ys.
day, and in Obedience thereof, we have forthwith
procured a Sloop for y8 transportation of y8 Troops
here, and desired Peter Schuyler, Esqr., Collo of
the militia Regiment of y8 Citty & County, that he
will emmediately order y8 militia of this Citty to
Come in Arms to take care of y" fort and this place
during y" absence of y8 sd troops ; who returned
answer that he Would comply therewith. So re
main in all sincerity, "May it please your Ex'cy,
Your Ex'cys most obedient and humble servants."
This was signed by the Mayor, Recorder, and
Aldermen.
KING GEORGE'S WAR.
For over thirty years there 'had been peace in the
colonies. A quarrel arose between George II,
King of England, and the King of France, re
specting the claims of Maria Theresa to the throne
of Austria. The question at issue did not interest
the American colonists. But these Kings were
ready for a fight, and as things then were, their
caprices involved the English and French colonies in
America. War was declared March 15, 1744, by
France against England, which is called in Europe
the War of the Austrian Succession ; in America,
King George's War.
The news of another war, when received at Al
bany in June, three months after its declaration,
naturally excited great apprehensions of the repeti
tion of acts of cruelty and blood. Governor
Clinton came to the city and held another success-

388

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ful conference with the Sachems of the Six Nations,
cautioning them against the treacherous French, and
reminding them of the wrongs which their people
in the past had suffered from that nation. The
Governor sent to Albany six 1 8-pound cannons, with
powder, balls, and other military supplies. He put
on foot a scheme to reduce the strong fort at Crown
Point. Meanwhile the alarm was increased by the
attack of the French and Indians upon old Saratoga,
now Schuylerville, burning its fort and about 20
houses, killing some 30 persons, and taking nearly
60 prisoners. Refugees came to Albany to spend
the winter; soldiers were quartered there. There
was general commotion in the county. Two com
panies of His Majesty's Fusileers were sent up to
Albany, and the Indians were ordered to have their
hatchets ready.
In August, 1746, the famous Colonel William
Johnson, at the head of a company of Mohawks,
all in war paint, came into the city. The Mohawks
agreed, after some politic maneuvering, to take
sides against the French. The truth is, the French
best pleased them, but they secured more protec
tion and other favors from the Dutch and English.
Their fidelity was not to be trusted when war came,
except by renewed gifts, promises, and appeals.
A militia sergeant had been killed by some Can
adian scouts. Colonel Johnson was ordered to
send out scouting parties to harass the French of
Canada. But, while they brought back some
scalps and prisoners, they demanded a good many
extra favors to keep .them in good temper, even
under the skillful tactics of Johnson.
Later in the autumn of 1746, Governor Clinton
sent five companies of soldiers to Albany. Massa
chusetts and New York resumed their preparations
against Canada, and began, although winter was
near, to collect men and munitions of war at
Albany. But, by the wiser counsel of Connecticut,
the expedition was given over, and nothing was
done. Troops from Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
and other provinces were posted near by, with
Albany as a center, in 1747, to guard the fron
tiers. Colonel Schuyler had command of the New
Jersey troops. During this time a mutinous spirit
manifested itself among all the troops but those of
Colonel Schuyler, on the ground that they were
poorly paid. The trading people of the city, who
had but little to do (protected as they were) but to
make gain out of these soldiers, are said to have
incited this mutinous spirit against Governor Clin
ton, intimating that he withheld their pay for his
own uses.
The war was ended by the treaty of Aix-la-
Chapelle, made October 18, 1748, in which all
losses by either nation were restored. But the
ancient hate and the memory of recent damaging
contests had not died out. It was only a forced
and temporary suspension of hostilities after a fool
ish war, with nothing gained. Some of the people
of Albany County had suffered annoyance, but
some, also, had made profit from the military
placed here to keep off danger. They had not,
however, left their own castles, and were none the
worse off for King George's war.

THE OLD FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR,
1754 to 1763.
The last of the four intercolonial wars in which
the colonies were involved, and which ended the
French rule in America, was declared against
France by England, May 17, 1756, and recipro
cated by the declaration of war against England by
France on the 9th of June succeeding. It was a
war made with the earnest determination on the
part of England to put an end to the aggressions of
the French in this country. It was a war to deter
mine whether America should be New England or
New France. The French had been encompassing
the English colonies with forts from Lake Champ
lain to the mouth of the Mississippi, including the
Great Lakes, the Ohio River, the streams that run
into them, and the land that bordered them. Their
aim was to shut in the colonists between the Atlan
tic and the Appalachian Hills, and then force them
into submission.
The colonists were deeply interested in this war;
those of the North, including New England and
New York, especially. To it they gave their hard-
earned possessions and their lives, and England
was willing that her hardy, grown-up children here
should do the fighting and pay the expenses.
But this war did for both the Old and New Eng
land far more than they then knew. It taught the
hardy soldier how to use arms and plan battles; it
taught the colonies that they were old enough and
able to govern themselves. Its close was the morn
ing of the Revolution of 1776.
This war was really a sequel to King George's
War. The hate between England and France was
not ended by treat)'. Vexatious irruptions from
Canadian Indians continued.
On the 28th of August, 1754, a party of French
Indians invaded the Province of New York,
and burned the houses and barns of some of the
settlers at Hoosic, and took back with them to
Canada the Schaghticoke Indians, about sixty in
number. Lieutenant-Governor DeLancey immediately or
dered the fort at Albany to be repaired and put in
order. He sent a company of soldiers from New
York to Albany, and directed that 200 men from
each regiment of militia near Albany, be ready to
march to the city when needed.
Although kept in constant alarm, and seeing
much of the "pomp and circumstance of war,"
Albany really suffered nothing from invasion, and
but little from loss of money or men during its
existence. We find but little in the city records touching
the conduct of this war, only a few doings of the
Common Council which make complaint and ask
for better defenses.
A meeting of the Common Council was held at
the City Hall on the 29th day of May, 1753.
At this time James DeLancey was acting Gov
ernor of the Province. Albany was a frontier town.
At this meeting, a petition was directed to Gov
ernor DeLancey, signed by the Mayor and Alder
men, setting forth:

THE OLD FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.

389

That the City of Albany is a frontier town, and the de
fense thereof is of great consequence to the safety of the
whole province incase of War with the French; that the city
is altogether undefensable, exposed to the incursions of any
enemy, and the corporation, by reason of the heavy debt
they are under, occasioned by the great expense we were at
during the late war, and no wise able to fortify the city un
less assisted by a provincial Tax ; and whereas, your Excellen
cies have' prepared a petition to be laid before the General
Assembly, praying they would be pleased to lay a tax of
,£6,000 on estates throughout this province to defray the ex
pense of building a wall with bastions or batteries at con
venient distances, for the defence of said city and security of
the 'province.
The document closes with a prayer that
His Excellency will recommend to the General Assem
bly, in the most pressing terms that you think proper, to
raise the sum of /'6,ooo for defraying the epxense of said
Wall. This petition was presented to the Legislature
by Robert Livingston. At this time there was
a wall around part of the city; and stockades,
with block-houses at convenient distances, inclosed
the city; and there was a fort bristling with can
non. But its exposure to the incursions of the
French and Indians was so great, that its municipal
government was urging the provincial authorities to
afford greater security by building "a stonewall
with bastions and batteries," around the city.
This petition for a stone wall and bastions
around the city seems to have been disregarded by
the General Assembly.
At a meeting of the Common Council held on
the 22d of May, 1756, the matter was again taken
up in a petition directed to Governor Charles
Hardy, the preamble of which sets forth the de
fenceless condition of the city, praying for the
erection of a wall, or at least for new stockades,
and more cannon for the fort.
At this time there was encamped on the hill,
about where the Old Capitol afterwards stood, a
regiment of soldiers. An ordinance was passed by
the Common Council forbidding all tavern keepers
and all other persons selling any strong liquor to
any of his Majesty's troops, or harboring or enter
taining any of them after 9 o'clock p. m.
During this war many troops were encamped in
and around Albany. Some were at Port Schuyler,
as it is now called. Some were on the flat lands in
Albany and Bethlehem, as well as at Watervliet, and
on the opposite side of the Hudson. The Hudson
itself bore many vessels laden with munitions of war
and troops for its service. The music of the drum
and fife, and the training of the provincial miUtia
and the English soldiery, were daily events. When
General James Abercrombie was here in 1756, it is
estimated that about 10,000 troops were encamped
on both sides of the river. Lords Loudon and
Amherst also tented here, and disciplined their
armies for war. The people of the city and vicinity
were greatly interested in furnishing supplies and
service. Indian warriors, with their squaws and
papooses, added to the liveliness of the scene.
The expeditions of 1755 and 1756, from Albany
to Oswego, to attack Forts Frontenac and Niagara,
under Governor Shirley, included Albany soldiers,
of whom we have the name of General (then Cap
tain) Philip Schuyler, who assisted in forwarding

large supplies to Oswego. The march was peril
ous and fatiguing. Two forts were built to
strengthen the Old Fort Oswego, called New Fort
and Fort Ontario; vessels were built and other prep
arations on a large scale were made against Fort
Niagara. But the approach of winter and heavy
rains suspended the attack, and, after garrisoning
the forts, he returned to Albany and disbanded the
rest of his troops. During the winter, further
preparations were made at Albany to proceed
against Niagara in the spring. Early that season
General Winslow was at Albany with 7,000 men,
waiting for the arrival of the ever-dilatory Lord
Loudon, Commander-in-Chief. His delay until
late in the summer proved a fatal one. Mont
calm had the English forts at Oswego in his posses
sion, and held them until 1757, when, once more,
Fort Ontario again came into possession of the
English, and so remained until the Revolution.
Plans were made in 1755 to attack the French
fort at Crown Point. The command of the expe
dition was given to Sir William Johnson. Troops
were gathered at Albany and Greenbush from dif
ferent colonies. Among these was a regiment
under Colonel Ephraim Williams, of Massachu
setts, whose will, made here at that time, on the
22d July, 1755, laid the foundation of Williams
College. On the 8th day of September following,
while within four miles of the English army, to
join which he was on the march, he was attacked
by the bold French commander, Dieskau, valiantly
opposing this assault. Colonel Williams was killed.
Soon after, Dieskau, fighting against the main army,
under Johnson, was fatally wounded and taken
prisoner to Albany. He lived to reach England
and there died.
General Johnson was greatly delayed in his
movement on Crown Point. At this time he com
plained much of the people of Albany County,
saying, among other severe things, that he had
"great opposition from those Dutch traders at
Albany;" and, again, "these people are so much
devoted to their own private profit, that every other
public principle has ever been sacrificed to it; "
and, again he writes, under date of September 16th:
"Our expedition is likely to be extremely dis
tressed and, I fear, fatally retarded for the want of
wagons. The people of Albany County and the
adjacent counties hide their wagons and drive away
their horses. Most of the wagoners taken into the
service have deserted; some horses are quite jaded,
and some few killed by the enemy, and several run
away. Most of our provisions are at Albany."
All these delays discouraged the enterprise, and
led Johnson, at the approach of winter, after hav
ing built Fort William Henry and left there a gar
rison of 600 men, to return to Albany and disband
his troops. At the close of this fruitless expedi
tion, King George II made him a gift of ^500
and granted him a baronetcy, an honor which he
had not fairly earned. The best service of the ex
pedition was rendered by New England officers
and men.
In 1757, the citizens of Albany were in great
alarm at the advance of Montcalm. His attack

390

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

upon Fort William Henry in August of this year
caused the greatest consternation, especially when
the savage slaughter of the garrison by the Indians,
as it left the fort, became known. An increasing
army centered in the city; a large number quar
tered here during the fall and winter, and the place
became a house of refuge to the frontier settlers.
It was during this winter that the sober people
of Albany were scandalized by the social man
ners of the English officers and soldiery, many of
whom gave themselves to theatrical plays and all
the blandishments of dress, fashion, social flirtation
and debauchery. The Anglomania of this season
is graphically described by Mrs. Grant, in "The
American Lady."
In the early summer of 1758, General Aber-
crombie and his several regiments of troops were
encamped upon the "Pasture," or great flat lands
on the south side of the city. Among his officers
was the long-remembered and amiable Lord Howe.
Great hopes were rested in this army, which, in
July, was most crushingly defeated in its move
ment upon Ticonderoga, then called Fort Carillon.
Albany soldiers accompanied the inefficient Aber-
crombie. The disheartened army retreated to
Fort William Henry, and many of the wounded
were conveyed to Albany. The brave Lord Howe
was slain in this battle, and his body, in charge of
Philip Schuyler, was entombed in this city, first in
Schuyler's family tomb and finally under St. Peter's
Church. His death was mourned in America and
England, while the presumption and cowardice of
Abercrombie made his name contemptible.
As a contribution to the local history of this per
iod, indicative of the character of the people and
the army, we give the following extract from the
doings of the Common Council.
Whereas, Sundry complaints have been made, and in par
ticular by the Right Honorable Lord Viscount Howe, of
the great abuse in selling Rum and other strong Liquors to
Soldiers, which, by means of their continual drinking, im
pairs and weakens their constitutions and renders them unfit
for duty; and we being conscious of the justness of the com
plaint, as well as the mischiefs that may arise from the said
abuse, and being willing to remedy it as much as in us lays,
Be it therefore ordained by the Mayor, Aldermen and Com
monalty of the City of Albany, and it is hereby ordained
by the authority of the same, that no person whatsoever
after publication hereof presume to sell any Rum or other
strong liquors to any Soldier or Soldiers whatsoever, or to
any other person for their use ; and in case any person or
persons shall be convicted before the Mayor, Recorder, or
any of the Aldermen of selling any Rum or other distilled
Liquor, as aforesaid, to any Soldier or Soldiers, she or they so
offending shall, for the first offence, forfeit the sum of twenty
shillings current money of New York, and for every like
offense after, the sum of forty shillings, to be levyed by dis

tress and sale of the offender's goods, one-half for the benefit
of the informer, and the other half for the use of the City.
Dated Albany, this Seventh day of December, 1756.
Among the expeditions in which soldiers of
Albany were engaged, was the one against old Fort
Frontenac, under Colonel John Bradstreet This
was a French fort and a fur-trading and missionary
station, near where Kingston, Canada, now is.
The fort was erected in 1673 by Governor Louis
Frontenac, and was for many years regarded as
one of the strongest and most important in Amer
ica. After the defeat of Abercrombie at Ticonder
oga, in 1758, Colonel Bradstreet, at his own re
quest, went across the wilderness to Oswego, and
advanced to the fort in three vessels. The approach
was sudden and the fort was weak. It surrendered
without a contest. His force consisted of New
York and New England troops. Among the
officers were Captains Peter Yates and Goosen Van
Schaick, of Albany, the latter of whom became a
Colonel in the New York revolutionary line.
Colonel Bradstreet was Commissary-General in
1756, keeping up supplies between Albany and
Oswego, with much annoyance from the French
Indians, with whom he had several successful and
bloody skirmishes.
On their return from Fort Frontenac, his small
army aided in building Fort Stanwix, near where
Rome is now situated. This fortunate expedition
resulted in the exchange of the Commander of the
fort for Colonel Peter Schuyler, then a prisoner in
Canada, and turning over 9 armed vessels, 40
pieces of cannon, a great quantity of stores, the
fort itself, and no men as prisoners of war. The
name of Bradstreet is deserving of honor, as a
brave soldier and an excellent man. He was an
intimate friend of Philip Schuyler, whose counsel
and aid he sought, not only at this time, but in
subsequent service.
In May and June, 1759, Lord Jeffrey Amherst,
an English officer of great merit, encamped about
the City of Albany. In July, his army of New
York and New England soldiers moved toward
Ticonderoga and Crown Point. The French
forces withdrew on their approach and both these
strongholds came into the hands of the English.
The fall of Quebec, September 12th, and of
Montreal soon after, gave Canada to the British
and ended the French dominion in America. A
definitive treaty was concluded at Paris, Febru
ary 10, 1763.
Albany County had no more alarms from the
French and Indians of Canada. The usual in
dustrial pursuits of peace were resumed.

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.

391

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.

By- Prof. J. TK3STN-EY.

THE representative principle must be sought
away back in the ages — in the first communities
of men. Its growth, traced through all the forms
of industrial, ecclesiastical and civil institutions,
has never yet been carefully written out. It would
be the work of a lifetime. It took deeper root and
expanded more rapidly and vigorously in Anglo-
Saxon Britain than among any other people. Ils
democratic element gradually acquired great dis
tinctness and purity, and in this form was first
brought over to the stormy coasts of primitive New
England in 1620. Here it found congenial soil
and skillful culture, and branched forth westward
over a large territory, producing a growth of as
tonishing vigor on the 4th of July, 1776.
What Albany City and County had to do in the
struggle that led to its establishment, we propose to
set forth as fully as the scattered facts, dug out of
the debris of one hundred years, and our limited
time and space, will admit.
We regret that we have no record of the services
rendered on the field of battle by individuals who
were always ready "to do or die" for sweet liberty
— men who occupied subordinate military offices
or worked in the ranks — untitled men of strong
convictions and brave hearts, who fought, not for
fame, but for home and country, and now fill
unlettered graves. Our questions in regard to their
names and deeds have found no answer.
Much that transpired in the great struggle with
England for American nationality is already lost
in the graves of the actors in that drama.
We do not find that much field service was done
by Albany County in that war. At first there was
much apathy among the citizens generally. They
were not men of war; they loved peace and pro
ductive industry. King George was far away and
had done them no harm that they could see. The
wrongs complained of in Boston, New York, and
elsewhere, by men of trade and public men, they
might have heard of, but they had not seen nor
felt them. Who can wonder that such men were
slow to leave their farms, and shops, and stores
for strife and carnage; that some were not apathetic
only, but decidedly opposed to a war that meant
revolution ? They preferred to endure the ills they
knew than to fly to those they knew not of.
Hence there were many Tories in Albany County.
And, while the most brave and intelligent watched
events, and pondered and feared, most put off the
evil day, hoping that the unpleasantness with Old
Mother England would be settled without blood.
Yes, Albany was slow to respond to the feelings
so strongly manifested in the cities of the Atlantic
'coasts, in Philadelphia, and in Virginia.

But most of the men of mind and property in
the city — the Schuylers, the Van Rensselaers,
Gansevoort, Van Schaick, Nicolls, Douw, Ten
Broeck, and others — were fully alive to the situa
tion, full of the spirit of patriotism, ready for any
sacrifice for the rights of the people. They were
always on - the side of wise counsel, and when the
hour of action came, they were prepared.
There was no newspaper in Albany until 1771,
and the publisher of that was a Tory. No tele
graph then; no stage; no medium of rapid com
munication. News moved slowly; the common
mind moved slowly. But, when the news of blood
shed on the plains of Lexington, April 19, 1775,
was heard, all saw that war was inevitable. Patriot
blood was stirred, and city and county began to
get ready. Military companies were formed, and
the bustle and confusion of getting ready for the
worst was heard all around.
Albany, as important as it was, was a small vil
lage then. But it had long been a town of grim
forts and warlike movements. It was used to sol
diers and officers; to camps and marches. Its sit
uation and its accidents had made it always a
military center to which men came and from which
men went with all the pomp and circumstance of
dire war.
So it continued to be during the War of the
Revolution. Here was Fort Frederick, with its
garrisons and guns; here were officers' quarters,
barracks, hospitals, and commissaries stores. Sol
diers were billeted here. Here were fears and
watchings. There were enemies at home and
abroad. Here were prisons for bold traitors
and gallows to hang them on. Of course there
was much to be done to duly provide, keep, and
distribute " the sinews of war." Here was much
to be done by a strong "home guard," protecting
the city and holding it as a place of safety and
supply; a place not for the protection alone of
citizens and their wives and children, but for the
restraint of the rebellious Tory; for the hungry
and ragged soldier in tent and field; for the sick
and wounded in the hospital.
Such duties as these all important ones, neces
sarily occupied the patriotic inhabitants of Albany
City and County, and made them less frequent in
the march and bloody contest They were not
found, so far as we can learn, at Bennington,
White Plains, Monmouth, Trenton, nor in any of
the battles of the South. Nor was much fighting
done by them after the surrender of Burgoyne.
They went, probably, where Schuyler, Ganse
voort and Van Schaick, and Ten Broeck and the
Van Rensselaers went, or directed to go, to St.

392

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Johns, Chambly, Montreal, and Quebec; to Crown
Point and Ticonderoga; to Fort Ann and Fort
Stanwix; to Stone Arabia and Saratoga.
Who some of them were who were enrolled
ready for any duty, is told in the military rosters as
we find them in the archives of the State, in the
records of the Committee of Safety, and in cer
tain local histories.
The City Records, and the Records of the Com
mittee of Safety, from which we have made liberal
extracts, show better than anything else the state of
matters in this County and City.
Albany was always fortified, and fortified and

garrisoned according to the needs of the place and
the times. Its government was usually adminis
tered by prudent officers, supported by a discreet,
peace-loving class of citizens. It kept friendship
with the Indians. No battle was ever fought in
the present Albany County ; no invasion ever
reached the city ; no besiegers ever attacked its de
fenses. It had rumors of war, but no war. It al
ways had fears of the savage, but fear was all. Its
people were always forewarned and forearmed.
The French of Canada, full of jealousy, often
planned invasion of Albany, but never carried out
their plans.

OLD ENGLISH CHURCH AND FORT FREDERICK.

An important convention of colonial delegates
met at Albany June 19, 1754. It has often been
referred to as having connection with the opening
movements of the American Revolution. If this
be so, it was quite remote. It was invited by Lord
Holderness, English Secretary of State. Seven of
the thirteen colonies were represented by twenty-
six members. The New York Delegates were
James Delancy, Joseph Murray, William Johnson,
John Chambers, William Smith. Most of these
were adherents of the English Crown, and remained
so all their lives. The delegates were chosen by
the colonial assemblies, and had for their leading
object the formation of a closer political union for
the purpose of better security against the encroach
ments of the French on the north, and for keeping
the friendship of the Indians, the Six Nations es
pecially, who seemed getting too much under the
influence of the Jesuits and other French emissa
ries. The sachems of the Indians were particularly
imited to meet this convention, and they were
present in full numbers. Speeches were made on
both sides, and much diplomacy was used. The
sessions were held for twelve days. The meetings
were in the old City Hall.
Benjamin Franklin was present from Pennsylva
nia, having a plan which he introduced for discus
sion, that looked to a permanent union for mutual
counsel and defense in all matters of common inter
est. " Debate upon this and other plans proposed
was taken up, hand in hand with the Indian business,
daily." Apian, very much like that of Franklin,
proposed a grand council of forty-eight members,

to have, under limitations, the appointment of all
civil and military officers, the general management
of civil and military matters, and the entire con
trol of Indian affairs. When the plan was sub
mitted, as Franklin himself tells us, "the assem
blies did not adopt it, as they all thought there was
too much prerogative in it; and in England it was
judged to have too much of the democratic." But the
convention, no doubt, succeeded in its main pur
pose — that of keeping* the Iroquois on friendly
terms — after the usual presents, promises and flat
tery ; and "the plan," which was not the main
purpose, led the colonists to a better understand
ing of each other, and helped prepare them for
more united action when the time came. This
was largely due to the far-seeing sagacity and vigi
lant patriotism of Franklin.
Lieutenant-Governor Colden writes to the Earl
of Hillsborough, under date of New York, February
21, 1770— "My Lord: It is my duty to inform
you that a violent party continue their assiduous
endeavors to disturb the Government, by working
hard on the passions of the populace, and ex
citing riots, who in every attempt have hitherto
been unsuccessful. * * * The persons who
appear on these occasions are of inferior rank, but
it is not doubted they are directed by some persons
of distinction. They consist chiefly of Dissenteis,
who are very numerous, especially in the country.
* * * xhe most active among them are Inde
pendents from New England, or educate!! there,
and of Republican principles. The friends of the

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.

393

administration are the Church of England, the
Lutherans, and the old Dutch, with several Pres
byterians." After this, he speaks of the confine
ment of Alexander McDougal in jail for writing
a seditious political article, expressing the opinion
that "he highly deserves punishment." McDougal
was one of the "Sons of Liberty," and afterwards
Colonel of the ist New York Regiment in the
Revolution and a Major-General in the service. He
was a member of the Provincial Congress, and
afterwards of the State Senate. He was a brave
and trusted soldier and a valuable citizen. We
note this to show what kind of men belonged to
the early patriot party and the estimation in which
they were held.
Albany was the center of supplies for the Northern
Army. It would not do to leave the Northern De
partment uncared for by troops. The savages and
the Tories were plenty about the upper Hudson and
the Mohawk. They only wanted an opportunity
to invade the City of Albany; to burn and plunder
its homes; carry away its military stores and mur
der its inhabitants. Its soldiery was needed at
home to protect what remained.
Did the women apply their hands to the distaff,
the spinning-wheel and the loom, so that the
soldiers might be sure of comfortable clothing in
the camp and field ? Did the "click of the loom
and the hum of the wheel " make music harmon
ious with that of the drum and fife ? Were there
spinning matches and quilting bees among the
mothers and daughters of Albany County from
1774 to 1 78 1? There were no factories then to
clothe the army by contract. We believe that
much of it was done by noble women — the wives
and daughters of that time.
Were the clergy eloquent in the pulpit against
British aggression, and earnest in appeal to the spirit
of patriotic doctrine ? Did they urge the people,
by zealous activity, to resist the wrongs done to the
rights of property and personal freedom, and, like
Rev. Mr. Allen, of Pittsfield, take the musket and
go forth to pray and fight for heaven and our rights ?
This Rev. Thomas Allen left his home and visited
Kinderhook, Canaan, Claverack, and other towns
in Eastern New York, speaking to the people and
advising the strongest measures against those who
favored the King. He writes home to the leading
Whigs of his town, ' ' As yet there are plenty of
arms to be sold at Albany; but no powder is to be
sold there for the present" Again, "The spirit of
liberty runs high at Albany, as you have doubtless
heard by their own post at our headquarters."
"The New York Government begins to be alive in
the glorious cause, and to act with great vigor. "
From these statements we infer that he visited Al
bany to quicken and stimulate its citizens to some
activity. It is also said that the sainted Westerlo,
of the Dutch Church, the most influential pastor in
the city at that time, was bold and zealous for the
patriot cause in the pulpit and among the people.
Tories were arrested and committed to gaol in
Albany, until they " humbly confessed their faults,
so

asked forgiveness and promised reformation."
Sometimes, after doing what harm they could to
their Whig neighbors- — hiding, meeting in secret
conclaves, until discovered and threatened punish
ment — they ran away to Canada, Nova Scotia, or
other safe place to await the end; which, to their
mind, would be the discomfiture of the rebellious
Whigs and the triumph of the loyal friends of King
George III. A few of these returned and became
good cit;zens. Others, self-banished, suffered con
fiscation of their estates. Some were banished;
some were hanged. Everywhere the ban of society
was upon them; and they were handled roughly
when arrested.
Tories were plenty in New York, not excepting
Albany County. North Carolina and New York
were, for a long time, regarded by the British min
istry as loyal to the interests of the Crown, and dis
trusted by the patriots of New England and Vir
ginia. There were many Tories who were so from prin
ciple, and refused to take sides against the parent
country from honest convictions of the wrongful
ness of such a course. They looked upon the
Whigs as rebels against their sovereign; condemned
the war as unnatural; and regarded the final result
as surely disastrous to those who had lifted up the
arm of opposition. Their opinions were courte
ously, but firmly expressed; they took every op
portunity to dissuade their friends and neighbors
from participating in the rebellion; and by all their
words and acts discouraged the insurgent move
ment. But they shouldered no musket, girded on no
sword, piloted no secret expedition against the Re
publicans. They were passive, noble-minded men;
and deserve our respect for their consistency, and
our commiseration for their sufferings at the hands
of those who made no distinction between the man
of honest opinions and the marauder with no
opinions. There was another class of Tories governed by
the footpad's axiom that "might makes right."
They were Whigs when royal power was weak,
and Tories when royal power was strong. Their
god was mammon, and they offered up human
sacrifices in abundance upon its altars. They be
came as relentless robbers and murderers of neigh
bors and friends as the savages of the wilderness.
For some time the Tories in the neighborhood
of Albany were employed in capturing prominent
citizens and carrying them off to Canada for the
purpose of exchange. Such an attempt was made
on General Gansevoort, and another on General
Schuyler, under direction of the notorious John
Waltmeyer, colleague of Joe Bettys. Among the
men of this class was the notorious Thomas Love
lace, who, after he had run away to Canada, formed
a company with five other persons and returned to
abduct, plunder and betray his former neighbors in
Saratoga, Schenectady and Albany Counties. His
crimes were many. He robbed General Schuy
ler's house and attempted to carry off Colonel Van
Vechten. He was captured, tried and hung by
General John Stark, then in command of barracks
near Fish Creek.

394

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The story of taking old Fort Ticonderoga, the
key to the gateway between the Colonies and the
Canadas, May 8, 1775, is familiar to all. It was
done under Colonel Ethan Allen, of Vermont,
guided by the boy Nathan Beman, and aided by

Ground Plan of Old Fort.
Colonels Warner, of Vermont, Brown and Easton,
of Berkshire. We have no evidence that Albany
County had any men among the 1 50 who were en
gaged in this bold movement. The County had
not then fully organized its military forces. Its
mayor and many of the citizens were not then de
cided in their patriotism. The city had been called
on for supplies, but not for men at this time.
Connecticut had lately sent a delegation of two to
Albany ' ' to discover the temper of the people at
that place." It was then in doubt.
On the 19th of June, 1775, George Washington
received his commission as Commander-in-Chief
of the Continental Army. Four Major-Generals:
Artemas Ward, Charles Lee, Philip Schuyler and
Israel Putnam, were chosen ; and eight Brigadier-
Generals: Seth Pomeroy, Richard Montgomery,
David Wooster, William Heath, Joshua Spencer,
John Thomas, John Sullivan and Nathaniel Greene.
To these was added Horatio Gates as Adjutant-
General with rank of Brigadier.
In June, 1775, Philip Schuyler, on recommen
dation of the patriots of this district, having been
appointed as one of the four Major-Generals of the
Continental Army, was assigned to the command of
the Northern Department.
His first movement was. towards Ticonderoga,
which he reached July 18th, where he found a gar
rison of 1,000 Connecticut troops under Colonel
Hinman, and a few Berkshire troops under Colonel
Easton. These troops were composed chiefly of
militia, raw and undisciplined, but full of patriot
ism, courage and intelligence. The invasion of
Canada was under favorable consideration by all
officers and men. It was urged that it was neces
sary to cut off the approaches of British troops by
St. Lawrence and the Lakes, and prevent the sud
den attacks of savages and Tories on the borders,
from Canada. It was understood, also, that many
Canadians were favorably disposed toward the
cause of the American patriots.

It was further understood that General Carleton,
commander of the British forces in Canada, was
planning an attempt to get possession of the forts
upon the lakes, with the ultimate purpose of invad
ing the valleys of the Mohawk and Hudson, and
dividing New England from New York and the
States south and west.
Immediate movements were demanded to antici
pate Carleton. Major Brown, who had been sent
to learn the situation at St. John's, Chambly,
Montreal and Quebec, and to try the minds of the
people of Canada, leaving July 24th, returned
August 10th, feeling sure that "Now is the time to
carry Canada."
But serious delays occurred in securing troops
and supplies. New York was filled with Tories
who needed watching; Boston was besieged; Con
necticut was threatened with invasion of its coasts;
self-protection must be secured before undertaking
expeditions to Canada. But General Schuyler was
hopeful of success, and eager to advance. Major
Brown was placed in command of the flotilla on
Lake Champlain. General Montgomery was at
Crown Point as Schuyler's lieutenant. On Septem
ber 6th, General Schuyler, with his little army, was
besieging St. John's. It was a long and tedious
siege. Here General Schuyler began to manifest that
irresolution and timidity in meeting the difficulties
of the military situation which, in spite of his un
doubted personal bravery, so often fatally marred
his Northern campaigns, and led many patriots
to distrust, not only his capacity, but his fidel
ity. Deceived into a belief of the strength of the
fort and of the dangers around him, General Schuy
ler fell back to Isle Aux-Noix, and awaited rein
forcements. As soon as September 1 6th, he was
compelled by ill health to return to Ticonderoga,
and commit the movements of the army to Mont
gomery. The attempt upon St. John's was re
tarded, and success was hindered in. many ways.
Among them were the lack of ammunition and the
almost mutinous discontent of the army. But suc
cessful movements upon Fort Chambly by Major
Brown, to whom it was surrendered October 19th,
imparted new vigor, and led to the surrender of St.
John's, November 2d. After this Montreal capitula
ted to Montgomery, November 1 7th. Montgomery,
with the beggarly remnant of his army of St. John's,
was at Quebec December ist Here he was joined
by Arnold with his New England troops, sent on
from Cambridge by Washington. Here were
Easton and Brown, from Berkshire; Wooster, from
Massachusetts; Van Rensselaer, Livingston, and
Lamb, from New York.
The disastrous assault on Quebec, made Decem
ber 31, 1775, which resulted in the lamented death
of Richard Montgomery and the end of the Canada
invasion, needs no further detail here. Every bright
schoolboy has read the sad story. Let Montgom
ery's name ever be revered. He was a pure pa
triot, ready to do or suffer anything for country.
His courage was impetuous and forgetful of self;
while that of Schuyler, just as true, had more of
caution in it. In this expedition everything, was

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.

395

unfavorable to Montgomery except his own brave
and generous soul.
It is true that Arnold kept up a useless siege
during the winter of 1 775-76, and that recruits were
sent on to reinforce the American army, which still
remained in Canada, in the hope of accomplishing
the conquest of that territory in the coming spring
and summer. But a leader was wanting; discipline
was imperfect; and sickness was weakening the
strength of men who suffered from lack of clothing,
food, and other supplies.
Burgoyne came early in May with succor for
Quebec, and succeeded Carleton in the command.
The Americans were compelled to entirely evacu
ate Canada. The remnant arrived at Crown Point
in June, " disgraced, defeated, discontented, dispir
ited, diseased, naked, undisciplined; eaten up with
vermin; no clothes, beds, blankets; no medicine;
no victuals but salt pork and flour. " Thus writes
John Adams, under date of July 7, 1776, concern
ing our Northern Army at Crown Point.
Thus resulted the first movement of the Army of
the Northern Department under General Schuyler.
His policy as commander had given great dissatis
faction to most of the officers and men in his com
mand. Horatio Gates, a new and less manly com
mander, supplanted Philip Schuyler in the North
ern command for a brief time in 1776.
During the winter of 1776-77, many of the offi
cers of the Continental Army, including General
Gates, Colonel Morgan Lewis, Colonel Benedict
Arnold, Colonel John Brown, had their winter
quarters in Albany. It was during this winter that
Colonel Brown wrote of Arnold: "Money is this
man's God; and, to get enough of it, he would
sacrifice his country." Three years after, John
Brown fell, fighting for his country; while Arnold
was a branded traitor and a fugitive in the British
army. '
The year 1777 was marked by events that de
manded unusual exertions and sacrifices from the
people of Albany County. The summer was one
of intense anxiety. ' An army of disciplined and
veteran British troops was on the march to Albany
with hostile intent. To the peace-loving popula
tion of the city, their progress spread the wildest
terror; to the loyal Tories ecstasies of hope and bold
impudence; lo the patriotic friends of liberty, anx
iety and dread. From mid-spring to late autumn
all was excitement, alarm, and activity. The city
was threatened with all the horrors of savage
¦ butchery and the invasion of an unscrupulous
soldiery. John Burgoyne, with loud-mouthed
threats to the enemies of Great Britain, and prom
ises of protection and favor to the weak and
doubting, was on his way from Canada with his
12,000 men, made up of bloody Indians, merce
nary Hessians, and war-trained Scotchmen and
Englishmen. He considered his march sure to
end in triumph. His aim was to cut off New
England with all its supplies of men and means
from the south, and thus make the divided and
weakened armies a sure prey to the British Crown.

In Albany he expected to meet Clinton moving up
the Hudson from New York, and St. Leger with
his victorious forces from Oswego and Fort Stan-
wix, coming down the Mohawk. With ambitious
and able commanders and splendid soldiership and
appointments, with well laid plans, the result
seemed certain.
Early in July, old Fort Ticonderoga, garrisoned
by St. Clair and his scarcely 3,000 men, most
of them poorly provided for defense, was found
to be untenable. It was found that Burgoyne's
skilled engineers had it entirely at their mercy,
and it was consequently hastily evacuated.
Although Colonel John Trumbull had, in 1776,
with characteristic sagacity, explained to Generals
Gates and Schuyler the weak points in the defense
of that fort, nothing was done. Schuyler and St.
Clair had expressed themselves confident that the
post was secure from any attack which Burgoyne
could bring to bearuponit. They had accumulated
stores, and rested in apparent security. But the
commanding battery upon Mount Defiance made
retreat the only alternative. Scarcity of ammuni
tion and danger of reinforcement did not chiefly
decide the question of retreat. Nor did want of
courage. It was forced discretion. One division
of the retreating army, under Colonel Long, was
overtaken at the head of Lake George, now White
hall, and after suffering loss of artillery and stores,
pushed on to Fort Ann, where, turning upon its
pursuers, a gallant stand was made near that fort.
The importance of the battle fought here under
General Schuyler, with 500 men from Rensselaer
Manor, has never been duly estimated in history.
Many Albany men were killed and wounded here,
and a decided check was put upon the advance
of the British army, much to the advancement
of the patriot cause.
St. Clair's division, after severe fighting and
heavy losses, made its way through woods and
swamps, and over streams to Fort Edward, where
Schuyler had fixed his headquarters. Here he was
met by Colonel Long and his division.
The loss of Ticonderoga, the traditional strong
hold to which they and their fathers had looked
for protection, naturally filled the patriots of New
York and Massachusetts with the most serious ap
prehension. There was consternation everywhere.
The way was considered open to Burgoyne for easy
attainment of all his aims. Nothing but desolation
and death stared the people in the towns and vil
lages along the Hudson in the face. Unjust
charges of cowardice were laid at the door of St.
Clair ; and treachery, incompetence, or inefficiency
in Schuyler were outspoken by many, especially by
the New England troops.
The evacuation of Fort Ticonderoga filled Gen
eral Schuyler with discouragement. On the 26th of
July he dismissed half the Militia of New England
and of Albany County. A month later he sent
away the greater part of the remainder. This he
did while the enemy were marching toward Albany,
and he never had greater need, not only of keeping
the men he had, but of increasing their number.
His excuse for this singular course was, first, that

396

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

he dismissed a part lest he might lose the whole ;
and, then, having sent away about one half, he
might as well send home the other half. He
alleged that his militia, men of Berkshire and Al
bany Counties, were very impatient to get home to
their farms. Bancroft tells us that Schuyler was
importuning Washington to send him Southern
soldiers, alleging that one of them was worth two
from the Eastern States. It is well known that the
Militia of Albany and Berkshire held the Com
mander of the Northern Department at this time in
great distrust; and they well knew the slight regard
in which they were held by him. The state of feel
ing between General Schuyler and his troops was
very unfortunate at this time. Rude and unculti
vated as many of these men were, they had brave
and honest hearts, which they proved soon on ihe
fields of Bennington and Saratoga under leaders
that knew them.
No battle of the Revolution took a more powerful
and permanent hold upon the hearts of the people
of that day than that of Bennington on the 16th of
August, 1777. Its results were disappointing to
Burgoyne. Almost unopposed had been his march
upon Albany until that day. His army was one of
terror to the friends of liberty. They could see
nothing but the union of Clinton, coming up the
Hudson, with Burgoyne coming down to Albany,
thus making a complete armed barrier, dividing the
East from the South and West. The course of the
proud army was stayed by the arms of a militia,
gathered from the hills of New England for the oc
casion. Their boasting was changed to doubt and
fear by the event. There were no soldiers from
New York in this fight. Many were men who had
once been led by Ethan Allen, of the Green Moun
tains. They were led by John Stark, a born sol
dier, of determined independence and energy, who
refused to be trammeled by Schuyler or the Conti
nental Congress.
This should be said in regard to the attitude of
the New York and New England Indians during
the Revolution :
The Mohawks were always at war with the Mo-
hegans, on the east bank of the Hudson, who bore
their yoke with uneasiness and frequent outbreaks.
These New England Indians had no friendly feel
ings toward the Dutch, whom they looked upon as
allies of their Iroquois enemies.
Forced, as these Eastern red men were, by the
trading Dutch and the jealous Mohawks, back over
the western slopes of the Hudson into the valleys of
the Housatonic and the Connecticut, they seldom
met during the colonial period after the first years.
When they did, there was only a renewal of con
tention and bloodshed, the result of which al
ways asserted the superior power of the Western
savages. All efforts to bring together the Iroquois under
the influence of the Christian religion or civilization
were only partially successful, except with the Onei
das and Tuscaroras, of whom the Stockbridge In
dians came to speak of as brothers. Both had been
taught Christianity and freedom by New England
Puritan missionaries.

They united in the War of the Revolution in the
cause of the colonists against the Crown, and thus
again met in battle their ancient foes, the Mohawks,
who, under the influence and lead of the Johnsons
and Butlers, did deeds of indescribable cruelty in
every northern battle where they had opportunity;
and, in conjunction with the Tories, carried the
firebrand, the tomahawk, and the scalping-knife to
many a peaceful home and village along the Mo
hawk, the Schoharie, and the Susquehanna.
All the efforts of General Schuyler and other del
egates from Albany, in conferences with the Six
Nations in 1774, when they pledged neutrality, and
at Guy Park in May, 1775, were overborne by the
money and promises of the British crown and the
artful intrigues of Guy and John Johnson, with the
alliance of Joseph Brant and the Tory Butlers.
The worst cruelties inflicted by these savage In
dians, and worse than savage whites, fell upon the
peaceful homes of Old Tryon County. Albany
County was so well defended that it was left alone
by them. The only exception happened in the
town of Berne, of which a good account is given
in the history of that place.
Peter Gansevoort was born in Albany, July 17,
1749. He was among the troops which accom
panied Schuyler, in 1775, in his movement toward
Canada, and accompanied Montgomery, with the
rank of Major, in his unfortunate assault upon
Quebec in December of that year. The next year
he was appointed a Colonel in the New York line,
and took command of Fort Schuyler, previously
called Fort Stanwix, situated where is now the City
of Rome, in the spring of 1777. For his gallant
defense of this post against St. Leger, in his at
tempted march from Oswego down the Mohawk,
to meet Burgoyne at Albany, he received the thanks
of Congress.
In 1 78 1 he was promoted to the rank of Briga
dier-General by the State of New York. He was,
for many years after the war, military agent, and
held other offices of trust. He was held in high
esteem as a soldier for bravery and good judgment,
and as a citizen, for intelligence and uprightness.
He died at the age of 62 years, July 2, 1812.
When Colonel Gansevoort took command of
Fort Schuyler, in early summer of 1777, the fort
was unfinished and feebly garrisoned. The patri
otic citizens of Mohawk valley were paralyzed with
fear. They saw nothing but defeat and ruin should
the disciplined army of St. Leger fall upon Fort
Schuyler. They knew no way of successful resist
ance should he attempt to march down the valley
to Albany. Many timid and wavering ones became
Loyalists, or, at best, weak and passive patriots.
But Colonel Gansevoort was vigilant and hopefur,
appealing for aid to General Schuyler and the Pro
vincial Congress, and putting forth every possible
effort to be ready for the enemy. On the ist of Au
gust, St. Leger, with his Tory rangers and his blood
thirsty Indians under Brant, were ready to invest
the fort with a force 1,700 strong. Gansevoort had
only 750 men, among whom were the brave and sa
gacious Colonel Marinus Willett and his regiment,

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.

397

A few other recruits, and ammunition and provis
ion for a siege of six weeks soon came. The siege
began August 4th. The British commander sent a
pompous manifesto into the fort, and a dispatch to
Burgoyne assuring him that he expected they would
soon meet at Albany as victors.
We are not called upon to detail the carnage of
Oriskany, August 6th, where the brave Nicholas
Herkimer and his 800 Mohawk Valley men fell into
an ambuscade of Tories and savages, while on their
march to relieve General Gansevoort. Herkimer,
badly wounded, did his duty with wonderful endur
ance and coolness until the battle was over, and
then was borne to his home to die with the unskilled
surgeon's knife, as many a noble soldier has done
before and since; nor need we dwell upon the
sortie of Colonel Willett, in which this man of
daring courage suddenly and furiously attacked the
enemy, put them to rout, made an end to this
bloody struggle at Oriskany, and brought his force
back to the fort without loss of a man; nor need
we repeat the particulars of the reinforcement sent
by Schuyler from Stillwater, under Arnold, and
the stratagem that frightened St. Leger's Indians,
leading him to raise the siege before Fort Schuyler
on the 23d of August, and make a hasty flight
toward Wood Creek to join Burgoyne.
The courage of Gansevoort held out during this
siege of twenty days, although it looked like ulti
mate surrender because ammunition and food had
nearly given out, and many of his men advised
surrender. Herkimer, Willett, and Arnold deserve
all praise for the part they acted in preventing St.
Leger from carrying out the plan of meeting Bur
goyne at Albany. We have reason to believe that
there were Albany County men with Gansevoort and
with Arnold; but we have not found their names.
After the departure of St. Leger, General Ganse
voort and his regiment had charge of repairing
Fort Plain and erecting the block house near it,
where they were stationed for some time to take
charge of the large quantity of stores destined for
Fort Stanwix; to watch the movements of the In
dian and Tories; and to be ready to render services
in case of any attacks made by them in the vicinity.
The report of the designs of Burgoyne and St.
Leger, seemed at first to paralyze, not arouse, the
Whigs of Mohawk Valley. They began to regard
the patriot cause as almost hopeless. They hesi
tated whether to prepare for defense against disci
plined British soldiers or to supinely await the
course of events. The event awakened new con
fidence and effort.
The story of Saratoga and the taking of Bur
goyne is too familiar to require repetition here.
Indeed, our space is too limited to give it in satis
factory detail. It is well known that the patriotic
Philip Schuyler was superseded a few days before
the battle by Horatio Gates, an experienced, trained
military officer of English birth; good at making
plans; inferior to Schuyler as a man; selfish, and
ambitious; not remarkable for any deeds of patri
otism or of daring bravery, either at this time or
any other.

Schuyler was cautious, and in such an emergency
as that in which he was placed by the advance of
Burgoyne and his proud army, and his own ill-
appointed and uneasy troops, he might well be so.
But Schuyler was not the man for the occasion.
He was not a man for his soldiers. He was too
dilatory; he did not understand his men, nor did
they understand him. His conduct, after he was
superseded, was worthy of all praise. No doubt
he felt the seeming degradation, but at no point
could he be accused of neglecting his duty as a
patriotic citizen. His wise counsels and his means
were at the command of his country. No doubt
some of his movements in falling back before Bur-
goyne's march seemed then cowardly. It is doubt
ful if his final stand, taken near the forks of the
Mohawk, where he entrenched himself and his
small army as well as he could, on Van Schaick
and Haver Islands, was well taken. The people
of his own county began to fear that he was
not equal to the emergency, and the feelings
of the New England troops was very bitter against
him. It was difficult to enlist men to fight under
him. These facts, not forgetting his really worthy
character as a man and as a patriot, seemed to
justify the course pursued by Congress in super
seding him. After this was done, a new spirit
seemed to pervade the Northern Department, and
all possible efforts were cheerfully made to prevent
the advance of Burgoyne.
The magnanimity of Schuyler was shown after
the battle, by his treatment of Burgoyne and his
suite at his own house in Albany; his gallant
treatment of the amiable Madame Riedesel; and
his humane aid in behalf of the sick and wounded
soldiers. More than a thousand of them were
taken to the hospital and even into the houses of
Albany, including friends and foes, and there had
the best of care.
We feel justified in this connection, in making
an extract from Smith's "History of Pittsfield," as
giving a fair estimate of the character of General
Schuyler in connection with the cause that led to
his being superseded by Gates. It also aids much
in understanding the state of feeling at that pe
riod: "The calamitous termination of the invasion
of Canada brought to its culmination the opposi
tion to Schuyler, which, in King's District, the
County of Berkshire, and in the New Hampshire
Grants, had been growing ever since his appoint
ment to the Northern command.
"An unblemished patriot, a gallant soldier, and
no mean statesman, Schuyler was yet distinguished
by qualities, both positive and negative, which
rendered him, if qualified for any departmental
command, remarkably ill-adapted to that which
was assigned him, between a majority of whose
people and himself there existed an incompatibility
which resulted in an antagonism fatal to the public
interest. An aristocrat of aristocrats, he hated
the robustious democracy of Massachusetts, and
the still ruder independence of the settlers upon
the Grants. A New Yorker of New Yorkers, jea
lous of the rights of his Province, he participated

398

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

to the full in the feeling excited by the alleged en
croachments of the New Englanders upon .her
eastern borders, and was prepared to resist, at any
cost, the new invasion of her territory, under pre
tense of patents from New Hampshire. Intimate,
socially and personally, with many of the higher
class of Loyalists in King's District, he could not
be made to believe them guilty of the secret plots
against their country and the violation of their
solemn pledges, of which they were popularly ac
cused. Annoyed by the evil deeds of the Tories,
he was opposed to them; but he was indignant at
the harsh treatment with which the Sons of Liberty
treated his friends, the Van Schaicks, and others of
suspected Toryism, and was not in favor of a cer
tain class of Whigs. This led to ill-blood and bitter
opposition to his promotion.
"Coming to his command with a nervous hor
ror of partisan warfare, he attributed that character
to the proud-spirited and ambitious militia of the
hills, who, used to hardy and independent enter
prise, were not easily controlled, but kept him in
perpetual terror of some rash adventure, while they
failed him in executing his best-laid schemes of
falling back for an indefinitely postponed advance.
And he refused to renounce his prejudices against
them, even when he found that they alone won
victories in his department, and, having won them,
showed a regard for the amenities of honorable
warfare, and observed its laws with a scrupulous
nicety which put to shame the regulars whom they
encountered. He failed to perceive a courtesy
which was not expressed in courtly phrase, or to
recognize chivalry except in those of gentle blood
— as gentility went in provincial America. As a
soldier, his courage was proved; as a general,
few in the American armies could better set a
squadron in the field, or were more familiar with
the rules of their art. As u commander of a de
partment, none labored more arduously, or gave
themselves with more untiring zeal and industry to
the unthankful task of providing material of war;
none did so more unselfishly, as was grandly shown
in his ceaseless exertions to supply the northern
army when forbiden to hope for any large share in
the glory of its anticipated achievements. But he
was destitute of that great element in generalship
which, given a certain soldiery with which to ac
complish a specific end, takes them as it finds
them, with all their faults and with all their excel
lences, wins their confidence, and makes the most
of what is in them. Schuyler, on the contrary,
fretfully magnified the imperfections of the men
committed to him, and was perversely blind to
their good qualities as soldiers. Assigned to a
position surrounded by innumerable difficulties,
he possessed nothing of the spirit which delights to
encounter obstacles; the energy which turns them
to its own account; and, least of all, that calm
strength which endures without complaint what
cannot be avoided or changed."
Much of that which was to be regretted in him
was the result of the depressing influence of ill-
health; and, reviewing his career, we cannot fail to
recognize the true patriot and statesman, and the

general, whose abilities would have given him per
haps, brilliant success in almost any other field
than that in which he was placed.
The radical Whigs, who controlled the politics
of his department, were hardly to be expected so
clearly to perceive his merits. Between the revo
lutionary committees of that region and such a
man as we have described, conflict was inevitable.
Of political and social sentiments, the very reverse
of those which characterized Schuyler, the com
mittees were also extremely unlike him in temper
ament and habits of thought. Impetuous, some
times even to rashness, in their zeal, they and their
followers were ever ready to rally in sudden emer
gency, or for the execution of dashing enterprises;
but, if the opportunity to meet the enemy was not
speedily accorded them, they grew impatient of the
necessary restraint of military discipline. In their
theory of the art of war, retreat was omitted from
the list of contingencies. As a general, Fabius
was by no means a model in their esteem. Judg
ing the readiness of all men to make sacrifices for
their country by their own, they underrated the im
pediments which Schuyler found in raising armies
and accumulating stores. Intolerant of the luke
warmness of moderate Whigs, as well as of the mis
deeds of the Loyalists, they denounced the former
in no measured terms, while they advocated and
practiced the most rigid discipline of the latter.
Many of them, of narrow experience in affairs, and
wanting that liberality towards opponents which
contact with the great world brings, they could
not explain the perhaps over-generous sentiments
of Schuyler towards some of those whom they
classed indiscriminately as the enemies of American
liberty, except upon the hypothesis of his sympathy
with their Toryism.
When, therefore, information came to Berkshire
and King's district of the sad aspect which affairs
wore in Canada and finally, that all which had
been gained there at such great cost was wrested
from the Americans — smarting under the disap
pointment of hopes which with them had been
more sanguine than elsewhere, the people of those
districts were ready to charge the commander who,
although not long personally in the field, had from
the first been nominally at the head of operations,
with the responsibility for their miserable failure.
Among its prime causes, they ranked the brief
delay before St. John's, to which he had been per
suaded by the report of a treacherous informer to
the neglect of the truthful representations of John
Brown and James Livingston. Other missteps of
the expedition were attributed to him, ottenest un
justly, through the malignancy of his enemies, who
played upon the popular feeling through unscrupu
lous emissaries, who found powerful auxiliaries in
Schuyler's unfortunate peculiarities.
The disaster to St. Leger, and the unexpected
check made by the brave Stark at Bennington, fell
like an incubus on Burgoyne's army. Indians
deserted and Loyalists were less confident.
We need not tell what was done by Gates.
What he did was well done, as events proved. But
it has well been said that the blunders of Burgoyne

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.

399

were quite as helpful to the patriot cause as was
the skill of Gates. Around him came Lincoln
Poor, Scammell, Woolcott, Cilley, Putnam, Dear
born, Brooks, Glenn, Nixon, Whipple, Warner,
Hull, Fellows, Hale, Bailey, and other brave com
manders, with their full brigades frOm New Eng
land, full of the patriotic fire long kept alive
among those sons of the Puritans. They were men
who "trusted in God and kept their powder drv."
Indeed Gates himself says: "My New England
troops did the fighting at Saratoga." But we must
not fail to do justice to the daring Arnold, who
was one of the bravest men, and did some of the
most effective fighting in the battle. Nor do we
forget the brave Morgan, of Virginia, with his un
erring marksmen. The bravest men of Albany
County, too, were there under Abraham Ten
Broeck. Soldiers from the lower Hudson were
there under Henry and James Livingston, mem
bers of a family that was always on the side of
freedom, learning and public progress. Van Court-
land was there too, with his brigade, and Morgan
Lewis was also there. It would take a volume to
tell all that was done, and give appropriate praise to
all who did it.
When all was over, and the army of Burgoyne
had left the country, Albany County was safe. Its
soldiers were in no more important battles. The
war was carried to the south. Albany was kept
on the home guard.
After the surrender of Burgoyne, so far as we
have learned, the troops from Albany County gen
erally retired to their homes.
The fighting was done in the more southerly
departments — in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and
States further south. The painful marches and
the pestilential encampments were made there
mostly. The troops in the service were from New
England and the Atlantic States south of New
York. This, well called one of the decisive battles of
history, was fought in our territory, almost at the
gates of our city, and aided by the services and
resources of the brave men that once made their
homes in our own county.
Following this there was much fear from the
lurking Indians and Tories; there was much watch
ing and guarding, and not a little skirmishing.
The council held at Johnstown on the 9th of
March, 1778, to try once more to secure the neu
trality, if not the co-operation of all the Six Nations,
was represented on behalf of Congress by Volkert
P. Douw, and, perhaps, General Philip Schuyler.
But it resulted in no change of policy. Only the
Oneidas and Tuscaroras pledged abiding friend
ship. Early in the spring of 1779, upon the urgent
entreaty of General Schuyler made to Congress,
and under the direction of General James Clinton,
an expedition was undertaken against the Onon
daga Indians, under command of Colonel; Van
Schaick, with 558 strong men selected from his
own regiment and that of General Gansevoort.
Its object was to punish that bloodthirsty . tribe,

and deter its warriors from future cruelties. The
expedition lasted six days, and returned lo Fort
Stawnix without the loss of a man. The little
army had scattered the tribe, destroyed three of its
villages, horses and cattle, a large quantity of pro
visions, killed twelve Indians and taken thirty-three
prisoners. This punishment was deserved, but of
doubtful policy. It led to the destruction of Co-
bleskill, attacks upon Canajoharie, Stone Arabia,
and other places soon after; and finally compelled
the fearful and effective chastisement under Gen
eral John Sullivan, of all the savage tribes in
Western New York.
In the spring of 1780, Colonel Van Schaick, in
command of 800 militia, was sent from Albany by
Governor Clinton to pursue Sir John Johnson, who
was making destructive ' inroads upon the small
settlements along the Mohawk Valley. Sir John
left his pursuers behind and escaped to Canada.
Colonel Van Schaick was a valiant officer, and did
good service in a military and civil capacity. A
portrait and memorial of his life, prepared by Miss
Jane Van Schaick, of Albany, appears in this
history. In the latter part of 1784, while our troops had
little to do but to watch and wait, certain regiments
of General Gansevoort's brigade were stationed be
tween the Battenkill and the Hoosick, waiting fur
ther orders. This was near the New Hampshire
Grants, in which dwelt some of the boldest men in
the States, and particularly ready to resist any ag
gressions from the State of New York, which
claimed jurisdiction over these Grants. Since there
were no British troops to fight, the old animosities
broke out, and the Green Mountain Boys who had
fought at Bennington and Saratoga, were declared
in a state of insurrection. This broke out in the
regiments of Colonels John and Henry K. Van
Rensselaer and Peter Yates. Indeed, the militia
in this vicinity seemed generally to take sides with
the people of the Grants, with whom they became
in sympathy in the alliance of the battle-field and
the camp. General Gansevoort, on the 5th of De
cember, ordered Colonels Yates, Van Vechten and
Van Rensselaer to march to St. Coych and quell
the insurrection. Governor Clinton directed Gen
eral Robert Van Rensselaer's brigade to assist Gen
eral Gansevoort with all necessary troops. General
Stark, stationed at Saratoga, being solicited, refused
to interfere unless ordered by General Heath, his
superior officer. The sympathies of the New Eng
landers were with the biave Vermonters. Ganse
voort, with what volunteers he could raise, advanced
to St. Coych, where he found a force of 500 men
ready to support the insurgent militia, Having
only 80 men, General Gansevoort retired five miles,
and attempted, by writing to the leaders, to induce
them to lay down their arms, but in vain. The
so-called rebels were left undisturbed. After this,
a conciliatory letter from General Washington to
Governor Chittenden, had the effect to put an end
to disturbances that were made in defense of what
were considered honest rights. Ten years after
this Vermont became all its citizens asked — an in
dependent State. The controversy was an old

400

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

and bitter one; and, from its vicinity to the New
Hampshire Grants, Albany County had much to
do with it.
THE VAN SCHAICK FAMILY.
The family of Van Schaick is one of the earliest
of the many prominent early families of Albany.
Colonel Gozen Van Schaick was born in January,
1737, and died July 4, 1789. His wife was Mary
Ten Broeck, of the celebrated New York family of
that name. He served with great distinction in
the colonial army during the revolutionary strug
gle, having previously had military experience in the
service of the Crown under General Amherst. He
was in command of the American forces in Albany,
then a military point of great importance, and was
the leader of the memorable expedition against
the Onondagas in 1779, for the successful conduct
of which he received the thanks of Congress. In
this connection, Washington, writing to Clinton,
expressed himself as follows:
"The enterprise commanded by Colo. Van
Schaick merits my approbation and thanks, and
does great honor to him and all the Officers & men
engaged in it. The issue is very interesting. — I
have written him a line upon the occasion. "
The following flattering testimonial to Colonel
Van Schaick from General Schuyler, sums up the
Colonel's soldierly character most completely:
"Albany, June 15th, 1782.
"Sir, — I lament the occasion which renders it in
cumbent on me to afford you a testimonial of the
sense I entertain of your conduct. I sincerely
wish I could communicate it in words equal to my
feelings, and to my experience of the propriety of
it during a series of years.
" The early decisive and active part which you
took in the favor of your country in the present
contest, justly entitles you to the attention of its
Friends. We are not less indebted to your exer
tions as an Officer. Your service, whilst I had the
honor of commanding the military in this Depart
ment, were such as attracted my notice; your
close attention to the discipline of your Regiment
afforded a beneficial example to officers less expe
rienced in the duties of their offices. The alacrity
with which you executed every order; The propri
ety of your conduct when left to act Independently,
and judge for your self; The prudence which you
exhibited on occasions when the line of conduct to
be held was delicate and important, evinsed a
clearness of judgment, and a mind capable of re
source, and created a confidence of which I never
had occasion to Repent. Upon the whole, Sir, I
esteem you a valuable Officer and a faithfull ser-
vent of the Public, and should have been rejoiced
to have learnt your merit rewarded in a promotion
to that military Rank which you claim as your
due. "Delicacy would have prevented my saying
thus much in a Letter to you, but to have said less,
when I intend you should exhibit this to any per
son or persons whom you conceive may wish to be

advised of the opinion I entertain of you as an
Officer and a citizen, would have been injurious
to truth.
"Wishing you a speedy and an Honorable extri
cation from the embarrassments which distress you,
" I am, Sir,
' ' Very sincerely,
" Your obedient
" Humble servant,
' ' P. Schuyler. "
Colonel Van Schaick was afterwards a general in
the regular service, and held that rank at the time
of his death. He left a quantity of papers and
letters, private and official, a large portion of which
were lost or destroyed after his death by accident,
as is supposed. Those that were fortunately pre
served, consisted of letters from the Clintons, a
large number of autographs from General Wash
ington, of the most confidential and flattering char
acter, showing that he held him in high estimation
as a man of sound judgment as well as a gallant
soldier, and others from officers under whom he
served when in the provincial service, such as Sir
Jeffrey Amherst, which are a beautiful specimen of
chirography, and to whom he owed his first com
mission in the British army. Among them is a
characteristic letter from General Montgomery con
taining the most humane and generous sentiments,
and quite a number of commissions with ponder
ous seals, with the autograph of George III, and
communications from Generals Gates, Schuyler,
Clinton and others. What remain of this once
valuable collection are carefully preserved by his
grandson, Henry Van Schaick, and other descend
ants. General Van Schaick had five sons and a daugh
ter. Some of the former were well known in bus
iness circles in Albany and New York, and all-
until their death, moved in the most distinguished
society of the Empire State. One of these, Tobias
Van Schaick, was born in Albany, December 9,
1779, and married Jane Staats, daughter of the old
Albany merchant, Henry Staats, November 2, 1811.
This lady was born May 16, 1783, and died April
23, 1823. She bore Mr. Van Schaick several
children, all of whom died in infancy except the
Misses Ann and Jane Van Schaick, the former of
whom died June 22, 1861. Early in life Mr. Van
Schaick was a merchant, and carried on an exten
sive trade at 447 and 449 Broadway, fiom which
he retired while yet a comparatively young man to
assume the care of the Van Schaick estate in Al
bany, which had been under the management ol
his mother for some time preceding her death.
Following this retirement, he never afterward
engaged in active business; but he took a deep
interest in the growth and prosperity of Albany,
and in the conduct of public affairs. Politically he
was a Whig, but his tastes were such that he never
permitted himself to become actively involved in
politics. He attended and was a most liberal sup
porter of the North Reformed Dutch Church. He
was a quiet, unostentatious man, going little
abroad, and enjoying the comforts of his home.

UZ?l> ^y/:y2^^.

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.

401

Disliking all vain-glorious pomp and show, he lived
simply for one of his means and position, always
finding most pleasure at his own hearthstone and
in the society of those he loved, though mingling
socially with the most prominent families of Al
bany, andwas always a welcome guest wherever he
went. He was a man who talked little, especially
about himself, and because of that reserve much
that might interest the readers of this work has
been lost, for reminiscences of such a man, could
they be procured, would be a valuable contribution
to any history of Albany. He died April 21, 1868,
aged 88 years 4 months and 11 days.
THE MILITIA OF 1775-76.
Albany County, as it existed at the time of the
Revolution, first organized Seventeen Regiments
of Militia, under the law of 1775. We give the
officers of such as belonged wholly, or in part, to
the present Albany County. They were numbered
and officered, as found in the Historical Records
of the State, as follows:
First Regiment, City of Albany.
Jacob Lansing, Jr., Colonel; Dirck Ten Broeck,
Lieutenant-Colonel; Henry Wendell, First Major;
Abraham Cuyler, Second Major; Volckert A.
Douw, Adjutant; Ephraim Van Veghten, Quarter
master. First Company. — John Barclay, Captain; John
Price, First Lieutenant; Abraham I. Yates, Second
Lieutenant; John Scott, Ensign.
Second Company. — Thomas Barrett, Captain ;
Matthew Vischer, First Lieutenant; Abraham
Eights, Second Lieutenant; John Hoagkirk, En
sign. Third Company. — John Williams, Captain; Henry
Staats, First Lieutenant; Barent Van Allen, Second
Lieutenant; Henry Hogan, Ensign.
Fourth Company. — John M. Beeckman, Captain;
Isaac De Freest, First Lieutenant; Abraham Ten
Eyck, Second Lieutenant; Teunis T. Van Veghten,
Ensign. Fifth Company. — Harmanus Wendell, Captain;
William Hun, First Lieutenant; Jacob G. Lansing,
Second Lieutenant; Cornelius Wendell, Ensign.
Sixth Company. — John N. Bleecker, Captain;
John James Beeckman, First Lieutenant; Casparus
Pruyn, Second Lieutenant; Nicholas Marselis, En
sign. Third Reg't, First Rensselaerwyck Battalion.
Abraham Ten Broeck, Colonel; Francis Nicoll,
Lieutenant-Colonel; Henry Quackenbush, First
Major; Barent Staats, Second Major; John P.
Quackenbush, Adjutant; Christopher Lansing,
Quartermaster. First Company. — Henry Quackenbush, Captain;
Jacob J. Lansing, First Lieutenant; Levinus Winne,
Second Lieutenant; John Van Woert, Ensign.
61

Second Company. — Abraham D. Fonda, Captain;
Henry Oothoudt, Jr., First Lieutenant; Levinus T.
Lansing, Second Lieutenant; Jacob J. Lansing,
Ensign. Third Company. — Peter Schuyler, Captain; Ab
raham Witbeck, First Lieutenant; Henry Ostrom,
Second Lieutenant; Peter S. Schuyler, Ensign.
Fourth Company. — Barent Staats, Captain; Dirck
Becker, First Lieutenant; John Van Wie, Second
Lieutenant; George Hogan, Ensign.
Fifth Company. — Gerrit G. Van der Bergh, Cap-
lain; Peter Van Wie, First Lieutenant; Wouter
Becker, Second Lieutenant; Abraham Slingerland,
Ensign. Third Regiment — New Organization.
First Company. — (See Third Company, First Or
ganization. )
Second Company. — Abraham D. Fonda, Captain;
Henry Oothoudt, Jr., First Lieutenant; Levinus T
Lansing, Second Lieutenant; Jacob J. Lansing,
Ensign. Third Company (at first 5 th Company, 4 th Regi
ment). — Jacob Ball, Captain; John Warner, First
Lieutenant; Peter Dietz, Second Lieutenant; Joshua
Shaw, Ensign.
Fourth Company. — Jacob J. Lansing, Captain;
Levinus Winne, First Lieutenant; John Van Woert,
Second Lieutenant; Peter Dox, Ensign.
Fifth Company (at first organized as 4th Com
pany, 4th Regiment). — Jacob Van Aernam, Cap
tain; John Groot, First Lieutenant; George
Wagoner, Second Lieutenant; Frederick Crantz
(Crounse ?), Ensign.
Sixth Company. — Abraham Veeder, Captain;
James Burnside, First Lieutenant; John Voorhuyse
(Voorhees ?), Second Lieutenant; Andries Ten
Eyck, Ensign. Fourth Regiment.
Second Rensselaerwyck Battalion. — Killian Van
Rensselaer, Colonel; John H. Beeckman, Lieu
tenant-Colonel; Cornelius Van Buren, First Major;
Jacob C. Schermerhorn, Second Major; Jacobus
Van der Poel, Adjutant; John A. Lansing, Quarter
master. First Company (ist Company, 5th Regiment,
New Organization). — Conrad Ten Eyck, Captain;
Peter Witbeck, First Lieutenant; Albert H. Van
der Zee, Second Lieutenant; John L. Wilbeck,
Ensign. Second Company (2d Company, 5th Regiment,
New Organization). — William P. Winne, Captain;
John De Voe, First Lieutenant; Philip C. Look
(Luke?), Second Lieutenant; Cornelius Van der
Zee, Ensign.
Third Company. — Volckert Veeder, Captain;
Abraham Veeder, First Lieutenant; Jacob La
Grange, Second Lieutenant; Andrew Truax, Ensign.
Fourth Company. (See 5 th Company, 3d Regi
ment, New Organization.) — Jacob Van Aerriam,
Captain; John Groot, First Lieutenant; George

402

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Wagoner, Second Lieutenant; Frederick Crantz
(Crounse ?)-, Ensign.
Fifth Company. — (See 3d Company, 3d Regi
ment. ) Fourth Regiment.
(As Newly Organized, February, 1776.)
First Company. — Isaac Miller, Captain; Hen
drick Schaus, First Lieutenant; Johannes Lode-
wick, Second Lieutenant; Johannes Miller, En
sign. Second Company. — Ichabod Turner, Captain;
Joel Pease, First Lieutenant; Jonathan Niles, Sec
ond Lieutenant; Joel Curtis, Ensign.
Third Company. — Luke Schermerhorn, Captain;
James Magee, First Lieutenant; Reuben Knap,
Second Lieutenant; Aaron Hammond, Ensign.
Fourth Company. — James Dennison, Captain;
Stephen Niles, First Lieutenant; Obadiah Vaughan,
Second Lieutenant; Oliver Bentley, Ensign.
Fifth Company. — Nicholas Staats, Captain; Oba
diah Lansing, First Lieutenant; Philip Staats,
Second Lieutenant; Leonard Wilcox, Ensign.
Sixth Company. — Jacobus CoIe(Koole?) Captain;
Anthony Bries (Brice ?) First Lieutenant; Harpent
Witbeck, Second Lieutenant; John Van Hagen,
Jr., Ensign.
Seventh Company. — Abraham J. Van Valken
burgh, Captain; Daniel Schermerhorn, First Lieu
tenant; John J. Van Valkenburgh, Second Lieu
tenant; Martin Van Buren, Ensign,
Fifth Regiment.
Third Rensselaerwyck Battalion. — Stephen Schuy
ler, Colonel; Gerrit G. Van der Bergh, Lieu
tenant; Peter P. Schuyler, First Major;- Volckert
Veeder, Second Major; Maas Van Vranken, Adju
tant; Francis Marshall, Quartermaster.
First Company. — Cornelius Van Buren, Captain;
Nicholas Staats, First Lieutenant; Obadiah Lans
ing, Second Lieutenant; Philip Staats, Ensign.
Second Company. — John H. Beeckman, Cap
tain; Jacob C. Schermerhorn, First Lieutenant;
Abraham I. Van Valkenburgh, Second Lieuten
ant; Jacobus Vanderpoel, Ensign.
Third Company. — Valckert Van Veghten, Cap
tain; Gerrit T. Van den Bergh, First Lieutenant;
John Amory, Second Lieutenant; Jacob Van
Schaick, Ensign.
Fourth Company. — (See ist Company, 4th
Regiment. )
Fifth Company. — Philip De Freest, Captain; Ry-
neer Van Alstyne, First Lieutenant; Peter Sharp,
Second Lieutenant; David De Forest, Ensign.
Sixth Company (ist Company of 6th Regiment,
new organization). — John J. Fonda, Captain;
John P. Fonda, First Lieutenant; George Berger,
Second Lieutenant; George .Sharp, Ensign.
Sixth Regiment.
Fourth Rensselaerwyck Battalion. — Stephen J.
Schuyler, Colonel; Henry K. Van Rensselaer,

Lieutenant-Colonel; Philip De Freest, First Major;
John Fonda, Second Major; Volckert Oothoudt,
Adjutant; Jacob Van Alstyne, Quartermaster.
First Company. — Henry H. Gardinier, Captain;
Jacob Van der Heyden, First Lieutenant; Adam
Beam, Second Lieutenant; Henry Tinker, Ensign.
Second Company. — Cornelius Lansing, Captain;
Lodewyck Snider, First Lieutenant; Andries Stool,
Second Lieutenant; Jacob Weiger, Ensign.
Third Company.— (Ste 3d Company, 4th Regi
ment.) Fourth Company. — (See 2d Company this Regi
ment and 4th Regiment.)
Fifth Company. — Caleb Bentley, Captain; Samuel
Shaw, First Lieutenant; David Hustes, Second
Lieutenant; Thomas Crandall, Ensign.
Sixth Company. — (See 4th Company, 4th Regi
ment.) Sixth Regiment. — (New organization.)
First Company. — (See 6th Company, 5th Regi
ment.) Second Company. — (See ist Company, 6th Regi
ment; first organization. )
Third Company. — John Lautman, Captain; Peter
Vosburgh, First Lieutenant; John Schurtz, Second
Lieutenant; Conradt Best, Ensign.
Fourth Company. — (See 2d Company, first or
ganization, 5th Regiment, and ist Company in 6th
Regiment, first organization.)
Fifth Company. — (See first organization in 6th
Regiment. )
Sixth Company. — Jacob De Freest, Captain;
Martinus Sharp, First Lieutenant; Andries Miller,
Second Lieutenant; John Crannell, Ensign.
Seventh Company. — Florus Banker. Captain;
Christopher Tillman, First Lieutenant; Abraham
Ten Eyck, Second Lieutenant; Jonathan Sever,
Ensign. Among these officers were men who did valiant
service in the War of the Revolution, and acquired
promotion. A few left the patriot cause and pre
ferred to remain subjects of Great Britain. We
are sorry not to be able to give the names of many
who did, no doubt, faithful service in the ranks.
Concerning many such even tradition is dumb,
though doubtless their services were appreciated
and probably rewarded.

The distribution of the regiments as first formed,
in 1775 and 1776, was as follows :
First, City of Albany; Second, Schenectady Dis
trict; Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Rensselaerwyck;
Second,- Schenectady District ; Seventh, Kinder
hook District; Eighth and Ninth, Claverack; Tenth
Livingston Manor; Eleventh, Coxsackie and Groot
Imtrocht; Twelfth, Half Moon and Ballston Dis
trict; Thirteenth, Saratoga District; Fourteenth,
Hoosic and Schaghticoke; Fifteenth and Sixteenth,
Schoharie and Duanesburgh; Seventeeth, Kings
District (now Columbia County).

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.

403

THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL.
At the beginning of the disturbances that led to
the separation of the American colonies from Great
Britain, the County and City of Albany were far
from being in sympathy with the patriotic cause.
The Mayor and a majority of the Common Council
were loyal friends of the English crown.
The skirmishes at Lexington and Concord, the
menaces against Massachusetts — particularly against
Boston — and the arrival of British troops for the
avowed purpose of crushing out-the incipient re
bellion, awakened and intensified the spirit of re
sistance even in colonies comparatively passive
before. Most of the leading citizens of Albany
soon took a decided stand with the patriots in the
Atlantic cities. The course pursued will best be
made to appear by extracts from their proceedings.
We first give what was said and done by the City
Government of Albany.
The position of the Mayor and Common Coun
cil in regard to the approaching struggle of the
colonies with England, is seen in the following
resolution, adopted July 18, 1772.
"Resolved by this Board, That his Excellency,
William Tryon, Governor General of the Province
of New York, be presented with the freedom of
this City in a golden box; also
"Resolved, That this Board do address his Excel
lency on his arrival to this City."
Governor Tryon was one of the most aggressive
enemies to the rights of the colonists, and had many
friends in Albany at this time. It does not appear
that his Excellency made the intended visit. Mat
ters in the City of New York, at that time, between
the patriotic colonists and his Excellency, were
getting too warm to allow him to make this visit.
The election for Members of the Common Coun
cil, held in the city in September, 1773, was one
of the most exciting that had ever taken place.
The difficulties with the mother country entered
largely into it, the patriots supporting one set of
candidates, and the loyal subjects of Great Britain
another. Thomas Hun and John Ten Broeck, loyal can
didates for Aldermen in the Third Ward, were
elected ; but their election was contested, on the
ground that it was gained by illegal votes. After
a long and bitter contest before the board, it was
decided that they were legally elected, and they
took their seats.
The rupture between England and her colonies
was, at the opening of 1775, rapidly approaching a
crisis. The last charter-election for the choice of
Aldermen and Assistant Aldermen under colonial
laws, took place September 29, 1775. The Alder
men chosen were as follows:
First Ward. — Aldermen: Peter W. Yates, Gerrit
Van Sante. Assistants: Jacob Roseboom, Aries La
Grange. Second Ward. — Aldermen: Guysbert G. Marsel-
is, John J. Beeckman. Assistants: Cornelius Van
Schelluyne, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer.

Third Ward. — Aldermen: Thomas Hun, John
Ten Broeck. Assistants: Abraham Schuyler, Abra
ham Ten Eyck.
Abraham C. Cuyler was still Mayor.
The last meeting of this board under the provin
cial government, the Mayor and all the members
being present, look place at the City Hall in Albany
on March 25, 1776.
After this meeting, the provincial government
and the British laws were superseded for a lime by
the Continental Congress and the various State
governments. There was no meeting of the Common Council
in the City of Albany from March 25, 1776, until
April 17, 1778.
John Barclay was appointed Mayor by Governor
George Clinton, September 27, 1777.
The Aldermen were John R.oorbach, John Price,
Jacob Lansing, Jr., Abraham Cuyler, John M.
Beeckman, Harmanus Wendell. Assistant Alder
men: Abraham I. Yates, Matthew Visscher, Isaac
D. Fonda, Jacob Bleecker, Cornelius Swits, Abra
ham Schuyler.
Matthew Visscher, Esq., was appointed Town
Clerk, Clerk of the Mayor's Court of the Cit}-, and
Clerk of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas for
the City and County, and Clerk of the Peace and of
the Court of Sessions of the Peace of the said City
and County. Thomas Seger was appointed -Mar
shal, and Henry Bleecker, Chamberlain.
The change from the Provincial to the State laws
did not take place, however, without much diffi
culty; and much doubt concerning the Corporation
of the City, to remove which, the State Legislature
passed several acts.
On the 17th of February, 1778, the Legislature passed an
Act to remove doubts concerning the Corporation of the
City of Albany, as follows:
Whereas, The inhabitants did not at the proper period,
owing to the confusion the times occasioned by the Calami
ties of War, elect their aldermen in strict conformity with the
charter, nor appoint their officers; and on account of the
establishment of Independency, and the change of govern
ment in this State in consequence thereof, the members of
the said corporation could not take the usual oaths, by rea
son whereof doubts might arise, as well to the prejudice of
the estates, rights, etc., of the inhabitants, as concerning the
validity of the election and the authority of the magistrates ;
for the removal whereof, and to the end that all and singu
lar the said estates, etc., may remain as good, valid and
unimpeached in the law as the same were, at, and immedi
ately before the 19th day of April, 1775; and that the said
magistrates and other members may exercise their several
offices and functions without any legal or other let, hin
drance or impediment whatsoever; the Charter and all
the rights of the Corporation, which they held on the 19th
day of April, 1775, were confirmed, notwithstanding non-
user or misuser between the 19th of April, 1775, and the
first of March, 1778; and all the magistrates and members
of the Corporation were declared able to exercise their sev
eral offices, and to appoint such officers as ought to have
been appointed on the anniversary day prescribed in the
Charter, notwithstanding the want of conformity in the elec
tions or appointments.
By the Act of the Legislature of 1778, the Mayor
and other officers were required to meet at the City
Hall, or some other convenient place in the city, to
qualify, by taking the oath of allegiance prescribed
by the laws of this State, and their respective oaths

404

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

of office prescribed by the City Charter. Accord
ingly, the Mayor and Aldermen, and other city of
ficers, did meet at the City Hall on the 17th of
April, 1778, and took the oaths required, and pro
ceeded to business.
During the two years from March, 1776, to
April, 1778, the Committee of Safety appointed by
the first Legislature of the State, discharged the
duties of Mayor and Common Council.
By the Acts of Legislature, the original Colonial
Charter of the City, granted in 1686, with a few
amendments made by the Provincial Government,
was adopted, except in so far as it conflicted with
the new State Government.
In April, 1778, the seat of government of the
State was temporarily at Poughkeepsie, no perma
nent place having yet been assigned. The War of
the Revolution was then raging, and Albany was
constantly threatened from the incursions of the
enemy. The city was filled with continental troops,
who were at times riotous and disorderly. The
duties of the city government were difficult and
responsible; but managed under Mayor Barclay
with wisdom and firmness.
On the evening of May 5, 1 778, the troops sta
tioned in the city created great terror and confusion
among the citizens, compelling them to put candles
before their windows. The next day the Mayor
and Common Council took the matter in hand,
and reported it to General Conway, then in com
mand, who published a military order preventing
a recurrence of such disorder.
In this same month the citizens of Albany were
greatly excited and alarmed by an order removing
a large part of the troops, leaving the city nearly un
protected from rioters and law-breakers. There
were ten prisoners under sentence of death in the
city, and threatened rescues of them were made;
whereupon Mayor Barclay and the Common
Council wrote General Stark, to whose command
the troops were to be removed, remonstrating
against their removal.
This letter shows the situation in which Albany
was placed by reason of the war. It says:
The Common Council would beg leave to observe, that
the many robberies, murders and other dreadful crimes com
mitted on the inhabitants of this City and County by de
serters and prisoners from Burgoyne's Army, and by the
disaffected of our own Country, who are drove to despera
tion, and some of them almost to starvation, renders it in
dispensably necessary to have a large body of regular troops
to keep the villains in subjection, or go in quest of them;
for, unless the militia can remain at home this year, and
properly manage their summer crops, little or no support of
flour and other things can the Continent derive from these
parts. Last year, more than one-half of the crops were de
stroyed by the Army-marauders, and not more than half the
usual quantity sold. If the British prisoners could be moved
to another place, it would break up the alarming connection
kept up between them and the Tories and the negroes.
About this time the British prisoners, the Tories
and negroes, formed a plot by which they were
to rise, murder the guards, rob and burn the city.
It was fortunately discovered in time to prevent it.
Seven of the leaders were seized and executed
on Gallows Hill.
On May 30, 1778, a regiment of militia and

a body of continental troops stationed at Coble-
skill were attacked by the Tories and savages.
They were cut to pieces and Cobleskill burned.
The enemy threatened to attack and burn Albany;
but the British prisoners were removed to Pough
keepsie and reinforcements arrived by which order
was maintained.
In the autumn of 1778, the Common Council
and the citizens of Albany were greatly agitated by
a report that the Commander of the American
Forces for the Northern Department had made an
order directing that over 2,000 continental troops
were to be billeted on the inhabitants for the en
suing winter.
On the 1 2th of September, the Mayor and Com
mon Council united in a letter to Governor Clinton,
praying him to unite with them in a protest against
this oppression, in which they set forth the hard
ships, sufferings and privations, the cruelties and
insults which the inhabitants of the city had en
dured during the war; stating that they had, for
nearly three years past, undergone innumerable
inconveniences attending the operations of the war.
That they were among the first who stepped forth
in the cause of their country, and had submitted to
every privation possible; that in their contest with
the Tories, more bitter than those with the savages,
and their other public services to their country, they
had so wasted their substance that many of them
are now reduced to the most necessitous circum
stances. That the fences surrounding their grounds
had been used for fuel by the continental troops,
throwing their lands into commons, thus exposing
their crops to destruction, while the great drought
of that summer greatly diminished the necessaries
of life among the citizens. That there is also a
greater scarcity of fire-wood than was ever known
in the city, owing to the consumption there by the
troops that were last winter billeted on the inhab
itants. To those who supplied ihem therewith, no
recompense has been made. They further say,
' ' that however willing we have been, and still are, to
risk our all in supporting the freedom and inde
pendence of our blessed country, we feel compelled
to ask that in the distribution of the troops for
winter quarters, due respect may be had for the
former distresses and present sufferings of the in
habitants of Albany and its suburbs; and that, at
any rate, no more troops may be allotted to us
than the barracks and hospital may contain; that
the strictest orders may be issued regarding steal
ing, pilfering, and insulting the inhabitants; and
that the officers be enjoined in punishing the
refractory and disobedient."
This letter, signed by the Mayor, John Barclay,
the Common Council and other city officers, is of
itself a touching history of the sufferings of Albany
in the cause of freedom. It was listened to with
consideration and respect by the commander of *
the troops, and had the desired effect
The troops stationed at Albany, and the war,
continued to distress the citizens, increasing the
difficulties and responsibilities of the Common
Council. In September, 1 781, the alarming news
reaching the city that the British were about to

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.

405

march on it and destroy it by fire. The prompt
measures adopted by the Common Council to pro
tect the city, exhibit their patriotism, ability, and
bravery. But the enemy were not permitted to
reach the city.
It was during General John Stark's command of
the Northern Department, about 1781, having his
headquarters at Albany, that he wrote to Governor
Clinton: "I am fully confident that George III, of
Great Britain, has many subjects in this city who
would willingly lay down half, even the whole, of
their estates in his service, and trust in his royal
clemency for the repayment of the money so prof
itably laid out." Again he says, "Albany is a very
dangerous place to put men into." And again,
' ' I have no hopes of any assistance from Albany;
it is not their inclination to fight away from their
own castle." m
On June 28, 1782, General Washington visited
Albany, and was received by an address of con
gratulation by the Mayor and Common Council,
and with every possible demonstration of respect
from the citizens. He was presented with the
freedom of the city in a gold box, and was invited
to dine with the board.
His arrival was announced by the ringing of
bells and the roar of artillery. In the evening the
city was brilliantly illuminated.
The surrender of CornwaUis at Yorktown con
vinced the English Government of the impossibility
of conquering the United States.
November 3, 1782, Articles of peace between
the two countries were signed at Paris. On April
19, 1783, a formal proclamation of the cessation of
hostilities was made throughout the army. This
treaty, acknowledging the independence of the
United States, was formally signed on the 30th of
September following. Nowhere were these events
received with more joy than at Albany. On the
1 8th of July, 1783, information was received that
General Washington and Governor Clinton would
visit ihe city the next day. Every preparation to
receive them in an appropriate manner was made
by the citizens and Common Council. Their
Excellencies were invited to a public dinner. Al
derman Yates and Mr. Visscher were appointed
to prepare addresses of welcome, and every possible
demonstration of respect was made.
Washington closed his reply as follows:
While I contemplate with inexpressible pleasure the
future tranquillity and glory of our common country, I can
not but take a particular interest in the anticipation of the
increase in prosperity and greatness of this ancient and
respectable City of Albany, from whose citizens I have
received such distinguished tokens of their approbation and
affection. Governor Clinton's reply was as follows:
To the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the City
of Albany : I receive with the highest satisfaction your con-
fratulations on the return of the blessings of peace, and the
nal establishment of our independence. It gives me the
most sensible pleasure that my general conduct in the sta
tion in which my country has been pleased to continue me,
meets with your approbation. The generous sentiments
which you express in my favor demand my warmest
acknowledgments, and it shall be my first wish and en
deavor to answer the expectation of my constituents in my
future administration.

COMMITTEE OF SAFETY AND CORRE
SPONDENCE.
First Ward.— Jacob C. Ten Eyck, Henry I.
Bogart, Peter Silvester, Henry Wendell, Volkert
P. Douw, John Bay, Gysbert Marselis.
Second Ward. — John R. Bleecker, Jacob Lans
ing, Jr., Jacob Cuyler, Henry Bleecker, Robert
Yates, Stephen De Lancy, Abraham Cuyler.
Third Ward. — John H. Ten Eyck, Abraham
Ten Broeck, Gerrit Lansingh, Jr., Anthony E.
Bradt, Samuel Stringer, Abraham Yates, Jr.,
Cornelis Van Santvoordt.
The records of the Committee are well preserved
in the State Library, and we think nothing can
better exhibit the state of public feeling than ex
tracts from them. We here see the trials,
the needs, the vigilance, the firmness, activ
ity, energy and sacrifices of the patriots of that day,
expressed in their own words and acts as no his
torian, after more than a century has passed, can
express them.
The Committee was appointed under the gen
eral advice of the Continental Congress of Septem
ber, 1774, held in Philadelphia. We give names
of the first Albany City Committee appointed soon
after hearing of the bloodshed at Lexington, April
19, 1775. The whole county was soon divided
into districts, and the Committee enlarged by rep
resentation from each district. We confine our
extracts, on account of limited space, chiefly to
transactions of general interest, or relating to
Albany County as it now is.
Changes were made in the Committee by new
elections, as will appear, and continued by filling
vacancies, because some of its members preferred to
be neutral, while others went over to the enemy.
All these last do not appear. Those who re
mained, and worked so bravely and constantly, de
serve a place beside the signers of the Declaration
of Independence. To those who are intelligently
familiar with the history of those days no further
explanations are necessary.
The meetings of this Committee were usually
held in the Old Stadt Huys, used as City Hall,
County House and Gaol, and ' afterward as State
House and place for all indoor public assemblies
of great importance. The city government having
been suspended from March 25, 1776, to April 17,
1778, all affairs of the city and county were trans
acted by this Committee, with the advice and ap
proval of the State Assembly.
1775. — First meeting of the Committee of Cor
respondence was held at the house of Richard
Cartwright, January 24, 1775.
Officers elected were: Abraham Yates, Jr., Chair
man; John N. Bleecker, Clerk. Committees were
appointed to draft and send circular-letters to the
Supervisors of the several districts, urging them to
call meetings, appoint committees, and select dele
gates to co-operate with the central committee.
March 21. — Committee met and adopted the fol
lowing, among other resolutions:

406

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Resolved, unanimously, that Abraham Yates, Jr.,
Walter Livingston, Esq. , Colonel Schuyler, Colonel
Ten Broeck and Colonel Peter Livingston, are ap
pointed deputies to represent the City and County
of Albany, at the intended Provincial Congress,
to be held at the City of New York the 20th
day of April next, for the purpose of appointing
delegates to represent this colony at the next Con
gress, to be held at Philadelphia the 10th day of
May next.
Resolved, That the donations for the poor at the
Town of Boston be delivered into the hands of
Jacob C. Ten Eyck, Jacob Lansing and Henry
Quackenbush, and that they buy wheat for the
money and send the same in proper time.
Meetings of the Committee were held on the
1 2th, 26th and 29th days of April, at which letters
from Massachusetts Committees were answered, and
more letters were sent to the different districts of
Albany County, earnestly requesting prompt ex
pressions of the sense of the people.
The date of the following appears to be just
after the battle of Lexington and before Bunker
Hill— and is entered in the book of records of the
Committee of Correspondence and Safety.
"A General Association agreed to and subscribed
by the Members of the several Committees of
the City and County of Albany.
' ' Persuaded that the salvation of the Rights and
liberties of America depends, under God, on the
firm Union of its Inhabitants in a Vigorous prose
cution of the Measures necessary for its Safety; and
convinced of the necessity of preventing the An
archy and Confusion which attends a Dissolution
of the Powers of Government, We, the Freemen,
Freeholders and Inhabitants of the City and County
of Albany, being greatly alarmed at the avowed De
sign of the Ministry to raise a Revenue in America,
and shocked by the bloody scene now acting in the
Massachusetts Bay, Do in the most Solemn Man
ner resolve never to become Slaves; and do associ
ate under all the Ties of Religion, Honor and
Love to our Country, to adopt and endeavor to
carry into Execution whatever Measures may be
recommended by the Continental Congress, or re
solved upon by our Provincial Convention for the
purpose of preserving our Constitution, and oppos
ing the Execution of the several Arbitrary and op
pressive Acts of the British Parliament until a Rec
onciliation between Great Britain and America on
Constitutional Principles (which we most ardently
desire) can be obtained: And that we will in all
things follow the Advice of Our General Committee
respecting the purposes aforesaid, the preservation
of Peace and good Order, and the safety of Individ
uals and private Property.
"John Barclay, Chairman; Walter Livingston,
John Bay, James Magee, Tyrans Callans (?), Isaac
Van Aernam, Gysbert Marselis, Philip P. Schuyler,
George White, John McClung, Gershom Wood-
worth, Bastyaen T. Vescher, Florus Baricker, John
Knickerbacker, Junior, Barent Vanderpoel, Will

iam Van Bergen, John Abbott, Jacobus William
son, Samuel Van Vechten, Peter Becker, Ebenezer
Allen, Simeon Covel, Asa Flint, James Parrot,
Henry Leake (his y mark), Andries Watbeck, Mat
thew Visscher, Samuel Stringer, Gerrit Lansing,
Junior, John Ten Broeck, Robert Yates, Henry I.
Bogart, John Van Loon, Henry Van Veghten,
Joseph Young, Richard Esselstyn, Othniel Gard
ner, Baret Dyne, Abraham Cuyler, Robert McClul-
len, Henry Wendell, Cornelius Van Santvoordt, R.
Bleecker, Henry Bleecker, John H. Ten Eyck,
Jacob Bleecker, Junior, John T Beeckman, Har-
manus Wendell, Matthew Adgate, Abraham Yates,
Junior, John Taylor, Rutger Lansingh, Henry
Quackenboss, John M. Beeckman, John D. Fonda,
John Van Rensselaer, Junior; John Price, Anthony
Van Schaick, Dirck Ten Broeck, Reitzert Bronck,
Frederick Beringer, Reynard Van Alsteyn, Philip
Van Veghten, Joshua Losee, Anthony Van Bergen,
Albertus Van Loon, Mynderse Roseboom, Abra
ham Ten Eyck."
At a meeting of the Committee, May ist, it was
ordered that Luke Cassidy be paid 3/ for beating
the drum, and John Ostrander 3/ for going about
and ringing the bell to notify the people.
One of the first acts of this new Committee
was the following letter to the Committee of Cor
respondence at Boston dated May 1, 1775, fitly
supplementing the act of association given above.
"Gentlemen, — While we lament the mournful
event which has caused the Blood of our Brethren
in the Massachusetts Bay to flow, we feel that
satisfaction which every honest American must ex
perience at the Glorious stand you have made, we
have an additional satisfaction from the conse
quences which we trust will [ensue] in uniting
every American in Sentiments and Bonds, which
we hope . will be indissoluble by our Enemies.
This afternoon the Inhabitants of this City con
vened and unanimously renewed their former
agreement, that they would co-operate with our
Brethren in New York and in the several Colonies
on the Continent in their opposition to the Minis
terial Plan now prosecuting against us, and also
unanimously appointed a Committee of Safety,
Protection and Correspondence, with full power to
transact all such matters as they shall conceive may
tend to promote the weal of the American Cause.
We have the fullest Confidence that every District
in this extensive County will follow our Example.
On the twenty-second Instant "a Provincial Con
gress will meet, when we have not the least doubt
but such effectual aids will be afforded you, as will
teach Tyrants and their Minions that as we were
born free, we will live and die so, and transmit
that inestimable Blessing to Posterity. Be assured,
Gentlemen, that nothing on our Parts shall be
wanting to evince that we are deeply impressed
with a sense of the necessity of Unanimity, and
that we mean to Co-operate with you in this ardu
ous struggle for Liberty to the utmost of our
Power. * * * We -are, Gentlemen, with the
warmest wishes and most fervent Prayers for your

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.

407

Success, safety and the success of the Common
Cause, your Most Humble Servts.
' ' By order of the Committee,
" Abraham Yates, Jr., Chairman."
May 2d — Jeremiah Hasely and Captain Stevens
from the Boston encampment, appeared before the
Committee disclosing secret plans under considera
tion by the New England forces for capturing Fort
Ticonderoga, which, on information was said to
be furnished with several pieces of brass cannon
and many fine stands of arms, a quantity of gun
powder and other military stores. Aid was re
quested for our countenance and small assistance
with a supply of flour in the execution of the pro
posed plan.
May 3d — A letter was addressed to the Com
mittee in New York, advising them of the visit and
disclosures of these gentlemen, and requesting
their sentiments.
The letter makes this statement : ' ' From the
many applications that have been and are daily
made from the eastward, we are very scant of
powder, arms, and warlike stores, and the city is
in a very defenseless situation; not a piece of ar
tillery in it."
A letter from the Committee in New York,
dated April 28th, urges the necessity of a Provis-
isonal Congress to be held in that city May 2 2d,
to be composed of delegates from each county in
the Colony.
A committee was appointed to wait on Colonel
Guy Johnson, to know the truth of the report pre
vailing about the disposition of the Indians being
unfriendly to the Colony, relative to the present
commotions. Colonel Johnson informs the Committee that
on his honor there is no ground for the reports
that he knows of, but says that he has it from good
authority that the Canadians were to come down
upon the back of the Colonies, and which he be
lieves to be true.
Therefore Resolved, ' ' That Abraham Cuyler and
Hendrick Wendell be a Committee to apply to
Mr. Dirck Ten Broeck for two hundred Stand of
Small Arms of the parcel he is possessed of, to be pre
pared and made fit for immediate service. " ' ' From
the present State and turbulance of the County,
from the alarm arisen by suspicion of the Negroes,
from the information from Col. Johnson respect
ing the Canadians, we conceive it prudent to have a
strict and strong watch, well armed and under proper
discipline, and the Corporation declining to under
take the same, Therefore, for the peace, good
order, safety, and protection of this City, ordered
that copies of the following advertisement be fixed
up in the proper places in the different wards.
" ' Notice is hereby given to the inhabitants of the
City of Albany that it is the opinion of their Com
mittee that they assemble and meet together in the
different wards of this City at the usual places of
election, to-morrow, at one o'clock in the after
noon, to form themselves into Companies from the
age of sixteen to sixty, each Company to consist of
a Captain, two Lieutenants, one Ensign, four Ser

jeants, four Corporals, one Drum and fifty-one pri
vates. Dated 3d May, 1775. — By order of the

Committee.

Abraham Yates, Chairman.'"

Meeting of Committee, May 4, 1775 — The
following is the return of the officers chosen this
day by the people in consequence of our advertise
ment — to wit: For the First Ward.
First Company — John Barclay, Captain; John
Price, Stephen Van Schaaik, Lieutenants; Abra
ham Yates, Ensign.
Second Company — John Williams, Captain; Hen
ry Staats, Barent Van Allen, Lieutenants; Henry
Hogan, Ensign.
Third Company— Thomas Barret, Captain; Abra
ham Eights, Matthew Visscher, Lieutenants; John
Hoogkerk, Ensign.
For the Third Ward — Captains : John Beeckman,
Harmanus Wendell; Lieutenants: Isaac De Freest,
Abraham Ten Eyck, William Hunn, Peter Ganse
voort, Junior; Ensigns: Cornelius Wendell, Teunis
T. Van Veghten.
At Committee meeting of May 5th, a letter from
Barrington was read requesting aid, which was de
clined until advices should be received on the
subject from the New York Committee.
Committee Chamber, 10th May, 1775, City
Hall of the City of Albany.
Present, Nineteen Members of Committee. Dis
trict of Grote Imboght, 2 delegates; Sinkaick and
Hosick District, 3 delegates; Bennington District, 8
delegates; Corporation of Cambridge, 8 delegates;
Manor of Livingston, 5 delegates; Schagtekoeke,
8 delegates; Kings District, 3 delegates; German
Camp, 2 delegates; Cambridge District, 3 dele
gates; District of Cocksackie and Katskill, 5;
Schoharry and Duanesborough, 6 delegates; Claver
ack, 5 delegates; Kinderhook, 4 delegates; Manor
of Rensselaerwyck, 22 delegates; Saratoga, 10 dele
gates; Schenectady, 10 delegates; Half Moon, 7
delegates. Adjourned to 3 o'clock this afternoon.
May 5th — The following delegates were chosen
by ballot to meet in General Congress at New York
the 2 2d instant. Abraham Yates, Dirck Swart,
Volkert P. Douw, Robert Van Rensselaer, Peter
Silvester, Francis Nicoll, Robert Yates, Henry
Glenn, Jacob Cuyler, Abraham Ten Broeck, Wal
ter Livingston.
Resolved, That the Committees of the different
districts recommend to the people to form them
selves into Companies, properly equipped and dis
ciplined, and that they make report to the Chair
man of the Committee for the time being.
May 1 1 th — Sixty-six members present. An
other request for supplies for the use of the people
gone against Ticonderoga, " was voted in the nega
tive. May 1 2 th — " We received a letter .signed Ethan
Allen by the hands of Mr. Brown, acquainting us
of the taking Ticonderoga. Upon which we wrote
a letter to the committee of New York by Captain

408

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Barent Ten Eyck, Express, and each of us paid him
a Dollar a piece for going. "
May 13th — Received letter from New York con
firming previous decisions not to furnish aid to
Ticonderoga expedition until some action of the
Provincial or Continental Congress.
May 16th — Samuel Stringer, Chairman pro tem.
Resolved, That any Person in this City
County who has arms, ammunition or other
articles necessary for our Defense to dispose of,
shall not within ten days after the publications of
these resolutions inform this Committee of the
quantity and quality of the same, shall be held up
to the Public as an Enemy to this Country.
Resolved, That any person who shall dispose of
any aforesaid articles to any person, knowing or
having reason to believe such person to be inim
ical to the liberties of America, he shall be held
up as an enemy to this Country. Ordered, that
the same be published in Hand Bills.
Committee Chambers, 2 2d May — John H. Rose
boom delivered a speech from an Indian called
Little Abram, a chief of the Mohawks. "They
hear that Companies and troops are coming to mo
lest us, that a large body are hourly expected from
New England to take away by violence our Super
intendant and extinguish our Council Fire, for what
reasons we know not. We have no purpose of
interfering in the dispute between Old England
and Boston; the White People may settle their own
quarrels; we shall never meddle in those matters
if we are let alone. But should our Superintendant
be taken away from us we dread the consequences.
We are so desirous of maintaining peace, that we
are unwilling the Six Nations should know the
bad Reports spread amongst us. Brothers, We desire
you will satisfy us as to your knowledge of those
reports and what your News are and not deceive
us in a matter of so much importance. "Abraham, Chief.
"Interpreted by Samuel Kirkland, Missionary.
May, 1775."
A committee of two was appointed to go with
an answer to the Indians.
May 25th — The first communication from the
Congress then in session at Philadelphia, received.
It was a request that the Albany Committee send
provisions and supplies to Ticonderoga, with a
sufficient number of men and mechanics to build
and manage scows with which to bring cannon
and military stores from the conquered fort.
A resolution was at once passed to act accord
ingly — to raise a company of one hundred men
and march as soon as possible to Ticonderoga.
Cornelius Van Santvoordt was chosen commissary
of stores by ballot, and Henry I. Bogert was ap
pointed to go to Fort George in charge of the
stores and building of the scows for lake trans
portation. May 26th — The following was passed :
Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Commit
tee that the physicians and others of this city and
county who are in the practice of inoculation for
small-pox, be requested immediately to desist from

inoculation until the sense of this Committee be
signified to the contrary.
May 29th — A letter was received from the Pro
vincial Congress at New York, dated 25th May,
1775, inclosing instructions to Messrs. John N.
Bleecker, Henry Bogert, ' George Palmer, Peter
Lansing, and Dirck Sevant, who were by said Con
gress appointed commissioners or agents to super
intend and put in execution the recommendation of
the Grand Continental Congress of the 10th May,
1775, relative to Ticonderoga.
Peter W. Yates, John N. Bleecker, Jeremiah
Van Rensselaer, and John Taylor, the Committee
appointed to draw up an instrument to bind those
in their duty who shall enlist in the Provincial Ser
vice, brought an instrument in the words follow
ing, to wit:
" We, the subscribers, being well convinced of
the absolute necessity of raising a body of Provincial
Troops for the defense of the Constitution and the
preservation of our just rights and liberties, when
the same are in the most imminent danger of being
invaded, have therefore voluntarily enlisted into
the Provisional Service, and do hereby promise and
agree that we will severally do, execute, and per
form all and every such instructions, directions,
orders, military discipline, and duties as our offi
cers, or either of them, shall from time to time
give or send to us during the time that our service
is required in the unhappy contest between Great
Britain and the Colonies; and we do severally
promise and engage not to go from or quit the said
service until we shall be discharged or dismissed
from the service by the Continental or Provisional
Congress, or by the General Commitee of the City
of Albany, under the penalty of forfeiting our
wages, and being deemed in the eye of the Public
as eneniies to our Country. "
Resolved, That the Captains of this City call out
their Companies once every two weeks in the after
noon for the purpose of pefecting themselves in the
military discipline, and that Saturday, the third of
June next, be appointed for the first time of muster
ing. Resolved, That John Ostrander be appointed un
der the denomination of Town Serjeant, who shall
keep a regular Roster of all the officers of the dif
ferent wards in the City, and that he warn the officer
not on duty, every morning preceding the night he
is to watch, and that every officer so warned shall
order his Serjeant to warn the men who shall at
tend to the watch house at the appointed hour with
proper arms, ammunition and accoutrements, and
that every person capable of doing his duty Shall
attend in person.
8th June— We received a letter from Colonel
Phillip Schuyler, dated Philadelphia, 3d June,
1775, in these words, to wit:
"The conduct of the Albany Committee has
given great Satisfaction to the Congress. You can
not wonder that I should be pleased with every
Transaction that reflects honor on my dear Country
men. The article of powder is under serious con
sideration; but, difficult as it is to procure that

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.

409

essential commodity, I hope we soon shall have a
supply. May indulgent Heaven smile propitious
on the endeavor of the Americans to remain a free
and a happy people; may my Countrymen stand dis
tinguished in the glorious Struggle, and may an
All directing Providence guide us safely through
the dangers of this unhappy Contest."
June 17th — Received a letter from Colonel
Benedict Arnold, dated Crown Point, 12th June,
1775- ' ' Gentlemen, — Your letter to Captain White with
orders for the Companies from Albany County to
return to Fort George he has just received, in con
sequence of which they are now embarking for that
place. Their departure leaves us in a very defense
less Situation, as we have only 100 men left here,
but could not advise them to go contrary to their
orders, tho' the men are much wanted. Had you
known our present Situation, I believe you would
not have given orders for their removal.
' ' Your Most Humble Servant
1 ' Benedct Arnold. '
Received a letter from the Committee of Schenec
tady, dated 16th June, 1775, requesting that fifty
Stand of Arms be sent them by Mr. Wendell's
Servant. Resolved, That John N. Bleecker deliver to Mr.
Wendell's Servant fifty guns for the use of Captain
Cornelius Van Dyck's Company at Schenectada.
Resolved, That John N. Bleecker, Commissary,
Send to Fort George four barrels of New England
Rum, to be delivered to Henry I. Bogert or any
others of the Commissaries at that Post. To be
Charged to. the Soldiers at the rate of Six Shillings
per gallon.
June 22d — Present, twenty-two members.
On motion, the question being put whether or
no it is necessary that some money be raised to
pay the troops raised for the use of this colony.
Resolved in the affirmative.
Resolved, That five hundred pounds be raised, by
bills of credit, as follows :
1,000 of 1/  £ 5°
75° of 2/  75
500 of 5/  125
500 of 10/  250
£5°°
Resolved, That the bills for the above sums be of
the following tenor, to wit :
"This Note shall entitle ihe bearer to the sum of
 New York Currency, pay
able by us, the Subscribers, on or before the first day
of September next, pursuant to a Vote of Credit of
the Sub-Committee of the City and County of
Albany. " By order of said Committee. "
Resolved, That Messrs. Jacob C. Ten Eyck,
Jacob Lansingh, Jun., and Samuel Stringer, sub
scribe their respective names to the several notes,
to be issued as aforesaid, and number the same;
and the respective members of this Committee do
hereby engage to save and keep harmless and in
demnified the said Jacob C. Ten Eyck, Jacob
52

Lansingh, Jun., and Samuel Stringer, for all sums of
money which they or either of them may be com
pelled to pay in consequence of their signing the
said notes, exclusive of their proportional part as
members of this Committee.
Resolved, That Messrs. Robert Yates, John Bay,
Abraham Cuyler, Gosen Van Schaick, Cornelius
Van Santvoordt, John Ten Broeck, Henry Quack
enbush and Lucas Van Veghten, or any two of
them, superintend the printing of said bills.
At the Committee meeting June 23d, a note was
sent to Boston, as follows :
"We are at a loss to know what must be done
with the Donations collected in this City for the
Poor of Boston, and beg to be informed by you,
as the Chief Contributions was in Grain, whether we
shall dispose of it here and convert it into Cash, or
otherwise. Waiting your directions, we are,
' ' Brethren, your very humble servants. "
June 26th — Resolved, That there be struck in
Bills of Credit, in addition to what has already
been ordered, Five Hundred Pounds of the follow
ing tenor, to wit : Two hundred and fifty of twenty
shillings and one hundred and twenty-five of forty
shillings. Committee Chambers, June 29th — Samuel
Stringer, Chairman pro tem.
Upon the whole, we are of opinion, First. — That
as the safety of our Persons, and the Preservation
of our Properties depends upon the due adminis
tration of Justice, that the course of Justice ought
not to be obstructed, but that the Same Continue
in the usual Course, and in the King's Name, as
our allegiance to him is not denied ; and that we
are to Wait the resolution of the Provincial or Con
tinental Congress on this Subject and abide by their
determination, otherwise we' Conceive the whole
Country will be reduced to a State of the Greatest
Anarchy and Confusion.
Second. — Appeals are still admitted, at least in
this Government, in all cases where they always
have been Allowed; in this the law has not been
altered, and the Subject in this Province has the
Same Liberty of a fair and impartial trial, as usual
on Constitutional principles; and we do not object
against any Acts of Parliament, except the late Un
constitutional and oppressive ones which have been
Noticed by the Continental Congress in their Session
last Fall.
Third. — We are neither Rebels or Traitors, nor
have we forfeited our Estates, neither are there any
acts of Parliament of that nature in force to our
knowledge against any persons in this Province;
nor do we conceive the application of Traitors and
Rebels justly applied to Subjects who refuse to
comply with requisitions of unconstitutional Acts of
Parliament. July 3d — Mr. Leonard Gansevoort reports that he
had paid Captain George White the sum of ^"ioo
14s. New York currency for himself, the officers
and privates of his Company, which this board does
approve of.
Resolved, That Mr. Leonard Gansevoort, Treas
urer, pay unto Captain Hezekiah Baldwin, the sum

410

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

oi£yi, in behalf of his pay as Captain, and for and
on behalf of the rest of his officers and privates of
his Company.
July 5th — Received letter from Phillip Schuyler,
of which the following is a part:
" I have received advice that some Oneida In
dians are now at Albany. Your prudence will sug
gest that the kindest treatment is necessary to these
People, and I beg of you not to let them return
without some liberal presents or tokens of our
friendship, nor without assurances that they will
speedily be called to a Conference at Albany, or
some other convenient place, in that or Tryon
County. What money you may disburse for pres
ents I shall immediately see repaid."
July 5th — Mr. Henry Glen produced to this
board warrants and instructions for the following
persons from Albany County:
Captain, Stephen J. Schuyler; First Lieutenant,
Barent Roseboom; Second Lieutenant, Dirck Han
sen; Captain, Joel Pratt; First Lieutenant, Benja
min Chittenden; Second Lieutenant, Israel Spen
cer; Captain, Elisha Benedict; First Lieutenant,
Samuel Fletcher; Second Lieutenant, Alexander
Brink; Captain, Joseph McCracken; First Lieuten
ant, Moses Masten; Second Lieutenant, John
Barns; Captain, John Visscher; First Lieutenant,
Benjamin Evans; Second Lieutenant, Joseph Fitch;
Captain, Hezekiah Baldwin; First Lieutenant,
•Nathaniel Rowley; Second Lieutenant, Roswell
Beeby; Captain, Peter Yates; First Lieutenant,
Henry Van Veghten; Second Lieutenant, Gideon
King. Mr. Henry Glen also informs this Board that the
Congress have approved of the following field offi
cers: Colonel, Myndert Roseboom; Lieutenant-Col
onel, Goosen Van Schaick; Major, Lucas Van
Veghten; and that they had appointed John M.
Wendell, Quartermaster, and Barent J. Ten Eyck,
Adjutant. Received a letter from the Deputies of the Prov
ince in Continental Congress, dated 30th June,
1775, in which they announce:
" The Military Arrangement within the Depart
ment of New York is entrusted to Major-General
Schuyler, to whom we refer you for the money
which you request, not doubting but his hands will
be strengthened so as to enable him to do every
thing necessary for the Protection of our Frontiers.
Signed, " Philip Livingston,
"James Duane,
"William Floyd."
Resolved, That Robert Yates, Abraham Ten
Broeck and Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, Esqs., be
appointed to prepare an address to be presented to
General Philip Schuyler on his arrival.
July 6th — New York Provincial Congress.
Resolved, That ten shillings shall be allowed
to every soldier that shall enlist in the Continental
service in this Colony for the present Campaign,

who shall furnish himself with a good musket, to
be approved by the Muster-Master and Armorer of
each Regiment.
July 1 2th — Abraham Yates, Chairman.
Resolved, That Jeremiah Van Rensselaer be
furnished with the sum of  out of the
Paper Emission of this Committee, and that he go
up to Lake George, Ticonderoga and Crown Point
and make a final settlement with those Companies,
and declare to them that they for the future must
look for their pay and necessaries to the Officers
appointed by the Continental or Provincial Con
gress for that purpose.
It being intimated to this board by Mr. Peter
Vrooman, that some tavern-keepers in this county
sell spirituous liquors too freely to the Indians,
from which evil consequences often happen, there
fore Resolved, That it be recommended to all Tav
ern-keepers and others in said County, to sell spirit
uous liquors to the Indians as sparingly as possible,
so as to prevent their getting drunk.
" Canajorhary, July 13.
"Gentlemen, — We are informed by good au
thority that Col. [Guy] Johnson was ready with
eight or nine hundred Indians to make an invasion
of this County; that the same Indians were to be
under the Command of Joseph Brandt and Walter
Butler, and that they were to fall on the inhabitants
below Little Falls, in order to divide the people in
two parts, and were to march yesterday or day be
fore. From this and other circumstances we have
too much reason to think that all our enemies in
this County will appear against us as soon as the
Indians are nigh to us.
"Our ammunition is so Scant, we cannot furnish
300 men so as to be able to make a stand against
so great a number.
"This is the more alarming to us, as we
shall within a few days be obliged to begin with
our harvest In these deplorable circumstances
we look to you for assistance.
' ' By order, "Chris1 P. Yates."
Resolved, That a letter be prepared for General
Schuyler, enclosing a copy of this, and sent by ex
press to Saratoga.
July 15th— Received a letter from General
Philip Schuyler, dated Saratoga, Friday evening,
three-quarters past eleven, July 14, 1775, in the
following words, to wit:
" Sir, — The letter you have enclosed me is of a
truly alarming nature, and requires the most vigor
ous and immediate efforts. I would advise that
not only Captain Van Dyck and his company, but
also such others as you can possibly get, should im
mediately march into Tryon County with the
Albany and Schenectady Militia, who should also
be requested to march to the relief of that County.
' ' Your obedient servant,
"Ph. Schuyler."

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.

411

Resolved, That 150 pounds powder be trans
mitted to the Committee of Tryon County, they
paying for the same at the rate of five shillings
per pound, and that 25 pounds be forwarded to
Schenectady for the use of Captain Cornelius Van
Dyck's Company.
A paper was handed to this Board, supposed to
contain reflections on this Board, which is as fol
lows, to wit:
1 ' The Mode of a late very Extraordinary and
very Grand Procession.
" I. The Congressional General.
"II. The Deputy Chairman, and who is only
Chairman Pro Tempore.
' ' III. Mr. Ten Broeck — through a mistake.
"IV. The Chairman.
"V. The Committee.
"VI. The Troop of Horse, most beautiful and
grand; some Horses long taild, some bob Taild,
and some without any tails, and attended with the
Melodious Sound of an incomparable fine Trumpet.
"VII. The Association Company. ' ' A Spectator. "
The above caused much indignation and com
motion among the Committee and the Citizens, as
the occasion alluded to was the public reception of
General Schuyler.
A few days later, Peter W. Yates, a member of
the Committee of Correspondence, wrote an ac
knowledgment of being the author, and asked to
be forgiven, as he meant no injury to the Board or to
the Cause of Liberty, still being a friend to both;
also sending in his resignation, which was ac
cepted, together with apology.
Mr. Yates, however, stood well with the people,
for he was re-elected to the membership he had va
cated, as appears from the following entry of July
26th: '
" In pursuance of a resolve of the 22d instant,
of the inhabitants of the First Ward of this City, to
proceed to an Election of a Member in the room of
Peter W. Yates, Esq., the Clerk of this Beard
files a return of the Poll, by which it appears that
the said Peter W. Yates was again elected."
July 27th — Peter W. Yates, Esq., declined serv
ing, on his being elected on the 23d instant. An
election was again held on the 26th instant,
agreeable to a resolve of this Board, when Doc
tor Joseph Young was elected.
July 29th— Extract from a letter to General
Philip Schuyler, from the Committee:
' ' We have the Pleasure to inform you that the
apprehensions of the inhabitants of Tryon respect
ing the Indians is entirely removed, and the un
happy dispute between the inhabitants of the upper
Part of the County with Sir John Johnson and the
Sheriff of that County amicably accommodated
upon the two following Points:
"First. — The Sheriff is to leave the County and
not return to it again.
" Second. —Sir John Johnson is not to take any
active part against the People in the Disputes at

Present Subsisting between Great Britain and the
American Colonies."
Mr. Benjamin Baker laid before this board
proposals for making Salt Petre.
Resolved, To forward the said proposal to the
Provincial Congress in the following words:
"Gentlemen. — You will find enclosed, pro
posals from Mr. Baker, and think it may be worth
your while to give him encouragement. Doctor
Young (one of our board) has examined the Nitre
he has made as a sample, and considers it as good
as the Nitre from Europe.''
August ist — Ensign Daniel Lee petitioned for
his pay while serving in Captain Joel Pratt's Com
pany. Granted.
August 5th — Letter from General Philip Schuy
ler: "Gentlemen, — I have directed the Commissary-
General, Mr. Livingston, to pay you /i,ooo New
York Currency to call in the Bills you have emit
ted. As you must ultimately account to the public
for this money, you will please to take the proper
Vouchers from the People, and when the bills are
called in you will proceed, jointly with Mr. Liv
ingston, to cancel them."
August 8th — Letter from Provincial Congress
dated New York August 2, 1775:
" We have the pleasure to inform you that this
Congress have made an allowance to each Officer
of One Dollar for every man that may or has al
ready inlisted in the Service, in order to reimburse
them for the expense of said inlistment
August 9th — Received letter from Governor
Jonathan Trumbull, dated Lebanon, July 21, 1775,
on Onedia Indian affairs.
Robert Yates writes from New York that Con
gress had just examined a Soldier who deserted
from the Army in Boston and fought with the British
at Lexington and Charles Town. He says they pay
their men weekly, but their pay is only 14 coppers
each. August 1 6th — Whereas, Complaint has been
made to this board by an Indian, that he was beat
by some person in this City and his Shirt taken
away or lost; for the sake of maintaining peace
with the Indians,
Resolved, That Mr. John W. Bleecker furnish the
said Indian with a new Shirt of the value of ten
Shillings. August 19th — Received the following letter
dated Geiman Flats, August 16, 1775 :
"Sir, — We beg the favor of you to Supply the 55
Onedia Indians at Albany with provisions till we
come, and we will be answerable for the expense.
We have about 500 of the Six Nations here, who all
Seem in good Temper, and we hope will proceed
from here to Albany and there await the arrival of
the Indians from Canada to hold a General Treaty.
"We are, with Respect,
"Volkert P. Douw,
"Turbutt Francis,"

412

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

August 2 ist — Received a letter from the Commit
tee of Safety for Pennsylvania, dated Philadelphia,
August 12, 1775, 'n these words, to wit:
"Gentlemen, — With this you will receive 2,400
pounds of Gun powder sent by us for the use of
General Schuyler, to whom we make no doubt you
will forward it by first opportunity.
"This Committee has heard that a great and
Superfluous quantity of Lead was taken at Ticon
deroga. It is an article much wanted here. If
that lead should be with you and you can conveni
ently load this Wagon back with a parcel of it we
shall be much obliged and will be accountable for
the Same. "We are, Gentlemen,
"Your Most Ob' Humble Servants.
"Signed, by order of Committee,
"B. Franklin, Pres1."
Resolved, That the following order be sent to the
Captain of the City Watch for this night, to wit:
"Sir, — On your watch this night you are to take
in Charge Alexander White and three other persons
in Confinement with him and to order that strict
care be taken that said prisoners do not escape. "
The Committee, about half an hour after ten, re
ceived a note from the Commissioners of Indian
Affairs, that they are to open the Treaty with the
Six Nations about eleven o'clock in Yonkers Street,
back of the Dutch Church, and request our attend
ance and that of the principal gentlemen of the
Town. This Committee, though taken by sur
prise, Resolved immediately to attend, and the Bell
man was sent to apprise the inhabitants who might
wish to attend.
Long Speeches by an Oneida Chief in behalf of
the Six Nations were made, declaring their good
feelings and intentions, and their purpose to live
up to the old Treaties of Peace.
Arvin Montague Morris was brought before this
board, suspected to be inimical to the American
Cause; and, upon examination, he could not give a
proper account of himself; therefore
Resolved, That he be sent to the Camp and
there remain till further orders.
Received a letter from the Committee of Tryon
County, expressing Satisfaction that White, Clement
and Brown were held as prisoners, as there is much
evidence that they are enemies to the Common
Cause. Henry Ten Eyck, Sheriff of the City and County
of Albany, being called before this board to tell
who was the plaintiff in the suit upon which Alex
ander White, Esq., is in custody, said that Abraham
C. Cuyler was the Plaintiff, and John Hansen the
Attorney. By a return of the Field Officers for the District of
Rensselaerwyck, the following persons were rec
ommended for the four Battalions, to wit: Abra
ham Ten Broeck, Colonel-in-Chief; Francis Nicol,
Lieutenant-Colonel; Henry Quackenbush, Barent
Staats, Majors; John Quackenbush, Adjutant; Chris
topher Lansingh, Quartermaster.
Second Battalion. — Killian Van Rensselaer, Col
onel; John H. Beeckman, Lieutenant-Colonel ;

Cornelius Van Beuren, Jacob C. Schermerhorn,
Majors; Jacob Van Der Poel, Adjutant; John A.
Lansingh, Quartermaster.
Third Battalion. — Stephen Schuyler, Colonel;
Gerrit Van Der Bergh, Lieutenant-Colonel; Peter
C. Schuyler, Volkert Veeder, Majors; Maas Van
Vranken, Adjutant; Francis Marshall, Quarter
master. Fourth Battalion. — Stephen J. Schuyler, Colonel;
Henry K. Van Rensselaer, Lieutenant-Colonel;
Philip De Freisto, John J. Fonda, Majors; Volkert
Oothout, Adjutant; Jacob Van Alstyne, Quarter
master. The above persons were Approved of by this
Board. The Officers appointed by this Board to the City
Regiment are as follows:
Jacob Lansingh, Colonel; Derek Ten Broeck,
Lieutenant-Colonel; Henry Wendell, Abraham
H. Cuyler, Majors; Volkert A. Douw, Adjutant;
Ephraim Van Veghten, Quartermaster.
The Provincial Congress dissolved October 14,
1775, recommending the Election of Deputies to
form a new Congress. The General Committee of
the City and County of Albany also resolved that
they be dissolved the 21st day of December, 1775.
An Election was accordingly held on Tuesday,
November 7, 1775, at which the following persons
were Elected as Delegates to the New Provincial
Congress: Leonard Gansevoort, Abraham Ten
Broeck, Abraham Yates, Jun., Jacob Cuyler, Fran
cis Nichol, Robert Yates, Henry Glen, Peter Syl
vester, Peter B. Livingston, John J. Bleecker,
Henry Oothout, and Robert Van Rensselaer.
This Committee do hereby declare the said per
sons to be duly elected, and that they, or any five of
them, represent this City and County in the next
Provincial Congress.
January 20, 1776 — The Committee to enquire
for a proper place to confine such persons as are
inimical to American Liberty, Report that there are
two rooms in the Fort in this City which might be
repaired with little expense for said persons; there
fore Resolved, That General Schuyler be requested
to fit the upper room in said Fort
Resolved, That the Committee of this County
Condole the Death of the brave General Richard
Montgomery, by wearing each a crape around their
arms for six weeks from this day successively.
February 7th — Fifty-eight members present.
John Barclay, President pro tem. George Ramsey
having been sent from Schenectady, charged with
calling persons in favor of American Liberty, Rebels:
Resolved, That the said Ramsey be disarmed and
Stand Committed until he enter into Bond in the
Sum of /200, with sufficient sureties, for his future
good behavior. Joseph Kingsly was also charged
with the same offense, and was dealt with in the
same manner.
March 14 th — Resolved, That no person or per
sons be permitted to move into or settle in this
County, unless he or they bring a Certificate from

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.

413

the Committee of the County or district from which
they claim that they had, prior to this resolve,
signed the association recommended by Congress,
and had in all things behaved in a manner becom
ing to Friends of American Freedom.
April nth — The following is the form of parole
in use at this time.
"I do promise, on the word and honor of a
Soldier and gentleman, that I will hold no manner
of correspondence or conversation on Political
Matters with any person or persons that are in
imical to measures now pursued by the United
Colonies of America; and that I will not depart
the bounds of the District of Coxackie without
leave of the Committee of the said district.
"James Hewetson."
May 3d — Messrs. Rutger, Bleecker and Dr.
Joseph Young were named a Committee to en
courage the culture of Hemp, Flax and Wool; also
the making of Sturgeon Oil to supply the place of
Whale Oil, in view of the Stoppage of the Whale
Fisheries. May 8th — John Boyd Confessed to selling
Bohea Tea for 7/6 per pound, Contrary to Resolu
tion of Continental Congress. That others did it,
was his excuse.
Resolved, That the said John Boyd has violated
the Resolution, and ought to be considered an
Enemy to the American Cause; and it is recom
mended that all persons break off all intercourse
with said Boyd.
Absalam Woodworth was also convicted of same
offense, and was punished in the same manner.
A Resolution passed some weeks ago to disarm
all disloyal persons. The following is the Warrant
for so doing :
' ' Sir, — You are hereby required and Commanded
forthwith to proceed to the houses of Abraham
C. Cuyler, John Van Allen, Stephen De Lancey,
Gysbert Fonda, John Monier, and William Shep
herd, there to receive and take all their Arms and
Ammunition, Side arms excepted; for which arms,
etc. , you are to give a receipt. And bring said arms,
etc., to the Chairman of this Committee without
delay. And for so doing this shall be your War
rant" The number of troops furnished by Albany
County for General Schuyler, in Canada, was :
East Manor, Rensselaerwyck, 75; West District,
Rensselaerwyck, 75; Claverach and King's District,
1 50; East Camp and Grote Imboght, New York,
75; Half Moon, Balston and Saratoga, Canada, 75;
Albany, Schohary, Coxackee and Kinderkook, 75.
Henry Marselis was made Captain of Company
raised in Albany City, Schenectady, Coxackee and
Schohary, to reinforce Continental Army in Canada;
Benjamin C. Dubois, First Lieutenant; John Van
Antwerp, Second Lieutenant.
Resolved, That Henry K. Van Rensselaer be ap
pointed Major of the Company of Militia for the
County for Service in New York.
Peter Van Rensselaer was appointed Captain of
Company raised in Claverack; Christopher C. Mil

ler, First Lieutenant; Wilhelmus Philips, Second
Lieutenant. July ist — Committee appointed Officers of
Battalion, raised in Albany, Tryon, Charlotte,
Cumberland and Gloucester Counties as follows:
Cornelius Van Dyck, Colonel; Barent S. Ten Eyck,
Major; John Shepardson, Lieutenant-Colonel.
July 17th— Received a letter from Abraham
Yates, Junior, Robert Yates and Matthew Adgate,
dated White Plains, 14th instant, enclosing the
Declaration of the United States of America;
declaring the Said United States free and inde
pendent; also the resolutions of the Representa
tives of the State of New York, in consequence
thereof. Received a letter from John Rogers, one of the
Committee of Saratoga, dated nth instant, com
plaining that the Small Pox is very prevalent in
said district
July 1 8th— Resolved, That the Declaration of In-_
dependence be published and declared in this"
City to-morrow at Eleven O'Clock at this place, and
that Colonel Van Schaick be requested to order
the Continental Troops in this City to Appear under
Arms at the place aforesaid; and, further, that the
Captains of the Several Militia Company in this
city be requested to Warn the Persons belonging to
their respective Companies, to appear at the place
aforesaid, and for the purpose aforesaid.
Much of the time of the Committee during their
Sessions was consumed in the apprehension, con
viction, and punishment of disaffected and dis
loyal persons, of whom there was a great number.
The " Tory Gaol " in the City Hall was filled with
them, and the list was constantly increasing.
Expenses increased rapidly for arms, ammuni
tion, and supplies, and it was found difficult to pay
the soldiers with sufficient regularity to prevent
great discontent. The labor of the Committee was
very perplexing and arduous at this time.
August 3d — Samuel Stephenson is hereby dis
charged of being Keeper of the Tory Gaol, and
Volkert Dawson is appointed in his room.
Resolved, That John A. Bratt and Alexander
Baldwin be appointed Captain for the Ranger
Companies; and Marte Van Beuren, John B.
Marselis, Michael Jackson and John Jost Sidney,
Lieutenants for said Company and Stephen
Lush, Captain for the Company to guard the
stores in Albany, and Gerritt Staats and Jacob J.
Lansing, Lieutenants.
August 1 7th — The Association Company elected
Andrew Douw, Captain, and Peter Van Bergen,
Ensign. Rev. Harry Munro, Rector of St. Peter's, Al
bany, requested a pass to New York and Phila
delphia, which was refused by the Committee in
the following words:
Resolved, That the Chairman acquaint you, the
said Munro, that this Board cannot, consistent
with their duty, grant his request, as the very Idea
of a pass is to recommend the person having it to
the public as a Friend to the Cause and right of
America, and that they extremely lament that they

414

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

have it not in their power to give him such a rec
ommendation, as they are ignorant that he has
ever manifested himself such a friend in any one
instance since the Commencement of the present
unhappy Contest.
Captain John Williams was appointed Captain of
a Company of 75 men to be drafted out of the
Militia of this County to reinforce the Fortresses in
the Highlands.
September 29th — This board being informed that
a Company of Colonel Van Dyck's Regiment had
deserted. Resolved, that a letter be prepared for General
Schuyler on the subject, which was done.
Resolved, That there be allowed Eight Shillings
for the three first pair of two-threaded Stockings
that shall be knitted in one family.
October 2 2d — Jonathan N. Mallory is hereby
appointed Surgeon to Colonel Peter Van Ness,
Regiment of Militia.
Resolved, That any Negro Man Slave within the
Manor of Rensselaerwyck, who shall be found from
his Master's house after Six o'clock in the Evening
without a permit from his master or mistress, he
shall be immediately apprehended and receive
Corporal punishment.
November 26th — Resolved, That John Barclay
be appointed Chairman of this Committee, Mat
thew Visscher, Clerk, and Jacob Kidney, Messenger.
Pursuant to a resolvent of the 8th instant, it ap
pears that the following persons are duly Elected
for the space of Six months from the first
day of December next, unless sooner disbanded
by the Convention of this State.
The resolution of the 8th instant was as follows:
Whereas, The lime limited by the good people of
this County for the present Committee to serve, ex
pires in the County this 4th Tuesday of this month;
and Whereas, The Representatives of this State in
Convention have been inevitably prevented from
forming a Government for this State, it is neces
sary that another Committee be elected in this
County for the Space of Six months:
Resolved, That the Election in the several dis
tricts in this County be held on the 3d Tuesday
of November.
There were elected from the First Ward, 9
members; Second Ward, 9 members; Third Ward,
9 members; Manor of Rensselaer, 20 members;
Schoharry, 6 members; Grote Imboght, 5 mem
bers; Ballston, 5 members; Hosick, 12 members;
Coxackie, 6 members; German Camp, 4 mem
bers; Schagtikocke, 10 members; Manor of Liv
ingston, 10 members; Half Moon, 7 members;
Saratoga, 7 members; Schenectady, 1 1 members;
Cambridge, 9 members; Kings, 8 members; Clav
erack, 12 members.
Resolved, That the Committee of the County
meet every Fortnight in the City Hall, on Tuesday,
and that at least one member from each District
attend. '
Resolved, As the opinion of this Committee, there
be allowed one Shilling per day for the first five

days the militia supplied themselves with pro
visions on the late alarm to the northward, and
that for the remainder no more than eight pence
half penny be allowed.
November 30th— General Gates" laid before this
Board a letter from the President of the Conven
tion of this State to the Hon"18 Major-General
Schuyler, desiring him to take the management of
obstructing Hudson River, which the Committee
had resolved upon, desiring the opinion of this
Board whether same ought to be forwarded by Ex
press to His Honor, which is hereby ordered to
be done.
December 10th— Resolved, That a permit be
granted to Lady John Johnson to go to Fish Kills,
in order to apply for a- pass to New York.
December 31st — General Schuyler applies to this
Board for assistance in procuring blankets for
Colonel Van Schaick 's and Colonel Gansevoort's
Regiments. Committees were appointed to obtain
the same from the inhabitants of Albany and Sche
nectady. January 21, 1777 — Resolved, That every person
who shall offer anything for Sale for a less sum
in Gold or Silver than in Continental or other
paper money now passing currently, shall be con
sidered as a Depredator of the paper Currency, and
treated accordingly, and that any Person who shall
refuse to take the same shall be treated in like
manner. February 3d — Resolved, That the Deputies of
this County in Convention, be instructed to use
their influence to have General Schuyler appointed
one of the Delegates to represent this State in Con
tinental Congress.
February 10th — Whereas, The great number of
persons keeping taverns or Tipling houses, many
of whom are disaffected and there is reason to
believe they have influenced many Soldiers to quit
the Service: be it
Resolved, That no person or persons shall con
tinue or set up a Tavern in any District in the City
or County of Albany without a license or permit
for the same, under penalty of ^50 fine.
March 4th — Resolved, That the Committee of
each respective District within this County do ap
point and assign fit and suitable places in their said
Districts for Inoculating Hospitals, and that the
said Committee use all the precautions to prevent
the spreading of the Small Pox.
The Committee are informed that Mr. Waters,
who has hired the house now occupied by Colonel
Philip P. Schuyler, intends to inoculate his family
upon his having moved them to said House. The
Committee being sensible that by such conduct
the infection will spread among the Continental
Troops; therefore
Resolved, That the said Waters be strictly forbid
to inoculate his family as aforesaid, on pain of for
feiting the sum of ^"500.
Ordered, That Jacob Kidney is hereby appointed
Gaoler in place of Samuel Loadman.

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.

415

Resolved, That all officers in this County belong
ing to the Crown of Great Britain, at either full or
half-pay, be sent for; and, on their appearance, that
they be sent to the Convention of this State, Re
questing them to have them exchanged, or ordered
to such place that they may do no injury in this
country. March 17th — Resolved, That Marten Halenbeck
be and is hereby ordered to desist, from the
receipt hereof, from Keeping Public House.
Jacobus Houghtaling, who, some time since
made his escape from Jaol, being now busy enlist
ing men for the service of the Enemy, and being a
dangerous person to the Liberties of America:
Resolved, That Major Volkert Veeder be re
quested to order the said Houghtaling to be ar
rested and put in Close Confinement till the further
order of this Committee.
April nth — Resolved, That Jacob Kidney be
and he is hereby ordered every Sunday during
Divine service to Patrol the Streets of this City and
quell all riots and disturbances, and keep the
inhabitants of this City and others to behave
decent, for which services he shall be allowed 4/
per day.
Ordered, That Colonel Van Schaick be requested
to desire Captain Finch to send out a scouting
party towards the Salt Springs, in order to discover
a plot which it is conceived is making head in
that part of the Country.
April 1 8th — Colonel Schuyler reported that a
certain person who had given information against
certain disaffected persons, was threatened to such
a degree that the Committee of the Manor of
Rensselaerwyck had agreed to remove him and his
family to a place of safety, and that they also en
gaged to repay the man any damages he might
sustain. Unanimously approved.
Christian Smith, a person who has been employed
in discovering the designs of our internal Enemies,
having discharged his duties with faithfulness and
success: Ordered, That the Treasurer pay said Smith
Eight Pounds for his Services.
May 4th — The Committee having undoubted
evidence that Peter S. Van Alstyne and Isaac Van
Der Pool are the Ringleaders of the Conspiracy at
Kinderhook, and that the said Van Alstyne and
Van Der Pool have lately headed a party who fired
upon and wounded, a certain Gose Van Beuren,
who had in his custody a prisoner:
Resolved, Thereupon, that a reward of one hun
dred Dollars shall be paid by this Committee to
such person or persons who shall take the said Van
Alstyne, or Van Der Pool, dead or alive.
Resolved, That an order issue to the Treasurer to
pay unto Edward Davis, or order, one hundred
dollars, for his services in discovering a number of
Conspirators. May 19th — Abram Yates having received from
the Committee of this State the sum of five thousand
pounds:

Resolved, The same be paid to Gerrit Lansing,
Junr, the Treasurer to this Committee.
June 3d- — The names of the new Committee
Elected were announced.
Resolved, That John Barclay be appointed Chair
man; Matthew Visscher, Secretary; Gerrit Lansing,
Junr, Treasurer; James Kidney, Messenger, and
be paid 6/ per day.
Resolved, That the Keepers of the Gaols in this
City be immediately ordered to make out lists of the
names of the prisoners confined therein, and deliver
the Keys of the said Gaols, with the lists aforesaid,
to Henry J. Wendell, the Sheriff of this County.
June 19th — Resolved, That the public records
of this City and County be delivered into the hands
of Leonard Gansevoort, Esq.
Abraham C. Van Allen having, since taking the
oath of allegiance, declared himself a subject of the
King of Great Britain; therefore
Resolved, That the said Abraham C. Van Allen
be immediately apprehended and put in Close
Confinement. From a letter of David McCarthy and William
Adamson, it appears that Conradt A Ten Eyck,
after taking the oath of Allegiance, has drank Dam
nation to the Congress, and beat and abused the
wife of the said Adamson. The said Ten Eyck
upon his appearance confessed the same; therefore
Resolved, That he be confined till Monday
next. The foregoing are given as specimens of the
work that largely engaged the Committee; from
one to a score of such disloyal persons being ar
rested and brought before them almost every day.
Colonel Hay, Deputy Quarter Master, appeared
before this Committee and informed them that the
public business is impeded for want of a bellows to
carry on the Black Smith's business, and suggested
that Harmen Van Der Zee had one he seldom or
never used.
Resolved, That if said Van Der Zee does not
comply with the request to sell the same, Colonel
Hay shall seize the Bellows, and have the same
apprized by two indifferent persons, and pay such
value to the said Van Der Zee.
Owing to the great want of lead and the scarcity
of the same, the Committee resorted to the follow
ing as one source of supply:
Resolved, That Mr. Isaac D. Fonda be requested
to attend the Quarter Master General, or any of his
Deputies, in taking all the lead out of the Cesh Win
dows in the houses in and about this City, and that
he use all the Caution in his power to prevent any
Damage being done to the Window Ceshes, etc. ,
etc., by the means aforesaid.
July 30th- — Daniel Campbell and John Sanders,
of Schenectady, were arrested for refusing to take
continental money.
August 4th — Whereas, The approach of the Ene
my to the northward has caused anumber of families
from trrrs County to move into this City, and a
number having Milch Cows and no pastures to put
them in, and it being suggested to this Board that

416

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Edward and Ebenezer Jessup (who are gone oyer
to the Enemy) have a large tract of pasture land
near the City:
Therefore, The said families are hereby empow
ered to put their Cows into the said pasturage, under
the inspection of Cornelius Van Deusen, who will
permit families of eight or more persons to put in
two cows; of less than eight, one cow.
August icth — Resolved, That all inhabitants of
this State, who have fled to this City for protection,
and have no houses to put their families in, are
hereby empowered to use such empty houses in
this City as they can find.
Messrs. Jeremiah Van Rensselaer and Matthew
Visscher, the Committee appointed to examine the
accounts of Gerrit Lansing, Jun1', Treasurer, report,
That he has produced Receipts for the Sum of
^"8,658.18.3 and that said Treasurer ought to be
discharged therefrom.
The said report is hereby confirmed, and the
said Treasurer may retain in his hands the sum of
,£85.11.3, as a compensation for his trouble.
Adam Helmer, having, at the risque of his life,
come out of Fort Schuyler to give information:
Resolved, That he be paid ten pounds as com
pensation. Colonel Myndert Roseboom is hereby appointed
to provide and issue provisions to such Persons —
Refugees — who are not able to support themselves.
August 14th — By minutes of this date, it ap
pears that Leonard Gansevoort was directed by a
resolution of the ist instant to proceed to Kingston,
and there deposit the Records of the City and
County of Albany.
Resolved, That two Companies of Rangers be
raised and put under command of Captains Robert
Woodworth and George White, to quell Robberies
and disloyalty in different parts of this County, the
officers to receive Continental pay.
August 2 ist — Patroon's Island and the farm of
Courtlandt Schuyler, deceased, were designated as
pasture land for cattle of refugees.
August 27th — The house of James Mather, who
was ordered to leave the city, and take his family
and affects with him, was this day rented to Abra
ham Bloodgood, a good and loyal citizen.
August 30th — John Abbott was appointed to
keep the town clock in repair.
September 2d — Resolved, That the following
persons, with their families, be sent to the Enemy
in case General Gates should approve of the
measure. [Mrs. Abraham C. Cuyler, Henry
Cuyler, and several others are named. ]
Whereas, The Legislative Body of this State are
ordered to Convene at Kingston, and a Council of
appointment will be chosen by ballot from the
Senate to appoint persons to fill the different civil
offices in this State; and as the Council may not be
fully acquainted with capable persons in the differ
ent parts of this County to fill the different offices:
Resolved, That it be recommended to the Commit
tees of the different Districts to consult with their
Constituents, and. inform the Council of the names

of such persons as they think most suitable, that if
they meet with the approbation of the Council they
may be appointed accordingly.
September 22d — A letter from General Gates
states that he expects General Burgoyne will speed
ily endeavor to come to Albany.
September 29th — Resolved, That Doctor Mal
achi Treat be empowered to take into his possession
the house of Abraham C. Cuyler for the Wounded
and Sick Officers.
October 9th he was authorized to use any un
tenanted houses for hospital purposes.
Captain McAlpine having gone over to the
Enemy, his furniture, farming utensils and Cattle
were seized and sold for the public good.
September 22 — Mrs. Cuyler, wife of Abraham
C. Cuyler, formerly Mayor of this City, applied for
a permit to move to New York City.
Resolved, That said permit be granted on con
dition that she goes at her own expense and de
livers an inventory, under oath, of all the effects she
was in possession of at the time her and husband
went over to the Enemy, and where such effects
can be found.
Resolved, That the Revd Samuel Swertteger
be liberated from confinement upon his entering
into Bond in the sum of $500 for his future good
behavior. November 6th — Whereas, This Committee stands
indebted to many persons who are in great Distress
for want of the money, and as the State Treasury is
in a low state:
Resolved, That application be made to the Com
missioners for Sequestering the Assetts of Persons
gone over to the enemy in the Middle District of
this County, for the said sum of ^"2,000.
Resolved, That Philip Van Rensselaer, Esq., be
requested to replace the Lead taken from the win
dows of the different houses in and about this City.
Resolved, That one hundred Dollars be paid
unto Major Ezekiel Taylor for apprehending one
Jacob Miller.
Resolved, That such persons who require to
speak with any of the prisoners Confined in Gaol,
be permitted to do so through the hole in the Door,
in the presence and hearing of the Gaolers, and
that the Gaoler be allowed by the person desiring to
Speak aforesaid, \ as compensation for his trouble.
November 19th — Resolved, That a list be made
of the well affected persons in this District, and that
said list be sent to Peter R. Livingston, with re
quest to deliver to the order of the Chairman of this
District a quantity of salt, not exceeding two quarts
per Head.
Pay roll of Captain William Winne's Company
was laid before this board, amounting to ^"20. 17.-
6^, which is allowed and ordered to be paid for
services performed in apprehending a number of
disaffected persons.
November 29th — Harmanus Ten Eyck brought
in a charge of £3 103. for freight on an Iron Stove
sent to Fish Kill for the use of the Convention of
this State, Ordered to be paid.

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD.

411

December 7th — Jeremiah Vincent having some
time ago received from this Committee the sum of
ten pounds to perform certain secret services, in
stead of doing which he went over to the Enemy:
Resolved, That one of the two Cows left on the farm
of said Vincent be sold and a return made of the
said ten pounds, and a return made of the over
plus to the wife of the said Vincent, and that this
Committee dispose of the other cow.
December 15th — Resolved, That William Gilli
land be remanded to prison, as proof has this day
been made before this Board of his further Inimical
Conduct to the United States.
1778 — Election of New Committee was held
throughout the County of Albany, January 2, 1778.
January 6th — It appearing to this Committee
that Daniel David and David Gibson, under the
sanction of power given them by the Committee
of Sequestration, have taken to their own use, not
only the property of Persons gone over to the En
emy, but also such persons as reside amongst us;
therefore Resolved, That the said David Gibson and
Daniel David be apprehended and put in Close
Confinement, unless they find sufficient surety for
their appearance before any Court of Jurisdiction to
answer said Complaint.
The following Officers are hereby appointed to
serve the New Committee, just elected : John Bar
clay, Chairman ; John M. Beeckman, Deputy
Chairman ; Matthew Visscher, Secretary ; Jacob
Kidney, Waiter. \
In regard to holding a New Election in the Dis
trict of Cambridge, The Committee are of opin
ion that a nevv Election be held, and will appoint a
day for that purpose. In respect to the Discrimina
tion of such as are entitled to vote, this Committee
would rather submit it to the inhabitants of that
District ; at the same time they are of opinion that
many persons went over to the Enemy through fear,
some through the persuasion of artful and design
ing persons, others through the allurements of gain
and the prospect of seeing their oppressed country
in the hands of its base Invaders. However, such
conduct, be their motives what they may, it is a
conduct that will ever be held in detestation by
every man that is fired with the love of Liberty or
attachment to his injured Country. Notwithstanding
the most vigorous efforts of those wretches, many of
whom have plunged Their Daggers in the breasts of
many of Their Bosom friends, we would remind
our Countrymen that the God of Justice has de
clared Victory in our favor and put many of our
Enemies in our Power. The Brave are ever Hu
mane. Let us now Convince our Enemies that we
seek not to spill their blood, and that we fight only
for that Liberty which God hath conferred upon us.
Let us now exercise Mercy (one of the Attributes
of Heaven), as far as is consistent with the good
or safety of our Country, and by acts of Clemency
forgive our offending Brethren, provided they show
Signs of Contrition for their past offenses and prom
ise of amendment in future. Those who have
53

taken the oath of allegiance and perjured them
selves, or such as have seduced others from their
allegiance to the State, we are of opinion ought
not to interfere in our Elections.
January 7th — Resolved, That a subscription be
set on foot for the use of the Ruined Settlers of our
Frontiers. January 15th — The Committee appointed in the
Second Ward delivered to the Chairman ^"97. 14-
8, being the Collection made in that Ward for the
use of the poor.
February 19th — The military authorities having
authority to impress Teams and Sleighs wherever
found, when they would not hire voluntarily for
that purpose, the farmers of the Surrounding Coun
try feared to come to the City, with Wood and other
Supplies; therefore
Resolved, That no sleighs or horses by which
fire wood and other necessaries are brought to this
City shall be seized or impressed in coming to or
going from said City.
March 16th — Moses R. Van Vranken confessed
that he had bought Butter for one shilling per
pound in Specie, and Sold it for 6. 8. in Conti
nental Currency, for which he was deemed to be
dangerous to the State, and put in confinement
till further orders.
March 1 8th — Remembrance Smith Complained
to the Board that he had been fined £^o for selling
about two gallons of Rum Without License.
March 24th — Resolved, That it is the opinion of
this Board that £¦$ per barrel for tar, delivered at
Albany, is reasonable, when the persons making
the same are excused from Military Duty.
The last entry in that part of the Journal of the
Committee that has been preserved, is under date
of June 10, 1778, as follows:
Resolved, That Gerrit Lansing, Junr, John J.
Bleecker, and Stewart Dean, or any two of them, be
and they are hereby appointed a Committee to ex
amine and audit the Accounts of this Board, and
that they be allowed each 20/ per day, while in ac
tual service, for their trouble and expense; and it is
further Resolved, That the said Committee enter upon
this necessary business with all dispatch, and that,
immediately on the Completion thereof, they Re
port to this Board.
COLONIAL, PROVINCIAL AND CONTI
NENTAL ASSEMBLIES.
We deem it appropriate to this history to give
the names of the officers in these assemblies, of
whatever class, that represented Albany County, and
some of the local transactions in connection with
them. colonial conferences.
The first movement in New York State, looking
toward the union of the colonies against the ag
gressions of the Crown, was made by the New York
Assembly, October 17, 1764. It adopted resolu
tions approving the resolutions of the New York
City merchants relative to the oppressive legisla
tion of Parliament, and directed that a memorial be

418

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

forwarded to the Court of Great Britain, assuming
the expense of urging it upon the home govern
ment. A committee of six was appointed to take
the matter in charge, of which Philip Livingston, of
Albany, was Chairman.
In 1690, 1754 and 1765, Colonial Conferences
were held. The Conference of 1765 was called to
meet in the City of New York on the first Tues
day of October then next, to consult together on
the present circumstances of the colonies, and the
difficulties to which they are and must be reduced
by the operation of the Acts of Parliament for levy
ing duties on the colonies. Massachusetts, Con
necticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Delaware and South Carolina were
represented. The Conference adopted a petition to the King,
prepared by Philip Livingston ; another to Par
liament, by James Otis ; and also published a
" Declaration of Rights and Grievances," claiming
the right of taxation themselves, the right of
trial by jury, and the right of petition, by John
Cruger. Albany was represented in this Conference by
Philip Livingston. THE PROVINCIAL CONVENTION.
In March, 1775, the several counties in the
province of New York elected deputies to a Pro
vincial Convention, to be held in the City of New
York on the 20th of April, 1775, for the purpose
of choosing delegates to represent the colony in a
Continental Congress. This Convention met at
the Exchange, in New York City, on the day
appointed. Albany was represented in this Con
vention by Peter R. Livingston, Walter Livingston,
Philip Schuyler, Abraham Ten Broeck, Abraham
Yates, Jr. Philip Livingston, of Albany, was Pres
ident. This Convention elected delegates to the
Continental Congress, to concert and determine
upon such measures as shall be judged most effec
tual for the preservation of American rights and
privileges. STATE OR PROVINCIAL CONGRESSES.
These bodies were what the Assembly subse
quently became, the members being elected in the
same manner. There were four of these Con
gresses. The first began in New York, May 22,
1775, and had three sessions, May, July and
October. The last session adjourned November
4th. The Second Congress began November 14,
1775, and adjourned sine die, May 13, 1776.
The Third Congress convened May 14, 1776,
and adjourned sine die, June 30, 1776.
The Fourth Congress convened July 9, 1776,
and adjourned sine die, May 13, 1777.
The Delegates to these Congresses from Albany
were :
First Congress. — Robert Yates, Abraham Yates,
Volkert P. Douw, Jacob Cuyler, Peter Silvester,
Dirck Swart, Walter Livingston, Robert Van
Rensselaer, Henry Glen, Abraham Ten Broeck,
Francis Nicoll.

Second Congress. — Abraham Ten Broeck, Abra
ham Yates, Jacob Cuyler, Francis Nicoll, Robert
Yates, Henry Glen, Peter Silvester, Peter R. Living
ston, John James Bleecker, Leonard Gansevoort,
Henry Oothoudt, Robert Van Rensselaer.
Third Congress.— Abraham Ten Broeck, Abra
ham Yates, Leonard Gansevoort, John Tayler,
Mathew Adgate, John J. Bleecker, Peter R. Liv
ingston, Christopher Yates, John Ten Broeck,
Henry Glen, Francis Nicoll.
Fourth Congress. — Abraham Yates, Jr., Robert
Yates, Robert Van Rensselaer, Matthew Adgate,
John Tayler, John Ten Broeck, Abraham Ten
Broeck, John James Bleecker, Jacob Cuyler,
Leonard Ganesvoort, Peter R. Livingston.
CONTINENTAL CONGRESS.
The Delegates from Albany County were : Session,
April 20, 1775, Philip Schuyler; Session, April 13,
1777, Philip Livingston, Philip Schuyler; Session,
March 25, 1778, Philip Schuyler; Session, October
16, 1778, Philip Schuyler; Session, October 18,
1779, Philip Schuyler; Session, September 12, 1780,
Philip Schuyler; Session, October 26, 1781, Philip
Schuyler; Session, February 3, 1784, John Lan
sing, Jr., Walter Livingston; Session, October 26,
1784, John Lansing, Jr., Walter Livingston; Ses
sion, March 29, 1785, Peter W. Yates; Session,
February 27, 1786, Peter W. Yates; Session, Jan
uary 26, 1787, John Lansing, Jr., Peter W. Yates,
Abraham Yates, Jr.; Session, February 2, 1788,
Abraham Yates, Jr., Leonard Gansevoort; Session,
January 30, 1788, Abraham Yates, Jr.
CONVENTION TO FORM THE CONSTITUTION.
The Convention to form a Federal Constitution
met May 14, 1787. It was composed of delegates
from all the States, with the exception of Rhode
Island. Its proceedings were secret, but an ac
count of them was afterwards drawn up from Mr.
Madison's notes. George Washington was Presi
dent. At last a constitution was agreed upon, but
only 39 of the 55 delegates signed it. On Sep
tember 17, 1787, the new constitution was trans
mitted to Congress, and by it referred to Conven
tions of the several States for adoption or rejection.
On June 17, 1788, a Constitutional Convention,
called for the purpose of deliberating upon the
adoption of the Federal Constitution, assembled at
Poughkeepsie. It was one of the most important
bodies that ever met in this State. George Clinton,
Governor of the State, was elected President. The
delegates from Albany were John Lansing, Jr.,
Henry Oothoudt, Dirck Swart, Anthony Ten Eyck,
Israel Thompson, Peter Vrooman, Robert Yates.
The adoption of the Constitution was violently op
posed, and the Convention was a scene of animated
and at times angry discussion. But on July 26th,
the Convention adopted and ratified the Constitu
tion by a vote of 30 to 27, seven members of the
Convention not voting. The following members
from Albany voted against it: John Lansing, Jr.,
Henry Oothoudt, Israel Thompson, Robert Yates.
The other members from Albany did not vote.

THE WAR OF 1812.

419

Governor Clinton, President of the Convention, was
also opposed to the Constitution.
The intelligence of the adoption of the Constitu
tion was received with great rejoicing by the people
at Albany, and by a vote of the Common Council
it was unanimously resolved to celebrate the event
in an appropriate manner. The 8th day of August
was set apart for the occasion. Every trade and
profession united in the jubilee, forming an im
posing procession. A description of the procession
and the proceedings occupied two pages of the
Albany Gazette of August 28 th. It was in charge
of James Farley, Marshal, and moved through
Watervliet, Market (now Broadway), to the Fed
eral Bower, a commodious building prepared for
the occasion, standing on the Hights west of
Fort Frederick, and commanding an extended view
of the city. The edifice was 154 feet long, 44
feet wide, and raised on four rows of pillars fifteen
feet in hight, close wreathed with foliage. Eleven
arches were built in front. Above the arches, em
bowered in festoons of foliage, were white oval me- "
dallions, with the names of a ratifying State on
each. In this beautiful structure the dinner took
place. This over, the procession re-formed and
moved down State Street to Pearl, to Columbia, to
North Market, to Court Streets, and into a large
field south of old Fort Orange, where it was dis
missed, by the marching away, at intervals, of the
respective divisions.
When the procession reached Green Street, a
party of opponents to the Constitution made an
attack upon it, and a skirmish ensued. They had
procured a loaded cannon and brought it to bear
upon the procession. One of the assailants was in
the act of discharging it, when Jonathan Kidney
sprang from the procession and succeeded in spik
ing the gun. A company of cavalry in the proces
sion then charged upon the assailants and dispersed
them. There were several outbreaks in the city growing
out of the adoption of the Federal Constitution,
among which was a general melee in State Street.
Among the combatants were some of the most em
inent men of the times; canes, clubs, and cobble
stones were used with great freedom, and many
persons were more or less injured, but fortunately
none fatally. 
THE WAR OF 181 2.
This war has been called the Second War with
Great Britain, the Last War with Great Britain, and
the Second War for Independence. It is usually
denominated as written at the heading. It was
formally declared June 19, 181 2, and closed with a
treaty of peace, signed at Ghent December 24, 1814.
The brilliant battle of New Orleans, fought under
Andrew Jackson, January 8, 181 5, occurred after
the treaty was made. It was not a day of cable
grams, and the news of peace did not reach this
county until February 12th.
The English government was not satisfied with
the issues of the revolutionary war; and was dis
posed to make encroachments upon what were

deemed national rights. Among other things it
claimed the right to board and search American
vessels for deserting British soldiers and sailors.
This claim was exercised in a manner so obnoxious,
as to call for most decided remonstrance from our
Government. Continued abuses of this kind led
to open war.
The public feeling in regard to the expediency
of this war was far from unanimous. Indeed,
those who took opposite sides in the matter were
very bitter towards each other. No . such bitter
ness probably has existed in regard to any other
political question, unless it be that of slavery,
since the days of the Revolution of 1776. The
Democrats, as a party, favored the war; the Fed
eralists opposed it, mostly for commercial reasons.
They were called the war party and the peace party.
Both, no doubt, were influenced by honest love of
country. The Albany press was divided — Solomon South
wick conducting the Democratic paper, called the
Albany Register, and Charles R.Webster, the Fed
eralist paper, called the Albany Gazette. It is stated
that, as an exhibition of party feeling, the office of
the Gazette was threatened with destruction by the
more violent and ignorant democracy of that day.
The public were notified by the Gazette that every
man connected with that office was armed against
any mob, and ready for resisting attack at any
moment. No attack was made. But many a war
of bitter words was fought at street corners and in
public places, sometimes resulting in blows. The
skirmish on State street, April 21, 1807, when the
war controversy was raging, between those two
eminent citizens, Governor John Tayler, Democrat,
and General Solomon Van Rensselaer, Federalist,
shows something of the spirit of parties before and
during this war. The trial that followed was pub
lished in a pamphlet, and is mentioned in Munsell's
edition of Worth's " Random Recollections."
We are sorry lo be able to give so little explicit
information concerning the military transactions in
Albany County during this war. Our examination
of the newspapers of the time gives little help;
and the Adjutant-General's office does not con
tribute anything in regard to the formation and
officering of companies and regiments for service.
This explains the fragmentary condition of this
article. It is quite certain that Albany County was deeply
interested in this war, and furnished many officers
and men. We insert here an alphabetical list, taken
from the "Index of Awards on Claims of the
Soldiers of the War of 1812, as audited and allowed
by the Adjutant and Inspector-Generals," pursuant
to the State Laws of 1859, Chapter 176, in the
hope that it may lead some of their descendants
to give us reliable information in regard to their
services. This is supposed to contain the names
of most of the militia from Albany County who
enlisted in this war.
Orrin Abbott, Albany; John Adams, Jr., Bethle
hem; Joseph Arkles, Bethlehem; Michael Artcher,
Albany; Chester Atherton, Albany; Ammiel Bar-

420

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

nard, Albany; Asabel S. Beens, Albany; Orange
Beeman, Berne; Michael Belle, Berne; Henry
Benn, Rensselaerville; George Benn, Rensselaer
ville; Daniel J. Beyea, Jerusalem; Harmanus
Bleecker, Jr., Albany; Nicholas Bleecker, Jr.,
Albany; Adam Blessing, Guilderland; Garritt H.
Bloomingdale, Albany; Henry Bunzer, Knox;
Matthew Boom, by widow, Albany; William
Bunzey, Knox; Cornelius Bounds, Albany; Joseph
Bradley, Berne; Adrian Bradt, Albany; Henry P.
Bradt, New Scotland; John C. Bradt, Albany;
Salvo Brintnall, Albany; John Bussy, Albany;
Asa Brown, Jerusalem; Richard Brownell, Berne;
Stewart Bull, Coeymans; Abraham Balson, Albany;
Calvin Butler, Albany; Henry Cacknard, Coey
mans; Daniel Carhart, Coeymans; John Carr,
Coeymans; Henry Carroll, Berne; Daniel P. Clark,
Albany; William Campbell, Watervliet; Henry
Chadwick, Watervliet; Elisha Cheesebro, Guilder-
land; Jeremiah Clute, Albany; David Cole, Water
vliet; Peter Colburn, Albany; James Cole, Cohoes;
John Cole, South Jerusalem; Peter M. Conger,
Watervliet; William Crandall, Rensselaerville;
Edward P. Crary, Knox; Frederick J. Crounse,
Guilderland; Philip DeForest, Albany; James W.
Dubois, West Troy; Martin Easterly, Albany;
Ebenezer S. Edgerton, Albany; Peter V. B. El-
mendorf, New% Scotland; Ethel Enos, Watervliet;
C. Ertzberger, Albany; Ralph Farnham, Albany;
Richard Filkins, Berne; Thomas Fish, Albany;
William Forby, Albany; John Fraligh, Westerlo;
Christopher Frederick, Guilderland; Luther Fris
bie, Albany; William Fuhr, Albany; John J.
Fulton, Albany; Joseph Gallup, Knox; Abiel
Gardner, Westerlo; Thomas S. Gillet, Albany;
Nathan B. Gleason, West Troy; Jonathan Gold-
waite, Albany; Daniel Green, Coeymans; Isaac F.
Groesbeck, Albany; Abraham Hagaman, Albany;
Oliver Hastings, Watervliet; Aaron Hawley, Beth
lehem; George Hawley, Albany; Ezra Haynes,
Watervliet: Charles Hazleton, Jerusalem; Jesse
Helligus, Berne; Josiah Hinckley, Jr., Westerlo;
Isaac Hitchcock, West Troy; William Holdridge,
Rensselaerville; Elias Holmes, Coeymans; John
D. Houghtaling, Albany; Reuben Hungerford,
Berne; Walter Huyck, Westerlo; Elisha Ingraham,
Berne; Moses Jay, Albany; James Johnson, Water
vliet; John Johnson, Albany; Daniel Joshlin, Berne,
Albany County; Daniel Joslin, Berne; Sylvanus
Kelley, Albany; John Lamoreux, Albany; Nicho
las I. Lampman, Albany; Henry Lasee, Water
vliet; William Latta, New Scotland; Daniel D.
Lawyer, Albany; Jacob Lewis, Albany; Aaron
Livingston, Albany; Jacob Loatwall, Albany;
Charles Low, Albany; Jeremiah Luther, Albany;
Robert McGill, New Scotland; Daniel Mcintosh,
Albany; John McMicken, Albany; Abraham Mar
tin, Albany; Derrick Martin, Berne; Jacob Martin,
New Scotland.; Henry T. Mesick, Albany; Thomas
Mitchel, Albany; Moses Mowers, Jerusalem; Will
iam Muir, Albany; John Myers, Albany; John
Newbury, Westerlo; Benjamin Northrop, Albany;
Nicholas Osterhout, Berne; Peter Osterhout, Albany;
Henry Ostrander, Jr., Guilderland; Henry Pad
dock, Albany; Aaron Palmer, Albany; David D.

Palmer, Berne; Stephenson Palmer, Berne; Anthony
Pangborn, Bethlehem; John Parker, Bethlehem;
Robert Patten, Albany; John Pier, 2d, Berne; Jacob
Place,. Albany; Jonas ""D. Piatt, Albany; John
Pruyn, Albany; Adam Relyea, Guilderland; Simon
Relyea, Albany; William Rhinehart, Berne; Jesse
E. Roberts, Watervliet; James Robinson, Albany;
John I. Schermerhorn, Berne; Henry I. Schoon
maker, Bethlehem; Courtland Schuyler, Albany;
Jacob Scott, Albany; John Scovell, Watervliet;
William Scrafford, Bethlehem; Abraham Severson,
Albany; John N. Severson, Guilderland; William
Seymour, Albany; Israel Shadbolt, West Troy;
John F. Shafer, Coeymans; Jacob Sharp, Albany;
Peter Shafer, Guilderland; John Shouts, Albany;
Stephen Simpson, Watervliet; John Skinkle, Al
bany; James Sloan, Berne; James Sloan, West
Troy; William J. Smith, Albany; Peter H. Snyder,
Albany; John Spoor, Albany; Lewis Stiman, Beth
lehem; John Stenkle, Albany; Cyrus Stone, Wes
terlo; John Stone, Albany; George W. Swartwout,
Westerlo; Peter Ten Eyck, Albany; Francis E.
Thompson, Albany; Thomas Tibits, Rensselaer
ville; William Truax, Berne; John Turk, Coeymans;
Conrad Turner, Jerusalem; David Turner, Water
vliet; Henry Turner, Albany; Jacob Turner, West
Troy; John Uran, West Troy; Cornelius Van
Aiken, Rensselaerville; John Van Antwerp, Albany;
Garret I. Vanderberg, Albany; Garret Vanderpool,
Bethlehem; Cornelius Van Derzee, Guilderland;
Peter Van Olinda, Albany; Cornelius W. Vedder,
Albany; Ebenezer C. Warren, Albany; Samuel
Warner, New Scotland; Joseph Werden, Water
vliet; Jacob White, Albany; John Wilda, Berne;
Hezekiah Wilks, Bethlehem; Benjamin Williams,
Knox; Henry Williams, Knox; Christian Willmon,
Berne; George Wilson, West Troy.
The war was largely fought at our own doors.
Stephen Van Rensselaer, known as the " Old Pa
troon," a Federalist, but a firm patriot and of reso
lute braveryand great wealth, was appointed Major-
General of the Volunteer Militia, by Governor
Tompkins. He proceeded, in the autumn of 181 2,
as ordered, to the invasion of Canada on the
Niagara frontier. A strong force of British troops
was posted, under General Brcck, on Queenstown
Hights, opposite Lewistown. A great battle was
fought here, October, 13, 181 2. The first attack
was made by Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer,
with 225 men, in the morning of that day. Bravely
advancing, Colonel Van Rensselaer was severely
wounded at the outset. Captain John E. Wool,
afterwards General Wool, of West Troy Arsenal,
pressed on as leader, and gained the Hights by a
vigorous assault of the battery. The British were
repulsed, and the brave General Brock was killed
in attempting to retake the battery. All the efforts
of General Van Rensselaer to bring reinforcements
across the river were resisted by a majority of his
troops, who pleaded that this was not a war of inva
sion. About a thousand, many of them raw and
undisciplined, went over, and were badly cut up or
taken prisoners. The General, disgusted by such
cowardice, and by the inefficiency of the service

THE WAR OF 1812.

421

everywhere, resigned his command October 24,
1 81 2, and returned to Albany.
Among the discouragements of this first year of
the war, was the surrender of General Hull, at
Detroit, August 9th. He was tried by court mar
tial at Albany, in 18 14, and convicted of cow
ardice, and sentenced to be hung; but was par
doned on account of former valiant services in the
Revolution, and from a conviction that his sur
render was more the result of over-estimating the
force of the enemy, and a humane desire to save
his men from threatened Indian butchery, than of
cowardice. There were many battles fought along the north
ern frontier through the war, some of them over
the Canada borders. It seemed to be a leading
purpose of the Government then in power to sub
ject Canada, as well as to defend our northern
lakes from the invaders. Much service was done,
much blood shed. The full record would tell of
much daring bravery and noble patriotism. We
have reason to believe that Albany County soldiers
were in most of these engagements. Among them,
besides that of Queenstown, were the battle of Og-
densburgh, February 22, 18 13; the capture of
York, now Toronto, April 27th; capture of Fort
George, May 27th; battle at Sackett's Harbor,
May 29th; battle at Stony Creek, June 6th; naval
battle of Lake Erie, under Commodore Perry, Sep
tember 10th; battle on the Thames, October 5th;
battle of St. Regis, October 23d; battle of Chrysler's
Farm, November nth; burning of Newark, De
cember 1 2th; capture of Fort Niagara, December
26th; retaliating destruction of Fort Niagara, at Lew
iston, Black Rock, Youngstown, and other frontier
settlements, December 18th to 30th. In 18 14, we
record the capture of Oswego, May 5 th; Fort Erie,
July 3d; battle of Chippewa, July 5th; battle of
Lundy's Lane, July 25th; battle of Fort Erie, Au
gust 15th; sortie at Fort Erie, September 17th; bat
tle of Plattsburgh, September 6th to nth.
From old newspapers, and other sources, we
gather the fragmentary items that follow, relating
to the soldiers of 1 8 1 2.
When General Stephen Van Rensselaer returned,
October 31, 1812, to Albany, after the battle of
Queenstown, a large concourse of private citizens
and dignitaries turned out to escort him to the
city. Major John Lovett was his Secretary, and
Colonel Solomon Van Rensselaer, one of the bravest
men that Albany ever produced, was his Aid. He
was long disabled by four bullet wounds received
in this battle. One Gf the balls he carried in his
flesh until his death.
November 8, 181 2, Commodore Perry was met
by a large body of citizens between Albany and
Schenectady, and escorted to Douw's Tavern. From
this point he was taken to the Capitol, accompanied
by a large procession. Here he was presented with
the freedom of the city in a gold box, and with an
elegant sword. Then the procession conducted him
through the principal streets. On the way, the
Hero of Lake Erie was hailed with loud accla
mations. At the close of the march, at the Eagle

Tavern he was received by the Mayor and other
public officials and assigned apartments. A bril
liant ball was held in the evening; houses were
illuminated; and the motto, "We have met the en
emy, and they are ours," displayed. On the next day
an elegant public entertainment was given. He
continued his journey to his family, residing in
Newport, R. I. The news of Perry's victory was
first received in Albany, September 1 7th, with great
demonstrations of joy.
About this time, Captain R. C. Skinner, of the
artillery in the Albany Volunteer Regiment, had a
recruiting office at Ladd's Coffee House, corner of
Green and Beaver streets, for the purpose of com
pleting five companies of infantry, two of riflemen,
and one of artillery, which he reported as filling up
in the city and county with wonderful success. He
stated that the city had raised a fund of many thou
sand dollars for the benefit of the soldiers who should
enlist. November 28, 18 12, the local papers report the
return, after an absence of three months on Staten
Island, of Captain Bulkley's company of Albany
volunteers and Captain Walker's company of artil
lery. Their soldier-like appearance is highly com
mended. Colonel John Mills, of this city, fell in the battle
at Sackett's Harbor, May 29, 181 3. He com
manded the Republican artillery in that battle, with
as many militia as he could enlist. He was given
a conspicuous place in the line of battle, and fell
gallantly in brave, but vain, endeavors to stop his
men, who ingloriously fled after the first fire. So
says General Jacob Brown, in his report. Many of
the men assigned him were raw troops, unaccus
tomed to subordination. His remains were re
moved to the city and interred in Capitol Park,
May 29, 1844, and finally, with military honors,
put to rest, a few years ago, in the Rural Cemetery.
August 15, 1 813, the arrival of two hundred
British prisoners at the encampment in Greenbush
is reported; also, of British deserters from Canada;
and the arrival and departure of General Wilkinson
on the same day (Sunday), on his way to the fron
tier. The British flag taken by Lieutenant Wm. L.
Marcy, afterward Governor Marcy, at St. Regis,
October 23, 18 12, was presented to the State of
New York as a trophy of war, January 5, 1813.
The act was accompanied with much ceremony;
with processions, bands, and speeches, in which
were joined the military of Troy and Albany.
At the battle of Ogdensburgh, fought October 12,
1 81 3, under Colonel Forsyth, mention is made of
the distinguished bravery of a single company of
Albany artillery.
Among the honored names of men who have had
homes in Albany County, and who are mentioned
as having done service in this war, are found those of
Stephen Van Rensselaer, Solomon Van Rensselaer,
John Lovett, John E. Wool, John Mills, Colonel
Forsyth, and William L. Marcy, already men
tioned; also, William J. Worth, John O. Cole,
Thurlow Weed, Lieutenant Gansevoort, Lieutenant
Rathbone, and Ambrose Spencer, Jr. We shall be

422

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

very grateful to any one who may, hereafter add to
this list.
On the reception of the news of peace, the whole
city was illuminated.
The surviving soldiers of the campaign of 1812,
about one hundred in number, residing in New
York City, came to Albany by railroad, February
1, 1853, and marched through the city under Col
onel Haight, escorted by the Republican artillery.
Here, on the next day, they were joined by thirty-
eight of their old companions belonging to Albany,
and escorted to the Capitol, where they were ad
dressed by Governor Seymour.
A corps of about fifty veterans of the War of 1 8 1 2
joined in the celebration of American Independence,
July 4, 1854, under General John S. Van Rensse
laer. After the procession was dismissed, they met
in convention at the Capitol and passed a series of
resolutions.
THE WAR WITH MEXICO.
Texas was a part of the domain of Ancient Mex
ico. When Mexico became a republic, in 1824, it
was made one of its united states. It had been
claimed by our Government as a part of the Loui
siana purchase in 1803 ; but this claim was not
pressed. Texas began to be settled by Americans
as early as 1821. It rebelled against the govern
ment of Santa Anna, and declared itself an inde
pendent state, March 2, 1836. This independence
was not admitted by Mexico. On the 4th of July,
1845, it was, with its own consent, admitted as
one of the States of our Union. This act caused an
immediate rupture between the United States and
Mexico. Added to this, our Government had a
series of complaints against Mexico for aggressions
upon our vessels in the Gulf of Mexico, confisca
tions, in its own territory, of the property of Amer
ican merchants, violations of treaty, and other acts'
of injustice, extending back for a period of nearly
forty years. General Taylor was sent at once, with
an army of occupation, to Texas to hold and defend
it. On the 24th of April, 1846, the first blood was
shed in the War with Mexico. The contest, under
Taylor, Scott, Wool, Worth, and others, was short
and sharp. The treaty of peace was signed Febru
ary 2, 1848, which gave to the United States, Upper
California, New Mexico and adjacent territory, and
conceded Texas. The distance of the field of strife
was so great, that Albany County had only a small
part in the contest, but that part belongs to our
history. An Act of Congress was passed providing that 50
regiments of volunteers should be raised in the

United States for this war. Under the enactment,
seven regiments were allotted to the State of
New York, but only two were furnished.
The first regiment was raised by Colonel
Stevenson in 1846. In this, one company of
about 80 members was recruited in Albany, com
manded by Captain John B. Frisbie and Lieutenant
Edward Gilbert. This regiment, soon after it was
formed, proceeded to Governor's Island and re
mained there about one month, when it was sent
to Mexico, by way of Cape Horn, in sailing vessels.
Arriving at its destination, it joined General
Scott's division of the army, and participated in all
of his marches and battles till the close of the war.
November, 1846, the second regiment of New
York volunteers was raised, commanded by Col
onel Ward B. Burnett. In this regiment was a
company of Albanians, commanded by Captain
Abraham Van O'Linda and Lieutenant Adison
Farnsworth. In December of this year, this regiment went to
Fort Hamilton, and there remained until the follow
ing January, when it proceeded to Mexico by way
of the gulf. Landing at Vera Cruz it was joined
to General Scott's command, and participated in all
his engagements, from the battles of Vera Cruz to
the capture of the City of Mexico.
By an Act of Congress in 1847, ten regiments of
regular troops were called for from the State of
New York.
Under this call the Tenth Regiment of Infantry
was formed of ten companies. This regiment was
credited to Albany, and contained many soldiers
from this city and county, although the greater
number were recruited from outside of the county.
It was commanded by Colonel Robert E. Temple
and Lieutenant-Colonel James McGown. This
regiment was joined to General Taylor's division of
the army, and remained with him until the close
of the War.
The Third Regiment of Dragoons contained a
number of soldiers recruited in this section, but
no distinct company of Albany men. Such was
the case with a number of regiments which, served
in the Mexican War.
The soldiers from this county, so far as we are
able to learn, did good service. A few of them
still remain to tell the story of entering the Halls
of the Montezumas. Among them is Mr. Will
iam L. Burgess, to whom we are under obliga
tions for most of the facts here presented.
The brave Generals John E. Wool and William
J. Worth, who were among the most prominent
and successful leaders in the Mexican service, were
formerly residents of this county.

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

423

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

THIS was a war between citizens of the same
country, and has, hence, been sometimes
called The Great Civil War. But our heading best
expresses its character. It came after a long and
exciting controversy between the slave-holding and
non-slave-holding States, involving the questions of
the moral right or wrong of slavery; the political
policy of its extension and perpetuation; and of State
rights generally. There was also a bitter jealousy
between the Southern and Northern States as to the
balance of power between those States, shown in a
constant struggle to secure the public offices and
patronage. The South was not improving by
slave labor; the North was rapidly increasing in
wealth and power by free labor.
The Southern States began to secede from
the Union and form a Southern Confederacy
when they found Abraham Lincoln elected Presi
dent of the United States. South Carolina was the
first in the secession, December 20, i860. Ten
other of the slave States followed. Their artful
leaders had accumulated in the forts and arsenals
on their borders, a large quantity of the public
munitions of war — seized those forts, and put
them in the hands of fellow-conspirators.
The attack of the rebels upon Fort Sumter took
place April 11, 1861. This overt act was the
actual beginning of the war.
Its record is a story of fratricidal strife unparalleled
in the world's history, whether we consider the
malignity of the seceders, or the determined self-
sacrificing patriotism and bravery of the friends
of the Union of all the States; or whether
we attempt to count the suffering and loss of
human life, or estimate the devastation made and
the treasure expended. But its results showed
the superior value of grand free labor, when con
ducted by heads educated in free schools and
hands addicted to habits of productive industry.
The war practically closed with the surrender
of the rebels under General Lee to General Grant,
April 9, 1865. What follows is only the merest
outline of the part borne by Albany County in this
war. The ladies and citizens of all classes, under dif
ferent voluntary organizations, did a vast amount
of labor, and expended great sums of money for
the comfort, encouragement, and relief of the sol
diers and their families during the whole time of
the war.
The Citizens' Military Relief Fund contributed
$20,479- The Ladies' Army Relief Association was organ
ized in Albany, to co-operate with the U. S. San
itary Commission, as early as November, 1861, to
aid sick and wounded soldiers. Similar societies
existed in Coeymans, Rensselaerville, Knox, and
other towns in the county. Useful articles were

made or purchased, and forwarded in barrels and
boxes continually. At one time 287 were sent; at
another about 600. Fruit, vegetables, and cor
dials, and delicacies of every sort were gathered
from farm-houses, grocers, and families, and in
cluded in the benefactions. This local association
of ladies raised also $19,212.30 in money during
the four years ending January 1, 1866, for disabled
soldiers and their families.
The Army Relief Bazaar was erected in the
Academy Park, and kept open as a great Sanitary
Fair of Albany, Troy, Schenectady, and other
places in the State, during the months of February
and March, 1864. It was a building remarkable
for size and fitness. It was filled with articles of
utility and beauty on sale. Everything was con
ducted with order, zeal, and energy. It was a
grand success. The net proceeds, amounting to
$81,908.50 were paid into the treasury of the U.
S. Sanitary Commission.
The Albany Auxiliary to the U. S. Christian
Commission, between April 1, 1864, and January
1, 1866, received $23,740.20 in money, besides a
great amount of books, papers, provisions, delica
cies, and minor articles of convenience made in
sewing circles, which were contributed for the spir
itual, social, and physical needs of the soldiers.
A Refreshment Committee fed 16,709 soldiers
as they passed through Albany in coming or going.
Their expenses were over $7,600.
Besides these, much time was spent and thou
sands of dollars in money were given by private
citizens. And the deeds of heroic patriotism and
Christian charity done by gentlewomen, never can
be fully expressed in words.
The War Expenses of the County of Albany are stated as
follows :
For County Bounties  $3, 100,700.00
For Recruiting and Enlistments  225,125.39
Total  *3,32S»825-39
Raised by County Taxes  $641,441 .47
Raised by County Loans  2,889,552.00
Total  $3,930,963.47

We now give a brief record of military service
organized in the county. We would be glad if we
could give the names and services of every soldier.
On April 16, 1861, the day following President
Lincoln's call for 75,000 men to suppress the re
bellion, the Legislature of New York State passed
an Act to authorize the embodying and equip
ment of a volunteer militia, and to provide for the
public defense. One week later, 155 companies
were recruited in this State, and ready for accept
ance into service. The number of men furnished
by the State under each call was as follows : Call for

424

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

militia, April 15, 1861, 13,906; call for volunteers,
July 22, 1861, 120,231; July 2, 1862, 59,705;
August 4, 1862, 20,980; October 17, 1863, and
February 1, 1864, 75,751; March 14, 1864, 44,-
435; July 18, 1864, 83,843; December 19, 1864,
32,965; militia for 100 days, 5,640; for less than
100 days, 15,987. Whole number militia, 35,533;
whole number of volunteers, 437, 910. Total, 473,-
443- "The first regiment in Albany County to respond
to the Governor's order, issued on the evening of
April 21, 1861, to move on to Washington next
morning at nine, was the Twenty-fifth Regiment,
N. Y. State Militia. It was officered as follows :
Michael K. Bryan, Colonel; James Swift, Lieuten
ant-Colonel; David Friedlander, Major; John M.
Kimball, Adjutant; Cornelius B. O'Leary, Surgeon.
Captains : Company A, Jacob Fredendall; B, Tim
othy McDermott; C, John Gray; D, Frank Mar
shall; E, J. J. Huber; F, M. H. Kenneally; G, H.
Mulholland; H, — Godfrey; K, Hale Kingsley;
L, F. Newdorf. With 479 men all told, the
regiment proceeded to Washington, arriving on the
morning of the 29th, and was quartered near the
Capitol. Ordered to Arlington Hights, the regi
ment built Fort Albany, and after three months'
service, returned to Albany, numbering 575 men.
May 31, 1862, the regiment was again mustered
into the United States service for three months,
and ordered to Suffolk, Va. On its return, Col
onel Bryan and many of its officers and men en
listed in the volunteer service. Colonel Michael
K. Bryan, born in Ireland in 1820, came to Albany
in 1827, and was educated in the public schools.
He was for many years in the employ of his cousin,
Colonel John McCardle, but became proprietor in
1853 of a restaurant and hotel. In 1850 he was
Captain of Albany Worth Guards; and was succes
sively Major, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Colonel of
the 25th N. Y. S. M., which he led twice in his
country's service. He afterwards raised the 175th
Regiment, N. Y. Volunteers, and was made its
Colonel, and proceeded to Louisiana early in the
winter of 1862. He was mortally wounded in a
charge at Port Hudson, La., June 14, 1863, and
died at the head of his command. He was a
noble patriot.
Third Regiment Infantry, N.Y. S. V., was organ
ized in Albany, May 7, 1861, and was composed of
ten companies, of which five were recruited from
Albany, viz. : C, Captain E. G. Floyd; E, Captain J.
W. Blanchard; F, Captain H. S. Hulbert; G, Cap
tain J. H. Ten Eyck, Jr. ; I, Captain E. S. Jenny.
May 8th, Frederick Townsend was elected Colonel,
S. M. Alford, Lieutenant-Colonel, and George
D. Bayard, Major. Alexander H. Hoff was made
Surgeon, and Jonathan O. Moore, Adjutant.
The regiment left Albany May 18, 1861, with
796 officers and men; was in the engagement at
Big Bethel, and afterwards stationed at, Fortress
Monroe, until its term of enlistment expired. May
8, 1863, it went into service as a veteran com
mand, with 800 men; received 700 conscripts, 200
recruits, and, by consolidation, the 1 12th N. Y. Vol
unteers. It did distinguished service at Fort Wag

ner, Charleston, Bermuda Hundred, Petersburg,
Fort Gilmer, Fort Fisher, Wilmington, and in
many skirmishes. Colonel Townsend resigning
July 2, 1 86 1, the regiment continued in service
under Colonel Alford, and was mustered out Au
gust, 1865. Colonel Townsend has since been Ad
jutant-General of the State, and still resides in the
city, one of its most esteemed citizens.
The Forty-third Regiment, New York Volun
teers, was organized at Albany and mustered into
the United States service between August 25 and
September 21, 1861, when it reached the field, with
the following commissioned officers: Francis L.
Vinton, Colonel; Charles H. Pierson, Lieutenant-
Colonel; Benjamin F. Baker, Major; James H.
Thompson, Surgeon; James H. Bogart, Adjutant.
Captains: Company A, John Wilson; Company B,
I. R. Van Slyke; Company E, E. Cass Griffin;
Company D, Charles H. Clark; Company E, Jacob
Wilson; Company F, James C. Rogers; Company
G, William H. Mathews; Company H (Yates
Rifles), Edwin C. Drake; Company I, George W.
Reed; Company K, Harvey S. Chatfield; Captain
Charles B. Mitchell, 1S62; Captain John L. New
man, 1862; Captain David Burhans, 1862; Cap
tain James D. Visscher, 1862. The regiment left
Albany September 16, 1861, with 706 men; re
ceived 1,621 recruits, and returned in July, 1865,
with 290 men and 13 officers. It was at the front
all through the war; was distinguished for dash
and courage; and was in the following engage
ments: Lee's Mills, Warwick Creek, Siege of York-
town, Golding's Farm, Seven Days' Battles,
Antietam, Fredericksburg, Mary's Hights, Salem
Church, Banks' Ford, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg,
Rappahannock Station, Locust Grove, Mine Run,
Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, Coal Har
bor, Petersburg, Fort Stephens, Charleston, Ope-
quam, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, Petersburg (two
engagements), Sailor's Creek.
Among those who fell was Major (afterwards Col
onel) James Henry Bogart, who was born March 24,
1839, in Albany; was educated at Albany Academy.
Enlisted under Colonel Vinton as Adjutant; was
Major in the i62d, and was killed by a shell while
advancing with his regiment at Port Hudson, June
14, 1863. Captain (afterwards Colonel) John Wil
son, born in Albany December 29, 1838; educated
at Albany Academy; was proficient in scholarship;
raised Company A of the 43d in a week, and
marched to the barracks August 3, 1861. Hewas
commissioned as Major, July 17, 1862; Lieutenant-
Colonel, September 24, 1862; Colonel, February
1, 1864. May 6, 1864, his right knee was shat
tered by a rifle ball; his leg was amputated next
day; and he died May 8th, greatly lamented.
Captain (afterwards Major) William Wallace;
born in Albany January 8, 1835; educated in public
schools; was foreman in Weed, Parson & Co.'s office;
active in the Fire Department; raised Company F
for the 43d Regiment in September, 1862; was
confined in Libby Prison in May and June, 1863,
until exchanged. He was commissioned Major,
April, 1864. While leading a charge at the Battle
of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864, was shot through

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

425

the head. In the same engagement Lieutenant
Colonel Fryer was mortally wounded. Both sleep
among the bravest of the brave.
Captain David Burhans, Company H, was born
in Bethlehem June 24, 1840; became mail agent
from New York to Troy. In September, 1862, he
raised a company for the 43d, and was with his
regiment until he fell, fighting at the front, at Po
River, May 10, 1864. He was esteemed for ex
alted virtues.
Captain (afterwards Colonel) James D. Visscher
was born in Albany March 26, 1829; was in employ
of Weed, Parsons & Co. ; was member of the Bur
gesses Corps and went with them, and 25th Regi
ment New York State Militia, in April, 1861, to
Washington for three months' service. He enlisted
and took command of Company G, 43d Regiment,
September 4, 1862; was promoted Colonel of the
regiment after the battle of the Wilderness, May 1 2,
1864; and was killed at Fort Stevens, Washington,
July 12, 1864. Hewas beloved for his Christian
virtues and soldierly conduct.
Captain Douglass Lodge, son of Mr. Benjamin
Lodge, born in Albany September 22, 1842; at
tended public schools, the Academy, and Annap
olis Naval School. He enlisted in Company B,
25th New York State Militia, in April, 1861;
re-enlisted in 43d Volunteers; Third Sergeant,
Company A. He was promoted, for bravery, to
Quartermaster-Sergeant, September, 1861; Second
Lieutenant, April, 1862; First Lieutenant and
Captain, November 3, 1862. At the charge on
Mary's Hights, May 3, 1863, Captain Lodge
planted the regiment's colors on the enemy's
works. On the following day he received his death
wound. This young soldier died, greatly beloved
and honored, May 5th.
The Tenth Regiment National Guards was
organized at Albany in 1861, early in the rebellion,
and performed guard and other duty at the call of
Governor Morgan. It tendered for the third time
its services for nine months; went into service
November 21, 1862, with 864 men, officered as
follows: Ira W. Ainsworth, Colonel; Frank Cham
berlain, Lieutenant-Colonel; David M. Woodhall,
Major; Richard M. Strong, Adjutant; William H.
Craig, Surgeon. Captains: Company A, Lionel
U. Lenox; Company B, Charles E. Davis; Com
pany C, Stephen Bronk; Company D, James
Dodds; Company E, James McFarland; Company
F, James R. Harris; Company G, Morgan L. Fil
kins; Company H, Harmon N. Merriman; Com
pany I, E. H. Tomlinson; Company K, William
H. Brandenburg. It was assigned to General
Banks, Department of the Gulf, as the 177th New
York Volunteers. It served in the campaigns
from New Orleans to Port Hudson, and did some
of the best fighting at the latter place, suffering
severely. On the fall of Port Hudson, and at the close of
its nine months' service, it returned home and
resumed its original position in the Ninth Brigade
National Guard.
Among those of the 177th who fell in the field

were-

Adjutant Richard M. Strong, son of Anthony
M. Strong; was born in Albany June 10, 1835,
and died at Bonnet Carre, La., May 12, 1863. He
had graduated with honor at Albany Academy
and Princeton College; was admitted to the Bar in
1856; was Judge Advocate of the Ninth Brigade
National Guard, and Adjutant 1 77th Volunteers,
at the time of his death.
Lieutenant John Peter Phillips, Company F;
born in Fishkill July 25, 1820; when 16 re
moved to New York, afterwards to Albany. Went
with the Tenth Regiment to Louisiana; contracted
fever, and died September 4, 1863, four days after
his return home.
Sergeant Charles H. Frederich, born in Albany
October 23, 1841; attended public schools. En
listed in Company B, Tenth National Guard; died
of typhoid fever at Bonnet Carre, La., March 10,
1863. Sergeant Joseph C. Vanderhoop, born July 25,
1843, in Albany; was a marble cutter. Joined Com
pany B, 25th Militia, and went with that regiment
to Washington, April, 1861. May 23d, Sergeant
Vanderhoop captured two prisoners, supposed to
have been the first taken in the War for the Union.
He enlisted in the 177th Regiment, and died of
typhoid fever in Louisiana.
Sergeant William Crounse, born in Guilderland,
September 19, 1830; came to Albany in 1855.
Enlisted in the Tenth National Guard; went to
Bonnet Carre, La., where he died June 28, 1863.
Forty-Fourth or People's Regiment — After New
York's quota under the first call had been
filled, it was deemed advisable to ask each town
and ward to be represented by furnishing one man,
armed and equipped by voluntary subscription, to
form a Zouave regiment to avenge the death of
Colonel Ellsworth, and serve during the war. It
was organized October 16, 1861, and left October
20th for the seat of war, 850 strong, composed
largely of Albany City and County men. Its
officers were as follows : Stephen W. Stryker, Col
onel ; James C. Rice, Lieutenant-Colonel ; James
McKown, Major; William Frothingham, Surgeon;
Edward B. Knox, Adjutant. Captains: Company
A, Edward P. Chapin ; Company B, L. S. Larra
bee; Company C, William H. Revere, Jr. ; Company
D, Freeman Conner ; Company E, Michael McN.
Walsh ; Company F, Campbell Allen ; Company
G, William L. Vanderlip ; Company H, William
N. Danks; Company I, A. Webster Shaffer; Com
pany K, William H. Miller. Captain Rodney G.
Kimball, 1862; Captain B. Munger, 1862. The
regiment was mustered in September 24, 1861,
and served at Yorktown, Hanover Court House,
Gaines' Mills, Turkey Island, Malvern Hill,
Groveton, Antietam, Fredericksburgh, Chancel-
lorsville, Aldie, Gettysburg, Jones' Cross Roads,
Rappahannock Station, Mine Run, Wilderness,
Spottsylvania Court House, North Anna, Bethesda
Church, Petersburg, and the Weldon Railroad.
The regiment was mustered out September 24,
1864, and returned 170 in number. During
its service upwards of 700 recruits joined its
ranks.

54

426

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The following, among others in the regiment,
died in service —
Lieutenant-Colonel (afterwards Brigadier-Gen
eral) James C. Rice; born in Worthington, Massa
chusetts, 1828; graduated from Yale College, 1853;
studied law; enlisted April, 1861 ; did brave ser
vice and was transferred to the 39th New York Vol
unteers Garibaldi Guards ; commissioned First
Lieutenant, then Adjutant; he was appointed
Lieutenant-Colonel of the Forty-Fourth; went to the
front; was promoted Colonel; and finally was made
Brigadier-General for gallant conduct at Gettys
burg. He was killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May
10, 1864. A devoted patriot, a sincere Christian.
His last words were, "Turn me over that I may die
with my face to the foe." Sergeant Walter H,
Angus, born June 10, 1845 ; enlisted October 21,
1861, in the Forty-Fourth; was in all engagements
with his regiment, escaping unhurt until the fatal
shot. Was promoted Second-Lieutenant October
9, 1863; killed at Petersburgh June 21, 1864.
Ninety-first Regiment, New York Volunteers,
was raised in the autumn of 1861, mostly in
Albany, and was called into the United States'
service for three years, December 16, 1861, with
847 names on the roll. It left Albany December
20th, and Governor's Island January 8, 1862;
arriving at Key West, January 20th. The officers
were as follows : Jacob Van Zandt, Colonel; Jon
athan Tarbell, Lieutenant-Colonel; Charles G.
Clark, Major ; Robert F. Keeven, Adjutant ;
Robert Morris, Surgeon. Captains : Company A,
John W. Felthousen ; Company B, George W.
Stackhouse ; Company C, J. G. McDermott ;
Company D, Henry Crounse ; Company E, Will
iam Lee ; Company F, John Cooke ; Company
G, Allan H. Jackson ; Company H, J. B. Collins;
Company I, Charles A. Burt; Company K, Henry
S. Hulbert The Ninety-first was stationed at Pen-
sacola seven months; went to New Orleans under
General Banks. Was in three engagements at Port
Hudson, Irish Bend, Bayou Vermilion, Gonzales'
Plantation, and many skirmishes. It suffered se
verely. Returned home July 19, 1864. Nearly all
re-enlisted. It was stationed six months near Bal
timore, and recruited 1,600 strong. In February,
1865, it was assigned to First Brigade, Third Di
vision, Fifth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac,
before Petersburgh. Was in the battles of White
Oak Ridge, Five Forks and many minor engage
ments. The following are among those who fell in
battle: Major George W. Stackhouse, enlisted 1861;
Second Lieutenant, Company A, 25th New York;
promoted Captain and Major 91st New York,
March, 1863. Died June 19, 1863, from gun
shot wounds. His two brothers, James and Will
iam, were with him at Port Hudson.
Captain John A. Fee, born in Albany, January
16, 1837. Enlisted October, 1861 ; appointed
Orderly - Sergeant ; promoted Second-Lieutenant
48th New York. Was Commandant at Tybee Is
land until April, 1863. Promoted Captain, April,
1863 ; ordered to Army of the Potomac. Was in

battles of Chester Hill, Drury's Bluff, Coal Har
bor. He was wounded in the arm June 30, 1 863,
and died July 15 th.
Lieutenant William P. Clark, born in Water
vliet, January 27, 1835; educated in common
schools of Albany. Enlisted in April, 186 1; served
three months with 25th New York State Militia;
re-enlisted in September, 1861 ; served until April
14, 1863, when he was shot through the head at
Irish Bend, La.
Lieutenant Sylvester B. Shepard, born in Albany,
July 25, 1 84 1. Was in Burgesses Corps, and with
25th New York State Militia, in its three months'
service. Recruited Company C, 91st New York
Volunteers. Appointed Second-Lieutenant, pro
moted First-Lieutenant, and appointed Adjutant.
He was killed at Port Hudson, June 14, 1863,
while in command of his Company.
Eleventh New York Havelock Battery was
organized at Albany, October 26, 1861 ; mustered
in January 6, 1862, with 158 men and the follow
ing officers: A. A. Von Puttkammer, Captain; R.
A. Warrington, First-Lieutenant ; James Rodgers,
First-Lieutenant ; G. A. Knapp, Second Lieuten
ant ; John E. Burton, Second Lieutenant The
battery left Albany January 1 7, 1862. Was engaged
in the following battles : Second Bull Run, Fred
ericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine
Run,. Spottsylvania Court House, North Anna
River, Tolopotony Creek, Coal Harbor, Peters
burg, and Deep Bottom. It was engaged about
every day, from September, 1864, till Lee's sur
render, April 9, 1865.
The following are among those who fell in
action: Lieutenant Henry D. Brower, born in Albany
November 12, 1839. Raised first installment of
men for Havelock Battery; mustered in as private,
October 1, 1861 ; transferred to 12th Battery as
Corporal; promoted Lieutenant, March 30, 1863.
Was killed at Reams' Station, August 25, 1864.
Sergeant John R. Warmington was killed at Chan
cellorsville, May 3, 1863. Corporal William H.
Van Gaasbeek was killed at Coal Harbor, June 6,
1864. Corporal William H. Broughton was killed
at Petersburg, September 28, 1864.
One Hundred and Thirteenth Regiment, N. Y.
Volunteers, or Seventh Regiment, N. Y. Volun
teer Artillery, was organized as the Albany County
Regiment in the 13th Senatorial District, under
the auspices of the following committee, appointed
by Governor Morgan, viz. :
Hon. Eli Perry, General J. F. Rathbone, Hon.
Lyman Tremain, J. Tracey, T. W. Olcott, George
Dawson, Hon. C. B. Cochrane, Hon. J. V. L.
Pruyn, Hon. Franklin Townsend, Samuel Anable,
W. M. Van Antwerp, Hon. George H. Thacher
and Hon. Henry A. Brigham. The first man was
enlisted July 24, 1862. Over 1,100 men were
mustered in August 18, 1862, with the following
field and staff officers:
Colonel, Lewis O. Morris; Major, Edward A.
Springstead; Adjutant, Frederick L. Tremain;
Quartermaster, E. Willard Smith; Surgeon, James
E. Promfret; Assistant Surgeons, J. W. Blaisdell,

WAR OF THE REBELLION.

427

George W. Newcomb; Chaplain, Humphrey L.
Calder. Captains: Company A, Joseph M. Mur
phy; Company B, Samuel E. Jones; Company C,
John A. Morris; Company D, Charles McCulioch;
Company E, Norman H. Moore; Company F,
Robert H. Bell; Company G, Francis Pruyn;
Company H, John McGuire; Company I, William
Shannon; Company K, Samuel L. Anable.
Lieutenants: Company A, A. Sickles, ist, John
B. Read, 2d; Company B, J. Kennedy, ist, Will
iam E. Orr, 2d; Company C, H. N. Rogers, ist,
M. Bell, 2d; Company D, C. Schurr, ist, H. C.
Coulson, 2d; Company E, A. V. B. Lockrow, ist,
J. F. Mount, 2d; Company F, N. Wright, ist, R.
Mullens, 2d; Company G, S. McEwan, 1st, C. W.
Hobbs, 2d; Company H, H. C. Ducharme, ist, F.
Pettit, 2d; Company I, J. O. Hair, ist, J. M. Ball,
2d; Company K, M. H. Barckley, ist, G. Krank,
2d. The regiment left Albany August 19, 1862. Was
stationed in the defenses of Washington. Changed,
December, 1862, from infantry to artillery, and
designated as Seventh N. Y. Volunteer Artillery.
It was recruited to 152 men in each company. It
built, reconstructed and cleared timber before the
following works, and garrisoned them : Forts Reno,
De Russey, Kearney, Gaines, Bayard, Ripley,
Franklin and Alexander; Batteries Smead, Reno,
Cameron, Vermont and Martin Scott.
In spring of 1864, two companies were added,
with officers as follows — Captains: Company L,
James Kennedy; Company M, George H. Tread
well. Lieutenants: Company L, F. W. Mather, ist,
C. C. McClellan, 2d; Company M, G. B. Smallie,
ist, E. S. Moss, 2d.
May 17, 1864, the regiment joined the Army of
the Potomac, near Spottsylvania Court House, Vir
ginia. Was engaged in the battles of the Po River,
North Anna River, Tolopotony Creek, Coal Har
bor, Petersburg, Deep Bottom and Ream's Station.
It suffered severely, and was greatly reduced in
numbers. February 22, 1865, the remnant was
ordered to Baltimore, till mustered out June, 1865.
Colonel Lewis Owen Morris, born in Albany,
August 14, 1824; studied at Albany Academy. In
1847 was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the
First Artillery, U. S. A., and went out to Mexico.
Afterwards he was in constant service in Florida,
or on Texan frontier. May, 1861, he was in com
mand of Fort Brown, Texas. Refused to surrender
or give up United States property to the Southern
ers. Was in service at Roanoke and Newbern, and
captured Fort Macon. In 1862 he took command
of the 113th N. Y. Volunteers, which he retained
until killed by a rebel sharpshooter, June 3, 1864.
Major Edward A. Springsteed, born in Albany,
January 31, 1840. Commissioned First Lieutenant
43d N. Y. Volunteers, August 17, 1861; Captain,
113th N. Y. Volunteers; promoted Major. Com
manded at Forts Kearney and De Russey. Com
manded 2d Battalion at Lauren's Hill, Spottsyl
vania, North Anna, Coal Harbor, Milford Station.
Had been promoted Colonel. He was killed, while
leading his men, at Ream's Station, August 25,
1864, before his commission reached him.

Captain James Kenned)', born in Albany, Feb
ruary 15, 1833. Was commissioned First Lieuten
ant, Company B, 113th Volunteers, August 4,
1862; promoted Captain, Battery L, February 12,
1864. Wounded at Coal Harbor, June 3d, at
Ream's Station, August 25th, and captured. Died
in Libby Prison of typhoid fever, September 10,
1864. Captain John A. Morris, a native of Albany, born
August 31, 1835. Was member of Company B,
Washington Continentals; mustered into United
States service August 7, 1862, as First Lieutenant,
Company C, 1 13th Volunteers; promoted Captain,
August 19th. Was in constant service until May 19,
1864, when a bullet pierced his heart at Spottsyl
vania Court House.
Captain Nathaniel Wright was a native of Kirt
land, O. When seventeen, came to Albany as
clerk. Enlisted in the 113th; mustered in, August
11, 1862, as First Lieutenant. Sent to Albany to
recruit regiment, 1863; returned to field and was
shot dead at Ream's Station, August 25, 1864.
Captain Robert H. Bell, born in Lancashire,
England; came to America when nineteen. Was
foreman of Company No. 8, Albany Fire Depart
ment. Served three months with 25th N. Y. Militia;
raised company for the 113th, and was commis
sioned Captain. Was wounded May 19, 1864, at
the Wilderness, and "died June 20th.
Lieutenant William Emmet Orr, born in Albany,
September 12, 1841; studied at Rochester Univer
sity. Was commissioned Second Lieutenant, Com
pany B, 113th N. Y. Volunteers, August 7, 1862;
promoted First Lieutenant, Company F, January,
1864. A. A. A. G., on Colonel Morris' staff. Died
June 2, 1864, from wound received at North Anna
River. Lieutenant James H. Morgan was a native of
Albany; studied law. Commissioned First Lieuten
ant, Company G, 18th N. Y. Volunteers, 1861;
re-enlisted in Seventh N. Y. Volunteer Artillery.
Taken prisoner at Ream's Station, August 25, 1864.
Died at Salisbury, N. C, November 21, 1864.
Lieutenant Michael H. Barckley, born in Knox,
November 15, 1840; graduated Union College,
1862. Raised a Company in Knox and was com
missioned First Lieutenant Company K, 113th
Regiment. He went with his regiment through all
its engagements. Was wounded at Coal Harbor,
and died July 6, 1864.
Lieutenant Charles S. Evans, born in Rensselaer
ville, November 10, 1840. Enlisted, August 2,
1862, Company K, 7th Volunteer Artillery; pro
moted Lieutenant Company I. June 5, 1864, he
was killed at Coal Harbor, buried there, and his
body never found afterwards.
Lieutenant Charles L. Yeardsley was born in
West Troy, May 19, 1843. Enlisted August 13,
1862, Company H 113th New York Volunteers;
was promoted Orderly Sergeant and Lieutenant
April 15, 1864. He was killed at Petersburg,
Va., June 3, 1864, while leading the charge of
Company G.
Lieutenant John B. Read, Adjutant 7th New
York Volunteer Artillery; was born Octobej

428

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

8, 1830, at Stuyvesant, N. Y. Helped raise a
Company for 113th Regiment, and was commis
sioned Second Lieutenant Company A, August 4,
1862. Was wounded at Coal Harbor, and left
within the enemy's lines.
Sergeant James S. Gerling was born in England
October 7, 1845. Came to America when nine
years old. Enlisted July, 1862, in the 113th Regi
ment; promoted Corporal and Sergeant. Wounded
in the Wilderness June 3, 1864, again August
24th, and died October 8, 1864.
Sergeant George Sanders was a native of Eng
land; came to Albany when fourteen years old.
Enlisted August 1, 1862, Company D 113th Regi
ment. He was wounded in the head by a shell at
Coal Harbor, and died in hospital June 18, 1864.
He was promoted Corporal, April 11, 1863, and
Sergeant, January 24, 1864.
Sergeant William H. Bell was born in Berne
March 28, 1841. Enlisted August 18, 1862,
Company K, 1 13 th Regiment. He died in the ser
vice, March 15, 1864.
SUPPLEMENTARY NOTICES.
Colonel Edward Frisby was born in Trenton,
N. Y., August 3, 1809. When seventeen, came
to Albany; was a hatter. At eighteen he was
Corporal in a Militia Company; promoted Ensign,
89th Infantry, September 2, 1831; Captain, August,
1833; Major, March, 1835; Lieutenant-Colonel,
September, 1839; Colonel, August, 1841. He
was Colonel of 25th Militia Regiment, and Briga
dier-General nth Brigade, N. Y. S. M. He went
to the front with the 25th Militia Regiment, April,
1861; returned and raised the 30th New York
Volunteers, and was commissioned Colonel. The
Regiment left Albany June 27, 1861. He was
killed at Second Bull Run battle, August 28,
1862. Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Lyman Tremain,
son of Hon. Lyman Tremain, was born in Dur
ham, N. Y. , June 13, 1843. He attended Albany
Academy, Anthony's Classical Institute, and Ho
bart College. He enlisted in 113th Regiment,
raised a Company and was promoted Adjutant;
he was transferred to First Brigade, Third Division
of the Cavalry Corps; afterwards to Second Cavalry
Division, Second Brigade. He was in all the en
gagements with his division under General Sheri
dan in the Wilderness, Todd's Tavern, Childsburg,
Meadow's Bridge, Richmond Heights, Haw's
Shop, Spottsylvania, St. Mary's Church, Ream's
Station, Malvern Hill, Lee's Mills, and others.
He was made Lieutenant-Colonel of 10th New
York Cavalry, and was wounded at Dabney's Mills
February 5, 1865, and died three days later.
Captain Harmon N. Merriman, born in Frank
lin, Pa., September 19, 1819; was a lawyer.
Helped raise the Tenth Regiment; was Captain
Company H; was wounded at Port Hudson May
27, 1863, while leading his company, and died
on his way home July 15, 1863.
Captain John McGuire was born in Ireland in
1829. Came to Albany in 1845; was Sergeant of

the Albany Worth Guards; enlisted in 25th New
York Militia and served with the Regiment in
1861 and 1862. September, 1862, he joined 175th
New York Volunteers; was appointed First Lieu
tenant and promoted Captain. He served with
Regiment at Port Hudson, in Shenandoah Valley,
and North Carolina, where he was killed by guer
rillas April 15, 1865.
Lieutenant James Williamson was born in Scot
land October 2, 1829. Was First Lieutenant 10th
Regiment, New York State Militia, July 8, 1861.
When the Regiment was changed to 177th New
York Volunteers, he was appointed First Lieuten
ant Company H. He was in battles of Poncha-
toula and Port Hudson. At the latter he was
killed May 27, 1863, while leading a charge.
Orderly-Sergeant Peter M. Shaler was born in
Scotland March 11, 1842. Came to America at
the age of 10 and to Albany in 1858. He joined
10th Regiment, New York State Militia. Went to
war with this Regiment. Was wounded March 24,
1863, at Ponchatoula, La., and died July 18,
1863. Sergeant Alexander D. Rice was born in Albany
April 10, 1837. Enlisted August 6, 1862, in
Company C, 7th New York Heavy Artillery, and
promoted Sergeant. He was wounded June 3,
1864, at Coal Harbor, and died June 28th.
Sergeant Andrew T. Hotaling, Company A, was
born in New Baltimore July 23, 1838. Enlisted in
Company A, 7th New York Artillery, November 7,
1862; promoted Corporal, December 1, 1862; Ser
geant, May 1, 1863. He was wounded at Peters
burg June 22, 1864, and died in hospital July 26,
1864. Sergeant Paul Quay was born in Knox July 30,
1 84 1. Enlisted in the 7th Regiment August 1,
1862; taken prisoner June 16, 1864; sent to An-
dersonville, afterwards to Milan, where he died in
prison. Our space admits of no more extended notice of
the noble part acted by Albany County in the
cruel War of the Rebellion. We are indebted to
Dr. Clark's "Heroes of Albany" for most of our
facts, which we have been obliged to express here
in a very condensed form.
In the history given in this volume of the Lew
Benedict Post, George S. Dawson Post, and Lewis
O. Morris Post, of the G. A. R., will appear hon
ored names of some other men of patriotic hearts
and brave deeds, who came back from that fearful
struggle to dwell with us, and carry on still longer
the battle of life as useful citizens. Some others
will also appear in the history of our local military
organizations. To one who wishes to know more of these men,
and to keep their names and deeds in lasting re
membrance, we commend the observance of Dec
oration Day, when soldiers and citizens unite in
processions, and proceed to decorate with flowers
the soldiers' graves in Rural Cemetery and other
last resting places of the dead patriots in this
vicinity. May this custom, and the other appro
priate ceremonies of the day, long be annually
observed !

BOARD OF CHARITIES.

429

WEST POINT CADETS.
The following list, obtained from the Adjutant-
General in the War Department at Washington, un
der date of June 1 8, 1855, contains, so far as can
be ascertained from the records of this department,
the names of cadets admitted to the U. S. Military
Academy at West Point, from Albany County, N.
Y. , since 181 5:
*Dudley W. Allanson, 1818; William Blood-
good, 1819; Stephen V. R. Ryan, 1821; Horace
Smith, 1821; John R. B. Gardenier, 1823; Abra
ham Van Buren, 1823; *Isaac P. Van Antwerp,
1823; *Burritt Shepherd, 1824; Chileab S. Howe,
1825; Henry Van Rensselaer, 1827; Daniel P.
Whitney, 1828; *Richard Ten Broeck, 1829; *Ed-
ward Elliott, 1829; Archibald Campbell, 1831;
John Bratt, 1833; John Hillhouse, 1838; Egbert L.
Viele, 1842; Albert J. S. Molinard, 1847; *Thomas
E. Collins, 1851; *Henry S. Hulbert,i853; *George
T. Peckham, 1854; William H. Harris, 1857; James
F. Gregory, 1861; Leonard G. Hun, 1865; Henry
P. Walker, 1869; *Theodore P. Bailey, 1875;
Daniel E. McCarthy, 1877; Frank De W. Ramsey,
1 881; f William G. Thompson, 1885.
The establishment of a U. S. Military Academy
at West Point was recommended by George Wash
ington in 1*793. It was established by Act of U.
S. Congress, March 12, 1802, and organized in
1812. 
SPECIAL OFFICERS CONNECTED WITH
SOME OF THE INDUSTRIES OF
ALBANY COUNTY.
Chapter XL, Laws of 1784, enacts that no pot
or pearl-ashes shall be shipped for exportation
until inspected by a properly appointed inspector,
who shall start the same out of the casks and care
fully examine, try and inspect the same, and sort
the same in three different sorts if necessary; to be
placed in separate casks, well hooped and coopered,
and branded with the quality, weight, place of in
spection, and name of inspector. His fees were
sixpence per hundredweight.

In case of any dispute between inspector and
owner, any magistrate within the county may issue
a warrant to three indifferent judicious persons of
skill and integrity — one to be named by the owner,
one by the inspector, and one by the magistrate —
to be viewers to view and search the said pot or
pearl-ashes and report of the quality thereof as soon
as conveniently may be. The fees and costs were to
be paid by the party against whom the report was
made. By the Laws of 1788, General Inspectors of Lum
ber were authorized, and by Chapter LIX of the
Laws of 1 .80 1, an inspector for the City of Albany
was authorized to inspect all timber, boards, plank
of every kind, scantling or shingles, before they are
exported out of this State, and mark with a mark
ing iron on each board, plank, or piece of timber
the initial letters of his Christian name and surname,
with the number of feet in each board, plank, or
piece of timber; and no board shall be marked as
merchantable and good but what is at least six
inches wide, clear of sap, and shall be of the actual
thickness sold for. Provided, however, that all
plank and boards which are less than six inches
wide, clear of sap.may be exported as sap-plank and
boards, if they be of the thickness of merchantable
plank and boards and marked with the letter "S"
in addition to the inspector's mark. The inspectors
were not to trade in lumber, and received 37-^ cents
for each thousand feet, superficial measure, in
spected; fourteen cents per ton of forty cubic feet
for square timber; and twenty cents per bundle for
shingles. Chapter 152, Laws of 1829, authorized the per
son administering the government of this State to
appoint Inspectors and Admeasurers of Wood and
Timber for Albany County, for the term of three
years, whose fees were 12| cents for every 100 feet
of timber inspected and measured; four cents per
cord for parcels of wood containing less than ten
cords, and three cents per cord for parcels of ten
cords and upwards; besides his traveling fees of six
cents per mile. These fees to be paid jointly by
the buyer and seller.

BOARD OF CHARITIES.

ONE of the most beneficent of the departments
organized by the State and doing service for
the whole State, is the State Board of Charities. It
is not in our plan to give a detailed history of this
Board, nor a statement of the important service it is
rendering ; only enough in a general way to make
known its organization, its object, and the nature
of its work; and then to exhibit, in abridged tabu
lar form, what it is doing for Albany County Insti
tutions of Charity.
A State Legislative Act was passed May 23,
1867, providing that "the Governor, with ad
vice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint
* Left the Academy before graduation, t Present cadet.

eight persons, one of whom shall reside in each
judicial district of the State, to be desisnated
as the Board of State Commissioners of Public
Charities." Their term of office was to be eight
years; but the first appointed were to be classed so
that one should go out each year, the place to be
filled by the appointing power as above. In 1870,
the Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, Comp
troller and Attorney-General were made members
of the Board, ex-officio.
The Commissioners, by this statute, have full
power to inquire into the financial condition of
the institutions under their care; to examine into
the methods of instruction and management of

430

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

inmates; the conduct of officers; condition of build
ings; and all other matters pertaining to their use
fulness. Under this aspect of its duties the Board
is constituted the "moral eye" of the State, and
its adviser in relation to the condition and care of
the unfortunate classes under its guardian care.
For these services the members of the Board re
ceive no compensation other than reimbursement
for actual expenses.
The first Board of Commissioners were duly
appointed and confirmed in January, 1858, and
were as follows: First District, Nathan Bishop;.
Second District, Harvey G. Eastman; Third Dis
trict, John V. L. Pruyn; Fourth District, Edward
G. Foster; Fifth District, Theodore W. Dwight;
Sixth District, Samuel F. Miller; Seventh Dis
trict, Martin B. Anderson; Eighth District, F. H.
James. Two of these commissioners, Messrs.
Foster and Miller, are members of the present
Board. Little was accomplished during the brief term
of Henry C. Lake, the first Secretary. Dr. Charles
S. Hoyt, who was chiefly instrumental in the legal
establishment of this Board, was made Secretary
of the Board, June 5, 1868. The wisdom of this
choice has been proved by the remarkable fidelity
and success with which he has discharged the
duties of the office ever since. The work of the
Secretary had so much increased, that in 1874 the
present Assistant-Secretary, Hon. James O. Fan
ning, received his appointment. It was a most
fitting selection, as a faithful service of eleven years
has shown. Much of the out-door work has come
upon him; and nearly all of those arduous duties
connected with the office, such as correspondence,
collecting facts, and preparing and distributing re
ports and other documents, have been his special
charger Hon. John V. L. Pruyn, of Albany, a noble man,
one of the originators of this Board, and its first
President, died November 2, 1877. Rev. Dr. M.
B. Anderson succeeded him only a short time,
when Hon. William P. Letchworth, the present de
voted and judicious President, was elected.
By the statutes of May 21 and June, 1873, tne
name of the Board was changed to The State Board
of Charities. Its membership was increased to
eleven, and additional powers were conferred upon
it. The right of supervisory visitation was extended
to all charitable, reformatory or correctional
institutions, except prisons. Even private asy
lums are included. By this act any person or
association is prohibited from establishing any
asylum or institution of any sort for the custody
or treatment of the insane without obtaining a
license therefor from this Board. It provides, also,
for the appointment of a State Commissioner of
Lunacy, who is, ex officio, a member of this Board.

When, in 1873, tne act relating to State paupers
was passed by the Legislature, Albany was selected
as one of the five counties of the State for their re
ception, support and care. It thus came to have
a State Alms-house. The accommodations of
fered were for two hundred persons, and $2. 50 per
week was to be the price of support. At first
seventeen males and one female were assigned. Of
these, one died, the ist of January, 1874, two ab
sconded, and nine were removed from the State as
not belonging. This policy of determ ining the legal
residence of paupers and relieving the State of the
burden of their support by the removal of non-res
idents, has ever since been carried on.
December 31, 1874, there were in Albany County
Alms-house, thirty-five children born in that insti
tution during the year. Only three of these now
remain. The dependent children in this county
are, as fast as possible, placed in various asylums
in Albany. In 1875, the whole number was be
tween three and. four hundred. The price paid for
their maintenance is $1.50 per week.
Much might be written concerning the vast
amount of saving of expenditure by the judicious
oversight and management of this Board in regu
lating the lavish out-door relief; in the organization
of productive labor in the poor-houses; in remand
ing to their own country large numbers of foreign
paupers; in relieving our own citizens from the
burden of their support, and transferring them to
those persons or places upon whom it in equity
should devolve.
It is also justly claimed that, by the watchfulness
and care of this Board, there has come to be a greatly
improved condition of the poor-houses, a better un
derstanding of the objects and purposes of orphan
asylums, hospitals, and like charities; a general im
provement in the treatment and care of the insane
and idiots; an equitable law carefully carried out
relating to the settlement of paupers; in short, more
intelligence, more economy, less taxation and less
wrong-doing in the management of our unfor
tunate classes than before this State Board was es
tablished. We close our brief article with a tabulated state
ment of the names of the institutions in the County
of Albany under the supervision of the State Board
of Charities, and giving the principal items of
general interest, so far as figures can give them, at
intervals of five years.
We take occasion here to put on record that the
New York State Asylum for Idiots was first located
in Albany County. It commenced its useful work
in the City of Albany, October, 1851, and was re
moved to Geddes, near Syracuse, in September,
1855. The number of pupils admitted during that
period were, in 185 1, 23; in 1852, 26; in 1853,
17; in 1854, 8,

BOARD OF CHARITIES.

431

TABLE I.
ALBANY CITY HOMCEOPATHIC HOSPITAL.

Year.

Real Estate.

Personal
Property.

Total
Receipts.

Total
Expenditures.

Total
Under
Treatment During
the Year.

Total ._-
Discharged During
the Year.

Total
Remaining at End of
Year.

1870 

1875... 
$10,057 °°
21,000 00
1,000 00
$3,000 00
5,79° 42
6,230 72
$10,428 00
5,437 71
5-983 04
23
82
131
17
68
118
6
1880 
. I413
1885 
ALBANY HOSPITAL.
1870 
$48,000 00
$5,000 00
$22,913 25
$22,457 26
432
393
39
1875 
1880 
75,000 00
100,000 00
2,500 00
12,000 00
30,701 00
30,070 02
30,373 00
27,682 02
482 808
439 754
43 54
1885 
child's hospital.
1870 
1875 
1880 
1885 
$30,500 00
83
48
st. peter's hospital.
1870 
1875 
$100,000 00
100,000 00
55,000 00
$18,329 16
12,437 76
12,909 77
$18,252 26
12,432 43
12,565 56
376509477

35o449434
26
1880 
60
1885 
$1,000 00
43
TABLE II.
ALBANY GUARDIAN SOCIETY AND HOME FOR THE FRIENDLESS.
Year.
Real Estate.
Personal
Property.
Total
Receipts
for the Year.
Total
Expenditures.
Number
Supported During
the Year.
Number
Discharged
Number
Remaining at End of
Year.
1870 
$35,988 77
35, coo 00
40,000 00
35,000 00
$3,000 00
27,500 00
39,150 00
46,300 00
$32,625 04
3,420 02
4,086 70
9,250 75
$32,206 00
3,345 80
3,289 39
5,o53 05
3453
47 57
4 865
30
1875  ; 
454152
1880 
1885 
ALBANY ORPHAN ASYLUM.
[For Children Between Ages of 3 and 12. Incorporated March 30, 1881.]
1870 
$15,000 00
30,000 00
45,000 00
50,000 00
$12,456 69
30,694 65
33,066 41
27,448 77
$10,020 24
29,157 90
32,116 49
26,824 61
148
193
308421
46 4484
H3
102
1875 
$76,463 20
90,000 00
95,000 00
149
224308
1880 
1885 
babies' nursery.
1885 
$800 00
$2,200 00
$2,474 47
$2,461 83
29
11
18
CHILDREN S FRIEND SOCIETY.
[First opened December 1, 1856.]
1870 
$3,500 po
4,200 00
4,200 00
16,000 00
$200 00
3,400 00
14,800 CO
15,200 00
S5.527 43
2,882 20
3,137 67
17,377 20
$3,627 65
2,475 24
3,196 09
16,850 20
1885 
43a

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ST. VINCENTS FEMALB ORPHAN ASYLUM.
[Opened in 1845.]

TABLE III.
ALBANY COUNTY POOR-HOUSE.

HOME FOR THE AGED OF LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR.

1880 . ..
$43,700 OO
80,000 OO
$3,005 00
3,500 00
$2,750 00
3,500 00
130160
24 10
106
1885 
150
HOME FOR AGED MEN.
1880 
$35,000 00
35,000 00
$12,641 6l
$4,233 53
4,124 44
#3.993 68
4,H7 58
15
24
15
18
1885
6
HOUSE OF SHELTER.
[Incorporated January 4, 1869.]
$20,000 00
20,000 00
$3,550 00
4,050 00
$3,455 64
4,904 78
$2,623 42
4.178 56
78
165
s2
128
28
1885 
27
OPEN DOOR MISSION.
$10,600 00
$2,597 84
$2,096 04
58
38
20
ORPHANS' HOME OF ST. PETER'S CHURCH.
$6,000 00
$1,839 96
1,246 15
1,697 05
12,118 77
$1,575 19
1,141 41
1,206 24
1.953 10
18
29
27 19
3
12 4 5
15
17
10,000 00
$i,375 °°
9,786 56
23
14
st. Joseph's industrial school.
$75,000 00
83,116 00
116,198 40
127,289 00
$3,000 00
2,000 00
2,000 00
1,000 00
$8,752 90
10,877 84
15.483 65
22,480 49
$8,745 9°
10,089 4Z
14,197 86
22,326 63
136160
301315
10
3344 62
126
127
257
253
st. Vincent's male orphan asylum.
$16,000 00
45,000 00
58,000 00
32,000 00
$2,400 00
$13,762 23
10,154 18
8,508 22
12,046 24
$13,641 bo
10,126 31
8,391 58
ii,983 03
193 145 142157
59 3525 29
134
1875 
1880 
no
117
128
¦2
<
No. Persons
Supported.
T3 <D&
m 0
Sj.a
& -a
e
•6 <u
TS a
0u
18130 78
62
T3
s
crt
ui
O
1— 1
¦6 a
M
(Aa)
s dCU
Q
inO
'S3 a,
•i
*6
O
>rt
2
aho
'C 0
a
Jt V u
0rtO
120Il6"5112
Value of
Poor- house Establish ment.
Amount expended
for support.
»e
weekly nseeach :rson.
Male.
Female.
Total.
2^
<
1870 18751880 1885
945674 5>7486
563884 389 247
1,508
1,561 906 733
1.0331,160 479411
63 5055
64
172 71
5935
7
10 3
3
853
3 3 11
8
4
16 3
272 27 13
554509 291280
954
1,052 615
453
$2.86
$300,000 250,000 145,000
$21,700.00 23,068.00 27-897-43
1.90 1.45
2.50
U. S. OFFICERS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS.

433

UNITED STATES OFFICERS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS

OTHER INSTITUTIONS IN ALBANY COUNTY.

Prof. J. TENNEY, Kditor.

THE United States Arsenal is in the township
of Watervliet, within the boundary of the village
ot West Troy ; having the Hudson River on the
east, the Watervliet Turnpike and horse railroad
passing through the grounds on a line . with the
river, and the Erie Canal running through the
depot inclosure, between the front and rear build
ings, over which are two bridges. The local posi
tion is distant northeast from the new Capitol, Al
bany, six miles; nearly opposite the City of Troy;
and in latitude 42 degrees 43 minutes and 9
seconds, and longitude 73 degrees 42 minutes and
7 seconds. The establishment was located here in 1813,
upon about 12 acres of land which was the original
purchase, and was commenced in 18 14 under the
direction of Colonel George Bumford, of the ord
nance department; after which it was under the
supervision of Major Daliba, an officer of the same
department, who matured many of its details, and
introduced an excellent system of economy and
police regulations. These first officers have been
succeeded by the following:
Colonel Talcott, General W. J. Worth, Major
Baker, Major Symington, Major Mordecai, Colonel
Thornton, Colonel Hagner, Brevet-Captain O. E.
Michaelis, Colonel Burhngton, Colonel Mordecai,
Captains Michaelis, Metcalfe and Young.
The area of territory has been enlarged by several
purchases, and cessions Irom the State. At this
time the reservation contains 109 acres, the whole
inclosed by a wall eight feet high, except on the
east front, where there is an iron fence which
allows an open, clear outlook to the river.
The river front is 1,600 feet long, 800 feet of
which is finished, at a cost of $50,000, as a stone
wharf, where vessels as large as any navigating the
upper Hudson can unload. From the river it ex
tends westward, with a width of 1, 700 feet to the Erie
Canal, which passes through about 600 feet from the
river, and thence in triangular shape to a point about
1,000 feet from the canal, and within 200 feet of
the Delaware and Hudson Canal Co.'s railroad.'
The area within the inclosure now unoccupied
is arranged with taste, and skill has been exercised
in combining the useful with the agreeable. All
the appointments and construction of buildings are
nearly perfect. The roadways are substantial and
made of gravel interlaid with flag-stone walks,
while the spaces, or portions unoccupied, are kept
in lawns and garden-plats, which, with the many
shade trees, add to the general attractiveness.
65

The present permanent buildings required to
meet the demands of the various branches con
nected with the Arsenal, as well as offices, residen
ces and quarters, are arranged with admirable skill
with reference to their convenience and special
purpose of economic adaptability. They are con
structed of brick and iron, in plain, solid masonry,
without elaborate architectural design, and pre
sent a military appearance, increased by the war
supplies, and ornamented with many memorial
trophies of former victories on land and sea, dis
tributed over the vacant spaces within the inclos
ure. The buildings, more than thirty in all, are
painted and kept in repair.
During the Rebellion this arsenal employed
1,500 men, and in some departments work was
continued day and night to fill the requisitions for
ordnance supplies for our armies during their con
tinuous engagements. The quantity, variety and
quality of the issues made and forwarded day by
day, for many months, demonstrates the special
advantages of this site for rapidly manufacturing
military supplies, and shipping them in all direc
tions and at all seasons. Since that time the erec
tion of a new system of store-rooms and shops, with
increased motive power, improved machinery of
many kinds, and other facilities of recent introduc
tion and modern invention, have greatly enlarged
the capabilities and relative completeness of the es
tablishment, which will now accommodate a larger
force of workmen and insure greater promptness.
The more recent improvements are a com
pleted range of two-story shops, inclosing three
sides of a square, 465 feet front and 300 deep; this
block, built of brick and iron, is of the most ap-.
proved style for working purposes, and supplied
with double steam engines as well as with water
power from the canal, the use of which is secured
by perpetual grant, for privileges granted to the
State. Connected with this valuable system of con
venient shops, the permanent quarters, barracks.
store-houses, timber and carriage stores, and all
other fixed structures are well supplied with every
necessary modern convenience, and many improve
ments which contribute to the health, comfort and
well-being of all, have received careful attention.
Independent of the extensive iron manufacturing
establishments in the immediate vicinity, there are
advantages in the geographical location and facili
ties for transportation of materials and supplies
which command consideration from the general
Government, to permanently establish this depot on

434

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

a scale of national magnitude and importance, com
mensurate with the resources and demands of a
people who are proud of their ability to maintain
public improvements creditable to the military de
partment of this Republic.
This establishment is under the Ordnance Bu
reau of the War Department at Washington, and
in all its arrangements, and in every detail, refer
ence has been thoroughly represented in the con
struction of permanent improvements as to ele
gance, durability and order; and the general
working force is most admirably selected with
regard to their actual value and capacity for sub
stantial results.
This is one of the national arsenals ranking as
first-class, and is designed to be the principal
depot for military stores, arms and equipments in
the Northern States; also for the manufacture, repair
and storage of war material and military equipages,
and supplies for every branch of the infantry and
cavalry service, including fortification munitions.
The cost of the buildings for arsenal purposes,
including all necessary structures, machinery, im
provements, manufactures, and stores, are estimated
at $1,500,000, and value of raw material used
during the year, $30,000; average number em
ployed, 130, including 4 officers and 30 soldiers.
The original cost of all the land is about $57,000.
Under proper regulations the public have access to
this establishment, and it is well worthy of a visit.
Upon a map of the arsenal grounds in 1878
there were the following buildings:
Guard-house; office; Quartermaster's office and
engine-house; iron store-house; workshops, con
taining eight departments; turbines, boiler and
engine-rooms; arsenals, two; laboratory; officers'
quarters, two; commanding officers' quarters; ar
tillery store-house; cottages for enlisted men, four;
brick stables, two; hospital; barracks; ice-houses,
two; nitre store; timber store-houses, six; carriage
sheds; proof-house; tank-house; magazines, two;
carriage sheds, 12.
In the year 1813 the United States purchased
two lots of land from James Gibbons and wife,
upon which were located the first buildings of the
arsenal. The deed to these lands is recorded in
the County Clerk's office, in Book of Deeds No. 29,
pages 23, 24, and 25. The following extracts are
given :
"This Indenture, made the 14th day of July, in
the year of our Lord, 18 13, Between James Gib
bons. and Esther, his wife, of the first part, and the
people of the United States of the second part,
Witnesseth, That the said party of the first part, for
and in consideration of the sum of two thousand five
hundred and eighty-five dollars, current lawful
money of the United States, do grant, bargain,
sell, demise, release, and confirm unto the said
party of the second part, and to their successors
and assigns forever, All that certain lot, piece, or
parcel of land situate, lying and being in the village
of Gibbonsville, in the town of Watervliet, in the
County of Albany, in the Stale of New York, and
* * * containing one acre and fourteen perches
of land. Also all that one other certain lot, piece,

or parcel of land situate, lying, and being in
Gibbonsville aforesaid and * * * containing
eleven acres three roods and fourteen perches."
The first cession of lands by the State to the
United States, is found in 5th edition R. S., page
93, in pursuance to the act passed March 31, 181 5,
as follows:
"And also all that certain piece or parcel of land
situate in the town of Watervliet, in the County of
Albany, and State aforesaid, at a place called Gib
bonsville, on which is also erected an Arsenal and
other buildings belonging to the United States,
bounded as follows, to wit: * * * The United
States are to retain such jurisdiction so long as said
tract shall be applied to the use of providing for
the defense and safety of the said State and no
longer. The jurisdiction so ceded does not pre
vent the execution on said tracts of any process,
civil or criminal, under the authority of this State,
nor prevent the laws, not incompatible with the
purpose for which such cession was made, from
operating within the bounds of said tract. "
Included in this Act is the following: "The
United Slates have also jurisdiction over a tract of
land in the town of Watervliet, in the County of
Albany,such jurisdiction having been ceded for the
defense and safety of this Slate by the Commis
sioners of the Land Office, pursuant to the act
passed March 20, 1807."
Second cession. — Chapter 332 of the Laws of
1830, cedes to the United States of America, "for
the purpose of erecting and maintaining thereon
arsenals, magazines, dockyards, and other neces
sary buildings, jurisdiction of the State over all
that certain tract, piece or parcel of land, situate,
lying and being in the town of Watervliet, in the
County of Albany, and bounded as follows: * * *
together with all the land under water lying oppo
site and westerly of the described premises, which
has been heretofore granted by letters patent to
James Gibbons by the people of the State of New
York, but always excepting and reserving, out of
the lands above described, the land occupied by
theErie Canal, one rod on each side thereof, and
also the public highway."
The State retains concurrent jurisdiction for the
execution of all civil process therein, and of crim
inal process for offenses committed without the
said tract of land. The United State are to retain
jurisdiction only so long as the ceded lands are
used for the purposes named in the act.
Third cession. — Chapter 96 of ihe Laws of 1833,
cedes jurisdiction over an additional tract in. said
town " bounded as follows, to wit: * * * contain
ing thirty-eight and one-tenth of an acre, excepting
and reserving out one rod in width along the west
side of the Erie Canal, subject to the same condi
tions as the tracts first conveyed."
Fourth cession. — Chapter 337, Laws of New
York, April 14, 1859. "An Act vesting in the
United States of America jurisdiction over a cer
tain piece of land in the village of West Troy, in
the County of Albany, bounded as follows, to
wit:" — With the same conditions as previous
conveyances.

U. S. OFFICERS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS.

435

In 1825, James Gibbons agreed to sell to the
State forty acres of land, at three hundred dollars
per acre. He failed to give a deed before his
death, and April 28, 1828, the property was ob

tained from Esther Gibbons, his widow and execu
trix. Some additions have been made by the
purchase of several contiguous lots.

GOVERNMENT BUILDING.
The Government Building is a granite structure,
located on Broadway, corner of State street.
The marked progress of Albany, with its in
creased business, largely due to the concentration
here of river, canal, and railroads offering almost
unparalleled facilities for inland transportation of
every variety of merchandise, was brought to the
consideration of the general Government. Influ
ence of prominent citizens was successful in secur
ing the erection of a building for the transaction
ot Government business. The Post-office and
other Federal offices had for all past years de
pended upon rented apartments.
The first definite action was taken by Congress,
March 21, 1872, when an act was passed, having
for its object the erection of a building at Albany
for Government purposes, the cost of which was
limited to $350,000. At this time no appropria
tion was made, as it was required that the site be
given by the City of Albany.
After viewing several locations selection of the
Exchange Building and lot was made, and purchased
by the city at a cost of $100,000, and accepted
by the Government; but the area of this lot was

considered too small for the purposes. The act
of March 3, 1873, appropriated $150,000 for the
purchase of the Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank
property on the north, separated by Exchange
street. Again, June 3, 1874, Congress appropri
ated $5,000 additional for the site. This made
the total cost to the city and Government $2 2 5,oco.
In 'December, 1875, the work of razing the Ex
change Building was commenced, and continued
until March, 1876. Work was then suspended be
cause Congress had failed to set a limit to the cost
of the contemplated building. In March, 1877,
an act was passed limiting the cost to $500,000.
This necessitated a new plan; and the present,
which is Italian Renaissance, was adopted in place
of the original design, which was an elaborate
Gothic. In June, 1877, work was resumed, and the cor
ner-stone laid with Masonic ceremonies, May 7,
1879. The appropriation having been used, work
was discontinued in November, 1883, leaving
some portions incomplete, but with many apart
ments ready for occupancy.
The revenue officials were the first to take pos
session of the new building in December, 1883.
Then followed the Post-office, January 1, 1884.

436

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Other Government officials took possession of their
several apartments during 1884.
The walls of the building are of cut granite, which
is fire-proof in construction and material. It
measures 113 feet front, on Broadway; 126 feet
rear, on Dean street; and 150 feet on State and
Exchange streets. It is three stories high, with
mansard roof and towers on each corner carried
up an additional story. The main tower, on the
corner of Broadway and State, is appropriated
to the United States Signal Service or Weather
Bureau. The basement, which extends under the whole
building, is used for heating purposes, receiving
and shipping mail matter, and bonded warehouse.
The roof is constructed of iron, copper and tin.
The stairways are of iron and slate, with oak hand
rails. The corridors are spacious, well lighted,
with floors covered with tiles. All doors, casements
and moldings are solid white oak. The ventila
tion and heating arrangements are most admirable
in every apartment. All the rooms are spacious,
elegantly finished, and splendidly lighted. Every
office is supplied with all needed accommodations
for comfort and convenience; while the furniture,
desks and book-cases are of walnut and oak, made
substantial and for service.
The different floors are reached by easy stair
ways or elevators. The approaches to the build
ing are cut granite, and the side-walks smooth
patent slabs. The building is a model in all its
details. The total cost thus far is $627, 148. The super
intendents of construction have been resident archi
tects. Edward Ogden was the first superintendent,
who had charge after removing the old Exchange
Building and the building of the foundation. Mr.
George H. Sear had charge of putting up the base
ment. Mr. Walter Dickson was then placed in
charge, and under his superintendence the building
was completed. Colonel William E. Fitch was
clerk, and Mr. John E. Todd, master mechanic.
THE ALBANY POST-OFFICE
Is located in the Government Building, and oc
cupies the first floor and part of the basement.
There is no reliable evidence that any general mail
or postal service was instituted or maintained by
the colonial government at Albany, nor was it a
postal point, and during the Revolution each party
was dependent upon its own methods for convey
ing information or communicating with distant
points. The earliest traveled route from Albany was to
New York, by the Hudson River, and at the com
mencement of hostilities the settlements near Al
bany were only outposts and centers for the collec
tion of trade and traffic. Modes of communication
and conveyance were primitive and conducted by
parties directly interested. This condition was
somewhat improved or modified during hostilities
by opening new roads or avenues for conveying
supplies and communicating with the army. These
in lime became post roads, and were extended to

more distant settlements, reaching many miles from
Albany. The introduction of practical improvements and
the rapid development of the country, necessitated
some method by which the people could commu
nicate with distant places; and the new Government
was prompt in establishing the post-office depart
ment for the rapid transmission and safe delivery of
mail matter to all available settlements.
The following facts and records connected with
the early history of the general post-office are
gathered from the acts of the Provincial Congress.
At the sesion held July 26, 1775, it was
"Resolved, That a Postmaster-General be ap
pointed for these United Colonies, to hold office
for one year, and to hold his office at Philadelphia,
and he shall receive a salary of one thousand dol
lars a year. "
Benjamin Franklin received the first appoint
ment. "Resolved, That a line of posts be appointed
under the direction of the Postmaster-General,
from Falmouth, in New England, to Savannah, in
Georgia. "
July 8, 1776. — "Resolved, That the postmasters,
while in office, be excused from military duty ; "
and August 8, 1776, it was "Resolved, That the
post-riders be exempt from military duty. "
In 1777 three new routes were established:
from Casco Bay to Philadelphia; from Philadelphia
to Edenton, N. C. ; and from Edenton to Savannah.
In 1780, packets, and other vessels in the Conti
nental Service, were to carry letters and deposit
them in the nearest office to the post where they
shall arrive.
October 18, 1782, ordinance was made for reg
ulating the post-office in the United States of
America. All postmasteis were to subscribe to a
general oath; post-riders were appointed. Postage
was established at the following rales in penny
weights and grains of silver, estimating each penny
weight at five-ninetieths of a dollar, or five and five-
ninth cents : for any distance not exceeding 60
miles, one pennyweight, eight grains; less than 100
miles, two pennyweights; 100 to 2CO miles, two
pennyweights, sixteen grains. Sixteen grains for
every additional 100 miles — for single sheets. A
packet of one ounce was equal to four letters.
Post-riders could carry newspapers, if licensed.
September 7, 1785.— " Resolved, That the Post
master-General be and he is hereby authorized,
and instructed, to enter into contract for the con
veyance of the mails by the stage-carriages from
the City of New York to the City of Albany, ac
cording to the accustomed route.
"No paper money to be received for postage."
The history of the Albany Post-office, as a
Government institution, dates from 1783, when
Abraham Yates was the first postmaster under the
Provincial Congress. * The records previous to this
time give very little information on the subject.
It appears that postal facilities were limited to in-

* It is said that Colonel Henry Van Schaack served as postmaster
in Albany previous to 1775.

U. S. OFFICERS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS.

437

dividual enterprise, and messages were sent by river
conveyance to New York, and post-riders to other
points. This method for the distribution of public
or private correspondence with neighboring coun
ties was continued for several years, and to some
parts of this county as late as 1820.
These riders met at certain points and inter
changed letters and papers. The shrill blast of the
postman's horn gave notice to the waiting maiden
at the farm-gate that he had something for her or
the family, after delivering which, he hastened on
his journey. When the business was not remuner
ative, subscriptions were made among the citizens
who were interested in their continuance.
Post-riders were, in time, followed by stage
coaches; these by steamboats. The introduction
of railroads made a marvellous change in the trans
mission and rapid conveyance of all postal matter,
as well as in an increase in the post-offices. At
this date only a few offices in the county receive
their mail by the antiquated stage-coach. The
several lines of railroads which leave Albany traverse
the county in many directions, and pass through
nearly all the po=t villages, distributing mails daily.
In 1785, Albany served for Greenbush, Schenec
tady, Cherry Valley, Orange and Dutchess Coun
ties, and letters were advertised for Vermont.
In 1776 post-mails were received twice a week
from New York. At this time a mail was re
ceived once a week from Springfield, Massachusetts.
Other routes and extensions were made in 1789 and
1790, reaching west, the post leaving Albany on
Monday for Schenectady, Johnstown, Canajoharie,
Fort Plain, Fort Hunter, and arrived at Warrens-
bush on Friday; returning to Albany on the fol
lowing Monday.
About this time mails were sent to Vermont and
other towns as far as Hoosic, and in 1791-92
the Postmaster-General extended the post-routes
from Albany to Bennington and Burlington, Vt.
In 1794 there were five post routes from Albany.
The first on the east side -of the river to New York
once a week; the second, north, by way of Lan
singburgh, Bennington, Manchester, Rutland and
Middlebury, to Burlington, Vt.; the third went
to New Lebanon, Pittsfield, Northampton and
Brookfield, Mass. ; the fourth passed, via Kinder
hook and Stockbridge, to Springfield, Mass. On
these lines the mail was carried once a week. The
fifth route extended east to Schenectady, Johns
town, Canajoharie, German Flats, Whitestown,
Old Foit Schuyler, Onondaga, Aurora, Scipio,
Geneva, and Canandaigua, once in two weeks.
In 1796, mails were established between Albany
and Philadelphia, a distance of 260 miles, and
delivered in three days. In this year the mail
facilities were extended to Genesee County, which
was then the far west. Post-riders travel sed the
county in 1797, distributing letters and papers,
and in 1800 a post was sent to Duanesburgh.
Other offices were established soon after. Mails
were delivered and collected by post-riders as late
as 1820 in this county; after this date stage-coaches
were brought into use, and the gradual development
of agriculture and other resources demanded in

creased postal facilities. There are now fifty-seven
post-offices in Albany County, as shown in another
part of this volume. The first postman or letter-
carrier for the Albany post-office was William
(Billy) Winne, celebrated as the captor of the Pye
robber, in December, 1806. He served from 1800
until his death in 1848.
The post-office in Albany has been located in
different places. The earlier known was in 1784,
a few doors above Maiden lane on the east side
of Market street, now Broadway ; Abram Yates,
Postmaster. May 2, 1 86 1, the building on the southeast
corner of State and Broadway was taken down, to
give place for the present more substantial struc
ture now occupied by P. V. Fort & Son. During
the war of 181 2, in this old corner was a drug
store, kept by Jacob Mancius, and in the rear
of it, in a room seven by nine, was kept the
city post-office. The postmaster employed but
one clerk, who attended the drug store and as
sisted in opening and putting up mails, and the
delivery of letters and papers. During the season of
river navigation, sailing vessels brought the mails to
and from New York City. In the winter they were
conveyed by land carriage. The post-office was a
one-horse concern; but then, as now, everybody
was anxious to learn the latest news.
In 1823, the post-office was located on North
Market street, a little north of the Government
Building, nearly on the present site of George A.
Birch's store.
The post-office was taken to the Exchange Build
ing in 1840, and remained there till 1862, when
it was temporarily moved to State above Green
street, in the building now occupied by Smith,
Covert & Co. After repairs were made in the
Exchange, it was removed in 1863 to its former
location, where it remained until 1873. In this
year it became necessary to vacate the building,
and the office was again obliged to occupy new
quarters. This time it was on the east side of
North Pearl, south of Columbia street, in the Little
Building, now occupied by A. B. Van Gaasbeeck.
Another change followed in 1877, when the post-
office was transferred to the Delavan Block on
Broadway. Here it remained until January 1,
1884, when it took possession of its assigned lo
cation in the new Government Building, as a fixed
institution, with all modern improvements, appli
ances and conveniences.
In 1799, the rates of postage were as follows : for
a single sheet, 40 miles, more or less, 8 cents; 40
to 90 miles, 10 cents; 90 to 150 miies, i2| cents ;
150 to 300 miles, 17 cents; 300 to 500 miles, 20
cents; 500 miles or more, 25 cents. These rates
were continued until about 1825, when they were
changed to 6, 10, 12J, i8f and 25 cents, and were
the established rates up to 1845. Then the 5 and
10-cent rates were adopted by Act of Congress; for
every single letter under 300 miles, 5 cents, and
for any distance over 300 miles, 10 cents for each
half-ounce. Postage stamps were first used in
1847 of the denomination of 5 cents. June 31,
1 85 1, the act took effect reducing postage to 3 cents

438

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

on all letters less than half an ounce and not ex
ceeding 3,000 miles in distance, prepaid; and
double this rate for over 3,000 miles. This year
envelopes were introduced. In 1852, Government
stamped envelopes were issued. In 1855, another
modification was made; on single letters, 3 cents
prepaid for any distance less than 3,000 miles, and
10 cents over 3,000 miles. In 1863, the law was
enacted making the rate of postage within the
United States 3 cents, and prepayment by stamps.
October, 1883, the two-cent stamp became the law
for every half-ounce or less; and on the first of
July, 1885, the law took effect making the pre
payment of two cents by stamp the legal rate of
postage on all letters weighing one ounce or less.
Postal cards and money orders were first issued
in 1872, and about the same time the registration
of letters was introduced
Since Abraham Yates, who served till 1795, the
following have performed the duties of postmaster
in the Albany office. The dates of their respective
appointments are given from the best available-
data :
1795, George W. Mancius, Jacob Mancius;
1812, James Mayer; 18 15, Peter P. Dox ; 1816,
Gerrit L. Dox; 1821, Solomon Southwick; 1822-
29, Solomon Van Rensselaer; 1839-40, Azariah
C. Flagg; 1842-43, Solomon Van Rensselaer;
1843-49, James D. Wasson; 1849-50, Lewis Ben
edict; 1850-58, James Kidd; 1858-61, Calvert
Comstock; 1861-65, George Dawson; 1865-69,
Joseph Davis; 1869-71, Morgan L. Filkins; 1871
-77, John F. Smyth; 1877-85, William H. Craig;
and on June 1, 1885, Dr. D. V. O'Leary entered
upon the duties of the office. Nineteen different
men have been postmasters in the past one hundred
years, represented by twenty appointments.
The salary of the postmaster is $3, 500 per an
num. The working force of the Albany office at
this time is composed of 65 persons. Their
duties are divided as follows: 32 letter carriers,
salaries from $600 to $1,000 per annum ; 8
general delivery clerks; 2 stamp clerks; 4 registry
clerks; 2 money order clerks; 8 letter distributors;
and 9 baggage clerks: salaries from $350 to $1, 100.
The office is also represented by a deputy or assist
ant. Albany is one of the important distributing
offices. Mails are dispatched to all parts of the
United States and British America. The business
of this office by the carriers for the month of May,
1885, was : Delivered mail letters, 286,490; local
letters, 37,655; registered letters, 973; mail postal
cards, 48,671; local postal cards,33,682; newspa
pers, 172,202; collected letters, 196,746; postal
cards, 50,049; newspapers, 20,804. For the year,
total letters 1,335,720; papers, 607,800.
There are 217 mails distributed daily at this
office. At the present time there are only five
mail stage routes from Albany.
THE UNITED STATES CUSTOM HOUSE.
The collection of customs at Albany was estab
lished in the year 1803, in connection with the
New York Custom House, and the first Deputy-

Collector was William Seymour. The first license
entered is dated July 12, 1833. At this time only
two vessels were trading regularly to Boston — the
schooner Visscher and sloop George Washington,
owned by Davis & Center.
As early as 1770, the sloop Oliver Bronk, Cap
tain Bloodgood, was sent from Albany to the West
Indies. In 1771, the number of sloops running
between Albany and New York was about 125.
In 1785, the sloop Experiment, 80 tons burden,
Captain Stewart Dean, fitted out at this place for
China, and sailed from -New York, December 18th.
After the completion of the Erie and Champlain
Canal, followed a few years after by the introduc
tion of railroads, new avenues of trade were opened
which necessitated the establishment of an office
for the collection of customs at the terminus of the
canals and at the head of tide-water at Albany.
Since 1833 the following persons have performed
the duties of Deputy Collector and Surveyors:
William Seymour, Albert Gallup, Dennis B. Gaf-
ney, and William Bruce. March 2, 1867, Con
gress passed an act making Albany a port of entry,
with Surveyor of Customs as the chief officer. The
following have served under that act: Peter M.
Carmichael, 1867; Isaac N. Keeler, 1870; John
C. Whitney, 1875; William N. S. Sanders, 1879;
John A. Luby, 1882; Addison D. Cole, 1885; Or-
rin A. Fuller, Special Deputy.
There are also connected with the office two
Deputies and four Inspectors. The revenue from
this office yields about $150,000 annually, at an
expense of less than $11,000. The receipts for
May, 1885, were $1,832. The Custom House is
located in the Government Building.
THE UNITED STATES INTERNAL REV
ENUE OFFICE
Is located in the Government Building. It was
established in 1862, with a Collector as chief offi
cer, assisted by nine Deputies. The district is known
as the fourteenth, and originally comprised the fol
lowing counties: Albany, Schenectady, Schoharie,
Montgomery, Fulton, Hamilton, and Saratoga. It
now also includes the counties of Greene, Ulster,
Orange, Sullivan, and Rockland, which were added
to the district August 1, 1883. The collections
in the original district from 1862 to 1879 aggre~
gated about $21,453,803. The average collections
per annum do not vary much from $600,000.
The receipts for May, 1885, were $133,716. The
Internal Revenue Collectors for this district have
been Theodore Townsend, John M. Bailey, Ralph
P. Lathrop, James W. Bentley, and Isban Hess.
STEAMBOAT INSPECTORS.
The Local Board for the District of Albany,
which comprises the Hudson River above Milton,
was established in July, 1871. The office is in the
Government Building. Charles S. Hervey and
Leonard Brainard were the first appointees, and
have not been superseded. Captain Frank A.
Shepard has filled the position of Clerk to the

U. S. OFFICERS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS.

439

Board since September, 1872. The duties of the
officers are to inspect hulls, engines, and boilers,
and license masters, mates, pilots, and engineers.
There are about 200 steam vessels in the district,
comprising passenger, towing, freight, and ferry
boats. The boats of the People's Line belong to
the New York District.
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT.
This is known as the second circuit, and in
cludes Vermont, Connecticut, and New York. It
was organized September - 24, 1789. A term is
held on the third Tuesday in January annually, in
the Government Building.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT.
This is designated as the Northern District of
New York, and Albany is one of the forty-six
counties of which it is composed as organized
April 9, 18 14.
The District Attorneys are appointed . for a term
of four years, at a salary of $6,000 per year. The
present incumbent is Honorable Martin I. Towns-
end, of Troy. Alden Chester, of Albany, is Assist
ant District Attorney.
Masters and Examiners in United States Circuit
Court: William Lansing, J. Hampden Wood.
Masters and Examiners in United States District
Court: Worthington Frothingham, William Lan
sing, J. Hampden Wood.
Commissioners: Worthington Frothingham and
J. Hampden Wood.
Deputy-Marshal: James H. Kelley.
Board of Pension Examining Surgeons. — The
following physicians of Albany have served as ex
amining surgeons: S. D. Willard, S. H. Freeman,
George T. Stevens, J. Savage Delavan, William H.
Craig. The present Board consists of Drs. Charles
H. Porter, William H. Bailey, Herman Bendell.
Alonzo B. Voorhees was appointed Registrar in
Bankruptcy in 1867.
SIGNAL SERVICE.
The United States Signal Service was established
in Albany in December, 1873, and located in the
Dudley Observatory under the direction of Ser
geant Myers. March 13, 1880, the office was
removed to Gray's Building, Nos. 42 and 44 State
street. October 1, 1884, the rooms on the upper
floor of the Government Building, which are admir
ably arranged for this special purpose, were placed
in care of Sergeant J. 0. Barnes, the officer in
charge. There have been stationed at the Albany
office since its commencement, Sergeants Myers,
Danhauser, Beal, and Barnes.
The whole service is conducted by the War
Department under Chief Signal Officer General W.
B. Hazen, at Washington. Observations are taken
at the Albany office at 7 a. m , 3 and 1 1 p. m., and
the reports are forwarded to Washington by tele
graph. Local observations are taken at 1 1 a. m.
and -7 p. m., and a sudden fall in the temperature

is indicated by hoisting a black flag from the roof
of the building.
The Farmer s Bulletin, containing weather indi
cations, is sent from this office to about three hun
dred and eighty postmasters in this vicinity, and to
several business firms and other persons in the
city. Reports are received from about fifty-six
stations, which are furnished to newspapers for
publication, and posted in many public places
about the city.
The office is open during the usual business
hours, and any information as to reports and the
general work of the service is freely given through
the kindness of Sergeant J. O. Barnes.
The temperature of Albany, as observed at this
station for the past ten years, has an extreme range
from 930 above to 180 below zero, and an average
yearly range from 92. 5 ° above to 1 1. 8° below zero.
The mean for the seasons is: winter, 25.6°; spring,
45. 6°; summer, 70.50; autumn, 51. 2°. Average
for the year, 48. 2 °.
In the winter of 1 790, the thermometer marked
240 below zero; February 9, 1807, at sunrise, 200
below zero; February 12, 1809, Sunday morning,
8 o'clock, 170 below zero. July 13, 1853, the
thermometer at Albany indicated 940 above zero.
These are recorded by Joel Munsell as remarkable
for this city.
The average yearly rainfall, as computed from
observations at this station for the years from 1874
to 1884, is 36. 97 inches, and is distributed through
out the year as follows: winter, 8.07; spring, 8.69;
summer, 10.95; an(^ autumn, 9.26 inches. For
the year 1853, the rainfall was 45-79 inches, and
for 1850, 50.97 inches. The lowest record was in
1851, 31.79 inches. The average rainfall at Al
bany, as determined at the Boys' Academy, from
1826101852 was 40.64 inches. Compared with
the past ten years the rainfall appears to be dimin
ishing. A code of weather signals has been adopted at
the service station for Albany. In accordance
with the recommendation of General Hazen, the
following signals are used at this station: The red
and blue sun, star and crescent, displayed on flags.
The blue sun indicates general rain or snow; blue
star, local rain or snow; the blue crescent, clear or
fair weather; the red sun indicates higher tempera
ture; the red star, stationary temperature; the red
crescent, lower temperature.
UNITED STATES OFFICERS.
This list comprises the names of men who are
or have been citizens of Albany County and held
very prominent offices in the United States Govern
ment. President of the United States. — Martin Van
Buren, elected in the fall of 1836. Sworn into
office March 4, 1837. He was a native of Kin
derhook; but resided and practiced law in Albany
many years.
Vice-President. — Daniel D. Tompkins, elected
in 1817. Though Mr. Tompkins was not one
who might be called a permanent resident of Al-

440

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

bany County, he spent many years of his life in the
City of Albany, and was at the time of his election
as Vice-President, residing in this city as the Gov
ernor of the State.
United States Senators. — The Constitution of
the United States provides that the Legislature of
each State shall choose two senators, who shall
hold their office six years. Vacancies during the
recess of the Legislature are filled by the Governor
until the sittings of the next Legislature. At the first
session they were divided into three classes, that
one-third might be chosen every second year. A
Senator must be an inhabitant of the State which
chooses him, and must have been a citizen of the
United States nine years.
Philip Schuyler, chosen July 16, 1789, serving
till 1 791; Philip Schuyler, chosen January 24,
1797, serving one year. Martin Van Buren, elected
February 6. 1821; Martin Van Buren, elected
February 6, 1827; Charles E. Dudley, elected
January 15, 1829; William L. Marcy, elected
February 1, 1831; John A. Dix, elected January
18, 1845; Ira Harris, February 5, 1861.
U. S. CABINET, JUDICIAL AND DIPLO
MATIC OFFICERS.
Alexander Hamilton, who studied law and mar
ried in Albany, and spent much time in this city,
was Washington's Secretary of the Treasury; John
C. Spencer also held this office, to which Daniel
Manning has recently succeeded. Martin Van
Buren and William L. Marcy held the office of
Secretary of State; Smith Thompson, Secretary of
the Navy; John C. Spencer, John A. Dix, Sec
retary of War; Benjamin F. Butler, Attorney-
General. John J. Bradley, a native of Berne, and Smith
Thompson, once a resident of Albany, have
adorned the Bench of the United States Supreme
Court. Martin Van Buren, Daniel D. Barnard, Har-
manus Bleecker, Henry G. Wheaton, Bradford R.
Wood, John A. Dix, Henry A. Homes, Robert H.
Pruyn, Alfred Conkling, Bret Harte, E. G. Squier,
S. G. W. Benjamin, J. Meredith Read, John M.
Bailey, and probably some others whose names
do not now occur to us, have gone from this
county to hold various important diplomatic posi
tions abroad.
Besides these, we record Roscoe Conkling and Le
land Stanford, ex-United States Senators, as natives
of Albany County. Aaron Burr, who read and
practiced law in Albany, where, also, was born
his daughter, Theodosia, held the office of United
States Senator, and Vice-President under Jefferson.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.
The Constitution of the United States provides
that the President and Vice-President shall be
chosen by Electors appointed in such a manner as
the Legislatures of the States shall direct, the num
ber to be equal to their number of Senators and
Representatives in Congress. In this State the

electors were originally appointed by the Legisla
ture. Subsequently, by an act passed March 26,
1796, the Legislature convened in Special Session
quadrennially, on the first Tuesday in November,
at Hudson, in place of the Electoral College.
They continued to hold their Special Sessions there
till 1 8 1 2, since which time, by an act passed May
26th of that year, the Electors have met at Albany.
By the Act of March 15, 1825, the District System
was adopted; but this existed for only one election,
when the Legislature, by an act passed April 15,
1829, adopted the present system. In making up
the general ticket, one person is selected from each
Congressional District, and two to represent the
State at large. The Electoral College meets at the
State Capitol the first Wednesday of December of
the Presidential year, and casts its votes for Presi
dent and Vice-President; makes a list thereof; and
forwards it, under seal, to the President of the United
States Senate, who announces the result.
Electors from Albany appointed by the Legislature
under the Act of 1792. — 1796, November 7, Abra
ham Ten. Broeck, Abraham Van Vechten; 1800,
Jeremiah Van Rensselaer; 1 804, Henry Quacken
boss; 1 808, Ambrose Spencer, Henry Yates, Jr. ;
1 81 2, Simeon De Witt, Archibald Mclnlyre;
1816, Charles E. Dudley; 1820, Benjamin Knower;
1824, Elisha Dorr.
Electors elected by Districts. — 1S28, Abraham Van
Vechten; 1832, John M. Quackenbush; 1836,
Peter Wendell; 1840, Archibald Mclntyre; 1844,
John Keyes Paige; 1848, Clarkson F. Crosby;
1852, Cornelius, Vosburgh; 1856, Henry H. Van
Dyck; i860, Jacob H. Ten Eyck; 1864, John
Tweddle; 1868, John Loew (did not attend and
Cornelius Armstrong was appointed.). From the
adoption of the Constitution down to 1872, an
elector was always taken from Albany. 1876,
Eli Perry; 1884, Erastus Corning.
REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS.
The House of Representatives is composed of
members elected by districts; they hold their office
two years; must reside in the State which they are
chosen to represent, and have been seven years
citizens of the United States, and have attained the
age of twenty-five. Each new Congress com
mences on the 4th of March every odd year. The
elections are held during the year preceding.
The Constitution of the United States directs
that a census be taken every ten years, which has
been fixed at those years ending with a cipher.
After each enumeration, Congress apportions the
representation among the several States. There
are now thirty-three Congressional Districts in the
State. The County of Albany comprises the six
teenth district.
The following shows the names of the Represent
atives that represented Albany County, with the
Congresses in which they served. — Jeremiah J. Van
Rensselaer, ist Congress; James Gordon and Peter
Silvester, each a part of the second Congress; Henry
Glen, 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th; Killian Van Rensselaer,
7th, 8th, 9th, ioth, nth; Harmanus Bleecker,

STATE OF NEW YORK— BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC OFFICERS.

ll\

1 2th; John Lovett, 13th, 14th; Rensselaer West
erlo, 15th; Solomon Van Rensselaer, 16th;
Stephen Van Rensselaer, 17th, 18th, 19th,
20th; Ambrose Spencer, 21st; Gerrit Y. Lansing,
22d, 23d, 24th; Albert Gallup, 25th; Daniel D.
Barnard, 26th, 27th, 28th; Bradford R. Wood,
29th; John I. Slingerland. 30th; John L. School
craft, 31st, 32d; Rufus W. Peckham, 33d; Sam
uel Dixon, 34th; Erastus Corning, Sr., 35th, 37th,

38th; John H. Reynolds, 36th; Charles Good
year, 39th; John V. L. Pruyn, 40th; Stephen L.
Mayham, 41st; Eli Perry, 42d, 43d; Charles H.
Adams, 44th; Terence J. Quinn, 45A; John M.
Bailey, 46th; Michael M. Nolan, 47th.' Thomas
J. Van Alystyne, 48th; John Swinburne, 49th.
In some instances the districts represented in
cluded portions of territory adjacent to Albany
County.

STATE OF NEW YORK.
ITS BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC OFFICERS IN ALBANY COUNTY.

Prof. J. TENNEY, Editor.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS.

1801.

—THIS Convention was held at Albany
from October 13 to 27, 1801, pursuant
to an act passed April 6th of that year, to settle a
controversy that had arisen regarding the relative
powers of the Governor and Council of Appoint
ments respecting nominations for office, and to
consider the expediency of altering the Constitu
tion in regard to the number of Senators and As
semblymen, with power to reduce and limit the
same. The Convention unanimously decided that
the Council of Appointment had equal powers of
nomination of officers with the Governor. The
number of Senators was fixed at thirty-two, and As
semblymen at one hundred, to be increased after
each census, at the rate of two yearly, until they
reached the number of one hundred and fifty.
Aaron Burr was President. The delegates from
Albany were: Johan Jost Dietz, Leonard Ganse
voort, 'Daniel Hale, John V. Henry, Josiah Ogden
Hoffman, Abraham Van Ingen, Stephen Van
Rensselaer, Peter West.
182 1.— The Legislature of 1820 passed an act
recommending a Convention of the people of this
State. Objections were made to it by the Council
of Revision. These objections were referred to
a select committee, which submitted its report Jan
uary 9, 182 1, in opposition to the opinion of the
Council, which was adopted by the Assembly.
But the bill did not receive a two-thirds vote and
failed to pass.
A new bill was immediately drafted, received
the sanction of the Council of Revision, and passed
both Houses March 13, 1821.
The Convention assembled in Albany, August
28, and adjourned November 10, 1821. Daniel
D. Tompkins was President The Delegates from
Albany were James Kent, Ambrose Spencer,
Stephen Van Rensselaer, Abraham Van Vechten.
These gentlemen all refused to sign the Con
stitution as revised by this Convention.
66

1846. — The Constitution of 1821 grew in dis
favor owing to a feeling that the power in the
hands of the Governor and Senate had become
too great. Other strong objections were made to it.
Agreeably to the popular will, expressed at the
general election November 4, 1845, an act passed
the Legislature, April 22, 1846, calling a Conven
tion at Albany, June ist following. It met on that
day, and adjourned October 9, 1846.
The new Constitution limited the discretion of
the Legislature in regard to some of the great con
cerns of the State, extended the elective franchise,
gave the people the selection of most of the local
officers which had been appointed by the Legisla
ture, erected an independent Court of Appeals,
and made other changes in the Judiciary and
Courts of the State. John Tracy, of Chenango,
was President. This Constitution was submitted
to the people November 3, 1846, with the ques
tion for the repeal of the property qualifications for
colored citizens separately. The result was: Con
stitution—Ayes, 221,528; Noes, 92,436. Equal
Suffrage to Colored Persons — Ayes, 85,306; Noes,
223,834. The delegates from Albany were: Ira
Harris, Peter Shaver, Benjamin Stanton, Horace K.
Willard. 1867. — According to the provisions of the
Constitution and the will of the people, the Legis
lature of 1867 "provided for the election of de
legates to revise the organic law of the State, which
was held April 23d of that year." The election
resulted in a majority in favor of the convention.
Thirty-two delegates at large were chosen, voters
being restricted to sixteen names upon their ballots.
Thus were secured equal representations, so far as
these delegates were concerned, of the two leading
political parties of the day.
The Convention met in Albany June 4, and ad
journed November 1 2, 1 867.
William A. Wheeler was President. Delegates
from Albany County were Ira Harris, at large, and
William Cassidy, Erastus Corning, Amasa J. Parker.

442

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION.
The Constitution framed by the Convention of
1867 contained several provisions, the essential
principles of which were felt to be desirable in the
organic law. Among these was the clause for
bidding the Legislature to audit claims, and the
sections relative to the Public Works and Prisons.
Governor Hoffman, in his annual message of 1872,
recommended that a commission of thirty-two
eminent citizens, taken from the two great political
parties, be created for the purpose of effecting a
thorough revision of the Constitution. The Legis
lature acted upon this suggestion, empowering the
Governor, by and with the advice and consent
of the Senate, to designate thirty-two persons —
four from each judicial district — to constitute a
commission for the purpose of proposing to the
Legislature, at its next session, amendments to the
Constitution, provided that no amendment shall be
made to the sixth article thereof.
Commissioners from the Third District, includ
ing Albany County, were Robert H. Pruyn, Al
bany; William Cassidy, Albany; George C. Bur
dett, Troy; Joseph B. Hall, Catskill; Cornelius
Tracy, Troy. Robert H. Pruyn was chosen Chair
man. The Commission assembled in Albany December
4, 1872, and adjourned March 15, 1873. Their
deliberations were submitted to the Legislature of
1 873, by which, after some modifications, the
proposed amendments were referred to the Legis
lature of 1874, pursuant to Article 13, Section 1, of
the Constitution. This Legislature submitted to
the people at the general election to be held in
1874, the amendments to which it agreed. The
fifth article, as proposed by the Commission, pro
vided for the appointment, by the Governor and
Senate, of Secretary of State, Attorney-General,
State Engineer and Surveyor, Superintendent of
Public Works, and Superintendent of Prisons.
This article was not approved and was not submit
ted to the people.
The disagreement in the Legislature upon this
article, resulted in the postponement of the impor
tant amendments relating to the Superintendent of
Public Works and Superintendent of Prisons, and
providing for their appointment by the Governor,
by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
These amendments were submitted to the people
in 1876, and adopted by them.
PUBLIC OFFICERS.
Governors of the State. — John Tayler, elected
1 816. Mr. Tayler was elected Lieutenant-Gov
ernor January 29, 1814, under a special act of the
Legislature, passed April 11, 1811, after the death
of John Broome, Lieutenant-Governor, who died
August, 1 8 10. At that time Daniel D. Tompkins
was serving his second term as Governor. In 18 16
Daniel D. Tompkins was again elected Governor,
and John Tayler, Lieutenant-Governor. The next
year Mr. Tompkins was elected Vice-President,
and Mr. Tayler became Governor.

Martin Van Buren, elected 1828. Mr. Van
Buren was appointed Secretary of State under
President Jackson, March 12, 1829, and resigned
the office of Governor, and Enos T. Troop became
Governor. John A. Dix, 1872.
Lieutenant-Governors. — Stephen Van Rensse
laer, April 28, 1795; Jeremiah Van Rensselaer,
April 28, 1801; John Tayler, January 29, 1814;
John Tayler, April 27, 181 6.
State Secretaries of State. ¦ — Daniel Hale,
March 24, 1793; Charles D. Cooper, April 17,
1817; John Van Ness Yates, April, 1818; John
Van Ness Yates, February 13, 1823; John A. Dix,
February 1, 1833.
State Treasurers. — This is an ancient office.
It was first known as Receiver-General when the
State, as. New Netherlands, was under the Dutch
Government; under the English Colonial Govern
ment, as Receiver and Collector-General. These
last officers were also Collectors of the Port of New
York. They were always the keepers of the peo
ple's money. They were appointed under the En
glish laws by the Crown. The Provincial Congress
continued the office. The first State -Constitution
directed the appointment to be made by an act of
the Legislature, to originate with the Assembly.
Under the present Constitution the State Treasurer,
elected by popular vote, receives the public funds,
and pays drafts upon the warrants of the Comp
troller, the Superintendent of Public Instruction
and the Secretary of the State Board of Charities.
He is also, ex officio, Commissioner of the Land
Office and of the Canal Fund, the State Board of
Equalization, of Assessments, of the Board of
State Canvassers and a Trustee of the Union Uni
versity. He is chosen every two years. The salary
is $5,000 per annum. He has a deputy, book
keeper and clerks.
Robert McClallen, March 16, 1798; Abraham
G. Lansing, February 8, 1803; Abraham G. Lan
sing, February 18, 18 10; Charles Z. Piatt, Febru
ary 10, 1813; Gerrit L. Dox, February 12, 1817;
Benjamin Knower, January 29, 1821; Stephen
Clark, November 7, 1855; Nathan D. Wendell,
November 4, 1879.
Attorneys-General. — This is another very an
cient office in the State of New York. Under the
Dutch, in the Province of New Netherlands, the
office was known as "Schout-Fiscal." He was
both Attorney-General and Sheriff. He arrested
persons and examined and prosecuted them. In
very important cases, where there were reasons for
strong suspicions, but no direct evidence, of the
prisoner's guilt, he subjected him to the most cruel
torture. This was done to obtain a confession of
guilt. He, with one magistrate, were witnesses
of the torture, deciding when to begin and when
to suspend. As Sheriff he executed the judgments
of the Supreme Courts in Criminal and Civil
cases, and was allowed deputies. He had a
voice in the enactment of all laws and a seat in the
Council, except when officiating as prosecuting
officer.

STATE OF NEW YORK— BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC OFFICERS.

443

Under the English Colonial Government he was
appointed by the Colonial Governors until 1702,
after which he was commissioned by the Crown
and held the office during its pleasure. As law
officer of the State his duties have been about the
same. Under the first Constitution he was com
missioned by the Council of Appointment and was
a Commissioner of the Canal Fund and of the
Land Office. Under the second Constitution he
was a Commissioner of the same Boards as the Sec
retary of State. He is now elected every other year
by the people, and is, ex officio, Commissioner of the
Land Office and of the Canal Fund, a member of
the Canal Board, the Board of State Canvassers,
the State Board of Health, the State Board of Char
ities, the State Board of Equalization of Assess
ments, a Trustee of the University and of the New
York State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home.
John Woodworth, February 3, 1804; Abraham
Van Vechten, February 2, 18 10; Abraham Van
Vechten, February 13, 1813; Martin Van Buren,
February 17, 18 15; Samuel A. Talcott, February
12, 1821; Samuel A. Talcott, February 8, 1823;
John Van Buren, February 3, 1845; Lyman Tre
main, November 3, 1857; Charles S. Fairchild,
November 2, 1875.
Comptroller. — The Comptroller is now the
Auditor of Public Accounts, except those pay
able from the Free School Fund. He manages the
funds of the State, loans its moneys, superintends
the collection of its taxes and the payment of cur
rent expenses of the State. He is also at the head
of a Bureau of Canal Affairs. He is, ex officio, Com
missioner of the Land Office and of the Canal
Fund, a Member of the Canal Board and of the
Board of State Canvassers, a Trustee of the Idiot
Asylum and of Union University, and of the State
Board of Equalization of Assessments. He is elect
ed every other year.
John V. Henry, March 12, 1800; Archibald
Mclntyre, March 25, 1806; William L. Marcy,
February 13, 1826; Azariah C. Flagg, January 11,
1834; Azariah C. Flagg, February 7, 1842; Fred
erick P. Olcott.
Surveyor-General and State Engineers. — The
Surveyor-General and State Engineer is, ex officio,
Trustee of the Union University, a Commissioner
of the Land Office, and a member of the Canal
Board and the Board of State Canvassers. He is
elected every other year. He has a deputy and
necessary clerks. The State Engineer and Sur
veyor supervises the canal engineering department.
He appoints three division engineers and three
resident engineers.
Philip Schuyler, March 30, 1781; Simeon De-
Witt, May 13, 1784; Simeon DeWitt, February 8,
1823; Orville L. Holly, February 5, 1838.
State Engineers and Surveyors.— William J.
McAlpine, November 4, 1851; Sylvanus H. Sweet,
November 4, 1873; Elnathan Sweet, November,
1883. Canal Commissioners.— The Constitutional Com
mission of 1874 recommended, among other things,
the appointment of Superintendent of Pubhc Works,

This was adopted by the Legislature of 1875. The
office of Canal Commissioner was abolished on the
appointment of the Superintendent of Public Works,
which took place February 8, 1878. Stephen Van
Rensselaer, April 17, 1816; Asa Whitney, Febru
ary 22, 1840; Stephen Clark, February 8, 1842;
Stephen Clark, November 4, 1844; Charles H.
Sherrill, November 5, 1856.
GOVERNORS' MANSIONS.
The Legislature of the State fixed the seat of
government at Albany in 1797. Its session that
year was held in the Stadt Huys, commencing
January 3d, and ending April 3d. The law mak
ing Albany the State capital is dated March 10th.
John Jay was then Governor. He occupied ' ' Mr.
James Caldwell's elegant house in State street," sit
uated where Walsh's hat store is now located.
George Clinton, who was the first Governor of the
State, from 1777 to 1795, was again elected, and
followed Mr. Jay from 1801 to 1804. The same
house occupied by Governor Jay was occupied by
Governor Clinton and family. We do not find where
Morgan Lewis (1804 to 1807) had his mansion.
Governor Daniel D. Tompkins (1807 to 18 17) re
sided a portion of his term, if not the whole of it,
at 99 Washington avenue, where George B. Steele
now resides. DeWitt Clinton (181 7 to 1823, and
1826 to 1828) had his residence corner of North
Pearl and Steuben streets, on the site now occupied
by Johnston & Reilly's store. Here he died, Feb
ruary n, 1828. Martin Van Buren (1828 to 1829)
resided at 92 State street, on the site of J. H. Sim
mons' auction-rooms. Enos T Throop, who
filled out the term of Governor Van Buren (who
resigned March 12, 1829, to become Secretary of
State under Andrew Jackson), and was afterwards
Governor from 1831 to 1833, had his mansion at
No. 1 Elk street, where the late Harmon Pumpelly
resided. William L. Marcy (1833 to 1839) occupied No.
2 Elk street, where General Rufus H. King now
resides. The Kane mansion, on the site of the Ash Grove
Church, was the mansion of William H. Seward
during his gubernatorial career (1839 to 1843).
William C. Bouck (1843 t0 1845) llved at 119
Washington avenue, now the residence of General
John F. Rathbone.
Silas Wright (1845 to 1847) resided at 133 North
Pearl street.
John Young (1847 to 1849), at 1 1 1 State street,
where now resides Mrs. John Tweddle.
Hamilton Fish (1849 to 1851), at 15 Elk street,
the residence of the late Hon. John V. L. Pruyn.
Washington Hunt (1851 to 1853), at 1 Elk street;
as also did Horatio Seymour (1853-54) during his
first term, the same as formerly occupied by Gov
ernor Throop. Governor Seymour, during his
second term (1863-64), had his executive mansion
in " Dudley Row," 65 Hawk street.
Myron H.Clark (1855-56) occupied 132 State
street, where now is the. Christian Brothers' Acad
emy.

444

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

John A. King (1857-58), 881 Broadway, corner
of North Ferry, now St. Peter's Hospital.
Edwin D. Morgan (1859 to 1862), and Reuben
E. Fenton (1865 to 1868), four years each, made
144 State street, late the residence of Dr. S. O. Van
derpoel, their home in this city.
John T. Hoffman (1869 to 1872) made the old
Congress Hall, east of the new Capitol, his resi
dence. John Adams Dix (1873-74), 123 Washington
avenue, north of the new Capitol.
Samuel J. Tilden (1875 to 1877), Lucius Rob
inson (1877 to 1879), Alonzo B. Cornell (1880 to
1882), and Grover Cleveland. (1882 to 1885),
resided in the Executive Mansion, 138 Eagle
street, bought by the State of the late Robert L.
Johnson. This is also the residence of David B. Hill, the
present Governor, and is intended as the perma
nent gubernatorial mansion.
STATE LEGISLATURES.
The Legislature meets annually, on the first
Tuesday in January, at the Capitol in Albany.
The Senate consists of 32 members, elected bien
nially; the Assembly of 128 members, elected an
nually. Salaries, $1,500. Albany County now con
stitutes the Seventeenth Senatorial District. It sends
four members to the Assembly, elected by Dis
tricts. The First District is composed of the First,
Second, Third and Fifteenth Wards of Albany, and
the towns of Bethlehem, Berne, Coeymans, Rensse
laerville and Westerlo; Second District: Tenth,
Eleventh, Fourteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth
Wards of Albany, and towns of Guilderland, Knox
and New Scotland; the Third District: Fourth,
Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Twelfth, Thirteenth
and part of the Ninth Wards of Albany; the
Fourth District the remainder of the Ninth Ward
of Albany, Cohoes and Watervliet.
A list of the Albany County Members appears
in the County history.
The first session of the New York Legislature
under that Constitution began in September, 1777,
holding two subsequent meetings that year at
Poughkeepsie. The second session was held con
tinuously at Poughkeepsie; but the third began at
Kingston, August 18, 1779, and adjourned Oc
tober 25th, to meet at Albany, January 27, 1780;
adjourned March 14 th, to meet at Kingston,
April 22d; and adjourned July 2, 1780.
The session of January 27, 1780, was the first
legislative session held in Albany after the Revolu
tion. The January term of 1781 — the fourth ses
sion — began on the seventeenth of that month, and
was held at Albany in the old Stadl Huys. After
this, the legislative sessions were held at Pough
keepsie, New York and Albany until January 3,
1798, since which time they have been regularly
held at Albany. They were mostly held in the
old Stadt Huys, until the completion of what is
now spoken of as the Old Capitol in 1808.
The sessions close or adjourn sine die by con
current vote of Assembly and Senate. We give

the dates of closing the regular sessions from 1 83 1
to 1885:
April 26, 1831; July 2, 1832; April 30, 1833;
May 6, 1834; May 11, 1835; May 26, 1836; May
16, 1837; April 18, 1838; May 7, 1839; May 14
1840; May 26, 1841: April 12, 1842; April 18
1843; May 7, 1844; May 14, 1845; May 13, 1846
May 13, 1847; April 12, 1848; April 11, 1849
April 10, 1850; April 17, 1851;- April 16, 1852
July 21, 1853; April 17, 1854; April 14, 1855
April 9, 1856; April 18, 1857; April 19, 1858
April 19, 1859; April 17, i860; April 16, 1861
April 23, 1862; April 25, 1863; April 23, 1864
April 28, 1865; April 20, 1866; April 20, 1867
May 6, 1868; May 10, 1869; April 26, 1870
April 21, 1871; May 14, 1872; May 30, 1873
April 30, 1874; May 22, 1875; May 3> J87°; May
24, 1877; May 15, 1878; May 22, 1879; May 27,
1880; July 23, 1881; May 2, 1882; May 4, 1883;
May 16, 1884.
OLD STATE HALL.
On February 14, 1797, a bill to erect a public
building in the City of Albany, with a view of
rendering it the permanent seat of government for
the State, passed both branches of the Legislature
and became a law.
A site for this building was selected on the cor
ner of Lodge and State streets. It was the first
public building erected by the State of New York
in Albany after the Revolution.
Ground was broken for the building early in
1797, and pushed forward with such speed that it
was completed in the spring of 1799. It is said
that several sessions of the Legislature were held
in it before the completion of the State Capitol in
1808. The building is still standing and in a perfect
state of preservation, presenting nearly the same
external appearance it did when first built. It is
built of brick, four stories high, fronting on State
street, with a wing extending back on the west side
of Lodge street.
In the eastern wall of the lower hall, there is a
white marble tablet, bearing the following inscrip
tion : Erected for State Purposes,
a. d. 1797.

John Jay, Governor.

William Sanders, Arch1.

Philip Schuyler, Abra
ham Ten Broeck, Teu
nis T. Van Vechten,
Daniel Hale, Jeremiah
Van Rensselaer, Com

missioners.

In this building were the State departments —
Secretary of State, Comptroller, State Treasurer, At
torney-General, State Engineer and Surveyor, and
Surveyor-General. And here, for a time, was the
Executive Chamber. It continued to be occupied
by those officers until 1840, when they were moved
to the new State Hall, under the recommendation
of Governor Seward. The State Museum, organ
ized in 1836, was placed in this building. This

STATE OF NEW YORK— BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC OFFICERS.

445

museum embraces nearly all the natural produc
tions of the State of New York, in the several de
partments of botany, zoology, geology, and min
eralogy. The Old State Hall was thus made the
depository of the collections in these departments.
The internal arrangement of the building has
been subjected to such changes as were ne
cessary to render it convenient for the purpose to
which it was devoted after it ceased to become a
hall for legislative and executive purposes.
At a later period the State Agricultural Society
was authorized by law to occupy a part of the
building. The two organizations— the State Mu
seum and the State Agricultural Society— occupied
so much space that the building was inadequate to
their accommodation; whereupon the Legislature
made appropriation for a new building, to be erect
ed in the rear of the Old Capitol; and the libraries,
antiquities and other collections, especially those of a
literary and art character, were removed to it in 1 8 5 8.
In 1865 the Legislature passed resolutions, rec
ognizing the importance of making the State
Cabinet of Natural History a museum of scientific
and practical geology and comparative zoology.
In 1870 the Legislature passed a law organizing
the State Museum of Natural History, and pro
viding an annual appropriation for its support.
This old hall, occupied for the purposes we
have described, has been known from that time as
Geological Hall. GEOLOGICAL HALL
Has become one of the most interesting and in
structive places in the City of Albany.
The following from the "Albany Hand-book
for 1884," compiled by H. P. Phelps, gives a very
adequate description of the internal arrangement
of Agricultural and Geological Hall :
The wing on Lodge street, in the rear of the building,
is three stories high. On the ground floor is a large lecture-
room, while in the other stories is the Museum, containing
the agricultural implements and products in the stories
above. On the lower or basement floor, and on the same
level as the lecture-room, at the east end of the main build
ing, are two rooms occupied with the work of cutting and
preparing thin sections of fossils of minute structure for Ihe
purpose of microscopic study in the Museum. The machin
ery and appliances for this work are of superior character,
and the results are of great importance and interest to
the Museum and to science. The first floor of the main
building is occupied by the offices and libraries of the State
Museum and of the State Agricultural Society; and, in the
rear of the former, a large working. room is furnished with
about 300 drawers for the reception of collections in process
of preparation and arrangement. The main entrance hall
exhibits a collection of dressed blocks of granite, marble,
freestone, etc., the products of New York and adjacent
States. The second floor is occupied by the. collections illustrat
ing the geology and paleontology of the State'. The wall
cases, and a single series of table-cases around the room,
are occupied by the rock specimens, whether fossiliferous or
otherwise, and are arranged in such order that in going
from left to right they show the geological superposition of
the formations, each right-hand case containing specimens
of the rock or formation lying next above the one on the
left. This is supplemented by a colored geological section
extending around the room above the cases, and so ar
ranged that each formation shown in the section is repre
sented by characteristic specimens in the case below. Besides

this illustration, there are enlarged figures of the'characteristic
fossils placed in the part of the cases above each formation.
The entire arrangement is simple, instructive and easily un
derstood. The collection of fossils (paleontology) occupies
the tables, the table cases in the central portion of the floor,
and also a large number of drawers beneath the table cases.
This collection is arranged in the same simple and systematic
order as the geological formations. Under each formation
is a natural history arrangement of the genera and species
of the fossils. This collection of rock specimens and fossils
presents the most complete geological series of the older
rocks to the base of the coal measures of any in the world;
the older or paleogic rocks of the- State of -New York being
more complete in their order of succession. Also along the
west side of the room are arranged a series of large blocks
of magnetic iron ore representing the principal mines of
Northern New York and Orange County.

raeiio

Geological Hall.
The third floor is occupied by collections from geological
formations above the coal measures, both American and
European, and by the mineralogical collection. The fossil
series represents the period from the new red sandstone to
the pleistocene. The pleistocene of North America is rep
resented by the Cohoes mastodon skeleton, and other re
mains of mastodon and fossil elephants from different points.
The pleistocene of South America by the cast of the
gigantic megatherium and other forms of that age; and the
same of Europe by the skeleton of the Megaceros Hibernicus.
The wall cases are in part occupied by a collection of the
minerals of the State, and in part devoted to a general col
lection of minerals from all parts of the world.
The fourth story is occupied by the zoological collection.
The western part of the room is devoted especially to the
New York fauna, which is represented in its mammals, birds,
reptiles, fishes, crustaceans, and shells. The eastern part of
the room is occupied by a case containing a large collection
of birds, with some mammals, which were presented to the
Museum as a special collection by Mr. de Rham, of New
York, and is known as the De Rham collection. The
ethnological and historical collections occupy some wall
cases on the north side of the room, and the central north
side by cases of corals, etc. The center of the room con
tains the two double ranges of table cases, comprising the
Gould collection of 6,000 species of shells, of more than
60,000 specimens. Since 1866 the collections in the
Museum have been more than doubled in every department.
At present every available space in the Museum is filled. All
the collections are arranged for study and comparison, and
the museum is strictly an educational institution.
Being a State institution it should be considered as cos
mopolitan. Its institutions are to cover the whole field of
natural research, and to be a center for the dissemination
of a technical and popular knowledge of the products,
fauna and flora of the Empire State. With this view it
should be an object of interest for the remote portions' of
the State as well as the immediate locality.

446

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

NEW STATE HALL.
This edifice, located on Eagle street, was com
pleted in 1842, and was occupied by the officers of
the various State departments, who removed thither
from the Old State Hall.
After the adoption of the Constitution of 1846,
which created a Court of Appeals in place of the
old Court for the Correction of Errors, a part of
this hall was appropriated to the Clerk of that
Court. He is the custodian of all the legal docu
ments, records, and books kept in the four Supreme

Court Clerk's offices in the State, and in the
offices of the Clerks in Chancery. All of these
offices were abolished by this Constitution. He
was also the custodian of the vast sums of money,
which for nearly a century had been accumulating
in those Courts. The rooms devoted to the Clerk
of the Court of Appeals are in the southwest corner
of the second story of this building. As these
State departments have most of them been re
moved, or will soon be, to the New Capitol, a
further description of them will be found in what
we have to say in regard to that edifice.

NEW STATE HALL.

This State Hall is still a very substantial and
handsome building. Until the beauties of its archi
tecture were eclipsed by the elegant and commo
dious City Hall, which stands directly south of it,
it was regarded as one of the finest buildings in
the city. It cost the State $350,000. It is built
of the white stone from the quarries at Sing Sing.
The quality of this stone is the perfect manner in
which it resists the vicissitudes of weather. It is
more beautiful than marble and as enduring as
granite. The building is 138 by 88 feet, and is 65
feet in height. A spiral stone stairway, with an
artistic iron railing, leads from the floor to the attic.
The whole building is surmounted by a low, well-
formed dome, which furnishes light to the stairway
below. The building is fire-proof. The principal
stories have what are called groined arches. It is
one of the first fire-proof buildings erected in
Albany. This State Hall, so long the depository of the
State Records, and the place where State dig
nitaries most did congregate, has had its day, so
far at least as the purposes for which it was erected
are concerned. Few of the State officials, with
their subordinates are now seen there. Their
offices are mostly in the New. Capitol. It is
understood that the State cabinets in Geological
Hall will soon be placed here.

THE OLD CAPITOL.

The City and County of Albany prides itself on
the fact that its generous contributions aided largely
in the erection of the Old Capitol.
In 1803, the Common Council of the city
adopted a resolution requesting the Legislature to
pass an act authorizing the erection of a State
House and Court House, and appointed a com
mittee to prepare a petition and map, and to report
an estimate of the cost. The committee consisted
of John Cuyler, Charles D. Cooper, and John V.
N. Yates. This committee submitted their report
March 7, 1803, and the Legislature authorized the
erection of the building, then known as the New
Capitol, by an act passed April 6, 1804.
The Capitol Commissioners appointed on the
Old Capitol were John Taylor, Daniel Hale, Philip
S. Van Rensselaer, Simeon De Witt, Nicholas N.
Quackenbush. This act is a characteristic specimen of the
legislative methods of that day. The bill for its
erection was entitled: "An Act Making Provisions
for the Improvement of Hudson River below Al
bany, and for Other Purposes."
After providing for some improvement in the
Hudson at Troy and Waterford, above Albany,
it appoints John Taylor, Daniel Hale, Philip S,

STATE OF NEW YORK— BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC OFFICERS.

447

Van Rensselaer, Simeon De Witt, and Nicholas
N. Quackenbush, Commissioners for erecting the
New Capitol Building. It required the Supervisors
of Albany County to raise by tax $12,000 for
such purposes, and it contained the following pro
visions: VI. And be it further enacted, that the managers of the
Lottery hereinbefore mentioned shall cause to be raised by
Lottery the sum of $i2,oco, in such manner as they, or a
majority of them, shall think proper, which sum the said
managers shall pay to the Commissioners aforesaid.
At that day the State lotteries held intimate rela
tions with the finances of this State. These lotteries
were authorized by law. Upon their managers
devolved the raising of funds for the opening of
roads, improving rivers, building bridges, and the
advancement of great enterprises generally, now
thrown upon the taxpayers.
The lotteries were originally established to aid
in the endowment of schools under an act for the
' ' encouragement of literature. " The early colleges
of the States depended largely upon the lotteries.
During the legislative session of 18 12, a law was
passed giving $200,000 to Union College, and
smaller sums to Hamilton and Columbia Colleges,
and other institutions, upon the lottery plan.
At length the lottery system became corrupt and
unpopular. The provision abolishing lotteries, in
the Constitution of 1 821, was supplemented by a
provision, now in force in the Constitution of to-day
(Article I, Section 10), which reads thus: "Nor
shall any lottery hereafter be authorized, nor any
sale of lottery tickets allowed, within this State."
The original appropriation for the Capitol was but
$24,000, added to the proceeds of the sale of the
old Stadt Huys, whatever they might be; but the
building cost the sum of $1 10,688.42. This in
cluded the furnisriing of the Council Chamber.
Of this sum the City of Albany paid $34, 200, the
County of Albany $3,000, and the State $73,485.42.
This was hardly sufficient to pay for painting and
plastering the new huilding.
The Commissioners chose Pinkster's Hill as
the site of ihe Capitol. On April 23, 1806, the
corner-stone was laid with impressive ceremonies.
Philip S. Van Rensselaer was then Mayor of Al
bany, and to him was assigned the duty of placing
the stone in position. A large concourse of people
were assembled, among whom were John Lansing,
Jr., Chancellor of the State; Morgan Lewis, Chief-
Justice; Ambrose Spencer, Smith Thompson and
Brockholst Livingston, Justices of the Supreme
Court; the Members of the City Corporation and
other dignitaries.
The building was first occupied by the Senate
and Assembly at a special session of the Legisla
ture, convened November 1, 1808. It was con
sidered a magnificent edifice, an object of as much
curiosity and interest as is the new Capitol to-day.
People from all parts of the State and nation
visited it. In 18 13, Professor Silliman, of Yale
College, visited it and wrote an elaborate description
of it, in which he said: "It is a large, handsome
building, the furniture exhibiting a good degree of
taste and splendor."

H. G. Spafford, describing the building, said of
the Senate and Assembly Chambers, which were on
the same floor: "In the furniture of these rooms
there is a display of public munificence. The
American eagle assumes almost imperial splendor.
It stands at the head of State street, 130 feet above
the level of the Hudson. It is a substantial stone
building, faced with freestone taken from the brown
sandstone quarries on the Hudson, below the
Highlands. The walls are 50 feet high, consist
ing of two stories, and a basement story of 10 feet.
The east or main front is adorned with a portico of
the Ionic order, tetrastile, the entablature support
ing an angular pediment in the tympanum of which
is to be placed the Arms of the State. The ceiling
of the wall is supported by a double row of reeded
columns; the floors are vaulted and laid with
squares of Italian marble; the building is roofed
with a double hip of pyramidal form, upon the
center of which is a circular cupola, 20 feet in di
ameter. On its dome is a statue of Themis, facing
eastward — a carved figure of wood, 11 feet in
height, holding a sword in her right hand and the
balance in her left."
The above is a good description of the Old Cap
itol as it appeared in 1883, when it was taken
down, with the exception of some few additions
which had been made in its rear. The interior,
with some exceptions, was at that time about the
same as it was when first occupied. We give be
low the changes which were made.
To the Executive Chamber there was made, dur
ing the Rebellion, an additional room, extending
into the main hall. In other respects it was the
same in 1883 as in 1808. To the departments oc
cupied by the Adjutant-General, previous to the
removal of the building, was added another room
during the war. This room was devoted to the
Common Council of the City of Albany. Various
additions have been made from time to time in the
rear of the Assembly Chamber. The Senate Cham
ber was originally to the left of the Assembly on
entering from the main hall. It was, however, re
moved to the large room on the second floor, and
the old Senate Chamber was used by the Depart
ment of Public Instruction, and latterly as the Post-
office and cloak-room of the Assembly. When the
Senate Chamber was removed to the second floor, a
floor was constructed and additional rooms were
added to the building. In one of these the Super
visors of Albany County held their meetings. On
the upper floor the Supreme Court originally oc
cupied the main room. It was afterwards occupied
by the Court of Appeals, and one winter by the
Senate. The other rooms were occupied by the
Court of Chancery, the Court of Common Pleas,
the Court of Sessions and the Mayor's Court. The
Mayor's office was in the attic, as were also the
rooms of the Society of Arts, the State Library and
the State Board of Agriculture. The basement
was devoted to the offices of the County Clerk, City
Marshal and the rooms of the Keeper of the Capitol.
It is singular that there was not a committee
room in the entire building. It can hardly be con
ceived that the building could ever have rendered

448

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

accommodations for such a number of public offices;
but this arrangement continued till the completion
of the City Hall in 1831, when the city and county
officers were removed to that building. After that
time various changes took place. A new State
library was built, under the law of 1851, and large
additions were made to the rear of the building;
but it was not even then rendered adequate to the
needs of the State.
Congress Hall stood almost adjoining the Old
Capitol on the north, a famous hotel of the past.
For many years it was the resort of senators, assem
blymen, lobbyists, judges and lawyers.
Owing to the overcrowded state of the Capitol,
a part of this hotel, a private house, and many
rooms in the Delavan House, were used for com
mittee rooms.
The Governor's room, to which we have alluded,
was on the south side of the Capitol, its windows
opening on State street, its entrance being from the
south side of the hall of the Capitol. Over its door
appeared the well-remembered words: "Executive
Chamber. " This door led into a room occupied by
the Governor's clerks; to the left, folding-doors
opened directly into the Governor's room. The
addition made during the war was occupied by the
Governor's Military Secretary. The room had few
decorations; a portrait of Lafayette, by Charles
Ingham, was about the only embellishment the
room contained. It is a full-length portrait, a fine
work of art, and represents very correctly the fea
tures of its illustrious original. It now hangs in the
Executive Chamber of the new Capitol.
A large table, the office desk of the Governors,
stood in the center of the room. A desk for the
Private Secretary, book -cases, sofas, and some easy
chairs, made up its furniture.
The old Senate Chamber, a very handsome room,
exceedingly appropriate for legislative purposes,
was embellished with portraits of three distinguished
men — Christopher Columbus, George Clinton and
Stewart L. Woodford. The first of these was pre
sented to the Senate, in 1784, by Maria Farmer, a
descendant of the honest Jacob Leisler, once de
facto Colonial Governor of New York, murdered
by his enemies for high treason while guilty of no
crime. The picture of Clinton is painted from life,
and is an artistic work. The portrait of Woodford
was presented to the Senate by his friends in the
Senate of 1868.
The doorways of the Senate Chamber were orna
mented with a sculptured cornice familiar to the
architecture of seventy years ago. A tall Dutch clock,
that for nearly a century noted the official hours of
assembling and adjourning, was a main feature of the
chamber. The galleries were a fiction of language,
being on the same level as the main floor.
JAMES W. EATON.
The subject of this sketch, James Webster Eaton,
was born August 22, 1817, at Summerville, N. J.
His father, Josiah Eaton, came from Keene, N. H.,
and was descended from old Puritan stock which
had taken root in the Massachusetts Bay Colony

in the early days, whence the descendants had
spread out over New England. His mother, Ger
trude MacEaton, was of Scotch-German parentage
and was born in New Jersey. Both were intelligent,
industrious, God-fearing people. In 1828, young
Eaton removed with his parents to Albany, where,
not long after, he began to learn the trade of his
father, that of a stonemason. Born with the heri
tage of respectable poverty, which has been the
spur of ambition to so many, he diligently laid
hold of every opportunity for self-improvement,
and while he spent the summer working at his
trade, in the winter he attended the old Lancaster
School and a private school kept by Mr. Fitch,
both of which are names familiar to many old
Albanians, who gained there that modest, but effi
cient education which has been so great an element
in their subsequent success. In 1840, Mr. Eaton
married Eliza M. Benner, who is still living. By
this marriage there were three children, two of
whom survive: Calvin Ward, who is a member.of
the firm of Van Santford & Eaton, wholesale
lumber dealers, and James Webster, Jr., who is a
recent graduate of Yale and the senior partner of
the law firm of Eaton & Kirchwey. About the
time of his marriage, Mr. Eaton embarked in the
building business which he has since followed.
His sterling integrity, indomitable purpose and
business sagacity, slowly, but surely, won for him
the victory over adverse" circumstances. The his
tories of such lives would be interesting commen
taries on the influence of character over fortune,
if they could be written out; but such a history
must usually be read in the tangible achievements
of painstaking effort. In his business career, Mr.
Eaton has probably done as much as any other
one man to beautify the city of his residence.
Over five hundred of the most noteworthy of the
public and business buildings, and the most ele
gant of the private residences in Albany, have been
erected by him, and his reputation as a builder is
unsurpassed. In 1874, he was appointed by Gov
ernor Dix, Superintendent of Construction of the
New Capitol, an office which he held during four
successive administrations until the position itself
was abolished in 1883. This magnificent structure,
most of which was erected under his supervision,
and over the practical details of which he had
control, is an enduring monument to his adminis
trative capacity as well as mechanical skill. In
these days of political jobs, it is a significant and
gratifying fact, that men of all political faiths who
are conversant with the management of this great
work, unite voluntarily, asserting that no suspi
cion of unfairness or undue partizanship has ever
clung to him. Whatever may be the criticisms
made upon the design of the Capitol, or the ma
terials used in it, or the method of administration
undei the old Commission — for which Mr. Eaton
was of course in no way responsible and over
which he had no control — it is safe to assert,
without fear of contradiction, that the State never
had a more honest, fearless, and efficient servant.
So far as the appointments made by him, per
sonally, were concerned, his administration was an

E«g dbrKJnC KoavoEts.N \

STATE OF NEW YORK— BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC OFFICERS.

449

admirable exemplification of practical Civil Service
reform. Since his retirement from the Capitol, Mr. Eaton
has devoted himself principally to the management
and improvement of his real estate, of which he has
a considerable amount in and about the city.
During the greater part of his life, Mr. Eaton has
been a consistent member of the Methodist Episco
pal Church, and for many years President of the
Board of Trustees of the Hudson Avenue Soci
ety, now known as the First M. E. Church. Mr.
Eaton has always enjoyed, in very large measure,

the esteem, confidence and respect of his fellow
citizens; but only to those who have known him
intimately has it been given to fully appreciate the
genial kindliness, the large-hearted sympathy, and
unobtrusive generosity which has endeared him to
many. As a loving husband and father, as an up
right official, as a useful and successful member ot
society, and above all, as a good man in the highest
seme of the term, it has seemed lo us that the
history of Albany would be incomplete without
this little sketch of his life, especially in connection
with the New Capitol

THE NEW CAPITOL.
From Osgood's " Public Service of the State of New York."

THE NEW CAPITOL.
The seat of government of New York, during
the colonial period, was in the City of New York.
There the Colonial Legislature generally held its
sessions, at first, at the fort. It sometimes con
vened in Jamaica, L. I. At length it met regularly
in the New York City Hall.
New York City was regarded as the capital dur
ing the revolution; but when the British Army took
possession of it, the Legislature was compelled to
meet at places regarded most safe from the attacks
of the British — as at White Plains, Albany, King
ston and Poughkeepsie. After the British evacu
ated New York, the Legislature assembled at these
places or in New York. The places designated
for each session were fixed by a vote of the Legisla
ture, or by the Governor. Since 1798 the legisla
tive sessions have been held entirely at Albany.

As the growth of the State had rendered the Old
Capitol loo limited for legislative and other pur
poses, the subject of erecting a New Capitol at Al
bany began to be agitated. But it took no definite
form until April 24, 1863, when, on motion of
Hon. James A. Bell, Senator from Jefferson
County, the Senate referred the subject to the Trus
tees of the Capitol and the Committee on Public
Buildings. In 1865, the Senate appointed a committee of
three to receive propositions from various cities of
the State, as to what action they would take in re
gard to the removal of the capital of the State from
Albany. The question of its removal at that time
was considerably agitated. No satisfactory results
were reached by the action of this committee, ex
cept in response to the circular issued by it. Albany
proposed to convey Congress Hall Block, or any
other lands in the city, required for the purpose of

450

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

a New Capitol. This proposal was at once accepted,
and, on May i, 1865, an act authorizing the erec
tion of a New Capitol, at Albany, passed the Legis
lature. The grand structure now known as the
New Capitol was, by excavating and laying founda
tions, begun July 7, 1869.
It was not until early in the summer of 1871
that the superstructure was ready to receive the
corner-stone. June 24, 1871, was designated as
the day. The exercises attending this work were
grand and imposing. An introductory address
was delivered by the Hon. Hamilton Harris, fol
lowed by reading a list of the documents placed in
the corner-stone, by Hon. William A. Rice; an ad
dress by Governor John T. Hoffman; and Masonic
ceremonies conducted by Most Worshipful John
Anton, Grand Master of the Grand Masonic Lodge
of the State.
The liberal spirit of the citizens of Albany was
exhibited in a marked manner in the erection of
the New Capitol. To Hon. Hamilton Harris,
President of the Board of Capitol Commissioners,
and to his exertions in the Senate, the State and the
City of Albany are largely indebted for the suc
cessful manner in which the work was from the
first pushed forward. By a concurrent resolution
adopted May 14, 1878, the Legislature declared
the new building to be the Capitol of the State of
New York, and it was formally occupied as such
January 7, 1879. The same evening the citizens of
Albany gave a reception in honor of the event,
and commemorative exercises were held under
authority of the Legislature on the 1 2th of February
following. New Capitol Commissioners. — Hamilton Harris,
May 3, 1866; John V. L. Pruyn, May 3, 1866;
Obadiah B. Latham, May 3, 1866; James S.
Thayer, May 19, 1868; William A. Rice, May 19,
1868; James Terwilliger, May 19, 1868; John T.
Hudson, May 19, 1868; Alonzo B. Cornell, May
19, 1868.
Second Board. — Hamilton Harris, April 26,
1871; William C. Kingsley, April 26, 1871; Will
iam A. Rice, April 26, 1871; Chauncey M. Depew,
April 26, 1871; Delos De Wolf, April 26, 1871;
Edwin A. Merritt, April 26, 1871.
Architects — Thomas Fuller, August 12, 1868;
Eidlitz, Richardson & Co., September 12, 1876.
Superintendents. — John Bridgeford, September
10, 1868; William J. McAlpine, June 11, 1873;
James W. Eaton, June 12, 1874.
The Second Board was superseded by Act of the
Legislature of 1875, and the Lieutenant-Governor,
Attorney-General, and Auditor of the Canal De
partment were constituted Commissioners of the
New Capitol. An Advisory Board to the Commis
sioners was- appointed July 15, 1875, consisting of
F. Law Olmsted, Leopold Eidlitz and Henry
Richardson. This board was superseded by the
appointment of architects in 1876. An Act passed
March 30, 1883, authorized the Governor, by and
with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint
an officer to be known as the Commissioner of the
New Capitol, who shall have charge of the work of

constructing and finishing the building. He is
authorized to employ labor, purchase material and
make contracts, which, in all cases, must be
awarded to the lowest bona fide responsible bidder.
He is required to give a bond for $50,000, condi
tioned for the faithful performance of the duties of
his office. His term of office is the same as that
of the Governor, from whom he receives his ap
pointment. His salary is $7, 500 per annum. The
same Act abolished the office of Superintendent of
the Capitol.
A subsequent law of the same year designated
the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor and Speaker of
the Assembly, ex officio, trustees of the finished
parts of the building, and of several other public
buildings of the State at Albany, for which they
are to appoint a Superintendent at an annual salary
of $3,500.
After the laying of the corner-stone, the work
on the building was continued with more or less
rapidity, according to the appropriation of funds.
There were times of entire cessation from work
for lack of funds. In 1874 no work was done
upon it for six months.
It is now occupied by the Senate and Assembly,
the Court of Appeal, and nearly all the State
Departments. The Foundation. — To receive the foundation,
the earth was excavated lo an average depth of 15-
j4j$j- feet below the surface. Then concrete to the
thickness of four feet was first laid down. The
material for this was. of a nature that indurates
with the lapse of time, so that a stone floor now
exists which is every year approaching the hard
ness and duration of granite. The sub-base
ment extends down nineteen feet four inches, and
contains 935,000 cubic feet of stone. The brick
walls are from thirty-two inches to five feet thick,
containing between ten and eleven million bricks.
The foundation of the main tower is one hundred
and ten feet, square at the base, tapering to seventy
feet square at the basement floor, The sub-base
ment is divided into one hundred and forty-four
different appartments, and is utilized for heating,
storing and ventilating purposes.
The immense boilers in the sub-basement used
for propelling machinery for heating, lighting and
ventilating purposes have long been regarded as
dangerously located. They were considered liable
to explode. They were also the source of other
inconveniences. A proposal to remove them to a
building adjacent to the Capitol, to be constructed
by the State for this purpose, has been agitated for
several sessk ns of the Legislature. The Legisla
ture of 1885 passed an Act providing for the erec
tion of a building for a boiler-house with chimney-
stack, having a conduit running from the boiler-
house to the Capitol.
The foundation of the boiler-house is seven feet below
the sidewalk at the corner of Lafayette and Hawk streets,
the walls three feet wide. From floor levels to the water
tables the walls are two feet thick, faced with dressed
stone. Water tables blue stone, and the wall above faced
with pressed brick, tower included. The roof is supported
by iron trusses, peaked aud slated. The floor is bricked or
flagged. The chimney is too feet high, built of hard brick;

STATE OF NEW YORK— BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC OFFICERS.

451

at the base it is fourteen feet square and ten and one-
half feet in diameter at the top. The conduit comprises
cast-iron tubes in lengths of six feet, clearing six feet in the
diameter and an inch thick. Two ten-inch steam-pipes must
run through it to connect the Capitol with the battery
of boilers. The return pipes are four inches in diameter.
For 270 feet the Washington avenue drains are lowered three
feet, and for 300 feet the Lafayette street drains are lowered
eight feet. There are five boilers, each 150-horse power.
The plates are made of Ihe best quality of Otis homo
geneous steel, with tensile strength of 60,000 pounds to the
inch of area.
The responsibility of making this construction
and the removal was committed to Hon. Charles
B. Andrews, Superintendent of Public Buildings
and Grounds in Albany belonging to the State.
The Capitol is now lighted by magnificent elec
tric lights. The Senate, Assembly and Court of
Appeals and other larger rooms are illuminated by
the incandescent light. The effect of these lights
can scarcely be described, but must be seen to be
appreciated. The Capitol is magnificently situated in what
will be hereafter known as Capitol square, includ
ing the land between Eagle street on the east,
Capitol place on the west, with Washington ave
nue on the north, and State street on the south.
The length is 1,034 feet, the width 330, containing
in all 7-j^r acres.
Capitol place is 155 feet above the level of the
Hudson, and the land slopes to the east 51 feet.
State street leads directly up from Broadway to the
Capitol. One of the first impressions of the traveler as he
beholds the building is its immense proportions.
It occupies 3-J acres of land. It is 300 feet from
north to south, and 400 feet from east to west. The
walls are 108 feet high from the water-table, and are
composed of granite, most of it from Hallowell,
Maine. The Central Court is 137 by 92 feet, extending
an open space to the sky and admitting much
needed light and air. Above the six dormer win
dows that open on the Court that are above the
fourth or gallery story, are sculptured the arms of
six families more or less distinguished in the history
of the State. The Stuyvesant Arms are on the
north side, west; Schuyler arms on the north side,
middle; the Livingston arms on the north side,
east; the Jay arms are on the south side, west;
the Clinton arms are on the south side, middle;
the Tompkins arms are on the south side, east.
The carvings descriptive of these arms, with the
mottoes, are beautifully wrought, and blend with
fine effect in the whole entablature on which they
appear. We take the following description of the Capitol
from H. P. Phelps' admirably compiled work,
"The Albany Hand-book."
The first or ground story, which is nearly on a
level with Washington avenue and State street, is
devoted to committee rooms and offices elsewhere
specified. Ascent to the other stories may be
made by elevators, but visitors will generally prefer
to walk up one or the. other of the grand stair
cases.

The Assembly Staircase, on the north side, is of
Dorchester freestone of soft drab color; its ascent
is easy; its design vigorous and scholarly. The
views of it so often seen give a better idea of its
majestic proportions then words can do.
The Golden Corridor. — On arriving upon the
second floor by the Assembly Staircase will be seen
the Golden Corridor, 140 feet long by 20 wide
and about twenty-five feet high, extending along
the whole court side of the north center. Seven
large windows opening upon this court divide the
corridor into bays, twenty feet square. Each bay
is flanked by piers, between which arches are
turned, and these arches sustain a low and ribless
groined vault.
Mr. Montgomery Schuyler says:
"The piers are covered with a damask of red
upon umber. The angle moldings are solidly gilded.
The crimson wall screen on both sides is overlaid
with a simple reticulation of gold lines framing or
naments in yellow. The whole vault is gilded,
and upon its ground of gold traversing each face
of the vault, is a series of bands of minute ornament
in brown, scarlet and deep blue. The method —
this close mosaic of minute quantities of crude
color — is entirely Oriental in treatment and effect.
The varying surfaces of the vaulting, each covered
with fretted gold, give a vista, lengthened by the
dwindling arches, alive with flashing lights and
shimmering shadows. Opening out of the corridor
to the right is the room originally intended for the
Court of Appeals, but declined by the Judge as un
suitable for their purpose. It is sixty feet square
and twenty-five feet high, subdivided into parallel
ograms, one twice the width of the other, by a line
of red granite columns carrying with broad, low
arches a marble wall. The walls are of sandstone,
visible in some places, but covered in most with a
decoration in deep red, and with the tall wainscot
ing of oak, which occupy the wall above the dado
of sandstone. The ceiling is a superb construction
in carved oak, carried on a system of beams dimin
ishing in size from the great girders supported by
great braces, and finally closed by oaken panels,
profusely carved. The Senate occupied this room
previous to the completion of the Senate Chamber,
and it has been used for various purposes. At the
time of the scare, in relation to the ceiling of the
Assembly Chamber, in 1882-83, it was hastily fitted
up for the occupation of the Assembly with gallery,
etc. The members sat there one day and returned
to their quarters. When the State Library Build
ing was razed, this room and the Golden Corridor
were utilized temporarily for library purposes.
The Assembly Chamber. — Ascending another
flight of the staircase we come to what is, without
doubt, the grandest legislative hall in the world —
the Assembly Chamber — 84x140 feet by including
the galleries, although the chamber proper is but
84 by 85 feet. Four great pillars, 4 feet in diameter,
of red granite, sustain the largest groined stone
arch in the world, the key-stone being 56 feet from
the floor. These pillars, and the arch which
springs from them, are the most striking features

452

HLSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

of the room, but it will bear a world of study.
While all admit the grandeur of the work, its
vastness is also its defect; for as a debating hall it
is far from perfect. With the Assembly in perfect
order (a condition rarely observed for ten consecu
tive minutes) a good speaker cannot be heard
without difficulty, but the Statesman with weak
lungs, poor voice, uninteresting manner, or thread
bare subject, is apt to complain bitterly of the
acoustics. It had been found necessary, in order
to keep the key-stone in place, to weight it very
heavily; this extra weight upon the sandstone
caused some of the defective stones to crack.
Small pieces fell, and there was much apprehension
that the building was settling unevenly, and that
the tons upon tons of stone in and about the ceiling
would some day come down with a crash. A com
mission of experts reported that it was best to take
the ceiling down. The architects protested and
offered to repair it at their own expense; they were
allowed to do so, replaced the defective stones, and
all anxiety appears to have subsided.
The Allegorical Pictures. — No one feature of
the Capitol has caused more comment than the
pictures that occupy the upper portions of the
north and south walls of this chamber. They
were painted by the late William M. Hunt, one of
the greatest ot American artists, and possess a
melancholy interest from the fact that they are the
only work of the kind he ever did. He received
for his services fifteen thousand dollars. The space
covered by each is fifteen by forty feet. That on
the northern wall represents the allegory of Armujd
and Ahriman, or the flight of Evil before Good;
or, as is more frequently interpreted, The Flight
of Night. The Queen of Night is driving before
the dawn, charioted on clouds drawn by three
plunging horses, one black, one white, one red,
without other visible restraint than that of a
swarthy guide, who floats at the left of the picture,
and whose hand is lightly laid upon the head of
the outermost horse. At the right of the goddess,
and in deep shade, is the recumbent figure of a
sleeping mother with a sleeping child upon her
breast. The picture on the southern wall repre
sents the Discoverer standing upright in a boat,
dark against a sunset sky. Fortune erect stands
behind him trimming the sail with her lifted left
hand while her right holds the tiller. The boat is
rising to a sea, and is attended by Hope at the
prow, with one arm resting on it, and one point
ing forward; Faith, whose face is buried in her
arms, and who is floating with the tide: and Science
unrolling a chart at the side.
We are told that since Mr. Hunt's melancholy
death on the Isle of Shoals, that the fifty-five days
devoted by himself and his assistant to the paint
ing of these pictures, by no means represented all
the labor bestowed upon them. The Discoverer
was first drawn in charcoal in 1857. The Flight of
Night had been put on paper ten years earlier,
and had been designed simply for an easel picture.
After accepting the commission, Mr. Hunt's pre
paratory work in his studio in Boston was pf nearly

five months' duration. For the Flight of Night,
the heads of the horses, their legs and feet were all
freshly painted from life. The Queen was painted
from a model. Sleep and the child were painted
from life; also the dusky guide. For the other
picture, the Discoverer, Hope, Science, and For
tune were painted from life models. The heads,
hands, and arms of these figures were also drawn
and colored as separate studies. In all, thirty or
more careful charcoal drawings and more than
twelve pastels were made, besides nineteen com
plete copies in oil — seventeen, twelve by thirty
inches, and two, six by eight feet. The work itself
had to be done by a specified time, and this in
volved much anxiety. Each morning the artist
and his assistant were up to catch from the rising
sun a fresh impression to carry to the work upon
the Flight of Night. Every evening they watched
the waning daylight, and noted the effect of figures
and objects against the setting sun, as a study for
the Discoverer. Later on in the work, Mr. Hunt
obtained from his assistant a solemn promise that
if their effort proved a failure, he would paint out
both pictures in a single night.
The South Side Corridor. — The Executive
Chambers, or the Governor's rooms, are in the
southeast corner on the second, or entrance floor.
On the way to this portion of the Capitol, one is
struck by two very important differences in con
struction between the southern corridors and the
corresponding passages on the north side of the
building. These differences consist in the use of
colored marbles here for wainscoting, and in the
admission of light by windows rising from the top
of the wainscot above the level of the eye and sur
rounding the doors leading into the various com
mittee rooms that receive direct light. The effect
of the wainscot is of great richness and variety, and
it also seems substantial and enduring. The rich
ness and variety of color is truly wonderful, and it
contains in low tones more combinations than the
most elaborate palettes of a painter could reach in
a lifetime. The most prominent tints aie shades
and hues of red, and these are relieved by num
berless colder tones, grays and browns predom
inating. The marble has been selected upon a
harmonious scale of color, and is put together in
simple slabs, the joining edges of which are beveled
perpendicularly, and are held in place by a slightly
convex string molding and a cap of brownstone,
which, where they abut upon doors, are daintily
carved into terminal bosses, while the whole rests
upon a molded base of brownstone. This
wainscot is more pleasing than any combination of
tiles could be, but its effect would be entirely
thrown away were it not for the means adopted for
lighting the corridors through the windows above
mentioned. The Governor's Room is sixty feet long by forty
wide; the walls are wainscoted to a height of
fifteen or sixteen feet with mahogany, arranged in
square panels surmounted with a band of carving
and a carved molding above. The space between
this and the ceiling Qf mahogany is covered with

STATE OF NEW YORK— BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC OFFICERS.

453

hangings of Spanish leather, which harmonize, in
its soft tones of golden-brown, and red, and olive,
with the mahogany. On one side of the room is
an enormous fire-place having a shelf and several
emblematic panels of elaborate carving about it.
The ceiling is composed of beams, which divide
the space into panels, having rails perforated in
the form of a quatrefoil surrounding the panel.
There are convenient arrangements to connect
with the offices of the executive attendants and the
bill room by small doors in the paneling, and
altogether the room is well adapted to the recep
tion of persons having business to transact with the
Governor and his assistants.
The Corridor of Columns. — Ascending from
this floor by the commodious and easy running
elevator, we find ourselves in a corridor similar to
that previously described, which leads into a
broader one, running east and west along the north
side of the Senate Chamber. This last-named
corridor, which is after plans furnished by Mr.
Eidlitz, is entirely lined and vaulted with sandstone,
and has a row of columns in the center, above
which there is a double-arched vault extending to
either wall. Upon this spacious corridor open the
main doors leading to the Senate Chamber.
The Senate Chamber, in the richness and
variety of its decoration, is equaled only by the
famous St. Mark's Cathedral in Venice. Its treat
ment was assigned to Mr. Richardson, and of his
success there can be no question. The space in
which he had to work was sixty feet in breadth,
nearly one hundred in length, and about fifty in
height. He has reduced the plan of the room to a
nearly square form, cutting off from either end of
it the lobbies, above which are placed the gal
leries, opening on the chamber proper. These
lobbies, opening from the corridors, are simple in,
treatment. Yet by a slight similarity in detail
they, in a measure, prepare the eye for the Senate
Chamber itself. They are wainscoted with a light
marble, arranged panelwise in slabs and rails, and
are ceiled with quartered oak. From the west
lobby opens the Lieutenant-Governor's room, com
fortably fitted up with a carved and polished ma
hogany wainscot and fire-place, and an oak ceiling
supported on corbels of marble. By the arrange
ment of the galleries over the lobbies, the aclual
floor space of the Senate Chamber proper is re
duced to about sixty feet by fifty-five. Entering on
this floor by the main doorway from the vaulted
corridor above described we first see the south wall,
from which the chamber is lighted by three large
openings rising from a level with the floor and six
lesser openings near the ceiling. Two of the
large windows are filled with disks of stained glass,
which shade from browns and rubies near the
floor through olives and golden hues to the semi
circular tops, which are filled with varied iridescent
and opalescent tints. The central window is ob
scured by the reredos behind the president's desk,
which rises to the spring of the window arches,
but does not cover the semicircular window-
head, which, like the others, is filled with many.

hued opalescent glass. The stained glass has been
used not only to add brilliancy of color, but to
avoid the glare of light that has proved so objec
tionable in some of the other rooms. These win
dows are arched, and the stone moldings above
and below them are carved with intricate and deli
cate patterns of interwoven lace-like forms, and a
carved band of stone divides the lower part of
each window from the semicircular upper light.
The capitals of the angle columns are more
heavily cut into conventional forms taken from
oak leaves and other foliage. The wall space be
tween the windows, as far up as the spring of the
arches, is of Knoxville Tenn., marble, a reddish-
gray stone not highly polished, though having a
smooth finish.
The Mexican Onyx Paneling. — Above the
three arches of the lower windows for about twelve
feet (perpendicular), the wall is paneled with Mex
ican onyx. These panels are cut into slabs three
feet square and are separated, or rather framed, by
slightly convex rails of Sienna (Italy) marble, the
mottled reds, yellows, and browns of which con
trast with the tints of the onyx. For additional
support the slabs are backed up with slabs of ordi
nary marble. The variety of color displayed in the
onyx is very remarkable, the prevailing tints being
mottled and semi-translucent whites, cream colors,
sea-water, olive and ivory. These tints are broken
and waved by lines, striae and splashes of raw
Sienna coloring, rosy brown, and numberless shades
of other neutral browns, some inclining toward red
and some toward green and even blue, while the
surface everywhere varies in play of light and shade
of semi-opacity and translucence. The various
slabs, no two of which are alike, are arranged with
a certain idea of contrast, but never formally
nor with regularity of counter-change. They are
laid haphazard with a motive. The dividing rails
of Sienna marble are of colors that harmonize ad
mirably with those of the onyx, being principally
yellows of a soft golden character and reddish-
brown mottled, the intensity of which is varied in
every piece, and sometimes approaches so nearly
the color of an adjacent slab of onyx as to melt
into it. Both panels and rails are highly polished.
Above this paneling is a string course of simply
carved marble, and above this is the upper tier of
windows, six in number. The shape and treat
ment are similar to those of the lower windows.
The wall space above these windows is filled in
with lead, heavily gilded, constituting a sort of frieze.
The ornament of this is a carefully studied design
of arabesque or floral pattern, beaten out or em
bossed by means of hammers, stamps and dies of
various sizes and shapes, thus affording a varied
plav of light and shade on the gilt surface. This
field ol gold, being absolutely neutral, adapts itself
to the color of the surrounding objects, and in the
elevation and depression of its beaten and stamped
surface supplies the complementary colors neces
sary lo complete the color harmony of
the whole chamber. Above the broad frieze
of beaten gold, and terminating the wall are
the massive carved beams of oak, more than four

454

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

feet in depth, which constitute the framework of
the ceiling. These great beams are supported on
stone corbels sunk into the walls and projecting
under the beams. The corbels are carved into bold
and vigorous forms derived from foliage and
flowers. The main beams divide the ceiling into
long, narrow, rectangular spaces running from east
to west, and these spaces are divided into lesser
rectangular spaces running north and south, which
are again divided in half by smaller beams and
form squares, which are still further divided by rails
into four square panels each. Half way between
the east and west walls is the main entrance of the
corridor, and on either side of this entrance are two
great open fire-places jutting out into the room.
The doorway and fire-places are constructed of
marble, as is the space between them. The open
ings of the fire-places are about six feet in height,
and something more in breadth. The cheerful
effect of these, when filled with blazing logs, the
flames of which are reflected on the polished onyx
and marble from all sides of the room, may well be
imagined. Above the fire openings are to be
carved legends or symbolical devices. Above these
are the broad faces of the chimney-breasts, which
are to be cut in bas-relief, with representations of
historical or legendary scenes, emblematical of or
illustrating the legislative character of the room.
The whole chimney-pieces are about half as high
as the room, reaching to the string course below
the gold frieze. Above the doorway and wall
space of Knoxville marble, we see the wall space
up to the frieze covered with the Mexican onyx
panel, and like the frieze, in greater extent of sur
face than elsewhere. Above the onyx and inclosed
within the frieze is a long rectangular space, which
may be filled in with mural painting of some
allegorical subject fitted to the place.
The Court of Appeals. — Nine spacious rooms
are assigned for the Court of Appeals, six in the
third or principal story, three in the fourth or gal
lery story, the two stories being connected by an
ornamented iron staircase. The Court-room is in
the southeast corner over the executive chamber,
and is 35 by 53 feet and 25 feet high. It is finished
in quartered red oak, timbered ceiling of the same
material, with carved beams and deep recessed
panels. The five window openings are finished
with Knoxville marble, the arches resting on carved
trusses and columns recessed into the angles formed
by the jambs and outer belting, terminating in
ornamental trusses. A deep carved wood string in
line with the trusses, and the carved capitals of the
marble columns divide the oak paneling on the
walls into two parts. The framework of the upper
section is filled in with large plain panels, and the
intention is to decorate, by gilding, the rails. The
panels are designed to be painted in varied designs
to harmonize with the wood-carving. The lower
section below the window arches stands upon a
molded base and is filled in with double raised
panels and sub divided longitudinally by carved
string courses, containing between them a section
of vertical fluted work, in which are fixed at inter
vals, in carved frames, the portraits of the judges,

many of which hung in the Court of Appeals'
room of the Old Capitol. On the west side of the
room is a recessed fire-place of large dimensions,
over which is displayed the arms of the State,
carved in the oaken panels of the mantel over the
recess. The recess of the fire-place is lined with
Sienna marble, and has a bench on either side of
the fire-place of the same material. The lintel over
the fire-place is also of Sienna marble, richly
carved and extending across the whole recess.
Resting on the lintel is a large panel composed of
several choice specimens of Mexican onyx skill
fully arranged. The Judge's bench has been care
fully designed in style and form to suit the require
ments and wishes of that honorable body. The
front is divided into panels set in framework; the
panels are exquisitely carved in varied designs and
separated by ornamental balusters, the whole rest
ing on a molded base. Carved in the center panel
are the arms of the State. There is a medallion
convex of carved grotesque heads located along
the projecting top. Perhaps no room in the build
ing is better adapted to its purpose than this.
The Southeast, or Senate Staircase occupies a
space fifty-two by fifty-two, and one hundred and
fourteen feet high from basement to the top of the
walls. The stairs start on the ground floor on
the south side and extend to the gallery story.
The great platforms and steps are of Dorchester
sandstone. Each story is divided into two sec
tions by spacious intermediate platforms midway
in each story, extending the whole distance be
tween the north and south walls, a distance of
fifty feet by twelve feet wide. The stairs are of
easy ascent and grand and dignified in appear
ance. The upper landings of the stairs on each
story are on platforms extending the whole length
between the walls by fourteen feet wide, resting on
the walls at either end, and supported at the cross-
joints by massive, molded granite girders. The
west walls on the ground and entrance stories form
a continuous line of niches, divided by piers and
columns, embellished with molded brass and
carved caps. The west wall in each of the four
stories is pierced by large openings, through which
light is admitted to the staircase from the court.
The eastern wall in the entrance and main stories
is provided with balconies, the platforms placed on
a level with the tiled floors of the corridors adjoin
ing. These balconies serve both as useful and or
namental features, and are approached through the
openings made in the east wall, as heretofore de
scribed. The openings are spanned by pointed
arches, the two outer arches extending over the
steps. The faces of piers and arches are decorated
by incised ornaments, the under side of arches by
flowing lines of tracery, terminating in grotesque
heads and figures. The north and south sides of
the wall are each divided into two openings, which
are spanned by arches springing from the massive
piers at the ground floor, up to and against the
piers resting upon the caps of the center columns,
from which the upper span of arches spring, to and
against the piers of the various landings. These
arches are constructed at an angle conforming to

STATE OF NEW YORK— BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC OFFICERS.

455

the angles of the steps, and supporting the same.
The vertical faces and soffits are decorated in a
similar manner as the arches heretofore described,
with the exception of the lower section, in which
spandrels are formed, filled in with geometrical
tracery. Resting on the arches, continuing up the steps,
and forming the coping over the same, is a molded
string course, up the face of which is a deeply re
cessed and richly carved decoration. This coping
and decoration extends along a level with all the
platforms, and is divided by the piers at the angles.
The coping, up the steps and along the platforms,
is surmounted by a beautiful balustrade worked in
geometrical figures and foliage ornaments, on
which rests a heavy molded hand-rail. * * *
This great monumental work is believed to be
without parallel on the face of the globe.
Stone- work. — The following description of the
stone-work used on the New Capitol was kindly
furnished the editor by Mr. James J. Mitchell,
Superintendent of Granite Work. It puts on rec
ord facts of abiding interest in the history of this
great building that can be found nowhere else. It
is the statement of a skillful practical mechanic,
who has been on the work from the beginning,
given in his own clear language.
I came here October 8, 1870, when the foun
dation was being built, from Washington, D. C,
where I had been employed as a stone-cutter on
the United States Capitol and other public build
ings. At that time the building was under the
management of a commission, of which the Hon.
Hamilton Harris was Chairman. The corner
stone was laid June 24, 1871, by the Masonic
fraternity. After the laying of the corner-stone,
measures were taken to push forward the con
struction with the greatest rapidity. I worked as
a stone-cutter on the building until May 25, 1872,
when I was appointed assistant foreman of stone
cutters, which position I held until 1876, when
Mr. Reynolds, who had been principal foreman,
died. I was appointed his successor. In 1883 I
was further promoted to Superintendent of Gran
ite Work by Commissioner Perry.
In my department are employed almost two-
thirds of the whole force on the building, the total
of which is about eight hundred and fifty men.
In my office are two clerks, one messenger and one
assistant. The average number of men employed yearly
since 1870, is 1,100. Of the different kinds of
stone used in its construction as follows: For
foundation, Tribes Hill and Kingston limestone,
also Fall River and Saratoga. granite, and Potsdam
sandstone for bond stone. The basement is flag
ged with bluestone from Ulster County.
The water table is of Dix Island, Me. , granite;
the corner-stone, weighing ten tons, is also of this
material. It is situated in the northeast corner of
the building. It was contemplated at one time to
construct the whole building of Dix Island, Me.,
granite, but it was found to be too expensive.

The next five courses around the entire building
are of Yarmouth, Me., granite. It was condemned
on account of having been found to contain iron,
thereby causing discoloration, which is plainly
visible, and is a great eyesore. From the fifth
course upward the entire exterior structure is com
posed of Halloweh white granite, a fine, if not the
finest building material in the world.
In the north and south entrances halls, ground .
floor, the first story of the main tower and cor
ridors, granite from Keene, N. H., is used, no^
including the arches. In the east and west
entrance halls, Hallowell granite, with polished
granite columns from Fox Island, Me., is used.
The great columns in the Assembly Chamber
are red granite from Stony Creek, Conn., while
the bases and capitals are Tuckahoe, Westchester
County, marble. The remainder of the Chamber
is entirely of Dorchester, Ohio, and Belleville, New
Jersey, red sandstone.
In the corridors of the south side we find, in
the wainscoting, marble of almost every hue, prin
cipally from Lake Champlain. The base-band
and cap-courses, also the jambs, are of dark brown
stone from Newark, N. J. On the next two floors
above, the same materials are used in the wains
coting. In the room formerly intended for the
Court of Appeals are red granite columns and
pilasters of great beauty from the Bay of Fundy,
Nova Scotia.
The bases, capitals and arches in the Chamber
supporting the floors of the Assembly Chamber, are
of white marble from Tuckahoe, Westchester Coun
ty. The wainscoting is of Ohio sandstone and
Dorchester sandstone. The carving in the oak
panels is of rare beauty.
The stone used in the Governor's Room is Knox
ville marble, highly polished and carved. The
marble lintel in the fire-place is of exquisite finish,
consisting of oak leaves and stems of the most in
tricate design. The wainscoting and ceiling in
this room are of red mahogany.
The Senate Chamber is regarded as one of the
most beautiful legislative chambers in the world.
The principal material used in this chamber is
Knoxville, Tennessee, marble. The red granite
columns and pilasters are from Jefferson County,
New York. They are surmounted by capitals of
extraordinary delicacy and workmanship, of Knox
ville, Tennessee, marble. The north and south
walls, above the string-course, are lined with Mex
ican onyx and Sienna marble — the onyx forming
the panels, the Sienna, the styles and rails. These
materials are the most costly in the market. The
great arches are also of Sienna, elaborately carved.
The large mantels in the Senate Chamber are
very elaborate, consisting of sculptured cherubs,
animals, foliage, etc., in deep relief. They are
very massive, and, when finished, will be one of
the features of the already gorgeous and costly
Chamber. The lobbies and ante-rooms are finished with
Knoxville, Tennessee, marble, as also the Lieuten
ant-Governor's Room, except the wainscoting,
which is of mahogany.

456

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The main corridor on this, the principal floor,
and the one above the gallery, are very striking to
the visitor, who passes though trhem before enter
ing the Senate Chamber, where he finds a different
style of architecture.
The materials in these corriders are Dorchester
and Ohio sandstone, the architect of the latter evi
dently preferring sandstone, as it seems to be al-
ways used where his designs are to be found.
•. The carving in these corridors, especially in the
^.gallery, is of exquisite design and execution, treated
by master hands.
The new Court of Appeals, situated in the south
east corner, is a fine room. The windows are
trimmed with Knoxville marble; the wainscoting
and ceiling is of oak, elaborately carved; the rail
ing in front of the clerk's desk is a feature. The
fire-place is very rich; the materials are Mexican
onyx and Sienna marble, and quite unique.
A very beautiful, if not the most beautiful, man
tel; so far as material is concerned, is in the Clerk's
Room, Court of Appeals. It is of variegated green
Lissoughter marble. The other two in the same
suite of rooms are of exquisite design and finish, and
are composed of Little Island and Middleton B
marble. The wainscoting in the east corridor is different
from that of the south corridor. Ihe base-board
and cap are of Belgian black marble; the panels from
East Tennessee, and Greot (French) marble. Lake
Champlain marble is also used.
The northeast staircase is entirely composed of
Dorchester sandstone. The style is in harmony
with the Assembly Chamber, being very rich in
detail. The southeast staircase, now building, will be
a magnificent work when completed. The material
used is red Scotch Corsehill sandstone; the col
umns of Peterhead, Scotch, granite. Fox Island and
Quincy granite are also used.
In the Parlor of the Assembly, a beautiful mantel
of East Tennessee marble is constructing; also, in
the Committee Room of Ways and Means.
The following is a list of the different kinds of
stone used in the construction of this building:
Granite : Fall River, Mass. ; Saratoga, N. Y. ;
Dix Island, Me.; Yarmouth, Me.; Hallowell,
Me.; Fox Island, Me.; Mount Waldo, Me.;
Rockcliffe Island, Me. ; Keene, N. H. ; Red Stony
Creek, Conn.; Red Peterhead (Scotch); St. John's,
Bay of Fundy (N. S.); Quincy, Mass.
Marble: Lake Champlain; East Tennessee; Ger
man; Virginia, variegated; Knoxville, Tenn.;
Sienna; Mexican onyx; Black Belgian; Irish, varie
gated; Flavirco; Tuckahoe, Westchester County;
Pennsylvania dove color; White Italian; Greot,
French; Vermont, variegated; Glen Falls, black;
Middleton black, Little Island; Lissoughter.
Sandstone: Potsdam and Dorchester, Ohio; Red
New Jersey; Red Scotch; Corsehill.
Brownstone: Newark, N. J.
Limestone: Tribes Hill; Kingston.
Bluestone: Ulster County.
Previous to the construction of this building, it
_was doubted by many architects that granite could

be treated by the workmen in such a delicate man
ner as the elaborate carving on the different parts
of the exterior demanded. The carving on the
gallery story of the small towers could scarcely be
treated with greater delicacy in any material than
it is in the Hallowell granite. The tympanum
in the dormers on all sides of the building demon
strate beyond a doubt, that in the hands of skillful
workmen there is hardly any kind of ornament
which cannot be wrought in this granite.
The dormers on the north, south, and west sides
of the central court are, perhaps, the strongest
evidence that can be adduced of the delicate treat
ment and beautiful finish that this granite will
bear. The coats of arms sculptured on them took
months to complete. Heraldic emblems are, in
my judgment, the most difficult ornaments to exe
cute out of granite in order to get the proper
effect, as the smallest defect in any part would
destroy the whole.
The most skillful mechanics have been gathered
to this building. It has been my constant desire
to encourage and foster mechanical and artistic
talent wherever I found it. To do this, while con
tending against the importunities of politicians, has
indeed been a hard task, and under the circum
stances, it is little less than a miracle that the great
work has so successfully been prosecuted.
The great gable on the west front is elaborately
ornamented. The loggia is one of its principal
features. The tympanum is enriched with disks,
crossed and roseated, forming a diaper or drapery
of extraordinary beauty. Over the string-course,
and flanking the arches, stand the Winged Lions of
Babylon. Below the spandrels are sculptured in
bas-relief the figures of Justitia and Puritas. Sur
mounting the whole is a massive finial, richly
carved in deep relief, and stamping the whole as
one of the best pieces of work ever executed out
of granite in this or any other country.
ISAAC G. PERRY.
To Mr. Isaac G. Perry has been entrusted the
work of carrying forward the construction of the
finest and most expensive building in this country,
and the third most expensive in the world — the
New Capitol at Albany. The history of Albany,
and of the great structure itself, would be incom
plete without a sketch of his career.
Born in Bennington, Vermont, in 1822, Mr.
Perry is in his sixty-third year, though his robust
frame and strongly-marked features would indicate
that he was much younger. Much of his early life
was passed at Keese ville, Essex County, New York,
where he received his education and acquired a
knowledge of the details of that which was to be
his life work. After a time he removed to New
York City, where he made a success of his occu
pation, and remained until he was induced to take
up his residence in Binghamton, N. Y., where he
obtained a wide reputation as a builder and archi
tect. The most important of hKworks before the
Capitol, was the Binghamton v ylum for the In-_.

STATE OF NEW YORK— BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC OFFICERS.

457

sane, a fine specimen of Elizabethan architecture.
Next only in importance was the new Court House
at Scranton, Pa. , an elegant structure in the medi
aeval style adapted to modern requirements. Near
ly all of the modern built buildings in Bingham
ton — and theyure numerous and beautiful, as well
as substantial — are from his designs, as well as
many equally attractive ones in other cities.
March 30, 1883, Governor Cleveland appointed
Mr. Perry, Commissioner of the Construction of the
New Capitol, under the then recently enacted law
creating a single Commissioner to have entire charge
of the interests which had theretofore been confided
to a Board of Commissioners, and his appointment
was confirmed on the 5th of April following. The
appointment was entirely unsolicited by Mr. Perry,
who was chosen as an architect, not as a partisan.
He had been a life-long adherent to Democratic
principles, but had never thought that his vocation
as an architect and a builder had anything to do
with his political convictions as a citizen, and he
had not made himself known to the country or to
the State by any prominence in politics. In an
editorial notice of Mr. Perry's appointment, the
Albany Argus said :
' ' He has carried to completion many edifices
which are attestations of good work, and the history
of them shows promptness, harmony and honesty
in every stage. He has large numbers of men in
his employment, and his record shows that he can
command their regard and respect while requiring
of them the utmost fidelity and energy. Great en
terprises have confided to him enormous tasks, in-
68

volving the use of large capital, the development of
complicated plans, and the necessity of combining
thoroughness of work with rapidity of execution.
He has in every instance shown marked ability, ab
solute integrity, exceptional diligence and an intel
ligent purpose to regard every undertaking as a
trust to be discharged with scrupulous observance
of economy, impartiality and every other sound
business principle."
His appointment was favorably commented up
on by the Press of the State, irrespective of party,
and his administration of the duties of his office
has been such as to more than justify the enthusi
astic predictions of his friends. Thesterlinginteg-
rity, good business sense and untiring energy which
gained him his previous enviable reputation, have
been brought to bear upon the Herculean task
which he has undertaken, and in which his mind
and his energies are almost wholly asserted; for, as
it has been remarked by the Albany fournal, "his
heart is wrapped up in the Capitol. * * * He
appears not to take much interest in politics, and
is ready to spend his days and evenings walking
about the Capitol, superintending the work, look
ing over designs and planning improvements."
While the Capitol stands as a monument to the
liberality of the people and the enterprise and fore
thought of the public men of the State of New
York, and the artistic and architectural skill of its
own designers and builders, the memory of the
name of Mr. Perry can never pass away, and he
will be known as one of America's greatest archi
tects and builders.

458

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

HISTORY

CITY OF ALBANY.

EDITED BY PROF. JONATHAN TENNEY, M. A, PH. D.

THAT the boats of Henry Hudson passed up
as far as Albany in September, 1 609, is con
ceded; probably a few miles further; enough fur
ther, at least, to satisfy the bold navigator that this
was not a feasible route to the Pacific Ocean and
Eastern Asia. To make settlements and found
colonies was not the purpose of Hudson. It is
quite likely some of those "very loving people and
very old men where we were well used," who
"came aboard and brought us ears of Indian
Come, and Pompions and Tabacco," and "Bevers
Skinnes and Otters Skinnes, which wee bought for
Beades, Knives and Hatchets," were primitive Al
banians of the Iroquois tribes, who dwelt in castles,
pursued their game, and caught their fish along the
Hudson. Traders came later, and carried on, for many
years, a lucrative commerce with the native Indians.
Still later came settlers and colonists. Of these
we have already spoken in the history of Albany
County. We cannot admit the usual claim that Albany
was settled by Walloons and Dutch in 1623.
There is no settlement without settlers. There are
no settlers unless they come to stay. The early
traders who came and went with no other purpose
than as adventurers or speculators, were not set
tlers. When colonists came and occupied farms,
settlements began. There were none of these be
fore 1630; but very few before about 1638 or 1640.
Albany can make no claim to settlement before
1630. Nor do we admit that Albany has the oldest City
Charter of any State in the Union. Truth gives
history its real value. Albany was first chartered
July 22, 1686. As a city it is nearly two hundred
Note. — What the writer said in the early pages of this work in re
lation to the alleged discovery of the Hudson by Verrazzano in 1524, is
in accord with his firm convictions. Indeed, if it had been the proper
place for discussing a matter so little relevant to the History of Albany
County, he would have said more. He, as a historian, has given study
and thought to the whole matter, and is convinced that the Verrazzano
letter is not genuine, and that the maps and geographical statements
printed to confirm the alleged discoveries o( this brigand, are absurd in
detail, and absolute attempts at historic fraud. To any one who wishes
to satisfy a mind unprejudiced, the reading of " The Voyage of Verraz
zano," by the late Hon. H. C. Murphy, is commended as the work of a
high-minded, impartial and learned historian, who t-tudied the whole
matter with unusual opportunities for getting at the truth.
Nor have we any more faith in the tradition of an early French fort
upon Castle Island, which has hardly the shadow of probability to sup
port it.

years old — an age very respectable for this country.
But New York was not only settled earlier, as it
naturally would be, lying nearly one hundred and
fifty miles nearer the ocean; but its city charter is
older. Under Stuyvesant, it received a Dutch
charter dated February 2, 1657; under Governor
Nicolls it received an English charter dated June
12, 1665; and because it had been again a Dutch
city in 1673-74, it received another English charter,
under Dongan, April 22, 1686. After this, for
special reasons, new Royal charters were given
New York by Cornbury in 1708, and by Mont-
gomerie in 1730.
The surface of the city as seen by the early set
tlers, was a narrow alluvial tract along the Hudson,
from which the ascent was gradual for nearly a
mile, until a plateau about two hundred feet above
tide level was reached, extending westwardly in a
sandy plain. The slope from the river was divided
into four well defined ridges, separated by deep
and wide valleys or ravines, which have been so
much improved by grading that they add much to
the varied beauty of the city, as well as to the facil
ities for drainage. When the plateau is reached,
they now nearly disappear in the densely settled
part of the city. Streams formerly coursed through
these valleys.
Albany is underlaid by clay, resting on Hudson
river shales, and covered by an argillaceous sandy
loam, which, on the plains further west, is covered
with deep sand. The clay is worked into bricks
and pottery, and the sand is used in large quantities
for molding and other purposes.
The islands that belong to Albany are two only
— the old Kasteel, or Castle Island, which has been
called many different names, but is now placed on
the maps as Van Rensselaer Island. It is believed
to be the place where Corstiaensen landed and
where Elkins had charge of a trader's post about
1 6 14; which, on account of freshets, was removed
later to a hill further south, near where Kenwood
now is.
Jacob Elkins was an aggressive and energetic
skipper and trade adventurer. He kept up an
active traffic with the wild men of the forest for
several years, under the protection of the New
Netherlands Company. His scouting parties were

THE CITY OF ALBANY.

459

constantly engaged in exploring all the neighbor
ing country, and in becoming better acquainted
with the savage tribes around them, with all of
whom it was the constant policy of the Dutch to
cultivate the most friendly relations. His trouble
with the traders at Fort Orange, in 1623, put an
end to his trade in New Netherlands.
The other island, nearly opposite the Manor
Mansion, is called Patroon's Island. The island
now occupied by the Boston and Albany Railroad,
between this city and Greenbush, belongs to Rens
selaer County.
There have been five Kills, or creeks, which have
a name in history, whose waters are wholly or in part
in the City of Albany. All discharge their waters into
the Hudson. Some are now converted into sewers
for the city. They were once spoken of numeric
ally, commencing with the most southerly, and
called First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Kill.
Later they were named Normanskill, Beaverkill,
Ruttenkill, Foxenkill, and Patroon's or Mill Creek.
The first named is one of the largest creeks
in the county. It empties into the Hudson at
Kenwood, just below the city, and is represented
in the city only by the head waters of the Krum-
kill, one of its branches. Capital and enterprise
would make it much more useful than it is.
Beaverkill, sometimes called Buttermilk Creek,
was once a mill-stream, affording considerable
water-power, which was utilized by mills for saw
ing logs and grinding grain. A portion of it is
now covered for sewerage purposes. It rises in the
westerly part of the city and runs near Park Lake,
across the Penitentiary grounds and by Martinville,
into the Hudson a little below the steamboat
landing. Ruttenkill had its source above Lark street, and
was a large stream only when it was swollen by
great rains or the melting of winter's snows. It
had a never-failing supply of fish for many years,
and was the only creek flowing inside the old
city walls. Leaving the deep ravine in which now
lies Hudson avenue, it crossed South Pearl street
where Beaver block stands, and entered the Hudson
a little below State street. It was bridged in South
Pearl and Broadway. Along the sloping banks of
the old ravine the bricks which form the walls
of the older houses of the city were made. Rats
(ratten) infested the banks of the stream, and, as
some suppose, gave name to it. Along its whole
length it now forms the bed of a sewer.
The Ruttenkill ravine extended from Lark street
to the plain along the Hudson River, and was
originally about three hundred feet broad and fifty
feet deep, throughout nearly its entire length.
It was a filthy place, almost a dismal waste, from
the first settlement of the city. Boys who had
nothing else to do, in summer bathed in its dirty
pools and caught small fish there. From some of
these pools the Albany brewers were said to take
the water for their ale and beer. Out of a public
charge of this kind came the libel suit of John
Taylor vs. Edward C. Delavan, mentioned in our
article on Temperance. In this ravine gallows
were erected and male/actors, were hung. The last

case of this kind was the execution of Strang for
the murder of Whipple, in 1827, which was wit
nessed by thousands from the lofty banks and
slopes on its borders. The ravine was filled and
hills lowered about 1845 to 1848, by turning the
latter into the former. About 600,000 yards of
blue clay and an equal amount of other filling was
excavated to accomplish this work. The contractor
for this great work was Charles Stanford, a native
of Watervliet, and brother of Governor Leland
Stanford. He pushed it forward with wonderful
energy and completed it to public acceptance.
From fifty to two hundred and fifty persons were
employed. Hudson avenue, with its nicely graded
street and pleasant buildings, now lies above the
ravine. Foxenkill, before the city was enlarged, ran
out-ide the stockades, which, for many years,
formed the northern limits of the city proper. It
furnished an abundance of excellent fish at that
time. Sixty years ago it was crossed by a bridge in
North Pearl street, near Canal. This last named
street lies above the bed of the old creek.
Patroon's Creek once furnished the power for the
Patroons' mills, and discharges into the Hudson
near the Old Manor House. It now contributes
to the water supply and sewerage of the city.
We speak of the Hudson elsewhere.
The only lakes of the city are Tivoli, which
really forms a part of Patroon's Creek and thus
makes a reservoir, and Park Lake, an artificial
body of water which adds much to the beauty and
pleasure of Washington Park.
The history of Albany County involves, to a very
large extent, the history of the City of Albany until
after the revolution. Indeed there was little done
outside of the limits of the present city, in the
territory of Albany County. There were no
other towns incorporated until Watervliet was made
into a township March 7, 1788, including the whole
of the West District of Rensselaerwyck, as made by
the division of March 5, 1779. All this territory
was sparsely settled at that time by farmers work
ing leaseholds under the Patroons. We may ex
cept a few millers and other mechanics scattered
among the tillers of the soil. Some settlers en
gaged in small trade, some were artisans in a small
way, and some were laborers in the service of the
Patroon, near his manorial residence, just north of
the city. This latter territory made a little village,
and held a separate corporate existence for several
years, under the name of Colonie.
Whatever we have given in regard to the early
history of Albany County need not be repeated
here, as it belongs as well to the city, which, for
many years, contained nearly all the population
and did nearly all the business of what is now Al
bany County; and, indeed, was the center of nearly
all the important events that transpired on the up
per Hudson for all the years up to the close of the
revolutionary period. To the pages then, that
record this early history under each topic, we refer
for everything except what is almost exclusively
local in occurrence and influence.

460

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Our plan of arrangement considers our wider
field, the County, made up, only when it came to be
fully settled, of separate townships of special in
terests and events. Whatever facts existed in
topography, geography, natural history, aboriginal
occupation, early settlements, industries, warlike
contests, government, religion, education, and such
like, we have arranged under these topics. When
the events took root before the present century be
gan, and grew out so as to have branches all over
the county, we have placed them under county
history. When the foundations were laid by the
fathers of the county in the early days, and the
work of building has been going on eversince, so as
to interest all the people who dwell in our present
territory of two cities, two incorporated villages,
and nine towns — we have placed the topic under
county history.
The City of Albany is situated in latitude 420
39' 11" north, and longitude 30 18' east from
Washington; 730 45' west from London; and 15"
west from New York City.
The site was probably selected because of its situa
tion on the Hudson near the head of tide- water, with
a convenient place for building a fort and for trade;
it was well watered by small creeks and well shel
tered from the winds. The Mohawk Indians whom
the early traders met, seemed very friendly and
ready for business. Their castles were along the
Mohawk; and, at a very early date, along the
Hudson also.
The names given to this city have been: Pem-
po-tu-wuth-ut (place of the council-fire), by the
Mohegans; Sche-negh-ta-da (through the pine
woods), by the Iroquois; Ga-ish-tin-ic, by the
Minci; Fuyck (fouk), a hoop-net, otherwise Be-
versfuyck, supposed to refer to a bend in the river
where fish were caught, probably first Dutch name;
Beverwyck, a place for beavers, retained from about
1634 to 1664 (sometimes written Beverswyck);
Fort Orange, in honor of William, Prince of Orange
and Nassau; Rensselaerwyck, in honor of the
Patroons, the Van Rensselaers; Aurania, another
name for Orange; Williamstadt, in honor of Will
iam, the Stadtholder; New Orange, in honor of
the Duke of Orange probably (a designation seldom
used); Oranjeburgh, city or fortress of Orange (a
name spoken of by Mrs. Grant); Albany, in honor
of James, Duke of York, Albany and Ulster, brother
of King Charles II, who made him proprietor of
the New Netherlands. He afterward ascended the
English throne, which he soon after descended, or
abdicated, because of his odious character.
The Dongan Charter boundaries in 1686 were —
east, by the Hudson at low-water mark; south, by
a line drawn from the southernmost end of the
pasture at the north end of Martin Gerritsen's
Island, and running back due northwest sixteen
miles into the woods, to a certain creek called
Sandkill; north, by a line parallel to the former,
about a mile distant; and west, by a straight line
drawn from the western extremities of the north
and south line. This Charter embraced rights to
certain fields and public buildings, the ferry, all
waste land, the right pf fishing in the vicinity

of the Hudson within the limits of the county,
and of purchasing from the Indians 500 acres of
meadow land at Schaahtecogue on the north, and
1,000 acres at Tiononderoga (Fort Hunter) on
the west, in the Mohawk country, on which to plant
colonies as barriers against hostile incursions.
After the cou/ities were organized and towns
formed from old Watervliet, or west division of
Rensselaerwyck, its boundaries may be described
as — westerly by Rotterdam and Niskayuna in Sche
nectady County; easterly by a line running through
the center of the Hudson River channel; south
erly by Bethlehem and Guilderland; northerly by
Colonie and Watervliet.
The first territorial change was made February
25, 18 1 5, by annexing a part of old Colonie, whose
line, adjoining Albany, extended from the river
westerly along where now are Quackenbush street
and Clinton avenue, formerly Patroon street.
This formed for many years the old Fifth Ward.
The other part of Colonie, embracing the residence
of the Patroon, was set off to Watervliet at the
same time.
The next and last territorial changes in the City
of Albany were made by State laws, passed April 6,
1870, Chapter 139, and April 26, 1871, Chapter
727, and are described as follows:
' • All that part of the town of Bethlehem, in the
County of Albany, embraced within the following
limits, is hereby annexed to and made part of the
City of Albany, to wit: Beginning at the northwest
erly corner of the east abutment of the Albany and
Susquehanna Railroad Bridge, over the Albany and
Bethlehem Turnpike, and running thence north
westerly parallel with the present south bounds of
the City of Albany to a point ten chains west of
the west line of the Delaware Turnpike; thence
northeasterly at right angles with the last named
line to a point three-fourths of one mile from the
present south bounds of the City of Albany, meas
ured at right angles with the city line; thence
northwesterly and parallel with the present south
bounds of the city to a point two chains west of the
west range of Allen street produced; thence north
easterly three-fourths of one mile to a point in the
south bounds in the City of Albany two chains
west of the west line of Allen street; thence south
easterly along the present south bounds of the City
of Albany to the Rensselaer County line; thence
southerly along said line two hundred and sixty-
four feet; thence northwesterly to the face of the
dock on the south side of the island creek; thence
northwesterly along the face of said dock to a point
opposite the west range of Green street; thence
westerly and southerly along the east low-water
line of the island creek to a point in range of the
first boundary line produced; southeasterly to the
island creek; thence northwesterly along said line
to the northwesterly corner of the east abutment of
the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad Bridge, the
place of beginning.
"Also all that part of the town of Watervliet, in the
County of Albany, embraced within the following
described limits, is hereby annexed to the city of
Albany, tQ wit; Beginning at a point in the present

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF THE CITY OF ALBANY.

461

north boundary line of the City of Albany, three-
fourths of one mile west of the west range of Allen
street, as laid down in the city map; running thence
northeasterly on a line at right angles with the
present north line of the City of Albany one chain
north of low-water line of the main channel of
Patroon's Creek; thence running easterly and par
allel with the general course of said creek, and one
chain northerly therefrom to a point six thousand
seven hundred and twenty feet from the center of
the "Russell Road" measured along the center
line of the New York Central Railroad; thence
northeasterly on a line drawn at right angles with
the present north bounds of the city to a point one
and one-fourth miles from the said city line; thence
southeasterly and on a line parallel with the present
north bounds of the city, and at the distance of one
and one-fourth miles therefrom, to a point three
thousand three hundred and twenty feet westerly of
the west line of the Watervliet Turnpike and Rail
road; thence northeasterly on a line parallel with
said Watervliet Turnpike and Railroad one thou
sand six hundred feet; thence southeasterly on a line
drawn at right angles with the said Watervliet
Turnpike and Railroad to the Rensselaer County
line; thence southerly along the Rensselaer County
line to the northerly line of the present bounds of
the City of Albany, and thence along the same
westerly to the place of beginning.
"All that part of the City of Albany lying north
west of a line drawn from a point in the south line
of the City of Albany, where the northerly line of
the Great Western Turnpike crosses the said city
line, and running northeasterly at right angles with
the said city line, to the north bounds of said city
shall be and the same is set off from the Citv of

Albany and annexed to and made part of the town
of Watervliet, in Albany County; and all laws now
in force applicable to the said town of Watervliet,
are hereby made applicable to that portion of said
city hereby annexed to said town."
The town of Watervliet being unwilling to ac
cept this addition to its territory, Chapter 727, Laws
of 1 871, passed April 26th, provided that the said
territory described in the preceding section should
be set off from Watervliet and annexed to the town
of Guilderland, in Albany County.
To R. H. Bingham, Esq,, for many years the
City Engineer and Surveyor of Albany, our ac
knowledgments are due for the statements con
tained in the paragraphs following:
The exterior lines of our city are somewhat ir
regular. It is bounded N. by Watervliet; W. by
Watervliet and Guilderland; S. by Bethlehem; and
E. by the center of Hudson Kiver. Its river front
extends 4 miles; and measured through the State
Capitol, its extent N. and S. and E. and W. is 4
miles, containing an area of 11^ square miles, or
7,360 acres.
The elevation of the bace floor line of the New
Capitol is 161.09 feet above the sea, estimated
from mean low water at Governor's Island, in New
York Harbor, and 158.48 feet above mean low
water in the Hudson at Albany. The slope of the
Hudson from Albany to New York is 2.61 feet,
which makes the mean tide at Albany 2.61 feet
above that at Governor's Island. The highest tide
at Albany is 3.60 feet, and the mean rise and fall,
2.32 feet. The mid-stream ebb current flows about
2 feet per second, or . 75 feet on the whole river.
Boats carry 9 feet at mean low water.

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF THE CITY OF ALBANY.

ALBANY received its charter as a city on the
2 2d day of July, 1686, from Thomas Don
gan, Governor of the Province of New York. The
original document is on file in the City Chamber
lain's office, as is also a copy of it, printed by
Hugh Gaines in 177 1. It is introduced as follows:
"Thomas Dongan, Lieutenant and Governor
of the Province of New York and dependencies in
America, under his most sacred Majesty, James
the Second, by the Grace of God, of England,
Scotland, ' France and Ireland, King, defender of
the faith, etc., and Supreme Lord and proprietor
of the said province of New York and its depend
encies, to all persons to whom these presents shall
or may come, or in any wise concerned, sendeth
greeting:" Then follows the charter, a voluminous docu
ment, drawn with all the care and nice legal dic
tion of the age, with numerous repetitions, protect
ing the interests not only of the Crown, but of the
citizens of Albany with the most scrupulous care.

It begins by saying that "the town of Albany is
an ancient town within the said Province, and the
inhabitants of the said town have held, used and
enjoyed, as well within the same as elsewhere
within the said province, divers and sundry rights,
liberties, privileges, franchises, free customs, pre
eminences, advantages, jurisdictions, emoluments
and immunities, as well by prescription as by
grants, confirmations and proclamations, not only
by divers governors and commanders in-chief in
the said province under his said Majesty, but also
of several Governois, generals and commanders-
in-chief of the Nether-Dulch-Nation, whilst the
same was or has been under their power and sub
jection. And whereas divers lands, tenements
and hereditaments, jurisdictions, liberties, immuni
ties and privileges have heretofore been given and
granted to. the inhabitants of the said town, some
times by the name of commissaries of the town of
Beverwyck; sometimes by the name of commissaries
of the town, of Albany; sometimes by the name of

462

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

schepenen of Williamstadt; and sometimes by the
name of justices of the peace for the town of
Albany; and by divers other names as by their sev
eral grants, writings, records and minutes amongst
other things may more fully appear. And whereas
the inhabitants of the said town have erected,
built and appropriated at their own proper cost
and charges, several public buildings, accommoda
tions, and conveniencies for the said town, as also
certain pieces or parcels of ground for the use of
the same — that is to say, the town-hall or stadt-
house, with the ground thereunto belonging; the
church or meeting place, with the ground about
the same; the burial place adjoining to the pali
sades at the southeast end of the town; the watch-
house and ground thereunto belonging.
' ' Also a certain piece or parcel of land commonly
called 'the Pasture,' situate, lying and being to
the southward of the said town, near the place
where the old Fort stood, and extending along
Hudson's River till it comes over against the most
northerly point of the Island commonly called
Martin Gerritsen's Island, having to the East the
Hudson river; to the South the Manor of Rens
selaerwyck; to the West the highway leading to the
town; the pasture late in the tenure and occupa
tion of Martin Gerritsen, and the pasture late in
the tenure and occupation of Caspar Jacobse; to the
North the several pastures late in the tenure of and
occupation of Rob' Sanders, Myndert Harmense
and Evert Wendell, and the several gardens late in
the tenures of Dirck Wessels, Killian Van Rens
selaer and Abraham Staat, with their and every of
their appurtenances. "
This charter in no way interfered with or abridg
ed the citizens of any of their liberties, privileges,
franchises, rights, royalties, free customs, jurisdic
tion and immunities; nor with the rights of their
respective messuages, lands, hereditaments and
leaseholds, etc. The charter provided that, "the
said town should forever thereafter be called by
the name of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common
alty of the City of Albany." The charter also
"grants to the City of Albany, all the waste,
vacant, unappropriated land lying and being in the
City and the precincts and liberties thereof, extend
ing and reaching to the low-water mark in, by and
through all parts of the said City, together with all
rivers, rivulets, coves, creeks, ponds, water courses
in the said City not heretofore granted. "
One of the most important parts of the Charter
is that which gives the Corporation of the City
power to purchase and hold land in their cor
porate name; it is given as follows:
"I do, by these presents, give and grant unto
the said Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty, full
power and license at their pleasure, likewise to
purchase from the Indians the quantity of one
thousand acres of low or meadow land lying at a
certain place called or known by the name of
Tionnondoroge, which quantity of 1,000 acres of
low or meadow land shall and may be in what
part of Tionondoroge, or the land adjacent on both
sides of the river, as they, the said Mayor, Alder
men and Commonalty of the said City of Albany

shall think most convenient; which said several
parcels of low or meadow land I do hereby, in be
half of his said Majesty, his heirs and successors,
give, grant and confirm unto the said Mayor,
Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of Albany
aforesaid, to be and remain to the use and behoof
of them and their successors forever. To have
and to hold all and singular, the premises to the
said Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the
said City of Albany and their successors forever,
rendering and paying therefor unto his most sacred
Majesty, his heirs, successors and assigns, or to
such officer or receiver as shall be appointed to
receive the same, yearly, forever hereafter, the an
nual quit rent or acknowledgement of one beaver
skin, in Albany, on the five and twentieth day of
March, yearly forever. "
The Charter provides that the limits of the city
shall be as follows:
"The City of Albany shall henceforth extend
and reach as well in length and in breadth, as in
circuit, on the East by Hudson's river, so far as
low water mark; to the South by a line to be
drawn from the southernmost end of the pasture,
at the North end of the island called Gerritsen's
Island, running back into the woods 16 English
miles due northwest, to a certain Kill or Creek,
called the Sand Kill on the North, to a line to be
drawn from the Post that was set by Governor
Stuyvesant near Hudson's river, running likewise
northwest 16 English miles, and on the west by a
straight line, to be drawn from the points of the
said South and North lines."
It also provides that
"The Mayor, Aldermen and Recorder shall be
Justices and Keepers of the Peace, and Justices to
hear and determine matters and causes within the
said City and precincts thereof, to hear, determine
and punish all petty larcenies and all other petty
offences." It gives the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty,
and their successors forever, lands, tenements, rents
and other possession, within or without the City,
so as the same does not exceed the sum of ,£1,000
per annum; and also gives them power to grant
and sell the same.
The Mayor was. ex officio, Coroner and Clerk of
the Market, and he with the Aldermen and Re
corder of the City were to be Justices of the Peace
of the County, and as such "shall and may sit in
the Court of Sessions or County Courts and Courts
of Oyer and Terminer, that shall from time to
time be held in said County; and that the Mayor,
Recorder and some one of the Aldermen shall
preside at such County Courts and Courts of Ses
sions. The Town Clerk of the said city shall al
ways be the Clerk of the Peace, and Clerk of
the Sessions or Court of the County."
Governor Dongan in this Charter designates
the officers of the said city as follows:
' ' There shall be forever hereafter, within the
said City, a Mayor, Recorder, Town Clerk, and six
Aldermen and six Assistants, to be appointed,
nominated, elected, chosen and sworn, as herein
after is particularly and respectively mentioned,

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF THE CITY OF ALBANY.

463

who shall be forever hereafter called the Mayor,
Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of Albany,
and that there shall be, forever, one Chamberlain
or Treasurer, one Sheriff, one Coroner, one Clerk
of the Market, one High Constable, three Sub-
Constables, one Marshal or Sergeant-at-Mace, to
be appointed, chosen and sworn in manner here
after mentioned. That the Mayor, Aldermen and
Common Council of the City of Albany shall be
one body corporate and politic, in deed, fact and
name; and that by the name of the Mayor, Alder
men and Commonalty of the City of Albany, they
may have perpetual succession."
The Charter then proceeds to appoint the Mayor,
Common Council and other officers of the city
under the Charter, which were as follows:
Peter Schuyler, Mayor; Jan Bleecker, Cham
berlain; Isaac Swinton, Recorder; Richard Pretty,
Sheriff; Robert Livingston, Clerk; James Parker,
Marshal. Aldermen. — Dirk Wessels, Jan Jans Bleecker,
David Schuyler, Johannis Wendell, Lavinus Van
Schaack, Adrian Gerritse.
Assistant Aldermen. — Joachim Staats, John Lan
sing, Isaac Verplanck, Lawrence Van Ale, Albert
Ruyckman, Melgert Winantse.
Early in July, previous to the granting of this
Charter, Peter Schuyler and Robert Livingston
were appointed Commissioners by the town of
Albany, which appointment was ratified by the
Magistrates of the city, to go to New York, and
procure the Charter we have described, which they
did, and the same was agreed to between the
Magistrate, and Colonel Dongan, Governor-Gen-
neral of the Province of New York.
On the 2 2d of July, 1686, the Commissioners
returned with the same, and were publicly re
ceived ' ' with all the joy and acclamations imagin
able, and received the thanks of the magistrates,
burgesses and other dignitaries of the city, for
their diligence and care," Peter Schuyler took the
oath of Mayor, to act until a further ratification of
his appointment by the citizens. In the same
manner the Aldermen and Assistant Aldermen we
have named, took the oath of office and entered
upon their duties.
The following is a copy of the minutes of the first
meeting of the Justices of the Peace after the re
turn of Pieter Schuyler and Robert Livingston with
the charter, and a copy of the oath administered to
the Mayor:
"Att a meeting of y8 Justices of y8 peace for ye
County of Albany, ye 26th day of July, a.d. 1686.
"Pieter Schuyler, gent, and Rob' Livingston,
gent., who were commissionated by y" towne of
Albanie to goe to New Yorke and procure ye
Charter for this citty w1" was agreed upon between
y8 magistrates and ye right hon1. Co1. Tho. Dongan,
Gov. Gen", who accordingly have brought the
same along with them, and was published with all
y" joy and acclamations imaginable, and y8 said
two genf received ye thanks of y8 magistrates and
burgesses for their diligence and care in obtaining
y8 same; and whereas Pieter Schuyler is nominated
and appointed to be Mayor of y8 citty of Albany by

y6 said charter, till such time that anoyr fitt person
be chosen in his room. Was sworn as follows:
"Whereas, you Pieter Schuyler are appointed
and commissionated to be mayor and clerk of y"
maiket and coroner of ye citty of Albany, as also
coroner for y8 sd county, by y8 charter granted to
ye said citty by ya Right Hon18 Coll. Tho. Dongan,
Gov. Gen" of this province, you doe swear by ye
ever living God y* yu will truly endevor, to y° best
of yT skill, with a good conshience and according
to y8 laws of this Government dispence justice
equally in all cases and to all p'sons whereunto by
vertue of yr office you are impowered, and further
officiat and perform y" duty and office of Mayor,
clerk of y8 market and coroner, in every respect
to ye best of y' knowledge and capacity, so help y°
God." Previous to this City Charter, the laws of Albany
were administered by the Justices of the Peace, who
were invested with certain judicial and municipal
powers by the Governor-General of the Province of
New York. With the municipal jurisdiction given
the Mayor and Aldermen by the Charter, were large
judicial powers.
The Mayor and the Aldermen, with certain Jus
tices of the Peace, were authorized to hold courts
of civil and criminal jurisdiction. This Court be
came one of great importance, and continued down
to the Revolution, and with some changes, applic
able to the new form of government, after the
adoption of the first State Constitution.
The Mayor's Court, as it was called, possessed
the powers and duties of a Court of Probate of
Wills, and these now held by Surrogates. They
also decided the time and place of holding elec
tions. The first meeting, or Court, of the Mayor and
Aldermen, was held at the City Hall in Albany,
August 31, 1686. It was both a Court of Justice
and a meeting of the Mayor and Aldermen for the
transaction of municipal business.
Among the legal cases was one of a negro, Her
cules, charged by Myndert Frederickse with steal
ing wampum out of his house, belonging to the
churchwardens of the Lutheran Church.
The negro, having confessed the theft, was sen
tenced "to be whipped through y" towne at y8
carte tale by y8 hangman, for an example to others. "
His master was ordered to pay the costs.
Regulations were also passed for the observance
of the Sabbath.
The following order in regard to non-attend
ance at the meetings of the Common Council was
made: " Whoever of the members of the Common Coun
cil shall be absent att y8 second ringing of y8 bell,
being in towne, at any common council day, shall
forfeit six shillings, Mies quoties. "
Extended regulations were adopted in regard to
the Indian trade.
The salary of Robert Livingston, Clerk of the
Board, in consideration of his diverse services, was
advanced so that he was to have twenty pounds per
annum. Early in 1689, King James was. compelled to
abdicate the throne, and was succeeded by Will-

464

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

iam and Mary. On July i, 1689, the news of their
accession to the throne was received in Albany.
A meeting of the Mayor and Common Council
was immediately convened, which, by an ordinance
or proclamation, announced a meeting of the citi
zens, to take place the next day in front of the City
Hall. This meeting took place. A procession
was formed, consisting of the Mayor and Aldermen,
with other city officials and citizens, who marched
up to the fort, where the Mayor, in a solemn man
ner, proclaimed in English and in Dutch, William
and Mary their lawful sovereigns. At the conclu
sion of the ceremony the guns at the fort were
fired and the bells rang out joyful peals.
It is our purpose to give only such doings of the
Common Council of the city as we consider most
interesting and instructive, as illustrative of the
spirit of the age, as well as its material condition.
At a meeting of the Council held at the City
Hall, October 14, 1695 (Evart Bancker, Mayor),
the city being ,£2,000 in arrears of taxes, the follow
ing order was made :
"Whereas the arriears of y8 ,£2,000 and
.£1,500 tax having been directed to y8 constables
of each warde by an warrant from Dirk Wessells,
Justice, which constables give in their report, that
all who are indebted to ye said arriears gives them
an answer that they have paid it, and setts them aft
from time to time."
At the same meeting a committee was appointed
to examine the Treasurer's account, and a warrant
was directed to be issued to "fetch up all the
lycenses." These "ly censes" were granted to
persons for the right to sell various kinds of mer
chandise The Justices of the County were also
directed to appear before the Board on December
9th following, ' ' to correct all affairs between the
Citty and County. "
At a meeting of the Mayor and Common Coun
cil held December 3, 1695, a case came before the
Board, the disposal of which seems to have greatly
puzzled the city dignitaries, as appears in the fol
lowing :
' ' Cornelia Vanderheyden appears here at y8 barr,
and gives in y8 oath of her suster Ariaantje,
who is brought to child-bed, that Leift. Symon
Young is y8 father thereof, y" only father, and
none but he; and deseres that y8 mayor and al
dermen would use some methodd or anoyr with
y8 sd Young for the maintenance of the child."
What method their Honors took to compel
Lieutenant Symon Young to support his child, does
not appear.
Some time after this action of the Common
Council, Lieutenant Young was appointed Sheriff
of Albany, and proposed to take and support the
child; but the mother refused, and there the mat
ter ended.
On December 17th there was an order made fur
"repairing the City Stockadoes, which were out of
repair toward the river side; and that four hundred
and fifty new Stockadoes should be provided, to be
13 feet long and a foot over, and that a war
rant may be directed to the assessors, to make an |

equal assessment thereof upon the inhabitants, and
then deliver the same to the Mayor."
At this time the city was surrounded, for its pro
tection, by a stockade, thirteen feet in height. The
lines of this stockade were Steuben street on the
north, Hudson street on the south, the river on the
east, and Lodge street on the west. Afterward the
stockade was extended.
In the winter of 1696 there was a great scarcity
of grain, especially wheat. The merchants and
grain dealers having purchased large quantities of
wheat for the purpose of shipping it to New York,
where it was nearly double the price paid in Al
bany — although commanding a high price in that
city — caused great suffering, inasmuch as they re
fused to sell wheat in any quantities.
At a meeting of the Common Council, March
10, 1696, the matter was presented to the Board,
and the merchants were summarily dealt with for
their exorbitance, as appears from the following
order :
" Whereas, Several persons of ye citty and county
has given in a complaint to y8 Mayor and justices
of y" citty and County, y' there is severall persons
doe goe with money in thare hands to buy wheat,
and can not have it, by reason y8 marchants has
engrossed in there hands, being resolved to ship it
for New York; the Mayor, aldermen, and justices
of y8 peace have resolved and agreed upon y' no
merch'" or any other persons whatsoever shall ship
any corn aboard any sloop, vessel, boat whatso
ever untill such time wee have his Excell. direc
tions in it, as they will answer upon there uttmost
perill." The following quaint order, providing for the
necessities of an impecunious citizen, shows that
their Worships, the Mayor and Common Council,
were not inaccessible to flattery:
July 17, 1697, " Whereas, Mr. Leeft. Oliver
doth make his addresse to the Court for bedding,
since he complains that he is in great necessity for
want thereof, y8 gent" of ye Court cannot fynde
that they are obliged to furnish such supplies, but,
in consideration of his Civilty, doe give as a gift
y* summe of five pieces of eight."
At the time of which we are writing, the gates
of the city were opened and closed by an officer
called the City Porter, appointed by the Mayor
and Common Council.
At a meeting of the Board, held in the City Hall
in Albany, November 23, 1697, the following
order was adopted:
" Whereas, It is by the Mayor, Aldermen and
Commonalty concluded, who have appointed John
Ratecliffe as Citty Porter, instead of Hend. Mar
selis, Deceased, that he is upon all occasionable
times to open and shutt y8 gates of this Citty, es
pecially in y8 mornings and in y8 evenings at y" ap
pointed time, as also to attend y8 Church Ringing
of y8 bell on all occasions, for which he is to re
ceive yearly eight and twenty Pieces of Eight at six
shillings, and to be paid quarterly; moreover, he,
y8 sd John Ratecliffe, is to attend y" Burger Guards,
to keep them clain, and to make every evening a

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF THE CITY OF ALBANY.

465

fyre, wherefore he is to receive Three pence per
Diem. Who hath made oath to be true. "
At a meeting of the Common Council, held May
9, 1698, a resolution was adopted for building an
Indian House on the Hill, for the accommodation
of the Indians.
February 1, 1699, the Common Council "Re
solved, That one other Indian house, besides y8 two
heretofore resolved on in January last, shall be
build just upon y8 hill going up from y8 Parle
street geat northwesterly, in or about y8 middle
part of said hill, where y8 whole Common Councill
foithwith shall appoynt y8 Place, and y' y" Building
and Charges thereof shall bee in y8 lyke manner as
y" two houses aforesaid."
We have thus given a history of the organization
of the Municipal Government of Albany, and some
of the most interesting proceedings of the Common
Council, from its first meeting July 26, 1686, to
the close of 1699, showing how the city gov
ernment was conducted for the first thirteen years
of its existence.
The Municipality of Albany thus organized,
continued with great regularity and success down
to the termination of the Provincial or Colonial
Government, eaily in 1776.
From 1700 to 1753 the city was governed with
great wisdom through successive municipal admin
istrations. At a meeting of the Common Council July 31,
1753, an order was made directing that the pave
ment between the houses of Jacob Lansing and
David Schuyler, in the Third Ward, be raised, so
that the water that came down from the hill be
tween the houses of David Vischer and Jacob Lans
ing may vent itself through the lane or street, and
so down to the river.
At a meeting of the Common Council, held July
10, 1756, the following important resolution was
adopted: ' ' Resolved, That the Clerk draw a deed to the
Minister, Church Wardens and Vestrymen of St.
Peter's Church, in the City of Albany, for them
and their successors, in trust forever, for a piece of
ground for a burying place, lying upon the Hill ad
joining the fort, agreeable to a map made by John
R. Bleecker, and that the Mayor execute a deed,
and cause the City Seal to be thereupon affixed in
behalf of the Corporation. "
At a meeting of the Common Council, held
April 3, 1760, Sybrant G. Van Schack, Mayor, the
matter of the great scarcity of water in the city and
neighborhood came up, under a proposal to bring
water in pipes from the hills, collect it in reservoirs,
and erecting pumps. The matter was presented in
the form of a petition, asking the Mayor and Cor
poration for a conveyance of the right so to do to
the petitioners, their heirs and assigns, forever,
under proper restriction, and to the end that every
citizen may be partakers of the ease and advantage
of it, provided he pays unto the petitioners eight
shillings annually, and conform himself to the
articles of the agreement."
59

After a full hearing, the Board adopted the follow
ing resolution:
"Resolved,, that the petitioners have an instrument
drawn, including their petition; that the Mayor
will sign the same and cause the Seal of the City to
be thereupon affixed, by virtue of this resolution."
This, we believe, is the first action ever taken by
the municipal authorities of Albany for bringing
water into the city.
The following important historic entry was made
in the city records at a meeting of the Common
Council held April 3, 1760 :
" Whereas, A number of gentlemen residing in
this City have signified to the Mayor, Recorder,
Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of Albany,
that they are desirous of establishing a Presbyterian
Church in the same, this is to certify that the Mayor,
Recorder, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City
of Albany, that they are desirous of establishing a
Presbyterian Church in the same.
" This is to certify, That the Mayor, Recorder,
Aldermen and Commonalty of the city aforesaid,
do very much approve of so laudable an inten
tion, and promise that they will do every thing
in their power to encourage and promote the same,
and that the Mayor sign this in behalf of the Cor
poration, and that the Clerk affix the City seal
to it."
By the condition of the original Charter of
Albany, the title of all the land lying within the
Corporation was vested in the Mayor, Recorder
and Common Council, and in tracing the proceed
ings of the Common Council, we find on almost
every page resolutions of the Board directing the
Clerk to execute deeds to the grantees of lands and
to affix the seal of the Corporation thereto.

The first deed of lands executed by the Corpora
tion of the city is dated November 1, 1687. It is
a document of so much interest and importance
that we insert a copy of it from the early records
of the county.
1 ' To All Christian People to whom these pres
ents Shall Come, the Mayor, Aldermen, and Com
monality of y8 Citty of Albany Send Greeting in our
Lord God Everlasting. Know y8 that for and in
consideration of y" sum of three hundred an
ninty pounds currant money of this province to
them in hand paid, at and before y8 ensealing
and delivery hereof, by Doctor Godfredius Dellius,
Minister of y8 Reformed Nether Dutch Congrega
tional Dutch Church, Albany, a certain piece or
parcel of land commonly called or known by
y8 name of Pasture, Situate, lying and being to y8
Southward of y8 said Citty, near y8 place where
y8 Fort Stood, and extending along Hudson River
till it comes over against y8 most northerly point of
y" Island, commonly called Marston Gerritsen's
Island; having to y8 east Hudson River, to ye
south y8 manor of Renslarewck, to y8 west of
highway leading to y" Towne, Y" pasture lots in
ye occupation of Martin or Marston Geritsen, and

466

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OE ALBANY.

the pasture lot in y8 occupation of Casper Jacobs,
to the north of y8 several pasture lots in y8 occu
pation of Robert Sanders, Myndert Harmons and
Evert Wendell, and y8 Several Garden lots in y8
Tenure and Occupation of Killian Van Rensselaer
and Abraham Staats. Together with All and Singu
lar ye profits, commodities and appurtenances
whatsoever to y8 said Pasthur Piece or Parcel of
land and Premises, or any part or parcel thereof
Belonging or in any way appertaining to or with the
same, now or at any time heretofore belonging or
own'd, occupyed, enjoyed as part, parcell or mem
ber thereof, and All deeds, Evidences and writings
Touching and Concerning the premises Only.
"To have and to hold y8 said pasthur pece or
parcell of land, and all and Singular of y8 Premises,
with their and every of their appurtenances unto
the Said Godfredius Dellius, his heirs and assigns, to
y8 Sole and only Proper use, Benefit and Behoof of
said Godfredius Dellius, his heirs and Assigns, for
Ever; and y8 said Mayor, Aldermen and Common
ality doth by these presents Covenant, Promise and
Engage y8 said pasthur piece or parcel of land so
as the same is granted to them in the Charter dted
ye 2 2d of July, 1686, with their and every of their
Appurtenances, unto the said Doctor Godfredius
Dellius, his Exutr" «nd Assigns, in his and their
peaceable possession for Ever, from any grant or
conveyance whatsoever made, or to be made, by
said Mayor, Aldermen and Commonality, or their
successors. In witness whereof, ye Mayor of y8 said
Citty hath hereunto Set his hand and Caused y8 Seal
of said Citty to be hereunto affixed, and these pres
ents to be entered on our public record. Dated y'
ist day of November, 1687, in the 3d year of
y8 Reign of our Sovereign Lord James y8 Second,
by y" Grace of God, of England Scotland, France
and Ireland King, Defender of ye faith, Supreme
and y8 only ruler of y8 Province of New York.
"Peter Schuyler, Mayor."

It often occurred that the Common Council sold
pieces and parcels of land at public auction; for
instance, at a meeting of the Common Council
held at Albany on the nth of December, 1760,
the following resolution was adopted:
" Resolved by this Board, That the Clerk put
up Advertisements that a piece of land lying on the
Gallows hill containing between 10 and n acres,
as per Draft to be seen at the time of Sale, to be
sold at Public Vendue on Saturday, the 20th day of
this current month, by the Mayor, Aldermen and
Commonalty at two o'clock in the afternoon at the
City Hall in the City of Albany."
From the best authority we can find, Gallows
Hill was south of the city as it was then laid out.
At a meeting of the Common Council held
February 19, 1761, the following resolution was
adopted: " That Mr. John Bleecker make a survey of the
land set forth in the petition of the Minister, Elders
and Deacons of the Reformed Dutch Church of this
city, leaving sufficient room for highways, for which
this Board is to give a deed to said Minister, Elders

and Deacons, and their successors forever, for
and in consideration of .£50, current money of
New York, and a reserve of ^"20 per annum for
ever." The tract of land thus sold contained fifty-
three acres, the description of which is found in
Bleecker's Survey.
By far the most important proceeding of the
Common Council for the year 1762, was the grant
made by it, to Abraham E. Wendell, of a tract of
valuable land occupying what is now the heart of
the city, known as the Wendell Patent, which is
briefly described as follows:
" On the northwest side it was 1,207 feet in a
straight line; the southwesterly corner of the patent
was located in the center of the block west of
Eagle street, between Hamilton and Hudson
streets; and the northeasterly corner, which was
the end of the above mentioned straight line, ter
minated on the west side of Lodge street about
152 feet north of Howard street. The other lines
of said patent are irregular, the southeast corner
terminating in the center of Williams street, about
fifty feet south of Beaver street. In following the
southeast line, a bend and corner is located in the
center of the block between Philip, Grand, Hud
son and Plain streets, the last remaining corner
terminating about ninety-five feet east of Eagle on
the north side of Hamilton. The greater portion
of the land where the, old Normal School building
stands, belonged to the Wendell Patent."
The original map of this patent is now in the
possession of the descendants of the original pat
entee, Abraham E. Wendell. It also appears, by
distinct lines, on several early maps of the city.
This was one of the early transfers of the real es
tate acquired by the Corporation of Albany to
which we have referred.
On October 8, 1765, the Board resolved to pro
cure the ground where Fort Orange formerly stood,
to be vested in the Crown, on which to erect store
houses, so long as the services of his Majesty might
require. Among the proceedings of the Common Coun
cil, held October 14, 1765, was one of peculiar
interest, in regard to protection against fires, by
way of keeping chimneys cleaned, etc. By ordi
nance it was provided that when any chimney should
take fire in a dwelling-house the occupant forfeited
forty shillings, and that whosoever of the City
Guard should discover any accidental fire in dwell
ing-houses, out-houses or stables, or any other
combustible matter, received for the discovery the
sum of ,£3.
At a meeting of the Common Council, held No
vember 15, 1768, articles of agreement were en
tered into between the Mayor, Aldermen and Com
monalty of the City of Albany, of the one part,
and Stephen Van Rensselaer, Esq., Lord of the
Manor of Rensselaerwyck, in the County of Al
bany, known as the Patroon, of the second part,
by which the party of the second part covenanted
and agreed, to the said Mayor, Aldermen, etc.,
their successors and assignees, that he will, within
three months of the date of letters-patent to be
granted by the Crown, giving him the exclusive

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF THE CITY OF ALBANY.

467

rights of all ferriages on Hudson River, in the
County of Albany, between Bears' Island to the
Cohoes, grant to the said Mayor and Commonalty
the exclusive right to all ferriages and liberty of land
ing, passing and repassing, from the mouth of a certain
creek, commonly known as DeVysele Kill, on the
south of the city limits, to lands of H. Van Schack;
with one acre of ground, to be taken by said Cor
poration in such position as it shall think most
convenient to them, joining to and on the north
bounds of John VanRensselaer
One of the offices under the Corporation was
that known as the "Town Whipper," a very useful
official. We find in the records of the Corpora
tion very frequent instances where he discharged
the duties of his office upon criminals in a manner
so exemplary and commendable, that he often re
ceived due recognition of his efforts — as in one
case where Rick Van Toper, in 1762, was voted,
by the Common Council, the sum of five shillings
and sixpence, in addition to his regular fees, "for
the due and wholesome manner in which he laid
the lash upon the back of Tiberius Haines, who
had been convicted of beating his wife in a most
cruel and heartless manner.
At a meeting of the Common Council, held in
the City of Albany, on the 30th of January, 1780.
the following entry was made:
" The Corporation this day agreed with Benja
min Gable to be the town Whipper at the rate of
,£20 per annum for that service, and if the sheriff
wants him to execute any person, he is to perform
that service likewise, the sheriff paying him there
for." On the 20th March, 1770, the Common Council
agreed to let Thomas Lotteridge have the ferry lead
ing from Albany to Green Bush for three years, for
thirty pounds per year, and to make a dock about
1 4 feet broad, for the convenience of persons and
carriages going to or from the ferry-boats.
A very important and interesting question arose
in the early part of Mayor Cuyler's administration,
in 1 770. Certain provisions in the charter of the
city were construed by the Mayor and Aldermen in
a manner that rendered them, ex officio, members of
the Supreme Court, and members of the Court of
Oyer and Terminer. But the right to a seat on the
Bench with the Judges of those Courts was consid
ered doubtful, and was not insisted upon until
Cuyler was appointed Mayor. He considered him
self a Magistrate, and the Board of Aldermen as, ex
officio, members of these Courts. The term of the
Supreme Court and the Court of Oyer and Termi
ner began its sittings at Albany on Monday, June
5, 1771, at 2 o'clock p. m. In the forenoon of that
day, a meeting was held, and a resolution was
adopted by the Board, appointing the Mayor and
Aldermen Yates and Ten Broeck a committee to
wait upon the Judges of the Supreme Court and
Court of Oyer and Terminer, and inform them that
the Mayor, Recorder and six Aldermen intended
to sit as Judges in that Court, to be held that day
in the City Hall; and that they claimed the right
so to sit by virtue of the City Charter. The Judges
listened complacently to the message of this com

mittee, and they withdrew. In a short time the
Mayor and Aldermen received a communication
from the Judges, denying the right of those
gentlemen to sit in a judicial capacity in these
Courts, concluding with these words: "We can
not conceive that your City Charter can be so
construed as to render this honorable Court a
Mob, instead of a Bench of Judges with full
consideration of their dignity and responsibility.
We have therefore directed the Officers of the
Court to prevent your taking your seats upon the
Bench, in case you insist upon so doing."
This matter created no little excitement. The
Mayor and Common Council still insisted upon
their right to sit as judicial officers in the said
Courts, but as it was peremptorily denied by the
Judges of the Supreme Court, the Common Coun
cil decided to submit the matter to the colonial
authorities in New York. Whereupon, at a meet
ing of the Common Council, held on the 14th of
October, 1771, the following preamble and resolu
tion were adopted:
"Whereas, A point conceived to be of much con
sequence to the liberties and privileges of the peo
ple of the County and City of Albany, respecting
the Right of the Mayor, Recorder and Aldermen of
the City of Albany, by virtue of the Charter, to sit
as judges in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, and
general goal Delivery of the said County, has been
lately agitated and drawn in question, and it is
thought to be now a seasonable time to take the
necessary measures for determining the matter and
to empower a proper person of this Board to man
age and solicit the said business; therefore
Resolved, That Alderman Abm. Yates, Esq.,
be appointed, and he is hereby authorized and
appointed accordingly to repair to New York
with all convenient speed, and to take with him
Charters and all other necessary Papers, to be dis
tributed and laid before the Council already retained
by this Corporation on the subject; and he is hereby
directed to follow such advise as he shall receive
of them, in order to secure the Privilege aforesaid;
and he is also further impowered to serch the Rec
ords, private and publick, at New York, and to take
such copies and Abstracts therefrom as may be
thought usefull on this occasion, and for all his dis
bursements and Servises he is to be repaid and
satisfied, and soon after his return he is to make
report to this Board of his actings and doings
herein." We find no report of the result of Mr. Yates'
mission to New York on this important matter.
We infer, however, that he was unsuccessful, inas
much as we nowhere find in the records of the
Colonial Supreme Court that the Mayor or any
municipal officer of the city occupied the Bench of
that Court. They were, however, members of the
Court of Sessions of the City and County of Albany.
At a meeting of the Common Council, held
September 27, 1773, Mr. Peter Yates was made a
committee to revise, correct and amend the ordi
nances of the city, and Ebenezer Jessop received
from the Common Council a grant of a piece of

468

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

vacant land covered with water, lying on the north
side of the upper wharf, subject to a yearly rent
charge of forty shillings.
On April 2, 1774, an ordinance was passed by
the Common Council ' ' for regulating the ferry
between Albany and Greenbush ; for grading and
paving the streets and for preventing nuisance ; for
regulating the line of vessels at the Docks and
Wharfs of the City ; for regulating carts and Cart-
men ; for regulating the Public Markets ; against
the profanation of the Lord's Day ; for the better
securing the City from the danger of Gun Powder;
for the better preventing fire; to prevent accidents
by fast and immoderate riding ; to prevent ' raf
fling ;' for regulating taverns ; for regulating the
office of Chamberlain or Treasury; for the better
regulation of Mid Wives."
We have already referred to a very important
matter, that of the title which the municipality of
Albany had to large portions of land in and about
it, and have seen that the granting and selling these
lands to various purchasers for many years formed
a large part of the business of the Mayor and Com
mon Council. That, by the charter granted July
22, 1686, among other things, it gave the Mayor,
Aldermen and Commonalty of the city the power
to purchase, at their pleasure, 1,000 acres of low
or meadow land at Tionderoga, adjacent on both
sides of the river, as the Mayor should think most
convenient, and did grant and confirm unto the
Major and Commonalty, and to their successors
forever, yielding and paying therefor yearly, for
ever, the annual quit-rent of a beaver skin on the
20th of March of each year.
Under this provision of the charter, several In
dians, in June, 1721, conveyed a tract of said land
— eleven morgen — to Mr. Cuyler in fee, whose
heirs on the 24th of April, 1769, obtained from
the Corporation, for the consideration of ,£30, a
conveyance releasing the same.
On the 7th July, 1730, some Indians conveyed
ten or eleven morgen of said lands to Peter
Brower, for the term of 999 years; who, on Novem
ber 29, 1734, conveyed the same to the Cor
poration; who, on the 27th of April, 1749,
leased said land to Peter Brower for the term of
999 years, at the annual rent of one skipple of
wheat for each morgen. Some other of the said
lands were obtained from the Corporation for the
same annual rents, leaving still the largest portion
of the 1,000 acres the property of the Mayor and
Commonalty of the City of Albany.
In 1779 the Indians had all removed from the
said lands, and they were principally occupied by
refugees and squatters from Cherry Valley and
other parts. Therefore one of the great questions
that occupied the attention of the Municipality of
Albany, was to ascertain in what manner it could
obtain possession of these lands and foreclose the
claims of all subsequent incumbrances. The
matter was finally referred to Peter W. Yates, Esq.,
for his opinion in regard to the matter.
Mr. Yates was a very able lawyer, and considered
one of the best real estate lawyers of his time. His
report, a very able legal document, was considered

conclusive in the matter. He advised the lands to
be immediately surveyed; boundaries properly fixed
and ascertained; the unpossessed lands should be
immediately taken possession of and leased for a
short term, with a special clause inserted, for the
tenant peaceably to deliver up, at the end of the
term, possession to the officers of the municipality,
or its successors. This report decides that the
charter of incorporation gives the Mayor, Aldermen
and Commonalty, and their successors, an un
doubted estate, in fee-simple, in these lands, and
that, although the Indian deeds referred to cannot
strictojure be considered as a part of the title, since
those deeds were intended to purchase peace instead
of property, yet it is a title paramount to any other
claimant. As the lands are possessed by other per
sons who refuse to become tenants of the corpora
tion, he directs that action of ejectment shall be
brought against them, to oust them of iheir assumed
possession. This report was coincided with by the Common
Council, and other parties, and settled the question
in regard to said lands.
In February, 1780, an important question came
before the Common Council, in the consideration
of surrendering part of the privilege granted by the
charter to the city, and of applying for additional
ones, and, on February 17th, the Board unanimously
resolved to surrender certain privileges to the State,
and to apply to the Legislature for additional privi
leges. For the purpose of carrying the resolution
into execution, a committee of three was appointed
to draw up. ihe surrender and a petition for that
purpose. A very important change in some parts of the
city charter was thus proposed, and was, as we
shall see hereafter, carried into effect.
The titles to the lands acquired by the city, and
granting them to purchase! s from time to time,
form an important part of the property history of
Albany. The city held title to some of the lands
down to a late period, and a large part of the present
owners of real estate in the city trace their titles to
the corporation. Lots were often sold to pay city
indebtedness, and the land transactions of Yates &
Mclntyre with the city are matters of such conspi
cuous record that no description is needed here.
At a meeting of the Common Council, held April
14, 1780, very important measures were adopted
by the Board, tending to the improvement of cer
tain parts of the city. The following transcript is
taken from the proceedings of the meeting, as a
succinct history of the transactions:
"April 14. Whereas, this Board, on the third
day of May, 1 761, by release granted unto the Min
ister, Elders and Deacons of the Reformed Dutch
Church, in the City of Albany, a certain tract of
1 53 acres of land lying northwest of the city, and
did thereby reserve liberty and license for the Mayor,
Aldermen and Commonality of this City, or the
major part of them, and their successors forever, to
lay out Roads and Streets thro' the above mentioned
Lands, as they should see most convenient, and
whereas, the said Minister, Elders and Deacons ap
plied this day for leave to lay out the said lands in

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF THE CITY OF ALBANY.

469

Lots, and allow Streets and Roads in such manner
as they might conceive most proper for the term of
25 years. And, whereas, this Board are well con
vinced that no inconvenience can in that time arise
to this City, and thereupon Resolve to grant the re
quest of the said Minister, Elders and Deacons, and
it is hereby granted accordingly for the term afore
said." It is a matter of history that the Common Coun
cil of the City were the owners in fee of large and
valuable tracts of land at Schaghticoke, now in the
County of Rensselaer, which lands were occupied
by tenants who for some time refused to pay their
rent, being incipient anti-renters.
On September 15th, it was resolved that a meet
ing of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty
convene at Schaghticoke, on the 20th of Septem
ber, at the house of Johannes Knickerbaker, Jr.,
for the purpose of inquiring into and settling
the matter of these rents. The Board met at the
time and place referred to, and summoned before
them the tenants, to learn their reasons for non
payment of rent due the Board. They made vari
ous excuses, most of them pretending that no rent
was due. These excuses being regarded as in
valid and frivolous; Peter W. Yates and John Lan
sing, Jr., Counsellors-at-Law, were employed by
the Common Council, and instructed to commence
actions against all the tenants at Schaghticoke for
the recovery of the rent then due, which was ac
cordingly done, and, after the appointment of
Mayor Beeckman, a meeting was held January 30,
1784, at the City Hall, in the City of Albany.
There were present at this meeting the Mayor;
Aldermen Peter W. Yates, Thomas Hun, Peter W.
Douw and Abraham Schuyler; Assistant Aldermen
Richard Lush, Jacob G. Lansing and Mathew Vis
scher. It will be remembered that the Common Coun
cil met at Schachticoke for the purpose of taking
measures to compel the inhabitants of that town,
occupants of the land belonging to the Corporation
of Albany, to pay the rent due the city; that Peter
W. Yates, Esq., was directed to commence actions
against every tenant to recover this rent; that the
tenants came forward and settled the matter by
agreeing to pay the city the following winter the
rent in wheat, each person delivering the quantity
of wheat equal to the amount due. Under this
agreement the suits were stayed, but a large number
of tenants made default in the payment of the wheat.
At this meeting, held January 30th, the following
resolution was adopted:
"Resolved, That Peter W. Yates, Esq., be di
rected immediately to write letters, as Attorney for
the Corporation, to the tenants of this Board at
Schachticoke, and who were lately prosecuted for
non-payment of rent, acquainting them that unless
they pay this winter the wheat stipulated in the
agreement for the stay of the suits, they must de
pend upon being prosecuted."
From the organization of the City Government
in 1686, the Corporation received wheat and other
grain from tenants — of which it had large num

bers — in payment of rents ; consequently, the large
storehouses of the Municipality were constantly
filled with wheat and other grain. These store
houses and grain were in the custody of the City
Chamberlain or Treasurer of the Corporation.
This wheat was sold by the Treasurer, under the
direction of the Corporation, to the citizens at very
reasonable prices, and to the grain merchants, for
shipping to New York and other places, at fair
profits. During times of scarcity the quantity sold
was restricted — particularly during the revolution;
thus, in January, 1777, we find an order directing
the Treasurer "to sell 100 skepels of the wheat
belonging to the Corporation, at four shillings six
pence per skepel, to those persons who had
demands on the Board. No person to have more
than three skepels at a time. "
On September 29, 1786, John Lansing, Jr., was
appointed to succeed John J. Beeckman as Mayor
of Albany, and entered upon the discharge of his
duties in that office, January 6, 1787.
We have already stated that proceedings were
taken to procure an act of the Legislature altering
the Charter of the City of Albany, after its adoption
by the city under State constitution. This matter
created much discussion and opposition, and the
passage of the act was delayed until March 21,
1787, when an "Act for altering the Charter rights
of the City of Albany" passed both branches of the
Legislature and became a law. Down to that
period the Charter granted by King James, in 1686,
continued to exist with a few changes incident to
the State Constitution, down to the period of the
passage of the act to which we have referred. By
that charter the Mayor of the city had authority
to grant licenses annually to all tavern keepers,
victuallers and all public venders of wine.
strong waters, cider, beer and every sort of liquor
by retail. And that the Mayor was sole Coroner
of the City and County; that he, with the Alder
men and Commonalty, should have the exclusive
right to regulate the trade with the Indians. That
the Mayor and any three or more of the Aldermen
shall be the Common Council of the City. That
a Court of Common Pleas shall be held once in
every fortnight for the City of Albany, before the
Mayor. This authority was surrendered by the said act.
The time for electing the Aldermen, Assistants and
Chamberlain was changed to the last Tuesday of
September in every year, instead of the time fixed
by the Charter. Provisions were made to take ef
fect in case of the death of the Mayor. That in
stead of the Mayor acting as Coroner, as formerly,
that officer was to be a citizen of said city.
These were the principal alterations made in the
original Charter of 1686.
On June 21, 1799, during the mayoralty of
Philip S. Van Rensselaer, a resolution was adopted
by the Common Council, which shows the h'gh
-jregard and veneration in which the Sabbath was
then held. The resolution was as follows:
"Resolved, That the Constables in this City be,
and they are hereby- required, on every Sunday

470

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

hereafter, to stop all manner of persons who shall
be riding for pleasure, or who may expose any ar
ticles for sale on that day contrary to the Act for
suppressing immorality; and that they report the
names of aggressors, on every Monday morning
to the Mayor or Recorder, to be proceeded against
according to law."
There was a strong attempt made to enforce this
ordinance, greatly to the disgust of pleasure seek
ers; but many a delightful ride and excursion was
interrupted, and perhaps a pair of ardent lovers
would be arrested, and the next morning dragged
relentlessly before the Recorder to await condign
punishment for desecrating the Sabbath. The
scenes at the Court House on Monday morning
were amusing, and often aggravating. But the
strict enforcement of the law gradually wore away,
so none but flagrant abuses of the Sabbath were
punished. An entry in the books of the Chamberlain, June
20, 1799, shows that the expense for lighting the
city and for a night-watch, for the year ending June
1, 1799, amounted to .£625 16s. At this time the
city was lighted with whale or sperm oil.
The public revenue that year was ,£146 14s.
4d., leaving a debt against the city of .£479 is. 8d.
For five years the expense for lighting the city and
the night-watch had exceeded the revenue to the
amount of $2, 110.88.
At this time the yellow fever was raging in the
City of New York, and, under the recommendation
of the Common Council, a collection was made in
the Dutch Reformed Church on Sunday, June 19th,
at each of the three services, for the relief of the
sufferers of the plague, which amounted to $247.
In the afternoon of the same day a collection was
taken at St. Peter's Church and at the Presbyterian
Churches for the same purpose. The amount at
the former was $107.87, and the latter $201. The
total contributions amounted to $555.87.
Early in July, 1799, a law was Passed by the
Common Council Tegulating "the assize of bread."
The Common Council prepared a schedule for
graduating the price of bread, and every baker
detected in selling light bread subjected himself to
a fine of one dollar for every loaf found to be light
of weight. By this schedule, when wheat was 6s.
per bushel, a loaf of bread of inspected wheat
flour was to weigh 3 lbs. 1 oz. 8 dr., for 6d.; of
common flour, 3 lbs. 1 1 ozs. 8 drs.
At 8d., 2 lbs. 5 ozs. o drs. and 2 lbs. 12 ozs. 8 drs.
lod., 1 H 8 238
I2d., 188 1 13 8
i4d., 150 198
iSd., 138 178
2od., 14 8 118
and all intermediate prices in proportion.
On the morning of December 23, 1799, intelli
gence of the death of Washington reached Albany.
The Common Council immediately assembled and
recommended the closing of all places of business,
directing that the bells be tolled from three to five •
o'clock in the afternoon, and that the members of
the Board wear crape badges for the space of six
weeks; also recommending that all the churches

be dressed in mourning, and that preparations be
made by all the military and civic societies for an
imposing funeral.
The 9th of January, 1800, following, was desig
nated by the Common Council as a time for the
funeral solemnities. On that day one of the most
imposing and solemn public funerals known in the
history of Albany took place. Very many who
witnessed it were present at the grand reception
given to the Father of his Country in Albany at the
close of the Revolutionary War.
On May 1 9, 1 803, the yellow fever was still rag
ing in New York, and the Common Council,
acting as a board of health, passed an ordinance
requiring all vessels from New York City to be
quarantined a few hours at a point fixed down the
river, before being permitted to come to their
moorings in the city. There was one death from
yellow fever at Troy, but none in Albany.
As the result of an ordinance passed on July 1 2,
1804, the intelligence of the death of Hamilton
was received in Albany. The Common Council
immediately assembled and passed appropriate
resolutions, recommending that the citizens take
proper public action in regard to the death of the
illustrious statesman and soldier.
Among the receipts into the treasury for the
year 1 804, acknowledged by the Common Council,
was the sum of $1,128.46! for lands at Schaghti
coke belonging to the city, which had been sold
during the year.
We find very little of the proceedings of the
Board of Common Council between the years 1 800
and 181 3.
On November 8, 1813, Commodore Perry, the
Hero of Lake Erie, arrived in Albany. In no city
through which the gallant hero passed was he
more brilliantly or joyfully welcomed than in
Albany. At a meeting of the Common Council Decem
ber 6, 181 3, a resolution was adopted offering a
reward of $1,000 to any person discovering a coal
mine within the distance of five miles of the navi
gable waters of the Hudson, of a strata not less
than four feet in thickness.
One of the difficult matters that for many years
presented itself to the Common Council, was regu
lating the price of bread in the city, which was
constantly fluctuating with the price of flour. In
December, 1813, the price of a barrel of flour was
$11, and the Common Council adopted an ordi
nance requiring the flour merchants to make the
assize of bread correspond to nine dollars per bar
rel, which was 12 lbs. 10 oz. for one shilling.
This was considered a great hardship by the bakers,
and they called a meeting, which was attended by
all the craft in the city, and a resolution was
adopted to close their shops. This caused much
excitement -in the city, which continued some time.
The Common Council and the journals of the
city, the people and the bakers, all united in the
strife. At length a compromise was effected and
matters resumed their normal condition. For sev
eral years the Common Council occasionally passed
ordinances regulating the price and size of loaves

Municipal hiSToRy of the city of albanY.

471

of bread, but on December 29, 1820, a resolution
was adopted by the Board deciding that it was in
expedient any longer to continue the regulation
concerning the assize of bread.
On September 30, 1 8 1 7, a hotly contested elec
tion took place for Aldermen and Assistant Alder
men of the city. In. those days political parties
were designated as Federals and Democrats. This
election resulted in the choice of twelve Federal
and eight Democratic members of the Board of
Common Council.
Previous to 1818, the proceedings of the Com
mon Council were conducted with closed doors, and
the public excluded; but on November 16, 18 18,
the Board adopted a resolution that all debates and
proceedings of the Board should in future be pub
lic, and arrangements were made in the council
room for the accommodation of members, spec
tators, and press representatives.
In 1 819 another municipal election took place,
resulting in the election of fourteen Federals and
eight Republicans.
An entry in the minutes of the Common Council
made December 17, 1819, is as follows: The
expense of erecting the Capitol was at the joint
expense of the State, the City, and the County;
the amount paid by each was as follows :
Paid by the State  $73,485 42
" " City  34,20000
" " County  3,00000
Total cost  $1 10,685 42
It will be, perceived by the above, that the Cor
poration paid the sum of $34,200 towards the
erection of the Old Capitol. At this time the
Common Council occupied the northeast corner
on the first floor, which was divided into several
commodious and well furnished apartments for the
use of the municipal legislature. All the other
rooms on the first floor were occupied by the State;
the rooms in the second story were occupied by
the Court of Chancery, Supreme Court, Common
Pleas, General Sessions and Mayor's Court, except
the room immediately above the lobby of the As
sembly room, which was used two or three times
each year by the Supervisors of the County.
At several of the meetings of the Common Coun
cil, at the time of which we are now writing, efforts
were made to procure the passage of a resolution
to dispose of the interest of the Corporation in the
Old Capitol to the State. Proceedings of this nature
were also had in the meetings of the Board of Super
visors, to grant the interests of the county in the
Old Capitol to the State, and with the joint funds of
the county and city to erect a new building for the
county and city; but these measures were opposed
and delayed down to a late period, when the inter
ests of the city and county were alienated in the Old
Capitol property. In the meantime the Common
Council and the Board of Supervisors continued to
meet in their rooms in the Old Capitol until the
erection of the first City Hall. During the years
when the Old Capitol was occupied by the Court for
the Correction of Errors, the Court of Chancery,
the Supreme Court, and the various other tribunals;

by the Legislature of the State, the Executive, and
some of the State Departments, it presented a scene
of unrivaled interest, and Capitol Hill was the heart
and vital part, so to speak, of the Empire State.
Congress Hall, adjacent, will always live in history
and memory as the place where judges, lawyers,
legislators and lobbyists for many years did most
congregate. On January 21, 1820, a spirit of retrenchment
and reform took possession of the Board of Alder
men, and they adopted a resolution reducing the
salaries of the corporation officers to the amount of
over $2,000.
On June 20, 1820, the meeting of the Common
Council held that day was the scene of a singular
controversy. After the meeting was called to order,
Alderman Visscher arose and stated that several
of the Magistrates of the city were willing to per
form the duties of Police Justices without salary;
and he introduced a resolution to discontinue the
payment of salaries to those officers. This brought
on a spirited debate, and the resolution was lost by
a vote of eleven nays to six ayes.
On September 30, 1822, the Common Council,
by an ordinance, directed a tax to be raised of
$3,000, to pay the interest on the city debt; a tax
of $6,000 for the expense of lamps and night-watch;
and $8,000 to defray the expenses of the poor.
A meeting of the Common Council, January 25,
1 82 1, was the scene of great excitement. At this
time Teunis Slingerland was one of the Police Mag
istrates of the city, and Philip Phelps was another.
A resolution was offered, preceded by a preamble,
stating that the expense of two Police Magistrates in
the city was an unnecessary burden; that the duties
could all be performed by one official. Then fol
lowed the resolution as follows:
"Resolved, That as a matter of economy, Teunis
Slingerland be dismissed as a Police Magistrate, and
that Philip Phelps be required to discharge the
duties of Police Magistrate of the City at the com
pensation he is now receiving. "
This was at that time $300 per annum. A tre
mendous war of words followed the introduction of
this resolution. Vehement speeches were made for
and against it, but it was finally adopted by a deci
sive majority, and "Esquire Slingerland," as he
was known in those days, was no longer a terror to
evil-doers as a police magistrate.
On April 19, 1824, at a meeting of the Common
Council, the City Chamberlain submitted a semi
annual report, showing that the receipts into the
city treasury for the six months previous were
$30,886.74!. The disbursements were $13, 005. 72^.
An order was entered directing the Chamberlain to
purchase 1,000 gallons of oil ofT. & J. Russell, at
36 cents per gallon, to be used in lighting the city.
It is seen that Teunis Slingerland was suspended
from the office of police magistrate, and Philip
Phelps retained to discharge the duties. On Oc
tober 31, 1824, Mr. Phelps was removed and John
Gansevoort was appointed in his place. Peter Wen
dell, the city physician, was also removed and Peter
Van O'Linda succeeded him. These appointment

m

HISTORY OE THE COUNTY OF ALRANY.

and removals were made for political consideration,
and occasioned much excitement at the time.
On January I, 1825, the Common Council unan
imously re-elected Ambrose Spencer Mayor.
We have heretofore referred to lands owned by
the city. This question again came up in the Com
mon Council of March 25, 1825, in the following
manner: In 18 18, the Common Council was au
thorized by law to fund the city debt to the amount
of $205,000, which had been incurred in city im
provements. In 1820, the Common Council, find
ing they were unable to pay this debt, a law was
passed on the 14th of April of that year, authoriz
ing the Common Council to sell certain lands be
longing to the city, not to exceed $250,000.
"The lots were to be valued, put in parcels and
made the prizes. The Commissioners found they
could not carry the lottery into effect, because the
prizes consisted only of lots of land. The Com
mon Council therefore, in 1825, applied to the
Legislature for permission to sell their lands, and
be allowed the privilege of raising the balance of
the amount in money by selling tickets in the lot
tery created by the act of 1820, and paying prizes
out of the proceeds in the usual way. As this act
had been passed, authorizing the lottery, before the
constitution was amended, which prohibited lotter
ies, the Judiciary Committee reported a bill au
thorizing the change. " The newspapers of that day
—some of them — were very severe in their com
ments onthis system of lotteries in which the City
of Albany was engaged. The New York Evening
Post, in denouncing the measure, said: "The
capital of .the State, with the aid of the Legislature,
has become an immense gambling establishment."
In January, 1814, a law was passed granting to
Union College the sum of $200,000. This sum was
to be raised by lotteries. It was urged that this
mode of raising money was immoral; but as Dr.
Nott, the distinguished President of the College,
favored it, the project met the approval of the Leg
islature and became a law.
In May, 1825, the Common Council appointed
a committee to negotiate with Yates & Mclntyre,
touching their proposition to purchase the Albany
City Lottery for the sum of $200, oco. This nego
tiation was subsequently carried into effect, and
Yates & Mclntyre became the purchasers.
In May, 1825, the Common Council adopted a
measure to which the city, at the present day, is
largely indebted for the beautiful shade trees that
embellish the Capitol Park and the grounds about
the Academy, now called Academy Park. Previous
to that time those grounds, now so pleasant, were
an open common, the .resort of cattle, sheep, and
hogs. By the act of the Common Council, pased
May 22d, a resolution was adopted directing the
erection of a substantial fence around these grounds
and inclosures, and measures adopted for planting
trees. The expense of setting out the trees was
largely defrayed by a generous subscription of the
citizens. Thus the public spirit that pervaded the
Common Council and the citizens of Albany sixty
years ago, is a source of beauty and comfort at the
present day.

The following shows the financial condition of
the year 1825: Sinking Fund.
City Stock held by Commissioners. . . $6,oco 00
Albany Insurance Stock  2,500 00
Bonds, notes and interest due for
lands sold  2,879 67
Cash loaned  4,535 00
" onhand  '3ii3°88
359 Shares in Great Western Turnpike 8,975 00
46 Shares in Bethlehem Turnpike.. 1,150 co
Total  $29,170 55
Mayor  $4°° °°
Chamberlain  5°° 0°
City Superintendent  45° °°
Superintendent of Alms-house  400 00
Overseers of the Poor  200 00
Police Justice  45° °°
" Constables (2)  400 00
Deputy Excise Officer  200 00
City Physician  550 00
Clerk of Common Council  150 00
Deputy Clerk of Market  100 00
Bellringers  40 00
Total  $3,840 00
City Debt.
Funded  $205,000 00
Due on bonds to individuals  40,100 00
Small notes unredeemed  10,300 18
Total.  $255,400 18
On May 15, 1826, the negotiations which had
long -been pending between the City Authorities
and Yates & Mclntyre, concerning the Albany
City Lottery, were consummated by a resolution of
the Common Council; these gentlemen agreeing to
take the management of the lottery and pay the
city the sum of $240,795, to be paid in five years.
The whole amount of the valuation of the city
lands, which formed the basis of this lottery, was
$254,385. There were however some reservations.
The city debt which this lottery was to pay was
$250,000. The Chamberlain's report of the business of his
office for the year ending October, 1826, shows
the receipts to have been $60,060. 19; the expend
itures for the same time, $62,004.98.
On the last day of October, 1829, the City
Chamberlain submitted his report, showing the
amount of money received into the City Treasury
during that year was $320,878. 53-^. The amount
disbursed was $317, 126. 15-^. The city had been
at a large expense during the year; two markets
had been built; the City Hall begun; $9,804.43
was paid for the support of the city poor; and sal
aries of the city officers to the amount of $5,952.
The report of the City Marshal, presented to the
Common Council, July 29, 1830, shows the popu
lation of the city was as follows:
White, males  u,533
" females  11,632
Colored, males  421
'• females  630
Total  24,216
Of these, 3, 199 were aliens.
The Common Council, from the completion of
the Old Capitol down to the completion of the City

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF THE CITY OF ALBANY.

473

Hall, held its meetings in the Capitol. This they
continued to do till July 25, 1831, when they held
their first meeting in the City Hall.
On October 4th the Mayor's Court was held for
the first time in the City Hall, Recorder McKown
presiding. John Van Ness Yates tried the first
cause. From 1832 to 1835 we find no record of the
proceedings of the Common Council worthy of
note, until October 27th of the latter year, when
the County Clerk reported to the Board that, ac
cording to a recent canvass, the population of the
city was as follows :
Males  13,712
Females  !4,373
Total  28,085
There were then 4,489 voters in the city. There
was a universal dissatisfaction with the returns of
this census. At a meeting of the Common Coun
cil November 9th, a committee was appointed to
inquire into the expediency- of ordering a new
census. On January 1, 1836, Erastus Corning was
inaugurated Mayor of the City. In that year the
elections for members of the Board took place for
the first time at the annual spring elections. The
following are other measures which had been
adopted that year:
"The equalization of the wards; the reduction
of the rates of ferriage at the Greenbush Ferry
from 33 to 50 per cent. ; the improvements in the
basin; the improvements being made by the Gov
ernment in the river; the improvement in the city
finances, by which the city debt had been reduced
$65,000 in two years, and of nearly $269,000 due
in 1817, but $95,000 now remained to be liqui
dated. The Mayor called attention to the impor
tance of supplying the city with pure water; of
establishing grades between Eagle and Lark streets;
to the near completion of the Utica and Schenec
tady Railway as a source of increased business to
the city; the prospect of an uninterrupted railway
to Buffalo, and to the great importance of a rail
road to connect with the Boston road at Stock-
bridge. "
The Common Council, March 28, 1836, voted to
close the Lancaster School in Eagle street.
About this time the Common Council adopted a
resolution to open a space in the pier between the
Columbia and State street bridges; also to allow
the Hudson and Mohawk railroad to continue its
track from Gansevoort street, north to Ferry
street. June 20, 1836, the Common Council de
cided to widen Church street. The condition of
the City finances was reported to the Board on that
day to be as follows:
Bonds due Commissioners of the Canal fund :
At five per cent  $75>°00 °°
Bonds to St. Peter's Church  5,000 °°
Temporary Loans  42,000 00
Award Maiden Lane; balance due Mary Ganse-
vort and Thomas McElroy  16,383 00
$138,883 00

Amount due the city  $1 17,242 37
Slocks held by the city  43,I2° 59
160,262 96
Balance in favor of city  $2i,479 96
The population of the city in 1840, as reported
by the canvassers to the Common Council on De
cember 4th of that year, was 33,627. This was
an increase of about 36 per cent, in the lapse of
ten years.
From 1840 to 1850, we find very few of the re
ports of the proceedings of the Common Council.
But during this time new streets were opened and
old ones widened and extended; sewers were con
structed, and all the city institutions were in a
prosperous condition. The following Chamber
lain's Report, for the year ending May 1, 1850,
exhibits the condition of the finances of the city.
Says the Chamberlain in his report:
The aggregate amount received from all
sources during the past year, including
$41,668.78, the balance on hand, is  $695,366 67
Expenditure during the same time  627,635 42
Leaving a balance May 1, 1850, of  $67,731 34
In the year 1844, when the annual report of
the Chamberlain was made, the city had
available means, applicable to the support of
the city government, of  $i9>4°4 67
In the year 1845  10,677 8l
" 1846  6,797 98
" 1847  793 70
" 1848  66235
" " 1849  41,668 78
" 1850  67,731 34
" The large balance of 1849, and the still larger
of 1850, are the results of the operations of the
law of 1848. In former years the amount raised
by tax for support of the city government was
nearly, if not entirely, exhausted on the ist of May,
by its application to the payment of temporary
loans. These loans were made in anticipation of
the annual taxes, and the means realized there
from were required for the ordinary expenditures
of the city. By a strict adherence to the require
ments of the law above referred to, and a due re
gard to economy in the administration of the affairs
of the city, these temporary expedients may be in
a great degree, if not entirely, avoided.
" Loans and Interest. — The amount of tempo
rary and other loans made during the past year is
$190,000.
During the same period, the
amount paid and canceled by
the city was  $192,008 75
Cash paid to Trustees of Sinking
Fund for same purpose  178,700 00
 $37°.7o8 75
Making a diminution in the debt of the city in
one year of  $180,708 75
The amount raised by tax during the past year
on account of interest on the city debt was. . 45i5°o OO
Amount received from the Albany and Schenec
tady Railroad Company, and other sources. 9,830 74
Making a total of  $55,33° 74
The expenditure for the same time  61,991 11
Leaving a deficiency of  $6,660 37

474

History of the county of aLbany.

"This deficiency was caused by the accumulation
of interest on the bonds held by the State, and
which were paid and canceled by carrying into
effect the law of 1849, above referred to."
In the Mayor's statement on the financial con
dition of the city, he gives the following :
"On the first of May, 1848, the debt of the city
(exclusive of certain loans so amply secured that
they cannot be considered absolute liabilities of
the city) amounted to $752,896.93. Since that
date, this debt has been reduced $211,764.90; and
the exact amount of the same at this time is $541,-
132.03. "The population of the city as shown by the last
census, which was taken in 1845, was 42,189.
The increase during the then previous five years
was 8,476. The census of this year will probably
show the present population to be over 50,000.
"The value of the taxable property in the
city, as shown by the assessment rolls returned
to the Board of Supervisors in November, 1849,
was $11,971,203.
"The taxable property in the City of Albany at
this time may safely be estimated at $18,000,000."
There are no printed minutes of the Common
Council of the City of Albany before October 6,
1858. The minutes of December 6, 1858, are the
first which we can find.
At this time Hon. Eli Perry was Mayor; Hon.
William S. Paddock, Recorder.
Aldermen: James Schuyler, one year; Henry
Mix, two years, First Ward. Michael Delehanty,
one year; Thomas Schuyler, two years, Second
Ward. Nehemiah Osborne, one year; Isaac N.
Keeler, two years, Third Ward. Philip Wendell,
one year; Horace L. Emery, two years, Fourth
Ward. Albion Ransom, one year; Charles B. Red-
field, two years, Fifth Ward. James A. Wilson,
one year; George H. Thacher, two years, Sixth
Ward. Thomas Kearney, one year; Thomas Mat-
timore, two years, Seventh Ward. John Evers,
one year; Martin White, two years, Eighth Ward.
E. L. Judson, one year; Charles Bell, two years,
Ninth Ward. Charles W. Bender, one year; Will
iam P. Bray ton, two years, Tenth Ward.
City Officers. — Henry A. Clement, Clerk; Joseph
C. Y. Paige, Chamberlain and Deputy Excise Offi
cer; Louis Wiles, Deputy Chamberlain and Re
ceiver of Taxes; Henry T. Bradt, Marshal; John
B. Surtevant, Attorney; R. H. Bingham, Surveyor;
Jacob C. Koonz, Assistant Surveyor; William H.
Craig, Alms-house Physician; George H. Herbert,
Overseer of the Poor; William Hurst, Superintend
ent of Alms-house; William T. Wooley, Inspector
of Weights and Measures; Philip Fredenrich,
Superintendent of Markets; Hiram Gilbert, Su
perintendent of Northern District; John Franks,
Superintendent Southern District; Edward Bailey,
Superintendent of Lamps; James Kinnear, Chief
Engineer Fire Department; John Donahoe, Super
intendent of Hose Depot;  Belknap,
President Fire Department; Visscher Ten Eyck,
Treasurer Fire Department; Thomas Wilson, Sec
retary of Fire Department; Archibald Young, Col

lector; George W. Carpenter, Superintendent Water
works; Erastus Corning, John Taylor, Visscher
Ten Eyck, John L. Schoolcraft, John McKnight,
Water Commissioners; J. J. Gallup, one year, Will
iam C. McHarg, two years, Henry P. Nugent,
three years, Justices of Justices' Court.
The Supervisors for this year appear in the His
tory of the Supervisors.
James Boyle, one year; I. Cunningham, two
years; Richard D. Betts, three years, City Assessors.
John O. Cole, John Simpson, John Tracy, Henry
Russelt, William A. Rice, William A. Young,
George W. Carpenter, Eli Perry, C. L. Austin,
School Commissioners. Amos Adams, Chief of
Police. John O. Cole, one year; S. H. H. Par
sons, three years, Police Justices. The Mayor,
two Police Justices, Visscher Ten Eyck, John Mc
Knight, Police Commissioners. John A. Hyatt,
Dock-master. The report of the City Chamberlain shows the
following receipts and disbursements for the year
ending November 1, 1858:
Receipts  $5°5>552 7^
Disbursements were the same in amount.
According to a resolution of the Board, passed
May 17, 1859, J. B. Sturtevant, City Attorney,
submitted his report September 6, 1859, by which
it appears there were 61 causes on his calendar in
various stages of progress.
By the Chamberlain's report of September 19,
1859, a large number of lots appear to have been
sold by the city, subject to quit rents at that
time due the Corporation. Another report shows
the lands on which the rents have been commuted
and released by the city, with the amount received
for such commutations, where and by whom paid,
commencing May 3, 1843.
At the annual meeting of the Board, May 7,
i860 — present: George H. Thacher, Mayor; C. L.
Austin, Recorder — the following Aldermen were
sworn in : Owen Golden, First Ward; Michael
Delehanty, Second Ward; John C. Feltman, Third
Ward; Philip Wendell, Fourth Ward; James I.
Johnson, Fifth Ward; Alanson A. Sumner, Sixth
Ward; Terence J. Quin, Seventh Ward; John
Evers, Eighth Ward; Wm. J. Humphrey, Ninth
Ward; George W. Luther, Tenth Ward'. Henry
A. Allen was appointed to fill a vacancy in the
Sixth Ward made vacant by the resignation of Mr.
Thacher, May 1, i860.
Martin Delehanty, Clerk; Clinton Cassidy, City
Attorney; Bartholomew Judge, City Marshal;
James L. Babcock, Alms-house Physician; Wm.
L. Osborn, Overseer of the Poor; John Hart,
Clerk City Superintendent; Wm. T. Wooley, In
spector Weights and Measures; Reuben H. Bing
ham, City Surveyor; James Brown. Assistant City
Surveyor. Ward Physicians. — Cornelius D. Mosher, First
Ward; James Cox, Second Ward; Charles P. Staats,
Third Ward; Oscar H. Young, Fourth Ward;
Frederick C. Adams, Fifth and Sixth Wards; John
J. Myers, Seventh Ward; Addison S. Harlow
Eighth Ward; O. C. Alexander, Tenth Ward.

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF THE CITY OF ALBANY.

475

At a meeting of the Board June 25,1860, the
City Attorney gave his opinion that ' ' there is no
authority for the expense of laying crosswalks
being made a general tax."
The report of the Chamberlain for the year
ending November 1, i860, shows:
Balance on hand Nov. 1, 1859  $24,210 31
Receipts for current year  448,418 58
 :  $472,628 89
Disbursements  $423,276 93
On hand Nov. 1, i860  49,35' 96
 $472,628 89
On May 7, 1861, the Board met for the purpose
of organizing.
The following newly elected Aldermen were
sworn in, and took their seats, viz. : John Tracey,
First Ward; Lemuel M. Rodgers, Second Ward;
John W. Harcourt, Third Ward; Wm. Hastings,

Fourth Ward; Erastus Corning, Jr., Fifth Ward;
Samuel Anable, Sixth Ward; Patrick M. McCall,
Eighth Ward; John Philips, Ninth Ward; Joseph
L. Rice, Tenth Ward.
Martin Delehanty, Clerk; Clinton Cassidy, City
Attorney; Bartholomew Judge, City Marshal;
Thomas Smith, Alms-house Physician; Wm. L.
Osborn, Overseer of Poor; Wm. C. Birmingham,
Clerk City Superintendent; Wm. T. Wooley, In
spector Weights and Measures; R. H. Bingham,
City Surveyor; James Brown, Assistant City Sur
veyor. Ward Physicians. — Geo. Steinert, First Ward;
James Cox, Second Ward; Henry Case, Third
Ward; Peter E. Sickler, Fourth Ward; F. C.
Adams, Fifth and Sixth Wards; Joseph N. North -
rup, Eighth Ward; Charles H. Smith, Ninth Ward;
L. P. Van Hoesen, Tenth Ward.

The details of the City Bonded Debt, contracted prior to May 1, 1848, are shown in the following table,
which does not, however, include the loan on the Western Railroad Corporation.

Bonds.
When Payable.

On demand .
In 1862
In 1864 
In r865 . . . .
In 1866 
In 1867....
In 1868.. ..
In 1869 
In 1870. .. .
In 1871 
In 1872 
In 1873.....
In 1874. . . .

Rate of Interest.

5 per cent.

$50,000

21,00020,000 20,00020,000 19,000

$150,000

6 per cent.

84,35°
20,000

100,000 75,00020,000
20,000 10,000

$249,350

7 per cent.

$1,500

$1,500

Interest, When and Where Payable.

At Chamberlain's Office 
In New York, ist January and July. . .
In Boston, 1st May and November. . . .
" 1st January and July 
At Chamberlain's Office 
In New York, ist January and July. . .
>t tt n
" ist June and December .

Total.

$5,850
20,00050,000
100,000 75,000
20,000 20,000 10,000
21,00020,000 20,00020,000 19,000

$400,000

Since 1851 the city has been gradually reducing
its debt.
November 1, 1 851, the city debt proper
amounted to  $626,532.03
Paid in year ending Nov. 1, 1852, $47,426.03
" «< " " 1853, 26,000.00

1854,
l8Jl' 1856.
1857, 1858, 1859,i860,
1861,

3,000.00
23,590.0039,000.00 7,300.00
17,966.00
20,800.00
20,600.00 20,000.00

$225,682.03

Balance, November 1, 1861  $400,850.00
The Chamberlain's Office at Albany is a model
of industry, order and efficiency. It is believed
that there is no other public office in this State
where so much is done at so little expense, and by
so small a force.
The annual meeting of the Board was held
May 6, 1862. Hon. Eli Perry, Mayor; Hon,
Charles L. Austin, Recorder.

Aldermen : John Tracey, Bernard Reynolds,
First Ward; Lemuel M. Rogers, Thomas McCarty,
Second Ward; John W. Harcourt, John Kennedy,
Jr., Third Ward; William Hastings, William Orr,
Fourth Ward; Erastus Corning, Jr., James I. John
son, Fifth Ward ; Samuel Anabel, Abraham A.
Wemple, Sixth Ward; Edward Mulcahy, Terence
J. Quinn, Seventh Ward ; Michael A. Sheehan,
Thomas J. Cowell, Eighth Ward ; John Phillips,
George I. Amsdell, Ninth Ward; Joseph T. Rice,
Edward Wilson, Tenth Ward.
City Officers. — Martin Delehanty, Clerk ;
Joseph C. Y. Paige, Chamberlain and Dep
uty Excise Officer; Lewis Wiles, Deputy Chamber
lain and Receiver of Taxes; A. Cuyler Ten
Eyck, Marshal ; Clinton Cassidy, Attorney; R. H.
Bingham, Surveyor; James Brown, Assistant Sur
veyor ; Owen Golden, Alms-house Physician ;
Samuel C. Harris, Inspector of Weights and Meas
ures; William Hartnett, Superintendent of Mar
kets; James Allen, Superintendent N. D. ; Richard
Carr, Jr., Superintendent S, D.; Patrick Powers,

476

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Superintendent of Lamps; John J. Riley, Clerk of
City Superintendents; James McQuade, Chief En
gineer, Fire Department; Thomas Fayles, Charles
Lightfoot, John Daly, Patrick Campion, Assist
ants; John Donohue, Superintendent Hose De
pot; George E. Latham, President Fire Depart
ment; George W. Carpenter, Superintendent of
Water-works ; Erastus Corning, John Taylor,
Visscher Ten Eyck, Henry H. Martin, James
Kidd, Water Commissioners.
John O. Cole, two years, S. H. H. Parsons,
four years, Police Justices ; J. J. Gallup, one
year, William Gillespie, two years, H. P. Nugent,
three years, Justices of Justices' Court ; John L.
Hyatt, Dock-master.
The report of the Chamberlain for the year
ending November I, 1862, shows:
Balance on hand Nov. 1, 1861  $40,906.40
Receipts for current year  525,749.14
 $566,652.54
Disbursements  $463,528. 19
On hand Nov. 1, 1862  103,124.35
 $566,652.54
The city reduced its debt this year $20,000, leav
ing a balance November 1, 1862, of $380,850.
An organization of the New Board was made
May 5, 1863. Eli Perry, Mayor.
Aldermen : John Tracey, First Ward; Lemuel
M. Rogers, Second Ward; James Mclntyre, Third
Ward; Francis N. Sill, Fourth Ward; Erastus Corn
ing, Jr., Fifth Ward; John R. McCollum, Sixth
Ward; Edward Mulcafiy, Seventh Ward; James
C. Nolan, Eighth Ward; Richard Barhydt, Ninth
Ward; William Gould, Tenth Ward. Martin Del
ehanty, Clerk ; Samuel Hand, Attorney; L. P.
Van Hoesen, Alms-house-Physician; Owen Golden,
Superintendent of Almshouse; Joseph Whalen, In
spector of Weights and Measures; Patrick Powers,
Superintendent of Lamps; Erastus Corning, Vis
scher Ten Eyck, Henry H. Martin, James Kidd,
Peter Cagger, Water Commissioners. The other
city officers are the same as last year.
In June, 1863, an able paper was laid before the
Common Council, requesting their immediate at
tention to a plan for providing and opening a pub
lic park in the City of Albany. The paper is long,
but is ably written, urging the necessity of a place
of beauty in which the working and the business
men of the city might seek rest and pleasure, with
their families, within their own city.
On September 12, 1863, Articles of Association
were made and entered into, under and pursuant
to the provisions of an act entitled "An Act to Au
thorize the Formation of Railroad Corporations, and
to Regulate the Same." The name of the said as
sociation or company was to be the Albany
Railway. City finances from November 1, 1862, to No
vember 1, 1863:
Balance on hand, Nov. I, 1862.. $103,124 35
Receipts for current year  608,422 86
 $711,547 21
Disbursements  $607,946 69
On hand Nov. i, 1863  103,600 52
 <-— $7»>547 2I

On May 3, 1864, the Board met at their an
nual meeting. Eli Perry, Mayor. William S.
Paddock, Recorder.
Aldermen : Bernard Reynolds, First Ward;
Thomas McCarty, Second Ward; John Kennedy,
Jr., Third Ward; Le Grand Bancroft, Fourth
Ward; James I. Johnson, Fifth Ward; Lemon
Thomson, Sixth Ward; Bartholomew Judge,
Seventh Ward; Edward J. Kearney, Eighth Ward;
George I. Amsdell, Ninth Ward; William Gould
(to fill vacancy), Edmund L. Judson (for full term),
Tenth Ward.
Jeptha R. Boulware, Alms-house Physician.
Annual report of the Chamberlain's office for the
year ending November 1, 1864:
Balance on hand, Nov. 1, 1863. $103,600 22
Receipts for current year  756,936 82
 $863,737 04
Disbursements  $796,981 34
On hand Nov. 1, 1864  66,555 7°
 $863,737 04
City Bonded Debt Paid since 1851. — The
city debt proper amounted on November 1,
1841, to $626,532.03. June 14, 1864, issue of
City Bonds, $100,000, making a total of $726,-
532.03. Since November 1, 1851, there has been
paid $295,682.03, leaving a balance November 1,
1864, of $430,850.
On May 2, 1865, the Board convened for the
annual meeting, at which time the new members
of the Board were sworn in by Mayor Perry. Wm.
S. Paddock, Recorder.
Timothy Sullivan, First Ward; Thomas Mul-
hall, Second Ward; John C. Ward, Third Ward;
H. D. Burlingame, Fourth Ward; John N. Parker,
Fifth Ward; William Dalton, Sixth Ward; An
drew Kean, Seventh Ward; Charles T. Shepard,
Eighth Ward; Richard Barhydt, Ninth Ward; John
B. Sturtevant, Tenth Ward.
James Mclntyre, Deputy Chamberlain and Re
ceiver of Taxes; Charles A. Hills, Assistant;
L. M. Rodgers, Superintendent of Alms-house.
Alderman McCarty offered a resolution in rela
tion to the application made by the Legislature
concerning the terms that the City of Albany offered
for having the New Capitol located in the city.
The Mayor, on February 23, 1865, by the
authority of the Common Council, made a com
munication to the Legislature of the State offering,
on behalf of the State, the property known as
"Congress Hall Block, in case the Legislature
should pass a law for the erection of a New Capitol,
and locate the same upon the site of the present
Capitol and the grounds adjacent.
" The Legislature accepted the proposition and"
passed the law for erecting the New Capitol at
Albany; therefore
"Resolved, That the provisions of the Act of the
Legislature be and the same are accepted by this
Board, and this Board do purchase and cause to
be conveyed to the State the property before
specified." This property was purchased by the
Common Council for the sum of $125,555, and in
September of that year was deeded to the State.

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF THE CITY OF ALBANY.

477

The Chamberlain's report for the year ending
November i, 1865, is as follows: '•
Balance on hand Nov. 1, 1864. . $66,555 7°
Beceipts for current year  90^,457 60
 — $972,013 30
Disbursements  $883,21077
On hand Nov. I, 1864  88,802 53
 $972,013 30
A special meeting was called January 22, 1866,
to consider the method of providing for the pur
chase money of the Congress Hall Block, and to
authorize the issuing of City Bonds for the payment
of the same. The following resolution was
adopted: "Resolved, That, pursuant to authority conferred
upon the Board by Chap. 2, Laws of New York,
passed January 12, 1866, the Chamberlain, under
the direction of the Finance Committee, be and he
is authorized to negotiate, upon such terms as may
be deemed best for the interests of the city, a loan
of $190,000, bearing interest from the first day of
February next, at the rate of six per cent, per
annum, payable semi-annually, and the principal
to be reimbursed as follows: $10,000 at the expi
ration of nineteen years from the first of February,
and the sum of $20,000 in each succeeding year
thereafter till all is paid. "
May 1, 1866. — Hon. George H. Thacher,
Mayor. Aldermen: Michael Murphy, First Ward;
Thomas Farrell, Second Ward; William H. Tay
lor, Third Ward; William M. Gregory, Fourth
Ward; Peter M. Carmichael, Fifth Ward; Lemon
Thomson, Sixth Ward; Bartholomew Judge, Sev
enth Ward; James D. Walsh, Eighth Ward; Bor
den H. Mills, Ninth Ward; Edmund L. Judson,
Tenth Ward.
City Officers. — George W. Warren, Clerk;
Joseph C. Y. Paige, Chamberlain; Samuel Moffatt,
Charles A. Hills, Deputy Chamberlains and Re
ceivers of Taxes; Henry McBride, Marshal;
William H. Greene, Attorney; R. H. Bingham,
Surveyor; Henry T. Carpenter, Assistant Surveyor;
William Craig, Alms-house Physician; James Pet-
tit, Overseer of Poor; Lemuel Rodgers, Superin
tendent of Alms-house; Richard Groom, Inspector
of Weights and Measures; Albert Goodwin, Super
intendent of N. S. ; Cyrus L. Woodruff, Superin
tendent of S. S. ; Frank E. Cuyler, Clerk of Su
perintendents; George Searles, Superintendent of
Markets; James McQuade, Chief Engineer of Fire
Departments; William Thompson, J. C. Griffin,
Patrick Campion, William H. Smith, Assistants;
Edward Scannell, Superintendent Hose Depot;
James H. Mulligan, President Fire Department;
Vischer Ten Eyck, Treasurer; John R. Stewart,
Secretary; George W. Carpenter, Superintendent
of Water - works; Erastus Corning, James Kidd,
Visscher Ten Eyck, Henry H. Martin, Peter Cagger,
Water Commissioners.
William C. Schuyler, Henry P. Nugent, John J.
Gallup, Justices of Justices' Court; John O. Cole,
S. H. H. Parsons, Police Justices; Marshal Teb-
but, Superintendent of Lamps; Campbell Allen,

Superintendent of Police; John L. Hyatt, Dock-
master. Receipts and disbursements at the Chamberlain's
office from November 1, 1865, to November 1,
1866:
Balance on hand Nov. 1, 1865. . $88,802 53
Receipts for current year  961,026 75
 $1,049,829 28
Disbursements  $978,037 71
On hand Nov. I, 1866  71,791 57
 ,$1,049,829 28
The Common Council met May 7, 1 867. George
H. Thacher, Mayor; William S. Paddock, Re
corder. Aldermen: Timothy Sullivan, Thomas Mulhall,
Nehemiah Osborn, Adam Cook, John N. Parker,
Abraham A. Wemple, Oscar L. Hascy, George E.
Latham, Robert Lenox Banks and John B. Sturte
vant. William Morgan was appointed Assistant Over
seer of the Poor, and T. J. Grogan, President of the
Fire Department.
The annual report of the Chamberlain was as
follows: Balance on hand Nov. 1, 1866... $71,791 57
Receipts for current year  807,657 17
 $879,448 74
Disbursements  $800,816 27
On hand Nov. 1, 1867  78,632 47
 $879,448 74
Regular meeting of the Board, May 5, 1868 —
Charles E. Bleecker, Mayor; Simon W. Rosendale,
Recorder. Aldermen: Hugh McCann, Alexander Kennedy,
Jonathan E. Herrick, Charles D. Mills, George
Evans, James E. Walker, Michael Lyman, Michael
S. McGue, Adam W. Smith and Charles G. Craft.
City Officers. — Isaac Vanderpoel, Attorney;
Charles P. Staats, Alms-house Physician; A. Cuyler
Ten Eyck, Marshal; William L. Osborne, Overseer
of the Poor; Daniel O'Keefe, Inspector of Weights
and Measures; James Brennan, Superintendent S.
S. ; Richard Barhydt, Superintendent N. S. ; Will
iam E. Murphy, Clerk of Street Superintendents;
J. J. Huber, Superintendent of Lamps.
Fire Commissioners: C. E. Bleecker, Mayor,
President; J. C. Cuyler, Secretary; Lansing Pruyn,
M. B. V. Winne, George Cuyler and Edward Wil
son. James McQuade, Chief of Fire Department.
The Common Council, in December, 1867, ap
propriated the sum of $15,000 for the construction
of a fire alarm telegraph for the City of Albany, and
in June, 1868, the working of the fire alarm tele
graph, which had been constructed, was voted
placed under the control and direction of the Board
of Fire Commissioners.
On March 16, 1868, proposals were advertised
for the erection of a public building, to be erected
on the Market lot On June 30th, it was ordered
that the sum of $50,000 be appropriated for the
erection of a building on the present market site in
South Pearl street, to accommodate the Second
Police Precinct, Police Commissioners, Fire Com
missioners, Chief of Fire Department, Police Court,
Justices' Court and Overseer of the Poor.
The Chamberlain's report for the year shows:

478

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Balance on hand Nov. I, 1867 . . . $78,632 47
Receipts for current year  890,307 19
 $968,939 66
Disbursements  $871,155 63
On hand Nov. 1, 1868  97,784 03
 $968,939 66
The new Board was organized May 4, 1869 —
Charles E. Bleecker, Mayor; Simon W. Rosendale,
Recorder. Aldermen: John Burke, Thomas Mulhall, Nehe
miah Osborn, Peter Foland, John N. Parker, Ralph
W. Thacher, Terence J. Quinn, Wm. B. Scott,
Albert C. Judson, Andrew M. Combs.
City Officers. — Martin Delehanty, Clerk of the
Common Council; Joseph C. Y. Paige, Chamber
lain; Thomas A. Stuart, Deputy Chamberlain and
Receiver of Taxes; A. C. Ten Eyck, Marshal;
E. J. Meegan, Attorney; James Browne, Surveyor;
Charles P. Staats, Alms-house Physician; William
Osborn, Overseer of the Poor; Lemuel M. Rodgers,
Superintendent of Alms-house; Thomas Whalen,
Inspector of Weights and Measures; Richard Bar
hydt, Superintendent of Streets, S. S. ; J. J. Huber,
Superintendent of Lamps; John Flood, Clerk of
Street Superintendent. Fire Commissioners: C. E.
Bleecker, Mayor, President; J. C. Cuyler, Secretary;
M. N. Nolan. Chamberlain's Report.
Balance on hand Nov. i, 1868. . $97,784 03
Receipts for current year  1,367,647 01
 $1,465,431 04
Disbursements  $1,338,109 52
On hand Nov. 1, 1869  127,321 52
 $1,465,431 04
At a meeting of the Common Council, held
March 19, 1870, His Honor the Mayor said, that
on account of the passage of the New Charter by
the State Legislature, it became necessary to re-dis
trict the wards, appoint Inspectors of Election and
designate the places for holding polls for the com
ing charter election. The meeting was devoted to
these purposes.
The Dongan Charter in 1686, with few amend
ments, came down to the revolution. After the
revolution, with such amendments as the State
Constitution and Laws required, it continued to be
the fundamental law of the city until March 16,
1870, when the Charter was largely amended by an
Act of the Legislature, passed on that day.
This Act provided that the Corporation, hitherto
known by the name of the Mayor, Aldermen and
Commonalty of the City of Albany, shall continue to
be a body politic and corporate in fact and in name,
by the name of the City of Albany, and shall have per
petual succession, with all the grants, powers and
privileges heretofore had by the said Mayor, Alder
men and Commonalty of the City of Albany, and
be subject to all the restrictions and conditions
and possess all the powers of a municipal corpora
tion, under and by virtue of the General Statutes
of the State.
2d. The Corporation of the City of Albany shall
continue to own, hold and possess all the prop
erty, rights, privileges and franchises now owned,
held and possessed by the corporation heretofore

known as the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty
of the City of Albany.
At the annual meeting, May 3, 1870, George H.
Thacher, Mayor.
, Aldermen-at-large: Philip Fitzsimmons, John
Evers, Robert H. Moore, William M. Van Ant
werp. Aldermen: John Burke, First Ward; James H.
Simmons, Second Ward; James Quin, Third
Ward; John Stuart, Fourth Ward; Matthew Quin,
Fifth Ward; Royal Bancroft, Sixth Ward; John N.
Parker, Seventh Ward; James Morris, Eighth
Ward; Terence J. Quinn, Ninth Ward; John
Laughlin, Tenth Ward; William B. Scott, Eleventh
Ward; James Allen, Twelfth Ward; Albert C. Jud
son, Thirteenth Ward; Charles Senrick, Fourteenth
Ward; Benjamin V. Z. Wemple, Fifteenth Ward;
Cornelius Hill, Sixteenth Ward.
City Officers. — Thomas J. Lanahan, First
Clerk; Thomas Hogan, Second Clerk; Lucius G.
Hoyt, Inspector.
Street Department: George H. Thacher, Mayor;
Philip Fitzsimmons, President of Common Council;
John Stuart, James Allen, Albert C. Judson, Alder
men; A. M. Combs, Street Commissioner; R. H.
Bingham, City Engineer and Surveyor; J. C. Y.
Paige, Chamberlain.
Finance Department: George H. Thacher,
Mayor; Philip Fitzsimmons, President of Common
Council; John Evers, Terence J. Quinn, William M.
Van Antwerp, Aldermen; J. C. Y. Paige, Cham
berlain; Charles A. Hills, Deputy Chamberlain.
Law Department: John Evers, B. V. Z. Wem
ple, Aldermen; E. J. Meegan, Corporation Coun
sel. Daniel M. Stinson, City Physician; George W.
Hoxie, Overseer of the Poor; James Farley, Super
intendent City Buildings; Edward Brennan, John
Daly, James Rice, Assessors; George W. Carpen
ter, Superintendent Water-works.
In the Mayor's address he particularly mentions
the condition of the various departments of the
city. During the two last years $350,000 was
added to the bonded debt. The valuation of prop
erty, previously high, had been increased to the ex
tent of $2,234,000, and the rate of taxation for
1869 was $3.54 per $100.
For the first time in the corporate life of the city,
then over 1 83 years, the veto power was conferred
upon the Mayor.
About thirty suits were at this time pending
against the city. The aggregate claims exceeded
$ 1 60, OOO.
On Monday, February 13, 1870, the annual re
port of the City Chamberlain showed the following:
Balance on hand Nov. 1, 1869. . $127,321 52
Receipts for current year  1,510,538 37
 $1,637,859 89
Disbursements  $1,448,487 36
On hand Nov. 1, 1870  187,372 53
 $1,637,859 89
The Park Commissioners show progress in the
improvements of Washington Park; and in the first
annual report show the total receipts to January
20th to have been $55,970.39,

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF THE CITY OF ALBANY.

479

The annual meeting was held May 7, 1872 —
George H. Thacher, Mayor.
Aldermen: Robert H. Moore, William Casey,
Thomas Mulhall, Richard Bortle, David N. Gla
zier, Henry S. Van Santford, Philip Mattimore, John
G. Burch, James A. Fahy, Robert Aspinwall, Thomas
Cavanaugh, Townsend Fondey, Royal Bancroft,
Joseph McCann, Albert Brumaghim.
City Officers. — JohnG. Burch, President; Hale
Kingsley, Clerk; James L. Babcock, City Physi
cian. The Chamberlain's report for the year ending
November 1, 1872, is as follows:
Balance on hand Nov. 1,1871.. $366,989 14
Receipts for current year  1,080,323 18
 $i,447,3i2 32
Disbursements  $1,266,410 28
On hand Nov. 1, 1872.-   180,902 04
 $1,447,312 32
William N. S. Sanders was appointed Chamber
lain of the City, and John F. Batchelder, Deputy
Chamberlain and Receiver of Taxes.
In 1874 Mayor Thacher was declared re-elected,
but his seat was contested by E. L. Judson. John
G. Burch acted as Mayor from January 28 till
April, 1874, when E. L. Judson was decided
elected for the unexpired term of Thacher and also
the full term.
The proceedings of two years of the Common
Council are missing from the reports.
1876. — A. Bleecker Banks, Mayor; John A.
Luby, President of Common Council.
Aldermen: George Krank, First Ward; John G.
Schneider, Second Ward; James H. Simmons,
Third Ward; Wm. H. Keeler, Fourth Ward; Henry
Van Hoesen, Fifth Ward; Robert K. Oliver, Sixth
Ward; S. H. H. Parsons, Seventh Ward; Thomas A.
Becket, Eighth Ward; Patrick Dillon, Ninth Ward,
Conrad Degen, Tenth Ward; John A. Luby,
Eleventh Ward; Thomas Cavanaugh, Twelfth Ward;
Christian Schurr, Thirteenth Ward; John P. Bradt,
Fourteenth Ward; Michael J. Gorman, Fifteenth
Ward; Hiram Bender, Sixteenth Ward.
Executive Department: A. Bleecker Banks,
Mayor; Francis S. Pruyn, First Clerk; A. Douw
Lansing, Second Clerk; James Farley, Inspector.
Street Department: A. Bleecker Banks, Mayor;
John A. Luby, President of Common Council;
Thomas Cavanaugh, James H. Simmons, Christian
Schurr, Aldermen; R. H. Bingham, City Surveyor
and Engineer; Robert H. Waterman, Chamberlain;
Joseph McCann, Street Commissioner.
Law Department: S. S. H. Parsons, Thomas
Cavanaugh, Thomas A. Becket, Aldermen; Gren
ville Tremain, Corporation Council.
Finance Department: A. Bleecker Banks, Mayor;
Robert H. Waterman, Chamberlain; John W. Har
court, Deputy Chamberlain; John A. Luby, Pres
ident of Common Council; S. S. H. Parsons,
Henry Van Hoesen, Thomas A. Becket, Aldermen.
City Officers.— Martin Delehanty, Clerk; Robert
H. Waterman, Chamberlain; Joseph S. Paige,
Chamberlain's Clerk; John W. Harcourt, Deputy
Chamberlain and Receiver of Taxes; Charles A.
Hills, Deputy Receiver of Taxes; William S. Pad

dock, Recorder; Reuben H. Bingham, City Sur
veyor and Engineer; Henry Fitch, Superintendent
of Alms-house; Thomas J. Lanahan, Clerk, of
Board of Contract and Apportionment.
1877.— The City Officers for the year 1877 are
the same as those of 1876, with the exception of
the following:
Abraham Lansing, Corporation Council; Joseph
McCann, Street Commissioner; Daniel V. O'Leary,
City Physician.
1878. — M, N. Nolan, Mayor; Thomas Cavan
augh, President of Common Council.
Aldermen : John Zimmerman, First Ward;
Thomas B. Franklin, Second Ward; William A.
Donahoe, Third Ward; John T. Gorman, Fourth
Ward; Isaac Brilleman, Fifth Ward; William
Manson, Sixth Ward; James McKinney, Seventh
Ward; James H. Harrigan, Eighth Ward; Patrick
Dillon, Ninth Ward; Conrad Degen, Tenth Ward;
David M. Alexander, Eleventh Ward; Thomas
Cavanaugh, Twelfth Ward; Theodore M. Amsdell,
Thirteenth Ward; William Deyermand, Fourteenth
Ward; Michael J. Gorman, Fifteenth Ward; Allston
Adams, Sixteenth Ward.
Executive Department: M. N. Nolan, Mayor;
Desmond S. Lamb, First Clerk; William D.
Dickerman, Second Clerk; John J. Norton, Third
Clerk; Charles Senrick, Inspector.
Street Department : M. N. Nolan, Mayor ;
Thomas Cavanaugh, President ; James H. Harri
gan, David M.Alexander, Conrad Degen, Aldermen;
William H. Keeler, Street Commissioner; Reuben
H. Bingham, City Surveyor and Engineer; Lucien
Tuffs, Jr., Chamberlain.
Finance Department: M. N. Nolan, Mayor;
Thomas Cavanaugh, President; Michael Gorman,
William Deyermand, Conrad Degen, Aldermen;
Lucien Tuffs, Jr., Chamberlain; Charles A. Hills,
Deputy Chamberlain.
Law Department: James H. Harrigan, John T.
Gorman, Allston Adams, Aldermen; Simon W.
Rosendale, Corporation Council.
Martin Delehanty, Clerk of Common Council;
Joseph Y. Paige, Chamberlain's Clerk; Edward J.
Giraty, Deputy Receiver of Taxes: James O'Byrne,
City Marshal; Matthias Bissikummer, Deputy; W.
S. Paddock, Recorder; James Browne, Deputy
Surveyor and Engineer: John A. Luby, Super
intendent of Alms-house; James McQuade, Chief
Engineer Fire Department; John Maloy, Chief of
Police; William J. Weaver, William J. Flynn,
Henry T Bradt, City Assessors; William K. Clute,
John C. Nott, Police Justices.
1879.— M N. Nolan, Mayor.
Aldermen : Thomas Cavanaugh, President of
Common Council; John Zimmerman, First Ward;
Thomas B. Franklin, Second Ward; William A.
Donahoe, Third Ward; John T. Gorman, Fourth
Ward; Isaac Brilleman, Fifth Ward;, William
Manson, Sixth Ward; James McKinney, Seventh
Ward; James H. Harrigan, Eighth Ward; Edwin
V. Kirtland, Ninth Ward; Conrad. Degen, Tenth
Ward; David M. Alexander, Eleventh Ward;
Thomas Cavanaugh, Twelfth Ward; Theodore M.
Amsdell, Thirteenth Ward; William Deyermand,

480

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Fourteenth Ward; Michael J. Gorman, Fifteenth
Ward; Alston Adams, Sixteenth Ward.
Department officers are the same as last year.
Washington Park Commissioners : John H. Van
Antwerp, President; R. W. Peckham, James D.
Wasson, Robert L. Johnson, R. Lenox Banks,
Daniel Manning, George Dawson, J. G. Farns-
worth, Dudley Olcott.
Water Commissioners : Visscher Ten Eyck,
Henry H. Martin, Erastus Corning, John M. Kim
ball. Vacancy.
Police Commissioners : M. N. Nolan, ex officio,
President ; James Mclntyre, Michael Schrodt,
William M. Bender, Richard B. Rock.
Fire Commissioners : M. N. Nolan, ex officio,
President; Jacob C. Cuyler, one year; Philip
O'Brien, two years ; Anthony N. Brady, three
years; Henry S. Rosenthal, four years; Thomas
Austin, five years.
1880.— M. N. Nolan, Mayor.
Aldermen : Albert Gallup, President of Com
mon Council; Peter Snyder, First Ward; Philip J.
McCormick, Second Ward ; William A. Donahoe,
Third Ward; John T. Gorman, Fourth Ward;
John Carey, Fifth Ward; Michael A. Murphy,
Sixth Ward ; James Carlisle, Seventh Ward;
Michael Horan (died), Eighth Ward; Michael H.
Murray, Ninth Ward; James A. Fahy, Tenth
Ward; William McEwen, Eleventh Ward; Robert
Bryce, Jr. , Twelfth Ward ; Samuel C. Harris,
Thirteenth Ward; Theodore D. Smith, Jr., Four
teenth Ward; Joseph McCann, Fifteenth Ward;
Albert Gallup, Sixteenth Ward ; Henry C. Burch,
Seventeenth Ward.
The new City Officers this year were : William
J. Maher, Deputy Chamberlain and Receiver of
Taxes; Michael E. Higgins, City Marshal ; An
thony Gould, Recorder; John J. O'Hara, Deputy
City Surveyor and Engineer ; John McKenna,
Superintendent of Alms-house; James V. Viggers,
Mayor's Third Clerk; William J. Burke, Inspector
Public Buildings.
The City Hall was destroyed by fire on the
morning of February 10, 1880.
Steps were immediately taken to rebuild the City
Hall, and the matter was intrusted to a Committee
on Public Buildings and three other members who
were added to the above committee.
1 88 1.— M. N. Nolan, Mayor.
Aldermen: Albert Gallup, President of Com
mon Council; Peter Snyder, First Ward; Philip
McCormick, Second Ward; William A. Donahoe,
Third Ward; John T. Gorman, Fourth Ward; John
Carey, Fifth Ward; Michael A. Murphy, Sixth
Ward; James Carlisle, Seventh Ward; Thomas A.
Becket, Eighth Ward; Michael H. Murray, Ninth
Ward; James A. Fahy, Tenth Ward; William
McEwan, Eleventh Ward; Robert Bryce, Jr.,
Twelfth Ward; Samuel C. Harris, Thirteenth
Ward; Theodore D. Smith. Jr., Fourteenth Ward;
Joseph McCann (died), Fifteenth Ward; Albert
Gallup, Sixteenth Ward; Henry C. Burch, Seven
teenth Ward.

City Officers. — Rufus W. Peckham, Corpora
tion Council; Lawrence Carey, Inspector.
Street Department: M. N. Nolan, Mayor; Albert
Gallup, President; James Carlisle, John T. Gor
man, Thomas A. Becket, Aldermen; William H.
Keeler, Street Commissioner; Reuben H. Bingham,
City Surveyor; Charles E. Hills, Chamberlain.
Finance Department: M. N. Nolan, Mayor;
Albert Gallup, President; Robert Bryce, Theodore
Smith. Jr., William McEwan, Aldermen; Charles
E. Hills, Chamberlain; William J. Maher, Deputy
Chamberlain. Law Department: Theodore Smith, Jr., Robert
Bryce, William McEwan, Aldermen; Rufus W,
Peckham, Corporation Counsel.
1882.— M. N. Nolan, Mayor.
Aldermen : William H. Murray, President Com
mon Council; Peter Snyder, First Ward; Jeremiah
Kieley, Second Ward; William A. Donahoe, Third
Ward; James Lyons, Fourth Ward; John Carey,
Fifth Ward; George W. Beck, Sixth Ward; James
Carlisle, Seventh Ward; Michael A. Nolan, Eighth
Ward; Michael H. Murray, Ninth Ward; James
A. Fahy, Tenth Ward; Austin S. Kibbee, Eleventh
Ward; Robert Bryce (resigned), Twelfth Ward;
Samuel C. Harris, Thirteenth Ward; Charles W.
Mead, Fourteenth Ward; James Thornton, Fif
teenth Ward; William H. Murray, Sixteenth Ward;
Henry C. Burch, Seventeenth Ward.
City Officers. — Henry R. Haskins, City Physi
cian; Robert Bryce, Street Commissioner.
Executive Department same as last year.
Street Department: M. N. Nolan, Mayor; Will
iam H. Murray, President Common Council; John
Carey, James Lyons, George H. Beck, Aldermen;
Robert Bryce, Commissioner; Reuben H. Bing
ham, Surveyor; Charles A. Hills, Chamberlain.
Finance Department: M. N. Nolan, Mayor;
William H. Murray, President Common Council;
James Lyon, John Carey,  (vacancy),
Aldermen; C. A. Hills, Chamberlain; William J.
Maher, Deputy Chamberlain.
Law Department: Samuel C. Harris, William H.
Murray, Charles W. Mead, Aldermen; R. W. Peck
ham, Corporation Council.
1883. — John Swinburne, Mayor.
Aldermen : William H. Murray, President Com
mon Council. Members of the Board the same as
1882, with Patrick McCann in the vacancy of the
Twelfth Ward.
Departments. — Executive: John Swinburne,
Mayor; William H. Haskell, First Clerk: George
D. Haskell, Second Clerk.
Board of Contract and Apportionment: John
Swinburne, Mayor; William H. Murray, Robert
Bryce, Jr., Reuben H. Bingham, Charles A. Hills.
Board of Finance: John Swinburne, William H.
Murray, C. A. Hills, M. A. Nolan, Visscher Ten
Eyck. Trustees of Sinking Fund: John Swinburne; C.
A. Hills, Visscher Ten Eyck.

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF THE CITY OF ALBANY.

481

Law Department: Samuel Harris, William H.
Murray, Charles W. Mead; Henry Smith, Corpora
tion Counsel.
Board of Audit: John Swinburne, William H.
Murray, C. A. Hills.
Board of Health: John Swinburne, ex officio,
President; Dr. A. Vanderveer, Dr. S. B. Ward,
Thomas H. Dwyer, Robert Bryce, Jr., John Mc
Kenna, R. H. Bingham; Dr. D. V. O'Leary,
Health Physician; Edward H. Long, Clerk; James
Rooney, Lawrence Carey, William D. Dickerman,
Inspectors. We have given the names of the principal officers
of the Corporation of the City of Albany under the
Charter as amended by the Charter of 1870.
On April 23, 1883, the Charter of the City of
Albany was again amended, of which the following
is an outline:
This amendment retains all the sections, three
in number, under Title 1 of said act.
Title 2 of said act defines the boundaries of the
seventeen wards of the city, one ward having been
added since the Act of 1870.
The various departments of the municipal gov
ernment of Albany are established in Title 2, as
follows: The legislative power of said Corporation shall
be vested in a Board of Aldermen, who shall form
the Common Council of the City of Albany.
The Board of Aldermen consists of nineteen
members, one Aldermen to be elected from each
of the seventeen wards, and two from the city-at-
large. To be eligible for the office of Alderman,
a citizen shall have resided in the ward, and in case
of each Alderman-at-large, he shall have resided
in the city for at least one year immediately prior
to his election.
There was chosen by the electors, according to
this Charter, on the second Tuesday of April,
1884, one Alderman from each ward, and two
from the city-at-large, to hold their office for two
years. There is to be a Charter election held in
the city on the same day in every second year
hereafter for the choice of Aldermen.
The Common Council shall, biennially, elect a
President from its own body, and, in his absence,
a President for the time being, and biennially ap
point its Clerk, who shall receive a salary of twenty-
five hundred dollars per annum, payable monthly.
He may appoint an Assistant, who shall have a sal
ary of $600 a year. Every law, ordinance or reso
lution of the Common Council, before it takes ef
fect, and within five days after its passage, must be
sent to the Mayor's office. * * If the Mayor ap
prove of such law, etc., he shall sign it, and it shall
take effect immediately. If he does not approve
it, he shall return it, with his objections, within ten
days after it is delivered at his office.
The Common Council are Commissioners of
Highways in and for said city.
The Charter defines the laws and ordinances
which the Common Council has power to make,
and the penalties for their violation. There are
thirty-six of those provisions or ordinances. It is
61

provided that nothing in this act shall affect the
powers, duties, rules, orders, or ordinances or reg
ulations of the Board of Health, as they exist
under the laws of the State. The Common Coun
cil shall have power to impeach the Mayor by a
resolution passed by a resolution of two-thirds of
all the members of the said Board.
The Executive Power of the Corporation. —
The executive power of the Corporation shall be
vested in the Mayor. He shall be elected at a
Charter election, and hold his office for the term
of two years, commencing on the first Tuesday of
May next after his election; and the Mayor elected
at any election held hereafter shall not be eligible
until one term shall intervene, and the acceptance
hereafter of any other elective office by the Mayor
shall operate to determine and end his teim of
office as Mayor. His office is in the City Hall,
and is open daily for business between the hours
often o'clock in the morning and four o'clock in
the afternoon. His salary is three thousand five
hundred dollars per year, to be paid monthly by
the Chamberlain.
The duties of the Mayor of Albany are plainly set
forth in the Charter, and his powers, though suf
ficiently guarded, are plenary.
It is his duty, among other things, to communi
cate to the Common Council, at least once in every
year, a general statement of the finances, govern
ment and improvement of the city; to recommend
to the Common Council all such measures con
nected with the security, health, cleanliness, and
ornamentation of the cit)', and the protection of its
government and finances, as he shall deem expedi
ent; to call out and command the police and fire
men, and to call together the citizens and commis
sion special policemen during an emergency, and
take all proper measures for the protection of the
property and lives of the citizens in case of riot or
disturbance. He shall have power at any time to suspend, for
neglect or omission to perform the duties of his
office, for inattention to such duties of his office, or
incompetency to well and efficiently to execute the
same, any officer holding an office to which the
Mayor has the power of appointment absolutely, or
subject to the confirmation of the Common Coun
cil. After such suspension, notice must be given
to the Common Council at its next meeting. The
President, within five days, notifies the Recorder and
the Law Committee of the said city of such fact,
and that they are required to meet with him at a
time and place designated. At the time and place
the President, Common Council, Recorder and
Law Committee are to meet. The Recorder pre
sides. Ten days' notice must be given the offi
cer suspended. The President, Recorder and Law
Committee form a commission for the trial of the
officer suspended or removed upon written charges
to be made by the Mayor. The Clerk of the Com
mon Council attends the meetings as Clerk of the
Commission. The record of its proceedings is
filed with the Clerk of the Common Council. In
the event of no dismissal, the city shall pay the
cost and expenses of the officer so tried.

482

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

City Officers Appointed by the Mayor. — The
following officeis are appointed biennially by the
Mayor : a Chamberlain, Receiver of Taxes, City
Engineer and Surveyor, Street Commissioner, City
Marshal,- Inspector of Weights and Measures,
Overseer of the Poor, Superintendent of the Alms
house, and one City Physician. These appoint
ments (except the Chamberlain and Receiver of
Taxes, which shall be made on the eve of the Fast-
day of St. Michael the Archangel) shall be sent to
the Common Council for confirmation at the next
regular meeting after their appointment.
He also appoints the Assessors of the city. He
also appoints, within three months after his elec
tion, a Corporation Counsel, six District Physi
cians, four city Bell-ringers, and such clerks and
subordinates, not exceeding two, as he may re
quire. Such Bell-ringers, clerks and subordinates
hold their position at the pleasure of the Mayor.
He shall also appoint a Janitor, who shall have
the care of the city buildings on South Pearl street.
The Janitor may appoint an assistant.
Corporation Counsel. — The Corporation Coun
sel acts as the legal adviser of the Common
Council and of the several Officers, Boards, and
Commissioners of the City, who shall not employ
other counsel. His salary is $6, ooo per year, and
he receives no fees. He gives bonds for the faith
ful performance of all his official duties. He may
appoint an assistant, whose salary is to be paid by
him. The Corporation Counsel may, with the
written consent of the Mayor, employ other coun
sel in the management of important cases in which
the city is interested.
Chamberlain. — This officer receives all the
money due or payable to the Corporation, and
collects all assessments, apportionments, and rents.
He receives and disburses all moneys raised by
tax in the city, including money raised by county
tax for the maintenance of the Alms-house therein.
His salary is $3,500 per year, payable monthly.
He has authority to appoint a Deputy Chamberlain,
with the approval of the Mayor. His salary is
$1,500 per year.
Both these officers must give heavy bonds for
the faithful discharge of their duties.
The Mayor, Chamberlain, and President of the
Common Council constitute a Board of Audit, and
examine, audit, adjust, and settle all accounts,
claims, debts and demands payable out of the
moneys in the Chamberlain's hands appropriated
for the Alms-house. Before these demands are
audited, the Board is authorized to issue subpoenas
to the claimants, or any other person, to compel
their attendance before the Board for examination
touching said demands.
These are among the duties of the Chamberlain.
They, with his other duties, render his office one of
the most important connected with the city govern
ment. Receiver of Taxes. — It is the duty of this offi
cer to receive all taxes provided by law, and to
retain in his possession the assessment rolls and
warrants which shajl from time to time be delivered

to him by the Supervisors; to enter daily, in suit
able books kept for that purpose, the sums received
for taxes, respectively with the name of the person
on whose account the same may be paid, and the
ward for which received; and he shall, at the ex
piration of office hours, exhibit such entries to the
City Chamberlain, the amount received by him on
such day, and pay over to that officer the amount
so received.
It is a misdemeanor, punishable by imprison
ment not exceeding six months, and fine not ex
ceeding five hundred dollars, for the Receiver of
Taxes, or any person in the employment of the
city, or for the County Treasurer, or any person in
the employment of the county, to enter in his
books any payment of taxes or water rates on a day
different from that on which the same is paid; or
to accept any less sum for such tax or water rate
than the amount by law required to be paid, when
such tax or water rate is in fact paid; or to throw
off or deduct from the sum due any interest collect
able thereon; or to make any false or untrue entry
with respect thereto.
Thus we see how carefully the city government
guards its interests against fraud and peculation.
The Board of Supervisors of the county causes
the corrected assessment roll of each ward in the
city to be delivered to the Receiver of Taxes for
said city on or before the tenth day of December
in every year, with a warrant, under the hands and
seals of the members of the Board of Supervisors,
or a majority of them, commanding such receiver
to collect from the several persons named in the
rolls the several sums mentioned in the last column
of said roll opposite their respective names, and to
pay over the same in manner directed in such
warrant. The County Treasurer examines the account of
the arrears of taxes received from the Receiver of
Taxes, and shall reject all taxes on land that shall
there be imperfectly described, and on all taxes
erroneously assessed in form or substance.
The duties of the Receiver of Taxes in case of
non-payment thereof are admirably defined, and
are more fully considered in the history of the
Board of Supervisors.
The County Treasurer receives, as compensa
tion for his services, an annual salary to be fixed by
the Board of Supervisors. He is not to receive
any interest, fees, or compensation for his ser
vices, except in proceedings for the sale of land
for unpaid taxes. In cases where payments are
made after first publication of the notice of sale, or
on the sale, he shall receive five per cent, on the
amount, to be addded to the tax. The County
Treasurer transmits to the Comptroller an account
of unpaid taxes assessed upon corporations, or
upon the lands of non-residents or unknown
owners, in the City of Albany, on any collector's
affidavit thereto.
Board of Finance.— The Common Council,
under the Charter, at its first meeting in January,
1884, appointed a citizen of the city, not an office
holder, to act wjth the Mayor and Chamberlain

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF THE CITY OF ALBANY.

483

as a Board of Trustees of the Sinking Fund of
the city. Every third year after the first day of Jan
uary aforesaid, there is to be a new appointment.
The members are a body corporate, who, together
with the President of the Common Council and
one Alderman, to be designated by the Common
Council, constitute a Board of Finance for the city
Banks Designated for Deposit. — The Board of
Finance designates, after notice duly published
twice in each week, for two weeks, in the Corpora
tion newspaper, two banks in the city, who are to
give security, in which all moneys received by
the Chamberlain shall be deposited, and shall fix,
by agreement with the banks, the amount of in
terest to be paid on such deposits. The Board has
power, after publication of the like notice, to change
the banks.
City Tax Budget. — Among the duties of the said
Board is that of annually preparing a city tax bud
get, which includes all sums required for every
municipal purpose during the year next following
the first day of January after such budget was pre
pared, and shall report the same to the Common
Council. Board of Contract and Apportionment. — This
is a very important Board, and in its practical work
ing admirably protects the interests of the city.
It consists of the Mayor, Chamberlain, Street Com
missioner, City Engineer and Surveyor, and Presi
dent of the Common Council. The Corporation
Counsel or his assistant has a right to be present
at every meeting. The Board meets on the first
and third Monday of each and every month be
tween the hours of 9 a. m. and 5 p. m. Reporters
of newspapers may be present at most of the meet
ings. This Board has charge, under the direction of
the Common Council, of all the altering, regulat
ing, grading, paving, repaving, flagging, curbing,
guttering, cleaning, opening, draining, repairing
and lighting the streets, roads, places, alleys and
avenues; of fencing and filling building lots; re
pairing and lighting docks, wharves and piers; and
of constructing and repairing public streets, drains,
alleys and bridges.
It issues all proposals, receives all bids and
awards all contracts for doing the foregoing work.
All contracts, however, except for lighting the city,
can be made for a longer period than two years.
Contracts are let to the lowest responsible bidder,
who presents with his bid the bond required by law.
All contracts and bonds are approved by the Cor
poration Counsel as to form and validity. The
Board appoints biennially a clerk at a salary of
$2,000 per annum. He keeps all records and ac
counts of said Board.
It is the duty of this Board to apportion and assess
all the expenses for work, labor and services per
formed and all the materials furnished, with the in
cidental cost and expenses attending the same.
Such apportionment must be duly verified by the
Street Commissioner, City Engineer and Surveyor,
and ratified and approved by the Board of Contract
and Apportionment. The provisions of the Char

ter in regard to ' the duties of said Board are nu
merous, but we have given a synopsis of its most
important duties.
The Street Commissioner appoints, with the ap
proval of the Mayor, two Superintendents of Streets
and one Superintendent of Lamps, who shall hold
office during the pleasure of the Commissioner.
He is entitled to the services of the Clerk of the
Board of Contract and Apportionment, when not
engaged in the work of said Board. He may also
employ, when necessary, not to exceed six day-
laborers, to hold their places during his pleasure.
Such Superintendents perform such work as shall
be required of them by the Street Commissioner.
Day-laborers are paid out of the Street Contingent
Fund semi-monthly by the Chamberlain.
The Street Commissioner's salary is $3,000 per
year; that of the two Superintendents $1,200 per
year respectively. The Street Commissioner re
ceives the further sum of $500 per year for the
maintenance of a horse and wagon, to be used by
him in the discharge of his duties.
If necessary, he has power to employ not to ex
ceed two teams, to be paid out of the Contingent
Fund. He has power, from April ist to November
15th in each year, to employ not to exceed four ad
ditional day-laborers. He has charge of lighting
the city and to determine the position of lamps, and
to see to all defects in the lighting the city.
All the oil, gas and electric lights of the city are
supplied under contracts let by the Board of Con
tract and Apportionment.
City Engineer and Surveyor. — This officer
appoints one deputy engineer and surveyor, with
the approval of the Mayor; also one draughtsman
and one rodman. These officers hold their office
at the pleasure of the City Engineer. This official
receives a salary of $3,000 per year. His assistants
receive $1,000 per year and the rodman $1,200.
The City Engineer and assistants are fence vieweis
for the city.
The City Engineer makes all surveys, measure
ments, maps, profiles and diagrams necessary for
the taking of any land by right of eminent domain,
or for the widening, paving, repaving or otherwise
altering or improving any street, avenue, alley,
lane, square or lot in the city. He also decides
all disputes between owners of land on each side
of division fences, touching the method of con
struction or repairing such fences. The division
of the fence between such owners, or the part
each is to bear respectively in the expense thereof,
shall be decided by the Deputy Engineer and Sur^
veyor. City Physician. — It is the duty of this officer
to visit the Alms house at least once in each
day; to attend and administer medical assistance to
the sick in the Alms-house, hospital, pest-house
and other permanent or temporary buildings now
erected, or hereafter to be erected, on the Alms
house Farm. He appoints one resident physician
to assist in the discharge of his duties. He reports
on the first day of each month, and oftener if re
quired, to the Mayor, of the condition of the pau-

484

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

perism in the Alms-house; the persons admitted to
the Pest-house, Lunatic Asylum and Hospital; when
sent and by whom. He receives a salary of $i, 200
per annum, payable monthly, out of the Alms
house Fund. His assistants receive $200 per an
num. Superintendent of the Almshouse. — This offi
cer has charge and control of the poor and insane
committed to the Alms-house, and of the real and
personal property used for such purposes, and of
the farm and appurtenances belonging to the same.
He must give his undivided personal attention to
the duties of his office, and cannot engage in any
other trade or occupation.
All persons arrested upon charges of insanity shall
be sent to the asylum attached to the Albany Alms
house, and it is the duty of the Superintendent of
the Alms-house to transfer the said person or per
sons from the said asylum, when directed so to do
by either of the Police Magistrates or the Chief of
Police. The Superintendent must reside at the Alms
house in the city. He receives a salary of $2, 500
per year and provides his own table and that of
his assistants, who reside at the Alms-house, from
the money appropriated to the support of the Alms
house. The Overseer of the Poor is the chief official
connected with the charities of the city. He has
the power of appointing one assistant, with the
approval of the Mayor. It is one of his duties to
make diligent inquiry as to the necessities of the
persons applying for relief, and exercise his own
judgment in granting or withholding relief. If
he knows of any person disabled, sick or en
feebled, so as to be unable to work to maintain
himself, with no visible means of support, about to
become a public charge, it is the duty of the Over
seer to investigate the antecedents of such person,
whether he or she has any relatives legally bound
to support such person; what his or her last place
of residence was; and from what place he or she
came into Albany County. If such poor persons
have friends legally bound to take care of them, the
Overseer institutes proceedings to compel them to
take care of them. His salary is $2,000. He can,
with the approval of the Mayor, appoint one assist
ant at a salary of $900 per annum, and may em
ploy one additional assistant at a salary of not
more than $50 per month.
The City Marshal assists the Clerk of the Com
mon Council in the execution of that office. He
receives a salary of $1, 500 per year.
Inspector of Weights and Measures. — This
officer receives no salary from the city. He is,
however, entitled to such fees as the Common
Council may ordain.
Fees and Salaries of Other City Officers. —
Each City District Physician receive a salary of
$400 per year, and shall reside in the district for
which he is appointed. The Mayor's Clerks re
ceive respectively $1,500 and $900 a year. The
Bell-ringers, $60 each. The two operators of the
Lawrence Street Bridge receive, during the season
of navigation, such compensation as the Mayor

deems sufficient; not to exceed the sum paid by
the State of New York for similar services.
Taking Private Property for Public Use. — No
part of the Charter of the City of Albany exhibits
more wisdom, none more carefully protects the
rights, privileges and immunities of the Municipal
ity and the citizens, than that part contained in
Title XVII of the Charter, which provides for
taking private property for public use. It gives the
Common Council, whenever it shall deem it neces
sary, the right to take, within the city, any ground or
real estate, with the appurtenances, belonging to
any person or persons, or corporation, for the
purpose of laying out, opening, extending, straight
ening, widening, or altering any street,road, avenue,
park, square, wharf or slip; or for the purpose of
laying out, constructing or maintaining any drain,
sewer, culvert or aqueduct; or for any other public
purpose or use. But at the same time it gives
property owners an easy, early and equitable mode
of obtaining compensation for their lands taken
under this section, and for all damages sustained
by such taking.
The General Provisions of the Charter. —
These are contained in Title XVIII of the Charter,
which is divided into sixteen sections, eight of
which are provisions for the punishment of city
officials for receiving any fees, perquisites, compen
sation or commission,in addition to their salary, for
the performance of any official duty; for the giving
of ample security for the faithful performance of
their respective duties; for accepting bids or award
ing contracts to any person or persons in arrears to
the Corporation upon debt or contract, or who is
a defaulter, as surety or otherwise, upon any obli
gation to the Corporation; for the punishment of
any person who shall, in manner or form, offer any
city official any moneys, goods, rights in action
or other property, or anything of value, or any pe
cuniary advantage, present or prospective, with in
tent to influence his vote, opinion, or judgment or
action on any question, maiter, cause or proceed
ing which may be then pending, or may by law be
brought before him in his official capacity. ' The in
fraction of this law is punishable by imprisonment
in a penitentiary not exceeding two years, or by a
fine not exceeding $5,000, or both, at the discre
tion of the Court. Any member of the Common
Councilor other city ofiicial, who accepts any such
offer for the purpose above mentioned, shall, upon
conviction of such an offense, be disqualified from
holding office, and imprisoned in a penitentiary not
exceeding two years, or by a fine not exceeding
$5,coo, or both, in the discretion of the Court; or
for willfully violating or evading any provision of
said Charter; or for swearing false to any material
matter in any oath or affirmation required by the
same. Eight of said sections are provisions for the pro
tection of the streets against damages to the city
through the negligence occasioned by the use of
citizens, on permission of the Common Council to
make drains or sewers, culverts or basins — to com
pel all persons or corporations maintaining a cov-

NAVIGATION OF THE HUDSON.

485

ering, sluice-way or surface drain at any street
crossing, or at the terminus of any street, sluice
way or surface drain, etc., etc., to keep the same
in good repair, rendering such citizens alone liable
for any damage to person or property directly or
indirectly caused by the same.
Section 13 of the said Charter requires every
railroad operating by horse-power to clean snow
or ice from its track.
Section 14 requires every person presenting bills
against the city to use their own names or the
names of the firms of which they are members.
Section 1 5 provides for assessing and taxing all
manufacturing corporations, actually located in
the city, upon their real and personal property in
the same manner as individuals. The personal
estate of such corporations shall be assessed in
the town or ward where the principal office or
place for transacting the financial concerns of the
company is situated. If there is no such principal
office, then in the town or ward where the opera
tions of such corporations are carried on. The
holder of stock in any corporation mentioned in
this section cannot be taxed as an individual for
stock. Assessors. — The Board of Assessors of the City
are provided with a suitable and convenient office
in the City of Albany by the Board of Supervisors
of the County, together with the requisite books
and stationery, lights and fuel. Their office is to
be kept open during the usual days and hours.
The books, maps, assessment roll and other papers
shall be public records, and at all reasonable times
open to inspection. They receive an annual salary
of $3,000 each, payable by the Chamberlain in
monthly payments. They appoint a clerk, w,ho
takes charge of the books, papers, assessment roll
and records pertaining to the office. The appoint
ment is in writing, signed by the assessors. The
clerk remains in office at their pleasure; his salary
is $1,000 per year, payable by the Chamberlain in
monthly payments.
Prevention of Fires. — No municipal govern
ment in the nation has more wholesome and suc
cessful regulations for the prevention of fires than
the municipality of Albany, found in Title XX of
the City Charter. Every citizen should thoroughly
understand this section. The duties of the Fire

Commissioners and the police under this title, are
full, easily understood and practiced.
Election of City Officers. — The officers of the
city, elected by a general ticket- at the Charter
election, are : The Mayor, Recorder, two Alder
men from the city-at-large, Police Justices, Jus
tices of the Justice Court, Police Commissioners
and members of the Board of Public Instruction.
The electors in each ward elect, at each annual
Charter election, one Supervisor and one Constable,
who shall hold their office for one year. Every
second year an Alderman is elected at the Charter
election. The annual Charter election is held on
the second Tuesday of April in each year, and the
municipal year commences on the first Tuesday 01
May following.
Title XXII repeals all statutes of the State and
ordinances of the city inconsistent with the pro
visions of said Charter.
1884. — A. Bleecker Banks, Mayor; Norman L.
Snow, President of Common Council; Norman L.
Snow, Robert H. Moore, Aldermen-at-large.
Aldermen : Augustus Whiteman, First Ward ;
Jeremiah Kieley, Second Ward; Thomas F. Cor
coran, Third Ward; James Lyons, Fourth Ward;
Thomas E. Dearstyne, Fifth Ward; Galen R. Hitt,
Sixth Ward; John Mullon, Seventh Ward; Thomas
J. Judge, Eighth Ward; Patrick Cahill, Ninth
Ward; James Rooney, Tenth Ward ; George R.
Tice, Eleventh Ward ; Patrick McCann, Twelfth
Ward; Samuel C. Harris, Thirteenth Ward; David
J. Norton, Fourteenth Ward; James Thornton, Fif
teenth Ward ; Richard Hunter, Sixteenth Ward ;
John H. Adams, Seventeenth Ward.
Executive Department : A. Bleecker Banks,
Mayor ; Henry Bronk, First Clerk; Robert H.
Waterman, Second Clerk.
Board of Health : A. B. Banks, ex officio, Pres
ident; Dr. A. Vanderveer, Dr. S. B. Ward,
Thomas H. Dwyer, Albert Gallup, R. H. Bing
ham, John McKenna; Dr. D. V. O'Leary, Health
Physician; E. H. Long, Clerk; James Rooney,
Lawrence Carey, Edward Brennan, Inspectors.
Board of Audit : A. Bleecker Banks, Mayor;
Norman L. Snow, President of Common Council;
Charles A. Hills, Chamberlain; Albert Hessberg,
Assistant Corporation Counsel; Lewis Balch, City
Physician.

NAVIGATION OF THE HUDSON.

THE navigation of the Hudson River to and from
Albany, neither in carrying passengers nor in
transporting merchandise, amounted to much until
after the middle of the preceding century. In 1 750,
the only vessels used were small sailing crafts or
yachts, all of which, says Peter Kalm, belonged to
Albany owners. At this time there were no docks
or quays for loading the yachts. The vessels came
as near the shore as possible, and were reached by

means of canoes tied together, and forming a pon
toon bridge by boards or planks laid across them.
The first stone docks or quays were built by the city
in 1 766, the Assembly having granted the Corporation
the right to use the stone wall built for defense on
the north side of the city. The North Dock was
constructed nearly opposite the stone wall at the
foot of Steuben street, and was eighty feet long and
forty broad. The Middle Dock was built at the

486

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

foot of Maiden lane, and was eighty feet long and
thirty broad. The South Dock was constructed
opposite the old City Hall, and was of the same
dimensions as the Middle Dock. The city soon
after built a fourth dock, which, with the other
three, were sold at public auction March 28, 1767,
to Gysbert Marselis and John Allen, at a yearly
rent of .£70, they being permitted to charge wharf
age for the use of them.
The principal obstructions to the navigation near
this city were the sand-bars or "overslaughs." The
first was situated about three miles below Albany,
near Mill's Island, and the other, eight miles below
Albany, sometimes called Winne's bar. The lower
overslaugh had seldom more than eight feet of
water upon it, even in the spring-time. In 1787
the Legislature passed an act to remove obstruc
tions at the overslaugh. At this time Henry I.
Bogart, Daniel Hale, and Abraham Ten Broeck
were appointed commissioners to superintend the
work. In 1790 a similar act was passed. Both
of these acts simply provided for removing the ac
cumulations of sand on these two bars, a work
which afforded merely temporary relief, as each re
turning spring found a similar deposit of sand on
the bars. In 1790, an act was passed which al
lowed the proprietors of Mill's and Papskinea Is
lands to erect a dam to prevent the passage of
water between them, and thus throw it into the
main channel. Between the years 1797 and 1818,
$148,707.95 was raised by lottery for improving
the navigation of the Hudson. In 1828, the most
extensive improvements were made at the over
slaugh. The channel was excavated 150 feet in
length and 160 in width, affording 10 feet of water
at the lowest state of the river. Eleven hundred
scow-loads, of 24 cubic yards each, were removed
and deposited on the west side of the river. Almost
every year the Legislature made an appropriation
to improve the navigation of the Hudson. In
1864, over $200,000 was expended for this pur
pose. Sloop and Schooner Navigation. — From 1760
to 1 7 70, there were a number of sloops and schoon
ers engaged in carrying on trade between Albany,
New York, Boston and several other cities; but, as
yet, none had gone to any foreign port. It was not
till November 3, 1770, that the sloop Olive Branch,
commanded by Captain Abraham Bloodgood, made
the first voyage from this port to the West Indies.
The account of the Albany merchandise carried on
this vessel shows an assorted cargo, consisting of
flour, herrings, horses, one negro man, and a great
variety of the products of this county. In exchange
for which were brought back eighty-one pounds of
cotton — a much rarer commodity than now — some
cash, and much rum.
These ventures to the West Indies seem to have
been more common from Lansingburgh and Hud
son, after the revolution, than from Albany, from the
fact that the editor of the Albany Gazette, in 1790,
marveled that the citizens of Albany should remain
inactive spectators while their neighbors on the
north and south were "participating in all the
blessings of this valuable trade."

The most remarkable of all the early expeditions
from this port was the voyage of an Albany sloop
to China, in 1785. In the fall of this year the sloop
Experiment, eighty tons burden, commanded by
Captain Stewart Dean, was fitted out for this cruise,
which, at this time, was considered a hazardous
voyage for so small a craft. She was loaded with
an assorted cargo for a regular trading expedition,
and was the second adventure from the United
States to China, the first expedition having been
made from the port of New York, February 22,
1784, in the sloop Empress of China. The Exper
iment left New York December 18th, and was ab
sent eighteen months. Her return trip was made
in four months and twelve days, with a cargo con
sisting principally of tea, China-ware and silk.
Among some of the descendants of the early citi
zens of Albany, are still treasured as curiosities ar
ticles which were brought from China on this sin
gular trip.
It was a matter of surprise to the Europeans, in
those seas traversed by the Experiment, to see so
small a vessel from a country so remote and un
known. At some of the ports where the sloop
landed she was an object of alarm to the inhabit
ants, who mistook her for a tender to a fleet of men-
of-war. Qn the arrival of the Experiment at New
York, April 22, 1787, she was visited by large
crowds of citizens, very few of whom had expected
her return. Captain Dean made several trips to
China after this first trip, and became well known
in European ports. He was at one time a resi
dent upon Arbor Hill. Dean street was named for
him. He died at an advanced age.
After the successful trip of Captain Dean, the
sloop business grew rapidly. April 12, 1791, it
was announced in the Albany Gazette, as a con
gratulatory event, that 40 sloops had arrived in this
port in one day. That 18 vessels, of which 16
were of from 40 to 80 tons, lay at the port of Lan
singburgh, and that the sloop Nancy had performed
the trip to New York and back in seven days. In
November, of the same year, it was again announ
ced, as an extraordinary occurrence, that 42 sloops,
of from 30 to 100 tons, principally above 70, were
at anchor in the Albany port.
Among other feats of" sloop navigation at this
period, we are told that Captain William Van Ingen,
of the sloop Cincinnati, sailed from Albany on the
5 th December, 1794, and arrived in New York on
the 9th, disposed of his cargo, took in a valuable
freight, and returned to this port on the 16th.
The examples of speedy voyages which were
boasted of in the last century, read a little oddly
now. But yet it must be remembered that the
sloops, under a good wind, were an even match for
the steamboats for a long time after the latter made
their appearance on the river. In 1794, a sloop
made a journey from Albany to New York and
back in little more than four days, including a day
and a half stop. This feat was a matter of wonder
at the time, and fully up to the time made by the
early steamboats.
Many contests of speed, between Albany and
New York, took place between the early steam-

NAVIGATION OF THE HUDSON.

487

boats and the sloops, in which the latter were fre
quently victorious.
In 1795, about ninety sloops, of about seventy
tons each, were engaged in the Albany trade. Half
of them were owned in Albany, and the remainder
in New York.
Ten voyages, or twenty trips, were the average
number per annum. These vessels were each
navigated by a crew of four persons, consisting of
a captain, a pilot, a seaman, and a cook. At this
time wharfage was sold by the Corporation at
$2. 50 per foot, and an annual rent of $8. 12^-.
Shortly after the trip of the Experiment to China,
it was mentioned that an Albany sloop, of forty
tons, had twice visited the Cape of Good Hope
without loss, which was considered the most diffi
cult and dangerous part of the route to China.
In 1 800, five Albany capitalists formed a com
pany and built the sloop Experiment, to be used
as a packet boat between Albany and New York,
for carrying passengers. In 1807, they built an
other sloop to be used for the same purpose.
These sloops proved very profitable at first, but
were finally driven from the river by the steam
boats. They were sold, and abandoned as pas
senger boats in 18 1 3.
In 1813, there were 206 sloops engaged in the
Albany trade. In 1838, this number had been in
creased to 249 sloops and 129 schooners, of a total
tonnage of 20,634. In 1848, 331 sloops were en
gaged in the trade, and 284 schooners, representing
a tonnage of over 40,000.
The following shows the number of vessels, with
their tonnage, documented at the Port of Albany for
the quarter ending June 30, 1885: Tonnage.
53 sailing vessels  3,832.66
113 steam "  23,692.68
1 75 canal boats  16, 767. 1 1
86 barges  16,968.63
427 61,261.07
The above report represents the number of ves
sels engaged in trade belonging to owners within
the territory between Newburgh and Rouse's Point,
and does not include all the vessels which visit the
Port of Albany, many of which are registered at
other ports. STEAMBOATS.
An account of the progress of steam navigation
on the Hudson, with which Albany is so intimately
identified, and a history of the boats themselves,
and the experiments of the energetic men who
built and controlled them since the days of Fulton's
triumph in 1807, would fill a volume. The Hud
son River will always occupy a commanding place
in history, not solely for its grand scenery, but as
being associated with that successful experiment
with steam navigation which resulted so gloriously.
Here was launched the pioneer of that host of
floating palaces that now enliven every navigable
river in the world, and plow the waters of every sea.
• The Clermont, the first practical steamboat in
the world, was built by Robert Fulton, and first

shown to be a successful sailing craft in August,
1807. As originally constructed, she was 100 feet
long, 12 wide, and 7 deep. In 1808 she was
lengthened to 156 feet, and widened to 18 feet, and
had her name changed to the North River.

The Clermont.
The first advertisement of the steamboat in the
Albany Gazette, dated September 2, 1807, was as
follows: ' ' The north river steamboat will leave Paulus'
Hook Ferry [now Jersey City] on Friday, the 4th
of September, at nine in the morning, and arrive
at Albany on Saturday, at nine in the afternoon.
Provisions, good beiths, and accommodation are
provided. "The charge to each passenger is as follows:
" To Newburg, $3, time, 14 hours.
" Poughkeepsie, 4, " 17 "
" Esopus, 5, " 20 "
" Hudson, sh " 3° "
" Albany, 7, " 36 "
In a supplement to the Gazette of September 7,
1807, is the following notice of that important
event — the arrival of the first steamboat:
"This morning, at six o'clock, Mr. Fulton's
steamboat left the ferry stairs at Courtland street
dock for Albany. She is to make her passage in
36 hours from the time of her departure, touching
at Newburg, Poughkeepsie, Esopus, and Hudson
on the way. The steamboat arrived at Albany on
Saturday afternoon, and this morning at nine
o'clock again departed for New York, with about
forty ladies and gentlemen. "
Thus insignificantly was announced the com
mencement of the career of the steamboat, which
has revolutionized the water travel of the world.
The Clermont continued her trips with great ex
actness till October ist, on which day it was
announced in the New York Evening Post that the
steamboat had arrived from Albany in twenty-eight
hours, with sixty passengers! The same paper
of October 2, contained the following notice:
"Mr. Fulton's newly-invented steamboat, which
is fitted up in a neat style for passengers, and is
intended to run from New York to Albany as a
packet, left here this morning with ninety passen
gers, against a strong head wind, notwithstanding
which it was judged that she moved through the
water at the rate of six miles an hour. "

488

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

At this time, although the time promised in the
advertisement was thirty-six hours, her trips were
usually performed in less than thirty.
In the spring of 1 808, the Clermont made her
appearance, as before stated, entirely remodeled
and enlarged. Her accommodations were ample
for over one hundred passengers. In her original
construction she had a strange appearance. Her
paddle-wheels were without houses, and cross-heads
connected with the pistons, instead of the walking
beams now in use. A countryman who first saw
her at Hudson, told his wife he had seen the devil
going to Albany in a saw-mill. Shortly after the
successful trip of the Clermont was made, a com
pany was formed called the North River Steamboat
Company, but generally known as the Fulton Line,
to which the Legislature granted the exclusive right
to navigate the Hudson River by steam. This
company in 1809 built the Car of Neptune, 295
tons. From this date to 18 17, the Hope, Perse
verance, Paragon, Richmond, Firefly, and Chan
cellor Livingston were placed upon the river by
the Fulton Line. The last of the boats, the
Chancellor Livingston, was the largest by over
1 50 tons of any boat which had been yet used,
having a carrying capacity of 495 tons. The
Chancellor Livingston in 1821 brought up a band
of music for the entertainment of her passengers.
This was. the first introduction of that peculiar
attraction on the North River boats.
In 1824, the Fulton Line put two more steamers
on the river — the James Kent and the Saratoga.
October 29, 1821, the Chancellor Livingston
grounded on the overslaugh and remained there
twenty-nine hours. The editor of the Daily Ad
vertiser in speaking of this event, called upon the
citizens to exert themselves to deepen the channel,
lest the canal which was fast approaching the city
should be carried down below these obstructions.
In 1821, the fare from Albany to New York had
been advanced to $8. In 1819, the Fulton Line
carried 16,000 passengers, the company paying
$1 each to the State for canal purposes.
At this time, and until the pier was built, the
steamboat landing was at the foot of Lydius street,
now Madison avenue. The pier was used for this
purpose until 1878, when the present landing place
was established. Until the present improvements
were made in the channel of the river at the over
slaugh, it often happened that the river was so low
that the boats were unable to come within three
miles of Albany. In such cases it was the practice
to go down to the steamers on the Greenbush side
in stages.
For many years preceding 1824, no subject was
more generally discussed among Hudson River
boatmen than the injustice of the exclusive right
granted by the Legislature to the Fulton Line
Company to navigate the Hudson by steam. The
validity of this right was finally contested in the
courts. In March, 1824, the decisions of the Su
preme Court made the navigation of the Hudson
free, and abrogated the rights of the North River
Steamboat Company, and affirmed the rights of
others to navigate the river from certain points

with vessels impelled by steam. Soon after the
rendering of the decision in 1824, the Union Line
was started in opposition to the old line, and the
first year of its existence built and began to run
the Olive Branch, United States, William Penn,
Bristol, and Sandusky.
In 1825, the Hudson River Line was established,
and in this year placed the Constitution, Constel
lation, and Chief-Justice Marshall on the river, and
in 1827-29 added to the list of their steamers the
Independence, Ohio, and- Sun. The latter boat
was the first that ever made the trip from Albany
to New York from sun to sun, all other boats up
to this date requiring from fourteen to fifteen hours
to make the trip.
The bursting of the boiler of the Constitution in
1825, when opposite Poughkeepsie, created much
distrust in the safety of steamboats, and led to the
use of safety barges, and in 1826 the barges Lady
Clinton and Lady Van Rensselaer were built.
They were towed by the steamboats Commerce and
Swiftsure. Both were fitted up exclusively for pas
sengers. For safety and comfort thev were un
equaled by the steamboats of this period, but
lacking speed they soon became unfashionable and
went out of general use, although several are still
used as excursion boats.
The North River Line was established in 1826
by John and Robert Stevenson. The boats used
by this company between 1826 and 1828 were the
New Philadelphia — the first boat that ever had
boilers on the guards — the Albany, North Ameri
ca, Victory and De Witt Clinton. The De Witt
Clinton was the first steamboat entirely built at
Albany. She was 380 tons burden, and made her
first trip September 29, 1828.
In 1827 anew steamboat, called the Emerald,
commenced running between Albany and New
York, but to what line she belonged we are unable
to say. About this time there appeared the follow
ing article in the Daily Advertiser: ' ' One who is not
an eye-witness of the fact can scarcely imagine the
number of persons who daily arrive at and depart
from this city in steamboats, and the vast quantity
of produce that is shipped from our wharves and
conveyed to market by steam and wind. Last
Sunday evening [August 26th] within one hour
there arrived six steamboats with passengers, three
of these having in tow barges, each with freight
and passengers. Together they must have landed
some 1,600 passengers. There never were more
sloops than at present employed on the river, and
they all go hence fully freighted."
The South America was also in use at this time.
She was one of the largest steamers plying on the
Hudson at this date, being 266 feet long, of
640 tons, cost $83,000, and was furnished with
294 berths and had accommodations for 450
persons. The Reindeer was also a celebrated craft at this
period, and considered a model of beauty, and, in
the language of a writer of this date, was a
" steamer which might challenge comparison with
anything that swims, beginning with a naiad and
leaving off with a dolphin."

ALBANY FERRIES.

489

In 1832 the Troy Line was established with the
Champlain and Erie, the former of which was fur
nished with two engines and four boilers.
At this same period the steamboat Novelty was
engaged in carrying passengers. She had a high-
pressure boiler, and was the first to use coal for
fuel. About 1833 the North River Line, the Hudson
River Line and Troy Line consolidated and formed
the Hudson River Association Line. This com
pany ran a day and night line. The steamers Al
bany, Champlain, Erie and Novelty were used as
day boats, and the North America, Clinton and
Ohio as night boats.
The People's Line was established in 1834 as a
day line and as an opposition to the Hudson River
Association. The late Cornelius Vanderbilt was •
largely interested in this venture. The first boat
used was the West Chester, which was followed, in
1835, by the Nimrod and Champion.
In 1835 the People's Line was sold to the Hud
son River Association for $100,000 and $10,000
yearly for ten years. But in 1836 the People's Line
was revived as a night line by Daniel Drew, who
purchased the West Chester and Emerald. During
this same year the Rochester was built by this com
pany, and in the following year the Utica. In
1844 the Knickerbocker was built, in 1845 the
Henry Hudson, in 1846 the Isaac Newton, in
1864 the St. John, in 1866 the Dean Richmond,
and in 1867 the Drew.
The present day line of steamers was started by
John McBride Davidson in 1864, who bought the
Drew and Armenia. In 1866 the Chauncey Vib-
bard was put upon the river by this line, and in
1 88 1 the Albany. This line at present use the
steamers Albany and Daniel Drew, while the night
line employ the Drew and Dean Richmond.
At frequent periods of steam navigation the com
petition between ihe several lines has been very
great. In 1837 this was especially true. One
night several boats would leave, crowded to suffo
cation, at fifty cents a head; the next night a soli
tary boat would depart at three dollars a head.
The conveyances by water between this city and
neighboring ports have been brought to the highest
perfection. The steamers that ply between Albany
and New York may be properly termed floating
palaces, affording all the elegant accommoda
tions of a first-class hotel. In 1800 it was the
boast of a sloop captain in Albany that he had re
ceived $1,675 for carrying passengers in one
year; now this would hardly be considered a large
receipt for one day.
The Pier. — After the completion of the Erie
Canal, the necessity of a basin where canal boats
and other smaller crafts could be safely stored, was
apparent. To provide such a place in Albany
Harbor, the Legislature authorized the construction
of a pier. This was begun April 5, 1823, and com
pleted in 1824. It is 4,400 feet long, 80 feet wide
and 20 feet high, and cost $130,000. It incloses
a basin of about 32 acres, capable of harboring 1,000
canal boats and 50 vessels of a larger class. July
27, 1824, the Pier was divided into 132 lots and
62

sold at public auction. In this way $199,410 was
realized, each lot ranging from $1,200 to $2,625.
The Pier is now covered with valuable warehouses
and stores, and is reached by two bridges. The
opening in the Pier at the foot of Maiden lane was
authorized in 1836. The Pier affords an extensive
wharfage, while the docks or quays now extend
almost two miles along the Albany shore of the
river. Towing Lines. — As soon as canal navigation
began to assume much proportion, the business 01
towing boats from Albany with steamboats became
very lucrative. For many years it was done by
tugs or steamboats owned by private individuals,
but in 1848 the Schuyler Steamboat Tow Line
was started, and now employs eighteen boats,
used exclusively for towing canal-boats. Thomas
Schuyler is President of this line, and T. V. Wol
cott, Secretary.
The Cornell Steamboat Company was started
about the same time as the Schuyler Line. This
company has only a branch office at Albany, the
principal business being done between Rondout
and New York. Between the latter places not
only towing is done by this company, but three
passenger boats are run, being the City of Kings
ton, Mary Powell, and the Cook. About seven
teen propellers and steamers are used by this line.
Thomas Cornell is President of this Company, and
S. D. Coyendell, Vice-President.
The Ronan Towing Line was started in 1885, and
now employs four propellers.
ALBANY FERRIES.
The exclusive rights of ferriage across the
Hudson between the original four wards of the
city and the opposite shore of Greenbush, was vested
in the Corporation of Albany by the Dongan
Charter of 1868. By the present City Charter the
power, right, and privilege of the Corporation is ex
pressed in the following language : "The right of
ferry granted by the Charter of the said city to the
Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty thereof, should
be so construed as to vest in the said City of
Albany the sole and exclusive right of establishing,
licensing, and regulating all ferries on each side
of the Hudson River, leading from Greenbush, op
posite the east bounds of the original four wards of
the said city, to the said city, and from the four
original wards of the said city to Greenbush. "
The first ferry across the Hudson at this point
was established in 1642. By some authorities it is
said to be the oldest in the United States. The
landing on the Albany side was at a point a little
north of the Bever Kill, which flowed into the river
where now is the eastern termination of Arch street.
The Greenbush landing was directly opposite this
point. The first ferry-boat was a rude scow, propelled
by hand by means of poles. This was used for the
transportation of teams and wagons, while a sim
ple boat or a batteau was employed in carrying
passengers. The first ferry-master was Hendrick
Albertsen, who died in 1648-49. He built the

490

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

first ferry-house erected on the Albany side of the
river. Albertsen was succeeded by Jacob Janse
Stall, who came to Beverwyck in 1630. He re
mained as ferry-master until 1657, when he removed
to Esopus.
The history of this early period fails to show that,
at this date, any consideration was demanded by
either the Dutch or English proprietors for the right
of ferriage. Even many years after the Dongan
Charter, no record exists in the Common Council
proceedings proving that the ferry rights granted
the city were considered of such value to the Cor
poration as to demand remuneration for their use.
But later the city took exclusive charge of the
Greenbush ferry ; established the rates of ferriage ;
made regulations governing the means of conduct
ing it ; and decided who should have the right to
run it.
In 1754 the following rates of ferriage were
adopted by the Common Council:
For every person, if single  3 coppers
" " " if more than one .. . 2 "
" " " head of cattle  9 "
" " " cwt. of beaver or skins . 4 "
The ferry-masters to run their boats from sunrise to
eight in the evening.
At this time the ferry was in charge of Barnardus
Bradt and Johannes Ten Broeck, who had paid the
city ,£5 for its use. From this date until 1 786 the
names of Barnardus Bradt, Harme Gansevoort,
Philip John Schuyler, Johannis Ten Broeck,
John Courtney, John Bromley, Thomas Lotridge,
Dirck Hansen, and Baltus Van Benthuysen appear
as ferry-masters at different times. It was the cus
tom of the Common Council to advertise a certain
day when the right of ferriage would be sold to the
lowest bidder. From 1754 to 1786 the amount
paid for this privilege ranged from .£5 to ,£130,
the latter amount being paid in 1786. In 1786
the Corporation issued a schedule of ferry rates as
follows :
Man or horse, ox or cow. ,  9d.
A calf or hog  2 coppers.
A sheep or lamb  2 "
For every wagon, or two horses with
its loading, providing the same re
mains on the wagon  2s.
For every cart or wagon drawn by
four horses or oxen, with or with
out loading  3s.
And 6d. for every ox or horse above
that number.
For every chaise or chair or horse. ... Is. 6d.
' ' full chest or trunk  4 coppers.
" empty " "  2 "
" barrel rum, sugar, molasses,
full barrel  4 "
During 1786 a new ferry-house, 40 by 50 feet,
was built by Baltus Van Benthuysen, who was to
reimburse himself at the rate of .£150 per annum,
the yearly rent of the ferry. Up to this time no
longer lease than three years was granted by the
Corporation, and it was the common practice to
lease each side of the river to separate individuals.
Until about 1817 the only kind of ferry-boat
used at the South Ferry was an ordinary scow,
guided by means of a rope stretched across the

river, to which the scow was attached by a rope and
pulley, the boat being propelled by hand. About
this time what was known as the horse ferry-boat
came into use at the South Ferry. This kind of
boat was peculiar to America, and of most singular
construction. A platform covered a wide, flat boat.
Underneath the platform was a large, horizontal,
solid wheel, which extended to the side of the
boat. Here the platform or deck was cut through
and removed, so as to afford sufficient room for
two horses to stand on the flat surface of the wheel,
one horse on each side, and parallel to the gun
wale of the boat. The horses were harnessed in
the usual manner for teams, the whiffletree being
attached to stout horizontal iron bars, fixed, at a
proper hight, into posts, which were a part of the
fixed portions of the boat. The horses looked in
opposite directions, one to the bow, the other to
the stern; their feet took hold of channels or
grooves cut in the wheel. As they pressed for
ward, although they did not advance, their feet
caused the horizontal wheel to advance in a direc
tion opposite to that of their own apparent motion.
The motion of this wheel, by a connection of cogs,
moved two vertical wheels on each side of the boat,
similar to the paddle-wheels of steamboats, pro
ducing the same effect, and propelling the boat for
ward. The inventor of this kind of boat was Mr.
Langdon, of Whitehall.
The number of horses on the first boat used was
two only, but this was governed by the size of the
boat. As business increased at the ferry, larger
boats were required. In 1825 as many as twelve
horses were used on the boat at the South Ferry.
In 1827 the subject of procuring a steamboat for
the South Ferry began to be agitated. John Towns-
end, a member of the Common Council, was es
pecially prominent in connection with this scheme,
and procured the passage of a resolution to pur
chase a steamboat. At a meeting held June 6,
1827, a short time subsequent to the passage of
this resolution, an attempt was made to have the
act reconsidered. Estimates were offered to show
the economy of horses over steamboats, but Towns-
end succeeded in defeating the opponents of steam
ferry-boats. In 1828 the Chancellor Lansing was
purchased, and began to ply between Albany and
Greenbush. At the time of the advent of the horse-boats, the
South Ferry was leased to " One-armed " Bradt,
for a term of ten years. He was succeeded, in
1828, by Benjamin Patrick, who remained for two
years, succeeded by George Stanwix. Stanwix was
succeeded in 1846 by Lansing D. Able. Samuel
Schuyler became Ferry-master in 1854, succeeded
by McEvoy & Moore in 1864. The last Ferry-
master at the South Ferry was George Marks, who
leased the ferry in 1874, and remained in that posi
tion until the right of ferriage was sold by the city
to the Greenbush Bridge Company. This com
pany, in 1876, began the construction of a bridge
at this point and completed it in 1882.
At several periods in the history of the South
Ferry, the city authorities, instead of leasing it, em
ployed a Ferry-master and kept it entirely within

^osn^ph ^ICeUfoe/i.

ALBANY FERRIES.- JOSEPH MATHER.

491

their control. In 1805 it was conducted in this
way. In the papers of this year an announcement
was made that the Corporation had licensed James
Wynkoop to conduct the ferry, "that he had good
scows and boats, and that he would employ only
sober and obliging ferry-men." The rates of fer
riage were announced to be as follows:
Foot passengers  2 cents.
Man and horse  6
Wagon and two horses  12/^
" loaded with firewood  4
Chair, sulky or chaise  12^
Each saddle-horse  6
Mail stage, two horses  25
Each additional horse  3
Horse and cart  6
Double ferriage from one hour after sunrise to day
break, except for the mail carriages.
After the revolution, business began to increase
rapidly at the South Ferry, and in 1792 it was
leased to Mr. Wendell for the sum of $5,890,
whereas only ten years previous it had only yielded
a revenue of a trifle over £100. In 1830 the re
ceipts of the ferry amounted to nearly $9, 000.
The last boat used at the South Ferry was the
John Adams.
The North Ferry, now in operation between this
city and Bath, with a landing in Albany at the foot
of North Ferry street, was established many years
after the Greenbush Ferry, and, as near as can be
ascertained, during the first quarter of the last cent
ury. It was originally outside of the city limits,
that point being, until 181 5, in the town of Colonie.
The territory along the river where a landing was
made, belonged to the Van Rensselaer grant, which
included all ferry privileges. By the early Patroons
the right of ferriage was leased for a certain sum,
and the heirs of their estate still retain exclusive
control of the ferry rights at this point.
For many yeaTS batteaux were the only kind of
boats used at this ferry. Even a rope-scow was
not used until about 1800. A horse-boat was first
used about 1831. A steam ferry-boat was first em
ployed in 1 84 1. The business done at the North
Ferry was light compared with that at the South
Ferry. For many of the early years not much can
be learned of those who operated it. Among them
were Clark & Van Alstyne and John Vanden-
burgh. About 1840, William P. Van Rensselaer,
son of the old Patroon, took charge of it him
self, and for two years employed a ferryman. With
this exception it has been leased. For a number of
years the Dearstyne brothers (James, Samuel and
Cornelius) operated this ferry. They were suc
ceeded by Samuel Schuyler, whom Fitchett &
Smith succeeded. It is now leased by the firm of
Costello & Kiernan.
The Boston and Albany Ferry was established in
1842 by the Boston and Albany Railroad, and runs
from a point a little north of Maiden lane to the
depot of this company in Bath. Before the railroad
bridge was built this was a very important ferry, all
the freight for the Boston and Albany Railroad be
ing taken across the river at this point.

Since the South Ferry has been abandoned, a
small tug-boat has been employed in carrying pas
sengers from the foot of State street to Greenbush
and Bath.
The following are the most serious accidents
that ever occurred at these ferries: In 1807, the
scow which was used at the South Ferry was
swamped and thirty-three persons were drowned.
In 1852, the boat of the Boston and Albany Ferry
upset. At the time it contained fifteen or twenty
persons, all but five of whom were drowned.
JOSEPH MATHER.
Joseph Mather, familiarly known as Captain
Mather, came from the old colonial family of that
name, being a lineal descendant of the Rev.
Richard Mather, who was grandfather of the cele
brated Rev. Cotton Mather. This family furnished
ministeis for three generations to the Old North
Church in Boston — the Revs. Increase, Cotton
and Samuel, whose united ministries covered a
period of one hundred and twenty-five years. The
Rev. Increase Mather was one of the earliest
Presidents of Harvard College, and the first one in
this country upon whom the title of D.D. was
conferred. Joseph Mather was born at Lyme, Conn., May
8, i8co. While he was yet a mere boy, his parents
removed from his native place to Otsego County,
N. Y. In so doing they sailed up the Hudson
River, the beauty of whose scenery so impressed
the youth, that he at the time formed and expressed
a determination to become actively engaged in the
navigation of the Hudson when he should be
come older. This early resolve was one which he
never forgot, as subsequent events proved.
With his father's family he removed from Otsego
County to a portion of Ontario County, which has
since been set off to form Livingston County, where
he passed his youth.
He was yet a very young man when he came to
Albany, and connected himself with the river navi
gation. For many years he commanded a sloop
which plied between Albany, New York, and inter
mediate points. It was during this period that he
came to be known by the title " Captain," which
clung to him all his life, to his often expressed dis
taste. Later, as a member of the firm of Greene
& Mather, he was engaged in the towing business,
the line being known as the Eckford Line, and
having its office on Quay street, about where the
Dunlop elevator has since stood.
Something over thirty years ago, when the New
York Central Railroad Company established a sta
tion at West Albany, Captain Mather was selected
by Hon. Erastus Corning as agent; and, much
against his inclination, was prevailed upon to ac
cept the position, which he foresaw would be one
involving great responsibity. A business was to be
built up at West Albany, and whether it was more
than a measurably successful one would depend
largely upon the energy, enterprise and application
of the agent in charge. The success which at-

492

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

tended Mr. Mather's administration was remark
able. His time of service embraced a period dur
ing which West Albany grew from the smallest
beginning to its present importance, both com
mercially and in point of population. His habits
and physique gave him robust health, and his life
was singularly free from many of the ills which
afflict the majority of men. As advancing years
came upon him, he delegated some of his most
onerous duties to another, but he retained his po
sition and exercised a pleasant supervision over the
business of the station. It was his wish that he
might "die in the harness." This wish was liter
ally fulfilled. While hastening to board a car at
the corner of State and Pearl streets, February 25,
1884, he fell in crossing the street and expired al
most instantly. It was the opinion of physicians
present that his death was caused by concussion of
the brain. He was then past eighty-three, and so
lightly did his years rest upon him, that he was as
erect and apparently as vigorous as he had been
twenty years before. He was one of the most genial
and sociable of men; and for years his had been a
familiar figure to the residents of Albany, where no
man was more widely acquainted or more highly
esteemed. His loss was felt deeply, not merely in
his own family circle, but by men of all classes who
had come to regard him as friend or benefactor.
No man ever enjoyed in a higher degree the confi
dence of his fellow-citizens. It was remarked by a
prominent resident of Albany after his death, that
he had been one of whom all his acquaintances
were proud — a man of unflinching devotion to right,
with no compromise with wrong; a man who had
handled $170,000,000 for a great corporation and
promptly accounted for every cent of that immense
sum. Mr. Mather was married in Lima, Livingston
County, N. Y. , to Miss Chianna Brockway, of
that town, in 181 9. They walked hand in hand
adown the pathway of life for sixty-one years, to be
temporarily separated by Mrs. Mather's death on
the 26th of December, 1 880, only a little more than
three years1- before the death of Mr. Mather. They
left two surviving childen, a son, Frederick W.
Mather, now a resident of New York, and Mrs.
George W. Gibbons, of West Albany. Baptized into
the Episcopal Church at an early age, by the cele
brated Father Nash, of Otsego County, he was
identified more or less closely with that religious
body ever afterward.
Early in manhood, Captain Mather became an
adherent to the principles of the great Whig party
of the United States. He was one of those who
felt the deep importance of the transition which cul
minated in the organization of the Republican
party. He became an earnest and active supporter
of the war, throwing his influence in favor of the
suppression of the Southern rebellion, and aiding
the Northern cause by every means in his power,
sending his son into the thickest of the fight. He
was not, in the common acceptation of the time,
which is often a term of reproach, a politician; but
no man watched the course of events more closely
than he, and none with more intelligent solicitude

for the public weal. Open-heaited he was; open-
handed and helpful in all good causes. He was
wisely benevolent, and many a man in Albany is
glad to say that he owes his start in life, his ad
vancement, his position, to Captain Mather.
WALTER WINNE.
The well known barge and transportation line
of Winne & Co. recalls to the citizens of Albany,
especially to such of them as are engaged in com
merce, the name of Walter Winne, its founder.
There are few of the old-time merchants of the city
who have not personal recollections of Mr. Winne,
who was born in Albany, September 10, 181 5, and
died September 26, 187-1. He was a son of Fran
cis D. and Cornelia (Groesbeck) Winne. The
Winnes are a family both numerous and highly
esteemed throughout Albany County at the present
time; and the Groesbecks were among the early
settlers along the Hudson, and, generations back,
had numerous representatives in Albany.
Deprived of the protecting care of a father at an
early age, young Winne was compelled to shift for
himself from a period in life at which most such
boys are laying the foundation of an education.
He became a cabin boy on board a vessel which
navigated the Hudson. His sterling qualities man
ifested themselves, and he was advanced gradually
until he became master of a vessel. But even this,
then, responsible and important position did not
satisfy him. He saved a little money, and, with a
friend, also a very young man, who had saved a
little more, became joine owners of a vessel. They
immediately engaged earnestly and industriously in
the transportation of lumber. This partnership
soon terminated, and Mr. Winne became sole
owner of the business, in which he continued suc
cessfully until his death, and which is now carried
on, by members of his family chiefly, under the
firm name of Winne & Co. Gradually he estab
lished a line of large barges which plied between
Albany and the most important Eastern ports.
During the War of the Rebellion he was quite
largely engaged in the transportation of raw cotton.
Mr. Winne was married January 1, 1838, to Miss
Harriet E. Rouse, of Pittstown, Rensselaer County,
N. Y. , who survives him. They became the parents
of ten children, of whom seven are living. He was
a quiet, unassuming, earnest man, who attended
strictly, and to the exclusion of other general inter
ests, to his growing business. His interest in pub
lic affairs was intelligent; but he never mixed in
politics, though he favored and voted with the Re
publican party. He was for about thirty years a
member of the Methodist Church, and for some
time a trustee of the old Hudson avenue Church
of that denomination. About two years before his
death he became a member of the First Congrega
tional Church of Albany. The same earnestness
which characterized him in business was manifested
in his relations with his brethren in the Church.
He was zealous, active, liberal and thoughtful.
He was charitable as well, helpful to the struggling,
and more than generous to the deserving poor.

GWatUv cWi/H/He.

ALBANY BRIDGES ACROSS THE HUDSON.

493

ALBANY BRIDGES ACROSS THE HUDSON.
The first bridge over the Hudson in the vicinity
of Albany was completed in December, 1804. It
spanned the river at Waterford, and was 800 feet in
length, 33 feet in its greatest hight, and 30 feet in
width. At that time it was considered a model of
architecture. In January, 18 14 the subject of building a bridge
across the Hudson was largely agitated. It was
bitterly opposed by Troy, whose citizens insisted
that the construction of a bridge at Albany would
obstruct the navigation of the river from their city.
The introduction of a bill into the Legislature
providing for the construction of the bridge over
the Hudson at Albany, led to a bitter fight in the
Assembly. March n, 18 14, Mr. Harmanus Bleeck
er, from the special committee on this bridge, re
ported adversely to the project. Early in January,
1 83 1, the matter was agitated again, without any
particular result.
On February 4, 1835, a meeting was held at the
Eagle Tavern to consider the project of a bridge
across the Hudson, and a committee of thirty was
appointed to draw up a petition. No decisive ac
tion was taken. On February 11, 1836, another
meeting was held at the City Hall to consider the
project of a bridge over the Hudson. Erastus
Corning presided. Resolutions and memorials
were of no avail in the Legislature. On March 1 1,
1836, the Assembly Committee reported adversely
.to the bridge project, causing great indignation
among the citizens of Albany.
After this defeat, the question of a bridge did not
rest. It was continually agitated in the local papers
and otherwise until January 30, 1 841, when another
meeting of the citizens was held at the Young Men's
Association rooms. The Mayor presided, and the
meeting was addressed by General Samuel Stevens
and Hon. John V. L. Pruyn.
A bill in the Legislature met the usual opposition
from Troy and the ferry companies at Albany. On
March 26, 1841, the Assembly Committee on the
Albany bridge over the Hudson reported adversely.
But at last the Hudson is spanned at Albany by
three great bridges.
The Hudson River Bridge Company was incor
porated April 9, 1856, for the purpose of erecting
and maintaining a bridge, for the purpose of rail
road travel and transportation, across the Hudson
River from some proper point on the westerly side
or shore of said river, in the City of Albany, to
some proper point on the opposite side or shore of
the said river, in the County of Rensselaer. The
site was to be determined upon by the Commis
sioners, among whom was Moses H. Grinnell, of
New York, Chairman; J. D. Monell, of Hudson;
Palmer V. Kellogg, Utica; Jacob Gould, Rochester;
James W. Wadsworth, Geneseo; Albert H. Tracy,
Buffalo. n ,
On the 2d of February, 1856, a remonstrance
against passing an act authorizing the building of
the bridge, signed by over four thousand citizens of
Albany was presented to the Legislature, notwith
standing which the above-described bill was passed.

The capital stock was $500,000. The bridge
was to be constructed at an elevation of at least
twenty-five feet above common tide water, so as to
allow under it the free passage of canal-boats and
barges without masts, with a draw of sufficient
width to admit the free passage of the largest vessels
navigating the river.
An act was passed April 28, 1868, relating to
the Hudson River Bridge Company, directing the
bridge erected to be demolished and a new one
constructed by the same company. It directed
that a bridge be constructed across the Hudson, at
or near the foot of Exchange street, Albany, to
some suitable point on the eastern bank of said
river to be selected by the said Bridge Company.
The act directs "the new bridge to be constructed,
maintained, used, and enjoyed in all respects as
provided by the act entitled, ' An Act Authorizing
the Construction of a Bridge Across the Hudson at
Albany,' passed April 9, 1856, except in sojar as
they are modified and amended by this act." The
act provided, that as soon as the bridge was ready
for trains and foot passengers, carriages, etc., to
pass, the Bridge Company should demolish and en
tirely remove the other bridge, and that if the com
pany failed to demolish it entirely, the Common
Council of the City of Albany or the City of Troy,
should have a right to cause the bridge to be de
molished and removed at the expense of the Bridge
Company. It also provided, that before commencing the
erection of the new bridge, the Hudson River Bridge
Company, the New York Central Railroad Com
pany, the Hudson River Railroad Company, and
the Boston and Albany Railroad Company, stock
holders in the Hudson River Bridge Company,
"shall jointly and severally execute and deliver
a bond to the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty
of the City of Troy, and the same Board of the City
of Albany, in the penalty of at least $600,000.
Conditioned for the removal of the old bridge and
the piers thereof, and to completely restore the
navigation of the river at that point, within nine
months after the crossing of the first train of cars
over the new bridge."
By an act passed May 10, 1869, the Hudson
River Bridge Company was authorized to build
another bridge across the Hudson, at a hight not
less than that of the previous ones, and upon a line
to be selected by the said company, beginning on
some point on the west side of the river between
State street and Maiden lane, and from thence
across the river. Said company was clothed with
all the privileges and powers used or enjoyed by it
in reference to the construction, maintenance, use,
and enjoyed by the bridge described under the act
authorizing the construction of a bridge across the
Hudson at Albany, passed April 9, 1856, so far as
they were applicable to the new bridge. The capi
tal stock of the company was increased to $2,000,-
000. The Act of 1856 appears to be the founda
tion law of the bridges now crossing the river at
Albany. t\
On April 18, 1872, the Legislature passed an act
authorizing the construction of a bridge across me

494

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Hudson at Albany, and incorporating the Albany
and Greenbush Bridge Company, for the purpose
of erecting and maintaining a toll bridge; for travel
and transportation across the Hudson River from
some point on the westerly side at Albany to some
point on the opposite side in Greenbush.
The site was determined by Commissioners
Thomas W. Alcott, Charles Van Benthuysen, Vol
kert P. Douw, of Albany, James M. Ring, of Green
bush, Alexander Morris, J. T Davis and John H.
Pratt, of East Greenbush. The bridge was to be
constructed at least twenty feet above common tide
water, and with a draw of one hundred feet in
width. On April 23, 1872, the Legislature passed an
act authorizing the construction of a bridge across
the Hudson at the City of Troy, incorporating the
Troy and West Troy Bridge Company.
Acts to compel the maintenance of lights on
swing-bridges across the river were passed by the
Legislature, June 1, 1880.
The time when these three bridges were com
pleted, their equipments, and general description
of them, is given in "Phelps' Hand-book of Al
bany," as follows:
"The first or upper bridge, now used exclusively
for freight trains, was opened February 22, 1866,
after thirty years of the most steadfast opposition,
Troy taking the lead. It is doubtful, however,
whether the bridges have really injured that city a
dollar; but they certainly have had a depressing
effect upon some kind of business in Albany,
carting especially. Before the bridges were erected,
all trains had to be unloaded in this city, and the
work then involved was very great; but now freight
goes through, without breaking bulk, from New
York to San Francisco. The upper bridge is sup
ported by twenty-one stone piers. The bridge
proper is 1,953 feet long, and with the trestle-work
4,253 feet. Its cost, including necessary purchases
of real estate, was $1,100,000.
"The middle bridge, also for railroads, is 1,940
feet long, or, with approaches, 2,665 feet, that is,
twenty-five feet over half a mile. The spans num
ber twenty-two. The draw weighs about 400 tons.
Work of construction began in May, 1870, and the
bridge was first used in 1872. The total cost of
the two bridges was $2,532,357.43, of which the
Central Hudson paid $1,173,133.80; the Boston
and Albany, $351,485; the rest by the companies
who have had the earnings of the bridges.
' ' Over sixty men are employed upon them. The
toll on both bridges for foot passengers is three
cents; fifty tickets for one dollar.
" A third bridge across the river was begun in
1876, but for several years progressed very slowly,
except in litigation, of which there was plenty. It
was finally completed, and opened for teams and
foot passengers January 24, 1882. It is at South
Ferry street, below the steamboat landing. Its
length, including approaches, is 1,669 feet> twenty-
nine feet above low-water mark. The draw, 400
feet long, weighs 1,500 tons, and is worked by a
thirty horse-power engine. It is owned by the
Albany and Greenbush Bridge Company. Tolls

are charged as follows: Foot passengers, two cents;
double teams, fifteen cents; single teams, ten cents.
It will eventually be used as a railroad bridge, the
top being arranged with that in view. "
SQUIRE WHIPPLE, C. E.
Is an Honorary Member of the American Society
of Civil Engineers; inventor of the Whipple iron
bridges; and the first to introduce and successfully
practice the construction of iron truss bridges. He
was born in Worcester County, Mass., September
16, 1804. His father, James Whipple, followed
the occupation of farming for the most of his life;
and, starting without inherited capital, by industry
and prudent management, aided by a careful and
energetic partner of his fortunes, he raised a nu
merous family in comfort and respectability. But
of course it was necessary for the several members
of the household to make themselves useful ac
cording to their strength and abilities, and Mr.
Whipple, to the age of about twenty, spent his
years mostly in farm labor on the homestead, with
the exception of about five years, from 181 2 to
•I 8 1 7, during which the family resided in the ad
joining county of Hampshire, Mass., the father
having engaged in the erection and running of a
small cotton factory in the early days of cotton
manufacture in this country.
Here the boy, when not at school or at piay, was
occupied in labor, suited to his age and strength,
about the factory. He was also brought in con
tact with the operations of the machine shop,
which assisted in developing a natural taste for
mechanical pursuits, which became conspicuous
in his after life. But subsequent years, spent prin
cipally in farm labor in Osego County, whither
the family removed in 1 8 1 7 — the interest in the fac
tory having been disposed of — afforded only such
opportunity for mental improvement as could be
derived from the common country school, and
that only available for three or four months in the
year. Still Mr. Whipple had made such advance
ment at the age of seventeen or eighteen as to pass
the examination required for common school
teaching, an occupation which he followed for a
few winter terms, as a temporary means of acquir
ing funds to pay the expense of continuing his
studies. From 1822 to 1828, he was enabled to
spend a term or two, first at the academy at Hart-
wick, Osego County, and subsequently at the
academy at Fairfield, Herkimer County, as he
could manage to raise the necessary means by his
own exertions ; for he was unwilling to draw from
the paternal resources, and in 1830 he graduated
from Union College, having spent the senior year
there. At that time the profession of civil engineering
in this country was in its early stage. But the
Erie Canal had been constructed, and some few
other public works of that class, and the country
had got pretty well excited upon the subject of
railroads. It seemed that the civil engineer was
to be an important factor in the development upon
this continent. In pursuance of the advice of

SQUIRE WHIPPLE, C. E.

495

friends, as well as in accordance with his own in
clination, Mr. Whipple decided to turn his atten
tion to engineering, as a profession promising suc
cess. His first practical experience in the field
was as a rod-man, and subsequently as a leveler
upon the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1830
and 1832. In 1833 he came near losing his life
by a virulent attack of small-pox. From 1833 to
1836 he was engaged in surveys for fixing the
boundaries of lands necessary for the use and
maintenance of the Erie Canal, and in surveys and
estimates for the Erie Canal enlargement, under
the direction of the late Holmes Hutchinson, of
Utica, as chief engineer. In 1836-37 he was em
ployed upon the eastern division of the New York
and Erie Railroad as resident engineer, under the
direction of the late Edwin F. Johnson of Middle-
town, Conn. , who was one of Mr. Whipple's most
valued friends. The preceding, with five or six
preliminary surveys and estimates (from 1837 to
1850) of railroad and canal routes in different
seclions of the country, constitutes most of his
experience in general field engineering.
Like some other engineers, Mr. Whipple was
not always successful in finding a demand for his
services upon public works. In such times his
taste and talent for mechanics induced him to
turn his versatile hand to the manufacture of en
gineering field instruments. Included in such man
ufacture were twenty to thirty leveling instruments,
and several transits and theodolites, all of which
proved correct and satisfactory in use. About
1840 he designed a plan and constructed a model
of a scale for weighing boats of three or four
hundred tons upon the enlarged Erie Canal; and
subsequently built, by contract, the first enlarged
weigh-lock scale upon that work. The scale
operated satisfactorily, and served as a model, as
to general features, for three or four others after
wards built, one of which was by Mr. Whipple.
They were probably the largest weighing machines
ever constructed. In the same year, 1840, Mr.
Whipple designed and constructed his first model
iron bridge truss, or girder, for which he obtained
letters patent, and subsequently built a large
number of his patent iron arch truss bridges, of
seventy to one hundred feet span, over the Erie
Canal. This was the first decidedly successful
attempt at the construction and use of iron truss
bridges, and the result fully demonstrated the
practical adaptability of iron as the principal ma
terial in bridge construction. Still the innovation
was looked upon with doubt and suspicion, and
no great progress was made in iron bridge build
ing in this country till after the year 1850, when
some thirty iron bridges were in use, mostly upon
the Erie Canal, and, with few exceptions, con
structed by Mr. Whipple.
In the meantime Mr. Whipple had built several
short and unimportant iron railroad bridges for
the New York and Erie Railroad, which were
thoroughly tested and successfully used for several
months under railroad traffic; but were subsequent
ly removed, in deference to a panic excited against
iron railroad bridges by the breaking of a bridge

of a different construction, and of different pro
portions, upon the same road. The broken bridge
was similar to one that had been examined by Mr.
Whipple, and publicly announced to be of in
adequate proportions in important parts for a safe
and reliable structure. Still its failure was the
cause of serious hindrance to progress in the use
of iron bridges for railroads.
In 1847 Mr. Whipple prepared and published a
small elementary and practical work upon bridge
building, in which were pointed out and illustrated
the principles governing the construction of bridge
trusses or girders, and also rules and formulae for
estimating the exact maximum strain upon each
part or member of the truss in the various con
ditions of a given maximum load; thus enabling
each part to be proportioned according to the work
required of it, whereby the greatest possible econ
omy of material could be secured; whereas the
practice in that respect had theretofore been essen
tially a matter of mere empiricism. Mr. Whipple's
book also explained methods for accurately de
termining the relative economy of different com
binations and arrangements of the parts of the
truss; and the plans he then recommended as the
best, are those now almost universally adopted by
the best builders, although strenuous effort has
been made to discover or invent better combina
tions — sometimes by modifications of the same
fundamental principles, and sometimes by the
adoption of arrangements which Mr. Whipple had
considered and discarded. Of the latter category
is the truss known as the Bollman; and of the
former, the so-called Warren girder, in which is
dropped one set of diagonal members from the
Whipple trapezoidal without verticals. This Mr.
Whipple had previously done in the construc
tion of skeleton floor beams and short trusses
of twenty to thirty feet, and again by restoring
the members omitted in the Warren girder, as an
improvement on the latter. Mr. Whipple claims
no originality in the use of diagonal or oblique
members between parallel chords, with or with
out verticals, which had long been a common
practice. But the proportioning of parts accord
ing to accurate calculation of the strain upon each,
and the adoption of the trapezoidal form of truss,
by the use of a triangular panel at each end, are
devices first employed by him ; and in these consist,
principally, the distinction between modern scien
tific bridge building and the empirical practice of
former times.
In 1852-53, Mr. Whipple built a wrought and
cast-iron bridge of 1 50 feet upon the then Albany
Northern, now the Renssalaer and Saratoga Rail
road, which was in constant use for thirty years,
and is believed to have been the oldest iron railroad
bridge of considerable span in this country, if not
in the world. Although probably the lightest
iron railroad bridge of like span ever built, and
containing sixty per cent, of cast-iron in the trusses,
it was subjected to as severe a test load, perhaps,
as ever has been applied to any iron bridge of like
span and weight of truss. This bridge contained
75,000 pounds of iron (three-fifths cast-iron), ex-

496

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

elusive of floor beams and track-stringers, which
were of wood. Although bridges are now built of
spans more than three times as great, the one here
referred to was at that time regarded as an achieve
ment of no inconsiderable importance. Still iron
bridge building made no marked progress for sev
eral years after the erection of the one in question.
The last twenty-five years, however, have witnessed
a remarkable revolution in this respect, insomuch
that iron is now almost universally and exclusively
employed in the construction of important bridges.
In 1872, Mr. Whipple published an enlargement
of his work on bridge building, which has reached
the third edition, although other valuable works
upon the subject have lately been placed before the
engineering profession. In 1872, letters patent were
granted to Mr. Whipple for a lift draw-bridge, hav
ing a counterpoised floor suspended from an ele
vated stationary truss-bridge, and movable vertically
by means of a system of sheaves, cables and shaft
ing, whereby the flooring can be raised to the
truss-chords for the passage of boats in the water
way beneath, and lowered to near the water surface
for the transit of land traffic. In 1873-74 the in
ventor built the first patent lift draw-bridge over
the Erie Canal at Utica, which has been in satis
factory use during eleven seasons of canal naviga
tion. The movement is effected by a five hundred-
pound weight, wound up about fifteen feet by one
minute's work of one man, which in descending
effects the required movement of the platform, up
or down, in ten seconds. This invention is very
useful and convenient in many localities which will
not admit of the use of swing draw-bridges, and
has been adopted in other places upon the Erie
Canal, namely, in Rochester and Syracuse, with no
profit to the inventor however, as the builders and
users of his patent bridges have not had the fair
ness to voluntarily adjust his rights and claims, and
he has forborne to prosecute.
In fine, the relation of Mr. Whipple to iron
bridges may be fitly compared with that of Watt to
the steam engine, Fulton to the steamboat, Morse
to the electric telegraph and Bell to the speaking
telephone, with the exception that, whereas most
of these have derived great wealth from the results
of their ingenuity and labors, Mr. Whipple has only
secured a comfortable competence for declining
years. Though he has sometimes felt himself
treated with illiberality, he does not complain, as
he has had no morbid hankering for costly display,
and holds the opinion that enough should suffice,
and that the fitting wages of labor should be gauged
by the time of duration, together with the damage
by wear and tear, mental and physical, sustained
by the performer, and not by fortuitous conditions
and straits, which may render a particular service
of vital importance to the beneficiary. But the
limits of this sketch will not admit of elaboration
upon questions of this character in this connection.
As an evidence of the estimation in which Mr.
Whipple's labors are held by his fellow-engineers,
may be cited the fact of his being hailed among
them as the ' ' father of iron bridges, " as well as
the following extract from the annual address to the

American Society of Civil Engineers, published in
the Transactions of the Society in June, 1880.
Speaking of the progress in bridge construction, the
address says: "While, however, our English breth
ren, thirty years ago, were building plate girders
and tubes, our venerable honorary member, Squire
Whipple, was studying the subject and, with char
acteristic modesty, laying down the principles of a
science of bridge construction based upon deter
mining the action of the forces in skeleton struc
tures by rigid mathematical calculation. His book,
printed in 1847, contains nearly all that is vitally
important connected with the theory of fixed spans,
and his bridges stand to-day as monuments to his
skill and as reminders to us of the debt we owe to
that distinguished engineer."
In 1837 Mr. Whipple was married to Miss Anna
Case, of Utica, a lady of refined tastes and excellent
womanly qualities. Having resided in Utica,
where much of his life labor was performed, from
1833 to 1850, he removed to Albany in the latter
year, where he has since resided. The last few
years have found him mostly engaged in such
mechanical and scientific labors, studies and ex
periments, in a private way, as are congenial to his
tastes. Though not without a keen relish for pleas
ant social intercourse, he has, through life, found a
large share of his enjoyment in the exercise of his
own faculties of thought and action; and his cabinet
of models, instruments and apparatus for the illus
tration of different branches of physical and mechan
ical science, mostly made by himself, and largely
of original design, has elicited expressions of ad
miration from many who have given it inspec
tion. Withal, Mr. Whipple has turned his hand
to amateur printing, and has printed many short
essays upon various subjects, mostly promulgating
original thoughts characteristic of his idiocrasy,
which is somewhat radical ; for, mother directions,
as well as in regard to his speciality of bridge
building, his bent is to go down to fundamental
facts, principles and evidences upon which to base
his conclusions and practices.
DOCKS, WHARVES, AND BASIN OF
ALBANY,
WITH MANY HISTORIC EVENTS AND REMINISCENCES OF
OLDEN TIMES.
By General S. V. Talcott.
[This able paper was kindly prepared for us by General
S. V. Talcott, a distinguished citizen, now venerable in
years, who has held many posts of duty with advantage to
his native city and State, and credit to himself. His knowl
edge of local history — of many of the events in which he has
been an eye-witness — and his skillful use of facts, well estab
lished by public documents and the testimony of the men of
his childhood days, make his reminiscences and other state
ments valuable. We are are sorry to be compelled to omit
some of the legal and other documentary matter for want of
space. — J. T.]
Professor Peter Kalm, a Swedish naturalist of
distinction, from the University of Upsala, visited
Albany in 1749. He says, in his report, that the
" Hudson River at Albany is from twelve to twenty
feet deep; that there is as yet no quay made for the
landing of yachts, because the people feared it

DOCKS, WHARVES AND BASIN OF ALBANY.

497

would be swept away in the spring; that the vessels
come pretty near the shore and receive their car
goes from two canoes lashed together. "
It appears from the records of the Common
Council, that as early as 1727 the building of suit
able wharves for the accommodation of the vessels
navigating the river was contemplated. On Octo
ber 24th an ordinance was passed " requiring the
freeholders of the city who held lands or ground
fronting on the east near or to the Hudson River,
be directed to produce their titles to the same, in
order that the Common Council may be better
enabled to consider of finding out the proper ways
and means for docking and regulating of streets
on the east thereof, along the Hudson River, and
that such titles be produced in Common Council
at the City Hall on the 10th dav of November
next." About one hundred and fourteen years ago, that
is, in 1770, a survey of the City of Albany was
made by Robert Yates, which gives its frontage on
the Hudson River, from a point near the foot of
Quackenbush street at the north, to the present
steamboat landing at the intersection of Broadway
and Quay street at the south. These were the
north and south boundaries of the whole inhabited
part of the city Those of the east and west were
the river and the fort near Lodge street. On the
map projected from this survey, the river has a
great bend to the westward from the islands above
the city to the steamboat landing; it then turns
and runs in a more easterly direction. On the flat
lands bordering the deepest part of this bend, the
first settlers planted the little colony of Rensselaer
wyck. Most of their dwellings were oh the street,
now Broadway, near the river, with gardens run
ning down to the water. Few resided above
Orange or below Beiver streets, where the stock
ades were. The channel of the river, following its
curve, kept close to the shore, and by its good
depth of water formed the harbor of the city, where
the vessels navigating the Hudson received their
cargoes. In 1770 there were four docks used for
this purpose: one above Columbia street, near
where Foxenkill empties in the basin, called the
Arsenal Wharf; one at the foot of Mark lane (Ex
change street) in the shape of a T, called the
Middle Wharf, which was enlarged and extended
in 1774 to 90 feet in length and 32 feet in width;
another at the foot of Hudson street, of the same
shape, but somewhat smaller, called the City Hall
Wharf; and one at Kilby lane (now Hamilton
street), near where the steamboat landing now is,
called Kilby's Wharf, later known as Hodges'
Dock. All four extended to the channel of the
river near its western bank. Division street, which
came to the river between the last-named wharves,
was then called Bone alley. The original shore
line, as represented on this map, was as far west as
Dean street, then called Dock street. Subsequent
filling brought out the water line to its present
position on the east side of Quay street. At
Quackenbush street the west bank of the river was
about 380 feet east of Broadway; at Foxenkill
about 200 feet; at Exchange street abut 70 feet; at

State street about 80 feet east of Dean; at Hudson
street about 160 feet; and at Division street about
175 feet east of Broadway.
It appears from a map projected from a survey
of Hudson street made in 1791, that the land on
the north side of that street had been extended, by
filling into the river, not quite two hundred feet;
and that Ruttenkill, now known as Beaver street
sewer, which emptied into the basin at the north
east corner of Hudson and Quay streets, was de
flected from its course, crossed Hudson street at
nearly a right angle, and emptied into the river
about eighty feet south of that street. The filling
having been carried on irregularly, and more rap
idly on the north than on the south side of the
street, deflected the stream from its original course.
The Ruttenkill is not laid down on the map of
1770. Only two are there represented: Foxenkill,
which empties into the river above Columbia street,
and Beaverkill, which now passes through the
Arch street sewer.
In 1795, the Due de Liancourt, who had visited
Albany, stated that there were in the Hudson River
trade 90 sloops— 45 owned in Albany and 45 in
New York — of about 70 tons each. They made
on an average 20 trips in a season. The freight on
grain was 1 2| cents per cwt. ; passage to New York,
$1.25. He states, also, that sloops were built in
Albany for $27.50 per ton; that the Corporation
of the city sells the wharves at $2. 50 per foot front
age, reserving an annual rent of $8.12^ per lot.
Labor was 56J cents per day, and in harvest time
87^- cents. Butcher's meat, 12! cents per pound.
The title to the river front, out to the channel,
was vested in the Mayor and Commonalty of the
city. As early as 1793 they began to lease in per
petuity, chiefly to those persons whose property
extended to the river, and was bounded by it, the
water lots in front of the same. The annual quit
rent required was one shilling per running foot.
Most of these leases have been commuted, and
the titles transferred, by quit claim deeds from
the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty, to the
purchasers of the lots from the original leasers.
The water lots north of the city, in what was called
the Colonie, were held under titles derived from
Van Rensselaer, the Patroon, as were also the
lands embraced within the bounds of the Colonie,
extending from Patroon street (now Clinton avenue)
and Quackenbush street on the south, to the Pa
troon's Creek on the north, and from the river on
the east to and including Arbor hill on the west.
A Dock Association, composed of the proprietors
of the dock between the center of Maiden lane and
the north side of State street, was formed in 1794.
This was probably the first regular dock, extending
from street to street, that was constructed, and the
Association was probably formed on its completion.
At a meeting held February 2, 1796:
"Resolved, That the Trustees are hereby author
ized (if they judge conducive to the interests of the
Association) to admit the proprietors of the quay
south of Bone lane [Division street] and north of
Kilby lane [Hamilton street], parties to the agree
ment,"

498

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

James Caldwell and Stephen Van Rensselaer were
admitted as members, and their wharves taken into
the common stock, January 23, 1803.
At a meeting of the proprietors at Moody's Tav
ern on Thursday evening, February 3, 1814, the
Trustees stated to the Proprietors present, that the
written agreement executed on the 13th of March,
1794, under which the Association was originally
organized, would expire on the 13 th of March
next. It was
"Resolved, unanimously, that the wharves lying
south of Steuben street and north of the watering
place [foot of Columbia street] as it is now situated,
shall continue under the same regulations and man
agement as has been adopted for the past year."
In 1795, the wharfage the first year was .£250
7s. od. The amount of dividend per foot, 5f per
cent. February 10, 1873, tbe gross wharfage of the last
year of the Association was $820.26; commis
sion, $165.05; net, $655.22; dividends, $1 per
foot; number of feet, 607-^-
Abraham Bloodgood was the first wharfinger,
1794; succeeded by Abraham Eights, 1795 to 1819;
Edward Brown, 1820-41; John L. Hyatt, 1841-
70; William Eaton, 1870-71; F. A. Shepard, 1871-
73- The 13th of February, 1873, the Association ad
journed sine die.
Andrew E. Brown was Secretary from 1 6th Feb
ruary, 1 83 1, to the 13th of February, 1873 — forty-
two years.
A ferry from near the foot of Kilby 's lane (Ham
ilton street) was established at an early day. Prob
ably before 1767, as the right to maintain a ferry
was granted to Guysbert Marcelis for ,£70 per an
num, on the 14th March of that year; and on
March 3, 1 78 1, the Deputy Quartermaster-Gen
eral, Dirk Haden, was granted the privilege "to
land with the ferry-boat at the Old Dock at the
store-houses until further ordered." This was
probably Kilby's Dock, for on April 24, 1783, the
Common Council passed an ordinance directing
that " the stones of a part of the dock at the stores
be appropriated to complete the City Hall Dock
and the next Northern Dock: to wit, the [stones
ofj south pier of said dock [at the stores] called
Kilby's Dock.
September 25, 1783, "the resolution to appro
priate the stones of the lower pier of Kilby's Dock,
to complete the City Hall Dock and Middle Dock,
is reconsidered." The Court House or City Hall, a plain three-
story yellow brick building with a belfry on top,
having a door and four windows on the first story,
and five windows on each of the other stories, oc
cupied the corner of Court street (Broadway) and
Hudson street, fronting on the former. It was the
center for all public purposes and occupied by the
Legislature until the Capitol on the hill was erect
ed. The courts were held in it; public meetings
were addressed from its steps; when a fire occurred
the citizens were directed to assemble there, each
with a given number of leather fire-buckets, which

they were required to keep hanging in a conven
ient place in the halls of their dwellings — for there
were no fire-engines in those days. When an
alarm was given, each sturdy Dutchman in knee-
breeches, cocked hat and wide-skirted coat,
hastened to the Court House with his buckets,
crying, "Brand! brand!!" (Fire! fire!!) as he ran.
Or, when the ice began to move in the river, at the
sound of the bell at any moment, midday or mid
night, the whole population rushed to the Court
House for instruction and a leader — arousing the
sleepers, if it was night, with their startling shouts
of "Ys gang!!" (The ice is going!) It required
the energy and assistance of all the available citi
zens, so rapid was usually the rise of water and
flow of the ice when once started, to get the fami
lies and the effects of those residing near the river
out of danger. After the Old Court House had
served its time for State and city, Harry Trow
bridge took its upper stories for a museum, and
moved his collection of curiosities into it, the main
floor being occupied for commercial purposes.
The first museum was established on the corner of
Green and Beaver streets in 1798. There is no
evidence to show that Trowbridge was the propri
etor of this; but, from the fact that nothing is heard
of it after he opened the New York State Museum
in the Old Court House, it is probable that he was.
It is known that he had a museum as early as 1809,
called the Albany Museum. This was probably
the name of the one on the corner of Green and
Beaver streets. There were great attractions for
the small boys and girls in the museum on the
corner of Hudson street and Broadway in those
days — the monstrosities excited their wonder; the
phantasmagoria and the wax figures their delight.
The collection of the latter was a remarkable one
indeed. Arrayed in full costume, and in various
attitudes, were Charlotte Temple, Daniel Lambert,
Punch and Judy, Louis the XIV, Jael driving the
nail into the head of Sisera, and many others of
equal note. But the crowning wonder of all, an
nounced by the ringing of a small bell, was the
raising of the ghost of Samuel, by the Witch of En-
dor, for the humble and awe-stricken Saul, who
stood near in full armor of steel. The spirit slow
ly rose through the top of the tomb — which was
an upright box not unlike the pedestal that sup
ports the bust of Dr. Armsby in the Park— re
mained with half its body above the opening for a
minute, and then as slowly returned to its place.
There was a landing-place for batteaux and
small boats in the rear of and not far from the
dwelling of the late Judge Jacob J. Lansing, on the
corner of Broadway and Quackenbush streets. At
this landing, just before the battle of Saratoga,
while the British troops were slowly approaching
Albany, the alarmed inhabitants of the Colonie
had collected a small fleet of batteaux, anticipating
the possible defeat of the continental forces, and
were prepared at the first intimation of disaster to
flee, with their families and such effects as they
could hastily gather, to the opposite shore of the
river. They were filled with great fear when they
heard the battle had begun; and expected each

DOCKS, WHARVES AND BASIN OF ALBANY.

499

moment to hear that the "red-coats" were on
their way to the city. While engaged in loading
their boats as rapidly as possible, a single horseman
was seen approaching from the north, gesticulating
and furiously whipping his horse as he drew near.
Men, women and children rushed out to hear what
news he brought from the armies, expecting of
course that the enemy was close behind him. He
shouted as he came up and passed along: "Ber-
gine is taken! Bergine is taken!!" So astounded
and incredulous were the people as they followed
him to the City Hall, on the corner of Broadway
and Hudson streets, that they cried: " Gy liegen!
Gy liegen!!" (You lie! you lie!!) Great was their
relief and gladness when the news was confirmed
by the dispatch brought by the messenger and read
by the Mayor to the assembled crowd. The switch
which the messenger had used to urge his horse
along, he threw away as he passed the corner of
North Lansing street and Broadway. It was
picked up by Mrs. Teunis G. Visscher, a daughter
of Mr. Christopher Lansing, and planted in front
of her father's house, where she resided at that time.
The switch grew to be a sturdy elm, long remem
bered and pointed out as a monument to commem
orate the end of the revolution. It passed from
youth to manhood and to old age, lost its beauty
and strength, and at last yielded up the remnant of
its life to the demands of progress, and was re
moved to make room for the railroad viaduct
across Broadway.
Diagonally opposite the residence of Mr. Lans
ing, on the northwest corner of Broadway and
Clinton avenue, there was, until removed to make
a place for the drug store of Messrs. Clement &
Rice, an antique Dutch residence with its pointed
gable fronting on Broadway, built of Holland
bricks painted yellow, with a door on Broadway
used only to carry the dead through, and a front
door on Clinton avenue cut in halves transversely,
as were all the doors of those early Dutch houses.
The house was erected about a. d. 1700, and
stood some four or five hundred feet beyond the
northern stockade, which crossed Broadway near
Orange street, and had a gate opening on the road
leading north through the Colonie. In this house
lived one of the old Dutch families somewhere
about the time of the French War. The Indians
who were prowling about the outskirts of the town
were not over-friendly, and the gates of the stock
ades were always closed about sundown to keep
them out. The residents beyond the stockades
were careful to get to their homes before dark, lest
they might lose their scalps some unlucky evening.
Nearly every family kept a good watch-dog. This
family in particular had a large mastiff in their
house who was kind and gentle with those he was
accustomed to see, but a terror to the Indians for
whom he had no love. A middle-aged daughter
of the family was in the habit of visiting her friends
in the town, enjoying their society and the hospitable
cup of tea which formed a prominent feature in
all entertainments among the old Dutch families.
One evening, staving inside the stockade longer
than usual, it was almost dark when she was passed

through the gates. As she crossed the road she
observed an Indian following her. She ran in
great fear. He followed, and as she reached her
home and the handle of the door, he caught her by
the hair and brandished his scalping-knife above
her head ready to take her scalp. With a scream
she threw open the upper half of the door. The
faithful mastiff, hearing her cry, sprang over the
lower half, seized the_Indianby the throat and there
held him till he was captured. This dog never
after that led a dog's life — in the common accep
tation of the term.
A door like the one above mentioned on Broad
way, as used only on funeral occasions, was com
mon to most of the old Dutch residences, and was
called the ' ' dood door. " It was connected with the
" dood karner" (death chamber). On the occasion
of a death in the family, the corpse was removed
to this room, and invitations to the funeral were
given to the relatives and friends of the deceased
through the " aanspreeker" (sexton), to attend the
funeral from the house at a specified time. When
assembled, a tankard of hot spiced wine and a
tray of "dood koekjes," a flat round cake, about
four inches in diameter, made of material similar
to those used for New Year's cakes, were handed
round. Then the usual ceremonies of prayer, re
marks about the life and death of the departed,
and an address to the afflicted relatives, followed;
after which all were expected to take a last look
into the coffin. Then it was removed from the
' 'dood karner, " through the ' 'dood door, " to the bier,
and was carried to the grave-yard by the bearers.
On the return from the burying ground, the guests
again assembled at the house of the deceased and
partook freely of the hot spiced wine. This very
ancient custom was not abandoned till some years
after the beginning of the present century.
Albany Basin. — As early as 1822, and perhaps
earlier, when there was on an average from eighty
to two hundred sloops and schooners daily lying
at the docks in front of the city, the project of con
structing a basin at the termination of the Erie and
Champlain Canal was seriously considered. The
matter was referred to the Canal Commissioners,
and on February n, 1823, they made the follow
ing report :
"In obedience to the resolution of the Assem
bly, passed the 14th ul.t., instructing the Commis
sioners to report a place for the construction of a
basin at the termination of the Erie and Cham
plain Canal at the City of Albany, reported that
Benjamin Wright, one of their engineers, who was
instructed to examine the matter, had proposed a
plan and made a communication on the subject,
together with a map of the contemplated basin.
The Commissioners believe that a basin may be
constructed on the said plan for about $100,000,
and that such a basin would be extremely benefi
cial to the trade of Albany. They have declined
to make basins along the line of canals, believ
ing that mercantile capital and enterprise would
find sufficient inducements and interests to furnish
these local accommodations to trade, and that to

500

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

expend the public moneys would not be just. They
think, however, that it would be proper to con
struct a sloop lock at the southern termination of
the basin, as the connection of boat and sloop
navigation at the arsenal lot will cost nearly as
much as the said lock; and, in case of the construc
tion of said lock, it would be reasonable for the
State to receive tolls on the length of the basin as
part of the canal. "
Upon this report, the Legislature passed an act
authorizing the construction of the Albany basin,
April 5, 1823, the principal features of which were
as follows :
That from the report of the Canal Commission
ers, it appears that a basin at the termination of
the canals would be a great benefit to commerce
and to trade. The following gentlemen, William
James, John R. Bleecker, John Townsend, Elisha
Jenkins, Benjamin Knower, Allen Brown, Israel
Smith, Teunis Van Vechten, John Trotter, John
Spencer, Asa H. Center, William Durant, Peter
Boyd, Joseph Alexander, Charles R. Webster,
John H. Webb, John Shotwell, Joseph Russell,
William Caldwell, Ralph Pratt, Russell Forsythe,
William Marvin, William McHarg, Jellis Winne,
Jr., Abraham Van Vechten and Gideon Hawley,
were appointed Commissioners. They were au
thorized to raise subscriptions to construct a mole
or pier within the bounds of the City of Albany,
opposite the docks fronting the harbor, so as to
comprise a basin extending from the arsenal dock
to a .point opposite Hodges' Dock, in the line of
Hamilton street, with a sloop lock at the Hamil
ton street end, to be completed within two years.
The act authorized the building of bridges from
the dock to the pier, and the Canal Commission
ers to give title of the land under water covered by
the pier to the Pier Company.
No toll should be exacted, or wharfage or other
charges for boats, other craft or rafts of lumber,
entering from the canal and passing through the
basin, unless the same shall be revested in the
people of the State.
It regulated the wharfage to be paid by vessels,
boats and other crafts navigating the river, for the
season: Vessels of five tons or under to pay $2. I2|
per ton; if above that burden, at the rate of
54 cents per ton. If for less time, for five tons or
under, 25 cents per day; twenty tons or under, 4
cents per ton per day; over twenty, under forty, 3
cents per ton per day; over fifty, t\ cents per ton per
day. One-half to go to the proprietors of the pier.
The proprietors of the pier to have the right to col
lect wharfage from outside of pier same as collected
from inside docks.
It directed that the pier be divided into lots,
which should be sold at public auction.
It directed that the Canal Commissioners
should charge toll on all canal boats, craft and
lumber which should enter the basin from the
canal, or leave the basin for transportation on the
canal, computing the entire length of said basin in
the same manner as if it were a part of the canal.
The money collected, after deducting expenses, to
be paid over to the State Treasurer.

It provided for damages by reason of overflow
caused by the guard or sloop dock.
It directed that the act should be void unless the
Corporation of the city filed their assent to the act
in the office of the Secretary of State within sixty
days after its passage.
The assent referred to was filed April 8, 1823.
The Albany Pier was completed, under the act
above mentioned, May 27, 1825, inclosing a basin
capable of harboring 1,000 canal boats and 50
vessels of a larger class. The Commissioners ap
pointed under the act divided it into 123 lots, and
sold them at public auction on the 17th July, 1825,
excepting lots 1 and 2, which were reserved, and
after a time taken for an opening into the river.
The 121 lots brought the aggregate sum of $188, -
510. Of these William James purchased 48, John
T. Norton, 14, and Israel Smith 7; other pur
chasers were Gideon Hawley, Harmanus Bleecker,
Chas. R. Webster, Robt. Boyd, Isaiah Townsend,
Samuel Ward, of New York, Chas. D. Cooper, E.
Backus, Elisha Jenkins, Isaac H. Bogart, E. C.
Delavan, John Tayler, Henry S. Webb, John
Meads, Abel French, Francis Bloodgood, James
Goold. The lowest price paid for a lot was $1, 200,
and the highest, $3,550. The pier was 4,323 feet
long, 85 feet broad, and unbroken from the canal
to Hamilton street, containing 8J acres of land.
The basin contained an area of 3 2 acres.
Bridges with draws were constructed across the
basin, at the foot of Columbia and State streets, by
the proprietors of the pier, and a sloop lock was
built by the State at Hamilton street.
Sept. 25, 1823, the first water was passed through
the lock at the head of the Albany basin. An eel
three feet in length came through the gate and
was hailed as the first passenger ; it was caught, and
the skin preserved in the Museum of the Lyceum
of Natural History. But the canal was not com
pleted until the fall of 1825.
When the first water from the finished canal
came into the basin, the sloop lock-gates were
closed, and the citizens gathered in great numbers
on the docks to see the basin filled with water,
which they did not doubt would rise to the crest of
the pier, and possibly overflow the docks. After
waiting anxiously for several hours, they began to
wonder why the water did not rise and what had
become of it. Their patience having been ex
hausted, as it grew dark the assemblage adjourned,
hoping to see the basin full on the morrow. Much
to their astonishment they were disappointed, the
pier having been built in parts of cribs filled with clay
and other soils, together with loose stones where
rock bottom was found, and resting in other places
on piles, permitted the water to escape into the
river under the cribs and between the piles. Why
this was not known before a sloop lock was con
structed, does not appear.
On the 26th of October, a day that should be re
membered throughout all time, the first canal
boat from Lake Erie, through the great canal pro
jected by Governor De Witt Clinton, reached the
Hudson River at Albany at three minutes before
1 1 o'clock a. m. , and passed through the lock into

DOCKS, WHARVES AND BASIN OF ALBANY.

501

the Albany basin. The event was announced by
a discharge of cannon, which formed a line within
hearing distance from Buffalo to Sandy Hook. The
return fire from New York was received at five
minutes before 12 o'clock noon.
The basin having been constructed without a
free outlet for the current to pass through, became
a nuisance in consequence of the great accumula
tion of silt in it. In June, 1834, the Corporation
of the city was indicted by the Grand Jury for not
abating it. The Recorder, Hon. James McKown,
was instructed to defend the action, on the ground
that the bulkhead at the lower end of the basin had
been placed there by the Pier Company, under the
sanction of an act of the Legislature, and being
private property, the Corporation could not be
bound to abate the nuisance. The Albany Court
of Sessions decided against the Corporation; but
the Supreme Court reversed the decision. On the
9th of February following, a public meeting was
held at the Capitol for the purpose of making an
application to the Legislature to pass an act direct
ing that ihe bulkhead be removed, and for other
purposes. On the 27th of April, 1835, the Legis
lature passed an act to improve the navigation of
the Albany basin, which directed that the bulkhead
be removed in part, that the sloop lock be taken
away, and a bridge built from the abutment at
Hamilton street to the pier. It also authorized the
Mayor and Common Council to order and direct
the excavation, deepening and clearing of any part
of the basin that was found to be necessary, and
directed the Governor to appoint a Commissioner
to appraise and assess the cost of the same, on all
the building lots, wharves, docks, and pier lots
benefited by the improvement, specifying in said
appraisement the names of the owners, and taking
into consideration the benefit to the Pier Company
by the annual receipt of one mile toll received by
them as part of the Erie and Champlain Canals.
Under and by the authority given in this act, the
Mayor and Common Council proceeded to carry
its provisions into effect.
The act of the Legislature passed April 14, 1836,
authorized the Corporation of the City of Albany to
make an opening in the pier between the Columbia
and State street bridges of sixty feet in width,
which had already been decided upon as necessary
by an ordinance of the Common Council, dated
the 28th of March previous, and to repair any
damage to bridges or property on the pier caused
by said opening, and assess the costs of the same
on the property benefited. In 1837, owing to the
great increase of business on the pier, the Pier
Company asked the Common Council for authority
to widen the pier fifteen feet; their petition was
denied. The act passed May 16, 1837, directed
the Canal Commissioners to clear the obstructions
from the basin, and draw upon the Mayor and
Common Council for the cost, and allow the ex
cess above the amount of toll on the one mile of
basin, which was considered as part of the canal,
to be charged to the State.
The dredging proceeded so slowly, that the Com
mon Council directed the Navigation Committee

to inquire into the cause and report what had been
and what remained to be done. On the 17th
September, 1838, the Navigation Committee re
ported that $96,090.55 had been expended in im
proving the basin; that there yet remained 105,000
cubic yards of excavation to be made, which would
cost $36,250.
Another act of the Legislature, passed April 20,
1 84 1, directed the Common Council to cause the
opening in the pier to be enlarged to a width of
not less than 126 feet, the expense of said opening
to be assessed upon the property benefited; and
by an act passed April 14, 1849, they were em
powered to make a further enlargement. These
enlargements were rendered necessary by the in
creasing demands of commerce, and the enlarged
size of the vessels used in transportation on the river.
After the works were completed, the Commis
sioners assessed the cost upon the property ben
efited, as directed by the several laws passed by the
Legislature. This proceeding raised a great com
motion among the dock and pier-owners, which
resulted in a controversy as to the constitutionality
of the law under which the work was done. The
Legislature passed an act on the 14th April, 1849,
' ' in relation to certain expenses incurred in ex
cavating the basin, and the tolls received thereon, at
the eastern terminus of the Erie and Champlain
Canals. " This law directs the Canal Commissioners
to pay to the City of Albany $121,462.63, with in
terest from February 20, 1823, for the expenses
incurred by the city for excavating, clearing and
cleaning out the basin, and also the sum of $30,000
to be paid to the owners of the pier in lieu of tolls
as heretofore paid to them. This act to be a final
settlement of all claims against the State in favor of
the City of Albany, or in favor of any citizen there
of, and also of the pier-owners under the several
acts passed April 5, 1823, April 27, 1835, April
14, 1836, and May 16, 1837.
At this time, and until the War of the Rebellion,
the property on the pier was very valuable. The
portion above the Columbia street bridge was
covered with lumber and staves, piled very high for
want of room, while below the bridge, on both
sides of the cut to its southern extremity were
large and commodiously built warehouses, occu
pied by the leading shipping merchants of the
city and the proprietors of the large tow-boat lines.
The Swiftsure and Albany and Canal lines each
had offices below the State street bridge, and their
barges occupied berths on both the inside and out
side of the pier.
Hart & Hoyt, in order to facilitate the transporta
tion of the merchandise they received, erected on a
raft or float in the basin, a large wooden structure,
familiarly called the "Ark," which took up much
room and was a great annoyance to the other
shippers, beside being an eye-sore and great
obstruction to the free navigation of the basin. It
became so much of a nuisance that the Common
Council ordered them to remove it. They declin
ing to do so, the Corporation undertook to make
the removal themselves, but were enjoined by the
Court from proceeding with its demolition. The

562

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

case was carried to the Court of Chancery, and by
the Chancellor the injunction was dissolved. Hart
& Hoyt appealed to the Court of Errors. It was
held by this Court that the appellants had utterly
failed to establish a right lo erect and continue the
floating warehouse in the basin; that it was not
lawful for individuals, without grants, to construct
or moor a floating warehouse or vessel for receiving
and delivering any goods in any river-port or har
bor, or in the basins or docks thereof, and is an
obstruction to free navigation.
The "Ark " was therefore removed, and the busi
ness on the pier and in the basin was thereafter unob
structed. At this time, beside the large barges em
ployed in the carrying trade to New York, all sorts
of craft came to Albany for freight, from a clam-
boat to a three-masted schooner. Frequently,
more than two hundred sailing vessels might be
counted at the pier and docks of the city, hailing
from Maine to Florida. From the East were
brought sperm and whale oil, rum, fish, apples,
and Yankee notions; from the South, Georgia
pine, cotton, sugar, and fruit; and lumber, staves,
potatoes, and the various kinds of grain were taken
away. These days and years of an active and
profitable trade came to an end on the pier, docks
and basin, on the completion of the system of
railroad communication from Boston and New
York to the Western States, and the opening of
the lumber district between the river and canal a
short distance above the Bath ferry.
Soon after the completion of the canal, a line of
packet-boats was established to transport passengers
from Albany to Utica. This was a wonderful im
provement over the old stage-coach at certain
seasons of the year, when the wheels would sink to
the hubs in the mud, and the passengers would
often be called upon to help, with a fence-rail, to
pry them up. The packets were sharp-bowed,
trim-looking boats, drawn by three horses on a
trot, and averaged about nine miles an hour, some
times more. The cabin extended almost the en
tire length of the boat, with a short deck at the bow
and stern; the seats were arranged like those in an
omnibus, and so constructed that they could be
converted into two tiers of berths. A curtain di
vided one cabin into two unequal parts, the smaller
reserved for the ladies. The baggage was all car
ried on the deck above the cabin. The choice
seat in the daytime was on the forward low deck.
It was dangerous to sit on the deck above the
cabin, on account of the lowness of the numerous
bridges. The helmsman was constantly warning
those passengers who sat there by the cry of ' ' bridge
ahead," when each one would be obliged to duck, or
if the bridge was very low, to lie down flat. These
packets left Albany from the little basin just at
the head of the lock, between the canal and the Al
bany basin, with flags flying, bugle music, and
shouts of the people collected to see the start.
There were soon opposition companies, which
made lively times, and packet-boats became the
fashionable mode of travel between Albany and
Buffalo. These too were abandoned as fast as the
railroads were opened to the West.

On February 13, 1861, there occurred one of
the most disastrous freshets ever known to the in-
inhabitants of Albany. The ice damming up oppo
site the Boston ferry, caused the water to flow over
the pier, and sent the current down through the
basin, carrying large cakes of ice with great velocity
against the boats, vessels and bridges in the basin,
which were swept down and destroyed in a brief
space of time.
April 8, 1 86 1, the three bridges from the main
land to the pier having been carried away by the
freshet and destroyed, a controversy arose between
the Pier Company and the Common Council as to
which should construct the new ones.
The Pier Company claimed that by the Act of
April 14, 1836, authorizing the Corporation of Al
bany to make an opening in the pier between the
State street and Columbia street bridges of 60 feet
in width, and to repair any damages to bridges or
property on the pier by reason of said opening,
and assess the expense of the same upon the prop
erty benefited; and by the act of the Legislature,
passed April 20, 1841, directing the Corporation to
enlarge the opening to the width of not less than
126 feet; and by a further act, passed April 11,
1849, the said Corporation was authorized to make
a still further enlargement; that the rebuilding of
the bridge clearly devolved upon the city, and
asked that they be rebuilt without delay.
The bridges were rebuilt without draws, as the
opening between Columbia and State streets ad
mitted vessels to the middle basin.
The building of the pier caused great dissatisfac
tion to the owners of the dock and property on
Quay street. It deprived them of their right to the
channel of the river, decreased the amount of their
dockage and the value of the property on Quay
street, by affording wharfage on the outside of the
pier, and space for building upon it. The vener
able and distinguished jurist, Abraham Van Vech
ten, whose memory is revered by the few now left
who knew him, could not accept the appointment
as one of the Commissioners named in the act of
1823, because he believed the act to be not only
unjust to the dock-owners, but decidedly uncon
stitutional. But opposition was of no avail. The
same means that are supposed to be successful
in carrying bills through later Legislatures, may
have been successfully used in 1823, and possibly
were so used to pass this act.
In 1873, when the Dock Association adjourned
sine die, active business on the pier and Quay street
had about come to a standstill; buildings which
had formerly rented for seven or eight hundred dol
lars per annum, would scarcely command three or
four hundred, and many remained unoccupied.
Storage of produce brought down by canal-boats
too late in the fall to ship for New York or Eastern
or Southern ports by vessels, was a large item of
profit which was cut off by the transportation af
forded by the completion of the Central and Hud
son River and the Boston and Albany Railroads.
The merchants who did a heavy business on the
pier or Quay street, either retired from business or
removed to Broadway, where they escaped the an-

SEWERAGE.

503

nual freshets in the river, and obtained more com
fortable quarters.
The wharfage which had been collected pretty
equally from the various docks under the control
of the Dock Association, was now earned by but
few of them, and a majority of the members were
unwilling to continue to divide the receipts with
those whose docks contributed little or nothing to
the Association. Hence the resolution to adjourn
sine die.
Since 1873, the basin has been filling up with
silt from the river and sewage from the fifteen city
sewers that empty their foul contents into it; and
it has become one of the greatest nuisances in the
county. It is hoped that it will either be dredged
ou tby the State authorities or filled up, as it has
passed its days of usefulness.
SEWERAGE.
Prior to 1854, and previous to the appointment
of R. H. Bingham as City Engineer and Surveyor,
there was no regular system of sewers for the
city. In that year the first brick and cement sewer
was constructed in Madison avenue, then Lydius
street. Laws had been passed for making drains
in detached portions. Some had been made in
several, streets leading to the river, east of Eagle
street. Some had been laid as early as 1800. These
last were constructed of common building stones
about one foot in the clear.
It appears from the records of the Common
Council, that attention was given very early to sur
face draining. Water-courses were dug on the side
of the streets, under direction of the City govern
ment, by the owners of adjacent houses or lots,
which were to be kept open and clear so as "to
vent, dry and drain the said streets." In 1721, it
was "ordaind, publishd and declard, that all
and every person within this City before whose
houses and lotts ye water has no vent, shall forthwith
ditch and drain ye water to give it passage that ye
highways may be dry and useful for ye Inhabitants
of sd City, and that all y6 Streets and lanes be
sufficiently pavd, ye earth be dugg out and Carted
away" under penalties for neglect. Such was the
primitive drainage. Subsequent to this time, ordi
nances directing the making of drains and keeping
them open were often made. Sometimes they
were made to empty into creeks or kills. But,
after all, the streets of the city were often very full
of mire and filth.
Since 1854, in the leading streets to the river
the old drains have been replaced with brick and
cement sewers varying in diameter from thiee and
a half to six and a half feet in the clear.
The combined system of sewerage, conveying
both house drainage and surface water, required
larger sewers than the surface system which conveys
only the house drainage.
The combined system became necessary in con
sequence of the slope and steepness of the streets
leading to the river. In the westerly portion of the
city the separate system has been adopted, vitrified
pipes have been used varying from ten to thirty

inches in diameter, according to the quantity of
house drainage to be carried. Most of the thickly
settled streets have been sewered.
The old creek beds of the city leading to the
river— four in number— have been covered with
stone arches from six to ten feet in diameter, and
adopted as outlet sewers for the westerly portion of
the city, into which many of the street drains empty.
The creeks thus adopted as outlet sewers, are as
follows: Beaver Creek, in the southerly portion of
the city; Ruttenkill and Foxenkill in the cen
tral portion of the city; and Patroon's Creek in the
northerly. The extent of the water-shed flowing into Beaver
Creek is about 1,300 acres; Ruttenkill, about 200
acres; Foxenkill, about 200 acres; Patroon's Creek,
about 5,000 acres.
Space will not permit us to give any more than
the leading or principal sewers in the city. That
in Madison avenue is 4 feet in diameter; Hamilton
street, 3 feet 6 inches; Hudson avenue, 5 feet;
State street, 6 feet; Quackenbush street, 5 feet;
Livingston avenue, 4 feet 6 inches; Maiden lane,
4 feet; Steuben street, 4 feet; Van Woert, 4 feet.
Patroon's Creek sewer is 12 x 8 feet in diameter;
Foxenkill, 6 feet; Ruttenkill, 6 feet; Beaver Creek,
8 feet. In the other streets in the city the sewers
run from 4 feet to 18 inches in diameter.
The expense of the construction of the street
sewers in Albany are paid by levying special assess
ments upon the property benefited by it and lying
adjacent to it. Many of these sewers have been
constructed at large expense. For instance: Hud
son avenue sewer, from the river to Eagle street,
cost $20, 1 50; State street, from river to Eagle street,
$21,289; Patroon street, from the river to North
Pearl street, $48,718.
The cost of these sewers are $9 per lineal foot
for 6 feet; $(>\, for a\ feet; $6£, for 4 feet; $5|, for
31 feet; $5^, for 3 feet; and $4f, for z\ feet.
These are laid about 1 1\ feet below the surface, to
accommodate house drainage.
Vitrified-pipe drains are laid about 9^ feet from
the surface. For 20 inches in diameter they cost
$2 per lineal foot; 18 inches, $1.60 per foot; 15
inches, $1 per foot; 12 inches, $ 1 . 00 per foot.
The system of collecting assessments for the con
struction of the sewers, relieves the citizens from a
bonded debt for their construction to which many
other cities are subjected.
This system of sewers already constructed extends
north and south, along the river front, the entire
width of the city — about two miles; and westerly,
about the same distance.
R. H. Bingham, the present able City Engineer
and Surveyor, has for thirty years uninterruptedly,
and with credit and fidelity, held the position, a
just tribute to his sterling worth and ability. He
is a native of Stillwater, Saratoga County, and was
educated at the Academy in that town, and sub
sequently at the Normal School in Albany, where
he graduated in 1845. He was for five years Pro
fessor of Mathematics and Natural Sciences in
Jonesville Academy; was admitted to the Bar in

504

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Albany County in 1848, and practiced, his profes
sion with decided success until 1854. His natural
ability in the direction of engineering inclined
him to the study of that science in every detail.
In 1855, he planned the first brick and cement
sewer constructed in Albany, his plan being ap
proved by the municipal authorities. From 1868
to 1872 he was interested in the construction of the
Park, being engineer in charge. The granite block
pavement was first laid under his direction in 1868.
He was appointed Assistant Engineer on the
Rochester and Buffalo Division of the Erie Canal
in 1840, and for two years was engaged in the work
of its enlargement. In 1854 he was called to the
position he now so ably fills. A thorough master

of his profession, and a man of ripe experience and
expanded views, he has, in his official capacity,
contributed his full share to the prosperity of the
city, and has honored the position which he has so
long filled.
STREETS OF ALBANY.
The first traders at Albany clustered around Fort
Orange, near the foot of Lydius street. For two
reasons this fort was changed to higher ground
farther north along the present Broadway: first, to
avoid high water, which in 1656 washed away a
great part of Fort Orange, and secondly, to give
space around the fort for free range of the guns.

RIVER
PLAN OF ALBANY, 1676.

The simple diagram above is a facsimile
of the oldest plan of the city known, and gives
an idea of Beverwyck in 1676, after the fort
had been removed from its original location. It
embraces that part of the city now bounded by the
river on the east and Steuben street on the north.
But two streets are designated on the map, Joncaer
street, now State, and Rom street, now Maiden
lane. Broadway is represented by parallel lines.
The earliest name given to it was Handlaer street,
as appears on a map made some years later. The
guard-house occupied the old Elm tree corner on
North Pearl street. It will be seen that the settle
ment extended only a short distance beyond North
Pearl street on the west, while its northern bound
ary was Steuben street, and its southern Hudson
street. The following map of Albany was made in
1695 by Rev. John Miller, a chaplain in the
British Army, and shows the line of palisades built

soon after the removal from the vicinity of old Fort
Orange about 1656. It is undoubtedly a true
picture of the form, boundaries and streets of the
city as they were about two hundred years ago,
reaching from Hudson to Steuben streets on Broad
way, and from the river west to Lodge street, in
circumference about six furlongs. The fort desig
nated on this map was known as Fort Albany, and
was built after the surrender of the province to the
English in 1664, at the head of old State street,
west of the present Lodge street. Fort Orange,
soon after the completion of the new fort, was
abandoned, and the land around it divided up into
gardens. The dwellings were mostly located, for
safety, within the palisades. The church at the
junction of State and Broadway was built in 1664,
after the one near Fort Orange had been aban
doned. This church was used until 171 5, when
another was erected on the same site. This church
in the middle of State street caused the great width

STREETS OF ALBANY.

505

of both State street and Broadway at this point
Broadway, as will be seen by reference to the map
as it approached the north gate and main guard
was reduced to a single cart path, and in fact

at the palisades the houses on opposite sides of the
street came so close together as to form a Fuyck, a
name very often applied to the village instead of
Beverwyck.

i. The Fort.
2. Dutch Calvinist Church.
3. German Lutheran.

PLAN OF ALBANY, 1695.
4. Its Burying Place.
5. Dutch Calvinist Burying Place.
6. Stadt House.
7. Block Houses.

9. Great Guns to clear a Gully.
10. Stockades.
11. City Gates, six in all.

At the date of this map there were about 200
houses in Beverwyck, built principally on four
streets, viz. : Broadway, from Hudson to Steuben;
State, from Broadway to Chapel; North Pearl, to
Steuben; and Chapel, from State to the palisades.
Beaver, Norton, State, from Broadway to the river,
called Staat's alley; Exchange and Steuben, which
extended only from Broadway to North Pearl, con
tained but a few dwellings. Hudson, from Broad
way to Green, simply the rondwegh, and James
street, a mere alley, had no dwellings. Lots front
ing on any street west of Broadway, the highest
being Berg, now Chapel, street, were said to be
on the hill. The contracted space within which
the village was crowded led to a very minute di
vision of land in the best streets, and lots of only
1 5 or 20 feet wide and of a corresponding depth
were common.
Chevalier De Calliers, Governor of Montreal
in 1689, speaks of Albany as being "about as
large as Montreal, surrounded by picquets, at one
61

end of which is an earthen fort defended by pali
sades, and consisting of four small bastions. There
is a garrison of 1 50 men, of three companies, in the
Fort and some pieces of cannon. Said town of
Orange [Albany] may contain about 1 50 houses and
300 inhabitants, the majority of whom are Dutch,
and some French refugees, with some English."
By observing the septangular form of the pali
sades, we can see how the curvatures and diagonal
lines presented by many of the streets in the lower
portion of our city had their rise.. A more ex
tended line of palisades was afterwards constructed,
bounded by Hamilton street on the south and
crossing Broadway on the north, near Orange and
Van Tromp streets. The north gate was placed
there, and was the line, as late as the early part of
the present century, dividing the City of Albany
from Colonie, which was a separate town until
18 1 5. It was a century after Miller's draft of the
city was made before it began to increase very
rapidly in territory or population. In 1688, it con-

506

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

tained but 300 persons, and a century after only
about 4,000.
So little had the City of Albany changed from its
appearance in 1695, that in 171 8 it was described
by a tourist as little else than a fortified village,
with unpaved, dirty and irregular streets. Most of
the residences were situated on the margin of the
river, the lower end of State, and on Court, now
called Broadway. It was in fact only a small
town, with less than 1,000 inhabitants. A few
stores and trading places were located in the pres
ent Chapel street. In the middle of State street
and in Broadway were all the public buildings, viz. :
the Town House, two churches, English and Dutch,
the Guard-house and Public Market. On the river
were three docks: Lower or King's Dock, Middle
and Upper. Here vessels were unloaded by the
aid of canoes.
Probably the best description of primitive Albany
is contained in Mrs. Grant's "Memoirs of an
American Lady," published in 1764, in which she
says: "The City of Albany stretched along the
banks of the Hudson. One very wide and broad
street lay parallel to the river, the intermediate
space between it and the shore being occupied by
gardens. A small but steep hill rose above the cen
ter of the town, on which stood a fort, intended
(but very ill adapted) for the defense of the place
and of the neighboring country. From the foot of
this hill another street was built, sloping pretty
rapidly down till it joined the one before men
tioned, that ran along the river. This street was
still wider than the other. It was only paved on
each side, the middle being occupied by public ed
ifices. These consisted of a Market-place or Guard
house, a Town Hall, and the English and Dutch
Churches. The English Church, belonging to the
Episcopal persuasion, and in the diocese of the
Bishop of London, stood at the foot of the hill at
the upper end of the street. The Dutch Church
was situated at the bottom of the descent, where
the street terminated. Two irregular streets, not so
broad, but equally long, ran parallel to those, and
a few even ones opened between them. The town,
in proportion to its population, occupied a great
space of ground. The city, in short, was a kind of
semi-rural establishment. Every house had its gar
den, well, and a little green behind. Before every
door a tree was planted, rendered interesting by
being coeval with some beloved member of the fam
ily. Many of these trees were of prodigious size
and extraordinary beauty, but without regularity,
every one planting the kind that best pleased him,
or which he thought would afford the most agree
able shade to the open portico at his door, which
was surrounded by seats and ascended by a few
steps. It was in these that each domestic group
was seated in summer evenings to enjoy the balmy
twilight or the serenely clear moonlight." Such is a
picture of ancient Albany as it appeared seventy-six
years after it had become a city; a period when it
had all the appearance of a quiet, staid village,
with unpaved, grass-grown streets, and all the rural
simplicity of many a town now in the interior of
the State,

Peter Kalm, speaking of the streets of Albany
in 1749, said : "The streets are broad, and some
of them are paved. In some parts they are lined
with trees ; the long streets are almost parallel to
the river, and the others intersect them at right
angles. The street which goes between the two
churches is five times broader than the others, and
serves as a market-place. The streets, upon the
whole, are very dirty, because the people have their
cattle in them during the summer nights." Indeed,
so muddy were the streets in rainy seasons, that it
was no uncommon sight for foot passengers and
wagons to become mired in the mud, requiring as
sistance to be extricated. In the records of the Com
mon Council, March 12,1694, it appears that the
streets were so muddy that it was almost impossible
for foot passengers to use them, and it was ordered
that " every householder shall make, or cause to
be made, eight foot ground before his own house,
fronting on the streets, paved with stone, under a
penalty after the first of June, of every week, of six
shillings. " The reference of Kalm and other tour
ists before the beginning of the present century to
the paved streets, refers to this manner of pave
ments. The sidewalks merely were paved, not the
streets proper.
Numerous references are made in the early Com
mon Council Records to paving the sidewalks.
In 1695, ,£50 was raised for this purpose; and, in
1 71 7, a number of streets were ordered to be paved,
and in Rom street, now Maiden lane, and in all
the other streets existing at that time, the pave
ment was ordered to be repaired.
Many laws were passed by the Common Council
in the early history of Albany referring to the
streets. In 1686, a law was passed that every
Saturday morning each inhabitant should clean the
street in front of his dwelling, and also that no filth
should be thrown in the street. A few years later,
the following ordinance was passed :
"Resolved, That an ordinance be issued forth that
all the respectable inhabitants within said city do
severally clean the streets from the dung, dust,
chips and filth before their houses or lots in the
said streets; and that all wood and stone, except for
present building, or cooper's wood, be removed out
of the said streets before the 15th of April next
ensuing, on penalty of paying for every default
afterwards by them made, the sum of six shillings
to the use of the Sheriff or any Constable who shall
sue for the same. And that hereafter, if any dung,
dust, chips or filth shall be found (on any Saturday
after twelve o'clock noon) lying in the said streets
against the house or lot of any person within the
said city, that such person shall pay, also, for such
default and contempt, the like sum of six shillings,
to be sued for as aforesaid. And that hogs or swine
belonging to any of the said inhabitants be ringed
with one ring in the nose before Saturday night
next, and remain ringed from that time; and if the
hog or swine of any person as aforesaid shall be
found not ringed, the owners of such hog or swine
shall pay for every such default or neglect the sum
of six shillings to the Sheriff or Constable who shall
sue for the same."

STREETS OF ALBANY.

507

A law was passed forbidding any person to drive
through the streets faster than a walk under a
penalty of three shillings. The spirit of this law
was often enjoined upon the inhabitants by the
early city fathers. Another law which was after
enacted required that all hogs which ran at large
should be properly ringed; but it seems that this
injunction was not very carefully regarded, for
more than a century after, Elkanah Watson, who
had been elected Constable, as a joke, attended to
his duties in earnest, and created a great sensation
by attempting to enforce it by driving all hogs not
ringed to the public pound.
On the early maps of Beverwyck, the names of
but few streets are given; but in early conveyances
the following names appear: Broadway was called
Cow, de breede, or Broad, Lower Handlaers, and
Brewers street; Hudson, Spanish street; Green,
south of Beaver, Esplanade or Plain street; and
north of Beaver, the Voddemart or Rag market, and
Cheapside ; Chapel, Berg street ; State, Jonkers
street; South Pearl, DeKlyne street.
After the charter was granted, in 1686, the city
was divided into three wards; the first embraced
all that part of the town south of State and Ex
change streets; the second lay north of State and
West of James street; and the third contained that
portion lying north of State and Exchange and east
of James street.
State street and Broadway are the two oldest
streets in Albany. State street, when it was first
laid out, was made of unusual width for that day,
originally to accommodate the old Dutch Church
which stood near Broadway in the center; but after
wards a line of public buildings were erected there.
They were not all removed until the beginning of
the present century. From a map of State street
made in 1792, it was represented as being 149 feet
wide at Pearl street, and gradually extending in
width until it became 158 feet wide at Lodge
street. The old English Church, which stood in
the center of the street opposite Chapel, was
erected in 171 5. From the river to Broadway it
was a narrow avenue, but beyond Broadway it
opened to a liberal width and extended about
1,900 feet to the brow of the hill, the original as
cent being about seven feet in one hundred. State
street usually impressed the tourists, who visited
Albany in its primitive day, most favorably. John
Lambert, in 1807, described it as resembling the
Haymarket in London. In Spafford's Gazetteer,
published in 18 13, it was described as a grand
avenue into the heart of the city, and that it was
regarded as the grand central point of Albany,
" where its opulence is to be displayed, where taste
shall vie with taste, architect with architect, age
with age, in perpetual succession. " Until the close
of the last century its original grade had not been
much reduced, and being still unpaved was usually
incumbered with mud, rendering traveling extremely
difficult. In 1792, the wagon of Philip Schuyler
became buried in the mud in front of Green street,
requiring assistance to extricate it. It was paved
from Broadway to the Capitol Park in 1 796, and
in 1828 pavement was extended from this point to

Lark street. In 1831, from Broadway to the Quay,
it was widened to seventy feet. The width of this
part had 'been only thirty-five feet at Market
street, and forty-three feet at Quay. The buildings
on each side, at this period, were mostly of wood,
and in a wretched condition. The present width
of State street is 133 feet at Broadway and 157 feet
at the foot of the Capitol Park.
Broadway, north from State street, was called
Market street on the early maps, from the fact
that the public market was situated in its center
between Maiden lane and State street. The
Market house was built in 1791, at an expense
of .£222. It was removed many years ago,
before the street was named Broadway. The mar
ket was a great gathering place for the inhabitants
of the neighborhood on warm, afternoons, when
the butchers had departed. They took their chairs
there, and smoked and gossiped for hours. South
of State street, Broadway was known as Court street;
but until near the beginning of the present cen
tury it only extended to Lydius street, from which
point only a common road extended along the
bank of the river to the ferry. West of Court
street, beyond Lydius street, the Dutch Reformed
Church owned considerable land, used as pasture;
and in 1791 the consistory directed that this por
tion of the church domain be laid out into lots.
At this time a gate swung across Lydius street at
the end of Court street, and it was considered the
southern extremity of the city. Only a common
road extended through the pasture land. At this
time Court street was extended and a number of
streets were laid out in this section, several of these
being named after the early Dutch ministers.
They have since been filled in to a considerable
extent and rendered valuable, although when laid
out, and the land converted into building lots, the
church realized less than one hundred dollars per
lot. There were comparatively few lots built upon
south of Lydius street, between South Pearl street
and Broadway, as late as 1840, though now it is
one of the most densely settled portions of the city.
Court street was changed to name of South Market
about the beginning of the present century. The
name of Broadway for both North and South
Market streets was adopted in 1840. At one time
Court street was considered the most fashionable
part of the city.
At the present time Broadway extends from
Gansevoort street to the northern boundary of the
city, and thence into the Troy road. No street in
the city presents such a varied aspect. At the
south end it is lined with manufacturing establish
ments. Near the steamboat landing it is given up
to hotels and restaurants; then follows a line of
stores to State street. North of State street it
widens into one of the handsomest streets in Al
bany, having on it hotels and many large commer
cial buildings; from Columbia street to Clinton
avenue it decreases in width and commercial
activity; north of Clinton avenue it is a street of
substantial residences till the new viaduct is reached,
beyond which are several manufacturing buildings.
Court street was paved in 1796.

508

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The Broadway Viaduct was built in 1882-83 to
obviate the danger of crossing the tracks of the
Central Hudson railroad on Broadway and Col
onie street. The grades of Broadway and Colonie
and North Lansing streets were depressed and the
tracks carried over upon iron bridges. The work
was done by the railroad company at an expense
of $128,765; but the damage to adjacent property
owners had to be met by the city, and has been
assessed at $134,237.
The street next in importance to State street and
Broadway, during the earlier history of Albany, was
North Pearl street, which ran from State street to
Clinton square. North from this point it was pre
viously called Orchard street. South of State street,
this street on the early maps was named Washington
street, but is now called South Pearl. Pearl street
now, as in the past, has always been an important
business street. In the early part of the last century
it contained many private dwellings and some busi
ness houses. Succeeding years and the growth of
the city have made it one of the most popular and
thriving business streets in the city. Old houses
have given place to stores. Especially is this true
for a considerable distance on both sides of State
street. North Pearl street has been widened and greatly
improved within a few years, and now presents
the appearance of a grand avenue. Division street
was the extreme southern boundary of South Pearl
street as late as 1850, since which it has been
extended, and is now thickly populated as far as
Gansevoort street. One of the curious features of.
the olden times affecting this street, was a law
passed by the Common Council in 1793, which
provided that two chains be stretched across the
street, one on each side of the First Presbyterian
Church, to prevent the passage of vehicles during
church services, effectually barricading that edifice
from the passage of all but foot passengers. These
chains were not removed until 1832.
Chapel street is another very ancient street of
Albany. In early times it was a very important
business thoroughfare. It was the most westerly
and highest street of the city when laid out, and
for that reason was called Berg street (that is, Hill
street), which in time came to be written by the
English, Barrack street, from the Dutch pronun-.
ciation, bar-rg, as though it were two syllables. It
was chiefly occupied, for many years, by houses of
Indian traders.
Lydius street for many years formed the extreme
southern boundary of the city, and extended from
Lodge street to Broadway. It was named after
Rev. Johannes Lydius, a Dutch Reformed Minis
ter, who came to Albany in 1700. In 1867, the
name Lydius street was changed by the Common
Council to Madison avenue, which at that time
provoked much opposition from the Dutch citizens.
Where Lydius street was laid out was once the camp
ing and training ground of the British army when
commanded by Abercrombie and Amherst. Madi
son avenue has been gradually extended westward,
now reaching from the river to its junction with
Western avenue. It forms one of the longest streets

in Albany; contains many fine dwellings of recent
erection; and is considered one of the most fash
ionable and desirable locations for private residences
in the city.
Hudson avenue is another of the early streets of
Albany, and in early days of the city only extended
as far as Eagle street. It has been called by vari
ous names, the earliest, as previously stated, being
Spanish street, then Prideaux, Buffalo and Hudson
streets, and finally, Hudson avenue. The valley
through which it runs was the course-way of the
Ruttenkill. In 1832 it was filled in, and paved from
Eagle street to Hawk street. Hudson avenue on
account of its easy grade, being the least precipitous
of all the streets leading up the hill, has become
one of the principal thoroughfares of Albany, and
is lined with some very fine residences. In 1 88 1-8 2,
this avenue, from Broadway to South Pearl street,
was widened and straightened, at a cost of $74,965.
Green street and Maiden lane are on the list
of original streets in early Albany. The ancient
names of Green street have been given before.
Before it received its present name it was known as
Van Driessen street. Its present name being in honor
of General Greene, of the revolution, ought to
be written with a final e. The earliest name given
Maiden lane was Rom street. This was one of the
first laid out in Beverwyck, appearing on the first
map of the city in existence. In the early history
of Albany it was an important business street.
From Broadway to North Pearl street it is now a
thoroughfare of considerable importance. Extend
ing from the river to Eagle street it is very narrow,
and the shortest and steepest route from the rail
road depots to the Capitol.
Ferry street, now known as South Ferry, was
opened to Washington, now South Pearl, in 1789,
by arrangement made by the Common Council
with the Consistory of the Dutch Church, which
owned the land in that vicinity.
This concludes our account of the principal
streets of Albany of much importance up to near
the close of the last century, at which period, it
must be remembered, this city had not been ex
tended much beyond the limits of the old palisades.
All business then centered around the river, State
street, Pearl street, and Broadway. Even as late as
1796, our city was only a good sized village, with
5,000 inhabitants and not more than one thousand
houses. It was not until a number of years after
the revolution that Albany showed signs of rapid
growth. Says Gorham A. Worth :
"The City of Albany, in 1800, though the cap
ital of the State, and occupying a- commanding
position, was, nevertheless, in point of size, com
mercial importance, and architectural dignity, but
a third or fourth-rate town. It was in 1800 an
old town, but the face of nature in and around it
had been but little disturbed. All was antique,
clean, and quiet. There was no putting up nor
pulling down; no ill-looking excavations; no lev
eling of hills; no filling up of valleys. The stunted
pines still covered the hills to the very edge of
the town, and the ravines and valleys were clothed

STREETS OF ALBANY.

509

with evergreens, intermixed with briars and span
gled with the wild rose."
In 1 819 the city extended but two miles north
and south, and but one mile in the widest part east
and west. Until 1793 not a street had been paved,
and most of them were in a filthy, neglected con
dition. Even State street, now a most spacious
and beautiful avenue, was then not only without
pavements and ungraded, but in many places
broken, and some parts even precipitous, while the
slightest rain upon its clayey soil rendered travel
ing most unpleasant and difficult. In those days
the staid Dutch settlers were slow to make im
provements, and the influx of strangers in this,
even then, ancient town, who were in favor of
schemes to improve and beautify the city, excited
strong hostility in the feelings of those who were
opposed to all innovating projects. The most
progressive stranger who came to Albany about
this time, was Elkanah Watson, who came from {
Plymouth, Mass., in 1789, and to whom early
Albany owes as much for improvements as to any
one man. ' At the time of his arrival, Mr. Watson
said in his journal: "No street was paved, no
lamps, no library; not a public-house of any de
cency; and water-spouts, projecting from the eaves
of the houses, deluged unwary night travelers sunk
in mud and darkness." To the mind of Mr.
Watson, familiar with the elegancies and advance
ment of European cities, the various defective
arrangements in the city of his adoption were seen
and appreciated; and, soon after becoming a resi
dent, he engaged earnestly, through the press and
by personal efforts, in suggesting and urging local
improvements connected with these subjects. His
efforts received bitter opposition. The following
amusing incident, taken from his journal, will ex
hibit the state of feeling he had excited :
"Just after State street had been paved at a
heavy expense, I sauntered into it immediately suc
ceeding a heavy thunderstorm, and whilst regret
ting the disturbance in the sidewalk, and to
observe the cellars filled with water [for in that
section, which was near the present locality of the
State Bank, the street grading had been elevated
some feet], I heard two women, in the act of clear
ing their invaded premises from the accumulation
of mud and water, cry out, ' Here comes that in
fernal paving Yankee ! ' They approached me in
a menacing attitude, broomsticks erect. Prudence
dictated a retreat to avoid being broomsticked by
the infuriated Amazons, although I did not run as
some of my friends insisted, but walked off at a
quick pace." In subsequent years, Mr. Watson
received many generous tributes of acknowledg
ment and thanks from those who, in their progress,
had opposed his efforts to improve and embellish
the city.
It was not before i860 that the last vestige of
the original wide domain of Hendrick Halenbeck
was obliterated in this city. This consisted in the
removal of the burial ground on the southwest cor
ner of South Pearl and Hamilton streets, set apart
by Halenbeck in the middle of the last century as
a private burial ground. It was near the north

line of his farm, which extended from Plain street
to Beverkill at Arch street, where it joined the
farm of General Schuyler; the south line at Pearl
street being designated by a cannon, which re
mained in the ground until a few years ago. The
boundaries of this property east and west are un
certain, but are claimed to have extended from
Eagle street to the river. It is also claimed that
South Pearl street was laid out by Halenbeck
through his property, and given by him for a
street. Through this farm the present Grand street
was laid out in the fore part of the last century,
and called Halenbeck street. In 1829 the City
Surveyor presented to the Common Council a pro
file of this street from Hudson to Hamilton streets.
Although it had, nearly a century before, been laid
out and named, no vestige of a street had yet been
made there. A .portion of it south of Lydius street
was used only as a lane leading to the farm of
Oliver Kane (now the site of Ash grove Church),
across which swung a gate. It was laid out sixty
feet wide, as though it was expected to make it a
more important avenue than South Pearl street,
which was ihen only forty-five feet in width. In
1838 the Common Council was petitioned to have
it paved from Hudson to Lydius street. In 1835
but one house was located on this street, at the
northeast corner of Hamilton and Grand, which
stood alone like an outpost upon the western verge
of the city. All was open barren pasture and clay
hills beyond, as far as the eye could reach, and so
continued until Hamilton street was dug out, leav
ing a high wall of clay on either hand. In process
of time the name of Halenbeck street was changed
to Grand, an outrage upon the generous donor of
the land through which it originally passed.
Pavements. — From the best information, we are
led to believe that Watervliet street, which began
at Columbia, where Montgomery now is, and ran
diagonally to where Broadway and Patroon (now
Clinton avenue) intersect, was the first street paved
in Albany, the work having been begun and nearly
completed in 1793. During this and the succeed
ing year, rapid progress was made in paving streets.
The Albany Register of September 29, 1794, tells us
that the paving system had been prosecuted with
so much vigor, that only Pearl and a few cross
streets remained to complete the enterprise. Said
the Register .- "The contrast in so short a time
from one of the filthiest to one of the cleanest cities
in America is truly astonishing, and must be pleas
ing to every citizen, especially when we take in con
templation that noble extent of pavement, now near
ly completed, through the whole extent of Watervliet
street to the bridge, the very idea of which a few
years ago would have been thought to have been
the hight of madness." It was also said that prop
erty had risen in value in consequence. It was
found that a mistake had been made in paving the
sidewalks with small stones.
From 1793 to 1804 many miles of pavement
were laid. Church street, parts of Lydius, Van
Schaick, Westerlo and Sturgeon streets, and parts
of Bass and Herring lanes, and all the lots from
Court street westward to Dallius street, and from

510

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY-

Ferry street northward to the north bounds of the
church pasture, were filled up and leveled, pre
paratory to paving. In 1804 the Common Coun
cil ordered that parts of State, Lion (now Wash
ington avenue) and Washington (now South
Pearl), which remained unpaved and greatly out of
repair, should be immediately paved by the owners
and occupants; the work to be completed within
eight days after notice from the City Superintendent,
showing the rapidity with which this important
improvement in the streets was pushed at this date.
It will be almost impossible, as well as uninter
esting, to give in detail the names of the streets
(and the dates) paved from the beginning of the
present century. It "would be a task requiring
much research, and would take greater space than
we are able to use in this article. A diligent in
spection of the Common Council records will show
how rapidly the work of paving progressed in
the city after it was commenced in 1793. From
1820 to 1833, probably more miles of pavement
were completed than during any corresponding
years of the city's history. During this same pe
riod many streets were extended and many new
ones laid out. Space forbids our giving any de
tailed account of the rapid growth of the city at
this period, which the records of the Common
Council so plainly indicate.
Until the year 1869, no other kind of pavement
had been laid but the round cobblestone still so
generally used. During this year, Broadway, from
Hudson avenue to Wilson street, was repaved with
wooden blocks of Canada pine, called the Nichol
son pavement. In 1870, Hudson avenue, from
Broadway to Willett street, was paved with this
kind of pavement; and also Green street, from State
street to Madison avenue. But it was soon proved
that this style of pavement was unfit for the heavy
trucking done on these streets. After five years of
use it was substituted in Broadway by the granite
block, which in 1874 was laid from Hudson
avenue to Wilson street. The wooden pave
ment in Hudson avenue and Green street was
soon after replaced by the granite block. Since
then granite block pavement has been laid in
Western avenue, from Livingston to the Boule
vard; Ten Broeck, from Clinton avenue to Living
ston avenue ; First street, from Ten Broeck to
Hawk; Third street, from Ten Broeck to Hall
place; Hail place, from First to Third; State, from
Swan to Lexington avenue; James, from State to
Columbia; Steuben, from Broadway to Eagle; Elk,
from Eagle to Hawk; Second avenue, from Sloan
to Delavan avenue; South Pearl, from Gansevoort
to Mount Hope; Willett, from State to Madison
avenue; Columbia, from Broadway to Chapel;
North Pearl, from State to Clinton avenue; Clinton
avenue, from Broadway to North Pearl; Knox,
from Madison avenue to Morris; Steuben, from
Broadway to North Pearl. Contracts have been
let for similarly paving State, from Eagle to Lex
ington avenue; Eagle, from Spruce to Myrtle
avenue; Washington avenue, from Eagle to Lex
ington avenue; Broadway, from Hudson avenue to
South Ferry; and South Pearl, from State to Gan

sevoort. Broadway, from Wilson to Livingston
avenue is paved with the Weehawken bluestone,
the only pavement of that kind in the city.
Albany at the present time has more than forty-
eight miles of paved streets, of which about forty
miles are paved with cobblestone, and, with the work
now in progress, eight miles of granite block. In
Washington Park, a little more than a mile of
Telford, macadam road has been laid.
In 1 8 13, Albany contained about 1 1,000 persons,
having more than doubled in population in about
fifteen years, while in public and private building,
and extent and condition of its streets, it had made
even more remarkable progress. In a description
of Albany in 18 13, published in Spafford's Gaz
etteer, appears the following account of its streets
at that date:
"The principal streets of Albany are parallel
with the river, except State street, a spacious and
central one, that extends from the Hudson to the
Capitol. Court street extends from the Ferry, at the
southern extremity of the compact part, and near
the southern bounds of the city, to State street. It
has a large share of population and business.
Market street opens opposite to this, and extends
from State street to the northern bounds of the
city, though continuous, except in name. These
streets extend across the city nearly parallel with
the Hudson, between which are several streets,
less extensive, as Dock street, Quay street, etc.,
principally occupied with store-houses, shops, etc. ,
the seat of immense commercial business * * *
The public square, an open space of liberal extent,
spreads a handsome area on the east side of the
Capitol; and from the west side of this, Lion street,
spacious and level, extends westward in a right line
on a commanding plain, to the junction of the
Great Western Turnpike." The eastern end of
this turnpike, Lion street, now Washington ave
nue, from Lark street, was for a long time known
as the Bowery, now Central avenue. It has under
gone many changes. Before the completion of
the Erie Canal in 1825, it was the great thorough
fare to and from Western New York. Some of the
large store-houses until lately remaining about
Townsend Park, attest the commercial character of
the street at that time. A continuous line of
vehicles crowded its pathway every day. Em
igrants from New England to Central and Western
New York usually took this in their route. In
the zenith of the prosperity of the street the Erie
Canal was built, and the business interests of the
street were gone. In 1865 it was paved, much im
proving its character and condition.
' ' North Pearl street extends north from State
street to the northern extremity of the city, just on
the brow of the river hill, and next west of Market
street. * * * Of all the principal streets, it is
at present the most compact, populous and prob
ably, the most wealthy."
In 1823, the Daily Advertiser, to show the prog
ress the city had made in ten years, had the follow
ing: " Ten years ago and the now proud and beauti
ful Academic square was a. barren clay bank, varie-

STREETS OF ALBANY.

511

gated by an occasional saw-pit or a group of re
clining cows; then the whole of the upper part of
Columbia street was a high hill, unoccupied and
impassable as a street, and the greater part of
Chapel street was, in rainy weather, a complete
mud-hole. "Ten years ago, of the whole row of handsome
dwellings now standing on the south side of the
Capitol square, only one was erected. Then Dan
iel street did not exist, and the whole south part
of Eagle street was a most unpromising ravine.
"Ten years ago and juvenile sports used to
shoot snipe and other small game where now the
Erie Canal pours its water into the Hudson. Of
all that city which has since sprung up in that
neighborhood, not a house was then standing;
while, in the south pasture, over whose vacant
fields the various city regiments used to maneuver,
we now see orderly platoons of handsome brick
houses and battalions of streets ' dressed ' with a
beautiful regularity unattainable by their animated
predecessors. In short, every quarter of the city:
north, south, east — and even the despised west —
give tokens of sound and healthy growth."
The part of the hill on the south side of the Fort,
and West of South Pearl street, was in 1760 called
Gallows Hill. July, 1762, the Common Council
sold the land where the gallows stood in acre lots.
In the Surveyor's office is a map of this part of
Albany, entitled, "New lots laid out on Gallows
Hill." The north bounds of the city, at this date,
was the south line of Patroon street, now Clinton
avenue. Proceeding thence, southerly, we next
have Wall street, then Howe street, next Queen
street, King street. Prince street, Prideaux street,
Quiter street, Wolfe street, Pitt street, at the junc
tion of which with Duke street, now Eagle, was
Gallows Hill, where All Saints Cathedral now
stands. The above streets ran westerly. The Fort
is laid down, with its burying ground immediately
north; its walls extended north, nearly to Maiden
lane; south, to about the center of State; west, to
near Eagle; and east to Lodge street. A cemetery
occupied the block between Slate and Lancaster,
and Eagle and Hawk. The streets on the hill
running north and south were called Duke, Hawk,
Boscawen, Warren and Johnson.
Albany streets have had their names changed
frequently, and, it must be admitted, not always for
the better. In 1790 the names of several were
changed, among them the following : Duke to
Eagle, Boscawen to Swan, Warren to Dove, John
son to Lark, Gage to Swallow, now Knox; Sche
nectady to Snipe, now Lexington avenue; Scho
harie to Duck, now Robin. The next parallel
street was called Pigeon, now Perry; the next
Turkey, now Quail; the next Sparrow, now On
tario. Wali street was changed to Hare, now
Orange; Howe to Fox, now Canal; King to Lion,
and afterwards to Washington street, now Washing
ton avenue; Prince, west of Eagle, to Deer, now
State; Prideaux to Tiger, now Lancaster; Quiter,
so called to perpetuate the Indian name of Peter
Schuyler, was changed to Buffalo, now Hudson
avenue; Wolfe, named after the Hero of Quebec,

was changed to Wolf, afterwards to Lydius, now
Madison avenue; Pitt to Otter, then to Westerlo,
now Elm; Monckton to Mink, then to West Ferry,
now Myrtle avenue.
In 1805, the Common Council, in consequence
of the extension and improvement made in some of
the streets, changed the name of the following :
Kilby, which from a small alley had then become
a spacious street, extending from the Hudson River
to Washington street, now South Pearl, to the
name of Hamilton; Bone lane, which extended from
Hudson River to Green, and was to be extended
to South Pearl, to the name of Division; Cow lane,
extending from the intersection of Grass lane with
Hudson to Ludlow's property adjoining Lydius,
to the name of Liberty; Nail, extending from
Washington to Eagle, to the name of Lutheran,
now Howard; Barrack, extending from State to
the north boundary of the city, to the name of
Chapel. Since 1805 many other changes have
been made in the names of streets. Of those not
already mentioned, Capitol has been changed to
Park; Mark lane to Exchange; Middle lane to
James; Frelinghuysen to Franklin; Dock to Dean;
Bass lane to Bleecker; Store lane to Norton; Sand
to Lafayette; Van Driessen to Green; South to
Gansevoort ; High to Ten Broeck; Macomb to
Broad; Embargo alley to Dennison; Whitehall road
to Whitehall avenue, now Second avenue; Van
Vechten to Third avenue; Delaware Turnpike to
Delaware avenue; Elizabeth to Second; John to
Third; Van Schaick to Monroe; Lumber to Living
ston avenue; part of Perry to Lake avenue. Of
the present streets, Dean acquired its designation
from Captain Dean; Montgomery was named after
the heroic soldier who fell before Quebec; Steuben
obtained its title from that bluff and brave soldier
of the Revolution, who aided so much in giving dis
cipline to our army. The chivalrous Lafayette
lives in our history by like means. The Dutch
Admiral Van Tromp, who swept the sea with his
broom, has a street named to his memory, humble
though it be in its pretensions.
Street Department. — From the granting of the
Dongan Charter to 1826, the sole charge of open
ing, laying out, repairing and cleaning the streets
was vested in the Mayor and Aldermen. At the
latter date the office of Street Inspector was created.
The duties of this officer were confined to seeing
that the ordinances of the Common Council re
lating to streets were carried out, and were some
what similar to those now enjoined upon the
Street Commissioner. He receives his appoint
ment from the Common Council.
The laws relating to the superintendency and
general supervision of the streets were passed
in 1870. Under the provisions of the Charter, the
Street Department includes four bureaus : Board of
Contract and Apportionment; Bureau of Street
Commission; Bureau of Engineering and Survey
ing; and the Bureau of Lamps, Gas and Electric
Lights. The Board of Contract and Apportionment con
sists of the Mayor, the Chamberlain, the Street Com
missioner, the City Engineer and Surveyor, and the

512

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

President of the Common Council. This Board,
under the direction of the Common Council, has,
in the language of the City Charter, charge "of the
altering, regulating, grading, paving, repaving,
flagging, curbing, guttering, cleaning, opening,
draining, repairing and lighting of the streets, roads,
places, alleys, and avenues; of fencing and filling
lots; of building, repairing and lighting docks,
wharves and piers; and of the construction and re
paving of public streets, drains, roads, alleys and
bridges." This Board issues all proposals, receives
all bids, and awards all contracts for the work
ordered to be done to the streets by the Common
Council. It also apportions and assesses the cost
of street and drain improvements. The Board
appoints a Clerk, who also acts as Clerk to the
Street Commissioner. The present Cleik is Thomas
J. Lanahan.
Bureau of Street Improvements has for its
chief officers the Street Commissioner, appointed
by the Common Council on nominations by the
Mayor. The Commissioner appoints two Street
Superintendents and one Superintendent of Lamps.
The present Commissioner is Owen Golden. Street
Superintendents, Lawrence Wetzel and Michael
J. Hayden; Superintendent of Lamps, Thomas
Powers. Bureau of Engineering and Surveying. — Chief
officer, City Engineer and Surveyor, appointed by
the Common Council on nominations by the May
or. The Engineer appoints a deputy and two as
sistants, with the approval of the Mayor. The
present Engineer is Reuben H. Bingham; Deputy,
John J. O'Hara.
Bureau of Lamps, Gas and Electric. — The
chief officer of this bureau is the Street Commis
sioner, although the Superintendent of Lamps
may perform all the duties of the office.
WATER SUPPLY.
One of the most important factors in the health,
convenience and comfort of the people of any com
munity, is a sufficiency of pure and wholesome
water. At what precise date the first settlers obtained
water from other than the natural sources of the
Hudson River, or the springs and small creeks
which abounded in this region, we are unable to
learn; but that soon after the first year of settle
ment, public and private wells were built, is evident
from reference made to their existence in the very
earliest documentary records. These public wells
were supplied with water, as early as 1670, from a
fountain or pond, formed by constructing a dam
across a creek, or near the outlet of a spring on
the hill adjacent to the present Capitol. Water
was conducted from this fountain to the wells by
means of wooden spouts.
In 1686 afire occurred in thecity,and in subdu
ing it the water from the public wells, supplied in
the manner described, proved of valuable assist
ance. In the city records of August 3 ist of this year,
appears the following testimony;

" It has been found by experience that the bring
ing of water of the fountains from the hill has not
only been of great use to the inhabitants for water,
but the only means of quenching the late fire,
which otherwise, by all probability, would have
destroyed the whole town. "
The number and exact locations of the public
wells built in early Albany is difficult to determine.
In 1695, a well was built in Jonker (now State)
street. In 171 2, one was constructed in the First
Ward, about twelve yards from the east side of the
Market-house, and, at the same time, another on
the north side of Cross street, opposite the resi
dence of Gysbert Marselis. Two years later, three
were built, one in each of the three wards, but the
precise locations cannot be learned from the city
records. Besides the public wells, nearly every dwelling
had its private well. But even this apparently suf
ficient means of water supply was either inadequate,
or of a quality not fit for general use, for evidence
is abundant that river water was quite extensively
used for culinary and laundry purposes many years
prior to the beginning of this century.
The quality of the water obtained from the Al
bany wells a century ago was a matter much dis
cussed and hard to be determined.
One of the earliest writers upon Albany well
water was Peter Kalm, a Swedish naturalist, who
came to this country in 1748 on a scientific expe
dition from the University of Upsala. In giving a
detail of his researches, he thus speaks of the water
of Albany: "The water of several wells in this town was very
cool about this time, but had a kind of acid taste
which was not very agreeable. On a nearer exam
ination I found an abundance of little insects in it,
which were probably monoculi. Their length was
different; some were a geometrical line and a half;
others two, and others four lines long. They were
very narrow, and of a very pale color. The head
was blacker and thicker than the other parts of the
body, and about the size of a pin's head. The tail was
divided into two branches, and each branch termi
nated in a little black globule. When these insects
swim, they proceed in crooked or undulated lines,
almost like tadpoles. I poured some of this water
into a bowl and put near a fourth part of rum in
it; the monoculi, instead of being affected with it,
swam about as briskly as they had done in the
water. This shows that if one makes punch with
this water it must be very strong to kill the mo
noculi. I think this water is not very wholesome
for people who are not used to it, though the in
habitants of Albany who drink it every day say they
do not feel the least inconvenience from it. I have
several times been obliged to drink water here, in
which I have plainly seen monoculi swimming; but
I generally felt the next day something like a pea in
my throat, or as if I had a swelling there, and this
continued about a week. I felt such swellings this
year, both in Albany and other parts. My ser
vant, Yangstroem, likwise got a great pain in his
breast, and a sensation as from a swelling after
drinking water with monoculi in it; but whether

WATER SUPPLY.

513

these insects occasioned it, or whether it came from
some other cause, I cannot ascertain. However, I
have always endeavored to do without such water
as had monoculi in it. I have found monoculi in
very cold water, taken from the deepest wells in
different parts of this country. Perhaps many of
our diseases arise from water of this kind which we
do not sufficiently examine. I have frequently ob
served abundance of minute insects in water which
has been remarkable for its clearness. Almost
each house in Albany has its well, and the water
of which is applied to common use; but for tea,
brewing and washing they commonly take the water
of the Hudson, which flows close by the town.
This water is generally quite muddy, and very warm
in summer; and on that account it is kept in cel
lars, in order that the slime may subside, and that
the water may cool a little."
In Morse's American Geography, published in
1796, appears the following:
"The well water in this city (Albany) is ex
tremely bad, scarely drinkable by those not accus
tomed to it. It oozes through a stiff blue clay and
it imbibes in its passage the fine particles common
to that kind of soil. This discolors it, and when
exposed any length of time to the air it acquires a
disagreeable taste. Indeed all the water for cook
ing is brought from the river, and many families
use it to drink. The water in the wells is unwhole
some, being full of little insects, except in size,
like those which are frequently seen in stagnated
water." Numerous criticisms, similar to the preceeding,
may be found in the writings of many of the tour
ists who visited Albany during the latter part of the
eighteenth century. But John Maude, an English
man, made a visit to the United States in 1 800; he
says, in regard to the impurity of the water in Al
bany: "As for being obliged to use the dirty water of
the river, I will beg leave to observe to Mr. Morse
that a very great proportion of the city do not use
the river water, which said river water is far from
being dirty, rather remarkable for its purity, being
a pleasant, wholesome beverage. Great part of the
city is supplied with water from a well in the main
street, but the water is from a pump to the west
ward of the Episcopal Church. It is a water that
my palate cannot find fault with, nor my eyes
perceive in it those animalcules Kalm speaks of;
neither could I discover them in the well water."
Certain it is that no record exists tracing to the
use of Albany water any unhealthfulness of its in
habitants, or that it was the cause of any specific
disease. In 1832, cholera was especially prevalent in this
city, and many attributed it to the peculiarity of
the city well water. Accordingly the Board of
Health had the water of fourteen wells examined
by Drs. T. Romeyn Beck and Philip Ten Eyck,
two reliable and expert physicians, the latter of
whom still lives in Albany. They pronounced
them all free from any impurities which could be
injurious to health.
66

The first action taken by the Corporation of Al
bany relating to a larger and better water supply,
other than public and private wells, occurred in
1 794, when an advertisement appeared asking for
proposals for supplying the city with water by
means of an aqueduct to extend from a spring
at the Five-Mile House on the road to Albany.
No further reference to this proposed plan is found
in the city records.
In 1796 an act was passed by the Legislature to
enable the Corporation to supply the city with
water by means of conduits, which also failed to be
carried out.
The first private individual to undertake the task
of supplying the city with water was Benjamin
Prescott, who, in 1797, received from Stephen
Van Rensselaer a grant of the Maezlandt Kill.
Under Mr. Prescott's management a line of wooden
logs was laid from the fountain head. But he
must have failed to fulfill some part of the contract,
for a few years after all his rights in the Maez
landt Kill were transferred by Van Rensselaer to
the Water Company.
In 1802 the Albany Water-works Company was
incorporated, with a capital of $40,000. The orig
inal Trustees were Stephen Lush, Philip Van
Rensselaer and John Tayler. Work was com
menced almost immediately, by laying mains of
iron and- wooden logs through the principal streets.
Water was drawn from the Maezlandt Kill, which
continued to be the principal source of supply
until 1837, when this stream failed to meet the de
mands made upon it, and another source of supply,
the Middle Creek, was procured by the company.
In a few years the two streams combined were
found to be inadequate. In 1845 a part of the
Patroon's Creek was purchased from Mr. Van Rens
selaer by the Water Company. In 1 8 1 1 this com
pany built a receiving reservoir on the spot now
occupied by the High School, which was supplied
by an iron main from the Maezlandt Kill. This
main is still used, and from it consumers in North
Albany, and many upon Broadway, north of Clin
ton avenue, and North Pearl street, from Clinton
avenue to Columbia, are supplied. This water is,
in quality, what is known as very hard.
In 1844 the capital stock of the Albany Water
works Company was increased to $80,000. Dur
ing this same year, a company known as the Al
bany Hydrant Company was incorporated, with
John Townsend, John K. Paige, Bradford R.
Wood, James D. Wasson, Barnum Whipple, Rufus
W. Peckham and Peter Gansevoort as Trustees.
The latter company caused extensive surveys to be
made, with the purpose of devising a better system
of water supply; but beyond this work, nothing of
a practical nature was attempted.
For many years preceding the adoption of the
present mode of water supply, there had been a
growing sentiment among the citizens of Albany
that ' the city should own and control its own sys
tem of water-works. This sentiment culminated
in the Corporation submitting a bill to the Legisla
ture, which became a law April 9, 1850, by which
the Common Council were empowered to ap-

514

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

point five persons to be known as Water Commis
sioners; such Commissioners to consider all mat
ters relative to supplying the city with water, and
to report to the Common Council the most feasible
plan for the construction of city water-works, not
to exceed in cost the sum of $600,000, the amount
to which the Common Council was limited. The
Water Commissioners appointed under this act
were James Stevenson, Erastus Corning, John
Townsend, John Taylor and Robert E. Temple.
The Water Commissioners, soon after their ap
pointment, caused examinations to be made of the
Hudson, the Patroon's Creek, the Normanskill,
and the lakes on the Helderbergs. But finally they
settled on a plan which met the approval of the
Common Council.
The first of these means of city water supply was
carried into effect August 23, 1850, by purchasing
all the sources of supply owned by the old Water
Company for $150,000. The wooden mains of
the old company were in many instances replaced
by iron pipes; but the sources and method of ob
taining water — by the gravitation plan — was for a
number of years continued in use, the Maezlandt
Kill branch being still retained, although the
method of obtaining water from the Patroon's
Creek and Middle Creek adopted by the old com
pany had been abandoned.
A further source of supply was adopted by the
Water Commissioners and carried into effect in
1 85 1. This consisted of a dam being built about
six miles westward of the city, where three streams
met and formed the Patroon's Creek, thus creating
a body of water which has since been known as
Rensselaer Lake, covering, when full, forty acres of
land, and holding about 200,000,000 gallons of
water. This work was successfully completed
under the supervision of William J. McAlpine as
engineer. From this lake water was conducted
through a brick conduit, egg-shaped, four feet high
and nearly four miles long, to Bleecker Reservoir,
west of Ontario street, capable of holding 30,000,000
gallons. During this same year (185 1 ) two other res
ervoirs were constructed a short distance this side
of West Albany, by dams thrown across Patroon's
Creek, and called the Upper and Lower Tivoli
Lakes, the upper being for storage and subsiding,
and the lower for distribution. These were sup
plied from the water that entered the creek east of
Rensselaer Lake. A 24-inch main, about 7,000
feet long, was laid from the lower lake to the inter
section of Van Woert and North Pearl streets, at
which point the water enters the distributing mains.
Rensselaer Lake supplies, through Bleecker Res
ervoir, all that part of the city west of Pearl; Tivoli
Lakes, all east of, and including North Pearl street.
This was the system of water supply in use up to
1875, with iron mains running through all of the
principal streets east of Bleecker Reservoir.
But meanwhile, as the city grew westward, it was
found that a considerable portion of the popula
tion lived above Bleecker Reservoir, and was there
fore without water supply. In addition to this, in
consequence of an increased population east of the
BleecHer Reservoir, and the necessities of addi

tional manufactories, Rensselaer and Tivoli Lakes
failed to meet, the consumption, and, as a result,
several water famines occurred.
To remedy these defects, the Water Commission
ers, after careful examinations, aided by chemical
analysis, extensive surveys and reports of distin
guished engineers, in 1873 fixed upon the Hudson
River as the source of additional supply, as the
most exhaustive investigation proved to them that
the two principal factors — quantity and quality —
were found in this source. Their recommenda
tions were adopted by the Common Council and
their plans carried into effect in 1875.
By the system then adopted, water is taken from
the river outside the pier, opposite Quackenbush
street, where the channel current strikes. In the
center of the pier is a well-chamber, 6 feet in di
ameter and 80 feet deep. Into this the water,
screened by copper-wire, 100 meshes to the square
inch, pours through a culvert below low-water
mark. A tunnel, 5 feet in diameter and nearly
900 feet long, extends from this well-chamber,
under the basin, to the pumping works, corner of
Quackenbush and Montgomery streets. Here are
two engines capable of sending up to Bleecker
Reservoir, 245 feet above tide, 10,000,000 gallons
of water every twenty-four hours. The force-main
through which it goes is 30 inches in diameter,
7,723 feet long, and is laid under Quackenbush
street and Clinton avenue. The pumps were first
used September 14, 1875.
The completion of this means of river supply
proved most successful, and gave an abundance of
water to the people living east of Bleecker Reser
voir, but still the more elevated portions of the
city received no benefit. Accordingly, in 1878,
another reservoir, with a capacity of about 7,000,000
gallons, was built on Prospect hill, a sand-knoll
north of Central avenue and east of Colby street,
55 feet above tide. At Prospect-hill Reservoir, an
engine capable of pumping 5,000,000 gallons of
water in twenty-four hours was put in operation Feb
ruary 6, 1878, and through a 2-foot main, run
ning to a well-chamber like that on the pier,
pumps the water from Bleecker to Prospect-hill
Reservoir. Albany is at present divided into three services
of water supply: the upper service, which, from
Prospect-hill Reservoir, supplies all west of Lark
street; the middle service, which, from Bleecker
Reservoir, supplies Lark street and all east to Pearl
street; and the lower service, which, from Tivoli
Lakes, supplies Pearl street and all territory east.
With the completion of the system of securing
river water, none of the old methods of supply
were discarded, so that to-day Albany may be said
to have an abundant supply of water as unfailing
as the Hudson. Should the Tivoli Reservoir run
short, water can be sent down the creek from
Rensselaer Lake or direct from the Bleecker Reser
voir, into which the pumps at the river can send
their io,ooo,coo gallons daily. It is designed to
hold a reserve always in Rensselaer Lake, in case
an accident should occur to both engines at once,
anti to impound in each year, in the months of

STREET LIGHTING.

515

February and March, enough water to supply the
city when the river is turbid with the spring fresh
ets. When at other times impurities appear in
Rensselaer Lake, the supply from that source can
be shut off entirely and only river water be used.
Thus it is seen how complete is the system, and
how difficult to cause a complete failure of the
water supply.
Much discussion has been had in the daily
newspapers concerning the wholesomeness and
purity of the water drawn from the Hudson, and
prejudice against its use exists in the minds of
many citizens of Albany. But the Water Commis
sioners assert, on the authority of repeated analysis,
made by expert chemists, together with nine years'
daily use of the water without an epidemic, that
the water is perfectly free from objectionable or un
healthy matter, and that no city in the United
States has a better or purer supply of water than
Albany. Another feature in favor of the water-works has
been the remarkaole diminution in destructive fires
since the adoption of the present system. Previous
to 1850 Albany was scourged by several extensive
fires, notably in 1848, when $2,000,000 worth of
property was destroyed. The efficiency of the Fire
Department, aided by an unfailing source of water,
has prevented the repetition of such a catastrophe.
In 1 85 1 there were but 154 fire-hydrants, while at
present there are over 500.
Since 1851, when there were but 29^ miles of
distributing and supply mains in the city, there are
now over 80 miles of pipes. The original cost of
the works from 1850 to 1857 was $850,000. The
additional supply, including pumping works, res
ervoirs and mains, etc., $700,000; making an aggre
gate expense of $1,550,000. Of this sum, after
meeting all the expenses of maintenance, the city
has paid, up to May, 1884, $460,000, leaving a
debt of $1,090,000.
Water rents are collected the same as taxes, and
are assessed upon all real estate fronting on streets
through which the mains are laid.
By act of the Legislature of 1884, the Commis
sioners were authorized to expend $400,000.
Another pumping engine has been purchased, and
work is progressing to increase the water supply,
with special reference to the southern part of the
city. The present Water Commissioners are Visscher
Ten Eyck, Henry H. Martin, Michael Delehanty,
Erastus Corning, John M. Kimball; Superintend
ent, George W. Carpenter.
STREET LIGHTING.
The early Dutch settlers in Albany were not ac
customed to much artificial light, nor did their
simple habits of living require it. To the average
industrious burgher the approach of darkness in
summer was the signal for retiring, and at nine
o'clock the thoroughfares were usually entirely
deserted, with the exception, may be, of a belated
traveler, or the few night watchmen. The longer
evenings of winter, with little labor during the

day, were spent by the family before the blazing
light of the big grate fires of this period; the hus
band, sons or friends enjoying the soothing pleas
ure of their pipes, while the industrious wife and
daughters were engaged in spinning or knitting.
Spending thus their winter evenings, the rooms of
their dwellings were rarely illuminated by any light
save that from the blazing logs.
Tallow candles, or tallow dips, were probably
the only means used by the very earliest settlers,
when a light that could be carried about the house
was necessary; but even this mode of furnishing
light was considered a luxury, and rarely used.
Sperm and coal oil began to be used many years
after the settlement of Albany. Contrivances for
burning it were somewhat similar to those now
used in burning kerosene. But the expense of
either of these fluids made their use limited except
by the very wealthy citizens, and, with the excep
tion of gas, candles remained the principal article
for lighting dwellings until the introduction of ker
osene oil, about 1 860. The cheapness and super
ior quality of this fluid, compared to others then in
use, made it rapidy supersede candles and all other
fluids used for producing light. In 1861 it came
to be generally used all over the United States.
Coal gas was first practically used in Albany in
1845, and the present system of electric lights in
1 88 1. This embraces all the different means,
worthy of mention, used in Albany from the earliest
to the present time.
Beyond the feeble light afforded by the lanterns
of the night watchmen, the streets of Albany, from
the earliest date to 1 77 1, seem to have remained in
natural darkness during the night, as at the latter
date appears the first account in the city records
of an appropriation of money for lighting the streets.
In 1 77 1 twenty lamps were used and 150 gallons
of oil consumed.
In 1765, it was ordered by the Corporation, in
case of any alarm, outcry, attack, riot or fire, that
all citizens having houses facing on the street should
set three or more lighted candles in the front win
dow, there to remain until daybreak, and refusal
to do so subjected the offender to a fine of three
shillings. Similar orders were issued at earlier
dates, and were intended to better secure the safety
of citizens and property, although in many cases
it would seem to have been a most injudicious pro
ceeding. It was not until 1793 that the subject of lighting
the streets at night with lamps began to be agitated.
Considerable discussion in the newspapers took
place during this year.
In 1795, the number of lamps used seems to
have been much increased; for, in November of
that year, the Albany Gazette said:
"The lighting of the city begins to assume a
regular and pleasing appearance, and if the Com
mon Council would permit to be lighted at the
public expense the lamps which our private citizens
shall erect, on their paying into the public treas
ury money sufficient for the oil, our city in this re
spect would soon vie with the other principal cities
and towns in the United States."

516

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

That the number of lamps rapidly increased
from the year 1795 is evident, from the fact that
during that year 257 gallons of oil were used;
while in 1796 it amounted to 344 gallons; in
1797 to 698 gallons; and in 1801 to 1,187 gallons.
In 1800, the lamp district embraced the city
limits one-half mile westward of the Hudson
River. This territory was gradually increased as
the city extended in area. In 18 10, the expense of
street lamps amounted to about $3,000, and in
1828 the number of lamps had increased to 586.
The burning of gas made from coal, for the pur
pose of illumination, was successfully exhibited in
Albany in 1817 by Henry Trowbridge, the proprie
tor of a museum. One hundred and twenty burn
ers were used, and many people visited the place
to see the new light. Up to this date gas had
been practically introduced in but one city in the
world — London, in 1813. It was next introduced
in Paris, in 1820, and in New York in 1825.
The idea of illuminating the streets and dwell
ings of Albany by gas was attempted to be carried
out as early as 1825, when a company was incor
porated, but through lack of substantial encourage
ment, and needed capital, nothing was done. In
1833, another company was incorporated, which
also failed to accomplish anything of a practical
nature. March 27, 1 84 1, the Albany Gaslight Company
was incorporated, composed of Thomas W. Olcott,
James Stevenson, Henry L. Webb and Joel Rath
bone. The capital stock, limited to $100,000,
was not subscribed until November 13, 1844.
During this year the site of the present works, cor
ner of Arch and Grand streets, was purchased and
the erection of the necessary buildings commenced.
In 1845 the works, costing nearly $150,000, and
capable of producing 50,000 cubic feet of gas
daily, were completed, and mains to the extent of
about four miles laid through many of the principal
streets; gas being supplied to consumers for the
first time November 25th, and the streets lighted for
the first time November 10th of that year.
So satisfactory to the Corporation was this means
of street light, that in 1845 a contract was made by
the company with the city to light the streets with
gas for ten years. Similar contracts, covering an
uninterrupted period of gas supply from 1845 to
1883, were made at different times for lighting
the streets. At the latter date the present electric
light was substituted. In 1846 this company had
136 consumers and supplied 90 street lamps.
The capital has been increased by Legislative
enactment twice, and now amounts to $250,000,
while improvements have been made upon the
works to such an extent, that at the present they
are valued at the sum of $1,250,000 and are cap
able of manufacturing 100,000,000 cubic feet of
gas yearly, for which are consumed 10,000 tons of
coal. The territory supplied with gas by this com
pany includes that part of the city south of Steuben,
Canal and Eagle streets and Central avenue. In
this area 48 miles of pipe are laid, supplying over
7,500 gas consumers, and for a number of years
previous to 1883, about 1,200 street lamps.

The first President of the Company was Henry
L. Webb, and first Superintendent, Joseph Battin.
The present officers are H. H. Martin, President;
A. Van Allen, Vice-President; S. W. Whitney,
Secretary and Treasurer; Isaac Battin, Superin
tendent. For a number of years preceding 1872, a spirit of
opposition was engendered against the Albany
Gaslight Company, which had practically a mo
nopoly of the gas business of the city. This re
sulted, in 1872, in the formation of a company
called the People's Gaslight Company, which
was incorporated with a capital of $1,000,000,
although but $700,000 were ever paid in. Large
and expensive works were soon erected on
the Troy road, near North Albany. All rivalry
between the two companies was in a short time
settled by compromise, -and the city mutually di
vided between them; the People's Gaslight Com
pany receiving the territory north of Steuben and
Canal streets, above Eagle street and Central ave
nue. But either mismanagement, or that the share
of business which fell to the new company gave
inadequate returns on the large capital invested,
caused the investment to fail to pay, and in 1879
the property was sold under foreclosure of mort
gage, and purchased by George A. Wolverton and
George L. Steadman, the mortgagees, subject to a
bonded debt of $350,000. The new purchasers
soon reorganized a new company, which was in
corporated January 31, 1880, with a capital of
$500,000, under the corporate title of the People's
Gaslight Company, assuming the old works, with
its bonded indebtedness. This company has 22
miles of pipe, with facilities for producing 200,000
cubic feet of gas per day. The present officers
are George A. Wolverton, President ; George L.
Steadman, Vice-President; H. Q. Hawley, Treas
urer and Secretary; William F. Wright, Superin
tendent. Electricity, as a means of producing light, has,
during late years, reached a remarkable degree of
perfection, and has been extensively adopted in all
the larger cities of the country. In the Munici
pality of Albany this is particularly true. In most
all cases where this light is used in this city, the
electric current is produced by the Albany Electric
Illuminating Company, organized in April, ib8i.
The works of the company are situated at 71
Trinity place. Here five large engines, aggregat
ing 650 horse-power, are used to supply the neces
sary power to produce the electric current. The
streets of Albany are all lighted by electricity, the
Corporation having entered into a contract with
this company to light the streets for five years from
June 21, 1881. Four hundred and seventy-three
street lamps are now in use, which are burned on
an average ten and a half hours nightly. Besides
these, about two hundred lights are used by private
parties. These lamps are reached through eight
circuits and nearly ninety miles of wire. A system
of storage batteries is also in use in connection with
the Swan incandescent light. These batteries supply
from five to forty lights according to capacity, for
four hours each. The officers of this company are

PUBLIC PARKS.

517

W. F. Hurcomb, President; Walter Dickson, Vice-
President; J. Irving Wendell, Treasurer; Edward
A. Maher, Secretary and General Manager.
The Edison light system is used by several firms
in Albany, which employ their own motive power.
The electric light used in the State Capitol is an
independent system, and is produced by the neces
sary machinery in the building.

PUBLIC PARKS.
The beautiful portion of ground in this city
known as Washington Park, is of modern origin,
though a portion of it has been public property
since it was transferred to the city in 1686 by the
gift of His Majesty James II, being included in
the famous Dongan Charter. In 1802 the ground

LANCASTER

£> HUDSON

MAD IS 0 N

AV E N U E

WASHINGTONLFARK,

ALBASY.X.V.

_r

1. Swing.
2. Croquet Lawn.
3. Armsby Memorial.

4. Rustic Shelter
5. Meadow.
6. Refectory.

7. Fountain Shelter.
8. Terrace.
9. Deer Paddock.

10. Deer Paddock Outlook.
11. Lake House.
12. Site of proposed King Fountain.

13. Lake.
14. Foot Bridge.
15. Overlook Hill.

was set apart for the purposes of a powder-house,
and October 6, 1 806, the ground between what is
now Madison avenue and State street, and Willett
and Knox streets, was dedicated as the Middle
Public square. Three years later the fancy for
changing the names of streets became almost an
epidemic in Albany, and extended to this square,
which was rechristened Washington Square. It has
since been known as Washington Square, Wash
ington Parade Ground, and Washington Park.
The ground adjoining this section on the west was
made a public burial place in 1 800, and was used
as such for more than half a century.
The project of a public park, on an extended
scale, was not accomplished in Albany without
much discussion and opposition. The newspapers
for years discussed the theme, while many of the
leading progressive men of the city made fruitless
attempts with repeated petitions to the Common
Council, setting forth the benefits of such a public
enterprise. But in 1869, the friends of the scheme
secured the passage of the State law under which
the present attractive park was established.
This act created a Board of Park Commission
ers under whose charge the Park was constructed
and is maintained. It was passed May 5, 1869, and

set apart what was then known as the Burial
Ground property, before designated, the old Wash
ington Parade Ground, the Penitentiary Grounds,
and the Alms-house Farm. By subsequent acts
the powers of the Board were extended over the
approaches to the Park, making it possible to insti
tute the present system of boulevards.
The first meeting of the Commissioners was held
May 8th following, the Board consisting of John
Bridgford, Arthur Bott, George Dawson, Dudley
Olcott, William Cassidy, John Fair, Rufus W.
Peckham, Jr., Samuel H. Ransom, and John H.
Van Antwerp. Mr. Van Antwerp was made Pres
ident, Mr. Olcott, Treasurer, and William D. Mo-
range, Secretary. These trustees were divided into
three classes: three to serve three years, three to
serve six years, and three to serve nine years.
Their successors are appointed by the Mayor, and
serve nine years.
The plans adopted by the Board were prepared
by Messrs. Bogart & Cuyler. The grounds em
braced by these plans were included in that por
tion of the present Park bounded by Willett street
on the east, Madison avenue on the south, State
street on the north, Robin street on the west for a
distance of about 632 feet, thence running west a

§18

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OE ALBANY.

distance of about 132 feet. The development of
the plans from 1869 to 1872 were under the super
vision of R. H. Bingham as Chief Engineer, and
William S. Egerton as assistant. Since 1872, Mr.
Egerton has had charge of the designs and super
intendence. In July, 1870, work was begun, and during this
year the Washington Parade Ground was nearly
completed, having been fenced, graded, drained,
and the walks and drive-ways also laid out and
graveled. In 1871, its monuments and tenants having been
removed to the Rural and other cemeteries, the old
burial ground was laid out and thrown open as a
part of this Park. In 1873 the development of the
plans was mostly confined to that portion of the
lake sections lying between Lexington avenue and
Robin street. In 1874, the work of construction
was confined to that portion of the Park bounded,
in part, by Madison avenue and extending to Lake
avenue and Robin street, embracing an area of
some fifteen acres.
In 1880, what is known as the Knox street prop
erty, north of Madison avenue, comprising nine
acres, was purchased, its buildings removed, and
improvements made.
In 1882, more land lying on Madison and Lake
avenues was added to the Park arid improvements
begun. The gardener's cottage, propagating-houses
and storage-houses were built in 1883 upon a por
tion of the Alms-house Grounds, near the Lexing
ton avenue entrance to the Park. They continue in
charge of the faithful gardener, Michael Fink.
Western avenue, under the control of the Com
missioners, extends from near the northwest corner
of the Park to the toll-gate. It is 8, 200 feet in length,
99 feet wide, and paved to a width of 40 feet with
granite block, curbed and sewered. The sidewalks,
29^ feet, are flagged to a width of six feet, bordered
with grass, and shaded by trees 40 feet apart. In
sleighing-time, this avenue is the favorite resort of
owners of horses, and presents a lively appearance.
The improvement on this avenue was begun No
vember 16, 1876, and completed in the following
year. The Northern Boulevard extends from Western
avenue, east of the toll-gate, to the intersection of
Central and Clinton avenues, a distance of 5,525
feet. It ranges from 150 to 66 feet in width. It
is paved with a combination of the Telford and
Macadam systems, and is greatly admired by pleas
ure drivers. This road was completed in 1878.
It is intended to carry it on by Dudley Observatory,
to connect the fine drives beyond Tivoli Hollow on
the Rensselaer avenue and Loudonville and Shaker
roads. The area of the Park is nearly eighty-two acres.
It contains three miles of the best possible drive
ways and six miles of walks. Park lake is 1,600
feet long; average width, 136 feet; area, 5 acres.
It is well supplied with boats for summer, and the
ice is kept cleared of snow in winter for the throngs
of lively skaters who frequent it on pleasant even
ings. Music from our best band musicians, from
the lake-house, adds its charms on many an evening

in summer. The drives and walks are frequented
by all classes. It is the gymnasium and breathing
place of the city.
The special features of the Park, aside from its
charming landscape, with hills, dales, lake and
lawn tastefully laid out, are its noble elms and
other trees, many of which were there many years
before the Park was located. Works of art, it is
hoped, will ere long adorn the grounds. The late
Henry L. King bequeathed $20,000 for the erec
tion of a fountain, yet to be seen. The statue of
Ceres is well enough, but the Armsby memorial bust
is bad apology for neglecting one of our noblest
citizens, Dr. James H. Armsby.
The Park lies west of the Capitol about one mile,
and on an elevation about two hundred feet above
the Hudson. It is surrounded more and more
every year by handsome residences, owned and oc
cupied by some of Albany's best citizens.
The total cost of Washington Park, including
the Northern boulevard, city parks improved and
maintained since 1881, and all lands bought by
the Commissioners for construction, maintenance,
etc., to January 1, 1885, is $1,366,878.89. The
real estate and construction of Washington Park
and Western avenue cost $1,073,020.91.
Academy Park, in front of Albany Academy, is
a delightful spot, consisting of about two acres of
sloping ground, adorned with majestic shade trees.
It was placed in the hands of the Park Commission
ers in 1881, and improved at a cost of $4,306 the
following year.
Townsend Park is located at the intersection of
Washington and Central avenues. It was first in
closed with a fence in 1833, and was named in
honor of Hon. John Townsend, a most worthy
man, formerly Mayor of the city. Area, 20,700
square feet.
Bleecker Park is a small triangular inclosure in
front of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Concep
tion. It was inclosed by an iron fence in 1835,
the city appropriating $1,000, the remainder be
ing raised by subscriptions. It contains the first
public fountain erected in Albany, the gift of
William Fleming, dedicated in July, 1863. Area
16,275 square feet.
Clinton Park, named in honor of De Witt Clin
ton, is located on North Pearl, near Clinton avenue.
Area, 16,415 square feet. Its cross-walk is more
convenient than ornamental.
Delaware square, east of Lark street and ad
jacent to Penitentiary Grounds, has an area of
64,000 square feet. It has no inclosure or other
improvements. Capitol Park embraced the well-trodden and
shaded ground in front of what was the Old Capitol .
It is included in the ground in front of the New
Capitol and contains 99,000 square feet.
Hudson avenue Park, is a small plot of shaded
and path-traversed land on Hudson avenue, near
Broadway, with an area of 10, 851 square feet.
Beverwyck Park, located between Washington
avenue, Ontario and Partridge streets, contains
about five acres.

STREET RAILWAYS.— FIRE DEPARTMENT.

519

Van Rensselaer Park, west of Ten Broeck, north
of Second street, has an area of 42,400 square
feet St. Joseph's Park, West of Ten Broeck, north of
First street, near St. Joseph's Church, has an area
of 42,900 square teet.
The total area of the small parks of the city is
about fourteen acres. They are all, with the ex
ception of Capitol Park, under the control of the
Park Commissioners. The present Park Commis
sioners are Erastus Corning, R. Lenox Banks,
John G. Farnsworth, John H. Van Antwerp,
Dudley Olcott. Robert C. Bruyn, Grange Sard,
Charles J. Buchanan and John H. Farrell.
Dudley Olcott is President, and W. S. Egerton,
Secretary, Engineer and Surveyor.
STREET RAILWAYS.
The Albany horse-railway system is operated
and controlled by two companies: The Broadway
and the Lumber District roads by the Watervliet
Turnpike and Railroad Company, and all the
remaining lines by the Albany Railway Company.
The Watervliet Turnpike and Railroad Company
was incorporated April 15, 1862, with a capital of
$240,000. All the rights and privileges at this
time possessed by the Watervliet Turnpike Com
pany were purchased by the railroad company.
Work on the proposed route from South Ferry,
by way of Broadway to the Lumber District, was
commenced soon after the incorporation of the com
pany, and completed in the following year. The
first car was run over this route — the first horse-car
railway in Albany — June 22, 1863. In 1864 this
road was extended to ihe Albany Cemetery, and in
1865 to Green Island.
This company has at present 7 \ miles of double
track, extending from South Ferry to Green Island,
and one mile of single track, from Broadway to the
Lumber District. Twenty-seven cars are used,
necessitating the use of one hundred and fifty horses
and about seventy-five employees, embracing con
ductors, drivers and trackmen.
The officers of the road are John Cary, Vice-
President; Thomas P. Way, Treasurer and Sec
retary; Amos Free, Superintendent. The affairs of
the road are controlled by a Board of Directors,
which at present is composed of the following
members: Charles Newman, James B. Jermain,
Dudley Olcott, J. W. Tillinghast, Evert Evertson,
F. A. Fayles, R. H. King and A. A. Sumner.
The office of this company is at North Albany.
North Albany, the Cemetery, Old Men's Home,
Island Park and Watervliet Arsenal are reached by
this line of street cars.
Albany Railway.— The Albany Railway Com
pany was organized and incorporated September
14, 1863, with a capital of $100,000. Its firstdirec-
tors and officers, many of whom are now dead,
numbered some of the most reliable business men
of Albany. These Directors were James Kidd, George
Dawson, John K. Porter, Eli Perry, Hugh J.
Hastings, C. W. Armstrong, John Tracey, Thomas
Kearney, H. Crandall,G. I. Arnsdell, M, Dejehanty,

Paul Cushman and A. Van Vechten. President,
James Kidd; Secretary, John W. McNamara; Engi-
neer.Samuel McE I roy; Superintendent, Henry Mix.
In the winter of 1863-64, work upon the new road
was commenced on what is known as the State
street route — extending from Broadway through
State, Washington, and Central avenue to Knox
street — and completed in February of this year, the
first car runing over this route February 22, 1864.
In 1865 this line was extended to West Albany.
At the same time a road was built through South
Pearl to Kenwood.
The next extension was make in 1866, from
State to Van Woert on Pearl street. In 1873, what
is known as the Clinton avenue line was completed.
This route extends from North Pearl street up
Clinton avenue, through Lexington avenue to Cen
tral avenue. In 1875, what is known as the Hamil
ton, street line was completed to Lexington avenue.
In 1877, this route was extended to Quail street,
and in 1885, to Partridge street.
The capital of this company has been increased
twice — in 1 869 and 1873, and now amounts to $200, -
000. In the first report made to the Railroad Com
missioners in 1865, this company had if miles
of double track and 5| miles single track, 12 cars,
and 69 horses. From a like report made in 1884,
we find the following: four miles double track, 18
miles single track, 44 cars, and 2 1 5 horses.
The present Directors are A. B. Banks, T. J.
Cornell, Michael Delehanty, Willliam H. Johnson,
Daniel Manning, William P. Prentice, John W Mc
Namara, Robert C. Pruyn, Joseph T. Rice, S. W.
Rosendale, Philip Ten Eyck, A. Van Vechten, Isaac
Waldman. President, Treasurer and Superintendent,
John W. McNamara; Secretary, James H. Manning.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
There is an old record of the existence of fire
officers in Albany as early as October 15, 1694,
called "Brant-masters."
"It is ordered, and found very Requisite y* ye
Aldermen of each respective Ward shall cause
to be made two Brantleere [fire ladders], a greate
one and a little one, with yron hooks, and y' in
time of one month, and cause to be brought to a
ready place in case of any occasion whatsome ever,
and then to bring in their accounts."
As early as December 7, 1 706, the city had a
kind of primitive fire department, consisting of
what were called ' ' Fyre-masters. " Says the Council
record :
"It is resolved that the following Persons be
appointed Fyre-masters for y" ensuing yeare, until
ye 19th of October next: William Hogan, Anthony
Coster, William Jacobse, Joh8 Claese, Jan Evertse
and Jacobus Schuyler, who are to view ye chim-
neyes where are fyres within y" city, and oyer
inconvenient places, one each fourteen nights;
and where they find chimneys extraordinary foule,
to fine y" owner in ye summe of three shillings,
and where fyres kept in unconvenient places, dan
gerous to take fyre, tQ cause such fyre to be
broak doune."

530

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

These "Fyre-masters," with like powers and du
ties, were appointed for many successive years.
In 1726, the Common Council ordained that
if any person appointed fire-master refused or
neglected to serve, a fine of thirty shillings was
imposed for each offense. That year the following
persons were appointed:
Joh's Defreest, Egbert Bratt, Teunis Slingerlandt,
Gelyn Verplank, Gerret Lansing, Peter P. Schuyler.
At a meeting of the Common Council, November
24, 1730, it was ordered that "hooks and ladders
be made with all speed, and kept within con
venient places within the city for avoiding the peril
of fire."
December 22, 1731, the Common Council re
solved to purchase a fire engine, and on February
22, 1732, the city fathers resolved to purchase
the Richard Newsham engine, fifth size, with six
feet suction-pipe and forty feet leather hose-pipe.
In due time the engine was received in the city
with great rejoicing. It was an object of greater
curiosity, and gave a greater sense of security and
satisfaction, than the arrival, over a century after
wards, of the first fire-steamer. It protected the
city against fire for many years.
In 1743, Robert Lansing, Barnardus Hartsen
and Michael Bassett were appointed managers of
the engine in case of fire, and were directed to
be always ready upon any occasion when it might
be wanted. They were each to make a key to
open the lock of the shed where the engine stood,
and to place the keys in some part of their houses
where they might be found when they were
absent; and they were each to receive for their
services a skepple of wheat each per year.
The shed where the engine was kept, stood on
the ground now known as the corner of Beaver
and South Pearl streets. This was the first fire
engine brought to the City of Albany.
In 1763, an engine was purchased by Harmse
Gansevoort in England, at a cost of $397.50.
This, probably, was the second fire engine ordered
by the city.
In 1792, another engine was owned -by the city;
for the times, a very superior machine, one of the
only two manufactured by the elder John Mason,
in Philadelphia. Its mate was, for a long time,
in possession of the Diligent Fire Company of
that city. The engine-house in 1792 was at
the north-west corner of the old English Church
on State street.
In 1793, ranks were formed of people, consist
ing of two lines opposite each other, one to pass
the water to the fire and the other to return the
empty buckets. It was not uncommon to see
both young and old, male and female, in the ranks.
In those days every house was required to have
three leather water-buckets hanging in its hall.
Incase of fire the inmates were required not only
to bring them to the scene of the disaster, but
were compelled to go into the ranks. A fire
engine was a novelty in those days. Albany with
5,000 inhabitants boasted of two — one could
scarcely be called an engine. The largest one
was about as powerful as our present garden

engines, and the other, which was called a house
engine, was so light as to be easily carried by one
man. The engines were filled by buckets and
the water thrown by a pipe.
In 1839, a bell was directed to be placed in
the cupola of the jail to be rung in case of fire.
The expenditures of the Fire Department for six
years ending May 1, 1840, were as follows: 1835,
$3,477-i6; 1836, $5,679.69; 1837, $6,847-94;
1838, $3,834.60; 1839, $4,107.98; 1840, $10,-
950.30. March 6, 1843, the Common Council passed a
law regulating the duties of Chief Engineer, and
fixed his salary at $600 per annum.
In January, 1846, the Chief Engineer of the
Fire Department reported that Albany had eleven
engine companies, two hook and ladder companies,
one hose company, and one ax company. In 1845
there had been forty-two fires and twenty-one
alarms; loss of property $57,232, on which was
insured $43,252.
The Common Council, October 2, 1848, favored
paying firemen $30 per year, and appointing a
Chief Engineer with a salary of $700, to devote
all his time to the duties of the office.
On the 27th of November, a new fire law was
passed entirely reorganizing the fire department.
It was ordered also that no wooden building,
wholly or partially covered with wood, should
thereafter be erected in any part of Albany east
of Lark street; and that eaves, cornices and gut
ters should be made of metal.
The amount expended by the Fire Department
for the year ending May 1, 1850, was $20,476.47.
Of this $2,528.57 were for the Hose Depot, $1,-
303.58 for new hose, and $890 for fire police.
In September, 1852, the first use of a fire anni-
hilator in Albany was satisfactorily made at a fire
which destroyed but one building. The amount
for the year ending November 1, 1852, for the Fire
Department amounted to $16,178.92.
In the year 1856, the losses by .fire in Albany
amounted to the sum of $72,200.
The number of fires from July ist to December
27, was 27; alarms, 13; false alarms, 8; losses,
$26,285. During the corresponding period of
1856 there were 12 fires; 8 alarms; 3 false alarms.
Losses, $72,200.
June 30, 1858, the Chief Engineer reported 37
fires during the past year; 2 1 alarms; and 7 false
alarms, making sixty-five times the department
had been called out. The amount of property
destroyed was $45,064, of which $34,149 was in
sured. September 29th, a firemen's jubilee was held in
Albany for three days. About three thousand fire
men from six different States came to the city;
from Detroit, Providence, and Newark. Exempt
firemen to the number of 200, drew old "No. 4."
The old men became so enthusiastic as to cause
much sport. Becoming inspired with their old
ardor and giving the old cry " Hi yi ! give way boys!
give way!" they dashed up State street, calling out
hearty cheers from the young firemen and the
spectators.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

521

On August 9, 1859, a resolution was passed au
thorizing the sale of the old fire apparatus, with
the exception of two old engines and two hose-
carts. The report of the Chief Engineer for the year end
ing January 1, 1 860, shows there were 10 fires where
companies were in service; 18 where companies
were not in service; false alarms, 8; amount of
properly destroyed, $11,537; insurance, $7,362.
Fire Department expenses for the year ending No
vember 1, 1861, were $18,641.55.
April 23, 1 86 1, a resolution was passed by the
Common Council granting members of the several
engine, hose, and hook and ladder companies
who might join any military organization to main
tain the integrity of the Union, their full time dur
ing their absence.
During the year ending June 30, 1863, the
Report of Chief-Engineer James McQuade shows
there were 29 fires; 20 alarms; and 3 false alarms;
amount of property destroyed $19,350, all covered
by insurance.
On July 13, 1863, the City Council authorized
purchasing a steam fire engine to be located on
Capitol Hill, at a cost not to exceed $3,500.
On April 25, 1864, J. C. Cuyler, William Mix,
Jr., William J. Shankland, Edward Leslie, James
Allen, William G. Weed, Jacob Fredenrich, Theo
dore J. Cuyler, Oscar L. Hascy, J. Owen Moore,
William A. Sumner, Frank W. Vosburgh, John
A. Goeway, Robert Harris, William H. Reid,
Henry L. Wait, Ed. A. Clapp, Charles F. Clapp.
John S. Dickerman, Harris Parr, George E. La
tham, Thomas Hastings, Andrew G. White, James
D. Wilson, Theodore S. Comstock, Daniel Don
caster, William H. Taylor, James Main, John
Mahan, and Henry Lansing were appointed fire
men as members of the Beayerwyck Steam Fire
Engine Company.
J. C. Cuyler was made fireman of the company;
William Mix, Jr., First Assistant; William J.
Shankland, Second Assistant; and Edward Leslie,
Clerk. Chief-Engineer James McQuade, in a petition to
the Common Council in January, 1865, stated that
experience had proved beyond question that steam
engines must supersede those worked by hand.
All the principal cities and many large villages had
introduced steamers, and hand engines had been
abandoned. He also suggested that horses should
be substituted in doing the drag work, as the force
of men required to drag an engine to a fire was
beyond the number obtainable.
Albany in 1865 had three steamers: the James
McQuade, the Putnam, and the Thomas Kearney.
February 19, 1865, it was resolved to pay each
of the engineers of the several steamers the sum of
$75 per month; firemen and drivers to be allowed
$45 per month.
The amount paid by the city on account of the
Fire Department for the year ending November 1,
1865, was $34,016.02.
March 29, 1867, an Act to Reorganize the
Fire Department of the City of Albany became a
law. — The provisions of this law, with subse

quent amendments, are easily accessible to every
citizen. On February 19, 1872, the act reorganizing the
Department was amended by the Legislature in
some particulars
The powers and duties of the Chief Engineer of
the Fire Department are very large and responsible.
These duties are now, and have long been, most
ably performed by James McQuade.
In 1870 the number of alarms was 60; number
of fires in which the Department was in service, 23.
There were six Steam Fire Companies; two Truck
Companies, and 1,800 feet of hose in the Hose
Depot. Gongs were placed in the residence of each As
sistant Engineer. The working of this alarm tele
graph did not fail in a single instance in transmit
ting the alarm during the year, giving sure evidence
of its great value as a rapid agent for conveying fire
alarms and preventing destruction by fire through
delays. In February, 1870, the incorporated Fire De
partment leased the pleasant and commodious
rooms in the City Building, which have been com
fortably furnished with every convenience and
comfort. On September 2, 1870, the horses attached to
steamer No. 6 became unmanageable while coming
down Hudson avenue and ran away. Mr. Andrew
McGraw, the driver in charge, nsed every exertion
to check them, without success. They continued
at a furious rate to the dock, and dashed into the
basin carrying the driver and steamer with them.
The horses were drowned, and the steamer so badly
damaged as to render it necessary to send it to
Amoskeag Works to be rebuilt; it was placed in
perfect order and returned to the city in two
months. Mr. McGraw was not injured, although
the shock was a very severe one to him.
In the year 1875, the Board of Fire Commis
sioners was as follows:
Hon. Edmund L. Judson, Mayor, President, ex
officio; Philip O'Brien, George E. Latham, Garret
A. Van Allen, Thomas Austin; J. C. Cuyler,
Secretary. Engineers. — James McQuade, Chief Engineer;
J. C. Griffin, George E. Mink, John C. Mull,
William K. Clute, Assistants.
Fire Alarm Telegraph. — William J. Cull,
Superintendent; John M. Carroll, Assistant-Super
intendent; John H. Nelson, James B. Finn, Oper
ators; John Wilson, Janitor.
The losses by fire during the year aggregated
$335,000. Nearly all the fires were of incendiary
origin. During this year incendiarism was more extensive
than at any time since the organization of the
Department. The boldness of these crimes exhib
ited daring and recklessness of most alarming
character. The most earnest efforts of Chief
McQuade and the police were made to detect and
bring to justice the perpetrators of these dastardly
deeds. The loss by fire in the building corner of
Green street, occupied by Rathbone, Sard & Co. —

522

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

which was an act of bold incendiarism as was ever
committed in this city — exceeded $100,000.
The Protective Association, an honor and a
source of untold safety in the protection of prop
erty, was organized and supported by the insurance
interests.
. In 1880, we find :
Insured losses on real and personal property. . $137,299.09
Uninsured,, „ ,, ,, 15,806.64

Total loss  |i53.l6S-73
Annual cost of maintaining Fire Department,
$74,677.96; total number of men employed by
Fire Department, 221; area covered by Fire De
partment, 14^7 square miles; population of Albany,
100,000. Nine lives were lost by fire during the
year. On November 22, 1880, Steamer Company No.
5 was suspended, by order of Chief McQuade, for
neglect in the performance of duty at a fire. Not
one of the members, except the foreman, appeared
at the fire. On December 13, the company was
re-organized, with John J. Mee, the former foreman,
reappointed. The Insurance Patrol is of great value to the
Department, and it is noticeable with what
promptness Captain Foster has responded to all
calls, as is the activity of the officers and mem
bers of the company when in service.
The total insurance on the Fire Department
property amounts to  $59,350.06
The receipts from all sources for the fiscal year
ending October 31, 1880  71,517.60
Total  $130,876.60
Disbursements for the year ending October 31,
1880  $74,677.96
Indebtedness of year ending October 31, 1879 10,596.61
Total expenditures  $85,274.57
Steamer companies of Albany are as follows:
Steamer Comapny No. 1, 12 members, 236 Wash
ington avenue; Steamer Company No. 2, 16 mem
bers, 157 Livingston avenue; Steamer Company
No. 3,15 members, 895 Broadway; Steamer Com
pany No. 4, 15 members, 69 Hudson avenue;
Steamer Company No. 5, 14 members, 289 South
Pearl street; Steamer Company No. 6, 1 5 members,
Jefferson, corner Swan street; Steamer Com
pany No. 7, 16 members, Clinton avenue,
corner Ontario street; Steamer Company No.
8, 16 members, Broadway, corner North First
street, North Albany; Truck Company No 1,
22 members, 57 Westerlo; Truck Company No.
2, 23 members, 126 Clinton avenue; Insur
ance Patrol, 9 members, 41 Hudson avenue; Hose
Depot, 133 Hamilton street; Repair Shop, 34 Plain
street. Fire Alarm Telegraph Central Station, City
Building, South Pearl street, corner Howard.
During the year ending October 31,1882, there
were forty-two alarms of fire; the total loss, $147,-
970.05. Fire-alarm Bell in City Hall. — The question for
a fire-alarm bell became a very interesting one in

the year 1882, during the erection of the new City
Hall. For some time the bell in the Second Reformed
Church on Beaver street was used as a fire-alarm
bell. The congregation having moved into their
new edifice, the Department lost the use of one of
the best alarm bells in the city.
No provision had been made for a bell in the
imposing tower of the new City Hall. The Board
of Fire Commissioners, by authority of the City
Council, purchased of Meneely & Co., of Troy, a
bell seventy inches at mouth, fifty and one-half
inches in height, five and one-tenth inches thick
ness, of sound bore. Weight, 7,049 pounds.
This bell exceeds in size, weight and volume of
sound, any bell in the city. It was hoisted to its
place in the tower October 28, 1882. Within
two weeks after, the attachment to the fire-alarm
circuit was made.
The fire-alarm telegraph was first put in operation
in Albany in 1868.
The Board of Fire Commissioners in 1884. —
Hon A. Bleecker Banks, Mayor, President, ex
officio, Thomas D. Coleman, Andrew B. Uline,
John McEwen, James H. Lyman, Dennis A.
Ronan; Andrew B. Uline, Secretary; Lewis J.
Miller, Clerk.
James McQuade, Chief Engineer; Joseph C.
Griffin, John C. Mull, George E. Mink, William
K. Clute, Assistants.
From the Annual Report of the Fire Commis
sioners ending October 31, 1884, we gather the
following: the financial standing of the Depart
ment is in a very favorable condition; the annual
expenses are about $85,000.
TheCompanies, having ten steamers, consist each
of a foreman whose salary is $300 per annum; eight
members at $200 each. The three Truck Compa
nies have twelve members each, at $200 per annum.
The permanent employees are an engineer, $1,080;
fireman, $720; driver, $720, to each engine; a
tileman, $720; and driver, $720, to each truck.
The whole force, including the telegraph depart
ment, numbers 145.
There are ten steamers, of which Nos. 9 and 10
are reserves, and, with the exception of the two
latter, were made at the Amoskeag Works, in Man
chester, N. H., and with their hose-carts are valued
at $5, 1 50 each. The trucks, valued at $2, 2 50 each,
are drawn by horses worth $300 each, of which
there are thirty. The property of the Fire Depart
ment is valued as follows:
Apparatus  $45 000
Fire-alarm telegraph, apparatus fixtures
and supplies  56 000
Furniture, fixtures, etc  26 000
Hose, fixtures, leather, tools, etc  28 000
Horses, harness, etc  14 000
Real estate  135 000
Repair Shop and Supply Department ... 6 000
Total  $310 000
The fire record of the year was below the average
in total losses. The record of incendiarism has
also been less.

THE ERIE CANAL AS RELATED TO ALBANY.

523

The salaries of the officers are as follows:
Chief Engineer, $3,000 per annum; Secre
tary, $1,000; Clerk, $720; Superintendent
Fire-alarm Telegraph, $1,500; Superintendent
Hose and Supply Depot, $1,200; Relief Engin
eer, $1,080; Veterinary Surgeon, $600.
The amount of insurance on the property of the
Department is $62,850.
The Hose Depot is one of the most attractive
adjuncts of the Fire Department. The hose, with
extra tenders, wheels, fuel, etc., and extras of all
kinds, are stored. The hose is all brought to
ihe depot after a fire and is washed and dried, a
constant supply being always on hand in case of
need. The Relief Fund, incorporated in 1883 for the
relief of disabled firemen, consists of the Mayor,
the Fire Commissioners and the Chief of the De
partment as the body corporate. The fines paid
by firemen are placed in this fund, and are increased
by voluntary subscription. It now amounts to
about $2,000.
The fire-alarm telegraph was first operated in
Albany in June, 1868. There are now seventy-
seven alarm-boxes, seven church bells, the City
Hall bell, and the engine and truck houses con
nected with this office by over seventy miles of
wire. The hammers and striking machinery are
independent of the tongues and ropes of the several
bells. The wires are tested every twenty minutes
in the twenty-four hours. There is also an exten
sive telephone service in connection with all engine-
houses. We may say, without question, that the City of
Albany has great confidence in all the officers and
men of its Fire Department, trusting fully in their
courage, skill, and fidelity.

THE ERIE CANAL AS RELATED TO
ALBANY.
In the early development of the canal system of
this State, many citizens of Albany took a promi
nent part. The first company formed to improve
the inland navigation of this State was called the
Western Inland Lock Navigation Company. It
was incorporated March 30, 1792. The object, as
stated in the act of incorporation, was to open a
water communication between the southern, north
ern and western parts of this State. This was to be
accomplished by a system of lock navigation from
the Hudson River to Lakes Ontario and Seneca.
Another company was formed called the Northern
Inland Lock Navigation Company, to open naviga
tion between the Hudson River and Lake Champ
lain. The Commissioners in Albany to receive
subscriptions to the stock of $250,000, of each
company, were Abraham Ten Broeck, John Tay
ler, Philip S. Van Rensselaer, Cornelius Glen and
John Ten Broeck. The first Directors of the West
ern Company were Philip Schuyler, Leonard
Gansevoort, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, Elkanah
Watson, John Tayler, Jellis A. Fonda, William

North, Goldsbro Banyar, Daniel Hale, John
Watts, Walter Livingston, Dominic Lynch and
James Watson. The Directors of the Western Com
pany were Philip Schuyler, Abraham Ten Broeck,
John Williams, Stephen Van Rensselaer, Jacobus
Van Schoonhoven, John Van Rensselaer, Abraham
G Lansing; Cornelius Glen," Henry Quackenbos,
Robert R. Livingston, Philip Livingston, James
Duane and Abraham McComb.
The plans as attempted to be carried out by these
companies were not very successful, but an account
of their efforts does not exclusively belong to a his
tory of Albany County. This brief reference to them
is given to show the large percentage of Albany ca
pitalists who were interested in them and who were
ever ready to lend their influence and wealth in
promoting the commerce of the State.
In 1 8 10, the Legislature resolved that the agricul
tural and commercial interests of the State required
that the inland navigation, from the Hudson River to
Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, should be improved and
completed on a scale commensurate with the great
advantages to be derived from the accomplishment
of that important object. Doubting the resources
of the Western Inland Lock Navigation Company
to be adequate to such improvement, the Leg
islature appointed Governeur Morris, Stephen Van
Rensselaer, De Witt Clinton, Simeon DeWitt, Will
iam North, Thomas Eddy and Peter B. Porter,
commissioners for exploring the whole route, and
to examine the outlet to Oneida Lake, with a view
to deepening the channel to prevent inundations.
The opening of hostilities between this country
and Great Britain two years later, put an end to
this contemplated improvement.
No city on the line of the Erie Canal has been
more directly benefited by the opening of this
great water thoroughfare than the City of Albany;
nor was there a place, in the beginning of this
great undertaking, which furnished more men of
brains, character and wealth, who largely contrib
uted to push forward this great work.
There may be some question as to who first con
ceived the scheme of connecting the waters of Lake
Erie with the Hudson. Joel Barlow, a New Eng
land poet, as early as 1787, published a poem
called "The Vision of Columbus," from which is
quoted lines that seem prophetic of our grand canal
system. Certain it is, the poem was published
when that magnificent project of the Erie Canal, if
it had any other place than in the imagination of
a poet, was probably regarded as the visionary
chimera of an enthusiast. But the printed scheme
of the poet may have awakened the attention of
some strong mind to undertake the task of carry
ing out what we now behold in successful opera
tion, foreshadowed in these words :
" He saw, as widely spread the unchanneled plain,
Where inland realms for ages bloomed in vain,
Canals, long winding, ope a watery flight,
And distant streams, and seas, and lakes unite.
"From fair Albania, tow'rd the falling sun,
Back through the midland, lengthening channels run,
Meet the far lakes, the beauteous towns that lave,
And Hudson joined to broad Ohio's wave."

524

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Almost as early as the publication of this poem,
Elkanah Watson, born on Plymouth Rock, con
ceived the practicability of a canal from Albany to
Lake Erie. In 1804, writing to Peleg Wadsworth,
the revolutionary general and Member of Congress,
he says: "The dream of connecting the great
lakes with the Hudson has been my leading hobby
since 1788. Mr. Adams considered me an enthu
siast in this vast object, and that the mania had
seized upon me with such force as to endanger a
due attention to my own interests, and cautioned
me as a friend to moderate my zeal. "
A writer in the Albany Daily Advertiser, under
the signature of Verdicius, ascribes the scheme of
uniting the Hudson River to Lake Erie by a nav
igable canal to Elkanah Watson, offering in proof
the private journal of Mr. Watson, during a tour
from Schenectady to Geneva in 1791, when he care
fully explored the ground, streams and small lakes
lying on the route. This journey is said to have
been made with a view of recommending to public
notice the project of uniting ihe two waters. The
progressive spirit, activity and energy of Mr. Wat
son, united with the testimony of his contemporaries,
force us to regard him as the man whose mind orig
inated the Erie Canal.
In this article we merely endeavor to give a
proper historic prominence to Albany, whose
leading citizens were so active in the canal pro
ject, and who helped to carry it to a successful
completion. Mr. Watson awakened many other citizens of
Albany to a belief in the practicability of this canal,
and who aided with their influence and wealth to
make its completion possible. Among them were
the Van Rensselaers and Schuylers, John and
Isaiah Townsend.
February 7, 1 8 1 6, a meeting was called at the
Tontine Coffee-House to urge the subject of a
canal upon the people and the Legislature, signed
by Archibald Mclntyre, James Kane, John Wood-
worth, William James, Charles E. Dudley, Dudley
Walsh, Barent Bleecker, John Van Schaick, Rens
selaer Westerlo and Harmanus Bleecker. A com
mittee was appointed in each ward to secure signa
tures to a memorial to the Legislature. This
seems to have been the first organized effort on the
part of the citizens to promote this scheme. In
April following, an act was passed to "provide for
the improvement of the internal navigation of this
State." Under this act Stephen Van Rensselaer, De Witt
Clinton, Samuel Young, Joseph Ellicott and Myron
Holley were appointed Commissioners ' ' to con
sider, devise and adopt such measures " as might
or should be "requisite to facilitate and effect the
communication, by means of canals and locks,
between the navigable waters of the Hudson River
and Lake Erie, and the said navigable waters and
Lake Champlain."
The report of this commission was the subject
of much contest in the next Legislature, and the
act authorizing the construction of the canal was
not passed until the last day of the session, April
15, 1817.

October 8, 1823, the first boat passed through the
completed portion of the canal, east of Genesee
River, into the Hudson. The appearance of this
stranger was greeted by many demonstrations of joy.
Although the great work was not completed, the
people of Albany determined to celebrate the event
with appropriate ceremonies. The Common Coun
cil appointed a committee, consisting of Aldermen
Gibbons, Baldwin, Humphrey, Cassidy, Ten Eyck,
and the Chamberlain, who had charge of the arrange
ments. Solomon Van Rensselaer was Marshal of the
day. At sunrise a national salute was fired and the
bells rung. A large military and civic parade was an
important feature of the celebration. Business gen
erally was suspended, and the entire population of
the city and thousands of strangers seemed to have
joined in the celebration. Speeches were delivered
by the Mayor, Charles E. Dudley, Ex-Governor De
Witt Clinton and many others.
Cadwallader Colden thus describes the scene pre
sented on this occasion: " The pencil can do no
justice to the scene presented on the fine autumnal
morning when the Albany lock was first opened.
Numerous steamboats and river vessels, splendidly
dressed, decorated the beautiful amphitheatre formed
by the hills which border the valley of the Hudson
at this place; the river winding its bright stream
far from the north and losing itself in the distance
to the south; the islands it embraced; the woods
variegated by the approach of winter, a beauty pe
culiar to our climate; the wreathed arches and
other embellishments which had been erected for
the occasion, were all objects of admiration. A
line of canal-boats, with colors flying, bands of
music, and crowded with people, were seen com
ing from the north and seemed to glide over the
level grounds which hid the waters of the canal
for some distance, as if they were moved by en
chantment. " The first boat that entered the lock was the
De Witt Clinton, having on board Governor Yates,
the Mayor and Corporation of Albany, the Canal
Commissioners and Engineers, the committees and
other citizens. One, not the least attractive part of
the scene, was filled with ladies. The cap-stone of
the lock was laid with Masonic ceremonies by the
fraternity, who appeared in great numbers and in
grand costume.
¦' ' The waters of the West and of the ocean were
then mingled by Dr. Mitchell, who pronounced an
epithalamium upon the union of the river and the
lakes, after which the lock-gates were opened, and
the De Witt Clinton majestically sunk upon the
bosom of the Hudson.
"She was then towed by long lines of barges past
the steamboats and other vessels to a wharf at the
upper end of the city, where those gentlemen who
were embarked on board the canal-boats landed,
and joined a military and civic procession, which
was conducted by a large stage, fancifully deco
rated, erected for the occasion in front of the Cap
itol." The system of canal navigation, as at this time com
pleted, soon proved the wisdom of its originators.
I During the summer of 1824 and 1825, with occa-

THE ERIE CANAL AS RELATED TO ALBANY.

525

t sional interruptions, arising from repairs and plac
ing of new structures, the City of Albany began to
realize the benefits of canal navigation, and the
daily announcement of the arrival and departure of
canal-boats in the public journals, indicate the im
portance that was attached to this great channel of
commerce. October 26, 1825, the canal from Lake Erie to
the Hudson River was completed. It was decided to
commemorate the event by ceremonies the most
brilliant and impressive that could be devised, and
along ihe whole length of the canal, each place,
in proportion to its means, sought to outrival its
neighbor in expressions of joy upon this memorable
occasion. The Common Council of Albany, October 1 7,
1825, appointed a committee, consisting of Alder
men Denniston, Cassidy, Lush, Esleeck and Costi-
gan, to devise means to celebrate the event. A
public meeting of ihe citizens was held in the Cap
itol, September 14th, over which Colonel Elisha
Jenkins presided. At this gathering twenty-five
citizens were selected to act as a committee to
adopt measures for celebrating the completion of
the great project. A similar meeting of citizens
and transporters was held a few days later. By
these public gatherings much enthusiasm was
aroused. The passage of the first canal-boat from Buf
falo into the Albany basin was announced by
the successive discharge of cannon, placed along
the canal between Lake Erie and the Hudson,
and along the Hudson between Albany and
New York. The Buffalo boat entered the basin at
three minutes before 1 1 o'clock, a. m. At five min
utes before 12 the sound of "the return fire from
New York " reached Albany.
The celebration was general along the entire
line of the canal. The water pageant started from
Buffalo on the morning of October 26, 1825, the
boat Seneca Chief being fitted up for the dignitaries
leading in the triumphant passage. On the morn
ing of November 2d it had reached Albany.
The proceedings at Albany we cannot detail at
length. They were thus described in the Albany
Daily Advertiser:
"At 10 o'clock the Seneca Chief, with the Gov
ernor, Lieutenant-Governor, the Buffalo, Western
and New York Committees on board, came down
in fine style, and the thunder of cannon proclaimed
that the work was done, and the assembled multi
tude made the welkin ring with shouts of gladness.
It was not a monarch which they hailed, but it was
the majesty of genius, supported by a free people,
that rode in triumph and commanded the admira
tion of men stout of heart and firm of purpose."
At 11 o'clock the procession was formed and
paraded through the principal streets of the city,
under the direction of Welcome Esleeck, John Tay
ler, James Gibbons and Francis I. Bradt, Marshal
of the day. After the procession reached the Cap
itol, impressive services were held. An ode, written
for the occasion by John Augustus Stone, of the
Albany Theatre, was sung. Addresses were made
by Philip Howe, of New York; William James,

Chairman of the Committee of Citizens of Albany;
and Lieutenant-Governor Tallmadge. The exer
cises were followed by a magnificent collation, pro
vided for the guests by the citizens of Albany at the
Columbia-street Bridge. In the evening a grand
ball was held at Knickerbocker Hall, where, as
was said by an eye-witness, was congregated the
beauty of the city, and the expression of sparkling
eyes evinced that "the last, best gift to man" felt a
deep interest in the prosperity and glory of the
State. Everything pertaining to the celebration of this
great event was conducted in the best manner and
commensurate with the greatness of the project. To
Albany in a special degree was the opening of the
Erie Canal a great blessing. On its commercial ad
vancement it had a wonderful beneficent influence. A
few years after its completion the editor of the Daily
Advertiser asserted that the wholesale business of
the city had quadrupled during the two years since
the opening of the canal, and that Albany mer
chants had opened a direct business with the man
ufacturers of Europe. The construction of railroads
has materially lessened the commerce of the canals,
but still it forms an important factor in Albany's
commercial activities.
The dates of the annual opening and closing of
this canal will be valuable for reference: 1824,
opened April 30,closed December; i825,April 12,
December 5; 1826, April 20, December 18; 1827,
April 22, December 18; 1828, March 27, December
20; 1829, May 2, December 17; 1830, April 20,
December 17; 1831, April 16, December 1; 1832,
April 25, December 21; 1833, April 19, Decem
ber 12; 1834, April 17, December 12; 1835, April
15, November 30; 1836, April 25, November 26;
1837, April 20, December 9; 1838, April 12, No
vember 25; 1839, April 20, December 16; 1840,
April 20, December 9; 1841, April 24, November
30; 1842, April 20, November 28; 1843, May 1,
November 30; 1844, April 18, November 26;
1845, April 15, November 29; 1846, April 16,
November 25; 1847, May 1, November 30; 1848,
May 1, December 9; 1849, May 1, December 5;
1850, April 22, December n; 1851, April 15, De
cembers; 1852, April 20, December 16; 1853, April
20, December 20; 1854, May 1 , December 3; 1855,
May 1, December 10; 1856, May 5, December 4;
1857, May 6, December 15; 1858, April 28, De
cember 8; 1859, April 15, December 12; i860,
April 25, December 12; 1861, May 1, December 10;
1862, May 1, December 10; 1863, May 1, Decem
ber 9; 1864, April 30, December 8; 1865, May 1,
December 12; 1866, May 1, December 12; 1867,
May 6, December 20; 1868, May 4, December 7;
1869, May 6, December 10; 1870, May 10, De
cember 8; 1871, April 24, December 1; 1872,
May 13, December 1; 1873, May 15, Decembers;
1874, May 5, December 5; 1875, May '8, No
vember 30; 1876, May 4, December 1; 1877, May
8, December 7; 1878, April 15, December 7; 1879,
April 8, December 6; 1880, April 16, November
21; 1881, May 12, December 8; 1882, April 11,
December 7; 1883, May 7, December 1; 1884,
May 6, December 1; 1885, May 11, December 1.

526

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ALBANY INSURANCE COMPANIES.
The Albany Insurance Company was incorpo
rated March 8, 1811, and authorized "to make all
kinds of insurance against fire, upon the inland
transportation of goods, wares and merchandise,
marine insurance, and insurance upon life or lives,
by way of tontine or otherwise, and generally to do
and perform all matters and things relating to the
said objects." The first Directors were Elisha Jen
kins, Philip S. Van Rensselaer, Isaiah Townsend,
Dudley Walsh, Henry Guest, Jr., Charles Z. Piatt,
Simeon De Witt; Stephen Lush, Charles D. Coo
per, Thomas Gould, John Woodworth, Peter
Gansevoort, and Christian Miller. The shares were
$100 each and not to exceed 5,000 in number.
Its duration was placed at twenty years. In 1828
the charter was extended to 1851, and the capital
stock reduced from $500,000 to $300,000, and
each share from $100 to $60.
The first President of this Company was Isaiah
Townsend. He was succeeded, in 1844, by Teunis
Van Vechten. Garret Y. Lansing, Rufus H. King,
and Harmon Pumpelly were, in the order named,
Presidents at different periods. J. Howard King,
the present President, was elected in 1882.
The first Secretary was Gideon Hawley, who
held the office for many years. He was succeeded
by John E. Lovett, who held this position for four
teen years. In 1847 Stephen Groesbeck was
elected, and was followed by Theodore Townsend,
who is now Vice-President of the Company. The
present Secretary is John E. McElroy.
This company has always been regarded as one
of the best institutions of ils kind in the State. Its
affairs have been so conducted as to merit and
retain public confidence. During an existence of
three quarters of a century, it has had as directors
and officers many of the best business men of Al
bany. During the years 1847 and 1848, the period
of the greatest fire that ever visited this city, it paid
out $367,000 in insurance in Albany and elsewhere
without material injury to the company, a fact
showing its financial solidity.
The Merchants' Insurance Company of Albany
was incorporated April 7, 1824, with a capital
stock of $250,000, to be divided into shares of $25
each. The first Directors were Allen Brown,
James G. Mather, James B. Douglass, Ralph Pratt,
Silvanus P. Jermain, Peter Bain, Jellis Winne, Jr.,
Thomas Herring, Spencer Stafford, Erastus Corn
ing, John Willard, William Fowler, William Mc
Harg, James Mabbett, John T. Norton, Ephraim
Wilder, Jr., Friend Humphrey, Alexander Marvin,
Nicholas Devereaux, Ephraim Hart, Eleazer Hills,
Richard M. Bayley, Asa H. Center, Willard Warker,
William Durant, Joshua Tuffs, David E. Evans,
Thaddeus Joy, John Stillwell, Benjamin F. Butler,
and Thomas W. Olcott.
The first President of this Company was Charles
E. Dudley. He was succeeded by Russel Forsyth.
John W. Ford was made Secretary. The exact
length of time this company was in existence we
were unable to learn, but in 1844 it was still doing
business in this city.

The Clinton Insurance Company of Albany was
incorporated May 4, 1829, with a capital stock of
$300,000 in $100 shares. The first Directors
were Francis Bloodgood, Isaac W. Staats, James
McKoun, Oliver Kane, Peter Gansevoort, S. De
Witt Bloodgood, William C. Miller, Samuel Pruyn,
John B. Van Schaick, Richard Varick De Witt,
Joshua J. King, William Seymour, Charles D.
Townsend, Gerrit W. Ryckman, and Elihu Rus
sel. The duration of the charter was twenty-one
years. Whether this company ever went into active
operation we do not learn.
The Fireman's Insurance Company of Albany
was incorporated April 23, 1831. The books for
subscription were opened January 1, 1832, when
$112,000 was subscribed in six hours. James
Stevenson was its first President and Richard Van
Rensselaer, Secretary. The first Directors were
George J. Loomis, Enoch McCammen, James Ste
venson, Lansing Pruyn, Cornelius Vanderbilt,
Harmanus S. Van Ingen, Dyer Lathrop, Lansing
G. Taylor. Abraham F. Wilson, George Young,
Thomas McElroy, Levi Silliman, Philo Booth, and
Aaron V. Fryer. The same, with the exception
of James Stevenson, were commissioners to receive
subscriptions to the capital stock, which was fixed
at $150,000 in 15,000 shares. Its charter was to
run until June 1, 1861. January 18, 1849, the
company was authorized, in order to make good
the impairment of its capital occasioned by a
fire on August 17, 1848, to call upon the stock
holders for such sums as would make the capital
equal to the sum required in the charter. This it
seems the stockholders were unable or unwilling
to do, and business was in consequence suspended.
The Mutual Insurance Company of the City
and County — office No. 446 Broadway. This com
pany was organized in 1836, under the General
Insurance Law of the State of New York, on the
mutual plan. The following gentlemen were the
original incorporators: Barent P. Staats, Rufus
Brown, Christopher Hepinsall, Eli Gould, James
L'Amoreaux, Levi Phillips, Daniel Conklin, Jr.,
Eli Perry, Matthew Brown, John Hermans, Gay-
lor Sheldon, and John Van Valkenburgh. The
company insures for a small cash premium, receiv
ing from its patrons premium notes as additional
payment. Its note capital now amounts to about
half a million dollars. These notes are liable to
assessment to pay fire losses in case all other assets
are exhausted. The assets of the company, other
than its premium notes, amount at this date to
about $125,000, which is invested in United States
Government bonds and real estate, beside cash on
hand for immediate use in case of fire. In 1848
the charter of the company was amended by an act
of the Legislature, granting the company the right
to issue policies for a cash consideration only, and
without a premium note. The present Board of
Directors of the Company comprise some of the
most prominent citizens of Albany, and are:
Henry H. Martin, John F. Rathbone, William
McElroy, Daniel Weidman, George Cuyler, Ed
mund L. Judson. Archibald McClure, Edgar Cot-
rell, Benjamin F. Baker, Daniel Leonard, George

BANKS AND BANKERS.

527

H. Treadwell, James M. Warner, and David A.
Thompson. The present officers of the company are: Presi
dent, Henry H. Martin (elected Director in
1846); Vice-President and Treasurer, George Cuy
ler (elected Treasurer in 1852); Secretary, George
N. Cuyler (elected in 1872).
The Commerce Insurance. Company was organ
ized 1859, with a capital of $200,000. Its capital
was increased to $400,000 in 1865, and reduced
to $200,000 in 1871, because of losses in the great
Chicago fire of that year.
The following are the officers since organization —
Presidents: Silas B. Hamilton, 1859-61; Adam
Van Allen, 1861-84; Garret A. Van Allen, elected
1884. Vice-Presidents: Adam Van Allen, 1859-
61; Thomas Schuyler, 1861-66; Garret A. Van
Allen, 1866-84; Chauncey P. Williams, 1884.
Secretaries: Garret A. Van Allen, 1859; Robert
M. Hamilton, 1866; Richard V. DeWitt, elected
1872. Present Officers: Garret A. Van Allen,
President; Chauncey P. Williams, Vice-President;
Richard V. DeWitt, Secretary.
The office of this company is at 57 State street,
in the Commerce Insurance Building. It enjoys
public confidence and patronage in a large degree.
Since its organization it has paid over $2,500,000
of losses by fire.
The Albany City Insurance Company was organ
ized December 8, i860, with a cash capital of
$100,000. The office of this company was first
located at 446 Broadway, afterward removed to the
old Museum Building. The first President was
William Tillinghast. In 1869 he was succeeded
by John V. L. Pruyn. Colonel Frank Chamber
lain succeeded Mr. Pruyn in 1874. The first Sec
retary was John H. Rice, who was followed by
W. A. Young in 1869, the latter remaining as such
until 1874, when James F. Cassidy was elected.
At the present time this company is not in exist
ence. The Capitol City Insurance Company was incor
porated in 1865 with a capital of $200,000. Frank
Chamberlain was its first and only President. It
was continued but a few years.
The Atlantic Mutual Life Insurance Company
was incorporated in 1869. Robert H. Pruyn was
elected President and Louis B. Smith, Secretary. In
1874 Walter Brown was made Secretary. Soon
after 1874 it ceased to do business.
A great many first-class foreign insurance com
panies do business in Albany. The insurance
agents and brokers generally are men of business,
energy and integrity. Some of them are known
among the leading men of Albany in most matters
of public enterprise and interest.
THE ALBANY PR0TECT1VES, OR INSURANCE PATROL.
This organization was effected April, 1872, and
by act of Legislature incorporated March 20, 1873.
First duty performed September 20, 1872.
This organization is supported entirely by the
Albany Board of Underwriters, and is no expense
to the City of Albany. They are looked upon by
the citizens as indispensable, and by the Chief and

Fire Commissioners as a valuable auxiliary to the
Fire Department.
They formerly occupied the premises No. 41
Hudson avenue, and for the first thirteen years
were cramped for room, as no available location
could be secured. In 1884 they leased from the
Hon. Erastus Corning, 21 and 23 Howard street,
and to-day they have a house second to none in
the country. The Superintendent, Mr. J. N. Foster,
has been with them since its organization, and
Superintendent since 1874; previous to that time
Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Thomas Austin being
the chief officer up to 1874.
The company consists of eight men, seven men
being on duty each night. They carry fire ex
tinguishers, rubber covers, brooms, scrapers, lan
terns, axes, ropes, ladders and other necessary ar
ticles for the extinguishment of fires. They have
been known to have spread at one fire alone 36,000
square feet of canvas, thereby saving a vast amount
of property. They removed at one fire $70,000
worth of property, consisting of leather stock, and
it is estimated by those interested that the patrol
save many times their cost of running each year.
The present roll consists of the following: J. N.
Foster, Superintendent; William Scheffler, E. J.
Dayton, W. H. Kingsbury, James R. Melick, F.
H. Weatherwax, B. E. Crehan, R. R. Coleman.
Officers of the Albany Board of Underwriters: A.
Douw Lansing, President; Stephen L. Foster, Vice-
President; A. E. Batchelder, Secretary; Frederick
B. Hubbard, Treasurer.

BANKS AND BANKERS.
An account of the rise and progress of banking in
stitutions in Albany forms a very interesting chapter
in the history of this city. Here the second bank
chartered in the State and the fourth in the Union
was established, and here have dwelt and operated
many of the foremost bankers in the early history
of this country. A history of the banking interests
of Albany from 1792 to the present, shows the
progressive strides in the city's trade, manufactures,
and commerce made in nearly a century's growth.
For some time preceding the year 1792, the
need of a banking institution for the northern part
of the State was apparent to the capitalists of this
section. In Albany the scheme was much discussed.
A few had much faith in it, while many violently
opposed the enterprise. On the 3d of February,
1792, a meeting was called at Lewis's Tavern to
discuss the project. At this meeting were gathered
the leading capitalists of Albany at that date.
There was but one bank in the State, the Bank of
New York, the stock of which was 50 per cent.
above par. It was decided that the interests of the
northern part of the State required the location of
a bank at Albany. Some one writing for the news
papers at this period, confidently asserted that a
hundred thousand dollars could be subscribed for
the new project in the city alone; but it was liber
ally resolved that the neighboring places should
be permitted to share in the honors and emolu-

528

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ments of the enterprise. At a subsequent meeting
the outlines of a plan for the establishment of a
bank were presented. It was decided that the name
of the institution should be the Albany Bank;
the capital $75,000, to be divided into 500 shares
of 150 each, $15 to be paid on subscribing, and
the remainder in three instalments; thirteen Direc
tors to constitute the Board of Directors, nine of
whom should be residents of Albany. Jeremiah
Van Rensselaer, Jacob Van Derheyden, and Bar
ret Bleecker were to open the books for subscrip- •
tions in the week following, and to close them as
soon as 500 shares should be subscribed. February
1 7th the books were opened, and the stock was over
run in amount in less than three hours. After the
books were closed, offers of 10 per cent, advance
were made on the stock; and, on the Saturday follow
ing, it rose to 100 per cent. cash. Application was
immediately made to the Legislature for a charter,
and here the project received considerable opposi
tion from the law-makers of that day. As the
prospects of a charter being secured became more
or less doubtful, the price of the stock rose or fell,
creating no little excitement and speculation in
this region, where stock transactions were quite a
novelty. At one time it is said to have stood at
$100 premium on a share upon which only $15
had been paid.
Towards the close of the session, by the most
strenuous efforts of the friends of the enterprise, the
act of incorporation became a law. The first elec
tion of Directors was held June 12th, at the City
Tavern, -and resulted as follows : Abraham Ten
Broeck, Cornelius Glen, Stephen Van Rensselaer,
Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, John Maley, Abraham
Van Vechten, Henry Cuyler, John Stephenson,
James Caldwell, Jacob Van Derheyden, Golds-
boro Banyar, Daniel Hale, and Elkanah Watson.
The last-named was, as in all public matters, the
first in the project and the most active lobbyist.
At a meeting of the Directors, Abraham Ten
Broeck was elected President. The bank was
opened for deposits on the 16th of July, and began
to discount on the 17th. The rate of interest was
six per cent. In September, notice was given that
notes of 45 days only would be discounted. The
act of incorporation limited the capital stock to
$260,000, each share to be 400 Spanish milled
dollars, or its equivalent.
In February, 1794, in accordance with the pro
visions of the charter, the capital of the bank was
increased $540,000, in 135 shares of $400 each.
By subsequent enactments of the Legislature, and
by subscriptions on the part of the State, the capital
of the bank was increased to $320,000, and it con
tinued at that amount until 1820, when the sum of
$100 on each share was returned to the stock
holders, thus reducing the capital of the bank one-
fourth. In 1832, the charter of the bank was ex
tended to January, 1855, when, for the purpose of
more widely diffusing the stock, the par value of the
stock was reduced to the sum of thirty dollars, and
the number of shares proportionately increased.
The Albank Bank was first located in an old-
fashioned Dutch edifice in North Pearl street,

third north of State street. In February, 1794,
the bank erected a building on the lot now north
of the Merchants' Bank, and remained there until
1 8 10. In 18 10 the bank was removed to anew
building, erected by the bank on the corner of
State and Broadway, which was occupied until
1832, when it was torn down for the purpose of
widening State street. In 1832 the bank was re
moved to No. 42 State street, where it was located
until the present Merchants' National Bank build
ing was erected. Here the bank remained until
its failure in 1 861.
The Presidents of this bank from 1792 to 1861
were: Abraham Ten Broeck, 1792-98; Jeremiah
Van Hensselaer, 1798-1806; Philip S. Van Rensse
laer, 1806-10; Dudley Walsh, 18 10-14; John
Van Schaick, 1814-20; Barent Bleecker, 1820-
40; Jacob H. Ten Eyck, 1840-61. During
this period of seventy years there were only four
cashiers, namely : Garrit W. Van Schwaick, 1792-
181 5; John Van Zandt, 1815-32; Jellis Winne,
Jr., 1832-49; E. E. Kendrick, 1849-61.
James Van Ingen and Harmanus P. Schuyler
were the first clerks. Elkanah Watson was one of
the most efficient advocates of the establishment
of this bank, and to his tact, experience, and busi
ness habits, it in no small way was indebted for its
early success. The affairs of the bank were long
managed with prudence and ability, and at one
time in proportion to its capital, it possessed more
specie than any other bank in the country. For
years among Albanians when anything was called
' ' as good as the Bank of Albany, " it was consid
ered good enough.
The failure of this bank, May 11, 1861, was a
genuine surprise to the people. Just before the
failure $100 shares were sold for $150, and the
utmost confidence prevailed in the institution.
Even the President of the Bank, Jacob H. Ten
Eyck, was ignorant of the coming disaster, he alone
losing $100,000. It would be hard to attribute its
failure to any particular cause. It was a combina
tion of difficulties under which four Albany banks
failed this year. A general stagnation of business
and the unsettled state of the country caused by the
war, made the year 1861 a memorable one in the
financial affairs of Albany. Abraham Van Allen
was appointed receiver of the bank. At the time
of the failure the capital of this bank was $540,000.
New York State Bank. — This bank owed its
origin almost wholly to the exertions of Elkanah
Watson. It was incorporated and went into opera
tion with a capital of $460,000 in 1803. Its orig
inal Directors consisted of the State Comptroller,
Elisha Jenkins, John Tayler, Thomas Tillotson,
Abraham G. Lansing, Peter Gansevoort, Elkanah
Watson, John R. Bleecker, Francis Bloodgood,
John Robison, Gilbert Stewart, John De Peyster
Douw, Richard Lush and Thomas Mather.
At a meeting of the Directors on March 25,1803,
John Tayler was chosen President, and John W.
Yates, Cashier. It commenced business Wednes
day, September 7th.
In 1 804, the lot where the present bank stands
was purchased of Isaiah Townsend, and the erection

BANKS AND BANKERS.

529

of the new banking building commenced. This was
completed and first occupied May 10, 1804. This
building is still standing, presenting in front almost
the appearance of its primitive days. Philip Hooker
was the architect.
The opposition to the establishment of this bank
was very bitter, and when the bill for its incorpora
tion was before the Legislature, the opponents of
the project made strenuous efforts to defeat it. It
was openly charged at the time that money was
used by both friends and opponents to corrupt
members of the Legislature. The capitalists inter
ested in the Bank of Albany were especially opposed
to the new bank; nor did their opposition cease .
after it was incorporated and commenced business;
the Directors of the Bank of Albany even carrying
their spite so far as to refuse to supply the new
bank with paper on which to print their first notes.
By the act of incorporation, the State had the
right to subscribe 3,000 shares in this bank. It
was further provided that the Comptroller should
be one of the Directors.
John Tayler continued President until his death
in 1829. He was succeeded by Francis Bloodgood,
who died in 1840, the last survivor of the original
Board of Directors. Rufus H. King was elected
President in 1840, and remained as such until his
death in 1867. He was succeeded by General
Franklin Townsend. J. Howard King was elected
President in 1874 and still retains this position.
Mr. Yates died in 1828, and was succeeded as
Cashier by his son, Richard Yates, whose successor
was Aaron D. Patchin. J. B. Plumb succeeded
Mr. Patchin, who was succeeded by John H. Van
Antwerp.- The present Cashier is D. W. Wemple.
In 1850 the charter of the bank expired, when
it closed up its business, paying back to its stock
holders their capital with a handsome surplus.
Under the same name, with new articles of associa
tion, and under the general banking laws of the
State, it commenced business on January 1, 1851.
Nearly all the old stockholders subscribed for equal
amounts in the new association. In 1849 the
capital of this bank was reduced to $369,000. The
new bank began with a capital of $350,000, and at
present is in a flourishing condition.
The Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank, the third
bank established in Albany, was incorporated March
4, 181 1, and opened for business July 29, 181 1.
By the act of incorporation, the following were
named as Directors: Samuel Southwick, Benjamin
Knower, Elisha Dorr, Isaac Denniston, Benjamin
Van Benthuysen, William Fowler, George Mer
chant, Thomas Livingston, Giles W. Porter, Will
ard Walker, Walter Weed, Peter Boyd, Isaac Hut
ton, Spencer Stafford and John Bryan. This bank
was chartered ostensibly for the benefit of the me
chanics and farmers of Albany County, and its char
ter provided that none but farmers and mechanics
should be elected as bank officers; but some years
after, application was made to the Legislature for
an amendment to the charter, so as to authorize
the election of President and Directors without ref
erence to the pursuits or employments in which
they may have been engaged. The banking-house

was first located in what was then known as No. 6
Court street (now Broadway), on the site of the
present Post-office building. The building now
occupied by this bank, on the northeast corner of
State and James streets, was erected a few years ago.
A peculiar feature connected with the early his
tory of this bank, and by the stockholders looked
upon with suspicion, was the fact that all the origi
nal directors were Democrats in their political sym
pathies. The first election of Directors occurred
June 1, 1 81 2. It was generally understood among
the stockholders, for some time preceding this elec
tion, that two Federalists would be chosen; but
whose seats should be vacated for their admission
was not so easily agreed upon. The election
opened at 10 o'clock at Columbia Hotel in Court
street, and was contined to a late hour in the after
noon. It was a warm and animated contest, and
finally resulted in the election of the original Di
rectors with the exception of Spencer Stafford and
John Bryan, who were superseded by Peter Boyd
and Isaac Hutton, Federalists.
The first President was Solomon Southwick, who
filled the office until 1813, when he was succeeded
by Isaac Hutton. Isaac Hutton was succeeded
by Benjamin Knower in 1 8 1 7, who remained Pres
ident until 1834, when financial embarrassments
having caused his resignation, he was succeed
ed by Charles E. Dudley as President pro tem.,
February 3, 1834. At the election in June of
this year, Ezra Ames was elected President and
Charles E. Dudley, Vice-President. This seems
to have been the first Vice-President ever elected by
this bank. Ezra Ames filled the office of President
until 1836, when Thomas W. Olcott having re
signed the office of Cashier, was elected Presi
dent, which office he held until his death in
1880. As a Clerk, Cashier and President Mr.
Thomas W. Olcott had been connected with the
bank for the long period of sixty-nine years, be
sides two or three years passed in the Columbia
Bank of Hudson, N. Y., a period of time almost
beyond parallel in this country. At his death, in
1880, he was succeeded by his son Dudley, who
is now President. There is no record of the elec
tion of a Vice-President from the date of the
death of Charles E. Dudley in 1841, until 1844,
when Samuel S. Fowler was chosen. He was suc
ceeded by William H. DeWitt, who held this office
until January 1, 1853, the date of the expiration of
the charter of the old Mechanics and Farmers'
Bank. From this period, until June, 1865, the
bank had no Vice-President, when Mr. Thomas
Olcott, resigning the position of Cashier, was
elected Vice-President, which office he held until
his death in 1873. From this date until January
1, 1879, there was no election of Vice-President,
when Dudley Olcott having resigned as Cashier
was elected to that office. He held it until March,
1880, when he was succeeded by John J. Olcott,
who now holds the position.
Gotham A. Worth was the first Cashier, which
position he held until 18 17, when he resigned to
accept the office of Cashier of the Branch Bank of
the United States, at Cincinnati, Ohio.

67

530

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Thomas W. Olcott was appointed to the vacancy
and held the position until June 7, 1836, when he
was succeeded by E. E. Kendrick. E. E. Ken-
drick held the office until February 23, 1849,
when he was succeeded by Thomas Olcott, who re
signed the position in June, 1865.
Dudley Olcott was his successor in the office,
until January 1, 1879, when he was succeed by
George G. Davidson.
At the time of the appointment of Thomas W.
Olcott as Cashier, in 1 8 1 7, the bank's capital had
become impaired, owing to the financial troubles
growing out of the depression following the close
of the last war with Great Britain; but from this
date, the financial history of the bank has been
one of unvarying prosperity.
The aggregate amount of dividends paid since
the organization of the bank is $3,600,000, which
will average about 15 per cent, since 181 1, be
sides a surplus of $650,000 at date. At the ex
piration of the charter of the old bank, January 1,
1853, the stockholders received about 1 1 5 per cent. ,
besides their stock in the new bank, which was
$350,000. The capital of the old bank at this
date was $442,000, divided in shares of $17 each.
The first charter of this bank expired in 1833
and was renewed for twenty years. In 1853, upon
the expiration of its second charter, it closed up
its affairs, dividing, besides the par value of its
stock, fifty per cent, surplus, and went into opera
tion again with its same officers.
During the War of the Rebellion it again wound
up its affairs and came under the National Bank
system, which, however, it abandoned in 1868,
and is now doing business under the general
banking laws of the State. This bank has been
conducted with signal ability and success.
Mr. T. W. Olcott, by general consent, was the
great banker of Albany. He was the son of
Josiah Olcott, of Stratford, Connecticut. Born at
Hudson, N. Y, May 22, 1.795; died in Albany,
March 23, 1880. He came to Albany as Clerk in
the Mechanics and Farmers' Bank at its opening,
July 29, 181 1, and continued as Cashier from July,
1817; as President from June, 1836. During his
long career as a banker — for nearly seventy years —
with singular devotion, he attained a reputation as
a bank financier second to no one in the country,
and left large wealth and a name greatly honored for
benevolent deeds, broad public spirit and exalted
integrity. In 1863 he declined a flattering offer
from President Lincoln, of the position of First
Comptroller of the Currency; but he declined all
public office except such as related to the promo
tion of education or other local interests. He
leaves one daughter and five sons: Dudley and
John J., now President and Vice-President of the
Mechanics and Farmers' Bank, Frederick P. , late
State Comptroller; and Alexander and Theodore,
of Corning, N. Y.
The Commercial Bank of Albany is another of
the old and successful financial institutions of the
city. The first movement towards its incorporation
was made November 19, 1823, when notice was
given by Joseph Alexander, George W. Stanton,

Alexander Davidson, and David E. Gregory, that
an application would be made to the Legislature
for the incorporation of the Commercial Bank of
Albany, with a capital ol $500,000.
On the 21st day of January, 1824, a bill for its
incorporation, to expire July 1, 1842, was reported
from the Committee on Banks and Insurance Com
panies, and passed the Assembly January 29,
1824, but was defeated in the Senate.
The following year the application was renewed,
and this time with success, for the bill, granting a
charter to expire July, 1. 1845, passed both branches
of the Legislature April 4th, and became a law
April 1 2th, 1825.
The capital stock was fixed at three hundred thou
sand dollars, divided into shares of twenty dollars
each. The following were named as Commissioners in
the bill, and constituted the first Board of Directors.
William Walker, Joshua Tuffs, George W. Stanton,
Lewis Benedict, William Cook, David E. Gregory,
Seth Hastings, Ira Jenkins, Joseph Alexander,
Robert Gilchrist, Richard Marvin, John Townsend,
Asa H. Center.
The early days of the bank were not peaceful.
The petition for its incorporation had been signed
by hundreds of men of small means, representing
the middle classes, who urged the grant of a charter
on the ground that the stock of the three existing
banks was principally held by men who had re
tired from business, and a new institution would be
of great advantage to the mercantile and manufac
turing interests of the city.
The stock books having been opened for a sub
scription of $300,000 in May, 1825, they were
closed after three days, when the amount sub
scribed was found to be $1,500,000. The stock
not having been distributed to the satisfaction of
all the subscribers, the Commissioners were charged
with defeating the public expectation, and indigna
tion was aroused to such an extent, that a public
meeting was called at the Capitol, June 10,1825.
This meeting was largely attended, and was pre
sided over by Colonel John Stilwell. No action seems
to have been taken at this meeting to remedy the
supposed unequal distribution of the stock, but in
view of the large amount of surplus capital sought
to be invested in bank stock, it was suggested that
it might be expedient to apply for another bank, to
which the subscription of any individual should be
strictly limited to fifty shares of twenty-five dollars
each. The Directors of the Bank were, for a time,
enjoined from opening; but August 29, 1826, the
Chancellor decided that the bank might go into
operation so far as to issue bills and discount
notes, but prohibited any transfer of stock, or mak
ing any loan or pledges on stock.
A meeting of the Board of Directors was held at
Knickerbocker Hall on the evening of May 23,
1826, at which all the Directors, with the exception
of William Cook, were present. At this meeting
the Board was organized and Joseph Alexander
elected President. July 13, 1826, Henry Bartow
was appointed Cashier.

BANKS AND BANKERS.

531

The bank began business September 5, 1826,
with a capital of $300,000, and continued until the
expiration of its charter, on July 1, 1845, and
under an extension of its charter until July 1, 1847,
when it was reorganized under the General Bank
ing Law of the State. The capital stock was in
creased to $500,000, February 1, 1855.
On May 31, 1865, the bank was chartered under
the Act of Congress as a National institution, and
was reorganized and began business under that
act August 1, 1865. It continued under this char
ter for twenty years, until May 31, 1885, when an
extension of the charter was granted to May 3 1 ,
1905. June 10, 1875, the capital was reduced to
$300,000, shares $100 each, the amount of the
reduction being paid to the stockholders. On Jan
uary 13, 1880, the number of Directors was re
duced to nine.
Mr. Alexander was succeeded in the office of
President by the following persons, who were
elected at the dates given: John Townsend, June 7,
1832; John L. Schoolcraft, August 31, 1854; Ezra
P. Prentice, June 13, i860; Robert H. Pruyn,
November 24, 1875; Daniel Manning, March 4,
1882; Robert C. Pruyn, May 23, 1885. Vice-
Presidents: Seth Hastings, June 18, 1836; John
L. Schoolcraft, October 28, 1839; Andrew White,
June 16, 1855. The death of Andrew White, in
1857, made a vacancy in the office until the elec
tion of Robert H. Pruyn, November 2, 1872; Rob
ert L. Johnson, November 24, 1875; Daniel Man
ning, April 9, 1 881; Robert C. Pruyn, March 4,
1882; Nathan B. Perry, February 28, 1885.
The following Cashiers have been appointed :
Henry Bartow, July 13, 1826; James Taylor,
November 2, 1835; Andrew White, March 17,
1854; Powers L. Green, June 16, 1855; Visscher
Ten Eyck, July 7, 1858; Eliphalet Wickes, Au
gust 11, 1862; James Martin, February 24, 1866;
Edward A. Groesbeck, April 30, 1873.
This bank has been the depositary of the State
funds during the greater part of its existence, and
continuously for nearly sixty years, with the excep
tion of two years, when the Know-Nothing parry
was in power. It has rendered very valuable ser
vice to the State in the safe keeping of its moneys,
and in providing lunds for the maintenance of the
various departments of the Government when
needed. It has also for some years been the de
positary of the city funds. The present capital is
$300,000; surplus and profit, $510,000.
The bank from its organization has occupied its
present location at Nos. 38 and 40 State street.
The building was erected in 1 8 1 6, and was used for
some years as the Adelphi Hotel, a well-known
establishment in those days. The banking-rooms
were at first located on the second floor, and con
tinued there until the remodeling of the building
in 1 85 1, when the addition now occupied was
built. At this time the upper stories of the front
building were refitted for the Young Men's Associ
ation and the lower floor turned into stores. Pre
vious to this change the building had been occupied
by the Commercial Bank, and the Albany City and

Canal Banks. The building was refitted in 1876,
and the banking-rooms refurnished and improved.
Canal Bank. — This institution was incorporated
in 1829, with a capital of $300,000. The first
Directors were John T. Norton, Jeremiah Clark,
Edward C. Delavan, Lyman Root, Israel Smith,
John I. Godfrey, Aaron Thorpe, David Wood,
Henry L. Webb, James Goold, Alexander Marvin,
Edwin Croswell, James Porter, Richard V. De
Witt, Lyman Chapin.
From 1829 to 1835 John T. Norton was Presi
dent. John Keyes Paige succeeded him,- who a
short time after was followed by Joseph Russell.
The last President was Robert Hunter. Theodore
Olcott was the first and only Cashier of this Bank.
The failure of this bank in July, 1848, was
memorable as the first failure of a banking institu
tion in Albany. It was closed by order of the
Comptroller, and a commission appointed to exam
ine into the affairs of the bank. At the time sus
picions of fraud on the part of the bank officers
were entertained by the people, but an investigation
failed to reveal such a state of affairs.
The Albany City Bank was incorporated April
30, 1834, with a capital of $500,000.
The Commissioners were : Erastus Corning,
Chauncey Humphrey, Martin Van Alstyne, John
Knower, Samuel S. Fowler, John L. Schoolcraft,
William Seymour, Peter Wendell, Garret W.
Ryckman, Anthony Blanchard, William Smith,
Thomas M. Burt, Albert Gallup.
The bank commenced business October 1, 1834,
with the following officers: Erastus Corning, Pres
ident; Samuel S. Fowler, Vice-President; Watts
Sherman, Cashier.
The City Bank at that time was located on the
south side of State street, in the Commercial Bank
Building, No. 38. At that time the Commercial
Bank was upstairs on the second floor. The stairs
and hall divided the building. The City Bank
occupied the east side; the Commercial Bank the
west side.
Charles L. Garfield, of Troy, was appointed
Clerk in October, 1836. In June, 1837, hewas
appointed Teller, in place of Moses B. Wright,
resigned, a position he has held up to the present
time. About 1840 the City Bank bought from Joel
Rathbone his store, 47 State street, which was con
verted into a bank building. It was then the fin
est bank building in this part of the country.
Watts Sherman continued as Cashier till 1847,
when, his health failing, the Directors granted him
three months vacation to visit Europe. Henry L.
Lansing, late Assistant-Cashier of the Ontario Bank,
N. Y. , took his place during his absence. Octo
ber, 1850, John V. L. Pruyn was elected Vice-
President. July, 1 85 1, Watts Sherman resigned as Cashier.
Henry H. Martin was elected in his place.
In 1857, during the heavy panic, the Albany
City Bank suspended specie payment, but not until
all the banks in New York City had suspended.
The Albany City Bank charter expired January
1, 1864, and was immdiately reorganized under

532

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

the New York State Banking Laws, with the same
capital, $500,000, and the same officers.
Before closing the new State organization, it was
resolved by the Board of Directors to pay the
stockholders 80 per cent. — in addition to their regu
lar dividends of 4 per cent, semi-annually — amount
ing to four hundred thousand dollars. Forty per
cent, payable April 1, 1864; twenty per cent, pay
able October 1, 1864; and twenty per cent, payable
Octobler 1, 1865.
June 1, 1865, the Albany City Bank organized as
a National Bank under the corporate name of the
Albany City National Bank, still retaining the
same officers and capital. Ninety thousand dollars
of the undivided profits of the old Albany City
Bank was carried as a surplus fund of the new
National Bank. December, 1870, Henry H. Mar
tin resigned as Cashier, and Amos P. Palmer was
elected in his place. By the death of Erastus
Corning, April, 1872, the bank lost an officer of
great and valuable experience, and to whose early
care and labor the bank is largely indebted for its
success. His son Erastus was elected in his place
as President. The death of Ellis Baker, who had
been connected with the bank for thirty-five years,
occurred March, 1873.
In March, 1873, it was resolved to erect a new
banking house on the same ground, 47 State street.
E. L. Roberts, an architect from New York, fur
nished the plans for the present bank building,
which is three stories high, with granite front, and
one of the finest public edifices in the city. Dur
ing its building' the bank occupied rooms in the
Exchange Building, on the north side of the main
floor. June, 1874, the bank moved into the new build
ing. February, 1874, the Board resolved to reduce
its capital from $500,000 to $300,000.
The death of John V. L. Pruyn, who held the
office of Vice-President, and was one of the oldest
officers of the bank, occurred in November, 1877.
The Hon. Eli Perry was elected in his place.
The present Board of Directors consists of the
following, viz. : Erastus Corning, George H.
Thacher, A. P. Palmer, Selden E. Marvin, Amasa
J. Parker, Robert L. Banks, John V. L. Pruyn,
Jr., Amasa J. Parker, Jr., Erastus Corning, Jr.
The Albany Exchange Bank was incorporated in
1838, to continue for 662 years, with a capital of
$311,100, privileged to increase it to $10,000,000.
It was among the earliest associations under the
General Banking Act passed in April of that year.
Its first Board of Directors was composed of John
Q. Wilson, who was elected President, George W.
Stanton, Alfred Douglas, Galen Batchelder, Fred
erick K. Barnard, Lansing G. Taylor, John
Thomas, Robert Hunter, Oliver Steele, Henry
Greene, John M. Newton, James McNaughton,
Giles Sanford, Samuel Stevens, Robert L. Noyes.
Soon after organization, and before business was
commenced, John Q. Wilson and Robert Hunter
resigned as Directors, and Ichabod L. Judson and
Gaylor Sheldon were appointed to fill the vacan
cies. A vacancy thus occurring in the office of
President, George W. Stanton was elected Presi

dent, which office he filled until his death in April,
1849. The early history of this bank is a record of unfor
tunate speculations. Notably was the purchase of
$50,000 of the bonds of Arkansas, which proved
worthless, thus rendering one-sixth of the actual
capital of the bank wholly unavailable and unpro
ductive. Besides this loss much money was lost by
other bank failures. So severely had the bank suf
fered by losses, that at the outbreak of the Civil War
its stock was offered at seventy cents on the dollar
without finding buyers. But by careful manage
ment on the part of its officers, they managed to
carry on its business, and when the affairs of the
bank were wound up in 1865, preparatory to
forming a National Bank, a creditable showing of
its financial affairs was made. This was mainly
accomplished by the wise efforts of C. P. Williams,
the present President.
Samuel Pruyn succeeded Mr. Stanton as Cashier,
and remained in this position until a National Bank
was formed. The first Cashier of this Bank was
Noah Lee, who was succeeded in 1853 by James
M. Lovett, who in turn was succeeded by Chaun
cey P. Williams.
The Exchange Bank closed its business as a
State association January 31, 1865, and the Na
tional Exchange Bank of Albany, having been
organized for that purpose, succeeded to its busi
ness, and has done a prosperous and lucrative bus
iness ever since. Its capital is $300,000. Located
at 450 Broadway.
The first President of this Bank was William
Gould. He was succeeded by Ichabod L. Judson,
who in turn was followed by Chauncey P. Will
iams. Mr. Williams was succeeded by Stephen
H. Allen. In 1875, Chauncey P.Williams became
President, and has most acceptably filled this
position ever since. His entire connection with
the banking institutions of Albany has been most
creditable. The first Cashier of this Bank was Chauncey P.
Williams. In 1875, Thomas L. Scott was Cashier
until his death in 1881, when he was succeeded
by Jonas H. Brooks, the present Cashier.
The Merchants' Bank was incorporated January
19> l853, under the general banking law, with a
capital of $250,000. The first Board of Directors
was composed of John Tweddle, Billings P. Learned,
Richard Van Rensselaer, Matthew J. Hallenbeck]
Gilbert I. Wilson, Maurice E. Viele, Henry R
Pulling, Joseph N. Bullock, John Sill.
It began business at No. 59 State street, April
7, 1853, with John Tweddle, President, and John
Sill, Cashier.
It became a National Bank April 22, 1865, and
is now known as the Merchants' National Bank.
In 1869 it removed its location lo its present quar
ters, 458 Broadway. In 1876, Richard Van Rens
selaer became President. He was succeeded by
J. Wilbur Tillinghast. Nathan D. Wendell was
made Cashier in 1869, and was succeeded by J.
Irving Wendell in 1874. Present capital, $200,000!
Union Bank. — This institution was first organized
under the general banking law as the Bank of the

BANKS AND BANKERS.

533

Union, June 8, 1853. It began business January
1, 1854, at No. 35 State street, with a capital of
$250,000. The first Board of Directors was com
posed of Billings P. Learned, Gilbert C. Davidson,
William N. Strong, Chauncey Vibbard, Amos P.
Palmer, Charles Coates, George H. Thacher, Will
iam L. Learned, John H. Reynolds, Daniel D. T.
Charles, Alfred Wild, Le Roy Mowry and Adam
Cottrell. Billings P. Learned was the first
President of this Bank, holding the position from
the date of its organization to the time of his
death, April 16, 1884, when he was succeeded by.
his son, Billings P. Learned.
Mr. Learned was born in Norwich, Connecti
cut, June 24, 1 8 13; graduated from Yale College
in 1834; studied law and practiced his profession
for a short time at Lockport, N. Y., but soon after
abandoned it on account of poor health. He after
ward engaged in business at Troy for a short time,
and then removed to Albany and engaged in the
manufacture of stoves with George H. Thacher.
When the Union Bank was established he was elect
ed its President, and as a banker was known and
respected for integrity and upright business habits.
John F. Batchelder was the first Cashier of this
Bank, until he resigned in 1857, when he was
succeeded by Adam Van Allen, who resigned in
1861, succeeded by Amos P. Palmer.
In the early part of the year 1865, the stock
holders of the Union Bank decided to abandon
their organization under the State law, and organ
ize under the National Bank Act; and March 8,
1865, it was authorized to continue business, under
the title of the Union National Bank of Albany, for
twenty years. At the expiration of its charter,
March 8, 1885, by agreement with the stockhold
ers, this bank was satisfactorily closed and its affairs
liquidated in full. Shortly after its organization as
a National Bank, a bank building was erected at
No. 446 Broadway, which was occupied until the
expiration of its charter. The last Cashier was
James C. Cook, who held this position from 1870.
Bank of the Capitol was incorporated in 1853,
and went into operation April ist of this year, with
a capital of $300,000, on the corner of State arid
James streets. Its first Directors were Thomas
Schuyler, M. H. Read, John G. White, Adam Van
Allen, A. D. Shepard, James Van Nostrand, Mat
thew Vassar, Alfred Noxon and Noah Lee.
The first President was Noah Lee, who was suc
ceeded by Thomas Schuyler, who was followed by
John G. White. Horatio G. Gilbert was its first
Cashier. He was followed by John Templeton.
This bank failed May 18, 1861, when Matthew H.
Read was appointed receiver.
National Bank. — This bank went into operation
in 1856, at No. 53 State street, with a capital of
$600,000. The first Directors were William E.
Bleecker, Albion Ransom, James C. Kennedy,
Richard J. Grant, Samuel W. Burnett, Charles Ad
ams and Robert C. Martin. William E. Bleecker
was chosen President, and Robert C. Martin, Cash
ier. Both of these officers remained in their
positions until the failure of the bank May 23,
1861, being the last of the four Albany banks which

failed during this month. James Edwards was ap
pointed receiver.
The Bank of the Interior was incorporated under
the general banking law in i857,and went into oper
ation at No. 61 State street July 22d of that year.
Josiah B. Plumb, its principal founder, was elected
President, and John F. Batchelder, Cashier, both of
whom were in office when the bank failed, May 1,
1 86 1. Orlando Meads was made receiver.
The First National Bank of Albany was organized
January 26, 1864. Commenced business at its pres
ent location, Nos. 35 and 37 State street, February
25, 1864. It was the first bank in Albany organ
ized under the laws of the United States, and be
came the financial agent of the Government for the
receiving and disbursing of its funds in this city and
vicinity. Thomas Schuyler was its first President, Adam
Van Allen was its first Cashier. Its first Board of
Directors were: Thomas Schuyler, Garret A. Van
Allen, Matthew H. Read, Charles H.Adams, Frank
Chamberlain. Its capital in 1884 was $200,000;
its surplus, $207,000. Aggregate amount of divi
dends paid to stockholders since ks organization is
$564,150. Matthew H. Read was President from 1869 to
his death, in 1883, when he was succeeded by Adam
Van Allen, who, upon his death, in 1884, was suc
ceeded by Garret A. Van Allen. Ledyard Cogswell
is Cashier. The Directors are: Garret A. Van
Allen, Albert Wing, Jesse C. Potts, J. Townsend
Lansing, Joseph W. Russell.
Hope Bank was incorporated under the general
banking law of the State, and commenced business
at the corner of James and State streets in 1863.
Capital, $100,000. James Hendrick was 'made
President and William Young, Cashier. It was
continued under ihese officers until 1874, when it
was discontinued and its stockholders paid in full.
It was succeeded in 1874 by the Hope Banking
Company, which was controlled by a Board of Di
rectors. James Hendrick was President of the com
pany. It was discontinued in 1877.
Albany County Bank. — This institution was in
corporated under the State banking law, and com
menced business May 15, 1 87 1, in Tweddle Hall
Building. Removed to present building January
16, 1883. Capital, $200,000. Its first Board of
Directors was composed of Jacob Learned, B. W.
Wooster, Theodore D. Smith, A. W. Brumaghim,
Royal Bancroft, Elvin Taylor, Francis M. Sill,
Cornelius Smith, Joseph Mann, Henry A. Fonda
and John Templeton. Jacob Learned was Presi
dent from 1871 to 1878, when he was succeeded
by B. W. Wooster, who still remains. John Tem
pleton has been its only Cashier.
SAVINGS BANKS.
Albany Savings Bank. — In 1820, William James,
Charles R. Webster, Jesse Buel, John Townsend
and Joseph Alexander petitioned the Legislature to
be made a corporate body, under the name of the
Albany Savings Bank, that they might receive on
deposit such sums of money as might be offered by

534

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

tradesmen, mechanics and others. An act of in
corporation was passed March 25, 1820.
The first officers designated by the act of incor
poration, consisted of Stephen Van Rensselaer,
President; William James, First Vice-President;
Joseph Alexander, Second Vice-President; John
Townsend, Third Vice-President; Charles R. Web
ster, Jesse Buel, Thomas Russell, Volkert P. Douw,
William Durant, Douw Fonda, Simeon DeWitt,
Peter Boyd, John Spencer, John L. Winne, Will
iam McHarg, Matthew Gill, Harmanus Bleecker
and Sylvanus P. Jermain, Managers, none of
whom received directly or indirectly, pay for their
services. The first meeting of these officers was
held May 16, 1820, at the Chamber of Commerce
room, when Sylvanus P. Jermain was appointed
Secretary; and a short time after, John W. Yates
was made Treasurer.
The first deposit was made June 10, 1820, the
money being received at the New York State Bank,
with which the Savings Bank had made arrange
ments for the safe keeping of its funds. The de
posits received this day amounted to $527. The
first depositor was Joseph T. Rice, a silversmith.
The arrangements made with the New York State
Bank continued until 1828, when a contract was
made with the Commercial Bank to keep and invest
the funds of the Savings Bank. In 1871 the busi
ness of the Savings Bank was conducted in the
rooms formerly occupied by the First National
Bank. Its present elegant building, No. 89 State
street, was erected in 1874-75 and first occupied
May 11, 1875.
The business of this institution has been con
ducted in such a manner as to gain unbounded
public confidence. The amount of business done
has been steadily on the increase. In the second
year of its- existence $14,333 were deposited, repre
senting 297 depositors; in 1849, $707,595 were de
posited, mostly in sums under $100; in 1874,
$3,456,598; and on the ist of January, 1885, the
deposits in the bank amounted to $8,237,161.03;
the assets, $9,592,005.18.
Mr. Van Rensselaer was succeeeded as Presi
dent, in 1844, by John Townsend; in 1861, by
Garrit Y. Lansing; by Harmon Pumpelly, in 1869;
by Henry H. Martin, in 1882.
John W. Yates was succeeded as Treasurer, in
1844, by James Taylor; by Visscher Ten Eyck,
1861; James Martin,i869; Henry H. Martin,i874;
Theodore Townsend in 1882.
The Albany City Savings Institution was incor
porated on March 29, 1850, and began business,
and still continues it, in the Albany City National
Bank Building, 47 State street. The first Trustees
were Erastus Corning, Sr., John Taylor, James
Maher, Lansing Pruyn, James Kidd, James Mc
Naughton, John V. L. Pruyn, William Humphrey,
Watts Sherman, John T. Norton, James Goold,
Samuel Pruyn, Henry H. Martin, John Knower,
John McKnight, William Boardman, John G.
White, Ellis Baker, Christopher W. Bender and
Thomas Noonan. The first President was Erastus
Corning, Sr., who was succeeded by his son,
Erastus Corning. Watts Sherman was the first

Treasurer of this Bank. He was succeeded by
Henry H. Martin, who in 1874 was followed by
Amos P. Palmer. The present Treasurer is Russell
C. Case. The amount deposited in this bank, Jan
uary 1, 1885, was $2,153,077.57; assets, $2,263,-
542.76. The Mechanics and Farmers' Savings Bank was
incorporated April 12, 1855, and commenced busi
ness in the Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank Build
ing. Thomas W. Olcott was its first President.
He was succeeded by his son, Dudley Olcott.
Thomas Olcott and Dudley Olcott have both been
Secretaries of this institution. The present Secre
tary is George G. Davidson. The amount de
posited January 1, 1885, was$i, 312,588.05; assets,
$1,536,089.62. The Albany Exchange Savings Bank was incor
porated April, 1856, and commenced business at
450 Broadway. James McNaughton and William
G. Thomas have been Presidents of this Bank.
Isaac A. Chapman is the present President. Joseph
M. Lovett was the first Treasurer. Chauncey P.
Williams was elected in 1869, and has remained in
this position ever since. Amount deposited Janu
ary 1, 1885, $712,612.56; assets, $820,519.52. .
The Hope Savings Bank commenced business in
connection with the Hope Bank in 1866, and con
tinued to do business until 1877, when its affairs
were settled by paying its depositors in full and
suspending business. Officers: John Tracey, Pres
ident; B. W. Arnold and Hamilton Harris, Vice-
Presidents; William A. Young, Treasurer.
The National Savings Bank was incorporated
May 6, 1868, and commenced business at No. 57
State street, June 28, 1869. Its first President was
Erastus Corning, Sr., who was succeeded by John
H. Van Antwerp in 1872. Albert P. Stevens has
been Treasurer and Secretary ever since it began
operation. Amount deposited January 1, 1885,
$3,344,369. 71; assets, $4,022,172.87. Presentlo-
cation, 59 State street.
The Home Savings Bank was incorporated May
10, 1 871, and commenced business at No. 40
State street. Its first President was William White,
who was succeeded by the present officer, John D.
Capron. Edmund L. Judson is Treasurer, and
William Lacy, Secretary. Amount deposited Jan
uary 1,1885, $506,926.47; assets, $536,887.80.
Albany County Savings Bank was incorporated
April 30, 1874, and commenced business in the
Albany County Bank Building, No. 7 1 State street.
James H. Pratt was its first President. He was
succeeded by Jasper Van Wormer, its present head
officer. Albert V. Benson has been Secretary, and
John Templeton, Treasurer of this Bank ever since
its organization. Amount deposited January 1,
1885, $833,994.98; assets, $916,297.91.
The following Albany Savings Banks have been in
corporated at the dates given, but either failed to
commence operations or continued business for a
short period: Albany Dime Savings Bank, 1854; Six
penny Savings Bank, 1854; Mercantile Savings
Bank, 1855; and the Union Savings Bank, 1855.
Besides the incorporated banking institutions of
Albany, a number of individuals at a comparatively

4/0 AP#lPlWi'p

ERASTUS CORNING, SR.

535

early date conducted a private banking and broker
age business in Albany. Among the earliest of
these private bankers were Jacob Evertsen, George
Jones, Washburn & Co., William Watson & Co.,
Thomas Squires, and Chauncey S. Titus. Prob
ably the oldest private banker now doing business
in Albany is Evert Evertsen, a son of Jacob Evert
sen, who commenced business in 1843. Henry
R. Pierson commenced a private banking and
brokerage business in Albany in 1876, in the Mu
seum Building. May, 1880, he removed to 38
State street. In 1883, his son, Henry R. Pierson,
Jr., became a partner, under the firm name of
Henry R. Pierson & Son.
In 1872, Babcock & Robinson commenced busi
ness. In 1882 the firm was changed to Robin
son & Co.
A branch office of Spencer, Trask & Co. was
established here in 1880, on the corner of Maiden
lane and James street. In 1881 it was removed to
the present location, corner State and James. The
business at Albany is successfully and prudently
conducted by George J. Peabody, a member of
the firm.
John F. Smyth commenced a banking and bro
kerage business here in 1882; he failed in 1884, and
was succeeded by the present firm of I. B. New
comb & Co. ERASTUS CORNING, Sr.
The men who leave the strongest and most en
during impressions upon the times in which they
live, are those who possess indomitable energy,
courage, and what may be called will-force, the
central power, giving strength and propulsion to
character. "We often over-estimate the value of talent,
because it dazzles us and obscures its weakness.
We are apt to underrate the importance of will
power and exertion, because their works are less
shining. Brilliant talents gracefully adorn life, but
it is will, energy, enterprise, and plain practica
bility, without which apparatus of books, teach
ers, criticism, ancient language and literature are
of little moment. Resolution to work, love of
work, and ability to work are substitutes to every
thing except genius; they are, indeed, the rival of
genius. "
These remarks apply with great force to the char
acter and career of Erastus Corning, who, with the
possession of qualities we have described, rose to
the front rank of distinguished men of the State of
New York.
He also possessed a practical mind, which gave
success to great financial schemes, to public im
provements, and to large mechanical interests.
Many of these interests bear the impress of his
mind, and it can well be said that he has left upon
the City of Albany impressions of his public spirit
and influence that perpetuates his name and fame
as visibly as did the public spirit and energy of
Pericles on his native city, Athens.
Mr. Corning inherited his sterling mental and
physical qualities from a stalwart English ancestry,

who trace their genealogy far back in English his
tory. Corning, originally spelled De Cornu, is a
striking example of obtaining family names from
trade, pursuit, or some special gift. The name,
originally French, De Cornu, was acquired from
the horn of the hunter, as the origin of the family
was a famous hunter. After the edict of Nantes
the De Cornus, with many ancient families, were
compelled to leave the country and seek refuge,
some in Holland, some in England. Of the De
Cornus who went to England, some dropped the
French prefix De, calling themselves Cornus,
which, by a very easy transition, became Corning.
This is proven by many things, one of the strongest
being the horn of the hunter counterchanged on
the shield, divided per fess, or and gules, with
the motto Crede Cornu, as their arms, thus proving
a common descent.
Some of the Corning family entered ardently
into the support of Cromwell, and, after the Com
monwealth was overthrown, one of the family most
distinguished in its support was compelled to flee
to America to avoid the vengeance of Charles II,
and settled near Boston. He was the progenitor
of the Corning family in America. From him
Samuel Corning, of Beverly, Mass., was a direct
descendant. He was a man of large influence and
distinction, as appears by the records of Beverly
as far back as 1641. He was one of those vigorous
and intelligent persons for whom Massachussetts has
ever been celebrated. The father of Erastus Corn
ing was Bliss Corning, born in 1765, at Preston,
Conn. He was a lineal descendant of Samuel
Corning, inheriting all those virtues which charac
terized his ancestor.
It will be seen that Bliss Corning was born at
that period of American history, amid those popu
lar storms which were the preludes of the Revolu
tionary War. When the stirring scenes of Concord
and Lexington awoke the colonies to a sense of the
great struggle before them, the deepest patriotic
ardor was aroused in Bliss Corning. He was then
too young to join his countrymen in the conflict for
freedom, but before four years of it were over he
became a soldier in the Continental army, in which
he manfully served during the remainder of the
war. How valiantly and faithfully he served his
country is evinced by the fact that a generous pen
sion was assigned him, which he received down to
the time of his death.
Soon after the close of the war he was united by
marriage to Miss Lucinda Smith. The family of
Miss Smith was of the highest respectability ; her
father and two of her brothers served with distinc
tion in the Continental army.
Not long after the marriage of Bliss Corning, he
removed to Norwich, Conn., where, on December
14, 1794, his son Erastus, whose biography we are
tracing, was born. He was one of eleven children
born to his father and mother.
When Erastus was thirteen years of age his
father removed to Chatham, and there devoted him
self to agricultural pursuits. The boy began his
rudimentary education at Norwich, Conn. One of
his last teachers here was Peletiah Perit, who after-

536

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ward rose to distinction in the commercial circles
of New York, and who, at the time of his death, was
President of the Chamber of Commerce in that city.
After his removal to Chatham, the only institu
tion of learning within the reach of young Corning
was the common district school. In it, under the
instruction of excellent teachers, he made the best
use of his advantages, acquiring an excellent prac
tical business education.
It soon became evident to his father that Erastus
possessed a mind of uncommon business energy,
and that it took the direction of mercantile pursuits.
Fortunate advantages presented themselves for the
gratification of his ambition. While at school in
Chatham, his uncle, Benjamin Smith, was a promi
nent hardware and iron merchant at Troy, N. Y. ,
doing business under the firm name of Hart &
Smith. Mr. Smith's intuitive knowledge of character saw
the promising business qualities of his nephew, and
solicited his father to permit him to become a clerk
in his establishment. After the young man's edu
cation was sufficiently advanced, the father con
sented, and Erastus Corning became a clerk in the
firm of Hart & Smith.
Both members of this firm were leading citizens
of Troy, and his uncle held many important official
positions in its government. Few young men,
therefore, ever had a more useful, or more exem
plary guide for a successful business education than
young Corning had in his uncle.
When he first entered the employ of this firm it
was his business to clean lamps, sweep the store,
remove and replace the shutters, sleeping on a
bunk in the store. His employers at first feared
that on account of his lameness — being then com
pelled to use crutches — he would not be useful in
the store. He soon taught them their error. From
the position we have described he worked himself
up to great usefulness and a conspicuous place, and
finally to a fortune. While at Troy, his uncle, Mr.
Smith, gave him permission to keep a box of
oranges and lemons on the front steps for sale, and
retain the proceeds of the sales. As he received
the fruit from New York by sloop, he managed to
secure a small income.
While in this establishment he laid the founda
tion of his great fortune, exhibiting there the same
untiring energy and straightforward integrity which
characterized him through life. With quiet per
sistence he began acquiring that knowledge of men
and books that in after life became so conspicuous
in him. Constantly engaged by day in the busy
scenes of mercantile life, clear headed and clean,
he devoted himself to the interest of his employers.
When the busy hours of the day were over, books
from the libraries gave him their richest treasures.
How usefully to himself and the public he subse
quently used these treasures will be seen.
It was while with his uncle that young Corning
formed his political opinions, favoring the Demo
cratic party. These opinions were strengthened by
his own convictions as he advanced in years, and
to which he firmly adhered during life, rendering
him a power in the political field, ever acting boldly

and conscientiously up to his convictions. With
him the Jeffersonian creed, "Is he honest? Is he
capable?" were the cardinal pririciples he demanded
in office holders.
When the war of 1812 broke out, the firm ol
Hart & Smith was dissolved, Mr. Hart continuing
the business, young Corning remaining with him.
At length, desiring a larger sphere of action, more
commensurate with his abilities, in 1822 he dis
solved his relations with Mr. Hart and accepted
the position of confidential clerk in the large hard
ware firm of John A. Spencer & Co., of Albany,
N. Y. The confidence and esteem of the firm in
young Corning increased, and at the end of two
years he was admitted as a member of the firm.
Then came his first real business responsibilities:
the competitions of trade; the exercise of energies
bringing substantial rewards; the contest for greater
success, while holding securely those already at
tained, resulting in the control and power which
made him a recognized leader, not only in his
adopted city, but in the great State he loved so well,
and whose interest he so strongly subserved. Few
young men ever assimilated themselves so easily to
the details of business as did Mr. Corning ; few
were more evenly balanced, under the sudden
emergencies and vicissitudes of the commercial
world than he ; if the tide was against him, he
breasted it courageously and hopefully ; if in his
favor, he was calm and complacent.
Erastus Corning did not drift into commercial
success and high positions ; he earned them by
the exercise of extraordinary ability and energetic
exertions. His history, therefore, presents an im
pressive example of what unaided efforts may ob
tain in this country, so full of rivalry and personal
achievements. When he became a resident of Al
bany it was a comparatively small town, though
even then the center which radiated much influence
throughout the State, and somewhat great and
commanding influences throughout the nation. In
plainer language, it was just the place for him,
and he was just the man for the place. Here,
where legislators, statesmen and jurists assembled
and reasoned; here, where legislative and executive
wisdom and judicial learning showed its influence,
was the place for the vigorous, athletic, original
mind of Corning to apply itself to the commercial,
financial and business development of the city.
There was, therefore, a reciprocity of interest be
tween the city and himself.
Before Mr. Coming's death the city had more
than double its population, and had become the
center of large commercial interests, of extensive
railroad facilities and other great public improve
ments, largely the result of his enterprise and in
fluence. Is it not natural, then, that Albany
should venerate the memory of her large-hearted,
energetic and gifted citizen, always a watchful
guardian of her interests ? Is it not also natural that
the State itself, whose interests were advanced and
enlarged by him, should share in this veneration?
It would, perhaps, be the work of supererogation
to describe in detail his extended and varied career ;
but justice demands that we give some attention to it.

ERASTUS CORNING, SR.

537

Mr. Corning remained in the hardware and iron
business for nearly half a century. During that time
he had several partners ; among these was Mr.
John T. Norton, with whom he purchased the
rolling mill at Troy, N. Y., a successful adventure,
its success being accelerated by the lapse of time.
At the expiration of four years Mr. Norton retired
from the firm. The succeeding members of this
firm were James Horner, Gilbert C. Davidson, John
F. Winslow and his son, Erastus Corning, Jr.
Through all the changes of succeeding partners
the firm bore the name of Corning & Company.
After rivaling in importance all other establish
ments in the country, it rose by the extent of its
transactions and its wealth superior to all others.
Though all its business was under the supervision
of Mr. Corning, the details of it were attended to by
his partners and clerks. One of the strong features
in the character of Mr. Corning was the keen
sagacity with which he read men and balanced
their capacity and characteristics. This he applied
successfully in his selections of partners and his
subordinates ; in this manner all his great business
enterprises moved on without friction, without those
jealousies and personal conceits which too often
mar and interrupt the operations of extensive busi
ness affairs. In a word, Mr. Corning knew the
men he called about him, and he knew how to
place each man in his natural and appropriate
sphere. This gave him opportunity for the exer
tion of his abilities in other important enterprises,
which soon extended not only in various parts of
this State, but into other States.
We have said it was a fortunate circumstance for
him and for Albany that he made that city his
home. As the house of Corning & Company was
growing in importance and wealth, the day of rail
roads began to dawn over the country. These im
provements found in the strong, adventurous pub
lic spirit of Erastus Corning a powerful assistant,
and he embarked largely in their construction and
management. He invested his means largely in
them and became an extensive stockholder and
director in a number of the leading lines in the
country. In 1 83 1, when railroad projects were considered
little more than " the stuff which dreams are made
of," he was one of the projectors of the Mohawk
and Hudson River road, completed three years
later. The connection of Erastus Corning with the
railroad interest of the country may be briefly
stated as follows :
He was one of the commissioners for organizing
the Utica and Schenectady Railroad Company;
its President from its organization till 1854, when
it was consolidated with the roads between Albany
and Buffalo. This arrangement was effected with
great difficulty and against much opposition ;
but the rapidly increasing business of the railroads
demanded it, and it found in Mr. Corning a
warm and able advocate.
When the Erie Railway was completed to Lake
Erie, and the Pennsylvania Central had finished its
track, it was apparent that the several companies
68

which afterward composed the New York Central,
and which were operating under district organiza
tions, could not successfully compete with those
great lines, unless they were consolidated and
managed by one controlling mind. Hence a con
solidation was effected in 1854, under the name of
the New York Central, and it found in Erastus
Corning a controlling mind. On its consolidation
he was elected President of the road, discharging
the duties of that important position until 1865,
when he resigned. In the meantime, Mr. Corn
ing had gained a national fame as a railroad man
ager. When the project of constructing the famous
St. Marie Ship Canal, now connecting Lake Supe
rior with the great chain of lakes, terminating with
Ontario, was committed to a company and the
contract for constructing it awarded, Mr. Corning
became President of the Company. Associated
with him in this enterprise was J. W. Brooks, then
Superintendent of the Michigan Central Railroad,
one of the ablest and most distinguished railroad
men of the time.
The work which involved the construction of a
Canal around the Falls of the River St. Marie was
rapidly pushed to a successful completion, proving
an important auxiliary to the commerce of the
lakes, aiding largely in the development of the
rich mining interests of Lake Superior. It was to
the ample resources and comprehensive mind of
Mr. Corning that the early completion of the Mich
igan Central Railroad was principally due. This
road, one of the most important links in the great
line of railways connecting the Atlantic with the
Pacific, was undertaken by the State of Michigan,
but when completed as far as Kalamazoo, was
brought to a standstill for want of means.
At this juncture Mr. Corning, with Mr. D. D.
Williams, of the Farmers' Loan and Trust Com
pany, and his former business associate, J. W.
Brooks, took an assignment of the road from the
State and completed it with great rapidity. Mr.
Corning became a large stockholder in this road,
and one of its Directors. He was also a Director
of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Rail
road, of which he was one of the originators.
We have thus seen that he may, without affecta
tion, in its literal sense be called a railroad mag
nate. We have already referred to Mr. Coming's polit
ical sentiments, and to his connection with the
Democratic party.
It would be impossible for a man situated as he
was during his active business career, to avoid the
political arena. He was never the mere politi
cian, the man of present or ephemeral policy; a
mere party manager, using the platitudes of the
partisan for his own ambitious desires. The same
enlightened, far-seeing qualities that governed his
business relations was the motor of his political
life. He believed in the necessity of vigorous polit
ical action, and the necessity of organized parties;
he felt that skill in party organization was an
acquirement dangerous to the public will, unless
accompanied by a high sense of honor and an

538

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

unselfish devotion to the welfare of the country.
Though inflexibly devoted to his party, he never
wavered in his hostility to an institution or to
measures which, in his view, were violations of
human rights of honor and probity. He never
permitted himself to cherish any bitterness of feel
ings, even when party strife was the highest and
most bitter; when high and great principles were at
stake, he forgot the politician and the partisan in
the remembrance that he was a citizen of a
republic, a man and a Christian. So it happened
that when he came to die, he left no personal or
political enemy, but was at peace with all man
kind. It was not till 1828 that Mr. Corning entered
public life. He was that year, with great unanim
ity, elected a member of the Board of Aldermen of
the City of Albany, being re-elected to that office
for several years. In 1834 hewas chosen Mayor
of the City by the Common Council, serving by re
election till 1837. The manner in which Mr.
Corning discharged the duties of Chief Magistrate
of the City of Albany has passed into history,
which enrolls his name honorably on the long list
of the honored names who have presided in the ex
ecutive chair of this ancient city. His address on as
suming the duties of his office, January 1, 1836, was
particularly distinguished for its elevated and states
manlike views in regard to the railroad interests of
the city; and in regard to the duties of the co-or
dinate branches of the city government, it was
especially comprehensive and practical. Finally,
the whole message written to meet the particular
exigencies of the times, was regarded as a business
like, able and dignified document.
In 1 83 3 he was elected a Regent of the University,
and subsequently Vice-Chancellor of the Board.
In the fall of 1841, Mr. Corning was elected to
the State Senate from the Third Senatorial District,
which consisted of the Counties of Albany, Co
lumbia, Greene, Schenectady, Schoharie and Dela
ware. His district colleagues were Alonzo C.
Paige, of Schenectady; Erastus Root, of Delaware,
and Henry W. Strong, of Troy. During all his
senatorial career his colleagues were the ablest
men in the district, and the history of that career
ranks him as the peer not only of his colleagues,
but of the most distinguished member in the
Senate. The differences in men are rarely to be
measured by their differences in purely intellectual
endowments; they consist more commonly in the
differences in zeal, physical and mental energy,
perseverance, devotion to duty to friends and
country, pride of success, love of honor, self-
respect, and a desire to do good. That Mr. Corn
ing, in the discharge of his legislative duties,
possessed most, if not all, these endowments, is
exhibited indubitably by the records of the parlia
mentary body in which he served.
He was a delegate to the Democratic National
Conventions held in Baltimore in 1848 and 1852.
At the latter he was President of the New York
delegation. It needs no other comment upon the estimate
which the public placed upon his public services

than the fact that they opened the way for his nom
ination and election in the fall of 1856, as a repre
sentative in Congress from the Fourteenth Con
gressional District of the State. He took his seat
December 7, 1857, serving until the close of the
35th Congress, March 3, 1859. During this term he
rendered important services as a member of the
Committee on Claims, and on Naval Affairs. In
1 86 1 he was returned to Congress, and was re
elected the following term, thus serving in the
35 th, 37th and 38 th Congresses. The two last
were known as the "War Congresses."
He was a delegate to the Peace Convention held
in Washington, February, 1861. His experience
in legislative bodies, his high reputation for sound
sense and discrimination, gave him a prominent
position in this body. With other eminent members
he was in favor of making honorable concessions
to the South; but, when another policy prevailed,
he gave his influence, his means, and his every
exertion to the task of preserving the Union.
He was a Democrat — every inch a Democrat —
and yet the words of the great expounder of the
Constitution, "The Union now and forever; one
and inseparable," guided him in his congressional
career, and he gave his voice and influence in sus
taining the authority of the Constitution and the
supremacy of the law. He saw that Constitution
and those laws vindicated; he saw those "who
rashly took the sword punished by the sword; he
saw the nation filled with the largest views of in
tense nationality, and rejoiced that the heart of the
nation beat and throbbed in a united body politic. "
On February 5, 1833, Mr- Corning was ap
pointed a Regent of the University, a position he
held until his death. On April 21, 1870, he was
elected Vice-Chancellor of the Board of Regents.
It will be seen that he served on the Board ol
Regents for the period of thirty-nine years.
In his second and third terms in Congress, he
served on the Committee of Ways and Means.
"The great problem before the country at that
time, the solution of which devolved upon this
committee, was to provide a circulating medium
equal to the financial necessities of the country."
Mr. Coming's experience in monetary affairs had
not been extensive, but they had been intimate. In
1833 he was elected Vice-President of the New
York State Bank, but retired from that position
the following year to accept the presidency of the
Albany City Bank, which he retained through life.
He was, therefore, well acquainted with finance,
and brought to the deliberations of the Ways and
Means Committee a mature judgment which largely
aided in the solution of the difficulties presented,
providing a circulating medium for the country.
Mr. Corning resigned his seat in the House at
the opening of the Second Session of the 38th
Congress, determined to withdraw from public life;
but he was induced to accept the position as a del
egate to the Constitutional Convention, which met
at Albany, June, 1867. His colleagues were Wm.
Cassidy, Amasa J. Parker, and James Roy. His
legislative experience, his mastery of public affairs,
and well-tried capacity rendered him one of the

ERASTUS CORNING.

539

most valuable members of that body. In private
life, those who knew Mr. Corning best felt for him
the sincerest affection.
At the age of twenty-five he was united in mar
riage to Miss Harriet Weld, of Roxbury, Mass.
The family of this lady was one of the oldest and
most eminent in that State, tracing their genealogy
far back in English history. She was a woman of
culture and intelligence, in every sense qualified to
be the wife of a man like Erastus Corning. There
fore in his domestic relations he was happy and
fortunate. We have thus traced the public career of Mr.
Corning. A discriminating writer has said, love of
business and a capacity to conduct business stand
next to affluence. In tracing the life of Mr. Corn
ing from his youth to the great successes of his man
hood, the truth of these words is fully demonstrat
ed, for he possessed these qualities in a large
degree. They were the talisman which brought
his success.
His long career terminated by death on April 9,
1872. He did the work of his maturer years with the
same good faith, the same steady energy and self-
reliance with which he filled out the tasks of his
youth and early manhood. It is no affectation to
say that his was an exemplary life ; a character
profitable to study; one which was its own eulogy,
and of which no just description can be given with
out the use of some eulogistic language. In using
it, however, we are but speaking the words of truth
and soberness, and not undue panegyric.
Mr. Coming's moral and intellectual qualities
were in harmony ; his principles commanded the
respect and confidence of the legislative, commer
cial and business circles in which he moved. In
private life he gained affection and esteem. He
was modest, claimed no merit, assumed no undue
importance, accomplished his purpose not so much
by reason of his great wealth, as by the strength,
manliness and probity of his character. And
thus, while his influence was almost unbounded,
the people for whom he labored so long and effect
ually unite in the plaudit of " good and faithful
servant " as they look back upon his long and use
ful career, feeling that " it is well " with any peo
ple when from its institutions, modes of life and
thought, can spring a character like that of Erastus
Coming's. ERASTUS CORNING.
In the biography of Erastus Corning, Sr., we
have seen with what, ability, determination and
success he established himself one of the chief mer
cantile, manufacturing and public-spirited men of
the State, and perhaps in the nation.
We have seen that, subservient to his broad prac
tical business policy, he developed the growth of
railroads and other internal improvements, and be
came the founder of one of the greatest iron in
dustries of the country. We have seen how, in all
his great public and private enterprises, signal suc
cess attend him, and that he closed his life an emi

nently fortunate man. But amid all the fortunate
circumstances of his life, not one could have been
more gratifying to him than that which gave him a
son who inherited those qualifications by which he
had worked out his own success in life. A son,
who, when he himself was past the period of his
activity, and when called to leave the things of
earth, would take his place and successfully carry
forward his great designs and business projects, and
give additional fame to the name of Corning.
Having sketched the life of the father, it becomes
our pleasant duty to trace the career of the son from
his birth to the present conspicuous place he now
occupies in the community.
Erastus Corning was born at Albany, June 16,
1827. He was the third son of his parents. He
first went to school in Greenbush in the house now
occupied by Collender, the old fort; from there to
College Hill, Poughkeepsie, and completed it at
Union College. In his studies he was thorough
and practical, and they were peculiarly adapted to
the course of life that lay before him, with all its
responsibilities. On leaving college he entered a vast business
school, under the tutorship of his father, where he
received a training which, it is not too much to say,
could not have been elsewhere acquired in this
country. Two requisites for success in life are in
dispensable, neither of which can be counted on
prior to experiment. The first is opportunity; the
second is aptitude to turn it to the best account.
Both of these requisites Mr. Corning possessed.
At an early period he was brought into close com
panionship with the most accomplished and culti
vated financiers, manufacturers, legislators, and
statesmen. Hence he learned much from associa
tion of this kind. These circumstances, favorably
turned by his own exertions and energy, soon
placed him in the front rank of manufacturers and
financiers, in which he displayed the useful charac
teristics which marked the career of his father.
We have seen that at an early date the elder
Corning, in connection with John T. Norton, pur
chased the rolling mills at Troy, which subsequent
ly developed into the Albany Iron-works.
In nothing, perhaps, is the transforming power
of manufacturing industry — its ability to give to
crude ore entirely new forms and new qualities —
more strikingly evident than in the various ways in
which iron ore is molded into forms of usefulness.
It is impossible to exaggerate the utility or the
beauty of the materials thus wrought from it. In
pausing to consider them, the intellect is almost
staggered at their immensity, the vast variety of
their usefulness, the subtlety into which they enter
into almost everything which tends to the comfort
and happiness of men.
It was reflections, doubtless, something like these
that prompted the elder Corning to enter the great
business of iron manufacture, and induced the son
to become equally enthusiastic in carrying them
forward to a state of perfection and success al
most unrivaled. After several partners had suc
ceeded Mr. Norton, and left the firm, Erastus Corn
ing, Jr., became a partner in the concern, and the

540

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

firm was known as Erastus Corning & Company.
In the meantime the transactions of the house be
came more extended and important than those of
any other in the iron trade in America. The rela
tions of Erastus Corning, Jr., with the firm con
tinued until the death of his father, in 1872, when
he succeeded to the ownership of these iron-works.
Possessing a vigorous constitution, with corre
sponding mental powers, and much experience, he
was eminently prepared for the great responsibilities
which now rested upon him.
In writing a biography, it is in relating what a
man has done and achieved in life, rather than in
pleasing panegyrics, which places the reader in
possession of his true character and career.
"Permit me," said a great Athenian statesman,
" to have my name carved on the public edifices
that ornament the city which I have aided in erect
ing, and I will ask no other biography of myself. "
But the request was denied him.
In preparing our sketch of Erastus Corning, a
plain and truthful description of the various great
enterprises he has conducted will be the best pane
gyric that could be given any man; indeed, in
looking over the wide extent of the enterprises
which bear his name, we feel, as did the Athenian,
that they are a sufficient biography without the in
terposition of our pen; but as "history is philos
ophy, teaching by example, " and as biography is but
the other side of history, we shall make a descrip
tion of the manufacturing and other interests in
which Mr. Corning is engaged, the material for his
biography. We shall begin with a description of the great
ALBANY IRON AND STEEL MANUFACTORIES.
From a very early period, to use the language of
another, the waters of the Wynantskill were utilized
as motive power by the Dutch settlers. In 1789
David De Forest erected a fulling mill at the foot of
the falls in what is now the Sixth Ward of the City
of Troy, but this was taken down to make way for
the nail factory of John Brinkerhoff, who, in 1 807,
built a rolling-mill in the same glen. The opera
tions of this little wooden rolling-mill were con
fined to converting Russian and Swedish bar-iron
into plates, which were slit into narrow strips, cut
to the required length and made into nails headed
by hand. In 1826 BrinkerhofFs nail factory was put
up at auction and bought by Erastus Corning, Sr.,
who gave it the name of the Albany Nail Factory.
In order to follow the history of these iron-works,
which must be interesting to all our readers, we must
repeat some instances which appear in the biog
raphy of Erastus Corning, Sr.
Not long after purchasing the nail factory, Mr.
Corning, Sr., formed his partnership with Mr. Norton,
under the name and style of Norton & Corning.
In 1830 the establishment had increased to such an
extent that thirty-five persons were employed, with
an annual production of 825 tons of rolled-iron,
about half of which was cut into nails. That year
Mr. Norton withdrew from the firm, and Mr. Corn
ing found an admirable partner in James Horner.
Slowly, but surely, the business increased, and in a

few years its daily production was six and one-half
tons of iron, a large portion of which was con
verted into nails. Thus it continued till 1838,
when the firm was enlarged by the addition of
John F. Winslow, taking the firm name of Corn
ing, Horner & Winslow, while the establishment
was called the Albany Iron-works. During the
following year the first puddling or making of
wrought-iron from pig iron in this city was done at
these works. The only other establishment in the
State where this process of manufacture was carried
on, was at the Ulster Works, in Ulster County. In
1849 tne steam mill was built and put in operation.
The firm continued to grow and extend itself, in
creasing its capacities for manufacturing, enlarg
ing and extending its machinery, until it attracted
the attention of the nation.
At the breaking out of the Rebellion, it became
largely the resource of the North for productions
not obtainable at any other establishment. It man
ufactured very largely for the Government the patent
solid lip railroad chairs, which were invented in
these works. Immense quantities of these chairs
were used upon the military railroads in Virginia,
Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and other States,
upon which the supplies for the army were trans
ported. As the war advanced, it was the fortune of the
Albany Iron-works to be connected with one of
its most brilliant and decisive events — an event
which not only relieved the nation from a fearful
peril, but revolutionized maritime warfare, not only
in this country, but in all the civilized world. This
was the building of the Monitor. As one reads
the history of that small but powerful craft, he
almost fancies himself in the realms of romance, so
singularly did entirely opposite and unexpected
circumstances unite to turn a terrible defeat and
impending ruin to the country to a wonderful and
almost fabulous victory.
Before and during the events to which we have
alluded, John A. Griswold was at the head of the
Rensselaer Iron-works, and John F. Winslow, as
we have seen, was connected with the Albany Iron
works. These gentlemen were profoundly im
pressed with the inefficiency of the wooden vessels
of the United States Navy, and " earnestly urged
upon the authorities the construction of that novel
iron battery, the Monitor, invented by John Ericsson.
For not only did these men strongly advocate
the building of the vessel, but they had the courage
and enterprise to willingly hazard their reputa
tion and money in building this experimental iron
war-craft. As has been truthfully said : ' They con
tracted to furnish in a given time, and that a short
time, a shot-proof battery, such as had never before
been known, original not only in general design,
but in the arrangement of parts, with new methods
of mounting guns — heavier guns than had before
been used on shipboard — and they bound them
selves to cause this novel vessel, with all her untried
machinery, to work in all respects to the satisfaction
of the department, or forfeit the money advanced,
and that 2 5 per cent, of the whole amount they were
to receive should remain unpaid until the Secretary

ERASTUS CORNING.

541

should be satisfied with the performance of the ves
sel. As a necessary consequence of the contract,
the vessel was not accepted by the Government until
after the fight at Hampton Roads.'"
Captain Ericsson had conceived the idea of build
ing an iron ship ; and made applications to the
Secretary of the Navy for assistance. Some offers
were made him which he did not accept, and it was
not until C. S. Bushnell, John A. Griswold and
John F. Winslow took the matter in hand and went
to Washington, where, by President Lincoln's influ
ence and that of several officers of the navy, they
secured the contract for building such a vessel as
Ericsson had planned.
In the report on iron-clad vessels made by the
board, September 16, 1861, it was decided to ac
cept the proposition offered by these gentlemen in
regard to the vessel outlined by Captain Ericsson.
Immediately upon their return home, John A.
Griswold and John F. Winslow, as if they were
moved by Divine inspiration to build and complete
the vessel in the required time of ioo days, and to
clothe it with impregnable iron, began to make the
necessary preparations for manufacturing the iron
armor. Orders which could have been filled at
any other time were refused by the Albany Iron
works to give preference to the manufacture of the
plates, bar iron, spikes, etc., for the Government's
vessel, and the other portions — the machinery, port
stoppers, etc. — were contracted for by the associates
of Captain Ericsson. The following extracts from
letters addressed to the inventor exhibit the patriotic
zeal, the practical purposes and constant diligence
of the Troy contractors in forwarding the work of
construction. The building of the hull of the vessel was given
to Thomas F. Rowland, agent of the Continental
Iron-works at Greenpoint, L. I., the plates, bars
and rivets being furnished him from the Albany
Iron-works of this city. The Delamater Iron-works
were assigned the manufacture of the steam machin
ery, boilers, propellers and internal apparatus of
the turrets. The "port stoppers " to Charles D. De
Laney, of Buffalo.
The contract with the Government was made
October 25, 1861, by and between Thomas F.
Rowland, agent in behalf of the Continental Iron
works, Greenpoint, L. I., of the first part, and
Captain J. Ericsson, of New York, Messrs. John F.
Winslow and John A. Griswold, of Troy, N. Y.,
and C. S. Bushnell, of New Haven, Conn., parties
of the second part. The work on the battery be
gan at once at Greenpoint, and was diligently prose
cuted during the months of October, November,
December and January. The Monitor has been so
often described that a description here is needless.
On March 4, 1862, she was ordered to sea, and on
the afternoon of March 6 she left the lower Bay of
New York on an expedition that has given her
name to history.
As she passed Cape Henry at four o'clock on
Saturday afternoon, March 8, Captain Worden and
his crew listened to the heavy boom of cannon
coming from the engagement in Hampton Roads
bety/een the rebel iron-clad Merrimac and the

United States ship of war Minnesota, announcing
to them that they and their little vessel were soon
to engage in a terrible conflict. While on her way
the Cumberland and Congress, two of the proudest
ships of our navy, were destroyed by the Merrimac,
the first of these vessels, having lost 1 1 7 men out of
800, sunk with her colors flying; and the second,
after the escape of her crew, blew up, the fire reach
ing her magazine. It was nine at night when the
Monitor reached the roads and anchored near the
Merrimac. In the morning she engaged her for
midable antagonist, flushed with the victory of the
preceding day, and drove her back, crippled and
disabled, from the scene of the contest. Thus we
may say the Monitor saved the nation.
We have thus alluded to the Monitor because,
through the mysterious ways of Providence, Erastus
Corning, Sr., by the establishing of the Albany
Iron-works, became instrumental in bringing about
the construction of it.
A history and description of the great establish
ment of which Mr. Corning is the head, is inter
esting to the iron trade and profession on account
of its high reputation for extent and quality of its
products; because it embraces one of the oldest iron
works in the United States; and it is interesting to
the general public because it is the pioneer Besse
mer works of America.
Here were tried many of those experiments which
have contributed to the development of its manu
facture. Boiling was practiced at an early day ;
"puddled steel," as good as the imported article,
had its course ; spike, rivet and horseshoe machines
were the subject of constant improvement; Amer
ican iron and refractory materials for the Bessemer
were tested; and the American system of Bessemer
plant was worked out.
The group of works forming the present estab
lishment were originally independent of each
other. The Albany Iron-works grew up during sev
enty-five years under the principal ownership of
Corning & Winslow. The Bessemer works were
started by Winslow, Griswold & Holley in 1865.
The Rensselaer works — a mile further up the Hud
son — after thirty five years' growth, latterly under
the ownership of Corning & Griswold, were joined
to the Bessemer works. All the above mentioned
works, and two blast furnaces, to be further re
ferred to, are now owned by Erastus Corning.
Their commercial affairs are administered by Mr.
Corning, General S. E. Marvin and Chester Gris
wold; Mr. Robert W. Hunt is General Superintend
ent. These works, excepting two blast furnaces,
are in the City of Troy, in an important railway
center ; the New York Central, Boston and Albany,
Delaware" and Hudson, Troy and Boston, Boston
and Hoosac Tunnel and Western roads radiate re
spectively in every direction, to anthracite and bi
tuminous coal fields, two hundred miles west ; to
Lake Champlain ore mines, one hundred miles
north ; and the immense deposit of the Hudson
River Ore Company, on the Hudson, opposite
Catskill. During the last two or three years heavy and fast
roll trains, economical engines and improved fur-

542

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

naces have been substituted for the older machinery,
and extensive enlargement of the converting plant
is largely completed. The distance of a mile be
tween the bloom and the rail-rolling departments
is practically overcome by special railroad facilities.
The following is a description furnished us by Mr.
Hunt. BESSEMER PLANT.
Before it was begun, various American irons had
been tried by the Bessemer process in Sheffield, in
1864, and a Lake Champlain iron, the Crown
Point, was found especially good. A two-and-one-
half-ton single vessel plant was started in February,
1865, and run till 1871, when it was changed into
the ingot mold foundry. This five-ton Bessemer
plant was started in 1867, partially destroyed by
fire in 1868; rebuilt in 1869, it again began work
in 1870. More recently, large cupolas, seven-ton
vessels, were put in.
The Bessemer building is of brick, 148 feet by
98 feet in plan, with a cupola house 80 x 39 feet.
This is the earliest specimen of the American type
of plant, with vessels set high and side by side, and
with three ingot cranes over a large shallow pit.
The 7-ton vessels have 6-feet internal diameter, and
15 tuyeres with i2f-inch holes. The vessel bot
toms are interchangeable, and are removable by
means of lifts and of cars, which carry them later
ally, for repairs, under the two-side ingot cranes.
They are baked in adjacent ovens.
The blowing engine "and pump-rooms are con
veniently placed on the right of the vessels, and the
blooming mill comes next.
By means of convenient transporting apparatus
500 tons of hot ingots per twenty-four hours are
delivered by power into the blooming-furnaces, and
are rolled, cut up, and chipped, under a 7-ton
hammer, and loaded hot on the rail-mill cars with
reasonable facility. There are two large Worthing
ton compound duplex pressure pumps.
These pumps are used almost exclusively in
America for high-pressure pumping, and are em
ployed to a greater extent than any other for the
water supply of towns.
The boilers of the Bessemer and blooming de
partments are each cylinders 1 5 feet long and 5
feet in diameter, lying over a brick fire-place and
combustion chamber, and having thirty-eight \\-
inch return tubes. There are eight of these boilers
near the blowing engine, and six in an outside
boiler-house. There is also a 28^-feet x 80 in.
Galloway boiler of 112 horse-power, and one 87-
inch steel drop-flue boiler of the Mars type.
The blooming plant was started in January,
1 8 7 1 . This was the first American blooming train,
and, though extensive alterations have been made,
the housings and stores remain. On the original
tables the ingots were fed by hand. The Fritz
power-feeding tables were introduced, and later
Holley's system of actuating the feed rollers was in
troduced. The original train rolled 1 2-inch ingots
to two-rail blooms ; the present train at 45 revolu
tions rolls 15-inch ingots to 7-inch four-rail blooms,
by the labor of four men and boys, at the rate of
2, 500 tons per week ; it can roll 3,000 tons.

The rail mill is a brick building, 375 x 98 feet,
with wings. There are ten coal-fired heating fur
naces, each having a horizontal overhead boiler
5x22 feet, with return flues. There are five aux
iliary boilers like those in the Bessemer department.
Materials and product are, at this group of works,
received and delivered by the New York Central
and Hudson River Railroad on one side, and by
the Hudson River on the other side.
The merchant steel mill, just below the rail mill
of the Rensselaer works, is a brick building 338 x
187 feet, with wings. The fast 16-inch, three-high
train is of the most improved type. Its product at
100 revolutions is 50 tons per turn of i^-inch 27-
feet wire-rod billets from 7-inch blooms. The
train is driven direct by a Porter- Allen engine of
22-inch cylinder and 3 feet stroke, to which is at
tached a Bulkley condenser. In the yard of the
merchant and rail mills there is a large smith shop,
with two steam hammers; also, suitable pattern and
machine shops ; the latter has, among other good
tools, a lathe of ten feet swing, and a planer to take
in seven feet square ; also, a large and complete
merchant steel warehouse.
The Albany Iron-works merchant mill is of
brick, 329 x 156 feet, with wings and iron roof
The 18-inch merchant train, the Belgian train, with
their engines and Swindell gas furnaces; also the
axle hammer, are quite new, and of the most im
proved type. This mill also contains a 400-pound
steam helve hammer of excellent type. It produces
60 railway axles from rolled blanks per twenty-four
hours. The nail factory contains 3 1 machines and
produces excellent steel cut nails. Notwithstand
ing the pressure of business, especially in the nail
trade, the Albany works have manufactured over
100,000 kegs of spikes, nails, rivets and bolts, in
one year. To this department has been added
machinery for the manufacture of steel disks of a
very superior kind for a recently patented and highly
approved cultivator.
The firm manufactures special steels, gun-barrel
steel, receiver steel, cotton-roller steel, fork, hoe,
and rake steels. Large quantities of billets are an
nually manufactured for barbed-wire fences, steel
fence-posts for wire fences, also guard rails. The
machine shop common to the Bessemer plant
and Albany Iron-works, is a two-story 97 x 66 feet
building, with a pattern shop in the upper story.
The Bessemer and blooming works and yard,
and the rail mill and adjacent merchant mill and
their yards, are lighted by the Brush apparatus. At
each of the two groups of works there is a sixteen-
light machine, driven by a 10 x 10 inch engine.
About half the lights are outdoor. The cost of the
apparatus was about $3, 600 for each works.
Production — maximum : Tons per Week.
Ingots  3,000
Steel rails  2 000
Other manufactured steel  850
Merchant iron  \\ 77c
Men employed, 2,800, when the works are running full.
The blast furnaces at Hudson and Fort Edward
have been blown out, and steps are being taken to

ERASTUS CORNING.

543

erect three large furnaces at Troy, of the most im
proved type, at a cost of about $600,000. The
monthly pay roll at present calls for about $50,000.
When in full operation it reaches $125,000 to
$150,000 a month.
Beside the large annual payment of money to
the workmen at Troy by this establishment, the
amount of taxes paid into the city treasury by the
Company is a very important item, consisting of
about one-fortieth of the sum collected.
Mr. Corning gives considerable attention to agri
culture and the raising of blooded stock. A visit
to his beautiful farm of over seven hundred acres,
about two miles south of Albany, gives indubitable
evidence of his taste as an agriculturist.
Here are seen flocks of Southdown sheep and
a splendid herd of Jerseys and Herefords. This
herd of Herefords is the oldest in this country, es
tablished in 1840. He has also extensive stables
for his numerous horses, kept for stock purposes.
This farm has been under the superintendence of
Mr. John Vanderbelt for over thirty-four years. His
horse trainer has been in his employ for twenty-
one years, his coachman nineteen years, his herds
man twelve years.
It is delightfully located. To the east is seen
the Hudson, with its varying scenery; to the
north, from the rising ground is seen the great
State Capitol, looming in grand proportions above
the city; while all around the view is picturesque
and inviting.
Perhaps Mr. Coming's leading characteristic is
his natural love of flowers and his singular ability
and success in their cultivation. Possessing ample
means to gratify his fine taste, he has, at a vast ex
pense, achieved a success as a floriculturist which
leaves him almost without a rival in the world.
The choicest floral productions of the world are
tributary to his immense conservatories. Here
bloom plants from the tropics, from the temperate
zones, and here, too, hang flowers from the high
mountains of Mexico, Columbia, Peru, Bogota,
Venezuela and Brazil, and from the Himalayas in
India, China and Japan. Madagascar, Borneo, and
other islands of the Pacific have here their floral
offerings, while every choice plant in our own coun
try and Europe is represented.
We have not the space to describe the many ex
ceedingly choice varieties of roses, geraniums, pan-
sies, calcelarias, camelias and other beautiful flow
ers found in these conservatories.
In the cultivation of orchids Mr. Corning is sin
gularly successful. These have been so admirably
and learnedly described in an essay, read before
the New York Horticultural Society by Mr. Will
iam Grey, gardener to Mr. Coming, that a few
extracts from it will be an embellishment to our
work: When it is taken into consideration, says Mr. Grey,
the varied habitats where orchids are found growing, it is
really surprising to find so many do well under cultivation.
Out of over one thousand species and varieties in Mr. Com
ing's collection I do not find three per cent, difficult of cul
ture. Admitting from the little resemblance or affinity in
orchids found in the Eastern and Western Hemispheres,

in many instances all that is known of their native places
of abode is the East Indies or South America, which gives
much trouble to find out the necessary requirements of
plants terrestrial or epiphytal, which may have been found
on the cloud-capped mountains of Borneo, Luzon or Co
lombia; the plains of Rangoon or Bogota ; in the valleys of
Assam, Java or Magdalena; the wet, shady forests of Brazil
and Guatemala ; the arid continent of Africa or hot lands of
Mexico, the temperature ranging from 300 or less to no'
Fahrenheit or more in the shade, and in the sun the heat is
intense, with very bright light. In some orchid districts it
rains nearly every day ; in others, often comparatively no
rain for months. Many species grow in the full sun ; others
in partial shade; a few in deep, shaded forests.
Speaking of orchid houses, Mr. Grey continues:
It is well known that many of those beautiful and gor
geous floral windows — grotesque configurations of insects,
birds and animals — are well grown with store and green
house plants, and the nucleus of all the large collections of
the United States were so grown twenty-five years ago.
* * * And only when the species increased in numbers
it was found necessary to erect houses for their special cul
ture. Mr. Corning has pursued the culture of orchids with
much zeal for many years, and with the number of species
at present in cultivation, experience has taught that it is
necessary to grow them in six divisions, which are named
phalaenopsis, vauda, dendrobium, cattleya, oucidium and
north house, with a house to rest plants in after they have
done growing. The conclusions we have arrived at are,
that low, span-roofed houses, about twenty feet wide, inside
shelves three feet, paths three feet, center bench about
seven feet are best. As far north as Albany it is positively
necessary to have about four inches of space between the
front wall and shelf to allow the heated air to pass up at the
eaves and to prevent the hot current of heated air striking
the plants. A slate or board rests on the shelf, reaching
and secured to the under side of the rafters. By this means
the hot air is conducted to the roof of the house and be
comes ameliorated before coming in contact with the
plants. There is no wood used except in the roof; no up
right glass; side wall carried to the eaves; height of side
walls to top of plate, four feet; center of house, ten feet; a
lantern running the length of the house for ventilation in
winter, when all sash is frozen fast.
Mr. Grey then describes the manner of heating,
and governing the temperature and moisture. He
furnishes us with a list of the orchids grown in
Mr. Coming's conservatories, from which we men
tion some that are very rare, and some found no
where else in cultivation.
Of the tribe Vauda; the Aerides (growing on trees, air-
plant); Schrodii, a native of Bombay, is very rare;
Angracum major, very rare, Madagascar; Anguloa eburnea,
very rare, Colombia.
Of the tribe Epidendrea, the Cattleya hybrida is the only
plant under cultivation ; Mendilii, very rare, Colombia;
Citrina, very sweet-scented, Mexico; Cattleya Corningice,
only plant in Colombia; Dodgsonii, from Colombia (only
Mr. Lee, of England, has this plant besides Mr. Corning);
Tarvassagunshee, only plant in Colombia.
Of the tribe Malaxidece; the Dendrobium (growing on
trees); Corningii {nobile-litseiflorum), two choice varieties,
only plant.
Of the tribe Vaudete, the Oucidium Roger sii is the. only
plant in Brazil, and the- Phalcenopsis Corningiana is the
only plant in the Philippines; Fasciata is the only plant.
Mr. Corning has the best collection of Phalce
nopsis in the world. In fact, we believe he has only
one rival, Mr. Lee, of England. Mr. Grey has been
in his profession for many years, having learned
and followed it in Scotland, England and Amer
ica. He has been with Mr. Corning for the past
thirty years. To his courtesy we are under ob
ligations for our information relative to the con
servatories.

544

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ALL SAINTS CATHEDRAL.
The interest which Mr. Corning has taken in all
public improvements in Albany are proverbial; not
only in manufactories, but in churches, schools
and their edifices has his liberality been seen and
felt, but in no instance of public improvement has
he exhibited so much zeal and munificence as in
All Saints' Cathedral, now in process of erection in
Albany. Without referring minutely to the valuable
lands he has from time to time donated to this
cathedral, and the exceedingly prosperous institu
tions connected with it, we shall give an outline
history and description of the cathedral from its
beginning. The interest taken by Mr. Corning in the
Cathedral of All Saints at Albany, renders a brief
history of what is to be one of the most imposing
buildings in Albany, and perhaps in the State, very
appropriate in his biography.
The Legislature of the State of New York incor
porated the Cathedral by an Act passed March 27,
1873 (Chap. 149). The first section created the
following members "a body politic and corpo
rate:" The Bishop, William Croswell Doane,
John Ireland Tucker, John H. Hobart Brown,
Hiram H. Beers, Theodore Babcock, John Town-
send, Orlando Meads, Erastus Corning, Amos P.
Palmer, Walter A. Wood and James Forsyth.
The corporators are empowered by Section 3 "to
fill vacancies in their own number," and, by Sec
tion 4, to adopt a constitution for the election of
new trustees. The object and purposes of the
corporation are, by Section 2, said to be " the es
tablishment, erection, maintenance and manage
ment of a cathedral church and its appurtenances
in the City of Albany;" and Section 5 declares
"the seats for the worshipers in the said cathe
dral church shall always be free."
On All Saints' Day,. 1872, the building at pres
ent occupied, formerly an iron foundry, was first
used for Divine Service. It has been enlarged since.
On the festival of All Saints, 1881, the Bishop
announced to the congregation his purpose to be
gin at once the execution of this one of the great
purposes for which the corporation was created, the
erection of a cathedral building, and laid before
them his plans. At a meeting of the Chapter,
held November 23, 1881, the following committee
was appointed to select a site: The Bishop, Hon.
Erastus Corning, Mr. Orlando Meads. It was re
solved to endeavor to raise at once $150,000, to
meet the cost of the building exclusive of the site.
Mr. James Moir was appointed to act (under Gen.
S. E. Marvin, Treasurer of the Chapter) as treasurer
of the funds collected into the subscription books.
The committee on the site were then instructed
' ' to obtain plans for the cathedral. "
On April 30, 1883, the plans of R. W. Gib
son, architect, were adopted, with a modification
submitted to the Chapter on the 6th of June. On
November 28, 1883, the grounds given by Hon.
Erastus Corning, valued at $80,000, were ac
cepted as the site, and, on motion of Mr. Corning,
it was

"Resolved, That, in the judgment of the Chap
ter, it is expedient that measures be taken without
delay to begin the work of building the cathedral,
and that to that end preparations be made to re
move the buildings now oh the ground, and to
procure the working plans and estimates for the
excavation and laying of the foundations, and that
the work be proceeded with as fast and as far as
the means in the hands of the Chapter will permit."
At a meeting held March 22, 1884, it was re
solved that the corner-stone be laid on Whit-
Tuesday, June 3, 1884. This stone, with appro
priate inscriptions, is the gift of Margaret Doane
Gardiner, the Bishop's granddaughter. At the
same meeting "a special subscription was author
ized for the columns of the new cathedral, to be
memorials of churchmen eminent in Church and
State." They are to be twenty- four in number, and
to cost $1,800 each. Twenty-one have already
been appropriated. As the day appointed for the
laying of the corner-stone approached, the contri
butions in money (distinguished from the gift of
land) were nearly $100,000 — no one gift exceeding
$7, 500, that of Hon. Walter A. Wood.
According to the modified plans presented by
the architect, the building to be erected for imme
diate use is in every part, except the roof, a por
tion of the completed structure and will be built
up to a height sufficient for a good appearance and
with accommodation for seating practically the
same. The style is Gothic, or pointed architecture
of the first period; the plan is a Latin cross formed
by the choir and nave to the east and west respect
ively, and of a central crossing with transepts to the
north and south. The choir is ninety-one feet
long and thirty-five feet wide, and is planned in
five bays or divisions, the two eastern forming the
sanctuary. The nave is ninety-nine feet long,
forty wide, and has narrow side aisles its entire
length. The transepts are one hundred and ten
feet in breadth from north to south (including
crossing), and forty feet wide, forming a square
crossing with the nave. The crossing has four
great arches corresponding with those of the nave
and transepts; and above them breaks by pen
dants into an octagon, in the manner frequent in
the early Gothic cathedrals. The main features of
the interior are the great pillars made up of
grouped shafts and pieces in pure constructural
style; they are of unusual size and will give excep
tional majesty to the perspective of the nave and
choir. The main arcade upon them is simple,
but can be at a future time enriched with carving.
A triforium of coupled arches is carried along the
nave and choir. Over this comes the clerestory
with large coupled lancet windows in the nave and
tracing in the choir; generally the choir has been
given richer character than the nave, leading up to
the traceried window in the square east end of the
sanctuary. The western end of the nave has a
rich circular window of radiating tracery. The
side aisles are to be used as passages only; the
nave is widened to the maximum, and the pillars
are so arranged that none of the congregation are
seated behind them. The heights of the interior

Enqb-a

H B Halls Sans JferrYojti

HON. ELI PERRY,

545

are, from floor of nave to springing of arches of
nave and transept vaults, forty-eight feet; to top of
vaults, seventy feet; to top of ceiling of lantern
over crossing, one hundred and thirteen feet; to
springing of arches of choir vaults, forty-five feet;
to top, sixty- six feet. The proportions and
methods of the octagon lantern are designed to
avoid acoustic difficulties. The exterior walling
is to be of Potsdam stone. The west front is
flanked by towers with belfries and spires. The
height to top of belfry is one hundred and thirty-six
feet, and to top of finial, two hundred and three
feet. The central tower, or lantern over crossing,
is one hundred and forty-four feet high at top of
masonry, and one hundred and eighty feet to top of
finial cross. The seating capacity is for fifteen hun
dred persons, and there are one hundred and fifty-
three stalls for the clergy, and fifty-four choir seats,
making a total of one thousand seven hundred and
fifty-seven persons. If crowded, the edifice would
hold two thousand.
We have seen in the biography of Erastus Corn
ing, Sr., that through life he conscientiously gave
his adherence to the Democratic party; that he
became a power and a leader in that party; and it
is easily seen that his son inherited the principles
of Democracy, which have been strengthened by
his own convictions as he has advanced in life and
studied the best interests of his country. He be
lieves that the division of the people into parties
is essential to the balance of elective institutions.
Having, therefore, early selected for his support
the party that was, in his judgment, most conform
able to the Constitution and the rights and liberties
of the people, he adheres to his choice with all the
tenacity of his nature. He has no confidence in
half-way methods and expedients; whatever is right
and proper, he holds is to be promoted by all legal,
equitable, and proper means.
It would be natural that such a man should
have large influence in the political field ; and he
does. He has never, however, sought official dis
tinction, although easily within his reach. As has
well been said: " He is reluctant to abandon his
business for the uncertain, and often unsatisfactory,
honors of the political arena." We believe the
only political position he has held was that of Dem
ocratic elector for the Seventeenth Congressional
District, to which he was elected in the autumn
of 1884. Though adhering, as we have said, with
tenacity to his political opinions, he gives respect
ful and courteous consideration to the opinions of
others. He is prominent in all that relates to the in
terests of Albany and its citizens, who hold him in
the highest respect. His manners are unassuming;
he is true to his friends and to his duties. Unselfish,
he has secured the confidence and regard of the
people of Albany, and this confidence and regard
is largely shared by the people of the State. Be
side his important business relations already de
scribed, Mr. Corning is President of the Albany
City National Bank; the Albany City Savings In
stitution; the Albany Rural Cemetery Association;
and the Fort Orange Club. Was formerly a Water
Commissioner and a member of the Albany City

Hall Commission. He has served as Alderman of
his Ward, but has held no other official position
except that of presidential elector before men
tioned. It will thus be seen that he is prom
inent in all that relates to the interests of Al
bany. In the fall of 1885 Mr. Corning was elected
a Director of the New York Central and Hudson
River Railroad.
In 1850, Mr. Corning was united by marriage to
Miss Gertrude Tibbitts, of Albany, by whom he
had one son, his eldest child, Erastus Corning, Jr.
Mrs. Corning died in 1869. In 1873, Mr. Corn
ing married Miss Mary Parker, daughter of Hon.
Amasa J. Parker, of Albany. By this union he is
the father of two sons and one daughter.
Mr. Corning is a practical man, and deals with
men in a practical manner; he molds the influ
ences which surround him and subordinates all
minor matters to the object he desires to accom
plish. In all that constitutes an active, intelligent,
and high-minded business man, the typical enter
prising American, in the most laudable significa
tion of the term, he stands in the very front rank,
pre-eminently the representative, public-spirited cit
izen, an honor to the age in which he lives.
HON. ELI PERRY.
Hon. Eli Perry, a distinguished citizen of Albany,
Ex-Mayor of the City, and Ex-Member of Con
gress, was born in Washington County, N. Y.,
December 25, 1799, and died in Albany, May 17,
1881. He was a third cousin of the gallant Com
modore Perry, U.S. N., whom he resembled some
what in personal appearance. His' early life was
passed in Montgomery County, where his parents
owned a fine farm and were considered prosper
ous people. When Eli was still a youth, his father
sold the farm, and, with his family, removed to Al
bany, where he opened a tavern at the corner of
Lion (now Washington avenue) and Swan streets.
While engaged in this occupation, he took a con
tract to supply a portion of the American army
with beef and other provisions. After the terms of
the contract were fixed, the prices of provisions be
came very high, but, being thoroughly honorable,
he held to the terms of his contract, and sacrificed
all the property he had in the world. Young Eli
was the eldest of six children — five boys and one
girl — and it became necessary for him to assist in
providing for the family. He cheerfully aided his
father in the performance of his contract and was
of great assistance to him for several years. He
then took service with Elisha Wilcox, who kept a
tavern in the old mansion formerly occupied by
Governor Tompkins. By extreme frugality he
saved from his wages, which were very small, dur
ing one whole winter the sum of fourteen dollars,
and with this amount he determined to commence
business. Mr. Angus, then a well-known grocer,
encouraged the industrious and frugal young work
er, and gave him a corner in his store in which to
open a butcher stall. Young Perry then hired an
old stable near Henry Y. Webb's malt-house,
where his neat cattle were killed, and proceeded at

546

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

once to prepare his market for the sale of fresh
meat. He attended closely to his business. Lim
ited in means, of course his purchases of stock
were necessarily small. He bought from the ad
jacent farmers and turned over his capital every
twenty-four hours. By care and good management
he not only supported himself, but saved enough
money to buy a horse and wagon, with the aid of
which he was enabled to supply with meat some
fifteen or twenty taverns, situated on the Great-
western Turnpike, then the only highway of com
munication with the West. His business increased
rapidly. Everybody liked to help the young man
who was so assiduous in helping himself; who was
so attentive to his business; who was so accom
modating; and who never thought anything he
could do for them was any trouble. His business
had increased to such an extent, that he could not
always depend on the farmers to keep him supplied
with the quantity he desired, and it became his
practice to attend the cattle market at McKown's.
His purchases, however, were always very light,
compared with those made by others. One day,
his good friend, Mr. Fowler, told him to buy a
good drove of lambs and come and see him about
the payment for them. Eli went out to McKown's
and finding a. nice drove, commenced examining
them with a view to buying. The other larger
dealers looked on in derision at young Perry com
peting with them in the purchase of some eighty
or ninety head. They had already offered 9s. 6d.
per head. Perry finally turned to Simpson, the
owner, and said: "I'll give you ten shillings a
head for them." He secured the lambs, and,
when driving off, the others were very anxious to
take his purchase off his hands at a premium. He
went to Mr. Fowler and informed him of his pur
chase, when that gentleman sat down and drew a
check for $100, "payable to Sheepskins or bearer,"
on the Mechanics and Farmers' Bank. This was
the first time in his life that the boy had ever had
a bank check in his hands. Mr. Olcott paid the
money to Eli, who handed it over to Simpson, and
they returned to McKown's. Young Perry drove
his flock out of the yards before all the dealers
assembled there, feeling as proud and rich as John
Jacob Astor, and from that day no brother dealer
ever laughed at Eli when he proposedto buy stock.
Mr. Perry's business was constantly increasing, and
he found himself at times unable to accommodate
his customers as fully as he desired. John Cassidy,
father of the editor of the Albany Argus, was then
a heavy dealer in cattle. He also took an interest
in Eli, and told the drovers to "give that boy all
the cattle he wanted, and he would be his security."
Eli then applied to the Common Council for a license
for a market on the corner of Swan street and
Washington avenue, where Robert M. King's house
now stands. This was secured, and, through Mr.
Cassidy's aid, Eli soon had a market second to
none in the city. He was now on the high road
to fortune. He was prosperous in all his under
takings, and soon took rank among the heaviest
dealers. Nevertheless, his business always received
his individual personal attention, early and late.

The packing of beef in Albany, at that time, was
done chiefly by John Russell and Ichabod Judson.
Mr. Russell's establishment being offered for sale,
Mr. Perry became its purchaser. He enlarged his
facilities from year to year until he employed some
seventy men. At times he packed from 80 to 100
head of cattle per day. It was while engaged in this
business that Mr. Perry laid the foundation of his
subsequent wealth. This business required large
amounts of ready capital, and the late John Taylor,
then carrying on the business of a tallow-chandler,
frequently came to the assistance of Mr. Perry by
indorsing his paper. Mr. Perry continued this
business for some twenty years, making it more
profitable each year. His business prosperity in
creased his wealth to such a degree, that he found
himself possessed of a large surplus capital, which
it became necessary to invest. Having the interest
of the city in which he had so long been successful
at heart, he felt it to be his duty to invest his capital
in real estate. He entered upon these investments
with the same spirit, energy and judgment which
had characterized all his business transactions. He
carefully studied the city and all its advantageous
sites and localities. He took into consideration
the interests of the city, investigated its municipal
affairs, and made himself fully conversant with their
management and their wants and needs. He very
soon made himself master of these, and was recog
nized as such. In April, 1845, his fellow citizens
of the Second Ward, appreciating his fitness for the
office, elected him to represent them in the Com
mon Council. In politics he was a Democrat, and
was nominated on that ticket; and although the
Ward had given a Whig majority of 300 in the
previous election, Mr. Perry's personal popularity
was so great, that he succeeded in completely
reversing it, and obtaining a sufficient number of
additional votes to insure his election. In 1850
he was elected to the Assembly, and, while holding
this office, was elected Mayor of the City of Albany.
This office he continued to hold at various times
for nearly twelve years, and during that entire
period not one breath of suspicion of wrong-doing
was ever charged against him. While Mayor of
the City he performed a service, in conjunction
with Mayor Kingsland, of New York, which
elicited wide-spread commendation and thanks
from all classes of citizens. A bad class of emi
grant runners had banded themselves together for
the purpose of robbing emigrants. Their organiza
tion extended from New York to Buffalo, and the
ringleaders had their quarters in New York
and Albany. It was determined to break this
gang up. But to do this required the personal
action of Mayor Perry. Therefore, every morning
by daylight, he was to be seen on the dock,
with a few trusty policemen, driving away from the
emigrants the robbers, and taking charge of them
himself, sending or conducting them to honest
stopping-places. This course was successful, and
the disreputable business was broken up. Our
adopted citizens, especially, appreciated this action
very highly; but the runners, who held no little
political influence, made it a pretext for bringing

HON. ELI PERRY.

547

against him a strong opposition when he ran again
for office. But Mr. Perry's popularity was alto
gether too great, and he was re-elected by a greater
majority than ever. Many stories are told of his
personal courage and daring, which alone would
fill a small volume. In the discharge of his duty
as Alderman, he was present on the occasion of a
fire in Green street. While directing the firemen,
a wall of hot bricks fell on him, completely bury
ing him from view. The engines near by, in their
attempt to cool the bricks and thus save him from
being burned to death or suffocated, poured such
a volume of water upon them, that before he could
be extricated he came very near death by drown
ing. Shortly after the War for the Union com
menced, a serious strike occurred among the
laborers of the New York Central Railroad Com
pany; hundreds of armed men roaming the street,
and finally assembling at the freight yard, then
in Montgomery and Spencer streets, threatening to
destroy all the property found there. Had the
buildings been fired, as suggested by a few of the
leaders, millions of dollars' worth of valuable prop
erty awaiting transhipment would have perished
with the cars and freight-houses. The Mayor was
at that time the head of the Police Force, and, with
a posse of men, he hastened to the rendezvous of
strikers, who were about carrying out the plans of
destruction suggested by the leaders. He fear
lessly forced his way right into their midst; expos
tulated with them about their proposed lawlessness;
and assured them that, while their rights would be
respected, he, as Mayor of the City, sworn to pro
tect the peace and property of its citizens, would
shoot down the first man who dare apply the torch.
He remained with them the entire day, and the
next morning no strikers could be found in the
neighborhood of the company's depots. In a few
days thereafter the men were at work quietly and
peacefully. At a subsequent meeting of the ex-
strikers, resolutions thanking Mayor Perry for the
interest he had shown in their welfare, and for his
firm, though kind, action in restraining them from
deeds of lawlessness, and extending him pledges of
their confidence and good-will, were unanimously
adopted. How sacredly they kept this pledge was
shown by their repeated evidences of love and high
respect whenever they had the opportunity to man
ifest them. Mr. Perry's record as a good and worthy
citizen — one who not only took a deep interest in
all charitable, religious, and educational institu
tions, but performed a share of the labor that is
required to carry them on — is long and full. He
took an active part in organizing the Orphan Asy
lum, which was started in the building on the cor
ner of Washington avenue and Swan street. He
was a manager for a number of years, and until
after the new building near the head of Washington
street was completed. He was one of the first
School Commissioners under the new law, and
devoted twenty years of faithful service to aid every
measure for the improvement and education of the
children of the city. To this service he was partic
ularly devoted, owing to his high appreciation of
the benefits of education. No expense, no facilities,

no encouragement, were, in his estimation, too great
for this purpose. During the War for the Union, Mr.
Perry took a very active part in the efforts in behalf of
the Government. He was Chairman of the War
Committee. He rendered great assistance, espe
cially in raising Company B, 91st Regiment, which
company was commanded by Captain Stackhouse,
who was formerly in his employment. After Cap
tain Stackhouse was wounded at Port Hudson and
died, Mr. Perry had his remains brought to Al
bany and buried. He devoted much time and
money to the welfare of the soldiers recruited in
and about Albany, to whom he was well known.
In recognition of his valuable services in behalf of
the 43d Regiment, the following resolutions of
thanks were adopted unanimously at a meeting
of Company B of that command, held at Camp
Griffin, Va., January 30, 1862.
" Whereas, The Hon. Eli Perry has proven him
self a warm friend of the Union, the Constitution
and the laws, by his many acts of patriotism, his
zeal and loyalty to his country; and
"Whereas, He has manifested so much interest
in the organization of the 43d Regiment, N. Y. S.
V. (visiting the barracks frequently and contribut
ing freely to make us comfortable during our or
ganization), and has been so particularly kind and
friendly towards Company B; therefore
"Resolved, That Company B of the 43d Regi
ment, N. Y. S. V., recognize in the Hon. Eli Perry
the gentleman, the patriot, and a warm friend of
the Union, the Constitution and the laws of our
beloved county; therefore
"Resolved, That Company B of the 43d Regi
ment, N. Y. S. V, shall hereafter be known and
reorganized as the Perry Guards of Albany, and
they do adopt that as the name of the company."
Mr. Perry was always regarded as a direct and
faithful representative of the people, unselfish in his
views, and with an eye to the advancement of the
public welfare, to which he never failed to give his
full support. Although a party man, he was so in
the best sense, and at no time allowed himself to
serve any clique or further any private interest.
Pecuniarily he was independent, and, possessed of
stern honesty, he stood far above the reach of any
ring influence. Hence the municipal affairs of
Albany were rarely better conducted than when
under his administration.
Mr. Perry was Mayor of Albany at the time of
the visit of Jenny Lind to America. On the ap
pearance of the great cantatrice in Albany, he pre
sented her to his fellow-citizens, and subsequently
paid her many courteous attentions. Just previous
to her departure from the city she called at his
office, and gave him a beautiful chain as a keep
sake, and also the sum of $1,000 for the poor of
Albany. At the time of the visit of Louis Kossuth,
the Hungarian Apostle of Liberty, to America,
Mr. Perry was also the chief magistrate of the city,
and in that capacity presided at the meeting to wel
come the distinguished exile. Speaking for the
citizens of Albany, he said:

548

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

"Governor Kossuth: As chief magistrate of this
city, the agreeable duty is devolved on me of bid
ding you a cordial welcome. The citizens of this
capital — the capital of the most powerful and most
prosperous State in the confederacy — rejoice at the
opportunity now offered them of receiving you as
their guest. They recognize in you the represent
ative of a principle to which freemen are always
glad to do homage. They greet you as a distin
guished advocate of political rights — as a brother
in the great contest for liberty — who has struggled
so powerfully for your country's cause. With deep
emotion they extend their arms to welcome you to
their hearts and their firesides. They watched with
intense interest the changes of light and shadow in
your national struggle. They rejoiced at your tem
porary success, and they mourned, oh, how deeply,
the unfortunate issue of the conflict. But we have
confidence that the progress of human affairs is on
ward. National and individual rights are becom
ing more thoroughly understood and more highly
valued; and we trust the time is not far distant when
Hungary, free and republican, shall take her proper
place among the nations of the earth. On behalf
of our fellow-citizens, allow me again, sir, to wel
come you to the capital of the Empire State."
Mayor Perry presided at the great welcome given
by the citizens of Albany to General McClellan,
just previous to the latter's nomination to the Presi
dency. In Joel Munsell's excellent "Collections
on the History of Albany, " mention is made of
a remarkable instance of Mr. Perry's generosity
in connection with the Washington avenue Baptist
Church. Though he had an opportunity of dis
posing of his interest in the State street Calvary
Church at a great pecuniary advantage, he pre
ferred to keep the sacred edifice in the hands of his
brother church- members, and accordingly donated
his entire interest in the building to the Washington
avenue Baptist Church, who at once removed to
State street. Again, in connection with the Pearl
street Baptist Church Building, the edifice had actu
ally gone begging for a purchaser. In the mean
time, work on the new edifice on State street lagged
for want of means, which the sale of the old House
of Worship would bring. Finally, the trustees
turned, as a forlorn hope, to Mr. Perry. He came
to their rescue at once, and paid them the price —
$35,000 — at which the property had been in the
market for months without finding a purchaser. He
subsequently remodeled the building, and though
great inducements were offered to him for a lease
of the upper part of the building for theatrical pur
poses, he answered in the negative. He would not
lend his aid in turning a church into a theatre. Mr.
Perry was nominated by acclamation for the Forty-
second Congress, and was elected by over 3,000 ma
jority. He was likewise nominated for the Forty-
third Congress, and again elected by about the same
majority. Mr. Perry's career in the National Legis
lature was distinguished not only by his marked
devotion to the interests of his constituents, but
also by a careful attention to the interests of the
country at large. A most important bill presented
by him, in an able speech delivered in the House

of Representatives on the 13th of February, 1872,
advocated the erection of public buildings in Al
bany by the National Government, on a scale com
mensurate with the present and prospective wants
of that city. This speech, which embodied, in
terse but vigorous language, a statistical presenta
tion of the population, industries, wealth, educa
tional facilities and growing importance of the
capital of the Empire State, bore the impress of
profound thought in every sentence. Its admirable
common-sense view of the whole subject and its
unanswerable logic, won an appropriation of $350,-
000 for the purpose specified, the sole condition
imposed by Congress being that the City of Albany
should furnish the site. On the passage of the bill
granting the appropriation, Mr. Perry sent the fol
lowing dispatch to the Postmaster of Albany:
"Washington, D. C, Feb. 13, 1872.
"Hon. Jno. F. Smyth, P. M., Albany,
" I have succeeded in the passage of my bill in
the House for $350,000 for a Government build
ing, the City of Albany to procure a site.
' ' Yours truly,
"Eli Perry."
The satisfaction of the citizens of Albany at the
success of Mr. Perry's efforts was unbounded.
Men of all parties sent him their warm congratula
tions, and the general sentiment was that he de
served every praise. The Albany Argus, in an
editorial headed b.y the above dispatch, said:
" Mr. Perry has certainly earned the thanks of our
citizens for his energy in urging upon the attention
of Congress the necessity of a Government building
here. It is the first bill of the kind reported this
session, and though it met with some little opposi
tion, on the ground that it was opening the door
to similar appropriations for other localities, it
finally passed the house without division." An
other Albany journal, in announcing the passage
of the bill, said: " Mr. Perry has done in a month
what all our former Congressmen failed to do for
thirty years." On the 2d of June, 1874, the
House of Representatives having under discussion
a bill providing for the construction of the Girls'
Reform School in the District of Columbia, toward
which the National Government had been asked to
apply the Conscience Fund, the district authorities
agreeing to furnish the site, Mr. Perry delivered
a speech in favor of the measure, showing in his
remarks that Congress was not called upon to do
more than its bounden duty in making an appro
priation 'for the carrying out of this measure, which
was called for by every honorable and philan
thropic sentiment, and adducing as a precedent for
this application of a special fund in charge of the
Government, but not covered into the Treasury,
the employment, for the erection of the National
Soldiers' Home, of the unexpended sum (amount
ing to $118,000) of the contributions levied upon
Mexican cities during the War with Mexico. Mr.
Perry was a man of large business capacity, and
had been prominently identified for many years
with several of the most important corporations in
Albany. Among these were the Albany City Bank,

E*& dby H &C KoevoetaM

/^>^ / ' A^i^-^ft-^^^J/

HARMON PUMPELLY.

549

of which he had been a Director twenty-five years,
and was, at the time of his death, Vice-President;
the Albany City Savings Bank, of which he was
also Vice-President; and the Mutual Insurance
Company, with which he had been connected as
a Director since its incorporation, and of which he
was President. He was also a Director of the Al
bany Gas Company, and one of the Inspectors of
the Penitentiary. He was a man of fixed principles
and strongly marked character, and always identi
fied himself with the masses of the people, whose
best interests he at all times warmly supported and
championed. His death was universally lamented
in Albany, and wherever he was known.
HARMON PUMPELLY.
The late Harmon Pumpelly was born August
i, 1795, in Salisbury, Conn. His father, John
Pumpelly, was of English descent, and occupied a
prominent social and business position in the State
in which he lived. Mr. Pumpelly was one of four
brothers, all of whom were among the most influ
ential of the early inhabitants of Owego, N. Y.
Their Christian names were James, Charles, Will
iam and Harmon. The latter survived his three
brothers. At the date of the settlement of his fam
ily in Owego he was only six years old. He early
learned to rely upon his own resources, and with
out education, except what he gathered from a
constantly interrupted reading of books, he set out
in the battle of life with an equipment in which
sturdy energy and indomitable perseverance more
than compensated for any lack of educational train
ing. He was an omniverous reader, and from
every book he read he gleaned some useful knowl
edge and laid it by in memory's storehouse for
future use. Among other accomplishments of a
practical kind he gained a knowledge of surveying.
Long before he had reached his majority he had
begun to lay the foundation of that competence
which he afterward amassed. Together with his
brothers, he dealt in lumber and cattle, always
showing great business tact, and not unfrequently
clearing large sums in his transactions. Subse
quently he became the accredited agent of a lot of
New York land owners, and by the sale of farm
and other lands in the southern tier of New York
County, still further increased his fortune. In
1 84 1 Mr. Pumpelly removed to Albany, and resided
in that city thereafter until his death. After that
date he never engaged actively in business, but
identified himself prominently with several well-
known Albany institutions, the great prosperity of
which was due in no small degree to his wise busi
ness management, clear foresight and sound coun
sel — for in business affairs he was quick, exact and
always reliable. He was successful in nearly all that
he undertook, and preserved all his mental facul
ties to the very last day of his life; and up to with
in a few days of his .death he had always enjoyed
excellent health, for he had been endowed by na
ture with a wonderfully vigorous constitution, and
though always active and energetic, and capable of
a vast amount of continuous mental labor, he

never permitted himself to abuse nature's gifts, but
adhered to a systematic course of physical exercise.
A great lover of good horses, and an accomplished
equestrian, he undoubtedly prolonged his life sev
eral years by his daily habit of horseback riding.
He never lost his love of books, and, notwithstand
ing his diminishing eyesight, was a constant reader
until his fatal illness. He came of a family re
markable for longevity, his father and grandfather
having lived to upwards of ninety years of age.
He died, after only a few days' illness, September
28, 1882, in his eighty-eighth year. He was then
President of three important corporations: the Al
bany Gaslight Company, the Albany Savings Bank,
and the Albany Insurance Company. At a meet
ing of the Directors of the Albany Gaslight Com
pany held soon after his death, the following resolu
tions were passed:
"Resolved, That this Board learns with pro
found regret of the death of Harmon Pumpelly,
who, for the last thirty-six years, has been the
President of the Board and chief manager of the
affairs of the company. Mr. Pumpelly was a man
of marked business capacity, of excellent judgment,
of stern integrity, and of great fidelity to his trust as
connected with this company. The prosperity of
the company is greatly due to him, and the Board
feel the loss of his counsel and long experience.
Mr. Pumpelly had not only the respect arid confi
dence of the Board, but the friendship and person
al regard of all its members, and although his great
age advised them that this event could not long be
postponed, yet its coming saddens their hearts.
They sympathize with his bereaved widow and the
rest of his family, and feel that they have some
share with them in the grief occasioned by his
death. ' ' Resolved, That the Secretary communicate the
foregoing resolution as expressive of the feelings of
this Board. " H. H. Martin, Vice-President.
" S. W. Whitney, Secretary. "
Similar resolutions were passed by the other cor
porations with which Mr. Pumpelly was identified.
He never engaged actively in politics, but never
theless in his younger days took a lively interest
in all political movements. He was originally an
old-fashioned Whig, but became a Republican upon
the organization of that party, and acted with it
during the balance of his life. For many years he
had been a communicant of St. Peter's Church,
and for a considerable time before his death served
that organization as Senior Warden. He was al
ways munificent in his gifts to the church. At a
meeting of the vestry of St. Peter's Church to take
action touching the death of Mr. Pumpelly, the fol
lowing minutes and resolutions were adopted:
' ' The death of Harmon Pum pel ly, Senior Warden
of St. Peter's Church, removes from the vestry its
head. So long and so lovingly had he lived and
labored among us, that his death takes him away
ripe and ready for the harvest. His even temper,
his great sagacity, his unyielding fidelity, and his
genial manner, made him at once a wise counselor,

550

HLSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

£<z.c/^

a discreet leader and a charming companion. He
loved the church and contributed liberally toward
its support. Though a man of strong will and
positive opinion, he was broad and charitable to
ward those with whom he differed in deed or
doctrine. He left us the record of a life unsullied.
In character a true Christian gentleman, we shall
miss him as we miss a loving brother, and we
mingle our sorrow with that of the dear wife and
loving children, bereaved as they are bereaved.
"Resolved, That we will attend the funeral in a
body and wear the usual badge of mourning.
"Resolved, That these minutes and resolution be
published in the daily papers, and a copy sent to
the family of the deceased by the Rector.
"W. W. Battershall, Rector.
"John S. Perry, Clerk."
Mr. Pumpelly was twice married. His first wife
was Miss Delphine Drake, daughter of the late
Hon. John R. Drake, by whom he had two
children, Mrs. James Kidd, of Albany, and Mrs.
John Meredith Read, whose husband was recently
American Minister at Athens and who now resides
in Paris. It was after the death of his first wife
that he removed to Albany. In 1 84 1 he married
Miss Maria Brinckerhoff, of Albany, a lady be
longing to one of the oldest and most distinguished
families of the State, who survives him. He had
no children by his second marriage. Even in his
old age he was remarkably youthful in his feelings,

and fond of having young people about him.
Socially, few men were more captivating or knew
better how to entertain. About two weeks pre
vious to his death, the first symptoms of what
proved to be a fatal illness made themselves man
ifest in an affection of the heart. For several days
his family and friends were prepared for the in
evitable termination of his malady, and by the
ministrations of affectionate devotion they did all
in human power to render painless the end which
they beheld approaching all too rapidly, and
which came peacefully, and without a pang, amid
that unconsciousness with which kindly nature
often comes to the relief of flickering humanity.
His funeral was largely attended at St Peter's
Church, on Sunday, October 1, 1882. His lot
was "An old age serene and bright
And lovely as a Lapland night."
MATTHEW H. READ.
The late Matthew H. Read was born in New
Haven, Conn., on the 2d of September, 1804.
His father was Matthew Read, son of Matthew
Read, of Attlebero, Conn.; his mother, Lydia
Hotchkiss, daughter of Silas Hotchkiss, of New
Haven. His early education was limited, and he
began his active business life as a clerk in the store
of his father in New Haven, developing into a
hard-working, faithful and sagacious business man.
Until 1840, when he removed to Albany, he was a

HON. fOHN TWEDDLE.

551

resident of New Haven, and was more or less prom
inently connected with various important interests
in that city, He was a Lieutenant, and, dating
from May, 1832, ranked as Captain in the Gov
ernor's Foot Guards, and was honorably discharged
from service in 1833.
Upon taking up his residence in Albany, he em
barked in the flour and grain commission trade.
Once established, he bent his energies to the task,
which he successfully accomplished, of making
the business one of the most extensive of its kind
in the country. His New England acquaintance
served him so well, that he was a large shipper to
Eastern ports; owned a line of schooners; and at
one time supplied almost the whole of New Eng
land through his house.
The business was at one time carried on under
the firm name and style of Read & Rawls, and
later under that of Matthew H. Read. & Son,
Mr. Read's eldest son, Robert, having been taken
into partnership on the retirement of Mr. Rawls.
Mr. Read served as President of the Board of
Trade of the City of Albany, and was interested in
the leading financial corporations of the city. In
deed, of some of them he was one of the originators
and incorporators. He was one of the incorpora
tors of the First National Bank, and at the time of
his death had been its President during a period of
fourteen years. He was an incorporator and one
of the Trustees of the National Savings Bank, and he
was also one of the organizers and directors of the
Commerce Insurance Company, and a member of
the executive committee of that corporation.
About twenty-five years ago, having amassed a
comfortable competence, and being desirous of
spending his remaining years in the peaceful retire
ment of his home, he withdrew permanently from
commerce and was retired from business, except as
the corporations named claimed his counsel and
advice from time to time. In religion he was a
Congregationalist, and in politics a Republican.
But he was as unostentatious in the one as in the
other. Political life had no charm for him. His
mind was of too quiet a mold for active partisan
ship, but his interest in the prominent issues of the
day was keen and intelligent. He was married early
in life, and a family, consisting of his wife, his
sons, Robert, William, Matthew and Daniel P., and
three daughters, survive him. His death occurred
September 7, 1883, at his residence, No. 60 Willett
street.
HON. JOHN TWEDDLE.
There are monuments more enduring than mar
ble, which are seen and known of all men, and
whose inscriptions are intuitively realized, not read.
Such monuments are reared by men who pass busy,
useful and blameless lives — lives whose imprint is
upon the communities in which they live, and whose
influence shall be recognized long after shaft of
granite shall have crumbled away to fade from view,
no more to mark the resting-place of a man that
has lived and died. Such a monument was built
up unconsciously and unosentatiously by the late

John Tweddle, whose death was a public bereave
ment, and whose memory has grown bright through
an interval of nearly a decade since he passed from
earth to be seen no more of men.
Mr. Tweddle was born at Temple Sowerby,
County of Westmoreland, England, February 14,
1798, and died in Albany, March 9, 1875, in his
seventy-eighth year. Orphaned by the death of his
father when he was only nine years old, he was
early thrown on his own resources, and while
yet a mere lad entered earnestly upon the stern
battle of life. He became an apprentice to a
wheelwright in Carlisle, County of Cumberland,
England, where the remnant of his father's
family then lived, his mother having remar
ried. He was employed at his trade, which yielded
him but a meager living in his native land, until
he had grown to manhood. As he approached his
majority, the determination grew stronger and
stronger within him to seek greater prosperity in
America. He was without means, but was enabled
to realize his desire by the loan of ^20, which he
secured from his step-father. It will be interesting
to note here that this was the only borrowed money
he handled during his whole life, and was repaid
with interest out of his first earnings in the United
States. An ocean voyage was then (1819) a more serious
matter than now. Seven weeks were consumed in
the passage. Young Tweddle disembarked at Phil
adelphia, which was then a much more formidable
rival of New York than it has been during the last
third of a century. No opening presenting itself
to him there, he soon went to West Chester, Pa.,
with the intention of securing work at his trade as a
journeyman. The advantages of opening a wheelwright shop
on his own account were manifest to him, and the
opportunity was not wanting. He was soon estab
lished in business on a limited scale, though his
establishment comprehended a forge and he had a
blacksmith in his employ. He prospered, and after
a time found himself in possession of a limited
capital. A brewery was for sale in West Chester on ad
vantageous terms, and he concluded to buy it and
change his business for another promising larger
and more rapid profits. The young man's self-
reliance was now strikingly illustrated. He was
not a brewer. He knew nothing of the craft, but
he bought the brewery and learned the trade in it
under the tutelage of his own employees. He be
came master of it; but before that was foreman
of the brewery, perfecting his skill as a brewer, and
at the same time protecting his interests as propri
etor by a judicious oversight of his entire business.
He made money quite rapidly for a time, and
counted himself worth $20,000 at least. But West
Chester was not destined to be the scene of his fi
nancial triumphs. Reverses came, and everything
was swept away. Its brewing interests had then
made the City of Albany well known to the entire
fraternity of brewers. Thither John Tweddle
turned his steps, with the hope of retrieving his
broken fortunes. It will be a surprise to many

552

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

\*9 f** «f
Km,

^^

who read this, to learn that he came to Albany
$7,000 in debt, though with sufficient ready funds
to begin business on a limited scale; but, placing
dependence on his good health as much as any
thing, he started upon a career which placed his
name upon the list of Albany's most persevering
and successful business men. In 1847 he rented
the malt-house of John Taylor, and thus launched
propitiously upon the broad, uncertain sea of enter
prise. His business qualifications were of a high
order, circumstances were not unfavorable, and he
succeeded where other men failed. His success
was all the more remarkable, in that it was not
marred by losses, for every year during his connec
tion with the brewing interest he realized a profit;
sometimes it was small, but it was always a balance
on the right side. His business assumed such
proportions, that for years he had two large malt-
houses in Albany and two in New York.
As a citizen, the influence of Mr. Tweddle was
widely felt. He was for many years actively and
intimately connected with the commercial interests
of Albany. A man of spotless personal integrity,
he was singularly faithful in the discharge of cor
porate trusts. From the date of the organization
of the Merchants' Bank in 1853, unt'l bis death
twenty-two years later, he was its President, and its
success was in no small degree attributable to his
sagacity, integrity, energy and admirable manage

ment. He occupied prominent positions in va
rious civic organizations. As President of St.
George's Society, he retained a strong bond of
sympathy with all resident citizens of English na
tivity, and by his example and counsel aided them
to freely and fully enter into the spirit of all good
American institutions. He was also one of the
original, and later one of the most active and in
fluential, members of the Albany Board of Trade,
and through his connection therewith, his counsels
were made effective upon the commercial pros
perity of the city.
In various parts of the city are many visible and
tangible evidences of Mr. Tweddle's enterprise and
liberality, and, above all, of his love for Albany
and its people. The Tweddle chimes of St. Peter's
Church recall his name to nearly a hundred thou
sand citizens, though they were the gifts, after his
death, of members of his family. The massive tower
from which their voices issue forth, stands as an en
during memento of his beneficence. Tweddle Hall
was long the most convenient and accessible as
sembling place of Albanians, and on its site now
stands the Tweddle Building, the most sightly,
beautiful, commodious and elegantly-finished busi
ness structure in Albany.
In his social and domestic relations, Mr. Twed
dle was conspicuous for his urbanity of manner and
his devotion to his friends. His confidence, per-

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HON. ADAM VAN ALLEN.

553

haps not easily won, was rarely alienated or shaken
when once secured. He was kind and affectionate
as a husband and father, genial as a friend and as
sociate, and always safe as a counselor. The
foundation of his worldly success was his unques
tioned and unquestionable purity of character. He
took no active part in politics, but he was firmly
grounded in the principles of the faith of the Re
publican party. Only once was his name publicly
mentioned in connection with any official position.
That was in 1 864, when he was chosen a Presiden
tial elector, and thus became one of those who
placed the lamented Lincoln in the Presidential
chair for his second, short, and fatal term of service.
During the rebellion he was a liberal giver in
support of the Union cause, and was interested in
every question the solution of which, through
peaceful discussion or the arbitrament of the battle
field, promised weal or woe to our country. He
was three times married: first to Sarah Dent, of
Carlisle, England; second to Clara Maria Pulling,
daughter of Dr. Pulling, of Amsterdam, N.Y. ; and
third to Miss Frances M. Warren, a descendant of
the old and patriotic Warren family, of New Eng
land. His widow and six children survive him.
Mr. Tweddle's benevolence is a subject which
deserves more extended treatment than can be given
it. In fact it seems to be impossible to do it sim
ple justice. It was too unostentatious to be known
of all men to anything like the half of its bountiful
extent. The few public benefactions he made
were regarded by him with less of satisfaction than
the many private ones, which proved him a friend
indeed to the poor and deserving. His spirit was
an essentially liberal and helpful one, and the in
stances in which he aided his fellow-men to help
themselves were almost numberless.
Speaking of the "tower, and the chimes which
give it voice," of St. Peter's Church, the Rector,
Rev. W. W. Battershall, has beautifully said: "I
wish here, however, in behalf of the parish, to ex
press our appreciation of the munificence which
has secured the long-delayed completion of this
beautiful House of God. It is an illustrious exam
ple of the reproductive power of a good deed. I
know not whether John Tweddle expected that his
dying gift would bear such instantaneous and gen
erous fruitage. I know, however, that it was thor
oughly characteristic of the man, thoroughly in
accord with hirhabit of broad and unselfish good-
doing, to make those whom he loved sharers in his
deeds of benevolence. And I to-day cannot resist
the impulse to utter for you, and as your voice, our
gratitude to Almighty God that, simultaneous with
the walls of our Sunday School and Parish Build
ing, shall arise the majestic proportions of that
tower which shall crown this edifice with a coronet
of blossoming stone, and shall stand beside this
broad avenue of traffic and politics through the fu
ture years as a tribute to the glory of Christ and the
memorial of one who loved this church, and who
for many. years of a worthy life worshiped at its
altar." Of the congregation of St. Peter's, Mr. Tweddle
had for many years been a member, and during
70

most of the time he had served the parish as Ves
tryman, and latterly as Warden. He had formerly
been actively connected with St. Paul's Church
when its place of worship was in the building on
South Pearl street, where the Opera House now
stands. His death cast a gloom over the entire
congregation of St. Peter's, and the large circle of
his acquaintances, both in social and business life,
lost a friend who had ever been true and trust
worthy. He had lived a good, pure and useful
life — a life which had made his fellow-men better
for his existence — and he died, past the allotted
age, as die those who pass into eternity full of trust
in the promises of the Saviour of the world.
HON. ADAM VAN ALLEN.
Among the oldest and most highly respected
families of Albany County are those of Van Allen
and Winne, both of that Dutch stock of New York
which has furnished the most conspicuous exam
ples, in successive generations, of all those qualities
which constitute true manhood and insure success
ful careers to their possessors. The first of the
family of Van Allen in America came from Hol
land about 1640, and located in New Scotland,
Albany County. There Garret W. Van Allen was
born August 1, 1790, and died May 13, 1851.
His wife, Hannah Winne, was born October 20,
1790, and died March 8, 1874.
Adam Van Allen, one of the sons of Garret W.
and Hannah (Winne) Van Allen, was born in New
Scotland September, 20, 1813, and died in Al
bany August 11, 1884. Born and reared on his
father's farm, he early acquired those principles
which combined to render him very successful in a
business life upon which he entered, poor and
friendless, at a very early age, after a very meager
schooling, under the tutelage of Harman Van Huy-
sen, in one of the earlier public schools of his
native town — a schooling which terminated when
he was only twelve years old. The succeeding six
months he passed at Athens, Greene County, where
he was an inmate of the household of his uncle, Peter
Winne. Returning to Albany County, he secured
employment as a clerk in the store of George
Crawford, at the southwest comer of South Pearl
street and Lydius street (now Madison avenue),
Albany, where he remained three years, at $60 per
annum. During this time he had demonstrated
his fine natural aptitude for business, and, incred
ible as it may appear, saved a small sum of money
from his scanty earnings. Mr. Crawford now ad
mitted him to a partnership in the business, which
existed four years when Mr. Van Allen desiring to
withdraw, sold his interest to his former employer
for $500. In May, 1835, he opened a dry goods
store at the corner of South Pearl street and Hud
son avenue. In 1837 he took his brother, Conrad
Van Allen, as an assistant, and subsequently as a
partner; and after four years' successful trade, sold
the business to him outright, retiring permanently
from mercantile life.
Previous to this time, Mr. Van Allen's attention
had been directed to the manufacture of pottery

554

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

and fire-brick, which had come to be one of the
most prominent of Albany's industries, and in
1841, in partnership with Jacob Henry, he em
barked in the business on the south side of Hud
son avenue, between Eagle and High streets,
investing as his share of the capital $4,000, which
he had up to that time been able to save from the
proceeds of his former enterprises. The establish
ment was destroyed by fire two years later, and
Mr. Van Allen sustained a considerable loss; but,
nothing daunted, the firm purchased ground on
Hawk street and Hudson avenue, extending back
to Jay street, on which they erected suitable
buildings and appliances, and resumed the manu
facture of fire-brick and stoneware on a still greater
scale. This business was continued with success
until 1848, when failing health compelled Mr. Van
Allen to relinquish it, and Messrs. Van Allen &
Henry sold it to John Gott & Amos P. Palmer.
Mr. Van Allen soon after removed, with his fam
ily, to a farm of two hundred acres which he had
purchased in Bethlehem, known as the homestead
farm of Solomon Luke. With improved health he
returned to Albany in 1850, to be thereafter a per
manent resident, and to still more closely identify
himself with several of the city's most prominent
interests. In connection with his former partner,
Jacob Henry, he purchased a two-thirds interest in
the old fire-brick establishment, the entire owner
ship of which had previously passed to Amos P.
Palmer; and during the next four years the business
was conducted by Messrs. Van Allen, Henry &
Palmer, until the admission to the firm of Horace
B. Newton, after whieh the four were partners,
until, at the expiration of the period mentioned,
Mr. Van Allen disposed of his interest to Messrs.
Henry, Palmer & Newton. In 1854 he engaged
in the wholesale lumber trade in the Lumber Dis
trict, which he continued successfully, doing an
average annual business of $300,000 to $350,000,
until the financial crisis of 1857 prostrated the
lumber trade in common with most other interests,
and rendered Mr. Van Allen's relinquishment of
his share in it advisable.
Meantime, Mr. Van Allen had become promi
nent in connection with commercial institutions in
the city. Upon the organization of the Bank of
the Capitol in 1844, he was chosen one of its Di
rectors. As such he continued until, in 1857, he
was appointed Cashier of the Union Bank. In
1 86 1 he resigned as Director and Cashier of the
Union Bank, and was elected Cashier of the Bank
of Albany. On assuming his new duties, he dis
covered large defalcations, which had been perpe
trated by his prececessor in office, which involved
the loss of the bank's capital and necessitated the
closing of its doors and the appointment of a re
ceiver to wind up its affairs. By the unanimous re
quest of the stockholders, Mr. Van Allen accepted
the appointment of receiver. On the first of the
following September, he was appointed Cashier of
the Albany Exchange Bank, but declined to ac
cept the position. In October, 1861, he was made
Cashier of the National Exchange Bank. As he
had done upon entering upon his duties as Cashier

of the Bank of Albany, he discovered evidences of
serious defalcations and unwise management of
the affairs of this institution, which had caused the
loss of its surplus and fully one-half of its capital.
Wilh the assent of the stockholders, Mr. Van
Allen secured the reduction of its capital stock
from $400,000 to $200,000, and so managed its
affairs that it was enabled to continue business and
retain the public confidence. Upon the organiza
tion of the First National Bank in 1864, he was
chosen its Cashier, and resigned his connection
with the Merchants' Bank to accept the position,
which he held until he was made President of the
institution in 1883. At the organization of the
National Savings Bank in 1868, he was chosen its
Vice-President. As far back as 1854, he was
elected a Director of the Schuyler Line, and in
1 864 he was chosen Director of the Albany Gaslight
Company, and became its President in 1882.
With Mr. Silas B. Hamilton, he was prominent
in the organization of the Commerce Insurance
Company in 1859; in i860 he was elected its Vice-
President; and at Mr. Hamilton's death, in 1861,
he succeeded to the Presidency and retained the
position during the balance of his life.
In early life, Mr. Van Allen was a Whig of the
school of Clay and Webster, and his first vote was
cast in 1834 for Hon. William H. Seward for
Governor. In 1836 he voted for William H. Har
rison for President. Subsequently he adopted the
anti-slavery idea, as advocated by Mr. Seward,
and was one of the first and firmest supporters of
the principles of the Republican party. Though
never an aspirant for political preferment, he was
repeatedly chosen to places of public trust under
the Municipal, County and State governments. In
1838 he was elected Inspctor of Schools in the old
First Ward, and was several times re-elected. He
was Supervisor of his Ward in 1847, 1848 and
1850. In 1856 he represented the Second District
in the Assembly. The following year he was elect
ed Treasurer of Albany County and held that posi
tion three years. In 1862, and again in 1882, he
received the Republican nomination to the Mayor
alty, but disliking political life and being engaged
in other pusuits more congenial to his tastes and
habits, he declined to be a candidate.
In early life, Mr. Van Allen had been familiar
with the forms, ceremonies and general features of
the Protestant Episcopal Church. When he came
to Albany, he became an attendant upon the ser
vices of the Second Reformed Church. He united
with it in 1836, and was soon chosen one of its
Elders. In 1848 he was chosen one of its Trustees,
and as such served much of the time as President of
the Board for more than thirty years. In 1850 he
became Superintendent of its Sunday School, and
continued in the office during nine consecutive
years. In 1880, he became a member of St. Paul's
Episcopal Church, and his connection with it was
terminated only by his death. In his relations
with both of the churches named, he was ever zeal
ous, liberal, kind and helpful.
February 18, 1834, Mr. Van Allen was married
to Miss Eleanor Slingerland, daughter of Teunis

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

555

Slingerland, of Onesquethau, in the town of New
Scotland. To Mr. and Mrs. Van Allen were bom ten chil
dren, named Garret A., William H., Adam, Jr.,
Charles H. , Magdalen, Anna M. , Helen, Cornelia,
Christiana and Ella. Four of the daughters are
dead, the four sons and Misses Christiana and
Ella, with their mother, surviving. The family
home, No. 40 Lancaster street, was built about
thirty years ago.
Mr. Van Allen's death was sudden and unex
pected, a shock alike to those nearest and dearest
to him, and to the large circle of warm personal
friends and business associates who had so long
known him. A man of high character, unstinted
benevolence, steady perseverance, lofty integrity,
and business capacity of an unusual order, he was
one of the most prominent and progressive citizens
of Albany and left his impress on its varied inter
ests, with which he was identified from boyhood.
Though his energies were brought to bear chiefly
on the field of finance, where his ability and judg
ment caused him to take high rank, he did not a
little toward developing Albany's commercial in
terests and forwarding her general prosperity. He
will long be remembered as one who was instru
mental in purifying the financial atmosphere of the
city at a time when some of her leading monetary
institutions were on the brink of shameful disaster;
for he was, above all, honest, and, as a banker,
conservative, safe and eminently trustworthy.
Courtly in manner, and possessed of fine literary
tastes, he was at once an agreeable and an instruct
ive companion; and he reared up a home rich in
evidences of his appreciation of the beautiful in
art and literature, and of his love for those who
shared it with him. Far more beautifully than we
could allude to them, are the prominent traits of his
character referred to in the following extract from

a sermon preached by Rev. J. Livingston Reese,
Pastor of St. Paul's Church, of Albany, Sunday,
September 7, 1884:
"Since last we knelt round God's holy table,
the loving Lord has taken to himself from our
church family one whose honored name will long
be cherished by us all, and whose bright, Christian
example will long live to speak for that Master he
loved and served in life. Gentle in his affections
as a child, he was yet firm as a rock to his princi
ples. He ever had the courage of his convictions
and never feared to confess them. Though it was
in the latter part of his Christian life he connected
himself with the Church whose services he attended
in his early years, he soon learned the spiritual
depths of the Church's liturgy, and its wonderful
power in developing and strengthening the charac
ter. Loyal as a Christian to his adorable Christ;
loyal as a churchman to the forms and usages of
his Church; true in his friendships; upright and
honorable in his business; he has left to us and his
children, as his best legacy, the bright example of
one whose religion brought forth fruit, and that
fruit the daily doing of his duty both to God and
man. His big heart, while resting ever on the
love of those who leaned upon him in the endear
ments of his bright and happy home, was yet ever
gathering to itself all that was beautiful and lovable
in the world of men and letters. Whatsoever
things were true and honest, and pure and lovely,
and of good report, these were his companions and
his delight. And when we think of his beautiful
life ended here, only to enter upon its enlarged
sphere of activity and work, where are ever fresh
treasures of wisdom and love, we must this day
lift the song of praise that nearer the great throne
he drinks of the living waters and tastes of the
joys which God hath prepared for them that love
Him."

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

ALBANY can hardly be called a manufacturing
city. Yet taking away the trade engendered
by its manufactories, and the commercial progress
has not, latterly, been remarkable. Commerce here
is now mainly dependent upon the productive
industries. Albany has changed from a purely
trading to more of a producing district. In the
manufactories of the city, with all the complex
interchange of labor, wage-money, and products,
we find Albany's firmest financial basis.
Albany has many natural advantages which help
make up an economical and successful manufac
turing district. Its facilities for receiving and send
ing by river, canal, and railroad are unusually
good. Cheapness and expedition, so necessary in
these competitive times to profitable business, are
thus secured.

In 1820, the domestic manufactories produced
carpeting, coverlets, blankets, miljed cloths, coarse
and superfine flannels, coarse and fine linen;
beaver, castor, roram, napt, and wool hats; Leg
horn and straw hats; sole, upper, harness, and
milled leather; hollow-ware and solid castings of
various kinds for machinery and other uses; pot
and pearl-ash, whiskey, molasses-rum, ale, cider,
and maple-sugar.
Except for family use there were no woolen
factories, and there was in the town of Watervliet
one cotton factory.
There were seventeen carding machines, as follows :
Bethlehem, 3; Coeymans, 2; Westerlo, 2; Berne, 3;
Rensselaerville, 3; Guilderland, 1; Watervliet, 3.
The fulling machines numbered sixteen, viz. , in
Bethlehem, 2; Coeymans, 3; Westerlo, 2; Rens-

556

history of the county of albany.

selaerville, 3; Berne, 3; Guilderland, 1; Water
vliet, 2.
Grist-mills, thirty-four, viz. : Bethlehem, 6; Coey
mans, 4; Westerlo, 4; Rensselaerville, 6; Berne, 5;
Guilderland, 2; Watervliet, 7.
Saw-mills, sixty-eight, viz. : Bethlehem, 1 1 ; Coey
mans, 11; Westerlo, 9; Rensselaerville, 7; Berne,
21; Guilderland, 4; Watervliet, 5.
Tanneries, forty-three, viz. : Bethlehem, 4; Coey
mans, 3 ; Westerlo, 9; Rensselaerville, 9; Berne,
10; Guilderland, 3; Watervliet, 2; Albany, 3.
There were four breweries in the City of Albany,
as follows: Boyd & McCulioch, who brewed 3,000
barrels; Robert Dunlop, who brewed 3,000 barrels;
Fidler & Co., who brewed 1,500 barrels; and
Henry Birrel, who brewed 1,000 barrels; amount
ing annually to 8,500 barrels; and four distiller
ies in the county, as follows: Daniel Hale, Albany,
molasses-rum, 36,000 gallons; Roderick Sedgwick,
Bethlehem, whiskey, 40,000 gallons; Stephen
Willes, Berne, whiskey, 850 gallons; Asa Colvard,
Westerlo, whiskey, 11,000 gallons; amounting an
nually to 87,850 gallons.
There were also four air furnaces for casting hol
low-ware, cannon balls, shot, etc., in the city;
and a variety of solid castings for machinery were
made. In the eastern district of the county, pitch and
white pine; black, white, and rock, or chestnut
oak; chestnut and hickory or walnut timber pre
vailed. Elm was plentifully scattered over the
wet - lands, and hemlock was often found near the
streams. The western district was timbered with
hemlock, beech, sugar-maple, black birch, bass-
wood, and white ash. The swamps afforded,
mainly, black ash and white or soft maple, and
some elm. One peculiarity in the distribution of
timber in this district was, that while the eastern
sides of the hills abounded with sugar-maple, beech,
b&sswood, and white ash, the ridges and western
aspects were covered with a greater proportion of
hemlock. Thus an abundance of lumber was sup
plied. In the eastern district, the natural growth suc
ceeding the first clearing was nearly the same as
the first growth, but in the western, beech, black
birch, sugar-maple, white ash, a small quantity of
black cherry, and plenty of a species of wild red
cherry obtained.
BREWING.
Albany, as it is at the terminus of the canal and
the head of navigation on the Hudson River, is
well located for any manufacture. The hop and
barley districts are near by, and Albany has -es
tablished a national reputation in malt products.
This important industry had its beginning with the.
infancy of the city, and the beer and ale interest
has grown immensely.
In 1 66 1, Arent Van Corlear was engaged in
brewing here, and some authorities have it that in
1635, a brewery was located at Rensselaerwyck.
In 1695, Ben. C. Corlaer and Albert Ryckman
" were authorized and directed to brew, for the use

of the Common Council, three pipes of beer at
£10 13s." One of the prominent brewers of the
last century was Harme Gansevoort, who died in
1801. His brewery stood at the corner of Maiden
lane and Dean street, and was demolished in 1807.
As late as 1833, when the dome of Stanwix Hall
was raised, the aged Dutchmen of the city compared
it to the capacious brew-kettle of old Harme
Gansevoort, whose fame was fresh in their mem
ories. About the beginning of the present century, a
Mr. Gill was proud of the fact that he produced
150 barrels of beer yearly. In this city, during the
year ending May 1, 1884, there were manufactured
359,203 barrels of malt liquors, an increase over
the previous year of 26,409 barrels. The four
breweries in Albany in 1820, are named on a near
page. Robert Dunlop was the first brewer in this city
known to persons now living. He started a little
brewery at the corner of Broadway and Quacken
bush street. This was destroyed forty years ago.
Andrew Kirk's brewery on Upper Broadway, now
occupied by the Fort Orange Brewing Company,
dates back to 1838. James K. Carroll is Treasurer
of this Company; Edward F. Carroll, Secretary;
and D. McDonald, Brewer. The John McKnight
Brewery, on Hawk street, has not been used for
years, and the premises are now owned and used
by Thomas McCredie, maltster. Uri Burt started
a small brewery in a dwelling-house at the corner
of Colonie and Montgomery streets, having a ca
pacity of about twenty barrels.
Of the old breweries now in use, the Albany
Brewing Company is one. It was founded in 1 797
by James Boyd, and to this day the Boyd family
retain an interest in it. The original building was
24 by 30 feet. Its buildings now cover the block
bounded by Arch, Green, South Ferry and Frank
lin streets, and are of brick, from two to eight
stories high, with fine cellars, their capacity being
150,000 barrels of ale and porter annually. Two
hundred thousand bushels of malt also are made
yearly, and 125 workmen find employment The
Albany Brewing Company is the successor of Cool-
idge, Pratt & Co. The officers for 1884 were John
S. Boyd, President; James H. Pratt, Secretary and
Treasurer; J. M. Knapp, Member of the Executive
Committee. John S. Boyd is a grandson of the
founder of the establishment. Their products are
shipped through the New England States and to
New York City, in which they have a depot on
West street. G. W. Robinson is Brewer of this
Company, and T C Rowe, Superintendent.
The Taylor Brewery was started October 12,
1822. Mr. John Taylor, its founder, erected the
present building on South Broadway in 1851 and
1852. Upon the death of Mr. Taylor in 1863,
the firm name was changed to John Taylor's Sons.
The Messrs. Taylor who now conduct the bus
iness are not relatives of the founder. Their prod
uct is shipped mostly through New England and
New York.
George I. and Theodore M. Amsdell Brothers are
brewers of ale and porter. Their father at one time

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

557

was engaged as a brewer at the Taylor brewery.
He afterwards started a little brewery in the
country. The present institution began in 1850,
and has increased until the area occupied by them
is 354 by 150 feet, on which are six large brick
buildings, five and six stories in hight They
employ 150 men and turn out 80, coo barrels of
ale and 160,000 bushels of malt annually. W. T.
Amsdell is Superintendent of this brewery, G. A.
Hargrave is Brewer.
What is now the Fort Orange Brewing Company,
was established in 1839 by Mr Goewey. He was
succeded by Mr. Kirk. Messrs. Kearney & Mc
Quade; Wilson & Co. ; Smythe & Walker, who
remained until May, 1882, succeeded in turn,
when the present Company was formed. Alexander
Gregory, the President of the Company, is an ex
perienced brewer.
The establishment of James K. Carroll and Dun
can McDonald, at 900 to 912 Broadway, is two
stories, 50x120 feet, with an annual capacity of
30,000 barrels. They manufacture India Pale Ale
XXX, Amber XX, Cream Ales, Pale XXX, Amber
XX, Stock Ales and Porter.
Besides the above breweries are those of T. D.
Coleman & Brothers, at 132 to 154 Chestnut street,
and Granger's brewery, corner of Church and
Fourth avenue, of which George F. Granger is
proprietor. Ale is the only malt liquor brewed at
these two establishments. Lager Beer.
The manufacture of Lager Beer in this country
is comparatively of recent date. In Albany the Be
verwyck Brewery on North Ferry street is the largest
This was started forty years ago by James Quinn,
who brewed ale on the same street. In 1866,
Terence J. Quinn and Michael N. Nolan formed
a partnership, which continued until 1878, the year
of Mr. Quinn's death; since then the business has
been conducted by Mr. Nolan, the firm name re
maining unchanged. The buildings on North
Ferry street are first-class. The cost of the Be
verwyck Brewery was $350,000, and it is now
manufacturing 60,000 barrels of beer and over
50,000 barrels of ale annually. Mr. Nolan is Pres
ident and Treasurer; Augustus Kampfer, Secretary;
M. Schrodt, General Manager; W. Hoffman, Su
perintendent; and Alexander Hargrave, Brewer.
The Cataract Brewery was established in 1857,
between Park avenue, South Swan street and Myrtle
avenue, by Frederick Hinckel and A. Schimerer;
the former conducting the business until his death,
in 1882. His successors are his brother, A. C.
Hinckel, who is Business Manager, and his sons,
Frederick and Charles A., the latter being Treas
urer. About 75 workmen are employed, and the
annual output is 35,000 barrels.
The following statement shows the number of
barrels of ale and lager beer manufactured in
Albany for the years ending April 30, 1883, and
April 30, 1884:
1883  236,491 barrels.
1884  263,459 "
Increase, 26,968 barrels.

Lager Beer.
1883  95,743 barrels.
1884  94,475 "
Decrease, 1,268 barrels.
MALTSTERS.
The senior member of the firm of John G.
White & Sons, maltsters, 125 Hudson avenue, has
been engaged in this business for over 60 years,
as in 1823, he, with his brother William, first
began the industry in this city. The business
has enlarged until they have plants in New York,
Philadelphia, and in Bath, opposite Albany. Their
malt-house here is seven stories in hight, brick,
1 50 by 70 feet, with an L 30 by 50 feet, and an
annual capacity of 450,000 bushels. The malt-
house in New York is five stories, 200 by 80 feet,
capacity 350,000 bushels; and at Philadelphia is
six stories, 160 by 60 feet, with a capacity of 100,000
bushels. The business done by them is one of
the largest in this country, and their trade extends
throughout New York, Pennsylvania and New
England. The members of the firm are John G.
White and his son, Andrew G. White. Matthew
White, another son, is manager of the house lo
cated in New York, and Mr. William Little, of the
one in Philadelphia.
A leading representative of the malting trade
of Albany is the house of J. W. Tillinghast,
which was founded in 1850 by the late John
Tweddle, the business coming into the posses
sion of the present proprietor in 1870. Two
plants are operated by Mr. Tillinghast, one located
at No 105 Montgomery street, and the other on
the corner of State and Lark streets. The former is
a five-story structure, 195 by 100 feet in dimensions,
the latter is three stories high and covers an area of
74 by 140 feet, the two having an aggregate capacity
for the production of about 300,000 bushels of
malt annually. The equipment of these malt-
houses embraces all the latest improved machinery
and appliances known to the trade, operated by
steam, employment being furnished to about thirty
skilled workmen.
Thomas McCredie, maltster, 34 Clinton avenue,
began his business in barley malting in 1847.
His productions have grown from a few hundred
bushels annually, to 250,000 bushels, the present
output. His four establishments are as follows:
first, on Canal, Orange and Hawk street, size 200
by 50 feet, six stories, brick; second, on Clinton
avenue, 50 x 200 feet, three stories; third, on Central
avenue, Robin and Bradford streets, two stories,
65 x 100 feet; and the last, on North Pearl street,
three stories, 50 x 140 feet. Twenty-five work
men are employed.
The house of Messrs. Story Brothers was
founded in 1868. The'present proprietors are J.
T, William and R. R. Story. The firm has two
malt-houses, one on Broadway and Cherry street,
which is four-stories high, 140 x 70 feet, with a two-
story addition, 35 x 35 feet; the other on Broad
way and Plum street, which is two-stories high,
!37 x 45 feet- The storage warehouse is four
stories, 137 x 35 feet in dimensions. The annual

558

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

product is 175,000 bushels. Fifteen workmen are
employed. William Kirk, son of Andrew Kirk, one of the
earlier maltsters in Albany, is the proprietor of a
malt-house, 3 Kirk place.
WILLIAM APPLETON.
The life of William Appleton, of Albany, was
an eminently successful one, both from a moral
and a financial point of view. He was born in
181 1 at Goodmanham, Yorkshire, England, and
died in Albany, February 11, 1883. His father
and mother, springing from influential families,
occupied the farm which for generations back
had been in his mother's family. The town of
Goodmanham is one of the oldest in England,
and contains many quaint and interesting buildings,
among which is a small church constructed out of
what originally was a heathen temple, erected in
the year 627. The house in which he was born
was a large, fine structure of graystone, with solid
beams and doors of oak, and windows of horn.
Though very old, it still stands, an example of
the substantial manner in which . such structures
were built in those days. Mr. Appleton was un
fortunate in losing his parents before his boyhood
had passed. Upon the death of his mother he fell
heir to quite a large landed estate. At this time
he was a mere lad, and those whom the law had
placed over him to control his property conspired
to deprive him of it. How well they succeeded
appears from the fact, that before he had attained
his majority it had all been taken from him, and
involved in such a manner that it was impossible
for him to regain it Still this did not crush and
dishearten him, as it would have done many, but
served rather to kindle the talent, energies and per
sonalities which were to characterize him in his
after life. After having lost his heritage, anticipat
ing the fruitlessness of any efforts that he might
make to regain it, he resolved to cast his lot in
America, where he fancied he could more success
fully lay the foundation and rear the superstructure
of his after-life. Accordingly, in 1832, he left his
native soil and came directly to Albany, where he
determined to make his future home. He com
menced business as a grain merchant on Washing
ton street, and soon became widely known through
out the States as being one of the best judges of
grain in the country. He was very successful, and
his advice was sought by merchants from far and
near. Soon he determined to extend his interests,
and in 1847 entered the malting business, which
proved so remunerative that he erected a large
malt-house on Washington street, near the place
where he had begun his business career. Still
later he formed a partnership in New York City,
and there carried on the largest business in oats
done in the metropolis. He was also the proprie
tor of a line of barges plying on the Hudson be
tween Albany and New York.
Mr. Appleton acquired a large amount of landed
property, and, at the time of his death, was one of
the largest real estate owners in Albany. He was a

member of the Boards of Trade of Albany and New
York, and was connected as trustee and director
with a number of banks and other corporations.
He was a man of strong convictions and a decided
individuality, which in no small degree contributed
to his successful career. His life, though quiet and
retiring, was full of good deeds. He was, in an
unostentatious way, one of the most benevolent of
men, and many poor people of Albany, to whom
his death brought sadness, can testify to his kind
ness and liberality. Highly esteemed by all who
knew him, he was one of the most welcome of
friends and companions; and his extensive knowl
edge of a wide range of subjects made him very in
teresting in conversation. He was a model husband
and father, and with h\k family he was exception
ally liberal and painstaking. His home was the
place of all places- where he loved to spend his
time, and upon it he lavished care and expense
without stint.
Mr. Appleton was married in 1844 to Miss
Jerusha, daughter of Luther Frisbee. Eight chil-
ren were the fruits of their marriage, five of whom
have died. The remaining three are Mrs. Clem
ent H. Warren, Mrs. Clifford D. Gregory and
William Appleton, Jr. The latter is since de
ceased. Herewith is given as complete a list of brewers,
maltsters, and distillers, with the year in which they
commenced, as we are able to obtain.
(Abbreviations. — B., Brewer; M., Maltster; D., Distiller.)
1 81 6.— McLeish & Birrell, B., 38 North Pearl
street; Henry G. Webb, M., Schenectady Turn
pike. 1817. — Jacob Cole, B., 168 Washington street;
Joseph Ketcham, B., 206 North Market street;
Hathorn McCulioch, B. (partner of Robert Boyd),
Ferry street; William Wake, B., Schenectady Turn
pike; Abraham Slawson, M., 214 North Market
street; Daniel Hale, Jr., D., 82 North Market
street; David Lent, D., 93 Washington street;
Charles P. Poinier, cordial, 254 Washington street.
1825.— Boyd & McCulioch, B. (1819 to 1825);
Henry Birrell, B., North Market; Fiddler & Tay
lor, B., 51 Hamilton street; John Gardner, B. ;
Stephen Humphries, B., 236 North Market street;
Peter Snyder, B., Schuyler street; Charles Fields,
M. ; Christopher Robertson, M., 85 Orange street;
James Oliver, cordial distiller and rum coloring,
South Market street.
1830.— William Amsdell, B. (father of Amsdell
Brothers), 14 Rose street; Patrick Connelly, B.,
52 Church street; Robert Dunlap, B., 208 North
Market street; John Gardner, B., Montgomery
street; Reuben Pearl, B., Franklin street; Sinclair
& Walsh, B., South Market and Hudson streets;
John Taylor, B. ; John & George Birdsall, M.;
James Cahall, M., South Lansing street; T. Moun-
sey, M., Washington and Western Turnpike; Adam
Dows, D, Water street; J. Root, rectifier, 36 Dean
street. 1840.— Baker & Pruyn, B., 9 Dean street; How
ard & Ryckman, B., 210 South Market street;

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

559

Andrew Kirk, B., 17 North Market street; John
Taylor, B., 81 Green streeet; Simpson Bayo, M.,
417 State street; William Birley, M., 45 Van
Woert; James Breeman, M., 66 Franklin street;
James Buchanan, M., 41 Colonie street; George
W. Knowlton & Co., rectifiers of whiskey, 198
South Market street; Michael O'Sullivan, cordials,
North Market and Columbia streets.
1852. — Boyd & Bro., B. and M., Franklin, cor
ner Arch; Eggleston & Mix, B., 9 and 11 Dean
street; Appleton & Welsh, 309 Washington street;
A. A. Dunlop, B. and M., 28 Quay; Andrew Kirk,
B. and M., 904 Broadway; R. Kirkpatrick, M.,
415 State street; William A. McCulioch, M. ; John
McKnight, B. and M., Hawk and Canal streets;
Hiram Perry, M., 388 Washington street; John G.
White, B. and M., Quay, corner Bleecker; John
Taylor & Sons, M., Broadway, corner Arch; H.
Classen, D. , 840 Broadway; Cyrus Edson, D. , 1 1
Hudson street; H. Knowlton, D., 197 Broadway;
George Tweddle, M., State, corner Lark street;
Uri Burt, B., Montgomery and Colonie streets;
James Chester, small beer, South Pearl street;
Sands & Pennie, B., 5 Steuben street; C.W. Schin-
dler, lager beer, 43 Division street; Amsdell
Brothers, B., Jay street.
1857.— Cyrus Edson & Co., D.; A. A. Dunlop,
D. (son of Robert Dunlop), 63 Quay street; J.
Evers, D., Chapel street; J. Tracey, D. ; J.William
son & Sons, rectifiers; Amsdell Brothers, B., Jay
street. 1865. — John H. Trowbridge, rectifier, 12 State
street; Coolidge, Pratt & Co., B., Arch, corner
Franklin street; John McKnight's Son, B., Hawk,
corner Canal street; James P. Quinn, B., 24
North Ferry street; Henry Weber, B., 65 Bowery,
weiss beer; D. S. Wood & Co., B., Swan, cor
ner West Ferry street; George W. Hoxsie, brewed
Hoxsie bottled.
1870.— Michael Aud, B., 130 Chestnut street;
F. D. Coleman & Bro., B., 146 Chestnut street;
Frederick Hinckel, B., Swan street, corner Park
avenue; Quinn & Nolan, B., North Ferry street.
1875. — George Weber, weiss beer, 44 Third
avenue; J. Tracey & Son, D; Smyth & Walker, B.,
904 Broadway; John G. Schneider, B., 133 Fourth
avenue; McNamara & McLoughlin, B., 31 Central
avenue; Marshall & Rapp, B., 65 Central avenue;
Alexander Gregory, B., 70 Central avenue; J. F.
Hedrick, B., 422 Central avenue; John Dobler,
B., Swan and Myrtle avenues; Fred. Dietz, B.
Granger's Brewery, Fourth avenue, corner of
Church street, is under the sole proprietorship of
George F. Granger, formerly with the Albany
Brewing Company, He manufactures Cream,
Pale, India, Stock, and California Ales. He also
brews a brand called the Burton Ales.
John S. Dobler conducts an ale-brewing estab
lishment at the coiner of Swan street and Myrtle
avenue. For a number of years Jacob Kirchner conducted
an ale brewery in Albany. He died a few years
ago, since which the business has been conducted
by his heirs.

Cook & Meutsch, 129 Fourth avenue, and Geo.
Weber, 42, 44, and 46 Third avenue, brews weiss
beer. FREDERICK HINCKEL.
The record of a man's life is the most enduring
memorial that can be erected to his memory. The
story of his efforts to reach a place among the hon
ored and successful men of his time must always
remain as a valuable and inspiring example, whose
far-reaching influence and ennobling effect testify
in strongest eloquence to the worth of well-directed
energies. Especial stress may well be placed upon
such a life history when the achievement has been
effected from the humblest of beginnings; in short,
when the man who accomplished such a work is,
in the strongest sense, a self-made man.
Frederick Hinckel, one of Albany's honored
German citizens, was such a man. He came of
that sturdy, staunch, and honored class from whose
members Albany has gained vastly in enterprise,
industry, and good citizenship. He honored alike
the race from which he sprang and the community
with which his life labors were identified, and
towards the development of whose prosperous in
terests his ambition was directed. He was born
in Germany, October 29, 1832, and in his youth
passed through a rugged experience which while
bringing, mayhap, a volume of denials and strug
gling efforts, surely established the foundation of
self-reliance and determined energy that worked
out the successful purposes of his later life. He
began the battle of existence a poor boy, but he
set before his feet the resolve to waste no oppor
tunity that might help him along the pathway to
success. German thrift and industrious applica
tion, joined with ambitious ardor, soon bore whole
some and abundant fruit. In 1857, Mr. Hinckel
founded in a small way the business of beer
brewing, and once with his ground sure beneath
him, he pressed vigorously and confidently on
ward. He looked to become ultimately a prominent
figure among the brewers of his time, and his
determination naturally and necessarily wrought
out that end. His progress and success were
rapid. Integrity and diligence were the watch
words of his career, and by the light of their guid
ance and counsel he moved forward, winning
not only prosperity as a manufacturer, but en
during and substantial worth as a citizen. He
began in 1857 as a brewer, in a very humble capa
city; in 1881, when he died, he was the owner of
one of the best equipped, as well as one of the
costliest breweries in the country. His business
had grown to such proportions that more than a
hundred men were required to conduct it, while in
far-reaching details it may be noted that his com
mercial transactions extended over the entire State
of New York. Unhappily for him the last sum
mons came to him just as he had reached the
culmination of his ambition, in the successful inau
guration of the great enterprise that still bears his
name. He died October 29, 1881, and in that
year the present Hinckel Brewery was completed,

560

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

He saw, however, that he had won the triumph he
had worked for, and that was to him a proud
consolation. He passed away, if not full of
years (for he was still in the strength of vigorous
manhood), assuredly full of respect and esteem as a
citizen. As an employer he was more of a friend
to his people than a master, and thus it was that
he held in their affections a warm place. Many
of his servitors boasted with pardonable pride that
they had remained with him during the entire
period of his business career. Mr. Hinckel was
fully abreast the age as a citizen of public spirit,
and untiringly urged and assisted any project hav
ing for its object the promotion of the popular
welfare. He was a member the community could
ill spare, and one whose absence will continue to
be felt for some time to come. His influence and
example live, however, and they will to much
worthy purpose albeit their author and builder has
laid down the burden of life for ever.
THOMAS McCREDIE.
Thomas McCredie, one of the oldest, most suc
cessful and highly esteemed business men of
Albany, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, No
vember 30, 1 808. His father, Thomas McCredie,
a wholesale wine and liquor merchant, and his
mother, Sarah (Gamble) McCredie, both died
when he was only four years old, leaving him
to the care and guardianship of an uncle and
an aunt, each possessing in full measure all the
distinguishing traits of Scottish character. With
them, his early youth was spent, in Ayrshire,
not in idleness, but in attending school, and in
learning to do and doing the innumerable things
so useful and necessary on a farm. Then and
there his faculties were exercised and sharpened,
and by precept and example he was taught lessons
of industry, economy, perseverance and self-re
liance which he never forgot. When Mr. Mc
Credie was young, parents thought it prudent that
their sons should leam some useful trade, the
better to qualify them, should circumstances re
quire it, to earn a living and render them less
dependent upon others. Accordingly when he was
fourteen years old, his uncle apprenticed him for
three years and a half to a carpenter, to learn that
honorable trade.
There he developed mechanical and construct
ive faculties which were of great service to him
later in life. He saw, however, a larger and a
better field open for him. Thinking of his father
led him to consider the business in which he
had been engaged, and then to gain all the knowl
edge concerning it, in ils various branches and
kindred subjects, that he could. The subject of
malting early engaged his earnest attention, and he
determined to learn it as soon as an opportunity
should offer.
Mr. McCredie had heard and read much about
America; its free institutions and the honors and
the rewards that were there open to competition
for all, and he determined to visit the United
States to learn about it for himself, The 30th day

of October, 1838, he reached Albany. It was
cold and gloomy; the ground was covered with
three inches of snow; and his first impressions were
quite unfavorable. Dear old Scotland seemed to
him dearer than ever before, and he wished him
self back there. Soon, however, he made the
acquaintance of Peter Ballantine, a brother Scotch
man, from near his own home, the famous maltster
and brewer, and by his advice he at once began
work in Howard & Ryckman's malt-house, where
he remained during that season. His next three
years were spent in the Kirk Malt-houses and
Brewery, two of them as Superintendent. Then
for six years he was the Superintendent of the
malt houses in West Troy owned by Robert Dun
lop, another Scotchman, who, with all his pecu
liarities, was in his business far ahead of his day
and generation. From West Troy Mr. McCredie
went to Philadelphia to superintend Mr. Paul's
large malt-house, and after remaining there one
season he was offered an interest in the busi
ness; but a like offer having been made him by
Robert Dunlop, he accepted the latter and re
turned to Albany. In 1848, he married Miss Ellen
Dunlop, youngest daughter of his partner. She
died two years later, an only daughter surviv
ing her for a short time. The partnership of
Robert Dunlop and Mr. McCredie continued three
years, when it was terminated by the death of the
former, when Mr. McCredie and his brother-
in-law, Archibald Dunlop, entered into a part
nership of short duration. In settling up the
estate of his father-in-law, Mr. McCredie became
the purchaser of the Dunlop Malt-house on
Clinton avenue, which he has since owned and
operated. About the time of this purchase, an
arrangement was entered into whereby Mr. Mc
Credie obtained sole management of the large
malt-house of John McKnight, at the corner of
Hawk and Orange streets. Mr. McKnight died
soon after, when that properly passed into the
hands of the Albany City Bank, but was sub
sequently purchased by Mr. McCredie, who still
owns and manages it. More than thirty years ago
Mr. McCredie had taken rank among the leading
maltsters, not only in Albany but also in the
United States, and although he kept increasing his
malting facilities, so desirable was the quality of his
malt that he could not fully supply the demand.
He now owns and operates four large malt-houses
in Albany, and another in Boston, Mass.
The career of Mr. McCredie justly entitles him
to a high rank among the leading self-made men
of our time, and should serve as an incentive and
example. He comes of a family remarkable for
many superior traits of character. He inherits a
good constitution, a cheerful disposition and a
warm and generous heart, and has developed an
excellent judgment in all business affairs. His
promptness, faithful attention to every detail, de
votion and complete mastery of his business in
every department; his steadfast and unyielding de
termination to excel in whatever he undertook, as
well as his inflexible integrity, fair dealing and un
sullied honor, has won and retained for him hosts

^S^yiu^iD

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

561

of friends, and enabled him to accumulate a very
large fortune and gain a widely extended and most
enviable reputation.
Kind and considerate of the welfare of his em
ployees, he commands their respect and confidence,
and strongly attaches them to himself and his in
terests. His hand is extended with cordiality to
the humblest as readily as to the highest, and a
cheering word, a God-speed, is given to all. For
a great many years he has been an active and
honored member of the First Reformed Church of
Albany; the President of its Board of Trustees;
and foremost among its liberal supporters. A
hearty hater of all shams and hypocrisy, he re
gards good works rather than great professions of
goodness. In church, as in business and every
where, he believes that God works by and through
human as well as other agencies, and that suitable
means must be used to attain the desired end.
Practical beneficence, helping others to help them-
felves, is a fundamental part of his religion. The
needy and suffering testify to his sympathy and
relief. The Albany Hospital, than which no worthier in-
titution exists in this city, is, and for many years
has been, greatly indebted to Thomas McCredie,
the oldest in service as well as in years of its
Board of Governors, who has given so liberally not
only to sustain it, but to increase its usefulness.
In the Mechanics and Farmers' Bank and in the
Mechanics and Farmers' Savings Bank, admirably
managed and successful institutions, he has long
been one of the most prudent of the Directors and
Trustees. One of the oldest members of the Board
of Trade of the City of Albany, he cherishes a
warm interest in its prosperity and has received its
highest honor. Repeatedly and earnestly has he
been urged to accept the highest municipal offices
in Albany, but always declined. Formerly a Whig
he regards himself a Republican, but entirely free
to vote for whomsoever he prefers and especially in
the administration of city affairs. An American in
its truest and best sense — ever willing and ready to
discharge all the duties the land of his adoption
imposes, and zealous for her prosperity and prog
ress, he is none the less a lover of the land of his
nativity — the land of Wallace and Bruce, of Burns
and Scott, whose chivalric deeds and whose un
surpassed imagery and glowing words ever animate
and inspire him. Burns, his favorite poet, he knows
by heart, and in apt illustration and quotation he
liberally draws on him, and his drafts are always
honored. Four times has he gone back to Scot
land, there relighting all the Scottish fires in him,
and yet returned well content with and in the land
where such signal success has crowned his efforts.
Neither an absence of forty-six years, nor a dis
tance of three thousand miles,, has lessened his
love for the national game of Scotland. He is a
bonny good curler, right up to the Tee. For
many years he has been the President and the in
spiration and life of the Albany City Curling Club.
The St. Andrew's Society has no member more act
ive or honored than Thomas McCredie, formerly
its President. 71

In 1854, Mr. McCredie married Miss Margaret
Smith, daughter of Peter Smith, of Albany, and
to them have been born two daughters and three
sons, all now living except the eldest daughter.
The sons are all actively engaged with him in
his business, the elder two having an interest
therein, and all promise to be worthy successors of
their honored father. DISTILLING.
In the early history of Albany quite a number of
individuals were engaged in distilling whiskey on a
small scale. In 1778, the attention of the Common
Council was called to this subject, and the follow
ing resolution passed:
" Whereas, Divers Persons in this County pur
chase large quantities of Wheat for distilling into
Whiskey, and sell the same at exhorbitant prices;
and whereas the Legislature of this State, in pursu
ance of a recommendation by Congress, have now
under consideration the Regulation of the prices of
all Commodities, as well as the necessaries of life;
"therefore Resolved, That no Wheat or other
Grain be distilled into Whiskey within this County
until the Legislature shall have regulated the
prices." For many years after this date, distilling was
carried on in and around Albany; but it was not
until 1838, when John Tracy commenced the bus
iness, that it began to assume much proportion.
Mr. Tracy carried it on for many years, and was an
influential and respected citizen of Albany. He
died a few years ago, and was succeeded by his
son, Colonel Charles Tracy.
MILLING BUSINESS.
The small creeks which abound in the vicinity
of Albany were early utilized in producing power
for grinding wheat and other grain. Milling was
among the first industries which engaged the atten
tion of the early settlers. The products of these
mills were principally used for home consumption.
The transportation of flour and meal did not form
much of a factor in trade until the beginning of the
present century. After that date it began to form
quite an important part in the commercial affairs
of Albany, and continued so until the rapid growth
of the great West materially modified it. The bulk
of the milling business of the country is now con
fined to the West, and in most of the Eastern cities,
as in Albany, it is not carried on very extensively.
The Columbia Steam Mill and Elevator of Cap-
ron & Woolverton was established by M. L. Crit
tenden & Co. in 1857. John D. Capron became
associated with the business in 1870, and in 1882
the present firm was organized, C. B. Woolverton
having been connected with the old firm for twelve
years previously as book-keeper. The premises of
the firm, located on the Pier, consist of a mill
and elevator 1 80 by 50 feet in dimensions. The plant
is equipped with five run of stones, power being
furnished by a 250 horse-power engine. The ele-

562

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

vator has a capacity for handling about 2,000 bush
els of grain per hour.
The leading specialties of the house are rye flour,
corn meal and feed. Their trade extends through
New York and New England, south as far as Wash
ington, and west as far as Cleveland. They own
and employ four canal-boats in shipping their
products. The Albany Feed and Plaster Mills of Franklin
D. Tower, consist of a four-story brick building,
90 by 180 feet in dimensions, equipped with a 40
horse-power engine, four run of stones and the usual
complement of milling machinery. About six men
are employed, including expert millers. A trade is
transacted which extends throughout the North and
Northwest. The products of the house are plaster
for agricultural purposes, and feed for horses and
cattle. In 1878, Mr. Tower carried on the milling busi
ness in the old stone mill near the Manor House,
North Broadway. This mill was erected by one of
the Patroons over two hundred years ago, and was
well known throughout the country as the Patroon's
Mill. In 1880 it was destroyed by fire, after which
Mr. Tower began the business in which he is now
engaged. He is recognized as one of the leading
flour and feed merchants of Albany. A more ex
tended notice of his career will be found in the bi
ographical sketch of him published in this volume.
The firm of John B. Cleminshaw & Son, manu
facturers of self-raising flour, No. 1 1 Hudson avenue,
was organized in 1883. John B. Cleminshaw con
ducted the business for seventeen years previously.
They are largely engaged in manufacturing self-
raising flour for buckwheat and wheat cakes. Six
men are employed at this factory, capable of pro
ducing 400 barrels of flour and meal per week.
The products of the water-mill of John M.
Batterman, 344 Broadway and 22 Liberty street,
have gained an excellent reputation for quality.
Mr. Batterman has been engaged in the milling
business in Guilderland many years. His mill is
especially noted for its fine grade of Indian meal.
BAKERS.
No one subject was the cause of more legislation
by the early municipal authorities than the regula
tion of the quality, size and price of bread. The
size, weight and price per loaf was determined by
city ordinances ; but infringement of these laws
was frequent and occasioned much complaint and
litigation. The size of the loaves was formerly
much larger than at present Up to 1847 they
were required to weigh three pounds ; after that
date two pounds was the legal weight. The law
requiring the latter weight was not repealed until
1855. Probably the oldest living baker now engaged in
business is Thomas Mayes, located at 171 Madison
avenue. He came here in 1837 and became ap
prenticed to John Hodge on Market street. About
this time Marcus Andrews, John Marshall, John
Hodge, William Pester, Jonas C. Wellington, John
S. Graves, J. Pallat, and Stephen Paddock were

engaged in the baking business. The firm of
Adams & Sprang for many years conducted a
bakery at 186 Washington avenue. They were
the first to introduce machines for making crackers,
and used to send teams out in the country with
their produce, a novel thing in 1840. John Os
borne did quite an extensive business on South
Market street many years ago. He sold out in
1845. John Clarke, the father of the extensive
baker of the same name now located on Hudson
avenue, was for many years engaged in business
on the east side of Broad street.
Owen McCarthy began the bakery business on
Van Voast street in 1842. In 1847 he moved to
Water Street, and in 1852 removed to his present
location, 70 Canal street.
John Imrie opened a bakery on the corner of
Chestnut and Hawk streets in 1855. In 1864 he
built a store on the corner of Jay & Hawk streets.
He died in 1882, since which his wife has con
ducted the business.
John Younger established a bakery at 405 South
Pearl street in 1865, which he has conducted
ever since.
The bakery of Mrs. Amelia Moench was estab
lished in 1869 at 50 South Ferry street. In 1881
she bought her present property, 28 South Ferry
street. L. Ebert -began to conduct a bakery in Albany,
on Myrtle avenue, in 1875. He removed to his
present quarters in 1876.
George Frank began business in 1878 on Madi
son avenue, where he remained for a year and a
half. He opened his present place in 1882.
Buehler Brothers, corner Alexander and Clin
ton streets, bought their present business of Mr.
Schepper in 1880. He established it in 1859.
Fred Kahl began business in 1865 as a baker, at
323 Sherman street, and still continues at the same
place. John A. Stock, baker, corner Green and Schuyler
streets, began business in 1877. He resides at 50
South Ferry street.
William G. Ebel, baker, confectioner, etc., was
established at 73 Green street, in May, 1877. Seven
years later, owing to increasing business, the prem
ises 73^ Green street, and an extension, were
added. Ten hands are employed.
The Earing Bros. (Charles A. & Martin L. ) es
tablished their present business in 1879, at 372 Mad
ison avenue. They erected their present building,
368 Madison avenue, and moved into it, in 1883.
It is three stories, brick, 21 by 166 feet in dimensions
They also opened a bakery at 10 Bleecker street,
which they still operate.
Charles Krien established a bakery at 683 Broad
way in 1883. His building is 30 by 50 feet in
dimensions. He is a native of Prussia and has been
in this business for ten years.
Beside those already mentioned, the following
are at present engaged in the bakery business:
Henry Brimhall, Horace F. Brimhall, John Clarke's
Sons, Mrs. Michael Crummy, W. L. Greenman, F.
J. Harflinger, Lester Hulbert, Martin Iliohan, An
thony Maxstadt, John Peel, Mrs. Michael Pet-

? f& /7//

'///^srJzyzety <- 7 ¦?¦¦' ¦?- -c'-<n.fi 6'

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

563

tengill, Harmon V. Swart, Isaac A. Swart, and
many others. MICHAEL PETTENGILL
was born at Newburgh, N. Y., December 20,
1 81 9. At the age of fifteen years he began to
work in the bakery of George W. Whiting, in
Greenbush. In 1836, with a partner, he went
into business for himself in Green street, Albany,
under the firm name of Pettengill & Metcalf.
From Green street he removed to Herkimer
street, and from Herkimer street to Washington
street. The firm had now changed to Pettengill &
Emerson. In 1840, Mr. Pettengill bought Mr.
Emerson's interest in the business. About 184-
he removed to No. 91 Beaver street, and remained
there till February, 1852, when he occupied his
new house, No. 97 Beaver street, where he lived
and carried on his business until his death, which
occurred suddenly, April 22, 1882. He united
with the Emmanuel Baptist Church February 22,
1872, and was ever an earnest and active member
of that organization. He was much interested in
mission work, particularly at Paigeville, and at the
Home for the Friendless, where he was ever ready
to give words of counsel or comfort, and to do his
part financially.
THE LARRABEE BISCUIT WORKS.
The firm of E. J. Larrabee & Co., of Albany and
New York, has now become a hosehold word, so
excellent are the Larrabee Biscuits and so exten
sive is the trade of this house. A brief historical
sketch will doubtless interest our readers, and call
attention to an industry that does honor to our
city. It was started in 1861 under the name of the
Albany Aerated Bread Company, by Belcher &
Larrabee. They were the first to introduce that
process of bread-making north of New York
City. In 1862 they put in machinery and com
menced in a small way the manufacture of the
common kinds of crackers or biscuits then in
use, and made by hand, using only the best ma
terials. The demand for their goods increased so
rapidly, they were compelled, in 1866, to cast
about for more room, and purchased a large
corner building, once St. Joseph's Church; made
the necessary alterations in 1867, and built two
vast ovens.
Their business then took a fresh start, steadily
growing to such an extent, that the firm ordered
from England a complete set of the most ex
pensive machinery for their special line of goods,
being at that time far superior to any similar ma
chines made in this country. Messrs. Larrabee &
Co. were then prepared to compete successfully with
English biscuits, at that time very largely imported
into this country. In 187 1 Mr. Belcher died, and
W G. Thomas became a partner with E. J. Lar
rabee, the senior member of the present firm of E.
J. Larrabee & Co. Their business prospered and,
in 1872, property was purchased on the east, and

another building with four more ovens was erected
in 1873.
In 1876, Charles H. Thomas became a general
partner in the firm; new and improved machinery
was added to meet the requirements of their trade.
Yet such was the demand for their goods, that, in
1 88 1 they were obliged to buy still more property
on the north, and enlarge their works, until now
they have three five-story buildings, all connected
and conveniently arranged, filled with the best and
most approved biscuit machinery that can be ob
tained. The facilities of this house now enable
them to use annually 40,000 barrels of flour, 2,000
tierces of lard, 75 tons of butter, 450 barrels ol
molasses, 3,000 barrels of sugar, and other mater
ials in corresponding quantities.
E. J. Larrabee & Co. employ about 350 hands,
and make over 300 different kinds of plain and
fancy biscuits. Their trade extends to nearly all
parts of the world. This house was the pioneer in
this country in the manufacture of fancy or Lon
don biscuits, and their success has effectually re
placed the English biscuits in the United States.
This firm has always received the highest awards
wherever they have exhibited their goods, both at
home and in foreign countries. At the Centennial
they received a medal and diploma; at the Paris
Exposition in 1878, the first and only gold medal
ever awarded to American biscuits. Their branch
house in New York City is managed by C. H.
Thomas, the junior partner. A business success
such as is shown by the house of E. J. Larrabee
& Co., clearly demonstrates the capabilities of its
founders and managers. It is an honor to Albany
and the State of New York.
BAKING POWDERS.
Cleveland Brothers, manufacturers of baking
powder, 911 and 913 Broadway, began business in
1870. They also manufacture flavoring extracts.
The factory is a five-story brick building, 44 by 100
feet in dimensions. A large number of workmen
are employed, and the annual sales reach many
thousands of dollars annually. The individual
members of the firm are George and Frederick
Cleveland. Those who use the Cleveland powder,
the sale of which is widely extended, desire no
better. Walter McEwan, corner of Maiden lane and
James street, a large dealer in coffee and spices,
manufactures the National Baking Powder, a pure,
wholesome, and unquestionably reliable article.
Stephen H. Parsons, since 1877 sole proprietor
of the Coffee and Spice Premium Mills, 41 and
43 Dean street, also makes a baking powder of
undoubted merit, but does not make it the prom
inent article in his manufacture.
BUTCHERING AND MARKETING.— BEEF,
MUTTON, AND PORK.
There were many butchers who carried on a
profitable trade in and about the city during the
period of the Revolution. From this branch of

564

HISTORY OE THE COUNTY OF ALRANY.

business large fortunes were gained. The ancestors
of some of the wealthiest families in Albany ac
quired the nucleus of their fortunes in the business.
Duringthe Revolution, Albany butchers largelysup-
plied the American army with meat. This they did
also in the War of 1812. During recent years the
establishment ef the West Albany Cattle Market
has made Albany an advantageous location for
carrying on this trade.
Among the large and successful dealers in cattle
many years ago were John Cassidy, John Russell,
and Ichabod L. Judson. Eli Perry, a biography
of whom appears elsewhere, was very extensively
engaged in this business. Some account of the
once extensive West Albany Cattle Market ap
pears elsewhere. Among the well-known meat
dealers were the Fredenrich family, a member of
which continues the trade on Beaver street. John
Battersby, the present County Treasurer, is better
known by his first-class meat market, which
was established by his father in 1840. He
sells $210,000 worth of meat annually from his
store at corner of North Pearl street and Clinton
avenue. John Featherly, D. J. Hartnett, Joseph
McQuade, Ignatius Wiley, George Wiley, and
Ithamar Spencer, are long established and well-
known meat dealers. The Chicago dressed beef
has recently taken much from the local business of
beef butchering and dressing. Pork packing was
once carried on extensively by some firms, notably
by the senior George Schwartz. Among those who
still carry on the business are George Schwartz &
Co., 167 South Pearl street; Thomas P. Crook &
Co., 209 Hudson avenue; Bridge & Davis, 355
Broadway; John T. Carrier & Co. , 7 Clinton ave
nue; and R. P. Cornell, 288 South Pearl street.
COFFEE AND SPICE MILLS.
The Empire Steam Coffee and Spice Mills of
Bacon, Stickney & Co., Nos. 35, 37, 39 Dean
street, and 1 1 Exchange street, are the most ex
tensive mills of the kind in the State outside of
the City of New York. It was established in 1833
by Mr. Froment. The subsequent changes in
proprietorship will be found in the biographical
sketches of Samuel N. Bacon and Leander Stick
ney. The stores, warehouses and manufacturing
departments of the firm are comprised in a five-
story brick building, ico by 65 feet in dimensions.
The firm manufacture an extensive variety of
ground spices, coffee and mustard. They also
manufacture baking and soap powders, yeast cakes,
starch, extracts, oatmeal, being wholesale agents
for one of the largest oatmeal mills in the country,
with a jobbing trade immense in its proportions,
and extending throughout New York, New Eng
land and other States. A large force of men are
employed at these works, which require the servi
ces of twenty-nine superintendents in the various
departments. The Coffee and Spice Mills of Stephen H. Par
sons, Nos. 41 and 43 Dean Street and 12 Exchange
Street, known as the Premium Mills, were founded
in 1836 by John Thomas, Jr., who was succeeded

in 1865 by Judson, Parsons & Haskell, and they in
turn by the present proprietor in 1877, who had
been connected with the business since 1 860. The
premises consist of a five-story brick structure, 40
by 60 feet in dimensions. Mr. Parsons grinds his
own spices, roasts and grinds coffee, and manu
factures baking powder, cream of tartar, etc., and
deals in a general line of grocers' supplies.
The National Mills of Walter McEwan, corner
of Maiden lane and James street, were established
in 1865, and came into the possession of the piesent
proprietor in 1872. The premises are comprised in
a four-story brick building, 25 by 65 feet in dimen
sions. The products of this house consist of every
variety of ground coffee and spices. A special fea
ture of the mills is the manufacture of baking pow
der and flavoring extracts.
SAMUEL N. BACON,
of the well-known firm of Bacon, Stickney &
Co., dealers in coffees and spices, is a son of
Samuel and Alma E. Bacon, and was born in
Harvard, Mass., January 25, 1829. He lived
and worked on a farm until 1848, when he
came to Albany and found employment with
the formerly prominent merchant, Mr. L. A.
Chase, at thirteen dollars per month and board.
Mr. Bacon's attention to his duties, and his mani
fest great business ability, won him such rapid pro
motion that, in 1853, nve years after this humble
beginning, he was admitted to a partnership with
Mr. Chase, the business being continued under
the firm name of L. A. Chase & Co. Mr. Stickney
died early in 1857, and March 21st of that year
Mr. Bacon formed a copartnership with Messrs.
M. W. Stickney and L. Stickney, under the style
of Bacon & Stickneys; and soon afterward two
five-story stores (Nos. 37 and 39 Dean Street) and
a four-story store (No. 9 Exchange Street) were
built to accommodate increasing trade. In 1865,
Mr. James Ten Eyck was admitted to an interest
in the firm, the title of which was then changed to
Bacon, Stickney & Co. In March, 188 1, follow
ing the death of Mr. M. W. Stickney, the remain
ing partners decided to continue the business un
der the same firm name, a measure from which
they did not depart when, in March, 1882, Mr. L.
Stickney died, and the business was continued by
Messrs. Samuel N. Bacon, James Ten Eyck, H.
W. Stickney, and John L. Baldwin, as partners.
During the year last mentioned, the five-story store
adjoining the firm's Dean Street stores was added,
on account of the greatly increased demands of
their business, and they have since occupied Nos.
35, 37 and 39 Dean Street, together with No. 9 Ex
change Street, which, combined, render their estab
lishment one of the most extensive in Albany.
The motto of this old and always popular house
has been "Good goods at fair prices, and honor
able dealing to all, with the closest attention to
business," and it has been the practical demonstra
tion of the sterling principles thus expressed, that
has rendered theirs one of the most successful
houses in their line outside of New York City.

(Ro\V^

Manufacturing interests of albaNY.

565

Mr. Bacon, the now senior member of this firm, is
in all ways a self-made man, as the term is usually
applied. Without wealth or influence to aid him
in his early struggle, he has worked his way up
literally from the foot of the ladder. The only leg
acy he ever received, to which he ascribes in any
degree his success in life, was the following advice
from his father, which he followed for many years,
and which he gratefully acknowledges has been
worth thousands of dollars to him: "Never buy
anything until you have the money in your pocket
to pay for it. When you have the money, and it
is your own, buy anything you want." If all young
men of the present day would adopt this as their
rule of life, it is probable that many of them would
prove much more successful business men than the
statistics of a score of years hence will show them
to have become. Mr. Bacon is a member of the
Fourth Presbyterian Church of Albany, of which he
was Trustee for twenty-one years, and was elected
Elder in 1883. In politics he is a Republican.
He married Miss Sarah E. Harlow, daughter of
Mr George Harlow, of Lawrence, Mass., and has
a daughter and two sons. For seventeen years his
home has been in the beautiful and growing village
of Loudonville, four miles from Albany.

LEANDER STICKNEY
was born and passed his boyhood in Antrim, N. H.
In 1838 he came to Albany, and with character
istic perseverance and energy set about the task of
carving out his own fortune.
He found employment as a clerk, and his abil
ities were so marked that,in 1853, he was admitted
as a partner in the coffee and spice firm of L. A.
Chase & Co. Mr. Chase retiring in 1857, the firm
name was changed to Bacon & Stickneys, his
brother having also become associated with the
house. In 1866 another change in the firm made
it known as Bacon, Stickneys & Co.
A man of high character and the strictest integrity,
Mr. Stickney was quiet and unassuming in manner,
very devoted to his home circle, and benevolent in
disposition. He was never appealed to in vain in
the cause of charity, and his bounty was given with
that freedom from ostentation which characterizes
the true man. He was, when in health, a regular
attendant at the Hudson Avenue Methodist Epis
copal Church. Soon after becoming established
in business he married Miss Mary Ellen Dowling,
who, with a son and daughter, survive him. He was
well'and widely known, both in the business com-

566

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

munity and socially. He was taken ill in March,
1882, and was a patient sufferer until his death,
which occurred January 14, 1883.
The business of which Mr. Stickney was long
one of the recognized heads, takes rank among
Albany's leading mercantile interests.
VINEGAR.
Charles H. Burton, manufacturer of cider vinegar,
78 Green street. — This business was established
1839 at 73 Green street by Francis Vail, continued
there until 1867, when he purchased the old Univer-
salist Church at 78 Green street, and converted it
into a vinegar depot. The business was bought out
by Mr. Burton in 1882. It is the oldest cider vinegar
manufactory in the State, and one of the best The
manufacture is carried on under the immediate su
pervision of the proprietor, and the product has a
large sale. SOAP AND CANDLE-MAKING.
The making of soap and candles at one time was
an important local industry in Albany, but during
late years has measurably declined. This is due
principally to the fact that candles are largely super
seded by other means of illumination, and soap man
ufacture has been absorbed by the large factories.
The first soap and candle manufactory of impor
tance established in Albany, so far as we can find,
was started by Peter Van Heusen and Jacob Van
der Bilt in 1788. In an advertisement stating their
intentions to engage in this useful branch of in
dustry, they say that such a factory had long been
wanted in the city. To induce the citizens to en
courage these home industries, they offer these arti
cles at New York prices.
The next factory of importance was established
by John Taylor, Jr., about 1820. A few years after,
Mr. Fidler become a partner, under the firm name of
Fidler & Taylor. This establishment was destroyed
by fire in 1829. Patrick Murphy about this time
had a factory in Albany. Agur Wells was for a long
time, engaged in this business. He was succeeded
by his son, Thomas D. Wells, at 259 South Pearl
street. In 1840 the business had grown to such dimen
sions, that 1,330,000 pounds of soap and 66o,oco
pounds of candles were made. There were at this
time twelve factories, employing about 60 men.
Capital to the amount of $122,000 was invested in
this industry in the city.
The two principal firms now conducting this
business are those of Clinton Ten Eyck and Stein
& Co. The former begun this business many years
ago, and now employs steam in manufacturing
soap and candles. His factory is located on the
corner of Chapel and Canal streets. He makes the
Troy Laundry Soap, and bar and pressed cake soap.
Stein & Co. are successors to John M. Christian
& Brothers, engaged in this business many years in
Albany. Stein & Co. manufacture family, laundry,
chemical and pressed soaps. Their factory is lo
cated at 16 and 17 Delaware avenue.

OILS.
In 1823, S. J. Penniman established what is now
the firm of Murphey & Liscomb, manufacturers of
oils, with warehouse at 13 Hudson avenue, and
factory on Colonie street.
Their factory with its various buildings covers 1^
acres. They also have a four-story storage house.
The chief products are sperm, whale, elephant and
lard oils; machinery, cylinder and signal oils; argand
oil; and spermaceti and sperm candles.
The individual firm members are Elijah W.
Murphey and Orlando P. Liscomb, whose names
are favorably and extensively known in this line
throughout the United States.
STOVES.
Albany and Troy have long been prominent cen
ters for the manufacture of stoves. The business,
as at first conducted, consisted in simply putting
together the castings, which were made at other
places, generally at blast-furnaces in New Jersey
and Pensylvania. The early castings were of great
thickness, and, compared with those of the present
day, were rough and imperfect
Besides the well-known Franklin stove, the in
vention of the eminent early philosopher whose
name it bore, the first made was a box-stove; then
the oblong plate-stoves, such as are yet in use to
some extent for heating school-houses and churches.
The first advance towards a cooking-stove consisted
in making the last named with an oven, and the
first that deserves the name of a cooking-stove was
an oblong affair having an oven running the whole
length, the door of which was in front and directly
over the door for supplying fuel; having also a
boiler-hole and boiler on the back part of the top,
near the pipe. Then a stove similar in arrange
ment, with swelling or elliptical sides, was made,
generally called the nine-plate stove. In Albany it
was known as the Philadelphia stove.
About the year 18 12, cooking-stoves were made
at Hudson from patterns made by a Mr. Hoxie,
who was the first to elevate the fire-box above the
bottom. This improvement was patented, and
sustained in suits against parties who elevated the
fire from the bottom. In Hoxie's stove the fire
was made above and upon the oven. He was the
first who made a stove in which the flame was made
to descend from the top to the bottom of the oven.
In 1815, William T. James, of Lansingburgh,
made the stove known as the "James " stove, which
not only continued a leading stove for nearly a
quarter of a century, but may yet be seen on board
small Eastern coasting vessels, where, being cheap
and durable, it supplies the place of a caboose.
James' stove is probably better known as the
"saddle-bags" stove.
In 1833, the editor of the Albany Daily Advertiser,
from observation and inquiry, formed the opinion
that the manufacture of iron castings was brought
to greater perfection in Albany than in any other
place in the country, or even in Europe. The
hollow-ware of Bartlett, Bent & Co. was preferred

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

567

to the best Scotch; the stoves of Dr. Eliphalet Nott
received the preference wherever they were known;
and the machinery castings of Maney & Ward were
equal to those of any foundry in the world. The
quantity of castings were stated as follows:
Howard, Nott & Co  1,000 tons.
Bartlett, Bent & Co  350 "
I. & J. Townsend  300 ' '
Rathbone & Silliman  200 "
Maney & Ward  450 "
2,300
About one thousand persons were employed in
these establishments. Besides these productions,
the house of Heermans, Rathbone & Co. sold an
nually 750 tons of stove-plates brought from Phila
delphia, and Gill, Cooper & Co., about 300 tons
from the same place. From the best information
that could be obtained, it was found that about
2,300 tons were manufactured and sold in the
city, and about 1,250 tons imported and sold,
making in all 3,550 tons.
While, previous to 1836, some stoves had been
made in Albany, the bulk of them had been cast
direct from the ore in blast-furnaces in New Jersey
and Pennsylvania; they were shipped here in loose
plates to be mounted. At this time new and
lighter patterns were gotten up.
The oldest foundry in Albany was the one at 1 10
Beaver street, which was occupied by Treadwell &
Perry in 1843. It doubtless antedates the present
century. In 1808, Warner Daniels was making
stoves there. In 1820, the firm became Spencer,
Daniels & Co. — Warren Spencer, John Daniels
and Thomas Gould. They were succeeded by
Erastus Corning and Norton in 1826; they by
William V. Maney and Ward in 1828, who con
tinued until 1836, when Mr. Maney became sole
proprietor, he selling to Messrs. Treadwell & Perry
in 1843.
As early as 18 13, Warner Daniels, and, in 181 5,
Francis Low were conducting the Clinton Furnace.
In 1820, Spencer Stafford made stoves in a foun
dry which was located at the junction of Washing
ton and Central avenues.
About 1827, H. Nott & Co., composed of How
ard Nott and sons of Dr. Eliphalet Nott, at the
junction of Washington and Central avenues, man
ufactured the celebrated "Nott" stoves. These
works were subsequently removed to • New York
City, becoming the Novelty Works.
In 1830, Joel Rathbone, W. B. Hermance and
Corning & Norton, under the firm name of Her
mance, Rathbone & Co., began business. Upon
the death of Mr. Hermance, in 1830, Mr. Rath
bone became sole proprietor. He continued with
various partneis down to 1841, when he sold
to John F. Rathbone and Samuel H. Ransom, who
composed the firm of Ransom & Rathbone. They
continued till 1844, when they separated and formed
the separate firms of S. H. Ransom & Co. and
Rathbone & Co. S. H. Ransom & Co. remained
in business until 1881, when Clarence Rathbone
purchased the property of the firm, adopting the
present firm name of the Ransom Stove Works.

For more than thirty years, George P. Lynd has
been a Superintendent in the Ransom Works.
Peter Thompson is another old employee. E.
Myer, for over thirty years, has been connected
with the firm in the capacity of a stove-mounting
contractor. The firm of Rathbone & Co., 1844 to 1854, was
composed of John F. Rathbone, James C. Ken
nedy and Lewis Rathbone.
From 1854 to 1857, this firm was known as
Rathbone & Kennedy, composed of Lewis Rath
bone, James C. Kennedy and John F. Rathbone.
From 1858 to i860 it was composed of Lewis
Rathbone, Theodore Townsend and Joseph P. San-
ford, under the firm name of Rathbone & Co.
From i860 to 1865, John F. Rathbone was the
sole manager and proprietor of this concern. At
the latter date Lewis Rathbone and Eben C. Beach
were admitted as partners. In 1868 the firm was
composed of John F. Rathbone, Lewis Rathbone
and Grange Sard, Jr., and thus continued until 1873,
when the firm of Rathbone, Sard & Co. was estab
lished, composed of John F. Rathbone, Robert S.
Oliver, Edward Bowditch and Grange Sard, Jr.
From 1876 to 1883, William H. Sard was a partner.
In 1883 the corporation of Rathbone, Sard & Co.
was formed, with a capital of $800,000. The fol
lowing are the officers: John F. Rathbone, Presi
dent; Grange Sard, First Vice-President and
General Manager; William H. Sard, Second Vice-
President and Manager of Chicago branch; Edward
Bowditch, Secretary and Treasurer; Robert S. Ol
iver, Superintendent; Walter P. Kellogg, Manager
of Detroit branch.
The extensive works of this Company are situated
in the upper part of the city. There are five mod
eling floors and five cupola furnaces. Ninety tons
of iron are melted daily, and 75,000 stoves annu
ally made. 950 men and 400 molders are em
ployed, to whom are paid annually $450,000. The
yearly sales aggregate $1,500,000.
Trie cupola furnace was built by Joel Rathbone
in 1838, and was one of the first in this country for
making stove-castings. By this process, castings
were made smoother, and by dispensing with su
perfluous materials were finished cheaper.
Josiah P. Eldridge and R. Horner for many years
have been foremen of separate departments in this
foundry. For many years William H. Van Loon
and John F. Hyatt, stove-mounting contractors,
have done work for this firm.
In 1833, and for a short time afterwards, Ben
nington Gill, William Cooper, John Webster and
Maynard French, under the firm name of Gill,
Cooper & Co., although they had no foundry, man
ufactured stoves.
In 1835, Thomas & Potts were established on
Hudson street. This is the first record we have of
the use of a cupola furnace for stove-castings in
the county. Before this they were cast in the fur
nace on Beaver street, known as the Eagle air-
furnace. Thomas & Potts were succeeded by
Thomas&Wells in 1836, who continued until 1837,
when Mr. Thomas retired, the firm becoming Hoff
man & Potts, which remained unchanged until 1847,

568

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

when Mr. Jesse C. Potts became the sole proprietor.
Mr. Potts continued as such until 1857, when he
became one of the company of Shear, Packard &
Co. In 1870 the firm was dissolved.
Jacob H. Shear and Mr. De Graff were in the
business in 1837.
In 1837, Messrs. Elisha N. Pratt and John G.
Treadwell, as Pratt & Treadwell, had stoves manu
factured for them.
In 1838, Mr. S. B. McCoy had a foundry on
Water street. In 1839, the firm became McCoy
& Quackenboss; in 1846, McCoy, Clark & Co.;
and in 1852, McCoy & Clark. When Augustus
Quackenboss left the Water street foundry in 1846,
he opened another in Montgomery street, continu
ing alone until 1855, when Mr. Wasson joined him.
Messrs. Borden & Stowe now occupy the premises
formerly used by S. B. McCoy.
From 1845 to 1848, Messrs. Low & Leake had a
foundry located on the dock.
From 1845 until 1857, Samuel D. Vose, Henry
and William E. Bleecker, as Vose & Co., had large
foundries which they had erected at the lower end
of Broadway, below Ferry street.
In 1848, B. P. Learned & Co. occupied the
foundry now used by Thacher & Co., car- wheel
manufacturers. In 1851, the. firm became Learned
& Thacher, and soon after discontinued this busi
ness. In 1852, Weller, Goodwin & Adams made a few
stoves in a foundry located on Washington avenue,
a little below Clark street. In 1843, and for a short
time previous thereto, William Cobb manufactured
a few stoves in the same foundry.
In 1 854, the Temperance Furnace, at 53 Water
street, was controlled by O. G. De Graff and Henry
and Amos Adams, under the name of O. G. De
Graff & Co.
The Albany Co-operative Stove Company has
been in business since about 1863; 50 men are em
ployed, and 5,000 stoves annually made.
The Perry Stove Company, doing business on
Hudson avenue, and at Sing Sing, is an old estab
lished concern, the senior member, John S. Perry,
commencing in 1843. He then used the old foun
dry at 1 10 Beaver street, his partner being William
C. Treadwell, the firm name Treadwell & Perry.
In i860, the firm was dissolved, and shortly
thereafter organized under the name of Perry,
Treadwell & Norton. Upon the dissolution of this
firm, Messrs. Treadwell & Perry and Ira Jagger
continued the business until 1864, when the pres
ent firm was organized. The members are John
S. Perry, Nathan B. Perry, Andrew Dickey (of Sing
Sing) and John Hughes (of Chicago). The build
ings now in use were built in 1856. The bulk of
the manufacturing is now done at Sing Sing.
The first stove manufactured by Treadwell &
Perry was in 1843, and was named the "Pre
mium," but was more generally known as the
"Step Stove," from the fact of its rear boiler being
raised. They now make several leading kinds of
stoves. Annually they make from 8,000 to 10,000 tons
of stoves, equal to 75,000 to 90,000 stoves, repre

senting a value of $1,250,000. About 1,500
workmen are employed, including those working
at Sing Sing.
The firm now known as the Ransom Stove
Company was founded in 1836 by Joel Rathbone.
Mr. Rathbone retired in 1841, and in 1845 was
succeeded by S. H. Ransom & Co. The firm was
then known as the Ransom Stove Works. In
1883 the present Company was incorporated.
The officers are: Clarence Rathbone, President;
Benjamin Butler, Vice-President; and Albion Ran
som, Superintendent. The manufacturing plant
occupies four blocks, and is bounded by Mulberry,
Church and Cherry streets, and on the east by the
Hudson River. Three hundred workmen are em
ployed, the weekly wage list amounting to about
$4,000. William Doyle, 108 and no Beaver street, has
carried on stove manufacturing steadily for many
years. A patent was obtained by Edward H.
Doyle for a hot-air furnace, first used on a popular
stove, now manufactured by Mr. Doyle, called the
"America." He expends $50,000 annually in the
manufacture of stoves at this manufactory, and em
ploys twenty-five workmen.
The Littlefield Stove Company was organized in
1865 by D. G. Littlefield, who was the inventor of
the first successful base-burner stove ever used, for
which he received a patent in 1854. The use of
this invention has demonstrated its superiority over
all heating stoves in use. Their plant, on the cor
ner of North Pearl and Pleasant streets, covers an
area of three acres. Here twenty-five stoves per
day are manufactured. The Treasurer of the Com
pany is H. C. Littlefield.
Albany Stove Company, Tivoli Hollow, was
founded in 1868, the proprietors being Messrs.
Carroll, Gutman and others. In 1880 the present
Company took control of the works. The officers
of the Company are: James H. Carroll, President
and Treasurer; William G. Schultz, Secretary; and
John Gutman, Superintendent. The location in
Tivoli Hollow is particularly adapted to the Com
pany's purpose. The works cover an area of two
acres. Here from forty to sixty molders and skilled.
iron-workers are employed; from six to eight tons
of castings are daily made; and from twenty-eight
to thirty-five complete stoves put upon the market.
The foundry of Jasper Van Wormer, located on
the corner of Broadway and Arch street, was
erected in 1867. Mr. Van Wormer is ihe surviv
ing partner of the firm of Van Wormer & McGarvey
formed in 1846. For twenty years they manufac
tured stoves through contracts with other parties
owning foundries. In 1867 their business had
grown so extensive, that it became desirable, if not
absolutely necessary, to erect a building exclusive
ly devoted to the manufacture of stoves, and the
present foundry, which occupies an entire square,
was erected. Mr. McGarvey remained as partner
until his death in 1876, when his son, Charles M.
McGarvey, assumed his father's interest in the
firm, which continued until the latter's death in
1884, since which Mr. Van Wormer has conducted
the business alone. Mr. Van Wormer is one of

J^,¥,

cU^t^/

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

569

the oldest and best known men now engaged in
the stove business of Albany. The specialty of this
concern is the American base-burner, although a
general assortment of heating-stoves is made. The
biographical sketches of the Messrs. McGarveys
published in this work, furnish considerable val
uable data in relation to this foundry.
The National Stove Association was formed in
1872, through the efforts of Mr. John S. Perry and
others. This association held its first meeting in
New York City during that year, Mr. Perry being
elected President. From that time semi-annual
meetings have been held. The object desired by
originators of this organization was to promote
good feeling, extend acquaintances, and exchange
views as to the best means of securing a healthy,
natural trade. The result has met the expectations.
Mr. Grange Sard is now President of the Associa
tion. In i860, there were seven establishments in
Albany County for the manufacture of stoves, with
an aggregate capital of $1,013,000; employing 850
hands; paying $285,600 wages annually; manu
facturing raw material worth $345,800, into prod
ucts valued at $1,038,700. In 1870 there were
fifteen establishments; $3,022,800 capital invested;
employing some 1,946 men, whose yearly wages
were $1,209,873; converting raw material valued
at $1,004,208 into manufactured products worth
$3,216,431. In 1880 there were twelve establish
ments, but the census statistics are exceedingly un
reliable. From the best authorities obtainable we give the
following statement, to show the present develop
ment of the stove trade in Albany.
Capital invested  $2,500,000
Producing annually  3,000,000
About 2, 700 workmen are employed, the result
of their labor being 24,000 tons of stoves, or about
220,000 stoves, annually.
MICHAEL McGARVEY.
The late Michael McGarvey long occupied a
leading position among the most enterprising
and successful business men of Albany. Born
in Albany, June 19, 1824, he was bred in his
native city, and grew to manhood with few of
the material advantages of this world. His parents
were poor, and at an early age he was obliged
to earn his own livelihood. Nearly forty years
ago, he and Jasper Van Wormer worked to
gether as apprentices. They toiled at the same
bench and became more to each other than ac
quaintances. Men of the same moral type, they
were earnest friends, and the tie that is often
nearer than that of relationship was severed only
by the hand of death. When the time of their ap
prenticeship had expired, the two lads started busi
ness on their own account at No. 1 2 Green street.
Their only capital was indomitable pluck and an
honest purpose; but those characteristics won, as
they always must, and it was not long before their
little retail shop blossomed out into an ambitious
7S

manufacturing establishment. It was in the win
ter of 1846 that they began business, and it is be
lieved that, at the time of Mr. McGarvey's death,
the firm was the oldest in the city in a certain
sense, for it had been for nearly thirty years under
one management.
Mr. McGarvey was married in 1846 to Miss
Elizabeth Town, who survives him. A member
of the Tabernacle Baptist Church, he was munifi
cent in his contributions for the completion of the
present House of Worship of that organization, in
the progress of the construction of which, during
his fatal illness, he took great interest He was a
man of great moral force ,and of the very nicest
sense of commercial honor. His word was a bond
which was never broken. Unostentatious and ret
icent concerning whatever he did for others, very
few knew the depth of his sympathies for the suffer
ing or the extent of his benevolent contributions.
Such a character as his dignifies any department of
business and receives the homage of all honorable
men. He died October 12, 1876. The following
from the pen of one who knew him well, is a fitting
estimate of the man :
"During the years of his prosperity, Michael
McGarvey never forgot his early days. He was
always a workingman, proud of the dignity that
appellation should give. Unobtrusive in manner,
he was also a man of great decision of character,
firmness of will, and vigor of intellect. He was in
fact, an every-day man, without veneering or su
perficial glitter, and won friends to keep. He was
not one to make a display of religion, nor was he
a stickler for sect. His creed was that of humanity;
and if benevelence is the soul of religion, then the
true metal was in him to a great degree. He was
not ambitious in the modern way, for political hon
ors were repeatedly declined. His aim was to
respect his Creator, to love his wife, to educate his
children, and to pass an existence of simple but
honorable event. During his life he diffused much
happiness, mitigated considerable distress, and
called down many a blessing from the stricken poor.
During his career we know of no great achieve
ment, no gigantic success, no brilliant action to
be recorded for him; but George Eliot says the
world owes its greatness to unhistoric lives, and, re
membering Michael McGarvey, we appreciate her
words. "
CHARLES M. McGARVEY.
The late Charles M. McGarvey was born in Al
bany (a son of the late Michael McGarvey) July 1,
1851, and died April 26, 1884. He was educated at
the Albany Academy, and after his graduation was
for some years connected with his father's business.
At his father's death, being the eldest son, he nat
urally took his place among the manufacturers of
Albany as a member of the firm of J. Van Wormer
& Co., which succeeded the old and widely-known
firm of Van Wormer & McGarvey, of which his
father had long been a member, a relation which
he continued creditably and successfully until his
death.

570

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Mr. McGarvey was possessed of a hearty friend
liness and spontaneous geniality which endeared
him to all who knew him. No man was better
known in Albany business and social circles. In
one way or another, he was identified with most of
the popular interests of the town. The older mem
bers of the Washington Continentals remember
him as one who served the prescribed time and
became a faithful and well-beloved member of that
celebrated organization. He was married Decem
ber 13, 1876, to Miss Lydia D. Courtney of Al
bany, who, with two children, survives him. He

^m

Charles M, McGarvey.
had been ailing for several months, but his death
came suddenly and somewhat unexpectedly. His
funeral was the occasion of a demonstration of almost
universal sorrow, and tokens of respect were given by
relatives, friends, business and social organizations
and employers. Gathered around the house of
mourning were friends who had grown up with
him from boyhood — friends who could testify to
the geniality of his companionship, his warm-heart
ed disposition and the manner in which he clung
to those he loved and respected. Every one knew
him, and all present had good words to say of him
who had passed from their midst. The bearers
were his brothers, William, Henry and Archie;
his brothers-in-law, William Van Wormer, Dickin
son Courtney and Benjamin W.. Wooster, Jr.;
Joseph C. Barnes, for many years book-keeper of"
the firm with which Mr. McGarvey had been iden
tified; and J. Johnson, foreman of the molding-
shop. Mr. McGarvey was one of those whole-
souled, helpful men, whose words of kindness and
deeds of friendship are the most speaking epitaphs,
and whose prolonged earthly life could not but
have brought good to his fellow-men.

JOHN S. PERRY.
Albany is justly distinguished for the elevated
character, success, and liberal enterprise of its
business men; perhaps none of its sister cities
outrank it in this respect.
Her manufactories and manufacturers lake a
high position, particularly in the manufacture of
stoves and other products of her foundries.
John S. Perry is not only eminent as a business
man, but as a citizen largely interested in things
touching the prosperity and advancement of the
city. He has occupied this position so long
and with such public respect, that a sketch of
his life naturally belongs to and makes a part
of the history of our city and county. Such a
history will always be read with interest and pleas
ure, not only as an example of encouragement for
young men preparing to act in responsible and
honorable positions in life, but to those more ad
vanced in a business career; because, the success
which one man has attained, others may hope to
achieve, by imitating his example, making true the
oft-repeated maxim, that biography is history and
philosophy teaching by example.
John Strong Perry was born in Farmington,
Conn., December 17, 181 5. This beautiful town
is situated on the river of the same name, with
scenery which has been the admiration of tourists,
and has excited the imagination of the poet and
painter for many generations. It is a lovely stream,
blending the pleasures of angling, fowling, boating,
and other aquatic sports, presenting to the young
advantages for physical exercise that develop the
health and strength of well-formed manhood. Mr.
Perry traces an honorable ancestry far back in the
annals of NewEngland history. His maternal grand
father, a descendant of the Pilgrims, was Governor
John Treadwell, LL. D. , of Connecticut, the last of
the Puritan line of Governors His paternal grand
father was the Rev. David Perry, of Richmond,
Mass., who was settled over the Congregational
Church in that town for about forty years. Indeed,
his ancestors on both sides, including the Pome-
roys, of Northampton, Mass. ; the Lords, of Col
chester, Conn.; and the Leavenworths, of Wood
bury, Conn. , are all of the old Mayflower stock.
Mr. Perry's Christian name, John Strong, is
derived from a relative, the Rev. John Strong, a
Puritan minister of Connecticut.
Mr. Perry is a self-made man, the successful
artificer of his own fortune, whicli he has carved
out by that indomitable energy and practicability
which to young men is of more value than wealth.
He began his education in the district schools in
his native town, where he made good progress in
his studies; so good that, when, at the age of thir
teen, circumstances compelled him to leave school,
he was prepared to enter a counting-house in
Hartford, Conn., where at that early age he began
his business career.
After remaining there for some time, he entered
the store of his uncle, John B. Perry, in Lee, Mass.,
where after spending several months, he came to
Albany, which was destined to be his future home.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

571

Arriving in that city on the 23d of October, 1830,
he entered the crockery store of that old and well-
known firm composed of Henry L. and Charles B.
Webb and Alfred Douglas, honorable and high-
minded merchants, from whom he received during
thirteen years that rigid and thorough training that
tended so largely to his future success.
From 1843 to i860 he was largely engaged in
the manufacture and sale of stoves, but from well-
remembered causes, which wrecked so many
prominent houses at that time, his firm, known
under the name of Treadwell, Perry & Norton,
was compelled to suspend. This embarrassment]
however, did not discourage him; he still had the
confidence of the public, and what is, perhaps, of
equal value, unconquerable energy. These ad
vantages soon enabled him to resume business,
and so successfully, that in a few years it far ex
ceeded any former limits. It will be readily per
ceived that this success was due to Mr. Perry's
habits and business capabilities. His experience
enlarged his views of the relations of business,
quickened his insight into difficult problems,
rendering him more vigilant in keeping well in
formed in all the details of business life. Few men
are more accomplished in the particulars which
make the successful business man than he.
Notwithstanding the great demands upon his
time, he allows nothing to suffer for lack of atten
tion. Having devoted, through many years, the
early hours of morning and late hours of the
night to his pursuits, he may justly be considered
one of the most industrious and laborious of men.
Promptness and method are among his most prom
inent characteristics, and it is in a large degree
owing to these qualities that he has been enabled
to accomplish so much. By his quick perception
and intuition, his decisions, soon reached, are rarely
wrong. Identified from an early period of his life with
the stove interests of the country, he has perhaps
done as muoh as any man to make that industry
a power of acknowledged influence. Chief among
the causes that have contributed to this result,
has been the formation of the National Associa
tion of Stove Manufacturers, of which he held the
office of First President for several years, the object
being to cement more closely, both in business and
social bonds, the different members of the trade
throughout the United States. In the formation
and development of this organization, Mr. Perry
has been one of the chief actors and its early and
persistent advocate. He saw other trades rising
rapidly in wealth and influence by similar organi
zations, and he asked the co-operation of the stove
trade for the same end, believing that the principle
of co-operation was a correct one, and that "in
the multitude of counselors there is wisdom."
Having thus determined upon the course to be
pursued, he was not content to sit and theorize,
but threw himself heartily into the work both by
voice and pen. Under his auspices six or more
important conventions were held in different parts
of the country, and more than twenty since under
his successors, and the result is that to-day the

stove manufacture is one of our most important
industries, and its history is replete with interest.
But it is not our purpose here to pursue it in
detail. It is a specialty of modern date, little be
ing known of it sixty years ago. It was inaugu
rated to a great extent by Joel Rathbone and
William V. Many & Co., in Albany, N. Y., some
fifty-five years ago, since which time it has con
tinued to increase from year to year, until, in 1885,
not less than 300,000 tons of iron were converted
into over 2,500,000 stoves and various utensils,
for which some. $40,000,000 was realized by the
manufacturers. At present there are in the United
States over 250 stove and hollow- ware foundries.
The headquarters of the manufacture in this State
may be said to be in Albany and Troy, these two
cities together probably manufacturing more stoves,
hollow-ware, furnaces and their appliances, than
any other two cities in the Union. Among the
great establishments in Albany which are regarded
as truly representative, is the house of Perry & Co. ,
composed of John S. Perry and Nathan B. Perry,
of Albany; Andrew Dickey, of Sing Sing; and
John B. Hughes, of Chicago, 111., their works
being one of the oldest for the manufacture of
iron- castings north of the Highlands.
Warner Daniels, their early predecessor, made
stoves as early as 18 13. The immediate succes
sors of Mr. Daniels were William V. Many & Co. ,
befere mentioned, who were also pioneers in this
business. Previous to 1835, stoves were mostly
made in blast-furnaces in New Jersey and Penn
sylvania direct from the ore, instead of from the
pig metal as at present. In 1843, William B.
Treadwell and John S. Perry succeeded to the bus
iness, and conducted it with some intervening
changes until 1862, since which it has been carried
on by Perry & Co. The offices and ware-rooms
of the firm are three, viz.: 115 Hudson avenue,
Albany; 84 Beekman street, New York; and
15 & 17 Lake street, Chicago, 111. The Albany
works employ about 250 men and produce 3,000
tons of stoves annually, and the works in Sing
Sing Prison employ 900 convicts and 200 citizens,
and produce in the same time 6,500 tons, thus giv
ing a total production of 9,500 tons, or about
90,000 stoves, representing in sales about $1,250,-
000. The market for these goods is not confined
to the United States, orders coming from almost
every part of the world — from China, Japan,
Germany, Norway, Turkey, Africa, South America
and other countries being of considerable im
portance. Such are Mr. Perry's manufacturing interests, and
such his extended relations to this great American
industry, relations which, as we have said, give
Albany a place in the stove business second to
none in the Union.
We will now speak of his character as a citizen.
In 1846, he was united in marriage to Mary J.
Willard, of Plattsburgh, N. Y. Eight children
were born to this marriage, four of whom survive.
Mrs. Perry died in 1 864.
His second marriage took place in 1867, to Mrs.
Mary Elizabeth Thompson, of Woburn, Mass., by

572

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

whom he had one daughter. This lady dying in
1869, his third marriage took place, in 1871, to
Adaline L. Jones, of Brooklyn, N. Y., who still
survives. His eldest daughter is the wife of Rev. William
Tatlock, D.D, of Stamford, Conn.
Mr. Perry has long been a member of St. Peter's
Episcopal Church, Albany, one of the oldest
churches in the United States, and is now Senior
Warden of that Parish.
He is a member of the Advisory Board of the
Young Men's Christian Association, and of the Al
bany Philharmonic Society; also one of the Board
of Trustees of the Albany Railroad Christian Asso
ciation. He is a Director of the National Exchange Bank
of Albany, and a Trustee of the Albany Exchange
Savings Bank.
It is thus seen that Mr. Perry's life has not only
been active and enterprising, but useful ; devoted
to the promotion of religion, education, and what
ever tends to the refinement and cultivation of the
capital city. He has never sought nor accepted
political preferment of any kind. He divides his
time, to a certain extent, in agricultural pursuits,
which tends largely to the preservation of his
health. He is what may be termed a well-preserved man;
vigorous, both mentally and physically. He pos
sesses many attractive social qualities and a fond
ness for society, in which he is a favorite.
Mr. Perry is very fond of music and books, and an
appreciative and somewhat diligent reader of some
of the best authors. There are very few men whose
life, habits and associations tend more directly to
rational and high-minded enjoyments ; it is there
fore no affectation to say that, in a work like this,
which contains a record of the men and of the
events which make up the history of the capital
city, no one is entitled to more honorable mention
in it than this gentleman.
NAIL WORKS.
In colonial days nails were manufactured alto
gether by hand. Previous to 1750, the rolling-
mills of New England were chiefly employed in
making nail rods, from which spikes, or large nails
were hammered out. The farmers, in leisure hours,
made large nails for their own use.
The act of Parliament of 1750, prohibiting the
erection of slitting or rolling-mills in the colonies,
made the importation of nails necessary until the
Revolution. In 1775, Jeremiah Wilkinson, of Con
necticut, commenced making cut tacks for his own
use, cutting them from sheet iron, and heading
them in a smith's vice. The process was afterwards
extended to small nails. In 1795 the Connecticut
Legislature regulated the manufacture of nails made
for sale or exportation, fixing their length and the
weight per thousand of each of the several sizes
from two to twenty pennies.
In 1787, Garret Whitbeck opened a nail factory
in Orange street, near the high Dutch Church,
making 8s and 10s at a shilling per pound, and

20s and 24s at eleven pence. In the same year
Stevenson, Douw & Ten Eyck erected a similar es
tablishment in the city. Jacob Perkins' machine
for cutting and heading nails was patented Janu
ary 16, 1795. The world is indebted to Thomas
Blanchard, of Massachusetts, for the wonderful
modern machinery for making all kinds of nails. In
18 1 9, John Brinkerhoff, of Albany, erected on the
east side of the river, now in Troy, a small rolling-
mill for making iron plates, that were cut into nails
and headed by hand. These works were among
the first then in existence in the State of New York,
and were afterwards bought by Corning & Norton,
of Albany, which firm subsequently became Corn
ing, Winslow & Co. and Erastus Corning. The
works included rolling-mills, carriage-axle factory,
spike and nail factories, the annual product being
about 30,000 tons.
TOWNSEND FURNACE AND MACHINE-
SHOP.
No single family has done more for the progress
of Albany's manufacturing interests, and the pro
motion of its commercial welfare than that of Town-
send. The present furnace and machine-shop was
founded by Isaiah and John Townsend, who were
born at Sterling, Orange County, where were
forged, during the Revolution, the links of the
chain which was to have been stretched across the
Hudson River to prevent the ascent of the British
ships of war. A part of this chain can now be seen
in the State Geological Hall. Mr. Townsend ac
quired a knowledge of the iron business from his
relative, Solomon Townsend, an iron merchant in
New York. His brother John, in 1 804, became as
sociated in the foundry business, and together they
were the pioneers in this industry in this part of the
State. This partnership was terminated in Febru
ary, 1838, by the death of Isaiah. They were
prominently identified with many of the enterprises
by which this city has been benefited. They were
in intimate relationship with all the foremost busi
ness men of their day, and materially aided De
Witt Clinton in his project of the Erie Canal.
From 1838 to 1849, John Townsend carried on
the foundry business as the surviving member of
the firm of I. & J. Townsend. At the latter date
it passed into the hands of Franklin and Theodore
Townsend, the former a son of Isaiah, and the latter
a son of John Townsend, the original proprietors.
This partnership was continued for seven years,
when Theodore withdrew and Franklin became
sole proprietor, remaining as such until 1867,
when George P. Jackson, who had acted as Gen
eral Superintendent since 185 1, became a partner,
the firm becoming Townsend & Jackson. Rufus
K. Townsend, son of Franklin, took his .father's
place in -the firm, and in 1882, the year of Mr.
Jackson's death, became sole owner.
The plant is of brick, four stories high; walls
130x180 feet, and is located on Broadway, Rens
selaer and Mulberry streets, fronting on the Hud
son. They have a large collection of patterns, the
accumulation of three generations, to which they

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

573

have added those of the Albany Eagle Furnace,.
the West Troy Foundry, the Archimedes Works,
New York, and the McGinnis Machine Works.
Mill gearing and machinery castings of all kinds
are made; ioo men are employed. Annual out
put, $125,000. Zethro Wood, inventor of the cast-
iron plowshare, had his first plows made in this
foundry. Under the able management of Rufus K. Town-
send, this establishment has not merely main
tained, but increased its reputation in manufacturing
circles. John T. Brady is book-keeper for this house.
In 1 884 he was elected Supervisor, to represent the
Fifteenth Ward.
AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY.
The Wheeler and Melick Company, founded in
1830 by Messrs. Wheeler, Melick & Co., are the
leading manufacturers of agricultural machinery in
the county. In 1872 the firm took in associates,
and a stock company, with $200,000 capital, was
organized, the present firm name being adopted.
The works are on Hamilton and Liberty streets,
and cover nearly an entire block. The main
building is of brick, three-stories high. Horse
powers, steam engines, power-threshers and clean
ers, plow-sulkies, improved harrows, dump-rakes,
clover-hullers, fodder-cutters, mills, etc., are made.
One hundred and twenty-five men are employed,
and the annual output reaches $500,000.
The present officers are E. Wacterhagen, Presi
dent; Peter Melick, Treasurer; George C. Lee, Sec
retary; and James H. Melick, Superintendent.
The products of this Company find a market
throughout the country and the world. Their
machines are of modern styles, and are kept up to
the latest improvements, and include a supply of
everything called for in progressive agriculture.
No firm has done more to produce labor-saving
machines for the farmer.
The extensive agricultural and machine works
of Peter K. Dederick & Co. are located at Tivoli
Hollow. They are the sole manufacturers of the
Dederick Patent Hand and Power Presses; also
wire-baling ties, and all tools used in connec
tion with baling hay; horse and steam hoisting-
engines, self-dumping wood and iron cars, horse
and steam-power brick machines, and portable
steam engines.
The popular Wood Mowing Machine and Reaper
was manufactured here a few years ago; but its
works have lately been transferred to the West.
IRON-WORKS.
The iron foundry of Isaiah Page & Son, 58, 60
and 62 Liberty street, was established in 1832 by
Isaiah Page, Sr., at Federal Stores, but in 1835
was removed to Chatham. In 1850 the : present
site was secured. Isaiah Page's son, William B.,
was admitted as a partner in 1883. Isaiah Page
died in 1885, since which time his son has con
ducted the business. The foundry is 100 x 180 feet

in dimensions. Sixty molders and other skilled
iron workers are employed. Mr. Page is a mem
ber of the firm of Page & Sill, succeeding to the
interest of his father in this firm. Isaiah Page was
one of the great iron manufacturers of Albany, and
a business man of great energy and worth.
The iron and machine-works of Prince & Ott
was established by Starks & Pruyn in 1845, who
were shortly afterwards succeeded by Pruyn & Lan
sing, and they, in turn, in 1869, by Henry C. Has
kell. In 1884, Lawrence J. Prince and Herman
Ott became proprietors of the works. The estab
lishment is located at Nos. 9 and 1 1 Church street,
and is embraced in a four-story brick building, 30
by 75 feet in dimensions. About fifteen skilled me
chanics are employed. The products consist 01
steam engines and machinery of all kinds, wrought
and cast-iron railings, castings, gratings, steam-
pipes and fittings, bank vaults and doors. They
built the 320 horse-power engine now in use at the
Albany blast furnace, and the engine now in use at
the Government Printing office at Washington. The
work of this establishment is known for its general
excellence. The firm composed of T. J. Sullivan and P. Ehler,
under the firm name of Sullivan & Ehler, makes a
specialty of manufacturing steam engines. Their
plant is located at 166, 168 and 170 Broadway, and
consists of a two-story brick building. Sixty men
are employed in the various departments, and their
products are sold throughout the United States.
They also manufacture bridge and iron-work, safes
and bank vaults, iron roofs, shutters, railings, filter
presses, pumps, cast and wrought-iron tanks, and
iron machinery of all kinds. The products of this
house bear a high reputation in the trade.
James McKinney & Son are well-known iron-
founders and manufacturers of architectural iron
furnishings, such as pillars, gates, railings, and all
kinds of iron cornices, caps, etc., for building
purposes, at 925 to 933 Broadway.
Peter C. Lauder, who resides at 102 North Pearl
street, is a practical machinist of recognized ability.
For twenty-eight years he has been in the employ
of the New York Central Locomotive Works at
West Albany, and for twenty-one years foreman of
the machinist department He was born in the
City of Schenectady in 1835.
The Novelty Iron Foundry was founded May 1,
1 88 1, the members of the firm being S. J. Haight
and J. W. Clark.
Their works at 16 and 18 DeWitt street consist
of a three-story brick building and a one-story
foundry, where forty workmen are employed.
They manufacture fine machinery castings, piano
and organ castings, and those for ornamental work.
They make a specialty of small gray iron castings
of great smoothness and fine quality of iron.
The Capital City Malleable Iron Company was
incorporated in 1882. The works, corner Fourth
Avenue and Broadway, are a one-story foundry,
130 x 180 feet, and a five-story brick building,
containing machine and pattern-shops, office, etc.
Mower and reaper castings for all agricultural im
plements, also carriage irons and unfinished sad-

574

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

dlery hardware, are made. Mr. A. Winterburn is
President. Seventy-five men are employed.
DARIUS S. WOOD
was born in Westboro, Worcester County, Mass.,
in July, 1 82 1, and died in Albany, February 15,
1 88 1 . He was a son of Joel A. and Louisa (Simp
son) Wood. Acquiring such education as was
available to him, he studied engineering at the
shops of the Boston and Worcester Railroad in Bos
ton. Familiarizing himself with the construction
and operation of the locomotive, he entered the
ranks of the early locomotive engineers, and is dis
tinguished in the local history of railroading as
having run the first locomotive attached to a pas
senger train on the Boston and Albany Railroad
into Greenbush.
February 18, 1862, he was appointed by the late
Erastus Corning, Superintendent of the Wood-work
Department of the New York Central Railroad Com
pany at Niagara Falls, and later he was promoted
to the superintendency of the Company's works at
West Albany.
The bent of his mind was original and inventive,
and while thus employed he invented and patented
a box-car of very ingenious construction, which was
much in use at a later period; and at the time of
his death he had many improvements under way,
which, had he lived to complete them, it is believed
would have become valuable in their application to
mechanical uses. He was justly regarded as one
of the most skillful workers in iron in Albany. The
making of the larger and more bulky, as well as the
finer and more delicate, parts of machinery, were
alike easy to him. About 1866 he became pro
prietor of the Malleable Iron-works at the corner of
Westerlo and Franklin streets, which he managed
with success and profit until his death. These were
sold to the present proprietors in the settlement of
his estate For a time, previous to embarking in
this enterprise, he was owner and manager of the
brewery now known as Dobler's. He was instru
mental in the establishment of the Malleable Iron
works at Oshawa, Canada, where he gave the ben
efit of his counsel, as well as of his means, and
remained for weeks supervising the construction of
the works. In everything that pertained to the
manufacturing and commercial interests of Albany,
and to its general prosperity, Mr. Wood was deeply
interested, and he was known as one of the city's
most prominent and public-spirited citizens. A
Republican in political faith, he took an intelligent
interest in all public affairs; but he had no ambi
tion to shine in politics, and though often solicited
to accept office, resolutely kept out of political life.
A genial, whole-souled man, his social qualities
made him popular with all classes. He was mar
ried, in 1842, to Miss Adeline Smith, of Pittsfield,
Mass., who, with one daughter, survives him.
His career was that of a man self-made in the
best and truest sense of the term. His most con
spicuous characteristics were industry, integrity
and foresight — qualities which insured his success
in business life and gained him the honor and ad

miration of all with whom he associated. His na
ture was kindly, he was liberal in his thoughts, just
in his dealings and charitable in an unostentatious
way. His death was regretted as deeply and as sin
cerely as that of any man who has died in Albany
for years, and he is referred to as having left the
impress of his energetic personality on the town and
its institutions. ALBANY STEAM TRAP COMPANY.
The manufacture of return steam traps was be
gun in this city, in 1871, by Townsend & Bless
ing, and conducted by them until 1875, when the
present Albany Steam Trap Company was incor
porated. The steam trap was the invention of
James H. Blessing, of this city, and it is claimed
was the first practical device for returning the water
of condensation, under pressure, back to the boiler,
ever used. It has now been in successful use for
fourteen years, and has become a necessity wher
ever steam is used.
The Company own and control about twenty-
five patents on steam traps and processes of return
ing condensed water to the boiler under pressure.
The executive officers of the Company are as fol
lows : General Frederick Townsend, President; J.
H. Blessing, Secretary, Treasurer and General
Superintendent; and H. H. Martin, Trustee. Of
fice and works, 78 and 80 Church street.
BOILERS, ENGINES AND OTHER BULKY
IRON MACHINES AND FURNISHINGS.
In 1863, David F. Skinner and Joseph Arnold
began the manufacture of steam engines and boilers
in this city, on the south side of Herkimer street,
and removed to 199 Broadway, their present loca
tion, in 1869. Their boiler shop is 35 x 200 feet
in dimensions. They employ seventy-five to one
hundred men, and manufacture engines, boilers,
steam pumps, elevators and tanks.
Robert Livingston and Patrick Shevlin com
menced the manufacture of boilers and tanks in
1866, under the firm name of Livingston & Shevlin.
January 10, 1877, the firm was dissolved. Since
then the business has been conducted solely by
Mr. Shevlin. The premises consist of a two-story
brick building, 34 x 74 feet and an addition 29 x
60 feet, on the corner of Church and Herkimer
streets. Twenty-four men are employed in the
manufacture of all kinds of stationary and marine
boilers. E. D. Ransom & Co. , corner Church and Mul
berry streets, manufacturers of foundry facings and
founders' supplies, succeeded Messrs. Charles & Co.
in 1883, the house having been founded in 1879
by the latter. The manufactory is a two-story stone
building, supplied with a fifty horse-power steam
engine. Fifteen men are employed. They also
make the ' ' Charles " stove polish. The members
of the firm are E. D. Ransom, James D. Wasson
and J. Sanford Ransom.
Michael Huber & John J. Hartnett established
their iron foundry, 37 Liberty street, in 1880.

•^VHJtCJ&eroetB.HY

V"

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

575

They occupy the old Cornell foundry, 35x45 feet.
Fifteen mechanics are employed. Iron castings of
all kinds are made.
ALBANY SAW WORKS
were established in 1855 by Messrs. Robert H.
Pruyn and Charles B. Lansing, under the name
of the Albany Iron and Saw Works, in connection
with the Albany Iron- works. In 1879, the present
firm, consisting of Edward Y. Lansing, a son of
the founder, and James Goodwin, who has been
connected with the business from its foundation,
succeeded to it, their predecessors being J. T.
Lansing & Co., of which firm both were members.
All styles of saws are made by them, and they
also deal in files, grindstones, etc. They have
invented many improvements for the manufacture
of their goods. Their factory, a three story brick
building, is located on the corner of Church and
Bleecker streets, having a frontage of 100 feet on
each street, and runs through to Herkimer street.
FILES AND RASPS.
John A. Smyth, in 1859, founded the present
firm of Smyth & Sons, manufacturers of the "Bee
hive " files and rasps. Their works are the oldest
of the kind in Albany, and are located on Church
and Herkimer streets. Frederick S. Morris became
a member of the firm in 1878. All styles of files
and rasps are produced. They also recut files.
CAR-WHEELS.
In 1852, George H. Thacher began the manu
facture of car-wheels and railroad castings in
Albany. In 1857, Daniel S. Lathrop became a
partner, under the firm name of G. H. Thacher &
Co.' In 1873, J°bn Boyd Thacher became a part
ner. The firm became known as Thacher,
Lathrop & Co. This continued until the death of
Mr. Lathrop, in 1883, Since 1873, John Boyd
Thacher and his brother, George H. Thacher, Jr.,
have had charge of the works. Most of the car-
wheels of the New York Central Railway are made
by this firm. The works are located on the
comer of Learned and Thacher streets. Daniel P.
Fales has been Superintendent of these works for
several years. Personal biographies of the indi
vidual members of this enterprising firm follow.
DANIEL S. LATHROP
was born in Albany, April 13, 1825, the eldest son
of Dyer and Jane (Shields) Lathrop. "His first
American ancestor," says his memorialist, "was the
Rev. John Lathrop, of Barnstable, who was the first
to enlighten the dark regions of America with the
Christian ministry, and whose name shines bril
liantly upon the pages of that catalogue which
Cotton Mather made of New England worthies."
It was at the old Albany Academy that Mr. La
throp gained his rudimentary education. He was
sent at the age of about fourteen to the boarding

school of Rev. Mr. Bulkley, in Rensselaer County,
N. Y. " After having acquired here, " continues
his memorialists, "a useful, and the foundation of
a classical, education, he returned home and re
mained for a time in his father's mercantile house. "
About the time he attained his majority, he secured
a position with Messrs. F. J. Bernard & Co., at
that time a prominent firm of lumber dealers, hav
ing previously served as a clerk in one of the State
Departments, and also as a clerk in one of the
banking institutions of Albany. Industrious and
frugal, he saved much of his salary, intending to
engage in business. He formed the acquaintance
of a prominent railroad magnate named Morgan,
well known in the western part of the State, who,
divining the material of which the young man was
made, assisted him by advice in making some in
vestments by which Mr. Lathrop added to his
capital, and was thus enabled, in 1857, to purchase
an interest in the car-wheel manufacturing business
of Mr. George H. Thacher. The firm name was
then changed to George H. Thacher & Co. ; and
again, in 1873, by the admission of Hon. John
Boyd Thacher to a partnership in the business, to
Thacher, Lathrop & Co. Mr. Lathrop's relations
in this enterprise terminated only with his death.
Mr. Lathrop though never mingling much in the
politics of the day, was induced, in 1850, to represent
his ward in the Common Council, a duty which he
discharged with credit and honor. This was the
only public position he ever occupied. He was
actively interested in some of Albany's home insti
tutions. He was prominently identified with the
Albany City Bank and the Union National Bank,
and at the time of his death was a Trustee of the
Rural Cemetery Association; of the Albany Gas
light Company; and of the Watervliet Turnpike and
Horse Railroad Company.
The following extract from Hon. John Boyd
Thacher's admirable memorial of Mr. Lathrop,
which has already been quoted from, will afford
no more than a just estimate of his character and
life. ' ' Mr. Lathrop was best known to the public as
one engaged in commercial pursuits, and it is
proper to refer briefly to his characteristics as a
business man. That was the field of his largest
activities. In the college and university there ob
tains a notion, as fallacious as it is hampering and
narrowing, that, compared to the professional life, a
career devoted to business pursuits is low, sordid,
base. But if there is a sphere which requires
moral culture and intellectual ability, it is that in
which the labor of man receives and develops the
labor of the earth. The credit of a nation depends
not so much upon the professional man; not so
much upon the public man and statesman; not
so much upon the yeoman; as upon those men
of brain and nerve who initiate and prosecute to
successful issue great industries and commercial
missions. "Mr. Lathrop at an early age made choice of
a business life, and his career reflects credit on
himself and offers to the youth of this generation
an eminent example. Honor and truth were

576

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

natural to him and he soon acquired order, obe
dience, a conception of the true value of money, and
a knowledge of life. He never valued money for
itself, nor sought it as an end, but simply because
he saw that, rightly used, it contributes to the sum
of human happiness and the advancement of the
human race. He conducted business upon so
firm a basis, and in regions so unexposed, that his
affairs seldom touched precarious or doubtful
ground. So nicely did caution wait on impulse,
that success was the natural end of venture. His
sense of commercial honor was keen and sensitive.
In the conducting of affairs he was always consist
ent with the worth and greatness of his own na
ture. He exhibited in his transactions with others
that element of honor which we sometimes speak
of as dignity. The highest motives, the best prin
ciples, governed all that he did, and he bent his
work to square with his design. Perhaps one of
the most prominent features of his character was
his inherent and positive love of the truthful. His
veracity was that of fact. His statements were ac
tual and real; no man's saying was ever falsely col
ored by him. His speech of other men was never
insincere. His devotion to truth was the old
knightly spirit of devotion, and having fought his
fight, he laid down his escutcheon, fair, bright,
spotless. " Lord Shaftesbury says we should observe and
speak of a man's understanding as we would of his
face. That nature characterizes a mind as pecu
liarly and distinctly as she sets her hand to features.
As nature gave to Mr. Lathrop a face strikingly
comely and attractive, so with plenary indulgence,
she gave him an understanding of uncommon
power and symmetry.
"A philosopher would require us to include in
understanding, the power to perceive and the power
to make use of perceptions. The cast of Mr.
Lathrop's mind was such that it mirrored a subject
by almost instantaneous mental photography, and
then by combination and comparison it perfected
its relation to a point or query. Mental operations
were performed by him apparently without the
tedious steps traveled by the ordinary mind. Nor
was the work of his mind less perfect for its winged
flight, nor less sound for its quick construction.
This peculiar power was of use to him in those cal
culations of pennies and of pounds incidental to
business life. They were of a better use. On
questions of moment they enabled him to foretell
an end to problems for the detailed working of
which years had to be enrolled, and the answer the
years gave was his. One could follow his leading
safely and adopt his judgment with assurance. To
this quickness of perception he united a research
that never wearied. All the enthusiasm of the ar
dent explorer burned within him. Men, measur
ing his success by the field in which he seemed to
work, were wont to attribute to chance and good
fortune that which was the result of purpose and of
aim. They sometimes mistook the production of
toil and care for benevolence fallen from the wind.
But those who knew him knew how careful were
his investigations and how constant his watchful

ness. His coins were not stamped by the fingers
of Midas, but rather they recorded the quest of
Jason. ' ' He was a student of geography, of history, and
of the world's physical requirements. Particularly
he studied the needs of localities in our own coun
try, and the resources from which they might satis
fy and gratify these needs.
"The intricate net-work of railways which lie
between the two oceans, were as familiar to him as
were his own garden-paths. Surely there must be
a difference between that position which makes a
man buy railroad interests, and railroad promises,
when he has no knowledge of the location of the
railway, and is ignorant of the force of its obliga
tion, and that disposition which decides a man in
acquiring ownership in railways, when he is famil
iar with their relative positions, conditions and
prospects. "Wealth, properly obtained, comes to no man
spontaneously. Acquaintance with the circum
stances of its possession will generally reveal the
mental shovel and the intellectual barrow. It was
so with the acquired property of Mr. Lathrop. It
came to him as the legitimate wages of mind and
body. It grew and increased because fostered
with prudence and management.
"He was much given to the serious study of
political economy, and held and argued the belief
of our nation's commercial liberty. He thought
the ability of a nation to fight unassisted would
certainly argue its ability to stand alone. He was
not only familiar with the writings of those who
had given their opinions and theories fo the world
upon the commercial relations of nations, but he
corresponded not infrequently with some very cap
able modern writers upon this subject, and was
accustomed, when in conversation upon this topic,
to maintain his opinions with vigor and per
sistency. "He carefully considered the relation existing,
and which should exist, between the government
and the governed. Here too he held very strong
and pronounced views. During the dark days of
our civil war, Mr. Lathrop's purse and hand were
at the service of his country. He was a bitter foe
to those principles which were hostile to our hap
piness, prosperity and continuance as a people.
At this time, when many were accustomed to con
strue very loosely their duty in responding by pro
portionate exactions to the support of the public
service, he cheerfully and generously contributed
whatever the Government required of him. What
was a civil burden to others, was to him a civil and
solemn duty.
"Mr. Lathrop indulged in but few relaxations
from the cares of business. The only prominent
pursuit leading at all away from his daily occupa
tion, was the breeding of horses, and even here his
motive was practical, and by care and wisdom he
sought to develop a race of horses which should
prove more serviceable to man. He studied the
anatomy of the horse, and could learnedly explain
at which point nature had made provision for
higher development. He knew almost immedi-

/0&*tr*rf'

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

577

ately when he saw a horse in distress how and
where to apply relief.
' ' He was accustomed frequently to express his
views as to the treatment and development of this
faithful servant of the human race in the different
journals devoted to this important subject, and
more than all he directly, and through unsuspected
channels, worked constantly and effectively to pre
vent the ignorant and reckless use upon the horse
of those modern appliances which, while they are
supposed to increase, only destroy his strength,
his speed and his beauty. Mr. Lathrop belonged
to several organizations whose object it is to im
prove the horse, and here he was recognized as the
intelligent breeder and the charming gentleman.
"The social element in Mr. Lathrop's, character
was strong and conspicuous. Not that he cared
for what we generically term society. It was in the
little coterie where friend was knit to friend by
sincere affection, that his light most brilliantly
shone. His humor was pleasant and happy, never
harmful or degenerate. The grasp of his hand
meant confidence. His smile was an invitation to
amity. A Christian minister has said that he never
met him but that he felt that he was in the sun
shine. In his friendship he was frank, sincere, true
and loyal. His manners belonged not to our
generation, but to that of our fathers, when courtesy
between man and man was cultivated; when polite
ness was reciprocal; when there was deportment
without affectation and formality without coldness.
Prosperity gave him all the chastening worth of ad
versity. "The conversational powers possessed by Mr,
Lathrop were generally commented upon by those
who know him. His discourse was rich in word
and thought. The well-filled storehouse of his in
formation was drawn upon readily by his facile
tongue, and he generously provided his hearers with
the wholesomeness of instruction and the delicacy
of entertainment" His descriptive powers were marvelous. His
friends will remember how familiar he made them
with the scenes through which he passed when on
a visit to California in 1866. He displayed all the
richness of imagery without intrenching upon the
ground of imagination. The extent of his vocab
ulary was shown by his seldom clothing an idea
twice with the same words or terms. Thus the
repetition of a story had ever a new charm. In
some of his talking moods we have never heard a
professional advocate speak with such clearness of
argument or such flow of diction.
"Though he wrote remarkably well, the mere
mechanical act of writing seemed to make him
guarded in his words, and over-careful of his ex
pressions. The fountain of his thought had its flow
through the tongue rather than the pen.
"A man's charity and his religion are two sub
jects which always seem hedged about by a certain
sacredness. In these days benevolence is often
easily described by the word subscription,*.^ religion
by the word ceremony.
" To one who heard the anxious inquiries of the
poor for Mr. Lathrop's condition from day to day

as he lay ill, and their tender expressions of solici
tude as he drew near the time of his departure,
there would be little need to speak of him as their
friend; made so by a lively interest in their poverty,
and the warmth of a helpful hand.
"Surely Mr. Lathrop ought not to reap spar
ingly, for he did not sow sparingly. He gave without
stint, and the pensioners who were about him did
him more honor and sincere service than hired or
liveried retinues. He preferred not to have his
name appear upon subscription books, but we
known of no charities, without distinction of sect,
to which he did not contribute. His benevolence
did not have its rise in the annoyance which comes
from importunity, but from quick and deep sym
pathy with the unfortunate, and his abiding reverence
for the Divine commandments which encircle duty.
" Mr. Lathrop never made a parade of the views
he entertained concerning his relations to the Crea
tor. He occupied the attitude of one who stood
with reverence and faith before that which he did
not comprehend. He was like one who held a
hand in the darkness. The evanescence of all
earthly things; the obligations of rectitude and
honor; the certainty of death, and, after death, the
resurrection, were mementoes embodied in his
creed. Some weeks before his death, when his
spirits were vigorous, and there was hope of his
soon regaining his bodily powers, he told the writer
in earnest words of his entire submission to the
Divine will, and of the peace and contentment he
felt in the Divine guidance.
" How excellent then were the qualities of him
we mourn; how fragrant shall be his memory! As
we dwell upon his character, whatever of failure the
most sifting search can find, we shall perceive to be
but the imperfection which belongs to incomplete
ness. The earthly tabernacle man erects is never
faultless. His was a sturdy and withal a stately
building. " If he had great business sagacity, it was mor
tised to the most unyielding probity. If he had
forethought, there was with it exceeding great
charity. If in his giving he was profuse, yet never
was he wasteful. If he was genial and companion
able, he practiced the restraint of temperance. If
he exacted equity, he rendered to all men justice
and their rights. If he exhibited the strength of
unusual activity and energy, he likewise displayed
the strength of reserve force and funded power. If
he at times gave the rein to impatience, the sun and
his wrath never traveled far together. If he recog
nized the responsibility of human agency in the
making of events, he relegated to the Deity the
providence, the mystery and the glory of the Di
vine government."
Mr. Lathrop was married, in 185 5, to Miss Harriet
Wilson, who, with their three daughters, Jeannie W.,
Christine M., and Aimee G. Lathrop, survive him.
Nothing that could be introduced here by way
of comment upon Mr. Lathrop's charities would
add to the measure of apprecation thereof expressed
in Mr. Thacher's memorial. A brief mention of
some of their most prominent objects may be in
dulged in, however, more as a gratification to those

73

578

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

who have such good cause to remember him grate
fully than because it is at all necessary as an ad
dition to what has already been so well said of Mr.
Lathrop in that respect. He was specially inter
ested in, and more than generous to, St. Peter's
Hospital, Bishop Doane's Children's Convalescent
Home, and the Old Ladies' Home. Many will re
member his noble charity, in the summer of 1882,
to the crippled children sojourning at Saratoga —
how he took them on an excursion to the head of
the lake, and gave them a handsome dinner there;
how in person he carried some of the disabled ones,
and spoke words of kindness to them all; how,
when a generous neighbor proposed to share the
expense with him, he said, " No, this is my treat;
you can, if you please, take them another time. "
Hewas accustomed to remark that "people are
very apt to be generous when it is not necessary
that they should be so. A man will loan $100,
or $500, or perhaps give to a friend in the form
of a present; but if by reverse of fortune that friend
should come to poverty, and in his distress should
wish to borrow $10, very likely it will be refused
or loaned grudgingly." He was opposed to such
misnamed frindship as this, and contended that if
a person were really worthy of assistance and
needed it, it should be accorded to him freely and
in such a spirit as not to humiliate him or make
him sorry to be its recipient.
HON. GEORGE H. THACHER.
The biography we have now to relate tells its
own significant story. In firm courage under all
difficulties; in a sublime moral heroism in the
execution of the plans of a lifetime; and in .marked
results from perseverance, industry and integrity,
it affords an example such as is seldom found.
Hon. George H. Thacher was born in Hornells-
ville, Steuben County, N. Y., June 4, 181 8. His
mother's maiden name was Hornell, and that town
takes its name from the same family. At the age
of four years he was cast upon the world in a con
dition of utter poverty, without friends, and as
helpless as a leaf upon the waters. After many
intervening struggles, he obtained, when sixteen
years old, in 1834, the position of cabin-boy on a
steamer on Lake Erie. There he earned his first
money, which he expended in procuring an edu
cation, working early and late, before and after
school, to pay his board. His was a reflective
mind. While he was engaged in the humble, and
even menial, duties of a cabin-boy, it was often
occupied with thoughts of the future. He deter
mined to rise above the station in which poverty
and friendlessness had left him, and he foresaw
that one of the most effective agencies in the battle
before him would be an education. This he set
about saving money to obtain, and at length, to his
inexpressible joy, began his studies.
Not long after this he entered .an academy,
boarding himself during term time. He obtained
the requisite amount of money by earning some
thing each day in extra hours and in the vacations.
All this required self-denial and providence of the

most severe kind, but he felt fully repaid in the
advancement which he was making on the road to
knowledge. In a like manner he managed to get
a passable collegiate education, graduating at
Union College, Schenectady, in 1843.
Continuing the struggle of life with an indomi
table will, he acquired a few thousand dollars. In
1849 he came to Albany, and entered into the
business of manufacturing stoves, with a partner.
This partnership was dissolved in 1852. Mr.
Thacher then began the manufacture of car-wheels
and other railroad castings which he has continued
to the present time. During the first three years
he labored daily at the foundry, at all kinds of
manual work. He was constantly with his men,
like them having his dinner sent to him, and in
addition to this he kept his own books, wrote all
receipts, statements, etc., and made all purchases
and collections^ The business has since largely
increased from year to year. The New York Cen
tral Railway and other important roads are
chiefly supplied with the wheels of this foundry.
It has not been alone to the commercial pros
perity of the City of Albany that Mr. Thacher has
contributed by his enterprise and public spirit ;
and his interest has not been confined to his own
immediate business, however admirably the latter
has been conducted. Long identified with munic
ipal interests, his public life has been character
ized by a devotion to duty and an integrity that
have secured to him the highest esteem of his
fellow-citizens. He was first elected to office
in 1859, when he became an Alderman, but served
only one year. In the spring of 1 860 he resigned,
in order to accept the nomination for Mayor, to
which office he was triumphantly elected. In 1 866
he was re-elected, and in 1870 he was a third time
elected by a large vote. He was called to fill the
same honorable position for the fourth time in
1872. In every popular movement which for years has
occurred, Mr. Thacher has been particularly con
spicuous for his zeal, his generosity and his
patriotism. In the support of the United States
Government during the civil war, he was con
spicuous' — even above many whose labors and
sacrifices in behalf of the Union cause were note
worthy. During his long and prominent identi
fication with the history of the city, he has been
called to take part in scenes of great importance
and even national significance, which are detailed
in his valuable and interesting reminiscences pub
lished elsewhere in this volume — scenes which,
though Mr. Thacher was one of the most promi
nent actors in them, were of too great general
interest, and belonged too much to history in its
broader sense, to be dismissed in a mere sketch of
his life.
Mr. Thacher is a man who has reached success
by the most thorough personal identity with every
plan of his life and its execution. Fortunate cir
cumstances were in no sense means by which he
sought or secured his ends. He did not expect
anything of the kind, and he never lost time and
patience, as so many do, in looking for them. He

Ipllllllll§

¦BBS

Ly^.fr.TyiW^T'

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

579

looked solely into his own heart and mind for the
resolution and ability that were necessary to carve
out success. This was not vanity, but the calm
resolution of that higher nature which asserts and
displays itself in those persons destined for vic
torious struggles with fortune.
He has now an ample competency, which it is
his aim to use not simply for himself and family,
but for the benefit of others. Remembering his
own vicissitudes of life, and his hard battles with
the world, he hopes to render himself useful to
those who are struggling in the same way. Pure
in character, generous with his means, enterprising
in business, and public-spirited as a citizen, he fills
the highest conceptions of a noble manhood.
In a personal conversation with Mr. Thacher,
he said to the writer of this sketch: "Many
people have an erroneous idea in regard to self-
made men. The truth is that all men who attain
meritorious distinction, whether born in affluence
or poverty, are self-made men. Every man builds
himself. He who is born to wealth; who is
nursed and reared in luxury; whose entire sur
roundings are so many temptations to idleness,
dissipation, or a life of pleasure; and yet, despite
all these influences, makes a man of himself,
deserves, in my judgment, more credit than he
who rises from obscurity and poverty. Both are
deserving, but the former exhibits the moral
grandeur of self-denial, while the latter acts from
the spur of necessity. I do not, therefore, lay
claim to extra credit for the comparative success
which I have achieved."
HON. JOHN B. THACHER.
Hon. John Boyd Thacher was born at Ballston
Springs, N. Y., September n, 1847. He is the
eldest son of Hon. George H. Thacher, who was
for many years Mayor of Albany. His mother was
Ursula J. Boyd, daughter of David Boyd, Esq., of
Schenectady. His first American ancestor was Rev.
Thomas Thacher, who was the first pastor of the
Old South Church of Boston. His father's mater
nal grandfather, Judge Hornell, was the founder of
the important town of Homellsville, N. Y.
To ex-Mayor George H. Thacher it is needless
to allude in this connection, more than to pay, in
passing, a tribute of respect to one who was once
one of the most prominent business men of Albany,
and who has been referred to as "that old war-
horse of the Democracy,' who, in years gone by, so
often led the party to victory." In nothing the
elder Thacher ever did, did he show sounder com
mon sense than in the education he gave his son,
John B., to fit him for the duties of life— an edu
cation so practical as to fully inform him upon the
little understood conflicting claims of capital and
labor. After the usual preparatory course, Senator
Thacher entered Williams College, from which in
stitution he graduated with honor in 1 869. Far too
many college graduates, and far too many fathers of
college graduates, imagine that with a diploma and
a degree the work of education comes to a full stop.
The Thachers, father and son, made no such mis

take. Throwing aside the broadcloth and white
linen of the student, John B. Thacher entered his
father's foundry, and, step by step, was taught the
trade of a molder. He learned iron as he had
previously learned books, and became as industri
ous a workingman as he had been a diligent stu
dent. His evenings were passed in taking a thor
ough course of book-keeping and accounts in
Folsom's Business College. Having mastered his
trade of molder, and become proficient in the de
tails of the office work connected with his father's
business, he became a member of his father's firm
January 1, 1873, and not long afterward assumed
active management of the concern.
With his brother, George H. Thacher, Jr., Sen
ator Thacher carries on the manufacture of car-
wheels, which business they inherited from their
father, who established it more than thirty-five years
ago. Their establishment, known as the Thacher
Car Works, is one of the most extensive manufac
tories in Albany, and is located on Thacher street,
east of Broadway.
During the protracted period mentioned, there
have been many strikes in the city and county, and
other serious labor troubles, growing out of one
cause or another; but in all these years the firm of
which Senator Thacher is a member has never had
a word of difficulty with its employees. It is likely
that the principal reason for this is to be discovered
in the fact that the firm has always paid the highest
price for skilled labor, and to-day is paying exactly
the same schedule that it paid during the war, when
wages were higher than they ever were before. Is
there another firm in the country of which more
can be said ?
There is nothing of the professional labor re
former about Senator Thacher, but the simple
statement of such a fact is worth more than columns
of the most elaborate argument to any intelligent
man. Mr. Thacher's first active connection with public
affairs was as a member of the Board of Health of
Albany. While serving in that capacity, his atten
tion was called to the subject of tenement houses
and their relation to public health. While in New
York during the winter of 1883-84, he further ex
amined this subject, as a result of which investiga
tion he introduced and carried through the Legis
lature a bill appointing a Commission, which
afterward organized with Joseph W, Drexel, Esq.,
as Chairman, to examine into the character and
condition of the tenement houses in the City of New
York. From this Commission, so admirably adapted
to pursue an inquiry of this kind, it is believed great
benefits and much remedial legislation will flow.
When Mr. Thacher stood before the public as the
nominee of the Democracy for State Senator, to
represent the Seventeenth District, he was re
ferred to thus in one of the leading newspapers of
Albany: " In selecting a man to represent the County of
Albany in the State Senate for the next two years,
the Democratic party has acted with wisdom and
discretion. It was important that the candidate
placed in nomination should, in as large a sense as

580

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

possible, represent the whole people — labor as well
as capital, brain as well as brawn, business as well
as culture, thought as well as action. Such a man
is John Boyd Thacher — young, active, enterprising,
honorably ambitious, an Albanian by early adop
tion, by family, and by business and social interests.
* ¦& # # * #
"Mr. Thacher has never held a political office,
for membership in the Board of Health can hardly
be called such; but from his youth he has taken an
active and healthy interest in the affairs of the city,
State and nation. In 1876 he tried public speaking
for the national Democratic ticket, and did some
effective work in this line in the southern tier of
counties, in company with Mr. D. Cady Herrick
and other Albanians; but with the modesty that so
becomes him, he has waited for duty to call in un
mistakable tones before accepting the nomination
to any elective office. This honor came unsought;
it was accepted with hesitation. Many a young
man surrounded, as is Mr. Thacher, with the cir
cumstances so well suited to his tastes, would have
declined any demand that the party might make
upon him; but the sentiment of the Democracy
was so united, so cordial, so complimentary, that
he decided to accept; upon which both he and
the party are to be congratulated.
"He will bring to the office of State Senator the
enthusiasm of youth and the method of a trained
student. The county may expect from him the
like care in relation to legislative matters that he
has bestowed upon his own successful private busi
ness and upon the affairs of the Albany Board of
Health. This was the first City Board of Health to
organize under the new law. Mr. Thacher is
Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Board,
and he also compiled the rules and regulations.
It was characteristic of him, before doing this, to
collect from the principal cities in the Union copies
of their rules and regulations on this subject; to
con them carefully; to collate, to arrange, to adopt,
to originate; and finally to report a set of rules and
regulations, that, so far as Albany is concerned,
could not be bettered. He will bring the same
thoroughness to all public affairs intrusted to him.
In him the New Capitol will find a firm friend, and
an advocate of pushing the work to speedy and
economical completion. In all the reforms insti
tuted by Governor Cleveland, the Senator from the
Seventeenth will be active and earnest By instinct
and by education, Mr. Thacher is Liberal in senti
ment and Democratic in principle. On all the
great questions of the day it is safe to assume that
he will be found voting and acting with his party,
and for the best interests of the district and of the
State. He is a man of ideas; he knows how to pre
sent them. He will be a valuable man in commit
tee, and on the floor of the Senate he can say all
that is necessary, and in a manner convincing and
effective. His reputation is without a stain. He
is not only a man who cannot be bought, but he
is a man whom no lobbyist would ever think of at
tempting to buy. He will represent Albany County
thoroughly and well. Let us make his majority as
large as possible."

Senator Thacher, as the resident Senator, took
charge of the appropriation bill for carrying on
work upon the New Capitol, and, after great oppo
sition, successfully carried through a bill appropri
ating $1,000,000 for this purpose for the year 1884.
He took pronounced grounds against the prison
contract system, and made the first speech against
it in the Senate February 6, 1884; a speech which
appeared in full in the Albany Argus of February
7th, and was widely and favorably commented
upon by true friends of the American workingman
of all shades of political belief. He was instru
mental in also passing a bill in the Senate appro
priating money for clothing the National Guard of
the State of New York. The bill had passed in
the Assembly, but a majority of the Senators were
opposed to it. Senator Thacher ably demonstrated
the necessity of properly uniforming the only mili
tary organization upon which the citizens were
dependent, and succeeded in inducing a sufficient
number of Senators of both parties to vote for the
bill, so that, during the last hours of the session, it
was passed and became a law. Every measure
which he thought likely to better the condition of
the laboring man was ardently advocated by him.
Perhaps the measure which he most persistently
urged was an item in the appropriation bill to con
tinue the State Trigonometrical Survey. This he
contended for with vehemence, but after he had
carried it through the Senate the item was stricken
out by the Governor. This measure is of such a
character as to attract the support of every intelli
gent citizen. It was because of the slow manner
in which the work was carried on, it being restricted
to a merely Trigonometrical Survey, and only $15,-
000 yearly being appropriated to it, that the Gov
ernor vetoed it, and not because he did not
recognize, as Senator Thacher had. done, the
importance of the measure. Senator Thacher
proposes to introduce a bill providing for supple
menting the survey with one of a topographical
and hydrographical character. The great State of
New York is to-day absolutely without an even
approximately correct map of its surface, an al
most shameful deficiency which Senator Thacher
is determined to do all within his power to
remedy. Senator Thacher was married to Miss Emma
Treadwell, daughter of George C. Treadwell, Esq.,
of Albany, September 11, 1872. He devotes much
of his time to literature and collecting rare and
forgotten books, especially those produced in the
infancy of printing, of which sort he has one of
the largest libraries known. His library of Biblio
graphical works, his examples of Americana, and
his collection of autographs are notable.
ICE BOXES.— SAW SETS.
Charles and John Croissant, sons of M. Crois
sant, under the firm name of Croissant & Brother,
began in 1884 the manufacture of Keller's Patent
Saw Set and Maas' Ice Box, at 204 Washington
avenue. They also make Maas' Ice Box Lever
and Pull.

^£- /^^^^£^

Eni) by KB Hulls Sons NY.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

581

WIRE GOODS.
A. Van Allen, Jr., 24 Beaver street, began man
ufacturing Wire Cloth and Wire Goods in this city
in 1875, his concern being known as the Albany
Steam Wire Works. His building is three stories,
brick, 20 by 45 feet. About fifteen men are em
ployed. Bank, office, and counter-railings, win
dow screens, netting, arches, trellis frames, loco
motive spark cloth, florists' designs, bird cages,
and such like, are made.
IRON BRACKETS, SHOE-HOLDERS, HEEL
STIFFENERS.
Nelson Lyon, in 1872, began the manufacture of
heel stiffeners, show brackets, and shoe-holders.
The business has grown from one ton yearly to
over thirty tons, and they are sold in nearly all
countries. The factory is five stories, brick, 35 by 80 feet
Forty workmen are employed, beside trading
agents. George Lyons became a member in 1875.
HARNESS AND SADDLERY GOODS,
TRUNKS, AND COACH FURNISHINGS.
The business house now managed by Lyman J.
Lloyd in the manufacture and sale of harness,
saddles and trunks, dates back to 1801. Mr.
Lloyd has continued the business since 1832, and
ranks among the first in extent, variety, and excel
lence of articles in his line. He is widely and
favorably known, and takes an honest pride in the
long and honorable record of his house in this
city. The building occupied is situated at 340 and
342 Broadway, is four stories, 32 by 75 feet in ex
tent, and employs, besides salesmen, fifteen skilled
workmen. The business house of Woodward & Hill, dealers
in carriage and saddlery hardware, was founded by
Nathaniel Wright in 1819, on South Market street,
now Broadway, a few doors north of the present
location. Subsequently he moved to more preten
tious quarters at 414 Broadway, corner of Beaver
street; and in 1850, after the destruction of the
Eagle Tavern by the great fire of 1848, to 324
Broadway, corner of Hamilton street. Mr. Wright
was born in Wethersfield, Conn., and died in St.
Peter's, Minn. February, 1854, the firm of Na
thaniel Wright & Co., consisting of Nathaniel
Wright, John Woodward, Jr., and William Wash
ington Hill, was formed, continuing without change
until the death of Mr. Wright, January, i860,
when the surviving partners, under the firm name
of Woodward & Hill, continued the business,
which has remained without further change to the
present time. Their building is of brick, 30 by 1 20
feet, five stories and basement, erected by Edward
C. Delevan.
W. W. Hill was born September 19, 1833, in
Pittsfield, Mass. When three months old the
family moved to Albany ; thence to Hudson ; back
to Albany ; thence to Lynn, where he had several

terms of schooling at the Lynn Union Academy; and
he returned with the family to Albany, entered the
employ of Nathaniel Wright and became a member
of the firm at the age of twenty. He is a student
of nature as well as a business man, and has made
extensive collections in entomology.
John Woodward entered the service of the late
Nathaniel Wright when about fifteen years of age,
and after several years accepted an offer of a posi
tion from the late Roswell Steele in the same line
of business. About seven years after he re-entered
that of Mr. Wright, who in 1854 took him and
Mr. Hill in as partners.
The coach and saddlery hardware now at 420
Broadway, was established fifteen years ago by
Roswell Steele, and conducted by him until his
death, in 1864 ; succeeded by Taylor, Wendell &
Co. Mr. Wendell retired in 1866, the firm then
becoming Taylor, Hamlin & Co. Upon the death
of Mr. Hamlin in 1872, the present firm name-was
adopted. They import and manufacture all kinds
of coach and saddlery hardware and trimmings,
and are manufacturers of carriage woodwork. The
latter branch is in New Albany, Ind., where they
employ one hundred workmen. The premises
here consist of a five-story brick building, 26 by
75 feet. The firm consists of Elvin Taylor and
his two sons, Joseph E. and Benjamin K. Taylor.
Six clerks are employed in the store, and two
representatives on the road.
DREDGES.
The Osgood Dredge Company has an office in
this city at 37 State street. This Company makes
the celebrated Osgood Boom Dredges, extensively
used by the United States, Mexican and Chinese
Governments, Panama Canal Company, New York
State Canals, New York City Docks, Montreal
Harbors, and the principal railroad and canal con
tractors throughout the country. It controls a
number of American and foreign patents. This
Company has been in existence over thirty years.
Its machines are unsurpassed. Ralph R. Osgood,
President ; James McNaughten, Vice-President ;
and John K. Howe, Secretary and Treasurer.
Dredges are also made by the Townsend Furnace
and Machine Shop.
EMERY WHEELS.
The Albany Emery Wheel Company was incor
porated in 1 88 1, with a capital of $30,000. The
buildings, on the corner of Hudson avenue and
Dove street, are of brick, two-stories high, and 50
by 100 feet in dimensions.
Solid emery and corundum wheels are made,
also emery grinding machinery. A specialty is
made of furnishing emery and corundum wheels
from special designs.
The officers are W. B. Melick, President; E.
Wackerhagen, Vice-President ; M. Wackerhagen,
Secretary and Treasurer ; and James R. Melick,
Superintendent.

582

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

TIN-PLATE GOODS AND JAPANNED WARE.
In 1847, John Hoy, Jr., and E. D. Goodrich
commenced business at No. 15 Green street as
dealers in and manufacturers of tin-plate goods
and stamped and japanned ware. After the first
year Mr. Goodrich withdrew his interest, and
three years afterwards Mr. Hoy moved to No. 18
Green street, where he remained for twenty years,
and eleven years ago took possession of his present
quarters, No. 27 Green street In May, 1850,
Henry L. Wilson was taken into partnership. In
1853 Mr. Wilson withdrew from the firm, from
which time, till 1873, Mr. Hoy conducted the
business alone. At the latter date Thomas B.
Kenney became a partner, and the firm as thus
constituted remains. A business of $150,000 to
$200, oco is done yearly, this trade extending to
every part of the United States and Canada. -
SILVER WARE.
The silver- ware manufactory of S. D. Brower &
Son is one of the oldest of its kind in the country.
The enterprise was established in 1815. In 1868
the present firm was organized, and consists of S.
D. Brower and his son, Walter S. Brower. Their
factory is located on Plain street, where employ
ment is furnished to from twelve to twenty men.
The products include a general line of silver ware.
The firm of R. Strickland & Co. is also engaged
in this line of business at 516 and 518 Broadway.
NICKEL WORKS.
The Capital City Nickel Works, 29 Herkimer
street, was founded in 1880 by John P. Moore, the
present manager. The premises occupied consist
of a two-story brick-building, 40 by 50 feet. All
kinds of nickel-plate work is done, a specialty be
ing the plating of stove ornaments, knobs, hinges,
etc. , etc. ; polishing, grinding and finishing all work
of this class. Twenty operatives are employed.
BRIDGES.
The Hilton Bridge Construction Company, build
ing wrought-iron and railway bridges, was organ
ized in 1880. The plant of the Company covers
two acres, and consists of five buildings in which
are 100 workmen, and 35 are employed on out
side bridge work. The main building is two-stories
high, and 120 by 44 feet The machine shop is
130 by 82 feet, one-story high, and the engine-
house is 30 by 30 feet.
This Company built a number of bridges for the
West Shore Railroad, the Boston and Albany, the
New York Central, the Delaware and Hudson Canal
Company, the Boston and Hoosac Tunnel Route,
and for the Canada Pacific Railroad.
The officers are E. Sweet, Jr., President; A. P.
Palmer, Secretary and Treasurer; and Charles Hil
ton, Manager. Mr. Hilton had charge of the
construction of the Boston and Albany Railroad
Bridge across the Connecticut River at Springfield,

Mass., and the Vincent Place Viaduct at Rochester,
N. Y. Mr. Hilton's death, which occurred last
year, was much regretted by all who knew him.
BRICK MANUFACTURERS.
Among the very earliest industries of Albany was
that of brick-making. The natural clay in this
vicinity was particularly adapted to this business,
and was utilized for this purpose as early as 1656—
57, when Johan De Hulter, who came from Am
sterdam, Holland, in 1653, was engaged in brick-
making. He was, without doubt, the first person
to conduct this kind of business in this part of the
New World. In 1657, his kiln was sold by his wife
to Adrian Jansen llpendam. In 1662, Abraham
Staets and Pieter Jacobsen each had a kiln at Al
bany. The Corporation of Albany in 1732, grant
ed to Lambert Radley and Jonathan Broecks, one
acre of ground on Gallows Hill for the term of
twenty years, for twenty shillings yearly, they to
use the clay to make bricks. Near this site was
the kiln of Luykas Hoghkerks. In 1736, Abra
ham Harpelse Van Deusen and Hendrick Gerritse
Van Ness had a kiln on the north side of Foxen
Creek. Wynant Vandenburgh made bricks near
them. It is often remarked that the earliest brick struc
tures in this city were built of brick brought over
from Holland. We think this is true of only a
very few of them. The early Holland settlers un
derstood the art of brick-making and found the
material for it in plenty. No doubt they supplied
the usual demand by home manufacture. Brick
yards, small and large, were very numerous in the
clay beds near the creeks from earliest times.
In the first quarter of the present century, brick-
making had grown to be an important industry in
Albany. The average yield for many years after
1832 amounted to 16,000,000. In 1840 one
hundred and thirty-three persons were engaged in
brick-making here, representing a business in
which $190,000 was invested. There are now ten
brick-yards in Albany, which produce annually
30,000,000 to 40,000,000 bricks, most of which
are used in the city and vicinity. One hundred and
fifty men are employed in this industry.
In 1708, John Bryant commenced the manufac
ture of bricks in Albany, which he sold by the
pound. Bryant's business grew to be quite exten-^
sive, and at one time he was considered the largest
manufacturer in the State, and employed over one
hundred men. His bricks sold for $10 and $12
per thousand. He continued the business for
thirty-five years, when he sold his yard to Angus
McDuffie, who conducted the business very exten
sively for a number of years. He employed two
hundred men, and succeeded in realizing a large
fortune from his business. In the latter years of
his life he entered public life, and held a number
of elective and appointive positions. At one time
was Sheriff of Albany County, and was for many
years Superintendent of Sing Sing Prison. He died
November 3, 1845, highly esteemed as a citizen
and public servant.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

583

William Moore. — For many years the name of
Moore has been one well known in Albany in con
nection with the manufacture of bricks. The first
of the name connected with this interest of whom
we have any record, was William Moore, father of
James C. Moore, the present prominent brick
manufacturer. Mr. Moore was born in County
Down, Ireland, in 1795. He came to this coun
try in 1822, and located in Albany soon after his
arrival. For a time he was successfully engaged
in carting, his business increasing gradually until
it demanded the use of several wagons and teams.
In 1844 he embarked in a small way in the
manufacture of bricks at the head of Fourth
avenue. His business rapidly assumed large pro
portions, and, after a time, in order to enlarge his
facilities, he was compelled to remove his yard to
the corner of Morton and Hawk streets. Mr.
Moore retired in i860, and was succeeded by his
son, James C. Moore, who was so successful, that,
about 1865, he found it expedient to establish a
second yard south of Third avenue. Mr. Moore
undoubtedly manufactures more bricks than any
other manufacturer in Albany. He makes both
common and pressed brick; brings into requisition
the latest and most costly facilities; and gives
employment to not less than fifty workmen.
William Moore married Jane Campbell in Ire
land before he sought a home in America. She

bore him seven children, of whom only two are
living. These are James C. Moore, who has been
referred to above, and Robert H. Moore, of the
firm of Moore & Zimmerman, lumber dealers.
The former was born in 1831, and in 1875 was
married to Anna Babcock, who has borne him
one child. Mrs. William Moore died in 1869,
her husband in 1876. Mr. Moore was a Whig,
and later a Republican in politics. He was a
member of the First Presbyterian Church of
Albany. James C. Moore is identified with the
Third Reformed Church, upon the services of
which he and his family are regular attendants.
Politically he is inclined to be independent,
holding principles above party, and advocating the
choice of honest men for positions of public trust.
George Stanwix commenced brick-making at the
corner of Warren and Elizabeth streets in 1 799.
He died in 1836. His son George succeeded to
the business in 1825. He died in 1880. His son,
Thomas C, assumed the business about i860. He
died in 1885. The yard was moved to its present
location on Morton street in 1851. The business
is still conducted by his heirs, who employ about
fifteen men and manufacture about 1,500,000
bricks annually.
John Artcher, at the age of eighty-five, is one
of the oldest brick-makers of Albany. He was for-

584

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

merly a stage-driver between Albany and Buffalo.
He was engaged in the latter business as early as
1818. For a number of years he was an extensive
manufacturer of bricks.
William Moore/ Edward Fisher, George Briant
Basset, and Ebenezer Wright were among the early
brick manufacturers of Albany, none of whom are
now in business.
Capt. M. V. B. Wagoner, manufacturer of brick
and slip clay for glazing of pottery, now conducts
the business which was established by his father,
near the present location, in 1845. The works
are bounded by Lark, Canal, Orange and Knox
streets, and a portion of the blocks west of Knox
street. The present owner has been identified
with the business since it was established, with the
exception of about five years, when he and three of
his brothers were engaged in the late civil war.
James Smith began the manufacture of bricks in
Albany in 1870. In 1877 Mr. Roberts became a
partner in the business, and continued as such
until 1882, when he retired, since which Mr.
Smith has conducted the business alone. His
yard is located on Morton street, corner of Eagle.
1,800,000 bricks are manufactured yearly, employ
ing the labor of twenty men.
James C. Moore carries on the manufacture of
bricks at the corner of Morton and Hawk streets,
as the successor of his father, William Moore. He
manufactures pressed front, paving, and all kinds
of common bricks.
The firm of Newton & Co., composed of
Horace B., John M. and Walter M. Newton,
manufacture, very extensively, fire-bricks of every
variety and shape for stoves, ranges and heater
linings. They are the sole manufacturers of iron
stone for hard or soft coal stoves. This firm has
been engaged in this business for many years,
requiring the labor of a large force of men, and
constituting one of the leading industries of the
city. They succeeded their father, John M. Newton,
the founder of the business, and in honor of whom
the village of Newtonville was named. The fac
tory is located on the corner of Rathbone and
North Ferry Streets.
The following are either manufacturers or are
prominent in connection with brick-making in
dustry : Alfred Hunter, Thomas McCarthy, Robert
Marcelis and Joshua Babcock.
Patrick H. McCall established a brick-yard in
Albany in 1845, and furnished the bricks for the
Albany Penitentiary, then in course of construc
tion. He was succeeded by the present proprietor,
Edward Fisher.
JOHN ARTCHER.
Some time before the Revolution, William Art
cher came from the North of Ireland, and pur
chased and located on a tract of land which
embraced the present site of Johnstown, N. Y.
His wife was a woman named Joyce. The years
succeeding his settlement were full of trouble,
hardship and adventure, and after the outbreak of
the war they were fraught with deadly peril. Leav

ing his wife and his two sons, George and John,
and his daughter at home, Mr. Artcher one day set
out for Albany, driving some cattle to market. On
the way he was attacked and killed by the Indians.
About the same time the savages made a descent
upon the pioneer's family at the site of Johnstown.
The house was burned. Mrs. Artcher and her son
John and her daughter made their escape to Albany,
and George was made a captive by the Indians,
who set out with him and other prisoners to Can
ada. At night the lad was confined with another
boy in the wigwam. By some means he made his
escape. What became of his companion he never
learned. He returned home to find his house in
ruins and supposed his mother and his brother and
sister had been massacred. He made his way to
Albany and was overjoyed to find all of the mem
bers of his family, except his father, alive and well.
They made their home in Albany from that time,
their possessions at Johnstown having been lost
through the fortunes "of war, the death of their hus
band and father, and their inability to prove a title
to the land. Mrs. Artcher taught school for many
years and brought up her little family. She was
long remembered by many prominent men in Al
bany who were once her pupils.
John Artcher, son of William, was the proprietor
of a saw-pit in Albany, where he was well known
until his death. William Artcher's daughter married
Hill Wood, lived near Albany for a time, and finally
removed to Ohio. George Artcher married Mary,
daughter of Michael Bruce, of Guilderland. They
had seven children, named William, James, George,
Michael, Jane, John (the subject of this notice),
and Edward. William lived and died in Albany;
James became a farmer and removed to a point
between Herkimer and Utica, where he owned a
farm; George was known as a tavern-keeper on
the Schenectady Turnpike; Michael became Sheriff
of Albany County ; Jane became the wife of Dr.
Jacob Miller, once prominent in Albany County;
Edward became a merchant, and died in Albany.
John Artcher was born July 4, 1802, in a house
which stood at the corner of Eagle and Pine streets,
on the site of the State Hall. He received a plain,
useful education in private schools, and, when but
a boy, began to drive a team. While yet quite
young, he made a memorable trip to Plattsburgh,
N. Y., to carry two officers who were conveying
medicines and other necessaries to the United States .
soldiers in that vicinity — for the War of 18 12 was
then begun. A companion of young Artcher at
that time was William Lloyd, who afterwards, at
Albany, fought and defeated Reynolds, the cham
pion pugilist of England. Mr. Artcher's reminis
cences of this encounter are most interesting, and
deserve a permanent place in the records of the
prize ring, though the fight was forced upon Lloyd
and was waged with no hope of pecuniary gain on
either side. For eleven years John Artcher drove a
team over the old route between Albany and Buf
falo, and at times elsewhere, as occasion required.
During that time he carried safely thousands and
thousands of dollars in money, and millions of dol
lars' worth of merchandise. He refers to one six-

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

585

horse wagon load of silks as having been especially
valuable. It was a labor requiring the highest skill
as a horseman, united with the greatest personal
courage, the most stable perseverance and the strict
est and most unyielding integrity, qualities com
bined in young Artcher to a remarkable degree.
For two years afterwards he was engaged in cart
ing in Albany, a business which he relinquished to
establish a brick yard on Chestnut street, south of
State. Eleven years later he removed his business
to Jay street, and from there to Hudson street (now
Hudson avenue), occupying the two sites eleven
years more. Thence he removed to Western ave
nue where he continued business eleven years, at
the expiration of which he abandoned brick-mak
ing, in which it will be seen he had employed him
self and his capital for a period of thirty-three years.
Establishing himself as a brewer on Western ave
nue, he continued successfully in that business for
a few years until his brewery was burned. He then
(1865) removed to his present residence on Madi
son avenue and engaged in the coal trade, in which
he continued eight years, finally retiring from active
life altogether.
In 1826, Mr. Artcher married Phebe Brice, of
New Scotland, who died two years afterward. In
1829 he was again married; this time to Susan
Turner, of Albany, who died about five years ago.
Five of his children grew to manhood and woman
hood, and married and had children. One of
them, a daughter, is dead. Mr. Artcher was early a
Whig, and later a Republican. Though taking an
intelligent interest in public affairs, he has kept out
of political life, resolutely refusing every office ten
dered him. Though not a member of any religious
body, he has always been a liberal supporter of the
Gospel, and is an attendant upon the services of
Rev. Dr. Holmes, of the Presbyterian Church.
thomas McCarthy.
Hon. Thomas McCarthy was born near Newry,
County Down, Ireland, February 14, 1833, a son
of John and Elizabeth (McSorley) McCarthy.
He was educated in private schools, and in 1852
came to America and located in Albany, where he
found employment upon Fuller's old express line
between Albany and Troy. A year later Mr. Mc
Carthy succeeded Mr. Fuller, and conducted a
successful business for about three years, when he
relinquished it to engage in tracking, which at
that time seemed to offer superior inducements.
In 1858 he embarked in the manufacture of bricks
on Morton street, buying the old yard of John Mc
Evoy. In 1872 he removed to his present location
on First Avenue, near South Pearl street, where he
has done a large and constantly increasing business.
Mr. McCarthy was married in 1866 to Miss Ellen
White, of Albany, who has borne him eight children,
six of whom are living. He is known as a wide
awake, enterprising, business man, with the interests
of Albany, and the country at large, at heart; and his
influence in the conduct of local and general politi
cal affairs is recognized and appreciated. His sym
pathies are with the great objects sought to be
74

gained by the Democratic party, and every measure
calculated to purify and elevate politics receives his
unqualified support. In 1861 he was elected
Alderman from the Second Ward of Albany, and
his re-election in 1863 followed. In the fall of
the latter year he was chosen to represent the Third
Assembly District of Albany County in the Legis
lature, and served with much honor to himself and
greatly to the satisfaction of his constituents. Since
then, though always active in public affairs, and
using his influence to further the interests of the
party of which he is a member, he has chosen to
devote his undivided attention to his business
rather than to accept any public trust. His iden
tification with various leading enterprises is well
known, but it is deemed sufficient in this connec
tion to advert to the fact that he was the first
Superintendent of the Albany Railway. A man of
persevering energy, thrift and exceptional business
capacity, he has made his way steadily from an
humble beginning to a position which renders him
conspicuous among the leading business men of
the city, alive to every interest of the people at
large, himself a large employer of labor, and a true
friend of the laboring man everywhere.
DRAIN TILE.
The earliest manufacturer of drain tiles in Al
bany of whom we have authentic knowledge, was
the father of George and John H. Jackson. The
latter still carry on this business on Third avenue,
above Sloan street, and are the only persons en
gaged in this industry in Albany.
MARBLE AND MONUMENTAL WORKS.
The oldest house in Albany that manufactures
marble and granite monumental work is that of
William Manson. This was founded in 1826 by
John Dixon, who controlled the business until
1855, when Mr. Manson entered the fiim. Mr.
Dixon died in i860, when Mr. Manson became
sole proprietor.
The salerooms are on the corner of Lodge and
Howard streets. About twenty-five workmen are
employed. His biography in this work will give
interesting facts in regard to the work and character
of Mr Manson.
James Gazeley established his marble works in
Albany in 1861. His steam granite works are
now near the Rural Cemetery. He is the inventor
and sole proprietor of the machine for cutting
cylindrical forms from stone, and his work is seen
among the best monuments in the cemetery.
John McClelland and Simon Graef, under the
firm name of McClelland & Graef, conduct marble
works at 133 Madison Avenue.
Edward Hanlon began the manufacture of
marble and monumental work in this city in 1851,
at the corner of State and Swan streets. Twenty-
five years later he removed to 154 Madison Avenue,
where his premises cover an area of 33 by 100
feet, upon which suitable buildings are now lo
cated. Curbing posts and mantels are also made.
Fifteen workmen are employed.

586

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

C^/<&W<L0^£)

Andrew McMurray and Charles Brooksby, under
the firm name of McMurray & Brooksby, are ex
tensively engaged in cutting stone. They manufac
ture every variety of Italian and American maible,
Ohio and Connecticut freestone monuments, and
also in form suitable for building purposes. Their
yard is located on the corner of Green and
Westerlo Streets. WILLIAM MANSON
was born in Glasgow, Scotland, March 28, 1827,
a son of Donald and Ann (Weir) Manson. His
father was a marble worker. While William was
yet an infant, the family removed to Edinburgh,
where he was reared, receiving his education in the
parish schools, and served a five years' apprentice
ship to his trade with Mr. David Ness, a marble-
worker of that city. In 1847, at tbe age of twenty,
he married Miss Margaret Williamson, a native of
Stirling, and they came to America immediately
afterward. Arrived at New York, Mr. Manson
found employment during the succeeeding two
years with Joseph Oatwell, a Scotch marble-
worker, who was doing business there. Later he
removed to Albany, to Become a partner of Mr.
John Dixon's in the proprietorship and manage

ment of the oldest and most important marble
works in the city, and of which he became sole
proprietor upon the death of Mr. Dixon in i860.
This business was established by Mr. Dixon in
1826, at the same place where Mr. Manson is now
carrying on business, at the corner of Lodge and
Howard streets. Mr. Manson is regarded as an
artist in his profession, and some of the finest work
in the cemeteries throughout the country has em
anated from his establishment. As an instance,
special reference may be made to the monument
erected in Rural Cemetery in memory of the late
Colonel Mills, which is a magnificent piece of
work, and the recently completed monument for
the estate of William Appleton, which was erected
at a cost of $9,000, of solid granite; its cap-stone,
weighing over twenty tons, being one of the largest
pieces of granite ever used for a monument in
this country. The superiority of the. products of
this establishment has led to a wide and growing
trade, which extends throughout all parts of the
country, and is annually increasing. In the show
rooms of Mr. Manson's establishment are to be
found beautiful specimens of monuments, head
stones, statuary and memorials, all of designs em
bodying artistic taste and conception to a high de
gree. Besides monumental work, a leading feature

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

587

of his business is the manufacture of marble-work
for interior decorations, such as mantels, tile-floor
ing, wainscoting, etc. The elaborately sculptured
mantels in the Assembly Chamber and Court of
Appeals in the New Capitol, and the beautiful wains
coting, made from a variety of American and im
ported marbles, in the corridor leading to the
Court of Appeals, were all made at his works.
The premises occupied for show-rooms at the
workshop are ample for any demands that may
be made upon them. In the workshop about
twenty-five skilled workmen are employed, who
have at their command all the latest improved
machinery and tools known to the trade, power
being furnished by a twenty-horse power engine,
Another shop is occupied near the cemetery.
Mr. Manson is himself a practical marble-worker,
familiar with all of the details of his business, to the
supervision of which he brings much knowledge
and long experience. He is in the prime of life,
a thorough artist and able business man. His
success is the natural consequence of the manifes
tation of ability, intelligence and integrity, while
the genuine courtesy which he extends to all is an
other factor of his prosperity. One of the most
gratifying evidences of the spread of correct
artistic tastes among all classes of society is the
great attention'that is now paid to the production
of beautiful designs in stone, slate, marble, and
granite. The American productions in this line are
not equaled by those of any other country, our
natural excellence in this branch becoming more
and more marked with each passing year. It is
the aim of Mr. Manson to furnish strictly first-class
work at reasonable prices, so that the public taste
may be both gratified and educated ; and with this
end in view he is prepared with all facilities and
modern conveniences sufficient to turn out anything
that may be desired in the way of marble or granite
work. He has an advantage over most competitors
in that he quarries all the marble he uses in West
Rutland, Vt
Upon coming to the United States, Mr. Manson
sought, by association and by gaining a knowledge
of American history and American public affairs, to
identify himself thoroughly with the institutions of
his adopted country; but he never sought to throw
off a certain allegiance to his native land. No
Scotchman ever does. The Scottish societies in
Albany have found in Mr. Manson, since his resi
dence in this city, an earnest and liberal member
and supporter. He was formerly President of St
Andrew's Society, and was for several years chief
of the Caledonian Club. With an innate Scottish
love of liberty he was not long in allying himself
with the Republican party, at a period when it was
entering upon the great work it has done; and,
though not in any common sense a politician, he
has taken a citizen's intelligent interest in public
affairs and in the municipal affairs of Albany. In
1 876-77, he represented the Sixth Ward in the Board
of Aldermen, and he is now President of the Citi
zens' Association. For seven years he was a mem
ber of the Scotch company of light infantry which
composed a portion of the twenty-fifth regiment,

and during four years of that period he was the
company's first lieutenant. Raised in the Presby
terian faith, he was for years identified with that
Church ; but latterly he has been united with the
Dutch Reformed Church. Mr. Manson became a
widower in 1866, and in 1868 was a second time
married to Miss Eleanor L. Dixon, daughter of
Mr. John Dixon. By this marriage he has three
children.
POTTERY.
The pottery of S. Pepson was established by Mr.
Orcutt on Hamilton street in 1861. Mr. Pepson
purchased it, and in 1869 built his present store
and ware-room at 222 Hudson avenue. His pot
tery manufactory is-now located at Fort Edward.
The Messrs. Ammenheusers make vases and other
fancy pottery for ornamentation, as well as plain
pottery, on Hawk and Osborn streets.
BUILDINGS AND BUILDERS.
The public and private buildings of Albany re
flect the skill and proficiency of the artisans, who,
in many notable instances, not only did the me
chanical work upon them, but also planned them,
acting in the dual capacity of architect and builder.
The biographical sketches of many of the foremost
builders in this city, which appear elsewhere in this
volume, will give the reader a fair idea of the gen
eral character and mechanical skill of these men.
Among those at present actively engaged as build-:
ing contractors, either as carpenters or masons, are
the following : C. De Tiere, James W. Eaton, W.
H. Gick, William Sayles, Morton H. Havens, Cal
vin Holmes, Gibson Oliver, R. K. Oliver, John
McCabe, Thomas Reilly, Thomas Stephens, Alex
ander Simpson, James A. Shattuck, J. Austin Van
Patten, Richard Wickham, John H. & Edmund
A. Walsh, W. E. Washburn, Patrick McCann, C.
Van Wormer & Sons, Robert Bryce, Alfred Guy,
William Kelly, John Skillicom, Philip H. Smith,
Richard Hunter, and Eugene S. Saxton.
William Freeman, of 118 Chestnut street, has
been a mason and builder in this city since 1871.
John McCabe, mason, contractor and builder,
Hawk street, south of Elm, began business in
1866. He built the German Catholic Church,
corner of Central avenue and Robin street, in 1868;
raised Calvary Baptist Church, North Pearl street,
and constructed Perry Building in 1870 ; School 21
in 1875 ; Tabernacle Baptist Church in 1876 ; and
other buildings in and out of Albany.
J. Austin Van Patten, contractor and builder,
and carpenter, Central avenue, began business
March 1, 1877. Mr. Van Patten is of Holland
descent, and his ancestors were granted a coat of
arms when they emigrated to this country. His
residence is at 352 Hamilton street.
In connection with the buildings of Albany the
following table is interesting. It was made out by
Clerk Boyle, of the Board of Assessors, and shows
the number of the buildings in the city, frame and
brick, and also the number of manufactories. The
table is prepared from the data at hand before the

588-

HlSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

^/^0-jt^- ^/^ >/Xrx/?l

last assessment began in April, 1885. It is prob
able, therefore, that the number of buildings in the
city is larger than appears below. There has been
no important change, however, in the aggregate of
manufactories. The total number of manufactories in the city is
111, as will appear by the following table :

Wards.

Brick
Buildings.

Frame
Buildings.

Manufactories.

ist

142

613

3

2d.

285

359

2

3d-

298

269

12

4th.

635

152

16

5th.

470

223

2

6th.

911

89

'3

7th.

501

69

5

8th.

211

342

7

9th.

231

434

21

loth.

180

900

6

nth.

347

618

1 2th.

327

431

4

13th.

425

274

9

14th.

828

62

5

15th.

53i

365

3

16th.

523

576

3

17th.

188

805

6,833 Total

6,581
buildings. . .

in

13,525
The Tenth Ward has the largest number of
buildings, 1,080, of which 900 are frame. The
Fourteenth Ward has the least number of frame
houses, 62; and the Sixth the greatest number of
brick, 911.
The Ninth Ward leads in manufactories, having
21; and two wards, the Eleventh and the Seven
teenth, have none.
The Tenth Ward, which has the largest number
of dwellings, has also the largest population. By
the last census there were in the Ward 8,345
people, an average of about eight to a house. The
average for the city is about seven. In the Four
teenth Ward the average is only five.
JOHN N. PARKER,
who died November 11, 1885, was for many years
a contractor and builder in Albany. He was born
in Deal, County Kent, England, in 1821, and while
yet an infant was brought to America by his pa
rents, who located in Utica, where his father, Will
iam Parker, was at one time engaged in the grocery
trade. He received his education in the public
schools of Utica, and learned his trade with a well-
known carpenter of that town. In 1844 he came
to Albany, where he became very successful as a
contractor and builder, a business in which he
embarked in 1849.
^^ynM^^^ccc^^^

C7 " "~

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

589

The Delavan House and the Geological Hall
were among the earlier of his works; the beautiful
Kenmore Hotel one of his most recent works. The
printing-house of Weed, Parsons & Co., and many
other business houses of lesser note, all bear evi
dence of his handiwork. In his active business
life he found relaxation by taking an interest in
politics. Originally a Whig, when the Republican
party was formed he became one of its most earnest
and devoted adherents. He was then a resident of
what was known as the old Fifth Ward. In 1862,
being then Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue,
he was nominated by the Republicans of the Ward
for Supervisor. In 1865 hewas chosen to repre
sent the Ward in the Common Council and was
re-elected in 1867, 1869; and when the charter
of 1870 went into effect he was again elected as
a representative of the Seventh Ward, serving for
two years. In 1868 he was nominated for Mayor
against Charles E. Bleecker, but, notwithstanding
the vote he received demonstrated his popularity,
he was defeated.
In all the positions of public trust which he held,
Mr. Parker acquitted himself faithfully and con
scientiously, casting his vote for only such measures
as were beneficial to the interests of the city at
large. He was a member of the Albany Burgesses
Corps and at one time held the office of President
of the Corps and served on its staff. He was a
member of Temple Lodge, F. A. M., and the St.
George Society, and a life member of the Utica
Citizens' Corps and the Volunteer Fire Department
of Utica. He was a life member of the Young
Men's Association. He was a member of Eagle
Engine Company No. 7, of the McQuade Associa
tion, and the.'Beaverwyck Club. Mr. Parker had
been twice married. By his first wife, who was
Catharine Murphy, of Albany, whom he married
in April, 1849, he had two sons, John T. and
Theodore J., and a daughter, who is now Mrs.
George F. Durand, of London, Ont. There are
four grandchildren.
His second wife was Harriet, daughter of Warren
T.Williams, of Clinton, Oneida County, whom he
married June 19, 1873.
Mr. Parker was pre-eminently a self-made man.
His energy of purpose, perseverance, honorable
character, high-minded principles, strict integrity,
genial, sunny nature and kindliness to employees
were the elements of the man which attained for
him the success which crowned a busy life and
made him esteemed among men.
JAMES A. SHATTUCK.
This gentleman ranks high among Albany's fore
most contractors and builders. He was born in
Albany, August 29, 1840. His father was James
A. Shattuck, Sr., himself a mason, who married
Miss Hannah Hutchinson. Both his parents were
natives of Vermont. He was educated in the
common schools of Albany, and at the age of
seventeen years was apprenticed to Henry Knight,
then a well-known builder of Albany, to learn the

mason's trade, serving four years, mostly under the
instruction of his father, who was, for nineteen
years, Mr. Knight's foreman. At the lime Mr.
Shattuck attained his majority, the War of the
Rebellion had begun. He enlisted as a private in
Company B of the 91st New York Regiment,
Captain Stackhouse commanding. He was pro
moted to be successively Second Sergeant, First
Sergeant, Second Lieutenant and First Lieutenant,
having in the meantime been transferred to other
companies in the same regiment. He served as
Assistant Provost-Marshal at Fort Henry, Bal
timore, and as Assistant Ordnance Officer of the
Thirteenth and Nineteenth Army Corps, with head
quarters at Brashear City, La. In 1864, his term
of service having expired, he re-enlisted, and was
with the Army of the Potomac until the war had
closed, and he was mustered out of service July 7,
1865. Upon his return to Albany, he engaged in the
grocery trade, in which he continued about a year.
During this time he married Miss Katharine H.
Sheppard, daughter of Samuel Sheppard, Esq. , who
has borne him twelve children, — ten sons and two
daughters— of whom seven are living. In this
venture in the grocery business Mr. Shattuck was
only moderately successful, and he relinquished it
to resume work at his trade. He labored as a
journeyman a year, and in 1867 took his first
contract His business ability proved to be so good
that he gradually advanced to a leading place
among the contractors of the city. He has
done the mason work of hundreds of dwellings,
numerous business blocks and stores, and many
factories and public buildings in Albany and else
where. Among the latter class may be mentioned
Rathbone, Sard & Co.'s storehouse, the Kenmore
Hotel and additions thereto; the Albany Hospital;
additions to the Child's Hospital of St Agnes'
School; a large addition to the Albany Orphan
Asylum; Dederick Brothers' agricultural machinery
and hay-press factories; Pruyn & Lansing's saw
works; the factories of the Bonsilate Company;
two of the Public School Buildings of Albany; and
the New State Normal School Building on Willett
street, fronting the Park.
Mr. Shattuck is a Republican, and has been a
Member of the Board of Supervisors of Albany
County, representing the Sixteenth Ward. Since
1867 he has been connected with the Burgesses'
Corps, the oldest military organization in the city,
and at present serves on the Commander's staff
with the rank of Major. He is also a member of
the Grand Army of the Republic, and of various
other organizations, secret, social and beneficent,
and as a citizen, is popular with all classes.
ROBERT K. OLIVER
was born in Albany in 1842, a son of Gibson and
Lydia (Kelsey) Oliver, and was orphaned by the
death of his mother when only two years old. His
father, a native of England, came to America at the

590

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

age of nine years, learned the trade of carpenter in
Albany, and has for many years been a leading con
tractor and builder; also an extensive dealer in real
estate. He has erected hundreds of buildings in
all parts of the city, and by building on lots and
selling them upon advantageous terms has con
tributed not a little to the growth of the city. His
son, Robert K., learned his trade with him and
was identified with his business most of the time
until 1 87 1, when he established himself as a builder,
and has since conducted an increasing and success
ful business. He has built, in different parts of
the city and elsewhere, many fine residences, those
of Colonel R. C. Pruyn, Charles E. Pruyn and
John Keeler deserving special mention.
Educated in the public schools of Albany, and
from his youth on familiar terms with many of the
leading men in the city, both in social and business
relations, Mr. Oliver has, by long association and
by participation in local affairs, closely identified
himself with Albany's most important public in
terests. With other Albanians he enlisted in the
91st Regiment New York Volunteers at the out

break of the late war, and in 1862 re-enlisted in
the 177th Regiment. He served until the expira
tion of his second term of enlistment, participating
in the Banks campaign in Louisiana, and passing
through other scenes of danger celebrated in the
history of that great struggle. From 1 863, to and
including 1884, he has been a member of the
Republican General Committee, and it may be
worthy of note that he has attended every County,
City, State and National Nominating Convention of
his party from 1864 to 1884 inclusive. In 1874 he
was elected to the Board of Aldermen, representing
the Sixth Ward, and was re-elected in 1876. In
1879, he became one of the Assessors of the City of
Albany and was reappointed in 1882.
In 1862, Mr. Oliver married Miss Sarah C. Hil
ton, a daughter of Philip Hilton, of Albany, who
has borne him two daughters and a son. One of
these, Miss Ritie H. Oliver, is a young lady pos
sessing unusual artistic talent, and has executed
numerous fine oil paintings and crayon portraits
that have caused her to be well known in art circles
in Albany and elsewhere.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

591

THOMAS STEPHENS.
Few of the contractors and builders of Albany
are better or more favorably known than Thomas
Stephens, who has been identified with the erection
of numerous elegant and imposing public build
ings, business blocks and private residences, both in
the city and elsewhere. Mr. Stephens was born in
the Isle of Man, December 26, 1845, a son of
Thomas and Jane (Christian) Stephens. He re
ceived his education in good private schools, and
when still under fifteen years of age he began to
serve his apprenticeship at his trade, which was
finished in five years. At its expiration he re
moved to England and worked there one year as a
journeyman. In April, 1866, he came to the
United States, the New World seeming to offer him
better opportunities for advancement than his na
tive land, and located in Albany, where he has
since lived, with the exception of a short time spent
in the West. For fifteen months he worked at his
trade in Albany; then went to Chicago, where he
was similarly employed for a year. Returning to
Albany, he pushed his fortunes with such success,
that he was soon enabled to begin business for
himself, which he did April 1, 1870, establishing
himself as a contractor and builder at 348 Madison
avenue. About a year later he removed to 1 8 and

20 Hamilton street, above Knox, a point within
the borders of the Park as now bounded. Here
he was located from 1871 to 1880, when he re
moved to 277 Lark street, where he erected a
factory and put into it all necessary machinery and
the latest and most improved facilities for manu
facturing all kinds of wood-work required in build
ing the finest and most substantial structure, as
well as in manufacturing to order the most ele
gant and expensive furniture and interior decora
tions, employing the most skillful and experienced
wood-workers and carvers and numerous car
penters, his pay-roll often containing the names
of from thirty to seventy employees. Attention
may be directed to a few of the many familiar
buildings in Albany, which Mr. Stephens has built
wholly or in part. Among them are Stanwix Hall,
the Lake House in the Park, Calvary Baptist
Church, and the United States Custom House and
Post Office Building. He has also done much
fine work for Hon. Erastus Corning, rebuilding
his country residence, building greenhouses and
making other improvements; and has built many
residences in Albany as well as in Rochester,
Cobleskill, Troy, Hoosac Falls and other places.
He has lately made extensive improvements and
additions to the buildings occupied by St. Agnes'
School.

592

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

RICHARD WICKHAM.
The subject of this memoir was born in Wetford,
Ireland, in May, 1833. His father and mother
both died when he was only nine years old. In
1 850 he came to the United States, and apprenticed
himself to Messrs. Crab & Doig, of Rome, N. Y.,
to learn the carpenter's trade and study architect
ure. His apprenticeship lasted four years, and
during that time eight other boys began apprentice
ships with the same firm. It is a fact worthy of
note, as illustrating young Wickham's sterling
character, that of the whole number he was the
only one who remained during the entire time
covered by the agreement of the apprentices with
their instructors. The knowledge of architecture
which he obtained he has since found very service
able in many of his large and complicated jobs.
Completing his apprenticeship, he came to Albany
and has since been a resident of the city. He
embarked in business as a builder in i860, and his
pushing, energetic character and great mechan
ical ability soon placed him in the front rank of
builders, not only of Albany, but of the State of
New York, and it is stated, that for twenty years
his shop has ruled the wages paid both bosses and
journeymen in Albany. He has employed on an
average eighty men during the entire year, all the
time providing work for from sixty to one hundred
and thirty on the various jobs which he has had in
progress. An idea of the extent of his operations
may be gained from the fact that at one time, on a
single building, he employed one hundred carpen
ters and thirty painters.
Mr. Wickham's factory and shop is the most
complete establishment of the kind in the State.
It is a large structure on Broadway, built of Croton
brick, three stories high, with a large wing, the
main building being 42 by 70 feet and the wing 15
by 38 feet in size. The engine and boiler are
located in the wing, and the entire factory is heated
by steam, there not being any fire in or about ihe
main building. Here Mr. Wickham manufactures
everything required on his jobs, and sells nothing
to the trade, his own large business usually keep
ing the factory running to nearly or quite its full
capacity. Everything necessary to building or
furnishing is manufactured — from the heaviest fram
ing to the finest cabinet work — even to gilding,
upholstering and carving.
Mr. Wickham has never sought political work,
or jobs on public buildings, preferring to work for
individuals and citizen corporations, to whom his
work itself, irrespective of political or other influ
ence, would be his strongest recommendation. He
can produce numerous complimentary letters from
distinguished men, among them Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher, Rev. C. A. Walworth, Rev. Dr. Bridg-
man, the late George Dawson, long the editor of
the Albany Evening fournal, W. C. Little, Hon. G.
S. Batcheller, and others. Careful and painstak
ing, and, above all, giving to all the details of
his work his own thorough personal supervision,
he has won the reputation for doing good, sub
stantial, 'and elegant work, whether he takes a

contract at a high rate or a low one, that com
mends him to all who regard excellence in all
departments of building; for there is no depart
ment with which Mr. Wickham is not familiar, and
it has been remarked of him, that he is truly "a
builder — not a carpenter only." Remarkable as it
may seem, he has at different times built a part or
the whole of most of the churches in Albany,
and several in other places, and he did the largest
single carpentering job ever done in Albany — that
of the Emmanuel Baptist Church — at a cost of
$42,000. Mr. Wickham has built, wholly or in part, many
of the finest public and private houses in various
parts of New York and other States, including many
of the suburban residences about Albany, among
them those of Theophilus Roessle, J. K. Emmet,
the Watson. BrQthers, Thomas Olcott, Will
iam Barnes, Andrew White, Frederick Cleveland,
J. W. Tillinghast,] C. B. Tillinghast, W. C. Little,
Rev. Dr. Bridgman, S. Anable, G. L. Stedman, J.
Waterman, and others no less well known. He
has also built some of the most elegant private
residences in the city. Among them are those of
George S. Weaver, the late Senator Ira Harris, B. W.
Wooster, J. H. King, Rufus H.King, Ledyard Cogs
well, W. H. McNaughton, Townsend Fondey (two
houses, one of them now owned by Hon. Daniel
Manning), and many others. He has done much
work in nearly all the cities and towns along the
Hudson River, and in many west of Albany on the
New York Central road, and elsewhere; chiefly
in Hudson, Catskill, Tivoli, Saugerties, Rhine-
beck, Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, Peekskill, Tarrytown,
Schenectady, Amsterdam, Fonda, Fort Plains, and
Herkimer. During one year he traveled over
30,000 miles in attending to his business. He
built General Batcheller's residence at Saratoga;
James Mix's at Kinderhook; General Rathbone's
at Lenox, Mass. ; Rev. Henry Ward Beecher's, at
Peekskill; C. H. Evans', at Hudson; C. H. Mc-
Cormick's (of Chicago), at Richfield Springs; G.
P. Folts, at Herkimer; and Dr. McKim's (of New
York), at Cooperstown. Several of these resi
dences cost from $25,000 to $50,000 each. An
other structure erected by Mr. Wickham was the
Old Man's Home in Albany ; and he built the
Refectory Building and Well Shelter at Washington
Park. As an evidence of his inventive ingenuity,
it may be stated that he designed and constructed
the traveling buggy derricks which enabled the
contractors to construct the Cohoes Dam in one
year, while without their use three years would
have been consumed in doing the same work.
One of these machines received and unloaded all
of the stone used in the building of the new State
Capitol. During eight consecutive years Mr. Wickham
worked for the late Alexander T. Stewart, the great
merchant prince of New York, and Hon. Henry
Hilton, the executor of his estate, and during that
time was paid by them over $300,000. He built
both wings of the Grand Union Hotel, at Saratoga;
built the Windsor Hotel and several buildings for
Judge Hilton in Woodlawn Park; Stewart's factory

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

593

at Glenham; and the Park Avenue Hotel, New
York; did much work on Judge Hilton's residence
in Thirty-fourth street, New York; and the princi
pal part of the joiner's work on the Stewart Me
morial College, at Garden City, Long Island, and
built parts of the bishop's house, stables, and
coach-house at the same place. He built the
large office and did other work for the Winchester
Repeating Arms Company at New Haven, and
fitted up their show-room, office, and store at 312
Broadway, New York. He also fitted up the office
of the Great Western Importation Company, of
New York; built the Clarendon Hotel and the
Ornamental Band Stand and Ticket Office of Con
gress Springs Park, Saratoga, and the Chapter
House of Williams College, which cost $30,000;
and has done several jobs for the New York Cen
tral and Hudson River Railroad, receiving a single
payment therefor of over $9,000. As an illustra
tion of the extent of the resources at Mr. Wickham's
command, it may be stated that, a few years ago,
he built for W. C. Coup, and delivered in Troy,
N. Y., the wood and iron-work (including all
poles, posts, seats, and other fixtures) of the largest
circus canvas ever made to that time, weighing
over eight tons, within ten days after taking the
contract The material was much of it procured
in New York and shipped to Albany, and the
actual work was done in four days after all mate
rial was in hand, the iron-work, weighing over two
tons, being turned out in two days, a remarkably
short space of time.
There are probably very few men in the coun
try who can more closely and accurately estimate
the cost of any given job, large or small, than Mr.
Wickham. So well known is his ability in this
respect, that he has been frequently called upon to
assist in the settlement between the owners of
burned buildings and insurance companies in im
portant fire losses. He settled the loss upon the
Tweddle Building when it was destroyed, and re
built it within seven months. Estimates of the
losses sustained upon mills, factories, and private
houses have frequently been made by him, the last of
which was that upon the loss of C. H. Housman,
at Valatia, N. Y., amounting to the large sum of
$62,000. BLINDS, SASHES, DOORS, ETC.
The La Rose Manufacturing Company, corner
Rose and Hamilton streets, A. F. La Rose, Presi
dent and Treasurer, A. W. La Rose, Secretary,
was started in 1882 by A. F. La Rose. In 1884
it was organized as a stock company, with a capi
tal of $50,000.
They use a 100 horse-power engine. Seventy-
five workmen are employed, and the amount of
$150,000 is their annual production.
Their specialty is carpenters' supplies.
George H. Cheney established his manufactory
of sashes, doors, blinds, etc., at 13 North Lansing
street, in 1870.
The factory is a two-story building, where about
forty men find work.
75

CARRIAGES, SLEIGHS AND TRUCKS.
The Albany Coach Manufactory was established
in 1 8 13 by James Goold, a native of New England.
After several years had elapsed, his nephew, W.
R. Bush, and son-in-law, J. N. Cutler, became
partners; later on, his son, John S. Goold became
a partner; the latter dying in 1873, John Chester
Goold, a grandson, became a member of the firm.
Mr. James Goold died in 1879. ^n 1883 the present
firm was incorporated, John Chester Goold, Presi
dent; William D. Goold, Secretary.
From 1817 to 1831, stage-coaches were the
main features of this concern. When the Albany
and Schenectady Railway was built, this firm built
its first cars. These cars were but little more than
stage-coaches on trucks. The firm now manufac
ture fine carriages and sleighs. The manufactory
is bounded by Division, Union and Hamilton
streets, and sixty workmen are employed.
Carriages and sleighs are manufactured at 131
and 133 Hudson avenue, by John Kingsbury.
This business was established in 1854 by James
Kingsbury, Jeremiah Whitehead and Stephen White
head. After a while the latter partner dropped
out, and the firm was Kingsbury & Whitehead
till 1874, when Mr. Kingsbury bought his partner's
interest and conducted the business alone till Feb
ruary, 1876, when the present proprietor bought
the ground and buildings. He built the back
shops in 1880, and the present fine front building,
46 by 54, five-stories high, in 1884. He has made
his establishment very popular and profitable. He
manufactures buggies, two-seat carriages and lan
dau sleighs — the latter a specialty. Their excel
lence and style are far-famed, and are a credit to
the manufactured products of the city.
In 1832, Messrs. Selkirk & Gardinier began
manufacturing carriages and sleighs, and continued
in the business until 1865, when they were suc
ceeded by Messrs. Shaw & Rose. Mr. Shaw be
came sole proprietor and remained such until 1881,
when the present firm of Shaw & Barnett became
owners. Mr. Abraham Barnett is the present
owner. Their factory, 832 and 834 Broadway, is four-
story brick, 70 by 200 feet; and at 307 North Pearl
street, directly back of the factory, is their office,
etc. All kinds of family and pleasure carriages
and sleighs, and hose carriages and fire department
wagons are made. About forty workmen are em
ployed. Samuel H. Lloyd founded in 1842 the present
house of S. H. Lloyd & Co., manufacturers of
trucks and wagons. Mr. Lloyd continued in
charge until 1878, when the firm name now used
was adopted, and Ralph P. Lathrop assumed man
agement of the same.
The premises at 64 to 68 Hamilton street con
sists of a two story-brick factory 200 by 30 feet, and
a three-story brick sales-room, 70 by 130 feet.
They manufacture business wagons, heavy trucks,
etc., and are also dealers in carriages, buggies, etc.,
being agents for several large and well-known
manufactories.

594

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The carriage and sleigh manufactory of Henry
Van Hoesen, Nos. 122 and 124 Madison avenue,
was established by the present proprietor in 1863.
The manufacturing facilities of the house embrace
a two-story factory, 44 by 65 feet in dimensions,
where all the wood and iron-working, trimming,
upholstering, and painting pertaining to first-class
work in his line, are carried on by skilled work
men. SPOKES.
In 1879 E.Wendell Crosby established the Phoe
nix Spoke Works. The factory on Bleecker, Church,
and Herkimer streets is a two-story brick building,
125 by 100 feet, where about 20 workmen are em
ployed. Oak and hickory are used in the manu
facture of the spokes; the wood, before making up,
being dried by a process, the invention of N. S.
McOmber, their Superintendent. Over one-half
million are made yearly. By the invention of Mr.
McOmber, cold, fresh, dry air is introduced into
the drying rooms. This absorbs the moisture, but
does not expel the resins and gums.
LEATHER AND FINDINGS.
One of the leading houses in Albany engaged
in the manufacture and sale of harness-leather, is
that of Adam Cook & Son, No. 29 Hudson ave
nue, established in i860 by Adam Cook, and
came in the possession of the present firm, con
sisting of the founder and his son, George C. Cook,
in 1879. This factory consists of a four-story
brick building, 35 by 105 feet in dimensions, which
is divided into the manufacturing department and
the sales-rooms. Fifteen workmen are employed.
The products of the house consist of oak, union
and hemlock harness-leather, and hemlock sole-
leather, all noted for superior quality. A large
trade is also done in harness-makers' supplies.
Mr. Cook and his son have both resided in Al
bany for a number of years, and are thoroughly
acquainted with the leather trade.
WOOD MACHINERY.
Daniel Doncaster in 1858 began the manufactur
ing of wood- working machinery, and the business is
at present carried on by his son, Daniel Doncaster,
at 7 and 9 Railroad avenue and 313 to 317 North
Pearl street. Twenty-five mechanics are employed.
The manufacture of planing, resawing, and mold
ing machines are the specialties. All kinds of
wood-working machinery, shafting, pulleys, etc.,
are also made. WOOD PACKING-BOXES.
T F. Romeyn began the manufacturing of pack
ing-boxes in 1865. His factory is located at 214
Hudson avenue and is a two-story building, 30 by
100 feet in dimensions. All the work is done by
machinery, the stamping even being done by a
printing-press. One million feet of lumber is an

nually used, and about 160,000 boxes are made
yearly.PATTERN WORKS.— BRASS, IRON, STOVE.
The Albany Pattern Works was established by
Herbert G. Avery in 1882, at 70 Church street,
where he employs six assistants.
Patterns for all kinds of brass and iron found
ings, designs and drafts of complicated machinery
in sections or otherwise are made. A specialty is
stove patterns.
Hailes' Pattern Works, corner Broadway and
Hamilton street, was established by William Hailes,
in 1872, for the manufacture of patterns for stoves
and machinery. In this business Mr. Hailes is
justly recognized as a skillful artisan. In 1878
James Gray and Peter Kinnear became associated
with Mr. Hailes in the manufacture of their im
proved "Brilliant" oil-stove. This they continued
for three years, when the right to manufacture was
sold to the Richmond Stove Company, Norwich,
Conn., and is now known as the "Richmond"
stove. Mr. Hailes' business is now confined to
pattern making. All the Thacher car-wheel pat
terns are made at this establishment.
John C. Mull has been a pattern-maker for more
than forty-five years at the Ransom Stove Works.
Mr. Mull has taken active interest in the Albany
Firemen's Association for nearly half a century,
and, although sixty-four years of age, is still in
active service in the Fire Department.
COOPERAGE.
The extensive brewing interests of Albany early
led to the establishment of other industries chiefly
dependent upon them. Among the most important
was the manufacture of barrels and hogsheads for
the transportation of malt liquors. So extensive
grew this industry at Albany, that at one time most
of the coopers in the United States were located
here, and most of the ale barrels used in this country
were manufactured here. Of late years, lar°-e
manufactories have sprung up in different parts of
the country, which have materially decreased the
amount of business done. Still Albany occupies
a prominent position in regard to the extent and
quality of its cooperage work.
The oldest house engaged in this branch of
manufacture is that of M. A. Hawe, established
by Matthew Hawe in 1836, whose father began a
similar business many years previously. Mr. Hawe
conducted it until his death in 1880, since which
time it has been carried on under the management
of his son, Daniel Hawe. Two buildings are
occupied in the prosecution of this business, 63
Liberty and 58 Union street. Employment is fur
nished to about twenty skilled mechanics. The
capacity of the works is about seventy-five ale and
beer casks and one hundred and fifty barrels per
week. The biography of Matthew Hawe, the
founder of this house, printed in another part of
this volume, contains matter, personal and general,
relative to this industry.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

595

ttPs??ff4*Z~

John Pennie, Jr., stave dealer and cooper, com
menced the cooperage business in Herkimer street,
in connection with his brother, J. C, in 1843, and
has been carried on by them ever since. The
works are located No. 39 Arch street.
In 1849 John Le Gallez began the coopering
business in Albany. He conducted it alone until
1871, when A. Le Gallez was admitted to an in
terest in the business. The founder died in 1873,
and in 1876 the present firm, A. & W. Le Gallez,
succeeded to the business, which is now conducted
at 51 to 61 Liberty street. Twenty mechanics are
employed. A large share of the business consists
in remodeling barrels of all kinds.
Samuel C. Harris carries on a cedar and pine-
ware cooperage business at 1 2 2 Washington avenue
as the successor of his father, who was engaged in
a similar calling many years. His work is well
known for excellence of workmanship and material.
Mr. Harris has been a useful member of the City
Government
MATTHEW HAWE
was born in Charleville, Ireland, October 18, 1814,
and died in Albany, April 24, 1880, in his sixty-
sixth year. He came to America with his parents
in 1816. and was educated in the Albany Academy.
Leaving school, he was interested in his father's

(William Hawe's) extensive cooperage business un
til 1836, when he engaged in the same business
on his own account, manufacturing beer barrels,
half-barrels and hogsheads, a business which his
widow, under the name of M. A. Hawe, has con
tinued since his death. Mr. Hawe made the man
ufacture of his specialties in cooperage a study,
and invented improvements in ale and beer casks
which render the heads and other jointures with the
staves as strong as any other part of the barrel,
whereas, as they were previously made, the heads,
however strong with the timber they were con
structed, were always weak at their jointure with
the staves. The advantages of barrels and other
vessels constructed with Mr. Hawe's improvements
are these :
ist By a more obtuse angle of the bevel of the
edge of the head, the' quantity of material for
resistance of all strain is increased. 2d. The
bevels of the edge of the head, supported by the
howel, prevents all crushing in of the head.
3d. The manner in which the edge of the head is
held in the croze, and supported by the howel,
effectually prevents the wood in the head from
splitting up. 4 th. The convex form given to the
head in one direction, makes the head itself as
strong as the body of the barrel. 5th. The bev
eled jointing surface of the several pieces forming
the head insures the perfect tightness of all the

596

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

jointures of the head, and counteracts all tendency
of the end hoops to break in the chime. 6th. The
head and its jointure, with the staves, are made as
strong as the other parts of the barrel. 7th. Ample
opportunity is afforded for the removal of sediment
that may accumulate around the howel and the
beveling of the head. These improvements have
been variously and severally tested, and in every
case they have been found to meet the utmost
expectations of Mr. Hawe and brewers who have
used them.
The loss of ten per cent, annually experienced
by brewers, from the waste of ale and cost of
repairs caused by the bursting of the heads, is
effectually prevented by the use of barrels and
other vessels constructed with Mr. Hawe's im
provements. These casks became very popular with brewers,
and Mr. Hawe manufactured them under letters
patent, and shipped them in large quantities to
New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Roches
ter, and many other manufacturing centers. But
no sooner had he succeeded in proving the superi
ority of his barrels than unscrupulous coopers
began, in different places, to manufacture and sell
similar ones in infringement of his patent. Suits
were brought for damages and royalties, which are
still pending in the courts, and which, promising
to result favorably to the claims of Mr. Hawe, will
undoubtedly bring to his heirs at least a portion of
the legitimate reward of his ingenuity and enter
prise. In 1840 Mr. Hawe was married to Miss
Mary A. Griffith, of New York. They have had
fifteen children, thirteen of whom lived to be men
and women, and nine of whom survived their
father. He was esteemed for his kindly nature, his
dignified bearing, and his unquestionable busi
ness probity. This last mentioned characteristic
was so marked, that it was once said of him by
Thurlow Weed: "Matthew Hawe's word was
truly as good as his bond." An influential citi
zen, he was identified with many of Albany's most
important interests, and counted among his warm
personal friends such men as Mr. Weed, John L.
Schoolcraft, William H. Seward, and others of
equal note.
The formerly well-known Dr. E. B. O'Callaghan
was his brother-in-law. For a time Mr. Hawe
was a partner in the flour business in Albany
with his brother John, carrying on his cooper
age business at the same time. He also dealt
heavily in stoves, a branch of his business which
is now carried on by his son. He was a busi
ness man in every sense of the word — energetic,
original, honest, shrewd and successful. He
never connected himself with secret societies, and,
though he had pronounced convictions upon all
public questions, never mingled actively in polit
ical life, always refusing to accept any office,
though urged to accept many. In early life he
was an old school Democrat. Later he became a
Whig, and a second change to Republicanism was
but natural. In religion he followed the faith of

his fathers, and he was a Corporate Member of the
Parish of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Con
ception, and a Trustee of St Agnes' Cemetery.
He was prominent and liberal in support of the
interests of the Cathedral, and his memory is pre
served by inscription on the chime of bells belong
ing to that institution. He was generous to his
fellow men and helpful to the poor. His life
was upright in the sight of God and man, and he
was beloved not only by those who enjoyed the
happiness of sharing with him the blessings of his
fireside, but by a large circle of friends and
acquaintances. His last illness was of long duration, but
he bore his affliction with a Christian's fortitude.
The sorrow at his death was general among the
many who had known him. The Committee of
the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception met
at the episcopal residence, April 25, 1880, to take
action in reference to his death. There were pres
ent Rt. Rev. Bishop McNierney, D. D. ; Very Rev.
P. Ludden, V.G.; P. McHugh, John Connick,
Michael Delehanty; P. J. Wallace, Treasurer, and
Thomas J. Lanahan, Secretary.
The following preamble and resolutions were
unanimously adopted:
" Whereas, Death has again, in the brief space
of one month, removed from our midst another
member of this Committee, Mr. Matthew Hawe,
be it
' ' Resolved, That we deeply regret the decease of
Matthew Hawe, who for more than twenty-eight
years has been a member of this Board.
"That his long service in this Committee, mark
ed as it was by a singleness of purpose, purity of
motive and courteous bearing, has endeared him
to us, and merits our highest consideration and
respect. " That his constant and unremitting attention to
his duties, his zeal and energy in advancing the
interests of this Cathedral, is deserving of the pious
remembrance of the congregation.
"That we tender to his family our sincere sym
pathy in their bereavement, and that the Secretary
transmit to them a copy of these resolutions."
At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of St.
Agnes' Cemetery, held Monday, April 26, 1880,
to take action concerning the death of Mr. Mat
thew Hawe, Mr. John Stuart offered the following
resolutions, which were unanimously adopted :
" Whereas, Information of the death of our late
esteemed associate, Mr. Matthew Hawe, has been
communicated to this Board, and it is proper that,
uniting in the regret occasioned by his loss, we
should signify our appreciation of his many excel
lent qualities ; therefore
"Resolved, That in the death of Mr. Hawe, one
of our Finance Committee, this Board loses an
active and worthy member, who always manifested
pride and zealous interest in the welfare of this
organization, and who spared no exertion to secure
its prosperity.

'^e^O^y

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

597

' ' Resolved, That we tender our sympathy to the
family of our deceased friend ; that we attend his
funeral in a body; and that these resolutions,
signed by our President and Secretary, be pub
lished in the daily papers of the city, and a copy
transmitted to the family of deceased.
"Francis McNeirny,
"W. D. Morange, "President.
' ' Secretary. "
The Board of Trade of the City of Albany, of
which Mr. Hawe had long been a Member, also
adopted appropriate resolutions. Such lives as
Mr. Hawe's are not without their benefit upon the
communities where they are passed. Yielding to
every man what was honestly his due; active in
business and enterprising beyond many of his
fellow townsmen; he gave employment to many
skilled laborers, and performed his part in bring
ing Albany into notice as a manufacturing town.
He built industriously and with fidelity a repu
tation which is a rich heritage to his family and a
pleasure to many who were his friends.
LASTS.
In 1828, Jared Holt began manufacturing lasts
in Albany. This probably was the first establish
ment of the kind in this country. Mr. Holt's
business was only a small one, which he conducted
until 1857, when he formed a partnership with
George H. Graves, which partnership continued
until 1864, when Dayton Ball was added, the firm
being called Graves, Ball & Co., the members being
Messrs. Graves & Ball, and J. & C. B. Holt. Since
the death of Mr. Graves in 1882, Ball and Reb-
hun have controlled the business, under the firm
name of Dayton Ball & Co. They have two
factories, one at 3 Pruyn street, in which 25 work
men are employed, and the other at 12 Elm street,
New York. The products of the two are about
125,000 pairs of lasts yearly. Persimmon wood
from North Carolina is mainly used by them.
BILLIARD BALLS.
The Albany Billiard Ball Company was organ
ized in 1875, succeeding the Hyatt Manufacturing
Co., organized in 1868, which was the pioneer
manufacturing company in the world to make
composition billiard balls. The factory, corner
Grand and Plain streets, is a three-story brick
building, 68 by 50 feet in dimensions. The bil
liard balls are now made from bonsilate, a pro
duct of another Albany industry, which is men
tioned elsewhere. The colors of bonsilate balls
are permanent, and they will not burn. Pool and
bagatelle balls are also made.
The officers are : Peter Kinnear, President and
Treasurer; J. W. Hyatt, Vice-President; Louis
Dietz, Secretary; and B. P. Wayne, Superin
tendent. , . , ,
The bonsilate billiard balls are taking the place
all others for perfection of finish, durability and of
cheapness.

PETER KINNEAR.
One of the names most prominent in connection
with the manufacturing and industrial interests of
Albany, is that which heads this sketch. Peter
Kinnear was born in Dundee, Scotland, April 24,
1826. He was educated in his native town, and
later served a six years' apprenticeship there to the
machinist's trade. As he grew to manhood, the
desire within him to seek a home in the New
World, grew stronger and more irresistible. When
scarcely more than a youth he bade farewell to kin
and friends, and set out upon a perilous journey
across the ocean. His love of his native land was
strong, but his ambition to make a name and
place for himself among men on the far-away
shores of America was stronger still.
At the very outset he met with an accident which
nearly cost him his life, but he was not daunted
and, without repining or turning back, he pursued
his way. It was in 1847 that he came to the
United States.
He tried to obtain employment at his trade in
New York, Rochester and Toronto successively,
and finding it impossible to get such work to do
as he wished, did that which every true man must
see it his duty to do — did such work as came in
his way, which in his case was cutting timber
in a Canadian forest, during all of one winter.
Returning to the States, he again sought employ
ment as a machinist at Buffalo, Rochester, Syra
cuse, Utica and Albany. He Was again unsuccess
ful until he reached Albany, when he entered the
employment of William Orr, at his foundry, 64
Beaver street.
This establishment was founded by Lewis Aspin
wall over half a century ago, and is therefore inti
mately connected with the industrial development
of Albany. From Mr. Aspinwall its ownership
passed to Mr. Orr. Mr. Orr was succeeded by
the firm of Orr & Blair, of which he was himself
a member. In 1872 Mr. Kinnear became the
owner of Mr. Orr's share, and the firm of Blair &
Kinnear was in existence till Mr. Kinnear became
sole proprietor.
May, 1884, Mr. Kinnear purchased the lots at
the corner of Beaver and Grand streets, known as
No. 64 and 66 Beaver street. Here Mr. Kinnear
made great improvements, so marked in their
character as to entitle him to the credit of having
beautified that portion of Beaver street in which
his factory is located.
The great variety of goods embraced under the
head of brass castings, and the varied application
of this valuable composition metal to the manufac
ture of articles of mechanical and household use,
present an interesting study. A house devoted to
the manufacture of the innumerable pieces of
brass, bronze and other soft metal castings, for the
countless purposes to which these metals are now
put, is a very important helper in promoting the
general good of any manufacturing center. In
Albany that of Mr. Kinnear is the most prominent
one of its kind. This enterprise embraces the manu-

598

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

facture of all kinds of brass, bronze, composition,
nickel, white and other soft metal castings; steam-
cocks and valves, plumber brass work, brass work
for breweries, lager beer apparatus, steam-engine
work, etc. Faithful attention is given to whatever
may be desired in this line, and great care is taken
in the selection of proper qualities of metal and in
the delicate process of casting, especially where
soundness and accuracy are required in the finished
articles. The premises occupied for the prosecution of
this industry consist of a two-story brick building,
60 by 22 feet in dimensions, with an L of same
size used for the molding-shop, which are sup
plied with all modern facilities, thoroughly equip-
ed with all necessary tools, appliances and furnaces,
and furnished with an engine of six-horse power.
With an experience of so many years in the busi
ness, Mr. Kinnear may be rightly supposed to be
eminently capacitated to carry on the enterprise
with success and satisfaction to his trade. Nor
does his identification with this community stop
with his interest in this business, since he is also
President of the Albany Billiard Ball Co., President
of the Bonsilate Button Co., and a Director in both
the Bonsilate Co. (limited) and the Newark Filter
ing Co.
With the history of the manufactory of billiard
balls in Albany, Mr. Kinnear's name is prominently
identified. The most unique industry in Albany,
and, indeed, the only one of the kind in the world,
is that of the Albany Billiard Ball Company. This
Company was organized in 1875, and is the legiti
mate successor of the Hyatt Manufacturing Com
pany, organized in 1868, which was the pioneer in
the attempt to make composition billiard balls. It
is not our purpose to go into the details of the
trials and failures of the original organization in
its experiments to produce billiard balls of py-
roxiline and later of celluloid that would take the
place of ivory. Let it suffice to say that thousands
of dollars were spent and much valuable time lost
in experimenting with little or no practical re
sults, until the formation of the present Com
pany, since which time, by the use of perfected
processes and machinery, the invention of J. W.
Hyatt, the Company- has succeeded in producing
billiard balls that are more perfect than ivory
balls, while at the same time they are far less
expensive. The management of the Company is in the hands
of the following named officers : Peter Kinnear,
President and Treasurer ; J. W. Hyatt, Vice-Presi
dent; Lewis Dietz, Secretary; and B. P. Wayne,
Superintendent; all gentlemen closely identified
with the industrial advancement of this city. Mr.
Kinnear's identification with this enterprise dates
from a time when failure and disaster had stripped
it of the confidence of most of the capitalists of Al
bany. He had faith in the scheme, and unbounded
faith in Mr. Hyatt, through the utilization of whose
inventions he was certain success would be won
for it
At considerable personal trouble and no small
temporary sacrifice, he invested in the enterprise,

taking risks which made some of his friends
tremble for the results ; and he induced others of
Albany's progressive men to take stock in the Com
pany. The result has more than justified his most
sanguine hopes. The enterprise is one of Albany's
notable successes.
No man in the city has taken a greater interest
in its industrial enterprises than Mr. Kinnear, and
no one has worked more steadily and more earn
estly to advance them. He has ever been among
the first to welcome new manufacturing industries,
and one of those most ready to encourage and
foster them by substantial aid to the extent of his
ability. There are many who to-day admit that,
had his judgment been respected and his advice
taken relative to proposed enterprises which have
been seated elsewhere, only after proper encourage
ment had been refused them in Albany, the city's
material prosperity at this time would be much
greater than it is, and its intelligent working pop
ulation much larger.
Born in the land of Wallace, and imbibing a
love of freedom with the very air he breathed, Mr.
Kinnear was a lover of American institutions even
before, as a very young man, he had placed his feet
on American soil. He believed in universal free
dom, and early placed himself in the ranks of those
who ultimately united with others of more pro
nounced views to free the African slaves in the
United States. A lover of freedom and a protec
tionist, a Whig originally, he was one of the earliest
lo array himself in the Republican ranks, and with
the Republican party he has voted and labored
ever since.
Mr. Kinnear was for two years a member of the
Board of Supervisors of Albany County, and has
several times been the nominee of his party for
Alderman to represent his Ward, and it is only the
greatly preponderating Democratic vote that has
prevented his repeated election, for personally he
is recognized as the most popular man in his Ward.
With all of a Scotchman's love for Scotland and its
history and traditions, Mr. Kinnear, is at the same
time a most thorough-going American, taking a
deep and most intelligent interest in all questions
of public moment, and exerting his influence, and
freely using his means to promote American in
dustry and elevate that great class who are our best
citizens either in peace or war — the honest me
chanics, of whom he is proud to number himself
as one.
During his sojourn in Canada, previously referred
to, Mr. Kinnear, in 1849, married Miss Annie Gil
christ, a native of Scotland. It was soon afterward
that they came to Albany and Mr. Kinnear entered
upon that career which has made him so widely
known and respected. It has been a career of
honest endeavor, of well-directed effort — whose
rewards have not been bestowed with a stingy hand.
Such a career as best illustrates the certainty that
skill, industry, integrity, perseverance and whole-
souled friendliness will win for their possessor that
degree of success which ought to be the earthly ob
ject of every citizen, and which is often the envy of
those who do not themselves deserve it.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

599

BONSILATE.
The Bonsilate Company, corner Church and
Pruyn streets, was organized in 1878. The fac
tory is of four stories, brick, where 20 workmen are
employed. This Company produces bonsilate in
bulk and in manufactured goods.
The officers are Robert C. Pruyn, President;
David M. Kinnear, Secretary and Treasurer; John
W. Hyatt, Expert; and Charles S. Lockwood, Su
perintendent. The Directors are Messrs. Pruyn &¦
Hyatt, S. W. Rosendale, Peter Kinnear, Theodore
Townsend, Charles M. Hyatt, and David M. Kin
near. Bonsilate is the discovery of John W. Hyatt,
the inventor also of celluloid. It has been im
proved by Charles S. Lockwood. It is already
used in making many articles of utility and orna
ment, for which its qualities of hardness, elas
ticity, susceptibility of taking any color and a high
polish, render it very valuable. It is also a non
conductor of electricity, and incombustible. It is
valuable as a substitute for ivory, amber, jet, coral,
celluloid and all like substances.
FURNITURE AND OTHER HOUSE SUP
PLIES.
Most of the household furniture sold in Albany
is manufactured in New England, Michigan and
Ohio, where timber is now plenty and facilities for
manufacture more abundant and cheap. It comes
often in parts and is put together and finished in
our city.
The B. W. Wooster Furniture Company, 5 1 and
53 North Pearl street, incorporated in 1884, with
B. W. Wooster, President, succeeded the business
of B. W. Wooster, which was established in 1843.
This Company supplies for buildings the entire in
terior wood-work, such as staircases, floors, ceil
ings, wainscot, mantels; also paper-hangings, fur
niture, upholstering, curtains, frescoing, and stained
glass. In short, as soon as the masons have com
pleted their work upon a residence, they complete
it ready for occupancy.
Nelson Lyon has, during the past seven years,
worked up and established a large furniture manu
factory on Central avenue, with still larger sales
rooms at 65 Hudson avenue. His trade has grown
rapidly. Among other well-known makers and
dealers in this important class of industry in this
city within recent years may be named Butler,
Senrick, Watson, Westcott; also Hertz, Hicks,
Gloeckner*, 'now in the business. Several large
stores on North Pearl street deal in furniture ex
tensively. The small cabinet makers of other days are no
more. They did honest work and supplied the
demand for substantial chairs, stands, tables, desks,
bedsteads, and such like simple furniture for house
hold use in earlier days.
SCHOOL FURNITURE.
An eastern office of the Union School Furniture
Company, of Battle Creek, Mich., was established

in this city, at 508 Broadway, in 1882. W. A.
Choate, Manager.
Their specialty is the "Automatic," or rear-fold
ing school-seat They also manufacture school-
desks, seats, and all kinds of school furniture.
Harlan P. French preceded Mr. Choate in this
business, successfully pursuing it several years.
PLAIN AND DECORATIVE PAINTING. V
Very little attention was given in Albany to
decorative painting until a recent date. When
paint was laid on wood-work at all, nothing was
thought of but preservation from decay thereby.
But within a few years great attention has been
given to the art as an ornament pleasing to the
eye. John Palmer, painter and decorator, started in
business at 25 Washington avenue, in 1866,
and has occupied the premises since that time.
He has had some of the best contracts in his
art in and out of the city, including the State
Capitol. Mr. Palmer is a charter member of Post
5, G. A. R., the first organized in the city. He has
twice been Commander of the G. A. R., S. N. Y.
and Senior Vice-Commander-in-Chief of the G.
A. R., U. S., and is at present Trustee and Chair
man of the Executive Committee of the State
Soldiers' Home, of which he, as an active member
of the G. A. R., was one of the originators. Few
men are more active and efficient, or better known
in public affairs.
James Blocksidge, who came here from Eng
land some years ago, has acquired quite a reputa
tion as a well-informed, tasteful, faithful house-
painter, including fresco and decorative work. He
is doing some of the best work of the kind in Al
bany and vicinity.
Daniel P. Gladding has for many years been the
successor of his father, one of the early painters
in this city, in doing excellent work.
Robert Jefferson, 47 Beaver street, is justly rec
ognized as one of the best sign and banner paint
ers of the city.
The Bantham Brothers rank among our best
patronized painters. John S. Hurdis can hardly
be surpassed as a painter of signs and banners.
The Mickels are superior artists in decoration, de
signing, and painting. William Prescott, from
Massachusetts, has been a leading house and sign-
painter for many years. John Cook is not only
one of our most esteemed citizens, but best of
house-painters. TABLE AND ENAMELED OIL-CLOTHS.
The manufacture of enameled oil-cloths was first
successfully accomplished in this country about a
third of a century ago. In 1855, John Walters
established a manufactory in Albany for this pur
pose, and has conducted it with success ever since.
His plant is located at 334 to 344 Central avenue,
and covers an area of several acres, upon which
are erected five substantial brick buildings. A
fifty horse-power engine furnishes the necessary

600

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

motive power, and employment is afforded to
about seventy operatives. The production of this
establishment comprises table and enameled oil
cloths in all varieties, a specialty being made in
superior styles in imitation of mahogany, rose
wood, oak, and marble. During the first years
of the establishment of this factory the production
was only 1 20 yards per day. At present the factory
is turning out about 700 rolls per day, or a total of
8,400 yards per day. The products are sold in
all parts of the United States and largely exported
to foreign countries. The buildings have several
times been severely damaged by fire, originating in
the processes of manufacture, requiring so much
heat in the application of the oil.
SHIP-BUILDING.
In the latter part of the preceding and the first
quarter of the present century, the building of
sloops and schooners formed an important indus
try at Albany. Much capital was inv.ested and a
large number of men employed. When steam
boats came generally in use, some of the earlier
ones were built here. Probably the largest vessel
ever constructed in Albany was the Victory, re
ferred to in another part of this volume. During
late years this industry has almost become extinct,
being confined principally to repairing, and the
construction of small crafts. At present the prin
cipal ship-builders in Albany are John A. Davis &
Sons, whose yard is located on the corner of Quay
and Columbia streets. They began business in
1879. The sectional dock used by the firm was
built twenty-eight years ago. The dock is in five
sections, and is 130 feet long by 54 feet wide. Ten
pumps on each side of the dock, operated by steam,
are used for operating the dock. Thirty-five ship
carpenters and calkers are employed.
GLOBE MANUFACTURER.
The first globe manufacturer in the United States
was James Wilson, who was born in Londonderry,
N. H., in the latter part of the eighteenth century,
and died in Bradford, Vt. , in extreme old age. He
at first made his globes by hand. About 1820, his
sons, John and Samuel Wilson, established a globe
manufactory in Albany, the first of the kind in this
country. It was claimed for them that they were
the best globe-makers, not only in America, but in
the world. So much did they improve the art of
globe-making as to elicit the admission of English
manufacturers, that their globes were geographic
ally and mechanically superior to their own. John
Wilson died in 1833, and his brother Samuel near
that date. After their death the business was dis
continued in Albany.
CORK WORKS.
Cork is the outer bark of a species of oak that
grows in Southwestern Europe. The tree, when
reaching its thirtieth year, is of marketable value.
It is then deprived of its bark. From five to ten
years thereafter the bark is again removed, and

in time another growth in its turn is taken off.
The cork grows finer every cutting as long as the
tree retains its vigor. After stripping, the bark is
scraped to relieve it of adhering moss, and placed
in a hot-water bath, kept at a high temperature.
Then it is reduced to flat sheets by pressure. It is
afterwards made up into bales of 150 pounds, each,
ready for shipment. Spain and Portugal furnish
all the raw material sent to this country, the pro
duction of France and Italy being consumed at
home. The application of machinery to the cutting of
corks is of American origin. Thirty years ago all
corks were cut by hand, by means of an instrument
similar to a butcher's cleaver ; 1,500 corks made in
this way was a good day's work, while now, with
machinery, a girl will turn Out 20,000 daily ; and
the machine-made, from their uniformity of size and
finish, are superior to those done by hand.
The cork is purchased by the pound in the bale,
and the manufactured article is sold by the gross.
Besides its ordinary use as stoppers, it is used for
net floats, for life preservers, and for shoe soles.
The only manufactory of corks in Albany is that
of the Albany Cork Works, corner Maiden lane
and James street, which was established in 1866,
by Ira B. Sampson, on Pruyn street. He is still
the manager. PIANO MANUFACTURING.
Jonas Chickering, a native of New Ipswich,
N. H., a cabinet-maker by trade, made the first
American piano in America, and offered it for sale
April 15, 1823. He pursued the piano-making
business successfully in Boston for many years, and
left his honored name and business as a rich legacy
to his family.
The first manufacturer of pianos in Albany was
James A. Gray, a sketch of whom appears else
where. He began this business in Albany as early
as 1825. For a number of years he carried on the
manufacture of pianos alone. In 1837 he became
associated with William G. Boardman, under the
firm name of Boardman & Gray. The factory was
originally situated on the corner of Broadway and
De Witt street, and was subsequently removed to
the Old Elm Tree Corner, where the business was
carried on for a number of years. They next
established their factory at the corner of North
Ferry and Broadway. In 1866 they removed to
the three-story brick building, No. 239 North Pearl
street, lately destroyed by the fire that caused the
death of John A. Luby, D.Wheeler and F.J.Wallen.
Here a large force of skilled workmen were em
ployed, the establishment turning out twenty com
plete instruments monthly. From 1840 to i860
this firm was one of the leading piano-forte establish
ments in the country. In 1877, Mr. Gray's son, Wil
liam J. Gray, became a member of the firm. Mr.
Boardman died in 1881, and the business was con
tinued by the Grays, father and son, under the old
firm name of Boardman & Gray. This firm first
introduced the dolce campana, which made their
pianos famous throughout the musical world.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

JAMES A. GRAY.

In 1853, Messrs. Marshall & Traver began the
manufacture of pianos in Albany on James street.
They were succeeded two years later by Marshall,
James & Traver. Thirteen years then ensued,
when the proprietorship of the house underwent
another change, the firm becoming Marshall &
Wendell. In April, 1882, the firm, under the title of the
Marshall & Wendell Piano-forte Manufacturing
Com.pany, was incorporated as a limited liability
company, with Henry Russell, President; J. V.
Marshall, Superintendent; Harvey Wendell, Man
ager and Treasurer; and John Loughran, Secre
tary. Capital stock, $100,000. Manufactory and
principal office, erected in 1872, 911 to 923
Broadway. This building is of brick, five stories
high, 145 by 40 feet, with 40-feet wings. Sev
enty-five skilled workmen are employed. Annual
output, over six hundred pianos. Ware-rooms and
music store, 88 North Pearl street, under direction
of C. E. Wendell & Co.
In connection with the piano-making industry,
it is proper to mention the firm of R. W. Tanner
& Son. Mr. Tanner has been in connection with
the piano manufacturing business for nearly thirty
years. One of the specialties of this firm is the
manufacture of piano hardware. They employ
about thirty workmen in their establishment at 858
Broadway. George E. Kemp makes piano plates
and R. B. Russell supplies the piano action.
70

Many years ago, William McCammon, a ma
chinist by trade, began the manufacture of pianos,
which enterprise he successfully continued until
his decease a few years ago, since which it has
been carried on by his son, Edward McCammon.
George Johnson has made pianos many years.
Mrs. F. W. Tietz continues the piano making
business begun in i860.
Musical instruments of all kinds, and book and
sheet music, have long been sold in this city, no
tably by Jason Collier, J. Hidley, Cluett & Sons,
Haines Brothers, J. A. Reed, and W. C. Gomph.
JAMES A. GRAY.
It is probable that the first person to manufacture
pianos in the City of Albany was John Osborn, an
Englishman, about the year 1825, who continued
for a short rime on his own account, and then be
came associated with J. & H. Meacham, who was
manufacturing other musical instruments, and had
a music store at State street. About the year 1833,
F. P. Burns, Wm. Ballentine & Co. commenced
manufacturing for I. P. Cole, who furnished the
capital and sold the instruments, he being en
gaged in teaching vocal music, and dealing in
musical goods on State street. It seems that Wm.
G. Boardman, a wholesale grocery merchant at
the time, was Cole's indorser at the bank, and
in 1836, during the depression in trade, Cole

602

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

failed in business, and, to protect his indorsement,
Mr. Boardman had to buy out Cole's business,
which carried the manufacturing of pianos with it;
and Mr. Boardman found it necessary to abandon
his grocery business and assume the manufacturing
of pianos. Being an experienced business man, he
found it necessary to change Cole's arrangement
and organize anew, which he did by building a
factory on the corner of Broadway and De Witt
street, and being unacquainted practically with the
making of pianos he employed a man by the name
of H. Davis to superintend the factory for him, he
attending to the music store in State street. In the
reorganization of the business of manufacturing
pianos, the services of James A. Gray, Hine, Hazel-
ton (now of New York) and some other skilled
workmen from New York, who filled important
branches in the construction of the pianos. This
was in the year 1837. In the year 1838 the Super
intendent (Davis) having committed some breach
of trust, James A. Gray was appointed superinten
dent of the manufactory, and soon after became a
partner in the firm of Boardman & Gray.
The Meachams and F. P. Burns continued to
manufacture up to about i860, and, having died,
their business ceased.
In 185- three young men who had been in the
employ of Boardman & Gray commenced the man
ufacture of pianos in Albany. The firm was Mar
shall, James & Traver, whicli was continued for
some time, James having retired in 1862, and
Traver some years later selling out his interest to
Harvey Wendell, the firm being in 1885 Marshall
& Wendell. In 1866, Mr. Boardman having engaged in other
business, assigned all his interest in the manufac
ture of the Boardman & Gray piano to his former
partner, James A. Gray, who, in partnership with
his brother, William H. Gray, continued to make
the Boardman & Gray piano until 1880, when he
died, and William H. Gray, son of James A. Gray,
became a partner in the firm.
In 1862, William McCammon & Co. commenced
the manufacture of pianos on Broadway, and con
tinued until 1 88 1, when on his death at that date
his son Edward assumed the business.
In the year i860 the large factory of Boardman
& Gray, on Broadway and North Ferry street, was
burned, and in 1885 their factory at 239 North
Pearl street was also destroyed by fire.
PAPER WORKS, ETC.
Mr. J. C. Dubuque established himself here in
1839 as a manufacturer of paper boxes, being the
pioneer in this branch of industry in the city. Af
ter an interruption of several years, Mr. Dubuque
re-established the present house in 1880, now con
ducted by his son, L. R. Dubuque.
The premises are three-stories, each 35 by 60
feet, and are located at 9 and 11 Green street,
where all kinds of paper boxes are made, generally
upon special orders.
The Albany Paper Box Manufactory, 293 and
295 Broadway, for the manufacture of all kinds of

paper boxes, was founded in 1870 by Messrs. Co-
zine & Co. The factory consists of four floors,
each of which are 50 by 100 feet in area. Fifty
operatives are employed. Estimates are given for
any size or style of paper box desired.
Great improvement has been made in the past
few years in this branch of American industries,
and the uses to which paper boxes are put are
manifold. Messrs. D. Chapin & Co. succeeded Cozine &
Co., and in 1878 Mr. Hench, the present owner,
became the proprietor.
Albany Perforated Wrapping Paper Company, 2
and 4 Hudson avenue, corner Quay street, was or
ganized in 1877, with a capital of $50,000, to
produce perforated wrapping, writing and toilet
papers, and rolled paper of all descriptions, under
patents controlled by them. Their specialty is
hotel toilet paper with fixture. The output is about
1 ,000 pounds of wrapping paper and three tons of
toilet paper daily. Their building is six-story,
brick, 44 by 44 feet; motive power, twelve-horse
power engine. Forty hands are employed.
Branch offices are established in New York,
1475 Broadway; Manager, H. B. Smith. Phila
delphia, 1 03 1 Chestnut street; Manager, Wm. A.
Hamilton. Chicago, 44 La Salle street; Manager,
Louis L. Munson, and Boston, 114 Milk street,
Moulton & Goodwin, General Agents for the New
England States. The officers are Seth Wheeler,
President; R. M. Hamilton, Treasurer; E. J.
Wheeler, Secretary.
The Albany Card and Paper Company was in
corporated in 1868. The building, 315 to 321
Hamilton street, in which they manufacture and
have their offices, was begun about i860, and was
gradually built in detachments, until it now occu
pies an area of 90 by 2 1 2 feet Is five stories high
and made of brick. Seventy-five males and an
equal number of females are employed.
They surface-coat and finish colored paper for
lithographing, for printers and for box-makers.
Card-board of all kinds is manufactured.
Their trade extends throughout the States, Can
ada, and even reaches Brazil.
James M. Warner is President; J. H. McC.lure,
Vice-President; and E. J. Miller, Secretary, of this
extensive manufactory.
Allston Adams conducts a caid-boarj manufac
tory at the corner of North Pearl and Pleasant
streets. PAPER-HANGINGS.
Lemuel Steele was perhaps the first Albany
merchant who engaged in manufacturing and
importing paper-hangings. He came to Albany
from Hartford, Conn., in 1815, and began busi
ness at No. 453 South Market street, now Broad
way. Mr. Steele was prominent in public affairs;
was Alderman for ten years, Chief Engineer of
the Fire Department, Director in the Mechanics'
& Farmeis' Bank over twenty years, and held va
rious other public offices. He died December 26,
1853. He was succeeded, in 1852, by the firm of

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

603

George B. Steele & Robert M. King, who are now
succeeded by Frank B. King.
TOBACCO, SNUFF AND CIGAR MANUFAC
TURE.
The first tobacco manufactory in Albany was
erected by James Caldwell, a man closley identified
with many of the earlier successful manufacturing
interests of this city. The establishment was in
operation in 1 790, situated near the mansion-house
of the Patroons. It was regarded as the most ex
tensive and perfect of its kind in the country.
Here a large force of men was employed in mak
ing snuff and cigars, and drying and curing tobacco.
The snuff-mill was considered capable of making
more snuff in nine months than was consumed
annually in the northern part of the country. In
1794 the works were destroyed by fire, but soon
after rebuilt. In 18 10 Levi Solomon became a
partner of Mr. Caldwell, the partnership continu
ing until 1820, when Mr. Caldwell retired. Mr.
Solomon carried on the business until 1832, when
he sold the concern to Charles Chapman, who con
tinued the business for several years.
The tobacco factory of Benjamin Payn's Sons
was established by Benjamin Payn in 1835. He
conducted the business until his death in 1881,
when he was succeeded by his sons, Arthur S. and
Howard K., under the present firm title. The
factory and sales-rooms, corner of Maiden lane and
James street are comprised in a five-story brick
building, 3 5 by 90 feet in dimensions, with machinery
and appliances for producing about 100,000 cigars
and 25,000 pounds of tobacco per month; em
ployment being furnished to seventy skilled work
men. Alexander Greer commenced the manufacture
of tobacco, snuff and cigars in Albany in 1847-
In 1858 his sons were admitted as partners, and the
senior member dying in 1873, the present firm was
organized, consisting of Thomas H., John and
Alexander Greer, under the firm name of Alex
ander Greer's Sons. The factory is situated at 820
and 822 Broadway, where fifty hands are employed
in the various departments on the four floors of this
large building. The annual product amounts to
1, 200,000 cigars annually.
Moses Strasser founded the present tobacco
manufacturing firm of M. Strasser & Co. in 1852.
The individual members are Moses, Benjamin and
Solomon Strasser. Their plant, at No 27 Hudson
avenue, consists of a four-story brick building 25
by 70 feet in dimensions, where a large force of
workmen are employed. The trade of this house
is extensive and growing.
In 1867, Gee & Van Slyke commenced to man
ufacture cigars in Albany, and continued the bus
iness until 1870, when the firm was changed by
the retirement of Mr. Gee, after which the bus
iness was continued by G. W. Van Slyke until 188 1,
when Walter Horton was admitted as partner,
under the firm name of G. W. Van Slyke & Co.
Their factory and sales-room, 47 l Broadway, com
prises a five-story brick building, 23 by 180 feet in

dimensions. Here is furnished employment to
about two hundred operatives, whose annual pro
duction aggregates about 7,000,000 cigars.
Besides the above manufacturers, the following
are engaged in this business: Frank Chamberlain,
26 and 28 State street; James Jones, 627 Broad
way; S. Levy & Brother, 36 Green street; F. B.
Mooney, 9 South Pearl; Shield & Sons, 37 Church
street; M. G. McNamara & Co., 71 North Pearl
street; W. A. Rapine, 451 Madison avenue; J. J.
Franklin, 500 Broadway; Julius Fish & Brother, 14
South Pearl; and D. A. Lawler & Son, 776 Broad

way.

HATS AND FUR GOODS.

The making of felt and beaver hats in New
England, New York and Virginia, began to be a
large industry in the latter part of the seven
teenth and early part of the eighteenth century;
but was checked by parliamentary law as inter
fering with British industry, and thus restrained
until after the Revolution. After this it was
revived. The manufacturing of fur goods and hats was
at one time one of the most important industries
in Albany. It was claimed that the Albany fur
riers excelled all others in the world in the im
portant art of dying their furs. Among the pioneers
in this industry of whom we have authentic record,
were John W. Wendell, who in 1783 was engaged
in manufacturing hats; Elisha Dorr, who in 1793
followed this business. William Mayell, who came
from England in 1795, settled in Albany and
began to make hats. In an advertisement in the
newspapers in 1820 his store was designated as op
posite the Eagle Tavern. He was at this time the
most extensive manufacturer of hats in the city. Be
sides being a good mechanic, he made some pre
tension to science. He was an active member of the
Mechanics' Society, and afterwards of the Albany
Institute, of which he is said to have been the
founder. In the first quarter of the present century J. H.
Prentice, Packer & Co., established a manufactory
of fur goods here, which grew to immense pro
portions. Some years after it was continued by
Prentice, Finn & Co. In 1844, it was considered
the largest of its kind in the world; 700 to 800
hands were constantly employed, and over 2,000
caps were manufactured daily. Their products, as
fast as manufactured, were shipped to a branch
establishment in New York, whence they were
distributed to all parts of this and foreign
countries. About this same time Taaffe & Gough conducted
a similar business at No. 1 Exchange Building,
where they employed about 1 50 hands in this bus
iness. A large quantity of muffs, collars and trim
mings were manufactured by them.
Edward S. Willett, about 1825, had a hat man
ufactory on the corner of Green and Bassett streets.
He was the first to commence the manufacture of
silk hats in Albany.
In 1 844, Williams, Parke & Co. conducted a cap,
muff, glove and robe manufactory in this city, at

604

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

No. 71 Broadway. Their work was noted for its
excellence and was well known all over the country
at this date.
In 1832, Joshua G. Cotrell founded the business
now conducted by Messrs. Edgar Cotrell and
Daniel Leonard, under the firm name of Cotrell
& Leonard, at 472 and 474 Broadway. Messrs.
E. Cotrell and Leonard entered the firm in 1867,
and gained control of the same in 1878, the year
of the senior Mr. Cotrell's death. They built the
premises 46 State street in 1870, occupying the
same until 1884, when they removed to their pres
ent quarters. Their annual sales are about $250,-
000. About sixty years ago, Denison Williams dressed
and dyed seal-skins. He was succeeded by Packer,
Prentice & Co., whose manufactures in 1831
reached the value of $500,000. John Bryan,
James Chase, Robert Cheesebrough and John S.
Smith were also engaged in this business. Twenty
thousand fur seals per year were dressed, which
were made into caps. When these caps went out
of fashion the trade waned. In 1858 it revived,
since which time seal-skin sacques have been man
ufactured. The firm of George C. Treadwell & Co. , man
ufacturers and dealers in furs, from its small be
ginnings in 1832, when it was established by
George C. Treadwell, late deceased, has grown
until it now ranks with the leading fur establish
ments of the country. They manufacture and
deal in all kinds of fine furs, sacques, boas, caps,
gloves, robes, etc. The present fine process by
which fur seal, otter and beaver are dyed and
dressed, is the result of Mr Treadwell's industry
and skill. Their premises are 60 by 30 feet, four-
stories high, brick. The first floor is used for dis
playing goods, the others for manufacturing and
storing. The successor of Mr. Treadwell is his
son, George H. Treadwell. The house has a branch
store at No. 676 Broadway, New York City, under
the supervision of Henry Treadwell. In 1844,
Mr. Treadwell, Sr., had acquired the reputation
of being one of the best cap manufacturers in the
United States, and as especially excelling in dress
ing and coloring furs.
There are now, and long have been, extensive
dealers in every variety of hats, caps and furs, and
fur goods, in this city who are referred to under
the head of the Beaver and Fur Trade, and Trade
and Commerce. GEORGE CURTIS TREADWELL
was born in Farmington, Conn., October 24,
1 81 2, and died in Albany, N. Y., October 3,
1885. His father was George Treadwell, of Farmington.
His grandfather was Hon. John Treadwell, Gov
ernor of Connecticut and first President of the
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions. His mother was Nancy Curtis, daugh
ter of Eleazer Curtis, of Farmington, Conn.
Mr. Treadwell left his home when nine years of
age, and lived with his uncle, Major Roger

Hooker, till he was fourteen, when he removed to
Albany, N. Y., and entered the dry goods house
of Chandler, Starr, & Co. and remained till 1829,
when he was employed by Packer, Prentice & Co.,
manufacturers of furs. He remained with them till
he commenced business for himself, April 1, 1832.
James Chase entered the firm of George C. Tread
well & Co. February 1, 1846, and retired February
1, 1872. Thomas Treadwell entered the concern
February 1, 1846, and retired February 1, 1853.
Moses P. Whitcomb entered the concern February
1, 1854, and retired February 1, 1857. Henry
Treadwell entered the concern February 1, 1854.
George C. Treadwell retired from the concern Feb
ruary 1, 1884, and the firm of Treadwell &Co.,
consisting of Henry Treadwell, his brother, and
George H. Treadwell, his son, was formed Feb
ruary 1, 1885.
Upon Mr. Treadwell's retirement, the following
notice appeared in the Albany Argus :
' ' The retirement of George C. Treadwell from
active business after a career of over half a century,
merits a passing notice. Brought up in the strict
ness of a New England home, Mr. Treadwell
came to this city a youth, and soon engaged in the
fur business, bringing with its prosecution the
habits of industry, integrity and close application,
which were the fruits of his early training. During
the whole period he has won the esteem and con
fidence of the entire community. Of somewhat
retiring habits, Mr. Treadwell has never filled any
public position, except that of a director in one of
our banks, where he remained but for a brief
period. But his interest in the public welfare has
always been manifested by his liberal gifts to all
worthy public and charitable objects. In retiring
from business, which he does in consequence of
impaired health, he carries with him the sympathy
and respect of all who are acquainted with him.
In the card announcing his retirement, after thank
ing his friends for their patronage and recommend
ing his successors to the public, he closes with his
' acknowledgment to Almighty God for the material
welfare he has enjoyed.' This, which might seem
like cant if it came from some men, is so charac
teristic of Mr. Treadwell, that all who know him
will appreciate his sincerity in thus publicly making
known his gratitude to the Author and Giver of all
blessings." He married Amy D. Roberts March 2, 1836.
Their children are George Hooker, Lucy, Julia,
Charles, Edgar, Ezra Prentice, Emma, Alice, and
Howard. To the advice and example of Major Hooker
his uncle, William Gay and John T. Norton, and
the early training of his mother, he is indebted for
those sterling traits of character which have made
him such a bright example of true Christian man
hood in the Church and the world.
To the habit of making every transaction of his
life a matter of conscience, with a firm reliance
upon his Maker, and following the Bible as his
only guide, was due his success, the result of which
was a competency of this world's goods and the
good-will of all his acquaintances.

^''tylixCKoe-'Ciets.y1

GEORGE C TREADWELL

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

605

He has always given liberally to those objects of
charity which commended themselves to his judg
ment as being right and for the public good.
Mr. Treadwell never held any public office,
except to serve as a Director of the Commercial
Bank for a short period ; a Trustee of the Second
Presbyterian Church from 1849 to 1876 (twenty-
seven years) ; and as Elder in the same church.
He devoted his time to his business and was
regular and steady in his habits, and, though suf
fering all his life from asthma, he had never been
sick enough to be obliged to remain at home till
October 24, 1883, since which time he only went
out to drive.
BOOT AND SHOE MANUFACTURE.
The making of boots and shoes on orders for
customers, is a business that has been carried on for
ages, and the sons of St. Crispin, following their
useful craft, have been found in nearly every neigh
borhood in this country, from the earliest settle
ment, alongside the blacksmith, the house joiner,
the Jack of all trades. Their occupation is not yet
gone, but the large establishments that supply
shoes to the trade, reaching even to foreign lands,
had their origin and development in New England,
beginning in the early part of this century. Their
introduction in Albany has been more recent, but
equally successful.
The present firm of Willard Bellows, manufac
turer of boots and shoes, was founded in 1856 by
Messrs. Munson & Co., who were succeeded in
1864 by Bellows & Moore, who continued in busi
ness until 1879, when Mr. Bellows became sole
owner. It is one of the leading manufactories of
its kind in Albany. The factory and sales-rooms,
4 1 1 Broadway, occupy four floors, 20 by 70 feet
in dimensions. About twenty-five workmen are
constantly employed.
The boot and shoe manufactory of Woolverton &
Co., 369 and 371 Broadway, was established by G.
A. Woolverton & Co. in 1831. It was continued
by the founders for over half a century, when,
January 1, 1881, the present firm, composed of
Monroe Woolverton and Marcus E. Stone, succeeded
to the business. This factory is comprised in a
four-story brick building, 50 by 100 feet in dimen
sions, where are employed one hundred and fifty
operators, producing fifty thousand pairs of shoes
annually. Fearey Manufacturing Company. — This, the
largest boot and shoe manufactory in Albany, was
founded by Thomas Fearey in 1844. Up to 1854
goods were manufactured only to supply the several
retail stores conducted by the founder. In this
year the manufacture of boots and shoes was begun
at the foot of Beaver street to supply the wholesale
trade. In 1865, his two sons, Thomas H. and
George D. Fearey, became associated with the
founder under the firm name of Thomas Fearey &
Sons. At this time large apartments were secured
at Nos. 51 and 53 Liberty street In 1867 the firm
purchased the building Nos. 9 and 11 Liberty
street and removed to that location. These fre

quent removals were made for the purpose of
accommodating their growing business, but this
last location was soon found too small, and in 1869
they completed and first occupied their present
quarters on Union, Division and Liberty streets.
This plant covers nearly an entire square, upon
which are erected two large four-story brick build
ings. The capacity of the factory is about one
thousand five hundred pairs of shoes per day.
About five hundred operatives are employed.
In 1882 a stock company was formed called the
Fearey Manufacturing Company, as successors to
Thomas Fearey & Sons. The business is controlled
by a Board of Trustees. The following are the
officers and trustees : George L. Stedman, Presi
dent ; George D. Fearey, Vice-President and
Manager ; William K. Templeton, Secretary and
Treasurer ; B. F. Fayerweather, Louis Schoellkopf,
Jonas M. Barnet, James Abbot, Joseph R. Harper,
John F. Shaffer.
East New York Boot and Shoe Manufacturing
Company has a branch factory at 226 to 232
Hamilton street. The plant of this Company is
one of the most extensive in the city devoted to
this branch of industry. The factory consists of a
four-story brick building. About four hundred
operatives are employed in the several processes of
manufacture. This house was originally estab
lished in 1858, at East New York, L. L, by John
R. Pitkin. A portion of the works was removed
to Albany in 1 860. The present officers of the
Company are George D. Pitkin, President ;
Walcott H. Pitkin, Vice-President ; and Frederick
E. Pitkin, Secretary and Treasurer. Two hundred
and twenty-five thousand dollars are expended an
nually in Albany for wages and salaries. C. C.
Ballou is Superintendent of this factory, Edwin W.
Ober is Cashier, and Charles G. Hoy, Accountant.
James G. Cummings and John H. Fotens are fore
men of separate departments.
The boot and shoe manufactory of M. W.
Dodge was founded by the present proprietor in
1877. The factory occupies the three upper
stories of the building, Nos. 416 and 418 Broad
way. An average of sixty hands are employed,
and all the latest and most improved machinery is
used. Mr. Dodge sells the product of his factory
principally to the retail dealers.
In 1877, Messrs. A. McD. Shoemaker and
William Pabst, under the firm name of Shoe
maker & Pabst, began manufacturing boots and
shoes. Their establishment at 35 and 37 Hamil
ton street is a three-story brick building, 42 by 30
feet, and seventy-five operatives find employment
there. The products are women's, misses' and
children's medium grade goat and kid boots and
shoes. Stephen Munson was among the earliest manu
facturers of shoes in Albany, and carried on this
business for many years. He is still a resident ot
this city, but not engaged in active business.
J. R. Busley, at present Superintendent in the
shoe manufactory of Herrick & Freeman, claims
to be the first person to use steam power in making
shoes, not only in Albany, but in America.

606

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

SHIRTS, COLLARS, AND CUFFS.
The Albany Linen Collar Company. — The man
ufacture of shirts, linen collars and cuffs for the
wholesale trade, in this city, has, with a single nota
ble exception, that of the firm of S. L. Munson,
been prosecuted only to a limited extent. The first
successful attempt to establish an extensive collar
manufactory in this city was made in 1867 by the
firm of Munson, Richardson & Co., composed of
S. L. Munson, J. A. Richardson and L. R. Dwight.
In 1869 the firm dissolved and S. L. Munson, the
present proprietor of the concern, became sole owner.
The business was first carried on at 372 and 374
Broadway. It was afterwards removed to 463 and
465 Broadway. Other removals were soon occa
sioned by the rapidly growing business. In 1884
Mr. Munson purchased the old Hudson avenue
Church, which since, at an outlay of much money,
he has converted into a handsome and well-arranged
manufactory. Here every facility is afforded for
his large and growing business. About three
hundred hands are employed, of whom a greater
part work on the premises.
The manufacture of paper collars was begun in
Albany, in 1869, by Edward Elisha Mack and
Stephen Jarvis, and for some years a prosperous
business was done. It was finally abandoned
when the senior member of the firm founded the
present house of Mack & Co., manufacturers of
cloth-faced and linen collars, cuffs and shirts. The
manufacturing plant is located at No. 6 Pruyn
street, and embraces a four-story brick building.
About sixty operatives are employed at the factory,
and about the same number are furnished with
work at their own homes. The individual mem
bers of the firm are Edward Elisha Mack and
William M. Ticknor.
BRUSHES.
Bristles, wire, broom corn, wool, leather, camel's
hair and other material are at this day used in
the manufacture of brushes for the various pur
poses of cleaning and painting.
In 1833, J. B. Armour began the manufacture
of brushes from bristles for domestic purposes and
for manufacturing and machine uses. The busi
ness was afterward conducted by Ferris & Armour.
In 1880, John Ferris, Jr., the present proprietor,
became sole owner, and is improving the style and
finish. The premises, a four-story brick structure,
20 by 75 feet, are located at 400 Broadway.
Nearly five-sixths of the bristles used in American
brushes are obtained from Russia.
The quality of the brushes made by Mr. Ferris
is giving him an increasing trade.
SAMUEL L. MUNSON.
Among the men who founded New Haven in
1638, was Thomas A. Munson, who came to
America in 1621. Richard Lyman was of the
band who, in 1635, hewed their way from Boston
to the Connecticut River, and located the town of
Hartford. Both of these men were of noble Eng

lish families. After exactly two hundred years, and
in the eighth generation in America, these two
Puritan families were united by the marriage in
1835, at Chester, Mass., of Garry Munson and
Harriet Lyman. Of their seven children, the fifth
and youngest son is Samuel Lyman Munson, who
was born in the town of Norwich (now Hunt
ington) Mass., June 14, 1844. His father was
the most prominent man in that section of the
State, and served the State, county, town and
church all officially during a long and busy life.
His advice and counsel were much sought by his
neighbors, and a remarkable illustration of his
reputation for sagacity and integrity is found in the
fact that he was at one time administrating on no
less than fifteen different estates, while his posses
sion of extraordinary business qualifications was
demonstrated by the fact, that during this period,
as a farmer, a- dealer in wool and a manufacturer,
he gave careful attention to his own large interests,
with results satisfactory both to himself and others
interested. In religion and morals a Puritan, in
secular affairs always just and liberal, and in all
things fearless, he died after having achieved the
allotted three score and ten years, leaving a spot
less reputation, which is held as a sacred legacy by
his children.
Samuel Lyman Munson attended the district
school of his neighborhood, assisting, betimes, in
the farm work, until, at the age of twelve, he was
sent to Williston Seminary, at East Hampton,
Mass., where he was a student during the succeed
ing three years. At the age of fifteen he entered a
large dry goods house in Boston, where, during the
next two years, he learned the elements of business
and placed himself in the way of substantial ab-
vancement; but his health, never robust, failed
perceptibly during his confinement, and, obliged
to relinquish his position on that account, he re
turned home and resumed his old, health-giving
farm life. Thus passed a year greatly to his phys
ical benefit. He then engaged himself to Messrs.
Wick & Strong, manufacturers of clothing, in Al
bany, to undertake the development of their busi
ness in the West Four years later, in 1867, with
Messrs. J. A. Richardson and L. R. Dwight, two
young men of Albany, he embarked in the manu
facture of linen collars. Without experience, and
with limited means, the partners did not make the
venture a success, and they severed their relations
at the expiration of two years, when Mr. Munson
reorganized the business and continued it alone.
Its history has been one of constant growth and
uniform success. Its requirements having neces
sitated frequent removals to larger and still larger
quarters; in 1884, foreseeing that for the same
reason another removal would soon be necessary,
Mr. Munson purchased the old Hudson avenue
Church, which he will remodel into an immense
factory, where will be located permanently an es
tablishment which, beginning a few years ago with
only two sewing machines, now numbers its em
ployees by hundreds, and distributes its wares
through the trade in nearly every town from Boston
to San Francisco.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

607

In 1868, Mr. Munson married Susan B., daugh
ter of Lemuel J. Hopkins, of Albany, and has
three sons and two daughters. Retiring in his
habits, and spending among his books most of the
time not necessarily devoted to his large and in
creasing business, he yet takes a lively interest in
public affairs, and is identified with the principal
literary, Masonic, athletic, and social organizations
of the city. He is also a Trustee of the Home
Savings Bank. Yet a comparatively young man,
and endowed with business ability of an uncom
mon order, and possessing the confidence of the
commercial community in a marked degree; full
of energy and perseverance; he seems destined to
achieve very high rank among the business men
and manufacturers of the capital city.
STEAM DYEING AND SCOURING.
The application of aniline dyes twenty-five years
ago to dyeing processes, marked an important era.
Previous to this time, coloring matter was expen
sive, and not so easily applied as those now in
universal use.
The oldest dye-works for the cleansing and dye
ing of fabrics, etc., in this city, is the one now
owned by Messrs. Robert F. and William D. Mac-
farlane, 24 Norton street, who have branches at
80 Hudson avenue and 40 Orange street. This
was founded, in 1830, by Robert Martin at No. 20
of the same street He was succeeded in 1 840 by
William Giffen, who conducted the business for
ten years, when Peter Leddy became owner, and
continued as such until 1855, the year of his death.
His widow, Elizabeth, then assumed control, sell
ing out, in 1864, to Robert Macfarlane, the father
of the present proprietors.
Robert Macfarlane died in Brooklyn, December
21, 1883, from paralysis. He was born in Ruther-
glen, near Glasgow, Scotland, on St. George's Day,
181 5. Having learned the art of dyeing at his
father's establishment in Paisley, Scotland, he came
to America when a boy, and settled in Albany in
1840. He was a close student and graceful writer.
In 1842 he gained the Young Men's Association
prize medal for his excellent essay on the Life and
Character of General Anthony Wayne. He first
became known as a writer for the press in a series
of articles on scientific subjects contained in a
magazine called the Mechanics' Mirror, published,
in partnership with the late Joel Munsell, in 1846.
In 1847 he was called to the editorial chair of the
Scientific American in New York, and was con
nected with that paper for seventeen years, during
which time it acquired a world-wide reputation for
ability and accuracy. During this time he was
much sought as a lecturer on scientific subjects.
He published a work on the steam engine, and a
hand-book for dyers and practical chemists, both
of which passed through many editions. About
twenty-five years ago he returned to Albany, and
bought out a dyeing establishment, which is under
his name at the present time, though for the last
twelve years his sons, Robert F. and William D.
Macfarlane, have had entire charge of the busi

ness. His life was eminently pure and free from
reproach. Retiring from active business about
twelve years ago, he revisited his native land, and
while there contributed a series of interesting let
ters, which were published in the Scottish Ameri
can fournal, attracting much attention.
Mr. Macfarlane was a member of the Albany
Institute for many years, and President of the St.
Andrew's Society of Albany. He was a consistent
Christian man, of a gentle and noble spirit, for
over fifty years a member of the Presbyterian
Church and Sabbath-school Teacher and Superin
tendent. William Giffen was one of the pioneers in this
business in Albany, upwards of 60 years ago. He
became eminently successful in it for a number of
years, and retired after having accumulated a com
petency. He was succeeded by his daughter, Mrs.
John McDuffie. She has a thorough practical
knowledge of the business in its most minute de
tails, and has been very successful financially. She
still conducts the business, as owner and proprie
tress, at 37 Beaver street. Her trade is rapidly in
creasing, and she has a number of branch offices
in this city and the adjoining counties. Mrs.
McDuffie originally introduced steam-power in the
dyeing and scouring business.
LUMBER.
GILBERT HUNTER
was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer County, N. Y.,
October 20, 18 18. His parents, Robert and Ziptha
Anderson Hunter, were both of Scotch descent,
and among the earliest settlers of the northern
part of Rensselaer County, having removed from
Westchester County soon after the close of the Rev
olution. His childhood and youth were spent upon the
family homestead, near which place, in Millertown,
N. Y, he subsequently learned the trade of car
riage-making. When about 21 years of age he re
moved to Valley Falls, and began on his own ac
count the business of manufacturing carriages and
sleighs. He followed this business for about eight
years, then abandoned it and removed to Albany,
which, during the remainder of his life, with but
one or two interruptions, was his residence.
His first venture at Albany was in connection
with an important contract on the Hudson River
Railroad, then being constructed from Albany to
New York. He was subsequently engaged in the
manufacture of lumber at Potsdam, St. Lawrence
County; also in Oneida County; and, lastly, at
Jacksonville, Fla., where, in the years 1876 and
1877, in company with his eldest son, Dexter
Hunter, he established the extensive saw-mill busi
ness to which the latter succeeded after his death.
In the year 1865 he began the lumber trade in
Albany, and in company with Mr. Dexter Hunter
continued this business until his death, which oc
curred at Jacksonville, Fla., June 29, 1881, at 63
years of age. Mr. Hunter was thrice married, and
there survives him his widow, Mrs. Josephine R.

608

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Hunter, four sons, Dexter, Gilbert, Paul, and Royal
Hunter. He had three brothers, John, Robert,
and Harvey Hunter, the last named being the only
one surviving him, and who is now engaged in the
lumber trade at Albany. Early in life Mr. Hunter
connected himself with the Methodist Church at
Valley Falls, and throughout the period of his
residence in that village contributed to the utmost
of his ability, in time and money, to the support
of that organization. Upon removing to Albany
he united with the Hudson Avenue Methodist
Church. About the year 1866 he severed his con
nection with this church, and united with the
Fourth Presbyterian Church of Albany. This re
lationship continued until his death. In business
Mr. Hunter was a thoroughly honest, straightfor
ward man, of more than ordinary foresight and
enterprise. He did not follow in the wake of other
men, but originated almost every business venture
with which he was ever connected. Striking boldly
out in paths not trodden by others, with a faith
that never wavered and a courage that never failed,
no matter how unpropitious the outlook, he carried
most of his enterprises to a successful issue. Em
ploying, as he did in the last years of his life, several
hundred men of different nationalities and almost
every grade, from the skilled mechanic to the
humblest day laborer, he made it a rule to ac
quaint himself personally with every employee.
And while, on the one hand, exacting the most
faithful service from each, on the other, he took a
personal interest in the welfare of all, giving them
kindly advice and substantial assistance in every
time of need. By his men he was universally
respected; and the most touching tributes that
have since his death been contributed to his mem
ory were, in notable instances, those uttered by
these employees.
In all social relations Mr. Hunter was all that
any man could be. A kind husband and father,
and absolutely tiue to every requirement of social
life, he was possessed of a generous nature, a
sanguine temperament, and a modest and retiring
disposition. While he preferred the seclusion of his own home
to the allurements of public life, he never failed to
take an active interest in all matters of public con
cern, or to cast his vote and exert his influence as
his conscience dictated; or to aid, to the extent of
his means, every worthy charity.
Throughout his life his physical strength and
mental faculties were absorbed in the successful
prosecution of his business. His religion was to
him the symbol and ideal of all that was sacred,
pure and true, while his family always held the first
place in his heart, as the place of all others where
piety and every virtue should manifest themselves.
According to the census returns of i860, there
were in the county 594 manufacturing establish
ments, with an aggregate capital of $9,534,079,
which employed 8,032 males and 3,671 females,
and produced a value of $16,585,025 annually.
This, however, included the large cotton and
woolen mills and hosiery and other factories of

Watervliet and Cohoes. Deducting them, it would
leave for the City of Albany 337 establishments,
with an aggregate capital of $5, 501, 119, employing
4,084 males and 2, 516 females, and producing a
value of $9,586,314 annually.
The principal manufacturers, as shown by the
census of i860, are given below. This statement
is only approximately correct on account of errors
in census taking :

Manufactures.

Agricultural Implements 
Alcohol 
Bricks 
Brooms 
Cabinet-ware, Chairs and Bed
steads 
Carriages 
Cigars 
Clothing 
Coffee and Spice Mills 
Cotton Goods 
Drain Tile 
Edge Tools 
Fire-brick 
Flour and Meal 
Hats 
Hosiery 
Iron-founding 
Leather 
Linseed Oil 
Machinery and Steam Engines. ,
Malting 
Malt Liquors 
Paper 
Patent Medicines 
Pianos 
Planed Lumber 
Saddlery and Harness 
Soap and Candles 
Stove Founding 
Woolen Goods and Hosiery 

§85,000260,000127,500 22,300
243,^5° 97,40067,200
326,500 40,000
,400,800 26,000
231,000 50,000
357,70° 73,000
802,000 20,000
40,700 40,000
175,000
510,300 641,000 62,000 5,3°°
120,450140,000 30, ICO
32,800
,013,000 964,000

102 co
202'59
287222200459 22
612 50
320 2575
365 33 1715
182 68
241 55 5
152
237 86 '4
840582

855

94°

rt °

$214,060 950,000 106,600 57.6°4
3°3.°5°
211,740
221,008 713.9" Si,5°°
1.937,5°° 35,000
269,200 50,000
823,170281,200
I,C99-9°S 44,90065,611 70,000
205,200
561,000804,211 67,49476,100
126,400
861,075 83,700
110,485
1,038,700 1,515,180

According to the census of 1880, the employ
ment of a portion of the inhabitants of Albany
was as follows : Apprentices, 266; bakers, 352;
bankers and brokers, 105; barbers, 207; black
smiths, 370; boarding-house keepers, 52; book
binders, 136; boot and shoe-makers, 1,217;
brewers and maltsters, 208; brick-makers, 82;
butchers, 323; cabinet-makers, 195; carpenters,
1,127; carriage and car-makers, 101; cigar-makers,
424; clerks and book-keepers in manufactories,
62; clerks in stores, 2,362; clerks and copyists,
171; clergymen, 94; commercial travelers, ped
dlers, etc., 547; coopers, 113; cotton and wool
mill operatives, 16; dentists, 22; domestics, 2,993;
draymen and hackmen, 731; employees in manu
factories not specified, 216; engineers and fire
men, 337; factory operatives not specified, 40;
farmers, 67; farm laborers, 74; fish and oystermen,
6; gardeners, 176; Government officials, 441;
harness-makers, 95; hotel and restaurant keepers
and employees, 441; in express companies, 51;
in railroad companies, 750; iron and steel, 932;
insurance, in; jewelers, 84; journalists, 61;
laborers, 4,130; laundry employees, 258; lawyers,
211; leather, 79; livery-stable keepers and em
ployees, 129; lumbermen, 9; machinists, 383;
masons and stone-cutters, 965; manufacturers,

^Lf^t^^z^-^-

Z7-oLh. E3.Be.lls Sans NY

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALRANY.

609

266; millers, 12; miners, 2; musicians and music-
teachers, 148; on street railroads, 39; painters,
553; paper-mill operatives, 101; physicians, 181;
plumbers and gas-fitters, 153; printers, 513; saloon
keepers, 434; saw-mill operatives, 39; ship carpen.

ters, 31; steamboats, canals, etc., 204; stock
raisers and drovers, 20; tailors, dressmakers and
milliners, 2,003; telegraph companies, 85; teachers,
448; traders and dealers, 1,889; tinners, 142;
and wheelwrights, 29.

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

THE interests of the industries of Agriculture,
Manufactures and Trade are too closely com
mingled in practical life to admit of well-defined
separation. Production calls for consumption;
consumption calls for production. The trader is
the agent for both the producer and consumer.
They are all mutually related. Often the same parties
produce and sell and consume. All over-produc
tion beyond the wants of the consumer goes to the
trader to exchange or to sell. In a city like Albany
there are few tradesmen who confine themselves to
one class of goods, and few makers who do not
trade with any buyer who is ready to purchase.
Hence the difficulty of making our classification a
sharp one. We endeavor to transmit, on the historic
page, the names of the chief men in manufactures
and trade, so far as we can, in our limited time
and space, gather them. They have done much
to make our city what it is, and their names should
live and be held in honor.
Previous to the Revolution, the trade of Albany
consisted principally in furs. The extent, character
and value of this trade have been described under
the head of "The Beaver and the Fur Trade." It
remains to give a general idea of the commercial
interests of the city from that date to the present
About 1780, adventurers, led by hopes of
wealth, began to flock to this natural entrepot of
trade. Up to this date the trade of Albany had
been restricted by the illiberal policy of the Dutch,
who looked with jealous eyes upon all progressive
foreigners. At the outbreak of hostilities between
this country and England, enterprising residents
were quick to see the advantages which the place
afforded for supplying the American armies with
provisions; and during the Revolution they took
advantage of this trade, which grew to immense
proportions and more than compensated for the
loss of the fur trade. In winter the farmers of the
surrounding regions brought their grain to the city
and sold it to the merchants. During this period
Albany grew to be a large grain center, from which
a good share of the provisions used by the Ameri
can army were received. After the close of
the war, immense houses for storing grain were
built, in which it was stored until the opening of
navigation in the spring, when it was transported
to New York.
The best idea of the extent of the commerce
of Albany from 1780 to 1800, is gained from
the observation of intelligent writers at this date.

"About 1781," says a local writer, "not more
than seventy, at the utmost calculation, shops
and stores were kept in this city, nor had we
manufactories of any kind, but depended on im
portation for every manufactured article. " And to
show the rapid increase in trade seven or eight
years after, he says. "Now we behold Market and
State streets crowded with stores, and rents in those
streets enhanced to such a degree as to put houses
out of the reach of inconsiderable traders." In
deed, for ten or fifteen years after the Revolution,
Albany made rapid strides in its commercial af
fairs, and perhaps, according to the population of
the city, made more real progress than at any one
period of its history. February 8, 1 794, was a not
able day for trade. The Gazette of that day says:
"On a moderate estimate, it is presumed the pur
chases and sales of produce and merchandise ex
ceeded $50,000. Of the article of wheat, between
25 and 30,000 bushels were brought to this mar
ket; a quantity far exceeding the receipts of any
one day since the settlement of this country. The
price of wheat rose during the day from 7s. 7d. to
8s., or the highest price between this and the first
of March. The last mode of purchase is truly
novel and must be convincing to the farmer that
the merchants of this city are too independent to
form combinations."
Count Liancourt, who visited Albany in 1795,
says in regard to trade : "The trade of Albany is
chiefly carried on with the produce of the Mohawk
country, and extends eastward as far as agriculture
and cultivated lands expand. The State of Ver
mont and a part of New Hampshire furnish many
articles of trade, and the exports chiefly consist in
timber and lumber of every sort and description,
potatoes, potash and pearl ashes, all species of grain,
lastly, in manufactured articles. These articles
are most of them transported to Albany in winter
on sledges, housed by the merchants, and by them
successively transmitted to New York, where they
are either sold for bills on England or exchanged
for English goods, which are in return sent from
Albany to the provinces, whence the articles for
transportation were drawn. * * * The trade of
Albany is carried on in ninety vessels, forty-five of
which belong to the inhabitants of the town, and
the rest to New York or other places."
At this time no Albany ships went directly from
this port to Europe, and yet provisions were sent
thither from Albany. Liancourt marveled at this

610

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

lack of enterprise on the part of Albany ship
owners, which deprived the merchants of Albany
of a considerable profit, and threw it into the hands
of the New York ship-owners, who made voyages
to England, Holland, and other countries.
In the winter of 1795, the tide of emigration to
ward the western part of the State, through Albany,
reached proportions of considerable magnitude,
and furnished no small revenue to the city. In
one day a citizen of Albany counted five hundred
sleighs laden with families of emigrants and their
family goods, going through the city.
Albany contained in 1 796 one hundred and
thirty one stores ¦ — almost double the number
sixteen years previously — and sixty-eight store
houses. During the War of 181 2, Albany was one of the
principal places from which Government supplies
were obtained for the army. The transportation
of these goods from Albany to Buffalo costs from
$20.00 to $30.00 per ton. It was estimated that
9,000 tons were shipped from this port alone, the
profits upon which were enjoyed almost entirely by
Albany merchants and shippers.
Spafford's Gazetteer for 18 13, makes this note as
to trade in Albany : " Situated on one of the finest
rivers in the world, at a distance of two hundred
miles from the ocean, whose tide it enjoys; with
an uninterupted sloop navigation; and in the center
of an extensive and fertile country, of which it be
comes the natural mart, Albany carries on an
immense trade already, and seems destined to be
come one of the greatest inland towns in America.
* * * Of the shipping belonging to Albany I am
not precisely informed, but, agreeable to informa
tion derived from the dock-master, there are fifty
Albany sloops that pay wharfage by the year ; sixty
belonging to Troy, Lansingburgh and Waterford;
twenty-six from Tarrytown and New York; seventy
from New Jersey and the Eastern states, including
twenty schooners, in all two hundred and six; and
about one hundred and fifty from different places
have paid wharfage by the day, being engaged in
different kinds of trade, during the season of 1812,
making a total of three hundred and fifty-six. The
quantity of wheat purchased annually in Albany
is immensely great; and good judges have estima
ted it at near a million bushels. Other grain, and
every article of the agricultural and other common
products, nearly in the same proportion, swell the
aggregate exports from this city to an enormous
amount "
At this date the great road of intercourse be
tween the Eastern States and the Western Country
centered at Albany. More teams visited Albany
than any other place in the country. This na
turally had an important effect upon its trade. In
1826 it was claimed that 150,000 travelers passed
through Albany. In 1822 the construction of the
Erie Canal being then in rapid progress to com
pletion, the freight by land carriage between Utica
and Albany was greatly increased. It is said that
one mercantile house paid upwards of $2,000 for
a single day's transportation. A traveler passing
west had the curiosity to count the number of

wagons which he met on the road between Sche
nectady and Utica, and found them to exceed 350
loaded with flour, from 12 to 14 barrels each, mak
ing the quantity transported by land in one day to
exceed 4,300 barrels. The quantity transported
by water was supposed to be still greater.
The completion of the canal had a wonderful
effect upon the commercial welfare of the city, con
trary to the opinion of many unprogressive men of
that day, who firmly argued that' "Clinton's Ditch "
would prove the ruin of Albany! In 1826 there
had been an increase of 2,000 boats since 1824.
During the former year it was claimed that five
millions of dollars' worth of goods were sold by
not more than fifty houses.
The following table shows the increase in the
amount of produce and merchandise arriving at
Albany by way of the canal in two years, from
1832 to 1834: 1832. 1834.
Domestic spirits  21,285 20,839 Mils.
"  1,274 .... hhds.
Boards and Scantlings. . 36,020,594 62,103,000 feet.
Timber  55,5^9 I°4,I45 "
Flour  422,695 795, 182 bbls.
Provisions  21,274 20,864 "
Salt  23,117 19,070 bush.
Wheat  145,960 233,574 "
Coarse grain  208,943 490,880 "
No. of boats arrived and
cleared  14,300 18,550
No. of tons  109,300 156,804
It will be noticed that the increase in the great
est articles of merchandise — lumber in its various
shape, and flour and grain — is from 70 to 100
per cent. This table is given to show the rapid
growth of the trade in Albany at this period. In
the one article of lumber, Albany occupied a fore
most position in the United States, a position it
still holds. About this same date there were
twenty-five regular trading vessels between Albany
and Boston, which, it was estimated, brought to
Albany about 25,000 quintals of codfish during the
season, and about 25,000 barrels of mackerel, be
sides large quantities of merchandise which passed
up the canal or stopped for a market here. These
vessels took from Albany to Boston, in return,
about 75,000 barrels of flour each season, together
with large quantities of grain. The indirect trade
between Boston and Albany, which was transhipped
at New York, was also great. A number of vessels
were also engaged in carrying on a coasting trade
between Albany and the seaport towns of New
England. In 1821 only 41 vessels visited Albany
from eastern ports; in 1824 the number was 59;
in 1827 it had increased to 123.
Between 1830 and 1840, Albany's commercial
prosperity was augmented in a remarkable degree
by railroads. The opening of internal canals fur
nished a highway from the Hudson to the lakes of
the West, and by them to the Ohio and Mississippi
Rivers, and the Gulf of Mexico. But this important
thoroughfare could be used only a portion of the
year, and while it did much to increase the pop
ulation and wealth of the city, it was not till
the completion of the railroad that Albany can be
said to have assumed much commercial impor-

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

611

tance, making it accessible for merchandise during
the entire year, and for many years the chief en
trepot for almost all the exports and imports to
New York, the great maritime emporium.
From the books of the Harbor-master, we as
certain the total tonnage of vessels employed in the
Albany trade for the following years:
Tons. Tons.
1838  36,721 1844  65,507
1839  40,369 1845  70,985
1840  39,416 1846  71,011
1841  50,797 1847  97,019
¦842  49,356 1848  77,983
1843  55.354 1849  79,123
From the foregoing it will be seen that for a
period of twelve years there was a steady, healthy
increase of business. In 1847 there was a large
increase. This, it will be remembered, was an ex
traordinary period. There was a large export de
mand for bread-stuff, and everything that could
float either on the river or canal was brought into
requisition, and an immense business was done.
During this period much was accomplished in the
construction of railroads. Their great carrying ca
pacity must be taken into consideration in form
ing an idea of the volume of trade which was an
nually pouring into Albany. By the construction
of the Boston and Albany Railroad a vast amount
of property was diverted from shipment by vessels —
the article of flour alone sent over in 1843 was
12,384 tons, or 123,360 barrels — while the con
tinuous line of railroads from Albany to Buffalo
caused a great falling off of freight business on the
canals. In view of these improved facilities for
transportation, the fact that the number and ton
nage of vessels from 1838 to 1849 more than
doubled, shows a surprisingly healthy growth of
trade in Albany.
The magnitude of the brewing interest in Albany
fully half a century ago, naturally caused an im
mense trade in barley, and Albany grew to be the
great barley market of the Northern and Eastern
States, and of many cities in the Atlantic States.
Purchases were made here for points as far South
as Charleston, while with Baltimore and Phila
delphia a large business was transacted. Below
we give, from official documents, the receipts at
tide- water for a period of nine years:
Bushels. Bushels.
1838  677,338 1847  1,523,020
1841  121,010 1848  1,548,197
1844  818,472 1849  1,400,194
1845  1,137,917 i85°  1,720,000
1846.  1,427,953
Almost the entire receipts were sold in Albany.
One quarter of these receipts were sold to brewers
for home consumption. The average number of
bushels now used by Albany brewers will average
between 600,000 and 700,000, while the average
sales consummated at this port amount to nearly
four times this number of bushels.
In 18 1 9, an association styled the Albany Cham
ber of Commerce and Public Improvement was
formed, the objects of which were not made pub
lic A committee of five was appointed to settle
any disputes that might arise between merchants

of the city who might choose to submit them for
settlement Isaiah Townsend, Joseph Alexander,
Peter Van Loon, Walter Clark, and John Spencer
composed this committee. December 5, 1820,
the following officers were elected: Isaiah Town-
send, President; Joseph Alexander, William James,
and Charles E. Dudley, Vice-Presidents. The
Board was composed of the following members:
William McHarg, Israel Smith, Peter Boyd, Will
iam Durant, John Brinckerhoff, Thomas Russell,
Jacob H. Ten Eyck, James B. Douglas, Allen
Brown, George W. Stanton, Asa H. Center, John
Spencer, James Keeler, John Townsend, William
Walker, Douw B. Slingerland, Volkert P. Douw,
Robert Shepard, William W. Staats, Charles R.
Webster, Joshua Tuffs, Ephraim Wilder, Jr. , John
Stillwell, James Mabbett, and James Thorne — all
prominent merchants. This association was con
tinued for many years. Its functions are now per
formed by the Board of Trade, which was organized
in 1 84 1, with John Townsend, President; Erastus
Corning, Charles Chapman, and John Taylor, Vice-
Presidents; Daniel Fry, Secretary; and William Mc
Elroy, Treasurer. It was incorporated in 1864.
The rooms of the Board are located at 40 State
street. It has one hundred and fifty members.
The leading commercial papers are kept on file.
Occasionally public meetings are held there. The
present officers are Robert Geer, President; An
drew G. White and C. B. Tillinghast, Vice-Presi
dents; Jacob A. Smith, Secretary; Thomas Austin,
Treasurer. LUMBER INTERESTS.
The first saw-mill in America is supposed to
have been set up about 1620 in Virginia. The
first in New York was built on Manhattan Island
during Peter Minuet's administration (1626-33).
Some were moved by wind. At about the same
time, several saw-mills were built near Albany. In
1630, Andries Corstiaensen, a master-millwright,
and two sawyers were sent thither; and, in 1636,
Pieter Cornelissen and Barent Pieterse Koeymans
came over.
The Swedish naturalist, Peter Kalm, visited
Albany in 1749, and writes: " The white pine is
found abundant here. The greater part of the
merchants have extensive estates in the country,
and a great deal of wood. If their estates have a
little brook, they do not fail to erect a saw-mill
upon it for sawing boards and planks, with which
commodity many yachts go during the summer to
New York, having scarce any other lading than
boards. They saw a vast quantity of deal from
the white pine on this side of Albany, which is ex
ported." The abundance of white pine which the first set
tlers found, and the excellent water power, led
very early to the erection of saw-mills. Among
the settlers in Rensselaerwyck in 1630, were Law-
rens Lawrenssen and Barent Tomassen, sawyers.
In the fall of 1645, Barent Pieterse Koeymans,
above mentioned, and Jan Gerritsen took charge
of the Patroon's saw-mills, being allowed one hun-

612

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

dred and fifty guilders each a year for board, and
three stuyvers for every plank they sawed. Be
tween that time and 1647 they sawed nearly four
thousand boards. In 1673, Koeymans purchased
a large tract of land twelve miles south of the
city, which was favorable for the erection of saw
mills, and where Cruyn Cornelissen and Hans
Jansen had erected mills as early as 1651.
The Duke de Rochefoucault-Liancourt writes
from Albany in 1795 : "The export trade of Al
bany chiefly consists of timber and lumber of every
description, pot and pearl-ashes, grain, potatoes
and manufactured goods. This trade is carried
on in ninety vessels, in general of seventy tons bur
den, half of which are owned in Albany and the
rest elsewhere."
During the decade from 1840 to 1850 inclusive,
the receipts increased from 124,173,383 feet of
boards and 784,310 feet of timber, the total value
of which was $2,142,636, in the year 1840, to
425,095,436 feet of boards and 3,039,588 feet of
timber, with a total value of $6,806,213 m 1850.
In 1840 there were eighty-four saw-mills in Albany
County. At an early day Albany became noted as a lum
ber market. Boards and scantling were rafted
down from Northern and Central New York on
the Upper Hudson and Mohawk, and here loaded
on board sloops for transportation down the river
to market. The first lumber yards were two in
number: one at the foot of South Ferry street, the
other between Quackenbush and Lumber (the lat
ter now Livingston avenue). The inspection and
marking of lumber was provided for by statutory
provisions. With the completion of the Erie and Champlain
Canals, and the construction of the Albany Basin
and Pier, the wharfs were first used for the storage
of lumber. When increased imports from Canada
and the West demanded greater storage facilities,
slips were dug from the canal towards the river,
and the lumber piled along their banks. At present
the district occupies about one and one-half miles of
river front and embraces numerous slips running
east and west from the Erie Canal to the wharf, with
an average breadth of one thousand feet between
the river and canal. This tract is called the Lum
ber District. It is provided with all facilities for
transacting business; street cars, telegraph and tel
ephone; and hydrants with such perfect means of
extinguishing fire that within the past half century
no serious damage has been incurred from this
source There are large planing and sawing-mills
and good restaurants for the accommodation of
business men.
There is now no branch of business in this city
of more extensive proportions than this. For
many years Albany was one of the largest lumber
markets in the world. While the receipts of lum
ber are greater at Chicago, the Albany market is
none the less important, in view of the position
occupied, and the character of the trade affected.
All the foreign shipments are negotiated from this
point. The lumber for South America, the West
Indies and other foreign countries is assorted here,

and much of it is manufactured here into doors,
ceilings, etc. , so as to be ready for use when reach
ing destination. The trade with Australia is very
extensive, millions of feet of prepared lumber
being sent to that continent from here every sea
son. Upon the spaces between the slips is dis
charged from canal-boats the lumber from the re
gion of Lake Champlain, Glens Falls, and the rivers
coming down from the Northern Wilderness, the
Black River Canal and St. Lawrence Country via
Black River Canal and the Rome and Watertown
Railway; Canada lumber, via Oswego; lumber from
Ohio and Michigan, as far west as the Saginaw re
gion; and also from the southern tier of counties
in this State via Chemung, Crooked Lake and Cay
uga and Seneca Canals. Our canal system is thus
well calculated to drain an immense territory, and
to concentrate its products at this point Lumber
is now brought to this market from Green Bay, In
diana, Ohio; from Canada, on Lake Ontario, by
way of Oswego; and from the Ottawa regions and
all the tributaries to the St. Lawrence, by way of
Lake Champlain and the Champlain Canal.
Douglas L. White & Co., lumber, 9 and 31 Lum
ber District.
This yard was founded by Gillespie, White &
Co. at West Troy, in 1857; succeeded by White,
Loveland & Co., by White & Co., by White &
Moir, and they by the present firm. They are
among the large Albany dealers in Canada pine
lumber, Michigan pine and spruce, and hemlock
from New York State mills and from Canada. Their
annual sales are about twenty-five million feet, en
tirely at wholesale.
The individual members of the firm are Messrs
D. L. and W. G. White and C. E. Van Zandt.
The lumber firm of Dalton & Kibbe was founded
in 1857. A profitable and flourishing business has
been conducted by this firm ever since. Their
yards are located No. 8 First street. The indi
vidual members are Austin S. Kibbe and William
Dalton. The present firm of R. H. Moore & John Zim
merman is the outcome of the business established
in 1862 by Messrs. Moore & Callender, who con
tinued until 1863, when Mr. Callender withdrew,
Mr. Moore remaining alone until 1872, the year
Mr. Zimmerman became a partner. They occupy
two yards, one on Fourth avenue, 75 by 148 feet,
the other on South Pearl street, 100 by 140 feet,
upon which are suitable buildings. They deal in
hard and soft pine, spruce and hemlock, shingles,
laths, etc., etc.
The lumber business now conducted by W. H.
Weaver & Co., No. 20 Lumber District, was estab
lished in 1866 by William McEchron, Jones Ord
way, James Morgan and A. M. Adsit, and W. H.
Weaver. Since that time the personnel of the firm
has had several changes, and is now composed of
W. H. Weaver, Jones Ordway and W. E. Speir.
Two yards are employed by the firm, 400 by 70
and 900 by 60 feet respectively in dimensions,
affording storage for about 9,000,000 feet of lum
ber. Their annual sales amount to 38,000,000
feet

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

613

In 1845 Joshua Rathbun established himself in
ihe lumber trade at Albany. In 1865 the present
firm of Rathbun & Co. was formed, consisting of
Joshua & Acofs Rathbun. This firm occupy a
commodious yard and dock at 14 Lumber Dis
trict. The stock principally dealt in consists of
oak, ash, black walnut, cherry, chestnut and syca
more. Their trade extends throughout the country
and largely in New York and New England.
Rodney Vose commenced operations in the hand
ling of lumber in Albany as early as 1853. He
has made the business a life study, and there
are few engaged in the business who have had
wider experience, or whose knowledge is more
comprehensive with regard to the wants and
needs of the trade. Mr. Vose's yard is located at
2 1 8 Water street, where ample dock privilege and
room for storage of 5,000,000 feet of lumber are
provided. A special feature of this house is its
trade in shingles, which has reached as high as
10,000,000 in some years. The trade of this yard
besides being largely local, extends thoroughout
New York and Massachusetts.
The present firm of Simons & Richards is a
continuation of the firm of Mattice & Simons
established in 1856, which was succeeded in 1859
by Simons & Griswold. In 1872 Nathan E. Si
mons became the sole proprietor, remaining as
such until 1878, when A. K. Richards became a
partner, under the present firm name of Simons &
Richards. Their yards, six in number, are located
at 116 Water street. They have a dock frontage
of 350 feet. Their stock consists of a complete
assortment of Northern and Western lumber. A
specialty is made in spruce building materials.
From the sources at our command we have
compiled the following list of lumber dealers, past
and present, in Albany.
18 16. — Jacob Barney, David Backus.
1817. — Richard Dusenbury, Aaron Hand, John
Quackenbush, Salem Dutcher, Uriah Marvin.
1825. — John Cullings.
1830.— H. A. Bancroft & Co., F. J. Barnard, F.
Batcheller, Benjamin Cooper,- Benjamin Gregory,
L. P. Hand, Edwin Jessup, Arnold Nelson, Samuel
Phipps, Joel Pinney, Root & Youngs (staves),
James G. Youngs & Co., Slacks & Davis, Isaac
Welch, Robert Whitlock.
T 840. —Arnold Carroll, Elias Colburn, Adolphus
Colburn, H. Colburn, Daniel Crane, Jr., Abner
Davis, Charles A. Fassett, Hill & Sanford, W. A.
Judson, Kenyon & Winne, Nathan G. King, Minor
King, S. Lossee&Co., Marse & Bicknell, Rathbone
& Gallup, Ross & Colburn, Giles Sanford, Nelson
Salisbury, Daniel Smith, George Van Derlip, J. &
B. Van Valkenburgh, Solomon Whipple.
1852.— W. H. Bloomingdale, Bullock & Many,
Clark, Sumner & Co., Calvin, Cooley & Co., Cof
fee, Bruce & Co., De Forrest, Patten & Co., John
Gibson Higbie Hammond & Co., Thomas Hill &
Co Thomas W. Hotchkiss, William H. Hunt,
R. ketchum & Sons, James B. King, M. McGowen
& Co., Mead, Myers & Bennett, Joshua Rathbun
& Co., N. Rogers & Callender, John P. Romaine
& Co', Ross & Crocker, Oscar Tyler, Fassett &

Washburn, Ward & Derby, J. C. Ward & Sons.
Clement Warren & Son, Robert Whitlock, C. P.
Williams & Co.
i857._S. W. Barnard, W. M. Bender, William
Birdsall, Fassett & Co., Cary & Salisbury, W.
Headlum & Son, G. Hunter, Mattier & Simons,
Simons & Richards, Benjamin Rathbun, George
W. Roberts, Robertson & Edmeston, H. P. Ross
& Karslake, E. A. Ross, J. Tallman & Co. , Adam
Van Allen, James G. Whitlock, Warren, Wilbur &
Co., Solomon Whipple.
1865. — Arnold, Folsom & Co., J. Benedict &
Son, Stephen Clark, James G. Crocker, De Witt
& Nephews, Jones & Co., J. B. Kelley & Co., Ket
chum, Scott & Simpson, H. W. Gage, Thomson
& Hyatt. 1875. — Bender, Martin & Thomas, N. H. Chase,
Smith & Co., Cullen & Jones, A. Frost & Dillen-
beck, Fassett, Son & Co., J. L. Hyatt & Co., Bul
lock & Co., McGaugan & McOnly, Thomas Num-
pler, C. B. Nichols & Mills, Norton & Co., John
Pennie, Jr., & Wolfinger, Skillings & Whitney Bros.,
D. W. Talcott, W. G. Thomas & Co., B. A. Towner
& Son, Douglas L. White, Thomas Wilson.
1880.— Collender & Mason, M. N. Fassett.
The following lumber firms are deserving of
mention in connection with the lumber interest of
the city: Gratwick & Fryer, No. 21 Lumber Dis
trict, composed of William H. Gratwick & Robert
L. Fryer; Hughson & Co., No. 1 Lumber District,
composed of J. C. Hughson, A. H. Campbell, and
N. H. Salisbury; Gilbert Hunter & Son (Dexter)
North Ferry above Water; Mattoon & Robinson,
No. 1 1 2 Water street, composed of David Mattoon
and Edward Robinson; James Moir, Nos. 8 and 9
Lumber District; Smith Bros. (Albert and Oscar),
No. 28 North Pearl, and Albany and Susquehanna
Railroad offices; Sumner & Hascy, No. 16 Lumber
District, composed of Alanson A. Sumner and O.
L. Hascy; L. Thomson & Co., No. 25 Lumber
District, composed of Lemon Thomson, Augustus
Sherman, and Henry P. and T. Ellery Lord; J.
O. Towner & Co., No. 10 Lumber District, com
posed of Mr. Towner and Samuel B. Towner.
The following firms are also at the present time
engaged in the lumber trade : Arnold & Co.,
Royal Bancroft, J. Benedict & Son, Boyd & Co.,
William N. Callender, Truman D. Cameron, J.
W. Dunham & Co., Charles P. Easton & Co.,
Fogg, Patton & Co., John H. Gordon, Hand
& Babbitt, Hubbell & Hill, Harvey Hunter, John
Krutz, W. C. Many & Co., T. Miles & Co.,
Morgan Lumber Company, Thomas Murphy, J.
R. Nangle, Charles B. Nichols, Phillips & Duns-
comb, H. W. Sage & Co., Saxe Bros., Robert
Scott, Smith, Craig & Co., Henry Spawn, Staples
& Van Allen, P. Van Rensselaer & Co. , Van Sant
ford & Eaton, C. Warren, David Whitney, Jr., N. R.
Wilbur & Son, C. H. Winne, Waine & Andrews.
The Board of Lumber Dealers was organized in
1863, and incorporated under and in pursuance of
an act passed May 8, 1869, whose object is de
clared to be "to inculcate just and equitable prin
ciples in trade; to establish and maintain uniformity
in commercial usages; to acquire, preserve and dis-

614

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

seminate valuable business information; and to ad
just controversies and misunderstandings between
persons engaged in business." An arbitration com
mittee, consisting of five members of the Board, is
annually elected by ballot, it being their duty to
hear and decide differences which may arise be
tween members or others that is voluntarily sub
mitted to them, and a judgment of the Supreme
Court is rendered upon their award, except in
cases where claims concerning titles to real estate
are involved.
Its Presidents since 1863 are as follows: Henry
Q. Hawley, William N. Fassett, William H. Ross,
Benjamin A. Towner, Douglas L. White, William
G. Thomas, O. L. Hascy, J. O. Towner, E. G.
Benedict, C. P. Easton, J. £. Craig, E. C. Clark,
Jr., H. S. Van Sanford, James B. Kelley, Dean
Sage, Joshua Rathbun, Leman Thomson, J. C.
Hubbell, C. B. Nichols, S. B. Towner.
The officers for 1884 were John McDonald,
President ; C. W. Eaton, Vice-President ; Walter
G. White, Treasurer; William U. Fassett, Secre
tary; J. E. Craig, O. L. Hascy, A. S. Kibbee,
Managers ; S. B. Towner, E. G. Benedict, J. C.
Hubbell, R. L. Fryer, H. S. Van Sanford, Arbitra
tion Committee.
William N. Fassett was among the pioneers in
the lumber district, and is one of the oldest lumber
dealers in the city. He is now sole proprietor of
the business commenced in 1832 by Messrs.
Whitlock & Fassett, who then occupied yards
on the pier opposite Orange street Mr. Fassett
is also Secretary of the Board of Lumber Dealers,
an account of which is given in this article.
From the long time he has been engaged in this
branch of business, his knowledge of events con
nected therewith is large, and to him we are in
debted for many of the facts in this paper. His
present office and yards are situated at 7 Lumber
District. A contract, dated Fort Orange, June 22, 1662,
between Wynandt Gerreydts Van Der Poell and Dr.
Jacob Hendrickse Ver Vauger, agreeing to pay
1,261 guilders 1 9 stuivers and 4 pennies for " 1,000
good merchantable boards," will show the compar
ative value of now and over two centuries ago.
Dr. Ver Vauger was then a surgeon in the West
India Company at New Amsterdam.
In 1875, the number of establishments in New
York State for the manufacture of planed lumber
was 175; number of hands employed, 1,961;
capital, $2,955,586; wages, $886,167; value of
materials, $4,574,619; value of products, $6,332,-
341; and the number of establishments for lumber
sawed were 3, 510; hands employed, 15,409; cap
ital, $15,110,981; wages, $3,438,601; value of
material, $11,228,613; value °f products, $21,-
238,228. The receipts of lumber in Albany for the year
1861 were 138,000,000 feet less than for i860.
The uncertainty in business centers, caused by the
war, was felt with great force by lumber dealers.
The amount of building was sensibly decreased.
The receipts for shingles, square timber and staves,
though, were about the same.

The following table exhibits the receipts at Al
bany during the years named :

Year.

Boards and
Scantling. Feet.

Shingles, Thousands.

Timber. Cubic feet.

Staves.
Pounds.

1850 

216,791,890260,238,003317,135.620393,726,0733". 57i. 151
245,921,652223,345.545 180,097,629
267,406,41 1
291,771,762
301,022,600 162,952,527

34,226
34,1363r.636 27,586
24.003 57,210
36,899 70, 104
31.82348,756
41,222 31,782

28,832
110,200
201,714 19,916
28,909 24,104 14.533
85,104
"9.497 70,381
46,883 44,754

150,515,280 135,087,290
107,961,289

1851 

l8?2 

i8c-i 

118,066,750

1854 

135,805,091140,255,285

1855 

1856 

102,548,492
153,264,629 135,011,817114,570,503148,735,369
143,784,471

1857 

1858 
1859 

i860 

1861 

The following table exhibits the valuation of the
receipts during the years named. A difference in
the receipts for i860 and 1861, corresponding to
the same years in the table above given, will be
noticed:

Year.

1850. 1851.1852.1853.1854-1855-1856.1857.1858.1859-1860.1861.

Boards and
Scantling.

S3. 25 1,878
4. 1 19.568
5,495,960
6,299,617 4,985. T39
4,426,5893,573,5292,881,5604,412,2054,887,177 5,042,128
2,729.454

Shingles.

Timber.

$119,791 121,524110,726 99.585
86,981
227,840 129,147
248,515 111,383170,646144,277 "1,237

&4,325 19,010
52,509 3.3866,6494.854 2,616
15,218
20,314 n.965 7.971
7.697

Staves.

$677,3 19
546,655507,418569.600 611,123
631,149461,468689,691 540,047
458,282 594,942575.138

Receipts by Canal during 1867.
Boards and scantling, feet  382,883,955
Shingles, thousands  26,880
Timber, cubic feet  62,705
Staves, pounds  31,460,271
Receipts by Canal at Tide-water during 1867.
Boards and scantling, feet  675,055,455
Shingles, thousands  44,392
Timber, cubic feet  3,369,800
Staves, pounds  273]88g]57i
The following table shows the receipts and valu
ations for the years 1869 and 1870:
Quantity. 1869.
Boards and scantling, feet  444,474,900
Timber, cubic feet  5,000
Staves, pounds  8,804,400
Shingles, thousands  32, 166
Estimated Value.

1870.
452,363,90° 116,800
17,769,100 21,488

1869.
Boards and scantling  $12,445,300
Shingles  128,664
Timber  2,000
Staves  61,631
Total Receipts at Tide-water. 1869.
Boards and scantling, feet  768,607,600
Shingles, thousands  33,723
Timber, cubic feet  3,l5i,'7oo
Staves, pounds  166,649' 200

1870.
#9,499.642 97.529
5Z.538
124,384

1870.
768,007,300 28,660
3.795.7O0
232,161,200

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

615

Comparative Receipts for 1870.
New York. West Troy. Waterford.
Boards and scantling,
feet  125,663,100 169,364,300 20,616,500
Shingles, thousands. . 1,419 5,784 9
Timber, cubic feet. . . 1,520,000 1,423,200 735,700
Staves, pounds  211,229,100 2,851,300 311,700
In Chicago, 990,834,000 feet lumber was re
ceived and 471, 504,000 feet shipped in 1870. The
amount shipped by canal at Buffalo in 1870 was
168, 204,000 feet, and at Oswego 271,618,000 feet.
The amount of measured and tally lumber han
dled in 1882 was 443,400,227 feet, which, with
laths, shingles, etc., was valued at $10,000,000.
The amount for 1883 was 457,189,308 feet; esti
mated value, $10,250,000.
(These figures for 1882-83 are compiled from the
monthly returns of the Board of Lumber Dealers.)
The inventory of the pine lumber on hand in the
district January 1,1886, compared with January
1, 1885, is as follows: lggs. l8g6
1,000 feet. 1,000 feet,
Michigan uppers  7,324 6,832
" pickings  7,787 6,051
" common  28,835 24,478
" 1x10 inch  7,244 3,487
" 1x12 inch  5,831 3,I29
" 1x14 inch  67 217
" 1x16 inch  208 343
" stock plank  2,013 1,161
" shelving  ',387 956
'¦ shippers  5, 112 3,088
" log runs  1,431 1,149
" 4x4 wide common . . 98 211
" 2x12 inch  1,424 235
" 4x4 inch strips  4,677 4,957
73,438 56,294
1,000 feet. 1,000 feet.
Canada pine, 4-4 inch siding. . 6,789 5,301
" 5-4 inch siding. . 2,316 3,209
" 6-4 inch siding. . 261 283
" 8-4 inch siding. . 86 64
" 3 inch siding. . . 82 118
" 4-4 inch strips. . 6,567 4,348
" 5-4 inch strips. . 1,586 916
" 6-4 inch strips. . 24 30
17,711 14,269
Norway  6,379 7,095
1,000 pieces. 1,000 pieces.
1x10 pine boards  !,389 931
5-4 pine boards  262 192
1,000 feet. 1,000 feet.
On hand January 1  115,208 83,933
The receipts of sawed lumber at Albany by the
canal in 1885, and for each year for the past fifteen
years, have been as follows: Feet
1870  415,000,000
,g7I  421,000,000
1872 '"..'.........  438,000,000 •
,873  346,000,000
T874 "  341,000,000
jgir  290,000,000
jgiQ  [  289,000,000
,877  !"!!  330,000000
1878  309,000,000
1870  318,000,000
rS&o  362,000,000
,881  364,000,000
,882  450,000,000
,88-1 '  452,000,000
,884 ' "  477,000,000
gaj  467,000,000

The total tide-water receipts per canal (include
Albany, West Troy, Waterford) were: Feet.
Sawed lumber  731,691,600
Shingles  6,936,000
Hemlock timber (cubic)  888,200
Pounds.
Staves  9,636,000
In addition to the lumber unloaded and as
sorted in the lumber district, several Albany firms
sort their lumber at the mills and ship, it through
to New York.
DAVID MATTOON.
This gentleman is of English descent. His
parents, William and Sarah (Hungerford) Mattoon,
were natives of Watertown, Litchfield County,
Conn. He was born at Vienna, Oneida County,
N. Y. , March 12, 18 16. He was reared on his
father's farm, attending the common schools of
the time and locality, and later completed his
education in an academy at Vernon, Oneida
county. Later he was engaged in farming and
teaching school in his native town, where, in 1840,
he married Miss Sarah Ransom. In 1843 be re
moved to Albany, where, until 1847, be was em
ployed in the lumber yard of Robert Whitlock.
In the year last mentioned, the firm of Griswold,
Mattoon & Co. was formed. It consisted of Aaron
Griswold, David Mattoon and a special partner.
The firm opened a lumber yard at the foot of
Orange street, and established a large and increas
ing business. Three years later the special partner
died and the style of the firm became Griswold &
Mattoon. Mr. Griswold's health failing, Mr.
Mattoon became sole owner of the business in
1857, and so continued till 1868, when the present
firm of Mattoon & Robinson was formed, by the
admission of Mr. John Robinson. In 1861 the
business was removed to 105 Water street, where
it was continued till 1883, when the offices were
established at their present locality, 112 Water
street. The firm have very extensive yards and
carry on a heavy trade, it requiring both their old
yard and a large one adjoining their office.
In his business career Mr. Mattoon has been
signally successful, bringing to bear upon the con
duct of his affairs an unswerving integrity and an
enlightened business intelligence that have made
him favorably and widely known. It is worthy of
more than passing note, that, during the thirty-
seven years of his commercial life, in which have
occurred several financial crises, which have
brought disaster and ruin to important commercial
and monetary interests on all sides, his paper has
never gone to protest and he has never asked for
an extension of the time of payment, even in a
single instance. During that extended period he
has dealt continuously with the Exchange Bank.
Mrs. Mattoon, who died July 27,' 1877, bore
him four children. The eldest of these, Whitman
V. R. Mattoon, early in the late rebellion enlisted
as a private in company F, 44th regiment N. Y.
V, and July 1, 1862, after the battle of Malvern

616

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

lig^W'^p^

V

^tfyW-L-c/- HduZ^CC^W--,

Hill, he was among the missing, and no tidings of
his fate have ever reached those who have mourned
him at home. Marion A. Mattoon, the next in
order of birth, became the wife of Mr. J. C. Fitz
patrick, a resident of Brooklyn, who has long been
connected with the business and editorial manage
ment of the New York Herald. Theodore P.
Mattoon, the third child, died in infancy, and the
fourth, Miss Hattie E. Mattoon, is an inmate of her
father's household.
Formerly a Democrat, at the outbreak of the
Civil War Mr. Mattoon espoused the cause of the
Republican party, and has since been an ardent
advocate of the principles actuating its founders
and early leaders, though he has never been an
active politician in the ordinary acceptation of the
term. His family have long been connected with
the Fourth Presbyterian Church, upon the services
of which he is a regular attendant
MELVIN NEWMAN MEAD
was born in Chester, Warren County, N. Y. , August
5, 1812, at the old homestead of the family, where
he remained with his parents until he attained his
majority, working on the farm and doing his share
in contributing to the prosperity of the household.
When he left the paternal residence he went to the
growing village of Glens Falls, and became a clerk
in the employ of Morgan & Lapham, who were en
gaged in the lumber trade, a thriving business there,
even at that early day. Having made himself

familiar with the business, and learned the art of
buying and selling to the best advantage, for he
was a sharp-witted, sagacious man, he came to
Albany in 1833, thoroughly able to enter into com
petition with the shrewdest of the lumber dealers,
and formed a co-partnership with his brother, Orlin
Mead. On the death of the latter he became the
senior member of the well-known lumber firm of
Mead, Dunham & Co., and he made the business
of that firm a great success. He was a most inde
fatigable man of business, regular, methodical and
prompt. Early and late he was at his post, never
idle, and never losing a moment from employment
when anything was to be done. His heart" was
ever open to charity, and he gave freely and liberally
to whatever he deemed deserving. But he turned a
deaf ear to the profligate and unworthy. To his
own kindred he dispensed heartily and generously.
He was in every sense of the word a reliable man,
and a most worthy and excellent citizen. He de
spised all shams and hypocrisy; and as he was born
a Democrat, and nursed in the school of Democ
racy, and gave his first vote for President to An
drew Jackson, and his last to W. S. Hancock, so
he doubtless would have continued had his life
been spared.
Mr. Mead married Sarah E,
late George W. Merchant, and
none having been bom to him.
The family of the Merchants were well known
to old Albanians. The grandfather of Mrs. Mead
was the venerable George Merchant, who came to

daughter of the
leaves no issue,

/<&, ~/C Jheaify

S'lifJ 0 ¦'¦? <//////.-/// /

/h^riytn^-^

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

617

Albany from Germany. He was a man held in
high estimation by Albanians, of high social stand
ing, and filled many public positions. He was
County Clerk of Albany County at the time of his
death, an office held by him for many years under
such Governors as Tompkins and Clinton, through
the old Council of Appointment, presided over by
such Judges as Kent and Spencer. He was also a
Paymaster in early life in the Revolutionary Army.
He built, owned and occupied until his death, the
mansion on Ten Broeck street now occupied by
the Olcotts. To this mansion was attached several
acres of land devoted to fruit and garden purposes.
It was in this house, directly across the street from
her present residence, that Mrs. Mead was born.
About thirteen years ago Mr. Mead retired from
business on account of his health, with a modest
competency. He died at his residence in Ten
Broeck street, from paralysis, September 23, 1884.
ALANSON SUMNER.
The late Alanson Sumner was born in Edin
burgh, Saratoga County, N. Y., July 21, 1801, and
died in Albany, February 25, 1874. He was of
English extraction, his paternal ancestor having
been a native of Bicester, whence he removed to
Massachusetts about the middle of the seventeenth
century. Young Sumner was reared on his father's
farm, where he remained until he attained his ma
jority. He attended the public schools of his native
town, and later, was, for a time, a student at an
academy at Ballston Spa.
Mr. Sumner occupied himself for a portion of
two years, 1820-23, upon the construction of the
eastern division of the Erie Canal. Within a few
months after the opening of the Canal to Albany,
he was called to be the Assistant Superintendent of
a portion of that great internal improvement and
he was soon advanced to the Superintendency,
continuing in supervision for eleven years alto
gether. During the last four or five years of this
period, he held the most important Superintend
ency o'n the line of the Canal, his division extend
ing from Albany west and north, and embracing
forty locks, including the Troy and Mohawk Dams.
Through this connection he gained a knowledge
of public works and a familiarity with large con
tracts which shaped his whole after life. In 1834
he entered into a contract, in which Mr. Stephen
Clark was a partner, for building the Long Bridge
across tlie Potomac River. In 1837, in company
with Mr. Clark and Mr. John Ellis, of Schenec
tady he began contracting on the Croton Water
works New York, and completed the receiving
reservoir of the system in 1842. Later he was for
two years occupied with contracts upon the en
largement of the Erie Canal. Abandoning con
tracting, in 1849 he engaged in the commission
lumber trade at Albany, whither he had removed
in 1844 Hewas successful in this business and
retired therefrom six years later, leaving his place
for a time to his nephew, Mr. A. A. Sumner, with
an opening for his son, Mr. William A. Sumner,
who became a partner in 1863.

In 1826 Mr. Sumner was married to Miss Emily
D. Beecher, of Edinburgh, Saratoga County, who
died childless in 1828. In February, 1839, he
married Miss Diadama B. Fay, of Northampton,
Fulton County, who bore him a son and two
daughters, and died in 1864.
Mr. Sumner's interest in the prosperity of Al
bany was earnest, and he was ever among the first
to subscribe liberally to all worthy local objects.
The City Hospital, of which he was one of the
Governors, was the object of his especial solicitude.
As a business man he took the highest rank, and
his integrity was unimpeachable, his word being
considered as good as the strongest bond. He was
a stockholder in many important commercial en
terprises, and for many years one of the Directors
of the Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank.
He was a Democrat politically, and though
neither an office-holder or an office-seeker, he took
a keen interest in public events and did his part
quietly, as a citizen, to advance the interests of his
party. A great reader from his youth up, he was
splendidly self-educated, and it- is said that his
knowledge of American history and biography was
remarkable. His sympathies took a wide range,
and guided by his eminently good judgment, made
him so wise a counselor, that many can testify to
the value of his advice.
LEMON THOMSON
was born in Athol, Warren County, N. Y., Jan
uary 27, 1822, son of Charles C. Thomson, of
Scotch-Irish stock, an industrious village black
smith and farmer. When he was thirteen years
old he accompanied his parents to Johnsburgh in
the same county. He was never idle. The oldest
of five children, he was always helpful in the shop
or on the little farm. In the public schools of
these towns he took his first lessons in literary
knowledge. At seventeen he was a school teacher.
At eighteen he was a student in Glens Falls Acad
emy preparing for college. When he was twenty-five
years old he entered the Sophomore Class at Union
College, and graduated in the full course in 1850.
The next two years, or a part of them, found him
reading law with Judge Rosekrans. Conceiving a
business life to be more congenial to his taste, he
entered into partnership in trade with W. W. Weed,
in 1 85 1, and sold out after two years.
In 1 85 1, he married Abby, daughter of Augustus
Sherman, then President of the First Commercial
Bank, and afterward President of the First National
Bank of Glens Falls from its first organization.
In 1855, Mr. Thomson came to Albany, having
formed a partnership with his father-in-law, under
the firm name of L. Thomson & Co., as manufac
turers and dealers in lumber. This has ever since
been his business, with slight changes in partner
ship. He is a large owner of timber and other lands
in Northern New York. He has been success
ful, and ranks among the leading merchants and
bankers of Albany. He is a large stockholder
in the First National Bank, and has been a stock-

618

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OL ALBANY.

holder and director in the National Exchange
Bank since its establishment.
Mr. Thomson is a thorough business man in
its full meaning — in ability, in energy, in exper
ience, in probity. He enjoys the competence
which he has won, and shares it liberally with good
causes and in promoting laudable public enter
prises. He is a man of domestic and literary
tastes, and takes an active interest in education, re
ligion and good morals.
When twenty-one years old he held the position
of Superintendent of Common Schools in his na
tive county. In religion he is an active member
of the Emmanuel Baptist Church. He is always
and everywhere an uncompromising friend of tem
perance. Originally a Democrat, acting with the
Barn-burners, he parted company during the anti-
slavery controversy, and became a Republican on
the organization of that party. He has voted for
Polk, Pierce, Fremont, Lincoln, Grant, Greeley,
Hayes, Garfield and Blaine. He is a Republican,
but of the independent school. His action as a
citizen is guided only by his conscientious convic
tions of right.
In all places he is outspoken, high-minded
and honorable. He is straight out on all ques
tions, and never waits to find out what course
the party leaders are to take. He has formed his
own opinions on the basis of reason and conscience.
There is no mistaking him when he speaks or acts.
In him the humblest citizen has a friend. The
toiling laborer, be he ever so humble, can trust
him. He writes much for the papers on local and
political topics. He is direct and pungent in style;
severe on bad legislation, loose habits of public
economy, and every wrong. He uses no useless
rhetoric; he goes into his subject at once and drives
his antagonist to the wall, if possible, and keeps
him there until he cries for quarter.
Such a man has firm friends, but is not always in
the majority. Unscrupulous partisans don't take
him for a leader. Yet he has held several im
portant political trusts. In 1864-67, he was an
Alderman, and an earnest advocate of reform and
economy in the local government. He has been
candidate for the State Assembly, and in 1882, was
the citizens' candidate for Congress. In the Board
of Trade and other business organizations he has
held leading trusts, and is often found active in
associations and conventions held for promotion
of important public interests. May such men in
crease !
DOUGLAS L. WHITE.
This gentleman has long been prominent in con
nection with the lumber trade of Albany, and as
the senior member of the firm of White & Co., he
is known to the lumber trade throughout a large
portion of the United States and Canada. He was
born at Quebec, Canada, March 31, 1822, of Scotch
and English parentage. His father, a merchant at
Quebec, died when he was but five years of age,
and he engaged in business while yet very young

and aided to support his mother and her family.
When he was not fifteen years old, under an
uncle who was an extensive miller and distiller,
he managed certain branches of the business,
which was carried on by a firm of the same name
as that of which he has so long been the head,
so that he may be said to have been associated
with the business of Douglas L. White & Co.
much of the time since he was a mere lad,
Since that time Mr. White's experience in business
has been long and varied. He spent several years
at extensive iron-works in Wales as assistant-man
ager and salesman. In this enterprise, Patrick
Moir, his brother-in-law, was partner and manager
with Sir Charles Price Marryatt & Co., of London.
Upon his brother-in-law's retirement from this
business, Mr. White returned to Quebec, but, not
being satisfied with the limited scope for his busi
ness abilitiess offered there at that time, he went to
New York, and met with an opening in the office
of August Belmont, agent of the Rothschilds, as
corresponding clerk and assistant-cashier, holding
a power of attorney, under the authority of which
he managed very important transactions and large
sums of money passed through his hands. To his
sagacity and fidelity during this period, Mr. Bel
mont has testified over his signature. Later, he
held a similar position in the house of Curtis,
Beals & Fearing, bankers, of New York, until that
firm discontinued business, and received the most
unequivocal evidence that his business ability and
devotion to their interests were appreciated by
members of the firm. Offers were now tendered
him by Gilmour & Co., one of the wealthiest and
most prominent lumber firms of Canada, of which
John and David Gilmour, who had married two of
his sisters, were members, to take charge of one of
their extensive establishments in Canada. He re
mained there until the interests of the firm at Troy
required attention, a commission house there to
which Gilmour & Co. had consigned lumber hav
ing failed. Through the efforts of Mr. White, a
favorable settlement by compromise was effected,
and Gilmour & Co. opened a large yard at Green
Island, West Troy, for the sale of their own lum
ber, under his management, in 1856. During the
following year the business was transferred to Mr.
White, his brother, Richard P. White, and W'alter
Gillespie, who continued it under the firm name
of Gillespie, White & Co. , with yards at West Troy
and Albany. The style and personnel of the firm
have changed several times since then. The firm
of Gillespie, White & Co. was succeeded by
White, Loveland & Co. ; White & Co. succeeded
White, Loveland & Co. and gave place to White
& Moir, the immediate predecessors of the firm of
Douglas L. White & Co., the individual members
of which are Messrs. Douglas L. White and his
eldest son, W. G. White. White & Co., with ex
tensive connections and mills in Canada, has
done the largest lumber business in the country,
the sales in 1872 amounting to over $2,000,000.
Messrs. Douglas L. White & Co. now rank
as one of the heaviest of the several heavy lumber
firms of Albany dealing in Canada pine lumber,

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

619

and handling Michigan pine and spruce and hem
lock from mills in New York State and Canada
their annual transactions amounting to more than
half a million dollars, and involving the sale of
25,000,000 to 30,000,000 feet of lumber. They
occupy two extensive yards in the Lumber District
and their dock privileges are of equal importance
to those of any of their contemporaries. Their
trade extends throughout New England and New
York, and is entirely at wholesale by the car-load
or cargo.
Mr. White's standing among men in his own trade
and in the community is very high. From time
to time he has interested himself in prominent
business interests of the city, and in all local
benevolent and charitable objects. Long a mem
ber of the Presbyterian Church, he has for years
been conspicuous among those who have pro
moted evangelical work. Always of a retiring
disposition, absorbed in the welfare of his large
family, and finding happiness in their midst, he
has shrunk from public positions. Yet he has
done effective work while acting as Governor of
the Albany Hospital, Trustee of the Fourth Pres
byterian Church, Life Member of the American
Bible Society, and of the Young Men's Christian
Association and Young Men's Association. He
has also served as President of the Board of
Lumber Dealers, and Director of the Capital City
Insurance Company and other corporations. He
has been a constant contributor to Home and For
eign Missions, Bible and Tract Societies, and other
benevolent institutions, as well as to the tem
perance cause, and has generously responded to
other just and worthy calls upon his time and
means. The improvement and education of the
colored race have received much generous atten
tion from him, and he has given substantial and
timely aid to worthy men in financial difficulty.
Mr. White's church connection brought him
into intimate friendly relations with the late Rev.
Dr. Halley, as a result of which, in 1868, he in
vited the Doctor to accompany him upon a Euro
pean tour, and together they visited England,
Scotland, France, Italy and Switzerland. This was
quite an event in Dr. Halley's life, and one for
which he cherished the liveliest feelings of gratitude
to his generous friend, for he had not had an op
portunity to visit his native Scotland since he had
left there early in life. During the tour Dr. Halley
wrote some very interesting letters, which were
published in some of the Albany papers, detailing
scenes and incidents in Rome and other localities
of great interest alike to him and the reading pub
lic. For some years past, Mr. White has been con
nected with the Fourth Presbyterian Church. In
politics he has been a strong Republican since the
organization of that party, and during political
campaigns, and at other times as his assistance has
been required, he has given liberally of his means
towards the promotion of its principles and the
success of its candidates, and has been especi
ally generous in his donations to the several Re
publican Clubs of Albany. He was married March
8 1855 to Sophia, daughter of Joseph Horsey,

a wholesale druggist of New York, and has five
sons and two daughters living, four of their children
having died. Four of his sons are engaged in the
lumber trade and another is a student at the Albany
Academy. All of them have enjoyed opportunities
for obtaining good educations and a thorough prac
tical knowledge of business in their father's office,
and all promise to make their marks as hon
orable business men. Mr. White's career has
been that of a self-made man. By the exercise
of his natural honesty and ability he has advanced
to a high position in the business community
wherever his lot has been cast. In the great finan
cial panic of 1873, in which many of the heaviest
banking and business institutions of the country
were plunged into bankruptcy — a period which
will be ever memorable in the financial annals of
America — at a time when Jay Cooke & Co. , Duncan,
Sherman & Co., and other scarcely less prominent
houses were compelled to close their doors, Mr.
White's firm became involved, through complica-
cations with other houses in the trade in New York
and elsewhere, and were forced to make an assign
ment for the benefit of their creditors. This blow
fell upon Mr. White unexpectedly and with almost
stunning force. He had not in any manner con
tributed, either by omission or commission, to
bring about such a deplorable state of affairs. He
gave up everything he had, reserving nothing. He
acted the part of an honest man, asking no favors
and assisting in every way in his power to bring
about a settlement which should be satisfactory to
the creditors of his firm. This was without doubt
the greatest trial of his life, but in it he had the
sympathy of the whole business and social world in
which he moved. The marks of confidence which
were given him by men high in commercial and
professional circles were truly gratifying. His truest
and most helpful friends were Henry W. Sage and
Wm. E. Dodge, of New York. Others scarcely less
prominent gave him words of cheer and extended to
him practical proofs of their belief in his honor, and
desire for his speedy issue from the difficulties which
compassed him about Neither then nor since,
through a long and changeful commercial career,
was ever an aspersion cast upon his integrity or a
question raised as to the purity of his motives.

EARLY MERCHANTS.
Prior to 1772, not much can be learned of the
names of merchants of Albany. After this date,
beginning with the files of the Albany Gazette, the
first paper published in the city, we are able to as
certain the names and the kind of merchandise sold
by many of the earlier merchants. The natural dil
igence and acquisitiveness of the Dutch kept them
engaged in trade. The influx of enterprising spec
ulators and traders from New England near the
close of the Revolution, soon made Albany a
strictly commercial city.
Most of these merchants dealt in a variety of
goods, designated by names now seldom seen.
Among the advertisers in the Gazette of 1772 is
the firm of James Gourlay & Co. , "in Cheapside

620

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

street, next door to the King's Arms," in whose
copious enumeration of articles are "Penknives,
Pins, Bibles, Green and Bohea Tea, Cotton, Pep
per, Chocolate, Playing Cards, Shirt Buttons, Cur
tain Calicoes, Ink Powder and Knee Garters.''
Thomas Barry, "near the Dutch Church," also
enumerates his stock, occupying nearly a column
of the paper with a catalogue of goods with names
which sound quite odd at this day; for instance,
' ' None-so-pretty of various colors and black
breeches pattern." Under the head of dry goods,
were mentioned as just imported from Europe and
now opening for sale, Bibles, Testaments, Spelling
Books, Primers and Entick's Pocket Dictionaries,
Snuff, Tobacco-boxes and Fiddle strings, Satinets
and Shalloons, Best China and Love Ribbons, etc.
At the same time, Robinson & Hale advertise
Bibles, Psalms and Psalm Books, Testaments and
Spelling Books, Primers and Pocket Dictionaries,
which are enumerated with red China Tea-pots
and Shoemakers' Tools. Stuart Wilson then kept a
book store at the corner of State and South Pearl
- streets. In 1784, Robinson & Hale, dealers in European
and East India goods, occupied the "North corner
opposite the Dutch Church." Major Hale is be
lieved to have been an officer in the Revolution.
The names of the following merchants appear this
year: Jacob Van Schaick, " in Water street, near the
Middle Dock," who advertises a long catalogue of
articles under quaint titles; Henry, McClallen &
Henry, " next door north of the City Hall," present
the most formidable array of goods, ' ' adapted to all
seasons, in payment for which they will take cash,
Morris's & Hilligas's notes, wheat, corn, pease, flax
seed, boards and plank, and all sorts of Furs."
John Blake advertised a variety of goods for sale at
Archibald Campbell's store, ' ' opposite Hugh Den-
niston's. "
Roseboom & Co. sold all kinds of nails near the
English Church; Gerardus Beekman advertised a
store nearly opposite Wheeler Douglass's; Edward
Campston, "at the northeast corner of the Dutch
Church," proposed to receive for goods "new
emission money of this State equal to gold or sil
ver;" Henry Hart had " a neat assortment of Dry
and West India Goods at his store, between the
Low Dutch Church and Market House."
The firm of James & Vail dissolved, and Thomas
V. James assumed the business at the store in
the street opposite the City Hall Dock;" Thomas
Sickels sold European and India Goods on the
south side of the street that leads from the Dutch to
the English Church; John Carey offered, at the
store of Cornelise K. Vandenberg, " at the elm-tree
in the street leading from the Dutch to the English
Church," a quantity of goods which were "just
imported from Ireland." George Reab, at his store
in the house of Abraham Douw, near the south
west corner of the Market, offered an assortment of
Dry and West India Goods adapted to the seasons,
in exchange for which he would take cash, R.
Morris & M. Hillegas's notes, new emission money,
all sorts of public securities; also, flax-seed, wheat
and all kinds of country produce.

Joseph Kelly, currier, lately arrived from Ire
land, " opened a shop at Captain John Roff's, near
the North Gate, " and will have ready in a few days,
"good leather, boot-legs and Irish Ben of the best
quality." Cornelius and John M. Wendell, oppo
site the Post-office, near the Market-house, im
ported goods from London." Cuyler, Gansevoort
& Co. "received by the last vessels from London,"
an assortment of dry goods suitable for the season,
and presented a catalogue of other goods, which,
like most of the advertisements of the day, began
with rum and ended with brass kettles; Peter D.
Van Dyck dealt in a general assortment of goods
opposite the southeast corner of the Dutch Church.
Benjamin Wallace had ' ' a neat assortment of
West India and dry goods at his shop, a little north
of the English Church."
Wendell & Trotter carried on a business princi
pally in dry goods, ' ' opposite the southeast corner
of the City Hall ;" William Gray was a similar
dealer, "near the City Hotel;" Teunis T. Van
Vechten advertised Turk's Island and Rock Salt;
David Fonda, "next door to General Ten Broeck,"
kept "dry goods, groceries and liquors" for sale;
Abraham Eights, in Water street, sold Muscovado
sugar by the barrel, and had "a few excellent
English wind-mills for cleaning wheat."
Anthony Helmer, at his store in the house of
Harmanus Wendell, sold groceries, German steel,
' ' and a variety of other articles too tedious to be
mentioned;" Jacob Van der Heyden, in Pearl street,
sold "Dutch mill saws, groceries and dry goods;"
Ivie Chambers, "near the Low. Dutch Church,"
sold the usual articles of a general store, "princi
pally liquors;" Elisha Crane, opposite the City
Hall, sold "cyder" at 18s. a barrel, and took in
payment boards, plank, staves, peas and all sorts
of grain, but was careful to inform the public that
"money would not be refused." The foregoing
embraced all the principal merchants doing busi
ness in Albany about 1785.
In 1790, Cornelius J. Wynkoop deemed it "in
dispensably necessary " that there should be in the
city "an auctioneer and vendue master for dry
goods, household furniture, etc.," whereupon he
opened, at No. 8 Market street, " a licensed auction
house," and was without doubt the first auctioneer
in Albany.
In 1795, Francis Carbine, a former Albany mer
chant, died. In this year, William Mayell, "hat
ter from London," offered for sale an assortment
of hats at the store of T, Fradgley. In 1799. at
No. 9 Court street, he dealt in "leather breeches,"
mittens, gloves, and wall paper. In 1802, the
grocery firm of James and William Caldwell dis
solved. The business was afterwards carried on by
William Caldwell.
In 1813, Albany had grown to bean important
commercial center. Indeed, at this date, we are
led to the conclusion that a large percentage of the
business men of Albany were engaged in mercan
tile pursuits. The first Directory of the city, pub
lished in 18 13, gives the names of nearly three
hundred mercantile firms, representing at least four
hundred merchants.

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

621

Following we give the names of the most prom
inent of these firms.
Joseph Alexander, Lewis Benedict, John R
Bleecker, Jr., Henry Bleecker, Boyd & McHench,
Peter & John I. Boyd, I. & G. Hutton, Syl. P. Jer
main, James & Archibald Kane, Chester Bulkley,
William Caldwell, Asa H. Center, James Clarke-
Anthony M. Strong, successor of Mr. Clarke in the
dry goods business, subsequently was a partner of
the well-remembered firm of Richard Marvin & Co. ,
and at a later period established the extensive busi
ness house of A. M. Strong & Co. To continue our
list, there were Walter Clarke, William McHarg,
John & James Mahar, Rhodolphus Crane, John
C. Cuyler, Nathaniel Davis, John D. P. Douw,
Thomas N. Ford, Nathaniel Judson, Russell For
syth, Thomas, Elias & William Mather, Christian
Miller, William Fowler, Matthew Gill, Job &
Thomas Gould, Douw W. Williams, W. &
Cornelius W. Groesbeck, Paul Hochstrasser, Estes
Howe, Ebenezer Pemberton, Pratt & Durant,
Valentine Rathbone, Lyman Root, Thomas &
Joseph Russel, Sanford & Page, Israel Smith,
George B. Spencer, Barent G. Staats, John &
Spencer Stafford, Israel Smith, George W.
Stanton, Gilbert Stewart, John Taylor & Son, .
Jacob H. Ten Eyck, John Townsend, Matthew
Trotter & J. Tuffs, Philip P. Van Rensselaer,
John Van Schaick, Tobias Van Schaick, Willard
Walker, Dudley Walsh & Co., Washburn &
Knower, Webb & Dummer, John I. Wendell,
Jellis Winne.
Till several years after the beginning of the pres
ent century, it is difficult to classify the Albany
merchants with reference to any particular line of
trade. Most of them sold a general assortment of
merchandise, and few restricted their trade to any
one line of goods. About the end of the first
quarter of this century this condition of trade be-
.gan to change, and special merchants in special
lines began to grow numerous. In the following
pages we have aimed to classify the merchants with
some reference to the goods sold.
DRY GOODS.
Probably the oldest house in the dry goods
trade is represented by the present firm of Strong,
Russell & Lawyer. This house was founded in
1824 by Richard Marvin, who commenced a
wholesale dry goods business on South Market
street, just north of Division street. A few years
later he associated with him William Smith. In
1830 Anthony M. Strong became a partner, under
the firm name of Richard Marvin & Co. A few
years after the firm was dissolved, Mr. Marvin re
tiring and a new one was formed under the title
of Smith & Strong. In 1838 William N. Strong
was admitted as a partner, the firm then becoming
known as Smith, Strong & Co., and so continued
until 1842, when Mr. Smith withdrew, and for
many years the concern was successfully managed
by A. M. & W. N. Strong. In 1844 they built the
building now occupied by Daniel Weidman, and
which they first occupied in 1845- In l857

Thomas J. and Charles H. Strong were admitted
as partners, on the retirement of A. M. Strong,
when the firm name was changed to Strong Broth
ers & Co. In 1863, James A. Whitney became a
partner, under the firm title of Strong & Co. In
1869, Charles A. Lawyer, and in 1872, George W.
Russell, became members of the firm, when the
name Strong, Whitney & Co. appeared. In 1877
Mr. Whitney died, but, by agreement, business
was conducted under the same firm name until
1879, when i{ was changed to Strong, Russell &
Co., but has subsequently been changed to Strong,
Russell & Lawyer. The freestone building, Nos.
476 and 478 Broadway, running through to James
street, was built in i860, and since 1861 has been
occupied by this firm.
About contemporary with the above house were
the dry goods firms of Wilder, Hastings & Co.
Taber & Marks; Conkling & Herring; McMillan
& Bagley; Rufus H. King & Co.; Wood & Acres
Sheldon & Sykes; Thomas Dunn; Pruyn & Olm
stead; Parsons & Baker; Jacob Ten Eyck & Co.
Peter & John I. Boyd; Chandler & Starr; David
P. Winne & John Garnsey; Jacob De Garmo
Pruyn & Gadner; Wendell & Jenkins; Matthew
Gill & James Campbell.
Visscher Ten Eyck & Solomon M. Parker form
ed a partnership in the dry goods business in 1832,
and commenced business at No. 60 State street in
the store at that time occupied by Young & Ehle.
Of the present dry goods dealers the firms of
W. M. Whitney & Co. , John E. Myers, Johnston
& Reilly, and Isaac White's Sons & Co., are the
most extensive establishments in the city, all of
which carry on a large wholesale and retail trade.
The house of W. M. Whitney & Co. was founded
in i860, by W. M. Whitney, as a branch of Ubs
dell, Pierson & Co. of New York, a history of
which successful enterprise will be found in the
biographical sketch of Mr. Whitney published in
this volume. The individual members of the firm
are William M. Whitney and S. M. Van Santvoord.
William H. Pangburn, who was an active member
of this firm several years, died in December, 1885.
The firm of Isaac White's Sons was founded in
1 87 1 by Isaac White and John J. White, his son.
The present members of the firm are John J. and
Frank White, sons of Isaac White, and A. B.
Wells. A history of the firm will be found in
connection with the biographical sketch of Isaac
White. The following are the other leading retail dry
goods dealers: P. Bloomingdale; Mann, Wald-
mann & Co. ; B. Stark & Co. ; and S. M. Waldman.
WILLIAM J. FRYER
was born August 1, 1808, in the town of Guilder-
land, Albany County, N. Y. His father, John
Fryer, was one of the largest farmers in that section
of the State. Of Dutch ancestry, to be traced back
for many generations in Holland, William not only
inherited those qualities of honor, industry and
perseverance as creditable as they are common to
those of Knickerbocker origin, but received that

622

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

early Christian training so necessary for the eleva
tion of character. His educational advantages
were only such as the district school at that
time afforded, but all experience serves to illus
trate and inforce the lesson that there is an educa
tion not to be learned from books or acquired by
any amount of literary training; that in the busy
haunts of men the best practical education is soon
est acquired in all that tends to discipline a man
truly and fit him for the proper performance of the
duties and business of life. At the age of fourteen
he left the family homestead to engage in a mer
cantile business in the village of Catskill, on the
Hudson. After some eight years' experience, he
became the junior partner in an established ship
ping business at Oakhill Landing, nearly opposite
Catskill, and a few miles below the City of Hudson.
This was before the advent of railroads, when even
steamboating was in its very infancy, and sail was
almost exclusively used for the very important river
traffic of those days.
In the early part of 1837, Mr. Fryer removed to
Albany and established a wholesale dry goods
house, sharing in the general belief at that time
that Albany, as the terminus of the Erie Canal,
was to become the most important business center
for supplying Western merchants. The building of
the Boston and Albany Railroad, which diverted
trade to the greater eastern city, the marvelous de
velopment in river steamboating, and the construc
tion of a railroad running parallel with the Hudson
River, forever settled the fate of Albany, to the ad
vantage of the great City of New York.
On the 10th day of February, 1836, just prior to
his removal to Albany, Mr. Fryer married Margaret
Livingston Crofts, granddaughter of Robert Thong
Livingston, at the Livingston Manor House, in the
town of Livingston, Columbia County. From the
very day of beginning in Albany, his business was
large and successful, increasing year by year up to
the time of the great fire of August 17, 1848, which
laid in ashes the business portion of the city. Mr.
Fryer's two stores, with their contents, and several
other buildings which he owned, were destroyed.
A large number of insurance companies were made
bankrupt by the fire, so that the insured received
little or nothing from their policies. That mis
fortunes never come singly, is illustrated in Mr.
Fryer's case by the fact that, in addition to his
losing a large sum as above stated, he also lost
another large sum in consequence of the noted
failure of the Canal Bank of Albany, in which he
was a director and stockholder, with personal lia
bilities, which occurred on the 10th day of the
previous month of the same year. To the true
worker losses only stimulate to renewed efforts and
evoke new powers. Mr. Fryer not only met all
his liabilities in full, but he rebuilt his warehouses
and re-established his business and continued its
management up to 1858, when he practically re
tired from active mercantile life. Since that time
he has continued to look after the real estate and
other property in which he is interested. During
his long and honorable business career no note of
his was ever protested, and all his business obliga

tions were promptly paid. For a period of nearly
fifty years, Mr. Fryer has been intimately associated
with the business enterprise, the growth and the
prosperity of the City of Albany, justly earning the
confidence and respect of all his fellow-towns
men. Possessed of a strong will, great energy, and
the accuracy and judgment required for the efficient
conduct of business, Mr. Fryer is of a modest and
retiring nature, kind and gentle in his manners,
charitable in thought and deed, and finds his chief
pleasure within his own family circle and home
surroundings. The death of Mrs. Fryer occurred
on the nth day of April, 1882.
In politics Mr. Fryer has always been an ardent
Democrat, helping the Democratic party with his
purse and his influence, and clinging to its fortunes
through good and evil report, and although fre
quently urged to accept party honors, he has stead
ily refused to do so. As far back as 1845 he
declined the nomination for Mayor on account of
private business, and at a later date he again re
fused a nomination for the same office. In religion
he has ever held a fixed and decided attachment to
the Dutch Reformed Church, from his earliest re
membrance of the teachings of the Rev. Harmanius
Van Husen, the pastor of his devoted Christian
father and mother, at the Reformed Dutch Church
in Salem, Albany County. On locating in Catskill
in 1822, Mr. Fryer came under the pastorate of the
Rev. I. N. Wyckoff, D. D., who was the leading
minister in that denomination, and who accepted
a life call from the Middle Dutch Reformed Church
in Albany in 1837, in which latter church Mr.
Fryer continued his connection and repeatedly
served as an officer. ISAAC WHITE.
This gentleman is descended from two of the
old families of Duanesburgh, Schenectady County.
His paternal grandfather was Ichabod White, who
at an early date removed from Nine Partners,
Dutchess County, and located a mile west of the
village of Duanesburgh, near Duane's Bush, the
old country seat of James Duane, soon removing
two miles southwest to the place now in possession
of the family, and known as the White homestead.
His son, Isaac White, married Mary Jenkins,
whose father, Christopher Jenkins, was of English
descent, and had been a seafaring man in early
life, and removed to Duanesbugh from Rhode Is
land, settling on a large farm near Quaker street
Isaac and Mary (Jenkins) White had three sons
and five daughters, who grew to be men and wo
men, and all of whom, except the subject of this
notice and one of his sisters, were born in Duanes
burgh. Somewhat late in life, Mr. White disposed
of his property in Duanesburgh and removed to
Otsego County, where he bought a farm, which he
subsequently lost through a flaw in the title, and
thence, in 1828, to the vicinity of Palmyra, Wayne
County, and lived there four years, after which he
returned to Duanesburgh. His son, Isaac White,
was born in Maryland, Otsego County, February
10, 1820. He passed his boyhood on the farm

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

623

and in attending the winter schools, and at fourteen
years of age hired out at farm labor for eight months
for twenty dollars and his living. From that time,
until he was seventeen, he worked for different
farmers, and succeeded in saving fifty dollars,
which he expended in attending the academy at
Gallupville, Schoharie County. During the next
four years, he attended and taught school near
home. Then he taught the public school at Sau-
gerties, Ulster County, three years. Returning to
Duanesburgh, he married Miss Ann Eliza Cramer,
October 30, 1848. He taught a school in that
neighborhood the following winter, and in the
spring of 1844 set out on a trip through the then
Far West to see the country, with a view to invest
ment and settlement. He proceeded to Buffalo
by canal, thence to Cleveland by steamer, thence
to a point on the Ohio River, below Pittsburgh,
by stage, and thence to St. Louis by the Ohio and
Mississippi Rivers, going thence on foot sixty miles
to Vandalia, where he remained a short time mak
ing a small investment in land. Not favorably im
pressed with the West, he returned to New York
State, and taught school the following winter at
Voorheestown, Montgomery County. The six years
following he was in charge of the public schools of
Fultonville, Montgomery County, and Gloversville,
Fulton County, when, his health failing, his physi
cian advised him to seek some traveling employ
ment. During the succeeding six years he was
selling gloves and mittens at wholesale, on the
road, for a manufacturing firm in Gloversville.
For about a year, in 1857 and 1858, he kept a
store in Gloversville. Removing to the neighbor
hood of Quaker Street, in Duanesburgh, he pur
chased a farm on which he lived for some years.
In 1861-66 he was again on the road, selling boots
and shoes for Wilburs & Co. , of Quaker Street.
Removing to Albany in 1866, he became a sales
man in the employ of George A. Woolverton &
Co., traveling almost constantly for some years.
During this period his sons, John J. and Edgar
M. White, had acquired an intimate knowledge of
the Yankee notion and fancy goods trade, in the
establishment of George H. Knowlton, and the
former had saved some capital with a view to going
into trade on his own account. Mr. White had
strictly adhered to a rule adopted early in life, to
live so much within his income as to save some
thing each year, and by this time had consider
able available means, and, in March, 1871, Isaac
and John J. White bought the business of Mr.
Knowlton, and conducted it under the style of
Isaac White & Son till 1874, when the firm name
was changed to Isaac White & Sons, by the admis
sion of Edgar M. White, who withdrew early in
1883, his brother Frank White taking his place in
the firm, which has since been known as Isaac
White's Sons & Co. In January, 1885, Edgar M.
White again purchased an interest in the concern.
Charles White, another of Mr. White's Sons, is
employed in the house. This business was be
gun upstairs at No. 61 Broadway. Larger quar
ters being demanded, it was removed to No.
67 Broadway, and thence to Nos. 63 and 65

Broadway. The firm do a safe, successful and
growing trade, and its members are favorably re
garded in business circles in Albany and else
where. Mr. White retired from active business January
1, 1883, and is resting from the labors of a well-
spent life. He is conspicuous among the self-
made men of Albany. His ruling ideas in busi
ness have been industry, safety and prudence, and
he has succeeded where many another man less in
dustrious and more venturesome has failed. He
has never taken an active part in politics; but,
formerly a Whig, has been a Republican since the
organization of the party.
W. M. WHITNEY.
For more than a quarter of a century, Mr. W.
M. Whitney has occupied a prominent position in
the commercial circles of Albany, and in the ex
tent and character of the business of which he is
the recognized head, he has done much towards
attracting that large trade which is the pride of the
city and the foundation of much of its substantial
prosperity. Mr. Whitney was born in Boston, Mass., Jan
uary 12, 1827, a scion of the old Massachusetts
family of that name, and a grandson of Colonel
Josiah Whitney, of revolutionary fame, who partic
ipated in all of the engagements in the struggle
for American independence, from the fight of Con
cord to the surrender of CornwaUis. Daniel Whit
ney, his father, was a builder of ability and promi
nence, who, in 1828, when the present leading
merchant of Albany was only one year old, remov
ed with his family to New York City, where Mr.
Whitney was reared and educated, and, at a com
paratively early age, he found his first employment
in a retail dry goods store. From this position he
went, in 1844, to another, in a wholesale dry goods
house in William street, near Wall. It is worthy
of note that Mr. Whitney's career in the wholesale
dry goods trade embraces the period during which
the merchants have moved from the section of New
York now known by the comprehensive title of
"Wall street," to other locations uptown, and
given place to the bankers, brokers, insurance
men and others who, for years past, have so notably
represented the great financial interests of the coun
try. He became so well acquainted with the dry
goods trade that he was recognized as an expert
buyer, and from 1852 to 1859 he was chiefly en
gaged in purchasing goods for large dry goods
houses in different parts of the country. At the
latter date he engaged exclusively with the firm of
Ubsdell, Pierson &Co., Broadway, New York, who
had branch stores in Albany and St. Louis. The
success of the Albany branch having been assured,
it was decided January 1, i860, to make it a per
manent enterprise and Mr. Whitney was put in
charge, giving his personal attention to the pur
chase of goods and the receipt and fulfillment of all
orders. When the New York house retired from
business, the Albany firm was continued by Mr.
Whitney, who, as the senior member of the firm of

624

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

W. M. Whitney & Co., remains at the head of its
affairs. When the house was first opened, a store 25 by
120 feet in dimensions was all that was required
for the accommodation of its stock. The premises
at present used consist of a building 86 feet wide,
running back 216 feet, from North Pearl street to
James street, and having five floors. This extensive
store is divided into twenty-five distinct depart
ments, all under separate heads, and so systemat
ized that each department can show its own re
sults from season to season. From three hundred
to four hundred employees find occupation with
the firm, the number varying with the exigencies
of the season. The total floorage utilized at first
was about 3,000 square feet; to-day the twenty-five
departments of the business cover over 103,000
square feet, or a little less than three acres of sur
face, a fact which exemplifies not only the remark
able growth of this great representative house, but
the rapid advance of Albany as a source of supply
for all kinds of manufactured goods. Albany owes
to Mr. Whitney the introduction of electric lights
in the city, and his store is brilliantly lighted by
electricity on all of the five floors, and elevators
run to the top of the building, practically bringing
all of the vast rooms on a level. The guiding
principles of the house have ever been — good goods
and adequate values; low uniform prices to all;
close attention to business, and to the comfort and
demands of patrons; and the fairest and most liberal
treatment of all classes of the public. And the ap
plication of these principles has resulted in the
rapid growth of a well-managed business, which is
now of such dimensions as to leave no doubt that
W. M. Whitney & Co. are the largest retail dis
tributors of dry goods between New York and
Chicago.
FANCY DRY GOODS.
The first store devoted exclusively to trade in
fancy dry goods in Albany was opened by J. B.
Spelman in 1824. In 1836 Benjamin R. Spelman
bought his brother's interest and a new co-partner
ship was formed, with B. R. & R. L. Spelman as
the firm name. This continued without change
for forty years, when the firm dissolved, R. L.
Spelman retiring and W. D. Spelman continuing
the business, which he still conducts, at No. 582
Broadway. Among other dealers in this class of
goods we may name Flud & Bochlowitz; E. Gips
& Co.; M. M. Hydeman; D. S. La Monte; R.
Lansing; J. Laventall; F. Martineau; S. M. Val
kenburgh & Co. ; and Isaac White's Sons.
MILLINERY.
Dealers in millinery goods and making ladies'
bonnets, might properly come under the head of
manufacturers, so extensive and elaborate is the
latter business carried on in this city. The most
extensive of these establishments, which carry on a
wholesale and retail trade, are the following: M. L.
Cutler, 540 Broadway; H. W. Lipman & Co., 459
Broadway; I. Lilienthal, 44 South Pearl; Mrs. J.

Mann, 33 North Pearl; L. McHaffie & Co., 55
North Pearl; Edward Owen, 93 North Pearl; M.
Robb, 14 North Pearl; B. Stark & Co., 13 North
Pearl.
CARPET DEALERS.
Among the earlier carpet dealers were the firms
of Thomas W. Forth & Co., corner State and
Broadway; Daniel H. Forth; James Kidd; William
S. Shepard; and Taylor & Waterman, the latter of
whom followed the business for twenty-three years.
The house of A. B. Van Gaasbeck & Co., the
oldest house now engaged in this business, was
founded in 1836 by A. B. Van Gaasbeck and B.
F. Mosely, under the firm name of Mosely & Van
Gaasbeck, on the east side of South Market street,
near the corner of Hudson avenue. In a short
time the firm dissolved, Mr. Mosely continuing at
the old stand, a history of whose long connection
with the carpet trade will be found in connection
with his biographical sketch. After the dissolu
tion of the firm of Mosely & Van Gaasbeck, the
latter opened a store in the. Douw Building, then
just completed, on South Market street. In 1842
he opened another store on State . street Soon
after this date Mr. Van Gaasbeck's brothers,
John and William, became associated with him,
when he opened a store devoted exclusively to the
sale of carpets, the former two having been general
dry goods stores, where Maurice E. Viele's store
now stands. The three stores were continued un
til 1 844, when the dry goods stores were sold out,
and another opened in the Athenaeum Building on
the west side of Broadway, near State street In
1849, A. B. Van Gaasbeck sold out his interest in
both stores to his brothers, William assuming con
trol of the dry goods concern, and John the carpet
store. In 1852 A. B. Van Gaasbeck bought an
interest with his brother John, who had removed
to 34 Greene street. The firm name was then
changed to Van Gaasbeck & Brother. A short
time after the partnership was dissolved, John re
maining at the old stand, and A.- B. opened a new
store corner Broadway and Columbia, where he
remained for seven years. Since 1861 he has
occupied stores on North Pearl and Green streets,
and has recently taken possession of his large
store on North Pearl, nearly opposite the Kenmore.
Since that time he has had as junior partners \
Frank Watson, W. Jennison, Chauncey Watson, j
ahd"GeOTgeH. Redway, all of whom were clerks
prior to their interest in the concern. At present
Amos C. Van Gaasbeck, son of A. B. Van Gaas
beck, is the junior partner.
Abram Koonz was a successful carpet dealer on
State street for many years, succeeded, after his
death, by his son, E. C. Koonz, who has gone out
of business. Martin Kramrath is a prominent
carpet merchant in Albany on South Pearl street.
Carpets are also sold by W. M. Whitney & Co.
and Johnston & Reilly.
The Boston Steam Carpet Beating Company
carry on the business of cleaning carpets at 63
Quay street, and is the principal firm of its kind
in tlie city. Amos Temple is the proprietor.

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

625

BENJAMIN F. MOSELEY,
senior member of the firm of B. F. Moseley &
Co., proprietors of the leading carpet warehouse
of Albany, was born in Massachusetts in 1812.
His father was Edwin Moseley, a native of West-
field, Mass. His mother was Marcia Patterson,
a native of Lebanon, N. Y.

Benjamin F Moseley.
He was educated in the public schools of his na
tive town, and in 1825 came to Albany and entered
the employment of Seneca Mabbett as a clerk in
his store. In 1836 he established himself in the
dry goods trade at the corner of South Market and
Hudson streets, in the old Museum Building,
whence he crossed to the opposite side of South
Market street. He had at this time taken a part
ner, his firm being known as Moseley & Van Gaas
beck. This partnership existed but a short time,
when the firm of Moseley & Van Gaasbeck was suc
ceeded by that of Smith, Cary & Moseley, which
was formed in 1839 and was not dissolved until
1 86 1, during most of which time its business was
carried on in North Market street. Upon his re
tirement from the dry goods trade in April, 1861,
Mr. Moseley went to Canada, and was there for a
short time in the stove trade.
Returning to Albany, he engaged in the carpet
trade, in 1866, at No. 34 Green street Seven
years later he removed to South Pearl street, and
thence, in 1879, to No. 53 State street In 1882,
his son, Frank E. Moseley, became his partner,
since when the business has been owned and con
ducted by B. F. Moseley & Co. The business of
this house is located in a handsome five-story
marble building, furnished with all modern con
veniences that good taste and enterprise can sug
gest, including a duplex water elevator connecting
79

all the floors and rendering all of them almost
equally accessible. The line of goods displayed
here embraces all the leading novelties in carpet-
ings: seasonable designs in velvet and Brussels,
choice ingrains, drugget and felt crumb cloths; oil
cloths; China, cocoa, and Napier mattings; imported
mats and rugs; linoleum, window shades, curtains,
and similar goods. The firm carry an extensive stock
received direct from the manufacturers, and show
an ample assortment of all the standard designs
and new shades and colors, their trade extending
throughout the greater portion of the State. The
Messrs. Moseley are worthy representives of that
active, enterprising class of business men who have
attracted the trade of a wide range of country to
Albany as a desirable purchasing center, and who
by their honorable dealings, progressive ideas, the
reliable character of the goods they handle, and the
many inducements they offer to the purchasing
public, have so firmly established the commercial
importance of Albany and given it a rank among
the leading mercantile cities of the State. Mr.
Moseley is in the best sense of the term a self-made
man. His standing in the community is very high.
A member of the Democratic party, he is yet no
politician. Early in life he was prominently iden
tified with and for some years librarian of the
North Dutch Church, but for many years he has
been a member of the Fourth Presbyterian Church.
He was married in 1837 to Miss Orelia B. Barstow,
of Hadley, Mass., and has three sons and three
daughters. GROCERIES AND PROVISIONS.
Christian Miller was for many years a prominent
grocer in Albany. He came from Germany in
1767, and settled in Albany in 1789, and in 1792
opened a grocery store, which he continued until
1825, when he retired from business. For many
of the late years of his life he discharged, with
marked ability, several offices both civil and eccle
siastical. He was noted for his charities. A tablet
to his memory has been placed in the Second Re
formed Dutch Church, of which he was a member.
He died in 1844.
James Caldwell, in the latter part of the last
century, was an extensive grocer, succeeded by his
son William in 1802.
The leading merchants in this business during
the first quarter of the present century were William
Cook & Co., Hudson street; A. Marvin & Co.,
South Market; George W. Stanton and Batchelder
& Sherman, State street; Wilson, Rathbone &
Chapin, Quay street; Mancius & Le Breton, corner
of South Market and State; and Daniel" Wilcox,
South Market; Joshua Puffs, Pemberton & Mitchell,
J. & R. F. Slack, Granville Slack, N. & C. Scovill,
J. & E. M. Sayles, located on or near Quay street.
The firm of Tracy, Woolverton & Wilson is the
oldest established house of the kind now existing
in Albany. In 1831, James A. Wilson and Charles
Badgeley, the founder of the present firm, started
in the grocery business at the corner of Quay and
Exchange streets. Here the store was located till

626

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

1861. In 1833 Mr. Badgeley died, and Peter
Monteath became a partner, under the firm name
of Wilson & Monteath. In 1845 Joseph D. Bage-
ley was admitted as a partner. In 1850 Mr. Wil
son retired. In 1864 George Monteath was admit
ted as a partner, under the firm name of Monteath,
Bageley & Co., remaining without change until
1865, when, by the death of Mr! Monteath and
the retirement of Mr. Joseph D. Bageley, the firm
dissolved. Since then, until 1873, it was conducted
by Mrs. Monteath & Son (Edward W. ), when Eg
bert W. Tracy became a partner. In 1876 Edward
Monteath died and Peter Monteath in 1879. The
business was then managed by Mr. Tracy until the
firm of Tracy, Woolverton & Wilson was formed
in 1880. Mr. Woolverton subsequently retired.
The firm is now composed of Egbert W. Tracy
and Robert P. Wilson. They conduct a whole
sale trade extending over several States. Their
store is located 54 and 56 Hamilton street
The antique building on the corner of Columbia
and North Pearl streets, which was built in 1710,
was occupied by a Mr. McPherson as a grocery
prior to 181 8, when it was sold to the Pemberton
Brothers — Eben, Henry S. and John — and shortly
after opened by them as a grocery, store. The
business established by these brothers, then mere
boys, was continued until 1830, when only Eben
and John were interested in it. In 1859 Eben
died, from which time it was conducted by John
Pemberton, who died in 1885, and at the time of
his death was the oldest merchant in Albany in
active business
In 1 820, Jacob Mancius kept an East India store
at No. 6 1 State street, on the site now occupied by
the fournal building. He imported wines, liquors
and groceries. He continued it until 1838, when
he sold out to Edward R. Satterley. In 1843 he
associated with him his son Edward, under the firm
name of E. R. and E. Satterley. The house was
continued until 1840, when Frederick Vine be
came proprietor and remained at the old stand
until 1856, when he removed to Nos. 7 and 9 North
Pearl street, where he remained until 1862. He
then sold out to Joseph J. Price and H. L.
Weatherhead. These gentlemen remained together
until 1866, when Mr. Price took his present store,
No. 75 State street. Mr. Weatherhead opened a
store at corner of North Pearl and Maiden lane.
He died several years ago.
Edmund J. Lord is one of the oldest grocers in
Albany, having started in the store, corner of Wash
ington avenue and Hawk street, he now controls.
As a clerk for Moses Wood, in 1836, and since
1 84 1, with various partners, he has been continu
ously in the business.
In 181 1, William McBride opened a grocery
store just east of the old Fly Market, which stood
on South Market street. He remained there until
1832, when he removed to Schoharie. Returning
in 1835, he opened a store on the southeast corner
of Washington avenue and Knox street in connec
tion with his sons, William and John. In 1838
they removed to the opposite corner, where they
remained until 1853, when the founder of the old

house, William McBride, died. The firm was then
continued for some years under the name of John
& William McBride' In 1856 Thomas & Henry
McBride Brothers opened a store on the corner of
South Pearl and Hudson avenue. Four years
afterwards they removed to corner of Plain and
South Pearl streets, where they remained for eight
years, and, after a short time on Beaver street, re
moved to the northwest corner of Grand and
Hamilton streets. Thomas died several years ago,
Henry in 1885.
William J. Maher has carried on a grocery busi
ness at l\ Lumber District since 1862. . He was
born in Vermont, and is a prominent citizen, having
been Member of Assembly in 1876-77, and Receiver
of City Taxes under Mayors Nolan and Banks.
From I836 to 1872 William B. Scott (a biography
of whom appears elsewhere) successfully conducted
a grocery store in this city.
Another prominent grocery firm is that of Daniel
Wiedman and John T. Kelly, under the firm name
of Wiedman & Kelly, the former of whom has
been in the business since 1842, a successful mer
chant and worthy citizen. A history of his busi
ness and career appear in connection with his bio
graphical sketch. Mr. Kelly is an equally respected
merchant. This store is located 443 Broadway.
The following prominent firms are also engaged
in the wholesale grocery trade: George A. Birch
& Co., George Boardman & Brothers, Burton &
Vine, Garrett & Beck, Mather Brothers, L. A.
Rogers, H. H. Slingerland & Son, Samuel Steven
son, John E. Walker, Wilson, Lansing & Co. , and
Albert Wing, Sons & Co. The latter firm is one of
the best known and most reliable wholesale houses
in Albany. It has been established many years, and
successfully conducted by men of good business
judgment and unblemished business reputations.
Their trade extends over a wide territory. The in
dividual members of the firm are Albert Wing,
James G. Wing, Eugene R. Hartt and Albert J.
Wing. The retail grocery stores of Albany are numerous.
In 1885 there were over seven hundred of these
stores. A few of the most extensive are the fol
lowing: George W. Kaynsford, Lancaster, corner
of Green; James Judge's Sons (Thomas J. and
Francis P.) 16 Van Woert, who also deal in coal;
Edward Doherty, 155 Clinton avenue; C. J. She-
han, 38 Clinton avenue; Peter Snyder, 349 South
Pearl; John Carey, Myrtle avenue, corner Philip;
James Wise, 87 Orange street; George W. Beck
and S. E. Garrett, under the firm name of Garrett
& Beck, conduct a wholesale fruit and fancy grocery
store on Broadway, corner Hudson avenue/
HENRY D. FRASER
was born in New York, January 17, 1837, and died
in Albany June 14, 1878, aged but little more than
forty-one years He was a son of Alfred S. Fraser
and was for many years, and until his death con
nected officially with the Seventh Ward National
Bank, at the corner of Pearl street and Burlino- Slib
New York. Vi

crCo-H. oflo&&vk cJCa'tpe^.

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

627

Mr. Fraser became a leading business man of
Albany, and was for many years a member of the
firm of L. M. Palmer & Co., wholesale provision
merchants. On account of ill-health, he retired
from this firm, and from all active business, several
years before his death. His widow, a daughter of
Hon. A. Lanson Cook, of Troy, and two children
survive him. He ranked high in commercial cir
cles, and in private life was known as a pure and
noble man, whose character commanded the love
and respect of all with whom he associated. Quiet
and unassuming, he took no part in political affairs,
preferring to devote his time and care to his busi
ness and his home. He was connected with the
First Baptist Church of Albany.
ROBERT HARPER
was born near Holywood, County Down, Ireland,
March 12, 181 2. His father was a Protestant
Irishman of pronounced views, and his mother,
formerly Jane Bond, was a native of Scotland and
a staunch Scotch Presbyterian. Partly on account
of unpleasant religious dissensions in Ireland, and
partly with the hopes of bettering their fortunes in
the New World, they came to America and located
on the island opposite the lower part of the City of
Albany. At that time Robert Harper was a mere
lad, but he had obtained a rudimentary education
at Belfast, in his native land, and was possessed of
remarkable pluck and enterprise and business ca
pacity for one so young. His father engaged in
market gardening, and Robert became an apt and
diligent student in that branch of agriculture. At
the age of twelve we find him market-gardening on
his own account, working leased land, employing
skillful help, and driving his own bargains in the
Albany market. This may be regarded as a re
markable instance of precocious business enter
prise. The boy was successful, and when he grew
up he was successful as a man in the same business
for many years, amassing considerable money,
which later he invested in real estate in Albany
and elsewhere so advantageously as to accumulate
a fine fortune.
Mr. Harper from early manhood took a deep
interest in all questions affecting Government —
Municipal, State and Federal. His convictions
upon questions of political policy and economy
were such as to impel him to ally himself with the
Democratic party. The sterling integrity and un
flinching honesty, the genial disposition, the innate
friendliness, the admirable character which had as
sured him financial success and won him hosts of
friends in business circles, brought him the confi
dence and personal allegiance of his fellow-Demo
crats, and made him against his will a local leader
in his party; and he possessed in a marked degree
the confidence and admiration of large numbers of
men of opposing political affiliations, and was, in a
broad and sympathetic sense, one of the most pop
ular men personally in the city and county. He
did not care for self-aggrandizement, and he per
sistently declined, rather than sought, official pre
ferment. But party strength was so unfavorably

balanced in Albany and vicinity, that no Democrat
who was not extremely popular with the masses of
all parties could at times hope for election to any
city or county office. At such times Mr. Harper
was besought to stand as a candidate, and from
time to time he- reluctantly consented, and no more
unequivocal evidence of his availability as a candi
date could be adduced, than the fact that he was
never defeated at the polls, and his name on the
ticket became a watchword of victory. For many
years he was Chairman of the Democratic County
Committee of Albany County, and he was regarded
as a safe, shrewd, and effective political organizer.
Indeed his reputation as such was more than local,
and his fame as a manager of campaigns extended
not only to New York and throughout the State,
but to distant portions of the Union, and his coun
sel and executive ability were sought from abroad.
At one time, Hon. Henry A. Wise, of Virginia,
then a Gubernatorial candidate, sent for Mr. Harper
to plan his campaign and organize his aggressive
forces. Mr. Harper responded, and not only or
ganized Governor Wise's campaign, but gave such
valuable counsel as to its prosecution that it was a
brilliant success, upon which he was afterwards
complimented. Mr. Harper served his county as
County Clerk and his Assembly District as its
Representative in the State Assembly. His admin
istration of public affairs was marked with all of
the vigor, integrity, and promptness which charac
terized him in business life. It is said that all men
have what are popularly called hobbies. That
of Mr. Harper was one which did him great honor.
It was the cause of public education. The public
schools of Albany and the State at large had no
firmer, more hopeful or more generous friend than
he. He was an unstinting benefactor and an un
tiring helper of the schools of Albany, and for
some years he filled the office of School Commis
sioner, and as such was enabled to do even more
for the advancement of public instruction than he
had been permitted to do simply in his capacity of
private citizen.
Mr. Harper was not a member of any religious
body, yet he gave liberally toward the establish
ment or support of many churches of various de
nominations, without stopping to ask whether they
were Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Prot
estant or Catholic. Essentially benevolent and
helpful in his instincts, he gave to churches as he
gave to other benevolent objects, without prejudice
or favor. It was in private, in the byways, rather
than in the broad highways of charity, that his
beneficence found its widest, its favorite field. He
was one who saw merit in the struggling poor and
delighted to help them to attain a higher plane of
existence; he delighted to extend a helping hand
to honest working men who were trying hard to.
help themselves against adverse circumstances, and
in the very face of frowning fortiine. He was one
who knew not a hard or cruel thought, and who
instinctively shrunk from giving pain to the most
humble of his fellow-men. No better exemplifica
tion of this humane trait could be given than the
mere statement of the fact that, though often be-

628

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

sought to be a candidate for the Shrievalty of Albany
County, he invariably refused, on account of the
possibility that, should he be elected, he might be
called upon to inflict the death penalty upon some
poor wretch who had forfeited his own life to the
law by taking that of a fellow-being.
It was not until he was thirty-six years old that
Mr. Harper was married to Miss Sarah E. Capson,
who bore him six children, named as follows in the
order of their birth: John G , George, Mary, Frank,
Ira, and Sarah J. Of these, John C. , George, Mary,
and Frank are dead. Ira, the only surviving son,
read law with his uncle, Hon. John W. McNamara,
graduated from the Albany Law School, and has
been engaged in the practice of his profession for
the past three years, Mrs. Harper died in Sep
tember, 1863, and in April, 1866, Mr. Harper mar
ried the widow of L. D. Holstein, once an eminent
criminal lawyer of Albany, who was formerly Miss
S. M. Ramsey, daughter of Rev. F. Ramsey, of
Schoharie County, and who survives him.
The death of Mr. Harper occurred in 1870. It
was accompanied by peculiar and distressing cir
cumstances and surrounded by a mystery that for a
time gave it a sensational notoriety. On the 22d
of January Mr. Harper disappeared. He was seen
that day in his accustomed health and spirits, and
he was seen no more. He had passed from the
haunts of men, leaving no trace of his going, its
manner, or its exact time. He was such a man
that it was often said of. him ' ' he had not an enemy
in the world;" yet those who knew him best be
lieved that he had enemies, bitter, implacable, and
vindictive. Various conflicting theories as to his
disappearance were advanced. Those of death by
accident, suicide, and murder were discussed in
turn. His friends scouted the idea of suicide. An
accidental death that would leave no evidence be
hind seemed improbable. They favored— some of
them still favor — the theory of murder. Large re
wards were offered for knowledge of his where
abouts if alive, or the recovery of his bod)'- if dead,
Hon. John T. Hoffman, then Governor of the
State of New York, offering $600 on his own per
sonal responsibility. Private citizens, the police,
and skillful detectives, all sought diligently to un
ravel the mystery of Robert Harper's disappearance.
It was months before it was known positively
whether he lived or was dead. On the 18 th of
April following his disappearance, his body was
found floating in the Hudson, at Coeymans.
Beyond the knowledge that he is dead, the mystery
of his death is yet unexplained.
Mr. Harper's widow and his remaining son and
daughter live on his homestead farm on Madison
avenue, where he passed the last years of his life,
and in which he took the greatest pride, loving it
as only such men as he love the places whereon
are erected their domestic altars.
HORACE D. HAWKINS
was born in Pittsford, Vt, June 22, 181 2, a son
of John and Persis (Hitchcock) Hawkins. He
received such education as was available to him in

the common schools of his native town, and while
yet comparatively young, became a resident of the
State of New York. In 1839 he engaged in the
grocery trade in Albany, opening a retail store.
His business was so successful that it was not many
years before he was largely engaged in the whole
sale grocery trade. Later he turned his attention
to the commission business, and began to deal
heavily in pork, opening a packing-house, which
was one of the first, if not the first, of importance
in Albany. This business grew to be a very exten
sive one, and Mr. Hawkins became largely inter
ested in the same line of trade in Chicago, where
for some years he passed considerable time, and
operated with remarkable success. Retiring from
commerce, he devoted his time and attention to
banking and insurance interests in Albany, and
was associated with the direction of the Albany
City Bank, the First National Bank of Albany, and
the Commerce Insurance Company. He was
known as a careful, intelligent man of affairs, of
strict integrity, unbounded enterprise, and zealous
application; a wise counselor, whose opinions
were usually sought and respected, and whose
uncompromising honesty made him powerful, ex-
c?pt among those who sought to attain means by
other than the direct course plainly discernible
when questions of right and wrong were involved.
He was ever one of the few to advise the adoption
of the right at any cost to the individuals or cor
porations interested. Though not active as a
politician, he was deeply interested in all questions
affecting the public weal. He was an adherent to
the principles of the Republican party as they were
enunciated in his day, and contended earnestly,
though quietly, for those principles which early
marked that organization as the party of great
moral ideas. But he was of too retiring a nature
to mingle in the tumult of political strife. Though
often solicited to stand as a candidate for positions
of public trust and responsibility, he steadfastly
refused the honor intended. He was long an at
tendant with his family at Rev. Dr. Sprague's
church, until the close of that distinguished clergy
man's labors in Albany; and later was an attend
ant at the State Street Presbyterian Church, until
his death, which occurred June 12, 1878. He
was married, in 1841, to Miss Lodimma Davis, of
Pleasant Valley, Otsego County, N. Y., who sur
vives him, together with one daughter and three
sons.
LANSING MERCHANT,
Vice-President of the National Exchange Bank of
Albany, and one of the best-known business men
in the city, was born in Greenwich, Washington
County, N..Y., April 16, 1804, a son of Eliakim
and Charity (Birge) Merchant. His father was
born in 1771, and acquired the trade of a mill
wright while yet a young man. He built many
mills, and was engaged upon other similar work
over quite an extensive area. Removing from
Nine Partners, Dutchess County, to Greenwich,
Washington County, he there married and made
his home.

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COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

629

Lansing Merchant attended the common schools
in vogue in his neighborhood at the time, until he
was ten years old, with much regularity. From
that time on, until he was fifteen, he attended only
in the winter. In April, 1822, he came to Albany
and became a clerk in the general store of S. & R.
Merchant, on Washington avenue, and remained
in that capacity until 1826, when, in partnership
with Seth Crapo, who had previously acquired an
interest in the business, he succeeded his former
employers. From 1828 to 1833 he was a clerk in
the store of Levi Phillips, on Broadway. In the
year last mentioned the firm of L. & W. Merchant
was formed, Lansing Merchant and his brother
Walter being the partners, and opened a grocery
and provision store on Division street near the
Dock. Nine years later the business was removed
to the corner store, contiguous to the Dock, where
it was continued successfully until 1871, when the
brothers Merchant retired from business.
Mr. Merchant possesses in a large degree those
sterling qualities which mark the successful and
respected business man. He early won a reputa
tion for probtiy which brought him the confidence
of all classes The enterprise with which he was
so long identified took high rank among the mer
cantile establishments of Albany, and Mr. Mer
chant became identified with the leading interests
of the city. In 1865 he became a Director in the
National Albany Exchange Bank (now the National
Exchange Bank of Albany), and for some years
past has been its Vice-President; and he is also a
Trustee of the Exchange Savings Bank, one of the
most popular and trustworthy institutions of its
kind in the city. He has been a prominent mem
ber of the Board of Trade of the City of Albany
since its organization.
In January, 1835, Mr. Merchant married Miss
S. M. Ives, daughter of the late Ambrose Ives, of
Herkimer County, N. Y. Politically he is a Re
publican, having graduated naturally into that
party from the ranks of the old Whig organization.
In theology he is an adherent to the Unitarian
faith, and has been a regular attendant upon such
services of that denomination as have been from
time to time held in Albany, and no one deplores
more than he, the fact that there are no stated meet
ings of Unitarians in the city.
JAMES H. OSBORN.
James H. Osborn, a son of Jeremiah and Eliz
abeth (Coburn) Osborn, was born in Albany,
June 17, 1817. His parents had come to Albany
from New Haven, and his father was a merchant
in the city, with a store on Broadway, from 1808
to 1820, when he removed to Olean, N. Y., when
he engaged in the lumber business, in which he
continued until his death in 1822. After settling
his estate the family returned to Albany, where the
subject of this notice has since lived. Mr. Osborn
was educated in private schools, spending the last
two years of his school life at the old Lancasterian
school on Eagle street, on the site of the present
medical college.

At the age of fourteen he entered the store of
C. W. Bender, at the coner of Pearl and Madison
avenues, as a clerk. He was bright and active,
and took naturally to mercantile life, and his ad
vancement was so rapid that, in 1837, with the
aid of Mr. Bender, who had become his firm
friend, he began business for himself, opening a
general store on a street corner opposite to that
where he had begun with Mr. Bender. Previous
to this, Mr. Bender had moved further up the
street, and young Osborn had been for some time
in charge of his store, thus familiarizing himself
with the management as well as the details of mer
cantile operations. He was industrious, honor
able and careful, as well as pushing and energetic,
and he prospered, continuing in trade in Albany
almost uninterruptedly until 1880, when he re
tired. During some years of this period he had
as a partner Mr. James R. Hadley. After his
removal from his original location, he was located
until 1868 at the corner of Pearl and Westerlo
streets, where he bought property, in i860, and
built a store, disposing of which, he located at No.
8 State street, and there remained until his retire
ment. Mr. Osborn was in trade in Albany during
a period which brought many changes with its pass
ing years. The old general stores, something like
the country stores of the present day, gave place
to stores which were distinctively dry goods
or grocery stores. He became well and widely
known in the grocery trade, and, abandoning that
in 1868, he embarked in the produce trade, in
which he continued until 1880, since which time
he has lived in retirement from active business,
but has made some profitable investments in real
estate in different parts of the city.
In 1842 Mr. Osborn was married to Miss Chris
tina Van Rensselaer, of Albany, who lived about
forty years thereafter, bearing him three daughters,
of whom two are living, Mrs. William N. S. San
ders, of Albany, and Mrs. Dr. Charles Devendorf,
of Detroit, Mich. In October, 1883, he was
again married to Mrs. Eliza Bailey, of Albany.
Mr. Osborn has long been a communicant of St
Paul's Episcopal Church, and has been a member
of the vestry since 1858. A few years ago he was
chosen warden to fill a vacancy caused by the
death of Mr. C. W. Bender, the friend of his early
days. Formerly a Whig, Mr. Osborn has been a
Republican from the inception of that party, but
while he has carefully watched the progress of
events and felt a deep interest in our national wel
fare, his tastes have not inclined him to take part
in political life, and he has never accepted any
public office. WILLIAM B. SCOTT.
This gentleman is a well-known resident and
real estate dealer in Albany. He was born in
Albany, April 19, 181 2, a son of William and
Nancy (Beatty) Scott. He had few educational or
other worldly advantages, and was obliged to un
dertake the battle of life for himself at an early age.
He was employed as a clerk and otherwise until

630

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

JAMES A. WILSON.

1836, when he engaged in the grocery trade on
Canal street. In 1844 he bought a grocery store
at the corner of Swan and Second streets, where he
continued business until his retirement in 1872,
In the meantime he had begun to deal in real es
tate, and since then has invested largely in different
parts of the city, notably on Arbor hill and at
West Albany.
In 1838, Mr. Scott married Mrs. Catharine L.
Chapman, daughter of Samuel Harbeck, of Albany.
She died in 1876, leaving a daughter, now an in
mate of her father's home. Formerly a Whig, Mr.
Scott became a Republican upon the rise of the
latter party. He has interested himself in local as
well as State and national affairs, and has four
times been a member of the Board of Supervisors
of Albany County, and represented the Eighth
(now the Twelfth) Ward of Albany in the Board of
Aldermen several times. He is a self-made man,
and is in excellent standing both as a business man
and a citizen. He resides at No. 7 Hall place.
JAMES A. WILSON.
Of several former prominent business men of
Albany who have pased away during the past twenty
years, none are better remembered than James
Alexander Wilson, whose name has been perpetu
ated in that of one of the streets of the city, named
in his honor. He was a son of Joseph Annan and
Maria (Fonda) Wilson, and was born in Albany,
December 8, 1807. He chose a business career

and became prominent in connection with various
important interests of Albany and vicinity. He
was long known as the senior member of the firm
of Wilson & Badgley (later Wilson & Monteith)
wholesale grocers, and at different times he held,
among other important trusts, those of Director of
the Bank of Albany, of the Albany Mutual Insur
ance Company, and of the Albany Plank Road
Company, and was the first President of the Albany
and Rutland Railroad Company, and President of
the Board of Trustees of the Home Lawn Associa
tion. He was a man of great enterprise and un
impeachable integrity, a true friend and a good
citizen. His death occured June 5, 1872. One
of his daughters is Mrs. Daniel S. Lathrop, another
Mrs. Clinton Ten Eyck, both well known in
Albany. DANIEL WEIDMAN.
This prominent citizen of Albany was born in
Berne, Albany County, N. Y., November 21, 1815.
Jacob Weidman, his great-grandfather, came from
Switzerland, arriving in this country with a party
of German emigrants who settled in the Schoharie
Valley. He was one of the first settlers and farmers
in the County of Albany. He followed the stream
called Fox Creek, which empties into Schoharie
Creek near the old stone church in Schoharie
Valley, and located at a fall or rapids which he
named Berne, after his native city in Switzerland.
He built the first house in Berne, and also a saw
mill near the rapids, and subsequently erected a

^

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COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

631

flouring mill. The place was long known as
Weidman's Mills. Here he took up tracts of land,
some of which were held under a lease from
Stephen Van Rennselaer, and others under the title
of a settler. Mr. Weidman's mother was a Schell,
whose father came from Germany at an early date
and settled in this vicinity. He was among the
patriots of those early days who resorted to the old
stone fort, now stone church, during the Indian
raids of the Revolution. Daniel Weidman's early
years were passed near the village of Berne, where
he attended the public schools until ten years of
age, when his father, Felix Weidman, died at the
age of forty, leaving a widow and seven children.
The subject of this notice was the fourth, and being
the eldest son, was called on to work in order to
meet the requirements of a well-stocked farm under
a good state of cultivation. Determined not to let
the farm suffer, he worked with a will, energy, and
judgment that surprised his neighbors. At the
age of fifteen — his mother having again married,
and his sisters being also married — the farm was
let and he was released from the responsibility
he had so well sustained up to that time. He
then started out on his own account, and obtained
a clerkship in a county store at a place called West
Berne, about four miles distant from his native vil
lage, where he remained about a year, and then,
removing to Albany, obtained a situation in a
general store kept by Peter Van Wormer, located
in Pine street, which in those days was an impor
tant business thoroughfare. Here he remained
two years, and was next employed in the carpet
and dry goods store of T. W. Ford & Son, in the
Museum Building, corner of Broadway and State
street, where he remained for three years. Wish
ing to improve his education, he went back to the
country and attended Knoxville Academy for six
months, and then entered the Gallupville Academy
in the town of Schoharie. The principal of this
latter school was a celebrated Scotch professor,
named William McLaren, and is especially remem
bered by Mr. Weidman as a good and able pre
ceptor and a most excellent man. Leaving school,
Mr. Weidman went to New York City and ob
tained a situation in a dry goods store in Grand
street, where he remained nine months. In the
meantime an uncle of his wrote and urged him to
return to Gallupville and join him in business
there, which he did, and was thus engaged for the
ensuing six years, when, selling his interest to his
uncle, he returned to Albany, and, with the mod
erate amount of capital which he had accumulated,
went into the general grocery and provision busi
ness in a new store at No. 6 Hudson street, now
Hudson avenue. He occupied this store for two
years, and about 1845 removed to No. 10 State
street, the principal locality for the grocery busi
ness in those days. There he remained until 1862,
when he removed to Broadway, in a large store
running from Broadway to Dean street, which he
occupied as a tenant for three years, and then pur
chased the property, which he still occupies, con
ducting a wholesale grocery and tea business, and
supplying a large portion of the retail trade in this

portion of the State. In 1839 Mr. Weidman mar
ried Elmina E. Walden, by whom he had four
children, only one of whom is now living. Miss
Walden was descended from the De Waldens, who
originally came from France to England, and fig
ured conspicuously in early English history. Her
family came from England and first settled in this
country at Mystic, Conn. Mr. Weidman's second
and present wife was the widow of William A. Gil
bert, of Adams, Jefferson County, N. Y., and her
maiden name was Scott. His son, George Domin-
ick Weidman, was born June 29, 1842, and en
tered the Union Army at the age of nineteen years,
with his father's consent, in response to the first
call of President Lincoln for 75,000 men. He
served three years and seven months in the South
ern campaigns. Entering the army as Orderly-
Sergeant, he returned as Brevet-Major of Volunteers,
with an honorable discharge on account of phys
ical disability, having served through the struggles
incident to the capture of Port Hudson and the
various battles of the lower Mississippi, and the
Louisiana campaigns under General Banks and
Butler. Later he connected himself with the
N. Y. S. N. G., and became Captain of Company
F, 10th Regiment, and subsequently Colonel of
the Grant Battalion of Albany, which gave General
Grant a notable reception in January, 1881. Upon
his return from the war he was admitted to a
partnership in his father's business, in which he
took an active part until his death, which occurred
March 17, 1883. He was deeply regretted by peo
ple of all classes, and the general feeling of the
citizens of Albany is thus expressed in a memorial
adopted by one of the military organizations of
which he was a member:
"At a meeting of the Albany Burgesses Corps,
held at their armory on Monday, March 19, 1883,
the Commandant having announced the death of
George D. Weidman, the following memorial was
presented and unanimously adopted by a rising
vote :
"Comrades! Again the muffled drums are
beating and the sad cadences of a soldier's requiem
summon us to take the last farewell of a comrade,
vanished forever from our midst. Frequent and
severe as the conscriptions for the ranks of death
have of late been from amongst us, none has
caused us greater surprise or more profound sor
row than the final leave-taking of our friend, com
panion and fellow-burgess, Captain George D.
Weidman. "Fate's final sentence met him in the prime of
life, yet not before, in all the parts where duty
called him, in peace and in war, in business and
in social life, his performances of their various
charges had entitled him to an honorable dis
charge, and bound to him and his memory forever
a circle of warm-hearted supporters during life, a
host of sympathizing friends in death. Our mem
ories will keep the inventory of his many virtues,
and, above all, of his generous charities, which,
'done by stealth, he blushed to find them fame.'
"To those near and dear ones upon whom the
blow falls heaviest, we extent our heart-felt sym-

632

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

pathy in this hour of darkness to their hopes, and
we will pay our last tribute of respect, with becom
ing rites, at the honored soldier's grave.
"Galen R. Hut,
' ' Andrew Hamilton,
"James A. Schattuck,
' ' Henry W. Trowbridge,
"James Kyte,
' ' Committee.
' ' Attest :
' ' Walter Dickson, ' ' President.
"Charles E. Wolf,
' ' Secretary. "
Mr. Daniel Weidman has long been known in
this section of the State, not only as a sound and
substantial business man who has kept clear of
embarrassment during all the financial troubles
incident to the war and its after-consequences, but
also as a firm and staunch supporter of the Union,
ever ready to give his money and influence in the
times when friends were needed and disaster threat
ened. A self-made man in the fullest sense, he
appreciates his country and its institutions, and is
thoroughly loyal and patriotic in all that implies
the progress and glory of the Republic and the
preservation of the Union.
PRODUCE, FLOUR, FEED AND SALT.
The produce, flour and feed dealers to a consid
erable degree are coincident with grocery dealers.
In the earliest period of the commercial history of
the city, every grocer was, in some degree, a prod
uce dealer. The leading produce merchants of
Albany during the forepart of this century were
Sylvanus P. Jermain, John Douw, William &
Clark Durant, William & John Newton, Willard
Walker & Elisha Pratt, all merchants of high
commercial standing in their day. William Du
rant died in Albany in 1845. At one time he was
Trustee of the Albany Savings Bank. Clark Du
rant died in 1873. He was prominent in financial
affairs, and the first President of the Board of
Trade. The principal produce dealers at present in Al
bany are Henry T Bradt, 22 Hudson street;
George W. Hawes, 19 Hudson avenue; William
M. Hussey, 348 and 350 Broadway; J. B Jump, 22
Hudson avenue; Martin & Frost, 375 Broadway;
William Rattoone & Co., 62 State street; Smith &
Wood, 399 Broadway; E. M. Tinkham, 78 Beaver;
Franklin D. Tower, Museum Building; Water
man & Bennett, 333 Broadway; Henry R. Wright,
328 Broadway.
Robert Geer, wholesale dealer in salt, flour and
feed, on the Pier opposite State street, has been
proprietor of his present business since 1863, hav
ing succeeded to the business established by T. Y.
Avery in i860. He occupies six four story build
ings on the Pier, Nos. 109, no, in, 112, 114
and 115. His trade is entirely wholesale, handling
10,000 to 12,000 tons of salt per annum. Mr.
Geer is one of the leading merchants of Albany]

and variously identified with its civil as well as its
financial affairs. He was President of the Board
of Trade in 1884, and is at present President of the
New York State Relief Association, New York
Masonic Relief Association, Supervisor Fourteenth
Ward 1 88 1 to 18S5, and Trustee of the Home
Savings Bank. In 1885 he was the Republican
candidate for State Senator.
Among the flour and grain merchants deserving
of mention are Peter J. Flinn, 860 Broadway, who
commenced business in 1858 at 846 Broadway;
Ames & Co., 317 Broadway; Barber & Bennett,
316 Broadway; Bouton & Geer; William L.
Clute, 385 Broadway; William Cumming, 199
Washington avenue; William J. Davis, 320 Broad
way; Durant & Co., 475 Broadway; William H.
Falke, 844 and 846 Broadway; L. J. Hopkins,
Bassett, corner Franklin; Loucks & Beck, 315
Broadway; Proseus & Rowley, 10 State; John
T. Rielly & Bro., 264 Lark; Henry Russell, 322
Broadway; B. B. Sanders & Co., 343 Broadway;
Schiffer & Co., Garden; Isaac Stevens, 5 Hudson
avenue; John H. Trowbridge, 14 Hudson avenue.
Salt is sold generally by grocers; but the mer
chants who make a specialty of this product be
sides Robert Greer, are I. A. Chapman, 9 and n
State; Mather Bros., 12 State; Prosens & Rowley,
10 State; and F. Wooster & Co., 352 Broadway
and 121 Pier. STUART McKISSICK
was born in Saco, Me., November 27, 1807. In
1816, while he was yet a mere lad, his parents
emigrated to Onondaga County, then almost a
wilderness. Here he remained until past twenty-
five years of age, when he engaged in running a
boat for a Detroit transportation line, and was so
employed about three years, during which he
gained a thorough knowledge of the business. In
1837 he came to Troy in the employ of the same
line, and, after a year's experience in that city, re
moved to Albany, and established a transportation
and produce commission business, which was suc
cessfully conducted by him till 1861, when he re
linquished it to become a partner with Mr. E. P.
Durant in the flour trade. During a portion of the
period of his engagement in the transportation
business and produce trade, Mr. Abram Kirk was
his partner. The firm of Durant & McKissick was
dissolved in 1865, and, after a retirement of two
years, Mr. McKissick resumed the produce busi
ness, in which he continued until 1873, when the
failure of his health hastened his permanent retire
ment. He died August 29, 1882, leaving a wife,
three daughters and a son.
In all his life Mr. McKissick accepted but one
political position, and in that instance the office
sought the man and not the man the office. By
an Act passed by the Legislature of the State of
New York, April 7, 1866, entitled "An Act to
Create a Board of Public Instruction in the City of
Albany; to Establish Free Schools therein; and
Amendatory of the Several Acts Relating to the
District Schools of that City," he was appointed a

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COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

633

member of that Board, and while identified there
with, he zealously advocated the building of the
present High School, believing such an institution
was a necessity. During his long business career
he several times held the office of President of the
Board of Trade of the City of Albany, and it is in
dicative of the esteem in which he was held by all
classes of business men, that whenever he would
allow himself to stand as a candidate before the
Board, he was invariably elected, no matter by
what faction he was put forward. At a meeting of
the Board of Trade, held on Thursday morning,
August 31, 1882, the following report was adopted.
It is quoted both as recounting some of the par
ticulars of his connection with the Board of Trade,
and as showing the esteem in which he was held
by his former associates.
' ' The members of the Board of Trade have
heard with sorrow of the death of Stuart McKissick,
one of its oldest members. The name of Mr. Mc
Kissick appears as an active member of the Board
in the year 1849. He was elected President in
1863, and was a Delegate to one of the conven
tions of the National Board of Trade.
"Mr. McKissick was a member of the Canal
Convention of 1868, and frequently served on the
important committees of the Board of Trade. In
recognition of these important services, and of his
standing as a citizen and merchant, we do herewith
give expression to our sorrow and pay just tribute
to his memory.
"In this event, which sooner or later comes to
all, we recognize that inscrutable Providence whose
power and right it is to do with us as seemeth to
Him good, and that His works are true and right
eous altogether.
' ' In the long and honorable career of our asso
ciate and friend, standing in prominence as a
merchant, his dealings have been marked by sin
gular probity, his counsel always wise, his judg
ment broad and enlightened.
"As a private citizen and in the social walks of
life, he has ever commanded the respect and esteem
of all, and throughout a wide circle of friends and
neighbors he was most beloved by those who knew
him best.
"We extend to his bereaved family our deep sym
pathy in their affliction, and commend them to the
care of Him who doeth all things well; therefore
"Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting
be entered on the minutes of the Board and a copy
be transmitted to the family of the deceased.
"A. Evertsen, \
"E. A. Durant, > Committee."
"W. Lacy," )
Mr. McKissick was at one time a Director of
the National Albany Exchange Bank, and at the
time of his death he was a Trustee of the Albany
Exchange Savings Bank. At a meeting of the
Trustees of the last mentioned institution, soon
after the death of Mr. McKissick, the following
resolution was passed:
"The death of Stuart McKissick, which oc
curred on the 29th of August last, removes a wor
thy and valued member of our Board.
8J

" Mr. McKissick had spent the larger part of
his life in Albany, where he had established a
character for probity and upright dealing as a mer
chant, and for genial and generous kindliness as a
man. He was a man of careful and deliberate
judgment, and his conclusions were usually sound.
He was, therefore, a reliable and safe adviser. In
all his intercourse with his fellows he exhibited the
courtesy and gentleness of a friendly and Christian
spirit. We mourn his loss as that of a faithful and
honorable associate, whose memory will be held
by us in cherished esteem.
"Resolved, That as members of this Board of
Trustees we sincerely sympathize with the widow
and bereaved family of our deceased brother; and
pray that the same fatherly hand which has inflicted
the blow may also afford the needed consolation. "
Mr. McKissick was connected with the First and
Fourth Presbyterian Churches of Albany, and at
his death was an Elder of the first mentioned
church, which he had attended for more than
twenty years. The following is a copy of a me
morial of Mr. McKissick entered upon the miuutes
of the session of the First Presbyterian Church.
" The surviving members of session come to
gether at their stated meeting with hearts bereaved
and minds solemnized by the death, since our last
meeting, of our beloved brother, Elder Stuart Mc
Kissick. "Recent deprivation from active participation
in the duties of his office had in no degree abated
his love for the Master's kingdom and the church
with which he was connected. Commending by
his life the doctrine of Christ, gifted with the spirit
of wisdom and conciliation, his counsels were ever
for promoting the peace of Jerusalem.
"In common with the church and the commu
nity we shall miss the influence of his steadfast
Christian character, and while we cherish his pre
cious memory and example, we are assured that he
was ready to depart to be with Christ.
" To that word of grace which was the guide of
his life and the solace of his hours of physical pain,
we commend the sorrowing ones of his immediate
household as we mourn with them the absence of
our venerated friend.
"Thos. P. Crook, ) n ...
"Chas. B, Nichols, } Committee.
"Walter D. Nicholas,
Moderator. "
FRANKLIN DWIGHT TOWER
is one of the young merchants of Albany who in a
few years has risen by his own tact, enterprise and
energy from the position of modest clerkship to
one of wealth, respectability and influence. He
was born in West Springfield, Mass., July 28,
1848. His parents were Levi and Julia (Wheeler)
Tower, in whose quiet farm-house, with one
brother, he spent his earlier years in attending the
Massachusetts public schools and in assisting his
father. But he early showed a taste for mercantile pur
suits, and was disposed to accept some position as

634

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

salesman. An opportunity occurred in 1864, in
Pittsfield, Mass. When sixteen years of age he
was employed as salesman in the large furniture
warehouse of Lyons & Thompson, in that beauti
ful town. Two years later this firm had gone into
bankruptcy, and young Tower was appointed Re
ceiver by the District Judge. The trust was dis
charged with such intelligence and fidelity as to
commend him to the approbation of all concerned,
and to furnish him a splendid introduction, through
Judge Barker, to the merchants of Albany.
Mr. Tower came to this city in 1866, and en
gaged with a prominent commercial house as sales
man in the flour and grain trade. In the third
year he was receiving a salary three times the
amount paid him the first year, so valuable were
his services.
In 1869, he was a member of the firm of Mills
& Tower, 3 1 9 Broadway, in the commission grain
trade. He was at once recognized by merchants
as one of the most active and well-informed mem
bers of the City Board of Trade, of which organi
zation he was the junior member. Since that date,
he has continued to occupy a leading rank among
the men doing business on Broadway. He has
been one term Vice-President and twice Treasurer
of the Board of Trade.
For about ten years past his office has been in
the Museum Building, corner of State street and
Broadway. His business enterprises are conducted
in three different departments and at three different
locations in the city:
1. Located as above, he not only takes orders in
his extensive business, but is connected by pri
vate telegraph even with the New York and Chicago
stock and grain markets, and constantly receives
reports of the state of the market from these places.
2. At the corner of South Broadway and Plumb
street, he has a large mill for the manufacture of
feed and plaster, which is doing a business second
to few in the country. In this business he has
been engaged for five years past His plaster is
made from genuine Nova Scotia gypsum or sul
phate of lime, and is in great demand in agriculture
and the arts.
3. At the corner of Broadway and Pleasant
street he has an extensive flour and feed store.
In 1878, he carried on the milling business in the
old stone mill near the Manor House, North Broad
way. This mill was erected by one of the Patroons
over two hundred years ago, and was well known
throughout the country as the Patroon's Mill. It
was burned in 1880, soon after which disaster Mr.
Tower commenced the business referred to above
in feed and plaster.
His business has been constantly increasing, and
he enjoys the confidence of an extensive list of cus
tomers. This confidence is the result of close
attention to business, a courteous and obliging
manner, and strict integrity in his dealings. His
rivalry is manly, his system is admirable. His ac
tivity, enterprise and energy, united with prudence
and perseverance, assure continued success.
October 28, 1868, he was united in marriage
with Miss Catherine Becker Blessing, a lady be

longing to the best Holland stock, who makes his
home, at 490 Madison avenue, one of taste and
refinement. Five daughters are the fruit of this
happy marriage.
HAT AND FUR DEALERS.
John S. Robbins is probably now the oldest hat
dealer in Albany, having been continuously in the
business since 1843, when he entered into partner
ship with Francis Briselt as successors of Van Aimes
& Chase, on the corner of South Market street and
Trotter's alley. In the following May, Mr. Briselt
retired, when Mr. Robbins removed to No. 12
South Market (now 4 1 5 Broadway), and two years
later to the store now occupied by the Times Com
pany. Two years later he removed to the store on
the opposite side of the street, now No. 400 Broad
way. After the great fire of 1848, Mr. Robbins
sold his lease to Herrick & Osborne, and then took
possession of the store No. 73 South Pearl street,
where he remained a number of years. He after
wards occupied the store on the southeast corner
of Hudson avenue, and remained there until 1862,
and then moved to 54 State street. At the same
time he ran an additional store at No. 66 State
street. In 1870 he opened a branch store at No.
53 South Pearl, and the same year admitted his
son, John, as a partner, who remained in the store
for eight years, and since that time Mr. Robbins
has conducted his business alone. In 1871 the
stores on State street were given up, and his entire
attention was given to running the store on South
Pearl street. In 1876 he removed to the south
west corner of Green and State streets. He is at
present located at No. 66 State street
In 1822, Samuel S. Fowler was engaged in the
hat business in Albany, and in 1835 Winne & Wil
son carried on a similar business.
The early hat and fur dealers have been named
in another place in this book. The trade is now
well represented by the well-known houses of
Daniel Boughton, William E. Walsh & Sons, Cot-
trell & Leonard, Treadwell & Co., T. W. Cantwell,
W. R. Schermerhorn, George E. Latham and C.
F. Beebe. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
The firm of Cluett & Sons, dealers in organs,
pianos, and all kinds of musical merchandise, was
established in Albany in 1865, as a branch of the
Troy house of that name. This store, formerly on
North Pearl street, is located at 49 State street, and
is 25 by 130 feet in dimensions. Twenty-five hands
are employed. Their trade extends over the greater
portion of the State, being conducted by sub-agents.
A large stock of goods are kept, embracing a great
variety of organs, pianos, and other musical instru
ments from the best manufacturers. F. W. Thomas
has been manager of this house for the last five
years, prior to which, with his brother, he con
ducted a similar business in Catskill. From Cats-
kill he removed to New York, and finally to Al
bany. His long experience in this line of business

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

635

has made him a proficient and reliable judge of
musical instruments. The individual members of
the firm of Cluett & Sons are Edmund, William
and F. A. Cluett, and N. L. Weatherby.
The firm of C. E. Wendell & Co. (Henry Kelly
and John McCammon) conduct a similar business
as the above at 89 and 91 North Pearl street, and
enjoy a high reputation for the excellence of their
wares and are the recipients of a large and growing
trade. Haines & Co., J. O. Montignani, F. W.
Tietz, J. A. Reed and W. C. Gomph are also music
dealers. Jason Collier has made this his business
for many years. J. H. Hidley, who died a few
years ago, was long a well known and extensive
dealer in musical instruments.
COAL.
The first coal yard in this city was established in
1 82 1 by Mr. Peoples, who came here from Lan
singburgh. His yard was located on Orange street,
near Montgomery street, where he conducted the
business for about three years, with annual sales of
from six to eight hundred tons. Four years subse
quent to Mr. Peoples' venture, Ephraim De Witt
opened a yard on State Street Pier, remaining
there for about three years. During this time Mr.
De Witt had in his employ, as a cart-driver, Zebina
Belknap, who afterwards went into the business,
and met with marked success. Matthew Gill was
the next to engage in the trade, and followed it for
some years with profit. Then came the firm of
Groesbeck & Belknap, the former cart-driver, who
located in Columbia street, where George W.
Luther & Son now are. They built up a fine trade,
and, as the profits then were from two to three
dollars per ton, made money. Mr. Belknap finally
retired from the firm and opened a yard in Broad
way, above Clinton avenue, where he remained
until about 1878. Soon after the formation of the
last mentioned firm, Ten Eyck & Brinkerhoff
located on Columbia and Montgomery streets, and
shortly after this, Crawford & Livingston on Wes
terlo street and Broadway. The last named firm
continued in business one year, up to 1 840, when
John G. White became the proprietor. Mr. White
soon purchased the lot in Hudson avenue, where
the Methodist Church subsequently stood, and
Munson's collar factory now stands. After the
Methodist Society made the purchase of this prop
erty, Mr. White bought that situated at the corner
of Hudson avenue and Philip street, of Thomas,
Lowe & Potts, known as the Old Furnace property,
and again started a coal yard. The Society of the
First Baptist Church soon bought this, and he then
located corner of Hudson avenue and Eagle street,
and on Herkimer street and Broadway, finally sell
ing to Putnam & Hoyt. This firm afterwards
made a division, John Putnam taking the Herkimer
street yard and George B. Hoyt the one in Hudson
avenue, where he yet remains.
The growth of the coal interest from that time
has been steady and material. E. W. Howell,
dealer in coal, 388 Madison avenue and State
street Pier, began in 1877. The business there

was started some years before by John Artcher,
who had associated with him for some time his son,
Austin Artcher, now an attorney of this city. Mr.
Artcher sold out to James Taylor, who sold to
Leonard & Youngman, of whom Mr. Howell
purchased. After this last change the business in
creased from two thousand two hundred tons in
1877 to twelve thousand tons in 1884. During
1879, Mr. Howell also ran a yard at the corner of
Church and Arch streets, which he purchased of
Kelchar & Wood. His present State street Pier prop
erty was added in 1880. Upon this wharf he has
erected a yard with posts thirty feet high, with all the
conveniences necessary to a speedy and economical
transfer of coal from boat to coal-house or sheds.
In September, 1885, the following prices were
given upon bids for supplying coal for the public
buildings, including the Capitol and other State
buildings. William McEwan was the lowest bidder and
obtained the contract for supplying 3,625 tons of
Delaware and Hudson Coal at $3.52^ per ton.
The bids were as follows: T. C. Rafferty, Pitt-
ston, $3.98; Leonard & Youngman, Delaware and
Hudson Canal Co., $3,535; Leonard & Young
man, Lehigh and Delaware and Hudson Canal Co.
combined, $3.83!; Rock & Casey, Delaware and
Hudson Canal Co., $3.63^; Rock and Casey, Pitt-
ston, $3.53^; Rock & Casey, Lehigh, $3.96; C. M.
Stuart, Delaware and Hudson Canal Co., $3-76|;
C. M. Stuart, Lehigh, $4; C. M. Stuart, Coleiance,
$3. 90; William McEwan, Delaware and Hudson
Canal Co., 3, 52 J; William McEwan, Lehigh, $4.-
09I; E. W. Howell, Delaware and Hudson Canal
Co., $3.59; E.W. Howell, Pittston, $3.61; and E.
W. Howell, Lehigh, $4.43.
The principal coal and wood dealers in -Albany
at present are: Blackburn & Jones (John Black
burn and John J. Jones), who have two yards, one
at the corner of Ontario street and Livingston
avenue, and the other on Livingston avenue, corner
of Water street; John H. Lynch, 55 and 57 Rens
selaer street; Leonard & Youngman (Jacob Leon
ard, V. H. Youngman and Oscar Leonard), Church,
corner of Madison avenue, and Canal, corner
Lark street; Thomas Mattimore & Son (Peter F.),
841 Broadway; Neil & Harris (John Neil and
Jeremiah Harris, Jr.), 610 Clinton avenue; Barton
Bretton, 61 and 63 Schuyler street; Gibbons &
Burhaus (G. W. Gibbons and George M. Bur-
haus), 591 to 597 Central avenue, and foot of
Westerlo street; William Casey, Dallius, corner
Cherry; Coonley & Waldron (H. W. Coonley
and J. G. Waldron), Broadway, corner Fourth
avenue, and 46 Schuyler street; T. C. Rafferty &
Co. (James H. Carrol), 831 Broadway, and coal
pockets foot of De Witt street.
ZEBINA BELKNAP
was born in Randolph, Orange County, Ver
mont, November 6, 1803, a son of Moses Belknap,
and Margaret Richardson, his wife. He lived the
life of a farmer, boy and man, until he was twenty-
three years old, gaining his education in the dis-

636

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

d.B^luof}

trict schools and a neighboring academy, in which
he was for a short time a student, and teaching
near home several winters. In 1826 he came to
Albany. Finding employment, he remained about
six months, and in the fall following his arrival
went by canal to Western New York. During the
ensuing winter he taught a district school at Eagle
Harbor, a small village on the Erie Canal, near
Albion, Orleans County. Upon the reopening of
the canal, in the spring of 1827, he engaged to run
a boat carrying dressed staves from Albion to
Albany. Two trips destroyed any desire he might
have entertained for a boatman's life, and during
the six months following he was employed at
Gowey's brewery, on North Broadway, Albany,
which he left to take charge of Walter R. Morris'
coal yard on the Pier. A year afterward Mr.
Morris, wishing to lessen the expenses of his bus
iness, replaced Mr. Belknap with a cheaper and
less efficient man, and the former went to New
York and was there employed six months in Corn
ing & Walker's hardware store. Returning to
Albany he was similarly employed for a time, in the
old-time hardware establishment of Pruyn, Wilson
& Vosburgh, until his services were again se
cured at advanced wages by Mr. Morris, who
placed him once more in charge of his coal yard,
where he remained as his assistant until 1833,

when he became a partner, and upon the death
of that gentleman he became sole proprietor of
the business. At different periods he had as part
ners Colonel John Groesbeck and Duncan Mc-
Kercher. In 1855 be purchased the interest of
the latter and presented it to his son, Charles M.
Belknap, and the business was conducted during
the ensuing nineteen years by Z. Belknap & Son.
In 1874 the health of Mr. Charles M. Belknap be
gan to decline, and he saw the necessity of at once
giving up all business cares. His father had al
ready amassed a competency, and did not feel equal
to the task of continuing the business alone. They
decided to sell out their combined interests and
retire, which ihey effected during the year last
mentioned. In 1878 Mr. C. M. Belknap died.
Since his retirement, Mr. Belknap has lived quietly
in Ten Broeck street. He was married, in 1832,
to Miss Fanny Osgood, who was born in his native
town of Randolph, Vt, who bore him a son and
a daughter, and died in 1879. Mr. Belknap was
formerly a Whig, and during the past twenty-five
years has been a Republican. He has served the
city as Alderman, representing the old Sixth Ward,
and the State as Weighmaster of the Canal, at
Albany, but has avoided political life and refused
to become a candidate for other offices. He is a
member of the Fourth Presbyterian Church.

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

637

CROCKERY, CHINA AND GLASSWARE.
During the early part of this century, the firm of
Webb & Dummer was prominent in connection
with the crockery trade. They commenced busi
ness on State street, opposite Green, in 1807. The
partners were George Dummer and John A. Webb.
They were followed in business in 1828 by H. & C.
Webb & Co., composed of Henry L. and Charles
B. Webb and Alfred Douglass. This firm con
tinued until 1 84 1, when the business was sold to
Gregory & Co. Mr. Douglass afterwards removed
to New York and went into the produce business,
and remained there until his death, which occurred
in 1 88 1. Charles B. Webb died in 1834, and H.
L. Webb about four years later. Gregory & Co.
continued in business here for several years, when
they removed to New York. Mr. Gregory is still
a resident of Albany, one of the oldest merchants
of the city.
In the early part of this century the following
firms were engaged in the wholesale crockery bus
iness: E. C. &W. Mcintosh, South Market; David
E. Gregory and Peter Bain, North Market street.
Gregory & Bain commenced business in 18 14; the
former was a brother-in-law of the Marvins. E. C.
Mcintosh afterwards became President of the Mo
hawk and Hudson River Railroad Company.
The oldest firm now doing business in Albany
in the crockery business is that of Van Heusen,
Charles & Co., which was formed by Theodore V.
Van Heusen and D. D. T. Charles in 1843. They
bought out the firm of Wardwell & Bordwell, then
doing business at 66 State street, in an old build
ing on the site of the present store of the Messrs.
McClure, druggists. Van Heusen & Charles occu
pied one-half of the store and J. & A. McClure the
other. In 1 844, Van Heusen & Charles removed
to 62 and 64 State street, formerly occupied by
Lewis Benedict & Co., hardware merchants. In
1856, Van Heusen & Charles bought the property
on Broadway known as the Mansion House, and
kept as a hotel for many years. - On this site they
built the store now occupied by them. It extends
through the block from Broadway to James street,
and is 250 feet deep. In 1864, George W. Pierce,
who had been for years in their employ, became a
partner, under the firm name of Van Heusen,
Charles & Co. This firm does a large wholesale
trade, and is well known throughout the United
The firms of McGue & O'Brien, O'Brien & Ma
har and Daniel O'Brien and James Mahar, well
known during the last twenty years, have only a
historic interest, having gone out of existence re
cently. The store of W. H. D. Woodruff, 14 North
Pearl, takes their place in large measure. The
stores of William Domett and Simon Bell, on South
Pearl, and Bell & Ledger, 414 Broadway, deserve
mention. HARDWARE.
The firm of Corning & Co. was founded prior to
18 16 by John Spencer, who commenced business
on South Market street on the site now occupied

by the building No. 416 Broadway. In 1816,
Erastus Corning was admitted as a partner, the firm
name being John Spencer & Co. Mr. Spencer sub
sequently withdrew, when John T. Norton became
a partner. A few years after, James Horner was
admitted in place of Mr. Norton. Many years
after, a Mr. Sparhawk became a partner, under the
firm name of Corning, Horner & Sparhawk. About
1844, Mr. Sparhawk died, and the same year Gil
bert Davidson became a partner. About this time
Mr. Corning erected the building in present use
by the firm. In 1848, Mr. Horner retired, and
Erastus Corning, Jr., was admitted. In 1854, John
F. Winslow was taken in as partner, but withdrew
in 1862. Two years later Mr. Davidson retired.
Eraslus Corning, Sr., who had been connected
with the firm for half a century, withdrew, when
the firm name was changed to Corning & Co. , being
composed of Erastus Corning, Jr. , Townsend Fon-
dey, William H. Nichols, James E. Walker and
Clarence H, Corning. Mr. Walker and Clarence
H. Corning both died in 1879. The nrm is now
composed of Erastus Corning, William H. Nichols
and W. T. Fondey.
The other leading hardware merchants in the
first half of the present century were Spencer Staf
ford & Co., Lewis Benedict & Co., Benedict &
Roby, and Steele & Warren, all on South Market
street; Alexander Davidson, Van Alstyne & Son,
N. B. Miles, Humphrey & Co., Cantine Tremper,
Lansing Pruyn, and others.
In connection with the hardware business, we
may call attention to the biographical sketches of
Noah Brooks Mills and Isaac W. Vosburgh, which
furnish much valuable information of the early
merchants of Albany.
Another old house deserving of mention is that
conducted by Maurice E. Viele, Nos. 39, 41 and
43 State street. Mr. Viele made his first business
venture here in 1845, when he commenced dealing
in hardware, and in that year, in connection with
the late Alexander Davidson, bought out the old-
established house of Van Alstyne & Son, doing
business corner of State and Green streets. ' In
185 1, the stock of Humphrey & Co. was not only
added, but a removal was also made to the store ol
that firm.
Shortly after the death of his partner in 1859,
Mr. Viele associated with himself Messrs. Coles
and Woodruff, and for four years the firm remained
unchanged. In 1865, these two partners retired,
and ever since Mr. Viele has conducted the busi
ness alone. In 1870, he purchased the stock of
Cantine Tremper; in 1874, that of Van Santford &
Anable; and in 1875, that of L. Pruyn & Son,
which greatly added to his already extensive stock.
The present store is five stories in hight and 5 2
by 100 feet in dimensions. Intelligent and cour
teous salesmen are employed, and everything is
done to add to the comfort of their customers.
The following constitute the principal hardware
dealers, besides those already mentioned, now en
gaged in the trade: Gilbert H. Ackerman, 384
Broadway; William T. Burgess, 146 South Pearl
street; and M. Crannell, 208 Hudson avenue.

638

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ISAAC W. VOSBURGH
was born in Albany, December 21, 1801. His
parents were William and Mary (McDonald) Vos
burgh, his father having been of the old Dutch
stock, and his mother a Scotchwoman.
He was educated privately, and at the age of
about twenty began his business career as a clerk
in the old-time hardware store of George Hum
phrey, on State street Here he applied himself
assiduously to business and familiarized himself
with the hardware trade as it then existed.
Some time between 1820 and 1830, the firm of
Pruyn, Wilson & Vosburgh was formed, and con
tinued in existence for more than thirty years, do
ing business at -No. 39 State street. Their house
became one of the most prominent mercantile
establishments in Albany, and the second in the
city in its line. The firm were for many years ex
tensive importers of hardware, and their relations
with the trade extended over a wide territory. The
introduction of domestic manufactures, and of the
system of selling throughout the country by com
mercial travelers, changed the character of the trade,
which is now carried on on an entirely different
basis from that in vogue for many years before the
War of the Rebellion.
Mr. Vosburgh is still living and in good health.
At the age of eighty-three years he is one of the few
men whose experiences connect the old Albany
with the Albany of to-day, and the changes which
have been wrought in the city during his lifetime
have been numerous and remarkable. He is in
full possession of his mental faculties, is genial and
hospitable, and retains that pleasant manner which
made him popular during his active life. Sur
rounded by his family, he is passing in peace and
contentment the closing years of a long and well-
spent life.
NOAH BROOKS MILES
was the third Noah Miles in his family in the
line of direct descent. His grandfather was named
Noah Miles, and his wife was Hannah Hosmer.
Their son, Noah Miles, was born in Westminster,
Mass., December 22, 1751, and died at Temple,
N. H., November 20, 1831, aged seventy- nine. He
graduated at Dartmouth College in 1780, received
the degree of A. M., studied theology, and was
ordained Pastor of the Congregational Church at
Temple, October 2, 1782. It was as pastor of
that church that he died forty-nine years later.
He is remembered in literature by an able eulogy
on Washington. His wife was a Miss Pearson.
Noah Brooks Miles was born at Temple, N. H.,
July 24, 1798. At the age ot eighteen he came to
Albany and began his business career as a clerk in
the hardware store of Humphrey Brothers, on State
street. Faithful and honest, he ever considered
the interests of his employers, who after a few years
made him a member of the firm. In 1832 he be
gan business for himself independently, in the
Rensselaer Hall block, on Hall street, above Pearl.
About 1 85 1 he purchased the stock of D. Hum

phrey & Lansing, and removed to their old stand at
the corner of State and James streets, on the site
of the Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank. There he
remained until, in 1866, he retired from business
on account of failing health.
As a successful, trusted and respected merchant,
Mr. Miles won a reputation which gave him a
standing amongst the most honored in the city in
all commercial relations. His heart. was kind, his
manners genial. He did favors with an open-
handed generosity that made his friendly unselfish
ness the most conspicuous trait of his character.
In 1838, while in the prime of his life, he united
with the Pearl street Baptist Church (then located
on the site of Perry Hall), under the pastorate of
the late Rev. Dr. Welch; and from that time for
ward to the day of his sudden and unexpected re
moval from life (July 18, 1872) no one who knew
ever doubted his love for God or his fidelity to his
Christian vows. He was twice married; first in
1827 to Mrs. Eliza Fletcher, daughter of Captain
Lyman, of Rensselaer County, and the second
time, in 1848, to Miss Mary Newman, daughter
of the late Henry Newman, who during his life
time was favorably and prominently known in the
business and social circles of Albany. Mr. Miles
had an inherent and unconquerable dislike for
politics and public life, but he took an intelligent
interest in public affairs, and numbered among his
friends many prominent men. It was in unos
tentatious, helpful charity that he most delighted,
and he found his greatest reward in the concious-
ness that he had, unknown to any except himself
and the objects of his generosity, helped many a
good, but temporarily unfortunate, man to help
himself.
PLUMBERS, TIN AND COPPERSMITHS,
AND STOVE DEALERS. «
The firm of Michael Delehanty & Son, plumbers
and sanitary engineers, was established in 1 840.
The present junior partner of the firm is John S.
Delehanty. They carry on a large trade in plum
bers' supplies, and are sole agent for Magee's " New
Ideal" parlor-stove, wrought-iron furnaces, and
elevated ranges. They are located 26, 28, and 30
Green street
Ridgway & Russ, 121 State street, and Thomas
Dugan, 27 James street, have long ranked among
the best plumbers in the city.
Edward Fitzgerald & Sons (John and Mark),
pursue the business of plumbers, roofers, and cop
persmiths, at 28 Beaver street.
William Guinan, 64 Beaver street, carries on a
general coppersmithing, plumbing, and roofing
business. The firm of Carlisle & Hill, composed of James
Carlisle and William Hill, are engaged in the cop
per and tinsmith business, being principally em
ployed in making roofs. They are located at 636
Broadway. The principal stove dealers, aside from those
engaged in the manufacture, are found on Green
street, Washington avenue, and Broadway.

J^%<z^i^/f //^^jstsrf^'

^ti.Uk&s

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

639

James D. Walsh, 43 Hudson avenue, deals in
grates and heaters.
COMMISSION MERCHANTS AND FOR
WARDERS.
The number of merchants who receive grain and
other farm products to sell on commission is
numerous in Albany. The following are the most
prominent: Durant & Elmore, 505 Broadway; Gay
& Quimby, 448 Broadway; Durant & Co., 473
and 475 Broadway; J. H. & F. A. Mead, 374
Broadway; Jeremiah Waterman & Sons, 463 Broad
way; Barber & Bennett, W. L. Clute; James Farrell,
70 Pier; Peter McCabe, 102 Pier; H. A. Dwight,
W. M. Hussey, B. B. Sanders & Co., S. W. Settle,
M. H. Smith, Tallmadge & Co., R. W. Thacher,
H. R. Wright, and Wright & Anderson.
MEAT DEALERS.
During the preceding century most of the retail
meat dealers were located in what was known as
the City Market, which stood in Market street,
nearly opposite where Stanwix Hall now is. It
was a frame structure eighty feet long, and in both
ends the hook and ladder companies kept their
apparatus. The market was ordered out of the
street in 1807, and by an edict of the Common
Council three markets were ordered to be erected
in its stead. One was at the corner of Columbia
and Montgomery street, known as the North Mar
ket; another on Court street, opposite Truax's
Tavern, at what was known as the watering place,
styled the South Market. The third was at the
corner of South Pearl and Lutheran streets, after
wards designated as the Centre Market. For many
years State street has been the the principal place
where farmers, butchers, etc., have sold their ware.
In the morning they form their wagons in a line
on both sides of the road track, sometimes forming
a continuous line from Eagle street to Green street.
From early morning till noon this street presents
a lively appearance, crowded with buyers and
sellers. Probably no name is more prominent in con
nection with Albany meat dealers than that of
Fredenrich, members of which family for nearly
a century were connected with this business in
Albany. The original was John C. Freiedenrich,
who accompanied Burgoyne's expedition from
Canada. In 1791 he ' occupied a stall in the old
city market. At that time James Gibbons, John
Cassidy, Patrick Cassidy, and Johnny Williams oc
cupied stalls in the same building. Soon after the
beginning of the present century, John Freden
rich, Jr., was taken into partnership by his father,
who then supplied most of the influential citizens
with meat. In 1821 Johann C. Fredenrich died,
when his son succeeded him, and for nearly a cen
tury afterwards conducted a meat market. He
died a short ime ago, over ninety years old. He
had two sons, John and Philip, who followed their
father's business. The latter conducts a meat market
at No. 83 Green street.

Meat dealers are numerous in Albany. There
are no less than one hundred and twenty-five meat
stalls, among which are those of Ignatius Wiley, at
6 1 Beaver street; John Battersby, John Featherby,
D. J. Hartnell, W. J. Maher, J. McQuade, George
Wiley & Brother. FURNITURE.
The large furniture warehouse and factory in
North Pearl street of B. W. Wooster & Co. , is the
outgrowth of a small concern. In February, 1843,
George 0. Merrifield and B. W. Wooster com
menced business as dealers in mahogany and fur
niture, and undertakers. The firm continued to
gether for eighteen years, when, by the death of
Mr. Merrifield, Mr. Wooster became the sole pro
prietor. Soon afterwards, he sold out the under
taking business, and confined himself exclusively
to furniture. In 1851 he built the five-story brick
structure on South Pearl street, which he occupied
for thirty-five years. About a year ago he moved
into his present quarters on North Pearl street, a
building forty-four feet wide and two hundred and
seventeen feet deep, extending through to James
street. January 1, 1884, his sons, Edwin B. and
B. W., were admitted as partners, under the firm
name of B. W. Wooster & Co. Benjamin W.
Wooster, the head of this establishment, was born
in Albany County, March 24, 1820, and is a gen
tleman of a high order of business ability. He is
now President of the Albany County Bank.
The other furniture dealers of prominence are
Thomas Buckley, of 29 Washington Avenue; Ber
nard Gloeckner, 81 and 83 South Pearl; Philip
Hertz, Jr., 112 South Pearl; John J. Hicks, 85
and 87 Beaver; Nelson Lyon, 4, 5 and 6 Central
avenue; E. Up DeGrove, 134 Lark; H. R. Watson,
19 to 25 North Pearl. " — ¦—— — *— '
JOHN MEADS
was born in Polesworth, Warwickshire, England,
June 3, 1777, and died in Albany in 1869. His
parents were Elias and Sarah (Alsop) Meads. With
others who were seeking a new home and fairer
fortunes under foreign skies, he came to the United
States in his fifteenth year. He learned the trade
of a cabinet-maker, at which he served a regular
apprenticeship in New York, and worked as a
journeyman at the same trade there until 1802,
when he came to Albany. Here he soon opened a
cabinet-maker's shop on his own account After
some years had elapsed, he admitted William Alvord
to a partnership in his business, which was contin
ued until about 1847, when Mr. Alvord died.
Not long afterward, Mr. Meads, who had again
become sole proprietor, was succeeded by his son,
John Meads, Jr., who, in 1850, removed to New
York. This business was established on Broad
way, between Maiden lane and Steuben street, and
subsequently removed to the building adjoining
that now occupied by the American Express Com
pany, and which is now owned by members of Mr.
Mead's family.

640

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Retiring from the business in which he had passed
the years of his prime, Mr. Meads interested him
self deeply in projects for the development of Albany
and vicinity, for he had since a very young man
taken a great interest in the growth and prosperity
of the city. He was one of several well-remem
bered gentlemen who were associated in projecting
and constructing the Great Western Turnpike,
which in its day was designed as an internal im
provement of no mean importance. For years he
had had plans in his mind for supplying the City of
Albany with water, and it was with much interest
that he watched the operations of the Albany Water
works Company, which was organized early in the
present century, and was the first corporation or
ganized for the purpose to which its energies were
directed. Mr. Meads identified himself with this
Company, and during the last twenty-five years of
its existence was its President and active Manager,
his son, Orlando Meads, during a portion of this
period serving as its Secretary, and his son James
as Clerk. The Corporation ceased to exist in 1851,
when in the march of modern progress it gave place
to other means for furnishing a water supply to
Albany than those it had so long provided.
Mr. Meads was married in 1804 to Miss Louisa
Crane, of Albany, who died in 1854, having borne
him several children, of whom six — three sons and
three daughters — attained the state of manhood and
womanhood. These were, in the order of their
nativity, Orlando, Charlotte, Louisa, John, Jr.,
James, and Sarah Ruth. The Misses Charlotte
and Sarah Ruth Meads, the only survivors of the

family, live in their father's old home on Columbia
street. The Meads' residence was built in 1829.
Mr. Meads was a Whig, and later a Republican.
An active, energetic, enterprising mart, .of domestic
habits, he took no part in political affairs, except
to exercise his right of suffrage as seemed to him
right and fit. A great reader, as well as a wonder
ful observer, he gained a wide range of political
and substantial knowledge, which often excited the
envy of men whose educational advantages had
been far superior to his. His good taste in all
matters of adornment or decoration was proverbial,
and his skill was called into requisition upon nearly
all public occasions. Great preparations were made
in Albany, as well as elsewhere throughout the
country, to cebrate the centennial of Washington's
birthday in 1832. That day was long a red-letter
day in the memory of many of the older inhab
itants of the city, of a generation now unhappily
extinct The City Hall was to be decorated in
honor of the occasion, and Mr. Meads was chosen
to perform the task. He accepted the charge, and
the result of his artistic efforts was so pleasing that
he was presented with a silver water service, in
scribed as follows:
Presented by the Managers of the Washington Centennial
Ball to Mr. John Meads, in compliment to his taste and clas
sic design for the decoration of the City Hall on the evening
of the 22d inst.
Albany, February, 1832.
The Misses Meads have preserved a card of in
vitation to that ball, of which the following is a
copy:

CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF WASHINGTON.

The Honor of the Misses Meads' Company is requested at a BALL, to be given at the CITY HALL on
the Evening of the 22d inst.
Albany, Feb'y nth, 1832.

John Townsend,
James McKeown,
Isaac W. Staats,
James Porter,
Joel A. Wing,
William Lush,
Augustus James,
George Dexter,
Herman Leonard,
Wm. M. Gregory,

Managers.
The Hon. Levi Beardsley,
" John McLean, Jr.,
" John Birdsall,
" C. L. Livingston,
" John A. King,
Francis Granger,
" John McKeon,
" Philip Maxwell,
" Aaron Remer,
" James B. Spencer,

Of the
Senate.

Of the
Assembly.

James Stevenson,
Silas Wright, Jr.,
Peter Lansing, Jr. ,
John A. Livingston,
Peter Seton Henry,
J. B. Van Schaick,
Wm. A. Wharton,
A. H. Lovell,
Theodore Olcott,
Richard Yates.

Of these thirty managers only William M. Greg
ory and Theodore Olcott are now living.
Mr. Meads was a nearly life-long member of St.
Peter's Episcopal Church, of which he was a stead
fast friend and liberal supporter. The cause of
education also claimed his attention, and he gave
much thought and good counsel to the manage
ment of the public schools of his day. His charity
was spontaneous and unquestioned. His solicitude
for the advancement and prosperity of the city of
his adoption was so marked, that he was always
found among the earliest to advocate and aid the
various public improvements of his time.

WATCHES AND JEWELRY.
The oldest established jewelry store in Albany is
that of William Wendell & Co. It was founded in
1 8 10 by Shepard & Boyd, in the building that
then stood on the southeast corner of Exchange
and Market streets. It was continued by this firm
until the retirement of Robert Shepard, and was
then conducted by William Boyd for two years,
when he admitted John H. Mulford, and moved
into a store nearly opposite, on Broadway. In the
following year they moved to State street, where
Gray's book store now is. Here they continued

(^J/ZfrG &LQj2tSjK-Z,

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

641

until the death of Mr. Boyd in 1840, after which
Mr. Mulford carried on the business for two years,
when William Wendell was admitted as a partner,
under the firm name of Mulford & Wendell. This
partnership continued for twelve years, when Mr.
Mulford retired, and Robert L. Mulford, his son,
and William P. Feltman, were admitted as partners,
under the firm name of Mulford, Wendell & Co.
They remained at 480 Broadway until i860, when
the firm dissolved, Mr. Mulford withdrawing, and
thereafter, until 1864, when Mr. Feltham died, the
affairs of the firm were conducted under the firm
name of Wendell & Feltham. In 1865, Richard
H. Roberts became a partner, under the firm name
of Wendell & Roberts. In 1868 they removed to
No. 35 North Pearl street. In 1876 Mr. Roberts
withdrew from the firm, when James H. Leake
became a partner, the firm name becoming Will
iam Wendell & Co. This firm has lately been
dissolved. The jewelry store of Henry Rowland, 27 North
Pearl street, was established in 1832 by the present
proprietor, who keeps one of the largest and best
assortments of diamonds, watches, clocks and jew
elry to be found in the city.
James Mix, No. 5 Beaver block, is another old
established jeweler who enjoys a large patronage,
and is widely known for the fine quality of his
goods. The firm of Marsh & Hoffman, composed of
Benjamin Marsh and Frederick Hoffman, at 32
North Pearl street, are recognized dealers of essen
tially high standing in the jewelry business.
The other dealers deserving of mention are E.
Max Fasoldt, 38 North Pearl; Otto H. Fasoldt, 83
North Pearl; P. D. F. Goewey; Benjamin L.
Hood, 71 South Pearl; W. H. Williams & Son,
488 Broadway; R. P. Thorn & Sons, 5 Green; all
of whom, by long experience and honorable deal
ing, have gained public confidence and patronage.
WOOL DEALERS AND LEATHER
DRESSERS.
About 120 years ago, Charles Newman com
menced the business of wool-dealing and leather-
dressing on Broadway. He was succeeded by
Henry Newman in 1785, who continued it for
seventy or more years. Thirty-six years ago
Charles Newman, son of Henry Newman, suc
ceeded his father at his present store, 457 Broad
way, in connection with his brothers, John L. and
James. For many years Charles Newman has con
ducted the business alone, which represents the
oldest firm in the city, or perhaps in the United
States, that has been engaged in the same business,
on the same street and in the same city. It is said
this house never had a note go to protest.
John Wilson started the wood and leather busi
ness on State street. A few years afterwards he
moved to No. 53 Dean street. In 1839, his son
James, became a partner, under the firm name of
John Wilson & Son, which continued until 1847,
when the elder Wilson died. The business was
conducted by his son until a few years ago. In
81

1853, he built the large warehouse No. 54 Dean
street. In the early part of the present century, Henry
Guest, Jr., was engaged in the leather business
on the corner of Church and Lydius streets. He
died in 1820, and was succeeded by Andrew Light-
body. HON. ISAAC LEFEVRE,
of Albany, is a son of Daniel and Henrietta
(Schermerhorn) Lefevre, and was born at Roxbury,
Delaware County, N. Y.,- August 31, 1809. On
his father's side he is descended from a family of
those Huguenots who, driven from their native soil
by their intolerant fellow citizens, crossed the sea
to give to the American race some of its most
valuable characteristics. Casper Schermerhorn, his
maternal grandfather, was of sturdy Dutch stock,
and in his time a thrifty tanner. Daniel Lefevre,
his son-in-law, also became a tanner, and in their
footsteps have followed Isaac Lefevre and his son,
Martin R. Lefevre, Daniel Lefevre's son and grand
son respectively.
Isaac Lefevre possessed meager educational ad
vantages, no other opportunities being his than
such as were afforded by the district school of his
day and locality. But he was gifted with a thought
ful mind and remarkable powers of observation.
These, with a love of reading, enabled him in after
years to remedy, to a great extent, the educational
deficiencies of his youth. He learned his trade in
his father's tannery at Roxbury, and was for a con
siderable time employed there. September 20,
1836, he married Miss Margaret M. Richtmyer, of
Blenheim, Schoharie County. In 1845 he went to
Northville, Fulton County, and established a tan
nery in that town on the Sacandaga River, a branch
of the Hudson. His business was successful and
he continued it until 1865, when he sold it to re
move to Albany to look after some interests which
he possessed there. Since 1862 he had been a
partner in a leather commission trade, located at
No. 6 State street. In 1868 he formed a partner
ship with Charles D. Rathbone, under the firm
name of Rathbone & Lefevre, opening a leather
commission store at No. 24 State street. Mr. Le
fevre about this time bought a tannery at Beaver
Falls, Lewis County, where was manufactured
much of the leather handled at their Albany store.
The active management of this establishment was
assumed by Mr. Lefevre's son, Martin R. Lefevre,
who later purchased it of his father's firm and has
since conducted it with much success, gradually
adding to its productive capacity to keep pace with
his increasing business. Mr. Lefevre's health fail
ing, he was obliged to dispose of his interest to
Mr. Rathbone, and retire from active business life
in 1878. During his long career as manufacturer
and merchant no stain ever fell on his good name,
and no creditor ever lost by him or his house.
Honest, energetic, pushing, and at the same time
affable, friendly and helpful, he combined all of
those qualities which gain the public confidence
and place a man on the highway of success.

642

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Mr. Lefevre has long been a liberal supporter of
the public charities of the city, and those who
know him best state that he has done much,
quietly and unostentatiously, to alleviate the ills of
his less fortunate fellow-beings. He is a generous
supporter of the Presbyterian Church, upon the
services of which his family are attendants. He
has never taken such an interest in politics as to
bring upon him the somewhat reproachful title of
politician. But his interest in the proper conduct
of public affairs has been both deep and intelli
gent. From a membership of the old Whig party,
he graduated naturally to identification with the
Republican organization, with which he has con
sistently voted and acted since 1856. The con
fidence of his fellow-citizens in his honor and
ability was demonstrated in 1855, when he was
elected to represent Fulton and Hamilton Counties,
then constituting one Assembly District, in the
State Legislature. Mr. and Mrs. Lefevre have had
three sons and two daughters, all of whom are
living. The sons are Martin R., William L., and
De Witt C. Lefevre. Miss Henrietta Lefevre is
now Mrs. Winfield S. Wylie, of Rome, N. Y.,
and Miss Elizabeth Lefevre, Mrs. W. R. Bill, of
Delhi, N. Y. SEED STORES.
William Thorburn established a seed store at the
corner of Broadway and Maiden Lane in 1831,
which he continued until 1868, when he sold out
to V P. Douw & Co. The firm of Price & Knick
erbocker bought out the business in 1875, and
have since conducted it at No. 80 State street.
When first established the trade was merely local,
but under the present proprietors it has grown to
large proportions, and extends not only all over
the United States, but to foreign countries. Both
a wholesale and retail trade is carried on. The in
dividual members are G. H. Price and David M.
Knickerbocker. Over 3,000 varieties of seed are
carried in stock.
READY-MADE CLOTHING AND MER
CHANT TAILORS.
The business of making and selling ready-made
clothing was not confined very extensively to any
one firm in Albany until 1846, when R. C. Davis
commenced the tailoring business on the east side
of South Market street, just south of Hudson street.
His establishment was destroyed by the fire of 1848,
after which he opened a store in the Museum Build
ing. The following spring he moved into the Ex
change Building. In 1853, Charles G. Craft be
came associated with him, under the firm name of
Davis & Craft, and began the manufacture of
clothing for their own trade. The business of the
house increased rapidly, requiring several removals
to more commodious quarters. In i860 George
P. Wilson became a partner, under the firm name
of Davis, Craft & Wilson. In 1870, the firm dis
solved and two separate houses were formed, one
conducted by R. C. Davis & Co. (Jesse M. White),

and the other by Craft, Wilson & Co. (Charles G.
Craft, George P. Wilson, James H. Gross and
Stephen P. Corliss). The first firm remained at
the old stand, while Craft, Wilson & Co. removed
to the comer of Maiden Lane and Broadway.
Davis & Co., in 1875, removed to 482 Broadway,
where they did an extensive business for some
years. They are not now engaged in business.
In 1875 Mr. Corliss retired from the firm of Craft,
Wilson & Co., and in 1878 Mr. Craft withdrew his
interest and opened a store on the corner of James
street and Maiden lane, where he is at present
located. Wilson & Gross, the remaining members
of the firm of Craft, Wilson & Co. , are located at
490 Broadway. The sales of these two firms, both
wholesale and retail, are very large.
At one time the manufacture of clothing was an
important element in the trade of Albany. In 1872,
the firm of R. C. Davis & Co. employed over 300
hands, their yearly pay-roll amounting to $125,000.
At the same date the firm of Craft, Wilson & Co.
employed between 500 and 600 hands. During
late years this branch of the business has been
practically discontinued in this city. Most of the
ready-made clothing sold here is purchased from
the large wholesale manufacturing firms in New
York, Boston, Rochester and other large cities.
Besides the two firms mentioned, Henry L.
Smith, 48 and 50 State street; Babcock, Shannon
& Co., 605 and 607 Broadway; Julius Saul, Keith
& Ward, the Rochester Clothing Company, etc.,
are extensively engaged in the wholesale and retail
clothing business.
Among the merchant tailors, for many years the
firm of Bailley & Brooks have occupied a leading
position. Jonn P. Bailley, who now carries on the
business, as remaining partner, at 25 North Pearl
street, was born in Lyons, France, and came to the
United States in 1859, settling in Albany in 1861,
where he has since successfully carried on the mer
chant-tailoring business. John D. Brooks was
born in Schenectady and came to Albany in 1859.
He served in the Civil War and took much interest
in military affairs in Albany, and at one time was
Colonel of the Tenth Regiment, N. G. S., N. Y.
In 1820, Peter Relyea and Thomas Wright en
tered into partnership at 371 Market street. They
were the leaders of the profession for many years.
Ira Portis and Francis Horth, about this time, were
also tailors of high standing.
John T. Johnson is another merchant tailor
worthy of mention as a leading representative of
this branch of trade. Mr. Johnson established his
present business in Albany in 1878. He is now
located al 35 Maiden lane, where he occupies a
three-story building 25 x 70 feet in dimensions.
GAME, FISH AND OYSTERS.
Probably the oldest merchant in active business
in Albany is Joseph Clark, the well-known dealer
in game, vegetables and provisions, who com
menced business in 1826 as a peddler of fish and
oysters. In 1837 he opened a small store in Wash
ington street, on the south side, between Hawk

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COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

643

and Swan streets. He remained there twenty-seven
years, when he removed to the building corner of
State and Lodge streets, where he has since re
mained. John Keeler is extensively engaged in the oyster
business at 85 and 87 Green street. He has recently
opened an oyster-house on State street. At both of
these places first-class restaurants are conducted.
James S. Livingston & Co., now on Broadway,
formerly on State street, have long done a large
oyster business on terms that increase public confi
dence and patronage.
H. A. Simmons, dealer in fish, corner of Lodge
and Maiden lane, keeps up the long-established
reputation of this stand. FRUITS.
The oldest house engaged in the fruit business is
that established by Augustus Wolenman, in 1840,
on the west side of North Market street. Four
years later he removed to the cellar under the
store now occupied by Joseph J. Price. In 1856
he removed to the old Staats House, on the corner
of South Pearl and State streets. In i860, Jacob
L. Lochner became a partner, under the firm name
of Wolenman & Lochner, which continued until
Mr. Wolenman's death, a short time ago.
Julius C. Wendt, on the corner of North Pearl
and State, deals in the same class of fruits.
The most extensive firm is that of P. V. Fort,
Sons & Co., wholesale dealers. It has been in
existence many years, and has established a large
trade. The individual members of the house are
P. V. Fort, Charles W. Fort, and Jewett N. Brown.
They are located at No. 427 Broadway.
James Stevens & Sons, 349 Broadway, do a good
business in bananas, oranges, and other fruits of
that class. Joseph Clarke, Garrett & Beck, William
Hagaman & Co., H. F. Henningway & Co., J. J.
Shelley, T. J. Shelley, John E. Walker, J. Wenz &
Co. , and George W. Yerks deal extensively in fruits.
E. M. Tinkham keeps a large stock of fruits of all
classes, with almost every variety of groceries and
provisions, at 78 to 82 Beaver, corner Grand street.
Many firms engaged in other business deal quite
extensively in domestic fruits during the season.
WEST ALBANY CATTLE MARKET.
About the middle of the present century, the
growth of the railroad facilities of the country,
the rapid increase in population of the Western
portion of the United States, and the large pas
turage there afforded for rearing live stock, soon
developed an immense traffic in the transportation
of cattle from the West to the East. Nearly all
this business was done by the way of the New
York Central Railroad. Feeding places for live
stock were established at Buffalo, and it soon be
came necessary to establish another such place at a
point about one day's journey from Buffalo. About
this time Erastus Corning, Sr., was one of the di
rectors of this road, and it was mainly through his
efforts that the Directors, in 1850, purchased three

hundred and fifty acres of what was then a wild
tract of sandy and barren land, with the purpose
of establishing a feeding-place at this point, now
known as West Albany. Here the Company set
apart a considerable portion of the land, upon
which was built extensive platforms to secure safety
in unloading, and covering some twenty acres with
substantial pens, or yards, for the security of the
different droves of cattle, where they could be fed
and stabled until the owners found purchasers,
shipped to other markets, or procured pasture lands
in the vicinity.
It was but a year or two subsequently that West
Albany became famous as a cattle mart, and stead
ily increased in the amount of business done, until
it became the greatest depot for the wholesale trade
in cattle of any market in the country.
Among the first to see the importance and reap
the advantages of the growing trade was Isaac
Moore, who opened the first'yard at McGowan's,
on the Schenectady Turnpike; next at the old Bull's
Head Tavern, on the Troy road; then at Gallup's
Hotel, corner Washington and Swan streets. An
drew R. Hunter and Nathaniel Gallup opened a
yard at West Albany in 1856, followed by P. L.
Eastman, M. Gillice, James Rooney & Co., and A.
M. Bothick. R. McGraw is another pioneer stock-
dealer at West Albany, and at one time one of the
largest speculators in sheep.
The outlay of these persons, as well as the rail
road, was heavy, and to a certain extent experi
mental, but in the end justified their wisdom. In
1855 the average monthly freight receipts at West
Albany were $25,200; in 1861 they were $67,800;
while in 1866, the hight of the cattle trade, they
were fully $75,000. In 1859 the average weekly
receipts were 2,542 head; in i860, 3,141; in 1861,
3,348. At least two-thirds of the receipts were
sold at West Albany, and assuming the average
price to be $45 per head, it would appear that over
$100,000 changed hands here every week, or about'
$5, 000, coo yearly. This does not include the large
traffic in sheep and hogs, which kept even pace
with the cattle trade. Horses were also shipped
here in large numbers, and formed an important
element in the business done at West Albany. In
1866, when business was at its hight, 1,000 car
loads of cattle were received weekly, and 100 was
a small average daily receipt.
During late years there has been a great reduc
tion in the amount of traffic done at West Albany.
This has been due to several causes: mainly, the
growth of abattoirs at Chicago; the improved meth
ods of shipping dressed beef in refrigerator cars,
and the appliances for feeding cattle on the cars.
The receipts of live stock during the past seven
years, as taken from the register at West Albany,
shows the following in car lots:
Year. Cattle. Sheep. Hogs. Horses.
1878  28,238 10,262 4,849 627
1879  31,484 9.923 5.449 949
1880  34,7i8 10,312 5,234 1,058
1881  33,452 10,057 5,153 906
1882  24,208 9,497 6,172 788
1883  20,847 6,595 10,718 717
1884  17,444 6,925 10,891 815

644

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ANDREW R. HUNTER,
one of the most prominent residents of West Al
bany, was born in the town of Hope, Montgom
ery County, N. Y., August 4, 18 10. His parents
were David and Affiah (Rich) Hunter, natives of
Massachusetts, who were early settlers in that sec
tion. Mr. Hunter's life until he was sixteen years
old was passed on his father's farm, and in the
school afforded at that time in his native town.
In the meantime his brothers, David and Elkanah,
had removed to Albany and established themselves
as gardeners, When in his seventeenth year, he
joined them, and during the succeeding four years
assisted them and at the same time familiarized
himself with all the details of their trade.
At twenty he rented land on the flats above Al
bany and engaged in gardening on his own ac
count, in which he was successful and continued
for some years. From a small beginning he grew
to be a leading dealer in cattle and sheep, and
carried on that business in connection with his
gardening until about twenty-five years ago. At
that time he opened an extensive cattle-yard at his
then place of residence on the Troy road, and for
years was largely engaged in keeping cattle for
drovers. During this period he began purchasing
land quite extensively in West Albany, which he
improved and surveyed into lots, on some of which
he built. Many he sold on favorable terms to
house-seekers and business men. He also invested
largely in property in Albany, and at this time he
owns five houses on Livingston avenue, five on
Hunter avenue, and three on Central avenue,
West Albany, besides many vacant lots in that
part of the city, and a house at the corner of Hud
son avenue and Willett street, together with other
real estate in Albany proper, and he has owned
and sold property on State and Lancaster streets
and on Clinton avenue.
But it is to West Albany that his most important
operations have been confined, and to him, as much
as to any other man, West Albany is indebted for
the rapid and steady growth it has enjoyed during
the past few years. When he began to purchase
land there, there was next to nothing to suggest the
West Albany of to-day, and men who stood high
in business circles, but who were shorter-sighted
than Mr. Hunter, did not hesitate to predict his
utter ruin as a consequence of the investments thus
made; but time has demonstrated the wisdom of
his scheme. His residence, one of the most sightly
and home-like in West Albany, was built in 1874.
Mr. Hunter has been three times married. In
1874 he married his present wife, Mrs. Margaret
Calhoun. They have a daughter eight years old.
He is a Republican in political sentiment, but has
never had either the time or the inclination to
mingle actively in political affairs. He has been
often sought out by those who would have thrust
upon him the cares of an office-holder and has
persistently refused to become a candidate; though
once, against his protest, he was chosen a member
of the Board of Supervisors, and as such served one
term with credit to himself and satisfaction to the

public. But it is to be borne in mind that he has
ever been a close and interested observer of public
affairs, and he has constantly advocated the choice
of upright men to places of public trust, and the
worthy and economical administration of govern
ment.
BOOTS AND SHOES.
The wholesale trade is, perhaps, sufficiently indi
cated under manufactures.
In numbers the retail boot and shoe stores of
Albany are next to the grocery stores, numbering
138 separate establishments. It might seem in-
' vidious among so many, to mention any. All
will, however, agree that Joseph Fearey & Son,
M. B. Sherman, M. P. Frank, Nye & Blatner, and
H. B. Tuttie, are among the largest dealers.
S. G. CHASE
was born at Rome, Oneida County, N. Y., De
cember 28, 1806, and when about ten years of age
(in the year 1 8 1 7) was present at a gathering of a
few distinguished gentlemen, about four miles east
of Rome, to witness the throwing out of the first
shovelful of earth by Governor DeWitt Clinton, at
the commencement of the digging of the Erie
Canal. The work was pushed forward rapidly,
both East and West, and in 1825 the Erie Canal
was completed from Lake Erie to the Hudson
River at Albany. Mr. Chase took passage on the
trial trip of the first Erie Canal-boat that was ever
built. She was towed by one horse from Rome
to Oriskany (a distance of eight miles) and return.
It took many hours to make the trip. The speed
had necessarily to be slow, for there was no one at
that time who had had any experience in steering
or in any way managing a canal-boat The boat
ran ashore several times in making the trip. The
navigation was not considered dangerous, how
ever, for the original canal was not to have more
than a depth of three feet of water in it. Soon
after this memorable trip, his parents removed to
Little Falls, Herkimer County, N. Y. The young
man attended school during the winter months,
while navigation was closed, and was employed on
the canal in the summer season for some years.
While the rocks at Little Falls were being blasted
out to form the bed of the canal, two small packet-
boats were placed on the canal to ply between
Utica and Little Falls, and young Chase was em
ployed on one of them as steersman. When the
canal had been completed to Schenectady, larger
packet-boats were put on to ply between these two
towns, at the tiller of one of which he was placed,
intrusted with its guidance; and it was while so
employed (in 1824) that he had the pleasure of
seeing General Lafayette, who was a passenger
onboard. In 1827 he was employed by Messrs.
Dows & Cary, of Albany, owners of the Washing
ton line of canal-boats, to take charge of one of
their boats as captain, carrying freight and pas
sengers between Albany and Buffalo. The quan
tity of freight in those days was well adapted to the
carrying capacity of the boats, for it was several

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

645

years before they could carry more than about
twenty tons freight, whereas they now carry two
hundred and forty tons. The early business of the
canal consisted chiefly of movers from the New
England States, with their household goods, to
settle somewhere in the West, and of foreigners
and their luggage emigrating to the West. The
east-bound freight consisted mostly of staves from
Buffalo, Tonawanda and Lockport, and perchance
a little flour from Rochester. The lakes for some
time furnished the canal with but little east-bound
freight. Mr. Chase continued master of a canal-
boat until 1835, when, coming to Albany to re
side, he engaged with E. S. Prosser, Esq., on the
Pier as a tally clerk, loading canal-boats with mer
chandise for the West. He remained in Mr.
Prosser's employ until the spring of 1841, when he
organized a line of canal-boats for freight and pas
sengers to ply between Albany and Buffalo, con
necting at Buffalo with the house of John R. Evans
& Bro. for the lakes, and at Albany with A. Van
Santvoord & Co's. ' ' swift-sure line " of barges for
New York. All canal freights were reshipped at
Albany in those days. The firm name at Albany
was that of S. G. Chase & Co.
In 1856 eight different canal lines (that of Mr.
Chase included) combined, forming a stock com
pany, with a capital of $800,000, under the name
and style of the Western Transportation Company
to do a carrying business between New York
and Chicago. Mr. Chase was one of its original
directors, and acted as its agent on the Pier at
Albany until 1879, when he disposed of his entire
interest and retired from business, after a period
of forty-four years in the transportation and com
mission business on the old Albany Pier. He
was a member of the Albany Board of Trade
for several years, a Director in the Capital Insur
ance Company, and a Trustee in the Jagger
Iron Company. Has been a member of the First
Presbyterian Church of Albany for many years,
and served several terms as an Elder in said church.
He has been twice married and has five daughters,
viz. : Mrs. A. K. Richards, Mrs. N. E. Simons,
Mrs. C. M. Sears, Mrs. Irving Knickerbocker, and
Mrs. John D. Parsons, Jr., all the issue of his first
marriage. TEAS, COFFEES AND SPICES.
During comparatively late years, in all the large
centers of trade, stores have sprung up exclusively
devoted to the sale of teas, coffees and spices. In
Albany there are a number of such establishments
some of which transact a large business in these
commodities. . , , .
One of the leading houses in this line of trade is
that of Anthony N. Brady, which was established
by him in 1864 on South Pearl street In 1867
he opened a store, No. 1 Beaver Block, and in
1874 another at No. 12 Centra avenue. Both of
these, and one in Troy, established in 1884 are
under his proprietorship. His extensive and flour
ishing business is the reward of diligent work and
fair dealing. Albert V. Benson, 86 State and 15

Clinton avenue; Walter McEwan and Albert Wing,
Sons & Co., are also large dealers in these goods.
JOHN THOMAS, Jr.,
was a prominent business man in Albany for many
years. His father, a native of Wales, came to
America when very young, married in due time,
and lived in Mark lane (now Exchange street),
which was then a very fashionable part of the city
and in and near which many wealthy Albanians had
their residences. There John Thomas, Jr., was
born, September 27, 181 5, the second son in a
family of eleven children. At the age of seventeen
he entered the old-time establishment of Gregory &
Co., to learn the trade of upholsterer and carriage-
trimmer. After serving his apprenticeship he went
to Texas and remained there one year. On his return
to Albany he engaged in the provision trade, which
he continued for some years. About 1845 he
purchased Goffe's coffee and spice business at No.
10 Exchange street, and some years later removed
his establishment to ihe corner of Dean and Ex
change streets, where his name and that of his
establishment, the Premium Coffee and Spice
Mills, gained reputation throughout the country.
One night in January, i860, his store took fire and
was utterly destroyed. He opened a new store in
the north part of Greene street and remained there
until the erection of the building at the corner of
Dean and Exchange streets, which he afterwards
occupied until his death.
About 1840, Mr. Thomas joined the Albany
Fire Department, as a member of Independence
Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, and served
some years with credit, taking his part in such work
as there was to be done, and making many friends
among the firemen of that day, when the compa
nies were largely made up of the leading business
men of the city. His knowledge, thus acquired,
served him in good stead when his store was
burned, as has been stated, in i860. The weather
was intensely cold, and it was almost impossible to
manage the engines, which were brought to the
scene by hand. Mr. Thomas himself directed the
streams thrown upon a certain portion of the build
ing, fearing a large boiler therein would fall and
cause a loss of life, a calamity which he was suc
cessful in preventing.
May 27th, 1844, he married Sarah Ann Parsons,
who bore him six children, and was a most devoted
and exemplary wife and mother. She died July
21, 1867. Mr. Thomas was a prominent and
helpful member of the Pearl street Methodist
Church and lived consistently with his profession.
He was liberal and charitable in his views of his
fellow-men; strictly honorable in his dealings;
and in his family indulgent and generous — such a
man as makes friends of nearly all with whom he
comes in contact, and gives none just cause for ill-
will. His temperament was bright, genial and
happy. He was fond, above all else, of his home
and its comforts, and the companionship of his
family. Friendly and hospitable in a remarkable
degree, he loved to entertain, and the friends who

646

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

SIMEON WATSON.

met at his fireside were many and steadfast. He
died June 4, 1865, of pleurisy, after only a brief
illness. Five of his children survive him.
SIMEON WATSON
was born in Middleville, Fairfield Township, Her
kimer County, N. Y., September 25, 1817, and
died in Albany, March 8, 1872. He was a son of
William Watson and Clarissa Ford, his wife. Gain
ing the rudiments of an education in the public
schools then in vogue in his native town, he came
to Albany at the age of eighteen, and obtained
employment with George Harris, a cartman. He
was industrious and saving, and was soon enabled
to purchase a horse and cart and engage in carry
ing merchandise on his own account. His prompt
attention to business soon brought him to the
notice of merchants and others requiring such ser
vices as he could render, and his business increased
rapidly and steadily, until he was the owner of
forty horses and numerous carts and wagons, and
constantly employed many men.
It is said that Mr. Watson is entitled to the dis
tinction of having conveyed the first load of mer
chandise over the swing bridge between Albany
and Greenbush, which may be an item of interest
to those who delight in picking up odd scraps of
local history. In 1841 he married Miss Almira E.
Kenyon, of Herkimer County, who survives him,
as does also a daughter. Mr. Watson, as the result

of long and earnest labor and the exercise of good
business abilities, amassed a competency. He
made his own way in the world, unaided by wealth
or influence. To him, the calling which had
placed him on the highway of prosperity was good
enough to follow to the end. He did not change
his business, but constantly enlarged it; nor did he
branch forth into any of the byways of speculation.
He was honest and upright in all the relations of
life, and among the business men who knew him
he stood high for all those qualities which gain
confidence and insure success. Belonging to no
church, he gave liberally to many; he was chari
table to the poor, helpful to those who were strug
gling for a foothold in life, and an indulgent hus
band and father. A Republican in principle, he
took no active interest in public affairs.
PAINTS, OIL AND GLASS.
About the beginning of this century the firm of
Thomas, Joseph & Elihu Russell were the leading
merchants in paints, oils and glass. They dissolved
partnership in 18 17, after which Elihu Russell &
Joseph Davis continued the business. The Russell
Brothers all became prosperous merchants and in
fluential in commercial circles. The leading firms
in this business at present are William Dey
Ermand & Co., 381 Broadway; Thomas Easterly,
165 South Pearl; John Kurtz, 376 to 384 Central
avenue; and William Prescott, 676 Broadway.

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

647

TOBACCO AND CIGARS.
The smokers of cigars and chewers of tobacco
are as numerous in Albany as elsewhere. Most of
the wholesale dealers and manufacturers treated of
elsewhere, are also engaged in the retail trade. Es
pecially is this true of Benj. Bayn's Sons and G. W.
Van Slyke & Co. All of the retail stores manufac
ture to a certain extent. There are over one
hundred firms engaged in this branch of trade in
Albany. Among the first-class cigar and tobacco
dealers are James Quinn, 174 South Pearl; D. A.
Lawler's Sons, 776 Broadway; J. S. Hutman, 6
Music Hall. ICE.
During late years the consumption of ice has in
creased to a wonderful extent in this country.
Large capital is invested in cutting and storing it
during the winter. The excellent water of the
Hudson, and the streams and ponds of this vicinity,
afford unequaled facilities for this important branch
of trade, not only for home consumption, but for
extensive exportation. The Albany merchants en
gaged in this business are well represented by
Parker Hall, a son of O. Hall, deceased, whose
office is located at 93 2 Broadway; Hiram Hotaling
& W. C. Saxton, 55 Broadway; John Mullon &
Sons, office No. 936 Broadway; Patrick Ronan, 19
Lumber District; Sanford Vroman & Co., Quay,
corner Cherry.
UNDERTAKERS.
The merchants, if such they may be called, who
follow the business of undertaking, are the most
reluctantly patronized business men in any com
munity. Albany has its share of those who faith
fully attend to these melancholy necessities of civi
lization. For many years Marshal W. Tebbutt was
the leading undertaker in Albany. He died a short
time ago. His sons succeed him in the business.
The following may be justly considered as those
receiving the largest share of public patronage:
Carr & Clark (E. J. Carr and James J. Clark), 117
Madison avenue; John Harrigan, 21 Canal street;
James W. Morange, 51 Maiden Lane; John Metz
& Son, 21 Central avenue.
TRUCKING.
The carting of freight and merchandise in this
city necessitates the employment of a large number
of men and horses. The firm of Fraser, Lockwood
& Co. probably employ the largest number of men
and horses in this business in Albany. They do
the trucking for the People's line of steamers.
Charles McGinnes, 377 Madison avenue, is the
proprietor of a large business. Jacob D. Van Buren,
363 Hudson avenue, is another truckman largely
engaged in trucking.
R. G. Dunn & Co.'s commercial agency has an
office in Albany at 479 Broadway. F. E. Griswold
is manager of this branch office in this city.

DRUGGISTS.
Louis Sauter established a drug store at 84
Green street in 1852. In 1861 he opened his
present store at the corner of South Pearl and Plain
streets. He has another store at 8 North Pearl
street. H. B. Clement opened a drug store at the corner
of Broadway and Clinton avenue in 1859. In 1867
he leased the adjoining store on Clinton avenue to
accommodate his trade; and in 1872 the adjoining
store on Broadway. The three combined make a
store 33 by 56 feet in dimensions. E. T Rice be
came associated as partner in 1873. He retired in
1885, when H. J. Grose became a partner, under
the firm name of Clement & Grose.
A. B. Heusted commenced the drug business
at the corner of Eagle street and Hudson avenue
in 1868, and has conducted it ever since. Dr.
Heusted is an educated physician and pharma
ceutist. Louis Gaus commenced business at 254 South
Pearl street in 1876. He purchased from C. Sprim-
hart, who had conducted a similar business from
1850. J. J. Mattimore, with Mr. Ingraham, commenced
the drug business at the corner of Madison- avenue
and Eagle street in 1879. In 1881 he purchased
Ingraham's interest, and has since conducted the
business alone. In 1884 he removed to his pres
ent location, 44 Philip street.
Robert F. & E. Eddy Safford first engaged in
the drug business in 1882, at corner of Hamilton
and Pearl streets. In 1885 removed to present
location, corner of Lancaster and Dove streets.
F. B. Waterbury and Mr. Goffe became asso
ciated in the drug business on Hamilton street in
1881. Mr. Goffe retired in 1883. In 1885,
George E. Jones became a partner. Moved to
present location, No. 91 Hudson avenue, in 1884.
Firm name, Waterbury & Jones.
The present wholesale drug house of A. McClure
& Co. (composed of Archibald McClure, William
H. McClure, William J. Walker and Charles Gib
son) was founded in the early part of this century
by James and Archibald McClure. In 1833, George
Dexter was admitted as a partner. This house
occupies a high position in the drug trade all over
the country. It is located at Nos. 74 and 76
State street.
The wholesale drug firm of Douw H. Fonda &
Co. was organized in 1865. It is the continuation
of a business established in the beginning of the
present century by Thomas and Joseph Russell. The
present firm is composed of Douw H. Fonda, Will
iam B. French and Henry R. Wright. Their estab
lishment is situated at 70 and 72 State street, in a
commodious four-story building, 35 by 347 feet in
dimensions. Paints, oils and varnishes form a
very important feature of their stock. The trade of
the house is confined principally to New York,
Vermont and Western Massachusetts, and requires
the attention of three traveling salesmen, while a
force of twenty assistants, besides the members of
the firm, are employed in the store.

648

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The drug store of Turner Brothers, corner of
South Pearl and Schuyler streets, was founded in
1850 by the present proprietors, George H. &
Charles Turner. They have built up a large busi
ness, and the house is well known to the drug
trade. They also carry besides the usual variety of
drugs, a large assortment of paints, oils, varnishes,
window-glass and brushes.
The pharmacy of Charles H. Smith, at 246
Washington avenue, opposite Townsend Park, is a
well-stocked drug store. Mr. Smith manufactures
the American Stomach Bitters and his own fluid
extracts. William F. Elmendorf opened a drug store at
Nos. 218 and 220 South Pearl street in 1879. He
was succeeded by the present proprietor, William
S. Elmendorf.
Martin W. Macomber has been engaged in the
drug business in Albany since i860. His store is
situated at 42 Hudson avenue.
John C. McEwen established a drug store on
Lancaster, corner of Dove street, in 1884. In 1885
he removed to 100 Washington avenue.
Joseph Bandorf, present proprietor of the well-
known store corner of Broadway and Maiden Lane,
succeeded Charles H. Teller, George G. Jewell,
Edwin T Bedell, R. S. McMurdy and George L.
Brown. Samuel C. Bradt has kept a drug store on Wash
ington avenue many years. Charles Frothingham
was for some years a leading druggist on Broadway,
just north of State; succeeded by Peter M. Murphy
in 1866.
Among other druggists of the past, we find Henry
Rolls, in Apothecary Hall, 57 State street; William
Russell, near McClure's, on State street; Dr. Carr,
Dr. Wyncoop, Dr. Elkins, Joseph Davis, A. B. &
D. Sands, Edwin A. Clapp, Joseph Russell, Dr.
Wharton, Dr. Hall, Dr. Spaulding, Dr. Springsteed,
Dr. Rossman. Druggists were popularly called
"doctors" in former days, because they dealt out
"doctor's stuff." The title is now confined chiefly
to all, be they coarse or refined, educated or
charlatan, neophyte or wise, who gravely di
rect or deal powders, pills or drops to be given
to the sick as long as life remains. What's in a
name !
Dr. Stringer & Dr. Bay kept a full stock of the
medicines used in the days of the Revolutionary
War in medical practice in the family dispensary.
Old Dr. Mancius kept quite a supply outside of
his own practice.
The first educated druggist, who came to Albany
about 1788, and opened the first real drug store,
was Samuel Dexter, from Boston. Before his time
a few common drugs were kept in nearly all the
retail stores and by the physicians.
Mr. Dexter had two sons who graduated at
Union and became lawyers — James and George —
both very much esteemed. George, after his father's
decease, kept up his business, holding it till re
cently, venerated for his years and chaiacter.
Joseph Nellegar, now in the drug business on State
street, was his partner some years, beginning March,
1850.

WILLIAM SAWYER
was born in the City of Albany, March 14, 1821.
His father, Luther Sawyer was born in the good
old town of Lancaster, Worcester County, Mass.,
in which place his ancestors were among the first
settlers. He came to Albany in 18 13, and followed
the occupation of a brick and stone-mason. He
died February 7, 1827.
His mother, still living at the age of eighty-six
in remarkable health and vigor, bore the maiden
name of Ann Lombard. Is a native of the City of
Boston, where she was born in 1 799. She came to
Albany in 18 14 and was married in 181 5.
On his mother's side, Mr. Sawyer -descended
from Stephen Hopkins, one of the pilgrims of the
Mayflower. Of the forty-one males who made
up that noble band that founded "a church with
out a bishop and a state without a king" on
Plymouth Rock in 1620, one, Miles Standish, had
the rank of Captain, and ten the respectable title
of Mr., a prefix then given to men of exceptional
influence and distinction. Among these "upper
ten " are recorded Stephen Hopkins with John
Carver and others.
When duties involving much discretion and re
sponsibility came up, Mr. Stephen Hopkins was
usually "adjoined for counsel and advice," with
John Carver, Miles Standish, William Bradford
and Edward Winslow. We find him thus asso
ciated with these distinguished men in locating
lots, laying out plans, trading with the Indians,
and other matters of importance. He is spoken
of as a householder and as having eight persons
in his family, including two men servants. Among
his numerous and highly respectable descendants
is Stephen Hopkins, of Bhode Island, one of the
signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Eseck Hopkins, the first commodore in the
American navy, was brother to Mr. Sawyer's grand
mother on his mother's side. His home was in
Boston. Atkins Lombard, a Boston sea captain,
wb.o died in 1799, was the father of Ann Lombard,
the mother of Mr. Sawyer.
It is a matter of history that the continental flag
was first displayed on the 3d day of December,
1775, on the ship of Eseck Hopkins, who, on the
6th of November preceding, had been appointed
Commander-in-Chief of the first American fleet
The Declaration of Independence was publicly
read for the first time on the 8th of July, 1776,
by Commander Hopkins of the navy, to an as
semblage of citizens in the old State House yard in
Philadelphia. The subject of our sketch is the architect of his
own fortune. Left fatherless and without patrimony
at the age of five years, with a kind, prudent mo
ther, who had only her hands with which to pro
vide for her two sons, aged five and seven years,
William Sawyer had none of the ease of wealth'
none of the advantages of education in his early
years. At nine years of age he was put to learning
the trade of shoemaking, which he pursued until
1 87 1, when he retired with a competence, having
all these years given himself to his business

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

649

with remarkable persistency, sagacity and frugality.
Most of his life of sixty-four years so far, he has
spent in his native city. His life has been an act
ive one. In 1836-37, he had his home in Beth
lehem. In 1837 he was instrumental in starting
the first Sunday School in that town, near Jerusa
lem church, at Feura Bush.
In 1838, he pursued his trade in the City of
Syracuse and Geneseo, Livingston County, but re
turned to Albany late in the autumn of that year.
This was before the Genesee Valley Canal was
built, and Mr. Sawyer walked the thirty miles from
Rochester to Genesee. On his return it took
three days and three nights from Rochester to Utica
by the Erie Canal. The railroad was opened from
Schenectady to Utica that fall. The trip by rail from
Utica to Albany occupied a whole night. After
working about two years at his trade he went into
business for himself, which he followed until 1849.
In 1 85 1, he opened a shoe store in Fulton street,
Brooklyn, opposite the City Hall. In 1852, here-

turned to Albany and opened a store at his old
stand on South Pearl street, where he remained
nineteen years, successfully engaged in buying
boots and shoes on the ready cash system and in
vesting his surplus in productive real estate.
When the War of the Rebellion broke out, he
bought a large stock of boots and shoes, selling
them rapidly at war prices. The profits he in
vested in Government bonds, in real estate, chiefly
in Kenwood, and in stores on Pearl street. He
continued in the retail shoe trade a few years after
the war. Since 1 87 1 he has been actively engaged in
works of benevolence, and in the care of the wealth
which his shrewdness, energy and economy have
placed in his trust. The wisdom of his investments
has been well attested by time and experience.
With a minute knowledge of the affairs of the
city, with open ears, and a keen eye to the main
chance, taking counsel of himself, he is well known
as a prompt, reliable man of business, and a firm
friend and supporter of law and order.

650

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

His lack of early opportunities for education has
largely been supplied by native tact and keen ob
servation. In the year 1850, with a laudable de
sire to make up early deficiencies, he left his trade
for a time and devoted some of his earnings, under
a skillful instructor, in acquiring a good practical
knowledge of arithmetic and book-keeping and
other branches most needed in daily life.
It is a matter of honest satisfaction to Mr. Saw
yer to be able to say to the young of to-day, that he
never used intoxicating drinks, never used tobacco
in any form, and never attended a circus or a
theatre. In matters of public policy he was an active anti-
slavery man, and has ever been a decided friend of
the American policy of encouraging and protecting
home labor, sustaining free schools, and treating
every honest citizen as an equal before the law.
During the canvass that resulted in electing
Abraham Lincoln, he was among the foremost
of the ' ' Wide Awakes " that did such effective
service. In religious preferences Mr. Sawyer is a decided
Baptist. In 1840, he united with the Pearl Street
(now Emmanuel) Baptist Church, while Elder Jacob
Knapp was assisting Rev. Dr. B. T. Welch. In
1 871, he removed his church relations to the Cal
vary Church.
His interest in the Sabbath School and mission
work of the Baptist Church has been great and con
stant for many years. To it he has given much
time and toil and money. July 29, 1866, the Ken
wood Chapel, which was started in 1864, was duly
dedicated, Rev. Dr. Magoon preaching the ser
mon. This he gave to the Albany Baptist Mission
ary Union as a chapel for church purposes forever.
On the day of its dedication the cars of the Albany
Railway made the first trip to Kenwood. The
Sunday School here numbers about 100.
The Robin Street Baptist Chapel was established
by Mr. Sawyer in the German Baptist Church on
Washington avenue, November 4, 1866, and re
moved to the Robin Street Baptist Chapel, into a
building formerly used as a cabinet factory, which
he had purchased and remodeled for that purpose,
April 7, 1872, as an Independent Sunday School.
To its interests he has ever given his most watchful
care. The school now numbers about 300.
The Madison Avenue Chapel was purchased by
him for Sunday School purposes in the spring of
1867. The school was started August 4, 1867,
and placed in charge of the First Baptist Church.
It has about 150 members.
Mr. Sawyer was one of the earliest and most
active workers for the establishment of the Home
for Aged Men, in soliciting subscriptions, organiz
ing, and in selecting its location. He was a mem
ber of the first Board of Trustees. He has often
addressed audiences of young and old in exhorta
tion and textual discourse. His knowledge of the
Scriptures, his zealous spirit, his nervous and
rather eccentric manner, have made these addresses
effective. Mr. Sawyer was united in marriage with Catha
rine Blakeman, of Albany, June 28, 1843. Their

surviving children are Catharine, Agnes, Mary, and
Jeannett, who married Michael T. Adams, Decem
ber 13, 1882. BOOKSELLERS.
Among the earliest booksellers in Albany are
William Seymour; D. K. Van Vechten; Obadiah
Penniman, who came to Albany under the great
printer, Isaiah Thomas; C. R. & G. Webster; E.
& E. Horsford, who kept a store at 100 State street,
closed about 1828; E. F. Backus, who made a
specialty of law books; Daniel Steele & Son, on
Broadway, north of Hudson avenue, who kept the
largest and best assortment of books outside of New
York City. Daniel Steele died in 1828, and was
succeeded by his son, Oliver. In 1836, the firm
of Steele & Durrie was formed, succeeded, in 1849,
by S. R. Gray and W. B. Sprague, Jr., under the
firm name of Gray & Sprague. In 1855, the fiim
was dissolved, when S. R. Gray became the sole
proprietor and has so remained. The present
marble front building, 42 and 44 State street, was
built by Mr. Gray in 1874, and covers an area of
35 x 100 feet, where he deals in a large and varied
stock of books and stationery.
A unique business in the book line is that of
Joseph Lord, who during the year 1844, while
plying his trade of shoemaker, began to deal in
stationery in a small way. About 1856, Mr. Lord's
business had grown to such proportions that he
gave up his shoemaking trade and devoted his
whole time to the book and stationery business.
In 1869, he built his present store, No. 19 Philip
street, where he carries a large stock of the old and
rare books, and the latest publications of books
and periodicals.
S. W. Johnson, Samuel Shaw, and E. W. Skin
ner & Co., were prominent in the bookselling busi
ness in the early part of the present century.
Webster & Skinner was another old firm. They
kept a store at the Elm Tree corner. They did
an extensive publishing business until about 1838,
when they went out of business.
B. D. Packard conducted a book store at 71
State street, about 1820. He was succeeded, in
1828, by the firm of Packard, Hoffman & White,
which was succeeded, in 1833, by Elias Gates, who
went to Troy about 1850, where he did a large
business. J. Orville Taylor, in 1836, carried on the book
selling business in Albany. He was succeeded by
James Henry in 1840.
Joseph McDonough is chiefly engaged in selling
antique books. His store, No. 30 North Pearl
street, is the headquarters for the lovers of old
books. His stock embraces a varied assortment
of the antique in literature, and few booksellers
know more about the contents of their books.
D. R. Niver makes a specialty of Sabbath-school
and juvenile publications; E. H. Bender, on State
street, has long been a well-known bookseller; and
Edwin Ellis & Co., succeeded by B. & J. B. Sanders,
keep a well-stocked and popular book store at 1 9
North Pearl street,

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

651

BILL POSTING.
The printing of the handsome show bills heralding
the coming of theatrical troups, etc., has grown to
to be very extensive in this country. The posting
of most of these bills is done by Frederick A.
Keeler, No. 1 5 Green street, who owns most of the
prominent bill boards in the city. He has been
engaged in this business for many years, and the
name of "Keeler, the bill-poster," has become as
familiar as any name in the city. It is only a few
years since the death of Capt. John Smith, who was
once a theatrical manager, and always a worthy
man. He was for many years the leading bill
poster of the city. SALOON KEEPERS.
The following are proprietors of liquor saloons
at the places designated: P. Lasch, 395 South
Pearl; John Brannigan, Hudson avenue, corner
Grand; John G. Gannan, 60 Beaver street; and
Thomas W. Dwyer, 276 South Pearl street. John
J. Garrity is the proprietor of a restaurant at 241
Hudson avenue.
There are, besides these, saloons of every grade
in Albany, from the sumptuously fitted bar-room
to the modest place devoted to the sale of lager
beer. WINES AND LIQUORS.
The store of William J. Hill, importer and
wholesale dealer in wines and liquors, was founded
in 1869, who holds a prominent position in this line
of trade in Albany. His premises at 96 Madison
avenue consist of a three-story building, 25 x 90 feet
in dimensions, which affords ample accommoda
tion for a large and complete assortment of foreign
and domestic liquors. He imports foreign wines,
brandies, gins, etc., direct from the -producers.
Mr. Hill has resided in Albany for the past
twenty years, where he is well known and gener
ally esteemed.
M. D. Holbrook, 524 Broadway, deals largely
in best California wines, and keeps a fine assort
ment of other liquors. P. Cushman & Co. have
long been in the business, and have earned a widely
extended, well established reputation for integrity
and intelligence. E. Schell, 312 Broadway, sells
wines from his own vineyard in California, and
keeps the best of liquors for medical and domestic
use. Charles Tracey, 20 State street, succeeds his
father, John Tracey, who established the business
in 1838, as rectifying distiller and dealer in choice
liquors. W. H. Livingston, 76 State street, succeeds his
father, Hiram Livingston, a dealer in the best
varieties of wines and liquors. Mr. Livingston, Sr.,
was a native of Albany, born in 1814, long a pop
ular hotel-keeper, and a worthy member of the
honored Livingston family. He died in 1879.
The retail liquor stores of Albany are very nu
merous, and, as is now universally the case every
drug store deals in wines and liquors for medicinal
and domestic use.

ALBANY HOTELS.
THE earliest hotel of much importance in Al
bany was the City Tavern, known later as
Lewis' Tavern. It was said to have been built as
early as 1667 by one of the Schuyiers. It stood
on the corner of State, and what was then a narrow
arched passage on the south side of South Pearl
street, and was removed in 1856, when the latter
street was opened. Its interior finish was elaborate
for that day. It continued to be the leading hotel
until the Tontine Coffee House was built during
the latter part of the last century. Here Robert
Lewis became famous as a landlord. He died
June 17, 1798, and was succeeded by his son
Stewart, during the proprietorship of whom it was
the daily resort Of the leading citizens of leisure,
and of all distinguished visitors of that day. Im
portant deliberative meetings were held there.
The King's Arms Tavern was a well known hotel
prior to the Revolution. It stood on what is now
the corner of Green and Beaver streets. It bore the
device of the King's Arms, which, during the Rev-
ulution, became very obnoxious to the Sons of
Liberty. Many was the threatening glance cast at
the royal emblem by the patriots. At length the
hostile feeling culminated in an open attack upon
it by the populace, who tore it down and burned it
at the foot of State street in the presence of a large
concourse of people, amid cheers of patriots and
the execration and hisses of the Tories.
At one time it was known as the Albany Coffee
House. In 1 8 1 2 it was kept by a Mr. Ladd. In
1820 it was opened by Christopher Dunn, and
afterwards known as Dunn's City Coffee House.
Mr. Dunn was a jolly and popular landlord. He
came to Albany from New England about 1803,
and died in 1830, aged 67 years. This hotel was
torn down when the street was widened. During
the days of coach travel it was a famous resort,
where all the stages stopped.
The Tontine Coffee House in State street was
built about 1795, and for many years was the prin
cipal hotel in the city. Worth refers to it in 1 803 as
the only one worth naming. In 1798 it was kept
by the old stage properietor, Ananias Piatt, who
was succeeded, in 1 803, by Matthew Gregory, one
of the most famous landlords of his day. He was
born in Wilton, Conn., August 21, 1757, and
died in Albany, June 4, 1848. He held commis
sions, and served with honor during the whole War
of the Revolution. He became proprietor of the
Eagle Tavern in 1806, and having acquired a for
tune, in 1 8 14 he bought and occupied the Con
gress Hall property. He was a careful citizen, sup
porting all good objects. He was always connected
in some official position with local matters of busi
ness, religion, and benevolence. The Tontine
House was the resort of leading politicians and dis
tinguished men of the State.
Congress Hall, which stood on the corner of
Park Place and Washington street, was removed in
1878, to prepare a site for the New Capitol. For
more than half a century it was the chief hotel of the
city. For many years it was kept by Leverett

652

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Cruttenden, by whose name the hotel was best
known. He was born in Guilford, Conn., and
died in Bridgeport, July 14, 1838, aged 67 years.
Mr. Cruttenden was a man of reading and of ready
and brilliant humor, and from his talents and great
popularity was usually one of the after-dinner so
cial circles. His hotel was the headquarters of the
legal fraternity, members of the Legislature, and all
distinguished travelers. Here Lafayette was enter
tained during his stay in Albany in 1824. Thesign
of the house was the well remembered picture of
Washington. Adam Blake was the last proprietor
of this hotel.
The Eagle Hotel was another one of the earlier
hotels of note in Albany. It stood on Hamilton
street, near the dock, and was destroyed by the fire
of 1848, after which stores were built upon its site.
In 1 8 10, Commodore Perry was tendered a recep
tion at this house in honor of his naval victory.
Matthew Gregory, Leverett Cruttenden, H. H.
Crane and H. Bamman were at different periods
proprietors of this house.
The Adelphi Hotel was a popular resort in the
last part of preceding and the fore part of the pres
ent century. It stood on the site now occupied
by the Commercial Bank, and was torn down in
1816. Crosby's Hotel, corner Beaver and South Pearl,
was a well-known resort in the first quarter of the
present century. It was a queer building in archi
tecture. It contained a large room, called the
long room, suitable for large gatherings, where mili
tary companies and civic societies were frequently
entertained. It was destroyed by fire, and the
Clinton Hotel was built upon its ruins.
The Mansion House, Market street, almost op
posite the steamboat landing, was another hotel
worthy of mention in the early history of Albany.
Among its early proprietors were the well-known
landlords, Sidney Chapin, Hugh Cruikshank, Na
thaniel S. Skinner and F. Lathrop. The site of
this hotel is now occupied by the Ransom iron-
front store. For a short time it was called the City
Hotel. The Albion Hotel, which used to stand on the
corner of Broadway and Herkimer street, was made
memorable as the place where the great fire of 1848
started, caused by a washerwoman's bonnet taking
fire. In 1828, Nathaniel S. Skinner left the Mansion
House on Market street, and took the house ad
joining the Commercial Bank, and converted it
into a hotel long known as Skinner's Mansion
House. In 1856 it was sold, and Van Heusen &
Charles erected a store on the site.
The present American Hotel was established
many years ago. It is located 100 State street In
1832 John Thomas was proprietor. For a num
ber of years it was conducted by C. N. Bement, an
efficient landlord, and well known to the traveling
public forty years ago. The present proprietors are
Babcock & Hopkins.
During the period of the greatest travel over the
Great Western Turnpike, a few years prior to the
opening of the Erie Canal, Albany was an advan

tageous site for hotels. For a distance of a few
miles beyond Albany there were from fifteen to
twenty taverns. The father of the Hon. Eli Perry
for many years during this period kept a hotel
on the corner of Washington avenue and Swan
street. The Stanwix, on Broadway, corner of Maiden
lane, was opened as a hotel in 1 844. The building
was originally erected in 1833 for business offices,
and was four-stories high, the front built of Quincy
granite. It stands on the site of the house where
General Gansevoort, the hero of Fort Stanwix, was
born. The main building was formerly surmounted
by a hemispherical dome, forty-eight feet in diam
eter, said to have been at that time, in form, the most
beautiful in the world. Underneath this dome
was a large hall, sixty feet high, finished in the
Grecian Ionic order. The first proprietors were
Wheeler & Bromley. The present proprietor is
Cebra Quackenbush.
The Delavan House was erected by E. C. Dela
van, on the site of a hotel of the same name, in
1845, at a- cost of $200,000. It was opened as a
temperance house by Nathaniel Rogers, of Boston,
in 1845. Since then the proprietors who have
been prominently connected with this house are
Charles E. Leland and Theophilus Roessle. The
present proprietors are T. Roessle, Son & Co.
The Delavan House has since its erection taken
a front rank among the best hotels in the State.
It is the resort of a large number of members of
the Legislature and the leading State politicians.
For years most of the political work attending the
organization of the Senate and Assembly has been
done within its walls. The reputation of the
house as a first-class hotel is well maintained by
the present proprietors.
The principal hotels in Albany at the time of
the opening of the Delavan House were the Stan
wix Hall, Mansion, Townsend, American, Con
gress Hall, City, Eagle, and the Franklin House-
all well-conducted hotels. The Townsend Hotel
was afterwards changed to the Globe, and kept as
a temperance house by Mr. Brayton. It is now
ably conducted by ex-Sheriff James A. Houck.
The present Mansion House, 387 Broadway,
conducted by William Thompson, is the third of
that name.
The Kenmore Hotel was erected in 1878, and
was run until the time of his death by Adam
Blake, a colored gentleman, a worthy and respected
citizen, and first-class caterer for the public. At
one time he was proprietor of Congress Hall.
Since his death the hotel has been successfully and
admirably managed by his widow. This house
enjoys a first-class patronage and is one of the best
equipped hotels in the city.
Besides the hotels mentioned, the following are
worthy of notice: Hotel Brunswick, 530 to 538
Broadway, George C. Gale, proprietor; Hotel Fort
Orange, 40 and 42 Beaver street, Mrs. E. Engel,
proprietress; the Belvidere House, 39 Beaver street'
Mrs. E. Zeller, proprietress; Hotel Germania, 34
Beaver street, is conducted by Mrs. J. Bissikum-
mer, daughter of John Wachter, who kept the

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COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

653

National Hotel on Broadway, the first German
hotel in Albany.
The principal hotel in West Albany is the
Drovers' Exchange, of which Richard Scully is
proprietor. J
THEOPHILUS ROESSLE
was born near Stuttgardt, in the Kingdom of Wur
temberg, Germany, March 19, 181 1. His father was
a contractor and a market-gardener and vigneron,
and a man of importance in his community. Like
all the children in his native kingdom, young
Roessle received a good education, and from his
early boyhood he was familiar with the peculiarities
and cultivation of plants— for the uses of the plow,
spade, hoe and prunirig-knife were made known to
him in turn, as he became large enough to be of
service on the farm. He was born with a spirit of
venture and enterprise, and early conceived a strong
desire to visit the New World, of whose wondrous
opportunities he had heard so much, and in 1825,
when only about fourteen years of age, he came to
this country. He had relatives in Boston and New
York, to whom he made a brief visit, at the expira
tion of which he set out to see the country at large.
Civilization was much more circumscribed in its
boundaries in the New World than it is now, and
Rochester, N. Y., was only a small place on the
Western frontier. With another lad he found his
way thither, but at Utica the baggage of both was
lost, and they were left penniless in a land of
strangers. His companion sickened and died in
Rochester, and young Roessle, dispirited and care
worn, painfully trudged back on foot to Utica, in
the bare hope of recovering his lost trunk. It was
a fruitless errand, however, and he turned his face
toward Albany again. For many a weary day he
walked in his worn shoes, without a change of rai
ment or a penny in his pocket, a strange lad in a
country where he could not make his commonest
wants known except by signs. He arrived at length,
foot-sore and weary, at the last toll-gate on the
Schenectady turnpike, and while he was speculat
ing on his chances for a breakfast, a farmer drove
his team up to the door of a tavern close at hand,
and, beckoning the lad to him, got him to hold his
horses while he went in to eat his breakfast. For
this service the boy was paid a sixpence, an insig
nificant sum, yet it' was the foundation of a fortune.
Arrived in Albany, young Roessle met a little
girl selling matches, and inquiring of her for her
father, was led to a dirty room in a dirty street,
where the girl's father, an old Swiss, and his wife
and several children slept on straw. Roessle ob
tained the privilege of a night's lodging, and the
next morning, finding that a few inches of snow
had fallen during the night, he borrowed a shovel
of the old man and went out to earn some money.
He made a dollar and a half that day, and the next
earned a like sum by sawing, splitting and piling
some firewood. He then got a job of sawing a
dozen cords of wood for an old Dutch dominie,
and while he was engaged at this work, the attention
of old Dr. Peter Wendell being attracted to the

diligence of the lad, a bargain was made by which
Roessle was to have his board, two suits of clothes
and $40 in cash per annum, in return for sweeping
out the doctor's office and riding his rounds with
him. He was thus employed nearly four years,
and then went out to a small farm on the Western
Turnpike, which he leased for a term of years from his
employer. He now began market-gardening on a
small scale, feeling his way and using his little capital
to the best advantage. An English landscape gar
dener named Sears took board with him, and Roessle
employed the opportunity afforded by the long win
ter evenings to learn as much of Sears' beautiful
profession as he could. The following spring he
was employed to lay out the place of Mr. John
Prentice, and the work was so well done that a
number of lucrative jobs were in succession offered
to and accepted by him. Uniting the two trades,
working hard early and late, and living with the
strictest frugality, Roessle accumulated property
and bettered his circumstances by slow degrees.
The quality of his vegetables became at last so well
known that his marketing business increased, until
he was forced to abandon landscape gardening al
together. Celery was his heaviest crop, for he not
only retailed but jobbed it out in Albany, sold it at
wholesale to other gardeners, and supplied Wash
ington and Fulton Markets in New York, the river
boats, the Saratoga hotels, the Catskill Mountain
House, and the City of Schenectady. From 1835
to 1 840 he sold an average of a thousand bunches a
day. It is probable that he could raise then as
fine a crop of celery as he has raised since, but as he
could never succeed in keeping it over winter, he
was no better off than his neighbors. It was only
after failures, losses and disappointments that, he
discovered the simple expedients detailed in " How
to Cultivate and Preserve Celery," a useful little
volume which was issued in i860 as the first of a
series of ' ' Hand-books on the Cultivation of Culi
nary Vegetables." Mr. Roessle's gardening was
begun on seven acres, but as his sales increased
he leased other land, and used successively fifty,
a hundred, and a hundred and sixteen acres.
In 1 840, he bought his place on Central avenue,
where he has built one of the most elegant and
comfortable residences in Albany, in the midst of
a great expanse of land which is under cultivation
in season, and is supplied with the latest and most
extensive facilities for vegetable cultivation. Thus
Mr. Roessle is enabled to provide a home supply
of vegetables to the various hotels with which his
name has become associated, and do considerable
market-gardening besides.
After a time, notwithstanding the success which
had crowned his efforts in America, the desire of
Mr. Roessle to again behold his native land and
the faces of his kindred grew so strong within him,
that he was impelled to make a visit to the father
land. He visited his family near Stuttgardt, and
made a tour of Europe. What he saw abroad made
him still more firmly believe that America was the
land best adapted to poor and energetic men. The
trip cost him all his money, except a bare hundred
dollars, with which he got back to Albany. His

654

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

credit was so good that he had no trouble to get
what land he needed, and he went to work again
in good earnest. That year there was a severe
drought in Southern New York, and vegetables
were very scarce and very dear in the market.
With characteristic shrewdness, Mr. Roessle bought
up all the crops about him in advance, and from
their sale and that of his own produce realized a
clear profit of $2,000. This made him again a
free man, and he has kept so ever since, ranking
high to-day among the wealthy citizens of Albany.
In 1849 he opened negotiations for the lease of
the Delavan House. At that time the hotel was
poorly conducted on a cheap plan by a man against
whom Mr. Roessle had a claim considerable in
amount on account of vegetables furnished him,
and with whom he became joint owner of the lease
of the house. It was not long, however, before
Mr. Roessle became sole owner of the lease, and
he then inaugurated the system which has since
made the house one of the most famous hotels' in
the United States. He made improvements of all
kinds constantly until he had realized his own lib
eral idea of what a hotel should be, and began to
reap wealth as his reward. In 1865 he disposed of
his lease to Mr. Charles E. Leland, but repossessed
himself of it in 1882. In the meantime, in 1866,
he had bought the Hotel Fort William Henry at
Lake George, and in 1869 assumed control of
the Arlington House in Washington, D. C, thus
becoming as extensively engaged in the hotel busi
ness as almost any man in the United States, and
managing first-class houses exclusively. In the
management of these great enterprises he has long
been ably assisted by his son, Theophilus E. Roes
sle, and his grandson, Edward Roessle, son of the
latter. The business is now carried on by the firm
of Theophilus Roessle, Son & Co., Mr. Roessle,
though still retaining a large interest, having prac
tically retired from business. The Delavan House
is ably managed by Mr. Edward Roessle, and the
Hotel Fort William Henry and the Arlington House
are under the skillful supervision of Mr. Theophilus
E. Roessle.
Mr. Roessle was married in 1831, at the house
of his early and staunch friend, Dr. Wendell, to Miss
Jane Booth, an Englishwoman, who died March 5,
1850. In May, 185 1, he married Mrs. Maria
Hurlburt, who is still living. His career has been
a remarkable one, and may be fitly pointed to as an
example to all aspiring young men. It has been a
career in which industry, integrity and perseverance
have wrought their allotted tasks and reaped their
legitimate rewards. Mr. Roessle;s life may be re
garded as a life well spent His motto through life
has been, "Honesty, industry, economy and en
durance." In his declining years he numbers his
friends by thousands, and not a few of them are
among the foremost men of our land. He is one
who sympathizes with the struggling poor, and it
is said that his encouragement of such worthy ones
has many times gone far beyond kind words, and
that more than one man looks gratefully back to
the time when in Theophilus Roessle he found a
friend indeed. Such men are blessings to the world,

and their- examples cannot but inspire the faint
hearted with courage, and make still braver the strong
and resolute. No one begrudges success to such
men, and their successes always bring added pros
perity to all with whom they come in contact.
Every step ahead that they make opens a way for
the advancement of many who are less self-reliant
and less far-seeing. PUBLIC HALLS.
Albany is and always has been deficient in the
number, capacity, and architecture of its public
halls. The old Academy of Music stood in South
Pearl street, near Beaver. It was built in 1825,
and used as a public hall and theatre. It was 116
feet deep, 60 feet wide, and 40 feet high. The
auditorium consisted of a pit and three tiers of
boxes, a portion of the upper tier being used as a
gallery. The stage was 58 x 52 feet. Bad man
agement on the part of the managers caused it to
be closed in 1839, shortly after which it was sold
to St. Paul's Episcopal Church. In 1862 it was
again sold to Mr. Trimble, of New Yo»k, who
opened it as a public theatre, under the name of
Trimble's Opera House in 1863. It was destroyed
by fire in 1808. The Leland Opera House sprung
from its ashes.
Tweddle Hall was built in i860, and destroyed
by fire in 1881, since which the present Tweddle
building was erected without a hall. During the
years of its existence, Tweddle Hall was the favorite
place for nearly all popular lectures, school anni
versaries, and other large public gatherings in the
city, whether of a social, literary, scientific, mus
ical, political, or theatrical nature. Since the de
struction of Tweddle Hall, Albany has had no hall
ample and desirable for large assemblies.
Bleecker Hall, 529 Broadway, is the headquar
ters of the Burgesses Corps, and sometimes used
for fairs and dancing parties.
Music Hall is now leased and occupied by
Jacobs & Procter, although it once competed with
Tweddle Hall for patronage of the same class. A
Skating Rink on Lark street has lately been fitted
up to aid in meeting the public demand for a
larger hall. There are many halls of small size
adapted to societies, clubs, social parties, and such
like. The Female Academy and the High School
have halls for their own convenience, rarely rented.
In earlier times the hotels had halls amply large
for the public needs; and, for some purposes the
halls of State and city building, and even the audi
ence sittings of churches, were occupied by public
assemblies.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
During the early history of Albany, from the grant
ing of the charter in 1686 to 185 1, the maintenance
of order, the enforcement of the laws and ordi
nances of the Common Council had, in all ordinary
cases, devolved upon the constables appointed by
the Board of Aldermen. The charter of 1686 pre-

COMMERCIAL INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

655

scribed that one high constable and three sub-
bordinate constables, one from each ward, should
be yearly appointed. In 1737 the number was
increased to two constables in each ward. Among
their duties were the collection of taxes, the keep
ing of the pound, and at least one officer was re
quired to be on duty on Sunday. For many
years no regular salary was attached to this
office, and the only pay received consisted of
regulated fees. At what time they began to be
salaried offices we are unable to learn. The first
High Constable of whom we have record was
Anthony Bries, appointed in 1696; immediately
following him were William Hogan and Johannis
Harmesen. Constables in the early part of this
century began to be designated as Police Con
stables. In 1827, the duties of these officers had
so increased that the Constables asked the Com
mon Council for increased pay, since the duties
required all their time.
In 1 8 10, the Police Office so-called, was located
at the corner of Steuben and Montgomery streets.
In 1 8 16 it was removed to the . southwest corner
of State and Pearl streets. It was afterward re
moved to the basement of the City Hall, where it
remained until 1845, when it was ordered by the
Common Council to be removed to Centre
Market, the site of the present city building, the
headquarters of the present Police Department In
1 85 1, the laws relating to the establishment of a
police force in Albany were enacted, under which
the system was organized practically similar to its
existence to-day. It consisted of one Chief, four
Captains, four Assistant-Captains, forty Policemen,
four Doormen, and six Constables. John Morgan
was made the first Chief of Police. During the
first year of the existence of the new force, 1,067
arrests were made. The expense of running the
department for 1852 was $27,000. Under the
laws of 1 85 1 the force was maintained until 1856,
when it was reorganized.
The Police Department is now under the entire
control of the Police Board, which consists of the
Mayor, ex officio, President, and four Commissioners,
two of each party, elected to serve four years. With
the exception of the Commissioner, who serves as
Secretary, for which he receives a yearly salary of
five hundred dollars, they serve without pay.
The city is divided into five precincts, each of
which is in charge of a Captain, two Sergeants,
and one Roundsman. The First Precinct includes
that part of the city south of Hamilton and east of
Eagle street, extending to the river and south end
of the city. Force, twenty-two Patrolmen; Station,
No. 59 South Ferry street
The Second Precinct line extends along the
river from Hamilton to Quackenbush street, up
Quackenbush and Clinton avenue to Lark, through
Lark to Spruce, to Eagle, to Hamilton, to the
river. Force, twenty Patrolmen; Station, City
building. Here is also located the office of the
Chief of Police. .
The Third Precinct includes all of the city north
of Clinton and east of Lexington avenues. Force,
twenty-two Patrolmen ; Station, 799 Broadway.

The Fourth Precinct line runs from Eagle
through Spruce to Lark, thence to Clinton avenue,
to Lexington Avenue, and along the south line of
the city to Eagle. Force, twenty Patrolmen ;
Station, 153 Lancaster street.
The Fifth Precinct includes all that part of the
city limits west of Lexington avenue. Force,
twelve Patrolmen ; Station, 284 Central avenue.
The entire police force of the city consists of
the Chief, salary $2,500; five Captains, salaries
$1,200; twelve Sergeants, salaries $i,coo; ninety-
one Patrolmen, salaries $900 ; five Detectives,
with a Captain; five Station-House Keepers ; four
Police Court officers ; one Property Clerk ; one
Police Surgeon; total, one hundred and twenty-six
men. The annual expense of running the depart
ment is about $125,000. The number of arrests
for 1884 was 4,893, of which 1,940 were for drunk
enness ; 753 for assaults in the third degree; 324
breaches of the peace ; 23 1 for vagrancy.
In 1820, the duties of the Police Justices had
become so much of a sinecure in the estimation of
several of the magistrates, that they expressed their
willingness to perform the duties without salary,
and a resolution was offered in the Common Coun
cil to discontinue the payment of salary to that
officer. But the resolution was lost by a vote of
eleven to six. The Board then elected Philip
Phelps and Teunis Slingerland, Police Magistrates.
After this date John O. Cole,  Kane, Cicero
Loveridge, Isaac N. Comstock, Sylvanus H. H.
Parsons, John W. McNamara, William K. Clute,
John C. Nott, Myer Nussbaum, and John Gulman
have held the office of Police Justice. Mr. Clute
has held it for many years so judiciously as to re
ceive the confidence and support of all parties, and
continues to so hold it.
John Morgan, Amos Adams, George B. John
son, Campbell Allen (Superintendent of the Old
Capitol Police), John Molloy, and Thomas H.
Willard have held the office of Superintendent or
Chief of Police.
The Captains and Sergeants have been too
numerous to mention. Among the best known
and popular we may name John Domery, Robert
Davidson, Harmon Bowers, George W. Oliver,
Michael E. Riley, George M. Hagadom, Frederick
E. Bailey, Henry C. A. Sauer.
John Orton Cole, than whom no one so long or
more worthily honored the post of Police Justice,
was born in Sharon, Conn, October 5, 1793. His
father, William Cole, served in the Revolutionary
Army, and married Thankful Orton. While he
was yet a mere lad, John O. Cole removed, with
his parents, to the State of New York, and for a
short time resided near the village of Catskill. He
then removed to the town of Duanesburgh. At
thirteen years of age young Cole came to Albany
to learn the printer's trade in the office of Solomon
Southwick. The simple routine of the printer did
not satisfy the active energies of his mind, and,
while working at his case, he employed much o'f
his time in reading law. In 1818, after passing
the required examination, he was admitted to the
Bar.

656

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

February 22, 182 1, he was appointed by Gov
ernor Clinton, Justice of the Justices' Court and
Justice of the Peace. This office he held almost
uninterruptedly for nearly fifty years. In connec
tion with this he will be best remembered. Prior
to 1846 the office was appointive, but when it be
came elective, he was nominated for his former
position and elected. So remarkable was his fit
ness for the office; so faithfully did he administer
justice; and so greatly did criminals fear him and
just men respect him, that party lines were ignored,
and he was elected many times without opposition.
In June, 1870, Mr. Cole tendered his resignation
as Police Magistrate to the Common Council, an
office he had so long and so faithfully filled.
For many years Mr. Cole was prominently iden
tified with the Public Schools of Albany as School
Commissioner, as Member and President of the
Board of Education, as Member and President of
the Board of Public Instruction, and Superintend
ent of Public Schools. In all these positions he
was regarded as a most painstaking official and a
valued friend of public education and educators.
The present High School owes its existence more
to his exertions than to those of any one man.
At an early age Mr. Cole evinced an interest in
military matters. During the War of 181 2 he was
a Sergeant in Captain Henry Snyder's Company.
He was a member of the Albany Military Associa
tion, and a member of General Stephen Van Rens
selaer's staff, with the rank of Major. It was in
the latter capacity he accompanied General Lafay
ette during his tour through this State. He was
one of the original members and the first Captain
of the Albany Burgesses Corps, with which organi
zation he remained until his death.
During the Civil War he held positions under
Governor Morgan relating to organizing military
companies, and was often consulted by the Gov
ernor in relation to military matters. In the Ma
sonic order he was especially prominent, having
been connected with it in Albany continuously
from 1820.
In his religious life he evinced the same thorough
earnestness that was shown in his official. In
politics he was never a partisan.
In 181 7 Mr. Cole was married to Eleanor H.
Sharp, to whom four children were born. In 1830
Mrs. Cole died, and in 1831 he married Adelaide
Dougherty, who still survives him. Thirteen chil
dren were born to this marriage, seven of whom
are still living.
Mr. Cole died January 1, 1878, respected and
esteemed as a useful citizen, whose long life had
been spent in honorable deeds.
When the Capital Police Department was organ
ized, Captain Campbell Allen was appointed first
Superintendent, and discharged the duties of his
office for four years with great vigor and executive
capacity. Mr. Allen was born in Nelson, Madison County,
N. Y., February 8, 1830, and had the Yankee
blood of Ethan Allen, and the Scotch-Irish blood
of Richard Montgomery in his veins. His eager
ness for knowledge made him a constant student

of the English, German and French languages and
literature, in which he made himself a proficient
scholar. He was very fond of the study of ethics,
philology, psychology and geography, and was
familiar with such writers as Herbert Spencer, John
Stuart Mill, Hamilton, Kant, Voltaire and Hum
boldt. After teaching district schools, he taught in
Cohoes, and afterwards ten years in the Albany
Grammar Schools with marked success. In 1861
he enlisted in the Ellsworth Regiment, Forty-
fourth N. Y. S. V. ; was Captain of Company F;
served four years, and was breveted Major for
bravery and ability. During his term he served
some time as Provost-Marshal of the Fifth Army
Corps. He was a useful citizen and a genial and faithful
friend. His death from apoplexy was very sudden,
occurring October 7, 1877.
Captain Francis E. Bailey was born in Coleraine,
County of Antrim, Ireland, October 21, 1841. He
came to America when he was six years old, and
resided with his parents in St. John's, Philadelphia,
New York City, and Toronto until the death of his
mother in 1855. Until the War of 1861 he was
engaged in various ventures on river schooners, on
the Erie Canal, on the farm, and on voyages by
sea. He enlisted in the U. S. naval service, in
which he honorably and bravely served for his
three-years' term of enlistment on the frigate Wa
bash, which went into action at Hatteras Inlet and
Port Royal, and on the monitor Montauk, which
was several times in hot fights in Charleston harbor.
He returned to Albany and worked as a blacksmith
until he was appointed Patrolman on the Capital
Police Force in 1865, upon which he has served
with uncompromising fidelity to law and order ever
since. He has followed up many noted criminals,
whose career had baffled detective skill, and arrested
and brought them to justice. He has held the rank
of Sergeant of Police during about ten years. His
whole service has been honorable to himself and
useful to the city.
Captain George W. Oliver was born in Bethle
hem, Albany County, May 29, 1844. Enlisted in
Forty-fourth N. Y. S. V., Ellsworth's Regiment,
September, 1861, and served with great distinction
as Corporal for three years in all the battles of the
Army of the Potomac, including Chancellorsville,
Gettysburg, and Spottsylvania. At the latter place,
when he saw the regimental color-bearer shot down
and the flag in danger, he, with great promptness
and daring, ran and seized it, and safely bore it
aloft until the battle was over. He has served
faithfully as Patrolman, Sergeant of Police and Cap
tain in the Albany Police for twenty years past
without a blot on his record.
The venerable Elisha Mack deserves special men
tion. We prefer that he speak for himself:
"Prof. Tenney: Therewith reply to your kind re
quest. I was born on the 7th of February, 181 1,
in Windsor, Berkshire County, Mass. In the spring
of 1 8 1 2 my parents removed to a village in the town
of Watervliet, known as Washington. In 181 6
we came to this city. On the 4th of March, 1819,
my mother died, and I was sent to my paternal

MAYORS OF ALBANY.

657

grand-parents in the town of Middlefield, Hamp
shire County, Mass., where I lived about four years,
when I returned to my father's house. I attended
the following named schools in this city: the Lan
caster, Miss Jenks', and Mr. Moulton's. When
about sixteen years old, my father had a silver
French watch stolen. A few days after the occur
rence I saw two young men engaged in swapping
watches. I approached toward one of the men,
whom I at once accosted: 'I guess you can tell
me where my father's watch is ? ' The watch had
a picture on the dial, which I described. The
stranger told me he had seen the watch. It was
thereby recovered.
"In 1838 I was appointed a police officer. The
police records kept by the Magistrates — Cole, Kane,
Comstock, and Loveridge — will show that I have
been of service by making important arrests. I
ascertained the name and home of the Pye rob
ber. In the spring of 1856 I was superseded as
a police officer by John Maloy.
' ' An excellent opportunity shortly after oc
curred to test the detective qualifications of every
member of the Police Force. Chief Morgan
communicated to every officer that two remark
able forgeries had been perpetrated in this city —
one for $4,000 on the Bank of Albany, and
the other for $3,000 on the Bank of the Capitol.
Some six weeks had elapsed and not the slightest
clue had been obtained as to the forger or his ill-
gained funds. I was sent for by the officers of the
banks, at whose request I took the case in hand,
confident of success. I soon obtained sufficient
evidence to make it almost, if not quite, certain
that one William Inglis, of Fordham, Westchester
County, was the perpetrator of the forgeries. I re
turned and obtained a warrant for the arrest of
Inglis, and, with the Teller of the Bank of Albany,
went to Brooklyn, where the accused claimed to be
doing business on a large scale in flour. The Chief
of Police in that city was called upon and informed
by me of the object of my visit. He scouted at the
charge, and declared Inglis to be an honest man.

He the same day found Inglis, and that the accused
should not be disgraced, came hither with him and
confronted the Teller of the Bank of the Capitol
and assured him that William Inglis was an honest
and religious man and a member of the Presbyterian
Church at Fordham. The Teller declared that In
glis resembled the forger in every particular, and
that he would have testified that he was the per
son who presented the forged checks, but, rely
ing upon the declarations of the Brooklyn officer,
he thought that he might probably be mistaken.
Inglis was suffered to return to Brooklyn with
his friend. The rascal obtained a summons and
complaint against Justice Parsons for issuing the
warrant for his arrest for the felony. He had de
clared damages to his 'good name' in the sum
of $io, 000. The Justice took the papers to the
President of the Bank of the Capitol, who agreed
to defend him. The President went to Fordham
and called upon the Pastor of the Presbyterian
Church of that place, who, in reply to inquiry of
the President, assured him that Mr. Inglis was a
consistent Christian and a prominent member of
the church of which he was Pastor. On the return
of the President of the bank he sent for me. On
entering his room he commenced to accuse me of
making a sad mistake, which would cost the bank
$10,000. After the President had finished his vitu
perations, I said: 'I will not rest until I prove
that William Inglis is the scoundrel who perpe
trated the forgeries on the Banks of Albany and
the Capitol.' After the lapse of a few months, I
received letters purporting to be written by George
Corning, which were identified by Mr. West, Surro
gate of the City and County of New York, as the
writing of William Inglis. The letters were shown
to the once-alarmed President, who compared the
writing with that of the forged checks, when he de
clared that the letters and checks were written by
the same person.
"William Inglis was arrested at Louisville, Ky.,
for forgery, convicted, and sentenced to State Prison
for ten years."

MAYORS OF ALBANY.

THE first Mayor of the City was appointed by
Lieutenant-Governor Thomas Dongan, in the
first Charter granted, under date of July 22, 1686.
He was to be appointed in like manner, " upon the
feast day of St. Michael the Archangel, yearly,"
and was made Commander of the Militia of the
County, given the authority of Justice of the Peace,
Coroner, Commissioner of Excise, and Clerk of the
Market. Twenty-six Mayors were thus appointed
under the Colonial Government down to 1770,
among which were five Schuylers, three Bleeckers
and three Cuylers. Peter Schuyler and Edward
Holland each held the office eight years.

After the Declaration of Independence, the May
ors were first appointed by the Governor of the
State, subject to approval, and afterwards chosen by
the Common Council of the city until 1839.
In 1 840, and ever since, the Mayors have been
chosen by the people. Other peculiarities of may
oralty elections are mentioned under the sketches
of the Mayors, which are made as complete and
accurate as our space and sources of information,
gathered with much research and inquiry, permit.
In two hundred years, fifty-four different men,
not including acting Mayors, have served in this
office.

658

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The first Mayor of the City of Albany was Peter
Schuyler, who was appointed July 22, 1686, in the
first charter of the city, called the Dongan Charter,
and held the office until 1694. He was the second
son and fourth child of the first immigrant of the
name, Philip Pietersen and Margaret (Van Slechten
horst) Schuyler, and was born September 17, 1657.
He was buried February 22, 1724. He was a brave
officer of remarkable organizing power, command
ing the County Militia as Major, and afterwards as
Colonel, during King William's War and subse
quently. He was active and firm in his opposition
to the rule of Liesler, looking upon him as a usur
per. He was a member of the Provincial Assembly,
and, by virtue of his office, held the position of Vice-
Governor very acceptably.
His influence over the Indians was very great.
For some years he was Indian Commissioner. In
this capacity he went to England in 1710, taking
several Indians with him, who excited great interest
in London. He had a home at the "Flats," and
another in the city on Broadway, just below State,
and was buried on the west side of the same street,
near Hamilton. His father married Margaret Van
Schlechtenhorst, daughter of the plucky first Direc
tor of Rensselaerwyck, December 22, 1650, when
she was twenty-two years old. He died March 9,
1684. John Abeel, second Mayor, was appointed by
Governor Fletcher for one year, from October 14,
1694, and served another term in 1709-10. He was
Alderman and Justice before he was Mayor, and also
Sheriff of the county. He is named as Recorder
in 1702. Hewas a merchant in New York in 1796,
but returned to Albany two years later. He mar
ried Catalina Schuyler, April 10, 1694, and had sev
eral children. A few years since his tombstone was
dug up near the Old Second Dutch Church in
Beaver street, on which was the following inscrip
tion: "Here lies the body of John Abeel, who de
parted this life y" 28th day of January, 1711, in the
44 year of his age.
" Dieut begin von wel to leven
Ging der weer den Hemel waert
Uyt den Hemel was gegoven
Storf maar verliet de Aert."
Evert Bancker, born January 24, 1665, was the
son of Gerrit Bancker and Elizabeth Dirkse, daugh
ter of Dirk Van Eps, one of the first settlers of Sche:
nectady. He was a merchant of prominence in
Beverwyck, and held several important offices. He
married Elizabeth, daughter of Stoffel James Abeel,
September 24, 1686, by whom he had a large fam
ily. His sons, Christopher, Adrian and Gerardus,
settled in New York, and Willem and Johannes
in Albany County, as farmers. In 1692, Bancker
was Justice of Peace, and Mayor of Albany
1695-96, 1707-9. He was appointed Indian Com
missioner August 10, 1696, and again in 1706,
1710, 1720, 1724, 1726 and 1728. He was elected
to a seat in the Assembly in 1702. Mr. Bancker
was appointed Master in Chancery October 13,
1705. He lived in the house next to his father's,
on Yoncker, now State street, but retired to his

farm in Guilderland during the latter part of his
life. Mr. Bancker was buried July 10, 1734, his wife's
burial having occurred on March 20th of the same
year. He made his will March 13, 1734, and it
was proved July 31, 1734. In it he gives to his sort,
Johannes, £^0, "provided he continues to live
with me till my decease, or till I dispose of my farm
where I now live." He left a large estate, much of
it invested in lands.
Dirck Wessels was Mayor 1696-98. He was
also the first Recorder under the Charter of 1686.
His real name is given as Dirk Wesselse Ten
Broeck. Born 1642; a servant of Peter Van Al
len, of Beverwyck, in 1662; became a succesful
trader, exporting some years 5,000 beaver skins. He
was active in public affairs in Albany, especially in
those relating to the Indians. He held rank as
Major in the militia of the county in 1691. He
married Christina Cornelise Van Buren, by whom
he had thirteen children. He resided on a lot
purchased of the Anneke Jans heirs, east corner of
State and James street. The following notice of
his death is taken from an old family Bible :
" 1 71 7, Den 13 Sept. in Roeloff Jansen 's kills
myn fader Dirk Wesselse in den Heere genest op
syn bouwery op Roeloff Jansen's Kil. De Heere
geve hem een zalige opstandinge. "
Hendrick Hansen held the office of Mayor in
1698-99. He was the eldest son of Captain Hans
Hendrickse, who was one of the early traders in
Beverwyck, and whose descendants took the sur
name of Hansen. Nicholas, the last male of the
name, died in 1869. Hendrick was active in pub
lic affairs, having held office as Alderman, Com
missioner of Indian affairs, and Assemblyman.
Complaint of him was made in 1669 for having
charged the public for " good fyrewood, " when he
furnished only "young green pine." He was a
merchant September 21, 1692, he married Deb
orah Van Dam and had seven children. He was
buried in the church February 19, 1724.
Peter Van Brugh, son of Johannes Pieterse
Verbrugge, a leading Holland trader, was born
July 14, 1666. His mother was a daughter of the
celebrated Anneke Jans. His sister Catrina mar
ried Hendrick Van Rensselaer, of Greenbush, an
cestor of most of the leading members of the Van
Rensselaer family. Fie held the office of Mayor
in 1799 and I700, and the years 1721-23. He
was sworn in and took the oaths prescribed by
Parliament at his appointment, November 9, 1720.
He married in New York, November 2, 1688,
Sara, daughter of Hendrick Anna Cuyler, of Al
bany. They had one daughter, Catharine. His
house was on the south side of State street, west ot
Pearl. In military matters he ranked as Captain.
He was buried in the church, July 20, 1740.
Jan Janse Bleecker was Mayor in 1 700-1. He
emigrated from Messpel, province of Overyssel, in
1658; first as a blacksmith and afterwards as a
trader. He was born in 1641, and died Novem
ber 21, 1742, and was buried in the church. He
was Recorder 1696-99; Justice of the Peace in
1697; and Member of Parliament in the Provincial

MAYORS OF ALBANY.

659

Assembly 1 698-1 700. He married Margaret
Rutse, daughter of Rutger Jacobsen Van Schoen-
denwoert, January 2, 1667, and had nine children.
Johannes Bleecker, Jr., Mayor in 1701-2; was
born in 1668. In 1686 he was carried captive to Can
ada and returned the next year. He served as Indian
interpreter; was Recorder in 1 700; Member of Gen
eral Assembly 1701-2. He married Anna, daughter
of Hendrick Coster, October 29, 1793, and had
nine children. His death occurred December 20,
1738; he was buried in the church. His house
lot was on the northwest corner of North Pearl and
Maiden lane, running through to Chapel.
Albert Ryckman, Mayor in 1702-3, is called
by the military title of Captain. He was a brewer,
and had his brewery on or "near the southeast
corner of Hudson avenue and Broadway. He
married Neeltie Quackenbos and had twelve chil
dren. He was born before 1663 and was buried
January 12, 1737.
Johannes Schuyler, Mayor 1703-6, son of
Philip Peter Schuyler and brother of Peter, the first
Mayor, was born April 5, 1668. Attached to
General Winthrop's army in 1691 was this John
Schuyler, then holding a Captain's commission, a
man of great bravery and energy of character, and
of considerable experience in border warfare.
Schuyler was dissatisfied with the decision of the
Council of War relinquishing the Canada expedi
tion, which he considered weak and cowardly,
and declared that the campaign should not be
abandoned so easily. Beating up for volunteers,
he soon gathered around him a little band of
twenty-nine followers, each as bold and daring as
himself. To these he added one hundred and
twenty Indians, and loading a number of canoes
with provisions, proceeded on the 13 th of August,
1 79 1, as far probably as Whitehall, where he en
camped for the night. Embarking the next day,
he reached a point near Chembly on the 21st On
the 23d he intercepted the enemy coming out of
the fort at La Prarie, killed six and took nineteen
prisoners. He also killed one hundred and fifty
cattle, and prudently hastened his retreat. On the
31st of August he reached Albany in safety with
his prisoners. This was at the beginning of King
William's War, and records the kind of man he was.
In 1698 he was sent by the Earl of Bellomont, the
newly arrived Governor of the Province, in com
pany with the Rev. Mr. Dellius, to Canada, to
convey the account of the Peace of Ryswick and
to solicit a mutual interchange of prisoners. He
was Alderman for several years, and was among
those who took the oath of allegiance in 1699.
He was an Indian Commisioner, and in 1705 was
chosen to the Colonial Assembly. He married
Elizabeth Staats, widow of John Wendell, April
25 1695. They were the parents of Margarita,
"the American Lady," born January 12,1701, who
married her cousin, Colonel Philip Schuyler, and
became a widow on his death in 1745- Captain
Schuyler had his city home at the corner of State
and Pearl streets, where he died July 25, 1727-
David Schuyler, 1706-7, was one of the five
sons of David Schuyler, brother of Philip Pieterse,

who came from Amsterdam. The two brothers
were the first of the name in America. David
married Catalyn Verplanck, of New Amsterdam,
October 13, 1667. His widow was living in 1692,
on the south corner of Broadway and Steuben
street. He had five sons, Pieter, Jacobus, Abra
ham, David and Myndert, and perhaps daughters.
Mayor David married Elsie, daughter of Herman
Rutgers, January 1, 1694, and after her death
Elizabeth Marschalk, in New York, May 3, 1719.
He had six children by his first wife and one by
the last. He held the office of Alderman, Justice,
and Commissioner, besides that of Mayor.
Robert Livingston was Mayor 1 710-19. He
was the first settler bearing this name in the
province, from whom descended many eminent
men, among whom may be named Philip, signer
of the Declaration of Independence, Chancellor
Robert R., William, Edward, and others. The
family is of Scotch descent and was always on the
side of learning and good government. All were in
the patriot cause during the Revolution. Robert
was Secretary of Albany, about the same as City
Clerk, from 1675 to 1721, nearly fifty years. He
was also Indian Commissioner, and executed other
and special trusts with great judgment. He mar
ried Alida Schuyler, widow of Rev. Nicholas Van
Rensselaer, and had seven children. His house lot
was on the northwest corner of State and North
Pearl streets, where Tweddle Hall now stands. He
died April 20, 1725, and was buried in the church.
Robert, Jr., his nephew, was his successor as Sec
retary. Myndert Schuyler, Mayor 1719-21, and 1723-
2 5, was son of David Pieterse Schuyler, one of the
Schuyler brothers who early settled in Beverwyck,
by his wife, Catalyn Verplanck, daughter of Abra
ham Isaacse Verplanck and Maria Vigne. His birth
is thus recorded in his father's Bible:
aL»o. } 1 6 January. Soo is Gebooren, Myn Soon
Myndert Schuyler."
Colonel Myndert Schuyler was a merchant. In
1 703, and for the greater part of his life, he resided
on the south side of Yoncker street (now State),
the third house east from South Pearl street He
married in New Amsterdam, October 26, 1693,
Rachel Cuyler, daughter of Hendrick Cuyler.
Colonel Schuyler was a prominent citizen in
1700. In the following year he, together with
Dirk Wessels and John Abeel, was returned to
the Assembly. A new election was ordered and
He was again returned to the Assembly October
20, 1702. He continued to be returned at each
succeeding election until 17 10. In 1706 he
was one of the "Church Masters" of the old
Dutch Church; 1707-9 he was one of the Alder
men from the First Ward. On the organization of
the expeditions in 1709 and 171 1 for the reduction
of Canada, he was appointed one of the Commis
sioners for promoting them and for victualling the
troops. On the occasion of peace, in 171 2, he
carried the news to Canada. In 171 3 he was
again elected to the Assembly and sat there till
1 715. In 1 71 8 he was re-chosen Alderman, and
re-elected in September 1719. During his mayor-

660

HLSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

alty in 1720, hewas sent to the Seneca country,
and succeeding in dissuading the Five Nations
from going to war against the far Indians. On
the death of Hendrick Hanson, in 1724, Lieut
enant-Colonel Schuyler was again sent to the As
sembly; was re-chosen in July, 1728, and sat until
1737. In addition to the several offices mentioned,
he held the office of Commissioner for Indian
affairs from 1706 to 1720, and from 1728 to 1746,
when the Board was abolished, and Colonel Will
iam Johnson was appointed Commissary. John
son becoming dissatisfied, the Board was revised
and Schuyler was reappointed Commissioner, and
served as such until 1755. Colonel Schuyler had
two daughters, Rachel, who died in youth, and
Anna, who married Johannes de Peyster, Mayor and
Surrogate of Albany, grandson of Johannes de
Peyster, the first of the name in America, No
vember 24, 1715, who died September 13, 1750.
Colonel Schuyler's death is thus recorded in the
Bible of his son-in-law, Johannes de Peyster.
" 1755, den 10 October, 15 minuten na 8 in de
avoud Is Groot Vader, Myndert Schuyler, in de
Heer outslapen na dat hy 10 dagen Sieck, gewees
is en is den 21 te 4 Uren na te middag in de
Kerk Begreren, hy was ont 84 Jaren 8 maenda
and 4 dayen toen hy stieif. "
His wife was buried in the church, July 24,
1747. His will, dated March 7, 1739, proved July
24, 1756, gave his "Groot hipvrouw Rajel " the
possession, rents, and profits of his whole estate
during her life.
Colonel Schuyler was largely interested in real
estate, and had amassed, for those days, a large
fortune. His position brought him in contact
with a variety of persons, and he was looked up to
and revered by rich and poor. He was generous
to a fault, and many a little Dutch urchin had
cause to bless the Heer Schuyler on Saint Nicholas'
day. Johannes Cuyler, Mayor 1725-26, was a son of
Hendrick Cuyler, who came to Albany as a tailor
in 1637. Johannes, his eldest son, was born in
1641. In 1696 he was a freeman in New York
City, by occupation a trader. He married Elsie
Ten Broeck November 2, 1684, and had twelve
children. His house lot was the second south of
Steuben on North Pearl street, extending to James.
Rutger Bleecker, Mayor 1726-29, was Re
corder in 1725; married Cataligna, daughter of
David I. Schuyler, and widow of John Abeel, May
26, 1712, and had four children. He was buried
in the church, August 5, 1756. In 1720 he had
a lot, probably on the northwest corner of North
Pearl and Steuben streets.
Johannes de Peyster, Mayor 1729-31, 1732-
33, and 1741-42, son of Johannes de Peyster,
Mayor of New York, a prominent member of the
Provincial Legislature, grandson of Johannes de
Peyster, Schepen, Alderman, Burgomaster, and
Deputy Mayor of New York; one of its wealthiest,
most influential and patriotic citizens, and the
founder of the family in America; a Huguenot of
the Huguenots; was born January 10, 1695, in
New Amsterdam. His mother was Anna Bancker,

eldest daughter of Gerrit Bancker and Elizabeth
Dircks; her brother, Evert Bancker, was Mayor of
Albany. Mr. De Peyster married, November .24, 171 5,
Anna, daughter of Colonel Myndert Schuyler and
Rachel Cuyler. The ceremony was performed
by old Dominie Van Driessen at Albany. The
issue of the marriage was seven sons and two
daughters. Six of the sons died shortly after birth,
and the remaining one only grew to opening man
hood. One of his daughters, Anna, married
Volckert P. Douw, Mayor of Albany; and the
other, Rachel, married Tobias Ten Eyck, of Sche
nectady. Mr. de Peyster died February 26, 1789, his wife
having deceased September 13, 1750. His death
is thus recorded in the Bible of his son-in-law,
Volckert P. Douw:
" f*^ *>£ ) Is Juden heer ont slapen Vader
nsk ' j John de Peyster, omtrent te twa-
lief uren, Jn de naeght en Begrose Inde Kerk ten
nor, on Waechey syn plaes Inde Kutr hawt ont
syn de Dorn, haef Steuf 95 year senmant en Swe
dage. "
His will dated May 14, 1788, proved before
Abraham G. Lansing, surrogate, May 27, 28,
1789, gives to his descendants a goodly estate.
He was Recorder 1716-28. In 1734 he be
came one of the Commissioners of Indian affairs.
He was subsequently a contractor with the Govern
ment to supply Oswego and other outports with
stores. He was reappointed Indian Commissioner
December 5, 1739, and again in 1742. Mr. de
Peyster was the first Surrogate of Albany Co. , hav
ing been elected to that office April 3, 1756. He
was re-elected March 23, 1778, holding the office
till 1782. In 1744 he is spoken of as a Member
of the Assembly and a Commissioner of Indian
Affairs. In 1750 he was in the Committee for
repairing the Fort in Albany. In 1751 Mr. de
Peyster was on a Committee for the Collection of
duties on goods carried to Oswego. In 1753 he
was Commissioner for constructing barracks for
soldiers, and repairs to Fort Orange. In 1754 he
held the office of Officer and Inspector of Ord
nance. Mr. de Peyster was, in 1755, one of the
two Commissioners for carrying on an expedition
against Crown Point, and also a Commissioner for
paying the forces in the expedition in which John
son defeated Dieskan.
Hans Hansen, Mayor, 1731-32, took his of
ficial oath October 14th. He also held the same
office 1754 to 1756. He is reputed as a successful
trader. He married Sarah Cuyler, April 25, 1723,
and had nine children. He was buried December
6, 1756.
Edward Holland, Mayor from October 24,
1733 to 1740, was the first man of English descent
who held that office. He was son of Captain
Henry and Jenny Seely Holland, who was in com
mand of the garrison at Albany in 1732, when he
was incapacitated " by the Providence of Almighty
God." Edward was baptized September 6, 1702.
His first wife, Magdalena, was buried in the En
glish Church in 1737; his second wife wasFrances,

MAYORS OF ALBANY.

661

daughter of William Nicolls, by whom he had two
daughters. John Schuyler, Jr., Mayor 1740 to 1741, took the
oath of office October 3 1 st. He was the second son
of the late Mayor John Schuyler and Elizabeth
Staats, his wife. He was born October 31, 1697.
He had nine children, one of whom was the
eminent Major-General Philip Schuyler, of revolu
tionary times. He died November 7, 1746. As
there were several Schuylers near this date bearing
the name of John, and the records are not very
clear, we have given what seemed to us most
probably correct. But little is known of him.
Cornelius Cuyler, Mayor from 1742 to 1746,
took his first oath of office October 14, 1742. He
had a house on south side of Steuben, fourth west
from Chapel; married Catharina Schuyler, December
9, 1726, and had nine children, one of whom was
Colonel Abraham Cuyler, born April n, 1742, and
Mayor of Albany in revolutionary times.
Dirck Ten BROECK,Mayor 1746 to i748,married
Margarita Cuyler November 26, 1714, and had
twelve children. He was buried in the church,
January 7, 1751.
Jacob C. Ten-Eyck, -Mayor 1748-50, married
Catharina, daughter of Abraham Cuyler, August 1,
1736, and had four children. He was one of the
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, and lived
a long and useful life. He died September 9,
1793, aged 88 years.
Robert Sanders, Mayor, 1750-54, qualified by
oath, October 15, 1750, was a prominent mer
chant. He married, first, Maria Lansing, Decem
ber 6, 1740, and second, Elisabeth Schuyler,
January 11, 1747, by the first of whom he had one
child, and by the second, nine children. His will
is dated May 7, 1765, and was proved June 6, 1765.
Sybrant G. Van Schaick, Mayor 1756-61, son
of Goosen and Catharina Staats Van Schaick, was
born December 19, 1708. He married Alida Rose
boom December n, 1735, and had eight children.
He was prosecuted at law by his successor in office
to recover the proceeds of sale of "Freedoms" and
excise licenses during his term, which was settled
in 1763 by the payment of /"150.
Volkert Peter Douw, Mayor from September
29, 1761, to September 10, 1770, was one of the
nine children of Petrus Douw and Anna Van
Rensselaer (daughter of Hendrick). He was born
at Wolvenhoeck, in Greenbush, March 23, 1720,
and married Anna, daughter of John De Peyster
and Anna Schuyler, May 20, 1742, and had ten
children. His son, General John De P. Douw,
was a distinguished citizen, who died at his resi
dence in State street, February 26, 1835. Mr.
Douw was Mayor of the city in trying times, but
proved himself equal to the occasion. From Octo
ber 2, 1759, to January 10,-1770, he was, by royal
appointment, presiding Judge of the Court of Com
mon Pleas. Regardless of personal considerations,
he took a decided stand in the cause of the colo
nists in opposition to royalty. For this reason Gen
eral Dunmore refused to reappoint him to office.
He was Recorder of the City from 1750 to 1760;
member of the Provincial Assembly in 1757-59-

He was also a member of the important Indian
Commission. May 4, 1775, he became an active
member of the Committee of Safety, and in 1779
was appointed Commissary of the Northern Army.
In 1775 he was a member of the First Provincial
Congress and its Vice-President After the organi
zation cf the State Government he was made First
Judge of the County Court, which office he held
until his resignation, March 26, 1781. From 1786
to 1793 he was a State Senator. In the battle of
Lunenburg, in 1780, he was a Captain. He was a
famous horseman and kept a stable of thorough
bred horses. He lived in great style for those
days, never keeping less than twenty slaves. He
was 6 feet 2 inches in hight, straight as an arrow,
and very fine looking. Judge Douw died March
20, 1801, and his wife June 14, 1794, and were
both buried at Wolvenhoeck. His will, dated
July, 1794, was proved May 4, 1801. In civil and
domestic relations he was esteemed a pattern, and
no man in Albany died more regretted.
Abraham C. Cuyler, Mayor 1770 to 1778, was
the last of the mayors by Royal Commission. A son
of Cornelius Cuyler and Catharina Schuyler, he was
born April 11, 1742. He married Jannetse Glen,
April 10, 1764, and had five children. He held
the military rank of Colonel. He was lukewarm
from the first toward the patriot cause, and finally
becoming an avowed Loyalist, he went to Canada,
and died in Yorkville, February 5, 18 10.
John Barclay, Mayor, 1778-79, received his ap
pointment from the State government, and was ihe
first Chief Magistrate of the city holding office
under State authority, after the reinstatement of the
City Council by law, April 17, 1778.
The City and County Committee of Correspond
ence and Safety was organized in the latter part of
1774, and Mr. Barclay was made its first Pres
ident. When there was no State nor City Govern
ment, this Committee had great responsibility and
exercised great power. All over the territory north
and west of Ulster and Dutchess, it exercised the
legislative and executive functions of civil govern
ment for about three years. In pure, zealous, self-
sacrificing patriotism and good judgment, there
could have been no better man. His office ter
minated with his death, early in 1779.
Abraham Ten Broeck, Mayor September 1779-
83, and September 29, 1796-99, son of a former
Mayor Dirck Ten Broeck and Margarita Schuy
ler, was born May 19, 1734- Married Elisabeth
Van Rensselaer in 1753, by whom he had five
children, and died January 19, 18 10. He was a
merchant, but was early called into public life.
From 1760 to 1765 he was a member of the Co
lonial Assembly, where he always threw his in
fluence and his vote with the minority in favor of
popular rights. In 1775 he was a member of the
Provincial Congress; and in 1776 was a delegate
to the State Convention, of which he was made
President. Early in the revolutionary contest he
was made Colonel of Militia, and, soon after, Brig
adier-General of all the Militia in Dutchess and
Ulster Counties, and all north and west of those
counties. His services were rendered with zeal and

662

HLSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ability, especially in the campaign that ended with
the surrender of Burgoyne. After the war closed,
he was called to civil service. He served from
1780 to 1783 as a member of the State Senate,
Mayor of the City as above, and, from 1781 to 1794,
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He was a
Director and President of the Albany Bank. In
all public positions he made himself a record of
high ability, unquestioned patriotism, and stainless
integrity. In private life his virtues showed him a
tried moralist and a true gentleman; in politics he
was a Federalist; in religion he was a devout and
consistent member of the Dutch Reformed Church.
Such a man deserves the grateful recollection of
this city. His home was for many years on Ten
Broeck street, near Third, in the house afterward
bought and occupied hy the late Thomas W.
Olcott. His funeral was attended by a large con
course of citizens and with military honors. No
descendants are known in Albany. It is believed
that the first of the jamily who came to America
bore the name of Wessels von Ten Broeck.
John Jacob Beekman, Mayor June 27, 1783-86,
was the first who held that office after the close of
the Revolution. He married Maria Sanders and
had six children. His death occurred December
17, 1802.
John Lansing, Jr., Mayor September 29, 1786-
90. Married Cornelia Ray, April 8, 1781, by
whom he had ten children. In 1805 he lived on
the north corner of Broadway and Steuben street.
He was one of the delegates to the convention
that framed the United States Constitution in 1787,
but declined to support the adoption of that instru
ment In 1788 he was a member of the Constitu
tional Convention of New York State, and for many
years was Chancellor of the State. Visiting New
York City on business, he suddenly disappeared
as he was about to take a steamer to return to Al
bany, December 12, 1829, and was never heard of
afterwards. Conjecture had it that he was waylaid,
robbed, and murdered. Others think he was ac
cidentally drowned while attempting to get on board
the steamer.
Abraham Yates, Jr., Mayor September 29, 1790-
96, son of Christoffel Yates and Catalyntje Winne,
was born August 23, 1724, and died June 30, 1796.
He was a noble patriot, prominently identified with
the revolutionary history; a member of the Commit
tee of Safety; President of the Provincial Congress of
New York, 1775-76; Receiver of the city in 1778-
79; and a trusted leader in most of the activities of
the city and county during his time.
Philip S. Van Rensselaer, appointed December
27, 1798, and held office from January 1, 1799, to
1816; reappointed July 3, 1819, and held the office
two years, making in all nineteen years, the longest
in service of any Mayor of the city. He was son
of Stephen and Catharine (Livingston) Van Rensse
laer; born April 15, 1766, and died September 25,
1824. He was younger brother of General Stephen
Van Rensselaer, and grandson of Philip Livingston,
the Albany signer of the Declaration of Independ
ence. He married Ann Van Cortlandt, who died
January 10, 1855. His residence was on State

street, where now resides Mr. Erastus Corning.
He was a public-spirited citizen, and particularly
active in promoting the educational, moral, and
business interests of the city.
Elisha Jenkins, Mayor July 8, 181 6 to 1*819, was
born in Hudson, a son of Thomas Jenkins, from
Connecticut, one of the original proprietors of that
city. He was on the staff of Governor Clinton,
with rank of Colonel; Member of Assembly; State
Senator; Secretary of State, 1806-9; Comptroller,
1 801 to 1806; and Regent of the University. He
was Quartermaster-General of the Northern De
partment in the War of 1812. He was liberally
educated, but attained his wealth in a mercantile
life in his native city. Came to Albany about 1801,
and was a man of great activity in public matters,
in which he was distinguished for amenity of man
ners, strict integrity, good sense, and thorough
business habits. He was a man of fine personal
appearance and splendid manners. He was twice
married, but left no children. He died in 1851 in
New York City, aged about eighty years.
Charles E. Dudley, Mayor February 14, 1821,
to March 10, 1824, and from May 29, 1828, to
January 19, 1829. Came from England to Rhode
Island with his father, who was the King's Collector
of the Customs in that State at the beginning of the
Revolution. He was educated at Newport; came
to Albany in 18 19; engaged in mercantile pursuits,
making some voyages to India to promote his busi
ness interests. He was a public-spirited citizen,
acting his part in the Canal and most of the other
improvements of the day. He was a State Senator,
1823-25, and United States Senator, 1829-31.
He married Blandina, daughter of Rutger Bleecker,
who was born October 1, 1783, and died March 6,
1863. She inherited great wealth from her father,
who bought confiscated estates after the Revolution
ary War, and realized great profit therefrom. She
did much good with her wealth; among others
founding Dudley Observatory, which is named in
her honor. Mr. Dudley died January 23, 1841,
aged sixty years.
Ambrose Spencer, Mayor March 10, 1824, to
1826, was born in Salisbury, Conn., December 13,
1765; died in Lyons, N. Y., March 13, 1848;
graduated at Harvard, 1783; LL.D., Harvard,
1821. About 1785 he entered upon the practice
of law in Hudson, N. Y., and was called almost at
once to an important office in that city and in the
State Legislature. In 1802-4 he was Attorney-
General, and began to reside in Albany, which was
his home until 1839, He became Justice of the
Supreme Court in 1804, and Chief Justice 181 9-
23. He was a member of the New York Con
stitutional Convention, 1821; Member of Con
gress, 1829-31. In the city he held many im
portant offices, including that of Mayor. The
Common Council held a meeting January 1, 1824,
and declared the office of Mayor vacant, and pro
ceeded to the election of a new incumbent Mr.
Dudley presided and voted for himself, thus mak
ing a tie of 1 1 to 1 1 and defeating the intended re
moval. February 9th, the Council again met and
balloted for Mayor ten times, giving at each ballot

MAYORS OF ALBANY.

663

n votes to John N. Quackenbush and n to
Ambrose Spencer. Finally, on the second ballot,
taken March 8th, Ambrose Spencer was elected
Mayor by n votes against 10 for John Lansing,
Jr., and i blank. At the election at the expiration
of his term, January, 1825, Judge Spencer was
unanimously re-elected for one year, at the end of
which time he declined another re-election. He
was truly a great and good man, one of the shining
lights of his time. His legal decisions stand to
day among the highest in authority. In political
councils he had great weight. At the same time,
like all truly great men, he was simple-hearted,
easily approachable by all who needed sympathy
and comfort, and as just and inflexible as old Cato.
James Stevenson, Mayor February 14, 1826 to
1828. Under date of May 23, 1828, the city pa
pers of the time say: "James Stevenson, who
had held the office of Mayor for two and a half
years, with credit to himself and to the entire
satisfaction of the people, sent in his resignation,
alleging pressure of private business." Mr. Dudley
was elected to fill the unexpired term. Mr. Steven
son was an active, prosperous, and public-spirited
citizen. He was born in Albany, was liberally
educated, studied law ; but having wealth, and a
zeal in public affairs, he gave attention to useful
public interests with practical good sense and un
obtrusive modesty. He was a high-toned, old
school, polished gentleman, sauve in manner, and
very popular. He died July 3, 1852, aged sixty-
five years.
John Townsend, Mayor, February 9, 1829 to
1831, and February 14, 1832 to 1833. Mr. Town-
send succeeded Mr. Dudley, who resigned to take
his place as United States Senator, to which he was
elected as successor of Van Buren, January 15 th.
The Common Council balloted twice, February
2d, giving Francis Bloodgood and John Townsend
each ten votes. Bloodgood withdrew, and a week
later Townsend was elected by eighteen votes.
Isaiah and John Townsend were brothers, and
for many years partners in business, and distin
guished among the prominent manufacturers not
only of Albany alone, but of the State. They
were both born at Sterling Iron Works, in Ster
ling, Orange County; the former, April 5, 1777,
the latter, June 14, 1783. Isaiah came to Albany
in 1799, first as partner in the firm of Stewart
& Townsend, and soon after alone, engaged in
the iron trade. John came to Albany in 1802,
and in 1804 the firm of J. & I. Townsend was
formed and continued until the death of Isaiah in
February, 1838. During its continuance nothing
but the most intimate and kindly relations existed
between them. Says a writer: "As merchants, the
house of I. & J. Townsend ever enjoyed an enviable
reputation for solidity and fair dealing. The
brothers, like those beautiful creations in Dickens,
ever lived with their large families in close affec
tion, under adjoining roofs, from a common purse
and almost from a common table." The business
of the house was the purchase and sale of mer
chantable iron of all descriptions, both foreign
and domestic; also, cut rails. Its surplus earnings

were invested in various industries, such as the
Troy Nail and Iron Factory, a furnace and ma
chine-shop in Albany, a cotton mill at Cornwall,
Orange County, a line of passenger boats on the
Hudson, a flour mill at Greenbush, and largely in
real estate in Albany, Syracuse, and the States of
Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois. In Syracuse, then "a
sickly morass" a company was formed in 1824,
comprising William James, I. & J. Townsend, and
James McBride, which immediately set about de
veloping the great salt interests there, and initiated
and carried on other improvements which have led
to ihe growth of that beautiful city.
Isaiah Townsend was exceedingly averse to public
office, often quoting that "private life is the post
of honor," a maxim which he fully illustrated in
every relation as husband, father, business man,
and citizen. His second wife, Hannah, daughter
of Solomon Townsend, an eminent New York
merchant, a lady of great worth, died in 1854.
She was the mother of five sons and two daugh
ters, all of whom attained adult age, and names
known and honored in their native city, viz. : Isaiah,
graduate of Union, now of Cornwall ; Annie, wife
of Henry H. Martin; Captain Robert, of United
States steamer Wauchusett, who did gallant ser
vice in the Rebellion, and died in 1866; General
Franklin, who has held many distinguished trusts
in business, in the city, and in the State; Dr.
Howard, a man of high position and a Professor in
the- Albany Medical College; General Frederick,
who did eminent service in the War of the Rebel
lion, has been Adjutant-General for seven years, has
done much to reform the State National Guard,
and was Presidential elector in 1882; Mary, who
married W. H. T. Walker, of the regular army,
residing near Augusta, Ga.
John Townsend was linked with his brother dur
ing his life in all public as well as business enter
prises. They were among the advisers of De Witt
Clinton in the Erie Canal project. In 181 1 they
were the first in starting the Albany Insurance
Company, which, during its long and prosperous
existence of more than seventy years has always
had some of their descendants on its Board of
Directors, usually as President or Vice-President.
John Townsend was one of the incorporators
and Vice-President of the Albany Savings Bank,
founded in 1820, and President from 1840 to 1854.
His son Theodore has been a Trustee and is now
its Treasurer. Mr. Townsend was one of the Di
rectors of the Commercial Bank, founded in 1825,
and soon after elected its President, which office
he held until his death. He was also President
of the Albany Exchange Company, of the Water
Commission, and several other local organizations.
Henry Burden whose name is perpetuated in the
large Iron-works at Troy, commenced his success
ful career under the Townsends; and the first cast-
iron plow-shares were made in the foundry, which
was the first north of the Highlands. Mr. Town-
send, last year as Mayor, 1832, was called the
cholera year, during which his labors were vastly
increased, and his good name made dearer to his
fellow citizens. He married, in 18 10, Abby,

664

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

daughter of Chief- Justice Ambrose Spencer, a lady
of great refinement and benevolence. She was the
mother of his thirteen children, four of whom
died in infancy. Laura, the eldest, was the wife
of John S. Walsh; Ambrose died many years ago.
There are now living: Mrs. Allen Monroe, of Syra
cuse; Mrs. Joel R. Reed, and Mrs. Charles R.
Lansing, of Albany; Rev. John Townsend, of Mid
dleton, Ct. ; and Theodore Townsend, a well-known
and esteemed business man of this city.
Mr. John Townsend died August 26, 1854.
Francis Bloodgood, Mayor 1831-34, was a
son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Van Valkenburgh)
Bloodgood, and great-grandson of Francis Bloet-
goet, of Flushing, L. I., born June 12, 1775.
His father was a merchant interested in the early
West India trade. He is mentioned as having
made a successful venture as early as November
3, 1770, as consignee of Albany merchants. Fran
cis graduated at Yale; was a lawyer; once Clerk
of the Supreme Court; Director and President of
the State Bank; and President of the Albany Insur
ance Company. He died March 5, 1840; his
wife, Anna, died in Philadelphia, March 5, 1865.
Major William Bloodgood was his son, whose son,
Captain Edward, of the regular army, died at Fort
Lamed, July 31, 1867. His daughter, Mrs. Na
thaniel H. Hall, died at Plattsburgh, January 19,
1865. Mr. Bloodgood was distinguished for the
excellence of his temper and the integrity of his
character. Erastus Corning, Mayor 1834-37, was born
in Norwich, Conn., December 14, 1794; came to
Albany in 1814, and died April 8, 1872, after a
long and honorable career as a merchant, banker,
public officer, and benefactor; interesting himself
in every enterprise that promoted the wealth,
morals, and intelligence of the city. An extended
biography appears in another part of this work.
Teunis Van Vechten, Mayor 1837-39 and
1841-42, grandson of Teunis and Judith (Ten
Broeck) Van Vechten, and son of Teunis and
Elizabeth (De Wandelaer) Van Vechten, was born
November 4, 1785, and died February 4, 1859.
In 1805, his father was a merchant on the west
corner of Broadway and Maiden lane. He was,
in 1807, admitted to the Bar as a lawyer, and was
for many years counsel for the Old Patroon and
his son, Stephen. He succeeded to the practice of
his uncle, Hon. Abraham Van Vechten, one of the
most able lawyers and valued citizens that Albany
ever had, who was born in Catskill December 5,
1762; married Catharina Schuyler, May 20, 1784;
had thirteen children; and died January 6, 1837.
Teunis was for many years a Director and Presi
dent of the Albany Insurance Company, and was
more than once an Alderman. He married Cath
arina Cuyler, who died March 24, 1853, aged 64
years. One of his daughters married Hon. Elisha
P. Hurlbut. A eulogy upon his character is given
in a printed sermon by his pastor, Rev. E. P.
Rogers. Jared L. Rathbone, Mayor 1839-41. Mr.Rath-
bone was elected Mayor January 21, 1839, to com
plete the unexpired term made by the resignation

of Mr. Van Vechten, and was re-elected December
20th for the year 1840. He was the first mayor
elected by popular vote. Previous to this the
mayors were elected by the Common Council after
the days of appointment by the Governor came to
an end.
He was Trustee and President of the Albany
Medical College, and held many other offices con
nected with the educational, benevolent, and in
dustrial interests of the city. He was of Connect
icut parentage. Died in 1845. *
Barent P. Staats, Mayor 1842-43, was a
member of one of the oldest Holland families in
this State. Was bom in Rensselaer County in
1796. He died in 1871, in the seventy-fifth year
of his age. For fifty-four years he had been a prac
ticing physician, nearly fifty years of which were in
this city. He was not an office-seeker, but for more
than forty years held important offices of trust be
cause he was called for. He was an Alderman when
the best men were placed in that office; he was a
Supervisor for many years; and Physician to the
Penitentiary the last year of his life. In 1834 he was
a member of the Assembly. In his profession he
was regarded as very skillful. On the 20th of
June, 1867, a dinner was given by the Albany
County Medical Society to its then oldest physi
cians, Drs. MacNaughton, Staats, and Wade, who
had been in practice over fifty years. His personal
qualities of genial humor, generous sympathies,
and strong attachments; strong sense of justice, and
strict temperance; united with a broad public spirit,
made him a favorite among his friends and popular
among his fellow-citizens.
Friend Humphrey, Mayor 1843-45 and 1849-
50, was born in Simsbury, Conn., in the year 1787.
Came to Albany in 1811; engaged in the leather
trade; became a successful and leading merchant;
interested in promoting every worthy enterprise;
was very energetic and very popular, not only as a
business man, but as a citizen. He was especially
known in all the movements for the advancement
of learning and sound morals. When Mayor he
closed the markets on Sunday. Says an old mer
chant: " He was sound on every point" His sec
ond election was April 9, 1 844, by a Whig vote of
3,268 to a Democratic vote of 2,628 for George
W. Stanton. He died March 15, 1854. General
Chauncey Humphrey was his brother, and Theo
dore F. Humphrey, of Boston, and James Hum
phrey, of New York, were his sons.
He was courageous, strong, very energetic, never
afraid to do right. Albany never had a Mayor
better understood or more popular.
John Keyes Paige, Mayor 1845-46. Mr. Paige
was a lawyer, and held, for nineteen years prior to
his election as Mayor, the office of Clerk of the
Supreme Court. He was elected by a plurality
April 7, 1845, as follows: John K. Paige, Demo
crat, 3,148; Friend Humphrey, Whig, 3,124;
Isaac Lansing, native American, 160; Nathaniel
Safford, Abolition, 12. After leaving Albany on
the failure of the Canal Bank, of which he was
President, he resided in Schoharie, and later in
Schenectady, where he died December io, 1857,

MAYORS OF ALBANY.

665

at the age of seventy. At the time of his death he
was a Regent of the University, to which he had
been appointed in 1826. His first wife was Helen,
a daughter of Governor John C. Yates, who died
January 25, 1829. His second a daughter of the
late Mayor, Francis Bloodgood.
Notwithstanding his long career of public ser
vice, he was singularly reserved and retiring in his
manners and attached to domestic life, and neither
professed the arts of popularity, nor that knowledge
of the world which is often necessary to a man of
business. William Parmalee, Mayor 1846-48 and 1854-
-56. He was born in Lansingburgh, N. Y., 1807;
graduated from Yale College in 1826; began to
practice law in Albany in 1830; in 1836 was City
Attorney; was County Judge in 1839 and 1847-
52; Recorder of the City 1840-46. He mar
ried Helen, daughter of Dr. T. Romeyn Beck.
While in his last term of office as Mayor, he died of
cancer in the throat, March 15, 1856. Charles W.
Goddard was appointed by the City Council, April
28th, for the unexpired term of Judge Parmalee's.
On April 14, 1846, William Parmalee, Whig, was
elected by a vote of 3, 106 over John K. Paige,
Democrat, who received a vote of 2,512. In 1847
Mr. Parmalee was re-elected by a vote of 4,088
over James Goold, 1,168; Mr. Hendrickson, 605;
and Mr. Woodruff, 78.
John Taylor, Mayor 1848-49, was born in
Durham, England, March, 1790, and died in Al
bany September 31, 1863. He migrated to Brook
lyn with his father when a mere infant, and to
Albany in 1793. He engaged in the business of a
tallow-chandler with his father when he was seven
teen years old, and before he was twenty-three he
had been burned out- four times. Then his fortunes
changed. He began to make money about 1813
as an army contractor. In 1822 he became a
brewer, and from this business realized an ample
fortune. He had branches in Boston and New
York later, conducted by his sons. He gave freely
of his wealth to the poor, and to all objects that
promised to benefit the city. He became a great
reader, and accumulated a library larger and more
valuable than any in the city in his time. He
gained great popularity and wealth at the same
time by a steady course of industry, enterprise, in
tegrity, philanthropy and virtue. Taylor's Brewery
is still occupied at 133 Broadway.
Franklin Townsend, Mayor 1850-51, was the
son of Isaiah and Hannah Townsend, and nephew
of John Townsend, a former Mayor, under whose
name the outline of his family history is given. He
married the only daughter of Rufus H. King, once
a noted merchant and banker of this city. His
life has been one of great activity, marked by evi
dences of public confidence. While yet a boy, he
took charge of the Townsend Furnace and Ma
chine-shop in this city, no w managed by his son,
Rufus K. Townsend. He has served on the Board
of Aldermen, and as Supervisor. He has also been
a Member of the Assembly, and for nearly nine
years Adjutant-General of the State. He has been
prominent in the social and business affairs of the

city; President of the State Bank, and Vice-Presi
dent of the Albany Savings Bank. In all positions
he has acquitted himself with honor.
Eli Perry, Mayor 1851-54, 1856-60, 1862-64.
An exciting contest attended the civil years of
1856-58. April 8, 1856, the city election was
held, when it was declared that Dr. John V. P.
Quackenbush was elected by a majority of twenty
over Eli Perry. An indignation meeting was held
April 14th, protesting that Perry was defeated by
fraudulent votes in the Seventh and Eighth Wards.
Subsequently the new Common Council, after con
sidering these frauds, declared, by a vote of eleven
to nine, that Perry was elected. The election was
contested by Quackenbush.
Each of the contestants persistently claimed his
right to act as Mayor. The case was taken to the
Courts at last under a proposed compromise, by the
terms of which Recorder W. S. Paddock was to act
as Mayor pending the litigation. The case never
came to trial. The Recorder served out the term
of Perry and Quackenbush, each of whom received
the full salary of Mayor. Mr. Perry was elected in
April 13, 1858, by a vote of 4,699, to 4,601 for Dr.
Quackenbush, serving until April, i860. Again
he was elected for the two years from 1862-64.
He held the office of Alderman and was two years
a Member of Congress, and active and influential
in banks and other public institutions.
He was born in Washington County, N. Y.,
December 25, 1799, and died in Albany, May 17,
1 88 1. His biography appears at length in another
part of this volume.
George H. Thacher, Mayor 1860-62, 1866-
-68, 1870-74. Mr. Thacher was descended from
the celebrated Rev. Thomas Thacher, the Puritan,
and first pastor of the old South Congregational
Church in Boston. On his mother's side he is
grandson of the late Judge Hornell, of Hornells-
ville, N. Y., where he was born June 4, 18 18.
His early life was one of penury and self-denial.
In Albany, since 1848, his career has been one of
business prosperity and public distinction. His
biography appears in another part of this volume.
His election in 1872 was contested very hotly in
the case of "The people ex rel. Edmund L. Jud
son vs. George H. Thacher." The trial resulted
in a verdict for the defendants. An appeal to the
Court of Appeals was taken, and resulted in an
order for a new trial. Pending the new trial, Mr.
Thacher resigned January 17, 1874, having served
twenty months of his last term. During the litiga
tion concerning the Mayoralty, John G. Burch,
President of the Board of Aldermen, acted as
Mayor. Edmund L. Judson filled out the un
expired term of Thacher, and was elected for the
full succeeding term.
Charles E. Bleecker, Mayor 1868-70. Grace
Strover, the wife of Mr. Bleecker, died August 28,
1868. Edmund L. Judson, Mayor 1874 to 1876, is
a grandson of Nathaniel Judson, one of the New
England immigrants who came from Connecticut
to Albany in 1796, and son of Ichabod L. Judson,
who kept a provision store here many years, and

8t

666

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

was a prominent business man. Mr. Judson was
born in this city, November 13, 1830, and suc
ceeded to the business of his father about thirty-
five years ago. He is a member of the firm of
Judson, Capron & Smith, dealers in flour and pro
visions, 359 and 361 Broadway. He was always
a citizen well informed upon public affairs and
actively interested in them, and yet not given to
place-seeking. He was Alderman in 1862-66.
His contest for the Mayor's office, to which he was
no doubt elected in 1872, is mentioned under the
sketch of Ex-Mayor Thacher. His influence, in
a quiet way, is still a power in the Republican
party and in civil affairs of the city.
A. Bleecker Banks, Mayor 1876-78 and 1884-
86, is a native of New York City. Since 1872
he has been a member of the law-publishing
house of Banks Brothers, 475 Broadway — Mayor
Banks residing at 327 State street, and his brother,
David Banks, residing in New York City, in charge
of the leading store. They are sons of David
Banks, the founder of this ancient house, estab
lished in 1804. Mr. Banks represented Albany
County in the Assembly in 1862, and in the State
Senate in 1868-71. His last election as Mayor
was by so small a majority over Dr. Swinburne,
that many of his opponents doubted his legal elec
tion, but no contest was made to unseat him.
He is actively interested in several financial and
business interests of the city, notably in the Albany

and Greenbush Bridge, and in the Albany and
Greenbush Street Railway, of which corporations
he is President
Michael N. Nolan, Mayor 1878 to 1883, a
native of Ireland. Mention of his resignation in
June, 1883, is made in the sketch of Dr. Swinburne.
He was a Member of the U. S. Congress in 188 1 to
1883. After his resignation, Dr. W. H. Murray,
President of the Common Council, was acting
Mayor until Dr. Swinburne took the office. Mr.
Nolan is President of the Beverwyck Brewing <To.,
24 North Ferry street, of which the late Hon.
Terence J. Quinn was a member. The firm is
still called Quinn & Nolan, and is widely known
for the production of lager. Mr. Nolan's sagacity
and executive ability, either in business or in pub
lic affairs, is acknowledged by all who know him.
John Swinburne, Mayor 1883-84. The biog
raphy of Dr. Swinburne is fully presented in an
other part of this volume. The contest for the
office of Mayor at the Charter Election cf 1882,
was a very exciting one between Michael N. Nolan
and John Swinburne. Nolan was declared elected
by a small majority. Frauds were alleged and
proved, and after a legal contest in the case, ' ' The
People ex rel. John Swinburne vs. Michael N.
Nolan," Mr. Nolan resigned, after filling about
fifteen months of the term, and Dr. Swinburne was
seated in the chair June 25, 1883, and served the
remainder of the term.

SOME VIEWS IN ALBANY ABOUT 1800.

STATE STREET, LOOKING EAST.

THE above cut represents a view of State street
in 1805. We are supposed to be standing
near the head of the street, in front of St. Peter's
Church, and on the site of old Fort Frederick, a

strong, quadrangular fortification, with a bastion at
each corner, which stood upon the high hill there.
The altitude of its heavy stone walls was equal to
that of the roof of St. Peter's at the present day. The

SOME VIEWS IN ALBANY ABOUT 1800.

667

above illustration gives a view, looking eastward,
of the rough and irregular street, at the front of
which is the old Dutch Church. The house on the
left is that of Philip S. Van Rensselaer, a younger
brother of the Patroon. The two houses next to
Van Rensselaer's belonged to the Webster Brothers,
and the frame building next to them was their office,
and was familiarly known as
Websters' corner. Next below
Websters' is seen the Living
ston house and elm tree, and
the Lydius house, occupying
opposite corners. The house
just below the Lydius corner is
now occupied by the State
Bank. Pearson, a tobacconist,
and Dr. Dexter, a druggist, oc
cupied the next taller build
ings. Next east of Dexter's
building was the Tontine Cof
fee House. Almost in front
and at the steepest part of the
street is seen one of the old
well-curbs of the city, used be
fore the construction of water
works. The tall house seen
over the angle of the old Dutch
Church belonged to the Kanes,
well-known merchants. The
house on the right of the
church, in range with the
most distant lamp-post, be
longed to Dr. Mancius, and

the city post-office was kept there for some
years. In the portion of the street opposite to the Liv
ingston elm were two noble but dissimilar build
ings; one of them was erected by Herman Wendell
in 1 71 6, the other was built by John Stevenson in
1780. The former was in the ancient Dutch style.
The Stevenson House was
in its day a wonder in archi
tecture, and in a style quite
different from anything in Al
bany. It was purely English
throughout, and was known as
' ' the rich man's house. " Both
of these buildings were de
molished in 1 84 1.
Coming up State street, on
the south side was the spacious
brick residence of George Mer
chant, over which six birds are
seen. The peaks and chim
neys beneath the single bird
are those of the old Geological
Hall, which stood back of
Merchant's house and occu
pied the site of the present
Geological Hall. The build
ing with a projecting ridge for
hoisting was a carpenter's
shop, and the last one seen
on the right of the picture
was the chair factory of Mr.
McChesney.

THE WENDELL HOUSE.

THE STEVENSON HOUSE.

668

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

NORTH PEARL AND STATE STREETS,

This cut exhibits the corners of North Pearl
and State streets, looking up Pearl. The most
conspicuous objects are the ancient building
known as the Lydius House (6) with its terraced
gable, and the adjoining mansion (7) of William
Pitt Beers. The corner house was built about
1657 for the parsonage of the Dutch Church. All
the materials were said to have been imported from
Holland. Its interior was elaborate. The parti
tions were made of mahogany, and the exposed
beams ornamented with carving.
On the opposite side of the street is seen the
frame building (1) known as Websters' corner, pre
viously alluded to. The white house (2) next to

it was the site of the residence of Peter Livingston,
one of the signers of the Declaration of Independ
ence. The old elm tree, recently removed, was
planted by Mr. Livingston. The large building
with two gables (3) in front was known as the Van
Derheyden Palace. It was just below Maiden
lane on the site now occupied by the Perry Build
ing. A little beyond the Palace is seen the homestead
of the Pruyen family, a Dutch house (4) with ter
raced gable fronting the street. Dr. Hunloke
Woodruff, an eminent physician, owned the next
(5) more modern residence on the corner of Maid
en Lane and Pearl street.

NORTH PEARL STREET, FROM MAIDEN LANE NORTHWARD.

SOME VIEWS IN ALBANY ABOUT 1800.

669

The cut on preceding page is a continuation of
Pearl street from Maiden lane northward. The
Woodruff House (1) is first seen. The small build
ing (2) next to it was the Dr.'s office. At that
time dentistry, as a distinct profession, was not
practiced in Albany. Next to the doctor's office
was a stately Dutch building (3), erected by Will
iam Eights somewhere after 1776. The frame
building adjoining was long occupied by Dick
Thompson, who was quite celebrated as a waiter.
The next house with terraced gable (6) had a brick

front, and was occupied by David Groesbeck, in
the immediate rear of which is seen the Second
Presbyterian Church. It was last occupied by Mc
Caffrey & Holmes, bakers. It adjoined the Female
Academy on the south. The tall building (7) was
occupied by Dr. C. C. Yates. No. 8 was occu
pied by Cornelius Brown, some time baker, after
wards a cartman. The last building (9) was the
famous Uranian Hall, erected by the Society of
Mechanics, where the children of mechanics were
educated.

NORTH PEARL STREET.

This is a continuation of the last view, a por
tion of North Pearl street. The first house (10)
was for many years the house and store of Henry
Bleecker. It was built prior to the Revolution by
John Nicholas Bleecker. About 1800 it was oc
cupied by William McClellan, an eminent Scotch
physician. On the site of buildings (8, 9 and 10)
the present Female Academy stands, founded in
18 14, and then known as Union School. In house
1 1 dwelt John B. Romeyn, D. D. , of the Presby
terian Church. Next to Dr. Romeyn resided
Peter Elmendorf, one of the leading lawyers of the
city. Gerardus Lansing, brother-in-law of General
Ten Broeck, resided in No. 13. Next to No. 13
was a house, which has been omitted, built and
occupied by John Rutger Bleecker, a surveyor.
Between dwelling 14 and the little school-house
(15) was a play-ground for the boys. Looking
over that inclosure and among the trees is seen the
family mansion or homestead of the Bleeckers.
The last house (16) was the residence of John An
drews, a well-known police constable, who was the
terror^of evil-doers eighty years ago. No 12 was
the last of the old houses in this row, and was taken
down about twenty-five years ago.

Our next view of North Pearl street is a continua
tion of the west side from Canal to Patroon street.
The buildings possess little interest, except the
church with two steeples, the edifice of the North
Reformed Dutch Church, erected in 1798. With
the exception of the church, all the other buildings
have long since passed away. They were of wood,
all painted red, and gave a very dull appearance to
the street. On the left (1) is seen a portion of the
Vandeberg Mansion. Adjoining it (2) was the
shop of John Bantam, a blacksmith. The next
building was occupied by an Irish schoolmaster
named Crabbe. Back of these (4) is seen the tool-
house of the church, and upon the distant emi
nence beyond, then known as Arbor Hill, is seen
the country seat (5) of General Ten Broeck, of the
Revolution, and three years Mayor of Albany.
Arbor Hill is now occupied by Thomas W. Olcott.
Next to the last of the small buildings in the direc
tion of the church was then occupied by Mc-
Gourghey, a chocolate manufacturer, and in the
last (7) the sexton of the church resided. Fox
Creek formerly flowed across the street (now under
it) where the fence is seen, adjoining 7, and so be
tween the trees. Opposite the church is seen a

6?0

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

NORTH PEARL STREET.

small building, which was then occupied by Book
ing, a famous cake baker. The two little figures
in this picture represent a fashionably-dressed cou
ple in Albany in 1805. The lady has not yet

"found her waist," and the gentleman has his
roundhead hat, narrow-skirted coat and huge
white-topped boots, then just beginning to be
worn.

MARKET STREET.

This view represents that portion of Market
street, east side, from State street to Maiden lane.
The public market, which gave the name to the
street, is seen in its center. Beginning on the left
we have a view of the residence (1) of Paul Hoch-
strasser, a wealthy German merchant. The next

(2) on the corner of Maiden lane was the house in
which General Peter Gansevoort, one of the most
active of the Revolutionary officers, was born.
The larger house (3) was occupied by Hill, a glove
and leather-breeches maker. In the upper part
Fairman, the engraver, started business. The more

SOME VIEWS IN ALBANY ABOUT 1800.

671

stately brick mansion (4) was built and occupied
by Thomas Hun, agent of the Patroon, and after
ward by his son, Abraham Hun. It was at one
time occupied as a post-office. Next to it, and
partly concealed by the market (5), was the store of
Barent & John G. Bleecker. The terraced gable
of Ford's carpet store is seen next beyond it, and
looming above all is the grand mansion of David
Fonda, a dry goods merchant. It occupied the

site of Ransom's iron-front store. Beyond the
market was the auction store of John Jauncey, and
rising above it (19) is seen a large brick building,
the store and dwelling of the Kane Brothers, al
ready referred to. Back of these is seen the roof
of a building, recently the site of the Exchange,
now occupied by the Post-office Building. Next
to Kane's was the apothecary store of Dr. Mancius,
where the city post-office was kept.

MARKET STREET, NOW BROADWAY.

This represents the appearance of Market street
(now Broadway) in the year 1805. On the extreme
left (1) we have a corner of the old Dutch Church,
then a low yellow building, known as Robinson's
Corner, where the Albany Museum building now
stands. Next (3) was the brick dwelling-house
and store of John Van Schaick, then an eminent
merchant. In the two-story white frame building
(4) David Waters sold groceries, and in the adja
cent brick building (5) lived David Newland, a
Scotch settler. Albert Willett lived in the next
brick building, and in the taller one adjoining was
the Albany Bank. Its nearest neighbor was the

spacious brick dwelling of John Maley, one of the
merchant princes of Albany. It was long known
as the Mansion House Hotel. Abram R. Ten
Eyck's book store was next to Maley's, and the
smaller house, with a large chimney, belonged to
Peter Douw, a merchant. His neighbor (11) was
Barent G. Staats, also a merchant. In the small
building lived Teunis Van Vechten, a wealthy
burgher. The last house (13) was built of Holland
brick. It was a double house. On the corner
dwelt Richard Lush, and in an adjoining part
of the building John Brinkerhoff had a hardware
store.

MARKET STREET, NOW BROADWAY.

In house 14 John Meads resided for a while,
and was succeeded by Lawson Aumsley in 18 14
with a looking-glass store. The next house (15)
belonged to Martin Beekman, and was occupied
by Richard Dunn & Sons before they removed to
Court street. House 16 was occupied by John
Jacob Lansing. He died in 1808. The tall build

ing adjoining (17) was the residence of Barent
Bleecker, an extensive merchant at this day. It
was painted yellow, and appeared very gay by side
of its neighbor (18), a dull red house, built in the
antique Dutch style, of Holland brick, and occu
pied by General John H. Wendell, a Revolutionary
officer. Adjoining it was the law office of Stephen

672

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Lush. The grand house of Dr. Samuel Stringer
(18) towers above all the edifices on this part of the
street. It was demolished in 1856. Next to it
was Dr. Stringer's office, separated by an alley from
the large brick house (20) of Andrew Brown.
Dudley Walsh occupied the house next to Brown,
and on the corner of Steuben is seen the old brick
house of Sanders Lansing, a celebrated cake-maker
of that day. Opposite the cake-maker's shop was
the fine old brick residence of Chancellor Lansing,

Mayor from 1786 to 1790. .This completes a de
scription of this portion of Market street in olden
times, then, as now, one of the principal business
streets of the city.
OLD HOUSES AND LANDMARKS.
One of the most interesting features of Albany
is its old houses, of which the most noteworthy are
hereafter mentioned.

m»Hii

WSSsiFm

I

11 1 liillil

OLD STAATS HOUSE.

The Staats House, corner State and Pearl, is re
garded as the oldest edifice in the city. It is one
of two which stood there when South Pearl was a
lane, entered by a gate. When the street was
widened, the upper house known as Lewis's
Stevens was taken away. There formerly ran

across the front of these two houses, underneath
the eaves, in iron letters, the words Anno Domini,
and below, over the upper story, the figures, also in
iron, 1667. When the upper house was taken
away the word Anno was left on the house still
standing, and is there yet.

kI h

SfrJSWllSf.

HHHF

_ Ejj^SSemam " ' ' ' [1111-,
£HHF liilf TSrw UMrt ¦ HI

LANSING (NOW PEMBERTON) HOUSE.

SOME VIEWS IN ALBANY ABOUT 1800.

673

The Pemberton House, corner Columbia and
North Pearl Street, is another old building. When
constructed; no two adjoining rooms were on the
same level, the ceilings were not plastered, but
the beams and sleepers were polished, and the jambs
of the fire-place faced with porcelain, ornamented
with Scripture scenes. In earlier days this house
was occupied by the widow Visscher. It was
especially distinguished as the lodging place for
Indians when they came to Albany for the purpose
of trading their furs, too often for rum and worth
less ornaments. Here many stirring scenes tran

spired, when the Indians held their pow-wows,
and became uproarious under the influence of
strong drink. At such times the widow would use
her broomstick freely. It was a potent scepter in
her hands in restoring order, for the most stalwart
Indian who had once felt its power, looked upon
it with awe.
The Vanderheyden Palace stood on Pearl street,
on what is now the site of the Perry building. The
palace was built in 1725 by Johannes Beekman.
The bricks were said to have been imported from
Holland, and the house was one of the best spe-

VANDERHEYDEN PALACE.

cimens of Dutch architecture in the State. It
was occupied by Mr. Beekman as his family resi
dence, until his death in 1756, after which his two
daughters resided in it until a short time previous
to the Revolution. In 1778 the mansion was pur
chased by Mr. Jacob Vanderheyden. The dimen
sions were 50 feet front by 20 feet in depth, having
a hall and two rooms on a floor. The edifice was
so antique that it arrested the antiquarian fancy
of Washington Irving, and is described by him in
the story of Dolph Heyliger, in " Bracebridge
Hall," as the residence of Herr Antony Van
derheyden. It was demolished in 1833. The
weather vane, a horse under great stress of speed,
now glitters above the peaked turret of the portal
at Sunnyside.
The Lydius House stood till 1852 on the north
east corner of State and Pearl. It was built ex
pressly for a parsonage. The bricks, tiles, iron,
and wood-work were all imported from Holland.
They came over with the church bell and pulpit in
1657. The partitions were mahogany, and the ex
posed beams ornamented with carvings in high re
lief representing the vine and fruit of the grape.
To show the relief more perfectly, the beams were
painted white. Balthazar Lydius was its only oc
cupant for many years. He was an eccentric old
bachelor, and was the terror of all the boys. He
was a tall, thin Dutchman, with a bullet head, fond
85

of his pipe and bottle, and gloried in celibacy until
his life was in the ' ' sere and yellow leaf. " Then
he gave a pint of gin for a squaw, and calling her
his wife, lived with her as such until his death, in
1815. The Van Rensselaer Mansion, at the head 01
North Broadway, was erected in 1765. It
is commonly known as the Patroon's, and until

'"f?T;Jf*f?t.
': > t' §**" „ -.
;!¦¦'¦- ¦£:* --'' ¦$*' ¦ -.&**¦'£

uk^^h SB
dmnn

The Patroon's Mansion.
lately was occupied by his descendants. The front
door opens directly into a spacious hall, upon the
walls of which is paper of most curious and
elaborate design, put on when the house was built,

674

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

having been imported from Holland expressly for
the purpose.
The Van Rensselaer Mansion in Greenbush
stands nearly opposite the blast furnace, and is
supposed to have been built by Johannes Van
Rensselaer as early as 1663. It is of brick brought
from Holland. An addition was built in 1740.
The original building was used as a fort, and some
of the port-holes are visible in the stone walls. In
the addition are forty or fifty curious tiles, repre
senting Scripture scenes.

Schuyler Mansion.
Schuyler Mansion, head of Schuyler street, a lit
tle west of South Pearl, is of brick, with a closed oc
tagonal porch in front It was built by Mrs. Schuy
ler while her husband, General Philip Schuyler, was
in England, in 1760-61. The old family mansion,
large and highly ornamented in the Dutch style,
stood nearly upon the site of the present City Hall,
and was taken down in 1800. In this latter man
sion General Schuyler and his family dispensed a
princely hospitality for almost forty years. When
General Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga in 1777,
he and other prisoners were sent forward to Albany,
General Schuyler writing to his wife to give the
English General the very best reception in her
power. "The British commander was well received,"
writes the Marquis de Chastellux, ' ' and lodged in
the best apartment in the house. An excellent
supper was served him, the honors of which were
done with so much grace that he was affected even
to tears, and said with a deep sigh: ' Indeed this is
doing too much for a man who has ravaged their
lands and burnt their dwellings.'"
In 1 78 1 a plan was laid to capture General
Schuyler and take him to Canada. A party of
Tories, Canadians and Indians surrounded the
house for several days, and at length forced an en
trance. The family collected in an upper room,
forgetting to take with them an infant child sleep
ing in the nursery. The mother was flying back
to the rescue when the General prevented her, but

the third daughter, afterwards the wife of the last
of the Patroons, rushed downstairs, snatched her
sister from the cradle and bore her off in safety.
As she sprang up the stairs, an Indian hurled a
tomahawk at her, which cut her dress a few inches
from the infant's head, and struck the stair-rail at
the lower turn, where the mark is still pointed out.
The assailants were frightened from their purpose
and fled to Canada, carrying with them much of
the General's plate, but not the General. In this
house Lafayette, Count de Rochambeau, Baron
Steuben, Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Charles
Carroll, of Carrollton, and many other notable per
sonages were entertained. December 14, 1780,
Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler were
married in this house, and another notable wedding
that took place here was that of Mrs. Mcintosh,
who owned the property, to ex-President Fillmore.

Robert Yates' House.
Robert Yates was one of the leading jurists and
statesmen of his time. The above cut is a view of
his residence on State street.
CHURCHYARDS AND CEMETERIES.
In the earliest days of our city the dead were
buried near the places where they cast off their
mortal coil, and turned to dust without any monu
mental mark of any kind. When lands began to
be occupied at a later date by families, some spot
was selected on the homestead and inclosed for
burial of their dead. Sometimes a tomb was erected
for this purpose.
Around the churches a home for the dead, ' ' God's
acre," was always reserved, called the churchyard.
The first churchyard was set apart close by the first
church erected, on what is now Church street,
near old Fort Orange, in 1643. Thirteen years
after, in 1656, another edifice was erected at the
junction of State street and Broadway, around
which the dead were buried for many years, until
the third edifice was built, some forty years later,
on Beaver street. Here a church stood for about
a century and three quarters, long known as the
Middle Dutch Church. Many changes were made in
the structure to adapt it to growing demands, until
recently it was taken down and the ground occupied
by a building called the City Market. A new and
admirable structure succeeds it at corner of Madison
avenue and Swan street. Here about the Beaver
street Church the city dead were laid away for
over a century, numbering thousands. From 1722
to 1759, the records give a list of 1,759 burials.
Many were removed from the State street grounds,

SOME VIEWS IN ALBANY ABOUT 1800.

675

and yet human bones have recently been exca
vated there of some neglected ones.
When the churchyard became completely cov
ered with tombs, a layer of earth was superim
posed, and new graves were made, so that three
tiers of coffins, closely compacted side by side, lay
one above another. About 1780 the place had
been abandoned, and a city burial lot was estab

lished south of the old Capitol Park. A new
church structure was erected on the old lot in
1805, but it no longer had a city churchyard.
The new lot south of the Capitol, and appropriated
for a common burial ground in 1789, was bounded
by Eagle on the east, State on the north, and
Lancaster on the south. Lots were set apart for the
different churches.

LODGE AT RURAL CEMETERY.

The Lutherans had a burial ground in connection
with the Evangelical Lutheran Ebenezer Church,
founded in 1680, on the site of the present Music
Hall and City Building. For over a century this
church buried their dead here. When the old
Centre Market, which occupied this ground many
years, was demolished in 1868, the remains were
removed to the Rural Cemetery.
The First Presbyterian Church, established in
1763, had a burial lot until about 1760, in con
stant use, in the square bounded by Hudson ave
nue, Grand, Beaver, .and William streets.
The next public cemetery, established far outside
the settled part of the city, in State street, near
Knox, began to be occupied in 1806. It was
surrounded by a fence ten feet high, and divided
among the different religious congregations. It
was thus used about sixty years, when, in 1868, the
bodies were removed to the Rural Cemetery, and
the ground was made a part of Washington Park.
The reinterment was made at the expense of the
city, under arrangements with the various religious
congregations which occupied burial lots on these
grounds. The Common Council appointed a
committee, consisting of Peter M. Carmichael,
William S. Paddock, William H. Taylor, Edmund
L. Judson, and Thomas Mulhall, to act in its
behalf.

The Albany Rural Cemetery had its origin in a
sermon preached by the Rev. B. T. Welch, D. D.,
in the Pearl street Baptist Church, December,
1840. April 2, 1 84 1, an Association was in
corporated, consisting of Rev. Dr. B. T. Welch,
first President of the Association; Anthony M.
Strong, first Secretary and Treasurer; Stephen Van
Rensselaer, John A. Dix, John Q. Wilson, James
Homer, Peter Gansevoort, Thomas W. Olcott,
Ezra P. Prentice, John Wendell, Ellis Baker, Ira
Harris, Archibald Mclntyre. The Committee to
locate and improve the grounds were B. T. Welch
and Thomas W. Olcott, who selected the site
April 20, 1844. The cemetery originally contained
100 acres, a part of which formerly belonged to
Thomas Hillhouse. This portion was consecrated
October 7, .1844, with impressive and imposing
ceremonies.* The first interment was made in
May, 1 84 5. Additions by purchase have been made,
and the Association now owns 281 \ acres.
This beautiful and diversified cemetery is situated
in the township of Watervliet, about three miles
* At the consecration, Daniel D. Brainard was the orator; Alfred B.
Street, the poet. Revs. Dr. W. B. Sprague and H. Potter were the
clergy; and active on that day and in the whole work as long as they
lived, besides the Trustees, were Gideon Hawley, Amos Dean, Otis
Allen, Lewis Benedict, Matthew Patten, and many others. General
Rufus King was the Marshal. In natural and artistic beauty, this
cemetery has been spoken of by good critics as excelled only by that
of Cincinnati.

676

HLSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

north of the City of Albany, and is easy of access
by private conveyance on the Troy Turnpike road,
by the West Troy Horse-Cars, and by the Delaware
and Hudson Canal Company's Railroad. This road
has a station near the entrance to the cemetery.
The cemetery grounds possess in a remarkable
degree the natural conditions desired in physical
structure and adaptability. Its undulating con
tour and diversified variety; its picturesque expanse
of hill and dale, ravine and dell, stream and cas
cade, sparkling rivulets, bubbling fountains, placid
ponds, rocky cliffs, sylvan nooks, and miniature
forests — attractions rare and unique — combine to
place this cemetery among the finest in the
country. The whole grounds are planned and platted
with the taste and skill of artistic engineering, and
the sculptor's work is seen from every point, as
the eye wanders over the many monuments and
other mementoes of the departed.
Broad avenues and drives lined with shade trees,
intricate labyrinths of walks and paths, serve to per
plex the visitor in his rambles here, in this silent
city of the dead.
A natural feature is the division of this area into
three ridges, designated South, Middle and North,
running east and west, through which pass two
never failing streams of water, which are used to
advantage in ornamentation and giving wide di
versity of scenic effect
Jeffrey P. Thomas, succeeding his father, is the
Superintendent and Surveyor. He is a man of
excellent taste and judgment.
St Agnes' Cemetery adjoins the Rural Cemetery
on the south, and is approached by a beautiful
tree-lined avenue, nearly half a mile long, by the
same public conveyances that serve for the Rural.
This cemetery contains 50 acres, and is on the
same ridge with the Rural, and handsomely and
tastefully arranged. The Association was incor
porated May 9, 1867, with the following offi
cers: Right Rev. John J. Conroy, Rev. Edgar P.
Wadhams, Peter Cagger, Presidents; William S.
Preston, Secretary and Treasurer; John Tracey,
James Hall, William Cassidy, Thomas Mattimore,
John Stuart, Joseph Clinton, Robert Higgins, John
McCardle, John Mullen, Henry Lucke, Directors.
Thomas Kearney is Superintendent. The cemetery
grounds were consecrated on the 19th of May,
1867, by the Right Rev. Bishop Conroy, assisted by
the clergy of the city, in the presence of a large
assembly, who witnessed the solemn and impressive
ceremony. Anshe Emeth Cemetery adjoins the Rural Cem
etery on the northeast, and contains four acres.
It was first appropriated as a place of interment
for the Members of the Jewish Congregation, Anshe
Emeth. In 1862 it was surveyed into lots; and
in 1875 it was incorporated as a Cemetery Associa
tion. The grounds are arranged in excellent
taste, and general simplicity is observed in the
order of design, which adds much to the whole
appearance. The natural features in some respects
resemble those of the Rural, yet lack in the great
diversity and changeable character of surface.

This cemetery is reached by the Loudonville
plank road, also by the way leading to the Rural.
The officers are Joseph Sporberg, J. Laventall,
Isaac Waldman, S. Bonday. C. Tasler is Super
intendent. Other cemeteries are those of the Catholic
Congregations of St. Mary and St. Joseph, within
the bounds of the city on Washington avenue.
St. John's Catholic Church has a cemetery on
Delaware avenue, which has been used since
August 28, 1 84 1, and another near Bethelehem
centre. St. Patrick's Catholic Church has its cemetery on
the Albany and Schenectady Turnpike. St. John's
Evangelical Lutheran Society has one on the Sand
hill road, consecrated in 1846 and abandoned
about ten years later. The cemetery at the Alms
house is devoted to the burial of those who die
while in the institution or in the Penitentiary, and
the unclaimed dead of the streets and river.
St. Peter's Church occupies ground once devoted
to the burial of the early settlers. Lands near
Hudson and Grand, and on the corner near Howard
and South Pearl, were also used. Some years
after this a portion of Washington Park was used.
The people of the old town of Colonie had lands
given them by the Patroon for burial purposes on
Arbor Hill between Second and Third streets,
above Ten Broeck, where St. Joseph's Church now
stands. It was used about twenty years.
On the southwest corner of Hamilton and
South Pearl streets was the family burial ground
of the Halenbecks. The property was sold for taxes,
a portion of the proceeds being used for the pur
chase of a lot and monument in the Rural Cem
etery, to which their remains were removed in i860.
MOHAWK AND HUDSON RIVER RAIL
ROAD.
The cut on next page represents the style of the
first passenger train propelled by steam in America.
It was used on the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad
between Albany and Schenectady, the first success
ful railroad in this country for carrying passengers.
The charter for the building of this road was
granted by the Legislature March 27, 1826.
Stephen Van Rensselaer, the Old Patroon, was the
leading capitalist in what was then considered a
visionary scheme. Work upon its construction
began July 29, 1830, and may be said to have
been completed September 24, 183 1. An excur
sion over the road was then given by the Directors,
to which were invited State and city officials and
eminent citizens.
The cut used in connection with this article is
said to be a faithful representation of the train
used upon this occasion. The cars were simply
stage-coach bodies made by James Goold, the
famous coach-builder, and placed upon trucks for
temporary use, affording seats for twelve or .eighteen
passengers each. A speed at the rate of thirty miles
an hour was reached.
This road, as at first constructed, extended from
the junction of the Western Turnpike and Lydius

CITY BUILDINGS.

677

street in this city; and from this point, a distance of
twelve and a half miles, to the brow of the hill at
Schenectady. Both of these points were first reach
ed by stages, and afterward by an inclined plane,
which passengers were carried to the railroad sta
tions in a car drawn by a rope by means of a sta
tionary engine. The Albany Station was where

Van Vechten Hall now stands. Some years later
the grade of the road was so much reduced that
the inclined planes were done away with and the
road constructed over them. The use of the streets
for railway travel was opposed with varying success
by the Common Council and many citizens. The
starting point on the river was at Gansevoort street.

FIRST STEAM PASSENGER TRAIN IN AMERICA.

The Chief Engineer was John B. Jervis; the Resi
dent Engineer, John T. Clark, who acted as Con
ductor, and Fireman John Hampson.
The following were passengers on this memor
able trip: Governor Enos T. Throops, Senator
Charles E. Dudley, Comptroller Azariah C. Flagg,
Lieutenant-Governor Edward P. Livingston, Ex-
Governor Joseph C. Yates, Chancellor Reuben H.
Walworth, Stephen Van Rensselaer, Francis Blood
good, Joseph Alexander, John Meigs, Erastus Corn
ing, Lewis Benedict, John Townsend, Jesse Buel,
John I. Boyd, Thurlow Weed, William Bay, Sim
eon De Witt Bloodgood, William B. Winne, and
L. H. Tupper, of Albany; Samuel Swartwout,
Philip Hone and Jacob Hays, of New York; John
I. De Graff, Schenectady; David Mathews, builder,
and Churchill C. Cambreling, President of the road,
Railroad Men of To-day. — Albany has grown
to be a railroad center of great importance, and
furnishes employment to a large force of men in
this city. Among those deserving honorable men
tion are the following gentlemen, who form an
important element in Albany's industrial popula
tion, all of them connected with the New York
Central and Hudson River Railroad : P. H. Mann,
Ticket Agent for many years; Lyman F. Chamber
lain, Superintendent New York Central Sleeping
Car Company; S. H. Foster, Depot Master; E.
J. Graham, Secretary Bridge Department; G. W.
Gibbons, Freight Agent; C. B. Chittenden, Track
Superintendent; Joseph P. Morris, Baggage Agent;
I. N. Coley, Train Dispatcher ; J. H. Adams,
Isaac Soule and John Ternouth, connected with
the New York Central Locomotive Works.
The following are connected with the Boston
and Albany Railroad Company: J. B. Chapin,
Assistant Superintendent; William H. Russell, Jr.,
Division Superintendent; J. E. Doran, Master Car-
builder; William H. Fisher, Stock Agent; E. P.
Haley, Superintendent of Tracks; John T. Lozier,
Train Dispatcher; Thomas P. Purvis, Jr., Me
chanic. The following are connected with the Delaware
and Hudson Canal Company : C. W. Wentz,

Chief and Consulting Engineer ; F. C. Ward,
Paymaster ; Dudley Farlin, Assistant General
Freight Agent; Hamilton Patterson, Track-layer;
William K. Harcourt, Ticket Agent ; Joel W.
Burdick, Superintendent Telegraph ; C. D. Ham
mond, Superintendent Susquehanna Division.
CITY BUILDINGS.
THE Old City Hall stood on the site of the pres
ent City Hall. It was begun in 1 8 2 9, the ground
having been purchased of St. Peter's Church for
$10,259.95. August 31, 1830, the comer-stone
was laid by Mayor John Townsend with Masonic
ceremonies. The building was completed in 1832
at a total cost of about $92,000. It was a comely
and commodious structure, built of white marble,
with an entrance porch supported by four Doric
columns, simple in their classical dignity. On the
roof was a gilded dome, somewhat similar to the
present State Hall. There was but little of orna
mentation to the interior of the building, yet the
artistic was not wholly wanting. A full-length
statue of Alexander Hamilton stood in the center
of the upper hall, between the Court-room and the
Common Council Chamber. Upon one side of
this hall was a bas-relief of DeWitt Clinton, with a
view of the primitive canal-boat in the distance; and
on the opposite wall a similar figure of Sir Walter
Scott, in like style of art. The origin of the fire
that destroyed the building in February, 1880, is
among the unsolved mysteries. The most im
portant papers and other matters of value were
rescued from the flames.
NEW CITY HALL.
This building was erected in 1881-83 on the site
of the old City Hall. In architecture it is consid
ered one of the finest buildings in the State. H.
H. Richardson, distinguished as the architect of
Trinity Church, Boston, and as one of the Advisory
Board of Architects of the New Capitol, planned
the structure.

678

HLSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

CITY HALL.

The City Hall is built of reddish granite, trimmed
with Long Meadow brownstone, and is a free
treatment of Gothic from the South of France.
The tower, 202 feet, is divided into twelve stories,
for storing records. The cost, including furnishing,
etc., was $325,000, of which $290,000 was ob
tained by the issue of city bonds. The expense of
construction and maintenance is borne half by the
city and half by the county. This is considered by
some an unfair division, as the city is a part of the
county, bearing a larger share of the county's half.
The building was erected by a Commission, cre
ated by legislative act, consisting of the Mayor,
Michael N. Nolan; Chairman of the Board of Su
pervisors, Edward A. Maher; and Erastus Corning,
C. P. Easton, Robert C. Pruyn, Leonard G. Hun,
Albertus W. Beeker, and William Gould. It con
tains the county offices and all the city offices not

in the City Building. Next to the New Capitol, it
is the building which attracts most attention.
THE CITY BUILDING.
This building occupies the site of the old Centre
Market, corner South Pearl and Howard streets.
It was begun in 1868; is of the Lombardic style of
architecture, ornamented with a Mansard roof. It
is built of brick, faced with Lake Champlain lime
stone, at an expense of $200,000. It contains the
Police Court-room; City Court; offices of Overseer
of Poor, of the Park Commissioners and Engineer,
Fire and Police Commissioners, Fire Alarm Tele
graph, Chiefs of the Police and Fire Departments,
Property Clerk and Detectives; Second Precinct
Station House; the Rogues' Gallery; and the Ex
cise Commissioners.

SCHOOLS AND OTHER LITERARY INSTITUTIONS.

679

SCHOOLS AND OTHER LITERARY INSTITUTIONS.

UNION UNIVERSITY IN ALBANY.
IN 1767-68, Eleazer Wheelock, who conducted
an Indian charity school in Lebanon, Conn.,
decided to remove the school to some location
more central and better adapted for the purposes
intended. In his search for such a place he was
naturally attracted to Albany, which at this time
was one of the principal cities in the country and a
place of interest to the Indian tribes. The Common
Council of the city became interested in the estab
lishment of such an institution in the city, and
voted to raise $7, 500, to be devoted to the erection
of the necessary buildings, if located here. Several
letters were interchanged between Mayor Douw
and Mr. Wheelock relating to the subject, but for
some cause the project proved unsuccessful, and
the school was removed to Hanover, N. H., and
became the foundation of Dartmouth College in
1 769. This was the first movement toward a col
lege in Albany.
During 1779, when a project was started for the
incorporation of Clinton College at Schenectady, it
was represented in the preamble of the charter that
a large number of the respectable inhabitants of the
Counties of Albany, Tryon, and Charlotte were
heartily in favor of the erection of the college. The
Journals of the Legislature of 1779 show that the
petition upon which this charter was granted was
signed by eight hundred and fifty inhabitants of
Albany and Tryon Counties. The proposed incor
porators of this college contained the names of the
following citizens of Albany: Eilardus Westerlo,
Philip Schuyler, Robert R. Livingston, Abraham
Ten Broeck, Abraham Yates, Jr., Robert Yates,
John Cuyler, and Robert Van Rensselaer.
This early attempt at the founding of a college at
Schenectady, although it was unsuccessful, natu
rally led the way for the establishment of Union
College some years after, in the establishment of
which many Albanians took a prominent part.
Something of an effort was made to have it located
in Albany. In 1792 the Corporation resolved to
convey to Trustees, thereafter to be appointed, a
part of the public square in the city for the purposes
of a college, and a subscription was assured by the
citizens, with a view of carrying the project into
immediate effect. But the Regents of the Univer
sity decided upon Schenectady as the place. The
first Trustees of Union College, when founded,
February 25, 1795, contained the following names
of citizens of Albany: Robert Yates, Abraham Yates,
Jr., Abraham Ten Broeck, Goldsbrow Bany ar, John
V. Henry, George Merchant, Stephen Van Rensse
laer, and Joseph C. Yates. Albany has always
taken a great interest in this college. Its first Pres
ident, Rev. Dr. Eliphalet Nott, was called from
the pastorate of the First Presbyterian Church in

Albany, and other of the college instructors have
been taken from this city. Most of the Albany
boys who have received a collegiate education have
graduated from Union. The Albany Medical
School, Albany Law School, and Dudley Observa
tory, with Union College, now constitute Union
University.

Old Normal School.
The Albany State Normal School is the oldest of
its class in the State. It was established by legis
lative act May 7, 1884, as an experiment, and
opened with twenty-nine pupils December 18,
1844, in the old depot building of the Mohawk and
Hudson River Railroad Company, provided by the
city. The first principal was David B. Page, of
New Hampshire. The inception of the school
was by such minds as Samuel Young, Alonzo Pot
ter, Gideon Hawley and Francis Dwight. In
1848 the school was made a permanent institution,
and during this year a new building was erected
on Lodge street, at a cost of $25,000, and was
opened for pupils July 31, 1849. Ever since then
it has had an able corps of teachers, a large pa
tronage, and enjoyed the fullest confidence of the
State and of all friends of education. Mr. Page
died in 1848. His successors have been George
R. Perkins, in 1848; Samuel B. Woolworth, in
1852; David H. Cochran, in 1856; Oliver "Arey,
in 1864; Joseph Alden, in 1867; Edward P. Wa
terbury, in 1882. In 1885 the school was removed
to the new building on Willett street, facing Wash
ington Park, erected at a cost of $140,000. It is
built of freestone, of the Old Capital and Philadel
phia brick, 128 by 160 feet, court in center 50 by
90 feet, and will accommodate 670 pupils, includ
ing 400 normals, 200 in the model department,
50 in Kindergarten, and 20 in object class. The
building was designed by Ogden & Wright, Albany
architects. Since the establishment of the school,
2,850 scholars have been graduated, and more than
10,000 undergraduates 'have taught district schools.
The "Historical Sketch of the State Normal

680

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

School at Albany: a History of its Graduates for
Forty Years," prepared by President Waterbury, and
published in 1884, contains a proud record of the

work and the workers of the school, and a descrip
tion of the remarkably fine new building on Willett
street, with illustrations.

NEW NORMAL SCHOOL.

THE ALBANY LAW SCHOOL.
In 1851 the Legislature incorporated the Univer
sity of Albany, giving it authority to organize a
literary department, a law department and a sci
entific department, and providing that the Albany
Medical College, already existing, might, if so dis
posed, unite with the departments to be formed.
The literary department was never formed, and
the Scientific Department was confined to the Dud
ley Observatory, which has never been used for in
struction, but only for scientific work.
The department of law, however, was immedi
ately organized into the Albany Law School, and
has maintained a flourishing existence ever since,
having conferred diplomas on nearly two thousand
graduates, and having had on its rolls almost as
many more students who attended lectures for a
while without graduating.
At that time there were very few, if any, other
law schools in the country than the Law Depart
ments of Harvard, Yale and Cincinnati. There
are now of all grades something over fifty schools
and colleges where law is taught.
The first Board of Trustees was organized as fol
lows: President, Hon. Greene C. Bronson; Vice-
President, Thomas W. Olcott; Secretary, Orlando
Meads; Treasurer, Luther Tucker.
In 1855 Thomas W. Olcott became President,
and so continued till his death in 1880, when Or
lando Meads' succeeded him, and held that office

till his own death in 1883. Marcus T. Hun was
elected Secretary in 1880.
The first Faculty consisted of Hon. Ira Harris,
LL. D., who lectured on Practice, Pleading and
Evidence; Hon. Amasa J. Parker, LL.D., on
Real Estate, Wills, Criminal Law, Personal Rights,
and Domestic Relations; Amos Dean, LL.D., on
Personal Property, Contracts and Commercial Law.
For seventeen years the Professors continued to
constitute the Faculty till the death of Professor
Dean in 1869, followed by the resignation of Pro
fessor Parker in 1870, and the death of Professor
Harris in 1875.
Professors Harris and Parker were Justices of
the Supreme Court. Chancellor Reuben H.
Walworth at an early date became President of the
Faculty, but took no part in instruction. In 1856
the name of Amasa McCoy appears as Professor of
Rhetoric and Oratory, which position he filled for
several years.
Isaac Edwards, LL.D., succeeded to the chair
of Professor Dean; Hon. Mathew Hale, LL.D., to
that of Professor Parker; and C. T. F. Spoor, Esq. ,
to that of Professor Harris.
In 1870 a large accession was made to the ranks
of the students, and the Faculty was enlarged by
the addition of William L. Learned, LL.D., Jus
tice of the Supreme Court, who lectured on Equity,
Jurisprudence, Civil Law, and the Trial of Causes'-
and William F. Allen, LL.D., then Judge of the
Court of Appeals, who lectured on Real Estate.

SCHOOLS AND OTHER LITERARY INSTITUTIONS.

681

In 1873 the University of Albany united with
Union College to form Union University.
In 1874, Hon. John T. Hoffman, LL.D., Gov
ernor of the State of New York, was added to the
Faculty, as Professor of the Law of Real Property.
In 1878, Eliphalet N. Potter, D.D., LL.D, be
came lecturer on the Feudal System; Henry Cop-
pee, LL.D., on International Law; Hon. Henry
E. Sickles on Evidence; and C. T. F. Spoor,
Esq., on Practice and Pleading at Common Law
and under the Code.
In 1879 Professor Edwards died, and was suc
ceeded by Hon. Horace E. Smith, LL.D., as
Dean, and lecturer on Personal Property, Con
tracts, Commercial Law, Common Law, Pleading,
Torts, and Medical Jurisprudence. Henry S. Mc
Call, Esq. and Irving Browne, Esq., entered the
Faculty about this time, Professor McCall lecturing
on Real Estate and Wills, and Professor Browne
on Domestic Relations and Criminal Law.
Hon. Nathaniel C. Moak commenced to lecture
before the school in 1883 on Books and Judicial
Systems. Professor Dean published a History of Civilization;
Professor Edwards published several text-books,
one on Bailments, another on Bills and Promissory
Notes; and Professor McCall published a Form
Book, and a work on Real Estate. Professor
Sickles has long been Reporter of the Court of
Appeals. Professor Parker published a series of
Criminal Reports; Professor Browne edits the
Albany Law Journal, and has published several
text-books; Professor Moak has edited several le
gal text-books, and is publishing the English and
the American Reports; and Professor Coppee has
published a text-book on Logic and other works.
So that a vast amount of literary work has been
and is being done by the Professors of the Faculty.
Judge Parker survives and is a trustee, though no
longer a lecturer.
The first course of lectures was delivered in the
Exchange Building, on the site now occupied by
the Federal Building on the corner of State street
and Broadway, commencing the first of December,
1881, and continuing sixteen weeks. The two
following years the lectures were delivered in the
Cooper Building on the corner of State and Green
street, and continued for the same length of time.
In 1854, the south wing of the Medical College,
now Alumni Hall, was erected for the law school,
and the course was extended to two terms of twelve
weeks each. This arrangement continued until
1880, when a two years' course was adopted. Now,
to entitle a student to graduate with the degree of
LL.B., he must have attended two years at the
school, or one year of three full terms, preceded
or supplemented by a year of approved legal study
outside. The exercises of the school consist of about three
hundred and fifty lectures during the year; a week
ly oral examination; two Moot Courts each week
during most of the time; a written examination at
the close of each term; and every candidate for
graduation is required to read an original thesis
upon some legal topic before the Dean, or some

other member of the Faculty, and the school prior
to the close of the course.
On the accession of Profesor Smith, it was evident
to him that the building in the Medical College,
where lectures had been delivered for a quarter of
a century, was no longer suitable nor adequate to
the requirement of the school, and a new site was
found in the Universalist Church on the north side
of State street, above Swan, to which the school
was removed, and where it still remains. This
building, through the liberality of Thomas W. Ol
cott, Esq. , President of the Board of Trustees, was
converted into a pleasant and very convenient
building for school purposes. It was dedicated to
its new use on the evening of March 10, 1879,
when addresses were made by Hon. Amasa J.
Parker, LL.D., Hon. Samuel Handl, Charles E.
Smith, Esq., then editor of the Albany Evening
fournal, and Professor Smith.
The first class that attended the law school in
1 85 1, but graduated only seven in 1853, namely
Edwin E. Bronk, Charles A. Fowler, Worthington
Frothingham, Willard P. Gambell, John C. Mc
Clure, Edward Wade and George Walford, con
tained twenty-three members; in 1854 was fifty
members; in 1855-56, eighty-five; 1857-58, one
hundred and eight; in 1859-60, one hundred and
twenty-nine. These statistics are taken from a his
torical sketch, published in " The Concordiensis, "
for December, 1883, and probably include all
the students in attendance, many of whom did not
receive diplomas.
The official catalogue shows, of actual graduates,
in 1860-61, ninety; in 1861-62, fifty-seven; and in
1862-63, fifty-nine.
At the close of the war, the classes were larger
than ever before, one class numbering one hundred
and fifty members. At one time every rank in
the army, from Private up to Brigadier-General, was
represented among the students. For the last few
years the classes are smaller than formerly, which
is attributed to the great increase in the number of
law schools throughout the country.
The Almuni Association was organized in 1883
under favorable anspices, which has awakened new
interest in the school among the numerous gradu
ates scattered throughout the land.
The writer entered the law school in the fall of
i860. At that time the three original Professors
were there. Most of the instruction was given by
Professor Dean,and all the routine work of the school
fell to him, as well as the conduct of the Moot
Courts, which were then, and are still, a part of the
school system. We had then, the Kent Club, which
still survives, after all the changes of nearly thirty
years ago, when it was first organized, the Mans
field Club, and the Associated Congress, both of
which are now defunct. It was during our time
that Judge Harris was elected to the United States
Senate. In the following spring, at the outbreak of the
Rebellion, a drill company of the students was
organized under the Captaincy of William P. Pren
tice. Many of the members afterwards joined the
army,

682

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

No record is found of any earlier clubs than
those above named, but a year or two later we
find mention of the Webster Club; and in 1872 of
the University Court, Edwards, Allen, and 290
Clubs; University Lyceum, Literary Association, and
Associated Congress. The Kent Club is not men
tioned in this list, although it was subsequently
revived, or else another bearing the same name,
which stands on the present list, along with the
Learned, the Smith Debating, the McCall Real Es
tate, the Edwards Moot Court, and the Sickles Moot
Court Clubs.
The present attendance is about fifty students,
and the Faculty consists of Learned, Smith, Presi
dent Potter, Hale, McCall, Spoor, Sickles, Brown
and Moak.

It is considered one of the best law schools in
the country.
DUDLEY OBSERVATORY.
The Dudley Observatory is located in the north
ern part of the city, near the line of the Central
Railroad. The grounds on which it is placed are
the highest in Albany, and are 200 feet above mean
tide. They are about eight acres in extent, and are
planted with trees and shrubbery. The buildings
consist of the Astronomical, the Meteorological and
the Physical Observatories, and a large dwelling-
house, the official residence of the director. The
Astronomical Observatory is a handsome structure
of brick and freestone, in the general form of a cross,

^^^!M

DUDLEY OBSERVATORY.

80 by 70 feet. It is surmounted by a large revolv
ing turret, which contains the great equatorial re
fractor of 13-inches aperture, and 15-feet focal
length. In the west wing of the Observatory is a
large and excellent transit instrument, which is
among the latest productions of the celebrated firm
of Pistor & Martins, of Berlin. In the east wing is
the great Olcott meridian circle, one of the largest
and finest of its class. This instrument is also the
work of Pistor & Martins. Its optical qualities are
not exceeded by any similar instrument in the
world. The object-glass is eight inches in diam
eter, and the telescope is about ten feet in length.
The mounting of this instrument is specially massive
and costly. Its principal feature consists in three
enormous monoliths of limestone, of which one,
weighing several tons, forms the cap-stone of the
main pier, while the other two, weighing each
nearly eight tons, rest upright upon this and serve
as the direct supports of the instrument. In the
same room is a variety of delicate and costly appa
ratus auxiliary to the principal instrument, which
is in constant use for the most refined operations of
astronomy, and employs the chief activities of the
observing corps. Among other remarkable instru
ments belonging to the Observatory are the Sheutz
tabulating engine, the Clark comet-seeker, the disk
and printing chronographs, astronomical clocks,
self-recording meteorological instruments, etc. The

Observatory also possesses an astronomical library
of about 2,000 volumes, besides numerous pam
phlets and charts.
This institution was founded by the munificence
of Mrs. Blandina Dudley, widow of the late Hon.
Charles E. Dudley, and leading citizens of Albany.
The act of incorporation was secured in 1852. The
Observatory building was formally dedicated to as
tronomy in August, 1856, under the auspices of
the American Association for the Advancement of
Science (which that year held its annual session
in this city), and in the presence of many distin
guished men of science from abroad. Geological
Hall had been opened on the previous day. The
address commemorating the inauguration of the
Dudley Observatory was delivered in the Academy
Park by Edward Everett, and has since become
celebrated as a fine specimen of American oratory.
Previous to the delivery of the address, an addi
tional gift of $50,000 to the Observatory was unex
pectedly announced from Mrs. Dudley, whereupon
Professor Agassiz, who was seated on the platform
arose, and, delightedly swinging his hat, proposed^
in trumpet tones: "Three cheers for Mrs. Dud
ley 1 " It is needless to say that the audience was
electrified, and warmly responded to the summons.
The total donations to the Observatory up to the
present time exceed $200,000. Of this sum, Mrs.
Dudley gave $105,000. More than $100,000 have

SCHOOLS AND OTHER LLTERARY INSTITUTIONS.

683

been expended in buildings and equipment, and
about $100,000 is safely invested as a permanent
fund for the support of the institution.
Since 1878, the astronomical operations of the
Observatory have experienced a new impulse, in
the zone work, which has been undertaken in co
operation with European observatories, under the
general direction of the International Astronomical
Society. In aid of this enterprise, considerable do
nations have been made by citizens of Albany and
others. From the normal clock of the Observatory, stand
ard time is furnished to the various railroad and
telegraph offices in this vicinity. At 9 a.m. and 9
p. m. the fire bells of the city are struck in coinci
dence with a signal from the Observatory clock, by
the Fire Alarm Telegraph Service. At noon each
day, the standard time of the Observatory is trans
mitted over the lines of the Delaware and Hudson
Canal Company's system of railroads, and also over
some of the Western Union telegraph lines. There
is also a system of clocks controlled electrically
from the Observatory.

Among the distinguished astronomers who have
been in charge of this Observatory are Dr. B. A.
Gould, now Chief Astronomer of the Argentine
Confederation, South America; Professor O. M.
Mitchel, who afterwards died in 1862, Major-Gen
eral of a corps U. S. Volunteers; and Dr. Brunnow,
since Astronomer-Royal of Ireland. The present
Astronomer and Director is Professor Lewis Boss,
a graduate of Dartmouth College. The manage
ment of the Observatory is intrusted to a board of
sixteen Trustees. The Observatory is opened Tues
day evenings, when visitors are admitted in limited
numbers.
THE ALBANY ACADEMY.
In the summer of 1780, the question of erecting
an Academy in the city occupied much of the at
tention of the Common Council, and in September
of that year the matter had proceeded so far that
proposals were accepted by George W. Merchant,
of Philadelphia, to take charge of the same in
school-rooms which had been fitted up for the

ALBANY ACADEMY.

Academy until more convenient buildings could be
erected. These school-rooms were in the house
occupied by Mr. Ryckman.
As early as 1804, the citizens of Albany held a
meeting to devise ways and means to establish an
Academy, but without immediate results. Again in
1806 the agitation was renewed, only to be again
abandoned or deferred. At last in November, 18 12,
notwithstanding the war with England, then just
commencing, under the auspices of Philip S.Van
Rensselaer, then Mayor of the city, the movement
was resumed, and January 18, 18 13, the Common
Council called a meeting of citizens to beheld at the
Capitol on January 25th. -It also appropriated the
old jail, on the south side of State street, just below
Eagle street, now the site of Van Vechten Hall,

then valued at $15,000; also about $5,000 of other
property. The institution was incorporated March 4, 1813,
by the Regents of the University. The first Board of
Trustees was composed of Stephen Van Rensselaer,
John Lansing, Archibald Mclntyre, Smith Thomp
son, Abraham Van Vechten, John V. Henry, Henry
Walton, Rev. Wm. Niell, Rev. John M. Bradford,
Rev. John McDonald, Rev. Timothy Clowes, Rev.
John Mcjimpsey, Rev. Frederic G. Meyer, Rev.
Samuel Merwin, and the Mayor and Recorder of
Albany, ex officio. The Trustees held their first
meeting March 23, 18 13.
The Common Council donated the site where
the Academy building now stands, between Elk
street and the Capitol Park. They also appropriated

684

HLSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

funds for the building, and further grants were
made by the Regents of the University and by
private citizens.
On July 29, 181 5, the corner-stone was laid, and
the building was erected within the two following
years at a cost of $90, 000. Some of the inside work
however was not finished till many years later. It
is a handsome freestone structure, consisting of a
main building 70 by 80 feet, with wings on each
end 30 by 45 feet; with a cupola surmounting
the central portion of the main building.
Meanwhile the school opened temporarily, in a
large wooden building owned by Kilian Van Rens
selaer, on the southeast corner of State and Lodge
streets. Hereon the nth of September, 18 15, the
first session was held, under the presidency of Ben
jamin Allen, LL.D., then recently from Cam
bridge, and previously from Union College. The
Principal and Rev. Joseph Shaw, Professor of
Languages, together with Trustees Niell, Beck and
Sedgwick, welcomed the first students to the Acad
emy. There were about eighty enrolled that year.
The Faculty was soon afterwards augmented by
the accession of Moses Chapin, afterwards Judge
Chapin, of Rochester, as tutor.
In August, 1 81 7, Theodoric Romeyn Beck,
M. D. , LL.D., was appointed principal, and con
tinued to hold that office till 1848, with the excep
tion of the period from 1841 to 1844, when Rev.
Andrew Shiland acted-as Principal. At the accession
of Dr. Beck, the present building was occupied, in
September, 18 17. It was during Dr. Beck's time
that the events occured which have made the Al
bany Academy world-renowned. He was born at
Schenectady in 1 79 1 ; graduated at Union College
in 1807; and, at the time of his accession to the
principalship, he was a practicing physician in Al
bany. He combined extensive erudition with a
rare faculty as an educator. His especial delight
was in chemical, geological and meteorological
studies, and he organized courses of lectures oh
chemistry which were largely attended by citizens
as well as students. He and his brother, John B. ,
published the work on " Medical Jurisprudence,"
which has ever since been a standard authority, and
is still referred to, notwithstanding the great ad
vance in science during the generation that has
passed since its publication. He also took great
interest in the State Library, and contributed largely
by his efforts in building it up to its present stage
of usefulness. Another brother, Lewis C. Beck, was
for a time Professor of Chemistry, and author of a
text-book of that science, and of several other works.
But it was reserved for Joseph Henry, LL. D. , Pro
fessor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy from
1826 to 1832, to make within the historic walls a
discovery of more profound significance and far-
reaching results than almost any other — that of the
possibility of conducting the electric curent through
long distances, and transmitting signals which
could be understood by a mere touch of the key at
the other, perhaps distant, end of a wire. In 1830,
and subsequent years, he coiled in an upper room
of the Academy a mile or more of wire, and for the
first time transmitted through it those electric sig

nals which have since become so well known
wherever the electric telegraph extends; and where
does it not ? Professor Henry afterwards organized
the Smithsonian Institution at Washington.
Rev. Peter Bullions, D.D., was Professor of Latin
and Greek from 1824 to 1848. He published a
series of Latin and Greek . text-books which were
extensively used, and have passed through numerous
editions, being still preferred by many educators to
any other. His style is clear and simple, and easy
to grasp and remember. He adopted the continental
system of pronouncing Latin.
In 1823, and for several years subsequently, four
boys each year were promoted from the Lancas
terian school and educated in the Academy.
Since 1836, when H. W. Delavan died, and left
by will $2,000 to the Academy, the income of this
sum has been used to educate five poor boys from
year to year, no one receiving the benefit of the
fund for a longer period than two years. The in
come now suffices only to educate one or two boys.
Some of the most brilliant of the Academy Alumni
have been beneficiaries of this fund.
The medal system too, dates from the Beck
regime. In 1831, William Caldwell gave $100,
the income of which was to be devoted each year
to the purchase of a medal for the student of four
years' standing who has made the greatest profi
ciency in mathematics. The first recipient was
William Austin. In 1832, the record says " no
public examination in consequence of the preva
lence of the cholera. " We thus learn that the origi
nal design was to determine the question of pro
ficiency by examination ; but this method had fallen
into disuse at the time the writer first became an
academician, in 1854, and the four medals that
were thereafter distributed were given without
any explanation of the method, and were gen
erally supposed to be awarded in conformity
with the notion of the Principal, except the Beck
medal for literary essay, which was awarded by a
committee. The original method of examination
has now been restored, and the number and variety
of awards at the annual exercises is bewilderingly
great. Competition for the earlier medals was
limited to students who had been for three or four
years in attendance, and as students used to publish
burlesque programmes, this was spoken of in these
burlesques as a distribution of medals for long at
tendance. From the time of the first occupancy ot the
Academy building, the Albany Institute has had
a room there, where meetings are held twice a
month, and the Institute library is kept
The later Principals have been Rev. William H.
Campbell, 1848-51; George H. Cook, A. M,
1851-53; Rev. William A. Miller, A. M., 1853-
56; David Murray, Ph.D., LL.D., 1856-63; James
W. Mason, A. M., 1863-68; Rev. Abel Wood
1869-70; Merrill E. Gates, Ph.D., LL.D., 1870-82!
In 1856, the merit roll system of marks and
grading was adopted, and has continued ever since.
For a long time prior to 1858, the records show
no graduating class, and but very rarely a diploma
conferred. In that year a class of six was gradu-

SCHOOLS AND OTHER LITERARY INSTITUTIONS.

685

ated, and from that time on, graduating classes
have been the order of the Academy. This first
class, given in the order of the catalogue, which is
a transcript from the merit roll, consisted of Will
iam H. Hale, Charles E. Smith, Edward S. Lawson,
Thomas M. Gaffney, Thaddeus R. White, and
Thomas S. Willes.
In the spring of 1862, the Academy was con
verted into a military school, with cadet uniform
and drill.
A semi-centennial celebration was held at
Tweddle Hall, June 26, 1863, which was presided
over by Peter Gansevoort, for fifty-one years a
Trustee, and. for twenty-one years President of the
Board of Trustees. Prayer was offered by Rev.
Dr. Isaac Ferris, Chancellor of the University of
New York, formerly a Tutor in the Academy. Valu
able historical addresses were made by Orlando
Meads, Esq., and Alexander W. Bradford, LL.D.,
both former students. A commemorative volume
was also published, containing a list of all former
students, believed to be complete, except for the
years 1839-47, in which there is some confusion
of the records.
The Academy was formerly inclosed by a high
iron fence, which has within a few years been re
moved, and the Park neatly laid out in conformity
with the modern ideas of landscape gardening.
Many historic associations cluster around this
Park. It was here, in August, 1856, under the
auspices of the American Association for the Ad
vancement of Science, that the Dudley Observatory
was dedicated, with the immortal address by Ed
ward Everett. Here, too, in 1864, was held the
Sanitaiy Fair for the benefit of the Union army.
Between six and seven thousand students have at
one time or another been enrolled on the lists of
the Academy. Its instructors have numbered over
one hundred and thirty, not counting repeated
names. Many, both teachers and pupils, have be
come eminent.
From the original complement of two, the
Faculty has increased in number to fourteen,
under the direction of James M. Cassety, Ph.D.,
the present Principal, who entered into the office
in 1882. The number of students on the catalogue
of 1884 was 322, said to be the largest attendance
in the history of the institution.
A notable circumstance is the drafts which
Rutgers College has made upon the Principals,
she having called Campbell and Gates to the pres
idency, and Cook and Murray to professorships.
Principals Beck and Murray have been Secre
taries to the Regents of the University of the State
of New York, and Presidents of the Albany Insti
tute.. The hours of instruction have always been, as
now, from nine o'clock until two.
There were no literary societies until September
28, 1849, when Principal Campbell called a meet
ing of some of the older boys, and a few who had
but recently left the Academy, and suggested to
them the desirability of organizing a society. The
students thus assembled, thirty-two in number,
formed the Alpha Sigma society, taking their name

from the Greek letters which form the initials of the
words Anthropoi Sophoi, wise people. This society
is said, however, to have had some other motto
with the same initials. Possibly as the lads matured
they concluded to adopt the better Greek oi Andres
Sophoi, wise men. The first president was John
T. McKnight; one of the presidents subsequently
was John E. McElroy. To this society was
entrusted the management of the Academy's semi
centennial. Very few new members were ever
elected, and the membership dwindled to about
sixteen in 1871, when the last meeting of which
there is any record was held on December 26th,
and William Headlam was elected president.
Since these lines were written, on January 8, 1885,
the society reconvened.
The Phi Mu Alpha (Phren Metron Andros) was
founded November 26, 1851, and its first meeting
held December 5th of the same year. Its first presi
dent was J. Campbell Boyd. The last meeting re
corded was held in March, 1855, and the last
president was William Lansing. In those days,
the society's desk, with the Greek letters inscribed
on it, stood in the school-room, and proved a per
plexing mystery to the boys who were not initiated.
The Delta Sigma Gamma (Demokratikos Sullogos
Grammatos) originated about 1853 or 1854, and
continued to meet regularly till about i860.
The longest lived society in connection with the
Academy was organized December n, 1857, and
continues to the present day. As a name for it, Nu
Lambda Epsilon (Neanion Logike Ekklesid), Youth's
Debating Society, was adopted. A few years later
this was changed to the Beck Literary Society, and
the days of the Greek letter societies were numbered.
The first president was William H. Fassett, another
name which has become celebrated by the renown
of the lady whom he afterwards married, who ac
quired great celebrity as a contralto singer. This
society was developed out of a prior organization
called the Young American Assembly, which used to
co-operate with the Young American Senate till the
latter broke up and left the Assembly to become a
literary instead of a political union. Among the
leading members of the Young American Senate
should be named its first president, Charles E.
Smith, who there learned the elements of that
political skill which in later life made him the
framer of numerous political platforms at the Con
ventions of the Republican party.
The Nu Lambda Epsilon, or Beck Literary So
ciety, was the only society in the Academy for
nearly a quarter of a century — not reckoning the
Alpha Sigma, whose members were no longer school
boys — till the Gates Literary Society was founded
September 24, 1883, with Edmund C. Knicker
bocker as first president, and it now divides with
the elder organization the honors of the Academy.
ALBANY FEMALE ACADEMY.
A school for the higher education of Albany
girls was started in this city, mainly through the
efforts of Ebenezer Foot, a prominent lawyer of
his day. It was opened on May 21, 18 14, in

686

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

a one-story building on Montgomery street, and
known as Union School. It was incorporated,
under the title of the Albany Female Academy,

nmm'J^-i'

Female Academy.

February 16, 182 1. The first Board of Trus
tees were James Kent, John Chester, Joseph
Russell, John V. Henry, Asa H. Center, Gideon
Hawley, William Fowler, Teunis Van Vechten
and Peter Boyd, who in the same year built a
school building, in the rear of the Delavan House,
at a cost of $3,000, capable of accommodating 120
pupils. The growth of the institution more than
met the expectation of its early friends. In 1833,
the school building was again outgrown by the
increasing number of its pupils, when the present
edifice on North Pearl street was begun. It was fin
ished in 1834 at a cost of $30,000, and opened May
12, 1834. Its architecture was planned by Jonathan
Lyman, and was pleasing in effect and well adapt
ed to its uses. The front faces the east, and is
ornamented with a beautiful hexa-style portico of
the Ionic order. The proportions of the columns,
capitals, bases and entablature are taken from the
temple on the Ilissus, the most beautiful example
of the Ionic among the remains of antiquity.
The first principal was Horace Goodrich, who was
succeeded by Edwin James, and then, in 181 5, by
Lebbeus Booth, who remained until 1824, when
Frederick Matthews came in charge. Alonzo
Crittenden succeeded Mr. Matthews in 1826, and
remained as principal until 1845, during which
period the success of the Academy was remarkable.
He was a pioneer in advanced female education in
America. L. Sprague Parsons was Mr. Critten
den's successor, remaining at the head of the school
until his resignation in 1854, when he was suc
ceeded by Eben S. Stearns, who resigned in 1868.
Miss Caroline G. Greeley became, for a brief term,
his successor. Miss Louisa Ostrom soon after be
came principal, and remained as such until 1879,
since which time, with a short intermission, it has
been under the management of Miss Lucy A.
Plympton, who has advanced its high character.
The Academy is now in a flourishing condition.
The corps of professors and teachers is full and
efficient. The course of study extends from the
kindergarten through a post-graduate course, in
clusive of elocution, music, drawing and painting.

It is the oldest institution in the world devoted ex
clusively to the higher education of women. The
Presidents of the Board of Trustees have been
James Kent, John Chester, Isaac Ferris, Greene C.
Bronson, John Ludlow,' John W. Campbell, Will
iam L. Marcy, Amasa J. Parker, and William L.
Learned. Miss Lucy A. Plympton, the present
judicious and energetic principal since 1879, is a
native of Massachusetts and a graduate of a leading
female college in New Hampshire.
CONVENT AND ACADEMY OF THE SA
CRED HEART.
The Right Rev. John McCloskey, Bishop of Al
bany, desirous of procuring the advantages of high
er education for the Catholic young ladies of his
diocese, made application for religieuse, in 1853, to
the Mother House of the Ladies of the Sacred
Heart, at Paris, France. These religieuse had a
high reputation for learning and refined culture.
His request was granted, and the Rev. Mother
Hardy, the Provincial for the United States, by
the direction of the Mother-General, sent Mothers
Jennings and Dunn, with several companions, from
the convent at Manhattanville to found an Acad
emy and School at Albany.
Upon their arrival in the city, they opened a
boarding and day school in the Westerlo Mansion
at No. 4 1 North Pearl street. The pupils increased
so rapidly that it was found necessary to provide
more ample accommodation for them; and, for
this purpose, the extensive and beautiful grounds
of Thomas Hillhouse, on the Troy road, were pur
chased. The building was altered and fitted up for an
academy, and the pupils and the religieuse took
possession of their new home.
In 1858, the magnificent residence of Joel Rath
bone, situated on the Bethlehem Turnpike, near
the village of Kenwood, was offered for sale.
The house, which had been lately erected, was
elegant and commodious, and attached to it were
forty acres of land, laid out in gardens, groves and
flower-beds. The Ladies of the Sacred Heart, deeming the
site very desirable for an academy, on account of
its situation, commanding, as it does, for several
miles a charming landscape of the Hudson and
its valley, by the permission of Bishop McCloskey,
requested the Very Rev. J. J. Conroy and Mr.
John Tracey to purchase it for them.
The purchase was accordingly made for the sum
of $45,000.
The property on the Troy road was sold, and
the academy and school were removed to Ken
wood. The house of Mr. Rathbone, though large, soon
became inadequate for the daily increasing num
ber of applicants for admission to the academy.
In 1 8 56, a large building was erected, affording
accommodation for about two hundred pupils.
On account of the retired and quiet situation of
the convent at Kenwood, Rev. Mother Hardy con
sidered it particularly adapted to the training and

SCHOOLS AND OTHER LITERARY INSTITUTIONS.

687

formation of novices and young religieuses. She
therefore resolved to remove the novitiate from
Manhattanville to Albany.
The original dwelling of Mr. Rathbone was
taken down, and the materials incorporated into a
large wing to serve as the novitiate and training
academy for those young ladies who wished to
consecrate themselves to God as religieuses of the
Sacred Heart
There are usually in this building about fifty
novices. To provide chapel room for the sisters and pu
pils, Mother Hardy erected a large and beautiful
chapel. It is situated in the center of the building
between the academy and novitiate. It is of Goth
ic architecture, and the interior is elegantly carved
and decorated. There are three beautiful marble
altars, the gifts of friends to the academy.
The convent is situated on the brow of a hill, and
presents a river front of three hundred and ten feet.
It is heated by steam and has all the modern im
provements for cooking, laundry purposes, etc.
The convent and the grounds around it are laid
out with great taste. The buildings are estimated
to have cost over $200,000.
On the grounds, at some distance from the acad
emy, is a large and commodious school-house,
in which one hundred and sixty children receive a

gratuitous education in all branches usually taught
in the common schools.
In the academy the young lady pupils are in
structed in all branches of higher and refined mod
ern education.
Numbered among its Superiors are the Rev.
Mothers Hardy, Jones, Thompson, Peacock, Hen-
ratty, Dunn, Fowler, Hogan and O'Rorke.
For several years the Ladies of the Sacred Heart
conducted a day school in the city. Their first
day academy was opened corner of Broadway
and Wilson street. They afterwards removed
to 766 Broadway, and in 1868 purchased the
mansion of the late Thurlow Weed, on Beaver
street. They had a daily attendance of one hun
dred scholars.
In 1 87 1, to the great regret of the Catholics of
Albany, their day school was closed, and was
merged into the academy at Kenwood.
ST. AGNES' SCHOOL.
This school was founded in 1870 by the Right
Rev. William Croswell Doane, Bishop of Albany,
for the education of Christian women. The Corn
ing Foundation for Christian Work was incorpo
rated March 14, 1871; the ground for the building
erected on this foundation was broken May 8th,

ST. AGNES' SCHOOL

and the corner-stone laid June 19, 1871. It was
modeled after St. Mary's Hall, Burlington, N. J.
The school was opened Hallowe'en, 1872.
The financial basis of this worthy institution was
laid by the Hon Erastus Corning, Sr. In all its
appointments this worthy institution is success
fully carrying out its noble purpose, the training
of our girls into the learning and character de
manded in an intelligent, Christian womanhood in
this age. Its situation is admirable; its guardian
ship and teaching judicious. The building accom
modates no with board and lodging; its gradu
ates number over 225; its annual attendance is
about 200 pupils. Its trustees are Rt. Rev. Bishop

William C. Doane, S.T.D., LL.D., Erastus Corn
ing, Walter A. Wood, Thomas Hun, James G.
Averill, Selden E. Marvin, Amos P. Palmer, Abra
ham Van Vechten and Erastus Corning, Jr.
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS' ACADEMY,
132 State street, was founded in 1864, and incor
porated by the University Regents of New York,
August 3, 1869. The object of the institution
is to train young men for business or college life.
Besides the ordinary training, it offers a purely
moral and religious education to its students.
Though attended mainly by Catholics, yet no ob-

688

HLSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

jection is made to the reception of students of other
denominations, who are, however, obliged to as
sist at the religious instructions given.
The course of studies in the academic depart
ment embraces rhetoric, essay-writing, literature,
debate, extempore speaking, oratory, algebra,
geometry, trigonometry, surveying, navigation, cal
culus, Latin, German or French, architectural and
ornamental design, and the duties of a Christian.
The commercial course, specially adapted to
prepare young men for mercantile pursuits, em
braces arithmetic, penmanship, reading, grammar,
composition, phonography, book-keeping, German
and plan-drawing.
Many of its former students at present rank
high in the ecclesiastical and legal professions,
both in this city and elsewhere.
The staff consists of six members of the order of
Christian Brothers, and several secular professors.
ALBANY BUSINESS COLLEGE
is located at 51 and 53 North Pearl street, Car-
nell & Carhart, proprietors. C. E. Carhart, Pres
ident, J. R. Carnell, Business Manager. Fac
ulty, C. E. Carhart, J. R. Carnell, E. G. Folsom,
B. H. Spencer, C. H. Gorsline, B. S. Hoit, O.
Hazelton. This institution is devoted to the practical educa
tion of young men and women, and was establish
ed by Bryant & Stratton, January 1, 1857, as one
of their system of business colleges then and
now located in every important city in the Union.
No change of location has occurred in the his
tory of the college, and but few in its management,
Prof. E. G. Folsom, who may be said to be the
father of the present system of business colleges,
after several years' experience in teaching book
keeping and penmanship at Cleveland, Ohio, came
to Albany in 1862, where he remained as an
earnest and successful commercial teacher until
1884. He was the first to introduce commercial
law in the curriculum of business studies; the first
to add political economy and business ethics;
among the first, if not the first, to introduce the
modern system of actual practice into the course
of instruction. As an author, Mr. Folsom is wide
ly known. His ' ' Logic of Accounts " is a work
of recognized merit among business educators.
Mr. Folsom was born May 1, 182 1, in Ashtabula
County, Ohio, and graduated from Oberlin College
in 1847. Bryant and Stratton were Prof. Folsom's
pupils in his Mercantile College at Cleveland, Ohio.
Mr. Folsom was associated as proprietor, with
Bryant & Stratton until 1866, and from 1878 to
1884 with C. E. Carhart, at which time he dis
posed of his interest to J. R. Carnell, who was, for
ten years, proprietor of the Troy Business College,
the two gentlemen last mentioned being now the
college proprietors.
During the twenty-nine years of its existence,
the Albany Business College has had upon its rolls
the names of some five thousand pupils; and to
day its representatives may be found in every line
of honorable occupation. The branches taught

embrace book-keeping by single and double entry,
arithmetic, penmanship, correspondence, bus
iness practice, spelling, reading, grammar, ste
nography, type-writing, telegraphy and commer
cial law. Mr. Carhart's text-book on "Business
Law " has long been recognized as a standard work
on that subject.
The annual attendance at the day and evening
sessions of the college now averages three hundred
pupils.
CHAUTAUQUA LITERARY AND SCIEN
TIFIC CIRCLE.
There is a branch of the Chautauqua Lite
rary and Scientific Circle in Albany, formed in
1880 by Mrs. J. B. Jump, and Misses Gussie
Lord, Anna K. Staats, Ada Viele and Eva Ken
nedy. During the first year, and since, lectures
have been given by Rev. Dr. J. H. Vincent, the
founder of the institution, and others. Regular
meetings are held at which literary subjects are
discussed. It now numbers about seventy-five
members. Its exercises are of great literary ad
vantage to its members. It includes a course of
study, which contemplates a graduating diploma
when completed.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
The Industrial School, on Beaver street, near Dan
iel, is under the care of the Children's Friend Soci
ety, which was organized in 1856, and incorporated
April 7, 1863. The managers seek to gather into
the school, vagrant children who, from poverty or
vice of parents, are unable to attend the public
schools, and to instruct them in morals, industry
and the elements of learning. Girls are received
between the ages of four and fifteen; boys, four
to fourteen. The school is supported by individual
and church contributions and sales of articles.
Number of scholars, 160. The new building
cost, including ground, $15,500; was completed
and dedicated in the spring of 1884; and is free
from debt.
NEW YORK STATE LIBRARY.
The New York State Library was founded by
act of the Legislature, passed April 21, 18 18.
The Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Chancellor,
and Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court for the
time being, were constituted a Board of Trustees
who were directed to cause to be fitted up some
proper room in the Capitol, for the purpose of
keeping therein a public library for the use of the
government and the people of the State. The
Trustees of this period had mainly in view the col
lection of an extensive library of law books, and a
great proportion of the appropriations were ex
pended for this department The Legislature, how
ever, needed for consultation works on political
economy, and books on such other subjects that
touched upon their legislative labor, and thus the
field for collection was gradually enlarged. For

SCHOOLS AND OTHER LITERARY INSTITUTIONS.

689

thirty years the library continued under the con
trol of the officers above mentioned as Trustees (to
whom, in 1824, were added the Secretary of State,
Attorney-General, and Comptroller), and its mag
nitude and importance then made it necessary that
a more permanent Board of Trustees should be in
trusted with its management. Accordingly, on the
4th of May, 1844, the Legislature enacted that the
Regents of the University should be the Trustees
of this library. Upon assuming this trust they
caused an inventory of the library to be taken, and
its whole arrangement was reconstructed. One
result of the inventory was the discovery that three
hundred and eleven volumes were missing, some
of which, however, were recovered by advertising.
It was determined to be important to secure for
the State every historical work illustrating Ameri
can history, and especially the history of New
York. The growth of the library has been a steady
one, depending on a moderate annual appropria
tion, which has heen increased some years for the
special purpose of large collections. Among such
notably was the Warden collection in 1843, made
by David B. Warden in Europe, numbering over
two thousand volumes relating to American history.
In 1853, the Legislature authorized the purchase
of the correspondence and other papers of George
Clinton, the first Governor of the State. These
manuscripts are of the highest importance, cover
ing the period of the Revolutionary War, and
illustrating the part taken by New York in the
struggle for independence. They have been bound
in twenty-three folio volumes, and a calendar since
added. A copious index to all names mentioned
in these papers is now in preparation. Enough of
other Clinton manuscripts have since been pro
cured to fill ten similar volumes. The papers
found on the person of Major Andre by his captors
at Tarrytown, were among the Clinton manuscripts,
and have been framed and put under glass. The
papers of Sir William Johnson, covering a period
of the history of Central New York from 1738 to
1 774, were also purchased and arranged, and bound
in twenty-two folio volumes.
In 1854 the library was removed to a new build
ing, west of the old Capitol, constructed by the
direction of the Legislature of 185 1. It was in
tended to be fire-proof, and was so considered be
fore the great fires of Chicago and Boston. It was
intended to accommodate 100,000 volumes; it
had, before the removal to the new Capitol, packed
and padded on the shelves, over 125,000 volumes,
besides scores ofvolumes of atlases and thousands
of duplicate books for exchange. The duplicate
volumes are chiefly the reports of the several de
partments of the State Government and Institutions,
and books presented to the library from time to
time by various persons. In order to make room
for preparing the approach to the new Capitol on
the east, it was decided to take down the building.
The library was removed during the months of
September and October, 1 883, to the new Capitol,
the law library occupying the well-known golden
corridor and the general library the adjoining room,
formerly prepared for the Court of Appeals. This

is inadequate to afford shelf-room for all the books,
but nearly all are accessible to the public. Ample
rooms are in process of preparation on the third
floor of the west side of the Capitol.
The library of to-day represents the best thoughts
of the human mind and the record of human ac
tion for the last six thousand years. While every
department of letters is represented on the shelves,
yet the library is by far the richest in works relating
to American history. Hundreds of books have been
printed in this country in the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries, of the editions of which not
twenty copies remain undestroyed. Quiet, unre
mitting watchfulness and care for the past thirty
years have succeeded in gathering in most of these
publications, so that few libraries on this continent
are richer in early Americana. The library does
not seek literary curiosities as such; but when a
book is offered which is needed to complete the
set of laws, or illustrate the history of the State, it
is obtained, as when, in the spring of 1880, $1,600
was paid at auction for the first book of the laws of
the State, of which but two or three perfect copies
are known to be in existence. The library con
tains, in addition to these rare or almost unique
volumes, many illustrated volumes of travels, of
natural history, and of ancient and modern art.
Among these are " Kingsborough's Mexican Antiq
uities," the text of which is mainly in the Spanish
and Italian languages; the great work on Egypt,
in twelve folio volumes, executed under orders of
Napoleon I; "Audubon's Birds of America," in
four volumes, elephant folio; and twenty volumes
illustrating the humming birds of Central and South
America. The leading journals of France and
England are represented in almost complete files
of the Moniteur and London Times. Sixty thou
sand pamphlets have been preserved, to illustrate
everj- phase of human industry, eccentricity, passion,
patriotism, stupidity, or genius, The collection
of American genealogies is, perhaps, unsurpassed
by any other country. About three thousand vol
umes of specifications and drawings of English
patents are stored on the shelves, besides those of
the United States, Canada, France, and Victoria.
Hardly a library day in the year passes that one or
more readers do not ask to consult some of these
patent volumes. The law library has but one equal
in the extent and value of its collections in this
country, and that is the Library of Congress at
Washington. Every book and pamphlet in the
library is catalogued under the author's name, in
alphabetical order, and in addition to this cata
logue is a subject-index, in which, under subjects
presented in alphabetical order, are given the treat
ises, in book or pamphlet form, upon that subject.
In addition to the books, other articles of value
and interest have drifted in as to a safe place of de
posit for the inspection of visitors. Among these are
a sword and pistol and the surveying instruments of
Washington; busts of some of the eminent states
men of New York; portraits in oil of many of the
Governors, and of the Regents of the University,
and a numismatic collection of considerable value.
It is a reference library, and only members of the

87

690

HLSTORY OF. THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Legislature, heads of departments of the State
government, and the Trustees of the library have
the privilege of taking books to their residences.
There is hardly a field of human industry that is
not represented in applicants for information to
assist them in their several spheres of labor in
office, workshop, or outdoor occupation.
The library is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
except Sundays and holidays, and from the 5 th to
the 20th of August.
The new rooms now being prepared for the
library consist of one large reading-room and sev
eral smaller store-rooms for the books, from which
the attendants in charge will bring the volumes
required by readers. The stairway leading to the
library will be the most magnificent one in the
Capitol. ALBANY INSTITUTE.
The Society of the Albany Institute dates back
through other organizations, of which it is the
legitimate successor, to the year 1 79 1 . Its charter was
granted February 27, 1829, the Society for the Pro
motion of Useful Arts and the Albany Lyceum of
Natural History having consolidated under that
name. Its membership has included many per
sons of distinction as scholars and in professional
and civil life. Its standard publications are ten
volumes of Transactions, two of Proceedings, and
one entitled " Field Meetings of the Albany Insti
tute." The annual fee for resident members is $5.
There are now about two hundred members.
Meetings are held each alternate Tuesday evening,
from October to June, in the Albany Academy.
The library contains about six thousand volumes,
and many old newspapers, including a collection
made by De Witt Clinton; but, owing to lack of
proper accommodations, it is not easily accessible;
hence, not very useful. The institution is respect
able, and has been very useful; but it needs
among its members more vitalizing influences, and
ought to command more popular sympathy.
YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION.
The Young Men's Association, rooms corner of
North Pearl and Steuben streets, is the oldest in
stitution of its character in the United States. It
was founded, with a membership of about 750, De
cember 10, 1833. Amos Dean was its first President,
elected December 13th, and re-elected at first annual
meeting, February 3, 1834. It was incorporated
March 12, 1835, for the purpose of establishing
and maintaining a library, reading-room, literary
and scientific lectures, and other means of promot
ing moral and intellectual improvement. For
twenty-two years it sustained a debating society. It
occupied rooms in Knickerbocker Hall, on Broad
way, where Nos. 451 and 453 now are, until 1840;
in Exchange Building, where the new Government
Building now stands, until 1852; in the Commer
cial Bank Building until 1870; in Music Hall
Building until 1877, when it came to its present
rooms, having leased the Bleecker Building, on
North Pearl, Steuben and Chapel streets, for ten

years, with right to re-lease for ten years longer. It
has some valuable pictures, a good variety of cur
rent magazines and newspapers, and a well-selected
circulating and reference library of about seventeen
thousand volumes. Its largest benefactions have
been $1,000 in books from Dr. George Cooke;
$10,000 in a bequest from Hon. Erastus Corning;
and $1,000 from Miss Catherine Quackenbush.
All real estate and vested funds are under manage
ment of a board of trustees. The ordinary affairs
are managed by a board of managers, eighteen in
number. Life members, of which there are over
one hundred and eighty living, pay $50 at one
time. Annual members, male and female, pay
$2. The Association deserves, as it has, the strong
est claims upon the sympathy and support of the
best men and women of Albany. A catalogue of
two hundred and ninety pages, prepared by Profes
sor Jonathan Tenney, was published in 1880, and a
supplement of forty-two pages in 1882. Annual
election occurs fourth Thursday in March. Mem
bership about 2,000.
Presidents of the Association from its organiza
tion to the present: Amos Dean, Robert E. Ward,
Charles A. Hopkins, John Davis, Robert H.
Pruyn, Denison Worthington, William E. Bleecker,
Charles P. Smyth, Walter R. Bush, Arthur C.
Southwick, Rufus King, Charles H. Stanton,
Franklin Townsend, William A. Rice, Hooper C.
Van Vorst, George B. Steele, William Dey Ermand,
Rufus G. Beardslee, James I. Johnson, Theodore
Townsend, Gilbert L. Wilson, George C. Lee,
Ralph P. Lathrop, Richard Merrifield, Clinton
Cassidy, Charles T. Shepard, Robert L. Johnson,
Charles P. Easton, Edmund L. Judson, John T.
McKnight, John Templeton, Samuel Hand, Frank
lin Edson, William D. Morange, Edward De
Forest, Frank Chamberlain, Robert Lenox Banks,
Grenville Tremain, John S. Delevan, Frederick T.
Martin, John Swinburne, Henry C. Littlefield,
Charles A. Robertson, Amasa J. Parker, Jr. , Fred.
W. Brown, Jacob S. Mosher, Thurlow Weed
Barnes, John M. Bigelow, William P. Rudd,
George E. Oliver, Fred'k Harris, Oren E. Wilson,
Eugene Burlingame, Isaac D. F. Lansing. The
successive librarians of the association are as fol
lows : Robert Gray, Abraham F. Lansing, William
C. Minor, Abraham F. Lansing, Joseph F. Winne,
Dwight Adams, Jonathan Tenney, Cornelius H.
Chase, Joshua E. Crane. It is the only popular
library in the city and, by its lectures, books and
periodicals, has been a great blessing to the citi
zens. In 1883 it celebrated its semi-centennial.
DANA NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.
This ranks among the leading literary societies
of Albany. It was organized November 19, 1868,
at a meeting of ladies, and named in honor of
Professor James D. Dana, of Yale College. Its act
ive members are all ladies of scientific tastes and
culture, who meet statedly for the study of nature,
and are engaged in collecting a library and cabinet
to aid in this study. At its meetings papers are
read, recent scientific facts reported and principles

SCHOOLS AND OTHER LITERARY INSTITUTIONS.

691

discussed. Public lectures are given occasionally
by scientists, and classes in botany, geology and
other special topics in science are formed. Field
meetings in the country are usually held in late
spring and early autumn, oftentimes in connection
with the Albany Institute and Troy Scientific As
sociation. The number of members is not far from one
hundred, including honorary members, among
whom are Professors Dana, Hall, Peck, Lintner,
Tenney, Ward, Boss, Perkins, Bradley, Prescott
and other scientific gentlemen. Its Presidents
have been Miss Lottie Titcomb, 1868 ; Mrs. David
A. Thompson, 1869; Mrs. William Barnes,
1870-71; Mrs. Daniel J. Pratt, 1871-72; Mrs.
Arthur Bott, 1873-74 ; Mrs. John E. Bradley,
l874-75 J Mrs. Jonathan Tenney, 1875-82 ; Mrs.
Robert D. Williams, 1882-85; Mrs Ira B. Samp
son, 1885-86. Annual meeting last Tuesday in
November. It is a growing and useful institution,
reflecting great credit upon its members and
officers.
THE DICKENS CLUB
is the outgrowth of the Flower Mission of the Con
gregational Church, and its membership is confined
to ladies who attend that church or its Sabbath-
school. It originated in 1875, and has held stated
meetings ever since for the study and rendition
of English authors, beginning with Dickens. It
has given several successful public readings and
renderings of some of these authors in public. Its
Presidents have been Miss Josephine B. Sedam,
Mrs. J. E. Sherwood, Mrs. I. B. Sampson, Miss
Anna MacNaughten, Miss Annie Kingsbury, Miss
Harriet E. Ludington, and Mrs. J. M. Lawson.
JONATHAN TENNEY.
[Compiled chiefly from " Class Memorial" and "The Academician."]
Jonathan Tenney was born in Corinth, Orange
County, Vt, September 14, 18 17, eldest son of
Jonathan and Lydia Owen (Crane) Tenney. His
father died in 1865, aged 69 years; his mother is
now living, in her 91st year.
Thomas Tenney, the common ancestor of the
Tenneys of this country, was an English Puritan,
from Yorkshire, England; a member of the Rev.
Ezekiel Rogers' colony of sixty families, which, in
1637, settled the "Rogers Plantation," now Row
ley, Bradford, Georgetown and Merrimack, Mass.,
and vicinity. His descendants have always been
among the leading men of New England.
Hon. Samuel Tenney, his grandson, had twelve
children. He was a truly great and good man.
He was a member of the Colonial Assembly from
Bradford, Mass., in 1725, when, 50 years before the
Declaration of Independence, he was one of the 30
who voted against receiving the King's Charter, a
step more bold than that of the 56 signers of 1776.
Not a few of his numerous descendants inherit the
same spirit of daring to do right.
From his early boyhood, young Tenney had his

home with his parents on a farm, and was attending
public district schools. During these years, his
paternal home was chiefly in Bradford and New
bury. In the Seminary in Newbury, under the
tuition of Rev. Charles Adams and Rev. Osmon C.
Baker, D. D., since a Bishop in the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and in Bradford Academy, Vt,
Rev. Franklin Butler, Principal, he pursued his
studies preparatory to Dartmouth College, which he
entered in 1839, and from which he graduated in
1843. In 1846, he received the degree of M. A., and
in 1880, the honorary degree of Ph.D. from Dart
mouth. For the nine winters previous to his graduation,
he was a popular teacher in the district and village
schools of his native State.
The following is abridged from a sketch of Dr.
Tenney prepared by Hon. Henry Barnard, late
Commissioner of the National Bureau of Education,
and published in the American fournal of Education.
* * * After graduating in 1843, he taught
the Academy in Hebron, N. H., but resigned in
order to establish a High School in Newbury, Vt,
which was successfully organized under his care.
He was then five years Principal of Pembroke
Academy, near Concord N. H., which attained
under his management a very high reputation and
popularity. Many of his pupils of this and other
schools graduated from college, and are found in
prominent positions all over the country. A portion
of his time was here devoted to the study of law;
but his success led him to adopt teaching as his pro
fession. From this time he lost no opportunity to
extend his acquaintance with the best schools and
educators, their principles and methods. A desire
for wider experience, a spirit of independence and
progress, and an unwillingness to become settled
in any one routine of thought and action, have in
duced a frequent change of position by voluntary
resignations, and have prompted the undertaking
of much collateral work.
In August, 1849, resigning his place in Pem
broke, he became Master of the South Grammar
School in Lawrence, Mass. Being elected Prin
cipal of the new Pittsfield High School, Mass.,
he entered upon this trust in November, 1850;
organized the school, and remained in its charge
until his resignation in March, 1853. The "His
tory of Pittsfield," lately published, speaks of Mr.
Tenney, after an interval of thirty years, as the
first principal of the school and "a teacher of
very high ability." While there, he was actively
engaged in the educational work of the State, es
pecially in Berkshire County. While in Dartmouth,
he attended lectures in the Medical College there;
and while in Pittsfield, he attended lectures in
the Berkshire Medical Institute, and gave much
spare time, then and since, to the study of medi
cine, especially to make himself more useful as a
teacher. Returning to New Hampshire, he was chosen
Principal of the Manchester High School in April,
1853, and held the place until he resigned in
November, 1854, to become Editor and Publisher

692

History oE. the CouNtY oE albaNY.

*0—lst**0L**

Zyp£-«~^ Q^C^

of the Stars and Stripes, which he conducted
with great success as an independent newspaper.
Its influence resulted in placing the Republican
party in power in the State. From 1855 to
1857, he was, at the same time, Chairman of
the School Committee of Manchester, Commis
sioner of Schools for Hillsborough County, and
Secretary of the State Board of Education. His
reports in these several capacities were full, able,
and models of their kind. During this time he
introduced various reforms in the city schools;
visited many schools of the State; conducted
Teachers' Institutes; and lectured upon and taught
various subjects in all parts of the State.
In 1854, he was the originator of the New Hamp
shire State Teachers' Association, and was one of its
most active and practical workers and supporters.
He was elected its President in 1855 and 1856.
After January, 1862, he was the resident editor of the
New Hampshire fournal of Education. He prepared
a catalogue of the teachers and schools of Massa
chusetts, with notes, the first that ever appeared in
any State. He has contributed largely to the edu
cational and other statistics of the country. * * *
During the years 1855-57, be was occupied
chiefly in his duties as Chairman of the School
Committee of Manchester; in visiting the schools
of the thirty-one towns of Hillsborough Co. ; in
giving about seventy-five public addresses; in ar
ranging and conducting his own County institutes;
in lecturing in those of the ten counties of the

State; in conducting correspondence as Secretary
of the Board of Education; and in preparing the
City, County and State School Reports. The work
demanded great industry, system and energy.
In 1856, the Trustees of Boscawen Academy,
New Hampshire, a school founded by Rev. Dr.
Samuel Wood, and Daniel and Ezekiel Webster,
having proposed to repair their buildings, lease the
same free of expense for twenty years, and sur
render to him their trust, Mr. Tenney accepted the
propostion; opened his school in 1857, under the
name of Elmwood Literary Institute, and success
fully sustained it through the next nine years of
financial depression and civil war.
During the War he was very active as an officer
of the State Union League, in forming Town
Leagues, over one of which he presided; in en
couraging enlistments in the Union service; and
in furnishing aid to the soldiers. More than 100
of his pupils enlisted. The delicate duty of Enroll
ing Officer of his district was entrusted to him.
While in Boscawen he was Superintendent of
the Schools of this good old town, the native place
of John A. Dix and William Pit Fessenden; and
also Commissioner of Schools for Merrimack
County. In September, 1866, having sold his interest in
Boscawen six months previous, he purchased, in
Newton Center, Mass., and opened a family and
day school for girls, called Silver Lake Institute,
five miles from Boston, which he disposed of in

SCHOOLS AND OTHER LITERARY INSTITUTIONS.

693

July, 1868; went to Albany, N. Y., the health of his
family requiring the change. He had accepted, for
one year, the State agency of a New York Life In
surance Company, with no idea of giving up his
work as an educator.
From October, 1869, to August, 1874, he was a
resident of Owego, Tioga County, N. Y., a part
of the time as Superintendent of the Village
Schools and Principal of the Owego Free Acad
emy. The rest of the time he was an Institute
conductor. In 1874, having been appointed Deputy Super
intendent of Public Instruction for the State of
New York, he removed to Albany, where he has
ever since had his home at 484 Madison avenue,
opposite Washington Park. Two years later he was
made Librarian of the Young Men's Association,
the library of which was entirely re-formed, im
proved and catalogued by him, so that it is now a
delightful and useful place of resort. In 1883,
after seven years service, he resigned this place to
enter upon the editorship of " New England in
Albanv," and the "History of Albany County and
City."' In civil affairs, besides being an officer in several
political organizations, he was Moderator of Town
Meetings, Coroner and State Justice of the Peace
and Quorum, and held other civil offices in New
Hampshire. He is a Corresponding Member of the Vermont,
Wisconsin, and New Hampshire Historical So
cieties; of New England Historic-Genealogical
Society, New York Genealogical Society, and other
literary and scientific associations.
He has lectured before academies and educa
tional associations in New England and New
York. He has been an officer in Essex County,
Middlesex County, Berkshire County, and Massa
chusetts State Teachers' Associations. In Man
chester, Lawrence, Pittsfield and Owego, and in
every large town where he has taught, he has or
ganized and helped sustain Teachers' Associations.
Out of the one in Manchester originated the New
Hampshire State Association, which was organized
at Concord in June, 1854, by a large Convention
called by him, incorporated the next July, and has,
ever since, been the most interesting and efficient
agency in the educational progress of that State,
through its annual meetings and publications. He
was its first Secretary, then its President, Director,
and Editor of its works, while he resided in that
State. Besides Institute work in New Hampshire, he has
done the same work in Vermont, Massachusetts
and Maine. From 1867 to 1874, he was Con
ductor of Institutes, with marked success, in many
of the Counties of New York, under appointments
from Superintendents Rice, Weaver and Ruggles.
In several of these counties he revived Teachers'
Associations. In the work of education he has
always been earnest, faithful and practical; partic
ularly zealous in his efforts to elevate the teach
ers by stimulating them to cultivate self-respect,
sound scholarship, character, and best methods of
teaching and government. School reports abound

in commendation of his labors, and he has a warm
place in the hearts of thousands who have enjoyed
his instruction.
Besides numerous contributions to newspapers,
magazines and educational publications, he has
written and edited "Septenary History of Dart
mouth Class of 1843;" Reports on the Schools of
Manchester, N. H. ; Six Annual Reports on Schools
in Boscawen N. H. ; Tenth and Eleventh Annual
Reports of New Hampshire Board of Education;
"Watch Repairer's Hand-book," Boston, 1868;
"Class Memorial of Dartmouth Class of 1843," Al
bany, 1869; Two Reports on Schools of Hills
borough County, N. H.; "Genealogical and Histor
ical Memoirs of the Tenney Family;" "History of
Congregational Church, Owego, N. Y. ;" ' ' New
England in Albany;" "History and Catalogue of
Young Men's Association, Albany;" " History of
the County and City of Albany;" also numerous
catalogues, reports, papers and circulars on various
topics. He married in Boston, Mass., March 20, 1852,
Harriette Ackland Bachelder, Preceptress of Pitts
field High School. She died in Boscawen, N. H.,
September 13, 1864.
He married September 19, 1866, Ellen J. Le
Gros, of Great Falls, N. H., Associate Principal in
Elm wood Institute, Boscawen, N. H., in Rhode
Island Normal School; and in the Lincoln Young
Ladies' School, Providence, R. I. Mrs. Tenney
is a lady of rare gifts and accomplishments, and
held in high estimation for her works' sake by all
who know her. She is an excellent pianist and
organist. Quick perceptions, ready tact, common
sense, pure benevolence, delicate love of justice,
womanly modesty and great energy, are united in
her character in a wonderful degree.
His children are Calvin Pettengill, born Septem
ber 2, 1853; Harriette Lydia, December 7, 1857;
Hermann Jonathan, March 29,1860; Ellen Celina,
June 30, 1864; Edgar Herbert Le Gros and Mary
Laura Adelaide, December 20, 1870; Edbert Le
Gros, March 14,1875; Laurence Harlow, June 28,
1878. Four of these are now living.
Prof. Tenney was made a Mason in the Horace
Chase Lodge, No. 72, Penacook, N. H., and rep
resented that Lodge several times in the Grand
Lodge of the State. He is now a Member of
Temple Lodge, No. 14, Albany.
Dr. Tenney is a man of quiet and retiring
habits. He is exeedingly fond of domestic life and
ardently devoted to his family. To him there
is no place like home. In his friendships he
is true and constant — intimate with few, but
courteous to all. He is a reader of character;
cordial and frank when approached by the whole-
souled and honorable; distant and reticent with
the artful and cold-hearted. Patient in details,
diligent and methodical in work, without vain
boasting and showy demonstration, he accom
plishes more than he promises. His efficiency is
seen when results are reached. Deliberate, care
ful and conscientious, his conclusions can be de
pended upon. He unites in an unusual degree
an excellent memory and sound judgment.

694

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

While a good conversationist, showing, when
once engaged, a mind laden with valuable knowl
edge, as a public speaker he is not of the off-hand,
flippant kind. He speaks only when he has some
thing to say. His well-studied lectures abound in
brilliant thought, terse expression and pointed
logic. Says one "they are solid gold." His mind
is given to philosophy, but his action is exceed
ingly practical. His literary style is didactic, and
his utterance direct and without attempt at orator
ical display. As a scholar he is accurate and
sound, but never pedantic. He hates nothing
more than sham and affectation.
In religious faith he is a Congregationalist, hav
ing for forty years been a member of that Church.
But no man is more liberal and charitable.
He has intimate friends among all creeds. He
holds that home is the most sacred place on earth,
and that the purest worship and noblest duty is to
be done there, not "to be seen of men." He has
been an active Sabbath School worker, holding for
many years the office of Superintendent and Bible
Class Teacher. He was licensed as a preacher, by
vote of the Susquehanna Congregational Associa
tion, and was made Moderator of. its meetings.
He has often been delegate to Congregational State
Associations and other religious bodies. He is a
Life Member of the American Home Missionary
Society and of the American Board of Commis
sioners for Foreign Missions. In politics he was
first a Whig; then a Republican in the days of
Lincoln, Grant and Garfield. But he has little
confidence in the politics of partisan office-seekers
of any name. He prefers country to party, and
votes by his convictions of duty. He is a friend of
all good causes, and does what he can to promote
them, be they social, moral, benevolent, literary,
patriotic or religious. PUBLIC EDUCATION.
In the article on ' ' Education in Albany County, "
the state of schools and of learning, as there given,
includes the City of Albany. It is made evident
that very little attention was given to these matters
by the public, and that only the rich enjoyed the
benefits of such teaching as there was. And it may
be added, that, for many years after the Revolu
tionary War, the rich even gave more attention to
making and hoarding wealth than to any learning,
except what could be turned into good business
account, and that the poor had no time or money
to give to the education of their children.
Judge Campbell tells us that Rev. Mr. Dunlop
had a school in Cherry Valley from 1744 to the
Revolution, which was attended by boys from Al
bany. He took them under his paternal care in
his own house, and it is said they often followed
him as he cultivated his fields, and recited their
lessons as he plowed, planted, hoed, and gathered
his crops. The Judge calls this the first Gram
mar School in the State west of Albany.
Elkanah Watson, who came to Albany in 1788,
observes in his ' ' Reminiscences " that the schools
were taught mostly in the English language.

As early as 1796, a movement was made by the
Common Council of Albany in relation to free
schools. During this year, an ordinance was passed
authorizing their establishment; but beyond this
passage of the law, nothing practical was done for
a long time afterwards.
It is recorded in the Gazette, November 26, 1804,
that in a school building erected by the contribu
tions of the benevolent for the benefit of helpless
and neglected female children, were gathered a
school of twenty-three such children, under the
care of a discreet governess, who were daily in
structed in reading, writing, and plain work, and
in the strict observance of every Christian and moral
duty. In Munsell's Annals, we read, under date of
August, 1 8 10 : "As yet it is believed there were no
public schools in this city. The corporation had
under consideration the project of establishing a
free school on the plan of Joseph Lancaster."
Twelve years later, fifty schools of all grades, both
public and private, are reported, including a Lan
caster School, a Mechanics' Academy, the Boys'
Academy and the Female Academy.
In 1 8 13, we find the schools and teachers follow
ing as having a local habitation and a name :
Widow Catherine Goheen, 1 Liberty; Widow Es
ther Bedford, 119 Washington; Catherine Peck,
39 Hudson; Widow Martha Wilson, 39 Steuben;
Miss Brenton, 1 1 8 State; Catherine B. Thompson,
Young Ladies' School, 38 Colonie; Sarah Mc-
George, Young Ladies' Seminary, 66 Market; Mrs.
Smith, School, 13 Washington; John Nugent,
Young Ladies' Seminary, 81 Pearl; and the fol
lowing male teachers: Thomas D. Huggins, 43
and 45 Pearl; John Keys, 57 Church; Joshua
Tinker, 16 Deer; George Upfold, 8 Van Tromp;
William Andruss, 19 Pearl; Robert O. K. Bennet,
67 Pearl; James W. Blacket, 70 Hudson; John
Brainard, 35 Chapel; Joseph Caldwell, 25 Steuben;
Thomas Ennis, 48 Beaver. History doesn't tell
us what they taught, or how they taught, or what
they were paid. We have only their names, but
these indicate that there was a demand for "school
ing," which was soon outspoken in the Albany
Academy, the Female Academy, the Lancaster
School, and other noted schools, some of which
are having a green old age amongst us to-day. But
the time for tax-supported public schools had not
come to Albany in 18 13.
LANCASTER SCHOOL.
The nearest approach to a free school was made
in 18 1 2, when the Legislature passed a law incor
porating the Albany Lancasterian School Society.
The trustees of this school were composed of thir
teen citizens, among whom was Mayor Philip S.
Van Rensselaer, who was President of the Board.
The members of the Common Council were also
members of this society, ex officio. Any person
contributing $25 to its benefit was entitled to the
tuition of one child. Its first and only principal
was William A. Tweed Dale, a Scotchman and a dis
ciple of Joseph Lancaster, England. Charles R.

SCHOOLS AND OTHER LITERARY INSTITUTIONS.

695

Webster was one of the leaders in founding the
school. The school was first situated in the upper
part of the building of the Mechanics' Society on
the corner of Chapel and Columbia streets. In
1 8 1 5 the site now occupied by the Medical College

Lancaster School.
was purchased, and a school-house was erected
thereon at a cost of $24,000, and opened April 5,
1 8 17. It was capable of accommodating 500
pupils. The income for the support of the school was
derived from various sources. The Corporation
made an allowance of $500 a year from the receipts
of the Excise Board. About the same amount was
appropriated from the school fund, and the tribute
received from scholars amounted to $400, aver
aging $ 1 a piece yearly. All the expenses of the
school were paid out of this sum.
The Lancaster School was continued until
March 28, 1836, when it was closed by order of
the Common Council. At this time the number
of scholars in this school had greatly decreased,
and it was found that they might be accommodated
more cheaply in the common schools.
During the twenty-four years of the existence of
the Lancaster School, it was stated that 10,000
boys had been educated at that institution. In
Albany it paved the way for the present free-school
system. Mr. Dale, who so long and acceptably
held the position of preceptor, was a graduate of
Edinburgh University, a man of strong will, great
patience and persistence. His perfect control of
400 boys and girls gave evidence of his wonderful
tact and knowledge of child-life. Mr. Dale died
in 1856.
The Lancasterian system proposed the education
of the masses of the children by means of few
teachers and self-help. It made excellent readers
and spellers, and ingrained the first principles and
formulas of arithmetic so thoroughly that they
were never forgotten. When the Lancaster School
was discontinued, the school building passed into
the hands of the medical faculty, and has since,

with some alterations, been used as the Albany
Medical College. PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
From 1830 to 1866, we can say little in com
mendation of the system of the Public Schools of
Albany. The importance of the subject does not
seem to have been considered by the citizens. They
kept pace neither with the growth of the city nor
the demunds of the times.
The first important step toward the Free School
system in Albany occurred April 17, 1830, when
an act of the Legislature was passed, providing
that a Board of School Commissioners and a Board
of School Inspectors should be elected annually
by the people — one Commissioner and one In
spector from each ward. By this act the city was
divided into nine districts for common schools.
The Commissioners had power to appoint three
trustees for each school district. They appor
tioned the money received from the State, to which
each district was entitled, on the basis of the num
ber of scholars of school age, and they fixed the
rate of tuition so as not to exceed two dollars a
quarter for each scholar. Under this law the Su
pervisors were directed to cause a sum of money
to be raised to be paid to the Chamberlain for the
support of the Common Schools in the City of Al
bany. The schools east of Perry street were to be
kept nine months of the year, and those west of
Perry street four months, in order to receive this ap
portionment of the public money. The Inspectors
examined teachers and gave them certificates of
qualification. The several Boards of Trustees at
this date were compelled to supply the want of
proper rooms or buildings for school purposes, for
which no provision had been made by the city au
thorities. The school in the first district was kept
in a building which had formerly been a stable.
In the Ninth District, the cellar of the old Univer-
salist Church on Herkimer street was used; but
this school was soon removed to the basement of a
church in Westerlo street. District No. 8 was
held in the lecture-room of St. Peter's Church for
some years. Another school occupied the upper
part of the engine-house which stood back of
where Martin Hall now stands, on William street,
while the remaining schools occupied quarters
equally unsuitable and incommodious.
Such was the character of the public school
buildings until 1832, when the first building for
school purposes, with the exception of the Lan
caster School, was erected by the Trustees of Dis
trict No. 2, ata cost of $22,000. It was three-
stories high, and contained four large rooms for
school purposes, two large halls, and a room occu
pied by an engine company. It was located at
218 State street. It was sold in 1884, when the
present school building, 29 Chestnut street, known
as No. 2, was erected, at a cost of $27,650.
In September, 1833, a petition, signed by many
citizens, was sent to the Common Council, asking
them to abolish the Lancaster School, and to
erect new buildings in the several districts. At

696

HLSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

this time there were 6,277 children in the city of
school age, of which number 3,578 had been
taught by thirty-four teachers.
A new impulse was given to the cause of public
education in 1838 by the erection of eight new
school buildings. The unwise and narrow policy
of exacting school rates still prevailed throughout
the State, and proved a serious impediment to the
advance of general education. The children of
those who were too poor to pay tuition were called
charity scholars, and this degrading distinction
prevented many from attending the schools. The
right of free education was not recognized till
1862, when the odious system of school rates,
through the influence of Victor M. Rice, was abol
ished. The location and character of the school build
ings erected in 1838 were as follows: School No.
1, 310 South Pearl, three-stories, cost $13,000,
312 seats; School No. 3, 7 Van Tromp street,
three-stories, cost $13,000, 200 seats, sold in 1882;
School No 4, 55 Union street, three-stories, cost
$11,000, 206 seats, sold in 1882; School No. 5,
172 North Pearl street, three-stories, cost $13,000,
296 seats, sold in 1882, when a new building, sub
sequently referred to, was erected on the same
street, now known as No. 5; School No. 7, 56
Canal street, three-stories, cost $11,000, 300 seats;
School No. 8, 157 Madison avenue, three-stories,
cost $17,000, 338 seats; rebuilt in 1880, with eight
rooms, 448 seats, cost $25,000; School No. 9,
corner South Ferry and Dallius streets, three-sto
ries, cost $12,000, 210 seats; School No. 10, 182
Washington avenue, three-stories, 3 1 2 seats; School
No. 18, formerly No. 6 Madison avenue, corner
of Western avenue, originally one-story, ' cost
$7,000; another added in 1870. The change in
the number of this school was caused .by the pas
sage of a law by the Legislature defining the city
limits for school purposes to be east of Perry
street. This school then passed out of the juris
diction of the Board of Education and came under
the control of the Trustees west of Perry street,
when the school on Second street (Arbor Hill), in
1849, took the number which originally belonged
to No. 18.
In 1838, $119,000 were expended on school
buildings, while, with the school building erected
in 1832, accommodation was furnished to 2,783
pupils. But at this time there were at least 7,000
children of school age in the city, a greater part of
whom attended private or select schools. The
Public Schools remained in the same condition in
regard to capacity from 1838 to 1849, when the
school 105 Second avenue, now known as No. 6,
was erected.
In 1844, a law was passed creating the Board of
Education. Their powers were more restricted,
but otherwise similar to those now performed by
the Board of Public Instruction. The members
of this Board were elected by the pedple, and was
something of an improvement upon the old system
of Commissioners and Trustees.
In 1854, School No. 24, formerly No. 11, 417
Madison avenue, was erected. It was enlarged in

1868, and, on completion of the Grammar School
adjoining, the number was changed, the Grammar
School taking the old number, and No. 24 given
to the old building. It has 576 seats. In 1856,
School No. 1 2, corner of Washington avenue and
Robin street, was erected, at a cost of $50,000,
786 seats. At this time, when there were but thir
teen Public Schools, there were seventy private
schools, besides the academies. During the school
year ending May 1, 1856, 6,813 pupils were regis
tered as attending the Public Schools, about double
the number for which there were proper accommo
dations; 5,292 attended private or select schools,
and 602 attended incorporated schools.
In the report of the Board of Education for 1 857,
it was declared that the capacity of the Public
Schools was inadequate, and in the following few
years a great deal was done in the way of building.
School No. 16, known as 201 Hudson avenue, the
Wilberforce School for colored children, was opened
with acommodation for 143 pupils. In 1874, it
ceased to exist as a distinct colored school, the
colored children being received in all the schools.
It was sold in 1883. The several school buildings
erected in 1832 and 1838, from No. 1 to 10 in
clusive, except No. 6, were overhauled by putting
on another story or adding buildings for recitation-
rooms, in the years 1856-58.
In 1858, the Common Council purchased the old
State Arsenal, corner of Broadway and Lawrence
street, for $10,800, erected in 1799, and remodeled
it into a building suitable for school purposes for
594 pupils, at a cost of $73,000. It is known as
School No. 13.
School No. 14, 70 Trinity place, at a cost of
$41,000, was built in i860, being three-stories
high, and now capable of accommodating 928
pupils. It was not opened until 1861, and was
the last school building erected under the super
vision of the old Board of Education. In 1861,
there were 1 54 schools with a registered attendance
01 8,395 pupils, almost double the real seating
capacity of the schools. Ninety-three teachers were
employed. By an Act of the Legislature in 1866, the Board
of Education became known as the Board of Public
Instruction. When the new Board took posses
sion of the City Schools under the new Act of
1866, the number of schools or capacity had in
creased from 1 86 1, but the number of teachers
had increased to 100. The estimated value of
school property was estimated at $187,000, and
the annual expense of maintaining the schools was
about $69,000. At this time (1866) there were
two academies in the city, 71 parochial and other
incorporated schools.
The establishment of the High School, the
natural outgrowth of the public school system, had
a corresponding beneficial effect upon the common
schools, and from 1868, it can be truly said the
Public Schools of Albany began a rapid growth,
and soon became adequate to the educational in
terests of the city. A night school was first opened
December 2, 1867, in School No. 6 (Arbor Hill),
and has been continued in other schools with vary-

SCHOOLS AND OTHER LITERARY INSTITUTIONS.

697

ing success at different times. At present the city
does not support a night school.
School No. 1 5, corner of Herkimer and Frank
lin streets, was erected in 1871, at a cost of
$92,000. It was the first school-house of modern
construction built on the "single school plan."
Here nineteen teachers are employed, with room
for 928 scholars.
School, formerly known as No. 19, located at
West Albany, came within the jurisdiction in 1870.
It accommodated 130 pupils. It was abandoned
in 1876, and in 1877 the School, 54 Canal street
(No. 19) was erected, to take its place, at a cost of
$5, coo, and consists of four rooms, with seating
capacity for 225 scholars.
Old School No. 17, corner of Second avenue
and Steuben street, was erected in 1856, and was
built by the town of Bethlehem. It came under the
jurisdiction of the Board by enlargement of the city
bounds in 1870. In 1878 it was enlarged by re
building, and now accommodates 448 scholars.
The School, formerly in Tivoli Hollow, known
as No. 21, was erected by the town of Water
vliet It was a small affair, and came within
the city limits in 1870. It was abandoned in
1875, when School No. 21, 658 Clinton avenue,
was erected, at a cost of $3 1,000, to take its place.
It has nine rooms and accommodates 764 scholars.
School No. 20, formerly on Mohawk street, was
erected in 1872. It was sold in 1880, when the
piesent building, corner North Pearl and Second
streets, was erected in its stead, at a cost of about
$22,000. It is two-stories brick, nine rooms, and
accommodates 666 pupils.
School No. 23, 140 Second avenue, was pur
chased from the Trustees of the Fourth Presbyterian
Church in 1871, and was known as Second Street
Mission. It was opened in 1872, is one story,
with seats for 184 pupils.
School No. 22, Second street, west of Lexington
avenue, was erected in 1877 at a cost of $31,000.
It is two stories, with seats for 504 pupils.
School No. 25, on Morton street, between Hawk
and Swan streets, was erected in 1878. It is two
stories, brick, eight rooms and contains 448
seats. School No. 1 1 (referred to in connection with
School No. 24), 409 Madison avenue, was erected
at a cost of $56,250, in 1873, and was first used
June 4th of that year. It is three stories, and seats
560 pupils.
In 1882, school buildings Nos. 3 and 5 were sold,
when the Tabernacle Baptist Church, North Pearl
street, was purchased and converted into a school
building in 1883, known as No. 5, 206 North
Pearl street, at a cost of about $35,000. It con
tains accommodation for 598 pupils.
The twenty-four schools (1885) have a seating
capacity for 12,391 pupils, the net registration
13,720, and an average daily attendance of 9, 740.
There are 234 teachers employed, excluding the
High School, compared with 59 in 1857, and 100
in 1867. At the latter date the average was about
88 registered scholars per teacher. At present it
is about 58.
88

HIGH SCHOOL.
The new Board of Public Instruction was con
fronted with grave educational problems to solve.
The inadequacy of the schools was clearly manifest,
yet the opposition of the public to enlarge the
school facilities by the expenditure of any large
money, at a period of financial uncertainty con
sequent upon the close of the war, and already
suffering under heavy taxation, was particularly
strong. The want of a higher department where more
advanced studies could be pursued by the grad
uates of the common schools was almost a neces
sity. The more liberal of the citizens favored the
idea of building a Free Academy to meet this
want A majority of the Board were also in favor
of the project, and December 17, 1866, submitted
a draft of a bill to the Legislature to establish a
Free Academy. It met the opposition not only of
a large body of citizens, but of the Common Coun
cil. The latter body went so far as to pass a resolu
tion instructing the Legislature not to pass the bill
proposed. The Board of Public Instruction, thus
far, had labored under the impression that it re
quired the . passage of a law to authorize the con
struction of the institution; but a careful examina
tion of the law of 1866, under which the Board was
organized, revealed the fact that the Board was
clothed with ample authority to authorize the build
ing of an Academy, and that further legislation was
unnecessary. Accordingly the Board leased Van
Vechten Hall on State street. Here the Normal
School was held until 1 84- when the Lady's street
building was erected. A select school had been
held in it for a number of years. The Free Acad
emy as it was then called, was opened September
1868, with Professor John E. Bradley as principal,
and 141 pupils. Besides the principal, the follow
ing teachers were employed: Charles W. Cole,
Samuel B. Howe, Mary Morgan and Rebecca I.
Hindman. A short time after, Mr. Howe re
signed, to accept the Superintendency of Public
Schools in Schenectady, and Charles A. Horne was
chosen in his place. Soon the capacity of Van
Vechten Hall proved too small, and other rooms
connected with the premises were procured. The
rooms over Harris' livery stables, fronting on
Maiden lane, were fitted up in 1870; those in the
second story, formerly part of Watson's carpet store,
were hired in 1873.
The success and rapid growth of the Free Acad
emy, in attendance and proficiency of instruction,
even under the disadvantages of inadequate quar
ters, proved the best argument for the existence of
such an institution.
The Free Academy was placed under the visita
tion of the Regents of the University by an Act
of the Legislature, in 1873, at which time its name
was changed to the Albany High School. Of the
money appropriated by the Regents according to
number of Academic Scholars — that is those hold
ing Regents' preliminary certificates — since January,
1874, to January 1885, $29,568.48 have been re
ceived by the institution. In 1874 there were 130

698

HLSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Academic Scholars in the High School, and in
1885, 527.
The High School was held in Van Vechten Hall
until 1876, when the present commodious struc
ture was erected. It is in the style of architecture
known as the domestic Gothic, and stands 87 feet
front on Eagle street, 135 feet 4 inches on Steuben,
120 feet on Columbia, and 92 feet and 7 inches
wide on the rear. It comprises sub-cellar, base
ment and three stories above the basement. The

superstructure is of Philadelphia pressed bricks,
with light stone trimmings, interspersed with
courses of black stone and white bricks, pre
senting an outward appearance singularly attract
ive and pleasing to the eye. Fortunate in its
location, beautiful in appearance, and complete
in all its appointments, it is one of the most
perfect of its kind in the State. It was designed
by the Albany Architects, Ogden & Wright, and
cost about $140,000. The High School is still

ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL.

under the direction of John E. Bradley, its princi
pal, a discreet manager and an able instructor.
He is assisted by eight male instructors and
twelve female teachers. In 1885, there were
608 scholars. The language studies pursued
consist of Latin, Greek, German, French and
English. The other branches are mathematics,
chemistry, physics, drawing, vocal music, rhetoric
and elocution, and the various English branches.
John Edwin Bradley, Principal of Albany High
School, was born in Lee, Mass., August 8, 1839.
He was educated in Lee, Mass. , High School, and
Williams College, from which institution he grad
uated in 1865. After leaving college he was Prin
cipal of the Pittsfield High School until 1868, when
he came in charge of the Albany Free Academy. The
remarkable success of this school has been in great
measure due to his excellent management Mr.
Bradley received the degree of Ph. D. at the Con
vocation of Regents in 1879. In 1878 he was
appointed Commissioner to the Paris Exposition
on the educational exhibits, upon which he made
an able report. Dr. Bradley has been very prom
inent in all public educational interests of the city.
He married, in 1870, Martha Jeannette Gould,
eldest daughter of William Gould, the law book
publisher. His energy, executive ability, and
magnetism have made him a teacher widely known
and respected.

Finances. — The average yearly expense for pub
lic schools in Albany from 1844 to 1853 was over
$14,000; in 1854, $27,000; in 1857, $47,000;
1858, $61,000; i860, $49,000; 1867, $69,000;
1872, $196,000; 1875, $319,000. The total in
come of the Board for the year ending August 31,
1885, was $314,954, of which $170,750 was raised
by tax, $91,494 08 was carried over from the pre
ceding year, and $47,394.76 was received from the
State. The total expenditures were $219,923.37,
of which $149,225.69 was for teachers' salaries.
The cost of yearly tuition per pupil, based on total
expenditure and registered number, is $16.02.
The estimated value of school property in 1858
was $117,000; in 1871, $362,000; in 1885,
$766,000. The salaries of teachers range from
$1,800 to $350. The Principal of the High School
receives $3, 200 ; the Superintendent of School,
$2, 500. The net cost of pupils in the High School,
based on registered number for 1885, was $33.52.
The Public Schools are divided into primary and
grammar grades, ten being of the primary and
twelve of the grammar grade. The Board of Pub
lic Instruction is composed of twelve members.
Four members go out of office each year. Their
successors are chosen at the annual election — two
Democrats and two Republicans. The Board has
entire charge of the Public Schools, fixes the grades
of study, appoints teachers, builds, maintains and
regulates school-houses, etc. No salary is attached

PRINTERS AND PRINTING.

699

to the office. The rooms of the Board are in the
High School Building, where meetings are held on
the first and third Monday evenings in each month,
except August. The Board chooses its own Presi
dent. The Secretary of the Board acts as Superin
tendent of Schools.
Table showing number of schools and registered
number of scholars for the following years.
No. Registered
Year. Schools. Number.
l845  4,32°
104°  S,°25
iM  5,°53
1048  5,°°9
"849  5,83°
1850  6,798
'fSi  6,744
1852  6,679
1853  6,302
1854  6,079
1855  6,036
1856  6,813
1857  12 6,529
1858  13 7,760
1859  13 7,832
i860  14 8,395
1861  15 9,182
1862  15 9,614,
1863  15 9,507
1864  15 8,917
1865  15 8,850
1866  15 8,924
1867  15 8,880
1868  15 9,414
1869  16 9,665
1870  16 9,933
1871  22 10,939
1872  24 12,060
1873  24 12,327
1874  25 12,460
1875  25 13,773
1876  24 13,941
1877  24 14,412
1878  '.  25 14,024
1879  26 14,632
1880  ;  26 14,049
l88l  26 13,976
1882  26 13,984
1883  26 13,914
1884  24 I3,7o8
1885  24 13,720
Table showing the registered number of students
in High School since its establishment.
Year. . Total.
1868-69  ,  141
1869-70  209
1870-71  279
1871-72  314
1872-73  328
1873-74  3g2

Year. Total.
1874-75  •  429
1875-76  494
1876-77  532
1877-78  580
1878-79  581
1879-80  595
1880-81  :  583
1881-82  584
1882-83  591
1883-84  607
1884-85  608
Members of the Board of Public Instruction
since its organization in 1866: John O. Cole,
George W. Carpenter, Michael Delehanty, Charles
P. Easton, Paul F. Cooper, John G. Treadwell,
Charles Van Benthuysen, Stewart McKissick, James
L. Babcock, Bradford R. Wood, Jacob S. Mosher,
William C. McHarg, Howard Townsend, Portis L.
F. Reynolds, Joseph Lewi, Robert H. Waterman,
Warren S. Kelly, William L. Learned, Barent B.
Sanders, Daniel V. O'Leary, William L. Learned,
John Tracy, Daniel L. Babcock, Arthur C. Quinn,
Alfred Edwards, Thomas Hayes, Addison A. Keyes,
John McKenna, Charles Senrick, George B. Hoyt,
James J. Franklin, James H. White, John V. Lan
sing, Samuel Templeton, Joseph P. Morrow, John
Kautz, Peter J. Flinn, Isaac Edwards, Timothy D.
Keleher, James Morris, William Morgan, Daniel
Casey, Henry P. Lipman, Charles A. Robertson,
John H. Lynch, John A. McCall, Jr., Linzee T.
Morrill, Andrew S. Draper, Douw H. Fonda, Her
man Bendell, Alden Chester, Charles E. Jones,
James M. Ruso, Henry T. Sanford, Robert D.
Williams, Edward J. Graham, ' Oren E. Wilson,
Edward A. Durant, Jr., Peter A. Stephens, Francis
B. Delehanty, Robert G. Scherer, John Neil, Jr.,
Edward Phillips.
Officers of the Board of Public Instruction since
its organization in 1866 —
Presidents: John O. Cole, George W. Carpenter,
Charles P. Easton, Addison A. Keyes, Charles P.
Easton, Herman Bendell, Alden Chester, George
B. Hoyt, Peter J. Flinn.
Secretaries and Superintendents of Schools:
Henry B. Haswell, John O. Cole, Charles W.
Cole. Superintendents of Buildings: John G. Tread
well, Alexander Sayles, Hugh J. McDonnald.
Number of Graduates of the High School :
1871,27; 1872,43; 1873,46; 1874,47; 1875,
49; 1876, 65; 1877, 58; 1878, 69; 1879, 76;
1880, 84; 1 88 1, 73; 1882, 79; 1883, 76; 1884,
68; 1885, 86.

PRINTERS AND PRINTING.

THE first printing-office in Albany was estab
lished by Alexander and James Robertson, who
came from New York for that purpose, in 1771.
From the best information that can be gathered,
Albany was the second place in the State of New
York ipto which the art of printing was introduced.
Their office is said to have been in Barrack, now

Chapel street. The first work of importance done
by this firm was the publication of the Albany
Gazette, the first newspaper published in this city.
The only other work of which we have any knowl
edge is a copy of the city ordinances, bearing date
1773, now m Jbe City Chamberlain's office.
They remained in Albany until 1 776, when they

700

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

joined the Royalists in New York. On the evacua
tion of that city, by the British, they took refuge,
with many others, at Port Roseway, Nova Scotia,
where Alexander died in 1784, aged forty-two.
James died in London in 1802.
In 1782, Solomon Balantine and Charles R.
Webster established a printing-office in Albany.
Their printing materials consisted of as many
types, as Balantine often said, as a squaw could
carry in her bag. In the Philadelphia library
is a copy of a pamphlet by the Rev. Thomas
Clarke, of Cambridge, in Washington County, en
titled "Plain Reasons: being a Dissuasive from the
Use of Watts' Version of the Psalms in the Worship
of God, "printed by this firm in 1783, and, perhaps,
the oldest pamphlet ever issued from the Albany
press. In 1783, Mr. Webster dissolved his con
nection with Balantine, and removed to New York.
Balantine left soon after, when Webster returned
and again established a printing-office in Albany. In
1 784, he printed the first number of what came to be
the well-known Webster Almanac, still annually
published by Joel Munsell's Sons. About the same
time the New England Primer was reprinted in Al
bany. At this time his printing-office, which was de
stroyed by fire in 1793, stood on Middle lane, a nar
row alley connecting State street and Maiden lane.
A short time after he erected a building on the old
Elm-tree Corner, where he conducted his business
until his death in 1832. Here bookselling, printing,
and binding was carried on. For a number of
years his brother, George, was associated with him.
This firm was dissolved in 1821 by the death of
George Webster, when E. W. and George Skinner
became associated with Mr. Webster under the
firm name of Webster & Skinners, which continued
until Mr. Webster's death.
New York State has been for many years the
most liberal patron of the printer. At the pres
ent time many thousands of dollars are annually
expended by the State for its public printing,
and, with few exceptions, this work has been
done by Albany printers. In the early days of
the State government, the position of State print
er was not such a lucrative position as at present.
In 1 79 1 he was allowed a salary of $250. In
1788 the Journal of the Assembly was contained
in 143 pages; and in 1796 the whole amount paid
for State printing was $832.40, a sum less than is
now expended by the Board of Supervisors of
the counties of the State for county printing.
The first State printers after the Legislature was
removed to Albany were S. & J. Louden, of
New York; but the work was done by Thomas
McMurray in Barrack street, Albany.
In 1795 there were but seven printing-offices
west and north of Albany. About 1793 John
Barbour and Solomon Southwick formed a part
nership in the printing business in Albany. They
were chiefly known as the proprietors of the Albany
Register. In 1 793 they printed Poor Richard Re
vised, being the Farmer's Diary, or Barbour and
Southwick's Albany Almanack.' In 1808 Barbour
died, aged fifty years. He was printer to the State,
and a man highly respected for his moral and

social worth. The establishment was continued
by Mr. Southwick. He was at one time State
printer. John McDonald conducted a printing-office in
-Albany some time previous to 1796. In the latter
year, his office in State street, first house below the
corner of Pearl, on the south side, was burned.
He commenced business again in Middle lane,
now James street.
In 1798, Joseph Fry and Henry C. Southwick
were engaged in the printing business in a building
on the corner of Dean street and Mark lane, now
Exchange street. In 1 799, Mr. Fry left the printing
business, and is now chiefly known as the com
piler of the first Albany Directory, published by
Webster & Skinner in 1813. Packard & Conant
advertised a new book store and bindery at 41
State street
In 1806, the celebrated establishment of E. & E.
Hosford was opened at 72 State street. They did
a large printing and publishing business for that
day. In 1810 they removed to 100 State street.
They issued a volume of sermons by Timothy
Clowes, Rector of St. Peter's Church, in 181 7, en
titled " December Sermons." They became lax un
der prosperity, and having met with heavy losses in
printing an edition of Hume and Smollett's History
of England, followed by other reverses, the con
cern was sold by the sheriff in 1827.
In connection with this article, it may not be
out of place to state that as early as 1807, John
Rodgers was engaged in making printing presses
in Albany. In an advertisement which appeared
in a newspaper of that day, he states that he is
prepared to make all the " newest fashioned and
most approved printing presses" at his shop in
Chapel street. How long or to what extent this
business was carried on we were unable to learn.
A. Romeyn, an Albany printer, in 1808, advertised
that he had invented a new method of locking up
forms with screws. He also made a model of a
printing press which he claimed possessed superior
ity over the presses then in use.
In 1807, Van Benthuysen & Wood established
a printing-office in Albany in connection with a
literary paper called The Guardian. This was
the germ of what is now one of the largest printing
establishments in Albany.
In 1 8 13, Jesse Buel, printer, commenced the
publication of the Albany Argus, which is still con
tinued. In connection with this paper a great
amount of printing, such as books, pamphlets, etc.,
has long been done. It has one of the best stocked
job offices in the city.
Moses Pratt, Jr., had a printing-office in Albany,
at 162 Lion street, now Washington avenue. He
was an eccentric character. He died in 1845.
Pratt & Doubleday conducted a printing-office
at the corner of Lion street and Academy square in
1 8 13. Doubleday afterwards went to Auburn and
was a Member of Congress from that district.
In 1814, George J. Loomis, a book-binder, lo
cated at No. 9 Washington street, where he con
ducted a stereotyping and printing business. The
following year the firm of George J. Loomis & Co.

PRINTERS AND. PRINTING.

701

was formed. Their office was located on the cor
ner of State and Lodge streets.
For some years the firm of George Churchill and
Daniel McGlashan was engaged in the printing
business in Albany; but in 1815 it was dissolved,
and the firm of Churchill & Abbey was established
with an office at 95 State street. In 1815, Abbey
retired, and at the time of the rebellion in Canada
enlisted in the cause and was captured and hung.
Churchill went to Illinois and was a Member of
Congress from that State.
The oldest printing firm in Albany is that of
Van Benthuysen & Sons. It has been chiefly con
ducted by members of the same family since 1807,
when Obadiah R. Van Benthuysen & Wood es
tablished a printing-office at No. 1 9 Court street
The grandfather of Obadiah, Paulus Martense
Van Benthuysen, is supposed to have come to Al
bany from the town of Benthuysen prior to 1666.
He had three sons. The eldest was Baltus. He
had a son named James Parker, who married Lydia
Daley in the City of New York, 1707. He had
nine children. His eldest son, James Parker, Jr. ,
married Sarah Cooper, February 6, 1741. The
result of this marriage was nine children, the
youngest of whom was Obadiah Romney, who
was born in 1789, and the one referred to in this
sketch. O. R. Van Benthuysen continued in partnership
with Wood but a short time, and, in 1808, opened
a separate office in Liberty street, rear of present
376 Broadway. In 1813, Robert Packard became
associated with him, under the firm name of Pack
ard & Van Benthuysen. At this time the aggregate
value of all printing materials of this firm, including
two hand presses, amounted to only $2,290.86.
Prior to 1827-28, the office was located on the
northwest corner of Beaver and Green streets,
when it was removed to the present location on
Broadway. In 1839 the firm of Charles Van Ben
thuysen & Co. was established, composed of O. R.
Van Benthuysen and his son, Charles. In 1848,
Charles Van Benthuysen was the sole member of
the firm. He continued as such until 1866, when
Charles H. and Frank, sons of Charles Van Ben
thuysen, became members of the firm. Since then
it has been known by the firm name of Charles Van
Benthuysen & Sons, although the father died a few
years ago. Besides carrying on a large printing
and binding business, this firm makes its own
paper, type and ink, and has a stereotype and elec
trotype foundry; all of which it now carries on,
with the exception of the paper mill, which was
sold in 1 88 1. For about eighteen years preceding
1 840, it did all the Legislative printing and binding,
under Crosswell, who was State printer at that time.
This printing-house, in 1828, was the first in the
United States to employ steam to run printing
presses. All grades of printing, electrotyping and
binding are done by this firm, now employing a
force of one hundred and eighty men. Their pres
ent location is 403 to 409 Broadway and 53 and 55
Dean street, where fifteen rooms, averaging 25 x 60
feet, are required. A branch office is located at 64
College street.

From 1820 to 1850, considerable of the printing
in Albany was done by the newspaper offices, most
of which had job offices connected with them.
Henry D. Stone, Edward Henly, H. H. Van Dyck,
Thurlow Weed, George Dawson, Edwin Croswell,
Hugh J. Hastings, A. B. Case, John Weed, all prac
tical printers, may be mentioned at this period as
connected with printing outside of journalism.
In 1 83 1 the well-known printing-office of Joel
Munsell was established at 78 State street. An ac
count of Mr. Munsell's work as a printer and pub
lisher will be found in another part of this History.
Since his death the business has been conducted by
his sons, Frank and Charles Munsell. At this
office a general line of printing, electrotyping, and
binding is conducted. Special attention is given
to works of genealogy, biography and history.
No printing firm in this State is better known
than Weed, Parsons & Co. It was founded, in 1843,
by James B. Weed, a son of the late Thurlow
Weed, and John D. Parsons, both practical print
ers, the latter of whom is still an active member of
the firm. Their first office was located in the sec
ond and third stories of No. 73 State street, over
the clothing store of Grange Sard, their whole out
fit costing less than $1,000, and consisting of two
Washington presses, a Gilmore card press, type,
etc. For two years they continued at this loca
tion, and by untiring business energy established a
lucrative business. May 1, 1845, they moved their
office to No. 75 State street, third story, over the
store now occupied by Joseph J. Price as a grocery.
October 12, 1847, Weed & Parsons, and the pro
prietors of the Albany Evening fournal, then consist
ing of Thurlow Weed, George Dawson and Visscher
Ten Eyck, became partners in the book and job
printing, under the firm name of Weed, Parsons &
Co. At this time the office was removed to the
third and fourth stories of the fournal building,
Nos. 65 and 67 State street, corner of James. A
book-bindery and a large addition in printing ma
terials were added. By this arrangement a rapid ad
vancement in business was the consequence.
June 18, 1 85 1, James B. Weed, of this firm,
died. He had not only a practical knowledge of
the printer's art, but possessed admirable business
qualities, and his loss was a great blow to the firm.
In 1852, the increase of business again made it
necessary to move to more commodious quarters.
This was obtained by moving to Nos. 7 and 9 James
street, with an entrance through the Evening fournal
office. They also rented rooms in the adjoining
building of Van Heusen & Charles, on James street,
the upper stories of Nos. 59 and 61 State street,
and two large rooms on Morton street. At this
time their employees numbered about two hun
dred. Their facilities for printing had increased
fourfold, and lithographing, electrotyping and ste
reotyping had been added. From 1862-69, va~
rious changes took place in the firm. Visscher
Ten Eyck retired May 1, 1854, his interest be
ing sold to W. F. Seward, son of Governor W.
H. Seward, and Phillip Ten Eyck. Seward dis
posed of his interest to Dawson, Parsons and Ten
Eyck in 1869. Samuel Wilkeson, now one of the

702

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

editorial staff of the New York Times, was a mem
ber of this firm 1856-58, when he sold his share
to Thurlow Weed. The latter, in i860, sold half
of his interest to Dawson, Parsons and Ten Eyck.
In 1869, the amount of business done by this
firm made it necessary to procure quarters where
the work could be concentrated in one building.
The dividing up of various departments and so
widely separated, was a decided disadvantage. To
remedy this matter, the property Nos. 37, 39 and 41
Columbia street, running through to Van Tromp
street, was purchased, and a five-story building was
erected. This was first occupied November, 1869.
Here they combined under one roof all the various
departments. A more commodious and well-ar
ranged printing-office at this time did not exist in
the State. From 300 to 400 men were employed.
In the midst of success, April 7, 1871, the entire
property was destroyed by fire, entailing a severe
loss to the firm. But business adversity displayed
the energy and perseverance of the members of
this firm. Rebuilding was begun at once, and in
seven months from the fire, their present building
was completed and occupied. In the meantime
the large building on the north end of Van Rens
selaer Island was used as a printing-office, having
been stocked with all the needed materials in
three weeks after the fire, sufficient to begin full
operation with 300 men. Since 1878, the interest of
Thurlow Weed has been assigned to Thurlow Weed
Barnes. By the death of George Dawson a few
years ago, his interest reverted to his wife and son.
For many years this firm has done all the Legis
lative printing, and since 1850 has done the State
Department printing. In late years this work has
grown to immense proportions. From this establish
ment yearly is published a large number of law
books. The excellent character of their work and
their large facilities for doing it, has made this firm
known all over the United States. They now
average over 300 employees.
In the article on ' ' Journals and Journalism " in
this History, other printers in Albany are named;
and many of more recent date are to-day honoring
their craft and extending their patronage by doing
first-class work, among whom are Brandow & Bar
ton, Burdick & Taylor, C. E. Houghtaling, Prouty
Printing Co., Riggs Printing and Publishing Co.,
C. F. Williams Printing Co., and the newspaper
firms of the Press Co., Times Co., Argus Co.,
Morning Express Co., Journal Co., M. & E. Grif-
fen, all of which do printing and publishing in
almost every variety called for.
LAW BOOK PUBLISHERS.
In no city in the United States is the publication
of law books carried on on a larger scale than in Al
bany. The first law book publisher in Albany was
William Gould, located at 104 State street A few
years after, David Banks, father of the present
Mayor, A. Bleecker Banks, became associated with
him, under the firm name of Gould & Banks. At
this time a branch store was opened in New York
City, in which William Gould, David Banks and

Stephen Gould were associated as partners. This
partnership was dissolved in 1 8 1 7.
William Gould died in 1846. He was succeeded
in the same business by Anthony Gould, brother of
William. He died in 1856, and was succeeded by
William Gould, a nephew of the first publisher of
that name. In 1867, the firm of William Gould &
Son was established. This firm continued to exist
until 1885, when William Gould, Sr., retired from
the firm, and the present firm of William Gould, Jr.,
& Co. was formed, and consists of William Gould,
Jr., Otis Allen Gould, and Albert L. Gould.
In 1850, this firm was located at 475 Broadway,
and in 1857 removed to the present store, 68 State
street. The firm of Banks Brothers was established in
1804 by David Banks, who remained in this busi
ness until his death, in 1872, and at that time was
the oldest bookseller in the United States. He was
succeededini872byhis sons, Davi d and A. Bleecker
who have conducted the business ever since. Their
warehouses and sales-rooms in this city, 473 and
475 Broadway, have a total floor space of 80,000
square feet. There is another large store belonging
to this firm at 144 Nassau street, New York City,
which has been occupied by them since 1835.
The firm of W. C. Little & Co. was established in
Albany, in 1828, by W. C. Little, a native of Ban
gor, Me. , born in 1 805, who engaged in the publi
cation and sale of law books as successor of E. F.
Backus, who, in a small way, began the business
here. Mr. Little was very successful in the trade,
and became widely known. He was succeeded
by his son, C. W. Little, who carries on the busi
ness at the old stand, 525 Broadway, since his
father's death in 1885.
The law books published by Albany firms em
brace a most extensive list of standard volumes, and
are sold to the legal profession wherever English
and American law is consulted.
PHOTOGRAPHY.
Few of the arts have made such rapid strides as
has that of photography. It is comparatively a few
years ago since the first photographs made their ap
pearance, and, wonderful as they were, they would
appear as ridiculous caricatures if placed beside the
life-like portraits produced at the present time by
the improved photographic appliances. The Albany
artists have kept pace with their brothers in the
profession, and in no place is a higher order of
photographic skill displayed and demanded. Prob
ably the leading studios of Albany are those of
Aaron Veeder, 32 North Pearl street, and the Not-
man Photographic Company, 48 North Pearl street
Mr. Veeder is a native of Albany, and for fifteen
years devoted himself to landscape photography;
but, in 1 88 1, he began to make a specialty of por
trait photography, in which he has shown remark
able skill and taste. A number of colorists, re
touchers and artists are employed in addition to the
regular photographers.
The Notman studio is a branch of the Notman
Photograph Company of Montreal. It has been

THE ALBANY STAGE.

703

located in this city for a number of years. The ar
tistic work done at this studio is of a high order of
excellence. A specialty of this house is photo
graphing large -groups, notably the yearly group of
the 'members of the Legislature, classes graduating
from schools, clubs, etc.

Besides the two firms named, the following are
engaged in this business: J. L. Abbott & Son, prob
ably the oldest firm in Albany; John N. Byron, R.
E. Churchill, V. W. Horton, McDonald & Sterry,
Charles S. Robinson, John M. Wood, and W. W.
Wood.

THE ALBANY STAGE.

IT has with truth been said that "the history of
the Albany stage is, in a great measure, the
history of the drama in America." Before the time
when the land was dotted with cities, every city
with its "opera house," the field for the drama
was not only sterile, but limited. With Boston and
Philadelphia further away by days than they now
are by hours, Albany, on account of its river com
munication with New York, was looked upon as a
convenient place in which to expend any mana
gerial effort over and above what had exhausted
the possibilities of profit in the Metropolis; and af
terwards, actors waiting for a New York engage
ment, were glad to put in their time so near by as
Albany. So it happened that in the summer of 1769, the
first American company organized in England by
the Hallam Brothers having worn out their wel
come in New York, obtained permission of the
Governor of the Colony, Sir Henry Moore, Baronet,
to play in Albany for one month, three times a
week, opening July 3d, in Otway's "Venice Pre
served." This was the first recorded visit of
professional players, although, as Mrs. Grant's
"Memoirs of an American Lady" tells us, the enact
ment of the " Beaux's Stratagem," by officers of an
English regiment stationed here in 1760, created
such a division of sentiment in regard to the mor
ality of stage plays as to lead the worthy dominie,
Rev. Theodorus Freylinghausen, to start back in
despair for his native Holland, being induced to do
so by an emblematic message in the shape of a
club, a pair of old shoes, a crust of bread and a
dollar in money, left at his door the morning after
preaching a scathing sermon against the wickedness
of amateur theatricals. Taking the . hint that he
was no longer wanted, and that, therefore, his op
portunity for usefulness was gone, he sailed away,
and never came back, having been drowned on
the passage, whether by accident or suicide none
ever knew, although the latter was surmised.
Of the first visit of the Hallam company nothing
is known, except that they played in the Hospital
to a schedule of six, four and two shillings. The
Hospital stood near the site of the present Lutheran
Church on Pine street. The city then contained
only about 3,000 inhabitants. There was no news
paper, consequently all record of the season is
lost. In 1785, when, after the Revolution, a detach
ment of the American company again came up

from New York to try their luck in Albany, they
found the Gazette ready to publish their advertise
ment, which appeared December 5th, announcing
a performance, "by authority," of "Cross Pur
poses," and "Catharine and Petruchio," for De
cember 9th. It did not take place, however, till
December 13th. Meantime the storm of opposition
to the theatre, common throughout the country at
that time (except in the South), broke forth in
great violence. Seventy inhabitants signed a peti
tion to the city authorities asking them to recon
sider the permission given by them November 28th,
for the players to act, and a whole number of the
Gazette was given up to the consideration of the
subject by correspondents, most of whom were vio
lent in their denunciations of the drama; and one
or two went so far as to threaten to destroy the
building in which the plays were to be presented.
But the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen and Assistants,
after due deliberation, decided, by a vote of 9 to 4,
that consent having once been given, and that
without haste, and the players having been to ex
pense in fitting up the rooms, the city could not
withdraw from the contract without dishonor; and
so the performances began and were given twice a
week till the latter part of February, when the com
pany, after paying all their debts, departed for Mon
treal. In 1803, the company then managed by William
Dunlap, assisted by Lewis Hallam, played here
three nights a week, from August 22d to October
27, in a dancing-room which stood on what is
now North Pearl street, two doors south of Clinton
avenue. It was much the strongest company that
had ever visited Albany, and numbered among ils
members Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Jefferson, grand
parents of the Jefferson of the present day. Several
ineffectual attempts to establish the drama here by
other and less important companies followed, and,
in the spring of 181 1, John Howard Payne, the
author of "Home, Sweet Home," played a star
engagement, being then about twenty years old,
with two years' stage experience. It is fair to sup
pose that he aroused here something at least of the
enthusiasm which attended his performances else
where. Up to this time there had been no building
erected for a theatre. In November, 181 1, John
Bernard, actor, manager and litterateur, came on
from Boston, with this project in his head. The
burning of the Richmond (Va.) theatre, with its

704

HLSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

loss of seventy-one lives, which occurred Decem
ber 26th, following, had a most depressing effect
upon the plan. It threw a gloom over theatricals
in all parts of the country, and was looked upon
by many excellent persons as a visitation of Hea
ven's wrath upon unholy amusements. The pul
pits renewed their thunders against the play-house;
the newspapers teemed with long and wordy argu
ments for and against this form of amusement, and
the controversey waxed warm and bitter, as it has
done time and again, from the- days of Jeremy
Collier to the present In Albany, where the
proposition to build a permanent theatre was
just being agitated, the feeling was intense, and
a motion was made in the Board of AldeTmen to
put down all theatrical exhibitions as a nuisance.
This being referred to the Law Committee, they
made, January 12, 18 12, a long report, supposed
to have been written by Recorder John V. N.
Yates, and advancing the opinion
"That a well-regulated theatre, supported by
the respectable portion of society, so far from be
ing contrary to good order and morality, must es
sentially contribute to correct the language, refine
the taste, ameliorate the heart, and enlighten the
understanding." The report closed with a resolution " that the
Board cannot legally interfere, nor would it be ex
pedient for it to pass laws regulating or restraining
theatrical exhibitions in this city." This was adopt
ed, ten to three, and the theatre-building went
slowly on; Mr. Bernard, meantime, acting at the
old Thespian Hotel, as the hall near Clinton ave
nue was called.
The theatre was formally opened to the public,
January 18, 1813. The building still stands (1886)
on Green street, west side, south of Hamilton. It
is of brick, and was originally 56 by no feet. Its
builder was Lewis Farnham, and it was owned by
a stock company, among whom were Recorder
Yates, Isaac Hansen, George C. Sharpe, Isaac Q.
Leake and John J. Godfrey. Mr. Bernard was the
manager. The opening bill was the ' ' West In
dian " and "Fortune's Frolic." Admission $1,
75 and 50 cents. Solomon Southwick wrote the
opening address. Leigh Waring, father of Mrs.
J. W. Wallack, was the star, and in the company
were Mr. and Mrs. Bernard, the Placides, and
Mrs. Young, afterwards Mrs. Hughes, the favorite
"old woman" for so many years at Burton's.
Mr. Bernard managed the theatre for four seasons,
and soon after returned to Europe, where he died
November 29, 1828, aged seventy-two, in desti
tute circumstances. His ' ' Retrospections of the
Stage " show him to have been a man of wit and
learning, as he was unquestionably a fine comedian,
while his character was beyond reproach. Alto
gether, Albany's first manager was an ornament to
the profession.
The theatre did not have a very long life. In less
than five years it was found to be hopelessly un
profitable, and in June, 1818, was sold to the Bap
tist Society for a church, for which purpose it was
used till 1852. Its brief existence as a temple of
the drama has proved a mine of theatrical reminis

cences, well worked by Sol. Smith, the veteran
actor, who first went on the stage there, and by
Thurlow Weed, who was a frequent attendant. N.
M. Ludlow, the veteran St Louis manager, made
his start from the same place, having appeared' on
the stage there for a few times, and then running
away from home with Drake's expedition, which
started from here, via Cherry Valley and Coopers
town, for the wilds of Kentucky, en route introduc
ing the drama in Utica, Auburn, Geneva, and
other towns in-the west of the State. With them
went Miss Denny, a native of Albany, afterwards
Mrs. Drake, and for more than forty years a star in
the Western theatres.
In 1824-25 a theatre was built on South Pearl
street by a stock company. It stood on the site of
the present Leland Opera House, and is in part the
same building, although for nearly twenty-five years
it was used as a church, and once, all but the front,
was destroyed by fire. Philip Hooker was the orig
inal architect. The building was 62 by 116 feet,
and cost, with lot, about $25,000. It was opened
May 13, 1825, under the management of Charles
Gilfert, with " Laugh When You Can," and " Rais
ing the Wind." The company was of the best, and
included George H. Barrett, in his prime, a prince
of light comedians; Mrs. Henry, a beautiful woman,
soon after his wife; Thomas Faulkner, George P.
Hyatt, Mrs. Stone, and others. The elder Booth
was the first star, and he was followed by the bright
est and best in the profession. For a time Albany
had a model theatre. In the second season, Edwin
Forrest was a member of the stock company, and
here made rapid advance towards the greatness he
soon after reached. Here he played second to
Edmund Kean. It was the only time they were
associated upon the stage, and the great actor's in
fluence upon the young American was of the ut
most importance, while Kean publicly expressed
his admiration for Forrest. The company was soon
found too expensive for Albany patronage, and the
opening, on North Pearl street, of a popular circus
resulted in Gilfert's abdication in May. He took
most of the Albany company with him to the Bow
ery Theatre, of which he was the first manager, and
which opened the following October.
At the circus dramatic performances were given
in connection with equestrianism and spectacles,
and the place was largely patronized for a time, at
50 and 75 cents.
George Barrett, Henry Wallack, C. W. Sanford,
George Vernon, Duffy & Forrest, Dinneford &
Blake, H. W. Preston, and others, managed the
South Pearl Street Theatre during the next thirteen
years, none of them making much money. How
ever, the best attractions of the day were seen here,
including Fanny Kemble and her father; Macready,
Clara Fisher, Hackett, George Hill, Master Burke
(who subsequently resided near here), Tyrone
Power (who was nearly mobbed because he de
clined to play one evening to a small audience),
the elder Booth, Forrest (frequently), Josephine
Clifton, James W. Wallack, T. D. Rice, James E.
Murdoch, Charles Kean, Celeste, and many others.
The firm of Duffy & Forrest consisted of William

THE ALBANY STAGE.

705

Duffy (an excellent actor, an Albanian by birth,
who was stabbed by one of his company, John
Hamilton, and died March 12, 1836) and William
Forrest, brother of the tragedian.
In October, 1836, Charlotte Cushm an, afterwards
the very famous actress, became a member of the
stock company here, and on the very stage where
Forrest perfected himself in his life work, she prac
ticed in a great variety of characters. She was here
till the following April, and became a favorite both
on the stage and in society.
In 1839 this theatre was also turned into a
church, and was used by the Congregation of St.
Paul's (Episcopal) till 1863.
In December, 1840, Samuel H. Nichols opened
an amphitheatre on Dallius street, corner of West
erlo, and for some time it was both popular and
fashionable. Alfred B. Street wrote the opening
address. Later it was used for dramatic perform
ance, and, under various managements, Hackett,
Edwin Forrest, the elder Booth and others ap
peared. William Warren, Boston's favorite come
dian for so many years, was in the company in 1 84 1 .
The last performances were given in 1845, ar>d a
year or two after the building was partly destroyed
by fire.
The Odeon on Broadway, east side, south of
Division street, was the next theatre to open, which
it did February 1, 1847. It was small, but well
arranged, and many attractive performances were
given. It was burned in the great fire of 1848.
Meantime the Albany Museum, started in a
small way as early as 1808 or 1809 (there was a
Museum as early as 1798), by Trowbridge, and
continued by Harry Meech in 1826, was removed
January 1, 1831, from the corner of Hudson
avenue and Broadway to the corner of State and
Broadway, and established in a new building
owned by Thorpe & Sprague, and which for
many years was a very popular resort. At first
largely devoted to curiosities and freaks of nature,
the Siamese Twins, Joyce Heth, Tom Thumb and
other Barnum enterprises were exhibited here.
Concerts, monologues, lectures and light entertain
ments of various sorts were frequently given, and
more and more the place assumed a dramatic
character. In 1848 it was considerably enlarged,
and then became the leading, and at times the only
place of amusement in the city. Mary Wells,
Mary Gannon, Mary Taylor, Mrs. Vernon, Mrs.
John Drew and Mrs. Maeder (the famous Clara
Fisher of former days), frequently played long en
gagements, and there were stars almost without
number. The last performance was given here
April 28, 1855.
Before this, however, the drama returned to its
old home in this city, the old Green street theatre,
which, having been given up by the Baptists, was
opened July 5, 1852, by Henry W. Preston, man
ager, who proved unfortunate, and December 20th,
by Madame de Marguerites, an opera singer and
dashing adventuress, who fitted up the old place in
the most lavish manner, with two great mirrors for
the curtain. Her career was short and troubled.
E. S. Connor next tried his hand, with equally dis

astrous results, then Frank Chanfrau, with like ex
perience; then C. T. Smith. Under the latter, Rose
Eytinge played her first permanent engagement in
a stock company. In the season of 1857 and 1858
Burton played here, as did Matilda Heron. Later,
under the management of Captain John B. Smith.
Adah Isaacs Menken, in 1861, made here her first
appearance as Mazeppa, the role in which she at
tracted so much attention in this country and in
Europe. Another Green street theatre was the Gayety,
opened March 30, 1859, on the east side, south of
Beaver. The second season J. W. Albaugh was
the acting and stage manager. The Menken,
John Wilkes Booth, E. A. Sothern, George Hol
land and other stars appeared here before the place
degenerated, as it did within two or three years,
into a concert saloon.
In 1863, the city being without a respectable
theatre, John M. Trimble, a well-known theatre
builder, who had retired from active life on ac
count of blindness, bought the Pearl street prop
erty and remodeled it from a church back to its
original purpose. The opening was December 22,
1863. It was run for four or five seasons with
good stock companies, which, from time to time,
supported the principal stars. Mr. Trimble died
in June, 1867, and the next season his daughter
Ada was the manager, till January 29, 1868, when
the theatre took fire in the morning and burned
to the ground. For a year or more there was
not so much as a drop-curtain in the City of Al
bany, although Tweddle Hall, corner State and
North Pearl (erected in i860, burned January 16,
1883), was occasionally used for dramatic per
formances. October 4, 1869, a theatre, made out of a church,
in Division street, east of Pearl, was opened under
Frank Lawlor's management, and for a year or
two did extremely well, both artistically and finan
cially, although the location was against it, and
the rebuilding of the Pearl street theatre eventually
made it unprofitable. Tony Denier, Walter Kee-
ble and others succeeded to the management, and
a number of afterwards well-known actors played
in stock companies. The theatre was burned De
cember 8, 1876.
The present Pearl street theatre was rebuilt by
Lucien Barnes in fifty-one days, and opened as the
Trimble Opera House December 31, 1869, with a
strong company. Mr. Barnes managed it for two
years and a half in a liberal manner — too liberal for
the support given and his limited capital. The
property became the subject of much litigation,
but its title was finally acquired by Charles and
Warren E. Leland, who, in November, 1873,
leased it to Mr. J. W. Albaugh, who was the man
ager of the Leland Opera House, as it is still
called, till August 27, 1881. Mr. Albaugh was
the last manager to employ a stock company in
this city. His leading lady for several seasons was
Ada Rehan, now one of the favorite comediennes
of the metropolis. September 15, 1881, Mrs.
Rosa M. Leland assumed the management, which
she still retains, playing, as is the custom in all

706

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

cities outside the very largest, traveling combina
tions in from one to six-night engagements.
Another place of amusement which should not
be overlooked is Music (originally Martin) Hall on
Pearl street, corner of Beaver. It was erected in
1870, General John S. Dickerman being the first
agent. It was partly burned March 11, 1872, but
at once repaired,- and has been the scene of many
notable performances. Charlotte Cushman made
her last appearance in this city here. For the past
two seasons it has been devoted to amusements
afforded at very low prices by Jacobs & Proctor,
and, so far as attendance is concerned, has become
the most popular place of entertainment Albany
has ever known, with two performances daily, and
crowded houses being the rule every evening in the
week, Sundays excepted.
The history of the Albany stage has been quite
fully written by H. P. Phelps, under the title of
"Players of a Century " (Albany, 1880).
JOSEPH K. EMMETT.
The truthful history of the struggles of any young
man to earn his living in that mimic world, the
stage, has never yet been written. When it is,
it will make very entertaining reading. It will
have, of course, to be done in the most intimate
manner, and must include so many curious studies
and strange episodes, that its author, when he
comes, will perhaps do best to postpone the pub
lication of his work until he himself is comfortably
tucked away under that grassy counterpane, be
neath which the most reviled or the most lauded can
sleep in peace. Such a history would include the
narrative of many feasts of reason and unreason;
it would tell of many acts of kindness and many of
heartless oppression; it would lay open to the
world's view the life of the oddest society, the most
mixed, intimate and discordant to be found on the
surface of this planet. How generously befriended,
how zealously helped by kindly men who are al
most strangers, how pitilessly swindled, how stabbed
in the back, how wealthy with a transient dollar,
how poor with a liberal income — all these must be
faithfully described. The human animal is, how
ever, so constructed, that he can become accus
tomed to the strangest ways of living.
A typical life, one which has embraced poverty
of the acutest kind, giving place to opulence and
a life of success, rarely met outside the vivid im
agination of the dreamer, is that of Joseph Kline
Emmett, known to the world as "Fritz."
He was born in St. Louis, Mo., March 13, 1841,
in Sixth street, between St. Charles and Locust
streets, and next door to Armstrong's school. His
father, William B., and his mother, Evelina, were
of Irish descent, the latter being a member of the
famous Nihell family, of Ireland. Their circum
stances were humble. When Joseph was ten years
old his father died, throwing upon the lad the sup
port of his mother and two sisters.
Their little store of money was soon exhausted.
One day he discovered his mother and sisters in
tears, and, in reply to his query, His mother said

"My boy, we are starving 1" Fired by hope and
love, he exclaimed: "You shall be hungry no
longer," and left the room in search of work. His
age was almost an insurmountable barrier.
Finally, near the close of the day, he entered a
hominy mill and applied for work — "Work!
Work ! Anything to give my mother bread !"
The miller told him he was too young, that his
work demanded the strength of a man. Joe per
sisted and begged for a trial. Touched by the
boy's evident earnestness and independence, he
asked him, as a trial, to lift a large tub of corn and
empty it into the bin. This was done, and, upon
a promise that he would do the same during' all the
day's working hours, he was engaged at a salary of
$1.50 per week and all the " hominy the family
could eat." Some money was advanced, and, filling
a large basket with bread, the happy boy returned
home. To this day Emmett's eyes fill with tears and
his voice falters when relating the joy of his mother.
When commenting upon his after success, "If my
poor mother could but have lived to enjoy it with
me," is a frequent expression from him. He
worked in the mill for five months, doing the work
of a man. Down to 1856, in which year occurred
the greatest grief of his life, he found a livelihood
at different occupations. In this year his mother
died. His sisters soon married and he was left
alone. There is nothing wonderful in this old
story of a boy's struggle with poverty. That is
only too common. But the independence then
shown has been the marked characteristic of the
man. Emmett loves to tell the story of his early
life. There is no false pride in him.
A few years afterwards, Mr. Emmett met Eliza
beth Webber, daughter of Mahlon and Ellen Web
ber, the former of Philadelphia, the latter belong
ing to a leading family of Tennessee. The ac
quaintance grew into friendship, and from this to
love. Emmett desired a speedy marriage, but his
poverty seemed an obstacle not easily overcome.
At last he said to her: " I am miserable away from
you. In four days from now will you become my
wife ? True, I have no money, no work; but
you shall never want ?" With a woman's love and
faith she consented. Emmett was overjoyed, and
at once went to a friend, told him of his joy and
asked him to serve as "best man," and, equally
as important, to loan him a suit of clothes in which
to be married. The friend gave him well-meant
advice of worldly prudence — that it was folly for
him to even dream of such a union in his impov
erished condition; but with no avail. He then
yielded to his requests and promised to attend the
wedding, adding: "Joe, I'll bet you a hat that
you laugh during the ceremony." This wager was
at once taken. Iu July, 1864, the marriage cere
mony was performed by the minister who had
officiated at the funeral of Emmett's mother. To
this event he alluded so touchingly that smiles were
lost in tears. The hat was worn by Joe. Married
life, with its joys and responsibilities, was now
upon them; but the young couple, cheered on by
a mutual love, increasing with the growing years,
never feared. Mrs. Webber had prepared a room

2W*lfii JiBffills S.-f>s, Een TutJ,:.

THE ALBANY STAGE.

707

for her new son, but, with his usual independence,
he declined any aid, saying that he had " married
his wife to support her." After a short experience
at a boarding-house, which they were compelled
to leave, they removed to that' part of St. Louis
known as "Dutch Town," where, in a small tene
ment house, they hired one room. Their entire
household goods consisted of a grate, a dry-goods
box and a frying-pan, with nothing but the bare
floor for a bed — no mattress, no covering. The
simplest necessities of life were denied them. A
knife, fork or spoon, even, were unknown in their
domestic outfit.
One afternoon, while Joe was preparing dinner,
a rap was heard at the door. He called "Come
in," and turning around, frying-pan in hand, met
the astonished gaze of the minister who had mar
ried them. Without embarrassment, Emmett with
cordial cheer said: "Come, Doctor, pitch in;
fingers were made before forks," and proffered the
contents of the dish. The good old Doctor an
swered: " Hold on, my boy, we must ask God's
blessing first." They all knelt around the dry-
goods box, and a prayer was offered up which,
Emmett says, has followed him through life. After
this the Doctor joined in the simple meal.
For about two years they struggled on, Emmett
striving to subsist by any decent means. He had
gained considerable note as a "drummer boy,"
but, from a natural desire to follow some higher
social occupation, had given it up.
In 1866, he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he
had secured an engagement in the Varieties Thea
tre. There he originated the " Dutch Song and
Dance " business, which has had so many admirers
and unsuccessful imitators. His success suc
ceeded his expectations. _ Two years later he
went to New York, had "Fritz" written, and
November 22, 1869, it was first given to the pub
lic at Buffalo, N. Y., in the Academy of Music.
His success was instantaneous and phenomenal,
opening with a $500 house. The next night the
receipts were three times as much. Albany was
the second place in which "Fritz" was played,
the engagement opening in December, and contin
uing two weeks to crowded houses. Since then
" Fritz " has had uninterrupted success. " Fritz "
Emmett is known in all countries. Since

1 87 1 he has filled yearly engagements in London.
His "Lullaby " is one of the sweetest songs of the
world. Its pathos affects the listener when ren
dered by Emmett as words cannot describe. He
has listened to its melody as produced upon the
church organ, and his songs are heard in the "par
lors of the rich and the garrets of the poor. " He
composes all songs given by him, and is the father
of the " Dialect German Comedy." *
As an actor it is easy to rightly place " Fritz."
He simply acts in a perfectly natural manner. He
has no "method," no "theory" of acting, except
absolute naturalness, and it is this natural manner,
added to the inherent qualities of the man, that
has given him his unparalleled success. "Noth
ing succeeds like success," and success defies
criticism or rigid analysis. Were we to compare
him to any living actor it would be to Joseph Jef
ferson. There is much of similarity.
Since 1880 Mr. Emmett and family have made
Albany their home. The house is located on the
boulevard named Rensselaer avenue, and com
mands a magnificent view of the Hudson, the Cats-
kills, the City of Albany and surrounding towns.
The grounds and interior of the house — "Fritz's
Villa" — beggar description. From every clime have
been brought articles of interest, rare and costly.
To simply catalogue them would require pages of
this work. Occupying places of honor are the old
musical instruments which gave "Fritz" his start.
Every musical contrivance, from a hand-organ to
the grand pipe-organ, has a place.
One room, richly hung in silk, contains only an
easel concealed by heavy drapery, upon which, in
letters of gold, is the word " Mother." It holds a
portrait of his mother. The tender and loving
words with which he mentions her, shows better
than aught else the sweet side of this man.
As a man, Joseph K. Emmett is whole-souled,
generous, a kind father and a true husband. Fond
of the animal creation, his kennel of St. Bernard
dogs attracts world-wide interest. His love of art
and all kindred refining things is a part of himself.
Still a young man, rich in fortune, fame and
friends, with a loving, devoted wife and son, Joseph
K. Emmett, Jr., his life contains all the elements of
present joy, with no cloud to dim the horizon of
the future.

DENTISTRY.

IT is within a period less than a century that den
tistry began to take the rank of a distinct pro
fession, although centuries ago the art of preserving
and improving the beauty of the teeth had been
much studied. In the time of Herodotus dentistry
was practiced in Egypt with considerable skill.
Some of the work of these early dental practitioners
his been discovered, which shows a surprising
knowledge of dental surgery — knowledge which

seems to have been completely lost at a later pe
riod of history.
During the latter part of the eighteenth century
the attention of the medical men of France and Eng
land appears to have been seriously directed to this
branch of surgery. Numerous works on this sub
ject appeared at this time. Conspicuous among
them were those of Bichat, Blake and Hunter,
and about 1803 the treatises of Fox appeared,

708

HLSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

which laid the foundation of the English school of
dentistry. Dentistry was first introduced in the United
States during the Revolution by Le Mair, a French
man. About 1788, John Greenwood established
himself in New York as the first American of his
profession. The next American dentist of prom
inence was Leonard Koecher, author of the ' ' Prin
ciples of Dental Surgery, " which appeared in 1826,
and fully established the claims of the art to take
rank as a distinct branch of science.
Preceding the advent of the regular dental sur
geons in this country, even as late as 1803 the
making of teeth, and cleaning them, appeared to
have been in the hands of the silversmith and jew
eler. Extracting and other necessary dental op
erations were performed by regular physicians.
In 1820 there were but one hundred dentists in
the United States. Whether at this precise date
there were any regular practitioners in Albany, we
have not been able to learn. But as early as 1824
there were two dentists in Albany, Beriah Douglas
and Richard C. Skinner, the former of whom
remained in practice for many years, and was
the father of George Douglas, a dental surgeon
of this city of long practice and much prominence
in his day, who died in i860. The elder Douglas
and Richard C. Skinner were reinforced about
1832 by Ira W. Rutherford, probably the third reg
ular dental surgeon who settled in Albany. In
1835 we find the names of Henry Viller, Louis
Burdell and Verner Cuyler added to the list of
practitioners. The former was in practice here for
many years. Dr. Cuyler died a few years ago at
the Home for Aged Men.
From 1835 to 1840, the names of Josephus
Brockway, Alexander and Robert Nelson, W. A.
Hamilton, J. S. Wood, James S. McAllister, and
David Newcomb, appear among the dentists of
Albany. Of this list David Newcomb is the only
survivor. For many years he was a prominent
member of his profession. A few years ago he
retired from active practice, and at present resides
in Lansingburgh. Josephus Brockway will be re
membered by many of our citizens. He opened
an office on the corner of Maiden lane and
North Pearl street as early as 1835, and continued
in practice for many years. He died in 1879. ^e
had four sons, Josephus, William, Charles and
George, all of whom became dentists and followed
their profession in Albany. Of his sons, George is
the only survivor. Under the elder Brockway's
instruction, many of the earlier Albany dentists
studied the art of dentistry. Among his students
were Andrew Hoffman and the Nelson brothers,
three well-known members of the dental fraternity
in this city.
A few years after the advent of the elder Brock
way, John C. Austin, C. Copeland, Josephus
Brockway, Jr., J. Monroe, U. H. Wheeler, and
Simon Van Naum, were added to the list of Al
bany's dental surgeons.
John C. Austin was prominent in the dental pro
fession here for many years. He was born in
England in 18 17, came to America in 1826, and

settled in Albany in 1843, where he continued in
the practice of his art until his death in 1881.
From 1850 to i860, George Douglas, Barney
Wolfe, D. F. Beune, Thomas Elkins, E. Griffin,
Edward Owens, Horace Hogel, M. L. Rhein, and
W. F. Winne commenced the practice of dentistry
at various dates in Albany, Drs. Elkins, Rhein and
Winne being still in practice. D. F. Beune and
Robert Nelson both died in 1867, -after many years
of successful practice.
In the period from i860 to 1870 we find the
names of A. Bauer, J. A. Perkins, A. Carter, Bar-
nabus Wood, William Brockway, Caleb J. Wood,
C. F. Wheeler, F. Le Grand Ames, Alexander
McRoberts, and E. C. Edmonds included among
the Albany dentists, of whom Ames, Wheeler and
Edmonds only are now in practice.
Since 1870 up to the present time, the following
have been engaged in the practice of dental surgery
at different periods in this city, but are no longer
included among the Albany dentists: E. F. Skin
ner, M. Borst, Charles Morrison, R. D. Monroe,
H. J. Traver, Henry T. Flagg, J. P. Niles, and
B. L. Rhein.
The Third District Dental Society was formed
in 1868 by the dentists of the Third Judicial Dis
trict, as a division of the State Dental Society. At
the time of organization most of the members of
the profession in this district joined the Society;
but from internal discord, comparatively few of the
Albany County dentists now belong to the Society.
F. Le Grand Ames, E. C. Baxter, D.D.S., Frank
Schermerhorn, C. F. Wheeler, H. L. Whitbeck.
D. D. S. , F. Ouimet, and A. I. Verplank, embrace
the limited number now belonging to this organ
ization. The dentists at present practicing in Albany are
F. Le Grand Ames, Jbseph L. Appleton, C. F.
Wheeler, William F. Winne, Thomas Elkins, An
drew Hoffman, J. Bogardus, J. F. Brown, J. W.
Canaday, P. C. Carmichael, E. C. Edmonds, J.
Hine, E. C. Baxter, Frank Schermerhorn, H. L.
Whitbeck, F. Ouimet, A. I. Verplank, M. L.
Rhein, C. W. McConnell, John Roberts, M. L.
Rowe, D. E. Rugg, S. Tibbetts, T. R. Whitney,
S. W. Whitney, and E. M. Willett.
Following are short sketches of a few of Albany's
prominent members of the profession.
C. F. Wheeler was born in Albany in 1838.
He attended the Albany Public Schools and the
Albany Medical College, and studied dentistry with
David Newcomb; commencing the practice of his
profession in Amsterdam in 1862, where he re
mained four years and then removed to Albany,
where he has been located continuously ever since.
He is a member of the Third District Dental Soci
ety, and justly considered one of the leading den
tists of Albany.
William F. Winne was born in Albany in 1839.
Attended the public schools of the city until his
fifteenth year, when he commenced the study of
dentistry under George Douglass, and began prac
tice here in i860, where he has continued ever
since. For three years he was President of the
Third District Dental Society, and is a member of

CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION—MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.

709

the New York State Dental Society. In the latter
organization he has been Chairman of the Com
mittee of Arrangements for the last five years.
Andrew Hoffman was born in Albany in 1824.
He removed from the city when quite a young man
to Waterford, and established the Waterford Senti
nel, a journal which is still published. Later he
started the Vermont Christian Messenger, and the
Northfield Herald, at Northfield, Vt In 1857 he
returned to Albany, studied dentistry, and began
practice in 1863.
H. L. Whitbeck was born in Coeymans, Albany
County, in 1854. He practiced dental surgery for
a number of years at Greenville, Green County.
In 1880, he graduated from the Pennsylvania Col
lege of Dental Surgery, and began the practice of
his profession at Albany in 1882. He is a mem
ber of the Third District Dental Society, and author
of a treatise on "Caries; Cause, Treatment, and
Preservation of Natural Teeth."
B. F. Rhein was born in Albany in 1853; grad
uated from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Sur
gery in 1870. He has practiced his profession
successfully in the cities of San Francisco, Albany,
and Chicago, to which last place he removed in
1884.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION,
1786.
JULY 22, 1786, was the centenary of the existence
of the corporation of Albany as a city. At a
meeting of the Common Council held in the
City Hall, July 15, 1786, it was resolved to cele

brate this anniversary in an appropriate manner.
A committee, consisting of Aldermen Rensselaer,
Yates, Wendell, Lush, and Winne, was appointed
to make the necessary arrangements.
At a subsequent meeting, held July 18th, the
Committee made a report as follows: "The Com
mittee to whom was referred the mode of celebrat
ing the 2 2d of July instant, being the century
anniversary of this city, do report that, in their
opinion, the Common Council do convene in fore
noon of that day, at ten o'clock, at the City Hall,
and from thence proceed in procession to the hill
westward of the city, attended by such citizens as
shall choose; that, during the procession, all the
bells of the several churches in this city shall ring;
and at the arrival at the place assigned for the
purpose, on the hill, thirteen toasts, and one for
the charter, under the discharge of fourteen can
non; and that a barrel of good spirits be purchased
for the occasion." The report was accepted.
A Committee was appointed to conduct the whole
business of the celebration, who made it one of the
most magnificent displays ever known in the city
down to that time. The procession was an impos
ing pageant, and as it moved up State street pre
sented a splendid appearance. The ceremonies of
the celebration took place on the ground subse
quently occupied by the Old Capitol. The expenses
of this celebration were directed, by a vote of the
Common Council, to be paid by the Chamberlain,
or by the Mayor, including the supper, of which
the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commonalty of the city
partook at Lewis's Tavern on the evening of the
day of celebration.

MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.

FOR many years in its early history, Albany was
a military post of no mean importance. Dur
ing the Revolution and the War of 1812, it was the
key to all the strategic movements of the North.
As a consequence of the importance of its position,
there has always been a militia of some numbers
and importance here. In the early part of this
century the uniformed corps were mostly inde
pendent bodies, designated by a special title and
wearing uniforms of various patterns. Conspicu
ous among these early companies, besides those
which will be more especially mentioned hereafter,
were the Albany Republican Artillery, Albany In
dependent Volunteers, Ninth Rifle Regiment, and
Governor's Guards. At a later period were the
Emmet Guards, City Cavalry, Worth Guards, City
Volunteers, and Albany Scotch Light Artillery —
nearly, if not all of which companies were en
rolled at different times in the State Militia. The
earlier attempts at enrolling and instructing the
Militia is now chiefly remembered as "general
training day," when all able-bodied men of the
ages required for military service were assembled,

often without uniforms or arms, and a day spent
in instructing them. The Washington Parade
Ground, now a part of the Washington Park, was
frequently used for a day's encampment. The Old
Bull's Head on the Troy road was also used for
that purpose. In 1827 the 27th Regiment of New
York City (now the 7th), encamped there for a
week. But these yearly exhibitions became more
and more a farce until 1846, when an Act of the
Legislature was passed providing for a new enroll
ment and organization of the State Militia.
Albany has been the Headquarters of the State
Militia since the adoption of the State Constitu
tion, and it is but natural that some of the fore
most men in the organization in the past and
present, have been residents of this city. To give
anything like a complete history of the term ot
service of these representatives of Albany, would in
clude a' longer and more extended account of the
Militia of the State than we are at liberty to give.
Major-General John G. Farnsworth, recently
Adjutant-General, who, prior to the Civil War,
was a private in Company B, 76th Regiment N. G.,

710

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

S. N. Y., April 14, 1862, became Captain and
Assistant Quartermaster U. S. V. In the following
July he was made Chief Quartermaster, 4th Army
Corps. August, 1863, he was made Inspector in
Quartermaster's Department, West Virginia, with
local rank of Colonel, and was honorably dis
charged October 23, 1865, with the honorary title
of Brevet-Colonel U. S. V. In 1868, hewas made
Colonel 10th Regiment N. G., S. N. Y., and re
tained this position until 1871, when he resigned.
He became Adjutant-General January 1, 1883.
General Farnsworth was ably assisted in the man
agement of his department by Assistant Adjutant-
Generals Colonel John S. McEwan, Colonel J. B.
Stonehouse and Colonel Frederick Phisterer.
Third Division N. G., S. N. Y.— The State Mi
litia is divided into divisions, these subdivided into
brigades, regiments, battalions aud companies.
The Albany portion of the National Guard since
1846 has been enrolled in the Third Division,
which from 1846 to 1881 comprised the Ninth,
Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Brigades. The
Ninth Brigade included the military forces of Al
bany, which from ^1861 to 1875, beside infantry
companies, comprised two cavalry companies and
one battery of artillery. The Ninth Brigade for
many years was under the command of Brigadier-
General John F. Rathbone, of this city. He was
succeeded in 1867 by David M. Woodhall, who
remained in command until 1877. J. S. Dicke-
man, Frederick Townsend, and T. Ellery Lord
were, in the order named, in command of the Ninth
Brigade until 1881, when the Ninth became the
Fifth Brigade.
The Third Division, under the reorganization of
the Militia in 188 1, was made to include the Fifth
and Sixth Brigades and Fourth Battery of Artillery.
This Division is now under the command of Major-
General Joseph B. Carr, with headquarters at Troy.
The Fifth Brigade, as at present organized, was
created in 1881, and now includes the Tenth Bat
talion and thirteen separate companies. It is under
command of Brigadier-General Robert Shaw Oliver,
who in 1864 was Second Lieutenant 5th Mass. Vol
unteer Cavalry; in 1866, Lieutenant U. S. Infantry;
and in 1869, Captain 8th U. S. Cavalry. In the Na
tional Guards of this State he has been Colonel 10th
Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Ad
jutant-General of Brigade, and Inspector-General.
The staff of the Ninth Brigade is composed of
Colonel Frederick Phisterer, Assistant Adjutant-
General; Major Richard T. Lockley, Brigade In
spector; Major Jacob H. Tremper, Jr., Engineer;
Major Albert Hoysradt, Judge-Advocate; Major
Samuel B. Ward, Brigade Surgeon; William Omar
V. Sage. Ordnance Office; Major Le Grand C.
Tibbetts, Quartermaster; and Major Henry F.
Allen, Commissary of Subsistence.
The Twenti'-Fifth Regiment was organized in
1847. The first Colonel was Edward Frisby. In
1857 he was succeeded by J. W. Harcourt From
1858 to i860, E. J. Lansing was Colonel of this
regiment. The first call for troops for the Civil
War, 1 86 1, was responded to by the 25th Regi
ment, then under command of Colonel Michael K.

Bryan, James Swift, Lieutenant-Colonel, and
David Friedlander, Major. In 1861, with 575
men, it proceeded to Washington, and for three
months served in the defence of that city, and dur
ing its term of service built Fort Albany. The
companies which accompanied the regiment were :
Albany Republican Artillery, Company A, Captain
J. Fredendall; Montgomery Guards, Company B,
Captain T McDermott; Worth Guards, Company
C, Captain John Gray; City Volunteers, Company
D, Captain F. Marshall; Albany Washington
Light Infantry, Company E, Captain J. J. Huber;
McGraw Guards, Company F, Captain M. Mc
Graw; Albany Emmet Guards, Company G, Cap
tain Henry Mulholland; Garde Lafayette, Company
H, Captain Godfrey; Albany Washington Rifles,
Company L, Captain F. Niewdorf; Albany Bur
gess Corps, Company R, Captain Hale Kingsley.
After its term of service was completed, it re
turned to Albany, but was again mustered in the
United States' service for three months, May, 31,
1862, and ordered to Suffolk, Virginia; where it
remained during its period of enlistment, and
there completed its active service during the Re
bellion. Colonel Michael K. Bryan, after the return of
his regiment, was instrumental in raising the 175th
Regiment, N. Y. V, and in 1862 accompanied it
to the field as its first commanding officer. He
was a courageous and intrepid leader, and while
gallantly leading his command at the battle of
Port Hudson, was mortally wounded, and died on
the field at the head of his command. For nearly
a quarter of a century Colonel Bryan had taken
an active interest in the military organizations of
this city, and was held in high esteem as a gentle
man and a brave and worthy soldier.
Colonel Bryan was succeeded as Colonel of the
25th by James Swift, who was followed, in 1864,
by Walter S. Church, who remained in command
four years. D. Friedlander, F. Andes, M. J. Sev
erance, in the order named, were the commanders
of this regiment, until it was mustered out in
1881. The Seventy-Sixth Regiment was formed in 1 856.
Its first Colonel was Frederick Townsend, who was
succeeded in command, in 1857, by R. C. Bentley,
who remained its Colonel until it was mustered
out of the service in i860, at which time it was
composed of seven companies: Washington Con
tinentals, Carroll Corps, Jackson Guards, Marion
Rifles, Union Artillery, Albany Washington Rifles,
and Lafayette Guards. Of the above companies,
two are still in existence, the Washington Conti
nentals and the Albany Washington Rifles.
The companies of both the 2 5th and 76th Regi
ments were known by independent names and
continued to wear distinctive uniforms. The dress
of the rifleman, with its green trimmings, was to
be seen side by side with the red of the artillery,
yellow of the cavalry, red coats of the British, white
of the Austrian, and Scotchmen in kilts and bare
legs, were parts of the same regiment.
The Tenth Regiment was formed in i860. Col.
Ira W. Ainsworth, who was instrumental in organ-

MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.

711

izing it, was its first commander. Three times did
it volunteer its service to the general Government,
but it was not accepted till September 2, 1862.
At this time it contained ten companies: Company
A, commanded by L. U. Lennox; Company B,
under Captain Charles E. Davis; Company C,
under Captain Stephen Bronk; Company D, under
Captain James Dodds; Company E, under Captain
James McFarlane; Company F, under Captain R.
Harris; Company G, under Captain Morgan L.
Filkins; Company H, under Captain Harmon N.
Merriman; Company I, under Captain Edward
H. Tomlinson, and Company K, under William
H. Brandenburgh.
It entered the United States service for nine
months, and was assigned to General Banks' divi
sion as the 177th Regiment of N. Y. V. Sailing
from New York City in 1862, to New Orleans, to
take part in the campaign of the Gulf, on its ar
rival there it was assigned as one of the out
posts of the defenses to that city, serving in that
position until March, when the campaign in Lou
isiana was commenced. It served with the 3d
Brigade, 2d Division 19th Corps, on the Amite
River, and participated in the campaigns from New
Orleans to Port Hudson; at the latter place it was
actively engaged during the entire siege, taking
part in the battles of May 27th and 29th, which
resulted in the surrender of the fort and the open
ing of the Mississippi River. The 10th Regiment
returned to Albany in September, 1863. During its
term of service it lost nearly 200 men.
The different Colonels of the 10th Regiment, in
the order of their service, are as follows: Ira W.
Ainsworth, Frank Chamberlin, D. M. Woodhall,
L. U. Lennox, John G. Farnsworth, Daniel S. Ben
ton, John Burns, Robert Shaw Oliver, Amasa J.
Parker, Jr., and John D. Brooks.
In 1 864, considerable interest was taken in per
fecting and strengthening the 10th and 25th Regi
ments, which resulted in making them military
organizations which, for drill, discipline and ap
pearance, continued the pride of the city as long as
they remained in the National Guard.
A general reduction of the military forces of the
State, in 1881, resulted in the disbandment of the
10th and 25th Regiments, and the 10th Battalion
of four companies was organized out of the dis
banded forces.
The Tenth Battalion since its organization has
been commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William
E. Fitch. Mr. Fitch was a member of Company
E, 10th Regiment, when it enlisted in the United
States service as the 177th N.Y.Y. He remained
with this regiment during its entire period of ser
vice, and was honorably discharged with the State
brevet of Second Lieutenant, N. Y. V. Mr. Fitch
has for many years taken warm and active interest
in military matters, and held many positions in the
National Guard. The Staff Officers of the 10th
Battalion are: First Lieutenant Norton Chase, Ad
jutant; First Lieutenant Howard Batchelder, Quar
termaster; Major Lewis Balch, Surgeon; Captain
Charles H. Gaus, Inspector of Rifle Practice.
The Tenth Battalion is composed of Companies

A, B, C and D, which were formerly connected
with the 10th Regiment. Company A is com
manded by Captain John H. Reynolds; armory, 80
State street Company B is commanded by Cap
tain Horatio P. Stacpole; armory, no State street.
Company C is commanded by Captain James L.
Hyalt; armory, State Arsenal. Company D is com
manded by Captain Edgar V. Denison; armory,
State Arsenal.
Company A was organized as an independent
company about June 7, i860, and is known as the
Albany Zouave Cadets. It was joined to the Na
tional Guard December 29, i860,- as a part of the
10th Regiment. It accompanied that regiment
during its period of enlistment during the Civil War,
a description of which service is elsewhere given.
It was in the service of the State in 1865 in the
Anti-rent War, and in July, 1877, during the rail
road strikes at West Albany. During the Civil
War this company furnished nearly seventy-five
commissioned officers. An Old Guard, composed
of honorably retired members, was organized in
1883, and now numbers many members.
Company B, known as the Washington Conti
nentals, was organized as an independent company
July 4, 1854. August 28, 1856, it joined the State
Militia, a company of light artillery, and was at
tached to the 76th Regiment December 26, i860,
it was assigned to the 29th Regiment, and a few
days after became the nucleus and Company B of
the 10th Regiment, and remained with the latter
until it was mustered out of service. Company
B furnished the United States during the rebellion
with sixty commissioned officers.
Third Division Rifle Association. — In 1873, the
10th Regiment, National Guard, organized a Rifle
Association for the purpose of maintaining a rifle
range for the benefit of the members of the National
Guard. Subsequently, in 1875, it gave up its or
ganization and was succeeded by the Third Division
Rifle Association. This association, composed of
amateur and military riflemen, secured a plot of
ground at the Center, about eight miles from Al
bany on the line of the New York Central Railroad,
and spent several hundred dollars in clearing the
place and putting it in shape for the erection of the
butts for the accommodation of targets. Its dis
tance from the city and the time required to reach
the grounds, led to its abandonment before any
targets had been put up.
In 1877, ground was leased in the town of
Greenbush, Rensselaer County, on the Genet Farm,
and the range known as Grand View was laid out
and completed. It was opened in the spring of
1878. This range was used until June, 1880, when
the lease of the ground having expired, and the de
mand for a range more accessible required its re
moval, the targets and other appurtenances were
removed to a place about a mile above Bath on the
Hudson, and the new range, known as Rensselaer
wyck, was formally opened. This being on the line
of the railroad, easily reached at any hour of the
day, has become quite popular. At present there
are four targets used up to three hundred yards,
and three targets from four hundred to six hundred

712

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

yards. The National Guard in this vicinity use it
for their class practice during the summer, while
the amateur riflemen use it the year round.
The practice at the Rensselaerwyck range has
developed many first-class marksmen, some of
whom have achieved a national reputation, and
from the excellence of the scores made there, are
known to the shooting fraternity of the United
States. The principal event of the year is the fall meet
ing, which usually takes place in October of each
year. At that time, representatives from all the
military organizations assemble and compete for a
prize offered by the State of New York. The or
ganizations from this city have uniformly been suc
cessful in these contests, probably on account of
their being able to practice more frequently and
their better knowledge of the peculiarities of the
range. The Third Division Rifle Association numbers
about 175 members. The officers are Colonel
Amasa J. Parker, Jr. , President; Lieutenant Charles
H. Gaus, Vice-President: Lieutenant-Colonel Wm.
E. Fitch, Secretary; and Joseph N. McDonald,
Treasurer. Albany Rifle Association was organized in
1885 and contains about 38 members. J. W.
Freshknecht is President. Its range is situated at
the Abbey, about three miles from the city. Rooms,
No. 69 South Pearl street
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
The idea of forming a society of the surviving
soldiers and sailors of the Union Army which
served in the late Civil War, originated with Dr. B.
F. Stephenson of Springfield, Illinois. The first
post was organized April 6, 1866, at Decatur, Illi
nois. The first attempt at organization in New
York State was made in December, 1867, Post No.
1 being started in Rochester. Among those chief
ly instrumental in introducing the order in this
State were General Barnum, Geo. F. Hooper, John
Palmer, and Edward Cole. The first Commander
of the New York State Department was General Mc-
Kean. The Department Commanders since have
been General Sickles, Colonel Lansing, Generals J.
C. Robinson, Barnum, Stephen P. Corliss, Jardine,
John Palmer, Rogers, Tanner, McQuade, L. Coe,
Young, Merritt, J. S. Fraser, Reynold Hedges,
and H. Clay Hall. Of the above, list the name of
Corliss, Palmer and Young, represent Albanians
who have been especially prominent in G. A. R.
circles. Both Palmer and Young are charter mem
bers of Post 5 of this city, the former of whom
was at one time Past Senior Vice-Commander-in-
Chief, and is regarded as one of the most zealous
workers in the organization.
Lew Benedict Post, No. 5. The surviving
veterans of the war in this city were among the
first in the State to take an interest in advanc
ing the order, forming Lew Benedict Post, No. 5,
the fifth established in this State, which was organ
ized January 30, 1867. The first department con
ventions were held in the rooms of this post, corner

Green and State streets in December, 1867, when
General Daniel E. Sickles was elected Commander
and James L. Fanly, Assistant Adjutant-General of
the State.
It was named in honor of Brevet Brigadier-
General Lewis Benedict. Mr. Benedict was born
in Albany, September 2, 18 17. He was a lawyer
by profession, and stood deservedly high among the
legal fraternity of Albany. In early life he took
much interest in military matters, and in 1847 was
made Judge Advocate-General, on the Staff of
Governor Young, and held the same position in
1849, under Governor Fish. In 1861, he was
made Lieutenant-Colonel Second Fire Zouaves
and accompanied his regiment in several engage
ments. He was taken prisoner at the battle of
Williamsburgh, but was shortly after released. Sep
tember 30, 1862, he was made Colonel of the
i62d Regiment, N. Y. V., and served gallantly
with his regiment in numerous engagements, till he
was killed at the battle of Pleasant Hill, April 9,
1864, where his bravery and soldierly qualities
received the highest encomiums from his superiors.
His title of Brevet Brigadier-General was gained by
gallant conduct at the battle of Port Hudson. The
Grand Army Post named in his honor was among
the first organized in this State, and has always
taken a high rank among the Posts of the G. A. R.
The first Commander was Morgan L. Filkins. The
following have been at different periods Command
ers of Post 5: John Palmer, E. A. Ludwig, C. H,
Zeilman, William Blassie, C. C. Shaw, R. H. Mc
Cormick, T. C. Rowe, Jacob R. Terwilliger, Moses
Stern and N. S. McOmber, the latter of whom is
the present commander. One of the most com
mendable features of this Post is the efforts
that have been put forward toward aiding sick
and disabled comrades, and in assisting widows
and orphans of deceased soldiers. More than
$3,300,000 have been expended by Post 5 in
charities, and it is the only post in the city that
pays weekly benefits to its sick members. From
Post 5, Posts Nos. 121 and 63 of this City, and one
in New Baltimore, have been organized. On the
roll of membership there are at present over 400
members, while over 1,400 members have joined
it since its organization. It has been represented
in the State Department of the G. A. R., besides
those already mentioned, by William Blasie and
William H. Terrell, both of whom at different
periods have been Assistant Adjutant-General.
Connected with Post 5 is the Lew Benedict Re
lief Corps No. 44, organized in 1885, and at pres
ent composed of 60 ladies, the object of which
association is to assist the Post in works of
charity. For many years it has been noted for the ex
cellence of its social entertainments, and espe
cially for its Field Days, from which large sums of
money have been realized. Headquarters of the
Post are situated at Grand Army Hall, corner
Green and Beaver streets.
Lewis O. Morris Post, No. 121, was organized
August 21, 1870, and was the second post formed
in this city. It was named after Lewis Owen

MLLLTARY ORGANIZATIONS.

713

Morris, who was born at Albany, August 14, 1824.
In 1847 he received the commission of Second
Lieutenant in the First Artillery of the regular
army, in which he remained until 1854, serving in
the Mexican War, at the close of which he was
offered a brevet by the Secretary of War, which he
declined. In 1861 he was stationed in command
of Fort Brown, Texas. At this time the Federal
officers and soldiers in this State were joining the
Southern Confederacy, and his company was the
only one which refused to turn over the property
of the Government to the rebels. In 1862 he be
came Colonel 113th N. Y. S. V., an Albany County
regiment, which subsequently was changed to
7th Regiment N. Y. S. V. Artillery. In every
position where duly called, Colonel Morris showed
himself to be a brave and courageous officer.
He was killed at the Battle of Cold Harbor,
June 3, 1864. Colonel Morris was a worthy son
of a sturdy line of patriots, his father being killed
in the Mexican War, while his grandfather was
one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde
pendence. Post 121 is a strong and efficient organization,
numbering June 30, 1885, 319 members. It has
an auxiliary order, called the Women's Relief
Corps No. 45, numbering 50 lady workers, who
assist the Post in all charitable enterprises. The
first Commander of the Post was George H. Tread
well. At different periods the following gentle
men have held this position : S. P. Corliss, Martin
Harens, S. F. Busham, C. R. Becker, G. McFar
land and E. A. Coon. The present Commander is
George H. Treadwell, who has held this office con
tinuously since 1878.
In 1876 and 1877, Post 121 was greatly reduced
financially, and in numbers, owing to the large sums
of money it had expended in assisting sick and
disabled members. During this period, and subse
quently, the Post was much indebted to the per
sonal efforts of Commander Treadwell, who so
successfully managed its affairs, that to-day the
Post is out of debt, owns much valuable personal
property, and stands very high in the estimation of
the State Department About 125 of its members
are uniformed. Post headquarters are located at
480 Broadway.
George S. Dawson Post, No. 63.— This Post
was organized November 25, 1875, with about 40
members, and was named after Major George S.
Dawson, who was born in Rochester, November 7,
1838. For a few months preceding the fall of Fort
Sumter he was a member of Company B of the
10th Battalion. November 6, 1861, he became
First Lieutenant of Company F, 2d Regiment
N. Y. S. Volunteer Artillery. February, 1862, he
was promoted to captain. He died in Albany
December 6, 1865, from the effects of a wound re
ceived before Petersburg June 16, 1865. During
his term of service he distinguished himself as a
brave and efficient soldier.
The first Commander of Post 63 was Charles D.
Rathbone, since whom E. D. Ronan, Clarence
Corning, Edward McCammon, Angus McD. Shoe
maker, and R. C. Folger have held the position
90

of Post Commander. The present Commander
is Frederick McCammon. The Post numbers 82
members, with headquarters at the Armory, No.
480 Broadway.
Other Associations of the Grand Army of the
Republic. — Besides the three G. A. R. Posts in
this city, there are two other military associations
in Albany composed of soldiers and sailors who
served in the late Civil War. One is called the
Ex-Prisoners of War Association, and the other
the Seventh Regiment Heavy Artillery Associa
tion. The Ex-Prisoners of War Association was or
ganized in this city in December, 1879, and is
composed of the soldiers and sailors of Albany
County who were confined as prisoners of war dur
ing the Rebellion, and at present has a member
ship of 200, representing ex-prisoners from the rebel
prisons of Andersonville, Bellisle, Libby, Millers,
Florence, Salisbury and Camp Ford. The objects
of the association are to assist indigent ex-prisoners
of War and to secure the passage of a law granting
an additional pension to all who in the service of
their country were forced to endure the hardships
of the rebel prisons.
There are a State and National Order of this
Association, the State Association numbering 3,000
members, and the National 7,000. C. C. Shanklin
is President of the National Association.
Meetings of the Albany Association are held
quarterly, at 480 Broadway. The present officers
are Angus McD. Shoemaker, President; Lewis H.
Stremple, Secretary; and C. Schurr, Treasurer.
The 7TH Regiment Heavy Artillery Associa
tion was organized in 1881, and is composed of
the surviving members of the 7th Regiment,
N.Y.S. V, which participated in most of the great
battles of the Rebellion, and was largely composed
of Albany County soldiers. It numbers about 2CO
members. Meetings are held annually, the main
object being social intercourse. The present offi
cers are George H. Treadwell, President; David
Caswell, Secretary; and Angus McD. Shoemaker,
Treasurer. Sons of Veterans. — The Order of the Sons of
Veterans is composed of the sons of the soldiers,
sailors and marines who aided in suppressing the
Rebellion. The object is to keep alive and per
petuate the memory of the defenders of the Union,
and to preserve a spirit of loyalty and allegiance to
the United States.
There are 39 Posts in different parts of this State,
and of these, Frederick Townsend Post No. 1, of this
city, is the largest in membership, and takes high
rank for efficiency of organization. It has 140
members, fully uniformed, a drum and fife corps of
20, and a glee club of 10 members.
The present officers are James F. McCabe,
Commander; Joseph C. McClellan, Adjutant; and
Edward Fay, Quartermaster.
Besides Frederick Townsend Post, there are two
others, James M. Warner Post No. 30, and Wm.
H. Russell, Jr., Post No. 25, the former being
commanded by D. S. Harrigan, and the latter by
R. S. Cunningham.

714

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

INDEPENDENT COMPANIES.
From the very earliest period of the settlement of
Beverwyck to the present time, the citizens of
Albany have had many causes to kindle their mili
tary spirit, and to keep alive an excusable pride in
their military organizations. In the history of the
early wars this has been shown.
From the untrained, uncouth and burlesque
soldiers who maneuvered on the old Washington
Parade Ground, in a later period came many a
patriot who subsequently served his country with
fidelity and distinction, during the War with Mexico,
under Worth, Scott and Taylor, and later still, on
the stubbornly fought fields of the Civil War. The
un-uniformed militia of half a century ago did much
to encourage the organization of regularly enlisted
bodies of citizen soldiery.
Independent companies offered a field wherein
martial ambition could be gratified. To this state
of feeling the Burgesses Corps, Washington Conti
nentals, and a few other military companies maybe
said to owe their origin. Into such, young men
have flocked to learn the arts of war.
But the present excellent condition of the inde
pendent companies which now exist, in this city
more especially, can be attributed to the state of
feeling which existed at the close of the Civil War.
Then an immense army of trained soldiers, who,
on their discharge, returned to their homes to re
sume their peaceful occupations, still kept the fire
of patriotism burning in their breasts. They had
become educated in the life of a soldier on the
tented field, and almost irresistibly their thoughts
reverted to scenes of camp life, its trials and
its pleasures, whenever they saw a parade or
heard the strains of martial music. They natur
ally drifted in the military organizations which then
existed or have since been organized. It was chiefly
the infusion of this new influence which has raised
to such a high standard of excellence the present
military organizations of Albany.
Albany Burgesses Corps. — The Albany Bur
gesses Corps was organized on October 8, 1833, at
No. 28 Maiden lane, and derives its name Bur
gesses — i.e., Citizens — in honor of the original gov
ernors of Albany.
The first military officers were: Captain, John
O. Cole; First Lieutenant, Thomas Bayeux; Sec
ond Lieutenant, John Shorts; Third Lieutenant,
George Vance, Jr.; Ensign, Henry C. Southwick;
Orderly, John Osborne. The first civic officers
were: President, Parker Sargent; Vice-President,
Wynant Crannell; Secretary, George Trumbull;
Treasurer, Joseph Chatterson.
The first parade was made July 4, 1834, with 45
muskets and 5 officers. On July 25, 1834, the
Corps assisted in the torchlight obsequies of Gen
eral Lafayette. The pall-bearers were the revolu
tionary companions of General Lafayette, being
Gregory, Van Rensselaer, Van Alstyne, Hilton
Winne, Rockman, Russell and Slichl. The
Yorktown ordnance, 12 pounders, captured by
Lafayette, was in the procession. The first anni
versary of the corps was celebrated by an excur

sion to the United States Arsenal at Watervliet and
Troy. Subsequently, on the spur of the moment,
the Lafayette Guards of New York were received
and escorted to Cook's Garden, on State street,
where they encamped and were entertained, leav
ing the next day for Saratoga, this interchange of
military courtesy being the first time in which the
Corps had an opportunity to show its hospitality.
It was chartered by the Legislature of the State
of New York, Chapter 304, Laws of 1834.
On the 22d of July, 1835, the Philadelphia Na
tional Grays and Tompkins' Blues, of New York,
were received, and, with the Corps, were reviewed
by Vice-President Martin Van Buren. On the
14 th of September the Monroe Blues, of New York,
visited Albany, and were received and entertained
by the Corps.
On the 22d of February, 1836, the Corps gave
its first ball in Stanwix Hall, which had just been
erected, and continued at the same place on each
recurring anniversary of the birth of Washington
until 1848; afterwards at Knickerbocker, Van
Vechten and Bleecker Halls, the Delavan House
and Tweddle and Martin Halls.
In the latter part of 1836 the Corps made its first
extended trip, consuming ten days of time, and
visited New York, Brooklyn and Philadelphia, and
were all along the line received with free-hearted
and bountiful hospitalities. In 1837, the Corps
escorted Governor Marcy to Schodack Centre, on
the occasion of- the presentation of a flag; and the
same year, in conjunction with the Troy Citizens'
Corps, visited Catskill on an excursion.
On July 4, 1838, the First Company of Phila
delphia State Fencibles were the guests of the
Corps. A grand public dinner was tendered them,
of which 500 partook. A reception to the Utica
Citizens' Corps was another event during the same
year. In 1839, the Troy Citizens' Corps were enter
tained and a target excursion to Bethlehem took
place; and later, the Corps, with five other com
panies from Albany and three from Troy marched
to the Helderberg mountains, under command of
Major Bloodgood, to quell the anti-rent riots,
which was quickly done, without bloodshed, the
formidable appearance of the troops intimidating
the rioters.
In 1840, a target excursion was made to Sara
toga Springs, and later the Corps camped at Cox
sackie, Governor William H. Seward and staff be
ing the guests of the company on this occasion.
In 1841 the uniform was changed from blue to
scarlet after a long and lively debate. The New
York Light Guard were received and entertained.
The same year the Corps visited New York as the
guests of the Tompkins' Blues; also participated in
the second Helderberg War, and were received
upon their return by Governor Seward.
In 1842 the Poughkeepsie Guards were received;
also escorted and banqueted Eagle Engine Com
pany No. 7.
In 1843, the Corps visited Boston, and took part
in the celebration; attended the exercises upon the
completion of the Bunker Hill Monument, and

MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.

715

were highly spoken of by the Boston papers; also
made an excursion to Schenectady. During 1 844
the Washington Phalanx, of Boston, and the New
ark City Guards were received ; a target excursion
was made to Pittsfield, Mass. ; acted as escort at
dedication of Albany Rural Cemetery; participated
in the Columbia Anti-rent War; and buried Captain
Thomas Bayeux, and afterwards erected a hand
some monument to his memory. In 1845, the
Seventh Regiment of New York was escorted to
Camp Schuyler on the Troy road. Encamped at
the Catskill Mountain House in 1846. During
1847 escorted the remains of the Mexican War
veterans— Fields and Williams— to Buffalo. In
1848 the Corps' armory was burned; received and
entertained Company H First New York Volun
teers and the Boston City Guards. Saratoga was
visited in 1849; In 1850, New York, Boston,
Providence, Fall River, Lowell and Springfield,
consuming ten days. Guests of Boston City Guard
and Providence Light Infantry. In 1851, recep
tion of President Millard Fillmore; and visited
Springfield and met Boston City Guards. In 1852,
attended funeral of General Solomon Van Rensse
laer; also accompanied remains of Henry Clay to
Syracuse ; escorted Kossuth; also Major-General
Winfield Scott ; received the Paterson (N. J. )
Blues. In 1853, received the Providence Artillery.
In 1854, grand banquet at Capitol — twenty-first
anniversary; at funeral of Adjutant-General Tem
ple: also on guard under Sheriff. In 1855, first
-meeting in Museum Building Armory; received
Company D, of Buffalo; on guard under Sheriff;
also visited Lansingburgh. In 1856, paraded as
escort at dedication of Dudley Observatory. In
1857, escort at Inaugural of Governor King; at
tended inauguration of President Buchanan at
Washington; also Guard of Honor and escort at
funeral obsequies of Governor William L. Marcy;
also visited Waterford. In 1858, visited Sara
toga; by invitation of Corps, a joint parade was
made in Albany of Utica Citizens Corps, Troy
Citizens Corps and A B C's, in honor of defeat of
attempt to disband independent organizations; re
viewed by Governor King and staff; also visited
Hudson; also, paraded at night on completion of
laying the Atlantic Cable. In 1859 the monu
ment to Captain Thomas Bayeux was dedicated;
also guests of Governor Morgan on July 4th; also
received Fifth Company Seventh Regiment, N. Y.
S. M. ; also, target excursion to Saratoga Springs;
also escorted Perseverance Hose Company of Phil
adelphia ; paraded at Troy at funeral of Captain
Edward D. Blanchard, of Troy Citizens Corps.
In i860, escort to the Prince of Wales; also
received Ellsworth Zouaves, of Chicago, and Provi
dence Light Infantry; also encamped with Troy
Citizens Corps at Camp Morgan, Saratoga Springs,
and reviewed by Governor Morgan; also on guard
under Sheriff. In 1 861, escort to President Abra
ham Lincoln; also escort to Governor Morgan at in
auguration. The Company, 84 rank and file, under
Captain Hale Kingsley, fully equipped, at its own
expense, left for the seat of war, April 30th, in res
ponse to first call for troops; dedication of Fort

Albany on Arlington Heights, Va. ; also paraded
at funeral of W. A. Jackson, of A B C's, 18th N.
Y. V. In 1862 paraded at funeral of Colonel
Edward Frisby and Harman Visscher, of the A B
C's, and Colonel Pratt Armory removed to
Bleecker Hall; also escort to Fire Department
In 1863 paraded at funerals of Colonel M. K.
Bryan and Captain Douglas Lodge. In 1864, pa
raded at funerals of Colonels John Wilson and
James D. Visscher, and Captain Robert Bell, all of
A B C's; also presented a battle flag to Colonel
Wilson's 43d N. Y. V. In 1865, escort to re
mains of President Abraham Lincoln; also received
and entertained at armory the 43d Regiment, N.
Y. V, on its return from the war. In 1866,
reception and Guard of Honor to President John
son; also grand banquet at Congress Hall. In
1867, grand charity ball, gross receipts $2,740;
also excursion to Newburgh. In 1868, Utica
Citizens' Corps, our guests; received Company B.
on its return from New Haven; also ball and con
cert at Tweddle Hall. In 1869, at Washington,
at inauguration of President U. S. Grant; also an
excursion to Binghamton, presenting Fire De
partment with silver trumpet; also funeral of Ma
jor-General John E. Wool; also reception of 7th
N. Y. Regiment. Old Guard of A B C was or
ganized September 20th. In 1870, excursion to
Elmira; grand ball at opening of Martin Hall;
also paraded at funeral of General George H.
Thomas, U. S. A., at Troy. In 1871, at laying
of corner-stone of New Capitol ; also received
Fountain Hose Company No. 4, of Binghamton;
also subscribed $1,000 and sent 300 blankets to
the relief of the Chicago sufferers. In 1872, ex
cursion to Poughkeepsie; also presented with a
silk flag by the Binghamton Fire Department. In
1873, escort at inauguration of Governor John A.
Dix; also at Washington at second inauguration
of President U. S. Grant; also funeral escort of
Captain William H. Taylor. In 1874, excursion
to Syracuse; also grand charity ball at Martin Hall;
net proceeds $2,683. In 1875, excursion to
Hudson; also, a parade at Schenectady. In 1876,
the Nation's Centennial; made a midnight parade.
In 1877, excursion to Rochester. Buffalo and Ni
agara Falls; guests of Buffalo City Guard ; also
served six days in July railroad riots; also escorted
Worcester Continentals. In 1878, excursion to
Utica; guests of Utica Citizens' Corps; also at
Saratoga with Old Guard of A B C; also at fu
neral of John 0. Cole, the first Captain of Corps;
also the Charter of Corps confirmed by the New
York Legislature. In 1879, escort at National
G. A. R. and Army of the Potomac celebrations
at Albany, during which time the Old Guard of
New York and the Utica Citizens' Corps were our
guests; also escorted Post 2, G. A. R., of Phila
delphia, and Post 1, G. A. R., of Baltimore; also
went on an excursion to Pittsfield; also on guard
under Sheriff; also a grand ball in Martin Hall, in
adjunct to the opening of the New Capitol. In
1880, gave a reception to its own Old Guard;
also escorted the Albany Fire Department; also at
funeral of S. S. H. Parsons, for twenty-five years

716

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

President of Corps. In 1881, grand ten- day ex
cursion to Binghamton, Chicago, St. Louis, Cin
cinnati and Cleveland, in a great special train of
Pullman cars; also funeral escort of Hale Kingsley,
ex-Captain of Corps; also a midnight reception to
Utica Citizens' Corps while on its way to Wash
ington. In 1882 it made an excursion to North Adams,
through Hoosac Tunnel and to Williamstown. In
1883, funeral escort to ex-Captain William J.
Thomas; also celebrated its "Semi-Centennial,"
October 8th and 9th, by parades, banquets, ball,
etc., with Governor Grover Cleveland and Staff as
guests; also at celebration of Centennial of Evac
uation of New York, in New York City. In 18S4
visited Slingerlands on target excursion; also escort
at laying of corner-stone of All Saints Cathedral. In
1885, participated in funeral ceremonies and as
Guard of Honor to General U. S. Grant, at Al
bany, August 4th and 5th; also excursion to Bos
ton, Providence and Worcester.
For twenty-five years the Corps commemorated
Washington's Birthday by a ball; and has not failed,
in fifty-two years, pursuant to the requirements of
its constitution, to parade upon tlie day of the
Celebration of the Anniversary of the Declaration
of Independence of the United States; and since
1 84 1 it has acted as escort to the Mayor, Alder
men and Commonalty of the City of Albany on
that day.
The Commandants of the Corps since October 8,
1833, have been John O. Cole, Thomas Bayeux,
John Osborn, B. R. Spelman, Rufus King, Franklin
Townsend, James W. Blanchard, George Hum
phrey, William J. Thomas, Hale Kingsley, James
C. Cook, Michael H. Donovan, William H. Tay
lor, Walter Dickson, Henry B. Beecher, Frank W.
Vosburgh, and Oscar Smith.
The following are the present officers of the Corps
1884-85. Military: Oscar Smith, Commandant;
Wm. M. Hussey, First Lieutenant; James Mc
lntyre, Second Lieutenant, James A. Shattuck,
Third Lieutenant, Charles E. Wolf, First Sergeant
Staff: Graham Martin, Adjutant; Frank J. Childs,
Inspector; Henry C. Haskell, Engineer; Jacob C.
Cuyler, Judge Advocate; H. E. Mereness, M.D.
Surgeon; Chas. E. Jenkins, Sr., Ordnance Officer;
William J. Sherman, Quartermaster; Morton Ha
vens, Assistant Quartermaster; A. H. Ackerman,
Paymaster; Charles E. Leland, Commissary;
George L. Thomas, Inspector Rifle Practice; Galen
R. Hitt, Signal Officer; A. F. Brown, Aide-de-
Camp; Civic: Galen R. Hitt, President; Henry
C. -Haskell, Vice-President; Charles E. Wolf, Re
cording Secretary; J. J. Van Schoonhoven, Finan
cial. Secretary; H. E. Mereness, M.D., Treasurer.
Washington Rifle Company. — This military or
ganization was formed February 22, 1844, with
only 26 members. Formerly it was composed
entirely of Germans, and now is composed largely
of that element. Its first captain was Henry Fakle.
During its first year it was presented by ladies of
Albany with a beautiful flag, costing $600, upon
which was a portrait of General Washington. This
the company still retains. In 1845 it went to

Hudson with 40 men, against the anti-renters. In
1 86 1, with about 40 men, it joined the State Militia
as a part of the 25th Regiment, and went with it to
Washington. After it returned to Albany, it assisted
in guarding the Albany barracks. In 1866 it joined
the 25th Regiment as Company K, remaining as
the State Militia until the disbandment of the regi
ment in 1881.
In 1 88 1 it was reincorporated as an independent
military association, with the right of wearing and
bearing arms, holding property and paying benefits.
At present it is a military organization, finely drilled
and handsomely uniformed, containing 46 regular
members, 3 line and 10 staff officers, 2 color bear
ers, and a company of 25 members, constituting
the Old Guard. This company has always taken
much pride in its uniforms. In 1866 it spent over
$4,000 for that purpose, and while in the State
Militia it retained its own uniform.
George Krank, now Captain of the Washington
Rifle Company, has always taken much interest in
this organization from its start He served with it
in the Rebel War, and after its return from service,
entered the 44th Ellsworth Zouaves. Afterward he
was made Brevet-Captain in the 7th Heavy Artillery.
In the National Guards he was made Major of the
25th Regiment, afterward Lieutenant-Colonel, hav
ing command of the regiment when it was mustered
out in 1881.
Since the organization of the Washington Rifle
Company, besides those already mentioned, the fol
lowing have been Captains in the order named :
Christopher Triger, J. J. Huber, W. P. Paff, John
Zimmerman, Frederick Wenderfer, Frederick Kreen-
dler, August Widdman, and Mathias Keiser.
A lb any Jackson Corps. — For many years previous
to the year 1868, there existed in this city a Young
Men's Democratic Association, which was large in
numbers and wielded no little influence as a polit
ical body. It was in its zenith of vigor when Franklin
Pierce was elected President in 1853; but after the
election of Buchanan, in 1857, began to wane. It
gradually grew weaker until 1866 or 186 7, when the
Jackson Association was formed upon the ruins of
the once powerful Young Men's Democratic Asso
ciation. The new association, as well as the old,
had quarters in the old Exchange Building; but in
1867 the Jackson Association changed its quarters
to the iron building on Broadway. In the ranks
of the latter association were several of the leading
local politicians of the day; but they, like their
predecessors, gradually became less interested in
the welfare of the association, until the early days
of 1868, when they resolved to disband. At this
time there were several active men in the organiza
tion, among whom may be mentioned the following:
Andrew M. Combs, Samuel K. Brate, Adam
Cook, Wm. J. Cook, John C. Nott, George W.
Harcourt, Michael L. Mead, William Hodgsett,
Peter Hogan, John M. Carroll, George H. Graves,
Denis A. Rowan, James A. Browne, Thomas H.
Dwyer, Jerome Smith, Edward Bostock, Andrew
Vosburgh, Harry Ball, John J. Mee, Henry C.
Haskell, Joseph B. Zeiser, William Le Galley,
James H. Mulligan, G. Dudley Burdick, Charles

MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.

717

H. Blake, Albert Albers, George B. Conley, John
M. Rankin, Alexander Reed, John R. Bradstreet,
James Allanson, Edward J. Keating, James A.
Lynam, James Macfarlane, Conrad Reno, Robert A.
Scott, Oscar L. Hascy, Andrew Tennant, Robert H.
Moore, James Quinn, Terence J. Quinn, George W.
Hoxie, Henry R. Haskins, William J. McCann, and
other well-known citizens.
Captain James Macfarlane, a member of the
Association, who had served during the Rebellion,
in the 177th N. Y. V., and who was also
identified with the National Guard, conceived the
idea of organizing a military company from the
remnant of the old Jackson Association. In this
suggestion he was ably supported by Jerome Smith,
Albert Albers, T. J. Quinn, Wm.J. Cook, Thos. H.
Dwyer, Peter Hogan, and Henry C. Haskell, who
had also served as soldiers during the war. The
idea was received with enthusiasm, and pushed
forward with vigor, resulting in the organization of
the Albany Jackson Guards, August 13, 1868, with
the following officers :
Captain, James Macfarlane; First Lieutenant,
William Le Gallez; Second Lieutenant, Jerome
Smith; First Sergeant, John R. Bradstreet. Staff
Officers: Adam Cook, Henry C. Haskell, Peter
Hogan, John M. Rankin, Alexander Reed, George
H. Graves, Oscar L. Hascy, James H. Mulligan,
Henry R. Haskins, William D.Dickerman, Andrew
M. Combs, George W. Hoxie, John L. Staats,
Andrew Vosburgh, Edward Bostock.
For a year or two the organization was known
as the Jackson Guards, after which the name was
changed to the Albany Jackson Corps. In polit
ical campaigns the organization formed the pop
ular Jacksonians, and took part in all the great
political demonstrations occurring during the en
suing ten years.
The Jackson Corps acted as escort to Hon.
John T. Hoffman on the occasion of his inaugu
ration as Governor, January 1, 1869. It was a
memoiable day, a blinding snow-storm prevailing,
the members of the Corps being literally covered
with snow as they marched along the streets.
The Jackson Corps also acted as the immediate
escort to Hon. Samuel J. Tilden on the occasion
of his inauguration as Governor on January 1,
1875. This was an honor which the members ap
preciated so greatly that they engaged the famous
Gilmore's Band, of New York, at a great ex
pense, to furnish the music for the parade.
The Jackson Corps participated in the cere
monies attending the laying of the corner-stone
of the New Capitol, June 24, 1870. On this oc
casion they marched though a drenching rain
storm, each man getting saturated.
The Jackson Corps also took a prominent part in
the Centennial displays which took place on New
Year's Eve, 1 876, and on July 4th of the same year.
During the riots of 1877, the Jackson Corps was
assigned the important position of guarding the up
per railroad bridge, and so satisfactorily did they
perform their duty, that the Commanding Officer,
Major-General Joseph B. Carr, took occasion to
compliment them in general orders.

Two of the grandest public balls ever given in
Albany were under the auspices of the Jackson
Corps. One was at Tweddle Hall in 1872, and
the other in 1874, when Music Hall and the City
Building were joined by a bridge, and both build
ings devoted to the pleasure of the immense
throng in attendance. The decorations of the
above halls on these respective occasions were
hever excelled. On the latter occasion a real
stream of water flowed down among the rocky for
mations on the stage, while canaries, Cologne
fountains and an elaborate floral display, converted
the hall into a bower of enchanting beauty.
About the year 1878, the Jackson Corps, which
had hitherto been looked upon as a political body,
became in every sense an independent military or
ganization, its doors being thrown open to all re
spectable young men, no matter what their politics,
and the company is to-day one of the strongest
and best disciplined bodies of citizen soldiery in
the State.
Since organization it has visited Hudson (twice),
Kingston (twice), Saratoga, Utica, Troy (three
times), Schenectady, Springfield, Mass. , Elizabeth,
N. J. (twice), Boston, Mass., Washington, D. C,
Baltimore, Md., and Philadelphia, Pa., in each of
which the company was hospitably received and
royally entertained by citizens and soldiers.
In 1879, the Corps received and entertained the
veteran Zouaves, of Elizabeth, N. J., General J.
Madison Drake commanding, and acted as escort
to the above organization in the grand parade
which took place on the occasion of the reunion
of the Grand Army of the Republic in this city in
1879. One of the memorable events in which this or
ganization participated, was the inauguration of
Governor Cleveland as President of the United
States, at Washington, D. C, March 4, 1885, on
which occasion the Company was a marked feature
in the military parade, winning applause all
along the line for its magnificent appearance,
splendid marching and thorough discipline. An
other event of note in which the Jackson Corps
added to its proud record and reputation, was the
funeral procession in Albany over the remains of
General Ulysses S. Grant, August 4 and 5, 1885.
In the procession on the 4th of August, the Jack
son Corps acted as escort to the Grant Club, when
the brilliant uniform of the Corps shone resplen
dent amid its somber surroundings, and the steady,
soldierly marching of the men won general admi
ration from the assembled spectators. On the
morning of August 5th, the Jackson Corps acted
as a Guard of H onor over the remains of General
Grant, while they lay in State in the New Capitol,
from 7 a.m. until 9.45 a.m., the casket being re
moved from the Capitol at 10. 20 a.m.
The Jackson Corps owns property valued at
$10,000, embracing uniforms, equipments, arms,
furniture, pictures, etc.
The company was organized August 13, 1868.
It is named after General Andrew Jackson, the hero
of New Orleans, and President of the United States
from 1829 to 1837, whose birthday, March 15th,

718

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

the Corps annually honors by a parade and banquet,
the latter being always attended by many leading
citizens as guests.
James Macfarlane was the first Commandant of
the Albany Jackson Corps, and has been unani
mously re-elected to the same position each year
since. He is still at the head of this organiza
tion, with a record of over thirty-five years of
consecutive military service. He commenced his
military career in 1850, being one of the organi
zers of the old Worth Guards on May 27th of
that year. He also served as Captain of Com

pany E, 177th N. Y. V., during the campaign of
that regiment in Louisiania, under General Banks,
in 1862-63.
The Jackson Corps Association is incorporated
under the laws of the State, and is composed of
members of the Corps. This association owns the
building No. 38 Beaver street, occupied by the
Jackson Corps as an armory.
Corning Corps. — This company, composed of
thirty-three young men in the lower part of the city,
has been but recently organized. It is named in
honor of Erastus Corning.

SECRET ORDERS.

FREEMASONS.
THE first organization of Freemasons existing
in Albany after its settlement, was Lodge No.
74 (Registry of Ireland), composed of officers in
the Second Battalion Royal, holding a warrant
from the Grand Lodge of Ireland, dated October
l&i 1737- There is every evidence that they were
scholars and gentlemen, as they brought with them
and kept up a large and valuable library of rare
books, which they left here when the battalion was
ordered away. Many, if not all the volumes are
now in the library of the Albany Female Academy.
In April, 1759, the battalion having been ordered
to some other post, left the city. Several citizens
had been admitted to the lodge during the stay of
the battalion, and the officers left authority for the
resident members to continue their meetings.
Masters' Lodge purchased from the city a plot of
ground on the northwest corner of Lodge street
and Maiden lane, and the city having donated an
adjoining piece of ground, a lodge-house was
erected by Masters' Lodge and the Ineffable, the
comer-stone of which was laid with ceremony,
May 12, 1768. This was the first lodge-house in
America. The building after completion was occu
pied by the two bodies for some years, but the
records fail to show at what time it was vacated.
The ground is still the property of Masters Lodge,
and has been leased to St. Peter's Church for a
term of years. The rectory of the church stands
upon the ground.
Henry Andrew Francken came from Jamaica, and
on the 20th of December, 1767, instituted the
Ineffable and Sublime Grand Lodge of Perfection.
The original charter of the body is still in its pos
session, and has been its authority from that time
to this. The Grand Council of Princes of Jeru
salem was organized at the same time.
Meetings of all Masonic bodies are now held in
the Albany Savings Bank Building, where are two
lodge rooms, a library, an armory, waiting and
reception rooms, all handsomely furnished and
nicely adapted to their use.

The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of
the State have met annually since 1798, on the first
Tuesday in February, in Albany. All meetings,
from an uncertain date, were held in the building
southwest corner Broadway and Steuben, until
1861, when they were removed to a hall in the
building occupied by W. M. Whitney & Co. , until
1875, when the present hall was formally dedicated
and occupied. The Order has had public parades,
and laid the corner-stones of the Old and New City
Halls, the New Capitol, the U. S. Government
Building, and many other public buildings.
Before the American Revolution most of the
Grand Lodges of the United States were held under
the authority of the Grand Lodge of Ancient York
Masons in England, and were denominated Pro
vincial Grand Lodges, and subject to the super
vision of the Grand Lodge of England.
The first Masonic Lodge constituted in Albany
was called the Union Lodge. It was organized
February 21, 1765, under the authority of George
Harrison, Provincial Grand Master, who installed
Peter W. Yates as Worshipful Master. The fol
lowing year the city gave a plot of ground on the
hill near the fort adjoining the English burying-
ground, on which to erect a lodge building. The
name of this lodge was afterward changed to its
present title, Mount Vernon Lodge.
Masters' Lodge, No. 5, was organized March 5,
1768.. Its first Master was William Gamble, and
its first Wardens Samuel Stringer and Jeremiah
Van Rensselaer.
After the Revolution, and about the year 1785,
the Provincial Grand Lodge of the State of New
York was closed, and an Independent Grand Lodge
opened in its stead. Yet the Masons of the State
of" New York looked to the Grand Lodge of Eng
land for instruction in the operations of the craft.
About the year 1793, John Hanmer came from
England to the City of Albany, and remained here
until 1800. He was well skilled in the ancient
lectures and mode of work as practiced in Eng
land. T. S. Webb, Ezra Ames, Gideon Fairman,
Philip S. Van Rensselaer, and many others residing

SECRET ORDERS.

719

in Albany, put themselves under his instruction
who conformed his practice to the lodges then ex
isting. He awakened much interest in masonry,
and during his stay, on November 14, 1796, Tem
ple Lodge, No. 14, was established, of which he
was first Master; Temple Chapter, of which he was
the first High Priest; and the Grand Chapter, of

which he was Secretary. The early Masonic insti
tutions in and around Albany were reorganized
under his supervision, and owe much to his thor
ough knowledge and instruction. .
Below will be found a table giving the most iin-
portant facts relating to the several lodges in this
city.

Lodges.

Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 3 . . . .
Masters' Lodge, No. 5 
Temple Lodge, No. 14 
Washington Lodge, No. 85 
Ancient City Lodge, No. 452. . .
Wadsworth Lodge, No. 417 
Guttenberg Lodge, No. 737 
Chapters.
Temple Chapter, No. 5 
Capital City Chapter, No. 42. . .
De Witt Clinton Council, No. 22
Commandery.
Temple Commandery, No. 2 

Instituted.

Incorporated.

Feb. 21, 1765
Mar. 5, 1768
Nov. 11, 1796
1841
July 21, 1852
Jan. 23, 1856
June 20, 1873

1797
Feb., 1870
June 4, 1861

Membership. 1882-83.

Mar. 17, 1874
May 26,' 1 881
June 15, 1868
June 12, 1857

1878
March, 1870

1797

1877

19S185
357 130
224 :?5 80
L359

Monthly Meetings.

1st and 3d Mondays.
2d and 4th Mondays.
1st and 3d Tuesdays.
2d and 4th Thursdays.
1st and 3d Wednesdays.
2d and 4th Wednesdays.
1st and 3d Thursdays.

2d and 4th Tuesdays.
2d and 4th Fridays.
3d Thursday.

1st and 3d Fridays.

The returns made in 1849 showed a total mem
bership of 1 1 7 in the lodges then existing. There
have been many additions made to all the organ
izations since 1882-83.
Other Masonic bodies in Albany are: Temple
Tabernacle, No. 5, U. S. A.; Albany Conclave,
No. 8; Red Cross of Constantine; Ineffable and
Sublime Grand Lodge of Perfection; Grand Coun
cil of Princes of Jerusalem; Albany Sovereign
Chapter of Rose Croix, Albany Sovereign Consis
tory; Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret; Cypress
Temple, N. M. S.
ODD FELLOWSHIP.
Odd Fellowship makes no claims to antiquity,
but history gives no record of the date of its origin.
The first public notices, at the beginning of the
eighteenth century, show it to have at the time
been an Order of considerable membership, with a
sufficient number of subordinate organizations to
be worthy of notice by poet and historian. Its
existence was mainly confined to Great Britain
where there now exists twenty-seven branches of Udd
Fellows, and the entire membership of the world is
estimated to number nearly two millions. The es
tablishment of the Order in America was a trans
planting from England. The first lodge m this
country is supposed to have been organized at
Baltimore in 1802, and one is known to have
sprung up in New York in 1806, but the first suc
cessful planting of the Order on this continent was
bv Thomas Wildey, an Englishman, and four asso
ciates, members of the Order in the mother country,
at Baltimore, April 26, 1819. From that founda
tion has been built up the great Independent Order

of Odd Fellows of America, which has admitted
1,365,000 members, given relief in 1, 152,000 cases
of sickness and distress, aided 152,000 widowed
families, buried nearly 113,000 members, and ex
pended for the same the sum of $39,000,000, out
of an income of Si 04, 000, 000. On January 1,
1885, the Order contained 8,057 lodges, with an
active membership of 532,467. The sum of $2,-
111,927 was expended in relief during 1884, or
$5,800 each day; while the income from dues and
fees amounted to $5,275,000, or $14, 4 5° each
day. The Order's first principle, Fraternity, is founded
on the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of
Man, requiring the practice of true friendship and
brotherly love. To visit the sick, relieve the dis
tressed, bury the dead, protect and aid the widow,
and educate the orphan, is the obligated duty of
the membership. Its teachings lead to the im
provement and elevation of character and enlight
enment of the mind.
The history of the Order in Albany County has
never been written, and the limited time at our
command does not permit of searching the records
of the numerous subordinates to obtain a continu
ity of facts and figures. The first lodge to be in
stituted was Hope Lodge, No. 3, now existing as
No. 2, which was granted a dispensation April 24,
1826. The second lodge was Philanthropic Lodge, No.
5, for which a charter was granted in September,
1827, to Russell Watts, John Snyder, John Osborn,
Isaac L. Welsh and Peter H. Snyder.
In August, 1828, Russell Watts, of Albany, was
elected Grand Master, and shortly afterward Clinton
Lodge was organized by John O. Cole, Daniel P.

720

HLSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Marshal, Martin Gaylord, John F. Porter, and Eli
Perry. The Grand Lodge of the State was then moved
to Albany and. held its sessions in the city till 1836,
all the grand officers being from the local lodges.
The Order experienced years of great prosperity
as well as years of adversity, but from decade to
decade has shown a steady growth, and contains in
this county to-day 1 9 lodges with a membership of
1,600. The receipts of the past year amounted to
$12,455.52, and expenses $5,839.36. There was
paid for relief during the past year $5,213.30, and
it is estimated that during its existence it has paid
$150,000 in relief in this county alone.
There are three encampments of the patriarchal
branch of the Order in the county. New York,
No 1, was one of the first few encampments insti
tuted, its charter dating back to 1829. It, for
eleven years, held grand encampment powers in
the State of New York. Albany encampment, No.
58, and Cohoes encampment, No. 71, are births
of the last decade. The encampment member
ship numbers 450 in this county.
The military branch of the Order is represented
by Canton Nemo, No. 1, Patriarchs Militant, con
taining 75 members and fully equipped with the
beautiful uniform of the Order. Its reputation
as an organization is widespread.
The Ladies' Branch of the Order, the Daughters
of Rebekah, composed of the wives, sisters and
daughters of members, is represented by Albany
Lodge, No. 9, of Albany, German Oak Lodge, No.
31, of Albany (working in the German language),
and Prospect Lodge, No. 57, of Cohoes. They
are each prosperous and doing a great benevolent
work. The first named has a world-wide reputa
tion for its proficiency in the ritualistic work, and
for its enterprise and prosperity.''
Auxilliary to the Order is the Odd Fellows,
Relief Association, on the assessment plan of co
operative insurance, containing about 500 mem
bers. The Order owns no hall, but has leased for a term
of years the upper part of the building No. 20
North Pearl street, and fitted up the same in a
splendid manner. There are three lodge meet
ing rooms, beside the usual auxiliary rooms, and
every organization of the Order in this city holds
meetings there, except two subordinate and one
Rebekah degree lodges.
The Order in the county must be considered
prosperous, strong and influential; doing a good
work in relieving distress and ameliorating the con
dition of the unfortunate.
The leading organ of the Order in the Eastern
States, The Guide, was established in this city in
July, 188 1, and is still published, having a wide
circulation and making the city renowned in the
Order as its place of publication.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
The Order of Knights of Pythias was founded in
the City of Washington, D. C, on the 19th day of
February, 1864, by Justus Henry Rathbone, a na

tive of Utica, in the State of New York, assisted by
several gentlemen, all of whom were members of a
club of musicians. Its growth was rapid, and it
soon extended over the States adjacent to the Dis
trict of Columbia, and was introduced in New York
early in the year 1 868. On the 20th day of Sep
tember, 1869, some forty citizens of the village of
West Troy joined in an application for a dispensa
tion to form Watervliet Lodge, No. 23, which was
instituted on the 24th day of that month. Soon
after, several citizens of the City of Albany, desirous
of organizing a lodge, became members of Water
vliet Lodge, afterward withdrawing therefrom and
starting Peabody Lodge, No. 32, in their own city.
The application was made January 3, 1870, and
its initiation followed on the 20th of the same
month. Both of these lodges had representatives
present at the second annual session of the Grand
Lodge, which convened in Masonic Hall, in the
City of New York, on the 27th of January, 1870.
On May 21st of the same year, dispensation was
granted to organize Mount Gilboa Lodge, No. 42,
to be located in the City of Albany, and its organi
zation followed soon after.
Previous to August 1, 1870, several members of
Peabody Lodge withdrew, and organized Riverside
Lodge, No. 4 7, at Bath on the Hudson, which Lodge
has been one of the most flourishing in the State
ever since that time, and at the present writing is
one of the institutions of that suburb of the City of
Albany, there being no other lodge of any kind in
the place.
On the 20th day of May, 1871, Egbert Lodge,
No. 56, was organized at Cohoes, followed by the
organization of Chancellor's Lodge, No. 58, at Al
bany, on July 25th, and on the nth of September
by Steuben Lodge, No. 62, at Albany. This last
Lodge was and still is composed of Germans,
many of whom were among the leading citizens of
the city.
On the 8th of January, 1872, Grove Lodge, No.
71, was organized, and on March 13th, Columbia,
No. 77; followed by Fort Orange.No. 79, on March
20th; Barbarossa, No. 84, a German lodge, on May
2 ist; and Carnaut, No. 88, in October of the same
year, all in the City of Albany. Since that date no
new lodges were organized in Albany County until
March 17, 1882, when Washington Lodge, No. 181,
was instituted at Knowersville.
Of the twelve lodges organized in this county,
ten of them are still in existence and in a flourish
ing condition. Of the two others, Mount Gilboa,
No. 42, surrendered its charter in 1879, owing to
internal dissensions among its members; and Cov
enant, No. 88, consolidated in 1878 with Columbia,
No. 77. Grove Lodge, No. 71, surrendered its
charter in 1880, but reclaimed it, and was reorgan
ized December 8, 1881. Watervliet, No. 23, re
moved from West Troy to Green Island some time
previous to 1873, and has ever since that time been
located at the latter place. Of these lodges, Steu
ben, No. 62, and Barbarossa, No. 84, work in the
German language.
In January, Sections No. 56 and No. 76 of the
Endowment Rank of the Order were instituted at

MUTUAL AID SOCIETIES.— POLITICAL CLUBS.

Vil

Albany, the latter of which is composed almost
wholly of members of Chancellor's Lodge. The
object of this rank is the insurance of its members
upon the co-operative or assessment plan of insur
ance, and this branch of the Order is entirely under
the control of the Supreme Lodge. At the incep
tion of the Order of Knights of Pythias, its purpose
was that all its members should procure uniforms,
the style of which was in some respects similar to
that of ancient chivalry; but the rapid increase in
membership soon outgrew that idea, or, at best,
made it difficult to enforce, and at a later period in
the history of the Order, gave rise to a separate
rank, called the Uniform Rank, the members of
which were compelled to procure the required out
fit Some time in 1875 an association was formed
composed of members of the different lodges, and
called the Uniformed Knights Association of the
City of Albany, all of whom procured the required
uniform and perfected themselves in the drill and
discipline of the Order. In 1878, when the Su
preme Lodge created the Uniform Rank, this as
sociation reorganized under the name of Albany
Division No. 2, U. R. , subject to the laws govern
ing the same, and has ever since formed a part of
that Rank.
In July, 1876, the Grand Lodge held its eighth
annual session in the City of Albany. Through the
courtesy of Governor Tilden, the Assembly Cham
ber of the then Old -Capitol was occupied by it,
and owing to the excellent light and ventilation,
ample committee-rooms, comfortable chairs, and
freedom from noise, that session has become mem
orable as one of the most pleasant held by the
Grand Lodge Among those who have become
prominently and permanently connected with the
Order in this State, who are members of lodges in
this city, are Henry C. A. Sauer, who acted as
D. D. G. C. from 1870 to 1872; was elected Grand
Vice-Chancellor in 1872, Grand Chancellor in 1873,
and Supreme Representative in 1877. Hon. John
C. Nott, Albany County Judge, acted as D.D.G.C.
in i877;was elected Grand Vice-Chancellor in 1878,
Grand Chancellor in 1879, and Supreme Repre
sentative in 1881, to which position he was re
elected in 1885. John J. Acker became D.D.G.C.
in 1874, and served as such until 1876, when he
was elected Grand Vice-Chancellor, becoming
Grand Chancellor in 1877. Upon the death of
Grand Keeper of Records and Seal, Frank W.
George, of Poughkeepsie, in 1878, he was ap
pointed to fill the vacancy, and in July of that year
was elected to that office, and has been re-elected
each year since that time, and is so serving at the
present The office of the Grand Lodge is now
located at No. 496 Broadway, in the City of Al
bany, where it has been ever since the selection of
P C.' Acker as G. K. of R. S.
The returns of these lodges show a total mem
bership in good standing, January 1,1885, of 749J
cash balance on hand of $8,354.05; total assets of
Sic 204.98; and amount expended for relief of
members during the year, $1,213.17- Peabody,
Fort Orange, and Columbia Lodges own the fur-
91

niture, etc., occupy and sublet Pythian Hall, in
Cooper Building, at the corner of State and Green
streets; and Chancellor's have fitted up and occupy
a very handsome hall at No. 50 Swan street Eg
bert's Lodge, of Cohoes, have fitted up a beautiful
hall in Silliman's Block in that city; and Water
vliet Lodge occupy the new Odd Fellows' Hall on
Green Island. Steuben Lodge, Section No. 56,
and Albany Division, No. 2, U. R., rent Pythian
Hall, in Albany.
MUTUAL AID SOCIETIES..
IN Albany there are a number of local, or branch,
societies for the object of assisting sick and dis
abled members, and to render pecuniary aid to
their heirs after death. They are managed simi
larly to mutual insurance companies, on the assess
ment plan. They embrace the following associations :
Ancient Order of Hibernians, organized in 1858;
Ancient Order of United Workmen, organized in
Albany, 1878; Albany Mutual Benefit Association,
organized 1873, incorporated 1874; United Irish
men of America, organized 1873, incorporated
1874; New York State Relief Association, incor
porated 1880; Albany Boatman's Relief Asso
ciation, organized 1874; Capital City Benefit As
sociation, incorporated 1882; Mercantile Mutual
Accident Society of Albany, organized and incor
porated 1 881; Empire Order of Mutual Aid, or
ganized 1878; Order of United Friends, organized
1 881; and the Equal Rights Benefit Association,
organized in 1883. At one time there were three
Courts of the United Order of Foresters in Albany,
but their charters have been surrendered.
POLITICAL CLUBS.
IT has been said "there are more politics to the
acre in the City of Albany than almost any other
locality than can be named." The famous re
gency which, from 1824 to 1837, controlled the
politics of the nation, made Albany a political
center. Since its potent sway in State and national
politics, Albany has continued to be an important
field of political strife. It is the State Capital.
Political clubs of both parties maintain permanent
organizations. The representatives of the Repub
lican party are the Unconditional and Grant
Club. The former was organized in 1872, and has
participated in every presidential campaign since.
The Grant Club was organized in 1879, named in
honor of General U. S. Grant, and has upon its
roll no less than 3,000 members.
The permanent Democratic organizations are
the Jacksonians, organized in 1868; the Albany
Phalanx, organized in 1880; the German Young
Men's Democratic Club, organized in 1882; and
the Young Men's Club, organized in 1883.
During the presidential campaigns, these clubs
do active work, keeping the streets attractive and
lively with music, splendid uniforms, banners,
torchlights and fine marching.

722

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

LABOR AND LABORERS.

IN no country in the world have the rights of free
labor been more fully recognized than in the
United States. But even here the liberty of labor
has not always been so firmly established. In
1680, the first court of assistants, held at Charles
town, Massachusetts, settled the price of mechan
ics' wages, and passed a law ordaining that car
penters, joiners, bricklayers and thatchers should
take no more than 2s. per day under a penalty of
10s. to give and take. This arbitrary and unjust
law reads like the middle ages, when we con
sider the untrameled condition of the toiling
masses at the present day in this country. The
rights of free labor in America have secured just
recognition from a power which far transcends that
of legislation or rulers, the power of public opinion.
John Bright, the great English orator, and one of
the best friends of America in the mother country,
speaking of the condition of labor in this country
in 1861, said: "Among all the great nations of
the globe is that one where labor has met with the
highest honor, and where it has reaped its greatest
reward. "
Since the settlement of America there has been
a steady and substantial progress in society at
large, but the laboring people have had the more
especial benefit of that progress. The workingman
of to-day is far better clothed, fed and housed than
were men of his station one hundred years ago;
while in respect to means of education, improve
ment and enjoyment, he is in advance of the
wealthy of former generations. Every reader of
history is familiar with Macaulay's description of
England two hundred years ago : " Times when
noblemen were destitute of comforts, the want of
which would be intolerable to a modern footman;
when farmers and shopkeepers breakfasted on
loaves, the very sight of which would raise a riot in
a modern workhouse; when men died faster in the
purest country air than they now die in the most
pestilential lanes of our towns; and when men died
faster in the lanes of our towns than they now die
on the coast of Guinea." Such details asMacaulay
gives us, show how much better is the condition of
the laboring class to-day than in any other age of
the world, and that society exists no longer for the
few, but the many.
In the City of Albany, as truly as can be said
of any city in the United States, the best interests
of the industrial classes have been defended and
guarded with zealous care; while the exertions of
the laboring element in behalf of educational pro
jects, and whatever has tended to benefit and ad
vance the city, have been repeatedly demonstrated
in its history. No one factor was more prominent
in promoting the early educational interests of this
city than the Mechanics' Society. The work ac
complished in this direction is more especially

mentioned in the article on Schools in another
part of this work. This society was formed in
1793. January 10th of that year, about one
hundred and fifty mechanics met for the pur
pose of forming a society. A committee of one
from each trade was appointed to prepare a
constitution, which was adopted on the nth of
February following, under the title of the Albany
Mechanics' Society. It was composed of the prin
cipal mechanics of Albany and its vicinity, for the
laudable purpose of "protecting and supporting
such of their brethren as, by sickness or accident,
may stand in need of assistance, and of relieving
the widows and orphans of those who may die in
indigent circumstances, and also of providing the
means of instruction for their children." The first
officers elected were John W. Wendell, Presi
dent; Charles R. Webster, First Vice-President;
Bernardus Evertsen, Second Vice-President ; Isaac
Hutton, Treasurer ; John Barber, Secretary.
The society was incorporated by the Legislature,
March 6, 1801, and was dissolved by like act,
November 25, 1824. John W. Wendell was suc
ceeded as President by Charles R. Webster, in
1796. In 1797, Jacob Wright was elected Presi
dent, and remained as such until 1799, wben
Charles R. Webster was again elected, and was
annually re-elected to that office until the final dis
solution of the society. Mr. Hutton continued as
Treasurer until 1 808, when William McHarg was
chosen, and remained as such officer during the ex
istence of the society. John Barber was succeeded
as Secretary by John W. Fryer, who was suc
ceeded by Elisha W. Skinner.
The society as incorporated consisted of sixty-
four members, comprising at the time the promi
nent and leading mechanics and tradesmen of the
city. The number of members was subsequently
swelled to one hundred and fifty.
The work accomplished by this society was most
beneficent. The untiring efforts of its members
in the cause of education and good morals, in the
establishment of schools and the erection of school-
houses, and in elevating the grade of education in
this city, has left for it a cherished recollection
of being among the pioneers and promoters of
sound learning and good morals in the early his
tory of Albany in this century.
Trade Unions, which have grown to be such
powerful organizations in the interest of labor,
have been but the natural outgrowth of civ
ilization; and the tendency to combinations for
the purpose of promoting the mutual interest
of labor is no new thing among the industrial
classes. The guilds of the middle ages were but
the forerunners of the trade unions of to-day; and
the strikes of modern times have had their proto
type in the Jacquerie riots of the fourteenth een-

LABOR AND LABORERS.

723

tury. The objects of these organizations are so
generally understood, that it is unnecessary to state
them here.
Probably the oldest trade organization in Albany
is the Typographical Society which existed here as
early as 1813. Following this, in 1835 there ex
isted several societies of saddlers, tailors, painters,
house-carpenters, silver-platers, cordwainers, found
ers, machinists and millwrights. All of the fore
going orders, in 1835, formed a general society
made up of representatives from the different
societies, and which corresponded in its character
to the present Workingmens Assembly. Andrew
Dietz was President of this central organization,
and William Baldwin, Secretary. At this date
these labor organizations were confined more espe
cially to improving the mechanical abilities of the
members than in making them an effective force
in demanding from employers any set scale of
wages. At this time the present powerful local or
ganizations, representing almost every trade and
branch of State and national orders, with clear,
well-defined principles and policies, were not
thought of.
About the middle of the present century almost
every branch of trade in Albany was represented
by a union or society. The principal ones, with
the exception of those already mentioned, were
the molders, cigar-makers, bricklayers, masons,
hatters and cartmen. In i860 the stone-cutters,
tin, copper, and steel workers were represented by
separate unions.
After the close of the late Civil War, the various
trades unions of the State united in an effort to form
a central State organization for the purpose of se
curing from the Legislature the enactment of laws
for their common protection. A State organiza
tion, by their efforts, was started by the State in
1867, and known as the "Workingm en's Assembly
of the State of New York. " This recognition of the
right of organization, sanctioned bv law, produced
much discussion among propounders of the law.
Chief-Justice Savage decided it to be an indictable
offense for mechanics to enter into an association
which undertook by the imposition of fines to pre
vent a member from working below certain fixed
wages. But in 1870, the members of this State or
ganization were successful in securing the enact
ment of a law, which provided that the laws pro
hibiting conspiracies to injure trade and commerce
shall not be construed in any Court of this State to
restrict or prohibit the orderly or peaceable assem
blage or co-operation of persons employed in any
profession, trade or handicraft, for the purpose
of securing an advance in the rates of wages or
compensation, or for the maintenance of such
rate. The workingmen's organizations developed rap
idly in numbers and influence after this victory. In
this same year they secured the enactment of the
law making eight hours a legal day's work for all
laborers and mechanics employed by the State or
any municipal corporation; and since then have
exerted not a little influence in every Legislature.
Albany Workingmen's Assembly, a branch of the

State organization, was organized in 1882, for the
purpose of assisting in the promotion of trades-
unionism, and whatever in its opinion might be
beneficial to the working class. It is composed of
delegates from any regularly constituted trades
union or labor organization in Albany or vicinity;
the basis of membership being three delegates from
every union numbering less than one hundred
members, five for every one hundred, and one del
egate for every additional one hundred or fraction
al part of one hundred over fifty. At present there
are thirteen trades unions represented in this as
sembly, being the molders, cigar-makers, brick
layers, masons and plasterers, carpenters, shoe
makers, lasters, tailors, coopers, polishers and
nickel-platers, typographers, painters, plumbers,
and stone-cutters.
Albany has long been noted as a stove manu
facturing city, and in this branch of trade excels
any other in the United Stales. This extensive
business necessitates the employment of a large
number of molders, who for many years have
had a powerful labor organization in Albany. It
was formed in 1859 with 675 members, being the
eighth Molders' Union. It is now a branch of the
international union organized in this country.
Cooperage was formerly a very important in
dustry in Albany, nearly all the ale barrels used in
this county being manufactured here. A Coopers'
Union was formed at Albany in 1863, and has ex
isted here ever since. It is a branch of the inter
national order, which is ably represented by a
monthly periodical called the Cooper's fournal. The
Albany Union has a membership of 100.
The Cigar Makers' Union was organized in Al
bany in 1879, and now includes between three and
four hundred members. No serious difficulty has
ever existed between the members of this union and
employers in regard to wages, with the exception
of a strike in 1883, lasting four weeks, which was
finally settled by compromise.
Since the building of the New Capitol, the num
ber of stone-cutters has been greatly reinforced,
and in 1878 the Albany Granite Cutters' Union was
formed, largely made up of the stone-cutters em
ployed on that work. Mainly through the efforts
of the members of this order, the Albany Working-
men's Assembly was organized.
The Typographical Union, the oldest, and, in
many respects, the most powerful labor order in
Albany, has had an almost continuous organiza
tion from 18 13 to the present. It is now active,
full and resolute.
The remaining trade's unions are all of compara
tive recent growth; but all have organizations vary
ing in membership according to the number of
men employed in the various trades. It is claimed
that there are at least 7,000 members belonging to
trades unions in this city. There are six local as
semblies and one district assembly of the Knights
of Labor.
Prison Labor. — No one subject connected with
labor has been more generally discussed than that
of the present prison contract system, by which
the State leases to contractors the labor of prisoners

724

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALRANY.

confined in the State prisons. Since 1878 there
have been, on an average, about 6,000 prisoners at
work on contracts in this State. It is claimed by
opponents of the contract system that the work of
these prisoners at the low price it can be obtained,
works immense damage to honest labor. Es
pecially prominent in opposition to contract system
has been the attitude of the present trades unions
of Albany, where this competition is most severely
felt, not only because of the location of the Albany
Penitentiary, but it affects the two leading trades
of the city, that of the iron-molders and the boot
and shoemakers.
Nearly a fourth of all the prisoners confined in
our State prisons are employed in the iron mold
ing industry, while about 2,000 are employed in
making boots and shoes. These two trades are
the greatest sufferers, as more than one-half of all
the prisoners in this State are employed in them.
The great problem is, how the State prisons can
be made self-supporting or nearly so, without in
juring honest labor. Many plans have been pro
posed and the subject has been ably discussed,
but as yet no plans have been advanced which
serve to meet the approval of a majority of our law
makers. But it is certain that a solution of the
question by which the present injurious bearing
on any two or three trades could be avoided,
would be hailed with delight by the industrious,
law-abiding mechanics; and in no city would this
happy result be more gladly welcomed than in the
City of Albany.
Strikes. — Albany has been remarkably free from
the disastrous and foolish outbreaks which have
marked the conduct of many unfortunate laborers
in other cities, and which have worked such incal
culable harm to the best interests of labor and
capital. This has been due to the wisdom and
good sense displayed by both employers and em
ployees. Strikes are too often the result of ignor
ance on the part of the members of trades unions
of the condition of their particular trade. The
propriety of asking for an advance in wages, and
of striking if it is refused, depends entirely upon
the condition of trade, the amount of business in
prospect, and the profits the employers are liable
to realize, circumstances of which the trades unions
are too often entirely ignorant, and which fre
quently proves fatal to the interests of the toilers.
The most important strikes have occurred with
the molders. They have several times resorted
to this manner of benefiting their condition, with
varying degrees of success. In 1859, 400 of them
resolved to do away with what is known as the

Berkshire system; that is, every certain number of
skilled mechanics are obliged to take an apprentice
and assist him in learning the trade. As most of
the molders work by the piece, the time spent
in teaching the apprentice is just so much time
lost, so much really taken from their salary. In
the strike referred to, the molders, after remaining
out of employ for some time, were obliged to
resume work without gaining their object. During
the present year, the molders made a similar re
sult against this system, and remained on a "strike "
for several months, but a short time ago (October,
1885) submitted without accomplishing anything
of substantial benefit.
The most formidable strike which ever occurred
in this city, happened in 1863. At this time the
dock laborers were joined by the Central Railroad
laborers for an advance of ii\ cents per day. In
pursuance of a published call, there was a large
gathering of laborers held at the corner of Quacken
bush and Water streets, June 15, 1863. The refusal
of the Railroad Company to accede to their de
mands infuriated them to an intense degree. In a
body they walked to West Albany, and there forced
the men at work in the Central shops to leave their
work. They then returned to this city and pro
ceeded down State street in a body, some of them
armed with clubs. They compelled the employees
at Davidson's Safe Works to leave their positions,
and in a few moments all work was stopped. They
visited Taylor's Brewery, where they burst open the
doors, ransacked the brewing and malt-houses, and
drove the men from their work. They did con
siderable damage by stopping the men while pour
ing off the castings at Ransom's Foundry. The
police were apparently powerless, and the city was
virtually in the hands of the mob for two days.
June I7th,the violent demonstration of the strikers
caused the arrest of one of their number, which so
enraged them that a general fight took place, in
which one of the rioters was shot. After this
occurrence, the citizens of Albany induced the
Governor to call upon the National Guard to
restore order. This was done, and the 25th Regi
ment was called out by the Sheriff. But there was
no necessity for their services, as the Central Rail
road officials soon after informed the laborers that
they acceded to their demands.
With the exception of the foregoing, the relations
between the employers and employees in Albany
have been marked by moderation and good sense.
Fair wages have been the rule, and in no city has
the honest, industrious laborer been more prosper
ous, contented and happy.

COLORED PEOPLE OF ALBANY.

725

COLORED PEOPLE OF ALBANY.

I^HE County of Albany has a colored popula
tion of about 1,300. They engage in all the
ordinary pursuits, and are creditably represented in
the professions. They often achieve comfortable
positions in life, and are, as a class, honest, industrious
and law-abiding. They have not to contend against
the race prejudice that exists in some cities. Coming
here originally as slaves, they have passed through
the successive stages of emancipation and elevation
to citizenship. One of the oldest and best pre
served in body and mind of their numbers is John
J. Williams, of 1 69 Second street. ' ' Uncle John, "
as he is familiarly called, has a clear, retentive
memory and an active, well-balanced mind. He
was born in 1809, and belonged to Colonel Philip
P. Satats, father of Barent and Peter Staats, both
physicians of Albany. Mr. Williams thinks the
first colored church in this city stood opposite
where the two-steepled church now stands, about
1815. The next church was built in Hamilton
street, and the minister's name was Nathaniel Paul.
The colored folks had a Wilberforce school under
this church. The first teacher was an Irishman, by
the name of McCabe; then Mr. Bassett was the
teacher; and then Thomas Paul, nephew of the
pastor, and graduate of Dartmouth College. John
Q. Allen was the last teacher of that proscribed
school. The admission of colored children to
equal privileges with the whites in the common
schools of this State, under the operation of the
"Civil Rights Law of 1873," brought the Wilber
force to a close.
Mr. Williams says, " Pinkster Day "was in Africa
a religious day, partly pagan and partly Christian,
like our Christmas day. Many of the old colored
people, then in Albany, were born in Africa, and
would dance their wild dances and sing in their
native language.
" Pinkster " festivities took place usually in May,
and lasted an entire week. It began the Monday
following Whit-Sunday of the Catholic and Episco
pal Churches, and was the Carnival of the African
race, in which they indulged in unrestrained merri
ment and revelry. The main and leading spirit
was "Charley of the Pinkster Hill," who was
brought from Angola, in the Guinea Gulf, in his
infant days, and purchased by a rich merchant
living on the eastern bank of the Hudson. "King
Charles " was said to have royal blood in his veins.
The Beau Brummel of the day was Adam Blake,
then body servant to the Old Patroon, and a grand
master of ceremonies he was.
The dancing music was peculiar. The main in
strument was a sort of "kettle-drum," a wooden
article called an eel-pot, with a sheep-skm drawn
tightly over one end. Astride this sat Jackey
Quackenboss, beating lustily with his hands and

repeating the ever wild, though euphonic cry of
" Hi-a-bomba, bomba, bomba, "in full harmony
with the trumming sounds of his eel-pot.
Mr. Jackson, a colored man, was at one time the
principal baker in Albany; and a teamster, by the
name of Lattimore, got to be a man of property.
Still there were but few colored voters in this
county under the old law, requiring a $250 prop
erty qualification. One of the great institutions of
the Northern States in slavery times was the great
"Underground Railway." No modern railway
ever, had so many lines, so many trains, so many
stations, or so many agents or conductors. It was
very exclusive, for its passengers were all colored
people. It started anywhere and everywhere in the
Slave States and always ended in Canada. No
through route ever had such a signal light, for it
ran its trains by the north star. Every genuine
lover of liberty was a stockholder, and every stock
holder was a minute-man. Of course every true
black man was a charter member. One of the
most noted agents at the Albany station was Stephen
Meyers. He was born a slave in Rensselaer County
in 1 800, in the family of Dr. Eights, but was soon
liberated by the abolition of slavery in this State.
Thousands of slaves reached Canada through his
aid. He enlisted the first company of colored
men from Albany, upwards of forty, but Governor
Morgan would not accept them, and they went to
the front as a part of the 54th Massachusetts
Regiment. Some of his principal assistants were
John G. Steward, Charles B. Morton, William H.
Topp, William P. Mclntyre, William H. Matthews,
Primus Robinson, Benjamin Cutler, George Mor
gan, and Dr. Elkins, most of whom have passed
away. The latter was appointed by Governor An
drews, of Massachusetts, as a Medical Examiner in
the 54th and 55th Regiments. Dr. Elkins went to
Liberia, and brought home valuable collections of
minerals, shells, and curiosities. Joseph A. Smith,
born in South Carolina, has spent much of his life
in this section, trusted and respected by the best
citizens. James Matthews, the colored lawyer, has
a professional standing and record that are an honor
to any man that achieves them.
Adam Blake, late proprietor of the Kenmore
Hotel, was born in the City of Albany April 6,
1830. He died September 7, 1881. He was the
richest and best-known business man of his race in
this county. Mr. Blake received a Grammar School
education. He was a born hotel-keeper. He took
to it as a fish takes to water. Every venture was a
success. Commencing as the keeper of a restaurant
in Beaver street in 1851, from there he went to
James street, and thence to State and Pearl. From
State he went to the Congress Hall, on Capitol
Hill. He left an estate valued at $100,000. His

726

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

wife, Catherine, and four children survive him.
The hotel is now successfully managed by his
widow. William H. Johnson, the well-known orator and
writer, was born in Alexandria, Va., of free parents,
March 4, 1883. His early education was confined
to what he received as a pupil in Christ Church
(Episcopalian) Sabbath-school, in his native city.
He came to Albany in 1851. He was the author
of the Civil Rights Bill of this State. He has al
ways been a firm Republican in politics. His ora
torical talent is widely known, often appearing on
the rostrum with the ablest speakers of the country.
He is one of the four survivors of that noble band
of original Abolition speakers, whose thunderbolts
of truth started a moral and political earthquake
that culminated in the slave-holders' suicidal re
bellion and ended in the extinction of American
slavery. The Albany Female Lundy Society was organ
ized in the City of Albany June 19, 1833, by a few
earnest and benevolent colored ladies for mutual
benefit and the development of social, intellectual
and religious principles. It has had an unbroken
existence for fifty-two years, continually growing in
strength and usefulness. While officers are elected
annually, only three persons have been elected
Presidents of the Association in these fifty-two years:
Mrs. Catherine March, Mrs. Levi Johnson and
Mrs. Michael Donge.
The Lovejoy Society of Albany is also com
posed of colored ladies, and while not so numer
ous nor as old as the " Lundy's," has a kindred
purpose and deserves commendation. Mrs. John
G. Stewart is the -President.
Jephthah Lodge, No. 13, F. &E. M., was consti-'
tuted in the City of Albany on the 26th of Decem
ber, i860, under a warrant from the M. W. Grand
Lodge (colored) of the State of New York. The
Grand Lodge of the State of New York derived its
jurisdiction from a charter or warrant granted to
the Prince Hall Lodge, of Boston, Mass., composed
of colored men, by Lord Howard, acting Grand
Master, under the authority of his Royal Highness
Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, Grand
Master of the Most Ancient and Honorable So
ciety of Free and Accepted Masons of the M. W.
Grand Lodge of Great Britain, on the 29th day of
September, a. d. 5784, a. d. 1784. The war
rant bears the great seal of the Grand Lodge of
Great Britain. The record of this Lodge is good.
Three of her members have been elected Grand
Masters of the Grand Lodge of this State, namely,
Samuel J. Scottson, William H. Johnson, 330, and
John Deyo.
Philomathean Lodge, 711, G. U. 0. of O. F.
Dispensation granted July, 1844.
Foremost among the organizations of colored
men in Albany is the Charles Sumner Benevo
lent Association. This Society takes the name of
that illustrious statesman and emancipator who is
revered by the oppressed of all nations and of all
climes, the late Hon. Charles Sumner, United
States Senator from Massachusetts, was organized
in 1875. Is incorporated under the general laws of

this State. Their motto is: "We care for our sick
and bury our dead." The President is John T.
Chapman.
THE ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY
IS the oldest benevolent organization in Albany
County. It grew out of the United Irish and
Scotch Benevolent Society, which was formed at a
meeting held February 8, 1802. Under a resolu
tion that the first President should be a Scotch
man, Andrew Brown, merchant, was chosen. At
a meeting held October 7, 1803, the society was
dissolved. On the 1 2th day of the same month, a
meeting of Scotchmen was held at the Tontine Cof
fee House to consider the question of instituting a
society to be composed entirely of Scotchmen.
After a favorable report, the meeting adjourned to
October 1 9th, when it met and organized the St.
Andrew's Society of the City of Albany, for social
and benevolent purposes. John Stephenson was
elected President; William Milroy, Treasurer; and
Archibald Mclntyre, Secretary.
From that day to the present time, this organi
zation has been kept up with unflagging interest
July 26, 1804, resolutions expressing grief "for
the premature and untimely death of Alexander
Hamilton, " who was one of the first members of a
kindred society in New York City, were passed.
October 12, 1871, the Albany society sent $600
to St. Andrew's Society in Chicago for the relief of
the sufferers by the great fire. Space will not ad
mit a record of the many contributions to benevo
lent objects made by this worthy organization. Its
maxim is "help one another." No needy, honest,
Scot, man or woman, appeals to it in vain.
In 1805 its surplus funds were $221.15. Its
first act of incorporation limited its annual income
to $250. In 1857, the Legislature amended its
charter, permitting an income of $2,500. It has
now a fund of $15, 000, the income of which is a
source of relief to many unfortunate members.
The officers for 1885 were Peter Kinnear, Presi
dent; Andrew McMurray, First Vice-President;
George Hendrick, Second Vice-President; William
S. Smart, Chaplain; H. G. McNaughten, Physician;
Walter McEwan, Treasurer; H. C. Kinnear, Sec
retary; John F. Montignani, Assistant Secretary;
Robert D. James, Corresponding Secretary; Thomas
McCredie, Donald McDonald, Allan Gilmour, Rob
ert Macfarlane, James Lawrence, Managers.
THE ST. GEORGES BENEVO
LENT SOCIETY
OF the City of Albany, was organized January
27, i860, with the following officers, viz.:
John Taylor, President; William Lacy, First Vice-
President; Thomas Rowland, Second Vice-Presi
dent; Thomas Smith, Physician; John K. Wylie,
Treasurer; W. J. Dickson, Secretary; Rev. Wm.
Rudder, Chaplain.
Its object is to afford relief and advice to indigent
natives of England, or to their wives, widows or
children, and to promote social intercourse among

CHRISTIAN WORK.

727

its members; and form a permanent fund to carry
out this charitable purpose. It still continues in
existence, doing considerable good. Its member
ship is eighty-five. It meets in Room No. 16,
Tweddle Building, on the second Wednesday of
each month.
Its present officers are William Lacy, President;
Edward Ogden, First Vice-President; John Cook,
Second Vice-President; W. W. Grey, Secretaiy; R.
N. Newton, Treasurer; R. J. Greenwood, Corre
sponding Secretary; W. Hailes, Jr., Physician; Rev.
A. W. Stockwin, Chaplain; William Lacy, W. W.
Grey, R. N. Newton, John N. Parker, D. F. Skin
ner, George H. Stevens, Edward Ogden, Trustees.
PUBLIC BATH.
FOR many years the philanthropic and public-
spirited men of Albany agitated the importance
of a public bath for the city. Several meetings were
held and many plans laid for the carrying out of
some project. The difficulty of raising the neces
sary funds with which to construct the bath always
presented itself. On one or two occasions, public
benefits were given to raise money for this purpose.
The press of the city gave the project their hearty
support. One of the foremost men in these movements

was Henry L. Gladding, who deserves great credit
for the untiring zeal with which he advocated the
measure. The project was revived in 1879, when Garry J.
Benson started a swimming school on the east side
of the river, which was carried on with great suc
cess until 1 88 1.
About this time, a number of citizens formed an
organization known as the Bath-House Com
mittee, the purpose of which was to collect funds
by voluntary subscriptions for the construction of a
public bath'. Mr. Benson and others served as a
committee to furnish a suitable building. They
bought of the Round Lake Camp Company, for
j 100, a structure which was removed to Albany.
This was reconstructed and greatly enlarged. The
citizens generously contributed $2, 700 for this pur
pose, which has made a structure of beautiful and
ample proportions. Annual contributions have
been made ever since. With these, new improve
ments have constantly been added.
During the four years since it was opened to the
public, 180,880 persons have availed themselves of
its privileges. Mr. Benson has always been its
Superintendent, and during all this time not a
single accident has occurred. Garry Benson's
public bath has become one of the institutions of
Albany.

CHRISTIAN WORK.

A LBANY CITY TRACT AND MISSIONARY
J\ SOCIETY was organized in 1835, and in
corporated in 1856.
The New Mission Building, corner Franklin and
Rensselaer street, was dedlicated in 1878. The
Ladies' Auxiliary Board was organized in 1879.
The branches of the work given below were
placed in 1874. ,
It employs as many mission workers as can be
paid to do the work of the society, in visiting the
needy, distributing gospel literature among, them,
and ministering to them in many others ways.
It conducts gospel, temperance, social and liter
ary evening meetings in the Mission Building, for
the benefit of all who will attend them.
It keeps open one of the most inviting Coffee
Rooms in the city, having an extensive bill of fare,
where food is sold at low rates.
It has a Cooking School for women and girls
where they may receive instruction in the arts of
household life. .
It sustains a neat Boys' Lodging House, where
the homeless boys of Albany can have the use of
books, games, papers, a well-warmed and wel -
lighted room, and furnished with a good bed, all
for the sum of five cents a night
It has a Fruit and Flower Mission, having special
reference to the sick poor in homes and hospitals
Through this branch of work is yearly distributed

thousands of articles essential to the comfort of the
sick, which they cannot afford to purchase.
It publishes The Work at Home every month, to
keep before the public the Christian work in the
City of Albany.
The entire work is kept free from debt, has nei
ther mortgage nor interest to pay, and every dollar
given to it is directly used for one of the objects
above named.
This society is undenominational; it is supported
by the gifts of the charitable, in and out of churches;
makes no distinction in its benevolent work on
account of race or creed; and invites the contribu
tions of all to sustain it.
YOUNG MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
The objects sought to be attained and the influ
ence for good exerted by the Young Men's Christian
Associations all over the country, meet the approval
of a majority of the people acquainted with the
principles and aims of these organizations. That
there is mighty power in every such association,
and that the principle of united actions is most
important, both in the Church and in the world,
will not be denied. The great principles and aims
of all Christian organizations are so well under-
i stood, and their importance so universally acknowl-
! edged, that they need not be urged.

728

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

That the Young Men's Christian Association of
Albany has not attained the strength and efficiency
of similar associations in .other cities, and seeming
ly out of proportion to the population of the city,
can be accounted for partially from the fact that as
sociations of young men exist here which are thought
to accomplish a part at least of what is sought to be
done by the Young Men's Christian Association.
This division of what may be termed the legitimate
work of a Young Men's Christian Association, has
prevented the present organization from becoming
what it otherwise might have become. But perhaps
the same, and may be greater, results for good have
been accomplished by the diversity of organizations,
all striving for either the moral, intellectual or phys
ical welfare of young men.
The present Young Men's Christian Association
was organized March 23, 1857, with a member
ship of 206. A preliminary meeting was held in the
old Pearl Street Baptist Church a short time pre
vious, called together at the request of 147 young
men of this city, who were desirous of forming
such an association. Suitable rooms were secured
at 124 State street soon after organization, where
a library of 588 volumes and a free reading-room,
containing newspapers and other periodicals, were
opened, religious services were regularly held,
and the Association grew in usefulness and num
bers. Five years later, rooms were obtained in
the Tweddle Building, where the Association
remained until May, 1868, when a location on
the southeast corner of North Pearl and Steu
ben streets was secured. Here the society re
mained one or two years, when it removed to the
Commercial Bank Building on State Street. While
occupying this place the association became par
ticularly strong and active, numbering at one time
about 1,200 members, nearly one-third of whom
were ladies.
During the period of financial depression in 1872
the association disbanded, vacated its rooms, and
suspended active work, although a nominal ex
istence was maintained by the election of officers
by the Board of Directors until the reorganization
in June, 1881, when the work was resumed at the
present quarters, 20 North Pearl street. From the
time of the organization of the association in 185710
1872, ladies were admitted as members the same as
men. With the reorganized association this state
of affairs was changed, and none but men were ad
mitted. To assist in the work of the association,
a ladies' auxiliary was organized in 1883, which at
present consists of over 100 members.
The association has not had the good fortune
to be the recipient of any large sum of money at
any one time, but has been supplied mainly by
small contributions. * The only legacy ever received
came from F. E. Andrews, who bequeathed the
house and lot, No. 96 Madison avenue, valued
at $3,000, to the Association, the proceeds of
* Since the above was written, Mr. James B. Jermain has donated
§50,000 to this association for the erection and completion of a suitable
building for its use, and nearly an equal amount has been subscribed
by citizens of Albany for the purchase of a lot for the structure and
furnishing the same when completed. It will probably be located on
the northwest corner of North Pearl and Steuben streets, adjoining
Kenmore Hotel.

which are to be applied to furnishing bread to the
deserving poor.
The annual expenses of the association are about
$3,000; membership, 600. The library contains
1,000 volumes. A small gymnasium is attached to
the rooms, where instruction in physical culture is
given. The present work consists mainly of lec
tures and educational exercises in the winter; re
ligious services; a free employment bureau; and a
boarding-house directory.
Presidents of the association since its organiza
tion, 1857, and time of service: 1857-58, Justus
F. Taylor; 1858-59, John G. Treadwell; 1859-
60, William M. Woollett; 1860-61, Rufus K.
Viele; 1861-62, John Templeton; 1862-63, Levi
Dederick; 1863-64, Francis W. Holbrook; 1864-
65, George B. Byron; 1865-66, John E. Page;
1866-67, Stephen R. Gray; 1867, Alexander L.
Van Buren; 1867-68, A. A. Wemple; 1868-70,
John H. Osborne; 1870-72, Edward Savage; 1872-
82, John Templeton; 1884, Charles H. Mills.
The present officers of the association are
Charles H. Mills, President; Samuel S. Hatt, First
Vice-President; Robert McRoberts, Second Vice-
President; Walter J. Eaton, Recording Secretary;
Frank W. Ober, General Secretary; I. D. F. Lan
sing, Treasurer; V. H. Youngman, John A. Howe,
D. R. Niver, Ezra H. Stevens, Oscar D. Robinson,
George Bouton, Dr. Henry March, John Templeton
and A. H. Holmes, Board of Managers.
The Railroad Young Men's Christian Associa
tion was organized in 1880, having for its mission
the moral improvement of railroad employees. At
the time of organization, a building in the yard of
the Union Depot, between Columbia and Orange
streets, was secured and has been used for this pur
pose ever since. ,
This association, as well as similar ones in
other cities, is very favorably considered by the vari
ous railroad companies, and receives substantial
support from them. The current expenses amount
to aboul $ 1, 600. It is in a good financial condition.
It has a library of 600 volumes, with a reading-room
supplied with the leading newspapers and period
icals of the day; 200 members belong to the asso
ciation. The present officers are: George S. Weaver,
President; J. H. Hunter, Treasurer; Lemuel S.
Fish, Secretary.
THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
had its origin about the end of the year 1833, with
only eight members, of whom the venerable Fred
erick Osnam was the ruling spirit. It is now estab
lished throughout Europe, America and Africa. In
India the late Viceroy, Earl of Ripon, deemed it
an honor to be president of a simple conference.
The main object and aim of the society is to
encourage its members by example and counsel in
the practice of a Christian life and in deeds of
charity. In the winter of 1847-48 the society was first
introduced into this city, in the parish of St.
Mary, through the instrumentality of the young
priest, Rev. C. Putnam, and Rev. E. P, Wadhams,

CHRISTIAN WORK.

729

now Bishop of Ogdensburg, and was soon extended,
by the efforts of the late Cardinal Bishop Mc
Closkey, to St. John's parish and the cathedral. In
1858 it was deemed advisable to institute what is
called a particular council — that is, a council, ac
cording to the rules of the society, composed of
the spiritual directors, presidents and vice-presi
dents of the various conferences. This was soon
accomplished, with the conferences of Troy, West
Troy, Cohoes, Waterford, Lansingburgh and Green
bush added; but soon those out-of-town confer
ences became so numerous, it was deemed well
that their connection with the Albany council
should be severed and other councils formed— one
at Troy and another at Cohoes, all, however, con
nected with the supreme council of New York.
Some time afterwards a conference was estab
lished in St. Joseph's parish, then at St. Ann's, St.
Patrick's, and later at the Assumption. The prin
cipal work of the society consists in assisting poor
families at their homes, every family on the relief
roll being visited weekly by a committee of the so
ciety. The City Almshouse, as well as the Charity Hos
pital, is visited weekly by one or more members of
the society, and religious instruction imparted to
the inmates. The City Penitentiary and Jail are
also visited weekly, prayers maintained, and read
ing matter supplied to the Catholic inmates.
The work of organizing Sunday schools (in
places remote from the churches) is made a special
feature of the society, and much good work has
been done in that way.
By a recent general report, it was seen that the so
ciety had expended in cash in this city, since its com
mencement, $100,000 for relief in kind, besides
vast quantities of provisions and clothing donated
by charitable persons, during the winter seasons.
The number of visits made to families was shown
to be 1 2, 500, and the number of persons constitut
ing those families amounted to about 40,000.
ALBANY ORPHAN ASYLUM.
The Albany Orphan Asylum was the outgrowth
of the philanthropic efforts of Mr. and Mrs. James
D. Wasson, assisted by a number of the charitable
citizens of Albany. It is the oldest and one of the
best managed of the Albany charitable institutions.
A frame building was hired at the upper end of
Washington street, and the institution was opened
December 1, 1829, with eight children, which at
the end of the month had increased to twenty. A
permanent organization was effected May 1 9, 1 830,
and the first officers, elected June 10th, were Ed
ward C. Delavan, President; Dyer Lathrop, Treas
urer; John G. Wasson, Secretary; and Erastus
Corning, Jabez D. Hammond, Samuel M. Hop
kins James Gourlay, Joshua A. Burke, John Will
ard George Young, James D. Wasson, Dyer
Lathrop, and Oliver Steele, Managers.
In 183 1, an act was passed to incorporate the
society. During the following year, the erection
of a building on Robin street, between Western
and Washington avenues, was commenced, and fin-
92

ished in 1833. The asylum, during the first eight
een years of its existence, provided a home for
seven hundred and thirty children. In 1851 the
work of the society had so increased that an en
largement of the building was commenced, which
cost over $7,000. The asylum was under the ma-
tranship of Mrs. Heeley, a warm-hearted and de
voted friend of the poor, for over twenty years,
ending in 1852.
Albert D. Fuller is the present Superintendent;
Mrs. Albert D. Fuller, Matron. Mr. Fuller suc
ceeds to the long and useful administration of his
father.
ST. VINCENT'S FEMALE ORPHAN ASYLUM.
For several years the Catholics of Albany felt the
great need of providing a suitable home for Cath
olic female orphan children.
Up to the year 1829 no special institution had
been provided in which little girls, deprived by
death, or other causes, of the care of their parents,
could receive parental care and a Christian educa
tion. To meet this urgent want, the Sisters of Charity
of St. Joseph's Mother House, Emmettsburgh, Md.,
were invited to Albany by Rev. Father Schneller,
Pastor of St. Mary's Church.
The urgent request of the Rev. Father was
granted, and Sister Mary DeSalle and three other
Sisters were sent to Albany, and there opened a
day school for the education of Catholic children
in a house near St. Mary's Church.
In connection with this school the Sisters also
opened an asylum, in which they provided for the
temporal and spiritual needs of destitute Catholic
orphan girls. A short time afterward a separate
building was rented for these orphans.
After many and serious vicissitudes, the asylum,
which was supported solely by voluntary contribu
tions of the Catholics of Albany, began to decline
for want of necessary funds. In 1848 it was feared
the asylum must be closed.
At this critical juncture, the Very Rev. J. J. Con
roy, Pastor of St Joseph's Church, came to the
rescue of this noble charity, and purchased lots
adjoining the church, on North Pearl street, upon
which he erected a large and commodious build
ing, to which the Sisters and orphans were forth
with removed.
This building served both as a day school for
girls and asylum for orphans. In a short time an
addition was made to this building.
An incorporation by the name of St. Vincent's
Orphan Asylum was formed in 1849. The incor
porators were Rt. Rev. J. McCloskey, Very Rev.
J. J. Conroy, V. G., Rev. Thomas Doran, Rev. E.
P. Wadhams, Rev. P. McCloskey, Thomas Matti
more, Peter Cagger, Peter Morange, John Raleigh,
John Tracey, Richard Carmody, and others. To
this corporation the asylum building and grounds
were deeded by Very Rev. J. J. Conroy.
In 1865, Rt. Rev. J. J. Conroy, desiring to pro
vide more ample accommodations for the girls'
day school in St. Joseph's parish, purchased the

730

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

building formerly owned and occupied by the
Young Patroon, situated on the southeast cor
ner of Broadway and North Ferry street. To this
building he removed the orphans, and they occu
pied it four years. The number of applicants
constantly increased, and it soon became manifest
that larger accommodations must be provided for
them. In 1868, Bishop Conroy purchased, for $30, 000,
the mansion and grounds situated directly west of
the Executive Mansion. As these grounds were
too small, an additional lot was purchased of Mrs.
Charles Austin, on Elm street, and a wing was
erected, at a cost of $25,000.
The late John McArdle, who had always been a
great benefactor of the orphans, left, by his will, a
large sum of money to the asylum. With this
money another wing was erected. This building
is of tasteful architecture and very attractive in its
appearance. It affords abundant room for two
hundred and fifty children.
The orphans are most tenderly cared for by the
Sisters, and daily receive instructions in all the
branches of a good English education. The in
stitution is supported by an annual appropriation
from the county, which allows $1.50 per week for
each child, and from voluntary contributions of the
Catholics of the various parishes of the city.
Besides those provided for by the county, there
are many children who, having exceeded the legal
age, are maintained at the expense of the institu
tion until suitable homes are provided for them.
There are at present in the institution two hun
dred and sixty children and ten Sisters, under the
direction of Sister Anacaria.
The institution is yearly visited by the Board of
County Supervisors, who have always been profuse
in their praises for the efficient manner in which it
is conducted, and the great care bestowed in pro
moting the happiness and welfare of the children.
THE ORPHANS' HOME OF ST. PETER'S
CHURCH.
This institution was organized in 1 864. It grew
out of a nucleus of a few little homeless children
who had been gathered from the streets of the city
and kindly cared for by that devoted Christian
woman, Miss Elizabeth Knapp. The charity was
familiarly known as The Ragged School. Both
boys and girls were received, and very young chil
dren admitted. The house in which these little
ones were sheltered was known as the Salem
Dutcher House, on South Pearl street. In time
the institution became incorporated, under the
name of the Albany Juvenile Retreat; but, notwith
standing the best efforts of Miss Knapp and of
Mrs. Margaret Gourlay, who was her zealous co
adjutor in the work, it received but desultory sup
port In 1864, the Clergy of St Peter's Church,
the Rev. Wm. T. Wilson and the Rev. Wm. Tat-
lock, having obtained assurances of support from
the members of the parish, resolved to undertake
the maintenance of the children, then about fifteen
in number, in the Retreat,

In October, 1864, the charity was formally
adopted and reorganized under the name of The
Orphans' Home of St Peter's Church. It was
not, however, until 1876 that the name was, by an
act of the Supreme Court, legally changed.
Under the new regime, the Rector of St Peter's
Church was, ex officio, President, and a Board of
Managers was formed from the ladies of the con
gregation. A matron was appointed who should
have the immediate care of the children. The
managers held monthly meetings, made weekly
visits, provided the necessary supplies for the
household, and exercised a general supervision of
the work. This plan has been faithfully adhered
to, and the interests of the wards of the institution
carefully studied and provided for to the present
time. In 1865 a commodious building was secured at
No. 59 Chapel street, and from twenty to twenty-
five children accommodated. In 1873, this prop
erty was needed for the erection of the Albany
Savings Bank, and the children were temporarily lo
cated at No. 50 North Pearl street until, in 1874, the
trustees purchased the house No. 1 Pine street,
which for nine years was known as The Orphanage.
In 1883 this property was rendered unsuitable for
occupancy by the erection of the City Hall build
ing, and the household was transferred to No. 2
Madison place. During the present year, 1885,
the trustees purchased the house at No. 9 High
street. It has been thoroughly renovated and re
modeled. The appointments here are complete
and carefully adapted to the requirements of chil
dren who should be conscientiously trained to be
come self-sustaining.
At least twenty-five children can be cared for in
the new house. On the 6th of October this build
ing was dedicated, with appropriate services, by the
Bishop of the diocese, and the Rector of St Peter's
Church. The scope of the charity is limited to the care of
orphan and destitute girls, who, when possible,
are indentured to the Home until sixteen years of
age, the managers reserving the right to place
them at service in suitable homes at a proper age.
The religious training of the children is in accord
ance with the usages of the Episcopal Church.
They are instructed in the ordinary English studies
and in all branches of household labor, and so
fitted to become self-supporting when called upon
to leave the shelter of the orphanage.
In the course of the twenty-five years that have
elapsed since Miss Knapp's venturesome planting
of the germ of this institution, a large number of
children have been its beneficiaries. The girls
who have grown up in the home and gone out
from it, bear it in grateful remembrance, and from
the shelter of their own happy homes, or from the
positions of trust and responsibility to which they
have attained, come most satisfactory evidence of
the value to the community of an institution of
this kind.
Some valuable gifts and legacies have been made
to the institution. The average cost of mainte
nance is about $1,200 per annum.

Christian work:.

731

THE ALBANY HOUSE OF SHELTER.
On the 24th of February, 1868, by invitation of
Mrs. Samuel Pruyn, a number of ladies and gentle
men met in Mrs. Pmyn's parlor, to discuss the
subject of establishing a home for the purpose of
reclaiming and reforming women who had strayed
from the path of virtue and were living in vice. A
committee to propose some plan of organization
was composed of Rev. Dr. Elmendorf, Rev. Dr.
Douw, Rev. Dr. Bridgeman, Dr. Alexander, and
Captain George Hagadom. On the 9th of March,
the committee made the following report: "That
they recommend the establishment of an institution
to be known as the Albany Home. The establish
ing and management of the home to be placed in
charge of a board of managers, consisting of thir
teen gentlemen, and a board of supervision, consist
ing of nine ladies. "
No. 49 Hudson avenue was the first house oc
cupied. At a meeting held February 8, 1869, the
name of the institution was changed to the Albany
House of Shelter, and it was incorporated the same
year. During the year, the house No. 56 Howard street
was purchased for the home. In November, 187 1,
Mr. R. H. Pruyn resigned the presidency, and
Austin Kibbee was elected, and has since held
the office. In February, 1872, the lot corner of
Howard and Wendell streets was purchased, for
the purpose of building a house suitable for the
wants of the institution. The following year the
present building was erected, and has since been
occupied. The wisdom of the founders of this institution
has been fully proved in the success that has uni
formly attended its work for the homeless and the
erring. Hundreds of these most unfortunate wo
men have found shelter, a Christian home and
kind friends, who have, by their untiring kindness,
won them back to womanhood and society. Very
many mothers have brought their wayward daugh
ters here, that the kind and helpful restraints of the
home might be the means of winning them from
dangerous paths and associations.
The uniform success of the institution during
all these years in. its humane work has gained for it
many friends by whom it has been generously sus
tained, and it may be said with a good degree of
assurance, that there is no institution in our city of
a charitable character that stands higher in the
public estimation than the House of Shelter.
ALBANY GUARDIAN SOCIETY AND HOME
FOR THE FRIENDLESS.
The beautiful three-story brick building on the
north side of Clinton avenue, facing Perry street,
is the Home for the Friendless.
With ample space for a large garden back of it,
and a well-kept lawn upon the front and either
side, it looks inviting to the passer by. The lot
was a gift from the late James Kidd.
The building itself is 56 feet front by 75 feet in
depth and is finished off by a Mansard roof, from

the windows of which a beautiful view of the sur
rounding country can be had.
There are accommodations here and all the
comforts of home life, for about fifty women.
No age is specified in the rules of the managers,
but as of late years those who have seemed most
deserving, with strongest claims upon Christian
sympathy, have been those advanced in years,
the home has become a refuge for these, and by
many has been called "The Old Ladies' Home."
No admission fee is necessary. The first ques
tion concerning an applicant is, Is she worthy ? and
following that, Has she no relatives who should
provide for her ?
If, after careful investigation, she is thought to
be such a one as this home is provided for, one
who will appreciate the privileges of this charity,
she is admitted.
Need we say this building is always full ? It has
a long history — this Home, and in the days gone
by has sheltered many from hunger and cold.
On the walls of the chapel, which is the first
room at the right upon entering the corridor of the
first floor, there is a marble tablet bearing this in
scription : "In memoiy of Christina P. Lee, who
having obtained help of God, in faith and by prayer
and effort, laid the foundation of the Home.
Opened January 27, 1852."
Above this tablet hangs Mrs. Lee's picture, the
face of a beautiful woman whose heart felt for all
the poor around her, and whose faith and prayers
reached out towards the friendless of Albany in all
coming years.
Nor was Mrs. Lee alone in these strong desires
for the good of mankind. Other women joined
her in her prayers, and on November 18, 1851,
they met, formed plans for the adoption of a con
stitution, elected their officers, and named their
society The Albany Guardian Society. January
27, 1852, they opened No. 23 Montgomery street
for their work. Two years later, these rooms
being too small, they moved to the corner of Dove
street and Lydius street (now Madison avenue);
and in a year or two subsequently, and for the
same reason, they again moved to Nos. 1 5 and 1 7
Park street Then they built this home on Clinton
avenue, which was dedicated, free from debt, May
5, 1870.
This is a charity of which the citizens of Albany
may well feel proud, one which has been well fos
tered by them, and abundantly blessed by heaven.
The work of the Albany Guardian Society is
controlled by a board of managers, consisting of
ladies selected from the different churches of the
city. They have also an advisory board of gentle
men. This board of ladies elect their own officers an
nually. The present officers are Mrs. J. B. Sanders, First
Directress; Mrs. James McNaughton, Second Di
rectress; Mrs. Samuel Patten, Third Directress;
Mrs. George B. Steele, Treasurer; Mrs. George
Doelker, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. Stephen R.
Gray, Receiving Secretary; Mr. Archibald Mc
Clure, Treasurer of the Investment Fund.

732

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

HOME FOR AGED MEN.
The Home for Aged Men is located on the
Albany and Watervliet Turnpike, near Menand's
road. Incorporated October 5, 1876. "It is to
provide for respectable men, who, at an advanced

age, are left helpless and alone in the world, and
whose poverty is due to misfortune rather than to
idleness or vice. " The corporators named were
John Taylor Cooper, Maurice E. Viele, William
Sawyer, Visscher Talcott, Dudley Piatt, Ebenezer
Halley, W. M. Van Antwerp, B. W. Arnold, J. H.

HOME FOR AGED MEN.

McClure, J. B. Jermain, J. Waterman, and D. A.
Thompson. The home was dedicated March 28,
1 878. It is pleasantly situated; has accommodations
for 30 persons; and has at present 24 inmates. The
institution is free from debt, and has an invested
fund of $12,641. Inmates are, some of them, sup
ported in whole or part by friends; others are sup
ported at the expense of the society. Beneficiaries
are to be natives of the United States, 60 years old
or more, Protestant, and residents of Albany County
10 years next preceding application for relief.
Exceptions to these restrictions may be made by a
three-fourths vote of all the trustees. As a general
rule, beneficiaries pay $125 entrance money and
furnish their own room. Annual cost of support
ing each inmate about $170.
CHILDREN'S FRIEND SOCIETY.
In November, 1856, a meeting of philanthropic
men and women interested in elevating the con
dition -of-the poor, was held in the middle Dutch
Church of Albany, and there formed the associa
tion known as the Children's Friend Society. The
initial movement was made by Mrs. Mary Pruyn
and a few kindred spirits, whose faith and enthusi
asm carried them through many discouragements,
and resulted in the good work which has extended
its benefits to hundreds of destitute children, and
placed them in the way of a good moral and in
dustrial training through the schools established by
this society. The earliest statement of its work
says that "the school opened in the Rensselaer
Street Mission House, with two hundred scholars,
rude, dirty, noisy — in every respect neglected chil
dren." Subsequently, after a few years of struggle,
the school was transferred to a building purchased
for its use at 81 Hamilton street, and as the needs
of the work increased, a second school was opened
in Canal street, in a building whose rental was
donated by Mr. William White for several years.

Another change became necessary at his death,
when the idea of the consolidation of the two
schools gained favor, and through the earnest
effort of a few of the managers, the necessary funds
were contributed for the erection of the fine build
ing on Beaver street, known as the Industrial
School. The aim and object of the society is em
phasized in its name, and its claim to be the chil
dren's friend is daily wrought out in the work of
the school, and in the benefits offered to poor
children struggling against the mighty trio of vice,
ignorance and poverty. It provides a day home
for them, where, in addition to the ordinary branch
es of study and moral teaching, an industrial train
ing is offered, which fits them for service. They
are taught housework and sewing, and the kitchen
training system lately introduced, is fitting the girls
to take positions as waitresses and chambermaids.
At 1 2 o'clock each day they are marshaled from
their school-room to a comfortable dining hall,
where a substantial meal awaits them. Clothing
is also furnished in a system of rewards. Boys are
also received, and the society looks forward .to the
time when a system of trades for their instruction
can be introduced.
The society was incorporated in April, 1863, and
a remarkable fact is, that in about thirty years of
existence, the position of President has been held
by only two ladies, Mrs. Mary Pruyn and Mrs.
Sophia Winne. CHILD'S HOSPITAL.
The Child's Hospital, for children who are crip
pled or ill with chronic disease, was begun March
21, 1875, in a small house in Lafayette street It
numbered at first only two patients; but in the
early summer of the same year a house was opened
on Elk street, with beds for sixteen patients. The
rapidly increasing work soon showed the necessity
for a larger and more convenient building, and, in

CHRISTIAN WORE:.

733

1877, the present hospital on Hawk street was
opened, with fifty beds. In 1879 a gift of $2,500
from St John's parish, Troy, was used to erect a
quarantine house, called St. John's House; and
in 1882 the hospital building was enlarged by the
addition of two new wards. There are now accom
modations for seventy-five children.
The work is duly incorporated on The Coming
Foundation of Christian Work in the Diocese of
Albany.THE WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE
UNION
is the largest temperance society in America, and
the largest on record as having been organized,
officered, and exclusively controlled by women.
It has more than 150,000 members, in more than
ten thousand local auxiliaries, and has organiza
tions in forty-eight of the States and Territories.
This society is the lineal descendant of the great
temperance crusade of 1873-74, and is a union of
Christian women of all Christian churches for the
purpose of educating the young; reforming the
drinking classes; transforming, by the power of
Divine grace, those who are enslaved by the im
moderate use of intoxicants; and removing the
dram-shop, which is the gilded temptation. The
society from its commencement has had three dis
tinct aims set before it — whatever line of work has
been taken up, or new departure made,, these
ends have ever been in view — 1. The reformation
of the drinker; 2. The salvation of the children
and youth from the degradation of drunkenness;
3. The final banishment of dram-shops by wise
and salutary laws, and the dissemination of scien
tific and Christian knowledge.
The first years of this society were given to the
work of pledges, prayers, songs, appeals and gospel
meetings. The relation of this organization to the
home, the church, and social life is well assured.
No society has been more earnest in advancing the
truth. The auxiliary branch of the Women's Christian
Temperance Union in Albany, was organized in
1873. The members of this society give time and
personal effort to temperance and mission work, in
this wide field of reform and Christian charity.
The needs and sufferings of the intemperate class
call for careful investigation, and the mission of
these kind hearted-ladies demands many sacrifices
to meet the pleadings and wants of those who are
made to drink the bitter cup of sorrow, poverty
and shame caused by intemperance, while the per
petrator of this source of crime and misery is pro
tected and shielded under a license sanctioned
by law, and permitted by the sufferance of the
people. The motto of this Women's Organization is
"For God, and Home, and Native Land." The
Albany society now has rooms at 69 South Pearl
street, where stated meetings are held and calls an
swered. A lady missionary is employed.
The present officers are Mrs. J. H. Ecob, Presi
dent; Mrs. M. A. Wyatt, Mrs. J. B. Jump, Mrs.

S. R. Gray, Vice-Presidents; Mrs. David N. Kirk,
Secretary; Mrs. Jonathan Tenney, Treasurer.
Previous to its present home, it had rooms with
the Young Men's Christian Association, and at 26
William street, and elsewhere. While the Union
could well expend more money in its good work,
it has never stopped for the want of funds.
It visits the families of the drunkard, and gives
them sympathy and help; it keeps open pleasant
rooms for reading and instruction; it circulates
useful literature; it furnishes wholesome food and
drink to the needy; and uses special efforts to keep
the young from the dangers of evil appetites and
temptations. The great doctrine of the union is
that prevention is better than cure. The statute
law of 1884, providing for the instruction of chil
dren and youth in schools upon the influence of
stimulants and narcotics, was passed especially
through the active agency of the officers of the
Albany branch of the Women's Christian Tem
perance Union. THE OPEN DOOR MISSION
is the outgrowth and development of missionary
efforts put forth by Mrs. Eleanor Spensley, who has
consecrated her life and means to the noble work of
alleviating the pain and ameliorating the condition
of mankind. Coming to Albany in 1879, f°r a vear
she went about among the poor, the sick, and the
dying doing good; and then, more effectually and
systematically to carry on her work, she rented
quarters, No. 75 North Pearl street, on her own
personal responsibility; but when the nature, ne
cessity and purpose of the work became known, a
large number of Albany's representative citizens
became deeply interested in the benevolent enter
prise and gave it most hearty support. This
mission field of usefulness has been continually
broadening, until to-day it is the peer, though not
the rival, of any charitable institution in the City
of Albany.
On the 14th day of April, 1882, it became in
corporated, under the title of The Open Door
Mission, with Mrs. Frederick Townsend, Pres
ident, and Mrs. Lyman Tremain, Vice-President.
Soon the necessity of more commodious and per
manent quarters was realized, and so generously
were the appeals made in behalf of the Mission
responded to, that it was enabled to purchase the
house and lot No. 3 Columbia place. The prem
ises are to be used wholly, only, and constantly for
the purposes above set forth. The Mission is
governed and controlled by Trustees and Man
agers. No pecuniary or other remuneration is
paid to the Superintendent or any one con
nected with the institution, except the cook and
laundress. The Mission is non-sectarian in char
acter, and its charities are extended to respectable
women and little children, without regard to re
ligion, race, color, or condition.
The city grants two thousand dollars per year
on the same conditions as other hospitals. Mrs.
Spensley resigned her position as Superintendent
in the spring of 1884.

734

HISTORY OE THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ALBANY HOSPITAL FOR INCURABLES,
No. 2 Madison Place, is one of the youngest
benevolent institutions in the city. It was con
ceived in the heart and brain of Mrs. Eleanor
Spensley. She had graduated from Oberlin Col
lege in 1878, with a settled purpose to devote the
remainder of her life to destitute and helpless suf
ferers. As a preparation for this, she had spent a
year in the prisons and hospitals of New York City
and vicinity in special training. After leaving
The Open Door Mission, she at once received the
assistance and co-operation of kind and able
friends, and about the middle of November, 1884,
again had a family of unfortunates. On the ist
of May following, the number had outgrown all
available room on the corner North Pearl and
Columbia streets, when rooms were secured and
occupied at No. 2 Madison place. While her
main object is to furnish a permanent home for
hopeless disability, still there has been no time
when one or more persons in temporary distress
have not found the institution over which she
presides the protecting, helpful avenue through
which they passed from a state of dependence to
self-help; and in some instances from conditions
of despair to positions of high respectability and
usefulness. These cases have not been sought for, but have
seemed to be brought to her door by the waves of
misfortune from the sea of human misery by a
directing providence, so that she could not refuse
or resisttheir claim. Already every available room
at No. 2 Madison place is occupied by a family of
over thirty unfortunates, so that more roomy quar
ters must soon be obtained.
WOMAN'S UNION MISSIONARY
SOCIETY.
In 1 86 1, the Woman's Union Missionary Society
of America for Heathen Lands was organized, in
New York City. Mrs. T. C. Doremus its President.
This society has between forty and fifty Missionaries
(ladies) of every evangelical denomination, at this
time working for women in foreign lands. It has
mission stations in India, China, Japan, and the
Island of Cyprus. The society is managed entirely
by women, has no salaried officers, and has never
been in debt Expends about $50,000 annually.
There is in this city an auxiliary called the Albany
Branch of the Woman's Union Missionary Society.
Officers as follows:
Mrs. Robert Starin, President; Mrs. D. K. Bartlett,
Mrs. J. W. McNamara, Mrs. George R. Meneely, Vice-
Presidents; Mrs. Frederick Townsend, Treasurer;
Mrs. J. Townsend Lansing, Secretary; with a Board
of twenty-six Managers, representing every Christian
denomination. The yearly contribution to the general fund of
the society from this branch averages $800. This
amount is collected by the individual effort of the
friends of the society. There is one meeting held
each year. No public appeal is ever made in its
behalf.

THE ALBANY WOMAN'S EXCHANGE
is the outcome of a meeting held November 3, 1881,
' ' to provide additional facilities to worthy women in
obtaining work." Mrs. C. P.Williams was appointed
chairman. In less than a month after this meeting,
the Woman's Exchange was opened at No. 25 Steu
ben street, its object being to ' ' afford impoverished
gentlewomen an opportunity of quietly and unob
trusively earning money to supplement narrow in
comes. " During the first four weeks the sales reached
nearly $500. In less than six months the managers
secured larger quarters. In February, a lunch room
was opened in connection with the sales-rooms.
The premises No. 14 North Pearl street were rented
and occupied April 20, 1882. During the first year
nearly two thousand articles were sold. Any person
paying $5 becomes a member,and is entitled to enter
the work of three persons for one year. All work is
entered through numbers instead of names. Tick
ets are issued for $2 each, admitting the work of one
person for one year. Prices on all articles are fixed
by the persons entering the work. The society
receives 10 per cent, commission on all sales. Last
year 318 persons were paid sums ranging from 27
cents to $230.
WOMEN'S ALBANY INDIAN ASSOCIATION.
In 1879 Miss Mary L. Bonney, President of the
Philadelphia Women's Home Mission Society, be
came greatly interested in the subject of our national
wrongs to Indians, and bringing facts concerning
these wrongs to her society, she awakened a sen
timent which resulted in presenting to President
Hayes, February 14, 1880, a petition on behalf of
justice to Indians, signed by 13,000 influential men,
representing fifteen States.
In May, 1880, a committee was appointed for the
purpose of publishing and circulating petitions,
pamphlets, leaflets and circulars,and in June, 1881,
the society was organized under the name of the
Indian Treaty-keeping and Protective Association,
with Miss Bonney as President. In 188 2, with aux
iliaries in twenty States, it assumed the name of the
Women's National Indian Association, and adopted
a revised constitution with the objects:
First. — To strengthen public sentiment on
behalf of justice to Indians,and to help secure their
civilization and education and the payment of
debts to them under existing governmental com
pacts. Second. — To aid in securing needed new legis
lation, giving to Indians protection of law, lands
and citizenship.
Third. — To labor for the elevation of Indian
women and homes, and the Christianization of
tribes now destitute of Christian instruction.
On the morning of March 22, 1883, about fifty
women assembled in Geological Hall, in Albany, to
listen to an address by Mrs. A. S. Quinton, General
Secretary of the . Women's National Indian Asso
ciation. Rev. Charles Wood, Pastor of the Fourth
Presbyterian Church, presided. After the address, it
was decided to organize an auxiliary to the National

CHRISTIAN WORK.

735

Association, to be known as the Albany Indian
Association, whose boundaries should be New York
City and Rochester. Mrs. W. W. Crannell was ap
pointed Secretary pro tem. At a subsequent meet
ing the following officers were elected:
President, Mrs. Howard Townsend; Treasurer,
Mrs. William Barnes; Secretary, Mrs.W. W. Cran
nell. During the winter of 1884, the society framed
the following memorial, which passed both Houses
of the New York State Legislature, and was sent to
the representatives in Congress by Governor Cleve
land: Whereas, Believing that the education of Indians
and their voluntary citizenship in the United States
will most justly, quickly, and economically solve the
Indian problem;
Resolved, That our Senators and Representatives
in Congress be and they are hereby requested to aid
in the passage of resolutions solemnly pledging the
faith of the nation to the Indian policy embodied
in the following principles:
First, That the unpaid sum pledged for educa
tional purposes by the Government as part payment
for the cession of lands by Indians, be appropriated
for the purchase of stock, farming implements, tools,
etc. , for Indian manual-labor schools.
Second, That so much of the net proceeds of the
sale of Indian lands as may be necessary, shall be
set apart for the purpose of creating a permanent
fund for the education of Indians.
Third, That lands in severalty, making their titles
inalienable for twenty-five years, and United States
citizenship, may be granted at once to all Indians
who so desire.
Fourth, That the legal personality of all Indians
may be granted, and that protection of law may be
given them, as it is to all other races within these
United States.
Fifth, That the civilization of Indians may be
hastened by providing for and rewarding their civ
ilized industries.
Sixth, That the salaries of Indian Agents be in
creased sufficiently to secure good men of large
capacity and business experience, and to retain
them in service.
Resolved, That the Governor be requested to
transmit a copy of the foregoing resolutions to each
of the Senators and Representatives in Congress
from this State.
In June, 1874, Mrs. Maurice E. Viele was elected
President. In the spring of 1885, auxiliaries to the
Albany Association were established in Troy and
Poughkeepsie. There is at present about two hun
dred ladies, with the following officers elected No
vember 11,1885:
President, Mrs. Maurice E. Viele; Corresponding
Secretary, Mrs. W. W. Crannell; Recording Sec
retary, Mrs. Charles B.Nichols; Treasurer, Mrs. Wm.
Barnes; Assistant Treasurer, Mrs. Benjamin W. Ar
nold- Vice-Presidents, Mis. Howard Townsend,
Mrs J DeWitt Peltz, Mrs. Theodore D.Van Heusen,
Mrs. James H. McClure, Mrs. J. D. Countermine,
Mrs. Leonard Kip, Mrs. George A. Woolverton, Mrs.
William L. Learned, Mrs. Jeremiah Waterman, Mrs.
J. Townsend Lansing, Mrs. Montgomery Throop,

Mrs. J. A. Lintner, Mrs. Samuel Patten, Mrs. John O.
Cole, Mrs. John Taylor Cooper, Mrs. Leander Stick
ney, Mrs. Lemon Thomson, Mrs. David Murray, Mrs.
Charles Wood, Miss C. W. DeWitt, Miss Anna
McNaughton, Miss Harriet Monteath, Miss J.Anna
Lansing, Miss C.J. Van Rensselaer.
THE ALBANY WOMAN'S SUF
FRAGE SOCIETY.
IN 1852, Miss Susan B. Anthony, as delegate to
a temperance convention held in Albany, at
tempted to speak during the first session. Although
she had been received as a member of the conven
tion, she was informed that she was "invited to
listen, and not to take part in the proceedings."
The men and women present who considered her
wronged withdrew from the convention, and held a
separate meeting in the vestry-room of the First
Presbyterian Church. This was the beginning of
active work in Albany for the rights of women.
Mrs. Thompson, Lydia Mott, and Phebe Jones, of
Albany, were pronounced in this revolt.
A convention was held in Association Hall, Feb
ruary 14 and 15, 1854, by the advocates of equal
rights. Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stan
ton, Antoinette L. Browne and Ernestine L. Rose
were among the notable women present. A hear
ing was given them by both Senate and Assembly
Committees, and 6, 000 names of petitioners for the
right to vote were presented to both branches of
the Legislature. The editorials of the Albany news
papers were, in nearly every instance, furious in
their attacks upon the woman suffragists. The
Knickerbocker, then as now, demanded "fair play
and truthful criticism."
Another convention was held in the Green Street
Universalist Church, February 13 and 14, 1855,
and again petitions were presented, and hearings
in Senate and Assembly were accorded.
A convention was held in Association Hall, Feb
ruary 3 and 4, i860. Miss Anthony was the ruling
spirit. On the 18th of this February, Mrs. Stanton
addressed the Legislature on woman's right of suf
frage. February 7 and 8, 1861, just before the War of
the Rebellion, a woman's suffrage convention was
held in Albany. It is proper to note that all the
eloquent addresses of these eminent women never
aroused even a quartet of women in Albany to or
ganize for woman's suffrage work. Lydia Mott's
parlors in Columbia street furnished the center for
the workers who came from other cities.
After the war, the Constitutional Convention of
the State of New York was held in the Old Assem
bly Chamber. Mrs. Stanton addressed the Judiciary
Committee, asking that the word "male" be
stricken from Sec. 1, Art. 2, of the Constitution
of New York. The women of Albany again had
the opportunity of listening to Mrs. Stanton plead
ing for justice to her sex. From that year to the
present, Mrs. Lillie Devereux Blake has each year
made effort in the New York Legislature to bring
about woman suffrage. Early in the year 1880, her
efforts, and those of the earnest women who pre-

736

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ceded her, were crowned with partial success by the
passage of the school suffrage law. Soon after the
right to vote at school elections was. gained, Mrs.
Blake came to Albany for the express purpose of
holding a meeting whereby she might confer with
the women of Albany, and lead them to take part
in the charter election about to be held. The
meeting was held in the Geological Hall, March
19, 1880. Mrs. Blake and Mrs. Slocum, of New
York City, and Mrs. Saxon, of New Orleans, spoke
with great earnestness, and urged the women to
form themselves into an active local working society
for future help. Mrs. William Barnes and Mrs.
Mary Pruyn were nominated for members of the
school board, who afterwards refused to accept the
nomination. At the close of the meeting, Mrs.
Mary S. Howell called an extra session, and a
local society was then and there organized. . Mrs.
Howell was chosen President, and Miss Kate Stone-
man, Secretary. Anpther meeting was held Mon
day, March 22, 1880.
From that time to the present, meetings have been
held each week, with scarcely an exception, except
during the summer vacation. During the exciting
presidential campaign of 1884, meetings were held
by the Society every week through the year, the
members taking a deep interest in every move and
counter-move of the parties in the contest.
The first meetings of the Suffrage Society were
held in Geological Hall, afterwards the old Twed
dle Hall. After a few weeks in Mr. Hill's rooms
on State street, the school-room and parlors of
Miss Cooley, 23 Dove street, were opened to the
society, where it had a home for three years with
out charge. Next the society for one year used
the Old Assembly Chamber. After this its meet
ings were held from house to house for the purpose
of reaching more people in different parts of the
city, and the parlors of Mrs. H. V. Chapin, Mrs.
J. M. Watkins, Mrs. W. H. Williams, Mrs. M. E.
Mull, Mrs. Henrica Uiohan, and Miss Kate Stone-
man were, in turn, the scene of interesting meet
ings. The society now holds its meetings in room
No. 1 6 of the New Tweddle Building.
The President of the Albany Woman's Suffrage So
ciety for the first three years was Mrs. Mary Sey
mour Howell. Mrs. Howell was succeeded by Miss
Martha Winne. The society never had a more
earnest worker in the cause of woman suffrage than
Miss Winne. Her earnestness cost her dear, how
ever, as her position of Principal of School No. 1 7
was lost to her by votes of anti-suffragists in the
Albany School Board. She now holds a far superior
position in the Nebraska State Normal School.
She was the first martyr to the cause of woman suf
frage in Albany. Mrs. Joan W. Cole succeeded
Miss Winne.
Miss Kate Stoneman has been Secretary of the
society from the first. Miss Stoneman is a sister of
General Stoneman, now Governor of California,
and also of Judge J. T. Stoneman, of the Superior
Court of Iowa, and a teacher in the State Normal
School in Albany.
Mrs. Dr. Brown, former Treasurer of the society,
and her mother, Mrs. Melius, wife of Wheeler B.

Melius, of the Albany County Clerk's Office, have
given most important aid in the management of
the society. Mrs. Charles Werner, the first Treas
urer, will long be remembered for her engaging
manners. Miss Adeline E. Coley, present Treas
urer, more than any other member, has helped
the society to keep its standing in Albany.
Mrs. E. S. Miller has given the society a work
of love which must never be forgotten.
Mrs. Henrica Iliohan, the young Hollander, has
always 'been a prominent member of the society.
With her keen wit and her ready repartee, she has
always defended the society in many an extempore
speech. Miss Mary A. McClelland, of the State Normal
School, has brought to the society the finished
style of her letters, addresses, and press articles.
Mrs. M. L. Smith gave to the society the benefit
of her experience in the anti-slavery struggle.
Mrs. Dr. Cook, on rare occasions, narrated her
experience as hospital nurse on the bloody battle
fields of the War of the Rebellion. Mrs. J. M.
Watkins, the present Vice-President, a sister of the
artist, George W. Boughton, brought her acquaint
ance with deliberative bodies, and her experience
as president of temperance societies, and of the
Woman's Relief Corps connected with the G. A. R.
The limitation of space in this history, alone
prevents the mention of many more active workers
in the Albany Woman's Suffrage Society. They
form a company of women remarkable for strength
of character, and devotion to religious and chari
table works. Their work has advanced the woman
suffrage cause in the entire Republic. It has made
itself felt in the most marked and beneficent man
ner in the Legislature in Albany. The members
of this society have been granted hearings by com
mittees in both houses of the Legislature, and wo
man suffragists now receive respectful attention
from members of Assembly in place of the sneers,
contempt and ridicule which were thrown at the
women who presented petitions the year when the
society was first formed.
The society has had occasion to call upon the
Mayor, Common Council, Chief of Police, and
other officers of the city, in connection with efforts
to secure women matrons for police stations, and
though the bill to secure this desirable purpose has
not yet become a law, the society has full faith
that the unfortunate women in station-houses may
yet bless the day when the Albany Suffrage So
ciety began its existence.
Mrs. S. Le Boeuf is the most prominent worker
for this aim of the society.
A notable event in the history of woman suffrage
in Albany was the memorial service for the women
of_the War of the Rebellion, held in the Old As
sembly Chamber — the last public meeting held in
the Old Capitol before its walls disappeared from
the earth. It was a fitting service for the last use
of the room where the gallant Ellsworth and the
martyr Lincoln had rested. At that memorial, held
on the eve of Decoration Day, the old Assembly
desk was covered with beautiful spring flowers that
found their way the next morning to soldiers' graves

ART AND ARTISTS.

737

in the Rural Cemetery. Anna Ella Carroll, who
planned the campaign of Tennessee, was not for
gotten. Harriet Beecher Stow's immortal work
was called the force that led to the emancipation of

the negro. Recognition of women living is the
pledge which the Albany Suffrage Society gives
with its tears to the memory of the noble dead of
all ages who have offered up life for liberty.

ART AND ARTISTS.

AT one time Albany had a Gallery of Fine
Arts, where were collected quite a' display of
good pictures by such artists as Durand, Sully,
Peale, Chapman, Carleton, Weir, the Harts, Ames
and others. Several creditable public exhibitions of
pictures were opened at sundry times. But most
of the artists sought more favored homes, and the
treasures of the gallery were scattered. Some of
their pictures are now in trust with the Young Men's
Association and may be seen in its rooms. Ames,
who was the founder and leading spirit had died.
There are good pictures in Albany now in private
homes,and some considerable art appreciation, but
no organized exhibition or encouragement. Page,
the younger Ames, the younger Palmer and Low,
were born here. Boughton once resided and now has
family friends here. Launt Thompson was brought
out here by Dr. J. H. Armsby, and the elder Palmer,
and is now one of the most eminent living sculptors.
Wm. M.Hunt, born in Vermont, has left one of his
masterpieces in our New Capitol. Palmer has done
some of the best work in American sculpture;
while Elliott was a master in portrait painting; and
Twitchell, many think, quite equals, if he doesn't ex
cel him in some requisites of true portraiture. His
studio is here. The Hart Brothers and McDougall
were once Albany boys. The colored female sculp
tor, Edmonia Lewis, was born in Greenbush.
Art owes something to Albany. But it has now
no art gallery. Some nice pictures may often be
seen in the art store of Richard Annesley, who suc
ceeds his father, Lawton Annesley, who started the
business in 1802. Mr. Vint, late partner of Annesley,
has an art store, and so has John Pladwell.
We give below sketchy notes of most painters
and sculptors who have had Albany as their place
of birth or their home.
Ames, Ezra, born in Worcester Co. , Mass. , about
i768,wasinAlbanyin 1793; died February 23,1836.
He was a painter, and acquired distinction as a
student of art; executed with great fidelity a large
number of original portraits, and made copies of
many paintings of merit. His wife was Zipporah
Wood, of Uxbridge, Mass. He was a Director in
the Mechanics and Farmers' Bank, and left a good
estate. He was one of the first, brightest, and
most prominent Masons in Albany; once Master
of the Grand Lodge of the State. He left several
children, among whom were Julius Rubens, an artist
of merit; Angelo, a well-known citizen; and Mrs.
Rev. William James.
Benjamin, Samuel Green Wheeler, was born in
Argos, Greece, in 1837, son of an American mis

sionary. He began his art education with Brindesi,
of the Spanish and Italian school. He furnished cuts
for Illustrated London News. Was elected a member
of the Boston Art Club in 1873. Mr. Benjamin is an
author as well as an artist; has contributed essays
and poems to the North American Review, Atlantic,
Harper's, and other periodicals, and prepared many
interesting volumes illustrated by his own pencil.
Boughton, George H., born in England, 1834.
Taken to Albany in 1837, where, without masters,
he began the study of his art, opening his first studio
in 1850. He sold one of his earliest works to the
American Art Union in 1853, and on the proceeds
went to London for study. Returned to Albany in
a few months. In 1861, removed to London, where
he has since resided. All his pictures command
high prices, and many are to be found in the finest
private galleries in England and America. His
brother, Daniel, is a well-known hat and fur dealer
in this city.
Brown, Henry Kirke, born in Massachusetts,
1814, but in 1840 settled in Albany. In 1846 he
cast.in bronze, the statue of Washington, in Union
Square, New York City — the first bronze statue
executed in this country; unveiled July 4, 1856.
His late works are a statue of General Nathaniel
Greene, in the Capitol at Washington; one of De
Witt Clinton, in Greenwood Cemetery, and one of
General Win field Scott, in Washington, D.C.
Carpenter, Francis Bicknell, bom in Homer,
N.Y.,1830. Settled in New York City, 1 85 1. In
1852, elected Associate of the National Academy,
and was at the time its youngest member. Among
his full-length portraits are Abraham Lincoln, in
the Capitol at Albany, painted in 1874. His most
important was " The Emancipation Proclamation,"
which was exhibited in 1864-65, through the
Northern States. It was purchased for $25,000 by
Elizabeth Thompson, and presented to Congress in
1877. It now hangs in the House of Represent
atives. Dix, Charles Temple, born in Albany, 1840,
graduated at Union College in i858,and turned his
attention to art at an early age. Entered the army
at the outbreak of the Civil War, serving on the
staff of his father, General John A. Dix. On the
return of peace he adopted art as a profession, and
settled in Rome. "Sunset at Capri" is one of his
best known works. He died in Rome in 1873.
Doolittle, Edwin Stafford, born at Albany,
1843. He studied painting with Hows and Hart
In 1869, he painted his "Shadow of a Great Rock
in a Weary Land." His subjects are chiefly land-

738

HLSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

scapes and marine. He has also executed illus
trations, designed book-covers, and written occa
sional poems.
Durand, Asher B., born in New Jersey, 1796.
He was one of the original members of the Acad
emy of Design, organized in 1826. Was its Presi
dent for sixteen years. About 1835 he decided to
become a painter. Mr. Durand may be termed the
father of American landscape, which he treats as a
poet would treat it He uses mountains, lakes and
trees to express the emotion they have awakened in
him. His "Old Man's Reminiscences," may be
seen in the Young Men's Association. His " Lake
George" (1875) is the production of an octoge
narian whom American art and American artists
honor. Elliott, Charles Loring, born in Scipio, N.
Y., December, 18 12; died in Albany, August 25,
1868. He is said to have painted more than seven
hundred portraits of eminent people, among them
Erastus Corning, in the State Library at Albany.
" The Head of Skaneateles Lake " is the only land
scape he ever painted. He was once a pupil of
Trumbull. He was not a genius, but gained his
eminent rank by hard work.
Freeman, James E., a native of Nova Scotia,
came when young to Albany. He has resided
for many years at Rome. His wife has devoted
herself to sculpture, one of her best known works
being "Culprit Fay."
Gay, Edward, born in Ireland in 1837. He
commenced the study of art in the studio of James
Hart, in Albany. In 1867, he opened a studio in
New York, where his professional life has since
been spent. "Late Afternoon near Albany " was
exhibited at the Centennial Exhibition in 1876.
Hart, James M., born in Scotland, 1828.
Brought when young by his parents to Albany.
His landscapes exhibit a thorough knowledge of
light and shade of atmosphere, and of perspective.
He is also remarkable for his representations of
cattle. Hart, William, born in Scotland, 1822. Came
to America in 1831, and lived for some time in
Albany, where he worked in the establishment of
a coachmaker, painting panels, etc. In 1848, he
opened a studio in Albany. He was first President
of the Brooklyn Academy of Design, and Presi
dent of the American Society of Painters in Water
Colors, from 1870 to 1873. His style is rich and
glowing, and he seems to prefer Nature in her
brightest rather than in her dark and gloomy
phases. Hartley, J. S., born in Albany, 1845. He
began his professional life in sculpture under E.
D. Palmer. Going abroad to study, he spent
three years in England, entering the Royal Acad
emy, and gaining a silver medal in 1869. He
has been for some time a resident of New York .
Hunt, William Morris, born in Brattleboro,
Vt, 1824. It was his original intention to become
a sculptor, but he soon abandoned this design
and turned his attention to painting. He has
painted portraits of many noted people. He ex
celled also in landscape studies. His pictures in

the Assembly Chamber at Albany have attracted
much attention. They are intended to represent
Morning and Night, and were painted by artificial
light. Hunt was drowned at Portsmouth, N. H.
Huntington, Daniel, born in New York, 1816.
Studied under Professor Morse in 1835. Went to
Florence in 1839; was President of the National
Academy from 1862-69; again elected in 1877.
Excelled in portraits and in landscapes. Among
his portraits is that of President Van Buren, in the
State Library, Albany.
Inman, Henry, borne in Utica in 1802; died in
1846; portrait, genre, and landscape painter. He
numbered among his sitters in America many dis
tinguished men, and while in England painted
Wordsworth, Macaulay, and others.
Low, Will H., born in Albany, 1853, a pro
tege oi E. D. Palmer; studied, also with Gerome
and Duran. Among his important works are "Rev
erie — Time of the First Empire," belonging to J.
B. Thatcher, of Albany, and a portrait of Albani,
the property of Robert Higgins, of Albany. He is
a son of the late Addison Low, and brother of Mrs.
Judge Danaher. He is a popular and growing
artist. Martin, Homer D., a native of Albany, a self-
taught artist, with the exception of a few days' study
under William Hart. Very successful as a land
scape painter. His " Adirondacks," belonging to
the Century Club, was at the Philadelphia Exposi
tion of 1876. In 1878, he made, for Scribner's
Monthly, a series of sketches of the homes of Ameri
can poets.
Page, William, born in Albany, 181 1. His
talent was early developed, as at the age of eleven
he received a premium from the American Insti
tute for Indian ink drawing. In 1828-29, we ^nd
him engaged as a portrait painter in Albany; but
later he opened studios in New York and Boston.
He was considered the leading American portrait
painter in Rome. A head of Christ, exhibited at
the National Academy and elsewhere, attracted
much attention. He died recently at an advanced
age. Palmer, Erastus D., born in Pompey, N.
Y., April 2, 18 1 7. For many years he resided
in Utica, following his trade of a carpenter. In 1 846,
settled in Albany, and began his professional career
as a cameo-cutter. In 1852, he executed his first
important piece of sculpture, "The Infant Ceres,"
which attracted much attention. "The Angel at
the Sepulchre," in Albany Rural Cemetery, is well
known. He has done much in marble. He has
executed portrait busts of Erastus Corning, Gover
nor Morgan, and other prominent men. His
bronze statue of Chancellor Livingston was com
mended for artistic excellence at the Centennial
Exhibition in 1876.
Palmer, Walter S., native of Albany, and son
of the sculptor, Erastus D. Palmer. He studied
in Paris, and on his return, in 1877, opened a
studio in New York,. devoting himself to landscape
painting. He has also been very successful with
interiors. He has a studio in Albany, and is re
garded here with much pride as an artist.

(Ofy£yrcy

Eng "¦ iw E.B.EaEs Sons. Eeiu Torlc.

ART AND ARTISTS.

739

Smith, S. L., born in Glasgow, 1825. Coming
to America when quite young, he studied for a
short time under George H. Boughton, in Albany.
In 1859 opened a studio in Albany, and remained
three years. In 1862 he removed to New York,
where the rest of his professional life has been
spent. He has devoted himself almost exclusively
to the painting of winter scenes with marked suc
cess. Twitchell, Asa W., was born in Swanzey,
N. H., January 1, 1820. His ancestry goes back
to the Puritan emigrant from England in 1634.
After spending his boyhood in Vermont, Keese-
ville and Lansingburgh, N. Y., he came to Albany
in 1843. He had an early passion for making
sketches of the human face. His first portrait was
painted in 1839. He has been a master to him
self. He aims to delineate character, and endea
vors to present his subject at its best in active life.
Hence his portraits are life-like in expression. A
few years ago he visited the galleries of the old
world, and brought back with him a new enthu-
siam in his favorite art. He is still closely at work
in his studio, and producing some of the best por
traits in Albany.
Wiles, Lemuel M., born in Wyoming County,
N. Y., 1826. Studied under William Hart, in the
Albany Academy, between 1848 and 1851, and
under Cropsey in New York. In 1864, he settled
in the metropolis. His specialty is landscape and
figure painting. In 1873-74, he went to Panama,
California and Colorado, where he executed a large
number of views, which are valuable as being the
only studies in color of the old mission churches
and cathedrals of those regions.
EZRA AMES
was born in Worcester County, Mass., about 1768,
and was a resident of Albany as early as the year
1 793. A painter by profession, he acquired dis
tinction as a student of art. He executed with
great fidelity a large number of original portraits,
and made copies of many paintings of merit. He
was a Director in the Mechanics and Farmers'
Bank and left a good estate. He married and had
children. One of his sons, Julius Rubens Ames,
was an artist of much promise, but his course was
cut short by an untimely death. Another son,
Angelo Ames, is a well-known resident of Albany.
ENGRAVING.
Probably the first engraver who settled in Albany
was G. Lansing, who, in 1806, advertised that he
intended -to practice his business of wood engrav
ing on Court street He studied with the cele
brated Anderson, of New York. Simultaneously
with his advertisement appears some cheap wood
cuts in the Gazette.
In 181 8, Rawdon & Balch advertised a partner
ship as engravers, at the old stand of Mr. Rawdon.
Joseph E. Gavit settled in Albany in 1838, and
was engaged as a bank note engraver from 1841-
59, and carried on an extensive business. He

removed to New York City in 1859, and was instru
mental in forming the American Bank Note Com
pany. His son, Joseph Gavit, is still carrying on
the work of steel engraving and printing in Albany,
at 52 North Pearl street.
The other steel engravers are R. K. Quayle, 54
North Pearl street, and George W. Lewis, 452
Broadway, who also produce wood and copper
plates. The wood engravers are Hiram Ferguson,
448 Broadway, and R. Z. Sheridan, 26 Douw's
Building. ARCHITECTURE.
The following account of the architectural fea
tures of Albany, with a few changes in the text, is
taken from Phelps' Hand-book of Albany:
But few examples of the primitive Dutch struc
tures of about two hundred years ago exist in
this city. The buildings on the southeast corner
of State and Pearl streets, and northeast corner of
Pearl and Columbia and Chapel and Steuben streets
are the best examples of these early buildings, one
of them bearing the date of 17 10. Modern build
ings in Albany are erected with brick of local
manufacture; also Philadelphia, Croton, and other
pressed brick; sandstone from Nova Scotia, New
Jersey, Connecticut, and Ohio; Schenectady blue-
stone; granite; and cast-iron for fronts, and for
trimmings to doors and windows. In Albany, as in
all old cities, three periods in architectural designs
are distinctly noticeable, viz., the "Carpenters," as
are a majority of the domestic houses in the oldest
portions of the city, together with public buildings,
such as Geological Hall, Globe Hotel, and old
Normal School. Secondly, the "Transition" from
the first named to architects' handiwork, included
in which are the numerous buildings remodeled for
stores, offices, etc. Lastly, "Art Culture," in which
may be cited numerous private residences upon Elk
and State streets, and on Washington and Madison
avenues, and near the Park; the Kenmore Hotel,
Mechanics and Farmers' Bank, and many modern
suburban residences.
In ecclesiastical architecture, prominent as ex
amples of decorated Gothic are St. Peter's and St
Joseph's; the Cathedral furnishes a good example
of the Perpendicular. The carved work in the
tower of St. Peter's Church is probably unsurpassed
in design and faithfulness of the workman by any
work in America or Europe. The Lutheran
Church on Pine street is a creditable specimen of
early English, wrought out of brick. The Meth
odist Church and Baptist Church on Hudson ave
nue are interesting studies in Gothic and Greek
characters. In Romanesque we might mention
the Reformed Church,. on Pearl street; St. Mary's,
on Lodge street; and Our Lady of Angels, on Cen
tral avenue; while the new City Hall is one of the
finest examples of the style in America, with a
square Norman tower for the fire alarm. The new
Post Office and the Presbyterian Church near the
Park, are also examples of the Romanesque. The
New Capitol may be generally described as belong
ing to the French Renaissance style, distinguished

740

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

from the Italian by the introduction of Gothic
features. The Presbyterian Church upon Chapel
street approaches Sir Christopher Wren's style in
many of its prominent features, although its spire
finish, the pumpkin and codfish, are wide depart
ures therefrom. The interior design and arrange
ments of All Saints Cathedral Chapel furnish proof
of success of culture in the architect.
This building promises to be one of the finest
church edifices in America. The Holy Innocents
Church on Pearl street, a gem, pure in conception,
should be seen by tourists and lovers of art
The public schools of the city are genuine,
practical, sensible designs, embodying interiors
and floor plans in keeping with intended purposes,
affording comfort to teachers and pupils, while
familiarizing the eyes of youth with taste, cleanli
ness, and sanitary demand. The St. Agnes' School
is a model of its kind, and although simple, al
most severe, in style, yet its numerous architectural
surprises tend to leave an agreeable impression on
the memory. The Grecian pretensions of the Fe
male Academy are in rather unpleasing contrast
with their modern surroundings, and calculated to
suggest unfavorable criticisms. The Sacred Heart
Convent, at Kenwood, deserves particular mention
for its charming location, and as an illustration of
Gothic character adapted to an institution of edu
cation. Another illustration of simple good taste
in architecture, striking the eye favorably and leav
ing pleasing impressions, is the Child's Hospital,
modern, yet antique, in its conception. In the
State Armory, corner of Eagle street and Hudson
avenue, is a fine type of military architecture,
resembling the baronial style introduced into
England by King Edward I upon his return from
the crusades. Among many other edifices worthy
of note are the Boys' Academy, the Madison Ave
nue Reformed Church and the State Hall.
The most noted architects in the early part of
this century were Christopher Batterman, of Boston,
Philip Hooker and Elias Putnam, of Connecticut,
and Jonathan Lyman, of Massachusetts. They
came here to reside, and designed and erected
most of the larger and better public and private
buildings of their time, which have been admired
for the common sense of their proportions and the
good taste and finish of their work. They have
stood well the test of time.
Walter Dickson, J. B. Halcott, Charles C.
Nichols, Fuller & Wheeler, Ernst' Hoffman, Gil
bert Prettyman, Robert W. Gibson, Charles S.
Edgerton, Adolph Fleischman, F. H. Janes, Ogden
& Wright, are the architects of to-day.
WILLIAM L. WOOLLETT.
William L. Woollett, whose name is so insep
arably connected with the architecture and build
ings of Albany, was born June 24, 181 5, in Water
bury, near Maidstone, Kent, England, and came to
America in 1834. From that time his life was
passed almost continuously in this city, where he
advanced by sure and rapid steps to a foremost
place in his chosen profession, and achieved honor

and distinction in both public and private life.
Mr. Woollett was a man of strong individuality,
distinguished for intolerance of everything false or
equivocal, and of the most inflexible honesty in all
his dealings. These characteristics are well re
membered by our builders and contractors, who re
call many instructive incidents connected with his
professional career.
The principal features of his work were thorough
and scientific construction, a uniform avoidance of
all shams and doubtful expedients, and general
excellence and utility both of design and execution.
Among the important buildings erected under his
supervision may be mentioned the Delavan House,
the Albany Savings Bank, the First Congregational
Church, etc., in this city; the Jermain Memorial
Church at West Troy; a large number of private
residences, and a great variety of high-class work
throughout the State. Mr. Edward Ogden, of this
city, was for some years connected with him as
junior partner.
Mr. Woollett was a Fellow of the American In
stitute of Architects, and member of the Royal So
ciety of Architects of London, and he constantly
advanced the standing and dignity of the profession
by every means in his power.
Of his private life and virtues, no adequate ac
count can be given in the few lives at our disposal,
but it hardly needs the saying that his memory and
influence will ever remain powerful factors in the
lives of those who were near and dear to him. Mr.
Woollett's home was at Loudonville, where for
nearly eighteen years he was Superintendent of the
Watervliet Union Sabbath School. He was also
President of the Young Men's Christian Association
in 1859 and i860, and a Trustee of the College of
Missionaries, Syracuse University. In religious life
he was always earnest and active, both as officer
and member, in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
On May 2, 1874, this steadfast disciple of the
Divine Architect passed suddenly away. He left
a wife, Mrs. Mary (Mills) Woollett, to whom he
was married May 24, 1848, and one son, William
M. Woollett, who became his successor in business.
A brief notice of the latter is given below.
William M. Woollett was born in Albany, July
6, 1850. In addition to first-rate ability, and an
ardent love for the profession, he united the many
advantages of thorough education. Graduating from
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1870,
with highest honors, he speedily became associated
with his father in practice, and at the latter's death
in 1874, he assumed full control and carried on the
business with energy and success. His work from
the first exhibited a remarkable growth in skill and
power, and his early death was a severe blow to
the art interests of the city. We need only cite a
few examples of his style at this time, and among
them the three elegant residences on Englewood
place, designed for Messrs. B. W. Wooster, Oscar
L Hascy and Henry Russell, are of the best. His
last work was the Calvary Baptist Church, on State
street. It was completed after his death, and is
often mentioned as a fitting monument to his skill.
He also designed the Fort Building; the fine tower

ART AND ARTISTS.

741

'&mt,

of the Jermain Memorial Church at West Troy,
completing his father's work there; and a host of
other edifices in this city and vicinity.
Mr. Woollett published two books, ' ' Villas and
Cottages," a collection of designs made from time
to time in the ordinary routine of business, and
" Old Homes Made New," a series of plates
showing how old and unattractive structures might
be remodeled and beautified at comparatively small
expense — a line in which he was particularly suc
cessful. Both of these books had a wide circula
tion and procured him commissions in all parts of
the country.
At an early period of his professional life, unusual
exposure brought on a heavy cold and this was fol
lowed by consumption. Though constantly ham
pered and restricted in his efforts by the progress of
the disease, his wonderful courage and perseverance
remained unimpaired to the end, and it was only
on the day that his pencil was laid aside forever
that his business was neglected.
His career though so brief was an exceedingly
progressive one, full of richest promise. Like his
father, he ever maintained the highest standard of
truth and courtesy in all his affairs, and enjoyed
universal confidence and esteem. He died on the
17th of October, 1880, at his home in Loudonville,
working hopefully, cheerfully, to the very last.
He was only 34 years of age. His wife was Miss
Fannie Nellega'r, daughter of Joseph Nellegar, the

well known druggist, of Albany, to whom he was
united in marriage, November 6, 1872, who, with
four children, survives him.
SURVEYORS AND ENGINEERS.
Simeon DeWitt was born in Ulster County in
1756, and died in Ithaca in 1834. He graduated
from Rutgers in 1 776. He was chief of the topo
graphical staff under Washington. For fifty years,
from the year 1784, he was Surveyor-General of the
State, and did distinguished service in that capacity
in locating lands, public roads, and especially in
promoting the Erie Canal project. He was long
time a resident of Albany, and active in promoting
its literary, religious and material welfare. His
name should be perpetuated in honor.
Evert Van Allen, now deceased, was the surveyor
who laid out the most part of the City of Albany.
He was employed by the Mayor and Common
Council to lay out streets and city lots, and his
map is considered good authority, and is still re
ferred to in titles to lots, etc. He was also sur
veyor for the Patroon for many years, locating and
surveying lots in the Manor of Rensselaerwyck.
Among the surveyors of olden times we find
John R. Bleecker prominent. In more recent
times, George W. Carpenter, now Superintendent
of City Water-works, was City Surveyor, an office
which has been now held for a long time with great

742

HLSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

acceptance by Reuben H. Bingham, as noticed in
another part of this work. Peter Hogan is a well-
known engineer and surveyor of much practice;
and Verplanck Colvin has gained an enviable fame
as Superintendent of the Adirondack Survey, as has
also James T. Gardineer, Superintendent of the
much-needed State Survey.
Honorable W. H. Slingerland, of Slingerlands,
member of the Assembly of 1880 from the first
district of Albany County, was born in New Scot
land November 13, 1820. He is of Holland and
English descent
He was educated in the public and select schools
of Albany, and is a civil engineer and surveyor.
He located the line of the railroad adopted by the
Albany and Susquehanna Railroad Company over
the Helderberg Mountains; was engineer on the
New Government Building at Albany; and was ap
pointed by the New Capitol Commissioners and
State authorities to measure, examine and report
any defects in the New Capitol Building. He is a
noted breeder of shorthorn (cream pot) stock. At
the age of eighteen he was elected a Colonel in the

State Militia; afterwards held the position of Division
Judge-Advocate. He was enrollment officer during
the late war. He has also held the office of United
States Loan Commissioner; was a delegate to the
convention at which the Republican party was
organized in this State; and has several times since
been delegate to State conventions. As member
of Assembly, he served on the Committees on Cities
and Villages and on Public Printing.
He was nominated by the Republicans and elect
ed, overcoming a majority of 2,400 against his
party. In his town he received the largest majority
of any man who ever run for State or County office
since the organization of the Republican party.
He had charge of many important bills affecting
both State and County, notably the amended elec
tion law of 1880, and the bill for rebuilding the
new City Hall of Albany, and many other bills,
all of which were enacted into laws weeks pre
vious to the adjournment that year. He prefers
his profession of civil engineer and surveyor, in
which he is considered an expert, to any political
office.

MUSIC IN ALBANY.

IN gathering material for the History of Albany
County, the author has collected much valuable
musical information. The following was written by
a gentleman to whom the generation of to-day are
deeply indebted for musical tendencies which were
fostered and cultivated nearly half a century ago in
this city : Newark, N. J., September 8, 1885.
Dear Sir : I wish it was in my power to
reply to you with more extended information.
I have most cheerfully written such events and
data as I could recollect, but they are rather
meager, and will serve more as hints for in
vestigation relative to the facts. Leaving Albany
in 1854, I have known almost nothing of musical
matters in that city since. My residence in Albany
dates from September, 1839. At that time the Rev.
Dr. J. N. Campbell was Pastor of the First Presby
terian Church, then located on the corner of Pearl
and Beaver streets. I took the leadership of the
choir almost immediately, and it numbered about
fifty ladies and gentlemen. Messrs. Ashley, Nelson
and Charles Scovel, with their wives, were among
the number; also Anthony M. Strong and sister;
the Messrs. Russell, Philips, Whitney and Hall;
Mrs. Henry, Miss Olmstead, the Misses Waite and
Miss Robinson, afterward Mrs. Gavit, and others
whom I do not now recall. At the Second Presby
terian Church, the Rev. Dr. Sprague, Pastor, Mr.
George Warren, father of George W. Warren, now
organist of St. Thomas' Church, New York, was
chorister; and Dr. Flagler held the same position
in the Middle Dutch Church. Mr. George Walker
was at the North Dutch Church and Mr. Solomon

Cone was at the Third Presbyterian Church. Mr.
Russel Packard was at the Baptist Church, on North
Pearl street; Colonel Levi S. Littlejohn was at the
Fourth Presbyterian Church, and Mr. P. A. Mayer
was organist and leader of the First Lutheran
Church, corner of Pine and Lodge streets. Only a
few of the churches at that time had organs, the
Second Presbyterian, the Episcopal, on State street,
St. Mary's Catholic, on Lodge street, and the Lu
theran. The city rejoiced in three music stores:
Mr. Meacham, on State street, Boardman & Gray,
corner North Pearl and State, and Mr. P. A. Mayer,
on North Market street, now Broadway. Early in
December, 1839, a large number of the musical
people of Albany held a meeting in the First Pres
byterian Church to consider the feasibility of giving
an oratorio entire. Among those present were
Messrs. E. and H. Russell, A.M. Strong, L. Phillips,
A. Scovel, J. G. Whitney, James Whitney, L. Steele,
George Warren, George C. Treadwell, S. Pruyn, Dr.
Flagler, Dr. Hinckley, Dr. Wheeler, Mr. George
Walker, Mr. Packard, Colonel Littlejohn, Mr. Piatt,
and Philip A. Mayer. The meeting was very har
monious and enthusiastic, Dr. E. Russell acting as
chairman, and resulted in the decision to give the
oratorio of " The Creation " during the winter. The
sum of $150 was subscribed, and a committee ap
pointed to make preliminary arrangements and
assume the responsibility of all expenses in giving
the performance. The oratorio was given three
times with fine success, winning the marked ap
proval of the good people of Albany. It also
proved a financial success, realizing $1,300. The
expenses were $1,000. It was given in the Second

MUSIC IN ALBANY.

743

Presbyterian Church, April 9, 1 840. After the suc
cess attending " The Creation," it was thought ad
visable to continue the meetings for practice, which
were held during the summer, although no society
was organized. Early in the autumn it was re
solved to give another oratorio the following winter,
and that of "David," by Nieuwkomm, was re
hearsed and given in April, 1841, with about the
same success as the one the year previous. Nothing
more was attempted in oratorio music until 1850,
when "The Seasons," by Haydn, was given by the
Harmonia Society, an organization formed in
December, 1849, f°r the purpose of culture in
classical compositions, and not to seek applause
by public entertainments. The " Seasons " called
the Harmonia Society into public notice. The
first president of the society was Mr. Marcus Col
burn, a very fine tenor, and Mr. Russell Packard
was the second. Soon after I was established in
Albany, I was engaged by Mr. Samuel Steele, princi
pal of one of the public schools, to make the experi
ment of teaching music in his building in Union
street. At that time music was not taught in any
of the schools. I arranged to give two lessons a
week for a specified time — six months, I think. The
new branch proved so popular, there were more ap
plications for pupils than could be accommodated.
Shortly after this first venture, I was engaged in
teaching music in all the public schools, and this
result was brought about through the influence of
such men as the Hon. Thurlow Weed, Governor
W. H. Seward, Senator Samuel Young, and Francis
M. Dwight. All of these gentlemen, now deceased,
were deeply interested in this branch of instruction
in the schools of Albany. In 1 844, there were sev
eral gentlemen engaged in the manufacture of
pianos, namely: Meacham & Co., State street;
Boardman & Gray, North Pearl street; F. P. Burns,
State street, and James H.Grovesteen, corner Lodge
and Columbia streets. About the same date I en
tered into partnership with the latter gentleman, and
we opened a store in Stanwix Hall for the sale of
pianos and a general music business. Later we
removed to Bleecker Hall, and afterwards to the
building occupied by the late J.H.Hidley.to whom
I sold out in 1855. Luke F. Newland had a music
store, in 1 84 1, at 81 State street. If there are further
inquiries suggested by what I have written, I shall
be glad to reply to them.
Very truly yours,
Ferdinand I. Ilsley.
The oratorio of "The Creation," to which allu
sion is made above, was, as stated in the libretto,
performed by the professors and amateurs of Al
bany. The writer of the above letter, Mr. Fer
dinand I. Ilsley, was Conductor. Mr. Burke was
Leader of the Orchestra, and P. A. Mayer was Or
ganist Dr. J. A. Flagler was President of the
Committee of Management, and L. S. Littlejohn,
Secretary. The vocal choir showed: sopranos, 40;
altos, 20; tenors, 20; bassos, 15; orchestra, 24; and
organist, 1, making the whole number of partici
pants 150. The oratorio of "The Seasons," which
was performed, at the solicitation of the New York

State Agricultural Society, by the Albany Har
monia Society, September 3, 4, 5, and °> 1850,
had for its Conductor, F. I. Ilsley; Leader of Or
chestra, G. F. Bristow, of New York City; and so
loists, Mrs. C. L. Merrick, nee Ilsley, Francis L.
Ilsley, and Marcus Colburn. The oratorio was re
peated October 21st and 2 2d.
The Executive Committee of the Harmonia So
ciety comprised the names of John G. Treadwell,
Chairman; Jason Collier, LeviS. Littlejohn, Thomas
Treadwell, Henry Russell, J. Augustus Reed, Eras
tus E. Piatt, Darwin G. Eaton, George Warren,
Sumner C. Webb, Philip A. Mayer, Russell Pack
ard, Horace H. Babcock, Ferdinand I. Ilsley.
A most interesting musical event took place in
Albany, July 9, 1851, when Mile. Jenny Lind's
concert of sacred and miscellaneous pieces was
given in the Third Presbyterian Church. She sang
the air, "I Know that My Redeemer Liveth," from
Handel's Messiah; " On, Mighty Pens, "from Hay
dn's Creation; the prayer, ' ' Und ob die Wolke "
(Der Freyschutz), Weber; scena and aria, "Casta
Diva" (Norma), Bellini; Taubert's "Bird Song;"
and Bishop's arrangement of "Home, Sweet
Home." Mr. Otto Goldschmidt appeared twice
in the evening, with Mendelssohn's "Lied Ohne
Worte, " prelude from E minor, and Liszt's ' ' Ta
rantella " of Rossini. Signori Salvi and Belletti
and Mr. Joseph Burke also took part in the con
cert, and Mr. Julius Benedict was conductor.
We regret that our information is so fragmentary,
and that we are not able, for want of knowledge,
time and space, to treat this theme so completely
as its importance would seem to demand.
THE SINGING SOCIETY CECILIA
was organized February 3, 1866. A few of the first
members were John Waas, Frank Rietz, Louis
Wink, Anton Schneider, John Lindon, Christian
Dalchen, Frank Engel, N. Wink.
First President, John Waas; First Director, Prof.
William Boehm.
Present number of members, 149,
Caecilia took part in the following prize sing
ing festivals: Prize singing at Utica, 1874; grand
picnic and prize singing at Albany, 1882; grand
picnic and prize singing at Albany, 1884; grand
picnic and concert at Troy, 1884; concerts and
balls at Albany, Troy, Amsterdam, Schenectady,
etc. Caecilia took part in the great saengerfest at
Brooklyn, July, 1885.
THE UNION MUSICAL ASSOCIATION
was organized in October, 1858. Officers: R. L.
Johnson, President; Henry Russell, Vice-President;
J. C. Austin, Second Vice-President; W. F. Sherwin,
Secretary; A. P. Stevens, Treasurer; Thomas Spen
cer Lloyd, Conductor; J. Augustus Reed, Organist;
Charles M. Traver, Librarian.
On March 1, 1859, mey £ave tbeir first concert,
consisting of Mozart's Twelfth Mass, in the Meth
odist Church, Hudson avenue, with a chorus of
150 voices and an orchestra of Albany and New
York musicians.

7U

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The soloists were Miss Lilly Brown, afterwards
Mrs. Thomas Wiles, Mrs. Serviss and Miss Jennie
Ferry, afterwards Mrs. E. P. Durant, soprani;
Miss Sarah E. Bentley, alto; Messrs. Cutter
and Cook, tenori; and Stonehouse and Whitney,
bassi. On the following 4th of July, the Young Men's
Association held their public exercises in the Acad
emy Park, the musical part of which was fur
nished by this association.
They subsequently gave an entertainment in the
large drill room in the Arsenal Building, corner of
Eagle street and Hudson avenue.
The chorus numbered 150, and the orchestra
was brought from New York, made up of the best
of Dodworth's musicians.
The music rendered was Spohr's cantata of
God Thou Art Great, Mendelssohn's Ninety-fifth
Psalm, and Reis' cantata of Morning.
The association flourished for several years, and
other equally creditable entertainments were given.
ALBANY MUSICAL ASSOCIATION.
At a meeting held at the Lecture-room of the
Congregational Church, September 30, 1867, the
Albany Musical Association was organized, the fol
lowing thirty gentlemen affixing their names to the
articles of association as members:
J. Collier, J. H. Hickox, C. M. Traver, T. S.
Lloyd, S. W. Whitney, J. S. Dickerman, John B.
Marsh, Arthur Bott, Frederick S. Lawrence, B.
Lodge, Rodney G. Kimball, J. B. Stonehouse, E.
D. Worcester, Samuel Moffatt, Austin M. Halley,
John E. Sherwood, D. F. Craw, William Davis,
Jesse B. Wooley, P. S. Gates, Thomas H. Mit
chell, R. Mernhew, D. Russel Niver, E. P. Tread
well, J. L. Mitchell, James P. St. John, Eugene
Burlingame, Walter McEwan, Eugene McGarrah,
Robert F. Todd, F. W. Brown,
Its first Conductor was T. Spencer Lloyd, its
first Organist was R. J. Sarndley.
John B. Marsh was appointed first President;
John B. Stonehouse, the first Vice-President; John
S. Dickerman, Secretary; E. D. Worcester, Treas
urer; and Frederick S. Lawrence, Librarian.
The whole number of members registered was
251, though the average number attending regu
larly was about 130.
The first public rehearsal was given at Tweddle
Hall, January 28, 1868, at which time the Oratorio
of "Judas Maccabeus" was rendered by a chorus
of 145, the solo parts being sustained by Misses
La Jeunesse, now Albani, Werles, Hoag, Cuyler,
Williams and Murray; Messrs. Lawrence, Whitney,
Stonehouse and McLean.
This rendition was followed by " The Seasons,"
April 30,1868, "The Messiah," February 3,1869,
and "The Creation."
The Albany Musical Association was incorpo
rated February 19, 1870.
In 1878, Mr. John G. Parkhurst started a class
for instruction in music. In the fall of the same
year he gave "The Creation," with his pupils, at
Tweddle Hall.

In 1879, me Albany Musical Association was
again incorporated, with a Board of Directors,
with Mr. John G. Parkhurst as Conductor. On
December 9, 1879, "St. Paul" was rendered by
the association at Tweddle Hall, assisted by Miss
Kellogg, Mrs. Belle Palmer Fassett, W. H. Fessen
den, M.W.Whitney, and the Germania Orchestra,
of Boston.
On January 20, 1881, the association rendered
"The Messiah " in the Congregational Church, as
sisted by the following artists: Mrs. Bentley, Miss
Gomph, Mrs. Gavit, Mr. W. C. Torren, of Boston,
Mr. Remmert, of New York, and a local orchestra.
On December 12, 1881, "Elijah" was per
formed at Music Hall by the association, with Miss
Kellogg, soprano, Boston; MissWinant, alto, New
York; Mr. Courtney, tenor, New York; Mr.
Mario Bartlett, basso; and the Germania Orchestra
of Boston.
On December 12, 1882, a second rendition of
" St. Paul " took place at Tweddle Hall.
A concert was given at the Leland Opera House,
January 29, 1883, by the association, assisted by
Theodore Toedt, tenor. Another in the same place
on April 13, 1883, with Mr. Monroe, violin; Mr.
Adolph Hartdegen, violoncello; Mr. A. J. Jeffrey,
piano. The association gave another concert December
n, 1883, at the Old Hudson Avenue M. E.
Church, of a miscellaneous character, with entirely
local talent.
Owing to the burning of Tweddle Hall there is
no place in Albany suitable for the rendition of or
atorio. This has compelled the association to cease
their work — at least for a time.
On December 18 and 19, 1884, however, Mr.
J. G. Parkhurst gathered around him some 700
in the new Skating Rink, and gave " The Messiah,"
with his own pupils as soloists. The undertaking
was conducted entirely by himself on his own re
sponsibility, and reflected great credit on him as a
conductor, teacher and manager.
GESANG-VEREIN EINTRACHT.
The Eintracht Singing Society was organized
November 22, 1868. The purpose was, like all
similar organizations, the cultivation of German
song and music, both vocal and instrumental. The
first musical director was Mr. Theodore Suppes, fol
lowed by Mr. Aug. Schoenewolf, leader for nearly
twelve years. The society participated in several
musical festivals, and competed with others for
prizes at the following: Utica Maenner Chor,
1874; Schenectady Inartet Club, 1879, on which
occasion they were awarded the first prize; Troy
Maenner Club, 1880, receiving the first prize, also
Rondout Social Maenner Chor, where they gained
the third prize, and at the thirteenth Musical Festi
val of Philadelphia, 1883. Aug. Schoenwolf resigned
as Director, and was followed by Professor William
Boehm, leader at the present time. The society is
composed of 38 active, 175 passive, and 4 honor
ary members. It may be mentioned that the Ein
tracht arranged a grand prize sangerfest in 1878,

SOCIAL CLUBS AND SPORTING ASSOCIATIONS.

745

which proved a success. The officers of the organ
ization are elected annually.
THE MOZART,
organized September 20, 1875, Professor William
Boehm, Director. It has held successful excur
sions, picnics and concerts. Professional improve
ment is its great object.
Rehearsals are held once a week, and meetings
on the first Thursday of each month. The annual
meeting and election of officers on the first Thurs
day in September, the officers then elected taking
office on the anniversary, September 20th'.
The society to-day numbers 53 members dis
tributed in three classes: active, 15; passive, 35;
honorary, 2.
APOLLO SINGING SOCIETY
was organized February 18, 1884, by sixteen mem
bers of the Eintracht Society, who withdrew from
that one, and four others. The membership roll
now numbers 375.
On February 21, 1884, Mr. Ja. Grundhoeffer
was elected Musical Director. Society first re
hearsed at his Conservatory, 74 South Pearl street.
Rooms are now secured and fitted properly at
Ames Building, 69 South Pearl street, which were
formally opened July 31, 1884. The growth of
the society has been unprecedented. A. Schreiber
is now Director.
Next public appearance was in the exercises of
the G. A. R. on Decoration Day, at the Rural
Cemetery, in 1885. Met at Assembly Chamber,
New Capitol, in the evening, and German selec
tions were rendered.
The society also took part in the fourteenth Na
tional Sangerfest, at Brooklyn, July 4-9, 1885,
and was one of the largest societies that attended.
August 10, 1880, held picnic, and a silk flag
was dedicated, which was presented by the ladies
of the society.
THE NEW HARMONIA SINGING SOCIETY
was organized in March, 1884, with a membership
of twelve active and two passive members. Professor
Charles Koch, Director.

The society now counts thirty active singers, with
about fifty passive members. It has taken part in
all festivities given by sister societies, and also gave
a picnic and concert last July, which proved to be
a grand success. It bids' fair fo become the rival
of the best organizations of its kind.
ALBANY PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.
During the fall of 1884, about half a dozen young
people, musically inclined, were accustomed to
meet weekly for the practice of not very difficult
orchestral compositions, simply to gratify their mu
sical tastes. These meetings were largely of asocial
nature. Gradually, during the succeeding spring,
the number of instruments was increased to ten.
This was the nucleus which, under the skillful
management and untiring exertions of Mr. George
H. Thacher, Jr., at whose house most of the meet
ings had been held, has developed into the present
orchestra of twenty-nine pieces.
During the summer of 1885, Mr. Thacher, as
sisted chiefly by Mrs. Hamilton Harris and the
present Secretary, and encouraged by many others
of Albany's cultivated and public-spirited citizens,
organized the orchestra; rented the two upper
stories of No. 69 North Pearl street; adapted them
to the needs of the society; furnished them with
appropriate equipments, including a Steinway grand
piano; and secured the active co-operation of the
present Board of Management
To give instruction in orchestral and concerted
practice; to afford opportunity for the proper dis
play of the abilities of the advanced amateur; to
present facilities for the practice of both instru
mental and vocal music; and to encourage musical
taste generally, are some of the aims and purposes
of the society. Rehearsals of the orchestra are reg
ularly held every Wednesday evening. Short pro
gramme rehearsals of chamber music, comprising
duets, trios and quartettes, chiefly instrumental, are
given Tuesday and Saturday evenings; and a sub
sidiary orchestra is organized and practicing.
In the pursuit of its aims, the society gives great
promise of success. Mr. George H. Thacher, Jr. ,
President; Mr. B. I. Stanton, Secretary; Mrs. Ham
ilton Harris, Mrs. James P. Boyd, Miss Sarah J.
Monteath, Miss Lillie B. Stanton, Mr. James H.
Leake, Gen. Robert Shaw Oliver, Managers.

SOCIAL CLUBS AND SPORTING ASSOCIATIONS.

ISLAND PARK RACING ASSOCIATION.
THE Island Park Association is a stock company
with a capital of $10,000, divided into 100
shares. It was organized and incorporated in the
spring of 1 884, when Hon. Erastus Coming, of Al
bany, was elected President, and George P. Ide, of
Troy, Vice-President. The aim of the association is
to provide a gentlemen's driving park for the two
94

cities between which it lies and where its stock is
owned; also to improve the breed and speed of trot
ting horses. The track is situated on the east side of
the Troy road, about two miles from Albany. It is
one mile in circuit, and is one of the finest and
fastest tracks in the United States. It is the prop
erty of Hon. Erastus Coming, from whom the asso
ciation leases it The original track on this prop
erty was built over twenty years ago, but was used

746

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

almost solely as a private track until a few years
ago, when some of the best horses of the country
appeared there. In the year 1879, through the
efforts of Captain R.W.Hunt, the track was placed
in first-class condition, and at once took a place
among the leading race-courses of the country.
The "Clay Stakes " — a stake of $3,000 guaranteed
by the association, being for horses without record
previous to April ist of each year, when nomina
tions to the stakes close — were established in 1884,
and have become the leading event for ' ' green "
horses in the United States. In 1884 the asso
ciation took a place in the grand circuit, which it
at present retains. From $3,000 to $4,000 per
year are offered by the association as purses for
speed. This year (1885) a new track has been built
and a new club house erected, to take the place of
the one destroyed by fire in November, 1884. The
business of the association is conducted by a Board
of fifteen Directors, chosen from among the stock
holders, and from this Board the officers of the asso
ciation are elected. An executive committee of
three has charge of the affairs of the association.
The officers of 1884, to whom much of the success
of the association is due, were unanimously re-elected
for 1885.
FORT ORANGE CLUB.
The Beaverwyck and Albany Clubs existed in
Albany in 1864. Both were popular, and numbered
as members many of the first citizens. The latter
club disbanded in 1878, and for two years the city
was without a creditable association of this kind.
The needs of it were soon felt, and resulted in the
formation, mainly through the efforts of Grange
Sard, of the Fort Orange Club, in 1880. The de
sign of this club is to establish and maintain a
library, reading and assembly rooms, and to pro
mote social intercourse among the members. The
number of regular members is limited to 200. Ad
mission fee, $50; annual dues, $25.
The club house is at no Washington avenue.
It is one of the historic buildings of the city, and
was built by Samuel Hill as a residence in 18 10,
and subsequently occupied by John T. Norton.
For many years it was one of the only three houses
on the hill, the others being occupied by the Gov
ernor and the Mayor respectively. Here Aaron
Burr resided, while engaged in legal business in the
city. The club bought the house for $30,000, and
has spent $15,000 to $20,000 in repairs and fur
nishing. Entertainments which are largely attended, are
frequently given by the club to State officers and
distinguished visitors. Its officers, including five
of its nineteen Trustees are annually elected by the
members at large. The Trustees are elected for
three years, and its other officers for one year.
ADELPHI CLUB.
This club was organized as the Adelphi Literary
Association, January 26, 1873. At that time it oc
cupied rooms on South Pearl street, between Di

vision and Hudson avenue. In 1876 it moved
to Adelphi Hall, formerly Turn Halle, on Green
street While located there, dramatic, literary and
musical entertainments were given by the mem
bers with success. In 1884 and 1885, a lecture
course was given at Beverwyck Hall. A series of
balls has been given each year. In 1880, the
house 101 Hudson avenue was leased and con
verted into a club house. The membership rapidly
increased, and in order to obtain larger quarters, in
1881 the present beautiful club house, corner
South Pearl and Division, streets was built by Mr.
Joseph Sporborg, one of its prominent members,
the club taking a ten years' lease of the building.
February 1 1, 1881, the association was incorporated
as the Adelphi Club. The present quarters are
next door to where it was first organized. Ex
cepting the Fort Orange, its quarters are the hand
somest of the kind in the city. Among the mem
bers are prominent and influential Jewish residents.
The club house is a three-story building, conven
ient and commodious.
The balls given here form prominent social events
in the city. The musical entertainments are of a
high order, the club containing some prominent
musicians. The membership is limited to 125,
and at present numbers 118.
THE ALBANY CITY CURLING CLUB
was founded in 1861. Curling is a manly, health
ful Scotch game, played with smooth stones on a
field of ice, and is governed by rules laid down by
the Royal Caledonian Club of Scotland.
ALBANY TENNIS CLUB.
The Albany Tennis Club was established in
1878. Subsequently grounds on the southwest
corner of Swan and Jay streets were secured,
and a suitable building erected. It contains two
courts and considerable gymnastic apparatus. In
the spring of 1883 an outdoor court was added,
which is situated approximate to the club house.
The club is managed by a Board of Governors,
which is elected annually by the members. The
Board elects the officers and appoints committees.
It meets on the second Tuesday of each month.
THE WALNUT CLUB.
The Walnut Club of Albany was organized De
cember 15, 1880, by Charles E. Wolf and N. P.
Rugg. Its membership now numbers about eighty
in the different cities where branches are estab
lished. The object is sociality among its mem
bers; and a member visiting any city where he can
find a Walnut is usually royally entertained. Each
member carries a silver walnut, which he is ex
pected to be able to produce at any time.
ROLLER SKATING RINKS.
The popular amusement of roller skating secured
a foothold in Albany soon after Boston had adopted

SOCIAL CLUBS AND SPORTING ASSOCIATIONS.

747

and indorsed it. Like all other modes of amuse
ment in their nature harmless, it has its excesses
and its abuses.
The first place opened in Albany for this diver
sion was at No. 69 North Pearl street, in the Old
Post Office Building. The hall, ready for the
public just before Christmas, 1880, was well patron
ized during the winter. It was closed the ist of
May following. In the fall of 1881, the Old Taber
nacle Baptist Church, on North Pearl street, was
converted into a skating rink by a stock company
of young men of Albany. It was fairly patronized,
but from some cause it did not realize the expecta
tions of its proprietors, and the enterprise was aban
doned the next spring.
During the winter of 1883 and 1884, Albany
seems to have had two roller-skating rinks, one in
the Public Market Building, Hudson avenue, and
one in the old Tenth Regiment Armory, Van
Vechten Hall.
The fifth enterprise of the kind was undertaken
in 1884, by Hickey, Downing & Curley, and re
sulted in the spacious and very creditable rink
running on Lark street, Captain Young, Superin
tendent. The building is 85 by 185 feet on the
ground, with a floor 65 by 165 feet, and is provided
with 700 pairs of skates, and lighted by electricity.
It is the largest audience room in the city, and has
been used for concerts and large public gatherings.
The sixth and last roller skating rink was opened
in the old Methodist Church in the fall of 1884, by
Mr. Munson. Mr. Rice, Manager. It had a suc
cessful winter, but the building was enlarged and
fitted for laundry purposes in 1885.
THE JOHN C. NOTT ASSOCIATION.
This association was organized September 8,
1882. The object of the association is social intercourse
among the members. A river excursion is given
every year, and this feature has become very popu
lar, not only among the members, but with many
who are not connected with them. Another very
pleasant feature is the dancing parties, of which
several are given every winter, and well attended.
The association has increased largely since its
organization, and now has upon its roll of mem
bers nearly 100 young men.
BICYCLE CLUB.
The Albany Bicycle Club was organized August
24, 1880, with thirteen members, and was soon
added to the League of American Wheelmen. May
1, 1884, it was incorporated under the laws of
1875, with a membership of 113. There are at
present about 200 members. The elegant mansion
owned by E. D. Brainard, situated corner Lark
and Lancaster streets, has been leased by the club
for a term of years. The club has in its possession
about sixty bicycles. The privileges of the park
are open to the club till 9 a.m., but efforts are mak
ing to have the same privileges accorded to the
bicycle as are granted to any other wheeled vehicle.

THE RIDGEFIELD ATHLETIC CLUB.
The Ridgefield Athletic Club of the City of Al
bany, incorporated in 1884 for purposes of general
outdoor sports, may justly be considered as the
offspring of the Albany Cricket Club, organized in
1838. A number of years elapsed before a reor
ganization of the club took place, and the name 01
the Albany Cricket Club was again numbered
among the best organizations in the State. The
greatest interest in cricket of later years occurred
during the seasons of 1881 and 1882, when the
club was strengthened by the services of a first-class
"professional." During the latter year, the Al
bany club secured a notable victory on their own
grounds, in a match with a selected eleven from
the Western States.
Desirous of securing more convenient and per
manent grounds in the city, the members of the
club conceived the idea of forming an association
which should embrace other sports, and to that
end a fund was started in September, 1883, for the
purchase of the grounds now occupied by the
Ridgefield Athletic Club. The first meeting of the
subscribers was held October ist, at which Mr.
William Lacy was chosen chairman, and Mr.
John B. Marsh, Secretary. It was decided to call
the organization the Albany Cricket Club, and to
procure its incorporation. At a subsequent meet
ing, Trustees were selected, and a committee ap
pointed to contract for the purchase of the grounds.
At a meeting of the Shareholders on the 28th of
.April, 1884, the name of " the Ridgefield Athletic
Club of the City of Albany " was agreed upon. The
grounds were first opened for the use of the mem
bers on the 1 6th of June, 1885.
The capital stock of the club is $7, 500, in shares
of $25 each, and is owned by 248 shareholders.
The number of yearly members thus far elected is
233. The grounds and improvements have al
ready cost about $10,000. Included in that
amount is $5,000 for purchase money, and $1,500
for bicycle track. When all intended improvements
are completed, Ridgefield will rank among the
finest of athletic grounds in this country.
THE MUTUAL BOAT CLUB.
The Mutual Boat Club was organized on the
15th of August, 1865, and had at that time 600
members. Rowing in Albany was then at a low
ebb, and the Victoria, Knickerbocker, Hiawatha,
Excelsior and Mystic Clubs had one after the other
quietly disbanded, leaving as the sole surviving
organization the veteran Pioneer Club, which soon
after ceased. In the formation of all those clubs,
the governing motive had been social intercourse
and the rowing was incidental, but the founders of
the Mutual Club determined to have a rowing club,
and such it has been ever since.
The Mutuals have rowed 135 races with other
clubs, winning 68 and losing 67. They have
championships in the National Association, the
Northwestern, the Harlem, the Hudson, the Upper
Hudson, the Passaic River and the Inter-State As-

748

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

sociations. They have held the championship of
Albany in singles for fourteen, and in fours for six
teen years of the twenty that have passed since they
were organized. They have entered twenty-two
times, and in eleven different years, in regattas of
the National Association of Amateur Oarsmen;
have there competed in every style of race, except
in eights; have won twice in junior singles, twice
in six-oared shells, four times in pair-oared shells,
and once in four-oared shells, and have thus held
nine national championships, while but one other
club in the country has secured as many as four.
They now stand the foremost rowing organization
in the United States, with a record and reputation
which is unapproached, and of which they are just
ly proud.
ALBANY YACHT CLUB
was organized April 16, 1873, with S. G. Payn, Jr.,
as President. It was reorganized in 1876, with M.
F. Cogswell as Commodore (or chief officer), fol
lowed by E. F. Hackett, W. W. Grey, F. E. Coo
ley, and C. S. Babcock. The club house, built
in the spring of 1880, is a well-fitted structure for
the accommodation of yachtsmen, designed by F.
Wright, the architect, situated on the east bank of
the Hudson, directly opposite the steamboat land
ing. The meetings are held monthly — first Mon
day in each month. The funds for building their
present house were raised by the members of the
club. Its present membership numbers 60.
MOHICAN CANOE CLUB OF ALBANY.
The American Canoe Association is a large or
ganization, numbering some forty clubs in the
leading cities from Montreal to New Orleans, and
from New York to San Francisco, whose object is
the comparatively new sport of cruising and racing
in canoes. Prominent among the clubs is the
Mohican of Albany. In 1881, when the associa
tion was formed at Lake George there were but
two canoeists here — General R. S. Oliver and W.
D. Frothingham. The following year it was well rep
resented by some eight or more members. In 1883
the Mohicans prospered so well that they secured
the foremost position in all sailing races as well as
in equipment for cruising and exploring. Their
fleet,, including the Snake, Thetis, and Marion,
has a reputation for speed and perfection. In 1884
the American Canoe Association elected as Com
modore for the ensuing year, a prominent member
of this Club, General R. S. Oliver, and with an
other member upon their Executive Committee,
and yet another as Chairman of the Regatta Com
mittee, the National Meeting of 1885 was mainly
arranged by the Mohicans. Albany was for two
years selected as the place for the executive meet
ings, and has, undoubtedly, contributed a very
large share toward the pleasant mission of popu
larizing a healthful and exciting amusement.
Besides the innumerable cruises upon the Hud
son, from the rapids down to saltwater, the Mohican

flag has been carried down the Susquehanna and
Delaware Rivers, down the falls and swamps of the
Walkill, and on the waters of Lake Ontario and
Saint Lawrence, and into the backwoods, lakes,
and rivers of the Province of Ontario.
The Mohicans now number about thirty mem
bers, chiefly Albanians, but including a few in dis
tant cities. The name of the club was appropri
ately borrowed from the tribe of Indians who
formerly lived in the territory east of Albany, and
their "totem " is the device of the club flag, which
is blue and white, with a golden turtle and eight
gold stars. The motto is "Invia nulla via" —
"No way impassable."
MILITARY BANDS AND ORCHESTRA.
Probably the first Albany band was organized by
John Hughes about 1832. John Cook organized
a band in 1844, which for many years was very
popular, not only in Albany, but throughout the
State. "Captain Johnny," as the leader was called,
was a veteran of the Mexican War, and is said
to have been the first man to introduce the cornet as
a leading instrument, the key bugle being formerly
used by leaders. Cook continued to conduct his
band successfully for many years. Abut i860 a
new organization, made up in part from Cook's
Band, was formed under the leadership of Stephen
Schreiber, known as Schreiber's Albany Cornet
Band. At this time another was formed, called
Krank's Band. During the late rebellion, Cook
raised a military company, and served with dis
tinction in the army. He died a few years ago, and
was buried with military honors.
Krank's Band flourished for a while under differ
ent leaders, and was succeeded by Klien's, which
is still in existence, known as Erdmann and Klein's
Band, and which furnishes both military and or
chestra music.
Schreiber's Band for several years did a large
business. It disbanded in 1869.
The Tenth Regiment Band was known as the
Capitol City Band prior to 1875. At the latter
date it was mustered into the 10th Regiment, N.
G., S. N. Y., under the leadership of Mr. Sulli
van, by whose name it was more generally known.
For several years Frederick Austin was leader of
the band. Under both of these leaders it be
came well known for the excellence of the music
furnished. Its reputation was maintained under
the leadership of L. Partali, a musician of acknowl
edged ability. The present leader is John L.
Gartland. Several of the older members of this
band were formerly connected with Schreiber's
Band. Two were members of Cook's Band.
The Albany City Military Band and Orchestra is
of recent origin. Joseph Klein is Leader and
Charles Friednichte, Conductor of Orchestra. An
other excellent leader of orchestral music, who has
recently come to notice in Albany, is W. J. Holding.
It will be a long time before the eminent cornetist,
Austin, is forgotten.

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

749

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

THE OtD DUTCH CHURCH.
Built of stone in 1715, over a smaller one built in 1656. It stood on
the present State street, on the west side of Broadway. Reuben Jeffrey, 1850-57; E. L. Magoon, D.D.,

ADVENTISTS.
THE Society of the Seventh-day Adventists sent
missionary workers to Albany in the summer
of 1 884, who began the work of canvassing and dis
tributing their publications in the houses of the
people, in railroad stations, on steamers, canal-
boats, etc. A summary of work done to May 1,
1885, is as follows: 4,239 missionary visits, 352
subscriptions to periodicals, 5,469 periodicals dis
tributed, and 50,000 copies of tracts, pamphlets,
etc., sold.
In April, 1885, pleasant rooms were secured at
205 State street, which were fitted up for reading
and lecture-rooms, and opened May 18, 1885,
with Nathaniel S. Washbond as Resident Manager.
These rooms, where choice religious works in the
English and foreign languages, newspapers of the
day, etc., may be found, are open from 2 to 9 p.m.
The missionary operations of this society are
conducted under the International Tract and Mis
sionary Society, of which there are branch offices
in each State Conference. BAPTISTS.
First Baptist Church.— The first meeting of
Baptists in the City of Albany was held January 1,
1 8 10, when the following men and women met
and formed themselves into a society, viz. : Joshua
A Burk, Salem Dutcher, John Gray, William Pen-

rey, Charles Boyington, Tamer Page, Betsey
Burke, Catharine Goidon, Margaret Jones,
Elenor Penrey.
This society voted, on the 23d day of
January, 181 1, lo organize a church, which
they did, and started with twenty-onemem-
beis. The church thus formed met in va
rious places until 18 18, when they pur
chased and remodeled what was then known
as the Green Street Theatre. It was ded
icated and occupied by them for the first
time January 1, 1819. In the year 1852,
the lot corner of Hudson avenue and Philip
street was purchased, and the present edi
fice was erected at a cost of about $26,000.
In 1865 it was greatly improved, and will
seat about 950. There is a Sunday-school
connected with it, and the Madison Avenue
Mission is under its care. Pastor, Rev.
Smith T. Ford. Membership, 487.
The Pastors who have served since its or
ganization are Francis Wayland, 1811-12;
Isaac Webb, 1813-17; Joshua Bradley,
1817-19; John Finley, 1819-21; Lewis
Leonard, 1821-27; Bartholomew T.Welch,
1828-35; George B. Ide, 1835-36; Alanson
L. Covel, 1836-38; James L. Hodge, 1839-.
42; James M. Coley, 1842-45; Asa Bron
son, 1845-46; William C. Clapp, 1846-49;

1857-68; George C. Lorimer, D.D., 1868-70;
James B. Hawthorn, 1870-72; David M. Reeves,
D.D., 1872-79; Melancthon C. Lockwood, 1880-
82; Thomas Rambaut, D.D, LL.D, 1882-84;
Smith T. Ford, 1884.
Tabernacle Baptist Church. — This church is
the outgrowth of a mission held in a building
on North Pearl street, by a few of the members of
the North Pearl street Baptist Church, now known
as Emmanuel, in the year 1856. Its rapid growth
soon became apparent, and it was resolved to form
a church. A society was organized October, 1859,
and was incorporated under the name of the Tab
ernacle Baptist Church, November 10, 1859. In
1875 the society purchased the present site, and
erected thereon a handsome church, which was
dedicated February 14, 1877. The church has a
membership of 457, and supports a Sunday-school
of 375 scholars.
The following have served as Pastors: Revs. Jus
tin D. Fulton, 1859-64; William A. Alden, 1865-67;
ThomasCull, 1868-70; Robert B. Kelsey, 1871-72;
Frank R. Morse, 1873-78; Albert Foster, 1879.
Emmanuel Baptist Church. — This church was
organized in 1834, and until 1871 was called the
Pearl street Baptist Church. Rev. Bartholomew
T. Welch, D. D. , was the first Pastor. For seven
years previous to 1834, Rev. Dr. Welch had been
Pastor of the First Baptist Church in this city. In
that year, one hundred and twenty members were

750

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

dismissed from the First Church to form a new
society, and the Pastor went with the new col
ony. The first House of Worship, costing $46,000,
was built on North Pearl street, on the lots now oc
cupied by the Perry Building, and was similar in
its architecture to the building occupied by the Al
bany Female Academy. The present house of wor
ship, situated on the north side of State street,
between Swan and Dove streets, was erected in
1869-70. It was formally dedicated and occupied
by the church in February, 1871. The beautiful
tower on the southeast corner was erected in the
summer of 1883. It was the gift of Mrs. Eli Perry
in memory of her late husband, who for many years
was one of the Deacons of the Church and Chair
man of its Board of Trustees. The church proper
is no feet deep and 81 feet wide, and will seat
1,400 persons. The church and chapel together
are 157 feet deep, the chapel being 47 feet by no
feet. The entire cost of the property has been
about $220,000. The church has been served by
the following Pastors: Revs. Bartholomew T. Welch,
D.D., 1834-48; Luther F. Beecher,DD., 1849-53;
William Hague, D.D., 1853-58; Thomas R. How-
lett, 1859-61; C. D. W. Bridgman, D.D., 1862-78;
T Harwood Pattison, D.D., 1879-81.
The present Pastor, Rev. Henry M. King, D.D.,
assumed the pastoral care of the church January
1, 1882.
Calvary Baptist Church. — This church was or
ganized January 16, i860, under the name of the
Washington avenue Baptist Church of Albany, and
started under the pastoral care of Rev. William P.
Everett. His labors were attended with such suc
cess that a more commodious house was necessary,
and they secured the church on Washington ave
nue erected for the German Baptists. February 4,
1 865, they purchased the State street Baptist Church,
on the corner of State and High streets, and changed
their name to the present one. The society con
tinued to worship in this edifice until the spring of
1880, when, under the successful work of Rev. John
Humpstone, the old building was torn down to
give place to the present one. This church has a
large and prosperous Sunday-school under its care.
Rev. James Wolfenden, Pastor, since June 1, 1883.
Membership, 736.
The following Pastors have served since its or
ganization: Revs. William P. Everett, 1863-65;
J. Spencer Kennard, 1865-66; S. W. Foljambe,
1867; John Peddie, 1868-71; John Love, Jr.,
1872-75; Joshua Day, 1876-77; John Humpstone,
1877-82; James Wolfenden, 1883-85.
State Street Baptist Church. — This church
was organized in 184 5, and a meeting-house erected
same year, corner State and High streets. Sold to
Calvary Baptist Church in 1865.
Pastors: Jacob Knapp, 1846-47; Edwin R.War
ner, 1847-48; Jabez S. Swan, 1848-49; W.W.Moore
1849-51; Charles B. Post, 1852-54; William Arthur,
father of ex-President Chester A. Arthur, 1854-64;
T.W.Smith, 1864.
Washington Avenue Baptist Church. — Build
ing, No. 252 Washington avenue, purchased in 1859.

Sold to Roman- Catholics in 1866. Pastor: William
P.Everett, 1860-64.
Washington Street German Baptist Church,
on Washington avenue, was dedicated in 1854-
Pastors: A.Von Pattkammer,i857-6i; H.Feltman,
1864-69; Wm. Argow, 1870-75; Henry Trumpp,
1877-80; John Jaeger, 1882 to present time.
First African Baptist Church. — This was the
first African Church formed in Albany, organized
in 1820 as the Albany African Church Association.
The church edifice was located north side Hamil
ton street, between Grand and Fulton streets. The
name First African Baptist Society was taken in
1826. Property sold to Roman Catholics in 1869.
Pastors: Nathaniel Paul, 1822-30; Calvin C. Will
iams, 1 831; Samuel Treadwell, 1832-33; Thomas
Ritchie, 1834; Nathaniel Paul, 1838-39; Jonas H.
Townsend, 1843; John Rial, 1844; W. Surrington,
1846; William Garrett, 1849; J- Atkins, 1852; 
Hausen, 1855; L. Black, 1859; T.Doughty Miller,
1860-64; John D.Bagwell, 1869. Discontinued.
Second African Baptist Church, organized 1870,
Chestnut, near Dove. Pastors: Theodore D.Miller,
1872; Charles Charles, 1873; Henry H. Mitchell,
1879. It is now discontinued. CATHOLIC.
St. Mary's Church. — In the seventeenth century,
Albany was the eastern gate to the Iroquois
country. Here Catholic missionaries sometimes
halted to take breath on their way to the Mohawk
villages. Father Isaac Jogues, the martyr of Caugh-
nawaga (now Fonda) was here more than once.
Here he became acquainted with the good old
Dutch minister, Dominie Megapolensis, and found
in him a true friend in time of need. No organized
body of Catholics is known to have existed here
prior to October 6, 1 796. On that day a meeting
was held at the house of James Robichaux, in con
sequence of which they were formally incorporated.
The certificate in the County Clerk's office is signed
by Lewis Le Coulteaux and David McEvers.is wit
nessed by Sebastian Visscher and Archibald Camp
bell, and acknowledged before Robert Yates. The
first church was built on the same ground since
occupied by the second, and by the third or present
St. Mary's. A drawing of it from memory was made
by the late Peter M. Morange, Esq., and engraved
for Munsell's Annals of Albany. The corner-stone
was laid in 1797 by Thomas Barry, a prominent
merchant of that day. Barry died in January, 1813,
and was buried in the old St. Mary's Cemetery on
State street, now covered by the Park. His re
mains now rest in the new St. Agnes' on the Troy
road. Le Coulteaux was born in France of a noble
family. From here he moved to Buffalo, and his
name is well known there in connection with a
revolt which sprang up in the congregation of St.
Louis' Church in that city, suppressed with much
difficulty by Archbishop Hughes. Prior to the
erection of the first St. Mary's, divine service was
occasionally celebrated at the old Cassidy home on
the corner of Maiden lane and Chapel street; and

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

751

also in the house of William Duffy in Court street,
now South Broadway.
St. Mary's is older than any other Catholic parish in
the State, with the single exception of St Peter's, in
Barclay street, New York. For many long years it
was the only place this side of Detroit where an

emigrant pushing westward from the great city-
could bend his head before the august sacrifice.
Tradition tells of many distinguished visitors to its
shrine, among them such men as Lafayette and
Talleyrand. The latter once had his lodgings
close by, on the west side of Chapel street and south

ST. MARY'S, THE FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ALBANY.
Erected by contributions of Catholics and Protestants in 1798, corner of Pine and Chapel Streets.

of Maiden Lane, in a small, quaint old building
recently standing. The tramp of Coming's horses
is now heard where the wily brain of ihe great
diplomatist brooded in silence over his fallen
fortunes. The entrance to the primitive St. Mary's was on
Pine street. The interior was about fifty feet square.
The altar stood on the easterly side. The sanctu
ary was about twelve feet square; the altar plat
form three steps in hight. The pulpit was fixed to
the wall at the northeast corner, about midway be
tween floor and ceiling, and near the sanctuary,
from which it was reached by a long, narrow stair
case, the lower steps of which came within the sanc
tuary railing. The altar stood against the wall; was
of modest, but tasteful appearance; and was inclosed
by two wooden columns, surmounted by an oval.
About 1822, the same hand to which we are in
debted for the exterior view of the church, graced
the space over the tabernacle, and within this oval,
by a representation of the three crosses on Calvary.
There was a space of about four feet in front of the
sanctuary; a range of pews, with an aisle of the same
width, on the westerly side, an aisle or passage-way
running north and south from the west aisle to the
space; and an aisle at the entrance which opened
on Pine street A gallery was reached by a stairway
beginning a short distance west of the entrance, and
extended along the southern and western walls.
The choir with its little organ occupied this western
portion of the gallery. This organ, a gift from Mrs.

Founders.

Margaret Cassidy, is believed to have been the first
instrument of the kind ever introduced into Albany.
A larger one was afterwards placed in the second
church, which still does duty in the third, but so en
larged, remodeled and improved, that for sweetness
and effectiveness it ranks among the best in the city.
A piece of marble, discovered when excavating
for the present edifice, was undoubtedly the inscrip
tion stone on the first. The following quaint legend
was engraved upon it: [I. H. S.]
[Skull. ] (Cross-bones. J
Thomas Barry, )
Louis Le Coulteaux, j
E. C. Quinn, Master builder.
a. d. 1798.
Another stone found at the same time bore upon
its front the figures 1797. Both these stones have
been built into the walls of the present church,
and show their legends still.
Among the first clergy officiating in this primi
tive little building were Rev. Messrs. Thayer,
Whelan, O'Brien and La Valenure. They seem
to have been only transient, and their dates cannot
be ascertained. It is known that Mr. O'Brien
went from here to Canada. Rev. D. Mahoney was
here from 1806 to 1807; Rev. James Buyshe in
1808. He died and was buried here. Rev. Mr.
Hurley from 1808-9; Rev- Mr. Weddin, 1810-11;
Rev. Mr. O'Gorman, 1812-13. He died in New

752

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

York in 1824. Rev. Paul McQuade, 1813-17;
Rev. Mr. Hogan, 1819. He afterwards inaug
urated the notable rebellion in St Mary's, Phila
delphia. Rev. Mr. Farnham attended from Utica
in 1820; Rev. Michael Carroll, 1821-22; Rev.
Mr. Bulger, 1823. Went from here to Utica, and
died in New York in 1824. Rev. Mr. Brennan,
1824; Rev. Dr. Savage, 1825-26, and returned
to Cork, Ireland. Rev. Charles Smith had pre
viously been a Methodist Minister. He was Pastor
from 1826 to 1836, and had a stormy time of it.
The Trustees ruled the church, and Freemasonry
ruled in the Board of Trustees.
The first Catholic Sunday-school was initiated
in 1828, in the gallery of this first church, on the
Pine street side. Its first Superintendent was Mr.
Peter M. Morange. Soon after, a day- school was
opened on the east side of Broadway, a little north
of Quackenbush street. The young ladies of the
Sunday-school conducted this also, teaching by
turns, each two days in the week, until relieved by
Mrs. James F. Meline, a singer in St. Mary's choir,
who took sole charge. Before long it was deemed
opportune to establish an orphan asylum. Sister
Mary de Sales (Miss Barber, of Boston, a convert)
and Sister Josephine were invited to conduct the
institution, and the day school passed into their
hands. That this little church of 1798 must have be
come well crowded at last, is evidenced by the fact
that the newspapers of the day refer to it as far
too small to contain the congregation. At a sale
January 7, 1829, forty-four pews brought $1,475.
The demolition of the old building began on
the 14th day of September, 1829. The corner
stone of a second church was laid October 13th,
and on the 29th of August, 1830, it was opened
for divine service. In the meanwhile the congre
gation assembled for worship in the Lancaster
School-house (now Albany Medical College). It
is a singular fact, and one that indicates a very ab
normal state of things, that the corner-stone of this
second St. Mary's was laid by Freemasons with
their peculiar rites. In consequence of this, the
Pastor, with a minority of the Trustees, refused to
be present at the ceremony.
In preparing the ground for the new structure, it
was necessary to dig away a great hill, and to open
Steuben street, above Chapel. To push forward
this work, members of the congregation contributed
teams and personal labor, day after day, under the
superintendence of "Yankee White," so called.
Many still remember this as a busy and joyous
time. One of the subscription lists, still preserved,
shows the names of the following distinguished
donors: Stephen Van Rensselaer, $100; Charles T.
Dudley, $25; Edward C. Delavan, $25; Robert
Dunlop, $25; Nathan Sanford, $50; Chancellor
Jones, $50; Martin Van Buren, $50. William
Mascraft, William Lush, Samuel H. Drake, Jesse
Buel, A. Van Vechten, and others, contributed
smaller sums.
The corner-stone, besides various coins and
newspapers of the period, and some coins also
which were evidently memorials rescued from the

ruins of the earlier building, contained a copper
plate with the following inscription:
ST. MARY'S CHURCH, ALBANY.
This stone was laid on Monday, October 12,
1829, by the President of St. Mary's Church, in
the presence of the Trustees and a numerous con
course of citizens.
John Cassidy, President: Thomas Geough, Vice-
President; John Duffan, Treasurer; James Maher,
Secretary; Peter Morange, John Reynolds, Will
iam Hawes, Patrick McQuade, Timothy Hayes,
Trustees; Rev. Charles Smith, Pastor; Peers,
Master-builder, 1829.
The newspapers were not successful as memorials
of the period. No metallic box inclosed them.
They were simply deposited in the hollow stone,
and when this was broken open, thirty-eight years
later, their charred and mutilated remnants did not
afford a single entire paragraph which could be de
ciphered. This second building fronted on Chapel street.
It was entered by a high, ungainly flight of steps,
very inconvenient at all times, and in winter even
dangerous. A small door, also on Chapel street, at
the Pine street corner, gave admission to the base
ment, which served as the school-room. A house
on Lodge street, adjoining the rear of the church,
first used as an orphan asylum, afterwards became
the rectory, or pastoral residence. In 1847, when
the Diocese of Albany was set off from that of New
York, and Bishop McCloskey assigned to its ad
ministration, St. Mary's became his cathedral, and
this dilapidated rectory had just respect enough for
the future Cardinal not to tumble down upon his
head. In truth the church itself was weakly built,
and lived out its short term of life very poorly. Its
walls had to be secured against falling out by iron
straps, and even this security was very unsatisfactory.
We cannot apply to the master-builder who put up
this second St. Mary's what Emerson says of "the
hand that rounded Peter's dome, and groined the
aisles of Christian Rome," that "he builded better
than he knew." This fellow must have known
better. Its brief period of service, however, was a mem
orable time to Catholics of this region. Its registers
record events of deep interest to many families in
Albany, and to many now scattered widely and far
away. Within its walls resounded many an elo
quent and memorable voice. Many heai ts brought
their fears, joys and tears to its altar and confes
sionals. Many little feet, since grown weary with
more difficult travel, struggled up the steep hill
sides to its schools, and gathered to its festivals,
confirmations, and first communions. Bishop
Loughlin grew up to manhood within sound of its
bell. At 83 Canal street, hard by, General Phil
Sheridan was born, and it lived to witness the tri
umphal welcome which Albany gave him at the
close of our Civil War. Not a few memorials of the
old building still remain. Its altar, tabernacle,
sanctuary railing, and stations of the cross still do
duty in the basement chapel of the present church.
Its bell is in the tower. Its font is preserved in the

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

753

sacristy and still used, though not for baptizing.
A fine large painting of the "Descent from the
Cross," which served it for an altar-piece, still hangs
above the high altar. It was bought, in 1843, at a
sale of the collection of a Mr. Franquinet, of New
York. The Rev. Charles Smith continued to serve St
Mary's (to govern it then was out of the question)
until 1836. After him succeeded several transient,
or temporary clergymen : the Revs. J. Kelly, G. Par-
doe, J. D. Urquhart, Joseph Stokes, and John J.
Curtin. Rev. J. A. Schneller, a very learned and
most excellent and active priest, was Pastor from
1837 to 1846. He had a stormy time of it Near
the close of his term, and for a brief while after
wards, the Rev. J. A. Kyle and the Rev. Edward
Putnam frequently did duty. The latter was a con
vert In 1846, when the Diocese of Albany was
organized, Bishop McCloskey made St. Mary's his
cathedral, and governed the parish in person until
1853, assisted by the Rev. Edgar P. Wadhams, af
terwards Bishop of Ogdensburg, and the Rev.
Thomas Doran.
In September, 1866, the present Pastor, Rev.
Clarence A. Walworth, was assigned to the charge
of St. Mary's. The parish was heavily incum
bered, and yet it was absolutely necessary to build
another church. The work was promptly begun.
A new incorporation was made, under Act of
March 25, 1863, changing its title to that of " St.
Mary's Church of the City of Albany," and all the
church property passed over, by deed, to the new
trustees. The use of Association Hall, at the foot
of State street, was secured for Sundays. The organ
was taken to pieces, and stowed away in the loft of
Thomas Behan's store, on Hudson street, below
Broadway. By concession of the city, the church
lot was extended about twenty feet on the eastern
side to the ancient Chapel street line. A meeting
of the congregation was called, and a generous
subscription started, the names of Thomas Behan
and Thomas Noonan heading the list for $500
each. Bishop Conroy and John Tracey afterwards
gave $1,000 each. A poor blind man, depending
on his daily labor (that of flagging chairs) for the
support of a large family, subscribed $25, and was
one of the earliest to bring the money. The Hon.
George H. Thacher, then Mayor of the city, al
though unsolicited, sent $100 (under injunction of
secrecy, now violated) promising $100 per annum
until the new church should be completed. He
was never reminded of his promise, but the remit
tances came for three successive years. After its
pews were taken out, the venerable building was
made to serve one more good purpose, that of a
fair, bequeathing thus to its successor, with a dying
blessing, the sum of $11,000 net profits.
The corner-stone of the present St. Mary's was
laid on Sunday afternoon, August 11, 1867,' with
great ceremony, by the Vicar-General, Father Wad-
hams. The Rev. Ambrose O'Neill preached the
sermon. The contents of this stone are as follows:
the city newspapers of Saturday, August 10th; speci
mens of American coinage, obtained from the U. S.
Mint at Philadelphia, from a silver dollar to a three-
95

cent piece; a.half-dime, previously deposited under
the second church by John McCardle, and a fifty-
cent piece of 1867, stamped with his name; a list
of all who at this ceremony contributed to the
amount of $1; a plan of the interior of the old
building; an original subscription book of 1829.
All these articles were put into a leaden box, seven
inches deep and one foot square, securely soldered,
and for further security, the more perishable articles
were wrapped in tin-foil. The box contained also
a copper-plate, bearing the following legend:
"Prima hie, eodemq. in situ, ecclesia fuit A. d.
1797; secunda vera (qua? olim Aedes Cathedralis)
a. d. 1829. Hunc Tertias, cura Rev. Clarencii Wal
worth parochi constructs, lapidem primarium pos-
uit Adm. R. Edgar Wadhams, Vic. Gen. R. R.
Dno. Joanne Conroy, sedem tenente, Anno xxii.
Pii ix Summi Pont. Nostri, Andrea Johnson Pre
side, Reuben Fenton Gubernatore, et Georgio
Thacher urbis Prasfecto.
" Prsecip Fau tores: RR. Joan. Jos. Conroy, Joan
nes Tracey, sen., Thos. Behan, Thos. Noonan.
"Nichols & Brown, Arch.; Rob'tus Aspinall et
Soc. Fab. Mur; Joan. Parker, Fab. Lign."
At the top of the plate, and running partly around
it, are the words, "Ad honorem Dei Omnip. sub
Patrocinio B. Virginis Mariae," and at the bottom
of the plate, ' ' Die xi Aug. a. d. mdccclxvii. "
The edifice thus commenced was so far com
pleted by February 16, 1868, that its basement
could be used for religious services. On Sunday,
March 14, 1869, it was solemnly dedicated at high
mass by Bishop Conroy, the Vicar-General, Father
Wadhams officiating as celebrant. The large altar-
stone was consecrated in situ at that time, and car
ries therefore the privileges of a fixed altar. The
new font was blessed in December that same year.
The solid marble altar in the Lady Chapel, a dona
tion of Dr. E. B. O'Callaghan, the historian, was
dedicated by Bishop Wadhams on Saturday, July 2,
1870, and is a privileged altar. In February, 1871,
the beautiful stations of the cross, from Munich,
were erected by the Bishop of Albany. The two
confessionals nearest the altar date from a later pe
riod of the same year.
St. Mary's parish originally included all that part
of the Diocese of Albany which lies in the valleys
of the Hudson and the Mohawk. Schenectady,
Utica, and Athens were among its stations, and its
archives show residents of the first two elected into
its Board of Trustees. At present it is only one of
Albany's twelve parishes. St. John's Church, on
South Ferry street, was purchased from the Episco
palians in 1839, and all the southern partof Albany
was allotted to this new parish. In 1843, that sec
tion of the city which lies north of the center of
Clinton avenue was formed into a third parish, that
of St. Joseph, and a new church built on the north
east corner of North Pearl and Lumber streets.
Next followed the formation of a parish for the new
cathedral, built, in 1852, on Eagle street, which left
the jurisdiction of St Mary's limited on the south
by Beaver and Lancaster streets; and finally, in
1858, by the birth of St. Patrick's, on Central ave
nue, the old mother-church was shorn of all her

754

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

territory west of Knox street. Since then the bound
aries of St. Mary's have remained unchanged.
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. —
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception,
Albany, is a superb structure, built of brown sand
stone in that style of architecture known as the
Pointed or Gothic. Ils form is that of a Roman
cross. The exterior produces the impression of
great beauty and majesty, the interior that of deep
solemnity and devout reverence. Among cathe
drals in the United States it takes high rank. All
its interior decorations are characterized by simplic
ity, richness and sobriety, as befitting a cathedral.
The walls and ceiling are blocked and finished in
imitation of freestone. Pillars, capitals, ribs and
bosses represent the same material. The prevail
ing somberness of the interior is relieved by the
strong, rich tints of the stained glass windows,
especially those in the north and south transepts,
and over the high altar; by the burnished brass of
the high altar; the white and gold of the four side
altars; the polished brass gas standards and brilliant
tints of the sanctuary mural decorations. The
principal altar was made in Paris of burnished
bra s, elaborately wrought, and the other altars of
Caen stone.
Since 1883, the church has been adorned with a
magnificent set of stations of the cross, painted by
that painstaking artist, A. Ertle, of New York City,
whose work is emphasized by much originality and
strength of treatment.
The corner-stone was laid July 2, 1848, by
Archbishop Hughes, of New York, assisted by
Bishop, now Cardinal, McCloskey, of New York,
the first Bishop of Albany, and other distinguished
prelates. Its construction occupied more than four
years. The dedication service was held Novem
ber 21, 1852, by the same dignitaries who officiated
at the laying of the corner-stone. Its total cost was
about $150,000. The architect was Patrick C.
Keely, of Brooklyn. In 1882, the cathedral was
restored, at considerable cost, under the supervision
of A. Ertle, of New York, and a rededicatory ser
vice solemnized by Right Rev. Francis McNeimy,
Bishop of Albany, on October 8th of the same
year. Right Rev. E. P. Wadhams, Bishop of Og
densburg, the first rector, was the preacher on this
occasion. Exterior dimensions. — The cathedral has a front
age of 95 feet on Eagle street, and a depth of 195
feet on Madison avenue. From water-table to
apex of roof is 70 feet, and to top of finished stone
spire 210 feet. The twin spire, when completed,
will be of same hight
Interior dimensions.— -Nave, 125 feet; transept,
96 feet; sanctuary, 35 feet square; hight of nave
about 60 feet. Seating capacity, 2, 500. Particular
attention was given to the acoustic facilities of the
edifice, and the result is very satisfactory for pulpit
utterances and choral effects.
First Bishop : His Eminence Cardinal John
McCloskey, D.D., consecrated March 10, 1844;
transferred to Albany May 21, 1847; promoted to
New York May 6, 1864; created Cardinal, March
15, 1875.

Second Bishop : Right Rev. John J. Conroy,
D.D., consecrated October 15, 1865; resigned Oc
tober 16, 1877. Present Bishop: Right Rev. Francis
McNeirny, DD.; consecrated April 21, 1872, and
appointed Bishop of Albany by right of succession,
October 16, 1877. First Rector : Right Rev. E. P.
Wadhams, D.D.; appointed Rector, 1852; conse
crated Bishop of Ogdensburg, May 5, 1 872. Second
Rector: Very Rev. P. A. Ludden,V. G. ; appointed
1872, and transferred to St. Peter's Church, Troy,
in 1880. Present Rector : Rev. John Walsh; trans
ferred from St. John's Church, Albany, February
25, 1882; installed rector of cathedral, February
27, 1882.
St. John's Church, Albany, was founded in the
year 1837. The first Pastor was Rev. J. Kelly,
and the first place of worship was at the comer of
Herkimer and Franklin streets. On July 1, 1839,
the present edifice, corner of South Ferry and Dal-
lius, was purchased from the Rector, Wardens
and Vestrymen of St. Paul's Church by the Trus
tees of St. John's Church, and thenceforth used as
a temple of Roman Catholic worship. Rev. Father
Kelly was succeeded by Rev. J. McDonough, in
1 84 1, as Pastor. He was a man of resolute pur
pose, and an indefatigable worker in the cause of
Christianity. Many of the oldest residents down
town distinctly remember him and bless his mem
ory. In 1847, the Rev. Patrick McCloskey came
from Schenectady to Albany and assumed charge
of St. John's, and remained fourteen years. His
mission in those early days embraced all the lower
portion of Albany, Greenbush, and far out into the
country on every side. He died in 1861, univer
sally mourned. His successor was the Rev. Cor
nelius Fitzpatrick, who for several years ministered
faithfully to his people. In 1867, Rev. E. Bayard
was transferred from St. John's Church, in Green
bush, to St. John's Church in Albany, and R'ev.
Cornelius Fitzpatrick replaced him in Greenbush.
Needing rest from the onerous duties of an exten
sive mission, the Rt. Rev. Bishop of Albany Diocese
located him in Fort Edward, where he is the present
Pastor. Rev. E. Bayard remained Pastor of St.
John's for several years. He was a man well known
for his amiable piety and charitable disposition.
He died a few years since while Pastor of Bald-
winsville, N. Y. In 1873 the Rev. John Walsh
became Pastor of St. John's, which place he re
tained until 1882, when he was made Rector of
ihe Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Al
bany. Father Walsh is remarkable as an orator of
splendid powers and a devoted priest. In 1882
the Rev. James M. Ludden came from St. John's
Church, Utica, where he was Pastor, and became
Pastor of St. John's, a position which he most hon
orably and successfully fills' to the entire satisfaction
of his large and influential congregation.
There have been many Assistant Priests in St.
John's Church. Among others are recalled the
names of Rev. William F. Sheehan, now Pastor of
St. Patrick's Church, West Troy; Rev. Father
Henderson, Rev. M. J. Griffith, of Valatie, N. Y. ;
Rev. William Nyhan, of Brazier Falls, N. Y. ; Rev.
Thomas Walsh, now of Plattsburg, N. Y., and

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

755

Vicar-General of the Diocese of Ogdensburg; Rev.
Thomas P. Walsh, of Coxsackie, N. Y.; Rev.
William A. Ryan, of Camillus, N. Y. ; Rev. John
H. McGraw, of Schenectady, N. Y. ; Rev. Father
Butler, of Fort Ticonderoga, N. Y. ; Rev. William
Finneran, of Catskill, N. Y.; Rev. James J. Ren-
ehan, of Marathon, N. Y.; Rev. J. J. Kelly, of
Baltimore, Md. The Assistant Clergymen in 1885
are Rev. James H. Halpin and Rev. Matthew K.
Mems. There is a peculiar charm about old St. John's
Church which highly endears it to even thousands of
Albany's Catholic families who are not of its present
parishioners. It has been the old landmark of
Catholicity in Southern Albany, and the ivy that
creeps over its old, but substantial, walls carries the
minds of all back half a century.
St. Joseph's Church. — In the year 1842 there
were but two Catholic churches in Albany, St.
Mary's, on Lodge street, and St. John's, on Dallius
street. The Catholics in the northern part of the city
had already greatly increased in numbers, and it
was found necessary to provide more ample church
accommodation for them.
A meeting for the purpose of considering the
erection of a new church was called in the early
part of the summer of 1842.
Father Schneller, the Pastor of St. Mary's, pre
sided. At this meeting it was resolved to purchase
a site for a new church, on the northeast corner of
North Pearl and Lumber streets.
The lot was accordingly secured, and the corner
stone of the first St. Joseph's Church was laid on
the afternoon of July 25, 1842.
The work was pushed forward rapidly, and com
pleted at a cost of $28,000, and dedicated May 7,
1843, by Right Rev. John Hughes.
Father Schneller retained the charge of the newly-
formed congregation, and Father Newell, Father
Havermans, of Troy, and Father Hogan, attended
to their spiritual wants for several months.
The Rev. John J. Conroy, then a young priest,
but very lately ordained, was appointed the first
regular Pastor, and was installed in the pastoral
charge by Bishop Hughes, March 25, 1844.
The parish made rapid progress under his zeal
ous administration. He erected the building on
North Pearl street, known as the Girls' Orphan
Asylum, established schools for both boys and
girls, and erected a handsome parochial residence
on the northwest corner of North Pearl and Lum
ber streets.
The congregation increased steadily during the
next ten years, and at the end of that period the
church edifice becoming inadequate for the Catholic
population of the parish, the Pastor resolved to
build a new church of more ample proportions,
and of more artistic and elaborate design. With
this intention, the large plot of ground bounded
by Ten Broeck, Second, and First streets, was pur
chased for the sum of $45,000.
The plans of the church were drawn by Patrick
Keeley, the celebrated architect, who had built the
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, of this

city, and many of the more elaborate churches
throughout the country.
Ground was broken for the new church in the
fall of 1855. The corner-stone was laid by Right
Rev. Bishop McCloskey, June 1, 1856. Besides
the Pastor, sixteen other priests were present on
this occasion. The ceremony was witnessed by over
12,000 people.
The church was completed in i860.
This edifice, which has justly been consid
ered one of the most beautiful churches in the
country, is of mediaeval architecture.
It is 212 feet in length by 1 1 6 feet in width, and
is built of blue limestone, trimmed with French
Caen stone. There are fourteen marble columns, of
which ten are monoliths. The three altars are
likewise of marble, and are in themselves beautiful
works of art.
Its stained-glass windows illustrate nearly all the
principal events in the life of the Redeemer.
The stations of the cross, which attract univer
sal attention, were imported from Munich. The
roof of the church is that style which is known as
the open roof, and is carved and adorned in the
most elaborate manner. The total cost of the
structure is estimated at $250,000.
The organ, which was built by Wilcox & Sim
mons, of Boston, was, when placed in the church,
the second largest in the United States. It is an
instrument of rare power and sweetness of tone.
Mile. Emma La Jeunesse (now Mme. Albani) was
organist and head soprano in this church for several
years. The church has three towers — one in front, not
yet fully completed, and two in the rear.
During the building of this church an accident
occurred, in which a carpenter named Murphy was
killed, and his brother and several others were
seriously injured.
Before the pews were placed in the edifice, a
great fair was held, in which the other churches of
the city took part, and at which a large amount
was realized.
The building was completed in the spring of
i860, and dedicated May 13, i860. The cere
mony of blessing the new edifice was performed
by Bishop McCloskey. Bishop Fitzpatrick, of
Boston, celebrated the Pontifical High Mass, and
the sermon was delivered by Archbishop Hughes.
There were present at the ceremony all the Bishops
of the Province, and also Bishop Mullock, of New
foundland. Pontifical Vespers were celebrated in
the evening, and a discourse was delivered by
Bishop Timon, of Buffalo.
The Caen stone used in the trimmings of the
church suffered greatly from the inclemency of the
weather, and in 1866 they had so crumbled that it
was necessary to remove a large portion of them,
and to substitute, in their place, at a great cost,
Ohio sandstone,
The church was also struck twice by lightning,
and the two rear towers and the organ were con
siderably damaged.
In 1865, the Holy See appointed the V. R. J. J.
Conroy, successor, as Bishop of Albany, to Rt.

756

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Rev. John McCloskey, who had been appointed to
the Archiepiscopal See of New York, made vacant
by the death of Archbishop Hughes.
Father Conroy was installed as the second Bishop
of Albany, October 15, 1865.
After his elevation to the Episcopacy, Bishop
Conroy retained the title of Pastor of St. Joseph's, and
held it until he resigned the administration of the
diocese in 1874.
About this time, St. Joseph's old church, which
had been, since the dedication of the new church,
used for a boys' school, was sold to the Albany
Steam Bakery Company, and the proceeds paid off
the debt of the new edifice. The pastoral residence
had already been sold, and the proceeds used for
the same purpose.
In 1871, a large and commodious school-house
for boys, with all modern improvements, was erected
on the northwest corner of North Pearl and Colonie
streets, at a cost, including ground, building and
furniture, of $46,000.
The School is under the charge of the Christian
Brothers. There are eight teachers and a daily attendance
of between five and six hundred boys. The tuition
is entirely gratuitous.
There is also a flourishing day school for girls
taught by the Sisters of Charity, with a daily attend
ance of four hundred pupils.
There is likewise an Industrial School under
the care of the Sisters, in which girls are taught to
sew and dress-make. There are ten teachers in the
school. The church was incorporated in 1878.
St Joseph's Parish was twice divided, at the re
quest of Father T. M. A. Burke, the present Pastor.
All that portion north of Pleasant street was
formed into the Parish of the Sacred Heart, North
Albany, and that portion west of Knox street was
ceded to St. Patrick's Parish.
Many improvements have been made around the
church, the grounds have been beautified, and
$33,500 of the indebtedness has been paid.
The schools — both boys and girls — are in a
flourishing condition,and the congregation is wide
ly known for its generosity, culture and piety.
Church of the Holy Cross (German), corner
of Hamilton and Philip streets. — The founda
tions of this church were begun in 1849, and the
corner-stone was laid May 12, 1850. It was finished
and consecrated in 1852, Father Noethen, Pastor,
who remained till 1878, when he was succeeded by
the present Pastor, Father Ottenhaus. The present
congregation of this church is comparatively small,
but it has had the unusual honor and usefulness of
being the parent of three prosperous neighboring
churches, whose founders went out successively
from its midst, the mother-church often being so
full there was hardly standing room; viz., Our
Lady of Angels,in 1868; Church of the Assumption,
in 1869; and Our Lady Help of Christians, in
1880. St. Ann's Church, northeast corner Fourth ave
nue and Franklin street, Rev. Edward A. Terry,
LL.D., Pastor.

The corner-stone of St. Ann's Church bears the
date 1867.
It was laid in the summer of that year by Right
Rev. John J. Conroy, then Bishop of Albany. The
edifice was dedicated December 20, 1868. The
parish was formed in 1866, and comprised por
tions to the south of the cathedral parish and that
of St. John's. The first Pastor was Rev. Thos.
Doran, who had previously been in charge of St.
Mary's, Chapel street.
The church and parsonage were built on prop
erty donated to the congregation by John Tracey,
Esq., who became one of the first trustees. His
associates were Thomas Kearnan, John Carmody
and James Coyle.
The present Pastor, Rev. Dr. Terry, assumed
charge Tuesday, September 22, 1880. His prede
cessor died July 4th of the same year. Dr. Terry
was transferred from the curacy of St. John's Church,
Utica, where he had officiated for five years. He
had formerly been Professor of Dogmatic Theology
and Scripture in Mount St. Mary's College, Em-
mettsburg, Md., and he was affiliated to the diocese
of Albany by Right Rev. Bishop McNeimy.
The present congregation of St. Ann's numbers
about twenty-five hundred. It is in a most flour
ishing condition, its funded debt having been re
duced from $18,000 to $11,000.
The Pastor's work proper is very much aided by
the many societies into which he has formed the
members, old and young. There are no less than
ten of these associations, none of them numbering
less than one hundred members. Chief among these
societies are the Sunday-school Union, the St. Vin
cent de Paul Society, and the Ladies' Aid Society.
The present roll of the Sunday-school shows a
maximum of 650 names, and an average attend
ance of more than 600. The Pastor invariably pre
sides during the hours of Sunday-school.
The choir of the church is one of its attractive
features. It comprises a double quartette and a
chorus of sixty-five voices. Mr. Charles Kresser is
Organist, and Mr. John Klein, Director.
St. Patrick's Church, Central avenue, corner
of Perry street, was consecrated August 30, 1868.
Priests: A. McGeough, 1859-64; Felix McGinn,
1865-71; P. J. Smith, 1874 to present time.
Our Lady of Angels Church (German), Central
avenue, corner of Robin street, was erected in 1868.
Priests: Francis Neubauer, 1869-77; Pius Kotterer,
1878-79; Maurice Bierl, 1880-83; Csesar Cucchia-
rini, 1883 to present time.
Church or the Assumption was purchased by
the French Catholics from the First African Baptist
Society, and dedicated in 1869. Priests: M. La
Porte, 1870-72; M. Dugas, 1873; C. M. Lesage,
1874-76; P. O. Renaud, 1877; Joseph Brouillet,
1878-81; Clovis Therbault, 1882-83; G- Hulber-
daull, 1883 to present time.
Our Lady Help of Christians. — The congrega
tion, Our Lady Help of Christians, is the out
growth of Holy Cross Church. It was begun and
established in the year 1873 by the Rev. Theodore
Noethen, Vicar-General for the Germans in the
diocese of Albany.

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

757

It was regarded as a matter of necessity, from
the fact that the church edifice of Holy Cross had
gradually become too small for rapidly increasing
congregation. One roof could no longer give
satisfactory shelter to all.
In April, 1873, purchase was made of the prop
erty on Second avenue. A frame building found
standing upon the site was at once trans
formed into a temporary chapel. In the fall of the
same year this chapel was dedicated by the Very
Rev. Theodore Noethen. Services were held every
Sunday at 8. 30 a. m. , Very Rev. Theodore Noethen
and his assistant, Rev. Stephen A. Preisser, alter
nating. There was also a school connected with the
chapel, John Hess acting in the capacity of teacher.
In June, 1874, the chapel was separated from its
connection with Holy Cross Church, and Rev.
Stephen A. Preisser placed in charge of the newly-
created congregation as its first Pastor. The
old structure was at once enlarged by the addition
of an extension in the rear and to the side. In
August of the same year, other property was ac
quired on Krank street, and a commodious school-
house erected on the grounds.
The corner-stone of the present church was laid
on the 2 8th of June, 1 880, by the Right Rev. Francis
McNeirny, Bishop of Albany, assisted by a number
of priests from the city and other parts of the diocese.
The church was completed, dedicated and opened
for service on the 28th of August, 1881, Right
Rev. Francis McNeirny, Bishop of Albany, per
forming the ceremonies, and Revs. M. J. Decker
of Erie, Pa., and John Walsh, of Albany, occupy
ing the pulpit respectively, the first in the morning,
and the latter in the evening.
In 1882, the Sisters of St Francis, from St. An
thony's Convent, Syracuse, N.Y., were invited by
the Rev. Stephen A. Preisser to take charge of the
school, and have since then labored faithfully,
worked earnestly, and accomplished much in the
furtherance and promotion of education and man
ners, religion and learning, among the little ones
under their supervision. In March, 1883, Rev.
Stephen A. Preisser, after over nine years of labor,
was appointed to take charge of St. Peter's
Church, Oswego, N. Y., and Rev. Henry Cluver,
from St. Joseph's Church, Schenectady, N. Y, was
appointed to fill the vacancy at Our Lady Help of
Christians, at Albany.
The Parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was
established on August 5, 1884, by the Right Rev. F.
McNeirny, Bishop of Albany.
The limits of the parish are Hart's Road on the
north, Pleasant street on the south, City Line on
the east, and Loudonville on the West. The Bish
op appointed Rev. Francis J. Maguire to be first
Pastor of this parish. With a Catholic population
of nearly eighteen hundred souls, the Pastor began
his labors at once. A parcel of land situate on
North Pearl street, and comprising sixteen building
lots, had been secured at a cost of nearly seven
thousand dollars. The debt thus incurred was the
only financial possession of the new parish when
Father Maguire assumed the pastorate. Unlike

some large undertakings, the work of the Sacred
Heart Parish was from the beginning marked by a
cautiousness and prudence which have resulted in a
success which has surpassed expectation. Instead
of launching into a scheme entailing elaborate
buildings and a grand church debt, a temporary
chapel was at once erected on Erie street. Here, at a
cost of about sixteen hundred dollars, accommo
dations for the congregation were secured.
So rapid was the growth of the parish, that the
securing of more church room soon became an
imperative necessity. It was then thought best to
proceed with the erection of the parish church.
There was no prospect of bringing a work of such
magnitude to completion in the near future, but it
was decided to make a beginning.
Ground was broken for the erection of the pres
ent church July 31, 1876. The basement, which
afforded ample room for all congregational pur
poses, was occupied in February, 1877; and the
building was completed and dedicated May 23,
1880. The church and adjoining rectory are of brick
with stone trimmings. The property is valued at
eighty-six thousand dollars, and there is but a
small debt upon it. Of this large sum of money
collected there was but one subscription of $200,
three of $100, seven of $50, and all the remainder
was collected in small sums. The interior of the
church contains many beautiful gifts, chief among
which is a costly marble memorial altar, erected by
the family of the late William Cassidy, of the Argus.
The stained-glass windows, as well as the statuary
and stations of the cross, are from the art reposi
tories of Munich, in Bavaria, and are donations of
members or friends of the congregation.
Rev. F. J. Maguire, Pastor of the Church, was
born in Albany, 1846, a graduate of Manhattan
College and of St. Joseph's Seminary. Ordained
priest May, 1872. First Pastor of Sacred Heart
Parish, Albany, which church and rectory have
been built at a cost of $77,000.
Church of the Assumption. — The French Ca
nadians residing in Albany, January 1, 1868,
founded the St. Jean Baptist Society, numbering
about 25 members. The objects of this organiza
tion are to help the members when sick, and
give a certain amount at their death to pay for
funeral expenses. The weekly benefit of sick mem
bers is $5. Within a short period the membership
reached 75, but, owing to some of the members re
moving out of the city, the present membership is
only 56.
In 1869, there were 130 French Canadians in
Albany without church accommodation, and in
October 3d of that year, mass was first said in their
present church, corner Dallius street and Fourth
avenue. The church was dedicated October 24, 1869, by
Very Rev. Father Edgar Wadhams. In the spring
of 1 87 1, the residence next to the church was bought
for $4,000. The following have been Pastors : Rev.
Fathers Laporte, L. M. Dugas, C. M. Lesage, P.
Reneault, Joseph Brouillet, Clovis Thibeault. Rev.
Father Gideon Huberdeault is the present Pastor.

758

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

In July, 1870, another French Canadian society
was established, by the name of Society de Secours
Mutuel, for the object of insuring the lives of its
members. This society numbers 168 members.
In 1876 a French Canadian Democratic Club
was organized, with 175 members.
The 29th July, 1879, J. B. Seney, a popular
and public-spirited citizen, started a conference of
St. Vincent de Paul, to help poor French-Canadian
families. The society has done much good since
it was organized.
In January, 1882, the French Canadians of this
city united themselves as a body to send delegates
to the French Canadians' Convention held yearly
in this State.
October 22, 1884, a branch of the Catholic Be
nevolent Legion was started by two or three
Frenchmen in this city, known as Jacques Cartier
Council, C. B. L., No. 86. The object of this society
is to insure members from $500 to $5,000, accord
ing to the grade he joins. Membership numbers
forty. According to a census made by J. B. Seney,
in June, 1885, there are in the city 162 French-
Canadian families.
May 23, 1869, first meeting of the French Cana
dians to establish a Catholic Church in Albany,
N. Y. Number of French families in this city
1869, 135.
September 17, 1869, Rev. Father Mascime La
porte was named first Pastor of the Church of the
Assumption. October, 1869, the church now occupied was
bought, at a cost of $7,000.
July, 1870, the house next to the church was
bought, at a cost of $4, 500.
November, 1872, Rev. Father C. M. Dugas was
named second Pastor.
November, 1874, Rev. Father M. Lesage was
named third Pastor.
In 1876, the present parsonage was built at a
cost of $8,000.
In spring, 1877, Rev. Father Reneault was
named fourth Pastor.
In November, 1879, Rev. Father Joseph Brouil
let was named fifth Pastor.
June, 1882, Rev. Father C. Thibeault was named
sixth Pastor.
March 2, 1884, Rev. Father Gideon Hubert-
deault was named seventh Pastor.
In 1875, the school attached to the church was
established by Rev. Father Lesage.
But in 1879, Rev. Father Brouillet brought the
Rev. Sisters of Jesus and Mary to take charge of
the schools.
Since the establishment of this church, the
French people have paid over $75,000 in property,
repairs, ornaments, construction, salary and cur
rent expenses. CHRISTIAN.
The First Christian Church was organized in
1 88 1. Church located south side of Chestnut, be
tween Lark and Dove streets. Pastors: E. C.
Abbott, 1881-84 ; Warren Hathaway, 1884 to
present time.

CONGREGATIONAL.
The corner-stone of the Congregational Church,
corner of Eagle and Beaver streets, was laid Septem
ber 22, 1868; dedicated October 14, 1869. Cost,
including lot, $130,000. No debt. Will seat 1,125.
Thirteen associated gentlemen, consisting of An
thony Gould, Bradford R. Wood, Rufus H. King,
James McNaughton, and others, bought the edifice
that had long been owned and occupied by the
First Presbyterian Church, corner South Pearl and
Beaver streets, now Beaver Block, December 15,
1849, for $20,000, for the purposes of a Congrega
tional Church and society about to be formed. As
soon as suitably repaired, it was opened for Divine
Service, April 7,1850, Rev. Leonard Bacon, D.D.,
of New Haven, Ct, preaching. Other eminent
preachers of the denomination followed for a few
months. June 6th, a religious society was organ
ized. On the 10th of July, a church of eighty-one
members was formed. Rev. Ray Palmer, D.D., of
Bath, Me., was installed Pastor, December 10, 1850,
and so remained until April 18, 1866. Rev. Will
iam S. Smart, D. D., of Benson, Vt, was installed
Pastor, May 30, 1867, and so remains. The last
sermon in the old church was preached February 8,
1868. After that date, Association Hall, now Board
of Trade rooms, was occupied for religious services
until the present edifice was completed. Sunday
services, \o\ a. m., 7| p.m. Sunday-school, 2 p. m.
It sustains the Bethany Mission-school, 67 South
Pearl street. Whole number of church members
enrolled since organization, 804; present number,
396. It is free from debt, owning its church build
ing; has an intelligent congregation, and is gener
ally prosperous.
Second Congregational Church Society was
organized in 1862. Meetings were held in Gibson's
Hall, Clinton avenue. It was discontinued in 1863.
R. B. Stratton was Pastor.
EPISCOPAL.
St. Peter's Church. — In 1675 the Rev. Nico
laus Van Rensselaer, a son of the first Patroon,
Kilian Van Rensselaer, was colleague to the Rev.
Gideon Schaets in the Reformed Protestant Dutch
Church in Albany. He had received Holy Orders
in the Church of England, which was the cause of
many differences between him and the Rev. Wil-
helmus Nieuenhuysen, the other colleague, and the
Pastor, which the Governor's Council determined
in Mr. Van Rensselaer's favor. He remained in
Albany until his death in 1678. The English gar
rison at Fort Frederick and the few English fam
ilies in Albany were occasionally visited by the
chaplains of the Fort in New York until 1704,
when the Rev. Thoroughgood Moore was sent by
the English Society for the Propagation of the Gos
pel in Foreign Parts as Missionary to the Mohawk
Indians, and he remained in Albany a year, vainly
trying to penetrate to and locate in the Indian
country. He officiated regularly in Fort Fred
erick.* The Rev. John Talbot, in 1702, had spent a
* Occupying the site of the present St. Peter's Church, corner of
State and Lodge streets.

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

759

few weeks and performed divine service. In 1 708
the Rev. Thomas Barclay was Chaplain at Fort
Frederick. He organized a parish and held divine
service for six years in the Lutheran Chapel, whose
site, the corner of Beaver and South Pearl streets,
is now occupied by the City Building. October
21, 1714, a plot of ground in the center of Yonker
(now State) street opposite Barrack, immediately
below Fort Frederick, was granted by patent from
the Crown for an English Church and cemetery.
In spite of the remonstrance of the City Common
Council, who claimed the ground, an edifice of
bluestone, 58 feet by 42 feet, was opened in No
vember, 1 7 16. Mr. Barclay continued his faithful
fruitful labors at Albany, Schenectady, and among
the Mohawks until 1721, when the stipend of ^50
from the Propagation Society was withdrawn.' The
Mohawk Mission, for which a chapel was built at
Fort Hunter, near the lower Mohawk Castle, thirty-
five miles from Albany, was under the charge of
the Rectors of St. Peter's until 1770, with the ex
ception of the years 171 2 to 171 9, when there was
a resident missionary. In 1727 the Rev. John
Miln became Rector of Saint Peter's, as the church
then began to be called. A parish school, under
the instruction of Mr. John Beasley, was founded
at this period, and continued for many years. In
1738 the Rev. Henry Barclay, a son of the first
Rector, born in Albany, who had been catechist to
the Mohawks, succeeded him. He was zealous and
successful until the ravages of King George's War
compelled him to leave Albany; and in the au
tumn of 1746 he accepted the Rectorship of Trinity
Church, New York City. He died there in 1764.
In 1750 the Rev. John Ogilvie, born in New York
City, was called to the rectorship. He continued the
good work of his predecessors. His thorough
knowledge of the Mohawk dialect enabled him,
after Dr. Barclay's death, to whom the revision of
the Mohawk Prayer-book had been committed by
Sir William Johnson, to superintend its publication
and correct the proof. It appeared in 1769, from
the press of Hugh Gaines. The French and Indian
War scattering his Albany and Mohawk congrega
tions, he became Chaplain to General Amherst's
expedition in 1758, and to that of Sir William
Johnson against Niagara in 1759. He resigned in
December, 1 760, and remained with the army in
Canada until 1764. He died in New York, where
he was an assistant in Trinity Church, in 1 774. In
1 75 1 the tower of St. Peter's was built, and a bell,
still occasionally used, and a clock were procured
from England. The Rev. Thomas Brown, Deputy
Chaplain of the 60th Regiment, succeeded Mr.
Ogilvie, and was the faithful Rector until March,
1 768, when he removed to Dorchester, Md. , where he
died in 1 784. The Rev. Harry Munro, missionary at
Philipsburgh (now Yonkers) was appointed to the
vacancy. Under his charge the congregations were
greatly increased, the church repaired, and the
present charter of incorporation granted by Gov
ernor Sir Henry Moore, April 25, 1769. Being a
Loyalist, Mr. Munro was imprisoned in 1777, and
escaped to a British post on Lake George. He
died in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1801. St. Peter's

Church was closed, excepting for occasional ser
vices, during the Revolutionary War. May 1, 1787,
the Vestry elected the Rev. Thomas Ellison, born
in Newcastle, England, Rector. He had the ability
to lay the foundation for the future prosperity of
the parish, after the devastation of the Revolution.
He died, in 1802, in the midst of his usefulness,
shortly after a contract had been made with Hooker
& Putnam for a new church on the corner of State
and Lodge streets. The plans were drawn by Philip
Hooker, the well-known architect, of Albany. The
building was finished in the summer of 1803, and
the Rev. Frederic Beasley, of Elizabethtown, N. J. ,
assumed the rectorship, to which he had been
elected in 1802. The consecration of the church
took place on Thursday, October 4, 1803. Mr.
Beasley resigned in 1 809, to the great regret of the
congregation and the community, to accept the
Associate Rectorship of St. Paul's Church, Balti
more. He died in Elizabethtown, N. J., in 1845.
The Rev. Timothy Clowes, of Jamaica, L. I. , be
came officiating minister in 18 10, and, in 1841,
Rector. A controversy upon the proper disposi
tion of the income of the church lands, with Lieu
tenant-Governor Tayler and others of the Vestry,
led to a war of pamphlets, and finally to his tem
porary suspension from the ministry in 181 7. He
died at Hempstead, L. I., in 1847. In 18 18, the
Rev. William B. Lacey, of Oxford, Chenango
County, officiated, and in 1819 became Rector.
In 1 82 1 the spire, so familiar to old Albanians, was
erected. In 1832, Dr. Lacey resigned, to devote
his time to the higher education of women. He
died at Okalona, Miss., in 1866. In January,
1833, the Rev. Horatio Potter, Professor in Wash
ington College, Hartford, Conn. , accepted the rec
torship. A new rectory was built in 1831, and in
1847 the present rectory, on the corner of Lodge
street and Maiden lane, was finished and occupied.
During the twenty-one years of Dr. Potter's incum
bency, the parishes of Trinity, Grace, and Holy In
nocents, rendered necessary by the growth of the
Episcopal Church in the city, were organized. St*
Paul's had been organized in 1826. In 1854, the
Rector of St. Peter's was elected Provisional Bishop
of New York, and was consecrated in Trinity
Church, New York City, November 22, 1854. In
December, 1855, the Rev. Thomas C. Pitkin, of
New Haven, Conn., became Rector. In 1858 the
foundations of the church had settled so much that
great cracks were made in the side-walls and ceiling.
A new building, to be in the early French Gothic
style, after the plans of Upjohn & Co., was con
tracted for early in 1858, and the church conse
crated October 4, i860. It is a spacious edifice,
of massive construction, and is among Upjohn's
most successful churches. In 1862, the Rev. Dr.
Pitkin resigned on account of failing health, and
the Rev. William T. Wilson, of New York City,
was called to the parish. The Rev. William Tat-
Iock, of North Adams, became Associate Rector.
In 1866 both the Rector and his associate resigned.
In 1867, the Rev. William Croswell Doane, B.D.,
of Hartford, Conn., accepted the rectorship. In
December, 1868, at the Primary Convention of the

760

HLSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Diocese of Albany, Dr. Doane was elected its first
Bishop. On February 2, 1869, he was conse
crated Bishop in the Church of God in St. Peter's
Church. In addition to the new burden which he
had assumed, he remained in charge of St Peter's
until Easter, 1870, although he resigned the rector
ship in 1869. The Rev. William A. Snively, of
Cincinnati, O. , was his successor. He resigned to
accept a call to Grace Church, Brooklyn, N. Y., in
May, 1874. The Rev. Walton W. Battershall, of
Christ Church, Rochester, N. Y. , was immediately
elected, and was instituted as Rector, September
29, 1874. Under him the parish has put forth all
its energies, and has shown great zeal and resource
in the organization of Christian work and the im
provement of the church edifice.
In 1876 the Parish House was built on Lodge
street, opposite the church. It is a fine structure
of stone, designed for the use of the Sunday-school
and the charitable and social enterprises of the
parish. In the same year the tower of the church
was built, as a memorial to the late Senior Warden,
John Tweddle, and furnished with a fine chime of
bells. The tower was designed by R. M. Upjohn,
and is one of the richest and most exquisite exam
ples of decorated Gothic in the country. From
time to time during the last fifteen years, the church
has been adorned with memorial windows, which
have been designed by the best English artists, and
are of peculiar excellence both in drawing and
color. The whole series, which includes all the
large aisle windows and the three middle windows
of the chancel apse, while showing a variety in the
method of treatment, are splendid examples of re
ligious art, and give great beauty to the interior.
During the last year the chancel has been re
modeled and paved in mosaic, with the addition of
a beautiful altar and reredos of Caen stone and
other articles of furniture. A chancel organ cham
ber and choir building have also been added to
the structure, and the church has been decorated.
The cost of these improveme'nts with the tower and
the windows has considerably more than equaled
the original cost of the church.
Among the older memorials and interesting pos
sessions of the church, is the mural tablet in the
tower room, one of the earlier works of the sculp
tor Palmer, and representing Faith gazing at the
Cross. On account of its deep religious feeling, it
has probably been reproduced in photography
more than any other piece of American sculpture.
The communion plate, which has been used at the
altar of St Peter's for a hundred and seventy years,
was presented by Queen Anne. It consists of six
pieces of massive silver, marked with the arms of
Great Britain, and bearing the following legend:
"The Gift of her Majesty, Ann, by the Grace of
God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, and
of her plantations in North America, Queen, to her
Indian Chappel of the Onondawgus."
In connection with, and supported by, the parish
is St. Peter's Orphans' Home, a sketch of which is
to be found elsewhere.
Among those who in its long history have been
worshipers in this church, and been well known

in State, city, or country, we may mention the
names of Colonel Peter Matthews, the first Warden;
Edward Holland; James Stevenson; John Dun
bar; Samuel Stringer; Colonel Jeremiah Van Rens
selaer; Philip Cuyler; John Barclay; Goldsbrow
Banyar; Lieut. -Governor John Tayler; Elkanah
Watson; Philip S. Van Rensselaer; William A.
Duer; John C. Spencer; John A. Dix; Lyman
Tremain; John T. Hoffman; John Taylor Cooper;
John V. L. Pruyn; Orlando Meads; Harman
Pumpelly. The property of the corporation is the church
and lot, parish-house and rectory, whose estimated
value is $250,000. The successive ministers of
the church have been Thoroughgood Moore, Mis
sionary, 1704; Thomas Barclay, Chaplain and
Rector, 1708-21; John Miln, Rector, 1727-38;
Henry Barclay, Rector, 1738-46; John Ogilvie,
Rector, 1750-58; Thomas Brown, Rector, 1759-
68; Harvey Munro, Rector, 1769-77; Thomas
Ellison, Rector, 1787-1802; Frederic Beasley,
Rector, 1802-9; Timothy Clowes, Rector, 1810-
17; William B. Lacey, Rector, 1818-32; Horatio
Potter, Rector, 1833-54; Thomas C. Pitkin, Rec
tor, 1855-62; William T. Wilson, Rector, 1862-
66; William Tatlock, Associate, 1862-66; William
Croswell Doane, Rector, 1867-69; William A.
Snively, Rector, 1869-74; Walton W. Battershall,
1874. St. Paul's. — The Parish of St. Paul's was organ
ized November 1 2, 1827. Services had been held
for some time previous in a school-room on South
Pearl street. The Rev. Richard Bury was the first
Rector. By the efforts of the vestry, aided by the
earnest labors of Mr. Bury, a lot was purchased on
South Ferry street, and the first building owned by
the society erected. This building still stands, and
is known as St John's Church. This church was
consecrated August 24, 18 29, by the Right Rev. John
H. Hobart, D.D. Mr. Bury resigned in 1830.
He died, after filling positions of honor in the
church, in Cleveland, in 1872.
The Rev. William Linn Keese succeeded the
Rev. Mr. Bury in the rectorship of the parish.
During the three years of his rectorship, the work
of the parish was greatly exended and all debt re
moved. Mr. Keese on account of ill-health was
compelled to give up the charge of the parish in
1834. He died in 1837 in Havana, Cuba.
The Rev. Joseph H. Price, D. D., succeeded
Mr. Keese. He resigned in 1837. For a long
period he was Rector of St. Stephen's, New York.
The Rev. William Ingraham Kip, D. D., became
Rector in 1837. His ministry was a long and suc
cessful one. In 1839 the church on South Ferry
street was sold and the theatre on South Pearl street
was purchased.
This church was consecrated by the Right Rev.
B. T. Onderdonk, in 1840. The church then num
bered 107 communicants. In 1853, Dr. Kip was
elected Bishop of California, which position he
still ably occupies.
Dr. Kip was succeeded by the Rev.T. A. Starkey,
D. D. Before coming to St Paul's, he was Rector
of Christ Church, Troy. Dr. Starkey was Rector

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

761

of the parish for five years, resigning in 1858, since
which time he has been Rector of Trinity Church,
Cleveland; the Epiphany, Washington; and St.
Paul's, Paterson. From the last position he was
elected Bishop of Northern New Jersey.
In April, 1859, the Rev. William Rudder, D.D.,
became Rector of the Parish. During his rector
ship the church in South Pearl street was sold and
the present building in Lancaster street purchased.
The purchase was made in 1862, and the building
used by the congregation in September of that
year for the first time. In 1863, Dr. Rudder re
signed, and accepted a call 10 St. Stephen's Church,
Philadelphia, which position he filled until his death
in 1880.
The Rev. J. Livingston Reese, D.D., accepted
the rectorship in June, 1864. In December of the
same year the church was consecrated by Right
Rev. Horatio Potter, D.D. The rectory was added
in 1867. The Free Chapel on Madison avenue was
opened in 1868. In 1880 the church was beauti
fully decorated. The Parish House was built in
1883. The church now numbers 670 communi
cants and has 750 children in its Sunday-schools.
Holy Innocents' Church. — This church is on
the corner of North Pearl and Colonie streets. It
is built in the early English style, and is deemed
a fine example of architecture. The society was
organized February 15, 1850, and the present
building was consecrated in September of the same
year. The late Wm. H. DeWitt erected the build
ing, and gave it and the ground on which it
stands to this parish. The church has over 250
communicants, and supports numerous societies
besides. The following list contains ihe names of the
various Rectors of the church :
Sylvanus Reed, 1850-61; William R. Johnson,
1862-63; William S. Boardman, 1865-68; Royal
Marshall, 1869-74; Samuel E. Smith, 1875-82;
Ralph W. Kenyon, 1883.
Trinity Church (Episcopal). — This congrega
tion was organized in 1839. Leased the Presby
terian (Cameronian) church, Westerlo street, until
1 84 1, when services were held in the school-house,
corner of Dallius and Ferry streets. In 1842
erected a frame building on the southwest corner
of Herkimer and Franklin streets. Present church
on Broad street erected in 1849. Rectors: Isaac
Swart, 1839-40; William Dowdney, 1840-41;
Edward Embury, 1842-43; Edward Selkirk, 1844-
84; Charles H. W. Stocking, 1884.
The Cathedral of All Saints. — The Legisla
ture of the State of New York incorporated the
cathedral by an Act passed 27th of March, 1873
(Chap. 149), in the first section of which the fol
lowing members were created a body politic and
corporate : (The Bishop) William Croswell Doane,
John Ireland Tucker, John H. Hobart Brown,
Hiram W. Beers, Theodore Babcock, John Towns-
end, Orlando Meads, Erastus Corning, Amos P.
Palmer, Walter A. Wood; and James Forsyth.
These corporators are empowered by the 3d sec
tion " to fill vacancies in their own number," and
by section 4, to adopt a constitution for the election

of new trustees. The object and purposes of the
corporation are, by section 2, declared to be "the
establishment, erection, maintenance and man
agement of a cathedral church, and its appurte
nances, in the City of Albany;" and section 5 de
clares that ' ' the seats for the worshipers in the
said cathedral church shall always be free."
On All Saints Day, 1872, the building at pres
ent occupied, formerly an iron foundry, was first
used for Divine Service. It has been enlarged once
since. On the festival of All Saints, a.d. 1881, the
Bishop announced to the congregation his purpose
to begin forthwith the execution of this, one of the
great purposes for which the corporation was cre
ated, namely, the erection of a cathedral building,
and laid before them his plans. At a meeting of
the Chapter, held 23d November, 1881, the follow
ing Committee was appointed to select a site:
The Bishop, Hon. Erastus Corning, Mr. Orlando
Meads. It was resolved to endeavor to raise im
mediately $150,000 to meet the cost of the build
ing, exclusive of the site. Mr. James Moir was
appointed to act, under General S. E. Marvin,
Treasurer of the Chapter, as Treasurer of the funds
collected for the cathedral, and Mr. Meads pre
pared a form to be copied into the subscription
books. The Committee on the site were then
instructed to obtain plans for the cathedral.
On the 30th of April, 1883, the plans of R. W.
Gibson, architect, were adopted, with a modifi
cation submitted to the Chapter on the 6th of
June. On the 28th of November, 1883, the grounds
given by the Hon. Erastus Corning, valued at $80,-
000, were accepted as the site, and on motion of
the same generous giver it was resolved "that, in
the judgment of the Chapter, it is expedient that
measures be taken without delay to begin the work
of building the cathedral, and that to that end prep
arations be made to remove the buildings now on
the ground, and to procure the working plans and
estimates for the excavation and laying of the foun
dations; and the work be proceeded with as fast and
as far as the means in the hands of. the Chapter will
permit. "
At a meeting, held 22d March, 1884, it was
resolved that the corner-stone be laid on Whitsun-
Tuesday, 3d June, 1884. This stone, with ap
propriate inscriptions, is the gift of Margaret
Doane Gardiner, the Bishop's grand-daughter. At
the same meeting a special subscription was au
thorized for the columns of the new cathedral, to be
memorials of churchmen eminent in Church and
State. They are to be twenty-four in number, and
to cost over $1,000 each. Twenty-one have already
been appropriated.
As the day for laying the corner-stone approached,
the contributions in money (as distinguished from
the gift of land) were found to be nearly $100,000
(no one gift exceeding $7,500, that of the Hon.
Walter A. Wood).
According to the modified plans presented by
the architect, the building to be erected for imme
diate use is in every part, save its roof, a portion

762

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

of the completed structure, and will be built up to
a hight sufficient for a good appearance, and with
accommodation for seating practically the same.
The style is Gothic, or pointed architecture of the
first period; the plan, a Latin cross formed by the
choir and nave to the east and west, respectively,
of a central crossing with transepts to the north and
south. The choir is 91 feet long and 35 wide,
and is planned in five bays or divisions, the two
eastern forming the sanctuary. The nave is 99
feet long and 40 feet wide, and has narrow side
aisles its entire length. The transepts are no feet
in breadth from north to south (including cross
ing), and 40 feet wide, forming a square cross
ing with the nave. The crossing has four great
arches, corresponding with those of the nave and
transepts; and above them breaks by pendants into
an octagon, in the manner frequent in the early
Gothic cathedrals.
The main features of the interior are the great pil
lars made up of grouped shafts and pieces in pure
constructional style; they are of unusual size, and
will give exceptional majesty to the perspective of
nave and choir. The main arcade upon them is
simple, but can be at a future time enriched with
carving. A triforium of coupled arches is carried
all along the nave and choir. Over this comes the
clerestory, with large coupled lancet windows in
the nave and tracing in the choir — generally the
choir has been given richer character than the
nave — leading up to the traceried window in the
square east end of the sanctuary. The western
end of the nave has a rich circular window of radi
ating tracery. The side aisles are to be used as
passages only; the nave is widened to the maxi
mum; and the pillars are so arranged that none of
the congregation are seated behind them.
The hights of the interior are: From floor of
nave to springing of arches of nave and transept
vaults, 48 feet; to top of vaults, 70 feet; to top of
ceiling of lantern, over crossing, 1 13 feet; to spring
ing of arches of choir vaults, 45 feet; to top, 66
feet. The proportions and methods of the octagon
lantern are designed to avoid acoustic difficulties.
The exterior walling is to be of Potsdam stone.
The west front is flanked by towers, with belfries
and spires. The hight to top of belfry is 156 feet,
and to top of finial, 202 feet. The central tower,
or lantern over crossing, is 144 feet high at top of
masonry, and 180 feet to top of finial cross.
The seating capacity is for 1,500 person; there
are 153 stalls for the clergy, and 54 choir seats,
making a total for 1,757 persons. If crowded the
edifice would contain 2,000. When completed, it
is believed that the cathedral will prove to be no
unworthy instance of that architecture which is
peculiarly the creation of the Catholic Church, and
may be taken as a type of the elevation, subordina
tion, and discipline, and at the same time the
unity of the spouse of Christ. Rt. Rev. Wm;
Crosswell Doane, Bishop ; Rev. F. L. Norton,
Dean; Rev. G. W. Dean, Chancellor.
Grace Church. — The first service held with ref
erence to the establishment of the parish of Grace
Church, Albany, was held by the Rev. Maunsell

Van Rensselaer, who for some time previous had
been in charge of St. Peter's parish, during the ab
sence of its Rector. This service was held on bexa-
gesima Sunday, 1846, in a room over the store on
the southeast corner of State and Lark street, at
tended by about thirty persons. The services were
continued every Sunday by the Rev. Mr. Van
Rensselaer, at the same place, until the Sunday
after Ascension Day, May 24th of the same year
when a meeting was called for the purpose ot
effecting a parish organization.
The Rev. Mr. Van Rensselaer presided, and Dr.
H. D. Payne acted as Secretary. A resolution was
adopted, favoring the establishment of a church.
The Rev. Mr. Van Rensselaer was elected Rector.
It was decided to designate the parish by the style
and title of Grace Church. The parish continued
to occupy the same rooms until the end of the
year, when the trustees of the Spring Street Mission
having kindly offered the use of their building, it
was accepted.
February 11, 1847, the lot on the corner of
Lark and Washington avenue, running through to
Spring street, was purchased for the purpose of
erecting a church.
June 30, 1847, the Rector resigned, and was
succeeded by the Rev. John Alden Spooner about
the ist of the following October, who remained
only till the 15th of August, when he resigned.
From that time until May, 1849, the parish was
without a clergymen — without a church — depend
ent for the room they occupied on the courtesy of
those interested.
May 13, 1849, Rev. James R. Davenport began
his labors as Rector of the parish. One year from
that date the Building Committee entered into a
contract for the erection of a church building, soon
after commenced.
At the evening service on Sunday, September 9,
1850, the first confirmation service was held by
Right Rev. W. R. Whittingham, Bishop of Mary
land, twelve persons being confirmed. On the
next day the corner-stone of the new church was
laid by the same Bishop. Christmas Day the first
service was held in the church, although the build
ing was not quite completed. Its consecration
was delayed till December 15, 1852.
September 24, 1857, the Rev. Mr. Davenport
resigned, when Rev. Theodore M. Bishop, of the
Diocese of Western New York, took charge of the
parish in the following November.
After the resignation of Mr. Bishop, in July,
1 86 1, the Vestry made arrangements with the Rev.
Philander K. Cady to take temporary charge of the
parish, which he did until November 26, 1862,
when he was elected Rector of the parish.
April 30, 1865, the Rector severed his connec
tion with the parish, and was succeeded in the
following June by the Rev. Edwin B. Russell, of
New York. Mr. Russell continued in charge of
the parish until October 16, 1871, when he re
signed, having accepted a call to Grace Church,
Delhi, where he is still stationed.
He was succeeded by the Rev. J. Hutchings
Brown, who became Rector of the parish Decern-

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

763

ber 10, 1871, and remained seventeen months, re
signing May 10, 1873.
In June, 1873, the church edifice was removed
from the corner of Lark and Washington avenue
to the corner of Clinton avenue and Robin street
Rev. William A. Snively was elected Rector. The
last service at the corner of Lark street and Wash
ington avenue was held Sunday, June 15, 1873, by
Rev. Mr. Snively. Advent Sunday the church was
again opened for services.
The parish was now put in charge of Rev. T. A.
Snively, Assistant Minister at St. Peter's, and at the
same time the congregation of St Peter's Mission
were transferred to and identified with it.
Mr. Snively continued to conduct the services of
the church whenever he could be spared from St.
Peter's, until the resignation of his brother in April,
1874, when the whole care of St. Peter's parish
was left to him, and Grace Church was again with
out a Rector until September 1, 1874, when the
present Rector, Rev. David L. Schwartz, began his
labors. During the rectorship of the Rev. D. L. Schwartz,
a rectory has been built, at a cost of more than
$9,000. A large church debt has also been paid
off. EVANGELICAL.
First German Evangelical Lutheran Church.
— This church, on Fourth avenue, corner Frank
lin street, was organized in 1854. William A.
Frey, Pastor.
St. Paul's Evangelical Church, Western ave
nue, near Lexington. Rev. G. Fr. Stutz, Pastor.
The congregation separated from the First Lu
theran when services there were held in English.
The former place of worship was on State street,
now the Law School. Moved into the present
church in 1872. Number of families, 158.
St. John's Evangelical Church is located on
Central avenue. Rev. Ernest Hoffman is Pastor.
It was organized in 1857; building erected in 1859,
when the present Pastor was installed. Families,
130. Trinity German Evangelical Lutheran Church
is located at 58 Alexander street. Rev. Conrad
Kuehn is Pastor.
Church of the Evangelical (German) Associa
tion was incorporated in 1847. First meeting
house on Grand street; afterwards Corner Clinton
and Nucella streets; present church erected in
1869, on the south side of Elm street, between
Grand and Philip streets. Pastors: John Wagner,
1851; Levijacobi, 1852-59; Augustus Spies, 1862;
William Mintz, 1863-64; Henry Fisher, 1866-68;
Charles Schoepfle, 1870-71; Albert Unholtz, 1872-
74; J. Siegrist, 1875-77; M. Yauch, 1878-80; A.
Schlenk, 1881-83; Jacob Eberling, 1883 to present
time.
HEBREWS.
There are about 3,000 Hebrews in this city,
most of them Germans, although a few of them are
Bohemians, a few Poles, and a few French. With

the exception of the limited number who worship
at Beth El Jacob in Fulton street, they are mostly
the Reformed Jews, that is, they conform in most
things to the ideas of the present age, observing,
however, the rite of circumcision, the day of atone
ment, and most of them are careful to eat no pork,
nor any meat not killed in the Jewish method. As
citizens they are very orderly, the appearance of
one in the Police Court being an unusual sight.
They care for their own poor, and among them
selves are very sociable and domestic in their
habits. Anshe Emeth, South Pearl street, opposite
Herkimer. Rev. Max Schlesinger, Pastor, who
came to this country in 1864. This is the largest
and handsomest Hebrew place of worship in the
city. The society was organized in 1850, with Dr.
Isaac M. Wise as Rabbi, and now embraces about
150 families. Services held here consist of prayers,
reading of the law, music and sermon, the latter in
English or German, the prayers and readings in
Hebrew. A Sunday-school is held on Sunday.
Beth El, South Ferry street, corner of Frank
lin. Rev. Adolph Friedmann, Pastor. Partially
organized in 1832, but did not take the name till
1838, when a building was procurred on Herkimer
street. The society is, therefore, the oldest of the
sect in this city. It was without a rabbi till 1854,
when Sampson Falk officiated as such. In 1864
the South Ferry street Methodist Church was
bought, dedicated January 20, 1865, and has since
served them as a synagogue. They were consider
ed as orthodox, till, under the ministration of Rev.
Louis A. Son, they adopted the Minhag ritual of
Rev. Dr. Wise.
Beth El Jacob. — The synagogue of the ortho
dox Jews, in Fulton street, above Madison avenue,
Rev.  Destillator, Pastor. This society is very
small, but the traditions of the race are observed
here more carefully than elsewhere. The women
sit apart from the men, and each member, during
the service, wears around his neck a woollen scarf
called the Talitth. LIBERAL.
The Albany Liberal Association was organized
August 5, 1877. It now occupies the Hall, No. 69
North Pearl street. Sunday-school, under the di
rection of Mrs. Iliohan, at two o'clock, followed by
any business matters relating to the association,
and also the discussion of any appropriate subject
that may be offered. The regular lectures and
their criticism, if any, are held at half-past 7 o'clock,
every Sunday evening, under the direction of the
President. The first meeting was held at the house of
Thomas Dugan, attended by ten other men of lib
eral views. Shortly after a public meeting was
held at Laventall Hall, and a Freethought Liberal
Association organized with 1 1 members. John
Lomax was elected President.
In the year 1829,8 paper called the Free Enquirer
was published by Miss Fanny Wright and Robert
Dale Owen in New York City.

764

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

About this time it is understood that Abner
Kneeland, of Boston, and Miss Fanny Wright gave
lectures in Albany, and that their publications were
read here. Among the leaders in the liberal move
ment at that time was Julius Rubens Ames, the
painter. But little success followed the effort, as
Mr. Owen went to the Western States and Miss
Wright to Europe.
In 1 840, Judge Thomas Hertill, of New York, an
avowed Liberal, while here as a member of the
Legislature, with Mr. John Prest, Mr. J. Austin,
Mr. M. Brown, and several others, attempted an
organization which failed to meet their expectations.
Since this, no successful attempt at organization of
an association was made before the one now exist
ing. Among the prominent Liberals are many in
telligent, well-known citizens. They hold stated
meetings for discussion and for instruction on Sun
days in some rented hall. Most of them belong
to the class of Freethinkers called Agnostics
Its presidents, since Mr. Lomax, have been
Judge E. P. Hulbert, Mr. Hennessy, Joseph Mc-
Donough, Adam Strever, William H. Williams,
John McCabe.
LUTHERAN.
First Lu i heran Church. — Lutherans are spoken
of in Albany in 1644, although the precise date of
their establishment is unknown. They received
much opposition from the early Reformed Church.
They were ihe second church organization in point
of time in the city, and the oldest Lutheran con
gregation in America. With the exception of the
First Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Churches in
this city are German. The first edifice was built
in 1668 or 1670, on the site of the present City
Building, South Pearl street, and was paid for, the
old record says, the first penny and the last. The
first minister was Rev. Johannes Fabritius. The
Episcopalians worshiped in this church part of the
day in 1714, and in 1784-86 the two congregations
had a minister in common. The society was incor
porated in 1784, and in 1787, another church was
built on the Pearl street lot in the center of the pres
ent street. In 181 6, a third church, 40 x 60, was
erected on the site of the present edifice, and cost
$25,000; Philip Hooker, architect. The church
owned real estate, bounded by Eagle, Lancaster,
Hawk and State streets, upon which they erected
houses. In 1843, Rev. Henry N. Pohlman, D.D.,
became Pastor, and in 1868 was followed by Rev.
Samuel Sprecher. During his pastorate, in 1871,
the present church edifice was erected. It 1S69X 126
feet, and cost $85,000, exclusive of the ground.
In 1872 the Rev. Irving Magee, D.D, took charge
and remained with success until September, 1882.
The church was then without a Pastor until Febru
ary 17, 1884, when the Rev. George W. Miller,
from Plymouth, Ohio, took charge. In 1873 the
parsonage was built, at a cost of about $10,000.
During the earlier years no record of the members
was kept. There have been, however, enrolled up
to the present time 1,224 members; present num
ber entitled to communion, 338.

METHODIST.
Some time in the years 1765-66, Captain Thomas
Webb, of the British Army, was stationed in Al
bany in charge of the military post as Barrack-
master. He had been converted in Bath, in Eng
land, joined the Methodists and labored as a lay
preacher. He is said to have maintained family
prayer, at which his neighbors were sometimes
present, and also preached in the public street".
In February, 1767, he was in New York, and im
mediately entered upon evangelistic labors there
and on Long Island and in New Jeisey. That he
never returned to Albany, we infer he felt the time
was not yet favorable for Methodism here. Late
in the autumn of 1788, Methodism came to Al
bany to stay; but for years was a very feeble plant.
The pioneer preacher in this work was Rev.
Freeborn Garretson, a native of Maryland, a man
of gentle birth, of some financial means, and until
he emancipated them, a holder of slaves. He was
one of the earliest Methodist preachers of Amer
ican birth. It was now twenty-two years since the
first Methodist sermon had been preached in Amer
ica. This was in New York, and for reasons that
we do not now consider, the work had spread
mostly to the south from that city. Francis As
bury had joined those who were laboring in this
work in 1771; and when the scattered societies of
Methodists were organized into a church, in De
cember 1784, he was elected Bishop. In the
spring of 1788, Mr. Garretson came to New York,
and with the other preachers entered into a work
of revival that was spreading north through West
chester County.
Mr. Garretson was assigned to this district with
a band of young men, whom he sent out to
find fields of labor, himself passing over the whole
territory once in every three months, and putting
in his own labor where it seemed most needed.
To both the Bishop and Mr. Garretson, to make
Albany a strong point, seemed eminently desirable
He readily obtained the privilege of preaching in
the City Hall. It is not strange that the resident
clergy should look with disfavor upon this effort to
introduce what they accounted another gospel, nor
that the people generally sympathized with them.
The dogmas of Calvinism had come with the first
settlers from their Holland home, and the current
theological literature and conversation were all cast
in that mold. It was not until July of the next year
(1789), that he succeeded in gathering any con
verts. On the ist of July he writes: "Albany still
appears to be a poor place for Methodism." He
had preached in the City Hall. The next day, at
an hour by sun, he met a few friends in a private
house and joined them into a society under the
Methodist discipline. In the evening he preached
again in the City Hall.
The building of a House of Worship was ac
complished in the next two years. It was built
and is still standing on the southeast corner
of North Pearl and Orange streets. As late as
1870 there was an old man in the city whose pa
rents were interested in building the house, and

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

765

remembered the people cutting and hewing the
timbers for the frame.
By a record in the office of the County Clerk, we
learn the church was incorporated under a general
Act of the Legislature in 1784, as the Method st
Episcopal Church of the City of Albany. The
following names appear as the first Board of
Trustees, elected in June, 1792:
John Bloodgood, Abraham Ellison, Isaac Law-
son, Elisha Johnson, William Fradenburgh, Na
thaniel Ames, Calvin Chessman.
Still another record is' worth preserving. After
a new house was built on Division street, in 1812,
the old house was for a time occupied by the
Baptists, and finally, in 1822, sold to the Scotch
Presbyterians. The first preacher stationed in Albany, when it
was taken from the circuit, was Joel Ketcham, a
man of more than ordinary popular address. David
Buck followed for one year. Then Cyrus Stebbins
four years successively; William Phcebus, a man
of culture, 1806-7; Truman Bishop, 1808; Daniel
Notrander, 1809-10; Lewis Pease, 181 1; Samuel
Merwin 181 2-13.
In 1 813 a portion of the members wished to es
tablish a Sabbath-school. But the older members
thought it would be breaking the Sabbath. They
compromised by getting tracts printed and circu
lating then among the people. A leading spirit in
this was a Scotchman of the name of Balan
tine, a school teacher. E. •& E. Hosford, a leading
printing-house in the city, printed tracts for these
zealous Methodists before the American Tract So
ciety had an existence. They were mostly Wesley's
Tracts. But what these men failed to do, a woman ac
complished. In 1 816 a Methodist lady had a
select school in the city for young misses, and
added to her labors by establishing a Sabbath-
school, the first in the city.
The following table shows the growth of the
membership from 1797, when first reported separ-
arately from the circuits:

1799 - •
1800 . .
1801 . .
1802 . .
1803 . .
1804-5

White. Black.
...40

40
.46 •57.66

1806.1807.1808.1809 .
1810.1811 .

White. Black.
¦ • 9°
¦¦ 85

4
16

• 9J
.108 .101
.116

17 IS13
13

It was matter of great encouragement, after this
long period of weakness, that in 181 1, they ap
pear to have turned the corner of one hundred,
never again to fall below that number. This led to
a new enterprise — seeking a more eligible situation
for their house of worship. In February, 1 812,
they purchased two lots upon the south side of
Division street, a few doors below South Pearl.
When they built upon North Pearl street, one lot,
with a front of a few inches over thirty feet, an
swered their purpose; now they buy two lots.
Mr. Upfold, who was not a Methodist — prob
ably an Episcopalian — opened his house as the
headquarters of their evangelistic labors. It was
in his house — a school-room in which he and his
wife taught school — that Mrs. Booking, with their

aid, instituted the first Sabbath-school in Albany.
Here too, and by Mrs. Booking, was inaugurated
the first effort for the moral and intellectual eleva
tion of the children and youth of African descent.
These left Albany in the course of ten or fifteen
years. The church on Division street was opened for
public worship in 18 13.
Bishop Asbury held a session of the New York
Conference in June, 18 12. He preached, as re
corded in his journal, in the old church, and made
an address on the spot designated for the new
church. In 18 15 he held another conference here,
and at the request of the Conference, he preached
a funeral sermon on the death of Dr. Coke, who,
on his way to establish a mission on the Island of
Ceylon, died, and was buried in the Indian Ocean.
An aged lady in this city, born in 1801, remembers
this sermon, and adds that the church was appro
priately draped for the occasion.
The membership in 18 13 numbered 153 whites
and 16 blacks. For the next twelve years it fluc
tuated between this and 215 whites, 25 blacks;.
but fell off over 50 the next year. It should be
observed that in those years, and until 1847, proba
tioners were numbered with those in full member
ship. Consequently, under the labors of an inju
dicious and sensational Pastor, the numbers were
swelled, only to be reduced again when the excite
ment passed. After 1823 it never fell below 200.
The prejudice continued, Methodist preachers be
ing regarded as intruders. Aside from viewing their
doctrines as erroneous, they were mostly unedu
cated in the classics and what pertained to a liberal
education. But there were those among them,
men without a college training, whose solid ac
quirements made them the peers of any in the
ministry of other churches. Dr. William Phoebus,
Daniel Ostrander, and Samuel Merwin were men
who would command the respect of any who formed
their acquaintance. In 1822-25, Phineas Rice, a
man of marked ability, and withal eccentric, was
the Pastor.
An occurrence in 1821 is remembered with in
terest. The gifted Summerfield, of overwhelming
popularity, came to the aid of the church in their
financial troubles. He preached in the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and raised a collection of $95. 12;
in the evening in St. Peter's Episcopal Church, and
raised $88.
For the next twenty-five years, the country at
large and the churches generally were passing
through commotions, arising from various sources;
and staid as has been the type of Albany Meth
odism, it could not escape partiking of the com
mon excitement.
In 1828 the membership had reached the num
ber of 372 whites and 25 blacks. Hitherto, as in
almost all other churches, they had free sittings.
In July, 1829, a notice appeared in the public pa
pers that the Trustees of the Methodist Church
would at such a time rent the seats in their House
of Worship. This gave great dissatisfaction, and a
very considerable minority at once withdrew, and
rented a public hall on the comer of Pearl and

766

HLSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Columbia streets. They invited preaching from
the adjacent Watervliet Circuit, and took their
membership there for the time being. The col
ored members appear mostly to have gone to the
African Methodists. The new congregation took
about 1 50 whites.
In February they purchased a large building on
the east side of Pearl street, not far from the place
they were occupying. It had been used for a cir
cus, and was readily fitted for its new use. At the
ensuing session of the New York Conference, two
churches in Albany — the First, and Garretson Sta
tion — were supplied with able Pastors.
In the month of August, in the ordinary morn
ing service in the new church, a powerful work of
revival began. It spread, not only to the other
Methodist Church, but throughout the city, especi
ally in the northern part. At the end of two years,
the numbers were: for the First Church, 434 mem
bers; for the second, 445.
The absence of colored members is accounted
for by this — that a few years previous, in 1822, a
church for this class, the African M. E. Church,
had been organized.
At the session of the conference in 1 834 a third
church was recognized — the Wesleyan Chapel.
This, in its leading membership, was mainly a col
ony from Garretson Station. But it was located in
the south part of the city, and would naturally
draw from the First Church also. It embraced
mostly the anti-slavery element in the churches.
In 1835, the members numbered respectively,
for the First Church, 440; Garretson Station, 435;
Wesleyan Church, 214. Another church enter
prise now received the sanction of the conference
as the West Station. This gave four churches, well
arranged, to supply the city with this form of
Christianity. The Primitive Methodists had a small House of
Worship on State street, above the Capitol. Get
ting into difficulty among themselves, they became
demoralized and offered their house for sale. Some
members of the Division street and Garretson Sta
tion Churches, believing a congregation could be
sustained there with profit, secured the property.
Rev. Lewis Pease was employed as a temporary
supply. At the conference a Pastor was appointed
who organized the church.
Among those who moved in this matter, named
with special interest by survivors, are Thomas Coul-
son and wife, a lady of remarkable piety; Dr. L.
B. Gregory; Edmund Lord ; John Sager.
For a time the growth of this was gradual, but
health)'. Under a Pastor of remarkable pulpit
ability, in 1841 they found themselves straitened for
room. It was now proposed to seek a more eli
gible site and build anew. They selected a corner
of Washington and Swan streets, and proceeded at
once to purchase and plan for building. With
some parade the corner-stone was laid by Dr.
Sprague, the leading Presbyterian Pastor of the
city. But the Pastor was more efficient as a
preacher, than wise in planning and executing as a
financier. The consequence was they found them
selves with a House of Worship incumbered with

a debt for which there was absolutely no available
provision. The upshot of this was that while the
city was growing around them, an inviting field of
labor, their embarrassments rendered them spiritu
ally weak, and at the same time tended to deter
others from joining them.
In 1839, just before the session of the conference,
the Wesleyan Chapel was burned. The opposition
to the anti-slavery element in that church, and the
burden of a heavy debt, operated against their
rebuilding, and the property was sold for the debt.
But a preacher was appointed and they obtained
the use of a house that had been used by the Uni-
versalists. This was sold in May, 1842, and the
society disbanded on Sabbath, May 2 2d. But the
very next Sabbath, May 27th, the Sabbath-school
teachers gathered their school in a little room on
John street, determined to hold the ground. Con
ference met June ist, but no preacher was ap
pointed. At that conference one of the ministers,
Charles Devoe, a physician as well, retired from
the ministry and removed to Albany and became
their Pastor. They were incorporated as the Ferry
Street M. E. Church, and proceeded at once to
erect a church, which was dedicated in December
following. In the midst of the difficulties Thomas Schuyler
connected himself with the church, and relieved it
of financial embarrassments.
In 1843, the Division street Church found their
House of Worship insufficient, and sought a more
eligible situation upon Hudson street, between
Philip and Grand. In 1843 they removed to this
new edifice. It had an entrance from Plain street
as well as from Hudson, and a commodious par
sonage was erected by the side facing on that street.
In the winter of 1865 extensive improvements were
made, rearranging both the basement and the audi
torium. Financial embarrassments grew out of building
and repairing that oppressed them for several years.
At the conference of 1846 it was provided to
supply a second preacher for Garretson Station.
The object was to make a considerable class on
Arbor Hill the nucleus of another congregation.
The next year it was connected with the West Sta
tion, and in 1848 it was made a separate charge.
This gave five Methodist churches, very well dis
tributed, to supply the city.
The fluctuations of the numbers of the members
from year to year serve to some extent to indicate
the spiritual condition of the church. The follow
ing table gives the numbers from 1829 to 1848.
1829  612 1839  028
1830  685 1840  1,069
l83i  879 1841  1,074
1832  682 1842  1,072

1833-18341835-
1836.1837.

. 682
¦ 653
• 748
.1,049 ¦i.o'S
.1,011 ¦ 97°

1843.
1844. 1845-
18461847

.2,136
.1,632.1,482.1,274.1,261.1,141

The table begins with the two churches. The
first Pastors left in 183 1. The falling off of 200 in
1832 was mostly in the First Church.

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

767

In 1834-35 we see the effect of a stimulus given
to the work by the two new churches. The deca
dence of numbers in 1.839 may have been due to the
efforts to drive out the Abolitionists. The increase that
follows was due to the Millerite excitement, reach
ing its hight in 1843. The falling off of five hun
dred in the next year shows how utterly wanting in
life was that work. This was mostly in the Garret
son Station Church, and it is possible had much
to do in shaping the subsequent history of that
church. Another period of twenty-five years brings us to
1873. Until 1849, m reporting the numbers of
the membership, we made no distinction between
the probationers and the members in full. From
that date we report them separately, but for con
venience they are added together in this paper. It
is noteworthy that for twenty- five years, from 1823
to 1848, the increase was 926; for the like period
from 1849 to 1873, °nty 810.
Perhaps the most notable movement of general
interest in this period is this: The Garretson Station,
which originated in a protest against renting seats,
rebuilt their church edifice in a more fashionable
style and adopted that mode of sittings.
Another event of general interest occurred in
1854; this was the organization of the Albany
Methodist Sunday-school Union. The object was
to secure more efficient work in this department of
labor, and also to sustain Mission Sunday-schools
in destitute portions of the city and vicinity.
In the course of a few years, mission schools
were planted and worked with a good deal of suc
cess at these points: 1, The Bowery, on Central
avenue; 2, West Albany, since school-house, near
the railroad shops; 3, South Mission, Groesbeck-
ville, on Benjamin street; 4, Bath; and 5, East Al
bany, both over the river. Beside these, another
at the corner of Madison avenue and Lark street
was merged into the Sunday-school of Trinity
Church when that was established in 1867.
No. 1 was for years worked largely by members
of the West Station, or Washington street Church,
and was a feeder to that church. No. 2 became a
Union School, and then passed into the hands of
the Presbyterians, and finally developed a Presby
terian Church; No. 3 has continued to the present
a Methodist Mission School; No. 4 gave rise to
the Bath Methodist Episcopal Church; and No. 5
to a Congregational Church.
The Union, in building and keeping insured
chapels for their work, and in repairs, became em
barrassed with debts. Added to this, in 1868 it
was deemed wise to employ a missionary.
In the winter of 1870, under the labors of a band
of zealous laymen, a remarkable work of revival
was carried on at the Central avenue Chapel. The
missionary, under direction of the presiding Elder,
proceeded to receive them on probation. With a
number of members of the different churches who
had become interested in the work, he formed them
into classes. In this state of things, at the ensuing
conference another missionary was appointed with
a special charge over this congregation. Of some
123 of these converts, about forty graduated into

full membership in the church. At the close of the
first pastorate in 1873, there were ninety members
with five probationers, and a showing of financial
contributions that compares favorably with any
church in the city. But before speaking further of
this, we must bring up the history of the West Sta
tion, or Washington street Church.
We find this church in 1853 a mission. The debt
growing out of the manner of their building was
resting on them. The next year the Pastor raised
for missions over thirty dollars, and still more the en
suing year. The next Pastor doubled the collection
for missions his first year. The second, the church
was self-supporting and the missionary collection
$123; the church was lifted out of financial diffi
culty, and it has since continued to prosper. In
1866 they secured a property upon the corner of
Lark and Lancaster streets, and in 1867 had
erected the transept of a large and commodious
church facing Lark street. The transept faces Lan
caster street. This they occupied until able to
erect the main building. That was dedicated in
December, 1875. The transept furnishes a large
room for prayer meetings and Sabbath-school, and
smaller rooms for various purposes. A fine parson
age adjoins the transept.
In 1 88 1, a union was effected between the two
churches, Garretson street and Central avenue; their
property placed under one Board of Trustees; and
while worshiping for a time separately, arrange
ments were being made for erecting an edifice to
bear the name of St. Luke's. The Sabbath-school
rooms were occupied in 1883.
For ten years from 1855 a kind of epidemic pre
vailed — a sickly fancy for forming small and weak
churches. Abortive efforts had a temporary exist
ence which need no particular notice. At one con
ference eight pastors, to the care of as many nomi
nally independent churches,were appointed; several
times, six or seven. In 1858, the Broadway Mis
sion appears in the annual minutes of ihe Confer
ence appointments. A property was. purchased
upon the corner of Broadway and Lawrence street.
The plan was to build facing Broadway with a
transept facing Lawrence street This part of the
plan was carried out — the erection of the main
building failed. The Arbor Hill Church had ele
ments that did not adapt themselves to the work
needed, and did not prosper. The city did not
grow to the north, and in 1869 the Broadway Mis
sion and the Arbor Hill Church were united under
the name of Grace Church. A lot was obtained
upon Ten Broeck street, between Lumber and
Colonie streets, and a temporary structure of wood
was erected. Here good work was done in the pul
pit, in social meetings, and in the Sabbath-school
for ten years. They had not intended to occupy it
so long, but a debt was upon the property which
prevented their carrying out their plans. Instead
of a house in the center of a spacious plot, they
found themselves obliged to be thankful for a house
less showy upon the west corner of the plot, while
most of the land was sold in lots for residences to
meet their indebtedness. They have a fine parson
age next the church edifice.

768

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

After the erection of the Hudson street Church,
two others by the Presbyterians and the Baptists
were erected in the immediate vicinity. As time
rolled on and business establishments crowded
them, both the Methodists and Presbyterians began
to think of a change of location. At length the
latter decided to remove, and began the erection of
a house at the northeast corner of the Park. To
outsiders it was obvious now that the Methodists
ought to continue in that vicinity. Their own
building was seriously defective; at the same time
the location was far better for business. Wisely the
Methodists accepted the offer to purchase the Pres
byterian's house, and offered their own for sale.
The edifice is uncommonly well built; the auditor
ium large and commodious. A parsonage is erected
beside the church.
The Ferry street Church relieved from its embar
rassments, enjoyed a steady, healthy growth. In
1863 it was thought a change of location and a
better House of Worship would conduce to greater
usefulness. Accordingly, the present Ash Grove
Church was erected upon the corner of Westerlo and
Grand streets. It is beautifully situated, with a
commodious parsonage beside it. The open space
between the edifice and the corner of the streets
has a very pleasant effect, adding to the beauty of
the situation.
Table showing the numbers of members and pro
bationers for thirty-seven years, from 1849 to 1885:
1849  1,055 1868  1,923
1850  896 1869  1,843
1851  915 1870  2,085
1852  1,171 1871  1,834
1853  1,095 '872  1,986
1854.  1,112 1873  1,951
1855  1,513 1874  i,735
1856  1,408 1875  1,886
1857  1,464 1876  1,855
1858  1,456 1877  1,998
1859  1,574 1878  2,058
i860  1,692 1879  1,891
1861  1,857 J88o  !,932
1862  1,702 1881  1,771
1863. . . .-  1,538 1882  1,886
1864  1,605 1883  1,796
1865  1,530 1884  1,691
1866  1,708 1885  1,710
1867  1,708
While the membership has not increased in the
last twelve years, but really decreased, it will be
very safe to say they have not depreciated in quality.
The Methodists have five churches, well distrib
uted over the city. They have many debts that tax
their financial ability and skill. But this may be a
valuable discipline. They are liberal in the sup
port of their Pastors, and are not unmindful of the
calls of benevolence for the support of missions for
the foreign field, and for the destitute in our own
land. PRESBYTERIAN.
The First Presbyterian Church. — The first ec
clesiastical organization in Albany was the First
Reformed (Dutch) Church. This church was
largely maintained from the public revenues until
the British occupation in 1664, and was slow to
recognize the rights of other Christian denomi

nations. The second church organization in the
city was the Lutheran. The people of this belief at
first were barely tolerated here. They were com
pelled to have their children baptized in the Dutch
Church, and declare their belief in the doctrines of
the Synod of Dort, contrary, to their convictions.
They were permitted to worship in their own
houses, although denied the privilege of assembling
in a public way. Some time within the period
1664-69, a church was erected. The third church
society was that of St. Peter's Episcopal Church,
founded, after several years of missionary work, in
1727. The fourth was Presbyterian, and was
organized in 1762, although from June, 1760, there
was preaching by supplies which had been sent by
the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, to minister
to the people of this faith, who from time to time
had come in and taken up their residence here.
The names of the supplies were the Revs. Hector
Alison, Andrew Bay, William Tennant, Abraham
Kettletas,  Woodruff, John Smith, and Aaron
Richards. A lot for a church edifice was purchased
in 1 762 or 1 763, and the society was incorporated
in 1763 by a deed from the city to the Trustees,
being virtually an official incorporation by the city.
It was first connected with the Dutchess County
Presbytery, organized in October, 1762. In 1775,
the church relation was transferred to the Pres
bytery of New York.
In 1793, the relative strength of all the churches
in Albany was : Dutch, ¦£$ ; Presbyterian, ^;
Episcopalians, T^-; Lutherans, German Calvinists
and Methodists combined, T1T.
Ministers : William Hanna, two years; Andrew
Bay, 5 years, 1768-73; John McDonald, 10 years
Pastor, November, 1785, to September, 1795; David
S. Bogart, Pastor, January to August, 1797;
Eliphalet Nott, 6 years Pastor, October, 1798-93;
John B. Romeyn, D. D., 4 years Pastor, Decem
ber 5, 1804-8; William Neill, D.D., 7 years Pastor,
September, 1809-16; Arthur J. Stansbury, 4| years
Pastor, September, 1*17, to February, 182 1;
Henry R. Weed, D.D., 71 years Pastor, May,
1822, to November, 1829 ; John N. Campbell,
D.D., 34 years Pastor, June, 1830, to March, 1864;
James M. Ludlow, D.D., 3 years Pastor, Tanuary,
1865, to November, 1868; J. McClusky Blayney,
D.D., 1 of- years Pastor, May, 1869, to Febru
ary, 1880; Walter D. Nicholas, Pastor, September
5, 1880.
Church Edifices. — The first church edifice was
erected in 1 764, on a lot bounded on the north by
Beaver street, on the south by Hudson street, on
the east by William street, and on the west by
Grand street. It was on a locality know as Gallows
hill, reached by a stairway winding around the hill,
and was a wooden structure with a tower and spire,
the tower containing a bell. It was painted red,
fronted the east, and cost somewhat over $7,000.
The second edifice was erected in 1795-96, and
cost about $13,000. It was on South Pearl street;
the site is now known as Beaver Block. It was
sold to the Congregational ists in 1850, when the
congregation removed to their third church edifice
on the corner of Hudson avenue and Philip street.

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

769

This church was erected during the years 1849 and
1850, on a lot purchased in September, 1847. It
was first opened for service March 10, 1850, and
was a model church for the time of its erection,
costing about $115,000. In 1856, a lecture-room
was erected adjoining the church, which was also
used for Sunday-school purposes. In the year
1884, this church was sold to the First Methodist
Society for $25,000. The old bell and organs in
the church and session-house were reserved from
sale, and transferred to the new edifice.
The fourth church edifice was erected during the
years 1883 and 1884, on the corner of State street,
fronting Washington park. With a session-house
attached, it cost the society about $110,000, and is
a very fine specimen of architecture. The first ser
vice in this church was held on May 17, 1884.
Second Presbyterian Church. — On the third
Monday in July, 18 13, the subscribers to a new
church edifice met and appointed Messrs. James
Kane, John L. Winne, Joseph Russell, Nathaniel
Davis and Roderick Sedgwick their Trustees, of
whom Mr. Kane was made President and Mr.
Russell, Treasurer. The work of building was
immediately commenced and the house was open
ed for worship in September, 181 5, on which occa
sion the Rev. Dr. William Neill (Pastor of the First
Church) preached. In the same month Rev. John
Chester was called to the pastoral office and in
stalled on the following 8th of November, by the
Presbytery of Albany. On the 3d of December
the congregation elected Messrs. John L. Winne,
John Boardman, Chester Bulkley and Uriah Marvin,
their ruling elders. The first meeting of the session
was held at No. 8 Water street, December 11, 181 5,
at the lodgings of the Pastor. On the first Sunday
of February, 1 8 1 6, the church was formally gath
ered, and the first annual report in the same month
showed a membership of 45, of which 10 were ad
mitted on examination and 35 on certificate from
other churches, mostly from the First Presbyterian.
The church rapidly increased, so that at the death
of Dr. Chester, January 12, 1829, the membership
was 365. A session-house of ample dimensions
for prayer meetings, lectures and Sunday-schools is
attached to the church.
Dn John Chester was the eldest son of Colonel
John Chester, of Wethersfield, Conn., and was born in
August, 1785. He was graduated at Yale College,
ordained at Cooperstown, N. Y., installed Pastor of
the Presbyterian Church in Hudson, NY., in 18 10,
and of the Second Presbyterian Church of Albany,
November 8, 1815.
Rev. Edward N. Kirk, D.D., preached for a
short time as supply, but a radical sermon on tem
perance having given offense to some members of
the church, he left and became Pastor of the Fourth
Presbyterian Church, which was greatly prospered
under his labors.
The second Pastor was the Rev. William Buell
Sprague, D.D., who was installed in 1829, resigned
in 1869, and died on Long Island, May 7, 1876,
aged eighty years. He achieved a world-wide
fame by his able and long ministry, and his
great literary work, ' ' The Annals of the American

Pulpit, ' in nine large octavo volumes, and other
writings. The third Pastor was Anson Judd Upson, D. D. ,
who was installed October 23, 1870, and resigned
May 26, 1880. Before coming to this charge he
had been Professor of Logic, Rhetoric and Elocu
tion at Hamilton College. Upon his resignation he
accepted a call to a professorship in the Theolog
ical Seminary in Auburn, N. Y.
The fourth and present Pastor is James H. Ecob,
D.D., called from the Congregational Church in
Augusta, Me., who was installed March 15, 1881.
Third Presbyterian Church. — This congrega
tion was organized in 18 17 by a union of a number
of the members of the First Presbyterian Church
and of those of the Associate Reformed Church.
The first meeting-house was on Montgomery street
until 1844, when it was sold to the Bethel Society.
The present church edifice stood on Clinton avenue
and North Pearl street, was dedicated December 3,
1845. Pastors: Hooper Cumming, 1817-23; Joseph
Hulbert, 1823-24; John Alburtiss, 1825-28; Will
iam H. Williams, 1828-30; William Lochead,
1831-33; William James, 1834-35; EzraA. Hunt
ington, 1837-55; Ebenezer Halley, 1855-75; Hor
ace C. Stanton, 1877 to present time.
The Fourth Presbyterian Church was incor
porated December 1, 1828. The church on north
side of Broadway was erected in 1829 and dedi
cated May 20, 1830. It was taken down in 1865,
and the present edifice erected in 1866. Pastors:
Edward N. Kirk, 1829-35; Edward D. Allen,
1838-42; Samuel W.Fisher, 1843-46; Benjamin N.
Martin, 1848-49; H. Mandeville, 1850-54; Sam
uel T. Seelye, 1855-63; Henry Darling, 1864-81;
Charles Wood, 1881-86.
Fifth Presbyterian Church, organized in 1831.
First meetings held in City Hall. Pastor, Alonzo
Welton, 1832.
Sixth Presbyterian Church. — This church had
its origin in a prayer meeting in December,
1855, in a small room in No. 276 Lumber street,
now called Livingston avenue. In October of the
following year a Sunday-school was organized.
With the aid of individuals of the Fourth Pres
byterian Church in the spring of 1868, Rev. John
R. Young was employed as a missionary to form
a church organization. He resigned, and Rev.
Amos Hammond Dean began his labors in May,
1869. In November, 1869, steps were taken to
enter into a formal church organization and erect
a House of Worship. On December 8th the organ
ization was completed, with 65 names upon the
roll of membership. The first communion service
was held December 12, 1869, and at a meeting
of the congregation, February 25, 1870, the organ
ization adopted the name of the Sixth Presbyterian
Church of Albany. The church edifice on Second
street was completed in the fall of 1871 and dedi
cated on November 1 6th of that year. Pastors :
The Rev. Amos H. Dean was the first Pastor. He
was installed May 5, 1870, and after a successful
pastorate resigned in June, 1873, and has since
been settled in churches in Joliet and Monmouth,
Illinois,

97

770

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The second Pastor, Rev. William Durant, was
elected in October, 1873, and ordained and in
stalled on the 9th of the following December. He
resigned April 30, 1882, when the church had a
membership of 464.
The third Pastor, now in charge, is the Rev. J. D.
Countermine, who was installed December 20, 1 882.
State Street Presbyterian Church was organ
ized in i860. The present church edifice, on State
street, was dedicated October 12, 1862. It is per
pendicular Gothic in architecture, 1 1 1 by 69 feet
Pastors: Alexander S. Tombley, 1862-66; George
C. Heckmaii, 1867-70; John James, 1872-76; John
McC. Holmes, 1877 to present time.. Church
membership, about 800.
The West End Presbyterian Church, corner of
New York Central avenue and Third street, was
dedicated in 1877. Pastors: Robert Ennis, 1878;
Oliver Hemstreet, 1883.
The United Presbyterian Church. — The organ
ization of this congregation may be dated October,
1800, although there is no record of any formal
organization having taken place. It was at that
time that regular services were begun. The society,
as well as the Pastor, was nominally in connection
with the Presbytery of Montreal.
The first Pastor was Rev. John McDonald, father
of the late Mrs. Archibald Mclntyre. He had
formerly been Pastor of the first Presbyterian
Church of this city. His pastorate continued from
January, 1801, until March, 1819. He died in
Albany, September 1, 1821.
In the year 1820 a change of ecclesiastical rela
tion took place in the transfer of the congregation
from the Presbytery of Montreal to the Associate
Presbytery of Cambridge.
In this new connection, Rev. James Martin was
the first Pastor, in which relation he continued
from May, 18*24, until July, I842. He then re
moved from the city, having been appointed to a
professorship in the Theological Seminary, Canons-
burgh, Pa. He died June 15, 1846.
The next Pastor was Rev. R. J. Hammond. He
was installed November, 1843, and resigned Sep
tember, 1844.
The next Pastor was the Rev. Samuel F. Morrow.
Hewas ordained and installed in July, 1846, and
resigned in 1886.
The first church edifice stood on the corner of
Chapel and Canal streets. It was a plain, but sub
stantial, brick building, 60 by 50 feet, with a pro
jection of fifteen feet for a vestibule. It was opened
for public worship on the first Sabbath in January,
1802. A new House of Worship was erected in i860,
and opened for public service on the first Sabbath
of January, 1861. It is built of brick, of the
Romanesque style of architecture, 81 by 58 feet
It fronts on Lancaster street, near Eagle.
In May, 1858, by a union of two kindred
branches of the Presbyterian family — the Associate
and Associate Reformed Churches — a new denom
ination was formed, taking the name of the United
Presbyterian Church of North America. And since
that time the ecclesiastical name of this congrega

tion came to be identical with the corporate name
assumed in January, 1801, the United Presbyterian
Congregation of Albany.
QUAKERS.
Quakers, or Friends, have but one society in
Albany. Their meeting-house, on Plain street,
is a modest building, standing back from the street.
It was erected in 1835; is 36 by 42 feet in dimen
sions, and will seat about four hundred persons.
There are six families and twenty- two parts of fam
ilies of Friends in the city. Meetings are held,
with an average attendance of about forty. Samuel
Cary, of Rhode Island, came to Albany County
early in this century, and was largely influential in
establishing the meetings of this sect here.
REFORMED.
First Reformed Church. — The organization
now worshiping in the First Reformed Church,
corner of North Pearl and Orange streets, famil
iarly known as the two-steepled church, is one of
the two oldest in America, the other being the Col
legiate Reformed Church of New York.

Old Pulpit and Steps as used in the First Dutch Reformed
Church for 150 years. It was sent over from Holland
in 1656.
The first Pastor was Rev. Johannes Megapolen-
sis, who was sent over by the Patroon, at his own
expense, in 1642. The church was for some time
sustained by the public revenue, and in 1686 one
hundred and fifty acres of land were granted it.
Children of the colony were not allowed to be bap;
tized elsewhere. For more than one hundred and
forty years (till 1782) services were conducted in
Dutch. The first edifice was near Fort Orange,
on what is now Steamboat square — Church street,

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

771

in that vicinity, receiving its name for proximity
thereto. This building was 34 x 19, and cost $32.
In 1656, a new edifice was erected at the intersec
tion of what is now State street and Broadway.
The dead were buried under this church, and as
late as 1852-53 coffins were exhumed. In 1715
a new building was erected over this one, and
stood for ninety-one years, when the site was sold
to the city for $5,000, and the materials worked
into the Second Church on Beaver street. The
present edifice was dedicated in 1799, but its in
terior has been modified three times — in 1820,
1850, and i860. It will seat 1,200. The organ,
with 3,000 pipes, is the largest in the city, and
cost $12,000. The bell, key D flat, weighs 3,656
pounds. The ministerial succession has been as
follows: Johannes Megapolensis, 1642 to 1649; Gid
eon Schaets, 1652-74; Wm. Niewenhuysen, 1675;
Godfriedus Dellius, 1683-99; Johannes Petrus Nu-
cella, 1699-1702; Johannes Lydius, 1703-9; Gual-
terus DuBois, 1710; Petrus Van Driessen, 1712-39;
Cornelius Van Schie, 1733-44; Theodorus Frg-
linghuysen, 1746-60; Eilardus Westerlo, 1760-90;
John ~H. Livingston, 1776; John Bassett, 1787—
1805; John B. Johnson, 1 796-1 802; John M.
Bradford, 1805-20; William Linn, 1808; John De
Witt, 1813-15; John Ludlow, 1823-33; Thomas
E. Vermilye, 1835-39; Duncan Kennedy, 1841-
55; Ebenezer P. Rogers, 1856-62; Rufus W. Clark,
1862-83; J. Wilbur Chapman, 1885.
Second Reformed Church. — Until 1816, this
church, together with the First, constituted the
one Collegiate Dutch Church of the City of Albany.
At the time of division into two separate bodies,
there were two Houses of Worship, the one in North
Pearl street, occupied by the First Church, the
other in Beaver street, which was sold and turned
into a market, and replaced, in 1881, by the elegant
edifice on Madison avenue, corner of Swan street
The Beaver street building was at first styled the
South Church, but afterward the Middle Dutch
Church, when an additional structure had been
erected in Ferry street for a third organization.
The Pastors in collegiate charge at the time of sepa
ration were Rev. Drs. John M. Bradford and John
De Witt, of whom the latter became the first sole
Pastor of the new, or second, congregation. The
following has been the order of ministerial suc
cession, viz. : John De Witt, D.D. , 1816-23; Isaac
N. Ferris, D. D. , 1824-36; Isaac N. Wyckoff,
D.D., 1836-65; Joachim Elmendorf, D.D., 1865-
72; Dwight K. Bartlett, D. D., 1874-81; Wesley
R.Davis, 1882.
Third Reformed Church. — The Third Re
formed Church was organized December 19,
1834, mainly through the instrumentality of Rev.
Isaac Ferris, D. D. , Pastor of the Second Reformed
Church, then worshiping in Beaver street. An edi
fice was immediately erected at the corner of Green
and South Ferry streets, in which the congregation
still worships, and which remains unchanged, with
the exception of such repairs as have been made
necessary by the ravages of fire. The first Pastor
was the Rev. Edwin Holmes, the father of the pres
ent Pastor of the State street Presbyterian Church

of Albany. Among its other Pastors have been
Rev. William H. Campbell, D.D., LL.D., later
Principal of the Albany Academy, and still later
Professor in the Theological Seminary in New
Brunswick, N. J., and President of Rutgers Col
lege. Rev. D. Evert Van Slyke, D.D. now of
Syracuse, and Rev. Jeremiah Searle, now of New-
burgh. Amid the movements of other churches to
the growing parts of the city, the Third Reformed
Church has stood its ground, and is now one
of the very few English-speaking Protestant Churches
in the southern part of the city. It has seen
many haidships and struggles in later years, and
many changes in membership, owing to the
surging away from it of the tide of population,
and the influx of new comers. Still it main
tains a successful exislence. One hundred and
fifty families are represented in its congregation.
It has an enrollment of over two hundred mem
bers, and a Sunday-school with an attendance
of two hundred and fifty scholars. Its contribu
tions to religious and benevolent purposes outside
of its own requirements are not inconsiderable.
The list of its Pastors, with the dates of their min
istry, is as follows:
Edwin Holmes, 1835-40; W. H. Miller, 1861-
62; Andrew Yates, 1840-41; William Bailey,
1863-68; William H. Campbell, 1841-48; Jere
miah Searle, 1868-71; Rutgers Van Brunt, 1848-
49; Evert Van Slyke, 1871-72; W. W. Holloway,
1849-53; D- K- Van Doren, 1873-75; Alexander
Dickson, 1853-60; J. B. Campbell, 1876-83;
Edwin F. See, 1883.
The Fourth Reformed Church (German) on
Schuyler street, below South Pearl, was organized
in 1855. The first Pastor was Rev. H. F. Schnel-
lendrussler, who remained until 1864. In 1865,
the present Pastor, Jacob F. Neef, was installed.
The Holland Reformed Church is located at
153 Jay street. Rev. H. K. Boer is Pastor.
SPIRITUALISTS.
The spritualists of the City of Albany have no
formal organization, such as is found in most of
the large cities of the United States, neither have
they any public hall for holding their meetings.
Of late when, lecturers on spirit philosophy and
phenomena have visited this city, arrangements
have been made with the Liberals for the use of
their hall.
Some years ago, during the War of the Rebel
lion, regular lectures were given each Sunday, in
the old hall in Blount's Building, now the Globe
Hotel, and Nettie Colburn, a trance speaker, oc
cupied the platform for some time.
Without formulated creed or organized head, its
converts are mainly those who are convinced by
the evidence of their senses that man lives beyond
the grave, and sometimes returns to the earth and
holds sensible intercourse with mortals. Many
may be found in all the organized churches, and in
ever)- class of society, who are convinced of the
truths of modern spiritualism, and cherish its com-

772

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

forting doctrines, who are not outspoken in their
belief. UNITARIAN.
The Unitarians have no regular meeting-house
in Albany. The First Unitarian Society was in
corporated in 1842. Services were first held in
the Capitol in 1830; in 1843 in Blunt's Building,
corner of State and South Pearl streets; afterwards
in Rechabite Hall, on State street. The society
purchased the Methodist Church on Division street,
but sold it in 1869. The following Unitarian Pas
tors have been stationed here at the periods in
dicated: W. H. Lord, 1844; Henry F. Harrington,
1845-47; Orville Dewey, 1849; George F. Sim
mons, 1853-55; A. D. Mayo, 1856-63; Charles
G. Ames, 1865; H. C. Leonard, 1866-68.
UNIVERSALIST.
The First Universalist Society held meetings in
Masonic Lodge-rooms on Washington street, in
1824. Erected a church on Herkimer street in
1829, and another church on Green street in 1833.
At a later date owned the present Law School
Building. Pastors: W. S. Balch, 1830; Isaac D.
Williamson, 1830-37; Stephen R. Smith, 1837—
42; S. B. Britton, 1842-43; L. B. Mason 1843-
45; S. B. Britton, 1846-47; R. P. Amber, 1847-
48; W. H. Waggoner, 1848-50; O. D. Miller,
1 851; A. A. Thayer, 1852-54; J. E. Pomfret,
1858-59; DeForrest Porter, 1861; J. H. Hartwell
and C. P. McCarty were acting Pastors still later.
At present there is no regular pastor, no church
edifice. Meetings are held occasionally in public
halls.
REV. DR. HENRY NEWMAN POHLMAN
was born in Albany March 8, 1800, and died
here, January 20, 1874. His ancestors were all
German. His father, Mr. Daniel Pohlman, re
moved from Philadelphia in early life, married in
Albany, and there lived with his wife, honored and
respected, to an advanced age, both of them living
and dying Christians and members of the Evangel
ical Lutheran Church, into which their infant son
was inducted by baptism. The boy grew up
amidst the surroundings of a happy Christian
home, confirming his baptismal vows early in life.
The influence of his sister, Mrs. McClure, a de
voted Christian woman, his own earnest desire to
do good, with some peculiar circumstances con
nected with the Evangelical Lutheran Church at
the time, induced him to devote his life to the
gospel ministry. His Pastor, Rev. F. G. Mayer,
had been one of the active agents in securing the
property of the Hartwick Seminary, in 1 8 1 6. The
subject was one of much debate and no small ex
citement among the Lutherans of that day. The
establishment of this institution was a great event in
the infant church. The professor of the seminary
was a frequent visitor at the Pohlman's. The con
versations there heard induced Henry, whilst com
paratively a lad, to place himself under the guid

ance of Rev. Dr. Hazelius, thus becoming the first
student in the first Lutheran Theological Seminary
in the United States; and to his Alma Mater he clung
through life. The new institution, with its fine
academical department and the great reputation of
the professor, attracted to it many young men of res
pectability preparing for different professions. This
had a happy influence over the intellectual growth
of the young theological student, who held an
honorable position among his fellows for general
erudition, and always occupied the front rank as a
debater and public speaker, a distinction which he
maintained through life. He graduated in August,
1820, before reaching his majority. His license
was not conferred until the following March. The
services took place in St. Peter's Church, Rhine-
beck, being conducted by Rev. Drs. Quitman and
Wackerhagen. In the following May he was
ordained in Christ Church, New York. When
licensed, he had a call to two small churches,
at Saddle River and Ramapo, N. J., whither he
immediately proceeded. But a more important
position soon presented itself. Within a year he
took charge of the churches in Hunterdon County,
N. J., over which he presided with great accept
ance for twenty-one years. The pastorate was
large, three churches many miles apart, isolated and
much neglected, making many heavy demands on
the young man's energies and robust health. He
proved equal to the situation, and lived to see his
labors productive of such religious development
that each of these congregations was able to have
its own pastor and to give him a more liberal sup
port than was originally received from the united
pastorate. The great event of his ministerial life there was
a remarkable revival of religion, which occurred
in Germantown during the winter of 1839 and
1840. He had labored for years under much dis
couragement. The attendance at public worship
was good, the Sabbath-school flourishing, and the
moral tone of the community very high. No in
toxicating liquor was sold in the place. It was a
rare thing to see an approach to the desecration of
the Sabbath. New Germantown was the model of
a small, quiet, inland village. But there were few
or no accessions to the membership of the church.
In the hope of quickening the congregation, a se
ries of week-evening meetings was introduced. The
interest increased until it was necessary to hold
meetings in the day-time, during the hours of
which all places of business were closed. The
number of converts grew to about 200, of whom
140 united with the Lutheran Church, which up to
that time had had a membership of but eighty.
That revival seems lo have been the result of seed
long and faithfully sown, suddenly blooming into
a rich harvest. Dr. Pohlman's name still remains
a household word in that community, and after the
lapse of thirty years, in his annual visits, he was
always welcomed as a father returning to encourage
his spiritual children.
In 1843 be felt it to be his duty to leave the
field in which he had been so useful, to take charge
of the Evangelical Lutheran Ebenezer Church in

JH l) <nUL^^^

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

773

his native city. He had then arrived at the full
maturity of his powers, with large experience and
vigorous health. The affairs of his new charge
were not in a promising condition. The House of
Worship was small, and many of the members who
had once given the church strength had strayed off to
other churches, whose pulpits were occupied by an
array of talent surpassed by that of few cities in the
land. The prospect was far from hopeful. Things
improved, but with varying success; the most
earnest efforts did not bring them up to the pastor's
wishes or expectations. Having completed the
labors of a quarter of a century, with the weight
of advancing years pressing upon him, he retired
from the pastoral office, but not to a life of inactiv
ity. Preaching whenever an opportunity was pre
sented, continually looking after the interests of the
Synod, engaged more or less in all of the benevolent
operations of his denomination, retaining his phys
ical and mental activity to the end, it may be said
that he died in the harness.
A complete history of Dr. Pohlman's career
would cover that of the Lutheran Church in the
United States for the last half-century. He was
with it in its infant struggles, and lived to behold
it in its wonderful development and increasing
strength. It is too soon to write out the history
of this period impartially. At the time of his ad
mission to the ministry, the General Synod had
just been formed, and the New York Ministerium,
a party of the original convention, had already
withdrawn. This led to the creation of two parties
in the Ministerium, resulting in the formation of
Hartwick Synod in 1830.
The Doctor, with a few other friends of the Gen
eral Synod, though in almost a hopeless minority,
decided to remain with the Ministerium and abide
the issue. Kindness, conciliation and courtesy
secured the confidence of the majority. Everything
moved on harmoniously, until in 1836, when, upon
some harmless conditions which were readily ac
ceded to, the Ministerium renewed its connection
with the General Synod. It should be remembered
that the questions then agitating this portion of the
church were very different from those which have
since arisen, circling mainly around the danger re
sulting from concentrated ecclesiastical power. In
dividualism was the charm in those days, overlook
ing the grand results which might flow from co
operation. About that time, say 1835, the tide
of German emigration began to set toward our
shores. Settlements were springing up along our
great thoroughfares of travel. The church was
called upon to prepare for more active home
missionary labor. The Doctor took a leading part
in the work of organizing churches and aiding their
pastors. Until recently he had assisted at the or
dination of many of the German Pastors in the
State, awakening in them a reverence which was
almost filial. These efforts resulted in an entire
change in the constituent elements of the Minister
ium. At the commencement of these efforts, there
was but one German Church in the body. At the
end of thirty years nearly two-thirds of the members
were Germans. It required great tact and mutual

forbearance to secure the harmonious action of these
elements. But it was effected, presenting the pleas
ant spectacle of such diverse materials working to
gether for Christ, until the meeting of the General
Synod at Fort Wayne. In the controversies which,
since then, have agitated the church, he had, neces
sarily to take some part, but he was always found
on the side of conciliation. He sympathized
in the supposed grievances which led to a
final disruption, but he was also firmly persuaded
that they were to be remedied within, and not out
of the General Synod. Regarding the Augsburg
confession and Luther's smaller catechism as a suf
ficient basis for Church union, he clung to them
with tenacity, whilst willing to allow a large liberty
to brethren who might diverge from his interpreta
tion on one side or the other. When the New York
Ministerium decided in September, 1867, to with
draw from the General Synod, a painful choice was
left him. How dearly he loved that venerable body;
what lifelong associations were connected with it;
how sweet the bonds which drew him to the breth
ren. It is a terrible crisis in a man's life when called
to cut loose from all his antecedents, to separate
from those with whom he has always acted. But
conscience demanded the sacrifice. Though the
whole of that heated discussion he occupied the
President's chair, but so impartial, so dignified, that
it would have been difficult to tell which side he
would espouse. One and another of the friends of
the General Synod rose, and amidst the deepest
silence, asked their dismissions to form a new
Synod. All but two had spoken, the President and
his old associate, who had been ordained with him.
The former then left the chair, with deep emotion,
in a kind but forcible manner, reviewed the whole
question, gave his reasons for performing the sad
dest duty of his life, and then asked permission to
accompany the brethren who had preceded him.
Dr. Miller immediately presented the same request.
The scene was touchingly impressive. There were
but few eyes not moistened with tears. All felt that
the Synod had passed through a terrible reality. On
the 3d of September, 1867, the New Synod was or
ganized and the Doctor was elected the first President,
a position which he held until transferred to the up
per sanctuary. This change of relations did not
diminish the kindly feelings of the brethren from
whom he had separated, and one of his last minis
terial acts was to reconsecrate the German Lutheran
Church in Utica, in charge of Rev. A. Wetzell, and
belonging to the Ministerium. Happy the man
who, in periods of great excitement, is able so to
deport himself, so to carry with him the evidence
of stern integrity, as to secure the confidence and
friendship of from whom he differs in opinion and
action. On the 7th of September, 1824, Dr. Pohlman
was married to Miss Susan Cassedy, with whom he
lived in the very happiest intercourse for thirty-nine
years. A lady of gentle manners, fine intellect,
high Christian culture and earnest piety, beloved by
all who knew her, she was the meet companion of
one whose aim in life was to draw others by the
cords of love to the service of a loving Saviour. She

r74

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

was the mother of five children, two of whom pre
ceded their father to the better land. Her death oc
curred November, 1863.
Dr. Pohlman's death, though somewhat unex
pected, was befitting his profession and his life. For
several years he had lived with his daughter, Mrs.
Patten, where, surrounded by his children, his books
the society of congenial Christian friends, he might
have anticipated a ripe old age, had not a latent af
fection of the heart exhibited symptoms of a dan
gerous character, to which he was not insensible.
In closing the Synodical meeting at Red Hook, in
October, 1873, bis mind was burdened with thought
that he would see his brethren no more in the flesh.
In a farewell address, he touchingly expressed this
conviction, though there was nothing in voice or
manner to indicate that his end was so near. He
preached several times afterward, and not until
within a few weeks previous to his death were there
indications of failing strength. On the day preced
ing he had a severe spasm in the region of the heart,
which yielded to remedial agencies; but within the
next twenty-four hours, quietly sitting in his accus
tomed place, his head drooped upon his breast and
he passed away without a pang.
The funeral services took place in the church of
which he had been pastor. Devotional exercises
were conducted by Rev. Dr. Upson and Rev. Dr.
Senderling, and addresses were made by Rev. Drs.
Strobel and Magee, of the Lutheran, and Dr.
Halley, of the Presbyterian Church. The character
of the audience, the deep feeling manifested, the
high tribute paid to his character as a man and
Christian, bore witness to the universal respect in
which he was held in his native city. His remains
now lie beside those of his wife and daughter in the
Albany Rural Cemetery.
The Doctor was a man of fine physique, com
manding voice, chaste and impressive delivery. Few
who have heard him in the pulpit will forget his
dignified bearing, or lose the impression that he
possessed not only great earnestness, but more than
ordinary force of character. At all general church

gatherings a prominent place was allotted to him,
and his deliverances were heard with pleasure. He
did not aspire to the reputation of an erudite
scholar. The time when he entered public life,
and an isolated country parish for twenty years, did
not offer many of the literary advantages now en
joyed. Still he collected a large and valuable library,
of which he was a diligent student. In all the enter
prises of the nineteenth century he was well posted
and took a stand at once high and judicious. He
was well read on all subjects connected with his
profession, and was a master of general English
literature, an able rhetorician, a correct, graceful
and forcible writer, and always ready and happy
when called upon to make an impromptu address.
As presiding officer of a deliberative body he had
few equals. Prompt, decided, familiar with par
liamentary rulings, he was always clear and cour
teous. All this, combined with the unbounded con
fidence reposed in his character, will make it appear
not strange that he should have presided over the
New York Ministerium for twenty-one years, and
over the New York Synod from its organization to
the time of his death, thus making him for twenty-
seven years the presiding officer of the body with
which he was connected. And it was but natural
that he should have been chosen three times Presi
dent of the General Synod, to every meeting of
which, since 1836, he hadbeen appointed delegate,
failing in attendance but once. The merited title of
Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by Penn
sylvania College in 1843. Outside of pastoral and
synodical relations, he was by no means an inactive
man. For many years he was a trustee of the State
Idiot Asylum at Syracuse, one of the most interest
ing public charities, to which he devoted much
time and care. Hartwick Seminary was one of
his pets, a trustee of which he had been for thirty
years. Believing that it had been the making of
the Lutheran Church in this State, and that it
gave promise of great future usefulness, he cher
ished an earnest desire for its perpetuation and
enlargement.

THE TOWNSHIP OF BETHLEHEM.

775

HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF BETHLEHEM.

By- JACOB S. MA-RKLE.

INTRODUCTION.
WITH regard to the sources of information
from which this brief history has been ob
tained and prepared, it is proper to state that in
collecting the material personal efforts brought the
writer in communication with many who kindly
gave information and valuable suggestions, for
which grateful acknowledgment is due for the
many favors bestowed and assistance freely ren
dered. To all who in any way contributed to the
success of the work the writer tenders his thanks.
Much that would be of interest, of the past, is
difficult to obtain, and many important facts and
events cannot, at the present time, be satisfactorily
presented, as records are few, and personal reminis
cences are buried with those who have departed
from the scenes. For additional information,
"Werner's Civil List of New York," "Harper's
Monthly," "Child's Directory of Albany County"
and other authors have been consulted.
The author submits his incomplete work to the
reader, with the assurance that its imperfections
will be criticized with candor, and with the earnest
hope that an interest may be awakened in the
minds of others for the future preservation of
historical records.
Albany, 1884. HISTORY.
THE history of the Township of Bethlehem dates
from the discovery of the river which bears
the name of Hudson, who, in 1609, landed with his
canoes on its bank, and found a large number of
natives fishing; from this circumstance he called it
the "fishing place," or "Fuyck." Toward night
he and his party landed on an island off the bluffs
of the Indian stream Tawasentha, or "place of
many dead," where they camped for the night. In
the morning the party were surprised to find them
selves surrounded by a number of unwelcome
visitors, whose friendly conduct soon allayed their
fears, and the whites were induced to accompany
them through the ford or creek by which they had
gained the island, and for the first time put their

feet upon the main land. Here they beheld
new wonders, and strange scenes encompassed
them on every side. Meeting with no hostility,
the Dutch explorers, after holding a friendly con
ference and exchanging a few articles, returned in
safety to the island. Their stay here was brief, and
when Hudson departed with his little band he
never saw the shores again of the noble river that
bears his name.
Following this voyage of Hudson were a number
of Dutch adventurers, who were induced by the
favorable reports received to undertake a voyage
and open a trade with these Indians. The most
noted of these were Adrian Block, Hendrick Cors
tiaensen, Cornelius Jacobsen Mey and others in
1614. Intelligence of the discoveries made by Block
and his associates was sent to Holland, and meas
ures were taken to secure for themselves the exclu
sive trade of the countries explored, which was
granted them by an ordinance of March 27. "A
special grant was made to " Gerret Witsen and
others, whereby they were given exclusive privileges
to navigate and trade within certain bounds for
three years from January, 1619. Having obtained
these exclusive privileges, under the name of " The
United New Netherlands Company," they proceeded
to make arrangements for the execution of their
plans and took possession of an island a short dis
tance below Albany City, and in 16 14 they built a
trading house 36 by 26 feet. This was called Fort
Nassau. Around this they erected a stockade fifty
feet square, and encircled it by a ditch eighteen
feet wide; trjis was defended by two pieces of can
non and eleven stone guns, the whole garrisoned
by twelve men and commanded by Jacob Jacobz
Eilkins, or Elkins. In the spring of 1618 a freshet
injured the Company's works on the island to such
an extent that they were abandoned, and another
fort built a short distance south on the bluffs* or
mainland near the Tawasentha. From this circum
stance the island received the name of Castle Island; it
is now known as Van Rensselaer Island. Upon this
isolated spot was the foundation of settlement by
* This bluff was called by the natives Tawaesrunskea.

m:

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

these traders, who were only sojourners dependent
for necessary supplies upon the arrival of the com
pany's ships and their own exertions. Their ex
perience on this island for the last two years of
their sojourn was attended with many hardships
and privations.
Weary must have been the watch of these lone
traders as from day to day they paced along the
shores of their little island and watched from the
bluff for the first glimpse of the white sails that
would bring them relief and tidings from the dis
tant land of their birth.
Relief came in 1623 by the arrival of a few
Dutch families, who were sent out by the ' ' Privi
leged West India Company," with a view to coloni
zation. These were most heartily welcomed by
the few adventurers, and their homes about the
island were soon after abandoned, as they joined
forces to erect another fort in 1623, which they
called " Fort Orange," and from which dates the
first permanent settlement at Albany.
Up to the above date any settlements — if such
they can be called — of these traders were made
upon soil now within the territory of Bethlehem.
When the trading period gave way to the
period of settlement, in order to secure the
stability of their possessions in the new world,
it was necessary that a formal government be
established, based upon the privileges granted by
the great " West India Company," which was char
tered June, i62i,and under its charter in 1623 the
first company sailed from Holland in the ship New
Netherland, under the command of Captain Corne
lius Jacobsen Mey. Several of these families, who
were Walloons, came to Albany and made the first
settlement. In 1629 this company issued a char
ter of "Privileges and Exemptions," which intro
duced the manorial system, with Patroons who had
granted them feudal powers. They were anxious
to have their lands settled, and offered, on favor
able' terms to emigrants, great inducements to
those who would accept the conditions and locate
upon their lands, with exemption from rent for a
term of years.
In 1630 a number of Hollanders came to Al
bany, and among them Albert Andriessen Bradt, or
Bratt, surnamed the Norman, who settled at the
mouth of the Tawasentha, where was an ancient
Mohawk village and burial place of their dead.
Hence the Dutch came to call the stream the Nor
man's kill. * He had eight children ; and tradition
says that one of them was born on board the ship
*Warner's New York Civil List.

during a storm, and hence was called " Storm Van
der See." After settling he leased the water privi
leges of the stream and erected mills.
He was succeeded by his son Albertsen, who
paid $150 a year for the use of the water privilege,
and he was succeeded by his brother Slingerlandt
in 1677 as lessee of the farm which his father had
occupied. He died June 7, 1686.
This family of Bradts were the pioneers in the
settlement of lands west of Albany. After a few
years of parental care, arriving to manhood, they
left the humble abode on the Kills, with the de
termination to obtain homes of their own, and
penetrated the forest until a suitable location was
found. This was usually near a stream or under
the shelter of the hills, where was generally found
a spring or creek. These were the first considera
tions ; then followed the preparation for the cabin,
to shelter and protect from surrounding dangers.
With sturdy blows from his ax trees were felled and
shaped for the cabin, which, after much toil, served
to protect him and his from the dangers of the
wild beasts and afford a defense from the attacks of
the treacherous Indians. Very few ventured, at
first, far from the fort or their friends. For many
years the frequent incursions of the Indians
rendered it unsafe to dwell beyond ready assistance ;
and they were hostile to those they considered
trespassers, which acted unfavorably to the settle
ment of the adjacent rich lands ; but time brought
a change, and this virgin soil, which contained the
material for abundant returns and wealth, was
gradually occupied by those who braved the sav
age tenants of the forest in the van of a new civili
zation. Hardships, privation and self-denial were
the first fruits of their venture ; the harvest was in
the future to be reaped by their descendants and
those who followed after.
From the year of these first emigrants until 1 700
but little material progress was made in the outer
settlement on the manor, and those who occupied
lands were, in many instances, squatters. This
makes it quite difficult to obtain, in detail, an ac
curate account of the early inhabitants ; in many
cases there is nothing to show the date when they
took possession of the lands on which they built
their log cabins, and but few facts can be given in
regard to their family history.
The date at which many farms on the manor
were first occupied cannot be definitely ascertained ;
as they were under the control of the patroon, no
public record was made of leases or conveyances,
and in many instances the occupant took posses-

THE TOWNSHIP OF BETHLEHEM.

.7,77

sion, and transfers were often made from one to
another of possession only.
Mrs. Bonne}', in her "Legacy of Historical
Gleanings," says :
"It is time that the reminiscences of the pioneers
were gathered together before the last of them shall
have passed away, for one by one the landmarks
are falling and the records of memory are fast be
ing obliterated, leaving little enough to be gleaned
at the present time. Many who could boast of a
venerable aggregate of years, and were once cogni
zant of important services or historical events, have
become tenants of the silent tomb, and their testi
mony is buried with them. Much valuable infor
mation relating to the old documents and early
chronicles of Albany and its ancient families could
only be obtained from 'those honored relics of the
past,' and, with their decease, has inevitably
perished much of important traditional and histori
cal facts connected with the manorial chronicles."
Much that transpired in the early history of our
settlement is already lost and forgotten in the quiet
graves of the actors. Details drawn from tradi
tion are not always reliable, and however carefully
the writer may draw conclusions obtained from
material at hand, or whatever study he may bestow
upon detached records and personal information,
his conclusions may not always be satisfactory to
author or reader.
These apprehensions are now justified, and cause
much trouble in collecting facts to substantiate the
more important events connected with the early
history and settlement of Bethlehem.
But the necessities of life create a desire in the
human heart for the possession of the means that
contribute to the present and future well-being,
and happiness appeals as an incentive to that end.
Man is thus stimulated to seek the channels which
offer the greatest safety and favorable prospects of
success. These were, probably, some of the con
siderations which governed the early settler in his
choice when selecting the land upon the manor,
and we find that one after another availed himself
of the favorable terms offered, and they induced
others to follow. These in time formed a commu
nity of distant neighbors, and the first settlements
were located along the river; yet it is very difficult
to ascertain the order or date at which these fam
ilies took possession. Having no leases for the
land, it is now almost impossible to recover the
historical sequence of separate settlements. From
1650 to 1700 very slow progress was made, and
few families were resolute enough to leave the set

tlement for the dangers and hardships of forest life.
Yet at the commencement of 1700 we find lo
cated along the line of the river, and on the Nor
manskill, thirty or forty families, among them Hen
drick, Garret and Jan Van Wiee, Bradts, Vander
zee, Wm. Van Allen, Ten Eycks, Slingerlands,
Vroomans, Adam Winne, Philip Schuyler, Francis
Winne. From 1700 to 1750 several families were added,
and from a map made at this time for the patroon
the following names appear : Rensselaer Nicoll,
Betty Van Ostrand, Janes Taylor, Gerret Van Der
Bergh, Cooper, Wm. Van Bergen, Abram Slinger
land, Philip Scuyler, Wouter Slingerland, Koenrad
Louck, John Van Dusen, Adrian Bradt, Staats
Seger, Jacob Louck, John Rosebooms, Gerret Van
Allen, Hans Slingerland, Tunis Slingerland, Law
rence Wormer, Gerret Seger Jun, Jacob Coper,
Jan, Storm and David Bradt, Dirk Vanderwilli-
ger, Konradt Koen, Isaac, Omie and Christian La
Grange, Tunis Hoogtaling.
After 1750 to 1800 the changes in the social con
dition and development of agriculture in the colo
nies were more favorable to emigrants, and now
there is a class of mixed nationalities who settle
among the Dutch, and in time coalesce by inter
marriage, and thus strengthened the bond of sym
pathy and influence in the duties that surround
them. We have now Irish, Scotch and English,
with the Dutch. Among them were Hugh Waters,
Archibald and William McCormick, Andrew Cun
ning, Nicholas See, Christian Bender, I. Bussing,
Jacob Kimmey, Peter McHarg, John Soop, Patrick
Callanan and Solomon Luke, and the families of
Patterson, Ramsay, Becker, Haswell, Babcock,
Wiltsie, Mosher and Aarnout
Many of the families in New Scotland are in
cluded in the early settlement of Bethlehem, and
it is difficult to separate the names, or detach them
from Watervliet, as all the first settlements were
originally made in Watervliet: yet care has been
taken to follow the boundary lines in giving names.
None of these townships were formed until 1788.
After hostilities ceased, and peace secured, many
of the above families came to this township, and
from this time there was an inflow from ad
joining counties, and a few families from New
England. The people generally at this date are
engaged in farming ; manufactures have not been
attempted ; a mill for grinding grain into flour for
family use is the only demand, and home-made or
domestic manufactures supplied the necessities of
their wants. These were days of economy and

778

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

simplicity in living and dressing. A brighter day
seemed to dawn for the future, and hope stimulated
the younger members of the family to greater en
ergy and exertion, that they might add a few acres
to the allotted portion. Social, religious, educa
tional and political growth has opened a wider
field for the operations of man, and the policy of a
liberal and republican government was a sure pre
cursor of more enlightened enterprise and public
security, which was greatly to be desired by those
who had long felt the burdens, of which they now
were in a measure relieved. Prosperity was placed
before him who would endure the necessary toil,
and with manly courage in the battle of life try to
win a place of honor in the affairs of public trust
and home government. These grand triumphs
were won by many of those whose names are re
corded above,^ and their descendants have nobly
honored the sires by their public service and ad
vancement of those principles which exalt a people
or a nation.
Gracefully flowing along the eastern shore line of
Bethlehem is the noble Hudson, confined by rocky
slopes which rise gradually to a height of 50 to 200
feet, forming curves that give lines of beauty to the
water as it flows against the miniature cliffs; the
harmless waves created by a passing boat dash
against the shore or projecting rock, and as it
glides on the river opens upon the vision of the be
holder a picture of rare beauty.
From the plain above the eye beholds the won
drous works of man, and nature has painted ex
quisite views to adorn the scene ; while the distant
hills relieve the monotony and add refinement to
the attractive features. Looking westward is a
diversified country, and the eye with pleasure roves
over rolling, cultivated lands. From every elevated
situation, one may observe in many a quiet nook
nestled in the shade, and along the river bank, fine
villas, noble mansions and stately farm residences.
It is no marvel that the red man chose this front
for his camping ground, council assembly and
war-path, to meet his foe in the wilderness and
battle for the victory.
On a sheltered spot, on the solid rock of the
western cliff, just below the rapids, and a short dis
tance from where the Tawasenfha, or Normanskill,
mingles its waters with the Hudson, once stood
the mill ot Albert Albertsen Bradt, erected about
1630. There are but few of the ancient landmarks
that contain a history remaining. Time has made
many changes, and modern progress cuts its way
through granite and sand with equal force, for good

or evil. Decay is the doom of man's best works ;
his material is perishable; and time eats his monu
ments to valor, and brings to the dust the temples
of his faith.
The name " Beth-le-hem" is scriptural— meaning
"House-of-bread "— is well chosen, and might
have been suggested by the fertility of the soil, or
possibly the early settlers wished to associate the
name in this way with their former residence, or it
might have been taken because of the necessity of
giving some name to the town. There is also a
neighborhood in the township by the name of
fericho, and one of the first churches organized
was named the Jerusalem church, all of which
shows the Bible is not an unknown book in this
region. Mrs. Grant, in her "Sketches of Manners and
Scenery in America.'' says of the Huguenots and
French Protestants who came with the Hollanders,
that these conscientious exiles were persons allied
in religion to the primitive settlers; that they were
' ' driven from their native land by intolerant bigot
ry;" they were "deprived of many resources that
were open to their fellow subjects, and forced to
seek comfort in piety and concord for many priva
tions ;" * * * "they had suffered real and extreme
hardships for conscience's sake from absolute ty
ranny and the most cruel intolerance ;" ' ' they re
joiced in the free exercise of a pure and rational re
ligion, and in the protection of mild and equitable
laws, as the first of human blessings." These,
with "a great number of Protestants whom the
fury of war and persecution on religious accounts
had driven from the Palatinate," found a safe
refuge here. These principles of religious freedom
were kept alive in their hearts, until they could
with their hands show their faith by their works in
organizing societies and building churches.
The Township of Bethlehem was formed from
Watervliet in 1793, and contained the whole of what
is now New Scotland, and a part of Albany, which
was attached in 1870. The township lies wholly
within the Van Rensselaer Manor, adjoining Al
bany City on the north, extending along the river,
with a shore line of ten miles, to Coeymans on the
south and New Scotland on the west, including
several islands.
The township contains 31, 583 acres of improved
land ; the assessed value of real estate, $3, 745,428,
and assessed value of personal property for 1883
was $58,116; total, $3,803,544. The equalized
valuation of real estate, $1,988,600 ; of personal,
$58,116; total, $2,046,716. Total amount to

THE TOWNSHIP OF BETHLEHEM.

779

be collected, $27,835; rate per $100, $01.36; Col
lector, John F. Vroman. Population in 1865,
5,928; 1870,6,950; 1875, 3,763; 1880,3,752.
The surface consists of rolling upland, sand
ridges, rocky knolls, and, near the river, a narrow
plain, with steep bluffs from 50 to 150 feet in
height, and elevations 200 to 400 feet. The de
clivities are broken by deep channels worn through
the clay and slates. The deepest cuttings are made
by the Normanskill, and ' ' in passing through the
series of newer sandstones and limestones and gray-
wackes, it lays bare the succession of rocks, and in
its progress it sinks its level quite through the gray
wackes and deeply into the sedimentary or graywacke
slate. At lower points of its course the valley as
sumes a greater expansion, and the rocks stand in
upright position. The action of the stream has
been sufficient to reveal a formation of red sand
stone, which apparently underlies the Helderberg
series of graywackes and slates, and the upper series
of fossiliferous limestone, and its superimposed
porous and nearly horizontal new sandstone. The
stream finally enters the Hudson just below Albany,
near the ancient cemetery of Tawasentha. This
curious natural mound, or hillock, is connected
with the diluvial formation by a narrow rock or
peninsula. It was a spot sacred to sepulture from
the earliest time, and furnished then a natural cog
nomen for the stream. There is no object of
higher antiquarian interest in the vicinity, and it
is worthy of municipal care and preservation."*
The principal streams are Normanskill, Coeymans
Creek and Vlamanskill, which afford valuable
water power, but only partially utilized. In the
town are sulphur springs, several unimportant caves,
and quarries of limestone, used for fences and
building purposes, also as a flux for blast furnaces,
and strata of yellow sand, used largely for foundry
purposes. The soil consists of sand and clay loam, inter
mixed with gravel and, occasionally, argillaceous
shales. The soil of the islands is an alluvium,
which is enriched by the deposit from frequent
overflow of freshets. The variety of soil is well
adapted for the cultivation of all cereals, hay, pota
toes, and root crops generally, and many farmers
are engaged in mixed husbandry, appropriating
their best lands to the cultivation of garden vegeta
bles, or truck farming.
The islands and alluvial lands are largely planted
with potatoes and cabbages. Fruit culture is con
nected with general farming, and certain portions
of every farm are planted with apple, plum, pear,

*Schoolcraft.

cherry and peach trees. The small fruits, such as
strawberries, raspberries and currents, and garden
vegetables are largely cultivated. The nearness to
the city, with good roads, affords a ready market
for farm and dairy products ; this has induced
many farmers to engage in the production of milk,
as a specialty, for the demands of the city. The
most notable of the islands belonging to Bethle
hem is ' 'Castle Island, "* so named from the circum
stance that a stockade fort was built upon it in
16 14, as a protection to the Dutch traders with
the Indians. The island was leased to Martin
Gerritsen in 1668, and is sometimes called after
his name. It is now known as Van Rensselaer
Island, and upon it is erected the extensive works
and buildings of the "Albany City Iron Works " and
' ' The f agger Iron Works," with the necessary docks,
railroad tracks and storage facilities. The remain
ing portion is used for garden purposes.
The other islands are largely appropriated for
the storage of ice, of which there are houses for
275,000 tons.
The principal streams afford considerable water
power. Some smaller creeks furnish water power
in time of freshets, and upon these are several saw
mills, which operate during the temporary supply.
The trees in the small forests are white and yel
low pine, several varieties of oak, hickory, maple,
birch, ash and chestnut. Formerly red cedar was
abundant, but now quite scarce. The timber
lands of the town are rapidly diminishing. The
domestic demand for lumber and fuel requires large
quantities, and the farmer counts the income from
the cultivated land equal to the purchase of coal
and fencing material, for which wire is now largely
substituted. A few years hence the forests will
disappear, and only small groves will be allowed to
cumber the ground. All rocky and waste places
should be utilized by planting forest trees, natural
to the soil and locality ; these, in a few years, would
add much to the value of the property.
The farmers of the town are generally progres
sive, and with practical intelligence adopt the sys
tem of rotation, using manures and fertilizers as a
means of renovating the land and stimulating the
soil to greater yield.
A. few farmers give special attention to the im
provement of stock, and several have fine herds,
which receive additions from imported stock.
Erastus Corning is a large breeder of Herefords
and Jerseys; John S. Perry, of Guernseys; C. L. G.
Blessing, of Friesland or Dutch cattle. Sheep
husbandry receives very little attention ; other
*See note on page 2.

780

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

interests of the farmer are carefully studied, and the
general appearance of the farms denotes improve
ment and progression.
The minerals of the town are few and possess
very little value.
The Indian history has but little of interest.
They occupied territory surrounding Albany when
the Dutch traders came, with whom a traffic in furs
was established and treaties made that secured the
friendship of the natives and advantage to the
settlers, who located in the vicinity of (now) Ken
wood, where they had a place for the burial of their
dead, and, perhaps, a camping ground.
In the years that followed settlement and occupa
tion of forests for agriculture and civilization, the
Indian was disturbed in his possession as monarch.
A new element entered his domain of wild forest life,
which introduced changes in many of his customs,
and taught him practices and arts that in time were
used against the white settlers. The use of firearms
and other modes of warfare enabled him to execute
his savage designs with greater skill and certainty.
During the war of the Revolution, the Indians,
who were under the control of the British and Tories,
committed many acts of violence, and were a source
of annoyance and terror. They had rendezvous in
different parts of the town, where they met their
allies in secret, and plotted hostile incursions
against the neighbors.
Time works changes, and as civilization advanced,
the Indian receded, and soon disappeared from the
town of Bethlehem, making, in a degenerate con
dition, his final exit about forty years ago, and a
few generations hence nothing will remain but the
imperfect records of history.
Connected with the past may be mentioned the
old Whitehall mansion, near the Delaware turn
pike road, a part of which was built by Gen. Brad
street, and during the Revolution is said to have
been a resort for the Tories. It afterward came
into the possession of C. Ten Eyck, and was occu
pied by the family until its destruction by fire in
the spring of 1883.
Among other houses, yet in existence, erected
before the Revolution by early settlers, is the
Nicoll house, now in possession of Alex. R.
Baker, built soon after 1720; the house of Peter
Van Wie, 1732 ; the Abbey Hotel, a part of which
was erected by a Van Rensselaer, and the old house
of S. Baumes. Remains of others mark the place
where deeds, long since forgotten, have been en
acted in the early struggles for a home and the
means of an honest livelihood.

The Cherry Hill Mansion and Mount Hope are
landmarks that tell of the early settlers, the first be
ing the residence of Solomon Van Rensselaer, and
the latter now the property of Ezra P. Prentice.
Many saw-mills were in use in different parts of
the township, which are now abandoned from the
fact that the source of supply for logs is rapidly
diminishing. A few others have taken their place,
and the mills now in use are of a more substantial
character, with improved machinery and modern
fixtures. VILLAGES.
Bethlehem Center P. O. (Babcock's-Comers) is
a small village, four miles south of Albany, on the
"Albany and Bethlehem Turnpike Road." Among
the first settlers were James Gibbons, Job Gard
ner,  Greennay,  Davis, Joshua Babcock.
There are 40 dwellings, 45 families, 190 inhab
itants, 2 blacksmiths, 2 wheelwright shops, school-
house, church and hotel. Widow Van Buren,
postmistress, and post-office kept at the toll-gate
house. Four cemeteries are located here.
South Bethlehem P. O. (Janes' Corners), nine
miles from Albany, on the " Albany and Bethlehem
plank road, " and a station on the West Shore R.
R., is pleasantly located. William Jones, James
Callanan, Ambrose Wiltsie, Rimmey and Mosher
were early settlers. Elishama Janes kept tavern.
The village has 30 dwellings, 33 families, 135
inhabitants, M. E. church, school-house, 2 stores,
shoe shop, harness, blacksmith and wheelwright
shop, barber's room and saloon. It has a band of
1 2 musicians, with O. S. Jolley as leader.
Here are located (in the town of Coeymans)
the mills of Mr. Henry Callanan. These mills
formerly belonged to Philip Kimmey, and were
built about 1845 by Ira Jagger, millwright. Here
also was located a tannery, about 1825, on the
farm of Isaac and John Coffin, which for many
years was operated by Robert Carhart, after which it
passed into the possession of Cornelius Waggoner,
and in 1832 Frederick Schaubb bought the prop
erty, and it was destroyed by fire in 1883. The
post-office was established in 1874 ; John Sager is
the present postmaster. A short distance from the
village, on the farm of John Mosher, is a willow
tree that measures 25 and 30 feet in circumference.
Tamar Randall, afterward the wife of Henry
Wiltsie, when a child, brought this willow, twig
from Pitchtona, and planted it by the roadside, a
century ago, where it now stands, a living monu
ment to her memory.

THE TOWNSHIP OF BETHLEHEM.

781

Slingerlands P. 0. — This was formerly Nor
manskill P. 0., and locally Red Hook The post-
office was established in 1852, with Wm. H.
Slingerland as postmaster. The name was changed
in 1870. Present postmaster, G. W. Slingerland.
The village contains 44 dwellings, 50 families, 230
inhabitants; a commodious brick school-house
and M. E. church, printing establishment, hotel,
marble and monumental works, store, 2 black
smith shops, wheelwright and paint shop, shoe
shop, cigar manufactory, R. R. station, and several
fine residences, include the buildings of the village.
The name is derived from several families who
reside here, descendants of John A Slingerland.
The early settlers were Andrew Cunning, Nicholas
Sigsbee, Hunderman. Friendly Union Lodge, No.
381, I. O. O. F. is located here. The village is
pleasantly situated 7 miles from Albany, on the
Albany and New Scotland plank road, and it is a
station on Susquehanna R. R. Being near the
city, it affords many conveniences to those who
seek for rural pleasure and the quiet of home life.
A physician and lawyer represent the professions.
Selkirk is a post-office established in 1883 ; Jacob
J. Soop, postmaster. This post-office is located at
the station of the same name, on the N. Y. & W.
S. Railroad, in the southeastern part of the town,
upon lands belonging to the Selkirks. The Sel-
kirks are of Scotch origin, and here include two
families whose buildings represent the com
mencement of the future village.
Cedar Hill P. 0. , eight miles below Albany on
the river road, and three-fourths of a mile from
the landing, is an old settled place, having been oc
cupied by the Nicols, Winnes and Van Wies at an
early date, followed by the Sills, Coopers and
others. The locality derives its name from the
circumstance that formerly red cedar was the com
mon growth of trees upon the hills and waste
lands. At the river is located the extensive ice
houses of English and Best. From Winne's dock
are shipped hay, straw, apples- and other farm
products ; this, also, is the landing for steamboats.
Wm. Selkirk is the postmaster.
Becker's Corners P. 0. , 6 miles from Albany,
on the Albany and South Bethlehem plank road, is
a hamlet containing 6 houses, a tavern, and a
fine building belonging to the Grangers. Albertus
W. Becker, postmaster.
Adams Station P. O., on the old Delaware turn
pike road, and a station on the A. and S. Railroad, is
a village containing 85 dwellings, 90 families, 360

inhabitants, a Reformed church, M. E. church,
school-house, 2 stores, tin shop, wheelwright and
blacksmith shop, cigar manufactory, tavern. One
physician and lawyer reside here.
Nathaniel Adams came here in 1836, and in
1838 erected a large hotel and made many im
provements, which are lasting monuments to his
industry. From him the name is derived. Early
settlers here were Flaglers, Waters, Erwin, Bussing.
The post-office was established in 1840 ; Nathaniel
Adams, first postmaster ; present postmaster, Wm.
S. Murphy. The location is 4 miles from Albany,
and its proximity to the city offers inducements
that are rarely found. Easy of access by cars or
private conveyance makes it a desirable place of
residence for the business man who would seek re
tirement and the quiet of a country home.
Normansville, formerly Upper Hollow, is a ham
let 2 miles west of the city, located on both sides
of the Normanskill, which has worn a deep chan
nel through the clay to the slate strata, leaving high
banks on either side. Here the stream flows over
the slate bed with a gradual inclination, affording
a water power which at different times has been
utilized. When the Albany and Delaware turn
pike was constructed, it passed across this ravine
and over the creek, on a wood bridge, 100 or more
feet long. This bridge was taken away by a
freshet in 1868, and an iron one, of two spans, put
in its place in 1869, by the town of Bethlehem, as
the turnpike company had abandoned the road.
At the west end of the bridge stands the old toll-
gate house, built when the road was first construct
ed, and from which Peter Esmay gathered toll for
half a century. His familiar face and happy, smil
ing greeting are remembered by many. The con
struction of the turnpike induced a spirit of enter
prise, and Isaac Stiles opened a tavern for the
accommodation of travelers on this road ; soon after
(about 1822) Stiles put up buildings for a saw-mill,
which were followed by necessary machinery for
carding wool, dyeing and dressing cloths. There
was attached to these mills machinery for rasping
and cutting dye-woods, which were used extensively
at that time. Then the spinning wheel and
loom were a household necessity ; now the piano
and organ have taken their place. These mills
and property after a time passed into the posses
sion of S. Congdon, who continued them as a saw
mill and dye-rasper for several years. Congdon
sold to A. B. Sweet. Soon after the mills were
carried away by a freshet, taking the bridge at the
same time. Sweet rebuilt with brick and wood

782

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

attachments, and engaged in the manufacture of
straw-board paper. The property now belongs to
F. Hinckle, who for a short time engaged in the
manufacture of starch from potatoes. Adjoining
these mills is an ice-house of 3, 000 tons capacity.
The mills are now idle and located above the
bridge, on the east bank of the creek. The water
and necessary fall is obtained from a dam across
the stream.
On the west side of the creek, below the bridge,
a grist-mill was built by James McCormick, about
the year 1820. Nathaniel Sawyer afterward owned
this mill, to which was attached machinery for
carding wool, dyeing and dressing cloth ; also a mill
for rasping dye-woods and grinding plaster. This
mill property passed to the possession of Henry
Arnold, and was subsequently destroyed by fire.
They were rebuilt by Arnold and then sold to
Redell ; the present owner is Heman Hardy, who
converted them into a straw-paper mill, with a
capacity, when in operation, of making two tons of
wrapping-paper per day. Work in this mill is
now abandoned. Steam and water power is used.
The hamlet contains 17 dwellings, 22 families, 100
inhabitants. Arkles at one time kept tavern here.
There were mills owned by Congdon above Peter
V. W. Brooks.
Hurslville (Log Tavern), a hamlet two miles
northwest from Albany, on the Albany and New
Scotland plank road, was first settled by Urban
Van Hart and William Gilbert. William Hurst
located there in 1861, and from him the place
derives its name. The first settler was a man by
the name of Hagadorn, who kept the " Log tav
ern;" from this circumstance the place was known
as " The Log Tavern." The Hurstville Hotel, kept
by William Hurst's sons, the residence of John
Brown, the mansion of Gilberts, and the tenement
house opposite the hotel, make up the complement
of dwellings.
Kenwood (Lower Hollow). — Just below the
falls, and near where the Normanskill enters the
Hudson River, is a hamlet which dates its settle
ment with that of Albany, first by the erection of a
fort in 1618, and the settlement of Albert Andriesen
Bradt, who built a mill here in 1630, which was
in the family until 1678. In this vicinity the In
dians had a "place for the many dead," called
Tawasentha," which is mentioned by the poet
Longfellow in his " Hiawatha" and claimed by H.
R. Schoolcraft " as the curious natural mound, or
hillock, as a sacred sepulchre from the-earliest time,
and also furnished them with a natural cognomen

for the stream. " For many years improvements
were slow, and nothing of importance was done
until after the close of the Revolution and peace
brought encouragement for manufactures and
other industries.
At this time the Van Rensselaers erected mills
here, which were improvements upon former rude
structures and imperfect machinery. These mills
served for the times and circumstances, being pat
ronized by the farmers for grinding their grain for
flour, meal and feed, sawing lumber, carding wool,
dyeing and dressing cloth, and contributing other
necessary supplies for the people. Among the
men who had charge, or operated these mills, were
Godley, Merrifield, Stiles, Smith, Warmington, and
others. Butterfield and Hagadorn were tavern-
keepers. The Turnpike Road was incorporated in
1804, which opened a thoroughfare from the city
leading south into the country ; this was of great
advantage to the farmers, and stimulated business
at the Lower Hollow. Mills were erected below
the bridge, but these have disappeared.
The old house built by Robert Van Rensselaer,
near the bridge, is still standing and occupied.
Many changes have taken place since 1840 ; the
early industries are no longer demanded, and the-
property has passed into others' possession ; the
business formerly done here has materially changed ;
the extensive flouring-mills have disappeared, as
also the knitting-mills, which, at one time in suc
cessful operation, were destroyed by fire, and in
their place is a manufactory for felt-cloth and
blankets. The past year a large frame building has
been erected, south of the bridge, for a flouring-
mill. The property in this vicinity originally belonged
to the Van Rensselaer family, of which Gen. Solo
mon Van Rensselaer was an honored member, and
the Cherry Hill mansion was his residence. Mount
Hope, a lovely and commanding- elevation, was
purchased by Ezra P. Prentice, and for many years
the farm and surroundings were the pride of its own
er; but its former attractions are giving place to the
march of improvement, which has already changed
much of its wonted beauty and rural picturesque-
ness. Passing south is the school of the " Sacred
Heart," a Catholic institution, where formerly was
the residence of Joel Rathbone, and the owner of
the Kenwood Mills and other property. The name
" Kenwood" was given the romantic hamlet by Mr.
Rathbone from some resemblance or connection
with a similar place in Scotland.

THE TOWNSHIP OF BETHLEHEM.

783

The hamlet contains 16 dwellings, 36 families,
and 150 inhabitants, a Baptist chapel, school-
house, store, and blacksmith shop. The Albany
and Bethelehem turnpike passes through the place,
and the Albany Railway Co. has a track for horse-
cars which follow South Pearl street, of which this
road is a continuation, to Kenwood Bridge.
CHURCHES.
Early Religious Character and Piety of
the Vaudois and Huguenots. — These early Chris
tian martyrs were a peculiar people ; their lives
were passed in deeds of charity, in honest labors,
and in unvarying self-respect. In every age their
manners have been the same, fair and spotless ;
and their native refinement, their sincerity and de
votion, were uttered in their plaintive hymns as
heard from the grove's sylvan shade, where they
could meet for worship in their rude way. The
vices and the follies of the world that have wrecked
thousands never invaded their homes, unless
brought by people of loose morals. Soon after the
dawn of Christianity their ancestors embraced the
faith of St. Paul. The Scriptures became their
only guide, and they never accepted the tenets of
the Roman Catholic Church. When in the
eleventh century Rome asserted her supremacy
Vaudois missionaries traveled into Hungary, Bo
hemia, France, England and Scotland; they point
ed to Rome as the Antichrist, and they taught, as
they believed, the pure faith of the apostolic age.
Now we see the results of these simple-minded, yet
faithful, Vaudois. German)- and Bohemia were
reformed by the teachings of Piedmont ; Huss and
Jerome did little more than proclaim the Vaudois
faith ; Luther and Calvin, Wycliffe and Knox were
only the necessary offspring of the apostolic
churches. Persecutions, massacres, martyrdoms
and crusades followed for four centuries, which
only added link to link in the chain of Christian
civilization, and through this came the Reforma
tion which convulsed Europe, destroying priestly
despotism and planting liberty of conscience as the
sovereign power of religious freedom. To the
firm faith of these early martyrs, and their simple
prayers, are the Protestants of this country indebt
ed for much they enjoy of religious liberty. The
"every day" of time gradually blots from the
world's records events that were once realities, and
many scenes of the present are only enactments of
the past. Changes take place that are wrought
out to wait the exigencies of surrounding circum
stances to develop new forms of civilization.

At the close of the sixteenth century the Refor
mation seemed to have freed itself from bondage,
and was ready for new conquests in the waste places
of the New World. Holland, England, Scotland,
Germany, France were now foremost among the
reformers to establish freedom of worship. They
saw that the church was the creation of the people,
that it owed its existence to the human labors and
divine gifts of men, and that the doctrine of passive
obedience was not acceptable to its followers, and
they resolved to find a land where they could es
tablish a system of religion free from despotism;
and with piety most fervid and courage undaunted,
amidst hardships and privations, yet enthusiastic
of success, they bade adieu to the scenes of conten
tion, and on the virgin soil of America founded
that system of religion and education which is the
pride of our boasted civilization. Early in its his
tory Bethlehem received the seeds of this stock,
which were transplanted and spread over her fair
domain with wonderful growth, and her many
churches attest the truth that right principles and
honest convictions of human progress will grow
and become powerful as an element of moral
greatness. Many of the first and early settlers were
deeply imbued with a spirit of reverence for sacred
things, and their hearts overflowed with thanks
giving for the early instruction they received from
pious parents ere they departed for the heavenly
country. There are in this town eight churches, of the fol
lowing denominations : two Reformed, three
Methodist, one Presbyterian, one' True Reformed
Dutch, and one Methodist chapel. With their
history and early struggles much that would be of
interest has not been carefully recorded, and those
who were active participants in the organization of
the first churches have disappeared from the scenes
of life, "but their works do follow them." The
first settlers resided near the city, and thither they
wended their way for instructions and social com
munion in sacred things. Their landed posses
sions were, in many instances, large ; but these,
with hard work, only gave them the necessaries of
life, and however ready the heart, the purse failed
to respond. Thus they were denied for a season the
blessings which came afterward. The first church
organization in Bethlehem took place about 1790.
First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church— now
' ' First Reformed Church " of Bethlehem — was or
ganized in 1793, and in 1794 Stephen Van Rensse
laer gave the society 100 acres of land, known as the
' ' Parsonage Fa* m. " The church has been served by
the following as successive pastors :

784

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

: Christian Bork, Peter Verbagh, Ralph Wester-
velt, Samuel Kissam, Ralph Willis, John Simon-
son, Henry M. Voorhees, Wm. J. Skillman; Joseph
P. Davis, present pastor.
The church reports 150 families, 229 members,
sustains five Sabbath schools, with 340 scholars.
The present church building is of wood, and will
seat 800.
The Rev. Joseph P. Davis was ordained and in
stalled pastor June 17, 1884. The following con
stitute the present consistory : Elders — John G.
Vanderzee, Asa Bailey, Daniel P. Winne, David
Mead. Deacons — Vedder Niver, Francis Selkirk,
Louis Myers, Jr., David H. Vroman.
The Reformed Church at Adams Station was built
in the year 1841. At that time many of the mem
bers of "Union Ref. Church," located at Union
ville, living some distance from the church, pro
posed that a chapel should be erected at Adams
ville. For this purpose an acre of land was donated
by Nathaniel Adams, in the center of the village,
and a commodious chapel was erected and occu
pied as a preaching station in connection with the
Union Church, which was then under the pastoral
charge of the Rev. Simon V. E. Westfall. After
Mr. Westfall departed for the West, in 1847, it was
determined to secure an organization for a church
at Adamsville. Forty-four members of the Union
Church petitioned and represented their case,
asking to be dismissed from said church for the
purpose of a separate organization ; also asking
that a special meeting of the "Classis of Albany"
be called to act on their application.
On the 10th of January, 1848, the Consistory of
"Union Church" resolved to grant the request of
the petitioners ; to deed to the proper authorities
the church property at Adamsville, also to appoint
two commissioners to report their proceedings to
classis and secure their assent in organizing the
new society. On the 24th of January the com
missioners of the church, Peter Palmateer and Leon
ard G. Ten Eyck, met with the commissioners of
Classis, Rev. Duncan Kennedy and John Q.
Wilson, in the City of Albany, and provided by
classical action for the organization.
Elders Leonard G. Ten Eyck and Peter Hilton,
Deacons Wm. H. Slingerland and Joen Van Al
len, of Union Church, were constituted a distinct
consistory for the new church, and on the 3d of
February, 1848, they certified to the title by which
the church and congregation should be known
and designated, viz., the Second Reformed Dutch
Church in the Town of Bethlehem, in the County

of Albany ; their action being duly recorded in the
office of the County Clerk.
On the 27th of March, 1848, a call was ex
tended to the Rev. John A. Lansing to become their
pastor, which was accepted, and for twelve years he
faithfully and successfully administered to this con
gregation in all things spiritual and temporal. In
the spring of i860 he resigned his charge. During
his pastorate a fine parsonage was built on land
adjoining the church, in 1851. The church
building was enlarged, repaired and improved
in 1859. He died full of honors in the year
1884. On the ist of October, i860, the Rev. Jacob
Lansing Pearse was called to the pastorate, and his
labors still continue with the church.
In 1879 the church edifice was renovated and
repaired, and the present year, 1884, the congre
gation is engaged building an addition to the
church for the use of the Sabbath school and social
meetings. The present officers are : Elders — John Mc
Harg, John L. Winne, Garret Van Allen, James
Onderdonk. Deacons — Edwin Van Allen, Rich
ard E. Becker, John Maher, George C. Adams.
President of Consistory reports 90 families, 200
communicants, an average of 75 Sabbath school
scholars. The school was organized in 1848, and
continues regularly through the winter and sum
mer. Total amount contributed for benevolent
and church purposes, $1,300. The church and
surroundings are very pleasant.
The First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem was
organized November 3, 1835, by Rev. John H.
Campbell, D.D, and Rev. Wm. P. Davis. It
consisted of fifty-three members. The first pastor
was Rev. Wm. P. Davis, who was ordained and
installed December 1, 1835. The first house of
worship was erected the same year at a cost of
$1,800. It was enlarged and refitted in 1869 at a
cost of $4,000. It will now seat 300. Connected
with it is a commodious parsonage, and the society
is prosperous. The church is located about one
and a half miles west of Hurstville. The following
is the order of pastors who have served this con
gregation :
Revs. William P. Davis, from 1835 to 1841; Jo
seph Rosekrans, from February, 1843 to 1849; G.
M. Blodgett, as a supply, from 1846 to 1856;
Benjamin H. Pitman (supply); J. J, Cameron, from
1857 to 1 861; J. W. Edie, 1868 to 1870; David
Heron, 1870 to 1880. Wm.E. Faulkner, the pres
ent pastor, graduated from Union College in 1873,
and from Union Theological Seminary, New York,

THE TOWNSHIP OF BETHLEHEM.

785

in 1878; was ordained by the Albany Presbytery,
at East Nassau, in 1879, and installed as pastor of
this church, March, 1880.
The following were the first Elders : Jonathan E.
Walley, John R. Bullock, Volkert V. Bullock.
The present Elders are Horatio McHarg and
James Buchanan. The pastor reports fifty families,
ninety communicants, ninety-five Sabbath-school
scholars and teachers. Contributions for all pur
poses, $900.
The Methodist Episcopal Church at Adams
Station was organized as early as 1830, and a
building was erected about 1833. Henry Wil
liams, first preacher, followed by Rev. James
Quinlan, Joshua Poor, Joel Squires and others.
Among the first members were Holmes Hotaling,
Daniel Clark, John Oliver and wife, Benjamin
Holmes and wife, William Coughtry and wife,
James Sigsbee, Miss Patterson, now widow Caley.
In 1850 another building was erected and the lo
cation changed. This second church edifice was
east of the school-house, and was taken down by a
part of the congregation in 1871. This caused a
division in the church organization, and the third
or present M. E. church of Adamsville was erected
in the year 1873. The first pastor was Peter B.
Harrower, succeeded by J. A. Clark. The con
gregation numbers twenty-five families, fifty com
municants, sixty Sabbath-school scholars; contri
butions for all purposes, $600. The building will
seat 300. Present officers : Trustees — Henry B.
Tuttie, William Flagler, John W. Cook, D. A.
Clark, David Couse, John I. Pool, William Fir
man, Abram Van Wie, Jacob Hotaling. Present
pastor, James H. Hall.
The Methodist Episcopal Church located at
Slingerlands was originally the Society of Adams
ville, but in 187- they divided and erected a church
edifice at Slingerlands, thus forming two organiza
tions. The building is of brick, 41 x 62 feet, with
Sabbath-school and lecture-room, 24x42 feet; has
a seating capacity for 350 persons and cost $9,000.
Sheds are attached. The first officers of this So
ciety were David Couse, John Wademan, Robert
Frasier, Hezekiah Van Buren, David Winne, John
Ostrander, William Simmons; Revs. D. B. Mc
Kenzie and Alfred Farr, pastors. The following
are the present trustees : Albert Slingerland, D. C.
Hammond, James Hutt, John Wademan, John
Ostrander, Robert Frasier, J. M. Simmons; Rev.
W. M. Brundage, pastor. The pastor reports
ninety families, seventy-four members, one hun
dred Sabbath-school scholars; money contributed
for all purposes $1,500.

Methodist Episcopal Church at South Bethlehem.
— A short distance east of Becker's Corners, on the
20th day of November, 1823, was dedicated the
first Methodist church in this town. It was a
building 42x36 feet, located on lands of Betts
Chatterton, and in 1824 the following trustees
were elected : Robert D. Carhart, President; Isaac
S. Wright, Treasurer; Joel Squires, Secretary;
John Ten Eyck, Hugh Jolly, William Cooper,
Joshua Poor. Bradley H. Glick and John C.
Green were the first preachers. In 1845 this
building was taken down and timber used in part
for the construction of another church edifice lo
cated at South Bethlehem (Janes' Corners) and
dedicated in February, 1846, as the First Methodist
Episcopal Church of Bethlehem. The first trustees
were Hugh Jolly, Jehoichim Spawn, Hercules
Baddo, Charles Chapman; Cornelius Waggoner,
Secretary and Treasurer. First pastors, Reuben
H. Bloomer and Jason Wells. The present offi
cers are James W. Jolly, Ambrose Wiltsie, Fred
erick Schaubb, Andrew Ten Eyck, Henry Friday,
Alvah Tompkins, Hugh A. Mosher, John Mosher,
Aaron Hakes. Present pastor, John W. Buskins,
who reports fifty-six families, 1 1 5 members, ninety-
seven Sabbath-school pupils and eleven teachers.
Total amount of contributions, $1, 100. The con
gregation owns a parsonage and sheds.
A free chapel for religious purposes was erected
in 1877 on the premises of Stephen Baumes, near
Cedar Hill. The furniture in part was the dona
tion of Mr. Parsons. The Good Templars hold
their meetings in this building.
In the year 1822 a number of churches, by rea
son of difference in doctrine and practice, seceded
from the Reformed Dutch Church and organized
themselves into the "Classis of Union," with the
name or title of "True Reformed Dutch Church."
About 1827 the True Reformed Dutch Church of
Bethlehem was organized as a member of that
classis, being subordinate to its ecclesiastic jurisdic
tion and discipline. The church edifice of this so
ciety is near Bethlehem Center and was built about
1854. The structure is of wood, pleasantly lo
cated, with sheds attached, easy of access from all
points, and within four miles of the city. The
first pastor was Henry Bellinger, who served the
congregation faithfully for fifty years. He ceased
from his earthly labors in 1877. The first officers of
this church were Peter Kimmey, Storm Vanderzee,
David Kimmey. The present officers are: Elders —
H. B. Loucks, Daniel De Freest. Deacons — Joseph
Relyea, William Baumes. The present pastor is
Rev. N. A. Fish, who resides in Albany City.

786

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The "Classis of Union" is composed of six
churches, one in each of the following counties:
Albany, Fulton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Rock
land and Schoharie.
Baptist Mission Chapel, at Kenwood, was built
in 1866 by William Sawyer, and by him conveyed
to the Baptist Missionary Association, as an abso
lute free gift, to be used by the society forever as a
place of worship and for Sabbath-school purposes.
This is another of the many benefactions of this
noble-hearted Christian.
Religious societies or church organizations out
side of the city did not assume any prominence
until 1790. About this time a few organizations
were effected in different parts of the country.
There was a cause for this sudden and simul
taneous uprising of the religious people. One of
the causes, if not the chief, was the introduction of
revivals by Methodist preachers, who, inspired by
the fervor, emotion and spirit of their work, became
enthusiastic, and soon manifestations of more than
ordinary interest followed.
The effect was to quicken the indifferent con
sciences of those who had become dull and torpid
to renew their vows, and to rouse them from
a lethargy of religious inactivity. The efforts and
preaching of Bishop Asbury, Freeborn Garrison,
John Crawford and others stimulated the pious
people to greater exertions, and organizations were
effected about 1790. The erection of church edi
fices followed, and a general revival was continued
and carried forward by other denominations with
success. Churches and religious societies have multiplied;
the work connected with their continuance requires
untiring zeal, spiritual devotion and many sacri
fices. Has the influence of religious teaching
upon the general advancement of moral ideas been
a success ? If it has done no more than arouse a
spirit of reform to live better lives, to be pure and
temperate, truthful and charitable, it has made so
ciety more safe and humane, inspired a higher and
nobler national life, and taught mankind the obli
gations of honesty and fidelity in the common
struggle for a livelihood.
Education. — During the Colonial Government
education received very little attention, and in the
thinly settled neighborhoods, away from the city,
was usually conducted in the family ; in time, sev
eral families would unite and employ a teacher.
As population increased, and prosperity brightened
their future, a growing interest for the advancement
of social and useful knowledge gave an impulse for
a more liberal system of education, and schools

were now organized through individual effort ; but
these met with more or less opposition until after
hostilities ceased. It was not until the commence
ment of the present century that districts were
arranged and schools organized by concentrating
the children of neighborhoods, and the employ
ment of qualified teachers by authority to instruct
in the primary branches and impart some knowl
edge of numbers. This advance was the starting
point for a better system and higher grade of con
ducting common schools, though the progress
which followed even after the State assumed control
of the schools was not entirely satisfactory.
For several years a routine system was adopted,
the result of which was a slow development of the
natural faculties of the pupils ; but there came a
demand for higher cultivation of those branches
that were essential for business pursuits and a pro
fessional life.
At the present time public opinion is advancing
in the interest of universal education, and the
opinion is sustained by the liberality of the State
and the intelligence of the people. Education
which reveals the natural laws that concern the
welfare and elevation of every individual is the
basis of modern philosophy and the recognized
system for the common schools.
It is certain that much progress has been made
in the past few years by the enlightened efforts of
educators, in the methods adopted, the course of
studies pursued, the higher grade of text books, and
the general appliances to aid in acquiring knowl
edge and in higher scientific research.
With continued exertion and a determination on
the part of teachers to honor their profession, they
may do much for their own recognition, as public
benefactors, and receive what their services deserve
from a grateful and liberal community. School
trustees should know how to spend money as well
as to economize, and the public are apt to be better
served when the faithful teacher receives a just
recompense. In the early history of the schools, teaching,
with many, was only a present means of support,
and too often the certificate of qualification was
given without regard to ability, tact, aptitude,
knowledge or judgment, and the teacher who
could enforce his orders and control to obedience
by the rod or ferule was a man to be highly com
plimented as one well accomplished to educate the
youth under his iron rule. But we have now dis
covered a better way. The wise trustee now em
ploys a man or a woman in the school under his
charge, who has the faculty of government, whose

THE TOWNSHIP OF BETHLEHEM.

787

rule is that of a higher intellect and a stronger
will power, ruling without violence in its little
kingdom. If the teachers of this day are in advance of their
predecessors, it is no more than should be ex
pected from the special training schools and
teacher classes established throughout the State by
an enlightened public policy of our common
wealth. Among some of the earlier teachers of Bethlehem
were Wallace, McCracken, Harmannes Van Huy-
sen, Goodhue, Talmage, Davis, Bennett, Smith,
Nelson (an old soldier), Jacob K. Marshal, Colley,
Hezekiah Burhans (author of a spelling book),
Miss Hoyt, Mrs. Porter, Daniel Haynes.
There are fourteen school districts, with the same
number of school-houses, in the township, employ
ing during the year ending September 30, 1883,
twenty different teachers.
The following table gives the statistics of each
district :

* i
0.2s s
<>

O wiO O OmO w>OiO 0 0 0 0
Q coO lOOW 01MM O ThiouiO
O mH n n«h w r-^oo 000 riTt
r^« m'mio pfvrT -T i-T cwxf n" cToo"
VO "")VO -h 0 -st-oo 00 tn N fO -4- N

i1
vol00 '
O

Paid Teachers Summer Term per Week.

OQOOOQOO"-iOOOQO
inooi'ioooot-^oooOO N OOOOOOO t-^r^t^ OvOO t-- 0 00 00

Paid Teachers for Winter Term per
Week.

OQOOOOOO mQ OOOO
li-iOO"-. OOO"">r^0OOO0
N OOOOOOOOO CAN COO t^ O 00 00

Total Paid Teachers.

OOOQONN"">Qv>OQQQ.O
(3 mO 0 ^O « OM 0\0 O 0 *
ONNNtNMO 0 o* « O o o
¦ N 0 |-' "1 W rO "1 OvOO NMW PI h
in»OLot*l^-,tmN^O r^N -tcnm

^3-

TotalAmount Usedin District for all Purposes.

l-~ O 00 O OiNO "tMN o. -d- "~>io
co t^O 00 -3- ?- rtfOfO^-O 'IN"!
N no r-- -3- O u-> n O 11OOVO "IN
O 1^.00 Ov rO Ov ro N WO fO^W"!
\D lOiOCOvt^tfl-M 1^00 ^TvO *T CI

0
00"

Whole
No. of
Days' Attendance

N -d- "") O 00 C-.00 C1VO — h- r^ ov Ov
vo of *- °0 ron-vo W C* "? ^? <£ - ^>
Nvit^rortcoinNNO cn ro -"* N

rn CN

¦jooqog Sur
-pu3}iy '°k

OvOO N « O M5 m>0 - r> - COO ¦+
\o\o« -^- -a- co r>. w oo ov -r -r co co

0

•aSy loou.3S
jo uwpiitio
J° "°N

01 000 00 u-i t- -tf-oo on os « vo r--^-
m ov^ m-d-vo ts cot--cooo t^r^oo

00 cr-

•;ou5S!Q -o^

w M CO -d" "1VO t-~00 ON O •« IS CO -d"

One of the first school-houses, built of logs, was
on the Nicolls farm, at Cedar Hill. In 1807, on

the day Fulton went up the river in his steamboat,
the scholars at this school witnessed the passage of
the boat, and the event made a lasting impression
upon their minds.
At that time this was the only school-house from
the Coeymans line to Albany ; there have been five
districts organized from this one, and they are
prosperous, with convenient and comfortable school-
houses and pleasant surroundings. The school-
houses of the township are all a great improvement
upon the past ; many are brick, the others are of
wood. Some are arranged for two departments
and employ two teachers.
Physicians. — At the close of the colonial govern
ment there were two American medical colleges — -
one in Philadelphia, the other in New York City.
The operations of both were suspended during the
Revolutionary War. The great majority of the
physicians and surgeons in the colonies had ob
tained what education they possessed in commen
cing practice by having served as apprentices to
medical practitioners, their duties embracing menial
offices as well as study and the compounding of
medicines. At the close of the war the two
American colleges resumed operations ; three
others came into existence- before the end of the
eighteenth century, and the number of graduates
from all these institutions at the beginning of the
nineteenth century had not much exceeded two hun
dred. During the first half of the present century,
medical colleges were multiplied rapidly and dis
tributed among the States, and many established in
small villages, which met the requirements of many
whose pecuniary resources were limited. During
the last quarter of a century there has been pro
gressive improvement in collegiate and post-col
legiate instructions by means of extensions of the
terms of lectures, the institution of special courses,
the systematic regulation of study with recitations,
and the advantages of public and private hospitals,
and the demonstrations in operative and clinical
surgery. The study, in a limited degree, of hygiene and
the laws relating to sanitary science in our public
schools is a step in advance, and there is reason to
hope that much may be accomplished in this new
direction, and for diffusing and encouraging as far
as practicable this means of knowledge the co-oper
ation of the public is essential; hence the impor
tance of awakening geneial interest on the subject.
Previous to 1800 there were no physicians loca
ted in the township. When a doctor was wanted,
Albany was near, and the services of one could
soon be procured.

788

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The following list contains the names of those
who were practicing physicians in the township.
Those marked with a * are dead. Among the first
were : Doctors Hallenbeck,* S. Bailey,* Clark,*
Delamater,* Day,* Dennick,* Frosser,* P. B.
Noxen,* G. Spalding,* Harris,* L. G. Warren,*
S. Dickson,* Thomas Lloyd,* D. Spingsteed.*
Following these were : John Babcock,* R. Y. Bul
lock,* French,* J. Van Allen,* J. H. Fitch, John
Bradley, Abram De Graff.
The present physicians located in the town are :
Charles E. Seger, atCallanan's; born in New Scot
land; received his preliminary education at Ash
land and Fort Edward; studied medicine with Drs.
Mosher and Fordenbergh; graduated from Albany
Medical College in 1863; practiced in Coeymans
two years; West Stockbridge, Mass., two years;
thence at Canaan Center and Canaan G. Corners,
Albany, Adams Station, and settled at Calanan's,
1882. Dr. James H. Gallup, at Adams Station; gradu
ated from Albany Medical College, 1871; settled
here 1881.
J. R. Davidson located at South Bethlehem in
1878. Union College in Sophomore and Junior
class ; pursued the study of medicine with Drs. S.
O. Vanderpool and Sickles; graduated from Al
bany Medical College in 1869, and commenced
the practice of medicine at Castleton, Rensselaer
County. D. C. Case graduated from Albany Medical
College in 1870; studied medicine with Drs. P. S.
Swart, of Schoharie, and Prof. Pomfret; practiced
medicine at Stamford, Delaware County, and located
at Slingerlands in 1877.

INCORPORATED SOCIETIES. IES.

-CEMETER-

The Bethlehem Mutual Insurance Association
was organized under the laws of the State in 1854.
The affairs of the Association are managed by a
board of eight Directors, from which are elected a
President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer,
and Executive Committee. The first Directors of
this Association were John Soop,* George F. In-
brie,. Richard Kimmey,* Christopher Becker,
Jeremiah Mead,* Samuel Van Allen, John Bab
cock, Leonard G. Ten Eyck .* The business of
the Association is divided into four distinct classes,
or risks, upon property insured.
The Secretary reports (December, 1883) as fol
lows :

* Dead.

Whole amount of property now insured in this
Association in First Class is  ...$904,700 00
In Second Class is  11,200 00
In Third Class is  4,°5° °°
In Fourth Class is  8>8o° °°
Total  *928> 75° °°
The present (1884) Directors and Officers are :
President, Albertus W. Becker; Vice-President,
John J. Mull; Secretary and Treasurer, G. F.
Imbrie ; David N. Mead, Isaac Van Allen, Rens
selaer Lasher, George C. Adams, Jacob Hotaling.
Bethlehem Conscript Society, an association for
protection against the depredations of horse thieves,
was organized August, 1875. The object of this
society is for the pursuit and recovery of horses and
wagons when stolen from any member. The first
officers were: A. W. Becker, Treasurer; William
Kimmey, Vice-Treasurer; John J. Mull, Isaac
Van Allen, John F. Shafer, Auditors. The
present officers: A. W. Becker, President and
Treasurer; William Kimmey, Vice-Treasurer; P.
A. Miller, Secretary ; John J. Mull and John S.
Russell, Auditors.
Bethlehem Grange, No. 137, organized March,
1874. Incorporated in accordance with State and
county laws. The lodge is located at Becker's
Corners, where they own a lot of land, upon which
is a two-story frame building, for lodge meetings,
and the distribution of stores to members. It is
valued at $2,000. The lodge numbers about 60
members. The first President was Jurian Winne.
John S. Lasher now fills that office.
The Light of Bethlehem, No. 118, Independent
Order of Good Templars, was instituted October
1, 1879, with twenty-two charter members. The
lodge holds its meetings in the Baumes Chapel, at
Cedar Hill. The following are the officers : J. S.
Baumes, W. C. T. ; J. G. Vandrezee, J. B. Baumes,
Eugene Sutta, Mrs. John Baumes, Jacob S. Nich
olson, Ed. McNary, Charles Shagnon, E. E. West-
fall, R. Baumes, William Hughes, Miss E. G.
Holmes, Mrs. F. G. Schemerhom, Stephen
Baumes, P. W. C. T. and L. D.
Friendly Union Lodge, No. 92, I. O. O. F., was
instituted at New Scotland village in 1848, and in
1858 the lodge was abandoned and charter surren
dered. The following, among others, were members:
David White, Joseph J. Moak, Peter V. W. Brooks,
Ebenezer E. Wands, John Craver, David Couse.
The lodge was reorganized as No. 381, I. O. O.
F., in 18 — , and in 1883 was removed to Slinger
lands, where they are now located and hold their
meetings.

THE TOWNSHIP OF BETHLEHEM.

789

A Mason's Lodge was instituted at Babcock's
Corners about 1820, and continued for several
years, holding their meetings at first at the house of
John Haswell, and then removing to the house of
John Kilderhouse about 1824. The following
persons were members : Henry B. Haswell, Abram
Drummond, John W. Wands, John H. Burhans,
Nathaniel Sawyer, Peter Esmay, John Haswell,
John Kelderhouse, Joshua Babcock, John P. Mc
Harg. Star of Bethlehem Division, No. 305, Sons of
Temperance, was organized at Adamsville, Febru
ary 14, 1868; removed to Slingerlands, and in
1 87 1 disbanded and surrendered their charter.
Bethlehem Cemetery Association, of the Town of
Bethlehem, Albany Co. , was organized November
3, 1865, pursuant to an act entitled "An act au
thorizing the incorporation of rural cemetery asso
ciations," being chapter 133 of the laws of 1847.
At this meeting the following were elected trustees
and officers : President, John Van Allen, M. D. ;*
Vice-President, Jacob Hotaling ; Secretary, Rev. J.
Lansing Pearse ; Treasurer, John H. Booth ;
Superintendent, George C. Adams ; Robert Fra
zier, Anell Crocker, George M. Bender, John M.
Hotaling. The grounds of the cemetery contain about
thirty acres, and are located four miles west
from the City of Albany and about half a mile east
of the Second Reformed Church, and the same dis
tance from Adamsville, the first- station on the Al
bany and Susquehanna Railroad. This cemetery
is laid out with taste and has much of the appear
ance of a park. The monuments are numerous,
and are noticeable for their variety and beauty. Or
namental trees thickly shade the avenues, and flow
ering shrubs add much to the variety.
The present officers are : R. G. Wilks, President;
Jacob Hotaling, Vice-President; Rev. J. L.
Pearse, Secretary; John M. Hotaling, Treasurer;
George C. Adams, Superintendent.
Elmwood Cemetery, near the First Reformed
Church, and on the Bethlehem plank road, con
tains ten acres of land, regularly arranged, with
many stately monuments and other attractions.
The front is beautifully shaded with a row of fine
elms, which add very much to the general appear
ance and surroundings. The association was or
ganized September, 1861. The present officers
and trustees are: Peter Niver, President; D. P.
Winne, Secretary ; Louis Myers, Treasurer ; -John
Bullock, Robert Selkirk, Zachariah Ryker.

Mount Pleasant Cemetery is located at South
Bethlehem, and was organized in connection with
the M. E. Church, in the year 1863. The land
was the gift of John Callanan, who was the first
person buried in the grounds. The lot contains
nine acres, and commands a fine view, has a grad
ual slope, convenient of access, and soil well
adapted for the purpose. The surroundings are
attractive, and improvements continually made,
which add to the interest of the sacred place. The
first officers were: Jehoichim Spawn, President; L.
C. Tuttie, Treasurer ; Frederick Schaubb, Secre
tary. The present trustees and officers are : James
W. Jolly, President and Treasurer ; Robert Mc
Donald, Secretary ; Hugh Mosher, Albert Tomp
kins, Andrew Ten Eyck, F. Schaubb, Henry Fri
day, Ambrose Wiltsie and Aaron Hicks.
" Cemetery of the Congregation Bethel" was or
ganized in 1838, with the following directors and
officers : President, Philip Aultman ;* Myers
Reiss,* Treasurer; N. Samson Schwartz,* Secre
tary. The present officers are : Simon Hessberg,
President ; Henry I. Hershberg, Treasurer; Sig-
mund Adler, Secretary. This cemetery is located
on the west bank of the Hudson River, one mile
south of the city, near the Abbey Hotel. The
officers live in the city.
First German Evangelical Lutheran Church
Cemetery is located at Bethlehem Center, and con
tains about five acres of land, and is tastefully laid
out in plats, with walks and avenues. It was or
ganized by the church society in 1874, with the
following officers, who are elected for three years :
Frederick Bilhaurser, President; David Spindler,
Treasurer ; Philip Pabst, Secretary. The present
officers are : Ludwick Domke, President ; Matthew
Demgen, Treasurer ; Philip Pabst, Secretaiy. All
reside in Albany.
Calvary Cemetery, of the St. John's Catholic
Church of Albany, is located on elevated ground at
Bethlehem Center, and contains seventeen acres of
land, beautifully situated and well adapted for the
purpose. A part of the lot is laid out, and shrub
bery with shade trees add much to its general orna
mentation. It is under the supervision of the
pastors and officers of the church.
The German Catholic Cemetery, connected with
the Church of the Holy Cross, Rev. Joseph Otten-
hues, pastor, Albany, is located near Bethel Center.
This cemetery, like the others in this vicinity, is
pleasantly situated, and the soil well adapted for
the purpose. *Dead.

790

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The Evangelical Protestant Cemetery at Hurst-
ville is connected with the "Evangelical Protest
ant Church," located in the City of Albany, on the
corner of Alexander and Clinton streets. It was
incorporated in 1853, and contains four acres.
The private burial grounds throughout the town
are numerous, and while a few families take some
interest in their preservation, they generally present
the same neglected and forsaken appearance. The .
fate that awaits the future of these sacred places is
sad to contemplate. They are overgrown with
rank weeds and wild shrubbery, and in many in
stances they are cultivated or exposed to the depre
dations of cattle. The monuments bend over the re
mains of those that they commemorate, the head
stones are often broken, and others buried under ac
cumulations of mold. Alas ! how soon are the dead
forgotten, and their place of rest among the things
of the past.
ROADS, BRIDGES, MANUFACTURES.
The roads of the township were originally nar
row paths, and were undoubtedly Indian trails.
The principal one extended along the west bank
of the river, and thence followed the course of the
Normanskill. Upon this line the early settlers
located, and when necessary to visit Albany they
went on foot, and if so fortunate as to be the
owner of a horse, this was used to carry any articles
for barter or sale, or for carrying the. bag of wheat
to the mill. In time these paths were widened,
when rude wagons were used with broad wooden
wheels, and the mother or daughter would ride
the horse, or one of the oxen, and the husband
walk to guide the team. As prosperity attended
the settlers, the roadways were improved and be
came of much importance.
April 9, 1804, the "Albany and Bethlehem
Turnpike Road" was incorporated, with a capital of
$34,800. This road is a continuation of South
Pearl street, passes through Kenwood and across
the Normanskill, thence south down to and just
below the Abbey Hotel, and also by an upper fork
out to Babcock's Corners, or Bethlehem Center, in
all about five miles. Has one toll-gate. Road
bed made of broken stone, and kept in excellent
condition. Is one of the pleasantest and most
picturesque drives out of the city. Edwin Safford,
Secretary and Treasurer.
This old turnpike is connected at Bethlehem
Center by the "South Bethlehem Plank Road,"
which extends south through Becker's Corners,
thence southwest to South Bethlehem, six miles.
This road was incorporated, July, 1851, for thirty

years, with a capital of $12,000. Preliminary
meeting held March 8, 1857, at which Dr. Leon
ard G. Warren acted as chairman, and Richard
Kinney secretary. April 12, 1851, the following
directors were elected : John B. Vanderzee, Barent
S. Winne, Philip Kimmey, James Schoonmaker,
John A. Sickles ; John Soop, Secretary and Treas
urer. June 28, Dr. John Babcock was elected a
director in place of Barent S. Winne, and John A.
Sickles elected President.
February 28, 1881, charter renewed by Board
of Supervisors for thirty years. The following are
the present officers : Leonard W. Soop, President ;
P. A. Miller, Secretary and Treasurer ; Peter R.
Vanderzee, D. P. Winne, Albertus W. Becker, H.
C. Vanderzee.
The use of plank has been abandoned on this
road, and gravel and stone substituted.
The Albany and Delaware Turnpike Company was
granted a charter, March 2, 1 805, to build, grade
and construct a road from Albany to Otego in Del
aware County. This road commenced at the
crossing of Lydius and Lark streets, and across the
Town of Bethlehem, passing through the Upper
Hollow, and thence to Adamsville and across the
Town of New Scotland .through Unionville and
Clarksville; thence across the southeast corner of
Berne and the northwest corner of Westerlo to
Rensselaerville. The road-bed was macadamized
on the sand and clay, but the hills were many and
not properly graded. For many years the road was
extensively traveled, but other roads and railroads
coming in competition, it was abandoned in 1868.
The capital stock was 6,000 shares of $25 each.
The first directors were Samuel Lansing, Abraham
Hun, Isaac Needer, of Albany City, Hollis More,
Asa Starkweather, Hugh Orr and Stephen Judd.
The "Albany, Rensselaerville and Schoharie
Plank Road Company" was granted a charter, March
25, 1850, to continue thirty years, with a capital
of $100,000, at $25 per share. The road was
graded and plank laid from Albany to New Salem,
twelve miles ; also from Bernville to Gallupville.
This portion of the road was abandoned after a
few years' use. From Salem to New Scotland no
plank are now used, but from New Scotland to
Albany the road is planked and in good condition.
This road affords very pleasant drives. The ori<ti-
nal directois were: Franklin Frisbee, Lansing
Pruyn, David H. Casey, Bradford R. Wood, Jacob
Settle, John I. Slingerland, Joseph Hilton, Reuben
Wyngar, Charles B. Gordon ; Lansing Pruyn,
President; David H. Carey, Treasurer; Charles M.
Jenkins, Secretary.

THE TOWNSHIP OF BETHLEHEM.

m

The charter, with amendments, was renewed
for thirty years, January 28, 1881. This road
started from a point on Lydius street, thence north
west to Hurstville and southwest to Slingerslands,
across the town of Bethlehem, thence west across
the town of New Scotland, passing through the
villages of New Scotland and New Salem.
Another company was organized and charter
granted about 1854, to construct a plank road
from Clarksville, passing across the southern foot
of New Scotland to Feura-Bush, thence across the
central part of Bethlehem to Bethlehem Center (or
Babcock's Corners), at which place it intersected
the "Albany and Bethlehem Turnpike Road."
The Albany and Susquehanna Railroad extends
for five and one-half miles across the northern part
of the township, commencing at the Kenwood
bridge and passing up and over to Normanskill,
through Adams Station and Slingerlands, thence
into the town of New Scotland. This road was
opened for travel in the summer of 1 863. Assessed
valuation, $40,000.
The New York, West Shore and Buffalo Rail
road passes over a portion of Bethlehem by two
tracks. The Athens and Saratoga road, which
passes across the southwest comer and opened in
1865, is now the main line of the West Shore road ;
a branch track extends from Coeymans Junction
along the river line to Albany. The two tracks of
this road in the town measure about 16 miles.
This road was opened in 1883. Assessed valua
tion, $80,000.
A short line of the Albany Railway extends from
the city line to Normanskill bridge. Assessed for
$400. American Telegraph Company assessed
for $850. Western Union Telegraph Company
for $600. MANUFACTURES AND INDUSTRIES.
The most extensive manufacturing establish
ments of the township are located upon Van Rens
selaer's Island. May 12, 1870, " The Corning
Iron Company " was incorporated with the following
trustees and officers : Irajagger, President; Albion
Ransom, Vice-President and Treasurer; Charles
E. Sackett, Supt; Erastus Corning, Jr., A. P.
Palmer, Charles B. Lansing, Charles Van Benthu-
sen. Land was secured on the island ; the works
were erected at great cost of labor and material, and
in September, 1871, the first iron was made.
The name of the company was changed by
the order of the Court to the " f agger Iron Com
pany,'' July 2, 1873. The company employed,

when in operation, 140 to 150 men. 40,000 tons
of ore were used yearly, obtained from Essex and
Oneida counties, and from Connecticut; 30,000
tons coal and 20,000 tons of stone were consumed,
and the product was 20,000 tons of iron annually
from two stacks. The present trustees and officers
are : James Hendrick, President ; *William B. Scott,
Vice-President; Ira Jagger, H. G. Burleigh, Ben
jamin Marsh, Lorenzo Hale, Silas Wetherbee.
The works closed in 1883. Assessed for $90,000.
Adjoining the above, on the northern end of the
island, are the extensive buildings and necessary
works of the "Albany City Iron Company," organ
ized in 1878. Has two blast furnaces, with a
capacity of 30,000 tons gross pig iron annually.
The fuel used is anthracite coal and coke from
Pennsylvania, of which 45,000 tons are required,
and 50,000 tons of ore, obtained from northern
and eastern New York, and from Spain. The iron
is distributed through the Eastern States and New
York. When in active operation, 160 men are
employed ; at present the works are closed.
Assessed for $130,000.
J. C. Huyck & Co. , at Kenwood, manufacture
wool-felts for paper-makers ; also plaid wool
blankets. They employ from 50 to 60 operatives.
About forty years ago the business of furnishing
molding sand to foundries, stove and hollow-ware
manufacturers was commenced by Mr. Clow ;
soon afterward Harvey Wood engaged in the
business and continued it for thirty years. The
industry is now carried on by Whitehead Bros.,
who ship sand to all parts of the United States.
About 500,000 tons are obtained from Bethlehem
township and landed at Albany for transportation.
The sand is obtained from a substratum, and varies
from one to two feet in thickness.
A few stone quarries exist, and are utilized for
building railroad bridges and other purposes.
Soldiers. — Governments are not stable ; colonial
authority in time became a burden ; the grand
principle of religious freedom and equality in
government, which had been taught the early ref
ugees of Europe, had only slept, waiting the great
resurrection that was to be baptized in blood ;
this brought in conflict two classes, widely differ
ent and widely disagreeing, which were not safely
fused until the Revolution came, with its struggles
and trials of fire. Territory now included in the
township of Bethlehem cannot boast of many patri
otic deeds, nor enter upon her record the names of
many of her citizens who were active participants in
* And Treasurer.

792

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

that bloody strife which gained our independence as
a nation at the cost of many lives and personal sac
rifices. Albany and vicinity seemed to be neutral
ground, and did not call for more than home pro
tection from the Tories and Indians. Hostilities,
generally, were not such as to alarm the people,
and the loyal were ever ready to protect their own,
and assist their neighbors from the outrages and
treachery of their enemies.
. At several places the Tories had rendezvous,
where they would meet with hostile Indians to
plot some secret attack or midnight raid upon the
neighbors. Conrad Soop was a soldier in the
Revolutionary war, and rendered honorable ser
vice for his country, as well as Conrad Friday,
who joined the band of patriots. Cornelius Van
Derzee, Jr., was a lieutenant in the army, and the
family have a six-pound cannon ball that was
fired into the Fort at Middleburg by the
British. There were many loyal families during
this war, which stood firm for the cause of inde
pendence, and with heart and hand gave what they
could. In the war of 1812 a fair quota was sent from
this township, who served with credit to themselves,
and others returned with honors won in the service.
The following names have been given of those who
went from this town; the list, perhaps, is not com
plete, as it is obtained from personal recollections,
and not one of the persons here mentioned is liv
ing : Walter Van Derzee, Peter W. Ten Eyck,
Jacobus Vroman, Garret Van Wie (captain), Peter
Boice, James Bailey, Jacob Soop, John C. Jarvis,
John Adams, James Wiltsie, Frederick Rowe, John
Callanan, Simon Kilmer, William Patterson, John
Hogan (captain), Joshua Babcock, Marcus Lasher,
John Oathout, Alexander Frasier (drummer), Jacob
Hilderbrant Many more names should adorn this
list, but no records are accessible, if they exist, from
which to obtain the names of others.
In that memorable year — 1861 — when the quiet
of our town seemed to be shaken by a terrible con
vulsion, and the rumbling shock spread over the
length and breadth of our land, we all remember
the thrill that awakened a spirit of patriotism when
the call came, and how prompt was the response
from the manhood and youth of this township to
give their service in maintaining the liberties and
integrity of the nation. Fidelity in the discharge
of their duty was characteristic of the brave volun
teers, and those who gave their lives in that fratri
cidal war we should remember with homage and
grateful consideration for the hardships and sacri
fices they endured, that the Union of States might

be preserved, the Constitution sacredly upheld, and
the freedom of all secured.
It is much to be regretted that the town officers,
whose duty it was to make a "Complete Record, as
requited by Chapter 690 of the Laws of 1865,
relating to Officers, Soldiers and Seamen comprising
the quotas of the Troops furnished to the United
States by this Township in the War of the
Rebellion"— a copy of which should be in the
office of the Town Clerk— have neglected to com
ply with the law, and thus the town is defrauded
of a valuable historical record, which cannot, at
this time, be compiled or collected with accuracy.
It is from neglect of this kind that so much of value
is lost to the historian and general reader; the
present is soon lost in the future ; personal recollec
tions perish with the possessor, while records are
available for all time.
The military spirit of the township is buried in
the past ; no organizations of this character exist.
Formerly, the State militia and a uniformed com
pany, the "Bethlehem Grays," and a company of
cavalry, were the pride of the people, and the mili
tary drills and parades of this company were attended
by every person who had leisure. The usual drill,
on the first Monday in September, was a gala day,
which terminated in a grand entertainment and ball
at night.
The Grand Review, or General Training, was a
day of anticipation and preparation by old and
young for weeks before the great event took place.
On this day — about the middle of September of
each year — the military organizations of several
towns forming a brigade met at a central location
and were reviewed by the superior officers. It was
a veritable holiday. All who could possibly attend
seemed to enjoy the occasion with a freedom and
independence now no longer permitted. Wagons,
stands and booths were numerous and well sup
pled with eatables of many kinds ; pumpkin pies
and gingerbread in great abundance, loads of
fruit, nuts, candies, and sweet cider were dispensed
to the hungry and thirsty.
These were the days of "Auld Lang Syne!"
In their place we have substituted the camp, with
its glare and glitter, pomp and parade, only to be
enjoyed by the few.
In 1807 William Haswell was appointed by Gov.
Lewis a Lieutenant of Infantry, and in 1814
Gov. Tompkins promoted him to the office of
Captain in the One Hundred and Fiftieth Regiment,
under Col. John H. Burhans.
Civil List. — Names of persons who have served
one or more terms in the office designated :

THE TOWNSHIP OF BETHLEHEM.

1 93

Senator, 1797.— Francis Nicoll.
Members of Assembly.— Francis Nicoll, David Burhans,
John H. Burhans, Elishama Janes, John L. Winne, John D.
Winne, Abram Brooks, John Haswell, William N. Sill,
Richard Kimmey, John I. Slingerland, Cornelius Vanderzee,
Robert Babcock, John Vanderzee, William Y. Snyder, John
Sager, William H. Slingerland, Daniel P. Winne.
Member of Congress.— John I. Slingerland.
•S«m>gBfe.— Justus Haswell.
Sheriffs.— William P. Brayton, John Wemple.
County Clerks.— Conrad A. Ten Eyck, Henry B. Has
well, Robert Babcock, William E. Haswell.
Commissioners of ScAool.— John G. Vanderzee, L. Carter
Tuttie, JohnC. Nott, John F. Shafer, Alexander R. Baker.
Supervisors. — From 1818. — Moses De Long, David Bur
hans, Henry L. Mead, William N. Sill, Matthew Bullock,
Gerrit Hogan, James Alexander, Leonard G. Ten Eyck.
From 1832. —David Springsted, James B. Wands, Joshua F.
Babcock, Abner Udell, Abram Van Derhyden, Francis I.
Shafer, John McHarg, Jeremiah Mead, Elias Milbank,
George F. Imbrie, John Patterson, John Wilkes, William
Kimmey, Albertus W. Becker, George C. Adams, John
Wemple, Peter D. Johnson, W. Chancey Hotaling, William
L. Flagen, John L. Winne.
Justices of the Peace. — After 1833. — James Holiday, Con
rad Baumes, Hiram Babcock, Abram Wood, Volkert V.
Bullock, James Alexander, David Bussell, Richard Wood,
John Soop, Henry H. Burhans, Levi Cornell, George A.
Leggett, Hugh J. Alexander, Sanford Bennett, Henry
J. Snyder, Stephen V. R. Slade, Peter H. Bradt, Jeremiah
Wood, Stephen Baumes, William Hurst, L. C. Tuttie,
Walter T. Hotaling, Andrew C. Wood, David Couse,
Leonard W. Soop, David H. Van Cott.
Town Clerks. — From 1833. — Henry B. Haswell, David I.
Burhans, John V. L. Burhans, Jacob Springsted, Alexander
F. McGill, Hiram Babcock, Henry I. Creble, James W.
Bender, John Birch, Dayid P. Kimmey, Hiram Hotaling.
David Couse, William Kimmey, David M. Niver, R. C.
Main, J. G. Hotaling, John J. Bradt, Washington Groos-
beck, Eli Bell, William Sible, John Simpson, George Brindle,
Isaac Bulger, David L. Walley, Wendel Bender, E. M. Van
Auken, Thomas J. Winne, Edwin Hotaling, Charles A.
Niver, Henry V. Long.

The following members of the Nicoll family
have held office, viz. : Richard Nicoll, Governor,
1664; William Nicoll, Register, 1683; Mathias
Nicoll, Commissary of Judges, 1686; Richard
Nicoll, Examiner in Chancery, 1740; Rensselaer
Nicoll, Judge, 1762 ; Francis Nicoll, Dep. to Pro
vincial Congress, 1775-76 ; Senator in 1797.
In the public and political affairs of the town
there is a spirit of progress and reform that has
been well sustained by those whose duty it was to
advance the interests of the people; the educational
facilities for a higher culture of the intellect and for
scientific- attainments have been improved. The
various churches and societies encouraging moral
reform have exercised a controlling influence for
good in the community, and this influence is in
creasing. The leading questions that affect the
happiness and prosperity, temporal and spiritual,
of the people are discussed by many with freedom,
and the community enjoy that prosperity which
comes to honest industry and personal integrity,
directed by intelligence and carried on from year to
year with persevering zeal.
Jason V. Haswell — Lives west of Bethlehem
Center on part of old homestead. Is grandson of
Capt. Wm. Haswell, of New York militia during
the war of 18 12, and son of Samuel J. Haswell, de
ceased, who was born on old homestead in 1826,
and died in 1874, and was a most exemplary and
worthy citizen.
Jacob J. Soop- — Settled at Selkirk in 1849, at
which time he purchased from John L. Sill part
of the Col. Francis Nicoll grant, one of the oldest
titles on record in the county. The West Shore Rail
road crosses this farm.
Rensselaer Lasher. — Is a farmer and resident
of Mount Pleasant. The farm has been in the Lasher
family for 50 years, contains 135 acres, and is
one of the best in the county, situated four and one-
half miles from city limits.

794

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

*,">•

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ALBERTUS W. BECKER.
Albertus Becker, a native of Holland, was one
of three landowners and heads of families who lived
along the old road from the Onesquethau Creek to
the river ; he was married to Helen Van Derzee.
Their son Walter was the great-grandfather of Al
bertus W. Becker. He married Anna De Ridder,
of Schuylerville, Washington County, and had sev
eral children, one of whom was Albertus W. Becker,
ist, grandfather of his namesake mentioned
above. He was born in 1772, and married Polly
Van Der Heyden in 1800. He died about 181 5,
leaving a widow and two sons and three daughters.
The second son was Walter Becker, who was born
in 1806, married Maria Van Derzee, daughter of
Cornelius Van Derzee, December 21, 1831, and
died March 11, 1864. His widow and three
children survived him, and one child had died
previously. Albertus W. Becker, the eldest child of Walter
and Maria (Van Derzee) Becker, was born Decem
ber 12, 1834. He was educated in the district
schools of his native town, and at the West Poult-
ney Troy Conference Academy of West Poultney,
Vt. Leaving the institution just named at the age
of seventeen, he took charge of his father's farm,
the latter being in ill health, and at his father's

death he inherited the old homestead at Becker's
Corners, where he has since resided in the house
built by his grandfather in 1800. In 1862 he was
elected supervisor of the town of Bethlehem. At
this time the civil war had begun, and important du
ties devolved upon the incumbent of the office of
supervisor in every town in the State. At a
meeting of the citizens of the town, held at Bethle
hem Center, to provide for the enlistment of a suffi
cient number of volunteers to fill the quota re
quired from the town, Mr. Becker and Gen.
Leonard G. Ten Eyck were appointed a committee
to secure the men desired. They established their
rendezvous in what is now the south part of the City
of Albany, and were successful in securing the requi
site number of recruits — about forty — in about thirty
days, most of them enlisting under Capt David
Burhans and forming a part of the Forty-third
Regiment, N. Y. S. Vols. During the winter
of 1862-3, with Peter R. Van Derzee and Justus
Haswell, he visited the Forty-fourth Regiment at
Hall's Hill, Virginia. In 1871 Mr. Becker was
again elected supervisor and re-elected for three
succeeding terms, serving continuously from 1871
to 1874 inclusive. A Republican, and an interest
ed observer of public affairs, Mr. Becker has never
been a politician in ihe sense in which the word is
commonly applied. He has not been a seeker

THE TOWNSHIP OF BETHLEHEM.

795

CORNELIUS V. BAKER.

after office, and such trusts as have been imposed
in him have been filled with credit both to himself
and his fellow citizens. The prosperity of the
town and of its general interests has always been a
subject of moment with him, and he has long been
identified with some of Bethlehem's most promi
nent business enterprises. For about fifteen years
he was president of the South Bethlehem Plank
Road Company, in which he has been a stockhold
er since the opening of the road, and a director
about twenty years. Soon after the organization
of the Bethlehem Mutual Insurance Association,
he became connected with it, and about ten years
ago became its president and one of its directors,
and has held those positions continuously to the
present time. Upon the organization of the Beth
lehem Conscript Society, an association for
protection against the depredations of horse-thieves,
in 1875, Mr. Becker, who had been instrumental in
forming the society, was chosen its treasurer and
acting president, and has since held that position.
November 17, 1858, Mr. Becker married Miss
Anna Haswell, daughter of Joseph Haswell, of
Bethlehem, a descendant of one of the early settlers
of the town. They have one son and two daugh
ters. Though not a member of any religious body,

Mr. Becker has contributed liberally to the support
of the First Reformed Church of Bethlehem.
CORNELIUS V. BAKER.
Cornelius V. Baker is one of the most prominent
public men of the town of Bethlehem, descending
on his father's side from an old English family who
settled, in the person of his great-grandfather, Joab
Baker, in Roxbury, Conn. His grandfather, also
named Joab, settled in Coeymans, in 1791, and
married Hannah Ashmerd, whose father was one
of the pioneer settlers of Albany.
They had seven children, of whom the eldest was
John Baker, the father of the subject of this sketch.
He married Margaret Vroman, and for many years
lived a retired life in North Adams, Mass. He
died in 1882, at the advanced age of 86, at the
residence of his son, Cornelius V. Baker, with
whom he made his home during the waning years
of his life. He was a man of rare intelligence and
sterling worth. His wife, Margaret, died in 1823,
leaving three small children.
Cornelius Vroman Baker, their only son, born
in 1 8 1 9, was then four years of age, and was reared
on the old homestead in Coeymans.

796

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

AMBROSE WILTSIE, Jr.

He early displayed a taste for agricultural pur
suits and business, and devoted himself with rare per
severance to the accumulation of landed property.
In 1846 he married Caroline Lasher and settled
on part of the Sill farm, which he leased for a term
of years, purchasing before the expiration of the same
120 acres of the tract The present homestead
was afterward added, and subsequently additions
have been made until the tract, known as Grand
View Farm, comprises 450 acres. Mr. and Mrs.
Baker have had eight children, four of whom are
living; three sons — Alexander R., Charles N. and
Edward E., a daughter, Abbie S., all of whom have
enjoyed liberal educational advantages.
In connection with his farming operations, Mr.
Baker was for several years extensively engaged in
lumbering and rafting pile timber to New York.
He was also connected for a number of years with
the forwarding and commission business from
Albany, Cedar Hills and Coeymans to New York.
In 1872 he was nominated for Member of As
sembly by the Liberal Republicans of his District,
and met with the fate of the party, since which
time he has led the life of a gentleman farmer, and
devoted himself wholly to agricultural pursuits,
bringing his farm to such a high state of cultivation
that "Grand View" now ranks as the largest, most
productive and valuable farm in Albany County.
It is situated on the west bank of the Hudson, op
posite Castleton, eight miles south from Albany,

consisting of rolling upland, sloping gently to ex
tensive fields of rich alluvial bottom lands, extend
ing over a mile along the river.
Mr. Baker is a self-made man, and in his bus
iness enterprises has been remarkably successful.
He is noted for clear judgment and accurate con
clusions, and many young and middle-aged men
are indebted to his advice or help for their advance
ment in life. As a public man, he has filled a large
measure of usefulness, being foremost in all enter
prises for the common good. As a neighbor, he has
always been ready to lend a helping hand. The
good that such men do lives after them.
AMBROSE WILTSIE, Jr.
The first of the name of Wiltsie in Bethlehem
was William Wiltsie, from Dutchess County, who,
in 1795, came into the town and located on a
tract of land embracing the farm now owned by
Ambrose Wiltsie, Jr., which he purchased from
Stephen Van Rensselaer, buying the possession
from Nicholas See, who had previously taken up
the land and made some improvements on it. He
died in 1797, and the property passed into the
possession of his children, one of whom, and the
youngest son, was Ambrose Wiltsie, Sr., who was
born in 1787, and was about nine years of age
when his father took up his residence in the town.
Ambrose Wiltsie became a substantial farmer and

THE TOWNSHIP OF BETHLEHEM.

797

a respected citizen of the town. He married Mag
dalene Miller, a native of Connecticut, who with her
father's family moved into Coeymans from Dutchess
County in 1795, the same year in which William
Wiltsie became a resident of Albany County, and
died in 1856. His wife bore him eight sons, of
whom seven grew to manhood, and two daughters,
and died in September, 1879, aged ninety-four years.
Ambrose Wiltsie, Jr. , was born in the same house
in which he now lives, April 3, 1828, and is the
youngest of the eight sons of Ambrose and
Magdalene (Miller) Wiltsie, of whom only two
others are living. He was reared on the farm,
where his services were required while he was yet
quite young. Until he began the regular life of a
farmer boy, he attended the public school several
terms, summer and winter ; after that he attended
only in the winter, until he attained his majority.
He then became a student in Cazenovia Seminary,
at Cazenovia, New York, where he remained dur
ing most of two years. • He returned to Bethlehem,
and, upon the death of his father in 1856, came in
to possession of the old Wiltsie homestead, which
he had worked on shares since he was nineteen in
partnership with his brothers. On January 15,
1862, he married Hannah Elizabeth Witbeck, a
daughter of Jasper Witbeck, of Coeymans, who died
in the following September. November 20, 1873,
he married Mrs. Catherine M. Slack, the widow of
Frederick Slack, and daughter of Jacob Kimmey,
of North Bethlehem.
While at Cazenovia Seminary, Mr. Wiltsie ob
tained a knowledge of surveying. In connection
with his farming, he did much surveying until
January, 1882, since which time he has been in
capacitated for such service. Following in the foot

steps of his father, who had long manufactured
cider, Mr. Wiltsie continued to manufacture it,
increasing the business from year to year until,
during the past twenty years, it has been quite ex
tensive. About the time mentioned, he added the
manufacture of vinegar, in which he has since been
largely engaged.
On the 25th of January, 1882, while out in the
woods, on his farm, overseeing and aiding some
hired men, who were cutting down trees for logs.
Mr. Wiltsie, standing in a stooping posture, was
struck in the small of the back by a falling limb.
The blow broke his back, and, as is supposed, cut
off the spinal cord. Since that time the lower
part of his body has been paralyzed, and he has
been unable to move about except in a wheeled
chair or other conveyance. His case is a very
peculiar one in many of its features and has attract
ed the attention of many eminent physicians and
surgeons, the wonder being that he survived the
accident. Aside from the disability described, he
is in a perfectly healthy condition, and has a reason
able expectation of living an average lifetime at
least; and notwithstanding the disadvantage at
which he is placed, he constantly and ably man
ages all of his business affairs.
Mr. Wiltsie's grandfather on his mother's side,
John Miller, was born in Alsace, Germany, and
during the Revolutionary War fought for the
American cause, under the Marquis de Lafayette,
whom he accompanied to the New World on his
memorable mission of freedom. Soon after the
close of the Revolution, he settled in Connecticut,
and there married Zabrina Bradford. Later he re
moved to Dutchess County, whence he soon re
moved to Coeymans.

798

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

UMOsy^ r/^yWhJU

JURIAN WINNE.
Jurian Winne, a prominent citizen and agricul
turist of Bethlehem, Albany County, was born in
that place, March, 1816. In descent, personal
habits and character he belongs to the sturdy, fru
gal and industrious early settlers of Albany County.
For two hundred years or more the Winne family,
from father to son, have turned over the soil of the
old homestead with characteristic thriftiness, wear
ing it better instead of wearing it worse. The
farm is situated in the town of Bethlehem, about
eight miles from Albany, on the Plains of Jericho,
two miles south of Jerusalem. Here, among
cows and calves and choice sheep, with Indian and
Revolutionary traditions for a heritage, and the
rough discipline of the farm for high school, Jurian
passed his boyhood. He attended the common
school of his native place until he was fifteen years
of age, and by close application gained more than
an average education for that time. His start in
life was a part of the maternal acres leased him on
condition of furnishing half the seed, paying half
the taxes, doing all the work, and receiving one-half
the returns when converted into cash. This train
ing in economy, laboriousness, business forethought

and the application of common sense to studying
the conditions of agricultural success, laid the foun
dation of the scientific farmer, who, later in life, as
tonished while he taught his neighbors the value
and efficacy of virtue, intelligence and knowledge
in a pursuit which seems to be the last to profit by
human experiment and experience. At the age of
twenty-one he married Mary A. , daughter of Chris
tian Houck, a prominent hotel-keeper, widely
known throughout the country. Mrs. Winne is a
lady of rare graces of mind and heart, and enters
warmly into all the plans of her husband, taking a
deep interest in all movements where his sympa
thies lead him, while at the same time she dispenses
a generous hospitality at their lovely country home,
no caller there being permitted to depart without
sharing in their noble-hearted courtesy. Mr.
Winne's memory is rich in reminiscences of his
early ancestors, their privations and hardships and
fights with the Indians and Tories of Revolution
ary times. His great-grandfather, Francis Winne,
was one of the pioneer families from Holland who
settled Albany county, and purchased and settled
the land now owned by the subject of this sketch.
An oil painting of him, executed when he was
only eighteen years of age (over one hundred and

^^ £ %%„

'"H>PU^

THE TOWNSHIP OF BETHLEHEM.

.'99

sixty years ago), is now in Mr. Winne's possession,
and is pronounced by critics to be a masterpiece of
art. Mr. Palmer, the sculptor, says it is one
of the best pictures he has ever seen in all his
travels. Mr. Winne's mother was Susan Hogan, daughter
of Jurian Hogan of Revolutionary fame, who was
so well esteemed by the Liberal party that he was
commissioned a Colonel, while the Tory party
evinced their appreciation of his importance by
offering a reward for his scalp. The Hogan farm
of 300 acres joined the Winne farm, and the home
stead is still in possession of the family. Mr.
Winne has taken an active interest in everything
pertaining to the advancement of agriculture. He
was one of the four organizers of the Albany County
Agricultural Society, and was for two years vice-
president of the State Agricultural Association.
Sheep-raising and winter-feeding is the specialty in
which he excels. Among his Leicester sheep he
exhibited one that weighed 290 pounds at eighteen
months old. Another had wool twenty-four
inches long at two and a half years. His address
on winter-feeding before the Agricultural Society
of the State of New York attracted the most favor
able attention, and 5,000 copies were printed and
distributed throughout the State. Being thor
oughly alive to every movement in the interest of
farmers and the encouragement of honesty in the
administration of public affairs, Mr. Winne was
the first to organize a grange in his vicinity, and
acted as treasurer of the State organization.
Through his efforts the incorporation of the grange
was effected, and he originated the measure which
was subsequently enacted by the Legislature,
whereby the New York City and Brooklyn ordi
nances for baling hay, and which operated disas
trously upon farmers, were done away with. In this
movement Mr. Winne, aided by only one other
gentleman, was opposed by six New York and
Brooklyn lawyers, who appeared before Governor
Tilden to contest the passage of the bill into a law.
Governor Tilden, however, signed Mr. Winne's
bill, and thereby afforded great relief to the
farmers. For this Mr. Winne became a firm friend
and adherent of the Governor, and during the
presidential campaign of 1876 labored zealously
for his election, canvassing, with his team and
buggy, five counties to accomplish that end. Mr.
Winne is also a great admirer of the late Peter
Cooper, for whom, during the latter years of his
life, he entertained a sincere friendship, and was a
welcome guest at the house of the venerable phil
anthropist whenever he visited New York. He
was one of the first to aid in the organization of
the Greenback party, and was nominated by that
party for State Treasurer in 1879. Although real
izing that there was no chance for his election, he
entered the contest with a hearty will, and can
vassed Albany County, speaking almost every
evening for a week. Mr. Winne's vote, under the
circumstances, was respectable and flattering,
being about one hundred in excess of that of any
other candidate on his ticket in his district Mr.
Winne's liberality is proverbial. His deeds of

practical, substantial charity are beyond enumera
tion or specific mention, because he is one of those
rare men who "let not the left hand know what
the right hand doeth. " The indigent and unfortu
nate have been the recipients of his bounties unex
pectedly, and have been made to rejoice in the
midst of their mourning. He is a man who ap
preciates worth of character in the circles of pov
erty as highly as in those of the affluent, and his
society is sought as freely by the latter as by the
former. Mr. Winne is a gentleman of sterling
integrity. He is a strict constructionist as regards
financial trusts, and as such commands the respect
and confidence of his party and his fellow men
generally. Possessing one of the most productive
farms in Albany County, with every improvement
in machinery, and with a scientific knowledge of
his calling, strengthened by long experience and
observation, he is a conspicuous and worthy repre
sentative of the great farming interests of the State.
JOHN L. WINNE.
This gentleman is one of the best known and
most popular citizens of the town of Bethlehem.
He ranks as a leading farmer and is recognized as
one of the progressive, self-made men of the town.
Born in Berne, a member of an old and respected
family of that town, he received the rudiments of
an education in the common schools, and began
active life as a farmer lad. When he began farm
ing on his own account it was on a rented farm,
and in company with another young man, their
united means being necessary to stock and work
the place. He has lived successively in the towns
of Berne, Knox, New Scotland and Bethlehem, and,
commanding the respect of all with whom he has
associated, his advancement has been sure, if not so
rapid as that of many less conscientious and more
speculative men. His farm, near Adamsville, is
one of the neatest and most productive in the town,
presenting evidences of care and industrious culti
vation. He has long been happily married, and
around him are a family of bright and interesting
children, one of whom, a son, bids fair to rise to
prominent rank in the town. Politically, Mr.
Winne is a stanch Republican, and has been such
since attaining his majority. He is not a politician
or a seeker for office; but, in recognition of his
integrity and ability, he has been three times suc
cessively (in 1883, 1884 and 1885) elected to the
responsible office of Supervisor of Bethlehem, the
last time against strong, wealthy and influential op
position both in the town and county. His ad
ministration of the trust thus reposed in him has
done him great credit and won the approbation of
his fellow citizens. Mr. Winne's success in life is
but the just reward of industrious endeavor and an
inherent desire to render unto all men that which
is honestly their due. Such men are a credit to
the age in which they live, and perform their part
in making the world better for those who come
after them, for it is the small duties of life well done
that make up the sum total of all earthly prog-

soo

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

We take pleasure in making mention of the fol
lowing gentlemen, who, by their guaranteed sup
port, aided in the publication of this valuable work :
-Francis Baker, Francis Selkirk, P. Van Wie,
G. P. Noyes, C. V. Niver, Ambrose Wiltsie, Jacob
J. Soop, P. H. Van Derzee, Wm. Kimmey, A. W.
Becker, J. Lansing Pearse, D. P. Winne, Jurian
Winne, John Wemple, L. W. Soop, John M. Staats,
John J. "Mull, Garrett Van Allen, John L. Winne,
D. Van Allen, W. T. Hotaling, Jno. H. Schoon
maker, Albert Westervelt, O. S. Haswell, Rensselaer

Lasher, David N. Mead, Peter McCormick, Jas.
Schoonmaker, Geo. M. Bender, Jno. M. Hough
taling, James Patterson, H. V. H. Onderdonk,
John McHarg, George Lasher, C. A. Niver,
C. V. Baker.
Rev. Lansing Pearse has been for twenty-nine
years engaged in the work of the ministry, twenty-
five years of which time he has been located at
Adamsville, Albany County, New York.
J. W. Mattice is a resident of Slingerland and
has been practicing law since 1847.

HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF BERNE.

By Rev. ROBERT DOIG-, M. A..

I.— ITS GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.
BERNE is located on the Helderberg Mountains.
It is the central town resting upon this ridge,
and from its position may be regarded as the back
bone of the Helderbergs.
Helder is the name of a fort in Holland, signify
ing strength or firmness; hence the character of
the town; the firmness, stability and heroic nature
of its early inhabitants.
Some say that the mountains were called
" Hellebergs," Helle meaning light or clear, from
the clear and far-off prospect given from them to
the early German settlers.
Berne is also the central western town of the
county, and was a part of the Manor of Rensselaer
wyck. It was formed from Rensselaerville on
March 17, 1795, and Knox was detached from it
in the year 1822.
The town is bounded on the north by Knox, on
the east by New Scotland, on the south by Rensse
laerville and Westerlo, and on the west by Scho
harie County.
Its area originally was 64,447 acres; its present
area is 3.8,942 acres.
IL— ITS NATURAL FEATURES.
Along the northern part of the town is a ridge
rising abruptly from the bed of the Foxenkill.
This ridge, being divided by nature, takes the
names of Grippy (origin unknown), Irish Hill,
from the Scotch-Irish settlers who first located there,
and the Uhai (high garden), from a spot upon its
summit cultivated by the Indians, and which may
still be pointed out. The altitude of these distinct
spurs is said to be about two hundred feet, and the

town itself from nine to twelve hundred feet above
tide- water.
These mountains belong to the Silurian division,
but here and there Devonian rocks are found.
More than a dozen distinct species of fossils or
petrifactions and minerals are found among these
hills, such as the fine and coarse grit sandstone,
hone-slate, with some sulphates of iron, magnesia,
alumina, snowy gypsum, calcareous spar, etc.
In front of the house of Mr. Williams, on the
right hand side of the road, in the Village of Knox
(according to an early geological report of Prof.
Eaton), is the best locality for ammonites, pecti-
nites, turbinites and terebratulites.
As our history overlaps the town of Knox before
its organization, we may mention the Berne cavern
as containing encrinites, favosites and anthoce-
pholites. Along the bed of the Foxenkill may be found
corallinites. The south and west parts of the town are hilly.
The hills are separated by rocky ravines, through
which flow small streams of water. One such
ravine, termed the "Gulf," is a natural curiosity.
It affords a passage way for a single wagon, along
which the tops of the mountains rise many hundreds
of feet.
The principal streams of the town are the Foxen
kill and the Switzkill. The Foxenkill rises in
the northeastern part of the town, in Thompson's
Lake, and flows in a southwesterly direction, partly
underground, toward Warner's Lake, and then in
the same course through Berne, West Berne, and so
on to the Schoharie Creek. Its fall during the en
tire length is several hundreds of feet, so that it is
impetuous and rapid.

THE TOWNSHIP OF BERNE.

801

The Switzkill rises in Rensselaerville and flows
almost northward, emptying into the Foxenkill at
what is termed the "Old Water."
These streams aie of sufficient importance to the
town in furnishing the power necessary to drive the
extensive saw and grist-mills, which have been
erected over them, from the earliest times to the
present. The soil along the banks of these streams is very
fertile, and affords excellent pasture. On the hill
sides and mountain tops the soil is to a great extent
valuable for all kinds of grain and farm produce;
in many places, however, it is very light and is used
only for pasture for sheep.
In an early agricultural report, the soils on the
following farms are especially noted : Gideon
Taber's, Andrew Brown's, Nathaniel Gallup's,
Almerin Hubbell's and Wheeler Denison's. What
has always been known as the Beaverdam is a
valley which was divided between upper and lower,
extending from Warner's Mills at East Berne to
Post's Mills at West Berne. The dam proper was
at a point on the creek near the residence of
Peter Schell, and was of such a character as to
give the name to the Dutch church which was
then near by, and also to the villages along the
valley line.
Warner's Lake, situated one mile north of the
village of East Berne, is a small body of water
covering an area of one hundred acres. It took
its name from Johannes and Christopher Warner,
who settled on its banks before the organization of
the town, and whose descendants still continue to
occupy the land around it. It takes its rise in a
spring on the farm of Christopher Warner and is
also fed from Thompson's Lake. The water is very
clear and stocked with different kinds of fish. On
the east side is a beautiful growth of young trees,
which has been extensively patronized by picnic
and camping parties.
Thompson's Lake, named from John and Wil
liam Thompson, lies in the northeast part of the
town, and is partly in the town of Knox. It has
an area of one hundred and ten acres.
A rocky ledge on the southern boundary is cov
ered with a growth of trees and is used as a camp
ing and picnic ground.
This lake has recently attracted to it many
boarders from Albany and other places. Ten
years ago there was but a single dilapidated struc
ture on its western shore, which could neither be
sold nor rented.
William J. Hart was the first to see and take hold
of the project of keeping boarders, and has now a

large house on a spot which commands a view of
the entire lake, and is called the Lake View
House. The success of the enterprise was such
that there are now three boarding-houses well
filled during the summer.
This geological formation generally contains
mineral springs. Within the limits of the town
there are several powder or sulphur springs.
Two of these are upon the land of Jacob Hoch-
strasser, are named in an early geological report as
of considerable importance, and give name and
character to the large boarding-house erected near
them in 1880. Their capacity is daily five hun
dred and three hundred gallons.
Upon the farm of Thomas J. Wood is another
spring of the same character, and there is still
another upon the farm of John Miner Deitz, in the
valley of the Switzkill.
On the land of Alfred Hungerford, at Reidsville,
is a spring impregnated with carbonate of iron and
a little sulphuretted hydrogen. Its water is as clear
as crystal, while its character is strongly marked.
It is worth)- of inspection as being the only one '
of this nature known to exist in the town.
III.— ITS EARLY SETTLEMENT.
There were but about eight families who origi
nally settled this town. These were the Weidmans,
Zehs, Balls, Deitzes, Knieskems, Shultes, Basslers
and Hochstrassers. Jacob Weidman was one of
the pioneer settlers and is supposed to have been
the leader of the party. He came from the city of
Berne, Switzerland, with his wife and four sons,
and located in the town as early as 1750.
He is acknowledged as having had the honor of
giving the name to the town, which may have been
accorded him from his priority of settlement, or
his extensive ownership of land, or the particular
influence which he exerted upon his neighbors.
The route taken by the party was along the line
of an Indian foot-path leading in the direction of
Schoharie. An Indian familiar with the country
was chosen as their guide.
Their furniture, provisions, tools, etc. , were car
ried upon their backs. Foot-sore and weary, and
camping here and there along the way, they at
length reached a spot, now the site of the village of
Knox. While encamped here a dispute arose, the cause
of which is supposed to be as to who should be the
recognized leader. But, be that as it may, the
quarrel was of such importance as to give to the
spot the name of " Fechtberg," or fighting hill.

802

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

An earlier historian, in mentioning this fact, states
that the dispute was settled, and that the party kept
on their course to Schoharie.
The writer, however, believes that this dispute
caused such a division in the party as to separate
it, the one part going to Schoharie, and the other
remaining in the town of Berne. This is confirmed
by certain dates found upon the rough head-stones
in the Pine Grove Cemetery at Berne, which has
ever since been recognized as a burial plot. The
date upon one of these is 1700, another 1720, and
still another bears the date of 1728.
Nor does this militate against the common
opinion that the town was settled from Schoharie,
since parts of the same families were afterward in
duced to return.
Jacob Weidman took up the land on the banks
of the Foxenkill, on the site of the village of Berne,
a tract covering many hundreds of acres, and reach
ing in width from the village of Berne to the road
running northward, near the boarding-house of
Jacob Hochstrasser.
He had been by occupation a miller in his native ¦
city of Berne, in Switzerland. He located himself
at a point on the Foxenkill where he thought a
mill could be best planted, and here established,
as soon as circumstances permitted, the first
grist-mill and saw-mill in the town. These mills
were known as early as 1787 as Weidman's
Mills. The mill property itself consisted of thirty acres
of land. It was leased in 1 790 to Jacob Weidman
for sixteen years, at a rental of £7. At the ex
piration of this term it was again leased for ten
years, at a rental of £30.
Jacob Weidman was also one of the founders of
the Reformed Church in the town, having brought
with him from the heart of Switzerland the exalted
faith of his fathers. His name appears on the rec
ords as an elder as early as 1763.
Frederick Bassler, another of the pioneer settlers,
came from Basle, Switzerland, about the year 1750.
He was among the Palatinates who sought to
escape religious oppression in Germany and to ob
tain religious freedom in a new country. The
family were highly influential, and gave name and
character to the land from whence they came.
These traits he brought with him and handed them
down to his descendants.
The Deitzes became component parts of the
town in its beginnings, and settled for the most
part the valley of the Switzkill.
Hendrick Ball, the head of that family line, took
up the farm now occupied by Stephen Ball.

Hendrick Knieskem occupied the land now
owned by Jacob Knieskem.
The Zeh family, for the most part, settled the
land along the Foxenkill from what is known as
the Boarding-house to the village of East Berne.
Matthias Shultes, the head of all the Shultes
throughout this section, took up over four hundred
acres of land along the northeast side of the West
Mountain, sloping gradually to the road that passes
the farms of John and Allen Shultes.
Jacob Hochstrasser, as one of the pioneer settlers,
exerted a no small influence in the early history of
the organization of the town. He was a man of
intellect and possessed great executive ability. He
was one of the committee to petition the Legislature
to set off the town from that of Rensselaerville and
the chairman of the committee to draft the town
laws. When the town was organized he was its first
supervisor and first justice of the peace. He owned
a large tract of land where the White Sulphur
Spring House now stands. He was a fit represen
tative of the manly elements of that early society.
In 1790 three Scotch- Irish families came into
the town from New Scotland and settled a large
tract of land upon the Irish Hill. These were the
Hays, Youngs and Currans.
Soon after this came the Filkins and Congers,
the former locating on what is known as Filkins'
Hill, the latter occupying the land in and around
Reidsville. Other influences than these came into the town
to settle and strengthen it.
New England sent a number of representative
families. Among these were the Gallups, Whipples,
Crarys, Browns and Williams.
Samuel Gallup and his son came from Groton,
Conn., in 1786, and bought a large farm in the
neighborhood of the Whipple cemetery, now in the
town of Knox.
His son Nathaniel became one of the strongest
forces in the town. For fourteen years he was
town clerk, and wielded a skillful pen. The rec
ords show that hewas a man of no ordinary ability.
He was also a justice of the peace for at least nine
teen years. His numerous descendants own and
occupy many farms in the neighborhood of East
Berne. Malachi Whipple, another representative man,
came from Stonington, Conn., to this town about
the year 1793, and bought what has ever since
been known as the Whipple farm.
This farm in 1820 took the premium as the
model farm in Albany County. This premium was

THE TOWNSHIP OF BERNE.

803

two solid silver pitchers and five silver cups, which
are still in the possession of the family. He after
ward received premiums on sheep, on wool and on
cloth. In 1825 he removed to the village of Berne ;
bought the grist-mill property, and built the pres
ent mill. The valuable property of E. V. Filkins,
the widow Fairlees, and that of the widow Davis,
were included in this purchase.
He also, with William H. Ball and Lyman
Dwight, built a carding and fulling mill. In his
day he was recognized as a leader, and chosen to
those positions which required special wisdom and
prudence in their management.
Miner Walden, another worthy citizen of the
town, came from Vermont in 1797. He estab
lished the first carding machine where wool and
cloth were carded and dressed. In connection
with this business he also carried on a store, and
did an extensive trade.
He was a man who left a marked influence upon
the town, which is felt even to this day far beyond
the circle of his descendants. For many years he
was a justice of the peace, and occupied the then
prominent position of chorister in the Reformed
Church. Another worthy citizen who figured prominently
in the early history of this town was Moses Patten,
of an honored New England family. He came
from Londonderry, New Hampshire, in 1820. He
had previously graduated from Union College, and
had studied law.
From the first, certain qualifications were recog
nized which made him a leader where the quali
ties of leadership were of supreme importance.
He served as town clerk, justice of the peace,
commissioner and inspector of common schools,
and also as supervisor, and filled these positions
with honor to himself and with great credit to
the town.
For many years he was engaged in the mercan
tile business in the village of Berne. The character
of the firm was such, that it monopolized a great
portion of the trade throughout the town.
On receiving the appointment of Surrogate of
the County, Mr. Patten removed to the City of
Albany, where, after a useful and busy life, he died
in 1867.
His brother James, elsewhere mentioned, and a
younger brother, Samuel, were important factors in
ihe development of the town.
Besides the influences just mentioned in con
nection with the settlement and growth of the
town, it might be well to give a single sample of
the native-born talent.

One of the most influential men, and a native of
the town, was Jacob Settle. He was what may
be termed a " full man."
His judgment was clear on all matters of busi
ness, and this was coupled with great firmness and
conscientiousness. He was the- arbiter chosen in
many a contest, and his decision was regarded as
final. From 1 81 2 to 1864 he was engaged in the mer
cantile business, and by industry and prudence
he built up a trade that was second to none in the
town. He represented the town in the Assembly, in the
Board of Supervisors, and served as justice of the
peace and as town clerk.
He was also for thirty-five years postmaster, for
several years a commissioner and inspector of
common schools.
He was appointed by Gov. De Witt Clinton,
May 7, 18 1 8, Cornet of the Fifth Regiment of
Cavalry of the State of New York, and in 1821
was commissioned its Captain. Again, in 1824,
he was appointed Major of the 31st Regiment of
Cavalry, and in 1825 was raised to the position
of Lieutenant-Colonel.
Through his instrumentality a plank road was
run from Schohaire, through the town, to connect
with one running to Albany. This road ran par
allel with the Foxenkill, and was of vast impor
tance in grading and shortening the old Beaverdam
road. In 1833, through the failure of the ax factory of
Daniel Simmons, Mr. Settle was seriously involved
and besieged by anxious creditors. In this emer
gency he was assisted to his feet by Mr. Thomas
W. Olcott, of Albany, and also by the firm in
New York with which he did business.
At the end of a few years he was able, not only to
meet his indebtedness, but to accumulate a hand
some property.
In church and state he was a power, and his
death was sincerely mourned by all.
EARLY BUILDINGS.
These were log structures. Isaac Wilsey, the
oldest native resident of the town, born in 1 796,
describes the house in which he was born as built
of peeled elm logs. The roof consisted of long
poles, overlaid with elm bark tied down to them.
There was but one room below and a loft above.
The floors were made of heavy pine timber, eigh
teen inches wide, and the door was a double one,
with a latch-string upon the outside. The building

804

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

was used, some time after it was vacated, as a shop,
in which home-"spun cloth was made.
He remembers to have seen many of these build
ings in his early days, similarly constructed.
These houses, however, were soon replaced by
others more modern in style. The house in which
Thomas J. Wood, the Supervisor of the town, lives
has upon its corner stone the initials P. F. and
the date 1795.
The house on the farm of Frederick Zeh and the
house of Nathaniel Gallup were built about 1795.
The house of the widow Fairlee, in the village of
Berne, was built for a tavern in 1809. It was used
as a recruiting station during the war of 1812.
The dwelling of Petrus Weidman, the miller, one
of the oldest known residences in the town, was upon
the site of the house of the widow of Edward
Settle. The largest and most complete house stood upon
the site of Jacob P. Warner's dwelling. It was
built about the year 1800 by Petrus Weidman. It
had great halls, double doors and ten fire-places.
There were five rooms in the cellar, which was oc
cupied by the negro slaves.
EARLY STORES.
In the early history of the town there were but few
stores, and these were located on the main roads.
There were no centers of trade in villages.
The staple articles for sale were rum, molasses
and tobacco. What are now called dry goods were
then home-spun. There was no muslin, nor
calico, nor fancy articles needed, and no tea and
coffee were drank.
Sugar was all made from the sap of the hard
maple, which was very abundant. The manu
facture of this sugar was a distinct business, in
which every family was engaged, whether they
owned property or not. Buckets and troughs were
made from the butts of large trees.
The store of Johannes Fisher was the first one
known to have been established in the town. It was
in the same building now owned and occupied by
Thomas J. Wood. The first wagon known was
used by the proprietor of this store, in which to
transport his goods from Albany. It was two-
wheeled. Stephen Willes (known as Major Willes), from
Connecticut, established a store in the town as early
as 1800. He is described as a large, portly man,
and very shrewd in the management of his business.
He located on the site of Hiram Warner's resi
dence, a mile from what is now the village of East

Berne, and built a large "New England house, with
a large chimney in the center and three fire
places. His business increased so rapidly that he soon
built a store on the opposite side of the road.
Besides the store, and on the left hand side of the
bridge, was a potash factory, and on the right hand
side a tannery. On the north side of the creek he
established a whisky still and a saddle and
harness and boot and shoe manufactory. He ex
changed for ashes, for bark for tanning purposes
and for rye, the goods which he constantly kept on
hand and which the necessities of the people de
manded. In 1825 he established a second store in the
village of East Berne, in order to ward off opposi
tion in trade on the part of Albert and Benjamin
Gallup. He was one of the town builders, and occupied
many posts of usefulness within the gift of the
people, such as Member of Assembly, Supervisor,
etc. Dr. Almerin Hubbell, son-in law to Peter
Weidman, went into the business of store-keeping
in 1803, on the site of the residence of Mrs. Ed
ward Settle.
In 181 1 Miner Walden, from Vermont, began
life as a store-keeper in the basement of the house
owned and occupied by E. V. Filkins, Esq.
Johan Jost Deitz, known as Col. Deitz, kept
store on the site of Peter Bassler's residence in
18 1 2. In 1816 he took as partner Jacob Settle.
Their business was extensive. Fourteen barrels of
potash sold by them this year in New York netted
them six hundred and sixteen dollars and ninety-
eight cents. MILLS AND FACTORIES.
The earliest mill established was that of Jacob
Weidman in 1750. It was located about fifteen or
twenty feet from the site of the grist-mill of Francis
Becker. A saw-mill built by Jacob Weidman was
also erected near the same spot.
Soon after this another mill was built back of
the school-house, at East Berne, by Johannes and
Christopher Warner. This mill must have been
built as early as 1765, since the Warners were
among the pioneer settlers of the town.
About the year 1 790 Jacob Post established a
mill near the site of the village of West Berne.
The grist was, in early times, carried to the mill
in a bag, thrown over the back of a horse, behind
the rider. Asa Culvard, or Culver, about the same
time, erected a clothing mill in what is now South

THE TOWNSHIP OF BERNE.

805

Berne. Several mills for the carding of wool and
manufacture of cloth were established ; notable
among these were the mills of Miner Walden and
William H. Ball.
These mills all became centers for the villages
which afterward sprang up around them. Here
dwellings were planted and stores and shops
erected. The mills at the present time are : Francis
Becker's mill, built by Malachi Whipple in 1832.
It contains three run of stone and all the necessary
appliances. It has a Herkley wheel of forty-two horse-power,
and a thirty-two feet fall of water. Twenty-seven
thousand bushels of grain is the yearly average of
business done. moses a. si. gallup's mill.
This is the most complete mill in the county
outside of the city of Albany. If space would
permit, a description of this mill might be noted.
The present mill was planned and erected in
1858 by Clark, Decker & Gardner.
Luman Lobdell was then the proprietor, and he
spared neither labor nor money to make it in every
way complete.
The building is five stories high, has four run
of fine French burr stones, and an overshot wheel
twenty-two feet in diameter.
Every bag of grain can be carried to any floor in
the building by the power and emptied to any
stone, thus relieving the person of all lifting. The
supply of water is constant.
The mill property consists of ninety-three acres,
which, together with the buildings upon it, is
valued at from sixteen to eighteen thousand dol
lars. The annual amount of grain passing through
this mill is thirty thousand bushels.
Mr. Gallup has also a saw-mill which cuts
annually fifteen thousand feet of timber, and he is
about to introduce into it a machine by which five
thousand shingles can be made in a single day.
JACOB MINER HOCHSTRASSER'S MILL.
This building has a history identical with that of
the town. It was the first carding machine ; a
factory for making shoe pegs ; afterward the place
where axes were ground, polished and painted ; a
manufactory for all kinds of furniture ; and for a
time it was the Methodist meeting house.
As a grist-mill it has been run for three years.
It has a twenty-five horse steam power, which,
together with the water, makes forty horse-power.
It has two run of stone, and grinds annually

twenty thousand bushels of grain, which is a
yearly business of one thousand dollars.
ELIAS ZEH's MILL, SOUTH BERNE.
This mill was built in the year 1855, and again
rebuilt by its present proprietor in 1884.
It rests upon the site of the clothing mill of Asa
Culvard built in 1790. It is run by water supplied
from a pond, and grinds yearly twenty thousand
bushels of grain. The mill property consists of
one hundred acres of land.
WATSON CHESEBRO'S SAW-MILL.
This building was first used as a foundry by Henry
Engle. It was afterward fitted up as a tannery.
John Rossiter, Jacob D. Settle and Oscar Tyler
carried on this business in it for a number of
years. It was also a place for the manufacture of
furniture of various kinds.
As a saw-mill it has cut three hundred thousand
feet of timber in a single year. The amount of
business now done yearly is estimated at one
thousand dollars.
AX FACTORY OF DANIEL SIMMONS.
This was the most extensive business ever con
ducted in this town. It was the first ax factory
in the United States, and perhaps in the world, in
which axes were made from cast steel.
Daniel Simmons came to Berne from the town
of Bethlehem about the year 1821 as a journey
man blacksmith, and began business in the shop of
Henry Engle, midway between the Lutheran
Church and the house of John D. White.
Having previously learned the art of ax-making
from his uncle, who had become moderately well
off in the business, he continued to hammer out,
on his anvil, a few axes a da)' during hours of
leisure otherwise unemployed.
The superiority of the Simmons ax over the
rough German and English axes then in use was
at once recognized. It consisted in the welding
process, which was effected with the aid of borax.
All other implements were found useless, and on
the introduction of these were thrown aside.
The demand for these axes became so great,
owing to the extensive forests and uncleared land,
that Simmons, feeling his fortune secured, deter
mined to embark in the business on a larger
scale. Being a young man of commanding presence
and pleasing address, he won the confidence of
such representative men as Jacob Settle, Malachi
Whipple, Col. Jacob Weidman, Moses Patten,

806

HLSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Johan Jost Deitz and William Schell, who fur
nished the capital for the enterprise.
The first building (or two buildings connected
together) was erected in 1825, on the north side
of the creek, and directly in the rear of the house
of John Stiner. Here a trip-hammer was intro
duced, which resounded through the valley, giving
it the appearance of intense activity. In this build
ing the iron was forged, the axes shaped, and the
greater number of the men employed.
A second building extended across the stream,
and was known as the tempering shop.
The third building, now the lower grist-mill,
was where the axes were ground, polished and
painted. It contained several grindstones, run by
water power, some of them being from twelve to
eighteen inches in thickness, six feet in diameter
and weighing over a ton.
A fourth building, one hundred feet long, was
erected near the northeast corner of Stephen Ball's
woods in 1830. The material used in its construc
tion, it is said, came out of the old Dutch Reformed
Church, taken down in that year.
This building contained a trip-hammer, several
forges and a number of grindstones.
Here the bursting of a grindstone killed a work
man and did other damage.
These buildings contained twenty-one forges,
employed two hundred men, and turned out
about six hundred axes and other edged tools
daily. The forges were run for a long time by charcoal,
this being the cheapest and most easily obtained
fuel. Thus the making of coal to meet the de
mand opened up a new channel of profit to the
inhabitants. More than one-half of the people were engaged
in the making of charcoal, and these smoking
furnaces were most conspicuous among the hills of
the town.
The tops of trees and the knotty timber, out of
which nothing else could be made, were thus util
ized. Here was an open market, where the highest
prices were paid for charcoal, grain and all kinds
of produce.At the height of his business, Simmons bought
the Fischer farm and moved upon it, with his
brothers Baltus and Jonas. When out of coal or
iron, or when the water power ceased, he employed
his numerous hands in clearing up the lands, burn
ing brush, etc.
He also built the large house, now E. M.
Shultes', as a tavern and boarding-house, and placed
over it his father-in-law, Francis Osterhout.

He was supposed at one time to be doing the
largest business of any man in the County of Al
bany. He kept half a dozen teams constantly on
the road, drawing iron, steel, coal and grind
stones. He found a market for his axes and edged tools
in Canada, Ohio and Pennsylvania, and employed.
S. H. Doty, as his agent, carrying samples and
soliciting orders. The Simmons ax afterward
found a market in Asia and Africa, and in fact there
is hardly a forest in the world that has not felt its
impress. The long distance from Albany, and the expense
of transporting material from that city, over heavy
roads, so told upon the firm, that it failed in
1833. An assignment was made to Moses Patten,
one of the creditors, who, for the benefit of the
others, continued the business for a short time
thereafter. Daniel Simmons took shelter under the bankrupt
law, moved to Cohoes, and in 1834 established
there the ax factory of Weed, Becker & Co.
He died in that city in 1861, after having amas
sed a large property.
The failure of the firm caused greater commotion
in this rural hamlet than did the starting of it. Many
of the best men were swallowed up by it, and left
almost without a dollar.
Still time has shown that it was not destitute of
all result. Many of the buildings, now remaining,
stand as memorials to the enterprise, and it is well
worthy of remark that upon this swelling tide the
Reformed Church was lifted to its" present site.
The merchants of the place reaped harvests dur
ing its existence, howsoever much some may have
lost. The store of Coates & Smith was then estab
lished to supply the demand, and the failure of this
factory removed the necessity, and the store was
abandoned. The old office, together with the polishing shop,
are the only remaining buildings lhat reveal the
" parting glory of man." The office is now a part
of the barn of Watson Chesebro.
The public school was now for the first time
drawn into the village from the outside, and
arrangements were made for the erection of an
academy. CHEESE FACTORIES.
The first factory of this kind in the town was
built in the spring of 1878, one-fourth of a mile
from the village of Berne, on the farm of Thomas
J. Wood.
The idea was originated and the plan made by
James W. Hart, who for fourteen years was engaged

THE TOWNSHIP OF BERNE.

807

in the business near Oneida Lake, Madison County.
His wisdom has been confirmed by time, and the
factory has become successful and profitable.
The building is 72 x 26 feet, and has two floors.
The lower floor contains a five-horse-power boiler,
by the means of which the milk in the vats is
heated. The factory has a capacity for the milk of
four hundred cows, but at present receives the
supply of only two hundred and fourteen.
Four hundred and ninety-five pounds of cheese
have been made in a single day. The boxes in
which the cheeses are packed are made here by Mr.
Hart ; the material ready to set up is bought at
Little Falls, N. Y. The south side of this build
ing is used as a dwelling.
A second factory was erected at East Berne in
1884, for the manufacture of cheese and butter,
and is now under the supervision of Mr. Hart. The
building is the same as its predecessor in size.
This factory has in it a steam boiler, one vat and
an engine of four-horse-power. The power is in
tended for the churning of the milk.
There is also a machine for separating the
cream from the milk as it is brought in, the skim
milk being made at once into cheese.
The cream stands in a vat for twenty-four hours,
is brought to the proper temperature by cooling or
heating, and is then churned. Mr. Hart has been
connected with this enterprise in the town for seven
years, and during this time has enjoyed the confi
dence and respect of his patrons.
Under his wise and careful management the busi
ness has been annually increasing.
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
The history of the public school system in this
town must necessarily be incomplete for want of
materials. The earliest buildings were plain log structures,
of nearly equal dimensions. One standing near
the site of the old Lutheran Church had a flat roof.
Another is described by the oldest native resident of
the town who attended the school as being built of
unpeeled hemlock logs, with a slanting roof made
of bark. It was twenty feet square, and had in
it three windows of four lights each. The door
was swung upon wooden hinges and was fastened
by means of a wooden lock. There was no play
ground. School Commissioners were appointed as early as
1796, according to law. They had the entire
management of everything relating to the interests
of schools until 18 13, when a new office was created,

called Inspectors. Six persons were chosen to
this office, whose duty was simply to inspect the
schools and examine teachers.
In the year 181 2 the assessors were appointed as
School Commissioners, to divide the town into reg
ular school districts. This was accordingly done,
and the records show that in 18 13 there were twenty-
one districts, which in the year following were in
creased to thirty.
The instruction given in this early period was
not of a very high order, and complaints were
frequently entered against the incompetency of
teachers. In 1 81 2 the following resolution was passed :
' ' Resolved, That there shall be five hundred dol
lars raised in the town of Berne for the use of com
mon schools in said town, to be appropriated to
regular men's schools that will bear the inspection
of a school committee."
Alterations were made in the school districts
from time to time, and new ones were formed as
necessity demanded. Numerous appeals from indi
viduals asking to be transferred from one district to
another were heard by the School Commissioners,
and invariably granted.
Each district maintained a library of its own, and
an annual report was made in regard to the number
of books, their titles, and an annual sum was con
tributed toward replenishing these libraries. These
have now fallen into disuse, and the money is used
for general school purposes.
In 1 8 13 but three hundred dollars were appro
priated to common schools, and this sum was
divided between twenty-one districts. In 1816
there were thirty districts, with 1,710 children of
school age. The amount of money expended
during this year was four hundred and seventy-
four dollars and twenty-four cents, which is less
than. sixteen dollars to each district for the year.
The record covers both the towns of Knox and
Berne until 1822, when the division was made
which marked the interests as separate.
The following schedule, taken from the records,
will show the condition of the schools within the
time covered :

No. of
Date. Children.
1825  997
1835  1,302
1843  1,148
'855  i,397
1868  978
1873  94i
1878  969
1884  831

School

Money.

5334 25

430 61

677 40

1,436 36

2,084 29

2,241 72

2,431 9°

1,942 10

Library Money _

169 35
61 10
35 43
33 98
32 20
25 76

808

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

It will be seen by the above schedule that an ad
vance has not been made in this department in pro
portion to the increase of wealth.
The condition of the public schools, the incom
petency of the teachers, and the consequent low
grade of scholarship, have driven many to seek an
education elsewhere, and induced the opening of
private schools.
The first academy was organized in the town in
1833, when there was a great influx of inhabitants,
owing to the establishment of an ax factory at
Berneville some time previous. Although the
timber was bought and placed upon the ground
site, the enterprise was abandoned through the
failure of the ax works.
In 1882 a select school was organized, with the
following Board of Trustees : E. V. Filkins, Esq. ,
President; Thomas J. Wood, George H. Reinhart,
Charles E. Deitz, Peter S. Ball and Edwin M.
Shultes. A room was fitted up and furnished over the
store of Theodore Settle.
This school is still in successful operation, under
Elmer G. Story, a graduate of Cornell University,
as principal.
CHURCHES.
The churches are named in their order, begin
ning with the oldest.
REFORM CHURCH OF BEAVERDAM.
This church was organized in the year 1763,
under the ministry of Rev. Johannes Schuyler, who
was then regularly settled over the Reformed
(Dutch) Church of Schoharie, known as the Stone
Fort. The congregation was composed of Hol
land, Swiss and German settlers, the former, how
ever, predominating.
The first consistory were : Elders — Adam Deitz,
Jacob Ball, Jacob Weidman and Caspar Stiner.
Deacons — Johannes Deitz, Caspar Stiner, Hendrick
Ball and Roedolph Casman.
The first church was a small log building, erected
about the year 1765, on what is now known as the
Pine Grove Cemetery. Here, during the trying
times of the Revolution, the early settlers wor
shiped the God of their fathers. Through con
stant peril of the Tories and Indians, they went to
service on the Sabbath, each carrying a loaded
musket and ammunition. These were stacked be
hind the door, which was strongly guarded by
sentinels. This building remained standing until the year
1786, when it was taken down and replaced by a

frame structure, dedicated September 17, 1786.
This building had a hip roof and unplaned and un-
painted boards twelve inches wide. Within, it was
ceiled with wide knotty pine timber, and had
galleries on three sides. The worshipers, it is
said, whiled away the long service in counting the
knots in the timber. The building was warmed by
a single stove placed in front of the pulpit. This
stove is still in use in the West Berne church.
This edifice remained standing until 1830, when it
was taken down, and the material divided between
the two churches now forming the congregations of
Berne and Beaverdam.
Previous to the organization the settlers wor
shiped in Schoharie, going there on foot or riding
on horseback, twenty in line, and armed. They
followed an Indian foot-path, which ran along the
borders of the Foxenkill, a distance of ten miles.
Among the stories related is one in reference to ,
the intense habit of smoking. It is said that it was
customary for the members, men and women, to
smoke in the church, both before and after service,
and that at times the clouds of smoke were so dense
that persons sitting on the opposite side could be
distinguished with difficulty.
The church was strictly missionary ground until
the year 181 2. For thirteen years, or from 1766
to 1799, it received the services of Rev. Johannes
Schuyler. From this time until 1785 the service
was maintained through missionary effort, when
Rev. George W. Schneyder, the acting minister of
the church in Schoharie, assumed charge and
maintained his connection unbroken until 1790.
For several years after this the records show that
service was performed, and that infant baptism, the
distinctive mark of the early church, was not neg
lected. In 1797 Christian Bork, a Hessian drummer,
born in Prussia, educated under Dr. Livingston,
and a man of great originality and force, as
sumed the charge, in connection with his regular
fields of labor at Lawyersville and Sharon, and
afterward at Schodack.
The character of the man and the style of his
preaching, which was thoroughly scriptural, left
its impress upon the minds of the congregation,
and was frequently remarked on in after years by
the children. During his ministry three persons
were disciplined for partaking of the Lord's Supper
with the Methodists, while others were suspended
for drunkenness, profanity, and for absenting them
selves from the house of God. The ministry of
Mr. Bork practically closes the strictly missionary
period of the church.

THE TOWNSHIP OF BERNE.

809

The language up to this time spoken was the
German, and the preaching was in German.
Tlie Weidmans, Balls, Deitzs, Schultes and
Fischers had a marked influence upon the growth
and prosperity of this church up to this time.
After this period, and until 1821, was what
might be termed the semi-missionary period of
the church's life. Isaac Labagh and others en
gaged in missionary work here until 1811, when a
call was made, for the first time, upon Rev. David
DeVoe, in union with the church of Middleburgh.
He retained the oversight of the congregation until
18 16, and was succeeded by the missionaries,
Isaac Labagh, Winslow Paige and Isaac A. Van
Hook. In 182 1 a call was accepted by Rev. Cornelius
Bogardus. He was the first minister called who
lived within the bounds of the congregation, and
during his ministry of four years a solid founda
tion was laid for the future. A Sabbath school
was then started for the first time, and the matter
of discipline, long neglected, was rigorously en
forced. Many were suspended and some excom
municated for drunkenness and immorality.
The consistory were appointed as watchmen
throughout the congregation, in tracing evil re
ports to their origin and arresting them. One
member was questioned as to pleasure riding on
the Sabbath, and as to whether he attended a ball
and had dancing in his house.
The church farm during this period was greatly
improved, and a committee was appointed to
erect a suitable building upon it for a parsonage.
Rev. Mr. Bogardus was dismissed, June 27, 1825.
Rev. Robert J. Blair, sent by the Domestic Mis
sionary Board, then served the church for three
months. A call made to Rev. J. H. Van Wagenen, June
30, 1826, was accepted, and he was ordained and
installed on August 29 of the same year.
A new parsonage and also a barn were erected
for the accommodation of ihe pastor, and fifty to
one hundred apple and other trees were planted on
the church farm.
The relation between him and this church was
dissolved, June 30, 1831, and he went to the
important churches of Niskayuna and Amity.
His ministry was very fruitful in results, the
principal object secured being the erection of the
two churches, which still stand as the memorials of
his untiring zeal.
These he intended in time should become separ
ate and independent, a result which has not as yet
been accomplished.

His successor was the Rev. Abm. H. Myers,
who was installed in the new church of Berneville,
November 30, 1831.
The opening of his ministry was inaugurated by
a four days' meeting, held successively in the two
churches of which he was the pastor.
At this period a resolution was passed, dispos
ing of the old German Bible, used from the earliest
history of the organization, and with the proceeds
purchasing an English Bible and Psalm Book for the
Western Church, now the church of West Berne.
At this time there were seven Sabbath schools in
operation, two tract societies, a female missionary
society, and a temperance society numbering four
hundred members. Joseph Knieskem (received
into the church during this ministry), Joseph P.
Bradley and Jacob I. Warner were preparing under
the dominie for Rutgers College, and with a view of
entering the ministry ; Benjamin Bassler was in
the Theological Seminaiy and Elihu Doty in
Rutgers College. The bell in the steeple of the
Berne church was purchased at this time.
The two churches were now separated under
the following consistories: Berne — Elders — Jacob
Settle, Frederick Bassler, Jr., John H. Ball and
John Bell. Deacons — Peter Ball, Thomas J. Hayes,
Gerardus G. Merselis and Christian P. Zeh.
Beaverdam — Elders — Jacob Knieskem, Peter
Schoomaker, Jacob Salsberg and Christian J.
Haverly. Deacons — John I. Bogardus, Johan Jost
Haverly, Matthias M. Schultes and Peter Morenus.
These consistories were to hold the farm in common.
Rev. Mr. Myers closed his ministry in October,
1835, and went to the more important church of
Belleville, New Jersey.
The Rev. R. D. Van Kleek succeeded to this
field in 1836. The consistory of the Beaverdam
Church being unwilling to unite in the call, the
first year was spent between first and second Berne.
At the end of this year Beaverdam made overtures
to unite in the call, which were accepted, and the
pastoral relation between these churches and Rev.
Mr. Van Kleek was unbroken until August, 1843.
His ministry was, indeed, a stormy one, and much
time was consumed in the settlement of church
trials, and in disposing of immoral and ungodly
offenders against the order and peace of the society.
The church records reveal the ability and prompt
ness of the man, who was a thorough ecclesiastical
lawyer. Cases of drunkenness, profanity, fornica
tion, Sabbath breaking and neglect of church or
dinances were adjudicated, and the offenders dealt
with according to the constitution and laws of tbe
society.

810

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

He was succeeded by Rev. William Demarest,
who entered upon his duties in the spring of 1846.
Under his ministry the churches and parsonage
were repaired and painted, and a bell was secured
for the West Berne Church. His ministry closed
January 1, 1850.
After him came Rev. Edwin Vedder, who com
menced his labors April 1, 1851, and closed them
April 1, 1855. The only thing of importance within
this period was the constructing of a plank road
through the church farm.
The Rev. John C. Van Liew was afterward called,
on a salary of six hundred dollars, house and lot and
firewood, together with an annual vacation of three
Sabbaths. He entered upon his official work,
October 1, 1856, and was installed in the church
of Beaverdam on the fourth Tuesday of that month
and year. On January 1, 1857, the parsonage in
Berneville was purchased, Berne paying twelve
hundred dollars and Beaverdam three hundred
dollars of the sum total. The original purchasers
were regarded as owners and stockholders of the
property, to receive their proportionate shares in
case it was afterward sold.
In the spring of 1859 the lot lying west and
north of the school-house was sold for two hundred
and fifty dollars, which was applied toward liqui
dating the debt on the balance of the property.
The relation between the Rev. Mr. Van Liew and
these churches terminated in May, i860.
In the fall of the year i860 Rev. Edward Miller
assumed charge. He was ordained and installed
in the church of Berne, September 18, i860. His
ministry extended over a period of eleven years
and six months, during which time the churches
grew and prospered.
The church of Beaverdam was repaired at a cost
of over a thousand dollars, and there was placed in
the hands of its consistory certain legacies from
Jacob Salsberg and Isaac H. Watson, for the main
tenance and support of the gospel.
In the year 1865 a powerful revival of religion
was experienced in the church of Berne, which
added over sixty members to its membership.
The relation between the Rev. Mr. Miller and
these churches was sundered in the spring of 1872.
The present pastor, Rev. Robert Doig, accepted
a call to these churches in September, 1872, and
entered upon his duties November 1 of the same
year. The ordination and installation were held in
the Berne church, December 9, 1872.
Within the period of his ministry one hundred
and ninety persons have been received into church
fellowship; fourteen thousand four hundred and

nine dollars and ninety-two cents have been ex
pended for congregational purposes, and one
thousand nine hundred and fifty-nine dollars and
seventy-five cents for benevolence.
The churches own a parsonage, and also a farm
of one hundred and forty acres.
Within the period of their existence the follow
ing persons have gone forth from these churches:
Revs. Paul Weidman, Benjamin Bassler, Elihu
Doty, Joseph Knieskem, Thomas L. Shafer and
James E. Graham.
Hon. Joseph P. Bradley, one of the associate
justices of the Supreme Court of the United States,
and Jacob I. Warner, Esq., have gone out
from us.
The membership of these united churches is at
present two hundred and fifty. The officers are:
Berne — Elders — Elias Bassler, Jacob Miner Hoch
strasser, Thomas J. Wood and Esli Whipple.
Deacons — Paul Weidman, Jacob Hilton, Lester
Luckey and William M. Reinhart. Beaverdam,
Elders— John F. Allen, James S. Hays, Zadok B.
Schoonmaker and John C. Kniskern. Deacons —
George A. Scrafford, Jacob P. Bradt, Adam West-
fall and John W. Adams.
LUTHERAN CHURCH.
This church was organized about the year 1790.
A church building was erected soon after on a farm
situated midway between the villages of Berne and
East Berne, and deeded to the congregation by
Stephen Van Rensselaer, the patroon, in 1797.
It was a plain frame structure, 40 x 50 feet in
size, consisting of unplaned and unpainted pine
siding, and with galleries on three sides. The
original trustees of the church property were
Christian Zeh, Frederick Wormer and Christian
Zandt. The congregation comprised families of German
descent, who had emigrated from the Fatherland,
carrying with them the seeds of the reformation
and the memory of Martin Luther.
The language written and spoken was princi
pally the German, and the records were kept in this
language, and the preaching delivered in it until
the year 1802, when it was superseded by the
English. The early history of the church was purely mis
sionary. There was no settled pastor over the
field, and the exercise of pastoral care was broken
by intervals of inaction.
The communion seasons, however, were uni
formly observed, and the ordinance of infant
baptism strictly adhered to.

THE TOWNSHIP OF BERNE.

811

The first missionary pastor over this church was
the Rev. August Frederick Meier, President of the
German Lutheran Ministerium in North America.
He appears to have exercised the duties of his
office here in connection with other fields of labor
until the year 1804.
In the year 1 806 the Rev. August Wackerhagen
took the oversight of this field in connection with
the churches of Schoharie and Cobleskill, of which
he was the regular pastor. It is seen from the
records that only about one-third of his time was
spent here, and that his relation with the church
was maintained to 181 3.
For a period of three years thereafter Rev. H.
Moeller acted as the missionary pastor.
At the close of this period the Rev. L. Merkel
assumed charge, devoting one-third of his time to
preaching and the exercise of pastoral care.
He maintained his connection with the church
until 1827, preaching at Middleburgh, Schoharie,
Cobleskill and Berne.
His ministry was faithful and effective, and under
it the church grew in strength and usefulness.
In the year 1828 this church and the church in
Guilderland were united, and a call was extended to
the Rev. Adam Crounse, a young man fresh from
the theological department of Hartwick Seminary.
He accepted the call and at once entered upon his
work. His ministry embraced a period of nine
teen years, and was the most fruitful of any in the
history of the congregation.
Under his faithful administration the present sub
stantial brick edifice was constructed and dedicated
to the Triune God, May 13, 1836.
At the time of dedication the following were
trustees and officers of the church : Trustees — Peter
Sand, Christopher Engle and Johannes Shafer.
Elders — John Rossiter, James Leggett and Fred
erick Joslin. Deacons — Christopher Warner, Alex
ander Crounse, Henry Zeh and Peter C. Sand.
This church edifice will long preserve the
memorial of the man who had so long and so well
served the congregation; a man not gifted in the
learning of the schools, but sincerely earnest, pious
and loveable as a minister of God.
After the long and eventful pastorate above men
tioned, which continued until 1836, Rev. S. Curtis
was called and sustained his relations with the
church for a period of nearly four years.
The prominent feature of his ministry was the se
curing of the parsonage house and lot now owned
by the congregation.
In the spring of 1850 the Rev. Lambert Swack-
hammer was regularly called to take the spiritual

oversight of the church. During the period of five
years in which he was pastor there were several
revivals of religion, and one hundred and sixty-one
persons were received into church fellowship.
On the ist of June, 1856, the Rev. A. P. Ludden
assumed the pastoral care of this church, and ex
ercised the duties of his office for a period of
eleven years.
During his ministry the congregation was great
ly developed by faithful pastoral work and the
earnest preaching of the word. The membership
was increased by the addition to it of two hun
dred and forty-seven persons, many of whom are
now living to testify to the zeal and earnestness of
this man of God.
The spirit of liberality was also greatly pro
moted, and such other work done as to secure the
permanence and independence of this organization.
On November 1, 1867, the Rev. James Lefler
was called. For over seven years he labored with
great fidelity and earnestness.
He was a man of marked ability and clearness
of expression, and fearless in the enunciation of
the truth.
During his ministry a separate church edifice
was erected in East Berne, and dedicated to the
service of God, August 28, 1872. The wisdom
and foresight of this man of God are being more
and more realized, in the planting of this church
on the outskirts of the congregation, to meet the
growing demand of the people for church privileges.
The trustees of this church (named St. Johns)
are Jacob Osterhout, Christopher Warner and
Sanford Hilton.
In December, 1876, a call was made upon the
Rev. J. R. Shofner, which was accepted.
His ministry was inaugurated by a series of
religious services, continued for several weeks and
resulting in the addition of nearly one hundred to
the working forces of the church.
Aside from this, a spirit of benevolence was
largely awakened by him, and extensive and much-
needed improvements were made, both to the
church and parsonage. His ministry lasted for
six years.
The present pastor, Rev. Chauncey Diefendorf,
entered upon his labors as pastor of this church
in September, 1883.
Within this period he has succeeded in clearing
off a burdensome debt and in harmonizing dis
cordant elements in the congregation.
Two churches have grown out of this church,
viz., St. Johns, at East Berne, and the Lutheran
Church of Gallupville.

812

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Two ministers have gone out from it, viz. , Revs.
Levi Schell and Augustus Shultes.
The church owns a substantial parsonage, and
has no indebtedness.
The following are the trustees and officers :
Trustees — David Ball and Peter Schoonmaker.
Elders — Alexander Crounse, William Zeh, Jacob
M. Allen and Charles E. Deitz. Deacons — Isaac
Hungerford, Egbert S. Wright, Uriah G. Davis
and Nicholas P. Sheldon. The membership is
about two hundred.
SECOND REFORMED CHURCH OF BERNE.
This church was organized March 15, 1826,
at the house of Daniel Secor, by a committee ap
pointed by the Classis of Albany, of which the
Rev. Robert J. Blair was chairman.
The meeting was conducted in due form, a
sermon being preached from Mark i, 14, 15.
Twenty-three members were received by certifi
cate from the Reformed Church of New Salem,
after which the following officers were ordained :
Elders — Jacobus Van Deusen and John F. Shafer.
Deacons — Cornelius Secor and Peter B. Winne.
Two children were also baptized.
The early history of the church was strictly a
missionary one. The record mentions the names
of Revs. Robt. J. Blair, Thomas Haliday, Abram
Fort and Peter Stryker, men of marked character
and influence in those early days. The first
minister regularly called was the Rev. Jacob R.
Van Arsdale, who served the church with accept
ance for a year and a half.
In the year 1838 the church was supplied by
the Rev. Hart E. Waring, and under his ministry
forty-one were received into fellowship, .among
them Jacob West, now a prominent minister of
the gospel.
At a meeting held at the house of William
Sigsbee, in the town of New Scotland, a resolution
was passed by the joint consistories, uniting to
gether the churches of second Berne and Onisque-
thaw. The churches thus combined accepted for two
years the services of the Rev. Staats Van Santvoord.
At the close of the year 1841 this connection
was broken and a union made with the Presbyte
rian Church of Knox.
A joint call was made upon the Rev. Joseph
Knieskem, who served them with great acceptance
for a period of four years.
From 1845 to 1868 the church depended upon
services rendered by ministers in neighboring con
gregations, and by way of supply. Among these

were Revs. George G. Sill, Jasper Middlemas,
Staats Van Santvoord and James G. Cordell.
In 1868 a call was accepted by Rev. William
H. Ballagh, who was duly installed September 3
of that year.
Rev. Mr. Ballagh remained here for nine years,
and left behind him the marks of a faithful and
effective ministry.
He was succeeded by the Rev. George M.
D. Slocum, who remained five years.
Under his ministry there were several revivals of
religion, which greatly quickened the life of the
church. The church is locally known by the name of the
Secor Church, from not only having been organized
in the house of Daniel Secor, but from the number
of people of that name within its bounds.
The church has sent forth into the ministry Rev.
Jacob West, D.D., now Secretary of the Board of
Domestic Missions of the Reformed Church.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH BERNE.
This church was organized about the year 1 8 1 2,
as the result of conversions made in the camp-
meetings held in Wright's Grove.
Rev. Mr. Stead was the first minister, and sup
plied this church in connection with the one at
Rensselaerville. It was at that time • the only
church in that section, and had a large member
ship. The first church edifice stood a little south of
Zeh's grist-mill, and was used until 1870, when
a new building was erected on the present site.
The present membership is twenty-two. The
church owns no parsonage and has service but
once in two weeks.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, REIDSVILLE.
This organization was effected in the year 1830
by the Rev. Rosman Kelly.
At that time James Anderson was the class
leader and the principal promoter of the church's
interests. The present church edifice was erected
in the year 184 1. It is supplied at present, from
Rensselaerville, by the Rev. Mr. Morgan.
The membership is eighteen, and the property is
estimated at twenty-two hundred dollars.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, BERNEVILLE.
This church was organized July 11,- 1845, ar)d
the present edifice was erected soon after. At the
election of trustees, on the above date, the Rev. C.
C. Gilbert presided, and the following persons were
chosen to this office : Thomas Miller, Datus E.

THE TOWNSHIP OF BERNE.

813

Tyler, Oscar Tyler, George Possing, Franklin
Smith and Abram Ball.
H. K. Willard, M. D., and Abram Ball were for
many years the most active promoters of the
church, and acted alternately as president and sec
retary of the society until 1862.
After this period Henry Fairlee served for many
years as class leader, president and sexton, and
only laid off his armor at death.
Since then the society has been maintained
through the persistent and unwearied efforts of
George E. Shultes, its class leader.
This church, until 1881, was dependent upon
Knox for its supply, but since then has been inde
pendent. The present membership is about twen
ty-four, and the value of the property is fifteen
hundred dollars. FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
This church is located at Reidsville. The organ
ization was effected December 26, 1821, through
the labors of Elders Levi Hathaway and John P.
Teats, and consisted of fifteen members.
In 1823 there was a revival of religion under
Elders Daniel Call and Benjamin Howard, and
forty-nine added to the roll.
Soon after this, however, disaffection arose in
the congregation, and as there was no pastor to
unite them and no stated service, some renounced
their obligations, while others united with other
churches. The few that remained faithful succeeded in
maintaining the organization. In 1828 Elder
Stephen Hitchcock was called and supplied them
occasionally until 1832, when a revival occurred,
which resulted in the addition to the church of
thirty-seven. The present church edifice was erected in 1833,
and dedicated in the month of November, when a
sermon was preached by Elder Hathaway.
On August 31, 1834, service was held for the
first time in the new church, the occasion being
the ordination and installation of Elder Lewis
Taylor. He remained but a short time, and was
succeeded by Elder Stephen Hitchcock, who served
the church until 1838.
After eighteen months of service by Elder Amasa
Stanton, a call was made upon Elder James Conk
ling, Jr., whose work was cut short by his death,
on April 7, 1S41.
Under his ministry, there was a revival of much
interest and power, which resulted in an addition
of sixty-four to the membership of the church.
On May 1, 1841, a call was made upon Elder

Richard Mosier, who labored with great fidelity
for a period of five years.
In the first year of his ministry the following
was adopted : "Resolved, That upon examination
of the former records of the church, we find a
manifest discrepancy, and deem it necessary to
form a new church record, containing the impor
tant items of the history of the church, and also
the names of all the members in good and regular
standing, who are following peace and holiness
with all men, and who are willing to renounce all
human creeds and party names ; and we do here
by renounce them, and receive the name of Chris
tian as our only name, and the Holy Scriptures as
our only written rule of faith and practice ; and
we do hereby renew our covenant with God and
our brethren to forget the things that are behind
and live in love and peace, that the God of peace
may be with us." To this confession one
hundred and fifty-six members subscribed their
names. In May, 1846, Elder Jedediah Parker accepted
a call, and the relation was sustained until February
24, 1850.
For two years thereafter this church was served
successively by Elders Philip Couchman and
Calvin Southwick.
In April, 1856, Elder David P. Warner assumed
the pastoral charge, and labored with great fidelity
and earnestness for a period of seventeen years.
Under his administration the work of the church
was greatly promoted. He was the trusted friend
and counselor of the poor and suffering, and the
generation that grew up under his teachings rever
enced and loved him as a father.
Hewas recalled in 1881, and retired after a
service of two more years.
The following have served as pastors since then :
Elders Leonard Thorne, 1873-1876; R. Fenton,
1876-1877; D. M. Tuller, 1877-1879; Nelson
Putnam, 1879-1880; Henry Crampton, 1880-
1881 ; and J. Austin Mace, 1883-1885.
The officers are : Deacons John Weidman,
John Castle and Jacob H. Moak. The present
membership is eighty-six, and the value of the
property fifteen hundred dollars.
SECOND CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
This organization was formed September 13,
1836, through the labors of Elder A. L. Taylor.
Meetings were first held in the school-houses,
but the present church edifice was erected soon
after the organization was effected and was dedicat
ed October 15, 1836.

814

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The church is located in the extreme southwest
ern part of the town, in what is known as Hunters-
land, and affords the only church privileges for
miles around. The growth of the enterprise has
been gradual, the present membership reaching
one hundred and forty.
The following have served the church as pastors :
Elders L. A. Taylor, Stephen Hitchcock, A. J.
Stanton, James Conklin, R. Moshier, J. Packard,
George StrevelJ, Joel Gallup, H. Brown, L. Coffin,
A. Damon, Philip Couchman, R. B. Eldridge and
D. M. Tuller.
The present pastor, Elder D. P. Warner, is now
serving the church for the second time. His entire
ministry here covers a period of nine years, which
is the longest in the history of the church. The
deacons at present are George Turner and Elijah
Crippen. Men prominently connected with its
past history are Leonard Alverson, Aaron Decker,
Isaac Denison, Daniel Tallman and Jonathan
Tallman. The church has a parsonage, and the
entire property is valued at five thousand dollars.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH, SOUTH BERNE.
This church was organized in the Friends'
meeting house, a little east of the village, on Feb
ruary 1 6, 1854, with twenty-four members, and
while under the ministry of Elder Calvin South
wick. After the resignation of Mr. Southwick, the
church was supplied for six months by Elder Joel
Gallup. In the year 1855 the old store north of the pres
ent building, owned by James Cornell, was pur
chased by four members of the church.
Service was held in this building until the erec
tion of the present church edifice in 1864.
Elder D. P. Warner was chosen pastor in the
spring of 1856, and was ordained and installed on
August 24 of the same year.
He served the church with acceptance for a
period of thirteen years. Under his ministry the
society enjoyed an unusual degree of prosperity.
Seventy persons were added to its communion, and
the present church edifice was built.
After an absence of ten years he was recalled,
and served as pastor for three years.
The church has also had the following pastors :
Elders Philip Couchman, 1869-1873 ; L. Moore,
1873-1874 ; R. B. Eldridge, 1874-1875; D. M.
Tuller, 1875-1878, and J. Austin Mace, 1883-
1885. Henry Moak, Andrew Onderdonk and
Albert Miller have acted as trustees for several years.
The present membership is eighty-two, and the

property is valued at three thousand dollars.
Within the past few years the church has been
weakened through the loss of many of its influential
members. INDIAN HISTORY.
In the early settlement of the country there were
many Tories who were professedly subjects of the
British Government. These joined with them the
Indians, who were the original owners of the soil,
against the struggling patriots.
Stockades were established at different points in
the town as a means of defense. These were
invariably resorted to at night, when men, women
and children left their homes, to seek shelter and
to combine their forces against the surprise of the
enemy. One of these stockades was erected near the
house of Petrus Weidman, now in the village of
Berne, and owned and occupied by Jacob P.
Warner. Another stood upon the farm now owned
by Adam I. Deitz in the valley of the Switzkill.
This town lays claim to a fact unique in the his
tory of the county, viz., that of the massacre of the
Deitz family in 1780, when the entire ridge formed
part of the West District, of which the Hudson
River was the separating line.
The massacre occurred on what is now the farm
of James S. Hays, at a spot near his barn, which
may still be pointed out. The apple tree to which
the victims were tied has long since succumbed to
the ravages of time, but a shoot from this tree was
in existence until a few years ago, when it was
taken down in a state of decay.
The Beaverdam, now the village of Berne, is
mentioned as being then an old, settled place. The
grist-mill of Jacob Weidman seems theri to have
been the only mill to which the inhabitants re
sorted, and was about five miles from the scene of
this massacre.
Johannes Deitz was an old man, and an ardent
patriot in the cause of independence. His family
consisted of himself and wife, his son and his son's
wife, together with four young children, and a lad
by the name of John Brice.
The Brice family, living at Rensselaerville, sent
their younger son Robert to the Beaverdam with a
grist. With him were several other lads bound on
the same errand. They reached the place, obtained
their grist, but as it was toward evening all the
lads, except young Brice, determined to spend the
night with the miller.
The farm of Johannes Deitz lay midway between
this mill and his own home, so he proposed to stop

THE TOWNSHIP OF BERNE.

815

at this half-way house and enjoy the society of his
elder brother.
It was nearly dusk ; the sun had already set be
hind the rugged hills, when he reached the gate
which opened into the lane leading to the home of
Mr. Deitz.
Suddenly an Indian sprang up from a covert of
logs near the roadside, seized the bridle and led
the frightened youth directly toward the house.
In passing the barn, the beginning of the dread
ful scene flashed upon his mind, as he beheld the
prostrate form of the elder Deitz weltering in his
blood. But this was not all. Between the barn and the
house, which were on a direct line with each other,
were the mutilated bodies of the wife and son's
wife, four lovely children and a servant girl.
The Indians, to the number of fifteen, were
busily engaged in the work of plundering the
house of its provision and clothing.
They had made prisoners of Captain William
Deitz, the son of the elder Deitz, and also of John
Brice, who were tied to the apple tree near by.
Having finished their work of blood, they set fire
to the house and barn, and then started with their
horses, baggage and prisoners along a well-known
path leading in the direction of what is now Rens
selaerville. They encamped during the first night of their
journey within a mile of the Brice mansion, where
the parents of the two young lads were at that
moment slumbering, unconscious of the terrible
fate that had befallen their sons.
On the morning of the second day they con
tinued their march toward Potters Hollow and Oak
Hill; thence toward Middleburgh, Breakabeen,
Harpersfield, and so on through the valley of the
Susquehanna, till they reached their destination in
Canada. The party were frequently surprised along the
way, news having reached the garrison at Schoha
rie of the bloody murder and robbery. The In
dian routes and foot-paths being well known,
scouting parties were sent out in all directions to
overtake and capture them if possible.
Ata point near Middleburgh, in an old field, in
which there was a dilapidated and deserted house,
they were so hotly pursued as to be compelled to
abandon their horses and plunder. Here several of
the Indians were wounded by the firing of the scout
ing party.
The prisoners, however, were carried off through
the cover of night, which had fallen upon the
scene.

Along the route they were forced to live upon
roots and berries and the wild game which could
be taken on the way. At times the party was
greatly straitened for food, and at one point the
killing of a deer providentially saved them from
starvation. Their sufferings were beyond description. At
the Indian villages through which they passed they
were compelled to run the gauntlet. Capt. Deitz
endured the severest mental agony. Besides the
sufferings of the gauntlet, he was doomed to look
upon the scalps of his honored parents, and those
of his wife and children.
The fatigue of the journey, the constant burden
of his losses and the wrongs which he suffered so
told upon his naturally strong constitution that he
gradually pined away, and died heart-broken, while
in confinement at Niagara.
The two Brice boys returned home after an ab
sence of three years, and the younger of the two,
advanced in life, died at New Scotland, not many
years ago.
The bodies of the massacred family were buried
in one grave, on the eastern side of the line wall of
the Pine Grove Cemetery, and on a line with the
site of the old Log Church.
Lieut. Johan Jost Deitz, a relative of the family,
was sent from the lower fort for this purpose.
Until within a few years there were the remains
of an Indian oven, built of limestone, not far from
the scene of the massacre above described.
Among the Indian curiosities is a wampum bag
in the possession of William Miner Ball. This bag
has come down through generations.
ANTI-RENT.
This town is included in the manor of Rens
selaerwyck, and has consequently been under the
control of Stephen Van Rensselaer, the patroon.
The Van Rensselaers obtained a grant of land
from the Dutch Government in 1641, to encourage
them in the founding of a colony of citizens from
Holland. This grant was confirmed by the Eng
lish in 1685, and again in 1784. The grant in
cluded twenty-four miles -square, on either side of
the Hudson River. A map of the west part of the
manor of Rensselaerwyck, covering this town, and
in possession of Walter S. Church, the present pro
prietor, was made by William Cockburn in 1787.
This map divides the town into distinct plots of
one hundred and sixty acres, more or less.
Deeds were given as early as 1 790 to all who
desired to settle the lands, subject to certain condi-

'816

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

tions. These conditions were that, on every one
hundred and sixty-six acres, the settler should pay
an annual rent of eighteen bushels of wheat, four
fat fowl and one day's service, or their equivalent.
The patroon built a large manor house in the
City of Albany, and proceeded to bring colonists
from Holland, offering them great inducements to
locate on his lands.
Being a man of wealth and very benevolent, he
allowed his tenants to fall into arrears, until, at
last, they considered the manorial claim a dead
letter. Many believed that the Van Rensselaers had
never obtained a title to the land from the Indians,
and the legal fraternity confirmed their opinion, and
urged them to litigate the question.
Discontent arose at a very early period, but the
crisis came when the old patroon died, in 1837.
The anxiety as to the position which his suc
cessor should take was such that a committee were
appointed to wait upon him. They obtained no
satisfaction. Weary with the burden which they had so long
borne, and believing it to be contrary to the spirit
of our free institutions, they began to devise
means of escape.
Associations, known as anti-rent associations,
were accordingly formed to resist the payment of
rent Meetings were held in all the villages and in
many of the school-houses outside of them. In
flammatory speeches were made by certain leaders,
and there was much rioting and intoxication.
These meetings led to the formation of a secret
organization, and solemn pledges were made to
protect the tenants by armed resistance. The
members of this fraternity appeared in bright
calico dresses, and with their faces masked or
painted to resemble Indians on the war-path.
The leaders assumed the names of well-known
Indian chiefs and led their forces with the familiar
cries of savage warfare. That portion of the com
munity who frowned upon such proceedings was
threatened and insulted.
The sheriff and a posse of men sent out to serve
papers were mobbed and driven back, and Chris
topher Batterman, a high sheriff, was tarred and
feathered on the West Mountain.
Gov. Seward was then at the head of affairs in
New York. He sent two representatives, Messrs.
Sackett and Maxwell, to inquire into the difficul
ties and find out what terms could be agreed upon;
but the anti-renters would accept no terms.
He afterward appeared on the scene in person,
but to no purpose.

The troops were finally ordered out. They
ascended the Helderbergs, with arms and a can
non, and remained for several days.
The great meeting was held on December 10,
1844, on the land then occupied by Silas Wright
and Joshua R. Davis. A great sale of land had
been advertised for that day, and the sheriff and
his posse were expected to enforce the sale.
Two hundred armed men on horseback met in
opposition. Dr. Bouton, called Big Thunder, and
one Thompson, Little Thunder, were the leaders.
The party were arrayed in bright calico dresses,
were masked, and carried spears, tomahawks,
muskets and various weapons. They waited all
day for the sheriff, but. he failed to appear. He
had heard that there were great bands of armed
men ready to do anything to maintain their claims.
Soon after this the legislature passed a law im
posing penalties upon persons appearing armed
and in disguise.
Other meetings, however, were held, but they
were smaller and less demonstrative. This war
lasted seven or eight years, and ceased only
through the change of the property to other
hands. The anti-rent feeling finally culminated in politi
cal action, when, in 1846, John Young was made
Governor over Silas Wright.
Those found guilty of misdemeanors and im
prisoned during this war were liberated by him.
The marks of this struggle may yet be seen in
the framework of those buildings where the shock of
battle was felt, notably the house of Peter Ball,
who was long known as the champion of the anti-
rent movement.
He was the leader in litigating the question,
and was brave, conscientious and prayerful.
Many a time he was dispossessed, but as often re
instated by his valiant cohorts, until at last, weary
with age, he was forced to leave the scene of con
flict. With him lived a colored servant, named Susan,
who, on the approach of the enemy, summoned
the anti-renters from far and near by blowing on a
conch shell.
The sufferings endured by these people it would
be impossible to describe. Many and many a soul
conscious of the right have been turned from their
homes, and some of them have died broken
hearted. Where the blame lies it is not the province of
this paper to say. That it was detrimental to the
growth and development of this town every candid
mind will concede.

THE TOWNSHIP OF BERNE.

817

For years valuable time was spent amid excite
ment and revelry ; money was wasted, and a
habit of indolence and a lack of thrift were engen
dered. Churches, schools and business enterprises have
felt the blighting curse of feudal tenure, and are
rejoicing that the reign of terror is well-nigh over.
ROLL OF HONOR, WAR OF REBELLION.
James Knox Alverson, John Amasa Alverson,
Henry A. Ball, Jerome Ball, John Harrison Ball,
Lucius E. Ball, Madison M. Ball, Seneca S. Ball,
Albert Bell, Edmund Bell, Elias Bell, John Michael
Bell, William Henry Bell, William M. Blade,
Charles E. Bogardus, Peter Bogardus, William H.
Bogardus, Peter G. Bouck, Addison Bouton, The
odore Bradley, Lewis Brate, Jacob H. Burbanks,
John Henry Canull, William Harrison Canull,
Charles F. Cary, Thomas Conden, Madison Cook,
Leonard Cornell, George W. Crary, John Cum
mings, George M. Davis, David DeVoe, John W.
Duell, Robt. Dunbar Engle, Thomas L. Farque-
her, Aaron Flansburgh, Adam Flansburgh, Alfred
Flansburgh, Simon Flansburgh, Seth Merritt Flint,
John R. Frink, David Grathen, Albert Gifford,
George Delos Gifford, James H. Hammond, Jacob
Haverly, Azor T. Hays, Charles Hochstrasser,
Jacob S. Irons, Allen Jones, Alonzo D. Jones,
James E. Jones, Harrison Kniskem, Lyman
Knieskem, Alonzo G. Ludden, John Lyon, Timo
thy McCarty, Peter Mcintosh, Michael Maher, Jr.,
Edward Mattice, Nelson Mattice, Orville MerriheV,
Addison B. Miller, Andrew Nelson, George Nelson,
Holmes K. Nelson, John S. Newbury, Joseph C.
Northrop, Joseph P. Northrop, Cyrus P. Ostrum,
James Phillips, George E. Post, Henry Post,
William A. Post, . Emory Reinhart, Jackson K.
Reinhart, Paul Reinhart, Peleg Reinhart, John M.
Salsburg, Charles Schermerhorn, Elias N. Shafer,
Allen Shultes, DeWitt C. Shultes, John B. Shultes,
William A. Shultes, George A. Simons, Michael
Smith, Samuel Smith, William Spawn, Philip A.
Stalker, William H. Stalker, Chauncey Stiner,
Daniel Henry Stiner, John A. Stiner, Harrison
Stringham, James Taylor, John Taylor, John Tay
lor, Daniel Van Deusen, William H. Van Deusen,
Francis Wagoner, Moses S. Wagoner, Abram D.
Warner, George H. Warner, Henry Warner, Peter
William Warner, William Warner, George M.
Watson, William Wellington, Allen West, John
West, Adam Westfall, William White, William
Wilcox, Adam Miner Wilday, Hiram Wilday,
John Wilday, Jr., Abram T. Willsey, Stephen

Holmes Willsey, Joel Wilson, Peter Winne, Henry
Drum Wood, Hiram D. Wood, James E. Wood,
Jesse D. Wood, Alonzo D. Wright, Carpenter N.
Wright, Charles Wellington Wright, Nathaniel
Wright, Samuel S. Wright, Silas W. Wright, Nor
ton Zeh.
Supervisors of the Town. — Jacob Hochstrasser,
1795, 1799; Amos Jones, 1796 ; Johan Jost Deitz,
1797, 1798, 1801-1807, 1812, 1813, 1818; Ben
jamin Fowler, 1800; Abel Hinckley, 1808, 1809;
Joshua Gallup, 18 10, 181 1; Malachi Whipple,
1814-1817, 1821, 1831, 1832; Gideon Taber,
1819, 1820 ; Jesse Wood, 1822, 1823 ; Stephen
Willes, 1824 ; James D. Gardner, 1825, 1826,
1835 1 Chester Willes, 1827 ; Henry H. Lawson,
1828, 1830; Albert Gallup, 1829; Daniel Sim
mons, 1833; Lawrence Van Deusen, 1834;
Moses Patten, 1836-1838; John Warner, 1839;
Jacob Settle, 1840, 1841 ; Henry I. Devoe, 1842,
1843, i860, 1 86 1 ; Oscar Tyler, 1844, 1845 ;
Samuel H. Davis, 1846, 1847, 1856, 1857; John
I. Bogardus, 1848; Daniel G. Fisher, 1849;
Henry A. Van Wie, 1850, 1851; Jackson King,
1852, 1853; Silas Wright, 1854, 1855 ;. Z. A- Dyer,
1858, 1859; David Conger, 1862, 1864, 1866;
William D. Strevell, 1863 ; David S. Dyer, 1865;
Adam J. Warner, 1867 ; James A. Reamer, 1868 ;
Alfred Hungerford, 1869, 1870; William Zeh,
1871-1873; George H. Reinhart, 1874, 1875;
Frederick W. Conger, 1 877-1 881 ; Thomas J.
Wood, 1876, 1882-1885.
Personal and Real Estate, $1,189,939. Town
Audit, $1,494.28. Town census, 1825, 3,509;
l835, 3,956; 1845, 3,665; 1855, 3,206; 1865,
2,851; 1880, 2,616.
Postmasters. — Berne, Charles E. Deitz, daily;
West Berne, Peter H. Clow, daily; East Berne,
Adam J. Warner, daily; South Berne, George
Northrop, three times per week ; Reidsville,
George Lawson, daily. VILLAGES.
The mills in the town became centers for the
villages. These, together with the early stores,
have been mentioned under their proper heads.

This village is situated on the Weidman Mill
property, and is the oldest, largest and most im
portant center in the town. It has a population of
two hundred and fifty inhabitants. Its growth has
been gradual, and the course of time has been
marked by many changes. The place was known

818

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

as Beaverdam for a few years after the organization
of the town.
In 1 817 Henry Engle started a tavern west of
the residence of Esli Whipple. This tavern bore
upon its sign " Corporation Inn," and became a
popular place of resort. The place therefrom, by
common usage, obtained the name of Corporation.
Locally this name is preferred to its proper name,
Berne, which was given it on the establishment of
the post-office here in 1825.
The mercantile and other business interests give
the village its strength, and may be briefly men
tioned. Theodore Settle's store, established in 18 17
by Jacob Settle, is the oldest in the place, and
has been handed down from father to son. *
Charles E. Deitz's store, established by Moses
Patten in 1828, and conducted for many years
under the firm name of Moses & James Patten,
came into the hands of its present owner in 1859.
E. M. Shultes's store was built for a hotel by
Daniel Simmons in 1824. After a succession of
owners it came into possession of the present pro
prietor in 1859, who has since conducted it in the
interests of the dry goods and grocery business.
Rhinehart & Hochstrasser's. — This store was
built by Oscar Tyler as a grocery in 1840. Samuel
H. Davis succeeded him in the business and con
tinued it until his death in 1874. After a short time
the property was leased to the present proprietors,
who conduct a first-class general country store.
William Ball's. — This store is erected on the site
of a fur hat factory, conducted by Conrad Truax.
It was established in 1849 as a tailoring shop,
and soon after joined with it the mercantile
business. Rhinehart & Shultes's. — This store was erected
in 1872 for a liquor saloon by Joseph Wilsey.
N. H. Dayton and Edwin Wilsey were successively
conductors of the grocery trade here. The present
proprietors bought the property, and in 1878 com
menced the sale of boots and shoes, ready-made
clothing and clocks and watches..
Millard F. Hallenbeck's. — This establishment
was built by Daniel Wright in 1838 in the interest
of furniture and undertaking. Isaac Hallenbeck
continued the business herefrom 1852 to 1872, when
it passed into the hands of his son.
Blacksmiths. — Uriah G. Davis, from 1865-
1885 ; Sylvanus Weidman, 1882-1885 ; Anthony
Carey, 1885.
Stoves and Tinware. — John Hochstrasser, 1 865-
1885.

Saddlery and Harness.— Esli Whipple & Son,
1840-1885. There are two hotels, conducted respectively by
Ira Witter and Myron Lee.
Combined annual business of stores, seventy-five
thousand dollars.
Lawyers.^-E. V. Filkins, 1851-1855; John D.
White, 1 881-1885.
PHYSicrANs.— Isaac S. Becker, 1857-1885 ; Wal
lace E. Deitz, 1883-1885.
Postmaster.- — Charles E. Deitz.
WEST BERNE.
• . * »-
This village is located on the Lower Beaverdam,
near the site of Post's Mill. It has a population of
one hundred and twenty-five inhabitants.
The place was known as Mechanicsville, between
1830 and 1834, owing to the number of mechanics
living there. It has now the local name of Peoria,
which was given it by Paul Settle, the miller, who
owned property in the city of Peoria, 111. The
oldest dwelling in the place is that of John D.
Haverly, built by William Shultes about 1800.
Levi Ewings manufactured felt hats on the site of
the furniture store of Charles Blade in 1850. The
grocery store of William Posson was established
by Peter Settle in 1824, and that of Hiram Wool-
ford by Paul I. Cannaday in 1854.
Their combined business amounts to twelve
thousand dollars annually.
There are two churches. -
Two taverns are kept by Joseph Lee and James
P.^Miller, respectively.
Blacksmiths. — David Nasholds, 1850-1885 ;
Ira Mattice, 1860-188 5.
Postmaster. — P. H. Clow.
EAST BERNE.
This village, situated on the Upper Beaverdam,
has a population of seventy. It was known as
Werner's Mills when the town was organized, and
took its present name from the establishment of
the post-office there in 1825. It is known locally
as " Philley," a name given it by Elnathan Stafford,
who kept a small tavern in the neighborhood in
1820, and purchased his liquors in Philadelphia.
Nathaniel, Albert and Benjamin Gallup started
in the mercantile business here in 1825 ; and
Stephen Willes, who had long controlled the trade
in that part of the town, started also a store on the
opposite side of the street
Albert Gallup bought out Willes soon after, and
continued the business under the firm name of

THE TOWNSHIP OF BERNE.

819

Seabury & Gallup until 1842, when it passed into
the hands of Adam J. Warner, its present owner.
The firm of Nathaniel & Benjamin Gallup,
after some changes, came into the possession of Z.
A. Dyer in 1857.V
His son-in-law, Frank Strewell, assumed charge
of the business in 1871. A hotel, in connection
with the store, is conducted by James B. Dyer.
The combined businsss done annually by these
stores is sixteen thousand dollars.
Asa F. Coburn has carried on blacksmithing in
the village for many years.
Z. A. Dyer began to practice law here in 1836,
and was regularly admitted to the Bar, December
5.-1854. A Masonic lodge was started in the village in
1868, with fifteen members. It now numbers
seventy-five, and meets on the first and third Satur
days of each month.

SOUTH BERNE.

This village is located in the southern part of
the town, and on the site of the mill property of
Asa Culver. It has a population of sixty.
Previous to 1825 the place held the name of
Centerville, from its being equi-distant from three
of the larger villages. It is now locally known as
Mud Hollow (Mud Hole), from the swampy
nature of the soil south of the village.
In 1 81 7 John P. Snyder entered into the
grocery business here, and Daniel Lounsberry as
sumed the occupation of a tanner and currier.
In the year 1822 Alexander McKinley, a wag
on-maker, opened a tavern. He kept a trained
bear and moose, and life-sized wax figures of noted
criminals, which he exhibited from place to place.
Zebulon Holdridge in 1825 carried on black-
smithing, and Ebenzer Denison a general grocery
store and ashery.
Henry H. Lawson went into the mercantile
business here in 1828, and James Babcock in
1829. Moses Barber and James Parrish built a carding
and clothing mill in 1830, and manufactured
satinet There are at present two churches
here, two blacksmiths' shops, a grist-mill and
saw-mill and two stores.
The store of Northrop & Ball was built in 1866
by Joseph Deitz as a wheelwright and paint shop,
and that of J. Swarthout in 1835.
Their combined yearly business is ten thousand
dollars. Lawyer. — James Lawson.
Postmaster. — George Northrop.

reidsville.
This village was named from Alexander Reid
(known as Sandy Reid), who settled here in 1828,
and established the first public house. He was
also the first postmaster of the place.
Frederick Ward and James Anderson started in
the mercantile business here about this time. The
firm afterward became Ward & Conger.
The Congers became the owners of much prop
erty in and about the village, and held prominent
places in local politics.
The village was an important center during the
anti-rent struggles, and this cause was championed
by Hubbard Gallup and David and Hugh Conger.
The village has two churches, one blacksmith
shop, a tavern and two stores.
The main store, kept by Alfred R. Hungerford,
does an annual business of three thousand dollars.
PERSONAL MENTION.
Edward V. Filkins was born in Berne, N. Y. ,
March 7, 1821, and has long been identified with
the most important interests of the town. He was
elected Superintendent of Common Schools in
1852, and served with acceptance until 1856.
He is now President of the Board of Trustees of
the Select School, and was, in fact, the originator
of it. He was married, October 22, 1856, to
Emma E. Shafer. Three children are the issue of
this union — Thomas R. , Carrie E. and May S.
Mr. Filkins is by profession a lawyer. He has
an office in the village of Berne, a very complete
law library, and is a reader and thinker. P. O. ,
Berne, N. Y.
Jonathan Turner is the seventh child of a family
of eight children of George and Dorothy Turner.
He was born in the County of Cheshire, Town
ofTetherington, England, in 1823.
His parents and an uncle John came with him
to this country in the above year. They settled
upon the farm owned and occupied by himself and
brother, and where his parents lived and died.
In 1856 he married Cyntha J., daughter of
Thomas and Laura Sisson. Two daughters, Mary
and Ellen, are the results of this union.
John P. Shultes, son of Adam I. and Ann Eliza
Mcintosh, was born in Berne, October 4, 1829.
For eight years previous to i860 he was engaged
in the lumber business at St. Paul, Minn.
The farm which he owns and occupies is the
one on which his parents spent their lives.
Peter S. Ball is the son of Stephen Ball and
Christina Sant, and was born in Beme, September
3°, l837-

820

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

He is a lineal descendant of the pioneer settler,
Hendrick Ball, and has always engaged in agricul
tural pursuits.
He was married to Sarah Sand, December 18,
1 86 1, and they have three children — Eugene,
Stephen and Belle.
Arthur E. Tuck, M. D., was born in Woburn,
Mass., October 3, 1853.
He was married to Sarah M. Taylor, January 2,
1884, and one child, Arthur E., is the issue of this
union. He has been a practicing physician in Berne for
two years, and is now located at Cobleskill, N. Y.
Moses A. M. Gallup, the son of Luke Gallup
and Jemima Slade, was born in the town of
Westerlo in 183 1. He is the proprietor of the
extensive grist-mill in the village of East Berne.
He was married to Susanna Slade, daughter of
Edward Slade and Maria Crawford, in 1851.
They have had one child, Miles W., who died in
1863, at the age of ten years.
He has been an agent for a drug house, and has
traveled through New York and through most
of the New England States. He moved from the
town of Pittstown, Rensselaer County, N. Y., in
1870, and bought the Samuel H. Gallup farm,
which had been in the family for upward of eighty
years. Jacob Hochstrasser, the son of Jacob Hoch
strasser and Margaret West, was born in Berne,
N. Y., in 1832. He married Maria Hilton, Jan
uary 12, 1854. They have one child, Frank,
born on April 15, 1865.
Mr. Hochstrasser is the proprietor of the White
Sulphur Spring House, one mile from the village of
Berne. By personal supervision and attention to
business he has made it a great success. Post-
office, Berne, N Y.
Professional Men Born in the Town. — Clergy
men — Revs. Paul Weidman, Elihu Doty, Jacob
West, D.D., Thomas L. Shafer, David Devoe, Re
formed; Henry Wright, Cyrus Bolster, Howard
Durfy, Eri Baker, Methodist; John Crosby and
John Smith, Baptist. Physicians— Robert Leggett,
Holmes Rosekrans, Ira Zeh, Joel Crocker, Samuel
Wright, Felix Weidman, Isaac R. Finch, Menzo
Mattice, M. L. Filkins, W. L. Filkins, Elmer
Bradley, Abel Hochstrasser, John Bradley, Adam
Clark, Horace K. Willard, David St. John, Wallace
E. Deitz. Attorneys and Counselors — Hon. Joseph
P. Bradley, LL.D., Associate Justice Supreme

Court of the United States; Jacob I.Werner, Ralph
Brewster, William H. Engle, Albert C. Baker,
Menzo Baker, Robert C. Martin, Charles D.
Bradley, Theodore Bradley, Henry D. Rosekrans,
Gilbert V. Z. Shafer, O. S. Long,'0. M. Hunger-
ford, Z. A. Dyer, E. V. Filkins, Lawrence Van
Deusen, John D. White, Jason Strevell, Zardis
Lawrence, Ira Shafer, Jacob M. Settle, Edward
Leggett, George M. Clark, Smith O'Brien and
John Hannay.
Indenture of Elihu Doty, afterward missionary
and author of several works in the Chinese col
loquial: This Indenture, made the 18th day of February, one thou
sand eight hundred and twenty-four, WITNESSETH: That
Elihu Doty, son of Stephen H. Doty, of Berne, County of
Albany, aged fourteen years, four months and twenty-eight
days, by and with the consent of the said Stephen H. Doty,
his father, has of his own free and voluntary will placed
and bound himself apprentice to Jacob Settle, Jr., of Berne,
County of Albany, and State of New York, Merchant, to
learn the art, trade, mystery or occupation of a Merchant,
which he, the said Jacob Settle, Jr., now useth; and with
him as an apprentice to dwell, continue to serve from the
day of the date hereof unto the full end and term of six
years, seven months and two days. The said apprentice
his said Master well and faithfully shall serve, his secrets
keep, his lawiul commands readily obey; hurt to his said
Master he shall not do, nor wilfully suffer it to be done by
others, but of the same to the utmost of his power shall
forthwith give notice to his said Master.
The goods of his Master he shall not embezzle or waste,
nor them lend to any without his consent. At cards, at
dice or any other unlawful games he shall not play ; taverns
or ale-houses he shall not frequent; fornication he shall not
commit; matrimony he shall not contract; from the service
of his said Master he shall not at any time depart, or
absent himself, without his said Master's leave; but in all
things as a good and faithful apprentice shall and will
demean and behave himself toward his said Master, and all
his, during the said term ; and the said Master shall instruct
his said apprentice in the trade, mystery or occupation of
a Merchant, which he useth, with all things thereunto be
longing; shall and will teach, instruct, or cause to be well
and sufficiently taught and instructed, after the best way and
manner he can. And shall and will find and allow unto his
said apprentice meat and drink, washing, lodging and
apparel, both linen and woolen, and all other necessaries
fit and convenient for such an apprentice, during the time
aforesaid; and also pay the said apprentice Fifty Dollars
and a suit of clothes at the expiration of his apprentice
ship. In witness whereof the said parties have hereunto set
their hand and seals the day and year first above written.
Stephen H. Dotv. [l. s.]
Elihu Doty. [l. s.]
Attest, Jacob Settle, Jr. [l. s.]
Jacob D. Settle.

THE TOWNSHIP OF BERNE.

821

^Lcc^m^

J OcZtZt^yi

n^

JAMES PATTEN.
James Patten was born in Londonderry, New
Hampshire, on November 23, 1795. His parents
were among the oldest and best known families of
that section. His father's name was Samuel, and
his mother's Mary Crombie.
He was the second of six children, all of them
possessed of marked individuality and intelligence.
The sons all rose to eminence in their careers, oc
cupying posts of usefulness and honor.
James Patten was early sent to school, and hav
ing finished the preparatory course in his native
village, entered Bowdoin College, Maine, in the
year 1819. In 1823 he graduated with honor, and
was admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
He chose the profession of law, and after study
ing for a time at Rensselaerville, was admitted to
the Bar.
He came to Berne in the year 1829, where his
brother Moses had preceded him five years. Since
that time he has been a permanent resident of this
village. In 1853, July 21, he was united in marriage
to Mary L. Russell, of New Boston, New Hamp
shire, a woman of superior worth and intelligence.
One child has been the issue of this marriage,
Mary L, who was married, October 12, 1880, to
R. R. Trotter, M. D., a practicing physician in the

city of Yonkers, N. Y. They have one child,
James Patten Trotter, born December 19, 1881.
Mr. Patten has, during all the years of his resi
dence here, been highly esteemed by his fellow citi
zens for his urbanity, courteousness, public spirit and
generosity. He has been identified with the local
interests of the town and has contributed largely of
his means and influence toward improvements that
have been made within its limits. He was chosen
to the office of Justice of the Peace in the years
1829 and 1830, discharging the duties imposed
upon him with singular fidelity, prudence and
skill. Men throughout the town reposed great
confidence in his judgment, and sought his coun
sel in some of the most important matters con
nected with their interests. Having graduated
from college, he so interested himself in the
educational interests of the town that he was
elected in the years 1831 and 1833 as one of the
Commissioners of Common Schools in and for the
town, and was chosen for Inspector of Schools in
the years 1838 and 1839.
As a business man Mr. Patten is well and
widely known. Finding the mercantile business
more congenial than the law, Mr. Patten entered
into partnership with his brother in the year 1 830.
The firm did an extensive business for manv years
under the firm name of Moses & James Palten.
and was widely known for honesty, integrity and

822

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

' fP

fair dealing. The senior member, having been
elected to the office of Surrogate of the County,
retired, leaving the entire control to the junior
member. Under his management the business
continued for many years successful and prosper
ous, until in 1857 he transferred the property to
Isaac Deitz and Hiram Wilsey.
After his retirement from the excitement of mer
cantile life, Mr. Patten gave his sole attention to
the management of a farm owned by him in the
valley of the Switzkill, and to other home interests.
As a Christian he has for more than a quarter
of a century been identified with the Reformed
Church of Berne. During all this time he has
been a wise, consistent and faithful adherent to the
cause of religion within her bounds. By his
means and influence he has helped to strengthen
and sustain the ordinances of the gospel.
For a number of years he was successively
elected to the office of an elder, until the infirmi
ties of age compelled him to declirfe the honor. In
every department of life, therefore, he has well and
faithfully discharged his duty. In the community
his character has been a tower of strength, and his
example will long remain as an inspiration to those
who have long known him. Now on the borders
of his 89th year, the oldest man in the town, sound

in mind and ready in conversation, may he live
many years more to bless, magnify and honor the
relation he bears to his family and his kindred.

THOMAS J. WOOD.
Col. Jesse Wood was the first one of the
family and name who settled in the vicinity of the
village of Berne. He came from Long Island
about the beginning of the present century and
located in the eastern part of the town of Berne,
where he became a prominent and influential citi
zen. He entered the United States service at the
outbreak of the war of 181 2-14, and soon rose to
the rank of Colonel. At the close of the war he re
turned to his home in Berne, and resumed farm
ing. He was Supervisor of Berne in 1822 and
1823, and represented his district as member of
Assembly in 1833. In 1837 he disposed of his
property in the eastern part of Berne, and purchased
a large farm near the village of Berne, then called
"Corporation," where he lived until his death,
July 23, 1853, aged 83 years, 9 months and 1
day. His wife was Rene Warner, who was bom
October 10, 1770, and died May 8, 1852. They
were married October 9, 1791. Col. Jesse

THE TOWNSHIP OF BERNE.

823

Wood, who was the great uncle of Mr. Thomas
J. Wood, of Berne, adopted John M. Wood, his
nephew and Thomas J. Wood's father, in boyhood,
and reared him in all respects as he would have
reared a son, had one been given him, for he was
childless. John M. Wood was born October 24,
181 1, and married Orpha Denison, January 24,
1832. They had three sons and a daughter, of
whom three are living — Thomas J., Eugene and
Elizabeth S. , now Mrs. Daniel Marselis. Jesse D. ,
the youngest of the family, enlisted in the 177th
Regiment, New York State Volunteers, early in the
late Rebellion, and died at Port Hudson. Mrs.
Wood was born August 31, 1807, and died April
18, 1874. Her father, Ebenezer Denison, was
one of the first settlers in the eastern part of Berne.
John M. Wood was a farmer until his retirement
from active business, and since that time has been
a member of the family of his daughter, Mrs.
Marselis. He early identified himself with the New
York State militia, became very popular on account
of his connection therewith, and rapidly rose to
high rank. After filling several subordinate offices,
he was commissioned Major and was promoted to
be Lieutenant-Colonel July 10, 1837, and Brigadier-
General June 10, 1840.
Thomas J. Wood, the eldest son of Gen. John
M. Wood, was born in the eastern part of Berne,
on the farm now known as "the Morgan Allen
place," November 30, 1835. He was reared on the
farm, and attended common and select schools in
Berne, later attending for a time the Honesdale
Academy, at Honesdale, Pa. December 24,
1857, he married Libenia Whipple, daughter of
Allen Whipple, of Berne. On her mother's side
she was descended from Jacob Weidman, the first
settler where the village of Berne now is. The
Whipples were also early settlers in the same
locality and later owners of the mill originally built
by Jacob Weidman. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have six
children — four sons and two daughters. While
still a mere youth, Mr. Wood inherited a portion

of the Col. Wood farm, at Berne, and by a pur
chase of the interests of other heirs subsequently
became possessed of the entire property, aggre
gating. 477 acres. Some years ago he sold about
130 acres, retaining the balance of the original
tract, except a few small lots which had been sold
by Col. Wood. He has always been interested
in the affairs of the town, and has been a liberal
supporter, according to his means, of its leading
interests. In 1876 he represented the town in the
Albany County Board of Supervisors. He was
again elected in 1882, and re-elected in 1883 and
1884, twice without opposition and always by good
majorities. A Republican politically, he is not in
the usual acceptation of the term a politician,
though his interest in the success of his party is
deep and abiding. With his family he is connected
with the Dutch Reformed Church of Berne, of
which he is one of the elders, and toward the sup
port of which he is a generous contributor.

Joseph and Jonathan Turner are residents of
Berne, Albany County, and farmers by occupation.
Their father and mother, George and Doralhy
Turner, came to this country from England in
1832; also their uncle, John Turner, came with
them. Their father brought eight children and
left one in England, and settled on the farm where
they now reside.
Edward V. Filkins was born in Berne, March 7,
1821; married Emma E. Shafer, October 22, 1856;
is a lawyer by profession. Berne post-office.
Arthur E. Tuck, born at Woburn, Mass.,
October 3, 1853; married Sarah M. Taylor, January
2, 1884; physician. Berne post-office.
Peter S. Hall, born at Berne, September 30,
1837; married Sarah Sand, December 18, 1861;
farmer. Berne post-office.

824

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

HISTORY OF COEYMANS TOWNSHIP.

By J. S. MARKLE.

COEYMANS.
IN the following pages, which are presented to the
reader as a brief history of Coeymans, to form
a part of the History of the County of Albany, im
perfections may occur, which the author hopes will
not detract from the general correctness or truth
fulness of the work.
Many events or data connected with some of the
important records and traditions have been difficult
of proof, while others have been predicated upon
verbal authority or personal investigation. The
want of a proper interest in the affairs of the town
ship is attended with an irreparable loss to the
written history of any community.
For the valuable aid rendered, and the many
kindnesses received from friends in collecting ma
terial for these pages, the writer returns his sincere
thanks. Albany, N. Y., 1884.
Coeymans was named from the patentee, Barent
Pieterse Coeymans. It is the ^southeast corner
township, with Bethlehem and New Scotland on the
north, the Hudson River on the east, Greene County
on the south, and Westerlo on the west, and includes
Barren Island and half of Shad Island, and was
formed from Watervliet, March 18, 179 1, being the
second township taken from Watervliet, and in the
formation of Westerlo a part of Coeymans was
taken off. The township contains 32,570 acres.
The surface consists of an upland 200 to 400
feet above the river, broken by ridges and hills that
rise 100 to 400 feet higher, and several breadths of
flats, giving a diversified character to its physical
structure and its geological formations, with a
variety of scenery, and qualities of soil adapted for
general farming and special pursuits. The soil is
varied in its productiveness ; that of the flats, con
taining some alluvial deposit, with sand and clay,
is rich in plant food. The narrow borders upon
the streams are clayey, while the ridges and up
lands are sometimes intermixed with gravel, slate
and clay loam, having a subsoil that is retentive
and generally productive. The conditions of the
soil and climatic surroundings are quite favorable

for the growth of the usual farm productions, as
well as fruit. Wheat, rye, oats, corn, buckwheat
and hay are principal crops, with potatoes and a
few other vegetables. The orchards are numerous,
with the usual variety of mixed trees, and the
fruit is of superior quality.
The rock of the township is mostly a stratum
of marble or limestone, which extends three to four
miles from the river, and is quarried for building
purposes and lime, also broken for macadamizing
roads. Some blue-stone exists, and a quarry was
formerly worked at Mossy Hill ; but the supply of
marketable stone has been exhausted, and the
quarry is abandoned. The hills belong to the
Helderbergs, which are a continuation of the
Catskills. Vincent, Gidney, Stanton and Blodgett
are among the highest elevations, none of which
exceed 700 feet.
The principal streams are the Coeymans Creek,
which enters from Bethlehem, crossing the north
east corner of the township, emptying into the
Hudson at Coeymans Landing. The Hannakrois*
enters from Westerlo, midway of the north and
south line, flows in a southeast direction through
Indian Fields, Stephensville and Coyemans Hol
low, furnishing these places with water-power for
the several mills, and enters Greene County near
Achquetuck, then curves and re-enters the town
ship in the extreme southeast corner, emptying
into the Hudson a short distance below Coeymans
Landing. These streams flow through narrow val
leys, bordered by steep hillsides fifty feet and over in
perpendicular height, with gorges cut through the
shales and slates to a rocky bed over which the
waters flow, and in times of freshets they become
furious torrents. They receive from the north and
south several small streams as tributaries. At
Coeymans Village the Coeymans Creek descends
in the aggregate by two falls seventy-five feet,
giving remarkable water-power facilities, which
*The derivation of the name "Haanakrois" is of doubtful origin,
some claiming it as Indian, others of Dutch, signifying "crowing
cock," from " Haan," acock or rooster, and "kraai," to crow. There
is a legend that during a freshet in the creek a barn was carried down
the stream, and perched upon an open upper door stood a cock, crow
ing. Holland: " Haane-kraai."

THE TOWNSHIP OF COEYMANS.

825

have been formerly utilized to a limited extent
Lawson's Lake is a small sheet of water in the
northwest part of the town, on the line of New
Scotland, the outlet of which flows into the Ones
quethau. A peculiarity of some of the streams in
the northern and western part is their disappear
ance into sink-holes, and flowing for some distance
into subterranean passages, coming to the surface
many rods from where they disappeared. It is not
strange that caves exist where this peculiar condi
tion of rock formation is found. The caves or
underground passages are of limited extent. There
are a few mineral springs, the waters of which are
impregnated with sulphate of magnesia. No min
erals of value or importance are found in the
township. Some fossil remains have been discovered, but
the geology is of minor importance, the deep cut
tings of the streams and limestone formations being
of greatest interest. Many tons of molding sand are
obtained from a sub-stratum, and shipped to dif
ferent States by John Whitehead & Brother, who
control the business.
The business of the town is transacted at the fol
lowing places : Coeymans Landing, Coeymans
Junction, Coeymans Hollow, Stephensville and
Indian Fields. The name on the different deeds,
and as originally spelled by the family, is various.
Koeymans, Koymans and Koeyemans are some of
them, while it would seem the Holland was Kojie-
mans. The original settler was Barent Pieterse Koey
mans, who came from Utrecht in the year 1636,
and immediately on his arrival entered the service
of the first Patroon, Killian Van Rensselaer, as
miller, at a salary of thirty guilders a year. Three
brothers accompanied him, David, Jacob and Ar
ent. Barent worked in the Patroon's grist-mill
until 1645, when he took charge of the saw-mills
which were on the Patroon's creek in the northern
part of the city, in company with Jan Gerritsen,
receiving each 1 50 guilders a year and three stivers
a cut for every plank they sawed. He remained
in this employment until 1647. Previous to 1650
he lived south of the Patroon's creek, and in 1665
took a nineteen years' lease of a farm of " maize
land" at twenty-four guilders a year, and in 1657
secured a lease of the Patroon's mills for three
years, at the expiration of which, in 1660, he
leased the mills on the Norman's Kill for thirteen
years. At the time this lease expired, in 1673, he
purchased from the Indians a large tract of land,
twelve or fifteen miles south of Albany. This
tract offered great advantages in its water privileges

for milling purposes, and it was here that Cryn
Comelissen and Hans Jansen erected saw-mills
on the creek, north of Coeymans, which emptied
into the Hudson above Baeren or Barren Island,
as early as 1651. Koeymans obtained of Gov.
Lovelace a patent to the land acquired from the
Indians, which consisted of eight or ten miles on
the river and extending twelve miles to the west.
This tract fell within the bounds of Rensselaerwyck,
and after a litigation that continued over thirty
years, Koeymans purchased the Patroon's claim,
in 1 706, agreeing to pay a quit-rent of nine shil
lings a year. After Koeymans had purchased this
tract, 1674, dates the settlement of the township;
and now the forest is noisy with the ringing strokes
of the sturdy pioneer as he fells the monarchs of
the forest, making ready for his habitation, and
introducing the early rudiments of civilization. In
the year 17 14 he obtained from Queen Anne a
patent of this tract, confirming the whole to him
and his heirs forever.
The description of the property patented is very
indefinite and quite curious; a short extract is
given. The cession was from " a certain creek or
kill lying and being on the west-side of Hudson's
River to the north of a place by the Indians called
Kax-hax-ki, stretching in length to the highest
place where Jacob Flodden did used to roll down
timber, named by the natives Scen-tha-tin, to the
island belonging to John Byers, and into the
woods as far as the Indian Sachem's right goes."
The records of ihe patent continue as follows:
" Yielding and paying therefor, yearly and every
year, unto the same Killian Van Rensselaer, his
heirs and assigns, the yearly rent or sum of nine
shillings, current money of New York, at upon the
Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, in lieu of all
other rents, dues, duties and services, for or in
respect of premises or any part or parcel therefore,
as by the said indenture relation to them being
had may more fully and at large appear. "
" On the 16th April, 1672, Volkert Janes con
veys all his rights and ownership to Barent Pieterse
(Coeymans) in the island named Schulters, lying
below Beeren Island, and included in Coeymans'
patent, dated August 14, 1671." — From Munsell's
" Albany County Records. "
In the struggle for existence, amid the contending
conflicts of life, labor must be elevated and honored
if the conditions of prosperity and normal develop
ments are taken as factors in human progress.
The demands of the times and the tendency of
civilization called for the improvements that in
creased the wants of humanity, and it became

826

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

necessary that man in his needs should labor.
The incentive to the beginner is bread ; this
obtained, he may direct his efforts into other
channels, be they domestic or social, intellectual or
material. As the wants of the new settlers were few, and
their means limited, they lived in primitive sim
plicity, practicing self-denial, and cultivating in
dustrious and frugal habits that became to them in
after years the foundation and growth to prosperity,
and the development in wealth from agricultural
pursuits. The most successful are those who lead
and introduce progressive methods, who are ever
ready to meet the demands, and labor to supply
the local and general call for staple products that
give the largest returns for the least labor. As
diversities of industries are introduced, and com
petition distributed, the greater will be the diffusion
of wealth, and this naturally will offer new sources
for energy and enterprise to those possessing in
dustry and zeal. To obtain these advantages, they
went to work in earnest for the full development of
the resources that were so lavishly and temptingly
distributed around them. This was the great in
centive of the men who took the burden in their
youth, that they might reap in manhood some of
the fruits of toil, and in their declining years rest
upon the shocks, fully ripe, which were garnered
from mother earth by the sweat of their brows,
amid hardships, self-denial, and often when want
stared them as a hungry wolf. These early settlers
were denied many of the comforts and conven
iences of life; their whole system of living -was one
attended at every step with difficulties, and their
supplies were obtained by the severest labor.
Clothing was manufactured from home material,
prepared by rude implements ; food was supplied
from rude means; flour or meal were necessities
that required a long journey on foot or horseback
to reach the mill through the dense forest, and over
roads or narrow trails that were almost impassable.
But these struggles were in time overcome, and,
as the lands were taken and improved by incoming
settlers, many of the difficulties were removed, and
these sturdy pioneers were gladdened f in their
hearts and homes by bounties that came as " bless
ings in disguise " to cheer and to comfort
Much that would be of interest to the public
connected wilh the history of the Keoymans
family is beyond recall. Records of value have
been lost, and private papers destroyed or from
age are illegible. Some public records and docu
ments are yet available from which to obtain a few
leading events and personal history.

Only a few years after Albany was permanently
settled, and some settlements were made upon Van
Rensselaer's patent, Holland sent another band of
her enterprising and thrifty men to take advantage of
the offers extended to any who would venture upon
this new scene of action, filled with resources of
unbounded wealth, free to all who were willing to
¦sacrifice personal comfort and meet the privations
of uncivilized surroundings for a future indepen
dence. Among these was Barent Pieterse Koey
mans, who came to Albany in 1636, where he re
sided for a score or more of years, engaged first in
the employ of the Patroon, and then boldly assum
ing to act upon his own judgment in an enterprise
that brought a measure of success. This filled
him with enthusiasm for greater ventures^ and, in
1673, he made his purchase of the Indians, taking
possession the following year; and this became his
future home and residence after making many nec
essary improvements.
Koeymans married a daughter of Andries De
Vos, and five children were born to them — Andries,
Samuel, Peter, Arriantje and Jannetje. Andries
was born in Albany and married a daughter of Dr.
Samuel Staats; he took up his residence in New
Jersey, where some of his descendants and name
are to be found. Samuel was also born in Albany,
August 3, 1670, and married Catrina Van Schaaick;
they had no children; he lived for many years at
the Koeymans stone house, which still stands on
the north of the creek. Arriantje was born in
Albany, October 19, 1672; she had her home with
her brother Samuel, and remained single until
fifty-one years old, when she married David Ver
plank, who was at the time twenty-eight years old;
no children were born to them. Arriantje died
April 4, 1743, willing her property mostly to her
own father's family; but David inherited her por
tion. David Verplank did not remain a widower,
as he took for his second wife Miss Brouwer, and
for his third he married Catrina Boom, in 1752.
They had four children — David, Johannes,
Arriantje and Isaac D. Peter, born at Albany,
married Elizabeth Graveret, or Greveraad, and had
two children — Menjae, who married Andreas
Whiteck, and Elizabeth, who married Jacobus
Van Allen. His first wife died, and Peter married
for his second wife Charlotta Amelia Dawyer, No
vember 1, 1 719; this union was blessed with three
daughters— Garritje, marrying John Barclay ; Ann
Margaret, marrying Andries Ten Eyck, and Char
lotte Amelia, who married John Jonas Bronk.
Peter Koeymans lived in the stone house or castle
in the village up to the time of his death, which oc-

THE TOWNSHIP OF COEYMANS.

827

curred April 30, 1 736-1 744, and was buried on
Baeren Island. He had a family of five daughters,
all of whom married; many of their descendants
are still living and own lands on the original patent,
but none of the name are now residents of the
township. Mrs. Charlotta Houghtaling was a
daughter of John Jonas Bronk, who is perhaps the
nearest relative of the family now living. The
name of Koeymans became extinct in this locality
by the death of Peter. Barent, the father, is sup
posed to have been buried on land now in the posses
sion of Peter Whitbeck; this belief is founded upon
the fact that in a partition deed a part of the land
is reserved for burial purposes. No remains of the
grave are to be seen, as the land has been utilized
by the plow as too valuable for sacred purposes.
The early settlement of the township, as also
Coeymans Landing, is closely connected with the
founder and subsequent members of his family;
anything relating to them has a direct bearing on
its written history. Here Barent Pieterse Koey
mans commenced his career, in colonial times,
when it required some courage as well as shrewd
ness to locate in the midst of a vast wilderness,
having for inhabitants a race of cruel savages, and
the woods howling with the death cries of ferocious
beasts, the only protection his rude log cabin, and
perhaps a trusty Holland gun — six feet in length —
with such assistance as his family might render.
It seems evident, Koeymans did not take into con
sideration the founding of a great city at this
place, for the rocky banks and steep hillsides were
not favorable for easy extension; yet these to him
were of great value as affording many advantages
and facilities in the erection of mills for grinding
grain and sawing lumber, for which there was
an increasing demand, and from which he expected
to realize a small fortune. Although the forest
furnished unlimited supplies of timber for building
purposes, yet the first buildings erected by him
were built of common graywacke or flat field
stone. The oldest house, the old Koeymans Castle, dis
appeared in 1833. It stood on the site of the
building now occupied by the family of the late
Josiah Sherman. The first and original mills have
long since been demolished, and were located some
distance from the present mill, which is of recent
date. In early times the creek north of the village
upon which the mills were built was called Ones-
ke-lhau, and the level land extending west of the
village Ach-que-luck.. The creek has two falls, and
the water courses over a rocky bottom, making a

descent of 75 feet before it empties into a small
bay leading into the Hudson. At the base of this
water-fall, on the north side of the creek, is a mill,
which is now idle, and a building known as the
Old Store House, built of field stones, finished
with brick in the gables, which has been erected
more than a hundred years. In the village are two
other similar buildings standing, which were built
about the same time.
Arriantje did not own property north of the
creek. The old stone house and all the property
is now owned by the Ten Eyck family, and came to
them by Peter Keoymans. The following is taken
from the Albany Evening fournal: ' ' The old Koey
mans mansion or castle stood on the corner of
Westerlo and First streets. The walls were thick,
and were pierced at intervals with port-holes. The
gables were carried up with brick brought from
Holland. The building faced the Hudson, and
was erected by Barent Pieterse Koeymans soon after
he purchased his land from the Indians. The
last family who occupied the main building was
that of Jeremiah Cooper, while the family of
Charles Penton lived in the wing. The old plate
and pictures which were used in this ancient man
sion more than a century and a half ago remain in
part in possession of descendants. One of the
oil paintings which adorned the walls, a portrait of
Ariaantje Koeymans, Barent's daughter, is now in
the house of Charlotte Houghtaling. The face of
the subject is nearly obliterated, while one hand,
doubled, is plainly preserved. The daughter, it is
said, helped to build the old stone house, which
still stands north of the Coeymans Creek, by car
rying the stone and material for the walls. Mrs.
Houghtaling also has a faded picture of the prop
erty taken probably 150 or 200 years ago. It
shows the stone house, a saw-mill back of where
the grist-mill now stands, a plaster mill to the
north over an artificial rock-cut, which served as
a water-way, in an altogether different direction
from the present stream. There was another saw
mill on the crown of the rocks, and another grist
mill on the opposite side of the creek, which stood
until 1830. Old deeds speak of a saw-mill at the
falls, but nothing else can be ascertained about the
structure. "
Coeymans Landing (Coeymans P. O) retains in
a marked degree much of its ancient conservative
Dutch sentiment, and the spirit of modern progress
has been dormant these two hundred years, only to
be awakened by the present generation of active
brain power, which in a great measure controls
the destinies of to-day. Any purpose or intention

828

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

of individuals to engage in enterprises or venture
upon worthy public or private pursuits, that would
have contributed in some measure to the growth
and prosperity of the place, has been indifferently
encouraged, and for this reason other locations
were sought for, which received the benefit.
The progress of the past has been very slow, the
business of the place is in the hands of the few, and
these are limited to the wants and demands of the
surrounding country.
The village is pleasantly located on the west
bank of the Hudson, twelve miles south of Albany,
and is built upon the sloping and rocky hill-side,
giving to it an elevation which enhances the sur
rounding landscape and adds variety to the beauti
ful scenery. The streets, which are quite irregular,
are mostly unpaved, and the houses are set without
any regard to order, while many are built from
original designs, independent of architectural rules,
and ignoring the ornamental for the useful. There
are some fine dwellings and mansions which are
ornaments to the village. The western part,
which is the newest, is more regular and attract
ive ; the antiquated appearance which is so strik
ing near the river is not observable here. It is in
this locality, upon a large inclosed square, with
beautiful surroundings, that Mr. Acton Civil several
years ago erected a massive building of iron and
stone for an academy. The building is substan
tial, and the architecture is beautiful in design and
imposing in appearance. Two years ago the
boarding-house to be connected with the school
was built. These buildings, which have never
been used, are in the west part of the village, com
manding a fine view of the adjacent country, and
near the railroad station. The docks at the land
ing are quite extensive and used for general pur
poses of shipping by steamboats, barges, canal-boats
and other river craft ; it is a general landing for
steamboats to receive and let off passengers. Many
tons of coal are received here, while farm produce
of every kind is shipped in great quantities. Mr.
' Henry Slingerland, who is one of the most enter
prising shippers, kindly furnished the following as
his business for 1883 : eighty-two excursions, 109
trips of barges, carrying 171,007 bales of hay and
straw, 52,706 bushels of rye, besides buckwheat
flour, apples and mixed merchandise.
Flere are located the Cedar Point Mills, a large
frame building, supplied with ample water-power
from Coeymans Creek, and furnished with machin
ery for manufacturing flour and meal and grind
ing plaster. Formerly mills were in operation
above the present one, and connected with them

were mills for carding and grinding plaster; but
these are of the past, having disappeared forty
years ago. They were built by Conrad Ten Eyck,
and John Aldridge and Whiteman were millers.
The present mills have been owned by Israel
Lawton, Briggs & Colvin, A. Willis, and are now
owned by the heirs of N. H. Johnson. At pres
ent these mills are idle. Among the forgotten
industries of Coeymans was the manufacture of
hats by Mr. Cartwright. In passing along the
thoroughfares of the village, the attentive observer
will note the moral standing of the people by the
three churches, Reformed, Methodist and Roman
Catholic ; the intelligence is represented by a
school-house and a weekly newspaper; the wants
and needs are supplied from two grocery and
provision stores, one general and mixed merchan
dise, one shoe store, one drug and fancy store, tin
and hardware, paint shops, two blacksmith and
one wheelwright shop, two broom factories, the
needed millinery and dressing parlors, one gen
eral undertaker, four hotels, barber shops, coal
dealers and general shipping merchants. The
professions are represented by four lawyers, two
physicians and one dentist.
The general business interests of the village are
conducted by the following persons: Attorneys and
Counselors at Law — S. Springsted, J. M. Harris,
Charles Thompson, and C. M. Barlow, notary
public. Physicians and Surgeons — F. G. Mosher
and N. H. Johnson. Dentist — C. C. Willis.
Powell & Johnson, drugs, medicines, paints, oil
and glass. William B. Hull & Co., dry goods,
groceries, provisions and general merchandise.
W. H. Keller, dealer in groceries and provisions.
Baumes & Brother, groceries and provisions, crock
ery and glassware. Alfred A. Sherman, fancy
goods, notions and stationery. J. B. Holmes,
tin, copper, zinc and sheet iron. W. W. Snyder,
boots and shoes. A. Vandyck, harness and sad
dlery of all kinds. Alonzo Southard, general
funeral director. L. E. Gould and Charles
Zeigler, meat markets, fish and oysters. Henry
Slingerland, general forwarding, freight and com
mission merchant J. N. Briggs, dealer in coal
and ice, and lessor of Barren Island. Coeymans
Herald, S. H. & E. J. Sherman, editors and
proprietors. Hotels.— Hotaling' s Hotel, Richard S. Hotaling,
proprietor ; Union Hotel, Samuel Gedney, proprie
tor ; Whitbeck House, Verplank Whitbeck, pro
prietor ; Niles House, Gilbert Cronk, proprietor.
The post-office has been established many
years. Levi Blaisdell and Nathan Stephens were

THE TOWNSHIP OF COEYMANS.

829

early postmasters. The present postmaster is
William B. Hull, who has held the office since
1853 ; he is also an early resident.
Among the first settlers were the Koeymans
family and those with whom they married, An
dreas and Lendert Witbeck, the Ten Eycks, Van
Aliens, Verplanks, Bronks, Barclays, Hotalings
and Van Daalston. These were followed by
Waldrons, Huycks, James Teft, who kept a tavern,
and McMichael, who kept a store ; Oliver Lauton,
John Fanning, Palmer Utter, Joseph Hazelton,
Levi Blaisdell, and others who have been succeeded
by their descendants and later residents. The
village numbers at present about 900 inhabitants.
A new era has dawned over the past, and an
epoch in the history of this old settlement will
transfer the business of the future from the immedi
ate scenes of the Dutch historic landmark. The
construction and operation of the West Shore Rail
road have produced changes already, that are to be
followed by improvements and enterprises of a
general character.
Formidable barriers of physical structure no
longer baffle the skill of the civil engineer, when
he is assured of the means to break through ob
structions or override the traditions of successive
generations. Skill and capital overcome moun
tains of opposition, as well as level public opinion,
to the general necessities of a common interest
Progress marks human sentiment, and internal im
provements are bound and girdled by a network of
steel. The skill and ingenuity of man subject the
elements to his uses, control as a plaything the
subtle fluid, electricity, and encircle the globe
with wires of thought, and illumine the darkness
of night by its incandescent light, soon to be fol
lowed by greater wonders.
The completion of the New York, West Shore
and Buffalo Railroad in 1883, through the town,
gives Coeymans more commercial importance and
marks an era in the business interest of trade, as
well as concentrates at the place of transfer the
products and commodities of a wide region of
country, that will give an impetus to future invest
ment, and open other important sources for mate
rial prosperity, thus laying the foundation for other
industries connected with the development of the
surrounding vicinity. These are considerations
which connot be controlled by mere external in
fluences, and the forward movement must continue
so long as the resources of the country are being
developed, and the demands of trade find a ready
market for agricultural supplies, domestic manu
factures and mineral products.

For two hundred years, a few men of enterprise
have controlled the business interests of the place.
Slow progress consequently has been made, yet a
steady growth of the village has been quietly going
on, which gives assurance of prosperity and con
centration of wealth.
Coeymans function. — The construction of this
new line of railroad necessitated at this point a di
vergence to Albany ; therefore a junction with the
main line was made a mile west of Coeymans, at a
location promising superior facilities and advan
tages for the convenience of transfer and the erec
tion of necessary buildings connected with the
road. Here is a fine level tract of land, specially
adapted for building purposes, and already is seen
the sharp forethought of the enterprising capitalist
and the investments of men with limited means.
Besides the station, freight and engine houses be
longing to the railroad, Peter Pulver has erected
three dwellings and a building for hotel and res
taurant purposes, near the passenger station, which
were the first buildings (1883) and the nucleus to
the future village. Two other dwellings followed,
and these have been increased the present year,
1884, by two frame buildings and a large double
three-story brick, for store and hotel, near the
railroad and fronting on the stone road. This fine
brick edifice was built by Peter Putman, a former
resident of the township, but now of New York.
At the present time, ten houses west of the railroad
compose the little settlement. A short distance
west of this point, at the comer of the road near
Schoonmaker & Brothers' store, a tavern was kept
more than a hundred years ago ; this was the
main road leading to Buffalo, and it is said Jerome
Bonaparte, in his travels, stopped here for dinner.
Early settlers here, Ambrose Wiltsie, Job Baker,
and widow Lodeman, who kept tavern.
Ache-que-tuck, P. O. (local, Peacock's Corners),
was established as a post-office in 1879, with
Willis Nodine as postmaster, who continues to
serve. This place is west of the railroad station
about two miles. Here is a hotel kept by D. Baumis,
a store, blacksmith and wheelwright shop and toll-
gate. Early tavern keepers here were Baldwin and
Nicholas Huyck. From this point up to the eastern
extremity of Coeymans Hollow, extending north,
is a tract of very superior farming land, which
by old deeds is described as Hagh-a-tuck, the true
Indian name ; and here we find the Witbecks, Ten
Eycks, Van Derzees, Verplanks, Shears, Wiltsies,
Schoonmakers and other descendants of the first
settlers. Here also stands the old stone house of the
Ten Eycks, which was built many years before the

830

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Revolution ; it is not occupied, and will soon be
one of the forgotten monuments of the past. Other
houses of interest are the brick dwellings of Ver
planks and Witbecks, built many years ago. In
this vicinity, in former years, were grist and saw
mills, tannery and flax mills, the property of Isaac
D. Verplank ; these mills were on the Haanakrois.
Coeymans Hollow, P. O., extending for a dis
tance of two miles or more, in the valley of the
Haanakrois, is located upon either side of the creek.
The village of Coeymans Hollow dates its settle
ment only a few years later than the possession of
the patent by Koeymans and his family. The
valley possesses remarkable water-power privileges,
which may have been a consideration with the first
settlers in choosing this locality, and the heavy-
timbered forest, with its valuable growth of trees,
may have been another inducement, as well as the
fertility of the soil, after the land became cleared.
Mills were accordingly erected at an early date by
Verplank and others interested in the settlement of
this locality; vestiges of these mills remain at several
places along the creek. Other mills for different
purposes have been erected and operated for a
time, or until the special purpose for which they
were intended was fulfilled, or the conditions of
the surroundings rendered them of no further use,
and then abandoned. Carding mills and tan
neries were quite numerous; it was then customary
for the women to spin and weave the necessary
clothing, blankets, spreads and sheets, and the
household linen. As the cheaper fabrics of cotton
were brought into use, these gradually superseded
those of home-made manufacture, and the carding
mills have almost wholly disappeared. So with the
making of leather; once the shoemaker and
harness-maker had a small tannery in which they
manufactured their own leather, and also did the
tanning for the farmers of the neighborhood, and
then worked it into boots and shoes:
Now that bark necessary for this purpose has
become scarce, science has introduced new meth
ods and machinery which require combined
capital. On the premises of Harvey Shear, many years
ago, Francis DeLong, a man by the name of
Sherman, and Garret Witbeck manufactured hats.
Here in the Hollow, grist, saw and clothing mills
were owned and operated by John Blodgett and
Mr. Leslie. At the upper end of the village, Ver
plank had a grist and saw-mill, which, during a
freshet, were carried down the stream; remains
of the dam and race-way are there yet, and are
utilized by Andrew Carey for driving machinery

for turning spokes, hubs and other work; he also
has a mechanic and blacksmith shop. During
1861 and 1862 several flax mills were erected at
convenient points on the creek, which, in a few years,
were abandoned. There are at present no mills
or manufactures in operation in the village. In
traversing the length of the street, which is the
public road, there are upon either side about fifty
dwellings, with two hundred inhabitants. Thebusi-
nessls conducted through the usual stores and
shops, containing mixed merchandise; there are
three stores, one hotel, one school-house and
Methodist church, shoe store and shop, meat
market, three blacksmith and wheelwright shops,
one physician. The post-office was established about
1840, with John B. Shear, P.M. The present post
master is Electus Shear. Among the early settlers
were Verplanks, Witbecks, John Blodgett, Josiah
Hinckley, Gerrit Witbeck, Jonas Shear, Jedediah
Davis, John Colvin.
Stephensville (Alcove P. O. ) is a small hamlet
situated in the bend or elbow of the Haanakrois
Creek, in the southwestern part of the town, and is
almost a continuation of Coeymans Hollow. It de
rives its name from Archibald Stephens, who for
merly operated mills here. The post-office and
name were established in 1881. Stanley Green,
postmaster. Here, near the stone road, eight miles from
Coeymans Landing, are located the Valley Paper
Mills, and saw-mill of Amos D. Briggs. About
1 844 Ephraim Andrews erected mills here on a
small scale for the purpose of cloth-dressing and
carding wool. In 1848 John E. Andrews enlarged
and converted them, with the necessary improve
ments and machinery for the manufacture of straw
wrapping paper.
In 1854 W. S. Briggs and Andrews made ad
ditions, repairs and improvements by the introduc
tion of steam and many other appliances of recent
invention. In 1871 W. S. Briggs & Sons
(Newton S., Ralph B. and Amos D.) commenced
a partnership, which continued three years, when
the property and business were transferred to Amos
D. Briggs, the present proprietor, who operates and
conducts the business. During the year 1883
extensive improvements, with increased capacity, at
a great outlay, were made. The works contain one
steam engine and two turbine water-wheels, the
steam engine of 125 horse-power and the water-
wheels of 1 50 horse-power. The capacity of the
mill is five tons of straw daily, from which three
and one-half to three and three-fourth tons of
straw wrapping paper are made. About twenty-

THE TOWNSHIP OF COEYMANS.

831

five men are employed for ten months during
the year. The paper is carted to Coeymans for
shipment, and coal brought by the return trip.
That these works have been a financial success is
proven by the fact that the former operators have
retired with a competency.
Three-fourths of a mile south of these mills are
the post-office and residence of W. S. Briggs, Esq.,
who owns the grist-mill and other valuable prop
erty. Casparus Ackerman was an early settler,
coming here in 1 790; soon after, he erected the first
mills, which in time passed into the possession of
Archibald Stephens, and now owned by W. S. Briggs.
The present mill is a massive stone structure, with
three run of stone. The hamlet has ten or twelve
dwellings, with a store, wagon and blacksmith
shops, and besides the mill two other stone buildings,
a building formerly a flax mill, Union Church, and
one physician represents the profession. Just above
the valley mills, on the stone road, is a saw-mill, the
property of Jefferson Powell; and a short distance
up this small stream, in the ravine, and east of the
toll-gate, is the tannery built by Daniel Tompkins
seventy years ago. They were sold to a man by the
name of Caswell; then to John Huyck & Son, the
present owners, who continue the business.
Indian Fields (P. O. ) is a hamlet nine miles from
Coeymans, in the west part of the town, containing
a Baptist church, hotel, three stores, one harness
shop, three blacksmiths, one general wood-work,
two foundries, carding mill, saw-mill, harness
shop, drug store and one physician, eighteen dwell
ings and eighty inhabitants. The business of the
place is conducted by J. O. Stiles, proprietor of
hotel and store; Huyck & Dorman, post-office and
general merchandise; Anthony Davis, merchandise;
Christian Scharbauer, manufacturer of harness;
Caleb Snyder and Norris & Brother, proprietors of
foundries; F. A. W. Rivets, physician, with drug
store; J. J. Huyck, postmaster.
Here are located the foundry and carding mill of
Caleb Snyder. It was here, in the early settlement
of this vicinity, that Isaac Verplank built a saw
mill, and afterward carding and cloth-dressing mills
were operated. In after years Houck & Trenchard
operated a woolen cloth manufactory and saw-mill.
Subsequently Huyck & Norris reconstructed the
works into a foundry, after which they were sold to
Caleb Snyder, who does general foundry work,
making plow, cultivator and land-roller castings.
The machinery is operated with steam and water
power. Henry and Isaac Norris, located on the public
road, own and conduct a foundry and wood-shop

for the manufacture of plows, cultivators, land-
rollers and fitting machinery for mills, etc.
Among the early settlers were John and Thomas
Witbeck, W. Searles, George Lamoreaux, Jedidiah
Davis, Daniel Green, Daniel Wickham, Robins,
Gideon Schofiel, Josiah Hinckley, Huycks, Tomp
kins and others.
This village is located in the valley of the
Haanakrois, which has tributaries from the north,
and surrounded by fair agricultural lands, which
was an inducement to the settlers for occupying
this region. The farmers have their farms under
good tillage, and are generally prosperous.
ANDREW H. WITBECK.
Andrew H. Witbeck is known as one of the
most influential and highly esteemed citizens of the
town of Coeymans. His family has for generations
been among the foremost of the old families of
Albany County. His father, John W. Witbeck,
was born, April 10, 1773, at Manhattan Hook, a
little valley in the northern part of Coeymans, about
four miles from where Mr. Witbeck now lives.
On the 20th of May, 1795, in company with his
father (Mr. Witbeck's grandfather), he purchased
the farm, now the homestead of Andrew H. Wit
beck. At about the age of twenty-one he married
a Miss Palmateer, who bore him one son, who is
now living. After her death he married Hannah
Callanan, who was born November 19, 1781. By
this marriage there were eight children, four sons
and four daughters, five of whom are living. Of
these Andrew H. Witbeck is the youngest He
was born in the house in which he has since lived,
November 12, 1824. He was reared on the farm
and obtained his education in the neighboring
common school. February 5, 1851, he married
Lydia E. Powell, who was born at Medway,
Greene County, N. Y., January 5, 1826. Their
family consists of one son and three daughters,
named as follows : Hannah Esther, John W. ,
Sarah E. and Jennie. Mr. Witbeck has been a,
life-long farmer, and, as such, ranks among the
leading agriculturists of Albany County. He is a
man of considerable business experience and of
undoubted good judgment in all important affairs,
and his aid has often been invoked in the settle
ment of questions in dispute in his locality, and
the settlement of several valuable estates has been
intrusted to him, with firm reliance upon his dis
crimination an,d integrity. Though never min
gling actively in politics, and steadfastly refusing to
accept offices at the hands of his fellow townsmen,
he is an adherent of the Democratic party, and
takes a deep and liberal interest in all questions of
public moment, upon which he is fully informed
and has pronounced opinions. Though not a
member of any religious organization, he has ever
been a most cheerful and ample supporter of the
means of worship in his vicinity, and is an attend
ant, with his family, upon the services of the Dutch

832

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Reformed Church, for he clings to the faith of his
forefathers, who were Hollanders, and who were
among those hardy pioneers who implanted the
banner of this denomination upon the soil of
Albany County when it was largely an unsettled
wilderness. The cause of education has also found
a firm friend in Mr. Witbeck, whose influence has
not been slight in elevating the standard of public
instruction in his portion of the town of Coeymans.
All other worthy local objects have his encourage
ment and financial aid.
Reefer's Corners (P. O.) was named in honor of
Balthus Keefer, who settled here in 1 791. It is
located two miles north of Indian Fields, in the
northwest part of the town, and has a Methodist
Church, school-house, and formerly a store, hotel, a
wheelwright and blacksmith shop, and a few
houses. This was a remote part of the town and
was slow of settlement, only two other families hav
ing located here previous to Mr. Keefer. Roads
were followed by marked trees, and civilization,
with its improvements, was centered at other points.
Among those who settled here were Daniel Traver,
Jacob Schermerhorn, Dampa Mead, Stephen
Hanes, George Lamoreaux, Lanson, Hogan and
others. The post-office was established in 1842, Peter
Keefer first postmaster, and continues to serve in
that capacity. He is a son of Balthus, and was
born where he resides.
We append the names of a few others who were
early settlers in different parts of the town. The
first were almost. exclusively Dutch or Hollanders,
who came before the Revolution; those who came
after hostilities ceased were mostly of English de
scent, many of them coming from the New Eng
land States or adjoining counties. These brought
with them the doctrines peculiar to their several
forms of faith and modes of worship, as well as
ideas relating to social and moral questions, which
were rapidly diffused and entered into the spirit of
conscientious freedom, and were soon manifest in
the elevated and enlarged Christian views that were
followed by a unity of purpose and religious co
operation. This sentiment, so early introduced, has
not been without a moral effect upon the prosperous
growth of the churches, upon the social relations,
and its educational progress. Many of the men
whose names are recorded here have (with others)
occupied in the affairs of the town and in the church
positions of trust, honor and responsibility. Among
them were the Vroomans, Waldrons, Hotalings,
Wagoners, Vanderpools, Gedneys, Schoonmakers,
Wiltsies, Powells, Jolleys,Coonleys, Briggs, Carharts,
Nodines, Springsteds, Hulls and Fredenburghs.

Since the organization of Coeymans into a town
ship, in 1 79 1, the following citizens have served
one or more terms in the offices designated : The
first town meeting (of which there is any record)
was held April, 1 811, and the first supervisor, John
T. VanDalston, was elected in 181 7. Previous to
this the office was one of appointment by the
Governor, as well as Justices of the Peace, who
were first elected in 1827. The following have
been supervisors : John T. Van Dalston, Archi
bald Stephens, John N. Huyck, Israel Shear,
Abram Verplank, Andrew Witbeck, Henry Niles,
Cornelius Van Derzee, Jonas Shear, Garret Wit
beck, John Mead, Elwell Blodgett, John Van
Derzee, Nathaniel Niles, Willet Searls, John B.
Shear, David A. Witbeck, Peter Keefer, Nelson
Schermerhorn, James H. Powell, John A. Hunt,
Estes H. Strevell, Lansing Shear.
fustices of the Peace, appointed — John T. Van
Dalson, Henry Gage, Archibald Stephens, John
Van Dalssen, David Springsted, Jr., Jacob C. Ten
Eyck, John Gibbons, Robert Copeland, Barrent
Mull, Nathan Niles, Samuel Blodgett.
From 1827 the following wereelected : Alexander
Copeland, Peter Van Antwerp, Samuel Blodgett,
Garret Witbeck, Joshua Collins, John Van Ant
werp, Henry Halstead, Dwight Bachelor, John
Mead, Cornelius Van Derzee, John Van Derzee,
William S. Briggs, Peter Keefer, Elijah D. R.
Converse, Wolsey Blodgett, Ira Gregory, John T.
Witbeck, Conrad T. E. Huyck, Anson Green,
James Emery, Willet Searls, Samuel F. Powell,
Isaac L. Davis, Frank Huyck, John A. Hunt,
Jacob B. Holmes, Edgar Powell.
Town Clerks. — John Beekman, Isaac D. Ver
plank, John N. Huyck, Abram Verplank, Andrew
Witbeck, Jonas Shear, Israel Lisk, Henry Niles,
Cornelius Van Derzee, Robert Keefer, Elwell Blod
gett, William N. Briggs, John Van Derzee, Alfred
D. Tompkins, John L. Witbeck, Edwin D. Shear,
John Ham, John S. Powell, Leonard Carhart,
Joslin Nodine, John M. Witbeck, Gilbert C. Vin
cent, Israel Shear, Alfred A. Sherman, Hugh H.
Mosher, George H. Johnson, Lansing Shear, Isaac
T. Davis, John A. Loucks, Samuel Lasher, Abram
Lawton. Benjamin Stanton, delegate to Constitutional
Convention of 1 846. Members of Assembly — Israel
Shear, Tobias T. E. Waldron, Jonas Shear, Cor
nelius Vanderzee, Isaac Whitbeck, Willis Searles,
John Vanderzee.
School Commissioners — John B. Shear, Leonard
Carhart, William E. Whitbeck, Samuel F. Powell.

THE TOWNSHIP OF COEYMANS.

833

Real. Personal. Total.
Assessed valuation for 1865 $1,017,475 $202,273 $1,219,748
" 1883 1,004,945 82,750 1,087,695
Equalized " " 1883 2,200,132 82,750 2,282,882
Assessed " " 1884 2,026,770 333,005 2339,775
Equalized " " " 2,251,228 333,005 2,584,289
The latitude and longitude of the following
stations in Coeymans are taken from the ' ' Report
of New York State Survey for the year 1882:"
Latitude. Longitude.
Barren Island pine  420 27' 51.53", 730 47' 09.41"
Brigg's Monument Ceme
tery  420 28' 00.20" 730 47' 43"
Cupola of Civil Academy .42° 28' 21.81" 730 47' 56"
Shad Island  420 30' 52.16" 730 46' 23"
Coeymans dock flag-pole.. 42° 28' 23" 730 47' 24"
Boha Hook light  420 28' 49" 730 47' 20"
Blodget  42° 3°' 35" 73° 53' 46"
Mull's school-house  420 30' 24" 730 47' 17"
Churches. — What has been said of the early set
tlers in other townships will apply with equal force
to those who followed Koeymans and located upon
his patent. They were largely of the Dutch, and
possessed courage and devotion, though they held
with tenacity to the traditions of their fathers.
It is evident that for many years the Dutch and
Huguenot element prevailed, and that the religious
ministrations of those early days were by visits and
supplies, as they had no settled ministers until after
the hostilities ceased, or about 1790. At this time
many changes had taken place; the country was at
peace, prosperity smiled upon the land of free
dom, a home was offered and obtained upon easy
terms, freedom of worship was established and all
united to partake of the blessings that flow from
Christian civilization and national independence.
This brought from other States and adjoining
counties descendants and followers of the Puritans
and Covenanters, intermixed with the aggressive
Methodists, who inspired into the lethargic souls
of the Dutch a degree of life and zeal that awoke
and kindled into spiritual activity a reformation
that wrought increased benefits to the christian
churches and blessings to the people. Schools
were multiplied and general intelligence rapidly
advanced under the fostering influence of progres
sive ideas and liberal patriotism.
The current teachings of the early preachers were
not marked with theological disquisitions or
learned sermons, yet the vital and most essential
doctrines of that period were proclaimed with
vigor and efficacy to the mind and heart. The
practical effects of such teaching were its power of
converting men from the sentiment of unbelief or
a false religion, then being introduced from abroad,
and establishing an orthodox faith of revealed

religion. It would be unjust to measure the in
fluence of these pious and consecrated men by the
success or failure of their individual theories, yet
it is possible that the services of these men — con
tented with charity contributions or small salaries,
on which they almost starved — exerted no small in
fluence in elevating the standard of morals and
intelligence in the community in whicTi they
labored. When their work ceased, they were succeded by
men who trod the same paths, with more liberal
rewards and without the poverty which was the
earthly lot of these self-sacrificing missionaries.
There are seven churches in the township, of the
following denominations : three Methodist, one
Reformed, one Baptist, one Union or Christian,
and one Roman Catholic.
The first Methodist organization in the town
occurred in the year 1788 or 1789 by the Rev. John
Crawford, with a class of 12 members, during the
time Rev. Freeborn Garretson was presiding elder.
The first church edifice was built of stone in 1791-
92, and was located two and a half miles west of
the village, and is claimed to have been the first
Methodist church west of the Hudson River. This
church and congregation for many years was made
up of members from Bethlehem, Coeymans, with
some from New Baltimore and adjoining towns ;
as it was the only Methodist church in this locality,
its ecclesiastical jurisdiction extended for many
miles, and amongthe noted preachers whose words
have been heard in this pioneer church, none is
held in greater reverence than that of Bishop
Asbury. The first trustees were James Waldron,
Lewis Civil, Wilhollamas Row, Jacob Springsted,
Isaac C. Huyck, Ephraim Holbrook, Peter Hogan,
Nathan Williams, James Selkirk. Levi Blaisdell
was the first clerk, and Lewis Civil sexton. Some
of the early members were Hugh Jolly, Samuel
Jolly, John Ten Eyck and wife, Levi Blaisdell and
wife, Hugh Crumb, James Selkirk, Dr. Clement
and Jacob Springsted.
A change of location becoming necessary to ac
commodate the increase in membership, other
organizations from this parent society were effected,
and churches established in other places, exerting
a wider influence and extending its branches for
the promotion and spiritual education .of the
people. The Methodist Episcopal Church at Coeymans
Landing is founded upon the organization of the
old stone church ; the present edifice, on Church
street, was erected in 1835-36, and dedicated by
the Rev. Benjamin Griffin. The building is of

834

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

brick, 40 x 50, with a lecture room of wood, 26 x
40 feet A fine parsonage belongs to the society
for the use of the pastor. The church will seat
400 persons, and is valued at $15,000. The pas
tor reports 100 families, 150 communicants, 95
Sunday school scholars, and whole amount of con
tributions $1, 150. Present trustees — A. E. Willis,
Peter Seabridge, J. J. Colvin, A. J. Wolfe, John
Halenbeck, John McElroy, Abram Teals. Rev.
R. H. Kelley, pastor.
Methodist Episcopal Church, Coeymans Hollow,
is an old organization, having being established as
early as 1794, when Bishop Asbury preached in a
barn in the rear of the present church, and a
society was formed with the following as members:
John Blodgett and wife, William Green and wife,
Elizabeth Wickham, Charlotte Garitt and Mr.
Gedney. These earnest and devoted members
had their meetings first in barns, then in private
and school-houses until 1832, when they entered
the present church. Jolley and Carley were preach
ers. The present trustees are Egbert C. Osterhout,
N. H. Palmer, Stephen Lawson, Martin Merrit,
David Green. Rev. William S. Wyman, pastor,
who reports 200 families, 170 members, 135 Sab
bath school pupils, 14 teachers ; contributions for
all purposes, $1, 125. The church edifice iswood,
and will seat 400 persons. Has parsonage and
sheds attached to the rear of church ; property
valued at $4,000.
Methodist Episcopal Church at Reefer's Corners
was organized from the Manhattan Hook Society,
located at Copeland Hill. James Laird and
Ebenezer Osborn were early circuit preachers.
The old church building was taken down and the
material used in the construction of the present
house in 1845. It is built upon ground donated
by Francis Osterhout. Peter Keefer^ George C.
Lamoreaux and Philip R. Witbeck, trustees ; John
W. Morrison, pastor.
First Baptist Church of Indian Fields was organ
ized in 1872. First trustees were Marcus R.
Griffin, Albert Powell, Joslin Nodine, Franklin
Tompkins, Jared Griffin, Judson Lamoreaux and
Jasper Witbeck, Jr. The present trustees are
Henry Norris, Amon Craw and George Lamor
eaux ; no regular pastor.
St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, located on
Church street, Coeymans Landing, is a modern
structure; the society was organized in 1852 by
Francis Hurley. Connected with the church is a
fine cemetery, containing four to five acres. The
society and cemetery are under the pastoral charge

of Father Thomas Walsh, who has the care of
the churches of Coxsackie, Athens and Coeymans.
The Reformed (Protestant Dutch) Church of Coey
mans was organized March 5, 1793, and the first
church edifice was erected in 1797, on the
" Square, " nearly a mile west of Coeymans Land
ing. Rev. Jacob Sickles was the first pastor, and
he served this church and congregation from 1797
to 1 80 1. Hewas succeeded by Peter Overbagh,
1805-6; Ralph Westervelt, 1808-16; Samuel
Kissam, 1818-29; Staats Van Santvoord, 1829-30;
Abram Fort, 1830-31; Thomas A. Amerman,
1831-32; Thomas Edwards, 1834; James Mur
phy, 1842-43 ; Samuel Kissam, 1843-45 ; James
A.'H. Cornell, 1845-48; Philip Peltz, 1848-51;
William P. Davies, 1852-55 ; Hugh B. Gardiner,
1856-60; Isaac Collier, 1860-66; Louis H.
Bahler, 1867-69 ; Elias Mead, 1870-72 ; James
A. H. Cornell, 1873-80; Horace P. Craig, 1883.
The old church was taken down several years ago,
and some of the material used in the construction
of the new church edifice located on Church street,
in the village of Coeymans. This building is of
brick. The following are the present officers :
Elders— William B. Hull, C. H. Van Derzee, J. J.
Lasher, B. T. E. Bronk. Deacons — Solomon Coon
ley, John A. Vanderzee, William Springsted, F.
Vrooman. The church reports 100 families, 169 members,
133 Sunday school scholars ; contributions for
all purposes, $1,663.
Cemeteries. — There are two incorporated ceme
teries in the town. The Grove Cemetery at Coey
mans contains two acres, and was founded by Acton
Civil. It was incorporated in 1848; J. B. Holmes,
president; A. J. Wolfe, vice-president; A. S. Van
derzee, secretary; W. H. Keller, treasurer.
Indian Fields Cemetery was incorporated, January,
1872, with the following trustees and officers;
William S. Cole, president; Andrew H. Witbeck,
vice-president; Joslin Nodine, treasurer; John
N. Verplank, secretary; Judson Lamoreaux, Abram
Witbeck, William J. Lamoreaux, as per M. Wit
beck, George C. Lamoreaux. The present trus
tees and officers are : William S. Cole, president;
Judson Lamoreaux, vice-president; Andrew Wit
beck, treasurer; George C. Lamoreaux, secretary;
John Verplank, Francis Nodine, Jasper M. Wit
beck, W. J. Lamoreaux, William Witbeck. The
above contains five acres of inclosed land, very fa
vorably located.
The Workingmen's Protective Union, Coeymans,
incorporated in 1880. The particular business

THE TOWNSHIP OF COEYMANS.

835

and object of the society are to provide funds, from
contributions of its members, when they are sick
or disabled, and to bury them when dead, and aid
the surviving families of deceased members.
Secretary reports, December 26, 1882 : Total
amount of money collected during the year,
$1,554; total membership, 300; amount depos
ited in bank, $2,055. The following constitute
the present officers : President, Jacob B. Holmes;
Vice-President, F. S. Willis; Secretary, W. B.
Holmes; Treasurer, Theodore Robb. Trustees —
James Lasher, Patrick McNarama, Frank Beak.
Executive Board — Dr. F. G. Mosher, A. J. Wolfe,
J. N. Briggs.
Coeymans Mutual Insurance Company was organ
ized and incorporated under the laws of the State,
August 16, 1859. Secretary's twenty-fourth an
nual report, for January 8, 1884, gives as number
of policies at last report, and in force at present
time, 300; amount of risks at last report, $532,950;
at present date, $547,575; amount of bonds subject
to assessment, §11,243.
Board of Directors for 1884 — Francis Nodine,
president; Edwin Wiltsie, vice-president; W. S.
Briggs, secretary and treasurer. Executive Com
mittee — Jefferson Powell, Marcus Lindsey, Uriah
Montross, Novatus Palmer, E. C. Osterhout, Jas
per M. Witbeck; W. S. Briggs, secretary.
There is in the town an incorporated highway,
divided into three sections. The said road com
mences at the village of Coeymans and extends
west through Coeymans Hollow, Indian Fields;
thence into Westerlo, passing through Dormans-
ville and Chesterville to the old Delaware Turnpike,
a distance of eighteen miles.
The first division, a distance of eight miles, was
incorporated in 1850 as The Coeymans and Western
Plank Road Company for thirty years. In i860 it
was changed from a plank to a stone road. The
roadbed now is laid with broken stone. The charter
was renewed in 1880 for thirty years. Levi Blais
dell, president; William B. Hull, secretary; Ste
phen H. Niles, treasurer, are the present officers.
Cole and Witbeck have charge of the middle di
vision, and Henry Slingerland or the western.
The New York, West Shore and Buffalo Rail
road have in the town eighteen miles of track,
roadbed, round-house, station, machine shop and
freight house, which are assessed at $165,000.
Western Union Telegraph Company is assessed
$600. Knickerbocker Ice Company is assessed
$30, 000.
Coeymans Hollow Lodge, No. 957, 1. O. G. T.,
was organized, December 12, 1878, by W. W.

Gunnison, with fifty-seven charter members. The
first officers were : E. C. Osterhout, W. C. T. ;
Ida Shear, W. V. T; W. E. Stanton, L. D.;
Lindsey, W. M. ; Rev. J. P. Burger, W. Chap.
The lodge now numbers forty-seven members, with
the following officers: Andrew Wilsey, W. C. T;
Anna L. Whitbeck, W. V. T; Lindsey Green,
L. D. ; L. F. Lisk, W. M.; Thomas Wolfe, W.
Chap. Physicians. — Among the physicians who for
merly practiced in the township were Drs. Ely,
Jessie Smith, Spaulding, Hand, Van Alstyne, Van
Allen, Herrick, Holmes, Blodget, Clement.
Dr. Benjamin B. Fredenburgh came to Coey
mans in 1826, and continued in active practice
until the present year. Andrew Huyck located at
Coeymans Hollow forty-six years ago (1838). He
read medicine with Dr. P. B. Noxon, and attended
lectures at Vermont Academy. Wesley Blaisdel
and Andrew Van Antwerp have practiced in the
town. F. C. Mosher graduated from Albany Medical
College in 1848, and located at Coeymans Landing,
where he continues in active practice.
H N fohnson graduated from Albany Medical
College in 1881, is located in Coeymans Landing,
and is engaged in the drug business.
C. C. Willis attended a course of lectures in the
Philadelphia Dental College in 1874 and 1875. Is
now practicing dentistry at Coeymans.
G. E. Elmendorf, now located at Alcove, was
bomin Ulster County, and graduated from Albany
Medical College in class of 1875, and the follow
ing year came to Alcove, or Stephensville.
F. A. W. Rivets, born in Montreal, Canada,
graduated from Eclectic Medical College of New
York in 1875; located at Bloomingdale, then at
Ausable Forks, and came to Indian Fields in 1880.
Schools. — There are no academies, high schools
or graded private schools in the town.
In 1858 the Coeymans Academy was established
by Fletcher Blaisdel, Theophilus Civil and Peter
Seabridge. The first teachers were Misses C. B.
and Emma Brace; afterward it passed under the
control of Thomas McKee. The enterprise prov
ing unsuccessful, it was abandoned. Some of the
early teachers were Hinckley, Jefferson, Levi
Fisher. There are in the township fourteen school
districts, in which are employed the same number
of teachers, for terms varying from eighteen to
twenty weeks. In 1869 there were 1,017 children
of school age; the number attending school, 710;
average attendance, 325. Whole amount expended
for school purposes, $4,738-

836

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

No. of
District.

No. of
Children,
School Age

No.
Attending School.

j. . . .

167

141

2 

58

34

3----

50

32

A....

61

43

$....

33

29

6....

2

2

7....

102

74

8....

16

16

9....

46

37

IO 

67

60

n 

27

15

12  .

7

4

13....

29

19

14....

104

57

15....

46

37

16....

57

46

17....

29

22

Totals. . .

901

666

Total
Valuation
of District.

Amount Ex
pended for all
Purposes.

$771,200 100,430 53,21°97,375
43,600

67,13463,92543,25°27,650 3i,3°°93,36° 77,o75
i37,7oo 25,175

$1,032,384

$1,030 70
404 00
325 9°
323 61
306 23

541 12
205 00
310 97
176 00
269 07
444 32
466 27
359 15
136 25

$5,300 86

Amount Paid
Teachers.

$864 00
355 00
301 80
298 92
285 00

499 66

184 00
237 70
161 00
245 7o
373 82
406 00
324 00
125 00

4,461 60

Wages
Paid, Winter
Term.

$19 5°
10 25
8 00
7 5°
8 00
10 50
6 00
7 50
6 00
6 00
10 00
12 00
10 00
5 °o

Wages Paid
for Summer
Term.

$19 50

505°
0000

4 00
6 00
5 5o

5 25
9 00
10 00
10 00
3 75

Soldiers. — The record of soldiers who served in
the War for Liberty, from this township, is not
very extensive or clearly ascertained ; yet a few
who were residents of what is now Coeymans ren
dered aid and service in the cause that obtained for
them freedom and independence. Many of those
who came to Coeymans in later years were sol
diers who had served in other States or counties.
The war of 18 12 was well represented by volun
teers or drafted men from this town. Among those
who answered the call and gave their services were
Joseph Hazelton, John Clark, Daniel C. Tomp
kins, Stewart Bull, Andrew Witbeck, Abram Ver
plank, Barrent Mull, Lieut Daniel Carhart,
Peter W. Ten Eyck, Daniel Green, William Sher
man, Capt. John Carr, William H. Gage, Har-
manes Sickles, John McNary, Elias Becker and
Isaac Holmes.
During the War of the Rebellion Coeymans
claims to have furnished her quota of gallant vol
unteers, who served the country faithfully and with
honor. From some unexplained cause, the officers
of the -town whose duty it was to collect a complete
record of these men have neglected to comply
with a law of 1865, as contained in Chapter 690.
At this time, a perfect record in accordance with
the requirements of that law will be almost impos
sible to obtain.
There are no military organizations in the town.
The old military system that once prevailed has
long since been abandoned, and no special inter
est seems to interest the young men in military
honors. The history of the Indians furnishes little of any
reliability or more than ordinary tradition, which

cannot always be taken as trustworthy, and current
report, which is of doubtful authority. A small
number of Indians belonging to the Oneida tribe
lived in the town after the Revolution, and re
moved to some other more favorable locality.
They returned in 181 2, after which they became
wandering mendicants through the county, and
finally disappeared from the scenes and hunting
grounds of their ancestors.
After 1785 Albany served as a distributing
office for the adjoining town, and mail matter was
delivered by post-riders, who met at certain points
to interchange letters and papers, and when the busi
ness was insufficient to pay the postmen, voluntary
subscriptions were made by those who were inter
ested in their continuance. Special fees were col
lected for the delivery of newspapers. Changes
were very slow, and post-riders continued to de
liver mail matter through the towns for several
years after coaches were employed in more im
portant places. Several men remember in their
boyhood mails being delivered in this way, and it
was not until after 1820 that the more convenient
and safe mode was adopted of stage-coaches. Now
the mails for Coeymans are delivered daily; those
on the line of railroad or steamboat communication
receive the mails twice or thrice daily, while the
more distant offices are served daily, thus giving
ready and prompt communication with business
interests and the news of the world.
The Coeymans Gazette was established in 1863
by Gilbert C. Vincent, who continued its publica
tion until the fall of 1864, when he sold it to
Willard Pond. Soon after it passed into the hands
of Henry Bronk, and subsequently to McKee &

THE TOWNSHIP OF COEYMANS.

837

Springsted. In December, 1869, Mr. Springsted
sold his interest to his partner, Thomas McKee,
who continued its publication until 1871. In
1 87 1 Miller & Sherman established the "Coeymans
Herald," a weekly paper; Sherman sold his inter
est to Miller; then Miller sold to S. H. & E. J.
Sherman, the present editors and proprietors.
The miscellaneous industries of the township are
included in the storage of ice, which amounts to
175,000 tons; a brick-yard owned by Mr. Rouker,
in which 2,500,000 brick are made. Whitehead
& Brother ship from Coeymans 100,000 tons of
molding sand. Robb & Carroll, manufacturers
of straw wrapping paper; mills located on Haana
krois Creek, half mile south of Coeymans; were
established in 1832, and when in operation manu
facture two and a half tons paper daily.
Several quarries of limestone are operated, the
material being used for building purposes, bridges,
culverts and road-bed. For several years a
quarry at Mossy Hill furnished large quantities of
bluestone; the supply has been exhausted and the
quarry is now abandoned.
Mr. Henry Callanan, near South Bethlehem, in
the town of Coeymans, on the line of the West
Shore Railroad, operates an extensive quarry of
limestone. The material is used for building
foundations, bridges, culverts and railroad ballast.
Has an engine of sixty horse-power, which is con
nected with a Gates Stone Crusher, and also fur
nishes the necessary motive power for operating the
quarry. Many thousand yards of stone were fur
nished the West Shore Railroad in its construction.
About 1845 Philip Kimmey, built at South
Bethlehem, in the town of Coeymans, on the
Sprayt Creek, a grist and saw-mill. The mill work,
machinery and fitting were done by Ira Yagger,
millwright. These mills now belong to Henry Callanan, and
in 1870 were extended and improved by additions

of machinery. They now consist of a grist-mill
for flouring and custom work, a saw, planing and
cider mill, all operated by a water-wheel and
steam engine of thirty-five horse-power.
Lot Van Dusen, or, as sometimes called, Lot
Wands, claims to have been born near Lenox,
Massachusetts, in the year 1773, and when eleven
years old his mother brought him to Albany, and
there met Bishop Wands, to whom he was bound by
indenture until twenty-one years old. He remained
with Bishop Wands, according to contract, after
which he became his own master, working among
the farmers in the neighborhood, and in time
accumulated enough money to buy a wife. She
was a slave, with a small child, the property
of Jacob and Jehoicam Veeder, from whom he
purchased Deyaun Van Guysling for one hundred
dollars, and the child for twelve dollars, thus com
mencing housekeeping with a small family about
1798, first in the Bumside house; then bought a
small house in what is now New Scotland village,
where he lived a number of years; then moved- to
Bethlehem and lived on the Ambrose Wiltsie farm ;
from there to John Bullock's (now Mosher's), and at
present living in the town of Coeymans, near South
Bethlehem, on premises included in Callanan's
farm, for which he has a deed during his life time.
Lot has been married three times; is the father
of several children. The eldest, Betsey, is living
and is now past 80 years. He lives with his son
Harrison. His bodily infirmities, with the weight
of years, render him quite helpless, although with
the aid of crutch and cane he moves about for his
own convenience. He retains in a remarkable de
gree his mental faculties, and relates with much
spirit many occurrences of his early days. If his
record is correct, he is iri his 1 12th year, and a hun
dred years ago, when he came to Albany, neither
the town of Watervliet nor Bethlehem was or
ganized.

838

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The paternal grandfather of the
subject of this sketch, whose name
was John Colvin, was born in Scot
land in 1752, near Castle Douglas,
of renowned memory, and came to
this country when about twenty
years of age, and settled at Nine
Partners, Dutchess County, where he lived . until
his marriage with Sarah Fuller, of Connecticut, a
lineal descendant of one of the Fullers who landed
from the "Mayflower" at Plymouth Rock in
1620. This grandfather, soon after his marriage,
removed to a farm of some three hundred acres
in the town of Coeymans, three miles west of Coey
mans village, or landing. Here, carrying on farm
ing, and b*a<jksmithing as well, for he was a black
smith by trade*, tat lived until January, 1814,
whe'n he died. He was a large-sized man, of great
physical and mental strength, of high character
and integrity, and eminent for his piety. He was
a Member of the Assembly of the State in 181 1,
being elected by the county on the same ticket
with Stephen Van Rensselaer, Abraham Van
Vechten and Abel French. He had several sons
$and daughters. The fourth son was John, who
was the father of John J. Colvin, a brief sketch of
whose life is subjoined.
John J. Colvin was born at the old Colvin home
stead, in Coeymans, February 10, 181 5. He has
been identified with the business interests of Coey
mans for more than fifty years. The death of his
father when he was but three years old, and other
circumstances, afforded him but little opportunity

RESIDENCE OF J. J. COLVIN, Esq., TOWN OF COEYMANS.

for education. But, self-asserting and self-sustain
ing, and disliking a farmer's life, he thought, when
seventeen years of age, that he would leam the
boot and shoe making business, and to this he be
came an apprentice with Levi Hunt, at Coeymans
Hollow. During this apprenticeship, which continued
three years, and two years subsequent employment
with Mr. Hunt, he managed to save five hundred
dollars. This accomplished, and concluding that
boot and shoe making was not his vocation, and
having by study and application made himself
somewhat familiar with the general rudiments of
education, including arithmetic and casting and
keeping accounts, he determined to engage in
some undertaking more suitable to his tastes
and more stirring and active in its character.
This he found in the business of buying and ship
ping flagging stone from Coeymans to New York,
in company with Noble H. Johnson, then a clerk
for Hubbel & Keith, at Coeymans, who were en
gaged in that business, and who also kept a grocery
store there. Johnson & Colvin bought the interest
of Hubbel & Keith in the stone business and the
grocery, and continued to be copartners in the
trade for ten years, during which they made con-

^^>^/^^^/

THE TOWNSHIP OF COEYMANS.

839

siderable money, and Mr. Colvin laid the founda
tion of his fortune.
In 1844 Johnson & Colvin, having sold their
store property and given up their stone business,
concluded to embark in the forwarding busi
ness from Coeymans to New York, and they
formed a new copartnership, taking in Henry
Niles as a third partner. The freighting business
at this time was done with sailing vessels. The
business increased so rapidly that they soon were
obliged to add a vessel of large size, which was
built for them at the shipyard in Coxsackie. The
vessel was called the " Oregon," and was the
largest sloop of the kind ever built for use on the
upper Hudson. Mr. Colvin was the captain of
this vessel, and transacted the business for the firm
on the river and in the City of New York. But it
was evident at last that the time for freighting for
sailing vessels was past, and, as the risk and labor
were great, Mr. Colvin sold his interest in the
business and retired. He then commenced buying
real property at different points in Coeymans,
which he disposed of in building lots, always add
ing to the very respectable fortune which he had
accumulated. During his life Mr. Colvin has
owned and disposed of large amounts of real estate
not only in Coeymans but in Albany and other parts
of the State, and in Illinois, and he is yet owner
of much property of this kind.
In 1849 be was again solicited to take a third
interest, in connection with Lawton & Willis, in
the freighting business, the freight being then car
ried by barges and steamboat, and, on Mr. John
son's consenting to take an interest in the concern,
Mr. Colvin became a partner therein. This new
firm continued for four years, and, on the with
drawal of Mr. Johnson, who formed a connection
with Mr. Schoonmaker, of Albany, in the same
business, Mr. Colvin withdrew also, and, not
wishing to be further interested in the freighting
business himself, he consented to take charge as
captain of the barges, and act as salesman in New
York for the firm of Johnson & Schoonmaker,
and was so employed for some years.
Having by prudence and foresight accumulated
a handsome fortune, he sold the McMichael resi
dence, in which the family had lived for over
twenty years, and purchased the homestead, with
its extensive grounds, in the village of Coeymans,
of the estate of the late Dr. Blaisdell, which he
has greatly added to and improved. Here he has
lived ever since. Overlooking the Hudson River
and Barren Island, it is one of the most desirable
residences in the town.
In 1838 Mr. Colvin married Catharine Lawton,
a most estimable and worthy lady. The fruit of
the marriage has been six children, three only of
whom survive — one son and two daughters.
William H. Colvin, the son, is a successful whole
sale merchant in Chicago, being the largest dealer
in coffee west of New York City.
Mr. Colvin united with the Methodist Episcopal
church, at Coeymans, in 1847, of which, and as
one of the trustees, he has since been a consistent
member and liberal supporter.

In politics, Mr. Colvin in early manhood united
with the old Whig party. His sympathies were
with the Southern bondsmen, and upon the forma
tion of the Republican party he connected himself
with it, and has ever since been an active worker
and liberal giver toward the support of its princi
ples and measures. During the war he was one of
the most active supporters of the Union cause in
Albany County, rendering able service in raising
men and money for the prosecution of the war.
When the town of Coeymans was called upon to
raise $10,000 he volunteered to advance the
amount, which was afterward acknowledged,
audited and paid by the town authorities. He
also acted as treasurer of an organization which
was formed in the town to aid sick and disabled
soldiers on the field and in the hospitals.
Mr. Colvin is a cousin-german to ex-Senator
Andrew J. Colvin, of Albany, whose father was
James Colvin, the eldest born of the family. Per
sonally he isa man of powerful physical frame, six.
feet in height, of strongly marked features, and
natural mental characteristics of a high order, which
to some degree account for the success he has met
with in life. His career has been such as carries
with it food for profitable thought to all who are
struggling at the bottom of fortune's ladder; and,
reading its printed record, such ones should take
hope for the future, remembering that nothing is
impossible to those who strive bravely and long
and render unto every man his honest due.
Cradled in poverty, poorly equipped educationally
to battle with the world, yet Mr. Colvin began
the fight with manful determination and waged it
with an indomitable pluck that brought its rich
rewards. While he builded surely, he builded
slowly, with integrity as the foundation of his
structure, always taking care to win and keep un
sullied a good name, which was worth more to him
than any amount of capital would have been with
out it. Truly, in pursuing the beaten path of
commerce, he has left behind him
" Footprints that perhaps another —
Some forlorn and shipwrecked brother —
Seeing, shall take heart again."
We take pleasure in making mention of the
following citizens who, by their guaranteed support,
have helped to insure the publication of this valu
able work : Archie Cullen, H. G. Blodgett, Cor.
Van Derzee, And. J. Ten Eyck, D. M. Niver,
J. D. Verplanck, Harvey Shear, W. J. Cox, C. A.
Shear, J. J. Huyck, Geo. C. Lamoreaux, And. H.
Whitbeck, Wm. S. Cole, Wm. J. Lamoreaux,
Judson Lamoreaux, H. Slingerland, Peter Keefer,
H. H. Van Derzee, Jas. P. Powell, J. H. Powell,
E. H. Scofield, Geo. Bamuis, Ira K. Martin,
Jeremiah Robinson, E. P. Bedell, S. E. Davis,
Capt. Saml. Gedney, B. T. E. Bronk, E. F.
Matthews, J. W. Jolly, Jno. B. Lawton, Stephen
Tompkins, William Nodine, Jas. W. Wiltsie,
Elmer V. Shear, Chauncy Care, Van Shear,
Lansing Shear, G. C. Wilson, N. H. Palmer, Jno,
N. Briggs, V. P. Whitbeck, Edgar Powell, D.
Whitbeck, Jacob Vrooman, William Keller, Theo.

S40

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Robb, Chas. Robb, Nelson Carroll, Henry Wal
dron, James Lasher, Frank Holstead, Mrs. J. V.
A. Whitbeck, J. J. Colvin, A. J. Wolf, W. B.
Holmes, Mrs. C. B. Cirill, C. R. Hitchcock,
A. D. Tompkins, M. R. Griffin, Levi Blaisdell.

Peter Keefer is a resident of Keefer's Corners
since 1843, which place was first settled in 1792,
by Baltus Keefer, at which time it was a dense
wilderness. Mr. Keefer is engaged in farming and
is postmaster at Keefer's Corners.

HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF GUILDERLAND.

SITUATION AND BOUNDARIES.
GUILDERLAND lies on the northern border of
Albany County, a little west of the center.
It is bounded on the north by Schenectady County,
on the east by the city of Albany, on the south by
Bethlehem and New Scotland, and on the west by
Knox. DESCRIPTIVE.
The area of Guilderland comprises about 33,000
acres, about 28,000 of which is improved. Tts
population in 1880 was 3,459. The town is long
est from its southeast to its northwest extremity,
measuring about fifteen miles, and the distance
from its southwest to its northeast corner is about
eight miles. The surface is very uneven. In the
west part, the Helderbergs rise to a height of 800
feet above the general level of the valleys. The
central part is undulating, and the eastern part is
occupied by numerous sand ridges. The principal
streams are the Norman's Kill and its branches,
Bozen Kill, Black Creek, Wildehause Kill and
Hunger Kill. The lower course of Norman's Kill
in this town is through a narrow ravine with steep
and clayey banks. The soil is light and sandy in
the east, and a gravelly loam mixed with clay in the
west. On the William McGowan farm is a min
eral spring which has attracted some attention.
The town has good railway, express and telegraphic
facilities.
SETTLEMENT.
In all noticeable characteristics, the inhabitants
of Guilderland much resemble those of the parent
town, Watervliet ; frankness, geniality and genuine
hospitality being their most distinguishing traits,
as they have been of the early Dutch settlers and
their descendants everywhere. The town was for
merly included within the patroon's patent, and all
the farmers were under obligation to pay tithes of
wheat, chickens and wood. This system, in time,

produced discontent, which rose to the absolute point
of resistance in 1840, producing the "-Anti-rent
war." So great a dissatisfaction existed, that the
patroon at last decided to abandon a system of
lease, and sell the land in fee simple for a moderate
price. Since that time the march of improve
ment has been rapid. Fifty years ago there
were but few painted houses, and dwellings were
usually one-story structures, with back stoops,
the "front" door (paradoxical as it may appear)
being at the rear of the house. But these contained
an abundance of life's substantial things, with all
the sours and sweets to give relish, with overflow
ing hospitality. They have given place to conven
ient and sightly buildings, of varied architecture,
ornamented and painted in modem style.
The first settlements in the town were made in the
eighteenth century. Absence of records prevents
the presentation of a circumstantial account of this
interesting period. Brief mention maybe made of
some of the earlier families, however. Among them
were the Crounses, the Van Wormers, the Seversons,
Van Aernams, the Opplys, the Frederickses, the
Van Pattens, the Groats, the Livingstons, the
Winnes, the Beckers, the Ogsburys, the Truaxes,
the Van Alstines, the Van Valkenburgs, the Hen
dersons, the Harts, the Barckleys, the Hiltons and
Fryers. While some of the above names will
be recognized as those of present residents of the
town, some of them are no longer known within its
limits. During the Revolutionary War, a portion of the
inhabitants adhered to the British, and the feuds
which grew up between families and neighborhoods
continued for a long time. The news of Bur-
goyne's surrender was celebrated by the Whigs by
burning a hollow chestnut tree on an elevation, a
barrel of tar having previously been poured into
the cavity in its trunk. It is not thought that any
important event, connected directly with the strug
gle for independence, took place within the bound
aries of the town, but that it was a period during

THE TOWNSHIP OF GUILDERLAND.

841

which feeling ran high, and that the greatest solici
tude was felt by all classes, may be easily believed.
A half-forgotten tradition, that certain residents of
the town, as now bounded, participated in some
scenes of violence elsewhere, has been related, but
it is so shadowy and uncertain that its repetition
here would seem to be out of place. The old
Dutch farmers were a peaceable people, and it is
not to be presumed that any of them trampled
needlessly on the rights of any of their neighbors.
At the close of the Revolution, the population of
that part of Watervliet, which was nearly twenty
years later set off to form Guilderland, was small
and scattered over considerable territory, mostly
along the streams which have their course through
the town. The Dutch derivation of the name of
the new town is apparent. It was originally
spelled Guilderlandt.
Following is "a list of the persons residing in
the town of Guilderland, in the County of Albany,
who were by law qualified and of sufficient ability
and understanding to serve as jurors," as certified
by the Supervisor, Town Clerk and Assessors in
1803. Those not otherwise designated were
farmers. The names are spelled as upon the
record :
Job Earls, Abraham Bartlett, Abraham Van Wie,
Simeon Relyea, Levy Relyea, Isaac W. Fryer,
David Relyea, Jr., George Brown, Peter Veeder,
Christian Truax, Jr. (innkeeper), Lawrence Van
Kleeck, Abraham Turk, John Banker, John Joice,
James M. La Grange, John Van Schaick, Jonas
Smith, Petrus Van Patten, Abraham Kelder,
Jelles Truax, Albert Van Huesen, Abraham Spoor,
Andrew Murray, Ezra Spalding, Frederick Myn
derse, Robert Dollar, James Irwin, Reuben Earls,
Peter La Grange, John Devoe, David Bogardus
(carpenter), Jacob C. Truax, John Beebe, William
Davis, Peter Wurmer, John Fryer, Aaron Wurmer,
Isaac A. Wurmer, Amos Goodfellow, Michael
Van Schaick, Peter McDougal, Christopher Batter
man (innkeeper), Peter Becker, Henry Shaver,
Nicholson Severson, John Shoudy (blacksmith),
George Van Arnum, Henry Van Arnum, Frederick
Crounce, Conrad Crounce, John Crounce, Martin
Blessing, Matthias Hallenbeck, Nicholas Winne,
John Mann, Garret Long (carpenter), Nicholas V.
Mynderse (merchant), Henry Jacobson, Peter I.
Livingston, Michael S. Frederick, Matthias Fred
erick, Jacob Relyea, John Bloemendall, Jacob La
Grange, Samuel Covenhoven, Peter Van Aucken,
Cornelius Van Valkenburgh, Barent Van Waggoner,
David Ogsbury, Henry Apple, Peter Traber, Charles
Traber, Henry Shoudy, Volkert Jacobson, Adam
A. Vrooman, Nicholas A. Sixby, Thomas Beebe,
John Weaver, Jr., Philip Schell, Henry Van Schoon-
hoven, John N. Clute, James Platto, Jacob N.
Clute, Evert Van Arnum, George Scrapper, Andrew
Spaarbeck, William Snyder, James Ray, Charles

Shaver, Martin Spearbeck, Isaac J. Van Arnum,
Jacob Sitterly, Benjamin Wilbore, David Wilbore,
James Shaw, Robert Grey, John Douglas, Simeon
Lanehart, Henry Lanehart, Thomas Van Arnum,
John Jacob Van Arnum, John Lanehart, Obediah
Cooper, Jacob M. De Forest, Garret O. Lansing,
John M. Van Der Pool, Henry Van Auken, Levy
Van Auken, John Howard, Adam Hilton, George
Severson, John Hilton, Daniel Wolford, Henry I.
Schoonmaker, Henry Van Beuren, Charles H.
Huner, Peter N. Van Patten (merchant), Michael
Barclay, James McKee, Nicholas Beyer (innkeeper),
William Hilton (carpenter), Philip Fetterly, John
Whetsell, Benjamin Walker, Thomas Beaver, Vin
cent Springer, Benjamin Howe, Benjamin Howe,
Jr., John F. Quackenbush, Abraham P. Truax,
John Ramsay, Frederick Ramsay, Philip Ramsay,
Richard Ward, Christian Caley, Jr., Bartholomew
Sharp, John Sharp, John Waggoner, John Vine,
Nathan Fitch, Thomas Mezeck, John Schell, Wil
liam Von Arnum, Isaac Hallenbeck, Jacob Totten,
John Ward, Silas Hotan, Peter Relyea, George
Van Nest and Stephen Pankburn.
A similar list, compiled in 1824, included the
following names:
George Batterman, Jonathan Brown, Simon
Brodt, Thomas T. Beebe, Abijah Beebe, William S.
Beebe, Martin Blessing, Adam Blessing, Peter
Bloomindall, Adam Bloomindall, Abram Bartlett,
Jr., John Beebe, Jacob Bensen, Jonathan Becker,
Thomas W. Beebe, James Cassidy, Henry Cram,
Philip Crounse, Jr., Nicholas Crounse, Conrad
Crounse, John Crounse, Jacob N. Clute, John N.
Clute, William Clute, Christian Caly, Abraham Cass,
John Chase, Wilhelmus Devoe, Henry Frederick,
Matthias M. Frederick, John I. Fryer, Jacob Fryer,
William Fisher, Henry R. Furbeck, Abraham Fryer,
Cornelius Goodfellow, Simon Grotejellis Gray, Peter
Hilton, Jr., Gershom Hungerford, Isaac Hallen
beck, Jacob Hallenbeck, David Hart, James Hilton,
Robert H. Howard, William Humphrey, James
Houghton, Henry Jacobson, Jonathan Johnson,
Frederick Kunholtz, Christopher Keenholtz, Jacob
I. La Grange, Aaron Livingston, James M. La
Grange, Peter I. Livingston, Peter Livingston,
John I. Livingston, Andrew La Grange, Peter D.
La Grange, Simeon Lanehart, Michael Lanehart,
John F. Mynderse, John McKown, Jonathan
Mynderse, Myndert Mynderse, John Mann, Cor
nelius Mann, John Merrick, Thomas Ostrander,
John D. Ogsbury, David Ogsbury, Jr., Peter Ogs
bury, Andrew Ostrander, Barent Ostrander, Sam
uel Ostrander, Christian Ostrander, Stephen Pang-
burn, William Pangbum, Jr., David Pratt, Isaac
Quackenbush, John F. Quackenbush, Jacob
Quackenbush, Myndert Relyea, Jacob D. Relyea,
David Relyea, David L. Relyea, Levi Relyea, Giles
Riggles, David P. Relyea, Adam Relyea, Peter D.
Relyea, John Shoudy, Martin I. Siver, Jonas Smith,
Jacob Spoor, Joseph Spoor, William Spoor, John
Shoudy, Jr. , Nicholas Severson, Frederick Severson,
George Severson, Adam Scrafford, Henry C. Shover,
Christian Scraffo rd, Jacob Sitterley, Peter Shaver, John
Sharp, Tunis Slingerland, Andrew Sharp, John H.

842

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Shaver, Jacob Schell, Abram Sitterly, Nicholas
Snyder, Charles Scrafford, Charles Traber, F. Van
Valkenburgh, Albert Van Husen, John Van Husen,
John Van Valkenburgh, Volkert Veeder, Simeon
Veeder, Myndert Veeder, Nicholas P. Van Patten,
Thomas Van Aernam, George Van Aernam, Henry
Van Valkenburgh, Nicholas Van Valkenburgh,
Nicholas A. Van Patten, Henry Van Aernam, John
I. Van Patten, Simon Van Auken, John Van
Waggoner, Richard Van Cleeck, Gershom Van
Valkenburgh, Henry I. Vine, Aaron A. Van
Wormer, Jeremiah Van Auken, Jacob Van Auken,
Abraham Vanderpool, Cornelius Wormer, Peter
Wormer, Noah S. Wood, John Weitzel, Cornelius
H. Waldron, Peter Walker, Jesse White, Peter
Waggoner, John Westfall, John Ward, John W.
Ward, Andrew I. Ward, Richard Walker, Jacob
Weaver, John I. Weaver, Andrew Wilkins, James
Wormer, Frederick Waggoner.
In common with others of their time, some of
the wealthier of the early residents of Guilderland
were owners of slaves. Of conrse, no one held a
large number, and the system was totally unlike
that which obtained in the South. It is said that
the Dutch farmers profited but lightly from their
human property in the long run, and were glad
enough to give the negroes their freedom when
public sentiment favored such a measure. It was
not until some years of the present century had
passed that this mild slavery ceased to exist. No
record of its operations prior to the organization
of the town is to be found, but some extracts from
the town book entered during the period immedi
ately succeeding the erection of Guilderland are
given as possessing a curious interest at this
time :
I do hereby certify that my negro wench slave
named Susan was, on the twelfth day of March,
1803, delivered of a black female child, and that
the same is named Gin, and that the same is my
property ; and I do hereby further give notice that
I shall abandon the same agreeable to the act in
that case made and provided. Dated this 28th
day of May, 1803. Peter Veeder.
CERTIFICATE OF FREDERICK CROUNCE.
I do hereby give notice that my negro wench
slave named Dianna was, on the 20th day of May,
in the year of our Lord 1802, delivered of a black
male child named Simon, and that I shall abandon
the said child agreeable to the act in that case
made and provided. Dated this 28th day of
April, 1803. Frederick Crounce.
I do hereby give notice that my negro wench
Gin was, on the 21st January, 1803, delivered of
a male black child named Yeat, and that I do
hereby also abandon the said child agreeable to the
act in that case made and provided. November
:9> r8o3. John Howard.

County of Albany, ss. :
These may certify that I, fohn Van Rensselaer,
of the Town of Water Vleit, in the County of Al
bany, have a female negro child, born the 31st of
January last, named fude, of a negro wench slave
named Rose, which said Rose is my property, and
I hereby request that an entry may be made agree
able to law ; and that I hereby give notice that I
abandon the child agreeable' to the statute in such
case made and provided.
Water Vleit, July 14th, 1802.
The above is a copy taken from the records.
Benjamin Winne, Clerk.
Water Vleit, Oct. 23d, 1803.
4th April, 1803, town divided.
County of Albany, ss. :
These may certify that I, Henry Apple, of the
Town of Water Vleit and County aforesaid, farmer,
have a male negro child, born the twenty-sixth day
of June, one thousand eight hundred, named fan,
of a negro slave Maria, which said Maria is my
property, and hereby request that an entry may be
made that I abandon the same agreeable to the
statute in such case made and provided.
Water Vleit, 21st May, 1801. his
Henry x Apple.
Mark.
County of Albany, ss. : '
These may certify that I, Henry Apple, of the
town of Water Vleit and County of Albany, farmer,
have a female negro child, born the seventh day
of October, one thousand eight hundred and
one, named Gin, of a negro slave named Maria,
which said Maria is my Property; and I hereby
request an entry may be made that I abandon the
same agreeable to the statute in such case made
and provided.
Water Vleit, June 24, 1802. his
Henry x Apple.
Mark.
The above are copies taken from the records of
the town of Water Vleit, 20th January, 1 804.
Benjamin Winne, Clerk.
County of Albany, ss. :
These may certify that I, Henry Apple, of the
town of Guilderland and County of Albany,
farmer, have a male negro child, born the 9th
December, 1802, named Joe, of a negro slave
named Maria, which said Maria is my Property,
and I hereby request that an entry may be made
that I abandqn the same agreeable to the statute in
this case made and provided.
Guilderland, 5th September, 1803. his
Henry x Apple.
Mark.
County of Albany, ss. :
These may certify that I, James M. La
Grange, of the town of Guilderland and County
aforesaid, farmer, have a male negro child, born
the 29th September, 1803, named Jock, of a negro
slave named Pheobe, which said Pheobe is my prop-

THE TOWNSHIP OF GUILDERLAND.

843

erty; and I do hereby request that an entry may
be made that I abandon the same agreeable to the
act in such case made and provided. Dated this
19th March, 1804. James M. La Grange.

Among the prominent citizens of the town at
this time are the following, several others being
represented by portraits and biographical sketches:

NAME.

J. P. Ogsbury 
PeterJ. Ogsbury 
Abram A. Tygert 
Andrew A. Scrafford . .
Wesley Schoolcraft. . . .
Henry C. Hilton 
G. Tygert 

Abram Buzzee.

Louise M. Kaley 
Mrs. John Gardner. . .
Addison Van Auken..
J. H. Pangburn 
Wm.D. Strevell 
James A. Crounse....

Birthplace.

Guilderland.,Guilderland. .
Guilderland. .
Guilderland.Guilderland, Guilderland .
Guilderland .
Guilderland .

Frederick Van Wie 
George Clute 
Henry Witherwax 
Andrew M. La Grange . . .

Guilderland., Guilderland..
Guilderland . ,
Guilderland., Guilderland., Guilderland.,Guilderland. Guilderland.Guilderland.

Abram Coss 
Daniel Van Husen .
John Quackenbush
F. V. McKown.. ..
Willard Defreest..
John Cramme  ,
J. Christian Hein

Date

OF

Birth.

Nov.

7.

1818

Jan.

2,

1842

June

18.

l8s8

May

22,

1841

Nov.

S,

i8„

May

14,

i86S

Oct.

5,

1825
1812

Oct.

lo,

185c

Mar.

i°,

182c

Feb.

17.

1853

Aug.

29

1851

Aug.

1

1831

May

25,

1826

Aug.

16

1818

To whom Married.

Margaret Van Valkenburg,

Guilderland.

GuilderlandGuilderland 
Guilderland 
Guilderland 
Guilderland  
Wurtemberg, Germany..
Charles H. Hein  Guilderland 
Henry E. Drumm  Oneatta, Otsego Co.,N.Y.
Thomas Holmes  Staffordshire, England...

Maggie Fryer 
Sophia Becker 
Margaret M. Lainhart..

Catharine Fuller..

Mar.
Oct.Sept.

1839

Almira Melius 
Henry Kaley  ,
John Gardner 
Laura Crounse 
Mary N. Mynderse 
Sarah M. De Voe 
W. No. 1, Mary L. Relyea
Christianna Livingston. ...
Elizabeth Woodworth 
Mary Blessing 
Nancy M. Quackenbush...
Louisa A. Livingston 

Date of
Marriage,

Feb. 28,
January, June 8,
Oct. 1,
Sept. 25,

1839 1868 i88j
18731874

Oct.

15, 10

Wm. McKown.
James Crounse.
J. H. Heck 
A. P. Ludden..

Guilderland... Knowersville.

Jacob A. Crounse.
J. C Chism 
D. F. VanAken...

Conrad H. Crounse.
James A. Hilton 
Jacob A. Scrafford..
AdamS. Westfall...
Dewit C. Thomas . . .
Jacob Hallenbeck...
John L. Mynders....
S. H. Lainhart 
Willard G.Davis...

June 29,
July 24,
Jan. 22,
April 7,
July. Feb. 26,
Feb. 22,
Sept. 4,
Dec. 7,
Nov. 21,

Brunswick, N. Y..

Knowersville.
Schenectady.. Guilderland. . .

July 13, 1842 185 1
Dec. 8, 1827
July 11, 1816

Guilderland . .
Guilderland . .
Schenectady .
Guilderland. .
Guilderland..Guilderland. .
Guilderland..Guilderland. .
Guilderland..

1841
1837 1827
1820 1851180818281859 18481816

Louisa Fairlee 
Elizabeth Van Schoik .
Margrate J. Jewett...
Jane Mosher  ,
Fanny Boomhower. . .
Elizabeth Winnie 
Mary Scheller 

[an. 22,
Mar. 1,
Mar. 12,
July 12,
Dec. 12,
Jan. 12,
Mar. 3,
Nov. 28,
April 12,
Jan. 19,
Aug. 31,
Dec. 18,

Feb. 10,
Febru'y, Ian. 6,
July io,
Dec. 30,
Aug. 26,
Nov. 23,

Mary A. Potter.
Harriet Coley..

Catharine L. McMillen 
Dgr. of Rev. A. P. Ludden,
Miss E. Pearson  ,
Caroline Grove, of Morris
town, Frederick Co. Va.,
Julia A. Hilton 

July 23, 1829
Jan. 18, 1882
Sept. 28, 1833 Abigail Lansing

April 18, 1850
Aug. 16, 1828
Nov. i, 1844
Aug. 28, 1834
Jan. 7, 1839
Jan. 8, 1836
July 25, i.r
April 21, ii
Mar. 1, 1

Rebecca M. Sitterly 
Helen M. Clapper 
Phebe H. Burdick 
Margaret Van Acerman.
Elizabeth C. Wingate...
Mary M. Frederick 
Mary Ann Tygert 

i»371871
1863 18701855186 188;1850
1853 1875
1 86c
1862

1875
1859 1849 1848
1874
1832 1851

Jan. 7,
April 28,
Oct. 14,
July 2T,
June 8,

Occupation.

1872 18421863 ]S8o
1852

Farmer 
Farmer.  ,
Farmer 
Farmer 
Farmer 
Farmer 
Farmer and coal
dealer. 
Farmer 
Hotel 
Farmer 
Farmer 
Merchant 
Dep. Surrogate

Farmer 
Farmer 
Farmer 
Farmer 
Farmer and deal
er in imported
stock.......
Farmer 
Farmer......Farmer 
Farmer  ,
Farmer 
Farmer 
Wagon man'f'r.
Blacksmith 
Carpenter 
Farmer 

Post-office,

Retired farmer.

Reverend.

Knowersville.Knowersville. Knowersville.Knowersville. Knowersville.
Knowersville.Fuller's Station.
Knowersville.Dunsville.Knowersville.Guilderland. Knowersville.
Knowersville.Guilderland.Guilderland.Guilderland. Guilderland.

Guilderland.Fuller's Station.
Fuller's Station.
Sloan's.
Sloan's. Sloan's.Sloan's.Sloan's. Sloan's.
Sloan's. 23 Dove street,
Albany.
Sloan's. Knowersville.Knowersville.

May 18, 1845 Reverend 
Jan. 29, 1856 Farmer 
 (insurance agent,
Nov. 12, 1861 M.D  ,

Dec, 1872
Jan. 17, 1865 1840
Sept. 30, 1859 1879
Sept. 23, 1864
Mar. 3, 1846

Farmer. .
Farmer. .
Farmer. Farmer.
Farmer. ,
Farmer.,Farmer.Earmer. Farmer.

Knowersville.
Knowersville. Knowersville.
Guilderland Center.
Guilderland.Guilderland. Guilderland.Guilderland.Guilderland. Guilderland.Guilderland. Guilderland.Guilderland.

ORGANIZATION.
Following is a copy of the record of the legal
erection of the town of Guilderland :
" LAWS of NEW YORK, 26th Session ;
GEORGE CLINTON, Esq., Governor. Chapter
XIX. Contents:
"1. Town of Guilderlandt erected from part of
the town of Watervliet.
" 2. Residue of Watervliet to remain a separate
town. "3. Supervisors and Overseers of the Poor,
their duty.
" An Act for dividing the Town of Watervliet, in
the County of Albany.
" BE it enacted by the people of the State of JS ew
York, represented in Senate and Assembly, that
from and after the fourth day of April next, all that
part of the town of Watervliet, in the County of
Albany, within the following bounds, to wit:
Bounded on the west by the town of Bern, north

west by Princetown, northerly by the City of Sche
nectady, and north by the south bounds of the
City of Albany, be, and hereby is, erected into a
separate town by the name of Guilderlandt, and
the first town meeting shall be held at the dwelling
house of Henry Apple, in said town.
" And be it further enacted, That all the remain
ing part of the town of Watervliet shall be and re
main a separate town, by the name of Watervliet,
and the first town meeting in the said town of Wa
tervliet shall be held at the dwelling house of Wil
liam Kain, in said town.
' ' And be it further enacted, That as soon as
may be after the first Tuesday of April next, the
Overseers of the Poor and the Supervisors of said
towns shall, after due notice being given for that
purpose, by the Supervisors of said towns, meet to
gether and apportion the money and poor belong
ing to the said town of Watervliet previous to the
division thereof, agreeably to the last State tax list;
and that forever thereafter each of the said towns
shall support and maintain its own poor.

844:

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

' ' State of New York.
" In Assembly, February 1 6th, 1803.
' ' This bill having been read the third time —
" Resolved, That the bill do pass.
"By order of the Assembly,
' ' Thomas Sterm, Speaker.
" State of New York.
"In Senate, February 24th, 1803.
"This bill having been read the third time —
" Resolved, That the bill do pass.
' ' By order of the Senate,
' ' Jer. Van Rensselaer, President.
" In Council of Revision.
"February the 26th, 1803.
"Resolved, That it does not appear improper to the
Council that this bill should become a law of this State.
"George Clinton."
The original boundaries of this town have been
somewhat altered by municipal changes both in
Albany and Schenectady counties. A portion of
.the City of Albany was annexed in 1870, and
has since formed Guilderland's entire western
boundary. From the Records, 1803.
In accordance with the provisions of the Act of
the Legislature erecting the town, the first town
meeting in Guilderlandt was held at the house of
Henry Apple, on Tuesday, April 5, 1803, at
which the following regulations were adopted:
1st. Resolved, That it shall not be lawful for hogs to run
at large beyond the inclosure of the owner.
2d. Resolved, That stallions of the age of two years and
upward shall not be suffered to go at large beyond the in
closure of the owner under a penalty of five dollars.
3d. Resolved, That* a bounty of thirty dollars shall be
paid by this town to any person killing a wolf running wild
within said town.
4th. Resolved, That the compensation to fence viewers
shall be at the rate of one dollar and twenty-five cents for
every day that they, or either of them, shall be actually
acting in that capacity.
5th. Resolved, That the next town meeting shall be held
at the house of Henry Apple, in said town .
6th. Resolved, That at the next town meeting the inhab
itants shall vote by ballot.
At the same time and place the following town
officers were chosen :
Supervisor, Nicholas V. Mynderse ; Town Clerk,
Peter C. Veeder ; Assessors, Isaac Van Aernam,
Abraham Veeder and Peter Relyea ; Commission
ers of Highways, David Ogbury, Frederick
Crounce and Charles Shaver ; Overseers of the
Poor, Jacob Van Aernam, Simeon Relyea ; Col
lector, Henry Ostrander ; Constables, Frederick
Seger, Asa Hutchinson, Peter Tarpenning and
Jasper Hilton ; Poundmaster, Volkert Jacobson ;
Fenceviewers, Nicholas Van Patten, Asa Hutchin
son, Peter Traber and Robert Grey ; Overseers of
Highways, Jacob La Grange, Peter La Grange,
Thomas Mesick, Nicholas Van Patten, John Groat,
Peter Traber, Amos Goodfellow, James M. La

Grange, Isaac Van Aernam, Benjamin Wilbore,
James Piatt, John Murray, Walter Vrooman,
Adam Hilton, Matthias Hallenbeck, Peter Bow
man, George Brown, Abraham Veeder and Ezra
Spalding. Below will be found further extracts from the
Records during the first year of Guilderland's ex
istence as a township :
The following number of votes were given for
the following persons for Senators in the Town of
Guilderland, in the County of Albany, at an elec
tion held in said town, commencing on the twenty-
sixth day of April, in the year one thousand eight
hundred and three, and closing on the twenty-
eighth day of the same month in the same year :
John Tayler  72 Stephen Lusk  46
John Woodworth . . 67 Moses Vail  47
Simon Veeder  67 Daniel Paris  47
Edward Savage  67 Ebenezer Clark  47
Thomas Treadwell. 67 William Bailey  44
N. V. Mynderse,
Abraham Veeder,
Isaac Van Aernam, - Inspectors.
Peter Relyea,
Peter C. Veeder,
The following number of votes were given for
the following persons for Members of Assembly for
the County of Albany in the Town of Guilderland
in said county, at an election held in said town,
commencing on the twenty-sixth day of April, in
the year one thousand eight hundred and three,
and closing on the twenty-eighth day of the same
month, in the same year :
James Emmott  66 Peter Gansevoort, Jr. .96
Henry Quackenbush . . 97
Nathan Dayton  96
John Jackson Jr  94
Nathaniel Gallup  96
Isaac D. Ver Plank. . . 97
Nathan Gallup  1
Peter Gansevoort  1

M. Schermerhorn. . . 66
John Beekman, Jr. . 66
John Jost Dietz. . . .66
Peter S. Schuyler. . . 66
Moses Smith  66
Nathan Stanton  1
John Jackson  3

N. V. Mynderse,
Abraham Veeder,
Isaac Van Aernam,
Peter Relyea,
Peter C. Veeder,

- Inspectors.

At a meeting of the Commissioners of Excise for
the Town of Guilderland, in the County of Albany,
at the house of Henry Apple, in said town, on
the third day of May, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and three, Resolved,
That licenses and permits for retailing strong and
spirituous liquors be granted to the following per
sons at the following rates of excise :
Christopher Batterman, on the Schoharie road,
$6.50. John Weaver, on the State road, $7. 50.
Philip Schell, on the State road, $7.
George Severson, on the Schoharie road, $7. 50.
Nicholas Beyer, on the Schoharie road, $5. 50.
John Danker, on the Schoharie road, $6.
Peter Bowman, on the State road, $5. 50.

THE TOWNSHIP OF GUILDERLAND.

845

Frederick Seger, on the Schoharie road, $5.
Peter Traber, on the road to Schenectady, $5.
Jeremiah Van Rensselaer (permit).
Nicholas- V. Mynderse (permit).
Isaac Vrooman, on the Schoharie road, $5.
Simeon Relyea (permit).
John F. Quackenbush, on the State road, $5.
Jacob Totten, on the State road, $5.
Henry Apple, on the Schoharie road, $9.
Frederick Friedendall, on the Schoharie road, $6.
James D. La Grange, on the Schoharie road,
16.50. Abraham P. Truax, on the State road, $6.
Present : Nicholas Mynderse, Supervisor.

Volkert Veeder,
Peter C. Veeder,
James Henderson,
Lawrence Schoolcraft,

fustices of
the Peace.

At a subsequent meeting of a Board of Commis
sioners of Excise, "licenses and permits to retail
strong and spirituous liquors " were granted to the
following persons :
Peter Van Patten, on the Schoharie road (per
mit). Wait Barrett, on the State road, $5.
Benjamin Horne, on the State road, $5.50.
Frederick Ramsay, on the State road, $6.
Ezra Spalding, on the Normanskill road, $5.
Christian Truax, on the Schoharie road, $5.
Gerrit G. Van Zandt, on the New Turnpike
road, $5.
"At a meeting of the Commissioners of Excise
licenses and permits were granted to the following
persons, to wit : To John Schoolcraft and George
Chism, tavern licenses at five dollars each, and a
permit to John Sloan at five dollars — all which was
paid into the hands of Nicholas V. Mynderse."
The following notices of ' ' astrays " may not be
without interest :
' ' Broke into the enclosure of the subscriber, on the
8th day of August, instant, a sorel mare, with four
white feet and a broad white stripe on her forehead;
her foretop cropt. Dated this 10th August, 1803.
"John F. Quackenbush."
"Broke into my enclosure, in the latter part of
August last, a red cow, with some brindle below
her ears, some white on her belly and bag, and
about six or seven years old. September 15th, 1803.
' ' Peter Traber. "
"Broke into the enclosure of the subscriber, the
first day of September last, a yearling heifer,
marked with a piece cut off the left ear and a slit in
the right ear ; brown, with a white stripe over its
back ; white head and hind feet December 5th,
1803. " Charles Shaver."
"Broke into the enclosure of the subscriber, a
black cow, with a piece cut off both her ears ; a
white face, with black round both eyes, and large
horns. December 17th, 1803.
"Stephen Pankburn."

"Came into the pasture of the subscriber, the
latter end of October last, two red steers ; the one
has a white face, the other not ; they are two years
and a half old. Dated the 20th January, 1804.
"John Joyce."
"Came into the enclosure of the subscriber, some
time in the first part of January, instant, three
stray sheep, one of which had a piece cut off both
ears, and the other two had no particular mark
whatsoever. Dated 29th January, 1804.
" Peter Bowman."
The following marks for the identification of
stray live stock were recorded :
" Mark of the cattle, sheep and hogs of Adam
A. Vrooman, recorded the 28th day of May, 1803,
to wit: a half moon cut out of the back side of the
right ear and a small piece cut off the left ear.
" These may certify that the subscriber do use
the following marks upon my creatures, to wit:
cattle and hogs, a hole cut in left ear ; and my
sheep, a piece cut off both ears. Dated this 27th
day of January, 1804. " Evert Van Arnum."
" I do hereby certify that the following is the
mark I use on my cattle, sheep and hogs, to wit:
an half moon cut out of the front side of each ear.
January 27th, 1804. "Thomas Van Arnum."
" I do hereby certify that I use the following as
a mark of my cattle, sheep and hogs, to wit: a
piece cut off the left ear, and a piece in the shape
of the letter V cut out of the right ear. Dated 10th
February, 1804. "Henry Van Arnum."
March 24, 1884, it was "resolved by the Com
missioners of Highways of the town of Guilder-
land that the town be divided in the following road
districts :
No. 1. To commence on the western line of the
town, the Schoharie road, and thence down said
road to where the road leading from the northern
part of the town of Berne comes into the said
Schoharie road.
No. 2. To commence on the east line of the
town of Berne, and thence down the road leading
from that part of the town of Berne called the New
Township to the Schoharie road, and thence down
said road to the house of Michael Barcklay.
No. 3. To commence at the house of Michael
Barcklay, and thence down the Schoharie road so
as to include the bridge across the Black Creek on
said road.
No. 4. To commence on the east end of the
bridge across the Black Creek on the Schoharie
road, and thence down said road to the store of
Nicholas V. Mynderse, and from the road leading
from the Schoharie road to Jacob Van Patten's to
the Paint Creek.
No. 5. To commence at the Paint Creek, and
from thence to continue to the corporation line of
the City of Albany.

R46

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

No. 6. To commence at the hay scales in Ham
ilton, and from thence on the road leading to
Valkert Veeder's, and so on to the corporation
line. No. 7. To commence at the Norman's Kill, at
Andries Truax's, and from thence to Jonas Smith's,
and thence on the road leading to Abraham Vee
der's mills to the Bethlehem line, including one-
quarter of the bridge at said mills.
No. 8. Beginning at the Schoharie road, and
from thence on the road leading to Gerrit Seger's
to the Bethlehem line, including one-quarter of the
bridge at Abm. Veeder's mills.
No. 9. To include one-quarter of the bridge at
Abm. Veeder's mills, and from thence to the Wolf
Hill. No. 10. To commence at the Wolf Hill, and
from thence to the corporation line of the city of
Albany. No. 11. To commence at the Bethlehem line,
and from thence on the road leading to Amos
Goodfellow's to Matthias S. Frederick's ; also, to
include one-quarter of the bridge at Abm. Veeder's
mills. No. 12. To commence at the gate of David
Ogsbury, and from thence on the road leading to
William Davis's to the Bethlehem line, and also to
include the road leading from near Peter La
Grange's to the Salem road, nigh where- David
Mann formerly resided.
No. 13. Beginning at Matthias Frederick's, and
from thence to the Schoharie road at the store of
Nicholas V. Mynderse, and from thence down that
road to the road leading to Jacob Van Patten's,
including the road leading to the bridge at Ten
Broeck's mills.
No. 14. To commence at the swing gate of
Charles Shaver, and thence down the Settlerbergh
road to George Waggoner's.
No. 15. To commence on the Settlerbergh road
at the gate of Jacob M. De Forest, and from
thence to the Berne road at Van Auken's.
No. 16. To commence at George Scrapper's,
and from thence to the western turnpike.
No. 17. To commence at the Princetown line,
and from thence to the house of John Waggoner,
and to assist in making a new bridge at Becker's if
it should at any time be wanted.
No. 18. From the house of John Waggoner
to the Schoharie road, near the Reformed Dutch
Church. No. 19. To commence at the Manor line in the
western part of the town, and thence down the
State road to the house of Philip Schell, revoking
only one-half the bridge at Abm. P. Truax's.
No. 20. To commence at Philip Schell's, and
from thence down the State road to the corpora
tion line, including one-half the bridge at Abm. P.
Truax's. No. 21. To commence on the State road nigh
Benjamin Home's, and from thence on the road
leading by Gilbert Van Zundt's to the Settlerbergh
road at Peter Becker's.
No. 22. To commence on the corporation line,
and from thence on the road leading by Peter

Traber's to the south end of the bridge at Ten
Broeck's mills. CIVIL LIST.
The names of those who were elected to town
offices at Guilderland's first annual town meeting, in
1 803, have been given. Following will be found the
names of the more prominent town officers since
that date, as copied, literatim, from the records in
charge of the Town Clerk :
1 804.— Supervisor, James Henderson; Town
Clerk, Peter Van Patten, Jr. ; Assessors, Isaac Van
Aernam, Peter Livingston, Abraham Veeder ; Col
lector, Henry Jacobson; Constables, Lodewyck
Fetherley, Gilbert Beebe, Frederick Seger, Asa
Hutchinson. 1805.— Supervisor, James Henderson; Town
Clerk, Cornelius Severson; Assessors, Abraham
Veeder, Isaac I. Van Aernam, Peter Livingston ;
Collector, Henry Ostrander; Constables, Lode
wyck Fetherley, Robert Bever, Lawrence L. Van
Kleek, Jacob Ramsey, Anthony Robison.
1806. — Supervisor, Peter Van Patten; Town
Clerk, Cornelius Severson ; Assessors, Conrad
Crounse, Henry Shaver, Abraham Veeder; Col
lector, Thomas W. Beebe ; Constables, Jacob
Ramsey, James Conant, Nehemiah Howe ; Com
missioners of Highways, David Ogsbury, Nicholas
Severson, Charles Shaver.
1807. — Supervisor, Peter Van Patten; Town
Clerk, William Waggoner; Assessors, Henry Shaver,
Conrad Crounse, Peter Livingston; Collector,
Jacob Freydendall; Constables, Jacob Freydendall,
Nehemiah Howe.
1808. — Supervisor, Peter Van Patten; Town
Clerk, William Waggoner; Assessors, Conrad
Crounse, Henry Shaver, Peter Veeder; Collector,
Jacob Freydendall; Constables, Jacob Freyden
dall, Abraham J. Clute, John Vandenberg, Wait
Barrett, Jacob Ramsey.
1809. — Supervisor, Robert Gray; Town Clerk,
William Waggoner; Assessors, Henry Shaver,
Conrad Crounse, Peter Veeder; Collector, Jacob
Freydendall; Constables, Jacob Freydendall, Wait
Barrett, John Schell.
1 8 10. — Supervisor, David Bogardus; Town
Clerk, Cornelius H. Waldron; Assessors, John V.
Veeder, Henry Shaver, Conrad Crounse; Collector,
Matthias M. Frederick; Constables, Jacob Frey
dendall, Wait Barrett, Matthias M. Frederick,
Hiram Gage.
1 8 1 1 . — Supervisor, David Bogardus; Town Clerk,
Cornelius H. Waldron; Assessors, Henry Shaver,
Conrad Crounse, James M. La Grange; Collector,
Jacob Freydendall; Constables, Jacob Freydendall,
Roswell Brown, Abijah Rube, Henry I. Vine.
1 81 2. — Supervisor, Aaron Grote; Town Clerk,
Andrew Ostrander; Assessors, Conrad Crounse,
James M. La Grange, Aaron A. Van Wormer;
Collector, Henry I. Vine; Constables, Henry I.
Vine, Roswell Brown, Elias La Grange.
1813. — Supervisor, William McKown; Town
Clerk, Andrew Ostrander; Assessors, Conrad
Crounse, John Schoolcraft, Cornelius H. Waldron;

THE TOWNSHIP OF GUILDERLAND.

847

Collector, Henry I. Vine; Constables, Henry I.
Vine, Roswell Brown, Welcome Withford; Com
missioners of Schools, John Schoolcraft, Samuel
R. Campbell, John Weaver, Jr.
1814. — Supervisor, William McKown; Town
Clerk, Andrew Ostrander; Assessors, John School
craft, Cornelius H. Waldron, James M. La Grange;
Collector, John I. Devoe; Constables, Frederick
Freydendall, Roswell Brown, Henry I. Vine, John
I. Devoe; Commissioners of Schools, John D.
Ogsbury, John I. Weaver, Andrew Ostrander.
18 1 5. — Supervisor, William McKown; Town
Clerk, Andrew Ostrander; Assessors, Francis Van
Valkenburgh, Cornelius H. Waldron, Simon
Relyea; Collector, Philip Fetherly, Jr. ; Constables,
Philip Fetherly, Jr., Daniel Butterfield, Henry I.
Vine, Isaac June; Commissioners of Schools,
Samuel R. Campbell, Andrew Ostrander, John D.
Ogsbury. 1816. — Supervisor, William McKown; Town
Clerk, Andrew Ostrander; Assessors, David Bogar
dus, Henry Shaver, Francis Van Valkenburgh;
Collector, Philip Fetherly, Jr. ; Constables, Philip
Fetherly, Jr., Michael Waggoner, Frederick Frey
dendall; Commissioners of Schools, George Van
Aernam, Cornelius H. Waldron, James M. La
Grange. 1817. — Supervisor, William McKown; Town
Clerk, John D. Ogsbury; Assessors, Francis Van
Valkenburgh, Henry Shaver, Andrew Ostrander;
Collector, Philip Fetherly, Jr.; Constables, Philip
Fetherly, Jr., John R. Williams, Henry I. Vine,
Roswell Brown; Commissioners of Schools, Cor
nelius H. Waldron, Conrad Crounce, John I.
Weaver. 1 81 8. — Supervisor, William McKown; Town
Clerk, John D. Ogsbury; Assessors, Francis Van
Valkenburgh, Henry Shaver, Andrew Ostrander;
Collector, Aaron Livingston; Constables, Christian
P. La Grange, Henry I. Vine, Robert I. Vine,
Roswell Brown; Commissioners of Schools, Conrad
Crounse, George Batterman, John E. Winne.
1819. — Supervisor, William McKown; Town
Clerk, John D. Ogsbury; Assessors, John School
craft, Andrew Ostrander, Henry Shaver; Collector,
Abram Vanderpool; Constables, John R. Williams,
Henry I. Vine, Wait Barrett, Abijah Beebe; Com
missioners of Schools, Conrad Crounse, Aaron
Livingston, John A. Winne.
1820. — Supervisor, William McKown; Town
Clerk, John D. Ogsbury; Assessors, Henry Shaver,
Andrew Ostrander, John Schoolcraft; Collector,
Henry I. Vine; Constables, Henry I. Vine, Abi
jah Beebe, John R. Williams, Joshua Beebe; Com
missioners of Schools, John E. Winne, Conrad
Crounse, Aaron Livingston.
182 1.— Supervisor, William McKown; Town
Clerk, John D. Ogsbury; Assessors, Henry Shaver,
John Schoolcraft,- Andrew Ostrander; Collector,
Richard Walker; Constables, John R. Williams,
Henry I. Vine, Elias J. La Grange, Jacob A. Ja
cobson; Commissioners of Schools, John E.
Winne, Conrad Crounse, Aaron Livingston.
1822.— Supervisor, William McKown; Town
Clerk, John D. Ogsbury, Assessors, Simon Veeder,

Andrew Ostrander, Cornelius H. Waldron; Collect
or, John Shoudy, Jr.; Constables, John R. Wil
liams, Henry I. Vine, Elias Truax, Abijah Beebe,
John Shoudy, Jr.; Commissioners of Schools,
George Batterman, Conrad Crounse, Peter G.
Sharp. 1823. — Supervisor, William McKown; Town
Clerk, John D. Ogsbury; Assessors, Andrew Os
trander, Simon Veeder, John E. Winne; Collector,
Peter Shaver; Constables, John R. Williams, Hen
ry A. Ostrander, Abijah Beebe, Elias Truax; Com
missioners of Schools, George Batterman, Conrad
Crounse, Peter G. Sharp.
1824. — Supervisor, William McKown; Town
Clerk, John D. Ogsbury; Assessors, Henry Shaver,
Andrew Ostrander, Simon Veeder; Collector,
Henry A. Ostrander; Constables, Henry A. Os
trander, Elias Truax, John R. Williams, Abijah
Beebe; Commissioners of Schools, Abram Van
derpool, George Batterman, John Schoolcraft.
1825. — Supervisor, George Batterman; Town
Clerk, John D. Ogsbury; Assessors, Henry Shaver,
Andrew Ostrander, Simon Veeder; Collector, John
R. Williams; Constables, John R. Williams, Abi
jah Beebe, Hezekiah Sharp, Henry A. Ostrander;
Commissioners of Schools, John Schoolcraft, David
Pratt, John McKown.
1826. — Supervisor, George Batterman; Town
Clerk, John D. Ogsbury; Assessors, Andrew Os
trander, Simon Veeder, Abram Vanderpool; Col
lector, Peter Ogsbury; Constables, Abijah Beebe,
John R. Williams, Henry A. Ostrander, Hezekiah
Sharp; Commissioners of Schools, John School
craft, Jesse White, Charles Harrington.
1827. — Supervisor, George Batterman; Town
Clerk, John Schoolcraft; Assessors, Andrew Os
trander, Simon Veeder, Abraham Vanderpool; Col
lector, Elias La Grange; Constables, John R. Wil
liams, Henry A. Ostrander, Hezekiah Sharp, Abi
jah Beebe; Commissioners of Schools, John School
craft, Jesse White, Christopher Batterman.
1828. — Supervisor, George Batterman; Town
Clerk, John Schoolcraft; Assessors, Andrew Os
trander, Simon Veeder, Abraham Vanderpool; Col
lector, Peter Siver; Constables, Hezekiah Sharp,
John R. Williams, Abijah Beebe, Henry A. Os
trander; Commissioners of Schools, Christopher
Batterman, Frederick Keenholtz, Charles Harring
ton. 1829. — Supervisor, George Batterman; Town
Clerk, John Schoolcraft; Assessors, Abraham Van
derpool, Simon Veeder, Conrad Crounse; Collect
or, John R. Williams; Constables, Abijah Beebe,
Hezekiah -Sharp, Henry A. Ostrander, John R.
Williams; Commissioners of Schools, William W.
Moore, Christopher Batterman, Frederick Keen
holtz. ¦[830. — Supervisor, George Batterman; Town
Clerk, John Schoolcraft; Justice of the Peace, An
drew Ostrander; Assessors, Abraham Vanderpool,
Aaron Livingston, Simon Veeder; Collector, John
Mann; Constables, Hezekiah Sharp, John R.
Williams, Henry A. Ostrander, Abijah Beebe;
Commissioners of Schools, Christopher Batterman,
Frederick Keenholtz, David Pratt.

848

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

1 83 1. —Supervisor, Aaron Livingston; Town
Clerk, Charles Harrington; Justice of the Peace,
William S. Beebe; Assessors, Simon Veeder, Abra
ham Vanderpool, John D. Ogsbury; Collector,
Martin N. Vrooman; Constables, Henry A. Os
trander, Hezekiah Sharp, John R. Williams,
Thomas Helme; Commissioners of Schools, Fred
erick Keenholtz, Christopher Batterman, David
Pratt. 1832. — Supervisor, Aaron Livingston; Town
Clerk, Charles Harrington; Justice of the Peace,
John D. Ogsbury; Assessors, Simon Veeder, Fred
erick Keenholtz, Peter Ogsbury; Collector, Peter
Siver; Constables, Hezekiah Sharp, Henry A.
Ostrander, George T. Brown, Elias I. La Grange;
Commissioners of Schools, Frederick Keenholtz,
David Pratt, Christopher Batterman.
1833. — Supervisor, Christopher Batterman; Town
Clerk, Charles Harrington; Justices of the Peace,
John F. Quackenbush, John R. Williams; Assess
ors, Simon Veeder, George Severson, Peter Ogs
bury; Collector, Peter Siver; Constables, Thomas
Helme, Peter Siver, Elias I. La Grange, John
Beyer; Commissioners of Schools, Abraham Van
derpool, Frederick Keenholtz, John McKown.
1834. — Supervisor, Christopher Batterman; Town
Clerk, Peter C. Crounse; Justice of the Peace,
John R. Williams; Assessors, Simon Veeder,
Peter Ogsbury, Tunis Hallenbeck; Collector, Henry
A. Ostrander; Constables, Henry A. Ostrander, J.
Beyer, Peter Siver, Thomas Helme; Commis
sioner of Schools, James S. Low, David Pratt,
Jonathan H. Case.
1835. — Supervisor, Christopher Batterman; Town
Clerk, Peter C. Crounse; Justices of the Peace,
Thomas Helme, Henry A. Ostrander; Assessors,
Simon Veeder, Peter Ogsbury, Tunis Hallenbeck;
Collector, Henry Livingston; Constables, John
Beyer, Peter Siver, Abner Wood, Chauncey Kelly;
Commissioners of Common Schools, Abram Van
derpool, Frederick Knowlton, John McKown.
1836. — Supervisor, Christopher Batterman; Town
Clerk, Peter C. Crounse; Justices of the Peace,
John D. Ogsbury, Henry A. Ostrander; Assessors,
Simon Veeder, Peter Ogsbury, Tunis Hallenbeck;
Collector, William Beyer; Constables, Peter Siver,
John Beyer, Abner Wood, Jeremiah Kelly; Com
missioners of Schools, John McKown, Frederick
Keenholtz, Abram Vanderpool.
1837. — Supervisor, Christopher Batterman; Town
Clerk, Peter C. Crounse; Justice of the Peace,
John F. Quackenbush; Assessors, Simon Veeder,
Peter Ogsbury, Tunis Hallenbeck; Collector, An
drew Wilkins; Constables, Peter Siver, John Beyer,
Jacob Waggoner, Aaron Waldron; Commissioners
of Schools, John McKown, Abram Vanderpool,
Frederick Keenholtz.
1 838. — Supervisor, Christopher Batterman; Town
Clerk, Peter C. Crounse; Justice of the Peace,
Thomas Helme; Assessors, Simon Veeder, Abra
ham Crounse, Peter Ogsbury; Collector, John
Barkhuff; Constables, Peter Siver, John Beyer,
Aaron Waldron, Simon Grote; Commissioners of
Schools, Jacob Crounse, Philip Livingston, John
McKown.

1839. — Supervisor, Christopher Batterman;
Town Clerk, Peter C. Crounse ; Justice of the
Peace, Henry A. Ostrander; Assessors, Simon
Veeder, Peter Ogsbury, Abraham Crounse;
Collector, William C. Hilton ; Constables, John
Mesick, Abner Wood, John I. Clark, Peter
Siver ; Commissioners of Schools, Joel B. Nott,
David Pratt, James S. Lowe.
1840. — Supervisor, Henry Sloan; Town Clerk,
Peter C. Crounse ; Justice of the Peace, Christo
pher Crounse ; Assessors, Simon Veeder, Peter Ogs
bury, Abram Crounse ; Collector, Aaron Hilton ;
Constables, Aaron Hilton, John Mesick, John I.
Clark, Henry Youngs ; Commissioners of Schools,
James S. Low, David Pratt, Joel B. Nott.
1 84 1. — Supervisor, Henry Sloan; Town Clerk,
Henry A. Ward ; Justice of the Peace, Hezekiah
Sharp ; Assessors, Simon Veeder, Mark Sitterly,
Garrett A. Ostrander ; Collector, Frederick Bless
ing; Constables, Isaac C. Frederick, Peter Siver,
James A. McKown, John Mesick ; Commission
ers of Schools, James S. Lowe, David Pratt, Mar
shall M. Bingham.
1842. — Supervisor, Peter Shaver ; Town Clerk,
Israel Walker; Justices of the Peace, Thomas
Helme, Robert Hall ; Assessors, Simon Veeder,
Garrett A. Ostrander, Mark Sitterley ; Collector,
John P. Ogsbury ; Constables, James A. McKown,
Peter Siver, Henry Youngs, Aaron Hilton ; Com
missioners of Schools, John McKown, James Hal
lenbeck, Alexander Van Valkenburgh.
1843. — Supervisor, Peter Shaver; Town Clerk,
Israel Walker ; Justice of the Peace, John C.
Crounse ; Assessors, Simon Veeder, Garrett A.
Ostrander, Alexander Van Valkenburgh ; Collector,
George A. Severson ; Constables, George A. Sever
son, James A. McKown, Henry Young, Jacob
Sitterley ; Commissioners of Schools, William M.
Crounse, Mark Sitterly, James Hallenbeck.
1844. — Supervisor, Peter Shaver ; Town Clerk,
Israel Walker; Justice of the Peace, Henry A.
Ostrander ; Assessors, Marshall M. Bingham,
Jacob I. Fryer, Alanson Van Auken ; Collector,
John Hart ; Constables, Michael Wormer, James
A. McKown, Nicholas Severson, Henry Young ;
Superintendent of Schools, Jacob Crounse.
1845. — Supervisor, Peter Shaver; Town Clerk,
Israel Walker ; Justice of the Peace, James A. Mc
Kown ; Assessors, Marshall M. Bingham, Nicholas
A. Severson, Peter Beebe ; Collector, Jacob C.
Vrooman ; Constables, John Dantz, Nicholas
Severson, Aaron Waldron, William Lanehart ;
Superintendent of Schools, Jacob Crounse.
1846.— Supervisor, John Fuller; Town Clerk,
Nicholas A. Severson ; Justice of the Peace. Jacob
C. Crounse ; Assessors, Peter Beebe, Daniel Ralyea,
George Severson ; Collector, George Mesick ; Con
stables, Aaron Waldron, John L. Dantz, Benjamin
Stafford, John Blair ; Superintendent of Schools,
Jonathan Johnson.
1847. — Supervisor, John Fuller; Town Clerk,
Nicholas A. Severson ; Justice of the Peace, Henry
A. Ostrander ; Assessor, John Van Husen ; Col
lector, George Keenholtz ; Constables, William
Dover, Aaron Waldron, Benjamin Stafford, Robert

THE TOWNSHLP OF GUILDERLAND.

849

R. Hall ; Superintendent of Schools, Andrew
Wilson. 1848. — Supervisor, Jacob I. Fryer; Town Clerk,
Nicholas A. Severson ; Justice of the Peace, George
Keenholtz ; Assessor, Peter Beebe ; Collector,
Abner Wood ; Constables, William Devoe, Aaron
Hilton, Cornelius Mann, Robert R. Hall ; Super
intendent of Schools, Andrew Wilson.
1849. — Supervisor, Jacob I. Fryer ; Town Clerk,
W. Vine ; Justice of the Peace, James A. McKown ;
Assessor, George Severson ; Collector, Henry Van
derpool ; Constables, Cornelius Mann, Jacob
Earls, Peter P. Winne, Peter Clark ; Superintendent
of Schools, Andrew Wilson.
1850. — Supervisor, Elijah Spawn ; Town Clerk,
W. Vine ; Justice of the Peace, John C. Chism ;
Assessor, John B. Veeder ; Collector, Thomas
Van Aernam, Jr. ; Constables, De Witt C. Jackson,
Cornelius Mann, Alexander Livingston, John
Waldron ; Superintendent of Schools, Andrew
Wilson. 1 85 1. — Supervisor, Elijah Spawn ; Town Clerk,
Jacob DeGraff; Justice of the Peace, Abraham
Mynderse ; Assessor, Peter Beebe ; Collector, John
Smith ; Constables, De Witt C. Jackson, Alexan
der Livingston, Cornelius Mann, Malachi Whipple,
Peter Quackenbush.
1852. — Supervisor, W. Vine ; Town Clerk, Jacob
DeGraff ; Justice of the Peace, Nicholas A. Severson;
Assessor, George Severson ; Collector, John Smith ;
Constables, De Witt C. Jackson, John Stafford,
Peter Quackenbush, John Palmester, Christopher
White ; Superintendent of Schools, Marshall M.
Bingham. 1853. — Supervisor, W. Vine ; Town Clerk,
Jacob DeGraff ; Justice of the Peace, James A.
McKown ; Assessor, Martin J. Blessing ; Collector,
David Ogsbury ; Constables, De Witt C. Jackson,
Cornelius Mann, Alexander McDonald, John W.
Pangeborn. T854. — Supervisor, George Y. Johnson; Town
Clerk, Abraham V. Mynderse ;' Justice of the Peace,
John C. Chism ; Assessor, John L. Vanderpool ;
Collector, Frederick M. Freydendall ; Constables,
Peter Quackenbush, John Stafford, Cornelius
Mann, Henry Sism, Jeremiah Lasher; Superin
tendent of Schools, John P. Veeder.
1855. — Supervisor, George Y. Johnson ; Town
Clerk, Abraham V. Mynderse; Justice of the Peace,
Peter Veeder ; Assessor, Philip Ogsbury ; Collect
or, John W. Waggoner ; Constables, John Vroo
man, John Palmester, Cornelius Mann, Alexander
McDonald, Philip Schermerhorn.
1856.— Supervisor, George Y. Johnson; Town
Clerk, Abraham V. Mynderse ; Justice of the Peace,
John Stafford ; Assessor, John P. Ogsbury ; Col
lector, Joseph Shook ; Constables, Alexander Mc
Donald, Philip Schermerhorn, John Smith, John
H. Ogsbury. -
1857.— Supervisor, Henry Hilton; Town Clerk,
Isaac Pearl ; Justice of the Peace, Christopher
White ; Assessor, Jacob Scrafford ; Collector,
Aaron Groat ; Constables, Jacob A. La Grange,
Granville Bell, Malachi Whipple, Gilbert Keenholtz,
Myndert Veeder.

1858. — Supervisor, Henry Hilton ; Town Clerk,
Isaac Pearl ; Justice of the Peace, John C. Chism ;
Assessor, Henry A. Ostrander; Collector, James
R. Steers ; Constables, Jacob A. La Grange, Gil
bert Keenhlotz, Benjamin Stafford, Malachi Whip
ple, John W. Pangburn.
1859. — Supervisor, Henry Hilton; Town Clerk,
John P. Hotaling; Justice of the Peace, Peter
Veeder ; Assessor, Jacob Van Waggoner ; Col
lector, John B. La Grange ; Constables, Frederick
Blessing, James R. Steers, Jacob A. La Grange,
Michael Wormer, Malachi Whipple.
i860. — Supervisor, Leonard Wilkins; Town
Clerk, John P. Hotaling ; Justice of the Peace,
Jacob Crounse ; Assessor, John Waldron ; Col
lector, James Ogsbury; Constables, James R.
Steers, Jacob A. La Grange, Frederick Blessing,
Michael Wormer, Cornelius Mann.
1861. — Supervisor, Stephen V. Frederick ; Town
Clerk, John P. Hotaling ; Justice of the Peace,
Christopher White ; Assessor, Abram Crounse ;
Collector, Abram J. Van Wormer ; Constables,
Daniel H. Osterhout, John B. La Grange, Thomas
Shell, Malachi Whipple, William M. Lanehart.
1862. — Supervisor, Stephen V. Frederick ; Town
Clerk, John P. Hotaling ; Justice of the Peace,
Perry Mead ; Assessor, W. Vine ; Collector,
Frederick J. Sitterly ; Constables, David H. White,
Malachi Whipple, John Smith, John B. La Grange,
Peter Quackenbush.
1863. — Supervisor, Stephen V. Frederick; Town
Clerk, John P. Hotaling ; Justices of the Peace,
Marshall M. Bingham ; Assessor, William L.
Van Auken ; Collector, Frederick Keenholtz ;
Constables, Peter Coon, James Kelly, Michael
S. Lanehart, John B. La Grange, Peter Quacken
bush. 1864. — Supervisor, Stephen V. Frederick; Town
Clerk, John P. Hotaling ; Justice of the Peace,
Peter J. Severson ; Assessor, Abraham Van Auken;
Collector, E. Buzzee; Constables, Alexander Lane
hart, John B. La Grange, Malachi Whipple,
Thomas Schell, Adam Crounse.
1865. — Supervisor, Stephen V. Frederick; Town
Clerk, John P. Hotaling ; Justice of the Peace,
Tunis Vandenburgh ; Assessor, W. Vine ; Collect
or, George N. Severson ; Constables, John B. La
Grange, David H. White, Malachi Whipple, John
W. Sharp, Thomas Schell.
1866. — Supervisor, Stephen V. Frederick; Town
Clerk, John P. Hotaling; Justice of the Peace,
Perry Mead ; Assessor, Israel Walker ; Collector,
Peter J. Severson ; Constables, John B. La Grange,
Malachi Whipple, George W. Sigsbee, Francis
Scott, William Hallenbeck.
1867. — Supervisor, Hiram Griggs; Town Clerk,
John P. Hotaling ; Justice of the Peace, Loring
W. Osborn ; Assessor, Abraham Van Auken; Col
lector, Frederick P. Crounse; Constables, Alexan
der Reinhart, John P. La Grange, Malachi
Whipple, George W. Sigsbee, Francis Scott.
1868. — Supervisor, Hiram Griggs; Town Clerk,
George B. Sloan ; Justice of the Peace, Jacob A.
La Grange ; Assessor, W. Vine ; Collector, James
Kelly ; Constables, Alexander Reinhart, William

850

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

R. Gray, Alonzo Crounse, Francis Scott, George
W. Sigsbee.
1869. — Supervisor, Hiram Griggs ; Town Clerk,
George B. Sloan ; Justice of the Peace, George W.
Kelderhouse ; Assessor, Israel Walker ; Collector,
Henry Ogsbury ; Constables, Abram Smith,
Joseph E. Roe, James E. Siver, Alonzo Crounse,
Peter Waggoner.
1870. — Supervisor, Hiram Griggs ; Town Clerk,
George B. Sloan ; Justice of the Peace, Perry
Mead ; Assessor, Abraham Van Auken; Collector,
Christian Bloomingdale ; Constables, Joseph E.
Roe, Alonzo Crounse, James E. Siver, Peter
Waggoner, Hiram Carpenter.
1871. — Supervisor, Hiram Griggs; Town Clerk,
George B. Sloan ; Justice of the Peace, Jacob H.
Ogsbury ; Assessor, W. Vine ; Collector, James R.
Main ; Constables, Joseph E. Roe, John Beebe,
John B. La Grange, James E. Siver, George
Pike. 1872. — Supervisor, Hiram Griggs; Town Clerk,
George B. Sloan ; Justice of the Peace, Jacob H.
La Grange ; Assessor, Israel Walker ; Collector,
James Durfee ; Constables, Joseph E. Roe, John
B. La Grange, James E. Siver, Alonzo Crounse,
George Pike.
1873. — Supervisor, Hiram Griggs; Town Clerk,
George B. Sloan ; Justice of the Peace, George W.
Kelterhouse ; Assessor, Abraham Van Auken ; Col
lector, Peter Ogsbury ; Constables, Joseph E.
Roe, James Cameron, John B. La Grange, Alonzo
Crounse, George Pike.
1874. — Supervisor, Hiram Griggs ; Town Clerk,
Peter H. Pearl ; Justice of the Peace, Peter Walker;
Assessor, S. D. Grant ; Collector, Robert Magill ;
Constables, Joseph E. Roe, James Cameron, John
B. La Grange, Alonzo Crounse, William L. Wag
goner. 1875. — Supervisor, Hiram Griggs; Town Clerk,
Peter H. Pearl ; Justice of the Peace, Abram Hil
ton ; Assessor, Israel Walker ; Collector, John B.
La Grange ; Constables, Joseph E. Roe, James
Cameron, James Durfee, Philip Pettinger, William
Waggoner. 1876. — Supervisor, Hiram Griggs; Town Clerk,
Peter H. Pearl ; Justice of the Peace, Jacob A. La
Grange ; Assessor, Abraham Van Auken ; Collect
or, Peter Waggoner ; Constables, Joseph E. Roe,
James Cameron, Jesse A. Mulford, Henry Shover,
Jr., James Durfee.
1877.- — Supervisor, John C. Grant; Town Clerk,
William J. Capron; Justice of the Peace, James
R. Main ; Assessor, James Helm ; Collector,
Ira J. Weaver ; Constables, Joseph E. Roe, H.
Strevel, James Durfee, John B. La Grange, Henry
Shaver, Jr.
1878. — Supervisor, John C. Grant; Town Clerk,
John Mann ; Justice of the Peace, Peter Walker ;
Assessor, Israel Walker ; Collector, C. Wormer ;
Constables, Joseph E. Roe, John B. La Grange,
E. Buzzee, James Durfee, James Cameron.
1879. — Supervisor, John C. Grant; Town Clerk,
John Mann ; Justice of the Peace, Jacob H. Ogs
bury; Assessor, John H. Severson; Collector,
James Sharp ; Constables, Joseph E. Roe, James

Cameron, John B. La Grange, E. Buzzee, James
Durfee. 1880.— Supervisor, John C. Grant; Town Clerk,
James I. Wright ; Justice of the Peace, William
H. Van Benscotten ; Assessor, James Helm ; Col
lector, Hiram Fredendall ; Constables, Henry
Shaver, Jr., Joseph E. Roe, John Winne, James
Durfee, John Stafford.
1881. — Supervisor, Aaron Fuller ; Town Clerk,
James I. Wright ; Justice of the Peace, William J.
Capron ; Assessor, David Relyea ; Collector,
Harvey Vosburgh ; Constables, Joseph E. Roe,
Hiram Carpenter, James Durfee, Henry Shaver,
Jr., John Stafford.
1882. — Supervisor, Aaron Fuller; Town Clerk,
James J. Wright ; Justice of the Peace, Peter
Walker; Assessor, James H. Hilton; Collector,
Myron J. Fowler ; Constables, Joseph E. Roe,
Hiram Carpenter, Frederick Brust, George Pike,
Chatfield Stafford.
1883. — Supervisor, Aaron Fuller; Town Clerk,
John Mann ; Justice of the Peace, Jacob Ogsbury;
Assessor, John H. Hewitt ; Collector, David Van-
denburgh ; Constables, Joseph E. Roe, Hadley
Reinhart, James Durfee, John L. Hein, Melvin
Van Auken.
1884. — Supervisor, Aaron Fuller; Town Clerk,
Charles F. Foster; Justice of the Peace, William
H. Van Benscotten; Assessor, Peter Vanderpool;
Collector, Wilbur Whipple; Constables, Joseph E.
Roe, Hadley Reinhart, Peter H. Siver, E. Buzzee,
Richard Prout. EDUCATIONAL.
The earliest schools in Guilderland were of the
same crude description as the pioneer schools else
where in this section of the State. They were
taught in private houses or in other convenient
places, by ministers of -the Gospel and by traveling
schoolmasters, almost exclusively in the language
of the Fatherland. Later, after association with
English speaking people and acquaintance with
prevailing customs had foreshadowed the necessi
ties of the future, English teachers were secured
and English text-books were employed. The
early school-houses were primitive affairs, built by
subscription or by gatherings of men for that pur
pose. Such united efforts were called " bees. "
The first school officers chosen in the town at
an annual town meeting were elected in 18 13.
They were John Schoolcraft, Samuel R. Campbell
and John Weaver, Jr. , Commissioners of Schools;
and Andrew Ostrander, Henry Heath and Cor
nelius M. Watson, Inspectors of Schools. Most
of the school officers subsequently elected in the
town, under different laws, and known by different
official titles, are mentioned in the civil list.
Among the early public schoolmasters were Jo
seph Bell, John Rawle, Abijah Beebe, William

THE TOWNSHIP OF GUILDERLAND.

851

Gardner, Hubert Pratt, Henry Switcher, and others
whose names are forgotten. The following record
of the original division of Guilderland into school
districts appears in the town books :
"At a meeting of the Commissioners of Schools
for the town of Guilderland, in the County of
Albany, held at the house of Zoal Morgan on
Wednesday, the 21st day of April, 1813, for the
purpose of dividing said town into school districts,
the Commissioners do hereby certify that they have
divided said town into eight school districts,
bounded and distinguished as follows, to wit :
' ' School District No. 1 begins at the Manor line
on the north side of the Bozen Kill, and runs
thence along said Manor line easterly to the south
boundary of the first Great Western 1'urnpike road;
thence down said road to the west boundary of the
farm of John Lanehart; from thence southerly to
the said Bozen Kill, including the farm of Henry
Lanehart; thence westerly along said kill to the
place of beginning.
"School District No. 2 begins at the west
boundary of the farm of John Lanehart, on the
south side of the turnpike road aforesaid, and runs
from thence southerly to the west boundary of the
farms of John M. Vanderpool and Simon Lane
hart to the Bozen Kill, as it winds and turns to the
bridge across the said kill at Becker's Mills; from
thence along the road from said bridge northerly
to the turnpike road; thence up the turnpike road
to the stone bridge across the Norman's Kill; thence
up the Norman's Kill as it winds and turns (includ
ing the house and lot of Cornelius H. Watson) to
the Manor line; thence along the Manor line
southwesterly to the turnpike road; thence down
the said road to the piace of beginning.
" School District No. 3 begins at the bridge
aforesaid, and runs thence along the east boundary
of School District No. 2 (including the houses of
Jacob Quackenbush and Abraham B. Truax) to
the Manor line; then down the Manor line to the
east boundary of the farm of Jacob Totten ; from
thence northerly to the house in possession of
Russell Case (including said house); from thence
with a straight course to the Norman's Kill about
twenty rods below the house of Samuel R. Camp
bell; thence up the said kill as it winds and turns
to the place of beginning.
"School District No. 4 begins at the Norman's
Kill about twenty rods below the house of Samuel
R. Campbell, and runs thence down said kill as it
winds and turns to the line of the town of Bethle
hem (including the farm of Silas Horton); from
thence along the Manor line and corporation line
to the northeast boundary of the farm of Jacob
Totten; from thence along the east boundary of
District No. 2 to the place of beginning.
"School District No. 5 begins about twenty
rods below the house of Samuel R. Campbell at
the Norman's Kill, and runs thence down said kill
as it winds and turns to the Bethlehem line; from
thence up said line to the west boundary of the
farm of John Blessing; from thence northerly to
the northwest corner of the farm of John Van

Patten (including the house and lot of Henry
Vine); from thence to the northwest boundary of
the farm of Jonas Smith; from thence along the
east boundary of the farms of John Walker and
Frederick Freydendall to the place of beginning.
"School District No. 6 begins about twenty
rods below the house of Samuel R. Campbell on
the south side of the Norman's Kill, and runs
thence up said kill as it winds and turns to the
bridge at Becker's Mills; from thence up the Black
Creek to the bridge at. the saw-mill near the house
of William W. Munsell (including John Weitzel's
and Philip Fetherly's farms); thence southerly to
the farm of James Henderson (including said Hen
derson and Martin Blessing); from thence to the
farm of John Van Patten (including Peter Relyea);
from thence along School District No. 5 to the
place of beginning.
"School District No. 7 begins at the bridge near
the Widow Apple's, and runs from thence south
erly to the southeast corner of the farm of Martin
Blessing (excluding said Blessing); from thence
westerly with a straight line to the south boundary
line of the farm of John Livingston (including
Jacob Van Aernam's, William Van Aernam 's and
Isaac Hallenbeck's); from thence along the town
line northwesterly to the Bozen Kill; thence down
the said kill to the bridge at Becker's Mills; from
thence on the west side of said kill to the place of
beginning (excepting and excluding John Weitzel
and Philip Fetterly.)
"School District No. 8 begins at the southwest
corner of the farm of John Livingston, and runs
thence along the town line southerly to the town
line of Bethlehem; from thence easterly along
the Bethlehem line to the road near William
Davis'; from thence to the land of James
Henderson (including Peter Van Auken and Cor
nelius Wormer); from thence to the place of be
ginning (including Philip Crounse, the families of
the Fredericks and Frederick Crounse). "
The school districts, as now organized, number
fifteen. The number of children of the school age
in the town is 1,059. From eighteen to twenty-
one teachers are employed. There are seven
school libraries, containing about 700 volumes.
The value of the school property is about $15,000.
The school-houses are kept in good repair, and the
educational advantages of Guilderland compare
more than favorably with these of other similar

towns.

VILLAGES.

SLOAN S.
This pleasant village, in the eastern part of the
town, is known also as Guilderland. This is the
locality of the old glass works referred to elsewhere,
and was first known as "Glass House." In 1796
the ground was laid out in streets and lots, under
the name of Hamilton (so called in honor of
Alexander Hamilton), and it was proposed to

852

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

establish there a manufacturing town. To en
courage this project the owners of the glass works
and their employees were exemp'ed from taxation
for five years under authority of special legislation ;
but the hopes of its founders were doomed to
disappointment, as the works were discontinued
in 1815.
Still, its size and proximity to Albany considered,
this village has at times been quite enterprising and
the seat of considerable business. The Batterman
family have been prominent here. John Batter
man was a resolute, energetic manufacturer and
repairer of carriages, wagons and farming utensils.
Christopher Batterman, calm, considerate and of
great decision of character, engaged in mercantile
business, which he conducted with marked ability.
He was chosen general of the militia and sheriff of
the County of Albany, offices which he filled credit
ably to himself and satisfactorily to his fellow citi
zens. George Batterman was a man of extraor
dinary mental and physical power, gifted with fine
business ability. He kept the hotel (since Sloan's),
often entertaining as many as fifty guests night
after night, and managed two large farms, a flour
ing mill and a satinet factory. In these varied
fields of activity, he was often seen on his horse
before sunrise and riding rapidly from place to
place throughout the day. But having overtaxed
his powers, he received a paralytic stroke and died,
leaving an ample fortune. Henry Sloan, having
married his daughter, came into possession of the
hotel and the lands surrounding it. The old hos
telry was soon afterward destroyed by fire. Mr.
Sloan immediately built the present commodious
road-house known by his name, which he managed
with such success that it came to be known as
" the model hotel for fifty miles around," and to
be patronized by first-class customers. Under his
charge and that of George B. Sloan, it has long
been a favorite resort for pleasure parties from
Albany and elsewhere, and it has not infrequently
been visited by the Governor of the State of New
York and his associates, members of the Legis
lature and distinguished men tarrying for a time in
Albany. The list of the business and professional men of
Sloan's embraces the following names: George
B. Sloan, proprietor of Sloan's hotel; Frank J.
Spur and William J. Capron, merchants; Abram
De Graff, M. D. , a well-known and very success
ful physician and surgeon; John M. Batterman,
proprietor of a flourishing flouring mill; New
bury & Chapmon, proprietors of a foundry and
machine shop; De Graff & Pearl, blacksmiths;

and the pastors of the churches at this place,
histories of which are given elsewhere.
GUILDERLAND CENTER.
Another enterprising village is Guilderland
Center, on Black Creek,' known formerly by the
name of "Bang-all." We are told that it was so
called from the influence of rum, horse racing and
rough manners, once too prevalent there. Under
the reforming influence of Christianity, it has be
come a model village, but by old people it is yet
often referred to as "Bang-all," though the local
ity and its post-office have long been properly
named Guilderland Center. The Athens and
Schenectady Railroad (now a branch of the West
Shore line) has given an impetus to the business of
the place, which now presents a street nearly a
mile long, bordered by fine and comfortable resi
dences and shops and stores, all presenting a thrifty,
well-kept appearance, among which a church and
a school-house are pleasantly conspicuous.
John P. Bloomingdale and other enterprising
residents have done much to advance the growth
and prosperity of this village, which practically in
cludes French's Mills, the seat of Abel French's
early manufacturing enterprise, and contains a
population of at least 450. It has one church and
a good school, and its leading business, manufactur
ing and professional interests are represented
as follows: E. Spawn & Son, proprietors of
French's Mills, and manufacturers of flour and
feed, and proprietors of a woolen factory located at
the point called in honor of the first establishment
named; Mann & Witherwax, dealers in hay, straw
and country produce; John Witherwax, dealer in
coal and iron hay bands; A. V. Mynderse, manu
facturer of and wholesale and retail delear in cider
and vinegar, and dealer in plaster and phosphate;
Michael H. Frederick, manufacturer of cider and
vinegar ; P. Pittinger, general merchant and post
master, and dealer in agricultural implements; Wil
liam D. Frederick, proprietor of the Central Hotel;
J. Delong, blacksmith and carriage ironer; Charles
Sutphin, wagon maker; Eli S. Mann, carriage
painter; George Squire, M. D.; William A.
Young, manufacturer of and dealer in boots and
shoes; Peter N. Martin, proprietor of meat market;
F. Tygert, general merchant; John Robinson,
hotel keeper; George W. Livingstone, harness
maker; Charles Brust, carriage manufacturer;
Erastus Goodfellow, carriage painter; Philip Ogs
bury, carpenter; Hugh Livingston, tailor; A. J.
Tygert, manufacturer of sash, blinds and doors,
and proprietor of planing mill; H. Salisbury,

&gdbyK*-.C Koevoets.tO

J^lQ^iTf (7l^I/^^

THE TOWNSHIP OF GUILDERLAND.

853

manufacturer of spring beds; A. F. Dietz, pro
prietor of bottling establishment; Jacob H. Ogs
bury, Justice of the Peace, and Rev. J. S. Harkey,
pastor of the Lutheran Church.
DUNNSVILLE.
Dunnsville is a post-office and hamlet in the
northern part of the town, containing a population
of about ioo. It was named in honor of Christo
pher Dunn, the original owner of the land there
about. It contains two hotels and two blacksmith
shops. One of the public houses is kept by Samuel
Robinson, the other by J. Jost. The blacksmiths
are J. Jost and Frederick Brust. Near Dunnsville,
lives W. G. Davis, M. D., who has a large
practice. FULLER'S STATION.
This thriving hamlet grew up largely as the re
sult of the personal endeavor of Hon. Aaron
Fuller, in honor of whose father it was named.
It was through his efforts that a station on the
West Shore line was established here, and his ex
tensive business is one of the most prominent local
interests. The place contains a public house and
store, kept by Sandford S. Ford ; the store of S.
Van Allen ; the hay press and produce commission
business of Hon. Aaron Fuller ; the hay press of
Tygert & Martin, dealers in produce, and a pop
ulation of about sixty. In this part of the town is
the State Road Methodist Episcopal Church.
HON. AARON FULLER.
Aaron Fuller was born in Guilderland, August
21, 1832. His father was Hon. John Fuller, who
was universally known as Major John Fuller, on
account of his rank in the old State militia. He
was elected to the Legislature in 1846, and was
for two years supervisor of Guilderland (1846-47),
was a man of influence in the town and county,
and died in February, 1882, aged nearly eighty-
one years. Mr. Fuller's mother was Harriet Moak,
who was born in 1 804, and died in her fifty-ninth
year. Both his parents were natives of New
Scotland. Mr. Fuller received a thorough rudimentary edu
cation in the public schools, and in 1849 entered
the Schoharie Academy, where he was a student
a year and a half. It had been his intention to
prepare for college there, but his health failing,
he was obliged to return to farm life, to which he
had been reared. February 27, 1863, he married
Miss Ada Fitch, of New Scotland, who died seven
months afterward.
Mr. Fuller relinquished farming about fifteen
years since, and engaged in the produce trade at
Fuller's. This station is on a portion of Major
Fuller's old homestead, and it was in his honor

that it was so named, upon the opening of the
West Shore Railroad, the station on the Athens
branch of the New York Central Railroad, and the
post-office, having been called Fuller's Station
for some years before. It has been chiefly through
Mr. Fuller's influence that most of the improve
ments in connection with the railway interests at
Fuller's have been made.
Mr. Fuller was reared in the Democratic faith
politically and has never seen reason to depart
therefrom. In public affairs, both local and na
tional, he has always taken a deep and intelligent
interest. In the spring of 1881, he was elected to
the office of supervisor of Guilderland by a majority
of 1 10, with a political majority against him of about
220, which, more clearly than anything else could
have done, demonstrated his personal popularity
in the town ; and he has been three times re-elect
ed. That this popularity extends much further
than the town limits will become apparent, when
it is stated that Mr. Fuller was, in 1881, elected to
the Legislature by a majority of 200 in his assembly
district, overcoming a Republican electoral majority
of 1,800. For private reasons, he declined a re-
nomination. So satisfactory had been Mr. Fuller's
official career, that in the fall of 1882 he was
urged strongly to stand as the Democratic candi
date for Sheriff of Albany County.
Following in the religious faith of his parents,
Mr. Fuller is a member of the Reformed Church
of Guilderland, with which they and their entire
family were long connected.
GUILDERLAND STATION
Is a hamlet of about 100 population, and is of
comparatively recent growth. The principal busi
ness is carried on by Hallenbeck & Bloomingdale,
dealers in cut hay ; Isaac Reamer, dealer in hay
and straw; F. Van Liew, Jr., general merchant,
and George Lauer, blacksmith.
m'kownsville
Is a settlement in the southern part of the town ; is
so known in honor of the McKown family, who
early settled here, and in successive generations
have figured prominently in town affairs. It con
tains a small hotel and a population of about 50.
Its most widely known resident is Thomas Helme,
M. D., who has passed most of his professional
life here. knowersville.
The largest and most important business center
within the town limits is Knowersville, on the Del
aware and Hudson Canal Company's Railroad.
Here the most striking improvements in the town
have been made, for the village, which has a popu
lation of not less than 600, has sprung up almost
like Jonah's gourd. That part of the place lying
most remote from its center of population was for-

854

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

merly known by the same name, and during late
years has been popularly referred to as " Old Know
ersville," in contradistinction from Knowersville
proper. It was there that the Knower family, long
prominent in this part of the town, settled and
opened the work of improvements, and a factory
was located there as early as 1 800.
On the site of the most considerable portion of
the present village of Knowersville there were no
buildings, in the fall of 1863, except two farm
houses. September 16, that year, the first pas
senger train from Albany to Central Bridge, Scho
harie County, passed this point. That was a day
which will ever be memorable in the history of
Knowersville. In the spring of 1864 a store was
built by Becker & Hilton. It has been occupied
by Albert Ward, from 1865 to 1868; by Crounse &
Hilton, from 1868 to 1878; by Mr. Crounse (who
still owns the building), from 1878 to 1883, and
since April 1, 1883, by Mynderse &Pangbum. A
depot and several residences were built before the
close of the year 1 864, and since that time im
provement has been rapid.
In 1868 another store was built by Ira Witter,
who soon sold it to Joseph W. Wright, who occu
pied it until the spring of 1884, when he leased it
to Abram A. Tygert, its present occupant. A third
store was built five or six years ago, which has
been managed by Mr. Crowe, Davenport & Crowe,
and since the spring of 1885, Davenport & Fred
ericks. About five years ago, Rev. N. Klock built
a store, in which he carried on business about a
year. A tin and stove store was opened by W. H.
Lay, who was succeeded by Osborn & Taber, the
present proprietors. A furniture and undertaker's
store was opened by John Thierolfin 1877. In
the spring of 1885 it passed into the hands of Ogs
bury & Vanderpool.
In 1867 the Union Hotel was built. It was at
first managed by George Seversen, who in about
six months gave place to Andrew Warner, who
was in charge one year. In 1869 he was succeeded
by John Stafford, the present proprietor.
The Knowersville House was built in 1876 by
Jam'es Ogsbury, who occupied it but a short time.
It was purchased by Adam Wetherwax, the pres
ent owner. The German House, a saloon, was
opened in 1873. It is now owned by Christian
Hartman, who leases it to M. Van Auken.
In 1874 Henry Lockwood built a carriage fac
tory, which was occupied by Van Benscoten
Brothers from 1874 to 1880, and since then has
been operated by Van Benscoten & Warner. James
Ostrander, manufacturer of and dealer in shoes,

has been in business three years. In 1870 William
H. Van Benscoten established a harness shop,
which for several years past has been under con
trol of Frank Decker. Nathaniel Sturges, jeweler,
has been in business about ten years. Hiram Fre-
dendall's bakery was established in 1879. A saw
and planing mill was established a few years ago
by Philley, Elsass & Warner. They were suc
ceeded by Elsass & Philley, and they by Sands &
Son, who have put in a grist-mill with three runs
of stones, and are doing a good business in their
line. Snyder & Prout have for some years been
manufacturing and dealing in wagons and car
riages. Van Aernam & Steiner, painters, began
business in 1874.
The following firms and individuals are engaged
in the hay trade: Roman & Co., of Albany, James
Campbell, agent; Fairlee & Elsass; Isaac Reamer,
representing New York capital, and James Finch,
with a similar connection. Sylvester Sands, New
ton Ketcham, Frederick Mynderse and Frederick
Keenholtz are grain buyers, some of them also
handling buckwheat flour and other produce.
Smith Philley, station agent, deals quite extensively
in plaster, lime, cement, oil and flour. Other
business and mechanical interests are represented
by Rev. A. P. Ludden, fruit grower; Ira Fairlee,
liveryman, and Friday & Sharp, blacksmiths.
Hon. Hiram Griggs, attorney, has been a resi
dent of Knowersville since 1862, and has exerted
an influence by no means slight upon the growth
and prosperity of the place. Atchison Mitchell,
Esq. , another successful lawyer, has been practic
ing his profession in the village about four years.
Drs. Frederick and Jesse Crounse and Rufus T.
Barton are resident practitioners.
About 1877 Rev. N. Klock began the publica
tion of a local newspaper named the Golden Era,
which he issued at Knowersville for five years, when
he removed it to Mechanicsville. The Knowers
ville Enterprise, a seven-column paper, well edited,
extensively circulated and of considerable local in
fluence, was established by David H. Crowe in the
summer of 1884.
Local trains making four trips between Know
ersville and Albany were put on by the Delaware
and Hudson Canal Company in December, 1878.
In March, 1879, the number of trips was reduced
to three, as it was found that this arrangement
would amply provide for local travel, in connec
tion with an increasing number of through trains,
all of which stop at Knowersville. The village is
admirably provided with freight, telegraphic and
express facilities, and has stage connection with

THE TOWNSHIP OF GUILDERLAND.

855

Knox, Berne and West Berne and Thompson's
Lake, and East Berne.
Unlike most villages of its size and importance,
Knowersville has only one church. Here people
of varying theological and sectarian beliefs meet
with the Lutheran congregation, joining in their
worship and contributing to the support of their
organization with a unanimity as commendable as
it is remarkable. Its local educational advan
tages are surpassed by those of few other villages
of its size, a graded school being maintained, in
which a high standard of instruction is offered.
Three teachers are employed, and there is an aver
age attendance of 112. An elegant and commo
dious school-house was built about ten years ago,
at a cost of about $5,000. Knowersville has a
flourishing library association, and several secret,
social and beneficent organizations, of which many
of its leading citizens are members.
This village possesses ample evidence of the
thrift of its inhabitants. It is a village of pleasant
and attractive homes, in which are few signs of
poverty. The spirit of enterprise is dominant, and
its business men are progressive and fully abreast
with the times. It is recognized as an important
railway point, and its growth seems not yet to have
been attained.
MANUFACTURES.
Guilderland has never been a distinctively man
ufacturing town. Few manufactories of more than
local importance have ever been established within
its borders. Most of the manufacturing enterprises
established or attempted to be established have al
ready been incidentally mentioned. The first nota
ble manufactory, and in most ways the most im
portant, ever established in the town, was the
' ' glass house, " at the place afterward called Ham
ilton and now familiarly known as Sloan's. This
was first in operation in 1792. " Spafford's Gazet
teer," published in 18 13, says : "Guilderland con
tains a factory where are made 500,000 feet of win
dow glass annually." This once flourishing busi
ness was discontinued in 1815 on account of the
scarcity of fuel.
Clothing works were erected at French's Mills in
1795 by Peter B. Broeck. Abel French estab
lished another factory there in 1800, and a third
was in operation at Knowersville about the same
time. In 1813 there were 100 looms in families,
which made annually about 25,000 yards of cloth
for common clothing. Most of these disappeared
long since, upon the introduction of cloths made
in the large factories of our great manufacturing

centers. At Sloan's the Battermans early estab
lished a woolen factory, which, during several suc
cessive proprietorships, has been converted into a
hat factory, a cotton batting factory and a foundry.
As a foundry it was first owned by William Fonda.
The present owners are Newbury & Chapman, who
make a specialty of the manufacture of piping
plugs. Mention has been made of grist and flour-
ing-mills at different points within the town bound
aries. Veeder's and Becker's mills were much re
sorted to by the resident farmers early in the
present century. Saw-mills were few indeed, on
account of the scarcity of timber. The large
woolen factory at Guilderland Center, now the
property of E. Spawn & Son, was formerly owned
by Reed & Co. The cider and vinegar manufac
tories of A. V. Mynderse and Michael H. Freder
ick, in the same neighborhood, are worthy of note
in this connection ; so, also, are the saw-mill,
planing-mill and grist-mill of Sands & Sons ; the
carriage factory of Van Ben Scoten & Warner ; the
wagon manufactory of Snyder & Prout — all at
Knowersville — and the spring-bed manufactory and
bottling establishment of A. F. Deitz, at Guilder-
land Center. THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
Dr. James S. Lowe came to Guilderland
from Saratoga in 1820, and died in 1847. Dr.
Frederick Crounse has practiced his profession in
the town since 1833. Dr. W. G. Davis is also an
old practitioner. Dr. Jonathan Johnson, from
Dana, Massachusetts, practiced in the town until
his death in 1861. Dr. Wands, from New Scot
land, practiced here about eight years, and removed
to Cohoes. He died about fourteen years ago.
Dr. Andrew Wilson came when a young man from
Kinderhook, Columbia County, and practiced in
Guilderland some twenty-four years. Removing
to Albany, he died there about 1877. Dr. Barrows
bought his residence (at Sloan's) and his ride in
this town, and upon leaving sold them in turn to
Dr. Abram De Graff, who has since enjoyed a
lucrative practice. Dr. Thomas Helme, of Mc-.
Kownsville, has passed most of his life in this
town, and is widely respected and employed. Dr.
William Zea, a native of Gallupville, Schoharie
County, located at Guilderland Center, and after
twelve years' practice there died of consumption.
Dr. Jesse Crounse received his diploma at Albany
Medical College in 1877, and is located at Know
ersville. Dr. R. F. Barton graduated at Ann
Arbor, Michigan, and after a few years' practice at
his native place (Portland, Vermont), came to

856

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Knowersville some years since. Dr. Andrew C.
Crounse received his diploma early in the present
year. CHURCH HISTORY OF GUILDERLAND.
THE LUTHERAN CHURCHES.
The Dutch colonists at Albany soon extended
their settlements into the surrounding country, and
ministers of religion followed and labored for many
years among the scattered settlements, preaching
in private houses and barns, gathering the scattered
members of the Lutheran faith together, and thus
laid the foundation for future organization.
We learn that the churches of Guilderland were
thus served by these godly pioneers. One or two
are worthy of notice. The first that came to this
town was Rev. Peter N. Sommers, in 1743. This
will appear from his diary. Thus:
' ' In the name of the Holy Trinity. I, Peter
Nicholas Sommers, from the City of Hamburgh,
authorized as Evangelical Lutheran preacher by
the Consistory of Trinitatus at London, and or
dained By the Rev. Johann George Palm, started
from Hamburgh, and under God's almighty protec
tion arrived at London on the 25th day of October,
1742. On the 27th started for Albany, where I re
mained till the 25th of May. The Lord our God
be with me, that the great end of my arduous office
may be accomplished, that the name of the Lord
may be glorified. Amen. "
We learn from the same record that his field of
labor was wide, as he preached to the Lutheran
people in Claverack, Hoosick, Stone-Arabia, Little
Falls, Canajoharie, Schoharie, Helderberg and
Albany. He spent his life in this field, and was
universally beloved. He located at Schoharie, and
after more than fifty years of laborious and efficient
service died at Sharon in 1795, aged eighty-five
years, and was interred near the Old Fort Church
at Schoharie.
Though he preached occasionally in Guilderland
and performed ministerial services among the
families of the Lutheran faith, no regular organiza
tion was effected till the 13th of October, 1787,
when the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church
was duly organized, with Rev. Heinrich Moeller as
the first regular pastor.
The first communion service was observed,
August 11, 1788, when fifty-eight communicants
were present. Rev. Mr. Moeller came from Ham
burg, Germany, and studied theology with Rev. Dr.
Muhlenbergh, of Philadelphia. He served as chap
lain in the Revolutionary war, after which he
served several congregations. At one time he was

pastor of the Lutheran Church in Albany, and the
first Lutheran house of worship in that city was
erected under his ministry. He was reputed as a
noble example of a pure, devoted minister. He
served the church at Guilderland six years, and
died at the age of eighty years. He was succeeded
by Rev. Mr. Mayers, who served the church but a
short term. His successor was Rev. L. Merket,
who ministered to the church a number of years,
baptizing and instructing the children, and con
firming them at a certain age as members in full
communion, as was the practice in those days.
In the year 1828 this church called to the pastor
ate Rev. Adam Crounse, then a young man of
good talents and acquirements, of unblemished
moral character, and unquestioned fidelity to his
faith, a firm believer in all the great doctrines of
the cross, especially in the great cardinal doctrine
of justification by faith. Standing on this funda
mental truth, he manifested the spirit and firmness
of the great reformer when he said, "Here I stand."
And one might as well attempt to overturn the
Helderbergs as to swerve him from the pillar and
ground of his faith. And his was not a dead faith.
He preached as a condition of justification repent
ance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ, and faith which works by love as the only
evidence of regeneration.
Though he adopted the Augsberg confession
and was an influential member of the Hardwick
Synod, yet he took a new departure from the old
practice of confirming without an experimental
knowledge of Christ.
With a yearning passion for saving souls, he en
tered upon his mission here. From this date the
congregation has been carried onward and upward
in an unparalleled degree in spiritual and temporal
prosperity. Indeed, what else might be expected from the
service of such a man with the blessing of God in
a large field of more than 200 families through a
space of 35 years ? The answer is — just what now
exists — one of the largest and strongest churches
within the Hardwick Synod.
At his first communion he records the names of
47, and adds these words :
"May God of his infinite mercy grant that the
above recorded souls may not only hold fellowship
here, but eventually meet around the throne of
God, and there unite in singing the song of the
Lamb, is the sincere prayer of their servant for
Christ's sake, Adam Crounse."
Previous to this time, so far as we can learn, the
congregation had never witnessed any special

THE TOWNSHIP OF GUILDERLAND.

857

season o£ grace. But under the ministration of
such a pastor a great change was to come. The
year 1832 was one of general revival influence
throughout the land. In many places Pentacostal
seasons of grace were witnessed. A young man
came to the Glass House, a village in the east
ern part of the town, and was invited to preach in
the Union School House. At the close of the ser
vice he was urged to stay and preach another
Sabbath. During the week it became evident that
several were deeply impressed by that first discourse.
Soon a most striking work of grace commenced.
It extended to the Helderberg. Many from the
families of the Reformed and the Lutheran Churches
came to the meeting and returned to tell what God
had done for them.
The increasing interest caused the Reformed
Church to open their house for special religious
services, which were greatly blessed.
Dominie Crounse came, and for a time sat in
silence, and he saw the grace of God and was glad;
he drank in the spirit and joined in earnest prayer,
and went home and resolved to have revival ser
vice in his own church.
As a result, he records at his next communion,
1 00 having joined the church on that occasion.
From this date we could record frequent outpour
ing of the Spirit on this community. During
thirty-five years Dominie Crounse sowed the good
seed of the kingdom with an unsparing hand, and
laid the foundation for great prosperity, making it
a joyful service for his successors to reap the golden
harvest. Here he lived and labored till called up
higher. We read from the minutes of the Hard
wick Synod :
"Our venerable and beloved brother, Rev. A.
Crounse, was permitted to leave the land of the
dying and enter the land of the living on the 13th
of May last, 1864. For more than a year he
seemed to dwell on Pisgah's summit, with the
heavenly land and the celestial city in full view."
Rev. J. W. Lake succeeded Mr. Crounse and
served the church acceptably for four years,
when, in 1869, Rev. David Swope was called as
pastor and served the church until April, 1875.
In 1871 the church enjoyed another revival of
religion, which resulted in ninety additions to the
membership. It was now evident to all the congregation that
the old church must be extensively repaired or a
new one built. The church and parsonage stood
in the country, midway between Guilderland
Center and Knowersville, about two miles from
each. Neither of these villages, situated upon two

railroads, had a church of any denomination.
Several meetings were held and various proposi
tions discussed — whether the old church should be
repaired or torn down and a new one erected in
its place; or whether the old site should be
abandoned and two new churches built, one in
each village. Other denominations were awake to
the importance of occupying the villages.
The Methodists had purchased a lot in Knowers
ville and were preparing to build a church. At
length, after much discussion, St. John's wisely
voted, by a large majority, to abandon the old site
and build a new church in each village. At the
same session, Mr. John Mann gave a spacious lot
for the church in Guilderland Center, and Mr.
Conrad Crounse one large enough for a church
and a parsonage at Knowersville. A few were
dissatisfied, but by judicious management serious
trouble was avoided. Two beautiful churches,
costing in the aggregate over $20,000, were built
simultaneously. The one at the Center was con
secrated, February 21, 1872, and the one at
Knowersville on the 14th of March following.
Funds sufficient to pay all indebtedness incurred
in erecting both these churches were subscribed at
the consecration. The congregation agreed to re
main as a unit for five years, though worshiping
in two places. They have since peacefully divided,
the Knowersville church taking the name of St.
James', and the Guilderland church adopting that
of St. Mark's. The Methodists, seeing the ground
so satisfactorily occupied at Knowersville, sold
their lots and wisely abandoned all thought of
building a house of worship there.
These churches were erected under the ministry
of Rev. Mr. Swope, and the covenant, agreement
and conditions judiciously carried out under the
efficient ministry of Rev. A. P. Ludden, whose
praise is in all the churches of his denomination as
a most successful pastor.
He was the successor of Rev. Mr. Swope, and,
after serving these churches over five years, he had
the happiness of introducing to the communion
of saints 121 at Guilderland Center and 173 at
Knowersville. He has since retired from the pas
torate, and devotes himself now to revival efforts
among the churches. Both of these churches are
in a prosperous state and self-sustaining. The
Rev. Mr. Heck recently has been called to Know
ersville. The sister church is under the pastoral
care of Rev. J. S. Harkey. Each sustains a large
and flourishing Sabbath school. We doubt whether
there is a town within the bounds of the denomi
nation where the salt of grace and divine truth

858

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

has produced a more saving effect, or inspired
with more spiritual energy, or can produce such
an array of carriages coming in procession from
every way and making haste to the house of God
on the Sabbath morning, as may be witnessed in
Guilderland. THE REFORMED CHURCH.
There is no record of this church back of the
pastorate of the Rev. Thomas Van Heusen, who
was called here in 1795, and remained pastor
thirty years. Twenty- five years ago "Father"
Hilson, then ninety years of age, stated that the
first minister here was a man by the name of Schu-
naman, stationed at Katskill, who came and
preached in the barns and administered the sacra
ments ; that on one occasion he found it difficult
to gain their attention, as the people on Saturday
had been to one of those old-fashioned horse-races
which were frequent in those times, when he ex
claimed: "I wish you could see yourselves sliding
right into hell, " when all roused up with surprise.
He added : ' ' not that I want you to go there, but
see your danger and flee from it. "
At another time, during the Revolutionary war,
he tried to rouse the people to a sense of their duty
to their country. He told them it was high time
to rise and shake off the foreign yoke; that sub
mission to England was no virtue; that rebellion
was no crime. But he was told, during the week,
that it was folly to think of overcoming Great
Britain, and, failing, England would confiscate all
their property. On the next Sabbath he brought
the subject before them again and said: "You say
you are afraid you will lose your property ! Prop
erty? you ought to be willing to lose your lives in
the sacred cause of liberty 1" Here the old man
rose, and, bending under the weight of ninety
years, in voice and gesture used his ministerial
authority to enforce his sentiments. But the
Tories, he said, considered him a troubler in
Israel, and on that evening, as he was taking tea
at a dwelling under the Helderberg, near the
" Indian Ladder," they fired bullets into the house.
But the dominie took a light, and, in spite of
the resistance of the women, who said the assailing
party would kill him, rushed out, and he said they
ran like cowards. It is cause for congratulation to
all her citizens that such a Christian patriot min
istered in Guilderland. Let his name go down to
posterity and be cherished by every generation
here. But Dominie Van Heusen was the first pastor.
By his instructions and baptisms he drew together

and laid a good foundation for the church in com
ing years. He was a kind of second John the
Baptist. He baptized all the children that were
brought to him. Abraham Van Derpool, who
was a worthy elder, and has just passed away,
aged nearly one hundred years, stated that it was
the practice of the dominie to visit the families be
fore communion and instruct the youth, telling
them that their parents took on themselves the cov
enant vows for the children in infancy, but now it
was their duty to assume them; gave them some
catechism to learn, and then received them into the
church. So far as can be learned, they had never
witnessed any special season of grace. Still good
christians grew up here, on whom grace had dis
tilled like the morning dew. After a noble service
of thirty years he withdrew from the pastorate and
soon after died, and was interred in the cemetery
at New Scotland. Rev. Dr. Hardenburgh was
next called, who, after a few months, was called to
the city of New York. He was succeeded by
Rev. Robert Blair, who, on account of impaired
health, soon removed to New Jersey, but he left
the footprints of a godly man, beloved by all the
congregation. After him, they extended a call to
Rev. Nanning Bogardus, a man of a robust con
stitution, with a lion-like voice, but it was soon
discovered that he was not the man for the place,
and he was dismissed.
They next called Rev. Thomas Frazer, who did
good service for a short time; but, on account of
some difference of opinion as to renting the seats,
in which he took part, he impaired his influence,
and, having a call to another charge, was dismissed.
The next pastor was Rev. William Bailey, a young
man who did good service, especially among the
youth, in gathering them into the Sabbath school;
but, after a short time, having a call to Schodack,
he asked for a dismission, which was granted.
Rev. J. B. Steele was next called. He was a
man of good talents and acquirements, a sound
and instructive preacher, but confined himself very
much to his home and his study. He was a lover
of books and knowledge. Inspired somewhat with
a spirit of poetry, he at length brought forth a very
respectable volume of poems. But he never gained
a warm affection from the people. He served them
well for some six years, and then retired by mutual
consent. He is still living — the oldest pastor in
the Reformed Church.
In 1848 this church extended a unanimous call
to Rev. Wm. P. Davis, with whom they were well
acquainted, who came to the town in 1832 and
commenced his service at the Glass House, a

THE TOWNSHIP OF GUILDERLAND.

859

village some four miles away, where his labors were
greatly blessed, extending to the suburbs of Albany.
He had often assisted in revival service in this con
gregation ; and as early as 1834 had been offered
a call to this church, which he declined ; but he
accepted the latter call, and was installed as pastor
in 1848 ; and it maybe interesting to quote a para
graph from his semi-centennial discourse, delivered
in 1882 :
"At the time I was installed over this beloved
people, I felt that God had let me fall just in the
niche I was ordained to fill. I have ever been dis
posed to count it among the happiest circumstances
of my life that my lot was cast here. I found a
people kind, frank and friendly, who cast the
mantle of charity over my many imperfections, and
by whose cordial co-operation God has made use
of the weakness of man to set off the luster of His
sovereign grace. Before I proceed to a rehearsal
of the grace of God here, I will say that abundant
is the occasion I have in reviewing what God has
done here — where I have reaped the first fruits of
my labors ; where I have beheld the rich displays
of converting grace, the remembrance of which
will be fondly cherished to my dying day, and I
trust will be revived again in brighter realms, and
recounted in celestial songs — that all success has
been of God. Let human instrumentalities be
forgotten, while the remembrance of what God has
done be cherished to the glory of His grace.
To illustrate the work of grace here, I may state
that as early as September, 1832, I was called to
perform service here, and have preached more or
less for fifty years within your bounds ; was invited
to assist in some of the first revival efforts in this
place, and well remember the first service in the
old red church, a structure of from 50 to 60 feet
square. It was well filled ; never saw so many old
men together. Some covered their bald heads
with bandana handkerchiefs. But as I came down
from the high goblet-shaped pulpit, O, what a
greeting I received ! I could see by the expression
of their eyes and the transparency of their looks
that it meant goodness of heart, open frankness,
genuine hospitality, and these I have ever found to
be the characteristics of Dutchmen. But the spirit
of God was poured out, and many were examined
to unite with the church. One woman rose and
told her experience, revealing the wonderful grace
of God."Long before I became pastor I witnessed
several special seasons of grace. But as pastor I
was received with open arms. They gave me the
most cordial co-operation in everything pertaining
to the prosperity of this church ; they came forward
with willing hearts and liberal hands ; they adopted
as a rule : Owe no man any thing ; hence the
funds were subscribed before work began."
In 1834 the old red church gave place to a com
modious house of worship, which answered well
their purpose for thirty-four years, when it was

necessary, to meet the wants of this large and in
creasing congregation, to build again. For this
purpose ten subscribed $200 each, viz. : John
Bloomingdale, Adam Bloomingdale, William Rel
yea, Jacob N. Hallenbeck, James Fryer, Alexan
der Fryer, Abram Van Auken, Myndert La Grange,
William P. Davis. Twenty- three signed $100
each, and so on till about $8,000 was raised, and
the year 1867 witnessed the erection of a beautiful
and substantial structure, with circular gallery and
commodious audience room, 50 by 80 feet, with
the most comfortable model seats, handsomely
furnished, ceilings frescoed and ornamented —
nothing gaudy, but all presenting a uniform and
fine view; capable of seating seven hundred ; with
suitable spire and fine-toned bell of 2,060 pounds.
It was erected under the ministry of the Rev. Wm.
P. Davis, who drew the plan and specifications,
and was chairman of the building committee.
Completed at an expense of not less than $9,000,
without debt.
In 1856 the parsonage, standing on the south
part of the parsonage farm of fifty acres, conveyed
to this church by the late Patroon, was remodeled
and enlarged, at an expense of $1,600; previous
to which, a line of sheds 600 feet long, the best to
be found in Albany County, was built, with
ample grounds, all inclosed with a fine banister
fence standing on rock ; all of which bespeaks the
liberality and piety of a good people in the best of
causes. We again quote from the semi-centennial
sermon :
"As to the spiritual prosperity of this church,
there are many still living who can bear testimony
that they have witnessed the grace of God, not
only as the morning dew, but in refreshing showers
from on high, and that revival has followed revival
for more than twenty years. In 1858 we enjoyed
a Pentacostal season. Such was the prayerful de
sire that we could stand still and see the salvation
of God."The result was an addition of 100 on the first
Sabbath in May ; and three years after 65 were
added to the church."
We cannot go farther into detail, but will state
one or two things which contributed to this result.
One was the organization of a ladies' sewing soci
ety, which extended through the whole congrega
tion, and brought into social intercourse the whole
parish, without respect of persons. They had a
good entertainment, and closed with prayer. This
was kept up for eight months. Then the ladies'
fair, in a spacious tent, which cleared $450, pur
chased a fine-toned bell, which became the loudest
preacher to call all to the house of God. This

860

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

not only produced harmony of views, but in bring
ing all the people into social intercourse with the
pastor, and as all had taken part in the enterprise,
it created a united interest and produced a wonder
ful revolution in church-going to the present time.
This is witnessed by a stranger with surprise, to
see some three hundred carriages coming from dif
ferent directions to the churches on the Sabbath
morning. Another is the interest resulting from
the Sabbath school. Fifty years ago there was no
Sabbath school in this vicinity. Revival influence
led to the organization of many, and so conducted
as to become the nursery of the church. By judi
cious instruction the youth have been kept within
the bounds of the church, and so efficient has been
the application of truth as to lead many of them to
Christ. Sabbath school concerts originated in Guil
derland, which excited an interest throughout
all this community. When, at length, the
county convention met here, Dr. Lawyers and
other eloquent speakers said they had come to stir
us up, but they were stirred up themselves by the
interest manifested and asked how it had been
produced. They were answered that it was the result
of our Sunday school concerts. They said they
would record this as the banner town of the
county, and from their recommendation this local
practice obtained in other towns and counties. But
the moving power of all we attribute to the prayer
ful co-operation of all, and more especially to the
devoted efforts and prayers of a band of godly
mothers in Israel.
After witnessing the blessing of God on this
church for more than twenty years, in the comple
tion of the edifice and the enlargement of the con
gregation, Alexander Fryer and wife, who had been
awaiting the dedication of the church with deep in
terest, died nearly at the same time, and were brought
to the church, and this funeral service was the first
performed in the building. And there, too, the
church and congregation were dedicated to the ser
vice of the Triune God in the presence of the
dead. Soon after this Rev. Wm. P. Davis, having a call
to Rotterdam, accepted, and was dismissed in
1869. Rev. S. L. Gamble became his successor, and
during his pastorate of fourteen years the church
has been greatly blessed; revival has followed
revival ; large numbers have been added to the
church; and it now reports two hundred and fifty-
one families and five hundred and thirty-four com
municants.

HAMILTON UNION CHURCH OF GUILDERLAND.
This church, of the Presbyterian faith, was
organized, March 25, 1824, by a committee of the
Presbytery of Albany, Rev. Mr. Weed, of Albany,
acting as moderator. The original members
numbered seventeen. In the fall of 1825 the
membership had increased to thirty-seven.
October 19, that year, Rev. Judson Buck, the first
pastor, was installed. His successors have been
as follows: Rev. William P. Davis, who was install
ed December 1, 1835; Rev. Mr. Cooney; Rev.
B. H. Pitman, of Albany, who entered upon his
pastoral duties in 1847; Rev- J- Clancy, who came
in 1852; Rev. W. Frothingham, who was installed
in January, 1856; Rev. W. W. Page, who assumed
charge in June, 1862; Rev. J. B. Adams, who was
installed June 1, 1865; Rev. D. Vermilye, who
came in 1869; Rev. W. P. Davis, who entered upon
a second pastorate in May, 1873; Rev. J. O. Van
Fleet, who came in February, 1880; and the pres
ent pastor, Rev. Dr. Webster Belden, who has
served since November, 1881.
The membership of this church is about one
hundred. Its house of worship was dedicated
January 30, 1834.
GUILDERLAND METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Methodist preaching has been conducted in this
town during nearly the whole of this century. At
first it was in private houses; then for a long time
service was held in the school-house of the Chese-
bro District, near Fuller's Station. About 1852
a great revival occurred, and the people began to
cast about for a more permanent place of worship.
Guilderland village, familiarly known as the
Glass House, was settled upon as the appro
priate place. Land for a church building was
there donated by Geo. C. Batterman, and a
church edifice, costing about $2,000, was erected
and dedicated in the autumn of 1852.
On April 18, 1853, a regular church organiza
tion was effected, and the church incorporated, with
the following as trustees: Henry Spawn, John
Arnold, Giles Reagles, Isaac Pearl, Robert D.
Carhart, Elijah Chesebro, Wm. Powel, Williams
Chesebro and M. Y. Cheesebrough.
In May, 1854, the present parsonage property
was purchased for about $900.
In 1866, during the pastorate 0/ the Rev. E. E.
Taylor, the church was raised and a basement
for chapel purposes placed under it, a gallery
was built across the end and several other altera
tions made, the whole improvement costing about
$3,000.

THE TOWNSHIP OF GUILDERLAND.

861

Again, in 1884, under the labors of Rev. E. C.
Hoyt, the church was repaired inside and outside,
at a cost of $600.
Since the erection of the present church edifice
the following pastors have officiated at its altar:
Revs. Alvin Robbins, Bishop Isbell, A. Osborn,
J. F. Craig, Andrew Heath, Andrew Garvin, E. E.
Taylor, J. Leonard, B. F. Livingston, W. J.
Sands, J. B. Wood, Jarvis Devol, J. S. Bridgford,
George W. Easton, John Lemley, C. V. Grismer,
Myron White and E. C. Hoyt.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF M'KOWNSVILLE.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of McKouns-
ville is situated about one mile west of the Albany
City line, on the western turnpike. It was the out
growth of Sunday school services held in a neigh
boring school-house, in which there was also occa
sional preaching.
The church edifice was built in 1866, an acre of
ground for the purpose having been given by Mr.
John McKown. The original cost of the structure

was about $2,800. During 1884, the church was
repaired and improved, at an expense of about
$250. This organization has been connected with the
church at Guilderland in one pastoral charge, and
has had the following pastors: Revs. E. E. Taylor,
J. Leonard, B. F. Livingston, W. J. Sands, J. B.
Wood, J. Devol, J. S. Bridgford, George W.
Easten, John Lemley, C. V. Grismer, Myron
White, E. C. Hoyt. It has a membership of fifty
and an average attendance of about 1 50.
THE STATE ROAD METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The State Road Methodist Church was organized
in 1864, by Rev. E. E. Taylor, with thirty mem
bers. A house of worship was erected in 1865, at
a cost of nearly $4,000, largely through the gene
rosity of a Mr. Parker, who was residing tem
porarily in the neighborhood of Fuller's Station.
The first pastor was Rev. John N. Short. The
present pastor is Rev. William O. Tower, who
lives at Schenectady.

862.

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

HON. HIRAM GRIGGS.
The first of the family of Griggses, of which Hon.
Hiram Griggs, of Knowersville, is a representative,
who came to America, was John Griggs, a Scotch
man. The peculiar circumstances of his emi
gration are traditional in the family. Drafted into
the British service during the war of the Revolution,
he made his escape from an English man-of-war
when off the coast of Connecticut, in Long Island
Sound, and swam ashore. In time he seems to
have made his way to Massachusetts, where he
married Mary Skeels. Removing not long after
ward to New York State, he settled in Old
Schoharie (now Esperance), Schoharie County.
He had six children, of whom the fourth in order
of nativity was John P. Griggs, father of Hiram
Griggs, who was born in Esperance in 1797, and
died in Guilderland in 1869. His wife, Margaret
Vervaline, a native of Dutchess County, survives him,
aged eighty-three. John P. Griggs had five children,
four sons and a daughter, of whom Hiram Griggs
was the fourth, born in Esperance, March 18, 1836.
Mr. Griggs received his early education in com
mon schools. Later he attended the Schoharie
Academy, at Schoharie, N. Y., until the fall of
1856. During a few years thereafter he assisted
his father, who was the proprietor of the Schoharie
mills, in his business, and taught school several

terms. In the spring of i860 he entered the law
office of Hobart Krum, of Schoharie, and was a
student there until September 30, 1862. On
the 8 th day of May, 1861, he was admitted to
practice in the Supreme Court of the State of New
York, and on the 8th day of July, 1867, he was
admitted to practice in the District Court of the
United States for the Northern District of New
York. September 30, 1862, he opened a law
office in Knowersville, where he has since resided,
and been continuously engaged in the practice of
his profession.
In 1867 Mr. Griggs was elected Supervisor of
the town of Guilderland, and was re-elected each
succeeding year until 1877, and was President of
the Board in 1873 and 1874. In the fall of 1871
he was the candidate of his party for the office of
Surrogate of Albany County, but was defeated by
Peter A. Rogers (Democrat) by a very small majority.
In 1877 he was elected to represent his district in
the State Legislature, and he was re-elected for two
succeeding terms. During this period he served
on many important committees, including the
Committee of Ways and Means, the Committee on
General Laws, the Committee on Commerce and
Navigation, and the Sub-Committee of the Whole.
Mr. Griggs cast his first vote in 1857 in favor of
Republican ^principles, and has been a stanch Re
publican ever since,

THE TOWNSHIP OF GUILDERLAND.

863

(^^ M

(HAj-LJ-y

On the nth day of September, 1872, Mr.
Griggs married Helen C. Wright, of Knowersville,
a daughter of Joseph W. Wright, who for many
years was a leading merchant and business man of
that village. PETER SHAVER.
The late Peter Shaver was born in New Scotland
(then Bethlehem), Albany County, July 19, 1795,
a son of Henry and Alida (Bradt) Shaver. His
father was a native of Rhinebeck, Dutchess County,
N. Y., and, when Peter was eight years old, re
moved to Guilderland with his family.
Peter Shaver was reared on his father's farm. His
educational advantages were limited to common
schools, reading and study at home, and he never
attended school after he was fourteen years old.
He was yet quite young at the outbreak of the war
of 181 2-14, but he saw active service in that
struggle, and was one of the few remaining pen

sioners of that war living. In 1838 he bought
his farm near Dunnsville. He became promi
nent in local affairs, and was chosen Supervisor
of Guilderland, in which capacity he served
four years, declining a re-election, and his
ability for public service of a much higher order
was recognized by his choice to a membership of
the Constitutional Convention of 1846 to revise
the Constitution of the State of New York. Polit
ically, he was long a Whig and afterward a Repub
lican. He was married in 181 7 to Catharine
Banker Waldron, daughter of Hon. Cornelius H.
Waldron. They had a son, Henry P. Shaver, and
a daughter, Hester Shaver. Mr. Shaver was a
member, and for some time treasurer, of the Re
formed Dutch Church of Guilderland.
His recent death was widely and deeply re
gretted, for it removed one of the best known
connecting links between the earlier and later
history of the town.

SC4

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

HENRY P. CROUNSE.

HENRY P. CROUNSE.
The first of the family of Crounse in America
was Frederick Crounse, from Wurtemberg, Ger
many. The family descended from a Polish noble
man named Krounsky, who had fled from Poland
and found refuge in Germany. The pioneer lo
cated on a tract of land embracing the present
farm of Henry P. Crounse, and died on the place
in 1777. At the time he came to Guilderland his
son Frederick (2d) was seven years old. Freder
ick (2d), who was the grandfather of Peter Crounse,
died in 1828. John Crounse, son of Frederick
(2d) and father of Peter Crounse, was born on the
farm above mentioned in 1770, and died there,
March 2, 1854. Frederick Crounse (2d) was
very patriotic during the Revolutionary struggle,
and contributed liberally toward the support of the
American cause.
John Crounse married Elizabeth Livingston.
Their son, Peter, was born in Guilderland, Janu
ary 6, 1798. He was brought up a farmer boy,
and attended the public schools of his town. He
has been a life-long farmer, though for a time he
was the proprietor and operator of a small tan

nery, which was located on the Crounse home
stead. In 1 82 1 he married Miss Margaret Smith,
a native of Rhinebeck, N. Y., who died in 1879,
at the age of seventy-seven. They had nine chil
dren, seven of whom are living. The eldest,
Henry P. Crounse, owns and resides on the old
Crounse homestead. Mr. Crounse was a Whig,
politically, until he united with the Republican
party, early in its history. Always interested in
public affairs, yet he was not an active politician,
and, though often solicited to do so, always reso
lutely refused to accept any office. For genera
tions the family has been connected with the
Lutheran Church, and in his advanced years Mr.
Crounse finds much consolation in the con
nection. Henry P. Crounse was born in Guilderland in
1822, and has been a life-long resident on the old
Crounse homestead. In i860 he married Miss
Susan Crounse, daughter of Conrad Crounse, of
Guilderland, who has borne him five sons and
three daughters. One of the sons died in in
fancy. Mr. Crounse is a Republican, and his
family are members of the Lutheran Church of
Knowersville.

THE TOWNSHIP OF GUILDERLAND.

865

FREDERICK CROUNSE, M. D.

FREDERICK CROUNSE, M. D.
Frederick Crounse was born in the town of
Sharon, Schoharie County, New York, February
3, 1807, the eldest son of Jacob and Harriet
Crounse. His parents were both of German de
scent. His father was born in Guilderland, Albany
County, March 8, 1783. He became a farmer,
and at the age of twenty-four years located upon a
farm in Sharon, Schoharie County. Dr. Crounse's
grandparents emigrated to this country from
Wurtemberg, Germany, and became successful and
well-to-do farmers and true patriots in the home
of their adoption. Frederick was reared under the
careful supervision of his father, and, in early
years exhibiting an aptitude for books, was given
the benefit of the best instruction to be obtained in
the common schools, which he improved to the
best of his ability. He was then placed under the
private tutorship of the Rev. Adam Crounse, a
minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and
a fine classical scholar, with whom he remained
two years and a half, giving his attention more
particularly to the study of the languages. After
completing this course, he entered the office of Dr.

John C. Miller, at Sharon, New York, with whom
he pursued the study of medicine a year and a
half. He then entered the office of Dr. Delos
White, of Cherry Valley, New York, with whom he
studied during the summer months and attended
lectures at Fairfield Medical College during the
winter, where he graduated after attending three
full courses of lectures, and was one of six appointed
by the faculty of the college to read their theses at
the graduating exercises, which took place in
February, 1 830. He began the practice of medi
cine at Bethlehem in partnership with Dr. Israel
Day. He remained with Dr. Day one year, when,
in consequence of the death of his mother, he
returned to Sharon, New York, and practiced his
profession there a year, at the expiration of which
he removed to Knowersville, Albany County,
where he began practice, May 24, 1833, and where
he has remained since, enjoying a large and re
munerative practice and possessing the confidence
and esteem of the public in an eminent degree. He
is still actively engaged in the practice of his pro
fession, and even at his advanced age keeps abreast
of the times, and is thoroughly informed upon the
latest subjects of medical interest.

866

HTSTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

J&IMW.

WILLARD G. DAVIS, M. D.
Willard G. Davis was born in the town of
Ware, Hampshire County, Mass. His parents
were Benjamin and Theodosia (Barns) Davis, and
were of the Puritan stock as far as their genealogy
can be traced. The Doctor enjoyed the advan
tages of the district and select schools of Ware, and
of the Academy at Sherburn Falls, until his mind
had become disciplined and stored with useful
knowledge, when, in the early part of 1837, he en
tered upon the study of medicine in Albany with
Dr. Robert Bullock, and continued it with Drs.
March and Armsby. He graduated at the Albany
Medical College in February, 1841. On the sec
ond day of April following, he located in the vi
cinity of Dunnsville, Albany County, and began
the practice of his profession, soon establishing an
extensive ride, which he has sustained until the
present time, during a period of forty-four years.
March 3, 1846, he married Mary Ann, daughter
of Alexander and Elizabeth (Aernam) Tygert, of
the same neighborhood.
Dr. Davis is a man of positive opinions and
great firmness of purpose, and thus has made his

influence felt extensively. His clearness of per
ception, his general knowledge of business, and
his acquaintance with human nature render his
counsels valuable, and people naturally look to
him as a safe adviser. He has ever been an effi
cient member of the church in his vicinity, and his
influence and support have aided very much to es
tablish it in its present state of prosperity. He
has also been very liberal in his donations to ob
jects of charity, and to institutions for Christian pur
poses, especially to Foreign Missionary Societies.
As a physician, Dr. Davis has always been con
sidered a safe and successful practitioner, and by
keeping himself abreast of the times as to the
knowledge and application of new remedies he has
become of late years more and more useful. His
patients feel a full confidence in his ability, and
his Christian sympathy is very soothing to the
sick and a great solace to those who know that
they must die. At all hours of the day or night
his best services have been cheerfully and prompt
ly rendered without partiality to the poor and rich
alike, and while requiring just compensation from
the one class, he has rendered as faithful and will
ing services to the other.

THE TOWNSHIP OF GUILDERLAND.

867

/J/. ^U^o6iyt^cA^2>

STEPHEN V. FREDERICK.
Stephen V. Frederick was born in Guilderland,
on a portion of the Frederick tract on which his
father was born, March 17, 1831, a son of Chris
topher and Appalona (Hilton) Frederick; attended
common schools in Guilderland, and later was for
a time a student at the Fort Edward Institute. He
taught school in Knox during the winter of 1856
and 1857. Later he taught in his home district in
Guilderland most of the time until 1867. In the
meantime he had been elected Supervisor in 1861,
and re-elected five times, the last time in the spring
of 1866. He was elected Treasurer of Albany
County in the fall of 1866, and served in such
capacity from the first of January, 1867, to
the first of January, 1870. He was a candidate
for re-election, but was defeated. Since that
time he has devoted his time and attention
to the management of his farm and the settle
ment of several estates which were intrusted to
him by friends, whose confidence in him was

such that they insisted upon his undertaking the
responsibility. January 14, 1863, Mr. Frederick married Miss
Anna Reid, of New Scotland, who has borne him
three daughters. He is of the fifth generation of
the descendants of Michael H. Frederick, a Ger
man, who settled in Guilderland on a large tract
of land about 1730. His mother's grandfather,
Adam Hilton, settled in Guilderland in 1790, and
built the old Hilton stone farm-house, which is
still standing near Knowersville. His father,
Christopher Frederick, who was born in 1793, saw
service in the United States army during the war of
1 81 2-14, and was a pensioner of the government
until his death in 1880.
Mr. Frederick has in his possession an ancient
volume, entitled, "The Young Man's Best Com
panion," which was once the property of his great
grandfather, Adam Hilton. It is a curious book,
which was evidently designed as a compendium of
instruction or encyclopedic text-book, and bears
the finger-marks of several generations of readers.

868

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

THOMAS HELME, M. D.
Dr. Helme was born in the town of Guilder-
land, October 4, 1832. His grandparents were
natives of Rhode Island, and his grandfather served
during the Revolutionary war in a regiment from
that colony. After American independence had
been won he removed to Montgomery County, N.
Y. Thomas Helme, Sr., Dr. Helme's father,
settled in Guilderland, Albany County, in 18 18,
and engaged- in farming. He was a prominent
man in the community, and for about twenty years
held the office of Justice of the Peace.
Dr. Helme received his early education in the
common schools of Guilderland, and later was a
student at Hartwick Seminary, a well-known edu
cational institution of Otsego County, N. Y. He
graduated from the Albany Medical School in
1854, and commenced practice in June of that
year at McKownsville, Albany County. In 1861
he was elected School Commissioner of the Third
district of Albany County. In 1863 he was com

missioned Assistant Surgeon of the 148th Regiment,
New York State Volunteers. He participated in all
the battles of the Army of the James, from Bermuda
Hundred to the taking of Fort Harrison, and was
wounded in the last-mentioned engagement, Sep
tember 29, 1864. February 25, 1865, he was
commissioned Surgeon of the Eighty-fifth Regiment,
New York State Veteran Volunteers, and served as
such until mustered out of the United States service
at Elmira, N. Y., in July, 1865. In 1872 he was
again elected one of the School Commissioners of
Albany County.
October 4, 1854, Dr. Helme was married to
Miss Elizabeth Knowles, of Guilderland, who has
borne him eight children, seven of whom are living.
Dr. Helme enjoys an enviable professional reputa
tion, and takes high rank among the physicians of
Albany County. He has held various offices in
the Albany County Medical Society, and for the
past four years has been a delegate representing
the society at the annual sessions of the New York
State Medical Society.

THE TOWNSHIP OF KNOX.

869

We take pleasure in making mention of the fol
lowing citizens who, by their guaranteed support,
have helped to insure the publication of this val
uable work : Jesse Crounse, R. F. Barton, Fredk.
Crounse, J. H. Heck, A. P. Ludden, Jacob A.
Crounse, David F. Van Aken, H. P. Crounse,
John Conrad Chism, Conrad H. Crounse, Jas. A.
Hilton, Jacob S. Scrafford, Adam S. Westfall,
De Witt C. Thomas, Jacob Hallenbeck, John P.
Ogsbury, Peter J. Ogsbury, John Munders> John
Stafford, Daniel Husen, John Quackenbush,
Frank V. McKown, Willard De Freest, John
Cramme, S. H. Lainhart, Abram A. Tygert, W.
G. Davis, And. A. Scrafford, Wesley Schoolcraft,
Henry C. Hilton, Aaron Fuller, Thomas Tygert,
Mina Buzzee, Mrs. Louisa N. Kaley, Mrs. J. H.
Gardner, Steven V. Frederick, Addison Van Anken,
John H. Pangburn, James A. Crounse, Frederick
Van Wie, George Clute, Henry Witherwax, And.

M. La Grange, A. Coss, Jas. R. Main, J. Chris
tian Hein, Chas. A. Hein, Henry E. Drumm,
Thos. Holmes, Thomas Helme, Wm. McKown,
J. H. Clute, R. F. Barton, W. P. Strevell.
Francis V. McKown is a farmer, established in
1852; his farm is known as the French Tavern
Stand, kept as a hotel for over seventy years, and
afterward the hotel, with all the out-buildings,
torn down and built new for the accommodation
of farming purposes.
Rev. A. T. Ludden has been for over forty
years the pastor of the Lutheran denomination,
having served six different charges ; he is now
stationed at Knowersville, N. Y.
John H. Pangburn is engaged in the mercantile
business at Knowersville, N. Y., where he has
been established since April, 1883.

HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF KNOX.

DESCRIPTIVE.
KNOX is the northwestern town in Albany Coun
ty. It is bounded on the north by Schoharie
County, on the east by Guilderland and New
Scotland, on the south by Berne, and on the
west by Schoharie County. It has an area of
over 25,000 acres, and measures about six miles
across, north and south and east and west.
It is centrally distant about twenty miles from
Albany. The surface of the town consists of a high, un
dulating plateau region, marked by a few small
hills. Its eastern part constitutes a portion of the
Helderberg region, but the declivities are grad
ual, and give the surface a moderate inclination
toward the northwest. The soil is chiefly gravel
and clay, with hardpan underneath. Large bould
ers are numerous, and the geological outcroppings
in various parts of the town present a very inter
esting study.
Knox, now almost stripped of its timber, was
originally covered by a luxuriant growth of pine,
birch, maple, oak, ash, basswood, hemlock and
other varieties of wood common to the region of
which it forms a part.
The principal streams of Knox are the Bozenkill,
forming a part of its eastern boundary, and its
branches, and Beaver Dam Creek, in the southern
part.

About a mile and a quarter north of Knoxville
are two caves, supposed to be of considerable ex
tent, which are objects of much interest to many,
and about which cluster several picturesque, but
scarcely probable, legends, which have been handed
down to the present generation of residents, through
their ancestors, from the early settlers. Another
thing that is often remarked by people who have
driven over the road from Knowersville to Knox
ville, is the long stretch of road, some distance
from the latter place on the high plateau extending
through that part of the town, presenting the ap
pearance of having been paved by nature at a pre
historic time and left for the use of man. The
rocks over which this road has its way are flat and
quite smooth, and a small amount of cutting here
and there would render it one of the evenest. In
deed, it is much preferable, in its natural state, to
the average cobble-stone pavements of our cities.
The Albany and Susquehanna Railroad traverses
the northeastern corner of the town, with a way-
station known as Knox. There are within the
boundaries of the town about eighty-five miles of
public roads, most of which are kept in excellent
condition the year round, a circumstance which,
more than any other one thing, evidences the thrift
of its citizens.
Thompson's Lake is a small body of water in
the southeast part of Knox which extends into the
adjoining town of Berne.

870

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

EARLY. SETTLEMENT AND PROMINENT
CITIZENS.
The first settlers upon the territory now desig
nated as Knox were Germans, who located there
some time before the Revolutionary war. Some of
them espoused the English cause, and after the de
feat of Burgoyne found temporary refuge in Cana
da. Captain Jacob Van Aernden was an active
leader of the Whigs of this section during the strug
gle for independence.
In 1789 Samuel Abbott and Andrew Brown,
from Connecticut, settled in this locality, and not
long afterward twenty or thirty other families came
from the same State. From this period on, the
most prominent families in the town were the
Browns, Todds, Williamses, Denisons, Crarys,
Chesebroughs, Gallups, Frinks, Tabers, Coateses,
Gages, Weitzels, Pinckneys, Williamsons, Basslers,
Saddlemires, Haverleys, Timmers, Engles, Schoon-
makers, Swarts, Sands, Clickmans, Keenholtses
and Batchers.
Some of these names are now extinct in the
town; but many of them have had representatives
in successive generations to the present time.
Among the prominent citizens of the town during
the period from its organization to 1850 were Mal
achi Whipple, Dr. Erastus Williams, Egbert
Schoonmaker, Frederick Bassler, Potter Gage,
Alexander Crounse, Charles Chesebro, David Van
Aukin, Perez Frink, Henry Denison, P. Witter,
Isaac Barber, Daniel Chesebro, John Gallup,
Wright Skinner, Dow Van Derker, Henry Wil
liams, Cyrus Chapman, Henry Dane, Daniel Gal
lup, Joseph Gallup, Samuel Russel, Gurden Gal
lup, the Seaburys and Charles Clute, some of
whom are still living, and still active in all public
affairs. The following named men were the best
known and most influential residents of the town
about 1850, and for a much later period, and some
of them rank among the leading men of Knox at
this time: Henry Barckley, Elisha White, John C.
Cannady, Joel and Gilbert Gage, Jacob Aucham-
paugh, Bemsby Williamson, John Finch, John
Allen, Jr., Peter Schoonmaker, Alexander Crounse,
John G. Crary, Charles G. Frink, Denison Crary,
Alexander Crounse, Jacob P. Hane, John Posson,
Conrad Batcher, Gurden Gallup, Anson Tols,
John H. Hand, Samuel O. Schoonmaker, Lyman
Witter, Frederick Orelup, John H. Sand, Israel
Walker, Sylvester Allen, Elias K. Williams, Jacob
Kip, Jacob Bronk, Edward Settle, Abram H. On-
derdonk, Azer Gallup, Joseph A. Haswell, Henry
F. Orelup, Adam Snyder, Cornelius Woolford,

David Van Auken, James Armstrong, Henry Tar-
panny, John T. Beebe, Frederick Leh, Isaac N.
Crary, John G. Gallup, George W. Stephens, Wil
liam Williamson, Eldridge Chesebro, Amos Crary,
Ebenezer Gallup, Stephen Hungerford, Robert
Hurst, S. Flansburgh, Thomas Stafford, John V.
Schoonmaker, Henry W. Williams, Orange Bee-
man, John' Bassler, Frederick Clyckman, Matthias
Brackley, Jehial White, Conrad Batcher, John F.
Sternburgh, John Posson, Jacob Crounse, Evert
M. Brackley,. Hiram Thousand, James Finch,
Peter Swan, 2d, Archibald Scott, David W. Stur
ges, Rodney Wilder, Philip Gifford, Benjamin Lee,
Henry Dutcher, Jacob Truax and William Daven
port. The civil list, elsewhere presented, and the notices
of the various institutions and interests of the town,
contain the names of those who have been fore
most among the citizens of Knox since the date
mentioned. In the troublous times of the Revolution and
of the anti-rent struggles, which are referred to at
length in the general history of Albany County,
some of the pioneers of Knox and their descend
ants bore a part. CIVIL HISTORY.
The town of Knox was erected by an act en
titled " An Act to Divide the Town of Bern, in
the County of Albany," passed February 28, 1822.
Its text is as follows:
' ' I. — Be it enacted by the People of ihe Stale
of New York, represented in Senate and As
sembly, That, from and after the first day of
March next, all that part of the town of Bern,
in the county of Albany, lying south of a line
commencing on the west line of the said town
of Bern, three chains south of the public road
laid from the manor line to Schoharie Court
House, and running north eighty-five degrees east,
until it intersects the west line of the town of
Bethlehem, thirty-eight chains on a course south,
five degrees east from the corner of Bethlehem and
Guilderland, be and remain a separate town, by
the name of Bern ; and all the remaining part of
Bern lying north of the aforesaid line be erected
into a new town by the name of Knox ; and that
the next town meeting in the town of Bern shall be
holden at the place where it now stands adjourned,
and the next town meeting in the town of Knox be
holden on the first Tuesday of March next, at the
Presbyterian Meeting House, near Sarah Todd's
dwelling house, in said town.
" II. — And be it further enacted, That, as soon
as may be after the first Tuesday in April next, the
supervisors and overseers of the poor in the towns
of Bern and Knox aforesaid shall, by notice given
for that by the supervisors thereof, meet together

THE TOWNSHIP OF KNOX.

871

and apportion the poor maintained by the said
towns of Bern and Knox, and the poor money
belonging to the same, agreeable to the last tax
list; and that each of the said towns shall forever
thereafter separately support their 'own poor. "
Much historic material, of great local interest
and importance, passed away with the destruction
by fire of the records of Knox, covering the period
from its organization to the year 1850. At the
expense of considerable time and trouble, the fol
lowing list of the supervisors of the town, during
the period mentioned, has been obtained:
1822-24, Malachi Whipple; 1825, Erastus
Williams; 1826-31, Egbert Schoonmaker; 1832-
37, Frederick Bassler, Jr. ; 1838-39, Egbert Schoon
maker; 1840-42, Potter Gage; 1842-43, Alexander
Crounse; 1844-45, Charles Cheesbro; 1846-47,
David Van Auken; 1848-49, Perez Frink, Jr.
As is usually the case in agricultural towns, the
office of the town clerk of Knox has been at the
residence of each successive incumbent. The
same misfortune rendered the town clerk homeless
and deprived the town of the records of its munic
ipal transactions. From the record made after
that event it appears that, at the annual town
meeting of 1850, Michael Lee, Daniel Gallup,
Abraham Batcher and Stephen Merselis, Jr., were
present in their capacity as justices of the peace, and
Ephraim N. Bogardus acted as clerk. The meeting
was held on the 9th day of April, at the house of
Henry Barckley, and the following officers were
duly elected:
Lyman Witter, Supervisor; John G. Crary, Town
Clerk ; Samuel O. Schoonmaker, Justice of the
Peace; John H. Hand, Superintendent of Schools;
Anson Tols, Collector; Gurdon Gallup and Conrad
Batcher, Overseers of the Poor; John Posson, As
sessor; Jacob P. Hane, Commissioner of Highways;
Peter Schoonmaker, Alexander Crounse and John
Allen, Jr., Inspectors of Election, District No. 1 ;
John Finch, Bemsby Williamson and Jacob Auch-
empaugh, Inspectors of Election, District No. 2;
Gilbert Gage, Joel Gage, John C. Cannady and
Elisha White, Constables.
At this meeting Henry Barckley 's house was
designated as "The Town House," or place of
holding township meetings, for the ensuing year.
The town was divided into fifty-six road districts,
and the following named persons were chosen
overseers of highways:
John Posson, Jacob Crounse, Hiram Thousand,
Evert M. Barckley, David W. Sturges, Archibald
Scott, Peter Swan, 2d, James Finch, Rodney
Wilder, Philip Gifford, Jacob Truax, Henry

Dutcher, William Davenport, Benjamin Lee, Mat
thias Barckley, Jehiel White, John F. Sternburgh,
Conrad Batcher, John Bassler, Frederick Clyckman,
John Oliver, Orange Beeman, Henry W. Williams,
Thomas Stafford, John V. Schoonmaker, Robert
Hurst, S. Flansburgh, Stephen Hungerford,
Ebenezer Gallup, Alexander Crounse, Amos
Crary, William Williamson, Eldridge Cheesbro,
George W. Stephens, John G. Gallup, Isaac N.
Crary, Frederick Leh, John T. Beebe, James
Armstrong, Henry Tarpenny, David Van Auken,
Cornelius Woolford, Adam Snyder, Henry F.
Orelup, Joseph A. Haswell, Azor Gallup, Abra
ham H. Onderdonk, Edward Settle, Jacob Bronk,
Jacob Kipp, Elias R. Williams, Silvester Allen,
Israel Walker, John H. Sand and Frederick Orelup.
The following entries appear in the town records
for the year 1 8 5 1 :
" In conformity with the statute, the following
by-laws are considered necessary by the majority
¦of the electors present:
"Article ist. — It is ordained by the electors
present of the town of Knox, at their annual town
meeting, convened and held at the house of Henry
Barckley, in and for the town of Knox, and county
of Albany, on the 8th day of April, 1851, that the
following rules and regulations be adopted as by
laws and ordinances for the said town of Knox.
"Article 2d. — And it is further ordered that the
town of Knox shall be divided into three assess
ment districts, and that each district shall be en
titled to one assessor. And that all that part of
the town of Knox lying north of the center of the
township road, running east and west through the
said town, compose the North District. And all
that part of said town of Knox lying east of the
center of the road leading from the place formerly
owned by Evert Barckley to the place formerly
owned by Cyrus Chapman and south of the town
ship road, compose one district, and the same
shall be known as the Eastern District. And all
the remaining part of the said town of Knox lying
west of the Eastern District and south of the North
District shall compose one district, and the same
shall be known as the Southern District.
" Article 3d. — And be it enacted that the over
seers of the poor shall at every annual town meet
ing hereafter report to the town meeting the num
ber of pnor to be maintained, and the cost of their
maintenance, the receipts and expenditures of all
moneys in their hands, and what sum in their
opinion will be necessary to maintain the poor for
the ensuing year, that the same may be raised and
collected. "Article 4th. — And it is further ordained that all
partition fences for lands, gardens, orchards or
meadows shall be five feet high and otherwise good
and sufficient.
"Article Jlh. — And it is ordained that the fence
viewers shall be allowed seventy-five cents for each
day's service in the execution of their office.

872

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

" Article 6th. — And it is further ordained that no
horses shall go at large; also, that no cattle, sheep
or swine shall go at large, and that the penalty on
them shall be, when found going at large and secured
in any pen or yard or any premises, the owner or
owners thereof shall pay to the person or persons so
taking them up the following sums: For every
stallion two years old or older, four dollars; for
every cow, ox, steer, bull or calf, fifty cents; for
every sheep, two cents per head, for every swine,
six cents per head, and for every boar two months
old or older, two dollars.
"Article yth. — All moneys collected for the
violation of the by-laws shall go, the one-half to
the person or persons taking up the said cattle,
horses, sheep or swine, the other half to the poor of
the town aforesaid.
"Article 8th. — And it is further ordained that
every person's yard shall be his own pound, and
that he shall give the owner notice within twenty-
four hours of all trespasses, and that stock shall be
impounded no longer than forty-eight hours."
These ordinances were subsequently modified or
amplified as occasion required. They are given as.
being of interest as the first by-laws of Knox, the
records of which are extant.
The civil list of the town of Knox from 1851 to
1854, inclusive, is given below, except for the years
1868-72, inclusive, missing from the records:
1 85 1. — Lyman Witter, Supervisor; John G.
Crary, Town Clerk; Amos Crary, Justice of the
Peace; Jacob Truax, Collector; Charles Saddle-
mire and Conrad Batcher, Overseers of the Poor;
John Posson and John T. Beebe, Assessors; George
Freighley, Commissioner of Highways; Johan Jost
Sand, James M. Cheesbro and Philip Chrysler, In
spectors of Election, District No. 1 ; Potter Gage,
Jacob Auchenpo and William Williamson, In
spectors of Election, District No. 2; Charles Gage,
Joel Gage, Johan Jost P. Deitz and John Quay,
Constables. 1852. — Stephen Mercelis, Jr., Supervisor; John
R. Williams, Justice of the Peace; John H. Sand,
Superintendent of Schools; Denison Crary, Town
Clerk; John Jost P. Deitz, Collector; Joseph A.
Haswell, Assessor; John Bassler, Commissioner of
Highways; Charles Saddlemire and Conrad Batcher,
Overseers of the Poor; James M. Cheesbro, John
Allen, Jr. , and Ezra Champion, Jr. , Inspectors of
Election, District No. 1; William Gage, Thomas
P. Whipple and James Finch, Inspectors of Elec
tion, District No. 2; Charles Gage, John Quay,
William Snyder and Andrew Batcher, Constables.
1853. — Stephen Merselis, Jr., Supervisor; Michael
Lee, Justice of the Peace; Denison Crary, Town
Clerk; Frederick Bassler, Assessor; Lewis Quay,
Collector; Alexander Crounse, Commissioner of
Highways; David Van Auken, Overseer of the
Poor; James M. Cheesbro, John Allen, Jr., and
Ezra Champion, Jr., Inspectors of Election, Dis
trict No. 1 ; Peter Swan, Oliver B. Wood and John
A. Landrum, Inspectors of Election, District No.

2; Charles Gage, John Quay, Andrew Batcher
and Henry Fullington, Constables.
1854.— Henry Barckley, Supervisor; John P.
Canady, Justice of the Peace; Hiram Crounse,
Superintendent of Schools; Denison Crary, Town
Clerk; Matthias F. Warner, Assessor; Lewis Quay,
Collector; Ira Van Auken, Abram Batcher and
Potter Gage, Commissioners of Highways; Edward
A. Chase and David Swart, Overseers of the Poor;
James M. Cheesbro, John Allen, Jr., and Elias K.
Williams, Inspectors of Election, District No. 1;
Potter Gage, Manasseh Schoonmaker and James
Finch, Inspectors of Election, District No. 2;
Charles Gage, Henry Fullington, David Ecker,
George Richter, Clark Stephens and Sylvester
Allen, Constables.
1855. — Henry Barckley, Supervisor; Ephraim
A. Bogardus, Justice of the Peace; Charles Gallup,
Town Clerk; David Finch, Collector; Charles I.
Frink, Commissioner of Highways; David Swart
and William Williamson, Overseers of the Poor;
Andrew J. Onderdonk and De Witt Schoonmaker,
Inspectors of Election, District No. 1; John Lake
and Lewis Barlow, Inspectors of Election, District
No. 2; Jacob Auchempaugh, Assessor; Charles
Gage, George Pitcher, Alfred A. Whipple, John D.
Haverly and Cornelius Hellicass, Constables.
1856. — John Keenholtz, Supervisor; Samuel
Werner and Daniel C. Seabury, Justices of the
Peace; Charles Gallup, Town Clerk; Hiram
Crounse, Superintendent of Schools; David Finch,
Collector; Peter Schoonmaker and Jacob J. Truax,
Assessors; William Lear, Commissioner of High
ways; William W. Williams and Charles Saddle
mire, Overseers of the Poor; Philip D. Haverly,
David Swart and John Allen, Jr., Inspectors of
Election, District No. 1; Robert Schoonmaker,
Alanson Lake and James Finch, Inspectors of
Election, District No. 2; Charles Gage, Lewis
Vroman. Ira Bunza, George Pitcher and John D.
Haverly, Constables.
1857. — John Keenholtz, Supervisor; Morgan
Leake, Justice of the Peace; James Gallup, Town
Clerk; Elisha White, Collector; John S. Beebe,
Assessor; William Williamson, Commissioner of
Highways; Charles Saddlemire and Ira Stevens,
Overseers of the Poor; George Hane, William
Sand and David H. Spencer, Inspectors of Elec
tion, District No. 1 ; Robert Schoonmaker, George
Terpening and John Saddlemire, 4th, Inspectors of
Election, District No. 2 ; Charles Gage, Ira Bunza,
Moses Gallup and Jacob F. Clickman, Constables.
1858. — Samuel Gallup, Supervisor; David C.
Seabury, Justice of the Peace ; Francis Wood,
Town Clerk ; Peter Allen, Collector ; Jacob W.
Bronk, Commissioner of Highways ; Jacob J.
Truax, Assessor; James Finch and Ira Stephens,
Overseers of the Poor; Elon Gallup, Adam Reamer
and George Hane, Inspectors of Election, District
No. 1; John Saddlemire, Alexander Howard and
John S. Wilber, Inspectors of Election, District
No. 2 ; Charles Gage, William Havens, Moses
Gallup and Archibald Hanney, Constables.
1859. — Samuel Gallup, Supervisor; Henry War
rick, Justice of the Peace; James A. Houck, Town

THE TOWNSHIP OF KNOX.

873

Clerk ; Jacob Kneiskem, Assessor ; Avery Crary,
Collector; John Pitcher, Overseer of the Poor; John
Armstrong, Jr. , and Denison Crary, Inspectors of
Election, District No. i ; Joseph A. Haswell and
Henry W. Williams, Inspectors of Election, Dis
trict No. 2 ; Andrew Batcher, William Kneiskem,
Edward A. Chace and John Quay, Constables.
i860. — Samuel Warner, Supervisor; Ephraim N.
Bogardus, Justice of the Peace; James A. Houck,
Town Clerk; Ira Van Auken, Commissioner of
Highways; Andrew Batcher and Lewis Quay, As
sessors; Amos Saddlemire, Collector; John Pitcher,
Overseer of the Poor; John Armstrong, Jr. , Deni
son Crary and William H. Ketchum, Inspectors of
Election, District No. 1 ; Ezra Lee, Joseph A.
Haswell and John Ketchum, Inspectors of Election,
District No. 2; Charles Gage, Ira Bunzey, John
Stephens and Elisha White, Constables.
1861. — Samuel Warner, Supervisor; George Ter-
penning, Justice of the Peace; James A. Houck,
Town Clerk ; Ira Van Auken, Commissioner of
Highways; Hiram Gage, Assessor; Amos Saddle
mire, Collector ; John Pitcher, Overseer of the
Poor ; Daniel J. Crary, John Armstrong and Paul
Schoonmaker, Inspectors of Election, District No.
1 ; Joseph A. Haswell, Jeremiah Roach and Ben
jamin Finch, Inspectors of Election, District No.
2; Charles Gage, Ira Bunzey, Thomas P. Whipple
and Jeremiah Roach, Constables.
1862. — Samuel Warner, Supervisor; John Allen,
Jr. , Justice of the Peace; Ezra Lee, Town Clerk ;
Ira Van Auken, Commissioner of Highways; John
Pitcher, Overseer of the Poor; John Posson, As
sessor ; George J. Williamson, Collector ; Silas
Pitcher, Daniel J. Crary and Andrew Gallup, In
spectors of Election, District No. 1; Jeremiah
Roach, Benjamin C. Auchampaugh and Benjamin
Finch, Inspectors of Election, District No. 2 ;
Thomas P. Whipple, Benjamin C. Auchampaugh,
Charles Gage and Ira Bunzey, Constables.
1863. — John Keenholtz, Supervisor; Michael F.
Hilton, Justice of the Peace ; Ezra Lee, Town
Clerk ; Ezra Brodt, Collector; Ira Van Auken,
Commissioner of Highways; John Pitcher, Over
seer of the Poor ; Peter Schoonmaker and Lyman
P. Witter, Assessors; Daniel J. Crary and William
H. Van Benscoten, Inspectors of Election, District
No. 1 ; David Spencer and Edward Van Auken,
Inspectors of Election, District No. 2 ; Charles
Gage, Peter Z. Allen, Benjamin C. Auchampaugh
and Andrew Batcher, Constables.
1864. — Ira Van Auken, Supervisor; E. N. Bo
gardus, Samuel Warner and Henry Warrich, Jus
tices of the Peace; Edward M. Van Auken, Town
Clerk; Denison Crary, Commissioner of Highways;
Samuel B. Davenport, Assessor; Joseph W. Crary,
Collector; John Pitcher, Overseer of the Poor;
William H. Van Benscoten, Daniel J. Crary and
Ira Fairlee, Inspectors of Election, District No. 1 ;
Miner E. Posson, Henry H. Wilbur and B. Finch,
Inspectors of Election, District No. 2 ; Charles
Gage, Peter Z. Allen, Andrew Batcher and Oliver
B. Fairlee, Constables.
T 86 5. —Ira Van Auken, Supervisor; John R.
Williams and Samuel Warner, Justices of the Peace;

Edward M. Van Auken, Town Clerk ; Coleman
Armstrong, Collector ; Denison Crary, Commis
sioner of Highways; Peter Schoonmaker, Assessor;
Peter Z. Allen, Overseer of the Poor ; Peter S.
Snyder, Hiram Bunzey and Peter Hungerford,
Inspectors of Election, District No. 1 ; Henry A.
Wilbur, Miner F. Posson and John Williamson,
Inspectors of Election, District No. 2; Charles
Gage, Ira Bunzey, David Houghton and Oliver B.
Fairlee, Constables.
1866. — Peter Schoonmaker, Supervisor; Jacob
Van Benscoten, Town Clerk; Morgan Leik and
George A. Batcher, Justices of the Peace; Lyman
Witter, Assessor; Denison Crary, Commissioner of
Highways; John Pitcher and Peter Z. Allen, Over
seers of the Poor; Levi Pier, Collector; Hiram
Bunzey and Peter S. Snyder, Inspectors of Election,
District No. 1 ; Robert Haswell and Oliver Fairlee,
Inspectors of Election, District No. 2; Ira Bunzey,
Charles Gage, Miner Quay and Theodore Batcher,
Constables. 1867. — Peter Schoonmaker, Supervisor; Amos
Saddlemire, Town Clerk; John R. Williams, Jus
tice of the Peace ; Denison Crary, Commissioner of
Highways ; David Warrick, Collector ; Samuel
Davenport and Christopher H. Warner, Assessors ;
Peter Z. Allen and John Pitcher, Overseers of the
Poor; Hiram Bunzey, Peter S. Snyder and Elam
Williams, Inspectors of Election, District No. 1;
Charles Seabury, David W. Sturges and Alexander
Ludrum, Inspectors of Election, District No. 2;
Charles Gage, Oliver B. Fairlee, Theodore Batcher
and John M. Quay, Constables.
Peter Schoonmaker was re-elected Supervisor
each successive teim until 1873.
1873. — Hiram Gage, Supervisor; David H.
Crowe, Justice of the Peace; Edwin M. Cheesbro,
Town Clerk; Jacob A. Warren, Collector; James
Armstrong, Assessor; Ira Van Auken, Commis
sioner of Highways; John Armstrong and Sylvester
Allan, Overseers of the Poor; E. G. A. Crounse,
Henry C. Williams and David Stiner, Inspectors of
Election, District No. 1; Ezra Lee, George J.
Williamson and John Van Natta, Inspectors of
Election, District No. 2 ; John J. Hungerford,
Allen Marselis, James I. Naskolds, George Pitcher
and Ezra Stephens, Constables.
1874. — Hiram Gage, Supervisor; C. Wesley
Schoonmaker, Justice of the Peace; Edwin M.
Cheesbro, Town Clerk; William Ostrander, Col
lector; Samuel B. Davenport, Assessor; Ira Van
Auken, Commissioner of Highways ; William
Baxter and John Armstrong, Overseers of the Poor;
E. G. A. Crounse, H. C. Williams and David M.
Stiner, Inspectors of Election, District No. 1 ; Hiram
Van Benscoten, Theodore Ostrander and Benjamin
C. Auchampaugh, Inspectors of Election, District
No. 2; James I. Nasholds, Charles Gage, George
Pitcher and Jacob J. Truax, Constables.
1875. — James M. Cheesbro, Supervisor; Foster
F. Warrick, Justice of the Peace; Oliver B. Fair
lee, Town Clerk; William J. Haverley, Collector;
John Keenholtz, Assessor; Ira Van Auken, Com
missioner; John Armstrong and Sylvester Allen,
Overseers of the Poor; Denison Crary, William

874

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Sand and Rufus Gaige,. Commissioners of Excise;
Henry C. Williams, David Stiner and Austin Crary,
Inspectors of Election, District No. i ; Theodore
Ostrander, Ira S. Van Auken and Austin Gifford,
Inspectors of Election, District No. 2; Ezra
Stevens, John Pitcher, Abraham Ostrander and
William J. Pier, Constables; James H. Nasholds,
Game Constable.
1876. — James M. Cheesbro, Supervisor; Ezra
Champion, Justice of the Peace; Oliver B. Fairlee,
Town Clerk; Rufus Swan, Collector; Amos Sad
dlemire, Assessor; Ira Van Auken, Commissioner
of Highways; E. Armstrong and Jacob H. Saddle
mire, Overseers of the Poor; Sanford Quay, Wil
liam G. McDonald and Nelson Quay, Inspectors
of Election, District No. 1; Ira S. Van Auken,
Henry A. Wilbur and John Van Natta, Inspectors
of Election, District No. 2; Frank Adams, Ezra
Stevens, Charles H. Ball, Abram Ostrander and
Charles Gage, Constables.
1877. — James M. Cheesbro, Supervisor; Charles
W. Schoonmaker, Elam Williams and C. B.
Wood, Justices of the Peace; Ambrose L. Saddle
mire, Town Clerk; Henry Way, Collector; Al
mond Marselis, Assessor; Ralph Woolford, Com
missioner of Highways; Samuel H. Saddlemire
and William Ostrander, Overseers of the Poor;
Hiram Van Benscoten and Denison Crary, Excise
Commissioners; Sanford Quay, Isaac Reamer and
William J. McDonald, Inspectors of Election,
District No. 1 ; George J. Williamson, Ira S. Van
Auken and Austin Gifford, Inspectors of Election,
District No. 2; Charies H. Ball, Frank Adams,
Ezra Stephens, John Osterhant, William J. Smith
and Louis Winne, Constables.
1878. — William J. Haverley, Supervisor; Nor
man O. Bell, Justice of the Peace; Ambrose L.
Saddlemire, Town Clerk; Jacob A. Werner, Assess
or; Wilbur O. Van Auken, Collector; Eliakim
Armstrong and John Posson, Overseers of the
Poor; Ralph Wolford, Commissioner of Highways;
Theodore Armstrong, Excise Commissioner; Wil
liam J. McDonald, Hiram Bunzey and N. Chees
bro, Inspectors of Election, District No. 1; Perry
C. Ostrander, Charles E. Sturges and Lewis C.
Lendrum, Inspectors of Election, District No. 2;
John M. Quay, Frank Adams, John L. Schoon
maker, William J. Smith and Ezra Stevens, Con
stables; Louis Winne, Game Constable.
1879. — I. W. Cheesbro, Supervisor; Elam Wil
liams, Justice of the. Peace; Wilbur O. Van Au
ken, Town Clerk; Charles F. Seabury, Assessor;
H. J. Truax, Collector; John Posson and Eliakim
Armstrong, Overseers of the Poor; Ralph Wolford,
Commissioner of Highways; Sanford Quay and
Miner Chrisler, Inspectors of Election, District
No. 1 ; Perry C. Ostrander and Robert D. Roach,
Inspectors of Election, District No. 2; Ezra Stevens,
John M. Quay, Frank Adams and William J.
Smith, Constables.
1880. — I. W. Cheesbro, Supervisor; Ezra Cham
pion, Justice of the Peace; Oliver B. Fairlee, Town
Clerk; Almond Marcelis and Jacob H. Werner,
Assessors; Theodore Batcher, Collector; Jacob J.
Truax and William Baxter, Overseers of the Poor;

Ralph Wolford, Commissioner of Highways; Ellery
Deitz and Clark Hunting, Inspectors of Election,
District No. 1; Ira S. Van Auken and Michael
Harley, Inspectors of Election, District No. 2;
Gilbert Gage, Jacob Stevens, John M. Quay, Ezra
Stevens and William J. Smith, Constables.
1 88 1.— I. W. Cheesbro, Supervisor; O. B. Fair
lee, Town Clerk; Charles W. Schoonmaker and F.
F. Warrick, Justices of the Peace; W. P. Witter,
Assessor; Hiram Bonzey, Collector; Sylvester
Allen and E. Armstrong, Overseers of the Poor;
Ralph Wolford, Commissioner of Highways; Wil
liam McDonald, John G. Gallup and L. Haverley,
Inspectors of Election, District No. 1 ; Theodore
Ostrander, Michael F. Halsey and C. Chapman,
Inspectors of Election, District No. 2; Gilbert
Gage, Frank Adams, A. Witter and Jacob E.
Stevens, Constables; Elisha H. Davenport, Excise
Commissioner. 1882. — William J. Haverley, Supervisor; Adam
C. Hunting, Town Clerk; J. D. Wood, Justice of
the Peace; Ralph Wolford, Commissioner of High
ways; Sylvester Allen and E. Armstrong, Over
seers of the Poor; Ira S. Van Auken, Collector;
Charles F. Seabury, Assessor; William McDonald,
Allen Kreiskem and L. Haverley, Inspectors of
Election, District No. 1 ; Arthur Witter, Theodore
Ostrander and John Van Natta, Inspectors of
Election, District No. 2; Gilbert Gage, Frank
Adams, James I. Nasholts and William J. Pier,
Constables; Edward Stafford, Game Constable;
Manasseh Schoonmaker, Excise Commissioner.
1883. — Charles G. Frink, Supervisor; Elam
Williams, Justice of the Peace; Adam C. Hunting,
Town Clerk; Newton Ketchum, Commissioner of
Highways; Sylvester Allen and Theodore Ostran
der, Overseers of the Poor; A. Kreiskem, Alonzo
Warner and L. Haverley, Inspectors of Election,
District No. 1; Amos Fairlee, William P. Witter
and Miles Posson, Inspectors of Election, District
No. 2; James I. Nasholts, William J. Smith, Gil
bert Gage, Ezra Stephens and Frank Adams, Con
stables; Denison Crary, Excise Commissioner.
1884. — Charles G. Frink, Supervisor; Wilbur
O. Van Auken, Town Clerk; Lyman P. Witter,
Assessor; Madison Finch, Collector; William Bax
ter and Hebron J. Truax, Overseers of the Poor;
John J. Gallup, Adam C. Hunting and Edward J.
Youngs, Inspectors of Election, District No. 1 ;
Robert Schoonmaker, Eliakim Armstrong and
Miles Posson; Inspectors of Election, District No.
2; Gilbert Gage, James I. Nasholts, William J.
Smith, William J. Pier and Frank Adams, Con
stables; Edward Stafford, Game Constable; Wil
liam J. Crary, Excise Commissioner.
KNOX IN THE REBELLION.
Knox bore a highly creditable part during the
late war for the Union. Her sons responded pa
triotically to the call to arms, and the town, in its
municipal capacity, generously encouraged enlist
ments. The following extract from the records
will be found of great interest in this connection:

THE TOWNSHIP OF KNOX.

875

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING.
We, the undersigned, the Justices of the Peace
and Town Clerk of the Town of Knox, in the
County of Albany, do certify that we convened as a
board of town officers, on the 26th day of July,
1862, at a special town meeting held at the Town
House of said town, agreeable to a notice posted
according to law in such cases made and provided,
and that such notice stated the intents and pur
poses for which said town meeting was called. The
following resolution, having received the unanimous
vote of the electors there present, was declared duly
adopted: That we, the inhabitants and electors, tax payers
of the Town of Knox, in the County of Albany, this
day convened, do hereby authorize the Supervisor
of the aforesaid Town of Knox, Samuel Warner, to
borrow the sum of eighteen hundred (1,800) dol
lars, on the credit of the Town of Knox, and that the
said sum so borrowed be levied on the taxpaying
inhabitants of the said Town of Knox at the next
annual meeting of the Board of Supervisors of the
County of Albany, and that the same be levied
and collected together with the State, county and
town taxes, and that the aforesaid sum so bor
rowed shall be paid as bounty money, to be ap
portioned in sums of one hundred dollars each to
the eighteen persons, the due apportionment for the
Town of Knox, who shall enlist as a soldier in the
seivice of his country during the present war. Given
under our hands at Knox this 26th day of July,
1862. Ephraim N. Bogardus,
George Terpenning,
Henry Warrick,
Ezra Lee,
fustices of the Peace.
Recorded per me this 8th day of September,
1862. Ezra Lee,
Town Clerk.
Doubtless further extracts from the records of
Knox during this important period of its history
would be found both interesting and valuable; but,
unfortunately, several leaves are missing, following
those from which quotation has been made and
covering the remaining years of the war, and there
is no further recorded evidence of the official acts
of the town authorities during our memorable in
ternecine struggle. But the sons of Knox were
patriotic and nobly did their part, on the field, of
strife as well as elsewhere, toward the preservation
of the Union. Following will be found a roster of
those who enlisted in the United States Army from
the Town of Knox, from 1861 to 1865, inclusive.
It is copied from official sources, and is as com
plete and exact as it can be made. It contains
honorable mention of many representatives of the
oldest and and most influential families of the
town.

Henry Allen, private, Seventh Artillery, Company
K; enlisted August 1, 1862; mustered August 14,
1862; after serving nearly two years, was mortally
wounded, and his remains lie buried near Peters
burg, Va.
Michael Henry Barckley, first lieutenant,
Seventh Artillery, Company K; enlisted July 2,
1862; mustered August 14, 1862; after serving
nearly two years, was wounded in the right leg so
that amputation was necessary; he died from the
operation, and his remains are buried in Knox
Cemetery. Charles Baxter, sergeant, Seventh Artillery, Com
pany K; enlisted July 26, 1862; mustered August
14, 1862; after serving nearly two years, was taken
prisoner at Ream's Station, Virginia, sent to Peters
burg, thence to Libby Prison, thence to Belle Isle
Prison, thence to the prison at Salisbury, North
Carolina; later was in service again.
Kleber Burlingame, corporal, Sixty-first Regi
ment, Company I; enlisted September 10, 1862;
mustered September 9, 1862.
Joseph Merchant Bundy, private, SeventhArtillery,
Company K; enlisted August 12, 1862; mustered
August 14, 1862; after serving nearly three years,
it is thought he died in one of the Confederate
prisons. Albert Bell, private, Tenth Regiment, Company
G; enlisted October 1, 1862; mustered October 13,
1862; served the full term of his enlistment and
was honorably discharged.
Henry Augustus Crary, Sergeant, 1 77th Regiment,
Company G; enlisted in September, 1862; mustered
October 13, 1862; served full term and was honor
ably discharged.
John Henry Carroll, private, Seventh Artillery,
Company A; enlisted August 1, 1862; mustered
August 14, 1862; shot through the head and killed
at Petersburg, Va., and buried on the field.
Miram Auchampaugh, private, Twentieth Militia,
Company K ; enlisted August 25, 1864; mustered
in September, 1864; discharged at close of war.
Adam Campbell, private, Seventh Artillery,
Company K ; enlisted August 12, 1862; mustered
August 14, 1862; taken prisoner at Ream's Station,
Va. Joseph B. Davis, corporal, Sixty-first Regiment,
Company D; enlisted in September, 1862; mustered
September 19, 1862; discharged by reason of dis
ability in 1863; died and was buried near Fairfax
Court House, Va.
Miner Ecker, private, Sixty-first Regiment, Com
pany I ; enlisted in August, 1862; mustered Sep-

876

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

tember 19, 1862; discharged by reason of disability
and died in Knox, and is buried in Berne.
Jerome W. Ecker, private,. 177th Regiment, Com
pany G ; enlisted in October, 1862; mustered in
November, 1862; honorably discharged at expira
tion of his term of service.
John Jay Gallup, private, 177th Regiment, Com
pany A; enlisted, and mustered October 13, 1862;
served nearly eleven months; was at the siege of
Port Hudson; was honorably discharged.
Henry James Gallup, fife major, 177th Regi
ment, Company A; enlisted October 13, 1862;
mustered same date; was honorably discharged at
expiration of term of service.
Adam Matthias Hanes, private, Ninety-first Regi
ment, Company D; enlisted in August, 1S61;
mustered in November, 1861; after being in service
nearly two years, he was mortally wounded at Port
Hudson and died fourteen days afterward, and was
buried at New Orleans.
Amos Gideon Hanes, private, Ninety-first Regi
ment, Company D; enlisted in August, 1861;
mustered in November, 1861; served nearly three
years; died of chronic diarrhoea, and was buried in
Knox Cemetery.
Arthur Haswell, private, 1 77th Regiment, Com
pany B; enlisted October 22, 1862; mustered No
vember 18, 1862; after serving six months, died at
Bonnet Carre, La. ; buried in Rural Cemetery,
Albany. Elias Hanes, private, seventh Artillery, Company
K; enlisted July 26,1862; mustered August 14, 1862;
was in service over two years, and died of wounds
in the leg received at Cold Harbor; buried in Knox
Cemetery. Charles H. Hochstrasser, private, Tenth Regi
ment, Company G; enlisted October 1, 1862, and
mustered same date; served nearly one year and
was honorably discharged.
Alonzo Luddon, Jr., corporal, 187th Regiment,
Company I; enlisted October 1, 1862; mustered
November, 1862; was one of the " 1,000 stormers"
at Port Hudson and the first of his company to
advance; died of disease contracted in service and
is buried at Gallupville, Schoharie County.
Andrew W. Kellogg, private, Eleventh Battery;
enlisted November n, 1861; mustered in Decem
ber 1861. Died of small-pox at the Marine Hos
pital, Baltimore, Md., June 1, 1862; buried in
Baltimore. Newton Ketcham, private, Ninth Artillery,
Company A; enlisted September 6, 1864; mus
tered September 12, 1864 ; was in service ten

months, participating in the fight at Cedar Creek
and the battle of Petersburg, Va.
Harrison Kniskem, sergeant, Sixty-first Regi
ment, Company I; enlisted August 30, 1862;
mustered September 17, 1862; promoted sergeant
September 19, 1862 ; served six months and was
discharged on account of disability.
John Miner Quay, corporal, Seventh Artillery,
company K; enlisted July 28, 1862; mustered
August 18, 1862; promoted from private at battle
of Spottsylvania Court House, Va.
Paul Quay, sergeant, Seventh Artillery, Company
K; enlisted July 20, 1862; mustered August
18, 1862 ; promoted from corporal ; taken
prisoner before Petersburg, June 16, 1864, and
sent to Belle Isle ; is supposed to have died of
starvation at Andersonville.
Andrew Grass, private, Seventh Artillery; enlisted
and mustered August 25, 1864 ; served till dis
charged. George Riter, private, Sixty-first Regiment,
Company I; enlisted August 30, 1862; mustered
September 19, 1862 ; killed May 10, 1864, at Po
River, Va.
Lewis Washington Quay, private, Seventh Artil
lery, Company K; enlisted August 4, 1862;
mustered August 14, • 1862 ; served nearly a year
and died at Washington, D. C, of typhus fever.
Isaac Jonathan Roach, sergeant, Forty-fourth
Regiment, Company F ; enlisted and mustered in
1861; served nearly three months, and died Decem
ber 29, 1 86 1, at Camp Butterfield, Va., of typhus
fever; is buried in Knox.
Charles Edmond Sturges, corporal, Seventh
Artillery, Company K; enlisted July 28, 1862;
mustered August 14, 1862 ; served three years and
was honorably discharged.
Denison Saddlemire, private, Eleventh Battery ;
enlisted September 5, and was mustered September
8, 1864 ; honorably discharged at expiration of
term of service.
John Hurst, private, Seventh Artillery, Company
K ; enlisted August 9, and mustered August 14,
1862; died of typhus fever, at Baltimore, Md.,
March 16, 1864.
Charles Secor, private, Ninth Artillery, Company
A ; enlisted September 6, and mustered September
12 1864 ; was in the fight at Cedar Creek, and
was honorably discharged at the end of his term
of service.
Simon John Secor, private, Ninth Artillery,
Company A; enlisted September 6, and mustered
September 12, 1864; after serving a little more

THE TOWNSHIP OF KNOX.

877

than a month, he was wounded in the right leg at
Cedar Creek, rendering amputation necessary, and
was discharged for disability.
Peter Secor, private, Sixty-first Regiment, Com
pany I ; enlisted in August, 1862 ; mustered Sep
tember 19, 1862.
Andrew Secor, private.
Andrew Secor, Jr., private, Sixty-first Regiment,
Company I ; enlisted in August, 1862; mustered
September 19, 1862.
Gabriel Henry Secor, corporal, Sixty-first Regi
ment, Company I; enlisted in August, 1862;
mustered September 19, 1862; wounded at the
battle of Gettysburg, Pa., and transferred to the in
valid corps.
John Stalker, sergeant, Sixty-first Regiment,
Company I ; enlisted August 21, 1862; mustered
September 19, 1862 ; died of disease in hospital at
Washington, D. C.
Henry W. Stalker, private, Sixty-first Regiment,
Company J ; enlisted in August, and mustered
September 19, 1862 ; died at Washington, D. C,
May 5, 1863, from wounds, and was buried at
Washington. Chauncey Groat Townsend, private, Sixty-first
Regiment, Company I ; enlisted in August, and
mustered September 19, 1862.
David Stafford, private, 117th Regiment, Com
pany H ; enlisted in September, and mustered
October 13, 1862; served full term of enlist
ment. Gabriel Secor, corporal, Ninety-first Regiment,
Company D ; enlisted for three years ; was in
battle at Fort McHenry, and died at Federal Hill;
buried in Berne.
Orville Merrihew, private, 113th Regiment, Com
pany D; enlisted August 12, 1862; mustered in
September, 1862 ; died in Millen Prison of starva
tion and derangement.
Jesse D. Wood, private, Ninety-first Regiment,
Company D ; enlisted and mustered October 26,
1862; died of sickness at Port Hudson, while in
service ; buried in Berne.
John Michael Stines, private, Eleventh Battery ;
enlisted October 18, 1861 ; mustered January 5,
1862 ; enlisted a second time.
George Albert Simons, private, Eleventh
Regiment, Company G; enlisted October 1, 1862;
mustered October 19, 1862 ; promoted to sergeant
and afterward to a clerkship in the Quarter
master's department.
Henry Crary Williams, enlisted August 30,
1862, and mustered September 19, 1862, as first

sergeant, Company H, Sixty-first Regiment ; pro
moted to second lieutenant February 20, 1863,
and to captain, January 12, 1864.
Jacob Van Benscoten, corporal, Seventh Artil
lery; enlisted August 5, and mustered August 14,
1862; after serving nearly two years, was wounded
in the neck; was discharged June 16, 1865.
Addison Reinhart, private, 113th Regiment,
Company K ; enlisted August 1, and mustered
August 18, 1863 ; was confined at Andersonville
ten months, and at the expiration of his term of
enlistment was honorably discharged.
Thomas Pinckney Whipple, private, 177th
Regiment, Company G; enlisted October 27,
1.863 J mustered November 27, 1863 ; served nine
months ; honorably discharged.
William Havens, private, Seventh Artillery, Com
pany K; enlisted in July, 1862; mustered August
24, 1862; died from wounds and was buried at
Petersburg, Va.
William Darius Fairlee, Tenth Regiment.
James D. Covert, private, 156th Regiment.
Myron L. Ham, Tenth Regiment.
Spencer Lelie, Tenth Regiment.
John Quincy Adams Crounse, Eleventh or
Havelock Battery; died in service.
Francis Courtney, Tenth Regiment.
Andrew Jackson Damon, private, Seventh Artil
lery, Company K.
Charles Price, 113th Regiment.
Uriah Hallenbeck, Tenth Regiment, Company
G; died in service ; buried at Cairo.
Samuel W. Kelly, Tenth Regiment.
George Robert O'Donald, Fourth Regiment. •
George Todd, Tenth Regiment.
Levi Duel, 113th Regiment.
Madison Settle, Tenth Regiment, Company G;
died in service ; buried at Fort Pillow.
Wm. Hemon, private.
John Stafford.
Daniel F. Foley, Tenth Regiment.
Frank Shufelt, private, Eleventh Regiment ; en
listed in 1862.
Edward Shufelt, private, Seventh Artillery.
Henry Crounse, Ninety-first Regiment.
Samuel H. Reely, Tenth Regiment.
Peter H. Stevens, private, 113th Regiment, Com
pany G; enlisted in July, 1862; mustered August
14, 1862.
Daniel Henry Stiner, private, Tenth Regiment,
Company G; enlisted October 1, 1862 ; mustered
October 13, 1862.
George W. Stiner, private, Tenth Regiment.

878

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

EDUCATION.
The earliest schools in Knox were of the most
primitive description. It is said that previous to
the beginning of the present century two or more
were taught in little log school-houses by tran
sient pedagogues. One of these pioneer school-
houses is reported to have stood where Knoxville
now is, and another in the vicinity of the locality
now known as Township. The number of these
houses increased as the growing population de
manded during the early portion of the century,
and in time they one by one gave place to small
frame buildings, some of which have been replaced
by new and more comfortable and convenient ones
within the last few years. Under the operation of
the public school system of the State of New York,
the schools of Knox have been greatly improved,
and the standard of instruction has been consider-
bly raised.
The following statistics will show at a glance the
status of the schools in each of the thirteen dis
tricts of the town for the last school year:
District No. i. — Number teachers employed,
i; number children of the school age, 52; number
of weeks school was kept, 35; number of children
who attended school during the year, 42; average
daily attendance, 15.952; 1 frame school-house;
value of school-house and site, $300.
District No. 2. — Number teachers employed, 1;
number children of the school age, 59; number of
weeks school was kept, 32; number of children
who attended school during the year, 4 1 ; average
daily attendance, 22; 1 frame school-house; value
of school-house and site, $100.
. District No. 3. — Number teachers employed, 1;
number children of the school age, 42; number
weeks school was kept, 34; number children who
attended school during the year, 3 1 ; average daily
attendance, 13.3; 1 frame school-house; value of
school-house and site, $500 ; number of volumes
in library 50; value of library, $10.
District No. 4. — Number teachers employed, 1;
number children of the school age, 30; number
weeks school was kept, 28; number children who
attended school during the year, 20; average daily
attendance, 4.588; 1 frame school-house; value of
school-house and site, $250; number volumes in
library, 150; value of library, $50.
District No. 5. — Number teachers employed, 1;
number children of the school age, 31; number
weeks school was kept, 33; number children who
attended school during the year, 27; average daily
attendance, 8.5; 1 frame school-house; value of
school-house and site, $500; number volumes in
library, 25; value of library, $25.
District No. 6. — Number teachers employed, 1;
number children of the school age, 67; number of
weeks school was kept, 34; number children who
attended school during the year, 54; average daily

attendance, 25.7; 1 frame school-house; value of
school-house and site, $200; number volumes in
library, 100; value of library, $20.
District No. 7. — Number teachers employed, 1;
number children of the school age, 23; number
weeks school was kept, 31; number children who
attended school during the year, 2 1 ; average daily
attendance, 13; 1 frame school-house; value of
school-house and site, $300; number volumes in
library, 30; value of library, $5.
District No. 8. — Number teachers employed, 1;
number children of the school age, 38; number
children who attended school during the year, 37;
average daily attendance, 16.934; 1 frame school-
house; value of school-house and site, $300;
number volumes in library, 25; value of library, $5;
number weeks school was kept, 36.
District No. 9 is a joint district, most of which
lies within the town of Wright, Schoharie County,
only 2 children of the school age living in the por
tion lying in Knox and the school-house being
located in Wright.
District No. 10. — Number teachers employed, 1;
number children of the school age, 4 1 ; number
weeks school was kept, 30; number children who
attended school during the year, 41; average daily
attendance, 14; 1 frame school-house; value of
school-house and site, $200; number books in
library, 60; value of library, $20.
District No. n. — Number teachers employed,
1; number children of the school age, 47; number
of weeks school was kept, 30; number children
who attended school during the year, 37; average
daily attendance, 13.492; 1 frame school-house;
value of school-house and site, $500; number
volumes in library, 75; value of library, $40.
District No. 12. — Number teachers employed, 1;
number children of the school age, 22; number
of weeks school was kept, 28; number of children
who attended school during the year, 10; average
daily attendance, 4; 1 frame school-house; value
of school-house and site, $400; number volumes
in library, 78.
District No. 13. — Number teachers employed, 1;
number children of the school age, 20; number
weeks school was kept, 28; number of children
who attended school during the year, 15; average
daily attendance, 7.128; 1 frame school -house;
value of school-house and site, $400; number
volumes in library, 100.
An institution which has been in some sense a
rival of the public schools of Knox, and which
the partisans of the public school system contend
was greatly instrumental in retarding its develop
ment in the town, is the Knoxville Academy.
This institution, which during the past two years
has been inoperative, and which it is not thought
is likely to be revived, once stood high among
similar educational establishments, and caused
Knox. to be regarded as the educational center of
a considerable area of surrounding country.
Many men of Albany County, who have since

THE TOWNSHIP OF KNOX.

879

become distinguished in various walks of life were
students there thirty and forty years ago, and the in
stitution was under the care of a succession of able
instructors, named as follows :
Rev. Mr. Lockwood, Mr. Scribner, Henry Gal
lup, M. P. Cavert, Mr. Baker, Mr. Lyon, Mr.
Warner, Charles McGregor, Henry McGregor,
John T. Lansing, Samuel Patton, Rev. Mr. Jones,
M. M. Goodenough, J. Q. A. Crounse, George P.
Quay, Eugene Crounse, D. G. Many, John
Bogardus, Alfred Batey and David E. Coeler.
This institution was organized under the general
law of the State of New York for the establishment
of academies, about 1829 or 1830, by Messrs.
Gurdon, Gardiner and John Gallup, Dr. Elisha
Williams, Dr. Brownell, Jesse Tyler and others.
For many years it enjoyed a large patronage from
the surrounding portions of Albany and Schoharie
counties, and many students came from abroad ;
but its patronage has gradually declined since the
establishment of State Normal Schools and Graded
Public Schools, and its years of usefulness seem to
have passed. Its retrogression does not mark it as
being in any manner peculiarly unfortunate, for its
fate has been shared by nearly every other academy
in the State, some of which have not been opened
for one or two decades ; while its active existence
did not terminate until within the past two years.
During the temporary unfitness of the neighboring
public school building, the old academy building
has lately been occupied by the public school of
the village of. Knoxville. The board of trustees of
the Knoxville Academy, in 1884, was constituted
as follows : Elam Williams, president ; S. Sand,
John G. Crary, J. W. Chesebro, Hon. Peter
Schoonmaker, E. G. A. Crounse, A. C. Hunting,
J. C. Ogden and Denison Crary.
KNOX'S PROFESSIONAL MEN.
It is believed that Dr. Erastus Williams was the
first resident physician in Knox. He practiced
his profession there during the early part of the
present century. Dr. Moses Brownell was his con
temporary and successor. Drs. John Van Allen,
Zeh, Sigsby, Johnson and Johnson have been
resident physicians since their time. Azor Taber,
who was born in 1799 and died in 1858, was the
only lawyer who ever practiced his profession in the
town.
CHURCHES.
The New England settlers within the borders of
Knox brought with them the religious tenets of
their forefathers in Connecticut, and it was not long

before the advisability of forming a Presbyterian
congregation was agitated. It is thought to have
been some years before a formal organization was
effected, under the transient ministration of some
clergyman who chanced to visit the locality. Ir
regular worship was established and occasional
preaching was had until 1825, when the first pastor
was settled. It is said that the church was formally
organized by the Rev. Dr. Nott, of Union Col
lege. About September 1, 1825, the Presbyterian
congregation of Knox presented a call to Rev. J.
Judson Buck to become their pastor and labor as
such one-half of the time. This call was accepted,
and on the 19th day of October following he was
installed over the congregations of Knox and
Hamilton Union. The engagement was to preach
alternately to each congregation. At that time
fifty-five persons belonged to the congregation.
They were named as follows :
Henry Denison, P. Witter, Isaac Barber, Erastus
Williams, Daniel Chesebro, John Gallup, Wright
Skinner, Dow Van Derker, Henry Dane, Cyrus
Chapman, Henry Williams, Daniel Gallup, Sally
Todd, Lucy Gallup, Lucy Witter, Bridget Chesebro,
Anna Chesebro, Betsy Van Derker, Nancy Van
Derker, Rebecca Van Derker, Nancy Chesebro,
Lewis Denison, Ann Allen, Ann Witter, Damas
Corwith Witter, Polly Van Alstyne, Hannah Hilton,
Nancy Gallup, Polly Crary, Sarah Williams,
Abigail Rodgers, Mary Brownell, Elizabeth Brown,
Mary White, Mrs. Russel, Betsy Wilson, Rachel
Warrick, Hannah Settle, Ann Clow, Catherine
Butterfield, Margaret Groat, Anna Young, Sarah
Todd, Nancy Brown, Sally Parker, Susan B.
Todd, Barbara Hart, Nancy Crary, Caroline Wi 1-
son, Polly Bundy, Asenath Tails, Lavina Chap
man, Amy Bundy and Nancy Starkweather.
Rev. Mr. Buck had at this time been laboring
with the people irregularly since 1822, and of these
named above all except eleven united with the
church through his influence. Those who were
in connection at the time he came were the follow
ing named : Henry Denison, P. Witter, John Gal
lup, Daniel Chesebro, Wright Skinner, Hannah
Gallup, Sally Todd, Lucy Gallup, Lucy Witter,
Bridget Chesebro and Anna Chesebro. The elders
of the congregation were Erastus Williams, Isaac
Barber, P. Witter and Henry Denison.
The following entry appears in the church
records under date of October 19, 1828 :
" This day ends three years of my pastoral labor
at Knox. Having resigned my charge at Hamil
ton Union, for the last year I have labored constant
ly at Knox. J. Judson Buck."
April 26, 1829, the pastor wrote as follows:

« 880

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

"This day closes my pastoral labors at Knox.
Having obtained leave of Presbytery, I have re
signed my pastoral charge.
"The church of Knox, which I greatly love, I
commend to God and to the riches of His grace.
Leaving it it the hands of ' ' that great Shepherd of
the sheep," I go away, praying the blessing of God
may rest upon it, and that God may soon give it a
pastor after His own heart. J. Judson Buck. "
Rev. Mr. Buck's connection with the church
does not appear to have ceased, however, until
some time in 1830, as he is recorded as having
acted as moderator at meetings of the session until
then. After an interregnum of fully a year, he was
again moderator when the session met, August 26,
183 1. It is supposed that he resided in the vicin
ity and took a friendly and helpful interest in the
church, but did not act as its pastor after 1829.
The records do not show that any pastor was in
stalled subsequently, but Rev. Mr. Waters and
Rev. Mr. Robertson, Rev. David Lyon, Rev. Mr.
Snyder, Rev. Mr. Lockwood and other clergymen
from neighboring churches, from time to time,
acted as moderators at the meetings of the sessions,
and by some it is thought that Rev. Mr. Waters
and Rev. Mr. Rockwood were duly installed pas
tors. The church seems to have languished. Financial
and numerical weakness seems to have threatened
its disintegration. The Presbyterians of Knox
were few in number. They had no pastor. Their
church was isolated from others of its kind. A
strong sentiment had sprung up in the town in
favor of the Dutch Reformed Church. For some
time the advisability of reorganizing their church
according to the rules of the Dutch Reformed
Church was discussed by the Presbyterians. It is
not to be supposed that this step could be taken
without much opposition and no little acrimony.
It involved the withdrawal of some members and
the tardy and most unwilling acquiescence of others.
The change was effected, however, and the old
Presbyterian Church of Knox became the founda
tion upon which was erected the Reformed Church
of Knox.
The church and congregation were received into
the classis of Albany, at its semi-annual session
held at Westerlo, September 20, 1842, and consti
tuted "The First Reformed Dutch Church of
Knox." The following members of the old Pres
byterian Church were dismissed to form the new
organization: Daniel Chesebro and wife, Joseph
Gallup and wife, Henry Williams and wife, Lois
Freeman, Ann Allen, Samuel Russell and wife,
Mrs. Hannah Hilton, Mrs. Park Witter, Ann

Young, Sally Packer, Daniel Gallup, Margaret
Groat, Amelia Clute, Cornelia Bogardus, Sarah M.
Williams, Gurden Gallup and wife, Eve Haverley,
Magdalen Luce, John J. Tyler, Charles Clute,
Beebe D. Crary, Cornelia L. Werner, Henrietta
M. Williams, Sarah Herrick, Hannah Gallup and
Hannah Crary.
At a meeting of the male members of the church
held on Saturday, September 31, 1842, the follow
ing persons were chosen members of the consistory:
Daniel Chesebro, Joseph Gallup, Gurden Gallup,
Henry Williams, Jr. , John Van Allen, Michael P.
Cavart, Charles Clute, John Posson. Henry Wil
liams was chosen treasurer and John Van Allen
clerk. At that time the congregation consisted of
forty-three members, representing twenty-five
families. The reorganization was effected under the min
istration of Rev. Joseph Kneiskem, who was pas
tor of the new church until succeeded by Rev.
John Vandervolgen. The succeeding pastors have
been Rev. Mr. Hammond, Rev. Mr. Bogardus,
Rev. James Compton, Rev. Mr. Vedder, Rev. Wil
liam H. Ballagh and Rev. George M. D. Slocum,
who resigned in 1882, since when the church has
had no settled pastor, but has been ' ' supplied "
from Gallupville, Schoharie County.
The membership of this organization in 1884
was forty-five. The consistory and board of trus
tees were composed as follows: Henry Barckley,
Charles Clute, elders, and William Chesebro and
John Bogardus, deacons. The original house of
worship was a plain wooden building, of the unin
viting kind, which have been denominated "God's
barns. " It stood in Knoxville, a little below the
site of the present structure, and on the same side
of the street. The edifice now in use is a frame
building, which was built about thirty years ago.
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.
Nearly all the books and papers of Zion's Evan
gelical Lutheran Church of Knox prior to 1828
are lost, so that very little of its early history is
known, except what is given in Munsell's Annals
and the old church books of Schoharie and Guil
derland. About 1745 the members of the Re
formed and Lutheran churches in this vicinity
took up, under the church patent law, a tract of
land for a Reformed and Lutheran church, lot
and farm containing about forty-two acres. Soon
after Rev. Nicholas Sommer, while pastor at Scho
harie, visited this neighborhood and organized a
Lutheran church. The first church and school-
house, a building about twenty feet square, was

THE TOWNSHIP OF KNOX.

881.

erected about 1750. In August, 18 10, another
building lot was purchased, and in the following
fall the old church was removed to the new lot and
remodeled. In the spring of 1828 this old church
was torn down and a new church, twenty by thirty
feet, was framed, raised and partly inclosed; but
before the windows were put in, or the doors hung,
the Reformed and Lutheran officers had some mis
understanding, and their disagreement continued
so long that the officers resigned and the society
was broken up, nothing remaining but the unfin
ished church and the deed, all other papers having
been lost or destroyed.
Nothing was done toward finishing the church
or organizing the congregation until December 19,
1829, when a number of the former members, to
gether with some others who helped support the
gospel, met and re-incorporated and chartered
"Zion's Lutheran and Reformed Church of the
Helderberg," and as soon as weather would per
mit the church was completed. In 1839, owing
to some difficulties, the Reformed members with
drew and built a church at Secors. October 13,
1839, Rev. Adam Crounse fully reorganized Zion's
Lutheran Church at Knox with fifty-one members,
twenty-one of whom were living in 188 1. In 1850
the present church was erected, at a cost of $1, 200.
It was dedicated, March 23, 1851, Rev. Dr. Lint
ner, of Schoharie, preaching the sermon, and Rev.
Adam Crounse, the pastor, conducting the other
exercises. The parsonage was built in 1868 and
1869. The first record of any pastorate that can be
found states that in 1745 Rev. Peter Nicholas Som-
mer, then located at Schoharie, at stated times
preached and administered the sacraments. From
1790 to 1800 Rev. Henry Moeller preached occa
sionally. From 1800 to 1828 Revs. Miller and
Merkle occupied the pulpit. About 1830 Rev.
Adam Crounse became pastor, in connection with
Berne and Guilderland. He resigned in 1884.
In 1845 and 1846 Rev. A. L. Bridgman became
pastor of Guilderland and Knox, Berne having se
cured a pastor of its own. He resigned in 1848,
and Rev. Adam Crounse was again pastor from
1849 to 1862. The church was without a pastor
till November, 1864, the pulpit being supplied
monthly by the members of the third conference,
when Rev. A. N. Daniels became pastor, serving
till June, 1872. . Rev. N. Klock was pastor from
July, 1872, to April, 1875. He was succeeded by
Rev. A. Martenis, who resigned in 1877, returning
for a few months in 1878. In November, 1878,
Rev. Luther P. Ludden took charge and remained

till the fall of 1883. Since that time the church
has been supplied, Rev. Silas Young, of Gallupville,
Schoharie County, occupying its pulpit and at
tending to the duties connected with the pastorate.
When not occupied by a resident pastor, the glebe
has been leased for farming purposes, and the
rental applied for the benefit of the church. The
present membership is about 120.
In 1884 the official management of this church
was in the control of the following persons:
Trustees — Theodore Batcher, Amos G. Warner
and Jacob A. Warner. Elders — John Keenholts,
Seneca Frink, Mathias Zeh and Hiram Clickman.
Deacons — Jesse Saddlemire, Eli Secor, Silas Click-
man and L. Park Witter. Clerk — George Hanes.
The membership was about one hundred.
The early records of the Methodist Episcopal
Church of Knox appear to be few and imperfect.
Tradition says Rev. William Brown, a local preach
er, was the first Methodist preacher in the town.
From inscriptions on tombstones in the little ceme
tery on the farm owned by Nicholas Chesebro, it
appears that Rev. William Brown was born Oc
tober 24, 1758, and died April 25, 1834, aged 75
years, 6 months and 1 day. His wife, Mary (Chese
bro) Brown, died January 18, 1835, aged 73
years. His daughter, Priscilla, died March 25,
1832, aged 30 years. When a young man, Rev.
Mr. Brown built a house, which still stands on the
Chesebro farm, and is said to be more than one
hundred years old.
In its early days, this church was connected with
the Methodist churches of Berne, Reedsville, Mid
dleburgh and Schoharie, to form the Berne circuit.
It is believed that Joseph Hunting, F. Dominic,
Levi Van Auken and Christopher Chesebro were
the first members of the Methodist church in this
town. The first church edifice stood about a mile east
of the one now standing at " Knox street," and
was taken down when the latter was built, in 1851,
under the pastorate of Rev. John Chase. Another
was built, about the same time, in that part of the
town called " Township, " and still another had
been built in 1841, in the north part of the town.
These three are now in use.
The succession of pastors has been as follows:
Revs. John Gage, 1846 and 1847; John Chase,
1851 and 1853; C. M. Anderson, 1853; Elisha
Watson, 1854 and 1855; Aaron Hall, 1856 and
1857; A. Campbell, 1858 and 1859; R. Patterson,
i860 and 1861; C. E. Taylor, 1862 and 1863; M.
P. Bell, 1864-1866; H. Harris, 1867 and 1868;
William Earl, 1869 and 1870; W. C. Butcher,
1871; J. B. Wood, 1872 and 1873; S. Palmer,

882

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

1874 and 1875; J. C. Walker, 1876; J. J. Austin,
1877 and 1878; A. Eaton, 1879 and 1880; E.
Morgan, 1881 and 1883; A. V. Marshall, 1884
and 1885.
The last annual report shows a membership of
162, and many members have since been added.
The Baptist Church in the territory now includ
ing the town of Knox was, previous to 1825,
known as the Church of Berne. In 181 2 Rev. N.
H. Ripley was pastor, with 105 members. We
learn fiom a copy of Minutes without date that be
fore this the members had numbered no. They
had no pastor for twelve years, when Rev. Samuel
Hare preached for them eight years, closing his
pastorate in 1832. In 1828 they had 99 members.
In 1833, Rev. N. Ferguson; 1835, Rev. M. S.
Earl; 1843, Rev. R. Winegar preached for them
one year each. In 1845 Rev. W. Storrs was pas
tor, probably for two years, and the membership
was 82. In 1848 and 1489 Rev. W. Hodgson
was pastor, and the church gained ten members.
About 1850 Rev. S. G. Tower began preaching
for them, and about 1853 he, by faithful, earnest
and persistent effort, succeeded in building a house
of worship. He closed his labors with them about
1861. In 1864 and 1865 Rev. H. M. Jones was
pastor, and Rev. Thomas Fisher began to preach
for them in 1867, continuing till 1870. From
September, 1872, Rev. J. S. Johnson was pastor
for two year. Rev. G. Beeker, then a licentiate of
Flat Creek church, began preaching for them in
April, 1878, and continued for some time. About
this time the membership had become greatly
reduced. In 1884, through the evangelical labors
of Rev. L. G. Brown, of Adams, N. Y., a con
siderable accession of membership was secured.
Charles J. Seabury is deacon, and Rev. J. Becker
comes occasionally from a distance to hold services.
MANUFACTURES.
Knox cannot be regarded as a manufacturing
town. It has no water-power of importance, and
is too remote from transportation facilities to render
the introduction of heavy steam-driven machinery
profitable. From an early date small saw-mills were in oper
ation at various points along the small streams
having their courses through the town. They did
their allotted part in the work of improvement
incident to the civilizing period through which
Knox, in common with most other portions
of our eastern country, passed in its time.
Among the owners of such mills were Amos
Crary, Hiram Gage, Egbert Schoonmaker and

Nathaniel Swan, who were operating previous to
1825, and Malachi Whipple, Daniel Cary and
Mr. Vandecar, whose mills passed out of active ex
istence about 1840. Swart & Saddlemire were
running a mill until a few years ago, and Frederick
Bouler and Bemsley Williamson are the owners of
small mills, which are operated from time to time,
as the depth of water in the streams will permit.
The supply of timber, once plentiful, is now nearly
exhausted, only occasional patches of woodland
remaining. There was once a small grist-mill on a little
stream in the north part of the town. For years
the farmers of Knox have been compelled to take
their grain to be ground outside of the borders of
the town.
Gideon Taber, who was once a shoemaker and
tanner and harness manufacturer in Knox, was
at the same time the progenitor of one of the
leading families of the town, and one of the best
known men in Albany County. He was born in
New London, Conn., in 1764, of a Quaker father
and mother. Being a non-combatant, he went to
Canada during the Revolution, to avoid being
drawn into the American army and compelled to
fight against his convictions, and for a time he
commanded a vessel on Lake Champlain. Com
ing to Knox after peace was established, he went
about among the farmers, "whipping the cat," as
itinerant shoemaking and repairing was denomi
nated. Being a thrifty man, he prospered, and
after a time established a small tannery, where he
made leather, which he manufactured into shoes,
saddles and harness, employing quite a number of
men, and doing a large business for the time. He
became a justice of the peace and represented his
fellow citizens in the Assembly about 1818-20.
His grandson, Charles Clute, now owns and lives
on the old Taber homestead where his tannery and
manufacturing operations were carried on.
In 1 83 1 Alexander Crounse, who had moved
into Knox from an adjoining town, put up a tan
nery building, 56 feet by 28, on the main road
through the town west of Knoxville, and for many
years did considerable in the manufacture of har
ness and upper-leather. The changes in the hide
and leather trade during the last few years have
contributed to render this business less profitable
and important than it was formerly. About five
years ago Mr. Crounse transferred the establish
ment to his son, Eugene G. A. Crounse. An ad
dition to the tannery building was erected in 1884,
and improved machinery for the manufacture of
horse feed was put in. This branch of industry

THE TOWNSHIP OF KNOX.

883

Mr. Crounse carries on in connection with tan
ning, his father, Alexander Crounse, giving his
personal attention to the supervision of the latter
department. Nathan Crary, father of Mr. John G. Crary, or
ganized the manufacture of pill-boxes in Knox
about eighty years ago. Since his time the busi
ness has been more or less extensively carried on
by John G. Crary and others. The manufacturers
of Brandreth's and other pills obtain their supply
of small wooden boxes here, and many of the citi
zens of Knoxville and vicinity find employment in
the industry.
BURIAL GROUNDS.
In the earlier days of the history of the town, in
terments were made on the farms of the residents.
Here and there may still be seen neatly kept family
plots on gentle slopes not far distant from some of
the finest farm-houses in Knox. About the time
of the organization of the old Presbyterian church,
the graveyard in Knoxville, which is still known as
" the old Presbyterian burying ground," was open
ed. Occasional interments are made there still,
and many of its quaint old headstones bear the
names of those who were among the pioneers of the
town. The Whipple Cemetery, in the eastern part of
the town, has long been much in use by the
people of Knox. It occupies a commanding po
sition upon an abrupt elevation, and contains nu
merous interesting and quite a number of sightly

monuments. It has recently been improved and
provided with a substantial inclosure and an at
tractive entrance. It is so known from the fact
that it is located on a portion of the Whipple farm,
and is maintained at the joint expense of the many
families who bury their dead there.
The Knox Cemetery is a beautiful and sightly
burial place, possessing many advantages. The
Cemetery Company controlling it was organized in
1874, and the cemetery was dedicated by Rev. Mr.
Robinson, August 18, that year. The body of
Lieutenant Michael P. Barclay was the first one
buried there. The officers of the company at its
organization were David Van Auken, Amos Crary,
Charles Clute, Henry Blackley, and one other.
The present officers are as follows : Charles Gage,
president ; Peter Schoonmaker, secretary and treas
urer ; William Van Auken, Nicholas Chesebro,
W. Crary and Arthur Witter.
LOCAL INSURANCE.
Knox has a local mutual fire insurance com
pany, which has been in successful operation several
years, with which Hon. Peter Schoonmaker and
other prominent citizens have from time to time
been officially connected. Its policies now aggre
gate about $400,000, and its assessable bonds
amount to $16,000. Its officers in the fall of 1884
were : Ira Van Auken, president ; Elias Bassler,
secretary ; William Sand, I. D. Haverly, James M.
Chesebro, Nicholas Chesebro, Amos Saddlemire,
Austin Gifford and Norman O. Bell (agent).

884

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

/&y>?

HON. PETER SCHOONMAKER.
Hon. Peter Schoonmaker is a son of Christian
and Lydia (Warner) Schoonmaker, and was born
in Knox, June 29, 1828. He was reared on his
father's farm, and received his education in the
public schools of his native town. He engaged in
farming and became known as one of the most suc
cessful farmers and business man in his section of
the county. He from time to time purchased sev
eral farms in Knox, and at his father's death in
herited the old Schoonmaker homestead, where he
has lived all his life. For some time past he has been
the most extensive real estate owner in the town.
In 1850 Mr. Schoonmaker married Miss Eme-
line Wolford, a daughter of Henry Wolford, a farm
er of Knox. He has two sons — Winfield Scott
Schoonmaker and Jay Schoonmaker, both of
whom are married, live near their father, and are
ranked among the most enterprising of the young
business men of Knox.
An ardent Republican and an active worker for
the advancement of the cause of his party, both at
home and abroad, Mr. Schoonmaker has, since he
grew to manhood, taken a deep interest in political
affairs. He was elected assessor of the town of
Knox in the spring of 1855, and re-elected each
successive term until he resigned the position in
1866. In the last-mentioned year he was elected

supervisor. He was re-elected the six succeeding
terms, five times without opposition. In 1872
he was the candidate of the Republican party for
member of Assembly to represent the First Assem
bly District of Albany County. The district had
for several years given a Democratic majority, and
at the best could only be regarded as close by the
Republicans. No better evidence of Mr. Schoonmak
er 's personal popularity could be adduced than the
fact that he was elected by 987 majority. Mr. Schoon
maker served on the committees on " Roads and
Bridges, " ' 'Agriculture "and " Privileges and Elec
tions," and cast his vote for Hon. Roscoe Conk
ling for United States Senator. His service as As
semblyman was both creditable to himself and
highly satisfactory to his constituents. He declined
a re-election and has since refused to be a candi
date for any office, devoting himself to his business;
but his interest in the Republican cause is so deep
that he has at the same time been an active and in
fluential worker for the success of his party in his
town, county and country. He has also devoted
himself assiduously to the advancement of the in
terests of the town of Knox. He has been promi
nent in the conduct of its educational institutions,
and is one of the leading spirits in the management
of the well-known local insurance company of
Knox. He and his wife are members of St. Paul's
Lutheran Evangelical Church of Berne.

THE TOWNSHIP OF KNOX.

885

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DENISON CRARY.
Among the earliest settlers in Knox were the
Crarys and Denisons, who came from Connecticut
in 1798. Thomas Crary was born in Connecticut,
October 12, 1744. He married Mehetabel Mason,
January 9, 1772. They had nine children —
Thomas, born in 1775; Mary, born in 1777;
Mason, born in 1779; Eunice, born in 1782;
Cynthia, born in 1786; Amos, born in 1788;
Andrew, born in 1790; Ephraim, born in 1793;
and Jabez, born in 1 796. Amos Crary married
Mary Denison in 1811, and had six children,
named as follows in the order of their birth: Den
ison, Susan, Thomas, Horace, Sarah Ann and
Esther. Susan removed to Iowa and died there.
Thomas died in infancy. Horace removed, when
a young man, to Schoharie County, and thence, in
1883, to Chicago. Sarah Ann also lives in Chi
cago. Esther lives in Iowa. The only one repre
senting the family in the town at the present time
is Denison Crary, eldest child of Amos, who was
born June 30, 181 2. Captain Henry Denison
served the cause of the colonies in the Revolution
ary war, and after coming to Knox was one of the
most prominent early residents. He was one of
the founders of the Old Knox Presbyterian Church,

of which he was also a deacon for many years. He
had seven children, named Henry, Daniel, Gideon,
Mary, Sally, Lois and Esther. Henry removed to
Pennsylvania and died there. Daniel became a
physician, and lived and died in Onondaga County,
which he represented twice in the Assembly.
Gideon died in Knox, at the age of thirty-three.
Mary married Amos Crary, and died in 1840, aged
fifty-one. Sally died unmarried. Lois and Esther
married, and died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Denison Crary was reared on his father's farm,
attending the public schools, and for a time the
old Knox Academy. He has been a farmer all his
life, except about three years, during which he was
engaged upon the construction of the New York
Central Railroad, between Schenectady and Utica
and between Syracuse and Auburn, and of the
Erie Railway, upon which he fulfilled two con
tracts, one for a mile of grade eastward out of
Dunkirk, and another for a section in Orange
County. In these contracts Anson H. Taylor, his
uncle, was his partner. His home farm was pur
chased by his father about 1842, and Mr. Crary has
owned and lived on it since 1862. Since that
date he has purchased a small farm, partially
timber land, located about a mile from his resi
dence.

886

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

X

June 1 6, 1856, Mr. Crary married Miss Henri
etta M. Williams, of Knox, a granddaughter of
Ebenezer Williams, who was another of the early
settlers who came into Knox from Connecticut
about the close of the last century. He has been
a Republican since the organization of the Repub
lican party, and has voted for every Republican
candidate for the Presidency from Fremont to Blaine.
Previous to the organization of the Republican
party he was a Whig. But it is not to be supposed
that, while he is an ardent partisan, he is by any
means an active politician. He has been too busy
all his life to mingle much with public affairs. His
attention to his own personal interests has been
close and unremitting, and he is recognized as one
of the most successful farmers in his section of the
county. Mrs. Crary is a member and Mr. Crary
is a regular attendant and liberal supporter of the
Dutch Reformed Church of Knox. He also con
tributes generously to all worthy public objects,
and is regarded as the friend and abettor of all
needed improvements in the town. He has served

his fellow townsmen as Highway Commissioner and
Town Clerk, but has usually refused to be a candi
date for any office whatever.
SAMUEL B. DAVENPORT.
Samuel B. Davenport was born in Newcastle,
Westchester County, N. Y. His father was Wil
liam Doty Davenport. His mother was Phebe C.
Marshall (Davenport), who died February 3, 1869,
aged seventy-three years. They were married Oc
tober 20, 1 8 14. William Davenport, grandfather
of Mr. Samuel B. Davenport, was born June 1 8,
1759, and married Elizabeth Doty, who was born
February 10, 1763. Sometime prior to the Rev
olutionary war he removed from Flushing, L. I. ,
to Chappaqua, Westchester County. His farm
lay between the British and American lines, as they
were drawn at one time, and it was his ill fortune
to twice fall into the hands of the English sol
diers. Upon the first occasion he made his escape
unharmed; but upon the second, while endeavor-

THE TOWNSHIP OF KNOX.

887

ing to hurry him away to a place of confinement,
bis captors, mounted on horseback and driving
him on foot before them, pricked and injured him
with their bayonets so seriously that he never en
tirely recovered from the wounds then received.
He died July 23, 1826; his wife, July 23, 1846!
Their children were Samuel, born February 28,
1785, and died December 27, i792;Stephen, born
October 4, 1786, and died April 24, 1853; Mary,
born September 13, 1788, and died February 12',
1854; William Doty, born December 7, 1790, and
died March 3, 1876; Phebe, born August 17,
1793, and died about ten years ago.
The children of William Doty Davenport and
his wife were : David M., born November 12, 181 5,
who died October 3, 1871; Lydia C, born April
23, 1817, who died April 8, 1871; Marilla K.,
born May 16, 1822; Samuel B., born July 7, 1825;
Mary, born March 23, 1829; Ira M., born Feb
ruary 23, 1 831; Elizabeth, born August 20, 1883;
Asa, born September 1, 1836, who died Septem
ber 9, 1839.
William Doty Davenport and his family removed
to Knox in 1828, when Samuel B. was about'three
years old. The latter well remembers the crossing
of the Hudson at Albany by the family and his
fright at the boats plying about him. An attempt
to rob Mr. Davenport by men who had known of
his drawing his money from the bank in Westches
ter County, and followed him with that purpose in
view, was frustrated in Duanesburgh, while the
party were passing through a dense wood, by a
faithful dog which the new-comer was bringing to
his new home in Knox. Mr. Davenport also re
members when, at the age of six years, his father
took him to Albany to witness the opening of the
Albany and Schenectady Railroad, one of the first
railroads of any importance opened in the country.

He was educated at the common schools at Quaker
street, and brought up to a farmer's life. He has
since resided in Knox, and has been a successful
farmer and a highly respected citizen. He is a
Republican in politics, and deeply interested in
public affairs and those of the community in which
he lives. He has served the town of Knox as
assessor eleven years in succession, and has for
many years been a trustee of Grove Cemetery As
sociation, proprietors of the Grove Cemetery at
Quaker street. He married Miss Hannah Jane
Powell, daughter of Elisha Powell, a Quaker, and
for many years, till his death, a resident of Green
ville, Greene County, N. Y. Mrs. Davenport died
August 20, 1874. He married Mrs. Caroline M.
W. Baker, widow of Dr. Austin A. Baker, of
Howard, Steuben County, N. Y., April 24, 1876.
By his first marriage he had children as follows:
Isabel, born July 17, 1851, who died April 8,
i860; Mary Marilla, born June 26, 1853, who
married George Hallenbeck, of Knowersville, June
21, 1882, and Elisha H., born April 2, 1856, who
married Miss Emily Baker upon the same date as
that of his sister's marriage above mentioned, and
has one son, named Baker L. , who was born De
cember 22, 1883.

We take pleasure in making mention of the fol
lowing citizens, who, by their guaranteed support,
have helped to insure the publication of this valua
ble work: E. G. A. Crounse, Peter Schoonmaker,
Chas. G. Frink, Denison Crary, Jacob Sholtes,
Robert Schoonmaker, J. G. Lendrum, Dennis H.
Colliton, A. Quay.
Alonzo Quay, born in Knox, February 10, 1853;
married Elizabeth E. Townsend, Novemer 15,
1856; farmer; Knox post-office.

8S8

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

CHARLES G. FRINK.
Charles Frink came from Connecticut and set
tled in what is now Knox in 1797. He was the
great-grandfather of Mr. Charles G. Frink, the
present supervisor of the town. His son, Charles
Frink, Jr., married into the Stark family of Con
necticut before he accompanied his father to Knox.
He became a farmer in Knox, and had three chil
dren, two sons and a daughter. The sons were
named Russel and Charles, the last mentioned of
whom was the father of Mr. Charles G. Frink.
Prudence, the daughter, married Oliver Forsyth,
of Wright, Schoharie County. Russel married
Rebecca Gallup and removed to Schoharie County,
and thence to Belchertown, Mass., where he died.
Charles married Maria Osterhout, of Knox. They
had twelve children, of whom Charles G. Frink,
born July 2, 1819, was the oldest. He attended
the common school, and later was a student at the
old Knox Academy for a time. He was reared by
his grandfather, George Osterhout, and lived with
him until he was about twenty years old, when his

grandfather removed to Fulton, Schoharie County.
Later, Mr. Osterhout removed to Rotterdam,
Schenectady County, where he died.
Mr. Frink learned the mason's trade and worked
at it in connection with farming for about seven
years. January 20, 1844, he married Miss Mar
garet Schoonmaker, daughter of Christian Schoon
maker, of Knox. A few years afterward he
turned his attention wholly to farming, and since
his marriage has lived on the old Christian Schoon
maker homestead, which was inherited .by Mrs.
Frink. In 1861 he purchased the Osterhout farm,
formerly owned by his grandfather. Later, he
bought the De Witt Schoonmaker farm. Mr.
Frink has had six children, only three of whom are
living. They were named, in the order of their
birth, Seneca, Charles M., Lydia, Ida, Mary and
Minnie. Lydia died July 27, i860, aged 6
years; Mary died August 19, 1874, aged 13 years;
Minnie died August 21, 1874, aged 11 years.
Seneca married Emeline Quay, of Kno»y and lives
on the Osterhout farm. Charles M. married
Euphemia Truax, of Knox, and lives with his

THE TOWNSHIP OF NEW SCOTLAND.

889

father. Ida is still a member of her father's
family. Politically, Mr. Frink is not a strong partisan,
but inclines to the principles of the Democratic
party. He has not been active in politics and has
never sought office of any kind, but he has been

elected to several minor town offices, and was
chosen supervisor of Knox in 1883, and re-elected
in 1885. Though not a church member, he has
always been a liberal contributor to the support of
Christianity in the town.

HISTORY OF NEW SCOTLAND.

By JACOB S. MARKLE.

AS this township was originally a part of Bethle
hem, and Bethlehem formed from Watervliet,
their histories previous to 1833 are difficult of
separation, and render the work more complicated,
as the records are incomplete in their local connec
tion; and in collecting the material very little was
obtained from public or. private records, as they
generally were disconnected in detail. So few
family records having been found reliable, the
writer was obliged to deduce an approximate date
for general reference in the order of events.
The names and complete succession of the
Roman Consuls and the victors of the Olympian
games are facts of record, while many important
events and data in the history and settlement of the
township cannot be clearly determined in these
days of modern progress. Few papers or records
of value were found in families relating to early
settlements, or bearing upon the history of neigh
borhoods. Many difficulties had to be overcome,
and the author returns thanks to those who kindly
contributed valuable information, and especially is
he indebted to the Rev. James G. K. McClure for
history of New Scotland Presbyterian Church, and
many other facts taken from his " Centenary Ser
mon." The design of the writer has been to compile
general facts of history, and record events that
shall possess valuable information for the reader
and the public for future reference.
The township of New Scotland was formed from
Bethlehem, April 25, 1832, and is the central town
of the county, having an area of 61,711 acres, and
a population of 3,253. There are no records of
the commissioners or surveyors who located or es
tablished the boundary line, nor any minutes relat
ing to the same. The act of the Legislature de
fines the point of beginning as follows: "From
and after the passage of this act, all that part of the

town of Bethlehem, in the County of Albany, lying
west of a line beginning at a point six miles west of
the Hudson River, in the south bounds of the town
of Guilderland; thence on a southerly course,
parallel with the Hudson River, to a point in the
north bounds of the town of Coeymans, six miles
west from the said Hudson River, and all lying west
of said line, shall be a separate town, to be known
by the name of New Scotland. "
Of the trees marked by the surveyors as monu
ments in this division line many have been
wantonly destroyed, and the few remaining will
soon disappear.
The surface is broken by ridges and hills that
rise from 400 to 800 feet high. The Helderberg
Hills are a marked feature of this town, and have a
great bearing on its physical structure, as they ex
tend through the western part, from south to north,
forming the water-shed, and giving direction to
the drainage, also contributing to the diversity of
scenery and agricultural resources. The soil is
clay and gravelly loam; the eastern and central
parts are rolling, the southern undulating, and the
western part, occupied by the Helderbergs, hilly.
The principal streams are the Normanskill, in the
northeast corner, and its tributary from this town is
Vlye or Fly Creek, which takes its rise from the
base of the Helderbergs; Vlaaman or Flaman's
Creek, in the eastern central ; Onisquethau Creek,
in the southern, with several small streams as tribu
taries, and Black Creek, in the northwest. Lawson's
Lake, in the south, on the line of Coeymans, is a
small sheet of water, the outlet of which falls into a
deep cavity and flows for some distance into a sub
terranean cavern, in which are found beautiful
stalactites and thousands of bats clinging to the
walls. Bennett's Hill, at Clarksville, has a strong
sulphur spring, and from the summit a fine land
scape lies before the visitor. At the foot of Cope-

890

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

land Hill are remarkable sink-holes, from five to
eight feet in diameter, which extend through the
soil and lime rock to the depth of ten or twenty
feet. These cavities are connected by an under
ground passage, which has been explored and found
to contain several rooms, while a stream of water
forms the bottom of this passage. At Clarksville
are two caves of considerable interest, frequented by
visitors. Mount Pleasant, which is a series of hills
east of New Salem, and the location of Mount
Pleasant Cemetery, seems by nature to have been
especially designated for the purpose, possessing
an elevated situation, with diversity of surface, and
an unbroken view in all directions for many
miles. The railroads that enter the town and contribute
to the general prosperity are: The Albany and
Susquehanna, which passes through the northeast
corner, with a station at Vorheesville, and the New
York, West Shore and Buffalo Railroad enters the
town near Feura Bush, extends north, crossing the
track of the Albany and Susquehanna road at Vor
heesville, which is an important station.
The physical feature of this town is the Helder
berg Hills, which form a very interesting group,
as they extend from north to south in the western
part and slope back to the adjoining towns. These
ranges are outlying spurs of the Catskills, which
are a northerly continuation of the Alleghany
Mountains, and a part of the great Appalachian
system. Their declivities are very steep, and some
times precipitous on the east, but slope more
gradually toward the west.
The highest point of these hills is an elevation of
1,823 feet above Governor's Island, mean tide,
and is upon the farm of David Flansburg, in the
western part of this town. Upon this summit the
United States Coast Survey and the New York
State Survey have a station, named "Helderberg."
There are several elevations from 1,000 to 1,700
feet high, and the plateaus from 600 to 1,000 feet.
From the summit of the Helderbergs, and
along the Beaverdam road as it winds up the hill,
many lovely prospects can be seen The range is
extensive and the scenery varied in beauty, present
ing a charming panorama of the surrounding
country. From the summit can be seen the vil
lages nestling in the valley beneath, and in the dis
tance the City of Albany, and new Capitol, West
Albany, Greenbush, Troy; also, the Green Moun
tains of Vermont. Trains of cars upon several
railroads are seen winding over the plains like
small threads, and at night the electric lights of
Albany illumine the sky like an aurora borealis.

The soil of this town is well adapted for the cul
tivation of all cereals, grass, potatoes and fruit.
Hay is one of the principal crops. Extensive or
chards of apple and plum trees are cultivated. Hops
are becoming an important staple with many farmers,
and a large area is planted throughout the town.
The farmers are an intelligent class, and many of
them adopt the progressive systems of rotation,
manuring and the use of fertilizers. Much atten
tion is given to the improvement of neat cattle,
and the careful crossing with improved breeds
secures qualities that are very much desired. Many
years ago Matthew Bullock, an Englishman, living
in this town, introduced and imported some fine
stock of short-horn breed, which for years proved
to be of great benefit to the dairyman and farmer.
Some of this original breed is yet in possession of
his son. Mr. Joseph Hilton, an extensive farmer,
has a fine herd of prize Devon cattle. Jersey
cattle, noted for their butter qualities, are now
largely supplanting other breeds.
Bee culture is becoming a business of much
importance, requiring careful attention and close
study. This industry is yet in its infancy ; old
methods are giving place to improvements through
practical experience and scientific knowledge. The
following have extensive apiaries : Aaron Snyder,
James Markle, Peter Livingston, Henry Martin.
Limestone is quite extensively quarried for build
ing purposes. Formerly the burning of lime was an
industry of the township, but the increased cost of
fuel brought the expenses above any profit and the
business has been abandoned.
The acreage of forests is rapidly diminishing.
Let us consider what were some of the primary
causes that induced many to emigrate from Holland
and settle at Fort Orange and vicinity. The Di
rectors of the West India Company, located at
Amsterdam, to encourage emigration, offered
special inducements and allowed their members to
buy and possess large tracts of land. Among those
who look advantage of this offer was Killian Van
Rensselaer, a director of this company, who se
cured for himself all the lands for twenty-four miles
square on each side of the river at Fort Orange,
about 1630. The patroon, in his anxiety to have
this land settled, offered a special and liberal in
ducement, with free rental for a term of years to
all who would occupy lands upon his patent. Up
to 1664 the Dutch had control of the colony of
New Netherlands, but now the English succeed
and a change of government follows ; this did not
interfere with the patroon's rights, yet at this time
only 210 families had availed themselves of this

THE TOWNSHIP OF NEW SCOTLAND.

891

offer, and these were in proximity to Fort Orange.
As . the surrounding country was a heavy, dense
forest, with roving bands of Indians, they remained
near the settlement for protection, and where they
could enjoy liberty of worship and other advantages.
At this time (1660) an event of considerable im
portance takes place. Jan Hendrickse Van Baal,
a servant of this West Inda Company, purchases
of four Mohawk chiefs, Canaghto, Schanwino,
Canhowadadin and Sagodeimechta, a tract of land
estimated to contain 69,000 acres, and defined as
follows : "A certain parcel of land near Schenec
tady, lying and being by the kill or creek called by
the Indian name, Towassontha, otherwise the
Norman's Kill ; the said land stretching from the
Sandy Hills northwest to an outlook of land which
it also includes, containing in length and in breadth
all the land as it lies in a square, together with the
woodland, valley or meadow ground, hills and
creeks, therein included."
The land was partly in Guilderland and Bethle
hem (now New Scotland), on both sides of the
Norman's Kill, and was covered by the Van Rens
selaer patent.
This transaction was considered lawful, since
Francis Lovelace, Governor-General under James,
Duke of York, confirmed the Van Baal patent in
1672. Within a few years of this confirmation,
Van Baal sold half of this patent to Jan Hendrickse
Vroman, and, in 1686, Vroman and his wife,
Geesie, sold the same to Omie de La Grange for
one hundred beaver skins. In 1716 Omie de La
Grange and Johannes Simonse Vedder purchased
the remainder of the patent from the heirs for
£2 50. Here, then, was the first settlements on the
Norman's Kill by Isaac and Omie La Grange and
Koenradt Koens, about 1 700. Several of the set
tlers about New Scotland took leases from these
families as early as 1 71 6. As these lands were
mostly of good quality and invited settlers, the
patroon laid claim to them and began a lawsuit,
which was decided by the arbitrator in his favor
(the arbitrator having been bribed, as the Van Baal
heirs asserted), and on the 6th day of July, 1776,
after having had these lands in possession ninety
years, Simon J. Vedder, Arie (Aurie) La Grange
and Volkert Vedder, with sixty-three other families,
gave up their possession to the patroon. This
patent extended west as far as Samuel Taylor's,
east of Salem. The de La Grange family was a
Huguenot family, driven from France into Hol
land by persecution, and one of the first settlers in
Albany was Jost de La Grange.*
* Doc. History of New York.

The above is compiled from a sermon by Rev.
James G. R. McClure, when pastor of New Scot
land Presbyterian church.
One of the first settlers in this town was Teunis
Slingerland, from Holland. He located on the
Onisquethau flats, and purchased a tract of land
from the' Indians, receiving a deed signed by three
chiefs. This deed is said to be in existence, but
cannot be obtained; so the writer cannot fix dates
or vouch for the authenticity of the transaction.
Teunis Slingerland married Engeltje, a daughter
of Albert Andriessen Bradt. Slingerland built a
dwelling and erected mills soon after getting pos
session, and descendants of this family occupy a
part of this tract, which contains superior farming
land. This family came about 1660 ; at the same
time Storm and Jan Bradt and a family of Segers
settled in the town. Many of their descendants
are living in this and adjoining townships.
In 1685 a deed was given to Teunis Slingerland
and Johannes Apple, his son-in-law, by the repre
sentatives of the three races or clans of the Ma-
quaes (Wolf, Bear and Turtle), owners and native
proprietors of all the land called O-nits-quat-haa.
The following extracts from this deed are given:
Sa-go-a-di-och — qui-sax, To-ho-daa-we, Ro-jen-
dre, Tap-in-dan-e-go, Ro-jon-jow, So-ha-ayn-tow-
anne, being empowered by all the sachems of the
three races of the Maquaes, and by On-i-gho-cen-
da, one of the principal owners, for and in con
sideration of the following goods, to wit, one
piece of shrift, three casks of rum, three kettles,
three shirts, hundred and fifty hands white wam
pum, and one bag of powder, sell, transport, con
vey, &c, &c. , to Teunis Slingerland and William
Apple, his son-in-law, their heirs, &c, a certain
tract of land lying on the north side of a certain
creek called O-nits-quat-haa, to the westward of
Albany, lying behind Norman's Creek, about six
teen miles into the woods, and marked on the east
and west end by a Wolf, Bear and Turtle, &c.
Barent Pieterse* claimed that this land was in
cluded in his patent, bought of the sachems at
Catskill, April, 1673, which the Maquaes denied,
and declared they were the owners. Pieterse after
a time gave up his claim, and the Slingerland deed
was signed, 1685, by the following: Mark.
Sag-o-a-di-och (Wolf) QUI-SAX,
Ro-jen-dra (Bear),
To-ho-daa (Turtle) rai-we.
(These marks are crude pictures of the animals
named. )
Signed in presence of Pieter Schuyler,
Garret Bauchry,
William Teller.

* This was Barent Pieterse Coeymans.
tain about 10,000 acres.

This tract is said to con-

892

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Recorded in Book of Deeds, No. 3, pp. 289 and
290, County Clerk's office.
1700 to 1750. — During this period in the his
tory of our township a goodly number of immi
grants arrived and settled in different parts of this
wilderness town. They represented several of the
European states, and brought with them the cus
toms and peculiarities incident to their national
education, and were a sturdy, industrious class,
ready to meet the toil and privations that were be
fore them. They came with wife and children
to secure a home and future inheritance for the
enjoyment of their posterity.
These early settlers had much to contend with
before the forests were cleared, and the fields and
meadows tilled and shorn. This was when the
Indian roved through these wild woods, and the
sweet melody of nature's songs filled with music
every hill and dell ; but, emulating the patience
and self-denial of conscious manhood, they learned
to overcome hardships and difficulties till time
crowned their struggles with success. The history
of many of these pioneers is full of romance and
adventure, and could it be collected would form
an interesting and exciting narrative. Their influ
ence did much to model and shape the future des
tinies of public affairs.
The following names represent some of the men
who came at this time: Francis Moak, Jacob Hel-
lenbeck, Andries Houck, David Delong, Jonathan
Hoogtaling, Isaac Pryce, Adam and John Long,
W. Van Atten Brates, John Mead, Hallers Thomp
sons, Albert and Jan Bradt, Conradt Hoogtaling,
Wm. Van Allen, Albert Slingerland, Storm Bradt.
1750 to 1775. — Up to this date the lands owned
by the patroon were taken in possession by the
settlers as squatters ; few of them held leases.
Slow progress was made in clearing and cultivating
the land, so many unfavorable conditions and dis
advantages to contend with that it required united
efforts, with brave hearts and willing hands. The
Slingerlands on the flats were in advance, and
about this time erected the grist-mill near Clarks
ville. From 1750 to 1775 there was a large immi
gration of a sturdy, industrious class from Scot
land, Ireland, England and other European states,
possessing an intelligence which inspired them
with courage to promote the well-being of each
other, and by their influence give to the reformed
religion an example worthy of Christianity. Ac
tuated by these high motives, the moral power thus
exerted was soon felt in the material and moral
progress and improvement of the colonists.

The names of many who represent the above
are : Henrick Bouse, Johannes Seger, Derk Ter-
wilger, Nicholas Sigsbee, Henrick Albright, John
Wademan, Samuel Taylor,  Fuller, George
Reid, George Swan, Ebenezer and John Wands,
William and Charles McCulioch, David and Wil
liam Allen, McBrides, Pattersons, Moaks, Jack-
sons, McCoughtrys, Ramsey, Kirklands, Bruce,
Valks, Lenox, Congers, Anthony Waine, Wm.
Pangburn, Samuel Erwin, Antone Slingerlant,
Ingraham, Lampheres, and others.
1775 to 1800. — Following this period, after the
close of the Revolution, great progress and enlight
ened changes marked a new era in the order of
events. Cessation of hostilities brought a change in
the affairs of government, which guaranteed security
to life and property; and during the next twenty years
a new impulse was given the industries by a large in
flux of intelligent settlers from adjoining counties,
who became the recognized public men of authority,
and contributed to the civil, political and religious
progress, the material prosperity and general wel
fare of the people. Some of these were Johannes
Markle, Frederick Reinhart Fuller, Benjamin Van
Zandt, Conrod Bowe, John Furbeck, Benjamin
Winne, Mathias Young, Nicholas Van Schaack,
M. and F. Van Wormer, Elias Mattise, John Mar
tin, John Stalker, Johnsons and De Reamers.
Smiths, Mathias Winne, Richard Radliff. Many
of their descendants are yet residents of the town,
and with descendants of earlier settlers have occu
pied positions of trust and honor.
1833. — Since New Scotland became a township
and invested with legal powers of local govern
ment, many of her citizens, who were descendants
of the early settlers, became prominent as leading
men in politics, foremost in public affairs, pro
gressive in agriculture, and conspicuous in every
enterprise that contributed to the general intelli
gence and moral elevation of the people. Besides
those in the following list of officers, others are no
less deserving of honorable mention for the service
they have performed in civil, political, religious or
educational interests during the past twenty-five
years. Without being specific in detail as to per
sonal merit, the following are given : Samuel Pat
ton, Ephraim Hotaling, Edward Hotaling, Peter
H. Flagler, Smith O'Brien, John S. Loucks, David
D. L. McCullock, J. Martin Erwin, William J.
Reid, John H. Hallenbeck, Henry H. Mead,
Tunis Slingerland.
The first town meeting was held at the house
of Edmund Raynsford, April 9, 1833, when the
following were elected to their respective offices :

THE TOWNSHIP OF NEW SCOTLAND.

893

Supervisor, James Reid ; Town Clerk, David
Springstein ; Justices of the Peace, Garret Van Al
len, Frederic Markle, David G. Seger; Collector,
Samul Moak; Assessors, Alex. McMillen, Anthony
De Long, Robert Wands; Commissioners of High
ways, John Furbeck, Jr., Wilhelmus Young, John
P. Rowe; Commissioners of Schools, Edmund
Raynsford, Christian Houck, James Patterson ; In
spectors of Schools, Abram Fort, Samuel Dickson,
David McCullock ; Overseers of Poor, Charles
McCullock, William Murphy; Sealer and Inspect
tor, Thomas Lloyd ; Poundmaster, Richard L. De
Forest ; Constables, Samuel Warren, James Winne,
John Wagoner, David J. De Long. None of these
men are living. Some of the above men had served
in office in the Town of Bethlehem. Frederic
Markle received his appointment and commission,
as Justice, from Gov. Tompkins, in 1808, and held
the office until 1844.
Samuel Dickson, M. D., was elected to Con
gress in 1855; John McEwen and Henry Fitch,
who were born in this town, have served as Sheriffs;
John R. Radley and Wm. J. Reid have served as
Associate Justices ; David D. D. McCullock, a
term as Commissioner of Schools, and the follow
ing as Members of Assembly : Edmund Rayns
ford, Aaron Van Schaack, David G. Seger, Freder
ick Mathias, John Reid, Harman Van Derzee,
Henry Creble, Peter Slingerland, Hiram Becker.
Statement of the real and personal property of
New Scotland, as assessed and equalized in 1883 —
Amount of taxes levied, with rate thereon: Acres,
35,679; real, $2,534,636; personal, $101,300; to
tal, $2,635,936; amount collected, $21,636; rate,
.82; Collector, John R. Wayne.

Delaware and Hudson Canal Company— Total
valuation, $34,006; tax, $278.80.
New York, West Shore and Buffalo Railroad —
Total valuation, $31,800; tax, $260.76.
Population— 1835, 3,030; 1855, 3,327; i860,
3,304; 1865, 3,311; 1870, 3,410; 1875, 3,264;
1880, 3,253.
Farm and agricultural products of New Scot
land, as per census of 1880: Bushels. Value. Acres.
Wheat  2,046 $2,557 158
Rye  30,245 25,000 2,664
Corn  45.805 3°.77S '.752
Oats  111,892 55,946 3,668
Buckwheat  '4.999 12,000 941
Barley  882 882 43
Potatoes  38,083 19,042 566
Apples  23,416 1 1,708 
Number. Value.
Milch Cows  1,195 $47,8oo
Other Cattle  774 10,300
Oxen  103 7,150
Horses  1,103 I32,3DI
Sheep  2,880 1 1,520
Swine  1,906 15,200
Fowls  16,543 8,272
Hay, tons  ",977 150,000
Butter, lbs  H5.731 29,000
Honey, lbs  22,429 2,423
Eggs, dozen  84,331 12,040
Farms  382 2,436,750
Stock  231,384
Tools and Implements  125, 189
Building and Repairing Fences  10,586
Cash paid for Fertilizers  2,610
In 1864 the agricultural returns were: Wheat,
bushels, 354; oats, 40,824; corn, 26,448; pota
toes, 31,917; apples, 41,567; cows, 1,349; but
ter, 140,678 pounds; horses, 1,069; sheep, 3,47°.
Population in 1835 — Males, 1,515; females,
1,515; voters, 640; aliens, 10; paupers, 8. Acres
improved land, 19,395; cattle, 2,495; horses,
1,242; sheep, 4,018; swine, 1,861. Since 1835
the township has increased by only 223 inhab
itants.

894

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

LIST OF SUPERVISORS, JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AND TOWN CLERKS, FROM 1833 TO 1884.

Year.

Supervisors .

Justices of the Peace.

Town Clerks.

1833 ¦•

James Reid.

Garret W. Van Allen.

David McCullock.

1833--

<< k

Frederic Markle.

Thomas Lloyd.

'833-.

(< ti

David G. Seger.

a tt

1834. .

it «<

Tunis Houghtaling.

ti tt

i834. .

<< tc

James Wands, 2d.

Joseph Wayne.

1835..

ft it

Conradt Terwilger.

David McCullock, 1836.

1837..

tt ft

Peter V. W. Brooks.

tt tc

i839..

Aaron Van Schaack.

John R. Bullock.

tt tt

1840. .

tt it

William Van Allen.

tt tt

1841 . .

William Murphy.

Peter V. W. Brooks.

Robert Taylor.

1842. .

tt u

Anthony De Long.

tt tt

1843-.

ft it

Abram Van Dusen.

ct ft

1845-.

Conrad Mathias.

William Murphy.

John Houck, 1844.

1846..

tt .(

John R. Radley.

tt tt

1846. .

tt tt

Storm D. Bradt.

tt it

1847..

Robert Taylor.

Myndert R. Veeder.

Alexander Reid.

1849..

(< it

John R. Reid, 2d.

tt ft

1850..

a a

George Wands.

Jacob H. Delong.

1852..

John McEwen.

Robert Coughtry.

Simeon P. Simmons, 185 1.

1852..

John Mathias.

Alanson Van Auken.

Thomas Bullock.

1854..

William Van Allen.

tt tt

• t tt

1855 . .

Peter V. W. Brooks.

tt tt

Thomas A. Reid.

1856..

<( tt

Daniel Robertson.

John Van Huysen.

1857..

James Slingerland.

tt tt

Isaac Van Wie.

1858..

tt tt

tt n

James B. Wayne.

18159..

Samuel C. Rowe.

Michael W. Houghtaling.

tt tt

i860. .

James Slingerland.

tt tt

tt ct

1861..

Henry Crounce.

tt tt

tt ti

1862..

James Slingerland.

William Mitchel.

Frederic R. Gardner.

1863..

John R. Taylor.

William J. Reid.

William R. Houghtaling.

1864. .

tt tt

Silas Wright.

George A. Reid.

1865..

David Callanan.

a ti

tt tt

1866..

Nicholas A. Delong.

tt ti

Samuel Patton.

1868..

Samuel Patton.

Nathan Crawford.

Frank Ingraham.

1869..

Nicholas B. Houck.

K tt

tt tt

1870. .

Alonzo B. Voorhees.

tt a

Edwin L. Wright.

1871. .

Robert Taylor.

tt t(

David P. Latta.

1873- ¦

Tunis Slingerland.

it a

Nicholas H. McCullock.

1874. .

Henry H. Mead.

it tt

tt tt

1875 ..

Teunis Slingerland.

tt a

tt t<

1876..

D. V. S. Raynsford.

Van Derzee Lagrange.

Joseph Allen, 1879.

1880..

tt tt

Ephriam Hotaling.

tc tt

1881..

Henry H. Mead.

Abram Relyea.

George B. Russel.

1882..

Hiram Bicker.

John Ryall.

David De Long.

1884. .

Charles Wood.

a tt

Jacob H. De Long.

The figures denote the year of election to office.
CHURCH HISTORY.
The great Reformation which Luther proclaimed
spread with wonder over Europe, severing the
chain of servile and subverted liberties, which
brought light to the dark and superstitious minds
so long held in abject bondage, and enkindled a
spirit of hatred toward those who were converts
to the new doctrines, or espoused the cause of
christian independence. Liberty of conscience
was interdicted; persecution followed, with barbaric
cruelties; deprivations endured, and at last many
were driven from their homes and country; pro
tection denied those who were followers of this
gospel reform, and they became exiles in the more
liberal states of Europe, or sought the shores
of the New World, where freedom to worship God

according to the dictates of an enlightened con
science would not be denied them.
A country free from the dictation of priestly rule
offered a home to the persecuted of France, and to
those who sought refuge in Holland. Thus it is
that those exiles who came here brought with them
the sterling qualities which had been taught by self-
denial and the higher principles of religion and
christian civilization, which have left their impress
upon the present posterity.
The independence which characterized the im
migrants to this town was deeply infused in their
devout zeal for advancing the cause of human hap
piness, and to establish, not only freedom of re
ligious opinion, but freedom of speech and gov
ernment. Many of these were Huguenots, who had
been driven by persecution to escape the loathsome

THE TOWNSHIP OF NEW SCOTLAND.

895

prisons and cruelties which awaited them if they
adhered to a religion not in accordance with the
Catholic faith and Jesuitical dogmas. Others from
Holland came with their souls full of love and
truth, which had been taught them, and accepted
the Bible as the revealed word of God, which of
fered unto men a standard of faith and worship to
be found only in the confession of the gospel,
which was best adapted for their intellectual and
moral good. To them, in a great degree, we are
indebted for the blessing of religious liberty and
freedom of worship, for the first fruits of independ
ence and the establishment of christian princi
ples, which exalt us above other peoples.
Let us not forget that all these blessings were
purchased for us at the cost of life and property,
of banishment from their native land, of trial and
privation, of persecution and bloodshed ; and
how little do we know of their dark and anxious
hours, of their losses and momentous struggles ;
and shall we make no effort to hand down the
fruits of their sacrifices and of their daring energy
to our posterity, to pass the torch of religious
liberty unquenched to those who stand next us in
line ?
These men brought with them a deep, healthy,
spiritual devotedness to the Christian religion, and
by their teaching and example have left with us re
sults that are constantly growing more prominent
and powerful. Our advancement in all essentials
that contributed to the intelligence, prosperity and
moral relations of society is largely the product
of ideas taught by these men as they had faith to
comprehend doctrines consistent with human in
tellect and revealed in scripture.
The religion of Christianity is a power in form
ing the character of any community or society, and
the influence exerted is always a factor in the inter
est of mankind, and when recognized as an element
in government it will endure through all time.
We now come to the history and organization
of the several evangelical churches in the town, of
which there are nine, viz. : five Reformed Protest
ant, three Methodist Episcopal and one Presby
terian. Among the early settlers in the town were seve
ral families from Scotland and the North of Ire
land, who brought with them the orthodox faith
and doctrines of Wyckliffe and Knox, which they
were anxious to perpetuate and establish in their
new home, as a legacy from their persecuted
fathers, who had been taught in the school of Cal
vinism, and with rigid training had deeply im
planted in their hearts devout reverence for the

Bible and firm faith in the doctrines of their
church. Their only means for hearing the word preached
or receiving the ordinances of their church, as
marriages, baptisms and catechism examinations,
was at Albany, a distance of ten miles, and many
of them were obliged to walk or go on horseback.
Mrs. Cullings was so devout an attendant that she
frequently walked to Duanesburg to attend the
Scotch Presbyterian Church.
About the year 1776 a Presbyterian missionary
came to what is now New Scotland village, then
in the township of Watervliet, and under two large
oak trees, which stood near where the blacksmith
shop now is, preached for these willing hearers
the first sermon heard in the neighborhood, and
laid the foundation for a church organization,
which was effected in the year 1787 by the Presby
tery of Suffolk, afterward called the Presbytery of
Long Island; this was a frontier mission church.
In 1789 this church was transferred to the Pres
bytery of New York.
The next year, 1 790, the Presbytery of Albany
was established by order of the Synod of New
York and New Jersey. This new Presbytery held
its first meeting in Albany on the 9th of Novem
ber, 1791.
At this meeting New Scotland petitioned for
supplies, and Presbytery granted their request by
naming three ministers who should each give a
Sabbath. At the next session Mr. Condict sup
plied them one Sabbath in March and Mr. Linds-
ley two Sabbaths in September. In 1792 Mr.
Lindsley preached on eight Sabbaths for this peo
ple. From this time till March, 1795, they had
no stated preacher; but now they were more suc
cessful and a call was extended to the Rev. Benja
min Judd, which he accepted, and was installed
on the 2d of September, 1795. The Lord's Sup
per was celebrated for the first time on the second
Sabbath of May, 1796, with 22 communicants.
David Allen and Michael Bruce, elders.
The first board of trustees was constituted, Feb
ruary 28, 1 79 1, by the election of Thomas Burn-
side, Peter Cutchen, James Henderson, John Jack
son, John McCoughtry and John Vores.
In 1 79 1 a building was erected and used for re
ligious purposes, and in 1795 the parsonage or
glebe was occupied by the first pastor, Rev. Benja
min Judd, whose full amount of salary was $250.
Mr. Judd's pastorate was of short duration, for
in less than a year he was dismissed by Presbytery
for specific charges, and on the 13th of November,
1798, John Arnold, the second pastor, was in-

896

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

stalled. He had formerly been minister of the
Presbyterian congregation of Ballybay, in the
County of Monoghan, Kingdom of Ireland. But
in less than three years Presbytery was called upon
to assert its authority here, as Mr. Arnold had
transferred his ministerial calling, and serious
charges were preferred against him; but he fled
from the bounds of Presbytery and thus escaped
trial. The church was without a pastor until October
27, 1807, when Thomas Holiday was ordained
and installed. He was a North of Ireland man,
and came to this country when nineteen years
old. He never attended college, but studied under
a Dutch Reformed minister, and was transferred
from the Classis of Paramus to Albany Presbytery.
He continued as pastor of this church until the
29th of February, 1831. Hewas born in 1773,
and died in 1840; was buried at Ridgeburg. He
was a successful preacher of the times, but adopted
the customs and usages then in vogue, which often
times by his example interfered with his high call
ing and destroyed his influence for good.
It was the custom in this church to use Rouse's
version of the Psalms in singing, also to have them
lined by a precentor ; but the young people prefer
red Watts', and this innovation was bitterly op
posed by the old Scotchman. Yet Domine Holi
day had the courage to change the order and divide
the time to please both parties. On the first Sab
bath a Watts psalm was read, which at once
caught the quick ears of the reverent worshipers,
who detected the change, and many left the house
until after singing the Watts psalm. Archie Mc
Bride returned and ordered his family to leave the
house, and never afterward entered the church.
The fourth pastor was James McDonald, born
near Paisley, Scotland, 1790. He was ordained
and installed on the 30th of October, 1832. He
remained until the 5th of February, 1834. He
died at Springdale, Wisconsin, on the 6th of Octo
ber, 1836.
This anecdote is worth recording : Dr. Edwin
-N. Kirk, once of Albany, came to New Scotland on
a Sabbath morning to preach, and brought one of
his best discourses to entertain the rural congrega
tion. After its delivery, Mr. McDonald arose to
offer the concluding prayer, and used these words :
" And now, Lord God, send down Thy Holy Spirit
and crack the skull of this young man. Take
away his vanity and conceit and put some of Thine
own wisdom there."
Dr. Kirk never forgot New Scotland, although
he became a distinguished preacher.

Robert Knell, an Englishman, supplied the
pulpit for a brief time after McDonald's departure.
Reuben Sears became the fifth pastor, and was
installed, October 16, 1836. The pastoral connec
tion ceased, June 10, 1845.
On all great moral questions his views were radi
cal. He never swerved from what he considered
his duty, and in spite of remonstrances he contin
ued to offer anti-slavery and tee-total resolutions
before Presbytery, which were always laid on the
table ; yet had he lived only a few years longer he
could have gloried in being one of the many whose
works do follow them. Human slavery was abol
ished at a fearful sacrifice and cost, and the same
fate awaits the sum of all evils — intemperance. Ad
vocates who have pleaded for the overthrow of these
national curses have been stigmatized as fanatics ;
yet how true it is —
" We live in deeds, not years,
In thoughts, not figures on a dial."
To Mr. Sears is due the first organization of a
permanent Sabbath school. He died at Prophets-
town, Illinois, July 25, 1846.
Gains Mills Blodgett served the congregation as
stated supply from June, 1846, until June, 1856.
He was a chaplain in the U. S. army during the
Rebellion, and at its close was honorably mustered
out of service.
In 1856 Walter Powell declined a call from this
church, but temporarily supplied the pulpit.
On the 29th of November, 1857, John James
Cameron became by ordination and installation
the sixth pastor. His ministry here extended until
the 19th of August, i860, when, his health failing,
he resigned. Upon the organization of the 1 7th
N. Y. Vol. Regiment he was commissioned as 2d
Lieutenant, November, 1861. He died serving
his country, May, 1862, a victim to malaria and
exposure of camp life.
The seventh in the line of pastors was Samuel
L. Gamble. His first sermon was preached in
April, 1 86 1. Accepting a call, he was ordained
and installed, 27th August, 1861, and the connec
tion between him and the church was dissolved,
December 12, 1867. In 1870 he became pastor
of the Reformed Church at Guilderland Center,
where he still remains.
At the General Assembly meeting in Albany,
1868, Mr. James William Edie, of the Presbytery
of New Castle, was invited to preach before this
congregation. Complying with the request, he
made so favorable an impression that a call was
extended, which he accepted, and became the
eighth pastor of this church, November 10, 1868.

THE TOWNSHLP OF NEW SCOTLAND.

897

He remained here until September 18, 1870, when
his connection with this church was dissolved. He
died 10th September, 1874.
William G, Handy, the ninth pastor, was in
stalled, July 3, 1871, and granted a dissolution by
the Presbytery the iothof February, 1874.
James G. K. McClure, of Albany, was licensed
by Albany Presbytery, June, 12, 1872, and was
ordained and installed as the tenth pastor of this
church and congregation, December 10, 1874.
His pastoral relation with the people was highly
appreciated, and with the young he was held in
just estimation; the pleasant, affable courtesy which
he extended to all, the genial address and culti
vated politeness, rendered him a favorite with the
young and endeared him to all with whom he as
sociated. After serving with satisfaction a people
who were sincerely attached to his ministry, he
resigned his charge, September 19, 1879, and was
dismissed by Presbytery to continue his work in
other fields.
The eleventh pastor, Rev. Wm. H. Ford, was
installed, April, 1880, and continued his ministry
until June, 1882, when he resigned. Mr. Ford was
received from the Classis of the Reformed Church,
and preached to this congregation with general
satisfaction. During the summer of 1883 the pulpit of this
church was supplied by the Rev. Mr. Nason.
On the 29th of May, 1884, the Rev. Dewitt G.
Rockefeller was installed the twelfth pastor.
We find, as early as 1791, a building had been
erected and was used for divine service; at a later
period this building was lengthened, and the pews
were made square, except those on each side of
the pulpit. The elders sat in front of the pulpit,
which was high from the floor, with a sounding
board — the shape of a large umbrella — directly
over the minister's head.
During the residence here of Mr. Blodgett, in
1848, the old church building was taken down and
a new one erected, which required nearly two years
in completing; it was finished in 1849, containing
48 pews, with doors. While the new church was
being built service was held in the Hall of Mr.
Raynsford. Under the Rev. J. W. Edie's pastor
ate, in 1869, the dimensions of the church building
were again enlarged by the addition of 16 feet,
which secured 1 6 more pews. The interior of the
house was refurnished, walls frescoed, and wood
painted, at a total cost of $4,000.
In the year 1877-78 a basement was con
structed under the whole length of the building,
which is used for chapel and Sabbath school pur

poses. Again, in the spring of 1884, the interior
or audience room was renovated and rich wall
paper used in place of fresco-work.
The real estate of this church was the gift of
Stephen Van Rensselaer, the fourth Patroon.
The deed bears date February 19, 1793, and reads:
' ' For and in consideration of ten shillings, lawful
money," he granted the trustees "a parcel of land,
beginning at a marked black oak tree in William
McKollock's line, containing one hundred and
fifty-six (156) acres, the same to be used for divine
worship, and for no other intent or purpose what
soever. "
This property was part of the farm now owned
by Robert Moak, and, being distant from
the church, was exchanged with Jacob Moak's,
who owned seventy-three and four-fifth acres
adjoining the original church lot. On the 19th
or June, 1795, the Patroon gave his per
mission to the transaction, and Jacob Moak
took the church farm on the Cliff ( " clepp "). On
the 6th of February, 1844, Stephen Van Rensselaer
gave the trustees a quit-claim deed for this farm,
and on February 27, 1872, the remaining part of
this property, about sixty acres, was sold to
Derrick V. S. Raynsford. The parsonage and at
tachments, the church edifice and sheds, are
valued at $12,000.
In September, 1877, the parsonage, with much
of its contents and valuables belonging to Rev. J.
G. K. McClure, was consumed by fire.
Another building, of modern architecture, was
soon after erected, and during the autumn and
winter following the basement under the church
edifice was constructed.
The history of "New Scotland Presbyterian
Church" is largely taken from McClure's historical
sermon of the same.
The Reformed Churches of this township are
five in number, located at Jerusalem, New Salem,
Clarksville, Union and Onisquethau.
The Protestants on the continent of Europe were
divided into two great divisions, known by the
names of Lutherans and Reformed. The Reformed
Church had its origin in Switzerland, under Zwin-
gle, and was more fully developed under Calvin.
The Hollanders were the first who planted the
Reformed Church in America, as it had been dis
tinctly known on the continent.
The early title or name of the Reformed Church
in 1 818 was " Reformed Protestant Church. " In
1 840 the word Dutch was added, when it become
" Reformed Protestant Dutch Church." In 1867,
by an ecclesiastical order, the name was again

898

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

changed to " The Reformed Church in America,"
and the several States in which churches of this de
nomination were established confirmed this title by
legislative enactments.
Emigrants from Holland settled in this town as
early as 1650, but no records can be obtained
showing that these people assembled in public
worship earlier than 1 780. Previous to this date
those whose hearts prompted them to worship with
the pious people of their fatherland and conform to
the old-established religion of the Reformed Pro
testant Church of Holland thought it no hardship,
if they could enjoy this privilege, to walk or ride
on horseback to Albany, the nearest place where
these ministers spoke their native tongue. Here
as yet was the only Dutch Church, and on com
munion occasions these few families were sure to
wend their way to Albany, taking with them their
young children for baptism.
If the parents were fortunate to own a horse, a
family of three could be carried on its back; other
wise the distance had to be traveled on foot, over
rough trails and circuitous by-paths, as roads at
that time were not common, owing to the few set
tlers and the great distance they lived from each
other. It was customary then for each baptized child to
have a godfather or godmother as sponsors, and
these frequently accompanied the parents,
Schenectady followed Albany in securing Hol
land preachers, and as population increased, these
were sent to remote neighborhoods as missionaries
to preach the gospel and teach the doctrines of
their church. From 1780 to '85 there seems to
have been some form of preaching to the people of
Jerusalem, but there are no records previous to
1786, when Dirck Romeyn, of Schenectady, came
through this town, preaching, baptizing and per
forming the marriage ceremony. His record
covers baptisms of what now constitutes the Re
formed churches of the town. He had three
places or stations where the people gathered for
public worship at stated appointments. These were
Helderberg, Salem and Jerusalem. Dirck Romeyn
must have had these three places in charge as pas
tor, according to his record, until 1794, when
Rev. Harmanus Van Huysen came from New Jer
sey and become pastor of this congregation and
Helderberg, dividing his time between them.
In the year 1790 an organization was effected
and a house of worship erected for the congrega
tion of Jerusalem. This house was located be
tween Union and Jerusalem, which now offered to
the people a place for them to assemble and enjoy

the great blessings of attending worship under their
own vine and extend the branches to others; privi
leges which had been denied many were fully ap
preciated, and the frequent commingling of the
farmers, who were now brought together almost
every Sabbath, taught them lessons of forbearance
and charity, and their social greetings were bonds
of Christian fellowship.
From and after 1 800 there were great changes
in the condition of material prosperity, and the
¦township became settled by a more intelligent
class of farmers, who secured advantages which
had been in a great measure the labor of earlier oc
cupants. This congregation received its share of spiritual
blessings, and under earnest preaching from its
pastor increased and multiplied in numbers, as
well as extended its bounds of usefulness, so that
the old building which had been used so many
years for religious purposes was fast becoming too
small for the increasing congregation. A more
central location was selected, and in the year 1825
a new one was erected, which is the present edifice
at Jerusalem (Feura Bush). It was in this year
that Rev. Harmanus Van Huysen closed his labors
in this church and at Salem. After many years of
toil and hardship endured, he retired to spend his
declining days with his family, surrounded by those
who were dear to him as friend and neighbor, and
receive the benediction of the church, "well done,
good and faithful servant." He died, 1833, on his
farm near New Salem, and is buried in Mount
Pleasant Cemetery.
The present house of worship at Jerusalem is a
frame structure and will seat 500 persons. It has
been repaired and otherwise improved in its ap
pearance, conveniences and attractions; connected
with the church is a parsonage and commodious
sheds for the accommodations of those who attend
upon the Sabbath.
The house of worship is pleasantly located, with
a fine grove surrounding it, which furnishes an in
viting resort for Sabbath school celebrations and
social gatherings.
The following is the order of ministers who have
succeeded each other as pastors of this church:
Harmanus Van Huysen, from 1794 to 1825; Sam
uel Kissam, from 1828 to 1841; Staats Van Sant
voord, 1844 to 1854;  Compton, 1854 to
i860; A. V. Gulich, i860 to 1865; Alexander
C. Millspaugh, 1866 to 1872; Edwin Veeder, the
present pastor, 1873. The church reports 93 fam
ilies, 126 communicants, 150 Sabbath school
scholars. Total amount of money contributed for
all purposes, $682. Parsonage and church prop-
perty, $10,000.
The history of Salem Reformed Church is con
nected with that of Jerusalem; from 1786 to 1794
Dirck Romeyn, of Schenectady, was here as a mis
sionary, and served the people, who were Holland
ers, with a few German families, and they had
many discouragements and difficulties to contend
with. During his visits the people would assemble
in some house or barn, and in this primitive way
were attentive listeners to the sermon, which was

THE TOWNSHIP OF NEW SCOTLAND.

899

delivered in their own language. Changes in this
mode of worship followed, as the people became
more anxious for regular and stated preaching.
Dominie Van Huysen is now providentially
sent to them, and has charge of Helderberg and
Jerusalem congregations; as yet there seems to be
no regular society here, and Salem served as a
way station between the other two churches, hold
ing services as often as convenient for the adminis
tration of the sacrament, performing baptisms and
solemnizing marriages. These meetings were usu
ally held in the house or barn of Johannes Markes,
about a half mile south of New Salem.
There seems to have been an organization formed
as early as 1794, but no records of officers. It
was not until 1813 that a permanent organization
was put in working order, and at this time Mr.
Van Huysen must have been the installed pastor of
Salem. The first officers of the church were Benjamin
Van Zandt, John Terwilliger, John Van Etten,
Jacob I. Hallenbeck, Frederick Fuller, Jeremiah
Cronssler, John A. Severson and David Van Etten.
In this year a church building, of wood, was
erected, with high-back seats, a gallery on two sides
and end, with a high pulpit, and an ornamented
sounding board over the minister's head. The
whole inside was ceiled with pine, and the
center was arched up to the roof. In this building
many learned divines have preached to the people
of this valley.
The usual method of notifying the people when
the Sabbath morning service commenced was by
blowing a tin horn, as many made their first call
at the tavern. The land upon which this church
was erected was the gift of Stephen Van Rens
selaer. This building was taken down in 1 844 and an
other erected very nearly upon the same spot. This
was a more modern structure, of wood, with gal
lery, closed pews, with doors, and a cupola con
taining a bell, the gift of M. & J. Hendrickson, of
Albany; the cost of the building was $1,200. The
following were building committee: Willhelmus
Young, Frederic Markle, Frederic Fuller, Peter L.
Houck. Temporal prosperity as well as spiritual growth
having attended this congregation in the past years,
the minds and hearts of many were prompted, as a
thank-offering, to increase and extend the moral
influence of their religious benefits, and concluded
that with a house of worship, attractive in ap
pearance and comfortable in its arrangements, they
could best fulfill this intention by the erection of a
new church edifice. Efforts were rewarded with
encouraging results, and it was resolved that the en
terprise receive immediate action. The congrega
tion own a parsonage and lot, east of the present
church building, and upon this ground, in 1875,
was erected a large modern church edifice of wood,
at a cost of $10,000.
The building is chaste in its architectural design,
having a large audience room and gallery, lighted
by stained-glass windows, seats in walnut and
chestnut, elegant pulpit, frescoed walls, and is

heated from two furnaces in the basement, which
is completely furnished for chapel or Sabbath school
purposes. The spire is 120 feet high and contains
a bell. The furnishing and other necessary ex
penses amount to $2,000. The foundation is 44 x
60 feet, and the audience room will seat 600. The
contract builder was Peter Smith, and the building
committee Robert Moak, Peter S. Albright and
John H. Hallenbeck.
The house was dedicated, October, 1875, under
the pastoral charge of Nicholas Pearse ; the dedi
catory sermon was preached by the Rev. John A.
Lansing, D. D. The old church building and lot
were purchased by Abram Mann, and is yet stand
ing on the ground of the first church. The follow
ing is the order and names of ministers who have
been installed or officiated as pastors of this
church : Dirck Romeyn, from 1786 to 1794 ;
Harmanus Van Huysen, 1794 to 1825 ; R. J.
Blair, 1825; H. A. Dumont, 1826 ; Ira C. Boice,
1826 to 1829 ; Abram Fort, 1829 to 1836 ; S. V.
E. Westfall, 1837 to 1843 ; S. Van Santvoord,
1843 to 1844 ; J. V. Vandervolgen, 1846 to 1848 ;
J. Middlemass, 1854 to 1855; A. G. Lansing,
1858 to 1861 ; H. Slauson, 1862 to 1866; J.
Kershow, 1867 to 1872; N. Pearse, 1873 to
1877; A. G. Lansing, 1877, and continues as
pastor. The president of consistory reports : No. of fam
ilies, 100; communicants, 212; Sabbath school,
176 scholars ; money for all purposes for the past
year, $1,686. The following are the members
of consistory : Elders — Christopher Terwilliger,
John E. Taylor, Peter S. Albright, John L. Van
Olinda. Deacons — William M. Young, James
Markle, James N. Moak, Alfred Taylor.
The Reformed Church of Union was organized
in 1825, from Jerusalem and Salem congregations.
The first pastor was Rev. Ira C. Boice, who
preached also at Salem. The church edifice is a
large, commodious frame building, with belfry and
spire. There are a parsonage and sheds upon the
church lots. The past year, the spire was blown
down and other damage sustained, which rendered
it necessary for repairs and other improvements.
The spire was not replaced, but the bell forgets
not to give its welcome sound. With the several
improvements, it is now an attractive house of
worship, being conveniently arranged and neatly
furnished. The audience room will seat 350.
Value of church property, $5,000. The following
is the order of ministers who have served as pastors
of this congregation since its organization : Ira C.
Boice, from 1825 to 1829; Abram Fort, 1830 to
1836; S. V. E. Westfall, 1837 to 1847; D. A.
Jones, 1848 to 1850; B. F. Murden, 1850101854;
J. M. Compton, 1854 to i860; A. V. Gulrick,
i860 to 1864 ; W. H. Ballagh, 1865 to 1868 ; —
Demerest, 1871 to 1874 ; J. M. Compton, again,
1876 to 1878 ; A: C. Millspaugh, 1878, and contin
ues present pastor.
The consistory is composed of the following
members, viz. : Elders — H. H. Vanderzee, John
S. Van Atten, Michael Slingerland, Isaac Van
Atten. Deacons— Daniel H. Heller, B. F. Van

900

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Atten, Leonard Litchfield, Cornelius Slingerland.
The president of consistory reports: Families, 50;
communicants, 49 ; Sabbath school scholars, 60 ;
money contributed for all purposes the past year,

The Reformed Church of Onisquethau. — This
was originally a Presbyterian church, having been
organized by the Presbytery of Albany in 1824,
and a church edifice erected, 1825; Rev. Thomas
Holliday, pastor. During the construction of
the Erie Canal, a large force of men quar
ried stone at this place for building the locks and
for other purposes. This stone was hauled by
four and six-horse teams to the nearest point on
the works. The smaller ones, being rejected, were
used in part to build this church. The stone
mason was Barrent Spose, with other workmen.
In the year 1839 the church and property passed
into the possession of the consistory of the Re
formed Church, and with it a change of name and
government. The church building and sheds are
located in a large lot, with pleasant surroundings.
During this present year (1884) all the internal
construction and fixtures have been removed, and
the plan of the audience room materially changed
in convenience and general arrangement. It now
compares favorably with other rural churches.
Will seat 250. Church property valued at $2,500.
The following persons have been pastors since it
became a Reformed church: Staats Van Santvoord,
1839 to 1864; A. C. Millspaugh, 1866 to 1872; Ed
win Vedder, 1873 to 1883.
Consistory report for the year: Families, 50;
communicants, 64; Sabbath school, 50; money
contributed for all purposes, $350.
The following are the present members of con
sistory: Elders — Peter Van Atten, Walter McCul
lock, Henry H. Mead, John Sickles. Deacons —
Edward Mitchel, John Osterhout, Conrad Mosher,
Richard Vanderbelt.
The Reformed Church of Clarksville was organ
ized in 1853 by the Rev. Staats Van Santvoord,
with a membership of seven. Rev. Jasper Middle
man was first pastor. A house of worship was
erected in 1853, at a cost of $2,400. Since then
sheds have been erected and other improvements
made. The building is of wood, and will seat
250. Report for the year is: Families, 61; communi
cants, 106; Sabbath school scholars, 178; contri
butions for all purposes, $498.
Present consistory: Elders — John F. Markle,
John B. Shafer, Frederic R. Gardner, Edward
Hotaling. Deacons — John D. McCullock, Leonard
Applebee, James Hallenbeck, Thomas Kant.
The pastors of this church have been: Rev. J.
Middlemas, A. G. Lansing, from 1858 to 1862;
Hiram Slauson, 1862 to 1866; W. H. Ballagh,
1867 to 1869; J. Westveer, 1869 to 1871; Nicholas
Pearse, 1873 to 1877; A. G. Lansing, again, 1877
to 1883.
About the year 1813 a few families of Friends,
who were residents in the neighborhood of New
Salem, formed a society, and held their semi-
weekly meetings at the house of Thomas Bushmore,

afterward at the house of Abigail Bennett. In the
year 184- they purchased a lot of land in the
eastern part of the village of New Salem, and
erected a meeting house, which was used until
1 860. Their membership becoming too small to
continue meetings longer, the society was aban
doned. Bushmores, Bennetts and Woods were
the prominent families.
The Methodist Episcopal churches of New
Scotland are three in number, and this branch of
the Protestant Church is of more recent date than
the others. The first Methodist preacher in this
town was Freeborn Garrison, who was an itinerant
missionary in establishing churches, and would
occasionally stop on his way to Knox, where he
formed a society. Methodist preachers and ex-
horters who came through the town and held their
meeting in school and private houses were Elias
Vanderlip, Bergely Howe, Sherman Miner, Steb-
bins and Jollie G. Young. It was about 1820 that
an organization was effected, and in 1824 a church
building was erected in the northwest part of the
township, and known as the "Black Creek
Methodist Church." This building was of wood,
and is the house now used by the society. Im
provements have been made in its internal arrange
ment, commodious sheds attached, and connected
with the church is a burial ground. Among the
originators of this church enterprise and society
were Saxon Chesebrough, Jacob Martin, John Jack
son, John P. Crounse, Benjamin Holmes, John E.
Oliver, E. Switzer, Samuel Martin; the first
pastor was William Johnson; the present pastor,
Rev. Mr. Fisher. The value of church property,
$6,000; number of members, 90; families, 40;
Sabbath school scholars, 100; amount collected
for church and benevolent purposes, $400.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of New Salem
was organized in 1850, and a house of worship
erected the same year upon a lot purchased from
Abram Mann, situated on the main road in the
north part of the village. The building cost
$1,500. The construction of sheds and other im
provements of recent date increases the value of
this property to $3,500. The belfry has a fine-
toned bell; which sends its sweet sounds through
the valley, echoing from hill to hill, and calling
the people to the house of worship. The Rev. C.
Warrick is the present pastor. The roll of mem
bers, 35; families, 25; Sabbath school, 45; con
tributions for all purposes, $300.
Among the members who were active in the
organization of this society, and largely through
whose efforts the building was erected, were
Ebenezer A. Fitch, Alanson Van Auken and An
drew J. Smith.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Clarksville
was organized in the year i860 by the Rev. S. S.
Stillman, as pastor, and a house of worship erected
the next year, at an expense of $4,000. The
structure is of wood, with a finished basement.
The seating capacity is 300. The present year
(1884) the trustees of this church sold their parson
age and lot to Peter H. Flagler, and will build a
parsonage in the rear of the church. The present

THE TOWNSHIP OF NEW SCOTLAND.

901

membership is 40; number of families, 35. The Rev.
C. Warrick is now serving the society and congre
gation as pastor. The church officers are: Robert
McLaughlin, Hiram Ingraham, S. P. Simmons, A.
Van Wie, Jacob Miller, Lucian Haight, Silas

Wright,

VILLAGES.

New Salem is a post village at the foot of the
Helderbergs, on the old Beaverdam road, now the
Albany and New Scotland plank road. It is
pleasantly located in the valley formed by the
Helderbergs on the west and a range of hills on
the east. The mountain just back of this village
has an elevation of 1,700 feet above tide-water.
The place was settled as early as 1770, and
among the first who came here were Setb Price,
Bashmanger, Christian Bradt and Van Valkenberg,
or Valick. These were followed by John Stalker
and family, John Wamp, or Wemple, Obadiah
Cooper, Benjamin Van Zandt, Crousler and others.
Alexander Stather built a large house in 1807 for a
tavern, which has been used continuously for the
same purpose, and is now occupied by William
Southard and owned by Abram Mann. This
property was in the possession of David G. Seger
for many years. There was an inn kept by Johan
nes Markle, a half mile south of Salem, as early
as 1792. The Beaverdam road passed through the
Hendrickson and Markle farms, but in 1806 its
course was changed so as to run down the hill, as
now. From this time Salem dates its progress ;
several houses were built and a church erected.
Buildings and a yard for a tannery were the first en
terprise by Beriah Chesebrough, which were contin
ued as a tannery until bark became scarce. It was
then converted into a saw-mill, with water power,
and now is used as a feed and saw-mill, with a
30-horse-power engine. The property is now owned
by John H. Mathias. A saw-mill was erected about
1 800, on the Spring Creek above the village, on
what was part of the Winne farm.
In 1829-30 Aaron Van Schaack built a large
house for a store and tavern. Soon after the town
was formed a post-office was established here, and
the name adopted as " New Salem." Previous to
this it was " Punkintown." Van Schaack was the
first postmaster. The mail was carried by John W.
St. John, with a coach and four horses, from Berne
to Albany, on Monday and Friday, and returned
on Tuesday and Saturday. Mail is now received
daily. Early blacksmiths: Gordon, Hendrickson,
Albright. The first schools were taught in private
houses. The school-house was built about 1823.
Teachers : Hoyt, Woodberry, Rogers, Lathrop,
Earl and Wesley Dollar. The last, a dread to all
scholars, taught in the old school-house which
stood on the road opposite the cemetery gate. In
1839 David C. Segar erected a building, which was
rented by Thomas D. Bennett for a store. This
is now used as a shoe and harness shop. The
present store building was erected in 1875, and is
owned by J. M. Erwin, who is postmaster. The
village contains no manufacturing establishments
beyond those necessary for home supply. The

property of Aaron Van Schaack is now owned by
Abram Mann, for hotel purposes.
The village is twelve miles from Albany, on the
plank road, three miles north of Clarksville, four
miles south of Voorheesville Station, and three
miles west of New Scotland P. O. It contains 42
dwellings, 47 families and 200 inhabitants ; a Re
formed and Methodist church, school-house, two
hotels, one store, two harness shops, one shoe
shop, two blacksmith shops, a wheelwright and
carpenter shop, tin shop, one paint shop, fruit
evaporator, a milliner and dressmaking rooms ;
and the professions are represented by one physi
cian, Dr. Hiram Becker, and one clergyman, Rev.
Abram G. Lansing, of the Reformed Church.
Clarksville is the largest village in the town,
situated on elevated ground in the northwest part,
on the old Delaware turnpike road, which forms
the main street, while the Onisquethau Creek flows
along the southern side. This was originally
Bethlehem P. O., and Henry L. Mead, post
master; the mails were carried on horseback. The
present name was given to it from Adam A. Clark,
who came here about 1822. Joseph Webster
carried mail from Albany to Rensselaerville.
The early settlers were William Bose, who lived
in a log house; Samuel Ingraham, who kept tavern
in the upper part of the village, not far from David
McCullock's old store ; Joseph Bright, who kept a
tavern where George Fuller now lives. Later,
Henry L. Mead (Judge) became a prominent
citizen and postmaster. He was a son of John,
who settled at Tarrytown. Soon after 1 800 many
changes took place. Harmanus Bogardus, a car
penter, came here from Feura Bush, erected build
ings and kept tavern. He also built a house for
Judge Mead, where Michael Flansburgh now lives.
A man by the name of Jenkins also kept a tavern.
The "Albany and Delaware Turnpike " was char
tered in 1805, soon after which the road was con
structed. This brought travel from Rensselaerville,
and Clarksville, being half-way, was a convenient
place for the traveler to take rest and entertain
ment. This accounts for the numerous public
houses at that time. About 1822 Bogardus sold
his property to Adam A. Clark, who continued the
business for many years. It is now owned by
Isaac Schermerhorn and kept as a hotel. The first log
school-house stood opposite S. P. Simmon's shop,
and was used occasionally for religious meetings.
Francis Seger and Mr. Taylor were early teachers.
The present school-houseas a fine building, erected
in 1 881, and located in the west end of the village;
William Keenholts, teacher. ¦
In the year 1841 Peter L. Houck built a saw
mill on the Onisquethau Creek, which furnishes
the water power; it is now owned by Frederic R.
Gardner. In 1845 Rushmore Bennett and John
Murphy built a saw-mill and flour-mill containing
three run of stone. At first only water power was
used. Now a 40-horse-power engine is substituted
in case of necessity. This mill now belongs to
Robert McLaughlin.
There are two caves here, which are visited by
many persons.

902

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The village contains a Reformed and Methodist
church, 3 hotels, 3 stores, 2 harness shops, 2
wheelwright and 3 blacksmith- shops, 1 bakery, 2
shoe shops, 1 stove and tin shop, 2 paint shops, 2
saw-mills, 1 grist-mill, 1 undertaker, meat market
and dressmaking, 3 physicians, 4 lawyers; has 67
dwellings, 78 families, and 300 inhabitants.
Clarksville is 12 miles west of Albany. Silas
Wright, postmaster.
New Scotland, in the northeast, is a post-office
and hamlet, with 15 dwelling, 17 families and 75
inhabitants. The Presbyterian Church is located
here, to which is attached the New Scotland Cem
etery; contains some fine monuments. The name
is derived from the many Scotch settlers who came
here about 1765. There was a post-office here as
early as 1820; Adam Holliday, postmaster; he was
succeeded by Edmund Raynsford, who was a
resident of the place for 50 years. Some of the
early settlers were: Jacob Moak, Anthony Wayne,
Henrick Bouse, William McCullock, who had a
tannery near the plank road, south of Albertus
Bucker's; Christie, Bellamy, Holiday and Wayne
kept tavern; the present hotel and property were
formerly owned by Ed. Raynsford; it is now kept
by Mrs. Geo. Reid and son. A tannery was built
by Peter Rushmore, on the premises now owned
by Henry McMillen. A log school-house was the
attraction for the boys and girls 80 years ago; now
a more inviting and comfortable house, with pleas
ant surroundings and a bell, call them for im
proved facilities in gaining knowledge. The pres
ent house was built in 1866. The parsonage be
longing to the Presbyterian Church was burned in
1877. The barn and sheds of Derick V. S. Rayns
ford, also the sheds belonging to the tavern, were
burned in 1878.
The business portion of the village consists of £
hotel, one store, shoe shop, wheelwright and
blacksmith shop, 2 harness shops. Dr. John H.
Fitch is the resident physician and surgeon. The
village is pleasantly situated 8 miles from Albany, on
the plank road, and one-half mile from the New
York, West Shore and Buffalo Railroad, and
2 miles from Slingerland Station, Albany and Sus
quehanna Railroad. George W. Coughtry, post
master. Feura Bush (Jerusalem P. O.), a hamlet two
miles south of Unionville, near the line of Beth
lehem, is a station on the New York, West
Shore and Buffalo Railroad, eight miles from
Albany. The neighborhood represents some of
the first settlements in the township by such
names as Moak, Brate, Bradt, Sager, Creble,
Bogardus and others. A Reformed church,
school-house, store, tavern, wheelwright and black
smith shop, with a dozen houses and 50 inhabit
ants, make up the village. Hay and straw are
extensively loaded at this station.
Unionville (Union Church P. O.), east of the
Center, on the old Delaware turnpike, and a station
of the New York, West Shore and Buffalo Rail
road, contains the Reformed Church, school-house,
tavern, blacksmith and wheelwright shop, 1 5 houses
and 60 inhabitants. Christian Houck was an

early tavern-keeper; also, David Chesebro. Among
the first settlers were Bradts, Hallers, Longs, Wade-
mans, Sigsbee and Radleys. Peter Stoner kept
a tavern on' Stony Hill, and Dr. Dennick kept a
tavern between Union and Clarksville, on the Van
Derpool farm; post-office discontinued.
Callanan's Corners is a post-office and small
hamlet in the east corner formed by the angle of
Bethlehem and Coeymans; the village is partly in
each township. The post-office is in New Scot
land. The name is derived from two brothers,
who settled here 50 years ago. There is a store,
post-office, shoe shop, wheelwright and blacksmith
shop, and the hamlet contains 50 inhabitants.
James McWilliams, postmaster.
Voorheesville, in the northern central part, near
the Guilderland line, takes its name from Alonzo
B. Voorhees, a lawyer, who built the first house, in
1862, before the Albany and Susquehanna Rail
road was completed. This mansion and grounds
are now the property of S. V. R. Hoes. Peter
Wormer erected a building and kept the first store.
William Spore built a fine dwelling a short dis
tance south of the railroad. In 1868 it was desig
nated as a post-office, and James A. Reid first
postmaster. After the Hudson and Saratoga Rail
road was constructed, which crosses the Albany
and Saratoga Railroad track at this place, a number
of houses were built and a large hotel erected by
Conrad Fryer. Connected with the hotel is a fine
grove. Among the hotel proprietors have been John
Stafford, Daniel Wormer and Conrad Fryer. In
1882 and 1883 the Athens Branch (or White
Elephant Railroad) changed owners, and is now
the New York, West Shore and Buffalo Railroad,
usually designated West Shore. This road has
been entirely reconstructed, and is now one of the
most important roads in the State. Voorheesville
is a station commanding unusual facilities for
business ; being located at the crossing of these
roads, affords many advantages for the transporta
tion of produce to the principal markets, as well as
easy access to and from Albany and connections
with other railroads. The distance from Albany
is n miles, from New Salem 4 miles, and with
pleasant surroundings and other inducements the
place is rapidly improving. Many thousand tons
of hay and straw are loaded here, which is brought
by farmers from Knox, Berne, Guilderland and
New Scotland. A steam saw-mill is now being
built by Hotaling & Hicks. There are three
blacksmith shops, one wheelwright shop, two
stores, one tin and stove with general hardware
merchandise, one hotel, depot and freight build
ings ; 32 dwellings, 38 families and 140 inhab
itants. William S. Swift, postmaster.
Wolf Hill, two miles west of New Salem, is a
post-office ; John Haight, postmaster. There is
also a post-office on the Beaverdam road, at the
top of the Helderbergs, called " Helderberg
post-office. "
Onisquethau, locally known as " Tarry town,"
about one and a half miles south of Clarksville, 'is
a hamlet, containing a Reformed church and
school-house. Stone was quarried here when the

THE TOWNSHIP OF NEW SCOTLAND.

903

Erie Canal was being constructed, and a large
force of men employed. At that time there was a
large building here, called the " Castle," part of
which was used as a tavern, the barroom of which
afforded the idle a place for lounging, drinking
whisky and recounting stories till late at night,
and on the morrow return and " tarry" till night
as usual ; from this the name is derived. William
Latta was a blacksmith here 75 years ago. John
Mead and David De Long and  Lamphere
were first settlers. John Mead kept tavern and
sold the farm to Thomas Austin, and this farm is
now owned by Mr. Winston. Robert Mayhew kept
store and tavern in the old "Castle." He dug the

channel to drain Lawson's Lake. John J. Hooga-
bome, Tom Austin and Sol. Russel kept tavern.
The present church was mostly built of stone that
was rejected as too small for the canal. Many
years ago a mill was on the creek at Delong's.
There are nine post-offices in the township, as
follows : Callanan Corners, James A. McWilliams,
postmaster ; Clarksville, Silas Wright, postmaster ;
Jerusalem, J, M. Peck, postmaster ; New Salem,
J. M. Erwin, postmaster ; New Scotland, George
J. Coughtry, postmaster ; Union Church ; Voor
heesville, Wm. S. Swift, postmaster ;. Wolf Hill,
John Haight, postmaster ; Helderberg, John F.
Van Schaack, postmaster.

Village.

Clarksville 
New Salem
Feura Bush
New Scotland . .
Union Church..
Helderberg
Albany 
Knowersville. . .
New York City

Monument.

State Monument 
Reformed Church 
Reformed Church 
Presbyterian Church . .
Reformed Church 
U. S. C. S. Monument.
City Hall 
Luthern Church 
City Hall 

Latitude.

Longitude.

42"

34'

31"

73°

57'

39"

42

37

30

73

57

03

42

34

35

73

52

53

42

37

S2

73

54

25

42

30

02

73

53

28

42

37

38

74

00

39

42

39

°5

73

45

19

42

42

11

74

02

01

40

41

43

74

00

°3

As per "New York State Survey.'

SCHOOLS.

The schools of New Scotland are sixteen in
number, and are under the supervision of a com
missioner, who is elected for a term of three years,
and represents a district composed of the following
townships : Bethlehem, Coeymans and New Scot
land, the schools of which are under his charge.
The present commissioner is Samuel F. Powell,
of Coeymans, and his duties are to examine and
license teachers, visit the schools of the district,
make reports to the State Department and super
vise for the general interests of the schools.
Teachers are employed by one or three trustees
in each district, who are elected at the annual
meeting. The history and formation of the several dis
tricts cannot be ascertained with any certainty,
owing to the imperfection of the records. Previous
to 1800 the school houses were mostly of logs; the
population being sparse, but few schools could be
supported. Frequently the school was in a private
house, often in that of the teacher, and he was
paid by a few families. As population increased
and prosperity attended the settlers, districts were
formed, composed of a number of families, and
the teacher paid by a tax upon those who sent to
the school.
Another change came, and the State became in
a measure the support of the schools by appro
priating a certain sum to each district from the
public fund, the balance to be collected by rate
bill. The school money so apportioned was in
the custody of three School Commissioners, and
teachers were examined and licensed by three
School Inspectors.

Then came the State tax, which appropriates to
each district a certain sum, based upon the number
of persons between five and twenty-one years old
and the general average of attendance for the year
of twenty-eight weeks. The deficiency is collected
by a tax upon the real and personal property of the
district, thus rendering the schools of the State free
to all.
The condition of the schools is far in advance
of those of an earlier period, and, with the
liberal aid from the State, higher qualifications
of teachers and new methods of imparting knowl
edge and organized systems of instruction, rapid
progress has been made in the past twenty years.
The law of obedience by force with the ferule and
rod has been superseded by that of love and kind
ness, treating the pupil as a rational being, sub
ject to discipline, which is enforced by the law of
ethics. There has been very little change in the original
location of school-houses, most of those now in
use being near where the first ones were erected.
The school-house for the neighborhood of Salem
was on the Sharp farm, now owned by Wm. J.
McMillen, on the old Beaverdam road, and oppo
site the cemetery gate ; at Clarksville it was for
merly in the village, on the location of S. P. Sim
mons' blacksmith shop.
The names of teachers previous to 1800 cannot
be learned with certainty; a few who taught in the
early part of 1800 are appended: Charles McCul
lock, Wesley Dollar, Harmanus Van Huysen, Ed
mond Raynsford, Francis Seger, James Wands, 2d,
Horace Emery, William Hooster, James Patteson,
Miss Hoyt, Ann Lawson, James McElroy, Peter
De Long.

904

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

STATEMENT
Of the number of children, amount of public money received, amount collected by tax, wages paid per week and valuation
of each School District in the Town of New Scotland for the year 1883.

No. of District.

No. of
Children of
School Age.

I...
2... 3---A... 5...
6... 7-.-

9-
10.11. 12.13-14- 15-16.

Total.

55
118 49 96 7930
40 7421
108 5644 81 653344

No.
in Attend
ance.

993

33
90 40 7062 19
2642 15
9940 37 56552136

Amount of
Public Money.

741

$104 61
194 65
94 06
200 55
155 86
87 12
100 15
138 03
67 91
175 09
91 30
107 70
155 84
125 00
92 68
in 30

Amount Collected
by Tax.

$2,001 85

$138 99
178 10
37 94
385 55
106 00
40 00
125 00
209 75
75 00
184 64
134 34
175 00
336 51
21 41
58 32
120 00

$2,326 55

Total Amount
used in District.

$282 84
395 55
132 00
586 10
306 86
237 78
232 15
462 02
241 23
361 59
228 46
345 50
492 35
206 50
223 00
231 30

Wages Paid,
Summer Term.

$5 OO
7 50
6 00
11 00
7 00
7 00
5 00
8 00
7 50
10 00
4 5°

00 00 7550
00

Wages Paid,
Winter Term.

$6 So
10 00
6 75
11 00
7 5°
7 5°
5 °°
10 00
6 50
10 00
5 50
7 50
10 00
5 25
5 25
10 00

$4,965 23  $1,476,219

Assessed Valu
ation of
each District.

S73>3°° 78,60030,000
104, IOO
141,400 57,750
150,500
165,500 115,500I56,45° 69,300 85,050
141,675 20,450
27,950 58,675

Whole number of days' attendance for the year  417.394
weeks' " " "  5,863
Licensed Teachers, 27; Males, 17; Females, 10.

SOCIETIES.
The New Scotland Mutual Association was or
ganized May 26, 1854. Robert Taylor, Chair
man ; F. C. Van Wormer, Secretary. The follow
ing directors were elected : Peter L. Houck,
Rushmore Bennett,* James H. Loucks,* David G.
Seger,* Frederic C. Van Wormer, Joseph Hilton,
Abram Mann, Vise Henry Crounce, Robert Taylor,
Thomas Bullock. David G. Seger, President ;
Robert Taylor, Secretary.
September 26, 1859, this company reorganized
by act of the Legislature, and changed the name
to "New Scotland Mutual Insurance Company,"
and elected the following directors and temporary
officers : John Reid, Chairman ; Robert Taylor,
Secretary. Directors — Alanson Van Auken, John
Reid,* Robert Taylor, Jacob Van Olinda,* George
W. Bender, D. V. S. Raynsford, Robert Moak, Thos.
Bullock, Abram Mann. Alanson Van Auken,
President; Robert Taylor, Secretary and Treasurer.
Business of the company for 1884 : Number of
policies issued, 527; total amount of risks, $985,-
928 ; amount of bonds on premium notes, $43,-
058; paid for losses, past five years, $12,000.
Most destructive fires were in the year 1878,
amounting to $4,000.
Directors for 1884 — William I. Spore, President;
Samuel Patton, Secretary and Treasurer ; Henry
Creble, Henry H. Mead, Isaac Winston, Robert
B. Taylor, Andrew McHarg, Henry Crounce,
Charles Wood.
Three directors elected annually, who serve for
three years. f Dead.

As early as 1 794 a Masons' lodge was in exist
ence at New Scotland village, and continued its
organization until about 1820. No records or
transactions of the lodge can be found. Mr. Peter
Furbeck remembers being at the funeral of Dr.
Clark, who was buried with Masonic honors in
the year 1813.
The following are some of the persons who were
members : Adam Holliday, John Wands, William
Warren, James Warren, James Dickson, Gloud
Wands, Thomas Lloyd, William Wayne, James
Wands, William Dickson. The house in which
this lodge held its meetings is still standing. None
of the members are living.
The first Odd Fellows lodge in the town was
organized in 1848, located at New Scotland, and
occupied the same rooms in which the Masons had
held their meetings many years previous. The
lodge was abandoned in 1858 and reorganized,
March 4, 1872, and by the consent of the Grand
Lodge it was removed to Slingerland, October,
1883, at which place the lodge now holds its
meetings. Open temperance societies were formed as early
as 1839, and the moderate pledge adopted. This
was followed by the Washingtonian pledge, which
inaugurated an advance movement in the cause ;
a new impetus, through public lectures and the
publication of temperance literature, educated the
intelligent masses to a higher consideration of this
great subject. It is now freely discussed, and the
advocates of temperance are no longer classed as
fanatics, but proclaim prohibition as the only
remedy for this social evil. Several secret societies
have been organized in the township, which, after

THE TOWNSHIP OF NEW SCOTLAND.

905

a few years of usefulness, were abandoned, and
others, both secret and open, have taken their
place. New Salem Division, No. 254, Sons of Temper
ance, was organized in November, 1867, with the
following officers and members : Wm. J. Reid,
P. S. Markle, J. M. Erwin, Jacob Albright,
Andrew J. Smith, I. B. Erwin, J. H. Flansburg,
Wm. J. Spore, William M. Young, Nathan Ward.
The society had a large membership, and held
their meetings weekly in the upper room of a
building owned by Alexander Reid ; from here
they were transferred to the hall over the new
store of J. M. Erwin, and the society abandoned in
the year 1880.
Clarksville Division, No. 25, Sons of Temper
ance, was organized in November, 1867. The
following constituted their first officers, viz. :
Samuel Marshem, Frederic R. Gardner, S. P.
Simmons, Silas Wright, P. H. Flagler, Wm. H.
Wright, A. B. Wright, Ed. Hotaling, Robert Mc
Loughlin, D. Schermerhorn. This society sur
rendered its charter in 1872, and in the year 1874
instituted a lodge of Good Templars, with Peter
H. Flagler as Worthy Chief Templar and Barent
Staats as Deputy. This organization was abandoned
in 1878.
New Scotland Division, No. 192, Sons of Tem
perance, was organized, March, 1870, and held
their meetings in rooms connected with the M.
E. church at "Black Creek." Rev. D. B. Mc
Kenzie, Worthy Patriarch. This society was
abandoned in 1881." In 1878 the temperance
cause was revived, and under the auspices of the
"Women's Christian Temperance Union," the
town was visited by Mrs. Courtney, who organized
societies and lectured in many of the churches.
Her work in the town was followed with good
results. February 28, 1883, Fidelity Lodge, No. 667,
of Good Templars was organized at New Salem,
with 22 charter members, Mr. Carr acting as Dep
uty Chief Templar. James Markle was installed as
W. C. Templar, and Mrs. Mary Winne, W. V. T. ;
A. Eugene Bogardus, Secretary ; Miss Ella Hurst,
A. S. ; John L. Van Olinda, Treasurer ; Miss Cora
E. Young, F. S. ; William A. Winne, Chaplain ;
Milton Earl, Marshal ; Mrs. Margaret Young, A.
M. ; MissMinnetta Markle, I. G. ; JohnB. Young,
O. G. ; J. M. Erwin, D. C. T. The lodge hold
their weekly meetings in the hall over J. M. Erwin's
store at New Salem.
In i860 a "Young Men's Christian Association"
was formed at New Salem, which continued for
two years ; among the active members were Rev.
» A. G. Lansing, Frederic Widmer, Alanson Van
Auken, James Markle, Andrew Smith.
A division of Sons of Temperance at Feura
Bush was organized, and soon after shared the fate
of others. The destructive element in the several
divisions was want of harmony and personal
jealousies. "Mount Pleasant Cemetery Association" was
organized, March 6, 1864, with the following
officers : Nathan N. Ward, President ; John E.

Taylor, Vice-President ; Robert Taylor, Secretary ;
Robert Moak, Treasurer. The cemetery is
located a mile east of New Salem, on the
old plank road, and occupies a commanding
site, with beautiful landscape scenery and dis
tant views. The Helderberg Hills are seen
from here in their varied beauty, while the village
of New Salem lies in the valley below. The sur
face of the land is much diversified and irregular,
giving to it many natural attractions, to be im
proved by the landscape gardener. It contains
twelve acres and is laid out with geometrical exact
ness. The present officers are : President, Philip
Luke ; Secretary, Wm. J. Reid ; Treasurer, John
H. Hallenbeck.
Onisquethau Union Cemetery Association (lo
cated at Tarrytown) was organized in 1867, with
the following officers : Rushmore Bennett, Presi
dent ; Jeremiah Mead, Vice-President ; Hiram
Crounse, Secretary; Hiram B. Mead, Treasurer.
The cemetery ground is level, with an inclination
to the east, and contains some very fine monuments.
The present officers are : John Scott, President ;
Henry Mead, Secretary ; Henry Bradt, Superin
tendent. Jerusalem Cemetery Association, at Feura Bush,
was organized in June, 1870, and the following
officers elected : Henry Creble, President ; Gen.
James Slingerland, * Vice-President ; Hiram Van
derzee, Treasurer ; A. C. Millspaugh, Secretary.
The cemetery occupies six acres of land in a pleas
ant location, and is tastefully laid out. The pres
ent officers are : President, Henry Creble ; Vice-
President, Isaac Van Allen ; Treasurer, Harman
Van Derzee ; Secretary, John Van Allen ; Super
intendent, I. Van Allen.
New Scotland Cemetery Association, connected
with the New Scotland Presbyterian Church, was
organized, April 12, 1866. E. E. Wands, Presi
dent ; Thomas Bullock, Secretary and Treasurer ;
D. V. S. Raynsford, John Witbeck, George Tay
lor, Albert La Grange, Lewis Hess, George W.
Bender, Abram Ruso, directors. The cemetery
ground is conveniently arranged, and includes the
old burying place of the church, containing about
four acres. The present officers are : E. E. Wands,
President ; D. V. S. Raynsford, Treasurer and
Secretary.
RECORD OF THE .OFFICERS, SOLDIERS
AND SEAMEN FURNISHED DURING
THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
The town of New Scotland contributed its share
of brave hearts and stalwart men in the period of
our country's peril and the trial of a free govern
ment. When the call to arms was proclaimed,
her quotas were always filled, and her soldier
sons endured in the field till peace dismissed them
to their homes. The several companies and regi
ments to which our soldiers belonged went through
many arduous campaigns. They were exposed
to dangers and privations from the unhealthful
surroundings, which often brought on disease and
?Dead.

906

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

incapacitated them from immediate usefulness ;
yet they were ready to obey commands and par
ticipated in some of the fiercest battles and assaults
of the war.
Many of their achievements should have brought
them honor and distinction, but the shadows of
their superiors in office have obscured the deeds
and daring of those men deserving of our grati
tude. The record of volunteers from this township
contains the names of many who were in the prime
of youthful manhood, possessed of sterling char
acter, energy and patriotism, and their loyalty is
well attested by the faithful performance of duty, the
many sacrifices made, as well as inhuman cruelty
endured by others in the horrible prisons to which
they were consigned.
It can be said with credit that but few of the
men deserted their post of duty and became
refugees until after the close of the war.
The termination of hostilities brought new
elements into consideration, and hundreds of brave
men who periled their lives have been almost
forgotten, as if they no longer had an existence,
and the anxiety of the historian to especially favor
men in high places has caused them to suppress
many of the achievements originated and success
fully carried out by heroes whose names should be
remembered by every youth in the land.
Victory — after many hard-fought battles and
reverses — crowned our army with success, and the
living band of self-sacrificing heroes were once
more at liberty to lay down their arms and return
to home and friends. -
Heroism deserves recognition, bravery its re
ward ; but when men offer their lives in defense of
their country and humanity, that all may enjoy the
blessings of freedom, they deserve more than a re
ward — they claim our gratitude.
At the time and during the Revolutionary war
New Scotland had few inhabitants. Many of these
were adherents to the crown, or in sympathy with
England; others belonged to that detestable class,
Tories, who secretly aided the Indians in their
stealthy raids of cruelty and carnage, and did not
hesitate to plot the ruin or murder of neighbors
and their families. A few names only are on rec
ord to our credit, and these will soon pass into
oblivion. Among them were: William McCullock,
Anthony Wayne, John Furbeck, John Wands,
Robert Hilton, Albert Bradt, and some of the La
Granges. In the war of 1 8 1 2 there went from what is now
New Scotland a fair representation to teach
England that we, although young in national life,
were not to be intimidated or deterred from assert
ing our rights and protecting our citizens. These
are some of the men who grace the record :
Samuel Taylor, Samuel Moak, Francis Aernhout,
Frederic Rowe, John Bush, James Jackson,
Peter and Joseph Wands, Peter and Daniel Mc
Ewen, John Long, John Bradt, William R.
Hilton, Thomas Wayne, Henry Moak, Samuel
Warren, James W. Wands, John Eddington, and
others. There is not living to-day one man who

participated in this war from the township of
New Scotland.
The following names are taken from the town
records, making a complete list of men who enlist
ed, were drafted or furnished substitutes, during the
war of the rebellion.
David D. L. McCullock, William Van Atten,
Oscar N. Slingerland, Isaac Van Atten, Alexander
F. Patterson, Jacob Martin Erwin, John A. Ram
sey, Patrick Fowler, Solomon Luke, Wilhelm
Buckar, Thomas Higgins, John W. Oliver, Daniel
Van Deusen, Rensselaer Raynsford, Michael Kays,
George Wayne, James Malhias, John H. Fitch,
William Henry Fitch, John L. Winne, George
Houghton, William Henry Van Alstyne, John
McChesney, John Scott, Alexander F. Hart, John
Ryall, George W. Jackson, Henry C. Reid, James
Ryall, Eli H. Hart, Edmund Wells Raynsford,
Alexander McMillen, Abram Van Deusen, Peter
H. Scutt, Joel Y. Bloomingdale, Alonzo Stalker,
John Stalker, Henry Van Zandt, James Henry Nee-
per, James J. Reid, William James Stalker, John
A. Markle, James M. Wands, Abram M. Hays,
Benjamin Pearl, John H. Flansburg, Garret W.
Oliver, John Wood, Richard Wood, Robert J.
Wands, Alexander H. Wands, Frederick Whiler,
James E. Wands, Thomas Wands, Oliver Wands,
John Walser, Abram Relyea, Henry Crounse, Mar
tin Talmadge, Barnard O'Neal, Amos L. Westfall,
Andrew B. White, George Ferguson, Peter
Pearl, Datus T. Cole, Garret G. Long, Philip
Amis, Cornelius Hotaling, John A. Sager, Jacob
M. Dingman, John S. Loucks, William Henry
Mosher, Isaac H. Van Wie, John Jackson,
Prime Jackson, William H. Latta, Joel B. Cole,
James H. Oliver, Garret Bradt, Levi Hallenbeck,
John Henry Stalker, William H. Stalker, Henry
Stalker, George Tompkins, John R. Bradt, David
G. Hotaling, John Crooks, William Groesbeck,
Levi W. Hallenbeck, John Wagoner, John W.
Smith, Jacob Wheeler, Jacob Weidman, Abram B.
Decker, Francis L. Brate, Henry Vroman, William
Brady, Adam Bradt, Lewis H. Smith, Nelson W.
Miller, Harvey Fletcher, Charles H. Shear, John D.
Houch, Boltus De Long, Storm Long, Jacob H.
De Long, Philip Latta, Walter Slingerland, Prime
Tompson, James Pelton, William Carknard, Joel
Carknard, Andrew Carknard, Jacob Wagoner,
William B. De Long, Samuel Marsham, John
Lewis Houck, William B. Hotaling, Franklin
Hallenbeck, Henry W. Case, John Winston,
Rosalro Pomeroy, Deevigna Pomeroy, Marshal
Weaver, David Wheeler, William Zinck, Anthony
Blanchard Seger, Cornelius Britton, William James
Clapper, Warren Clapper, William Henry Miller,
Richard Miller, Frank Miller, John Carknard, *
Van Zandt Bradt, Edward L. Wright, Lanson Devoe,
William Seward Murphy, Henry Hotaling, Henry
Bradt, Peter L. Houck, Jr., Thomas F. Ray, George
H. Pladwell, Robert C. Salisbury, James McNab, L.
A. Cooley, James Wm. Mann, Charles H. Falke,
Alonzo Tenbroeck, J. C. Bridgman, :  Frederick,
Richard O. Warren, William J. Cook, N. M.
Hawley, James Turner, Jr., Abram Grote, Jo
seph L. Chamberlain, Albert W. Taffe, Charles S.

THE TOWNSHIP OF NEW SCOTLAND.

907

Hermance, Conrad P. Gesler, John H. Bullock,
J. P. Heath, William Snell, William G. Mink, Asa.
W. Dingman, Charles Eckhart, Francis Bradt,
Thedore A. Carpenter, John F. Oliver, Lucius L.
Houck, Alfred Flansburg, Hiram W. Hallenbeck,
Charles H. Carknard, Isaac C. White, John
Wagoner, Garret H. Van Denburg, William
Wagoner, Isaac Van Alstyne, Jacob Bake, Abram
F. Hotaling, Alexander Begs, Jacob Oliver, Barton
Britton, Prime Jackson, Jacob Boice, William
Slingerland, C. W. Witbeck, Peter Henry Scher
merhorn, William Burnside, Edgar Shear, Leonard
Applebee, John F. Hallenbeck, Solomon Wilsey,
Charles Wilson, David Murphy, John Spreadbury,
Edward Johnson, Edward Lawrence, George
Smith, Thomas Carroll, Dennis Sawyer, John
Rickett, Isaac M. Manning, Philip Dailey, George
W. Clowe, Sanford W. Cheesbro, Frederick Hal
lenbeck, Joseph Baricansky, Robert C. Salisbury,
Capt. Charles McCullock. TANNERIES.
The first tannery was built by William McCul
lock, in the year 1 774, on the south side of the plank
road, opposite Albertus Becker's house, and east of
New Scotland. Here is a small flat, with a diminu
tive supply of water from a spring just above,
which gave Mr. McCullock facilities for tanning
leather. Another was constructed at New Salem
by Beriah Chesebrough, which was used until 1855;
one at New Scotland, built by Peter Rushmore;
one in the Houck neighborhood, and one on the
farm of Arnold Wood. All have been abandoned
for several years, as the supply of bark failed.
MILLS.
There are some vestiges of Uziah Conger's saw
and grist-mill, which was upon the Vly Kill, near
Mrs. James McElroy's, and a few are still living
who remember the carding mill at the same place.
Perhaps the first grist-mill was built by the
Slingerlands on the Onisquethau Creek, east of
Clarksville, on the farm of Conrad C. Crounce.
Here the water of the creek dashes down a rapid
fall of forty feet, and passes through a gorge of
slate rock, with sloping walls forty to sixty feet
high. The mill was built on the bed of the creek,
below the falls, and approached by a narrow road
way along the side of the wall, which was quite
steep. Here the farmers for many miles distant
came on horseback, with their grist of wheat or
corn, to be ground into flour for bread, or into
meal for mush or suppawn, to be eaten with milk.
There are a few persons yet living who, when boys,
came to this mill with grists; but none can give
the year when it was built or when abandoned.
The best authority gives the date 1750 to 1760.
Another grist-mill was erected on the farm now
owned by Michael Slingerland many years ago.
A man by the name of Van Zandt was an early set
tler on this farm. The grist-mill has disappeared,
and in its place a saw-mill — with circular and up
right saws — owned by Mr. Slingerland. A grist

mill was erected in 183 1, in the northern part of
the township, on the Vly Kill, by the La Granges;
this mill has three run of stone, and connected
with it is a saw-mill. It is largely patronized by
farmers, and grinds many tons of buckwheat flour.
On a spring creek, south of Andrew Allen's
and north of the turnpike road, there was once a
carding-mill belonging to a man by the name of
Grant. The spinning of wool or flax is an ac
complishment of the past, and mills for carding
or dressing of cloth are no longer a necessity; the
spinning wheel no longer anything but an orna
ment in the household. PHYSICIANS.
Previous to 1800 there is no satisfactory evidence
that physicians were resident in this town. When
physicians were needed in extreme cases, they were
called from Albany or some adjoining town. Many
families resorted to domestic remedies, in the use
of herbs, roots and salves, for the relief of the sick;
and among the pretenders to skill were those who
assumed to cure disease by the laying on of hands
or repeating words in cabalistic form, which the
superstitious patient would receive in faith as of
divine origin.
Among the earliest physicians were Drs. Clark,
Dennick, Day, De Lamater. Dr. Clark practiced
at New Scotland, died in 1813 or 1814, and was
buried with Masonic honors. His remains are in
the New Scotland Cemetery. Dr. Clark was suc
ceded by Thomas Lloyd, and soon after by Samuel
Dickson. Dr. Lloyd was bold and experimental
in his practice, and liberal in his opinions. Samuel
Dickson was a son of one of the early Scotch
settlers, possessing a kind, genial disposition, af
fable in his manners, conscientious as a physician,
and highly esteemed by all. His intelligence com
manded respect and consideration among his
townsmen, and hewas elected in 1854 to Congress,
to represent the Albany district. He died in 1858,
and is buried in New Scotland cemetery. Dr.
John H. Becker, a graduate of Albany Medical
College, settled here, and continued the practice of
medicine until his death.
John H. Fitch, now located at New Scotland, is
a great-grandson of William Allen, a member of
a Scotch family who were early settlers in the town.
Fitch graduated from the Eclectic Medical Col
lege of New York City in 1868. He was adjunct
professor and demonstrator of anatomy in this
college for two years; practiced in New York three
years, and came to New Scotland in 1873. Is
now a practitioner of the homoeopathic school.
Dr. Moak practiced at New Scotland for a short
time about 1876.
Dr. Peter De Lamater lived and practiced at
New Salem. He resided at the Spring, on the
farm now owned by Isaac Albright. He moved
to Duanesburgh about 1818. Two of his sons be
came physicians. From this date until 1855 there
was no settled physician at this place, when Milton
B. Lamb came and remained till 1866; then he
disposed of his property and interest to Hiram

908

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Becker, of Central Bridge, who was a graduate of
Albany Medical College.
Dr. Valentine Denick was located between Clarks
ville and Union; he was one of the first postmasters
in the town, and kept tavern on the Delaware
turnpike, on the premises now owned by Mrs.
Vanderpool. He was a successful physician for the
time, as the science of medicine then was not de
veloped, and afforded few facilities to the student.
Drs. Schermerhorn, Holmes and Ingraham were
settled at Clarksville. Succeeding them is Hiram
Crounce, a graduate of " Castleton Medical Col
lege of Vermont " in 1847; practiced in Rotterdam
one year, Knox seven years, Guilderland one year,
and located in Clarksville in the year 1857.
Conrad J. Crounce graduated from Albany
Medical College in 1845; first located in Knoxville,
and came to Clarksville in 1862.
Dr. M. S. Dayton also located at Clarksville.
Dr. Israel Day practiced medicine in the northern
part of the town, at what is locally know as Black
Creek. He was succeeded by Henry Sager, a grad
uate of Fairfield Medical College; he died in 1859.
Dr. G. V. Voorhees was located at Voorheesville
in 1870. Dr. A. Oliver, now located at Voorhees
ville, is a graduate of Albany Medical College in
1876, and studied medicine with Dr. Hiram
Becker. INDIANS.
The township contains very little of interest in
regard to its Indian history. The two most impor
tant events or transactions were the Van Baal deed,
given by four Mohawk Chiefs, and the deed to
Tunis Slingerland, signed by three Indians. In
many localities the farmer throws up with the plow
relics of Indian workmanship, as flint arrow-heads,
implements of flint with sharp edges for cutting
wood and skinning of animals, long round stones
used in pounding corn, and other curiosities. In
dians were quite numerous through the town, and
their trails extended from the Mohawk and Scho
harie valleys. They crossed the Helderbergs by
means of trees felled against the precipitous rocks,
which were called " Indian ladders," or by a few
narrow defiles, yet used in gaining the summit.
The Helderbergs afforded secret resorts and
skulking places for the Indians and Tories, into
which they could hide and thus elude discovery.
They had camping grounds on the Tawasentha, or

Norman's Kill; in the valley along the Helderbergs;
at Clarksville; on the Hotaling farms, extending all
along the Onisquethau Creek, and the Slingerland
flats. After 1800 they broke up and lived in small
companies, building rude huts, which they would
abandon, and then wander to some other locality,
erect huts in the neighborhood of farmers,
from whom they expected to live by begging
or the sale of their handiwork, the proceeds of
which were only too often squandered for whisky.
Civilization is incongenial to their natures, and
their intermixture with negroes lost to them their
ethnological characteristics; they assumed habits
and names of the whites. Harmanus, Isaac, Jerry,
Davy, John, Shoppy, Ginny, Becky and Sarah were
common. The last time the writer saw any of
these half-breeds was in 1842.
ORCHARDS.
Apple trees were planted upon many farms, two
hundred years ago; whether by the Indians or
whites is not known. In a few orchards some of
these trees are yet standing. The farms south of
New Salem were settled by Jan Braat, and on the
farm now owned by R. Markle is one of these an
cient trees, which measures thirteen feet four inches
in circumference. The writer has heard an old
man, now dead, who was born in 1760, say these
trees were as large around as a barrel when he
could first remember seeing them; as his grand
father lived on these premises, the trees must be at
least two hundred years old. Many other orchards
in the town give evidence of great age.
GRAVE-YARDS.
It seems to have been the custom through the
town for almost every family to have their dead
buried upon their own farm or premises. There are
yet upon many farms grave-stones or other monu
ments that mark the resting places of those who died
beyond the recollection of any living; but few have
any inscription from which to learn the date. Many
of these burial places have passed from their
original owners, and are cultivated with the ad
joining land. Soon not a vestige of them will re
main. Cemeteries are being substituted, of which
there are four in the town, as more appropriate
and enduring.

THE TOWNSHIP OF NEW SCOTLAND.

909

HON. HIRAM BECKER, M. D.
Hon. Hiram Becker, M. D., was born in the
town of Wright, Schoharie County, N. Y., January
22, 1840, and is now (1885) in his forty-sixth
year. He attended the district schools of his
neighborhood and afterward entered the old
Gallupville Academy, where many other men of
mark in this section were educated, wholly or in
part. Later, he was a student for a time at the
Schoharie Academy in 1857 and 1858. After
completing his studies there he entered upon the
study of medicine, passing the years 1862-64,
until his graduation, at the Albany Medical Col
lege, in the meantime teaching school as occasion
offered and his plans permitted. He soon estab
lished a medical practice both large and lucrative,
locating in time at New Salem, and takes rank as
one of the best read and most skillful physicians
and surgeons in Albany County. Dr. Becker was
reared in the Republican faith, politically, and has
never departed from it. He has gained a promi
nent place in the counsels of his party, both in his
town and county, though he is not and never has
been an office-seeker ; but his abilities have been
recognized by his repeated elections to the super-

visorship of New Scotland and his election, in
1883, to represent the Second Assembly District of
Albany County (consisting of the Tenth, Eleventh,
Fourteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth wards of the
city of Albany, and the towns of Guilderland,
Knox and New Scotland) in the Legislature. In the
latter instance his popularity was attested by a
majority of 707 over the vote cast for his opponent
(Francis Freckleton, a Democrat), in spite of the
fact that in the previous year (1882) the Democratic
plurality in the district had been 324. In his
legislative capacity Dr. Becker served with credit
to himself and satisfaction to his constituents, both
on the floor of the house and on several important
committees. It is but his due to state that he was
offered the nomination for re-election, but declined
it in favor of the gentleman who became his suc
cessor, preferring to devote his time and energies
to his increasing professional duties to longer
taking active part in public affairs.
Dr. Becker is essentially a self-made man, for
by his own exertions he has conquered those diffi
culties which cumber the pathway to success and
won an enviable position in his profession and
among his fellow men. He is a close student
of passing events and takes a worthy and most in-

910

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

7y^j£4vi/

^^-t^^^-e^J

telligent interest in all things which in any manner
affect the welfare of his town, county and country.
His mind is of a liberal cast and his sympathies
with mankind are broad and earnest. As a man
and a citizen he commands undisputed respect
from all classes, and in all of the relations of life
he is just, zealous and helpful.
HIRAM CROUNSE, M. D.
Dr. Hiram Crounse, now residing at Clarksville,
Albany County, N. Y., was born in 1820, in the
town of Sharon, Schoharie County, N. Y. In
1836 he moved to Albany County, and in 1847 he
graduated in medicine from the Castleton (Ver
mont) Medical College, since which time he has
continually practiced. His standing among the
medical fraternity is deservedly high, and he has a
large and successful practice. He takes first rank
as a man and a citizen, and is one of the best
known and most highly respected men in his sec
tion of the county.
We take pleasure in making mention of the fol
lowing citizens, who, by their guaranteed support,
have helped to insure the publication of this valua
ble work: Hiram Becker, A. G. Lansing, Jacob
M. Erwin, Hiram Crounse, Leond. J. Applebee,

Henry H. Mead, Jno. B. Van Nattan, C. Slinger
land, Eph. Houghtaling, Peter Van Attan, John
Le Boeuf, Jno. V. Leonard, Jas. H. Loucks, Henry
Brate, Henry Creble, Edwin Vedder, Wm. South
ard, Michael Slingerland, Samuel Patton, Teunis
Slingerland, Fredk. R; Gardner, D. D. L. Mc
Culioch, Hester Slingerland, James J. Arnold,
Hiram Wiltsie, John Johnson, Cath. Van Der-
poole, Vanderzee La Grange, Wm. I. Spore, Mrs.
Mary Mead, Isaac Winston, Mary Bradt, John H.
Scutt, Jno. A. Pangborn, Wm. B. Van Atten, D.
V. S. Raynsford, Albert La Grange, Jno. H. Fitch,
Peter J. Fuller, Albertus Becker, Alex. Reid, Al
mon Barton, J. J. Wademan, Elias M. Gallop,
Andrew Johnson, F. B. La Grange, N. A. De
Long, Frederick R. Gardner.
Henry H. Mead, a farmer, fifty years of age, re
siding at Onisquethau.
F. R. Gardner is proprietor of saw-mill and
lumber business; established in Clarksville since
1853- Leonard J. Ar-PLEBY is a farmer, born in 1841;
lives in a tenement house in the place he now owns;
married in 1861 to Rachel M. Hallenbeck,
daughter of A. F. Hallenbeck; has a family of eight
children. His father was born in 1806; died 1857.
His mother's maiden name was Nancy Swartwout.

THE TOWNSHIP OF RENSSELAERVILLE.

911

John H. Fitch, M. D., physician and surgeon;
established in New Scotland since 1873.
Hiram Wiltsie is a farmer, and established in
Coeymans since 1850. In 1847 he married Char
lotte E. Schoonmaker, daughter of Henry Y.
Schoonmaker, of Bethlehem; they have six chil
dren. In 1863 they moved from Coeymans to
Jerusalem, town of New Scotland, where they now
reside. He is one of the largest farmers in the
town. John H. Scutt is a farmer in the southwest cor
ner of the town of New Scotland. About the year
1790 his great-grandfather, Philip Scutt, settled on
this farm, where he lived and died. — He had two
sons, John and Philip, who also died here.
Samuel Patton — John, Robert, and William Pat
ton, brothers, were born in the north of Ireland, of
Scotch-Irish ancestry, and came to Albany in 1825,
and after four years removed to the town of New
Scotland. Mr. Samuel Patton, son of Robert Pat
ton, inherits many of the higher qualities of his pa

rents and Scotch ancestry. He has been called to rep
resent this town in the Board of Supervisors, one
term, and refused to accept a re-election. He has
served the town as clerk, and is the efficient secretary
of the Town Insurance Association. He is an
honorable, upright and highly respected citizen.
Jacob Martin Erwin was born at New Salem,
and is of Scotch-Irish and Holland descent. At
the first sound of secession, in 1861, he was fired
with youthful patriotism and zeal for the safety of
his country, and in the autumn of 186 1, he, with
others of this village, enlisted as a private in the
91st Regiment, N. Y. V. After returning from the
army, he resumed his business of shoemaking, for
a short time, and then engaged in the mercantile
business at New Salem, with Conrad Mathias,
whose daughter, Amanda, he married, in 1867.
He has never held any public office but that of
postmaster, which he now fills ; is a stanch advo
cate of his party principles, and is respected by all
classes as a citizen worthy of their confidence and
esteem.

HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF RENSSELAERVILLE.

By NORM^-N W. yAULKE, Esq..

1 CHAPTER I.
THIS town derived its name from Stephen Van
Rensselaer, then proprietor and landlord of
the manor of Rensselaerwick, upon which the town
was located. The town was settled chiefly by immi
grants from New England. The first survey was
made in 1787 by Van Rensselaer's agent, and from
his statement we obtain the names of the inhabitants
living on the land or having made improvements
thereon and number of the lots, viz. :
Commencing in southwest portion of the town,
on lot No. 7 was Peter Plank; No. 8, Peter West;
No. 9, Charles Edwards; No. 1 1, Gershom Stevens;
No. 24, Hendrick Young; No. 25, Peter Shoemaker;
No. 26, Peter Becker; No. 37, Wm. Showerman;
No. 43, Peter Emerick; No. 45, Peter Bassor; No.
47, John Ellis; No. 56, Peter Miller; No. 66,
Bastian Smith (2d ward of Preston Hollow); No.
70, Samuel Howe; No. 84, Andricks Huyck (ist
ward Preston Hollow); No. 88-89, Curtis Cleveland
and Jesse Pierce; No. 90, Abel Mudge; No. 92,
Johanis Hagadorn; No. 102, Peter Nouck; No.
103, Derrick Van Dyke (now John Hess); No.
108, John Pierce; No. 109, Sylvester Pierce; No.
in, Daniel Cooper; No. 125, Abner Tremain;
No. 127, Caleb Pierce; No. 128, Daniel Mudge;
No. 131, Daniel Cooper; No. 145, Thos. Farring
ton; No. 147, Samhel Martin and Josiah Skinner;
No.' 148, Daniel Mudge; No. 149, George Van

Benson; No. 167, Green; No. 168, John Coons;
Nos. 169-170, Jonathan Skinner; W. Pt. of No.
181, Bela Phelps; No. 186, Thos. Brown, Adam
Coons, Niel McFalls; No. 188, Reuben Bumps,
Philemon Lee, Hezekiah Dibble; No. 204, Hen
drick Rhoda, Samuel Nicholls; No. 209, Reuben
Bumps; No. 210, Bela Cook; No. 223, Jonathan
Edwards; No. 224, Alanson Sexton, Andries Asher;
No. 225, Andries Asher, Michael Brant, Ashel
Culver; No. 226, John Rascone; No. 227, Nathan
Hatch, Jonathan Crocker; No. 243, Widow Becker;
No. 247, Daniel Cooper, Becker and Staats; No.
263, James Borthwick; No. 247, Joseph Lincoln
and John Ramier; No. 281, east part, James
Broyce; No. 282, John Heron; No. 283, John
Hunter; No. 284, no name given; No. 302,
Samuel Ramsey; No. 303, John Hunter; No. 350,
George Ramsey; No. 351, John Connell.
Michael Brant, a German, from Schoharie
County, lived in the town on lot No. 225 (the pres
ent residence of Wm. Chapman) during the revo
lution. About the year 1783, John Coons, from Colum
bia County, squatted on lot 168. When he lo
cated there, there was but one house standing on
the present site of the village of Rensselaerville.
_Sjlas_Sweat, a very early settler, came in from West
Stockbridge, Mass. , and settled upon a farm about
one mile east of Rensselaerville.

912

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Apollos Moore, from Pittsfield, Mass., settled
about two miles east of the village of Rensselaer
ville in 1785. He came on foot, while his wife
rode a horse (which cost five dollars) and carried
all their property. Mr. Moore became a leading
citizen, was Justice of the Peace, Supervisor, and
finally Judge of the Common Pleas Court of
Albany County, which office he held until 70 years
old. He made an able judge. He also kept a
store at his farm and -had a large custom grist-mill
in the village. He was a soldier in the revolution,
having enlisted at the age of sixteen. He died in
1 840, at the age 76, leaving a good record, and
honored for his integrity as justice and judge.
Gerardus Drake, ancestor of the present Drake
family, settled near the present site of Potter's
Hollow in 1803. He came here from Dutchess
County, New York. John Drake came in 1808,
and settled at Potter's Hollow. He became an in
fluential man and prominent in the Society of
"Friends," a society which sprang up in that
section of the town, having a church in Potter's
Hollow and at Smith's Corners. Abram and
Jeremiah Young and Aaron Winnie, from Ulster
County, settled near Potter's Hollow in 1790.
Stephen Treadwell, an eminent minister of the
Friends Church, in 18 16, settled upon a farm near
Potter's Hollow. He was the father of Hon. Val
entine Treadwell, now living in Potter's, the latter
having held many important positions, as Assembly
man, Senator, Supervisor, United States Revenue
Assessor and Justice of the Peace.
Joseph Lincoln, John Reusior, with several
brothers by the name of Hatch, settled in the
northern part of the town about 1787, -one of
whom built a house, for many years known as the
' ' Hatch house. " A little way south of the present
site of the village of Rensselaerville was the tannery,
store, etc., of Peckham Griggs. This was called in
early days Peckham Hollow. Here the late Judge
Rufus W. Peckham and his brother George were
reared to manhood. Rufus taught school in this
town until he studied law. They were afterwards
well known in Albany as the law firm of Peckham
& Colt. Colt was a brother-in-law. All of that law
firm are now dead.
Rufus W. Peckham became an eminent lawyer
at the bar of Albany, was Congressman, Supreme
Court Justice, Judge of the Court of Appeals, and
was drowned in the Ville du Havre steamer accident
a few years ago. His son, Rufus W. Peckham, is
now Judge of the Supreme Court, living in Albany
Later, Mr. Lester succeeded the Peckhams in the
tannery business, upon the farm now owned by

Joseph Pullman. The first settler in the village
of Rensselaerville was Samuel Jenkins, who came
there, February 22, 1788, and in the following
April erected the first dwelling house, and later the
first grist-mill.
Capt. Daniel Shay, known as the leader of what
was called the " Shay's rebellion" in Massachusetts,
fled from that State and settled in the south
western portion of this town, in the vicinity of
Preston Hollow, in 1795, at its early settlement.
After purchasing a farm near there (the farm now
owned and occupied by Edward Lounsbury), Shay
purchased the farm of David Williams, who was
one of the captors of Major Andre. Shay's son, also
named Daniel, afterward became a leading citizen
and business man in Preston Hollow.
Major John Edwards, a revolutionary officer,
settled, lived and died at Preston Hollow.
The principal streams are the Catskill Creek and
its tributaries, Scrub, Fox, Ten-Mile and Eight-
Mile creeks and Willow Brook. There is a
sulphur spring on the farm early known as the
"Gardner farm," now owned by W. S. White.
CHURCHES.
The Presbyterian Church at Rensselaerville was
organized in 1793. Rev. Samuel Fuller was the
first pastor. The first Sabbath spent in town was
April 14, 1793, when he made the following rec
ord in his first journal: "This is a new settle
ment, and they have no meeting house. The
trustees applied to me to preach for them three
Sabbaths longer, which I agreed to do." In
November he received a unanimous call to settle at
this place. He was to receive ^"100 settlement,
and £^0 a year till it makes ^"80. The ordination
took place, January 23, 1794. The services were
held in a log building, occupied temporarily as a
meeting house, which stood in the southwest corner
of what was afterward Elder Fuller's orchard (of
late belonging to Wm. Aley, deceased). It was origi
nally a dwelling house, with two rooms, but by re
moving the chimney and putting a rude pulpit in
its stead on the western side, it was converted into
a place of worship. The day of the ordination
was stormy, and the snow driven through the crev
ices so moistened the hands of Mr. Judson, the or
daining minister, that the prints of his thumb still
remain upon the Bible used on the occasion. In
February Mr. Fuller removed his family to this
town, and from the 8th day of February to April
10 he lived in the house with Samuel Nichols,
which stood on lot No. 204, about one-third of a
mile north of what has long been called the " Red
House," west of Fuller's place. The building was
a log cabin of two small rooms, with a trough roof.
The apartment occupied by Rev. Mr. Fuller had
but one window, containing but four lights, covered
with oiled paper instead of glass, and was so con-

THE TOWNSHIP OF RENSSELAERVILLE.

913

structed that after meals they were obliged to put
the table upon the bed, and the only space allowed
him for a study was in the corner of the room,
where a board laid upon the head of a barrel served
him for a writing desk. The settlement being new
and furniture not easily obtained, the cradle for
their child was the half of a basswood log, hollowed
out for that purpose. In the spring he removed
from his uncomfortable quarters at Mr. Nicholls'
to what is now the middle room of the house for
many years occupied by Matthew Mulford. The
Rev. Samuel Fuller continued pastor of this church
for sixteenyears, when he united with the Episcopal
Church and became the founder of the Episcopal
Church in Rensselaerville.
On the 15th of June, 1796, the frame of the first
house of worship of the Presbyterians was raised,
and completed during the next summer. It stood
upon the hill near the late residence of Rufus
Bouton, lately deceased, nearly a mile west of the
Fuller place (late Wm. Aley's). The first service
was held therein, September n, the site being a
few rods west of the house of late known as Rufus
Bouton's, and about ten miles southwest of the
village. That point was then the location of the
village, there being but a few houses in the place
now known as Rensselaerville. It was a grand site
for a church. From it on a clear day they could
look into four States, and, standing in the doorway,
they might see the Berkshire Hills and the Highlands
of Connecticut, where so many of them were born,
while all about them were the homes they had
made. To be sure, it had neither- steeple, nor tower,
nor turret, nor had they any bell to call them to
worship, but there was a pulpit inside, which was
an object of universal veneration. It was quite an
imposing structure, fronting the door, pushed high
up on the wall, as was the custom in those days,
and approached by a long flight of steps. Back
of the pulpit a window, and over the minister's
head hung a sounding board. Under the pulpit
was the " Deacons' seat, " where these dignitaries
of the church sat facing the audience, with due
solemnity of countenance. The building itself was
a neat, well-finished edifice, substantially the same
as the present academy at Rensselaerville. There
were three doors — one opposite the pulpit, and one
on each side. The gallery ran around on three
sides. The pews were square, so that part of the
occupants sat with their backs to the minister. On
a Sabbath morning the people came from miles
around in every direction up lo the house of God.
For many a year it was on horseback that they
came, the husband riding in front and the wife
seated on a pillion behind him, with perhaps a
child in her arms. There were two services, with
a short intermission, during which the people re
freshed themselves with lunch brought from their
homes, and then talked over the last news about
George Washington and King George, for whom
some still had a slight feeling of loyalty. Mr.
Fuller, their minister, was a man of ability, seldom
preaching without notes. In early days Deacon
Woodford and Deacon Camp officiated, and are
fondly remembered by many of our citizens of the

present day. The former lived near the school-
house, and his house is still standing. Between
the years 18 10 and 181 8 the village on the hill de
creased, while that in the valley grew and prospered.
Mills and manufactories clustered along the stream,
and it soon became evident to the people that they
must leave the pleasant site their fathers chose
for a church, and move their buildings down into
the valley. Of those who worshiped in this edifice
almost all sleep in their graves. Yet there are still
a few who can just remember going to the old
church on the hill. A lot was purchased, and in
the summer of 1 813 the building was moved to its
present location, where it is known as the Rens
selaerville Academy. During the time of its re
moval services were held sometimes at Deacon
Woodford's and sometimes at Mr. Watson's hotel in
the village. The church was poor, and it was with
the greatest difficulty that it could meet the ex
penses of removal. Daniel Conklin, Nichols
Cornell and Deacon Woodford were very active
in raising funds and forwarding the work. Finally
Deacon Woodford went to Albany and told the
brethren of this faith in that city how the ex
pense had been more than double the estimate of
$600, and that the church was $190 in debt, which
they could not raise and support preaching. The
good Deacon went zealously at work in the city,
but having failed to take out a license, he was
arrested by a constable, who led him to the Mayor's
office, where the Deacon pleaded his own cause so
nobly that not only did the Mayor discharge him
and give him a license, but also sent him on his
way rejoicing with a liberal subscription. With
such a name at the head of his paper, he met with
great success. This church was dedicated, Sep
tember 10, 1815. Rev. Seth Williston, of Dur
ham, delivered the sermon on that occasion. It
was during the second period of the church that
the site of the edifice, not being satisfactory, being
on the edge of the village, on a steep eminence,
difficult of access, and cold in winter, and the in
habitants desiring the edifice for an academy, the
money for a new structure was raised, and in the
summer of 1842 the foundations were laid, and the
enterprise vigorously prosecuted. Its success was
due to the liberality and enterprise of several
wealthy citizens, among whom were Mr. Gordon
Conklin and Mr. Abram Dayton and others. The
present church was dedicated, December 6, 1843,
Rev. Marcus Smith, a former pastor, officiating.
The Episcopal Church in Rensselaerville was
organized and founded by Rev. Samuel Fuller,
February 20, 181 1. Services were held in the
chamber of Rufus Watson's house until the fall of
181 2. The first wardens were Jacob Wood and
Allen Durant, and the vestrymen, Asa Colvard,
Jonathan Jenkins, Josiah Watson, Jesse Hollister,
Ezra Lester, Apollos Moore, Elijah Griggs and
Ichabod Peck. The first church edifice was con
secrated, October 2, 18 15, and cost about $3,000.
The present edifice will seat about 200, and is
valued at $6,000.
The Baptist Church in the village of Preston
Hollow was organized about 1793, and even had

914

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

an existence as early as 1 790. The first meetings
were held in a log school-house near the site of the
present residence of Hiram Kelsey. In 1821 an
edifice was erected, situated on the bank of Fox
creek, near the site of the present residence of Nor
man Powell, about one and a half miles from the
village. The building was a frame one, sided up,
but not plastered or finished in the interior. In
the year 1883 this building was taken down and
another church edifice erected out of it upon the
knoll near the present school-house in the village,
where its members worshiped down to 1846, when
the present commodious church was erected, cost
ing $6,000. The church has had the following
pastors in the order named: In 1793, Elder Green;
then followed Revs. John Winans, John Cooper,
James Mackey, Seth Paddock, John I. Teeple,
Chas. Randall, Harvey Cornwall, Hiram Haynes,
Wm. S. Apsey, J. M. Ferris, Leonard Smith, D.
B. Collins, J. B. Pixley, M. A. Joslin, Giles
Humel Hubbard, the latter of whom is the pres
ent pastor. Rev. Seth Paddock held the pastor
ate for the longest period. He was born in
Dutchess County in 1785, came here when a young
man, experienced religion • and united with this
church. The church finally gave him a license to
preach the gospel. He was ordained as its pastor
and served it faithfully for sixteen years, when he
removed to Durham, where he was pastor of a
Baptist church thirteen years. He died October
23, 1879, at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr.
G. C. Hubbard, in Preston Hollow, in the ninety-
fourth year of his age. His funeral was attended
the following Sunday by a large concourse of peo
ple, when the pastor, Rev. J. B. Pixley, preached
and Rev. A. M. Cole, of E. Durham Church, par
ticipated in the services.
The Baptist Church in Rensselaerville was
erected in 1797. The first preachers or pastors
were Wm. Stewart, and later Rev. Truman Beman,
then Rev. Ephriam Crocker, whose ministry con
tinued until 1836, when Rev. Reuben Wingar be
came its pastor, and then the new present church
was built. Mr. Wingar was a very acceptable
pastor for many years, when he removed to Am
sterdam, N. Y., where he still lives. The present
pastor is Rev. Mr. Waterbury.
The Society of Friends had two societies, one at
Smith's Corners, a hamlet with a Friends church,
which has been taken down within a few years.
The Friends Society and meeting house at Pot
ter's Hollow, was organized about 1795, with
about 30 members. The first preacher was Reuben
Palmer. The first house of worship was erected in
1806; the present church in 1818; it has never
had over forty members. The last preacher was
Israel Drake, a very good man, now deceased.
The Methodist Episcopal Church in the village
of Rensselaerville is a very large organization with
a commodious edifice.
The Methodist Church in Medusa dates its or
ganization many years back. The people of that
locality first held their meetings in a log school-
house, and afterward in the Union Church until in
1869-70, when the society erected a large church

in the village. It is a fine edifice, and the mem
bership large.
The Christian Church in Medusa was organized
in 1830, and in 1835 its members held services in
an edifice built by subscription of the citizens to
be used by different sects of religion for their wor
ship. Previous to this time this organization wor
shiped in the school-house, and in warm weather
they held their meetings in Bedford's barn, now
owned by C. J. Waldron, Esq.
The Methodist Church in Preston Hollow was
organized about the year 1 840. The present fine
church was erected in 1844. This church, al
though its history does not reach as far back as
that of sister churches, is to-day in a prosperous
condition, and its services well attended.
villages.
There are five villages in the town.
Preston Hollow is an enterprising and thrifty
village in the southwestern part, situate upon the
Catskill Creek, in the valley of the Catskill, near
the famous mountains of that name.
A few years ago the name of the village of Pres
ton Hollow was changed to Monclova, and the post
office went by that.name for about two years, when
by consent of its citizens, its name was changed
back again to its old name of Preston Hollow.
The first settlers on its site, Andricks Huyck, on
lot 84, and Bastian Smith, on lot 66. The founder
of the village was Dr. Samuel Preston, in 1 798. In
the year 1870 the village was by an act of the Leg
islature, incorporated for the purpose of grading
the streets and making sidewalks and planting
shade trees; Stage coaches leave the village daily,
both to Catskill and to Middleburgh. It is 13
miles from Middleburgh and 24 from Catskill. Its
population by the last census was four hundred.
It contains two fine church edifices,' a Baptist
and Methodist; a large, first-class hotel, M. Murphy
proprietor; a large custom flouring mill, owned by
Lawrence Faulk & Co. ; three stores; two leather
tanneries, Devereux & Co.'s sole leather tannery,
and Rivenbergh Bros, upper-leather tannery; a
flourishing village school, and a select school and
literary institute, where the higher branches are
taught; two millinery shops; a photograph gallery;
a foundry, owned by Wm. Morrison; two black
smith shops ; a wagon maker's shop; an extensive
harness shop, owned by A. E. Hinman;
a cooper shop, owned by R. Vanakers;
two law offices, with large law libraries,
one that of Norman W. Faulk, Esq., and the other
of Lawrence Faulk. The village derived its name
from Dr. Preston, its founder. It has a Good
Templars Lodge, with a large roll of members; a
large, fine hall for lectures and exhibitions, owned
by Benjamin White, after whom the hall is named.
There are two extensive evaporators for drying
apples and other fruit, lately erected by Mr. Benj.
White. The inhabitants are characterized by their
intelligence, energy, sobriety and enterprise.
Among its early business men and earliest settlers
were Daniel Shay, Jr., David Davenport, Alvin

THE TOWNSHIP OF RENSSELAERVILLE.

915

Devereux, Sr., Theodore- Devereux, Henry Ricker-
son, Samuel Preston, James G. Clark, Ebenezer
White, Judge Robert W. Murphy and Reuben
Palmer, further mention of whom will be given
hereafter under the general history of the south
west portion of the town.
2. Medusa is in the east portion of the town, on
the "Ten-Mile Creek." It was first settled in
1783 by Uriah Hall and his son Joshua. The
place for many years bore the name of "Hall's
Mills," from the parties just named. Uriah Hall
and his son took a lease from Van Rensselaer of
many lots covering the site of the village and vicin
ity. Hall erected the first grist-mill and dwelling
here; he also was the proprietor of the first store
here, and, being a thorough business man, he ob
tained a large trade through the neighborhood.
He caused a school-house to be erected in the
early times, that attracted settlers and business.
Joshua Hall continued in business here until 1806,
when he was accidentally killed by a tree falling
upon him while he was chopping wood upon one
of his farms, now owned by Walter Doolittle. His
son married a sister of Wm. R. Tanner. The
elder Hall had now become too old to manage
business affairs, and his retirement was a serious
check to the growth of the village. Joseph Hall,
in 1785, settled upon the farm afterward owned
by Willet Mackey, and now owned by his son,
Alexander W. Mackey, at the east end of the
village. In 1785 William Hall settled upon the farm
a little east of the village, being the Edward
Frost farm. Job Tanner was also one of the first
settlers in that section. He had seven sons and
two daughters, all of whom married and reared
families. Most of them removed to the west.
Judge William R. Tanner is a descendant of him,
and still resides at this village, where he was born
and reared. His father was a farmer and man of
business. Wm. R. Tanner has been Supervisor of
the town, also an associate judge on the bench,
and for many years has held the office of Justice
of the Peace. He, too, is a farmer, and has been
an extensive owner of mill property. He is a
highly esteemed citizen, a leading member of the
Methodist Church, and through his energy has
caused a commodious church to be erected there
for that denomination. He lives upon the farm
where his father lived and died. The village of
late years has much improved in appearance, and
has a population of about 200.
Daniel Doolittle was one of the early settlers.
He married the widow of Joshua Hall and had
• sons, Talmadge and Walter Doolittle. In 1850
the name of the village and post-office was changed
to its present name, "Medusa." It contains a
Methodist Episcopal and a Christian church, a
hotel, two stores, two custom mills for grain, turn
ing works, an evaporator, and a paper mill by
John Milton & Co. Chas. Delamater, son of Lu
cius, is a leading business man and successful
merchant. A good farming country surrounds the
village with its post-office and carpenter shop and
two blacksmith shops.

3. Cooksburg, in the extreme southwest corner
of the town, is a small village of about fifty inhab
itants. It sprung up when the Catskill and Cana
joharie Railroad was opened to its site, and in
1840 was named in honor of Thomas B. Cook, of
Catskill, a leading man in that railroad enterprise.
In its immediate vicinity at that time were two ex
tensive sole leather tanneries, one owned by Mr.
Hand, and afterward by George Bellamy; the other
by S. R. Potler & Co. These tanneries were both
burned to the ground many years ago and were
never rebuilt John W. Couchman is a resident of
the village. The village contains two drug stores,
a hotel, cooper, undertaker and shoe shops, a grist
mill and cider mill. It was first settled by Daniel
Youngs and Garret Snyder. In 1839 the Catskill
and Canajoharie Railroad was opened to this place,
twenty-three miles from Catskill. In 1831 the
company was organized, and in 1836 contracts
given out, and amid much ceremony ground was
broken at Catskill in the latter year. In 1838 the
proprietors were denounced as swindlers. In 1839
the road was opened to this place, at which time
there were only two buildings here, one the present
hotel, then kept by David Young (and now owned
by Wm. Brazee), and the large unpainted farm
residence of Mr. Garret Snyder. There was but
one small engine on the road, called the "Moun
taineer," and when once it needed repairs it was
shipped to Jersey City, and then drawn by oxen
over the country to Paterson, N. J., where the loco
motive works were located. It was repaired, sent
back, and still it did not do its work. It was re
turned to Paterson for repairs, and when replaced
on the track it still refused duty. In the meantime
the management was getting into financial diffi
culty. The stock was $1,000,000, and the State
had pledged its credit for $200,000. The road
was finally sold to the "Catskill Bank" for
$11,000, and the man who took it off their hands
finally pulled up the rails and sent them to the
junk shop. This digression is introduced, as
Cooksburg came into existence through the Cats-
kill and Canajoharie Railroad, and we were com
pelled to note the rise and fall of this enterprise
that came to so untimely an end.
4. Potter's Hollow is also a small village, lying
in the extreme west part of the town, of about 100
inhabitants. It has a post-office, hotel, Quaker
church, two stores, one a hardware and the other
for general merchandise. It was first settled about
1806. It is the home of ex-Senator Valentine
Treadwell, who has been Supervisor, Assembly
man and Senator, and is now a Justice of the
Peace. His father, Stephen Treadwell, was an
able Friends preacher here. Its early settlers were
the Potters, Samuel and Timothy, from whom it
derived its name. Potter Palmer, the Chicago
millionaire, was bom and grew to manhood here.
He is the proprietor of the well-known Palmer
House of that city. His father, Benjamin Palmer,
was an extensive farmer and landowner, and re
puted wealthy. He was Justice of the Peace and
a leading citizen. His eldest son, Akins, is a
wealthy and highly respected citizen of this village.

916

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

A daughter, Ann, wife of Rev. Philip Couchman,
resides here. Benjamin's two other sons, Milton
J. and William, reside in Chicago, 111.
5. Rensselaerville is the largest village in the
east part of the town, and after its settlement be
came the chief place of business and financial
center, which it maintained till about twenty-
five years ago. When its wealthy citizens died and
the wealth disappeard, at least its enterprise lan
guished. Yet with its three or four stores, a good
hotel .and its mills and manufactories, it has of late
recovered a portion of its former importance. Its
post-office is a money order and postal order office,
in charge of Postmaster George L. Bouten. Its
population is about 600. It has an academy, a
flourishing district school, four churches — Presbyte
rian, Baptist, Methodist and Episcopal, all fine
edifices. Messrs. Geo. L. Boughton and F. Huyck
have erected a large custom flouring mill, which is
run under the supervision of Mr. Boughton. It
once had a large woolen and felt manufactory,
owned by F. C. Huyck and Waterbury. These men
moved away, and on their departure the machinery
of the mill was also taken down.
What may be termed its first settlement was
started upon the hill west of its present site, near
the Rufus Bouten farm-house, where the first
Presbyterian church was built, and in the vicinity
of the Fuller place. Afterward Samuel Jenkins,
who came here February 22, 1788, settled in the
valley, and in the following April erected the first
dwelling in the village, and afterward built the first
grist-mill, subsequently called the lower mill, and
soon the present site began to be the village proper.
Samuel Jenkins was really the founder of the vil
lage, and the place should have been named after
him. He was the father of Jonathan Jenkins and
the grandfather of Charles M. Jenkins, Esq., of
Albany. Daniel and Josiah Conklin, from Long Island,
were among the early settlers. Daniel engaged in
tanning and shoe manufacturing and became
wealthy. They located for a time with Reuben
King, about two and a half miles west of this vil
lage, but finally removed to this place. The tan
nery was then in the southern part of the village.
His son, Gurdon Conklin, became a successful tan
ner. Judson Conklin one of the substantial
citizens, is a farmer a little northeast of the village.
Asa and Philo Culver were early business men,
the former being at one time Supervisor of the
town. Wheeler Watson was an early settler and
man of business affairs. Malbon Watson, who
became a successful lawyer and afterward a Judge
of the Supreme Court, was a son of Wheeler Wat
son. Rufus Watson, a brother of Wheeler, was a
blacksmith, and afterward managed a hotel in the
village, in the house still later owned and occupied
by Caleb Tompkins. At that time Caleb Tomp
kins had the lower hotel. Josiah, another brother
of Wheeler Watson, was a farmer living on the
farm called of late the Philip Teeter farm, next west
above the Fuller place. Arnold B. Watson, a son
of Josiah, afterward became the president and main
stockholder of the Unadilla Bank. Rev. Samuel

Fuller, the first pastor of the Presbyterian church,
lived on the farm where Wm. Aley died. Henry
Stone, an able lawyer, then lived in the village.
Abram and Louis Dayton were early merchants
and business men. They each amassed good for
tunes. Dr. Hyde, an eminent physician, lived
and died in this village. Dr. Piatt Wickes, who has
been Dr. Hyde's successor in the practice of medi
cine, has spent his life here, and reared a large and
respectable family. He still lives, at the age of 89,
in the full possession of all his faculties. Then
came Robert L. Mulford, a successful merchant
and businessman, and John Huyck, successor to the
Daytons. Each became well-to-do merchants and
retired with a competence. Earlier yet, Ely Hutch
inson was a successful merchant, retiring wealthy.
Among the second generation was John Niles, who
practiced law, and served the people as a Justice of
the Peace and as Judge in the County Court, and
was respected for his integrity.
Franklin Frisby lately died in this village, leav
ing an ample fortune. O. H. Chittenden was a
leading lawyer at the bar of this county, and while
a resident of Rensselaerville was elected Surrogate
of Albany City and County, dying soon after his
term of office closed.
In the beautiful cemetery of the village, where
lie the remains of the most of those persons who
are named as dead, there stands a large and costly
monument to the memory of the brave soldiers
who went out from the town to fight for their
country. At the dedication of this monument, a
few years ago, the late Hon. Lyman Tremain, of
Albany, delivered the oration in presence of a large
concourse of people there assembled. In the
second generation was also Dr. Gilbert H. Titus,
who for many years was Town Clerk, and later
Justice of the Peace.

About the year 1711 there were five paths or
trails through this part of the country, used by the
Indians. The main one began at Catskill and
followed the stream by that name through the
southwest corner of the town of Rensselaerville,
and on through the present site of Preston Hollow.
This, being the most attractive valley leading from
the Hudson River to the Schoharie Valley, was
universally used and traversed by the different
tribes of Indians, and consequently this portion of
the town was the first section settled, which from
traditions was not later than 171 2.
The Stockbridge and Schoharie tribes frequented
this trail, and afterward the Stockbridge tribe lo
cated near the Schoharie tribe. The first settlers
were Derrick Van Dyke, who, before the Revolu
tion settled upon lot No. 103, on the flats, near
the present site of Preston Hollow, and Andries
Huyck, who settled on Lot No. 84, in the same
village. Derrick Van Dyke often told his son
Abram about this Stockbridge tribe of Indians,
who in his time visited this section for the purpose
of hunting and fishing in and along the Catskill
Creek ; that their camping ground was on what
is now known as Coon's Meadow, on the outskirts

THE TOWNSHIP OF RENSSELAERVILLE.

917

of Preston Hollow. He also said that these In
dians were careful observers of the Sabbath, re
fraining from hunting and fishing on that day, and
in all respects keeping it holy. This was attrib
uted to the preaching of the renowned Eliot. Ap
ple trees are still standing and bearing fruit upon
the lands of John Hess, which tradition says were
planted by these Indians. Many readers will re
member reading a sketch of the massacre of the
Deitz family, in Berne, in this county, during the
Revolution, by a party of Brant's Indians, who,
after committing their terrible crime, hastened to
ward the head waters of the Catskill Creek. In
their course they passed the house of Michael
Brant, a white man, who was the first settler on
lot No. 225, in this town. Brant's house then
stood in the hollow near the present residence of
William Chapman. And so on they went with
their prisoners, John and Captain Deitz, and trophies
of their plunder, and the scalps of their victims
upon poles. At the time of this Indian incursion
into Berne Mr. Brant had gone to Catskill, leaving
his family alone, and returned just in time to see
these Indians pass his house. But they offered no
violence to those within, but passed on down the
Fox Creek, through the present site of Preston
Hollow, camping that night at the junction of
West and Catskill creeks, the present site of Cooks-
burgh.
CHAPTER II.
The first settler in or near the present site of
Preston Hollow was Derrick Van Dyke, who, with
his family, left Rhinebeck, coming on foot to this
place, and settled here on lot No. 103, in the year
1770. He erected a house on the flats near the
bank of the Catskill Creek, on the farm where
John Hess now lives. Upon the site thereof are
still standing a number of apple trees of his plant
ing, which, down till within a few years back, have
borne fruit. Van Dyke was of Low Dutch extrac
tion. Tradition has it that he was a recognized
friend of the British during the Revolution, dur
ing which he was seized by the Indians and car
ried captive to the headquarters of Sir William
Johnson, who led a force of British soldiers, in
conjunction with his Indian allies under the noted
Indian chief Brant, in the Valley of the Mohawk.
Van Dyke soon returned home without injury, and
his house was ever after that a hospitable and wel
come home to the Indians when journeying be
tween Kingston and Schoharie, and in return, al
though they were under command of their Chief
Brant, they never offered him or his house any
molestation; hence tradition classed Van Dyke a
Tory. Van Dyke's family, consisting of his wife and
four sons, trudged their way on foot, carrying their
burdens, with no road to follow other than the
Indian trail we have mentioned. And, gentle
readers, who ride, perhaps, in an easy carriage and
think elliptic springs and a good road scarcely en
durable, must not be offended when informed that
your great-great-grandmothers (I am now talking
to the fair sex, descendants of the sturdy pilgrims

to this happy valley, not Rasselas, but of the
Catskill), clad in linsey-woolsey of limited length,
bearing each on her back a sack of provisions or
clothing, set out upon this long journey on foot,
upon this intricate Indian trail or foot-path. Would
you ask why their husbands did not carry the bur
dens thus imposed upon their amiable consorts?
They had not a vehicle of any kind, nor indeed
had they a single horse; consequently the husband,
and all the children able to bear burdens, were
heavily laden, sleeping nights in the open air, after
having built fires to keep off the wolves, which
thickly infested the forests through which they jour
neyed. Derrick Van Dyke had four sons, viz., Abram,
Henry, John and Jacob. Of these we give the
career of Abram, the eldest, as of the others we
learn nothing of importance to this narrative. Abram
became a leading citizen of Preston Hollow, hav
ing settled and lived in that village from its earliest
date, and was afterward familiarly known by the
name of " Brommie. " The want of grist-mills was
a source of great inconvenience to the early set
tlers. At first there was no mill nearer to Preston
Hollow than that at Leeds, 20 miles distant; after
ward there was one in the Schoharie Valley, near
Middleburgh, the early settlers being compelled to
follow the foot-path or Indian trail, at first carrying
their grain on their backs to Leeds, to have it
ground. Afterward they procured ox teams, and
carried their grain on sleds to the Schoharie mill.
"Uncle Brommie" (Abram) in after years would
relate how, when a young man, his father sent him
to this Schoharie Valley mill with an ox team and
sled, over a tortuous and tedious route, about 16
miles, through a dense wilderness, upon what
scarcely might be termed a road; and on his re
turn how he was set upon by a pack of howling
wolves, that threatened instantly to devour him
and his oxen, but that, by his hallooing and the
use of his ox-goad alternately on sleigh and oxen,
he finally escaped and reached home in safety.
Early in the settlement of Preston Hollow Abram
Van Dyke built and owned the first grist-mill in
that village and section, the same afterward owned
and run by miller Adams, as he. was called. This
mill was subsequently rebuilt upon a large scale
by R. R. Post, and is now owned and operated
by Lawrence Faulk & Co.
Abram lived many years in the house still stand
ing at the north end of the village, opposite the
fine residence of Warren S. Purington. While Van
Dyke occupied it there was a stoop or veranda in
front of it, from which the writer, when a boy, has
often heard the sweet notes of Uncle Brommie's
hand-organ. He was at one time a justice of the
peace, which office he held by appointment of the
Governor. He died in the same house described
above, September 19, 1842, aged 76 years. He
had five sons and five daughters, viz., Richard,
William, Abram, Harry, Reuben, Sibyl, Kate,
Lydia, Millie and Nellie, all of whom we have not
space to follow; but of two of his children who
made their mark in the world, Richard and Wil
liam, we will briefly make mention.

918

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Richard was educated for the practice of law,
and for many years lived and practiced his profes
sion near Cairo, Greene County. In later years he
went West, where he engaged in his law practice
until his death. He was a good lawyer, and stood
high in his profession.
William Van Dyke married Sally Ann Dare, a
daugh'.er of Captain Abijah Dare, a revolutionary
soldier and pensioner, who was an early settler,
and at this time lived upon and owned the farm or
a portion of that now owned and occupied by
Benjamin White, in Preston Hollow. William's
wife, Sally Ann, died in that village, July 3, 1837,
aged 31 years. By this marriage there was born
to him a' number of children, only one of whom,
Earl Van Dyke, survives. He is a contractor, now
living in Catskill. After living in Preston Hollow
many years he purchased a large farm in Cones-
ville, Schoharie County, upon which he moved and
continued to reside until his death. He was an
extensive and successful drover and dealer in cat
tle and other live stock. He again married a sec
ond wife, by whom he had many children, one of
whom, George, is also a large land-owner and
drover, residing in Conesville, Schoharie County,
where he is held in high esteem, and has held the
office of Supervisor of the town. He is a man of
sound judgment, possessing all the business quali
ties of his father.
Lawrence Faulk was also an early settler ; came
in here about 1 790 ; he owned and lived upon the
farm now owned by Hiram Kelsey, where he reared
many children. The subject of this sketch became
also an extensive business man in his day, owning
two or three different turnpike roads, among them,
one time, the Schoharie turnpike, running through
Preston Hollow. His house was the central place
for town meetings ; the famous town whipping
post being located at his place. He died Novem
ber 15, 1838, aged 72 years, and is buried beside
his wife, Esther, who died October 22, 1849, aged
82 years, in the Creek Side Cemetery, in Preston
Hollow. He had seven children, viz., William,
John, Lawrence, David, Peter, Hiram and Mary.
William died January 16, 1859, aged 72 years; his
wife Elizabeth died October 31, 1865, aged 79.
John became a lawyer ; he was educated at the
Greenville Academy, and among his classmates
were Judge Amasa J. Parker and the late Michael
Sandford ; he died in Illinois a few years ago.
Lawrence Faulk, the next son, has been a suc
cessful lawyer, but on account of his extreme age
is about retiring from practice ; he has held many
offices of trust in the town of Rensselaerville, and
for many years was Justice of the Peace ; he lives
in Preston Hollow, where he has resided from an
early period ; his son, Norman Wheaton Faulk,
became his successor in the practice of law.
Lawrence Faulk, Jr., married Mrs. Lucinda Hub-
bard, a daughter of Col. Darius Phelps ; she was
the widow of Giles Hubbard, who died at Scho
harie while Sheriff of Schoharie County. Sheriff
Hubbard was a classmate of Gov. De Witt Clinton
and Cadwallader Colden, in Union College, from
which he was a graduate.

Peter, another son, is still living as a farmer in
Michigan. Hiram, the youngest son, had a checkered ca
reer for many years ; is now living in Ohio.
Mary married Jacob White, both of whom are
now dead.
David Faulk is a highly respected citizen of the
village of Durham, where he owns and manages a
hotel. Alvin Devereux was among the early business
men in the town ; he lived at Preston Hollow ; he
died November 7, 1825, aged 34 years > hewas
the father of Alvin Devereux, Esq., of Deposite,
N. Y., and. of Horace T. Devereux, Esq., of
Preston Hollow ; each has been honored with the
office of supervisor a number of times in their
respective towns. Mr. Alvin Devereux was in nom
ination on the Democratic ticket for one of the
Presidential Electors on the Grover Cleveland ticket;
he is a leading citizen of his county. The widow
of Alvin Devereux, Sr., Mrs. Olivia Devereux,
was an excellent and estimable lady ; she was bom
October 22, 1794; died February 8, 1872; she
was an exemplary woman, a Christian lady, a
member of the Presbyterian church ; her deeds of
goodness and charity were widely known, and,
when she died, the utterance was universal that a
mother to the village had gone. Her death was
lamented by all citizens. CHAPTER III.
Commencing in the year 1787, to which year
this chapter will be confined, we shall give the
name and residence in that year of each settler in
the southwest portion of Rensselaerville, for in
that year neither of the villages of Preston Hollow
or Potter's Hollow existed, and Cooksburgh sprang
up at a comparatively late date. Beginning at the
west line of the town, on lot No. 145, upon the
Catskill Creek and Valley, the first residence was
that of Peter Nouck, on lot No. 102 (being the
farm afterward known as the Tignor and Goff
farms). Mr. Nouck's house was then the western
terminus of the road leading to Dewitt's grist-mill.
In 1787 there were but three main roads, with
branches, in this town ; one leading from Nouck's
along the Catskill Creek to Dewitt's mill (now Oak
Hill), and thence to Leeds ; another, then called
the "new road," from Freehold to Schoharie,
which from Oak Hill ran north through this town
by the ' ' Big Lake. " The other was called the
"old road," running farther east of the "new
road," and intersecting the latter on lot No. 186,
where, in 1787, stood the residences of Thomas
Brown, Adam Coons and Niel McFalls ; and at
lot 207 stood the dwelling of John Nicholls, where
a branch road started running northeast to Beaver
Dam (now known as Berne). At lot No. 267,
upon, which then stood the two dwellings of Joseph
Lincoln and John Rausier, from the Beaver Dam
road commenced a road running southeast through
lots Nos. 249, 250, 230, 231 and 212, all then
occupied. This was called Basick Path. Having
given all the roads in the town in 1787, we return

THE TOWNSHIP OF RENSSELAERVILLE.

919

again to the southwest portion of the town. We
left Off at Peter Nouck's. The next dwelling was
that of Derrick Van Dyke, lot No. 103, heretofore
described. We next come to lot No. 84, where,
in 1787, lived Andries Huyck, now owned by
Peter and Edgar Mattice. Huyck's residence
stood on the rise of ground up back of the present
buildings on that farm, which are now in the vil
lage of Preston Hollow. Andries Huyck's house,
and that of Bastian Smith, on lot 66 (upon which
two lots now is situated the present village of Pres
ton Hollow), must be said to be the only house on
the site of that village in 1787. Smith's house was
on the farm now owned by P. Murphy. Follow
ing the road as it winds along the Catskill Creek
through lot 46, then unoccupied, we reach lot
45, upon which stood the residence of Peter Bas-
sor ; here the road left the creek and ran directly
to Dewitt's mill. Passing through lot 7, upon
which lived Peter Plank, the next and last lot on
the south line of the town was lot No. 8, where
stood the residence of Peter West. Having arrived
at the south town line in this direction, we are at
the residence of Peter Basser, and follow the Cats-
kill Creek southerly (although in 1787 there was no
road as now leading from Preston Hollow to
Cooksburgh or Potter's Hollow), and come to lot
27, near the junction of Catskill and West Creeks.
Here lived Peter Becker, while lot 26 is the present
site of Cooksburgh. We proceed up the West
Creek toward where now stands Potter's Hollow.
The next lot is No. 25, then occupied by Peter
Shoemaker. This is the lot afterward owned and
occupied by Benjamin Palmer, Esq., known in
his day as an extensive land-owner and very
wealthy. It was here he reared a large family of
children, four sons and three daughters. Benjamin
Palmer was an honest, frugal and upright man,
having filled the office of Justice of the Peace with
honor and ability. He died many years ago. Of
his children it may truly be said that they all ever
walked in the paths of rectitude, and grew to be
men and women, loved and respected by their
neighbors and acquaintances. We now proceed
up the West Creek. The next dwelling was that of
Hendrick Young, standing on south side of the
creek, on lot 24. The next lot was 44, where
stood the residence of Peter Emerick. At this
time not a building stood upon the present site of
Potter's Hollow. CHAPTER IV.
Doctor Samuel Preston, from whom the village
of Preston Hollow took its name, came there soon
after the Revolution; he having emigrated from
Connecticut, and settled here in 1789, was the first
settler and founder of the village, although Houck
had erected a cabin about a quarter of a mile
on the northeast of the village previous to this.
Doctor Preston lived in a large wooden frame build
ing (the first erected in the village), which was
still standing a few years ago upon the site where
now stands the new dwelling of Hon. W. Coon.
Dr. Preston erected the first saw-mill and mill-

dam in the village, being upon the same site as
that now maintained by H. T. Devereux. During
the time Preston ran this saw-mill this valley was a
dense wilderness of huge pine timber, and lumber
ing was the chief business of him and the other
early settlers. Of Preston's family we learn of his
having three sons, Eben, Jeremiah and Roswell.
He had two daughters, one of whom became the
wife of Nathaniel Rider (afterward a wealthy and
leading citizen) ; the other became the wife of
Samuel Hill. The latter were the parents of Mrs.
Matilda Brant, who is still living with her children
in the village.
Henry Couchman, another very early settler in this
town, emigrated from Dutchess County soon after
his marriage and settled one and a half miles from
the present village of Preston Hollow, while this,
the southwest portion of the town, was a dense
wilderness. He, too, suffered the privations of a
pioneer life. The nearest mill being at Leeds,
twenty-four miles distant, and the nearest apple
tree at Schoharie, from whence in after years he
procured a bushel of apples, saved the seeds, which
he planted and raised an orchard, which is still stand
ing on the farm, about a mile and a half west of the
village, now owned by his grandson, Edward
Couchman. His wife, a beautiful High Dutch
woman, full of fortitude and perseverance, in after
life often related their early adventures in connec
tion with the Indians, also of her using the gun to
drive off the invading wolf and bear from their
flocks and domestic animals. He accumulated a
good property and reared a family of seven chil
dren upon this farm, viz., Philip, David, John,
Margaret, Betsey, Polly and Sirena. Philip, the
oldest, married a daughter of Rev. John Winans,
the latter for many years pastor of the Preston
Hollow Baptist Church. Soon after his marriage
Philip moved to Black Rock (now the lower part
of Buffalo), about the time of the war of 1 8 1 2. He
subsequently returned to Broome, where he reared
a family of ten children. He was honored by his
town with the offices of Supervisor and Justice of
the Peace. He died in 1857, aged 72 years.
David, after his father's death, purchased the old
homestead farm, where he lived until not many
years ago, when he died, highly respected by his
townsmen, who had honored him with many town
offices, all of which he filled with honor to himself
and his constituents. John died a short time ago
at Cooksburg, having retired from business. For
many years he had carried on a blacksmith shop
in Preston Hollow. Margaret, the eldest daughter,
married Holly Winans. Their son, Philo Winans,
with his family, resides now in the village. Betsey
married Henry Horer, who became a man of wealth,
made chiefly by the tanning business, carried on at
Haurerville. He moved to Middleburgh, and
lived a retired life, and he and his wife died at that
place a few years ago, the latter at the age of 8 2
years. Polly married William Burnett. She died
in Ontario County. Sirena married John Haga
dorn. She died in Michigan.
In 1798 Joseph Burchard, Jr., emigrated from
Connecticut to this town, and erected a cottage in

920

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

the valley of the Catskill. His house was on the
west bank of the creek. There is still standing an
orchard which he set out, which remains to show
where he lived. He died April 23, 1813, aged
66 years ; " he left six sons and five daughters,
viz., Daniel, Joseph, Elias, Dixon, Preserved, Ly
man, Elizabeth, Amy, Esther, Hannah and Dor
othy. His wife, Hannah, died in 1825, aged 74.
Dixon located in Kalamazoo, Mich., where he
built a hotel, which was still standing as an old
relic in that city and seen by the writer thirty years
ago. Elias was killed by an accidental blow from a
wagon tongue. Daniel settled in Ohio, and reared
a large family. Rutherford Burchard Hayes, ex-
President, was a descendant of Daniel's family.
Preserved lived most of his days upon a farm, at
Franklinton, Schoharie County, from which he
retired in his old age, and moved to Preston Hol
low, where he resided until his death, in 1873,
aged 83. He was a faithful member of the
Presbyterian Church, and was always respected for
his uprightness and amiable character. His
daughter, Julia A. Norwood, was the wife and is
now the widow of Dr. Jacob H. Norwood, of
Preston Hollow. Lyman purchased and settled
on the old homestead, where he died a few years
ago. The next settler was Teal Rockefeller, who
at an early period carried on a blacksmith shop on
the lands now owned by Edward P. Davis, where
a nephew, Peter Rockefeller, kept a hotel, still
standing, where Elias Scott lived and died. A
short distance south of this, George Wait built a
tavern The writer remembers yet the long, red
tavern standing about forty-five years ago, which
was afterward owned and kept by Wm. Goff, now
deceased. Pullman succeeded Wait, and Goff
Pullman ; then Irwin Tigner.
The present turnpike running through this valley
from Schoharie to tide-water was originallv char
tered in 1802, and led from Athens (formerly
called Lunenburgh) to its intersection with the
Great Western turnpike, at a point three miles
this side of Cherry Valley. In 1 807 it was divid
ed into eastern and western branches. The east
ern branch was once owned by Lawrence Faulk
(the father of Lawrence Faulk, Esq. , now a citizen
of Preston Hollow), and afterward by Thomas
P. Danforth, Esq. , Middleburgh. It has since had
portions of it cut off, until it now commences at
the new bridge in Oak Hill, and runs to the bridge
over Schoharie Creek in Middleburgh, and is now
owned by Messrs. H. T. Devereux, of Preston
Hollow, and James Layman, of Livingstonville, as
far as that portion through Preston Hollow. The
original road-bed ran on the bank of the creek
where the tannery now stands, crossing its pres
ent bed and running up what is now the school-
house street in the village, crossing Scrub Creek,
up the "cheese hill" road to a point next above
Devereux's orchard, thence west out to its present
bed. This accounts for the fact that the Dever
eux mansion faced south and the original road,
instead of east toward the present road. This
turnpike road was the main outlet and thorough
fare, over which the farmers of Otsego and Scho

harie, in early times, conveyed their butter and
other farm produce to Catskill and Athens. At
these early times, as will soon appear, the traveling
public must have been well supplied with hotels, or
taverns, as they were called in these days, there
being no less than ten in the space of four miles,
all upon this thoroughfare and in this time, which
space included Preston Hollow, and two miles
each way from this village. Each of these sold
spirituous liquors, and nearly every family pos
sessed of sufficient means kept their private keg of
whisky. First, on the south bounds of the town,
Peter West's tavern was located ; following the
turnpike north, was Henry Plank's hotel, on the
present site of R. Arnold's house, while not a half
a mile north of that was Levi Conyes' tavern ; then,
another half mile brought us to a hotel kept by
Jacob Rockefeller. This old house was still stand
ing about thirty years ago. It stood with its bar
room built over a deep ravine. Less than half a
mile north was the tavern of Henry Mott, on the
site of the present Murphy House, in the village,
while, at the north end of the village, were two
others, one by Levi Palmer, in the house now
known as the Devereux mansion, the other, the
old Tuttie tavern, on the present site of the Faulk
mansion. Northward from the village, not over a
mile distant, were the two taverns of Wait and
Rockefeller, mentioned. These hotels, in their
day, were patronized and filled with farmer guests
from Otsego, Delaware and Schoharie counties,
going to and returning from market with their
produce. In these early days, the Tuttie house, in the
village, was the stage house, where the exten
sive stage proprietors kept a heavy stock of coaches
and horses, and where they exchanged horses, this
being a daily route and line from Catskill to Cana
joharie. The following is a list of the Supervisors of the
town of Rensselaerville from 1818 to the present
time :
In 1818, Asa Colvard ; 1819-21, Eli Hutch
inson ; 1822-3, Nathaniel Rider; 1824, Isaac
Gardiner ; 1825, Joshua Gardner ; 1826-7,
Wheeler Watson ; 1828-9, Joseph Conner ; 1830-
31, John Niles; 1832, Nathaniel Rider; 1833,
Nathaniel Rider ; 1834-5, Charles L. Mulford ;
1836, James Reid; 1837, Samuel Niles ; 1838-9,
louis M. Dayton; 1840, Joseph Conner; 1841,
Benjamin E. Mackey ; 1842, Benjamin E. Mackey ;
1843, James G. Clark ; 1844, Shadrach R. Potter;
1845-6, Valentine Treadwell ; 1847-8, S. M.
Hallenbeck; 1849, William Aley; 1850, Wm.
Aley; 1851, Daniel A. Mackey; 1852, William
Aley; 1853, B. Frank Sayre; 1854, William
Aley; 1855-7, Norman A. Ford; 1858-9,
Andrew Felter ; 1860-1, James E. Mackey ; 1862-
1867, six terms, George H. Saraway held the
office, and may be termed the war Supervisor ;
1868-70, Wm Magivny ; 1871-72, Wm. R.
Tanner; 1873-5, Horace T. Devereux; 1876-
80, Albert T. Moore; 1881-3, Hercules W.
Sayre ; 1884, Jacob B. Norwood.
The population of the town is about 3,000.

THE TOWNSHIP OF WESTERLO.

921

We take pleasure in mentioning the names of
the following citizens who, by their guaranteed
support, have helped to insure the publication of
this valuable work : S. M. Hollenbeck, Wm.
Morrison, J. B. Norwood, M. Murphy, John
Hess, V. Treadwell, John W. Couchman, W. O.
Jarvis. Hon. Valentine Treadwell is a farmer and
merchant, located at Potter's Hollow ; was member
of the Assembly in 1847, and elected to the Senate
of New York in the same year, where he remained

for two years. Has twice been Supervisor and
held other prominent offices. Has been postmaster
of his village for twenty-four years.
Hon. John W. Couchman, of Cooksburgh,
farmer and notary public, a native of Scoharie
County, New York. He represented that county
in the Assembly in i860 ; held the office of Assessor
for twenty-five years ; has acted in many official ca
pacities and has been all through life an unyielding
Democrat of the Jackson and Jefferson school. Is
identified with the Methodist Church.

HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WESTERLO.

By J. S. MARKLE.

THE author takes this opportunity of returning
thanks to the many friends who so kindly ren
dered him important service in communicating val
uable information, and to those who freely assisted
in collecting material for these pages. Special thanks
are due Messrs. Thomas Saxton and Chas. La
paugh for brief church histories. It is much to be
regretted that the proper persons authorized by
law have failed or neglected to obtain a complete
record of the soldiers or volunteers from this town
who served in the war of the Rebellion. Efforts
should be made to obtain this record, as a part of
the history of this township and for future reference.
Albany, N. Y., 1884.
Westerlo, as a township, was formed from
Coeymans and Rensselaerville, March 16, 18 15,
being the seventh in the order of division. The
name is derived from Rev. Eilardus Westerlo,
who came from Holland in 1760, and was pastor
of the Reformed Dutch Church at Albany.
The geographical position is upon the south
border of the county, near the center, and is bound
ed on the north by Berne and New Scotland, on
the east by New Scotland and Coeymans, on the
south by Greene County, and on the west by Rens
selaerville. The physical geography presents a
surface of hills and dales, which gives it a diver
sified and undulating appearance. The hills and
elevations rise gradually, with a general southern
inclination, while the banks of the streams are
somewhat steep and irregular, and the valleys are
mere narrow ravines. The soil is a sandy and
gravelly loam near the streams; the uplands are in
terspersed with small, flat stones and underlaid
with clay and hard pan. There are no lofty moun

tains or steep declivities — except along the streams
¦ — the highest point being in the northerly part of
the town, about 800 feet above tide.
The strata of stone is graywacke, and in a few
locations quarries are opened, from which flagging
stones are taken.
The streams are the Haanakrois Creek, which
flows through the northeast corner, and at Dor-
mansville furnishes water power for the mills near
by. Basic* Creek rises in the extreme northern
part, flows south across the township, thence into
Greene County midway on the south line, passing
through Chesterville and South Westerlo. Wolf,
Fly Creek and other small streams are tributaries.
Eight-Mile Creek flows south through the western
part of the town, thence into Rensselaerville, and
empties into Ten-Mile Creek. In the northwest
part of the township, near Van Leuven's Corners, is
a small lake, the outlet of which is the source of
the Switzkill. The Haanakrois and Basic creeks
furnish the water power for the several mills in the
town. Manufactures from raw material are lim
ited, and this industry does not receive much at
tention. In the early settlement of this township, when
the hills and valleys were one dense wilderness of
noble forest trees, the pioneer was anxious to clear
the land, that he might use the soil, and to this end
trees were felled in great piles, then burned, and
the ashes gathered, which were taken to the ashery
and sold or bartered for necessary family supplies.
Asheries were quite numerous, and the proprie
tor usually connected with the business that of
general merchandise and groceries. These are
*Low, flat.

922

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

now wholly abandoned, and with some other
manufactures are industries of the past. Within
a few years, so great was the demand, and the
price of wood so high, the remaining forests have
rapidly diminished, and at the present time only
small patches of a few acres have been spared the
woodman's ax.
The wealth of the township is in its agricultural
resources, which are not yet fully developed. The
people, generally, are engaged in the noble work
of husbandry, an occupation of honest and honor
able antiquity, and one which, with diligence and
economy, is a safe staff to lean upon. Indepen
dence is the reward of thrift when accompanied
with the higher element of intelligence, and this is
to be obtained only by careful and judicious train
ing of the mind in the knowledge and art of agri
culture. General farming predominates, with the
cultivation of rye, corn, oats and buckwheat; hay
is also a principal crop, and is of excellent quality.
The soil, grazing land, water and variety of surface
are decidedly favorable for dairy farming, and
many are engaged in the production of butter and
a few in the manufacture of cheese. The hills and
uplands are utilized as pastures for sheep, and
many farmers have fine flocks, and from the pro
duction of mutton and wool another source of
profit is realized. The most serious objection the
farmer has to contend with in this branch of farm
ing is the destruction of his sheep by dogs, which are
permitted to run at large. There should be a State
law enacted imposing a heavy tax upon all dogs.
Fruit is largely cultivated, and there are many
fine orchards of mixed trees; apple, pear and plum
predominate. The learner in the school of experience has a
power to obtain results through system and skill
unknown to the mere plodder, and in no vocation is
this fact more fully exemplified than in the various
branches of farming. Intelligence, careful observa
tion and judicious reading mark the industry, thrift
and prosperity of the farmers of this township, and
they may well rejoice in the goodly possession of
their fertile farms, pleasant surroundings and com
fortable homes.
The settlement of this township commenced pre
vious to the revolution, when a few daring men,
full of youthful zeal and perseverance, wended
their way through trails and by-paths to this (then)
wilderness, to secure a home and the means for fu
ture livelihood. Many were the hardships and
privations that beset them, yet with courage they
overcame obstacles and discouragements that
seemed like mountains, and in time came to glad

den their hearts and strengthen their hands as a re
ward for their toil and sacrifices, in the waving fields
of golden grain, in the herds of cattle and sheep upon
the meadows and hill-sides, and the luscious fruit
upon a thousand trees; and lastly, the disappear
ance of the log cabin, that sheltered them from the
winter storms and wild beasts, for the primitive
frame house, with added comforts and security; and
now their descendants enjoy the increased con
veniences of modern skill and ¦ the luxuries that
flow from well-earned prosperity.
Very important changes have transformed the
past, and the present is subject to modern progress.
Science, literature, religion, education, politics and
other departments have their representatives, and
from these sources emanate much of the pros
perity, temporal and spiritual, which is everywhere
evident. Originally Westerlo was included in the town
ships of Rensselaerville and Coeymans, and in the
Van Rensselaer and Coeymans patents. The first
settlers occupied land in Watervliet until 1788, and
after 1790 and 1791 in the former townships, so
the early or first settlers were not residents of
Westerlo until 1815.
Among the early settlers were Philip Myers, bom
in Germany in 1 744, and came with his father to
America in 1753, landing at New Baltimore. Old
Mr. Myers returned to Germany for the rest of his
family, but was never heard of afterward. Philip
remained with Andreas Witbeck, an early settler
of Coeymans, until 1763, when he located on a
farm at Chesterville, built a log-house, kept
bachelor's hall for two years, then married a
daughter of Nicholas Stoddard, who had previously
settled here. It seems the Indians and Tories
were somewhat troublesome in this vicinity, and
Myers took his family to Dutchess County, but re
turned to his former possessions after the war
closed, and died, April 12, 1813. The farm is yet
in the possession of his descendants.
Andrew Hannay, a native of Galloway, Scotland,
born 1733; came to America in 1774; soon after
settled in Westerlo, on the farm now occupied by
his youngest son, David. In 1777 he raised a com
pany of volunteers to join Gen. Gates, but on
reaching Albany he learned that Burgoyne had
surrendered, and they returned to their homes.
Jacob Ford came from Hillsdale District, Co
lumbia County, in 1795, and settled on lot 369,
afterward on lot 3 1 8, now in possession of Henry
A. Ford.
Adam St. John, of Scotch origin, came from Old
Paltz to Westerlo in 1790, and settled at Lamb's

THE TOWNSHIP OF WESTERLO.

923

Corners. He came with the Huguenots from
Holland. He and four of his brothers were sol
diers in the Revolutionary war, and were at the
surrender of CornwaUis. Many of his descendants
are residents of the town.
Jehial Lamb came from Massachusetts, and
settled in the southwest part of the town, about
1793; and Jacob Ingalls, from Rhode Island,
settled here about the same time. Descendants of
these two families are living in the vicinity of
Lamb's Corners. Isaac Winston settled near
Chesterville. He did service in the war for inde
pendence; was taken prisoner and held for eighteen
months. Stephen and Solomon Mabey were early
settlers. Stephen Mabey came from Rhode Island
soon after the Revolution, and settled at South
Westerlo. Samuel Mabey was born here 93 years
ago, and lived and died on his farm. Dr. Jonathan
Prosser, from Dutchess County, came in 1788, and
settled on the farm occupied by his son. Lodowick
and Jacob Hanes, Germans, came at an early date
and settled on the Basic Creek, near Dormansville.
Josiah Hinckley, also a Revolutionary soldier,
settled in 1783 on the farm now owned by his
grandson. At this time there were but eight fami
lies in the town. John Gibbons, born 1766, lived
at New London, Conn., and during the Revolu
tionary war drove an ox-team and helped to re
move the military stores from New London in the
night to a place of safety. After the war he re
moved to Rensselaer County, and in 1795
came to Dormansville. His son, Dr. Ransom H.
Gibbons, born in 1802, resides at Dormansville.
Apollos Moore taught school in 1788; he after
ward became first Judge of the County. Robert O.
K. Bennet taught a school in 1 790.
Among the early settlers were William Haver-
land, William Bird, James Arnold, Abram Becker,
Rev. Reuben Stanton, who also was a surveyor,
and received for his services one hundred acres of
land; Jared Reynold, Daniel Lockwood, William
Wheaton, Isaac Lobdell. VILLAGES.
Chesterville ( Westerlo P. O. ) — This hamlet is
located about one mile north of the center of the
township, on Basic Creek, and fifteen miles from
Coeymans and twenty miles from Albany. It is
named from Rev. John Chester, who was formerly
pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Albany.
The post-office was established, among the firat
in the town, about 1827. Previous to this letters
and papers were delivered by post-riders once a
week. Esquire Brown and a man by the name of
Peck, remembered by a few of the inhabitants, did

this service for the settlers and their families. Now
the mails are received daily. Smith and Disbrow
were early postmasters. The present postmaster is
Hiram K. Jones.
The vicinity dates its settlement as the earliest in
the town. It was here that Philip Myers located
before the commencement of hostilities which
brought independence for the colonies, and just
south of the village Lobdell and Baker erected
mills as early as 1795, while Grant and Eadie had
an ashery and kept store in 1798. Moses Smith
followed as a merchant, tavern keeper and manu
facturer of potash. Nicholas Lapaugh and Henry
Pierce were also tavern keepers. Jeremiah Green
operated a tannery. The hamlet contains 45
dwellings and 220 inhabitants; two churches, Re
formed and Baptist; school house, one hotel,
Henry C. Latham, proprietor, and four stores; A.
S. Green & Son, general merchandise; Perry
Swartout, sundry merchandise; Hiram K. Jones,
dry goods, groceries and sundries; Gilbert Ander
son, hardware and tin; three blacksmith and two
wheelwright shops; one general undertaker, shoe
shop, paint shop, millinery and dressmaking. The
professions are represented by Alonzo Spaulding,
attorney and counselor at law; Felix Weidman, J.
B. Washburn and Cyrus Ecker, physicians and
surgeons. About 1820 a Masonic lodge was
located here, with the following persons as mem
bers: Col. James Sackett, Sylvester Ford, George
Prindle and Nicholas Lapaugh. The Good Tem
plars instituted a lodge here in 1878, which has
been abandoned.
South Westerlo (P. O.), first called "Smith's
Mills," from David Smith; name changed 1827,
when the P. O. was organized. Thomas Saxton
was postmaster for twenty-nine years. Mr. Saxton
came here when 14 years old; served as clerk for
his uncle, Thomas Smith, and continued in busi
ness until 1859. The mail was brought by Peck,
on horseback, once a week. Among the early
settlers and business men were: Thomas Smith,
general merchant, distiller and manufacturer of
potash; Bemet, Wheaton, Cross, Storer, Stanton,
Reynolds, Lockwood, Slauson, Trowbridge.
The hamlet is situated in the southern central
part of the township, between Basic and Fly
creeks, twenty-four miles south west from Albany
and sixteen miles from Coeymans. Here are
located the mills of D. M. Wooster and the woollen
factory of D. W. Calder & Son. There are 25 dwell
ings and 125 residents. There is a Christian
church, school-house, public hall and select school
rooms, harness shop, wheelwright and blacksmith
shop. G. W. Robins, postmaster, general mer
chandise and post-office ; L. S. Lockwood, dry
goods, groceries, etc. ; J. Reynolds, drugs and
bottling establishment ; Edwin Haines, physician
and surgeon. The Good Templars have a work
ing lodge.
Dormansville P. O. is in the eastern cen
tral part of the town, and named in honor of
Daniel Dorman, who was first postmaster, in 1832.
The hamlet is nineteen miles southwest from

924

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Albany and twelve from Coeymans Landing.
Among the first settlers were Jacob Dorman, 1802;
John Gibbons, 1795; W. Tomkins, William Ward and
Lewis Husted, who kept a public-house. Here is
still standing a frame school-house — square — which
is the first one built in the town. It served in the
past for school and religious purposes ; it is now
used by Mr. J. W. Gale as a storehouse. For
merly Hiram and Erastus Gibbons were proprietors
of the Dormansville Hotel, and dealers in dry-
goods, groceries and general merchandise. The
hotel business has been abandoned, but the
other branches are continued. Mr. Erastus
Gibbons is the present postmaster. Near here on
the Haanakrois Creek, are the grist, saw and
plaster mills of William A. Dickson & Son. The
hamlet contains ten dwellings, Methodist church,
school-house, store, wheelwright and. blacksmith
shop and paint shop. A tannery was formerly
operated here by Mr. Gale. Ransom H. Gibbons,
physician and surgeon, was born here in 1802, and
located as physician in 1826.
Van Leuven's Corners, in the northwest part of
the township, is a small hamlet on the old Dela
ware turnpike road, and in former times had a
church, taverns, mills, tannery, and other business
enterprises. All of these are now abandoned, and
the place has settled into rural quietness. Isaac
Van Leuven was an early settler, and from him the
place derived its name. A Reformed church was
organized here in the early history of the town, but
is now abandoned. William Beardsley, John
Preston and James Sackett were tavern keepers.
Here John Preston had his tannery and curry shop,
which is continued on a moderate scale by Luther
Preston. Mr. Preston was a school-teacher and
the author of "Every Man His Own Teacher,
being an introduction to arithmetic, by John
Preston, Philo. Math. Albany: Printed by G. J.
Lomis, 9 Washington street, 1 834. Inscribed to
the Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer."
James Sackett was a colonel in the war of 181 2,
a prominent business man and a mason. He was
buried from the church at Van Leuven's Corners,
July, 1 82 1, with military and Masonic honors, and
was interred in the Snyder cemetery. The place
was first called "Sackett's Corners," then "Pres
ton's Corners," and now " Van Leuven's Corners."
Here William Beardsley kept tavern, who, after
moving to Albany, was elected sheriff. Many
years ago a man by the name of Gideon Wood
made spinning wheels where Peter Van Leuven
lives. Josiah Jones came to this neighborhood
when fourteen years old with his father from
Claverack. Then there was very little cleared land.
Mr. Jones is 87 years old and has clear recollec
tions of former days. A few years ago a steam saw
mill was operated here, which was burned down.
The names of the residents in this neighborhood
are those of the early settlers, and their progress is
characteristic of their ancestors. Jacob Ford
settled near here in 1788.
Lamb's Corners, a small neighborhood in the
southwest part of the township, was settled by Jehial

Lamb, Adam St. John, Jacob Ingalls, Hezekiah
Boardman, Thomas Jencks, and descendants of
the first three families are quite numerous. They
were New Englanders and came about 1790.
Others followed who became permanent residents
in this part of the town, and the well-managed
farms, with fine residences, ample and commodious
out-buildings, attest the thrift and prosperity of
their surroundings.
Here is a Methodist church and society,
school-house, store and blacksmith shop.
Westerlo Center, or Thayer's Corners, is a
small hamlet, containing a store of general mer
chandise, T. W. Ingalls, proprietor. D. Boice,
blacksmith shop. Formerly a man by the name of
Thayer kept store and tavern Residents in the
vicinity are several families of Winegards, Atkins,
Hanes, Wiltsey, Lockwoods, Stanton, Reynolds.
Mills and Manufactures. — In the early his
tory and settlement of the township these were few,
as the wants of the people were limited and sup
plied from the most economical sources Asheries,
grist and saw-mills, with carding and cloth-dressing
mills, met the demands and requirements. The
first mills were those erected by Lobdell and Baker
as early as 1795. The location of these mills was
a short distance south of Chesterville, on the Basic
Creek, on lots 328 and 200 of Van Rensselaer's
patent, where are now the mills of Jacob Burgher
& Son, occupying the same privileges and nearly
the same ground as the original mills.
Isaac Lobdell, Sr., sold these mills to Isaac
Lobdell, Jr. Then they were sold to John
Winegard and Silas B. Martin, then to Josiah and
Peter Winegard, then to Edmund Adkins, then to
Weaver and Vincent, and lastly to the present
owners, Jacob Burgher & Son. The old mill of
Lobdell was taken away by a freshet, and was on the
opposite side of the creek from the present mills.
At South Westerlo formerly were a tannery and
asheries belonging to the Smiths, who afterward
erected a grist-mill, which was built by Asher
Morse. These mills passed through the ownership
of several persons, and are now operated by D. M.
Wooster, the owner. Here are located the mills of
W. D. Calder & Son, for the manufacture of flan
nels, cassimeres, satinets and yarn. These mills
are located on the Basic Creek.
Near Dormansville, on the Haanakrois Creek,
are the grist, saw and plaster mills of William A.
Dickson & Son.
Saw-mills are numerous. Darius Lockwood, on
the Wolf Creek ; Samuel Snyder, on Eight-Mile
Creek, and Henry A. Ford, on Basic Creek, built
in 1870.
About 1 81 2 Jenks had a carding mill on the
Basic Creek below Chesterville, which was destroy
ed by fire, and another put up by George Wiltsey,
which was operated by Drum & Possom ; they
were converted into a turning shop, and then into
a grist-mill, remains of which yet exist.
Quarries of blue stone, for flagging, are operated
to a considerable extent in the northwest part of
the township.

THE TOWNSHIP OF WESTERLO.

925

Several persons are engaged in bee-culture. This
industry is receiving considerable attention; but like
many other branches connected with modern ex
periments, skill and scientific knowledge, combined
with practical experience, will be required to make
the business a success, for there are many causes
of failure which call for investigation and study.
The town is assessed for 35,568 acres of land,
and the assessed valuation for the year 1884 is:
Real, $1,222,550; personal, $71,550; total,
$1,298,100; and equalized: real, $1,237,809;
personal, $71,550; total, $1,336,208.
CHURCHES.
There are five evangelical churches and organ
ized societies in the township, divided as follows:
two Methodist, one Reformed, one Baptist and
one Christian ; and formerly a Friend's meeting
house. The first organization of religious societies oc
curred in the township of Rensselaerville as early
as 1793, but no churches were erected until 1790
west of Albany city, and in 1796 the first church
was built in Rensselaerville. It is a singular fact
that the first organizations of the several religious
societies in the townships took place from 1790 to
1800. After the Revolutionary war closed and peace
with its blessings began to be realized, immigrants
came and acquired farms in what was Rensselaer
ville township. All the land was included in the
Van Rensselaer patent, and at that time the terms
and conditions were considered favorable and just
to the tenants, which were readily accepted by
them, as their means were limited and they could
obtain possession of these farms without money by
simply complying with the terms offered by the
patroon. These early settlers were people who came from
the New England States, and from adjoining coun
ties on the river, and were descendants of English
or Scotch families. A few were German and others
of the French Huguenots, who came with the Hol
landers. Each of these nationalities were imbued
with the religious teaching and training of their
youth, and in establishing their churches, they
adhered to the tenets, doctrines and government
of their early education. Being strong in their
convictions — yet with charity for all — they were
emulous for prompt action, and with united pur
pose they organized with confidence of success,
and the past well proves that their efforts have been
a means of elevating the moral tone of society and
advancing the spiritual prosperity of the people.
The Methodist Episcopal Church at Dormansville
was organized as early as 1826, the people worship
ing in private houses, and in the old square school-
house, which is the oldest building in the neighbor
hood. The present church edifice was erected in
1840-41, and dedicated by Rev. Mr. Hedstrom.
S. Wright and Turner have been pastors. The
present trustees are William Stuart, William Dick
inson, J. W. Gale, J. G. Ward and John Gibbons.
The present pastor is John W. Morrison. The so

ciety numbers no communicants, 100 Sabbath
school scholars, and amount contributed for all
purposes, $600. The church is a frame building;
sheds are attached, and the parsonage is conven
iently accessible.
At Lamb's Corners is a Methodist Church, des
ignated as "Olin Chapel," in honor of Dr. Stephen
Olin. About 80 years ago a class was formed
here, led by Thomas Smith and Alexander Lamb,
at whose house meetings were held; this house is
now occupied by his son, Francis A. Lamb. Meet
ings were also held in the school-house until the
house of worship was erected in 1853, when the
following members were elected trustees : Alexan
der Lamb, Amos Fish and Ludlow St. John. The
present trustees are F. A. Lamb, Edwin St. John
and W. A. St. John. The church is a frame
building, and will seat 200. The society reports
23 members, 50 Sunday-school scholars; contribu
tions for all purposes, $125. The present pastor
is Rev. O. D. Ramsay, who resides at Greenville.
*The First Baptist Church of Westerlo. — •
The church society was organized on the 26th
day of May, 1800, in what was then the town of
Rensselaerville (now Westerlo), which at that time
was an almost unbroken wilderness. The follow
ing are the names of the original members:
Roswell Beckwith, Aaron Baker, Isaac Winston,
Isaac Lobdell, Thomas Martin, Benjamin Martin,
James Slade, Sarah Winston, Miriam Lobdell,
Cynthia Baker, Lois Slade, Judith Stanton, Elea
nor Martyn, Mary Spaulding and Lydia Mallison.
On the day mentioned they met at the house of
Isaac Winston, and by the aid of Elder Josiah Mor
ris, of Rensselaerville, were constituted a regular
Baptist . Church. The day after its organization
four candidates were received and baptized into its
fellowship. They worshiped in private dwellings, school-
houses, barns and groves until the erection of their
meeting-house in the village of Chesterville. On
the nth day of January, 1820, the First Baptist
Society of the township of Westerlo met in the
school-house near Zina W. Lay's, for the purpose
of electing officers to manage the affairs of said so
ciety, and likewise to become a " body corporate"
by the name of "The First Baptist Society, " in the
town of Westerlo. Deacon William Bentley and
James Slade were elected presiding officers, and
the following persons were elected trustees, viz. :
Sylvester Ford, James Jaycox, William Bentley,
James Slade, Isaac Lobdell, Jr., Knight Bennett.
The presiding officers, on the 31st day of January,
certified to the charter before James Sackett, Com
missioner, and caused the same to be recorded in
the clerk's office of the City and County of Albany,
in the book of church patents, the 22d of Febru
ary, 1820.
The deed for the site of their first church edifice
was given by George Pinney, of said township, and
covered thirty-five one-hundredths of an acre, being
partof lot No. 238, for which they were to pay fifty
dollars ($50), and they were also to pay, or cause
?Furnished by Charles Lapaugh, for the author.

926

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

to be paid, yearly and every year hereafter " unto
Stephen Van Rensselaer, proprietor of the manor
of Rensselaerwyck, or his legal successors, a pro
portionate part of the rent of the whole lot No.
238, and to erect and ever after maintain a good
and lawful fence around said church plat."
March 28, 1853, the society sold this piece of
ground and purchased the one where their church
edifice now stands, of Archibald S. Green, and
moved their building upon it.
The church has had nineteen different pastors.
The following are their names and the order in
which they served: R. Beck with, Adam Clark, R.
Burrett, David Corwin, Wm. E. Childs, L. O.
Lovell, M. House, Reuben Winegar, Charles Fer-
gueson, Alfred Harvey, G. C. Tripp, Jr., J. D.
Pope, R. F. Hartwell, J. C. Weeden, Wm. Car
penter, A. Peloubet, A. Waterbury, James H. Mc-
Gaghen, D. P. Brown.
The church has received into her fellowship 816
members; some have been excluded; 162 have
died in the triumphs of faith, while many have
been dismissed by letter to join other churches.
The present number of members is 201; number
of Sabbath-school pupils, 180; teachers, 10. The
church edifice is of wood, and will seat 3 50; value,
$2,000. The present trustees are Reuben A.
Winston, James O. Castle, Jacob Swartwout, Levi
S. Moak, Elias H. Babcock and Josiah Winegar.
The Reformed Church, located at Westerlo, for
merly Basic, Chester, was organized in 1793. The
pastors have been Revs. Samuel Center, mission
ary, 1823; John Vanderveer, missionary, to 1823;
Samuel Van Vechten, missionary, 1823-4; Benja
min Van Keuren, missionary, to 1824; Abram
Fort, 1824 to '31; Joseph Wilson, 1832-34; El
bert Slingerland, 1834-6; John Gosman, 1836-8;
Alanson B. Chittenden, 1839-40; James A. H.
Cornell, 1 841—3; Samuel Robertson, 1843-8;
Nanning Bogardus, 1849-50; William Demarest,
1850-4; Samuel Dyer, 1856-61; Philip Furbeck,
1862-7; Adrian Westveer, 1868-9; Francis M.
Bogardus, 1869-72; John H. Pitcher, 1873-76;
William D. Buckelew, 1876-79; Solomon T Cole,
1879-83. The present officers are : Elders — Geo. Clark,
Gilbert Smith, Gilbert Anderson, Albert Carl.
Deacons — G. H. Smith, Ludlow Udell, William
Burch, E. S. Swartwout. Families, 50; commu
nicants, 84; Sunday-school, 83. Amount of con
tributions, $480. Value of church property,
$2,500. South Westerlo. — A Baptist society was organ
ized here, and a church edifice erected, about 1808
or 1 810, then in the town of Rensselaerville. At
that time the place was called "Smith's Mills,"
named from David Smith, who owned the mills,
and, it is said, gave the land upon which this
church was built. The society for many years ex
erted an influence that resulted in much good,
and were quite prosperous in building up the re
ligious and special interests of the society. For
many years they had no regular preachers, but
were supplied by Elders Josiah Baker, William
Stuart and others.

Rev. Reed Burritt was settled over this church
about 1820, and continued as pastor for ten years
or more. In the meantime strife and dissension
were introduced, and the "Old and New School
Societies " became involved in a controversy for
the control of the affairs of the church. The
"New School" branch were successful in getting
the organization incorporated, thus securing legal
possession and control of their society. Among
other ministers who served this church were
Messrs. Crocker, Mudge and Stanton.
The society having fulfilled its mission, and the
membership gradually decreasing, they disbanded
and sold the church building (which stood where
George W. Robbins' house now stands) in 1847,
and the old church was moved out of the village.
The Christian Church of South Westerlo was or
ganized in 1820 by the Christian societies of Rens
selaerville, Coeymans, Berne, Baltimore and Free
hold; records of this society previous to 1833 are
in possession of the Freehold church. In the year
1824 the society erected a church building, which
was used as a house of worship until sold to O. L.
Hannay, and is now converted into a public hall,
and in which the society of Good Templars meet.
In 1833 Anthony Hanes, Nathaniel Holmes and
Cyrus Wheaton, were trustees; Joshua Nelson,
moderator, and Thomas Saxton, clerk; Abraham
Hagen, Robert P. Derboos and Anthony Hanes,
deacons. The original church edifice, becoming too small
for the accommodation of the society, was sold, and
the old tavern property of William Showers was
purchased, and the present house of worship and
parsonage were erected in 1872, at a cost of
$13,000. The following are the present officers : Rev. D.
J. Putnam, pastor; Darius Rundell, Zerah Lock-
wood, William Lake; 0. L. Hannay, chairman;
Jefferson T. Hannay, clerk. Members, 150;
Sunday-school scholars, 1 80 ; teachers, 8 ; contri
butions for all purposes, $1,000.
The corporate cemeteries of Westerlo are two.
The Westerlo Rural Cemetery Association was or
ganized, October, 1871, with Wm. V. L. Lapaugh,
president; George E. Disbrow, vice-president;
Charles Lapaugh, secretary and treasurer; Lewis C.
Lockwood, John Sherwood and Joseph Babcock,
trustees. The present officers are : Henry Smith,
president; James O. Castle, vice-president; Henry
A. Ford, Chester Gifford, Gilbert Anderson;
Charles Lapaugh, secretary and treasurer. The
cemetery is located one mile north of the village,
and contains two and three-fourths acres of land.
The Haanakrois Rural Cemetery was organized
in 1879, with the following officers : Edward Gib
bons, president; William Applebee, vice-president;
Miner Gibbons, secretary and treasurer; Henry
Simpkins, John G. Ward, Allen Kniffen. The
cemetery contains two acres of land, and is located
one mile east of Dormansville.
There are several burial grounds in different
parts of the town, which contain the remains of the
early settlers, and the one at Van Leuven's Corners
is noted for the burial of Col. James Sackett. Most

THE TOWNSHIP OF WESTERLO.

927

of these private burial places are being super
seded by incorporated cemeteries, which offer pro
tection and security in the future.
Town Insurance. — Westerlo and Rensselaerville,
of Albany County; Greenville and Durham, of
Green County, constitute "The Farmers' Fire In
surance Association, " and was incorporated under
a special act of the Legislature, April, 1857.
Thomas Saxton, director and agent.
Kedron Lodge, No. 960, I. O. G. T, was insti
tuted at South Westerlo, December 15, 1878, with
Dewitt Stanton, W. C. T. ; Alice Knowles, now
Hannay, W. V. T., W. W. Gunnison, G. L. D.;
F. P. Loucks, L. D. The following are present
officers : F. M. Swartwout, W. C. T ; Mrs. Emily
Stanton, W. V. T. ; Dewitt Stanton, L. D. Num
ber of members, 65.
For a distance of about six miles, commencing
at the old Delaware turnpike and extending across
the town to Verplank's Bridge, over the Haanakrois
Creek, and passing through Chesterville and Dor
mansville, is the western portion of the Coeymans
and Westerlo stone road, incorporated June, 1868;
Henry Slingerland, director.
Schools. — There are eighteen school-houses in
the township, with three joint districts. Schools

were early established, and Apollos Moore and
Robert O. K. Bemet were teachers before the
township was organized. John Mott, a Quaker,
taught a select school many years ago, on the farm
of R. Cartwright, for the education of his religious
sect, which at that time was quite numerous. The
other sects were not excluded. After the death of
Mott the school was continued by Henry Lawson,
and after him, for a time, by John Preston.
Gideon St. John taught school for twenty-seven
years, and Truman Ingalls for many years, in con
nection with a grammar school, evenings. Heman
Crocker, Solomon Trowbridge, C. Stewart, Moses
Scott and Levi Holmes, Miss Bush and Ann
Lawson were teachers fifty years ago.
The number of children of school age for the
year 1869 was 800; the number attending school,
665 ; average attendance, 281. Amount ex
pended for school purposes during above year,
$4,701. Schools in the township are well conducted, and
progress is the grand feature that gives promise of a
higher order of education.
The following table is compiled from the Com
missioner's report, in the office of the Superintend
ent of Public Instruction, for 1883:

No. of
District.

1
234I 7
89
10 n
12
131410 1718
19
2021

Totals ,

Children 5 to 21
Years of
Age.

7430282828
34 83 2427
36 24 19
2732 28
25 27 19
17
5°

658

Number
Attended School.

45242824 17
3767 15
232920 13
2023
273020 1313
43

5"

Valuation of Real
and Personal
Property of
District.

$43>9°o 36,720 28,540 17,500
29,450 27,750
53,525

14,475
18,650
21,850 29,63024,27531,480 17,120
17,45°14,27011,100
41,975

#479,435

Total Amount
for School
Purposes.

$321 79
187 25
139 85
100 00
170 13
194 64
289 12
144 75
95 30
165 00
230 33
180 86

175 91
215 00
229 91
191 85
161 30
181 00
247 10

3,476.35

Amount Paid
Teachers.

$285 00
161 00
120 00
90 00
156 00
167 50
232 09

73 50

145 00

222 00

'54 58

175 91

204 00

189 00
174 00
148 00
151 00
213 00

$3,062.08

Amount Paid

Teachers

per week for

Winter Term.

$7 50

5 50

3 75

6 00

4 00

5 «2

6 50

5 50

6 75

8 00

4 63

7 00

7 50

5 50

7 00

7 00

4 5°

7 50

PaidTeachers per week
for Summer
Term.

#7 50
4 00

00
00 5°
5°
00

4 00
4 00
6 00
4 12

5°
25 75
00 0050 50

PHYSICIANS.
The early physicians of Westerlo were Drs. ZinaW.
and Josiah Lay, Jonathan Prosser, Erastus Hamil
ton, assistant surgeon in the war of 181 2; Peleg
Peckham, P. S. Brigham, Willis A. Alston, Hi
ram Barber, Hyde, George Holmes, Bradly.
The present physicians are: Felix Weidman, who
graduated from Albany Medical College in 1847;
located at Central Bridge, then at South Berne,
1849, and Chesterville, i860

Edwin Haines graduated from Albany Medical
College in 1867; practiced in Albany three years,
Stone Bridge, Schoharie County, four years and
located at South Westerlo in 1873.
Cyrus Ecker graduated from Albany Medical
College in 1874; located at Chesterville in 1875.
J. B. Washburn graduated from Albany Medical
College in 1881; located at Lake George, and
came to Chesterville in 1883.
Ranson H. Gibbons, the oldest physician in the
township, and one of the oldest residents, was born

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

in 1802, in what was Coeymans. He studied
medicine with Dr. Zina Lay and Dr. Hyde; and to
prepare himself the better to practice his chosen
profession, he attended a course of lectures at
Fairfield, and was licensed by the censors of Herki
mer County. After obtaining his license, he lo
cated, in 1826, at Dormansville, the place of his
nativity; and after many years of hardships, in
riding over the hills through winter storms, and
over rough roads winding through the forests, he
lives to enjoy the comforts of life in his old age.
SOLDIERS.
As this township was not settled until after the
war of the Revolution, it has no record of soldiers
who are entitled to credit for services performed in
behalf of this town. Many who fought in that
war afterward become residents.
In the war of 18 12 a few names have been ob
tained, which are appended: Joseph Babcock, T.
Witbeck, James Sackett, Col. Elliot St. John, Wil
liam and Alexander Mackey, Walter Huyck, John
W. Prosser, Nathan Clark, Abram Hageman,
James and Abram Hawley, Benjamin Stanton,
Caleb Tompkins, Carpenter Bishop, Martin Lam
bert. There is no record of the soldiers of the
Rebellion. The civil history of Westerlo commenced April
4, 181 5, at which time the first town meeting was
held at the house of William Beardsley, John
Gibbons moderator, and town officers were elected.
The following list comprises the names of Super
visors, Justices of the Peace and Town Clerks, in
cluding the year 1884. The figures denote the
year elected:
Supervisors— Moses Smith, 1 8 1 5 ; William Whee
ler, 18 19; Sylvester Ford, 1820; James Sackett,
1821 (died, and Moses Smith appointed); Thomas
Smith, 1822; D. J. D. Verplank, 1823; Moses
Smith, 1825; Henry Peers, 1826; Thomas Jenks,
1828; Peter Onderdonk, 1830; Charles Hyndman,
1831; Anthony Miller, 1833; David Wooster,
1835; William Bentley, 1837; Zelum Hitchcock,
1839; Fred. H. Rosekrantz, 1841; Abraham
Griffin, 1843; Abram Vrooman, 1845; Avery Slade,
1847; Caleb Smith, 1849; Samuel F. Powell, 1851;
George H. Bentley, 1854; Abraham Griffin, 1856;
Thomas Saxton, 1858; Abijah C. Disbrow, i860;
Jared T. Reynolds, 1863; Charles Bentley, 1866;
Julius Thayer, 1868; Orson L. Hannay, 1870;
Warren Rosekrans, 1871; Orson L. Hannay,
1872; Daniel M. Wooster, 1874; Ansil C. Requa,
1880.

Justices of the Peace, appointed— Jared Reynolds,
1822; Gilbert Ward, David Stanton, Isaac A.
Wiltsie, Mathew Miller. First Justices elected in
November, 1827— David Stanton, William Bentley,
Isaac A. Wiltsie, Abijah C. Disbrow, Joseph C.
Martin, 1829; William Bentley, 1830; James
Lister, 1831; Jeremiah Green, 1833; Charles
Hyedman, 1834; Abraham Griffin, 35; Cyrus
Ingalls, 1835; Hugh Scott, 1837; John P. Wheeler,
1840; Samuel Mabee, 1840; Amasa Thayre,
1842; John H. Snyder, 1843; Lewis Reynolds,
1844; Truman Ingalls, 1845; Datus E. Batters
hall, 1846; Horace E. Robins, 1848; Farley
Fisher, 1850; Abram L. Green, 1851; Alfred
Gibbons, 1852; Stephen Martin, 1853; Samuel F.
Powell, 1854; John B. Teats, 56; George E.
Disbrow, 1858; Calvin Martin, 1859; Luther B.
Tompkins, 1861; Samuel Snyder, 1863; Thomas
Smith, 1864; Alonzo Spaulding, 1867; Darius
Rundell, 1868; Edward Gibbons, 1868; Wm. V.
L. Lapaugh, 1870; John W. Gale, 1873; Julius
Thayer, 1876; John Gibbons, 1877; Stephen A.
Knowles, 1879; Lorenzo D. Reynolds, 1883; Lay
Ruland, 1884.
Town Clerks— Thomas Jencks, Knight Bennett,
1824; Augustus Mygatt, 1825; Moses Myers, 1826;
Thomas Saxton, 1831; Stephen Tompkins, 1832;
Cyrus Ingalls, 1833; Jeremiah Green, 1834;
Andrew Myers, 1837; Fred. A. Rosekrans, 1839;
Philander S. Wickham, 1841; Anthony J. Haines,
1843; Calvin Martin, 1845; James Crandall, 1846;
A. S. H. Disbrow, 1848; David Gould, 1850;
Garret H. Bentley, 1851; Enos Knapp, 1853;
Moses S. De La Vergne, 1855; Robert S. Lay,
1857; Jared T. Reynolds, 1858; Julius Thayer,
i860; Thomas Smith, 1862; John H. Snyder,
1864; Peter Winegard, 1866; Jame"s A. Sloan,
1868; Judson A. Bouton, 1870; Jacob Swartwout,
1872; Sanford Gould, 1873; Warren Rosekrans,
1875; Gilbert H. Smith, 1877; James O. Castle,
1879; James F. Fisher, 188 1, Gilbert Anderson,
1883. Members of Assembly — -Moses Stanton, Abijah
C. Disbrow, Daniel Dorman, Peter Flagler, Jay
Gibbons. County Clerk — Robert S. Lay.
School Commissioner — Julius Thayer.

We take pleasure in making mention of the fol
lowing citizens, who, by their guaranteed support,
have helped to insure the publication of this valu
able work : Josiah Winegard, John W. Gale,
Peter Van Leuven, R. Arnold.

THE TOWNSHIP OF WATERVLIET.

HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF WATERVLIET.

By JACOB S. MARKLE.

INTRODUCTION.
THE pages devoted to the history of Watervliet
have been gathered and carefully written from
sources that were attainable, and from information
kindly given by those who had knowledge of the
facts, events or circumstances connected in some
way with the several subjects under consideration,
and from which important data was obtainable.
Old deeds and other records have been of much
value, and from these information of general in
terest has been freely given. Personal assistance
was rendered in some instances, for which the
writer acknowledges his indebtedness and kindly
returns his sincere thanks.
The limit of the work precludes much that
might be introduced, did it not trespass upon the
general plan of the history and conflict with the
province of other writers.
We have thus imperfectly traced the records and
historical associations connected with the changes
and modern progress of this old township, from
its early settlement in colonial times, and its strug
gles, to its present modest prosperity; and much
of this has something to remind us of the stalwart
patriotism of its founders and the enthusiasm which
belongs to a people of intelligence, physical vigor
and exalted manhood.
Albany, 1885.
WATERVLIET TOWNSHIP.
The Manor of Rensselaerwyck was erected into
a district, March 24, 1772, and subdivided into
East and West districts, March 5, 1779, the river
being the separating line. The West District, as
defined by act of March, 1772, embraced all that
part of the manor north of an east and west line from
Beeren Island north to Cumberland County, ex
cept the City of Albany.
The name of Watervliet is of Dutch origin,
from water and vlakte, level plains or flats. The
level lands or flats along the river were and are
subject to overflow in time of freshets; hence they
are the ' ' overflowed flats " or waler-vlakte, the last
word corrupted into " vliet," which is incorrect, as
vliet in the Dutch language means river.

This township was the first one organized in the
county, and was formed, March 7, 1788, and in
cluded the West District of the Manor of Rens
selaerwyck, with Colonial or State lands on the
north. That part of the city north of Patroon and
Quackenbos streets, known as the Colonie, was in
corporated, March 31, 1791, and again, March 30,
1 801. April 9, 1804,* it was made a village, and
April 11, 1808, it was organized by the Legisla
ture as a township, in which it continued to exer
cise civil and political privileges until February 25,
181 5, when the township was divided, a part
merged into the bounds of the City of Albany and
the remaining portion reannexed to Watervliet. In
1870 a part of this old Colonie was taken from
Watervliet and annexed to Albany City.
The township has undergone many changes
since its formation in 1788, when it included all
the territoty as now represented by the several
townships, Cohoes and Niskayuna. The following
changes have taken place and other divisions
formed from this parent since its organization:
Rensselaerville was taken off in 1790, Coeymans
in 1791, Bethlehem in 1793, Guilderland in 1803,
Niskayuna in 1809; a part of Colonie was annexed
in 181 5; Cohoes was taken off in 1869, and in
1870 a portion was annexed to Albany City.
West Troy and Green Island, parts of the town
ship, are incorporated villages.
The township is triangular in shape, resting upon
one point, and occupies the northeast corner in the
county. It is bounded on the north by Schenectady and
Saratoga Counties, on the east by Saratoga and
Rensselaer Counties, on the south by Rensselaer
* The following, from the session laws of 1804, reads: " An act to
vest certain powers in the freeholders and inhabitants of that
part of the Town of Water Vliet, in the County of Albany, commonly
called the Colonie, which was incorporated, April 9, 1804, as follows :
' Lying on the west bank of Hudson's River, in the northeast bounds
of the City of Albany; extending north about three-fourths of a mile
to Mill Creek ; thence west one mile up along the said creek ; thence
southerly with a line parallel to the said river till it strikes the north
bounds of said city ; thence east to the place of beginning.' " The vil
lage was to elect Hve persons as trustees, who were empowered to make
by-laws, levy taxes and perform other duties ; a Treasurer, Collector
and five Assessors were also to be elected by the freeholders. The
first town meeting was held at the house of William Kane, in April,
1809, no records of which can be found.

930

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

County, Albany City and Guilderland, and on the
west by Albany and Guilderland. The Hudson
and Mohawk Rivers flow along the east and north
boundary, separating it from Rensselaer and Sara
toga Counties.
The number of acres of land assessed in 1883
was 33,560; the assessed and equalized valuation
of personal and real estate for 1883 was $5,524,-
828.97; the assessed valuation of West Troy and
Green Island, $4,875,076.21; total for the town
ship, $10,399,904.18. Population in 1865,
27,275; 1870, 22,609; 1875, 20,894; 1880,
22,220. The surface is broken into plains and
uplands, which have an elevation of from 200 to
300 feet. The declivities of this upland have
numerous gullies, worn by the small streams, while
the Mohawk on the east has made precipitous
banks and deep cuttings above and below the falls;
swamps and small marshes are numerous. A fine
interval of alluvial soil, varying in width, extends
along the Hudson; this is frequently overflowed
by freshets, and the deposit which accumulates
renders the soil very fertile. The soil along the
river flats is a rich alluvium, and a light sandy
loam upon the upland and plains. There are
mild sulphur and chalybeate springs. Bog iron
ore is found in a few locations, and some graywacke
quarries furnish excellent building and flagging
stone. The streams or creeks are small. The princi
pal ones are Patroon's Creek, with its tributaries,
Sand Kill, Lisha's or Lychus Kill, Town Branch,
Schauline Creek, Donker Kill, Dry Branch, Ralger
Kill and Red Creek. The acreage of woodland is
rapidly diminishing, and only small patches re
main, containing a few acres, and small groves
preserved for ornament or wind-breaks. Roads and
turnpikes are numerous, and are kept in good
traveling condition, and railroads traverse through
the town in many directions.
The first settlements in this township were made
upon lands included in the Van Rensselaer Manor.
The great inducement and favorable terms upon
which settlers could obtain these lands were at that
time of much importance and advantage to them
in their condition. Their means were very limited,
and their wealth consisted mostly of their families,
a few necessary supplies and hardy constitutions.
The wilderness which surrounded them could be
made to bear fruit, and after many days of toil and
hardship, struggling against poverty and self-denial,
they saw the result of their labor, performed with
rude implements, in fair crops of grain and forage,
an increase in live stock, more acres ready for cul

tivation, and some of the comforts of life to be
enjoyed in old age. But the course of prosperity
does not always run without friction ; disturbing
elements cannot always be guarded against; con
flicts at that time were of varying kinds, and these
often interfered with the lone settler's security and
domestic comfort.
In time civilization threw her protecting arms
about them, thus securing their lives and property
from savage and wanton destruction; society made
advances; moral progress was strengthened into
spiritual life, and knowledge was nurtured in the
school of adversity. It was this robust and pioneer
experience that gave action and power to a class of
men who accepted the conditions necessary to
educate them for citizens, asserting their self-
reliance and principles of individual right in the
affairs of popular government and the relations of
social progress. These early colonists exhibited
shrewdness in the selection of their lands for farm
ing purposes, and in locating their future homes
near the settlement in the colony of Rensselaer
wyck, so that they were under the protection of
Fort Orange in time of trouble, and could enjoy
other privileges with those at the fort. Albany at
that time was an outpost of civilization, around
which clustered a community of Dutch, who were
engaged in the fur trade with the Mohawks and
other tribes of Indians. They were a rude and not
always overscrupulous people, were anxious to
accumulate wealth, and ready for the best bargain,
that they might add to their possessions, and share
in the enviable honors, however won, of their neigh
bors. The Hollanders were wise in gaining the friend
ship of the Indians, thus securing a measure of
safety from their stealthy, savage raids, at the same
time the better to control the trade in furs with them;
yet they were unwise in introducing disturbing
elements in the civilization of these savages — the
use of the tomahawk and rifle, and the greater evil,
firewater. This sudden change was so great that
the Indian added to his own bad habits many
of those of the white man, thus developing all
his inherent savageness and brutal tortures, to be
used against those who brought not the best, but a
destructive, agent in civilization.
The first settlements in what is now Wateivliet
were made north of the city, along the river, extend
ing to Port Schuyler, now a part of West Troy. The
Van Rensselaers occupied most of the land in the
vicinity of the Colonie; then came the Schuylers and
a few other families whose interests and business
were more directly connected with Albany. From

THE TOWNSHIP OF WATERVLIET.

931

a map of the Van Renseslaer Manor, made in 1767,
there were then but 148 families west of the Hudson
River. The following names are given as settlers at
that time in what is now Watervliet. Those along
the Hudson from Albany to the mouth of the
Mohawk were : Jeremiah Schuyler, Peter Schuyler,
Col. Philip Schuyler, Peter Cluet (west of the
Schuylers), Jonas Sharp, Guy Young, Hans Van
Arnum, Jan Outhout, Henry Bullsing, Cornelius
Van Denbergh, Wirt Van Denbergh. Along the
Mohawk from its mouth north : Jonas Outhout,
Abram Van Denbergh, Cornelius Van Denbergh
alias King,  Lansing, Henry Lansing, Cor
nelius Onderkerk, Douw Fonday, Franz Lansing,
Dirk Hemstraet; and at the Boght: Hans Lansing,
William Liverse, Jan Douwve Fonda (Frederick
Clute and  Wynans on colonial lands).
Along the Mohawk, west of the Boght: Daniel
Van Olinda, Jacob Clute, Bastian Visher, Jacob
Freltie, Diederick Scheffer, Martys Bovee, Fransway
Bovie, Hans Heemstraet, Bastian Cregier, 
Duyvepagh, Simon Groet, Hans Cluet, Robert
Canier. In the northwest corner:  Consaloe,
Hans Consaloe, Isaac Truax; and the following
who lived over the manor line,  Cluet, John
Schuyler, Nicholas Hallenbeck and Glen Braat.
On the sand road to Schenectady, John Richies, at
the Knil; Christie, at the Sandbergh, and a family
at the Verfbergh.
Many of these early settlers have left their names
and descendants to perpetuate some quality of their
ancestry; and whether the scene be laid in the
primitive forest, or upon the cultivated field, the
same struggles brought out invigorating elements
of character, which were qualities essential to their
robust manhood, which gave them an influence in
civil affairs, and communicated spiritual life to the
rude state of society. Many others have departed
with no record by which to follow their outgoings,
and their names are lost for all time. Others
came and took their places as actors in the great
problem of human liberty to be solved by persistent
exertion. From a record in the possession of
Peter Lansing, of Lishaskill, the history and
genealogy of Hendrick Lansing is taken, Peter
being a lineal descendant and representative of
this family, whose great-grandfather settled in
Watervliet about 1 700.
Hendrick Lansing, of the town of Hasselt, in
the province of Overyssel, was the ancestor of all
the Lansings in America. His son Gerret early
came to Beaverwyck from Hasselt, near Swoll
Overyssel, and died before October, 1679. His
sons were Hendrick, Gerrit and Johannes, and

from these have originated the several families.
The daughters were Hilletie, who married Storm
Van Derzee, son of Albert Andriesen Bradt, and
their daughter Anne married Johannes Becker;
Alltie married Gerrit Van Slichtenhorst; Gysbertie
married Hendrick Janse Roseboom.
Hendrick Lansing, son of Gerrit, was in Albany
as early as 1666, and died July, 1709. His son
Jacob married Hellina Pruyn, and their son Hen
drick J. married Lena Winne, 1769. Hellina died
in 1827. Jacob died in 1792. Their son Benjamin
married Mary Tymerson. Their children were:
Peter, who married Catharine Norris; Helen, who
married Lewis Morris; Henry B., who married
Eliza Putnam, and afterward Sarah Knight; Cor
nelius T, who married, first, Catharine Billson,
then Caroline Steers. This family settled at Li-
sha's Kill, and comprise one branch of the Lan
sings. Col. John V. A. Lansing, who married Harriet
Verplank, came here in 1791 or 1792, and settled
on the farm where his grandson, Vischer Lansing,
lives. He had four sons and four daughters. The
four brothers married sisters, daughters of Cor
nelius Groat; Abram V. P. Lansing married Helen
Groat; Gulian V. P. married Catharine; Jacob J.
married Rachael, and John married Eliza.
The daughters of John V. A. married as follows:
Maria, first, Richard J. Pearse, then Garret L.
Winne ; Williamke, Sebastian Pearse ; Helen,
Jacob Weaver, and Harriet, Jacob C. Lansing.
From this family have originated the following
professional men: Rev. Dr. John A. Lansing,
Revs. Abram G. Lansing, Gulian Lansing and his
son John G., Jacob Pearse, Nicholas Pearse and
Augustus Pearse, Elmer C. Lansing and J. Mc-
Carrol Lansing, physicians; Howard Lansing and
Christopher Lansing, attorneys at law.
Two brothers, Gerret and Ryckert-Claas Van
Vranken, sons of Claas Van Vranken, early bought
lands in Niskayuna. From these descended the
families of this name in that town. Gerrit, son of
Claas, married Ariantje Uldrick, and their children
were Claas Uldrick, born 1685, and Maritie, born
1690. Claas in 1704 married Geertruy Quacken-
bos; their son Petrus married Neeltie, daughter of
Dirk Groat, and from this family are the descend
ants of Watervliet, and the Groats are probably de
scended from this family and from Seymun Groat.
Jacob Lansing and his wife, Hellena Huyck,
came from Holland at an early date, about
1700, and his son John settled in the vicinity of the
Boght, on the farm now owned by Egbert Lansing.
Rutger Lansing's son Gerret settled on the Mo-

932

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

hawk, above the falls, and here are the possessions
and improvements of Isaac D. F. Lansing, extend
ing along the river, and at the Aqueduct. In
1795 I. D. F. Lansing built a large two-storied
brick dwelling house, near the Cohoes dam, which
is still standing and occupied. Teunis Lansing's
family are represented by the children of Francis T.
Daniel Van Olinda was an early resident, and
obtained a certain piece of land from John De
Puyster, which is described in a deed of sale, given
to Isaac Fonda, July, 1738. Portions of this
property remain in the possession of his de
scendants. Isaac Fonda was from Holland, and born in
1 71 5, and in 1749 married Cornelia De Friest, and
his line of descent to the present time is through
his son Isaac I., then Isaac I., Jr., Cornelius I.,
James V. V., Daniel D. and Charles Fonda. When
Isaac Fonda obtained possession of this property
the following persons were on adjoining lands:
Gerardus Kloett, Hendrick Rider, Jacob Lansing,
Dirk Bradt.
Mr. James V. V. Fonda (son of Cornelius I.),
80 years old, is living on the original home
stead, and part of the old house, built before the
revolution, is attached to a dwelling near the road,
and in this small room Richard Kloet kept a
tavern during the stormy days of revolutionary
times, when Indians and Tories gave the neighbors
much trouble, for here they would meet and dis
cuss the stirring events of the day, which were
generally boisterous after the firewater began to
burn. Tradition repeats the story that Gen.
Washington at one time was a guest in this house,
and stood upon the same floor now in use, and
that an Indian, who became angered, threw a
tomahawk at Dick Kloet, but, missing him, struck
a beam, the mark of which is now concealed by re
pairs. Also, that Gen. Morgan and his soldiers
camped and occupied the hill near the canal, and
quartered his men upon the families in the vicinity.
This seems to be historical ground. Mr. Fonda,
who relates the above and many other incidents,
has in his possession a Holland Bible, printed in
1 71 3; also, a powder horn, with the name James
Bouyngy engraved upon it, with the date 1756, and
other designs. He has also an old sword, inscribed
with date of 1758, with the initials P. D. Another
curiosity is an " Ulster County Gazette," published
at Kingston, January 4, 1800, by Samuel Freer &
Son, containing a full account of the death of
Washington, with letters from England and France,
and address of John Adams, and proceedings of
Congress.

Douw Fonda and wife were from Holland, and
his family was perpetuated by the descendants of
his two sons, Abram and Douw. ' Other families
of Fondas were Isaac H. and Henry I., the name
being numerous in the township.
The Van Rensselaer patent did not include the
whole of Watervliet, the northeastern portion being
government land, and deeds were given by Eng
land, as the one here mentioned, now in the pos
session of Lansing Van Denbergh, who kindly per
mits a record of it to be taken. It is written on
parchment, in large English script, has no signa
ture, but a great seal of the crown, three inches in
diameter, half inch thick, of wax, and now broken
in many pieces. It is dated October 21, 1697.
" William the Third, by the grace of God, King
of England, Scotland and France and Ireland and
Zealand, and Defender of the Faith, greeting:
Our loyal subject, Peter Hendrich De Haas: All
that land between the Cohoos and Conn-Hagioewa,
on the south side of Schinictady River, lying be
tween the two Creeks, about two miles in length,
more or less; in breadth from east side of a marsh,
including the said marsh, &c, &c, at an annual
rental of twenty shillings, &c."
This tract of land came into the possession of
Peter P. and Gerrit P., sons of Peter Van Den
bergh. In 1805 a partition deed was given by
Peter P. to the sons of Peter P. , viz. : Douw, Peter
G. , Isaac G. and Cornelius G. Van Denbergh.
This property was in the vicinity of the Boght,
and some portions remain in the family.
Another family of early settlers was Jacob Cluet
and his sons, Johannes J. and Jacob. This family
owned a farm north of Town-house Corners, and
Luykes Witbeck received a deed of this property
from Stephen Van Rensselaer, dated February 2 7,
1769, in the ninth year of the reign of George III.
Luykes Witbeck had three sons, Abram L. , Ger
ret and John, and from these brothers the name
descended to the several families of Watervliet.
John L., son of Lucas I., and grandson of John,
lives upon the original farm. The above deed is
witnessed by Lucas Van Vechten, Nicholas Cluet
and Cornelius Wendell. Mr. John L. Witbeck
has in his possession a small brass brasier, which
is old and rare, from the Fonda family; also, a re
markable piece of embroidery upon silk.
At the commencement of hostilities with Eng
land, the inhabitants of this town were included in
the west district of the manor of Rensselaerwyck,
and many of them held lands leased by the pa
troon at an annual rental. Farms, at first, were
located in the vicinity of Fort Orange, for protec-

THE TOWNSHIP OF WATERVLIET

933

tion. The settlements gradually extended beyond,
and finally occupied the level lands along the Hud
son and Mohawk Rivers. One of the most im
portant considerations of the founders of this
colony was to secure the trade in furs with the In
dians, and to do this the Indians were induced to
bring their peltries to Fort Orange for exchange.
At certain periods of the year they came down the
Mohawk to Schenectady or the falls in canoes,
and then by trails to the place of barter. These
trails or paths were afterward used by the whites
as roads, of which three at least diverged from Al
bany — one leading direct to Schenectady, with a
branch to the west; another across the center of
the town to the Mohawk, and one along the Hud
son up to the bend or boght of the Mohawk.
With few exceptions the first settlers were Dutch,
and they readily conformed to all the laws and re
quirements as promulgated by those in authority.
A peaceable yet persistent people, with simple
habits of living, industrious and persevering,
strongly attached to early traditions of justice and
religion, they planted upon this soil principles and
practices which were the underlying source of
success, and the issues that followed were the re
sult of loyalty and patriotism.
In carefully studying the condition of the people
as well as that of the country, the observer will at
once notice the wonderful change that was wrought
when hostilities ceased, and peace once more
smiled upon a nation, now free and independent.
Every condition of prosperity, every branch of in
dustry, every public or private enterprise, manu
factures, agriculture, commerce, churches, schools
and professions were now open and ready for de
velopment. All seemed to spring into new life
with an impulse that was irresistible, and the spirit
of progress swept with renewed force over the land,
of which this district received a large share.
At this time, about 1785, the way is open for a
new element to mingle with Holland society, and
many families from New England and the adjacent
counties improved the opportunity and located
among the Dutch, occupying lands under leases
from the patroon. This immigration, in their in
tercourse and association in the affairs of gov
ernment, politics, religion and education, intro
duced the ideas and principles of Puritanism which
they received as a legacy from the New England
teachers, and these were advanced and instilled into
the minds of the people, and a unity of sentiment in
essential things was in time accepted, the results of
which have been a blessing to the community in
elevating morality.

Since 1800 the advantages derived from an in
telligent and liberal course of education, as well as
popular government, have been seconded by the
rapid advancement of general literature and aided
by the newspaper, in the cultivation of knowl
edge which enlarges the mind and fosters a spirit
of investigation for higher culture in the natural
and general sciences, the laws of mechanics and
industrial pursuits.
These have been well received in the town, as its
general prosperity attests. The internal improve
ments, its numerous manufactures, its public and
private enterprises, its mechanical pursuits, its
rapid advance in agriculture, its system of modern
schools and institutions of practical sciences, its
freedom of religious sentiment as proclaimed from
the numerous churches and religious societies, de
note the progress and enlightenment of the people,
and the prosperity of those who contributed to the
general welfare. The rural portion of the town
has an industrious population engaged in that oc
cupation that forms the basis of every nation's
prosperity, the tillage of the soil.
Of late years the methods of farming have been
based upon practical systems, and the advance
ment in special agricultural knowledge from scien
tific investigation and practical experiments. These
are sources from which the intelligent farmer will
obtain suggestions and results of much value, and
the careful study of agricultural journals is of more
value to the farmer than the purely political news
paper. Improved machinery and labor-saving imple
ments are the farmer's greatest boon; these, with
judicious breeding of live stock, are a source of
wealth to the intelligent farmer who exercises wis
dom and prudence in all things pertaining to rural
economy. A large part of the cultivated acres in
the township is devoted to dairy purposes, for the
production of milk to supply the demands of Al
bany, Cohoes, West Troy, Green Island and the
neighboring villages. Mixed gardening — vegetables
and small fruits — is an industry of considerable
magnitude, extensively conducted upon small farms
by Germans and others.
Below is given a list of supervisors, justices of
the peace and town clerks from 1793 to 1844.
The first town meeting of which there is any record
was held at the house of Isaac Truax, Jr., on the
2d day of April, 1793. The figures denote the
year when the person was elected.
Supervisors: Stephen Van Rensselaer, 1793;
Jacob Winne, 1795; Cornelius Glen, 1801 ;
Enoch Leonard, 1 804 ; Stephen Van Rensselaer,

934

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

1808; John Schuyler, Jr., 18 10; Lucas G. Wit
beck, 1824 ; Francis Lansing, 1827 ; John C.
Schuyler, 1833; Jeremiah Schuyler, 1837; Gilbert
I. Van Zandt, 183810 1851.
Justices of the Peace (by appointment) — Jurian
Hogan, 1797; Jedidiah Strong, 1809; H. V.
Cuyler, 1809; Nicholas Freligh, 18 10; Stephen
M. Conger, 1 8 1 1 ; Lyman Stanford, 1 8 1 1 ; Jedi
diah Baker, 1817; E. Wilson, Jr., Jacob I.
Wager, 1820. Special town meeting, December
22, 1822, the following were elected : Jedidiah
Strong, Philip Lennenbacker, Elijah Ranney,
Stephen M. Conger, Daniel Van Dyke, 1827 ;
Isaac Fonda, Jr., 1827; Ethical Enders, Isaac H.
Williams and Frederic V. Waterman, 1831 ; A.

W. Richardson, 1833; Stephen Groesbeck and
Lawrence V. K. Van Demark, 1834 ; Francis O.
Dorr and Jonathan Kash, 1836; John Hastings,
1838; Supply F. Wilson and William King,
1839; Jonathan Hart, 1840; Martin Winne,
1 84 1 ; Matthew Fort, 1842; James M. Barnard,
1844. Town Clerks— Luther Trowbridge, 1793; Ger
ret Clute, 1800; Benjamin Winne, 1802; Levinus
L. Winne, 1805; Harmanus V. Cuyler, 1809;
Lyman Swan, 181 1; John G. Ruby, 1813 ; Ger
ret T. Lansing, 1826; Stephen Groesbeck, 1833;
Martin Witbeck, 1834; William R. Peake, 1835 ;
Oliver Burr, 1838 ; John Mason, 1842 ; Cole H.
Denio, 1843; Robert I. Moe, 1844.

NEW YORK STATE SURVEY.— PRELIMINARY GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION OF STATIONS AND
MONUMENTS IN WATERVLIET.

Name of Station.

Arsenal 
Center Street 
Lansing Pine 
Race Course 
Lishaskill P. O., Reformed Church 
N. Y. C. R. R. Shops, Tall Chimney. .
Williams Monument in Rural Cemetery
County Line Monument 

No. OF
Monument.

237240 15
236

4397

Owner's Name.

U. S. Government. . .
On Green Island 
Benjamin Lansing. . .
Erastus Corning 
West Albany 
Watervliet & Niskayuna
Watervliet & Niskayuna
In road opposite T. J.
Miller's store.

Latitude.

42"
42°42°42042°42°
42°42°

4344' 45'
41' 45'
40'
41' 46'

09 33 37'
16'
20*
38' 53"
43'

42° 46' 19'

Longitude.

73"

42'41'50'42' 52'
46'44'47'

07 27"
38" 55'
36"30" 16"
59"

49' 26"

Nestigione Patent, in Saratoga County, and
Connestigione, another old patent, granted in
1697 to Peter Hendrix De Haas, are the origin of
Niskayuna, and of an extensive tract on both sides
of the Mohawk. The latter was west of the Cohoes
Falls and within the present township of Watervliet.
The Erie Canal enters this town from Saratoga
County in the northeast corner, crossing the
Mohawk at the lower aqueduct, and winds along
the margin of that river, by the Cohoes Falls and
through the city of Cohoes ; thence southerly and
forms a junction with the Champlain Canal, just
above West Troy, through which it passes, across
the Arsenal grounds, and thence along the Hudson
River flats through North Albany— the great lum
ber market — and by the Van Rensselaer mansion,
to the Albany basin, about 1 3 miles in this town,
having 19 locks, 165 feet descent, and two locks
of 22 feet descent at the side just opposite Troy.
West Albany R. R. Y. M. C. A.— In March,
1876, Mr. E. D. Ingersol, general railroad secre
tary of the Y. M. C. A. of America, called a meet
ing for the purpose of organizing an association,
which was held in the machine shops of the New

York Central and Hudson River Railroad at West
Albany, which resulted in the election of Mr. T. F.
Blackburn as president. George S. Spencer be
came the first general secretary in October, 1876.
Present membership, 193.
The following have served as presidents since
Mr. Blackburn: Walter Van Guysling, William F.
Horth, Seth Clark, Charles A. McBain, W. H.
Rockenstive, Oliver S. Vedder, E. W. Morgan,
and L. Packard, the present incumbent. The
secretaries have been George S. Spencer, George
M. Heckendon, Augustus C. Doerscher and E.
W. Gorton.
VILLAGES, POST-OFFICES AND HAMLETS.
Boght (or Groesbeck's Corners), an old-settled
place in the northeast corner of the township, in
the bend or boght of the Mohawk, on the Loudon
ville road, and near Crescent station, west of
Cohoes, contains twenty dwellings, Reformed
Church, paisonage, school-house No. 18, shoe
shop, and formerly a store. This vicinity and the
Aqueduct were settled by Van Denberghs, Van

THE TOWNSHIP OF WATERVLIET.

935

De Marks, Fondas, Clutes, Van Vrankens, Lans
ings, and later by Wm. Groesbeck, the Simons,
Godfreys, Roffs, Dunsbacks, and Runkels.
North of the Boght is the Aqueduct, containing
dry-dock and brick-yards, and north is Dunsback
Ferry, across the Mohawk. Here John Van De
Mark kept tavern, and early settlers were Van
Vrankens. The Erie Canal crosses the Mohawk
River in the northeast corner by a stone aqueduct,
I>I37h feet l°ng> resting on 26 piers, which are 26
feet high, and contains 18 locks.
Town House Corners (Van Vranken's, and now
Latham's Corners), is a hamlet at the crossing of
the Loudonville road and the Troy and Schenec
tady turnpike, six miles from Albany. Has
been known by the above names from local causes.
The neighborhood was settled by Van Den Berghs,
Witbecks, Van Olindas, Van Vrankens, Oothouts
and Mathias Markle. Joseph Yearsley and Myn
dert Van Denbergh kept taverns many years ago.
The neighborhood is thickly settled and contains
41 dwellings, Reformed Church, parsonage, school-
house No. 11, hotel, James Latham, proprietor,
and blacksmith shop. Dr. Jonas Wade located in
the vicinity as early as 1806; was a successful prac
titioner in his day, and much reputed for his many
good qualities. His son, E. M. Wade, succeeds
him, and another son, Edward Wade, is a lawyer
of Albany City.
Watervliet Center (P. O.) is a small hamlet in
the northern central part of the township, located
on the Troy and Schenectady turnpike, two miles
north of the Shaker settlement, and contains thirty-
six dwellings, two stores, James Pearse, merchant
and postmaster; William Graham & Brother, gen
eral merchandise; Abram W. Fraleigh, proprietor
of the hotel; two blacksmith shops and wheel
wright shop. School-house No. 6, built as early as
1800, and the old house in which Laban Hills
kept tavern in 1820, are landmarks.
The postmasters have been Laban Hills, Lewis
Morris, and James Pearse, the present incumbent.
Early settlers in the vicinity were Witbecks,
Orlops, Van Vrankens, Groats, Feros, Dr. Fraley,
Sickles and Forts, at Fort's Ferry. Those who
came after were Chamberlain, Gallager, Weather-
wax, Cragiers and Lewis Morris, who came about
1835, and made great improvements in erecting
hotel, store and several shops of which he was pro
prietor, and from this circumstance the place is
known as Morrisville.
Near here, on the Town Creek, were the mills and
woolen factories of Henry Waterbury, and on the
same creek near Fort's Ferry were the Shaker mills.

Shaker's (P. O.), two miles south of Watervliet
Center, and eight miles north of Albany, is the
settlement now comprising the four families of the
Shakers who located here in 1775, on lands leased
from the Patroon, then a wilderness. The settle
ment number's 300 souls. This is a favorite resort
for visitors in summer, and is reached by a pleasant
drive on the Shaker road. For full details see
County History.
Lisha's Kill (P. O.), name derived from an In
dian who is said to be buried on the bank of the
creek near Visher Lansing's, is a small hamlet in
the northwest corner of the town, on the old Albany
and Schenectady turnpike, nine miles northwest
from Albany, and near the Central Railroad.
The first settler was Jacob Lansing, grandfather
of Benjamin, and his descendants are numerous in
the vicinity. Another early settler was John V. A.
Lansing, who came in 1792. Many of his de
scendants are residents of the neighborhood.
These were followed by Van Benthuysens, Ostroms,
Van Zandts, Groats, Bulsons, Campbells, Stan-
fords. Charles Stanford kept a tavern on the turn
pike as early as 1 803. He was an enterprising and
respected citizen, and was the father of ex-Gover
nor Stanford. Here for many years was C. Lans
ing's tavern and Morris' store. The post-offipe
was established about 1830. Postmasters have
been Lewis and Jacob Morris. Peter Lansing was
appointed in 1848, and is the present incumbent.
Mr. Lansing is also proprietor of a general mer
chandise store, notary public, and formerly kept a
hotel. The neighborhood is thickly settled with
thrifty farmers. Two school houses, Nos. 7 and 8,
afford the children facilities for education. The Re
formed Church, parsonage and sheds attached, are
conveniences for spiritual instruction, and com
forts for the farmers' horses. A blacksmith shop
near by is a necessity, and the toll-gate is a relic of
former days, when six-horse teams, with heavy
freight wagons loaded with merchandise, were pass
ing and repassing at all hours of the day.
Newtonville (P. O. ), formerly Newton's Corners —
names given in honor of John M. Newton, who
came here about 1840, and soon after erected a
dwelling, and in 1850 a building for a store. He
was an enterprising citizen and deservedly respected.
He was engaged in active business during his life,
and his sons continue the same line of business in
the city where they reside.
The post-office was established in 1850. John
Holmes was the first postmaster, and retains the
office up to this time. President Arthur's father
was Holmes' bondsman.

936

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

This hamlet is on each side of the Loudon road,
four miles north of Albany, and is pleasantly
located. Has a Methodist church and parsonage,
school-house No. 13, store, of which John H.
Kemp is proprietor, in which the post-office is
kept. Here are located the shops of James
Brewster, for the manufacture and sale of wagons,
carriages and sleighs and general jobbing work;
located at Ireland's Corners in 1851; came here in
1876 as James Brewster & Son; the firm is now
James Brewster's Sons (James C. and William H. ).
The original Methodist church was built about
two miles from here, near Lawson's, and for sev
eral years a boarding school — "Home Lawn" —
was conducted by the Cole family. Rev. William
Arthur (father of President Arthur), a Baptist
preacher, also was principal of a private school for
some time. The Baptist church (now abandoned) is
just on the borders of the village. Early residents
in the vicinity were Gilbert Waterman, Capt. Van
Olinda, John Gornay and others. Dr. H. C.
Abrams is located here as physician. Following
the plank road south, on either side, are many fine
residences and farm houses, which continue for the
intervening short distance, and Ireland's Corners
(P. O. ), now Loudonville (P. O.), is reached.
This is a thriving and lovely suburban hamlet,
three miles from Albany, on the Loudonville plank
road. The name is from Lord Loudon, and the
road was in use previous to and during the revo
lutionary war.
The village owes its first name to Elias H. Ire
land, who bought the lands in 1832 of Van Rens
selaer, then all woods and only three houses or
families near him. Jonathan Seeley Ireland was a
preacher in the early days of Methodism, and
being independent, he was his own sexton. Thomas
Seeley Ireland, father of Elias, had settled in the
vicinity previously, as well as Charles T. Ireland
and John Ruby. Dr. Peter B. Noxen came here
soon after E. H. Ireland, and practiced medicine
during his lifetime. He was located at first at
Coeymans Landing. Elias made improvements,
engaged in the hotel and merchandise business,
was quite successful, and died in 1870. His prop
erty has changed hands and great improvements
are being made. The post-office was established
about 1850, Elias H. Ireland, postmaster ; name
changed to Loudonville, 1871 ; Samuel Bacon,
postmaster. James Brewster located here in 1851,
for the manufacture and sale of wagons, carriages
and sleighs; in 1876 he removed to Newtonville.
There is a store, containing general merchandise,
in which is kept the post-office, Ralph H. Gove,

proprietor, also present postmaster. School-house
No. 1 1 is pleasantly located and arranged for two
teachers. This is the finest and most desirable suburb of
Albany, and with Newtonville, is a closely popu
lated district. The Loudon plank road offers easy
access and delightful drives. The surroundings
possess many attractions, and as a quiet, rural re
sort, or place of residence, many of the business
men of the city have fine mansions, beautiful
lawns, gardens and green-houses, which are much
admired for their cheerful and home attractions.
These, with the surroundings of the neighborhood
and the natural scenery quite diversified, possess
many striking features. Among those who reside
here, and have done so much for the permanent
benefit and encouragement of a higher order and
cultivation of the beautiful in nature and art, are
Samuel Bacon, P. K. Diedrick, George L. Stead
man and John C. Hughson.
Center Station, in the western part of the town,
on the Central Railroad, is a collection of a few
houses, and the place is a way-station, which fur
nishes conveniences to the residents of the neigh
borhood. Menand's Station, on the Albany and Northern
Railroad, is the location of Louis Menand's exten
sive green-houses, flower gardens and nursery
grounds, which were established by the present
proprietor in 1842. Here are located the fair
grounds, originally intended for the use of the
State Agricultural Society.
They contain several buildings, sheds and ample
accommodation for poultry, live stock, manufac
tures, machinery, domestic and agricultural pro
ducts and implements. The place is convenient
of access from all points by steamboats, railroads
and horse cars. The • State Fair for the present
year, 1885, is appointed to be held here. The
property is now owned by John Sundergan. Here
also are located the Rural, St. Agnes and Anshe
Emeth cemeteries.
Early settlers here were Schuylers, Ten Eycks,
Gorways, Glens, Jermains, Hillhouse. The vicin
ity is now thickly populated, and many business
men of Albany have their residences here. The
attractions of natural scenery and the result of
modern science and skill have changed the aspect of
these low, hilly ridges and rendered them conspic
uous and beautiful for situation, possessing many
striking features for the skill of the artist to develop in
design of architecture and landscape ornamentation.
West Albany P. O. (formerly Spencerville). This
is a busy and thriving place, lying north of Pa-

THE TOWNSHIP OF WATERVLIET.

937

troon's Creek and west of the city line, two and a
half miles from the City Hall, reached by State
street and Central avenue horse cars, and New
York Central Railroad cars, which pass through it.
Here are located the extensive repair, machine and
car shops, engine houses, cattle yards and other
industries connected with the above railroad. The
necessary ground occupied for the transaction,
transfer and other purposes of the company's im
mense business at this place covers many acres;
1,500 men are employed, under competent super
intendents and skilled foremen.
The stock yards here are next in importance to
those of Chicago and Buffalo, and in former years the
transaction in live stock was even more extensive.
The business was originally commenced as early
as 1847, by Wm. Wolford and Gallup, on Wash
ington avenue, afterward at the old ' ' Bull's Head, "
on the Troy road, and then transferred to what is
now the end of Central avenue by Hunter and Gal
lup. About i860 the business was removed to its
present location in West Albany, where large sheds
and commodious buildings were erected, with
other accommodations for feeding, transfer and
shipment of stock.
For several years Allerton, Dutcher & Moore were
proprietors of the cattle yards, and in November,
1868, Eastman Brothers became proprietors, and
have continued to the present. They purchase
500,000 tons of hay for feeding the stock for one
year. A large brick hotel, conducted by John Wil
liamson, is located in the immediate vicinity of the
yards, which furnishes accommodations for buyers
and sellers.
The post-office was established, September, 1862,
by the appointment of Joseph Mather postmaster.
The present postmaster is George W. Gibbons.
The business transacted here has materially
fallen off for the past few years, which is attributed
to the shipment of slaughtered beef, in refrigerator
cars, to all the great cities, as well as live stock to
foreign markets. The receipts of hogs and sheep
do not show much change. The following table
gives some important figures, which are obtained
from reliable sources, and gives the number of
car loads for the years designated :

Year.

Car Loads
Cattle.

Car Loads
Sheep.

Car Loads
Hogs.

Car Loads
Horses.

1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 
1883 
1884 

28,2383L48434,7l8 33. 45 2
24,20820,847 17,444

10, 262
9.923
16,31210,057 9-497
10,718 9,925

4,894 5,449
5,234 5,1536,1726,595
10,891

627
949
1,058 906 788
717851

The following gives the number of live animals:

Year.

ISSO
1881188218831884

Car Loads
Cattle.

525,228
568,2254",536
375,200299, 760

Car Loads
Sheep.

1,089,8001,608,120
1,324,5301,690,650 1,207,975

Car Loads
Hogs.

992,309 979.070
1,110,960 961,300
1,999,070

Car Loads
Horses.

15,18411,77810,244 8,808
13.158

For the week ending December 31, 1884, there
was received: Cattle, carloads, 3,910; sheep, car
loads, 12,760; hogs, car loads, 25,500; horses, 80.
MANUFACTURES, MILLS AND OTHER
INDUSTRIES.
Grist and saw-mills were erected on the small
streams at an early date. These creeks furnished a
limited warer power, which served the people in
their needs of lumber, flour and manufacture of
domestic supplies. Remains of these early mills are
in a few localities; others have been erected upon
their ruins, thus have served their purpose, and
now, with the strides of modem progress and in
vention, changes have been wrought, improvements
made, and steam, in a great measure, monopolizes
as a motive power the ancient water wheel.
Caldwell, Frazier & Co. had a factory, and 
Muir clothing works on Mill Creek as early as
1803. The Shakers had a grist and saw-mill
about the same time. The Lansings had a saw
mill on Lisha's Creek. Grist and saw-mills have
been operated for many years on the Schaline or
Town Creek, near where it empties into the Mo
hawk. These are now operated by Taylor
Brothers. A woolen factory, near Watervliet
Center, on the same creek, was formerly con
ducted by the Waterburys. Mills and manufactories
of various kinds were early erected and operated
on the Patroon's Creek, in Tivoli Valley. These
are now within the city boundary. With few ex
ceptions, the mills, manufactories and industries
are confined to the cities and villages.
The works of greatest magnitude now in the
rural portion of the town are the fine brick build
ings erected by Truman G.Younglove in 1866 as a
straw-board paper mill, the lime and cement
kilns and the Lansing grist-mill. These are located
just below the "Cohoes Company's" dam, and
near the Cohoes city line.
The paper mill has all the modern machinery
and first-class fixtures; was operated by the owner
and builder for three years; then passed into the
" Cohoes Straw- Board Company," composed of T.
G. Younglove & Co. (G. H. Stewart and Levi
Dodge), who operated it till April 1, 1883.
The property is now owned by Thomas Bris-
line. When in operation, seven tons of straw
were manufactured into five tons of paper per
day, requiring four tons of coal, and about twenty-
eight men were employed. The monthly pay-roll
amounted to $1,100. The motive power, turbine
wheels, driven by water from the Cohoes Com
pany's Canal.

938

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

The lime and cement works were started in 1869,
by the ' ' Capitol Lime and Cement Company, " com
posed of Truman G.Younglove, George Stewart and
David T. Lamb, of Waterford, and Henry Duns
back, of Crescent, Saratoga County. The kilns
are not used at present. The mill is now operated
for grinding soap-stone and marble. The prop
erty is now owned by Lewis Hoffman.
Here also is located the grist-mill which was
originally owned by Gerret Lansing, and then by
I. D. F. Lansing. Connected with it is the dwell
ing house erected in 1795. The work of greatest
importance at this place is the dam across the
Mohawk, above the falls, which furnishes the
water power for the Cohoes industries.
The "Cohoes Company" was incorporated,
March 28, 1826, with a capital of $250,000, which
was increased, April 26, 1843, to $500,000. The
first trustees of this company were Charles E.
Dudley, Peter Remsen, Francis Olmstead, Stephen
Van Rensselaer, Jr., Canvass White, David Wilkin
son and Henry J. Wycoff. A dam was built
across the river in 1831, which was carried away
in 1832. Another was constructed, and this was
partially destroyed in 1839, and rebuilt the same
year. The company now own the entire water
power from half a mile above to one mile below
the falls, which gives a total descent of 120 feet.
The present stone dam was constructed in 1865,
and is one of the most substantial and costly
structures of the kind in the United States. The
entire length of the dam is 1,443 feet> and with the
head-gate and gate-house, which is of solid stone
and brick masonry, built in 1866, cost $180,000.
The directors at this time were Alfred Wild,
president ; William T. Garner, Charles Van
Benthuysen, David J. Johnson, Samuel W. John
son, William W. Niles, and Truman G. Young-
love, agent. The work was done under the super
vision of the agent. The engineer was William E.
Worden ; assistant, David H. Van Auken ; and
contractor, John Bridgford.
Five canals at different levels are constructed,
and the water is again used from the level of the
State dam. These canals were constructed at
different periods, the first in 1834, three-fourths of a
mile long, with a fall of 18 feet; the second in
1845, one-third of a mile in length and a fall of 25
feet ; the third is half a mile long and 23 feet fall.
This and the previous one are parts of the old Erie
Canal. The fourth and fifth have a fall of 20 feet
each. The entire water power is estimated at
10,000 horse power, and all is not utilized. The
abuttal of this dam on the east is the town of
Waterford. Henry O. Lansing, about 1875, built a
custom grist and saw-mill on the Lisha's Kill,
to be operated by water or steam, containing two
run of stone and a corn- crusher ; frame building.
The Shakers have one of the largest saw mills in
the town. There is not the demand for mills of
this kind that there was formerly. As the forests are
growing less, and timber is becoming scarce and
increasing in value, farmers purchase their lumber
and save their small forests.

CHURCH HISTORY AND SOCIETIES—
WATERVLIET.
In collecting the history of the several church
and religious organizations of Watervliet, the same
conditions exist that prevailed with early organiza
tions throughout the county. For many years the
Reformed Dutch Church was the only organized
religious body. The first pastor was Rev. Johan
nes Megapolensis, who came to Albany in 1642.
The services were conducted in the Holland lan
guage for 140 years, and for seventy- five years this
was the religion of this colony. At this time, 1 7 1 6,
the first Episcopal church west of the Hudson was
opened for worship, and the Presbyterian church in
1761 or 1762, and it is well to know upon what
authority the people were guaranteed the right of
worship. Here is the foundation stone, contained
in the "New York Charter of Liberties," upon
which is built the fundamental principle of our
government, and which should be sacredly held as
a divine legacy :
"No person professing faith in God by Jesus
Christ shall at any time be in any ways disquieted
or questioned for any difference of opinion. " The
company was bound to give them local govern
ment; officers were to be appointed by the directors
and council, and were invested with the religious
privileges, as the following extract: "No other
religion was to be publicly tolerated, save that
taught and exercised by trie authority of the Re
formed Church in the United Provinces." This pro
vision was imperfectly complied with, yet in 1 639
' ' the Bible was declared to be the Constitution "
by the government of the colony of New Haven.
Then membership in the churches was largely under
the control of the ministers, and civil and religious
obedience was exacted from all. The Holland
and English colonists had contended for relig
ious liberty and vested rights, and they thought
these could be best preserved by the protection of
freedom in religious liberty and a conservative
government which would secure equal political
rights, to be adjusted by the people. To the early
principles taught by these true men, in a spirit of
intensified conscience that were destined to perform
an important part in the civilization of this new
world, are we largely indebted for this spirit of
freedom and action, which is an inheritance to be
preserved for all time as priceless.
It may be well to ascertain what were some of
the causes that operated against the early forma
tion of church societies disconnected and remote
from those at Albany.
First, the country was slow of settlement and
families were widely separated. Secondly, the
wealth of these pioneers consisted in their poverty,
hardships, self-denial, and in their rude cabins.
Thirdly, the disturbed and unsettled condition of
their surroundings rendered life and property un
safe, subject at any time to the attack of their cruel
and savage enemies, the Indians.
As settlement advanced in the manor, material
progress followed. This gave encouragement for re
newed effort in the direction of religious privileges,

THE TOWNSHIP OF WATERVLIET.

939

which had in a great measure been denied them.
As their means were yet limited, they collected or
gathered in small bands at the most central house
of a neighbor for private worship, and thus extended
their religious views and influence among their im
mediate neighbors, and formed a nucleus for
future growth. The first organized church or
society beyond the city seems to have been in the
town of Berne, about the year 1763, and one in
Niskayuna, about the same time, both Reformed
Dutch churches. The exact date of the organiza
tion of these churches with some others, is uncer
tain, as the records have been lost, and tradition is
not always reliable. From this time no further
efforts were made for the establishment of church
organizations until after hostilities ceased and
peace followed the war for independence, which at
once opened the way for religious liberty and
freedom to all classes and creeds.
It was from the Holland ancestors, who had fled
from enforced cruelty and persecution, that these
great principles of human liberty and conservative
religious freedom were inherited ; yet we should not
forget that spirit and system of moral development
which was brought and fostered by the English,
and particularly those who came from New Eng
land, who had also been tried by the same severe
test of persecution, and which serves as a balance
to preserve the forces which exalt religious freedom
and energies, the rights of justice to the common
interests of humanity. Moral progress and relig
ious development which was now influenced by the
revival or introduction of new elements, by the
free expression of ideas and newspaper exhibits of
intelligent views, brought a conflict of opinions and
religious convictions that opened a spirit of discus
sion, and introduced practices somewhat unex
pected in their results. Yet the test of vital piety
and truth of 'the doctrines were practically sus
tained, and Calvanism maintained a place among
the churches ; for at that time the Calvanistic faith
and doctrines were attacked by other orthodox fol
lowers. The lessons taught from this controversy were
not without their powerful influence upon the re
vival of a purer Christianity, and the spirit of intol
erance was in a measure swept away for the more
charitable one of brotherly love.
The organization of Reformed churches in Water
vliet was previous to its formation as a township;
other denominations in time followed, and now
there are three Reformed, three Methodist Episcopal,
Presbyterian, one Roman Catholic. The churches
of West Troy and Green Island are not included in
the history of the rural district of Watervliet. The
Boght Reformed (Dutch) Church is located in the
northeast part of the town, above the Falls, and
northwest of Cohoes, in the bend or elbow of the
Mohawk River, boght being the Dutch for bend.
For many years the nearest church was at Albany ;
but they had worship among themselves, and a
building was erected for occasional worship at an
early period. There is no record of the first house
of worship that was standing when the church was
organized.

A petition, signed by forty-two persons, was pre
sented to the Classis of Albany, February 22, 1784,
and the first record of organization is April 14,
1784. From the relation afterward sustained be
tween this church and the one at Niskayuna, it is
evident that the Boght Church is to be regarded as
the offspring of the Niskayuna congregation. As
the Niskayuna Church was originally in Water
vliet, some mention of it must form part of the
history of this township. The precise date of its
organization cannot be determined, as the facts
and records, for the most part, have been lost. It
appears, however, from the best sources of infor
mation to be obtained, that it was as early as 1 760.
After the organization of the church at the Boght,
these two congregations were under one pastorate.
The Rev. E. Westerlo, of Albany, for some time
had the supervision of this church. The first
pastor was the Rev. John Demarest, who began
his ministry in 1 790, taking charge of the Boght
church in connection with the church of Niskay
una. He preached in the Dutch language, and
records during his ministry are written in Dutch.
He closed his ministry in 1803, and the union of
the church of Niskayuna with the church of the
Boght ceased at this time. In 1 805 Rev. Dr. John
Bassett was called, and continued pastor until the
spring of 181 1. During Dr. Bassett's pastorate
services began to be in the English language, and
stoves were introduced.
In 1806 the erection of a new church building
was proposed, and Abram Witbeck, Douw H.
Fonda and Dirk Clute were appointed a commit
tee, and, after some discussion, the church was
erected in 1807. The building was 40 x 50 feet,
located on a pleasant spot, with a pine grove near
it, on the road which is now the western limit of
the city of Cohoes.
Rev. Robert Bronk became pastor in 18 14, and
also ministered to the church of Washington and
Gibbonsville. He resigned his charge in 1823,
having been pastor nine years.
June 28, 1824, a call was given to Rev. John B.
Steele, and in February, 1833, he was dismissed,
having been pastor nine years.
In 1825 it was ordered that D. A. Fonda and
Martin Van Olinda conduct the singing, and that
the precentors should stand before the pulpit
Rev. Cornelius Bogardus was called as pastor,
July 6, 1833, and he remained until 1838, about
five years.
Rev. William Pitcher was called, January 13,
1840, and during his ministry it was proposed to
build a new church, and, after full discussion and
several meetings, the present building was erected,
in 1847. This ground had been given for a par
sonage nearly a hundred years previous. The land
on which the parsonage stands was a part of the
old De Haas patent, now known as the Van Den-
berg patent. Eight acres were given to the church,
and the old Patroon of Albany afterward gave
twenty-five acres upon the south side of the Manor
line. That land was sold some years ago. There
are about the present parsonage relics of the
old parsonage which was built a hundred years

940

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ago. When the new church was about to be
erected at the Boght, in 1847, a disagreement
among the members as to the site resulted in the
dismissal of twenty-two, who were organized as the
Church of Rensselaer, and in the same year erected
a church building in the south part of the congre
gation, at Van Vranken's Corners.
Mr. Pitcher's pastorate closed in 1854, after four
teen years of service. Rev. John Dubois was called
in 1857, and continued pastor until 1859.
In i860 Rev. John W. Major became pastor.
He resigned in ill health, 1864, and died soon
afterward. In March, 1864, this church united with the
church of Rensselaer in calling a pastor, and on
the 20th of June Rev. Henry A. Raymond was
called, who continued until 1871, when he re
signed, and the following year the church was
supplied by the Rev. C. P. Evans. The Rev.
George I. Taylor was called, October 29, 1873,
and began his services in the Boght and Rens
selaer churches, January 1, 1874, and is the pres
ent pastor, having served ten years. Anniversary
exercises commemorating the centennial of this
church were held in the afternoon and evening,
April 14, 1884. The church for the occasion was
beautifully decorated with floral designs, an old
Dutch Bible, and on one of the side walls was the
old Dutch motto, "Eendrachl maakt macht," "Unity
makes might.'' The exercises were varied, and
were made doubly interesting by the many minis
ters who contributed their valuable services. The
centennial sermon and discourse were delivered by
the pastor, Rev. George I. Taylor, to whom the
writer is indebted for much of the history of this
church, taken by permission from the author's ser
mon, which was kindly furnished.
The first consistory of the Boght Church was:
Elders, David Fero, Isaac Fonda. Deacons, Abram
A. Fonda, Gerret I. Lansing. The present officers
are: Elders, Jacob L. Van Denbergh, James H.
Van Vranken, Benjamin Reamer. Deacons, Jesse
A. Fonda, Nicholas I. Clute, Henry W. Fellows.
The names of those who constituted the original
church are appended, as showing who were resi
dents of this neighborhood at that time: Francis
Lansing, Gerrit, Evart, Mans, Wynant, Peter,
Petras, Cornelius C, Cornelius 3d and Nicholas
C. Van Denbergh, Gerrit Wendell, Luycas Wit
beck, Jacob Van Olinda, Johannes Lansing, Rut
gers Lansing, Johannes Clute, Isaac Fonda, Isaac
H. Fonda, Timothy Hutton, Henry Fero, Chris
tian Fero, David Fero, Jacob I. Lansing, Dirck
Heemstraat, Charles Heemstraat, Isaac Onder-
kerk, Andrew Onderkerk, Johannes Fonda, Gerrit
Clute, Isaac J. Fonda, Francis Cramer, Hendrick
Wendell, Abram A. Fonda, Noah Gillet, Gerrit I.
Lansing, Abraham H. Lansing, Jacob Lansing,
Dirck Clute, Hendrick Fonda, Jacob D. Fonda,
Abraham L. Witbeck, Abraham Onderkerk.
Ministers — Revs. John Demarest, 1790 to 1805;
John Bassett, D. D., 1805-11; Robert Bronk,
1814-23; John B. Steele, 1824-33; Cornelius Bo
gardus, 1833-38; William Pitcher, 1840-54; John
Dubois, 1854-59; John W. Major, 1860-64;

Henry A. Raymond, 1864-71; George I. Taylor,
1874, present pastor, who reports 24 families, 35
members, 55 Sunday-school scholars, 6 teachers;
contributions for the past year, $500.
The first officers of the Rensselaer Church were:
Elders— Martin Van Olinda, E. J. Lansing, A. W.
Van Denbergh. Deacons— Obadiah Van Denbergh,
Nicholas V. V. Van Denbergh, Henry Van Al-
stine. Present elder, Jacob Osterhout. This con
gregation is composed of 12 families, the same
number of communicants; Sunday-school scholars,
40; teachers, 7; contributions $500.
The Reformed Church of Lisha's Kill has no
long history. The people of this neighborhood at
tended the old Niskayuna Church for Sabbath ser
vices until the second year of Rev. Goyn Tal-
mage's ministry, 1852. At that time the church
building at Niskayuna needed extensive repairs,
and the ways and means were discussed, in which
the people of Lisha's Kill did not give assent, but
concluded to establish a church for their better ac
commodation at Lisha's Kill. This view was en
couraged by Rev. Mr. Talmage and other leading
men who moved in its favor. Application was
made to the Classis of Schenectady by forty-eight
members of the church of Niskayuna to be organ
ized into a Reformed Dutch Church of Lisha's
Kill. This application was made November 16,
1852, and was granted. The meeting for the or
ganization was held in the upper school-house, dis
trict No. 8, ^Watervliet, December 5, 1852, at
which time the organization was effected and the
following persons were elected and ordained the
consistory: Elders — Abraham V. P. Lansing and
Jeremiah B. Ketchum; Deacons — Joseph Consaul
and Cornelius Lansing. The church membership
at this time consisted of forty-nine members. The
next year, 1853, a church building of brick was
erected, and dedicated March 30, 1854. In 1859
the parsonage was built, and in 1868 fifteen feet
were added in length, and six feet additional for
the pulpit recess; the whole interior was remodeled
and refurnished, and dedicated March 18, 1869.
The pastors have been Rev. Goyn Talmage as a
supply. Rev. Cornelius L. Wells was called in the
summer of 1855, and after serving the church
faithfully for two and a half years resigned in the
spring of 1858. Rev. John A. DeBaun succeeded
Mr. Wells in October, 1858, and continued pastor
of this church and Niskayuna for 1 4 years; resigned
his charge to accept a call from the church of
Fonda. The present pastor, Rev. Edward A. McCullum,
was called to succeed Mr. DeBaun in 1883. The
pastor reports 92 families, 154 communicants, 210
Sunday school scholars, 22 teachers, C. A. Lans
ing, superintendent. Total amount contributed for
church purposes, $1,200. The church edifice is
brick, with basement, has parsonage, and sheds for
teams, will seat 300, and estimated value, $8,000.
The present officers, 1884, are: Elders— Charles
Stanford, Cornelius A. Lansing, Abram G. Lans
ing, Simeon Fairlee. Deacons — George Stanford,
Andrew Keenholtz, Jacob Spoore and Henry
Lansing.

THE TOWNSHIP OF WATERVLIET.

941

The above history of Lisha's Kill Reformed
Church is largely compiled from an historical ser
mon by the Rev. John A. DeBaun, D. D. , written
in 1876, and kindly loaned by Daniel D. Ostrom,
to whom thanks are due.
In the year 1859-60 John M. Newton, an en
terprising citizen and resident of Newtonville, do
nated a lot of land, upon which was erected a
church building of brick, for the use of a Baptist
society. R. M. Pease was engaged in missionary
efforts here, which was the origin of the Baptist or
ganization. Other ministers who served as pastors
of this congregation were Rev. John Reynolds,
Rev. Dr. B. T. Welch, who died here, and his re-
. mains are in Albany Rural Cemetery, and Rev.
William Arthur, father of Chester A. Arthur, late
President of the United States. The society has
been abandoned since 1869, and the property
passed from the society by sale.
Other religious societies in the town are a Con
gregational Church, on the Shaker road, also a
Methodist Church, on the Albany and Schenectady
turnpike, south of Lisha's Kill, a Presbyterian
Church and society on the same road, north of
West Albany, and a Roman Catholic Church, at
West Albany, erected in 1884.
The first records of the Congregational Society
and Church of Watervliet, are dated in May,
1859, and the trustees were: Van Buren Lockrow,
President; John Frost, Peter Steers, James Cramer,
Daniel P. Sigourney and Henry Woolley, Secre
tary, Rev. James G. Cordell, Pastor. The church
building was burned on the night of May 25, 1865.
It was rebuilt the same year, and on December 20,
at a meeting held in the school-room of the church,
a motion was made by William Grounds and
seconded by Norman Dings, "that the society
assume the name of the Presbyterian Society of
Pine Grove," while was unanimously carried.
February 5, 1867, this church and congregation
were accepted by the Presbytery of Albany, and
named the "Pine Grove Presbyterian Church of
Watervliet," and March 29, it was organized as
such by the Rev. Wm. H. Carr, who served for
some time as pastor; the elders were Van Buren
Lockrow and Daniel P. Sigourney. There was no
regular pastor after Mr. Carr's services ended, and
the pulpit was supplied by transient preachers
until, in 1878, Rev. Robert Ennis was appointed
stated supply and continued his services for about
three years, or until 1880; after this no regular
preaching until January, 1885, when Rev.
Josiah Markle assumed charge and is now pastor.
The society report 30 families, 23 members, with
a sabbath school of 35 pupils. The church
edifice is a frame building, and will seat 200.
Present trustees J. T. Worth, Lewis Knapp, John
Frost. A union Sabbath-school is maintained at
Loudonville, and a mission school at Menand's.
The cemeteries and grave yards, or old burial
grounds, are numerous through the township. In
the early settlement a custom prevailed in which
each land holder reserved or appropriated a portion
of his farm for family burial purposes, and the free

interment of those who were destitute of enough
of earth for their last resting place. Often the
church lot was a grave yard. At the present time
many of these once hallowed grounds have fallen
into' disuse, and neglect marks the spot where
molder the dust of forgotten ancestry.
With the progress that marks this age of human
plans, there is a higher estimate given to this matter
of the final resting place for the dead, and now a
better and more enduring system is adopted, by
corporations or associations organized in accord
ance with statute laws, for the purchase and perpe
tual maintainance of cemeteries, these to be sacred
ly used and carefully guarded, forever, for the burial
of the human race.
The most important incorporated cemetery
grounds located in this town are: the Albany
Rural Cemetery, the St. Agnes, and the Anshe
Emeth, which are north of Albany City about three
miles, on the line of the Watervleit Turnpike and
Horse Railway, and Delaware and Hudson Canal
Companies Railroad. For a full notice of these
cemeteries, see history of Albany City. The Evan-
gelican Lutheran Church has a cemetery on the
Sand Creek road (this is now within the city line),
and St. Patrick's Catholic Church has one on the
Albany and Sthenctady Turnpike.
The Shakers have a cemetery, in which none
but members of their society are interred. In this
plain and unadorned inclosure, Mother Ann Lee
was buried.
The Home for Aged Men — The ladies who con
ceived this charity, and who were instrumental in
pressing its claims upon the attention of the public,
were : Mrs. Elizabeth McClure, Mrs. William B.
Gourlay and Mrs. Cornelius Ten Broeck; and
through the persistent personal efforts of William
Sawyer and other friends, who became interested
in the benevolent project, the founding of this
institution was accomplished. This is one of the
fruits of Christianity ; for no home for the aged,
for orphans, no hospital for the poor was ever seen
in any but in a Christian nation. After sufficient
interest was manifested, a public meeting was held
in its behalf in November, 1874, in the Second
Presbyterian Church, and an eloquent sermon, ap
propriate to the occasion, was preached by Rev.
Ebenezer Halley, D. D., to a large and interested
audience. At the conclusion of the exercises it
was announced that at a previous meeting an orga
nization had been effected and officers elected.
Subscriptions continued to be solicited and made
in aid of the charity, which gave assurance that
success would finally crown these patient exertions.
During the autumn of 1876, subscriptions
amounted to about $18,000, and on the fifth day
of October, 1876, the articles of incorporation
were effected, and the society duly and legally
organized, with name and object as follows: "We,
the undersigned residents of the County of Albany,
do hereby associate ourselves together for the pur
pose of forming a benevolent and charitable society,
the name of which society shall be, ' The Home for
Aged Men,' and its particular object shall be the
relief, care, culture and support of needy or dis-

942

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

tressed old men and their wives, of the said County
of Albany."
The following gentlemen were named trustees in
the certificate of incorporation: Messrs. John
Taylor Cooper, Maurice E. Viele, William Sawyer,
S. Visscher Talcott, Dudley Olcott, Ebenezer
Halley, William M. Van Antwerp, Benjamin W.
Arnold, James H. McClure, James B. Jermain,
Jeremiah Waterman and David A. Thompson.
Upon the organization of the board of trustees,
John Taylor Cooper was elected President, James
B. Jermain and Jeremiah Waterman, Vice-Presi
dents, Dudley Olcott, Treasurer, and David A.
Thompson, Secretary.
On the 1 6th of November, 1876, the trustees
purchased the residence and grounds of Mrs.
Harriet Day Perry, situated between the Water
vliet turnpike and railway on the east, and the
Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad on the west, a
short distance south 'of Menand's road. The
distance from the north city line is less than two
miles, and is reached by the horse or steam cars.
The price paid for the dwelling and about four
acres of land was $11,000, and the total cost of
the alterations, additions and necessary improve
ments amount to $20,000. »
The location is high and commanding, with an
extensive view up and down the Hudson River, and
over a large tract of beautifully diversified country.
The original buildings were of antique structure,
with high rooms and high ceilings, which gave evi
dence of comfort and repose. The old mansion —
built in 1 78 1 — has been remodeled to correspond
to modern architecture and meet the design of its
purposes in all its appointments. The grounds
were graded and tastefully arranged; a clean, at
tractive lawn surrounds the buildings.
The " Home " was dedicated March 28, 1878,
and has accommodations for thirty persons.
"The object of the Home is to provide for respect
able men, who at an advanced age are left helpless
and alone in the world, and whose poverty is due
to misfortune rather than to idleness or vice."
Every applicant must furnish satisfactory testimo
nials of good character, and must implicitly obey all
the rules and regulations of the society or
trustees. The associate officers of the patronesses of the
Home are : Mrs. Howard Townsend, President ;
Mrs. William Barnes, Vice-President ; Miss Mary
G. Rice, Treasurer ; Miss Susan Dunlap, Matron
in charge.
EDUCATION. —SCHOOLS.
In the early settlement of this township, difficul
ties, almost insurmountable, operated for many
years to retard every effort for the advancement of
popular education. The facilities were only within
reach of the few, and these were not eager to avail
themselves of the private means that were required
for other and more immediate purposes. The want
of means and opportunity were the great obstacles
these people had to contend with in their mental
and spiritual training ; being distant from the cen

ters of social and intellectual culture, they were
dependent upon local and simple expedients for first
principles in elementary education. These were
improved as best they could, and in time their
means were concentrated and pupils were collected
in private schools ; these were imperfectly organ
ized, and not until after the revolution did the
schools assume much importance, when State
authority gave them aid and encouragement, and
they were incorporated in a system that has really
educated the children of the State. The effect of
this change is to insure to all the advantages of a
common education, and a free discussion of ques
tions that concern a higher education ; and at the
present time, a knowledge of the elements of gen
eral science and the laws of mechanics and indus
trial art, and the philosophy of natural sciences in
their relation to the laws under which we live, and
which concern the immediate welfare and useful
ness of every individual.
The great design of popular education should be
to develop and train the faculties for the useful
pursuits of life, in connection with mental culture,
for the scientific investigation and study of sciences
and philosophy, practical mechanics, and manual
industries for the development of human skill.
Are sudden and novel changes of method or sys
tem always attended with success ? Do the im
proved educational systems give better results for
the full comprehension of important discoveries that
will enable the pupil to appreciate theories as
truths that contain real wisdom ? Systems of
moral and mental progress, theories of religious
revelations and political traditions are problems
yet to pass the ordeal of modern science and re
vealed truth.
At the time Watervliet was formed as a town
ship, the schools had no system or organization,
and were conducted by private or individual enter
prise. It is evident that results from this imperfect
method could not be of a high order, as only the
more favored children could enjoy the benefits
derived from the limited means offered.
There seems to have been very little interest
manifested in the education of the children in the
rural districts, until 1795, when the State gave
Albany County ^"1,590, equal to $3,975, for school
purposes, of which the townships then organized
received their proportion. This was the first step
toward our free school system, which has developed
to such magnificent results, and grand practical
returns have followed the wise legislation of the
State in securing popular education to the masses.
In September, 18 13, Watervliet divided the
township into 12 school districts, giving each a
certain number of families, and the only geographic
boundary was the division line of the farms owned
by occupants mentioned, and this condition exists
with many of the districts at the present time.
It is well to note the marked difference in the
schools of the rural districts, and contrast their
inefficiency with those of the city. Graded systems
and methods can only be taught successfully and
with the best results by teachers who introduce a
system, and by personal supervision through a

THE TOWNSHIP OF WATERVLIET.

943

continuous term of several years, thus introducing
an arrangement or specific plan of instruction,
that can be followed from grade to grade and class
to class, without breaking the order or introducing
new or widely different methods.
If the schools in the rural districts have a lower
standard of efficiency or usefulness than the city
district schools, the fault can be attributed in a
great measure to the mistakes of trustees, who
from economy, custom or some petty cause change
teachers at every term, thereby retarding progress
in studies and losing time in reorganizing. This
constant change demoralizes the school for many
weeks of the term, and in the end the teacher is
pronounced a failure, and the pupils have made

very little progress, for nothing is learned of value
by continuous changes.
Watervliet at present is divided into 27 districts,
and during the school year which closed August
20, 1884, fifty-nine teachers were employed in
these schools.
A table is given of the condition of these schools
for the above school year, which shows a marked
contrast for the past and present.
The number of school districts September 30,
1869, was 28, employing 59 teachers. Number
of children of school age, 14,076; number attend
ing school, 7,400; amount expended for school
purposes, $67,292.03. This, perhaps, includes
schools of Cohoes.

No. of
District.

Persons
of School
Age.

Number
Attended School.

Valuation of District.

Amount of Receipts.

Amount Paid
Teachers.

Paid
Teacher for
Winter Term.

Paid
Teacher for
Summer Term.

1
2
34 5
6 7
8 9
10n1213141516171819
2021 2223242526 27

i,"51,032 22275f68
48 54
i,3«7 77
*& 816134
200 39
109 54
230843 80
277
1,283 7684
8340

496 16
14
3542 22 16
210 4088483f 28
9534 72
45
154
500 6262
898 53
44 6423

$1,155,400 697,666 162,361 198,249
223,502 160,672
204,700
430,000 228,742
374,296 129,250
128,850
215,900384,358247,574 108,497 185,500
996,897
1,047,015 76,860
1,726,5141,738,640 107,603 112,740197,853 »3,"7

.$5,118 69
4.59s 29
486 77
439 54
386 56
290 17
266 53
i,555 65
345 40
1,186 06
297 00
430 93
259 89
1,467 34
300 09
377 87
433 50
2,180 66
4,o85 °7
546 43
754 80
10,562 94
45o 77
466 66
460 11
1,004 03

$3,085 31
2,585 00
340 80
296 20
286 80
241 60
237 00
1,100 00
286 50
840 00
240 66
264 00
206 25
897 9°
240 00
306 00
278 50
1,215 00
2,250 05
321 00
485 9°
6,560 10
255 00
288 00
335 00
309 76

$14 00
10 00
8 00
10 00
9 00
12 00
10 00
6 00
10 00
8 00
8 50
7 00
33 75
10 00
12 50
12 50
9 00
8 00

$14 00
9 00
"800 8 00
8 00
12 00
8 50
4 00
7 00
7 00
8 50
9 00
33 75
7 00
12 50
15 5°
6 00
6 00

Totals,

7,651

$3,755

89,848,757

$38,726 75

$23,743 23

SOLDIERS.
During the Revolutionary war, soldiers and
munitions were transported along the London
road from Albany to Saratoga. No battles were
fought on the soil of the Vlakte, yet Morgan's men
encamped for the winter in the northeast part of the
town, and his men quartered on the farmers in the
vicinity of the Boght. Here the Indians and
Tories held council and plotted mischief against
their neighbors, and gave aid to the British. The
deeds and service rendered by Gen. Schuyler, and
the active part which he so patriotically performed
in the struggle of the colony for liberty, will be
found in the County history and in the history of
West Troy.
Henry Ostrom, who settled on the Capron farm,
was a captain of militia. Served under Gen. Van

Rensselaer in the Mohawk valley, about the time
of Burgoyne's surrender. Jacob and Gerret Lan
sing were soldiers in this war that gave us inde
pendence from the rule of Great Britain.
In the war of 181 2, Watervliet furnished a large
quota of volunteers and drafted men, among whom
were Henry Runkle, Frederick Roff,* John G.
Lansing, John Van Aernum, Lansing Fonda, John
Cory, David Turner, Jacob Lewis, William Camp
bell, Jacob Turner, John Steenbergh and brother,
Timothy Hodgeman, Stephen Culver, Jeremiah
and Gerret Clute, Wynant Van Denbergh. The
following entry is copied from records in the Town
Clerk's office: "Andrew Chad wick enlisted as a
soldier, September, 18 12, and died on the 13 th of
*Since the above was written, Peter Shaver, of Guilderland, has died,
aged 90 years. He was drafted at the same time with Frederick Rolf,
and assigned to the same com pan y.

944

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

December, 1812, in the service at Champlain.
Benjamin Burdsall, Captain United States Volun
teers." Frederick Roff, now 90 years old, in good
health and memory, yet deprived of eyesight and
partially deaf, was drafted and sent to Long Island
in 1 8 14. Peace was declared soon after, and he
returned to his home after three months' absence.
He served under Captain Van Wie, of Bethlehem.
Mr. Roff receives a pension, and is the only living
soldier of the war of 1 8 1 2 the author met in the
five townships visited by him.
In the war of the Rebellion, Watervliet furnished
her quota of officers and volunteers, and the record
bears a favorable comparison with that of other
townships of the county. The first act of hostility
roused the loyalty and patriotism of the people to
prompt action, and the zeal and devotion for the
preservation of their country as a free and united
nation awoke within their hearts the spirit of self-
denial, and the loyal youth and mature manhood
were ready to enlist; to exchange the comforts of
home for the tented field and ensanguined battle
ground; to give their lives, if needs be, for the
safety of that freedom bought aforetime with the
blood and treasure of their ancestors.
The patriotism so nobly manifested at the out
break of this war was at no time allowed to cool,
although many reverses and sad experiences fell to
the lot of some. Those who lived to return from
this horrible war proved themselves worthy of the
cause — deserve lasting gratitude and generous re
membrance for all time for their faithful services
and sacrifices.
It were well if these officers and soldiers had a
carefully prepared record in the archives of the
township for future reference and inspection by
those who, in after years, could learn the names and
deeds, fate and sufferings of those who will soon be
forgotten. There seems to have been a degree of
indifference in this matter by the authorities, as the
Legislature of 1865 enacted a law for this very
purpose. At the present time such a record would
be difficult to compile or obtain, yet the work
should be attempted in some satisfactory way.*
CORPORATIONS, ASSOCIATIONS, RAIL
ROADS, TURNPIKES, ETC.
Surprising changes followed the declaration
which secured independence to a people who had
long been under the rule of colonial taxation, and
burdens that operated with severity against free
dom of enterprise; these removed, men were ready
to extend the bounds of settlement, and open new
fields of enterprise, manufactures and trade. Men
of means saw the necessity of greater facility of
transportation of goods and crops, and set to work
to obtain them.
To obtain this, in 1792 the "Northern Inland
Lock and Navigation Company " was chartered, by
which goods and merchandise were forwarded
from the central part of the State and Lake On-
* The original returns of the census of 1865, preserved in the New
York State Library, contain (nominally, at least) lists of soldiers fur
nished by each town in the State for this war.

tario by way of the Mohawk River to Schenectady,
and thence to Albany by wagon. From here
merchandise was sent to New York by river craft.
A road to communicate with Cherry Valley, Utica
and Rome had been in use for many years, and in
1798 an act was passed to establish a "Turnpike
Corporation " for improving the State road. This
act was afterward repealed, and March 15, i799>
an act was passed to establish a ' ' Turnpike Cor
poration " for improving the State road from the
house of John Weaver in Watervliet to Cherry
Valley. The capital was two hundred shares at
ten dollars each. This was the western turnpike.
The incorporators were William North, John
Taylor, Abram Ten Eyck, Charles R. Webster,
Calvin Cheeseman, Zenas Penio, Ephraim Hudson,
Joseph White, Elihu Phinney, Thomas Machin.
December 21, 1801, a bill was prepared and pre
sented to the Legislature with this preface: Whereas,
Goldbrow Bangor, Abraham Ten Broeck, Abraham
Ten Eyck and others have entered into an association
to form a company for making a turnpike road be
tween the cities of Albany and Schenectady, March
30, 1 802 , etc. A bill was passed constituting John
Lansing, Jr., Stephen Van Rensselaer, Stephen
Lush, Dudley Walsh, Garret W. Van Schaick,
Daniel Hall, John Tayler, Abraham Oadthout
and Joseph C. Yeates, a body corporate and
politic, by the name of " The President, Directors
and Company of Albany and Schenectady Turn
pike." The above incorporators were the first
directors, with John Lansing, Jr., President;
Barent Bleecker, Secretary and Treasurer; Garret
Clute, Surveyor; the capital stock was $200,000;
length of road, sixteen miles, commencing on
Lodge street, up State to Washington street, and
thence to Schenectady, in a straight line; the
width of the road, four rods; roadbed, two rods
wide, filled with stone, covered with sand or
gravel; the ditches to be made wide enough for
sleighs. This new road was not to interfere with
the old State road between these two cities. Dur
ing the construction of this road, $118,610 was ex-
expended, or about $8,472 per mile, and at its
completion was considered the best road in the
country. The increased travel with heavy loads soon
made an impression into the yielding material, and
the company then made a roadbed of cobble stone
brought from the Mohawk River, which was cov
ered with gravel and held from spreading by stone
curbing, and a thick flag stone was put on the
roadbed for the wheels to run upon. This has
proved of great utility, and the improvement cost
the company $61,810, or about $4,415 per mile.
In 1803 the company commenced planting
ten thousand Lombardy poplars along the sides of
this road; only a few remain.
The construction of this road, as an internal or
public improvement, was at the time one of great
magnitude, and for many years was a financial suc
cess to the company; but upon the completion of
the Erie Canal, that water-way at once secured
the bulk of merchandise and produce for trans
portation, and the wagon road lost its source of its

THE TOWNSHIP OF WATERVLIET.

945

income; then followed, a few years after, the construc
tion of the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad, which
reduced the turnpike road to accept what travel it
could command between the cities, from farmers,
business men and local traffic. The boundary
of the City of Albany has absorbed several miles of
this road, and at Albany it now commences at the
terminus of Central avenue.
In 1803 there was upon the line of this road, be
tween the two cities, twenty-eight taverns or inns;
among these were those of Vroman, Lansing, Winne,
Billsen, Truax, De Camp and C. Stanford. The
present directors and officers are Norman Dings,
President; Stephen Kimball, David I. Boyd, Joseph
W. Russell, Peter E. Sanders, Charles Sanders,
Abram Van Vechten, John D. P. Douw and
Hamilton B. Brown, Secretaries and Treasurers, to
whom the writer is indebted for much valuable in
formation. An act for establishing a turnpike road from oppo
site the village of Troy to the City of Schenectady,
passed April 2, 1802: "Be it enacted that
George Tibbits, Ephraim Morgan and Abraham
Oothout and their associates are hereby constituted
a body corporate and politic, by the name of
' The Troy and Schenectady Turnpike Company. '
Capital, 350 shares of $50 each. The roadway to
be four rods wide; the roadbed to be 25 feet wide
and made of gravel or other hard substance, and
the ditches on the sides, where practicable, to be
of proper width for a good road for sleighs. " The
conditions of this road were similar to those of the
above, the Erie Canal and railroads taking traffic
and travel.
An act to incorporate the Watervliet Turnpike
Company, passed March 31, 1828: Thomas Hill
house, Jeremiah Schuyler and Robert Dunlap, and
their associates, to make a good and permanent
turnpike road from the north boundary line of the
City of Albany to the upper ferry opposite the City
of Troy, by the corporate name of "The Water
vliet Turnpike Company." The stock of said
company shall consist of nine hundred shares, of
one hundred dollars per share, and Robert Dun
lap, Jeremiah Schuyler and Nathan Dauchy are
hereby appointed to receive subscriptions for said
stock. The roadway to be four rods wide, and 33 feet
of this width shali be excavated at least 24 inches
deep, this to be filled with hard gravel 12 inches
deep, then a bed of solid stone-work upon the
gravel 1 2 inches deep, this to be filled in and cov
ered over with pounded stone to form a smooth
surface. The arch of the roadbed to be raised 8
inches, and the sides to be well secured by a solid
curbstone not less than 14 inches in breadth, set
on edge, and sunk into the ground at least 7
inches. For many years this was the great thor
oughfare for pleasure drives.
An act to authorize the Watervliet Turnpike
Company to construct and maintain a railroad on
their present road, and to extend the same into and
through the villages of West Troy and Cohoes,
and the town of Watervliet and the City of Albany,
and to increase the capital stock, and to alter the
corporate name of said company to the "Water

vliet Turnpike and Railroad Company," was passed
April, 1862, and cars began running the next
year. This road passes through North Albany,
near Menand's and the cemeteries, the fair grounds,
Old Men's Home, Island Park, and other places
of interest. Y. P. Way, treasurer and secretary;
M. C. Foster, superintendent.
The Erie Canal, a portion of which passes
through this town, was opened in 1825, and the
first boat passed through October 26.
An act to incorporate the "Visscher's Ferry
Bridge Company" was passed April 19, 1828, for
30 years.
The first railroad that passed through a portion
of this town was the Mohawk and Hudson, from
Albany to Schenectady, which was begun in Au
gust, 1830, and cars were carrying passengers over
a portion of it in September, 183 1, when the fa
mous excursion was made. The first train over
the whole line was made in May, 1832.
Other railroads that pass through the town are
the Troy and Schenectady, the New York Central,
and the Northern Division of the Delaware and
Hudson Canal Company.
A plank road, commencing on the Watervliet
turnpike and extending through Loudonville to
Newtonville, is kept in good repair. This road,
and the boulevard which branches from it, is large
ly patronized for its fine drives and beautiful rural
scenery, and carries the pleasure seeker past the
mansion of J. K. Emmet (Fritz) and other fine
residences, up to the cemeteries.
Pleasure Island and Park Island, above Albany,
east of the Watervliet turnpike and railway, are
places of resort for entertainment, amusement and
horse trotting.
Pleasure Island is controlled by a corporate
company, with a capital of $65,000. An association
of gentlemen have made Park Island very attrac
tive with improvements and a fine race course.
"Watervliet Mutual Insurance Association''
was organized August 1, i860. The first officers
and Directors were Abram V. P. Lansing, Presi
dent; Abram Pease, Samuel Waterman, Peter Van
Vranken, Vice-Presidents; Harmon V. Strong,
Cornelius Vedder, John P. Capron, Vischer Lan
sing, Daniel D. Ostrom, Secretary and Treasurers.
The present Directors and officers are: Peter Van
Vranken, President; Cornelius A. Lansing, Vice-
President; Abram J. Lansing, Vischer Lansing,
George W. Stanford, John J. Lansing, Garret Fre-
leigh, John J. Spoore and Daniel D. Ostrom,
Secretary and Treasurer. The number of policies
in 1884 was 200, which represented $300,000 of
property insured.
Attention may be turned to records of purely
local events, and to details of the town's individual
importance, for these have in the past decades been
invaded by the spirit of modern progress, both
public and private, and the introduction of steam
to the application of so many of man's necessities,
the railroad, telegraph and telephone, irresistibly
remind the observer of days before these things
were brought into use as adjuncts to material
wealth and personal comfort.

946

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

CO^yiy^

/UM^r^av

irJ^

To-day the shriek of the locomotive whistle has
effectually drowned the cheery blast of the stage
coach horn, once sweet music in the ears of trav
elers passing over the stony roads that traversed the
town 60 years ago; but the order of things has
changed since those days of primitive journeying,
and the numerous inns which provided entertain
ment for the weary traveler and provender for the
jaded horses have disappeared. The uncomforta
ble coach, and the great lumbering wagons with
their four or six horses, are things of the past; the
palace car, with its rich and gaudy furnishings,
comforts and luxuries, the elegant carriages, with
other improved vehicles for ease and pleasure in
traveling, have taken their place, and may now be
enjoyed at a small expense.
The public roads of the town are under the su
pervision of a commissioner "elected by the people,
and he appoints a citizen as path-master for each
road district, who is authorized to keep the same
in repair, to notify all taxable inhabitants of his
district to perform his or her allotted number of
days' service as assessed in the district, or collect
from those who choose to commute a certain
specified sum for each day assessed.
WILLIAM BURTON.
William Burton, son of John and Catharine
Burton, was born in Schenectady, New York,
March 29, 1809. His farther, John Burton, son
of Josiah Burton, was born in the town of Amenia,
Dutchess County, New York, the 14th of Septem

ber, 1764. Subsequently he removed with his
parents to Albany, where, on the 2d of June, 1795,
he married Miss Catharine Eights, eldest daughter
of Abraham Eights, of that city. Abraham Eights
was grandson of William Eights, of Amsterdam,
and Mary Van Dyck, of Rotterdam (Holland),, and
only son of Abraham Eights, a shipmaster of New
York City.
To John and Catharine Burton were born twelve
children, the eighth being the subject of this
sketch. William Burton, in the 14th year of his age,
went to learn the trade of house carpenter and
joiner with the late John Boardman, master build
er, of Albany, in whose family he resided for eight
years. After completing his apprenticeship, he
labored at his trade some years in New York City.
Returning to Albany, he formed a copartnership
with his brother, James Burton, in the manufactur
ing and sale of looking-glasses. In March, 1840,
he was induced to remove to Cohoes, New York.
January 12, 1842, he married Miss Eunice Payn,
daughter of Benjamin Hawley Payn and Sophia
Sill, his wife. Miss Payn was born in Fort Miller,
N. Y., August 19, 1 81 7. In 1826, she came to
Albany with her parents, where she resided until
the date of her marriage. As the fruit of this
marriage there were several children, all of whom
died in infancy except two sons, William E. Burton
and Benjamin P. Burton, both of Waterford, N. Y. ,
and successors to their father's business.
When Mr. Burton came to Cohoes the place
was a mere hamlet with a population of only
1,850. Since there he has been associated with its
enterprising citizens in the development of its man
ufacturing, educational and business interests, and
closely identified with its progress until it has be
come the foremost manufacturing city in the
Empire State, with a population of over 20,000.
One of Mr. Burton's first business ventures was
in company with John M. Tremain, manufacturing
veneers, their establishment being located in the
upper story of what was known as the Wilkinson
Machine Shop. In 1 844, he bought Mr. Tremain's
interest, and also the machinery and fixtures of
Levi Silliman, who had succeeded Hawer &
Baker in the sawing business, thus securing a
monopoly in that branch of manufacture.
The firm of William Burton & Co. was formed,
a sawing and veneering mill erected that year on
Erie street, and for nearly four decades it was prom
inent among the successful establishments of the
city. Besides developing his business, Mr. Burton
added materially to the substantial buildings of
Cohoes. In 1855, he built the fine residence in
Seneca street known as the " Burton House; "
in 1857, he erected the Halcyon Knitting Mill,
now changed to the Ranken Mill, and in 1865, he
built the Erie Knitting Mill, which for many years
was occupied by Moore & Hiller, and subsequently
by Wm. Moore, both ranking among the best in
that line of manufacture.
Mr. Burton was always recognized as a repre
sentative citizen, and although hewas not ambitious

THE TOWNSHIP OF WATERVLIET.

947

for official distinction, L.„ business qualifications
and sterling integrity made his services frequently
in demand in places of trust and responsibility,
and there have been but few intervals during his
residence in Cohoes when he was not in the service
of the public. Commencing as a trustee in the
first Village Board, 1848, he was re-elected in
1849, 1854 and 1859. In the Board of Education
he was a representative in the years 1851 and 1870,
and in the Water Board was a Commissioner for
six years, 1858-1864.
In April, 1851, the Cohoes Savings Institution
was established, with Mr. Burton as one of its in
corporators, and he has since been one of its trus
tees, and has held the position of President since
1878. In 1862, he was chosen director in the
bank (now national) of Cohoes, which position he
still retains. Whatever Mr. Burton has under
taken, whether in the conduct of his private in
terests, or in the gratuitous service of the public,
has been well done, a fact that indicates his ex
cellent executive ability and public spirit, while it
accounts for his being so often chosen to serve his
fellow citizens in important trusts.
As becomes every true citizen, Mr. Burton,
though not what may be termed a politician, has
positive convictions as to a citizen's duty. He has
been an ard^, ->nd honest Republican from the for
mation of the pari :>, and has given its principles
his hearty support. I ie has been frequently solic
ited by his party to accept office, but except in
local affairs, as stated above, he has chosen to pro
mote its welfare by his personal influence.
mr. burton's religious connections.
Early in life he became interested in the study of
the Bible, and in religious themes. In February,
1826, he united with the Second Presbyterian
Church of Albany, then under the charge of its
first pastor, Rev. John Chester, D.D.; subsequently,
on the 2d day of February, 1829, with fifty-four
others, he participated in the organization of the
Fourth Presbyterian Church of Albany, the first
pastor of which was Rev. E. N. Kirk, D. D. ; of
the fifty-five persons comprising the members of
this church at its formation, but one, besides Mr.
Burton, so far as it is now known, survives. In
December, 1 840, he transferred his connection to
the Presbyterian Church of Cohoes, where he is
still a worthy member. In May, 1843, he was
chosen and ordained a ruling Elder in this church,
in which office he has continued till the present
time. As an Elder, he has always been faithful
and efficient, watching the spiritual interests of the
church as one who must give account. He was
Superintendent of the Sabbath School in its earlier
years, and afterward leader of a class in Bible
study. He has also been serving as a trustee in
this church several terms, and has been willing to
fill any responsible position as far as he had ability,
deemino- any service in this direction an honor
rather than a burden or an irksome duty. He
has also in church matters shown a liberal hand,
contributing regularly and largely as occasion
seemed to require and as he has been prospered.

Thus he has made a record in religious matters
which for length and completeness would be a
credit to any citizen. At the present writing, April,
1885, he is living in retirement at his residence on
the Waterford Road, one mile north of Cohoes.
JOHN LUNDERGAN.
This gentleman is markedly a self-made man, and
his success has been a triumph of well-directed
endeavor over adverse circumstances and frowning
fortune. He is a son of William Lundergan, and
was born in Tipperary, Ireland, March 16, 1821.
At the age of five years he came to America with
his father's family, landing at Quebec and locating
at Montreal. When he was eleven years old his
mother died of the cholera which swept the country
in 1832, and soon thereafter his father brought
his family to the State of New York, and the boy
found a home in the family of Mr. James Fisk,
who lived near Albany, and whom he helped about
his farm work. Mr. Fisk soon died, and at the
age of sixteen young Lundergan began to
work out for the farmers round about. He was
employed one year by an Englishman named
¦ Mallons, and the succeding three years by Samuel
Gale. He was frugal almost beyond belief, and suc
ceeded in saving a small sum of money, and in
partnership with another young man who had also
worked for Mr. Gale, he rented a little land and
engaged on a small scale in market gardening for
the Albany trade. Two years later his friend with
drew from the enterprise and Mr. Lundergan con
tinued it another year alone, and at the end of
that time found himself in possession of $150 as
his three years' gains. He was at this juncture
induced to go down the river to a point in West
chester County opposite Yonkers, to enter the
service of a man named Provinst who he supposed
had a country seat there, as overseer of a farm, his
employer not being a practical agriculturist and
being, presumably, engaged in some business in
New York. He met Provinst in New York, and
before they started up the river Provinst persuaded
him to lend him all of his slender savings except
the small amount he had used in coming from
Albany. This sum was the scant reward of many
long days of hard work, work early and late, in
the rain and under the rays of the scorching
sun; it was the young man's all — his hope for
future prosperity rested upon it. It was under
stood that the loan was for only a short time,
and young Lundergan parted with the money
somewhat reluctantly, and chiefly with the idea of
conciliating one to whom he must now look for
employment. Arrived at the farm, he found that it
was worthless and could be productive of no profit,
and soon discovered that it was rented at that,
and that Provinst owed even for the necessary sup
plies and facilities for cultivating it. Several
times he demanded the return of his money, but
its payment was avoided by Provinst upon first one
specious pretext, then another. Finally a New
Yorker who had a mortgage upon all Provinst pos-

948

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

sessed foreclosed it, utterly breaking him up in the
midst of the season. It is needless to add that
young Lundegan never received either his loaned
money or his wages. It was a bitter disappointment
to find himself again penniless after his years of
hard struggle and self-denying frugality.
Returning to Albany, he found employment at
different places and at different kinds of work.
The following year he worked by the month for a
farmer named Edward Tucker, and the two years
following for Peleg Noyes. In 1848, he sought
his fortune in California, where he remained two
years, making the trip out via Cape Horn and re
turning by the Panama route. Fifteen months of
this time he passed in the " diggings," and with
such success that he brought back a limited capital.
In 1850, he leased land for five years, of the Van
Rensselaer tract, and again engaging in market
gardening, succeeded, and was enabled in three
years to purchase of Thomas Hillhouse a part of
his present farm. The next year he bought of
Jacob Gale an addition, on which was a dwelling
house. Later he bought thirty-six acres, the site
of the fair ground for a time. In 1873, he sold it
for use as such, but took it. back on account of
non-payment of purchase money, in 1877.
Mr. Lundergan is a Democrat, but has never
taken any active part in politics, and has never
been an aspirant for any public office. He was
married, in 1855, to Caroline Forster, of West
Troy, and has two sons and two daughters. He
is a quiet, unassuming and unobtrusive, but
valuable citizen, interested in the public welfare
and liberal in his support of education and re
ligion. LATHAM CORNELL.
Latham Cornell was born in Newport, R. I. ,
January 18, 1781, a son of Gideon and Susannah
(Bernett) Cornell. He came of a family noted in
successive generations for robust health, longevity,
great business capacity and success, and was one
of several brothers, all of whom amassed large
fortunes and outlived most of their cotemporaries.
When Mr. Cornell was two years of age, his pa
rents moved to Easton, Washington County, N. Y. ,
where he received a good common school educa
tion and passed the earlier part of his life as a very
successful farmer. He was married, February 4,
1808, to Sarah B. White, who died about 1850.
In 1815, he removed to Lansingburgh, and thence,
after a few months' residence, to Troy, where he
was destined to take rank among the most promi
nent manufacturers and business men of his time.
He became the pioneer in the manufacture of
stoves, as is attested by the following extract from
Judge Sylvester's " History of Rensselaer County,
N. Y." "The first stove whose manufacture was
accredited to Troy was known as the 'Saddle

bag.' William T. James, of Union Village, N. Y.,
its inventor, formed a partnership with Latham
Cornell, of Troy, and among the several^ factories
advertised was '275 River street, Troy.' These
stoves were, however, mostly made in Philadel
phia, sent to Troy in pieces and there put together
and sold." This stove, introduced by Mr. Cor
nell's enterprise, was very familiar in the days gone
by. As his business increased he opened branch
establishments in New York, Boston and Phila
delphia, amassing, as a consequence, much wealth.
He was a man of industry, perseverance and keen
insight into business affairs. He had the sagacity
to stand forth very prominently among those ear
liest to supply a pressing demand throughout the
country, and his enterprise was crowned with its
legitimate reward. He retired in 1841, relinquish
ing his business to others.
Mr. Cornell was the great-uncle of Ezra Cor
nell, the founder of Cornell University, and was
connected with others who were prominent in va
rious walks of life. He was often solicited to ac
cept office, and, at one time, was strongly urged
by the best citizens to become a candidate for
Mayor of the City of Troy; but he always declined,
though his interest in municipal and national af
fairs was deep and intelligent. During most of
his life he voted and acted with the Whig party,
but from the formation of the Republican party
until his death he was a member of that organiza
tion. Of Quaker ancestry,, he inclined to the re
ligious faith of his forefathers. The latter part of
his life was passed in retirement, and though a
contributor to many public charities, his efforts
were principally directed to the relief of individual
cases of want which came to his notice. Decem
ber 9, 1856, he married, as his second wife, Mrs.
Louisa Everts, of Troy, who survives him. He
died April 17, 1876.
We take pleasure in making mention of the fol
lowing citizens, who, by their guaranteed support,
have helped to insure the publication of this valua
ble work : L. D. Collins, T. Van Volkenberg, A.
W. Freligh, Peter F. Witbeck, C. H. Witbeck, S.
H. Pitts, Solomon Phillips, Charles W. Phillips.
Thomas H. Lansing has been living upon a farm,
since 1864, in Watervliet.
Hiram C. Abrams, M. D. — This gentleman was
born at Rensselaerville, Albany County, October
12, 1857; was brought upon a farm, and attended
district school until the year 1870, at which time
he entered the boys' academy at Albany. After his
course was completed at this institution he entered
the Albany Medical College and graduated from
there in 1882. After this he located and com
menced practice at Newtonville, Albany County,
where he at present resides.

¦w&g&

949

THE CITY OF COHOES.

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COHOES.

Compiled toy Rev. WlVl. M. JOHNSON, X). D.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY MENTION.

ANY history of Cohoes will be incomplete if it
fail to refer to the visit of the celebrated poet,
Thomas Moore, in the year 1804. It is, therefore,
mentioned here, and the following is the poem
which was the result of that visit:
LINES WRITTEN AT THE COHOS, OR FALLS
OF THE MOHAWK RIVER.
From rise of morn till set of sun
I've seen the mighty Mohawk run,
And as I marked the woods of pine
Along his mirror darkly shine,
Like tall and gloomy forms that pass
Before the wizard's midnight glass;
And as I viewed the hurrying pace
With which he ran his turbid race,
Rushing, alike untired and wild
Through shades that frowned and flowers that smiled,
Flying by every green recess
That woo'd him to its calm caress,
Yet, sometimes turning with the wind,
As if to leave one look behind !
Oh! I have thought and thinking sighed—
How like to thee, thou restless tide !
May be the lot, the life of him,
Who roams along thy water's brim !
Through what alternate shades of woe,
And flowers of joy my path may go,
How many an humble, still retreat
May rise to court my weary feet,
While still pursuing, still unblest,
I wander on, nor dare to rest !
But, urgent as the doom that calls
Thy water to its destined falls,
I see the world's bewildering force
Hurry my heart's devoted course
From lapse to lapse, till life be done
And the last current cease to run !
Oh, may my falls be bright as thine !
May heaven's forgiving rainbow shine
Upon the mist that circles me,
As soft as now it hangs o'er thee !
The reader notices at once the spelling, Cohos,
at the head of this poem. There are many varia
tions in the name of Cohoes, as Chahoos, Cahoos,
Cahhoos, Kahoos, Chohos, Cohoez and Cohoz.
These are all doubtless derived from the old Mo
hawk Indian dialect, Gahaoose. The meaning of
the name has naturally been sought for, because
Indian names were generally so significant. One
interpretation is "a canoe falling." Another is
"overshoot," referring to the passage of the water
over the rocks. Another is "parting of the

waters." Another is "a shipwrecked canoe."
This generation will not know, positively, what
the Indians meant when they named Cohoes Falls.
They certainly had no thought of giving the name
to a large, thriving, manufacturing city.
The visit of the celebrated poet Moore is not
the first on record. The place is only nine miles
from Albany, following up the west bank of the
Hudson, and the south branch of the Mohawk
River, and citizens of Albany, as well as travelers
through that city, frequently sought and found the
wild and romantic spot known as Cohoes Falls.
One of these visitors was the Rev. Johannes Mega-
polensis, who settled in Albany in 1642, and was
the first minister of the gospel there. He wrote to
his friends in Holland a description of the habits
and manners of the Mohawk Indians, in which
occurs this passage:
"Through this land runs an excellent river,
about five hundred or six hundred paces wide.
This river comes out of the Mahakas country about
four miles north of us. There it flows between
two high rocky banks, and falls, from a height
equal to that of a church, with such a noise that
we can sometimes hear it with us."
An account of the visit of Adrian Van Der Donck
in the year 1656 is preserved in the New York His
torical Collections. The reference to Cohoes Falls
is as follows:
" The other arm of the North River runs by four
sprouts, as we have related, to the great falls of
the Magnas Kill (Mohawk River), which the In
dians name the Chahoos, and our nation the
Great Falls, above which the river is again several
hundred yards, and the falls we estimate to be one
hundred and fifty or two hundred feet high. The
precipice of firm blue rock. * * * *
' ' The Indians, when they travel by water and
come to trade, usually come in canoes made of
the bark of trees, which they know how to con
struct. When they come near the falls, they land,
and carry their boats and lading some distance
below the falls, and proceed on their voyage;
otherwise they would proceed over the falls and be
destroyed. "

950

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

CHAPTER II.
FIRST WHITE OWNERS AND INHABITANTS.
Far back in the history of New York State there
is an account of a military road from Fort Orange
(Albany) to Fort William Henry and Fort Ticon
deroga. This road crossed the fords of the Mo
hawk below the Falls. Here, in later days, the
American forces were encamped, under Generals
Schuyler and Gates, before the defeat of Burgoyne
at Saratoga, and ruins of the earthworks then
thrown up have been seen until quite a recent date.
The falls and the fords of the Mohawk here were
the first centers of attention and settlement. The
first white owners of this region were Kiliaen Van
Rensselaer and Mrs. Uletie Van Slyck Van Olinde.
The latter was, however, a half-breed, her mother
being a Mohawk (Indian) woman. Her husband
was Pieter Danielse Van Olinde. Her land was
given to her by the Mohawk Sachems in 1667.
The south line of her possessions was the Manor
avenue road of to-day, which extends west from
the Falls to the Boght. South of this road were the
lands of Van Rensselaer, the original patroon or.
proprietor of the "Colonie of Rensselaerwyck,"
"who in 1630, and subsequently, purchased land,
which, in 1637, formed a tract twenty-four miles in
breadth by forty-eight in length, extending from
the immediate vicinity of Fort Orange over the
great part of Albany, Rensselaer and Columbia
counties."* The original village of Cohoes, and
indeed nearly the whole settlement in this vicinity,
was, therefore, within the domain of Van Rensse
laer. On the north side of the Mohawk was the
Halve Maan (Half-Moon) patent. The islands at
the mouth of the Mohawk not long after came into
the possession of Capt. Goosen Gerritse Van
Schaick. He died in 1676. Subsequent occu
pants of that part of the present city were Guert
Hendrickse Van Schoonhoven, Harmon Lieverse
and Roeloff Gerritse Van Der Werken. Mrs. C.
V. S. Baldwin, at present residing on the island, is a,
lineal descendant of the Capt. Van Schaick just
mentioned. Commencing at the north line of the
Rensselaerwyck (Manor avenue), the colonists
under the patroon were Heamstreet, Onderkirk,
Lansing, Fonda, Clute. But it goes to show the
great foresight of the patroon that he reserved quite
a strip of land on the west side of the river, below
the Falls — land which is at present of very great
value for manufacturing purposes.
North of the Manor avenue was the Van Olinde
estate, a part of which has been sold for city lots,
and more is in the possession of Mr. James Morri
son. There is also a part of this estate in the
hands of heirs of the late Isaac D. F. Lansing.
In the deed of the lands next north of the Manor
avenue, by Daniel Van Olinde (who was of the
first generation after the original owners, who ob
tained possession from the Indians), to Walran
Clute, there was granted a privilege to build one or
more saw-mills and a grind-mill. The date of this
deed was 1720. This was probably the beginning
* American Cyclopedia.

of mills in a town to be greatly noted thereafter for
its many wheels and spindles. The honest Dutch
farmers soon saw that there was wealth in the Co
hoes Falls, as well as in the rich soil they had com
menced to till. The account of the Cohoes mills,
from the first grant of a mill privilege, in 1720, till
the present time, will form later chapters in this
history, and such as will appear more important
than all the rest, in a temporal point of view.
Note. — The writer must here acknowledge his indebted
ness to Masten's History for many facts.
CHAPTER III.
COHOES INCORPORATED.
In 1830 Cohoes contained about twenty houses.
In 1848 the time had arrived to incorporate the
thriving village. The following resolution was
adopted at a citizens' meeting :
Resolved, That in the opinion of this meeting it
is expedient that we take the necessary steps to in
corporate the village of Cohoes.
On motion of Egbert Egberts, Esq. , that a com
mittee of five be appointed by the Chair to take the
necessary steps for the incorporation, the
Chair appointed as such committee Egbert
Egberts, Wm. N. Chadwick, John Van Santvoord,
Jeremiah Clute and Henry D. Fuller.
It was moved and adopted that the chairman,
Chas. A. Olmsted, be added to the committee, and
that the committee have discretionary power to
determine on the boundary of such charter, and
also to call further meetings.
A vote of the electors was taken for and against
the measure, June 5, 1848, which resulted as fol
lows: 346 in favor of a village charter, 26 against.*
The first charter election was held June 12,
when 521 votes were cast, and the following trus
tees were elected: Alfred Phelps, Joshua R. Clarke,
George Abbott, Henry D. Fuller and William
Burton. Joshua R. Clarke was chosen President.
The assessors chosen were Henry En Earl, John
P. Steenberg and Wm. H. Hollister.
The other officers chosen were: Treasurer, Chas.
A. Olmsted; Collector, John B. Harrison; Clerk,
John Van Santvoord; Pound Master, Isaac F.
Fletcher; Fire Wardens, Jacob Upham, Henry
Van Auken, John McGill, Wm. Osterhout and
Abram Ostrom.
The following is the list of the village presidents
in the order of their election: Henry D. Fuller,
Wm. F. Carter, N. W. En Earl, Wm. N. Chad
wick, Henry L. Landon, Sidney Alden, George
H. Wager, Murray Hubbard, Augustus Ellmaker.
Some of these were re-elected.
At the time of the incorporation the area of the
village was 1,603^- acres.
The bill incorporating Cohoes as a city passed
the Assembly April 15, 1869, and became a law
May 19 of that year.
The first election, held April 12, 1870, resulted
in the choice of Charles H. Adams for Mayor, and
*Masten's History.

THE CITY OE CoHoES.

951

the following Aldermen : David J. Johnston, Eg
bert Lansing, George Campbell, Moses S. Young-
love, Bartholomew Mulcahy, Walter Witbeck,
Charles F. North and Charles Hay. At this elec
tion the following School Commissioners were
chosen: Frank Reavey, Daniel Simpson, Wm.
Burton, E. N. Page, A. M. Harmon, Jonathan
Hiller, Wm. Travis, Wm. S. Crane.
Under the new administration the following
officers were appointed:
Excise Commissioners — Henry D. Fuller, Ed
win Hitchcock and George H. Wager.
Superintendent of Streets — Norris North.
Superintendent of Cemetery — D. F. Manning.
Water Commissioners — Henry Brockway, John
Clute, Abial M. Harmon.
Chamberlain — Leonard Cary.
City Physician— C. E. Witbeck, M. D.
Trustee of Sinking Fund of Water Loan — H. B.
Silliman. Pound Master — Alexander Brown.
Sealer of Weights and Measures — Charles Egan.
Fire Wardens — William Clough, Wm. Doty, E.
S. Gregory, Richard Shannon.
The several Mayors of the city succeeding Mr.
Adams have been: David J. Johnston, 1872;
Henry S. Bogne, 1874; David J. Johnston, 1876;
William E. Thorn, 1878, 1880; Alfred LeRoy,
1882-1884. CHAPTER IV.
COHOIS MANUFACTORIES.
As already mentioned, a deed from Van Olinde
to Clute, dated in 1720, gives the privilege of erect
ing one ormore "Saw Mills or Grind Mills, and to
Ly Dams. " We must consider this the very initial
of Cohoes manufactories. In 1740 the Lansing
family owned a saw-mill near the Cohoes Compa
ny's dam. "A grist-mill was afterward built just
south of the saw-mill, and the two establishments
were run in partnership by Gerret Clute and Rutger
Lansing for some years. On the Clute farm a grist
mill was also erected, which was located a short
distance above the falls." (Masten's History).
"Another grist-mill, which was afterward con
verted into a carding mill, was located on the
Heamstreet farm, on the flats just opposite Sim
mon's Island."
The first extensive attempt at manufacturing was
made by the Cohoes Manufacturing Company in
the year 181 1.
This company purchased sixty acres of land, ex
tending from the bridge south to a point some dis
tance below the present site of the Episcopal
Church, and being between Mohawk street and
the river. A wing dam was built, and a screw
factory was soon in operation. The employees
were mostly from New York. Several wooden
tenements were built for their accommodation, a
little east and north of the present residence of Mr.
H. B. Silliman.
A page from Spafford's Gazetteer of New York
State, under the title Watervliet, will be of interest
here: "About three miles north of Gibbonsville

(West Troy) there is a bridge across the Mohawk,
a short distance below the Cahoos Falls. Since
the above was written, a manufactory of screws
of iron for wood-work, erected on the lower
sprout of the Mohawk near the Cahoos bridge,
has got into successful operation. Works are
about to be added for drawing the wire from which
the screws are formed, when the iron will be
taken in the bar and manufactured into screws,
now made of foreign wire. The machinery is all
driven by water, and is said to be very ingenious,
the invention of a self-taught artist, Mr. Wm. C.
Penniman. Some samples of the screws which I
have seen appear to be well formed, and they are
cut with great dispatch. These works are owned
by an incorporated company with a sufficient capi
tal, and are situated directly opposite Lansingburg,
and about two miles below Waterford."
This company was ahead of its time. Its plans
were too extensive to survive ; the factory was
burned in 1827; the corporation failed in 1829,
and the property was sold to the Cohoes Com
pany. While the screw factory was in operation, a new
industry was started near the falls. The manufac
ture of writing paper was commenced in Garret
Clute's mill. This building, used at first as a grist
mill, had been afterward employed as a flannel
factory on a very small scale. The proprietor of
the paper mill was Elisha Sheldon, and a Mr. En
sign was superintendent. Previous to the organi
zation of the Cohoes Company, part of the property
of the Cohoes Manufacturing Company fell into
the hands of the De Milt brothers, of New York,
who erected a small cotton factory. They also had
a small factory for the manufacture of shovels and
other tools, conducted by Collin & Jones.
THE COHOES COMPANY.
This association was incorporated as a hydraulic
manufacturing company, March 28, 1826. Its
original incorporated capital was $250,000, which
was increased, April 26, 1833, to $500,000. The
trustees were : Peter Remsen, Charles E. Dudley,
Stephen Van Rensselaer, Jr., Francis Olmstead,
Canvass White, Henry J. Wyckoff and David Wilk
inson. Mr. Canvass White appears to have been the
originator of this company. He had served as an
engineer during the construction of the Erie Canal,
and thus first was enabled to appreciate the value
of Cohoes Falls as a manufacturing point. He
was made the first president of the Cohoes Com
pany, with Mr. Van Rensselaer as vice-president,
and Mr. Wyckoff as secretaiy. This company
commenced practical operations by buying a large
tract of land of I. D. F Lansing, for $12,495.
Mr. Lansing reserved from the mill privilege,
which the above sale included, enough water for
four run of stone. Other lands were purchased on
the Waterford side above and below the Falls, and
also below the Falls on the south side of the river.
The company now owns the entire water-power of
the river from half a mile above to one mile below
I the Falls, with a total fall of 1 20 feet. In the

95a

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

year 1831 the company built a wooden dam
across the river, above the Falls, which was carried
away by ice, January 10, 1832. Another dam was
immediately constructed below the site of the first,
which Was partially destroyed by ice in 1839, and
rebuilt the same year. The present stone dam,
which is the most costly and substantial structure
of its kind in the world, was built in 1865. The
gate-house, with its head-gates, was completed the
year following. The latter edifice is substantially
built of brick, and measures 218 feet in length, in
cluding its wings and towers. The front tower
measures 31 feet in height, and the main
tower 43 feet. This dam is 1,443 ^eet 'n
length, and is built directly below and in connec
tion with the old dam, thus acquiring additional
strength. The cost of this dam, with its appur
tenances, was $180,000. The engineer of this
great work was Wm. E. Worthen, of New York
City, assisted by Mr. D. H. Van Auken, the en
gineer of the company. The contract for its con
struction was fulfilled by Mr. John Bridgford, of
Albany, Mr. T. G. Younglove being the agent of
the company at that time. By means of this dam,
the entire waters of the Mohawk can be diverted
from their natural channel and impressed into the
service of the manufacturers. The water runs into
and is used from five successive canals. The first
of these canals was constructed in 1834, and is
one and three-quarters miles long, with a fall of
18 feet. The second, which consists in part of the
old Erie Canal, was excavated in 1843, is one-
third of a mile long and has a fall of 25 feet.
The third is a half a mile in length, with a fall
of 23 feet, and was in part constructed in 1843,
and part taken from the old Erie Canal and
brought into use the same year. The fourth and
fifth canals are half a mile each in length, with
20 feet fall, and were completed in the year 1880.
As these several canals, occupying different levels,
are all connected together, it will be seen that the
same water is used six different times. The water
is leased by the company at $20 per horse-power
per annum, with a quantity of land proportioned
to the power taken. That the price charged here
is much less than in any other large manufacturing
district, is evidenced by the fact that the expenses
from thissource of some of the largest knittingmills
scarcely exceeds $1,000 per year. The available
power of the company is estimated at 10,000 horse
power, as used and to be used upon the successive
levels and falls above stated. All the manufacto
ries of Cohoes are supplied with water-power by the
Cohoes Company, this being the only motor used in
the city. For some time after its organization, this
company manufactured extensively, in addition to
supplying power to others ; but, as the industrial
interests of the place commenced to develop, the
association gradually relinquished manufacturing,
and finally confined itself entirely to the furnishing
of power.
The present officers are as follows : President,
Charles C. Birdseye, of New York City ; Treasurer,
Wm. E. Thorn, of Cohoes ; Secretary, David H.
Van Auken.

The office of agent was abolished in 1875, at the
end of Mr. T. G. Younglove's term ; the business
of that office passing into the hands of Mr. Wm.
E. Thorn, treasurer, who has the control and man
agement of the affairs of the company at the pres
ent time.
Note.— The above history of the Cohoes Company was
prepared by Mr. D. Ii. Van Auken, the present secretary.
CHAPTER V.
THE HARMONY MILLS COMPANY.
This company was incorporated in 1836, under
the name of the "Harmony Manufacturing Com
pany." Peter Harmony, a Spanish gentleman of wealth
and enterprise, was the founder and the first Pres
ident of the corporation, and from him the corpo
rate name was taken.
Associated with him were Henry Plunket, Peter
Remsen, Francis Olmstead, H. J. Wickoff, P.
H. Schenck & Co., las. Stevenson, Joseph D.
Constant, Wm. Sinclair, Van-Wyck Wickes,
Eliphalet Wickes, Le Bron & Ives, Teunis Van
Vechten, Joab Houghton, Chas. O. Handy, Francis
Griffin, Jacob H. Ten Eyck, Ellis Winne, Jr.,
Hugh White, Henry Dudley, Stephen Van Rens
selaer, Jr., and Benj. Knower, who were among the
prominent business men of their time. None of
them now survive.
The company bought a tract of land, about a
quarter of a mile south of the Cohoes Falls, and in
1837 erected a substantial brick building, 165 feet
long, 50 feet wide and four stories high, which,
complete, with water-wheels, flumes, etc., cost
$72,000. Three brick blocks were built at the same time,
just west of the mill, and divided into tenements,
for the use of the operatives.
The mill was equipped with the best cotton
machinery then in use, and the manufacture of
cotton cloth began under the most favorable cir
cumstances. The visions of the projectors of the enterprise
were colored with anticipated large returns for
their investment; but either from bad management
or other cause not known to the writer, their
bright dreams were dispelled by the bald fact that
the balances were invariably on the wrong side of
the ledger. Indeed, the only year between 1 837 and
1850 when the receipts exceeded the expenditures
was in 1838.
Several changes occurred in the ownership, and
spasmodic attempts were made to turn the tide of
fortune in the right direction until 1850, when, at
a compulsory sale, the property was purchased by
Garner & Co., of New York, and Alfred Wild",
of Kinderhook. The annual product of the mill
then was 1,500,000 yards of print-cloth; 700
bales of cotton were consumed and 250 hands
employed. The new proprietors at once placed the entire
management of the mill in the hands of Mr.
Robert Johnston, who had been in charge of

THE CITY OF COHOES.

953

Nathan Wild's mill at Valatie, New York, for a
number of years previous. Mr. Johnston, with a
large practical knowledge and a rare intuition, at
once grasped the causes of disaster to his predeces
sors, and began to bring order out of chaos.
His neivous energy and tireless zeal soon
banished the sleepy indifference of employers and
employees, and a new life became apparent from
the beginning of his administration.
The history of the Harmony Mills has stamped
upon it the indelible marks of a master mind, and
cannot be divorcel from the history of Robert
Johnston's life work.
He was born in Dalston, England, four miles
from Carlisle, near the Scottish border, February
i, 1807. At the age of seven years, Mr. Johnston
began working in Dixon's cotton mills at Warwick
Bridge, Northumberland, for sixpence a week.
In those days the first process, or "opening'' of
the cotton, was done by women with forked sticks,
and when " they had become weary wilh beating
and to sing the cotton, would produce a tinder-box
and pipe, strike a light and smoke, without leaving
their work-bench." Strange to say, he does not
remember a fire resulting from such carelessness.
Mr. Johnston was employed in various mills, hav
ing become an expert in mule spinning, until 1830,
when he came to this country and obtained employ
ment in the Providence Steam Mill, spinning on
hand-mules. They had never seen warp spun
properly on a mule until he showed them. He
afterward worked in a small mill near Providence,
where one pair of mules did the work for the mill.
While working in this mill, he says, Samuel Slater,
the father of American cotton spinning, would sit
at the end of Jiis (Johnston's) mules and watch him
spinning for hours together. In 1834 he moved to
Valatie, Columbia County, New York, and during
the 16 years following he had the management of
Nathan Wild's cotton mill. While there, in 1838,
Mr. Johnston made the first muslin-de-laine ever
made in this country; the warps, number 40,
being prepared in Mr. Wild's mill, and the worsted
(filling) was imported from England in the skein.
In Valatie the best wages paid female help at that
time in the spinning department was $1. 25 per week.
Good board was to be had for 75 cents per week.
In 1858 he accepted the offer of Alfred Wild
and came to Cohoes, and since that date the pros
perity of the Harmony Mills has been wonderful.
To-day, 1883, it is the largest and most complete
cotton manufacturing establishment in America.
Mr. Johnston eirly associated with himself his son,
Hon. D. J. Johnston, who entered the company's
office as clerk, at the age of sixteen, and became
one of the proprietors in 1866. In 1853 an addi
tion was built on the north end of the old mill, 340
feet long, 70 feet wide and four stories high, with
an attic, having a capacity of 30,000 spindles, and
employing 500 hands. This, with the old mill, is
now designated No. 1. In 1857 the mill known
as No. 2 was built about half the size of the origi
nal plan, and, after running 20,000 spindles for
five yeirs, was extended and enlarged to a capacity
of 48,000 spindles, and employing 800 hands. In

1844 the Cohoes Company erected a cotton mill
near the south terminus of their, hydraulic canal,
No. 3, 200 feet long and four stories high, and in
1846 built a similar structure 60 feet north and
parallel with the first. These two mills were after
ward connected by a central tower 60 x 70 feet, and
six stories high, making a building 500 feet long,
w.th a capacity of 32,000 spindles.. This mill,
now know as the "Ogden," or No. 4, passed
through various hands until i860, when it was
purchased by the Harmony Mills Company. It
was overhauled and its capacity increased, which,
with ihe original cost, represented an outlay of
$450,000. The "Strong" mill, or No. 5, stands at
the intersection of Mohawk street and Canal No.
3. The original mill was built in 1849 by Wm.
N. Chadwick, father of Remsen and Joseph Chad-
wick, at present proprietors of the Ontario Knitting
Mill. Mr. Chadwick, as proprietor, ran the mill for
about ten years, with varied success, when it passed
into the hands of the Suarez family, Spaniards, and
successors to the estate of Peter Harmony. The
Harmony Mills Company purchased the mill in
1865, and remodeled and enlarged it at a cost of
$100,000. In 1873 it was further enlarged to a
capacity of 13,000 spindles.
The north wing of the " Mastodon," or No. 3
mill, was built in 1866-7. In excavating for the
foundation at the north end, a large " pot hole ''
was found in the bed of what had once been a
stream of water. The " pothole" was very deep,
filled with peat, and at its bottom, 60 feet below
the surface of the street, was found the almost per
fect skeleton of a mastodon mammoth of a for
mer age. The bones were carefully exhumed and
presented to the State. They are now mounted
and on exhibition at the Geological Hall in Al
bany. The south wing of the mill was built in
1872. The whole comprises a large central tower
surmounting and connecting the two wings and
forming one continuous building, 1, 185 feet long,
76 feet wide and five stories high, with a mansard
roof. The central tower is eight stories high and
terminates in four smaller towers, 128 feet in
height. There are four smaller towers, each 128
feet in height, equidistant on the wings. The main
entrance is through a massive stone arch under the
central tower. This tower or connection between
the wings is 70 x 76 feet, and is absolutely fire
proof, no wood having been used in any part of
the construction except the floors. The entire mill
is constructed of the best material, and in the most
substantial manner. For its foundation, 25,000
cubic yards of rock were excavated, and 7,000
yards of stone used. In the superstructure there
are 9,000,000 bricks, 6,000 yards of sand, 35,000
bushels of lime, 900,000 feet of pine timber, and
1,800,000 hemlock, 8oo,coo feet Georgia pine
flooring, 500,000 feet pine ceiling, 1,100 kegs of
nails, 1,000 tons of cast and wrought iron, 13
miles of steam and gas pipe, 5 miles of shafting,
and 1 3 miles of belting. The machinery is driven
by five turbine wheels, each sixty inches in diame-
ter,and aggregating 2,100 horse-power, and weigh-

954

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ing, complete, with main pulleys, jack shaft and
gears, 136 tons. Three of the wheels drive the
machinery in the north wing, and the other two
that in the south wing. Five cast-iron cylinders,
eight feet in diameter, convey the water from the
bulkhead to the wheels, with a fall of twenty-one
feet. Snow's Automatic Governor, built at the Co
hoes Iron Foundry and Machine Shop, regulates the
supply of water. The wheels and their appurten
ances were built by the Ames Manufacturing Com
pany, Chicopee, Mass. The immense belts which
connect the jack shaft with the main line on each
floor are double, and two feet wide. The longest
belt, reaching to the fifth floor, is nearly 200 feet
long. Two large rotary pumps are so placed in
each wheel pit that, by a slight movement of the
gears, they can be set in motion and distribute
water to every part of the mill at the rate of 1 56,000
gallons per hour. The mill is filled with the latest
improved and most perfect cotton machinery in
the world. The self-acting mules, of which there
are no, and all the carding machinery, from the
' ' openers " to the ' ' speeders," are of English
make. The looms, 2,700, were made at Stockport, N.
Y. Of the warp spinning frames, 351 in number,
161 were built at Whitinsville, Mass.; 55 at Taun
ton, Mass.; 55 at Rhinebeck, N. Y., and 80 in
England. The yarn is "sized "in six improved
"slashers," or dressing frames. Two of them can
each dress two beams at once, and were made in
England. The other four, together with others in
the different mills, were built by the Cohoes Iron
Foundry and Machine Company. This depart
ment of cotton manufacture has made rapid strides
in improvement during the last thirteen years.
When the Harmony Company purchased the
"Ogden " mill, in i860, the dressing was done on
the " Reynolds " frame, and the number of frames
necessary to dress this yarn for 400 looms occu
pied the whole of the attic story of the mill. The
average day's work then was about 90 cuts. To
day," six frames, occupying a space about 75 x 75
feet, dress all the yarn necessary to keep 2,700
looms in operation. The frames can average on
standard work, 56x60, a cut of fifty yards every
minute. This immense mill contains 130,000
spindles, produces 100,000 yards of cloth every
sixty hours, and is the most complete in all its ap
pointments of any cotton mill in the world.
In 1872 the company purchased the paper mill
just south of No. 2 mill, which Chas. Van Benthuy
sen & Sons had operated for many years. It was
enlarged, a mansard roof placed over it, and a fine
tower built at the south end, making a building
250 feet long, 60 feet wide and four stories high.
It is now filled with machinery and engaged in the
manufacture of seamless cotton bags. Under this
mill, there is an artesian well, 2, 100 feet deep, sunk
by the Van Benthuysens, to get pure water for the
manufacture of white paper. They did not find
the water. The company also operated for a num
ber of years, up to 1872, a small mill, at the head of
Remsen street, on canal No. 4. It was known as the
Egbert mill, and was owned by Charles Ii. Adams.

In the year above stated, the machinery was taken
out and removed to the Strong Mill. In 1871
the company began the manufacture of jute sack
ing for the baling of cotton ; but it did not prove
remunerative, and the machinery was sold and re
moved to Akron, Ohio. The Harmony Company
has been remarkably fortunate in the item of loss
by fire. Every safeguard is employed to prevent
disaster in this direction ; the mills are thoroughly
equipped with appliances to cope successfully with
this dreaded enemy. The Providence Steam and
Gaspipe Company are now engaged in placing
Grinneld's automatic fire extinguishers in every
room in the mills, at a cost of over $30,000.
These extinguishers release the water at a tempera
ture of 155°. Twelve large boilers, from 80 to
100 horse-power each, located in the different mills,
furnish the steam for drying the yarn in sum
mer and heating the mills in winter. About 3,500
tons of egg coal are consumed. Large repair
shops for machinery, carpenter work, painting, etc.,
employ an army of operatives, in keeping in first-
class condition the efficiency of the large corpora
tion. Two large storehouses are located on the
leading lines of railroad entering the city, which
have a storing capacity of 6, 000 bales of cotton.
The cotton consumed yearly by the six mills will
aggregate 25,000 bales, from which 80,000,000
yards of cloth are produced.
Garner & Company also operate mills in the fol
lowing places :
Rochester Steam Mill, Rochester, N. Y. ; 9, 800
spindles, 231 looms.
Newburg Steam Mill, Newburg, N. Y. ; 20,000
spindles, 500 looms.
Pleasant Valley Mill, 70 looms, 3,020 spindles.
Franklindale Mill, at Wappingers Falls, N. Y. ;
10,000 spindles, 200 looms.
Reading Cotton Mills, Reading, Penn. ; 15,000
spindles, 600 looms.
Little Falls Cotton Mill, 5,600 spindles, 220
looms. They also run the large print works at Wapping
ers Falls and Rockland, N. Y., operating in both
places forty printing machines, one-seventh of all
there are in the country, and capable of printing
150,000,000 yards a year. The aggregate number
of spindles operated by Gamer & Co. is about 380,-
000, and 7,400 looms, which will produce in stand
ard cloth, 56 by 60, 375,000 yards every ten
hours, or 116, 2 50,000 every year ; 33,000 bales, or
17,000,000 lbs. of cotton, are consumed. In a
niche on the front of the cential tower of No. 3
mill, seventy feet from the ground, is a colossal
bronze statue of the late Thomas Gamer, the found
er and principal stockholder of the Harmony Mills
Company. It was cast by the Ames Manufacturing
Company, of Chicopee, Mass., from a model made
by Millmore, the celebrated artist of Boston. Mr.
Garner died, October, 1867. As an evidence of
the perfect confidence he had in the management
of the mills, it may be stated that his visits to Co
hoes were very rare, not averaging once a year
during his ownership. He was not here at any
time while No. 3 mill was building, and all that he

THE CITY OF COHOES.

955

ever saw of that magnificent result of his money
and enterprise were the photographs taken when
the building was finished. Mr. Garner was born
in England, in 1805, and came to this country in
1832. He was a poor boy and, when very young,
labored in the coal mines, at New Castle. He was
succeeded in the presidency of the company by his
son, William T. Garner, a young man who inherit
ed, to a marked degree, the business talent of his
father. His business career came to a sudden and
terrible end, June 20, 1876, by the capsizing of the
yacht "Mohawk," when Mr. and Mrs. Garner and
three other persons were drowned. In 1867
Alfred Wild retired from the company, and was
succeeded as agent by Wm. E. Thorn, of New
York, who also became one of the proprietors and
a resident of Cohoes.
After the death of William T. Garner, Samuel
W. Johnson, his brother-in-law, and one of the
firm, was elected to the position of president, re
siding; at Wappingers Falls, where the print works are
located. Samuel W. Johnson, Wm. E. Thorn and
John Lawrence were the executors of William T.
Garner's will. The will devised all of Mr. Garner's
property in trust to his three daughters, the eldest
of whom, Florence, is now 16 years of age. De
cember 9, 18S1, while S. W. Johnson wasduck-
shooting on Long Island, he received injuries
from the premature discharge of his gun that result
ed in his death, four days later, December 13, 1881.
John Lawrence, of New York, was elected presi
dent of the company, May, 1882, and still occupies
that position. One thing that has contributed
largely to the success and prosperity of the Har
mony Mills is the interest that has always been
manifested in the moral and physical welfare of
their employees. During- the years 1866-7-8,
nearly $300,000 was expended in erecting tene
ment houses, grading streets and sidewalks, plant
ing shade trees and making other improvements
that have transformed what was a grainfield in
1865 into a thriving village of 6,000 people in
1869. The streets are 80 feet wide, with a 40-foot
roadway, macadamized. The sidewalks are of
asphalt, 10 feet wide, with a bit of turf or a bed
of flowers, inclosed by a neat picket fence, between
the houses and the walk.
A person once speaking of the care exercised by
the Harmony Company said : ' ' Cleanliness seems
to be epidemic here." And it is true both in the
mills and out. No refuse matter or garbage is
permitted to be thrown in the streets or alleys.
Men are constantly employed, each one having a
special district under his care, cleaning the streets
and removing the garbage. There is a complete
system of drainage by which every cellar, vault and
hydrant well is drained.
There are 700 tenements, with from four to ten
rooms each. The rents range from three to eight
dollars per four weeks. The tenements that the
company rent for eight dollars would be in de
mand at twenty dollars per month if outside parties
were permitted to rent them. No family is allowed
to reside in any of the tenements that is not in the
employ of the company. The rent is collected at

the office by deducting the amount from the pay
of the employee.
Located over the office is a commodious hall,
the finest in the city, 40 x 100 feet, with a seating
capacity of 800. It is nicely frescoed and fur
nished with pictures, maps, and an excellent organ.
At 9 a. m. every Sabbath the Harmony Union
Sunday School meets in this hall. The school was
established twenty-eight years ago as a mission
school, and still retains that distinctive feature, the
teachers and scholais coming from all the denomi
nations in the city. Mr. David J. Johnston is
now and has been the superintendent of this
school most of the time since its organization.
The last report of the secretary gives the follow
ing statistics : Number of members admitted
during the year, 184; present number of mem
bers, 548 ; whole number admitted since organi
zation, 4,492.
Everywhere about the works order prevails, and
the company maintain in the mills, in the shops,
and indeed throughout the whole corporation, the
discipline of a well-trained army corps. There
are 4,000 hands employed by the company in
Cohoes ; and it is safe to say there are as many
at home as there are at work, so that at least 8,0.00
persons get their support directly from labor per
formed in the Harmony Mills.
Since 1879 the print- cloth trade has been labor
ing under a severe depression, and during a part
of that year, and for the two years following, the
company barely paid expenses. In April, 1882,
with cloth at 3 \ cents per yard, and cotton at 12^
cents per pound, two weeks' notice was given that
from April 24 there would be a reduction of 10
per cent, in the wages. The hands resolved to
resist the reduction, and on April 26, when the
bells rang, no one appeared to go to work. For
eighteen weeks the whirr of the spindles and the
click of the looms were silenced, with the excep
tion of a few days, when spasmodic attempts were
made to resume. The hands finally returned to
work on the company's terms. It is a noticeable
fact that, during the stoppage of the mills, the vol
ume of print-cloths in the market increased from
200,000 to 700,000 pieces, and when the mills re
sumed operations cloth was lower and cotton
higher than when they shut down. The hands lost,
during the stoppage of eighteen weeks, $340,000
in wages. The mechanics and laborers were kept
at work, and many improvements were made.
The most serious loss to the company by the strike
was the scattering of disciplined help to other
manufacturing places in the country. However,
the majority who went away found the rose-colored
statements of phenomenal wages were not true,
and in six months after the resumption of work in
the mills here every spindle and loom was in mo
tion again.
In February, 1881, the hands made a demand
for 10 per cent advance and one hour for dinner.
The demand was refused, and on the 26th they
stiuck. After lemaining out ten days the com
pany effered fifty minutes for dinner and 10 per
cent, advance. The offer was accepted, and ihe

956

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

hands resumed their work, March 8. The strike
of 1862 was the only serious disagreement that has
ever occurred between the Harmony Company and
their employees. Differences have always been
adjusted directly between the hands and the man
agement. Outside parties have been listened to,
and politely dismissed, with the assurance that the
company were perfectly competent to manage their
business. The present officers of the company are : Presi
dent, John Lawrence ; Agent, Wm. E. Thorn ;
General Manager, Robert Johnston ; Superintend
ent, D. J. Johnston ; Paymaster, W. S. Smith.
The New York office is at No. 6 Worth street.
Note. — The above sketch of the Harmony Mills Com
pany was made for this History by Mr. Silas Owen, at the
request of Mr. David J. Johnston.
CHAPTER VI.
COHOES KNITTING MANUFACTORIES.
The father of the knitting business in this country
was Mr. Egbert Egberts. While living in Albany,
N. Y., in the year 1831, he became interested in
the progress of making knit goods. Here he
made his primary experiments in the constuiction
of a knitting frame to be operated by power. But
he needed a more practical mechanic to make the
work a success. A certain Dr. Williams, of
Albany, suggested to Mr. Egberts that young
Timothy Bailey was a person who had the neces
sary ability for such work. Mr. Bailey was then
working in a manufacturing establishment in
Albany. Mr. Egbert secured the services of young
Bailey, who soon saw what was needed. He built,
first, a wooden frame which, when turned by hand,
accomplished in a small way what Mr. Egberts
desired. The knitting machine had already been
invented. One was purchased in Philadelphia by
Mr. Bailey and brought to Albany, and his con
trivance was applied, so as to produce knit goods
by turning a crank. The next step was for Eg
berts & Bailey to remove to Cohoes. About this
time (1832) Mr. Joshua Bailey became interested
in the new invention. The new machine was
arranged to run by water-power. Soon eight of
these machines were constructed by Mr. Timothy
Bailey and set in motion. The next step was to
commence carding and spinning, thus preparing
their own yam. In this way the foundation was
laid for the extensive knit-goods business, which is
no longer confined to Cohoes, but is an industry
of great importance to the whole country.
For some time the new invention was kept a
secret. The doors were fastened by spring locks.
Even Gen. George S. Bradford, who ran the mill
by contract, was compelled to make an agreement
that he should not enter the knitting room.
Timothy Bailey and the foreman who worked with
him were the only persons who understood the
machines. The mill where this work first becran
was on the ditch just north of the present Erie
Mill, and then it was removed to the building near
the one now occupied by the Troy Manufacturing
Company.

The next knitting mill erected was by Mr. Eg
berts, on the corner of Remsen and Factory
streets, in the year 1850. By this time the success
of this business was fully assured and recognized.
In 1852 Thomas Fowler placed knitting ma
chinery in the building formerly occupied by
T imothy Bailey, and in the same year Mr. Eg
berts transferred his mill to Charles H. Adams.
Mr. Bailey organized a manufacturing company
about the same time; so that in 1853 there were
three knitting mills in Cohoes, employing 750
hands and producing 45,000 dozen goods annually.
Mr. Adams occupied the "Watervliet Mill" till
1862, when he leased the building to Alden, Frink
& Weston, and built on Ontario street. But time
and space would fail to tell of all the new enter
prises and changes in the knitting business of
Cohoes from the advent of Egberts & Bailey until
now. At present there are 25 knitting mills in
operation in the city, with 177 sets of cards, 595
knitting cylinders, and 4, 140 operators. Tha fol
lowing is believed to be a complete list, at the
date of this writing, December 1, 1883:
The Ranken Knitting Company, Henry S.
Ranken, treasurer, has 16 sets of cards and 23
kntting tables. The goods manufactured are
shirts and draweis, 16 to 24 gauge, white, with 400
employees. J. H. Parsons & Co. 15 sets of cards, 25 tables
of knitting machinery, producing ladies' and chil
dren's shirts and drawers; 425 employees.
Tivoli Hosiery Mills, established by Josiah G.
Root in 1855. In 1863 the firm became J. G.
Root & Sons. From 1869 to 1874 the firm was J.
G. Root's Sons; from 1874 to the present time the
firm has been The Root Manufacturing Company.
There are 18 sets of machinery, 72 knitting cylin
ders, 470 employees. The yearly product is worth
from $900,000 to $1,000,000. Andrew J. Root,
treasurer. The Star Knitting Company. 9 sets of cards,
12 knitting tables, or 24 cylinders, producing
ladies' and gentlemen's all wool and merino shirts
and drawers, 16 to 24 gauge; 175 employees.
Empire Mill, J. A. Nuttall, proprietor. 7 sets
of cards and 1 1 tables of knitting machinery, mak
ing shirts and drawers, 16, 18 and 20 gauge; 125
employees. Globe Mill, LeRoy & Lamb, proprietors. 10
sets of cards, producing shirts and drawers for
ladies and gentlemen, 16 and 20 gauge, white;
27 knitting cylinders, 190 employees. Yearly
product, 46,000 dozen. This firm commenced
operations in 1872. Mr. Lamb died in January,
1885. Standard Hosiery Mill, Newman & Adams,
proprietors. 3 sets 60-inch cards, producing
scarlet shirts and drawers, wool, for ladies and
gentlemen, 14, 16, 18 and 20 gauge.
Atlantic Mill, Horrocks & Van B^nthuvscn,
proprietors. 6 sets of cards, 9 tables of knitters, 1 9
cylinders, 120 employees. Makes ladies' white
vests and pants, 20 gauge.
Ontario Knitting Mill, Chadwick & Co., propri
etors. 6 sets of cards, 7 tables of knitters, 15 cyl-

THE CITY OF COHOES.

957

inders, 200 employees; makes men's shirts and
drawers. Egbert's Woolen Mill, run by Mr. Charles H.
Adams from 1863 to 1S70. Mr. Adams still owns
the building and machinery. The mill was
operated by Mr. John Wakeman from 1870 to
188 1. Present proprietors, Neil & McDowell.
6 sets of cards, 21 knitting cylindeis, 140 hands;
yearly production, 35,000 dozen; fine under
wear; 20-gauge goods; monthly pay-roll, $4, 500;
value of annual production, $125,000.
Troy Manufacturing Company, J. V. S. Lan
sing, treasurer. 10 sets of cards and 14 tables of
knitting machinery, 28 cylinders, 250 employees;
makes shirts and drawers, merino and all wool,
white, 16 to 20 gauge.
Elk Mill, A. Paul, proprietor. Mr. Paul buys
his yarn; has six knitting tables and 13 cylinders,
50 hands; makes ladies' and gents' white shirts
and drawers, 16 and 20 gauge.
Riverside Mill, H. S. Bogue, proprietor. 10
sets of cards, 24 knitting cylinders, 200 hands;
makes white shirts and drawers, wool, cotton and
merino, principally 20 gauge.
Granite Mill, Wm. Moore, proprietor. 8 sets
of cards and 12 tables of knitters; makes ladies'
and gents' white shirts and drawers, 18 and 20
gauge ; 1 50 employees.
Pacific Hosiery Mills, Clark & Holsapple, pro
prietors. 4 sets of cards, 7 tables of knitters, 16
cylinders, 70 employees; make merino shirts and
drawers, 12 to 19 gauge, white.
Kensington Mills, Root & Waterman, proprie
tors. 7 sets of cards, n tables, with 22 cylinders,
150 employees, producing ladies', gents' and chil
dren's wool and merino white shirts and drawers,
12 to 22 gauge.
Erie Mill, M. E. Moore & Co., proprietors. 6
sets of machinery, 8 tables, with 18 cylinders, and
1 50 employees, producing merino shirts and draw
ers, white, 20 gauge.
American Hosiery Mill, Gregory & Hiller, pro
prietors. 6 sets of cards, 18 cylinders, 90 employ
ees; gents' merino, white and mixed, shirts and
drawers, 14, 16 and 18 gauge.
Crown Knitting Mill, Thompson & Lefferts, pro
prietors. This firm buys its yarn; they have 3
tables of knitting machinery and 6 cylinders and 40
employees; make ladies' white merino vests, 16
gauge. W. H. & D. Aiken have 3 sets of cards, 9 knit
ting cylinders and 60 employees; they make white
vests and pants, 20 gauge.
Anchor Hosiery Mill, C. F. North & Doyle, pro
prietors ; has 6 sets of cards, 13 tables, 28 cylin
ders, wiih 160 employees, producing ladies' and
children's white underwear, 18 gauge.
Eclipse Mill, Wood, Pierce & Co. This firm
buys the yarn to run 4 tables and 8 cylinders; they
have 60 employees, making ladies' white under
wear, 20 gauge.
Enterprise Mill, John Scott & Son, proprietors.
10 sets of cards, 14 knitting tables, 30 cylinders,
235 hands; makes ladies' and gents' white under
wear, 16 and 20 gauge.

Brockway & Knott have 2 sets of cards and 1 1
cylinders, and produce ladies' and gents' all-wool
scarlet underwear, 18 gauge.
Victor Knitting Mills Company, Brooks, Silli
man & Aiken, proprietors. The mill is owned by
the estate of Henry Brockway, who ran it from
i860 to 1880; the machinery is owned by the
present proprietors; there are nine sets of cards
and 24 knitting cylinders, operated by 250 em
ployees; the monthly pay-roll is $8,000; the yearly
product amounts to about $750,000.
This knitting industry is one of the chief ele
ments in the prosperity of Cohoes. About
$1,600,000 are paid out here annually lo employ
ees in this branch of business, and every year
shows a marked increase in the amount of the
product, as well as in the quality of the goods
manufactured. In 30 years the number of mills
has increased from 3 to 25 in Cohoes alone, and
the number of hands employed has increased in
the same time from 750 to 4,140.
CHAPTER VII.
OTHER MANUFACTORIES.
* Cohoes Axes and Edge Tools. — Just fifty years
ago the foundation for the present extensive manu
facture of axes and edge tools in Cohoes was laid,
and one year later the first establishment was in
successful operation. The business has gradually
developed, until it forms one of the most impor
tant branches of the manufactures of Cohoes.
Daniel Simmons, the pioneer in the business, be
gan life as a blacksmith, and had a forge in the
lower part of the City of Albany, where he com
menced making axes by hand for an occasional
customer, using for the cutting edges German or
blister steel, which was then supposed to be the
only kind that could be successfully welded to iron.
About 1825 it was found that, by the use of re
fined borax as a flux, cast steel could be made to
answer the purpose, and Mr. Simmons promptly
took advantage of the discoveiy, being one of the
fiist to put it to practical use. His axes soon be
came favorably known, and the demand for them
was so increased that greater facilities for produc- *
lion became necessary. Accordingly, in 1826, he
removed to Berne, Albany County, where he se
cured a small water-power, erected rude buildings
and put up trip-hammers and other machinery.
In time these accommodations proved insufficient,
and Mr. Simmons came to Cohoes, where he
founded the establishment, one of the earliest in
the country, which, under successful management,
became known through all parts of the globe.
The second ax and edge tool factoiy was started
in 1843 by White, Olmsted & Co. This estab
lishment continued until the failure of Miles
White, in 1857. The business was then closed
out, and the buildings in which it was conducted
were destroyed by fire on the 8th of May, 1858.
The third ax and edge tool establishment was
started in 1863 by Alden, Frink and Weston, under
* Prepared by Mr. James H Masten.

958

HLSTORY OE THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

the firm name of W. J. Ten Eyck & Co., a build
ing erected by Jonas Simmons on the site of the
present rolling mill having been purchased by
them. This concern was extensively enlarged in
1864, and continued in opeiation until 1866, when
Alden, Frink and Weston failed. On the suspen
sion of this firm, a new company was organized,
known as the "Ten Eyck Manufacturing Com
pany," with the following officers: David Cowee,
president; George R. Seymour, treasurer; R. H.
Thompson, secretary, and W. J. Ten Eyck, super
intendent. This company closed business in
1872, and in the following year the factory was
taken by Williams, Ryan & Jones, and they were
soon after succeeded by Sheehan, Jones & Ryan.
In January, 1873, the factory was consumed by
fire. John L. Thompson, of Troy, lost on build
ings $20,000, of which $9,000 was insured. The
loss of the firm was from $6,000 to $8,000 on
manufactured goods.
Messrs. Sheehan, Jones & Ryan moved into the
pipe factory building on Saratoga street. Mr.
Sheehan withdrew from the firm, and Jones & Ryan
continued. July 1, 1874, there was still another
change in the firm, which was then styled M. H.
Jones & Co. This firm name continued until
shortly before the death of Mr. Jones. Since
then A. G. Peck & Co. have carried on the
business, which is very extensive and constantly
increasing. The fourth venture in this line of manufacture
was by the second Ten Eyck Manufacturing Com
pany, established in February, 1876, with a capi
tal of $30,000, with the following partners: Abram,
Albert, and Jonas S. Ten Eyck; and D. H. Clute,
Cohoes; George Carrigan, Bayonne, N. J.
Their works were located on Saratoga street,
near the extreme southern boundary of the city,
and consisted of a building 100 x 32 feet, contain
ing forge shop and polishing shop; and two wings,
each 60 feet long, containing tempering shop,
blacksmith shop, etc. The works were run by a
40-horse-power steam engine. The firm contin
ued business until October, 1877, when it sus
pended, and their works remained idle until
March, 1 880, when the Cohoes Ax Manufacturing
Company, a new firm, was formed, composed
of George Campbell, John Clute, J. H. Parsons,
Wm. S. Gilbert and Ethan Rogers. The new com
pany brought energy, skill and the necessary capital
into the concern to make it successful, and it now
ranks among the most prosperous establishments
of the kind in the country.
Cohoes Rolling Mill.— In 1856 the Cohoes Roll
ing Mill was erected to make iron and steel for the
ax factory of D. Simmons & Co. In 1863 Jonas.
Simmons and E. N. Page formed a copartnership,
and constructed one single puddling furnace and
one heating furnace. The puddling furnace was
soon doubled, and the capacity was 1 2 tons fin
ished iron in 24 hours.
March n, 1865, James Morrison bought out
Mr. Simmons, and the present firm of Morrison,
Colwell & Page was formed. Under the new man
agement the works rapidly grew until the fire of

January 5, 1883, when they had ten double pud
dling furnaces, one scrap furnace and four heating
furnaces; also, six ax-poll machines. These ax
machines and the royalty thereon cost $65,000.
They were bought in 1867, and they have a capac
ity of 3,000 ax-polls in ten hours. The works
were reconstructed immediately after the fire, in
the early summer of 1883, from sections of the
main Centennial building, Philadelphia, all iron
and glass. The finishing and ax-poll department
is 280 feet long and 180 feet wide. The main
columns are 35 feet high; truss roof.
The puddle mill is 70 by 250 feet, with wing 80
by 70. The shear shop is 30 by 60 feet, two
stories high.
The new mill has been arranged with special
reference to convenience in handling the iron as
it passes from process to process. They have now
twelve double furnaces, two scrap furnaces, seven
heating furnaces, one 20-inch roll-train, 25 feet fly
wheel; one 16-inch roll-train, 20 feet fly wheel;
one 10-inch roll-train, 16 feet fly wheel; one 20-
inch roll-train, 23 feet fly wheel.
The principal motor power used is water, sup
plemented by a 100-horse-power steam engine,
which drives two large Sturtevant fan blowers,
which convey blast to the furnaces; also a 25-horse-
power engine which drives the ax-poll machines,
shears, shafting, etc.
The capacity of the mill now is from 25,000 to
30,000 tons of finished iron annually, using 60,000
tons of coal (bituminous), about 20,000 tons pig
iron, 5,000 tons scrap iron, and large quantities
of ore, fire brick, fire sand, etc. These are re
ceived on Delaware and Hudson Canal Company
Railroad and by Champlain Canal, which delivers
at the rolling mill docks.
The iron used is principally from Port Henry,
Hudson River and Pennsylvania. The iron made
is of very superior quality, principally intended for
making axes, adzes, butts, hinges and axles. They
also supply the Cohoes tube works with a superior
grade of skelp iron for making gas, water and
steam pipe.
E. N. Page, the superintendent, was born in
Birmingham, England. His experience in a roll
ing mill was with E. Page & Sons, at Rolnay, Eng
land. He came to America in 1848, being twenty-
two years of age, and received his training here
with Horace Grace & Co. at South Boston, and
Glendon Iron Company, East Boston.
He then became mill manager for Wm. E.
Coffin & Co., Pembroke Iron Works, Maine. He
remained there eight years. Then he became su
perintendent of Burden's steam mill, Troy, N. Y.,
where he remained one year. He then formed a
copartnership with Mr. Simmons, as above stated.
Mr. Page is, without doubt, one of the best iron
makers in this country. The present firm consists of
James Morrison, Thomas Colwell and E. N Page.
Manufactory of Wrought Iron and Galvanized
Pipe. — In January, 1872, B. T. Benton and James
Morehead, of Brooklyn, A. B. Wood, of New
York, and James Morrison and Thomas Colwell,
of Troy, N. Y., formed a copartnership, under the

THE CITY OF COHOES.

name of the Empire Tube Works, for the purpose
of manufacturing wrought iron pipe. During the
summer and fall of that year they built the mill lo
cated on the west side of North Saratoga street at
its junction with the Mohawk River. Their plant
consisted of three butt-weld furnaces and one skelp-
ing furnace, with all the latest improved machinery
and appliances for making wrought iron pipe, and
cost $52,000. They commenced making pipe in
the winter of 1873, but were hardly well started
when Mr. Benton died. The company then rented
the mill to Albert Smith, of New York, and James
Morehead, of Brooklyn, who formed a copartner
ship under the firm name of Albert Smith & Co.,
and immediately began manufacturing. Owing to
the depressed condition of the pipe business at this
time, they were only moderately successful, and
they dissolved partnership May 1, 1874, Mr.
Morehead retiring. Aberdeen G. Curtis, of Troy,
N. Y., at this time bought an interest in the firm
and assumed charge of the manufacturing de
partment. They continued the business with
good success until May 1, 1876. At that time
a wrought iron pipe, combination was formed,
which succeeded in renting the mill from its
owners for the purpose of closing it, to prevent
competition. The firm of Albert Smith & Co. immediately
sought a new location, and July 13, 1876, Mr.
Curtis bought the lease of the ground formerly oc
cupied by the old Ten Eyck ax factor)-, directly
west of the Cohoes rolling mill, and with charac
teristic energy commenced building their new mill.
He was materially assisted in its construction by
E. N. Page, of the rolling mill, and by their united
efforts, continuing the work day and night, it was
finished, and pipe making began just three months
after the purchase of the lease. The new plant
embraced two butt-weld furnaces and one skelp-
ing furnace, and although apparently of less ca
pacity than the other, was really larger, as the mill
was arranged much more conveniently, and a
great saving of labor was caused by this. From
this time until January 16, 1880, the business was
carried on with only moderate success. All
branches of the iron business were extremely de
pressed. At this point James Morrison, of the
rolling mill, bought out the interest of Albert
Smith, and the firm became known as A. G. Cur
tis & Co. By this change new life was infused into
all departments of the business, favored by the re
turning prosperity of iron trade, and with increased
capital and experience, the business began to grow
with rapid strides. A third welding furnace was
built on a new and improved plan, the other two
were remodeled and all the machinery improved
and put in the best possible order. A great many
new machines were added. The pipe made by the
firm became noted for its quality, and rapidly
gained a preference in the market over all others.
The iron used is made by the Cohoes Rolling Mill
with special reference to pipe making, and is noted
for its excellence.
On ihe 25th of January, 1883, Mr. Curtis died
at Palatka, Florida, where he had been in the habit

of going in the. winter for his health. His death was
a great loss to the firm.
This event made it necessary to reorganize the
firm, and it took the present name of Curtis & Co.,
and consists of James Morrison, Henry Aird and
Mary M. Curtis. Mr. Aird became connected
with the firm, January 1, 1878, as foreman. He
soon mastered the entire details of the business,
whether financial or pertaining to the process of
manufacturing, and was better prepared to take the
entire charge after the death of Mr. Curtis than any
other man. The annual product of the mill is
now in excess of $500,000, using about 9,000 tons
of skelp iron, 5,000 tons of Lehigh coal, and large
quantities of other raw material annually. In ad
dition to their manufacturing department, they are
large jobbers of wrought iron pipe of sizes larger
than they manufacture; also a full line of mallea
ble and cast iron fittings, globe valves, etc., etc.
They also manufacture large quantities of nipples,
employing nine Sander's pipe-cutting and thread
ing machines in this department alone. Any thing
needed by gas-fitters or steam-heating companies
can be found in this department. The aim of this
firm is to make the very best grade in the market,
and they have thus far succeeded in accomplishing
their purpose. Prepared by Mr. Henry Aird.
Machine Shop of Campbell cV Clute. — The firm of
Campbell & Clute was formed January 1, 1863, by
Mr. George Campbell and Mr. John Clute, both
practical and enterprising mechanics. They com
menced business opposite the Harmony Hotel,
where they still lemain. They now occupy a very
commodious building, four stories high, erected
by themselves in 1873.
Their specially is knitting machinery. They
employ fifty-five men, and their monthly pay-roll
is $2,500. Their annual production is valued at
$100,000. Mr. Clute has lately perfected a machine for
knitting silk, making a beautiful and durable
fabric ; also a machine for knitting worsted, pro
ducing a grade of cloth which may properly be
used for outside garments, and both partners of
this firm are having handsome overcoats made,
which were knit by their own hands and with
their own machinery.
Cohoes Iron Foundry and Machine Company. —
These woiks were commenced in 1868 by William
T Horrobin, in a building erected for the purpose
east of the Saratoga Railroad, where they are still
located. In 1877 the business came under the
control of Mr. Robert Johnston, who is the present
proprietor. Mr. Warren J. Kellogg is the general manager.
This establishment makes cotton machinery, and
specially, machinery for dressing cotton warps, ele
vators, water-wheel governors (Snow patent), port
able forges (Kellogg patent), shafting, pulleys, etc.
At these works 150 hands are employed. The
monthly pay-roll is $5,000.
The annual production is $150,000.
Tubbs & Humphreys' Machine Shop and Foundry.
—-This business was established in 1873 by Tubbs
& Severson. Mr. Severson retired in 1878. J. W,

960

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Tubbs then carried on the business alone two
years. The firm then became Tubbs & Hum
phreys. They occupy a large building on Cort
land street, east of the Miller House. This build
ing was erected by Harris Brothers in 1868, and
was used by them for the manufacture of pins
Mr. Tubbs bought the building in 1877. Tubbs
& Humphreys manufacture knitting machinery
and burrs, shafting, hangers, pulleys, patent eleva
tors, brick sanding machines and brushing ma
chines, and do general machine work; they em
ploy 40 hands, with a monthly pay-roll of $1,600.
In the same building there is also a needle shop,
Dawson & Lennox, proprietors, employing 10
hands. There is also in this building a reed and
harness shop, Friel & Cosgro, proprietors, employ
ing 6 hands., Luke Cavanaugh has a burr shop
in the same building. Thompson & Lefferts' knit
ting mill is also in this building.
fohn McCrearys Machine Shop, established in
1874, is located in Campbell & Clute's building,
Mohawk street. He makes pin machinery, brush
ing and napping machines, lubricators, sewing-
machine attachments, and does general machine
work; he employs 8 men, and has a monthly pay
roll of $450.
Paper Box Factories. — 1. Cohoes Paper Box
Factory, established August 1, 1864, Isaac Clute,
agent, employs 60 hands; monthly pay-roll,
$1,500; annual product, 950,000 boxes; in Camp
bell & Clute's building, Mohawk street.
2. Paper Box Factory of C. F. North, formerly
conducted by D. M. Morris, employs 35 hands;
in North's building, Mohawk street, opposite Har
mony Hotel. This factory was established in
1865. 3. Paper Box Factory of M. A. Pennock, estab
lished 1868, employs 17 hands; on Factory street,
near Post-office; makes all kinds of paper boxes;
also carries on large business at Pittsfield, Mass.
4. John Leggett, Paper Box Factory, Ontario
street, Van Schaick's Island; does a large business,
both in Cohoes and Troy.
Sash and Blind. — Abner J. Griffin commenced
business in Cohoes in 1858; he occupies the build
ing, erected by himself, at the junction of Mohawk
and Remsen streets; he makes sash, blinds, doors,
moldings, etc., and employs 12 hands; B. R.
Peck is the foreman; the annual product is
$30,000. Furniture Factory. — In Mr. Griffin's building, J.
& G. Fisher carry on a furniture factory, and em
ploy 12 hands.
Bobbin Shop. — Also in the same building, D. W.
Dodge has a bobbin shop, and employs 5 hands.
Knitting Needle Factory. — In the same building
as abovejones & Goynes manufacture spring knit
ting needles and points, and also temper bun-
wings. The American Soap Company. — This business
was established in Cohoes, in 1861, by M. E.
Wilson & Co., of Troy. The building is east of
the Saratoga Railroad, on Oneida street.
Cotton Ball Factories. — Walker & Williams man
ufacture cotton batts on the Mohawk, east of the

Strong Mill. The business was commenced in
1874; they have 2 cards, 7 pickers and 2 Garnett
machines, and employ 25 hands; monthly pay
roll, $600; they make 15,000 pounds of batts per
week and 12,000 pounds of Garnetted stock, wool,
for knitting mills.
D. Lowenthal also has a Cotton Batt factory,
same location as above. He runs 3 cards and 3
pickers, employs 6 men, and makes 15, 000 pounds
a week. P. Carroll, in the same vicinity, also makes
cotton batts, with four cards. He commenced
business in 1880. He employs five men and turns
out about 3, 500 pounds a week.
Lamp Black Factory. — This is a branch of the
Glenwood Chemical Works, Troy ; established in
Cohoes, 1883; James A. Eddy, proprietor. Mr.
Eddy erected the building, 40 x 50 feet, three stories
high, north of the Strong Mill, and gives the
whole business his personal supervision.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHURCHES.
St. fohn's Episcopal Church. — On Monday, May
2, A. D. 1831, a meeting of churchmen was held
in the school-house of District No. 5, at which the
parish of St. John's was organized. David Wilkin
son and Hugh White were elected Church Wardens,
and Hezakiah Howe, Otis Sprague, Albert S. Wilk
inson, James Faulkner, John Vanderwerken,
Matthias Williams, Samuel H. Baldwin and Luther
M. Tracy were chosen Vestrymen. On the 12th
of May, fifth Sunday after Easter, the new church
building, the first of any name in Cohoes, was
consecrated by the Right Rev. B. F. Onderdonk,
Bishop of New York. The building stood on the
south side of Oneida street, between Mohawk and
Remsen streets. The ground was 100 feet square
and was given by the Cohoes Company. For the
first ten years, the services were supplied by the
rectors of Waterford, Mr. Clark and the Rev. Cyrus
Stebbins. The first rector of St. John's was the
Rev. David I. Burger. He was succeeded the
same year (1841) by the Rev. E. G. Edwards, who
was succeeded, in 1844, by the Rev. John Brecken
ridge Gibson. Mr. Gibson's rectorship is made
especially noteworthy, by the building, at his own
expense, of a school-house and the establishment of
a parish school in 1846. Mr. Gibson was succeed
ed by the Rev. John Shackeford in 1848, and he
by the Rev. James Adams in 1850, who was suc
ceeded by the Rev. Theodore Babcock, in 1853.
Mr. Babcock resigned in November, 1857, and the
rectorship was vacant until February, 1859, when the
Rev. Alpheus Spor entered upon the duties. The
church was enlarged the same year. In January,
1863, the Rev. J. H. Ii. Brown was called to the rec
torship, and in April of this year, a committee was
appointed to take into consideration the erection
of a new church. The corner stone of the new
church was laid by the Right Rev. Wm. Crosswell
Doane, Bishop of Albany, on the 9th day of June,
1870, and the building was opened for divine

THE CITY OF COHOES.

061

service, June 18, 1871, all seats therein being free.
The church is situated at the intersection of Canvass
and Mohawk streets, and is built of gray stone.
Its interior dimensions are : Length from east to
west, 96 feet; breadth, 62^ feet ; of this, the nave
occupies 75 x 62 1 feet, and the chancel 21 feet
deep by 29I wide. The organ chamber, on the
north side of the chancel, is 16 x 21 feet, and pos
sesses a fine three manual organ, by Hook, of
Boston. The south side of the chancel opens into
a chapel 31^ x 18 feet* and this connects with the
rectory on the south. All the buildings are of
stone, under a continuous roof, and form a very
handsome pile of an early English style of architec
ture. There are many beautiful stained windows
in church and chapel. One thousand worshipers
can be comfortably seated. A school-house extends
half way under the church on the east end. The
architect was Richard Upjohn, Jr., of New York.
The entire cost was about $60,000. In December,
1875, the Rev- J-H. H. Brown resigned therector-
ship, having been elected Bishop of Fond-du-Lac,
Wisconsin. He was consecrated, December 15,
in St. John's, Bishop Potter being the consecrator,
assisted by Bishops Doane, Paddock, Wells, Bis-
sell, Niles, and Scarbo-ough. March 2, 1876, the
Rev. Walker Gwynne entered upon the rectorship
of the parish. The statistics of the parish in 1882
showed 370 families and 500 communicants. The
present pastor is the Rev. F. S. Sill.
Reformed Church — The Reformed Dutch Church
of Cohoes was organized under the auspices of the
Classis of Washington on the first Wednesday in
November, 1837, with twelve members, viz.:
Nicholas Lighthall, Rosetta Lighthall, James
Safely, Janet Safely, John Schoonmaker, Gitty
Schoonmaker, Abram Weidman, Elizabeth Weid
man, John Van der Werken, Daniel Simmons,
William Renwick and Isabella Renwick.
On the 19th of November the consistory was
constituted by the ordination (by Rev. Elbert
Slingerland) of John Van der Werken, Abram
Weidman and Daniel Simmons as Elders, and
Wm. Renwick and James Safely, Deacons. In
May, 1838, this church, in connection with the
church of Waterford, united in a call for the ser
vices of the Rev. Wm. Lockhead, who continued
as pastor until December 24, 1837, when the re
lation was dissolved. The corner stone of the
first house of worship was laid September 4, 1838,
by Hon. Teunis Van Vechten, Mayor of Albany,
and prayers were offered by Rev. Drs. Yates, of
Schenectady, and Vermilyea, of Albany. The
building was completed in 1839. In January,
1840, the church made a call to Rev. John Van
Buren for his undivided services. He remained as
pastor until June 25, 1841. The Rev. Gilbert M.
P. Myer was ordained and installed as pastor on
November 1, 1841, and continued to fill that re
lation until his death, July 26, 1846. Decem
ber 1, 1846, the Rev. John Gray entered upon
the pastoral office of the church, and continued to
fill it until September 22, 1848. October 3,
1849, tbe Rev. Charles N. Waldron was ordained
and installed pastor of the church.

In April, 1859, the edifice used for worship was
taken down, preparatory to erecting on the same
site a larger house of worship. The corner stone
of the new edifice was laid by the Rev. Dr. Greg
ory, of West Troy, with appropriate services,
June 22, 1859, and the house was completed and
dedicated to the worship of God on Wednesday,
April n, i860. The sermon was preached by
Rev. Dr. Rogers, of Albany, and the prayer of
dedication was offered by the Rev. Dr. Wyckoff, of
Albany. The building, which is 98 by 74 feet,
and capable of seating 900 persons, was erected
at a cost of $30,000. The architect was L. A.
Gooch, of Yonkers. The building committee
were Egbert Egberts, S. A. Becker and Jacob I.
Lansing. A fine organ, costing $6,000, was placed
in the church in 1866, a gift from three members,
Egbert Egberts, John V. S. Lansing and D. J.
Johnston. The Rev. Charles N. Waldron, D. D. , after a pas
torate of thirty years, resigned in 1879. In Septem
ber, 1879, 'be Rev. J. Paschal Strong was called to
the pastorate of the church, and is still the pastor of
the congregation. The church has a parsonage
next to the church building, and a sexton's resi
dence in the rear of the church edifice. The pres
ent membership is 397, and there are 270 families
in the congregation. A large Sabbath School,
Young People's Association and Ladies' Missionary
Society are connected with the church. The Re
formed Church of Cohoes is indebted in a great
measure to the taste and liberality of Mr. Egbert
Egberts for their beautiful house of worship.
First M. E. Church.— -The First M. E. Church
Society was organized in the month of May, 1839.
Rev. Elias Crawford was the pastor, and Rev.
Charles Sherman, Presiding Elder of the district.
The boundaries of the circuit are not wholly de
fined, but as accurate, perhaps, as most circuits
were when Methodism was in its infancy. There
are twenty names upon the oldest list of members
now to be found, aud among them the following :
James Hempstreet and wife, Joseph Mudge and
wife, Mrs. Timothy Bailey, James Shannon, Jonas
Simmons, Sr., and wife, Silas Owens, Sr. , Battheus
Simmons, Mrs. Catharine Fuller, Joseph Gould,
Sr., and wife, Gideon Longley and Wheeler
Rhodes. Having no church edifice, the society held meet
ings in private dwellings and in a school-house
located on Oneida street, near where the old depot
is now situated. The pastor, Rev. E. Crawford,
was a man of great fortitude, good preaching abil
ity, and devoted to his work.
In the year 1840 the Methodist people com
menced the work of building their first house of
worship, locating it on the west side of Remsen
street, where the Clifton Mill now stands. It was
built of wood, at a cost of $550, and had a
seating capacity of about two hundred. The
church was completed in 1841, the dedication ser
mon being preached by Rev. Jesse T. Peck, D. D.
At the session of the Troy Conference, held in
1 84 1, Rev. Oliver Emerson was appointed to the
charge. He was em inently successful as a preacher,

962

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

and of good executive ability. The preachers who
succeeded him on the circuit while Cohoes contin
ued within its bounds were: In 1842-3, Benjamin
Pomeroy; in 1844, Thomas Armitage, with Gardi
ner S. Tubbs as his colleague; in 1845, George
C. Wells. In 1845 the circuit was divided and Co
hoes was made a station by itself, with 149 names
upon its roll of membership, and one local preacher.
The following is a complete list of the preachers
who have been identified with the church as pas
tors since its independent existence, and their term
of office: In 1846-7, Cicero Barber; in 1848-9,
Jacob Leonard; in 1850-51, Lewis Potter; in
1852-3, Timothy Benedict; in 1854-5, Myron
White; in 1856-7, Robert Fox; in 1858-9, Wm.
R. Brown ; in 1860-1, Ensign Stover; in 1862-3,
Henry L. Starks; in 1864, John W. Carhart; in
1865-6, R. R. Meredith; in 1867-8, H. C. Sex
ton; in 1869-70, L. Marshall; in 1871-2-3, Hor
ace L. Grant; in 1874, C. R. Hawley; in 1875-
6-7, Wm. H. Meeker; in 1878-9. S. M. Williams;
in 1 880-1-2, Wm. J. Heath; in 1883, D. W.
Dayton was appointed, and is the present pastor.
In 1850 it numbered 175 members; in i860 it
had 250 members and 107 probationers; in 1870,
300 members, and in 1880, the pastor reported to
the Annual Conference 520 members and 25 pro
bationers. The statistics of the Sunday schools recorded in
the Conference minutes are : In 1841, Sabbath
schools, 2; superintendents, 2; officers and teach
ers, 24; scholars, 120; volumes in library, 300.
In 1845, when Cohoes was made a station, we find
the following report : Sunday schools, 1 ; officers
and teachers, 21; scholars, 80; volumes in library,
240; amount raised for Sunday school, $24.36.
In 1850: Sunday schools, 1; officers and teachers,
34; scholars, 207; volumes in library, 450. In
i860: schools, 1; officers and teachers, 43; scholars,
350; volumes in library, 650. In 1870: schools,
1, officers and teachers, 35; scholars, 400; volumes
in library, 750; S. S. Advocates taken, 40; conver
sions, 15. In 1880: schools, 1; officers and
teachers, 43; scholars, 375.
The Conference reports show that the following
amounts have been contributed for benevolent pur
poses : In 1845, $27.24; in 1850, $51.33; in i860,
$205.35; in 1870, $466.55; in 1880, $233 ; and
in 1881, $161.35.
In the year 1848 a new house of worship, built of
brick, was completed and dedicated, on the east side
of Remsen street, at a cost of $12,000. The deed of
the land was given by the Cohoes Company (to
quote its language) "to the trustees of the Metho
dist Episcopal Church, for the consideration of one
dollar, November 20, 1847; and is known and
distinguished on the map of the village of Cohoes
by numbers 20, 22 and 24."
' The gift was a very generous one, the lot being
located in the very heart of the city.
During the years that followed, there was a
steady growth in the membership of the church,
with occasional revivals of religion, and in time the
congregation demanded a more commodious house
of worship.

At a meeting of the trustees of said society, held
May 28, 1859, it was voted to take down the old
church, preparatory to the erection of the building
of a new one on the same lot, and a committee
was appointed to proceed and execute the work.
The building enterprise assumed a definite form
under the pastoral care of Rev. Wm. R. Brown.
He labored untiringly; he threw his whole soul
into the work, and eventually the present edifice
was completed ; and, on February 22, i860, the
church was dedicated. Rev. Gilbert Haven, D. D.,
editor of Zion's Herald, preached the opening ser
mon in the morning, and in the evening a sermon
was preached by the Rev. Wm. P. Corbitt, of New
York City. The subscriptions taken during the
day amounted to $2,500. Like other church en
terprises of like character, it has involved years of
toil and sacrifice on the part of the people. The
church is a substantial brick structure, of plain
exterior, and yet quite imposing in its appearance.
Its extreme length upon its outside is 80 feet, with
a corresponding width of 60 feet, and will accom
modate about 800 people.
The annual statistics of the society, as reported
to the Conference by the pastor, April 18, 1883,
are as follows: Members, 360; probationers, 4;
local preachers, 2; number of scholars in Sunday
school, 300; officers and teachers, 36; probable
value of church edifice, $17,000; probable value of
parsonage property, $3,500; paid for church im
provements, $2,000; pastor's support, $i,55°;
presiding elder, $98; conference claimants, $68;
bishops, $10; incidental expenses, $700; for va
rious benevolent contributions, $145.60; total
financial disbursements, $4,561.60.
The following constitute the present Board of
Officers of the church: Trustees, W. T. Dodge,
L. Vandenbergh, R. Wilcox, A. M. Harmon, W.
Miller, N. Shaver, J. Orelup, J. W. Ablett and
John Dunlap. Stewards, N. Frost, H. G. Steen-
bergh, G. A. Austin, C. Spanwick, G. E. Brock
way, W. Carroll, S. Owen, J. Kline and A. Mur
ray. Leaders, A. Van Arnam, J. Mincher, W.
Miller and the pastor. Sunday School Superin
tendent, Joseph Wood. Local Preachers, Jacob
Travis and Robert Watt. Pastor, D. W. Dayton.
Presiding Elder, Thomas A. Griffin.
First Baptist Church. — As early, certainly, as the
year 1838, Baptist meetings were held in this place,
with occasional preaching by Rev. F. S. Parks,
then pastor of the Baptist Church in Troy. Regu
lar prayer meetings were begun in the summer of
that year. January 20, 1839, John Duncan, a licen
tiate of the Stillwater church, was secured as a
regular preacher, and his efforts were so successful
that a call for organization as a church was issued
for April 29. At this meeting officers were chosen,
and a council of churches in the Saratoga Associa
tion was invited to consider the propriety of recog
nizing the newly constituted body as a regular
Baptist Church, and also of ordaining John Dun
can, their pastor-elect, as a minister of the gospel.
The council met May 25, 1839, Rev. Isaac West-
cott, Moderator, and approved the action of the
church. The recognition services were held the

THE CITY OF COHOES.

963

next morning in what is now a part of Harmony
Mill No. i, Rev. B. J. Fletcher, of Saratoga
Springs, preaching the sermon. The ordination
services followed in the afternoon, with a sermon
by Rev. Isaac Westcott. At this time the church
had twenty-four members. Ebenezer Bartlett and
Alanson Cook were its first deacons.
During most of this year public worship was
held in the dining-room of the Harmony boarding-
house; then a new place of worship was secured in
a building on Mohawk street, below Oneida. By
January, 1840, it was settled that the church must
have a meeting-house of its own. The use of land
belonging to the Cohoes Company was obtained,
and a wooden structure erected, at a cost of $52 1.
Here the church worshiped for ten years, until
the land was required for the erection of a knitting
mill, what is now the southern portion of Parson's
Mill, on the northwest corner of Factory and Rem
sen streets. Compelled thus to seek new quarters,
the erection of a second meeting-house was begun
in 1850. This was of brick, and situated on land
belonging to the Cohoes Company, on Mohawk
street, facing White street. The lease this time
was made perpetual, so long as used for a Baptist
church. Until the basement of the new house was
ready the church worshiped first in the old Pres
byterian meeting-house, then in the old Methodist
Episcopal house. Rev. D. Round was especially
active and energetic in helping forward the new
building. Rev. Ira E. Kenny succeeded, to find
the church staggering under a debt of $1,200, al
ready incurred. How could this be paid, and the
edifice be completed ? The whole property con
trolled by members of the church was estimated at
less than $10,000. In this emergency one of the
women of the church was invited to undertake the
work of raising the necessary means. Altogether she
secured subscriptions to the amount of $2,285. l7>
of which some failed to be collected, but nearly,
if not quite, $2,000 were received. The name
of this willing and working Christian woman de
serves to be perpetuated. It was Mrs. S. H. Allen,
afterward Mrs. Corwin. She is still (1883) living
at Clifton Park, ready to do good in any and every
way possible. With this aid the meeting-house
was finished, and it was dedicated April 28, 1852,
J. G. Warren, D. D. , of Troy, preaching on the
occasion. The total cost of this house was about
$6,000, all of which was provided for except $500.
The property of the church underwent no change
from this time until 1866, when the erection of a
brick parsonage was begun, and the present com
fortable building was finished in the spring of
1870, at a cost of toward $5,000. A debt of some
$800 remained on it. Meanwhile, beginning with
the pastorate of Rev. W. H. Maynard, the growth
of the church became more rapid, and especially
so with the coming of Rev. L. S. Johnson to the
oversight of the church. It was also the period of
most rapid growth in the population of the village,
now become a city. Hence, in 1872, the meeting
house was found to be inadequate to the wants of
the church. It was thought that, by an expendi
ture of $10,000, it might virtually be made into a

new house. This was done. An organ was pur
chased and put in the church, in 1884, at a cost of
$2, 100.
Seventeen persons have successively been pastors
of this church up to December 1, 1883, a period
of about forty-five years. Their names are as fol
lows : John Duncan, H. Rounce, J. Eastwood, E.
Dwyer, M. Cameron, B. F. Garfield, S. Wilder,
D. Round, Ira E. Kenney, Robert Thompson,
David Corwin, W. H. Maynard, A. J. Bingham, C.
D. Gurr, C. A. Johnson, L. S. Johnson, W. R.
Wright. The following persons have served as dea
cons : Ebenezer Bartlett, Alanson Cook, Stephen
Slocum, Thomas Lansing, Benjamin F. Clarke,
William Nuttall, Selba Archibald, J. H. Masten,
Walter Hume, P. S. Holsapple. In 1881 two dea
conesses were chosen, and since then one has been
elected each year, but only two persons have filled
the office, Mrs. Mary Shaw and Mrs. Susan Hol
sapple. The church was incorporated, under the
law of May 15, 1876, in the year 1877.
The present officers of the church are: Pastor,
J. P. McCullough ; Deacons— B. F. Clarke, Wm.
Nuttall, Selba Archibald, J. H. Masten, P. S.
Holsapple, Mrs. Mary Shaw and Susan Holsapple.
Trustees — President, Jona. Hiller; Secretary, J.
H. Masten; Treasurer, P. S. Holsapple; Wm.
Nuttall, B. F. Clarke, P. G. Tymerson.
Clerk of the church — John A. Nuttall.
Superintendent of the Sunday School — P. S.
Holsapple. A Young People's Union was organized in
February, 1883, which has attained a membership
of about 120. It has been a very successful organ
ization. Thos. Peverly is its President; Miss
Hattie Patrick, Secretary.
A Woman's Missionary Society was also organized
in March, 1883, with 'Mrs. P. S. Holsapple as
President and Miss Cornelia Teachout as Secretary.
History of the Presbyterian Church. — The First
Presbyterian Church of Cohoes was organized on
the 10th day of August, 1839, by a committee from
the Presbytery of Troy (Old School). Rev. Wm.
Snodgrass, D. D. .preached, and fourteen persons
assented to the Westminster Confession of Faith,
and solemnly covenanted with God and with one
another to sustain a Presbyterian Church in this
place. Of the original members, only one is now
living in Cohoes, Mrs. Clarissa Silliman. The
other original members were Mr. Levi Silliman,
Timothy Bailey, Joshua Bayley, Sr., Joshua
Bailey, Jr., Almira Bailey, Asahel Goff, Lucy Goff,
Augustus J. Goff, Melinda Goodell, Maltby
Howell, Mary Howell, Eliza Ann Tremain, Fanny
A. Hamilton.
At the organization two Elders were chosen,
Levi Silliman, and Timothy Bailey; and one deacon,
Maltby Howell. The church was organized in
the house of Mr. Silliman, on Saratoga street, and
services were held there for some time. The
society next worshiped in a building which stood
where Gregory & Hiller's factory now stands.
The society then removed to their first church
building, northeast corner of Remsen and Factory
streets. The building which the church now oc-

964

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

cupies was erected in 1849, and enlarged in 1869.
The lecture room was built in 1865, and enlarged
by the two-story addition in front in 1877. This
addition was the gift of H. B. Silliman. The organ
was built in 1876 by Hook & Hastings, of Boston.
The first stated supply for the pulpit was Rev. Mr.
Chamberlain, of Hebron, New York. At the end
of six months his health failed, and he died soon
after. The names of subsequent pastors and staled
supplies, also the names of elders and deacons, will
be given below. The parsonage, adjoining the
church on Mohawk street, was purchased in 1865.
The church has been greatly prospered and blessed
from the first by the presence of God's Spirit, and
by the accession of devoted members. There have
been many precious revivals of religion, and the
membership has grown from fourteen to over four
hundred. An important feature of this church has
been, from the first, the Ladies' Benevolent Society.
This society was organized November 13, 1839,
the first officers being as follows:
President, Mrs. Clarissa Silliman; Vice-President,
Mrs. Eliza Ann Tremain; Secretary, Miss S. M.
Beals. This society has been very active in maintaining
the interests of the church. The fortieth anni
versary was celebrated, November, 1879, with much
enthusiasm. The Sunday school of this church was organized
in 1 840. The first Superintendent was Levi Silli
man. Wm. Burton, Dr. A. Giles, E. D. Gill,
Edward Doty, Demas Goff and Mr. Holmes also
acted as Superintendents in the order given above.
H. B. Silliman became Superintendent in 1856,
and still holds the office. The other officers are:
Mr. H. Babbitt, Assistant Superintendent; Secretary,
D. M Sutherland; D. C. Hakes; Treasurer and
Libraiian; Robert Campbell, Assistant Librarian;
Organist, Henry Aird.
The church has a Home and Foreign Missionary
Society which makes annual contributions to both
these causes. The pastors of this church who have
been installed are as follows:
Rev. John Gray, installed October 22, 1841; dis
missed July 19, 1842.
Rev. R. P. Stanton, second pastor, installed
February 9, 1848. Served 5 years.
Rev. Stephen Bush, D. D., installed February
1, 1855. Served 7 years.
Rev. F. W. Flint. Labors commenced April 1 9,
1864. Served two years.
Rev. Wm. Melancthon Johnson, D. D. Labors
commenced October 1, 1867. Installed Septem
ber 22, 1868. Is still pastor, November 25, 1883.
The following clergymen have also served the
church as stated supplies: Rev. Mr. Chamberlain,
1839; Rev. L. H. Pease, 1843-1845; Rev. D.
Frost, 1 846-1 847; Rev. V. D. Reed, D. D., 1860-
1861; Rev. Ii. G. Blinn, 1 862-1 863; Rev. H.
Pattengill, D. D., 1866.
The full list of elders in this church from the
first is: Levi Silliman, Timothy Bailey, Albert
Giles, Wm. Burton, Jacob W. Miller, Ira Terry,
John R. Bullock, Isaac Quackenbush, Thomas
Duncan, H. B. Silliman, Francis E. Pennock,

Abram Peck, Horace A. Babbitt, George Dixon,
John Hay, George Bortell.
The full list of deacons from the begining is :
Maltby Howell, Reuben White, John Hay, Jehiel
W. Himes, Sr., Alexander K. Dixon.
Under the present pastor 596 persons have been
received to membership in this church.
St. fames M. E. Church.— A church was organ
ized, at a point west of the old Cohoes Cemetery,
in the year 1876. This church was known as the
Park Avenue M. E. Church.
It had twenty-nine members at the time of the
organization. Rev. H. Blanchard and Rev. T.
D. Walker and Rev. A. C. Rose were the pastors.
During the term of service of Rev. A. C. Rose,
the church was disbanded, March 29, 1881, and
a new church was organized, April 6, 1881, called
St. James M. E. Church, and a new ed fice was
erected, corner of McElwain avenue and Walnut
street, June, 188 1. The present membership is
118. Rev. J. K. Wager was appointed to this
charge, April, 1883.
History of St. Bernard's Roman Catholic Church.
— St. Bernard's Roman Catholic Church has its or
igin among the very oldest of the public institu
tions in this city.
Its first pastor was the Rev. Bernard Van Reath,
a native of Belgium, who came to Cohoes as early
as 1847. Under his pastorate the Catholics of
Cohoes first worshiped in a dilapidated house,
subsequently in a carpenter shop, which still
stands, and which is now used as a dwelling. Fa
ther Van Reath, on his arrival, commenced the ex
cavation for the foundation of the first Catholic
church ever built here. The dimensions of the
lots on which the church was to be built were one
hundred by fifty feet. This ground was generously
given to the Catholics of Cohoes by the Harmony
Company. On November 18,1847, tbe corner stone of this
edifice was laid, with solemn ceremonies, bv the
Right Rev. John McCloskey, D. D. , Bishop of the
diocese of Albany, now the Cardinal-Archbishop
of New York. A year later the church was fin
ished and dedicated to the worship of God.
Besides erecting the first Catholic church in this
city, this first resident pastor established Catholic
schools here, which have been maintained without
interruption. The Rev. Bernard Van Reath re
mained in Cohoes six years, then returned to his
native land, where, only recently, he passed to his
reward. The Rev. Thomas Daily, afterward pastor of
St. John's Church, Utica, N. Y. , succeeded Father
Van Reath, and remained pastor of St. Bernard's
Church, Cohoes, only about eighteen months.
Then came the Rev. Thomas Keveny, in 1855,
who continued as pastor of this congregation up
to the time of his death, which occurred March
31, 1882. Soon after his arrival here, the lots di
rectly west of the church were purchased for twelve
hundred dollars, and a pastoral residence built on
them, which cost four thousand dollars. This res
idence was commenced in 1856 and finished in the
following year.

THE CITY OF COHOES.

965

The congregation shortly afterward added three
adjoining lots to their property, which cost them
eight hundred dollars a lot.
The attention of the church was next directed
toward securing a cemetery. Up to this time the
Catholics of Cohoes were obliged to go as far as
Troy and West Troy to bury the dead," there being
no Catholic cemetery nearer. This purchase was
made in 1857, and, with improvements on the
cemetery, cost twenty-six hundred dollars.
Owing to the constantly increasing numbers of
children in the parish schools, the duties of the
Rev. pastor toward this tender portion of his flock
became daily more important. He accordingly
resolved to secure more Christian instructors for his
schools than those who, up to this time, had been
there. For this purpose application was made, in
1859, to the Mother House of the Sisters of St.
Joseph, in Carondelet, Mo., for members of that
community to come and take charge of the schools.
The sisters soon came, and a residence was pur
chased for them on Mohawk street.
During this time the congregation also was in
creasing fast, so that it was deemed necessary to
provide larger and better church accommodations.
In due time lots were purchased directly opposite
the old church, and the work of building a new
church speedily commenced. The corner stone
was laid, August 15, 1863, by the same Right Rev.
Prelate who laid the corner stone of the old church.
When the new church was ready for divine service,
the old one was remodeled into a commodious
school building, with a large hall above for the use
of the Young Men's Library Association, and other
societies attached to the church.
It was next thought advisable to provide the
sisters teaching in the schools with a more suitable
residence. With this end in view, the house occu
pied by the pastor was improved and the sisters
transferred to it. Then, to the rear of the sisters'
house, an academy for the education of young
ladies of the congregation was built, and, at the
rear of the new church, an elegant house for the
clergy. When the foregoing work was successfully com
pleted, an accident occurred to St. Bernard's
church, which required the pastor and people to
stop, for a time, the course of new improvements.
February 2, 1876, will not soon be forgotten by
the people of Cohoes, certainly not by the members
of St. Bernard's congregation. Early on the
morning of that day, a gale which was felt more or
less over the whole State passed over Cohoes with
a terrible force. Besides the damage done in other
parts of the cit)', St Bernard's suffered a most seri
ous loss. The wind fell on this edifice so violent
ly that, as quick as thought, the steeple was torn
from the roof, and thrown like a reed to the
ground. The beautiful chime of nine bells, which
hung in the tower, fell with the rest, and only one
bell escaped destruction. Through the energy of
the pastor, and the co-operation of his flock, St.
Bernard's church was crowned, in the following
year, with a tower and steeple higher, stronger,
and grander than the old. This new spire meas

ured two hundred and ten feet in height, and
is surmounted by an illuminated cross, which is
one of the striking features of the city. The cross,
itself, is eight feet high, made of cast iron, and set
with innumerable glass prisms ; within the cross
there is a number of gas jets which may be lighted at
night by means of a galvanic battery placed in the
church tower ; one large bell, weighing 4,000 lbs.,
now replaces the chime which was destroyed.
The new church is a model in architectural
beauty and design. It is built of brick, cruciform
in shape, and without galleries ; it is capable of
seating over fifteen hundred people ; it is lighted with
gas and heated by steam. The interior of the edi
fice is very imposing, and everything arranged
according to the strictest ecclesiastical taste. This
church cost about one hundred thousand dollars,
and was dedicated to the service of God by the
Right Rev. Bishop of the diocese on the first Sun
day of November, 1866.
There are four hundred children attending St.
Bernard's schools. The number of sisters em
ployed in teaching is eight ; one of these is exclu
sively engaged in teaching music.
The number of souls belonging to this mission
is about four thousand, and there are two priests
attached to the church.
The Rev. Thomas Keveny was pastor from 1855
to 1882 ; with the exception of the building of the
old church, all the work accomplished in this
parish has been accomplished within these years.
Father Keveny was born in the county Sligo,
Ireland. He came to America in 1838, and pur
sued his studies for the ministry in Fordham Col
lege, an institution conducted by the Jesuit fathers.
He was ordained a priest by the late Archbishop
Hughes, of New York, and sent to take charge of
the Hogansburgh mission, in the northern part of
this State. After remaining in Hogansburgh about
four years, he was transferred to Cohoes.
St. foseph's {French) Church. — On the 23d of
August, 1868, Rev. L. H. Sangon, a worthy
French priest, was sent to Cohoes by Mgr. Con
roy, then Bishop of Albany, to rally the Frenrh
Canadians together and build them a church. On
the 9th of October the corner stone was laid for
the first French Church of Cohoes, on Congress
street, above Columbia. Bishop Conroy officiated.
On the 1 2th of December, 1869, the building was
opened for divine service, under the name of "St.
Joseph's Church of Cohoes." The founder, Rev.
L. H. Sangon, died on the 19th of December. 'Ihe
first mass in the new church was celebrated by Rev.
Thomas Keveny, pastor of St. Bernard's Church.
Father Sangon was succeeded by Rev. J. O. La
Salle, formerly of Champlain, N.Y., Christmas day,
1869. In 1871 a pastoral residence was finished.
It soon became apparent that the church edifice
was far from meeting the needs of the congregation.
The weakness of the foundation and the unsub
stantial condition of the superstructure made the
people constantly fear a catastrophe, to avert
which the edifice was demolished, June, 1874.
On the 23d ofAugustofthe same year Bishop Mc-
Neirney laid the coiner stone of the second French

966

HISTORY OE THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Catholic church in Cohoes. The sermon on this
occasion was delivered by Rev. R P. Francis Van
Campehondt, from II Chron., vii, 16. Four years
were occupied in the construction of this building.
The fatigue and anxiety of this work undermined
the health of Father La Salle, and in less than a
year from the time the new church was opened he
died. At his funeral Rev. L. M. Dugast said :
" His zeal for the house of God had consumed his
life." This building has a basement, ten feet high, of
stone-work, devoted to chapel purposes. The
main auditorium measures 70 x ico feet, with
nave, aisles, sanctuary, sacristies and adjoining
vestibules. The superstructure is of pressed brick,
with cut stone dressings. 1 he style is decorated
Gothic. The interior is very ornate, finished in
plastic, with bold arch molds and foliated capitals.
The tower and spire are placed on one corner, and
rise to a height of 185 feet. A gallery runs across
the front, extending on both sides about three-
quarters the length of the aisles. The interior is
finished in ash, trimmed in black walnut. The
five altars are very beautiful, being handsomely
decorated in colors. The architect was Mr. Charles
A. Nichols, of Albany.
The Rev. L. M. Dugast assumed the pastorate
of this church, March 19, 1879. His administra
tion has been very successful. In less than five
years he cleared off the entire debt on the church.
While paying off the debt he had to meet the ex
penses of finishing the upper story of the pastoral
lesidence, putting in the pews and doors of the
church edifice, constructing the galleries and the
railings around the sanctuary, purchasing orna
ments, and the introduction of steam-heating ap
paratus, and numerous other improvements.
When Father Dugast arrived in Cohoes, about sixty
children of the parish attended a French school
taught by a single lay teacher. At his request
the Sisters of St. Ann's, of Lachine, near Montreal,
established themselves in the parish. On the 4th
of September they came, three in number. At the
present writing there are ten sisters, comfortably
located in a fine brick convent, the cost of which
was $17,000, where they impart instruction to
more than 400 pupils. This institution opened
November 22, 1882, and was dedicated by Very
Rev. L. A. Marechal, Vicar-General of the Diocese
of Montreal, Canada. At the prize distribution
the first Sunday of July, 1883, Rev. Father Dugast
decided on commencing the building of a commer
cial college for boys. This edifice, now completed,
is built of brick, three stories high, measures 48 x
49 feet, and accommodates about 200 scholars,
under the care of five ecclesiastical and lay teachers.
The benediction of this institution took place, No
vember 11, 1883, with imposing ceremonies. It is
called the "Commercial College of the Sacred
Heart, of Cohoes, N. Y." It is managed by the
Rev. A. Velleneuve, formerly of Montreal. The
present pastor has founded many societies in the
church, such as the "Sodality of the Children of
Mary," for young ladies; " The Congregation of
the Sacred Heart," for young men ; " The Con

gregation of the Dames of Charity and St. Ann,"
for married women.
The object of these societies is to aid in the prac
tice of Christian virtues and give relief to the sick
and poor.
Father Dugast also devoted much care to the
two conferences of the Society of St. Vincent de
Paul, for men
Quite recently beautiful stained glass windows
were put into this church.
The French population of Cohoes, instructed by
priests of their own nationality, numbered at the
last census, 1882, 5,635 souls.
Church of St. Agnes (Roman Catholic). — Fiist
pastor of this church was the Rev. John F. Low-
rey, who still remains in full charge of the
church. He was appointed to his position by the
Right Rev. Francis McNeimey, Bishop of Al
bany, by letter of September 17, 1878. The
first mass was celebrated in the engine house on
Johnston avenue, near the bridge leading from
Harmony Hill to Fifth Ward. The first church
building (temporary) was erected, October, 1878,
and opened for divine worship on the 3d of No
vember of the same year. A new parochial resi
dence, at a cost of about $14,000, was erected
soon after, and the vacant lots opposite purchased
for a site for the permanent church edifice.
Afterward, the Sheehan farm of twenty-four
acres was purchased for a cemetery, and solemnly
dedicated by the Bishop of the Diocese, September
26, 1883. There is no debt on the property, and
the congregation have on deposit about $10,000
as a building fund. The temporary church build
ing was burned, December 3, and the society will
have a few thousand dollars insurance to add to the
above fund. The parsonage was saved, though it
was three times on fire. About 500 children attend
the Sunday school, and the number of adults be
longing to the congregation is about 2, 500. Several
large societies attached to the church are in a
flourishing condition, and a parochial library for
the use of the congregation is always open and in
charge of the young men's sodality.
Note. — The compiler is indebted to the several pastors
for the above facts concerning the churches.
CHAPTER IX.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF COHOES.
Cohoes Post-Office. — The first post-office was
located at Mr. Waterman's, near the junction. It
was moved thence lo a store on the canal bank,
near the bag mill ; thence to a building opposite
the site of the Harmony Hotel ; thence to Mohawk
street, between Oneida and St. John's alley ; thence
to a building on Oneida street, east of Remsen ;
thence to St. John's alley, near Mrs. Terry's store ;
thence to Dr. Cheesebro's drug store, Remsen
street; thence to a building on the site of Music
Hall block ; thence to Roger's block ; thence to
Music Hall, northeast corner ; thence to the
rooms now occupied in Harmony Hotel, Factory
street.

THE CITY OF COHOES.

967

The following is a list of the postmasters up to
January i, 1884 : Frederick Y. Waterman, ap
pointed 1832; Hezekiah Howe, 1833; Peter F.
Daw, 1854 ; George H. Wager, 1855; I. W.
Cheesebro, 1861; James H. Masten, 1865; Samuel
D. Trull, 1866; James H. Masten, 1867.
Cohoes Public Schools. — As stated elsewhere, the
first school-house in this region was located at the
Boght, about 181 3. The next school-house, or
the first one within the present city limits, was near
the corner of Oneida and Mohawk streets, on the
site of the residence of the late M. S. Younglove.
The first teacher was a man named O'Neil. Soon
after this a second school-house was built on the
site of what is known now as the slate yard school-
house. Supply F. Wilson was one of the early
teachers. In 1828 anew school-house was located in a
building which had been used as a boarding-
house, standing on Oneida street, near the old
freight-house. The next was a brick school-house
on the corner of Canvass and Oneida streets,
erected in 1847. According to the act of 1850,
school trustees were elected as follows : S. H.
Foster, Jacob Travis, William Burton, George W.
Miller, Abram Lansing, William Binns. A school
was kept in the basement of the Reformed
Church, in addition to those already mentioned.
In 1855 there was a school on the East Harmony,
one on the West Harmony, and one on Columbia
street. There are now fine large school buildings
in each of these localities. In 1870 the White
Street School-house was erected. The Pleasure
Ground School-house was erected in 1873, corner
Bowery and Elm streets. The Lincoln Avenue
School-house was built in 1875, and the school-
house on Van Schaick's Island in 1882.
There are now nine school buildings in Cohoes,
nearly all of them quite commodious.
The Egberts High School was established by
the munificence of Mr. Egbert Egberts, as a trust
in the hands of the Protestant pastors of the city.
He gave them the large building now occupied by
the High School on White street, which had been
used as a boarding-house. He gave them also in
trust the first and second tenement houses on
Remsen street, north of Egberts' Hall, the rent of
which was to be used to help sustain the high
school, named in the trust as Egberts' Institute.
The income from these tenements not being found
sufficient to maintain the Institute, the trustees
rented it to the Board of Education in August,
1868, the Board agreeing to keep a school at the
same grade as the Institute, and in accordance with
the bequest of Mr. Egberts. The Board also ob
tained the privilege to use the lower stories of the
Institute building for younger scholars.
The teachers of the Institute were : Rev. Alex.
B. Bullions, 1864-5; Mr- chas- R Evans> 1865-6;
Rev. A. J. Bingham, 1866-8.
The principals of the High School have been:
W. H. Nellis, Robert Hardie, E. H. Torrey,
Oliver P. Steves, A. J. Robb, George E. Dixon.
In 1856 Truman G. Younglove was elected
chairman of the Board of Education ; re-elected

in 1858. Then followed George H. Wager in
i860; James H. Masten, 1862; Samuel H. Foster,
1864. Mr. Foster was succeeded by Murray Hub
bard in 1869, and he by Isaac Hiller in 1880.
Beside the free public schools, there have been a
number of select schools connected with the
churches. The Board of Education established some years
ago a system of free night schools for working
children, which have accomplished much good.
Cohoes Fire Department. — The first fire engine in
Cohoes was a small rotary hand engine, called Ex
celsior, No. 1, purchased in 1835 by subscription.
The next was a hand engine, which had been used
by the Albany Fire Department, obtained in 1847.
In 1848 the village purchased an engine, hose car
riage and hose, at a cost of $675.
Parmelee Engine Company was formed, and the
Cataract Engine Company. Luke Bemis was chief
engineer. The first engine house is that near the
Methodist church, occupied by the Campbell
Hose, erected in 1848. Mohawk Engine Com
pany was formed in 1851, and they had an engine
house just south of the Miller House.
The Adams Steamer Company was formed in
1867 — president, H. B. Silliman; chief engineer,
S. G. Root. Charles H. Adams presented the
steamer which bears his name as an expression of
his personal interest in the welfare of the com
munity. The building on Oneida street, east of
Canvass, was erected for this steamer. Charles
Cronk is now engineer and Samuel Ray captain.
The Harmony Company also purchased a
steamer in the same year, which is always in read
iness for use when needed in any part of the city.
The first president of the Harmony Steamer Com
pany was Robert Johnston, and the chief engineer
was John A. Link.
The Alden Hose Company was formed in i860;
Johnston avenue, corner Garner.
The Geo. H. Wager Hook and Ladder Com
pany was formed in 1865; Oneida street. W. E.
Simpson is now captain.
The Daniel E. Mcintosh Hose Company was
formed in 1867; Oneida street.
Edwin Hitchcock Hose Company, formed in
1869; Main street, near Columbia.
The Howarth Engine Company was formed in
1870; disbanded 1873.
The Nolan Steamer Company is now known as
Eagle Hose, No. 3, and is located near the Stone
Bridge. The John McCreary Steamer Company, No. 3,
was the latest organized. It has quarters on John
ston avenue, near the bridge over the railroad;
has 25 men. William Williams is the engineer.
Since 1879 the Fire Department has been man
aged by a Board of Commissioners, as follows :
D. J. Johnston, C. F. North, J. Hiller, J. V.
S. Lansing and the Mayor, now Mr. Le Roy. R.
S. Calkins is chief engineer for the city, and the
whole department is remarkably complete and
efficient. Cohoes Police. — Until 1865 Cohoes had a system
of village constables to preserve order.

968

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

July, 1865, the Capitol Police Law went into
effect, including the Albany and Troy Divisions,
Cohoes being in the latter division, but being a
precinct by itself.
The station-house was in Hayward's Building,
and the first sergeants were Wm. Buchanan and
John McDermott. May 6, 1870, a new bill was
passed, giving Cohoes a separate police force and
commissioners. The captains have been: M. Redmond, Francis
S. Staats, Henry Genore, M. Weidman. Police
sergeants : F. S. Staats, M. B. Smith, Martin De-
laney, Kendall Hodgson. The Mayor is Commis
sioner ex officio. The other Commissioners have
been Geo. Z. Dockstader, Wm. Bamerick, Amos
T. Calkins, John Slavin, Edwin Hitchcock, G.
Carter, John Simpson, J. Tubbs.
Telegraph. — The first telegraph business in Co
hoes was on an independent line from Cohoes to
Troy. There was a stock company, and the stock
holders were all Cohoes men— president, Daniel
E. Simmons; secretary and treasurer, E. W. Fuller;
directors, H. L. Landon, Ira Terry, Joseph Chad
wick. The first office was in the building now occupied
by A. K. Dixon for a grocery store, Remsen street.
H. E. Lasell was the operator, and the first dis
patch was sent August 31, 1857. The office was
soon removed to the store of H. R. Grant & Co. ,
now occupied by E. S. Gregory, Johnston block,
Remsen street. Mr. Grant acted as operator, also
Mr. Le Roy, present Mayor. The income at first
was about ten dollars a month. After about two
years the Western Union ran a line to Cohoes, and
Mr. Le Roy became manager and operator. The
old line was abandoned.- The stock was worth
less. The Western Union gave the Cohoes office
half the receipts up to fifty dollars and ten per
cent, above fifty dollars. Mr. Le Roy was suc
ceeded as operator by Geo. A. House, and he by
Mr. A. F. Hurd, in 1883, with Harry Carpenter,
assistant. Cohoes Gas Light Company. — This company was
incorporated in 1853, with a capital of $50,000.
The first president was Mr. T. G. Younglove. The
works were located on Sargent street, and the ca
pacity was equal to the production of 50,000 cubic
feet of gas daily. The present works are located
on the Champlain Canal, and have a producing
capacity of 250,000 cubic feet daily. The present
officers are: D. J. Johnston, President; Wm. E.
Thorn, Secretary and Treasurer; D. H. Van Au
ken, Superintendent; Charles H. Van Auken, En
gineer. The Directors are: D. J. Johnston, Wm.
E. Thorn, D. H. Van Auken, Stephen Bush,
Samuel W. Johnston, Harmon Pumpelly, David
F. Lamb.
The Cohoes Water Works. — The Cohoes Water
Works Company was incorporated in 1855. The
following were named as commissioners: Charles
M. Jenkins, Hugh White, Alfred Wild, Egbert
Egberts, James Brown, Joshua Bailey, Wm. N.
Chadwick, Wm. Burton, Henry D. Fuller, An
drew D. Lansing, Jenks Brown and Truman G.
Younglove. The capital stock was $50,000, which

might be increased to $250,000. This plan failed
of execution, and the next year an act was passed
"To provide for a supply of water in the village of
Cohoes." The new commissioners were: Alfred
Wild, Charles H. Adams, Henry D. Fuller, Wm.
F. Carter, Joshua Bailey and Truman G. Young
love. They were empowered to issue the bonds
of the village to an amount not to exceed $60,000
and thus take steps to secure an abundant supply
of water. A reservoir was constructed on Pros
pect Hill, and the water pumped from the Cohoes
Company's canal No. 1. The first reservoir has a
capacity of 3,000,000 gallons. It covers two acres
of ground; 1,200 feet of pipe carried the water
from the pump-house to the reservoir, delivering
35,000 gallons per hour. The pump (a Geyelin)
was driven by water with a 45-horse-power wheel.
Five miles of sheet iron and cement pipe were laid
through the city. In 1869 steps were taken to en
large these water works. A new reservoir was
built covering three and one-quarter acres of land,
with a capacity of 8,000,000 gallons. This reser
voir is 190 feet above the central portion of the
town. A new pump was placed in the
pump-house, having a Jonval turbine water
wheel of 100 horse-power. The pipes were
also extended. In 1883 the waterworks were
still further enlarged, by laying 8,000 feet of
new iron pipe in Mohawk and Remsen and Main
streets; 2,500 feet of this new pipe is 24 inches in
diameter, 4,000 feet is 16 inches in diameter and
the remainder is 12 inches. At the same time two
new Flander's pumps, with capacity to lift 6,000,-
000 gallons every 24 hours, were placed in the
pump-house. The whole expense of the improve
ment in 1883 was $60,000. The whole length of
the city water pipes is now about fifteen miles.
About 2,000,000 gallons are used daily by the citi
zens. The present commissioners are: Wm. E.
Thorn, President; Mayor Alfred Le Roy, ex officio;
P. E. Marshall, John Clute, Robert Weir, John
English, W. R. Benedict. The superintendents
have been: Fred'k Upham, John Doyle, Sheffield
Hayward, H. R. Grant, E. R. Gilman, John Don-
Ion, Albert Kniffin. BANKS.
In 1859 measures were taken for the establish
ment of a bank, an institution much needed, and
one long talked of. The stock was $100,000,
which was nearly all taken by citizens of Cohoes.
The first officers were: President, Egbert Egberts;
Cashier, James M. Sill; Directors, Egbert Egberts,
Daniel Simmons, T. G. Younglove, Wm. Orelup,
Jr., Wm. G. Caw, W. F. Carter, J. G. Root, John
Sill and C. H. Adams. This institution became a
national bank, May 31, 1865. Its capital was in
creased from $100,000 to $250,000, August, 1872.
Murray Hubbard was chosen cashier, March, 1862,
in place of Mr. Sill. After the death of Mr. Eg
berts Mr. Adams became president, March, 1869.
In April, 185 1, an act was passed incorporating
the "Cohoes Savings Institution." The corpora
tors were: Charles A. Olmstead, Truman G.
Younglove, Egbert Egberts, Hugh White, Daniel

THE CITY OF COHOES.

969

Simmons, I. D. F. Lansing, H. D. Fuller, W. F.
Carter, Abram Lansing, Joshua Bailey, Wm. N.
Chadwick, Teunis Van Vechten, Andrew D. Lan
sing, Harmon Pumpelly, Edward E. Kendrick,
Wm. Burton, Joshua R. Clark, Jeremiah Clute,
Miles White. August 15, 1853, this institution
commenced business, and received deposits at the
office on Remsen street, in the store now occupied
by Wm. Bell. Egbert Egberts was the president,
T. G. Younglove the treasurer, and Edward W.
Fuller, assistant treasurer. This institution has
now on deposit over $800,000. Wm. Burton is
president, and G. H. Vermilyea is treasurer.
March 21, 1872, the Manufacturers' Bank of
Cohoes was organized, with a capital of si 00, 000.
President, Wm. E. Thorn; Vice-president, J. V. S.
Lansing; Cashier, N. W. Frost; Directors, Wm.
E. Thorn, J. V. S. Lansing, D. H. Van Auken,
George Campbell, J. W. Himes, Jacob Travis, D.
J. Johnston, N. J. Clute, Wm. Moore, Alfred Le
Roy, P. R. Chadwick. This institution was
opened for business at 70 Oneida street, July 8,
1872. J. V. S. Lansing is now president; W. T.
Seymour, cashier.
The Mechanics' Savings Bank was incorporated
March, 1873. It commenced business in May of
the same year, in the rooms of the Manufacturers'
Bank. The following were the first officers:
President, Robert Johnston; First Vice-president,
John Clute; Second Vice-president, Wm. Stanton;
Secretary, Wm. S. Smith; Treasurer, Abner J.
Griffin; Assistant Treasurer, Leonard J. Groesbeck.
This savings bank, like Cohoes Savings Institu
tion, has enjoyed continuous prosperity from the
first. The deposits are constantly increasing.
The present officers are: President, Robert John
ston; First Vice-president, John Clute; Second
Vice-president, Wm. Stanton; Treasurer, A. J.
Griffin; Secretary, Le Roy Vermilyea.
HISTORY OF NEWSPAPERS THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED
IN COHOES.
The Cohoes Advertiser (Whig). — First issued
February 9, 1847, by Alexis Ayres and William
H. S. Winans ; A. Ayres, editor. Continued one
year, when Alexis Ayres retired and Isaac D.
Ayres took his place.
The Cohoes fournal and Advertiser (Whig) suc
ceeded ihe Advertiser, February 9, 1848; Ayres &
Winans, publishers ; W. H. S. Winans, editor ;
continued to January 1, 1849, when it was suc
ceeded by
The Cohoes Cateract (Rep.), Chauncy Stow,
Horace B. Silliman and Stephen C. Miller, pub
lishers, under the firm name of Stow, Silliman &
Miller, proprietors ; Silliman and Miller, editors.
This firm continued until March, 1849, when Mr.
Stow retired, and the firm became Silliman &
Miller. These gentlemen continued the business
until September, in 1851, when they disposed of
their interest to J. H. Masten, who published the
Cataract (with the exception of an interval of two
years and five months, during which it was under
the control of A. F. Onderdonk and A. S. Baker

& Co.) to July 15, 1871, when he sold the office
to William Bean, who, with A. C. Stone, were the
proprietors until its suspension, December 31,
1 88 1. Its publication was resumed, October 20,
1883, by William Seaport.
Cohoes Weekly Democrat (Dem.) commenced
January 27, 1866, Michael Monahan editor and
proprietor. It was published four months and
then suspended.
Cohoes Weekly Democrat (Dem. ) — -The second
paper of the name was first issued September 1 7,
1870, by D. Cady, a resident of Lansingburgh,
assisted by John H. Atkinson. Mr. Cady con
tinued until the following November, when his in
terest was purchased by James F. Kelly, and the
copartnership of Atkinson & Kelly was formed.
On the 29th of August, 1873, the firm was dis
solved by the retirement of Mr. Atkinson. Mr.
Kelly continued its publication until the destruc
tion of North's block, where it was located, Febru
ary 21, 1879. It then suspended.
The Cohoes Independent, a weekly paper of small
dimensions, was started July 4, 1872, by Robert
Johnston and Charles S. Pease, and was continued
six months.
The Advertiser, semi-monthly; Johnston & Pease,
proprietors. This was started April 12, 1873, and
the last number was issued April 24, 1873.
The Cohoes Daily News (Rep.) — The first num
ber of this paper, the first daily paper started in
Cohoes, was issued September 22, 1873, by
Edward Monk, from the office of Clark & Foster,
in Granite Hall. Mr. Monk continued its publi
cation alone until June 1, 1874, when Samuel
Sault was admitted as partner. The firm continued
until July 22, 1879, when J. H. Masten pur
chased the interest of Mr. Sault. Mr. Monk re
tired from the establishment April 2, 1881, and J.
H. Masten has since been sole proprietor.
The Cohoes Daily Bulletin (Dem.), the second'
daily paper in Cohoes, was commenced June 1,
1875. It was Democratic in politics, and was con
ducted by J. H. Atkinson, formerly of the Dem
ocrat, and J. Barlow Luddy. This was continued
until December 13, 1875, when it suspended.
fournal Des Dames (literary), a weekly paper
published in the interest of French Canadian
ladies, and edited by Mile. Virginie Authier. The
first number appeared September 24, 1875, and the
last February 16, 1876.
L'Avenir National (Dem.) — Another French
paper, the publication office of which had for
merly been in Troy, New York, removed to
Cohoes, and the first number was issued October
15, 1875, under the management of Louis G. Le
Bceuf. The paper was discontinued August 11,
1876. The People's Railway Guide. — Semi-monthly;
Charles S. Pease, proprietor. Established October,
1875; is still in existence.
The Cohoes Daily Eagle (Dem.) — This paper
succeeded the Daily Bulletin, January 22, 1876.
David Williams was the proprietor and J. Barlow
Luddy, editor. Its publication was discontinued
May 26, 1876.

970

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

La Patrie Nouvelle (Rep.), a French paper that
succeeded the fournal des Dames, appeared
February 16, 1876, under the editorial manage
ment of Authier Brothers. It was Republican in
politics, and is still issued.
The Northern Herald (Dem.) — A Sunday morn
ing paper established by Williams & Egan, and
first issued September 3, 1876; suspended publica
tion April 30, 1877.
fournal De Cohoes (Dem.) — This was a French
paper, started January 3, 1877, by Pierre Lucas,
proprietor, and Arthur £. Valois, editor. It was
continued but a few months.
The Cohoes Daily Courier (Dem.) — The first
number of this paper appeared July 10, 1877,
under the management of William Keeden, who
retained possession until October, 1877, when he
was succeeded by James F. Kelly, who published
it in connection with the Weekly Democrat. On
the first of April, 1878, Mr. Kelly withdrew
from the proprietorship of the Courier, having
disposed of his interest to William Webb, who
had been his foreman, and to John Spence, who
had acted as local editor. They continued it
until February 15, 1879, when the office again
passed into the hands of Mr. Kelly, and on the 21st
of the same month the establishment was partially
destroyed by the fire in North's block. The mate
rial that was saved was removed to what is now
known as Tubbs & Humphrey's machine shop, and
the publication of the Courier was resumed March
24, but it finally suspended May 17, 1879.
The Parish Record. — Quarterly; Rev. Walker
Gwynne, editor; devoted to the interest of Saint
John's Parish, Cohoes. The first number was
issued October, 1877.
Sunday Regulator (Ind.) — Established March 2,
1879; Williams & Webb, proprietors, and John
Spence, editor; August 14, following, Samuel
Sault purchased the interest of Mr. Williams, the
firm became Webb & Sault, and John Spence
withdrew from the position of editor. Samuel
Sault withdrew from the concern in November,
1880, and William Webb continued its publication
until his death in the fall of 1881. Alexis Wager
took his place as publisher, and purchased the
establishment January 1, 1882.
Cohoes Daily Times (Dem. ) — This journal made
its appearance from the office of the former Demo
crat, August 4, 1879; James F. Kelly, Dr. O. H.
Clark and John Scott, proprietors ; Dr. Clark and
Lucius Maynard, late of the Oswego Herald,
editors. The latter retired on the ist of September
following, and the paper suspended November 5,
1879. The Daily Eagle (Ind.) — A penny daily — the
second of that name — started September 12, 1879,
by Lucius Maynard, who had withdrawn from the
Times as its local editor. It suspended after the
issue of a few numbers.
The Cohoes Leader (Ind. ) — A Sunday paper ;
made its first appearance September 14, 1 879 ;
Spence & Aitkin, proprietors ; John Spence, for
merly of the Regulator, editor. Its publication
was suspended the latter partof June, 1880.

Weekly Register (Dem.)— The first issue was
published November 29, 1879. Clark & McNiren,
proprietors, and O. H. E. Clarke, M. D., editor.
Suspended March, 1880.
Weekly News (Rep.) — Its first issue appeared
April 10, 1880, and its publication continued one
year. Monk & Masten, proprietors.
The Daily Regulator (Ind.)— Started April 19,
1880, in connection with the Sunday Regulator, by
Webb & Sault. Its last issue was made November
3,1880. Cohoes Sunday Republican (Rep. ) — A. Craig and
A. K. Miller, proprietors ; A. K. Miller, editor. Its
first issue appeared June 27, 1880, and its last num
ber in November of the same year.
Cohoes Daily Dispatch. — 1884 ; W. E. Seaport,
publisher and proprietor. Continues with large
circulation. Cohoes Sunday Globe (Ind.) — Patrick White,
editor and publisher. The first number appeared
August 21, 1 88 1, and it suspended six weeks later.
The Cohoes Daily Herald (Ind. ) — Appeared May
20, 1882, under the direction of Monk & Duffy, edi
tors and proprietors, and suspended January 27,
1883. Note. — This account of the newspapers of Cohoes was
prepared by Mr. James H. Masten, postmaster of Cohoes,
and editor and proprietor of the Cohoes Daily News.
CHAPTER X.
CIVIC SOCIETIES OF COHOES.
*Post N. G. Lyon, Grand Army of the Republic. —
Post N. G. Lyon was organized September 19,
1867, at the Cohoes Hotel. The first officers were
as follows : A. T Calkins, Commander ; Silas
Owen, Senior Vice-Commander ; Malachi Weid
man, Junior Vice-Commander ; Le Roy Vermilyea,
Adjutant ; George Van Der Cook, Quartermaster ;
Albert Carpenter, Chaplain ; Wm. Buchanan,
Officer of the Day ; Stevens V. Trull, Officer of the
Guard. These, with the following, constitute the
charter members : A. S. Baker, Thos. F. Gaffney,
Isaac Shaw, George W. Torrey, Van Olinda Gor
don, Jacob F. Bradt, John B. Schwartz, George
F. Fonda, James F. Hill, Lyman Miller, Albert
Brown, Rosen J. House, Frank Hanton, Myron
Van Benthuysen, Wm. Watson, Joseph C. Van Der
Werken, Nelson Cranse, Daniel M. Adams, Lorenzo
Carpenter. This society is composed of the survivors
of that Grand Army of the Republic which stood for
four long years, shoulder to shoulder, from the Poto
mac to the Rio Grande, a living wall between treason
and the Union. In its ranks can be found members
of some twenty different regiments, men who have
been in all branches of the service — infantry, cavalry,
artillery, sailors and marines. The post was named
after Capt. and Acting Brig. -Gen. N. G. Lyon.
The motto of the organization is "Fraternity,
Charity and Loyalty. " Fraternity and charity to
maimed and crippled soldiers, and charity to the
widows and orphans of those who fell in the war.
Loyalty to our country and flag. The members of
*This account of Post Lyon was furnished by Mr. Van Olinda
Gordon.

THE CITY OF COHOES.

971

the post are now engaged in an effort to arouse
public sentiment in favor of a soldiers' monument
in this city. The present officers are : Command
er, Lucius K. Smalling ; Senior Vice- Command
er, Thomas A. Gaffney ; Junior Vice-Commander,
Joseph A. Helmrick ; Adjutant, Lee Johnson ;
Quartermaster, John MacGuire ; Chaplain, Albert
Sammons ; Surgeon, Samuel Peters, M. D. ;
Officer of the Day, James E. Stevens ; Officer of
the Guard, Charles O. Gilman ; Sergeant-Major,
Charles McCullough ; Second M. Sergeant, Thomas
Rain. The following members have died since the
organization : Peter Butler, William Buchanan,
Samuel Hall, J. N. L. Cranston, John E. Silcox,
Moses McLuckey. SYMBOLIC MASONRY.
Cohoes Lodge, No. 1 1 6, of F. and A. Masons,
was organized under dispensation from Grand
Master John D. Willard, of the Grand Lodge of
F. and A. M. of the State of New York, on the
2istdayof October, 1846, and chartered by the
Grand Lodge of New York, February 5, 1847.
The following are the first officers : Ebenezer
Wadsworth, W. M. ; George Abbott, Sr. Warden ;
John B. Harrison, Jr. Warden; Wm. Orelup, Jr.,
Secretary ; Reuben White, Treasurer; George C.
Griffin, Sr. Deacon ; Elbridge G. Mussey, Jr.
Deacon ; Stephen H. Dotey, Tiler.

The rooms of the Fraternity were first located in
the second story of the building on the northeast
corner of Mohawk and Oneida streets, then owned
by John McDougal, and afterward they moved to
Lansing's building, corner of Mohawk and Factory
streets, and still later to Sillaman's building, on
Remsen street.
During the year 1871 Johnston's block, on Rem
sen street, was rebuilt, and rooms were fitted up
for the Fraternity by Mr. Robert Johnston, and
about August first of the same year the Fraternity
took possession, and still occupy the rooms.
The first candidate that petitioned for and re
ceived the degrees was Henry N. Pettis, a man
well known by the old residents of Cohoes and its
surrounding villages and cities.
Since the date of organization they have received
to membership 383 members; have lost by death
and other causes 220 members, leaving a member
ship at this date, November 1, 1883, of 163 mem
bers. The present officers are as follows : Alexander
S. Eccles, W. Master; Charles F Doyle, Sr.
Warden; Arthur. W. Adams, Jr. Warden; M. R.
Van Dervort, Secretary ; Martin Gillmore, Treas
urer; George Adey, Sr. Deacon ; William P. Lef-
fers, Jr. Deacon ; George W. Howarth, Tiler.
The following have served as Masters and
Wardens :

Year.

Masters.

Sr. Wardens.

Jr. "Wardens.

1847 

Ebenezer Wadsworth. *

George Abbott. *

John B. Harrison.*

1848 

John B. Harrison.*

f f , f

Isaac F. Fletcher, Sr.*

1849 

George Abbott.*

John J. Frisbey.*

Wm. Orelup, Jr.*

1850 

tt ff

Isaac F. Fletcher, Sr.*

ft 11 ft

1851 

ft

Wm. Orelup, Jr.*

Henry Enearl.*

1852 

1 1 1 1

ft ft .t

George Hastings.*

1853 

William Orelup, Jr.*

Henry Eneral.*

John Eastwood.*

i8S4 

(< «* tt

John Eastwood.*

Elbridge E. Mussey.

1855 

tt It tc

tt tt

Philo B. Fergison.*

1856 

il tt it

Wm. Leckey.*

Henry L. Landon.*

1857 

Philo B. Fergison.*

Augustus G. Golf.

Joseph Chadwick.

1858 

it a tt

Wm. Leckey.*

Benjamin R. Peck.

1859 

ct tt tt

.. tt

tt tt tt

i860 

Wm. Leckey.*

William J. Wheeler.*

R. G. Smith.

1861 

Philo B. Fergison.*

tt ft 1 1

Alonzo Malindy.

1862 

Wm. J. Wheeler.*

Alonzo Malindy.

Henry S. Bogue.

1863 

ff (f fC

George H. Billings.

Oscar O. Finney.*

1864 

Oscar O. Finney. *

A. A. Osterhout.

Elija T. Dixon.

1865 

tt ff tt

John M. Spencer.*

Lorenzo D. Sanborn.

1866 

John M. Spencer.*

Benjamin Coveney.

J. W. Van Steenburgh.*

1867 

Oscar 0. Finney.*

Lorenzo D. Sanborn.

Charles S. Longley.

1868 

L. D. Sanborn.

Charles S. Longley.

Joseph C. Dodge.

1869 

f t tt < t

Joseph C. Dodge.

James W. Brooks.

1870 

tt tf tf

George H. Plantz.

John Horrocks.

1871 

Charles S. Longley.

ft tt 1 1

Albert Ten Eyck.

1872 
1873 

ff tt ft

John Horrocks.

Charles Alerdice.

John Horrocks.

Albert Ten Eyck.

Charles S. Travis.

1874 
187s 

Albert Ten Eyck.

Charles S. Travis.
tt tf tt

Richard Cristtle.

1877 

Benjamin Coveny.

Charles H. Disbroe.

Thomas A. Murphey.

1878 

Charles S. Travis.

James Aitken.

Anson Tabor.

1879 
1880 

tt ft ff
James Aitken.
Richard S. Clarke.

Anson Tabor.

Richard S. Clarke.

1881 

Wm. T. Dodge.

Alex. S. Eccles.

1882 

Anson Tabor.

H. E. Bottum.

Henry Hinchcliff.

1883 

Alex. S. Eccles.

Charles F. Doyle.

Arthur W. Adams.

* N. B. — Those marked with star are dead.

972

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

CAPITULAR MASONRY.
Watervliet Chapter of Royal Arch Masons,
organized under dispensation from the Grand
Royal Arch Chapter of the State of New York, on
the 27th day of March, 1857, and chartered by the
Grand Chapter, Peter P. Murphy, G. H. P., under
the style and name of Cohoes Chapter, No. 168,
Royal Arch Masons, of Cohoes, N. Y., February
4, 1858. The following comprise the charter
members: *H. L. Landon, A. J. Goffe, R. G.
Smith, Joseph Chadwick, *P. B. Ferguson, E. T.
Dixon, *John Eastwood, B. R. Peck, *John Van
Demark, T. R. Howard, James McGee, George
Jackson, *Wm. Orelup, Jr., *Isaac Fletcher, and
*Wm. Ferrell. The first elected and appointed
officers were as follows: H. L. Landon, H. P.;
A. J. Goffe, K. ; R. G. Smith, S. ; T. R. Howard,
Treasurer; John Van Demark, Secretary; Joseph
Chadwick, C. of H. ; P. B. Ferguson, P. S. ; E. T.
Dixon, R. A. C; B. R. Peck, M. 3d V; Wm.
Ferrell, M. 2dV; John Eastwood, M. ist V.; J.
McGee, Tiler. The following members have oc
cupied the position of H. P. since organization:
H. L. Landon, 1857; A. J. Goffe, 1858-1859;
H. S. Bogue, 1860-1864; E. T. Dixon, 1865;
Benjamin Coveny, 1866-1867, 1872, 1874-1875;
W. H. Akin, 1 868-1 869; George Waterman, Jr.,
1870-1871; L. D. Sanborn, 1873; David W.
Gould, 1876; John MacNiven, 1877, 1879; Isaac
Clute, 1878, 1880; James Aitken, 1881-1883.
The chapter since organization has occupied the
same hall as the F. and A. M. , their present
quarters being specially arranged for Masonic pur
poses. The total membership since organization
is 200; of this number 1 1 2 have been lost by death
or otherwise, leaving the present membership 88.
The present officers are as follows: James Aitkin,
High Priest; Thomas A. Murphey, King; Alonzo
Malendy, Scribe; Martin Gilmore, Treasurer; R.
S. Clark, Secretary; William P. Lefferts, Captain
of H.; Edward R. Gilman, P. S.; Joseph H.
Eccles, R. A. C; John McCreary, M. 3d V. ;
Joseph Mincher, M. 2d V.; Charles H. Smith, M.
ist V.; Rev. William J. Heath, Chaplain; Otis R.
Greene, Organist; George Higgins, Tiler.
ODD FELLOWSHIP IN COHOES.
The first institution of a lodge of Odd Fellows in
Cohoes was March 14, 1882, under the title of
Spartan Lodge, No. 62, with the following charter
members: G. H. Wheeler, J. R. Taylor, James
Crost, Asa Spaulding, H. L. Palmer, Abraham G.
Lansing, J. C. Hitchcock, W. King, E. J. Higgins
and E. L. Stoddard. The charter was granted at a
meeting of the Grand Lodge, February 17, 1882,
held in New York City. On January 5, 1879, oc
curred the first installation. This lodge numbered
about two hundred, and its lodge rooms were in
Silliman's block. In 1847 a breach occurred in
this lodge, which gave cause for the formation of a
new lodge, called Champion Lodge, No. 360, to
which a charter was granted, December 18, 1848,
by the Grand Lodge of Southern New York, with
?Deceased.

the following charter members: John Van Der-
mark, Jacob J. Lansing, William Osterhout,
Augustus J. Goff, Julius Robbins, Alexander Hay,'
Sr., Daniel Doncaster, A. C. Spencer, George
Jackson and Daniel Goff. The records of Cham
pion Lodge are lost. The last report was made to
the Grand Lodge December 31, 1849. They
survived about three years. The dues of Spartan
Lodge, No. 62, were four dollars per year, and initi
ation fee eight dollars. The last record of officers
was given March 30, i860, and was as follows: I.
W. Chesbro, N. G. ; Peter Schoomaker, V. G. ; J.
W. Miller, R. S.; Malachi Ball, P. S.; H. R.
Grant, Treasurer; Harvey Clute, Grand Lodge
representative. Some time during 1861 Spartan
Lodge surrendered its charter, and this ended the
first chapter in the history of the order. The lodge
had for its members the oldest and most influential
of our citizens, but few of whom are living to-day.
They were the founders of this city, and represented
the wealth and influence of the people. Spartan
Lodge was reinstated under the jurisdiction of the
State of New York, March 11, 1879, and was
numbered 210, at which date the following officers
were installed: Harvey Clute, P. G, N. Y. ;
Daniel Mcintosh, P. G., V. G. ; A. C. Spence, P.
G. , Treasurer; William Moore, P. G. On Jan
uary 10, 1869, the lodge left the rooms in Silliman's
block, on Remsen street, where meetings had been
held for nearly twenty-seven years, and leased
rooms in Adams' block, on same street. May 11,
1880, the lodge leased rooms in North's block, on
Mohawk street. Owing to the large membership,
it became necessary to have more commodious
quarters. Larger rooms were prepared in the
same block, and the lodge occupied their new
quarters on January 10, 1883. The lodge meets
every Tuesday. The initiation, with degrees, costs
$16.75; dues, $5.20 per year, and the sick benefit
is $4 per week. The present membership is 1 30,
and the following are its officers at the present
time: C. T. Rain, N. G. ; W. McCullough,
V. G.; W. H. Holbrook, R. S. ; George Dean,
P. S. ; Samuel Horrocks, Treasurer; F. W. Grant,
P. G. ; Joseph Wood, Chaplain; S. Swatling,
Organist; Jonathan Hiller, Nathan Shaver and L.
E. Sessions, Trustees.
Cohoes Encampment, No. 71, I. O. O. F., was
instituted June 6, 1872. October 1, 1883, the
membership was 106, with the following officers:
F. W. Grant, C. P. ; E. E. Vischer, H. P. ; Charles
Davis, S. W. ; Isaac Whitwell, J. W. ; Bernard Ta
bor, Treasurer; M. E. Platz, F. S. ; Oscar Fodder,
Scribe. Meetings are held on the second and
fourth Thursdays of each month, in Odd Fellows'
Hall, North's block.
Prospect Rebekah Degree Lodge, No. 57, I. 0. O.
F, was instituted May 6, 1875. The following
officers were installed: P. G. Tymerson, N. G. ;
Alice J. Shaver, V. G.; Lizzie Moulthrop, Secre
tary; C. E. Simons, Treasurer. January 1, 1883,
this lodge numbered 83 members, with the follow
ing officers : Jonathan Hiller, N. G.; Ellen C.
Cain, V. G. ; Isaiah Fellows, Jr., Secretary; Alice
J. Shaver, Treasurer; Charles Williams, W. ; C. T,

THE CITY OF COHOES.

973

Rain, I. G. ; Mary E. Nary, Organist, and Miss F.
Baker, Chaplain.
Cohoes Uniformed Degree Camp, No. 5, 1. 0. 0. F.
— From the Cohoes Encampment, No. 1 1, emerged
a number of patriarchs, under the title of "Jona
than Hiller Uniformed Patriarchs," who were or
ganized April 3, 1882, with the following members:
P. G. Tymerson, F. W. Grant, Isaac Whitwell,
James Maxwell, Alex. Hay, E. E. Richmond, B.
Tabor, M. E. Platz, E. E. Vicher, George A.
House, Charles H. Davis, William Beattie, Charles
Williams, Samuel Lee, H. C. Spencer, P. B. Swart-
out, J. E. Clarke and Charles Gildea.
The Friendly Society of the Sons of Scotia. — This
society was organized February 12, 1869. The
first officers were: Wm. Whitehall, President; John
McEwan, Secretary. The society now numbers
eighty members. It is composed of Scotchmen
and sons of Scotchmen. It is a funeral benefit soci
ety. Wm. Ross is now President; John Hay is Treas
urer; Robert Lennox is the Financial Secretary,
and Thomas Callender is the Recording Secretary.
This society helps to keep alive in every Scotchman
the love of home and sweet remembrances of
Caledonia.
HON. GEORGE CAMPBELL.
Hon. George Campbell was born in Montreal,
Canada, November 17, 1829, and was educated in
an English common school at Cornwall, Canada.
In 1847 he located in Cohoes; but he later went to
Waterford, Saratoga County, to enter upon a three
years' apprenticeship to the machinist trade. Hav
ing acquired his trade, he worked eleven years as
journeyman and foreman, when he formed a co
partnership with Mr. George Gage, which existed
five years.
Returning to Cohoes in 1863, Mr. Campbell, in
partnership with John Clute, under the firm name
of Campbell & Clute, established the machine
business, which they have since continued, now
having been in it about twenty-three years. Prob
ably the most interesting period of Mr. Campbell's
life, from a purely historical point of view, was that
embraced in the years 186 1 and 1862, when he
was associated with Prof. John La Mountain in
his aeronautic enterprises in behalf of the United
States Government at Fortress Monroe, Washing
ton and elsewhere, devising and putting in opera
tion a machine with which gas was generated for
inflating the baloon. In the exploits of Prof. La
Mountain, which form one of the most novel and
exciting chapters of the history of our late civil
war, Mr. Campbell bore no unimportant part, and
his reminiscences of that time would make a valu
able and interesting addition to the literature of
the great rebellion.
Mr. Campbell long since identified himself with
the best interests of Cohoes, as well as of the coun
ty at large, and came to be regarded as one of that
city's most enterprising and public spirited citizens.
When the city was chartered, he was chosen to
represent his ward as alderman, and served two
terms, from 1870 to 1874. In 1880 he was elected

to the Assembly by a plurality of45!, his oppo
nents being James Duffy (Democrat) and Peter L.
Fitzpatrick (Greenbacker), though the Republican
plurality in the previous year had been only 157.
This clearly demonstrated his personal popularity
in the city and the balance of the Fourth Assembly
District of Albany County, which comprises the
Ninth Ward of the city of Albany, Cohoes and the
town of Watervliet. In 1884 he was a delegate to
the Chicago Convention which nominated Mr.
Blaine to the presidency.
In 1851 Mr. Campbell was married to Miss
Sarah J. Teachout, of Waterford, who died in 1863.
In 1865 he married Mrs. Anna M. Howe, of
Cohoes. He has three children living by the sec
ond marriage. For twenty years he has been ves
tryman of St. John's Episcopal Church, and he
has always been a liberal supporter of religious
and charitable institutions.

We take pleasure in making mention of the fol
lowing citizens, who, by their guaranteed support,
have helped to insure the publication of this valu
able work : J. U. Haynes, Samuel Peters, Bernard
Egan, J. H. Mitchell, Isaac Hiller, J. F. Crawford,
Henry A. Strong, George Campbell, E. DesRoseers,
George E. Dixon, D. J. Johnson, W. E. Thorn,
W. S. Smith, Andrew J. Root, George T. Carter,
M. Hayden, Marcus Kennedy, R. S. Calkins, T. S.
Keveny, Murray Hubbard, Kendall Hubbard, W.
P. Adams, J. F. Lowery, Neil Moris, Charles Poin-
cel, D. H. Van Auken, John Griggs, Mrs. H. R.
Grant, John Larkin, Thomas McDermott, Rev.
Stephen Bush, William Burton, A. J. Griffen, Sis
ters of St. Joseph, C. Houlehan, Patrick Conboy,
J. H. Masten, Charles F. Doyle, E. W. Fuller,
Joseph Ballock, William J. Fonda, J. P. Weber,
J. E. McLean, Silas Owen, J. W. Moore, George
H. McTamany, P. G. Falardean, J. D. Feather-
stonough, G. A. Peltier, John McDermott, P. G.
Tymerson, Joseph Delahanty, A. Venderbergh, M.
Brauet, John Lambert, J. M. Futhier, W. E. Sea
port, Lewis Hills, Amos C. Orlop, Benjamin Rea
mer, Mrs. A. G. Curtis, Mrs. E. Brockway, Mrs.
Ira Terry, E. W. Lansing.
Henry A. Strong, an attorney and counselor at
law, came to Cohoes, September, 1874; was ap
pointed city attorney in the spring of 1879, and has
since held the office. His home originally was
Colchester, Conn. Graduated at Yale College in
1873, and at Albany Law School in 1874.
John N. Haynes, M. D. , was established here a
physician in 1873; was graduated with honor from
Albany Medical College in 1872, taking first prize
for excellence of examination in obstetrics. His
grandfather and father were medical practitioners
in Nassau, Rensselaer County, from 1820 until
1880. Wm. S. Smith is a resident of Cohoes, and is at
present paymaster of the Harmony Mills, of that
place; these mills were established in 1861.
Samuel Peters, M. D., is a physician at pres
ent practicing in Cohoes. He commenced to
practice in 1846 in Saratoga County. His son,

974

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALRANY.

Frank S. Peters, also a regular physician, died in
1883, from an injury of the spine.
Mrs. M. M. Curtis (Curtis & Co. ) resides in
Cohoes, and carries on the manufacture of wrought-
iron pipes. This business was established in 1870,
and at this date furnishes employment for one hun
dred and twenty-five (125) men.
Joseph Delahanty was born in the town of
Stalybridge, Lancashire, England, in 1845; is at
present residing in Cohoes and carrying on a busi
ness agency on Vliet street. He has also been

School Commissioner for four years. He is a
member of the Labor Organization of the State of
New York, and is an executive member of the
same. Was elected member of Assembly from
Fourth District in the fall of 1882. Introduced
and had passed a bill for the better supply of pure
water for the city of Cohoes.
James Wallace is engaged with Wm. E. Sea
port in publishing the Dispatch, a paper established
in Cohoes August 23, 1884, at which time the
Cataract, a weekly paper published from the same
office, suspended publication.

HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROY.

By "V. J. OOTHOUT.

THE village of West Troy is located on the
east bank of the Hudson River, and directly
opposite to the city of Troy, Rensselaer County.
This village and the village of Green Island
are within and comprise a part of the town of
Watervliet, Albany County, and are the only
incorporated villages within the town. The
northern portion of the village of West Troy
is located on the Mohawk River, as the most
southern of the many mouths, or "sprouts," of this
river empties into the Hudson River at this point,
and in so doing forms the island called Green
Island. The land upon which these villages are located
is a part of the land owned by Kiliaen Van
Rensselaer, of the manor of Rensselaerwick.
The village of West Troy was incorporated as a
village by an act of legislature, passed April 30,
1836, and by this act it took within its corporate
limits what had theretofore been known as the
villages of Port Schuyler, Gibbonsville and West
Troy. None of these villages, except Gibbonsville, had
ever been incorporated. Port Schuyler was that
part of the present village which lies south of the
lands now owned and used by the United States
as an arsenal, and was originally a part of the
farm of John Schuyler and Peter Schuyler, and was
purchased in 1827 of the said Schuylers, by Willard
Earl, Jabes Burrows, Abijab Wheeler, David
Wheeler, Enoch Burrows, Gilbert C. Bedell and
Jonathan Hart. These purchasers were called
and known as the Port Schuyler Company. After
the purchase of this land by these parties, they

caused the same to be laid out into building lots,
with streets and alleys, and called the same Port
Schuyler. Previous to the time of the purchase of this plot
of ground by the Port Schuyler Company and
naming the same Port Schuyler, this locality was
known as the village of Washington. The date of
the settlement of the village of Washington was
previous to 18 14, for in that year the first church
located in this vicinity (Reformed Dutch Church)
was organized at a meeting held in a school-house
situated in the village of Washington, as appears
from the records of this church.
Gibbonsville was that part of the present village
of West Troy which lies between Port Schuyler, on
the south, and Buffalo street, on the north, and
was originally the farm of James Gibbons, a mer
chant of the city of Albany, and was by Mr. Gib
bons laid out into building lots, with streets and
alleys, and named Gibbonsville.
The village of Gibbonsville proved to be quite
a thriving settlement, and in the year 1824 was
duly incorporated as a village, and remained as
such until the year 1836, when the act of its
incorporation was repealed by the provisions
of the act which incorporated the village of West
Troy. West Troy (previous to 1836) was that part of
the present village which lies north of Buffalo street
(the north boundary of Gibbonsville) and south
of the present boundary line, which is the northern
corporate limits of this village, and is the old line
that divided the farms of John Bleeker and Volkert
Oothout.

THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROY.

975

This West Troy was originally the farm of John
Bleeker, and in the year 1823 was purchased of
him by a number of capitalists, who called them
selves the ' ' West Troy Company. " The deed
which conveyed this parcel of land was executed
on November 12, 1823, by John Bleeker and
Elizabeth, his wife, and conveys about 400 acres
of land, and excepts therefrom the Troy and
Schenectady turnpike (now Genesee street), and
lands occupied by the canal, and a parcel of land
of about j2¥ of an acre which then belonged to
Thomas Schrimpton. This deed conveyed this
land to George Tibbetts, Nathan Warren and
Richard Hart, of Troy, and Philip Schuyler, of
Saratoga, as trustees, and states that the above-
named parties, together with Esaias Warren,
Stephen Warren, Jacob Merritt, George Vail,
Samuel Gale, Ebenezer Wiswall, Elias Pattison,
Philip Hart, Jr., John D. Dickinson, John P.
Cushman, John Pain, Theodore F. French and
William Hart, have formed an association for the
purpose of improving the premises, etc.
The consideration price named in this deed is
$45,000. The eastern part of this parcel of land
(the part which lies east of West street) was laid
out into building lots, with street and alleys, and
the western part was made into large lots, called
"farm lots," which contained from 10 to 20 acres
each. At present the greater part of these farm
lots have been divided into building lots, and are
covered with buildings. At the date of the pur
chase of this land by the West Troy Company, the
only building thereon of any importance was a
small two-story wooden tavern. This tavern had a
piazza along the front and was located on the west
side of the road, now known as Broadway, a short
distance south of what is now called Central avenue
(formerly Canal street), and stood upon the same
plot of ground which is now occupied by the row
of brick stores which are owned by Mr. Thomas
Rath, and called "Rath's Block.'' This tavern, as
early as 1824, was a very old building, and was
probably erected at the time of, or previous to, the
Revolutionary War. In 1830 this tavern was kept
by one Samuel Ford.
Previous to the date of the incorporation of this
village, the villages of Gibbonsville and West Troy
were rivals, and although they lay side by side, they
laid out their streets and named them without
regard to each other, and consequently what is
now known as Broadway was then called Water
street, while within the limits of Port Schuyler and
Gibbonsville; but when this street ran into West
Troy, it was called Broad street. What is now

called Washington street was then known as
Washington street only in Gibbonsville, and in
West Troy it was known as Rochester street. Oi
course, this created much confusion, especially
with strangers.
By the Act of Legislature, in 1836, which in
corporated the village of West Troy, all real and
personal property which then belonged to the then
village of Gibbonsville became the property of the
village of West Troy; and by this act the village
was divided into four wards, and the inhabitants
residing in such wards, and duly qualified to vote,
were directed to meet on the first Tuesday in May,
1836, at some proper place in each ward, at 9
o'clock in the forenoon, pursuant to a proper
notice to be given and signed by the Trustees of
the said village of Gibbonsville, and to then and
there elect by ballot, in each of these wards, two
trustees, who shall be electors and freeholders.
Alva W. Rockwell, David D. Abrams and Albert
S. Blackman were appointed by this act to attend
and preside as inspectors of election of the First
ward; Isaac Chapman, Martin Witbeck and John
C. Green, in the Second ward; Samuel E. Ford,
John T. Van Alstyne and Andrew Meneely, in the
Third ward, and Abel W. Richardson, Abraham
Van Arnam, Jr. , and Alexander S. Lobdell, in the
Fourth ward. All of the above-named persons were
at this time among the most prominent business
men of the village, but all are now deceased. These
inspectors were directed to declare the persons
receiving the greatest number of votes in their re
spective wards duly elected. This act also directed
the said electors at the same time to elect a presi
dent for the said village.
Although the village of West Troy has grown
very much since the time of its incorporation, and
has in fact for some years past overrun the corporate
limits, still the present corporate limits and the
number and boundaries of the respective wards
remain the same as designated in the charter of
1836. After the incorporation of this village it
grew quite rapidly, although it was a thriving town
before that time. The United States had, in 18 13,
purchased and located an arsenal in Gibbonsville,
and the Erie Canal had run through the place since
1823, and was then (1836) being enlarged. The
United States purchased the land upon which this
arsenal was located from James Gibbons and Esther,
his wife. This purchase comprised a plot of about
twelve acres, fronting upon the Hudson River.
The deed describes it as commencing at a point
in the north line of Beaver street, at low water
mark in the Hudson River, and conveys the land

976

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

lying south of the north line of Beaver street, and
between the Hudson River, on the east, and Albany
street, on the west. There are now no maps that
show this street called Beaver street; but by this
deed it included and conveyed said street, which
then ran in a westerly direction from the river.
This deed conveyed this land in fee to the people
of the United States, and to its successors or as
signs, but reserved the right of a ferry privilege
upon the river, and forbade the purchasers or their
successors or assigns from ever maintaining a ferry
from this parcel of land; it also reserved the right
to said Gibbons to use the bed of a certain creek
which ran through this land as a bed for a canal
which was then proposed to be constructed (the
Erie Canal). It was the intention of Mr. Gibbons
that this creek be used for a canal and as a means
of access for boats from the canal to the river, and
vice versa. This creek was never used for such
purpose, but at a point about half a mile further
south, and in the then village of Washington, or
Port Schuyler, such a canal was constructed, and is
now know as the " lower side-cut." In the year
1828 the United States purchased of Esther Gib
bons, as executrix of James Gibbons, deceased,
another parcel of land which contained about
thirty acres, and adjoined the land purchased in
1 81 3 on the south and west. This last mentioned
parcel of land Mr. Gibbons had contracted to sell
to the United States, but died before the purchase
was consummated. The purchase price of the
first mentioned twelve acres was $2,585.00, and
that of the other thirty acres was $9,622.00.
The village of Gibbonsville was laid out into
village lots, with streets and alleys, in the year 1828,
by Evert Van Allen, a civil engineer, although a
portion thereof must have been mapped out as
early as 1 8 1 3, as appears by the deed of Gibbons
and wife to the United States, which mentions the
street called Beaver street, also a street called Al
bany street.
The original owners or proprietors of the villages
of Port Schuyler, Gibbonsville and West Troy had
large ideas as to the future greatness of these vil
lages. They intended making them great com
mercial centers for the transfer and storage of all
commodities to be carried on the canals and river.
The proprietors of West Troy constructed a canal,
in connection with the Erie Canal, which com
menced at the south side of the side-cut at Union
street, and midway between Broadway and the
Erie Canal, which ran from this point south to the
north side of Genesee street, where it then turned
and ran into the Erie Canal; at the point where it

ran into the Erie Canal was constructed a dry-dock,
which was so constructed that boats would run on
to a submerged platform, and then the boat and
platform were raised out of the water by means of
large screws, which connected with the platform
and were worked with long levers. This canal
was filled up several years ago. The proprietors
of West Troy also contemplated and made provis
ion for another canal in laying out the streets of
the village. This proposed canal was to begin at
the west side of the Erie Canal, at Union street,
and then run through Union street until it reached
West street; then run south through West street
until it reached the south side of Genesee street,
where it was then to turn to the east and run into
Burlington street; and thence through Burling
ton street south to Canal street (now Central ave
nue); and thence east through Canal street to
the Erie Canal. This canal was never constructed,
and this is the reason why Union, Burlington and
Canal streets are now so much wider than the other
streets of the village.
In the village of Gibbonsville there was con
structed a short canal or basin, which ran midway
between Washington street and the canal, from
the south side of Ferry street to the north side of
Schenectady street. This basin was called the
"Gibbonsville Basin," and was connected with the
Erie Canal by means of a short cut or opening
which ran along the south side of Ferry street.
This basin was filled up within a few years after its
construction. villages of gibbonsville and west troy.
The Legislature of the State of New York, on
April 23, 1824, passed an "act to vest certain
powers and privileges in the freeholders and in
habitants of the village of Gibbonsville," which act
was shortly thereafter amended, and, on the first
Tuesday of May, 1825, in accordance with the
provisions of said acts, an election was held for the
purpose of electing five trustees and one treasurer
and collector. The persons elected were as
follows :
Trustees, Julius Hanks, Elijah Ranney, Isaac
Chapman, Edward Learned and Isaac Frink;
Treasurer, Gerrit T Lansing; Collector, Nathan
Robbins. At the first meeting of the trustees they
proceeded to choose one of the members of their
body to be President of the Board, and the choice
fell upon Julius Hanks. At a subsequent meeting
of this Board they adopted certain village ordi
nances and ordered "that the same be published
by affixing to the house of Abraham Van Arnam,
with the President's name thereto affixed, together
with the seal of the corporation."
At the annual meeting held in the said village
of Gibbonsville, in 1826, the following persons

THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROY.

977

were elected trustees: Edward Learned, Abijah
Wheeler, William G. Groesbeck, Thomas H.
Dyer and Isaac Chapman. At this same meeting
it was moved and carried that the trustees be
empowered to raise sevent)'-five dollars, by tax, for
the purpose of procuring 'fire hooks and ladders;
for the construction of pumps and repairs thereof;
for the erection of a pound (should such be re
quired), and the surplus to be appropriated toward
contingent expenses of the village.
The trustees of Gibbonsville, elected each suc
ceeding year, were as follows, the first named in
each instance being chosen as president at the first
meeting of the Board :
1827 — -Elijah Ranny, Edward Learned, Isaac
Chapman,' James T. Morrison, Moses Tyler.
1828 — Amos Larcom, Moses Tyler, William G.
Groesbeck, David Morrison, Isaac H. Williams.
1829— Daniel T. Wandell, Isaac Chapman,
David Wheeler, Moses Tyler, Charles Learned.
1830 — Jonathan H. Dyer, Hiram M. Hopkins,
Levi Lincoln, Moses Tyler, James T. Morrison.
1 83 1 — Isaac Chapman, Ephriam Baldwin,
Hiram M. Hopkins, William P. Hall, David
Wheeler. 1832. — William G. Groesbeck, Moses Tyler,
Smith Ballou, Jonathan H. Dyer, Zachariah
Craver. 1833 — Isaac Chapman, Henry Thalhimer, Zach
ariah Craver, John Tisdall, Leonard Hannum.
1834 — Isaac Chapman, Charles Learned, John
B. Chollar, Eben Jones, Benjamin Brown.
1835 — Edward Learned, Martin Witbeck, David
- Morrison, John C. Green, Jonathan H. Dyer.
At a meeting of the last-named trustees, held
March 16, 1836, they adopted a resolution pray
ing the Legislature to grant the act which incorpo
rated the village of West Troy, and which was
passed April 30, 1836;. and in pursuance of this
act these trustees called an election for May 3,
1836, at which the first trustees and president of
the village of West Troy were elected. The whole
number of votes polled at this election was 476.
The following named officers were duly elected at
this date: President, Edward Learned; Trustees,
First ward, Thomas Evans, Jonathan Hart ; Sec
ond ward, Isaac Chapman, Hiram M. Hopkins ;
Third ward, Samuel E. Ford, Henry Kimberly ;
Fourth ward, Abram Van Arnam, Jr., Joseph
Twist. The presidents elected in each succeeding
year were as follows : 1837, Martin Witbeck ;
1838, Miron R. Peak ; 1839, Andrew Meneely;
1840, Martin Witbeck; 1841, Samuel Wilgus ;
1842, Miron R. Peak; 1843, Andrew Meneely;
1844, Albert T. Dunham; 1845, Albert Richards;
1846, Archibald A. Dunlop; 1847, Albert T
Dunham; 1848, Daniel C. Stewart; 1849,
Heman Mather; 1850, Daniel C. Stewart; 1851,
Samuel Crawford; 1852, Morgan L. Taylor;
1853, Lorenzo D. Collins; 1854, George B.
Fraser; 1855-56, Martin Witbeck ; 1857, Samuel
H. Waterman; 1858, James Roy; 1859, James
Brady; i860, George R. Meneely; 1861, William
Oswald; 1862, Peter A. Rogers; 1863, James
Duffy; 1864-65, Francis Beebe; 1866-67, James

Hamil; 1868, Wrilliam B. Williams; 1869, Ter-
rence Cummings; 1870-71, Perry Robinson;
1872, Joseph M. Lawrence; 1873, Terrence Cum
mings; 1S74-75, Michael Riley; 1876-77,
Patrick Lane; 1878, Robert P. Tunnard ; 1879-
80, Joseph McLean ; 1881, George B. Mosher;
1882, John H. Hulsapple; 1883, William E.
Cox; 1884, Patrick Lane ; 1885, Terrence Cum
mings. The term of office being for one year.
CANALS.
The Erie Canal, which runs through this village,
was authorized by an act of the Legislature of this
State, passed April 15, 181 7, and the work of con
struction was commenced July 4, 1817, and com
pleted October 26, 1825, at a cost of $7, 143,-
789.86. The enlargement was authorized by an act of
Legislature, passed May 11, 1835, the work of en
larging being commenced in August, 1836, the
cost of which was $36,495,535.00.
The Champlain Canal, which extends from Lake
Champlain to its junction with the Erie Canal, a
short distance north of this village, was authorized
by an act of Legislature, passed April 17, 1817,
the work of construction being commenced June
10, 1 8 18, and completed to the village of Water
ford, Saratoga County, November 28, 1822, and
fully completed on September 10, 1823, at a cost
of $875,000, exclusive of the cost of the feeder at
Glen's Falls.
At the date of the completion of the Erie Canal,
in 1825, it was very small in comparison with its
present size; it was then only forty feet wide and
four feet deep; boats when loaded could not draw-
more than three and a half feet of water. The
boats were also very small, being about eighty
feet long and fourteen and a half feet wide, and
could only carry about one-fourth as much freight
as the largest boats in present use.
In 1837 the enlargement of the Erie Canal was
made in this village; its depth was increased to
seven feet, by means of removing eighteen inches
of earth from the bottom, and raising the banks
the same number ofinches; the width was also in
creased to seventy feet, by removing thirty feet of
earth from the east side of the original bank. In
the early years of the canal the principal business
done thereon was the carrying of passengers, the
boats being provided with large cabins at both
ends for their accommodation, the center portion
being used for freight and baggage. These boats
could only carry about forty or fifty tons of freight.
At this time nearly all the boats were owned and
run by capitalists, who formed themselves into
companies, called "lines." At this time the pas
senger travel was very large, as this mode of trav
eling was much pleasanter and cheaper than by
stage coach. None of the line boats carried horses
on their boats, but were towed by horses, kept at
convenient points along the canal where each line
had its stables and horses for that purpose. It was
no uncommon sight to see a whole family, with
their household effects, load the same upon a boat
and take passage for the west, whither they were

978

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

emigrating; also, large parties of foreign emigrants,
bound for the west, would pass through this village
on board these passenger boats, and they would
sit upon the decks, with different musical instru
ments, which they had brought with them, and
play and sing their native melodies as they passed
through the village. As a general rule, all first-
class passengers going to or from the city of Albany
did not pass through this village, but would leave
or take the boats, as the case might be, at the vil
lage of Schenectady, there being a regular line of
stage coaches that ran from Albany to Schenectady
for that purpose; the reason being that the route
was much shorter, besides much time was lost in
locking the boats through the several locks be
tween this village and the village of Cohoes.
Among the first boats run upon the canals were
the boats called bateaux, which had formerly run
upon the Mohawk River between Schenectady and
Utica and intermediate points, for carrying freight;
these boats were pointed at both ends, and were
about sixty feet long and nine or ten feet wide.
Prior to about the year 1840 many of the canal
boats that ran upon the Hudson River were pro
vided with movable masts, rigging and sails, which
would be set up after the boat had been locked
into the river.
The business of towing canal boats upon the
Hudson River, by means of steam-tugs or boats,
was not introduced until about the year 1845. Pre_
vious to this date it had been the general custom
to transfer the freight from the canal boats, either
at Troy or Albany, to large boats called barges,
and in that manner take all freight to New York
and intermediate points upon the river; the barges
being towed by steam tow-boats. The first reg
ular line of canal boats that ran through from
Buffalo to New York City was established and run
by William C. Rice, of Troy, in 1845.
In 1825 the place for weighing canal boats, called
the Weighlock, was located on the south side
of Union street, a short distance west of Broadway.
The weighlock building was a small wooden
structure, and the mode of ascertaining the weight
of a boat was to run the same into a large stone
reservoir, or lock, which was connected with the
canal by means of a gate, and then close the gate,
when the water which was then in this large reservoir
or lock was drawn off into a small reservoir, located
below the level of the large lock, and the water
thus drawn off was measured, and from the meas
urement thereof the weight of the boat and cargo
was ascertained. This mode of weighing did not
prove a success, as it was very inaccurate, and a few
years thereafter it was abandoned and the mode of
weighing by means of scales was adopted; by this
last-mentioned mode, when the water was drawn
from the lock, the boat rested upon a framework
made of timber which was suspended upon heavy
chains, and these chains were connected to an iron
beam, which ran overhead from the lock into the
office or building, where it was connected with a
platform, upon which were placed iron weights,
the beam being so balanced that a weight of 3 1 \
lbs. upon this platform represented the weight of

one ton upon the frame in the lock upon which
the boats rested. In weighing a boat by this last-
mentioned mode, it was necessary to put on or take
off these heavy iron weights used upon the plat
form, according to the weight of the boat and cargo,
if loaded, and in some cases, in the weighing of one
boat, it was necessary to handle seventy or more
of these heavy weights.
This mode was more accurate than the former
method, but it required much time and labor on
account of the necessity of handling the heavy
weights; this mode remained in use until 1853,
when the present weighlock was built, at the north
ern terminus of this village, and the present easy
mode of weighing by means of weights sliding
upon scale beams was introduced.
Although the Erie Canal was not fully completed
from Buffalo to Albany until October, 1825, yet as
early as October, 1823, it was so far completed as
to allow the running of boats from this village to
Rochester, as is shown by an account of the same
published in The Troy Sentinel of October 10,
1823, as follows:
" The opening of the Erie Canal on Wednesday,
the 8th of October, 1823, was celebrated by the
people of Troy in the following practical manner.
When the procession of boats from the junction of
the western and northern canals had passed on to
Albany, according to the order of arrangements
previously made, the Trojan Trader, a western
freight boat, came down to the bridge near the
Gibbonsville (West Troy) basin, opposite this city,
and took on board the first load of merchandise
sent from the Hudson west on the Erie Canal.
The goods had been purchased several days and
were only waiting for the navigation to be opened.
As the occasion was new and interesting to us
here, our merchants took some little pains to man
ifest their gratification. As the side-cut into the
river opposite to Troy was not yet done, and as the
junction canal, though completed and filled with
water, could not yet be opened, so as to permit the
Trojan Trader to come around by Waterford, down
the Hudson, to be loaded at the wharf, it became
necessary to transport the goods on wheels across
the river to the place of embarkation on the main
trunk of the canal. Accordingly, in the morning,
this necessity being intimated to the carmen of
Troy, with an alacrity highly honorable to their
public spirit, they volunteered their services with
one accord, to take the goods over. After loading
their teams, they proceeded in two divisions to the
two ferries, and being, through the liberality of
Mr. Vanderhyden, the proprietor of the two fer
ries, taken across in his horse boats, toll free, they
had the goods all on the bank of the canal by
twelve o'clock. Several of our citizens lent their
assistance to load the boat, and at two o'clock, the
Trader having on board upward of twenty-five
tons of merchandise, with her flag flying, and amid
the cheers of assembled Trojans, started for the
west. The Trojan Trader is commanded by
Captain Brace; she is bound for Rochester, and on
her flag are painted the following words : ' From
Troy; the first western boat loaded at Hudson River. '

THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROY.

979

There were between eight and ten tons of mer
chandise which the Trader could not take; these
were put on board The Troy, another western
boat, owned at Auburn."
The side-cut opposite to Troy, and known as
the upper side-cut, was completed on Saturday,
November 15, 1823. In the afternoon the locks
were in readiness, the water was let in, and the
packet-boat Superior, with a large party of citizens
on board, passed through and crossed the river
to Troy. Two freight-boats followed the Superior,
and unloaded their cargoes at the river wharves of
Troy, one being laden with staves, and the other
with wheat.
Another very interesting event in connection
with the Erie Canal took place in this village in
1824, this being a visit, or rather the passing
through this village, of General La Fayette on
Saturday, September 18, 1824, at the time of his
memorable visit at Troy,' and is thus described in
The Sentinel of September 21 of that year: "Re
ception of La Fayette in Troy. — On Saturday last
Troy had the happiness to receive La Fayette.
The day was uncommonly serene, and the cere
monies were appropriate and interesting. Indeed,
considering the uncertainty that existed until
Friday concerning the time of the General's
arrival and stay among us, the committee are en
titled to very emphatic praise. The General, ac
companied by his suite, the Governor of the State
of New York and his suite, and the Mayor and
Corporation of the City of Albany, came up from
Albany on the canal, in the packet-boat Schenec
tady. He was expected as early as ten o'clock,
but it had been found impossible by the Albany
Committee to depart from their city sufficiently
early for that purpose. At half-past one, however,
the cannon at the United States Arsenal in
Gibbonsville (West Troy) announced his approach
in a national salute, and at two o'clock he reached
the side-cut. There he was met by a deputa
tion from the Troy Committee of Arrangements,
and the packet-boat Schenectady, with all on board,
was taken down through the locks into the river.
Near the mouth of the side-cut, eight boats were
waiting to tow the Schenectady across to the city.
The boats were each fitted with a mast, on which
was hoisted the national flag; each was furnished
with four strong oarsmen, and in the stern of
each, to guide the movement, sat the master of the
sloop to which the boat belonged. The boats,
being arranged in line and connected by hawsers,
took the Schenectady in tow, and pulling out into
the river far enough to clear the point of the shoal
that stretches along the south side of the channel
leading from the lock, they turned with a graceful
sweep down the river, and gave to view the beauti
ful line in its whole length. After the General
with his retinue had passed the United States
Arsenal on his way to the side-cut, five beautiful
uniformed companies from Albany, who had
escorted him from that city, crossing at the
ferry, united with the military of Troy, and the
whole were paraded in Ferry street to wait his
landing. "

FERRIES.

At the time of the incorporation of this village
(1836) there were two ferries — one at the foot of
Ferry street, called the Gibbonsville Ferry; the
other at the foot of Canal street (now Central ave
nue), called the West Troy Ferry. Previous to
about this date, this last-mentioned ferry was
owned by one Derrick Y. Vanderheyden, of Troy,
and was called the Vanderheyden Ferry, and was
purchased by the West Troy Company about this
date from Mr. Vanderheyden. The ferry-boats
were then propelled by means of horse power, the
horses being on the boats and created the power
which moved the paddles. These boats had no
cabins or other covering, and only a few wooden
benches for the accommodation of passengers.
They could carry about six teams of horses, with
their wagons. The rates charged were twelve and
a half cents for single horse and wagon; nineteen
cents for team of horses and wagon; passengers,
three cents each. During the winter months these
rates were doubled in case the boats were able to
run. These horse-ferry-boats which for many years
plied between this village and Troy were first placed
upon the river in May, 18 19, and the first boat in
troduced and used is referred to in the Troy
Budget of June the first, as follows: " The Horse-
Boat invented by Mr. Langdon has been in opera
tion at Mr. Van Derheyden's ferry in this city dur
ing last week. The machinery is built upon a
common scow. The boat crosses the river, which
is less than a quarter of a mile, in four minutes.
It is confidently expected that for the purpose of
dispatch and on the ground of economy this boat
will be in high repute and general use throughout
the United States. "
The ferry above referred to as the West
Troy Ferry was established by Derrick Van der
Heyden, but at what date cannot be ascertained,
but it is supposed to have been soon after he pur
chased the land or farm upon which the City of
Troy is now situated, which was in 1707; and in
the year 1 794 this ferry was being conducted by
his son, Jacob D. Van Derheyden. This ferry at
the present time is principally owned and con
ducted by Mr. George Mark, of £he town of
Watervliet, and from papers in his possession,
which contain a sworn statement made by Cor
nelius Marshall, it appears that in 1777 the
American troops which took an active part in the
battle at Stillwater between the American troops
under Gen. Gates and the British troops under
Gen. Burgoyne crossed at this ferry. The troops
were ferried across by means of lashing together
flat-boats, called bateaux. Mr. Marshall was at
this time employed at this ferry, and was 14 years
of age.
In 1 807 Daniel T. Wandell, of Troy, established
and ran a ferry, called the " Middle Ferry," which
ran from a point in this village, then Gibbonsville,
near Buffalo street, to a point on the Troy side of
the river, a short distance south of Division street,
at the homestead of Mr. Wandell. In the year
1 8 10 Mr, Wandell sold this ferry to Derrick Y,

980

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Vanderheyden, who thereupon discontinued it.
For several years previous to 1834 Mr. W7andell
was the general superintendent of the West Troy
Ferry and the Gibbonsville Ferry, they being at that
time the only ferries running. The first ferry-boat
run by steam power was run at the West Troy
Ferry by Mr. Wandell about the year 1833, but it
did not prove a success, and was soon abandoned.
Soon after the purchase of the Vanderheyden Ferry-
by the West Troy Company this company also
purchased the Gibbonsville Ferry, and discontinued
it, the object of the company being to compel the
travel to come further up town, and thereby build
up and increase the value of the real estate owned
by this company.
At the present time there are three steam pas
senger ferries running between this village and the
City of Troy, the oldest of these ferries being the
one heretofore referred to as running from the foot
of Central avenue, and is now commonly called
the ' ' Mark Ferry;" another, running from the pier
or extreme southerly point of Green Island, near
the foot of Union street, in this village. This ferry is
owned and run by Messrs. Thomas Rath, John Reily
and Joseph McLean. The other one, running
from a point a short distance north of North
street, near the United States Arsenal. This ferry is
now owned and run by Messrs. Clark W. Delano
and Frederick T. Hathaway.
The large highway iron bridge, which connects
this village with Troy, running from the foot of
Genesee street in this village to the foot of Con
gress street in that city, was erected by the Troy
and West Troy Bridge Company. This company
was incorporated by a special act of legislature,
passed April 23, 1872; the work of construction
was commenced on the 12th day of September of
that year, and the bridge completed October 1,
1874; the total cost of bridge and approaches
being $350,000. SAILING VESSELS ON THE RIVER.
Previous to 1850 the greater portion of the
freight carried upon the Hudson river was by sail
ing vessels, which were called "sloops," " schoon
ers," or "scows," according to their size and
manner of construction. The business of carrying
passengers by sailing vessels was abandoned as
early as 1836. A very large business in the trans
fer and sale of lumber was carried on at this vil
lage from 1832 to 1845, the lumber coming down
the canal on canal boats, and being unloaded here
it would then be reloaded upon the sailing vessels
for shipment down the river. About one hundred
and thirty vessels were engaged in this business at
this village. The river docks where they were
loaded were north of Genesee street and south of
Buffalo street; the river front lying between these
two streets was not at that time filled in and
docked so that boats could load and unload there
from. This village was the home of many of the
owners and captains of these sailing crafts, of
which the following were the most important;

Stools—American Banner, Capt. Thomas Raff
erty; Active, Capt. Butler Hubbard; Burlington,
Capt. Silas Betts; Samuel Brewster, Capt. Andrew
Hitchcock; Belvedere, Capt. Peter Hicks; Commo
dore Rogers, Capt. James Warford; Clarissa,
Capt. George Collins; Clinton, Capt. Robert
Robinson; Currier, Capt. Thomas Anderson; Con
veyance, Capt. Stephen Washburn, Sr. ; David D.
Crane, Capt. Asahel W. Gilbert; Don Ramone,
Capt. Harlow Rhodes; Fox, Capt. Stephen Wash
burn, Sr.; Henry Gage, Capt. William Lobdell;
Highlander, Capt. Wm. Crawford; James North,
Capt. William Foot; Juno, Capt. John Silliman;
Kinderhook, Capt. James Warford; Leader, Capt.
William Wood; Jane McCoy, Capt. Andrew Foster;
Martha Ann, Capt. James Hardy; Minerva, Capt.
John King; William Mayo, Capt. Meneely Hitch
cock; Mechanic, Capt. Isaac Hubbard; North
America, Capt. Daniel Curtis; Miriam, Capt. Isaac
R. Gettv; Pilot, Capt. John King; Ranger, Capt.
David King; Peter Ritter, Capt. Charles Mead;
Superior, Capt. Isaac R. Getty; Shepherdess, Capt.
Patrick Lamb; Senator, Capt. Isaac Hitchcock;
Pierre Van Cortlandt, Capt. Jacob Young; Robert
Wiltsey, Capt. William Harvey; John Ward, Capt.
Alfred Mosher.
Schooners— Thomas H. Benton, Capt. John Gar-
rahan ; Ballston, Capt. William Wood ; Cadmus,
Capt. Andrew Hitchcock ; Eleanor, Capt. John
Evertsen ; Isaac Merritt, Capt. James Wood ;
Mary Anna, Capt. Asahel W. Gilbert ; Meridan,
Capt. Henry Evertsen; Miller, Capt. Medad Wood;
Commodore Porter, Capt. Richard McLaughlin ;
Regulator, Capt. Henry Finch ; Andrew Stewart,
Capt. Asahel W. Gilbert; David Smith, Capt. James
Farrell ; Stranger, Capt. Edward Lane ; Ann
S. Salter, Capt. Asahel W. Gilbert ; Caleb Wright,
Capt. Jonathan Patridge.
Scows— Grampus,- Capt. Washington Mowry;
Hercules, Capt. James Hitchcock; Ohio, Capt.
Hiram Tinslar; United States, Capt. Stephen Wash
burn, Jr. ; Globe, Capt. James Hillis.
Of the captains above mentioned only a few
now remain residents of this village, the greater
number having died, while a few have removed ;
and of those now living and residing here may
be mentioned Isaac R. Getty and Asahel W.
Gilbert. Captain Getty was born at Lansingburgh, Rens
selaer County, N. Y., November 24, 1807, and
began to run upon the river when 17 years of age,
and came to this village to reside in 1838. He
followed the river for fifty-five years, and is now
the oldest river captain residing in this village. At
different times during the period of 55 years which
he was upon the river he was master of seven
different sailing vessels and eleven different steam
vessels. Captain Gilbert was born in Troy in 1819, and
followed the river from 1829 to 1870; he came to
this village to reside in 1845. During the time he
followed the river he was at different periods cap
tain of ten different sailing vessels and five steam
vessels. He also built and sold a number of sail
ing crafts.

THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROY.

981

LOCAL NAMES IN THE VILLAGE.
• By common consent of the inhabitants of this
village, different localities in the village have ob
tained local names, such as "Port Shad," "Tem
perance Hill," " Shanghai," and " Durinsville."
"Port Shad," being the extremes outherly part of
the village, obtained the title a number of years ago
by reason of the large number of shad that was
caught there.
' 'Temperance Hill " is that part of the high ground
in th's village which lies west of the Erie Canal and
between the United States Arsenal and Buffalo
street. About the year 1838 there was a great
temperance movement in this village, and a tem
perance society formed with about 1,700 members.
This society decided to give a grand Fourth of
July picnic, and selected this hill as the place to
hold it. The picnic was a great success, and at
the dinner one of the prominent members, Mr.
Lewis Rousseau, proposed that the hill upon
which they were holding the entertainment should
be called "Temperance Hill," and thereafter, by
common consent, this name was adopted by the
residents of this village. At the time of the hold
ing of this picnic that part of the village west of
the canal was vacant ground, there being only
about a half a dozen buildings erected west of the
canal. "Shanghai " is the name of that part of this village
which is west of William street in the vicinity of
Union street. This name originated several years
ago from the fact that one Daniel Carthy, who
owned considerable property, and resided in this
vicinity, was very fond of fancy poultry, and he in
troduced and raised the first Shanghai roosters in
the village, and they were a great curiosity to the
residents, who transferred the name of the fowl to
the locality.
' ' Durinsville " is that part of this village which
lies west of and in the vicinity of the Erie Canal, at
the extreme northern part of the village. This
name originated several years ago from the name
of a family called Durin, who resided in that
vicinity. Another local name, which is now only a matter
of history, is that of ' ' Stone Hook. " This name
was given to a group of rocks which stood on the
bank of the river at and near the foot of Buffalo
street. These rocks were not very large, but were
very prominent by reason of their being the only
rocks or high ground for some distance upon the
west bank of the river. They were removed a
number of years ago. The residence of Mr. John
I. Winne, upon the southeast corner of Broadway
and Buffalo street, now called the "Rock House,"
is built upon one of these rocks, and thus obtained
its name. This group of rocks was also called
" Steen-Hoeck " and "Stony Point" as well as
"Stone Hook." This name was in use as early" as
1675, and was used as a P°int of locality in con
veyances of real estate on the opposite bank of the
river. Stonehook Creek was the original name of
the creek which runs through this village, and now-
called Dry River.

CHURCHES.
The first church ever organized and located
within the limits which now comprise this village
was the ' ' Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of
Washington and Gibbonsville," organized by the
Classis of Albany in the year 18 14. The first rec
ord of this organization reads as follows: "At a
meeting held in the school-house in the village of
Washington, agreeably to notice, for the purpose of
electing elders and deacons to manage the con
cerns of a church to be organized, Peter S.
Schuyler was chairman, and Volkert D. Oathout
clerk. Peter S. Schuyler and Volkert D. Oathout
were elected elders, and Samuel Phillips and
Stephen Conger deacons. Dated March 19,
1814." The consistory of this church united with
that of the Reformed Dutch Church, located on
the Boght, in the town of Watervliet, and called
the Rev. Robert Bronk, who preached alternately
in these churches — the services here being held in
the old school-house. This building still stands
on the rear of the lot of Mr. James Forsyth on
Broadway, near the present "brick school-house.
The actual organization of this church dates from
Sunday, March 22, 1814, when, immediately after
divine service, held in the old school-house, upon
which occasion Rev. Mr. Bradford, of Albany,
preached, the above-named persons were ordained,
according to the forms of the Reformed Dutch
Church. The salary of the Rev. Mr. Bronk as
pastor of this church was $300, to be paid semi
annually. Mr. Bronk continued his labors as
pastor of these two churches for about ten years, when
he resigned his charge of the church at the Boght,
and devoted his whole time to this church until
1834, when he resigned on account of ill health.
Directly after the organization, this congregation
made a move to build a church, and on July 10,
1 81 6, the first church was dedicated, the corner
stone having been laid in April, 18 15. This edi
fice was erected upon a plot of ground now
occupied by a brick dwelling owned by Mrs. Man
sion, located on the west side of Broadway, about
three hundred feet north of North street, and cost
$5,568. This plot of ground was donated by
John Schuyler, Jr., and James Gibbons. The
Rev. John Woods became the next pastor of
this church, but remained only a few months.
The services were irregularly conducted by differ
ent ministers until the spring of 1838, when the
Rev. Oscar H. Gregory, D. D., became pastor.
Owing to the fact that tbe greater portion of the
congregation of this church were residents of that
portion of the village north of the United States
Arsenal, it was decided to build a new and more
convenient house of worship. In 1838 a lot on
the northwest corner of Washington and Buffalo
streets was selected as a site for the new church.
In August, 1839, the corner-stone for the new
church was laid by Rev. Oscar H. Gregory, D.D.,
and the next year the new church was dedicated,
the sermon at 'the dedicatory service being preached
by Rev. Dr. Wyckoff, of Albany. The cost of
this edifice was $12,922. For a few years ser-

982

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

vices were held in the old church, commonly
called the "South Church," in the morning, and
in the afternoon and evening in the new church,
commonly called the "North Church." In 1844
the parish was divided, and the old church, on ac
count of financial embarrassment, was sold by
order of the Court of Chancery, and was purchased
by Hon. Clarkson F. Crosby, and thus ended the
original organization known as the "Reformed
Protestant Dutch Church of Washington and Gib
bonsville." On the 1 8th day of June, 1884, the "South Re
formed Protestant Dutch Church in the village of
West Troy " was organized, with Philip S. Schuyler,
Robert Dunlop and John C. Schuyler elders,
and David Moore and Stephen C. Dermott
deacons, with thirty-six other members, and the
old church was then sold by Mr. Crosby to the
new organization. In 1840 the " New Church,"
or "North Church," as it had been theretofore
known, changed its name and corporate title to the
"North Reformed Church of West Troy," and
these churches thereafter became separate and
distinct organizations, the Rev. Dr. Gregory re
maining as the pastor of the North Reformed
Church. Trinity Church (Episcopal) was organized and in
corporated in 1834. For two years previous to that
time the Rev. Dr. David Butler and his assistant, of
St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Troy, held mission
services in a small wooden school-house on the
west side of Burlington street, a short distance
north of Union street ; but two families formed
the nucleus of the congregation, being those of
Raymond Taylor and James Lobdell. The first
vestry of Trinity Church was made up as follows :
Rector, the Rev. James Tappan ; Wardens, James
Lobdell and A. S. Blackman ; Vestrymen, Ray
mond Taylor, John Mason, Glover Blackman,
Edgar Botsford, Gilbert C. Bedell, Thomas Evans,
John Worthington and Jonathan Hart. The Rev.
Mr. Tappan commenced his work here in June,
1834, and held service in Port Schuyler, Gibbons
ville, and West Troy, the parish having no regular
place for holding services.' Mr. Tappan resigned
in May, 1836, and in December of that year
the Rev. William C. Cooley became rector, but
only remained about ten months, during which
time (1837) the first church edifice was erected.
This was a brick building and was located on the
west side of Salem street, between Middle and
Spring streets. This church was consecrated on
June 4, 1837, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Onderdonk.
In October, 1837, Rev. Mr. Lewis became rector
of this parish, and remained as such until Novem
ber, 1838.
Owing to the great distance and trouble of
reaching the church edifice on Salem street, the
people in the northern and central part of the vil
lage organized and incorporated a new church or
parish, called St. Luke's, on November 19, 1838,
and called the Rev. Washington Van Zandt as
rector, who remained as such for the short time
which this new parish remained a separate parish.
In 1839 the Rev. Aliva T Twing became rector

of Trinity parish, and through his influence the
parish of St. Luke's was abandoned and became
again a part of Trinity parish. Dr. A. T. Twing
remained two years, and was succeeded by Rev.
William H. A. Bissell, who, on January 1, 1841,
became the rector of the united parishes of Trinity
Church and St. Luke's Chapel. The Rev. Mr.
Bissell divided his time between Trinity and St.
Luke's, the services of the latter being held in a
building erected by St. Luke's parish, and situate
on the north side of Canal street (now Central
avenue), between Broadway and the Erie Canal.
In 1844 the church edifice on Salem street was
sold, and a few years afterward was destroyed by
fire. After the sale of the church, all services were
held at St. Luke's Chapel. In September, 1845,
the Rev. Joshua Weaver became rector of the
parish, and on January 10, 1848, the present
church edifice was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop
Alonzo Potter, of Pennsylvania. In April, 1851,
Rev. Mr. Weaver resigned, and in May of the same
year the Rev. Philander K. Cady became rector.
During Mr. Cady's rectorship a parish school was
established, which was successful during his rector
ship, and for a number of years thereafter. Mr.
Cady remained rector for six years, and was suc
ceeded by Rev. Charles W. Homer, who remained
until July, 1858.
On November 1, 1858, the Rev. George W.
Hathaway became rector, and remained until July,
1863. On November 1, 1863, the Rev. Josephs.
Saunders became rector, and during his rectorship
the three-story brick rectory, north of the church
edifice, was built. In May, 1867, Mr. Saunders
resigned. In August, 1867, the Rev. John Town-
send was installed as rector, and after a service of
six and one-half years, he resigned in February,
1874. In May, 1874, the Rev. Henry H. Oberly
was installed as rector, and in 1879 resigned. In
June, 1879, the Rev. George F. Breed became
rector, and remained as such until January,
1883, when he resigned, and was succeeded in
March by the Rev. E. Bayard Smith, the present
incumbent. In 1875 a mission chapel in con
nection with this church was erected on Groton
street, in the southern part of the village, and
called St. Gabriel's Chapel. In 1878 a mission
chapel in connection with this church was erected
on Ford street, in the northern part of the village,
and called St. Andrew's Chapel.
The present church edifice, which was erected
in 1848, is a wooden building, which cost about
$10,000. In 1865 this edifice was enlarged by
adding a wing on the south side, and increas
ing the seating capacity about 100. In 1877
this edifice was still further enlarged by the addi
tion of an organ chamber on the southeast corner.
In 1882 the present chapel was built, which is a
two-story wooden building, and is situated upon
the rear of the church lot, the second floor of
this building being used as a chapel and Sunday
school room, the first floor being divided into
rooms for guild room, vestry room, etc. This
chapel, with furniture, cost $2,000. The Sunday
school of this parish is divided into three parts,

THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROY.

983

being the parish school, which holds its services
in the church chapel, Mr. Wm. Hollands, Super
intendent; St. Gabriel's Mission Sunday school,
which holds its services at St. Gabriel's chapel, Mr.
Edmund S. Hollands, Superintendent; and St.
Andrew's Mission Sunday school, which holds its
services at St, Andrew's chapel, Mr. John H. Huls-
apple, Superintendent.
St. Patrick's Catholic Church of this village was
organized in 1839, and the lot upon which this
church was erected in 1840 was purchased April
20, 1839, and is located on the southwest corner
of Union and Burlington streets. The first service
held in this church was a mass, on Christmas day,
1840. This church was organized by, and built under
the supervision of, the Rev. John Shannahan, the
priest then in charge of St. Peter's Church of Troy,
N. Y.
The first priest in charge of this church was the
Rev. James Quinn, who, at the time of its organi
zation and building, was an assistant at St. Peter's
Church, under the Rev. John Shannahan. The
Rev. James Quinn was placed in charge of this
parish as soon as the church was completed, and
continued until June, 1845, when he was succeed
ed by the Rev. Thomas Martin, who remained in
charge until May, 1848. The Rev. Father Martin
was succeeded by the Rev. John Corry, who re
mained until February, 1849, when he was suc
ceeded by the Rev. William McCallion.
In February, 1850, the Rev. Thomas A. Kyle
was installed, and in or about this year he organ
ized the church in the southern part of this village
known as St. Bridget's Church.
The Rev. Father Kyle was succeeded in June,
1855, by the Rev. Thomas Daly, who remained
until November, 1855, when he was succeeded by
the Rev. William Fennelly.
The Rev. Wm. Fennelly remained until Octo
ber, 1868. The present priest in charge of this
parish, the Rev. William F. Sheehan, succeeded
the Rev. Father Fennelly in October, 1868. The
Rev. Father Sheehan is at present assisted in his
labors by two assistant priests, the Rev. Francis
Cunningham and Rev. Patrick Harrigan. The
trustees of this church in 1843 were: Thomas
Riley, Thomas O'Connor, Patrick Fitzsimmons,
Michael Develin, James Keenan, Sr. , James Mc
Grath, James Brady and Michael Roe. In con
nection with this church is a parish school for boys,
the teachers being the Sisters of Mercy. This
school is conducted in a brick school-house, which
adjoins the church edifice on the west.
The North Reformed Church of West Troy, as
the reader has before learned, was built and organ
ized in 1 840, the corner-stone having been laid in
August, 1839, the dedicatory sermon having
been preached by Rev. Dr. Wyckoff, of Albany,
and for a few years thereafter services on the Sab
bath being held in the old, or South Church, in the
morning, and in this church, which was then called
the new, or North Church, in the evening.
In 1844 the Rev. O. H. Gregory discontinued
holding services at the old South Church, and de

voted his time exclusively to this church, holding
services regularly each Sabbath. From 1844 to
1865 this church used as a consistory room a
small wooden building, originally built for a semi
nary, which was located on the east side of Wash
ington street, about fifty feet north of the Meneely
Bell Foundry.
In 1865 the present brick chapel was erected,
which adjoins the church edifice on the north.
In 1854 the steeple of this church was blown off,
and the bell broken, by a severe gale of wind.
The Rev. O. H. Gregory, D. D., became the
pastor of this church from the date of its organiza
tion, and continued as such until the year 1870,
when, by reason of his failing health, he was com
pelled to resign. In June, 1871, the Rev. Alfred
J. Hutton became the pastor of this church, and
remained as such until April 1, 1879, when he
resigned. On December 1, 1879, the Rev. John
G. Lansing became the pastor of this church, and
remained such until August 1, 1884, when he
resigned to fill the chair of the professorship of
Hebrew at the Theological Seminary at New
Brunswick, New Jersey.
The church edifice of this organization is the
oldest in this village, and in 1882 it was thoroughly
repaired, several alterations made, and an addi
tion built on the west end for an organ loft, a new
organ purchased, and the interior entirely refur
nished, at an expense of $13,000.
The present pastor, the Rev. John Walter
Beardslee, was installed December 1, 1884.
The South Reformed Protestant Dutch Church
for its first pastor called the Rev. Theodore F.
Wyckoff on July 25, 1844, and he remained until
December 18, 1854. On May 16, 1855, the Rev.
Garret L Roof became pastor of this church, and
remained until January 23, 1865, when he re
signed. On May 10, 1865, the Rev. Jacob S.
Wyckoff was installed, and continued as the pastor
of this church until October 28, 1869. On the
1 6th day of March, 1870, the Rev. Selah W.
Strong was installed as pastor of this church, and
continued as such until the time of his decease,
which occurred at the church parsonage on the
6th day of November, 1884, after the long pas
torate of over fourteen years.
In the year 1871 this congregation found that
the "old church" edifice was entirely unfitted for
the demands of the growing congregation, and
while the officers were debating as to the best plans
to be adopted to obtain a more suitable edifice,
the Hon. James B. Jermain sent to the consistory
a communication, whereby he proposed to erect
for the congregation, at his own expense, a
church edifice upon the following among other
conditions :
ist — A change of site, including the purchase of
ground on the part of the congregation.
2d — The furnishing of the building, when com
pleted, with all necessary furniture, including
organ, etc. , by the congregation.
3d — The edifice to be a "memorial building,"
in memory of Sylvanus P. Jermain (the father of
Mr. James B. Jermain) and of his family.

984

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

This proposition was immediately accepted by
the consistory, and the present site, on the north
west corner of Groton and Middle streets, was pur
chased for $6,000.
The ground was broken for the new church
June 28, 1872, and it was completed in November,
1874, and dedicated December 30, 1874. This
new church edifice or "memorial building " (now
occupied by this congregation) is of stone, and of
the style of architecture called the " early decorate
Gothic," and cost about $100,000. This building
is by far the finest church edifice in this village.
During the year 1874 the present elaborate
tower was added to this building. In the year
1878 the present chapel, situated on the lots north
of the "memorial building," was erected, which is
a Gothic building of brick and stone, and cost, ex
clusive of furniture, $6,350, and was opened with
appropriate services on Sunday evening, December
22, 1878. The parsonage, which is now located
in the rear of the church, was erected upon the
site now occupied by the "memorial building,"
and was moved westward some seventy feet, and
enlarged and repaired at the time of the building of
the " memorial building. "
The Sunday school in connection with this
church was organized in 1844, with twenty mem
bers, the exercises being held in the church until
1859, when a wooden chapel on the south of the
old church edifice on Broadway was erected. The
following is a list of those who have served suc
cessively as Superintendents of the School:
Miss Gertrude Ten Eyck, Clarkson F. Crosby,
John M. Fort, Lewis Taylor, Adrian Winne,
Lorenzo D. Lawrence, Rev. Jacob S. Wyckoff,
Lorenzo D. Lawrence, James Campbell, Jr., John
J. Clute, Rev. S. W. Strong, Edmund W. Johnson.
During the year 1869 the infant department of this
school was organized by Mrs. Stephen R. Schuyler
and Miss Anna R. Jermain.
This church, in 1885, by a vote of a majority of
its membeis, severed its relations to the Reformed
Church, and became connected with the Presby
tery of Albany.
St. Bridget's Catholic Church. — This church was
built in 1 8 50, under the supervision of Rev. Thom
as Kyle, the priest then in charge of St. Patrick's
Church of this village. This church is located on
the northwest corner of Salem and Mansion streets.
The Rev. William Cullinan was the first priest in
charge of this church and parish, in the spring of
1854, and remained in charge until May, 1883.
The present priest in charge of this parish, the Rev.
James A. Curtin, succeeded the Rev. Father Cul
linan in May, 1883, and, in the following Novem
ber, began to make extensive improvements in the
church edifice, by the addition of a sacristy on the
west, thereby doubling its seating capacity, and by
purchasing a bell, and making several other im
provements, at a cost of $18,000. In the fall of
1883 this church purchased the property on the
southwest corner of Salem and Mansion streets,
known as the "Sague property," the dwelling
on the corner being at present used as a rectory,
and the adjoining buildings on the south being

used as a school and residence for the Sisters in
charge of the school. This school is for the in
struction of boys and girls in the ordinary English
branches, and is under the charge of the Sisters of
St. Joseph, and has an attendance of about 250
scholars. The Rev. James A. Curtin is assisted in
his duties, as priest of this parish, by his brother,
Rev. Daniel F. Curtin.
The Washington Street Methodist Episcopal
Church. — This church was organized in April,
1 83 1, the first trustees being Daniel T. Wandell,
William Tucker, William P. Hall, Ammon Ham
mond and David I. Dutcher. Mr. L. Brown
was elected clerk and Ammon Hammond treas
urer. At this meeting it was resolved that the said
trustees and their successors in office should for
ever thereafter be called and known by the name
and title of the "Trustees of the Gibbonsville Sta
tion of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the
town of Watervliet. " The trustees of this church
then purchased of Ebenezer Prescott a lot on the
northwest corner of Washington and Ferry streets,
and thereupon erected a small one-story wooden
edifice, thirty-five feet front and forty-five feet deep.
In 1840 this was enlarged by adding twenty feet in
the depth, and by the erection of galleries. In
1 84 1 a small wooden vestry was erected on the
same lot on the north. This building was used as a
Sunday school room until about 1857, when it was
converted into a parsonage. In the spring of 1857
the old wooden church was sold and removed, and
the corner-stone of the present church was laid,
and it was completed so that the first service
therein was held in January, 1858. This edifice
cost about $9,000, and the furniture about $4,000.
A steeple, bell and town clock were added to this
edifice in 1883, and the parsonage enlarged and
greatly improved, at a cost of about $8,000.
The old wooden church, which was removed in
1857, was purchased by Mr. John M. Jones, and
by him taken down and removed to his carriage
works, on the corner of Berlin and Circle streets,
where it was re-erected, and is now used as a ma
chine shop in connection with the Jones Horse
Car Works. In the year 1849 a number of the
members of this church, residing in the upper part of
this village, organized a new church, known as the
"Ohio Street Methodist Episcopal Church," and
thereafter this church dropped the name of "Gibbons
ville Station of the Methodist Episcopal Church,"
and became the "Washington Street Methodist
Episcopal Church." In connection with this
church is a Sunday school in prosperous condition.
The infant department, being an important factor,
was organized in 1843, and in that year Mr. James
D. Lobdell became the superintendent, and con
tinued in the office until the date of his decease in
1879. The present pastor of this church is the
Rev. H. C. Farrer.
The Ohio Street Methodist Episcopal Church. —
This church was organized, in the spring of 1849,
by Alexander S. Lobdell, Ashael Potter, Edward
Mallory, R. E. Gorton and Otis Wood. On June
5, 1849, the trustees of this church purchased the
church property located on the southwest corner of

THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROY.

985

Ohio and Ontario streets in this village, known as
the First Presbyterian or Congregational Church,
and commonly called the "Bethel Church."
This church edifice was a small wooden structure,
and on November 19, 1849, was totally destroyed
by fire. The first preacher assigned to this con
gregation was the Rev. I. F. Yates. Immediately
after the destruction of the ' ' Bethel, " this congre
gation took action to rebuild the church, and in
the following spring (1850) the corner-stone of the
present church edifice was laid, and the building
was completed soon after, which is a two-story
brick structure, the auditorium being on the second
floor and the Sunday school and class rooms on
the first floor. For about thirty years this church
was the only Protestant church in the northern part
of this village. In 1881 the brick parsonage,
which adjoins this church on the south, was erected.
The present pastor is the Rev. H. Van Decar.
The ' ' First Particular Baptist Church and Soci
ety of Gibbonsville and West Troy,'' commonly
called the First Baptist Church, was organized at
a meeting held March 14, 1827, at the residence
of Thomas Shrimpton, which was located on the
northwest corner of Broadway and Buffalo street,
and was composed of seventeen members ; the
first trustees being Edward Learned, Thomas
Shrimpton, Jonathan Caulkins, Hiram M. Hop
kins and Cyrus Kenney. The first real property
owned by this society is the same upon which the
church and parsonage are now located, being the
plot of ground situate on the northeast corner of
Ohio street and Central avenue, and comprises
four village lots. This land was given to the
Society by Philip Schuyler and others, as trustees of
the West Troy Company, by a deed dated July 4,
1827, upon the condition that the premises con
veyed should be only used for church purposes by
this society or its successors. The first church
edifice was erected upon this plot of ground in
1829, and was a small wooden structure, which
was used until 1842, when it was decided to
erect a large edifice, and this building was removed
and sold, and converted into a French Catholic
Church. The second church edifice was erected
in 1842, and was of brick, with a basement. This
building fronted on Canal street, and cost about
$1,000. It was used by this society until 1870,
when it was torn down, and the present edifice was
erected, which is of brick, and fronts on Ohio
street. This building is of two stories, the audi
torium being on the second floor, and the lecture
room, study, etc., on the first floor. This edifice,
with the furniture, cost upward of $20,000. Ad
joining the present church edifice on the east is
the parsonage, which was erected in 1847. The
first pastor of this church was the Rev. Ashley
Vaughan, who became such in July, 1830, and
served for four years. This church has had several
pastors, among them being the Rev. William
Arthur, the father of ex-President Chester A.
Arthur, who served as pastor from April, 1853,
until April, 1856. The present pastor, the Rev.
A. M. Prentice, was installed in September,
1877.

The Sunday school in connection with this
church was organized in 1828, the first superin
tendent being Jonathan Caulkins, and the following
persons having thereafter served successively as
superintendents, viz. : Isaac I. Fonda, 
Stearns, Merritt Potter, Miron R. Peak, Edwin S.
Johnson, Miron R. Peak, Edwin S. Johnson,
Henry C. Kelsey, Andrew G. Coats, David H.
Simmons. In the summer of 1867 this Sunday school or
ganized a Mission Sunday school in the southern
part of this village (Port Schuyler), the pastor of
the church, the Rev. Edward Mills, being the super
intendent, and, in 1868, was succeeded by Albert
Tayer. This Mission school continued until 1875,
when it was disbanded.
In the year 1869 the Sunday school of this
church organized a Mission Sunday school in the
village of Green Island, Edwin S. Johnson being
the superintendent. This school continued as a
mission school until 1873, when it became an in
dependent organization. This school is now in a
flourishing condition, and holds regular meetings
at its rooms on the corner of Market and George
streets, and retains the name of "The Baptist Mis
sion." The First Presbyterian Church. — This church was
first organized at a meeting held in the school-
house which was located on the west side of Bur
lington street, a short distance north of Union
street, on the evening of February 12, 1834, and
was. presided over by the Rev. Marcus Smith (he
being the first pastor of this church), and it was re
solved that it be known by the name of the Pres
byterian or Congregational Society of the village of
West Troy. Hiram M. Hopkins, Horace L.
Dann and Henry Kimberley were elected trustees.
On the 27th of the same month this society organ
ized itself into a "Congregational Church," this
form of church government being preferred to that
of the Presbyterian. On or about the first of Sep
tember of this year the first house of worship of
this congregation was completed, and was situated
on the southwest corner of Ohio and Ontario
streets. It was a small wooden building, and cost
about $650. This edifice was familiarly called
"The Bethel," this congregation making a special
effort to secure the attendance and interest of boat
men, and when meetings were to be held at the
church a flag was hoisted from its cupola as a sig
nal to the boatmen. In 1835 the form of church
government was changed from the Congregational
to that of the Presbyterian, and the name of the
' ' First Presbyterian Church of West Troy " was
adopted. A year or two thereafter, this society
again changed their form of church government to
that of the Congregational. On the 26 th of
August, 1839, it was decided by this society to
withdraw from the Congregational association and
return to the Presbyterian, as organized in 1835,
and unite with the "New School Presbytery of
Troy, N. Y. , " to which they were admitted on Oc
tober 11, 1840. This society retained a regular
pastor until July, 1845, but thereafter had no regu
lar preaching or pastor (until reorganized in 1875),

98G

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

having services and preaching when temporary sup
plies could be obtained. This society, finding that it
could not struggle on and maintain the church and
a pastor, held a meeting on March 7, 1849, and
decided to sell the "meeting house" and lots;
and, on June 5 thereafter, this property was sold to
the trustees of the Ohio Street Methodist Episcopal
Church. This church or society remained dor
mant until 1872, when it was revived ; but owing
to the failure to properly elect trustees during the
time the • society remained dormant, it became
necessary to reincorporate the society, which was
formally accomplished on February 24, 1872. In
the year 1875-76 the present church edifice, which
is located on the north side of Union street, a short
distance east of Ford street, was erected. This
new church edifice is a two-story brick building ;
the total cost, including site, edifice and furniture,
was $15,500.
The present pastor is the Rev. Charles G. Mat-
tison. The Church of the "Holy Heart of Mary"
(French Catholic), corner of Stafford and Buffalo
streets, was organized by the Rev. Eugene Rey, a
native of France and member of a religious society
or order of that country called the "Eudistes."
The corner-stone of the church edifice was laid
September 11, 1881.
Upon the front of the edifice was placed two
stone tablets, which bore the following inscriptions:
"Consecration de J6sus et Marie dite les Eudistes."
"Eglise du Saint Cceur de Marie." Upon the
corner-stone was inscribed as follows: "Pierre an-
gulaire, posee le Septembre, 1881." In 1883 the
Rev. Louis Leduce became the priest in charge of
this church. On April 2, 1885, the church edifice
was totally destroyed by fire, at a loss of $18,000.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The public schools of this village are what are
known as the " District Schools," each of the four
wards of the village being a distinct district and
having its separate schools and buildings.
These districts are comprised within, and com
pose a part of the district school system of the
town of Watervliet, the system being first established
and organized in 18 13, and has continued ever
since. The districts within this village are
designated as follows: First ward, District No. 1;
Second ward, District No. 2 ; Third ward, District
No. 20; Fourth ward, District No. 9. At the time
of the organization of these school districts, the
school-house for District No. 1 was located at the
village of Washington, afterward know as the
village of Port Schuyler; the school-house for
District No. 2 being located at the village of Gib
bonsville; and the school-house for District No. 9
being located in the country. District No. 20 was
not organized until some years afterward, and-was
created from a portion of District No. 2.
TURNPIKE AND PLANK ROADS.
The Troy and Schenectady Turnpike. — This turn
pike road was incorporated in 1 806, and in May of
that year was surveyed and laid out by Lawrence

Vrooman. The charter granted the construction of
a road from Ferry street, Troy, to the village of
Schenectady. This road was constructed and owned
by a company composed of the principal mer
chants of the City of Troy, and was built for the
purpose of diverting from the City of Albany the
extensive grain traffic which it then had from
Schenectady. This road ran through the land
upon which this village now stands, and in laying
out the village this road was called Genesee street
within the village limits. The road was abandoned
and surrendered to the town of Watervliet a num
ber of years ago.
Watervliet Plank Road Company. — This com
pany was incorporated and the road constructed in
1850, running from Buffalo street north through
Broad street, now Broadway, in this village, to
Auburn street, where it crossed over to the west side
of the canal, and thence to the village of Cohoes.
This road never paid any dividends to the stock
holders, and after an existence of ten years was
abandoned and the charter surrendered.
Broadway of this village was originally a post
road or turnpike, and was known as the Whitehall
Turnpike, also as the Northern Turnpike. Along
this road from the City of Albany to Whitehall were
placed mile-stones; the stone known as the seven-
mile stone was located in this village, at a point a
short distance south of Genesee street, this point
being seven miles distant from State street, Albany.
OLD RESIDENTS.
Of the original settlers of this village, there are
at present only three now living and residing in the
village, namely: Messrs. Samuel S. Wandell,
Henry Kimberly and Morgan L. Taylor.
Mr. Samuel S. Wandell came to this village
(then Gibbonsville) to reside in 1828; previous to
that date he had resided in the City of Troy, where
he was born in the year 1800, at the home of his
father, known as the Wandell homestead, which
was located on the bank of the river near what is
now known as Division street. Mr. Wandell is a
painter by trade, and for more than 30 years pre
vious to 1862 kept a store for the sale of paints,
oils, etc., in this village, and also worked at his
trade. Mr. Wandell is now the oldest person liv
ing that was born in the City of Troy.
Mr. Henry Kimberly was born in Troy, on
February 20, 1806. He learned the trade of a
blacksmith in the City of Albany, and in the spring
of 1827 came to West Troy to reside, and opened
a blacksmith shop, which was located on the
southwest corner of Broadway and Ontario streets.
At that time there were only three other buildings on
Broadway; a large wooden building used as a store,
on the southwest corner of Broadway and Union
streets, which was conducted by the firm of Patti
son & Hart; a small wooden dwelling a short dis
tance south of this store, and an old tavern near
the ferry.
Mr. Kimberly, by his industry, prudence and
honesty, has become one of the largest real estate
owners of this village. In 1836 he was elected a
Trustee from the Third ward of this village, being

THE VLLLAGE OF WEST TROY.

987

one of the first trustees after its incorporation in
that year.
Mr. Morgan L. Taylor was born at Ballston,
Saratoga County, May 18, 1806, and came to this
village to reside in 1828; and for a greater part of
the time that he has resided here his business in
terests have been closely connected with the canals
and river. For a number of years previous to 1878
he and Hiram Holbrook, under the firm name of
Holbrook & Taylor, owned and carried on the
canal boat dry dock in this village, known as
the West Troy Dry Dock, which is located at the
southern terminus of Washington street. Mr.
Taylor was elected to the office of President of this
village in 1852, and held the same for the term of
one year. PUBLIC MEN.
Lorenzo D. Collins was elected Member of
Assembly for the year 1859, and re-elected for
i860; and in November, 1865, was elected State
Senator for the years 1866—7.
Waters W. Braman was elected Member of
Assembly for the year 1874, and re-elected for
1875, and again elected for the year 1879 ; and in
November, 1879, was elected State Senator for the
years 1880-1.
Peter A. Rogers was elected Surrogate of Albany
County in November, 1871, and entered upon the
discharge of the duties of the office on January 1,
1872, and, at the expiration of his term of office,
was re-elected and continued to the office until
January 1, 1884. POLICE.
The first police force in this village was organ
ized, under an act of the Legislature, in 1865, and
was known as the " Capital Police District." This
district comprised the cities of Albany, Troy and
Schenectady, the villages of West Troy, Green
Island, Lansingburgh, Cohoes and Greenbush, and
certain portions of the towns of Watervliet and
North Greenbush. The district was divided into
two divisions, known as the " Troy Division " and
"Albany Division," this village being embraced
within the Troy Division. The first Deputy Super
intendent of the Troy Division was John M. Lan
don. The West Troy Precinct was located at 38
Broadway. The first officers and patrolmen were
as follows : Captain, Lansing Clute ; Sergeant,
Abram E. Lansing ; Patrolmen, C. Spencer Loomis,
Richard Crooks, Martin V. B. Jones, James Smith,
Charles H. Cary, John W. Decker and Patrick
Rogers. In 1870 the present police force of this village
was organized by virtue of an act of the Legislature
of that year ; this act repealed the Capital Police
District act or law, in so far as it related to this
village, and gave the electors of this village power
to elect four Police Commissioners, who had power
to organize and maintain a police force in this
village. The first Commissioners elected under this
act were Ebenezer Scoville, John I. Winne, William
C. Durant and Isaac R. Getty. These Commis
sioners in that year organized a police force, and
appointed James 0. Wood, Captain, and Sylvanus

K. Jefferson, Sergeant, who have held the respect
ive positions ever, since, such appointment.
CIVIL WAR.
Monday, July 1, 1861, was an eventful day in
the history of this village, it being the day of the
last visit of Co. A, 34th Regiment, New York
State Volunteers, prior to their departure for the seat
of war in the war of the late rebellion. This com
pany was composed of volunteers who were residents
of this village ; the company being formed by the
efforts of William L. Oswald, who was at this time
president of this village. On this day the company
came from the bairacks at Albany, and were met
at tbe train by the citizens and members of the fire
department and escorted to the North Reformed
Dutch Church, in front of which had been erected
a large platform, over which hung a large Ameri
can flag. The Rev. G. W. Hathaway, on behalf
of the " Ladies' Volunteer Association," welcomed
the company, and presented them with two large
boxes of useful articles for camp and hospital use.
The Rev. O. H. Gregory then addressed the sol
diers, and, on behalf of the Watervliet Bible Society,
presented each officer and private with a bible,
upon the inside of the cover of which was fastened
a slip which bore the United States flag and the
words " To the Defenders of Our Country. "
A beautiful national ensign, made of silk, a gift
of the citizens of this village, was next presented
to the company, George R. Meenely making the
presentation address. After that the company
made a short parade through the village and then
took the train for the camp, many of the members
never to see this village again. This company
was composed of the following named citizens:
Captain, William L. Oswald; Lieutenant, Elijah
R. Brown; Ensign, Benjamin H. Warford; Orderly
Sergeant, Luther A. Hill; Second Sergeant, George
H. Swartwout; Third Sergeant, John Oothout;
Fourth Sergeant, Martin Gorman; First Corporal,
Abram E. Lansing; Second Corporal, John Mc
lntyre; Third Corporal, Joseph Andrews; Fourth
Corporal, Edward Hoffman; Henry L. Witbeck,
Daniel Cassidy, Edgar Lorman, Thomas Cary,
Henry Gilman, Alonzo Hills, James McCormick,
Anthony Kelly, Daniel M. Becker, Louis Hoff
man, John B. Amsden, James A. Britton, William
Campbell, Robert H. Hartley, Richard Rapson,
George Porter, Patrick Horan, Edward Donohue,
Martin Troy, Thomas F. Colligan, Sidney Hock-
ridge, Patrick Keenan, James Anderson, William
Traver, Levi Colwell, Henry White, George
Hecock, Martin Luckey, John Walsh, John Tottie.
Edward Thompson, John Morey, James M.
Shoemaker, William H. Bartlet, John Dailey,
Riley C. Witmarsh, Spencer Hoffman, John Cun
ningham, Martin Buck, John Barnett, John Mc
Mullen, Peter Ost, James Dongan, Henry Lor
man, Thomas Kelley, William J. Cary, Peter Van
Patten, Jacob C. Forman, Charles Dorn, Alex
ander Hannah, John Dolan, Charles Mitchell,
James P. Allen, James Redden, Charles Traver,
David Flanagin, Frank Hayden, Albert W. Houce,
John Loan, William Kirk, Henry W. Price,

988

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Alphonzo Dubois, David Cary, James Donohue,
Patrick Welsh. On the 2d day of July, this regi
ment, under Col. Ladue, left for the seat of war,
embarking on the propeller Henry Adams and a
barge from the city of Albany, the place of their
encampment. FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The piesent organized fire companies of the fire
department of this village consist of four hose
companies and one hook and ladder company.
They are as follows: Oswald Hose Company No.
i, organized 1859; Michael Kelly Hose Company
No. 2, organized 1870; Thomas Mclntyre Hose
Company No. 3, organized 1873; Protective Hose
Company No. 4, organized 1878; S. J. Gleason
Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, organized
1872. In 1864 the first steam fire engine of this
fire department was purchased, and company or
ganized and named James Roy No. 1. In
1867 another steamer was purchased and company
organized and named James Duffy No. 2, and in
1873 another steamer was purchased and company
organized and named Martin Tierney No. 3.
These steamers remained in active service until
1878, when the system of public water works, at
that time introduced into this village, was deemed
sufficient to extinguish all ordinary fires, and the
steamers stored for use in case of emergency, and
the respective companies were disbanded.
The old fire department of this village of twenty-
five years ago consisted of three hand-engines and
two hook and ladder companies, and were as fol
lows: Rip Van Winkle Engine Company No. 1,
Protection Engine Company No. 2, and Conqueror
Engine Company No. 3; Hercules Hook and
Ladder Company No 1, and Spartan Hook and
Ladder Company No. 2. All these old companies
were disbanded twenty years or more ago, but at
what dates it cannot be ascertained.
From the organization of this village until 1881
the control of the fire department was vested in the
village Board of Trustees. In the last-mentioned
year, by act of the Legislature, the control was
taken from the trustees and vested in a Board of
Fire Commissioners, which was created by said act,
and who were to be appointed by the said village
trustees. RAILROAD.
The first steam railroad which ran through this
village was constructed in 1852 by the Albany and
Northern Railway Company (now leased and run
by the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company).
The builders of this railroad intended to construct
the roadway through this village, along or near the
bank of the Hudson River. To this the inhabi
tants strongly objected, as it would necessarily im
pair the value of the most valuable property of the
village, besides greatly interfere with our most im
portant business "interests; consequently, the road
was constructed through the extreme western part
of the village, and a station located at Genesee
street. This depot being so far from the central
part of the village, Mr. Samuel Hill ran a stage for

passengers from the West Troy Ferry, at the foot
of Canal street, to the depot.
After a few years the railroad company decided
to give better accommodations to the public, and
therefore erected a small wooden depot on the
north side of Canal street (now Central avenue), a
short distance west of Erie street, the cars being
backed down to the depot by means of a short
track constructed through this street to the main
track, and connected therewith by means of a
switch, called a Y. This depot had a small bell
hung in a tower upon the roof of the depot, which
was rung when the trains were being ' ' backed
down " to the depot. For a number of years Mr.
Lorenzo E. Abbott filled the position of ticket
agent at this old depot.
In the fall of 1864 this depot and short branch
track were abandoned, the location of the depot
being transferred to the original location at Gene
see street. FRATERNAL SOCIETIES.
Evening Star Lodge (Masonic), No. 75. — The
first Masonic lodge located in the town of Water
vliet was known as Clinton Lodge, No. 202. The
date of the charter of this lodge was December 12,
181 1. It became inoperative somewhere about
1818. A lodge known as Evening Star, No. 466,
was organized in that part of this village which was
called Gibbonsville, and a charter or warrant
granted, June 10, 1826. The following named
brethren were its first officers : Joseph Hayward,
Master; Ira Holdridge, Senior Warden; Obediah
D. Brown, Junior Warden. This lodge went out
of existence, date unknown, and was revived by
authority of the Grand Lodge on January 31, 1840,
John D. Willard, Junior Grand Warden, installing
its officers as follows: Jacob Gingrich, Master;
Jonathan Hart, Senior Warden; Luther M. Tracy,
Junior Warden; Wm. P. Lansing, Secretary; Jacob
Clute, Treasurer. At this installation Mr. Joseph
Hayward, its first Master, was present.
On the 4th of June, 1840, the Grand Lodge
changed the " lodge number" of this lodge to 75.
On April 12, 1854, this lodge surrendered its war
rant, pursuant to a resolution adopted at a meeting
held for that purpose, the brethren having been
duly summoned. The officers at this time were as
follows : Daniel E. Stewart, Master ; George B.
Frazer, Senior Warden; Lorenzo D. Collins, Junior
Warden ; John E. Glass, Secretary ; Morgan L.
Taylor, Treasurer ; Wm. McClellan, Senior Dea
con ; John W. Fisher, Junior Deacon, and John
Christie, Tyler.
The present organization of this lodge dates from
March 4, 1864, at which time Grand Master Clin
ton F. Paige issued a dispensation to the brethren
at West Troy to form a lodge, to be known as
" Evening Star," and subsequently received a war
rant, dated June 17, 1864. The following were its
first officers: Daniel W. Talcott, Master; Wm.
Andrews, Jr. , Senior Warden; Geo. F. MiUiman,
Junior Warden; Alexander McAllister, Treasurer;
John H. Fitchett, Secretary; R. G. Smith, Senior

THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROY.

989

Deacon; Charles H. Fort, Junior Deacon, and
William Fox, Tyler.
The Grand Lodge in June, 1864, adopted the
following resolution:
Resolved, That the Evening Star Lodge, U. D. ,
be permitted to receive and work under the dor
mant warrant of a lodge once known as Evening
Star Lodge, No. 75, and to be hereafter hailed and
known as such number.
This lodge has been in successful operation since
the date of its present organization, March 8, 1 864.
This lodge has been unfortunate, as in June, 1865,
its lodge room, with all furniture and records, were
destroyed by fire, and again, in December, 1870,
its lodge room, together with all its elegant furni
ture, etc. , met the same fate.
In connection with the Evening Star Lodge, in
1871, was organized a chapter of the Royal Arch
Masons, known as Hudson River Chapter, No.
262, the first officers being as follows: Albert
Tayer, High Priest; Alfred W. Richardson, King;
Charles L. Mather, Scribe; Geo. B. Mosher, Treas
urer, and Henry C. Kelsey, Secretary. This
chapter is still in successful operation.
Laurel Lodge, No. 24, Independent Order of Odd
Fellows. — This is the first regular lodge of this or
der organized in this village. This lodge was
first organized and charter granted on January 21,
1846, and given the lodge number of "209." The
persons petitioning for the charter, and to whom
the same was granted by the Grand Lodge, were as
follows: Alexander S. Lobdell, L. D. Lawrence,
Samuel Wilgus, James H. Marshall, E. F. Hitch
cock, Stephen F. Washburn, George A. Shields,
Joseph Schwikhardt, Lewis J. Williams, Robert
Kilby, S. Greenman, Robert I. Moe, George B.
Fraser, Isaac R. Getty, James E. Dorman, James
Cook, Robert Robinson, E. I. Higgins and Ariel
Wager. When the State of New York was divided into
two Grand Lodges, "Northern" and "Southern"
New York, this lodge joined the Northern New
York division, and was given No. 39 for its lodge
number. In 1866, when the two jurisdictions
came together, this lodge was given the number of
" 24," which it now retains.
Although Laurel Lodge was the first regularly
organized lodge in this village, yet in or about the
year 1838 there was a lodge in this village which
was called "Watervliet Lodge, No. 20," and held
meetings at a private residence of one of the mem
bers, on Broadway, south of the United States Ar
senal. This lodge was expelled by the Grand
Lodge as illegally organized, not having received
a charter from the same. BANKS.
The first bank located in this village was organ
ized and incorporated in 1836, and called the
"Watervliet Bank." The officers were as fol
lows : John C. Schuyler, Jr. , President ; Edward
Learned, Vice-President ; Egbert Olcott, Cashier ;
Gerrit T. Witbeek, Teller, and George M.
Wheeler, Clerk; the capital stock being $100,000.
The banking house was located in the brick

dwelling house situated on the southwest corner
of Broadway and Buffalo street. This bank failed
in 1 84 1.
" The National Bank of West Troy."— This
bank was first organized and incorporated, under
the laws of this State, in February, 1852, and com
menced business May 1, 1852, under the name
of "Bank of West Troy ;" the capital stock being
$200,000, divided into 2,000 shares. John Knick-
erbacker, James Van Schoonhoven, James Roy, E.
Thompson Gale, John Cramer, Joseph M. Has
well, William Sands, George H. Cramer and
Ferdinand J. Suydam were the original incorpora
tors and constituted the first board of directors; the
officers being as follows : Ferdinand J. Suydam,
President ; George H. Cramer, Vice-President ;
Albert C. Gunnison, Cashier. In 1853 Ferdi
nand J. Suydam became Cashier, and Mr. G. B.
Wilson became Discount Clerk and Bookkeeper.
In 1858 Mr. Suydam resigned his position as
cashier, and in May of that year Mr. G. B. Wil
son became his successor and held the position for
about nineteen years. In 1877 Mr. Benjamin
McE. Schafer became cashier and held the position
until his decease, in 1880, when his successor, the
present incumbent, Mr. Arthur T. Phelps, was
appointed. In 1853 Mr. Dillon Beebe was elected presi
dent, and held the office until 1856, when Mr.
Joseph M. Haswell became his successor. Mr.
Haswell held this office until the date of his decease,
in 1871.
Mr. James Roy was elected as the successor of
Mr. Haswell and held the office until 1876, when
Mr. Thomas A. Knickerbacker, the present presi
dent, was elected.
The banking house used by this bank, and situ
ated on the southwest corner of Washington street
and Central avenue, was erected in 1852, for the use
and occupation of this bank, by Mr. Ebenezer
Wiswall. This bank was converted into a National
Banking Association in 1865, and the name
changed to the ' ' National Bank of West Troy ; "
the capital stock being $250,000, divided into
shares of $100 each. In 1877 the capital stock
was reduced to $150,000, and in 1883 was still
further reduced to $100,000, which is the amount
of the present capital stock. On the 21st day of
May, 1885, the corporate existence of this bank
was extended until the close of business on the 24th
day of May, 1905, by order of H. W. Cannon,
Comptroller of U. S. Currency.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
Corporation Hall. — This is the only public
building in this village. It is a three-story brick
building, situate on the east side of Broadway,
midway between Central avenue and Buffalo street,
and was erected in 1864 by the village corporation
at a cost of $20,000. The first and second stories
are occupied by the Fire Department and meeting
room of the Board of Fire Commissioners ; the
third story as a meeting room or council chamber for
the Board of Village Trustees.

990

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

NEWSPAPERS.
The first newspaper of any importance published
in this village was the West Troy Advocate, the first
publication being in September, 1837. This
paper was printed and published weekly by William
Hollands, who continued its publication until his
decease, in January, 1853, when his son, William
Hollands, Jr., continued the publication until its
discontinuance, in July, 1864. Mr. Hollands is
now one of the leading lawyers of this village.
The next newspaper which was published in
this village was a weekly, called the Albany County
Democrat, which was first published in January,
i860, and was edited by Mr. Allen Corey, who
continued to publish this paper until July, 1884,
when he sold it to the publisher of the Watervliet
fournal. The next newspaper of any importance pub
lished in this village was a weekly, called the Water
vliet fournal. This paper was first published by
James Treanor in May, 1880, and continued until
July 5, 1884, when Mr. Treanor purchased the
Albany County Democrat, and merged these two
papers into a paper called the fournal and Demo
crat, which is now published by the firm of
Treanor & Hardin.
About the year 1832, there was published in
West Troy a newspaper called the Palladium. This
paper was edited and published by two young
men, who were brothers, under the firm name of
Warren Bros. In connection with their printing
office they also kept a stationery and book store,
which was located on the northeast corner of
Canal street and Broadway, on the site now occu
pied by the Collins House.
SCHUYLER MANSION.
Located on the bank of the Hudson River, a
few rods from the present southern limits of this
village, stands the oldest building in this vicinity.
This building is a brick structure, two stories, with
high gable roof. It is now owned and occupied
by Richard P. Schuyler, Esq., as his family resi
dence, and is known as the "Old Schuyler Man
sion." This building was erected about the year
1 768, and was built to replace the original mansion
that' was, at about that date, destroyed by fire. It
stands upon the foundation of the original man
sion. The date of the erection of the original
mansion is unknown, but it was probably erected
some time previous to the year 1700.
In 1672, Philip Schuyler, the father of Col.
Peter Schuyler, purchased a large tract of land
from Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, which included the
lands to the south of this village, and known as
the "Flats," and also included the land upon
which the southern portion of this village is
located. The flats were occupied for agricultural
purposes as early as 1642, as from that year until
1660 they were occupied by Arent Van Curler,
and after him by Richard Van Rensselaer.
On September 14, 1691, Peter Schuyler, son of
Philip Schuyler, and afterward known as Col.
Peter Schuyler, married Maria Van Rensselaer, the
sister of Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, the patroon; and

in April, 171 1, located his residence at the Flats,
in the mansion; at this date and until about the
year 1806 the main road from Albany ran along
the bank of the river, and passed here between the
mansion and the river. At about the date that
Col. Peter Schuyler took up his residence at the
Flats the public safety began to be greatly en
dangered by the insidious wiles of the French
Canadians and the hostilities of the Indians, and
the Colonel became a person of much importance
by reason of his influence with the friendly In
dians, he being their true friend and a person in
whom they placed much confidence.
About the year 1708 it was thought advisable to
send some of the chiefs of the friendly tribes to
England upon a visit, so as to attach them to that
country, and that they might see the sovereign of
the English nation, and to counteract the false
statements of the power and wealth of that nation
which the French Canadians had been circulating
among them; but it was no easy task to get them
to consent to the proposal. At last, however, they
consented, upon the condition only that Col. Peter
Schuyler would accompany them, as he had never
been known to tell a lie, or to speak without think
ing. The Colonel consented, and the adventure
succeeded beyond his expectations. The chiefs
were much pleased with the attention shown them
and with the kind and gracious manner of Queen
Anne. She was also much pleased with the Colonel,
and desired to knight him, but he respectfully and
positively refused, stating as his reason that it would
not be in keeping with the simple manners and
habits of his life and surroundings. In 171 9 Philip
Schuyler, the eldest son of Col. Peter Schuyler,
married Catalina Schuyler, his cousin, whose father
had for a number of years been the Mayor of the
City of Albany. Catalina was a person of superior
character, and was known during the latter part
of her life -as " Madame Schuyler."
Philip, at the decease of his father, became the
owner of the Flats and mansion, and became a
person of great importance in the public affairs of
the country, being a member of the Colonial As
sembly, also a Colonel, and being the first person
who raised a corps in the interior of the province
of New York, which fought in the French and. In
dian War.
Col. Philip died in February, 1758, and was
survived by widow, the "Madame," and, as he
left no children, he devised his property to his
widow during her life, and thereafter to his great-
nephew, Peter Schuyler, who was at that time an
orphan, and resided with him. The remains of
Col. Philip were interred in the family burying-
ground, which is located a short distance from the
mansion, and over the grave is erected a handsome
monument, which still remains as placed there in
1758. This old mansion has always remained in
the Schuyler family and been occupied by the de
scendants of the original owner, Philip Schuyler.
WEST TROY GAS LIGHT COMPANY.
The West Troy Gas Light Company was incor
porated in January, 1853, under the provisions of

THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROY.

991

the general act of the Legislature for the formation
of gas light companies. The original incorpora
tors were: Richard S. Lobdell, A. V. Barringer,
Morgan L. Taylor, Albert Richards and E. H.
St. John; the capital stock being $100,000.
Previous to the date of the incorporation of this
company, and in October, 1852, John Lock-
wood and A. V. Barringer, under the firm name
of Jno. Lockwood & Co., obtained the exclusive
privilege, from the president and trustees of this
village, to lay gas mains through the streets and
alleys of this village, and to erect and maintain
gas works, etc.; and in November, 1853, J°bn
Lockwood and A. V. Barringer assigned their
rights and privileges to the West Troy Gas Light
Company. In July, 1853, this company obtained
from the president and trustees of the village of
Green Island the exclusive right and privilege of
laying pipes through the streets of said village, and
supplying it with illuminating gas. On the first
day of February, 1853, this company elected Al
bert Richards, President; Morgan L. Taylor, Secre
tary, and Richard S. Lobdell, Treasurer.
On April 1, 1854, Wm. L. Oswald was ap
pointed superintendent of this company, and con
tinued to hold this position until the spring of
1862. In June, 1862, Edwin A. Smith was ap
pointed superintendent, and held the position until
the fall of 1864, when he was succeeded by Rich
ard S. Lobdell. Mr. Lobdell held the position
until March, 1879, when hewas succeeded by the
present superintendent, Richard F. Hall. Mr.
Albert Richards remained the president of this
company from the date of its organization to 1866,
when he was succeeded by James Roy, who held
the office until 1876, when he was succeeded by
E. Thompson Gale, of Troy, N. Y. In March,
1879, the present president, George W. Chapman,
succeeded Mr. Gale. In 1876 the manufacturing
of gas by this company was discontinued, the com
pany taking its supply of gas from the People's Gas
Light Company, of Albany; but this did not prove
a success, and, in 1879, this company commenced
to manufacture gas at their own works, which are
located on the northwest corner of West and Gene
va streets in this village.
WATER WORKS COMPANY.
The West Troy Water Works Company was incor
porated in 1876, under the provisions of the gen
eral act of the Legislature of this State, of 1873,
for the formation and incorporation of water works
companies, the water being introduced into the
village in the early part of 1877. The first Board
of Directors of this company were as follows:
George R. Meneely, Alfred Mosher, George M.
Wiswall, Jesse C. Dayton, Lorenzo D. Collins,
John Reiley, George Tweddle, William B. Wil
liams, Richard S. Lobdell and George B. Mosher.
The water supplied by this company is obtained
from the Mohawk River, at a point near Niska
yuna and is carried from this point, where it is
pumped from the river, to a large storage reservoir
located on the hill, about a mile west of the U.
S. Arsenal, from whence it flows into the mains

which run through the streets of this village. In
1877 this company introduced the water into the
village of Green Island by extending their mains
through the village streets. The expense or cost
of construction of this system of water works was
about $275,000, the village of Green Island be
ing supplied with twenty hydrants and this village
with ninety hydrants, which are used for extin
guishing fires by the village fire department. This
company has in use about sixteen miles of pipe,
and supplies the water to consumers at a pressure
of about seventy pounds to the square inch.
MANUFACTORIES AND BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS.
The mills which are located in the southern
part of the village, and commonly called the Roy
Mills, were established by Mr. James Roy about
the year 1847. These mills are two separate
establishments, one being conducted by the firm of
James Roy & Co., and the other by the firm of
Roy & Co. , James Roy & Co. being engaged in the
manufacture of shawls and woolen cloth suitable
for clothing- for men and women. Roy & Co.
are engaged in the manufacture of butts, hinges
and several other articles of builders' hardware,
which are made from iron, steel and brass. The
firm of James Roy & Co. in 1 870 became a corpora
tion, pursuant to the laws of this State, and took
the name of "Messrs. James Roy & Co," the
capital stock being $500,000, and the incorporators
and trustees being James Roy, Benjamin Knower,
John Knower and John F. Roy. This manufactory
has three mills, two located at this village and one
at Schenectady, N. Y., and gives employment to
700 operatives, and produces annually manufac
tured goods to the value of $800,000. These
mills are also called "Watervliet Mills." The firm of
Roy & Co. also became a corporation in 1871,
under the name of "Roy& Co.," with a capital
stock of $150, 000, the incorporators and trustees
being James Roy, John Knower and Peter Roy.
This manufactory has an annual production of
about $350,000 worth of manufactured stock,
and employs about 350 operatives.
The founder of these large manufactories, Mr.
James Roy, was a native of Scotland, and was born
near Sterling. He learned the trade or art of a
brewer of beer, and came to America in 1835, and
was employed in a brewery at Pittsfield, Mass., and
in a few years afterward came to this village and be
came the manager in the brewery of Archibald
Dunlop, which was then located on the northwest
corner of Spring street and Broadway ; and while in
the employ of Mr. Dunlop, Mr. Roy, together with
Mr. John Knower, became the proprietors of the
woolen mill and commenced the manufacture of
woolen shawls, they sending to Scotland for a
number of their employees that had been em
ployed in the shawl factories in that country. Mr.
Roy resided in this village and did much for its
welfare and growth, and after a life of much useful
ness, died at his residence in 1878, being survived
by three daughters: Anna, wife of Capt. A. H.
Sweny ; Mary, wife of Capt. G. A. Sweny ; and
Alice, an unmarried daughter. Mr. Roy's only

992

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

son, James, was accidentally drowned at Richfield
Springs in 1869, aged 23 years
The Meneely Bell Foundry was established in
1826 by Andrew Meneely, upon the present loca
tion of this foundry. Mr. Meneely learned the
trade of a brass founder and mathematical instru
ment maker of Mr. Julius Hanks, who kept a
small shop or foundry, which was then located on
the west side of Broadway, about one hundred
feet south of Buffalo street, in what was then
called the village of Gibbonsville. Mr. Meneely
commenced business as a manufacturer of civil
engineering instruments, and also the manufactur
ing of church bells and town clocks. This busi
ness steadily increased, and in 1835 he took Jonas
V. Oothout into partnership with him, the firm
name being Meneely & Oothout. This firm con
tinued to exist until 1841, when Mr. Oothout
withdrew, and Mr. Meneely continued the business
alone until 1849, when he took his son Edwin A.
in the business as a partner, the firm name being
Andrew Meneely & Son. In 1851 Andrew
Meneely died, and this business was thereafter
conducted by his two sons, Edwin A. and George
R., under the firm name of Andrew Meneely 's
Sons; and a few years thereafter changed to E. A.
& G. R. Meneely. Soon after the decease of Mr.
Andrew Meneely, his successors discontinued the
manufacture of civil engineering instruments (Mr.
Meneely having discontinued the manufacture of
town clocks previous to his decease), and gave
their exclusive attention to the manufacture of
church bells and chimes of bells, fire-alarm bells,
etc. In 1874 Mr. George R. Meneely withdrew
from this business, and thereafter the present firm
name of Meneely & Co. was adopted, the present
members of the firm being Edwin A. Meneely and
his sons, Andrew H. and George K. This foundry
has a world-wide reputation, having for many years
sent bells of its manufacture to all parts of the
world. The proprietors of this foundiy have
from time to time made several improvements in
the form of the bells and the manner of hanging
them, so as to make the labor of ringing as easy
as possible. FACTORIES.
The Brass Foundry of George R. Meneely & Co.
was established in 1874 by Mr. George R. Meneely,
for the manufacture of a patent journal bearing for
steam cars, locomotives, etc. This firm has
another foundry, which is located at Atlanta, Ga. ,
where the same patent bearing is manufactured.
The firm carries on an extensive business, supplying
most of the principal railroads with journals of their
manufacture. The Meneely Hardware Company is a private
manufacturing corporation, which was incorporated
in 1882, the incorporators and trustees being George
R. Meneely, Charles D. Meneely and John Gib
bons, the wares manufactured by this company
being harness, rope and chain snaps, also rope
goods for horses and cattle, many of the wares being
the inventions of Mr. John Gibbons above men
tioned.

The Covert Manufacturing Company was organ
ized in the City of Troy, N. Y., in 1873, the origi
nal ' members of the firm being James C. Covert,
Madison Covert, Henry Wakeman and Scudder
Wakeman. In 1879 this establishment removed
from Troy to this village, and soon afterward the
Messrs. Wakeman withdrew from the firm, leaving
the Messrs. Covert the sole proprietors.
The goods originally manufactured by this firm
were harness snaps, rope goods and saddlery,
hardware specialties. In 1883 the Messrs. Covert
added to the manufacture of the class of goods
above mentioned the extensive manufacture of all
kinds of wrought iron chains, from the lightest to
the heaviest grades. POTTERY.
The manufactory of earthenware, commonly
called "The Pottery," which he located on the
southwest corner of Washington and Schenectady
streets, was established in 1831 by Mr. Sanford
S. Perry, the factory at that date being located on
Champlain street, fronting the Erie Canal, a short
distance above Buffalo street. This pottery was
purchased of Mr. Perry in 1845 by the firm of
Porter & Fraser (Nathan Porter and Robert H.
Fraser), and by this firm in that year removed to
its present location. About a year afterward Mr.
Fraser died, and his brother, George B. Fraser,
succeeded him as a member of the firm. This
firm continued for eighteen years, when it was
dissolved, each of the members retiring from
active business, and the pottery and business being
sold to Mr. George H. Seymour, of Troy, N. Y.,
and thereafter conducted by him, and now con
ducted by the firm of Shepley & Smiths.
Mr. Nathan Porter, who is now one of our oldest
citizens, was born in Brookfield, Mass., in 1809,
and came to this village to reside in 1839.
Mr. George B. Fraser was born at Athens,
N. Y., and came to this village in 1845, an-d re
mained a resident until his decease in 1884, aged
78 years. tones' car works.
J. M. Jones' Sons Horse-Car Works was first es
tablished as a manufactory of wagons and carriages
in 1839 by Messrs. Henry W. Witbeck and John M.
Jones, under the firm name of Witbeck & Jones.
This firm continued to manufacture wagons and
carriages until 1863, when Mr. Witbeck withdrew
from the business and Mr. George Lawrence took
his place; and upon the advent of Mr. Lawrence,
the firm's attention was first directed to the build
ing of horse-cars in connection with their regular
business, and the manufacture of wagons and car
riages was soon afterward abandoned for the man
ufacture of horse-cars only. In 1864 Mr. Law
rence was obliged to withdraw from the business
on account of ill health, Mr. Jones purchasing his
interest and associating his sons in the business
with him, under the firm name of J. M. Jones &
Co. In February, 1882, Mr. John M. Jones died,
and his sons, John H. and Walter A. , continued
the business, under the firm name of J. M. Jones'
Sons.

THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROY.

(.m

The cars manufactured by this firm have world
wide reputation. Cars of its manufacture are now
being used in South America, East Indies and
other foreign countries, besides in all parts of the
United States and Canadas.
In January, 1879, these works were removed to
Schenectady, but remained there only for a short
time, having returned to West Troy in 1883. Mr-
John A. O'Haire, the superintendent of these
works, has been continuously employed there
since 1854. Mr. Robert Waugh, the superintend
ent of the painting department, has been an em
ployee of these works for more than forty years.
PLANING AND SAWING MILLS.
The James Kerslake Planing, Sawing and Mold
ing Mill was originally erected by Mr. Kilgour in
1852, and he was succeeded by Messrs. Ufford &
Latham, and Mr. Kerslake succeeded Messrs.
Ufford & Latham in 1873, becoming the sole
owner of the entire mill property. Mr. Kerslake
continued to conduct this mill until his decease,
July 9, 1882, and since that date the business has
been carried on by his widow. The entire estab
lishment is in charge of and under the control
of Mr. Waters W. Braman, the general manager.
The Rousseau & Harrington Planing Mill was
established by Mr. Lewis Rousseau, the senior
member of this firm, in 1834, and he thereupon
entered into copartnership with Mr. Easton, the
firm name being Rousseau & Easton. This co
partnership continued for twenty-eight years, when
Mr. Easton withdrew from the business. Mr.
Rousseau always remained interested in this busi
ness since its establishment. The present junior
member of this firm, Mr. Arvin W. Harrington, is
a son-in-law of Mr. Rousseau. Mr. Rousseau was
born in Troy, September 24, 1804, and lived there
for the first thirty years of his life, when he re
moved to this village in 1834. He was also the
founder of the Watervliet Bible Society.
Mr. Rousseau died very suddenly, at this village,
on July 2, 1884.
The Dry Goods and Wall Paper establishment ¦
of James D. Lobdell's Sons was established by
James D. Lobdell in 1847, and he continued to
carry on the business until his decease, January 18,
1879, when his sons, Messrs. William, Edward and
James, succeeded to the business, and carried on
the same under the above mentioned firm name.
On February 1, 1884, Mr. James Lobdell with
drew from the firm, and the business is now carried
on by Messrs. William and Edward Lobdell under
the same firm name.
In 1829 Mr. James Lobdell, the grandfather of
the present proprietors of this establishment,
opened a dry goods store in West Troy, and ever
since that date the Lobdells have conducted the
principal dry goods establishments of this village.
GREEN ISLAND.
The village of Green Island is located upon, and
derives its name from, the island called Green
Island. The corporate limits of this village in

clude the whole of this island, together with the
small island lying east of it, and called Center
Island. Green Island is bounded by the Hudson
River on the east and the Mohawk River on the
west — one of the many mouths or "sprouts" of
the Mohawk River, and known as the sixth sprout,
running along the west bank of this island and
emptying into the Hudson River at the southern
point thereof.
This island was originally owned by Col. Kiliaen
Van Rensselaer, the patroon, and comprised a
portion of the manor of Rensselaerwyck. This
island, together with the island called Jan Gown-
sen Island, and the land lying opposite to it on
the west bank of this sprout of the Mohawk River, -
and extending back therefrom the distance of one-
half of an English mile, comprised the farm, or
"Bowery," called "Turkee." This farm, or bow
ery, which included this island, was sold and con
veyed, by Kiliaen Van Rensselaer to Col. Peter
Schuyler, by an indenture, which is written upon
parchment, and dated May 6, 1708; and in this
conveyance this island is mentioned as "the island
called Green Island." This conveyance also men
tions the fact that Maria, the wife of said Col.
Peter Schuyler, is the sister of said Kiliaen Van
Rensselaer; also that said Schuyler and his heirs
and assigns are to yield, pay and deliver to said
Van Rensselaer one-tenth part of the annual crops
of said farm, or bowery, each and every year. On
the 8th day of June, 1713, Col. Peter Schuyler,
and Maria, his wife, sold this farm, or bowery,
called Turkee (which included Green Island), to
one Hendrick Oothout, of the City of Albany, a
carpenter, for the sum of ^"850, current money
of New York. This island remained in the posses
sion of Hendrick Oothout and his descendants until
the early part of the present century, when Mr. Geo.
Tibbitts became the owner of the northern part,
which contained 262 acres, the whole island con
taining 387 acres. The island was of no impor
tance as a place of residence until 1835, when the
Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad bridge was com
pleted, the bridge making a public highway be
tween the island and the city of Troy. The rail
road company, after completing this bridge, also
constructed the wooden bridge over the sprout of
the Mohawk to West Troy, and opened the road
or highway, which runs across the island, from one
bridge to the other, and now called Albany avenue,
this being the first public street opened on the isl
and. The railroad bridge was, at the time of its
construction, considered a very important piece of
engineering and mechanical skill; its length being
upward of 1,600 feet, and resting upon eight mas
sive piers of hewn stone, and having a draw of
sixty feet at the eastern end for the accommodation
of the river craft. Seventeen hundred thousand
cubic feet of timber were used in its construction.
On Tuesday, October 6, 1835, the Rensselaer
and Saratoga Railroad was completed, and the
trains crossed the bridge for the first time on that
day. On the arrival of the cars at the approach to
the bridge from this island, the locomotive was de
tached and horses were substituted, which drew

994

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

the cars across the bridge and down River street,
in the city of Troy, to the Troy House, the termi
nus of the road. This mode of conveying the cars
across the bridge was continued until 1854, when
a second bridge, adjoining the original, or old
bridge, was constructed for the purpose of using
locomotives instead of horses, and thereafter all
trains were drawn across the bridge by locomotives.
The rails of the old track were removed and the
bridge thoroughly repaired, and that part used by
teams and pedestrians. On the 10th day of May,
1862, the eastern half of this bridge was destroyed
by fire (that part which extended from Center Island
to Troy), and was immediately replaced with
another wooden structure. In 1879 the western
half of this bridge was removed and replaced by
an iron structure. In 1884 the eastern half of this
bridge was removed, and also replaced by an iron
structure. STATE DAM.
The dam which extends across the Hudson
River from the eastern bank of this island to Troy,
and called the "State Dam," was built by the
State, and completed in 1823. The completion of
this dam and the sloop lock at its eastern end was
honored by the citizens of Troy and vicinity on
September 1, 1823, by a public celebration and the
firing of artillery. The length of the dam was
eleven hundred feet; height, nine feet.
The inside length of the sloop lock was one
hundred and fourteen feet, the width thirty feet,
height twenty-five feet, and lift nine feet.
The cost of this dam was $92,270. Previous
to the time of the construction of this dam, there
was a dyke, which extended from this island in an
easterly direction to the channel of the river; but
it was removed and replaced by this dam.
STATE BASIN.
The original form of this island has been much
altered, by reason of the construction of a dyke at
the northern point, which connects it with the
city of Cohoes, and a pier at the southern point,
which connects it with the village of West Troy.
The object of the construction of the dyke and
pier was to convert the sprout of the Mohawk
River, between these two points, into a large basin
to be used for canal boats and river craft.
The dyke at the northern end of this island was
so constructed as to cut off and turn the natural
flow of the water in this sprout of the Mohawk
into the Hudson River; while the pier at the south
ern point of this island acted as, and in fact is, a
dam, which holds the water back, and raises its
natural level several feet. At the southern end of
this pier there was constructed a " lock," by means
of which boats were enabled to obtain access to the
Hudson River and return.
The dyke and pier were constructed by the State
of New York, the work being done by Messrs.
Daniel Hartnett, James Brady and Ephriam Bald
win, contractors, all of whom were residents of
West Troy; the work was commenced in 1849
and completed in 1852.

Along the east side of this island, and extend
ing from the approach to the railroad bridge to
the southern point of the island, was a sudden rise
of ground, or bluff, of about 8 to 10 feet high.
This bluff or gravel bank was removed by the
contractors, and used to fill up and make the pier.
In removing the bluff, there were found quite a
large number of human bones and skulls, which
were very much decomposed; also a few brass
buttons, which were evidently military buttons,
but they were so corroded that it was impossible to
ascertain with any certainty to whom they once be
longed. It is probable that, at some time during the
French and Indian war, a battle took place on or
near this island, and this bluff was made a place of
burial for those killed in the affray. The finding of
these human remains created quite a sensation at
the time, and a number of persons from Albany
and other places came to examine them. The
portion of this island lying south of Albany
avenue was, previous to 1849, in a wild and un
cultivated state, and was used as a picnic ground
by the residents of West Troy and vicinity; and for
a month or two during the warm weather, a few of
the St. Francis Indians and their families, from
Canada, would come and camp on this part of the
island and sell baskets and other articles made by
them to the residents of Troy and West Troy.
These Indians would always leave the island at a
time unknown to the residents in the vicinity, and
after they had gone it would be noticed that the
earth about this bluff had been disturbed; but if
questioned about it, they would deny all knowl
edge of the fact. After the discovery of these
human remains, it became evident that these In
dians had knowledge of the fact, and they were
slowly digging up the remains and taking them to
some other locality for interment or preservation.
RAILROADS.
In 1840 the construction of the Troy and
Schenectady Railroad, which crossed this island,
was commenced, and the first trains began run
ning about the first of November, 1842. This rail
road is now owned and run by the New York
Central and Hudson River Railroad Company.
VILLAGE OF GREEN ISLAND.
The village of Green Island was first incor
porated, or chartered, by an order of the Court of
Sessions, held in the County of Albany at the City
Hall of Albany, on the 5th day of April, 1853, the
Hon. Albert D. Robinson, County Judge, presid
ing. Under the provisions of this charter the in
habitants of this village assembled on the 1 8th of
June, 1853, and elected village officers as follows,
viz. : five Trustees, two Assessors, a Collector,
Treasurer, Clerk, Street Commissioner, Pound-
master and two Fire Wardens.
On the 27th of the same month the Trustees met
and organized ; their names were as follows :
Stephen Viele, Jacob Yates, Robert Bogardus, War
ner Groat and Alexander Morrison. They chose
Alexander Morrison as President.

THE VILLAGE OF WEST TROY.

995

On May 12, 1869, this village was duly char
tered by a special act of the Legislature, the former
laws under which this village was organized not
being adequate to the wants of the village. By
this new charter the Board of Trustees were given
several powers which they did not have under the
former charter. The Presidents of this village from
the first organization have been as follows, viz. :
1853, Alexander Morrison ; 1854, James Reming
ton ; 1855, Stephen Viele; 1856, James Reming
ton ; 1857, Charles M. Parker; 1858, James Tor
rence; 1859-60-61, Thomas Stantial; 1862, Jonas
Clute; 1863-64, William M. Strong; 1865, John
Miller; 1866-67, James Glass; 1868, William E.
Gilbert; 1869-70, Henry S. Marcy; 1871-72-73,
James Glass; 1874, Edgar Gardner; 1875-76-77,
Benjamin F. Manier; 1878, William M. Torrence;
1879, William E. Keating ; 1880, William Bliss;
1881, Thomas H. Richardson; 1882, James Tor
rence ; 1883-84-85, Joseph Hines.
Although this village is a distinct municipality,
yet, in fact, it is a suburb of the city of Troy ; the
land upon which it is built was owned and laid
out into village lots, with streets and alleys, by res
idents of that city. The car shops of Messrs.
Eaton & Gilbert, being the first manufacturing in
terest of any importance established in this village,
were built in 1853, while they were residents of
Troy. At the present time the majority of the
resident laboring classes are employed in Troy,
while many business men, and other persons em
ployed in that city, reside in this village ; and thus
the interests of this village are closely allied with
those of that city. HOTEL.
The first hotel located in this village was erected
in 1850, on a triangular lot of land on the corner
of Albany avenue and Washington street, directly
opposite to the approach to the railroad bridge,
and was called the Green Island Hotel. This
hotel was conducted under the management of
Mr. John J. Goddell until 1864, when it was con
verted into railroad offices and depot, and since
that date has been occupied as such.
OLDEST INHABITANT.
The oldest resident inhabitant of this island is
Mr. Matthew E. Hyde, who removed from the
village of West Troy to this island in the spring
of 1842. At that time there were located upon
this island six dwelling houses, two buildings
used as bowling alleys or restaurants, some repair
shops of the railroad company, a small wooden
building used as a schooLhouse, and a saw
mill, located at the State dam, which was built
in 1836.
Goose Egg Island was the name of a very small
island about 200 feet south of the south point
of Green Island. This island was incorporated in
and became a part of the above-mentioned pier at
the time of the construction of the State Basin.
. NEWSPAPERS.
The first newspaper edited and published in this
village was a weekly edition, called The Green

Island Review. This paper was published and ed
ited by Mr. Henry L. Gilbert from January, 1879,
to September 26, 1884, when Mr. Gilbert -disposed
of it to W. A. Cole and L. H. Weeks, who con
tinued to publish the paper under the name of
The Albany County Herald. POLICE.
The first police force of this village was what
was known as the "Capital Police," this village
being within the same precinct as that of the
city of Cohoes. This police organization was suc
ceeded by the Green Island Police Force, which
was organized in June, 1871 ; the Legislature, by
an act passed April 20, 1871, giving the Board of
Trustees of this village power and authority to ap
point Police Commissioners, who were duly em
powered to organize a police force for this village,
and to fully control the same.
CHURCHES.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of the Village of
Green Island. — This church was organized in the
year 1853, 'be congregation being composed most
ly of members from the North Second Street Meth
odist Episcopal Church of the city of Troy. The
meetings and services of this congregation were
first held in a small school-house which was lo
cated on or near the corner of George and Swan
streets. During the same year this society com
menced the erection of the present church edifice,
which is located on the east side of Hudson ave
nue, a short distance north of the railroad bridge.
This edifice was completed in the spring of 1854,
and was dedicated on the 9th day of May of that
year. Its total cost, together with furniture and
lots, was about $4,000. The first pastor of this
congregation was the Rev. J. L. Cook, and the
congregation consisted of thirty-five members.
The first class leaders were Hinkley Davis and
Joshua Colebum; Stewards, C. L. Bogardus, C.
A. Crawford and E. B. Winne. In the summer
of 1863 the church parsonage was erected, which
cost $2,000.
In 1875 the church edifice was enlarged by re
moving the whole of the front end of the building
and reconstructing the same on the line of the
street, thus increasing the length of the edifice;
this new front was much improved by the addition
of stained glass windows. The cost of the enlarge
ment was about $2,200. The following named
persons have been the successive pastors of this
church in the order named, viz. : Revs. R. Gregg,
D. W. Dayton, G. W. S. Porter, C. C. Bedell,
Truman Seymour, J. W. Belknap, A. C. Rose, S.
W. Coleman, B. B. Loomis, D. W. Gates, L. D.
Sherwood, J. K. Wager, Wm. H. Washburn, L. N.
Beaudry, Samuel Meredith, C. A. S. Heath, Ed
win Genge, and the present pastor, the Rev. B. F.
Livingston. The First Presbyterian Church. — The organiza
tion of this church dates from April 18, 1853,
when, at a meeting of the session of the Second
Presbyterian Church of Troy, held in the session
room of said church, a series of resolutions were

996

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

duly presented by Mr. Thomas B'atchford, M. D. ,
which recommended the procuring a site and
building a suitable house of worship in the village
of Green Island. These resolutions were adopted
by the session, and a committee appointed to
carry the same into effect. This committee at once
entered on the discharge of its duties, by purchas
ing a suitable plot of ground, which was located
on the west side of Hudson avenue, a short dis
tance south of Clinton street, and erecting thereon
a small wooden house of worship, which was com
pleted in the following winter and dedicated on
the 28th of February, 1854, the dedicatory ser
mon being preached by Rev. Mr. Field, of Troy.
This society duly organized on the day of the dedi
cation of the church, with seventeen members, and
James Remmington, George Beach and Stephen
Viele were elected as elders. On the 1 6th of the
following March, Messrs. James Torrence, William
F. Adams, William H. Lansing, Fred. Kean and
Joseph D. Hardin were elected trustees. The
congregation continued to worship in this house
until September, 1866, when it was sold and
removed from the plot of ground upon which
it stood, and in its place was erected the present
handsome brick edifice at the cost of $19,800.
The present membership of this church is 175.
The following named persons have been the suc
cessive pastors of this church in the order named:
Rev. Wm. E. Jones, from June, 1854, to January,
1857; Rev. Jacob G. Miller, from February, 1857,
to June, 1859; Rev. V. A. Lewis, from July,
1859, to  , 1862; Rev. David Edgar, from
1862, to April, 1865; Rev. Richard Os

borne, from April, 1865, to March, 1868; Rev.
Stephen Bush, from March, 1868, to June, 1874;
Rev. J. O. Fillmore, D. D., from  , 1874,
to  -, 1875; Rev. J. W. Whitfield, A.M.,
from February, 1876, to February, 1879; Rev.
Charles Wood, from April, 1879,10 April, 1880;
Rev. J. N. Crocker, a supply for one year; Rev.
Charles E. Havens, the present pastor, from May,
1881. St. foseph's Catholic Church. — This church was
organized in 1869, and the present church edifice,
which is located on George street, near Swan street,
was erected at a cost of $5,000. In connection
with this church is a very handsome parsonage and
grounds, which cost $9,000. The first priest in
charge of this church was the Rev. J. McManemy,
who was succeeded by the present priest, the Rev.
Thos. Connelly.
St. Mark's Episcopal Church. — This church was
organized in November, 1865, mainly through the
efforts of the Rev. Edgar T. Chapman, who was at
the time the assistant rector of St. Paul's Church,
Troy, and who became the rector of this church
at the time of the organization. At the time this
church organized, and until the church edifice was
completed, services were regularly held in a room
in the second story of a small wooden building
owned and used by Mr. Uri Gilbert as a carriage
house. Immediately upon organizing, this congregation
commenced the erection of the present church

edifice and chapel located on the east side of
Hudson avenue, opposite Clinton street, the church
being consecrated on December 12, 1866, by the
Right Rev. Horatio Potter, D. D., Bishop of the
Diocese. The cost of the church and chapel was
$17,000. In 1872 the Rev. Mr. Chapman
resigned his rectorship, and from that date until
1874 the Revs. E. T Johnson, J. S. Sharp and E.
H. Sanders were the successive rectors of this
church for short intervals. In June, 1874, the pres
ent rector, the Rev. R. Julius Adler, took charge.
In 1880 the chapel was enlarged and improved
at a cost of $2,200. In 1883 the church grounds
were greatly improved and enlarged by the erection
of a stone wall upon the bank of the river at the
cost of $1, 150.
In 1884 the rectory which adjoins the church on
the south was erected at the cost of $6,000, being
the gift of Mr. Uri Gilbert.
ODD FELLOWS.
Green Island Lodge, No. 360, Lndependent Order
of Odd Fellows. — This lodge was granted a charter
in June, 1873, the charter members being Edward
Whitney, Ira M. Husted, William Godfrey, James
Delve, William B. Gardiner, John Heron, Albert
McCoubry, Andrew S. Bassett, James Madden,
James Glass, Edgar Gardner, Levi Coon, Frederick
A. Stanley, John B. Chase and Samuel Edgerton.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The first public school of this village was the
town district school, this island constituting the
district known as No. 23. On November 17,
1854, the inhabitants of this village voted that this
district be reorganized and governed under the
Union Free School law of this State ; and, in ac
cordance with said law, a board of education was
elected, which consisted of Messrs. Jos. D. Eaton,
Stephen Viele, James Glass, William C. Rodgers
and Edmund J. Gilbert. At the present time, this
school occupies two large brick buildings ; school
building No. 1, which is located on Hudson avenue
and was erected in 1865, has seating capacity
of 456 and is composed of seven departments ;
school building No. 2, which is located on the
corner of West and Arch streets, was erected in
1879, and has the same seating capacity and num
ber of departments as that of building No. 1.
The circulating library in connection with this
school contains upward of 700 volumes of stand
ard woiks. The estimated value of the school
property of this village is $36,000.
RAILROADS.
In this village are located the large repair shops,
freight houses, yards and offices of the Delaware
and Hudson Canal Company, the lessee of the old
Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad ; also the freight
houses, yards and offices of the New York Central
and Hudson River Railroad, which last named
railroad now owns and runs the old Troy and
Schenectady Railroad.
The horse railroad which runs through George
street in this village, and called the Troy and Co
hoes Horse Railroad, was organized February 11,

the Village of west tRoY.

997

1862, and the first car ran over the track of this
road on Saturday, October 10, 1863, from the
east approach to the railroad bridge to the Cham
plain Canal. LETTER CARRIERS.
The letter carrier system for the delivery of mail
matter to residents of this village was first introduced
and took effect on August 1, 1882, and thereafter
the Green Island post-office was discontinued ; all
mail matter for this village being transmitted to the
Troy post-office, and there delivered to the letter
carriers that distribute the same in this village ;
the mail matter and letter carriers being under the
control of the postmaster of Troy.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The only public building in this village is Cor
poration Hall, which is located on the corner of
George and Clinton streets. This building was
erected in 1884, at a cost of $10,000, and is
owned by the village of Green Island. It is of
brick, and contains three stories; the portions of
this building being used and occupied as follows,
viz. : First floor, police station and lock-up;
second floor, council chamber for the Board of
Trustees; third floor, public hall.
The Fire Department of this village consists of
two hose companies and one steam fire engine
company. Previous to the introduction into this
village of the system of water works by the West
Troy Water Works Company, this village depended
upon the fire department of Troy to extinguish all
fires, in accordance with a contract made between
these municipalities, this village paying a stated
amount of money per annum, and the department
of that city responding to all fire alarms in this
village, which were given by means of the fire-
alarm telegraph system of that city, which was ex
tended into this village for that purpose.
In the spring of 1878 the village fire department
was organized, which consisted of the two above-
mentioned hose companies, which were named
Wm. E. Gilbert Hose Company No. 1, and John
McGowan Hose Company No. 2.
In the spring of 1884 this village discontinued
the use of the water of the Water Works Company
for the purpose of extinguishing fires, and pur
chased a steam fire engine, which was named Uri
Gilbert Steamer Company No. 1, and also made
several wells or cisterns at convenient points in the
public streets for holding water for fire purposes;
also building several docks or piers at convenient
points upon the river bank, so that the steamer
could stand thereon and pump water from the
river. The Green Island Malleable Iron Works. — This
foundry was established in 1852 by William Tor
rence, now deceased. About five years after, Mr.
John O. Merriam became a partner with Mr. Tor
rence, under the firm name of Torrence & Merriam.

In 1869 Mr. Jones W. Lawrence became a mem
ber of the firm, the firm name being changed to
Torrence, Merriam & Co. In 1871 Mr. Wm.
Torrence died, and his son Wm. M. succeeded
him, the firm name remaining unchanged. This
foundry manufactures all kinds of the best malleable
and gray iron goods; the capital invested in
these works being $70,000, and employing on
an average one hundred men.
The Pinkerton Iron Works. — These works were
established by Mr. Robert Pinkerton in 1879, and
manufacture steam boilers, bleachers, tanks and
all other kinds of heavy sheet-iron goods.
The Blind Factory of Messrs. Crampton &
Belden. — This manufactory was established in 1867
by this firm. This is one of the largest establish
ments of its kind in the United States, the
machinery being propelled by water power, with
the capacity of manufacturing 400 pair of window
blinds per day. This firm also owns and runs a
large factory for the exclusive manufacture of
doors; this last mentioned factory is located near
the junction of the Champlain and Erie Canals,
and was built in 1883; has the capacity of manu
facturing 375 doors per day. The firm also manu
factures a superior class of metallic paint; the mines
and mills being at Putman, Washington County,
New York. They employ 200 hands and upward.

We take pleasure in making mention of the
following citizens of West Troy and Watervliet,
who, by their guaranteed support, have helped
to insure the publication of this valuable work :
Treanor & Hardin, C. L. Culver, Archie Cul
len, J. C. Dayton, James Forsyth, George Mark,
James O. Wood, Waters W. Braman, Alexan
der Shiland, Patrick Grogan, W. Hollands,
Lewis W. Smith, John F. Roy, James Roy &
Co., F. B. Durant, J. H. Harrington, T. W.
Getman, Francis O'Brien, Joseph McLean, P.
E. Fennelly, George M. Wiswall, S. S. Wandall,
Henry Kimberly, John Riley, H. W. Steenbergh,
John C. Hall, Joseph Hynes, J. L. Cory, S. B.
Lanehart, F. Thompson, A. H. Babcock, D. Hoit,
William M. Torrance, William Connelly, Edward
Dwyer, Wm. H. Vanderwerken, Charles G. Wit
beck, William Swatling, Isaac M. Haswell, Shaker
Society, Abram N. Ladu, Daniel Whitbeck, William
J. Miller, Thomas H. Lansing, Morgan L. Taylor,
Thomas Knowlson, O. F. Cobb, W. G. Griffin,
Clinton Robinson, George E. Lyon, John Lun
dergan, Edgar Littlefield, William Trimble, Robert
Trimble, Daniel Knower, Nelson Hinman, R. P.
Schuyler, John Perrigo, Robert Waugh, John A.
O'Haire, John Gibbons, John S. Robinson, Mrs.
R. Robinson, J. H. Harmon, Charles L. Mather,
A. W. Gilbert, Edward Lobdell, Harry Fitchett,
Abram L. Lansing, Mrs. John White, William M.
Gaffers, John A. Hills, Isaac B. Pitts, Isaac Van
Alstyne, Hiram C. Abrams, Aurelius Gove, M. L.
Bradford, Mary Woollett.

To whom this History of Schenectady is respectfully dedicated.

€>

HISTORY

COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY,

1ST. Y.

FROM 1662 TO 1886.

WITH PORTRAITS, BIOGRAPHIES AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

HOWELL. # MUNSELL

it?

ASSISTED BY

LOCAL WRITERS.

NEW YORK:
W. W. MUNSELL & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1886.

EDITOR'S PREFACE.

§N presenting this History of Schenectady County and City to the public, a few words of ex
planation and acknowledgment are due.
The preparation of so large an amount of historical, biographical and statistical matter as
is contained in these pages was undertaken by the publishers in a spirit of enterprise and liber
ality that required no little financial risk. The Editor was induced to assume the compilation
and editing of this work, because he believed there was much important historical and statistical
matter that was not in print that ought to be preserved in some compact and convenient form,
and because much published and unpublished materials for the work were generously and kindly
put at his disposal by the authors and publishers.
Nearly everything of special interest and value connected with ancient Schenectady is al
ready in print, most of which came from the pen of Prof, f onathan Pearson, the highest au
thority in this section of the country, to whose nearly half a century of unrequited labor in an
tiquarian research, the State of New York owes a large debt of gratitude. We desire to make
generous acknowledgment to him for the use of his published works and unpublished manuscripts,
from which much material has been gleaned for this work.
It has not been convenient to make special mention, in connection with the various articles
themselves, of those who have kindly prepared them, in part or tvhole, therefore, we wish to make
the following acknowledgements: To the Rev. Wm. Elliott Griffis, D.D., who wrote the excel
lent article on Prof. Taylor Lewis; the History of the Dutch Church, Schenectady, is substan
tially the same as already published from material prepared by Prof. Pearson and Rev. Dr.
Griffiis; the History of the First Presbyterian Church, is principally a discourse by Rev. T. G.
Darling, D. D.;that of St. George s Episcopal Church, by Rev. Wm. Payne, D. D.; that of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, by Rev. Samuel McKean and Prof. L. Hoyt; that of the First
Baptist Church, by Rev. H. G. Day; that of the Second Reformed Dutch Church, by J. J.
Marlett; and the article on Temperance, by Peter Chrisler.
L. B. Proctor, Esq., the accomplished editor of the "New York State Bar," prepared most
of the article on The Bench and Bar. For the history of Union College we are indebted to articles
in print, by Prof. Pearson, Dr. F. B. Hough and Prof . Wm. Wells. Prof. S. G. Howe furnished
valuable information contained in the article relating to the Schools of the City. Mr. Omie F.
Vedder has rendered valuable assistance in gathering matter especially relating to the Official
History of the County and City, and preparing it for the press. The Editor hereby acknowledges
the kindness and courtesy of the above-named individuals, and also expresses thanks to the press;
to the county and city officials for assistance in examining their records; to the pastors of nearly
all the churches in the county for assistance in preparing their religious history; to the secretaries
of the numerous lodges, societies and military organizations for data furnished; and to the many
other persons who have rendered more or less assistance during the progress of this work.
It is hardly possible that in a work like this no errors will be found; but it is confidently
hoped that if inaccuracies are discovered, the great difficulty of preventing their occurrence will
be considered, and that they will be charitably regarded.
Some differences of opinion regarding some old historical facts have been discovered in pub
lished works, and have come to us by tradition in a few cases. All information has been duly
weighed and preference given to what seemed to be correct.
The following works have been consulted: "The Schenectady Patent," by Prof . Pearson,
edited by Major J. W. McMurray to whom we are also indebted for the use of plates from which
some of the illustrations have been taken; " Sander's Early History of Schenectady" "History

of the Dutch Church" by Prof. Pearson and Rev. Dr. Griffis; "First Settlers of Schenectady,"
by Prof . Pearson; " Historical Collections of the State of New York;" "Annals of Albany,"
published by Joel Munsell; Gazetteers of the State of New York; Spafford 's Gazetteer; "Memoirs
of Dr. Nott," by Van Santvoord and Taylor Lewis; "Public Service of New York State;"
and other minor publications.
The history of some of the towns of the county was prepared by the Rev. E. E. Taylor, who
is accredited at the head of each. Many of the illustrations will be familiar to some, but new
to most of the subscribers. The portraits with which these pages are embellished, coming as they
do from the bureau of the most eminent engravers of the day, will commend themselves to all
zvho see them, not only as admirable likenesses, but as choice works of art.
A nd now, after two years of labor, conscious that this, in a measure, falls short of what
we had proposed at the outset, the Editor may well say, as did valiant Captain John Mason, in
his introduction to the Pequot War, "I wish (this task) had fallen into some better hands, that
might have performed it to the life. I shall only draw the curtain and open my little casement,
that so others, of larger hearts and abilities, may let in a brighter light."

-^ft^f^-Z-^,

INDEX

SPECIAL BIOGRAPHIES AND PORTRAITS.
PAGE
Prof. Jonathan Pearson (Portrait Facing Title-page) . . . 137
Reuben S. Allen  51
John Bradt  70
Hon. Piatt Potter  82
" J. S. Landon  85
" John Sanders  ,  85
Dominie Freeman  88
Henry Ramsey  117, 118
Pres. E. N. Potter  130
" Eliphalet Nott  133
Prof. Tayler Lewis  134
Hon. S. W. Jackson  136
Prof. John Foster  136
Livingston Ellwood, M. D  143
Abraham A. Van Vorst  144
Casper P. Hoag  146
William Gibson  150
C. C. Clute  152
N. I. Schermerhorn  153
Howland S. Barney  154
Jonas H. Crane  156
Andrew Traux, M. D  158
Col. J. J. De Forest  171
Kirby Wilber  181
Francis Hoag  183
Hon. George Lasher  184
William Rector  191
Henry R. Wendell  194
Francis McCann  199
Hon. Simon J. Schermerhorn  214
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Indian Signatures  3, 4, 5, 27
Map of Bouwlands, 1664  11
Deed of Dutch Church Lot  16
Mebie House  18
Yates "  21
Plan of Schenectady  22
Destruction of Schenectady, 1690  24
Map of Town of "  29
Indian Castle (from Champlain's Account)  35
Old Fort  36
Batteau  46
Durham Boat  47
Old Mohawk Bridge  52
The Dutch Church, 1734-1814  90
Interior " "  91
We introduce this and the preceding cut merely as a
matter of curiosity. They are interesting as giving
some idea of the old church, but are evidently erro-
neous in many respects.

PAGE
Plan of Church of 1 734  92
Present Dutch Church  97
Old Seal of Presbyterian Church  102
Tokens " "  103
Methodist Episcopal "  104
Young Men's Christian Association  1 14
Academy Building, 1795  127
Union College  128
Old West College  129
College Gate  130
" Brook  131
Nott Stove  134
Locomotive  149
Sleeping Car  210
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Editor's Preface  I
Introduction  I
Schenectady  1
First Settlement  2
Patent of 1648. . ,  5
Division of Lands  10
Adult Freeholders  17
Yances  21
Indian Border Wars, I 662-1743  22
The Old French War, 1743-48  32
The Beukendaal Massacre  33
Fortifications and Garrisons  34
Military Organizations  39
Navigation  45
Stage Lines  48
Railways  49
Ferries  51
Bridges  52
Borough of Schenectady  53
The Board of Supervisors  54
Superintendents of the Poor  63
County and State Officers  64
History of the City of Schenectady  66
Municipal  .... 66
Board of Health  67
" Excise  67
Police  •  7°
Fire Department  72
Bench and Bar  75
Ecclesiastical Societies  86
Charitable Institutions  1 13
Young Men's Christian Association  114
Masonic Organizations  115
Temperance  117
Educational  120
Printers and Newspapers  137

INDEX.

PAGE
Medical Societies  140
Dentistry  143
Banks  144
Water-works  145
Gas-works  146
Manufacturing Industries  147
History of Duanesburgh  161
" Glenville  187
" Niskayuna  193
" Princetown   200
" Rotterdam  207
Abbey, 164; Abele, no; Abrams, 116, 164, 169, 180, 186;
Academy, Schenectady, 127; Adair, 102; Adams, 140, 143;
Adniicha, 14; Adult Freeholders, 17; Aertse, 15, 18, 27;
Aken, 217; Akin, 104; Aldermen, 67; Alexander, 27, 111,
115, 116, 133, 160, 161; Allen, 51, 117, 126, 168, 181, 186,
211, 206; Alolff, 27; Alphonse, 109; Alphonsus,ii2; Ander
son, 140, 143; Andrews, 96,107; Andries, 27; Angle, 113,
114; Ansicker, 149; Anti-Leislerians, 23, 25; Antiquarian
and General Review, 138; Anti- Rent Association, 161; Au-
tonisen, 195; Appel, 7, 8, 17; Arentse, 17; Armstrong, 104,
164; Arnold, 104; Arthur, 107, 138; Ashmore, 109, 133;
Ashton, 180; Association, Y. M. C, 114, 115; Atwell, 114,
160; Auchampaugh, 181; Augustine, 112; Aukes, 12, 15,
17, 23-
Babcock, 177; Backus, 99, 103, 106, 107, no, 113, 115,
133, 151, 203,215; Badgley, 164; Bagley, 161,166; Bailey,
117, 122, 152; Baldus, 199; Baldwin, 101, 202; Baley, 107;
Ball, 164; Ballad, 28; Bame, 159; Bancker, 12, 17, 20, 89;
Banker, 90, 146; Banks, 144, 145; Banyar, 128; Baptist,
32; Bar, Schenectady County, 86; Barclay, 89, 98; Bar
hydt, "3, 44, l°3, "3, Il6> "7, 148, 149; Barker, 126;
Barnes, 182; Barney, 115, 154, 155, 156; Barrett, 106; Bar
ringer, 156; Bartlett, 104; Bassett, 167; Bates, 105; Baum,
116; Beach, 108; Beakeley, 141, 142; Beal, 144; Beattie,
86, 127, 140; Becker, 169, 170, 186, 210, 217; Beek, 17;
Beekman, 9, 126; Behr, III; Belden, 176, 177; Bellinger,
180; Bench and Bar, 75-85; Benedict, 86, 109, 144, 180;
Bennett, 164; Bentley, 164; Berckley, 164; Berkley, 140;
Beverage, 164; Bidwell, 106; Bigelow, 142, 182. Bishop,
104, Blain, 203; Blair, 201; Blakeslee, 156; Blessing, 201,
202; Blinn, no; Bloom, 86; Blum, 109; Boardman, 203;
Bodge, 126; Bogardus, 96, 194, 201; Bollis, 114; Bolton,
180; Bont, 12, 15, 17; Borsboom, 18, 19; Bosboom, 12, 15;
Bouwlandt, 2, 10; Boyce, 182; Boyd, 112, 144, 182, 210, 211
212; Bradford, 170, 186; Bradshaw, 167, 185, 200,204, 206,
218; Bradt, 8, 11, 34, J15, 148, 149, 156, 186, 195, 199, 200,
206,212,214,215, 216, 217, 218; Braines, 161; Braman,
170, 180, 186; Bramans, 182; Bramen, 180; Brandan, 112;
Bratt, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 27, 31, 80; Brayton,
105; Breaker, in; Brewer, 198; Brewers, Maltsters, etc., 154;
Brewster, 161; Bridges, 52,53; Bridgman, 126; Briggs,
86, 164, 167, 176, 206, 217; Brockmyer, 114; Brodt, 214,
217; Broeffle, 180; Bronck, 19; Bronk, 167, 179, 185, 186;
Brooks, 148; Broom Corn, 147; Brough, 213; Brouwer, 7,
12, 13, 17, 93; Brower, 7, 103; Brown, 98,99, 100, 101, 106,
113, 114, 126, 158, 169, 179, 180, 186; Brownell, 133; Bruce,
177; Brumagin, 168, 186; Brummaghen, 142; Bryant, 204;
Buchanan, 144; Buel, 138; Buell, 126; Buildings, Municipal,
68; Bull, 23; Bullions, 203; Bullock, 200, 217; Bundling, 94;
Burke, 10; Burdick, 215; Burleigh, 138; Burnham, 116;

Burning of Schenectady, 24; Burr, 119; Burtess, 177; Bury,
117; Buskerk, 109, 117, 161; Butler, 109, 117,^161; Byce,
149. Cady, 144, 164; Cain, 114; Calkins, 86; Calver Wey, 11;
Cambefort, 13, 17; Cameron, 123, 164, 178; Campbell, 13,
42, 116, 144, 149, 151, 153, 201, 213, 216, 217, 218; Can-
field, 147; Cantine, 9, 115; Cantley, 203; Carley, 126; Car
michael, 143; Carpenter, 105, 117, 141, 164, 183; Cary, 164;
Case, 153, 164, 183, i85;Casey, i7o;Caughnawaga, 22; Caw,
124, 126; Censor, 139; Centre, Square, 161; Cessford, 178;
Chadsey, 86, 125; Chadwick, 169, 186; Chambers, 209,217;
Champion, 124, 125; Chandler, 13, 102, 117, 126, 140, 141,
143; Chaplin, 133; Chapman, 101, 164, 186; Charlton, 114,
115; Chase, 180; Cheeney, 180; Cheeseman, 105, 106, 142;
Chequer, 125; Chism, 153; Chrisler, 117, 217; Christiaanse,
17; Christie, 203; Christler, 153, 209; Christoffelse, 21, 23,
27; Chubb, 126.
Churches— PAGe
Christ, City  109
" Duanesburgh  176, 178
Christian, Quaker Street  180
First Baptist, City  106, 107
Emanuel Baptist, City  1 1 1
Baptist, Duanesburgh  179, 180
Methodist Episcopal, City  103, 106
" " Rotterdam  213
" " Mariaville  180
" " Quaker Street  180
First Presbyterian, City  202, 204
" " Princetown  101, 103
East Avenue Presbyterian, City  no, in
First Presbyterian, Duanesburgh  179
Evangelical Congregational, City  m
German M. E., City  n0
" Lutheran, City  1 12
St. John's, City  ni, 112
St. George's Episcopal, City  98, 100
Church of the Redeemer, Duanesburgh  180
Trinity Chapel, "  178
Society of Friends, "  178
Reformed Presbyterian, •'  178
The Temple Gemeinde, City  112
St. Joseph, German R. C, City  109, no
Reformed Nether Dutch, City  86
" " " " Plan of, 1734  92
" Pastors (1740-
l88S!  95, 98
Second Reformed Dutch, City  108, 109
First Reformed Dutch, Princetown  201
" Rotterdam  211, 213
Reformed, Niskayuna  107, 198
True Reformed Dutch, Duanesburgh  180
Circuit, Schenectady, 104; City Dealers and Manufacturers,
149; Claas, 13, 14; Claessen, 29; Clancy, no, 203; Clare,
126; Clark, 104, 112, 120, 123, 125, 138, 139, 144; Clark
son, 102; Clayton, 168, 203; Cleary, 126; Clement, 13,
14, 15, 17, H6, 148, 164, 182; Clerks, County, 65; Cleve
land, 182; Clinch, 115; Clogston, 164, 204; Clover, 177;
Close, 208, 216; Cluever, 109, no; Clute, 14, 17, 86, 104,
114, 115, H7, 125, 142, 146, 148, 152, 153, 158, 160,
'93, '95, '98, 200, 217, 218; Cobes, Lewis, 5, 13, 17; Coch
ran, 128; Cochrane, 107; Cockran, i23;Coe, 101, 128; Cof
fin, 185; Cole, 163; Coles, 105; College Spectator, 139;

INDEX.

in

Collins, i8o; Combs, 164; Commissioners, County School,
66; Concordiensis, 139; Conde, 34, 153; Conduit, 128;
Coney, 203; Conklin, 140; Connestigieone, 27; Conning,
204, 205; Connor, 34; Conover, 167, 186; Constable, 113,
«43, !44', Convent, St. John's, 112; Cony, 200; Cook, 101,
126, 144, 169; Coon, 141, 168; Coons, 164; Cooper, 106;
Cordell, in; Corlear, 26; Corlett, 100; Cornell, 106; Come,
91; Corwin, 180; Couchman, 180; Coulbourne, 138, 139;
Coulter, 205; Countermine, 217, 218; Coval, 213; Cox, 51;
Craig, 109, 144, 146, 161, 180; Cramer, 148, 151; Crane, 13,
103, in, 113, 156, 157, 159, 209; Cranesville, 209; Craw
ford, 140, 141, 202, 217; Crego, 181; Crocker, 108; Cro
mer, 115; Crosby, 161; Crowell, 104; Cullings, 168, 178,
186, 206; Cummings, 102, no, 122, 178; Cummins, 116;
Cumpston, 126, 144, 176, 177; Cunningham, 126, 144;
Curry, 204; Curtiss, 109, 145; Cutting, 176; Cuyler, 14, 122;
Cuyler's Vlachte, 14.
Daggett, 86, 142, 144; Dakin, 159; Dale, 117; Daley,
116, 126; Damen, 12, 20; Danneberg, no; Darling, 34, 99,
103, 204; Darrow, 159, 204, 216; Davenburg, 186; Daven
port, 101; Davis, 102, 139, 141, 145, 151, 158, 160, 164,
169, 180, 182, 186, 201, 211; Day, 107, in, 113; Dayo, 164;
Dayton, 169; Dealtry, 116; Dean, 188; De Baum, 198; De
Bois, 101; Deckelmyer, no; De Courielles, 22; Deed of
Dutch Church Lot, 16; De Forest, 86, 149, 154, 171, 172,
207, 210, 216; De Graaf, 9, 13, 17, 34; DeGraff, 15, 21, 34,
93, 95> "4, 144, 195; Delamater, 140, 141, 142, 167, 185,
186; Delamont, 21; De La Warde, 15, 17; De Lavall, 38;
Deleram, 117, 132; Delluis, 88; De Long, 164; Demarest,
197; De Moer, 14; Denel, 165; Denningen, no; Denning-
ton, 160, 164, 170, 186; Dennison| 164, 170, 186; Dentistry,
143; Depew, 133; De Ray, 37; De Remer, 86, 115,
145; De Steenbokker, 17; Deutscher Anzeiger, 139; Deven-
burg, 167, 180, 185; De Voe, 180; Devoe, 141; De Vos,
12; De Wigne, 113; Dickeman, 170; Dillenbeck, 158;
Dillon, 209; Disbrow, 165; Ditmars, 198; Divisions of
City, 68; Dod, 101; Dodge, 141, 168, 186; Donald,
179; Donaldson, 153; Doncassen, 18; Dongan, 5, 6, 8;
Donnan, 204, 205, 206; Dorn, 161, 164, 168, 179, 205,
216; Dorpian, The, 139; Doty, 99, 100, 115, 116, 164;
Dougall, 201, 205; Dow, 197, 213; Dry Goods, 155,
156; Duane, 113, 122, 125, 141, 142, 143, 144, 161, 162,
163, 164, 172, 176, 177, 178; Du Bois, 89, 108; Du Mond,
193; Dun, 101; Duncan, 99, 193, 200; Dunlap, 122, 140,
141, 158; Duquid, 178; Duryea, 108, 125, 133, 142; Dusnis,
86; Dutcher, 201; Du Trieux, 13, 18; Duurloo, 126; Dyck,
205.
Duanesburgh —
Church History  176
Civil History  172, 176
Civil List (1832-85)  173, 176
Early Purchases  161
Educational  176
Supervisors (1809-31)  172, '73
Topographical  161
Village  182
Earl, 180; Eaton, 106, 107; Eddy, 165, 166; Edgar, 179,
Educational, 120, 137; Edwards, 96, 102, 115, 128; Eenk-
ling, 11, 18, 87; Eggleston, 156, 164; Eisenmenger, 72;
Elder, 205, 206; Elias'sPlantasie, 11; Ellis, 50, 113, 141, 145,
146, 149; Ellison, 176; Ellsworth, 144; Ellwood, 142, 143,
147, 'S3 ; Elton, 180; Elwin, 109; Enders, 182 ; Engine

Hill, 209; Engle, 154; Ennis, 142, 204, 207, 208, 215;
Erichzon, 90; Ensign, 104; Estes, 166, 169, 178, 182, 186,
208; Evening Star, 139; Excise, Board of, 67.
Factory, Shawl, 155; Faiber, in, 133; Failey, 114;
Falvey, in; Farms, 12-15; Farnsworth, 116; Farquharson,
144; Faust, 117, 143; Featherstonhaugh, 133, 142, 163, 164,
178, 186; Feeling, 120; Feldman, 114; Felthousen, 126;
Fenn, 126; Fenwick, 117; Ferguson, 126, 164, 186, 203, 204,
206; Ferries, 52, 57; Finch, 180; Findley, Rev., 101; Finn-
egan, 104; Finnley, 203; Fire Department, 72, 75; Fish, 86;
Fisher, 126, 213, 218; Five Nations, 28; Flansburg, 204;
Flats, 2, 13, 14, 196; Fletcher, 30; Flinn, 149; Floriad,
The, 139; Fogerty, 208, 216, 217, 218; Fonda, 8, 9, n,
15, 19, 50, 113, 116, 119, 140, 141, 193; Foote, 116; Ford,
208; Fortifications and Garrisons, 34, 38; Forts, 36, 37;
Fort Simon, 34; Foster, 125, 132, 136, 137; Fox, 107, 114;
Fraking, 16; Franchot, 113; Franse, 7; Fraser, 203; Frazer,
105; Fredericks, 185; Freedom's Sentinel, 138; Freehold
ers, Adult, 17; Freeman, 18, 88, 113, 159, 160, 161, 182,
209; Freeman's Banner, 138; Free School System, 125;
Freleigh, 198; Frelinghise, 98; Frelinghuysen, 96; French,
126; Frey, 128; Freydendall, 164; Frost, 170, 179; Fuller,
86, 99, 101, 127, 142, 158, 164; Furbeck, 133,201; Furman,
86, 115; Furniture and Undertaking, 158, 159.
Gaige, 164, 168, 169, 178, 185, 186; Gale, 182; Ganley,
121; Gansvoort, 160; Ganzevoort, 19; Gardenier, 168, 186;
Gardner, 186; Garling, 109, no; Garrison at Schenectady,
37, 38; Gas-works, 146, 147; Gates, 36, 106, 126; Ger-
ntse, 15; Gey, 164; Gibson, 150, 151; Gifford, 164, 179,
200, 203, 204; Gifford's Hamlet, 200; Gilbert, 126; Gilles
pie, 136, 145; Gillette, 106, 107, 117; Gilmour, 151; Glen,
4, 7, n, 12, 13, 15, 18, 20, 23, 24, 25, 30, 32, 33, 34, 38,
193, 195; Glenn, 6, 8, 128; Goodrich, 86, 105, 144; Good-
sell, 105; Gordon, 128, 164, 203; Goss, 105; Graham, 114;
Grant, 27; Graty, no; Grau, no; Graves, 107; Gray, 143;
Great Flat, 3, 12; Green, 164, 170, 179, 185, 186, 198;
Greene, 142; Greene Corners, 182; Gregg, 20, 204, 216,
217, 218; Gregory, 139; Gridley, 104; Griffes, 98, 133;
Griffith, 164; Grimm, no; Groat, 153; Grocers, 156; Groes
beck, 14; Groot, 7, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 34, 37, 90, 93, 113,
115, 122, 126, 144, 145, I49> 'S8; Groote, n; Grose, 139;
Gross, 143; Gunn, 160; Gurnsey, 126; Guy, 109.
Haight, 166; Halliday, 201; Hall, 101, 105, 123, 124,
126, 169, 186, 201; Hallenbeck, 21; Hallowell, 126; Hal-
sey, 126, 133; Ham, 185, 198, 211; Hamilton, 177, 203;
Hamlin, 135, 139, 198; Hammer, 142; Hand, 125, 198;
Hanse, 7, 17; Hansen, 13; Hansett, 164, 168, 179, 185;
Hansmer, 116; Hanson, 158; Harden', 164, 182; Harden-
burg, 201; Harding, 158; Harkness, 203; Harman, 141;
Harreker, 109; Harrigan, 160; Harris, 108; Harrower, 213;
Hart, 157; Hartman, 178; Hastings, 86, 126; Hathaway,
160; Haver, 179; Hawood, 105; Heagle, 107; Health, Board
of, 67; Heath, 106; Hearsey, 100; Heemstraat, 21; Hege-
man, 143, 151; Heilbronner, in; Helmer, 116, 117; Hem-
ing, 204; Hengham, 115; Henry, in, 103, 128; Herrick,
164, 166, 179, 186,208; Herron, 114: Hesseling, 27; Hick-
ock, 97, 107, no, 126; Hill, 126, 142, 179, 203; Hillyer,
119; Hilton, 115; Hinne, 198; History of Fire Companies
74, 75; History of Masonic Organizations, 115, 116; History
of Municipal Organizations, 66, 69; Hoag, 142, 146, 164,
165, 166, 178, 182, 183, 185, 186; Hoffman, 112, 139; Hogh,
185; Holbrook, in; Holiday, 203; Holley, 119; Holmes,

INDEX.

164, 180; Holton, 205, 206; Horn, 9; Borne of Friendless,
113; Homrighaus, 112; Horsack, 202; Horsfall, 155; Horst-
man, 149; Hoslow, 147; Houghtaling, 105; Houghton,
204; House Lots, 10; Hover, 70; How, 167; Howe, 104,
'126, 133, 186; Hows, 164; Hoyt, 114; Hubbard, 182; Hub
bell, 133; Hughes, 106, 164; Hulbert, 145; Hull, 114, 142,
143; Humphrey, 164: Hungerford, 204; Hunt, 37, 182, 218;
Hunter, 116, 117, 153, 178, 204; Hutchinson, 217; Huyck,
141. Indian Wars on the Border, 22, 24, 28; Ingals, 201; In
gersoll, 164, 178; Ingoldsby, 200; Institutions, Charitable,
113; Irish, 165; Irvine, 136; Irwin, 133; Isack, 29; Islands,
14, 15; Ives, 106.
Jackson, 85, 86, 113, 116, 136, 151; Jacob, 104; Jakes,
212; James, 103, 115; Jan, 15; Jans, 194; Janse, 19, 27, 30;
Jansen, 19; Jarvie, 153; Jarvis, 166, 177; Jay, 174; Jenkins,
164; Johnson, 33, 99, 101, 115, 138, 142, 145, 148, 161, 180,
204; Johnston, 178; Joncker, 13; Jones, 157, 164, 165, 166,
186, 210; Jones Car "Manufacturing Company, 151, 210;
Joslin, 140, 141; Jost, no; Joy, 131; Joyce, 102, 104; Judd,
101, 102; Judges, County, 65; Judson, 140: Juflrow's Landt,
n; Jukes, 179; Jutkins, 105.
Kane, 93, 122, 144; Kanquaragoone, 14; Kasten, no;
Kastendieck, no, 142; Kelly, 9, 99, 101, 102, 105, 139, 165,
178, 200, 204, 206, 208; Kelly's Station, 200; Kennedy, 105,
166, 178, 184; Kerns, 215; Ketcham, 164, 165; Ketchum,
113; Keyes, 185; Keyser, 138; Killian, 160; Kilmer, 151;
Kilmer Wire Band Manufacturing Company, 151; Kincade,
106, 138; Kindler, no; King, 116, 126, 164, 168; Kingsley,
107; Kinney, 159; Kipp, 108; Kirby, 203; Klein, 17; Kleyn,
13; Kline, 104; Klokenyer, 93; Knapp, 107; Knauer, 139;
Koon, 140, 141, 164; Koons, 164, 166; Kregear, 195; Kriegs-
man, 117; Krygier, 192.
La Britton, 154; Ladd, 164, 165, 169, 182, 216, 218;
Laibey, 148; Lake Featherstonhaugh, 161; Lamb, 106; La
Montague, 3; Lampman, 160; Lancaster, 117, 122; Lander,
164, 185, 204; Landertse, 7; Landon, 85, 86, 133, 139;
Lands, Division of, 10; Lands, List of Early, 7; Lang, 182;
Lange Gang, 10; Lans, 201; Lansing, 194, 198, 200, 216;
La Rue, 126; Lasher, 164, 179, 184, 185, 186; Lason, 164,
169; Lawrence, 108, 213; Lawton, 107, 165; Lawyer, 14;
Lee, 126, 139; Leislerians, 23,25; Lendrums, 170; Leonard,
106; Leopold, 109; Leroy, 107; Lester, 180; Levey, 167,
170; Levi, in, 156; Levings,io5; Lewis,ii9, 134, 135, 167;
Liddle, 164, 165, 178, 186; Lidell, 186; Lighthall, 94; Lilly,
177; Lindsay, 202; Linn, 117, 138; Literary Journal, 138;
Livingston, 14, 15, 119, 162; Lloyd, 167; Lockwood, 164,
201, 217; Locomotive Fireman's Monthly Journal, 139; Lo
comotive Works, 149; Lomasney, 86; Long, 164; Long-
worthey, 180; Losee, 216; Lots, House, 10; Love, 186, 179;
Loveridge, 139; Low, 140, 141, 212, 217, 218; Lowell, 109,
*77> 178; Luckey, 105; Ludlow, 132; Luffman, 145; Lum
ber Yards, 156; Lush, 160; Luycasse, 7, 23; Lydius, 88, 89;
Lyon, 114, 179, 203.
Mabee, 9, 143, 206, 215, 216; Macauley, 201; Mackay,
142; Mackley, 182; Mac Master, 178; Macomber, 164, 166,
184, 186; Magistrates, Board of, 67; Magoffin, 117, 140,
141, 142; Mair, 135; Mairs, 157, 202; Malcom, 122; Man
ning, 170; Mansfield, 177; Manufactories and Industries,
147; Map of Schenectady, 29; Marcellis, 13, 15, 18, 19, 27;
March, 193; Marcken, 4; Mariaville, 182, 185; Marinus, 13,
34; Markle, 164; Marlette, 114, 116, 125, 139, 140, 145,

204, 205, 206, 211, 213, 217, 218; Marselis, 19, 94, 140;
Marsh, 124, 164, 170, 179, 185; Marshall, 169, 182; Martin,
9, 100, 144, 154, 204; Mascraft, 13, 37; Mason, 103, 117, 164;
Masonic Organizations, 115-117; Massacre, 33, 34; Mast-
kraft, 7; Mathews, 113, 115; Matthias, 104; Maurits, 14;
Maxey, 96; Maxon, 115, 138, 144, 146, 151, 198; Maxwell,
178, 202; Maybee, 148; McAtyre, 101; McAuley, 102; Mc-
Bean, 178; McCallum, 178; McCally, 164; McCannis, 19,
113, 115, 145; McCann, 199, 200; McClelland, 132; McClew,
178; McCloskey, 112; McCIyman, 153, 154; McComber,
182; McCue, 13, 217; McDermid, 141; McDermott, 160,
185; McDonald, 101, 116, 142, 182, 184, 186,202; McDou-
gall,i40, 141, 164, 178, 186; McEncroe,i46, 160; McFarland,
99, 164; McGaugh, 179; McGee, 215; McGeogh, 112; Mc
Graw, 166, 182; Mcintosh, 166; McKean, 104, 105; McKee,
202; McKelvey, 197; McKenney, 203; McKenry, 126; Mc-
Kerlee, 205; McKinney, 178; McLachlin, 153; McLeod,i78;
McManus & Co., 156; McMaster, 168, 205; McMichael, 116;
McMillan, 164, 178, 184, 203, 204; McMillen, 168, 186, 203;
McMillin, 204; McMullen, 113, 145, 159; McNee, 126, 203;
McNeirny, no; McQueen, 117, 149, 150, 151; McQueen
Locomotive Works, 209; McQueen & Stage, 151; McShea,
86, 198: Mead, 143, 166, 178, 182, 186, 212; Mebee, 19;
Mebie, 13, 14, 18; Megapolensis, 86; Meier, 96; Meneely, no;
Mercelis, 124; Merchant, 128; Meredith, 106; Merser, 99;
Merwin, 104; Mesick, 198; Metcalf, 177; Meyers, 109;
Michel, 99, 112; Mickel, no; Mickle, 180; -Milbanks, 198;
Military Organizations, 39,45; Millard & Crane, 156.
Mills- Hosiery  153
Knitting  153
Schenectady Knitting  153
Watervliet  153
Miller, 101, 198, 202; Milmine, 145, 156, 157, 205; Miln, 98;
Miscellaneous Cabinet, 138; Mitchel, 113, 211; Mofiatt, 154;
Mohawk Advertiser, 138; Mohawk Mercury, 137; Mohawk
Sentinel, 138; Mohawkville, 208, 209; Monk, 126; Monroe,
99; Mantanye, 164; Monteith, 102, 103; Montgomery, 170;
Moon, 165, 182; Moore, 100, 115, 123, 125, 151, 164, 169,
178, 217; Moorhouse, 153; Morey, 164; Morning Gazette,
139; Morning Star, 139; Morrie, 126; Morris, 126; Morri
son, 117; Morse,n5; Mott,l64; Mudge, 180, 200; Muir, 51;
Mull, 125; Muller, in; Mulroy, 205; Mumford, 144; Mun
sell, in, 210; Murdock,l7; Murry,li3, 133, 169, 179, 185;
Myers, n, 113, 114, 125, 148, 154, 215; Mynderse, 8, 30,113,
141, 142; Myndertse, 7, 8, 19.
Navigation, Railway, 49, 50; Navigation, River, 45, 48;
Navigation, Stage, 48,49; Nellis, 179, 185; Nethaway, 168;
Nettleton, 102; Newcomb, 203; Newenhuysen, 87; New-
kirk, 205; New Lights, 103; Newman, 114; Nicholson, 31;
Niskayuna, 192, 199; Niskayuna District School, 197;
Niskayuna, Early Settlers, 192, 193; Niskayuna Patent, 195;
Niskayuna, Wars and Fortifications, 195; Noethen, 109;
North, 162, 163, 176, 177, 178; Northrop, 108, in; North-
rup, 204; Norton, 165; Nott, 102, 107, 113, 114, 117, 122,
123, 126, 127, 128, 133, 134, 201, 203, 210,212; Noxon, 140,
141; Neucella, 88.
Occinn, 197; Oderic, 109; Officers, City, 1798-1885, 68,
69; Officers, County and State, 64, 65; Ogilvie, 98; Old
Fort, 37; Olin, 155; Olmstead, 106, 126; O'Neill, 185;
Outhout, 8, 126; Orlop, 141; Osborne, 217; Ostrander,
164,204,206; Often, 20; Ouderkirk, 198; Ouger, 143.

INDEX.

Paige, 85, 86, 108, 115, 116, 126,133, x44> ,D4; Paine,
126, 136; Palmer, 86, 114, 116, 126, 128, 138, 144, 166,213;
Parker, 213, 218; Parks, 109; Parsons, 126; Parthenon and
Academian, 139; Passage, 182, 201, 204; Patent, Braines,
161; Patent, Cambefort, 14; Patent, Dongan, 8; Patent of
1684, 5; Patterson, 164, 170, 205, 218; Patterson's Corners,
182; Patterson ville, 208; Paul, 106; Paxton, in; Payne,
100,109; Pazuater, 107; Peake, 180; Pearse, 198; Pearson,
137, 142; Peck, io5; Peckham, 117; Peek, 7, 13, 144, 180,
205,211, 212; Peissner, 133, 135; Pendleton, 100; Publica
tions of Union College, 139; Perkins, 114, 131, 133, 142;
Perry, 16, 195, 211; Phelps, 34; Philips, 20, 201, 217, 218;
Philipse, 13, 19, 34; Phraner, 108; Physicians, City, 67;
Physicians, Pioneer, 143; Pickett, 126; Piek, 128; Pierson,
125; Pieterse, 27; Pioneer, The, 147; Piper, 126; Pitkin,
149; Pins, 109; Planck, 142; Plank Road, 213; Piatt, 9, 128;
Poentie's Kil, 11, 12; Polders, 11; Polhemus, 185; Pomeroy,
101; Pond, 161; Post, 185; Potman, 19, 23, 27; Potter, 13,
82, 84, 86, 99, 100, 115, 117, 133, 138, 145, 155; Poverson,
12; Powers, 160, 180; Prime, 140, 141; Princetown, 200,
206; Princetown Hamlet, 200; Princetown District Schools,
201; Princetown Town Officers, 201; Printers and News
papers, 137, 140; Proal, 100; Proctor, 126; Protestant
Sentinel, 138; Proudfit, 135, 203; Provost, 176; Pulver,
164, 179, 180; Putman, 200, 210, 217, 218.
Quackenbos, 34, 97, 195; Quackenbush, 179, 185,201,
212; Quaker Street, 182; Quattlander, no; Queen's New
Fort, 37; Quick, 164, 217, 218; Quimby, 164, 165.
Radcliffe, 218; Radley, 164, 167, 170; Railsplitter,
The, 139; Railways, 49, 50; Rainy, 213; Ramsey, 117,
120, 160, 178; Ramssaur, 109; Randell, 109; Rankins,
149, 159; Rawson, 105; Ray, no; Raymond, 197, 201;
Reaber, 117; Reagles, 142, 156; Rector, 13, 148, 164;
Reese & Hartley, 158; Reese, 133, 147, 148, 158; Reeves,
156, 158; Reflector and Schenectady Democrat, 138;
Reichs Posaune, 112; Remington, 105, 140; Reynolds, 180,
198; Rhinehart,i86, 201,206; Rhodes,i33; Rich,i82; Rick-
ett, 201; Riggs, 122, 138; Righter, 177; Rinckhout, 18, 19;
Ritchie, 124, 138; Roach, 142; Roberts, 12, 13, 15; Robin
son, 133, 165, 203, 211; Robison, 160, 204, 206; Rockwell,
164; Rodgers, 128; Rogers, 109, 204; Romeyn, 96, 102,
127, 128, 197, 212; Root, 164; Rosa, 154, 159; Rose, 169;
Rosekrans, 201 ; Rosekranz, 116; Ross, 180; Rotterdam, 13,
206, 208; Rotterdam District Schools, 215; Rotterdam
Flats, 207; Rotterdam Town Officers, 215; Rowe, 115,
142; Roy, James & Co., 153; Rushmore, 182; Rynex, 116,
201, 204, 217, 218; Rynex Corners, 200; Ryswick, Peace
of, 30.
Sacia, 125; Sackett, 138; Sager, 211; Sanders, 8, 18, 85,
86, 147, 159; Sands, 126, 213; Sassian, 15; Sauter, no, 115,
217, 218; Savage, 136; Sawyer, 106, 107; Schaats, 143, 27;
Schaets, 20, 86, 87; Schenck, 101, 202.
Schenectady, Burning of  24, 28
" Cabinet and Freedom's Sentinel  138
Cabnet  '38
>" Car Company  209, 211
County Whig   '3s
" Daily Evening Star and Times  139
" Gazette  '39
11 " News  '39
<« " Times  '39
n « Union  r39

Schenectady Democrat  138
' ' Evening Star  139
" First Settlement  2, 10
" Reflector and Democrat  139
" Republican  139
" Saratoga Standard  138
Star  138
" Township  1,2
" Water-works  145, 146
" Weekly Union  139
Schermerhorn, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 23, 27, 86,
115, 116, 122, 138, 141, 145, 148, 151, 153, 154, 171, 182,
206, 210, 211, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219; Scherwin, 113;
Schneider, 112; School Bill, oldest, 120, 121; School, Ulustre,
127; School, Lancaster, 122, 125; Schoolcraft, 86, 116, 125,
142; Schoonmaker, 2 10; Schullze,ii2; Schuyler,6, 7, 26, 213;
Schwartz, no; Schwenker, no; Schwilk, 112, 113;
Schwin, 113; Schyler, 193; Scroll, The, 140; Scotia, 18;
Scott, 160; Scrafford, 201, 204, 218; Scully, 112; Searl,
201,210, 212; Searle, 211; Seaver, 114; Seeley, 148, 157;
Seelye, 97; Seesar, 94; Selyns, 86; Selzinger, 109; Senators
of State, 65; Sexton, 123; Seymour, 105, 139; Shaker
Island, 196; Sheldon, 178, 182; Sherburn, 166; Sheriffs, 65;
Shipley, 205; Short, 213; Shoudy, 170, 182; Shumway,
121: Shurtliff, 9; Shute, 164, 165, 170, 186; Shuter,99, 128;
Shutt, 164 Sickles, 96; Sigsbee, 217; Simpson, 107; Sisson,
164; Sitterly, 160; Sixbury, 13; Skeels, 177; Slaaghboom,
19; Slater, 123, 124; Slawson, 164; Sleicher, 139; Slinger
land, 7, 19; Sloughters, 21; Slover, 211; Smart, in;
Smeallie, 204, 205, 206; Smedes, 100; Smith, 7, 20, 30, 31,
37, 86, 96, 101, 104, 105, in, 112, 113, 115, 126, 128,
138, 143, 145, 146, 158, «59> 164, 165, 168, 177, 180, 186,
201, 217; Snell, 186; Sniffers, 164; Societies, Ecclesias
tical, 86; Society, Ladies' Benevolent, 113; Society, Medi
cal,' 140, 142; Soegemakelyk, 12; Soley, 113; South
Schenectady, 208; Spalding, 210; Spencer, 119, 169;
Spitzer, 143, 212; Sprague, 126, 140; Springer, 204, 210;
Squire, 140, 141; Staats, 23; Stackpole, 140; Stage, 48,
151; Staley, 126, 133, 185, 204, 217, 218; Stanford, 139,
145, 146, 153, 160, 193, 198; Stanton, 116, 144; Starks,
115; Starkweather, 180; Stead, 114; Stebbins, 100, 105,
113, 122, 177, 195; Steel, 105; Steeling, 213; Steers, 199;
Steinfurhuer, 142; Sterling, 205; Sternberg, 169; Sterns,
in; Steuben, 162; Stever, 109; Stevens, 7, 13, 86, 126,
138, 164, 165, 168, 178; Stevenson, 137, 179; Stewart, 170;
Stiles, 123, 124; Stillwell, 164; Stockwell, 126; Stone, 138;
Stoppelkamp, no; Stoves, Nott, 134; Stringer, 143; Strong,
82, 86, 169; Struene, no; Stryker, 201; Stuart, 178;
Sturges, 202; Summerbell, 180; Superintendents of Hose,
74; Superintendents of Poor, 63, 64; Superintendents of
Streets, 67; Supervisors, 54, 62; Surrogates, County, 65;
Susholz, in, 154; Sutherland, 138; Swan, 117; Swancker,
217; Swart, 7, n, 12, 13, 14, 19, 115, 117, 148, 149, '54,
156, 217; Sweet, 156; Swits, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 19, 29, 90,
109, 116, 144, 159; Symonse, 31, 193; Symonse's Meadow,
11; Synagogue, Jewish, in.
Taggert, Richmond, 106; Tallman, Jedediah, 178; Tal
mage, 23, 25, 108, 198; Tanner, Agnes, 170; Taylor, 51,
97, 101, 108, 109, in, 122, 127, 128, 201, 208, 213; Taws,
205, 206; Tele, 109; Teller, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 19, 115, 158;
Temperance, 117; Templar, 204; Templer, 201; Ten Broeck,
26, 128; Teneyck, 15 ; Terworth, 126 ; Tennisse, 4, 15;
Thatcher, 151; Thayer, 138, 139; Thesschenmaecker, 27,

INDEX.

87, 88, 120; Thomas, 164, 177; Thompson, 101, 138, 144,
'51, J54, 158, 176, 177, 198; Thomson, 86; Thornton, 177;
Thurston, 124; Tichenor, 114; Timeson, 158; Tinning, 204,
205, 206; Titball, 166; Titus, 186; Todd, 102; Toll, 14,
15, 17, 19, 20, 33, 140, 141, 147; Tomlinson, 9, 100; Tomp
kins, 116; Tonelier, 140, 141; Tower, 213; Townsend, 133;
Toy, 109, 116; Tread way, 156; Treasurers, County, 65;
Treis, 109; Trepp, 165; Tripp, 164, 165, 186; Troup, 177;
Truax, 20, 113, 114, 115, 133, 140, 141, 142, 145, 158, 211;
True, 198; Tullock, 164, 178, 211; Tully, 200; Tupper,
123; Turnbull, 164, 166, 178, 185, 186, 200, 208, 217, 218;
Tyms, 8.
Underhill, 164; Union College, 128, 137; Union College
Magazine, 139; Unonian, The, 140; Union University, 133.
Van Allen, 143; Van Alstyne, 21; Van Antwerp, 33, 34,
122, 198; Van Antwerpen, 13, 18, 19, 34, 37; Van Auken,
180; Van Benechoten, 180; Van Benschoten, 197; Van
Benthuysen, 19; Van Brakel, 7, 12, 15, 27; Van Brakelen,
12, 19, 37; Van Brough, 194; Van Cise, 94; Van Copper-
nol, 13, 14; Van Curler, 11, 12, 19, 196, 207; Van De
Bogart, 7, 19, 20, 27, 34, 86, 125; Vandenbergh, 91; Van
der Baast, 15; Vanderbogue, 201; Van der Heuvel, 143;
Vandermoor, 160; Vanderveer, 211; Van der Volgen, 8, 12,
90, 93, 116; Van der Volgers, 20, 89; Van Desolow, 212;
Van Deusen, 157; Van Ditmars, 12, 27; Van Driesen, 89, 91 ;
Van Dyck, 20, 115, 156, 160, 211, 218; Van Epps, 8, 19,
86, 142, 148, 161, 211, 217, 218; Van Eps, 4, 5, 7, 9, 12,
14, 15, 17, 20, 23, 27, 207; Van Guysling, 207; Van Hern,
180; Van Horne, 145; Van Ingen, 124, 127, 143; Van
Isselseyn, 12; Van Lice, 31; Van Ness, 12; Van Olinda, 13,
14, 30, 143, 195; Van Orden, 121; Van Otto, 206; Van
Patten, 12, 103, 115, 142, 148, 215, 217; Van Petten, 8, 9,
12, 20, 31; Van Potten, 8, 217; Van Purmerend, 12; Van
Rensselaer, 2, 26, 128, 163, 194; Van Sanford, 197, 201,
215; Van Santford, 95, 96; Van Schaaick, 18; Van Schaick,
34; Van Slichtenhorst, 163; Van Slyck, n, 13, 14, 15, 30,
3L 33, 34, 37, 145, 149, 2", 217, 218; Van Slyke, 148, 153;
Van Soligen, 118; Van Valkenburgh, 204, 217; Van Vech
ten, 9, 96, 122, 177; Van Velsen, 6, 23, 27, 38; Van Vorhis
126; VaiTVorst, 17, 19, 33, 34, 86, 103, 125, 133, 142, 144,
145, 156; Van Vranken, 29, 114, 122, 123, 125, 145, 146,
159, 160, 198, 200; Van Wagnen, 197; Van Woert, 140,
141; Van Woggelum, 11, 12; Van Wormer, 217, 218; Van
Zandt, 109, no, 142, 212; Vasborough, 34; Vedder, 7, 8, 12,
19, 20> 25, 31, 34, 40, 86, 89, 95, 113, 114, 125, 126, 139,

141, 142, 148, 156, 159, 182, 192, 198, 200, 207, 211, 212,
214, 215, 216; Vedder & Van Voast, 156; Veeder, 8, n,
12, 13, 20, 21, 34, 37, 90, 93, 114, 124, 128, 141, 142, 144,
145, 148, 149, 154, 156, 158, 160, 215, 216, 217; Veeder's
Mills, 11; Velie, 147; Vermyle, 98, 210; Vetch, 31; Victory,
169; Viele, 7, 13, 15, 17, 20, 27, 34, 95; Vine, 123; Vining,
19; Virgin, in; Vischer, 32, 210; Visscher, 19; Voigl, 109;
Vonda, 7; Voorman, 116; Vought, 141, 201; Vrooman, 6,
7, 8, 9, 15, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 31, 34, 91, 96, 98, 114, 123,
128, 140, 143, 148, 154, 159, 193, 214.
Waddell, 164, 179, 217; Wade, 141; Wainwright, 109;
Walker, 113, 157, 204; Wallace, 144; Wallard, 215; Walms-
ley, 101, 140, 141; Walpole, 116, 168, 185, 186; Walters,ii3;
Walton, 13, 128, 144; War, Civil, 41, 45 ; War, Old French, 32;
War of 1812, 41; Ward, 117; Warden 164, 198; Warner, 160;
Wart, 166; Washington, 53, 54; Wasson, 177, 217; Water
works, 145, 146; Watson, 117; Weast, 201, 203, 204, 218;
Weaver, 164, 185; Webb, 103, 210; Webber, 107; Webster,
132; Weeks, 140, 141; Weide, 178; Weincke, 154; Weller,
117, 154; Wells, 14, 133, 198; Wemp, 6, 7, 8, n, 14, 15,
21, 23, 27, 31, 34, 37, 90, 193; Wemple, 8, 13, 51,201, 211;
Wendell, 9, 21, 23 100, 116, 160, 193, 194, 195; Wesley,
164; Westerlo, 197; Western Advertiser, 137; Western
Budget, 138; Western Spectator and Schenectady Weekly,
137; Westervelt, 119; Westinghouse, 151; Weston, 160, 163;
Wetmore, 177, 199; Wheeler, 115, 140, 141; Whitbeck, 198;
White, 99, 116, 117, 218; Whitehorn, 133, 142; Whitfield,
103; Whitmyre, 149; Whitney, 106, 127; Whyting, 201;
Wibbe, no; Widner, ,105; Wiederhold, 154; Wiggins, 121,
164; Wilber, 164, 166, 178, 181, 182, 186; Wilds, 126; Wiley,
170, 216; Wilie, 28;Wilkie, 114; Wilkinson, 164; Willies, 107;
Williams, 217; Williamson, 108, 116, 117; Wilson, 99, 185;
Wiltsie, 164, 167, 168, 185, 186, 206, 213; Wing, 164, 182;
Wingate, 164, 204; Winne, 198, 200; Winterwyck, 89, 191;
Wiseman, 139; Witbeck, 159; Witherspoon, 105; Witheral,
213; Wolf, 112, 132; Wood, 140, 141, 164, 170, 171, 186,
204; Woodward, 141; Wooley, 141; Wortman, 98, 133;
Wreath, The, 138; Wright, 7, 160, 167, 169; Wyatt, 148;
Wyckoff, 137, 180; Wylie, 178.
Yances, 21; Yates, 9, 19, 21, 33, 85, 86, 90, 93, 113, 114,
115, 116, 122, 123, 126, 128, 138, 140, 144, 156, 158, 160,
201, 212; Yelverton, 65,86; Yonse, 21; Yost, 170; Youlen,
109, 213; Young, 101, 104, 115, 142, 165, 178, 201, 202,
203. Zeiser, 109; Zeller, 178; Zoeller, 109.

HIS T O RY

COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY,

1682-1885,
EDITED AND COMPDLED
BY REV. J. H. MUNSELL.

INTRODUCTION.
EARLY in the seventeenth century, North
America, east of the Mississippi, was claimed by
right of discovery by four European nations:
France, England, Spain and Holland. Although
for fifty years there were but few colonists sent
over, the whole continent was too small to hold
them in peace. Jealousies and bickerings were
rife; the French crowded the English, and the
English crowded the Dutch, until finally the latter
disappeared altogether, and the rivalry between the
former continued one hundred years longer. It
was as plain then as it is now that rival nations
could not exist in the Mississippi Valley.
The French commenced the settlement of Canada
in 1603. Their object was two-fold: the conver
sion of the natives to the Christian faith, and trade.
The missionary and the trader, therefore, went
forth together visiting every tribe in the valleys of
the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi, and render
ing to each other mutual aid and assistance.
No nation was ever more successful in winning
the esteem and respect of the natives. The flexi
bility of the French character and the indomitable
patience of their missionaries were the secrets of
their success. The Iroquois, or Five Nations, alone
resisted their influence. Their friendship was the
salvation of the Province of New York. They
claimed all the territory lying between the Hudson
and the Maumee rivers, so that the French of
Canada could never aim a blow at Albany or
Schenectady without striking over the heads of the
Five Nations. This celebrated confederacy, the
terror of all surrounding tribes, was made up of the
Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas and
Senecas, five allied tribes, who acted as one
nation; herein lay their influence.

During the long contest for dominion on this
continent between- the French and English,
they held the balance of power, and were assidu
ously courted by both parties.
But after 1760, when the French influence
ceased, their importance declined; rum and gun
powder had diminished their numbers, and the
once powerful Mohawks had almost ceased to
exist as a separate tribe.
During the Revolutionary war, large portions of
the Oneidas and Tuscaroras favored the colonies,
and for safety were transferred to Schenectady;
while most of the Onondagas, Cayugas and the
Senecas, the more numerous and westerly tribes,
adhered to Great Britain and became an awful
scourge to the frontier settlements in the Schoharie
and Mohawk valleys. SCHENECTADY.
The ancient township of Schenectady embraced
a territory of 128 square miles, a portion of the
Mohawk valley sixteen miles long and eight miles
wide. The western half is an irregular plateau,
elevated 400 or 500 feet above the Mohawk, a
spur of the Helderberg, passing north into Sara
toga County; the eastern half is a sandy plain,
whose general level is 300 or 400 feet lower. The
river, running through the middle of this tract in a
southeasterly direction, forms the most beautiful
and striking natural object in its landscape. At
the western boundary, where it enters the town, it
flows through a narrow valley, whose sides, though
covered with foliage, are too steep for cultivation.
From the hill Towereune, the valley widens grad
ually to Poversen and Maalwyck, where the hills
sink down into a great sand plain. Until the river
reaches the City of Schenectady, it is a
constant succession of rapids, and its general

2

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

course is southeast; here it makes a great bend, and
flows with a deep, sluggish current northeastward
to the Aal Plaats, the eastern boundary of the
town. The tributaries of the Mohawk within the
town are small and unimportant streams; those at
the west end, flowing from the slates, are nearly or
quite dry in summer, while those at the opposite
end, fed from the sand, are constant spring brooks.
But of these streams, few are of sufficient size and
constancy now to serve as motive power.
With the exception of a little limestone in the
extreme western limits of the town, all the rocks
found in place belong to Hudson shales, and con
sist of alternate layers of blue slate and sandstone,
some of which are used for building purposes.
In the west half this geological formation is most
abundant, and the soil there is a clayey loam,
underlaid with clay or hard pan. The immediate
valley of the river, where it breaks through the range
of hills, is narrow and composed chiefly of drift of
at least two elevations. The highest, called the
' ' stone flats, " raised twenty to thirty feet above
the water, consists of coarse gravel and bowlders,
and is chiefly found on the north side of the river.
The opposite bank is a lower plain of sand and
gravel. The eastern half of the town has no hills worthy
of the name; its general level is perhaps ioo feet
above the Mohawk, and the prevailing soil is a
fine sand, underlaid with clay, except in the ex
treme eastern limits, where the clay loam again pre
vails. Besides this there is found in the bends and
eddies of the river, and upon the low islands, an
alluvial deposit which is enriched by the annual
floods. This constitutes the widely known ' ' Mo
hawk Flats," which, though cultivated by the
white man for more than 200 years, have lost little
of their unsurpassed fertility.
In the early period of the settlement no other
land was tilled, hence they were called the land,
arable land, or bouwlandt, all else being denomi
nated woodland, and little valued. In addition to
their fertility, these flats presented another advan
tage to the first settler; they were mainly free from
wood and ready for the plough and seed. For
ages they had been the native's corn land, whilst
the adjacent forests and river furnished him with
flesh and fish.
The great sand belt which passes across the
town from south to north was once covered with a
heavy growth of pine, while the high lands lying
north and west of it produced the usual varieties of
hard woods. Nothing could have been more

charming to the eye of the first white man traveling
up the Mohawk to Ticonderoga (Fort Hunter)
than the flats skirting the river banks, clothed in
bright green of the Indian corn and other summer
crops of the red man. In 1642 the kind hearted
Arent Van Curler visited the Indian castles on an
errand of mercy, to rescue some captive French
men from the hands of the cruel Mohawks. On
his return he wrote to the Patroon (Kilian Van
Rensselaer) in Amsterdam, that a " half day's jour
ney from the Colonie, on the Mohawk river,
there lies the most beautiful land that the eye
of man ever beheld." Who that has stood upon
Niskayunaberg or Schuylenberg and looked west
and north over the bouwlandt and the adjacent
islands can wonder at the rapture of the enthusi
astic Dutchman, or can fail to discern in his ad
miration the budding of that idea which twenty
years after blossomed into the settlement of which
he was the leader.
The site of the village of Schenectady was ad
mirably chosen. No other spot in the neighbor
hood of the bouwland offered such facilities for a
village. From the eastern end of the "Great Flat"
there makes out from the sandy bluff which sur
rounds it a low, narrow spit, having upon the east,
north and west sides the Mohawk River and Sand
Kil. The extreme point, only about 1,200 feet
wide, was chosen for the site of the future city, a
warm, dry spot, easily fortified against an enemy,
and sufficiently elevated to be safe from the annual
overflow of the Mohawk River. This little flat
contains but 175 acres, and it was the site of an
earlier Indian village, which tradition says was a
former seat or capital of the Mohawks.
FIRST SETTLEMENT OF SCHENECTADY.
If we may believe tradition, Schenectady had
already been occupied by the white man many
years when Van Curler first visited it in 1642; in
fact, it has been claimed to be little, if any, junior
to Albany.
That a few fur traders and bosloopers early roved
among the Mohawks, married and raised families
of half-breeds, cannot be denied; indeed, there are
respectable families in the valley to this day, whose
pedigree may be traced back to these marriages.
But that the white man made any permanent settle
ment on the Mohawk west of Albany, before 1662,
there is no good reason for believing, and in view
of the opposition of Albany and the Colonie, im
probable. June 18, 1661, Arent Van Curler, the leader of
the first settlement, made formal application to

INTRODUCTION.

Gov. Stuyvesant for permission to settle upon the
"Great Flat" lying west of Schenectady.
The reply was as follows : June 23, 1661,
"The letter of Arent Van Curler being presented
and read on the 18th June, containing in sub
stance a request by him and a few other persons
for the large plain situated to the back of Fort
Orange, toward the interior, for the purpose of cul
tivation, and consent to purchase the same from
the original proprietors and make a settlement
there, etc., which, being maturely considered, the
Director-General and Council resolved to consent
to it; provided that the said lands, on being pur
chased from the native proprietors, be, as usual,
transferred to the Director-General and Council
aforesaid, as representatives of the Lords Directory
of the Privileged West India Company; and that
whatever the petitioners shall pay for the aforesaid
lands to the original proprietors shall in due time
be returned to them, or be discounted to them
against the tenths."
Before the Governor's authority was received at
Beverwyck a freshet laid the country for miles
around under water. This was followed, a few
days after (June 26), by an inundation much
greater than the first, which forced the inhabitants
to quit their dwellings and fly with their cattle for
safety to the woods on the adjoining hills. Incal
culable damage was caused by these irruptions.
The wheat and other grain were all prostrated, and
had to be cut mostly for fodder, affording scarcely
seed sufficient for the next spring.
This visitation caused the postponement of the
purchase of the "Great Flat" until the ensuing
month, when the following deed was obtained from
the Indian owners :
Compareerde voor mij Johannes La Montagne
ten dienste van de Groet Westendische Compagnie
door de G1 en Racden Van Nieu Ned"""" geadmit-
teert, Viers Direct' en Commies op de fort85 Orangie
en Dorp Beverwy, eenige Oversten van t'Maquaes
Lant genaempt Cantuquo, Sanareetse, -Aiadane
Sodackdrasse eigenaers van een seeckere stuck
Landts genaempt Op duyts de Groote Vlackten
Liggende achter de fort Orangie tusschen de selve
en het Maquaes Landt de welcke Verklaeren gece-
deert en getransporteert te hebben gelyck sij see-
deeren en transporteeren by deesen in reele en
Actuelle possessie en sijgondom ten behoeve Van
Sr Arent Van Corlaer Ret gemelde stuck Landts of
groote Vlackten op Wildts genaemdt Schonowe (is)
in syn begrip en circonferentie met syn geboomte
en killen voor een seecker getal of Cargosoenen
voor welck de transportanton bekennen sattisfactie
van gehadt te hebben renonceerende voor nu en
altyt op alle eygendom en pretensie die sij op het
gemelde stuck Landts tot nutoe gehadt hebben,
beloovende het te bevryden voor all pretensie die
andere Wilden soude hebben konnen. Actum in

de fort55 Orangie den 27" July A, 1661, in presentie
Van Marten Mouris en Willem Montagne daertee
versocht.

dit ist merck

van Cantuquo.

The Bear.

dit ist merck van
Aiadane.

dit ist
Sonareetsie.

In Kennisse van mij
La Montagne
V. Dr en Commies
opt fortss Orangie

x*

merck van

M. Mou(ris)
William de La Montagne.

(Translation.)
Appeared before me Johannes La Montagne, in
the service of the Privileged West India Company,
by the Director-General and Council of New Neth
erland admitted vice-director and clerk (commies)
at Fort Orange and village of Beverwyck, certain
sachems of the Mohawk's land named Cantuquo,
Sonareetse, Aiadane, Sodachdrasse, owners of a
certain piece of land named in Dutch the Groote
Vlachte, and lying behind Fort Orange, between
the same and the Mohawk's lands, who declare
that they have granted, transferred, as by these
presents they do grant and transfer, in real and
actual possession and ownership to the behoof of
Mr. Arent Van Corlaer, the said piece of land or
Great Flat, by the Indians named Schonowe, in its
compass of circumference, with its woods and kils,
for a certain number of cargoes, for which the
grantors acknowledge they have had satisfaction;
renouncing henceforth and forever all ownership
and pretensions, which they to said pieces of land
heretofore have had, and promising to free it from
all pretensions which other Indians may have.
Done in Fort Orange the 27th July, anno 1661, in
piesence of Martin Mouris and Willem Montagne,
hereto invited.
This is the mark X of Cantuquo.
This is the mark X of Sonareetsie.
This is the mark x of Aiadane. M. Mou(ris)
William de La Montagne.
Acknowledged before me,
La Montagne V. D. , and
Clerk at Fort Orange.
Much difficulty was encountered in gaining
possession, and in the allotment of the land
among the Van Curler's Company. After a
delay of two years, Governor Stuyvesant came to
an understanding with the settlers, and the several

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

lots and farms were surveyed and conveyed to them
by patents.
The description given in this deed was quite in
definite, and restricted the inhabitants to a com
paratively small area.
At this time, and even for many years later,
nothing was called land except the islands and allu
vial flats bordering upon the river. Within ten
years after the settlement commenced, all the tilla
ble land was taken up, and it became necessary to
look for more farther west. Hence originated an
other negotiation with the Mohawks, and the fol
lowing deeds extinguishing the Indian title to the
lands along the river to the present westerly limits
of the county:
On this 28th May, 1670, Kennighke and Auro-
ensie, both sakemakers of the Maquase, acknowl
edge to have thankfully received the remainder of
the sewant, tubs [of beer] and gunpowder, accord
ing to the tenor of the accompanying contract, and
free the aforenamed buyers henceforth from all
claims, and promise never more from this date to
make any new action.
In witness of the truth of which we have sub
scribed this with our own hands by our accustomed
marks, at Schanechted, on the date as above, in
presence of Robbert Sanders and Jacques Cor-
nelise [Van Slyck], both called as interpreters
hereto. This mark ^——, - < " 3 was set by
Kennighke.

This mark
Dorowingoese. This mark
Auroensie.

^hs

was set by

was set by

Robert Sanders.
These letters were yd Q \c £) S set by
facques Cornelise.
In my presence, J. G. V. Marcken, Schout.
On this 3d day of July, A" 1672, appeared be
fore mee John Garretsen Van Marken, admitted
publ: nota: by the worshipful court of Albany and
the Inhabitants of Schanhectade, together with a
sartain Indian called Dohorywachqua and Crage,
being the representative of ye foure Mohockx Cas-
tells, who declared and promised to hold firm and
stable, and will cause to be held in full force and
virtue all and whatsoever hee shall act or doe in
y° sale of y" Lands Lying Neare The Towne of
Schanhechtade, Within Three Dutch Myles in
compasse on boath sides of y° River Westwards,
which endes at Hinguariones [Towareoune] Where
the Last Battell Wass between The Mohoakx and
the North Indians; Provided That Jaackes Corne

lisse [Van Slyck] Shall have the first flatts or playne,
— Except y" Inhabitants of Schanhechtade will Re
store unto said Jaaques Cornelisse Two Rundlets
of Brandy and one hundred hand of Wampum,
which being paid unto sd Jaaques The said first
Playne to Remaine to the Towne.
Whereupon Sander Leenders Gelen, being a
former magistrate, and John Van Eps, and Sweer
Teunisse [Van Velsen], being y° present magis
trates of ye sd Towne, did acknowledge and de
clare That They Weare Agreed with ye sd Indians
uppon y6 purchase of ye Land for y" Summe or
quantity of six hundred hands of good Wheyte
Wampum, Six koates of Duffels, thirty barres of
Lead and nine bagges of Powder, Which They doe
promis unto ye sd Indians in two Terms, viz. : The
first as soon as The Sachems, or any person by
Them authorized, shall Comme out of ye Country
and Produce full Power from Theyre Inhabitants
according to Theyre usuall manner, and have
thereupon delivered unto ye sd Indian as a pres
ent for The old man in the Mohawk Country a
Rundlet of brandy, — -To the end all Misunder
standing and Complaints May be Washt of and
Removed. To The trew performance of The premises The
sd parties have hereunto Set theire handes, and
Wass Interpreted by Cornelis Viele in The Absence
of Jaques Cornelisse, — In Schanhechtade, the date
above written. (Signed)
With the Markes of followeth

The Marke

-£¦

of Dohoriwachqua.

The

Marke ^^ °^ Crage.

Sander Leenders Gelen,
John Van Eps,
Sweer Teunisse.
Attested by me, J. G. V. Marken, Notar: publ:
(Coppy) This day the 13th of July is payd unto
the Indians above mentioned in parte of ye pur-
chaze foure hundred hands of Wampum, 30 barres
of Lead 3 bagges of pouder. More for a pres
ent, 3 'ankers good beere, one koatt of duffells,
together with the above mentioned Rundlet of
Brandy. (Coppy Transl.-) A00 1672 the 13"' day of July,
Did the underwritten Indians appeare before us
and do declare that They did confirm all and
whatsoever the Above written Indians by Name
Tohoriowaghque and Crage in the Annexed In
strument have acted, and doo by these presents
prommise, with the Last payment to give all fur
ther assurances of the sd Land, and That They and
Theyre heires Shall desist from all further Claymes
and pretences whatsoever.
In Witness whereof They have hereunto set
Theyre handes, In Schanhechtade at the house of
Gerritt Bancker and in the presence of Severall
particular Indians The Day and Yeare Above
written.,

INTRODUCTION.

Signed with ye following markes.
The Marke *^Eft. of Canachquo.

The Marke

The Marke

of Ocquarry.

of Tohoriowachque.

Attested by mee,
(Signed) J. G. V. Marcke, Nota. pub.
Compared and found to agree with the prinsip :
by mee. Ludovicus Cobes, secret.
By virtue of the foregoing conveyance from the
Indian proprietors, application was then made to
the Governor and Council for a patent, which
reasonable petition was denied, the reasons for the
refusal being that " leave from ye Governor to buy
ye same" had not been first obtained, and that
"full information of the premises " was not given.
To add to the difficulties of the case, the Mo
hawks were inclined to repudiate the sale of their
lands, or at least demand a double compensation,
as shown in the following minute of a council
held by the Mohawks, before the Governor:
The Sachem spake for himself, That one Arent
Van Corlaer bought all Schannectade and paid for
it, but now there be some who have bought only
Grasse, and pretend to the land allso; they say allso
that they have bought the first flatt, but that is not
so, for it belongs to Acques Cornelisse [Van Slyck],
who is to have it, and none else, for he is of their
[Mohawk] people, and it is his inheritance; — that
there are writings made of a sale of land, but it
was never sold, but only the grasse, tho' it may be
some drunken fellows may have made some writing
without their knowledge, — That they have only
bought the Grasse and now are going to live upon
it, but they ought to pay for the land as well as
the Grasse, and that they had given some to that
woman Hillah and another Leah, who have the
property of it; — the others have only the Grasse; —
That now he has declared this matter and desires
notice may be taken of it; and says that shame
shall never come upon him, or to be found in a
lye. Answer.That it is the custom of the Government and
amongst Christians when they sell the Grass to sell
the land allso; and if they be not paid for the land
they shall be, and that the people of Schannectade
say that they sent Acques to purchase the land in
the name of their Town, and that Acques bought
in his own name; and they sent allso one Kernel to
purchase it for the Towne, the Indyans told him
that Acques had bought and paid some part of the
payment, and they desired them to pay Acques the
money back and the Towne should have it, which

the Towne did and Acques was satisfied; it is the
custom of this place to do justice among ourselves
and if Acques have a better title than they for it
he shall have it.
Whatever may have been the arguments used on
this occasion, whether in the shape of "ankers of
good beere," or a "rundlet of brandy" — potent
reasons ever with the Indian — opposition ceased
from this time, and the Governor and Council were
brought to grant the inhabitants the following
much-needed patent for the ancient township,
afterward City of Schenectady.
patent of 1684.
Thomas Dongan, Leiutenant and Governour and
Vice-Admirall under his Royall Highnesse, James,
Duke of Yorke, &c, of New Yorke and its Depen-
dencyes in America, &c.
To all to whom these presents shall come,
Sendeth Greeting, Whereas Tohorywachqua and
Crage, Representatives of the four Mohake Castles,
have for themselves, and Canachquo, Ocquary, and
Tohoriowachque, true and Lawfull Owners of the
Land within menconed, have by their certaine
Writeing, or Deed of Sale, dated the third day of
July Anno Dni 1672, Given and Granted unto
Sander Lend™ Glenn, John Van Epps, Sweere
Teunesse, as being impowered by the Inhabitants
of the Towne or Village of Schenectady and
Places adjacent, a Certaine Tract or Parcell of
Lands, beginning at the Maques River, by the
Towne of Schenectade, and from thence Runnes
Westerly on both sides up the River to a Certaine
Place called by the Indians Canaquarioeny, being
Reputed three Dutch Miles or twelve English Miles;
and from the said Towne of Schenectade downe
the River one Dutch or four English miles to a kill
or creeke called the Ael Place, and from the said
Maques River into the woods South Towards
Albany to the Sandkill one Dutch Mile and as
much on the other side of the River North, being
one Dutch mile more, there being Excepted in the
said Bounds all Come and Sawmills, that now are
or hereafter shall be erected Within the Bounds of
the said Towne, that they be lyable to pay a perti-
cular Quitt Rent for their Priviledges, besides what
is herein sett forth, as shall hereafter be agreed for
by the Inhabitants of the said Places, or owners of
such Mills, with such Governour, or Governours as
shall be Appointed by his Royall Highness; and
likewise that noe Timber or Wood be Cutt but
within the Bounds aforesaid, the said Excepcon
being agreed upon by Myselfe as by a Certaine
Writeing bearing date the 7th day of August last
Past, doth more perticularly Appeare:
Now know Yee that by virtu of the Comicon and
Authority to me Given; by his Royall Highnesse
James Duke of Yorke and Albany, Lord Proprietor
of this Province, I have hereby Given, Granted, Rati-
fyed and Confirmed and by these Presents doe
Give, Grant, Ratify and confirme, unto William
Teller, Ryert Schermerhorn, Sweer Teunessen,
Jan Van Epps and Myndert Wemp on the Behalfe

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

of the Inhabitants of the Towne of Schenectade
and Places Adjacent aforesaid, Dependencyes
thereon, there Associates, Heires, Successors and
Assigns, all and Singular the before recited Tract
and Tracts, Parcell and Parcells of Land, Meadow,
Ground and Premises with their and every of their
Appurtenancyes, together with all and Singular the
Houses, Buildings, Messuages, Tenements, Heri-
ditaments, Dams, Rivers, Runnes, Streames, Ponds,
Woods, Quarryes, Fishing, Hawking and Fowling
with all Priviledges, Libertyes, and Improvements
whatsoever, to the said Lands and Premises be
longing, or in any wise appertaining, or accepted,
reputed, taken or known as Part, Parcell, or Mem
ber thereof, with their and every of their Appurte
nances; Provided Alwayes that this shall not any-
wayes make null, or void a former Grant or Pattent,
bearing date the 30th of October last past made
to Jacques Cornelisse of a Piece of Land lyeing
within the Bounds heretofore mentioned of the
Towne of Schenectade, (that is to say) the Land
Lyeing and being betweene two Creekes, the one
called the Stone Creeke to the Eastward, and the
other the Platt6 Creeke to the westward thereof,
the Low Land lyeing along the River side on the
South of the Maques River, and then to the north
of the Land belonging to the Inhabitants of
Schenectade, the same Containing Forty Morgen
or Eighty acres of Land, as alsoe Forty Morgen,
or Eighty Acres of Woodland or upland more, on
the West side of the Platte Creeke, adjoining to
the arrable Land along the River side, which was
wholly exempt by the Indian Proprietors, in the
sale of this Land, as belonging to Jacques Corne-
lise  To have and to hold the aforesaid Tract and
Tracts, Parcell and Parcells, of Land and Premises,
with their and every of their Appurtenances, unto
the said William Teller, Ryert Schermerhorne,
Sweer Teunessen, Jan Van Epps and Myndart
Wemp on the behalfe of the Inhabitants of the
Towne of Schenectade and their Associates, their
Heires, Successors and Assignes, unto the propper
use and behoofe of the said William Teller, Ryert
Schermerhorne, Sweer Teunessen, Jan Van Eps and
Myndart Wemp, their Heires, Successors, and
Assignes forever, to be holden of his Royall High
nesse, his Heires and Assignes in ffree and Comon
Soccage, According to the tenure of East Green
wich, in the County of Kent, in his Ma"88 King-
dome of England, Yielding and Paying therefor,
Yearly and every Yeare, as a Quitt rent, for his
Royall Highnesse use, unto such officer or Officers
as shall be appointed to receive the same att Albany
forty Bushels of Good Winter Wheat, on or before
the twenty-fifth day of March.
Given under my Hand and Sealed with the
Seale of the Province, at ffort James in New York,
the first day of November Anno Dni 1684, and in
the thirty-six Yeare of his ma"" Raigne. Tho. Dongan.
The importance of this grant will appear from the
fact that it is the source of all legal titles to lands
embraced within 128 square miles of territory given
subsequently to the first day of November, 1684.

The five trustees therein named, or their sur
vivors and successors lawfully appointed, there
after became the grantees of all the public or com
mon lands of the town. Previous to this date all
lawful conveyances were in the first instance made
by the Governor and Council.
Of the five original trustees, Myndert Wemp,.
Jan Van Eps, and Sweer Teunise Van Velsen were
killed February 9, 169!, leaving only Reyer Scher
merhorn and Willem Teller, survivors. The latter,
then an aged man residing in Albany, took but
little active interest in the management of the pat
ent. In 1692 he removed to New York, where he
died in 1700, from which time until the confirma
tory patent of 17 14 Reyer Schermerhorn was sole
trustee. By the destruction of the village in 1690 and
subsequent wars with the French and their Indian
allies, the inhabitants of Schenectady had lost all
but their lands; in consequence of which Scher
merhorn petitioned the Governor in 1698 for an
abatement of the quit rent due — forty bushels of
wheat yearly — according to the patent of 1684, but
his request was not granted.
Making due allowance for water, there were
about 80,000 acres of land in the patent of Sche
nectady — all under the charge and management
of one trustee, save the few farms which had been
heretofore granted. This one-man power was dis
tasteful to the people, and it was urged against
Schermerhorn that he disposed of the lands be
longing to the village, without rendering any ac
count of the same; they therefore petitioned for an
enlargement of their privileges by a new charter
which should give them power of choosing five
trustees to hold office three years, who should ac
count to their successors for the management of
their trust.
As it had been charged that the first patent
granted the lands to the patentees therein named,
and to their heirs, successors and assigns, the sec
ond patent, given February 17, 1703, in response
to their petition (after reciting the Dongan patent),
conveyed the lands therein mentioned to Colonel
Pieter Schuyler, John Sanderse Glenn, Adam Vroo
man and John Wemp, jointly or severally to be
trustees for managing the trust and estate afore
said, together with the said Ryer Schermerhorn or
by themselves. Schermerhorn paid no regard to
the new charter, nor to his fellow trustees, but still
continued to act as sole ' ' trustee for the town in
receiving the rents, issues and profits thereof, and
in prosecuting suits of law in his own name only,
without giving any account thereof,"

INTRODUCTION.

All this too in spite of suspension from his office
by the Governor. The secret of this stubborn per
sistence in the duties of his trusteeship was doubt
less the fact that the first patent of 1684 was still
binding, notwithstanding the granting of a second,
and also to the further fact that in Schermerhorn,
as the sole survivor of the trustees therein men-
' tioned, was vested all the authority and power origi
nally granted to said five trustees.
The fee of the land was in him, his "heirs, suc
cessors and assigns," and could only be alienated
by death or release in due form. In consequence
thereof, Colonel Peter Schuyler and Johannes Glen,
two of the new trustees, petitioned the Governor
for an amended charter, and were followed by the
citizens asking for ^.yearly election of trustees and
a more strict accountability to the people; where
upon the Governor granted their request in the
charter of April 16, 1705, from which, after recit
ing both the former charters of 1684 and 1703,
Schermerhorn's name as trustee is omitted.
Accompanying the petition was a list of lands
sold and leases taken by Ryer Schermerhorn, for
which he is said to have given no account to the
inhabitants. "A list of y' Lands and Income of the towne-
ship of Schonhectady, viz:
Jacobus Peek, agreedt for his land.
Esias Swart, his land.
Jan Brouwer, his lands.
Phillip Groot, his land of y" Sixt plains [sixth
flat] , Phillip Groot has also ye fyft plains [fifth flat]
in hiere.
Cornelis Slingerland, hows lott boght.
Johannes Myndertse, hows loot boght.
Claese Franse [van de Bogart], oplandt boght.
Symon Groot, oplandt bought.
Jonathan Stevens, oplandt bought and some
cattle. hendrik brower, opland bought.
Jellis Vonda, oplandt bought.
Jacobus peek, landt upon Earequiet of Erfpaght
[quit rent].
Jan Landertse, Earequiet [quit rent].
Lewies VieltS, his Landt for ye fourth shalf of 4th
Garf [the fourth sheaf].
Lewis Viele the Groet of his former Landt and
some cattell and hoggs.
Arent Vedder, Earequiet [quit rent].
Claes franse [van de Bogart], Earequiet.
Carel Hanse [Toll], Earequiet.
Ryer Schermerhorn, Earequiet.
Tarn Smith, Earequiet.
Martje Mastkraft, Earequiet.
These lands are given out. If any more wee
cannott tell, nor what day Give.
These foiling man [men] had last Jeare trans
ports [deeds] for Great Rewards [of great value ?]
pretending for the town Juse.

Barent Wemp, Gysbert Gerritse [Van Brakel],
Isack Swits, Jan Luycasse, Jan Vrooman, Jan
batist [Van Eps] , and others.
What y8 above mentioned persons pays Jearely
wee cannot tell by reason wee nifer had none of
ye peapers, nor conditions.
On the 25th of May, 1714, Schermerhorn ap
peared before the Governor and Council, "and
after a full hearing of all matters " against him,
was suspended from " acting further as Trustee of
the said Towne. " But as he continued obstinate,
disregarding the demand of the new Trustees for
an accounting to them of his official acts, they
commenced a suit against him in the Court of
Chancery; Schermerhorn and his friends instituting
counter-suits in the same court.
Of the several suits at law heretofore or subse
quently commenced by the contending parties
down to the death, in 1795, of the second Ryer
Schermerhorn, grandson of the first, a period of
nearly one hunderd years, no one was ever de
termined. Tired and despairing of relief from litigation, the
contestants resorted to negotiation and compro
mise, and failing of this as they always did, they
reverted to the Colonial Legislature for redress, but
all in vain. The first serious effort at compromise
was probably made in 1 708, when a futile attempt
was made to induce Schermerhorn to transfer his
title to the township to the then trustees elected
under the charter of 1705.
Failing in this attempt at compromise, the same
trustees on June 3, 1709, "in behalf of themselves
and other the trustees and inhabitants of Schenec
tady, " presented a petition to the Colonial Assem
bly to "bring in a bill confirming unto said in
habitants the Powers, etc., mentioned in Letters
Patent granted to said town. " On June 4th said
bill was presented, on the 7th it was read a second
time, referred to a committee with power to send
for persons and papers and never more heard of.
The next step in this controversy was a power of
attorney executed by the opponents of Schermer
horn and his party, to the then trustees elected
under the charter of 1705, to demand of Ryer
Schermerhorn, Barent Wemp, Johannes Teller,
Johannes Wemp and Arent Bratt the books, deeds,
bonds, etc., belonging to the town.
The strife and contention in respect to the man
agement of the " common lands" of the township
were put to rest for a time by Schermerhorn, in
1 7 14. By lease and release, dated respectively
Oct. 22d and 23d, he conveyed all his right and
title to these lands to Willem Appel, innkeeper, of

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

the city of New York. In this conveyance, after
reciting the Dongan Patent of 1684, the fact that
all the trustees therein named were deceased save
Ryer Schermerhorn, "only survivor whereby all
the estate, right and title of, in or to all said lands
* * not otherwise legally disposed are became
solely vested in the said Ryert Schermerhorn in
fee simple by right of survivorship, and that said
Schermerhorn growing antient is desirous that said
* * lands and premises should be conveyed to
others together with himself and their heirs that
the intent of the said Letters Patent may be duly
observed," said Schermerhorn released and con
firmed to Willem Appel and his heirs, all the
aforesaid lands in " Special trust and confidence
that he the said Willem Appel or his heirs will
upon request to him made by the said Ryert Scher
merhorn his heirs or assigns shall * * execute
such conveyance and assurance in the iaw for the
vesting of all the hereinbefore mentioned * *
lands * * and all the right, title and interest
thereunto hereby conveyed or mentioned or in
tended to be conveyed to the said Willem Appel,
unto the said Ryert Schermerhorn, Jan Wemp,
Johannes Teller, Arent Bratt and Barent Wemp
* * their heirs and assigns forever, to the in
tent the same may be held and enjoyed according
to the true intent and meaning of the said Letters
Patent by the said Thomas Dongan. "
On the 25th and 26th of October, said Appel by
lease and release reconveyed said land to Ryer
Schermerhorn and his said four associates for the
purposes above mentioned.
And to confirm the above conveyance, the fourth
and last patent was granted by Governor Hunter
on the 14th November, 1714.
When New York at the close of the Revolution
ceased to be a province of the British empire, many
laws and legal customs of the mother country be
came obsolete, among which was the law of primo
geniture. Up to this time Ryer Schermerhorn
and his friends, acting under said law, had
claimed that the common lands belonged of right
to the eldest sons and heirs of the first settlers, or
to their assigns, only from twenty-five to thirty of
whom were then living in the township. But with
the change of the laws, the number of the claim
ants to the common lands was greatly increased.
In 1797 there were nearly 500 families in the town
ship, descendants from the first settlers, who
claimed in right of law that these lands belonged
to them or their assigns and not to those inter
lopers, who had become citizens long subsequent
to their forefathers.

And, as a recognition of rights, they claimed that
these lands should be leased to them on durable
leases, and at a nominal rent of from 50 cents to
$7.50 per 100 acres.
These claims and demands of the "descendants"
exasperated the other and later settlers, and led to
protests and petitions, to the appointment of com
mittees of conference, to consultations with legal
authorities and to various reports and plans of
compromise. One of the most elaborate and well-digested
plans for the management of the common lands
was that of 1793, offered by a committee ap
pointed at a town meeting, held October 1, 1792,
a "respectable number of the inhabitants being
present. "
This committee consisted of John Van Petten,
John Glen, Andrew Van Patten, John Sanders,
Albert A. Vedder and Abraham Oothout, and
made their report January 28, 1793.
Their recommendations were never carried into
effect. In 1795 the old Board of Trustees, ap
pointed under Arent Bratt's will, had been in
power thirty years, many had passed away, the
others had become aged, and it seemed proper and
desirable that new blood should be infused into
this body; therefore, on the 13th January, 1795,
the following persons then seized in fee of the com
mon lands, "as surviving trustees of the town in
virtue of the Patent, 17 14, and certain mesne
conveyances and devises," to wit: Abraham Fonda,
Harmanus Bratt, Isaac Vrooman, Nicholas Van
Petten, Nicholaas Van der Volgen, Jacobus Myn-
dertse, Samuel Bradt and Abraham Wemple, asso
ciated with themselves, as trustees, Nicholaas Vee
der, Gerret S. Veeder, Jr., Abraham Oothout,
John Sanders and John Glen, by conveying said
Patent to Michael Tyms, who reconveyed the same
to the above named persons as trustees. And, on
the 15th day of .March. 1796, certain of the above
said trustees by reason of age resigned their trust,
and a new board was appointed in their room; to
accomplish which the trustees then in power con
veyed the Patent to Joseph Mynderse, and he re
conveyed the same to Abraham Wemple, Nicholaas
Veeder, Gerrit S. Veeder, Jr., John Glen, John
Sanders, Abraham Oothout, Abraham Swits, An
dries Van Petton, Jellis J. Fonda, Rykert Scher
merhorn and Adam S. Vrooman as new trustees,
who executed a bond in the penal sum of ^"5,000
to the retiring trustees for the faithful performance
of the duties of their office. These last mentioned
trustees held and managed the common lands until
1798, when their powers ceased, being merged by

INTRODUCTION.

the first charter of the city of Schenectady in the
mayor, aldermen and commonalty.
In furtherance of a compromise or settlement of
the disputes in relation to the public lands, the in
habitants appointed a committee in 1795 to take
legal counsel on the subject. This committee
consisted of Andries Van Petten, Jelles Fonda and
Maus Schermerhorn.
In accordance with the opinion obtained by the
committee, the Board of Trustees recommended to
the committee of the inhabitants to obtain a
"proper power from said Inhabitants to transact
the business of the town in a more perfect man
ner," which being done, the trustees appointed out
of their number Abraham Swits, Jellis J. Fonda,
Andries Van Petten, Adam S. Vrooman, Rykert
Schermerhorn and Maus Schermerhorn, to act in
connection with the committee of the inhabitants
in "bringing the business of the common lands to
a speedy settlement." And on the 10th of August
(1795) this committee reported to the trustees that
1 ' there was a great prospect of a reconciliation of
all disputes subsisting between the Inhabitants and
Trustees," and asking for further time.
The acts and minutes of the Board of Trustees,
from time to time, show quite clearly that they
considered the common lands to belong to the
descendants of those who were inhabitants of the
township in 1684, the date of the Dongan Patent,
or at least in 17 14, the date of the confirmation of
the same.
The other inhabitants were incensed that they
had no voice in the disposal of these lands, and, on
the 10th April, 1797, sent a petition to the Trustees
that a committee from their number might be
heard on this subject. This was signed by ' * Jno.
Bpt. Wendell, Jacob Beekman, Joseph Shurtliff,
Jno. Bpt. Van Eps, David Tomlinson, Jno. B.
Vrooman, Alexander Kelly, Thomas V. Horn,
Charles Martin."
On the other hand, on the 24th of the same
month, a committee of the "Descendants" made
and published the following reports :
The committee of the Descendents or legal
Representatives of the Persons who were inhabi
tants of the Township of Schenectady in the year
1684, being the time when the Patent of said
township was granted, or the year 17 14, when the
above Patent was confirmed :
Report that they have examined the state of the
Business belonging to the Trustees of Schenectady
Patent, and find that they have sold 8,097 Acres of
land, being part of said Patent, engaged 94 \\ acres
of land to different persons, and 600 acres of land
applied for; that it appears, from the accounts ren
dered, that there is the sum of ^10,593 for Union

College, Market House and other requisites ex
pended, and a balance, consisting of obligations to
the amount of £\, 680-6-5, remaining in their
hands. The Committee report that in their opin
ion five trustees, who shall have arrived at the age
of twenty-five years, from among the descendants,
should be elected annually by the male descend
ants, who are arrived at the age of twenty-one
years, on the second Tuesday of June of every
year, whose duty it shall be to render an account
yearly and every year of their proceedings to their
successors in office, or to any of the descendants
who shall wish to have access and examine the
same; and to have the deposit, care, trust and
management of the Patent, lands, Books, Papers,
Monies, Accounts, and other things belonging to
the Trustees; and that the Trustees, when elected,
or before they enter on the execution of their office,
shall severally take and subscribe an oath before
some justice of the peace,' in the town of Sche
nectady, that they will well and faithfully perform
the trust reposed in them. * * * The com
mittee state that there are nearly five hundred of
the descendants' families residing on said patent,
and, from a calculation, about forty thousand acres
of land unappropriated.
Therefore, Resolved, as the sense of the Com
mittee * * * that it be recommended to the
Trustees to lease the lands * * * for a dur
able term to the descendants, or their legal Repre
sentatives, for a sum not exceeding three pounds,
nor less than fifty cents, annually per hundred
acres, regarding to every descendant's family, or
legal Representative, a proportion agreeable to
equity, quality and local circumstances.
Given under our hands the twenty-fourth day of
April, 1797. John Yates,
Peter Mabek,
Lawrence Schermerhorn,
Abraham De Graff,
Henry A. Teller,
Jelles A. Fonda.
On the 9th September, 1797, the Board of
Trustees appointed a committee to consult Abra
ham Van Vechten, Peter Yates and Joseph C.
Yates in relation to a plan of "settlement with the
inhabitants concerning the Common lands."
Finally, on March 26, 1798, an act was passed
by the Legislature, with the assent and desire, not
only of the other inhabitants of the township of
Schenectady, but also of the surviving trustees, by
which all their powers and duties in relation to the
common lands were conferred upon the Mayor,
Aldermen and Commonalty of Schenectady. And
to adjust all claims against said trustees, the Legis
lature passed an act the same day appointing a
commission, consisting of Zephaniah Piatt, Peter
Cantine and Derick Lane, who finally determined
said claims, and closed their accounts on the 10th
August, 1798.

10

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Even after this final transfer of the common
lands to the corporation, there was a party who
doubted its legality, contending for the resump
tion and management of them by the old trustees,
then surviving.
Others, while reluctantly acquiescing in the
transfer of these lands to the city authorities, ob
jected to their being sold off as fast as the inhab

itants demanded, and contended they should be
held for the purpose of supplying the citizens with
fuel and timber. Finally, in 1810 (?), the elec
tion of aldermen turned on this question; the
whole city, then bounded by the ancient limits of
the patent, was canvassed by active partisans of both
parties, and after a close and heated contest it was
decided that the common lands should be sold.

DIVISION OF LANDS.
how the lands purchased by van curler from the
mohawks in 1 66 1 were divided among the
fi.rst proprietors.
Four different allotments were made to each of
the first settlers: First, a house lot in the village;
second, a farm on the Great Flat, or islands; third,
a pasture ground east of the village; and fourth, a
garden lot in the low land (laeghte), west of Mill
Creek and near the Binne kil.
First. House Lots. — The village plat, originally
embracing mainly the land lying west of Ferry
street, was divided into four blocks, or squares,
which were again subdivided into ample house lots.
For protection, this plat was early surrounded by
stockades. As the population outgrew these nar

row limits, house lots were assigned on the "Al
bany path" (now State street), so that, before 1690,
it was sparsely built up as far east as Lange gang
(Center street), and until about 1700 only the
north side was occupied by houses. Front, Green
and Union streets, east of Ferry street, used for
cow paths to the pastures and woodlands, were not
then built upon. The little church and graveyard
stood at the junction of State, Church and Water
streets, and the Dominie's house upon the site of
the present church. Many of the original village
lots were about 200 feet square — four to a block or
square, but were early subdivided to meet the de
mands for residences within the stockades.
Second. The Bouwland. — The great tract of flat
or bottom land, bounded northerly by the river and
State street, southerly by the sand bluff, easterly

DIVISION OF LANDS.

11

by Center street extended south, and westerly by
the hills west of the first lock on the canal, em
bracing several hundred acres of arable land, was
anciently called the Groote Vlachte.
It was mainly cleared land when the white man
first occupied it in 1662, and had been the Mo
hawks' maize land perhaps for centuries. This
and other parcels of like soil along the Mohawk
formed the main inducement for the Hollanders to
settle here; in them they recognized the Polders of
fatherland. The bouwland was originally divided
into twenty-three separate parcels and assigned to
fifteen individuals, no one, with one exception,
holding more than fifty acres.
The farm nearest the village, embracing twenty-
four acres, was Van Velsen's, bounded by State
street, Coehorn and Mill Creeks, as far west as or
near to Church street. This, together with the
water privilege, was granted in consideration of his
building a grist-mill on Mill lane.
The second parcel, consisting of about forty acres
of bottom land, anciently called " Gerrit
Symonse's meadow," commenced at or near the
Coehorn kil, at the south bounds of Van Velsen's
land, and extended southerly to and including
" Veeder's Mills." This parcel has been preserved
nearly entire, and is mostly in the ownership and
occupation of the Veeder family at the present
time. The third, the largest and most valuable farm,
embracing 114 acres, was Arent' Van Curler's,
called the first piece of land, and after his death,
fuffrow's landt. This was bounded northerly by
the Binne kil, easterly by Van Velsen's farm (ex
cepting a few gardens on the south side of Water
street), southerly by " Gerrit Symonse's meadow''
and by the sand bluff or hills as far as the
Schermerhorn Mills, and westerly by farms
Nos. 1 and 4, owned by Arent Bradt and
Pieter Van Woggelum. The New York Central
Railroad runs through the southern end of this
valuable tract, and the canal nearly through the
middle of it.
The fourth large parcel of the bouwland, called
the second or foremost piece of land, to distinguish
it from Van Curler's, which was called the first piece,
lay next west. The east line of this tract ran along
the west fence of the Schenectady car works yard,
and so northerly to and around the east side of lot
No. 1, belonging to Arent Bratt, following the
small brook emptying into the Binne kil, a little
east of the farm buildings of the late John Myers.
The western line of this parcel was the Poenties kil
and lot No. 10, belonging to Tunis Cornelise

Swart. This second piece was divided into ten
farms, including De Winter's or Elias s Plantasie,
by northeast and southwest lines from the river
to the sand bluff, and by easterly and westerly
lines nearly coinciding with the river road and
canal. The fifth parcel of bouwlands, called the hinder-
most piece of land, commenced at the Poenties Kil
and extended west to the hills near the first lock,
and was divided into ten farms by northeasterly
and southwesterly lines from the river to the hills,
and by easterly and westerly lines nearly coinciding
with the canal and river road.
The second and hindmost great lots of the bouw
lands, including Elias 's Plantasie, were subdivided
each into ten parcels of about twenty-five acres,
numbered from 1 to 10, beginning at the eastern
and western extremities of these two parcels, and
proceeding toward the Poenties Kil, on the west
side of which lay the two farms numbered ten,
united into one. So that persons to whom were
alloted numbers 1, 2, 3, &c, of the second near the
village, drew also numbers 1, 2, 3, &c, of the
hindmost parcel at the western extremity of the
bouwland, and only one person had all of his land
in one place, to wit, Teunis Cornelise Swart, the
fortunate holder of the double farm numbered ten.
This ingenious plan of allotment was contrived to
prevent any one person obtaining an undue advan
tage over his associates by selecting all his land
near the village.
Two other parcels of arable land, separated from
the Great Flat by the river, were also assigned at an
early day, viz., Marten's or Van Slyck's island, com
prising 82 acres, patented to Jaques Cornelise Van
Slyck and Jan Barentse Wemp ; and the flat
lying west and south of the lake in Scotia,
granted to Sander Leendertse Glen, estimated at
50 acres.
Finally, on the eastern side of the village, be
tween Front street and the river, was a strip of land
called the Calver Wey, which was allotted to the
first settlers in parcels of 2\ morgens, the
easternmost lot being that of Jellis Fonda. Ad
joining Fonda's lot easterly was Hans Janse
Eenkluy's bouwery of 18 morgens, which, on
his death, became the property of the Dutch
Church — a legacy for the benefit of the poor of
Schenectady. All lands lying outside of the palisades easterly
of Ferry street, save the house lots on the north side
of State street as far as Center street, were originally
allotted to individuals in parcels of a few acres as
woodland or pasture ground.

12

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE TWENTY FARMS INTO WHICH
THAT PORTION OF THE GREAT FLAT LYING WEST
ERLY OF ARENT VAN CURLER'S BOUWERY WAS
DIVIDED. FARMS NO. I.
Both farms numbered one were patented to
Catelyn De Vos, widow of Arent Bratt, the Norman,
June 2, 1682.
15 Aug., 1705. Former deeds being lost in
1690, Ryer Schermerhorn, only surviving trustee,
gave a new deed to Arent Bratt, grandson and
heir of Arent Andriese Bratt, for the first lot thirty-
six acres and aftermost lot thirty acres.
27 Aug., 1713, Ryer Schermerhorn and Dirk
Bratt conveyed to Samuel Bratt the Undermost farm
No. 1, containing fifteen morgens and 467 rods.
FARMS no. 2.
Were first owned by Philip Hendrickse Brouwer.
April 29, 1664, his administrators sold them to
Cornelis Van Ness for Jan Dirkse Van Eps, son of
Maritie Damen, his wife, for the sum of 1,287
guilders. Feb. 4, 1 7 if, Johannes Baptist Van Eps, eldest
son and heir of Jan Dirkse Van Eps, deceased,
conveyed to Arent Bratt the hindmost farm, No. 2,
comprising twelve morgens. farms no. 3.
Were first granted to Sander Leendertse Glen, by
Patent of date June 16, 1664.
Johannes Glen, by will, devised the remainder
of hindmost farm, 26th September, 1706, to his
younger brother Sander, comprising about twenty
acres. On the 4th June, 171 1, Claas Van Patten con
veyed to his son, Andries, the foremost lot.
Feb. 24, and Aug. 11, 1714- To rectify a dis
puted line, R. Schermerhorn and Andries Van Pet
ten make a final settlement. FARMS NO. 4.
Were granted to Pieter Adrianse Soegemakelyk,
alias Van Woggelum, June 5, 1667, the first con
taining fourteen morgens, and the second twelve
morgens. Ap. 6, 1681, Van Woggelum reconveyed the
same to Reyer Schermerhorn, who had married
Otten's widow.
June 29, 1667, Governor Nicolls confirmed to
Willem Teller the two farms, No. 5, which were
first patented to him by Governor Stuyvesant, June
16, 1664.
Ap. 9, 1752, Willem Teller, son of Johannes,
devised the foremost farm on the Poenties Kil to
his son Willem, and the second or hindmost farm to
his eldest son Johannes.
Gerrit Bancker, of Albany, received the patent
for these farms No. 6, June 16, 1664, which patent
was confirmed Ap. 27, 1667, by Governor Nicolls.
Although granted to Gerrit Bancker, Harman
Albertse Vedder had a half interest in these farms
from the beginning.
Evert, son and heir of Gerrit Bancker, sold the
foremost lot to Isaac Swits, July 7, 1702, for ^"183
\2s. ; — it contained 22 acres.

Isaac Swits made his will Ap. 1, 1 701,— proved
Oct. 4, 1707, — and devised a portion of the first
farm-to his eldest son Cornelis.
The hindmost farm belonging to Harmen Vedder;
he conveyed the southeasterly half to his son Albert,
Mar. 12, 170^, for the sum of /91 165. This
moiety then contained ten acres.
Pieter Jacobse Bosboom de Steenbakker received
a patent of farms No. 7, June 16, 1664, — confirmed
May 9, 1668.
In 1702 ihe foremost lot belonged to Gysbert
Gerritse Van Brakel.
Marten Cornelise Van Isselsteyn received a
patent for farms No. 8, June 16, 1664,— confirmed
by Governor Nicolls, April 13, 1668.
farms no. 9.
Were first conveyed to Simon Volckertse Veeder,
de bakker, by patent of date June 16th, 1664, —
confirmed Jan. 15, 1667, by patent from Governor
Nicolls. Veeder made his will Jan. 8, 169-E-, bequeathing
the hindmost farm to his son Volckert.
Volckert Veeder made his will Aug. 4, 1733,
and left the hindmost lot to his four sons.
The double bouwery No. 10, was first patented
to Teunis Cornelise Swart, June 16, 1664, and con
firmed Jan. 16, 1667.
26th April, 1692. Wouter Uythoff (third
husband of Elizabeth), Swart, widow of Teunis,
and said Elizabeth his wife, for 540 beavers con
veyed the whole bouwery No. 10, to Claas Lau-
rense Van Purmerend (alias Van der Volgen).
The land in the immediate vicinity of the village,
— the Great Flat and island, — were all taken up in
1662 by the fifteen first proprietors. Other per
sons followed the next and succeeding years, and
finding no lands unoccupied, either bought up the
rights of the earlier owners or pushed further into
the wilderness, on both sides of the Mohawk river.
The south side was considered the safest from
Indian attacks, and for that reason the Governor
and Council at first discouraged settlements on the
north side; this was but a temporary check, how
ever. Before the year 1700 all the arable land on
both sides of the river to and even beyond the
western bounds of the town was taken up and
sparsely settled.
These lands had a rich alluvial soil, formed by
the annual overflow of the river, and were mainly
found in the bends and eddys; excepting the Great
Flat they were generally small, comprising but a
few acres.
FLATS OR PLAINS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE RIVER—
POVERSF.N.
Going west this is the first arable land lying on
the south side of the river above the Great Flat.
It commenced at the road running west from the
first lock and extended up the river to the "stone
kil," a dry creek next above the second lock. It
was first purchased from the natives by Benjamin
Roberts, who sold the same to Hendrick Lam-
bertse Bont. The latter sold the easterly portion
to Barent Janse Van Ditmars and the westerly por
tion to. Douwe Aukes, who conveyed the same to

DIVISION OF LANDS.

13

his [adopted] son Cornelis Viele. In 1713 Viele
was then residing on this land between the two
locks. FIRST FLAT.
This flat or plain, consisting of about 80 acres of
lowlands, is described in Jacques Cornelise Van
Slyck's patent, granted in 1684, as "situated be
tween two creeks, one called Stone creek, to the
eastward, the other ' Platte creek, ' to the westward,
come to him in right of his mother, who was a
Mohawk woman."
It has remained in the family to this day, passing
from father to son by inheritance.
The eastern part of this flat, called ' ' Hazlenut
flat," was owned by Manasseh Sixbury, in 1709 ;
he then made his will, leaving his property to his
four children. SECOND FLAT.
This farm, beginning at a little above " Reghel
brugse kil, " was first taken up by Jacobus Peek and
Isaac Du Trieux, about 1670, and patented to
them in 1677.
Johannes and Jacobus, sons of Jacobus Peek,
became the owners of the whole tract. It is now
owned by John McCue on the west end, Abraham
A. Bratton the east end.
THIRD FLAT.
This flat lies about eight miles above Schenecta
dy, and consisted anciently of about 127 acres of
lowland ; in 1864 it was computed at thirty mor
gens, or say sixty-three acres, and was then occu
pied — the upper or westerly part by Simon and
Nicholas Mebie and Abraham N. Bratt, the lower
or eastern portion by the Bratts.
It was taken up by Daniel Janse Van Antwerpen
in 1670, and patented to him in 1680.
In 1706 he sold to Jan Pieterse Mebie the west
half of the same, consisting of sixty-three acres and
seventy-nine rods. The old Van Antwerp house
was standing to the west of the Mebie house until
a few years ago. FOURTH FLAT.
The Fourth Flat, lying next west of the third,
was granted in 17 15, by the trustees of Schenec
tady, to Pieter Vrooman, who, in 1742, conveyed
the same, or at least the western portion of it, to
Jan Wemple and Arent Bratt. Johannes Veeder
married a daughter of Pieter Vrooman, and inher
ited the eastern portion, now in possession of Myn
dert, grandson of said Johannes Veeder.
Jan Wemple's. land extended to the Zandig kil.
DE WILLEGEN, OR WILLOW FLAT.
Tnis flat commenced at Stone creek, below Port
Jackson, and ran down the river thirty-four rods
[4,188 feet], and contained thirty-three morgens,
or sixty-six acres, 390 rods — also 200 acres of wood
land. It was first granted to Pieter Van Olinda and
Claas Willemse Van Coppernol ; Van Olinda hold
ing the eastern half and Van Coppernol the west
ern half, which he conveyed to Philip Phillipse in
1689 in exchange for the Sixth Flat, on the north
side of the river.

FLATS OR PLAINS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE RIVER 
CLAAS GRAVEN's HOEK.
The first land settled upon west of Scotia was the
Hoek. This farm was taken up by Claas Andriese
De Graaf, the first settler. After his death, which
took place before 1697, his widow, Elizabeth Brou-
wer, leased it to Jonathan Stevens and Daniel Mas-
craft. In 1 714 Gysbert Marcelis received a patent for
six acres of land on the Hoek for a hofstede, he
being then the owner of the neighboring island,
called Gyse's island. MAALWYCK.
Benjamin, or Bent, Roberts first purchased this
farm of the natives, with the approbation of the
magistrates of Albany — thirty-six acres of land,
together with forty acres of woodland, which was
confirmed to him July 1, 1669.
This bouwery lay opposite to Arent [Bratt] the
Norman's hindmost lot of land. The farm is in the
possession and occupation of a descendant of Carel
Hansen. SECOND FLAT.
The flat extends from Rector's easterly, and in
1864 was owned by Gerrit Barhydt, 17 acres;
Frank Potter, 40 acres ; D. D. Campbell, 30 acres.
Total, with upland, 87 acres.
This Second Flat proper was originally taken
up about 1678 — the eastern half by Pieter Corne
lise Viele, and the western half by Jan Janse
Joncker, alias Rotterdam.
Reyer Schermerhorn, by will made 171 7, devised
this land to his son Arent ; and Reyer Schermer
horn, grandson of Reyer Schermerhorn the first,
in 1773, released said land to Abraham Schermer
horn. After Joncker's death his share of this flat, being
the western half, was divided among his five
daughters. FOURTH FLAT.
This flat extends westerly from Rector's to
"Arent Mebie's kil," and was owned in 1864 by
William Rector, 40 acres ; Smith B. Walton, 3
acres ; Adam Swart, 7 acres ; Nicholas Swart, 7
acres ; John Walton, 5J acres. Total, with up
land, 62^- acres.
In 1678 Sander Glen petitioned the Governor to
arrant the fourth flat to Lewis Cobes and his son-in-
o law, Johannes Kleyn.
In 1683 the Mohawk Sakemakers conveyed this
flat to Arnout Cornelise Viele, — 16 or 17 morgens
— for services rendered as interpreter, — lying over
against the [second] flat occupied by Jacobus
Peek, — and by the Mohawks called Wachkeer-
hoha. In 1684 the patentees of Schenectady conveyed
it to Ludovicus Cobes and Johannes Kleyn, with a
lapie (remnant — a gore), by it, on the other [north]
side of the river, containing 17 morgens, 164 rods
of land.
In 1 714 Willem Marinus, who had married
Baefie, youngest daughter of said Kleyn, united
with his wife and conveyed her third share of three
morgens to Pieter Clement and Anna his wife

14

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

(sister of said Baefie), and in 1716 said Pieter
Clement conveved to the trustees of Schenectady
six morgens of land at the west end of said flat.
In 1725 Col. Stephanus Groesbeck owned the
western portion of this flat, which "hindmost half"
was the portion owned by Kleyn, and contained
nine morgens. FIFTH OR WOLF FLAT.
This flat, extending from ' ' Arent Mebie's kil "
west, is now in the possession and occupation of
John Barhydt, and consists of about 85 acres of
land. In 1678 " the comissairies of Schanechtade made
application to ye Go : that the fifth Plaine or Flat-
land on the other [north] side of the Maquaes
river may be disposed of for a minister, reader, &c,
— and also that the rest of the Plains or Flatts may
be at the disposall of the Cort. "
Jasaias Swart succeeded them as lessee, probably
for another term of seven years, and in 171 3 his
lease was renewed for twenty years at a rent oi £is-
19-6. In 1768 Pieter Mebie by will devised his land, be
ing the whole of the fifth flat, to Jan Mebie, his son,
who, in 1789, devised the same to his widow and
two sons, Pieter and Simon, and they, in 1799,
conveyed the same to David Lawyer, Jr.
The latter sold the same to John S. Barhydt,
from whom it passed by inheritance to his son
John. SIXTH FLAT.
This flat begins just east of the seventh flat, from
which it is separated by the Droybergh, Verf or
color kil, alias Tequatsera. It was owned in 1864
by Aaron Swart.
It was first occupied by Philip Philipse DeMoer,
as a tenant of the trustees of Schenectady. In
1689 he exchanged his ownership in the same with
Claas Willemse Van Coppernol for a portion of the
Willegen Vlachte, and in 1708 Sander, his son,
leased it for twelve years at a rent of £2 8s. It
then consisted of five morgens, with an additional
three morgens of woodland.
On the 2d September, 1714, Reyer Schemerhorn
conveyed this flat, containing about seven morgens
or fourteen acres, also ten morgens or twenty
acres of woodland lying behind it, to the Dutch
church. In 1770 Esaias Swart was in possession
of this plain, which then was computed to contain
seven morgens. SEVENTH FLAT.
This flat lies near Hoffman's ferry, between the
Droybergh Kil on the east and Van Eps' kil on
the west.
In 1684 the trustees of Schenectady conveyed the
western half to Carel Hansen Toll, reserving a rent
of one skipple of wheat.
Reyer Schemerhorn owned the eastern half.
In 1705 Reyer Schemerhorn conveyed the east
ern half of this flat to his son Jan; and, by his will,
made 171 7, devised the same to the children of his
daughter Catalyntje, wife of John Wemp.
In 1733 the Wemps transferred their interest
lo Johannes Van Eps, owner of the other half.

CAMBEFORT S PATENT.
In 1694 Gerardus Cambefort contracted to sell
his patent to Carel Hansen Toll, land he had pre
viously received of the Indians. In 1703 Lord
Cornbury granted Cambefort a patent for twenty
acres of land, "beginning from a place called
Kanquaragoone [now Towereune], the western
bounds of the patent granted to Schenectady, run
ning up westward to limits of land formerly con
veyed to Henry Cuyler, deceased." Immediately
thereafter Cambefort conveyed the same to Toll.
This land extends along the river westward from
Towereune to Lewis Creek.
CLAES GRAVEN's HOEK  CUYLER's VLACHTE OR ADRI-
UCHA.
In 1686, "To Philip Wells, surveyor-general,
about thirty acres of lowland and fifty of upland
was granted, provided the said land be not already
appropriated or disposed of."
Philip Groot, of Schenectady, early settled on
this land and, after his death in 1716, was suc
ceeded by his son Ludovicus (Lewis), who gave
name to the creek forming the eastern bounds of
this patent.
Adriucha is still in possession of the Groot family
at what is now called Crane's Village.
ISLANDS.
GREAT ISLAND IN NISKAYUNA.
This is one of the largest islands in the river,
containing about 80 acres. It was conveyed to
Hilletie Cornelise, sister of Jacques Cornelise Van
Slyck, by the Mohawks, June 1, 1667, and con
firmed by Governor Nicolls, May 8, 1668. On
the 4th March, 1669, and again on Feb. 6, 170$,
Hilletie and her husband, Pieter Van Olinda, con
veyed it to Johannes Clute, which sale was con
firmed by the Governor and Council, Aug. 2, 1671.
Again, on June 2 5, 1 707, it was transferred to
Robert Livingston for ^"420, and lastly to said
Livingston, August 9, 1 707, for £706, together
with 20 acres on the main land between the two
creeks. FIVE SMALL ISLANDS AT NISKAYUNA.
At a conference with the Five Nations at Albany,
19th July, 1701, they say:
"Brother Corlaer: —
" Wee have a small right in the Maquase river
att Canastagiowne, to wit, five small Islands con
taining about five or six acres between Rosendael
and Cornelis Tymes's, which wee give to Jan Bap
tist Van Eps and Lawrence Claese [Vander Vol-
gen], the two Interpreters to be equally divided
between them — John Baptist to have the upper
most halfe and Lawrence the lowermost — and that
in consideration, because they take much pains in
interpreting." MARTEN'S, VAN SLYCK's OR WEMP's ISLAND.
This large island lying west of the city, and sep
arated therefrom by the Binne Kil, was early grant
ed by the Mohawks to Marten Cornelise Van Slyck
alias Marten Maurits, a half breed, who dying in
1662, Governor Stuyvesant gave a patent for the
same, November 12, 1662, to his brother and heir,

DIVISION OF LANDS.

15

Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck, and Jan Barentse
Wemp. Stuyvesant's patent was confirmed by
Governor Nicolls, April 13, 1667; it then con
tained, including another small island separated
by a creek, 82 acres.
A portion of the west end of the island was an
ciently called fan Pappen Leghlen.
KRUYSBESSEN (GOOSEBERRY) ISLAND.
This island lies northerly of Van Slyck's island,
from which it is separated by a rapid called
" Knock 'em stiff. " January 2, 169I, the justice
of the peace (Johannes Sanderse Glen), and gemeen
mannen of Schenectady, conveyed to Gysbert Ger
ritse [Van Brakel] an island on the north side of
the river, called Kruysbessen (Gooseberry) island,
lying west of Spuyten duyvel [island]; consideration,
32 beavers at six guilders per beaver, to be paid
within three years. SPUYTEN DUYVEL.
Johannes Sanderse Glen bought this island of
the trustees of Schenectady, together with a parcel
of " boslandt," in i7c-|, for ^"16-10.
It lies just opposite the old Glen [now Sanders]
House in Scotia, and formerly contained several
acres, but is now reduced to the fraction of an acre
and quite valueless for tillage.
VARKENS, OR HOG ISLAND.
This island lies at the north end of Van Slyck's
island, and is separated from it by an arm of the
Mohawk River, which at the ordinary low water is
a mere sluggish bayou.
It originally contained about three morgens or
six acres. The eastern end next the Binne kil is
called the platt, a low muddy islet of triangular
shape, and at ordinary times scarcely separated
from it. In early times this island was claimed by
the owners of Van Slyck's island.
On the 9th November, 1670, Pieter Jacobse
Bosboom received a patent ' ' to confirm to him
" a small island belonging to him, which hath
" heretofore been given to him by the Indians,
" lying in the river there next to the island of
" Sweer Teunise and Akes Cornelise [Van Slyck]
' ' containing about six acres or three morgens. "
VAN EPS ISLAND.
This small island lies north of Varken's island,
from which it is separated by a bayou nearly filled
up. A portion of this island was devised in 1800 by
John Baptist Van Eps to his son John, after his

wife's decease; another portion — an undivided sixth
part — was conveyed in 1808 by Tobias H. Ten
Eyck to Cornelis Vrooman.
DE LA WARDE's, JORIS AERTSe's, OR GUISE'S ISLAND.
This island lies on the northwesterly side of Van
Slyck's island, and contained originally fifteen or
sixteen morgens of land.
It was first owned by Jan De La Warde, who
sold it to Joris Aertse Van der Baast.
The hofstede of this farm was on the mainland
opposite, adjoining the land of Claas De Graff, and
consisted of six acres. Nicholas De Graff, who
owned the neighboring mainland, purchased this
island of Gysbert Marselis, who bought it June
23, I7H. fonda's island.
The situation of this island is best described in
the patent to Simon Simonse Groot, of date Aug.
9, 1694, "to confirm to him a small island in the
" Mohawk River within the town of Schenectady
" possessed by him for twenty-seven years, to wit,
" a certain small island in the Mohawk River
" lying to the north of the Hoek, or point of Reyer
"Jacobsen's [Schermerhorn], and the southward
" of the island belonging to Joris Aertsen [now
" Guise's], and to the westward of the island lately
" belonging to Sweer Teunise, deceased — contain-
" ing five morgens or ten acres."
Philip Livingston, of Albany, afterwards became
its owner and sold it to Jellis Fonda, by whose will,
made September 8, 1737, it was divided among
his three sons, Pieter, Abraham and Jacob.
sassian's or claas viele's island.
The next island above Guise's island is Sassian's
or Claas Viele's island, containing between seven
and nine morgens.
It lay opposite the "hindmost lot No. 1," of
Arent Bratt, and belonged originally to Hendrick
Lambertse Bont alias Sassian, by whom it was sold
to Douw Aukes and then to his adopted son Cor
nelis Viele. The Vieles long possessed and gave
their name to it.
BENTEN, OR BENT'S ISLAND.
This is the large island next above Sassian's
island, lying on the north side of the river, and
originally contained about ten morgens. It was
first possessed by Bent Roberts, from whom it
passed by his will to his two stepsons, Joseph and
Pieter Clement. They sold the upper half to Carel
Hansen Toll, and the lower half to Cornel's Viele.

16

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

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ADULT FREEHOLDERS.

17

ADULT FREEHOLDERS.
SOME OF THE ADULT FREEHOLDERS WHO SETTLED IN
SCHENECTADY BEFORE 1 7OO.
Several of the first settlers who co-operated in
founding the village in 1662 were of mature age —
scarcely any were aged.
Van Curler, Glen, Bratt, Swits, Schermerhorn,
Vedder, Veeder, Van Eps, Vrooman, Wemp, etc.,
may be mentioned as of this class, whose children
before 1 700 had reached mature years and become
heads of families.
They were nearly all farmers, whatever else they
might do; their farms were small, seldom exceed
ing fifty acres of arable land, and their families
were large, often numbering from ten to fifteen
children. Adriaen Appel was innkeeper in Beverwyck in
1654. His two sons, Jan and Willem, lived here
in 1670. In 1704 Willem owned the lot extend
ing from the store of Robert Ellis to that of Sam
uel Myers, including the canal, and the building
called the "Wedge." In 1710 Appel owned lots
103 to m, inclusive.
Douwe Aukes (De Freeze) came here in 1663,
and became an innkeeper. His inn was on south
east corner of State street and Mill Lane, February
10, 1 71 8. He conveyed his property to Cornelius
Viele. Gerrit Bancker was one of the first proprietors,
but never became a resident. His house in 1662
was bounded by Union, Washington, State and
Church streets. It was sold by his son in 1 702 to
Cornelius Swits. The corner lot was sold to
James Murdoch in 1802.
Barhydt Andries Hause and Jeronimus Hause
were among the early settlers. They owned in
1760 a lot with forty-eight feet frontage, on Front
street, at Jefferson.
Caleb Beek settled here in 1700. He was an
innkeeper, and his house lot was on the south
corner of Union and Church streets. This lot
remained in the family for about one hundrgd
years. Hendrick Lambertse Bont (Bint, Bent) in 1692
owned land lying mainly above the first lock, west
of the city. He also owned Sassian's Island. The
land long remained after passing from Bont's pos
session in the Viele family.
Pieter Jacobse Barsboom De Steenbakker was
one of the first fifteen settlers. His village lot was
on the south corner of Washington and Front
streets, and passed to his four daughters, and re
mained in the family for many years.

Arent Andriese Bratt was one of the first pro
prietors in 1662. He owned a farm of about sixty
acres, which afterward was in possession of Judge
Tomlinson, deceased. The "hindmost" farm fell
to Mrs. Bratt's second son, Samuel.
Andries Arentse and Capt. Arent Andriese
Bratt in about 1700 owned various parcels of
land, part of which Reyer Schermerhorn disposed
of as tiustee.
Samuel Arentse Bratt was born in 1659, and
died in 171 3 or 1714. His farm passed to his son
Arent, who built the brick house, a short distance
west of the first lock on the canal, and continued
in the family until 1839.
Dirk Arentse Bratt was born in 1661. He
owned a farm in Niskayuna, which passed to his
eldest son, Johannes, by will. Dirk was buried
June 9, 1735.
Philip Hendrickse Brouwer was one of the
original proprietors in 1662, and owned lot No. 2,
which in 1667 was owned by Jan Van Eps.
Hendrick Willemse Brouwer owned a lot on
east side of Church street in about 1700. This
was owned by his widow in 1724.
Geraldus Cambefort (or Comfort) was here in
1690, and owned 20 acres on north side of Mo
hawk. This was afterward owned by Johannes
Van Eps.
Christiaan Christiaanse, in 1671, had a village
lot on the northeast side of Union street, adjoin
ing the Dutch Church lot. It was owned in 1701
by Jellis Van Vorst.
Pieter and Joseph Clement owned land here
from about 1725 to 1755. The property afterward
passed into the hands of Cornelius Viele and Hau-
sen Toll.
Ludovicus Cobes lived here in 1677, being schout
and secretary of Schenectady. He owned the
fourth flat on the north side of the river, which was
afterward owned by his daughter, Maria Klein.
Capt. Jan, Johannes and Frederick Clute
were early residents. Capt. Jan owned the Great
Island in 1671, and lands in Canastagione. He
died in 1683, leaving his property to his nephew,
Johannes Clute, who, in 1704, sold part of it to
Frederick Clute. Johannes died in 1725. All the
Clutes in this region are believed to be descended
from either Johannes or Frederick.
Claas Andries De Graaf was one of the first
settlers, taking up land at the Hoek, at Scotia,
where, for several generations, the family resided.
Jan De La Warde bought land in about 1675
at Niskayuna, and an island in the Mohawk, which
was called La Warde's Island, and afterward

18

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Jaris Aertse's Island. It lies just north of Van
Slyck's Island. It was conveyed in 1699 to
Gysbert Marcelis, of Albany. Since then it has
been called "Gyse's Island." The Niskayuna
property was also sold to Jaris Aertse in 1699.
Hans Janse Eenkluys came to Schenectady soon
after it was settled; died in 1683, leaving his prop
erty to the church. His farm consisted of 1 8 mor

gens of river flats, lying in Third Ward. After
holding this land for 180 years, it was sold by the
church, in 1863, for $11,000.
Dominie Barnhardus Freerman, the second
minister of the church, came here in 1700. He
staid here five years, and died in 1741- He mar
ried Margarita Van Schaaick, of New York, in
1705.

Mebie House.

Jan Pieterse Mebie married Anna, daughter
of Pieter J. Borsboom. His home lot was on the
east side of Church street, to the north of the
Dutch Church. He was in the possession of this
lot before 1690. His farm was on the third flat, on
the south side of the river, about eight miles above
the village. His descendants still occupy the
farm. It is the writer's belief that the house on this
farm, at least its stone walls, date from 1670-80,
when Daniel Janse Van Antwerp occupied the land
in the center of which it stands. The Mebie House,
as it is now known, is doubtless the oldest house
in the Mohawa Valley, if not in the State of New
York. *
Sander Leendertse (Lindsay) Glen came from
Scotland about 1633. His wife was Catalyn Don-
cassen. They both died within about a year of each
other — she, August 12, 1684; he, November 13,
x 685 — leaving three sons, Jacob, who settled in
Albany, Sander and Johannes. He was one of
the first proprietors of Schenectady.
Sander Glen, second son of Sander Leendertse,
was born in 1647. His village lot was on the
north side of Washington street, adjoining the
estate of the late Judge Paige. Captain Sander
*The house in Southampton, L. I., now occupied by Mrs. Larry,
daughter of Capt. Stephen Sayre, deceased, was built by Thomas
Sayre in 1648 or 1649.

Glen died about 1695, without issue, leaving his
estate to the children of his two brothers, Jacob
and Johannes. The farm of Sander Leendertse,
lying on the north side of the river, was called
Scotia. The Glen property comprised several hundred
acres. By marriage this estate passed to the
Sanders family, by whom a large portion of it is
still held.
Johannes, youngest son of Sander Leendertse,
was bom in 1648.
The residence of Charles P. Sanders was built
by him in 17 13, and occupied until his death
in 1731.
Symon Symonse Groot came here in 1663. He
married Rebecca, daughter of Philip Du Trieux, of
New Amsterdam, and had six sons and four daugh
ters, of whom Symon, Abraham, Philip, Dirk and
Claas were captured by the French and Indians in
1690 and carried to Canada. They were redeemed
the following year. His home lot was on the
northern side of Union street, 100 feet west
from Church street. It remained in the family
several generations. Symon Symonse Groot, Jr. , was
his eldest son, and he married, in 1692, Geertruy,
daughter of Jan Rinckhout, of Albany. His vil
lage lot was on the north side of State street.

ADULT FREEHOLDERS.

19

Philip Groot settled on the north side of the river, near
Crane's village. He married Sarah, daughter of
Jacobus Peek. Abraham Groot married Antje
Wemp, widow of Sander Glen, in 1696, and sec
ondly, Hesterje, daughter of Harmen Visscher,
of Albany, in 1699, by whom he had several chil
dren. His home lot was on the north side of Union
street, about half way up College Hill.
Gerrit Marselis was the son of Marselis Janse,
of Albany, and early settled here. He was slain
in 1690. His lots, Nos. 139 to 143, afterward be
longed to Wm. McCamus.
Ahasuerus Marselis came here about 1698.
He was a shoemaker, and had his shop on the
south corner of Mill lane and State street. This
property was afterward owned by Pieter Fonda, and
the lot in the rear by Marselis, Fonda and Robert
Yates. Johannes Myndertse came here in 1700; by
trade a smith, he was armorer of the Fort. He
owned two lots on State street, one where Barney's
store now stands; the other on the west corner of
Mill lane and State street, where his dwelling was.
Myndertse left by will, proved September 7, 1757,
his property to his three sons, Myndert, Reinier
and Jacobus.
Philip Philipse married Elizabeth, daughter of
Harmen Ganzevoort, of Albany, about 1685.
The descendants of Philipse still reside on or near
Willow flat Jan Philipse, a brother, is first men
tioned as a member of the church in 1701.
Jan Roeloffoe was the eldest son of the famous
Anneke Janse, by her first husband, Roeloffe
Jansen. In 1680 he owned a home lot on the
north side of Union street; the lot subsequently
owned by Joseph Y. and Giles Van De Bogart.
Jacob Janse Schermerhorn died at Schenectady
in 1689, where he had lived for some years. He
left part of his property to his son Reyer, who
married Ariaantje Bratt. Symon Schermerhorn,
another son of Jacob Janse, was in 1693 a
skipper on the Hudson river.
Cornelius Slingerland married Eva Mebee in
1699. His house lot (1706-22) was on the south
side of State street, forty feet east of Water street
alley. Isaac Cornelise Swits settled here in 1663.
He married Susanna Groot, by whom he had nine
children, eight of whom were living in 1701,
when he made his will. Cornelius Swits was his
eldest son. He married Hester Visscher, of
Albany, and took up his residence there about 1702.
Teunis Cornelise Swart was one of the early
settlers. He occupied the lot on the east corner

of Church and State streets. He had other
property. Esaias Swart was son of Teunis. He
married Eva, daughter of Teunis Van Woert, and
owned a village lot on the east side of Church
street. Willem Teller was one of the first proprietors,
though never a resident here. He died in 1701,
in his 8 ist year. His house lot was on Washington
street. Carel Hansen Toll first settled at Hoffman's
Ferry. In 1 7 1 2 he owned a village lot here, on
Union street, which is the present Courthouse
lot. He married Lysbet, daughter of Daniel
Rinckhout, of Albany, and had eight children.
He owned Cuyler's flat, Cambefort's flat, the
seventh flat and Maalwyck.
Daniel Janse Van Antwerpen was born in 1635,
coming here about 1665. He built, substantially,
what is now known as the Mebie House, above
referred to. Jan Danielse Van Antwerpen,
Daniel's oldest son, was born about 1670 ; married
Angnieta Vedder in 1700, and died January 20,
1756. Arent, another son, married Sara, daughter
of Johannes Van Epps, and had nine children.
His village lot is now occupied by Given's Hotel.
Marten Van Benthuysen, through his wife,
Feitje, daughter of Pieter Jacobse Borsboom, had a
fourth interest in Borsboom's land.
Gysbert Gerritse Van Brakelen came here in
about 1 700. He owned several lots of land. He
left two sons, Gerrit and Gysbert.
Arent Van Curler was the leader of the colony
at Schenectady in 1662. He came over in 1630,
and in 1643 married Antonia Slaaghboom, widow
of Jonas Bronck. No man of his time had so fully
won the confidence and esteem of the Indians, and
to honor his memory they ever addressed the Gov
ernor of the Province by his name. He was
drowned on Lake Champlain in July, 1669. Van
Curler's home lot in the village was a portion of
the block bounded by Union, Church, Front and
Washington streets. The Rev. Wm. Elliot Grif
fin, D. D., says that "Arent Van Curler was a
scholar and a gentleman, fluent with his pen, pos
sessing a gift by no means to be despised — the
mastery of language. He was a man of systematic
mind, so faithful to his trust and vow as to recall
a Roman of classic days ; and so kind of heart, so
full of deep conviction of conscience, along with the
power of rising above the narrowness, of sect or
nationality, as to suggest a Christian. Brave as a
lion, fearless neither of conspirators, scheming law
yers, who made use of their profession mainly to
molest honest men, or of crafty savages, or perfidi-

20

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

ous French ; further, he had the eye of an engi
neer and strategist, with the foresight of a states
man." Frans Van De Bogart came here among the
early settlers, and was killed in the massacre of
1690. His farm lay on the south side of the river
at and below the Saratoga Railroad bridge, and a
portion of it still belongs to his descendants.
Laurens Claese Van Der Volgen, at the de
struction of the village in 1690, was made captive
by the Indians, with whom he remained several
years. He became interpreter for the Province,
which position he held until his death, in 1742.
His village lot was the eastern half of the lot now
occupied by the Myers block, and he also owned
part of the fifth flat.
Jacobus Van Dyck was a doctor ; he settled here
and practiced his profession until his death. He
married Jacomyntje, daughter of Johannes Sanders
Glen, October 25, 1694, and had two children,
Elizabeth, and a son, Cornelius, who followed his
father's profession and inherited his possessions.
Dirk Van Eps married Maritie Damens, and had
two children, Johannes and Lysbert, who became
the wife of Gerrit Bancker, of Albany. His home
lot was on the north corner of State and Church
streets. Jan Baptist Van Eps, eldest son of Jan
Dirkse Van Eps, was born in 1673, and married
Helena, daughter of Johannes Sanderse Glen, in
1699, and had eleven children, all of whom, save
one, reached mature age and had families. He
was captured by the Indians in 1690, with whom
he remained three years. He owned, with other
parcels, the "foremost" farm, No. 8, on the
bouwland. This farm has remained in the fam
ily until this day. Evert Van Eps was a son of
Jan Dirkse Van Eps. His first wife was Eva,
daughter of Carle Hansen Toll ; his second, Eliza
beth, daughter of Isaac Truax. He had thirteen
children. His village lot was on the west side of
Washington street.
Claas Frederickse Van Petten was born in
1 64 1. His wife was Aeffie, daughter of Arent
Bratt. They had eight children. They both died
in 1728, she aged seventy-eight years, he eighty-
seven years. He owned a farm between the river
and the lake in Scotia, and a village lot, being part
of the Glen lot.
Harmen Albertse Vedder owned much land
here at an early day, removing here in about 1672.
He died, June 18, 1714, leaving five sons and one
daughter. Albert Vedder, eldest son of Harmen,
was born in 167 1. He was captured by the In
dians in 1690, and was kept in captivity for several

years. His village lot was on the north side of
Union street. It was afterward owned by Regnier
Schaets. Harmanus Vedder, son of Harmen, was
an Indian trader, and owned a village lot on the
north corner of State and Church streets. In
1757 Harmen Vedder, Jr., conveyed this lot to
Alexander Vedder. Ferry street (extended south)
passes through this lot. Arent Vedder, son of
Harmen, married Sara, daughter of Symon Groot,
and had eleven children, all of whom, save one,
were living, and had families, August 10, 1846,
when he made his will. His village lot, on the
west side of Washington street, is now owned by
D. Cady Smith. Johannes Vedder, fourth son of
Harmen, was carried to Canada in 1690 with his
brother Albert He inherited a portion of the
"hindmost " farm, No. 8, from his father. Cor
set Vedder, fifth son of Harmen, lived in
" Schaghkook " until 1720, when he removed to
Niskayuna. He owned four morgens of his father's
farm. Symon Volckertse Veeder was born in 1624.
His home lot in the village was on the north cor
ner of State and Ferry streets. Gerrit Symonse
Veeder, son of Symon, married Tryntje, daughter
of Helmer Otten, in 1690. He was the owner of
much landed property. Pieter Symonse Veeder,
son of Symon, married Neeltje, daughter of Claase
Van der Volgen, in 1 704. He settled on the Nor
mans Kil. He died about 1709. Johannes Sy
monse Veeder, son of Symon, resided on the
Normans Kil, where he had a portion of his father's
land. Volkert Symonse Veeder, son of Symon,
lived on the north corner of Ferry and State streets,
on a lot received from his father.
Pieter Cornelise Viele was among the early
settlers. He owned part of De Winter's bouwery
in 1670, and died some time before 1690. Cor
nelis Viele, brother of Pieter, owned the two
bouweries No. 8. He was one of the two licensed
tapsters of the village, his inn being on the south
corner of Mill lane and State, near Church street.
Arnout Cornelise Viele, son of Cornelis, was for
many years provincial interpreter. On account of
the Indians' high esteem for him, the Mohawks, in
1683, gave him a parcel of land, above Schenec
tady, on the north side of the river, called Wach-
keerhoha. Hendrick Meese Vrooman came here in 1677
and bought the Van Curler bouwery. His village
lot was on the north side of State street. He was
slain in 1690. Adam Vrooman, son of Hendrick,
in 1690, saved his life "by his bravery in de
fending his house, which stood near the north gate,

YANCES.

21

on the west corner of Church and Front streets."
Besides this lot he owned other parcels of land.
Jan Vrooman, son of Hendrick, married Geesie,
daughter of Symon Veeder, July 4, 1680, and had
fifteen children, the most of whom attained
maturity and had families. His village lot, inherit
ed from his father, was on the north side of State
street, near Given's Hotel. Capt. Hendrick
Vrooman was the fourth son of Adam Vrooman.
Among other parcels of land, he owned in 1706 a
lot on the south side of State street, ' ' on the side
of the Coehorn creek." Barent Vrooman, son of
Adam, married Tryntje, daughter of Takel Heem
straat, of Albany, June 18, 1699. He died in
1746; his village lot was on the north corner of
State and Center streets. Wouter Vrooman, son of
Adam, married Marytje, daughter of Isaac Hallen
beck, of Albany ; they had sixteen children ; he
died October 26, 1856 ; he owned five different
parcels of land. Jan Vrooman, son of Adam, was
by trade a brewer. He received some land from
his father, among which was a parcel lying west of
the city, now mainly covered by the canal and
railroad. Pieter Vrooman, son of Adam, married
Grietje, daughter of Isaac Van Alstyne, of Albany,
February 2, 1706 ; they had twelve children. He
settled early upon " Vrooman's land," in Scho
harie. Simon Vrooman, son of Jan Vrooman,
married Eytje, daughter of Jacob Delamont. He
bought, in 17 10, a " lot lying on the west side of
the canal, extending from State to Liberty street."
By his will, made in 1752, his son Jacob inherited
this, and his son Johannes the " tan-pits," near the
Church mill on Mill lane.
Jan Barentse Wemp settled here in 1662, buy
ing "Van Slyck's" or "Wemp's Island." His
village lot was on the west side of Washington
street. This lot was inherited by his son Myndert,
who was killed in the massacre of 1690. Myndert
Wemp, son of Jan, was born in 1649. He married
Diewer, daughter of Evert Wendel, of Albany.
Capt. Barent Wemp, son of Jan, was born in
1656, and married Folkje, daughter of Symon V.
Veeder. His village lot was on the east corner of
State and Center streets. The front of this lot is
now occupied by the Carley House.
Robert Yates, son of Joseph Yates, settled in
Schenectady at the age of twenty-three, and mar
ried Grietje Claase De Graff, of the Hoek in Scotia.
His village lot was on the Albany road, near the
present Ferry street. By his will, made in 1747,
he left his interest in his tan-yards to his sons,
Joseph and Abraham. Robert, son of Joseph,
settled in Schenectady before 171 2, and his

nephew, Joseph Christoffelse, settled here in 1734.
Abraham, a son of the latter, owned a house and
lot on Union street, opposite the Court House.

Yates House.

YANCES.
About the year 1798 there migrated to the bar
ren pine plains adjoining the Albany and Schenec
tady turnpike, about one mile from this city, a
tribe of people called Yances. In the reign of
Queen Anne we date the first migration of the
gypsies to this country. A tribe of them came
over at that time with some German families, and
settled in or near Kinderhook in this State. From
thence proceeded the clan which settled in this
vicinity. This name, as it obtained among the early in
habitants of this vicinity, was Yances, so called
after their patriarch, John Yonse. They were a
race of persons with long, straight, black hair and
dark complexions. They were generally well dis
posed, and the males made a precarious living by
making baskets, selling berries — which grew
abundantly at this time — and doing light work for
the citizens of Schenectady, but never cultivated
their land, nor worked strictly at anything; while the
female portion of the tribe occupied themselves in
spinning, picking berries and telling fortunes.
Some dwelt in caves which they dug at the foot
of rising grounds, others in rude huts of their own
construction. They were at first about forty strong,
including men, women and children, but in the
course of a few years they greatly increased in num
bers, and about forty years ago there were about
two hundred of them.
At present but a few of their descendants are
living in this vicinity. Some families may be
found living among the mountains around the vil
lages in Schoharie County. There they are called
the "Sloughters."

22

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

iiPAot-o^Ewf"- WajerTrUu: 7mwtM& X&f.A-.fa'S?- WtZeZ. tS?I5#W<

INDIAN WARS ON THE BORDER,
1662-1743.
Down to the close of the French war in 1763,
the Iroquois carried on an intermittent' warfare
with the French of Canada. All settlements in
the valley of the upper Hudson were made on this
river and the Mohawk. The danger line was along
the banks of the Mohawk and the shores of the
Hudson above Waterford.
During a period of more than seventy years —
1688 to 1760 — the English provinces were, more
than half the time, in a state of war, or painful ap
prehension. No formidable body of Frenchmen, it is true,
ever crossed the Mohawk — 1690 — but parties of
their Indian allies, in squads of five to twenty,
were constantly sent out to skulk along the border
and pick off unwary husbandmen. Every dwelling
along this danger line was constructed for defense,
as well as for habitation. Movable block-houses
were placed in the field for temporary shelter, and
the farmer labored with his musket by his side, yet,

in spite of every precaution suggested by experi
ence, scarcely a year passed in which some house
holds were not bereft of one or more of their
members. Less than four years after Schenectady was set
tled occurred the first alarm to the inhabitants.
M. De Courcelles, Governor of Canada, on the
29th December, 1665, began a march from Mon
treal with six hundred volunteers, "to seeke out
their inveterate ennemyes called the Mohawke In
dians, to take revenge upon them for the severall
murthers and spoyles which the barbarians had
for many yeares exercised in Canada." The snow-
was four feet deep; the soldiers marched on snow-
shoes, while their provisions were drawn on ' ' slight
sledges " by mastiff dogs. On the 9th of Febru
ary they encamped within two miles of Schenec
tady, having been misled by their guide. That
evening "60 of their best Fusi leers being led into
an ambuscade by the Mohaks, lost 1 1 men besides
divers others," who were wounded. Governor
Courcelles applied to the inhabitants for provisions

INDIAN WARS ON THE BORDER.

23

which were supplied according to the " best ac
commodation ye poore village afforded," but re
fused shelter for his men, fearing if " hee had
brought his weary and halfe starved people within
the smell of a chimney corner," he could not keep
them from straggling or running away.
Seven of his wounded were sent to Albany.
The Dutch boers carryed to the camp such pro
visions as they had, especially peaz and bread, of
which a good quantity was bought." On the 12th
of February the French began their return to
Canada. Three years later, to wit, in 1669, another In
dian battle was fought on the western borders of
the town.
In August, Caughnawaga [Fonda], a stockaded
village of the Mohawks, was attacked by the river
Indians or Mahikanders. After an obstinate re
sistance the latter were repulsed and retired. The
Mohawks descended the river in their canoes and
attacked the retreating foe at a place called Kina-
quariones and put them to flight.
From this time up to 1689, while the people
lived in constant apprehension, there was really no
outbreak. In this period of twenty years' peace
Schenectady slowly gained in population and agri
cultural wealth and comforts. Some trade, too,
was had surreptitiously with the Indians. During
these years the French occasionally sent out ma
rauding expeditions, which made necessary a gath
ering of the savages about Schenectady. They
were given to drink, and were always a source of
annoyance to the inhabitants.
In August, 1689, the Five Nations made a de
structive raid upon Montreal, killing several hun
dred persons and holding the place until October.
Retaliation was naturally to be expected. The
border settlements, as winter approached, when re
lief from New York would be cut off, cast about
for help.
The general apprehension of an attack by the
French led to a kind of committee of safety,
called "the Convention," which convened in
Albany from time to time to watch the progress of
events and prepare for defense. This convention
was composed of the Mayor and Aldermen of the
city and the magistrates and chief military officers
of the country. They were unanimously opposed
to Leisler, and would obey none of his orders.
Many persons during the summer of 1689 medi
tated and prepared to flee to a place of greater
safety, which led to a proclamation, given at the
City Hall, in Albany, . August 7, published by the
Justices of the Peace, forbidding all persons to de

part from the country. During September the
convention was again held, the proceedings of
which plainly show that the attack of the French
on Schenectady, which took place the following
February, was not unexpected.
Schenectady, equally with Albany, was rent by
party spirit, the inhabitants being divided into
Leislerians and anti-Leislerians.
Leisler promised the people the same privileges
as Albany, to wit: those of trading with the Indians,
hitherto forbidden them, and the right of bolting
flour. This was a strong bid for public favor; but
Adam Vrooman, who was addressed as Leisler's
agent, very modestly and prudently declined the
honor. Early in November, 1689, news reached Albany
' ' that Leysler is about to send up an armed force
to take possession of the place and overthrow
the government." Capt. Sander Glen, Jan Van
Eps and Sweer Teunise Van Velsen, of Schenec
tady, were opponents of Leisler, and sustained the
convention to the last, Capt. Glen being one of the
eight men appointed by the Convention to sign
articles with Melbourne, Leisler's agent.
On the 25th November Capt. Jonathan Bull
arrived with eighty-seven men from Connecticut,
and on the 29th Lieutenant Enos Talmage, of
Capt. Bull's company, ' ' marched with twenty-four
men to Schinnectady to keep y' Post as it was
agreed upon by ye five gentlemen appoint1 by y"
Convention and y" Capt. Bull and Jochim Staats."
December 9th was ordered as a day of fasting and
prayer. All was confusion at Albany. Mr.
Staats, who commanded Leisler's soldiers, would
not submit to the convention and send ten of his
men to Schenectady, as they wished; but went
thither himself with some of his faction to stir up
the people, so that the convention thought it neces
sary to send some one after him.
January 12, 1689-90, " while the convention was
debating whether to submit to Joachim Staats as
deputy of Leysler, a letter comes from Capt.
Sander Glen, there Majies Justice of the Peace at
Schinnectady, informing them how that there are
five commissions come to Schinnectady from Capt.
Leysler for five Justices of ye Peace, brought thither
by Jeronimus Wendel and Gerrit Luycasse [Wyn
gaard] ; Ye persons are Dowe Aukus, Ryer
Jacobse [Schermerhorn], David Christoffelse, Myn
dert Wemp and Johannes Pootman; and a com
mission to call the people together, to choose new
Capt, Lieut, and Ensigne and Town Court, and
y' y" sd five justices come here to-morrow to as-sist
Mr. Joachim Staats and to enter upon there office."

24

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

"The said Capt. Sanders [Glen], together with
ye Lieut, and Ensigne and Sweer Teunisse, —
members of ye Convention doe write to the gent"
that there vote is not to obey Capt. Leysler's or
ders, but to protest against his illegal proceed
ings." (Col. Mss., 36.)
"Albany y" 20th of January, i6f$. — The
Mayor and Aldermen haveing consulted to-day
how to procure some Christians and Indians to
goe towards y° Great Lake to Lye as skouts for ye
space of three weeks to give notice if ye ffrench
should come with an army to Invade there majieB
Territory, but could fynde none y' would goe under
2 shil. 6d. to 3 shil. per day, for Capt. Bull would
suffer none of his men to goe, alledging it contrare
to his instructions, and while they were bussy to
discouse sd affare ye following Indians came and sa
as follows, viz'. : * * * *

"Brethren: We have (been) sent by ye 40 Ma-
guase Souldiers, now at Schenechtady, to acquaint
you that they are come to goe out as Skouts toward
ye Lake and Otter creek to watch ye Designe of ye
Deceiver, ye gov1' of Canida, to see if he will
come and invade our country again, & if we
Discern any Progresse of his, we have 4 Indians
y' wee send forth Post to give you & our people
advertisem'. * * *
"The sd Indians were very thankful, and sd
they would withal speed goe to Shinnechtady &
forward ye Comp° & hasten them upon there
march." (Doc. Hist., II, 86.)
These preparations to "watch the Designe of ye
Gov' of Canida " miscarried, and before the In
dian scouts reached "ye Lake and Otter creek,"
the invading force had passed those points and the
fatal blow was struck, destroying the village and
scattering such of its inhabitants as were spared.

'^l-:- --'".>•

DESTRUCTION OF SCHENECTADY IN

From painting by Giles F. Yates, now in possession of his niece, Mrs A A, Yates, of Schenectady.
painting the artist unquestionably drew upon his fancy.

In the

BURNING OF SCHENECTADY
The story of the massacre of 1690 has often been
told. The essential facts are few and well estab
lished, both by the English and French accounts.
The causes of this attack were, first, the war be
tween England and France, occasioned by the
English revolution of 1688, and, secondly, the de
sire of the French in Canada to intimidate and
detach the Iroquois from the English, by delivering

a stunning blow, and capturing both Albany and
Schenectady. The destruction of this place would
perhaps have decided the fate of the Province, for
they then would have held the key to the naviga
tion of the Hudson.
A march from Montreal to Schenectady — a dis
tance of 200 miles — was one of extreme labor,
requiring great pluck and endurance. Between
the St. Lawrence and the Mohawk rivers there

BURNING OF SCHENECTADY.

25

was then an unbroken wilderness, without a single
habitation. In mid-winter the snow lay in the
forest from three to six feet deep, and could be
traveled only on snow-shoes.
In addition to their heavy muskets and ammu
nition, the French were forced to carry provisions
for the march of twenty-two days. Such were the
conditions of an attack upon Schenectady, only
possible in winter without a flotilla of canoes to
pass the lakes.
The attacking party consisted of 1 14 Frenchmen,
80 savages from the Sault, and 1 6 Algonquins — in
all 210 men.
The commander was Lemoine de Sainte Hel&ne,
assisted by Lieutenant D'Aillebout de Mantet.
They started from Montreal on the 17th of Janu
ary, and after suffering incredible hardships on the
way, arrived in sight of the town about 1 1 o'clock
at night on the 8th of February. It was their in
tention to make their attack later, but the intense
cold forced them to enter the town at once.
The village at this time lay mainly west of Ferry
street, and was stockaded with palisades of pine
logs, ten feet high. It had at least two gates, one
at north end of Church street, opening out to the
highway (Front street), which led to the eastward
to Niskayuna ; another at south end of Church at
State, opening out to Mill lane and the Flats and
the Albany road (State street).
The only dwellings outside the stockade were
built on the northern side of State street, extending
as far southeast as Lange gang [Center street]. It
is said there were eighty good houses in the village,
and a population of 400 souls ; both numbers,
doubtless, greatly exaggerated.
In the northern angle of the village, on the
Binnie kil [near corner Washington and Front
streets], was a double stockade fort, garrisoned by
a detachment of 24 men of Captain Jonathan Bull's
Connecticut company, under the command of
Lieut. Talmadge.
Thus fortified and garrisoned, the inhabitants
should have repelled any ordinary attack, or at
least held the enemy at bay until succor could
reach them from Albany.
The destruction of the place was occasioned by
divided counsels and a fatal apathy. The whole
Province was then divided into two factions — the
Leislerians and the Anti-Leislerians — the short hairs
and swallow-tails. Divided feelings and counsels
ran so high in Albany and Schenectady as to coun
teract the sense of self-preservation. Both parties
were determined to rule; neither was strong enough
to take the lead.

On the fatal night of February 8, the Noche trisle
of the ill-fated village, the inhabitants went to rest
with their gates open and no guard set. They
trusted that the Indians who had been sent out as
scouts to Lake George would forewarn them of
the enemy's approach. The French marched upon
the village from the north, crossed the river on the
ice and divided their men into two companies,
with the intention of entering the town, one by the
north, or Church street, gate, the other by the
south, or State street, gate. The latter entrance,
being in a measure covered by the dwellings on
that street, could not be found ; both companies
therefore entered by the north gate, and separating,
spread themselves throughout the village, five or
six before each house. At a signal agreed upon a
simultaneous onslaught was made upon each
dwelling, and before the terror-stricken inhabitants
could seize their arms the savages were upon them.
Resistance was vain. Within two hours sixty of
the people were slaughtered, without distinction of
age or sex. After selecting such booty as they
could carry away, the French fired the houses and
burned all but five or six.
Captain Sander Glen's family and relatives, with
their habitations and other property, on account of
former kindness shown to captive Frenchmen,
were spared by express order of the Governor of
Canada. The utter helplessness of the inhabitants
to offer resistance is shown by the fact that only two
of the enemy were killed and one severely wounded.
The plucky fight made by Adam Vrooman and
his family comes down to us by tradition. His
house stood on the west corner of Front and
Church streets, opposite the north gate.
By keeping up a brisk fire from his dwelling, he
kept the enemy at bay and extorted a promise from
the French commander to spare his life.
After taking a few hours of much needed rest,
the French began their retreat at 1 1 o'clock of the
9th, with 27 prisoners, men and boys, and fifty
horses laden with plunder.
Nineteen of their men perished in the retreat and
the remainder were only saved from starvation by
killing the horses.
Of the many accounts of this transaction written
at the time, the following are most trustworthy.
The first is the French report, and may be found
among the ' ' Paris Documents, " Vol. IV, in the
Secretary of State's office.
' ' An account of the burning of Schenectady by
Mons. De Monsignat, Comptroller-General of the
Marine in Canada, to Madame de Maintenon, the
morganatic wife of Louis XIV.

26

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

<< * * * At eieven o'clock at night they
came within sight of the town (but) resolved to
defer the assault until two o'clock in the morning.
But the excessive cold admitted of no further
delay. ' ' The town of Corlaer forms a sort of oblong
with only two gates — one opposite the road we had
taken — the other leading to Orange, which is only
six leagues distant. Messieurs de Sainte Helene
and de Mantet were to enter at the first, which the
Squaws pointed out, and which in fact was found
wide open. Messieurs d'Iberville and de Montes
son took the left with another detachment, in order
to make themselves masters of that leading to
Orange. But they could not discover it, and
returned to join the remainder of the party. A
profound silence was everywhere observed, until
the two commanders, who separated, at their en
trance into the town, for the purpose of encircling
it, had met at the other extremity.
"The signal of attack was given Indian fashion,
and the whole force rushed out simultaneously.
M. de Mantet placed himself at the head of a
detachment, and reached a small fort where the
garrison were under arms. The gate was burst in
after a good deal of difficulty, the whole set on
fire, and all who defended the place slaughtered.
"The sack of the town began a moment before
the attack on the fort. Few houses made any
resistance. M. de Montigny discovered some,
which he attempted to carry sword in hand, hav
ing tried the musket in vain. He received two
thrusts of a spear — one in the body and the other
in the arm. But M. de Sainte Hel&ne, having
come to his aid, effected an entrance, and put every
one who defended the place to the sword. The
massacre lasted two hours. The remainder of the
night was spent in placing sentinels and in taking
some repose.
" The house belonging to the minister was
ordered to be saved, so as to take him alive to
obtain information from him; but as it was not
known, it was not spared any more than the others.
He was slain and his papers burnt before he could
be recognized.
"At daybreak some men who were sent to the
dwelling of Mr. Coudre [Coudre (?) Sander],
who was major of the place, and who lived at the
other side of the river. He was not willing to
surrender, and began to put himself on the defen
sive, with his servants and some Indians; but as it
was resolved not to do him any harm, in conse
quence of the good treatment that the French had
formerly experienced at his hands, Mr. d'Iberville

and the Great Mohawk proceeded thither alone,
promised him quarter for himself, his people, and
his property, whereupon he laid down his arms, on
parole, entertaining them in his fort, and returned
with them to see the commandants of the town.
"In order to occupy the savages, who would
otherwise have taken to drink and thus render them
selves unable for defence, the houses had already
been set on fire. None were spared in the town
but one house belonging to Coudre [Sander Glen],
and that of a widow [Bratt] who had six children,
whither M. de Montigny had been carried when
wounded. All the rest were consumed. The
lives of between fifty and sixty persons — old men,
women and children — were spared, they having
escaped the first fury of the attack. Some twenty
Mohawks were also spared, in order to show
them that it was the English and not they against
whom the grudge was entertained.
' ' The loss on this occasion in houses, cattle
and grain amounts to more than four hundred
thousand livres. There were upwards of eighty
well built and well furnished houses in the town.
"The return march commenced with thirty
prisoners. The wounded, who were to be carried,
and the plunder, with which all the Indians and
some Frenchmen were loaded, caused consider
able inconvenience. Fifty good horses were
brought away; sixteen of these only reached Mon
treal. The remainder were killed for food on the
road. * * *
"Such, Madame, is the account of what passed
at the taking of Corlaer. The French lost but
twenty-one men, namely, four Indians and seven
teen Frenchmen. Only one Indian and one
Frenchman were killed at the capture of the town;
the others were lost on the road."- — Doc. Hist.
N. Y, i, 1 86.
A few days subsequent to the massacre at
Schenectady, Pieter Schuyler, mayor, and Dirk
Wessels Ten Broeck, recorder of Albany, and
Kilian Van Rensselaer, Patroon of Rensselaerwyck,
addressed the following appeal to the Governor
(Bradstreet) and Council of Massachusetts. This
letter, as well as one from Capt. Bull, was
answered by the Governor and Council on the
27 th of February. " Albany ye 15 th day of febr, i6f$.
"HonrdGent": "To our great greeffe and sorrow we must ac
quaint you with our deplorable condition, there
haveing never y° Like Dreadfull massacre and
murthur been committed in these Parts of America,
as hath been acted by y° french and there Indians
at Shinnectady 20 miles from Albanie Betwixt Sat-

BURNING OF SCHENECTADY.

27

urday and Sunday last, at 1 1 a clok at night. A
companie of Two hundred french and Indians fell
upon said village and murther'd sixty men women
and children most Barbarously, Burning y° Place
and carried 27 along with them Prisoners, among
which the Leif of Cap' Bull Enos Talmadge and
4 more of sd company were killed & 5 taken Priso
ners ye Rest being Inhabitants and about 25 Per-
sones there Limbs frozen in ye flight.
"The cruelties committed at sd Place no Penn
can write nor Tongue expresse, y6 women bigg
with childe Rip'd up and y° children alive throwne
into ye flames, and there heads Dash'd in Pieces
against the Doors and windows.
" But what shall we say we must Lay our hands
upon our mouth and be silent. It is Gods will
and Pleasure and we must submitt, it is but what
our Sinns and Transgressions have Deserv'd. And
since Generally humane things are Directed by
outward means, so we must ascribe this sad mis
fortune to y" factions and Divisions which were
amongst y" People and there great Dissobedience
to there officers for they would Obey no Com
mands or keep any watch, so y' ye Enemie have-
ing Discovered there negligence and Security by
there Praying maquase Indians (who were in sd
Place 2 or 3 Days before ye attaque was made)
came in and Broak open there verry doors before
any Soule knew of it, ye Enemy Divideing them-
selfs in 3 severall companies came in at 3 severall
Places no gate being shutt, and Seperated them-
selfs 6 or 7 to a house and in this manner begunn
to murther sparing no man till they see all ye
houses open and masterd, and so took what plun
der they would, Loading 30 or 40 of y" Best
horses and so went away about 11 or 12 a clock
at noon on Sabbath day." *******
Your most humble and obed' serv'5 ye Conven
tion of Albanie P. Schuyler, Mayor.
The Mayor, &c, of Albany their bre giveing
acco' of y* ffrench & Indians cutting of a Town of
English &c, many things & Dutch Feb., 1689."
[Mass. Archives, 239-246.]
The survivors of the massacre had become so
discouraged by their late terrible experience, that
it was seriously debated whether the settlement'
should not be abandoned. The frontiers were now
so harassed by straggling parties of the enemy
that the husbandmen could not safely plant and
harvest their crops.
In the midst of these discouragements the Mo
hawks strove to dissuade them from abandoning
their plantations, promising them aid, counseling
them to fortify their village more substantially.

May 12, 1690, the "Commissioners for Albany"
ordered that the "posts of Schanechtede, Connes-
tigieone and the Half Moone be forthwith supplied
with proper numbers of men to defend the same."
[Doc. Hist, II. ]
In regard to the number of persons killed and
carried away to Canada at the destruction of Sche
nectady, the best accounts agree substantially.
The names of sixty persons massacred, and of
twenty-seven captives, have been preserved among
the historical documents in the office of the Secre
tary of State. The largest number of the slain re
sided, when living, on State street; hence the sur
vivors called this street Martelaer's straat, in pious
remembrance of their slaughtered relatives and
neighbors, a name whose significance and senti
ment are in striking contrast with the utter poverty
of invention and good taste shown by their de
scendants in borrowing a name from Albany for
their chief business street.
The following is the list of those killed, above
referred to:
Myndert Wemp, Jan Van Eps, "his son and
two of his children;" Sergt. Church, of Capt.
Bull's company; Barent Janse (Van Ditmars) and
son; Andries Arentse Bratt and child; Maria Viele,
two children and negro woman servant; Maria
Alolff, Sweer Teunise (Van Velsen) and wife; four
negroes of Teunise, Antje Janz, Enos Talmidge,
lieutenant of Capt. Bull's company; Henderson
Meese Vrooman and Bartholomens Vrooman, "and
two negroes of Henderson; " Gerrit Marcellis, wife
and child; Robert Alexandier, soldier; Robert Hes-
seling, Sander, "son of Gysbert Gerritse (Van
Brakel);" Jan Roeloffse (son of Anneke Janse);
Ralph Grant, a soldier; David Christoffelse, wife
and four children; Jaris Aertse (Van der Baast),
Johannes Potman and wife; Wm. Pieterse, Dom
inie Petrus Tassemaker; Frans Harmense (Van de
Bogart); Engel Vrooman and child; Reynier
Schaats and son; Daniel Andries " and George,
two soldiers; " "a French girl prisoner among the
Mohogs;" "a Maquase Indian," "Johannes, son
of Symon Skermerhorn, and three negroes of Sy
mon Skermerhorn. "
Among those taken prisoners and carried to
Canada, some died on the way there and some
were afterward released and returned to Schenec
tady. The following ballad, though without much lit
erary merit, has some value for the facts set forth
therein. It was evidently written by a person belonging to
the English garrison, stationed at Albany.

28

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

A BALLAD,
"In which is set forth the horrid crudities practised by the
French and Indians on the night of the 8th of last February.
The which I did compose last night, in the space of one
hour, and am now writing the morning of Fryday, June 12,
1690. W. W."
God prosper long our King and Queen,
Our lives & safeties all.
A sad misfortune once there did
Schenectady befall.
From forth the woods of Canada
The Frenchmen tooke their way
The people of Schenectady
To captivate and slay.
They march'd for two & twenty dais
All thro' the deepest snow ;
And on a dismal Winter Night
They strucke the Cruel Blow.
The lightsome sun that rules the Day
Had gone down in the West ;
And eke the drowsy Villagers
Had sought and found their reste.
They thought They were in Safetie all,
And dreampt not of the Foe ;
But att Midnight They all awoke,
In Wonderment & Woe.
For They were in their pleasant Beddes,
And soundelie sleeping, when
Each door was sudden open broke
By six or seven Men,
The Men and Women, Younge & Olde,
And eke the Girls and Boys,
All started up in great Affright,
Att the alarming Noise.
They then were murther'd in their Beddes,
Without shame or remorse ;
And soon the Floores and Streets were strew'd
With many a bleeding corse.
The Village soon began to Blaze,
Which shew'd the horrid sight : —
But, O, I scarce can Beare to Tell
The Mis'ries of that Night.
They threw the Infants in the Fire,
The Men they did not spare ;
But killed All which they could find
Tho' Aged or tho' Fair.
O Christe ! In the still Midnight air,
It sounded dismally,
The Women's Prayers, and the loud screams
Of their great Agony,
Methinks as if I hear them now
All ringing in my ear ;
The Shrieks and Groanes and Woefull Sighs,
They utter'd in their Fear.
But some ran off to Albany,
And told the dolefull Tale :
Vett, tho' We gave our cheerful aid,
It did not much avail.
And we were horribly afraid,
And shook with Terror, when
They told us that the Frenchmen were
More than a Thousand Men.
The news came on the Sabbath morn
Just att the Break of Day,
And with a companie of Horse
I galloped away.

But soone We found the French were gone
With all their great Bootye ;
And then their Trail We did pursue
As was our true Dutye.
The Mohaques joynd our brave Partye,
And followed in the chase
Till we came upp with the Frenchmen
Att a most likely e Place.
Our soldiers fell upon their Reare,
And killed-twenty-five,
Our Young Men were so muchenrag'd
They took scarce One alive.
D'Aillebout Then did commande,
Which were but Theevish Rogues,
Else why did they consent and goe
With Bloodye Indian Dogges ?
And Here I end the long Ballad
The Which you just have redde ;
I wish that it may stay on earth,
Long after I am dead. Walter Wilie.
Albany, 12th of June, 1690.

INDIAN WARS ON THE BORDER, 1662-
l7lZ-
The destruction of Schenectady and the uncer
tainty of future safety of the border settlers in the
vicinity of that village awakened in their minds
serious doubts as to the expediency of rebuilding
their dwellings and putting seed into the ground.
To reassure the courage of the people, the Conven
tion at Albany passed the following resolution, on
the 2 2d February, 1690 :
Resolved, That for f p'servation of there maj"
Intrestin these parts &ye Secureing of there Subjects
in this time of war wth ye french, y' all means be
used to Perswade all ye maquase to come & live &
Plant at Schinnectady, lately Destroyed by y" french
and there Indians wh will be a means y' yc winter
corn sowed there may be reaped & ye Indians in
Readinesse to join with our forces upon any occa
sion if y" enemy should come. — [Doc. Hist, II,
p. 90.]
The Five Nations, too, in a council held at Al
bany, May 3, spoke encouraging words :
" Brother Corlaer, be nowise discouraged, but
make your fort strong (as we have our castles) at
Schenectady, and maintain a garrison there, that
your Corne may be preserved, & reap your harvest;
.also send for your wifes and children from New
York and encourage them that we shall be safe,
and fear not, * * * The words of Diadorus
are ended."
So impoverished had Albany and Schenectady
become that aid was called for from Connecticut
for "fournishing the souldiers with provisions,
Shenectady being destroyed and most of. the out
plantations deserted, that your hon™ would be
pleased to send a supply of an hundred barrels of

INDIAN WARS ON THE BORDER.

29

porke or beefe equivalent for maintaining their
Majes Forces."
On the 9th June, 1690, four persons of those who
had been captured by the French and escaped
from Canada arrived in Albany, to wit : Klyn
Isack [Swits], of Schenectady, and his eldest son

Symon ; Ryck Claessen [Van Vranken], of Niskay
una, and one of Captain Bull's soldiers taken at
the destruction of Schenectady. Four more cap
tives taken at the same place were brought in,
March, 1691, by a "party of Christians and
maquase. "

MAP OF THE TOWN OF SCHENECTADY.

In the beginning of June, 1691.Gov. Sloughter,
who succeeded Andros, visited Albany and Sche
nectady to inspect the defenses and hold a council
with the Five Nations, and, on the nth of July,
Gov. Sloughter wrote to the Governors of the
other Provinces that he had just returned from Al
bany, where he "found our Plantations and Sche
nectady almost ruined. I have garrisoned Schenec
tady and HalfeMoon with some of the 100 fusileers
raised by our Assembly."
Again, August 6, he says: "I found Albany
full of disorder, the people ready to disert it ;

about 150 farms deserted & destroyed by the
French." October 5, 1691, "At a council held at Fort
William Henry [N. Y.]
1 ' This Board having the Garrison of Schenec
tady under consideration, it is thought convenient
to remove the 4 guns from there to Albany, and
that Petardoes be placed in their steade."
Late in the year 169 1 another of the prisoners
taken at Schenectady the year before was brought
back by an Oneida Indian, who was rewarded in
" Duffels and Rom" to the amount of £2 2s.

30

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

In January, 1692, Cornelis Van Slyck, Harmen
Van Slyck and Hendrick Janse went out from
Schenectady with the Maquase upon the Brand-
wach, toward Canada, Captain Sander Glen fur
nishing " sno shoes " for them.
In February came an alarm from Albany to
Governor Fletcher that "350 French and 200 In
dians had come within 36 miles of Schenectady."
The Governor proposed to ' ' detach three hun
dred men out of the city regiment and adjacent
counties to be transported to Esopus by water,"
from whence they were to be sent on to Albany
and Schenectady by horses.
In May there was a new alarm, and Major
Ingoldsby visited Albany, where the officers " rep
resented that they need a force of 400 men on this
frontier, 200 at Albany, 50 each at Schenectady,
Canastigione & Half Moon, & 50 to go out
with 100 Indians as constant scouts in the
woods. "
In October, Governor Fletcher visited Schenec
tady and put it in some posture of defense for the
coming winter.
In August, 1692, a new expedition was fitted
out at Schenectady, consisting of 350 Indians of
the Five Nations under Canachkorie to attack
Canada. The expense of the outfit was ^54 3s.
5d. Among other things furnished was four ells
of "red and blew" ribbons "to tye in his eares."
P. Davitse was allowed nine shillings for making
two gun-stocks; Jellis Funda, nineteen shillings
and six pence for making four gun-stocks,
and Barent Mynderse and Christian Smith, £7 6s.
8d. for repairing arms for the Indians.
While at Schenectady the "Mayor & the
Rest" stayed with Johannes Glen. Hille Van
Olinda, their interpreter, made two great belts of
wampum, for which she received £2 8s.
There was furnished for the expedition 600 lbs.
of "beefe & pork, besides the four quarters of a
small beasts," amounting to £1 16s., 25 skipples
of pease @ 2s. 6d., and 24 loaves of bread @ 7d.
A large quantity of wampum belts was sent
along to draw over the Praying Indians of Canada.
The zewant for two great belts cost £3 12s.
So impoverished had the people of Schenectady
become, that a tax of only ^"29 7s. ($73.33) was
considered too great a burden for the whole town
ship, and they petitioned for a release of the same,
which petition was, October n, 1692, granted,
' ' nemine contradicente. ''
"In the expedition the English lost four soldiers
and four Indians, twelve wounded. Killed of the
enemy, 33, including their captain-commandant

and twenty other officers, and two of their com
manding Indians, and rescued forty or fifty pris-
-oners. "
During the winter of 1693 and the summer of
1694 there were no important movements on
either side; the French using their best endeavor
to make peace with the Five Nations; the English
striving to counteract their projects. During the
summer of 1695 there were constant conflicts be
tween the Five Nations and the French, but the
anticipated raid during the winter of 1696-1697
did not take place, though in the spring of 1697
small parties appeared on the Mohawk, doing such
mischief as opportunity favored.
On the 20th September, 1697, articles of peace
were signed between France and Great Britain,
called the peace of Ryswick. For nearly ten years
the Mohawk valley had been the scouting ground
of the two hostile parties. The husbandmen had
labored with his musket by his side, and made his
dwelling literally his castle.
The news of peace did not reach Canada until
May, 1698, and then by the way of New York in a
communication from Governor Bellomont.
Although peace had been declared between the
two nations, the French of Canada still threatened
war against the Five Nations, and Governor Bello
mont prepared to espouse the cause of his Indian
allies by calling upon the trained bands of Albany
and Schenectady to hold themselves in readiness to
march with the regulars. The dangers and alarms
of these times are clearly stated by Governor
Bellomont in a letter to the Lords of Trade, dated
24th October, 1698.
After the proclamation of peace, early in 1698,
the fortifications and garrisons on the border were
greatly neglected. May 25, 1700, Governor
Bellomont wrote to the Lords of Trade "that at
the very time they [the French] are fortifying against
us and keeping up the same number of soldiers
still, which they did all the war, we on our part
let our wooden forts fall to the ground, and re
duce our pittance of soldiers, and neither mind
paying nor recruiting them."
On the 29th August, 1700, Governor Bellomont
held a conference with the sachems of the Five
Nations at Albany, to whom he made the follow
ing complaint:
"I have sipme complaints at this time made to
mee of mischief lately done by some of your people
in killing their cattle above Schanegtade. I desire
you will inquire into the matter, and take such or
der that reperation may be done the people that
have been so wronged. " * * *

INDIAN WARS ON THE BORDER.

31

From 1697 to 1701 there was peace between
England and France, consequently between Canada
and the English Provinces. Nevertheless the con
stant intrigues and threats of the French toward
the Five Nations made it necessary for the Pro
vincial authorities of New York to use persistent
and vigilant circumspection to counteract these
intrigues. Governor Bellomont died 5th March, 1701. Al
ready rumors were rife in New York of a prospect
ive war between France and England, on which
account Colonel William Smith, President of the
Council and ex officio Governor of the province, in
writing to the Lords of Trade, "begs leave hum--
bly to repeate the state and condition of the forts
at Albany and Schenectady, which are almost to
tally decayed & unserviceable."
In 1709 orders were sent from England to
Governor Lovelace to prepare for an attack upon
Canada and Nova Scotia. It was proposed to send
out a naval squadron and five regiments of regu
lar troops to Boston, thereto be joined by 1,200
of New England.
These troops were to attack Quebec, while
1,500 men marching by way of Albany were to
attack Montreal.
The Five Nations and River Indians were to as
sist. This expedition was to be commanded by
Colonel Francis Nicholson and Colonel Samuel
Vetch, but like the attempt in 1691 proved a mis
erable failure. The English ministry, instead of
sending the promised armament to their American
provinces, sent it to Portugal.
The Five Nations, during the war (1 701-13) be
tween France and England, being neutral, became
corrupted, and less firmly attached to the latter.
In 171 1 another attempt was made to conquer
Canada, as abortive as the others, the naval expe
dition proving a failure. As a consequence, the
French Indians commenced their skulking attacks
upon the frontiers, killing two families in Schagh-
takook. January 1, 1712, Governor Hunter wrote to the
Lords of Trade: " All is quiet at present upon the
frontier. "
From this time until the "old French War" in
1 744 there was peace between France and Eng
land, and consequently between Canada and the
colonies. In 1 7 1 5 the township of Schenectady had two
military companies of foot, consisting of about
sixty men each, including officers.
Although the peace of Utrecht brought compara
tive quiet to the border settlements of this province,

the Five Nations still distrusted the French and
their Indians, and stood prepared to defend them
selves against their attacks.
The English sympathized with them and fur
nished them every aid and help short of an armed
force. They built their forts, supplied them with
arms and ammunition, repaired their muskets and
tomahawks, clothed them with duffels and strouds,
and in times of scarcity sent them corn. In many
cases the smiths and carpenters sent there were
citizens of Schenectady.
In 171 1 Governor Hunter, the better to pro
tect his faithful allies, the Iroquois, contracted
with Gerrit Symonse [Veeder], Barent Vrooman,
Hendrick Vrooman, John Wemp and Arent Van
Petten, carpenters, of Schenectady, for /"i,ooo, to
build two forts in the Indian country, one for the
Mohawks, 150 feet square and 12 feet high, of
logs one foot square, with a block house at each
angle two stories high and 24 feet square; also a
chapel within the fott, 24 feet square; the other, for
the Onondagas, of like dimensions.
In 1724 Harmen Vedder was appointed cap
tain of a party of smiths stationed among the Sen
ecas, at a salary of /50, and Andries Brat at /15,
Hendrick Wemp at £2^, and Harmen Van Slyck
at £2^, as smiths among the Onondagas.
In 1726 Joseph Van Lice, of Schenectady, pre
sented a bill to the Governor for seven months'
service as smith in the Senecas' country, for which
he claimed ^20.
At a conference between Governor Burnet and
the six sachems at Albany, 9th Sept., 1726, a
Seneca sachem said:
* * * "It is three years ago that you offer'd
us a smith, and told us we might look for one to
our minds; we found one there who pleased us
very well. It was Myndert Wemp; when his time
was expired he told the sachims that he was going
home, whereupon they desired him to come again,
because he was good and charitable to the poor;
therefore we desire he may be our smith and go
with us when we go home. We desire also an
Armourer who can mend our Locks and Arms;
such a man lives at Schenectady. "
"5 October, 1728.
' ' Brother Corlaer :
" It has been customary when we came here to
wards the fall that a Smith and an Armourer to be
sent to work for you, but then to work in our
Country; we beg you to grant us now that Joseph
Van Lise and Hendrick Wemp may be Ordered to
o-o up with us, who are fit persons for our Occa-

32

HISTORY OE THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

His Excellency answered :
' ' I will order a Smith and an Armourer to be
sent to work for you, but then I Expect that you
will not suffer the ffrench Smith who is now there,
nor any other from Canada, to reside among you
for the Future. "
A Sinneke sachem said:
"Brother Corlaer:
' ' We desired a Smith and an Armourer, but we
do not hear further of it. You spoke about a
ffrench Smith, who is now with us; he can Make
no work, for he is an old man, and can scarce see.
So we beg again that Joseph Van Lize and Hen
drick Wemp may go up with us. We would fain
have the Smith and Armourer go with us now, that
we may be sure of them, otherwise it may be neg
lected." His Excellency answered:
"Brethien: "I will give Effectual orders to the Commission
ers to send a Smith and an Armourer with you to
work in your country."
THE OLD FRENCH WAR, 1744-1748.
The Old French War, so called to distinguish it
from that of 1753, was declared by Louis XV, on
March 15, 1744, and accepted by England March
29. It was two months after before the news
reached New England, although known a month
earlier by the French of Canada. To secure the
friendship and active aid of the Six Nations, the
Governor of New York called a council of the
chiefs of the confederacy, who met at Albany, June
18, 1744, and "renewed, strengthened and bright
ened the covenant chain that had so long tied
them and the subjects of his Majesty, the great
king, their father, in mutual ties of friendship. "
Although inclining to peace, they promised in
the strongest terms to stand by their friends if at
tacked. During this war, as in the other preced
ing it, the French and their allies were the most
actively aggressive, sending out, almost daily, small
parties of their Indians to annoy and distress the
frontier settlements, and bring back such plunder
and captives as they could find. The points of
attack in this province were settlements along the
Mohawk and Hudson, particularly Saratoga, Sche
nectady and Albany and the outlying places.
No family was safe unless protected by block
house or palisade; no man was exempt from mili
tary duty save by age or infirmity. In Schenectady
and Albany each able-bodied man kept watch and
ward every third or fourth night. French and

English reports also give sad accounts of shocking
barbarities practiced on both sides by skulking
parties of savages and white men. French reports
clearly show the cruelties practiced by these two
Christian nations, who rewarded their savage allies
in proportion to the number of scalps returned.
The French and their savages made war upon
the almost undefended frontier settlers, who were
taken by surprise and practically unprepared.
The distress occasioned by this war is clearly set
forth by the following petition of the inhabitants of
Albany for relief, made to the Provincial Assembly,
July 27, 1747.
The sufferings of Schenectady were even greater,
because more exposed, more impoverished and less
secure :
if* * * Tnat tne inhabitants of the corporation
of the city of Albany are in great misery and distress
by reason of the present war with France, and with
the Indians in their alliance.
"That the inhabitants of the said city, ever since
the commencement of the war, by their frequent
watching, have been very much taken off from
themselves and families : That every man of our
corporation has been obliged to attend in person, or
pay a hired man in their stead, upon watch and
ward every third or fourth night during the whole
time, excepting a small interval of time in the
spring the duty was demanded only every fourth
night ; but now, and for some time past, for the
safety of this frontier and the poor inhabitants, we
are obliged again to come upon a fourth night :
That our corporation, by reason of the present war,
are indebted * * * * for the supplying of fire,
wood and candles for the night watches, and for
powder and ball for the poorest of the inhabitants,
* * * * besides what the inhabitants have done
by a voluntary taxing themselves for providing and
setting up new stockades, where the old ones were
gone to decay."
While the people of Schenectady were striving
to protect their borders from the attack of the
enemy they were called upon to send men to
Oswego. The following answer of Col. Jacob Glen disclosed
a sad state of morals at that important fortress :
Col. Schuyler : It is impossible to procure
men for going to Oswego, especially when John
Vischer remains there. John Baptist [Van Eps,
the interpreter] says, if a hundred pounds was
offered him over and above his wages, [he] would
not remain a year under his command. Jacob Glen.
Schenectady, Sept. ye 8, 1747.

THE BEUKENDAAL MASSACRE.

33

Glen, in a previous letter, says the officers at
Oswego are drunkards.
During the year 1747 Capt. Tiebout's company
of foot was stationed at Schenectady.
THE BEUKENDAAL MASSACRE.
As the war drew to a close, in 1748, Schenectady
met with the severest loss it had suffered at any
one time since the year 1690. This is generally
called the Poopendal massacre. It was, however, in
no sense a massacre like that of 1690, except per
haps in the killing of the first victims, but a stand
up and hand to hand fight in Indian fashion, in
which the whites were the attacking party and, on
that account, suffered more severely than the
savages. About twenty of the former were killed
and some thirteen or more made prisoners ; of the
losses of the latter we have no sufficient accounts.
Beyond tradition the accounts of this skirmish
are meager and uncircumstantial.
A brief letter to Col. William Johnson, written by
Albert Van Slyck, July 21, 1748, three days after
the affair, is the only semi-official narrative we have
by one who was in the fight.
' ' From the details preserved in this letter, it
appears that a party of men from Schenectady, the
leader of whom was Daniel Toll, had been dis
patched to some place in the vicinity to bring in
a number of horses, which was surprised by a party
of the enemy, whose presence in the neighborhood
was neither known nor suspected.
" The firing being heard by Adrian Van Slyck,
a brother of the writer of the account, who seems
to have resided at a distance from the town, he
sent a negro man to the latter place to give the
alarm and obtain reinforcements. Four parties
of armed men successively repaired to the scene
of action, the first of which was composed of the
New England lieutenant, with some of his men,
and five or six young lads, accompanied by Daniel
Van Slyck, another brother. The second party
was led by Ackes Van Slyck, and some men, how
many of either party is not stated.
" Adrian Van Slyck followed next, at the head
of a party of New York levies ; but on reaching the
scene of action, where Ackes, with inferior numbers,
was holding the enemy at bay, the levies all fled in
the most cowardly manner.
"The fourth party was composed of Albert Van
Slyck (the writer of the letter), Jacob Glen ' and sev
eral others, ' on the approach of whom the enemy
drew off, leaving Adrian among the dead."
The letter adds : "It grieves me, I not being com

mander, that when we went Garret Van Antwerp
would suffer no more to accompany the party.'
The second account, written by Giles F. Yates,
Esq. , and published in the Schenectady Democrat
and Reflector, April 22, 1836, was gathered from
tradition then floating about among the aged peo
ple of that day :
"In the beginning of July, 1748, Daniel Toll
and his servant Ryckert went in search of some
stray horses at Beukendal. * * * They soon
heard, as they supposed, the trampling of horses ;
but this sound proved to be that of quoits with
which some Indians were playing. Mr. Toll dis
covered his danger too late, and fell, pierced by
bullets. Ryckert escaped, reached Schenectady
and told the news of the death of his master and
the presence of the enemy.
"In less than an hour about sixty volunteers
were on their march to Beukendal. The greater
part of these were young men, and such was their
zeal that they would not wait until the proper au
thorities had called out the militia. * * *
' ' Without discipline or experience, and even
without a leader, they hastened to the Indian
camp. "Those in advance of the main body, before
they reached the enemy, were attracted by a singu
lar sight. They saw a man resembling Mr. Toll
sitting near a fence in an adjoining field and a
crow flying up and down before him.
" On coming nearer, they discovered if to be the
corpse of Mr. Toll, with a crow attached to it by a
string. ' ' This proved to be a stratagem of the Indians
to decoy their adversaries. The Schenectadians
fell, alas ! too easily into the snare laid for them,
and were in a few moments surrounded by the In
dians who had been lying in ambush. Thus
taken by surprise, they lost many of their number,
and some were taken prisoners before they could
make good their retreat.
"They, however, succeeded in reaching the
house of Mr. De Graaf, in the neighborhood, which
had been for some time deserted. (This house is
still standing.) But, while retreating, they con
tinued to fire upon their enemy. On reaching
Mr. De GraaPs house, they entered, bolted the
doors and ascended to the second floor. Here
they tore off all the boards near the eaves, and
through the opening thus made fired with success
at the savages, and succeeded in keeping them at
bay. In the meantime Dirck Van Vorst, who had
been left in the charge of two young Indians, ef
fected his escape.

34

HISTORY OE THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

"The two youngsters were anxious to see the
fight and secured their prisoner by tying him to a
tree, and left him alone. He succeeded in getting
his knife from his pocket and cutting the cord with
which he was bound. On the approach of the
Schenectady militia under Col. Jacob Glen, the
party in Mr. De Graaf s house were relieved from
their perilous situation, and the enemy took up
their line of march for Canada.
' ' On this occasion there were thirty-two citizens
killed (?) ; of these we are able to give the names
of Jacob Glen (cousin of Col. Glen), Peter Vroo
man, John Darling, Adam Conde,  Van
Antwerpen, Cornelius Viele, Nicholas De Graaf
and Adrian Van Slyck ; wounded, Ryer Wemp,
 Robinson and ¦  Wilson ; prisoners,
Abraham De Graaf and his son William, John
Phelps, Harmen Veeder and Lewis Groot.
" The bodies of De Graaf and Glen were found
lying in close contact with their savage antagonists,
with whom they had wrestled in deadly strife.
' ' The corpses were brought to Schenectady the
evening of the massacre and deposited in the large
barn of Abraham Mabee, being the identical one
now standing on the premises of Mrs. Benjamin,
in Church street. The relatives of the deceased
repaired thither to claim their departed kindred
and remove them for interment. "
The news of this battle reached Albany in the
evening of the same day, and by midnight Lieut.
Chew, with one hundred English and two hundred
friendly Indians, were on the march for the scene
of action, but to no other purpose than as showing
their willingness to meet an emergency of this
kind. From the accounts it is certain that the presence
of the Indians was not suspected until the first
shot; that Capt. Daniel Toll was the first victim;
that the ¦ alarm was given by his negro Ryckert;
that a company of Connecticut levies, under Lieut.
John Darling, accompanied and followed by squads
of the inhabitants, marched to the scene, and that,
after a hot engagement, the Indians retreated,
leaving twenty of the whites dead and taking
away thirteen or fourteen prisoners, besides the
wounded. Considering the number of whites engaged, their
loss was very severe, amounting probably to one-
third of their force.
The following is the fullest list of killed and
missing that can now be given:
Killed — John A. Bradt, Johannes Marinus, Pe
ter Vrooman, Daniel Van Antwerpen, Cornelis
Viele, Jr., Nicolaas De Graaf, Adrian Van Slyck,

Jacob Glen, Jr., Adam Conde, J. P. Van Ant
werpen, Frans Vander Bogart, Capt. Daniel Toll,
Lieut. John Darling and 7 of his soldiers; in all,
20 men.
Wounded— Ryer Wemp,  Robinson, Dirk
Van Vorst and  Wilson.
Missing — Prisoners, John Phelps, Lewis Groot,
Johannes Seyer Vrooman, Frank Connor, Harman
Veeder, Isaac Truax, Albert John Vedder and 6
soldiers; in all, 13 men.
After the ctese of hostilities, Governor Clinton
sent Lieut. Stoddert to Montreal to arrange for an
exchange of prisoners. With Capt. Anthony Van
Schaick he went into the Indian country to recover
the captives, but with indifferent success. Among
those who returned with Lieut. Stoddert were Capt.
Anthony Van Schaick, John Vrooman, Peter Vas-
borough [Vosburgh], Albert Vedder and Francis
Conner. Efforts were made to induce others to
return, but without success; of these were Rachel
Quackenbos, Simon Fort and Philip Phillipsen.
Rachel Quackenbos abjured the English religion,
and Lieut. Stoddert could not persuade her to re
turn. Fort and Phillipsen also desired to remain
with the Iroquois; the former belonged by adoption
to a sister of a chief named Agonareche. She
refused to give him up at any price. Capt. Van
Schaick offered six hundred livres for Fort, with
out succeeding in obtaining him. On the con
trary, so determined was his squaw owner to retain
him, that she said she would obey the French com
mandant and deliver him up, but that she and her
husband would follow him, and he should not
reach home alive. Lieut. Stoddert left Canada on
the 28th of June, 1750, with 24 prisoners.
FORTIFICATIONS AND GARRISONS.
All considerable settlements on the upper Hud
son and Mohawk rivers were from the first pro
tected by wooden walls. Though never attacked
nor even seriously threatened by the Iroquois or
Mohicans, there were but few short periods down
to the close of the French war (1763) when they
were not subject to frequent alarms from the French
or their Indian allies from Canada.
The method of fortification was by stockades,
which the abundance of timber at their very doors
made a cheap and ready protection. Guns were
only used for defense, attacks being always made
by the musket. The stockade consisted of a se
ries of posts or logs, from 15 to 18 feet long and
12 inches or more thick, sharpened at one end and
hewed flat on opposite sides.

FORTIFICATIONS AND GARRISONS.

35

Pine was usually chosen, because most abundant
and easily worked.
The line of stockade being marked out, a trench
three feet deep was dug; the posts were set therein,
the flattened sides together, and the earth shoveled

back and rammed against them. To strengthen the
top, two adjoining posts were bored and fastened
together with oaken trenails. At the angles, gates
and other important points, block-houses for the shel
ter of the garrison and guards were built, and within

the stockade all around was a free space, called the
Roudweg, of sufficient width for the patrol to
march. In addition to this outer circle of fortification,
in Albany and Schenectady there was a fort in one
of the angles of the latter place surrounded by a
double row of high palisades, furnished with bar
racks for the garrison, platforms, guns, lookouts,
etc. And in later times, when Schenectady be
came a depot for men and materials, there were
barracks outside the walls. In 1765 the troops
were posted along the east side of Ferry street,
from Union to the Episcopal church ; in 1762, on
the south side of Union street, from Ferry to Mrs.
Colon Clute's house ; in the Revolutionary war,
on the south side of Union street, from Lafayette
eastwardly to Quackenbush street.
For protection and safety Schenectady was
admirably placed, being surrounded with water
and marsh on three sides and open only to the
southeast, from which side the inhabitants had
little to fear.

The first settlers, though their land lay else
where, built their habitations mainly together for
their better protection. Doubtless, as soon after
the settlement in 1662 as it could conveniently be
done, the village was stockaded. Starting at State
street, the line ran along the east side of Ferry to
about the gate of the Episcopal church ; then in a
straight line to the north side of Front, a little be
yond Washington street; then southerly and parallel
to the same to State; and lastly, along the same
twenty- eight feet south thereof to Ferry street or Mill
lane. This was the original plot inclosed and con
tained most of the houses of the first settlers.
The south and west lines remained substantially
the same down to the time of their extinction soon
after the Revolutionary war. The front and Wash
ington street lines were later moved north and
west to the river bank, and the Ferry street line
some time after 1765 was carried southeasterly to
where is now the New York Central railroad depot,
and thence northerly through the Dutch church
burying ground to the river bank.

36

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Gates. — In 1690 it was said in the French ac
count of the village that there were but two gates,
one at the north end of Church street, called the
"north gate," the other at State. This was, doubt
less, at the junction of State and Church streets, and
opened out to the roads through Mill lane and

Water street, leading to the bouwlands and to the
Mohawk country. In later times there were others
at Front and Union streets. The foundations of
the gates and guardhouses where Ferry crosses
State and Union streets were exposed in laying the
water pipes in 1871.

"OLD FORT."
By Rev. John Miller. {Original in British Museum.)
Explanation.— 1, 1, Block Houses. 2, 2, Rivers running beside ye fort. 3, 3, Indians' wigwams. 4, Flag staff.
5, Gentry box. 6, Spy loft. 7, 7, 7, Sties for hogs. 8, The Block House designed for a church. 9, 9, Those
10, A great barn. 11, 11, The treble stockadoes. 12, 12, The Fort Gates.

and others like them houses.

Forts. — Schenectady was so important a post
for the protection of the Province against the incur
sions of the Canadians that for the first hundred
years of its existence it was deemed necessary to
strengthen it by a fort and garrison.
It is believed, from references in the records, that
the first block-house was in the north angle of
the stockade at or near the junction of Front
and Washington streets. This was destroyed in
1690 by the French, at which time it was garri
soned by a small detachment under Lieut. Enos
Talmage, from Capt. Jonathan Bull's company,
then stationed at Albany. These troops were
Connecticut men. The magazine stood on or near
the lot of Mrs. Willard, then belonging to Capt.
Sander Glen.
A second was built in 1690 between Washing
ton street and the river, opposite the west end of

State street, covering the lot of Kleine Isaack (that
is, Isaac Swits), who with his son Cornelis was
carried away by the French to Canada. On his
return from captivity next year he found his home
stead occupied by soldiers, his orchard cut down,
and his home utterly ruined. He repeatedly peti
tioned for remuneration for his losses, but it was
not until 1 708 that his son received a patent for
1,000 acres of land in Niskayuna as a recognition
of his father's claim.
The second fort was a large and spacious in
closure surrounded by "a triple stockade, a new
block-house at every angle and in each block-house
two great guns. " It contained twenty-eight huts
for inhabitants of the village, two wigwams for In
dians, a large barn and styes for hogs.
At a court-martial held at Schenectady, August
7, 1 69 1, upon a soldier named George Castleton,

FORTIFICATIONS AND GARRISONS.

37

it was proved that he quarreled with a fellow sol
dier named Desvallous about some beer ; the lat
ter struck the former with a stick, whereupon Cas
tleton, drawing his sword, thrust it into his side,
causing almost instant death. The facts of the
case were mainly proved by persons living within
the fort. The culprit was adjudged guilty of man
slaughter, burnt in the hand and banished the
Province. If Miller's drawing of this fort be correct, it must
have extended quite across the west end of the vil
lage from State to Front streets, and included much
of the land between Washington street and the
Binne kil. The block-house in the south angle
covered Swits' lot.
The renewal of the stockadoes, which, being made
of pine logs, lasted but five or six years, became
very burdensome to the inhabitants of the village
after its destruction in 1690. Having built a new
fort in 1690, they were ordered to renew the pali
sades in 1695. On this occasion Reyer Schermer
horn refused to cut and draw his proportion of the
logs; it may be because living at the mills he
thought himself exempt from his burdensome ser
vice or that his quota was too large. Thereupon
Justice Johannes Sanderse Glen fined him twelve
shillings, and continuing contumacious, Governor
Fletcher, on the 9th of April, 1698, directed the
sheriff of Albany County to bring him before the
Council in New York to answer for his conduct.
On the 30th he appeared before the Council, and
"stood upon his vindication, whereupon he was
committed to answer at the next Supreme Court,
and Col. Courtland was desired to take bond with
sureties for his appearance, and that he be of good
behaviour in the mean time. "
In the winter of 1695-6 the garrison at Sche
nectady consisted of a detachment under command
of Lieutenant Bickford, from the companies of
Captains James Weems and William Hyde, sta
tioned at Albany.
"On the 10th Jan., about 12 of the clock at
night deserted the whole guard except one, and
others to the number of sixteen broak through the
north west Block house next the water side."
[Binne kil. ]
"They drew the guns of both powder and shott.
The Lieutenant about two o'clock discovering their
desertion, notified by express Col. Richard In
goldsby, at Albany, and with ten volunteers of the
inhabitants and eleven soldiers, started in pursuit.
The sergeant and seven red coats soon gave out
and were left behind. At four in the afternoon
the lieutenant and his 14 men came up with the

1 6 deserters ; ordering them to lay down their
arms they answered with a volley, and both sides
continued to fire until five of the deserters were
killed and two wounded when the remainder sur
rendered. "
The following were the volunteers from Schenec
tady who accompanied Lieutenant Bickford in his
hazardous enterprise: "Harmen Van Slyck, en-
signe of the trained bands of Schenechtide, and
Gerryt Simons Veeder, Peter Simons Veeder, Al
bert Veeder, Gerryt Gysbert [Gysbertse Van
Brakel], Jan Danielse Van Antwerpen, Dirck
Groot, Jonas De Ray, John Wemp, Daniel Mutch-
craft [Mascraft] and Thomas Smith. "'
At a court-martial held in Schenectady April 21,
the survivors of the deserting party were accounted
guilty and condemned to be shot.
The commander of the garrison who succeeded
Lieutenant Bickford, in the spring of 1696, was
Lieutenant Daniel Hunt, from the garrison at
Albany. After the second fort had been occupied about
fifteen years, 1690 to 1705, the block-houses were
abandoned, and " Queens new Fort " was built at
the east angle of the stockade. This was the " Old
Fort," about which all the traditions of the people
cluster. It was at first simply a double or triple stockade,
100 feet square, with bastions or block-houses at
the angles. In 1735 it was rebuilt in a more sub
stantial manner of timbers on a stone foundation.
The four curtains were ' ' about j6 feet each, and
the four bastions or block-houses 24 feet square."
In 1754, at the beginning of the French war, it
contained one 6 and one 9 pounder on carriages,
but no " port holes in the curtain to fire them."
On the 1 5th October following the inhabitants
of Schenectady again petitioned the Governor to
build a fort in the village, signed by Daniel Camp
bell, Arent Bratt, Abm. Glen and others.
The open space on which this fort stood, at the
junction of Ferry, Front and Green streets, was
about 264 feet by more than 200 feet, extending
from the Episcopal churchyard to Green street.
The fort was built nearly in the center of this
plat, the south wall extending across Ferry street,
three feet south of the north corner of the parson
age house.
The well of the fort was in the middle of the
street, three feet south of the north corner of Mr.
James Sander's house.
Garrison at Schenectady. — While the province
remained under the Dutch rule a small body of
soldiers was stationed at Fort Orange. After the

38

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

English occupation in 1664 there was seldom less
than one full company there, sometimes two, and
Schenectady was garrisoned by a detachment there
from of 20 to 40 men, under command of a lieu
tenant In times of alarm and war, as in the ten years'
war between England and France, 1688-1698, the
regulars were supplemented by the militia of the
town or from Connecticut.
Hardly a year passed that the importance of
having Schenectady better fortified and garrisoned
was not recognized, either by the Governor and
Council, the Legislative Assembly or the ruling
power in the mother country.
In 1 67 1 Governor Lovelace directed Captain
Thomas De Lavall, chief officer at Albany, and he
on the 1 5th of July ordered all the inhabitants of
Albany and Schenectady over 15 and under 60
years to provide themselves with guns, side arms,
two pounds of powder and four pounds of lead,
each under a penalty of 100 guilders, all within
fourteen days. The year following this order was
renewed at a meeting of the chief officers of Al
bany and Schenectady, those of the latter place be
ing Ensign Jacob Sanderse Glen and Ensign Sweer
Teunise Van Velsen.
In 1687 Major Brockholes, being in command
at Albany, reported to the Governor and Council
assembled at Fort James, July 19, the condition of
things at Albany and Schenectady, that " he is
now come from Albany to Schanectade with in
structions ffrom the Government to bring up there
with all convenient speed, a certain number of
men & some provisions."
Whereupon it was "ordered that sixty men be
reysed in & out of ye city & county of New York,
& fifty men out of Queens County. "
In anticipation of an immediate attack upon the
frontiers, the Mayor, Common Council of Albany,
military officers and justices of the peace of the
county met in convention at Albany, on the 4 th
of September, 1689, as a committee of safety, and
after deliberation resolved to send an express to
Capt. Leisler, of New York, for one hundred or
more men, ' ' a recrute of six hundred weight of
powder and foure hundred Ball, viz., 200 two
pounders and 200 foure pounders with some match
and one hundred hand Grenadoes. "
The period from 1688 to 1698 was the most
trying and critical in the history of Schenectady.
First there were alarms and apprehensions of an
attack by the French and their Indians allies, the
destruction of the village, the slaughter and the
captivity of a large part of its inhabitants, and

lastly, the departure of many of the remainder to
Albany, New York and other places of safety.
The town was in danger of being depopulated in
spite of stringent ordinances against removal and
the encouragement of the Mohawks to stay by the
post, fortify and maintain a vigorous warfare
against their enemies.
For ten years the town gained little or nothing
in population and prosperity, and until the peace
of Ryswick the chief aim of the government and
inhabitants was to hold the village, keep in repair
its fortifications and maintain a sufficient garrison.
In 1698 the government sent over one Col.
Romer, a military engineer, to examine, report
upon and build certain forts needed on the coast
and the frontiers.
Gov. Bellomont fully appreciated the import
ance of Schenectady and the necessity of its being
properly fortified for the protection of the province
on the side toward Canada. Hence he constantly
importuned the Lords of Trade for men and means
to complete and garrison the forts.
From this time on, the letters of the Governors
of the Province to the Lords of Trade, the repoits
of the military commanders at this post, the orders
and warrants of the Provincial Council, the acts of
the legislature from time to time and the petitions
of the chief inhabitants all combine to show the
culpable neglect of the mother country of the
safety of this her most important Province. All
accounts of the condition of the fortifications and
garrison at Schenectady after the peace of 1698
show that the stockades were neglected and suf
fered to rot down, rendering the town an open
village, that the barracks became uninhabitable and
that "it was by no foresight or energy of the Home
government that Schenectady and its neighbors had
been preserved from a second attack and destruc
tion." In the year 1703 Gov. Cornbury laid the foun
dations for a stone fort at Albany, and by the
' ' advice of Her Majesty's Council of this province
repaired as well as possible the stockaded fort at
Schenectady. "
Up to 1 704 the palisades on the west side of the
village stood about 100 feet back from Washington
street, but on the 29th July, 1704, Governor Corn
bury issued an order removing them to the bank of
the Binnekil.
At about the beginning of the second "French
War" — 1755 — the Assembly passed an act for
raising .£3,000, to be expended in fortifying the
village; but after the close of this contest, and the
fall of the French power in Canada in 1763, the

MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.

39

defenses of the village fell into decay, and were not
renewed at the outbreak of the Revolution; neither
were they renewed after its close. The old fort
was removed, and the land sold; the stockades rot
ted and fell to the ground, and Schenectady be
came an "open village."
In 1872 there were those who remembered see
ing the palisades standing along the Binne kill and
used as tying posts for the Catteaux.
There is no map which shows the change made
during the Revolution, when the palisade line was
carried out as far as Given's Hotel on the south, or
State street side, and thence north to the old Dutch
Church burying ground.
MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.
From 1748 to the Revolution not much can be
learned of the military organizations in Schenec
tady, with the exception of the gallant part per
formed by a company of eighty-nine men, from
Schenectady, commanded by Capt. William Mc-
Ginnis and Lieutenant Jonathan Storms, at the
battle of Fort George, September 5, 1755, between
the English and French. The English troops
were under Sir William Johnson, and the French
under Baron Dieskau. In this battle, at that time
said to have been one of the most desperate en
counters ever .witnessed in the new world, both
officers and many of the privates of the Schenec
tady company were killed. But so nobly did they
fight that, in his official report, Sir William John
son said: "The Schenectady officers and men
fought like lions."
When the first gun was fired and the first blood
flowed at Lexington, on the 19th day of April,
1775, the mass of the inhabitants of Schenectady
arrayed themselves on the side of liberty. On the
6th day of May, 1775, at a meeting of the free
holders and inhabitants of the township of Sche-
nectad)', the following persons were selected to be
a committee of correspondence, safety and protec
tion for the township:
Rimies Mynderse, James Wilson, Hugh Mitchel,
Henry Glen, Harmanus Wendell, Abraham Oo
thout, John Roseboom, Christopher Yates, Cor
nelius Cuyler and Jacobus Teller. Christopher
Yates (father of the late Hon. Joseph Yates) was
made chairman; Hugh Mitchel was made clerk.
The committee held its meetings in the house
of William White, located on the corner of Church
and Front streets, for many years the residence of
the late Stephen Yates. Extensive and multiform
were the duties that devolved upon the members of
this body. Not only were they to attend to raising
troops and all the details of military matters, but
acted as judges in cases of trial of all persons
charged with treasonable sentiments. Many cases
of this kind were tried before them, and those per
sons found to be unfriendly to the cause of the
colonies, or who had in any way been proved as
allies of England in speech or deed, were sum

marily punished by imprisonment in the jail at
Albany. From the book of minutes kept by this commit
tee, now belonging to the library of Union College,
a book of 162 closely written pages, we learn how
extensive were the duties and labors of this body
of patriotic citizens.
The committee met often, and from the minutes
kept of the meetings we make but a few extracts
relative to the military companies formed at Sche
nectady during the revolutionary period. At a
meeting, held May 26, it was resolved "to raise
three companies of minute men in this township
for its safety, in manner following, viz. :
"Two companies in the town and one company
in the Westina; that such companies consist of
one captain, two lieutenants, four sergeants, three
corporals, a drummer and fifty privates, to choose
their own officers; and that when said companies
are formed, the captains in each to give a list of
his company to the committee, and that said com
panies spend a few hours every week in learning
the military exercise."
But at a meeting of the committee on the fol
lowing day the inhabitants requested the commit
tee to appoint officers for these companies, which
the committee consented to do, and selected the
following officers:
First Company — Captain, Jellis J. Fonda; ist
Lieutenant, Andrew Van Patten; 2d Lieutenant,
Myndert A. Wemple.
Second Company — Captain, Cornelius Van Dorn;
ist Lieutenant, John Mynderse; 2d Lieutenant,
Garrett Veeder.
Third Company — Captain, John Van Patten; 1st
Lieutenant, Cornelius Van Slyck; 2d Lieutenant,
Myndert M. Wemple.
From the minutes of May 29, 1775:
' ' In consequence of a request of the Committee
of Albany to raise one company of men for the
continental service to go to Ticantarog (Ticon
deroga), consisting of one captain, one lieutenant,
one ensign, three sergeants, three corporals, one
drummer, one fifer and fifty privates,
"Resolved, that Cornelius Van Dyck is ap
pointed Captain, Benjamin Hilton and Cornelius
Van Slyck, Ensigns, and that the utmost despatch
be made in raising said company. Their pay to
be as follows, viz.: Captain, per month, £6;
Lieutenant, per month, £4; Ensign, per month,
£y, Sergeants, per month, £2 8s.; Corporals, per
month, £2 as. ; Drummer, per month, £2 4s. ;
Fifers, £2 4s. ; Privates, £2 — all lawful money of
New England."
That this company was soon after raised is evi
dent from the minutes of the committee of May 31,
two days following, wherein the following appears:
"Captain Van Dyck made application to this
board for provisions for his men.
"Resolved, that Captain Van Dyck's men be
boarded for the present at the houses of John
Wilson and Robert Moston (Moycton), at the rate
of one shilling, New York currency, per day, per

40

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

On the 13th of July, 1775, orders were sent
from General Schuyler to Captain Van Dyck to
march with his company immediately to Lake
George. But at this time both Captain Van Dyck
and his First Lieutenant were absent recruiting.
The committee therefore advised that the company
proceed to Lake George on the following day, un
der the command of Lieutenant Lansing. But
from the minutes of the committee we find the
members of the company refused to march with
out their captain. The following resolution was
then passed by the board:
' ' Resolved, that an express be sent to Captain
Van Dyck, requesting his immediate return to
march with his company, and that a letter be
sent to General Schuyler, acquainting him of the
reason for the company's delay. "
On the 20th of August, 1775, a meeting of the
committee was held for the purpose of taking into
consideration the forming of the militia of the
township into companies, according to the plans
of the Continental and Provincial Congress.
It appears at this meeting that five companies of
minute men and militia were formed, from the
fact that a sub-committee was appointed at a meet
ing, held September 6 following, to attend the
general committee at Albany on the seventh in
stant, to lay a list before it of the companies
formed, and ask for their commissions. The cap
tains of these several companies were the follow
ing: Jellis J. Fonda, John Mynderse, John Van
Patten, Abraham Wemple and Thomas Wasson.
From the minutes of September 27, 1775:
" Having received a letter from the Provincial
Congress, dated 9th of August, requesting that all
the districts who could raise five companies of
militia should recommend such persons as they
thought proper to be field officers,
"Resolved, that this board recommend the fol
lowing persons, viz. : Abraham Wemple to be
Colonel; Jacob Schermerhorn, Lieutenant-Col
onel; Abraham Swits, ist Major; Nicholas Veeder,
2d Major; Aaron Van Patten, Adjutant; John
Peek, Quartermaster.
On the 17th of November following the commis
sions of these officers were received, under in
structions to the board to cause such officers to
sign certain articles on the receipt of their com
missions. All this was subsequently consum
mated, and the above-named officers were enrolled
in the service.
January 13, 1776, Christopher Yates was ap
pointed Lieutenant-Colonel, Mindert Wemple 2d
Major and John Post Quartermaster, in place of
Jacob Schermerhorn, Nicholas Veeder and John
Peek, all three of whom had either refused to
serve or resigned.
A company of 60 men was sent from Schenec
tady, January 13, 1776, to Tryon County, to quell
a disturbance that had broken out there among the
inhabitants, which, in the language of the letter
received from the General Committee, ' ' threatened
destruction to the friends of liberty in that section."
Orders were sent to Capt. John Van Patten, Jan
uary 14, 1776, to place guards at William De

Graat's, Tunis Swart's and Lewis Peek's, to prevent
any unfriendly persons or letters to pass this point.
At a meeting of the committee, January 26, 1776,
it was resolved to prepare a list of all the male in
habitants not already formed into military compa
nies, so as to better enable the board to organize
the militia of the township. Three lists were pre
pared, representing three companies, and all per
sons whose names appeared upon them were re
quired to appear in Schenectady, February 10, to
choose their respective officers. At this time the
following officers were selected:
First Company — Captain, Thomas Bouver Bank
ers; First Lieutenant, John B. Vrooman; Second
Lieutenant, Aaron Vedder; Ensign, Benjamin
Young. Second Company — Captain, Henry Glen; First
Lieutenant, John Batterseles; Second Lieutenant,
Nicholas Barhite; Ensign, Cornelius V. Sanford.
Third Company — Captain, Ahasueras Marseles;
First Lieutenant, Isaac Van Slyck; Second Lieu
tenant, William Stephens; Ensign, Abraham Van
Eps. April 10, 1776, Garrett S. Veeder was appointed
Captain of all the troops raised in the district
At this date ends all records that can be found
of the doings of the Committee of Safety, and from
lack of reliable data it is impossible to follow in
any connected manner the history of the military
organizations formed in Schenectady during the
revolution. We know from reminiscences and
tradition that the soldiers furnished by the town
ship of Schenectady during the long years of des
perate and bloody strife were conspicuous for their
bravery and ardent patriotism. Among the names
already mentioned of the revolutionary veterans,
those who became the most conspicuous at this
period were : Cornelius Van Dyck, Christopher
Yates, Jellis J. Fonda, John Graham and John
Thornton. Mr. Van Dyck was Lieutenant-Colonel and John
Graham Major of the First New York Continental
Regiment, commanded by Colonel Gosen Van
Schaick, of Albany. This regiment was so well
drilled and disciplined that it was said to have had
no superior in the American Army. At the bat
tles of Saratoga and Monmouth this regiment was
conspicuous for the bravery and daring of its
officers and men; and on the surrender of Bur
goyne, one of its captains, as a mark of honor, was
deputed by General Gates to carry a captured flag
and the news of the surrender to the anxious citi
zens of Albany. At the storming of Stony Point,
July 16, 1779, General Wayne placed this regi
ment in the front, and on the storming of the two
redoubts at Yorktown, late in the afternoon of the
14th of October, 1781, where, to excite a spirit of
emulation, this regiment was divided, one-half
being committed to the French under Baron de
Viomesnil, and the other to the Americans under
the Marquis Lafayette, these troops assaulted
the works with such rapidity and daring that the
redoubts were carried with inconsiderable loss.
Major John Thornton, many descendants of
whom still live in Schenectady, is spoken of as a

MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.

41

daring hero and one who experienced much severe
military service.
Major Jellis J. Fonda, whose name has already
been frequently mentioned, was an officer much
esteemed by General Schuyler, and often selected
by him where a heroic and intrepid leader was re
quired. He was one of the earliest, most stirring
and unhesitating patriots of Schenectady. On the
first report of the beginning of the strife at Lexing
ton, he immediately raised and equipped a com
pany of more than ioo Schenectady minute men.
In 1 777, when Sir John Johnson with his Scotch
retainers had fortified themselves in "Johnson
Hall," General Schuyler with a large body of
militia went there to reduce them. From out of
his large force General Schuyler selected Captain
Fonda to command a company of 200 men for
the assault, of which the Schenectady men formed
one-half. Under the assault of this daring officer,
Johnson lowered his flag and surrendered without
firing a gun. Fonda was ever afterward regarded
as one of the most fearless of soldiers.
war of 18 1 2.
After the Revolution to the war of 181 2 not
much can be learned concerning military organiza
tions in Schenectady. From the best information
which can be obtained, not more than one inde
pendent company existed during this period.
During the war of 1812, Jonas Holland, who
was a major under Gen. Scott, raised a company
in Schenectady, which participated in this war.
Nicholas Van Slyck, a major in the Revolutionary
War, grandfather of Christopher Van Slyck, of
Schenectady, was a conspicuous military man at
this time.
Although but one regular company was raised
in Schenectady for the War of 181 2, many soldiers
were recruited in this vicinity, who joined regi
ments which were credited to other localities.
About 18 1 5 a company of Heavy Artillery was
organized in Schenectady. John Benson w'as its
first captain. Among its other officers appear the
names of Thomas Hannah and David Reese.
A Rifle company was formed soon after the
Heavy Artillery. Henry Miller, Joshua Harmon
and Nicholas Barhydt were successively captains.
At one time Andrew J. Barhydt, one of the oldest
living members, was a lieutenant in this company.
About 1820 a company called the Grays was
formed. The name of the company was derived
from the color of their uniforms. Simon Glenn,
Jesse M. Van Slyck and Abraham Clems were cap
tains of this company at different periods.
All three of the above companies were in ex
istence at the time of the opening of the Erie Canal,
in 1825, and took part in the interesting ceremo
nies attending the passing through the city of the
boat bearing Gov. Clinton and party.
A Cavalry company was organized about 1825.
Joseph Consaul was captain of this company.
Some time in the year 183- a company, called the
Governor's Guards, was formed in this city. A. D.
Briggs was its first captain. Judge Piatt Potter at one
lime was captain of this company. In 183-, under

the State Militia law, all the military organizations
in the counties of Schenectady, Montgomery,
Fulton and Hamilton were formed into a brigade
called the Fourteenth. This brigade was composed
of three regiments, numbered 26th, 57th and
1 88th. The 26th Regiment included the military
companies in Schenectady. The officers of the
various companies in the brigade elected the fol
lowing staff: Brigadier-General, Isaac I. Yates;
Judge Advocate, Piatt Potter; Aids, J. Andrew
Barhydt, Van Schaick Vedder, John Allen and
Martin C. Myers.
In 184- the military companies in the State
militia in this district were reorganized. All the
companies were formed into a brigade called the
Seventeenth. This brigade was composed of three
regiments; the number of the regiment which the
Schenectady companies formed was the Twenty-
sixth. The Governor appointed the following
officers of this regiment: Colonel, Stephen Yates;
Aids, J. Andrew Barhydt, James Ward, Carl
Thompson, Nicholas Van Debogert and Dr.
James S. Van Ingen. Col. Yates resigned in
1857, when J. Andrew Barhydt was appointed
colonel. William H. Young was at one time
major of this regiment.
About 184- a company called the Independent
Artillery was formed in Schenectady. This became
one of the finest companies ever organized in this
vicinity. The uniform was very expensive and
elegant, being a dark blue in color with no
facings, surrounded by heavy white cord, entwined
with gold braid. Tall bearskin caps added to the
imposing appearance of the members. In this
company were numbered many of our representa
tive citizens at that time. John Robinson and
Benjamin F. Paths were captains at different
periods. John B. Clute and James Hannah were
officers in this company, and took a lively interest
in its welfare. The hall in Madison Vedder's
building on Union street was used as an armory
and drilling room. In 184- this company went
to the State Camp at Utica, and for soldierly bear
ing, discipline and appearance was admitted to
be the finest company among the large number
there represented from different parts of the State.
In 1855 a company called the Continentals was
organized. John B. Clute was its first captain.
He was succeeded by Stephen Truax. Isaac
Reagles was the last captain of this company, which
disbanded sometime in 1861.
CIVIL WAR.
We have now reached the exciting period of the
beginning of the Civil War, at which time interest
in home military companies was lost sight of, and
they either disbanded or were allowed to die
by neglect. The threatened realities of war made
"playing soldier" in time of peace too tame
for the patriotic citizens of Schenectady, and the
first signal of the beginning of hostilities aroused
many to the purpose of raising companies to save
this government from threatened destruction.
And to-day, looking back over the stormy events
of 1 861-5, which formed the most important

42

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

period in the history of this country, we realize
why the citizens of Schenectady have reason to feel
proud of the record made by her sons in the war of
the rebellion.
The State of New York was especially promi
nent in the number, of troops it sent to the war, and
no county according to population furnished more
men to help save the nation's life during
those years of bloody strife than Schenectady.
The services they performed, the privations,
suffering and the hardships endured in that great
struggle, where so many of Schenectady's bravest
and best gave up their lives that this government
might live, cannot be properly treated in a work
like this. It could only be imperfectly done in a
work especially devoted to such a subject.
In the following account of the military organi
zations which went from Schenectady it has been
the object to give in a necessarily condensed form
the briefest account of each company, and of all
the men from Schenectady who took a prominent
part in the war. Much of the information here
gathered was obtained from the meager accounts
contained in the reports of the Adjutant-General,
and from personal recollections of many of our
living veterans of the war.
The first company organized in Schenectady
for the late civil war was the Seward Volunteer
Zouaves, afterward known as Company A,
Eighteenth Regiment New York Volunteers. This
company was organized by William Seward Grid-
ley, who was elected its captain, and who com
manded it at the first battle of Bull's Run.
On the 1 2th of April, 1861, Fort Sumter was
bombarded, and evacuated by Major Anderson on
the 15th. On this same day President Lincoln
called for 75,000 men to suppress the insurrection.
The next day the New York Legislature passed a
bill, which was signed by Governor Morgan, ap
propriating three million dollars for the purpose of
raising and equipping 30,000 volunteers.
On the 1 8th day of April, or six days after the
first shot was fired at Fort Sumter, the following
notice was published in the Schenectady Daily
Times: "Attention Volunteers! — All young men who
are in favor of forming a light infantry company
and offering their services to garrison this State, or
to the President of the United States, to aid and
assist in defending the Constitution and Union of
the United States against foreign or domestic
foes, are requested to meet at Cleary's saloon, op
posite the railroad depot, on Friday evening, at *]\
o'clock, the 19th inst. This means fight, and all
who sign must go. Wm. Seward Gridley. "
At the meeting held in response to this notice
forty-seven men signed an application for a company
organization, and asked Governor Morgan to com
mission Wm. Seward Gridley, Captain; Daniel
Daley, First Lieutenant, and Edward W. Groat,
Ensign of said company. Gridley took the appli
cation to Albany, and received an order from the
Adjutant-General to report at Albany with his com
pany for duty on the 22d day of April, 1861. In
the same order Lieutenant Simon G. Smith, of the

Twenty-sixth Regiment, New York Militia, was
ordered to inspect and muster said company and
to preside over an election of the officers. The
muster and election took place on the 20th of
April, when the same officers were elected as
Governor Morgan was asked to commission.
In two days this company was organized and
officered, and three days from the time of the call
was ordered to report for duty at Albany.
May 14, 1861, the Eighteenth Regiment, New
York Volunteers, was organized, and this company
(then called the Seward Volunteer Zouaves) was
assigned to that regiment as Company "A." At
this time it numbered seventy-four men and three
officers. About sixty of the men were from
Schenectady. May 17, 1861, the Eighteenth Regiment was
mustered into the service of the United States, and
on the 1 8th of June following started for Wash
ington, being one of the regiments in the first fight
of Bull's Run.
Captain Gridley was promoted to the rank of
Major, October 14, 1862, and received at the close
of the war the honorary title of Brevet Colonel,
New York Volunteers. Daniel Daily was pro
moted to the captaincy of this regiment, November
10, 1862, and was honorably discharged February
26, 1863. Edward W. Groat was promoted from
Ensign to Second Lieutenant, July 4, 1861, but
resigned December 18, 1861. March 5, 1863, he
became Major of the 134th Regiment. Joseph
Strunk, who entered Gridley's company as Ser
geant, was mustered out, May 28, 1863, as Second
Lieutenant. He was commissioned, December
14, 1863, as Captain in the Second Regiment, Vet
eran Cavalry, and at the close of the war made
Brevet Major, New York Volunteers.
The second company organized in Schenectady
was formed by Stephen Truax. The officers, who
received their commissions May 2, 1861, were:
Captain, Stephen Truax; First Lieutenant, William
Horsfall; Ensign, John Vedder. This company
was enrolled in the Eighteenth Regiment as Com
pany "E," May 17, 1861 (same time as Captain
Gridley's company), for a term of two years.
Captain Truax resigned December 27 of this
year, and was succeeded in command by William
Horsfall, who was killed while gallantly leading
his company at Crampton Gap, Maryland, Sep
tember 14, 1861. John Vedder succeeded him as
Captain, and remained in command until the
company was mustered out of service, May 28,
1863. Alfred Truax, who entered this company as
Sergeant, was promoted to the rank of First
Lieutenant, December 15, 1862. Andrew C.
Barup became Second Lieutenant.
E. Nott Schermerhorn, who enlisted in this
company as First Sergeant, rose in succession to
Second Lieutenancy, First Lieutenancy, and be
came one of the Adjutants of the Regiment, No
vember 10, 1862, holding the latter rank when the
regiment was mustered out, May 28, 1863.
The Eighteenth Regiment was one of the first
organized during the war, participating in the first
battle of Bull's Run, Crampton Gap, West Point,

MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS.

43

White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Fred
ericksburg, Salem Church and Savage Station.
For a short time the late Dr. James L. Van Ingen
was one of the Surgeons of this regiment. When
the time for which this regiment was mustered
into service expired, the present Captain of the
Thirty-seventh Company, National Guard, State
of New York, George W. Marlette, was the only
private in the regiment who received from Gov
ernor Morgan, for gallant and meritorious service,
the honorary rank of Brevet Lieutenant.
William A. Jackson, a son of the late Professor
Jackson, of Union College, was Colonel of the
Eighteenth Regiment from the time of its organi
zation till his death from disease at Washington,
November 10, 1861. William H. Young, an
other gallant soldier from Schenectady, was for a
short time Lieutenant-Colonel of this regiment.
The third company formed in Schenectady was
organized by Barent M. Van Voast, June 1, 186 1.
The officers, who received their commissions July
4, 1861, were: Captain, Barent M. Van Voast;
First Lieutenant, Manse V. V. Smith; Ensign, Ed
ward Van Voast. This company contained seventy-
four privates and three officers. It was enrolled in
the 30th Regiment as Company "C," for a term
of two years from June 1, 1861.
Captain Van Voast was dismissed March 7, 1862,
and succeeded by Manse V. V. Smith, who re
signed November 26 of the same year. Edward
Van Voast became First Lieutenant May 13, 1862,
retaining this rank when the company was mustered
out, June 18, 1863. He afterward became Major
in the 2d Regiment of Veteran Cavalry, and at the
close of service of this regiment was made a Brevet
Lieutenant-Colonel, N. Y. V.
Charles Roth, who entered Company C as First
Sergeant, was promoted to the rank of First Lieu
tenant March 4, 1863, and subsequently commis
sioned a Brevet Major, N. Y. V.
The 30th Regiment, with which Company C
was most honorably connected, participated in the
battles of Gainesville, Groveton, South Mountain,
Antietam and Fredericksburg.
The fourth company formed at Schenectady was
organized by Allen H. Jackson, who received a
Captain's commission October 1, 1861. This
company consisted of eighty-seven members, in
cluding the officers. It was enrolled as Company
G in the 91st Regiment for a term of three years,
being mustered out of service July 3, 1865. The
officers who were commissioned at the same time
as Jackson were George W. Shaffer, First Lieuten
ant, and William Harty, Second Lieutenant.
Captain Jackson was honorably discharged from
this company February 23, 1863, and promoted to
the rank of Major in the 134th Regiment. March
4, 1863, he became Lieutenant-Colonel, and De
cember 10th of the same year, Colonel of this regi
ment, but was mustered out of service June 10,
1865, as Lieutenant-Colonel. George W. Shaffer
succeeded Jackson as Captain of Company G.
December 3 1, 1864, Shaffer was promoted to Major,
6 ist N. Y. Vols., and subsequently received the
honorary rank of Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, N. Y. V.

William Harty succeeded Schaffer as Captain of
Company G, December 24, 1864, and remained
in command until the company was mustered out
of service.
Cornelius Gill entered this company as Second
Sargeant, and was promoted through the succes
sive ranks to First Lieutenant, which latter position
he held when the company was disbanded.
Between the middle of August and the 3d of
September, 1862, there were three military com
panies formed at Schenectady, which entered the
service for a term of three years. All three were
enrolled in the 134th Regiment, and were known
as Companies B, F and H.
Company B was organized by David H. Ham
lin, who received his commission as Captain, Au
gust 17, 1862. At the same time Solyman G
Hamlin was commissioned First Lieutenant, and_
Solomon C. Wilson, Second Lieutenant. This
company numbered 102 men, and participated in
many of the great battles of the war. Benjamin F.
Sheldon was Captain of this company when it was
mustered out. Solyman G. Hamlin was promoted
to Captain of Company C, March 7, 1863. April
7, 1865, he was made Major of the 1 92d Regiment,
and mustered out of service August 28, 1865,
with the honorary rank Brevet Captain, N. Y. V.
Lucius Mead, who enlisted in Company B as
First Sergeant, was promoted to a Lieutenancy.
He was killed while bravely leading his company
at the battle of Gettysburg.
Company F was organized by Gilbert D. Ken
nedy, who was commissioned as Captain, August
30, 1862. At the same time were commissioned
George A. Turnbull as First Lieutenant, and Clin
ton C. Brown as Second Lieutenant.
Captain Kennedy was promoted to rank of
Major, June 23, 1863, and died of disease at Phil
adelphia, August 3 of the same year.
George A. Turnbul succeeded Kennedy as Cap
tain of Company F, but resigned February 3,
1864. Clinton C. Brown was promoted to Captain,
April 14, 1863, and to Lieutenant-Colonel of the
134th, July 27, 1864.
Company H was organized by Austin A. Yates,
who received his commission as Captain, Septem
ber, 1862, with Gerardus Canley as First Lieuten
ant and Marcus A. Herrick as Second Lieutenant,
Captain Yates was discharged June 10, 1863, on
account of defective eyesight, hut re-enlisted as
Caplain of Company F of the Fourteenth Veteran
Corps. This regiment participated in the engage
ment against Early in front of Washington. Capt.
Yates was promoted to rank of Brevet Major by
President Lincoln, and was assistant to Judge-Ad
vocate-General at Washington, D. C, one year
subsequent to August, 1866, when he was mustered
out of service.
William H. Mickle, who enlisted in Company
H as Second Sergeant, was made Captain, April
22, 1865. Barney S. Smith, another Sergeant,
became Captain, February 28, 1865, and was
mustered out of the service as a Brevet Major,
N. Y. V.

44

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

The 134th Regiment, of which the three pre
ceding companies formed a part, participated in
the battles of Chancellorville, Gettysburg, Mis
sionary Ridge, Knoxville, Atlanta, Resaca, Dallas,
Pine Knob, Lost Mountain, Peach Tree Creek,
Savannah and Goldsboro. At the overthrow of
the nth corps, on the afternoon of Saturday, May
3d, at the battle of Chancellorville, the 134th was
engaged in reconnoitering in the enemy's line and did
not share in that terrible retreat, but took active
part in the battle of the next morning.
Companies "A" and " I " of the 134th were
raised and credited to Schoharie County, yet both
contained many Schenectady men. In company
"A" Henry Y. Bradt, First Lieutenant, and the
names of Garret Horsfall and Andrew A. Kelly are
worthy of mention. In company " I," Frank Fletch
er was Captain, who afterward became Chaplain of
the regiment and was mustered out of the service
as Brevet Major, N. Y. V. Albert G. Washburn
entered this company as First Lieutenant and was
promoted to Captain. He died in camp, near
Falmouth, Va., Jan. 26, 1863.
In company "I" Charles A. Ahreets enlisted as
Orderly Sergeant ; by promotions, earned by gal
lantry, became Adjutant of the 134th, July 27,
1864. He was killed while acting as assistant
adjutant-general, in the siege of Savannah, Dec.
13, 1864.
Edwin Forrest enlisted in company "B" of the
134th as First Lieutenant, Dec. 2, 1862. Jan. 30,
1864, he was made Captain of this company. He
died from wounds received at the battle of Dug
Gap, May 20, 1864.
Thomas Forrest, a brother of Edwin, enlisted as
Second Lieutenant in company "F," of the 134th,
and was promoted to First Lieutenancy, March 7,
1863. He was subsequently made Brevet Captain,
N. Y. V.
Among the Schenectadians who served with dis
tinction in the rebellion, whose names have not
been previously mentioned, were A. Y. Carner,
Henry Ramsey, Jr., James T. Joslin and A. Barclay
Mitchel. Cramer was made Quartermaster of the
134th, Oct. 1, 1862. Ramsey entered this same reg
iment as a Lieutenant and was also made Quarter
master. Joslin and Mitchel entered the service as
Lieutenants and were promoted to the rank of
Captain, Joslin in the 134th and Mitchel in the
1 8th. Although the 119th regiment was raised and
organized in New York city, some of its best and
bravest officeis came from Schenectady. Indeed
its first commanding officer was Col. Elias Peissner,
a son-in-law of the late Prof. Tayler Lewis, of
Union College. Col. Peissner was a brave and
courageous officer, and after gallantly leading his
regiment in a number of engagements was killed at
the battle of Chancellorville, May 2, 1863.
In company " B " of the 1 19th, Charles F. Lewis,
a son of the late Professor Lewis, enlisted as Second
Lieutenant; but was promoted in succession to the
rank of First Lieutenant, Captain and Major.
In company "D" of the 119th, Henry R.
Schwerin, another Schenectadian, enlisted as Second

Lieutenant. He was promoted to First Lieutenant
April 10, 1863, and was killed at the battle of
Chancellorville, May 6, 1863.
The 77th Regiment, although organized in Sara
toga County, contained a number of Schenectady
men. In Company H of this regiment fully a
fourth of the number were from this county. In
this company David J. Caw enlisted as ist Ser
geant. His worth and gallantry secured him rapid
promotion. March 21, 1862, he was commis
sioned 2d Lieutenant ; September 23, ist Lieuten
ant ; December 10, Captain ; December 20, 1864,
Major; and four days after, Lieutenant-Colonel, with
which rank he was mustered out of the service,
June 27, 1865. July 6, 1865, for gallant and mer
itorious services, he was commissioned Colonel by
Governor Morgan. At the same date his brother,
William E. Caw, who entered Company H as
Corporal, received a commission as 1st Lieutenant
The 77th Regiment, it will be remembered, was a
part of the Sixth Corps, and accompanied the army
of the Potomac through all its memorable cam
paigns, participating in the battles of Yorktown,
Williamsburg, Golding's Farm, Savage Station,
White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Crampton Gap,
Antietam, Marye's Heights, Fredericksburg, Get
tysburg, Wilderness, Rappahannock Station,
Petersburg, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Fort Sie-
vens, Opeguan, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek.
In the 2d Regiment of Veteran Cavalry, besides
Edward Van Voast and Joseph Strunk, already men
tioned, were Charles W. Johnson, Albert Westing-
house and Sherman A. Case. Johnson was pro
moted from a Lieutenancy to Quartermaster.
Westinghouse was a Lieutenant in one of the com
panies of this regiment. He was killed in action,
December 10, 1864. Case also served as a Lieu
tenant, and was mustered out of service with this
rank, November 8, 1865.
Among the surgeons from Schenectady who en
tered the service during the civil war were: G. W.
Van Voast, J. D. Jones, Alfred G. McDonald and
William H. Hoag. Jones was Surgeon in the 2 2d
Cavalry, McDonald in the 1 2th Cavalry and Hoag
in the 134th Infantry.
J. J. De Forest, a resident of the town of
Duanesburgh, was Colonel of the 8 ist Regiment,
raised in Oswego, during the war. (For further
sketch of Mr. De Forest, see article on town of
Duanesburgh.) The 1928 Regiment was composed principally
of men who had already served one term of enlist
ment This regiment was one of the last organ
ized during the war, having been mustered in the
service in the fore part of the year 1865. No less
than 133 in this regiment were from Schenectady,
among whom was the late Solyman G. Hamlin, a
biave and courageous soldier, who, as has been
previously stated, was promoted to the rank of
Major in this regiment.
The 83D Regiment, for home protection, com
posed entirely of companies in the City and County
of Schenectady, was formed April 27, 1863. It
was composed of ten companies, and formed a
part of the 18th Brigade, 5th Division, when first

NAVIGATION.

45

organized, but soon after was included in the 13th
Brigade, 3d Division. July 23, 1873, it was re
duced to a battalion of six companies. It was
disbanded January 17, 1874.
The original officers of this regiment were :
James Fuller, Colonel ; Robert Furman, Lieuten
ant-Colonel ; John C. Bartrydt, Major ; Vedder V.
Van Patten, Adjutant ; L. Dodge, Quartermaster ;
J. O. Timberman, Surgeon ; Cornelius Van Sant
voord, Chaplain.
Robert Furman was made Colonel, August 6,
1864, and John McShea Lieutenant Colonel.
Gershom Banker was made Major, July 12, 1866.
Benjamin F. Sheldon was made Adjutant, June 20,
1866, and Major, October 17, 1867. George W.
Marlette was made Adjutant, January 4, 1868, and
Major, May 27, 1871. John C. Perry became
Major, December 29, 1869, and Lieutenant-Colo
nel, May 28, 1869. Michael H. Lamp was made
Adjutant, September 22, 1871, and Edward H.
Vrooman became Quartermaster, June 14, 1867.
James D. Jones was at one time Surgeon, and
Dennis Wortman, Chaplain.
After the close of the war a company composed
of army and navy veterans, called the Soldiers' and
Sailors' Union, was formed, of which Major Ralfe
Van Brunt was Commander. Some time after this
company disbanded and formed the Schenectady
Zouaves Cadet. Major Ralfe Van Brunt was its
first Captain. He was succeeded by Captain Aus
tin A. Yates. This company existed for a number
of years, when ils name was changed to William
Horsfall Post, No. 14. A. A. Yates, G. W. Mar
lette and William G. Caw were Commanders of
this company at different periods. The name of
this Post was subsequently changed to Edwin For
est Post, No. 90. G. W. Tompkins, James F.
White, Frederick Eisenminger and James R.
Reagles were at various times Commanders of this
Post. A few years ago the name of the Post was
again changed to Post Horsfall, No. 9, which name
it still bears. The present Commander is James
R. Reagles.
At present there are but two military companies
in Schenectady under the State Militia laws, the
36th and 37th Separate Companies, N. G., S.
N. Y.
The Thirty-Sixth Company (Citizens' Corps)
was mustered in the State Militia, July 12, 1880,
for a term of five years, with 57 members. Its
first officers were : Austin A. Yates, Captain ;
Oscar Shannon, ist Lieutenant; Geo. W. Tomp-
kins.J 2d Lieutenant. Its present officers are :
Austin A. Yates, Captain ; James F. White, ist
Lieutenant ; James R. Reagles, 2d Lieutenant.
This company is composed of 65 members.
The Thirty-Seventh Company (Washington
Continentals) was mustered in the State Militia,
with 51 members, at the same time and for a like
period of service as the 36th. Its first officers
were : Clinton C. Brown, Captain ; Nelson
McDonald, ist Lieutenant ; Thomas Gregg, 2d
Lieutenant. Captain Brown was succeeded by
Walter S. Van Voast. Van Voast was succeeded
by the present Captain, Geo. W. Marlette. By the

death of ist Lieutenant Nelson McDonald, Thomas
Gregg was made ist Lieutenant and James H.
Vedder 2d Lieutenant. This company is com
posed of 65 members. NAVIGATION.
RIVER, STAGE AND RAILWAY.
It would be difficult for those acquainted with
the present business interest of Schenectady to
realize its commercial importance during the colo
nial history of this State.
Situated at the foot of navigation on the Mo
hawk, it had a frontage of twenty miles by road,
subsequently reduced to sixteen miles by way of
the Albany and Schenectady turnpike, between the
Binnekill and Hudson river. From its fortunate
position and subsequent improvements made in
the channel of the Mohawk, it had direct com
munication by water with the chain of lakes in
the interior of the State and with Lake Ontario
and the St. Lawrence, and thus became the natural
depot for the products of the far-stretching West.
To explain the obstacles overcome and the
causes which tended to make Schenectady a center
of commercial trade, it will be necessary to review
some of the history of the earliest settlements in the
New Netherlands.
The first settlers in this region came here almost
solely for the purpose of trade. Indeed, so intent
were they upon the Indian traffic that agriculture
was greatly neglected and barely enough farm prod
ucts were raised to support the population at the
trading posts.
The first trading house was built by the United
New Netherlands Company, on an island in the
Hudson river, called Castel Eylandt, in the year
1 6 14. This island is now included within the
limits of the City of Albany.
The privileged West India Company was char-
tened in 1621, with extraordinary powers of
sovereignty and trade, and two years after erected
Fort Orange, where Albany now stands. Here
was the chief seat of the Indian trade, and where,
in the business season, in June, July and August,
the natives gathered in great numbers with their
peltries. Until 1630 the two chartered companies
above mentioned claimed and practically had a
monopoly of the Indian traffic. Van Rensselaer,
who had obtained possession of about 700,000
acres of land around the fort in that year, claimed
not only a share of the profitable beaver trade, but
also the land on which Fort Orange stood.
Not only did this result in the loss of a large
revenue to the West India Company, but it was
also found that the servants of the company made
private ventures of their own, so that by 1639,
when trade was nominally thrown open to all, the
income of the company had very much diminished.
In 1652 Stuyvesant established a court at Fort
Orange and Beverwyck. With this_ court came
municipal rights, excise, taxes, civil officers and all
the privileges thereto belonging, among which
was claimed the monopoly of trade with the
Indians.

46

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Every burgher (for outsiders were denied this
privilege) who could purchase an anker of brandy
or tub of beer, claimed and used his rights to trswje
for beaver and often forestalled the market by send
ing runners up the Mohawk to purchase the natives'
peltries. Such was the condition of the Indian
trade, when the first settlement was made at Sche
nectady in 1662.
The people of Fort Orange, plainly seeing that
the location of Schenectady would make it a for
midable rival as a trading center, took precautions
to defend their own market and protect themselves
from competition.
When the settlers of Schenectady applied for a
patent to their territory, called by the Indian title
the " Great Flatt," from the Governor and Council,
it was granted only on the condition that they ' ' pro
mise not to carry on or allow to be carried on at the
aforesaid Flatt or thereabout any the least hande-
ling (trade) however it may be called. " This arbi
trary prohibition, though for a time apparently
acquiesced in by the people, outraged their sense of
justice and right. It soon began to be reported
that these trade regulations were disregarded at
Schenectady. Gov. Lovelace in 1669 issued an
order prohibiting such trade, and in 1671 issued
orders to Capt. Sylvester Salisbury, Commander of
the fort at Albany, to search the houses in Schenec
tady whose occupants were suspected of trading
with the Indians. But proclamations and orders
against the offending town seemed unavailing, as
neither the orders of the Council nor proclama
tions of the Governor served to effectually restrain
the people from engaging in traffic with the Indians.
Albany was chartered as a city in 1686, before
which time, though claiming a monopoly of the
Indian trade, the magistrates were powerless to
pass ordinances for its regulation, but operated
through the Governor and Council.
Immediately after the granting of the charter,
however, the common council passed ordinances
claiming for such city the sole monopoly of the
trade with the Indians, and prohibiting any traffic
with the Indians outside of the walls of Albany.
But these exclusive ordinances did not have the
effect of confining the trade to the city of Albany.
Much legal difficulty grew out of this attempted
enforcement, until the year 1727, when the arrest
and conviction of a citizen of Schenectady, sus
pected of Indian trading, was contested in the
Supreme Court, which legal contest resulted in the
final acquittal of the suspected persons and freeing
Schenectady from the authority of those hateful
ordinances that had fettered its trade for more
than fifty years.
After 1.727, by the decision of the highest court
in the province, trade was made free. With free
trade came traders, and the flow of emigration be
gan to go westward. Settlements were made on
the upper Mohawk and along the Schoharie, which
greatly increased the volume of trade at Schenectady.
Better roads were made from Albany to the foot of
navigation in this city, as aiding to the impediments
in the lower Mohawk. Schenectady was always, the
best place of departure, while the distance from

Albany was little, if any, greater than points lower
down the stream.
Up to about the year 1740 the early settlers used
the largest sized Indian bark canoes for transport
ing their merchandise. They were very light, and
capable of carrying considerable cargo. One or
two men, sitting in the bottom, propelled the
little vessel by paddles, and at rifts or shallow
places waded, and pushed or pulled it over. When
water failed them, or the falls could not be over
come, the boat and cargo were carried around the
portage, when navigation was again resumed. As
there were many rifts or rapids in the Mohawk
river to be overcome, navigation at this period was
attended with great difficulties. The first of these
impediments was a few miles above Schenectady,
and was called Sixth Flat rift. Proceeding west,
in succession came Fort Hunter rift, Caughnawaga
rift, Keator's rift, the latter having a fall of ten
feet ; Brandywine rift, at Canajoharie, short but
rapid ; Ehles rift, near Fort Plain, and the Little
Falls, so called in comparison with the larger falls at
Cohoes. At Little Falls there is a descent in the river
of forty feet in the distance of half a mile, up the
current of which no boats could be forced ; so it
became a portage, or carrying point, for both boats
and merchandise, which were transported around
the rapids on wagons, and when relaunched and
reloaded, pushed on again.
Gov. Burnett, one of the Colonial Governors of
New York, in a report to the Lords of Trade,
during the period of canoe navigation, estimated
the number of canoes regularly engaged in the
fur trade which came to Schenectady from 171 6 to
1720, at about 30, and from 1720 to 1724 at about
323- As settlements grew in the western part of the
State the volume of trade increased to such an ex
tent, that about the year 1740 the Indian canoe was
superseded by the small batteau, a wooden vessel
strongly braced with ribs, sharp at both ends, and
generally manned by three men. They were pad
dled or poled, or towed by men along the bank or
shallow places.

Batteau.
Simms says, in his history of Schoharie County,
speaking of the batteau: "These boats were
forced over the rapids in the rivers with poles and
ropes, the latter drawn by men on the shore. Such
was the mode of transporting merchandise and In
dian commodities to and from the west for a period
of fifty years and until after the Revolution. A
second carrying place in use at an early day was at
Fort Stanwix, from the boatable waters of the
Mohawk to Wood Creek ; thence passing into
Oneida Lake the batteau proceeded into the Os
wego River, and thence to Oswego on Lake Onta
rio, and to Niagara, or elsewhere on that lake, or
the St. Lawrence, as they pleased to venture," and

NAVIGATION.

4?

after being carried around the Falls of Niagara to
Chippewa, went uninterruptedly on to Detroit,
their usual limit, and sometimes even to Macki
naw. But after the Revolutionary War the tide of emi
gration set strongly westward, and that energetic
population required increased facilities for trans
portation and communication with the great Hud
son River and their old homes in the East, and
elsewhere. Gen. Philip Schuyler, who at this date was Sur
veyor-General of the State of New York, succeeded.
with the aid of many citizens of Schenectady and
its vicinity, in forming a corporate body, known as
the Western Inland Navigation Company. This
company was empowered to improve the channel
of the Mohawk from Schenectady, and build
canal and locks to Lake Ontario and to Seneca
Lake. A canal was built at Little Falls, 4,752 feet long,
of which 2,550 feet went through solid rock.
Upon it were five locks, with a total rise of 44^ feet.
A canal 1 \ miles long was constructed, with a lock
at Wolf's rift, German Flats, while another canal
at Rome, if miles long, connected the Mohawk
with Wood Creek. On Wood Creek four locks
were built, with a total depth of 25 feet. The
chambers of the locks were 74 by 12 feet, and al
lowed boats of 32 tons to pass, but other impedi
ments limited boats to a burden of 10 to n tons.
This work of the Inland Navigation Company was
finished in 1797, and cost $400,000, of which the
State paid $92,000. The great cost required high
tolls. In 1808 the company gave up its rights
west of Oneida Lake, and sold out to the State in
1820 for$i52, 718.52.
These improvements opened not only a direct
water communication from Schenectady to Lake
Ontario and the St. Lawrence, but permitted the
use of larger and more serviceable boats.
To meet the demands of an increased trade, made
possible by better facilities, a boat called the
Durham was constructed, a craft which carried a
fair cargo, and which held its own until the Erie
Canal sounded the death knell of the Mohawk
river as a navigable stream. This style of boat is
said to have been first used on Long Island.
"The Schenectady Durham," says Prof. Pear
son in his history of the Schenectady Patent, "was
the pride of the place, and extensive boat-yards
were employed in construction and repairs of these
crafts, which were roughly treated by the boulders
on the many rifts and landing places. ''
This gallant craft was constructed something in
shape like the modern canal boat, broad, flat-bot
tomed and straight- sided, with easy lines at bow
and stern to help her flotation on striking a rapid.
Her carrying capacity ranged from eight to twenty
tons. A mast was placed near the bow and
equipped with square sails.
When wind and tide were favorable these Durham
boats sailed easily, but owing to the crookedness
of the channel and its shallowness, this was only
for very short distances. The main reliance was on
the pole or tow-line.

In the cut a boat is seen forcing a " rift," and the
crew (usually numbering five or six men) are wad
ing and pushing the craft through the pass. Light
boats could go from Schenectady to Fort Stanwix
and back in nine days, but the larger boats required
fourteen days to make the trip.

Durham Boat.
As the country grew in population, and more
especially after the Revolution, the traffic on the
river grew to immense proportions. A stone tram
way was built at enormous cost by the Albany
and Schenectady Turnpike Company, to ex
pedite the hauling of goods to the harbor on the
Binne Kill, which in time was lined with batteaux,
and as late as 18 12 as many as fifty Durham boats
would lay in this port, loading or discharging
cargoes. Most of these boats used on the Mohawk and
western waters were built at Schenectady. It
formed one of the most important business interests
of the place.
The boat-yards were located on what is termed
the Strand street on the river, then much
wider than now, owing to encroachments and
other causes. It was no uncommon sight, says
Judge Sanders, in his history of this county in
the war of 181 2, to see from twenty-five to
one hundred boats on the stocks at the boat
yards, extending from near the Mohawk bridge to
North street.
The boats that conveyed the army of General
Wilkinson down the St. Lawrence were all built at
this place, the oak forests of our common lands
furnishing the requisite material. The principal
boat builders were the Van Slycks, Marselises,
Veeders and Peeks.
Time has wrought so many changes in this city
that it seems difficult to picture the scenes of busy
activity, with the extensive wharves, freighting
establishments, and storehouses which lined the
Main Binne Kill previous to the year 1819. At
this date a destructive fire occurred, which com
pletely destroyed this portion of the cit)', which
never again recovered its business, mercantile or
commercial importance, for the contemplated con
struction and subsequent completion of the Erie
Canal removed the business seat of our city to its
present location.
"Previous to the fire of 1819," says Judge
Sanders, " the Mohawk liver above the bridge was

48

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

a broad, deep stream, upon which Durham boats,
carrying sails like an Albany sloop and from eight
to twenty tons of freight, glided, often under full
sail, to or from our then deep and commercial
Binne Kill, the miniature golden horn of our
city." At this wharf were the warehouses of the freight
ing firms of Yates & Mynderse, Jacob S. Glen &
Co., Stephen N. Bayard, Walton & De Graff,
Lusher & McMichael. Some idea of the bus
iness done may be gathered from the fact that 300
families derived their support by carrying in
wagons the freight from the storehouses in Sche
nectady to the City of Albany.
The first daily line of boats used for carrying
passengers was established by Eri Lusher, in 18 15.
They were constructed after the model of the Dur
ham boat, with cabin in midship, carefully cush
ioned, ornamented and curtained, expressly calcu
lated for and used to carry from twenty to thirty
passengers at a time. They ran between Sche
nectady and Utica, making the passage between
the two places down the river in about thirteen
hours, and up the river, with favorable winds and
high water, within two days.
But we are now coming to the period when the
completion of the Erie Canal, the greatest work of
internal improvement in the interest of commerce
ever accomplished in this country, began to play
an important part in the commercial interest of
Schenectady. It was commenced in 1817, but
was not completed until the year 1825.
It is a fact not generally known that the route of
the canal through this city is entirely different from
the course as first laid out by the projectors. The
original route was along the Binnekill, near the
business portion of the city. Work had even been
commenced upon it when, mainly through the
personal efforts of Resolved Givens, proprietor of
a hotel which stood near or on the site of the present
Givens Hotel, the canal commissioners were per
suaded to change the course to the present route.
Resolved Givens was the father of" William C.
Givens, of this city, and a man of considerable in
fluence at this date. The construction of the canal
through the central part of the city, together with
the destructive fires already mentioned, decided the
fate of the lower part of the city as a business
center, and this section lost forever the commer
cial importance it had enjoyed for so many years.
Navigation on the canal has not undergone much
change since the early part of its history. The
boats of to-day are very similar in appearance, al
though much larger than those used in the early
days of canal navigation. As first constructed, the
canal was about forty feet wide and four feet deep,
but in 1835 the work of enlargement began, which
was not completed until 1862, costing over $36,-
000,000. The present dimensions of the canal are
seventy feet in width and seven feet in depth.
These improvements in the channel of the canal
have permitted the use of boats at the present day
of the carrying capacity of 300 tons, while the
original boats were only able to carry about ninety
tons.

The motive power remains substantially the
same as when the canal was first opened, most of
the boats being propelled by the use of horses.
Steam power has only been used since a compara
tively recent period, and although it is a sub
ject of much discussion among canal men, and
great improvements have been made, it is a system
of canal navigation not generally used.
The completion and successful operation of the
Erie Canal gave rise to similar ones elsewhere, and
was of vast benefit to the whole country, and to
day, notwithstanding the rapid transportation of
merchandise by our great systems of railroads, it
continues to be the channel of a wonderful outflow
of the agricultural products of the West lo the sea
board, and the inflow of the merchandise from the
Atlantic ports to the interior.
Until the completion of the railroad the Erie
Canal was much used for carrying passengers.
Boats used for this purpose were called packets.
Even before the entire canal was finished portions
of it, as completed, were used. As early as May
31, 1824, a boat named Schenectady commenced
to make trips from Albany to Schenectady; leaving
Albany in the morning at nine o'clock, it reached
Schenectady about noon, and then would start on
a return trip on the following morning.
The traveling done on the .packet boats was an
important feature of the early navigation of the
canal, and a great number of boats were used ex
clusively for this purpose along its entire length,
yielding a large income. Up to the year 1857
these boats were built and used upon the canal lor
this purpose, but since this date they have been
entirely discarded, having been completely super
seded by the railroads.
Since 1857 the canal has been used exclusively
for carrying merchandise, and during the year 1872
(the year before the great depression in the busi
ness of the country began) the value of the prop
erty that was transported on the canal was $168,-
000,000, notwithstanding a two-track railway
carrying an immense amount of freight was laid
parallel to it in its entire length.
The future of this great thoroughfare, of such
untold benefit to the early development of this
country, cannot be foretold in this period of rapid
growth of our vast western territory. But it would
seem that the slow method of canal transportation
must be improved by new and more rapid meth
ods of locomotion or ultimately give way to the
demands for a more speedy transportation.
STAGE LINES.
In the early history of this country, means of
communication and facilities for traveling from
one place to another were attended not only with
great expense, but with difficulty and danger.
Until the completion of the Erie Canal, and the
limited facilities the Mohawk offered, traveling to
and from Schenectady was done by the slow, te
dious and wearisome stage coach.
Communication from New York to the interior
prior to the revolution was a matter of the greatest
difficulty, and only attempted in cases of most urg-

NA VIGATION.

49

ent necessity, usually taking three weeks to make
the round trip. So slender were the facilities and
resources of the country that the first mail ever re
ceived at Schenectady was on the 3d day of April,
1763, more than one hundred years after the pat
ent was granted.
Probably the first regular stage started by a
Schenectadian was run by Moses Beal in May,
1 793. It ran from Albany to Schenectady, Johns
town and Canajoharie once a week. The fare was
three cents a mile. The success of this enterprise
was so great, that John Hudson, keeping the
Schenectady Coffee House, on the southwest cor
ner of Union and Ferry streets, now the property
of Madison Vedder, Esq., soon afterward estab
lished a line of stages to run from Albany to Sche
nectady three times a week. John Rogers, of
Ballston, ran a line from that place to connect
with it, by which a regular communication was
first established for the convenience of those who
visited the springs. The fare was one shilling to
Schenectady; those that continued through were
charged three-pence per mile.
In 1794 there were five great post routes cen
tering in Albany — the first to New York, the
second to Burlington, Vermont; the third to Brook
field, Massachusetts; the fourth to Springfield,
Massachusetts; the fifth route was by the way of
Schenectady, Johnstown, Canajoharie, German
Flats, Whitestown, Old Fort Schuyler, Onondaga,
Aurora, Scipio, Geneva, Canandaigua, and subse
quently extended to Buffalo. The mail on this
route was carried once in two weeks. Thomas
Powell, Aaron Thorpe and Asa Sprague, of Sche
nectady, were leading proprietors of this last route,
under whose management its business grew to im
mense proportions, "so much so," says John San
ders, " that during the war of 181 2, it was no un
common sight to witness from eight to twelve
stages on the Scotia dyke, leaving or entering Sche
nectady at one time; and in one instance the
writer counted fourteen in a continuous line."
The fare from Schenectady to Canajoharie was
fourteen shillings, returning twelve shillings, av
eraging four cents per mile. Four cents was the
average fare per mile on this route.
In 1795 John Hudson ran two stages, one of
four horses and the other of two, daily between
Albany and Schenectady, and in March of the next
year Ananias Piatt went upon the same line, mak
ing four trips a day. At this time there were four
public places on the stage line between Schenectady
and Albany: Truax's, four miles from Schenecta
dy; Down's, nine miles; McKown's, eleven miles;
and Humphrey's, fourteen miles.
In 1823, Thomas Powell, of this city, com
menced running daily stages from Schenectady to
Troy, fare seventy-five cents each way. From a
Schenectady newspaper of May 1, 1823, we find
at the close of the advertisement announcing the
new enterprise, the following quaint notice:
" N. B. — As this is an establishment entirely
new, it is not likely to be very profitable at first;
but the proprietor hopes in time, with the assist
ance of his friends, to make it a great accommo

dation to the public, and merely asks a remunera
tion for necessary expenses. "
In 1825 another daily line was started between
Schenectady and Troy, and the fare reduced to 6^
cents. This includes all the stage lines of impor
tance which had headquarters at Schenectady of
which we have any authentic account. The open
ing of the canal in 1825 did away with a greater
pait of this business in Schenectady, while the
completion of railroads closely following sup
planted it entirely. Its tired horses and tired men
have been superseded by the iron horse that never
tires. RAILWAYS.
No event in the history of Schenectady has done
more to give this ancient city renown abroad than
its connection with the enterprise which result
ed in building the first steam passenger railway in
the world. True, in 1783 a railroad was construct
ed in France, but it was a crude affair and used
only for the transportation of coal. The era of
successful operations for the transportation of pas
sengers upon railroads by locomotives propelled by
steam dawned a little more than half a century
ago, and the fine plain between Schenectady and
Albany was the theater of the first genuine passen
ger railroad ever built in the world.
Mr. George W. Featherstonhaugh, an honored
and influential citizen of Schenectady, and the
father of Geo. W. Featherstonhaugh of this city, was
one of the first projectors of this enterprise. As
early as 18 12 a pamphlet was published explaining
the superior advantages of railways and steam car
riages over canal navigation. In 1825, a writer in
the Albany Argus urged upon capitalists the abso
lute necessity of their building a railroad from
Albany to Schenectady, under the questionable
plea that it was the only course to take to prevent
Albany going to decay through the rivalry of Troy.
Mr. Featherstonhaugh, in a letter to the
Mayor of Albany, said the transportation of prop
erty from Albany to Schenectady was seldom
effected in less than two, and sometimes three,
days. By railroad, he argued, the communication
between the same points could be made, in winter
and summer, in three hours, at no greater cost
than by canal, paying for sixteen instead of
twenty-eight miles. He regarded this experiment,
which he believed to be practical, as a test whether
this economical mode of transportation would suc
ceed in this country.
The project was brought before the Legislature
early in the session of 1826, and a bill to incorpo
rate the Mohawk and Hudson Railroad introduced.
On the 10th of March the bill was discussed in the
Assembly. It is amusing to read the novel argu
ment, advanced by the men of that day, both pro
and con, in regard to the project.
The bill passed the Assembly on the 27th of
March, 1826, incorporating the company, with a
capital of $300,000, with liberty to increase it to
$500,000, and a duration of fifty years, limiting
the time for construction to six years. Stephen
Van Rensselaer, known as the old patroon, of
Albany, and George W. Featherstonhaugh, of this

50

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

city, were the only persons named as directors in
the charter.
On the 26th day of June of this year books were
offered for subscription to the stock of this road,
and the stock was eagerly taken up by capitalists ;
but for some cause the company moved slowly,
for more than four years elapsed before the road
was begun.
On the 29th of July, 1830, the ceremony of
breaking ground for the Mohawk and Hudson
Railroad took place near Schenectady with a silver
spade by Stephen Van Rensselaer. In September
it was announced the stock had risen ten per cent. ,
and the editor of the Albany Daily Advertiser pre
dicted that trains would run from Albany to Sche
nectady in a quarter of an hour, and reach Utica
from Albany in four hours. The latter was a
somewhat startling prediction at this time, when we
consider that the utmost exertions of the stages
barely overcame the distance in twelve hours.
By the 25th of July, 183 1, twelve months from
the time when the ceremony of breaking ground
was performed, the road was completed from the
junction of the Western turnpike and Lydius
street, Albany, to the brow of the hill at Schenec
tady, a distance of twelve and a half miles. Some
defects in the first locomotive used, called the De
Witt Clinton, prevented a trial before the 3d of
August. On this day a trip was made in one hour
and forty-five minutes, and on the 10th they ran
two trains each way, with coke as fuel, making a
part of the trip at the rate of thirty miles an hour.
The passenger cars were simply stage coach bodies
placed upon trucks for temporary use, affording
seats for fifteen or eighteen peisons. August 13 a
large company assembled to take a trip on the
railroad, but the De Witt Clinton engine, built at
the West Point foundry, in New York, proved de
fective in her boiler, and was returned for repairs.
At this trial, and in previous ones, coal or coke
had been used for fuel, but wood was finally
adopted. On the 9th of September the De Witt
Clinton was again put upon the rail, and succeed
ed in drawing a train over the road in forty-five
minute*. It was not till the 2 2d of September
that the directors advertised to take passengers,
although city officials and other dignitaries had
passed over the road both by steam and horse
power early in August. The road was still uncom
pleted and used only from the junction, as it was
called, two miles from the foot of State street, in
Albany, from where passengers were taken to the
train by stage coaches. The other terminus of the
road was still at the bluff overlooking Schenectady,
where passengers were again transferred to stages.
The distance traversed was less than thirteen miles.
The precise time when the directors of the road
felt prepared to crown the success of their labors
by a grand excursion, was the 24th of September,
1 83 1. To this demonstration, by invitation, came
the State and city officials and a number of emi
nent citizens of New York. The train, drawn by
the De Witt Clinton, started off with three cars and
returned with five cars, making the return trip in
thirty-five minutes.

In January, 1832, the company reported to the
Legislature that the amount actually paid and dis
bursed in the construction of the road was $483,-
215, and that $156,693 would be required to com
plete it. ,
In the spring of 1832 the road was completed
throughout its whole line, and the inclined plane
being in working order, another grand excursion
was given on the 14th of May, extending from the
foot of Gansevoort street, Albany, into the heart
of Schenectady. The cars were drawn up the in
clined plane by means of a long rope attached to
them and to a stationary engine at the top, the
whole steadied and balanced by a car loaded with
stone descending on the opposite track. This
same ceremony was observed at both terminations
of the road, occupying much time. The same
style of coaches were still used. In the fall of this
year a new pattern of car was built at Schenectady,
more nearly like those now in use, the architecture
of which was modeled from Dr. Nott's parlor stove,
and was called the Gothic car.
In 1 84 1 the inclined planes at both ends of the
roads were done away with, and locomotives were
used on the whole length of the road. The suc
cess of this road, and the advantages of this means
of communication, although rudely constructed at
great and much needless expense, became so ap
parent, that within three years railroads, duly char
tered by law, were projected in every part of the
State. The next railroad built in this section was called
the Saratoga and Schenectady Railroad, and ran
from Schenectady to Saratoga. This company was
formed February 16, 1831, and the road was com
pleted and in operation in 1832. This road is
now leased and operated by the Rensselaer and
Saratoga Railroad.
In 1835 the Utica and Schenectady road was
constructed, and in 1843 the Schenectady and
Troy branch was built.
It will be seen at this early date in the history of
railroads in this country that Schenectady enjoyed
facilities for communication by rail equal to, if not
surpassing, any place in the State.
In 1853 a company was formed by consolidating
all the railroads then in operation, and some pro
jected roads between Albany and Buffalo, called
the New York Central Railroad. This consolida
tion included the Mohawk and Hudson, the Sche
nectady and Troy, and the Utica and Schenectady
Railroads. The act allowing the consolidation
was passed April 2, 1853, and carried into effect
May 17, 1854. This road runs from Albany to
Buffalo. It was finished and in operation in 1855.
In 1869 this company consolidated with the
Hudson River road, running from Albany to New
York, under the corporation name of the New York
Central and Hudson River Railroad, thus opening
a road, under the management of one company,
extending from the great lakes to the Atlantic
seaport. In 1874 this road from Albany to Buffalo was
increased from two tracks to four, making it the
only four-track road in the United States.

^o

c^^ —

FERRIES.

5t

In 1869 the Schenectady and Duanesburgh road
was incorporated, with a capital of $150,000, and
completed 1873. It runs from Schenectady to
Quaker Street, and connects at the latter place with
the Albany and Susquehanna road.
In 1866 a road called the Athens Branch was
constructed. It runs from Athens to Schenectady,
and is now owned and operated by the New
York, West Shore and Buffalo Railroad.
In 1883 the New York, West Shore and Buffalo
Railroad was constructed, and runs through the
western portion of Schenectady County, having a
station at "South Schenectady," about two and a
half miles from the city.
This completes but a necessarily brief account
of the railroads in Schenectady County, which to
day form the most important business interest of
this city, which can almost lay claim to the proud
distinction of having been the birth-place of the
great railway system of the world.
REUBEN S. ALLEN.
Reuben S. Allen, the hale and hearty old gen
tleman whose features are shown in the accom
panying engraving, was born in Burlington, Vt,
in 1823. When a young boy he was apprenticed
to Gay & Edwards, of Winouski Falls, to learn the
machinist's trade, and readily grasped the details of
the business. When he was about seventeen, he
was sent by Mr. Gay to Canada, to ride for a
month on a locomotive engine plying on a rail
road from St. John to La Prarie, to study its work
ings. This attracted his attention to locomotive
engineering, which he was destined to make his
life work. At the time Mr. Allen began learning
his trade, the science of steam motive power had
progressed so little, that there was scarcely a steam
engine in the State of Vermont, and during suc
ceeding years, Mr. Allen set up many stationary
engines in Vermont, New York State and else
where, in the meantime spending one year on the
steamer "Dodger," then plying on Lake Cham
plain. On March n, 1846, he became a locomo
tive engineer, running an engine on the Whitehall
and Saratoga railway. In 1850 he relinquished his
place for a similar one on the N. Y. Central road,
which he has kept ever since. During this time
he has run engines named after every president of
the road, beginning with Erastus Corning. In
this long period Mr. Allen has never been injured,
nor has a brakeman or passenger on his train re
ceived a scratch. Many notable persons have been
carried by him, both on his regular trips and spe
cials. About twenty-five years ago he took the
Russian fleet from Albany to Niagara in six and a
half hours, the first time an engine ever ran so long
a distance without long stops. In 1881, he ran
William H. Vanderbilt's special train from Syracuse
to Albany in the remarkable time of two hours
and fifty minutes. Mr. Allen now runs the "flyer,"
which leaves Albany daily for the. West at 12:15
p.m. In 1844, Mr. Allen married Miss Irene
Taylor, and their union has been blessed with six
children — five of them daughters. All these have

married, and twenty-three little ones say "grand
father " to the subject of our sketch. Mr. Allen
has always had good health, and still possesses an
iron constitution. His present home is in Sche
nectady. When he retires, as he expects to do
March n, 1886, the fortieth anniversary of the be
ginning of his life on the locomotive, he intends to
publish a book relating his varied experiences
among railroad men and others. After that is
finished, Mr. Allen says he "will go fishing ten
years," after which he will be ready to go " over
the river." The veteran often receives letters from
young engineers asking for advice, which he is al
ways ready to impart in his genial, whole-hearted
way.

Thomas Cox, son of Hugh Cox and Elizabeth
Muir, was born in Schenectady, December 14,
18 1 8, his parents having come from Scotland two
years previously. He is one of the oldest locomo
tive engineers in the State.
Edwin Wemple was for many years one of the
most trijsfed and skillful engineers pf the New
York Central Railroad, and is now retired from
active service with a competency.
FERRIES.
The first ferry was established, at a very early
date in the history of Schenectady, at the north end
of Washington street, and continued thereto 1768.
Some time after it was removed to the north end of
Ferry street, which, at the first, terminated at the
fort, but this street was afterward carried through
to the river, and was called New street. This latter
ferry was owned by the Borough of Schenectady,
and, as far back as 1795, was leased to Abram
Oathout. for £^o per year.
In 1790 there was a ferry at the foot of Ferry
street, then recently opened to the river, as appears
by a mortgage given by Sybrant Van Schaick to
Adam S. Vrooman.
In the year 1797 there were three ferries in
Schenectady. The first, called the Upper Ferry,
was at the foot of Washington street, and kept by
Jan Bapt. Van Eps. The second was called the
Middle Ferry, was one mile below the Upper
Ferry, and kept by Volkert Veeder. The third was
called the Lower Ferry, situated a few rods below
the Middle Ferry, and was kept by John Bapt. Van
Vorst. The individuals who laid claims to the revenue
received at the Upper Ferry were : Jan Bapt.
Van Eps, who owned the land on both sides of
Washington street ; John Sanders, who owned the
opposite bank; and Joseph C. Yates, who owned
the land below Van Eps on the same side.
A compromise was effected in this manner :
Sanders collected all tolls from the country to the
city, and Van Eps and Yates collected from the
city to Glenville. There were two boats : one from
foot of Washington street, owned by Van Eps,
and the other from Governor's lane, owned by
Yates. By compromise, the ferry rights of all
persons were obtained by the Bridge Company,

52

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

when the Mohawk Bridge was constructed. In
1805 this ferry was called "Van Eps' Ferry."
The ' ' Middle " ferry was discontinued about 1 804,
as the charter of the Mohawk Bridge Company
passed the Legislature about this time, and provid
ed that no ferry should be within one mile of the
bridge. The ' ' Lower Ferry, " being without the limits pro
vided in the bridge charter, was continued in various

or until Volney
the river at this

hands until some time in 185-
Freeman built a bridge across
point. The most western ferry in Schenectady County
was established by Harmanus Vedder, twelve miles
west of the city. It was called Vedder's ferry until
1835, when it was bought by John Hoffman, and the
name changed to Hoffman's ferry. It has borne
this name ever since, and is still in operation.

OLD MOHAWK BRIDGE.

BRIDGES.

Probably the first bridge in Schenectady was the
bridge over Mill (or Sand) Kil, on Water street.
It was called the "Town Bridge" as early as 1701.
It is doubtful if there was any bridge over this
creek in Washington street until long after.
As early as 1716 there was a bridge across the
Sparrebaugh (or Sand Kil), three miles south of
Schenectady, at or near the Brandywine Mill, on
the old road to Albany. It was known as the
Sparrebaugh Bridge.
In 1736 there was a bridge over Poenties Kil, on
the " Bouwland," about two miles west of the city,
called Johannes Teller's Bridge. In some old
deeds it was also called the "Third Bridge."
In 1767 there was a bridge across the Cowhorn
Creek, on Albany (now State) street. This was
called John Baptist's Bridge. About this same
date there was a bridge over Hansen (or Simon
Groot's) Kill, on Wart (now Romeyn) street.
But the first bridge of importance and worthy
of much note was an elliptic or arched one, built
at the foot of State street over the Mohawk. It
was begun in 1797, and when nearly completed,
the winter following, was upset by the wind, taken
down, and rebuilt on piers in 1803.
In 1 808 was erected the original Mohawk Bridge
across the river at the foot of Washington street
This was a suspension bridge of elegant proportions,
built of wood, 900 feet in length. It was designed
by the celebrated bridge architect, Theodore Burr,
and was pronounced his best effort. Its comple
tion December 6, 1808, was the occasion of a

grand celebration in honor of the event. Gov.
Tompkins, State Comptroller, and many other
prominent men participated.
This bridge, as remembered by most of our citi
zens, gives no idea of its early appearance of sym
metry and beauty. Its subsequent disfigurement by
the addition of several piers, and an unsightly
covering over the whole, may have added to its
solidity and ultimate preservation, but certainly
destroyed all its original elegance of design and
execution. The cut we insert of this bridge was produced
from a photograph taken a short time before it
was taken down, in 187 — . to make room for the
present structure, which spans the river on the
same piers, with but little alteration, upon which
stood the old bridge, which had become for many
years previously an object of curiosity to travelers
and tourists, and the last of its kind in the United
States. The present bridge was finished in 1874,
at a cost of about $60,000, and is owned by the
town of Glenville, toll being collected of all non
residents. In about 1855, as previously stated, Freeman's
Bridge was erected by Volney Freeman, who
shortly after its construction became sole owner.
Since the first bridge was built two other structures
have been erected on the same site, caused by the
destruction of the original bridges, either by natural
decay or in consequence of floods. The present
bridge was built in 1879-80, at a cost of $20,000.
In 1875 the Freeman Bridge property was pur
chased by the town of Glenville, and is still owned
by this town.

BOROUGH TOWN OF SCHENECTADY.

53

The aqueduct bridge, crossing the Mohawk at
Rexford's Flats, was built by the State shortly
after the construction of the canal aqueduct over
the Mohawk at this place, about 1825. It was
afterward purchased by the Rexford's Flats Bridge
Company, and is still owned by this company. A
new iron bridge is at present in course of construc
tion on this site.
BOROUGH TOWN OF SCHENECTADY,
,1765-1798.
The inhabitants of the township of Schenectady
for more than a hundred years from its first settle
ment had enjoyed no civil privileges or political
rights other than those appertaining to other towns
in the province.
During and subsequent to the French war, the
town made rapid growth in population and impor
tance. The commercial business, as has been stated,
at this period had grown to immense proportions,
bringing a large influx of foreign people to the
town, and to properly rule and govern the place
a stronger government was needed. The magis
trates and people were anxious to secure an in
dependent government, and in 1764 applied to
Gov. Monckton for a city or a borough charter.
In accordance with this petition, Lt-Gov. Colden,
on the 22d of October, 1765, granted the inhabi
tants a borough charter, the second granted in the
province. It was fashioned after an English model,
with great care, formality and minuteness, worthy
to be called a city charter.
Schenectady was thus created a borough town,
under the corporate title of the "Mayor, Aldermen
and Commonalty of the Borough Town of Sche
nectady. "
The following is a list of the first officers named
in the charter : Isaac Vrooman, Mayor ; John
Duncan, Recorder ; Jacobus Van Slyke, John
Glen, Jr., John Sanders, Daniel Campbell, John
Visger and John B. Van Eps, Aldermen; Garrit
Lansing, Rynier Myndertse, Ryer Schermerhorn,
Tobias Ten Eyck, Cornelius Cuyler and Hermanus
Bradt, Assistants ; Thomas Mcllworth, Town
Clerk ; Christopher Yates, Treasurer or Chamber
lain ; Isaac Marselis and Isaac Swits, Assessors ;
Barent S. Veder, Collector ; Richard Collins,
High Constable ; Thomas Murray, Hermanus
Terwilliger, John Van Voast, Charles Dennison,
James Dunlop and John Wasson, Jr., Sub-Consta
bles; and Alexander Campbell, Sergeant of the
Mace. The mayor, recorder and town clerk
were to be appointed, and were removable by the
Governor and Council ; the aldermen and assist
ants, assessors, collectors and constables were
elected by a plurality of votes of the freemen as
sembled yearly for that purpose on the feast day of
St. Michael the Archangel ; the high constable
and chamberlains were named by the mayor and
common council and the sergeant of the mace.
The mayor or recorder, with three or more alder
men and three or more assistants, by the name of
the "Common Council of the Borough Town of

Schenectady," were to have power to make laws,
ordinances, etc., for the good rule of the borough
aforesaid, and the trade carried on there; for regu
lating the watermen and ferriage; for the preserving
and selling the lands of Schenectady, etc., to re
main in force for twelve months. The freemen of
the borough were to be such persons of lawful age
as had been born therein, or such as had resided
therein ten years previously, or such as had that
privilege granted by the common council ; and
none but freemen were allowed to use any art,
trade or mystery, or to expose for sale any manner
of goods or wares at retail, under penalty of five
pounds. It is doubtful if this very elaborate charter was
ever carried into effect ; it was altogether too com
plicated a piece of machinery for the simple-minded
burghers of Schenectady. The mayor, recorder,
aldermen and assistants were called together the
following December to hear it read and take their
official oaths ; whether they ever met again or per
formed any acts under it is no_t known, no records
being now extant of their doings.
A fatal defect of this charter was, that it did not
finally dispose of the dispute about the management
of the common lands ; the trustees appointed
under Arent Bradt's will did not relinquish their
office and power to the new common council ; they
still held and managed all the property of the
town. Soon after this charter was granted, the contest
for independence began with the mother country.
All local differences were merged in this, and it
was not until some years after the war closed that
the dispute about the public lands of the town was
settled and a new city charter obtained.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
The "Father of Our Country" visited Schenec
tady at three different times. The first occasion
was soon after the revolutionary war, in the
interest of the defence of the frontier. He was the
guest of John Glen, who was then quartermaster
of the department. The second occasion was by
invitation of the citizens of Schenectady. He, in
company with Gen. Philip Schuyler, rode in a
carriage from Albany, on June 30, 1782. He was
received with great honor by the civil and military
authorities, and a public dinner given him at
a hotel then situated on the south corner of State
and Water streets, one of the houses spared in the
great fire of 1690. It was kept at the time by
Robert Clinch, formerly a drum-major under Gen.
Braddock, and well known to Gen. Washington.
The principal citizens of the place dined with him.
An address was made to Washington, to which
he wrote the following reply :
' ' To the Magistrates and Military Officers of the
Township of Schenectady :
' ' Gentlemen — I request you to accept my warm
est thanks for your affectionate address. In a
cause so just and righteous as ours, we have every
reason to hope the Divine Providence will still
continue to crown our arms with success, and

54

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

finally compel our enemies to grant us that peace,
upon equitable terms, which we so ardently desire.
' ' May you, and the good people of this town, in
the meantime be protected from every insidious
and open foe ; and may the complete blessings of
peace soon reward your arduous struggles for the
establishment of the freedom and independence of
our common country. George Washington.
"Schenectady, June 30th, 1782."
The third visit was in 1786, when Washington
made a tour with Gov. George Clinton, Gen.
Hand, and many other officers of New York as far
west as Fort Stanwix. In passing through Sche
nectady, he stopped at the same hotel as on his
former visit.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
The office of Supervisor in the State of New
York is of very ancient origin. It existed in the
Colonial period, during which time the duties of
the office were confined to auditing the ac
counts brought against the county by town officers
and others, electing County Treasurers, Law
Officers and a Clerk — very ancient offices in this
State. The Boards of Supervisors in the different
counties are now legislative bodies, having the
same relation to the counties that the Assembly
has to the State. From time to time, since the
organization of the government, their powers have
been extended over local matters, until many im
portant local laws touching the interests of their re
spective counties had, and still have, their origin
in them.
The first Board of Supervisors met in the City
Hall, situated on the corner of Union and Ferry
streets, on the site of the present dwelling house
of H. S. Barney. This building was owned by
the city, and used for city purposes, till the or
ganization of the county, when suitable quarters
in this building were given the county for the
transaction of county business. The Board con
tinued to meet here until 181 6, when the City Hall
was sold to Union College, and a room was pro
vided in the present Union School building, then
purchased by the city. Here the Board contin
ued to meet till the completion of the present
Court House, in 1833, from which date the meet
ings of the Board were held in this building, till
the present commodious quarters were provided in
the County building on Union street in 1871.
The First Board of Supervisors for the coun
ty of Schenectady of which there is any record,
met at the Court House in the city of Schenectady,
on Tuesday, October 3, 1809, under the pro
visions of the Act of the State Legislature, passed
March 7, 1809, forming Schenectady County,
which gave to this county all the rights, powers
and privileges enjoyed by the other counties of the
State. The Supervisors elected for this year were as fol
lows : Maus Schermerhorn, for First and Second
wards ; Alexander McMichael, for Third ward
(now Rotterdam) ; James Boyd, for Fourth ward
(now Glenville) ; William North, for Duanes

burgh ; Lawrence Vrooman, for Niskayuna ;
Alexander Murray, for Princetown. William North
was chosen Moderator, Abraham Van Ingen
Clerk, and Cornelius Z. Van Santvoord, County
Treasurer. The salaries of Clerk and Treasurer were fixed
at fifty dollars per annum.
The following appears in the record of this
year :
"Resolved, that a reward of ten dollars be al
lowed for each and every wolf which shall be killed
within this county, to be paid to the person or
persons producing satisfactory proof to this Board
that he or they have killed the same as aforesaid."
We find in the record of proceedings for this year,
and for a number of years following, that consid
erable money was paid to different persons under
the provisions of this resolution.
The contingent expenses this year were $361.21;
$947.32 were returned to the city of Schenectady
for repairs to Court House and Jail. The total
tax levied was $2,417. n. The total valuation of
real and personal estate of the county was $1,841,-
728. 18 10. — Supervisors — Simon A. Groot, First
and Second wards ; Jacob Mabie, Third ward ;
John A. Vrooman, Fourth ward ; John Young,
Duanesburgh ; S. J. Van Antwerp, Niskayuna ;
Alexander Murray, Princetown.
The Board met April 28, at the Court House,
and elected Alexander Murray, Moderator; and at
the first meeting of the annual session, Oct. 2,
Harmanus Peek was chosen Clerk, John Yates,
County Treasurer, and Alexander G. Fonda, Coun
ty Physician. The latter appointment was the first
ever made to this position.
The total amount of tax levied this year was
#3,393- 25-
181 1. — Supervisors — Maus Schermerhorn, First
and Second wards ; Jacob Mabie, Third ward ;
John A. Vrooman, Fourth ward ; John Brown,
Duanesburgh ; S. I. Van Antwerp, Niskayuna ;
William Templar, Princetown. Tuesday, October
1, Maus Schermerhorn was elected Moderator,
Abraham Van Ingen, Clerk, and Cornelius S. Van
Santvoord, Treasurer.
The sum of $503. 1 1 was raised to reimburse the
city of Schenectady for preparing a Court House
and Jail for the use of the county; $800 was
levied upon the freeholders of the city to pay a
night watchman for guarding the city.
The total tax levied this year amounted to
$2,664.97. 1812. — Supervisors — Jellis A. Fonda, First ward;
Maus Schermerhorn, Second ward ; Harmanus
A. Van Slyck, Jr., Third ward ; Jacob A. Vroo
man, Fourth ward ; John Brown, Duanesburgh ;
Derick C. Groot, Niskayuna ; William Templar,
Princetown. The Board met October 6, and elected Maus
Schermerhorn, Moderator, Abraham Van Ingen
Clerk, and Cornelius Z. Van Santvoord, County
Treasurer. The following sums were levied upon the city of
Schenectady for this year : Support of poor,

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

55

$315.00; night watch, $800.00; surveying road,
$8.75 ; expense of a road in Third ward, $142.53.
The entire tax levied this year was $2,751.03.
1813. — Supervisors — Harmanus Peek, First
ward ; Simon A. Groot, Second ward; Harmanus
A. Van Slyck, Jr. , Third ward ; James Boyd,
Fourth ward ; James Cantley, Duanesburgh ;
Simon I. Van Antwerp, Niskayuna; William Tem
plar, Princetown.
The Board met Tuesday, October 5, electing
James Cantley, Moderator, Abraham Van Ingen,
Clerk, and Daniel McDougall, County Treasurer.
The contingent expenses of the county were
$300.00; the total tax levied, $4,139.86.
18 14. — Supervisors — Harmanus Peek, First
ward; John S. Schermerhorn, Second ward; H.
A. Van Slyck, Jr., Third ward; James Boyd,
Fourth ward; James Cantley, Duanesburgh; Wil
liam H. Alexander, Niskayuna; William Templar,
Princetown; Moderator, James Canly; Clerk,
Robert Galley; County Treasurer, Daniel Mc
Dougall. This year $800 was levied on the city
for expenses incurred in laying out a road from the
extremity of Washington street to the western
bounds of the city. Total tax levied, $3,981.62.
18 1 5. — Supervisors — Harmanus Peek, First
ward; Cornelius Z. Van Santvoord, Second ward;
Garrett S. Veeder, Jr., Third ward; James Boyd,
Fourth ward; James Cantley, Duanesburgh;
Derick Vedder, Niskayuna; Henry Fryer, Prince
town. The Board met October 3, and elected Cor
nelius Van Santvoord, Moderator, Robert Galley,
Clerk, and Daniel McDougall, County Treasurer.
A tax of $1,063.66 was levied against the county
this year for common schools. The total tax
levied this year amounted to $4,761.13.
1816. — Supervisors — Harmanus Peek, First
ward; Dowe Clute, Second ward; Jacob Mabie,
Third ward; Robert Sanders, Fourth ward;
James Cantley, Duanesburgh; Simon I. Van Ant
werp, Niskayuna; James Combs, Princetown.
Moderator, Simon I. Van Antwerp; Clerk, Henry
V. Fonda; Treasurer, Daniel McDougall.
On April 5th of this year a special act of the
Legislature was passed empowering the Board of
Supervisors to convey to the city all the right and
title to the lot and building thereon used as a Court
House and Jail, in consideration of the cor
poration of the city granting to the Board suitable
room in the edifice now occupied by the Union
School, and which had been bought from the
Trustees of Union College, in the year 1812, for
court, jail and all county purposes.
Such exchange was consummated October 14th
of this year.
Total tax levied, $5,080.73.
1817. — Supervisors — Harmanus Peek, First
ward; Dowe Clute, Second ward; Harmanus A.
Van Slyck, .Third ward; James Boyd, Fourth
ward; James Cantley, Duanesburgh; Harmanus
P. Schuyler, Niskayuna; James Combs, Prince
town. The Board met October 7, and elected Har
manus Peek, Moderator, Henry V. Fonda, Clerk.

The following is a report made by Gideon
Hawley, principal assessor, and adopted by the
Board of Supervisors, October 10, 1817:
"Valuations of lands and dwelling houses in
the seven towns and wards within the county of
Schenectady, as determined by the principal as
sessor of the thirteenth collection district in the
State of New York :
" First ward, $245,335; Town of Niskayuna,
$105,421; Second ward, $385,280; Town of
Princetown, $140,850; Third ward, $179,75°;
Town of Duanesburgh, $448,205; Fourth ward,
$277,177. " The Board of Principal Assessors added two
per cent, to the above valuations."
Entire tax levied, $12,278.42.
At this session of the Board a resolution was
offered for the removal of County Treasurer Dan
iel McDougall; but it failed in being carried by
one vote. Mr. McDougall then resigned his
position, and Thomas B. Clinch was appointed
treasurer. 1 8 1 8. — Supervisors — Harmanus Peek, First
ward ; Maus Schermerhorn, Second ward ; Fred
erick Bradt, Jr., Third ward ; Henry Hogan,
Fourth ward ; James Cantley, Duanesburgh ;
Harmanus P. Schuyler, Niskayuna ; James Combs,
Princetown. Moderator, Harmanus Peek; Clerk,
Henry V. Fonda ; County Treasurer, Thomas B.
Clinch. The total tax levied, $9,478.38.
1819. — Supervisors — Richard McMichael, First
ward ; James Walker, Second ward ; Bar
tholomew Schermerhorn, Third ward ; Christian
Haverly, Fourth ward ; Lewis Eaton, Duanes
burgh ; Harmanus P. Schuyler, Niskayuna ;
James Combs, Princetown. Moderator, Har
manus P. Schuyler ; Clerk, Henry V. Fonda ;
County Treasurer, Thomas B. Clinch. We find a
spirit of friendship for educational privileges
evinced by the members of this Board in granting
the free use of rooms in the City Hall to the
trustees of the Schenectady Academy for one year.
Total tax levied, $10,699.10.
1820. — Supervisors — Richard McMichael, First
ward; James Walker, Second ward ; Bartholomew
Schermerhorn, Third ward ; James Boyd, Fourth
ward ; James Cantley, Duanesburgh ; Harmanus
P. Schuyler, Niskayuna ; Isaac Wemple, Prince
town. Moderator, James Cantley ; Clerk, Henry
V. Fonda ; County Treasurer, • John S. Vroo
man. At this session of the Board, $100,000 of valua
tion was taken from the aggregate valuation of
the First and Second wards in consequence of the
destruction by fire of these wards during the pre
ceding year.
1 82 1. — Supervisors — Henry Peek, First ward;
James Walker, Second ward ; Peter Becker,
Rotterdam ; Albert A. Vedder, Glenville ; James
Cantley, Duanesburgh ; Harmanus P. Schuyler,
Niskayuna ; Solomon Kelly, Princetown. Mod
erator, Albert A. Vedder ; Clerk, Henry V. Fonda;
Treasurer, John S. Vrooman.
It will be noticed that at this time the city of
Schenectady was divided into only two wards.

56

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

April 14, 1820, by an act of the State Legislature
the part of the city known as the Third ward was
formed into a separate town called Rotterdam,
while all that part of the city heretofore known as
the Fourth ward was formed into the town of
Glenville. The total tax levied this year was
$7,484.53- 1822.- — -Supervisors — Harmanus Peek, First
ward ; Abram Van Ingen, Second ward ; Har
manus A. Van Slyck, Rotterdam ; Peter H.
Brooks, Glenville ; James Cantley, Duanesburgh ;
Cornelius C. Van Vranken, Niskayuna ; Solomon
Kelly, Princetown. Moderator, Abram Van
Ingen ; Clerk, Archibald L. Linn ; Treasurer,
John S. Vrooman. The amount of county charges
this year, including $510. 52 for contingent fund,
was $2,751.55 ; State tax, $1,852.21.
By an act of the State Legislature, passed April
1 2 of this year, the Board of Supervisors, in con
junction with the Judges of Common Pleas, ap
pointed the Justices of Peace, and prescribed the
number of coroners to be elected. The Board
met for this purpose February 18, 1823.
1823. — Supervisors — Harmanus Peek, First
ward ; Abram Van Ingen, Second ward ; John
Pangburn, Rotterdam ; Cornelius S. Conde, Glen
ville ; Joseph Gaige, Duanesburgh ; Cornelius C.
Van Vranken, Niskayuna ; Solomon Kelly, Prince
town. Moderator, Abram Van Ingen; Clerk,
Edward Yates; Treasurer, John S. Vrooman.
The Board met with the Judges of Common
Pleas October 7, 1823, in accordance with an act
of the Legislature passed April 12, 1822, direct
ing the appointment of Commissioners of Deeds
for the several towns of the county. Total tax
levied this year, $8,134.54.
1824. — Supervisors — Harmanus Peek, First
ward; Abraham Van Ingen, Second ward; Peter
Becker, Rotterdam; James Boyd, Glenville; Wil
liam A. S. North, Duanesburgh; Cornelius C. Van
Vranken, Niskayuna; Solomon Kelly, Princetown.
Moderator, Abraham Van Ingen; Clerk, Edward
Yates; Marshal, Thomas B. Clinch ; County
Treasurer, John S. Vrooman.
Total tax levied this year was $9,327.53.
1825. — Supervisors — Harmanus Peek, First
ward; Abraham Van Ingen, Second ward; Zacha-
riah Carpenter, Glenville; William A. S. North,
Duanesburgh; Cornelius C. Van Vranken, Niska
yuna ; Peter Becker, Rotterdam. Abraham Van
Ingen, Moderator; Edward Yates, Clerk; Thomas
B. Clinch, Marshal; John S. Vrooman, Treasurer.
From the records this year, the names of the fol
lowing incorporated companies in Schenectady
County liable to taxation were returned to the
State Comptroller: Mohawk Bank, Mohawk Turn
pike Company, Mohawk Bridge Company, Sche
nectady Manufacturing Company and the Schenec
tady Water-works Company.
The total tax levied this year was $8,997.50;
State tax, $1,016.39; school tax, 762.30; poor,
$2,062.99; road and bridges, $515.59.
Up to the present year the annual sessions of
the Board had been commenced on the first Tues
day in October. By an act of the Legislature this

year the time was changed to the second Tuesday
in November.
1826. — Supervisors — Harmanus Peek, First
ward; Abram Van Ingen, Second ward; Zach-
ariah Carpenter, Glenville; Benjamin S. Knight,
Duanesburgh; John Clark, Niskayuna; Abraham
Dorn, Princetown; Bartholomew Schermerhorn,
Jr., Rotterdam. Moderator, Abram Van Ingen;
Clerk, Edward Yates; Marshal, Thomas B. Clinch;
Treasurer, John S. Vrooman.
At this session of the Board, the first report was
presented from the superintendents of the alms
house. From the report of the superintendents we find
that the total expense of the alms-house, from Au
gust 1 to October 30 of this year, was $321; num
ber of paupers, 38.
The amount of tax levied this year, and for like
purposes, was about the same as for the preceding
year. 1827. — Supervisors — Ezekiel Sexton, First ward,
Abraham Van Ingen, Second ward; Daniel Smith,
Glenville; Benjamin S. Knight, Duanesburgh;
John Clark, Niskayuna; William Templar, Prince
town; Bartholomew Schermerhorn, Jr., Rotter
dam. Moderator, Abraham Van Ingen; Clerk,
Archibald L. Linn; Marshal, Thomas B. Clinch;
Treasurer, John S. Vrooman.
An appropriation of $500 was made for the erec
tion of a fire-proof County Clerk's office.
The County expenses this year were $4,000.
1828. — Supervisors.- — Ezekiel Sexton, First ward;
Abraham Van Ingen, Second ward; Zachariah
Carpenter, Glenville; Abraham Pearse, Niscayuna;
Ebenezer Knibloe, Duanesburgh; William Tem
plar, Princetown; Simon Schermerhorn, Rotterdam.
Moderator, Abraham Van Ingen; Clerk, Archibald
L. Linn; Marshal, Thomas B. Clinch; Treasurer,
John S. Vrooman. The County Clerk's office was
completed this year at a cost of $1,000.00. It was
built on the northeast corner of the Court House
yard. The first list of Grand Jurors was chosen this
year. April 12, 1824, an act was passed by the Legis
lature relieving all persons from military duty who
had conscientious scruples averse to bearing arms,
by the payment of $4.00 as commutation money,
such money to be applied to the support of the
poor. The names of the persons are given in the rec
ord of this year who availed themselves of the pro
visions of this act.
Total tax levied this year was $8,310.79.
1829. — Supervisors. — Harmanus Peek, First
ward; Abraham Van Ingen, Second ward; Peter
H. Brooks, Glenville; Joseph Gaige, Duanesburgh;
Abraham Pearse, Niscayuna; Solomon Kelly,
Princetown; Simon Schermerhorn, Rotterdam.
This was the first meeting of the Board when the
presiding officer was called Chairman instead of
Moderator. Chairman, Abram Van Ingen; Clerk, Archibald
L. Linn; Marshal, Thomas B. Clinch; Treasurer
John B. Clute.

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

57

The total tax levied this year was $8,011.40.
A special meeting of this Board was held March
16, 1 840, to confer with the Common Council of the
city, trustees of the Lancaster School, and a com
mittee appointed by the citizens of Schenectady, in
regard to the sale of the City Hall and Court House
to the State, for the purpose of a female penitentiary. •
It was agreed on the part of the Board to sell the
City Hall and Court House for a sum not less than
ten thousand dollars, provided that not less than
eight thousand dollars should be paid to the Board
toward the expenses of erecting a court house and
jail and fire-proof clerk's office, and the furnishing
of a room to the city as a common council cham
ber. 1830. — Supervisors. — Harmanus Peek, First
ward; Abraham Van Ingen, Second ward; Corne
lius S. Conde, Glenville; Joseph Gaige, Duanes
burgh; Cornelius C. Van Vranken, Niskayuna; Sol
omon Kelly, Princetown; Simon Schermerhorn,
Rotterdam. Chairman, Abraham Van Ingen;
Clerk, Archibald L. Linn; Marshal, Lewis Finch;
Treasurer, John B. Clute.
The total tax levied was $10, 176.98.
1831. — Supervisors. — Harmanus Peek, First
ward; Abraham Van Ingen, Second ward; Robert
Sanders, Glenville; Joseph Gaige, Duanesburgh;
Abram Pearse, Niscayuna; Abram Dorn, Prince
town; Simon Schermerhorn, Rotterdam. Chair
man, Abraham Van Ingen; Clerk, Archibald L.
Linn; Marshal, John S. Ten Eyck; Treasurer, John
B. Clute.
A special act of the Legislature was passed April
25 th of this year, authorizing the Board of Super
visors and Common Council of the city of Sche
nectady to sell the Court House, Jail and County
Clerk's office for not less than ten thousand dollars,
the proceeds of such sale to be expended in the
erection of a new court house and jail, the corpo
ration of Schenectady to be allowed the use of a
room in the new structure for a common council
chamber. Under the provisions of this act the
then existing court house and jail could only be
sold under the conditions that the same should be
used and occupied for literary, scientific or religious
purposes. By the powers jointly conferred on the
Board of Supervisors and Common Council, this
property was sold, through Dr. Eliphalet Nott, to
Union College, June 15, 1831.
The location of the present Court House and
Jail was selected, and the lot was purchased for the
sum of $1,900.00, of Jacob and John Dellamont
The contract for building the Court House was
let to John W. Teller, at the sum of $9,964.00.
Total tax levied this year was $9,295.70.
County tax, $4, 900. 00.
1832. — Supervisors— Harmanus Peek, First ward;
Abraham Van Ingen, Second ward ; Sidney B.
Potter, Glenville; Joseph Gaige, Duanesburgh ;
Abram Pearse, Niskayuna; David Murray, Prince
town; Harmanus A. Van Slyck, Rotterdam. Chair
man, Abraham Van Ingen; Clerk, Archibald L.
Linn; Marshal, John S. Ten Eyck; Treasurer,
John B. Clute.
The entire tax levied was $11,691.97.

1 83 2. --Supervisors— Isaac M. Schermerhorn, First
ward; Abraham Van Ingen, Second ward; Peter
H. Brooks, Glenville; David Wing,. Duanesburgh;
Morgan Strong, Niskayuna; Daniel Darrow, Prince
town; Harmanus A. Van Slyck, Rotterdam,
Chairman, Abraham Van Ingen; Clerk, Archibald
L. Linn; Marshal, John S. Ten Eyck; Treasurer.
John B. Clute.
Total tax levied this year was $11,744.22.
Up to the present year the total valuation of the
real and personal estate had remained at about the
same amount since the organization of the county.
This year it was increased nearly $1,000,000, being
$2,765,000. 1834. — Supervisors — Isaac M. Schermerhorn,
First ward; Abraham Van Ingen, Second ward;
David Ostrom, Glenville; Thomas Knight, Duanes
burgh; Abraham Pearse, Niskayuna; David Mur
ray, Princetown; Harmanus A. Van Slyck, Rotter
dam. Officers same as last year.
Total tax levied this year was $12,589.77.
1835. — Supervisors — Isaac M. Schermerhorn;
First ward; Abraham Van Ingen, Second ward,
Daniel Smith, Glenville; Thomas Knight, Duanes
burgh; Abraham Pearse, Niskayuna; David Mur
ray, Princetown; John B. Schermerhorn, Rotter
dam. Officers same as preceding year.
The total tax levied this year was $14,557.22.
The following is each ward and town propor
tion of whole tax : First ward, $2,560. 53; Second
ward, $4,977.38; Glenville, $2,228.78; Duanes
burgh, $2, 046. 14; Niskayuna, $537. 60; Princetown,
$717.01; Rotterdam, $1,489.78.
1836. — Supervisors — Isaac M. Schermerhorn,
First ward; Abraham Van Ingen, Second ward;
Theodore W. Sanders, Glenville; Abraham Pearse,
Niskayuna; James Smealie, Princetown; Jacob I.
Schermerhorn, Rotterdam. Officers same as for
year 1834.
At the session of the Board a final settlement
was made between the city and the Board of Su
pervisors for building the Court House, the city
agreeing to accept $1,250 in full settlement, $250
to be paid this year, $500 next year and $500 the
following year.
Total tax levied, $15,518.16.
1837 — Supervisors — Giles F. Yates, First ward;
David M. Moore, Second ward; Robert Sanders,
Third and Fourth wards (wards formed from the
Second ward); Robert Sanders, Glenville; Marvin
Strong, Duanesburgh; Harmanus A. Van Slyck,
Rotterdam; James Smealie, Princetown; Abraham
Pearse, Niskayuna. Officers same as preceding
year. Total tax levied, $16,733.64.
1838. — Supervisors — Isaac Riggs, First ward;
James C. Magoffin, Second ward; William Ander
son, Third and Fourth wards; Abner Smith, Glen
ville; Marvin Strong, Duanesburgh; Simon Scher
merhorn, Rotterdam; William Gifford, Prince
town; Abraham Pearse, Niskayuna. Chairman,
Abraham Pearse; Clerk, A. L. Linn; Marshal,
Bartholomew C. Vrooman.
The lot where the present County Clerk's office
is situated was purchased this year by the Board

58

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

from Alexander G. Fouder for $500, and a com
mittee appointed to cause the erection thereon of a
fire-proof County Clerk's and Surrogate's office, at a
cost not exceeding $2,000.
The total tax levied this year was $18,766.74.
1839. — Supervisors — Isaac I. Yates, First ward;
James C. Magoffin, Second ward; William Ander
son, Third and Fourth wards; David F. Rees,
Glenville; Marvin Strong, Duanesburgh; Garrett
Van Vranken, Niskayuna; William Gifford, Prince
town; Simon Schermerhorn, Rotterdam. Chair
man, Marvin Strong; Clerk, James M. Bouck;
Marshal, Cornelius J. Barhydt.
The total tax levied this year was $19,984.09.
1840. — Supervisors — Nicholas Hansom, First
ward; James C. Magoffin, Second ward; Joel Phil
lips, Third and Fourth wards; David Ostrom,
Glenville; Benjamin F. Wood, Duanesburgh; Pe
ter B. Noxon, Niskayuna; Alexander Clogston,
Princetown; John P. Becker, Rotterdam. Chair
man, James C. Magoffin; Clerk, James M. Bouck;
Marshal, Cornelius J. Barhydt. The brick build
ing on the east side of the almshouse was built
this year.
Total tax levied this year was $23,649.94.
1 84 1. — Supervisors — Isaac I. Yates, First ward;
James C. Magoffin, Second ward; James G Van
Voast, Third and Fourth wards; Nicholas Brooks,
Glenville; Benjamin F. Wood, Duanesburgh; Gar
ret Van Vranken, Niskayuna; Alexander Clogston,
Princetown; Abram Warren, Rotterdam. Officers
same as preceding year.
Five hundred dollars was appropriated this year
for the purpose of building school-houses in the
city of Schenectady. Sheriff Mindert M. K. Wem
ple received the sum of fifty dollars for the execu
tion of Charles Cook, murderer of Mrs. Merry, a
resident of the town of Glenville. The tax levied
this year was about the same as last.
1842. — Supervisors — Sidney B. Potter, First
ward ; Nicholas A. Vedder, Second ward ; Peter
Rowe, Third and Fourth wards ; Jacob Carner,
Glenville ; Benjamin F. Wood, Duanesburgh ;
William Gordon, Princetown ; Garrett Van Vran
ken, Niskayuna ; Abraham Warren, Rotterdam.
Chairman, Abraham Warren ; Clerk, James M.
Bouck ; Marshal, Cornelius J. Barhydt.
March 28 of this year an act of the Legislature
was passed creating the office of Police Justice of
the city of Schenectady. The selection of this
officer was duly delegated to the Board of Super
visors. Joseph H. Vrooman was chosen for this
year. His salary was fixed at seven hundred dol
lars per year. The total tax levied this year was
$28,151.35. 1843. — Supervisors — Simon C. Groat, First
ward ; Nicholas A. Vedder, Second ward ; Peter
Rowe, Third and Fourth wards ; Jacob Carner,
Glenville ; Perry T. Briggs, Duanesburgh ; Mor
gan Strong, Niskayuna ; John W. Shannon,
Princetown; Abraham Warren, Rotterdam. Chair
man, Abraham Warren ; Clerk, Benjamin F.
Patten ; Marshal, Cornelius J. Barhydt
The amount of taxes levied this year was nearly
$2,000 less than last year.

1844.— Supervisors— Isaac Riggs, First ward;
Samuel Myers, Second ward ; John G. Van
Vorst, Third and Fourth wards ; Peter Sanders,
Glenville ; Thomas Knight, Duanesburgh ; Abra
ham Pearse, Niskayuna; John W. Shannon,
Princetown ; James T. Wasson, Rotterdam.
Chairman, Abraham Pearse; Clerk, John Van
Santvoord ; Marshal, Bassett Vedder. The total
tax levied this year was $23,495-82-
1845.— Supervisors— Martin De Forest, First
ward ; John S. M. Barhydt, Second ward; Jabez
Ward, Third and Fourth wards; Abraham W.
Toll, Glenville ; Thomas Knight, Duanesburgh ;
James R. Craig, Niskayuna ; James Donnan,
Princetown ; James Allen, Rotterdam. Chairman,
Thomas Knight; Clerk, Benjamin F. Potter;
Marshal, O. S. De Forest. The amount of taxes
levied was about the same as last year.
1846.— Supervisors — Martin De Forest, First
ward ; John S. M. Barhydt, Second ward ; John
I. Vrooman, Third and Fourth wards ; Adam C.
Van Patten, Glenville ; Thomas Knight, Duanes
burgh ; James R. Craig, Niskayuna ; James Don
nan, Princetown ; Abraham N. Bradt, Rotter
dam. Officers of the Board were the same as preceding
year. $853.45 was expended on repairs at the
almshouse. Total tax levied this year was
$25,901.82. 1847. — Supervisors — Martin De Forest, First
ward ; Nicholas Barhydt, Second ward ; John I.
Vrooman, Third and Fourth wards ; Abraham
Conklin, Duanesburgh ; Abraham W. Toll,
Glenville ; William Van Vranken, Niskayuna ;
James Templar, Princetown ; James P. Wasson,
Rotterdam. Chairman, Martin De Forest ; Clerk,
Benjamin F. Potter ; Marshal, O. S. De Forest.
Under an act of the Legislature, passed this year,
the offices of Judge and Surrogate were combined,
and the first election of a person to this office oc
curred this year. The Board fixed the salary at
one thousand dollars. Total tax levied this year
was $24,374.58.
1848. — Supervisors — Martin De Forest, First
ward; Peter Banker, Second ward; Joshua Bar
ker, Third and Fourth wards; Abraham Conklin,
Duanesburgh; Reuben Ellwood, Glenville; Wil
liam Van Vranken, Niskayuna; James Templar,
Princetown; John W. Conklin, Rotterdam. Chair
man, Abraham Conklin; Clerk and Marshal,
same as last year.
Application was made and granted by the Free
man's Bridge Company for the right to build a
bridge where the present bridge stands. The
right was also extended to the Schenectady and
Duanesburgh Plank Road Company and the
Schenectady and Saratoga Plank Road Company
to build plank roads.
The State and County tax this year amounted to
$10,500. Ward and town charges, $2,295.10;
city, $8,507.74.
1849. — Supervisors — Martin De Forest, First
ward; Peter Banker, Second ward; David P.Greene,
Third and Fourth wards; Abram Conklin, Duanes
burgh; Reuben Ellwood, Glenville; John Pearse, Nis-

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

59

kayuna; James Weart, Princetown; John W.
Conklin, Rotterdam. Chairman, Peter Banker;
Clerk, Stephen H. Johnson; Marshal, Green G.
Crandall. The first local law for the preservation
of game was framed by this Board this year. The
application of the Fort Hunter and Albany Plank
Road Company to extend a plank road through a
part of this county was granted. The aggregate
valuation of real and personal estate was returned
at $3,112,417.66. From 1833 to this year it had
remained at about the same amount.
The total tax levied this year was $32,833.15.
State and county tax, $15,400; city tax, $12,-
400,09. 1850. — Supervisors — Stephen Yates, First ward;
John S. M. Barhydt, Second ward; Solo
mon B. King, Third and Fourth Wards; Alex
ander Siddle, Jr., Duanesburgh; Adam C. Van
Patten, Glenville; William V. Bradt, Niskayuna;
James Weart, Princetown; N. I. Schermerhorn,
Rotterdam. Chairman, Stephen Yates; Clerk,
Benjamin F. Potter; Marshal, John C. Barhydt
The total tax levied this year was $27,616.43.
The State and county tax was $13,000.
1 8 5 1 . — Supervisors — Stephen Yates, First ward ;
Adrian Van Santvoord, Second ward; Solomon
B. King, Third ward; Nicholas Barhydt, Fourth
ward (by act of Legislature, March 21, 1851);
Alexander Siddle, Jr., Duanesburgh; A. C. Van
Patten, Glenville; William V. Bradt, Niskayuna;
John Robinson, Jr., Princetown; John J. Scher
merhorn, Rotterdam. Officers same as preceding
year. The following sums were levied upon the city
this year : Support of poor, $3,000; highways,
$2,000; Fire Department, $2,000; Police, $1,-
000; contingent, $1,400.
The valuation of real and personal estate in the
county this year was more than double over pre
ceding year, being $7, 149, 113.
Total tax levied this year was $34,150.66.
1852. — Supervisors — Stephen Yates, First ward;
A. M. Vedder, Second ward ; A. F. Kingsbury,
Third ward; Nicholas Barhydt, Fourth ward;
Alonzo Ladd, Duanesburgh ; Nicholas Brooks,
Glenville (subsequently elected Sheriff; Reuben
Groot was appointed to fill vacancy) ; James Van
Vranken, Niskayuna ; James Robinson, Jr.,
Princetown; George Vedder, Rotterdam. Officers
same as preceding year, with the exception of
Alexander J. Thomson, Clerk.
The county tax this year was $23,501.10. Of
this sum $5,039 was appropriated to schools by
law of 1 85 1. Total tax levied, $38,493.68.
1853. — Supervisors — Sidney B. Potter, First
ward; Alexander M. Vedder, Second ward;
Francis Fisk, Third ward ; Nicholas Barhydt,
Fourth ward ; Alonzo Ladd, Duanesburgh ;
Bracey Tobey, Glenville ; James Van Vranken,
Niskayuna ; James McNee, Princetown ; N. I.
Schermerhorn, Rotterdam. Chairman, Sidney B.
Potter; Clerk, John Bradt; Marshal, George Wag
goner. Total tax levied this year was $40,427.99.
1854. — Supervisors — Albert Ward, First ward;
Alexander M. Vedder, Second ward; Peter

Vedder, Third ward ; Livingston Ellwood, Fourth
ward ; James Donnan, Duanesburgh ; Minard
Knights, Glenville ; John H. Putnam, Niskayuna ;
James McNee, Princetown; George Veeder, Rotter
dam. Chairman, Alexander M. Vedder; Clerk,
Simon Calkins ; Marshal, John T. Van Potten.
Total tax levied this year was $36,744.05.
1855. — Supervisors — James R. Craig, First
ward ; Sybrant G. Van Debogart, Second ward ;
Levi Case, Third ward ; Robert C. Dorn, Fourth
ward ; Alexander Liddle, Jr., Duanesburgh ;
Christian H. Brooks, Glenville; John Pearse,
Niskayuna ; Samuel B. Bradshaw, Princetown ;
Moses Chism, Rotterdam. Chairman, James R.
Craig ; Clerk, James J. Marlette ; Marshal, John
T. Van Patten.
The city of Schenectady raised by tax this year,
by act of the Legislature, $3,100 for school pur
poses. County and State tax this year was $26,-
500. Total tax levied, $46,708.38.
1856. — Supervisors— Sidney B. Potter, First
ward ; S. G. Van Debogart, Second ward ;
Francis Van Debogart, Third ward ; Abraham
Vrooman, Fourth ward ; Angus Mcintosh,
Duanesburgh ; Philip R. Toll, Glenville ; John
H. Putnam, Niskayuna ; Samuel B. Bradshaw,
Princetown ; S. J. Schermerhorn, Rotterdam.
Chairman, S. G. Van Debogart ; Clerk and
Marshal same as preceding year.
Under law of State passed April 9, 1854, $6,000
was raised, levied on the city of Schenectady, for
school purposes this year.
Amount of taxes levied upon the county this
year was about the same as last year.
1857. — Supervisors — James R. Craig, First ward;
S. G. Van Debogart, Second ward ; Francis Van
Debogart, Third ward ; L. M. Clement, Fourth
ward ; Angus Mcintosh, Duanesburgh ; Philip R.
Toll, Glenville ; William H. Lake, Niskayuna ;
Andrew Kelly, Princetown ; Henry M. Crane,
Rotterdam. Officers same as last year.
Total tax, $73,610.19.
Among the sums levied upon the city of Sche
nectady were the following : Fire purposes, $1-,
lighting streets, $4,000; poor, $2,500;

200

,000.

The

police, $1,000 ; school purposes,
entire city tax was $25,840.25.
Ward and town charges were $7,770. 50.
1858. — Supervisors — Jay Cady, First ward ; S.
G. Van Debogart, Second ward ; Francis Van De
bogart, Third ward ; Ira Brownell, Fourth ward ;
Benjamin F. Wood. Duanesburgh ; Charles P.
Sanders, Glenville ; Benjamin C. Lansing, Nis
kayuna ; Andrew Kelly, Princetown ; Henry M.
Crane, Rotterdam. Chairman, S. G. Van De
bogart ; Clerk, H. Maynard Aiken and J. J. Mar
lette ; Marshal, John S. M. Barhydt.
Total tax levied this year was $76,125.77.
1859. — The Supervisors this year were : Peter
Dorsch, First ward ; William H. Anthony, Second
ward ; Jacob Vedder, Third ward ; William H.
Helmer, Fourth ward ; William Young, Duanes
burgh ; Charles P. Sanders, Glenville ; John I.
Vrooman, Niskayuna; John Marlette, Princetown;
William Akin, Rotterdam. Chairman, William

60

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

H. Anthony ; Clerk, James J. Marlette ; Marshal,
John G. Van Patten.
The Excise Commissioners made a report this
year, from which we find that $3,005 was received
from licenses granted.
Total tax this year was $64,749.76.
i860. — Supervisors — A. J. Thompson, First
ward ; William H. Anthony, Second ward ; An
drew Frame, Third ward ; Andrew McMullen,
Fourth ward ; Nicholas Barhydt, Fifth ward
(formed March 8, i860, by an act of the Legisla
ture); Charles P. Sanders, Glenville ; John Mar
lette, Princetown; Samuel Wingate, Duanesburgh;
James T. Wasson, Rotterdam ; John I. Vrooman,
Niskayuna. Chairman, James T. Wasson; Clerk,
Allen H. Jackson.
From the report made by the Excise Commis
sioners this year, it appears that ninety-one licenses
were granted in the county, producing a revenue of
$2,893.76. The total tax levied this year was $65,240. 67.
The city tax this year was $26,882.42.
1861. — Supervisors — Alexander J. Thompson,
First ward ; S. G. Van Debogart, Second ward ;
Jacob Vedder, Third ward ; Andrew McMullen,
Fourth ward ; James H. Ward, Fifth ward ; Sam
uel Wingate, Duanesburgh ; Charles P. Sanders,
Glenville ; William Van Vranken, Niskayuna ;
Thomas Passage, Princetown ; James McMillan,
Jr., Rotterdam. Chairman, James H. Ward;
Clerk, Allen H. Jackson, part term, Walter T. L
Sanders remainder.
Total tax this year was $68,015. : :-
1862. — Supervisors — Simon V. Swits, First ward;
William H. Anthony, Second ward; Jacob Ved
der, Third Ward; Cornelius Thomson, Fourth
ward; James H. Ward, Fifth ward; Samuel Win
gate, Duanesburgh; Charles P. Sanders, Glen
ville; William Van Vranken, Niskayuna; Alex
ander Gifford, Princetown; James McMillan, Jr.,
Rotterdam. Chairman, William H. Anthony; remaining
officers same as preceding year.
We have now arrived at that period in the his
tory of the Board when the war for the preserva
tion of the Union had reached gigantic proportions.
The present Board of- Supervisors, and all sub
sequent boards during the war, exhibited a pa
triotic devotion to the Union.
After the organization of the Board, a special
meeting was held August 16th of this year, and a
resolution, of which the following is part, was
unanimously passed:
"Resolved, that we, the Supervisors of the
County of Schenectady, will continue to pay to
all volunteers enlisting in the companies now form
ing, or to be formed, to fill up the quotas required
by the general Government to be raised by this
county, either upon the first or second calls of
the President for 300,000 men upon each call, the
sum of $50 to each of such volunteers, in addi
tion to the bounties already provided by the State
and general governments. "
The enunciation of the passage of the resolu
tion was received with much applause and cheering

by a large body of anxious and expectant citizens,
who were present awaiting in silent solemnity the
action of the board.
Under the provision of this resolution the sum
of $29,250 was expended this year, and the
raising of this amount by taxation was legalized
by legislative act passed the subsequent year.
The total tax levied this year was $96, 200. 24.
1863.— Supervisors— Martin De Forest, First
ward; Wm. H. Anthony, Second ward; Sidney C.
Ellsworth, Third ward; Peter Van Dyck, Fourth
ward; James H. Ward, Fifth ward; Samuel Win
gate, Duanesburgh; Charles P. Sanders, Glenville;
Hiram Baumes, Niskayuna; Alexander Gifford,
Princetown; James McMillan, Jr., Rotterdam.
Chairman, James H. Ward: Clerk, Walter T.
L. Sanders; Marshal, Benjamin F. Sheldon.
At this session of the Board, the sum of $300
was appropriated to each volunteer recruited in
the county under the proclamation of the Pres
ident dated October 10, 1863, calling for 300,000
men. Twenty-six thousand dollars in bonds of the
County of Schenectady, of $500 each, were issued
this year to discharge the liabilities incurred under
the resolution of the Board for the payment of
bounties to volunteers.
The total tax levied this year was $109, 785.75.
1864. — Supervisors — Martin De Forest, First
ward; William H. Anthony, Second ward; Sidney
C. Ellsworth, Third ward; Peter Van Dyck, Fourth
ward; James H. Ward, Fifth ward; Samuel Win
gate, Duanesburgh; John L. Turnbull, Duanes
burgh (appointed to fill vacancy caused by removal
of Samuel Wingate from town); Aaron Swart,
Glenville; Hiram Baumes, Niskayuna; Alexander
Gifford, Princetown; James McMillan, Jr., Rot
terdam. Chairman and Clerk same as last year.
From the report of the County Treasurer this
year, it appears the Finance Committee had given
orders to 279 men, amounting to $83,700, for
bounty money, from December 15, 1863, to July
9, 1864.
A tax was levied upon the city this year, made
payable June 1, of $50,000 to pay bounties.
The total tax levied this year was $228,718.36,
the largest tax ever imposed upon the count}'.
Over $120,000 of this sum was for bounties.
1865. — Supervisors — Martin De Forest, First
ward; William H. Anthony, Second ward; Sidney
C. Ellsworth, Third ward; Peter Van Dyck, Fourth
ward; Nicholas H. Swart, Fifth ward; Charles P.
Sanders, Glenville; John I. Vrooman, Jr., Niska
yuna; William Dougall, Princetown; Jacob D.
Wemple, Rotterdam. Chairman, Martin De For
est; Clerk, Walter T. L. Sanders; Marshal, John
T. Van Patten.
At this session of the Board, the Provost Marshal,
J. P. Baths, of the Eighteenth Congressional Dis
trict (comprising Saratoga, Schenectady, Mont
gomery, Fulton and Hamilton counties), made a
report concerning military affairs in the district,
from which we make the following extracts:
The corrected enrollment, made in 1865, shows
12,418 men in the district liable to military duty.

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

61

Of this number Schenectady County was credited
with 2, no men. The whole number of men
mustered into service in the district was 7,157
men. The following was the amount of bounties paid
by the city and respective towns of the county up
to October 31, 1865:
City, $183,750; Duanesburgh, $113,394; Glen
ville, $88,720.53; Princetown, $36,000; Rotter
dam, $75,292; Niskayuna, $24,756.94. A special
tax of $50, 750 for bounty money was levied upon
the city of Schenectady, to be paid by the 3d of
May, 1866.
The total tax levied this year was $150,196.86.
1866. — Supervisors — Arthur W. Hunter, First
ward; William H. Anthony, Second ward; Rich
ard Rosa, Third ward; Peter Van Dyck, Fourth
ward; Frederick Vedder, Fifth ward; William
Mallock, Duanesburgh; Charles P. Sanders, Glen
ville; John I. Vrooman, Jr., Niskayuna; William
Dougall, Princetown; James McMillan, Jr., Rot
terdam. Chairman, Richard Rosa; Clerk and
Marshal same as preceding year.
Total tax levied this year was $140,584.93.
1867. — Supervisors — Jonas H. Crane, First
ward; William H. Anthony, Second ward; Rich
ard Rosa, Third ward; Peter Van Dyck, Fourth
ward; Frederick Vedder, Fifth ward; William
Mallock, Duanesburgh; Charles P. Sanders, Glen
ville; John I. Vrooman, Jr., Niskayuna; William
Dougall, Princetown; James McMillan, Jr., Rot
terdam. Chairman, William Dougall; Clerk and
Marshal same as preceding year.
This year $ 1 5, 407. 30 was raised in the city of
Schenectady to defray expenses of the capital po
lice, as provided by the amendatory acts to Chapter
555 of the Laws of 1865.
The total tax levied this year was $149,210.68.
A special tax of $46,575, to be paid by May 3,
1868, was levied upon the city to fund its bounty
debt. 1868. — Supervisors — Jonas H. Crane, First ward;
William H. Anthony, Second ward; Harmon Sey
mour, Third ward; Peter Van Dyck, Fourth ward;
Frederick Vedder, Fifth ward; William Malloch,
Duanesburgh; Charles P. Sanders, Glenville; John
I. Vrooman, Jr. , Niskayuna; Andrew T. Wingate,
Princetown; James Clute, Rotterdam. Chairman,
Harmon Seymour; Clerk and Marshal, same as
last year.
Total tax this year, $123,774.54-
1869. — Supervisors — Jonas H. Crane, First ward;
William H. Anthony, Second ward; Peter Vedder,
Third ward; Peter Van Dyck, Fourth ward; Fred
erick Vedder, Fifth ward; William Mallock, Duanes
burgh; Charles P. Sanders, Glenville; Nicholas
J. Van Vranken, Niskayuna; Andrew T. Wingate,
Princetown; H. Maynard Aiken, Rotterdam.
Chairman, H. Maynard Aiken; Clerk and Marshal
same as preceding year.
The sum of $10,411.78 was expended upon the
county fair and parade grounds this year.
Total tax levied, $148,165.59.
1870.— Supervisors— Jon as H. Crane, First ward;
William H. Anthony, Second ward; John G.

Greene, Third ward; Peter Van Dyck, Fourth
ward; Frederick Vedder, Fifth ward; William Mal
lock, Duanesburgh; Charles P. Sanders, Glenville;
Nicholas J. Van Vranken, Niskayuna; Walter Brad
shaw, Princetown; John M. Veeder, Rotterdam.
Chairman, Nicholas J. Van Vranken; Clerk, G. Gil
bert; Marshal, John G. Van Patten.
Ten thousand dollars was appropriated this year
for the enlargement of the County Clerk's and Sur
rogate's office. The lot adjoining the old office
was purchased for this purpose for $5,000.
Total tax levied, $160, 94 7. 6 5.
1 871. — Supervisors — Jonas H. Crane, First ward;
Charles G. Ellis, Second ward; John G. Greene,
Third ward; William H. Clark, Fourth ward; Har
rison Clute and Thomas Shannon (the latter ap
pointed to fill vacancy occasioned by election of
Harrison Clute, Superintendent of Poor); Emmett
O'Neill, Duanesburgh; Charles P. Sanders, Glen
ville; Walter Bradshaw, Princetown; John I. Vroo
man, Jr., Niskayuna; John M. Veeder, Rotterdam.
Chairman, Walter Bradshaw; Clerk and Marshal,
same as preceding year.
Total tax levied, $138,693.20.
1872. — Supervisors — A. W. Hunter, First ward;
Charles G. Ellis, Second ward; John G. Greene,
Third ward; William H. Clark, Fourth ward;
William H. McClyman, Fifth ward; Emmett
O'Neill, Duanesburgh; Charles P. Sanders, Glen
ville; Christopher O. Hamlin, Niskayuna; Walter
Bradshaw, Princetown; John M. Veeder, Rotter
dam. Chairman, Emmett O'Neill ; Clerk, G.
Gilbert; Marshal, Solomon Bearup.
Total tax levied, $166,625.08.
1873. — Supervisors — James R. Craig, First
ward; Charles G. Ellis, Second ward; John G.
Greene, Third ward; Bartholomew O'Connel,
Fourth ward; William H. McClyman, Fifth
ward; Emmett O'Neill, Duanesburgh; Charles P.
Sanders, Glenville; Christopher O. Hamlin, Nis
kayuna; Walter Bradshaw, Princetown; John M.
Veeder, Rotterdam. Chairman, Christopher O.
Hamlin; Clerk, G. Gilbert; Marshal, John G.
Van Patten. April 21st of this year an act of the
Legislature was passed authorizing the Board of
Supervisors to sell a portion of the poor-house
farm; 187 lots were sold at auction for the sum of
$42,083. Total tax levied, $149,056.57.
1874. — Supervisors — Jonas H. Crane, First
ward; William H. Anthony, Second ward;
Hugh Reynolds, Third ward; Martin Swart,
Fourth ward; Garrett S. Veeder, Fifth ward;
Emmett O'Neill, Duanesburgh; Charles P. San
ders, Glenville; Christopher O. Hamlin, Niskay
una; Walter Bradshaw, Princetown; Seeley Pat
terson, Rotterdam. Chairman, Seely Patterson;
Clerk, Josiah Van Vranken; Marshal, John G.
Van Patten.
Total tax levied, $177,744.78.
1875. — Supervisors — Jonas H. Crane, First
ward; William H. Anthony, Second ward;
Hugh Reynolds, Third ward; Martin Swart,
Fourth ward; Garrett S. Veeder, Fifth ward;
Arthur D. Mead, Duanesburgh; Philip R. Toll,

62

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Glenville; Christopher 0. Hamlin, Niskayuna;
Alexander Gifford, Princetown; Jacob D. Wemple,
Rotterdam. Chairman, Jonas H. Crane; remain
ing officers same as preceding year. Total tax
levied, $184,441.72.
1876. — Supervisors — A. W. Hunter, First
ward; William H. Anthony, Second ward; Hugh
Reynolds, Third ward; Lewis Vrooman, Fourth
ward; William G. Van Patten, Fifth ward; George
Lasher, Duanesburgh; Reuben Groot, Glenville;
Christopher 0. Hamlin, Niskayuna; Alexander
Gifford, Princetown; Isaac Wemple, Rotterdam.
Chairman, William H. Anthony; Clerk, Josiah
Van Vranken; Marshal, John T. Van Patten. For
a number of years heretofore the aggregate valua
tions of real and personal estate in the county had
been returned by the assessors at about five and
one-half million dollars. This year the aggregate
valuation was increased to $6,500,690.03. Total
tax levied, $158,002.52.
1877. — Supervisors — A. W. Hunter, First ward;
Robert Cornell, Second ward; James McDermott,
Third ward; Lewis Vrooman, Fourth ward;
William G. Van Patten, Fifth ward; Arthur D.
Mead, Duanesburgh; Reuben Groot, Glenville;
Christopher O. Hamlin, Niskayuna; Alexander
Gifford, Princetown; Isaac Wemple, Rotterdam.
Chairman, Arthur D. Mead; Clerk, Josiah Van
Vranken; Marshal, John G. Van Patten. Total
tax about as preceding year.
1878. — Supervisors — A. W. Hunter, First
ward; Robert Cornell, Second ward; James Mc
Dermott, Third ward; Peter Van Dyck, Fourth
ward; F. T. Van Patten, Fifth ward; George
Lasher, Duanesburgh; John A. Taws, Princetown;
James Turnbull, Rotterdam; Christopher O. Ham
lin, Niskayuna; Reuben Groot, Glenville. Chair
man, George Lasher; Clerk, Gilbert De Graff;
Marshal, John T. Van Patten. Total tax levied,
$142,308.31. 1879. — Supervisors — A. W. Hunter, First ward;
Hiram J. Ingersoll, Second ward ; James Flinn,
Third ward ; Lewis Clement, Fourth ward ; F. T.
Van Patten, Fifth ward ; John W. Head, Duanes
burgh ; Reuben Groot, Glenville ; Christopher O.
Hamlin, Niskayuna ; John A. Taws, Princetown ;
James Turnbull, Rotterdam. Chairman, John
W. Head; Clerk, Gilbert De Graff; Marshal,
John T. Van Patten.
At this session a special act of the Legislature
was passed abolishing the office of Keeper at the
Almshouse, the duties of which office were united
with those devolving upon the Superintendent of
Poor. Total tax levied this year, $143,073.59.
1880. — Supervisors — A. W. Hunter, First ward;
Henry Bradt, Second ward ; Francis Cain, Third
ward ; Peter Van Dyck, Fourth ward ; F. T. Van
Patten, Fifth ward ; George Lasher, Duanesburgh;
Alexander Donnan, Princetown ; Thomas W.
Winne, Niskayuna ; Reuben Groot, Glenville ;
James Turnbull, Rotterdam. . Chairman, Reuben
Groot ; Clerk, Patrick H. Cain ; Marshal, John
T. Van Patten.
Total tax levied this year, $142,753.07.

1 88 1.— Supervisors— A. W. Hunter, First ward;
Charles W. Sanders, Second ward ; Francis Cain,
Third ward; Peter Van Dyck, Fourth ward;
George M. Bostwick, Fifth ward ; James W. Wad
dell, Duanesburgh ; Reuben Groot, Glenville ;
Samuel A. Weast, Rotterdam ; Alexander Donnan,
Princetown ; Thomas W. Winne, Niskayuna.
Chairman, Reuben Groot; Clerk, P. H.Cain;
Marshal, John T. Van Patten.
Total tax abont the same as preceding year.
1882. — Supervisors — A. W. Hunter, First ward ;
Levi A. Young, Second ward ; Francis Cain and
Patrick H. Cain (the latter appointed to fill
vacancy caused by death of Francis Cain), Third
ward ; Peter Van Dyck, Fourth ward ; Jerome
B. Dow, Fifth ward ; James T. Wyatt, Glenville ;
James T. Waddell, Duanesburgh ; Thomas W.
Winne, Niskayuna ; Samuel A. Weast, Rotter
dam ; James Weast, Princetown. Chairman, A.
W. Hunter ; Clerk, George M. Bostwick ; Mar
shal, John T. Van Patten. Total tax levied,
$151,817.23. .
1883. — Supervisors — A. W. Hunter, First ward ;
N. J. . Swart, Second ward ; P. H. Cain, Third
ward ; Seth L. Clute, Fourth ward ; Ephraim
Clow, Fifth ward ; James W. Waddell, Duanes
burgh ; Thomas W. Winne, Niskayuna ; James
Weast, Princetown ; S. J. Schermerhorn, Rotter
dam. Chairman, A. W. Hunter ; Clerk, John E.
Myers ; Marshal, John T. Van Patten.
At this session of the Board the aggregate valua
tions of the personal and real estate was increased
from $6,542,448 for preceding year, to $13,281,-
490.05 for this year. Total tax levied, $164,-
364.78- Four of the city members of this Board made an
appeal to the State Assessors, claiming that the
equalization of assessment, as made by a majority
of the Board, resulted in great injustice to the tax
payers of the city. A hearing was had before the
State Assessors in this city in June of the follow
ing year, when the appeal of the city members was
sustained, and the various towns of the county
were ordered and did pay back to the city the
several amounts wrongfully, as was claimed by
the State Assessors, assessed upon the city.
1884. — Supervisors — A. W. Hunter, First ward;
Jacob Barringer, Second ward ; Patrick H. Cain,
Third ward ; Lewis Vrooman, Fourth ward ;
George Susholz, Fifth ward ; John A. McClure,
Duanesburgh ; James T. Wyatt, Glenville ; John
C. Myers, Rotterdam ; James Weast, Princetown ;
Thomas W. Winne, Niskayuna. Chairman,
James T. Wyatt ; Clerk, Omie F. Vedder ; Mar
shal, John T. Van Patten.
Total tax levied this year was $183,664.65;
State tax, $29,880.64; county tax, $33,898.13;
city charges, $95,346.73; town charges, $24,-
538.85. Included in the city charges were the following
items: Poor, $5,000.00 ;, schools, $17,000.00;
for deficiency, 1883 (by special act of Legislature),
$13,500.00; extinguishment of fires, $12,000.00;
lighting streets, $10,000.00; police, $9,500.00.

SUPERINTENDENTS OF POOR.

63

SUPERINTENDENTS OF POOR.
Previous to 1824, each town in all the counties
of the State supported its own poor, under statutes
passed by the Legislature, but which, however
humane and liberal, were imperfect compared with
our existing laws. November 27, 1824, a law was
passed for the establishment of a poor-house in
several counties of the State. April 11, 1826,
a law was passed authorizing the establishment of
a poor-house in the county of Schenectady. This
act was in the main similar to the law passed
November 27, 1824. The number of superin
tendents was limited to three and not more than
five. It was also provided in this act that the poor
sent to the county poor-house from the city and
several towns should be a charge upon the city or
towns from which they were sent.
The present county poor-house and the adjoin
ing farm, before the passage of this act, were used
as an almshouse by the city and the present towns
of Rotterdam and Glenville. On the 9th day of
December, 1825, a committee was appointed by
the board for the purpose of purchasing this prop
erty. The price agreed upon was $2,000. The
act of April n, 1826, permitted this sale, which
was consummated July 15, 1826.
The first Superintendents of Poor were : David
Boyd, Cornelius Z. Van Santvoord, John Wood,
Jacob I. Schermerhorn and David Smith. They
were appointed for a term of one year. The first
poor-house keeper was Henry Clute.
August 1, 1826, the poor-house was first opened
for the reception of county poor.
The first year the Superintendents made a con
tract with the keeper for the support, maintenance
and clothing of the county paupers for sixty cents
each per week, the keeper being allowed the prod
ucts of the farm and the use of the buildings, and
whatever labor he could obtain from the able-
bodied paupers.
The first report was sent by the Superintendents
to the Board of Supervisors, November 14, 1826,
from which we find that from August ist to October
30th, the entire expense of the county poor-house
was $321.00; the whole number of paupers, 38,
divided as follows : City, 1 6 ; County 1 1 ; Rot
terdam, 3 ; Glenville, 6 ; Princetown, 2. The
Superintendents reported that they had engaged
Dr. John La Tonelier as almshouse physician, at
an annual salary of $75.
The Board of Supervisors prescribed the laws
and regulations governing the poor-house, and the
rules to be observed by the inmates. The Super
intendents reported as follows : "That the poor-
house and paupers have been visited every week
by one of the Superintendents ; the paupers always
found clean and cheerful; and the house clean, and
everything in good order. The by-laws, rules
and regulations laid down by the Board of Super
visors have been strictly adhered to. "
The following year the Superintendents made a
contract with Henry Clute to keep the paupers at
fifty cents per week, under the same conditions as
last year.

This year the offices of poor-house and jail
physician were united into one office, and an an
nual salary of $120 allowed. David Low was
elected as such physician. The total expense of
the poor-house for the year was $481. 14.
In 1829, the sum of $150 was appropriated for
the purpose of building a lunatic asylum on the
poor-house property. The Superintendent reported
that $900 would be necessary to defray the expenses
of the poor for the following year.
In 1830, the number of Superintendents was re
duced by the Board of Supervisors from five to
three. The reports of the Superintendents for this and
the following years are so limited that few facts of
interest can be obtained.
In 183 1, J. I. S. Van Epps, Henry Peek
and William Carpenter were Superintendents of
Poor. From the report of these officers it ap
pears the expenses of the poor-house were $1,316.63
for the preceding year, $500 of which sum was
used to pay an indebtedness of previous year; $800
was raised this year for poor-house purposes.
The Superintendents for 1833 were: Henry
Peek, Henry Lovett and William A. S. North.
$1,200 was raised this year for support of the poor-
house. Henry Peek, William A. S. North and Abner
H. Smith were appointed Superintendents for
1834. $1,400 was raised for County poor-house
this year.
For 1835, Abner Smith, Simon Schermerhorn and
John Van Voast were Superintendents. $2,127
was raised for county poor this year.
For 1836, the same Superintendents were ap
pointed as in the preceding year.
From this year to 1 840 the amounts raised for
county poor ranged from $1,600 to $2,200.
The reports for these years were not recorded in
the minutes of the Board of Supervisors, and could
not be found.
It had been the custom of the Board of Super
visors to visit the poor-house annually for inspec
tion. After inspecting the premises in 1840, it was
determined that insufficient room was provided for
the paupers, and, in consequence, the brick build
ing on the east side of the poor-house was con
structed this year. A barn was also built at the
same time.
The following sums were raised this year :
$2,000 for support of poor, $500 for furniture for
new building, and $602 to pay indebtedness for
poor purposes for preceding year.
The Superintendents for 1841 and 1842 were:
John Van Voast, Wm. A. S. North and John
Clark. The sum of $1,800 was raised each year
for county poor purposes.
Wm. A. S. North, John Van Voast and Daniel
Smith were chosen Superintendents for 1843, an^
Daniel Smith, David M. Moore and John Van
Voast for 1844. $1,600 was raised in 1843, an-d
$1,250 in 1844 for county poor.
In 1844 the Board of Supervisors, deeming the ap
pointment of three Superintendents of Poor to be
unnecessary and too expensive, petitioned the Legis-

64

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

lature for the passage of an act permitting the
Board to appoint but one Superintendent of Poor.
The passage of such a law was not effected until a
number of years after.
The Superintendents from 1845 to 1848 were:
Benjamin F. Wood, Abraham A. Van Voast and
Abijah Freeman; $15,000 was raised in 1845
and $1,600 in 1846 for the maintenance of the
county poor ; $853.45 was expended in 1846 on
an addition and repairs at the poor-house.
In 1848, the Superintendents of Poor were re
quired to give bonds in the sum of $3,000 each.
The Superintendents for this year were : John F.
Clute, Philip H. Dederick and William S. Kelly.
The Superintendents for 1849 were: Joshua
Parker, Abraham Vrooman and Philip H. Dederick.
From 1848 to 1854, the cost of maintaining the
poor-house ranged from $1,500 to $2,000. In
1854 a difficulty arose between the Board of Super
visors and the Superintendents of Poor as to which
body was delegated the power of appointing a
keeper at the poor-house. The Board appointed
Henry Marcellus and the Superintendents selected
William Chism. After legal investigation it was
settled by allowing the Superintendents to make
their own appointment; but that it was not an ac
knowledgment of their legal rights, is evinced by
the fact that the following year the Board appointed
a keeper, and continued to do so until this office
was abolished in 1879.
An act was passed by the Legislature, in 1854,
reducing the number of Superintendents of Poor
to one, and providing that such officer should be
elected by the people for a term of three yeais.
The first Superintendent elected to this office,
under this law, was Nicholas I. Schermerhorn in
1856. His term began January 1, 1857.
From the report made by the Superintendent in
i860, we find that there were 73 paupers at the
poor-house November 1 of that year, and that the
entire expense of the county poor for the year end
ing November 1 was $9,280.67.
In 1 86 1, the brick building on the west side of
the poor-house was erected for the purpose of
accommodating the insane of the county, at a cost
of $3, 000.
For the year ending November 1, 1862, the
whole expense of the county poor was $9, 270. 59.
From 1862 to the present time, the yearly ex
pense of the county poor-house has averaged be
tween eleven and twelve thousand dollars. In
1866 it was $15,453.12. The maximum amount
was reached in 1878, when it was $16,199, and the
lowest in 1880, when it was $8,283. The average
number of paupers has been between seventy and
eighty. In 1873, a portion of the poor-house farm was
sold at auction in small lots to private individuals.
187 lots were disposed of.
In 1879, a special act of the Legislature was
passed abolishing the office of poor-house keeper ;
the duties of this office were united with those
devolving upon the Superintendent of the Poor.
Since the passage of this law, the Superintendent has
resided at the poor-house.

For a number of years after the erection of the
Asylum building in 186 1, the county took care of
its insane, but in 1875 most of the incurable cases
were removed lo the State Asylum at Ovid, and a
few years after, all incurable patients were removed
to this institution. At the present time the county
supports none of its insane at the county house.
LIST OF SUPERINTENDENTS OF POOR AND KEEPERS.
Superintendents. — 1856-1866, W. I. Schermer
horn; 1866-1869, John F. Clute; 1869-1872,
W. J. Mcintosh; 1872-1879, Harrison Clute ;
1 879-1 885, William G. Van Patten; 1885, An
thony Walton.
Keepers. — 1857-1866, William Chism ; 1866-
187 1, Francis Veeder; 1872-1876, John I. Vroo
man ; 1876-1879, Philip Eygner; 1879-1880,
William E. Dederick.
COUNTY AND STATE OFFICERS.
Following will be found as complete a list of the
officials, both County and State, from Schenectady
County, as could be obtained. Those not given
in the following pages will be found in separate
articles in different portions of this work.
Robert Yates was a Member of the First, Second,
Third and Fourth Provincial Congresses of New
York; was a Member of the First Convention of
New York, in 1777, to form a constitution, and a
member of the committee to draft it; was an As
sociate Justice of the Supreme Court of New York,
and finally its Chief Justice. He was a member of
the Convention of 1788 to ratify the Federal Con
stitution. Rineis Schermerhorn was Senator under the first
Constitution, 1777 to 1781.
John Sanders was Senator under the fiist Con
stitution, 1 799-1 802, and member of the Council
of Appointment in 1 800. His associates were De
Witt Clinton, Ambrose and John Roseboom.
Simon Veeder was Senator under the first Con
stitution from 1804 to 1806.
Henry Yates, Jr., was Senator under the first
Constitution from 18 10 to 18 14, and from 1818 to
1822. He was also a member of the Council of
Appointment in 181 2 and 1818.
Gerret S. Veeder was the first Judge of the
Schenectady Court of Common Pleas, appointed
soon after the organization of the county in
1809. Among those who represented Schenectady in
the General Assembly from 16 15 to 1768 were the
following: Karl Hansen Toll, Jacob Glen, Arent
Bradt, Abraham Glen, Nicholas Schuyler, Jacob
Van Slyck, Isaac Vrooman, Ryer Schermerhorn,
Jacobus Mynderse and Nicholas Groot.
Henry Glen was member of Assembly in 1786,
1787 and 1 8 10. He was also member of the Third,
Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Congresses of the United
States, from 1793 to 1802, and also member of the
First, Second and Third Provincial Congresses,
1775-1776. Harmanus Peek was member of the Sixteenth
Congress from 18 19 to 1821.

COUNTY AND STATE OFFICERS.

65

William North was member of the Assembly
1792, 1794, 1795, 1796 and 1710, and several
times Speaker of that body. In 1798, during a
recess of the Legislature, he was appointed a
Senator of the United States by Governor John
Jay, to fill a vacancy occasioned by the resigna
tion of John Gloss Hoburt
MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY.
1 798-1 800, 1802, 1 804-1 807, 1813, Joseph
Shurtliff; 1811-1812, James Boyd and John
Young; 18 13, Alexander Combs; 1814, Abraham
Van Ingen and Lawrence Vrooman; 18 15, Abra
ham Van Ingen and John Victory; 1816, Harma
nus Peek and Harry Fryer; 181 7, Harmanus Van
Slyck and John Victory; 181 8, Daniel L. Van
Antwerp and Simon A. Veeder; 1819, James
Frost and Simon A. Groot; 1820, Christian Hav
erly and Marinus Willett; 1821, Richard Mc
Michael and Garrit Veeder; 1822, James Walker
and John F. D. Veeder; 1823, Peter M. Bronck;
1824, Isaac Riggs; 1825, John S. Vrooman; 1826,
Robeit Sanders; 1 827-1 830, Alonzo C. Paige;
1831, Aaron Carroll; 1832, Abram Dorn; 1833,
Cornelius C. Van Vranken; 1834, Simon Scher
merhorn; 1835, David Ostrom; 1836, John B.
Duane; 1837, Thomas Knight; 1838, Silas H.
Marsh; 1839, Silas H. Marsh; 1840, Theodore
W. Sanders; 1841, Abraham Pearse; 1842, Jona
than C. Burnham; 1843, Edward H. Walton;
1844, Archibald L. Linn; 1845, William Gifford;
1846, David M. Moore; 1847, David Caw; 1848,
Abraham W. Toll; 1849, Israel A. Green; 1850,
James Allen; 1851, Reuben Ellwood; 1852, James
Donnan; 1853, Wm. Van Vranken; 1854, Mat
thew Winne, Jr.; 1855, James Donnan; 1856,
James Rodgers; 1857, Nicholas Barhydt; 1858,
Angus Mcintosh; 1859, Charles Thomas; i860,
Peter Dorsch; 1861, Alonzo Macomber; 1862,
Simon J. Schermerhorn; 1863, John McShea, Jr.;
1864, Charles Stanford; 1865, Charles Stanford;
1866, John C. Ellis; 1867, Chas. G. Ellis; 1868,
Robert Furman; 1869, Henry M. Crane; 1870,
Gershom Banker; 1871, Gershom Banker; 1872,
William Greenhalgh; 1873, Daniel P. McQueen;
1874, Daniel P. McQueen; 1875, Samuel T. Ben
edict; 1876, Emmett O'Neill; 1877, Walter T. L.
Sanders; 1878, Arthur D. Mead; 1879, Daniel P.
McQueen; 1880, Arthur D. Mead; 1881, George
Lasher; 1882, John D. Campbell; 1883, Christo
pher O. Hamlin; 1884, John W. Veeder; 1885,
Edward D. Cotter. STATE SENATORS.
John Veeder, 1806, 1808-9 ; Joseph C. Yates,
1807, 1808; Henry Yates, Jr., 1811-1814, 1818-
1821 ; Alonzo C. Paige, 1837, 1839-1840;
Stephen H. Johnson, 1 850-1 ; Charles Stanford,
1 ~"' COUNTY JUDGES.
1809, Gerrit S. Veeder; 181 2, Gardner Cleve
land; 1823, David Boyd; 1835, Samuel W.
Jones; 1840, Archibald L. Linn; 1845, Samuel
W. Jones; 1851, Stephen H. Johnson; 1855,
Tohn Sanders ; 1859, Stephen H. Johnson ; 1865,

Judson S. Landon ; 1869, Walter T. L. Sanders;
1873, Austin A. Yates ; 1879, David C. Beattie.
COUNTY SURROGATES.
1809, William J. Teller; 18 13, Robert Hudson ;
181 5, William J. Teller; 18 16, John Yates;
1 82 1, Giles F. Yates; 1840, John Saunders; 1844
-1847, David Cady Smith. Since the latter date
the County Judges have acted as Surrogates.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
18 18, John K. Paige; 1823, Alonzo C. Paige;
1839, Piatt Potter; 1847, Benjamin F. Potter; 1850,
Samuel L. Baker; 1851, James Fuller; 1851, John
Van Santvoord; 1853, Samuel T. Freeman; 1856,
Simon Calkins; 1856, Judson S. Landon; 1862,
John G. McChesney; 1865, John L. Hill; 1868,
Austin A. Yates; 1873, Alonzo P. Strong; 1874,
David C. Beattie; 1877, Charles E. Palmer; 1880,
J. Teller Schoolcraft. SHERIFFS.
1809, James V S. Riley; 1810, John V. Van
Ingen; 181 1, James V. S. Riley; 18 13, John
Brown; 1815, Gideon Holliday; 181 8, Isaac Riggs;
1821, Lewis Eaton; 1822, A. Van Slyck; 1825,
John F. D. Vedder; 1828, Gershom Van Voast;
1831, Isaac I. Yates; 1834, Matthew Putman;
1837, Myndert M. R. Wemple; 1840, David F.
Reese; 1843, Anthony H. Van Slyck; 1846, John
G. Van Voast; 1849, John F. Clute; 1852, Nicholas
Brooks; 1855, Obadiah L. De Forest; 1856, Philip
Dederick; 1858, Norman M. F. Clute; 1861, Abra
ham Gillispie; 1864, Samuel Wingate; 1867, Peter
Miller; 1868, Clark V. Worden; 1869, Jacob Ved
der; 1872, James McMillan; 1875, Hiram J. In
gersoll; 1878, Charles H. Van Vranken; 1881, Jacob
De Forest; 1884, Seth L. Clute.
COUNTY CLERKS.
1769, Henry Glen (Town Clerk) ; 1809, Peter F.
Veeder; 18 10, Joseph Shurtliff; 181 1, Peter F.
Veeder; 1812, Jellis A. Fonda; 1813, Joseph
Shurtliff; 181 5, Jellis A. Fonda; 1822, Jellis A.
Fonda; 1834, John S. Vrooman ; 1834, Jonathan
Burnham; 1837, Archibald Campbell; 1843,
Silas H. Marsh; 1849, David P. Forrest; 1852,
Marvin Strong; 1858, John W. Veeder; 1861,
John N. Banker ; 1864, John McShea, Jr. ; 1864,
James G. Caw; 1876, J. Fonda Veile; 1882,
Thomas Yelverton.
Thomas Yelverton, the present County Clerk,
was born in Chester, Orange County, N. Y., in
1842, and graduated from Union College in 1866.
He came to Schenectady in 1872.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
(Previous to 1848, County Treasurers were
chosen by the Board of Supervisors, and for list
of these officers previous to this date see article on
Supervisors.) 1848, Stephen Y. Vedder; 1851,
Charles H. Matthews; 1854, John H. Vander
veer; 1857, William M. Colbome ; i860, Nicholas
Barhydt; 1863, Nichols V. Swits; 1866, N. J.
Schermerhorn ; 1881, Ira Brownell.

66

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

COUNTY SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
(Previous to 1857, School Commissioners were
appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The first
election was held in November, 1859.) Daniel J.

Darrow, David H. Hamlin, Samuel H. Weart,
Nicholas T. Van Natta, Solyman G. Hamlin,
Simon J. Schermerhorn, David Elder, H. Maynard
Akin, C. W. Van Santvoord.

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF SCHENECTADY.

Edited and Compiled by- Rev. J. H. IMTJNSELL.

MUNICIPAL HISTORY— 1798-1885.
rI^HE municipal history of Schenectady properly
1 begins with the passage of its charter, March
26, 1798, being the third incorporated city in the
State. For ten years preceding the date of incorpora
tion, Schenectady was controlled by a Board of
Trustees, who in 1798 signed a petition to the
Legislature declaring they deemed the incorpora
tion of Schenectady as a city, beneficial and neces
sary to its growth and welfare. The names of
the trustees appended to this petition were: Abra
ham Wemple, Nicholas Veeder, Abraham Switz,
Abraham Oothout, John Glen, John Sanders, Jel
lis I. Fonda, Andrew Van Patten, Adam S. Vroo
man, Garret S. Veeder, Jr., and Richard Scher
merhorn. Among other citizens at this period
who were influential in securing the passage of this
act, were Joseph Shurtliff, member of Assembly
from Schenectady at this date, and for a number of
years after, Simon Veeder, Joseph C. Yates, Maus
Schermerhorn, John Yates, William North and
Harmanus Peek.
The area embraced within the corporate limits
of Schenectady by the charter of 1798 was exten
sive, being twelve miles in length and eight in
breadth. It was divided into four wards. The First
ward included all the compact part of the city
lying between Union street and the Mohawk River;
the Second ward, that part lying south of Union
street and extending a short distance upon the
Bouwlandt; the Third ward, what is now the
town of Rotterdam; and the Fourth ward, what
is now the town of Glenville.
The corporate title was known by the name of
"The Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the
City of Schenectady. " The legislative power of the
city was vested in a Mayor and a Board of Alder
men, who together formed the Common Council,
a majority of the whole constituting a quorum for
the transaction of business.

By this charter, the surviving trustees became di
vested voluntarily of. all rights and claims over the
common lands, the same being vested in the Mayor,
Aldermen and Commonalty of the city. Three
commissioners were appointed to settle all ac
counts against and in favor of the trustees, and it was
provided by the act that no sale or transfer of the
common lands should be made, " unless two-thirds
of the whole number of Aldermen and Assistants of
said city shall give their assent to such sale."
The charter provided for the election by the
people of two Aldermen and two Assistants, who
should serve for a period of one year, such elec
tions being held on the first Tuesday in April.
The term of office began on the first Tuesday in
May. From 1798 to 1822, the Mayors in all the
cities of this State were appointed by the Governor,
with the advice and consent of the Council of Ap
pointment. From 1822 to 1840 they were ap
pointed by the Common Council. By act of the
Legislature, passed February 13, 1840, they have
since been elected by the people.
The first Mayor of Schenectady was Joseph C.
Yates, who received his appointment from Gover
nor John Jay. Mr. Yates was one of the foremost
lawyers of his da)', and the early history of this
city owes much to his far-seeing acumen, ju
dicious counsel and high administrative ability.
He became State Senator in 1 806, and in 1 808 be
came one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of
this State. He became Governor of the State in
1822. The Mayor presided over the deliberations of
the Board of Aldermen, and possessed all the privi
leges, as far as voting was concerned, of an alder
man. He was also given power similar to a Judge
of Common Pleas in all transactions relating to
lands within the city.
To him was delegated the exclusive power of
granting and giving licenses for the sale of in
toxicating liquors under the public seal of the
city.

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— MUNICIPAL HISTORY.

07

The officers appointed by the Common Council
under the first charter consisted of a city treasurer,
clerk, and as many assessors, collectors, constables,
commissioners of highways, overseers of the poor,
pound-masters and fence-viewers as the Common
Council might deem necessary.
The charter of 1 798 has been subjected to many
amendments, to meet the demands of the times.
The existing charter not only meets the require
ments of a liberal, progressive policy, but under
its operation the city is governed in a highly credit
able and satisfactory manner.
Mayor. — The office of Mayor, as has been
stated, was filled by appointment of the Governor
and Council until 1822. From that date to 1840
the Mayor was appointed by the Common Council,
since which time it has been an elective office.
The term of office from 1798 to 1861 was one
year, since which date it has been two years.
Recorder. — Although the office of Recorder is
mentioned in the charter of the borough of Sche
nectady, it does not seem to have been created
under the city charter until 1833, in which year
Harmanus Peek was made Recorder and held this
position for a number of years after. This officer
possessed all the powers then conferred by law upon
the Recorders of cities, and d*ing the absence,
sickness or disability of the Mayor, could exercise
all the powers conferred upon the Mayor. From
1833 to 1862 the term of office was one year;
since the latter date it has been extended to four
years. The duties of this officer, as defined by the
charter, consist in attending meetings of the Com
mon Council, and in the absence or inability to
act of the Mayor, he shall discharge the duties of
that office. He is invested with power to arrest
or cause the arrest of all persons violating the laws
of the State, or the ordinances or police regula
tions of the city.
Aldermen. — The charter of 1798 provided for
the election of four Aldermen in each ward for a
period of one year. In 1 851 the four Aldermen
in each ward were divided into two classes, two
who should serve for one year and two who should
serve for two years. The act under which this was
effected, provided that thereafter the terms of only
two aldermen in each ward should expire during
each year, and that all Aldermen elected one year
after the passage of the act should serve for two
years. In 1873 the number of Aldermen in each
ward was reduced to three, who should be elected
for three years, but they were divided into classes,
so that the term of only one Alderman in each
ward now expires, every year.
Treasurer.— The Treasurer was appointed by
the Common Council from 1798 to 1848, at which
latter date a Treasurer was elected by the people.
To the year 1862 the term of office was one year,
but by the charter of this year it was extended to
two years.
Clerk.— The Clerk has annually been appointed
by the Common Council since the incorporation
of the city. .
Board of Magistrates. —A law was passed m
18 1 5, empowering the Common Council to appoint

as many Aldermen or Justices of the Peace as was
deemed necessary to constitute a Board of Magis
trates. This Board was required to attend to
the relief and support of the poor, and to punish
persons committing petty offences within the city.
The exclusive power of applying and distributing
the poor fund was committed to this Board.
After the creation of the office of Police Justice,
this Board was composed of that officer and two
Aldermen, the latter selected by the Common
Council. For many years the sole duty of this
Board has been confined to the relief of the poor.
Superintendent of Streets. — By an amendment
to the charter in 1813, provision was made for
the appointment of one or more Superintendents
of Streets, who should have charge of laying out
and grading of streets. From 1 813 to the present,
but one Superintendent of Streets has been an
nually appointed by the Common Council, by
which body his powers and duties are prescribed.
City Attorney. — This office was created in
1833, since which date such officer has been an
nually appointed by the Common Council. He
receives a stated salary, attends all meetings and
acts as the legal adviser and assistant of the Board
in all matter pertaining to questions of law.
City Physician. — This officer was created about
the same time as City Attorney. The person hold
ing this office is chosen annually by the Common
Council and receives a regular salary. He is,
ex officio, health officer of the Board of Health,
and required to render surgical aid and as
sistance to all indigent persons within the city.
Board of Health. — The duty of attending to
sanitary affairs devolved upon the Mayor and
Aldermen during the early municipal history of
Schenectady. In 1 813 the charter provided that
one or more persons should be appointed by the
Common Council, who should attend to the alter
ing, amending, cleansing of any street, vault, sink
or common sewer, and to apportion the costs upon
the owners of property benefited thereby. In
1833, the Common Council appointed as many
members as was deemed necessary to form a Board
of Health to assist the Mayor in carrying into
effect the provisions of the existing laws relating
to the prevention and introduction of infectious
and pestilential disease. Members of the Board
were allowed a reasonable compensation for their
services, as determined by the Common Council.
By the charter of 1862, the Board of Health con
sisted of the Mayor, City Physician and one Alder
man from each ward. The City Physician was the
health officer of the Board. This Board, as then
constituted, remains the same, although under
recent laws their powers and duties have been
greatly enlarged.
Justices of the Peace, Constables and Police.
— (See separate Article on Police. )
Board of Excise. — As has been stated, the
Mayor had exclusive power to grant licenses for
sale of intoxicating liquors under the first charter.
In 18 13 the charter was so amended that a Com
missioner of Excise was appointed by the Common
Council for the Third and Fourth wards, who,

68

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

under the approbation of the Mayor, was empow
ered to grant licenses. In 1833, licenses were grant
ed by the Mayor and Common Council, under the
provisions of the State law at this time. In 1857
a law was passed giving the County Judge and
Justices of Sessions of the several counties power
to appoint three Commissioners of Excise to grant
licenses in the county. In 1870 the Mayors of most
of the cities of the State were given power to appoint
three Commissioners of Excise for a period of
three years. The present Commissioners are James
Brownell, Charles Fellhousen and James Speir.
Divisions of the City. — From 1798 to 1820
the city of Schenectady, as has been previously
stated, was divided into four wards, but at the
latter date, owing to the vast extent of territory
comprised by the Third and Fourth wards, and
the diversity of interests between the inhabitants
of those wards and the citizens residing in the
compact part of the city, the members of the
Common Council applied to the Legislature to
have a law enacted erecting the territory embraced
in the Third and Fourth wards into separate towns.
This petition of the municipal officers of Schenec
tady was granted, and a law was passed in 1820
separating these two wards from the city and form
ing the present towns of Rotterdam and Glenville.
From 1820 to 1837, Schenectady was divided into
but two wards, but at the latter date a special act
was passed by the Legislature dividing the city into
four wards. The present division of the city into
five wards was made in i860.
Municipal Buildings. — The first Common
Council met in a building called the City Hall,
on the corner of Union and Ferry streets, on the
i-ite of the present residence of H. S. Barney.
The meetings of the Board continued to be held
there until the purchase of the present Union
School building in 1 816, in which a Common
Council Chamber was provided and used until the
erection of the present Court House in 1833. -A-t
the latter place the Board continued to meet until
the completion of the City Hall in 1881, on Jay
street, for the erection of which Gen. W. K. Fuller,
one of Schenectady's most public- spirited citizens,
donated to the city the sum of $10,000.
city officers from 1 798-1 88 5.
1 798-1 808. — Mayor, Joseph C. Yates.
^ 1807. — Treasurer, Cornelius Z. Van Santvoord;
Clerk, David Boyd.
1808. — Mayor, John Yates; Treasurer, Cornelius
Z. Van Santvoord; Clerk, Harmanus Peek.
1809. — Mayor, John Yates; Treasurer, Corne
lius Z. Van Santvoord; Clerk, Harmanus Peek.
18 10. — Mayor, Abraham Oathout; Treasurer,
Maus Van Vranken; Clerk, Harmanus Peek.
181 1.— Mayor, John Yates; Treasurer, Maus
Van Vranken; Clerk, Harmanus Peek.
1 81 2.— Mayor, John Yates; Treasurer, Maus
Van Vranken; Clerk, Harmanus Peek.
18 13.— Mayor, Maus Schermerhorn; Treasurer,
Maus Van Vranken; Clerk, Harmanus Peek.

1814.— Mayor, Maus Schermerhorn; Treasurer,
Maus Van Vranken; Clerk, Harmanus Peek.
18 1 5. —Mayor, Maus Schermerhorn; Treasurer,
Maus Van Vranken; Clerk, Harmanus Peek.
18 16. —Mayor, Maus Schermerhorn; Treasurer,
Maus Van Vranken; Clerk, Harmanus Peek.
18 1 7.— Mayor, Henry Yates; Treasurer, Maus
Van Vranken; Clerk, Harmanus Peek.
1818.— Mayor, Henry Yates; Treasurer, Maus
Van Vranken; Clerk, Harmanus Peek. '
1 819. —Mayor, Henry Yates; Treasurer, Maus
Van Vranken; Clerk, Nicholas F. Beck.
1820. — Mayor, Henry Yates; Treasurer, Maus
Van Vranken; Clerk, Nicholas F. Beck.
1821-1824. — Mayor, Henry Yates; Treasurer,
Maus Van Vranken; Clerk, Nicholas F. Beck.
1825. —Mayor, Isaac M. Schermerhorn.
1826-1827. — Mayor, David Boyd; Treasurer,
Maus Van Vranken; Clerk, Abraham Van Ingen.
1828-1829. — Mayor, Isaac M. Schermerhorn;
Treasurer, Maus Van Vranken; Clerk, Abraham
Van Ingen.
1830. — Mayor, Isaac M. Schermerhorn; Treas
urer, Jacob Swits; Clerk, Abraham Van Ingen.
1 83 1. — Mayor, Archibald L. Linn; Treasurer
and Clerk same as 1830.
1832. — Mayor, John I. De Graff; Treasurer and
Clerk same as 1830.
1833. — Mayor, John I. DeGraff; Recorder, Har
manus Peek; Treasurer, Jacob Swits; City Attor
ney, Abraham Van Ingen; Clerk, Abraham Van
Ingen. 1834. — Officers same as preceding year.
1835. — Mayor, Archibald L. Linn; remaining
officers unchanged.
1836. — Mayor, John I. De Graff; Treasurer,
Thomas Harmon; Clerk, Abraham Van Ingen; At
torney, James M. Bouck.
1837. — Mayor, SamuelW. Jones; Clerk, Stephen
S. Riggs ; remaining officers same as preceding
year. 1838. — Treasurer, Nicholas Swits; Attorney,
Theodorick R. Van Ingen; remaining officers same
as in 1837.
1839. — Mayor, Archibald L. Linn; remaining
officers same as preceding year.
1840. — Mayor, Alexander C. Gibson; Treasurer,
Nicholas Swits; Clerk, Stephen S. Riggs.
1 84 1. — Mayor, Alexander C. Gibson; Treasurer,
John B. Clute; Clerk, James Gilbert; Attorney, T.
. R. Van Ingen.
1842.— Mayor, John I. DeGraff; Treasurer, Vol
ney Freeman; Clerk, James M. Bouck; Attorney,
Samuel W. Jones.
1843. — Mayor, Alexander C. Gibson; Clerk,
James M. Bouck; Attorney, S. H. Johnson.
1844. — Mayor, Alexander C. Gibson; Treasurer,
John B. Clute; Clerk, Harmanus S. Van Ingen;
Attorney, S. H. Johnson.
1845.— Mayor, John I. De Graff; Treasurer,
Joseph Lyon; Clerk and Attorney same as preced
ing year.

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— MUNICIPAL HISTORY.

69

1 84 6- 1 84 7. —Mayor, Peter Rowe; Treasurer, A.
J. Thomson; Clerk, Thomas Palmer; Attorney,
Stephen H. Daggett.
1 848-1 849.— Mayor, James E. Van Horn; Treas
urer, James Walker.
1850.— Mayor, Peter Rowe; Clerk, James M.
Bouck; Attorney, Thomas Palmer.
1 85 1.— Mayor, Mordecai Myers; remaining
officers same as in 1850.
1852.— Mayor, Abraham A. Van Voast; remain
ing officers same as in 1850.
1853.— Mayor, Abraham A. Van Voast; Clerk,
James M. Bouck; Attorney, John G. McChesney.
1854.— Mayor, Mordecai Myers; Recorder,
Thomas Palmer; Treasurer, L. A. Young; 'City
Attorney, J. G. McChesney; Clerk, D. A. Atwell.
1855.— Mayor, Abel Smith; Recorder, Henry
Stevens, who died while in office, and was suc
ceeded by David M. Moore; Treasurer, N. M. F.
Clute; Clerk, D. A. Atwell.
1856. — Mayor, Abel Smith; Recorder, David
M. Moore; Treasurer, N. M. F. Clute; City At
torney, John G. McChesney; Clerk, D. A. Atwell.
1857.— Mayor, Benjamin V. S. Vedder; Re
corder, David M. Moore; Treasurer, N. M. F.
Clute; Attorney, John G. McChesney; Clerk, D.
A. Atwell.
1858. — Mayor, Alexander M. Vedder; Re
corder, David M. Moore; Treasurer, N. M. F.
Clute to January 1, 1859, and Henry M. Vedder
for balance of term; Attorney, David C. Smith;
Clerk, Stephen S. Riggs.
18.59. — David P. Forrest; Recorder, David M.
Moore to January 1, i860, and Jay Cady for bal
ance of term; Treasurer, Frederick Clute, Jr., to
September, 1859, and John Bradt for balance of
term; Clerk, Stephen H. S. Riggs to November,
1859, and Charles S. Vedder for balance of term.
i860. — Mayor, Benjamin E. Potter; Recorder,
Jay Cady; Treasurer, John Bradt; Attorney, D.
Cady Smith; Clerk, Charles S. Vedder to October
1, i860, and Daniel J. Darrow for balance of
term. 1 86 1. — Mayor, Arthur W. Hunter; Recorder,
Jay Cady; Treasurer, John Bradt; Attorney, D.
Cady Smith; Clerk, S. L. R. Buchanan.
1862. — Same as preceding year.
1863. — Mayor, Arthur W. Hunter; Recorder,
W. H. Helmer; Treasurer, John Bradt; Attorney,
D. Cady Smith; Clerk, Henry B. Houston.
1 864. — Same as preceding year.
1865. — Mayor, Andrew McMullen; Recorder,
W. H. Helmer; Treasurer, John Bradt; Attorney,
G. N. Timberman; Clerk, James M. Bouck.
1866. — Mayor, Andrew McMullen; Recorder,
W. H. Helmer; Treasurer, John Bradt; Attorney,
D. M. Chadsey; Clerk, Frank Seymour.
1867. — Mayor, Andrew McMullen; Recorder,
S. L. R. Buchanan; Treasurer, John Bradt; Clerk,
Edward Hibbard; Attorney, A. J. Thomson.
1868. — Mayor, Andrew McMullen; Recorder,
S. L. R. Buchanan; Treasurer, John Bradt; Clerk,
Edward Hibbard; Attorney, D. Cady Smith.

1869. — Mayor, A. Van Voast; Recorder, Edgar
M. Jenkins; Treasurer, John Bradt; Clerk, J. Van
Vranken; Attorney, D. Cady Smith.
1870. — Mayor, Abraham A. Van Voast; Re
corder, Edgar M. Jenkins; Treasurer, John Bradt;
Clerk, J. Van Vranken; Attorney, D. Cady
Smith. 1871. — Mayor, William J. Van Horne; Recorder,
Edgar M. Jenkins; Treasurer, John Bradt; Clerk,
H. W. Dennington ; Attorney, D. Cady Smith.
1872. — Mayor, William J. Van Horne; Re
corder, Edgar M. Jenkins; Treasurer, John Bradt;
Clerk, Howard Barringer; Attorney, J. S. Landon.
1873. — Mayor, A. W. Hunter; Recorder, Edgar
M. Jenkins; Treasurer, John Bradt; Clerk, How
ard Barringer; Attorney, J. S. Landon.
1874. — Mayor, A. W. Hunter; Recorder, Sam
uel T Benedict to December 15, 1874, and W.
H. Helmer for balance of term; Treasurer, John
Bradt; Clerk, H. W. Dennington ; Attorney, E.
W. Paige.
1875.— Mayor, Peter B. Yates; Recorder, Wil
liam Howes Smith; Treasurer, John Bradt; Clerk,
H. W. Dennington; Attorney, E. W. Paige.
1876. — Mayor, Peter B. Yates, who died July 4,
1876, and was succeeded by William Howes Smith,
July 11, 1876; Recorder, Wm. H. Smith to July
11, 1876, and Benj. L. Conde for balance of term;
Treasurer, John Bradt; Clerk, H. W. Denning
ton; Attorney, A. J. Thomson.
1877. — Mayor, Wm. Howes Smith; Recorder,
Marcus N. Millard ; Treasurer, John Bradt; Clerk,
H. W. Dennington; Attorney, A. J. Thomson.
1878. — Mayor, Wm. Howes Smith; Recorder,
Marcus N. Millard; Treasurer, John Bradt; Clerk,
H. W. Dennington; Attorney, A. J. Thomson.
1879. — Mayor, Joseph B. Graham; Recorder,
Marcus N. Millard; Treasurer, John Bradt; Clerk,
H. W. Dennington; Attorney, S. W. Jackson.
1880. — Mayor, Joseph B. Graham; Recorder,
Marcus N. Millard; Treasurer, John Bradt, who
died January 31, 1881, and was succeeded by
appointment for balance of the year by H. W.
Dennington ; Clerk, H. W. Dennington to Feb
ruary 8, 1881^ and E. E. Kreigsman for balance of
term; Attorney, S. W. Jackson.
1881. — Mayor, A. A. Van Voast; Recorder,
Henry S. De Forest ; Treasurer, H. W. Denning
ton; Clerk, E. E. Kreigsman; Attorney, S. W.
Jackson. 1882. — Mayor, A. A. Van Voast; Recorder,
Henry S. De Forest; Treasurer, H. W. Denning
ton; Clerk, E. E. Kreigsman; Attorney, S. W.
Jackson. 1883. — Mayor, John Young; Recorder, H. S.
De Forest ; Treasurer, H. W. Dennington; Clerk,
James Hanley, Jr. ; Attorney, A. J. Thomson.
1884. — Mayor, John Young; Recorder, H. S.
De Forest ; Treasurer, H. W. Dennington ; Clerk,
James Hanley, Jr. ; Attorney, A. J. Thomson.
1885. — Mayor, Henry S. De Forest ; Recorder,
James H. Flinn; Treasurer, H. W. Dennington;
Clerk, Horatio G Glen; Attorney, A. J. Thom-

70

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

JOHN BRADT.
John Bradt was born in Schenectady, January
24, 1822. His father, Peter Bradt, died as the re
sult of an accident in the younger years of his son,
and the latter was thrown upon his own exertions
in early life. His education was purely a business
one, but he was of such a practical turn of mind
that he utilized it with wonderful success, early
displaying much sagacity in the settlement of his
father's estate. When quite a young man he
became confidential clerk and agent of Hon.
Henry Yates, of the firm of Yates & McEntyre,
New York, and in this position he developed those
qualities which marked him as a correct business
man and successful financier, laying the founda
tion of his future monetary success.
On the decease of Mr. Yates, Mr. Bradt, then
only about twenty-three years old, became execu
tor and trustee of his vast estate. In this capacity
he had entire charge of all affairs of the estate,
which necessarily involved transactions in seve.ral
States of the Union. Several years were consumed
in reaching a final settlement, during which Mr.
Bradt attended to the interests intrusted to him
with a fidelity that won the admiration of all in
terested persons.
He now returned to Schenectady, which was
his permanent home. Without solicitation on his
part, or opposition from any quarter, he was ap
pointed Treasurer of the Canal Board, a position
which he held several years. August 2, 1859, he
was appointed Treasurer of the City of Schenec
tady, to succeed Frederick Clute, Jr. April 2,
i860, he was elected to the same position and re
elected each successive term until his death. In
an official point of view his name was long a
household word in Schenectady. He held this
responsible trust longer than any other incumbent
of the treasurer's office. The office was conferred
term after term on that sound principle, so rarely
acted upon, that the office should seek the man,
not the man the office, and was a testimonial of
the public confidence in his strict integrity and re
markable financial ability. One who knew him
well wrote : ' ' Could it have been possible or right
to have extended his sphere of usefulness, we verily
believe he would have made an excellent Secre
tary of the Treasury, or of the Department of the
Interior, in the general government." An indefatig
able worker, he was always found in his office at
tending to his duties, for he believed that, once
elevated to a public trust, it was incumbent on him
to discharge all duties faithfully and impartially.
A Democrat, and markedly consistent as such, he
was no politician, and never indulged in heated
discussions upon public affairs.
In his private business relations Mr. Bradt was
successful, and he was at the same time so upright
in all his dealings as to win the confidence of all with
whom he came in contact. His operations were
conducted methodically, and with foresight and
sagacity. He made such judicious investments in
real property that he came to be regarded as one
of the chief real estate owners of the city. He was

looked upon as the best posted authority in regard
to local real estate values. His skill as an ac
countant was well known, and his services were
often sought by eminent lawyers and jurists
throughout the State in the settlement of tedious
and difficult litigation suits. From time to time
he was entrusted with the settlement of several
estates. As a landlord he was always kind and
forbearing to the poor, and under a quiet, unex-
pressive exterior, those who knew him best dis
cerned a generous, unassuming nature.
In 1854, Mr. Bradt married Miss Margaret A.
Hover, of Schenectady. He died suddenly Janu
ary 31, 1 88 1, leaving a widow and four children.
His only daughter is the wife of Henry McMullen.
The other children are sons. His name will long
have a place in the memory of the leading business
and professional men of this section, and its place
in the history of Schenectady is one of proud
eminence. POLICE.
In the early history of Schenectady, before it was
incorporated as a city, it devolved upon the Jus
tices of the Peace, appointed by the Governor, to "see
that peace and order were maintained, and they
had power to appoint certain persons whose duty
it was to arrest and report to the Justices all offend
ers against the laws.
In 1788 a law was passed by the Legislature
giving the Justices of the Peace authority to appoint
six night watchmen and an officer from the citizens
residing in the township of Schenectady south
ward from the Mohawk River and not more than
three-quarters of a mile from the Dutch Church.
These persons so selected were required to keep
watch and guard in their turn in such manner and
time as the Justices directed. Only one watchman
was on duty at a time. The Justices prescribed the
rules and regulations to govern the watchmen, and a
fine was imposed on any officer neglecting his
duty. This was the first regular police service in
stituted at Schenectady.
This manner of appointing night watchmen was
repealed when the charter of Schenectady was
adopted. In the act incorporating the city of Schenectady,
passed March 26, 1798, the Common Council was
given power to designate the number of constables
to be elected in each ward. From and up to the
present date one constable was elected in each
ward, and to them was given the same powers in
criminal actions now possessed by the policemen.
There was no regular salary attached to this office.
The only pay received for services consisted of
regularly prescribed fees.
June 17, 181 7, the number of night watchmen
was increased to eight. They were appointed by
the Common Council and were placed under the
direction of two Superintendents, also appointed
by the Common Council. The Superintendents
had entire supervision of the watchmen, prescribing
the rules and regulations governing them and the
time each should serve. Only two watchmen were
on duty at a time. When on patrol, the watchmen

^jolW ofezabt.

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— POLICE.

71

carried a staff five feet long, and were obliged to be
on duty from nine o'clock in the evening until day
break. At every hour of the night they announced,
in an audible voice, the time. These officers were
required to maintain the peace and see that the
laws were enforced and obeyed. A watch-house
was provided for the imprisonment of all offenders
against the law.
March 10, 1815, a law was passed by the Legis
lature, creating a Board of Magistrates, consisting
of two persons selected by the Common Council
from the Aldermen or Justices of the Peace, who
were empowered to attend to the relief of the poor
and to punish petty offences committed within
the city limits. They were required to receive the
report of the night watchman every morning and to
proceed to the examination of all persons appre
hended by the watchman. The Common Council
selected one or more constables, called police
constables, who were required to serve all warrants,
summonses and processes by the Board of Magis
trates. These constables were expected to arrest
and report all offenders against the laws and ordi
nances of the city, and bring such persons for trial
before the Board, which had jurisdiction similar to
the present police justices. The magistrates were
allowed an annual salary of one hundred and fifty
dollars, and the constables fifty dollars.
About 1830 a High Constable was chosen by
the Common Council, pursuant to an act of the
Legislature. He represented the entire city, and
had jurisdiction over criminal matters such as is
now exercised by the Chief of Police. His term of
office was limited to one year. The High Consta
ble and the Ward Constables continued to exercise
their police powers in maintaining peace and order
until the Capital Police Force was organized in
1867. March 28, 1842, the office of Police Justice was
created by an act of the Legislature, which pro
vided that the Board of Supervisors should appoint
one of the Justices of the Peace of the city to at
tend to complaints, examinations and trials of a
criminal nature. April ist of the following year
another act of the Legislature was passed, provid
ing that the Police Justice should be appointed by
the Governor, with the consent of the Senate, and
that his term of office should be for three years.
March 31,1848, another act was passed, providing
that the office of Police Justice, High Constable and
four Justices of the Peace should be elective offi
ces. The term of Police Justice was extended to
four years and that of High Constable and Justices
of the Peace to three years.
April 22, 1865, a law was passed by the Legis
lature creating the City of Albany and the several
adjoining towns a district known as the Capital
Police District of the State of New York. This
act provided that three Commissioners and two
Advisory Commissioners of Capital Police should
be appointed by the Governor, with the consent of
the Senate. To these Commissioners, called a Po
lice Board, was intrusted the appointment of Su
perintendents, Captains, Sergeants and Patrolmen,
and had the entire supervision of all matters relat

ing to the police government of the district. April
10, 1866, by an act of the Legislature, the Capital
Police District was extended so as to embrace the
City of Schenectady, which city was limited to the
service of seven patrolmen, at an annual salary of
five hundred dollars each, to be paid out of the
contributions of the city to the Capital Police
Fund. A. W. Hunter, of this city, was appointed
Police Commissioner for this city.
It seems that the passage of this act was not
done in response to the wishes of the people of this
city, for the following year the Board of Super
visors passed a resolution condemning the passage
of the act, and asking for its appeal. But nothing
was done in this direction beyond remonstrating
against it, and this system of police protection re
mained in force till the passage of the Act to Or
ganize and Establish a Police for the City of Sche
nectady, April 15, 1870.
The passage of this act provided for the election
of two Police Commissioners by the people, who,
in conjunction with the Mayor, should constitute a
Police Board, having the general charge of all mat
ters pertaining to the Police force. These Com
missioners are elected for two years, and perform
their duties without compensation. The act cre
ating them provides that they shall select not more
than ten policemen, whose term of service shall
continue during good behavior and capacity to per
form the duties required. The pay of policemen
is fixed by the Commissioners, and cannot be less
than five hundred dollars nor more than eight hun
dred dollars per annum. A Chief of Police and
an Assistant Chief are selected from the ten mem
bers composing the force by the Board. The Chief
of Police, under the direction of the Board, is the
chief executive officer of the Police Department,
and is obliged to keep a book of records of pro
ceedings in his department, and all the services
rendered by himself and the several policemen.
During the absence of the Police Justice, the Chief
possesses the power of that officer to entertain com
plaints for criminal offences, and to issue warrants
for the arrest of persons charged with criminal ac
tions. The salary of the Chief of Police is fixed
by the Police Board, when approved by the Com
mon Council, and cannot be less than five hundred
nor more than twelve hundred dollars per year.
The present Police Commissioners are: Peter M.
Doty and George Buskerk; Chief of Police, Wil
liam S. Campbell; Assistant Chief, Frank V. De
Forrest. Salary of the Chief is S850; Assistant Chief,
$800; patrolmen, $730.
When the first police force was organized under
the Capital Police system, the city furnished a
station-house in Wall street, in the present store oc
cupied by Thomas Ody. Here were provided suit
able cells for the confinement of prisoners until
final disposition was made 'of them before the
Police Justice. A Police Court was arranged on
the second floor over the Police Station.
This building was used for this purpose until the
completion of the present City Hall, in 1881.
Here commodious apartments are provided for

72

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Police Court, Police Justice's offices, office of Chief
of Police, sleeping apartment for Patrolmen, and
cells for the confinement of prisoners.
Frederick Eisenmenger, Police Justice, was ap
pointed by the Common Council May 2, 1882,
and elected to the same office for four years in
April, 1883. He is also chairman of the Board of
Magistrates to distribute relief to the poor.
William L. Campbell, Chief of Police, has been
a police officer here since August 3, 1869. He has
served the city faithfully, and from the accounts
kept in his office, records back to 1 798 can be
traced.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Before Schenectady was incorporated as a city,
the means for the extinguishment of fires were
limited to the use of leather buckets. Each dwell
ing was supplied with as many as the authorities
prescribed. Every able-bodied citizen, in case of
fire, was obliged to render all the assistance within
his power, and any refusal to do so was an offence
against the safety of the inhabitants, deemed worthy
of a fine and, in certain cases, imprisonment. The
first law passed by the Legislature relating to
protection from fires in Schenectady was on March
1, 1788. This act provided that the Justices of
the Peace should select from the inhabitants living
south of the Mohawk River, and not more than
three-quarters of a mile from the Dutch Church,
twenty able-bodied citizens to act as firemen, such
persons to have the care and management of all
fire apparatus and to render assistance at fires.
The Justices made and established the rules and
regulations governing the firemen, and had power
to remove any fireman for disobeying them. The
persons appointed under this act probably consti
tuted the first regular fire company ever organized
in this city.
The first date we find any reference made to fire
engines was in 1797. September nth of this year
the trustees of Schenectady, at a regular meeting,
directed by resolution that a letter be sent to Alex
ander Ellice, London, England, directing him to
purchase two fire engines, one large one at a cost
of 120 guineas, and a small house engine at a cost
of 20 guineas. These engines were soon after ob
tained and used for many years. They were
operated by hand — small and crude affairs even
compared with the hand engines used at a later
date. The larger of these two engines was about
eight or ten feet in length, between three and four
feet wide, and stood three feet high. The condens
ing case, inclosing the works, was placed in
the center of the machine, considerably higher than
the main portion of the case. On the top was an
elbow or "goose-neck," to which, when the engine
was at work, was attached a pipe, through which
the stream of water was directed upon the flames.
As this engine had no suction, it was supplied
by means of buckets, the water being drawn from
neighboring wells, carried to and emptied into the
engine through an aperture in the side of the box,
so as not to interfere with the working of the en
gine. This box held many gallons of water. The

arms or pumping handles were placed fore and aft,
working lengthwise of the box, the bows striking
on the ends; and, when full manned, four men
could work on each arm, making eight in all. Such
were the engines in use at this time, which were
considered instruments of utility and beauty.
When Schenectady was incorporated as a cit)'
there were two fire companies, the members
of which were appointed by the Mayor and
Common Council. At this period, and for a num
ber of years after, it was a duty incumbent upon
the Mayor and Aldermen to attend all fires and
give personal supervision to the work of the fire
men. Indeed, at this time the city magistrates
performed the same services in -later years dele
gated to the chief engineer and his assistants.
May 12, 1798, an ordinance was passed by the
Common Council which provided that two persons
should be appointed for each ward, called
Inspectors, who were required at certain times
in each month to inspect the dwellings in
their respective wards and ascertain if proper- pre
caution was taken to guard against fire, and to
make a report to the Aldermen of the condition of
the buildings in the ward as to their safety from
fire. This ordinance contained many regulations
respecting the necessary things to be done by prop
erty owners for the prevention of fires, and any
citizen whose dwelling did not comply with these
regulations, who was reported by the inspectors,
had a limited time to remedy such defect. If he
failed to do so he was fined.
In 1798 a company was organized called the
Fire Bag Company. To this company was princi
pally intrusted the work of removing personal
property from buildings exposed to danger by fire
to places of safety. Such property, when removed,
they were expected to guard and protect from loss
by thieves until it should be taken care of by the
owners. This company consisted of twenty-one
members, and continued in existence for many
years. The first members were : David Tomlin
son, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, Jr., Gilbert R.
Livingston, James Murdock, Jonathan Walton,
George Leslie, William N. Lighthall, Dorcey
Jones, James I. Hoyt, William J. Teller, Law
rence Van Baskerk, Dow Clute, James Anderson,
Robert Wendell, Samuel Thorn, Luther Halsey,
James Adair, Andrew M. Farlan, Jr., Abraham
Van Ingen, Henry Yates, Jr. , William Corlett.
In 1798 the fire limits were defined as extending
one mile due north from the northwest corner of
Union College building, thence due west one mile,
thence south two miles, thence east two miles,
thence north two miles, thence west to the place of
beginning, two miles.
The charter of the city of Schenectady, as
amended April 2, 1813, provided that not more
than eighty able-bodied freeholders should be se
lected by the Common Council from the two wards
of the city to act as firemen, who should have the
care and management of the engines and tools pro
vided for the extinguishment of fires, which per
sons were to be called the Firemen of the City of
Schenectady.

CITY OF SCHENECTADY— FIRE DEPARTMENT.

73

The fire district at this time extended from the
south side of the Mohawk River, and not more
than three-quarters of a mile from the site of the
present First Reformed Dutch Church.
The first Hook and Ladder Company was
formed in 1814, and consisted of ten members.
This company was provided with the necessary
apparatus by the city and was under the super
vision of a captain and an assistant appointed by
the Common Council.
Ax-mf.x. — In 1 8 14 a company was organized
called the Ax-men. It consisted of two members
under the same supervision as the Hook and
Ladder Company. Each man was provided with
an ax, and expected to cut down fences and
buildings where necessary, to check the spread of
fire. The first Superintendent of Firemen was ap
pointed in 1814. To this officer was not only in
trusted the general supervision of the firemen at
fires, but he was required to see that the engines and
all other fire apparatus were kept in proper work
ing order. His duties were somewhat similar to
those imposed upon the present Chief Engineer.
In 1 8 1 5 there were four fire companies in the
cit)-, exclusive of the Hook and Ladder and Ax-
men. They were designated as Nos. 1, 2, 3 and
4. Company No. 1 had quarters near the present
stores of Walker and Mains; No. 2, near corner of
Front and Ferry streets; No. 3, a few doors below
the residence of Edward Walker, on Liberty
street; No. 4, near the location of the present J.
D. CampbeU Hose House. Each one of these
companies had fire engines at this date. The en
gine purchased in England in 1797 was still in use,
and the other engines, though iarger, were similar
in construction.
The laws of the city were very strict in regard to
the duty of citizens at time of a fire in these days.
Every able-bodied citizen was pressed into service,
and it was no uncommon sight to see a line of men
nearly a quarter of a mile long, standing in a
close line, reaching from the nearest point where
water could be obtained to the engine, passing
buckets of water from one to the other, to supply
the engine with water. Even women at times were
engaged in this work. A fine was imposed on any
citizen who refused to perform such work when
requested to do so by the city magistrates.
From pictures of the larger engines used at this
date, we see simply a long tank or box placed upon
wheels. On each side of the tank was a long arm
or handle extending the entire length of the tank,
which worked on the principle of a pump-handle.
At a time of fire this engine was drawn as near as
possible to the scene of destruction, the tank was
then filled with water, and then, by means of the
pump, the water was forced from the tank through
a hose. About thirty men could work at the pump
of the largest engines. Although there was much
labor, requiring a large force of men, attending the
use of these early engines, they did good service,
and prevented any extensive conflagration until the
year 18 19, when, notwithstanding the most
strenuous exertions of our firemen, spoken of at

that time in the most praiseworthy manner, the
entire lower portion of our city was destroyed.
The Teapot. — There are those living who can
remember the small engine used at this date
(181 5), and for many years after, by the members
of Company No. 3. It was a small engine, called
the "Teapot," on account of its appearance. It was
simply a tank, with a pump attached, capable of
being carried when full of water by four men. It
was of great service at a fire, often being carried
into a burning building and doing excellent work
where the larger engines could not be used. This
engine was used for many years.
Double Deck Engine. — In 1825 the Common
Council purchased the first double deck engine
ever used in this city. It was given in charge of
Company No. 4, and was something of a wonder
at this time. It was purchased from a firm in
Philadelphia. It was larger than the other engines
in use in the city, but worked on the same princi
ple. The two decks made it possible for more
men to work at the pumps, and thus more force
was given the water. Some of the firemen of this
period who are now living, claim that this engine
could throw a stream of water even higher than the
modern steam engines.
Fire Wardens. — In 1825 five Fire Wardens were
appointed, who had supervision over the buildings
erected in the fire district, as to the regulations to
be observed under the laws of the city relating to
safety from fires. The first Fire Wardens were :
Isaac S. Miller, Benjamin M. Munford, John Van
Voast, Nicholas Van Vranken and George Mc
Queen. Incorporation of the Fire Department of
the City. — April 21, 1828, a law was passed by the
Legislature constituting all persons belonging to
the several fire companies a body politic, under
the name of "The Fire Department of the City of
Schenectady." This act provided that each com
pany of firemen should choose two representatives,
who should select a president and vice-president,
and, out of the whole body of firemen, three trus
tees, a treasurer, secretary and a collector. The
first representatives were George McQueen, John
Van Voast, Richard F. Ward, Myndert Van Guy-
sling, Cornelius L. Barhydt, Henn- Peek, Robert
Osborne and Peter Bradt. The first president was
George McQueen ; the first vice-president, John
Van Voast ; the first trustees, Joseph Mynderse,
Jacob De Forest, Jr., and Harmanus W. Peek ;
the first treasurer, Henry Peek ; the first secretary,
Joseph Mynderse; and the first collector, Richard
F. Ward.
The trustees managed the affairs and disposed
of the funds of the corporation according to the
by-laws, rules and regulations of the corporation.
By this act, the time of incorporation was extended
to April 1, 1848, and the firemen were granted all
the rights and privileges then extended by law to
the firemen of the city of New York.
First Hose Company. — In 1830 the first Hose
Company was formed for the purpose of attending
to the hose of the fire companies, but in 1834 it
was disbanded and converted into a supply com-

74

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

pany of twelve members. The members of this
company were expected to supply the engines with
water, but, a few years later, the purchase of suction
engines did away with this work, and the company
was disbanded.
The First Suction Engine. — About the year
1836, three suction engines were purchased by the
city for the use of the Fire Department. Two were
called the Seeley engines, the other was known as
the Button engine. Both were constructed at
Rochester. These engines were a great improvement over
those heretofore used by the firemen. They were
hand engines, but did away with the laborious
and difficult task of supplying the engines with
water by the use of buckets.
The first three engines bought were given to
Companies Nos. 1, 2 and 4. A few years later a
similar engine was purchased for Company No. 3.
These engines were successfully used till the
steam engines came into general use many years
after. The First Chief Engineer. — September 16,
1836, the Common Council passed a law creating
the office of Chief Engineer of the Fire Depart
ment In December of the same year the offices of
First and Second Assistant Engineer were created.
The first Chief Engineer was Richard F. Ward.
The first Assistant Engineers were John C. Burn
ham and James E. Van Horn.
These officers were subject to the direction of
the Fire Wardens, but the firemen received their
orders through the Chief and his assistants Sep
tember 2, 1846, the Chief and his assistants were
given exclusive authority to direct the action of
all firemen.
Act of Incorporation of 1862. — April 2, 1862,
an act was passed by the Legislature incorporating
all persons belonging to the several fire companies
in a body politic, by the title of ' ' The Fire Depart
ment of the City of Schenectady, " for the term of
thirty years. With a few changes, this act is similar
to the act of incorporation of 1828.
First Steam Fire Engine. — The first steam fire
engine was purchased at Portland, Maine, by the
city, February 14, 1864, for $5,000, but was not
received and accepted until the following year. It
was named the A. W. Hunter engine, in honor of
the presiding mayor at that time. It was placed in
engine house No. 4 upon its arrival, and is still used
for the extinguishment of fires. The first engineer
was John Schermerhorn ; assistant engineer, Jere
miah Tenbrook ; fireman, Vedder Peters. The
salary of the fireman was fixed at $500 per year,
and that of engineer and assistant engineer at $100.
In 1867 another steam engine was purchased for
No. 3 engine house, called the Andrew McMullen
steamer, and in 1869 a steamer for No. 1 engine
house, called the A. A. Van Voast. Thomas
Carroll was appointed engineer of steamer No. 3,
and John J. Hart for steamer No. 1.
These three steamers were used till the year
1872, when the completion of the Schenectady
Water-works, and the arrangements made with
this company for supplying the city with water

for the extinguishment of fires, made their use
unnecessary. Steamers Andrew McMullen and
A. A. Van Voast were withdrawn from service im
mediately and subsequently sold. Steamer No. 1
(A. W. Hunter) was retained and is still used.
In 1872, in consequence of the new system
adopted of fire protection, the entire Fire Depart
ment was reorganized by the Common Council.
Companies Nos. 1, 3 and 4 were disbanded, but
soon after reorganized. Company No. 1, which
retained the steamer A. W. Hunter, was the first
to be enrolled. Companies Nos. 3 and 4 were
soon after reorganized as Hose Companies. A
hose depot was established this year in the build
ing used by Company No. 1, and has been used
ever since for such purpose.
Superintendent of Hose.- — In 1872 the office
of Superintendent of Hose was established. James
W. Clute was the first superintendent appointed,
and has held the position continuously up to the
present time. This officer is obliged to inspect,
clean and keep all the hose used by the depart
ment in serviceable condition, to keep the steamer
in running order, and to accompany and regulate .
it when its use is required.
The history of the Volunteer Fire Department,
from the incorporation of this city to the present
time, has ever been a credit to the city and an
honor to the men who composed it.
Schenectady has been remarkably free from any
extensive conflagration in many years, and credit
for this fact can be attributed solely to the self-
sacrificing spirit, intelligent labor and praiseworthy-
exertions of its firemen. The present efficient force
has been ever ready to respond to the call of duty,
and by zealous, united efforts has saved much val
uable property.
Among our oldest living firemen are: Albert Van
Brunt, Stephen Truax, D. Cady Smith, Levi Case,
Martin De Forest, John O. Horsfall, Edward
Rosa, Benjamin F. Lyons. Richard Benson and
John B. Clute.
History of the Different Fire Companies. —
The first year from which we can get a connected
history of the different fire companies organized in
this city is 1824.
Following will be found the history of each
company since 1824, not previously mentioned,
down to the present time :
Company No. 1. — From 1824 to 1858, when it
was disbanded, this company was known simply as
Engine Company No. 1. It was reorganized, 1858,
with 20 members, under the name of Protec
tion Hose Company No. 1, and retained this
name until it was disbanded, by order of the Com
mon Council, September 24, 1872. It was re
organized, with 28 members, September 27 of
this year, as Ellis Hose Company No. 1. It dis
banded May 2, 1876, but reorganized two days
from this date as Protection Hose Company No.
1. This company is still in existence, and has 15
members. Company No. 2. — From 1824 to May 16, 1855,
this company was known as Engine Company No.
2. It was reorganized March 4, 1857, as the Del-

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.—BENCH AND BAR.

75

uge Company No. 2. It subsequently disbanded
and did not organize until 1873, when it assumed
the name of Van Vranken Hose Company. This
company still exists, and has a membership of 30.
Company No. 3. — This company, from 1824 to
1835, when it was disbanded, was called Engine
Company No. 3. March 18, 1835, it was reor
ganized, but a few years after disbanded. March
3, 1857, it was reorganized as Niagara Company
No. 3, which name it retained to October 9, 1867,
when it was reorganized, with 27 members, as
Rosa Hose Company No. 3. It was disbanded by
the Common Council, September 24, 1872, and
reorganized, with 33 members, January 10, 1876,
as the Cain Hose Company No. 3. It disbanded
September 16, 1879, and reorganized October 14,
1879, as Neptune Hose Company No. 3. This
company is still in existence, and has a member
ship of 20.
Company No. 4. — From 1824 to December 15,
1847, this company was known as Engine Com
pany No. 4- It was disbanded in 1847, and re
organized January 1, 1848, and again disbanded
May 2, 1856. It was reorganized August 16,
1856. October 6, 1857, the name was changed
to Neptune Hose Company No. 4. June 16, 1867,
it was reorganized, with 28 members, as the Hath
away Hose Company No. 4. September 24, 1872,
it was disbanded by the Common Council, but
immediately reorganized, with 19 members, as
the Stanford Hose Company. May 3, 1876, it
again disbanded, and reorganized, with 25 mem
bers, June 13, 1876, as the J. D. Campbell Hose
Company. This company is still in the service,
and has a membership of 29.
Company No. 5. — This company was organized,
with 36 members, November 18, 1835. It at one
time was the Mohawk Hose Company. August
28, i860, it was disbanded, and not reorganized
till July 21, 1876, when it was called the E. W.
Paige Hose Company. This company still exists,
and has a membership of 1 7.
Company No. 6. — This company was organized,
with 48 members, November 20, 1838, and existed
for many years, when it was disbanded. January
14, 1878, it was reorganized, with 30 members, as
the J. S. Myers Hose Company. It disbanded in
1881, and reorganized March 13, 1884, with 19
members, as the Elmer Ellis Hose Company. This
company has at present a membership of 23.
Ax, Hook and Ladder Company. — The first
ax, hook and ladder company was organized in
1814, and continued to exist until disbanded,
June 5, 1856, but was reorganized on the same
date. It disbanded August 17, i860.
July 8, 1862, Hook and Ladder Company No.
1 was organized, with 55 members, and continued
in the service to December 24, 1867, when it was
disbanded, since which date no company of this
kind has existed in the city.
Fire Guards. — A company called the Fire
Guards was organized September 6, 1836, from
the Supply Company, which disbanded at that
time. The Fire Guards disbanded August 5, 1845,
and have never been reorganized.

• Eagle Hose Company. — A company called the
Eagle Hose Company was organized from the
members of the Fire Guards, Augusts, x845- It
was disbanded January 4, 1851, and has never
been reorganized.
Following is a list of Chief Engineers of the
Fire Department since 1862 : James Babcock,
Patrick Kelly (three terms), Thomas H. Kennedy,
Edward Ellis (four terms), William E. Walker
(two terms), Ezra McCue, Francis Cain (four
terms), George B. Swortfiguer, Martin Eagan,
William J. Anthony, Arden W. Weller, John A.
Vedder (three terms).
Following is a list of Assistant Engineers since
1862 : 1863, Jaffrey Thompson and John Frame;
1864, Ephraim Clow, Walter Clute ; 1865,
Ephraim Clow, Walter Clute ; 1866, Walter Clute,
James Smith; 1867, Joseph Parker, W. S. Van
Voast; 1868, William Martin, John Collins;
1867, P- H. McDermott, William Stevens; 1870,
Charles A. Clark, Francis Cain ; 1871, William
Fuller, Peter M. Doty; 1872, Edward Van Epps,
Frederick Esenminger ; 1873, Joseph Parker,
John J. Wheaton ; 1874, John A. Vedder, Francis
Cain; 1875, Edward Cooley, Jacob De Long;
1876, John A. Vedder, George B. Swortfiguer;
1877, George B. Swortfiguer, Martin Eagan;
1878, Martin Eagan, William J. Anthony; 1879,
William J. Anthony, Arden W. Weller ; 1880,
Arden W. Weller, Andrew Coleman ; 1881,
Andrew Coleman, Peter M. Dody ; 1882, Elias
T. Van Patten, William P. Daley; 1883, William
P. Daley, James C. Dougherty; 1884, James C.
Dougherty, Myndert Scrofford ; 1885, James C.
Dougherty, William P. Daley.
BENCH AND BAR.
The Bar of Schenectady County is as ancient as
that of Albany County. Its lawyers practiced in
the courts established under the Dutch regime as
early as 1626, but for at least one hundred and
twenty years Schenectady County formed a part of
Albany County, and the lawyers of Schenec
tady were members of the Albany bar. On
March, 1809, however, Schenectady County was
organized from territory taken from the western
portion of the latter county, but it embraced no
portion of the manor of Rensselaerwyck.
Immediately after the formation of the County
of Schenectady its bar was organized, and, in con
formity to the constitution and laws of the State, its
county courts were also organized : the Court of
Common Pleas, Court of General Sessions of the
Peace, and the Surrogate's Court ; and times and
places were also appointed for holding the Circuit
Courts, Courts of Oyer and Terminer, and Special
Equity and Supreme Court terms.
The judiciary of the county consisted of the
Hon. Joseph C. Yates, appointed a Justice of the
Supreme Court by Gov. Tompkins a few weeks pre
vious to the act establishing the county. Joseph C.
Yates, at the time of his appointment, was a dis
tinguished lawyer residing at Schenectady, and
one of the most prominent characters in the

76

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

history of the State. We shall refer to him more"
at large hereafter.
Hon. Gerrit S. Vedder was appointed First
Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the county;
William J. Teller, Surrogate ; Peter F. Vedder,
Clerk ; James V. S. Riley, Sheriff ; James Barent,
Under Sheriff; Richard Oothout, Crier of the
Court. The first court held in Schenectady County after
its organization was a Court of General Sessions,
which began May 9, 1809. We take the following
from the records of the Court of that date:
At a Court of General Sessions of the Peace,
held in and for the County of Schenectady at the
City of Schenectady, and at the Hall of the said
county, on Tuesday, the 9th day of May, 1 809.
Present — Hon. Gerrit S. Vedder, First Judge.
John Yates, ]

Jonathan Herrick,
Jacob A. Vrooman,

r Judges.

Peter C. Van Slycke, J
Court opened.
The Sheriff returned the precept for summoning
the Grand Jury for this Court with a panel of
Grand Jurors annexed, and the following Grand
Jurors appeared and were sworn :
Charles Kane, foreman ; James Rom, Henry
H. Peck, Eri Lusher, Daniel Shields, Jacob Swits,
David Van Der Hyden, Robert Knowlton,
Franpis Vedder, John B. Clute, Cornelius A;
Groot, Isaac De Graff, Maus Schemerhorn,
Rudolph Van Housen, Peter McDougall. Ger-
sham Van Vorst, Stephen Cogswell, Isaac Ledyard,
Gabriel H. Bowne, William Strong, Robert Gan-
ley, John Van De Bogart, Henry Mercelus.
Charge given to the Grand Jury ; adjournd till
afternoon at 2 o'clock.
Court met at appointed hour ; there being no
business, Court adjourned till next morning at 9
o'clock. Wednesday morning, May n ; Court opened
according to adjournment ; present, same judges
as yesterday.
The Grand Jury, being called by their names,
reported that they had nothing to offer to the Court;
and, there being no business before the Court, the
Grand Jury was discharged and the Court ad
journed. The first Circuit Court and Court of Oyer and
Terminer held in the county after its organization,
began its session the 23d of October, 18 10. The
following is a copy of the minutes of the proceed
ings of this term :
At a Circuit Court held in and for the County
of Schenectady, in the City Hall of the City of
Schenectady, on Tuesday, the 23d day of October,
1810. Present — His Honor, Mr. Justice Spencer.
Lyman M. Stanford
vs.
Robert, Alexander and David Winne.
On the motion of Mr. Henry Yates, ordered
that the Sheriff return a venire and that this cause be
brought to trial.

The Sheriff returned the venire with the panel
annexed, and the following jurors were drawn and
sworn : Jesse Coon, Job Leonard, Henry Swits,
James V. S. Ryley, Charles Kane, William North,
Araham A. Groote, Jesse Dowse, Henry Vandaman,
Lewis Burhydt, John J. Van Vorst, Cornelius
Putnam. Witness on the part of plaintiff — Gibbons Went
worth. The Jury, without leaving the bar, by Charles
Keene, their foreman, say that they find their ver
dict in favor of the plaintiff : six cents damages and
six cents costs.
There were three other causes disposed of by the
Jury at this term, as follows :
Jeremiah Fuller
vs.
Jeremiah Romeyn, Rebeckah,
his wife, and six other de
fendants. The Jury rendered a verdict for the plaintiff of
six cents damages and six cents costs.
James C. Duane
vs.
Peter Keehtr.
On trial before a Jury, a verdict was rendered in
favor of the plaintiff, $111 damages and six cents
costs. James Jackson, Ex-dem. ,
vs.
Jacob Dillamont, John Dill- \ Ejectment.
amont and Alexander
Vedder. The defendants confess lease, entry and ouster.
This was, as we see, an action of ejectment, with
the celebrated James Jackson, Ex-dem. — according
to the practice in those days in such cases — a
fictitious party. These actions in the eariy history
of the State, owing to the unsettled condition of
land titles, were then and for fifty years following
the most common actions tried in the courts.
Looking at the reported causes for those days, the
unprofessional reader naturally supposes that James
Jackso», from the large number of cases in which he
is plaintiff, was the most litigious being in the State,
a troublesome fellow ; but, like John Doe and
Rithard Roe, he is never seen in court, and is only
what can be called a legal myth.
There were three witnesses sworn for the plain
tiff and three for the defendants. The Jury, with
out leaving the bar, found their verdict 'for the
plaintiff : one-third of the premises, six cents dam
ages, six cents costs.
The next case was a case of ejectment ; one
witness sworn for the plaintiff and one for the
defendant. The Jury without leaving the bar
found verdict for plaintiff : six cents damages, six
cents costs.
This was the last cause tried at this term.
Though it was called a Circuit Court and Court
of Oyer and Terminer, it was merely a Circuit
Court without the criminal side. No Court of
Oyer and Terminer had yet been held in the
county.

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.—BENCH AND BAR.

77

Mr. Justice Ambrose Spencer, who presided, was
one of the most learned and distinguished judicial
officers in the State or nation. He was appointed
in 1804, serving till 18 19, when he was appointed
Chief Justice of the State. He was the father of
that great lawyer and statesman, John C. Spencer.
From the first the Schenectady Bench and Bar
took a highly distinguished position, which has
been maintained down to the present time. Many
of its members have occupied the highest rank in
their profession; many have been elevated to the
Bench and to other prominent civic positions in
the State and nation. On its roll were such hon
ored names as Harmon, Van Ingen, Paige, the
Yateses, Duane, Fonda and many others. The Bar
never was large in numbers. As late as 1830 it
consisted of only twelve members, as follows:
Christopher Fonda, admitted to the Bar in 1822;
Joshua D. Harmon, admitted 1822; Samuel D.
Jones, admitted 181 6; Archibald L. Linn, 1823;
Alonzo C. Paige, 181 8; Abraham Van Ingen,
1 81 8; Edward Yates, 18 18; Gilbert F. Yates,
1822; Joseph C. Yates, 1792; Henry Yates, Jr.,
1799; John B. Duane, Trumansburg, 1825; and
Jacob G. Fonda, at Glenville, 1826. This was the
Bar in 1830.
Ten years later, in 1840, the Schenectady Bar
consisted of eighteen members, having increased
but six in number during that time, as follows :
Piatt Potter, James M. Bouck, John Brotherson,
Stephen A. Daggett, Henry Fuller, James Fuller,
Alexander Gibson, Joshua D. Harmon, John
Howes, S. H. Johnson, Samuel W. Jones, Alonzo
C. Paige, John Sanders, D. C. Smith, Abraham
Van Ingen, S. R. Van Ingen, James B. Van
Voust, Giles F. Yates.
Presiding Judges of the Court of Common
Pleas of the County and of the County Court.
— Gerrit S. Vedder, appointed March 11, 1809;
Gardner Cleveland, appointed May 25, 181 2; Da
vid Boyd, appointed February 5, 1823; Samuel
W. Jones, appointed January 31, 1835; Archibald
L. Linn, appointed July 17, 1840; Samuel W.
Jones, appointed February 10, 1845.
The following Judges were elected under the
provisions of the Constitution of 1846: Samuel W.
Jones, elected June, 1847; Stephen H. Johnson,
elected November, 1851; John Sanders, elected
November, 1855; Stephen H. Johnson, elected
November, 1859; Judson S. Landon, elected Febru
ary 1, 1 865 (Judge Johnson resigned and Judge Lan
don, now one of the Justices of the Supreme Court,
was appointed to fill his place; he served till the
close of 1869, when Walter T. L. Sanders, elected
November, 1869, took his place); Austin A.
Yates, elected November, 1873; David C. Beattie,
elected November, 1879.
District Attorneys.* — John K. Paige, ap
pointed June 11, 1818; Alonzo C. Paige,
*The original appellation of this office was that of Assistant Attor
ney-General, created by the act of February 12, 1796- :t embraced
several counties. The office of District Attorney was created by the
act of April 4, 1801, and the State was divided into thirteen districts,
several counties in each District. Albany, Schenectady and Schoharie
Counties formed the Twelfth District. By the act of 1818 each county
was appointed a separate district for ihe office of District Attorney.
These officers were appointed till the Consutution ol 1846 went mto
effect, when they were elected.

appointed September 3, 1823; Piatt Potter, ap
pointed January 15, 1839; Benjamin F. Potter,
elected June, 1847; Samuel L. Baker, elected
November, 1850 ; James Fuller, appointed in
place of Baker, resigned, August 22, 1851 ;
John Van Santvoort, elected November, 1851 ;
Samu;l T. Freeman, appointed in place of
Van Santvoort, resigned; Simeon Caulkins, ap
pointed January 7, 1856, in place of Freeman, re
signed; Judson S. Landon, elected November,
1856; John G. McChesney, elected November,
1862; John L. Hill, elected November, 1865;
Austin A. Yates, elected November, 1868; Alonzo
P. Strong, appointed December 24, 1873, in place
of Yates, resigned; Daniel C. Beattie, elected No
vember, 1874; Charles E. Palmer, elected Novem
ber, 1877; J. Teller Schoolcraft, elected Novem
ber, 1880.
Surrogates. — William J. Teller, appointed
May 30, 1 809 ; Robert Hudson, appointed April
6, 1813 ; William J. Teller, appointed March 3,
181 5; John Yates, appointed February 12, 18 16;
Giles F. Yates, appointed February 21, 1821 ;
John Sanders, appointed February 13, 1840;
David Cady Smith, appointed February 13, 1844.
The County Judges whom we have named,
elected under the provisions of 1846, have been
Judges and Surrogates down to the present time.
County Clerks. * — Peter F. Vedder, appointed
March n, 1809; Joseph Shurtleff, appointed
February 26, 18 10; Peter F. Vedder, appointed
February 14, 181 1 ; Jellis A. Fonda, appointed
May 25, 181 2; Joseph Shurtleff, appointed March
12, 1813; jellis A. Fonda, appointed February
13. 181 5 ; Jellis A. Fonda, elected November,
1822; John S. Vrooman, appointed by the Governor
1834 ; Jonathan C. Burnham, elected November,
1834 ; Archibald Campbell, elected November,
1837; Silas H. Marsh, elected November, 1843 ;
David P. Forrest, elected November, 1849 ; Mar
vin Strong, elected November, 1852 ; John W.
Vedder, elected November, 1858 ; John M.
Banker, appointed May 1, 1861, in place of Ved
der, resigned: John McShea, Jr., appointed
January 6, 1864, in place of Banker, resigned ;
James G. Caw, elected November, 1864 ; J.
Fonda Veile, elected November, 1876; Mr. Veile
served by re-election till December 31, 1882 ;
Thomas Yelverton, elected November, 1882.
Sheriffs. — James V. S. Riley, appointed March
11, 1809; John V. Van Ingen, James V. S. Riley,
John Brown, Gideon Holliday, Isaac Riggs, Lewis
Eaton, A. Van Slyck, elected under provision of
Constitution of 182 1, November, 1822; John F.
D. Vedder, elected November, 1825; Gershom Van
Voast, elected November, 1828; Isaac I. Yates,
elected November, 1831; Matthew Putnam, elected
November, 1834; Myndert M. R. Wemple, elected
November, 1837; David F. Reese, elected Novem
ber, 1840; Anthony H. Van Slyck, elected Novem
ber, 1843; John G. Van Voast, elected November,
1847; John F. Clute, elected November, 1849;
Nicholas Brooks, elected November, 1852; Philip
* These officers were appointed by the Governor and Council of
Appointment down to 1821, when, by the provisions of the Constitution
adopted that year, they were elected by the people.

78

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Dederick, appointed vice Brooks, resigned, January
16, 1855; Obadiah L. De Forest, elected Novem
ber, 1855; Norman M. F. Clute, elected Novem
ber, 1858; Abraham Gillispie, elected Novem
ber, 1 861; Samuel Wingate, elected November,
1864; Peter Miller, elected November, 1867
Clark V. Worden, appointed by the Governor.
1868; Jacob Vedder, elected November, 1869
James McMillen, Jr., elected November, 1872
Hiram ]. Ingersoll, elected November, 1875
Charles H. Van Vranken, elected November, 1878
Jacob De Forest, elected November, 1881; S. L.
Clute, elected November, 1885.
The legal history of Schenectady is best illus
trated by the lives and careers of men who have
made its history by participating as leaders in the
various matters of public and historic interest in the
county. We shall, therefore, introduce biograph
ical sketches of those distinguished lawyers and
judges of the county, without which, it may with
truth be said, its history could not be written.
We shall begin with the biography of Joseph C.
Yates, a name not only interwoven in the history
of Schenectady, but in that of the State, and in a
large degree with that of the nation.
"Among the early settlers of Schenectady, or
' Corlear ' as it was styled in the olden time, was
Joseph Yates, an honest, industrious, intelligent
and enterprising English yeoman. He was a native
of Leeds, in Yorkshire, and emigrated to the Colony
of New York at that fearful period in English his
tory when Charles the First was beheaded to ap
pease the fury of the men who established, under
Cromwell, the Commonwealth of England.
' ' The descendants of Joseph Yates were numerous.
Although they preserved the patronymic of their
ancestors, they soon lost their nationality in a de
gree, by their frequent intermarriages with their
Dutch and German neighbors. "
No family was more conspicuous in the early annals
of New York and the Revolution than the Yates fam
ily. They were strongand influential Whigs, entering
ardently into the struggle of the Colonists for freedom,
notwithstanding a large number (perhaps a majority)
of the people by whom they were surrounded were
Tories, and they were connected with some of the
prominent loyalists by marriage. Nearly all the in
habitants of the valley of Mohawk and the intersecting
valley of Schoharie were Tories. But the Germans
and Dutch, with the exception of those families
allied to the Johnsons or under their influence,
were patriots, ready and willing to shed their blood
for the freedom of their country.
The connection of the Yates family with the
Bench and Bar is singularly instructive and inter
esting. Robert Yates was one of the first Judges of the Su
preme Court of the State of New York, and subse
quently Chief Justice; Abraham Yates, Jr., an influ
ential citizen of Albany and afterward its Mayor; and
Christopher Yates, father of Joseph C. Yates, whose
life we are tracing, were cousins, and at an early
day identified themselves with the great movement
which terminated in the independence of the
American Colonies.

Chief Justice Abraham Yates was a member of
the Committee of Public Safety and of the Con
vention which adopted the Constitution of 1777.
When his judicial appointment was tendered to
him, his practice as a lawyer was extensive and
lucrative. At the Albany bar, of which he was a
member, and even at the bar of the city of New
York, he was an acknowledged leader; learned, sa
gacious, eloquent and adroit. Such was his posi
tion long before the days of 1776, and when in
1777 he accepted the office of Chief Justice, he did
so largely to the injury of his private interests. His
judicial duties were peculiarly delicate and dan
gerous. He sat upon the bench, as a writer has
expressed it, "with a halter about his neck, exposed
to punishment as a rebel, had our efforts for liberty
proved abortive. But no dangers could appall, no
fears deter him from an honest performance of the
functions of his office." .
He represented New York in the Philadelphia
Convention in 1787, and was a member of the
State Convention called to ratify the Federal Con
stitution. Christopher Yates was one of the leading men of
Schenectady for many years prior to the Revolu
tion. During the French and Indian War he held
a captain's commission in the provincial troops.
He took part in the unsuccessful attempt made in
1758 to dislodge Montcalm from his position at Ti
conderoga; while bravely leading his men to the as
sault he was desperately wounded. In the following
year he accompanied the army under Gen. Prideaux
and Sir William Johnson in the expedition against
Fort Niagara, and was present at the capture of
that important work. The war over, he returned
to his duties and occupation as a citizen. He was
immediately elected to the Colonial Legislature,
and for many years was a prominent member of
that body. When the stirring questions began to
be agitated that terminated in the Revolution, he
espoused the cause of freedom; When the first
alarm of war was raised he gave his services to his
country. He accepted a commission in the New
York troops, and was very soon promoted to the
rank of colonel, in which capacity he served
through the war, participating in many of its bat
tles. He married Jane Bradt, a lady whose many ex
cellent qualities caused her memory to be affec
tionately cherished by her posterity. She was de
scended from an old and respectable Dutch family
who emigrated to the colony of New York and
settled in the lower valley of the Mohawk at a
very early period. She was the mother of several
children, sons and daughters. Of the former was
Joseph G, whose name stands at the head of this
sketch. Henry Yates, a brother, represented the Eastern
Senatorial District in 181 1 to 1814, 1818 to 1821.
He was also a delegate from the county of Sche
nectady to the Constitutional Convention of 182 1.
John B. Yates was for a long time an honored and
respected citizen of Madison County, and Andrew,
"the conscientious, punctual and kind-hearted"
— to use the language of Dr. Potter — was an emi-

City of schenectady.— bench and bar.

nent clergyman, a Professor in Union College, a
Trustee of Hamilton College, and Principal of the
Polytechny of Chittenango. It will thus be seen
how intimately connected with every part of Sche
nectady County — legal, judicial, civil and military
— has been the name of Yates.
But to proceed with the life of the distinguished
subject of this sketch, Joseph C. Yates.
He was born at Schenectady on November 9,
1768. Robust and energetic, physically and
mentally, exhibiting an unusual fondness for study
and a persevering love of knowledge, he earl}- indi
cated that he was destined to enter that career of
life demanding intellectual endowments, strong
executive powers, strengthened and sustained by
those moral and religious sentiments which gave
strength and dignity to his character. Manv of
these high qualities of the future Judge and Chief
Magistrate of the State were exhibited in his early
years. Inheriting many of the traits of his mater
nal ancestors, he early adopted the favorite maxim
of their nation, " Een-dracht maakt macht." As
has well been said, this motto, like the magic
word in the Arabian tale, removed many an ob
stacle which obstructed his path, and served oft-
times to serve and encourage him.
As the means of his father were ample, he
enjoyed every advantage for obtaining a finished
education, and he zealously availed himself of
them. His education was begun under the tuition of
Jacob Wilkie, an accomplished scholar, a tutor in
his family. After receiving the instruction of this
gentleman for several years he was sent to Caugh-
nawaja, where he continued his studies under the
instruction of Rev. Dr. Romain and his scholarly
son, Theodoric Frelinghuysen Romain. He re
mained here until the incursions of Brandt, Sir
Guy and Sir John Johnson rendered his residence
at Caughnawaja unsafe, and he returned to Sche
nectady, where he completed his education under
the instruction of Rev. Alexander Miller and that
distinguished scholar, John Honeywood.
Early in life he decided to enter the legal pro
fession. In conformity with this resolution, he
entered the office of Peter W. Yates, a cousin of
his father, a lawyer of distinction, and a leading
AntirFederalist, in the city of Albany. Young
Yates pursued his legal studies, as he did his classi
cal, with a determination to master it as one of the
greatest of sciences, which embodies in it, as has
well been said, the perfection of all human reason
ing. At that day digests, compends and elemen
tary treatises on law were not as abundant as at the
present time, and the legal student was compelled
to work out his education in the exercise of unre
mitting diligence in tracing the intellectual sub
tlety of the legal writers of that period. But this
labor and research tended to strengthen and enlarge
the mind, give it profundity and flexibility.
In 1792 Yates was called to the Bar. Robert
Yates was then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
of the State of New York. He, too, as we have
seen, was a native of Schenectady, a man fitted by
education, by high mental qualities, thorough and

exhaustive legal training, for the elevated positions
in life which he was called upon to occupy.
After his call to the bar, young Yates opened an
office in Schenectady and began the practice of his
profession under the most advantageous circum
stances. As was said by one of the distinguished
citizens of the city at the time, ' ' Schenectady need
ed a lawyer with the useful qualities which Mr.
Yates possessed. " Hewas prudent and sagacious
as a counselor, able and skillful as an advocate,
familiar with the rules which control real property
and with the doctrines which govern the creation
and devolution of estates. In the interpretation of
devises and the construction of the settlement of
deeds, grants, and the operation of trusts and
powers, he was peculiarly qualified for the practice
which, at that time, largely occupied the attention
of lawyers.
Mr. Yates was not only active and useful in his
profession, but he identified himself with even-
public improvement which tended lo the advance
ment of Schenectady.
He was particularly active and useful in pro
moting the educational interests of the country.
With other members of his family — with the Glens,
the Fondas, the Van Ingens, the Oothouts, the
Veeders and the Duanes — he was very influential
in founding Union College. He was one of
those to whom the funds raised by subscription
were required to be paid, and one of the trustees
named in the charter granted by the Regents of
the University in 1790. The prosperity of Union
College was to him a matter of deep interest. He
remained a member of the Board of Trustees until
the day of his death, and it may well be said that
the history of Union College is largely blended
with that of Joseph C. Yates.
In March, 1798, Schenectady was incorporated
as a city. Previous to this the corporate property
was held under letters patent granted in 1684 by
Sir Edmund Andross, then Governor-General of
the province of New York. We have said that
Mr. Yates was particularly interested in the pro
motion and prosperity of Schenectady. His efforts
and abilities were warmly appreciated by his fellow
citizens, who, in return, bestowed upon him the
most flattering proofs of their confidence and re
gard. For over fifteen years he devoted himself with
untiring assiduity to his constantly increasing and
highly remunerative legal business, which brought
him to the front rank of his profession.
The political arena had the same attractions for
him that it has for most lawyers, and he entered it
to reap the highest honors in the gift of the people
of the State of New York. From this position he
rose rapidly from one office of honor and trust
to another.
In 1 806-7 ne was a member of the State Senate
from the Eastern District. On the 3d of April,
1807, he was appointed by the Legislature of the
State on a commission, consisting of Ezra L'Hom-
medieu, Samuel Jones, Egbert Benson and Simeon
De Witt, to meet and confer in behalf of the State
with commissioners appointed by New Jersey, rel-

80

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

ative to certain claims of jurisdiction and territory
made by .the latter as to the extension of its
eastern boundary. The able manner in which
this commission performed its duty has passed
into history. In 1808, Mr. Yates was again
elected from the Eastern District to the State
Senate. Soon after his election, that illustrious
jurist, Brockholst Livingston, then a Justice of the
Supreme Court of the State, was promoted to
the Bench of the United States Supreme Court,
and Joseph C. Yates, to the great gratification of
the Bench, the Bar and the public, was appointed
to occupy the place on the State bench made
vacant by Judge Livingston's promotion. He
occupied this position with great ability until
January 20, 1823, a period of fifteen years, when
he was, as we shall more fully see hereafter, elevated
to the chief magistracy of the State.
On the 28th of February, 1812, he was chosen
a Regent of the University. We should have said
that Mr. Yates very early allied himself to the
Democratic-Republican party, afterward known
as the Democratic party.
In November, 1822, he was elected Governor of
the State over Solomon Southwick, his opponent.
He resigned his office as Justice of the Supreme
Court, and, on the first of January, 1823, was in
augurated Governor of the State. Until Governor
Yates assumed the Executive chair, the State Gov
ernors, at the opening of each annual legislative
session, appeared before the Senate and the Assem
bly, and delivered the Annual Message orally. He
changed this custom by sending a written message
to the Legislature, and the precedent he established
has been adopted by all his successors.
In his first message he recommended laws for
carrying the new Constitution — the Constitution of
1 82 1 — into effect; for the encouragement of domes
tic manufactories and economy in the public ex
penditures; and a liberal prosecution of the works
of internal improvements then in progress. His
message was a plain, unassuming, but very prac
tical document.
One of the questions that largely occupied the
public mind in the State of New York, pending the
canvass for President in 1820, which resulted in
the re-election of James Monroe, was that of allow
ing the people the choice of Presidential Electors,
instead of the Legislature. This question entered
largely into the gubernatorial canvass of 1823, but
was left undecided.
In his message to the Legislature, January 6,
1824, he called its attention to the fact that he de
sired a change in the mode of choosing Presidential
Electors, expressing an opinion that it should be
general throughout the country, looking to Con
gress for the remedy, and that in the meantime the
interference of the Legislature, or the surrender of
their right to choose the Electors, was not advisa
ble. He again recommended encouragement of
domestic manufactures by duties on foreign im
ported goods. One of the most significant and
important measures recommended by Gov. Yates
in this message was the revision of the Statutes of
the State.

Early in the legislative session of 1824, a heated
and angry discussion took place in both branches
of the Legislature on the introduction of bills au
thorizing the people to choose the Electors by gen
eral ticket. Previous to this, as we have seen, they
were chosen by the Legislature.
A bill favorable to the change in the electoral
laws passed the Assembly, but by a majority, in
stead of a plurality. The object of this bill was
intended to effect the vote of New York in the
Presidential election, which was to take place that
year. In this election Henry Clay, John Quincy
Adams, Andrew Jackson and William H. Crawford
were candidates for President.
The change was insisted upon by the friends of
Mr. Crawford, by which means they believed it
would give him the State. His opponents, how
ever, in the Senate defeated the measure by post
poning a further consideration of it until the first
Monday in the following November, which, in
effect, defeated the bill.
Such was the excitement on the question, that
Gov. Yates called an extra session of the Legisla
ture for August 2, 1824. A bill providing for the
choice of electors by the people, under the present
form, passed the Legislature in 1826.
Gov. Yates' term of office expired January 1,
1825, and he was succeeded by De Witt Clinton.
In 1828 he was elected President of the Electoral
College, the State giving its vote for Andrew Jack
son for President.
At the expiration of his term of office he re
sumed his residence at Schenectady, where he was
greatly beloved and honored by its citizens. He
remained attached to the Democratic part)-. He
supported the administration of President Jackson
and of Mr. Van Buren, though he did so with
moderation and courteous deference to the opinion
of others.
Gov. Yates was married three different times.
His first wife was Mrs. Ann Ellice, of Schenectady,
by whom he had no issue. For his second wife he
married Miss Maria Kane, of Albany; she bore
him one daughter, who became the wife of John
Keyes Paige, for many years a clerk of the Supreme
Court, and afterward Mayor of Albany. His
third wife was Ann Elizabeth De Lancy, by whom
he had two daughters; one of them married Mr.
J. D. Watkins, of Georgia; the other, Mr. Samuel
Neal, of New Y'ork City.
In person Gov. Yates was rather above the me
dium size and height. His appearance was digni
fied and his manner was easy, courteous and un
assuming. If he did not possess a brilliant mind,
it was vigorous, well balanced and well disciplined
by education and by his relations with the world.
In all his private relations he was in every way es
timable. He died at Schenectady, on March 19,
1837, having attained the age of sixty-nine years.
Hon. Alonzo C. Paige, LL.D. — Few names
are more distinguished in the legal history of the
State of New York than that of Alonzo C. Paige.
It is an ornament to the bar, where he was dis
tinguished as a wise, eloquent and faithful counsel
or. While at the bar, he devoted himself with

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.—BENCH AND BAR.

81

untiring industry to his profession. To him, ju
risprudence was a science which delighted his pol
emical mind-, and he studied it with avidity and
pleasure; but the student was never lost in the
practicing lawyer. His deep reading was exhibited
in his legal arguments, in his written opinions,
and they rendered his briefs and all his legal pro
ductions beautiful specimens of legal logic and
learning. Like most lawyers, Mr. Paige, in his
earlier life, entered somewhat largely into politics,
but never to the neglect of his professional duties.'
He was never what may be called a practiced pol
itician, and, when placed in comparison with those
simulars of patriotism — politicians of policy and
intrigue — approaching the people with artifice, and
addressing them in the ambiguous language of a
trimmer, his character shone with peculiar lustre,
and it is no exaggeration to say that it did so in
all the varied duties of his life.
We cannot better place the character and career
of Judge Paige before our readers than in adopting
the beautiful memorial ofhim found in 52 Barbor's
N. Y. Supreme Court Reports.
Judge Paige was the son of the Rev. Dr.
Winslow Paige, a Presbyterian clergyman, who was
afterward called to the then Reformed Protestant
Dutch Church. Judge Paige was born in Schagh
ticoke, Rensselaer County, in 1797. Blessed with
a pious parentage and with the advantage of every
possible care bestowed in the cultivation of his
mind and advancement in education, he entered
Williams College at an unusually early age, and
graduated from that institution before he had arrived
at the age of sixteen. In 1857 he received from
his Alma Mater the degree of LL.D. After
leaving Williams College, his father, designing to
educate him for the ministry, sent him to be in
structed under the care of the Rev. Dr. Banks, a
learned Scotch clergyman, then living in a neighbor-
ingparish. After a year or more thus spent, hisfather,
learning of his absence, upon inquiry, found him in
a law office, in the city of Schenectady, laboriously
studying a profession then most agreeable to his
own wishes. He completed his legal term of study
with the approbation of his parent, and was ad
mitted to the bar in 18 18, and opened an office in
the city of Schenectady in 1 8 1 9. He then adopted
that city as his residence, where he lived to the time
of his death.
Judge Paige was a student in every sense of the
word. When he first assumed the practice of his
profession, his mind was so thoroughly imbued
with accurate knowledge of elementary law, and
his habit of study and investigation so diligent and
unremitting, that he arose at once to the first
rank in his profession. Though genial in his na
ture, and enjoying with the highest relish, in his
hours of relaxation, the pleasures of refined social
associations, his constant midnight lamp was the
evidence to all of his love of study.
In 1824 he was appointed District Attorney,
which office he held for fifteen years, performing its
duties with distinguished credit. In 1826 he was
elected a Member of Assembly, and in the three suc
cessive years of 1827-8-9 he was returned as the pop

ular representative of this county in the Assembly.
These political duties, though onerous, were never
permitted to interrupt those of his profession, in
which it seemed to be the great object of his ambi
tion to excel. So rapidly did he rise in his pro
fessional distinction that the acute mind of
Chancellor Walworth was attracted to him, and
in 1830 he selected him as the reporter of his
court, to which office he was appointed, and
which he held until 1846. The highest encomium
that could be paid to his qualifications for that po
sition is the appreciation of the Bar of the State of
New York of the skill, ability, and success with
which he executed its duties, as manifested in their
appreciation of the eleven volumes of the reports
which will bear his name to all the future in our
judicial history. In 1838 Judge Paige was elected
a trustee of Union College, which place he held for
thirty years, until his death. He was placed in
the principal charge of the finances of that institu
tion, and gave to that duty a constant and most
laborious attention. To no one individual during
that period is more credit due than to him for the
care, security, prosperity and increase of the now
exceedingly large and productive property of that
institution. Before the adoption of the Constitution
of 1846, Judge Paige was twice elected to the Sen
ate of this State, and was thus made a member of
the Court for the Correction of Errors. His opin
ions as a member of that court are distinguished
for great clearness, learning and power. Upon
the adoption of the Constitution of 1846, and at
the first election under it, he was elected a Justice
of the Supreme Court, and once after elected to
supply a vacancy. He was for two years a mem
ber of the Court of Appeals, -it would be useless
to the judiciary, to his associates or to the bar to
speak of the character of the many contributions
in our books of reports which bear the impress of
his profound legal mind. Suffice it to say, he
spent his life in the service of the State, and the
ability and soundness of his judicial decisions are a
part of its history and have greatly contributed to
its honor and fame.
The last public position occupied by Judge
Paige was that of a member of the Constitutional
Convention of 1867-8. Though then somewhat
enfeebled by the disease which terminated his life,
his noble and efficient efforts to provide in the
Constitution of the State a security against the cor
ruptions of the elective franchise were in harmony
with the integrity of his whole life.
He was a gentleman of imposing presence,
adopting the old school of dignified and gentle
manly manners, still possessing great urbanity,
amenity and kindness. His leading characteris
tics were open, sincere honesty, undoubted, un
qualified integrity, frank sincerity, uniform cour
tesy, and he was generous and liberal in charities
to the destitute. His early religious training im
pressed upon his mind great gravity of demeanor,
and many years before his death he made a public
profession of religion and united with the Presby
terian church ; at the time of his death he was one
of the ruling elders of that church.

82

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Upon the announcement of his death, in March,
1868, the Bar of Schenectady County called a
meeting to express their profound sorrow for his
loss. This meeting was largely attended. Hon.
John Sanders was called to the chair, who, on
taking it, addressed his brethren in a speech of
deep feeling and eloquence. A committee on
resolutions was appointed, consisting of Hon. J.
S. Landon, Hon. Thomas B. Mitchell, S. A.
Daggett, J. Fuller and A. P. Strong, Esqrs. , who
presented by their chairman brief, touching res
olutions, eloquent and heartfelt expressions of
sorrow for the death of the distinguished jurist
they memorialized.
In presenting the resolutions Judge Landon
said : " We honor our deceased brother, not so
much on account of the high places of trust and
of honor to which he was called and worthily
filled, for none know better than our profession
that in our age and time high official place is not
the truest evidence of high merit. The bat can
reach that eminence as well as the eagle. But we
honor him because through all the years of his
early and later manhood he dignified, adorned and
elevated the profession of the law, even in the esti
mation of lawyers themselves. No pretense, no art
of a demagogue, no superficial acquirements, can
give the lawyer high rank among lawyers ; only
merit, and real merit, can win that. Judge' Paige,
by the cheerful assent of his associates, long had
place among the few who stand at the front rank
of the Bar of our State. Others, doubtless, sur
passed him in the gift of eloquence which charms
while it instructs, but none in that tireless industry,
that exhaustive learning, which, guided by the en
lightened conscience and disciplined brain, com
pels, alike from principle and authority, the law to
stand, as Bacon called it, ' the perfection of
human reason.' Throughout the State Judge
Paige commanded the respect and honor of the
learned and the good."
We only give a portion of Judge Landon's
eloquent and appropriate eulogy. When he said
that "throughout the State the departed jurist com
manded respect and honor," he uttered the senti
ment of the Bench and the Bar in all the State,
as was exhibited by many public demonstrations.
The Schenectady Bar has furnished four Justices
of the Supreme Court, viz. : Joseph C. Yates, ap
pointed February 8, 1808; Alonzo C. Paige, elected
June 7, 1847; Piatt Potter, elected November 3, 1857.
HON. PLATT POTTER.
In writing the biography of the eminent jurist
whose name appears at the head of this sketch, we
speak of one long accustomed to the struggles of
the Bar, one who has for many years pronounced
the law from the Bench. He is one who, in his
sphere, has discharged his duties with such probity
and honor, such learning and ability, as entitles
him to the highest esteem of the Bench, the Bar,
and the public.
Hon. Piatt Potter was born at Galway, Saratoga
County, N. Y., April 6, 1800. He is perhaps one

of the oldest judges and lawyers in the State ; one
of those through whom one generation speaks its
thoughts, appeals and sympathies to another.
His father, Restcome Potter, was a native of Mass
achusetts, but removed to New York early in life.
Notwithstanding the non-combatant principles of
himself and his ancestors, who were members of
the Society of Friends, he engaged in military ser
vice during the war with the mother country, un
der Ethan Allen (the noted hero of Ticonderoga)
when demanding the surrender of the fort in the
name of the " Great Jehovah and the Continental
Congress." Later in life he received a colonel's commission
in the militia from Governor George Clinton, for
whom he named one of his sons. He removed to
Saratoga County about 1 794, and from there to
Schenectady in about 1806, and followed the oc
cupation of farming. A man of energy and public
spirit, he was chosen to fill various official posi
tions, being in turn Alderman of the City, Justice
of the Peace, and for sixteen years a Judge of the
Court of Common Pleas. He was possessed of
commanding influence in his day, and died, greatly
regretted, in 1853. The mother of Judge Piatt
Potter was Lucinda (Strong) Potter, of Litchfield,
Conn., who was also descended from patriotic An
cestry. During his boyhood, Judge Potter at
tended the common schools and the academy at
Schenectady, from which he graduated in 1824.
He immediately began the study of law under the
direction of Hon. Alonzo C. Paige, afterward a
Judge of the Supreme Court. He was admitted to
the Bar of the Supreme Court in 1828. He entered
upon the practice of his profession at Minaville,
Montgomery County, and continued thus occupied
till 1833, when, removing to Schenectady, he en
tered into partnership with Mr. Paige, his former
preceptor. This connection continued for a period
of thirteen years. Upon its dissolution, Judge
Potter practiced alone for a time, but was subse
quently associated in practice with distinguished
legal men who have occupied high positions of
official honor both in the State and National Gov
ernment. In the autumn of 1830, Mr. Potter was
elected Member of Assembly from Montgomery
County. During this session of the Legislature, a
committee, of which Judge Potter was chairman,
was appointed to consider the matter of providing
improved accommodations for the insane. He
made the report, and introduced the first bill to
erect an asylum at Utica for lunatics. He served
also during the same period of legislative labor on
the Judiciary Committee. In 1836 he was married
to Antoinette, daughter of the Rev. Winslow Paige,
D.D. From 1839 to 1847 he held the office of
District Attorney for Schenectady County, and was
at the same time Master and Examiner in Chan
cery, having been appointed to that position in
1828, and continuing to exercise its functions till
the abolishment of the Court in Chancery about
1847. In 1857 he was elected Justice of the Su
preme Court of New York, running as candidate
against his former partner, Judge A. C. Paige.
He was returned by a small majority, serving dur-

^^-^feF"

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.—BENCH AND BAR.

83

ing one of the most critical periods of our political
history. During this term he also served as a
Judge of the Court of Appeals. He was re-elected
in 1865 to the Supreme Bench of the State without
opposition. In the same year he was elected
trustee of Union College, which office he continues
to hold, and which institution conferred on him in
1867 the degree of LL.D.
He was always a staunch Republican in political
sentiments. His judicial services during the rebel
lion, and the four years of trying national experience
which immediately preceded it, were of the utmost
value to the Government
Noted for more than usual mental readiness and
penetration, and great activity in the performance
of every duty, Judge Potter has filled with honor
many high official positions in the State. His
election to the Supreme Bench of the Common
wealth, and his long continuance as a member of
that distinguished body, evince the appreciation in
which not only his talents but his worth are held
by those whose interest have been the object of his
judicial care. His labors as a legislator showed
his large philantrophy and his wise statesmanship.
As a jurist, he stands high in the State. His argu
ment before the Assembly upon the case of
the supposed "High Breach of Privilege of
the Honorable the Assembly of the State of New-
York, in the matter of the Hon. Henry Ray, Mem
ber of Assembly from Ontario," exhibits his pro
found knowledge of the constitutional rights and
powers of the judiciary as a co-ordinate branch of
the Government, the extent of the law of legislative
privilege, and those sound principles of law and
equity underlying just legislative and judicial
action. This case was novel and unprecedented; neither
in the legislative nor judicial history of this State
had any case similar to it been known.
The facts in the case, briefly stated, are as fol
lows: On the 20th of January, 1870, a subpoena,
requiring one Henry Ray to appear and testify as a
witness in a criminal proceeding then pending be
fore the Grand Jury of Saratoga, Oyer and Ter
miner, was issued under the authority of that Court,
Hon. Piatt Potter, one of the Justices of the Su
preme Court, presiding. The subpoena was duly
served on Ray at the City of Albany. He refused
to obey its mandates on the grounds of his privi
lege as Member of Assembly of the State of New
York, then in session. The District Attorney of
Saratoga County then applied to the Court for an
attachment against Ray for such disobedience. It
was granted by the Court, and the officer was di
rected to serve the same by producing the body of
Ray before the Court. He went to Albany on the
morning of the 21st and arrested Ray at his lodg
ings. Ray insisted on his privilege, and refused to
accompany the officer, who then informed him
that he should take him by force. Under pro
test, the gentleman submitted himself to the cus
tody of the officer.
When the arrest of Ray was communicated to
the House of Assembly, it created great excite
ment in that body, and elicited an exciting debate.

It was regarded as a question involving a high
breach of privilege of the House, and an insult to
their dignity. It was finally referred to the Com
mittee on Grievances for grave consideration.
This Committee was composed of seven of the
then most experienced members of the House.
The Hon. Thomas C. Field was Chairman. After
thorough inquiry and a full investigation, the Com
mittee presented an elaborate report, stating the
facts and circumstances of the case, the effect of
the act upon the character and dignity of the
House, the encroachments on legislative rights of
the law of Parliamentary privileges, and of the
danger of the public interests if the precedent com
ing from such a source should pass without public
rebuke. The Committee came to the conclusion
' ' that the arrest of the Hon. Henry Ray, on Jan
uary 21, 1870 — a Member of Assembly from the
First District of the County of Ontario — on an at
tachment issuing out of the Court of Oyer and
Terminer then being held in the County of Sara
toga, of which the Hon. Piatt Potter was Presid
ing Justice, was a high breach of the privileges of
this House by the said Potter, and deserves the
censure of this House. Your Committee, there
fore, respectfully submit the following resolution:
" Resolved;Tha.t the Hon. Piatt Potter, Justice of
the Supreme Court of the Fourth Judicial District,
be summoned and required to appear before the
bar of this House for a high breach of its privi
lege in issuing an attachment for the arrest of the
Hon. Henry Ray, a Member of Assembly of the
State of New York from the First District of the
County of Ontario; and that the House will then
and there take such action as the House in its
judgment may see fit. "
A similar resolution was passed in relation to
the District Attorney of Saratoga County, who ap
plied for the attachment against Ray.
The notice to appear at the Bar of the House
and answer was served on the Judge February 14,
1870, only two days previous to that appointed for
the hearing.
At twelve o'clock noon on the 16th of February,
Judge Potter appeared at the bar of the Assembly,
when the Speaker of the House briefly stated to
him the charges which he was required to answer,
and called upon him to state any excuse for his
conduct in issuing his attachment against Hon.
Henry Ray, a member of the House.
Judge Potter, who had appeared with Hon. Wm.
A. Beach, as counsel, proposed that that gentle
man should answer for him. Mr. Fields stated
that the presence of counsel in such cases was
unusual, whereupon the Speaker declared the
Judge could not be heard through his counsel.
"Then," said Judge Potter, " I will speak for
myself." He then entered on his remarks with
the calm confidence of one who can rely upon
himself in any emergency. His argument was
able, profound and elaborate ; every authority
bearing on the matter in any way — whether Eng
lish or American — was fully considered and
digested. It did not touch upon anything which

84

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

would excite the fancy, for it contained nothing but
logic, learning and facts. The Assembly and
many Senators who came to be present, and a vast
throng of spectators, listened with deep and un
wearied attention. All who heard it were lost to
everything except the words which fell from the
lips of the speaker, standing under such peculiar
circumstances. But he had the complete mastery
of his subject, and his words flowed with intel
lectual energy.
We regret that we have not space to give in
detail his remarkably able arguments — this great
defense of an independent judiciary. It was
rewarded by a great and signal triumph.
"Although," said the Judge, in concluding his
argument, "I have appeared here and offered
this defense, I do not say that I submit this case
to you, though probably that will be the effect of
your action ; but, sir, I stand here protesting,
earnestly protesting, that I am not here in obedi
ence to your power, but here out of courtesy to
an independent department of this Government."
At the close of this argument, Thomas C. Fields,
Member from the City of New York, rose and
made a motion that Judge Potter withdraw from
the House until his case could be disposed of.
The Speaker then informed the Hon. gentle
man that he could withdraw to the library till his
case was decided.
Judge Potter. — "I prefer to stay, and unless
driven from the House by its power shall remain."
The Speaker. — "The request of the Hon. Judge
will be granted. "
Judge Potter. — "I have made no request,"
taking his seat.
A long and exciting debate in the House fol
lowed. Mr. Fields offered a resolution that Hon.
Piatt Potter, in issuing the attachment for the arrest
of Hon. Henry Ray, Member of Assembly from
Ontario, was guilty of a high breach of the
privileges of this House, and that he be repri
manded by the Speaker in the presence of this
House. This resolution received no support and was
withdrawn, whereupon Mr. Alvord, of Onondaga,
offered the following amendment to Mr. Field's re
solution. Resolved, "That the Hon. Piatt Potter was mis
taken as to the privileges of this House in the ac
tion taken by him in the arrest of Hon. Henry
Ray, but this House do not believe that intention
or desire to interfere with the independence or
dignity of the House actuated him in the perform
ance of that which he deemed his official duty."
Mr. Wm. D. Murphy offered a substitute for
that resolution, to the effect that Judge Potter be
discharged from the custody of the House until
the hour of twelve o'clock on the first day of
March, and that in the meantime the opinion of
the Attorney-General be communicated as to the
term "Civil Process" in the statute exempting
legislators from arrest. This was lost.
The question was then taken upon the motion
pf Mr. Alvord, which was carried by a vote of 92

to 1 5, and thus ended the case, a sketch of which
only is contained in Barbor's Reports, Vol. 55,
page 625.
Very soon after Judge Potter's discharge, he re
ceived a large number of letters, "the volun
tary congratulations of the jurists, statesmen and
lawyers, names distinguished in the State and na
tion." They were written to the Judge as the in
dorsement of the soundness of his argument upon
the question of the independence of the judiciary.
These letters, though not written with the object of
publication, have appeared in a pamphlet contain
ing the argument of Judge Potter, published by
and at the request of members of the Bar in the
counties of Rensselaer, Saratoga, Montgomery and
Schenectady, to which publication Judge Potter
consented, inasmuch as numerous and material
errors and omissions in the newspaper report of
the argument demanded correction.
Further evidence of the high esteem in which the
judiciary and the bar held Judge Potter, and the grati
fication his legislative triumphs gave them, was ex
hibited in the September following that event A
State Judicial Convention was held at Rochester in
September, 1870, for the purpose of nominating a
candidate for Judge of the Court of Appeals. It
was chiefly attended mostly by judges and ex-
judges. Mr. Potter was unanimously chosen per
manent President of the Convention, upon the ex
press grounds of his triumphant victory over the
Legislature on the question of the independence
of the judiciary.
Judge Potter's written opinions and judgments
exhibit the profound lawyer, the thoughtful,
patient and investigating judge.
He has attained distinction as a writer. Among
his written productions we refer to the following:
In 1870, while still on the bench serving as
judge, he prepared a work upon the construction
and interpretation of American Statutes' and Con
stitutions. In it he also included, with approval,
the law of England, as far as applicable, and as
laid down by one Dwarris, a distinguished law writer
of that country. The work prepared by Judge Potter
is entitled ' 'Potter's Dwarris. " It is a work univers
ally approved as authority in all the States of this
country. In 1875 ne compiled and greatly en
larged, with the later authorities, a treatise on
Equity Jurisprudence, originally prepared by John
Willard. This is known as Potter's edition of that
work. In 1879 ne prepared an original work on
corporations, in two volumes, entitled " Potter on
Corporations." Each of these three works has been
recognized in this country as standard authority,
and they are now used as books for study and in
struction in the Albany and other law schools.
Judge Potter is distinguished for his domestic
and social qualities. His own fireside is, to him,
the dearest place on earth. His conversation is
agreeable and instructive. His long and large ac
quaintance with distinguished men of the past and
the present, and his reminiscences of their careers,
give an historic interest to his conversation. He
possesses the rare faculty of eliciting the strong points
in the person's character with whom he converses.

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.—BENCH AND BAR.

85

As years fall upon him, they bring no asperities
to his disposition, no dimness to the light of his
social and mental powers, nor do they detract
aught from the suavity of his manners. He is in
every sense of the word a Christian gentleman,
and has for many years been an elder of the First
Presbyterian Church in Schenectady. His piety is
with him a deep sentiment — it is warm, but not
heated; earnest, but tranquil; a principle, not an
impulse. That a man like Judge Potter should be held in
the highest esteem and affection by his friends and
neighbors,is the natural reward of a well-spent life.
Judson Stuart Landon was born in Salis
bury, Litchfield County, Conn., December 16,
1832. His great-grandfather, James Landon, rep
resented that town in the Legislature of the
Colony of Connecticut in 1759, and his uncle,
also James Landon, represented the same town in
the Legislature of the State just one hundred years
later. His father, William Landon, who married
Phebe, daughter of Dr. Cyrus Berry, a physician
of Dutchess County, was born in the same town,
and died there in 1876 at the age of eighty-one.
He was a merchant and farmer.
Mr. Landon was educated in the common
schools, and in the American and New York Con
ference seminaries. In 1853 he was a teacher of
Latin, mathematics and natural sciences in the
academy at Princetown, Schenectady County,
N. Y. He at the same time pursued the study of
law without an instructor. In 1854 he left the
academy and studied law in Yale College for one
year. In 1855 he returned to the academy as its
principal. He received the degree of Master of
Arts from Union College the same year. In 1856
he was admitted to the Bar, and was elected Dis
trict Attorney of Schenectady County in the fall of
that year. Since then he has resided in Schenec
tady. He was re-elected District Attorney in
1859. In February, 1865, he was appointed
County Judge to fill a vacancy, and was elected
for four years in the fall of that year. In 1867 he
served as a member of theState Constitutional Con
vention. In 1873 he was elected Justice of the
Supreme Court in the Fourth Judicial District.
Jesse Gay, of Pittsburgh, was the candidate of
the Democrats, but declined to run, and the elec
tion of Justice Landon was not opposed.
He is one of the governors of Union University,
a trustee of Union College and of the Albany Law
School, and at present acting president of Union
College. He received the degree of LL.D.
from Rutgers College in 1885.
His practice for several years was chiefly con
fined to litigated cases. In 1868 he was one of
the counsel for Robert C. Dora, Canal Commis-
missioner, who was tried before the Court of Ap
peals and the Senate upon articles of impeachment
preferred against him by the Assembly. He opened
the case before the Court and examined the wit
nesses on behalf of Mr. Dorn, who was acquitted.
Austin A. Yates was born in Schenectady,
March 24, 1836; graduated from Union College

in 1854 ; admitted to the Bar in 1857. He imme
diately began the practice of his profession, and at
the same time became editor of the Schenectady
Daily Times. During the civil war he raised a
company, of which he became captain, and for
meritorious service in putting down a rebellion of
miners in Pennsylvania he secured from President
Lincoln the honorary rank of Brevet-Major. In
1864 he was elected District Attorney of Schenec
tady, but resigned the office in 1873, on his elec
tion as County Judge. In 1879 he was appointed
Attorney to the Insurance Department by the State
Superintendent of Insurance, which office he held
during the Governorship of Alonzo B. Cornell.
Hon. Samuel W. Jackson was born in the town
of Palatine, Montgomery County, N. Y., June 28,
1821. His father, Allen H. Jackson, was a grad
uate of West Point, and was a civil engineer of dis
tinction. His mother was the sister of Judge Paige,
of Schenectady. He graduated from Union Col
lege in 1842, receiving in due time the degree of
A.M. He completed his legal studies in the office
of Paige & Potter, and was licensed as an attorney
in 1843, and as counselor in 1846. He practiced
law from 1843 to 1850 in Gilboa, Schoharie
County, and for a time in New York, and came
to Schenectady in 1858. He was appointed by
Governor Hoffman, in 1867, to fill the unexpired
term of Judge E. H. Rosencrans. In 1872 hewas
elected a member of the Constitutional Commission,
and is now attorney for the New York Central Rail
road for his locality. Judge Jackson is a man of
excellent legal attainments and strict attention in
the performance of his duties, and has established
a flourishing practice, and is highly honored by
the community.
HON. JOHN SANDERS.
Hon. John Sanders was born in Glenville, N.
Y., in 1802. His father was Presiding Judge of Al
bany County when Schenectady County was a part
of it. He graduated from Union College in 1822,
and completed his legal studies in 1825, and
practiced for a year in Albany, and afterward in
Northampton, Catskill and Clermont, N. Y. In
1836 he settled in Schenectady, and in 1840 was
appointed by Gov. Seward Surrogate, which office
he held till 1844. He was County Judge from
1855 till i860. Hewas identified with the interests
of the Bar in various localities of the State, and is the
author of a history of the County of Schenectady.
Hon. Walter T. L. Sanders, son of the Hon. John
Sanders, was born in Catskill, N. Y. , September 7,
1 83 1. He engaged in teaching and business for
some years, and was admitted to the practice of law
in Schenectady in 1858. Elected Clerk of the
Board of Supervisors in i860, elevated to office of
County Judge in 1870, and member of Assembly in
1876. These various public positions he filled with
ability. Edward W. Paige was born in Schenectady,
July 11, 1844, and graduated from Union College
in 1864; from Harvard Law School in June, 1866;

86

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

and Albany Law School shortly afterward. He
occupies a leading position in his profession, and
has served as Assistant State Attorney-General.
Hon. Edward D. Cutler was born in Ballston, N.
Y., December 18,1849; was educated in the common
schools and at the Classical Institute, Schenectady;
was a clerk in the grocery store of Adam Dillen-
beck nine years ; in 1877 entered the law office of
Hon. A. A. Yates, and studied law two years,
graduating from Albany Law School in 1880 ; be
came a law partner with Judge Yates ; in the fall
of 1884 was nominated by acclamation by the
Democratic party as Member of Assembly for Sche
nectady County, and gained the election, running
625 ahead of the electoral ticket.
Hon. D. C. Beattie was born in Salem, N. Y. ,
December 2, 1827, and graduated from Norwich
University, Vt, in 1845. He practiced law in
Chicago from June, 1850, to October, 1859, and
at Albany, 1860-62, coming to Schenectady in
February the latter year. He was District Attor
ney of Schenectady County from January 1, 1875,
to January 1, 1878, and has been County Judge
since January 1, 1880.
Alonzo P. Strong, lawyer, whose office is in the
Y. M. C. A. Building, is a prominent member of
the city and county Bar. He has an extensive
practice and stands among the leading members of
the Schenectady Bar.
Samuel T. Benedict, lawyer, was born in Dan-
bury, Conn., in 1837, and graduated from Union
College in i860 and from Harvard Law School in
1862. He practices his profession principally in
New York, and has been a resident of Schenectady
since 1865.
John A. De Remer was for a short time tutor of
mathematics in Union College. As a lawyer he com
mands a lucrative practice. He has taken an active
interest in politics, affiliating with the Republican
party, and has held several important offices, the
last being postmaster of Schenectady.
E. Nott Schermerhorn, a descendant of one of
the oldest families, though a lawyer of ability, has
been principally connected with other pursuits.
He was Collector of Internal Revenue from 1864
to 1882, and was appointed receiver of the Jones
Car Works, February 4, 1884. He also conducts
an extensive real estate and insurance business.
Horatio Gates Glenn, attorney, was born in
Schenectady, December 26, 1859, and graduated
from Union College in 1881 and from the Albany
Law School in 1883. Since then he has practiced
in his native city.
Charles Hastings began the practice of law in
1872 in Schenectady, and has secured an extensive
practice. J. Teller Schoolcraft, attorney at law, began
practice at Schenectady in 1876. Hewas elected
District Attorney on the Democratic ticket in 1880
and re-elected in 1883.
Omie F. Vedder, law student and Clerk of the
Board of Supervisors, is a graduate of Union Classi
cal Institute; was a school teacher from 1878 to

1882, and was managing editor of the Schenectady
Daily Union from April, 1883, to October, 1884.
He was Committee Clerk in the Assembly of 1884,
and has also been Clerk of the Board of Super
visors. Edward E. Kriegsman was born in Albany, N.
Y., in 1852, and became a lawyer in 1878, and
added the insurance business three years later. He
was City Clerk from February, 1881, to May, 1883,
and since June, 1882, has been Secretary of Board
of Health and Registrar of Vital Statistics.
Jacob W. Clute was born in Schenectady, Oc
tober 12, 1846, and was admitted to the bar of
Schenectady County April 16, 1868, and has been
located in the city since. He has represented the
Second ward as Alderman two terms. He is also
Secretary of the Schenectady County Bible Society.
James A. Goodrich, attorney at law, was born
in Schenectady in 1856, and graduated from Union
College in 1879, and from the Albany Law School
in 1882.
Schenectady County Bar. — Plon. Frothingham
Fish, Justice; David C. Beattie, Louis C. Beattie,
Samuel T. Benedict, Walter Briggs, Demetrius M.
Chadsey, Jacob W. Clute, John F. Clute, Edward
D. Cutler, Simon Calkins, David Daggett, John A.
De Remer, Robert Furman, James Fuller, Horatio
G. Glen, James A. Goodrich, Charles Hastings,
Samuel W. Jackson, Edward E. Kriegsman, Rob
ert J. Landon, R. T. Lomasney, John E. Myers,
John McShea, Piatt Potter, Edward W. Paige,
Charles E. Palmer, David Cady Smith, Everett
Smith, Gerardus Smith, Walter T. L. Sanders,
Charles P. Sanders, Jr. , Alonzo P. Strong, J. Teller
Schoolcraft, E. Nott Schermerhorn, Alex. J. Thom
son, Wm. J. Van Epps, George O. Van De Bogert,
Austin A. Yates, James A. Van Voast, Alex. M.
Vedder; Thomas Yelverton, Clerk of the Court;
William J. Stevens, Crier; Jacob De Forest,
Sheriff. ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETIES.
the reformed nether dutch church, schenec
tady, N. Y.
At the first settlement of Schenectady in 1662,
there were but five Dutch churches and ministers in
the Province, viz. : those of
New Amsterdam (New York), whose ministers
were Johannes Megapolensis and Samuel Drisius.
Beverwyck (Albany), Gideon Schaets.
Breuckelyn (Brooklyn), Henricus Selyns.
Esopus (Kingston), Hermanus Bloom.
Midwout and Amersfort (Flatbush, L. I.), Johan
nes T. Polhemus.
Of these the church at Beverwyck, founded
twenty years before, was the oldest in the colony,
except that of New Amsterdam. * Her first dominie
(1642 to 1647) was Johannes Megapolensis, who
now ministered in New Amsterdam; the second,
*A church (Presbyterian so far as having ruling elders) composed
of settlers who founded Southampton, L. I., in June, .640, was organ
ized at Lynn in May of that year, and a similar church was organized
at New Haven in October of the same year by the settlers of Soulhold.
T«t\ A me'sland- *e settlement of this latter town having also been
effected in the month of October.

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETIES.

87

Gideon Schaets (i 652-1 690). The latter probably
assisted at the organization of the church at Schenec
tady, to which he occasionally ministered until his
labors ceased in his own church in 1690.
The date and circumstances of this organization
are involved in much obscurity, the early records of
both churches being lost But from occasional
mention made in contemporaneous papers and rec
ords, it is safe to say that the church of Schenectady
was in existence between the years 1670 and 1680,
and probably earlier. Thus, on the occasion of the
death of Hans Janse Eenkluys, in 1683, the dea
cons petition the court at Albany for letters of ad
ministration on his effects, and say * * *
"dat eenen Hans Janssen op den J meert 167^ heeft
overgedraegen aende aermen van Schaenhechtade
zeecke syne plantage ," etc., etc.; in other words, that
Hans Janse, in 1675, made over to the poor of
Schenectady his plantation, on condition he should
be maintained in his old age and weakness, which
they say they have done, and paid the expenses of
his burial. Now this plantage was simply the ' ' Poor
Pasture," and was the property of the church from
Eenkluys' time down to 1862, when it was sold.
These facts seem to point to the existence of the
church as early as 1674, for it is a well-known fact
that the Dutch churches were the guardians of the
poor, the orphans, and the aged, who were without
natural protectors, and received and dispensed large
alms and property for this purpose.
The next incidental mention of this church is
found in the records of the city of Albany. In
February, 1679, "the court and consistory of
Schenectady requested that Domine Schaets may be
sent four Sundays in one year to administer the
Lord's Supper to said place and community, which
request is granted in so far that Domine Schaets is
allowed to go four times in one year to administer
the Holy Sacrament, but not on a Sunday, whereas
it would be unjust to let the community [of Al
bany] be without preaching. "
Thirdly, The prosperous condition of the poor
fund of the church from 1680 to 1690 shows
pretty clearly that it had been organized some
years previous to the former date. At the close of
the year 1 689, Z>o»zz>ze Thesschenmaecker audited the
deacons' accounts, and found that the unexpended
alms contributed for the poor amounted to about
4,000 guilders, of which about 3,000 guilders had
been loaned to individuals on bonds dating back in
one case to 168 1. Though the Dutch were a liberal
people in matters appertaining to their church, it is
not probable that such an accumulation of alms was
made entirely within the ten years above mentioned,
especially when their numbers are considered,
and that in this time the parsonage house was con
structed and their first Dominie was called and
maintained. It is fair, therefore, to conclude that
the Dutch Church of Schenectady was certainly an
organized body in 1 674 — probably much earlier.
The first twenty years of the village was a strug
gle with the hardships of frontier life; its energies
were spent in removing the forest and subduing the
soil. For religious privileges it was dependent
upon Albany until 1683, when the little hamlet

having grown sufficiently strong in numbers and
wealth, called its first minister. The earliest men-
lion of Dominie Thesschenmaecker in the church
records is found in a book of miscellaneous writ
ings, the first leaves of which unfortunately are
wanting. The following is a copy and translation of the
first page in its present mutilated condition:
(Copy.)
Uytgyeve. [l683?]
aen Myndert Wemp, F. 48
aen een kan, 8
aen Jan Roelofsen voor  24
aen 5 Witte broden, I
aen domine Tassemaker  24
aen emanual Consaul, 6
aen Lubbert gysbertse voor 2 dagen Wercke, 6
aen spyckers van Albanie, 6
aen den y2 duyzend harde steen, 18
aen 2 bevers aen Laseysers tot het huys te singelen, 48
aen 12 gulden aen. . . .door stacken en. . . .voor verb-
ruyck aen de heyninge, 12
27 april voor wyn tot fiet naght mael aen domine tass-
chenmaker betalt, 20
27 May domine Schals Verstelt, 36
Schoonmaken van der Kerche, 13
 1 . io
 S-
 2 . 10
Voor wyn van het naght mael, 20.0
aen Adam Vroom, 24 .
nogh aen domine tasschemaker voort maken vande
heyninge aen het erf, 45 ¦
nogh voor 7 maal witte broot tot het avont mael a
fl. 1. 10 a maal, 10.10
Class permurent een dagen ryden, 18
2% dagen aen de heyninge, 22
Voor te singelen van 't huys, 12
aen 2 Vragsten posten gasacht, 6
2 glazz Raamen, 10
Somma, fl. 516-13
(Translation.)
Expenditures. ['683?]
To Myndert Wemp, guilders, F. 48
To [paid for] a pot, 8
To Jan Roelofsen, for  24
To 5 white loaves, 1
To clomine Tassemaker,  24
To Emanual Consaul, 6
To Lubbertse Gysbertse for two days' work, 6
To nails from Albany, 6
To the half thousand hard bricks, 18
To two beavers to Laseysers shingling the house, 48
To 12 guilders. . . .for stakes. . . .for use on the fence, 12
27 April, For wine for the Lord's Supper, paid to
Domine Tasschenmaker, 20
27 May, presented to Domine Schaets, 36
Cleaning the church, 13
 1. 10
'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.  5-
 2 . 10
For wine for the Lord's supper, 20.0
To Adam Vrooman, 24.
Also to Domine Tasschemaker for making the fence
to the lot, 45 •
Also for white bread 7 times for the Lord's supper a
fl. 1. 10 a time, 10.10
Class Purmerent [Van der Volgen] one day's carting, 18
2% days on the fence, 22
for the shingles of the house, 12
To two loads of posts sawed, 6
2 window glasses (or sashes), 10
Total, florins 516.13
From these accounts we learn that Dominie
Thesschenmaecker came to Schenectady before the

88

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

death of Dominie Schaets (1690), and that the first
of the five houses of worship built by this society
was then built. We know little about it except
that it was small and inconvenient, and that it stood
at the junction of Church, State and Water streets.
Dominie Pieter Thesschenmaecker, little known
except by his tragical end, came to this coun
try from Guiana, whither he had gone from
Utrecht a young theological student, and is first
mentioned in a petition for his services, dated
1676. It appears that at this time he had not been or
dained, for in 1679, on application from New
castle on the Delaware, the Governor directed
Dominie Newenhuysen to examine and induct him
into the ministry of the Protestant Reformed
Church. After his ordination, Dominie Thesschenmaecker
departed immediately for his new field of labors.
Here he remained three years until 1682, when he
left and accepted a call from Schenectady, where
he labored six years with reasonable success.
Until 1 700 the church was without a pastor, and
indeed it does not appear that the people had any
religious privileges, except such as might be had
by a visit to Albany, until 1694, when Dominie
Dellius began to minister to them occasionally.
His first recorded visits that year were on the nth
of April and 9th of October, on which occasions
new members "were added to the church and chil
dren baptized. In 1695 he came four times, viz. :
on the 2d January, 27th March, 26th June and 9th
October. In 1696 five times: January 8th, April
15th, July ist, September 19th and December 30th.
In 1697 three times: April 6th, June 30th and No
vember 10th. And in 1698 four times: 27th April,
20th July, 1 9th October and 28th December. In all
eighteen visits in five years.
In 1699 Dominie Dellius returned to the Father
land, and Dominie Johannes Petrus Nucella, suc
ceeding to his place as minister of Albany, visited
Schenectady once — on the 31st of August. The
following year he came twice, viz. : on the 9th Jan
uary and 25th May.
The number of members added to the church by
these two ministers was twenty-five ; the 'number
of children baptized seventy-six, seven of whom
were Indians.
But no sooner was peace proclaimed in 1697
than both village and church began a new career
of prosperity. Within five years a second minister
was called, and a new house of worship was
erected. Dominie B. Freeman (or Freerman) succeeded
Dominie Dellius in 1700. He was a man of ma
ture age. In 1698 he was a member of the church
of Amsterdam, and on the 9th of March of that
year was licensed to preach by the Classis of Wor
den and Overryaland, and ordained by the Classis of
Lingen, March 16, 1760. He immediately de
parted for his distant charge, accompanied by
Dominie Johannes Lydius. On the 20th of July
they arrived in Albany, where the latter remained,
while the former passed on to Schenectady, and
on the 28th commenced his labors as pastor of the

church and missionary to the Mohawks. The latter
office had been filled by Dominie Dellius for many
years, and both for political as well as religious
reasons, it was considered important to continue so
powerful an agency among the native tribes.

cC^j&Trrorb

1*4 ¦jl*&C'irrX*l+\

Tn regard to this matter the Earl of Bellmont,
Governor of the Provinces, said to the assembled
Sachems of the Five Nations, on the 26th of Au
gust, 1700: * * * "I have sent to England
for ministers to instruct you in the true Christian
religion. I expect some very soon ; for the present
I shall settle Mr. Vreeman, an able, good minister,
at Schenectada, who I intend shall be one of those
that shall be appointed to instruct you in the true
faith. He will be near the Mohacks, and in your
way as you come from [the] several castles to this
town (Albany), and will take pains to teach you.
He has promised me to apply himself with all dil-
ligence to learn your language, and doubts not to
be able to preach to you therein in a year's time. "'
In a communication to the Board of Trade the Gov
ernor says : " I send your Lordships a copy of Mr.
'Freeman's letter. He is a Dutch minister at Sche
nectady, and a very good sort of a man."
As Albany was the headquarters of Indian trade
as well as of the yearly Council held with the Five
Nations, Dominie Lydius was also appointed to
instruct the natives in the Christian faith, and "ye
bettar to enable him to serve them in ye work of
the Gospell, ye Interpretesse [Hillitie] was ap
pointed to be his assistant in that affair as former
ly" * * *
In the five years spent at Schenectady, Dominie
Freeman became well versed in the Indian tongue,
so as not only to preach, but to write in it, and so
attached were the natives to him, that five years
after he left Schenectady they petitioned Gov. Hunter
for his reappointment, "and that he live [with us]
at our Castle and not at Schinnectady nor Albany."
Probably his was the first attempt made to trans
late the church service or portions of the Holy
Scriptures into the language of the Mohawks.

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETIES.

89

The salary of the early ministers of this church
was one hundred pounds of New York currency
($250), house and garden rent free, pasturage for
two cows and a horse, and sixty cords of wood de
livered at the parsonage. The salary commenced
from the day the Dominie sailed from Holland,
and the expenses of the voyage, until he arrived in
Schenectady, were paid by the church. The fol
lowing is Do. Freeman's first bill, rendered August
25, 1700:
"16 mar. 1700 to 25 aug. the Consistory is in
debted to Domine Freeman :
" For current salary from the 16 march to the 25 th
of august, — is five months and nine days and
amounts to a sum of fifty pounds and something
more, — is in sewant, gl. 2.000
"Also expenses incurred on the voyage, in fresh
provisions, wine, brandy, vegetables and hens, be
sides about three weeks expenses on the Isle of
Wight, — is the sum of gl. 374 (or $46.75)

gl. 2.374 (or $296.75)
"Schenectady. Barnhardus Freerman."
Trifling as this amount may seem, the little
community were unable to raise it, and on the 3d
of September, 1700, applied to the Common
Council of Albany for permission to solicit contri
butions in Albany. In reply, the Commonalty ad
vise ' ' that they first goe and Visite there own Con
gregation, and if they do not obtaine said Sallary
by them, then to make their application to the
Commonality at ye next Court day. "
When Do. Freeman was appointed missionary
to the Indians by Gov. Bellomont, he was prom
ised a salary of £bo; for expenses, ^"15; and
for the interpreter, Laurens Claese Van der Volgen,
who was his assistant, ^25.
The Governor expected to obtain this salary
from the corporation for the propagation of the
gospel at Boston, but in case he failed there, prom
ised to secure it for him out of the revenue of the
Province. It is presumed that said corporation declined to
assume this burden, and, as a consequence, the
General Assembly passed an act in his favor.
On the death of Do. Lupardus, of Kings Coun
ty, in 1702, the consistory of the churches there
applied to Gov. Cornbury for permission to call
Do. Freeman, who at the same time gave encour
agement of his acceptance.
Fearing their minister might be enticed away
from them, the Consistory of the church in Sche
nectady, the next year, presented to Lord Cornbury
a remonstrance against his leaving; notwithstand
ing which, and also that the Governor objected to
his leaving, he accepted the call. It was not,
however, until the summer of 1705 that he left for
Flatbush, the license to change his pastoral rela
tions being finally granted by Gov. Cornbury on
the 26th of December of the same year.
Soon after Do. Freeman came to Schenectady,
the house of worship then used was found to be
unfit for the accommodation of the inhabitants
and Indian proselytes; but as the little community
had not yet fully recovered from the effects of the

late incursion of the French and their savage allies,
the funds necessary for a new house could not be
raised without aid from abroad. A petition, there
fore, was presented to Gov. Nanfan in 1701, asking
permission to circulate a subscription throughout
the Province for this purpose.
This petition being favorably received by the
Governor and Council, on the 27th October, 1701,
he issued his license to the inhabitants of Schenec
tady to receive contributions from the people of the
Province for the space of six months from that
date, and directed all justices of the peace,
schouts and other officers of his Majesty, as well
as ministers of the gospel, to use their utmost en
deavors to aid this laudable object. This appeal
to the liberality of their neighbors was successful,
and the church was probably finished in 1703.
The site was that of the first house of worship, at
the junction of Church, Water and State streets,
and the dimensions, fifty-six north and south by
forty-six feet east and west, Amsterdam measure.
The burying ground adjoined the church upon the
west side, and was fifteen feet wide by fifty-six feet
long. Speaking of Schenectady in 1710, the Rev.
Thomas Barclay says: "There is a convenient and
well-built church, which they freely give me the
use of."
" Probably it was substantially built of stone, for
after its abandonment in 1734 as a place of wor
ship, it was used for some years as a fort. By the
year 1754 it had been either removed or used as a
barracks, watch-house and market; by 1768 the
site was clear and designated the Market Place.
The removal of Do. Freeman was a disheartening
event to the church. He had gained the confi
dence of the people and considerable influence
over the neighboring Indians. To obtain another
minister from Holland, in their present circum
stances, was impossible. They were not only a
small, but a poor people and, without aid, not in a
condition to support a minister.
For the following ten years they were destitute
of the stated ministry, being only occasionally
visited by the ministers of Albany and other more
distant settlements.
Between the years 1705 and 171 5, Dominies
Johannes Lydius and Petrus Van Driessen, of Al
bany, Petrus Vas, of Kingston, and Gualterus Du
Bois, of New York, made 24 visits to Schenectady,
baptizing 152 children, of whom 19 were Indians.
In all this time the records show but one member
added to the church.
Rev. Thomas Barclay, chaplain to the fort
in Albany, preached occasionally in Schenectady.
As early as 1713, the church applied to Governor
Hunter for permission to call a new minister, and
received his license, dated July 27th that year. On
the 1 7th day of May the following year, the con
sistory addressed a letter to Willem Bancker, mer
chant, of Amsterdam, and Rev. Matthias Winter-
wyck, of Alphen (Dalphin ?), Holland, authorizing
them to procure a minister for the church, and
promising him a salary of ^90, to commence on
his arrival, a dwelling free of rent, firewood at the
door, a large garden, and free pasture for two

90

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

cows and a horse. The result of this negotiation
was the arrival of Dominie Thomas Brouwer, in
July, 1714. He died on the 15th of January, 1728.
In his will he left £2 5 — one-half to the church and
the other for the poor ; his gun, pistols, horse, table
linen, etc., to various members of the families of
Gerrit Symonse Veeder and Johannes Banker, and
his books, best clothing, linen, etc. , to his two
brothers. He speaks of neither wife nor children.
The fourth minister of the church was Do.
Reinhardus Erichzon. His call or Beroep brief
was dated 30th March, 1728, two and a half

months after the death of his predecessor. He
was probably a native, or at least a resident, of
Groningen, North Holland, and before his call to
Schenectady had ministered three years to the
churches of Hackensack, Paramus and Schraalen-
berg, New Jersey. The consistory agreed to give
him a salary of £100 ($250), a parsonage house
in good repair, a garden kept in a fence, pasture
for a horse and two cows and firewood at the
door. Dominie Erichzon left Schenectady in Oc
tober, 1736, having received a call to the church of
Freehold and Middletown, N. J.

frj9*
HfefeUMLfl v£a. ¦£*- "-*.'
The matter of erecting a larger church began to
be agitated soon after Do. Erichzon became pastor,
and the congregation was able not only to build a
house which for the time was both substantial and
spacious, but also to furnish it with a bell and
clock. As a preliminary step in this new enterprise, a
subscription paper was circulated through the
town in 1730, by which ^322 was obtained, and
extending the appeal up the valley a still further
sum of ^33-15 was subscribed in money and
wheat. The entire sum did not amount to quite
one-third the cost of the church, which was ^"1,167
-17-10 ($2,919.73) ; the remainder was probably

cff.'Wilcl-Z'/lBtre^Eng-

derived from the accumulations of former years
and from sales of lands and leases — the gift of the
trustees of the common lands.
The following is the heading of the subscription,
and is interesting as showing the forfeiture for non
payment of the pledges made for the building of
this edifice :
"We, or I, the underwritten, promise to pay to
Arent Bratt, Jacobus Van Dyck, Dirck Groot and
Cornelis Van der Volgen, and Robert Yates, Jacob
Swits, Wouter Vrooman and Jan Barentse Wemp,
Elders and Deacons, or to their successors, the
sum which we, or I, subscribe with our hands, so
soon as the foundation of said church is laid ; and

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETIES.

91

failing of the same, we, or I, promise to pay ten
pounds current money if we, or I, are negligent in
the payment of the sum of money which I with
my hand subscribe. As witness our hands or mv
hand." y
After thorough preparation, the work was begun
in the spring of 1732. Hendrick Vrooman was

Baas (Boss) of the men, of whom seventeen were
carpenters, besides masons, glaziers, etc. His
wages was seven shillings a day ; the others were
paid from five to six shillings. The Preeck-stoei
[pulpit] was built by Pieter Cornu for ^"20, and
Gysbert W. Vandenbergh, of Albany, contracted to
do the mason work for ^"80.

y fllii?va>d'*.-3y>Nj/.

This house was dedicated January 13, 1734, on
which occasion Do. Erichzon preached in the
morning, and Do. Van Driessen, of Albany, in the
afternoon. The following Sabbaths, January 20
and 27, the pastor continued the subject of his first
sermon. This third house was situated in Church street,
at its junction with Union street, and was eighty
feet in length north and south, and fifty-six feet
wide. The trustees of the town conveyed to the
church not only this site, but also the land around
the same ten feet in width, except on the west side,
where, by reason of the narrowness of the street,
it was limited to five feet. The building material
was blue sandstone or graywacke from the quarries
east of the village. It had two entrances, one on
the south end, the other on the east side, over
which was built a porch with a staircase leading to
galleries. The roof was in the gambrel style, a
few specimens of which still remain in the city.
The belfry and clock tower stood on the north end.
As seen from the east end of Union street, it pre
sented a pleasing and imposing appearance. The
tub-shaped pulpit, fixed upon a narrow pedestal,
and surmounted by a conical sounding board, was
built against the west wall, in front of which an
open space was railed in called the Doophuisje.

Here the Dominie stood while administering the
rite of baptism.
There was a gallery upon all sides save the west,
whether built with the church or at a later day is
not known, as no mention is made of it before the
year 1788, when it began to be occupied by adult
males who could not obtain seats below. In this,
as in other Dutch congregations, the males and fe
males sat apart, the former upon raised seats,
called gestoelte, placed against the walls of the
church, and the latter in slips or bancken upon the
floor of the house.
In the first allotments of seats little regard was
had to family relations, nor was there any ex
change of sittings, and so long as the yearly rent
was paid they were the property of the occupants,
but in case of removal or death passed to the near
est relative of the same sex. Only in case of non
payment of the customary rent was a seat forfeited.
It was then allotted anew at the discretion of the
consistory. Every transfer of a sitting cost the new
occupant twelve shillings, besides the yearly rent of
five shillings for males and four shillings for fe
males. The same sitting was in some cases re
tained in the same family for three or four genera
tions. The slips were numbered from one upward.
The deacons and elders sat in the four benches on

92

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

each side of the pulpit, and the magistrates and
other men of note upon the long benches on the
west side of the church, extending from the pulpit
around to the south door.
During the eighty years that this church stood,
but few and trifling changes were made in the slips
or bancken first erected, and these chiefly by addi
tions to accommodate the increasing congregation.
The number of places (plaalsen) occupied by
adults at different periods were as follows:
In 1734, men's seats, 86; men in gallery, o;
women's seats, 218; total, 304.

In 1754, men's seats, 104; men in gallery, o;
women's seats, 328; total, 432.
In 1788, men's seats, 125; men in gallery, 35;
women's seats, 346; total, 506.
From 1788 to 1814, when the old church was
removed, newcomers could not rent seats without
great difficulty, except in the gallery, which being
chiefly occupied by boys and negroes, was not
considered quite respectable.
The people worshiped on the Sabbath almost
to the beginning of this century even in the coldest
winter, without any other artificial heat than that

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derived from foot-stoves. The first stoves used in
this church were bought in December, 1792, and
set up that winter. They were placed upon two
platforms elevated to the height of the gallery, and
reached by climbing over the balustrade. It is said
that the Klokluyer was accustomed to replenish
them at the beginning of the dominie's sermon;
and, to notify the congregation of the importance of
his vocation, was particularly noisy in opening
and in shutting the stove-doors. By this arrange
ment ' ' the top of the church was comfortable, but
the people below had to carry foot-stoves to keep
themselves warm. " So unsatisfactory was this ex
periment in warming the church that the matter
was discussed by the consistory, and the result was
that the elevated platforms were removed and the
stoves placed upon the floor of the church.
The bell for the church was procured in Amster
dam and did faithful service for more than a cen
tury, until it was cracked in 1848. It bore the
following inscription :
"De Klok van de Neder-duidsch gemeente van
Sconechiade door Haar self bezorght anno 1732.
Me fecerunt De Grave et muller Amsterdam. "
It was the custom to ring it three times before
commencing religious service down to January,
1 8 10, when the consistory
"Resolved, that in future the bell shall be rung
twice, as usual, previous to the commencement of
public worship, and that tolling shall be substi
tuted for the third ringing." It is said the- bell
was also rung at the close of service, that the
servants at home might have the dinner ready on
their masters' return.
In 1740 the church had a public or town clock,
purchased probably at the same time with the
bell. Although the church had owned considerable
real estate more than fifty years, it had no corpo
rate existence in law and could neither hold nor
alienate property, save through individuals acting
as its trustees. Feeling the precarious nature of
such a tenure, when the church edifice was finished,
the consistory petitioned the Governor and Council
for a charter. This application was favorably
considered, and on the third day of August, 1734,
a charter was granted under the great seal of the
province.
CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETIES.

93

Parsonage. — The old parsonage on the site of
the present church had now stood fifty years or
more and was falling to decay. It was doubtless
the house mentioned in the deed of 171 5 to Do.
Brouwer and the consistory, and was probably of
wood, as were all other houses of this date. It
was therefore removed in 1753, and a new build
ing of brick erected on the same lot. It was one
story and a half high, with the usual pointed
Dutch gable ends. There were two rooms in
front on the Union street side. The door was in
the middle, over which was a gable. This house
stood about sixty years, when it gave place to the
church of 1 8 14.
As early as 1805 the subject of repairing the
old church was agitated. The church which had
stood for so long in mid-street in Albany had gone
before the march of improvement, and there was a
feeling that Schenectady should follow in its wake.
In 1 8 10 the consistory appointed a committee to
draw a plan and to report as to the possibility of a
new church building, and still another committee
to meet the wishes of those who desired to see the
old church put in repair. The result of this was a
decision to build anew on the parsonage lot.
There was much opposition to this on the part of
those whose affections clung to the old church,
and many thought that the church should be built
further east, as the population was extending in that
direction. The two sites of the former churches
were finally sold to the city to be thrown open to
the streets, and the contracts for the new house of
worship signed in 18 12. In the autumn of 1 814
it was so near completion that it could be used for
public worship, and on the 20th November the
last services were held in the old building. In the
treasurer's book is the following entry under date
5th July, 1814 : "To paid for liquor when the
old spire was taken down, 37^- cents." Nov. 30,
1814, Charles Kane and Henry Yates bought the
old church for $442.50. The new church was
built but little larger than the old one, and it is a
singular fact that for a period of 128 years, from
1734 to 1862, the church accommodations of this
congregation remained substantially the same. In
the meantime the little hamlet grew into a village,
and the village into a city of respectable dimen
sions. The church had but few competitors in the
field, and though it became the mother church of
this region, with one exception all her colonies
were sent out some years subsequent to 1814. It
is proper to make special mention of Nicolas
Van der Volgen and his wife, who were large
benefactors to this church. By them were given
the high brass chandeliers in 1792, and the pleasant
organ in 1797, which some now living remember
to have heard. The great chandelier (groote
kroon) had eighteen lights, besides which there
were seven lesser ones (kleyndere kroonan) of
six lights each, costing altogether £67-10 New
York currency. The gift for the organ was
allowed to accumulate until probably 1826, when
it was obtained from Henry Erben, of New York, at
the probable cost of $1,000. It was consumed
by fire with the church in 1861.

Voorlezer and Voorsanger. — The duties of these
officers were usually united in the same person
and defined by resolution of the Consistory:
January 8, 18 10, "Resolved, that in future the
Clerk of the Church shall commence public service
in the morning with the reading of the ten com
mandments, a chapter of the Bible, and Psalm or
Hymn at discretion; and in the afternoon with the
reading of the articles of the Creed, together with a
Chapter, and Psalm or Hymn." In addition to the
above he had " the right and emoluments of bury
ing the dead of the congregation." Next to the
minister he was the most inportant officer of the
church. To improve the psalmody of the congregation,
on the 13th of February, 1794, the consistory took
the following action: "The consistory take into
consideration the defective condition of the Dutch
Pslamody in the public worship of this church.
Resolved, that Cornelis De Graff, the chorister,
shall use his endeavors, in each family of this vil
lage and elsewere, to obtain pupils in singing, on
condition that each shall pay one shilling and six
pence a month, the consistory also adding thereto
for each scholar for the term of six months one
shilling and six-pence a month; provided a certifi
cate be shown to the consistory signed by Mr. De
Graff that each scholar has diligently spent his time
as he ought.
" Also, Mr. De Graff, in singing, shall try to ob
serve the measure of the half notes and soften his
voice as much as possible." Mr. De Graff was
voorzenger for twenty-nine years, and tradition says
that the advice given him by the consistory was by
no means inappropriate. It is said that while sit
ting on the ' ' back stoop " of his house, which
stood where the late Mrs. Abel Smith's house now
stands, on State street, he beguiled the evening
hours in summer by psalm singing, and that his
voice could be clearly heard two miles up the river
in a straight line.
Klokluyer. — The sexton of the church was
called the Klokluyer, or bell-ringer, and his duties
seem to have been not only to ring the bell, but to
keep the benches and seats in proper order and to
dig and fill the graves. The earliest mention of
this officer in the church records is the following:
" At a consistory held this isl July, 1696, it was
resolved that Simon Groot, Sr., for ringing the bell
and arranging the benches and stools in the church,
shall receive annually, out of the income of the
church or of the deacons' money, the sum of 60
guilders seawant [$7.50], to begin on this ist of
July." This Simon Groot was the first of the name that
settled here, and the ancestor of all the Groots
found in this vicinity. He and his five sons were
carried captives into Canada by the French and In
dians in 1690.
The salary of the sexton was the same down to
1735, when it was increased to the yearly stipend
of $15.
Margaret Veeder, widow of Symon Volkertse
Veeder, held the office during the years 1748-9 for
$8.25 per annum.

94

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

From 1750 to 1758 Sara Marselis was bell-ringer,
the duties being performed for £4, or $10.
In 1759 Isaac Quackenbos' "neger" rang the
bell, and ' ' Peeter Seesar " (Caesar), from 1 760 to
1766, for £6 per annum.
Jacob Van Cise was sexton from 1771 to 179 1,
at a salary of ^"10, and was succeeded by his son
Gysbert, who was dismissed from the office in 1799
"for delivering the skull of a corpse to the house
of Dr. Anderson, and which he was compelled to
return in the presence of one of the members of
the consistory, and deposit in the place whence
it was taken."
The sexton was required to keep order in the
church during public worship, and was indemnified
against any legal process "that might arise for
correcting or turning out of church the unruly and
refractory; provided he do not essentially injure or
scandalously abuse any person."
Mr. Janus Lighthall was appointed sexton in
1799. Baptisms.— The baptismal register of this church
from 1694 to this time is entire, with the exception
of ten years during Dominie Vrooman's ministry;
and as all children were baptized, both colored and
Indian as well as white, legitimate and illegitimate,
it is the only authoritative source, if rightly inter
preted, whence the descendants of most of the old
Dutch families of this region can derive their pedi
grees. In early times baptism was always per
formed in the church, unless unavoidably prevented,
and within a few days after birth; sometimes on the
birthday. And it was the duty of the dominie to
register each baptized child, with the parents and
witnesses' names.
The number of registered baptisms from 1694 to
1852 is 11,396.
Marriages. — The marriage register of this church
contains the names of 2,543 couples married be
tween 1694 and 1852.
Under the Dutch Government of New Nether
lands, marriage was considered a civil contract, and
might be confirmed either by a magistrate or a
minister of the gospel. Preliminary to such con
firmation, however, the bans were published three
Sundays or market days by the minister of the
church where the parties resided, or by a magis
trate in the court, after which the marriage could
be confirmed by any minister or magistrate on pres
entation of a certificate of such publication. No
particular place was required for the marriage cere
mony. Sometimes it was performed in the church
and sometimes in private houses. As it was im
possible or inconvenient to comply with the law in
all cases, a dispensation and license was granted
by the Governor, on the presentation of a " penal
bond of ;tf 500 that there was no lawful let or im
pediment " to such marriage. The practice of
issuing licenses ceased with the British rule in this
State in 1783.
When a widow or widower with infant children
married again, it was customary for the parties to
contract with the Orphans' Court guardians to pro
tect and preserve the property of said children un
til they arrived at lawful age.

Courtship. — Comparatively little can be learned
about the courtship customs in the early days of the
frontier settlements. However, "old maids" were
unknown, and widows seldom died in widowhood,
unless at very advanced age. They easily and
soon secured another husband, a very necessary
protection in the sparse settlements of the border
lands. The girls were needed at home, and were
in great demand as housewives, and needed no
fortune save health and strength as their marriage
portion. If marriages of convenience were made,
the wealth brought to the husband was in the
bride's strength and housewifely skill, and the fam
ily influence gained by the match. The custom
of "bundling" was probably practiced to some ex
tent in all the early settlements along the Hudson
and in this vicinity. The records of Albany
County show some early cases in this locality. At
the time of the Revolution it was generally preva
lent among the Dutch, insomuch that anything
wrong in it did not prevail.
Speaking of Van Corlear, Washington Irving
says: "Van Corlear stopped occasionally in the
villages to eat pumpkin pies, dance at country
frolics and bundle with the Yankee lasses."
Tradition says that within this century sermons
were preached against it in the Dutch church here,
and that it was earnestly defended.
Funerals. — At funerals no women attended the
body to the grave, but after the body was -borne
out, remained to eat cakes and drink spiced wine.
They retired quietly before the men returned, who
then, in their turn, participated in the funeral feast,
and finished with pipes and tobacco. The best
room in the house was specially appropriated as
the ' ' dead room, " and was rarely opened but to
be aired and cleaned. Wealthy citizens, in an
ticipation of a death in their families, were accus
tomed to procure a cask of wine during their life
time, and preserve it for this purpose. The prep
arations for the funeral included setting tables
through the house, and placing thereon plates of
cake, plates of tobacco, and sometimes hundreds
of pipes. At the side of each plate of tobacco was
a small roll of paper for lighting the pipe, also
candles lit, and wine put up in bottles, and set on
the table with wine glasses. The spiced wine was
placed on the tables in silver tankards. The occa
sion was more like a wedding than a funeral.
The coffins were black, made with a regular
taper from head to foot, the top like the pitched
roof of a house. A large silver plate, the name
and date of death and age carved on it, was the
only ornament. When removed from the house
it was placed upon a bier at the door, a black pall,
owned by the church, thrown over it, and it was
borne by six or eight pall-bearers, who had four
yards of linen given them for scarfs, and the minis
ter had the same. They bore it upon their shoul
ders to the grave, followed by the relations, even
to remote cousins, two by two, and likewise in
vited guests. No one attended funerals in olden
time without an invitation. A list was made out
by the friends of the deceased, and the sexton
would go around and invite those whose names

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETIES.

95

were thereon. The charges for attending funerals
were regulated by the consistory of the church.
The following is a list of prices established in 1771 :
"Rules for Cornelis De Graff, appointed sexton
the 1 8th of November, 1771, in regard to what he
is at liberty to take for inviting (the friends) and
burying (the dead).
" For a person of twenty years old and upward,
1 6s. to 20s.
' ' For a person of 1 5 to 19 years, 1 5s. to 1 9s.
" For a person of 10 to 14 years, 14s. to 18s.
" For a person of 5 to 9 years, 13s. lo 17s.
" For a person of 1 to 4 years, 8s. to 12s.
" For an unbaptized child, when the bell shall
be rung once, 6s. to 10s.
" For ditto when the bell shall not be rung, 3s.
to 7s. " For the Great Pall, 3s.
" For the Little Pall, ad.
' ' All thus when he is obliged to invite (the friends)
within the village; but when he likewise is obliged
to extend the invitations without, he may ask 4
shillings (altered to 6 shillings) more each; this is
to be understood, as far as Claas Viele's (upper end
of Maalwyck), or this side; but when he is obliged
to extend invitations further — to Syme Vedder's
(Hoffman's Ferry) or this side — then he may ask
3 shillings (altered to six shillings) more.
" The prices in the above rules are increased by
reason of the hard times. "
The grave-digger and bell-ringer was allowed to
charge as follows:
"For a person of 7 up to and above 20, for a
grave, 3s., and for the bell, 3s.
" For a child 1 to 6 years, for the grave, 2s., for
the bell, 3s.
" For an unbaptized child, when the bell shall be
rung once, for the grave, 2s., and for the bell, 2s.
' ' For tolling the bell he may likewise ask one
shilling more."
He was required at his own expense to keep
proper tools for making and filling graves, likewise
proper cords, etc.
Prior to the year 1800 there had probably been
no hearse in the village. In all funeral processions
the bier and pall were used ; hence it was not con
venient to carry the dead a great distance in this
manner, and the people in the country buried their
dead on their own lands.
The consistory of the church procured the first
hearse in December, 1800, for the use of the con
gregation and the public for an established fee.
Endowments. — Probably no church in the State
outside the City of New l^ork was so munificently
endowed as that of Schenectady. In 1740 she
owned fully twelve square miles of land in this
county, which, had it been conveyed by long leases
and not in fee, would have been worth to her now
from 300,000 to 500,000 dollars. All this mag
nificent estate has passed away ; at this time she
possesses barely a fine house of worship and the lot
upon which it stands.
Finances. — In early times the Dutch churches
often acted as guardians of widows and orphans ;

they provided for the poor and kindly looked after
the aged and infirm who had no natural protectors;
and it was not unusual for the latter to place their
property in the hands of the consistory, from
whom they received, from time to time, such sup
port as their wants required. The consistory
were the almoners of the church. Every Lord's
day a collection was taken of the free-will offerings
of the people for this, and certain other purposes,
and this duty was not omitted' even though there
were no present objects upon whom their bounty
might be bestowed.
In the outset, the little community of Schenec
tady seems to have had few or no poor people; with
the exception of a " shirt for a captive French
man," it does not appear from the accounts that
the deacons gave a stiver to any person during the
years 1687-9. As the funds accumulated they
were loaned on bond at 6 per cent, interest to citi
zens. Thus, in the audit of 1689, obligations to
the amount of nearly 3,000 guilders were included
in the assets of the church. Moreover the consis
tory traded with another portion of these funds,
buying and selling brass kettles, nails, linen,
thread, baize, coverlets, etc.
Particularly unfortunate has it been for Schenec
tady that the flames of 1690 spared almost nothing
of her early records ; with the exception of a few
leaves of the deacons' account book, all is a
blank. In 1790, and for some years later, there was
great scarcity of small change. To meet this in
convenience, many individuals, corporations and
churches issued "shin-plasters " for one penny and
upward. On the 6th of September, 1790, the deacons an
nounced to the consistory that in consequence of
the scarcity of copper money the weekly collections
in the church had fallen off nearly one-half, and
therefore inquired whether there was no way of
remedying the loss. The Reverend Consistory,
having considered the matter, came to the unani
mous conclusion to issue "shin-plasters."
The consistory immediately had printed ^"ioo
in one, two, three and six penny notes. They
were issued by the deacons, and the money re
ceived for them was held for their redemption.
PASTORS FROM I74O TO 1 885.
During the four years succeeding Dominie
Erichzon the church was without a settled pastor,
but was occasionally visited by the ministers of
Albany, although they made efforts to secure a
pastor from Holland. They finally succeeded in
securing Dominie Cornelis Van Santvoord, of
Staten Island, who was born in Leyden, and
began his ministry in Schenectady, August,
1740. Dominie Van Santvoord was a man of good
natural parts and fine culture. He preached
not only in his native tongue, but also in French
and English. Under his ministry the church
enjoyed a good degree of prosperity. His
sudden demise at the early age of 55 years was a
sad loss to the town.

96

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

For nearly three years after the church was again
destitute of a pastor.
The sixth minister of the church was Dominie
Barent Vrooman, the first native of the Province
ever called to this sacred office. His great-grand
father was one of the pioneer settlers, and, together
with his son, was killed in 1690, in the sacking of
the village by the French.
Hewas born in 1725, and began his studies for
the ministry under Do. Van Santvoord and fin
ished them under Do. Frelinghuysen, of Albany.
In 1 75 1 he went to Holland and studied at the
University of Utrecht and obtained ordination. He
was inducted into the sacred office as pastor of the
congregations of New Paltz, Shawangunk and Wall-
kil, his parish embracing more than two hundred
square miles. Although called to Schenectady
September 18, 1753, he did not arrive there until
November 1, 1754.
The expense and trouble of calling a minister one
hundred years ago is very imperfectly understood
by those of the present day. All candidates in
theology were obliged to spend more or less time
at a university in the Fatherland, and after ordina
tion they returned at the expense of the church
calling them. In case of a subsequent removal, it
was customary for the church making the call to
pay a portion of this expense. The call of Do.
Vrooman cost the church in Schenectady $563.
For thirty years he remained pastor of the church,
though for four years preceding" his death he was
unable to preach but occasionally, and married
386 couples, baptized 3,521 children, and received
453 into church membership. He is said to have
been a man of much heart, familiar and social,
and popular with his people.
Dominie Romeyn was the seventh minister, and
the last of that long line of ministers who had,
from the days of Thesschenmaecker, conducted
the entire service of the church in the Dutch lan
guage. His active spirit infused new influence into
the church and community ; an influence that is felt
to this time in the educational institutions of the city.
He was born in Hackensack, N. J. ; graduated
from Princeton College, 1765 ; ordained May 14,
1766; and on the first Sabbath of November, 1784,
was installed pastor of this church.
Among his first labors in Schenectady was an
attempt to improve the schools and establish an
academy and seminary. The result was a charter
for Union College, which institution he lived to see
commence its prosperous career under the manage
ment of Doctors John Blair Smith, Jonathan Ed
wards and Jonathan Maxey.
His health began failing in 1801, and about the
middle of 1802 he became permanently incapaci
tated for the full performance of his ministerial
duties and relinquished all claims upon the church,
accepting instead a salary of $520, and was to
preach one sermon on the Sabbath in Dutch.
In 1797 the General Synod of the Reformed
Dutch Church elected him one of its Professors of
Theology, the duties of which he discharged with
honor to himself and benefit to others till the close
of his life. He was twice honored with the offer

of President of Queen's (now Rutgers) College, and
received from her the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
During his ministry the church was seriously
disturbed on the subject of English preaching, as
there was preaching in English in the Episcopal
and Presbyterian churches, and fears were enter
tained that - members of the Dutch congregation
would be enticed away from their own church.
Various compromises were made by which there
was preaching in both English and Dutch at differ
ent stated times. The agitation began in 1794,
and was carried on with more or less intensity for
some years. Dominie Romeyn died on the 1 6th of
April, 1804, and with his death ended stated Dutch
preaching in the church of Schenectady.
The Rev. Jacob Sickles was the eighth minister.
He was bom in Tappan in 1772; graduated at
Columbia College in 1792; and was licensed by
the Classis of New York in 1794- He was called
as assistant minister of this church in October,
1795, being then a divinity student, at a salary of

The Rev. John Hardenberg Meier was the ninth
minister. He graduated at Columbia College in
1795, studied theology under Dr. Livingston, and
was licensed by the Classis of New York in 1798,
at the age of twenty-four years. He accepted a
call as assistant minister to Dr. Romeyn, in 1802,
at a salary of $662.50, with a house and grounds.
The following May he was installed. In less than
a year his venerable colleague was removed by
death, and within two years thereafter the church
was called to mourn his death also.
For two years after the death of Do. Meier, the
pulpit was supplied temporarily by ministers
from the neighboring churches. The church called
Rev. John Brodhead Romeyn, son of the late
pastor, at a salary of $1,000, with house and fire
wood. For some reason the call was not accepted,
and a call was made to Mr. Cornelius Borgardus,
and he became the tenth minister of the church. He
was licensed by the Classis of New York in 1808,
and was ordained and installed pastor of this church
the 27th of November the same year, being in the
twenty-ninth year of his age. He remained with
the church four years, and died December 15,
18 1 2, aged thirty-two years.
The first application made for the use of the
church for a Fourth of July celebration was June
24, 181 1, when the consistory granted the request,
"provided no instrumental music shall be used
and nothing be said in the oration to wound the
feelings of any political party."
The Rev. Jacob Van Vechten became the
eleventh minister, and remained the longest of any
of its pastors. He graduated from Union College
in 1809, and was licensed by the Classis of New
Brunswick in 18 14, at the age of 28 years. He
was inducted into the pastoral office in this church
June 8, 18 1 5. He received the degree of Doctor
of Divinity from Williams College, and at the
time of his death was senior trustee of Union
College, to which office he was elected in 1837.
He resigned his pastorate here on the 6th of
March, 1849, a^er a service of more than 34

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETIES.

97

years. He died in 1868 at the residence of his
son-in-law, Prof. Huntington, in Auburn, N. Y.
The twelfth minister was Rev. Wm. J. R. Tay
lor, D. D. He was born in Schodac, Rennselaer
County, N. Y., July 31, 1823; graduated at
Rutgers College, 1841, and from the Theological
Seminary at New Brunswick, N. J., in 1844, and
was ordained the same year. His pastorate in
Schenectady began in 1849 and terminated in

1852. During the last year of his ministry here
the church " enjoyed a gracious revival of relig
ion." It was chiefly through his exertions that
the Second Reformed Church of Schenectady was
formed. In 1853 the Rev. Julius H. Seelye, now Presi
dent of Amherst College, was settled over the
church, it being his first charge. He was born in
Bethel, Conn., September 14, 1824. He graduated

PRESENT DUTCH CHURCH.

from Amherst College in 1849, and from Auburn
Theological Seminary in 1852.
After a year of study at Halle he returned from
Europe, and preached his first sermon at Schenec
tady May 22, 1853, and received a unanimous
call as pastor of the church and was installed
August 10, Dr. Hickok, Vice-President of Union
College, preaching the sermon. He severed his
connection with this church to accept the professor
ship of Mental and Moral Philosophy in Amherst
College, having been its pastor for a little more than

five years. No communion service passed during
his ministry here without the reception of some
members to the church on a profession of faith, and
the annual contributions for benevolent purposes
more than doubled during his pastorate.
The Rev. Edward E. Seelye, D. D., was the
fourteenth minister. He was born in Lansing
burgh, September 24, 1819; graduated from Union
College in 1839, and from Princeton Seminary in
1843. He was installed over the church in
Schenectady November 1, 1858. During his pas-

98

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

torate here the church was destroyed by fire, and
the present beautiful and costly edifice erected,
the dedication sermon being preached by himself,
August 6, 1863. He died while on his summer
vacation, August 10, 1864, at Sandy Hill, the
place of his former charge.
The Rev. Dennis Wortman, D. D., became
the successor of Dr. Seelye. He graduated from
Amherst in 1857, and from New Brunswick
Theological Seminary in i860. Because of ill-
health he resigned his charge here in 1870,
greatly to the regret of a loving people. During
his stay $11,000 of indebtedness on the church
was paid, and the iron fence put around the
church. The Rev. Ashbel G. Vermilye, the sixteenth
pastor of the church, was born in Princeton,
N. J., in 1822; graduated from New York Univer
sity in 1 840. He preached his first sermon in the
church here August 6, 1871, the anniversary of
the burning of the old and the dedication of the
new edifice. His labors ceased by resignation,
December, 1876.
The Rev. Wm. E. Griffis, the present pastor,
was born in Philadelphia in 1843; entered Rutgers
College in 1865. After graduation, in 1869, he
traveled in Europe for a few months, entered the
New Brunswick Theological Seminary for a year,
and in December, 1870, went to Japan to engage
in government educational service. Returning to
this country in 1874, he spent two years in the
Union Theological Seminary of New York. He
received a unanimous call to the pastorate of this
church, May 1, 1877, while yet a member of the
senior, class, and was ordained May 31, 1877.
The degree of D. D. was conferred upon him by
Union College in 1884.
He is the author of "The Tokio Guide," " The
Yokohama Guide," "Map of Tokio, with Histori
cal Notes," "The Mikado's Empire," "Japanese
Fairy World," " Corea, the Hermit Nation,"
" Corea, Without and Within," "Schenectady
First Church Memorial " (with Prof. Pearson), and
is now preparing a life of Arendt Van Curler, the
founder of Schenectady.
Conclusion. — This church, with its vast estates
and civil interests, must have had many valuable
papers pertaining to the ancestry of the people and
defining many historical facts which are now but
conjectures. A committee ' ' to examine the papers
in the old box belonging to the Board, and to de
stroy all such papers as they may deem useless,"
was appointed in 18 13, and they probably de
stroyed much history. It is said that the old rec
ords of Virginia were destroyed to cover up the
sins of the destroyers' ancestors, and tradition has
it that the consistory of this church in its business
aspect was a close corporation for the benefit of its
friends. However this may be, this committee swept out
of existence the original titles to much of the land,
and, doubtless, obliterated the ancestral trace of
many worthy as well as unworthy Dutch settlers
whose descendants are numerous throughout the
country.

ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH (EPISCOPAL).
This church was the natural outgrowth of the
English occupation from 1664 to the Revolution.
After the peace in 1754, at the close of the old
French war, few troops were stationed here, and
those of the inhabitants who desired to hear preach
ing in the English language, such as the English,
Scotch and New Englanders, were forced to build a
church for themselves. Paucity of numbers and of
means delayed this for years, though the founda
tion was commenced in 1759.
The old church still stands — transepts have been
added in same style of architecture. Unfortu
nately, the old sounding board has been removed
from over the pulpit, but the general quaintness of
the interior has been preserved.
"At an early period, the Rev. Thomas Barclay,
missionary of the English church at Albany, vis
ited Schenectady, and, so far as can be ascertained,
was the first Episcopal minister who held service
in the place. Writing to London, to the Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, by
which he had been sent over, he says, under date
of 1710: 'At Schenectady . I preach once a
month, where there is a garrison of forty soldiers,
besides about sixteen English and about one hun
dred Dutch families. They are all of them my
constant hearers. I have this summer got an
English school erected amongst them, and in a
short time I hope their children will be fit for
catechising.' ' ' Two years after, Mr. Barclay left Albany,
where he was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Miln,
and he by other missionaries, till 1746. These
gentlemen doubtless often crossed the pine plains
to minister to the few churqhmen here, though I
do not find on our records any mention of their
visits or acts. The Dutch pulpit became regularly
occupied by its own pastors, and the English
people, who were the feebler of the two, seem to
have been brought under its predominating influ
ence, instead of vice versa, as Mr. Barclay so fondly
anticipated. "In 1748 the Rev. John Ogilvie came to
Albany as rector of St. Peter's. And the same
year arrived in Schenectady a layman, Mr. John
W. Brown, whose memory is appropriately pre
served by a tablet on the walls of the church. He
is said to have come from London, and was only
twenty-one years old at the time of his arrival
here. From him probably it received its name,
St. George being the patron saint of his native
country. "The earliest baptism, by an Episcopal min
ister, on the parish register, is that of a daughter
of Mr. Brown, in 1754, by the Rev. Mr. Ogilvie,
who performed the same office for another child of
Mr. Brown in 1859. It also records the baptism
of three other children of Mr. Brown by Dutch
ministers — the Revs. Thomas Frelinghise and B.
Vrooman. "That year — 1759 — the erection of the church
edifice seems to have been undertaken; for under
date of that year the parish books still preserve,

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETIES.

99

among other items of disbursement, to ' Richard
Oldrick and Horseford, for digging the foundation
of the church, £a 3s. 9d.' Amounts for drawing
timber, and work of the like kind, are mentioned
from that date onward. The woodwork was done
under the superintendence of Mr. Samuel Fuller,
who also became the builder of Johnson Hall. He
was master of the king's artificers, and came to this
vicinity from Needham, Massachusetts, with Aber-
crombie's army. To obtain the necessary assist
ance for fulfilling his part of the work on the
church, he went back, in 1762, to Needham, and
engaged several carpenters; and besides having
their regular wages while here, they were to be al
lowed a specified sum for the seven days it would
take them to come from Needham, and also for
the same number of days for their return. It was
several years before the building was completed for
occupancy and use, though as early as 1767 we
find sums collected for pew rents among the treas
urer's papers. These papers also show the names
of persons who subscribed for the erection of the
church, with their respective amounts.
" At that time lived in the Mohawk Valley Sir
William Johnson. He was a major-general in
the British service, and general superintendent of
Indian affairs in North America. The English
church had in him a warm friend. He not only
contributed liberally himself to the erection of this
building, but also obtained subscriptions from his
friends in various parts of the colonies — at one
time £6 1 10s. from the Governors of Pennsylvania
and New Jersey, and other distinguished gentle
men, while attending a treaty of peace ,at Fort
Stanwix. Sir William was also of great service to
the church here, in procuring for it missionaries
from the Venerable Society in England, which
seems to have consulted him in most of its ap
pointments to this region of country. Through
his co-operation the wardens obtained from the
Governor of the colony a charter for their church
in 1766, and Sir William was requested to act as
one of the trustees. He was a frequent worshiper
in these walls, and tradition says that his pew,
which was on the south side, was distinguished by
a canopy. The church, as it then was, according
to a ground plan of it in one of the old books, had two
doors — one on the west end, and the other on the
south side (the arch of which still remains), with a
communion table against the east wall in the mid
dle, and directly in front of it two desks for reading
and preaching; and only a part of the church was
finished with pews.
"During those years the building was used
more or less by the Presbyterians, who had none
of their own. A curious statement exists on
this point, said to have been found among the
papers of a Mr. Alexander Kelly, a member of that
body. He says: 'Betwext 1760 and 1770, the
Episcopalians and presbyterians agreed & build a
Church Betwext them, The Former to goe in at
the west Door the Later at the South Door when
the Church was Finesht John Brown Belonig to the
English Church went to New York & get it Con
secrated under the Bishop unknown to the presby

terians, The presbyterians highly ofended at this
John Duncan, James Wilson, James Shuter, An
drew & Hugh Michel, Andrew McFarland & Wm.
White & Alexander Merser purchest a lot From a
Gentelm in New York Colected money in varies
places To Build a Church. The Dutch Inhabi
tants Seing How they were Served advanct very
Liberal in money Boards plank Nails Hinges &
paint The Church was built about the year
1770.' "Mr. Kelly's representation of the case must
be as faulty as his orthography. To prove this, it
is enough to state two facts — one, that there was
no bishop in this country till 1784, thirty years
after this alleged transaction; and the other, that
the church was never ' consecrated ' till nearly one
hundred years later by Bishop Potter, in 1859.
"As connected with this part of the ecclesiastical
history of Schenectady, we take the liberty of quot
ing from a note on the subject, received by the
Rector from the Rev. Dr. Darling : ' One of
the oldest members of my church (Presbyterian),
when I came here, informed me that the south
door was walled up after the Presbyterian exodus,
"and the Lord put a curse on the mortar so that
it would not stick ; " though, as she had no pro
phetic credentials, you may prefer to account for it
in some other way. '
"It was to matters of this kind that Dr. Darling's
predecessor, the venerable Dr. Backus, probably
referred in his historical sermon, preached in
1879, when he said: 'Ritualism and evangeli-
cism long contended here for the mastery.' One
of the champions in that contest was this same Mr.
Kelly — Sandy Kelly, generally called — who, when a
pitch-pipe was introduced into the Presbyterian
worship, rushed down the aisle, and out of the
door, crying ' Awa' with your box o' whistles I'
What would he have said and done had his evan
gelic ears been shocked by the noble organ which
now vies with that of St. George's in improving the
ritual of God's house ?
' ' While the church was being built, the Rev.
Thomas Brown, who succeeded Mr. Ogilvie at St.
Peter's, Albany, and after him the Rev. Harry
Monroe, seemed to have ministered now and then
to the church people here, baptizing their children
and burying their dead, until the arrival of Mr.
William Andrews. This gentleman had been for
some time catechist among the Mohawk Indians.
He was a native of Great Britain. He returned
home in 1770, when he was ordained by the Bishop
of London, and appointed missionary at Sche
nectady. He may be considered the first resident
minister, or rector, of St. George's. Mr. Andrews
opened a grammar school here in 1771 ; but the
labor attendant on this and his parish broke down
his health, and he relinquished the mission in 1773,
and went to Virginia.
"Mr. Andrews was soon succeeded by the Rev.
John Doty, a native of Westchester, and an alum
nus of King's (now Columbia) College. It was
now the eve of the Revolution. Like many of his
brethren, Mr. Doty suffered between a sense of
duty and the pressure of the times. He was ar-

100

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

rested and kept in ward for awhile. On being
released, he left for Canada ; and divine service
was suspended in the church during the remainder
of the war.
' ' When the independence of the States was estab
lished and peace declared, in 1 782, the few members
which Mr. Doty had been forced to abandon were al
most entirely scattered. The church edifice had be
come dilapidated, the windows were broken out, and
desolation reigned within and around. Soon after,
in 1790, the parish was admitted into union with
the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church,
which had become duly organized. But it was
some time before it could enjoy the services of a
settled clergyman, depending upon those of Albany
and other neighboring towns.
"In 1798 the Rev. Robert G. Wetmore became
rector, in connection with Christ's Church, Duanes-
borough ; and from that day its affairs moved on
in uninterrupted order and with increasing success.
At the first election of the corporation, Charles
Martin and John Kane were chosen wardens. In
a register book, then begun, there is a rude pen-
and-ink sketch, by Mr. Wetmore's own hand, of
the church as it then was — a little, oblong stone
structure, fifty-six feet long (about half its present
length) by thirty-six feet wide, with three windows
on each side (the old south door being walled up),
and in front a small wooden steeple, crowned by a
low bell tower, with a cross upon it. It contained
thirty-six pews (about one-third of its present num
ber), and no gallery, except across the west end,
which was reached by a stairway within the church
in the northwest corner. The pulpit, with a long
flight of stairs, was against the east wall in the
center, with a reading desk in front, and a clerk's
pew in front of that, and the altar, with rails, on
the north side — an arrangement similar to that
still existing in the old church at Duanes-
borough. "Mr. Wetmore resigned in 1801, and some
years elapsed before his place was regularly sup
plied. Meanwhile the services of neighboring
clergy were occasionally obtained, and several im
provements made in the church edifice. At a
meeting of the vestry in 1804, ' Charles Martin and
John W. Brown represented to the board the ne
cessity of taking down the steeple, on account of
its being in a decayed situation, and proposed to
obtain by subscription a sum adequate to the erect
ing a new steeple.' Messrs. David Tomlinson
and Wm. Corlett were appointed the committee,
and the result was the wooden tower (which was
taken down twelve years ago) and the beautiful
belfry and spire which crowned it and which were
deemed worthy of preservation.
"The foundation of that tower was laid by a
young man who had then just arrived in Sche
nectady, and who, though born and reared a New
England Congregationalist, soon attached himself
to this church, and afterward became most inti
mately identified with all its changes and improve
ments — David Hearsey.
"The next rector was the Rev. Cyrus Stebbins,
who, having been a Methodist minister at Albany,

was ordained with special reference to this parish,
by Bishop Moore. He was here from 1806 to
1819. ' ' For a year or two after Dr. Stebbins' resigna
tion the services were kept up, with much
acceptance to the congregation, by Mr. Alonzo
Potter, as lay reader, then tutor of Union Col
lege, and afterward the Bishop of Pennsylva
nia. A tablet to his memory has been placed
by the trustees of the college on the walls of
St. George's.
"In 1 82 1 the Rev. Alexis P. Proal was called
to the rectorship, and he continued in it till 1836.
During those fifteen years several substantial addi
tions were made to the church property. A house,
with lot, belonging to Ahasuerus Wendell, was
bought for a rectory by the church's side on the
north ; and more sittings being found necessary
in the church, side galleries were erected, run
ning from the west to the east wall.
"Dr. Proal was succeeded by the Rev. Albert
Smedes, during whose rectorship of three years a
radical change was made in the church edifice.
Increased accommodations being required, the ves
try debated whether to pull down the old building
and erect a new one, or to enlarge. The latter
course was adopted ; and so, in the spring and
summer of 1838, two transepts, or wings, were
added to the old nave. Under the pulpit was a
hole, where the clergyman could go and change
his surplice for a black gown between the service
and the sermon. Thirty pews were gained on the
lower floor, besides many others by continuing the
galleries around the new transepts ; and the grace
ful arch over your heads was shut out of sight by a
floor making the whole upper ceiling flat. An
other important event in the history of the parish
during Dr. Smedes' rectorship was the purchase
of the house next south of the church, called the
Peek house, where the Sunday school met and the
sexton lived. The garden was added to the burial
ground." The most efficient services rendered this church
during its long history were by the Rev. William
Payne, D. D. , who was born at Portland, Middle
sex County, Conn., in 181 5. He early attended
the academy connected with Hobart's College,
Geneva, and after a full course at Trinity College,
Hartford, Conn., graduated from that institution
in 1834. He next entered the General Theological
Seminary at New York, and at the end of three
years was ordained as an Episcopal clergyman
and became rector of St. Michael's Church, Litch
field, Conn. Here he remained for six years, after
which he became assistant professor of Latin in
Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., remaining in
this position for several years. In 1848 he was
called to St. George's Church in this city, where he
has remained for an uninterrupted period of thirty-
five years, retiring from active ministerial work in
1883. In 1859 ne received the degree of D.D.
from Hobart College, Geneva.
The Rev. John Philips Brooks Pendleton, S. T
B., has just entered upon the duties of the rector
ship.

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETIES.

101

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The early history of the Presbyterian Church in
Schenectady is obscure. As late as 1756 there was
no church in town except the Dutch. Before this
date, however, settlers from England, Scotland
and New England were drawn to this " frontier,"
by facilities offered for trading with the interior.
Missionaries, chiefly for the Indians, had been sent
into these parts by the Society for the Propagation
of the Gospel, early in the eighteenth century.
There was a chapel in the fort which was built in
1735, and was probably used by different denomi
nations for worship. Concerning the church build
ing in which the Presbyterians worshiped, now St.
George's Episcopal Church, a tradition existed that
Presbyterians subscribed to its erection with the
understanding that it should be used in common
by both denominations. Between 1760 and 1770
the Episcopalians and Presbyterians "agreed to
build a church between them, The former to Goe
in at the west door, the Later at the South Door.
When the church was Finesht John Brown, be
longing to the English church, went to New York
and got it consecrated under the Bishop unknown
to the Presbyterians. The Presbyterians Highlie
offended at this, purchest a lot, collected money
in various places to Build a church. The Dutch
inhabitants, seeing how they were served, adyanst
Liberal in money, Boards, planks, Nails, Hinges
& paint. The church was built about the year
1770." (Kelley.)
It is not unlikely that such Presbyterian mission
aries as had penetrated to Albany had also visited
this region, but there was no settled minister before
1770, though for sometime prior to this date the
Presbyterians worshiped statedly in a hired "meet
ing-house." On the 1 2th October, 1769, a lot was purchased
from Peter De Bois for /'ioo, and work seems to
have begun at once in earnest, as almost immedi
ately follows: "To 2 Gallons West1 Rum when
cutting the timber for the church lis.;" the next
item being, "To cash paid to Phinn & Ellice for
rum and sugar when rideing timber £4 9s. 4d. ; and
Aug., 1771, To tickets bought at New Castle Lot
tery £a i 6s."
The site of the old meeting house cannot now be
ascertained, nor can we learn concerning it more
than that it was furnished with a bell. It was still
in use 2 2d March, 1773.
By the end of '73 the edifice seems to have been
completed, and the bell in the new steeple, with its
leaden ball adorned with "6 bookes of gold leaf,"
no doubt called the congregation to a joyful service
of dedication.
The church and lot are credited with an expendi
ture of about $1,800. The carpenter's work was
done by Samuel Fuller and John Hall. The church
had a gallery, and on the ground floor, 21 wall
and 22 " Boddy " pews, and the carpenters agreed
" to do the work on the Pulpit In the Same man
ner as In the English Church only it is to Joyn the
wall So as to have no piller for a Soport & to make
the Clark's Seat."

Of the size and strength of the congregation
there is no record until much later; but in 1768
they felt able to compete with their brethren in Al
bany; for a letter of Mr. Brown to Sir Wm. John
son at this time, in urging the necessity of securing
Mr. Murray for St. George's, says: " We are the
more Anxiously Solicitous on this Head as the
Presbyterians are busee to get Mr. Bay among
them " — this Mr. Bay being called about this time
to the Presbyterian Church at Albany. The first
minister who is known to have preached to the con
gregation statedly is the Rev. Alexander Miller.
Mr. Miller was a pupil of Rev. James Findley, a
graduate of Princeton College, in 1764; a student
of theology under Dr. Rodgers, of NewYoik; was
licensed 1767, and ordained by the Presbytery of
New York 1770, the date of his settlement here.
He also preached at Currie's Bush and Remsen's
Bush in connection with his charge here, and
taught a very respectable grammar school during
the Revolutionary War, "in which Governor
Tichenor of Vermont and others, since celebrated,
acted as assistants."
During the war the church seems to have suf
fered greatly. The congregation was in arrears for
salary to Mr. Miller at the time his successor, Mr.
John Young, was called, about the middle of 1787,
and probably about six years after Mr. Miller closed
his labors as pastor of the church.
Mr. Young was ordained June 14, 1788, and
gave one-third of his time to Currie's Bush, or
Princetown. Tho congregation at this time, and for years
later, was composed of elements which did not
mix very kindly, formalism contending stubbornly
against the growing evangelical spirit in the church,
and Mr. Young was dismissed in consequence of
the dissensions, non-payment of salary and ill
health. The former pastor was still seeking payment
of its indebtedness to him, and the church at Currie's
Bush had applied to the Presbytery for two-thirds
of Mr. Young's time, on the ground that the
church in Schenectady was no longer able to sup
port him.
From 1791 to 1795, among those preaching here
occasionally were Rev. Messrs. Baldwin, Chap
man, Coe, Cook, Davenport, Dod, Dun, Judd,
McDonald, Pomeroy, Schenck, Thompson and
Williams. With the election of the Rev. John B. Smith to
the presidency of the college, a brighter day dawned
for the church. Dr. Smith did much to reorganize
the church, ordaining four elders in 1795 or 1796,
viz.: Alexander Kelly, John Taylor, Alexander
Walmsley and John McAtyre.
On the 13th September, 1796, the Rev. Robert
Smith, of Pennsylvania, a graduate of Princeton, was
installed over the church, which at this time num
bered only 37 communicants. There were, how
ever, about 85 pew holders, and the income of the
church from pews and subscriptions was a little
over $700.
Mr. Smith remained until July, 1801, when, the
severity of the climate having impaired his health,
he sought refuge in Savannah, Ga., dying soon after

102

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

his removal. His life was sacrificed to his zeal and
affection for his people. Under his ministry the
church received 5 1 additional members. The town
ship of Schenectady at this time contained about
3,500 inhabitants, 683 being electors and 381
slaves. During the illness of Mr. Smith the Rev. Mr.
Adair and Dr. Jonathan Edwards, Jr., second
president of the college, frequently supplied the
pulpit, and as collections for 1801 show an increase
over previous records, and additions to the church
are also recorded, the impetus given by Mr. Smith's
pastorate would seem not to have been arrested.
In March, 1802, three elders and seventy-three
others petitioned Presbytery for the speedy install
ment of the Rev. William Clarkson; twenty peti
tioners, including two elders, however, pray that
the installation may not take place. Mr. Clark-
son's settlement was the signal for war among the
discordant elements in the congregation, and
shortly after such serious charges were preferred
against him as that he did not ' ' preach " but read
sermons, "contrary to Luke 4 : 16-23, where our
Lord preached, said preaching being without
notes." Mr. Clarkson was also charged with say
ing, "We never had such preaching here before ;
we had nothing but like the reading of an alma
nack, " and the Presbytery failing to see the hein-
ousness of Mr. Clarkson's homiletical shortcom
ings, a temporary secession of twenty-four families
took place. Although considerable accessions to
the church took place during Mr. Clarkson's brief
pastorate, his opponents claimed that the commu
nicants had diminished one-third.
During this unhappy contention, in which Mr.
Clarkson was rather the occasion than the cause
of the quarrel, an election for elders had occurred,
which seemed to intensify the strife, and in Sep
tember, 1803, Mr. Clarkson sought peace in de
parture. In the succeeding December the Rev.
John B. Romeyn, a son of Dr. Romeyn of the Re
formed Dutch Church, and founder of Union Col
lege, was settled over the church, at a salary of
$625. But the church was at strife, and in No
vember, 1804, Mr. Romeyn also left. The num
ber of communicants at this time could not have
been much above a hundred; the highest rental
for pews was but $35, and the support of the
church and pastor in the midst of such difficulties
was very doubtful and precarious. Mr. Nathaniel
Todd, ordained December 11, 1805, was dismissed
in the succeeding November, on the ground
that the congregation were unable to support
him. For some time the church depended upon tem
porary supplies, but, as if still further to confuse
and complicate matters, the ear of the congrega
tion was taken by an Irishman of the Methodist
Church, a lay preacher, Mr. John Joyce. In spite
of the peril of a threatened schism if Mr. Joyce
were not settled over the church, Presbytery de
clined to intrust the church to his care, and de
clared it expedient for the session to resign, that
new elders might in the interest of harmony be
elected. The new session consisted of Messrs.

Kelly, Walmsley, Daniel Chandler and Prof. Henry
Davis, afterward President of Middlebury, and still
later of Hamilton College.
Notwithstanding its want of a pastor, and its in
ternal differences, the church does not seem to
have lost any confidence in itself, for on the 3d of
July, 1809, the corner-stone of a new edifice was
laid, the old building on the site of the chapel be
ing taken down, and the congregation worshiping
for a time in the college chapel.
We introduce here an impression of the old
church seal, believing that it represents the form of
the original church structure.

No doubt a large part of the strength and im
pulse of the new church movement came from the
college. Dr. Nott, from his accession to the Presi
dency in 1 804, had been a warm friend, and to his
kindness, as well as that of Dr. McAuley and other
members of the faculty, it was probably in large
measure owing that the church came through its
crisis with so little loss of strength.
Meantime, the Rev. Alexander Monteith had
been called to the pastorate, and on August 29,
1809, he was settled over the church, remaining
its pastor until his death, January 29, 18 15. Dur
ing his ministry there was an increase in its collec
tions, the communion roll was enlarged by 62
additions, and the pastor's salary was advanced
from $700 to $1,000.
Mr. Monteith's successor was the Rev. Hooper
Cummings, whose eloquence covered not a few of
his own sins and other men's sermons. Eccentric and
unfortunate, to speak mildly, Mr. Cummings' brief
pastorate, judged by statistics, was most successful.
Installed 22d November, 1815, and dismissed 18th
February, 1817, sixty-five persons were added to
the communion roll, and work among the colored
people prosecuted with vigor and success, Presby
tery having authorized Messrs. Wisner and Davis,
then members of the church in Union College, to
catechise and exhort among them.
During Mr. Cummings' ministry, however, old
strifes broke out again, and it was not till the
8th of June, 1820, that another pastor could be
secured, changes having occurred in the session,
and some withdrawing from the church, which in
the interval enjoyed the services of Drs. Nott and
McAuley. In April, 1820, the famous Mr. Net
tleton preached, and the church seems to have en
joyed spiritual prosperity, not less than 120 being
added, to the church during the year. "Tokens"
at the communion were still in use, not being dis
pensed with till March, 1821, when members of
other Evangelical churches were welcomed to
the Lord's table. The " Token " was intended to

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETIES.

103

prevent any unknown person or member under
discipline from coming to the Lord's table. Tokens
were distributed by the elders before communion
to all who were in good standing, and were taken
up by the elders again from the communicants at
the table. They were made of lead, or pewter,
were about an inch square, having inscriptions on
each side, like these samples :

PRESBY.N

CHURCH

SCHEN.DY* l8°9- »

II. TIM:
II. XIX

I. COR : XI.
XXVIII

Besides these changes, during Mr. (Walter)
Monteith's pastorate (1820 to 1226), the old
psalm book (Rouse) was relinquished, which
indicates that a decided change was taking place
in the sentiment of the church. In Mr. Monteith's
time also the old "Session House" was built by
subscription, and not without much opposition
from those who did not favor Sabbath-schools,
prayer meetings and other "new-fangled ideas."
The Sunday-school had been started by Mr. Jona
than Crane, an elder in the church, in the base
ment kitchen of his own house, as a Mission Union
School in 1817; but in 1824 it divided into two
church schools, one Dutch, the other Presbyterian,
which found a home in the Session House, though
viewed with suspicion, if not with dislike, by many
who regarded it as "a school for outcasts."
Mr. Monteith's successor was the Rev. Erskine
Mason, a son of the celebrated Dr. John M.
Mason, whom in intellectual strength he in no
small degree resembled. A scholarly and finished
preacher, the three years of his service here were
years of strength and blessing to the church, which
received during his brief pastorate an addition of
89 members, 306 being the total number of com
municants reported to Presbytery in 1830.
From July, 1830, until December, the church
seems to have depended for service upon various
ministers, when the Rev. Wm. James, a brilliant
but somewhat eccentric preacher, became its
"Stated Supply," declining, however, in 1832, the
call to become the pastor, and ceasing to preach
in the spring of the same year, for the Rev. James
W. Henry appears to have supplied the church in
April and May.
The day of rapid changes and shifting pastorates
was soon to end, for the pulpit having been supplied
by the Rev. Jonathan Trumbull Backus, May 27,
1832, a call was extended to him, and on the 6th of
December following he was ordained and installed
over the church, remaining its pastor until the 18th
of June, 1873. During all this long pastorate,
under the blessing of God, the church steadily
grew and strengthened ; old differences died out ;
larger ideas of the privilege of Christian benevolence
obtained ; more efficient methods of work were
adopted, and the usefulness of the church greatly
increased. During his ministry Dr. Backus re

ceived over 1,000 persons to the communion of
the church and a new era of benevolence entered
upon, the aggregate of the reported benevolence
during this period being over $160,000. The
church edifice was enlarged in 1834, and again in
1859; and the old "Session House" in 1843
gave way to the chapel, to which was added in 1857
the session room. This church was rebuilt and
enlarged in 1884, and is a unique, beautiful, com
modious and convenient structure. During this
century more than 60 of its members have entered
the Christian ministry.
The Rev. Timothy G. Darling, the present
pastor, succeeded Rev. Dr. Backus, June 18,
1873. For three years he had been assistant
pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Baltimore,
Md. He was born at Nassau, N. P., Bahamas,
October 5, 1842 ; graduated from Williams Col
lege in 1864; Union Theological Seminary in
1869; and was Instructor of Metaphysics from
1877 to 1880, in Union College. There has been
a continuance of prosperity in the church under
his pastorate.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
A little more than a hundred years ago an
officer in the British army, listening to Mr. Wesley,
in Bristol, England, was led to embrace Christ as
his Saviour. Soon after he identified himself with
the Methodists and became a co-laborer with Mr.
Wesley, who licensed him as a local preacher.
Not long after, Captain Thomas Webb was sent
from England to New York State on military duty
and stationed at Albany, where he continued to
preach Christ to his fellow soldiers and to all whom
he could gain access.
About the beginning of the year 1767 he visited
this city, and was probably the first Methodist
preacher who came here. In a building standing,
at that time, on the east side of Church street, near
Union, used for bolting flour, this soldier of the
cross preached the word with considerable success.
It was strange and novel to see a military officer,
arrayed in the habiliments of his office, with his
sword by his side or lying on the table before him,
assuming the functions of the sacred office. Many
went to hear him out of mere curiosity. Some
opened their hearts to the Saviour and were made
happy in his love. Among the first converts were
Nicholas Van Patten, Giles Brower, Rachael Bar
hydt, and the wife of Giles Van Vorst; also a
colored man and woman who were slaves. The
first converts were accustomed to meet together
after the departure of Webb for religious services,
but were much opposed by those who could not
appreciate their feelings and were unaquainted with
their religious enjoyments. Because of their
peculiarly deep piety and zealous devotion they
-were called, in derision, "New Lights."
The second Methodist preacher, as far as we
can learn, was the famous George Whitfield, in the
year 1770, when he was making his last tour in
America. Enthusiastic crowds, composed of all
grades and conditions of society, flocked to hear

104

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

him, but we have no positive knowledge as to the
general effects of his preaching here.
Benjamin Akin was the first local preacher resid
ing here. He began to preach in January, 1807,
in the house of Richard Clute, on Green street,
and quite a number were soon converted, who were
really the founders of the Methodist Society here.
The conference year ending in May, 1807,
Andrew McKean, the preacher in charge of the
Albany Circuit, occasionally visited this little band,

and organized the same year the first Methodist
Episcopal church in Schenectady. At the meet
ing of the conference in 1807, Schenectady Circuit
was formed, and Samuel Howe appointed to preach
once in four weeks. Services were continued in
Richard Clute's dwelling until autumn, when they
were removed to a small house in Liberty street,
where they were continued during the winter and
following spring, quite a number being added to
the church.

if!"

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

In the spring of 1808 Seth Crowell was ap
pointed to this place and preached in a building
on State street, kindly furnished by its owner,
Dorsey Joyce. Under his preaching the little flock
"were edified and encouraged." In the following
year two preachers were appointed to the Schenec
tady Circuit, which embraced the surrounding
country, viz. : Truman Bishop and Datus En
sign. During this year a house of worship was
erected and dedicated, and, though a rude struc
ture, was used by the society for twenty-six years.
It was situated on the northeast corner of Liberty
and Canal streets, where the Canal now runs. As
soon as inclosed, and before the walls were put on,
and when the seats consisted merely of loose
boards placed on blocks, it was occupied, and it
remained in this condition for several years, when
it was completed and rendered quite commodious.
It was afterward removed to the northwest, to
make way for the canal, and placed with its front
on Union street, remaining here until this lot was
needed for the railroad.
In 1 8 10 the preachers appointed to this circuit
were Isaac B. Smith and Hugh Armstrong. Mr.
Armstrong was soon removed to another field, and
Cyprian H. Gridley was sent to take his place.
The church flourished much under the labors of
these two devout and godly men. They were suc
ceeded in 181 1 by Henry Stead and Samuel Mer

win, the former a practical, animated and useful
preacher, the latter one of the able and efficient
men of his times. Mr. Stead was returned the
next year with John Finnegan, a sociable, agree
able but eccentric man, as his associate.
Smith Arnold and John B. Matthias were ap
pointed in 1813. They were said to be, like
Stephen, "full of faith and the Holy Ghost."
They were followed the next spring by John Kline
and Samuel Eighmey, men zealous and earnest in
their Master's work. In 1 8 1 5 three preachers were
appointed to this circuit, E. P. Jacobs, Eli Bart
lett and James Young. It is said that B. English
preached here also about this time.
Thus far in its history the society appears to
have been quite feeble, and made great exertions
to maintain its existence. The men who served it
endured great privations and hardships, "count
ing not their lives dear unto themselves," that
they might win souls to Christ and nurture the
flock to which they were appointed overseers.
In 1 8 1 6 the society ceased to be connected with
the circuit and became a station, under the pas
toral charge of Laban Clark. The number of
members at this time was about fifty. Mr. Clark
is said to have been a man of gentlemanly bearing,
courteous, affable, kind, and of a contemplative,
serene and tranquil mind, and was highly es
teemed by all classes of citizens as a man

CITY OF SCHENECTADY— ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETIES.

105

and as a preacher. Under his administration
Methodism arose in influence, and attained a
much higher position than at any previous time.
Two years afterward he was succeeded by William
Thatcher. His two years' ministry marked an im
portant era in the history of the church. A
powerful revival during his first winter extended its
influence throughout the whole community, and
added much material and spiritual strength to the
church. The successor of Mr. Thatcher was Sam
uel Luckey, afterward Dr. Luckey, who was pas
tor in Rochester in i860. He commenced his
labors here in 1820, and remained two years.
Mr. Luckey was esteemed by all who knew him,
and his influence gave special character to the
church. He was succeeded by James M. Smith.
Mr. Smith excelled as a doctrinal preacher, and his
clear and skillful presentation of what the Metho
dists really believed, overcame much of the oppo
sition heretofore shown by those who considered
their teachings unscriptural. The church pros
pered under his ministry.
In the year 1824 Daniel Bray ton was appointed
to this charge, an excellent man and a good
preacher. During his ministry the church suffered
somewhat from adverse influences, but the band
of believers were not disheartened. They trusted
in God, pressed forward, and soon rejoiced in re
turning prosperity.
George Coles assumed the pastoral care in 1826.
He afterward became editor-in-chief of the Chris
tian Advocate and fournal. Mr. Coles was a
preacher of ability and attractiveness. It is related
that at one of his meetings, seeing one of his
brothers in the congregation locked in uncon
scious slumbers, he suddenly paused in his dis
course and cried out, "Brother G. ! wake up, wake
up! I have something important for you to hear."
Brother G. 's slumbers were effectually broken for
that occasion, and this incident made an impres
sion on his mind not easily obliterated. At the
next prayer meeting he seemed to have a vivid
recollection of it, and in his prayer he prayed fer
vently that the Lord would baptize the preacher
and help him to preach so that his hearers would
not go to sleep, to which prayer the preacher re
sponded with a loud amen, he, doubtless, feeling
that it would require a supernatural influence to
keep some hearers awake.
Next in order came Buel Goodsell, who was ap
pointed in 1828. His influence was most salutary,
effecting a very essential improvement in the char
acter of the charge. He did much to modify the
extravagance which characterized the religious ex
ercises of some of its members; and he brought about
a beneficial change in this regard, although he was
violently opposed and accused of want of piety on
his part.
Mr. Goodsell was succeeded by Coles Carpenter.
Dr. Luckey said of him: "He was one of the most
truly eloquent men I ever heard." The church
was blessed under his faithful and eloquent ministry
for two years, and he had the confidence and esteem
of the community generally. He was followed by
Salmon Stebbins in 1832. The prevalence of the

cholera spread general gloom over the city this
year. This turned the attention of many to the
concerns of religion, and a goodly number were
converted and united with the church.
In 1833 James B. Houghtailing entered upon
this field of pastoral labor, and remained two
years. During this time the old church and lot were
sold, arrangements made for building the edifice on
Liberty street — now used for the Catholic Church
— and the foundation laid with appropriate ceremo
nies. The superstructure was completed under
the pastorate of Truman Seymour, who commenced
his ministry in 1835. The dedication took place
the next spring, Rev. John Kennedy, D.D., of
New York, preaching the sermon.
This same year the society was favored with the
services of Noah Levings, the odor of whose name
is like ointment poured forth. The church mem
bership at this time was one hundred and ninety-
five, and over one hundred were added during his
two years' labor. Union College conferred upon
him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He was
followed in 1838 by Epharim Goss, whose labors
were attended by an extensive revival. Stephen
Remington was the next pastor, for two years, and
was succeeded by John Harwood, a mighty man in
prayer. The next pastor was Andrew Witherspoon, after
ward Dr. Witherspoon, an able minister, who built
up the church in sound doctrine and piety. James
Rawson was appointed in 1845. A goodly num
ber were converted during the ministry of this re
fined and cultured preacher. His administration
was followed by that of John Frazer, for two years,
when Allen Steel became the incumbent, a popular
preacher who drew large congregations. In the
spring of 1850, Barnes M. Hall was appointed
preacher. He was a strong preacher, of dignified
bearing, and commanded universal respect. About
seventy were added to the membership during his
two years' connection with the church. In 1852
the pastoral oversight was given to Henry L. Starks,
a faithful preacher and pastor, who was followed in
1854 by Merritt Bates, during whose term the
church edifice was considerably repaired. In the
spring of 1856, J. K. Cheesman was transferred
from the Genesee Conference and appointed to
this charge. He succeeded in removing the heavy
debt which had greatly embarrassed the church for
many years, and received into the church more than
a hundred probationers. He was succeeded by
Samuel McKean, son of Andrew McKean, the
preacher in charge of the Albany Circuit, in 1807.
In the spring of i860 Henry L. Starks was reap
pointed to the pastorate, as was also J. K. Chees
man in 1862. In 1864 Andrew J. Jutkins assumed
the pastorate, remaining three years, the ministerial
term being extended one year. His ministry
largely increased the permanent congregations, and
presented to the society the necessity of building
a larger edifice. Mr. Jutkins succeeded in raising
subscriptions to the amount of $8,000 for this pur
pose. During his term the pastor's salary was
raised from $r,ooo to $1,200. Frederick Widmer,
appointed in 1867, maintained all the interests of

106

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

the church, and elevated the cause of Methodism.
Rev. Joel Eaton was appointed in 1869, and re
mained three years, and was very efficient in aiding
the church building enterprise. The site had been
purchased on the corner of State and Lafayette
streets for $6,000. The foundation of the build
ing was laid in the summer of 18 70, and the corner
stone in June, 1871, the Rev. Samuel Mere
dith, Presiding Elder of the Albany District, deliv
ering the address, Rev. Dr. Backus, of the Presby
tery Church, offering the prayer. The church walls
were erected and the buildtng enclosed during this
year. The chapel was completed, dedicated and
occupied for public services in December, 1872.
Daniel W. Gates succeeded in the pastorate. During
his term the old church edifice was sold to the St.
John's Catholic Church for $10,000, the old bell
being reserved, and the main edifice of the new
church finished and dedicated in March, 1874.
The Rev. Ira G. Bidwell, D.D., of Boston, Mass.,
preached the sermon, and the Rev. B. I. Ives,
of Auburn, N. Y., managed the finances. The
church, with its furnishings, cost about $85,000, and
the remaining debt of $30,000 was fully pledged
on this occasion.
George J. Brown was, by request, appointed
pastor in 1875, and sustained a successful and af
fectionate ministry for two years. He was succeeded
by William J. Heath, for three years. All the in
terests of the church were maintained, and a large
number of valuable members added. William H.
Hughes followed him with wise and successful
management, especially with respect to finances.
He was a good and able preacher, and affectionate
and zealous in the conduct of society meetings,
and faithfully served all the interests of the church,
one hundred and fifty probationers uniting during
his three years' incumbency.
The present incumbent, George A. Barrett, as
sumed the pastorate in 1883, and has well and
faithfully sustained all the responsible duties of the
church. The present full membership is 620, and 30 pro
bationers.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
Fifty years ago, when the population of the city of
Schenectady was about 4,000, the religious wants
of the people were administered to by four churches
—the First Reformed Dutch, St. George's Episco
pal, the First Presbyterian and the Methodist.
Some time about the beginning of October, 1 8 2 1 ,
a number of Baptist brethren residing in the com
munity agreed to meet on Wednesday evenings
for the purpose of prayer and Christian conference.
In the beginning of 1822 they were encouraged to
institute Sabbath-day meetings. Soon after they
began to hope that a church might be established
here, and at a meeting held the 9th of October,
1822, a paper was drawn up stating that it was the
belief of the subscribers that a Baptist church here
would be profitable to Zion, and expressive of their
wishes to be constituted into a church. At a meet
ing held November 8th, it was voted that a council

be called to organize a church. The council met
November 21, 1822, the following churches being
represented by their delegates: Churches at Clifton
Park, Waterford, Burnt Hills, Florida, Duanes
burgh, First of Albany and the Colored Church.
The following ministers took part: Abijah Peck,
John Lamb, Lewis Leonard, Mr. Paul, Joseph
Cornell, J. Olmstead, Mr. St. John and Egenia
Kincade, afterward the distinguished missionary.
The council unanimously advised the brethren to
organize a church, which was done, and it was duly
recognized by the council as the First Baptist
Church, Schenectady, N. Y. The sermon was
preached by Rev. Mr. St. John. Rev. Joseph Cornell
made the prayer and gave the right hand of fellow
ship to the church. Twelve brethren and twenty-
four sisters comprised the thirty-six original members,
principally from the Baptist Church in Clifton Park.
Meetings were held for some time in private houses,
afterward in a building on the southeast corner of
Church and State streets, also in a school building
on Church one door north of State street, and in
the Court House in the building now occupied by
Union School, where they continued until the base
ment of the church edifice was ready for use. The
church, though for some time without a pastor,
grew considerably, for in June, 1823, it reported to
the Shaftsbury Association forty-five members. In
August of this year, Rev. Nathan N. Whitney, a
pastor of a Dutch Church in this vicinity, having
been led by prayerful study to embrace Baptist
views, offered himself to the church for member
ship and was baptized by Elder Peck, of Clifton
Park, in the presence of many members of his
former charge. Invited to take the oversight of
the church, he was ordained as its pastor October
22, 1823. This year Lewis Cheeseman was licensed
to preach the gospel by the church. On the 17th
of April, 1824, the church secured a lot for a
"burying ground." The records this year report
a membership of seventy-one. This same year the
Sunday-school was organized. In 1825 the Rev.
John Cooper was called to the pastorate at a salary
of $150; the lot where the old church stood in
Center street was purchased for $150, and the
foundation of the edifice laid in the fall, though the
building was not occupied by the society until 1828.
The following December, Rev. Richmond Taggart
was called and entered upon his pastorate at the
beginning of 1830, and continued until May, 1831,
when, because of the inability of the church to
support him, he resigned. At this time the church
was much discouraged, because of their inability
to provide for the payment of a pressing debt upon
the "Meeting House," and were also unable to
provide for preaching. Abram D. Gillette supplied
the pulpit for three months during the summer, and
was ordained as its pastor September 28th, and the
church entered upon a season of prosperity that
continued during the ministry of this esteemed
brother. In 1832 the church was dismissed from
the Shaftsbury Association and united with the
Hudson River Association. This same year side
galleries were put in the ' ' Meeting House, " and in
1834 it was enlarged to double its former capacity;

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETIES.

107

seven young men were in various colleges prepar
ing for the ministry, and its membership reached
242. On the 20th of May, 1835, Rev. J. M. Graves
was called to the pastorate, and resigned, after
some difficulty, in 1836. The debt on the church
was $2,400. In October, 1836, Rev. Philander D.
Gillette commenced his labors as pastor. The
church was blessed with a revival, which added 42
to its membership. Elder Gillette closed his
labors in March, 1838.
While the church was without a pastor, there
occurred one of the most powerful revivals of re
ligion with which Schenectady was ever favored.
Elder Jacob Knapp commenced holding protracted
meetings about the ist of June, 1838, which con
tinued far into the summer. He preached his
first sermon in the Baptist Church, which was soon
found to be too small, and on invitation of the
Presbyterians the services were afterward held in
their house of worship. So great did the religious
interest become, that stores were closed and the
citizens generally attended the meetings. The
weather being warm in the evening, the voice of
prayer was heard from the dwellings of the people
throughout all parts of the city. This church being
without a pastor, the larger part of the converts
joined the other churches. Rev. Dr. Backus,
then pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, says
of this revival: "Elder Knapp's preaching was
apparently very effective in awakening the people
to serious thoughts. * * * * It was a season
of blessing, and the labor of the evangelist is held
in grateful remembrance." In October the Rev.
Conant Sawyer began his pastorate, and remained
until July, 1 840. During this period the church
enjoyed great prosperity, the membership reaching
300. In June, 1840, nine brethren and twenty-two
sisters were dismissed, to constitute a new church
in the village of Scotia. The church was without
a pastor for some little time, when Mr. Leroy was
called and ordained as pastor, December 1, 1841.
In 1 840 a powerful revival of religion was enjoyed,
the pastor being assisted by Elder Kingsley.
The Rev. Wm. Arthur (father of President
Arthur) was called August 4, 1 844, and remained
until September, 1 846, notwithstanding the church
at this time, by the removal of some of its wealthier
members, was feeling heavily the burden of its in
debtedness, and was hardly able to give a pastor an
adequate support.
At the beginning of the year 1847 the present
incumbent, Rev. Horace G. Day, accepted the
duties of the pastorate. The church was then en
vironed with many difficulties. His ordination
took place on the 25th of May. At this time the
debts of the church exceeded the value of its entire
property. Their meeting-house was undesirably
located, because of its proximity to the railroad.
There was a long-pending litigation with the rail
road for damages to the church property from the
disturbance of religious services by the ringing of
bells and the blowing of steam whistles on the
Sabbath. In 1849 the membership was reduced

to 163 by removals and excisions. From this
time began to dawn a brighter condition. In
1848 the house of worship in Center street was dis
posed of, and the meetings were held in the Young
Men's Association Hall in the Van Horn building,
where they continued within a few months of the
completion of the Lecture Room of the present
church edifice. In the meantime meetings were
held in private houses and also in the old
Cameronian Church building in Center street, now
occupied by Carley Brothers as a flour and feed store.
Such was the burden of indebtedness at this time
that some favored disbanding the church and re
organizing as a new society as the readiest way of
freeing themselves from debt, but the majority re
fused to repudiate. The claims against the so
ciety were finally settled in an honorable manner,
through the liberality of creditors and individual
citizens, and the church proceeded to effect meas
ures for the building of a house of worship. The
Lecture Room was formally opened January 23,
1883, the pastor preaching the opening sermon,
and Rev. Dr. Hickok, of Union College, preaching
in the afternoon. From this time forward the
church grew steadily for some years. For the first
time in many years, at the close of 1855 the
church was out of debt and money in its treas
ury. The main church edifice was finished in
1856, and dedicated the same year, President
Nott, of Union College, making the dedicatory
prayer. The cost of the edifice and lot was about
$12,000. With the year 1858 commenced one of the most
powerful revivals with which the church has been
favored. Special revival services were held until
the 23d of April, and the revival continued in con
nection with the regular services of the church far
into the summer, adding to the membership of
the church 127. Among the converts were about
40 young men. The Rev. David Heagle and the
Rev. Norman Fox, Jr. , both of them at that time
licentiates, were the efficient helpers of the pastor.
The baptistry was put into the church this year,
and used for the first time March 7th. In the sum
mer of 1870 the house of worship was thoroughly
repaired, frescoed and refurnished, at a cost of
about $4,000.
During six weeks, services were held in Union
Hall. Revivals have been characteristic of this
church, and it has been signally honored in
being permitted to license many candidates for the
ministry who have been successful preachers of the
Gospel. Among them we mention Rev. Geo. W.
Eaton, late President of Madison University;
Emerson Andrews, the evangelist; S. B. Willis,
Alanson Baley, J. S. Webber, D. D. Gregory, H.
F. Cochrane, David Heagle, Everett R. Sawyer.
In 1856 the church ordained Henry L. Simpson, a
colored brother, who was said to be the first of his
race to take a full course of study at Madison
University. In 1866 it ordained Abril Parmater
to serve as chaplain in the army. The total num
ber of persons received into the church is 1,048 by
baptism and 562 by letters. The present mem
bership is 297.

108

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

THE SECOND REFORMED DUTCH
CHURCH.
The Second Reformed Church was organized in
October, 1851. The importance and necessity of
a Second Reformed Dutch Church had been felt and
discussed by members of the First Church for sev
eral years prior to 1 8 5 1 . At one time a subscrip
tion was started and $4,000 was subscribed to start
the enterprise, but nothing was done. At a meet
ing of the consistory of the Reformed Dutch Church
held in December, 1850, it was resolved to call a
meeting of the great consistory to consider the pro
priety of organizing a new Reformed Dutch Church
in the city. Two meetings of the great consistory
were held and the subject of a new church thor
oughly discussed, and with only one dissenting
voice it was
"Resolved, That a Second Reformed Dutch
Church in this city is both expedient and necessary. "
A committee was appointed to raise $500 to
make the experiment. Though nothing was im
mediately accomplished, the idea was not abandoned,
and in July, 1851, it was decided to call a public
meeting of all those favorable to the object. The
meeting was held in the lecture room of the First
Reformed Dutch Church; a large number were pres
ent. A communication from Rev. Wm. J. R. Tay
lor, pastor of the First Church, was read, in favor of
the project, and outlining a plan. It was made the
basis of action. In the communication referred to,
the Rev. Taylor says: "The action of the great
consistory last winter has settled the question of the
expediency and necessity of the new Reformed
Dutch Church. This is a point gained." " What
creates the necessity ? " "The want of room in the
churches for the people of the city." " There are 300
families in First Reformed Dutch Church and only
150 pews; many of these are occupied by two fami
lies and at great inconvenience. We have lost val
uable families on this account." Further it says:
"Something must be done. Begin a prayer meet
ing and a Sabbath-school immediately. Arrange
for a temporary place of worship. Get the pastor
on the ground and go to work as soon as possible. "
After the reading of the pastor's letter, measures
were adopted to carry out his ideas. A prayer
meeting was held, a Sabbath-school organized in
the public school-house on White street. At the
meeting of Classis in September a petition was pre
sented, signed by twenty-nine heads of families, ask
ing for the organization of the new church. The
request was granted, arrangements made for the or
ganization, supplies for the pulpit arranged until
next meeting of the Classis in April.
The first consistory was elected October 30, 1851,
and the church organized with 14 members, 11
from the First Reformed Dutch Church, 2 from the
Reformed Dutch Church of Cohoes, and one from
the Presbyterian Church of Schenectady. On the
16th of November, 1851, the services of organiza
tion were held in the First Reformed Dutch Church.
The sermon was preached by the Rev. Wm. J. R.
Taylor, pastor of the church. An address to the
new church was delivered by Rev. Goyne Talmage,

of Niskayuna. November 23, 1851, the first serv
ice was held in the old Cameronian church on
Center street. Rev. N. D. Williamson, of Scotia,
officiated. November 16, 1852, Rev. I. G. Duryea was
installed pastor of the church. In 1854 the lot for
the church was purchased, and immediately the
work of raising funds to build a church was begun.
July 4, 1855, the corner-stone of the present
church was laid; in September, 1856, it was com
pleted. The church prospered greatly under Mr.
Duryea's pastorate until the spring of 1858, when
his health failed and he took a brief vacation, the
church agreeing to supply the pulpit in his absence.
The Rev. Artemus Dean was engaged as a supply.
Many of the members preferred his preaching to that
of Mr. Duryea, and began to organize a large fol
lowing favorable to the dismission of the pastor and
the calling of Mr. Dean. Mr. Duryea returned in
August. A majority of the consistory favored his
resignation. He was prevailed upon to offer
it, which, after much ill feeling in the congregation,
was accepted. Then an effort was made to settle
Mr. Dean as pastor; this was opposed by some
and Classis rejected the call. The Dean party,
having a majority in the consistory and possession
of the church, finally declared themselves independ
ent of Classis, and proceeded to install Mr. Dean
and change the organization to a Congregational
church. This was done in 1859.
Those who remained loyal to the Reformed Dutch
Church began a suit for possession of the church.
The case was tried before the late Judge Ira Har
ris, of Albany, as referee; the late Judge Paige
counsel for the loyal party, and the late William
A. Beach counsel for the Dean party. The case
was not concluded until September, 1861, when
Judge Harris decided that the Dean party had no
right to the church, but must yield the property
up to the loyal party.
In July, 1862, Rev. A. DuBois, D. D., was set
tled as pastor. In 1866 the large debt against the
church was paid off. In 1868 the chapel was
erected. Rev. DuBois resigned in September, 1869.
February, 1870, Rev. Wm. H. Phraner was settled
as pastor. The membership under Mr. DuBois
had increased from 60 to 1 1 3. Under Mr. Phraner's
care the membership increased to 200. Mr. Phra
ner's health failed in 1870, and he resigned the
pastorate. In the fall of 1 875 the church made a call of Rev.
H. H. Northrop. The Classis refused to accept
Mr. Northrop. A large portion of the congrega
tion, who were in favor of Mr. Northrop, left the
church on account of the action of Classis. The
church was badly broken up, but soon rallied again,
so as to continue the Sabbath-school and ordinary
church services. In June, 1876, Rev. J. N. Crocker
was called, and served the church faithfully until May,
1878, although he was never installed. The church
prospered greatly under his care. In September,
1878, Rev. E. C. Lawrence was installed as pastor.
He resigned September 1, 1880. Rev. Peter E.
Kipp, the present pastor, was settled in April, 1881.
The church has greatly prospered under his pas-

CITY OF SCHENECTADY— ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETIES.

109

torate, the membership at present being 290. The
church is centrally located ; has a good, convenient
lecture room adjoining ; a good house for a par
sonage, the gift of the late Rev. A. J. Swits,
within a few rods of the church. Its success has
proved the wisdom and foresight of the Rev. Wm. I.
R. Taylor and the men of the First Reformed Dutch
Church, who so earnestly labored to establish the
second church of the denomination in this ancient
city. P. E. Kipp was born in Paterson, N. J., in 1847,
and graduated from the New York University in
1867, and New Brunswick Theological Seminary
in 1870. He was located in Fishkill from 1870
to 1874; Brooklyn, 1876 to 1880; and became
pastor of the Second Reformed Dutch Church,
Schenectady, in 1881.
CHRIST CHURCH.
This church was the outgrowth of a Sunday-
school Mission, started by a few Christian ladies of
St. George's Episcopal Church about 1865.
It was first incorporated as Christ Church, Sep
tember 23, 1867. The corner-stone of a wooden
edifice, much smaller than the present building,
was laid during this year by Rev. Dr. Payne, rector
of St. George's, assisted by Rt. Rev. D. Randell,
Bishop of Colorado. This church was first opened
for services March 1, 1868. The first rector was
Rev. F. C. Wainright, who remained till the year
1871, when hewas succeeded, April r of that year,
by Rev. Lucius N. Voigt
During Mr. Voigt's pastorate the vestry room
was enlarged 11 by 8 feet, and the number of
communicants increased from 18 to 91. The
value of the church property was estimated at
$5,000. Mr. Voigt resigned June 1, 1874, and for one
year from this date the church was without a r< gu-
lar rector. Dr. Lowell, of Union College, officiated
during this interval. Rev. John M. Rogers was
elected to the vacant rectorship June 1, 1875.
Under his administration the church began to
flourish, and in 1876 the building was enlarged to
its present size. The vestry room was increased to
double its former seating capacity ; a new chancel,
12 by 14 feet, was built, a steeple erected, the
grounds improved, and the entire church decorated
and improved, at a cost of nearly $1,800.
Mr. Rogers resigned August 10, 1880, and was
succeeded a few months later by Rev. J. Lewis
Parks, who continued as rector till his resignation
in June, 1883.
The present rector, Rev. Eugene L. Toy, suc
ceeded Mr. Parks in August, 1883. Under Mr.
Toy's ministrations the church has continued to
increase in numbers and in influence.
There are at present 151 communicants, an
increase of 17 over preceding year. There is a
Sunday-school connected with the church of 171
pupils and 20 teachers.
The size of the main body of the church is 2 2
by 55 feet; the number of seats 180, furnishing
seating capacity for about 500 persons. The value

of the church property is estimated at $10,500,
upon which there is a mortgage of $6, 200.
The present officers of the church are the fol
lowing : Wardens, James E. Curtis and David
Guy ; Vestrymen, Samuel T. Benedict, William N.
Butler, H. C. Van Zandt, M. D., John K. Elwin,
E. E. Kreigsman, William W. Craig, David O.
Youlen and Prof. Sidney G. Ashmore.
ST. JOSEPH'S GERMAN R. C. CHURCH.
Rev. Father Theodore Noethen, from Albany,
and other secular priests, visited the German
Catholics of the city before any organization was
made, and held services for them in St. John's
Church. On January 23, 1859, about 75 members
met in Gottfried Blum's marble shop and resolved
to build a church, which should be called St.
Peter's Church. At the head of this movement
stood Gottfried Blum and Xavier Zeiser as presi
dents, Peter Baldus, Mathias Treis and Peter
Selzinger as trustees, Franz Tele as secretary,
Julius Meyers as treasurer. At another meeting,
on the 6th of February, in Meyer's molder shop,
Fonda street, Peter and Karl Baldus, Jacob Gar-
ling and Jacob Stener were chosen collectors, to
take up a house collection. February 20th the
large lot corner of State and Albany streets, where
now the Arsenal stands, was purchased from Mr.
Ramsay, for $2,000 — $100 paid down, the rest to
be paid within five years. Quarrels and lack of
money afterward made them lose this splendid
location. After many fruitless attempts to get a
church, the generous Bavarian, Joseph Harreker,
bought on sheriff's sale the old Cameronian frame
church, on Center street, for $2,000, in his own
name. To this was built a new sanctuary, for
$300. This church, named after its founder and
benefactor, St. Joseph's Church, was dedicated the
29th of June, 1862, by the Rev. Alphonse Zceller,
O. M. C. , of Utica. The Franciscan Fathers, from
Utica, as Revs. Leopold, Oderic, Alphonse, Pius
and others, held regular services in the new church.
Father Oderic bought the cemetery on East avenue
for $300. Father Pius bought the small brick
house on Franklin street, west of St John's Church,
for $1,300, for the Sisters of St. Francis, who taught
the children in a frame school-house built north of
the church. After that, Fathers Leopold and Pius,
who was the first residing pastor, bought the east
corner lot of Albany and Lafayette streets, with
brick house for parsonage, from John McEucroe,
for $4,75°-
At the end of October, 1868, the Franciscan
Fathers were called away, and Rev. Maurus
Ramssauer, from Manlius Station, near Syracuse,
was made pastor. Soon afterward the Franciscan
Sisters were succeeded by a secular teacher. The
double house north of the church on Center street
was bought for $3, 500. The church incorporated
April 16. 1869. At the end of April, 1876, Father
Maurus resigned and went back to Manlius Station.
His successor was Rev. J. Henry Cluever, D. D. ,
from Deerfield Corners, near Utica. Through his
energetic efforts the present beautiful church was

110

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

built. The corner-stone was laid Sunday after
noon, July 29, 1877, by Rev. Thomas Burke, of
St. Joseph's, Albany, N. Y., with imposing cere
monies ; the church was dedicated March 3, 1878,
by Right Rev. Bishop Francis McNeirny, of Albany.
Architect, M. J. Cummings, of Troy, N. Y. ;
builder, Jacob Van Zandt, of Schenectady, N. Y.
Cost, without furnaces, organ and altars, $27,286.
December 14, 1881, Bishop McNeirny conse
crated the new marble side altars.
In August, 1882, the double lot, with house, west
of the old cemetery was bought for $1,900, and
added to the old insufficient burial place.
December 8, 1883, Rev. J. Herman Wibbe, from
St. Peter's Church, Oswego, N. Y., succeeded Dr.
Cluever, who took charge of St. Mary's Help of
Christians, in Albany, N. Y.
In March, 1884, the new gothic high altar, built
by Joseph Stoppelkamp, of St. Louis, Mo., for
$1,200, without statues, was put up, and new
stations, donated by some members of the parish,
at a cost of $370, erected on the evening of Good
Friday, the nth of April, 1884.
Sunday afternoon, October 19, 1884, Bishop
McNeirny solemnly blessed three new bells, bought
from Clinton H. Meneely, Troy, N. Y, for $1, 105.-
72 ; the smallest, weighing 508 pounds, called
"St. Jacobus," donated by Mr. Jacob Garling;
the second, "Joseph Franciscus," weighing 1,023
pounds, donated by St. Joseph and St. Franciscus
Aid Societies; the largest (1,993 pounds), "St.
Maria, " donated by members of the parish. The
bells were first swung on the eve of All Saints Day
(October 31st).
In the fall of 1884, the wooden annex of the
Sisters' house was torn down and a large brick
school-house erected, connecting the old school-
house with the Sisters' house, and adding a new
story to the latter, bringing the whole under one
metal roof The work was done by Mike Deckel-
meyer for $3,647, without the steam boiler. The
school is in charge of five Sisters of St. Joseph, and
is attended by over 200 children. The congrega
tion has grown to over 400 families. With the
church are connected five religious societies, with
large membership, and a social club of the young
men of the parish, the "Schenectady Eintradit,"
who meet twice a week in the basement of the
school.
GERMAN METHODIST CHURCH.
This church was organized October 24, 1849,
with the following members: August and Elizabeth
Schweneker, Henry and Maria Strueme, Christian
and Sophia Kasten, Frederick and Justine Danne-
berg. The first church was erected on Jay street, on the
site of the present Congregational Church, May,
1850, at a cost of $1,500.
The first pastor was I. I. Grau, under whose
pastorage the church grew in membership and in
fluence. Following is a list of pastors in the order of
their ministration over this church : I. I. Grau, A.
Schwartz, Sebastian Mickel, I. I. Grau, Jacob

Kindler, Henry Kastendirck, Casper Jost, Francis
G. Graty, Christian Blinn, John Sauter, Christian F.
Grimm, John C. Deininger, Casper Jost, George
Abele, Paul Quattlander, Henry Kastendieck and
F. H. Ray.
The present church on the corner of Union and
Lafayette streets was erected in 1872. It is 53 x 82
feet, and has a seating capacity of 800 persons.
This church is in a most prosperous and healthy
condition, with a full membership of 388, and 65
probationers. The average congregation numbers
between 500 and 600. The Sunday-school con
nected with this church numbers 400 children, with
an average attendance of 300.
The value of the church property, consisting of
the church edifice and a parsonage on Park place,
is estimated at $38,000, against which there is a
debt of but $6,000.
THE EAST AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH.
On Tuesday evening, October 25, 1866, the first
prayer meeting of this society was held, Dr. Backus,
of the First Church, presiding. About fifteen per
sons were in attendance.
The meetings in the course of a few weeks be
came so largely attended, that the private house in
which they were held was overcrowded. Accord
ingly the young men engaged in the work, with
commendable enterprise rented a small dwelling
in the vicinity and, having removed the partitions,
fitted it up as a place or worship. This building was
first used December 23, 1866, and from that date
meetings were held there on Thursday and Sabbath
evenings during the winter and following summer.
A Sabbath-school was organized December 15th
with five scholars. The second Sabbath it num
bered twenty-one scholars and six teachers. Feb
ruary 3, 1867, an infant class was organized. The
attendance upon the school and prayer meeting in
creased so greatly during the winter that the build
ing was again found too small for the accommoda
tion of those who came, and again the laborers
recognized the finger of Providence pointing them
forward. The idea of building a chapel was talked
about, and funds were sought after and obtained,
chiefly among the members of Dr. Backus' congre
gation, and the work was commenced July 23, 1877.
October 10th the chapel was finished, and was
soon dedicated, with appropriate services; Rev. Dr.
Backus, Rev. Dr. Hickok and Rev. John Clancy
officiating. The work continued to prosper, and
through the influence of the Sabbath-school and
prayer meeting, a number of persons were con
verted and united with the city churches. The
Sunday-school, at present, is the largest and most
efficient in the city.
During the winter a Sabbath evening preaching
service was kept up regularly. In the spring of
1869 those who had been interested in the work
from the beginning thought that circumstances war
ranted them in asking for a separate organization.
The proposition was accepted by the pastor and
people of the First Church, to whose cordial sympa
thy and co-operation the success of the undertak-

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETIES.

Ill

ing had been largely due. Accordingly sixteen
persons were dismissed from the mother church,
April i, 1869, to form the new society. The fol
lowing Sabbath, April 4th, after the sermon by Rev.
Dr. Backus, from Heb. 13:17, the church was or
ganized. From this time the pulpit was regularly
supplied, morning and evening, by various minis
ters. The first stated supply was George Alexan
der, a licentiate of the U. P. Presbytery of Albany
and a student of Princeton Seminary, who preached
during the months of July and August. At a meet
ing of the congregation, August 4th, he was elected
and called to the pastoral charge. Having accepted
the call, he was ordained and installed January 20,
1870, and dismissed by Presbytery in 1884.
The church edifice is located on Upper State
street. It is built of brick, with a Gothic roof, and
has a seating capacity of 600. The present pastor,
J. D. Paxton, has served since 1884.
THE EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH.
The Evangelical Congregational Church, Sche
nectady, N. Y. , was unanimously recognized by a
council of Congregational churches and pastors,
April 24, 1877, convened by invitation of the pas
tor, officers and members of the Free Evangelical
Church, an independent religious organization that
had been holding religious services in Union Hall
for sixteen months previous, under the ministra
tions of Rev. Henry H. Northrop.
The council was composed of the following pas
tors and delegates of these churches: Albany,
Gloversville, Oswego, Syracuse, Middletown, Har
lem, Homer, N. Y.; the Rev. J. C. Holbrook,
D. D., secretary of theN. Y. S. Home Missionary
Society; Rev. James G. Cordell ; also Rev. H. G.
Day, of the Baptist Church of Schenectady.
The public services took place in the evening of
the same day in Union Hall, when the Moderator,
Rev. J. C. Holbrook, D. D., officially recognized
the church, welcoming it to the fellowship of the
Congregational churches. An address on the Princi
ples of Congregationalism was made by Rev. Jona
than Crane, of Middletown, N. Y. A sermon was
preached by Rev. W. S. Smart, D. D., of Albany,
and an address delivered by Rev. Samuel H. Virgin,
pastor of Pilgrim Church, Harlem, N. Y.
The church continued to hold its public services
in Union Hall and prayer meetings in the German
M. E. Chapel, on Jay street. Rev. H. H. Northrop
continued with the church until March, 1879, when
he was regularly dismissed by council.
Rev. John H. Munsell was called to and accepted
the pastorate in April, 1879. It soon became evi
dent that Union Hall was not a suitable place to
hold Sabbath services, and the same fall they were
removed to the chapel on Jay street, in which the
prayer meetings were held. Large congregations
were accustomed to attend the services in the pub
lic hall, not more than half of which followed the
church into the chapel to worship there. Soon
after a revival of religion greatly blessed and en
couraged the church, largely increasing its mem
bership. The capacity of the chapel was soon

found to be too small to accommodate those who
desired to worship with the church, and in
the spring of 1880 active measures were insti
tuted to secure a larger place of worship and a per
manent church home, and the lot and buildings
comprising the chapel and the adjoining dwelling
house — now the church parsonage — were pur
chased and immediate measures taken to erect a
suitable church edifice. After two years of patient
toil, constant prayer, and unusual sacrifice, the
church was permitted to dedicate its present beau
tiful edifice on Jay street, April 5, 1882, the Rev.
Wm. M. Taylor, D. D., pastor of Broadway Tab
ernacle, New York, preaching the sermon.
The following year the adjoining chapel was
erected. This church, with its accompaniments,
is one of the most attractive and convenient church
buildings in the city.
The church has steadily grown, comprising now
330 church members. Its Sunday-school numbers
more than 300.
EMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1881 by a num
ber of the former members of the First Baptist
Church. At this time the members of the congre
gation had no church edifice, and used Union
Hall in which to hold religious services. The first
regular pastor was John C. Breaker, who became
pastor April 10, 1882. In 1883 a lot on Nott
terrace was purchased, and the present church
edifice erected, at a cost of about $3, 500. Mr.
Breaker remained as pastor of this church until
October, 1884, when he resigned his charge. The
congregation remained without a regular supply
until June 17, 1885, when the present pastor,
George M. Muller, accepted the pastorate. This
congregation is composed of about 130 members,
and is in a healthy financial condition.
JEWISH SYNAGOGUE.
This congregation was organized in 1856. At
this time the store a few doors from State street on
Ferry street was purchased for $1,400, and is still
used in which to conduct religious services. The
officers of the Synagogue are president, vice-presi
dent, three trustees, treasurer and secretary. The
first President was Alexander Susholz, who was
succeeded by the present officer, Jonathan Susholz.
The remaining officers are Jacob Henry, Vice-Pres
ident; Phieffer Levi, Treasurer; S. Susholz, Secre
tary; Henry Heilbronner, S. Sterns and L. Behr,
Trustees. This congregation consists of 38 members, and
is known by the corporate name Shara Schoma-
jim. The present Rabbi is Rev. Rudolph Farber.
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.
The first Roman Catholic congregation was or
ganized in this city in 1880 with less than 20 per
sons. At this time a small frame building near
the Mohawk bridge on Washington avenue was
neatly fitted up and used for church services. The
congregation had no regular rector, but was occa
sionally attended by Rev. Charles Smith, of St.

113

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Mary's Church, Albany. The building on Wash
ington avenue continued to be used as a church
until October 13, 1839, when the present com
modious edifice on Franklin street was conse
crated. Rev. John Kelly, who succeeded Rev.
Charles Smith, was the first regular rector in
stalled over this church. He was succeeded fn
1838 by Rev. Patrick McCloskey. Then followed
in succession Revs. Daniel Falvey, McGeough, M.
E. Clark, and J. M. Scully, who was installed in
1875. In 1873 tne building foimerly used by the
Methodist congregation on Liberty street, adjoin
ing the rear of St. John's Church, was purchased
by the latter church, and has since been converted
into a convent.
The present rectory on Liberty street was built
in 1876.
The property of this church is centrally located,
and one of the most valuable belonging to any re
ligious denomination in the city. A few years
ago a tract of land containing over twenty acres,
on the upper end of State street, was purchased by
this church, and is now used as a cemetery. The
total number of persons connected with St. John's
Church will probably exceed 2, 500.
St. John's Convent. — May 22, 1865, the build
ing opposite to St. John's Church, on Franklin
street, was first opened as a convent, under the
direct patronage of the church, and presided over
by Mother Alphonsus and Sister Mary Montcar-
mel, who were reinforced the following months by
Sisters Ann Michael and Mary Lucy. At the
convent and the small school-house adjoining the
church, the children of the congregation were
taught the common English branches of study by
the Mother Superior and Sisters.
But the number of scholars so increased year by
year, that in 1880 the old Methodist Church on
Liberty street, purchased in 1873, was converted
into a convent. This large edifice has been most
conveniently arranged for the purpose of a school
and convent, and meets the needs of this rapidly
growing congregation. At the new convent more
than 460 scholars are instructed in the common
English branches of study. This school is supported
entirely by the church, and is under the charge of
Mother Superior Augustine, assisted by five Sisters.
A private school for instruction in the higher
branches of study is conducted at the convent,
where French, music (vocal and instrumental),
drawing, painting and embroidery are taught. This
department of the school is attended by both
Protestants and Catholics, and is supported by
tuition fees. The instruction received at the con
vent is considered as most careful, thorough and
complete, and ranks high in the educational in
terests of Schenectady.
GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.
This church was organized in 1870. In 1872
the present church edifice was purchased from the
Congregational Church for $3,500, since which
many improvements have been made on the church
property; The first pastor was G. H. Brandan.

He was followed by Michael Wolf, Emil Schneider
and Henry Homrighaus. The present pastor is
Louis Schultze. This congregation is composed
of 95 members, and is in a prosperous and flour
ishing condition.
"THE TEMPLE GEMEINDE " CHURCH.
The German church on College street, called
" The Temple Gemeinde," is a branch of the Ger
man Temple Society, organized in Germany about
1854, by Rev. Dr. C. Hoffman, which aims at the
advancement of the work of Christ and final
establishment of the kingdom of God on earth as
it is in heaven. The only source of revelation to
the members of the Society is exclusively the Bible,
without ecclesiastical traditions and human doc
trines, as far as they are in contradiction to the will
of God as interpreted by the members of this
Society. Concerning the Temple Gemeinde, we
will give an extract of its history :
The congregation was organized in May, 1854,
by the Rev. W. Wolf, and incoiporated according
to the law of the State of New York, under the
long and inconvenient name, ' ' Third Evangelical
Protestant Reformed Dutch Church." At the end
of the same year the present pastor, the Rev. W.
F. Schwilk, took charge of the school and congre
gation, which increased remarkably in number.
In 1856 they bought the so-called old Lancaster
school and converted it into a chapel. A school
room was added in the rear of the building, and
afterward used as a dwelling for the sexton and his
family. As the little flock steadily increased, it was
found necessary to erect a larger and more com
modious house of worship — the same which stands
a few rods farther from the old one, toward Green
street, and which was dedicated in the presence of
a highly interested assembly on September 1, 1867.
At the beginning of 1867, Mr. Schwilk started
the first German newspaper in the city, Die Reichs
Posaune, a religious, political and social semi
monthly, and continued it as editor and manager
fully seven years, when he was obliged (on account
of ill health) to suspend the paper. At the close
of the year 1867 the congregation withdrew from
the Classis of Schenectady, and declared itself, for
various reasons, ecclesiastically free and inde
pendent of the General Synod of the Reformed
Dutch Church ; yet its officers and members
retained their first legal name, and endeavored to
make it a living name by being Protestants, not
only by birth, but also by conviction. Thus they
made themselves worthy of a new name. In the
meantime they felt the necessity of changing it
more and more, and recently, at a special meeting
of the pastor, elders and deacons, they resolved
unanimously to drop the old name altogether and
adopt a new and better one — "The Temple"—
which expresses plainly and distinctly its common
faith. They authorized their pastor to take all the
legal steps necessary to that effect.
This name was legalized and took effect Decem
ber 25, 1884. The Temple Gemeinde is composed
of 200 members, with a Sunday-school numbering

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.

113

80 scholars. The church property is valued at
over $8,000, and is free of debt. Rev. W. F.
Schwilk, who has been pastor of this church more
than thirty years, is a highly educated and accom
plished gentleman, deeply interested in religious
matters, and to his intelligent, conscientious work
can be attributed the present prosperity of this
church. CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The Ladies' Benevolent Society, an organiza
tion which has accomplished great good in this
community, was established about 1813.
In this society at this early date were many
ladies of the first families of the city. In a book
of minutes of this period appears the names of
Mrs. James Duane, Mrs. Stebbins, Mrs. A. Yates,
Mrs. Dr. Fonda, Mrs. Simon Groot, Mrs. Dr.
Mynderse and Mrs. John Constable. In 181 7
thirty-five sick and distressed women and 128
helpless children were assisted, necessitating the
expenditure of more than $600.
The primary objects of the society were to afford
assistance to indigent women and children,
although no cases of deserving charity were ne
glected. The officers consisted of a first and second di
rectress, treasurer, secretary, and a board of mana
gers. The contribution of a certain sum to the
funds of the society constituted the person so con
tributing a member, with equal privileges in man
aging the affairs. The board of managers appoint
ed a certain number of ladies in each ward, in
prescribed districts, who were expected not only
to solicit funds, clothing or provisions for carrying
on the work, but to make personal visits to the
homes of all persons in these districts who might
be in indigent circumstances, and report all cases
of deserving charity to the board of managers, in
.which case the members of the board of managers
were expected to afford relief. In many cases
sick women and children were removed from their
wretched homes to suitable quarters in private
houses, the society paying for their board. It was
this branch of the good work which ultimately
grew to such proportions that the need of a build
ing especially adapted to this purpose became a
necessity. The aims and plan of work of this society have
not undergone much change since it was organized,
and it will not be necessary to go into much detail
concerning the work accomplished.
In 1864 this society was reorganized, and many
of the members of that date are still active workers
in this society. Among the members might be
honorably mentioned the names of Mrs. Dr. Nott
and Mrs. Jonas H. Crane, two of the oldest living
members, who for more than a quarter of a century
have been earnest workers in the cause of this
society. Among others who are equally entitled to
praise, both in the past and present, are the follow
ing ladies : Mrs. Anna Myers, Mrs. Mark Scher-
win, Miss Rebecca Duane, Mrs. Dr. A. M. Vedder,
Mrs. James Walker, Mrs. Judge Mitchel, Mrs.

Maria Barhydt, Mrs. Charles Angle, Mrs. Theodore
Brown, Mrs. Aaron Freeman, Mrs Elizabeth Wal
ters, Mrs. Elizabeth De Wigne, Mrs. John C. Ellis,
Mrs. D. Cady Smith, Mrs. Richard Franchot, Mrs.
Andrew McMullen.
Home of the Friendless. — The present com
fortable and commodious building on Green
street, known as the Home of the Friendless, was
the result of the labors of the Ladies' Benevolent
Society. In 1868 the Ladies' Home of the Friendless So
ciety was organized, mainly composed of the
members of the Benevolent Society. At this time,
although without a dollar in the treasury, and trust
ing entirely upon the generosity of the citizens to
aid them, the ladies decided to purchase the
building, No. 35 Green street, now owned by the
society. But legal difficulies confronted them, from the
fact that they were not a corporate body. At this
opportune time Dr. A. M. Vedder, Max Schwin,
T. W. McCamus, Austin M. Ketchum, David
Murray, Charles H. Mathews, Samuel W. Jack
son, D. Cady Smith, Andrew Truax, Horace G.
Day and Lewis C. Barhydt, under the provisions
of a legislative act of 1848 relative to the incorpora
tion of charitable institutions, associated them
selves together and became a corporate body,
August 4, 1868, under the corporate name of
the Home of the Friendless of the City of
Schenectady. The following gentlemen were named as the
first trustees: J. Trumbull Backus, Charles H.
Mathews, Alexander M. Vedder, D. Cady Smith,
Andrew Truax, Horace G. Day and Lewis C.
Barhydt. These trustees were given the entire charge
and supervision of the funds, property and
affairs of the association. They were at first
divided into three classes, two who were elected
for one year, two for two years and three for
three years; but in 188 1 the term of all the
trustees was extended to three years, although the
three classes remained the same, and the term of
not more than three trustees expires during any
one year.
The trustees elect a president, secretary and a
treasurer; the latter officer cannot be a trustee.
At the present time an executive committee of
three is appointed by the President from the list of
trustees for one year, to whom is given the general
charge of all funds, property and affairs of the
society, to audit all bills and to invest funds.
The trustees are elected by ballot the first Tues
day in September of each year. Every person
who shall donate the sum of five dollars to the
funds of the society, regardless of sex, is entitled
to one vote, and an additional vote for every five
dollars donated.
The first trustees immediately purchased the
dwelling, No. 35 Green street, of George G. Soley,
for the sum of $3,000, paying about $2,000 in
cash, raised by subscription; the balance remain
ing a mortgage upon the property. This property
was thus given over to the management of the

114

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Ladies' Society of the Home of the Friendless, and
was first opened September 9, 1868.
The real management of the Home, the collec
tion of funds, and the care and supervision of the
inmates, devolve solely upon the ladies of the
society. The officers consist of first and second
directresses, treasurer and secretary, an executive
committee and a board of managers. The trustees
act as an advisory committee. The first officers
were: Mrs. Urania Nott, First Directress; Mrs.
Cordelia Crane, Second Directress; Mrs. Mary A.
Myers, Secretary; Mrs. Anna Angle, Treasurer.
The subscription fee of annual members is
$5; of life members, $25; of life members and
benefactors, $100.
The entire internal charge of the Home is under
the direct supervision of a matron, who is em
ployed by the Board. This position has been
most creditably filled by Mrs. Mary Perkins ever
since the Home was established.
Since the establishment of the Home, it has
been used exclusively for the support of indigent
sick or aged women. But it is the intention of
the members, as soon as sufficient funds can be
obtained, to so extend the facilities of the institu
tion as to be able to support a juvenile depart
ment, when children without homes, too young to
provide for themselves, can be maintained.
From the report of the secretary made at the
end of the first year of the Home, we find that
eight aged and infirm ladies had been the recipients
of the comforts of this institution. The total
receipts this year were $1,945.40, and total ex
penditures $1,327.85.
In September, 1873, the present building ad
joining No. 35 Green street, used as the Home,
was purchased of Mr. Frame for $5,000.
In 1878, mainly through the efforts of the
trustees, a debt of over $3,000 was liquidated by
public subscription. Dr. Andrew Truax, who had
been an enthusiastic friend of the Home since its
organization, gave $1,000 of this sum.
During late years, the Home, by the death of
a number of its early friends and benefactors,
has been the recipient of generous donations.
Among the legacies thus bequeathed were $5,000
from Dr. A. M. Vedder, $6,000 from Colon
C. Clute, and $20,000 from Dr. Andrew Truax.
In 1869 the True Blues, a civic organization
in Schenectady, donated the sum of $1,000, the
proceeds of a fair held for the purpose of aiding
this institution.
At the present time the Home is in a flourish
ing condition. Its property, valued as $10,000, is
free from debt, and it receives the proceeds of
$33,500 invested for its use.
The work accomplished by this institution of
charity has been of the most commendable nature.
Its average yearly expenses have been about
$1,200, while an average number of eight poor,
enfeebled, deserving women have received the
comforts of a Christian home.
In 1883 an addition of a hospitable room was
made to the Home at a cost of $700, which
amount was raised by public subscription.

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
In the year 1858 the first Young Men's Christian
Association was organized in Schenectady. The
first officers of the Society were : Prof. John New
man, President ; George F. Bollis, Vice-President;
Charles S. Vedder, Corresponding Secretary ;
William F. Fox, Recording Secretary; and James
J. Marlette, Treasurer. The Board of Directors
consisted of Joseph B. Graham, David Herron,
Jr. , David J. Tichenor, Charles N. Yates, A. Craig
Palmer, Charles Brockmyer, Daniel A. Atwell,
Samuel Lyon, William DeGraff, Rembrandt P.
Wilkie and Abraham Van Vranken. The plan of
work and object of the association, as defined by
the constitution of this date, were similar to that
followed by like associations throughout the State,
and not materially different from the aims and pur
pose of the present association. The society
secured rooms on the second floor of the Clute
building on State street, now used as a dental
office by John F. Hull.

Young Men's Christian Association Building.
Here the members of the association labored for
a number of years, with comparatively limited
means and resources,' for the beneficent objects of
the association. But either through lack of proper
support, through imperfect organization, or the
usual period of excitement during the late civil
war, the work was abandoned some time in 1863,
and nothing was done to perfect a reorganization
until 1867. During this year, by the exertion of a
few of the public-spirited citizens of Schenectady, a
renewed interest was awakened in the work of this
kind of organization, as exhibited in parts of the
State, and a new association was formed and a
more perfect constitution adopted. The officers
elected under the new organization were as follows:
Nicholas Cain, President ; C. C. Brown and M. A.
Vedder, Vice-Presidents ; E. A. Charlton, Corre
sponding Secretary; George O. Seaver, Recording
Secretary ; John Brown, Treasurer; and L. Hoyt,
Librarian. Directors: Andrew T. Veeder, Jacob
Vrooman, Louis Feldman, Richard Farley, C. W.

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— MASONIC ORGANIZATIONS.

115

Backus, D. D. C. Teller, John A. De Remer,
Edward S. Sauter and E. W. Moore. At this
period the association had rooms in Van Home's
Hall, No. 151 State street. Here a free reading-
room, furnished with the leading daily and weekly
papers, magazines and various periodicals, was pro
vided. A library of over 300 volumes was also
procured this year.
' In 1 87 1 application was made to the Legisla
ture for a new charter and for the incorporation of
the association. This was granted, and the follow
ing citizens of Schenectady were a board of
trustees, to hold in trust the property of the associa
tion : J. Trumbull Backus, Piatt Potter, E. H.
Wheeler, Simon C. Groot, Andrew Truax, Peter
Rowe, Abram Doty, H. S. Edwards, C. C. Clute,
N. I. Schermerhorn, Levi A. Young, H. S. Bar
ney, T. W. McCamus, Nicholas Cain, Robert Fur
man, G. G. Maxon, C. H. Mathews and Edward
W. Paige. This act of incorporation provided
that one-third of these trustees should be annually
elected after March, 1872. During the year
1 87 1, mainly through the efforts of Nicholas Cain,
then president of the association, and a few others
equally interested in the welfare of the organiza
tion, the project long contemplated by the
friends of the association — the erection of a per
manent edifice — began to take definite form. In
October of this year the lot where the Association
building now stands was purchased for the sum of
$12,000, the entire amount being raised in a few
days by subscription. At this time the task of
raising money to erect a building upon this site
was begun by the officers of the organization. The
following are some of the principal donors at this
time: Nicholas Cain, $3,000; J. Trumbull
Backus, $2,000; Charles H. Mathews, $1,500;
Peter Rowe,' $1,000; Piatt Potter, $1,000; Abram
Doty, $1,000; L. A. Yroung, $1,000; T. W.
McCamus, $1,000; Robert Furman, $1,000;
Andrew Truax, $1,000 ; N. I. Schermerhorn,
$1,000 ; C. C. Clute, $1,000 ; H. S. Edwards,
$1,000; E. H. Wheeler, $1,000; H. S. Barney,
$ 1, ooo ; Simon C. Groot, $1,000. Considerable
money was also raised in smaller amounts.
In 1873 the present building began to be
erected. Its exterior was completed in 187 — . At
this time, the association lacking necessary funds,
work was suspended. From 1873 to 1877 seems
to have been a dark period in the history of the
Young Men's Christian Association in this city.
Some time in 1874-5 the room in the Van
Horne Hall was abandoned, and no regular place
of meeting seems to have been provided until
1877, when, mainly through the efforts of General
Secretary O. C. Morse, who came to Schenectady
under the direction of the New York State Execu
tive Committee of the Young Men's Christian
Association, Stanford Hall was rented for a period
of three months. Here the association library was
removed and a free reading-room provided.
In March, 1877, the work of completing and
furnishing four rooms in the new building was
undertaken by the different churches, the First
Reformed Church furnishing one, the First

Presbyterian Church another, the Baptist a third,
and the Episcopal Church the fourth. On the
15th of the following May the association took
possession of its new rooms, and the new building
was first used for the purpose for which it was
erected. Since this date numerous improvements
have been made in the Association building, al
though it is not yet entirely completed. Over
$40,000 has been expended on it, and the associ
ation is at present $19,000 in debt. The lower
part of the building is occupied by the crockery
store of S. R. James, the second floor by the
association, and the third floor by law offices.
For a number of years a coffee or refreshment
room has been in the unfinished part of the build
ing, which has enjoyed a liberal share of patronage.
The present officers of the association are: James
A. Goodrich, President; Marcus C. Wood, Vice-
President; Frank E. Smith, Recording Secretary;
James Cantine, Treasurer ; William F. Cromer,
Acting Secretary. The financial affairs of the
Y. M. C. A. are controlled by a Board of Man
agers, consisting of twenty members.
The reading-room and library has been re
cently much improved. Many daily papers and
most of the leading periodicals are furnished, while
the library has increased to nearly two thousand
volumes of choice and selected books. The Y. M.
C. A. building, as shown in the cut, is one of the
finest public edifices in the city.
HISTORY OF MASONIC ORGANIZATIONS.
st. George's lodge, no. 6.
St. George's Lodge was founded previous to the
American Revolution by dispensation from the
Grand Lodge of England, and went into operation
in 1774, under the auspices of Sir John Johnson,
then Provincial Grand Master of the Colony of
New York. The first dispensation under which
the lodge was organized has been lost; but a second
one, granted by the same authority, is still pre
served as a relic in the archives of the lodge. It
was given at Fort Johnson, December 13, 1774,
and bears the bold signature of Sir John Johnson.
By this instrument, Christopher Yates was ap
pointed Master; Benjamin Hilton, Jr., Senior
Warden; and John Henghan, Junior Warden.
The book of minutes of the lodge as above consti
tuted, but extending from a time even previous to this
dispensation, is still preserved. From this it appears
that in addition to the officers mentioned, the lodge
had but four members, viz. : Cornelius Van Dyck,
Aaron Van Patten, Robert Clinch and Robert Alex
ander. The first initiation of which there is any
account is that of Teunise Swart, which was speed
ily followed by others, until when this record closes,
December 30, 1799, more than one hundred and
twenty names had been added to the roll of mem
bership. From the book of minutes, it appears that the
first meetings of the lodge were held at the house of
Robert Clinch, afterward in the dwellings of
Abram Truax and John A. Bradt. April 16, 1790,
the lodge purchased a building and lot of Dr. Nich-

116

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

olas Van Der Volgen on the south side of State
street, where the Central Railroad now passes, and
after properly arranging a room for the use of the
lodge, surrendered the remaining part to Andrew
Rynex, as Tiler, by whom the dwelling was there
after occupied. In January, 1797, the growing
numbers of the lodge rendered this place too small,
and it was considerably enlarged by building. In
the same year a Mark Lodge was established, to
which the use of the lodge room was freely per
mitted. At this time there were in Schenectady three
flourishing lodges and a Royal Arch Chapter.
They were named respectively, St. George's Lodge,
Clinton Lodge and Morton Lodge. St. George's
Lodge has alone survived. Cyrus Royal Arch
Chapter, No. 57, which existed about this period,
has also been disbanded, but in its place has been
organized the Mohawk (now St. George's Royal
Arch Chapter, No. 157), which now numbers many
members. The record of the proceedings of the early his
tory of St. George's Lodge is full of interest, illus
trating the character of the men and times of the
most interesting period of our country's history.
Among the members of the lodge were many who
became active in the war of the revolution, and
whose names have been frequently mentioned in this
volume as connected with the stirring events of
this period.
The following, taken from the book of minutes,
is full of significance, and is one of many having
reference to the active participation of the members
of this lodge in the scenes of the revolution:
" At the regular communication, December 26,
1780, it was unanimously
"Resolved, That fifty shillings, hard money, out
of the funds of this lodge, shall be delivered into
the hands of Brother Robert Alexander, for the use
of Brother Walter Voorman's family, who is now
captive with the enemy, and the same amount be
paid into the hands of John Cummins, for the use
of Brother Andrew Rynex's family, who is also taken
captive. "
The last record contained in this venerable min
ute book is especially interesting. It is as follows:
" Whereas, The death of our Worthy Grand
Master, George Washington, was this evening an
nounced to this lodge ; therefore, unanimously
"Resolved, That the members of this lodge wear
(as a token of respect to the memory of our said
late Grand Master) a black ribbon in the button
hole of the waistcoat, until the ensuing Festival of
St. John the Baptist, and that the Secretary be
directed to give notice of the foregoing resolution
to such members as did not attend this meeting.
"Jellis A. Fonda,
"W. Master."
Thus appropriately closes this valuable record of
the last meeting of the last year of the last century.
The minutes of the lodge are preserved in full
until the close of the year 1 804, when there seems
to have been a disagreement between a large num
ber of the lodges in the interior and those in the

city of New York and its vicinity, which resulted
in a disruption of the ties between them. In
common with the lodges with which it had sided in
the questions in dispute, which seem to have been
little more than "Where shall the meetings of the
Grand Lodge be held — in New York or Albany?"
St. George's Lodge was declared by the Grand
Lodge to have forfeited "its Masonic privileges,"
and its members were expelled from the order.
From this time the records are imperfect, until
1822, when the lodge was formally reinstated to
full Masonic standing, and a new charter granted to
Henry Yates as Worshipful Master; Samuel Farns-
worth, Senior Warden; and John McMichael,
Junior Warden. This charter bore the signature
of Daniel D. Tompkins, then Vice-President of the
United States, as Grand Master.
From this time to 1834 the records, and even
the charter of 1822, are lost, and it would seem
that the meetings were either entirely intermitted
or but seldom held. This period was that dark one
in the history of Masonry in America which fol
lowed the Morgan excitement, when most of the
lodges in the State were broken up and the order
proscribed. From 1834, however, complete sets of the
minutes are preserved, from which it appears that
a dispensation was granted by the Grand Lodge,
bearing date January 5, 1844, and that qn the
eighth day of June, 1844, a new charter was
granted, naming Giles F. Yates as Worshipful Mas
ter ; Roswell Perry, Senior Warden; and Jonathan
C. Burnham, Junior Warden. Under this charter St.
George's Lodge now works, and is to-day in a very
prosperous and flourishing condition. In 1868
the temple on Church street was erected, making
one of the finest and most complete Masonic build
ings in the State.
Officers for 1885. — Bro. T. Low Barhydt,
Master ; Bro. John S. White, S. Warden ; Bro. P.
M. Doty, J. Warden ; W. Bro. W. Scott Hunter,
Treasurer; Bro. Thonlpson Dealtry, Secretary; Bro.
Charles E. Palmer, S. Deacon ; Bro. Frank Will
iamson, J. Deacon ; Bro. Rev. E. L. Toy, Chap
lain ; R. W. Bro. John Keyes Paige, Organist ;
Bro. Charles Hausmer, Physician ; Bro. G A.
Wendell, S. M. of Cer. ; Bro. E. King, J. M. of
Cer. ; Bros. J. Teller Schoolcraft and John S.
Swits, Stewards ; Bro. S. Abrams, Tiler ; G G.
Maxon, S. W. Jackson and John M. Wendell,
Trustees.

New Hope Lodge, No. 730. — New Hope Lodge
was founded November 30, 1872. For a number
of years meetings of this lodge were held in Van
Home's Hall, on State street ; recent years, Odd
fellows Hall, in the Ellis building, on State street,
has been used for that purpose.
Officers for 1875. — W. Bro. Charles Baum,
Master ; H. M. Stanton, S. Warden ; W. C.
Campbell, J. Warden ; W. H. Helmer, Treasurer ;
James L. Foote, Secretary ; W. P. Daley, S.
Deacon ; Wm. J. Rosekranz, J. Deacon ; D. W,
Walpole, S. M. of Cer, ; Simon Schermerhorn, J.
M. of Cer.; G E. McDonald, M. D, Physician;

CITY OF SCHENECTADY— TEMPERANCE.

117

Fred. Reaber, Marshal ; E. E. Kreigsman, R. T.
Butler and D. Allen, Finance Committee ; R. T.
Butler, Tiler.
St. George's Chapter, No. 157, R. A. M., was
installed in 1856. Officers for 1885 : M. E. Comp.
John H. White, High Priest ; W. Scott Hunter, E.
King ; T. Low Barhydt, E. Scribe ; W. H. Peck
ham, Treasurer ; W. G. Helmer, Secretary.
St. George's Commandery, No. 37, K. T., was
instituted 1866. Officers for 1885 : E. Sir W.
H. Helmer, Commander; George Buskerk, Gen
eralissimo ; John H. White, Captain-General ; F.
Williamson, Prelate ; Geo. Weller, S. Warden ;
John J. Fenwick, J. Warden ; H. H. Swart,
Treasurer ; W. H. Peckham, Recorder.
TEMPERANCE.
The earliest trace of united temperance work
in Schenectady is that of the State Temper
ance Society, organized in 1828 by E. C. Delavan
and Dr. Eliphalet Nott July 8, 1830, an auxiliary
society, the "Schenectady City Society for the
Promotion of Temperance," was formed. The
pledge did not cover the use of malt liquors, but
"distilled spirituous liquors, except as a medicine
in case of bodily infirmity." The officers were:
President, Peter I. Clute; Secretary, James Ma
goffin; Treasurer, Joel C. Bailey; Directors, Jon
athan Crane, George McQueen, Jabez Ward and
Obed Chandler. The Reverends E. Mason (Pres
byterian), Coles Carpenter (M. E.), Jacob Van
Vechten (First Reformed), and Mr. Gillett (Bap
tist), and Dr. Nott and Mr. Delavan, were also
members. By 1832, through the efforts of Mr.
Crane and others, 27 auxiliary societies (which in
cluded one colored) had been formed. Union
College also organized one at this time. During
the year last named the city society had a mem
bership of 2,013 males, 42i females. Lectures
were occasionally delivered by Prof Alonzo Pot
ter, Dr. Nott, Reverends Stebbins, Gillett, Van
Vechten and Hon. A. L. Linn, and Messrs. Pol
lard and Wright, of Baltimore, John B. Gough, and
Judge McQueen. Dr. Fonda and Dr. Nott were
the last survivors of this organization. Its efforts
practically ceased in 1846.
The Washingtonian movement gained a foothold
and flourished for a few years during the existence
of the city society.
From 1847 to 1867 but little public work was
done, but in the latter year the "Sons of Temper
ance " instituted a division, which is now extinct
In 1868 the Good Templars organized their first
lodge here, which did good work until 1S80, when
it too became practically lifeless.
The Independent Order of Rechabites never
gained a foothold here. The Father Mathew
movement of 1850, which was originated by the
Catholics, succeeded in gaining many converts.
In September, 1876, the "Schenectady Tem
perance Society" was formed, with the following
officers: President, J. Charles Lawton; Vice-Presi
dent, Dr. L. Faust; Secretary, Henry Swan; Treas
urer, Peter Chrisler. Articles for the press were

written by Prof. Wells, of Union College; Prof.
Halsey, Classical Institute; Revs. W. J. Heath
and Northorp and Mr. Chrisler. October 19th a
Reform Club was organized, and the 31st of the
month was merged with the "Schenectady Tem
perance Society," and these changed to the "An
cient City Temperance Society."
In June, 1880, Peter Chrisler was successful in
having the official board of the M. E. Church
adopt a resolution discontinuing the use of fer
mented or alcoholic wine at the communion, and
during the same year he organized the " M. E.
Church Temperance Society."
July n, 1878, internal dissensions in the "An
cient City" order resulted in a new society, taking
the old name, " Schenectady Temperance Society,"
with Mr. Chrisler as President.
October 3 1, 1878, the two societies united, under
the name of " Christian Temperance Union," with
Jethro W. Chute as President.
The "Women's Christian Temperance Union"
was organized in March, 1878, Mrs. Dr. Nott,
President, and in July the "Children's Temper
ance Society" was instituted, all the societies
meeting in the same room.
January 29, 1880, a new departure was taken
by the society. Good Templarism ideas were fol
lowed, and "Ancient City Lodge, 174," formed.
No organization since 1830 or 1867 has been so
successful. In March, 1884, there were 1,130
members, making it the banner lodge of the State.
At the County Lodge, held April 1, 1885, it re
ported 895 members.
HENRY RAMSAY.
The subject of this sketch was born in Guilder-
land, Albany County, N. Y., May 18, 1808. He
spent the first six years of his life in the vicinity
of his birthplace, after which his parents removed
to Albany. At this early age he entered the first
Lancaster School in the United States, then recent
ly opened in Albany by William Anderson Tweed
Dale, under the personal supervision of Joseph
Lancaster, the founder of the system.
In 1823, with three others, he was promoted to
the Albany Academy, a high mark of honor con
ferred on pupils of the Lancaster School who had
shown themselves specially meritorious in behav
ior and scholarship, and which entitled them to a
free course of instruction at the Academy. Young
Ramsay rapidly advanced in his studies, and by
orderly conduct and close attention gained the
esteem and confidence of the Faculty and Trustees,
who, as a signal mark of favor, informed him, after
a term of two years, that he could remain as long
as he pleased, free of tuition. But the painful ne
cessity of depending for support upon the daily-
labor of an aged father, constrained the youth to
leave the Academy in 1826.
He immediately became an assistant teacher in
the Lancaster School, under his former instructor,
Mr. Dale. In this position he remained nearly a
year, performing his work most satisfactorily to the
management of the school and its patrons. But

118

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

'V

\ V /

the care and labor proved too severe for mind and
body, and he was obliged to seek rest and recrea
tion in the country. Becoming sufficiently recu
perated, the following year he accepted the charge
of a school in Glenville, Schenectady County, and
the same year he returned to Albany and ac
cepted the appointment of book-keeper in French
Webster's hardware store, located on the site of
the present post-office.
This position did not meet the ambition of the
young man, and he determined to seek future
advancement in the great city of New York.
Here he arrived in 1829, without money and with
out friends, not knowing a single person to whom
he might apply for aid and assistance. He en
countered all the discouragements and difficulties
so many deserving young men similarly placed
have experienced in securing employment in the
metropolis. For a short time Benjamin C. Wat
son gave shelter and assistance to our young friend,
and secured for him a position as clerk in the land

office of Isaac M. Woolley, at the small salary of
$10 per month and board.
While a student at . the Albany Academy, young
Ramsay became very proficient in penmanship and
map-drawing, and gained valuable knowledge of
the art of surveying. These various accomplish
ments served him most advantageously while in the
employ of Mr. Woolley, who was quick to utilize
the talents of his young clerk in drawing and
copying maps as needed in the transaction of the
business of his office. So well did young Ram
say execute this work, that maps drawn by him and
exhibited in the real estate sale-rooms of the old
Merchants' Exchange attracted general attention
for their excellence. Among those who were at
tracted by the ability of Mr. Woolley's clerk, were
John C. Morrison, Dr. Van Soligen and Mr. Parker,
author of "Parker's Arithmetic," who induced
young Ramsay to open an office, under promise of
immediate patronage. Accordingly in 1830 he
opened an office in an attic bedroom in Greenwich

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— HENRY RAMSAY.

119

street. His ability soon gained for him the friend
ship and patronage of influential citizens. Phi-
lologus Holley, who proved a most valuable friend
at this period, in return for such services as he
could render him, gave him office room in his of
fice in Carmine street. While at Holley's he be
came acquainted with John Lewis, the confidential
clerk of the celebrated Col. Aaron Burr, and by
the latter he was frequently employed in making
surveys, maps and plans of buildings.
Reuben Spencer, a city surveyor, at this time
occasionally employed young Ramsay to assist him
in making surveys "on the Island," and in return
allowed him to use his instruments when he could
find a job for himself.
This soon brought him into prominence, which
resulted in his securing a lucrative business, and in
bringing his sterling worth into public recognition.
During this period he met Miss Isabelle Wester-
velt, eldest daughter of Jacob Westervelt, then
Sheriff of New York County, whom he married
May 17, 1831, and soon 'accepted the appointment
of book-keeper in the Merchants' Exchange Bank,
but shortly after became deputy sheriff under his
father-in-law, which position he retained under the
latter's successor, John Hillyer ; and after an inter
val of two of Hillyer's successors, was appointed to
the position again, under his wife's uncle, John J.
V. Westervelt.
In 1836, Mr. Ramsay, by prudence and econ
omy, had amassed sufficient means to gratify his
desire for the quietude of country life, and accord
ingly removed to Schenectady in this year, pur
chasing fourteen acres of land, including his pres
ent homestead at the head of State street. At this
time there were but two small frame buildings
upon the property, which, at the present, has be
come one of the most eligible building sites in the
city, upon which have been erected more than
eighty buildings, including the State Armory. Af
ter making some improvements on his property,
Mr. Ramsay again relumed to New York to accept
a situation offered by his brother. Here he re
mained for nearly four years, returning to Schenec
tady in 1839.
At this lime Mr. Ramsay resolved to perma
nently adopt the profession of surveyor and engi
neer, for which his early training and experience
peculiarly fitted him. In 1842 he received the
appointment of chief engineer on the Mohawk and
Hudson Railroad between Albany and Schenec
tady. At this time, the expenses of operating the
two stationary powers at the heads of the inclined
planes at the two cities nearly exhausted the re
ceipts of the road, and rendered the construction of
new sections to supersede the inclined planes ab
solutely necessary. This difficult work was Mr.
Ramsay's maiden professional effort, and was ac
complished without a single adverse occurrence or
the interruption of a single train. He was made
assistant engineer of the Erie Canal enlargement,
his section extending from Little Falls to the tower
aqueduct. While engaged in this work, he
was appointed Resident Engineer of the Seneca
River Survey and Triangulations, from the Monte

zuma Marshes to the foot of Jack's Reef. His ad
ministration of this office was so satisfactory, that,
December 10, 1853, he was appointed, without
solicitation, State Engineer and Surveyor.
In 1853, he was chosen by the Board of State
Officers to locate the wharf or water-line of New
town Creek and East River. In 1844-5-6, he
was engaged by Eugene and Montgomery Liv
ingston in defining the subdivision of the great
Hardenburg Patents, which he accomplished with
much difficulty and danger during the " anti-rent"
craze in Ulster and Delaware Counties. Mr. Ram
say has held the position of City Surveyor by ap
pointment for several terms, though he has never
taken an active interest in politics, and in 1852 he
received the Democratic nomination for Mayor of
the city, which, for private reasons, was declined,
although equivalent to an election. After the close
of his State service, Mr. Ramsay received the ap
pointment of Chief Engineer of the United States
Petroleum Company, at Pithole, Venango County,
Penn., and on Duck Creek, Ohio, driving the
first stake in the oil enterprise on the Thomas
Holmden farm. He remained, making surveys
during the oil excitement in this remarkable re
gion, until he terminated his professional services
in 1866-7.
In 1867, he began preparations to carry out a
long cherished plan, which, he says, "had been
the dream of my youth and hope of my age — to
visit Europe, Egypt, Palestine and Syria," hoping
thus not only to gain needed recreation and rest,
but more especially to satisfy the natural craving
of his mind to visit places and scenes associated
with ancient Biblical . lore. On May 1, 1869, he
sailed for Scotland, and at Glasgow began a tour
of the wonderful places of the Old World, which,
as. described in his graphic and intelligent lan
guage, would fill a volume of valuable and instruc
tive material for the students of ancient history.
Most of the time consumed by Mr. Ramsay s
journey abroad was spent in Egypt and the
Holy Land. Here his devout nature was inspired
and filled with reverence, as he visited and trod
over places and scenes made sacred and ever to be
revered as associated with the lives of the early pa
triarchs, and as connected with the life and history
of our Savior. Only those personally acquainted
with this venerable gentleman, and who have heard
him relate with a remarkably intelligent compre
hension, aided by a most retentive memory, can
fully realize how thorough was his research in this
interesting portion of the world.
Since his return home he has frequently been
called upon to deliver lectures upon the subject of
his travels, and whenever he has complied has
been highly appreciated.
Up to this period of Mr. Ramsay's biography we
have given but the mere outlines, without much
comment, of the chief events of his remarkably suc
cessful and active life. His struggles and successes
as a poor boy, without assistance, family prestige,
or influential friends, furnish an example of what
pluck, brains and honesty can do on the great stage
of life, and is an incentive to every young man

120

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

struggling with adverse fortune. His success was
not the result of what the world calls ' ' good luck. "
He went to the city of New York at an early period
to be sure, but even then there was no place in
this country where competition was stronger, and
where any young man without influential personal
friends would be less sure of winning success, ex
cept upon true and proved merit. Here young
Ramsay, by application, hard work, perseverance
and honesty, won not only the nucleus of a com
fortable fortune, but, what is better still, the sincere
respect and esteem of all who knew him. Mr.
Ramsay early became attached to a Christian church
and through a long career has been active in pro
moting all matters pertaining to church work, and
by action and deeds has led a consistent Christian
lire. Mr. Ramsay's domestic relations have been of
the most pleasant nature. His wife, who shared
the trials and struggles of his early days and wit
nessed the successes and triumphs of his later years,
still remains his congenial partner in his declining
years. Ten children have been the result of their
union, nine of whom are still living. Mr. Ramsay
has always felt much indebted to the Albany Acad
emy, and considers that the instruction there re
ceived had much to do with his success in life.
In 1883, out of friendship, if not as a debt of grati
tude, he endowed this institution of learning with
the sum of $1,000, to be used for the permanent
establishment of the Henry Ramsay Scholarship,
to aid poor and deserving young men to obtain an
education. Mr. Ramsay has ever been a progressive, public-
spirited citizen, and has taken a keen and active
interest in everything pertaining to educational
matters. He himself has been a careful, pains
taking student of history, men and passing events,
and now, in his seventy- eighth year, enjoys good
health and a high degree of intellectual vigor. In
this city, his adopted home, where he is best
known, he is justly honored for his sterling worth
and integrity of character, and is quietly enjoying
the remaining years of a well-earned repose, sur
rounded by family, kindred and friends.
EDUCATIONAL— OLD MASTERS.
" Full well they laughed, with counterfeited glee,
At all his jokes, for many a joke had he ;
Full well the busy whisper circling round
Conveyed the dismal tidings when he frowned."
Goldsmith's "Deserted Village."
Chronologically arranged, and as accurately as is
now possible, the early school-teachers of Schenec
tady are given below. These all, as will be seen,
ante-date any organized State school system.
Education in the things taught from books in
those days was of minor importance. The school
master was a curious combination of ignorance
and of a little learning. Oftener than not to his
profession he joined one of the homely but useful
trades, generally cobbling. Sobriety was consid
ered commendable, but it was no noteworthy
thing for the "master" to indulge all too freely

during his hours of freedom from the school-room.
Physical propulsion, conveyed by the impressive
whip, was thought a wise way of inducing into the
mind of the young scholar a proper understanding
of his studies ; though, even then, there were some
eccentric fathers who surmised that the best road to
a boy's brain was not to be found at the sharpest
end of a whip.
The first school was opened here by Peter
Tassermaker, the first pastor of the First Dutch
Church, who was killed by the Indians when
Schenectady was burned in 1690.
In 1725, Peter Feeling, the grandfather of Mrs.
John Clark, was teaching here.
The following is a copy of the oldest school-bill
extant in Schenectady :
Mr. Jno. R. Schermerhorn to Thos. Nielson,
Dr. £ s. d.
Schooling 2 children from ye 17th April,
1738, to ye 21 November, being 7
months  1 8 7
Schooling 2 children from ye 21st
April, 1739, to ye last December,
Being 8 mo  1 13 4
2 Psalters  5 o
£3 611
Abatement for ye children Being at Home
at Harvest  6 n

Due  £1 o o
Schenectady, ye mo. March, 1739-40.
There appeared before me, Nicholas Schuyler,
Esq., one of his Majestie's Justices of ye Peace for
ye County of Albany, ye above Thomas Neilson,
and made oath on ye Holy evangelist of Almighty
God, that ye above acct. according to the Best of
his Knowledge is a Just and Fair account Jurat
Corma made. Thos. Neilson.
Nich. Schuyler.
On the reverse side of which is :
Reed, from Mr. R. Schermerhorn, three pounds,
New York Currency, Being the full Contents of
the Acct. on the other side, and is in full of Debts,
Accts. , and Demands Whatsoever to this 24th
March, 1739-40.
I say reed, by me, Thos. Neilson.
Witnesseth :
Anna Wendol.
£l o o.
In 1755, Caleb Beck; in 1757, William John
son, the "dominie;" and from 1759 t0 I763,
Hendrick Hausen, were schoolmasters; and by a.
bill dated 7th April, 1762, we learn that Mr.
Matthew Lyne was then master, and for the years
1760-4-5-6 bills were also rendered by him :
" 1 year, £2 2s.," and "1 yr. 9 mo., £3 3s." In
1766 Richard Oliver was teacher, and from 1765
to 1768 Andrie Johnson received from 2 to 4
shillings per month for his services. From an
account rendered by Peter Sparling to Ryer

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— EDUCATIONAL.

121

Schermerhorn, and paid 13th March, 1767, it ap
pears that Mr. Schermerhorn paid for ' ' 6\ months
day and 5 months night school, at 16s. per quarter,"
the sum of £3 os. 4<I for his son John ; that
" syphering " cost the same amount per quarter;
and that to his other qualifications Master Sparling
added that of a spinner, receiving 2s. a pound for
"spinning 11 lb." In 1769, George Passage, "shoe
maker and schoolmaster," was paid 2s. 6d. per week
for his services as teacher. In 1770 Hendrick
Hausen is again master, and in the same year
George Passage renders a long account, amounting
to £15 IOS- 8d. to Reyer Schermerhorn, for mend
ing and making shoes, boots and pumps, for in
structing ' ' his son Bartholomew in the cordwaning
trade." In 1771 William Andrews, who was a cate-
chist among the Mohawk Indians and missionary,
and first rector of St. George's Church, opened a
grammar school. In 1772-3 " William Johnson
was shoemaker and schoolmaster." Patrons of
the school needed a little urging to pay their
school-bills, as the following will show, though, as
has already appeared, the receiver of this polite
request had not been remiss with previous bills :
"Mr. Schermerhorn, Sir : When I broke up
school at New Ark, this spring, I sent my acct. by
your son Richard, the amount of which was
£5 2s. 8d. As I have heard nothing from you
since, should be glad if you would order the pay
ment of it in New York, either to Mr. Cobham, at
the great Dock, or Mr. Quakenbush, or where else
it may suit you, and please to advise me of the
same by a Letter directed to William Haddon,
Elizabeth Town, and you will oblige, Sir,
Your very h'ble serv't,
William Haddon.
New York, June 9, 1772."
In 1773 Dominie Miller was master, and on
October 5th of the same year, Master P. H.
Raworth made out a bill for "one quarter's
schooling at 13s," on which he had received "one
Load of Wood, at 3s. 6d." William Wellman,
master, writes in August, 1773, to one of his
patrons : "I would be verry glad if you Could let
me have that Trifle, as I am very much in want,
for your Boy Schooling, from the 23 of Apriel to
the 28 of July, which is one quarter, 9s."
In 1774, Francis Rawert (Raworth), as is shown
by a bill he then makes out, and in May, 1775,
Mr. Fletcher, were teachers. Ph. Ryley renders
an account, in 1776, of £1 13s. for his services as
teacher, which is offset by a bill of fourteen items,
in which "cash" is charged three times and
' ' rum " eleven times, bringing the bibulous pro
fessor's demand down to nine shillings. A year
later Master Ryley has another account of £2 8s. ,
and this is reduced by offsets to eight shillings, but
to his credit be it said, that the word "rum "is
not so frequent In 1779-80, "Mr. Martin kept
a school in a house standing then between the
house of C. Vibbard and Dr. A. G. Fonda, on the
north side of Union street." In 1780, John Clute,
and from 1783 to 1785, Edward Johnson, taught
school.

A history of the Schenectady Academy elsewhere
appears in this article. The teachers for 1785
were : Michael Tyms, English teacher, appointed
April 29 ; Nicholas Van Vranken, September 22,
and Mr. Basset, October 24. Jacobus Romeyn
was made usher August 14, 1786. In July, 1787,
Basset and Van Vranken were still teaching; and
August 20, Mr. Wilkie is engaged, to begin No
vember 1. Mr. Basset to "leave at next quarterly
examination, on September 5, 1787," and on that
day, Rev. Dirck Romeyn is appointed superintend
ent of the academy. January 18, 1788, the teach
ers were : Tyms, Van Vranken and Wilkie, and
May 28, Morris, Tyms and " Beck's room. " From
the fact that, on June 12, "Mr. Beck, usher," is
directed to ' ' leave at end of quarter in September, "
it is to be inferred he may have been the ' ' teacher "
in ' ' Beck's room. " Mr. Wilkie also leaves then.
September 1, 1789, Mr. Elliott was teaching the
English branches there. In March, 1790, Mr.
Tyms was teaching arithmetic, and from Septem
ber 1, 1789, to March 1, 1790, Van Vranken was
Latin and Greek professor. Mr. Wilkie "taught
reading, arithmetic, etc." "D. Hale was Latin
preceptor as early as January, 1792." John Tay
lor and Luther Halsey were also professors there in
1792 and 1793.
In 1793, John Lambert kept school in Church
street, in what was, in 1865, the Tannahill house.
Temperance teachings seem to have made some
progress, or at least the masters were willing to
make the effort to avoid the blue Mondays so fre
quent heretofore. The following iron-clad pledge
speaks for itself :
"This agreement, made the twentieth day of
March, 1800, Witnesseth, That the subscriber
hereunto will not, betwixt this date and the first
day of June next ensuing, neglect his school through
means of his getting intoxicated, with any kind of
liquors whatsoever, under a forfeit of five dollars
for each time, time to be stopped out of his school
pay by me. Bartholomew Schermerhorn.
Schuylenbergh School, )
March 20,1800. j

(Signed)

John Hetherington. "

True, this pledge only provides for "neglect"
of his duties, but it was a good step in the right
direction. With the beginning of the Schenectady Acade
my, and particularly after it merged into Union
College, education proper commenced here.
While the bulk of the students attended these
schools, still there were some private schools in
existence, among which were the following :
In 1800, Mrs. Van Orden taught a school in
the second house from the corner of Washington
and State streets. A Mr. Barhydt and a Mr. Wig-
o-ins (who also read prayers in the Episcopal
Church) were teaching here in 1802, and four years
later ' ' Mr. Ganley taught school in a room in the
yard on the south side of State street, back of
where Gray's shoe store afterwards was." Mr.
Shumway in 1805 "kept school " in a house at
the west corner of Front and Ferry streets, and

122

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Thomas Dunlap taught vocal music at Mr.
Mooney's school-house in 1807.
By a notice published March 28, 1808, it ap
pears that a "French professor " had recently been
engaged for the " Schenectady Female Academy,"
who "will devote two hours in the forenoon of
each day to the instruction of such young ladies as
wish to acquire a knowledge of that language."
Mr. Malcom and C. C. Cuyler were teachers of the
Female Academy in 1808. It was located at 32
Church street, the lot afterward passing into the
hands of the Masonic Order.
February 4, 18 12, the president of the consistory
of the Dutch Church was authorized to subscribe
fifty dollars "toward the support of a suitable per
son to instruct the people of color in this place, "
and April 20, measures were taken by them to es
tablish a school, and they "procured the late Mr.
Murdock's store " for that purpose.
This ends our recital of the "Old Masters" of
Schenectady. The opening of the "Lancaster"
School in 18 16 marked an important epoch in
our educational development.
THE LANCASTER SCHOOL, 1816-1854.
In the Lancasterian System of Schools, thus
named after its inventor, Joseph Lancaster, of
England, the seats and tables were arranged in the
center of the school-room, leaving a passage clear
around the outside; on the walls hung stiff cards
or pasteboards containing the lessons, so that
the class, standing in a semicircle, could learn to
read and spell from the same card. The tables
were divided into partitions, or shallow boxes,
filled with sand, and occupying the spaces in front
of each scholar. The child was taught the letters
and how to make them by drawing them in the sand
with a stick, cut sharp at one end and flat at the
other, so that light and heavy lines could be made
without having to retrace them. The sand was
smoothed over with a rule of exactly the same
width as the partition, and the lines to rule the
sand were made by little pegs in the ruler, on the
other side, which was used after the sand had been
smoothed. After learning to trace the letters in
the sand, the scholars were given slates and pencils,
afterward pens and ink. Monitors from the higher
classes were assigned classes to teach, being
changed frequently, so that teaching might not
occupy too much of their time to the detriment
of their own studies.
An act to incorporate the Schenectady Lancaster
School Society was passed November 12, 1816.
The act provides that this school could be estab
lished in the compact parts of the first and second
wards of the city; and that the thirteen trustees
therein appointed should receive all the moneys
rightfully due them under the act relative to com
mon schools.
The thirteen trustees named in the act (and
who by the act were to be elected annually by the
citizens) were; Maus Schermerhorn, Henry Yates,
Jr., Cyrus Stebbins, Jacob Van Vechten, Hooper
Cumming, Isaac Riggs, Elisha Taylor, Eliphalet

Nott, James Bailey, David Boyd, Abraham S.
Groot, Charles Kane and James C. Duane.
The first meeting of the Board of Trustees was
held November 20, 1816, at the office of Henry
Yates. James C. Duane was elected President;
David Boyd, Treasurer; and Isaac Riggs, Secretary.
Different committees were appointed, among which
was one to draft by-laws and one to ascertain
"the probable expense of a building for the
school-house." February 12, 18 17, a committee
reported to the Board that ' ' they had procured a
lot from the corporation " for school purposes, and
a committee was appointed to receive proposals for
building such house. The by-laws were adopted
five days later.
December 17, 1817, a committee reported that
they had "obtained for the benefit of the Lan
caster School Society, from the corporation of this
city, seventy acres of land on the hill opposite
Jacob Lyons' " which was situated on ' ' the north
east side of the Albany and Schenectady turnpike,"
* * * that "they expect to receive for
the taxes laid on the two inner wards, the sum of
$213. 72," and in February next, " to receive from
the State about the said sum of $213," which, with
about $90 " in the hands of D. L. Van Antwerp,
" will make a total of about $500 to be received
during the current year." It was also resolved at
this meeting that the salary of the teacher should
be $750 yearly, provided enough money was
received to make that amount ; if not, then the
salary was to be all above "the current expenses
of the year. "
January 10, 1818, Nicholas Van Vranken was
unanimously chosen to be the teacher upon the
opening of the school.
The report of 23d May, places the tuition at
"one dollar a quarter, paid in advance," and
that school be opened June 24. (The building
in which it was located is now occupied, 1885, by
the Union School Primary Department on Union
street. )
July 24, the committee reported that they had
" caused the school-house to be finished, and that
there remained due to Mr. Lyon the sum of $317.-
25, after deducting $488.70, the price of 54 acres
1 rood 8 perches of land at $9 per acre. Cost of
the whole, $809.95.
The first Teacher's Report to the Board, showing
the result of the Lancasterian system, was presented
by Nicholas Van Vranken, March, 1820. In this
remarkably able paper it is stated. "The whole
number of scholars admitted into the school since
the ist March, 18 19, is 267. The school is
divided into 8 reading classes; from the first to
the second of these there have been 27 promo
tions; to the third, 28; to the fourth, 26; to the
fifth, 44; to the sixth, 31; to the seventh, 39; and
to the eighth, 36." The method in use is then
spoken of: "When it is taken into consideration
that none are permitted to write on paper but
those who write a fair and handsome hand on the
slate, and that 154 out of 267 have done this, the
excellence of the place * * * must
stand unquestioned."

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— EDUCATIONAL.

123

March 27, 1824, tuition was reduced to twenty-
five cents; the salary of the teacher to $500; and
resolved that ' ' poor scholars, not exceeding forty,
be admitted into the school gratuitously."
June 27, 1 83 1, the corporate seal, a circular
seal with the letters " S. L. S. " engraved thereon,
was adopted.
March 23, 1832, it was resolved that the teacher
receive for his salary for the ensuing year, after de
ducting therefrom the incidental expenses of the
school, "the total amount of the public money
arising from tax and school fund, and also the
amount received for tuition, at twenty-five cents
per scholar." "The poor children " to be received
as per resolution of March 27, 1824. Many out
side duties were thrown upon the teacher; he per
sonally bargained for and superintended all repairs,
building of walks, etc. March 13, 1833, Ezekiel
Sexton was elected teacher in place of Mr. Van
Vranken, who declined a reappointment Reso
lutions commendatory of Mr. Van Vranken for his
fifteen years' services as teacher were passed by the
Board, and Mr. Van Vranken was elected one of
the Trustees of the Board. October 16, 1833, it
was resolved that the present school-house be sold
to Dr. Nott for $225, "reserving the benches and
fixtures," and that they purchase of Gov. Yates, a
lot on College street for $500, of forty feet front,
upon which a new school-house is to be erected.
October 28th the committee reported that Dr. Nott
wanted the outhouses, etc., included with the
school-house. This the Board refused to grant,
and it was decided that the buildings should be
turned into the general building fund, to be used
as far as practicable in the new school-house. The
Joseph C. Yates lot was bought for $500, as is
shown by the report of March, 19, 1834, and on
March 26th it appears that Dr. Nott had finally
purchased the school-house for $250, "the
benches being reserved." The school "to be
vacated the ist of April next."
Proposals, as follows, for building the new school-
house, were submitted 21st April:
John N. Vrooman, for $759. 98-J; Frederick
Tupper, for $800; Henry Vine, for $775; Berten
& Kingsley, for $850; Edward Clark, for $800.
Mr. Vrooman's bid being accepted.
Mr. James Slater was elected teacher one week
later, and specifications for the new school-house
in College street were decided upon. It was to
be ' ' forty feet from front to rear, thirty feet wide,
and twenty feet high from top of sills to top of
plates," and to be " finished June ist next." The
first meeting was held in the building July 1 6th,
when it was ordered that the second story be
completed. April 1, 1836, it was Resolved, '-'That this
corporation feel themselves obliged to appropriate,
for the purposes of the education of the colored
children of this city, such proportion of the public
money as may hereafter be collected on the enu
meration of such children," and in June, 1837,
$25 was set aside from the school funds to be
applied for the maintenance of a teacher in the
"African Lancaster School Society."

March 15, 1839, this resolution, etc., was
adopted : ' ' Whereas, Doubts have been expressed
whether any other mode of instruction than what is
called the 'Lancaster System,' can be used in the
schools of this Society; Resolved, that this Board re
quest our members of Assembly and the Senate
* * * to procure a law to remove such doubts,
and leave this Board the power of causing all the
branches of education taught in any of the com
mon schools of this State to be taught in the
schools of this Society, and in any approved mode
that this Society may de,em expedient to adopt."
Mr. Slater was hired as teacher for another year;
his pay to be so much of the public money as does
not exceed $550 and the tuition money. " He to
employ at his own expense a female teacher for the
female department." April 18th, a District Library
was ordered to be paid for with the State money.
At this meeting $200 was appropriated for the es
tablishment of a school or schools in the first
ward, and $300 for schools ' ' in the part of the
third or fourth wards, or in both, or either of
them, within the Police District." These schools
to be subject to the regulations of the Board, so
long as their teachers "receive any part of the ap
propriation." By December 30th, $279.34 had
been expended for the new library, and the books
were, "for the present," in the rooms of the
" Young Men's Association," and Alexander Cam
eron was appointed Librarian.
The committee appointed April 18, 1839, re
ported February 25, 1840, that: A school be es
tablished in the first ward; teacher's salary to be
$250; tuition to be $1.50 per quarter from May
to November; $1.75 November to May. Gram
mar, geography, bookkeeping, navigation and
surveying to be taught. Section 8 of the report
is as follows: "It is proposed to continue some
parts of the ' Lancaster System ' (such as the mode
of teaching the names and mode of forming fig
ures and letters) in the first or primary school,
and in the other schools in the wards for begin
ners, but to depend upon instruction from the
teachers personally so soon as the scholar has
made progress beyond the first elements of litera
ture;" and section 7 states that they "hope to have"
furnished by the corporation "the engine-
house in Liberty street, and the old market belong
ing to the heirs of Peter Smith." The treasurer's
report of April 6, 1840, shows $833.75 on hand.
Wm. D. Cockran and Miss Stiles were engaged
as teachers for the "Lancaster School;" Martin
C. Hall for Ferry Street School; and Harvey
Moore for Liberty Street School. These two last
opening May 4, 1840.
The annual report, made to the Superintendent
of Common Schools, November 1, 1840, shows
that during the past year the whole amount of pub
lic money received from the County Treasurer was
$1,396.88, of which $279.37 was paid for books,
$48 to the African School, and the balance of
$1,069.51 for wages of teachers (they also received
about $450 tuition fees). The number of children
taught in all the schools in which the trustees had
any voice was 360; the number of children re-

124

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

siding within the Police between the ages of five
and sixteen years was 1,065. The teachers were:
James Slater, Martin C. Hall, Misses Ritchie,
Thurston and Stiles, their monthly wages running
from $15 to $45.
April 1, 1841, Myndert Veeder was teacher for
the Liberty street school, James Slater and Miss
Stiles re-elected for the Lancaster School, and
Nicholas Merselis for the Ferry street school. The
"t Lancaster School Report," submitted at this
meeting shows the total amount of school money
received for the year to be $1,409. 1 2.
April 11, 1842, the school money was divided
as follows: "The school in College street, male
department, $330; female department, 135; Ferry
street school, $190; Liberty street school, $190;
John B. Clute School, in State street, $115 (this is
the first mention in the minutes of this school) ; and
the African School, $40." July 15 "the rear lot
of the Lancaster House was leased to James D.
Felthousen for a term of fifteen years " (price not
stated). November ist, Joseph Blanchard was ap
pointed teacher in the State street school.
The school money, as reported April 9, 1843,
was $1,335.88, and at this meeting Nancy Ferrell
was engaged as teacher for the female department,
and Frederick De Lamater for the State street
school. On March 5th there were 1,009 volumes
in the Library.
During 1843-44 the question of changing the
present school system was seriously agitated, when,
on January 6, 1845, it was decided "not to take
any action thereon at present."
The annual report of Alexander Holland, made
April 2, 1845, was so unusually accurate and de
tailed, that he was given a special vote of thanks.
The appropriation for 1 845 for the pay of teachers

College street school, male department,
" " " female "
Maiden lane "
Ferry street " .
State street "
Miss Clark, a private teacher in Yates St., 20 00
Miss Ritchie, " " "Front " 2000
Miss Joanna Crooks, " Wash'n'ton " 20 00
African School, .... 40 00

$265 00
no 00
175 00
175 00
175 00

Total,

$1,000 00

WTm. G. Caw was appointed teacher for the
Fourth ward school in May, in place of Mr. De
Lamater, resigned, and, in October, M. Myndert
Veeder was elected teacher in the Lancaster School
vice Mr. Hall, resigned. It appears, from the
minutes of this meeting, that the "Fourth ward
school was held in Wm. Hannah's building in
State street."
The report made April 10, 1846, shows that the
average attendance at the different schools had been :
College street, male department, . . 94
'" " female " . ny
Ferry "  5I
Maiden Lane, . . . . , (,t
Fourth ward,  q0

The amount of school money received for the
year, reported April 24th, was $1,295.85. On May
6th the gradual introduction of uniform text-books
was recommended.
This was brought forth by a memorial from the
teachers, presented at the last meeting. The fol
lowing is a list of the books designated by them,
with those also named by the committee :
Webster's Spelling Book, Hazen's Speller and
Definer, Sanders' First, Second and Third Reader,
Hale's History of the United States, Porter's Rhe
torical Reader, New Testament, Smith's Grammar,
Mitchell's Geography, First and Second, Critten
den's Arithmetic, Parley's History, Davies' Algebra,
Olmstead's Philosophy, Marsh's Bookkeeping
(Single Entry), Crittenden's Bookkeeping (Double
Entry). The introduction of music books was also fa
vored. It seems that music very soon became
part of the curriculum, as on August 20th the
teachers invited the Board "to attend an examina
tion of their scholars in musical exercises " soon to
be held, which invitation was accepted by the
Board as a body. The following week, on the
29th, a grand concert was given by the united
scholars in the consistory of the Dutch Reformed
Church, which was well attended. Mr. S. B.
Marsh was the musical instructor.
The agitation regarding a change from the Lan
caster system was again raised during 1847. Dur
ing this year — 1847 — the Maiden Lane school was
removed to a room leased in the Cameronian
Church. Mr. Vedder, the retiring secretary, added
these words to the minutes of the meeting held
July 17th: "Vale, vale, longum vale. How mutable
are all human affairs. Othello's occupation gone.
Bread or no bread."
The amount appropriated April 10, 1848, for
pay for teachers was : three male teachers at $250
a year, or $750 ; one female teacher at $100; and
one at $125. Total, $975.
The apportionment of the school money for
teachers' salaries made April 6, 1849, was as
follows :
College street school, male department  $245 00
„ .", , " " female "  110 00
Maiden lane "  24? 00
Ferrystreet "  ....\\'.'.'.'. .. 245 00
Miss Sanders' "  no co
African "  '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 40 00
Total  $995 00
During 1849 mere were various complaints made
against different teachers, but in every case the
teacher was sustained by the Board.
January 4, 1850, the customary resolutions were
passed regarding the death of Frederick R. Van
Ingen, Esq., a late member of the Board. Hiram
Champion was appointed to fill the vacancy caused
by his death. January 26th it was recommended
"that the schools be made entirely free from the
present quarter," but no definite action was taken
thereon, and March 7th it was reported that there
would be sufficient, .school money ($1,997) to pay
the teachers enough more to make up for their
deprivation of tuitiqn money, and, also to establish

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— EDUCATIONAL.

125

another school of a higher grade. April 4 th the
appropriation for teachers was :
First ward school, male  $3 10 00
Second" " "  31000
" " " female  17000
Fourth " " male  3 10 00
" " " female  170 00
Total  $1,270 00
and $225 was applied for the Library.
The report of the Treasurer, made April 18th,
shows the school money received for the year to be
$1,261.10, which, with $307.69 received from the
former Treasurer, made $1,568.69 total cash re
ceived. April 25th, the Special Committee upon
By-laws made their report. This report provides
for the routine business of the Board, the appoint
ment of committees, regular and special, etc. The
report of the ' ' Library and Text-Book " Committee,
made at this meeting, is :
Year. Appropriation. Vols, purchased,
1839  $279 34 185
1840  274 91 218 probably.
1841  281 84 218 "
1842  26725 205 "
1843  267 17 183
1844  268 00 131
184S  259 17 95
1846  26060 197
1847  26459 195
1848  24747 135
1849  25470 118
n years. $2,91504 1,879 vols.
119 volumes are reported as missing, and "96
volumes probably."
May 2, the following uniform system of text
books was recommended :
Reading and Spelling— Mandeville's Course, 1
to 6,
New Testament,
Swan's Spelling Book,
Mitchell's Primary and large Geography,
Perkins' Primary, Elementary and High Arith
metic, and Colburn's Intellectual,
Grammar — Brown's first lines and larger,
Cutter's Physiology,
Hall's History of the United States,
Gray's Natural Philosophy,
Perkins' Elements of Algebra and Geometry,
Johnston's Catechism of Agricultural Chemistry,
which was adopted by the Board May 23. The
tuition for children under five years of age was
fixed at $2 per quarter. The report of July 1 1
shows that John W. Schoolcraft had been teaching
the African School since June 3d, at $15 per month.
(This school had not been in operation for some
months), and October nth it was decided that this
school should be closed November 3d.
The question of a free school had, by this time,
become universally agitated, and in January, 1852,
a committee was appointed to prepare a draft of a
law for such a school in the city, with a view of
having the same presented to the Legislature at its
present session. The committee reported, through
its President, February 24th, that "the free school of
the city of Troy, with such alterations and amend

ments as may be necessary, as being suitable for
this city," and the report was adopted.
In 1853 a new school was opened in the Third
ward, on "The Green," and Miss Frances M.
Sacia was engaged as teacher on April ist
The last meeting of the "Lancaster School So
ciety" of which there is any record, was held
March 16, 1854, the minutes being in the hand
writing of Mr. B. V. S. Vedder, for many years its
Secretary. By these minutes it appears that the
Trustees recently elected were :
A. A. Van Vorst, B. V. S. Vedder, W. H. Clute,
A. M. Vedder, Francis Van DeBogart, Peter Ved
der, Jont. Pierson, Nathaniel Clark, D. M. Chad-
sey, John Foster, S. L. Hand, M. C. Myers and
A. M. Mull.
A. A. Van Vorst was elected President, B. V S,
Vedder, Secretary, and A. M. Vedder, Treasurer.
At this meeting the following resolution was
adopted :
"That this Board do approve of the act now
before the Legislature of this State, providing for
the reorganization and improvement of the school
system of this city, and that we recommend its
immediate passage," and "that the President and
Secretary be requested to forward a copy of the
foregoing resolution to the chairman of the proper
committee of the Senate of this State, under their
official signatures."
The ' ' Lancaster School System, " after a life of
nearly forty years (1816 to 1854), gave way during
the latter year, to our present Free School system.
THE FREE SCHOOL SYSTEM, 1854-1885.
April 9, 1854, an act was passed by the Legisla
ture in relation to the public schools in the city of
Schenectady, and on the 15th of the month the
Union School was established. In the evening of
that day the first meeting of School Commissioners
was held at the Common Council Chamber at the
Court House. There were present : Alonzo C.
Paige and Nicholas Van Vranken, from the First
Ward; D. M. Moore and Wm. M. Duane, of the
Second; Charles Chequer and Hiram Champion,
of the Third ; and Rev. I. G. Duryee and D. M.
Chadsey, of the Fourth Ward. Alter organization,
Mr. Nicholas Van Vranken was elected president,
and D. M. Chadsey, secretary. James J. Marlette
succeeded Mr. Chadsey the following year. The
commissioners, at this meeting, drew lots to decide
which should hold the long or short terms. Steps
for the purchase of a proper building for school
purposes were at once taken, and, May 26th, David
M. Moore, of the committee, reported that the West
College, which originally cost over $53,000, could
be purchased by the city for $6,000. The grounds
were 225 feet front on College street. This prop
erty was secured shortly after this report, and the
first two stories were made ready to accommodate
about 450 scholars, it being believed that that num
ber would cover all those ready to attend the
school. October 15, 1852, the school was formally
opened. In the evening appropriate exercises were

126

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

held at the Presbyterian Church, at which speeches
were made by Dr. Nott, Dr. Hickok and Judge
Paige. That the commissioners had been in error
in concluding that the two lower stories would ac
commodate those desirous of attending was soon
made apparent From 450 the pupils immediately
increased to over 1,100, and it was necessary to
close the school in order to prepare the third
story. The re-opening was December 10th, at which
time there were accommodations for 1,200 pupils;
800 in the main building, 200 in the old Lan
caster school building, and 200 in the White street
building. In the beginning the Union School was divided
into ten departments over which George B. Cook
was principal; he was assisted by the following
teachers: Mary A. Morrill, junior and senior prim
ary departments ; Lizzie A. W. Hill, junior sec
ondary department; Huldah A. Allen, senior sec
ondary department ; Isabella E. Fisher, junior
intermediate department; Angeline A. Monk,
senior intermediate department; Caroline Van Voor-
his, junior grammar department; Malvina Proctor,
senior grammar department; Jane L. Olmstead,
Catharine S. Olmstead, Mary Wilds, higher English
department; John S. Parsons, Mary A. Bodge,
Caroline L. Bridgman, academical department;
Abby W. French and two assistant teachers, boys'
library school ; and Rebecca M. Gurnsey and Jane
I. Cunningham, White street school.
The attendance at this school, from its com
mencement, has steadily increased. The whole
building was soon in use, and 1859, what is known
as the " New Building" was erected. In 1872
another change was necessary, and the classical
department was removed to the Delavan building
at the corner of Union and Church streets, and the
Fifth ward school was erected. Five years later,
1877, the Park Place school was put up, and the
Nott Terrace school followed in 1883.
The yearly school-money now is about $30,000.
Mr. Samuel B. Howe was appointed Superintend
ent of Schools August 31, 1868, and has held the
position continuously- ever since. To his personal
efforts much of the success of the schools are
due. The number of scholars' names now on the
registers is 2, 500, and the average daily attendance
is about 1,800. To instruct these the following
named teachers are required, the year of the com
mencement of their services in Schenectady being
also given: Anna E. Gilbert, Main School, August,
i860; Sarah E. LaRue, August, i860; Elizabeth
M. Yates, June, 1867; Mary C. Paine, December,
1870; Marie Hastings, October, 1871; Mary L.
Buell, August, 1872; Elizabeth Hallowell, Novem
ber, 1873; Ella McNee, March, 1876; Emma Lee,
August, 1880; Augusta Oothout, November,
1880; Helena A. Hall, November, 1880; Jennie
Vedder, June, 1881; Emma C. Chubb, February,
1882; Susie C. Vedder, June, 1882; Susie N.
Sprague, October, 1882; Anna Ferguson, Novem
ber 1882; Lillie D. Daley, June, 1883; Carrie A.
Brown, June, 1883; Ella McKenry, June, 1883;

EllaTerworth, October, 1884; MaryCleary, March,
1885. Total, 21.
C. S. Halsey, Classical School, July, 1875 ; Helen
E. Carley, June, 1881 ; EmmaL. Clare, June, 1881 ;
Ida J. Fenn, September, 1882 ; M. H. Duurloo,
July, 1883 ; Dow Beekman, June, 1884 ; Georgia
Gates, Classical and Elocution, June, 1884.
Total, 7.
Olive Morris, Nott Terrace School, August,
1866 ; Ernestine Stockwell, January, 1868 ; Lydia
H. Brown, February, 1872 ; Minnie A. Piper,
December, 1881 ; Alice D. Stevens, June, 1882 ;
Mary F. Caw, February, 1883 ; Lottie Allen,
June, 1883; Carrie R. Smith, October, 1884.
Total, 8.
Anna E. Cunningham, Albany Hill School,
May, 1867; Lucinda Sands, April, 1874; Joanna
Chandler, October, 1874; Lillian G. King, April,
1885. Total, 4.
Rachel Baker, Park Place School, September,
1874; Etta W. Felthousen, March, 1877; Mar
garet L. Groot, March 1877 ; Irene Schermerhorn,
March, 1882. Total, 4.
Helen Palmer, Instrumental Music, August,
1864. Recapitulation of Teachers.
Main School, 2 1 ; Classical, 7 ; Nott Terrace,
8; Albany Hill, 4; Park Place, 4. Total number,
Teachers, 44.

S. B. Howe was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y,
and graduated from Union College in 1862. He
served as adjunct professor in the college, and
previous to his location here, in 1868, as school
superintendent, in Ithaca (1862), Catskill (1865),
and Albany (1867).
Cady Staley, Professor of Civil Engineering in
Union College, was born in Florida, Montgomery
County, N. Y., December 12, 1840, and gradu
ated from Union College in 1865. He became a
civil engineer in 1867, and in 1881 served on the
Central Pacific Railroad as bridge engineer, and is
at present Dean and Acting Treasurer of the Col
lege. Many graduates from ' ' Old Union " remember
James Pickett, who was for many years prior to
his death the superintendent of the college grounds.
Mr. Pickett's unobtrusive kindness and Christian
character made for him many friends.
Charles S. Halsey was born in Cambria, Ni
agara County, N. Y., December 20, 1834, and
graduated from Williams College in 1856. He
served as principal in Macedon Academy, Wayne
County, N. Y., from September, 1856, to March,
1858; Newton Collegiate Institute, Newton, N. J.,
from April, 1859, to April, 1861; Macedon Acad
emy, from August, 1862, to June, 1865; High
School, Burlington, Vt, from 1872 to 1875; and
in 1875 was elected principal of the Union Clas
sical Institute, Schenectady, N. Y. He is author
of-" A Genealogical and Chronological Chart of the
Rulers of England, Scotland, France, Germany
and Spain" (1873), and (1882) "An Etymology-

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— EDUCATIONAL.

127

of Latin and Greek.
have been extensive.

His studies in philology

SCHENECTADY ACADEMY.
The first authentic information of any special
attention being given to an organized school
system in Schenectady dates back to the rev
olution. The coming of Dominie Romeyn as pastor of
the Dutch Church, was the inspiration of the
Schenectady Academy. Through his influence
the church was induced to erect a commodious
building, the citizens agreeing to give it their
patronage and furnish it with a library. The
church contemplated constructing a house of
two stories, with two rooms on each story, upon
the lot of ground upon which the old guard-house
now stands, at the junction of Church and State
streets. Three rooms were to be assigned for the
use of the school and academy.
On account of the great cost of the Academy-
house to the church, it was "resolved, that said
church shall receive four shillings from every scholar
taught in said house, and if said academy, or Illus-
tre Schorl shall become changed into a college,
then the presidents of such college, as well as the
rector of said school, shall be a member of the
Dutch Church and minister of this church ; and
the said four shillings for each scholar shall be be
stowed upon such poor scholars as the church shall
name. "
The consistory, about March 5, 1785, were still
negotiating with the town magistrates for the im
provement of the common schools of the town and
for the establishment of an academy. The con
sistory ordered the gathering of materials for the
academy on the 16th of the same month, and on
the 28th it was considered expedient to build the
academy, not upon the old guard-house lot,
but upon the north corner of Union and Ferry
streets. April 7, 1785, the academy building was well
under way, and the consistory, . together with
twenty-seven respectable citizens of the town, met
atRueben Simond's public-house in Church street,
to close the matter of the academy by signing
articles of agreement for its management and sup
port. (This agreement is drawn with great formal
ity and particularity in eleven sections, and is
written upon fifteen pages of foolscap — probably
by Do. Romeyn, who was president of the
meeting. )
William Schermerhorn was appointed superin
tendent, and a committee, both of citizens and
consistory, to urge forward the Academy building.
A stone of an oval shape was built into the front
on which were cut the names of the building
committee ; this stone is now in Union College
Museum. An effort was made in 1791 to endow this school
by a grant of Indian lands; and November 16,
Dr. Dirk Van Ingen announced to the consistory
that he and others had rented 10,240 acres of land
of the Oneida Indians for twenty-one years, on con

sideration that he paid after five years jrfioo yearly
to said Indians. Inasmuch as the academy, un
incorporated, could not hold real estate, he of
fered the land to the consistory for the benefit of
the Dutch Church. At first the consistory agreed
to receive the land but subsequently gave it up,
finding, doubtless, that it could not be legally held
by the church.
On the 2d day of April, 1793, the Dutch
Church made the building over to the trustees of
the academy; and on September 24, 1796, it was
made over to the trustees of Union College, to be
sold and the money put into a more commodious
building. The proceeds of this sale were finally
merged in the building fund of the present Union
School edifice.

Academy Building, 1795.
The academy building was of brick, two stories
in height, about 50 x 30 feet on the ground, and
cost about $3,000. It was used by Union College
until 1804. This school was opened in 1793 under
the care of Col. John Taylor, of New Jersey. This
school appears to have been conducted with much
ability, and being well sustained by the community
in which it was planted, became the germ of the
college. An academic school, in connection with Union
College, was established by President Nott imme
diately after his election in 1804. The teachers of
this school were appointed by him, and the princi
pal was recognized by the laws of the college as a
member of the faculty. This academic school be
came popular and extensively useful for many
years. On the 7th of April, 1818, an act was passed
authorizing the revival and reorganization of the
Schenectady Academy, which was done by the
election of a Board of Trustees on the ist day of
April, 1 8 19. The academic department of Union
College was merged into this school.
The Rev. Dr. Nathan N. Whiting was appointed
principal of the academy, and was succeeded by
Mr. Wm. Beattie, who resigned in 1828, and was
succeeded by Daniel Fuller.
The academy continued until the reorganization
of the schools of the city in 1854.

128

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

UNION COLLEGE.
Union College was founded at Schenectady, Feb
ruary 25, 1795. The Legislature having vested in
the regents of the university the right of granting
college charters, a memorial was addressed to the
board by the trustees of the Schenectady Academy,
which led to the granting of a charter to twenty-
four persons therein named, and their successors,
under the title of "The Trustees of Union College

in the Town of Schenectady, in the State of New
York." The first trustees were Robert Yates,
Abraham Yates, Jr., Abraham Ten Broeck, Golds-
brow Banyar, John V. Henry, George Merchant,
Stephen Van Rensselaer, John Glen, Isaac Vrooman,
Joseph C. Yates, James Shuter, Nicholas Veeder,
James Gordon, Beriah Palmer, Samuel Smith,
Henry Walton, Ammi Rodgers, Aaron Conduit,
Jacobus V. C. Romeyn, James Cochran, John Frey,
D. Christopher Pick, Jonas Piatt, and Jonas Coe.

COLLEGE BUILDINGS AND CAMPUS, UNION COLLEGE.

Of these, seven resided in Albany, six in Sche
nectady, three in Ballston; and in Saratoga, Troy,
Kinderhook, Palatine, Herkimer and Whitestown,
N. Y., and Hackensack, N. J., one each.
Under an act passed March 30, 1805, the charter
was amended by the regents, March 29, 1806, by
reducing the number to twenty-one and adding the
Chancellor, Justices of the Supreme Court, Secre
tary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer, Attorney-
General and Surveyor-General, by virtue of their
civil offices. The Constitution of 1 82 1, by reducing
the number of Judges made further vacancies, which
by an act passed February 14, 1823, were to be
filled by the Governor and Lieutenant-Governor.
The Constitution of 1846, by abolishing some of
the above offices, required further changes, and the
ex officio trustees are now the Governor, Lieutenant-
Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller and
Treasurer. They were empowered to hold an estate
with an income of $13,333^, were vested with the
usual powers of a college, and were empowered to
fill vacancies in their board.
The chronicles of the day record that the event
of receiving a college charter was celebrated by
great rejoicing, with the ringing of bells, display of
flags, bonfires and general illumination.
The name ' ' Union College '' was given as express
ing the intention of uniting all religious sects in a
common interest for the common good, by offering
equal advantages to all, with preference to none.
It is believed that this is the first college in the
United States not confessedly denominational in
its character.
The college was organized on the 19th of Octo
ber, 1795, by the election of Rev. John Blair
Smith, D.D., of Philadelphia, as president; John

Taylor, A. M., as professor oi mathematics and
natural philosophy; and the Rev. Andrew Y^ates,
as professor of the Latin and Greek languages.
The first commencement was held May, 1797,
and the first degree conferred upon three young
men, who had completed the course of study re
quired. This was an occasion of signal and novel interest
all over the country around, and drew together a
large and enthusiastic audience. The public ex
ercises were held in the old Reformed Dutch
Church. Dr. Smith was succeeded by Rev. Jonathan Ed
wards, D. D. (son of Rev. Jonathan Edwards, after
wards President of the College of New Jersey),
who died in 1801, and was followed by Rev. Jona
than Maxcy, D. D., a Baptist clergyman from
Providence, R. I. , who resigned in 1 804, and went
to Columbia, South Carolina, as President of the
South Carolina College.
Under the presidency of Dr. Edwards a new ed
ifice was begun on a scale magnificent for that day,
and still one of the finest and best built in the city.
Rev. Eliphalet Nott was chosen president in
1804. Dr. Nott found the college wanting both means
and students. The inhabitants of Schenectady
had proposed an endowment of $30,000 in lands,
obligations and money; but the largest subscrip
tion was only $250, the next $100, and the total
sum altogether, from sources other than direct gift
of the State, but $42,043.74 Grants were made
by the State as follows:
April 9, 1795, for books and apparatus, $3,750;
April 11, 1796, for buildings, $10,000; March 30,
1797, for salaries, $1,500; March 7, 1800, for

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— EDUCATIONAL.

129

completion of building, $10,000; March 7, 1800,
ten lots, of 550 acres each, in the military tract,
for support of president and professors, $43,483.-
93; April 8, 1801, and April 3, '1802, sale of gar
rison lands near Lake George, $9,378.20. Total
grants before 1804, $78,112.13.

The building, begun under President Edwards,
in 1792, was still unfinished, and the college was
burdened with a heavy debt. It was completed
during the first year of Dr. Nott's incumbency.
The original cost, including the site, was $60,000.
It contained a residence for the president, the

THE OLD WEST COLLEGE, NOW UNION SCHOOL.

chapel, library and recitation-rooms, and a consid
erable number of dormitories. In 181 5 it was
sold to the city and county for a court-house, jail
and city offices, and, while thus owned, was com
monly known as the "City Hall." The college
received in payment 3,000 acres of land, in de
tached parcels, in various parts of Schenectady
County. In 1 83 1 it was repurchased by the college
for $10,000, and .used for library, cabinets and
residents of freshmen and sophomore classes until
1854. It was then resold to the city for the sum
of $6,000, and is now known as "Union School."
Between 1805 and 18 10 a row of two-story brick
buildings was erected on College street for use of
dormitories. It was known as "Long College,"
and was sold in 1830. The means that had been
provided were quite inadequate to the wants of a
prosperous college, and to supply the needed en
dowment recourse was had to an expedient, now
forbidden by a better public sentiment, but then
deemed proper, for raising funds in aid of every
religious, educational and benevolent enterprise of
the day and for public improvements. It was
therefore deemed advisable to urge the passage of
a law, which was secured March 30, 1805, for rais
ing the sum of $80,000 by lottery. This sum was
to be drawn by four successive lotteries of $20,000
each. The act directed $35,000 to be applied to
the erection of additional buildings; an equal sum

to be invested, the interest to be applied to the
support of professorships, and the remaining
$10,000 to be invested, one-half of the proceeds
for a classical library and the balance toward de
fraying the expenses of indigent scholars. It ap
pears, from a legislative report made in 18 14, that
but $55,000 were realized from this grant.
A few years' experience showed that the location
in the city was not sufficiently ample, and the ob
serving eye of Dr. Nott, at an early period in his
presidency, had noticed in the suburbs a better
one, that combined in rare degree every advantage
desirable. A tract of some 2 50 acres was secured, and new
buildings begun, on College Hill, in 181 2, and
were occupied in part in the summer of 18 14. To
provide the means for these improvements, and for
a substantial endowment, application was made to
the State for another grant of a kind similar to the
last. An act was accordingly passed, largely
through the efforts of Dr. Nott, for raising the
sum of $200,000 for Union College and consid
erable sums for other institutions. Of the sum al
lowed to Union College there was specially given :
For the erection of buildings, $100,000; for
payment of existing debts, $30,000; for library and
apparatus, $20,000; for relief of indigent students,
50,000. Total, including all sums previously given
by' the State, $331,612.13.

130

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

The proceedings consequent upon these trans
actions extended through many years, and the
drawings of the lotteries were not entirely closed
until the end of 1833.
From the time of completion of buildings on the
new site the college entered upon a season of gen
eral prosperity, and the unusually large proportion
in the senior classes shows a fact well known
throughout the country, that many students, after
passing through the lower classes elsewhere, came
hither to enjoy the instruction of Dr. Nott, and
receive from him their first degree.
The advancing age of Dr. Nott led to the calling,
in 1852, of the Rev. Laurens P. Hickok, D. D.,
from the Auburn Theological Seminary to serve as
vice-president, and upon him gradually devolved
the cares of the presidency, although they were
not actually conferred in name until after the death
of Dr. Nott, in 1866.
Semi-Centennial of the College. — This event
in the history of the college was celebrated in con
nection with the commencement exercises in 1845.
The occasion called together an immense number
of the alumni and literary strangers, to receive whom
the common council extended the hospitality of
the city, and all the principal citizens opened their
houses to receive guests. The Rev. Josh. Sweet-
man, of the first class graduated, and the Rt. Rev.
Alonzo Potter, of the class of 181 8, then recently
elected Bishop of Pennsylvania, delivered addresses
on the occasion.
Semi-Centennial of Dr. Nott's Presidency. —
This occasion was celebrated on the 25th of July,
1854. As on the previous gathering, the hospital
ities of the city were tendered to the returning sons
of Union, and to the literary strangers called to
gether by so unusual an event. The address of
Dr. Nott was a compact and interesting review of
the labors, joys and trials of the last fifty years.
The principal orators of the occasion were the
Rev. Francis Wayland, President of Brown Uni
versity, and the Hon. Wm. W. Campbell, of
Cherry Valley.
Recent History. — On the retirement of Dr.
Hickok, Charles A. Aiken, D.D., of Dartmouth
College, was chosen president, and he filled the
duties with acceptance until 1871, when, for do
mestic reasons, he resigned; and in the selection
of a successor, the choice fell upon the Rev. Eliph
alet Nott Potter, D. D., the grandson of Dr. Nott
and son of Bishop Alonzo Potter.
With the declining years of Dr. Nott the number
of students decreased, and during the late war the
college was nearly stripped of its students by the
withdrawal of the whole number from the South,
while many from the North were attracted to new
institutions that were competing for favor. It be
came a subject of serious thought on the part of
those intrusted with the affairs of Union College
as to how the emergency was to be met, and
no plan appeared more feasible than that of
yielding to the progressive spirit of the age by
enlarging its facilities, extending its courses of
study, and, in the best sense of the word, render

ing it fully the peer of the first institutions of the
country.

President Eliphalet Nott Potter.
Present Buildings. — The principal buildings of
Union College are North College and South Col
lege, six hundred feet apart, and each with a colon
nade facing inward ; a memorial hall midway be
tween but standing back three hundred feet from

Blue Gate.
the front line ; a gymnasium in the rear ot South
College ; a president's house, and three other
dwellings on the line with the main college build
ings, and a professor's residence at some distance
east of the principal group of buildings ; also a

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— EDUCATIONAL.

131

semi-circular building facing westward on the
campus, the centre of which is used for the library
and the wings for recitation rooms.
Present Grounds. — The original grounds ac
quired for college uses have been somewhat re
duced by railroad and street improvements, but
are scarcely liable to further encroachment, and
are amply sufficient for every probable want. They
embrace about one hundred and thirty Seres, in
cluding the campus, gardens and grounds properly
belonging to the college and essential for its use,
besides some one hundred acres of woodlands and
fields adjoining.

College Brook.
Other Real Estate.— The college owns con
siderable land in Long Island City, that was pur
chased by Dr. Nott for Union College from the
Hunter family, after whom Hunter's Point was
named The property has been laid out in streets
and building lots, and graded. It extends about
half a mile along Newtown Creek, and has a front
age on the East River of about half a mile. 1 ne
property consists of several hundred building lots.
In 1873 this property was considered to be worth
a million dollars. The estimates now put upon it
""n addition to the Long Island City land, the
college owns three lots on One Hundred and
Eighteenth street, and a house and lot on fourth
avenue, in New York City.
Courses of Study.— The "classical course" of
study usual in first-class colleges is now pursued
in Union. In 1802 the required studies for the
first, second and third terms of the freshman class
were "Latin, Greek and English languages, arith
metic Sheridan's Lectures on Elocution, and the

writing of Latin exercises as the faculty shall ap
point." "For the Sophomore year, geography,
algebra, vulgar and decimal fractions, the extrac
tion of roots, conic sections, Euclid's Elements,
trigonometry, surveying, mensuration of heights
and distances, navigation, logic, Blair's Lectures,
and such parts of eminent authors in the learned
languages as the officers of the college shall sub
scribe." A Department of Engineering was established
in 1845; its course of instruction aiming to impart
skill and experience in mechanical drafting, instru
mental field-work, and numerical calculation, com
bined with the study of text-books and lectures on
numerous subjects where these are wanting. This
course was afterward extended to four years, and
intermingled with the scientific course of the college
proper. This department is unusually well sup
plied with models, the most important of which is
the original Oliver collection, purchased in Paris,
France, in 1855.
SCIENTIFIC COURSE OF STUDY,
now so popular in many colleges, originated with
Dr. Nott, and was first introduced in Union Col
lege. The plan was looked upon with much dis
trust at first by other educators, but its benefits
soon came to be appreciated and it was gradually
adopted by other colleges. The system has proved
its excellency and justifies the foresight of its origi
nator. The scientific course of Union College has
always maintained a first position among the edu
cational institutions of the country.
CHEMICAL LABORATORY.
A laboratory was established for chemical analysis
in 1855, at a cost of about $7,000 for fixtures and
$ 1 o, 000 for chemicals and other stock. It has been
successively in charge of Professors C. E. Joy, C. F.
Chandler, and of Maurice Perkins, M. D, the
present incumbent. MILITARY INSTRUCTION.
In 1873 Union College aPPned t0 the War De
partment requesting that an officer of the Engineer
Corps might be detailed for the purpose of giving
military instruction, in pursuance of the policy fa
vored by act of Congress, with the view of inducing
colleges to supplement in some degree the work
of the military academy in this department of use
ful knowledge. The Government has, in accord
ance with this request, supplied the college with
muskets and equipments for drill and instruction,
under a commissioned officer of the army. A
plain, inexpensive uniform has been adopted, and a
course of military instruction has been added to the
college curriculum without abating anything from
the course of studies formerly prescribed. The
drill is regarded chiefly as a physical training.
COLLEGE SOCIETIES.
Union College has at present two literary socie
ties with libraries— the Philomathian Society,
formed in 1793 by the young men of the town in
the old academy building before the college charter
was granted, possessing a library of 3,000 volumes;

132

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

the Adelphic Society, founded in 1797, and its
library, containing about 3,000 volumes; eight
"Greek letter" societies, some of which originated
with this college; and a chapter of "Phi Beta
Kappa Society," established here in 181 7, and is a
strictly honorary society. There is also a "Sen
ate," formed for purpose of debate on political sub
jects, consisting of the Senior class. The rules of
order and method of procedure are modeled, as
near as may be, after those of the Senate of the
United States.
An Alumni Association was formed in 1857, and
has several branches. A modification of the char
ter was procured in 1871, by granting to the
alumni a representation in the board of trustees, so
that now there are four graduates holding that
trust, one being chosen annually for a term of four
years. The election is held on alumni day, the
one preceding commencement, in the college
chapel. SCHOLARSHIPS.
Under an act passed in 18 14, the sum of fifty
thousand dollars was set apart as a fund, the income
of which has ever since been applied in aiding
young men of narrow means. This fund has been
increased by several benefactions. Miss Catherine
L.Wolf, of New York City, has given fifty thousand
dollars in pursuance of a purpose entertained by
her deceased father, Mr. John David Wolf, for aid
ing the education of young men from the Southern
States. Dr. John McClelland (class of 1832), of
New York City, influenced largely by the aid he
had himself received while in college, has given fifty
thousand dollars, and a worthy son of Union Col
lege has placed a bequest of thirty thousand dol
lars in his will to endow an emeritus professorship.
ORDINARY SCHOLARSHIPS.
To a large class of students Union College pre
sents extraordinary advantages in its numerous
scholarships. In the scholarships of the first grade
the incumbents, on condition of good conduct
and satisfactory application to study, receive at the
end of each term a credit on the books of the regis
trar to the full amount of term bills.
In the scholarships of the second grade, the in
cumbents, on the same condition, receive a credit
to the amount of half the term bills.
These scholarships are accessible, under certain
restrictions, to all who present the requisite certi
ficates of character and sustain the examinations
required for admission to the regular classes of the
college. PRIZE SCHOLARSHIPS.
Among the several classes of scholarships
founded by the late Dr. Nott — a few of which only
are yet actually founded, but their ultimate endow
ment is secured by the prospective sale of valuable
lands — is a class of prize scholarships granted ac
cording to certain prescribed rules. The pecuniary
emolument of a prize scholarship is thirty-five dol
lars a term, or four hundred and twenty dollars
for the whole college course, a provision which
enables the incumbent, after paying his college
bills, to retain the sum of one hundred and twenty
dollars.

The possession of a prize scholarship demands,
thoughout the whole course, high standing as a
student in all respects; and the incumbent is for
bidden to use intoxicating liquor as a beverage,
and tobacco in all its forms. Some of these scholar
ships enable the student to pursue post-graduate
studies for a certain time.
PRIZES AND MEDALS.
There are a number of prizes given at commence
ment, consisting of medals, money or books,
awarded for proficiency in oratory, essays and de
portment, some of which can be competed for by
the seniors only ; others by the juniors and
sophomores. COLLEGE LIBRARIES.
There are three libraries connected with the
institution, of which the college library proper con
tains about 20,000 volumes, the Philomathian
Society library about 4,000 volumes, and the
Adelphic Society about 3, 000 volumes.
COLLECTIONS IN NATURAL HISTORY.
The college has long been a center of special
interest for students of natural history. In 1841 it
received a large collection of minerals and fossils
from the State cabinet. In i860 the "Wheatley
Collection " of shells and minerals, worth more
than $20,000, was presented by E. C. Delevan.
Large and valuable additions of specimens were
added by Prof. H. E. Webster as the results of his
labors in dredging on the coasts of Maine,
Massachusetts, Virginia and Florida.
PHILOSOPHICAL DEPARTMENT.
In this department the collections, under the care
of Prof. John Foster, have grown to be among the
finest in the country. The donations of friends
have added largely to the collection, but the princi
pal part has been purchased by the friends of the
college or by special funds raised for this purpose.
ART DEPARTMENT.
Memorial Hall affords a fine opportunity for the
preservation and display of works of art, a consid
erable collection of which is already procured.
Through a liberal annual gift of Miss Catharine L.
Wolfe, of New York, the prospect that this depart
ment will become unusually fine is promising.
THE SONGS OF UNION.
This feature of college literature deserves notice.
For many years they were floating waifs. Some of
them were productions of real merit. A few of
these songs are perennial in their fragrance and are
always sung on festive occasions. The song of
"Old Union," composed by Fitzhugh Ludlow,
class of 1856, is always sung on commencement
day at the close of the graduating services. The
hearty good-will and feeling with which returning
sons join in the grand chorus :
" Then here's to thee, the brave and free,
Old Union smiling o'er us ;
And for many a day, as thy walls grow gray,
May they ring with thy children's chorus."
show that the gifted poet did not attune his lyre in

CITY OF SCHENECTADY— EDUCATIONAL.

133

UNION UNIVERSITY.
About forty years after the incorporation of
Union College, the people of Albany conceived the
idea of establishing a series of post-graduate institu
tions at the capital, and began by the founding of
the "Albany Medical College," April 14, 1838.
The "Albany Law School" was incorporated in
1851. The ' ' Dudley Observatory" was incorporated in
1852. The above institutions, together with ' ' Union
College, " were incorporated as ' ' Union University "
in 1873.
" The Albany College of Pharmacy" is also a
part of the University.
Officials. — President ad interim, Hon. Judson
S. Landon, LL.D., of Schenectady. President
elect, Rev. Joseph Tuttie Duryea, D. D., Pastor
of the Central Congregational Church of Boston,
Mass. Trustees. — Rev. Dr. J. Trumbull Backus,
Hon. E. A. Paige, Hon. Piatt Potter, Hon. Jud
son S. Landon, of Schenectady ; Hon. Fred.
Townsend, Albany ; Rev. Dr. Wm. Irwin, Troy ;
Rev. Dr. J. L. Reese, W. H. H. Moore, Hon.
David Murray, LL.D., Albany; Rev. Dr. Denis
Wortman, Saugerties ; Hon. L. W. Rhodes, Troy;
Col. D. C. Robinson, Elmira ; Rev. Dr. George
Alexander, Hon. Hooper C. Van Voast, Silas B.
Brownell, Thomas W. Featherstonehaugh, New
York ; Rev. Dr. E. Nott Potter, Geneva ; Dr. P.
R. Furbeck, Gloversville ; and the officers of the
State of New York, ex-officio.
Professors. — Henry Whitehome, A.M., Greek
Language and Literature ; Wm. Wells, A. M. , Ph.
D., Modern Languages ; Maurice Perkins, A.M.,
Chemistry ; Cady Staley, A.M., C. E., Civil En
gineering ; Samuel B. Howe, Principal Union
School; Chas. S. Halsey, A.M., Principal
Classical Institute ; Sidney G. Ashmore, A. M. ,
Latin ; First Lieutenant, First Artillery, Henry W.
Hubbell, U. S. A., Military Science ; Winfield S.
Chaplin, A.M., Mathematics and Physics (Knight
of the Rising Sun, Japan) ; W. E. Griffis, D.D.,
Mental Science, Adjunct Professor ; James R.
Truax, Rhetoric and English Literature ; Henry F.
Depew, Adjunct Professor, Mathematics ; Rev.
Rudolph Farber, Hebrew.
Acting Treasurer. — Cady Staley.
Registrar. — Mrs. M. L. Peissner.

Carlyle says that the history of the world is the
biography of its great men. This applies with
peculiar force to the life of Eliphalet Nott. He
was born in Ashford, Windham County, Con
necticut, June 25, 1773. At the time of his
death, January 29, 1866, he had occupied the po
sition of President of Union College for sixty-two
years, a period without parallel 'in the history of
our literary institutions. He had long stood in
the foremost rank of American educators. His
reputation as a pulpit orator was hardly less dis
tinguished; while as a reformer and philanthro
pist he had now an honorable position among the

benefactors of his kind. Such a life well deserves
a written memorial.
In 1804 a young Presbyterian clergyman,
Eliphalet Nott, was called to the presidency of
Union College. A year before the organization of
the college he had passed from Connecticut
through Albany to a new settlement in Cherry
Valley, where he became pastor and teacher. He

Eliphalet Nott.
was soon called to Albany, where, in 1804, he
made the most fortunate effort of his life, which
told greatly upon his future career. His sermon
upon the death of Hamilton, at the hands of Burr,
stamped him as one of the rising men of the
period, and he was at once called to the presidency.
President Nott found the college in imperative
need of means and students. He soon appealed
to the State for aid, and thus laid the foundation
of measures which resulted in training the legis
lators and the people of the commonwealth to
consider the matter of popular and higher educa
tion as the paramount duty of a Republican
Government. The college was soon so rapidly
increasing in numbers under his management that
new buildings became a necessity, and the site now
occupied by the college was obtained. During
1 8 14 Dr. Nott succeeded in having a bill passed
by the Legislature of the State, by which Union
College was to have $200,000. In this period this
was a princely sum for such purposes. The dis
cussion attending the passage of this measure at
tracted the attention of the whole State, during
which the movement in favor of establishing com
mon schools became so popular that men who
were first opposed to it began to tone down their
opposition. The president watched the bill day
by day, and from this period, down through the
days of Marcy, Silas Wright and Seward, the in
fluence of Dr. Nolt at the capital was very potent,
and aided greatly in advancing the welfare of the
institution. It is not our purpose to relate in
detail the grand educational work of this man.
The best years of his long life were given, un-

134

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

reservedly, to the enhancement of the college.
He had time for other and important things.
He was a leader in temperance teachings, his
sympathies were loyal during the Civil War, and in
the counsels of his own religious denomination, as
well as others, his advice was often sought. His
Christian sympathy and charity identified him in
a practical way with every movement for moral
and religious advancement.
Dr. Nott was a genius in the line of mechanical
invention, and the utilization of the latent wealth
of the country. " He was among the first to aid
and supplement the labors of Fulton, in his ef
forts to introduce steam navigation on the Hudson

N ott Stove ,
River, and the steamer 'Novelty,' which was
largely constructed under his guidance, came from
New York to Albany at a speed that astonished
the age." In these efforts to improve and intro
duce machinery, and especially to utilize the newly
discovered power of steam, Dr. Nott's attention
was largely directed to the production and materials
of combustion for mechanical and domestic pur
poses. The famous "Nott" stoves were long in
use at the college, and gained, for a time, a broad
public popularity. Albany and Troy owe their pre
eminence in the stove manufacture not a little to
his immediate presence and counsel.
The countenance of Dr. Nott was a striking one,
even in its repose; the eye, which was of a grayish

color, and capable of great variety of expression,
being one of its most marked features. His fore
head was high and straight, nose prominent and
aquiline, and the mouth and chin well-formed and
symmetrical. He was nearly six feet high, with a
stalwart frame. In his intercourse with students,
his quick sympathy with youth was very marked.
The stern aspect of one jealous of authority was
not seen in the class-room. He had a way of pass
ing from grave to gay so easily and gracefully,
that it was at once seen to be nature instead of
studied art. He obtained, with some, the character
of an adroit manager. It was said that he
reached his ends, at times, by indirect methods,
but those most familiar with him unite in their
testimony to his truthfulness and honor. By ne
cessity he was discreet, cautious and wary. He
knew men and how to approach, move and con
vince them. His method of doing this was his
own. He was a scholar, a teacher and an inventor;
but it was, however, as a man, a great souled,
energetic, practical man, intent on making other
energetic, practical men, who should leave their
mark upon their times, as he has done, that he
chiefly claims our admiration. No better epitaph
can be written of him than the words applied by
an orator to General Grant: "' He is great by the
arduous greatness of things done."

Tayler Lewis.
For nearly thirty years the figure of Tayler
Lewis was among the most prominent and strik
ing upon the str.eets of Schenectady, and within
the enclosures of Union College. His presence
was not such as impressed bv muscular vigor
or accumulated flesh and blood. His physical
frame was slight in build, and his air was that of a
studious scholar, to whom vigorous or violent ex
ercise was unknown. Yet it was not that of a re
cluse, but gave even the casual observer the im
pression of a man among men who knew what
was in man. Thoroughly acquainted with human
nature, Tayler Lewis chose to sway the public by

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— EDUCATIONAL.

135

thought and argument, rather than by personal con
tact or by dramatic action. In his later years,
when his hearing ceased, this was a necessity. De
barred from social converse with his fellows, the
pen became the potent instrument of his influence,
and in his venerable old age a real sceptre of
power. In his prime, his voice swayed assemblies, and
during nearly a half-century of his life as a teacher
he spoke with wisdom, tact, and mastery.
Though a scholar whose fame was world-wide,
Tayler Lewis did not become a familiar figure in
the local history of Schenectady until the outbreak
of the great civil war in 1861. Long known as an
earnest friend of Africa and the Africans in America,
he yet had conservative views in the matter of slav
ery. The outbreak of the slaveholders' rebellion
was to him a revelation by divine light upon those
questions which the civil war brought to solution.
He became a hearty supporter of the Union cause,
and a prophet who cried aloud and spared not. In
the dark days, when the defeat of the Union armies
made the home traitors exultant, Tayler Lewis
lifted up his voice like a trumpet, and showed the
iniquity of secession and the righteousness of the
Union cause. Like bugle blasts were his constantly
issuing editorials, letters, addresses and books, in
spiring alike the hearts of young and old. His
"State Rights, a Photograph from the Ruins of
Ancient Greece," powerfully affected the minds of
patriots, and ' ' The Heroic Periods in a Nation's
History" welcomed home the returning veterans.
The loss of his son-in-law, Colonel Elias Peissner,
at Chancellorsville, kept the flame of his patriotism
at white heat until the day of his death. Tayler
Lewis loved his country with romantic ardor and
an intensity of devotion rarely surpassed. He ex
ercised great influence over S. G. Hamlin, the fear
less editor of the Schenectady Union, many a time
encouraging him to boldness and courage of utter
ance in the trying times that followed the war.
Often at midnight, with quivering frame and flash
ing eyes, he would seek the young editor to cheer,
encourage and provoke him to be equal to the
political situation. Sallying out with his cane be
hind his back and' thrust between the elbows, while
his hands were clasped over his breast, he would
pace the streets, meditating his argument or ful
minating some thunderbolt which the next day
would sway hearts or strike conviction. So
do many people of our city remember Tayler Lewis,
a venerable man, yet full of energy and fire, with
long gray hair that fell over his collar, eyes deep-set
that shot forth earnestness, slight body in long black
coat of clerical cut, with meditative air and walk,
in speech and in writing closely approaching one's
idea of a prophet of the old times, yet of this
century's garb and mien.
Let us glance at his life as a scholar and Chris
tian. Born in Northumberland, Saratoga County,
N. Y, March 27, 1802, he prepared for Union
College under Dr. Proudfit, and was graduated at
Union College in 1820. He studied law with
Judge S. A. Foot, in Albany, and commenced
practice at Fort Miller in 1824. He was not,

however, in his natural element, and took greater
pleasure in the study of the classics. Under the
influence of Rev. George Mair, he began the study
of Hebrew, following it up with absorbed delight.
Turning aside from law to letters, he became prin
cipal of the Academy at Waterford in 1833. He
married on May 1 8th of the same year. He spent
two years (1837-39) in Ogdensburg, and was
called to the Chair of Greek in the University of
New York. In 1849, after the delivery of an ad
dress, "Faith, the Life of Science," before the
Phi Beta Kappa Society of Union College, he
was made Professor of Greek at his Alma Mater's
home, and henceforth resided in Schenectady.
Later, he filled the Chair of Oriental Biblical Lit
erature, retaining this position until his death.
Space does not allow us to speak in detail of Pro
fessor Lewis' attainments as a scholar, nor of his
versatility, accomplishments, native ability or
literary achievements, except as they have a bearing
on local history. In early life he became a mem
ber, in full communion, of the Reformed Dutch
Church, and so continued until the last. As an
elder he attended her consistory and class meet
ings. His seat in the First Relormed Church in
Schenectady was on the west side, near the
Bancker screen. In this church, in front of the
pulpit, now stands a memorial baptismal font, in
dark red marble, erected chiefly by his fellow-
members of the Old Testament Company of Bible
Revision. It is inscribed, near the base : "Tayler
Lewis. In Memoriam. Ab. Amicis Multis. In
pacem. May nth, 1877." His favorite text — "I
know that my Redeemer liveth" — is incised in
Hebrew characters on the polished rim of the bowl.
An eager and life-long student, Tayler Lewis was
a master of many subjects. In the higher mathe
matics, in astronomy, music, philosophy and
languages, he was at home, and used his attain
ments as instruments of pleasure. With the Greek
and Latin he was as familiar as with his 'mother
tongue, and in the Semitic languages he had no
superior in America, while in Arabic he was with
out a peer. Among the revisers of the Old Testa
ment he was, except Dr. Strong, the only layman
in attendance at the sessions. In the work on
Lange's Commentary he was selected by Dr. Schaff
to furnish the introduction and notes on Genesis,
and the metrical versions of Job and Ecclesiastes.
His "Six Days of Creation" was a true epoch-
maker, and anticipated by a whole generation the
current interpretation of the first chapter of Genesis.
Despite an avalanche of hostile criticism it emerged
scathless, and is now recognized as a masterpiece
of sound argument and prophetic utterance. It is
still printed.
Omnivorous in his tastes, Tayler Lewis fed his
mind in all fields of literature, and sought recrea
tion, not in bodily exercises, but in intellectual
variety. He enjoyed fun, humor, caricature, and
refreshed himself with light literature. A bundle of
books for a morning's reading in vacation time, in
Jackson's garden, might include his Hebrew Bible,
Syriac New Testament, The Arabian Nights in the
original Arabic, Romola, and a novel or two from

136

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

the press of yesterday. In his- last sickness, amid
the agonies of sciatica, he would conquer pain by
absorbing his mind in working out profound
mathematical problems. He was a profound and
brilliant Christian scholar, who, if not always in
accord with the spirit of the age, was ever in har
mony with the spirit of the ages.
On the dome of the Memorial Hall of Union
College, in Hebrew and Latin letters, chosen and
actually wrought in the slate-work by Taylor Lewis
himself, is the motto which illustrates the great
scholar's life principles :
The time is short,
The work is vast,
The reward is great,
The Master is pressing.
Isaac W. Jackson was born at Cornwall, Or
ange County, N. Y., August 28, 1804. Both of
his parents were members of the Society of Friends.
He was sent in his seventeenth year to the Albany
Academy; completed his studies there with the
highest honors; entered Union College, where he
attained high standing in the classics, and from
which, in 1826, in his twenty-second year, he
graduated with the first honors in mathematics and
chemistry. He was at once appointed a tutor in
the college.
During his collegiate course he founded and
maintained a society for social and literary pur
poses. In succeeding years other like associations
were formed, and hence Union College has been
called the mother of the Greek-letter societies of
the country. He was promoted to be professor
of mathematics in Union College in 1831. He
published books on trigonometry, optics, conic
sections and mechanics, which were adopted in
American colleges, and in one important British
institution. As an executive officer of the college, he was
prompt, energetic, ever-watchful, selecting his
measures judiciously, and pursuing them with dis
cretion. In his general intercourse he was social
and genial. He was always neatly and simply
attired; slight in form, well built and active, with
clear, piercing eyes looking out from under a large
and prominent brow; his head finely developed;
his voice frank and friendly.
The science and art of horticulture were the de
light and solace of his life. Valuable works on
this subject made up a large part of his library.
His life centered in, and was mainly bound by, his
college. It was passed in his family circle, his
study, his class-room, or with members of the
faculty. He was always sympathetic, especially
so with the sorrowing and the needy. Professor
Henry, late of the Smithsonian Institution, who
was his fellow student in boyhood, and his life
long correspondent, said that he was "the truest
and most generous soul he ever knew." Fulfilling
the duties of his position ably, faithfully, content
edly, no achievements of wealth or fame could
have brought him wider usefulness or higher hap
piness. Thousands of the educated men of the
country attest their gratitude for his aid in the de
velopment of mind and character.

In 1876 Professor Jackson had completed a
term of service in the college of fifty years. This
event was made the occasion of a notable tribute
of respect from his friends and former pupils. It
was on this occasion that Dr. Tayler Lewis deliv
ered one of his most remarkable addresses.
The titles of Professor Jackson's publications
are: 1, Elements of Conic Sections; 2, Elementary
Treatise on Optics; 3, Elementary Treatise on
Mechanics. The honorary degree of Doctor of
Laws was conferred on him by Hobart College.
His death took place July 28, 1877.
John Foster, now the senior professor of Union
College, was born August 18, 181 1, at Hebron,
Washington County, N. Y. His parents were
Scotch-Irish. His earliest schooling was at the
county district school of Hebron. In the winters
of 1828, 1829 and 1830 he taught in the district
schools of Argyle and Salem, and in the summers
pursued his studies of Latin and Greek under the
Rev. James Irvine, of Hebron. In the spring of
1831 he went to the academy at Fairfield, Herki
mer County. Here he studied mathematics and
classics till the close of the summer term of 1832,
after which he became an assistant in the academy.
He entered the junior class of Union College in
1834, and graduated July, 1835. He resumed
teaching at the Fairfield Academy even before his
graduation, and continued during the following
year, teaching almost all branches, and working
about ten hours daily.
In the fall of 1836 Mr. Foster was appointed
tutor in Union College, and was placed in charge
of the building called West College. The fresh
man and sophomore classes were domiciled at this
building, and Tutor Foster's duty was to look
after these two classes. For about a year he held
this place, and then, having an offer to take charge
of the North Pearl Street Academy for Boys in Al
bany, he spent about a year in this work; but
in the winter of 1838 he returned to Union Col
lege, and took charge again of West College. He
had classes in algebra, geometry, trigonometry
and conic sections, and besides this he taught
classes in Latin and Greek. After the death of Pro
fessor Edward Savage in 1 840, Mr. Foster was ap
pointed Adjunct-Professor of Natural Philosophy,
and gave instructions in the "Cambridge Mechan
ics. " Soon after he began to give lectures to vol
untary classes on electricity, magnetism, galvanism,
electro-magnetism and acoustics. These subjects
were subsequently added to the regular course,
and on these Professor Foster has continued to
give lectures. He also issued for the use of his
classes a syllabus of his lectures, which forms a
text-book on the subject. About 1842 Professor
Foster organized a voluntary class, to whom he
taught astronomy and surveying and leveling.
This led to the establishment in 1845 0I the De
partment of Civil Engineering, to which Professor
W. M. Gillespie was appointed.
In the spring of 1867 Professor Foster visited
Europe. He visited the Universities of Bonn,
Heidelberg, Munich and Zurich, and spent consid-

CITY OF SCHENECTADY— PRINTERS AND NEWSPAPERS.

137

erable time at Paris. After his return he devoted
himself to building up the scientific apparatus of
his department. He obtained from the graduates
of the college, mostly his old students, about
$5,000, which he spent in the purchase of appa
ratus. He visited Europe again in 1874, author
ized by the Board of Trustees to expend
$6,000 in physical apparatus. He visited the
principal workshops of London and Paris, making
selections and giving orders. After an extended
tour he returned with such a variety of new and
useful apparatus as to place the collection of Union
College among the best in the country.
Among the students who have passed under his
instruction he has a reputation as a teacher of
unusual force. Being himself a man of great
industry, he expects and usually secures a large
amount of good work from his pupils. He is
genial in his temperament, and kind-hearted
and ready to advise and help those who come to
him. Professor Foster was made Doctor of Laws in
1872 by the University of the. City of New Ytork.
Jonathan Pearson, A.M., is by lineage an alien
to the Dutch community whose annals he has so
diligently explored. His descent can be traced
through seven generations from the Puritan Fathers
of New England.
At some time previous to 1643, John Pearson, an
English carpenter, settled in the town of Rowley,
Essex County, Mass. There he erected a fulling
mill, and became the first manufacturer of cloth in
the infant colony. He was evidently a substantial
and leading citizen. He died near the close of the
century. The family record for two hundred years,
with its scriptural names, reads like a genealogical
chapter in the Old Testament.
Caleb Pearson, the grandfather of Professor Pear
son, served through the revolutionary war. After
its close he settled in Chichester, N. H, where,
February 23, 18 13, Jonathan was born. When he
was 1 8 years of age his father removed to Schenec
tady, N. Y. Jonathan had previously secured a
preparatory education at Dover, Pembroke, and
New Hampton, in the vicinity of his former home.
In January, 1832, he entered Union College, and
graduated with honor in 1835. The following
year he was appointed tutor, and in 1839 Assistant
Professor of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy. In
1849 he was elected Professor of Natural History,
and in 1873 was transferred to the Department of
Agriculture and Botany, where he still serves.
Thus, for more than half a century his life has-
been incorporated with the life of his Alma Mater.
In addition to the work of his department of in
struction, other onerous and responsible duties
have devolved upon him. Since 1854 he has been
Treasurer of the College, having in charge its
varied and intricate financial interests. For years
he has also held the office of Librarian, and has de
voted a vast amount of time and labor to the puz
zling and petty details of that trying vocation. The
preparation of the general catalogue of the college
has always devolved upon him, and he has repaid
the affectionate esteem of thousands of alumni by

maintaining a constant interest in their individual
fortunes. His mind is an encyclopedia of facts
concerning the sons of Old Union. His diverse
services is sufficient proof of his versatility and tire
less industry.
His antiquarian researches have been the recrea
tions of a busy life. The task of exploring the
scattered and puzzling records of the Dutch families
who founded the settlements at Albany and along
the Mohawk Valley was one of unusual difficulty.
He continued his labors in this field through many
years. He first transcribed, translated, and collated
the records of the Dutch Church in Schenectady.
Having mastered the provincial dialect, he per
formed a similar work upon the records of the
Dutch Church in Albany, and also of the County
Clerk's Office. The results of these studies, and
others of a like character, are embodied in his his
tories of the old families of Schenectady and
Albany, published years ago, and to some extent in
this history.
It would be indelicate, in a sketch published
during the lifetime of Professor Pearson, to refer to
those incidents which belong more especially to his
private and domestic life, or to those qualities
which have endeared him to his more intimate per
sonal friends. He has been for many years a faith
ful and active member of the Baptist Church,
trusted and revered by all. As a son, a husband,
and a father, his relations have been too tender and
sacred to permit of comment here. Those who
may survive him, and have shared and prized his
friendship, will wonder that they did not prize it
more, when the genial and unobtrusive presence
lives only in memory or immortal hope.
PRINTERS AND NEWSPAPERS.
The first printers in Schenectady were Cornelius
P. Wyckoff and  Brokaw, about the year
1792. Their office was on the south corner of
State and Washington streets. This firm continued
until 1795, when Brokaw went out and Wyckoff
continued the business alone.
The first newspaper printed in Schenectady was
called The Mohawk Mercury. It was published as
early as February, 1796, and as late as 1798. It
was probably started by C. P. Wyckoff, who pub
lished it as late as December, 1797. Sometime,
probably in 1798, Wyckoff was succeeded in
his business by John L. Stevenson. Whether
Stevenson continued to publish the Mohawk Mercury
is not known.
The Schenectady Gazette began to be published by
J. L. Stevenson, January 6, 1799, on the corner of
Albany (State) and Ferry streets, and December
20, 1802, he gave it the more comprehensive name
of' The Western Spectator and Schenectady Weekly
Advertiser, which was continued as late as May 23,
1807, when he removed his printing office to
Union street, a few doors west of the Dutch
Church, and discontinued the paper.

138

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

The Western Budget was issued by Van Veghten
& Son, at No. 10 Union street, the next month
following the discontinuance of the Western Spec
tator. The Budget continued three years, and the
last year was issued by Isaac Riggs, and at about
the same time, June, 1807, Ryer S. Schermerhorn
began the publication of
The Mohawk Advertiser, and continued it at
least three years, and was succeeded by T. John
son, who published it for W. S. Buel, at his book
store, near the corner of State and Ferry streets.
Schermerhorn was the first native printer, and fol
lowed his trade for many years. He kept a small
supply of books on sale at his office, and among
publications which he issued was an edition of
Smith's History of the State of New York, with ad
ditions. The Western Budget was continued by Isaac
Riggs until June, 18 10, when he changed the
name to the
Schenectady Cabnel. In 18 14 Isaac Stevens was
associated with him for a short time, occupying
No. 2 Cook's Row (No. 34), Ferry street. Thence
he removed to No. 23 Union street, next east of
the Dutch Church, which he occupied until his
death as a dwelling, and for many years his print
ing office was under the same roof. In 1837 he
was succeeded by his son, Stephen S. Riggs, who
changed the name of the Cabnet to
Freedom's Sentinel, under which name he con
tinued the paper until January, 1843, when he
resumed the former name, calling the paper the
Schenectady Cabnet and Freedom's Sentinel, which
name it bore until January 1, 1850, when it was
again called the Schenectady Cabnet, and until it
ceased to be published January 1, 1856.
The Miscellaneous Cabinet, a weekly publication
of eight pages octavo, was begun in July, 1823,
Isaac Riggs, printer. The first twenty-four num
bers are in Union College Library. Its contents
were mainly literary selections, and original pro
ductions written mostly by the students of the
college. The Mohawk Sentinel was begun June 24, 1824.
It was printed by G. Ritchie, Jr., at the sign of
Faust and Franklin's head, Ferry street, and is
said to have been edited by Archibald L. Linn,
then a young lawyer of the city. This paper
advocated the election of Mr. Crawford for the
Presidency. The Protestant Sentinel began June n, 1830,
and was printed and published by Rev. John Max-
on, at No. 39 State street (now 64 and 66). It
continued there but a few years and then removed
elsewhere. It was understood to be the organ of
the Seventh-day Baptist denomination.
Schenectady County Whig. — This paper was com
menced November 1, 1830, at 34 Ferry street, by
C. G. & A. Palmer, and continued till October,
1834, when the paper and all the appurtenances of
the printing office were sold to Nathan Stone, who,
on the 1 8th of November following, assigned the
paper to Giles F. Yates, Esq.

Stone was the owner of the ' ' Schenectady Book
store," on the west corner of State street and Mill
lane. He published the Whig, at 77 State street,
for ten weeks, the last number being issued De
cember 30th. Its direct descendant was
The Reflector and Schenectady Democrat, the first
number of which was issued January 1, 1835. Mr.
Y'ates made this a very entertaining family paper.
During 1835-6 he published many valuable articles
of an antiquarian and historical character. It was
printed by Robert P. Paine, on the west corner of
State street and Mill lane. In July, 1835, the
printing was done by Yates & Cook, the latter
being associated with G. F. Yates. July 1, 1838,
E. H. Kincaid became proprietor of the Reflector
for the next three and a half years, when, February
5, 1 84 1, Abraham A. Keyser purchased it at the
commencement of Vol. VII., and David Cady
Smith was associated with him as editor.
The Schenectady and Saratoga Standard 'was pub
lished about the year 1833, at 96 Washington
street, by Israel Sackett, printer, with Thomas Jef
ferson Sutherland, attorney at law, No. 14 Ferry
street, as editor. Its principles were anti-masonic.
After the first year the name was changed to The
Saratoga and Schenectady Standard, and it was pub
lished in Ballston by the same printer.
The Wreath, ' ' devoted to polite literature, " was
commenced November 22, 1834, by William H.
Burleigh, proprietor and editor; Isaac Riggs,
printer. It was a half-monthly of forty pages, and
was issued about six months. During this time its
name was changed to The Literary fournal, " a re
pository of public literature and fine arts." It was
published in Albany, Troy and Schenectady, and
numbered consecutively with the Wreath, and con
tinued until June, 1835, perhaps a little longer.
The articles were chiefly original.
The Mohawker was published by Riggs & Norris
in 1835.
The Schenectady Star was published by Jesse &
Daniel Stone, and this partnership was dissolved in
October, 1835.
The Antiquarian and General Review, a monthly
magazine, mainly of a religious character, edited
and published by Rev. Wm. Arthur (father of
President Arthur), was begun in 1845 and
continued two years, making two thin octavo
volumes. Freeman's Banner, a political paper, was published
during the presidential campaign of 1848. It was
the organ of the party known as the ' ' Barn-burn
ers." It was edited and published by Judge Piatt
Potter. The Daily Ancient City was the first daily paper
issued in this city, and commenced in 1852 by Mr.
Riggs. It lived only a few months.
The Schenectady Democrat was begun January 3,
1854, by William H. Coulbourne and W. N.
Clark. In 1857 it was sold to A. J. Thompson,
and in April, 1859, to Cyrus Thayer, and united
with the Reflector October, i860, The united
paper was called The Schenectady Reflector and

CITY OF SCHENECTADY— PRINTERS AND NEWSPAPERS.

139

Democrat. It was published in 1864 at No. 134
State street.
The Morning Star was the first successful daily
established in this city. Its first issue appeared
February 24, 1855. It was edited and published
by Walter N. Clark and Wm. M. Colbourne. Sep
tember 17th of the same year its time of issue was
changed from morning to evening and was called the
Evening Star. March 5, 1857, the firm of Colborne
& Clark was dissolved, and Mr. Colborne took
entire charge. During this year Isaac M. Gregory,
now managing editor of the New York Graphic,
was associated with Coulbourne in editing this
paper. About 1 86 1 Mr. Colborne sold the paper to H.
L. Grose, of Ballston, who conducted it until
1863, when it was sold to Wm. D. Davis and Isaac
M. Gregory. During the following year Mr.
Gregory sold his interest to Davis, who continued
proprietor till 1865, when the paper was sold to J.
J. Marlette, under whose management it has re
mained ever since. Since 1876 the publishing de
partment has been under the management of A.
A. Marlette. Preceding its sale to Mr. Marlette
the Star had been Republican in politics, but since its
sale in 1865 it has been an organ of the Democratic
party. In 1880, when the Morning Gazette was
discontinued, that paper was purchased by the pro
prietor of the Star, and for a time the name
Schenectady Evening Star and Gazette was as
sumed, but was soon after changed to the original
name of the Schenectady Evening Star.
The Schenectady Republican, a1 weekly made out
of the Evening Star, was commenced in Septem
ber, 1857, by Wm. M. Colborne, with Judson S.
Landon as editor.
The Schenectady Daily News was begun April,
1859, by I. W. Hoffman and E. F. Loveridge,
and expired June, 1861.
The Railsplilter , a political weekly paper, was
published a few months during the fall of i860.
The Schenectady Daily Times was commenced
January, 1861, and united with the Evening Star,
in June of the same year, under the name of the
Schenectady Daily Evening Star and Times, and was
published in 1864 by W. D. Davis and Isaac M.
Gregory, at No. 170 State street.
In 1865 Mr. Davis, who was then sole proprie
tor, sold it to J. J. Marlette.
The Schenectady Evening Star. — A history of the
paper will be found in the account of The Morning
Star. The Schenectady Daily Union was started in No
vember, 1865, by Charles Stanford. During the
exciting political events of this period, the Repub
lican party had no organ in this city, and this
paper was started to meet this want. Col. S. G.
Hamlin was long connected with it as managing
editor, being succeeded by Welton Stanford;
Orvil F. Vedder was managing editor from
April, 1882, to October 31, 1883, when it was
sold to John A. Sleicher. May 15, 1884, it was
sold to its present publisher, George W. Cottrell.

The Dorpian was published in 1867. It was
edited by A. A. Marlette and A. W. Kelly. Its
publication was continued but a few months.
The Schenectady Gazette, a weekly paper, was be
gun in 1869 by W. N. Thayer. In 1872 James
H. Wiseman and Harman Seymour were the pub
lishers. In 1874 it was purchased by G. W. Mar
lette and Wm. H. Lee. Mr. Lee subsequently
withdrew from the partnership, since which time it
has been published by Mr. Marlette.
The Deutscher Anzeiger, a weekly, published in
the German language, was commenced by Ernst
Knauer, at 176 State street, August 22, 1873, and
is still published by the original proprietor.
The Schenectady Daily Gazette was started by
the proprietor of The Weekly Gazette, January 1,
1879, and ceased to be issued July 28, 1880, when
it was sold and united with The Schenectady Even
ing Star.
The Schenectady Weekly Union, made out of
The Schenectady Daily Union, was started in con
nection with the daily in 1865, and has been pub
lished ever since.
The Locomotive Firemen Monthly fournal -was, first
published in 1872 under the direction of the Inter
national Union of Locomotive Engineers. It was
edited by Henry Hoffman until 1878, when it was
discontinued. PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS FROM UNION COLLEGE.
The Floriad, published by the students of Union
College in 181 1. Vol. I., Nos. 1-15, is in the
Boston Public Library.
The Students' Album, commenced in 1827, con
tained essays and tales, scientific items, and notices
of new works. It was published half monthly by
Isaac Riggs, at No. 10 Union street, and probably
continued about six months. It was of 8° size,
and each number contained 16 pp.
The Parihenon and Academian's Magazine. It
began in 1832, and continued two years, forming
two volumes 8°. Nine monthly numbers a year
were issued.
The Censor was published from November,
1833, to May, 1834, one number each month, 8°.
The Union College Magazine was commenced in
June, i860, and was continued, with some inter
ruptions, until June, 1875. It was published
under the joint auspices of the Philomathian,
Adelphic, and Theological Societies, two editors
being appointed by each. It was a very creditable
publication. One number appeared each college session, or
three a year. In the third year there was begun
a series of portraits, one in each number, of
distinguished men once connected with the
college. The College Spectator, a monthly publication,
4°, began April, 1872, and continued until De
cember, 1875.
The Concordiensis succeeded the Spectator in
November, 1877, and now continues.

140

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

The Scroll began its publication in 1849. In
May, 1850, its form was made smaller.
Several other fugitive publications, such as The
Unonian, etc., have been issued from time to time,
but soon ceased.
J. J. Marlette, editor of The Evening Star and
Weekly Reflector, was born in Onondaga County,
N. Y., in 1822, and received his education at
district schools. He came to this county in 1837,
and to the city in 1852. He became connected
with the Star in 1865. He has always taken a
deep interest in public education and was for
many years a leading member of the Board of
Education of the city.
Louis C. Beattie was born in Chicago, 111., No
vember 9, 1856, removing to Schenectady in 1864.
He received his education at public schools and
Union College, and was admitted to the Bar in
1877. He then followed his profession in New
York, returning to Schenectady in 1883, since
which time he has been on the staff of The Daily
Union and The Evening Star. Gifted with keen
perception and a ready pen, his work is highly
valuable. MEDICAL SOCIETIES.
The first medical society of the county of Sche
nectady was organized in Schenectady, June 11,
1810. The society was formed under an act passed by
the Legislature of New York, April 4, 1806, en
titled ' ' An act to incorporate medical societies for
the purposes of regulating the practice of physic
and surgery. " The physicians and surgeons of each
county of the State being thus empowered to join
themselves into societies, those of this county met
on the day first above given and enacted their by
laws and regulations. Under such, the society was
to consist of a "President, Vice-President, Secre
tary, Treasurer, and not less than three nor more
than five Censors, to be chosen by ballot annually
at the anniversary meeting of the society. " The
president was " to preside at all meetings, preserve
order, put all questions, declare the decisions of the
society, and in case of an equal division shall have
the casting vote; he shall also appoint all commit
tees, unless the society choose to appoint them by
special resolution."
Article 5th provided that the "Censors shall
meet whenever notified * * * to examine all
students in Anatomy, Physiology, Surgery, Mid
wifery, Materia Medica, Pharmacy, Theory and
Practice of Physic and Chemistry." Not less than
three censors to form such examining board.
By article 6th, the stated meetings of the society
were to be held on the "second Tuesday in June,
September, December and March," at 10 o'clock
a. m. Special meetings could be held though at
anytime "when the President, at the request of
two of the members, shall - order the Secretary to
send to each member a notification" of the inten
tion of such meeting. Not less than five members
constituted a quorum. A student, successful in his
examinations before the Censors, received, upon

the payment of two dollars, and signing the declara
tion prescribed by the State Medical Society, his
diploma. It cost one dollar to become a member,
and the annual dues were two dollars, payable
quarterly, and for non-attendance at the stated
meetings a fine of $1.00 was levied.
We quote article 12th, as follows: "Any mem
ber who shall be convicted of base or dishonorable
practices, tending to bring dishonor on himself
or the profession, shall be expelled." From this it
is uncertain whether "convicted" applied to a
regular trial and conviction by civic or military
authority, or whether it concerned only such "dis
honorable practices " as could be adjudicated by the
original society.
To these by-laws and regulations the following
names are signed: Thos. Dunlap, Dan'l J. Toll,
Alex. G. Fonda, Cornl Vrooman, Robt. M. G.
Walmsley, Abraham D'Lamater, John Wood,
Dan'l McDougall, P. B. Noxon (?), J. J. Berkley,
E. B. Sprague, J. W. Conklin, Stephen Reming
ton, Jno. B. Judson, Arch'd W. Adams, David
Low, Joseph Koon, J. C. Magoffin, John S. L.
Tonelier, Benj. F. Joslin, Edw'd H. Wheeler,
Abram W. Van Woert, Edgar Fonda, A. J. Prime,
Andrew Truax, L. Sprague, James Chandler,
Orasmus Squire (living 1885), A. M. Vedder,
Benj'n Weeks, John S. Crawford, N. Marselis, J.
Stackpole, Edwin A. Young.
As we have stated, the society was organized June
10, 1 8 10. Its first meeting was held the next day
" at the Court Room," and Archibald H. Adams
was elected President ; William Anderson, Vice-
President ; Alexander G. Fonda, Secretary; and
Dr. Corns. Vrooman, Treasurer; Doctors Thomas
Dunlap, Alexander G. Fonda, and Corns. Vrooman
were the Committee upon the Code of Laws, and it
was resolved that they meet "annually, the second
Tuesday in June, at 2 o'clock p. m., in the Court
Room, * * * which time shall forever thereafter
be the anniversary meeting " of the society. Ad
journment was had until the following day, when
the Code of Laws was adopted, and Doctors
Vrooman, Anderson, Dunlap, Daniel Toll and
Abram Delamater were elected Censors. Daniel
McDougall was " unanimously chosen as a suit
able person to attend the lectures in the City of
New York on the different branches of medicine. "
An adjournment was then taken until September
1 1, 1810. This quarterly meeting was held at the
"House of James Rogers, innkeeper." Joseph
F. Yates was examined and admitted to practice
Physic and Surgery, and Drs. Toll, Fonda and
Dunlap were appointed a committee to revise the
by-laws, to report at the next quarterly meeting to
be held December 10, to which time adjournment
was then taken, and on that date the society met
at the house of Dr. Vrooman. The committee
upon the revision reported, and their report rati
fied. Dr. Archibald H. Adams was elected a
delegate to the State Society, and Christopher T.
Fonda examined and admitted to practice.
At a special meeting, held at the Court House,
March 19, 181 1, Daniel J. Toll was elected Treas
urer, in place of Cornelius Vrooman, deceased,

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— MEDICAL.

141

and Daniel McDougall became a member of the
profession. The first anniversary meeting " was held Tues
day, June n, 1811, at 2 o'clock p. m., at the
Court Room," and Daniel J. Toll elected Presi
dent ; Robert M. G. Walmsley, Vice-President ;
Alexander G. Fonda, Secretary ; and Daniel J.
Toll, Treasurer; and Doctors A. G. Fonda, Daniel J.
Toll, R. M. G. Walmsley, Abram Delamater, and
Thomas Dunlap, Censors; and Dr. Toll, a delegate
to the State Society. Doctors Daniel McDougall,
McClearg, Brown, Wood, and Christopher G.
Fonda were proposed as members of the society.
At the anniversary held one year later, June n,
18 1 2, at the Court Room, Dr. Toll was elected
President ; Dr. Walmsley; Vice-President; and Dr.
Fonda, Secretary and Treasurer ; and Doctors
Toll, Walmsley, Delamater, Fonda, and Wood,
Censors. The gentlemen whose names were
proposed at the last meeting were admitted as
members, and Dr. A. G. Fonda was sent as dele
gate to the State Society. Doctors Jno. Dodge and
Lyman Carpenter were proposed as members of
the society.
The quarterly meeting was held at the Court
Room, September 11, 181 2, and Jno. Dodge and
Lyman Carpenter elected members. The follow
ing addition to the Code was passed : "That no
member of the society shall hold any nostrum or
specific for the cure of a disease under the penalty
of forfeiting his seat in the same." Doctors Ellis,
Woodward, Devoe, Vought, Veeder, and Myn
derse were proposed as members. The sum of $3
was received from Dr. Toll " being the balance of
licentiate fees on hand," and " Dr. Jno. Wood
paid $1 as an initiation fee."
A regular adjournment was then taken. From
this time, up to 1825, the records of the society
are lost, and nothing but a vague general legend
of its doings is extant.
The minutes of a meeting held 31st January,
1825, that there were present Doctors Daniel J.
Toll, the President ; and Doctors Thomas Dun
lap, James Magoffin, J. S. L. Tonelier, J. Scher
merhorn, D. Low and Daniel McDougall. Dr.
McDougall was appointed Secretary, and Dr.
Magoffin a delegate to the State Society. Drs.
Dunlap, Low and McDougall were appointed
as a committee to revise the by-laws, to report at
the next anniversary meeting, which was held
June 14, 1825, at the house of Harvey Davis.
Angus McDermid appears to have then been a
member. The report of the committee appoint
ed 31st January, 1825, was adopted. Thomas
Dunlap was elected President ; James Magoffin,
Treasurer; and Dr. McDougall, Secretary. Drs.
Dunlap, Magoffin, McDougall, G. Wade (whose
name first appears here), and Peter Delamater were
elected Censors.
A meeting of two of the Censors, Dunlap and
Magoffin, was held in April, 1826, when Dr.
 Cole was given his diploma, and at a sub
sequent meeting, held in November, Wade and
McDougall being also present as Censors, Dr.
 Chamberlin was admitted to practice.

Frederick Orlop received his diploma from the
Censors in June, 1827.
A period of six years now elapsed, of which no
record appears. February 25, 1833, the Censors,
Drs. Dunlap, Magoffin and McDougall, met, and
Edward H. Wheeler successfully passed an ex
amination. There were two meetings of the Cen
sors in 1834 — March 23d, when Andrew Truax
received his diploma, and July 23d, when Joseph
Harman received his. It does not seem that the
society met again during this year until Septem
ber 9th, when the following new members were
present : B. F. Joslin, J. Coon, E. H. Wheeler.
A committee of three, Joslin, Magoffin and Mc
Dougall was made to revise the By-laws, to report
at the next quarterly meeting. Alexander G.
Fonda was sent as delegate to the State Society,
and a contribution of five dollars was made by
them to it.
The committee appointed in September reported
at the next anniversary meeting, held June 9, 1835.
Among the amendments suggested, and at once
adopted, was : that the officers annually elected
should hold until their successors should be elected;
that the President should, at the meeting one year
after his election, " deliver to the society a disserta
tion upon some appropriate subject, " and the fee for
a diploma was raised from two to five dollars. At
this meeting Andrew Truax, A. J. Prime and
Orsamus Squire became members ; and Dr. Dunlap
was elected President; Dr. Magoffin, Vice-President;
Dr. Prime, Secretary ; and Dr. McDougall, Trea
surer ; and as Censors, Drs. Dunlap, Magoffin,
Squire, McDermid and McDougall. The new
meeting, or attempted meeting, is best described
in the words of Dr. A. J. Prime, its Secretary :
"June 14, 1836. When the members gathered
together, not enough stayed long enough to form
a quorum. Drs. Magoffin, Dunlap, McDougall
and Prime, after waiting till the hour was expired,
thought it was for their own private and others' in
terests to absquotulate, and therefore decamped.
A. J. Prime, Secretary." D. Edgar Fonda received
his diploma from the Censors January 31, 1837,
and at a special meeting of the Society, held in the
City Hall, July 18, 1837, G. E. Fonda, A. W. Van
Woert, William N. Duane, J. Harman, J. Beake-
ley and J. B. Noxon were elected members. At
the next anniversary meeting, held at the City Hall,
June 12, 1838, Dr. J. B. Noxon was elected Pres
ident ; Joseph Koon, Vice ; Andrew Truax, Secre
tary; Wm. N. Duane, Treasurer ; and Magoffin,
Squire, Beakeley and Noxon, Censors. The
customary committee on revision of the by-laws
was appointed, consisting of Drs. Koon, Beakeley
and Truax. Andrew Huyck and James Chandler
received their diplomas from the Censors, June 25,
1838 ; and at a meeting of the Society, December
1 ith, Dr. Sprague was elected a member. The an
niversary meeting of 1839 was held the second
Tuesday in June, at the City Hall. Alex. M.
Vedder, John O. Crawford, James Chandler
and Benjamin Weeks were elected members, and
James C. Magoffin, President ; A. G. Fonda,
Vice ; Edgar Fonda, Secretary ; and Andrew

142

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Truax, Treasurer ; and Drs. Dunlap, Magoffin,
L. Sprague, McDougall and A. M. Vedder, Cen
sors. James C. Magoffin was sent as delegate to
the State Society.
The anniversary meeting, held at the City Hall
the second Tuesday of June, 1840, proved, as far
as the records show, to be the last wherein business
of importance was done. On motion of Jacob
Beakeley, it was "Resolved, That it is proper to
charge the sum of one dollar, and not less than
fifty cents, for visit and medicine in ordinary
cases ;" and, on motion of A. M. Vedder, it was
resolved, "That a committee of three be appointed
for the purpose of regulating the charges of physi
cians, whose duty it shall be to report at the next
quarterly meeting." A. M. Ved'der, J. Beakeley
and Sprague were appointed to deliver a disserta
tion at the next meeting. The President was also
directed to deliver an annual address, or pay a fine
of one dollar. Dr. Magoffin was elected Presi
dent ; A. M. Vedder, Vice ; J. Chandler, Secretary;
Andrew Truax, Treasurer; and Dunlap, Sprague,
Magoffin, Young and Beakeley, Censors.
The last anniversary held under the old organi
zation, of which there is any written record, was the
one held June 8, 1841, at the Court House. By
resolution, the officers then holding were directed
to hold over for another year. Judging by the
minutes, internal dissensions began to make them
selves felt at this time. It is not our province to
enter into their merits or demerits. The society
soon ceased, practically, to have an existence. For
twenty-eight years there was no regular organized
medical society in Schenectady. In the Daily
Union of January 16, 1869, there appeared a call
for a meeting of physicians and surgeons to organ
ize a medical society. In furtherance of this
design, January 19th, at the Cadey House, the fol
lowing-named gentlemen appeared : A. M. Vedder,
L. Ellwood, J. D. Jones, Charles Hammer, N. S.
Cheeseman, B. A. Mynderse, G. W. Van Voast,
Robert Fuller and Wm. N. Duane ; and the
society formed by the election of A. M. Vedder,
President ; J. D. Jones, Vice ; L. Ellwood, Secre
tary ; N. S. Cheeseman, Treasurer ; and G. W.
Van Voast, B. A. Mynderse and A. M. Vedder,
Censors. Dr. Vedder was sent as delegate to the
State Society. The membership fee was fixed at
$2, and in order to become a member, it was neces
sary to submit the diploma to the Censors for
examination. The title of the society, as shown by its by-laws,
adopted January n, 1870, is "The Schenectady
County Medical Society. " Annual meetings are held
the second Tuesday of every January, and semi
annual meetings the second Tuesday of June.
Special meetings may be called. From the time
of its organization it has been in a healthy condi
tion, and bids fair to outnumber in members,
years of life and usefulness, any of its predecessors.
In addition to those present at its first meeting,
January 19, the following joined during the same
year: Alex. Ennis, N. G. Daggett, Geroe Greene
and Andrew Veeder.

The officers for the present year (1885) are: M.
G. Planck, President; Geo. E. McDonald, Vice-
President; Chas. C. Duryee, Secretary; J. L.
Schoolcraft, Treasurer; Censors, E. P. Van Epps,
J. Reagles and H. V. Hull.
The delegate to the State Society is L. Ellwood,
and to the "American Medical," H. C. Van
Zandt The members, past and present are: Brumma-
ghen, Peter A., Maiiaville; Cheeseman, N. S.,
Scotia; Clute, W. T., Schenectady; Daggett, N.
G, Schenectady; DeLamater, S. G, Duanesburgh;
Duryee, Chas. C, Schenectady; Ellwood, L.,
Schenectady; Ennis, Alexander, Pattersonville;
Featherstonhaugh, T. (left city), Schenectady;
Fuller, Robert, Schenectady; Greene, Geroe (dead),
Schenectady; Hammer, Charles, Schenectady;
Hill, John (dead), Quaker street; Hoag, Peter C.
(left city), Schenectady; Hull, H. V., Schenectady;
Johnson, T. B. (dead), Schenectady; Jones, J.
D. (dead), Schenectady; Mackay, John P.,
Schenectady; McDonald, Geo. E., Schenectady;
Munderse, B. A., Schenectady; Pearson, W. L.,
Schenectady; Perkins, Maurice, Schenectady;
Planck, M. G, Schenectady; Roach, Paul, Quaker
street; Rowe, George (left city), Bramans's Corners;
Reagles, James R., Schenectady; Steinfiihuer, G.
A. F., Schenectady; Schoolcraft, J. L., Schenec
tady; Van Voast, G. W., Schenectady; Van Zandt,
H. C., Schenectady; Veeder, A. T, Schenectady;
Vedder, A. M. (dead), Schenectady; Van Epps,
E. P., Schenectady; Vedder, L. T, Schenectady;
Van Patten, John, U. (dead), Schenectady; White-
home, E. E. (left city), Schenectady; Young,
Edwin, West Glenville.
Among the leading physicians of the city not
previously mentioned are:
John Kastendieck, M.D., graduated from the
New York Homoeopathic Medical College in 1878.
He located in Schenectady in 1882.
James Duane Jones, M.D., who deserves special
mention, was born in Schenectady, January 20,
1828. His ancestors, both paternal' and maternal,
were among the earliest settlers of Long Island and
New York City. He graduated from Union College
in 1846, and from the Albany Medical College in
1849. He then went to the Seaman's Retreat
Hospital, Staten Island, remaining there for three
years, 1849-51, coming to Schenectady, and
entering upon his practice in 185 1. He was mar
ried in 1872 to Anna M. Bigelow, daughter of
John M. Bigelow, of Schenectady. In 1873 he
became a member of the County Medical Society.
Was city physician, and physician to the County
Alms-house, and during General Sheridan's Vir
ginia campaign he served as surgeon-in-chief to
the 25 th New York Cavalry.
Dr. Jones' professional career was marked by
that success which close attention, allied with
natural aptitude, always commands. While a lead
ing physician, nature had made him a fine surgeon,
and to that he willingly devoted the greater portion
of his time. Dr. Jones died December 31, 1879,
his wife surviving him.

CITY OF SCHENECTADY.— MEDICAL.

143

LIVINGSTON ELLWOOD, M.D.
Among Schenectady's numerous skillful and
honored physicians, no medical practitioner is
better or more favorably known than the gentle
man whose name heads this brief biographical
sketch. Dr. Ellwood was born at Minden, Montgomery
County, N. Y., on the twentieth day of July, 1825.
After acquiring his education, he engaged in the
study of medicine and surgery, and graduated from
the Medical Department of the Buffalo University
in 1848, at the age of twenty-three years.
He did not long delay the beginning of that
which was destined to be his successful life-work,
for we find him in August, 1849, a new-comer in
Schenectady, where he soon established himself in
practice, and entered upon a career which has
marked him as a man of energy, perseverance,
business ability, and high scholastic and profes
sional attainments.
As a physician he gradually, but surely, rose high
in the esteem of the public and his professional
brethren. He was one of the originators and a
charter member of the Schenectady County Medi-
- cal Society, in the deliberations and management
of which he has ever since been conspicuously act
ive. His knowledge of his profession and its re
quirements is thorough and of broad scope; he has
often been called in counsel with physicians of un
doubted eminence in very difficult and important
cases, and from time to time he has prepared val
uable and interesting papers upon topics of deep
interest to the medical profession.
During the more than thirty-six years of Dr.
Ellwood's residence in Schenectady, he has closely
identified himself with the best interests of the city
and county. That such a man has been called to
places of public trust, is only an evidence of the
good judgment of his fellow citizens. Dr. Ellwood
has served as a member of the Board of Supervis
ors of Schenectady County, has represented his
Ward as Alderman, and has been prominently iden
tified with the Boards of Health and Education.
He has also served as both City and County
Physician. Hearty, but unostentatious in manner, he speaks
with moderation and to the point. His fidelity is
undoubted, and his circle of personal friends is
wide, embracing many of the most prominent
physicians and citizens of this section of the
State. 
Lewis Faust, M.D., graduated from Wallace
College,. Berea, O., and from the New York
Homoeopathic Medical College. He is a member
and an ex-president of the Montgomery County
Homoeopathic Medical Society, and of the New
York State Homoeopathic Medical Society.
George L. Van Allen, M.D., 134 Centre
street, was born in Bethlehem, Albany County, in
1 851; graduated from the medical department of
Union University; practiced his profession in Gal-
way, Saratoga County, and Albion, Orleans County;
has traveled and studied in Europe. Located in
Schenectady in 1882, and makes a specialty of

the treatment of chronic diseases and diseases of
women. PIONEER PHYSICIANS.
Rynier Schaets, in the year 168 r, was a practic
ing " chyrurgion " in Schenectady, though Pieter
Van der Linde, or Van O'Linda, was a surgeon in
North America in 1639, and by some it is thought
was here about 1640, but of this there is nothing
positively known. October 18, 1703, Jacobus "V.
Dyck petitioned for the right to practice surgery
here, and from 1758 to 1767, Dr. Dirk Van
Ingen was in regular practice.
From 1764 to 1788, Dr. Spitser (de Spitser).
In 1773, Dr. William Constable is " said to have
been a surgeon to a British regiment sent over in
the French wars." He died in New York. His
son, John Constable, lived in Schenectady many
years. A widow of Dr. John Constable, "for
merly of this city," was buried in St. George's
Church Cemetery in 1805. From 1779 lo 1781,
Dr. Onger was "the hessen docktor." In 1780
Dr. William Mead was practicing surgery. He
was a surgeon in the revolution, and died in
Schenectady Feb. 1, 1829, aged 80 years. In
1784 he was in possession of the McCamus & Co.
lot on State street, which was afterward owned by
Dr. William Adams. Dr. William Adams prac
ticed here in 1785 and subsequently. His sons,
Dr. Alex. Hamilton Adams, died April 181 1, aged
forty-two years, and Dr. James Adams died April
20, 1803. They both practiced in this city. Dr.
Cornelius W. Vander Heuvel was a physician
from 1747 to 1797, dying two years later. Dr.
Stringer, of Albany, at about this time visited pa
tients here, and in 1795, Dr. John Constable occu
pied the house afterwards owned by Dr. Wm.
Duane in Union street. In 1799 Peter Mabee was
a "practitioner of physic." Dr. Rogers lived
here in 1800. Dr. William Anderson and
Dr. Joseph W. Hegeman were partners here
for some years previous and including 181 1.
In that year Dr. Anderson, while on his return
passage from New Orleans, died with yellow
fever. Dr. Hegeman removed to Cincinnati a
few years subsequently, and in 1827 to Vicks
burg, where he died in 1837. Cornelius Vroo
man, son of Simon Vrooman, was born here, and
for a few years previous to his death, which oc
curred in 181 1, when he was but thirty years of
age, followed his profession. DENTISTRY.
0. J. Gross began the study of dentistry in 1875
at Great Falls, N. H., and received the degree of
Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1879 at the Dental
College, Philadelphia, Pa. He came to Schenec
tady in 1880, and resides at 235^- State street.
B. F. Carmichael, dentist, established himself
at 37 Union street in 1878, and has had a suc
cessful and increasing practice.
Among other dentists deserving special notice
for extensive and well-merited practice, are Dr. F.
D. F. Gray, Dr. John B. Hull and Dr. D. R.
Smith.

144

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

BANKS.
Mohawk Bank. — Among the first banks organ
ized in this State was the Mohawk Bank of Sche
nectady. In 1 807 a special act of the legislature was
passed to incorporate the stockholders of this
bank. At this date there were but a small number
of banks in the State, and only two in the city of
New York.
In the act of incorporation, James Constable,
Henry Yates, Jr., Lewis Farquharson, Garret S.
Veeder, Moses Beal and David Boyd were ap
pointed a board of commissioners to open books
on the first Tuesday in May, in which all persons
willing to be associated for the purpose of estab
lishing a bank were inscribed, together with the
number of shares taken. The value of each share
was ten dollars, and the number limited to twenty
thousand. On the second Tuesday of May of this same
year, the stockholders elected the first board of
directors, which consisted of thirteen members.
Charles Kane was selected by the directors as the
first president, and David Boyd as cashier.
It is impossible to ascertain the exact date
when the bank was first opened for the transaction
of business.
This bank was first located in a comparatively
small building on the corner of Union and Church
streets, on the site of the present Classical Institute
building, a structure built by the bank in 18 — , and
used for banking purposes until 1852, when it was
sold and converted into a private dwelling. In
1852 the bank was removed to the building on
State street now occupied by J. H. Barhyte & Co.
Here it was located until 1857, when its present
building was erected at a cost of about $15,000.
This bank continued to do business, under its
charter of 1807, until 1852, when it was reorgan
ized under the general banking laws of 1837, with
a capital of $200,000. In 1859 the capital was
reduced to $ioo,odo. In 1865 it was reorgan
ized as a national bank, for a period of twenty
years. Its charter expired this year (1885) and
was extended by the Comptroller of the Currency
to 1905. The following is a list of its various
presidents and cashiers from 1 807 :
Presidents : Charles Kane, James Duane, David
Martin, John I. De Graff, D. D. Campbell, James
R. Craig, G. G. Maxon.
Cashiers : David Boyd, William Walton, Ed
ward Walton, Nicholas Swits, Charles Thompson.
Schenectady Bank. — This bank was organized
under a special charter in 1832 as a Safety Fund
Bank, for a period of thirty years, with a capital of
$150,000. Its first directors were: Archibald
Craig, Alonzo C. Paige, Samuel Cook, Ephraim
Benedict, Benjamin F. Mumford, Jay Cady, Ste
phen Clark, Freeman Stanton, George McQueen,
Judiah Ellsworth, Harvey Davis, Isaac I. Yates,
and William Cunningham.
Its charter expiring in 1862, it was reorganized
under the State banking laws, with a capital of
$ 1 00, 000.

This bank was first located in a building on State
street, near the corner of Church street. Here it con
tinued to do business until 1 87- when it was moved
to its present location. Archibald Craig was its first
president. He was followed by Jay Cady in 1842.
In 1862 Simon C. Groot was made president. He
was succeeded by William L. Goodrich in 1866,
who remained in this position until 1869, when he
was succeeded by Jay Cady, the latter remaining
in this position until the election of Abraham A.
Van Vorst in 1875, since which date Mr. Van
Vorst has retained this position.
The first cashier was Thomas Palmer. He was
succeeded in 1843 by William H. Palmer, who
was succeeded in 1845 by William L. Goodrich.
Mr. Goodrich remained in this position until 1866,
when Samuel L. R. Buchanan was made cashier.
He was succeeded in 1869 by William L. Good
rich, who has remained in this position ever since.
ABRAHAM A. VAN VORST.
Abraham A. Van Vorst, President of the Sche
nectady Bank, was born in Glenville, Schenectady
County, November 28, 1806. His father, Abra
ham F. Van Vorst, was a farmer, and, though also
a native of Schenectady County, was of Holland
descent. The progenitors of the Van Vorsts were
three brothers, who emigrated to the Empire State
in the early part of the last century. One of them
settled in Brooklyn, where there was at that time a
flourishing colony of his countrymen ; another lo
cated on the Hudson, near Kingston ; and the
third, who was the immediate ancestor of Mr. Van
Vorst's family, fixed upon Schenectady County as
his future home. Inheriting the thrifty and indus
trious habits of their nation, they engaged in the
cultivation of the soil, and, like their countrymen
generally, soon accumulated a handsome compe
tence as the result of their honorable labor. His
mother was the daughter of Jacob Wallace, a na
tive of New York, but of Scotch extraction.
Mr. Van Vorst pursued his studies at the dis
trict schools till he attained the age of seventeen,
when, preferring a mercantile to an agricultural oc
cupation, he entered, as clerk, a country store in
Schenectady, and continued thus employed four
years. Soon after attaining his majority, in 1828,
he engaged in the hardware business in the same
place, in company with Henry Peek, the firm be
ing Peek & Van Vorst. This copartnership lasted
until 1835, when the firm was dissolved, Mr. Van
Vorst continuing the business on his awn account
until 1853. For a few years subsequently he was
connected with the New York Central Railroad.
In 1858 he became a member of the firm of Van
Vorst, Vedder & Co., for the transaction of the lum
ber business, in which line of operations he con
tinued until 1874, when he retired from the active
duties of mercantile life.
Previously to 1845 Mr. Van Vorst had been
elected a member of the Board of Directors of the
Schenectady Bank, then a State bank. Upon its
reorganization in 1862, he was elected its vice-
president, and on the death of Jay Cady in 1875,

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CITY OF SCHENECTADY— INDUSTRIES.

145

he succeeded to the office of president. This
bank, one of the most flourishing financial organ
izations in the State, has a competent capital and
also a surplus fund, and declares an average divi
dend of five per cent, semi-annually, clear of
State and national taxes. Mr. Van Vorst is also
vice-president of the Schenectady Savings Bank, a
sound and prosperous institution. For nearly
fifty years he has been connected with the vestry of
St. George's Episcopal Church in Schenectady.
Though naturally averse to political preferment,
Mr. Van Vorst has served as alderman for several
terms, and as member of the County Democratic
Committee, and was induced, through the persua
sion of his party, to accept the nomination for
mayor, to which important office he was elected,
serving for the terms of 1853-54, 1869-70 and
1882-83. This responsibility he accepted very
reluctantly, and only after the urgent appeal of his
friends to his patriotism and his desire for the wel
fare of the community — those higher motives that
influence men to the acceptance of public trusts.
During the period of our civil war, Mr. Van
Vorst was an active "war Democrat," upholding,
by all the means in his power, the hands of the
Government. He was for many years identified
with the business interests of Schenectady, in which
his thrifty and sterling habits made him a promi
nent mercantile character. Since 1862, his finan
cial skill and conscientious management of mone
tary interests have been an important factor in the
prosperity of that city. He was married in 1 830
to Miss Amanda Hulbert, daughter of Dr. Hul-
bert, of Pennsylvania, who bore him one son and
three daughters (all of whom are living), and died
in 1880, six months after the celebration of their
golden wedding. Mr. Van Vorst built his resi
dence, No. 25 Liberty street, in 1835, and has lived
there continuously since.

City Bank. — This bank was organized in June,
1874, with a capital of $100,000, under the gen
eral banking laws. The first directors were : T.
W. McCamus, Andrew Truax, William J. Van
Horne, E. Nott Schermerhorn, William Johnson,
C. Van Slyck, Charles G. Ellis, George Curtis,
Abraham Gillespie, Garrett S. Veeder, Marcus N.
Millard and O. S. Luffman. T. W. McCamus
was elected president, and O. F. Luffman as cash
ier, and remained as such officers from the organ
ization of the bank until they resigned in March,
1884. At this time Charles G. Ellis was chosen
president, E. Nott Schermerhorn, cashier, and O.
S. Luffman, assistant cashier.
December 15, 1884, it suspended, and John A.
A. De Remer was appointed receiver.
James H. Davis, gentleman, is a well known
and respected citizen of Schenectady.
SCHENECTADY WATER-WORKS.
During the latter part of the preceding century,
a company was formed in this city to supply the
town with water. Water was taken from a spring,
which now in part supplies the cemetery pond. It

was conducted by wooden pipes through the main
streets at that date. In 1835, this system of water
supply seems to have become inadequate for the
needs of the city, for in that year an act was passed
by the Legislature, empowering the corporation of
Schenectady to build a new water-works. Water
at this time was obtained by means of a spring on
Engine Hill. The pipes were simply logs, with a
hole bored through them of a diameter of about
two to three inches. For many years this sys
tem was in use. Even a small portion above the
canal was in use a few years before the present
works were constructed. During the excavation
made for the present water system, the pipes of the
first works were unearthed, and in many cases
found to be in a comparatively preserved condi
tion. The Schenectady Water Company. — In 1865,
an act was passed by the Legislature incorporating
the present Schenectady Water Company. The
first directors named in the act were : William Van
Vranken, George G. Maxon, D. Cady Smith, John
W. Veeder, Simon C. Groot, Benjamin F. Potter,
and T. W. McCamus. The capital stock was lim
ited to $80,000. At a meeting of the directors,
shortly after the passage of the act, William Van
Vranken was elected President, T. W. McCamus,
Vice-President, and D. Cady Smith, Treasurer and
Secretary. This, and the following year, ineffec
tual efforts were made to secure sufficient capital
to construct the works.
In 1367, a few of the citizens of Schenectady, be
lieving that the city should own its own water
works, secured the passage of an act, which
created William Van Vranken, William J. Van
Horne, John C. Ellis, G. G. Maxon, and Andrew
McMullen, Water Commissioners. These com
missioners were empowered to consider all matters
relative to supplying the city with water, to furnish
estimates and plans for the construction of water
works to the Common Council; which plans, upon
the approval of the Common Council, were to
be submitted to the resident taxpayers for their
approval or rejection.
The Water Commissioners did agree upon a plan
of construction, which was submitted and approved
by the Common Council ; but when the subject
came before the taxpayers some time in the follow
ing May, it was overwhelmingly voted down.
The failure of the people's consent to the con
struction of a city water-works, again brought into
active existence the company formed in 1865.
In 1869, this company, which had not forfeited its
corporate rights, reorganized, by the election of
Charles Stanford, President, and William Van
Vranken, Treasurer and Secretary. At the reor
ganization all of the capital stock was subscribed,
and the construction of the works commenced the
following year, and was completed in 187 1. The sys
tem adopted is known as the Holley system. The
pumping-house is situated at the lower end of
Ferry street, adjoining the river. The water is
pumped from a large cistern or well, 114 x 6 feet,
built under the ground near the margin of the river.
The walls of this well are dry, permitting the filtering

146

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

of water from the river into the well, while over the
top is an arched covering composed of brick and
cement. Around the walls is a course of gravel
and sand, which has a tendency to purify the water
before it reaches the well. A conductor pipe,
three feet square and one hundred feet long, ex
tends from the well, along and under the bed, out
into the middle of the river. The end of this pipe
is protected by a perforated sheet of iron.
In 1872 the works were in active operation, and
have been ever since. During 1872, a contract
was made by this company, with the city, to furnish
water for the extinguishment of fires. Since the
adoption of this system, much valuable property
has been saved and no fire has extended beyond
the building in which it originated, and the losses
by fire have been proportionately less than at any
other corresponding period of the city's history.
In 1 87 1 only nine miles of pipe and 100 fire
hydrants were constructed; at present over fourteen
miles of pipe have been laid and 140 hydrants fur
nished. The capital of this company was increased to
$100,000 in 1871.
The present officers are : Charles Stanford, Pres
ident and Treasurer; Charles Stanford, Jr., Sec
retary. Directors : Charles Stanford, G. G. Maxon,
Charles G. Ellis, John McEncroe, Wm. Van
Vranken, Edward Ellis, and Charles Stanford,
Jr- GAS-WORKS.
In 1852, a company, composed entirely of capi
talists outside of this city, built the first gas-works
ever constructed in Schenectady. This company
subsequently sold the concern to Abell Smith and
James R. Craig. Afterwards it was sold at public
auction to Gershom Banker, who conducted it
until 1872, when two-thirds interest in it was pur
chased by Charles Stanford and William Van
Vranken. Shortly after, Mr. Banker's interest was
sold to John McEncroe. The works have since
been operated and controlled by these three
gentlemen. The capital of the company is $100,000, and the
works are capable of producing yearly, 11,000,000
cubic feet of gas.
Robert Clement, who for over thirty years was
superintendent of the gas-works, was born in Bel
fast, Ireland, in 1824. He died in 1883. Mr.
Clement was a citizen widely known and esteemed,
being a progressive, intelligent and exemplary man.
He was largely interested in real estate in this city,
and did much to promote the business interests
of Schenectady. He was so long and intimately
connected with the gas-works in Schenectady, that
he may almost be said to have been its real founder;
certain it is, that to his intelligent work, much
of its present prosperity can be justly attributed.
Joseph H. Clement, son of Robert, was born in
New York in 1849. He received his education in
the public schools. In i860 he became connected
with the Schenectady gas-works and has remained
with this company ever since. At present he is
superintendent of the works.

CASPER PRATT HOAG.
Casper Pratt Hoag was born in Troy, N. Y.,
September 24, 18 10. His father was a vessel
owner and he was early inured to the dangers and
hardships of a seafaring life, which were then many
times greater than they are now. Before attaining
to his majority he had at times taken charge of his
father's vessel, and had made some progress in the
acquisition of a practical knowledge of navigation.
Soon after that time he accepted a proposition
from a merchant who had built a brig for sea
service, to take an interest in the vessel and assume
the command. He made two voyages to the Gulf
of Mexico, and two to Europe, Madeira and the
Canary Islands. After Mr. Hoag's return to New
York from the last of these, he and his partner
leased the brig to the Brazilian Government to
make a voyage to South America, from which she
returned in due time newly rigged and in excellent
order, having lost her masts, rigging and sails in a
tornado, and been refitted at the Isle of St. Thomas
at an expense of about $9,000.
In the meantime, Mr. Hoag had married the
youngest daughter of Peter I. Clute, of Schenectady,
and had determined to abandon the sea and engage
in business at Schenectady in partnership with his
brother-in-law. His partner in the ownership of
the brig consented to a proposition looking to this
end very reluctantly, and after many vain endeavors
to persuade Mr. Hoag to reconsider his determina
tion. The brig was sold to the Brazilian Govern
ment, and Mr. Hoag relinquished forever an avoca
tion which had been the means of his visiting many
remote and interesting portions of the world, which
had many charms for him, and in which he had
met many appalling dangers which, if we had space
to relate them, would form one of the most inter
esting portions of this volume. In partnership
with C. C. Clute, he purchased five lots in Sche
nectady and erected a mill, thus establishing a busi
ness which the two owned and managed co-jointly
for three years, at the expiration of which time, by
purchase of his brother-in-law's interest, Mr. Hoag
became sole proprietor. He continued the busi
ness with considerable success, gradually increas
ing it until 1845, when, on July 25th, the mill
was destroyed by fire. Mr. Hoag's energy is no
better evidenced than by the fact that within six
months he had erected a brick foundry on his
property, and began work therein during the
following April. This enterprise Mr. Hoag made
a success, as he invariably did such enterprises as
he connected himself with, continuing its active
personal management until i860, when his health
had failed in so marked a degree that his physician
advised him to relinquish his confining business
entirely, and take a necessary season of rest and
recreation. He leased his foundry to a company
of Albany men for five years, and devoted himself
to the care of his garden, pleasurable pursuits and
such gentle exercise as was most conducive to good
health, with such results that his physical condition
was vastly improved.

CITY OF SCHENECTADY— INDUSTRIES.

147

In 1838 he united with the First Reformed
Church of Schenectady, and was long officially
connected therewith, and one of the most earnest
and liberal contributors to its support and advance
ment. When, in the summer of i860, its house
of worship was destroyed by fire, he was one of
the foremost in working to save it, and in all
measures for its rebuilding took a leading po
sition, and was a member of its Building Commit
tee. Under their supervision, the erection of a
stone edifice of the Netherland Gothic style was
begun in October, i860, and completed in Jan
uary, 1863.
Since his retirement from business in i860,
Mr. Hoag has not re-entered the manufacturing
business in any of its branches; but he has been, as
he was previously, prominently identified with
several of Schenectady's leading commercial inter
ests. He was a stockholder in the Mohawk Bank,
and for twenty-two years, until his resignation about
a year ago, a Director in the Schenectady Bank. At
various times other important interests have com
manded his co-operation. During the past twenty
years, the general confidence in his honor and
business ability have been attested by his adminis
tration of two estates, and his closing out of two
others by power of attorney. One of these estates
required six years of his time in its settlement, and
was divided among thirty-five heirs to their general
satisfaction. The settlement of another one of
them, the real estate of which was located in
Michigan and Delaware, consumed five years of
Mr. Hoag's careful attention.
Since the organization of the Republican party,
Mr. Hoag has been identified with it ; prior to
that time he was a Whig, holding principles nearly
akin to those of the earlier Republicans. He has
represented his ward in the City Government several
times as Alderman, and some years ago was chosen
Mayor, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation
of an incumbent of that office. His administra
tion of all trusts, private, public, commercial and
political, has been marked by the uprightness and
careful intelligence which have characterized him
through life. He is one of the many self-made
men of Schenectady, and one of the few who stand
as connecting links between the Schenectady of fifty
years ago and the Schenectady of to-day. Now in his
seventy-fifth year, in the enjoyment of good health
and a fine intellect, with no wish for worldly honors,
made happy by those he loves, he calmly awaits the
summons to the reward of a well-spent life.
THE MANUFACTORIES AND INDUSTRIES
OF SCHENECTADY.
Broom Corn.— For half a century Schenectady
County produced more broom corn than any other
in the State. The New York "Gazetteer," of i860
and 1872, states that one-half of the entire crop of
the State was raised in the county. The introduc
tion of Western corn has reduced the acreage of
1,500 acres, which it was up to 1880, to one-third
that quantity. There will not be over 500 acres
planted this year— 1885. The soil has become

somewhat exhausted by this long repeated work,
and land that formerly gave 900 pounds to the
acre will now produce only 550 pounds.
The history of this interest is a large factor to a
proper commercial knowledge of our county.
While the industry shows a marked decline from
its former condition, it is yet one of the largest of
its kind in the State.
As all old citizens will remember, the broom of
former days was a rude device compared with
that of to-day. It was simply a few round bunches
of corn sewed on to a stick. George Canfield,
who came here from Utica about fifty years ago,
was the inventor of the improved "Shaker"
broom, the flat broom we now use. Mr. Can-
field also invented, about 1850, a seed planter,
planting previously being done by hand. He
also, ten years later, made a horse planter, which
is yet in general use. Mr. Canfield never protecting
his contrivances by patent, met with the usual re
sult of inventors, and died a poor man.
The Pioneer. — -The very first grower in the
county was Otis Smith, who came here from Con
necticut over fifty years ago. A Mr. Willard, who
owned a farm at the west end of the town, had
planted two acres on the island. This was the first
land ever planted to broom corn on the Mohawk
River. After preparing his land, Mr. Willard, not
himself a practical corn grower, sent for Mr. Smith
to superintend the crop. Smith purchased land
until he owned about 125 acres, and raised and
manufactured corn until his death in about 1870.
The following list gives the best information at
tainable of the pioneers in this industry, beginning
on the north side of the Mohawk River at Sche
nectady, and running thence to Hoffman's Ferry,
a distance of ten miles.
North Side of River.- — David F. Reese, fifty
years ago, owned the islands a mile from the city.
known as the Hook Islands. He had 200 to
250 acres, and up to about 1865, the year of his
death, was a grower and manufacturer. After his
decease, his son Frederick continued the business
until his death, some seven or eight years later,
when the farm was divided. Mrs. Frederick Reese
now owns the Big Island, Hook Island belonging
to the Collins family.
Next west to the Reese farm, in Scotia, was that
of Charles P. and Edward P. Sanders, who, forty-
five years ago, owned 700 acres there, seventy-five
of which were devoted to corn. They also manu
factured and continued until about 1870, when
they retired, though they still grow some corn.
They belong to one of the old families of the
.county. The next farm on the west was that of 100 acres,
owned by Col. Abraham Toll. He raised and
manufactured from about 1840 up to about 1865,
when his brother, Charles H., bought it and con
tinued the business for ten years. He then gave it
up and became a general farmer.
Next west to the Toll place was seventy-five to
eighty acres owned by Reuben Ellwood, who, from
about 1845 to 1855, grew and manufactured corn.

148

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

He then removed to Illinois, selling his property
to Wm. Cramer, who, up to his death about fifteen
years ago, as has his family since, remained in the
same business.
Cornelius and Nicholas Velie had fifty acres, next
west to Ellwood, forty -five years ago. Up to about
i860 they grew and manufactured, when they died,
Wm. Haslow becoming owner of the farm. He
has continued the business ever since.
Next west of the Velie property was that of
Nicholas Brooks, who, forty-five years ago, owned
sixty acres there. He grew and manufactured
corn for about five years, when David F. Reese
rented the farm. In about 1855 Harvey Vedder
leased it, and in 1865 Christian F. Seeley bought
it. Through all these changes the corn business
was kept up. The homestead is now owned by
James Wyatt and the balance of the farm by Fred
erick Larbey. No corn is grown now.
Garrett Barhydt owned fifteen to twenty acres,
next west to Brooks'^ thirty years ago, and from
that time to date has grown corn.
West of Barhydt's, Wm. Rector began, in about
1845, with thirty-five to forty acres. Has never
manufactured, but continues the raising of broom
corn. For thirty years, ending in 1884, Adam H.
Swart grew corn upon fifteen acres situate next
west to the Rector farm.
Next west to Swart's are forty acres owned by
John S. Barhydt, who, fifty years ago, was a grower
and manufacturer there. Mr. Barhydt died in 1 854,
since then his son John has run the farm. He
has a manufactory in the city.
Forty years ago Aaron Swart raised corn upon
20 acres next west of Barhydt's. He made a
few brooms at first, but soon gave it up. Mr.
Swart sold out to Latin Johnson in 1866, and
moved to Illinois. Mr. Johnson raised corn until
1884. Next west to Aaron Swart's is the estate of
Philip Vedder, who owned it a century ago. In
1845, Albert H. Vedder began growing corn upon
from 40 to 50 acres of the original 150-acre farm.
In 1863 he sold 80 acres to Nicholas H. Swart,
including the land he had been working. Mr.
Swart remained there until 1866, when he sold to
Cornelius Van Patten, a grower. Mr. Van Patten
died in 1883, leaving the property to his daughter,
who shortly afterwards sold it to Bartholomew
Clute. No corn is raised there now.
We have traced every farm within the territory
specified upon which broom corn was cultivated or
brooms made. Next following is given a history
of the farms along the ten-mile strip and through
the town of Rotterdam on the
South Side of the River.— Beginning at Sche
nectady, on the south side of the river, are the
Watervliet Shakers, who, when Otis Smith har
vested the first two acres above described, were
making preparations to cultivate and manu
facture corn in this county. They came here
from New Lebanon, and were the first to make
brooms for the Schenectady trade. They leased
the Tomilson farm of 90 acres. They already

owned — and still do — 60 acres two miles up the
river, making, with the Tomilson property, 150
acres, which they planted to corn. Nicholas I.
Schermerhorn was their superintendent from 1835
for forty years. In 1850 the Tomilson portion was
sold to John Myers, who grew and manufactured
up to the year of his death, about 1870. He was
a large operator. After his death his family rented
the land and manufacturing was stopped. The 60-
acre piece was recently leased to John Van Epps.
Nicholas I. Schermerhorn, from about 1840 to
1880, had 90 acres where the Jones Car Company
is now located. Mr. Schermerhorn was a large
grower, manufacturer and dealer. He bought for
years about all the corn grown in Schoharie
Valley. Next west to the Schermerhorn property, fifty
years ago, John, Alexander and Jacob Van Epps
had 200 acres of land and grew and manufactured.
In about i860 the Van Epps' sold a part of the
farm to John Veeder. John Myers subsequently
bought out Mr. Veeder, and after the death of Mr.
Myers his family continued to grow corn, but
no longer manufactured. Jacob Van Epps died
about i860, and John Van Epps, 1868. Alexander
now lives in the city and still raises corn upon the
homestead, though no brooms have been made
there since 1863.
Two brothers, John and Simon Schermerhorn,
fifty years ago owned 50 acres next west to the Van
Epps' home, and from that lime to date have grown
corn and made brooms.
Fifty years ago, Nicholas Vrooman and Josiah
Van Patten owned 150 acres next west to the
Schermerhorns, upon which corn was grown.
Forty-five years ago, Nicholas also owned 25 acres
there, upon which he grew corn and made brooms
until 1 880, when his son succeeded to the business.
Josiah sold his land to Lewis Clement in about
1873, and is now living in the city. Mr. Clement
grows corn. Vrooman Van Patten is yet living on
his farm, his son, Abram, growing corn and mak
ing brooms there.
Next west to Van Patten's, forty years ago, An
thony H. Van Slyke owned 50 acres. He died in
about 1865. Corn was cultivated and a few
brooms made. His sons, John and Harmon Van
Slyke, own the farm, and until 1882 grew some
corn. In that year they leased the land, upon
which corn is still cultivated.
Abram A. Bradt, next west to Van Slyke's, in
1845 cultivated 25 acres; he also made brooms.
After his death, in about 1882, Harvey Bradt took
possession and in 1883-4 corn was grown. From
1870 to 1883, Harvey Bradt had quite an extensive
manufactory in the city.
In 1835, Simon Maybee, next west to Bradt's,
cultivated 15 to 20 acres, continuing until about
1870, the year of his death. Jacob Maybee then
grew corn there for about five years.
In 1845, Aaron Bradt cultivated 30 acres
next west to Maybee's. He died about i860, and
Francis Bradt grew corn and made a few brooms.
Next west was the 35-acre piece of Abram N.
Bradt, who, in 1835, grew corn there. He died

CITY OF SCHENECTADY— INDUSTRIES.

149

in about 1880, and was succeeded by his son,
Simon Bradt, who continued until 1883, the year
of his death. The property was bequeathed to his
nephew, Abram A. Bradt, who now lives there and
grows some corn.
Nicholas Bradt has cultivated twenty acres next
west for fifty years, and is yet living there.
John M. Veeder raised corn upon thirty acres
next west, from 1857 to 1882. He also made a
few brooms, but is now out of the corn business.
Next west to Veeder's farm, and the last on the
ten-mile track, is the thirty-acre farm of John
Byce, who began raising corn there twenty years
ago. He also made a few brooms, but in 1883
retired from the business. The farm is still his
home. City Dealers and Manufacturers. — Among
the prominent dealers and manufacturers of
broom corn doing business in the city, are the
following:

Nicholas H. Swart has been a buyer and seller
since 1835, and since that time has dealt with
nearly every prominent grower in this section.
Mr. Swart shipped the first load of broom corn
ever brought from- any Western State to this city.
This load was from Illinois, in the year 1852.
We are indebted to Mr. Swart for a recital of
many of the facts given in this article, and to his
remarkably clear memory any credit due to its
accuracy should be given.
H. J. Ansicker, Water street, corner Washington
avenue, house 3, Ferry, continued ; John Barhydt,
2 1 Washington avenue ; Henry Bradt, broom
handles, Mill lane; H. S. De Forest, 100 Centre
street ; Charles Horstman & Co., 6 River ; C. F.
Rankins & Co., 121 Front street; Henry Whit-
myre, 1 9 North street ; Chas. L. Whitmyre, 1 2
and 14 Washington avenue; Christopher Van Slyck,
7 Pine and 57 Centre street; James A. Flinn, John
street.

THE SCHENECTADY LOCOMOTIVE
WORKS
Are under good management, and deserve the suc
cess they enjoy.
The capital of the Schenectady Locomotive
Engine Manufactory, the first company formed,
was raised by the citizens of Schenectady in Jan
uary, 1848, and was expended in buildings and
machinery by a company who agreed to pay
the interest on the capital annually, and to pay
to the stockholders the whole capital in eight
years, and thus themselves become the owners
of the property. This company carried on the
works about one year ; their affairs turned out so
badly that they abandoned the works, which re
mained idle for twelve months, during which time
a part of the personal property was sold for taxes.
The whole works were finally sold at one-half
The purchasers under the sale were John Ellis,
Daniel D. Campbell, and Simon C. Groot, who,
with others, raised a new capital, and on June 14,
1 85 1, the present company, The Schenectady
Locomotive Works, was incorporated. Walter
McQueen acquired an interest in 1851, which he
still retains. By February, 1863, John Ellis had,
by purchase, acquired, substantially, the entire
stock. October 4, 1864, Mr. Ellis died, and his
stock was subsequently divided among his heirs,

his sons, John C, Charles G, and William D.
John C. Ellis died October 4, 1884, just twenty
years after the death of his father.
The officers and stockholders — all stockholders
being trustees — are : Charles G. Ellis, President ;
Walter McQueen, Vice-President ; Edward Ellis,
Treasurer. The estate of John C. Ellis, deceased,
and William D. Ellis.
The plant of this large concern occupies an area
of ten acres (though they use for all purposes
twenty-one acres), upon which are erected fifteen
brick structures, ranging in size from 25x71 feet to
100 x 252 feet, and 85 x 345 feet It is bounded by
Fonda, Romeyn, and Nott streets, and the New
York Central Railroad. They own, in addition,
lumber yards on Romeyn street, coal yards between
the canal and Fonda street, and their water-works
upon the west side of the canal are constantly
pumping water from the Mohawk River.
All classes of locomotives, from the small, nar
row gauge to the large consolidation, with eight
driving-wheels, are made, their annual capacity
being 225 engines.
One thousand one hundred men are employed,
to whom is paid, monthly, from $50,000 to
$60,000. The products of this establishment are seen
throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The Superintendent, A. J. Pitkin, was born at
Akron, O., in 1854 ; served an apprenticeship as

150

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

machinist there ; entered, the drawing room of the
Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, in
1876 ; was Mechanical Engineer for the Rhode
Island Locomotive Works, Providence, in 1880;
came to Schenectady in 1882 as Mechanical
Engineer for the Schenectady Locomotive Works,
and was appointed Superintendent of the Works in
1884. WILLIAM GIBSON.
William Gibson was born near Edinburgh,
Scotland, February 16, 1812, and died in Schenec
tady, March 28, 1881. During his boyhood, until
his eighteenth year, he attended the schools of that
city. He came to America in 1830 and soon lo
cated in Troy, where he speedily secured work in
Burden's iron works. Shortly afterward he was
appointed foreman in the spike factory. Six years
later he was made superintendent of the works,
which, however, were not so extensive as they are
at the present time. In 1853 he severed his' con
nection with the Burden works and removed to
Albany, and became Superintendent of the Albany
Northern Railroad, now a part of the railway sys

tem controlled by the Delaware and Hudson Canal
Company. In 1855 he engaged in the manufacture of spikes
in the shop of Mr. Townsend, which was located
in what is now the lower part of Albany, thus em
barking in business on his own account He sold
out this enterprise a year later and removed to
Schenectady. In 1858, Mr. John Ellis, formerly
owner of the Schenactady Locomotive Works, and
father of the present proprietors, knowing his
worth, secured his valuable services, and promoted
him to the position of assistant superintendent of
the shops. The duties of his position he performed
with zeal and fidelity, until his failing health com
pelled him to relinquish them in 1876, subsequent
to which date he was in no wise occupied, save in
taking care of his own property and that of others
left to his immediate charge.
Mr. Gibson was scarcely twenty-one years of age
when he married Mary McQueen, sister of Walter
McQueen, for some time superintendent of the lo
comotive works. His marriage occurred on July
4, 1832, during his residence in Troy. At that
time he was a member of the Associate Presbyterian

CITY OF SCHENECTADY— INDUSTRIES.

151

Church of that city, of which Rev. Dr. Bullions,
author of Bullions' English Grammar, was pastor.
He was a leading spirit in that church until his
removal to Schenectady, when he united with the
First Presbyterian Church of the latter city, which
was then under the pastoral charge of Rev. Dr.
Backus. As a Christian he was ever fervent and
staunch, doing willingly and unostentatiously his
utmost for the advancement of the cause he loved.
He was a man of active temperament, and his
sensitive nature often stood in opposition to his
better judgment. He was counted a man worthy
of unlimited respect and confidence, and he won
and retained numerous friends who mourned his
death with sorrow. He left a family of four: a
widow, two grown-up sons, William W. and Peter
M. Gibson, and a daughter, Jennie M., widow of
the late John Gilmour. Another daughter, Mary
E., died in 1852, aged four and one-half years.
His father died in Scotland and his mother came to
America with her son. She never made Schenec
tady her home, but lived with her daughter at
Auburn, where she died some years ago.

The firm of McQueen & Stage, mechanical engi
neers and manufacturers of steam engines and
boilers, and self-regulating boilers for steam heat
ing, 170 Centre street, was organized April 1,
1884. The individual members are Hon. Daniel
P. McQueen and David L. Stage. The plant cov
ers an area of 80 x 1 2 5 feet. Fifteen to twenty men
are employed, the annual output amounting to
$25,000. They also do plumbing and gas and
steam-fitting. Among the buildings which were fitted up by
them, are the Classical Institute, the German Cath
olic School, and the home of Hon. John D. Camp
bell. Mr. McQueen was member of Assembly in
1874, and has also been inspector of foreign ves
sels, while Mr. Stage, for twelve years prior to
1884, was chief engineer of the Schenectady water
works. The Westinghouse Company, manufacturers
of agricultural engines, grain-threshers, horse
powers, etc., is known throughout the United
States. In 1837, George Westinghouse began at
Fonda, N. Y., the manufacture of his patent
threshing-machine and horse-power. Facilities
were added from time to time, as trade demanded,
and in 1850 the works were removed to Schenec
tady, where they were enlarged. In 1870, Mr. G.
Westinghouse retired from business. In 1874 the
buildings were destroyed by fire, and were imme
diately rebuilt. In 1884 the Westinghouse Com
pany was organized, the stock being held by the
partners of the firm, which was succeeded by the
corporate body. The officers are: J. Westing
house, President; Spencer Moore, Vice-President;
John Westinghouse, Treasurer; H. R. Hegeman,
Secretary. The premises are between Dock street and the
Erie Canal, with a track from the Central Railroad
running through them. The main building is of
brick, 300 x 500 feet, three stories. Around it are the
foundry, blacksmith shop, warehouses, office, etc.

A force of 175 to 200 is employed, and the annual
capacity is 300 threshers, 150 engines, and corre
sponding number of horse-powers.
Henry V. Jackson is the senior member of the
firm of Jackson & Sands, engineers and machin
ists, comer Jay and Franklin streets They are
builders of engines and machinery for yachts,
launches and for stationary purposes. They also
repair machinery of all kinds.
The history of the Kilmer Wire Band Manufac
turing Company, Dock street, is unique in the annals
of the city. In 1876, Augustus Kilmer, then a resi
dent of Howe's Cave, Schoharie County, N. Y.,
aided by members of his family, invented the wire
band now so extensively manufactured by them.
Patent was obtained in 1877, and one year later
the manufacturing began. In 1880 the company
built and moved into their present works. They
occupy an area of ioox 180 feet, upon which are
buildings to the extent of 1400 square feet. The
machinery, most of which is patented by the com
pany, is driven by a steam engine of fifty-five horse
power, and 125 men are employed. The average
daily output of completed work is eight tons.
They make annealed Bessemer steel wire bands
for baling hay, straw, flax, etc., fence wire, and or
namental fencing, by a process of which they are
the inventors and proprietors. The company is
composed of the father, Augustus Kilmer, and his
seven sons, Ransom, Martin L., Irving A., Thalas
S., Melvin D., Elmer E. and William A., and Ed
ward Davis, a son-in-law. Among the leading in
ventions of the firm is the fancy fencing and the
arrow bale-fastener cutter invented by Irving A. ,
and the twisting machine for bale loops by Irving
A. and Elmer E. Additional buildings are soon
to be constructed.
The Jones Car Manufacturing Company. —
The Jones Manufacturing Company came to
Schenectady from West Troy in 1875, renting the
premises of the Schenectady Car Company for the
manufacture of street cars. Soon after the works were
enlarged and they began the manufacture of draw
ing-room cars and sleepers, which continued until
February 4, 1884, when E. Nott Schermerhorn was
appointed its receiver, and for about eight months
the business was continued by him. About the be
ginning of 1885, Mr. Walter A. Jones leased the
works of the receiver, and in June, 1885, they were
released to the New York Sleeping Car Company,
which is at the present time the controller of the
works. Thatcher Elevator. — What is now commonly
known as the Thatcher Elevator, was built in
1865 by George G. Maxon, of this city, and John
W. Thompson, of Ballston Spa. From then until
May 1, 1884, George G. Maxon and his son, Ethan
A. Maxon, conducted the business. Mr, Thomp
son having previously sold his interest in the real
property to Mr. Maxon, Sr., a stock company was
formed, the name being the Schenectady Elevat
ing Company, of which George G. Maxon is
President and Treasurer, and Le Grand C. Cramer,
Secretary. In May, 1884, Ralph W. Thatcher, of

152

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

«in,L

^.fyfkyLUE-

Albany, leased the property of the company for a
term of years yet unexpired.
An elevator and general mill business is done,
from one to one and one-half million bushels of
grain being annually handled. Their principal
business is in receiving and transferring grain which
reaches here from the West via the Erie canal
and the railways, for Northern New York and New
England States. The main building is 60 x 100
feet high. A 200 horse-power
From 15 to 30 men are em-

feet in extent, 95
engine is used.
ployed.

C. C. CLUTE.
Cadwallader Colden Clute, eldest son of
Peter I. Clute, was born in the City of Schenec
tady, October 18, 1814. Becoming associated in
early life with his father (afterward of the firm of
Clute & Bailey) in the general foundry business, he
laid the foundation for those strict methodical
business habits which were so characteristic of him
through life. Dissolving this connection, he started
in trade for himself, conducting successfully for a

number of years a hardware store, located on the
block between the canal and railroad crossing on
State street, Schenectady. During this time, and
about the year 1841, he associated with one or
two others, and took a contract for building sections
19 and 28 on the Western Railroad. In 1842 he
purchased the interest of Joel C. Bailey, of the
firm of Clute & Bailey, and the firm of P. I. Clute
& Sons was organized, continuing until the year
1849, when it was merged in the firm of Clute
Brothers, P. I. Clute retiring. His connection
with this firm, subsequently changed to that of
Clute Brothers & Co. , remained up to the day of
his death. On the organization of the firm of G.
Westinghouse & Co., and the establishment of that
house in Schenectady in 1856, he became a mem
ber, and continued such until the reorganization
of the firm in 1870. On the organization of the
Mohawk Bank of Schenectady in the year 1859,
he was elected a director, and held that position
uninterrupted until his death, August 16, 1876.
He left a legacy of six thousand ($6, 000) dol
lars to the Home of the Friendless.

CITY OF SCHENECTADY— INDUSTRIES.

153

Shawl Factory. — In 1848, the building now oc
cupied by James Roy & Co. for the manufacture of
woolen cloth, was built by Schenectady capitalists,
and up to 1854 was used as a carpet factory. Dur
ing this year Messrs. Roy & Co. purchased the
property, changing its name to the Watervliet
Mills, by which name it is now known. Up to
about 1870 shawls were the main production, when,
by the introduction of proper machinery, the man
ufacture of woolen cloth and ladies' dress goods
was begun. A few shawls are still made yearly.
Since Roy & Co. have owned the concern no cotton
has been ever mixed with their goods, and the an
nual consumption of wool is now one-half million
pounds. The buildings front 235 feet on Church street,
and run through to Railroad street One hundred
horse-power is used, and 75 males and 75 females
are employed. The company's real estate covers
an area bounded by Church, Water and Railroad
streets, with the exception of one house at the
angle formed by Railroad and Church streets. They
also own two brick wool store-houses opposite the
factory on Church street.
James Roy & Co. were incorporated January 1,
1866, and two woolen mills at West Troy are
owned by them, also being known to the trade as
the Watervliet Mills.
Arthur W. Hunter was the first manager of the
concern here, continuing as such up to 1875, when
he retired, and his son, Winfield S. Hunter, took
his place, which he still retains. Among their old
employees are John Jarvie, boss carder, with 23
years service to his credit, and John Moorhouse,
boss wool sorter, with 30 years.
Knitting Mills. — The Imperial Hosiery Mills,
McLachlin, Conde & Co., proprietors, was organ
ized January 3, 1881, with $50,000 capital. The
individual members are John McLachlin, Cornelius
S. Conde (who is manager and superintendent),
and Edwin Groat. Mr T. K. Conde was a partner
up to 1883, when he retired. Knit goods of all
kinds for children, ladies and gentlemen are
made. 300 sets of cards, 750 spindles, 9 knitting
machines and 14 sewing machines, keep busy 40
female and 26 male operatives, who produce 1,500
dozen goods monthly, which are in value from $5
to $10 per dozen.
The works, corner Ferry street, continued, and
Erie street, are two stories, frame, 90 x 50 feet, with
an L 24 x 36 feet. A 70 horse-power boiler and 60
horse-power engine are used. The value of the
building and furniture is $50,000.
Schenectady Knitting Mill. — The Schenectady
Knitting Mill Company was organized in 1 875. The
principal stockholders were Hon. Charles Stanford,
N. I. Schermerhorn, D. D. Campbell and William
H. McClyman. The building was completed
in 1876, and a prosperous business conducted
until 1878, when the entire property was destroyed
by fire. In 1879 the building was rebuilt and
work again resumed. For a number of years Hon.
Charles Stanford was president of this company.
He resigned a few years ago, when N. I. Scher

merhorn was elected in his place. Wm. H. Mc
Clyman is treasurer and general manager of this
mill. About 130 persons have been continuously
employed in this flourishing establishment since it
was rebuilt.
NICHOLAS I. SCHERMERHORN.
Nicholas I. Schermerhorn was born in the town
of Duanesburgh, N. Y., March 26, 1818. His
father, of German descent, was bom in Schodac, N.
Y. , July 14, 1779, and moved to the town of
Duanesburgh, 181 7.
In 1824, when he moved to Rotterdam, Nicho
las was about eight years old. In 1833 his father
died, and his remains now rest in the family plot
in Vale cemetery. Nicholas was now in his fif
teenth year, and being the oldest son, the direction
and care of the household was assumed by him,
managing the farm in the interests of the family.
At twenty-three years of age, in 1841, he was mar
ried to Susan, daughter of Conrad Chism, and re
mained upon the farm for three years longer. His
first enterprise, in 1844, was in raising broom corn
for the Watervliet Shakers on the Rotterdam-Mo
hawk Flats, two miles west of the city of Schenec
tady. The second year he commenced the manu
facture of brooms on his own account.
His business increased from year to year, until
he became the largest producer and manufacturer
in this part of the country, up to 1877, when he
disposed of his interest in this business.
In 1855 he moved his family on the old home
stead of Bartholomew Schermerhorn in Rotterdam,
opposite the grist-mill, and there bought three
hundred acres of land, including all that part of
the Mohawk flats adjoining the city of Schenec
tady. Here he lived until 1870, when he bought
the fine residence of Dr. L. Ellwood, 230 State
street, in the city of Schenectady, and removed
there with his family, and where he still lives.
In 1865 he bought the Vandebogart Brothers'
coal business, and formed a co-partnership with his
son-in-law, Mr. W. H. McClyman, in which they
continued until 1874, when Mr. McClyman retired
from the firm and Mr. Schermerhorn 's son, William
G, was taken into partnership with his father.
Messrs. Schermerhorn & Son also entered into the
hay and straw business about 1872, on the dock
between the Erie Canal and the New York Central
Railroad, in which they still continue. The coal
business was sold out in 1884. In 1880, Mr.
Schermerhorn and his brother-in-law, William
Christler, bought the Schenactady flouring mill,
which they still continue to operate.
Outside of his mercantile business, he took the
contract to build the Schenectady and Duanesburgh
railroad and took into partnership with him on the
contract Messrs. Samuel Donaldson, of Fultonville,
and Harmon Van Slyke, of Rotterdam. The work
was completed within a year.
He was one of the originators and stockholders
of the Schenectady Car Works, built on a part of his
Rotterdam farm near the city. He was also one of
the originators and stockholders of the Schenectady

154

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Knitting Mills, known as the Brandywine Mills,
and he still continues to be an active member of
the firm, and is also its president. He is one of
the originators and a large stockholder in the Mc
Queen Locomotive Works in Rotterdam, situated
on the flats near the Jones Car Works, and he
still remains connected with that enterprise.
He has been a director of the Schenectady Bank
for the past twenty years, and also a trustee of the
Savings Bank. He is also a trustee of the Young
Men's Christian Association of this city, who own
one of its finest buildings.
He has taken an active part in the political in
terests of his county, and has held the office of Su
pervisor in the town of Rotterdam two terms,
County Superintendent of the Poor three terms,
and County Treasurer from 1867 to 1882.
Thus it may be seen that Mr. Schermerhorn has
been an active and honored citizen ; a promoter of
the industries of the community; that he has done
much to advance the material and social interests.
His life has been a success in many respects. He is
a model of enterprise and is highly esteemed by his
acquaintances. Mr. Schermerhorn has also shown the art of rul
ing his own house well. He has three children,
one son and two daughters. His son, William G. ,
resides with him and is an active partner in his
business. He married Sarah L. Swart and has
one son, N. Irving, ten years of age. His daugh
ter Anna M. , married William H. McClyman, of
the Schenectady Knitting Mills, and they have
one daughter, Susie May, age sixteen. His other
daughter, Catherine E., married G. S. Veeder Mil
ler. They have four sons: Abram G. , age 22
years; William S., age 20 years; Nicholas I., age
1 3 years ; and Garret S. , age 7 years.
He is a member of the congregation of the First
Reformed Church, and one of its Advisory Com
mittee. 
Susholz & Myers.— The house of Susholz &
Myers, with Solomon Susholz, George Susholz
and Adolph Myers, was organized in 1880-81. In
February, 1884, George Susholz and Mr. Myers
retired, Solomon succeeding to the business, and
the firm name becoming S. Susholz. George re
mained as superintendent Their mills, on Dock
street, are of brick, 4 stories, 50x150 feet; an en
gine of 100 horse-power turns 4 sets of cards, 4
self-operating mules, and 16 knitting cylinders, the
average daily capacity being 800 pounds yarn. 75
females and 25 males are employed, who produce
scarlet-colored woolen knit underwear for men,
women and children.
They have selling agents in New York City.
The firm of John Wiederhold & Co. , manufac
turers of ladies' underwear, children's garments,
dress wrappers, aprons, hoop skirts, etc., 180
Centre street, was established in 1870. For a
time the firm was Wiederhold Brothers, but it was
subsequently changed to its present form. Mr
John Wiederhold, the senior member, has been at
the head of the business from the first. The factory
is a three-story brick building, 50 x 100 feet, and

employs one hundred women and girls. It is fully
equipped with sewing and other necessary machines
and implements.
Brewers, Maltsters, etc. — The first brewery in
Schenectady of which there is any knowledge was
in 1820. It was located in the First ward on
Washington avenue. A Mr. Moffatt conducted it
for seven or eight years, when he discontinued, and
the brewery was closed.
About this time (1820), but possibly two or
three years later, two brothers, Hugh and Daniel
Martin, started one on the same avenue. This
was soon sold to Mr. La Britton, who continued
it for a few years, when he in turn stopped brew
ing. Still another, and located on the same ave
nue, at the head of Union street, was the one
started in about 1824 by John S. Vrooman and
Isaac M. Schermerhorn. Mr. Vrooman soon re
tired, and, shortly afterward, Francis Myers pur
chased the same. Mr. Myers evidently did not
meet with much financial encouragement, for he
soon withdrew from the business. While the exact
dates of the closing of the above-named concerns is
not attainable, all of them were out of existence by
the year 1831.
In about 1 830, Reed Brothers started a malt-
house on the dock, in the building erected by
Daniel D. Campbell, of Rotterdam. The building
passed through the hands of Messrs. Millard & Crane,
Cornelius Thompson, H. Rosa and Martin De
Forrest, and finally into the hands of the Susholz
Manufacturing Company.
Peter Engle owns and conducts a lager-beer
brewery at 47 Nott terrace. This is the only
brewery now in the city.
Cornelius Thompson has a malt-house on Dock
street, and has been in the business for many
years. In 1 860, George Weller began the manufacturing
and bottling of soda water at 62 College street,
remaining there until 1863, when he removed to
No. 46 of the same street, his present location.
The manufactory covers an area of 60 x 190 feet,
and is two stories high. He employs eight males,
and his trade extends through a radius of forty
miles. Mr. Weller is the only manufacturer and
bottler of soda water, lemon soda, sarsaparilla and
ginger ale in the county. He also makes seltzer
water. In 1875 he became agent for the Bartholomay
Brewing Company, and since then has kept a sup
ply depot for this and Montgomery Counties. The
curious yet simple bottling machine used by him
for his soda water is well worth an inspection.
Charles Weincke, proprietor of the Hotel Ger
mania, comer Liberty and Centre streets, has for
many years had a large share of public patronage.
HOWLAND S. BARNEY.
Howland S. Barney, the recognized head of the
mercantile fraternity of Schenectady, and one of
the most notable of the self-made men of Schenec
tady County, was bom in Saratoga County, N. Y
March 23, 1822, a son of Dr. Z. H. and Eliza

CITY OF SCHENECTADY— INDUSTRIES.

155

(Swain) Barney. When his son was about four
years old, Dr. Barney removed to Minaville, Mont
gomery County. There, as he grew older, the
boy attended the common schools till he had
reached the age of fourteen, when (in 1836) he
came to Schenectady and became a clerk in the
dry goods store of Sydney B. Potter. He was thus
employed four years.
Next he found employment in the store of John
Olin, whose partner he became in 1849, under the
firm name of John Olin & Co. In 1853 he
bought the interest of a retiring partner in the firm
of Barringer & Co. In 1858, through changes in
its personnel, this firm was reorganized under the
style of H. S. Barney & Co., and so it has since
been known. It has been due largely to Mr.
Barney's mercantile ability and sound and enter

prising management that this house has outgrown
all rivals, ranking as the wealthiest and most ex
tensive dry goods concern in the city, and occupy
ing commodious and well-appointed quarters at
Nos. 93, 95, 97 and 99 State street. This large
building was erected in 1872, and occupied in
April, 1873.
Mr. Barney is a Republican, but has always been
too busy, and has never been inclined, to take any
active part in politics. He has done his full share
to promote the interests of the city. In 1856 he
married Sarah, daughter of Joseph Horsfall, of
Schenectady. They have two children.
Dry Goods. — The firm of H. S. Barney & Co.,
dealers in dry goods, carpets etc., 95, 97 and 99
State street, was established about 1843 bv Messrs.

156

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Barringer & Co. In 1854 it was purchased by the
present firm, who in 1873 completed the Barney
Block. This block has a frontage on State street of
60 feet, a depth of 1 20 feet and is three stories high.
They also manufacture ladies' robes, wraps, mits,
etc. The stock averages $90,000.
The junior member of the firm is Mr. H. H.
Swart. Mr. Barney has been in business here 48
years. The house of T. H. Reeves & Co., dealers in
dry goods, carpets, rugs, etc., 137 State street,
was established in 1822 by McManus & Co. The
individual members of the present firm are T. H.
Reeves, T. R. Barringer and C. F. Veeder, who
succeeded to the business in 1874. The store
is 30 x 140 feet, with an L 40 x 60 feet, and two
stories high. The carpet and upholstering de
partment is 60 x 60 feet and 18 feet high, and is
the oldest carpet room in the city. They also
manufacture ladies' cloaks, dresses, mits, and
wraps. Pfeiffer Levi, clothing merchant and dealer in
gentlemen's furnishing goods, 90 State street, is
an old and well-established merchant of the city.
L. R. Reagles, 103 State street, is a dealer in
ladies' furnishing goods, and ranks with the lead
ing merchants of the city.
Lumber Yards. — In 1855 Peter Vedder and Henry
Vedder started a lumber yard, locating it where the
elevator now is. In 1857, Abram A. Van Vorst was
added, and the firm became Van Vorst, Vedder &
Co., and moved to Green street near the railway,
remaining there until 1867, when they located on
Pine street near the Locomotive Works. During this
year Walter S. Van Vorst became a member of the
company, remaining until 1873, in which year he,
with his father, Abram A., retired, and Wm. C. Sweet
was added, the firm becoming Vedder & Sweet.
In 1875, Albert Van Voast bought the interest of
Mr. Sweet, and the firm name was Vedder & Van
Voast up to 1 88 1, when the Pine street property
was sold to the Delaware and Hudson Railroad
Co. Peter Vedder retired, and Albert Van Voast
opened a yard on John street, near Green street,
where he now is.
In 1867, Peter B. Yates, John Bradt and Peter
Van Dyck opened a yard, the office being at 31
Dock street. The firm was known as Bradt, Yates
& Van Dyck. April 17, 1876, Horace Eggleston
and Wm. C. Sweet purchased the property. Jan
uary 14, 1878, Mr. Sweet retired, Mr. Eggleston
being sole owner until August, 1880, when Walter
S. Van Vorst became a member, and remained as
such until October, 1883, when he retired, and the
present firm of Eggleston, Vedder & Co. was or
ganized, the firm being Horace Eggleston, Wm.
H. Vedder and Albert G. Vedder. They operate
a steam planing mill, deal in all kinds of lumber,
wholesale and retail, and manufacture doors, sashes!
blinds and moldings.
The lumber, lime, cement, hair, and building-
paper business of Charles L. Blakeslee, 27 Dock
street, was established in 1876. The yard extends
from Dock street, facing the canal, to the railroad

track. There is a planing mill, 50 x 80 feet, in
the yard. Mr. Blakeslee built a large number of
portable buildings for use at the stations of the New
York, West Shore and Buffalo Railroad. Alex
ander F. Vedder, formerly with Eggleston & Co.,
is foreman. Grocers. — March 1, 1849, Marcus N. Millard and
Jonas H. Crane formed a partnership, under the firm
name of Millard & Crane. The firm has remained
up to this time without change. They were then
located at 176 State street, where the American Ex
press office now is, and were engaged in a general
grocery business. In 1857 they removed to 160
State street, their present quarters. The building
occupied by them was erected by Wm. W. Tread-
way in 1836-7, and sold by him April 1, 1837, to
Cadwallader C. Clute, Messrs. Millard & Crane
buying of Mr. Clute, December 31, 1855. Up to
1865 they did a large jobbing trade, but since then
have confined their attention mainly to the retailing
of groceries, liquors, wines, ales and porter.
Mr. Millard was bom at Charlton, Saratoga
County, N. Y., in 1820, coming to Schenectady,
June 1, 1847.
J. H. CRANE.
This gentleman, who is one of the oldest and
most highly respected merchants in Schenectady
City or County, was born in Amsterdam, Mont
gomery County, April 22, 1813. His father was
Caleb C. Crane, who was born in Newark, N. J.,
April 17, 1768. He was but a lad at the time of
the destruction of Newark by the British in revo
lutionary times, and with many others fled to the
high ground from which he viewed the burning of
the town. That was one of the most memorable
days in the history of Newark, and it was with
streaming eyes that many then saw their homes
swept away under the torches of the ruthless in
vaders. But it was such scenes that fired the
American heart with hatred for the oppressors of
Americans, and nerved desperate men to press
forward to victory. During all the years that fol
lowed, Caleb C. Crane never quite forgot the feel
ing of resentment which took root in his being on
that occasion. When he reached maturity, being
of an ambitious turn of mind, he resolved to strike
out for himself in some other part of the then new
country. He made his way to a point two miles
north of where the village of Cranesville, Mont
gomery County, now is, and there, in the midst of
an almost undisturbed wilderness, made a settle
ment. Buying lands he improved them and made a
home for himself and his family, and there he lived
out the remainder of his allotted yeais, and died,
passing into the local history as one of the pioneers
of that section.
Of the fourteen children of Caleb C. Crane, J.
PI. Crane was the eighth born. His early years
were passed on his father's farm. The common
schools of the time and place supplied him the
only means of education. As he neared manhood
it became evident to him that he was not physically

CITY OF SCHENECTADY— INDUSTRIES.

157

strong enough to make a successful farmer of him
self, and he concluded to enter upon a mercantile
career as soon as an opportunity should present
itself. He came to Schenectady January I, 1835.
He first found employment for several years in a
hotel, and later he kept the Givens House four
years. In 1849 h'e formed a copartnership with Mr.
Marcus N. Millard, which has continued uninter
ruptedly through a period of more than thirty-six
years to the present time, Mr. Crane facetiously re
marking that he and Mr. Miller " had yet to have
their first quarrel." This business has kept pace
with the public progress, and they have ever held a
place among the leading merchants of Schenectady.
Mr. Crane is an old school Democrat, but is not
inclined to take any active part in politics. He
was married in 1844 to Cordelia A. Seely, of New
York, and resides at No. 24 Church street

W. E. Van Deusen, 28 and 30 State street, oc
cupies a leading position as a grocer. He also
deals in wooden-ware, fruit, etc., and makes flour
a specialty. Messrs. W. E. Walker and James W. Mairs,
composing the firm of Walker & Mairs, dealers in
groceries, seeds, housekeeping goods and farming
implements, 118 and 120 State street, occupy the
block, 60 x 1 20 feet, with cellars and lofts.
This firm was founded in 1786 by the grand
fathers of the present proprietors. The business
has always remained in the family, handed down
from father to son, and the history of the firm is
part of the city's life. Their trade extends for miles
around Schenectady.
John J. Hart, grocer, 235 State street, has been
in the trade since 1876, when he purchased a busi-

158

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

ness then located at 235 State street, which had
been established since 1840.
L. N. Reese, of the firm of Reese & Hartley,
corner Union and Romeyn streets, is one of the
leading grocers, and enjoys the reputation of a fair
and honest dealer.
Charles N. Smith, grocer, a son of the late Abel
Smith, has been in business in Schenectady since
March, 1883, in connection with A. Dillenbeck.
Willis T. Hanson & Co. , druggists and. apothe
caries, 195 State street, was established in 1879.
The premises are 25 x 100 feet, with the prescrip
tion department and private office in the rear.
They deal in all the standard medicines, trusses
and other surgical appliances, toilet articles, pure
wines and liquors, mineral and medicinal waters,
cigars, etc.
Their specialty, and which is their manufacture,
is "Hanson's Magic Corn Salve," a remedy widely
known. Mr. Willis T. Hanson is the active partner of
the concern.
In 1835, Andrew Truax established the phar
macy at 141 State street, which is now conducted
by Andrew T Veeder. Mr. Truax retained his
connection with it for forty-eight years In 1864
Mr. Veeder became partner, and in January, 1883,
Mr. Truax retired, leaving his former junior part
ner sole proprietor.
The premises are 30 x 100 feet in dimension,
and the stock carried embraces all necessary arti
cles. Dr. Veeder is a descendant of one of our
oldest families, is an accomplished pharmacist, and
treasurer of the County Medical Society.
ANDREW TRUAX, M.D.
Dr. Andrew Truax was born in Schenectady
April 10, 18 1 1, and died there September 26,
1883. About 1830 he became a clerk in the drug
store of Richard Fuller (the old Dunlap & Fuller
drug store), and while thus employed studied
medicine. After his graduation, he located and
practiced for a few years on the Hudson River.
Returning to Schenectady about 1835, he opened
a drug store, which has grown to be the most ex
tensive concern of the kind in the city, and is now
under the management of his nephew, Andrew T.
Veeder, who became his partner in 1866.
Dr. Truax was successful in business. Ever
attentive to all duties, he was economical, but
never penurious. His reputation for all those
qualities which characterize the honorable, upright
man of affairs was well known, and as a citizen his
virtues were as conspicuous as his honor. He was
a quiet, unassuming gentleman, courteous to all,
whether high or low. Plis words were few, but to
the point. No appeal for charity, when the object
was deserving, was made to him in vain. Many
an aching heart was made glad by his kindly hand,
and many a poor soul, whose necessities he re
lieved, felt, at his death, that a faithful friend was
gone. Like his life, his charities were unostenta
tious, and in this he but obeyed the promptings

of his noble heart, which turned from vain display.
He never married. Although not a professor of
religion, he was a faithful attendant at the First
Reformed Church. His friendship was steadfast,
and the many who knew him will respect his
memory while they live.

Ed. L. Davis, druggist, began business in Sche
nectady in 1 88 1, and has a flourishing trade.
G. A. F. Steinfueher has sustained a prosperous
business in the drug trade for some years, and well
merits the extensive patronage he controls.
Furniture and Undertaking. — The present
firm of Albert Brown & Son, i 54 State street, up
holsterers and furniture manufacturers and under
takers, is the outcome of the business established
by Albert Brown in 1829 in the Lassell building.
In 1830, Mr. Brown bought the cabinet shop of
Nicholas Yates, State street, and occupied it until
1833, when he leased the store of Cornelius Groot,
subsequently Vedder & Co. Six years later he was
burned out, and then leased the Doty Block. In
1857 he moved into the I. I. Truax Block across
the way, remaining there until 1872. His son,
Clinton C. , purchased Fuller's Hotel, corner State
and Dock streets, and converted it into the present
establishment, to which place Mr. Brown removed
October 1, 1872. During the years from 1872 to
1882, the firm was known as Albert Brown, A. &
E. Brown, A. Brown & Son, Albert Brown and A.
Brown & Son, under which head it still exists.
Since the death of Mr. Brown, March 6, 1882, the
business has been conducted by Clinton C. Brown.
Mr. George Harding has been with the house since
February 16, 1843.
The semi-centennial of Mr. Albert Brown's busi
ness life, April 10, 1879, was a memorable event
in the history of Schenectady.
In 1849, Charles N. Yates learned his trade of
Albert Brown, in the same building now occupied
by the former. Mr. Yates during the years 1849-
50-51 was with his father, Nicholas Yates, at 27
Front street. After several business changes, Mr.
Yates purchased his present property, 62, 68, 70
and 72 State street, and engaged in the wholesale
and retail furniture and upholstering business,
where he has since remained. He also manufac
tures, from the raw stuff, any custom work ordered.
Fifteen males are employed, and their productions
reach Saratoga and Montgomery Counties. The
undertaking department is in charge of Mr. J. S.
Timeson. A son of the proprietor, M. De Forest
Yates, is associated with the business.
The establishment of Levi T. Clute, hatter and
furrier, 101 State street, was founded in 1839 by
his father, William H. Clute, and Levi W. Teller,
under the firm name of Clute & Teller. They were
then located at 96 State street Mr. Teller died in
1 86 1, and the business was carried on by Wm. H.
Clute until 1867, when Levi T. was added, the
firm name becoming W. H. Clute & Son. The
firm remained without change until 1871, the
year of Mr. Clute's death, since which time Levi
T. Clute has conducted the most extensive business

b}'H&C.K>evoets,N ¦

^^

f-

CITY OF SCHENECTADY— INDUSTRIES.

159

in the line of hats, caps, furs, robes, trunks and
satchels in the county.
James Sanders, importer and dealer in watches
and jewelry, 109 State street, has been established
for about forty years. The store is 30 x 90 feet in
extent, is richly fitted up, and presents an attractive
appearance. Mr. Sanders also deals in clocks,
spectacles and eye-glasses. He is also sole agent
for the Charles E. Jacot watches.
J. V. Vrooman has been a dealer in stoves,
hardware, tinware, etc., and a plumber, gas and
steam-fitter since 1854, the year he established his
present business There has been no change in
the firm name since the admission of his son, W.
C. Vrooman, when the name was changed to J. V.
Vrooman & Son.
Their premises at 64 and 66 State street are 28 x
106 feet in extent, and three stories high. The first
floor is devoted to general retail purposes. In the
mechanical department from fifteen to twenty men
are employed in plumbing, gas and steam-fitting,
tin 'and sheet metal-working, etc. Buildings are
fitted up for steam heating at high or low pressure.
W. J. Swits, 136 and 138 State street, hardware
merchant, is a well known business man of the
city. He also deals in house furnishing goods,
stoves and agricultural implements, and all kinds
of metal work is done to order.
Clark Witbeck is a wholesale dealer in hard
ware, cutlery, iron, steel, farming and agricultuial
implements, at 217 State street. The annual out
put is large, and his trade extends throughout a
large section of country.
The establishment of Levi W. Case, copper
smith, gas and-steam fitter, 12 and 14 Warren street,
was founded in 1849. The shop is of brick, two
stories high and 60 x 50 feet in dimensions. It is
equipped with proper machinery, which is driven
by a stationary steam engine. From twelve to fifteen
skilled workmen are employed. A specialty is fit
ting up public buildings, factories, dwellings, etc. ,
for heating by steam at high or low pressure. In
addition to the manufacturing and jobbing depart
ment, Mr. Case also deals in pipe, fittings, cocks,
rubber hose, drive-well pipes, drain and sewer pipe,
drive-well pumps, steam radiators, etc.
J. W. McMullen, marble and granite dealer,
7 State street, purchased in 1871 his present estab
lishment of Mr. F. Kinney, who founded it in
about 1855. The premises are 60 x 150 feet, the
front portion being used as a shop and the rear as
a yard for storage. Mantels, windows, caps,
monumental and other architectural work of all
kinds are produced. Mr. McMullen was born and
reared in Albany, where he resided until his re
moval here, about fourteen years ago.
For twenty-one years previous to 1876, J. H.
Bame was engaged in the livery business in this city.
During that year he retired from that business
and became a dealer in carriages, harness, robes,
horse clothing, etc., locating in the Bame block,
comer of Centre and Liberty streets. He built
and owns the block, of which he occupies a part.

He also lets money on real estate, and buys and
sells horses.
In 1852, Mr. E. L. Freeman came here from
Chenango County, and succeeded Mr. Jonathan
Crane as a dealer in paints, oils, glass, putty, etc.,
locating at 18 Wall street, Mr. Crane established
the firm about 1840. Shortly after Mr. Freeman
purchased the business his two brothers were added,
under the style of E. L. Freeman & Co., which
continued without change until 1874, when Mr. E.
L. Freeman died.
Jonathan R. Freeman and A. T. Freeman then
formed the present firm, Freeman Brothers. Their
trade is wholesale and retail, and their stock em
braces everything legitimately connected therewith.
James W. Darrow & Co. (Gerard us Smith), coal
and wood dealers, office, no Centre Street, com
menced in 1878. The large yard on Ferry street,
near the canal, has good facilities for receiving
the coal and shipping it in large quantities ; the
yard on Centre street is convenient for delivery
through the city. Both yards are fully equipped
with necessary sheds and screens.
Andrew McMullen, coal, wood, lime, ce
ment, broom-handles, etc., 92 and 94 Union and
8, 9 and 10 Dock street, has been in business since
1858. The Union street premises have a frontage
of 60 feet, extending along the railway 200 feet.
An office and two-story warehouse is also there.
The office, warehouse and yard on Dock street
were opened so as to obtain easy access to the canal.
Mr. McMullen has resided here for 55 years; has
served as Alderman and Supervisor; and was for
four years Mayor of the city. Associated with him
is his son, Henry McMullen.
Simon H. Vedder, grandson of Nicholas Ved
der, was born in Schenectady July 17, 1839, and
in 1872 established at 61 Park place his present
business, that of wholesale and retail dealer in coal
and wood, and manufacturer of refined cider and
pure cider vinegar.
H. Rosa, dealer in coal and wood, 15 Dock
street, has been in this business for forty years. The
yard, which is in the rear of the office, is accessi
ble to the canal on the front and to a branch track
of the railway in the rear. It is fitted up with the
necessary appliances.
F. W. Rankins is a dealer in coal on the dock,
and ranks as a popular business man of the
city. In 1868, J. H. Dakin founded his present busi
ness, that of plumber, gas and steam-fitter, jobbing
machinist and brass-founder, at 102, 104 and 106
Liberty street. The premises are 125x69 feet,
upon which is a building 125 x 30 feet containing
the warerooms and shop. It is equipped with
proper machinery and steam power.
Mr. Benjamin Van Vranken is an old resident.
From 1853 to 1865 he was engaged as a grocer,
building in 1862 the block corner Jay and State
streets, which he occupied for three years. He was,
in 1870, superintendent of section two, Erie Canal,
being that part of the canal running from the lower

160

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Mohawk aqueduct to Amsterdam, a distance of 32
miles. He held the position for two years, and
was reappointed in 1874, holding it for four years.
Since then Mr. Van Vranken, as contractor and
builder, has been busily engaged, erecting, among
others, the bridge across the North River from
Luzerne, Washington County, N. Y., to Hadley,
Saratoga County, N. Y.
The contract for the first foot of sewer ever laid
in Schenectady was let to Benjamin Van Vranken,
in August, 1884. Work was commenced in Octo
ber, 1884, for constructing ten miles.
In 1867 he invented the improved "Empire"
brick machine, which is yet in universal use.
Duncan Robison, builder and contractor, has
been in business in Schenectady more than thirty
years. His grand-parents emigrated from Scotland
and landed in New York July 4, 1776, and soon
afterward located in Rotterdam and engaged in
farming. Many of their descendants are now living
in that town.
The history of Schenectady County would be in
complete without mention of one of its most enter
prising citizens.
Hon. Charles Stanford was born in Albany
County in 1819, and became a resident of this
county in 1861. He represented this county in the
Assembly of 1864-5, and this district in the Senate,
1866-9. In the Senate he distinguished himself by
his connection with canal reforms. He was largely
interested in public enterprises in this city, being
President of the Schenectady Water Company, Gas
Company, and the McQueen Locomotive Works,
and was one of the largest real estate owners in the
city. He resided in the town of Niskayuna, where
he conducted a stock farm, being largely interested
in the breeding of horses. He died in August, 1885.
Hon. John W. Veeder was born in this city in
1825. He was educated at the old Lyceum. He
was engaged in transportation and grocery business
for a number of years. In 1854 he was appointed
Canal Collector, and in 1858 elected County Clerk.
The latter office he resigned in 1861, to accept the
appointment of postmaster under President Lin
coln. He held this position for eight years. From
1874 to 1883 he was employed in the State School
Department, under State Superintendent of Schools
Neil Gilmour. In 1884 he was elected Member of
Assembly. Stephen Lush, son of Major William Lush,
was born in Albany, January 7th, 181 8, and early
retired from mercantile life to attend to personal
affairs. He represented the City of Albany in the
Board of Supervisors three terms, and has occupied
several positions in the State departments. He
married the daughter of John Gansvoort, and re
sides in Schenectady.
Josiah Van Vranken was born in the town of
Niskayuna in 1843. He has been a merchant,
manufacturer, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

and Common Council, and Deputy County Clerk.
At present he is Deputy Superintendent of the State
Banking Department
Atwell & Dennington are the leading real estate
and insurance firm of the city. Frank J. Atwell
attends to the real estate, and H. W. Dennington
to the insurance department of the firm. They
enjoy a lucrative business and the entire confi
dence of the community.
C. L. Scott conducts the business of real estate
and insurance, and is a manager in the office of
the Evening Star.
Major A. Freeman was born in Galway, N. Y.,
September 30, 1802, and with Captain Richard
Freeman, his father, removed to Schenectady when
he was seventeen years old. In 1824 he married
Miss Elizabeth Clute. In 1825 he became com
mander of one of the first passenger packet boats
on the Erie Canal. In 1831 he was appointed
Brigade Inspector of the Fifty-seventh Regiment
Militia, with the rank of Major. He owned and
kept several popular hotels. Retiring to Schenec
tady in 1870, he died in his eightieth year. He left
two sons : E. L. B. Freeman, of New York, and
Charles Freeman, of Schenectady.
' Paul Ramsay has been connected with the New
York Central Railroad for ten years, and is now
its ticket agent at Schenectady.
James B. Alexander is also ticket agent in the
same office.
A. M. Powers, photographer, has resided in
Schenectady since 1873. In 1879 he opened a
photographic gallery at 225 State street, where he
has built up a large and lucrative business.
Isaac I. Yates, at present a retired gentleman, is
a graduate of the Annapolis Naval Academy. He
retired from naval service as a Lieutenant in 1883.
He served in the European, North Atlantic, South
Atlantic, North and South Pacific squadrons, and
was one of a few saved at the time of the wreck of
the Oneida, January 24, 1870.
Among the leading builders and contractors of
the city are Joshua Davis, Centre street, near
Veeder's Mill; Benjamin Fraking, 530 State street;
Thomas Gunn, 16 Romeyn street; Thomas Kil
lian, 27 Romeyn street; R. W. Lampman, 28
Paige street; John McEncroe, 185 Union street;
John McDermott, 66 Romeyn street; John U. Sit
terly, Hamilton street, near Paige; P. Van Dyck,
152 Barrett street; A. R. Van Dermoor, 16 Ferry
street; F. H. Weston, Hamilton street, corner
Lafayette; Alonzo Warner, 24 Park place; J. M.
Wendell, Mill lane; and Thomas Harrigan and
F. P. Wright.
Robine Hathaway for a number of years prior
to his death was a superintendent on the Erie
Canal. He was also a contractor and builder. His
son, William, now holds the same position in the
canal service formerly occupied by his father.

THE TOWNSHIP OF DUANESBURGH.

161

HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF DUANESBURGH.

SITUATION AND BOUNDARIES.
DUANESBURGH is the western town of Sche
nectady County, and is bounded north by
Montgomery County ; east by the town of Prince
town ; south by Albany and Schoharie Counties ;
and west by Schoharie County.
TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES AND ITEMS
OF INTEREST.
This town has an area of about 42,000 acres,
and its population in 1880 was 2,995. Its form
is irregular, and its situation elevated from 400 to
500 feet above the level of the Hudson at Albany.
Its surface consists of an upland broken by the
narrow valleys and gullies of small streams. Scho
harie Creek forms a portion of the western boundary,
and Norman's Kil flows through the south part,
entering the Hudson further down, at a point
about two and one half miles below Albany. The
Bozen Kil, or Mad Creek, one of the branches of
Norman's Kil, is a picturesque stream on which is
a fall of seventy feet. Corry's Brook and Chuck-
tennuda Creek also do their part in draining the
town. The hills which border upon these streams are
steep and in some places rocky. The soil is a
stiff, clayey loam with a slight intermixture of
gravel. The products are various, but grass suc
ceeds better than grain, and, as a whole, the town
is better adapted to pasturage than to tillage.
Formerly the dairy interests were of considerable
importance, but 'during late years the principal
crops cultivated have been hay, oats, potatoes,
corn, buckwheat and rye. But few of the large
or small fruits are grown, the demand for home
consumption being only supplied. Maria Pond
and Featherstonhaugh Lake are two small sheets
of water in the northeast part, about 250 feet above
the canal. The former is beautiful, especially
during the summer, its circumference being about
two miles.
This town contains few important manufacturing
interests. The Albany and Susquehanna Railroad
extends through the south part, with a station at
Quaker street. This village and Duanesburgh are
stopping places on the old Schenectady Railroad,
the terminal points of which are Schenectady and
Quaker Street.
Judge Duane, on his withdrawal from active
life, selected a plot of ground ten acres in extent,
which he gave to the town. This is known as
Centre Square or Lot, and was designed as a com

mons for the village of Duanesburgh. The situa-
ion did not prove favorable for the growth of sucht
a settlement, though two churches, a school-house
and other buildings mark the locality.
SETTLEMENT.— EARLY PURCHASES.
Large tracts in what is now this town were pur
chased by different parties between 1736 and 1770.
Among the purchasers were Thomas Freeman in
1736 ; Timothy Bagley in 1737; A. P. and Wil
liam Crosby in 1738 ; Walter Butler in 1739 ; and
Jonathan Brewster in 1770. The tract embraced
about 60,000 acres, which, with the exception
of about 1,000 acres known as Braine's Patent,
came into the ownership of Hon. James Duane,
either by inheritance from his father or by pur
chase. Though, as has been seen, considerable land
had been taken up, most of it in bulk, actual
settlement practically began about the time of the
organization of the town (1765), when Judge
Duane contracted with about twenty German
families from Pennsylvania to begin a settlement.
Sixteen of these families came and located per
manently. These lands were rented at the rate of
about $15 per annum on each one hundred acres
on perpetual leases, payable in gold and silver.
The agents of Sir William Johnson excited prejudice
against them, and were instrumental for a time in
retarding the progress of their settlement and im
provement. Long continued disaffection on the
part of tenants, intensified by the anti-rent troubles
round about, culminated in the spring of 1858 in
the formation in Duanesburgh of an Anti-rent
Association, the members of which pledged them
selves to pay no rents, to resist all attempts to
collect them, and to share equally the expense
which any of them might incur in contesting at
law the rights of landlords in the matter. The
settlement of these difficulties forms a part of the
general history of the territory treated in this article.
JUDGE JAMES DUANE.
Hon. James Duane was born in New Y'ork City,
February 6, 1733. Having acquired the fitting
education, he selected the law for his profession,
and entered the office of James Alexander, one of
the most eminent counsel of our colonial bar, and
the father of the American General, Lord Stirling.
He was admitted as an attorney in 1754, and
was soon intrusted with a large professional
business.

162

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

October 21, 1759, Mr. Duane married Mary,
the eldest daughter of Robert Livingston, then pro
prietor of' Livingston Manor. This alliance tended
to give direction to his studies and practice, and
caused him to be actively engaged in all of the law
suits and decisions relative to the boundaries of
New York colony with New Hampshire, Masssa-
chusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey. The stand
ing Mr. Duane had acquired in his profession
before the revolution, led to his retention in nu
merous important cases. Among these may be
mentioned, as of some local interest, the case of
Schermerhorn against the trustees of Schenectady
Patent, a long-continued struggle, and his connec
tion as counsel for Trinity Church with the oft-re
peated claims of the heirs of Anneke Jans.
But it was as a high-toned patriot in the early
period of our revolutionary struggle that Mr.
Duane assumed his noblest character, and was
among the unappalled actors. He was a member
of the first Provincial Congress that met in Phila
delphia, September 5, 1774, to enter on daring
measures. He was associated with such spirits as
Patrick Henry, John Adams, John Jay, Richard
Henry Lee, Benjamin Franklin, and others of
similar temperament, and sustained his manly share
of responsibility. He was again elected to Con
gress in 1775, and went soon after the battle of
Lexington, reaching Philadelphia on the day the
session opened, and co-operated with his fellow-
delegates in raising an army, appointing Washing
ton commander-in-chief, issuing bills, establishing
a post-office, and, in fact, assuming the powers of
government. He continued in Congress until
May 31, 1776, when he was called home to attend
the New York Congress, of which he had been
chosen a member from the city of New York in the
preceding April. The object was to form a State
Government — an object so near and dear to the
heart of every patriotic man of New York; and it
was neither fear nor inclination that drew Mr.
Duane, Robert R. Livingston and John Jay from
the general Congress at this time, and prevented
them from appearing as signers of the Declaration
of Independence, to the preparatory steps of which
they had effectually contributed, and to the main
tenance of which they all devoted so many years of
their lives.
So devoted was Mr. Duane to the cause of lib
erty, that he did not again set his foot on the soil of'
his native city, or visit his extensive property there,
until he entered it in triumph November 25, 1783,
on the evacuation of New York by the British
troops and authorities. It is impossible in a sketch
like this to recount Mr. Duane's patriotic labors.
He was either a member of the General Congress
of the Union or the Provincial Congress of New
York during almost the whole of the revolution
ary period. February 5, 1784, he was elected
Mayor of the City of New York, which office he
held several years; and in March, 1789, welcomed
to that city the first Congress under the present
Constitution, and General Washington as President
of the Republic which their joint labors in diverse
fields had helped to establish. Our general Gov

ernment under the new Constitution went into
operation in the spring of 1789, and in September
of that year, without solicitation on his part, Mr.
Duane was nominated by President Washington,
and appointed by the United States Senate, United
States District Judge of the District of New York,
and entered upon the duties of his office upon the
fourteenth of the following month. For about five
years Judge Duane continued to execute the duties
of this office, earnestly endeavoring to fulfill the
wishes of his great friend, Washington, and with
the still higher object of satisfying his enlightened
conscience. But forty years of indefatigable labor
had so undermined his health as to induce him
to resign and retire to his estate in Duanesburgh.
Accordingly, on the 10th of March, 1794, he
addressed a letter to the President, announcing his
wishes, and urging the appointment of a successor
by the middle of April. The President replied with
a kind letter, and April 8th, so soon as the busi
ness of the court permitted, he resigned, and retired
finally from a long and honorable public life.
In a few days after this he removed to Schenec
tady, where he owned some property, and had fre
quently spent portions of the year with his family.
The large buildings which he owned were de
stroyed by the great fire of 1 8 1 9. There it was his
intention to remain until he could carry into effect
his wish to fix his permanent home on his estate in
Duanesburgh, where he had already erected a
church, and in 1796 commenced building a coun
try seat which he was destined not to live to com
plete. On the morning of February 1, 1797, at
his city residence, just as he was arising from his
bed, he was taken with an affection of the heart,
and expired almost immediately. Thus passed
away one whose name will live while the records
exist of the days of the revolution, and the deeds
of the patriots, statesmen and soldiers of that mem
orable period. He was laid to rest in a vault, now
closed, underneath Christ's Church, Duanesburgh,
and beside him have been placed the remains of his
wife, Mary Livingston, and other members of his
family. General William North. — Mary, the eldest
daughter of Hon. James Duane, married Gen. Will
iam North, a distinguished soldier of the revolution.
He was the friend and companion-in-arms of Baron
Steuben, and with that patriot rendered most effici
ent service to his country in the time of her need.
With his distinguished father-in-law he enjoyed the
confidence and friendship of Washington, and was
with him at Yorktown in 1781, when Lord Corn
waUis surrendered.
In l7&3, on that most memorable occasion in
New York City, he bade farewell to Washington
and his fellow officers, and shortly thereafter, in the
same year, retired to Duanesburgh. This town
was then but little better than a wilderness, sparsely
settled and infested with wild animals. Here he
settled upon a large estate, living in a fine house and
enjoying a well-earned leisure.
The General's services to his country remained
fresh in the public mind, however, and in 1796 he

THE TOWNSHIP OF DUANESBURGH.

163

was again called into public life and elected to the
Assembly of the State, and when that body con
vened he was selected, from among the man)- emi
nent men composing it, to be the Speaker of the
House. The succeeding year he was returned to
the Assembly, and again made Speaker. In 1 809
he had the satisfaction of seeing Schenectady County
established. He had been one of the chief pro
moters of that project, and upon the political or
ganization of the county in 18 10, he was the first
to represent it in the Assembly, and for the third
time was chosen Speaker. His arduous life, how
ever, was beginning to tell upon him, and he re
mained in retirement thereafter until his death at his
home in Duanesburgh. He is buried in the vault of
the family church before referred to in these pages,
and a mural tablet records his services as a patriot
and statesman, and his high integrity as a man.
His son, William North, and one daughter sur
vived him. The former owned and occupied the
North homestead until his death. He is buried
beside his father. Mary and Hannah North were
his only children. Mary married Rev. D. C. Wes
ton, who for some years was the clergyman of the
old Duanesburgh Church. She died a few years
since, and the only surviving member of the family,
of the family name, is her sister, Hannah North, of
New York City. The North residence is standing
and in good condition, but it long since passed
out of the possession of the family.

The Featherstonhaugh Family. — Sarah, the
second daughter of Judge Duane, was celebrated
for her great beauty and her many accomplish
ments. Her father's prominence and position had
given her the acquaintance of many of the dis
tinguished men of the time, and her girlish grace
had won for her the friendship of Washington him
self. There is now in possession of one of her de
scendants an original portrait of General Washing
ton, which was presented to her by its illustrious
original shortly before his death. She was married
in 1808 to George William Featherstonhaugh, an
English gentleman who had come to this country
in the service of the British Government. After his
marriage Mr. Featherstonhaugh removed to Duanes
burgh, and in the midst of a large estate upon the
banks of Featherstonhaugh Lake, he erected a mag
nificent mansion. Featherstonhaugh Park, as the
place came to be called, in all its appointments re
sembled an elegant English country residence.
Mr. Featherstonhaugh was of striking personal
appearance, and a man of remarkable and diversi
fied attainments. Of high education, he was an
accomplished scholar and linguist as well as a fine
musician. He enjoyed the friendship and society
of many of the most distinguished scholars and
scientists of the day, and few Englishmen of cul
ture and note came to America without receiving
his hospitality. He was quick to perceive worth
and talent in others, and it gave him great satisfac
tion to afford encouragement to young men. When
Thomas Cole, afterward the celebrated landscape
painter, was struggling for recognition, he found in
Mr. Featherstonhaugh the first substantial apprecia

tion of his talent Mr. Featherstonhaugh, in his
Journal, speaking of Cole, says:
" I have staying with me a young Englishman
by birth of the name of Thomas Cole, who has
quite a talent for painting. He is now at work
finishing a view of the lake and house for me. He
shows great talent and I predict for him a brilliant
career. "
How well that prediction was verified!
That painting is now in the possession of the
Featherstonhaugh family at Duanesburgh. Mr.
Featherstonhaugh, with his friend, Stephen Van
Rensselaer, originated the idea of a railroad be
tween Albany and Schenectady, and it was owing
to his indomitable will and perseverance in ob
taining and selling stock, enlisting friends and
arguing away countless objections, more than to
any other cause, that the project was at last real
ized. He was the author of several works on agri
culture, and took an active part in promoting
farming interests, by importing blooded stock and
organizing a State Agricultural Society, and by
getting favorable and salutary laws passed by the
Legislature. He was also the author of several books
on geology and travel, besides numerous essays on
various subjects. He resided in Duanesburgh
until about 1828, when, having just returned from
foreign travel, he had the misfortune of seeing his
magnificent house and all its contents destroyed by
fire. His wife dying a few years afterward, he re
turned to England, and was appointed by the gov
ernment as consul to Havre. He resided in his
official capacity at that place until his death in
1866. The following is extracted from a French
paper :
"He was borne to his grave by six consuls of
the English department, preceded by the clergy of
the Church of England, All the principal author
ities, civic and military, followed, together with
the officers of the English vessels in the port. An
eloquent eulogy was delivered at the grave, com
memorating the eminent qualities and high char
acter which had distinguished the honorable dead."
Mr. Featherstonhaugh was descended from one
of the oldest families in England, and one cele
brated in story and ballad of olden time. He be
longed to many of the literary and scientific soci
eties both of this Country and England, and was
an honored Fellow of the Royal Society. By
' his first marriage two sons survived him. These
were George William Featherstonhaugh, now of
Milwaukee, Wis., and James Duane Featherston
haugh, of Duanesburgh. By a second marriage
he left three children, all residing in England.
Three grandchildren, sons of James D. Feather
stonhaugh, are now living in New York State, viz. :
Dr. James Duane Featherstonhaugh, of Cohoes;
Dr. Thomas Featherstonhaugh, of New York City;
and George William Featherstonhaugh, a lawyer
of Schenectady, residing in Duanesburgh. A
young child of the latter represents the last gener
ation of the family to the present time— a great
grandchild of the founder of the family in America.
The Featherstonhaughs own and occupy the last
of the family mansions erected in Duanesburgh.

164

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

This, known as the Duane Mansion, was built
about 1810 by Catharine Livingston Duane, the
younger daughter of Judge Duane, upon an emi
nence overlooking nearly the whole town of
Duanesburgh, and but a short distance from the
North mansion. It is large and imposing, a piazza
seventy feet in length extending along its entire
north side. The roof over the piazza, twenty feet
high, is supported by eight massive columns,
turned out of huge pine trees. Surrounded by
ample grounds and sheltered by beautiful shade
trees, this is one of the most charming of country
residences. Miss Duane occupied it until 1852,
when she died, noted for her charity and benevo
lence. By will it descended to her nephew, James
D. Featherstonhaugh, and is the last property of
any consequence in the town remaining in the pos
session of descendants of Judge Duane.
PROMINENT CITIZENS' IN 1838 AND 1858.
The following were prominent citizens of
Duanesburgh in 1838, as appears from the town
records and other authentic documents ; Jacob A.
Radley, Thomas Holmes, Jr., David Beverage,
Charles O. S. Patterson, Samuel Slawson, John
Wiltse, Israel R. Green, Bradford Berckley, Thomas
W. Patterson, Silas H. Marsh, John Bentley, Ira
Bennett, Alexander McMillan, Amos Chapman,
Ebenezer Cady, Joseph Braman, Frederick Shute,
Leonard Herrick, James Tullock, Jr., Thomas
Holmes, Henry I. Smith, David Lander, A. C.
Clogston, John Combs, Nathaniel Wiggins, John
Tullock, Alexander Liddle, Alexander Eggleston,
William McMillan, William Turnbull, Robert
Liddle, Lester Mott, Joseph Eggleston, Thad
deus King, George Ingersoll, Lawrence D. Long,
William H. Morey, Jacob Coons, John L. Jones,
Jesse Abbey, John Shute, John T. Wright, Mat
thew H. Rector, Philip Paige, David Koon, Alonzo
Macomber, Caleb H. Carpenter, James Ferguson,
Samuel Ostrander, Ralph W. McDougall, Henry
Ladd, Isaac C. Stevens, Kirby Wilber, Shelden J.
Hoag, Jacob White, Nathaniel Jenkins, William
D. Cary, John Tullock, George E. Cady, Stephen
Badgley, Daniel P. Wing, Abraham Montanye,
James Clement, Lyman Hows, George Lasher.
Twenty years later the following list comprised
most of the leading men in the town. It will be
seen that some of the names appear in the preced
ing list. Henry Sniffers, Charles Dennison, Henry
Pulver, John McCally, Charles A. Patterson, James
M. Lasher, Elijah Rockwell, John D. Stillwell,
Stephen Fuller, J. J. Green, Thomas Freydendall,
Hiram Hausett, George Mason, Joseph Bennett,
James Macomber, Amos Chapman, Charles Cady!
Lovell Doty, Lysander Markle, Elnathan Abrams,
Elijah Ladd, William Marsh, Samuel Wingate,
William Turnbull, Silas Tripp, Henry J. Smith,
Henry Quick, James Liddle, Daniel Wiggins,
Charles L. Tullock, Thomas Liddle, Adam Hum
phrey, Jonathan Soule, William Waddell, William
McMillan, John Combs, James Wilkinson, Peter
Cameron, Joseph Eggleston, Lemuel Sisson, G.
T. McFarland, Albert Morey, David Hughes,
William Koons, Charles Ladd, Henry Jones, John

Shutt, Philo Avery, Peter Deyo, Orlando Root, Ira
Marsh, M. H. Rector, William S. Gordon, Ben
jamin Warden, Joel J. Smith, Leonard Gaige,
Jonathan Harden, Joseph Moore, Jesse Ketcham,
John Ferguson, Elias Gey, Ralph W. McDougall,
Charles Davis, Jacob Weaver, Charles Case, James
Tullock, Reuben Briggs, David Griffith, Joseph
Lason, B. F. Wood, Isaac Quimby, Allen Wilber,
Samuel Rulison, Jacob Patterson, Abraham Ball,
Alexander Dorn, Anthony De Long, Stephen
Badgley, George Badgley, David Underbill.
OTHER EARLY SETTLERS AND MEN OF PROMINENCE.
The Dennison Family in Duanesburgh dates
back to the early settlement of the town. Charles
Dennison, the ancestor, was a native of Ireland.
He located on the farm now owned and occupied by
George L. Dennison, about 1773, and was a soldier
in the patriot service during the revolution. He
had but one son, Ezekiel, who was born on the
homestead, and married a Miss Pulver, living to
the advanced age of eighty-four years, and having
a family of several children, of whom Charles Den
nison, the eldest, was born November 20, 1797.
Charles was twice married; first to Maria, daughter
of John Thomas, April 10, 18 19. She was born
November 16, 1793, and died in 1848. His sec
ond marriage was to Mary Lockwood, of Prince
town. His children by his first marriage were
Margaret (deceased), John (living in Iowa), Eliza
beth, Charles P. (deceased), Ezekiel (deceased),
and George L. and William, both of whom are
farmers in Duanesburgh. George L. Dennison
was born September 16, 1834, and was married
January 9, 1866, to Miss Malinda A. Root, of
North Norwich, Oxford County, Canada. Their
children are Sherman H. Dennison, bom October
3, 1867; John M. Dennison, born September 26,
1868; Sarah M. Dennison, born October 3, 1870;
Mary A. Dennison, born August 21, 1872; L.
Louise Dennison, born November 20, 1874;
Martha E. Dennison, born January 12, 1880; and
Margaret A. Dennison, born April 8, 1882.
Ralph McDougall was a son of Alexander
McDougall, a native of the Scotch Highlands, and
emigrated to America with his father-in-law, Ralph
Wesley, about 1774. He first located upon land
now occupied by Duanesburgh Four Corners. His
son, Ralph McDougall, was born June 6, 1785, and
married Abigail, daughter of Benjamin Armstrong.
His father-in-law was a native of Albany County,
and at that time a farmer in Duanesburgh. Of the"
nine children of Ralph and Abigail McDougall,
Ann married Joseph Rector and is dead; Hannah
died, aged twenty-one; Hugh settled on a farm in
Duanesburgh, and died there November 7, 1878;
John lives in Walworth County, Wisconsin; Ben
jamin is a farmer living near Binghamton, N. Y. ;
Alexander located adjacent to the old homestead,
married Abigail, daughter of Alexander Gifford,
and has a family of six children : Ralph A., Pur-
son R., Elizabeth, John, Wesley and Hannah;
Thomas and Abigail are dead; and Ralph W. occu
pies the old homestead of two hundred acres
about a. mile east Qf the village of Duanesburgh,

THE TOWNSHIP OF DUANESBURGH.

165

and is well known and highly respected by his fel
low townsmen. Ralph McDougall died June i,
1857. The venerable Robert Liddle, of Duanesburgh,
represents one of the earliest families of the town.
His grandfather, a Scotchman, emigrated from the
shire of Roxburgh about 1775, and settled on the
place now ow,ned and occupied by Robert Kelly,
in Princetown. He was a mason by trade and did
much work in Albany, going thither through the
wilderness to earn money with which to pay for his
home. Hewas born in 1741, and had married
and had a family before leaving Scotland. His
wife, and his sons, Thomas and Alexander, and
his daughter, Margaret, accompanied him. His
daughter Elizabeth was born during the voyage.
Christie and John, other children, were born after
the establishment of the family in this country. Of
this generation none are now living. Robert Lid
dle is the oldest son of Alexander and Mary (Gif
ford) Liddle and was born January 12, 1803. He
has been three times married. His first wife was
Sally Smith, daughter of Charles Smith, of Duanes
burgh. Her children were Alexander, Mary,
Abigail, Ann E., Charles, Thomas, Abram S., and
Robert W. For a second wife he married Sarah,
daughter of John Robinson, of North Duanes
burgh, who bore children named Agnes, Mc
Dermott, and Janet. His third wife, now living,
was Janet Young, of Duanesburgh. The Liddle
family is both numerous and highly respected
throughout Schenectady Count)-.
Ezekiel Tripp was among the earlier settlers of
the town. With his family of four sons and four
daughters, he emigrated from Rhode Island to
Dutchess County about 1789. There he remained
about a year, when he removed to Duanes
burgh, and located upon the present home
stead of Daniel C. Hoag. This farm, then com
prising no acres with small improvements, he
purchased for $30. His wife was Mary Lawton.
Benjamin Tripp was their oldest son. He married
Hannah Deuel, and located on the farm of 107I
acres now owned by Darius Tripp, a grandson of
the pioneer. They had a family of ten children.
Silas Tripp was the seventh in order of birth. He
married Martha A. Stevens, and succeeded to the
ownership of the home. Of the children of Silas
Tripp, Darius and Emily are living on the old
Tripp homestead; Jedediah S. is in Wisconsin;
Ezekiel, Mariette, Samuel B. and Ursula are de
ceased; Mercy A. is Mrs. I. G. Quimby, of Duanes
burgh; and Seneca is in Minnesota.
William Ladd was one of the pioneer settlers in
the vicinity of Braman's Corners. With his two
sons, Thomas and William, Jr., he came from
Barrington, Mass., in 1781, and cleared about
three acres of heavy forest at the spot now occupied
by the farm buildings of Mr. Walthousen, being
lot 160 Duane survey, and commonly known as
the Old Ladd Homestead. This land was
cleared, plowed and planted to wheat without the
aid of team, plow or drag. That same year a
small log cabin was erected, and late in the fall

Mr. Ladd and his sons returned to Barrington,
Mass., retracing their tree-marked way to their old
home. They came back in the spring of 1782,
bringing with them Mrs. Ladd and other children
named John, Levi, Sally. Betsey, Susan, Hannah,
Polly, Nancy, Elizabeth, and Lemuel. In health,
size and muscular strength, this generation of
Ladds was a remarkable one. The ancestors of
William Ladd were of pure English blood, and he,
with two brothers, emigrated from England in
1633, and located at Saybrook, Mass. He was
married to Elizabeth Vining, in Abington, Mass.,
November 4, 1776. John D. Ladd, of Sche
nectady, is a son of John Ladd, Jr., and Mary
Disbrow, his wife. John Ladd, Jr., was a son of
John Ladd, son of William Ladd, the pioneer in
Duanesburgh. Thus it will be seen that John D.
Ladd is of the fourth generation of the family in
Schenectady County. He was born in Duanes
burgh, October 13, 1827, and until 1862, when
he removed to Schenectady, lived continuously in
his native town with the exception of about two
years, during which he was a salesman in a dry
goods store in Burtonville. In 1866 he entered
the employ of William McCammus & Co., and
has held the position ever since, though the old
firm has been succeeded by T. H. Reeves & Co.
He married Amanda, daughter of Joseph H.
Jones, of Duanesburgh, who was born September
21, 1833, and has three children, as follows :
Nettie, born December n, 1862; Frank, born
May 14, 1872; and Justus, born February 11,
1875. Henry Shute was born in Chatham, Columbia
County, N. Y., October 13, 1769. He married
Sarah Irish, September 25, 1788, and doubtless
located in Duanesburgh that same year, on the
farm now owned and occupied by his two grand
sons, F. W. and J. H. Shute. He had a family
of four sons and four daughters, named Daniel,
Henry, Betsey, Ruth, Eunice, Cynthia, John, and
Frederick, all of whom are dead. Frederick W.,
John H., and Luther Shute represent the third
generation in the town, and are sons of John Shute
who was the seventh son of Henry, and married
for his first wife Fannie Norton, who died, leaving
three sons and a daughter, named Jensen, Jerome,
William, and Sarah A. Of these Jerome only sur
vives, living at Ballston Springs, N. Y. His second
wife was Prudence, daughter of Asaph Eddy, of
Albany. The latter was born in 1758, and married
Sarah Moon, who was born of New England stock
in 1763, and whose ancestry in the line of the
Moons is traceable back to about 1693. William
Shute, Henry Shute's father, served under Lieuten
ant Washington at the time of Braddock's defeat,
and was a daring soldier.
John L. Jones is one of the oldest residents of
Duanesburgh, and is a son of one of the early
settlers of the town. His father, Lewis Jones,
came from Westchester County in 1787, and
located near Braman's Corners on the farm Mr.
Jones now owns and occupies. He was a revolu
tionary soldier, and married Eunice Ketcham

166

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

while yet a resident of his native county, and had
nine children, named Ephraim, Jonathan, Nathan
iel, Hannah, William, John L., Benjamin, Polly,
Joseph H, and Lewis. John L. Jones was born
December 28, 1798, and married Amy Bagley.
She died, leaving a daughter named Polly Ann,
and he married Catharine Koons, by whom he has
eight children, named Julia, John E. , Augusta,
William, Amy, Lewis, Janet, and De Witt His
farm consists of 175 acres.
William Turnbull was the first of the name in
Duanesburgh. He located on the property now
in possession of Charles Titball, 100 acres taken
on a lease. George Turnbull was a son of this
pioneer, and grandfather of John L. Turnbull, the
well known merchant and present town clerk. He
was a native Scotchman. A professional gardener,
he worked in the royal gardens, and was a man of
prominence. His ancestry is traceable in a direct
line to the Douglasses, a great and powerful Scot
tish house. He married Jane Kennedy, lived
to the close of his life on the homestead, and
raised a family of three sons and three daughters.
William Turnbull succeeded to the ownership of
the homestead. He is remembered as a thrifty
farmer and a popular townsman. He never mar
ried, and is dead. James, the second son, began
life as an employee on the Union College Grounds
under President Nott, and by economy and indus
try was enabled to enter mercantile life. He was
a flourishing merchant at Esperance and Burton-
ville, Montgomery County, and later was a farmer
on the George Lasher Place, where he died in 1858.
He married Isabel, daughter of Alexander Mcin
tosh, an early Scotch-American settler of Prince
town. They had a family of nine children, eight of
whom grew up: Jane, now Mrs. James Warner, of
Redwing, Minn. ; Arseneth, now Mrs. Burr Deuel,
of Winona, Minn. ; George A. (deceased), who
served two years during the Rebellion as captain of
Co. A., 134th N. Y. Volunteer Infantry; John L. ;
Rebecca, who became Mrs. T. Romeyn Herrick;
A. G. W., a farmer in Dakota; William J., a part
ner with John L., who married Alice Jarvis; Isabel,
living in Duanesburgh; and Helen, who died at
the age of two years. The family has always fig
ured conspicuously in the social and business cir
cles of the town, and, in addition to the other im
portant trusts which have been confided to him,
John L. Turnbull has been chosen Supervisor of
Duanesburgh. T. Romeyn Herrick represents one of the oldest
and most honored families of the town. His
grandfather, Judge Jonathan Herrick, was born in
Dutchess County, of Welsh and English parentage,
in 1760, and located in Duanesburgh in 1792, on
the property now occupied by John Holmes. He
married Patience Palmer, of Dutchess County, by
whom he had two sons (James and Smith) and
two daughters (Mary and Amanda). James loca
ted on the present George Bender Place, and mar
ried Julia, daughter of John Sherburn, and had
ten sons and two daughters, of whom T. Romeyn
Herrick is the eighth son and the tenth in the order

of birth. He lived on the homestead until he was
about twenty-five years of age, when he married
Rebecca Turnbull. He engaged in business in
Albany, and later was for several years in New
York City. In 1875 he returned to his native town,
where he has since lived, and during the past eight
years held the office of Justice of the Peace.
Ira Estes, merchant at Quaker Street, is a na
tive of Duanesburgh, as was his father. The lat
ter — Benjamin T. Estes — was born on the Lister
Farm in 179 1. He was a carpenter and a Quaker
minister, and was a regular attendant at the Qua
ker Street meeting for about fifty years. He was a
son of Thomas Estes, one of the original settlers of
the Duane tract, and doubtless a native of Rhode
Island. He married Rebecca, daughter of Enoch
Hoag, an early resident of the town and a member
of another prominent Quaker family, and they had
six children, of whom Ira Estes is the oldest liv
ing. He was reared a farmer, has been sixteen
years a stock dealer and twelve years a merchant.
He has been twice married, and has several chil
dren. He is justly rated as one of the leading men
of the town.
Hon. Alonzo Macomber was born in Chester
field, Essex County, N. Y., in 1806. He is a
mechanic by trade, and as such worked during his
earlier years. In 1828 he located on a farm about
half a mile southwest of Quaker Street, and there
lived until he took up his present residence in 1846.
In 1850 he entered upon a mercantile career, in
which he continued successfully several years. He
has served his fellow-citizens as Member of Assembly
one term, as Assistant Internal Revenue Assessor
seven years, as Justice of the Peace about twenty-
four years, and as Postmaster one year. He retired
from active life several years since. He married
Eliza, daughter of Nathaniel Wilber (deceased),
and has a sm, who is a successful druggist, located
at No. 42 Hudson avenue, Albany.
Melville Mead, one of the most enterprising
young merchants of Schenectady County, is a son
of Daniel and a grandson of Zaccheus Mead, both
deceased. The children of Zaccheus Mead were
Stephen, Zaccheus, Jr., John, Jehial, Nathaniel,
Titus, Mary Jane (who married' J. Shelden), and
Daniel, The latter was in early life a money lender.
Later he engaged in carriage-making at Quaker
Street, in company with W. R. McGraw. His son,
Arthur, was also for a time connected with this
business, which was discontinued in 1881. Daniel
Mead was twice married, first to Miss Lucretia Wait,
by whom he had one son, Arthur, and afterward to
Mary J. Haight, of Dutchess County. Melville
Mead was the only issue of the marriage. Mr.
Mead died May 6, 1884, aged seventy-five years.
His widow survives him. Melville Mead is a prac
tical tinsmith. He began business on his own ac
count several years ago. He occupies the old W.
S. Lang stand at Quaker Street and does a general
trade, including tinware, silverware, agricultural
implements, stoves, furniture and other articles,
also doing jobbing in tin gutters and roofing and
similar supplies.

THE TOWNSHIP OF DUANESBURGH.

167

Another representative man is Cornell W. Bronk.
Since the year 1797, when Abram Bronk settled on
the present farm of A. Bronk, the family have fig
ured more or less conspicuously in the business and
social development of the town. He came from
Columbia County and was of Holland Dutch
parentage. He married Catharine Radley, or
Ratcliff, as the name was formerly spelled. Nich
olas Bronk was a son of Abram, and married Eu
nice Wiltsie, and was the father of Cornell W.,
Margaret, Catharine, Eunice, and Isabel Bronk, of
whom the first mentioned is the only one living in
the county. Cornell W. Bronk married Elizabeth,
a daughter of John Levey, of Princetown, and they
have five children: Catharine, now Mrs. John Mar-
clay, of Mariaville, John L., Abram N. , William
J., and Nancy E. Mr. Bronk has served his town
as assessor six years. Abram N. Bronk, of Maria
ville, succeeded the firm of Lasher & Son, in part
nership with J. A. Bradshaw, in 1879, and in 1881
purchased his partner's interest.
His stock consists of a full line of such goods
as are to be found in all important country stores.
He obtained his first mercantile experience as a
clerk during nine years with Lasher & Son. He
married Maria, daughter of Marcus Delamater, of
Mariaville, and has two children, named Berdella
and Emmett. Another, named Clifton, died in in
fancy. G. W. Conover has been a resident of Duanes
burgh about twenty- five years. He was born in
Florida, Montgomery County, March 19, 181 2.
His father, Marcellus Conover, was a native of the
town of Glenn, and was a son of Isaac Conover,
who served as an aid-de-camp to General Washing
ton during the revolution. Mr. Conover's ances
tors were Holland Dutch and first located in New
Jersey. The name as now spelled is an English
modification of the old Dutch name of Covenho-
ven, by which members of the family were known
not longer than a generation ago. Isaac Covenho-
ven and his brother Abraham were bold patriots
and daring soldiers during the struggle for Ameri
can independence, as is attested by passages in
Sims' "Border Wars of Schoharie." George W.
Conover married Sarah M., daughter of J. P. Rod-
ley, of Florida, Montgomery County, and they
have one son, John M. Conover. They live at
Scotch Church, where they own a fine farm of 265
acres. Abraham Devenburg is an aged and respected
citizen. He was born in Knox, Albany County,
November 2, 1807. He was one of the founders
and a liberal' supporter of the Free Dutch Church
of Mariaville. He owns and, in company with his
son, John, operates the Devenburg Mills, the only
circular saw-mill in the town. His wife was Ann
Lloyd. Their son, John Devenburg, was born
June 27, 1845, and learned the trade of carriage-
making at Port Jackson, N. Y. He carries on the
business of carriage-making at Mariaville. July 3,
1866, he married Martha A., daughter of William
H. How, of Port Jackson. They have four chil
dren named Ettie L., Ann M., William H., and

Satie. Harrison P., another son, died young. Mr.
Devenburg is known as an enterprising and pro
gressive business man.
Ebenezer Wright was born in the town of Wes-
terloo, Albany County, January 27, 1800. His father
was John Wright, his mother, Susan, daughter of
Captain Nehemiah Bassett His grandfather was
Mathew Wright, and his grandmother Esther
Lewis, who was born in Chatham, Conn. Some
years before the revolution, Mathew Wright and
wife, with their sons, Daniel, John, Earl, Mathew,
Thomas, and Ebenezer, removed from Sinsbury.
Conn., to Sharon, Schoharie County. He, with
Daniel and Earl, shortly afterward removed to
Otsego County, N. Y. He lived to be 103 years
old and his wife 90 years. Thomas enlisted in
the patriot army in the war of the revolution; was
taken prisoner and confined in a British ship in
Boston harbor, where he died from starvation with
a chip in his mouth, with which he was vainly try
ing to satisfy the cravings of hunger. John Wright,
the father of Ebenezer, was in both the revolution
ary war and war of 181 2. After his marriage he
moved to Albany County and afterward to Schenec
tady County. His children were Thomas, John
Y. , Justus, Nehemiah, Samuel, Anna, Fanny,
Ebenezer, and Jane. Ebenezer married Susan,
daughter of Olive Briggs, and settled in Quaker
Street He learned the carpenter's trade. As a
workman, " Boss Wright, " as hewas called, had
no superior in the town. There still remain many
specimens of his work in buildings and furniture
which show the ability of the builder. He was
the undertaker for the neighborhood, When he
began this business the Friends, or Quakers, who
composed the largest part of the inhabitants in that
part of the town, demanded Puritanical simplicity,
and many of the coffins were of pine-wood, not
stained or varnished, without handles or orna
ments. The height of extravagance was reached
when for pine the native cherry was substituted.
Instead of varnish, wax was used in finishing the
coffins. He lived to see the time when the plain
customs of the ancknt Friends were foigotten,
when ornamented and expensive caskets, and a
hearse to carry them, were in as much demand
from their descendants as from the "World's
People. " He was a man of sterling integrity and
positive convictions. He was an earnest supporter
of the Abolition party, and with John Sheldon,
James Sheldon and Reuben Briggs, acted as
agents for the "Underground Railroad," assist
ing fleeing slaves on their way to Canada and
freedom. The next station west was the house
of Mr. Griggs, a miller at Schoharie. He was one
of the Washingtonian temperance workers, and
Quaker Street thirty-five to forty years ago was
noted for the intelligence, temperate life and indus
try of its inhabitants. Upon the organization of
the Republican party he became identified with it,
and was honored by his townsmen with several
positions of trust. A champion of the unfortunate
the poor, and the oppressed, he was sometimes
called fanatical, but even his greatest opponents
unite in pronouncing him honest and sincere.

168

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Doctor P. A. Brumagin, who for about thirty-
six years has been a successful practicing physician
at Mariaville, was bom in Root, Montgomery
County, February 4, 18 16, of which town his
parents, John and Elizabeth (Carr) Brumagin, were
natives and life-long residents. He attended
school in Root and received a higher education at
the Ames Academy. He studied medicine with
Dr. Thompson Burton, of Charlestown, attended
lectures at Albany Medical College three successive
terms, and graduated in the class of 1844. He at
once began practice at Currytown, Montgomery
County, and in 1848 located in Mariaville. He
married Mary, daughter of Albert and Susan
McMaster, of Root, Montgomery County, and has
two children, Patience, now the wife of Peter Turn-
bull, of Albany, and Charles, a resident of Florida,
Montgomery County.
Doctor P. I. Dodge, of Duanesburgh, is a
native of Palmyra, Jefferson County, Wisconsin,
He was born April 13, 1857, and is a son of Rev.
C. F. and Catharine (Darling) Dodge of that place.
He attended the public schools of Palmyra and
took an academic course at Big Rapids, Michigan.
Later he was a student at the Indiana Northern
Normal School. He studied medicine at the Ben
nett Medical College, graduating in 1880. After
attending the Eclectic Medical College of New
York in 1883 and 1884, he entered upon his prac
tice at Mariaville under auspicious circumstances.
James McMillen, deceased, was the progenitor
of a numerous family in this section of New York.
He was born in Scotland in 1785, and in 1792
emigrated to America with his parents, locating
in New Scotland, Albany County. Marrying Sarah
Jane, he located on the present James Cullings
Place in Duanesburgh. They had six sons and
two daughters named as follows : John, James,
Isaac, Alexander, William, Samuel, Mary, and
Sarah. William succeeded to the ownership of the
old homestead. He married Leah, daughter of
William and Margaret (Walker) Allen. Their
children were : James L., Margaret I. (now Mrs.
James Cullings), Samuel, who lives in Livingston
County, Michigan; and William (deceased). Hugh
McMillen, a prominent farmer of Duanesburgh, is
the only one living of the three children of Isaac
McMillen, son of William.
David W. Walpole is the youngest son of Rich
ard Walpole, deceased. Richard Walpole emi
grated from Ireland, where he was born, to
America about 1836, and located as a farmer in
Princetown. Removing to Duanesburgh he erected
the Walpole Mill in 1844, and managed it until
1873, when he removed to Oswego County, where
he died, aged 79 years, in 188 1. Pie was an active
business man, and as a citizen held high in the
public esteem, as is attested by the fact that he was
elected Justice of the Peace, serving thirteen years
in succession. His wife was Margaret, daughter of
Thomas King, who bore him eight children. In
1873, David W. Walpole purchased the mill prop
erty, which he has since greatly improved by the
introduction of broom-handle machinery and a

cider-mill and otherwise, doing a good business in
the different branches. He married Julia, daughter
of William B. and Martha (Barrows) Dom, of
Duanesburgh, and has three children, Mary Belle,
Martha J., and Mansfield B.
William J. Gardenier, the present merchant at
Braman's Corners, is a grandson of William S. Gar
denier, who located in Duanesburgh on William J.
Gardenier's farm about 1830, coming from Colum
bia County, where he was born. Samuel W. Gar
denier was one of the ablest of his family of three
sons and six daughters. He married Mary M.,
daughter of John Clayton, of Charlestown, Mont
gomery County. Their children were: William J.,
born July 18, 1847, and John A., born March 31,
1854, now living on the homestead. William J.
Gardenier made farming his principal business until
the spring of 1884, when he opened his store. Pie
carries a well assorted general stock, and aims to do
a cash business at the lowest possible prices. He
married Miss Ellen Nethaway, of Duanesburgh,
but formerly of Schoharie County, and they have
five children, named Judson, Wilmer, Arthur,
Mary E, and Martha.
Benjamin Wiltsie, of Mariaville, was born on the
farm in Duanesburgh now owned by William and
John DeGraff, in 1824. His father was John B.
Wiltsie and his grandfather Cornelius Wiltsie, who
came from Dutchess County as one of the early-
settlers of the town. The pioneer had a family of
four sons and three daughters, of whom John B.
was the third, born May 26, 1803. The latter
married Maria, daughter of Abraham and Rebecca
(Van Vechten) Dom, in 1823. Benjamin Wiltsie
located at Mariaville in 1853. In 1856 he took
possession of the Wiltsie House, which he has since
conducted. He married Jane S., daughter of
Hiram Hansit, who was for many years postmaster
of Mariaville, and has four children: Emma H.
(now Mrs. A. J. Bradshaw), John B., Emmet H.,
and Ann M.
Benjamin Gaige was one of nine brothers, all of
whom settled in Albany and Schenectady Counties
within a ci rcuit of ten miles. Their parents, Joseph
and Mary Mortimer Gaige, came from England.
Benjamin Gaige came in 1791 from Quaker Hill,
Dutchess County, to the property now of Asa M.
Gaige, a great-grandson. He brought with him a
family of six children. Of these, Phebe married
Henderson Smith and removed to Western New
York; Ebenezer and Mortimer removed to Silver
Lake, Susquehanna County; Abram removed to
Pennsylvania and thence to Otsego County, where he
died; Miriam married Abram Coon and removed
with him to Broome County, where both died; and
Jane became the wife of Isaac Stevens and lived at
Quaker Street and later at Kirkwood, N. Y. , where
she died. Five other children were born in Duanes
burgh. Of these, Asa B. settled on the homestead,
where he died May 2, 1869; Benjamin removed to
Pennsylvania and thence to Michigan, where he
died; Philip is living at an advanced age at Quaker
Street; Mary married and located in Root, Mont
gomery County; and Lydia married John Lake and

THE TOWNSHIP OF DUANESBURGH.

If

removed to Orleans County, where she ended her
days. Isaac B. Gaige was twice married, first to
Joanna, daughter of Joseph and Apphia (Mosher)
Lason, of Columbia County, who died August 27,
1833, and secondly to Margaret, daughter of
Abram and Helen (Ball) Sternberg. By the first
marriage were born children named Walter,
Ebenezer, Joseph L., and Phebe; by the sec
ond marriage children named Lucy B. and
Helen M. The latter married Joseph Wright, of
Brooklyn, N. Y. Joseph L. Gaige, the third son
of Isaac B. Gaige, married Eliza J., daughter of
Asa and Mary (Birdsall) Marshall, of Westchester
County. He died in 1870, leaving two sons, Asa
M. and Isaac B., both living in Duanesburgh. Asa
M. married Fanny G. , daughter of Nathaniel and
Sarah J. (Forge) Estes, of Utica, N. Y., and they
have a daughter named Jennie, born July 1,
1884. Elnathan Abrams settled about one mile east of
Braman's Corners about 1839. He was born in
Florida, N. Y, and married Anna, daughter of
Solomon Strong, one of the pioneers of that town.
They had \ three sons : Solomon, John K. , and J.
Danforth Abrams. Solomon Abrams was born
near Swan's Corners, Florida, N. Y, February 10,
1824; marrried Charlotte, daughter of John Vic
tory, of Duanesburgh; and has been a resident of
Schenectady about thirty years. John K., a school
teacher, lives at Little Falls, N. Y. J. Danforth
enlisted and served in the United States Army in
the late war, and died, in service, of fever, Novem
ber 12, 1864. He married Susan, daughter of
Elijah Ladd, who survives him, living near Bra
man's Corners. They had two sons, one of whom
is Dr. A. E. Abrams, of Hartford, Conn., and the
other, Elijah D. , is a machinist in the Ellis Loco
motive Works, Schenectady. Anthony Abrams,
great-grandfather of the present generation of
Abramses, was a native-born German, who emigrated
to America when a young man and married a Miss
Mickle. They had a son named Andrew, who
was drowned at about the age of twenty-one years;
another named John, who was the grandfather of
Solomon and the father of Elnathan Abrams; and
a daughter who died unmarried. The former or
thography of the name was Abrahams.
Rev. David Cook Davis is a son of David Davis,
of New Hampshire, and was born in Stratford, that
State, September 10, 181 5. His mother was Mary
Cook. He attended the Wolfsbury Academy, N.
H, until the death of his mother, when he was
obliged to abandon school for a time. In 1 842 he
began to study for the ministry at Boston, and in
1845 began preaching the Gospel at Dedham,
Mass., and continued the work at other places in
New Hampshire and New York. From 1851 to
1874 he was engaged in secular business in New
York City. At the latter date he was called to the
pastorate of the Church of the Redeemer (Univer
salis!) at Braman's Corners, where he remained
several years. He married Euphemia, daughter
of John and Isabella (Russell) Murray, June 14,
1835. The fruits of this union have been David

M. Davis, of Trenton, N. J. ; Alexander M. Davis,
of Boston, Mass.; Mary E. (Mrs. George Turn-
bull); Isabella R. (deceased); Jessie (Mrs. Dr. A.
E. Abrams, of Hartford, Conn.); and Eliza H.
(Mrs. G. N. Banker, of Duanesburgh). Mr. Davis
has for some years lived the quiet and honored life
of a retired clergyman.
Rev. David B. Hall, of Duanesburgh, was born
March 16, 18 12, at Middle Granville, Washington
County, N. Y. He spent two years in study at
Burr Seminary at Manchester, Vt, and four years
at Union College, Schenectady, where he gradu
ated in 1839. He studied theology at Princeton
Theological Seminary, Princeton, N. J., and was
ordained to preach the Gospel by the Association
of Pawlet, Vt. He has labored with success in
several churches in connection with the Reformed
Dutch Church of America, among them the Re
formed Dutch Church of Princetown, Schenectady
County, of which he was pastor several years. He
was many years compiling an elaborate genealogy
of the Hall family of New England, which has re
sulted in a creditable work of 800 large octavo
pages, and containing many valuable portraits.
He was married April 14, 1856, to Jane Eliza,
daughter of Mulford and Rosanna (Hitchcock)
Dayton, of Middle Granville, N. Y. His children,
born in Princetown, are Mary Jane, born August
31, 1857; Sarah E. D., born October 11, 1862;
and Hattie E. M., born April 15, 1868.
Samuel Brown, an old and respected citizen of
the town, was born in Saratoga County in 1 807.
His parents were Daniel and Louisa (Palmer)
Brown, his father a native of Saratoga County, and
his mother of Stockbridge, Mass. Samuel was the
second of a family of five children. He married
Jane, daughter of William Rose, of Saratoga
County, and has one son, named Samuel, living at
home. He owns a farm of sixty-five acres, pur
chased of William I. Mcintosh.
William Chadwick is a representative farmer.
He was born in Rensselaerville, Albany County, a
son of John Chadwick and a grandson of Aaron
Chadwick, who was originally from Cape Cod,
Mass., where his ancestors located as emigrants
from England in the days of the old Cape Cod
Colonv. Locating for a time in Dutchess County,
Aaron Chadwick removed to Otsego County, and
soon afterward to Albany County. John Chad
wick, his youngest child, married Ann, daughter
of Caleb Spencer, of Westerloo, and had five sons:
Henry (deceased); Aaron; William, who married
Martha, daughter of Joel Moore, of Duanesbugh;
E. Spencer, a merchant at St. Paul, Nebraska,
where he was a pioneer; and Thomas R., a farmer
near Rensselaerville, Albany County.
John O. Becker has been a resident of Duanes
burgh since 1862. He was born in Sharon,
Schoharie County, June 20, 1824, a son of David
and Elizabeth (Bellinger) Becker, both natives of
the town of Middlebury, N. Y. , he of the second
generation from Holland and she of German
ancestry, their parents having been among the first
settlers of Middlebury, where they lived in the wilder-

170

HISTORY OE THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

ness during the most perilous period of the revolu
tion, subjected to the many hardships of those
times which tried men's souls. John O. Becker
left home at about the age of fourteen, alone and
penniless. He found employment for a time on
public works at Fort Plain, and, accumulating
some means, purchased property in Florida, Mont
gomery County, where he lived until his removal
to Duanesburgh. In 1843 he married Margaret
Cooley. She died in 1844, leaving a son, David.
In 1847 Mr. Becker married Sophia Casey, now
deceased. David Becker married Miss Melissa
Levey, of Mariaville, and has a son and a daugh
ter. Luly Patterson, the founder of Pattersonville,
was born in Duanesburgh, in 181 2, and died
February 19, 188 1. He married Adeline Mont
gomery and she bore him five children, as follows :
Alexander, a resident of Amsterdam, N. Y.; Will
iam H. Patterson, of Pattersonville ; Lina (Mrs.
3. L. Marlett) ; Clara (deceased); and Frances
(wife of J. W. Olney, who is connected with the
West Shore Railway). He located at the little
hamlet which now bears his name, in 1856, and
bought the John T. Hoffman property. A man
of energy and enterprise, he was instrumental in
establishing a post-office at that point, and he soon
erected a store, hotel and several dwellings, and
opened quite an extensive trade. He was Super
visor of the town, and took an active interest in
all public affairs. His son, William H. Patterson,
began trade in 1884, his building and stock aie new
and fresh, and he is a prominent business man. He
married Gertrude Wiley, who died, leaving two
children named Harriet and Seely. Bina Brad
ford was his second wife, and died without issue.
His present wife was Gertrude O. Dickerman, by
whom he has a son, Freeman M.
Joseph Green, of Green's Corners, represents
one of the old families of the town, Robert Green
and John Manning, his brother-in-law, having
located at the Corners about 1780. They came
from Dutchess County. Sarah Manning was
Robert Green's wife. She bore him six sons, five
of whom lived to advanced age. John M. Green
was their second son, born August 11, 1792, on
the homestead at Green's Corners. He married
Mary, daughter of Philip Radley, an early settler in
Montgomery County, and located on a farm
adjoining the homestead and there lived until
December 16, 1883, when he died. He had two
children, Susannah (deceased) and Joseph, who
owns both his father's and grandfather's homesteads,
aggregating 235 acres. He married Janet, daughter
of William Lendrum, of Duanesburgh, and they
have one son, John.
James Frost, Sr. , was born in Easton, Washing
ton County, N. Y, in 1783, and when a boy came
with his father's family to Duanesburgh. His
father, Lot Frost, came to the town soon enough
to be placed in the catalogue of the earlier settlers.
The boy, taking naturally to books and scientific
knowledge, educated himself, and for a time was a
schoolmaster. In the meantime he had become

an expert surveyor, and, in connection with the
able surveyor Zoller, he made numerous important
surveys. He was the engineer of the Albany and
Susquehanna Railroad ; made many valuable and
extensive surveys in Albany, Schenectady, Scho
harie, Franklin and Montgomery Counties, N. Y. ;
and laid out the City of Elizaberh, N. J. He
married Mary, daughter of Major Marsh, and had
five sons and five daughters, three of whom are
now living : General D. M. Frost, of St. Louis,
who served the Confederate cause during the re
bellion ; Mrs. Daniel Yost, of Fort Plain; and
Miss M. Louisa Frost, of Mariaville.
The late Doctor Joseph Braman came from
Tolland County, Conn., to Esperance in 1811, and
from Esperance in 18 14 to Duanesburgh. He was
a son of Joseph and Anna (Jenks) Braman, the
former of whom was born in 1760 and the latter in
1764. Their children were born in the following
order: Bartimeus, 1786; Isaac, 1788; Fanny,
1790; Joseph, 1792; Betsey, 1795; Sophia, 1797;
Orsamus, 1799; Ephraim, 1801; John J., 1803;
Aurora, 1806; and Orrin, 1808. Dr. Joseph Bra
man came of age in 18 13, at which time he
was made a Mason. He taught school and read
medicine, and for many years was a leading
physician and citizen. He died March 24, 1885.
He was twice married, first to Rachel Shute, and
second to Catharine Stewart. Their children were
born as follows: Catharine, 1816; Elvira, 1818;
Emma, 1822; Mariette, 1825; Delos, 1829; and
Harriet, 1833. Doctor Delos Braman graduated
from the Albany Medical College in 1852. He
practiced his profession three years with his father,
in Duanesburgh, and twenty years in the West, when
he returned to Duanesburgh, In 1859 he mar
ried Miss Agnes Tanner, of Wisconsin. They
have two children, named Anna and Joseph.
COLONEL JOHN D. WOOD.
This well known gentleman, who has been a
life-long resident of Duanesburgh, is a son of
Doctor John Wood, who was an early and
highly esteemed physician and surgeon in this sec
tion. Doctor Wood was the oldest son of Benja
min Wood, once a farmer in Wright, Schoharie
County, who settled there in 1789, married a Miss
Tygert, and had nine sons and three daughters.
He studied medicine with Doctor Williams, in
Knox, Albany County, and came to Duanesburgh
about 1808, locating on the turnpike near the
present residence of I. R. T. Wood, and beginning
the practice of his profession in partnership with
Doctor Peter Delamater. This association was dis
solved a year or two later, Doctor Wood continu
ing his practice alone and enjoying an extensive
patronage for about forty years. He married
Martha, daughter of Robert Dennison, of Knox,
Albany County, who was a native of Mystic, Conn.
She bore him eleven children. Of these, Eunice
died April 1, 1831; Datus died February 12, 1817;
E. Darwin died April 23, 1840; Edwin died
August 24, 1843; Robert died January 28, 1846;
Benjamin F., a merchant at Duanesburgh Corners,

<:;^^Vs^fe^^

THE TOWNSHIP OF DUANESBURGH.

171

1S)t^^~^f-

near the old homestead, and at Esperance, N. Y.,
died May n, 1882, aged seventy-one years; Ada
L. is Mrs. Brice Jarvis, of Duanesbergh; Angeline L.
is Mrs. William E. Knight, of Binghamton, N. Y.;
another daughter is Mrs. Henry Sherburne, of Es
perance, N. Y. ; Isaac R. T., who lives on the old
homestead, married Clarissa M. Shoudy, of Guil
derland, and has a son named Edwin; and John D.
is a farmer, whose possessions adjoin the old home
stead. The latter, whose name heads this sketch
and whose portrait appears in this work, was
Colonel of the 188th Regiment New York State
Militia, succeeding Colonel Allen, and was formerly
one of the best known and most popular of the old
time military officers. His regiment was disbanded
in 1835. Advanced in years, he lives a quiet and
retired life. His friends are many and his friend
ships have been accounted hearty and helpful.
His interest in the welfare and prosperity of the
town has been earnest and unflagging, and all
measures promising the enhancement of the public
weal have ever received his willing and sub
stantial support. The Wood estate comprises 240
acres.

COLONEL JACOB J. DE FOREST.
The De Forest family, who were of Huguenot
descent, came to America about the year 1620
and located on Long Island. There were three
brothers, one of whom went to New England,
one to Western New York, and one located in
Greenbush, opposite Albany. From the latter
branch Mr. Jacob J. De Forest, of Duanes
burgh, is descended. His grandfather, Jacob De
Forest, came from Greenbush to Duanesburgh
about 1 780, and moved to Schenectady late in life
and died there. His sons were named Jacob,
Obediah L, Martin, John, and James. Jacob, the
eldest, bom October 23, 1797, married Anna
Schermerhorn, born August 14, 1799. They had
twelve children, of whom Jacob J. De Forest was the
first born, October 10, 1820. Mr. De Forest died
June 19, 1882, and his wife April 27, 1851. Jacob
J. De Forest was born at the old Schuylenberg
mansion, the birth-place of his mother and for two
hundred years the homestead of his grandfather's
family, about a mile south of Schenectady. Hewas
educated at the Schenectady Lyceum, under the

172

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

tutelage of Rev. Dr. Huntington. He taught a
winter term of school in Rotterdam, and afterward
apprenticed himself to learn the carpenter trade
with James A. Van Vorst, then a prominent car
penter and builder of Schenectady. His ap
prenticeship concluded in 1844, and in 1845 he re
moved to Albany and engaged in contracting and
building on his own account, continuing success
fully till 1851, in the meantime erecting many large
buildings and business blocks. In 1851 he formed
a copartnership with R. J. Patten and Benjamin
Myers, under the firm name of De Forest, Patten
& Co., and leased the Kenwood saw-mills and
opened a lumber yard at the corner of Columbia
and Quay streets, at the extreme southern point of
the old lumber district. The firm did a large busi
ness until the expiration of the term of their co
partnership in 1858, when Mr. De Forest retired
from active business.
Mr. De Forest had long had a liking for military
life. December 28, 1855, he was commissioned
Engineer of the Twenty-fifth Regiment of the
Eleventh Brigade, Third Division of the Militia of
theState of New York. July 1, 1856, he was pro
moted to be the Engineer of the Eleventh Brigade.
June 9, 1858, he was commissioned Inspector
of the Eleventh Brigade, which position he
held until the outbreak of the rebellion. In
April, 1 86 1, he was placed in charge of the
old Adams House recruiting rendezvous in
Albany, and served there until the following
August, during which time the first thirty volunteer
regiments of the State were recruited and organized.
During the month last mentioned he was ordered
to repair to Oswego, and there organize a regiment
which was designated as the Eighty-first Regiment
New York Volunteers, and of which he was elected
colonel by unanimous vote; but, in deference to
Colonel Edwin Rose, of Long Island, he withdrew
in the latter's favor. February 19, 1862, he was
commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the regiment
with rank from December 20th preceding, when the
regiment was mustered into the United States ser
vice. July 19, 1862, he was promoted to the col
onelcy of the regiment, with rank from July 7th.
The regiment formed a part of the Fourth Corps
of the Army of the Peninsular, under command of
General Keyes, and participated in all of the ser
vice incident to McClellan's Peninsular Campaign.
At the battle of Fair Oaks, May 31, 1862, Lieuten
ant-Colonel De Forest, at the time temporarily in
command of the regiment, was shot through the
left lung. He was sent to the Douglas Hospital at
Washington, and when he became convalescent was
granted a furlough to return home. He recovered
his health in a measure and rejoined his comrades
September 1, 1862. On the 5th day of that month
he was mustered as colonel of his regiment under
authority of his commission previously issued as
above mentioned. About January 1, 1863, the
command to which the Eighty-first Regiment was
attached was ordered into North Carolina and took
part in the active service which followed in that
section. Thence the command was sent to Beau
fort, South Carolina, and attached to the command

of General Hunter. March 30th a reorganization of
the forces was effected, preparatory to the siege of
Charleston, under which Colonel De Forest was
placed in command of the Second Brigade of
Heckman's Division, Eighteenth Army Corps.
After the conclusion of that unsuccessful attempt
against the Confederate stronghold, the Union forces
gathered in the vicinity were ordered to Morehead
City, N. G, where the Eighty- first Regiment and
other troops did garrison duty until late in the fall.
During this interim, Colonel De Forest was placed
in command of the sub-district of Beaufort. The
forces there were sent to Fortress Monroe, and the
Eighty-first Regiment and a company of cavalry
were ordered by General Benj. F. Butler to North
west Landing, Va., where they were engaged in a
desultory warfare with guerillas until April 1, 1864,
when the regiment returned home on veteran fur
lough, having re-enlisted for three years, at the ex
piration of which it joined Grant's army and par
ticipated in all of the campaigns, from the battle of
Cold Harbor (June ist, 2d and 3d) until the close
of the war. In the memorable and bloody engage
ment just mentioned, the Eighty-first Regiment was
literally cut up, no less than seven out of nine of
the company commanders falling in the fight, and
Colonel De Forest having several hairbreadth es
capes. On account of disability, arising from his
old wound, the Colonel was sent to Point of Rocks
Hospital, near Petersburgh, Va., and thence to the
Annapolis (Md.) Hospital, where he remained until
he was mustered out of service on the ist of Sep
tember, 1 864, the lieutenant-colonel commanding
the regiment until the close of the war.
Since the rebellion, Colonel De Forest has lived a
quiet life on his farm in Duanesburgh, broken only
by service at times in the census bureau, taking
a deep, but not active, interest in politics, and
doing his share in developing the resources of his
town. He has been three times married, and has
seven children living. He has always been inter
ested in educational questions and has done much
to advance the standard of the schools of Duanes
burgh and elsewhere. At one time, in association
with the late Hon. Horace Greeley and others, he
was a trustee of the People's College, at Ovid, N. Y.
CIVIL HISTORY.
Duanesburgh, named in honor of James Duane,
its principal proprietor, was erected as a township
by patent, March 13, 1765. It was first joined
with Schoharie under the title of the United District
of Duanesburgh and Schoharie. It was made a
separate district March 24, 1772, and recognized
as a town March 22, 17B8.
It is to be regretted that the loss of the town rec
ords by fire, about 1830, prevents the introduc
tion of many interesting extracts from the early
books. The first record of an annual town meet
ing extant is that of the year 1832; but we are en
abled to present the names of all the Supervisors
since the organization of the Board of Supervisors
of the county of Schenectady.
Supervisors from 1809 [to 1831. — 1809, Will
iam North; 1 8 10, John Young; 1811, John

THE TOWNSHIP OF DUANESBURGH

173

Brown; 1812, John Brown; 18 13, James Cantley;
1 8 14, James Cantley; 181 5, James Cantley; 1816,
James Cantley; 18 17, James Cantley; 1818, James
Cantley; 1819, Lewis Eaton; 1820, James Cant
ley; 1821, James Cantley; 1822, James Cantley;
1823, Joseph Gaige; 1824, William A. S. North;
1825, William A. S. North; 1826, Benjamin S.
Knight; 1827, Benjamin S. Knight; 1828, Ebene
zer Kniblae; 1829, Joseph Gaige; 1830, Joseph
Gaige; 1831, Joseph Gaige.
CIVIL LIST.
Following is a civil list for the town of Duanes
burgh from 1832 to 1885 inclusive :
1832. — Joseph Gaige, Supervisor; Thomas Knight,
Town Clerk ; John Herrick, Jonathan Jones, James Gale, As
sessors; Job Cleveland, John Herrick, Justices of the Peace;
John Victory, Henry Slawson, Abram Durfee, Commissioners
of Highways; John Wood, Abram Durfee, Overseers of the
Poor; John B. Duane, David Wing, James Stewart, Commis
sioners of Common Schools; Jacob Patterson, Thomas
Knight, Joseph Braman, Inspectors of Common Schools;
Matthew Putnam, Collector; William B. Abell, Matthew
Putnam, Joel J. Smith, Constables.
1833. — David Wing, Supervisor; Job Cleveland, Justice
of the Peace; Thomas Knight, Town Clerk; Jonathan Jones,
Ebenezer Frisbee, Abram Durfee, Assessors; John Victory,
Henry Slawson, Abram Durfee, Commissioners of High
ways; John Wood, Abram Durfee, Overseers of the Poor;
Matthew Putnam, Collector; Joseph Braman, Benjamin F.
Wood, Jacob Patterson, Commissioners of Common Schools;
Ichabod W. Briggs, Thomas Knight, Nathaniel J. Herrick,
Inspectors of Schools; Matthew Putnam, William B. Abell,
Joseph Rider, Constables.
1834. — Thomas Knight, Supervisor; John Titus, Justice
of the Peace; Benjamin F. Wood, Town Clerk; Ebenezer
Foster, Jonathan Jones, Perry T. Briggs, Assessors; Henry
Wiltse, Collector; John Victory, Henry Slawson, Abram
Durfee, Commissioners of Highways; John Wood, Roderick
Frisbee, Overseers of the Poor; Joseph Braman, John Wood,
Jacob Patterson, Commissioners of Common Schools; John
Banks, M. R. Case, Ichabod W. Briggs, Inspectors of
Common Schools; Nathaniel J. Herrick, Matthew Putnam,
Oliver D. Briggs, Constables.
1 835.— Thomas Knight, Supervisor; John F. Vedder,
Justice of" the Peace; Benjamin F. Wood, Town Clerk;
Ebenezer Foster, Jonathan Jones, Kirby Wilber, Assessors:
Hebron W. Briggs, Collector; Lemuel Ladd, James Herrick,
Abram Durfee, Commissioners of Highways; John Wood,
Abram Durfee, Overseers of the Poor; Joseph Braman,
John Wood, Jacob Patterson, Commissioners of Common
Schools; N. J. Errick, Benjamin F. Wood, I. W. Briggs,
Commissioners of Common Schools; I. W. Briggs, R. H.
Wood, M. R. Case, Constables.
1 836.— Thomas Knight, Supervisor; Benjamin F. Wood,
Town Clerk; Nathaniel J. Herrick, Ira Avery, John A.
Van Pelt, Justices of the Peace; Thomas W. Patterson,
James Herrick, Abram Durfee, Commissioners of Highways;
John Wood, Abram Durfee, Overseers of the Poor; John
Smith, Collector; John Wood, Joseph Braman, Jacob Pat
terson, Commissioners of Common Schools; Benjamin F.
Wood, R. P. U. Wilber, Ichabod W. Briggs, Inspectors of
Common Schools; Oliver P. Dorn, Reuben H. Wood,
Stephen Griffith, Jr., Hebron W. Briggs, Constables.
1837 —Marvin Strong, Supervisor; John A. Van Pelt,
Justice of the Peace; Benjamin F. Wood, Town Clerk;
Roderick Frisbee, James Herrick, James Gale, Assessors;
Peter Soule, Collector; John Wood, Ira Avery, Overseers
of the Poor; John Victory, James Herrick, Perry T. Briggs,
Commissioners of Highways; Silas II. Marsh, Jacob Pat
terson, Thomas Knight, Commissioners of Common Schools;
B. F. Wood, J. B. Duane, Peter Carpenter, Inspectors of
Common Schools; James I. Harris, Jonathan R. Tiffany,
John Murray, Constables.
] 838 —Marvin Strong, Supervisor; Benjamin F. Wood,
Town Clerk; Matthew H. Rector, Justice of the Peace;

Roderick Frisbee, Perry T. Briggs, James Herrick, Assess
ors; Peter Soule, Collector; John Wood, William A. S.
North, Overseers of the Poor; Kirby Wilber, James Herrick,
Jacob A. Radley, Commissioners of Highways; Joseph
Braman, Jacob Patterson, Thomas Knight, Commissioners
of Common Schools; John B. Duane, Benjamin F. Wood,
Abram Conklin, Inspectors of Schools; John Murray, Jon
athan R. Tiffany, Bradford Bailey, Constables.
1 839. — Marvin Strong, Supervisor; Benjamin F. Wood,
Town Clerk; James Herrick, Ira Avery, Justices of the
Peace; Ebenezer Frisbee, James Herrick, Perry T. Briggs,
Assessors ; Jonathan R. Tiffany, Collector ; John Wood,
Abram Durfee, Overseers of the Poor; John Shute, William
Conklin, Abram Durfee, Commissioners of Highways;
Thomas Knight, Job Cleveland, Wm. A. S. North, Com
missioners of Common Schools; Nathaniel Mead, Abram
Conklin, Jonathan R. Tiffany, Inspectors of Common
Schools; Jonathan R. Tiffany, Peter Simmons, Constables.
1 840. — Benjamin F. Wood, Supervisor; Abraham Conk
lin, Town Clerk; Bradford Baily, Ira Avery, Justices of the
Peace; John Herrick, Kirby Wilber, Henry Dutcher, As
sessors; James Herrick, Perry T. Briggs, William Conk
lin, Commissioners of Highways; John Wood, Abram
Durfee, Overseers of the Poor; William A. S. North,
Thomas Knight, Jacob Patterson, Commissioners of Com
mon Schools; John H. Salisbury, Frederick Delamater,
Nathaniel Mead, Inspectors of Common Schools; James
Tullock, Collector; Peter Simmons, Thomas Tullock, J. R.
Tiffany, Constables.
1841. — Benjamin F. Wood, Supervisor; Marvin Strong,
Justice of the Peace; Abraham Conklin, Town Clerk; Perry
T. Briggs, George E. Cady, Roderick Frisbee, Assessors;
John Smith, Collector; John Wood, Abraham Durfee, Over
seers oi the Poor; Abram Durfee, John Tullock, William
Conklin, Commissioners of Highways; Job Cleveland, Thos.
Knight, Joseph Braman, Commissioners of Common Schools;
Nathaniel Mead, Frederick Delamater, Thomas N. Beebe,
Inspectors of Common Schools; Peter Simmons, V. Tomp
kins, J. N. Tiffany, Constables.
1842. — Benjamin F. Wood, Supervisor; Job Cleveland,
Justice ot the Peace; Abraham Conklin, Town Clerk; Perry
T. Briggs, Matthew H. Rector, Roderick Frisbee, Assessors;
Paris Phillips, Collector; John Wood, Abraham Durfee, Over
seers of the Poor; George Conklin, Joseph Eggleston, Benja
min Briggs, Commissioners of Highways; Job Cleveland,
Thomas Knight, Joseph Braman, Commissioners of Common
Schools; Frederick Delamater, Thomas N. Beebe, Inspectors
of Common Schools; Stephen Hyser, George Conklin, V.
Tompkins, Constables.
1 843. — Perry T. Briggs, Supervisor; Abraham Conklin,
Town Clerk; Ira Avery, Justice of the Peace; Truman Case,
George E. Cady, Elisha Chapman, Jr., Assessors; Adam
Cole, Collector; John Wood, George Lockwood, Overseers
of the Poor; Benjamin James, Alonzo Ladd, Abraham
Durfee, Commissioners of Highways; Job Cleveland, Thomas
Knio-ht, Joseph Braman, Commissioners of Common Schools;
Benjamin F. Wood, Thomas N. Beebe, Inspectors of Com
mon Schools; Joseph Braman, Bradford Bailey, James Frost,
Truman Case, Matthew H. Rector, Caleb H. Carpenter,
Inspectors of Election; George Conklin, V. Tompkins, Ben
jamin Briggs, J- R- Tiffany, Constables.
1 844 — Thomas Knight, Supervisor; Abraham Conklin,
Town Clerk; George Conklin, Collector; Bradford Bailey,
Justice of the Peace; Benjamin F. Wood, Town Superintend
ent of Schools; John I. Lawyer, Benjamin Jones, Alonzo
Ladd, Commissioners of Highways; John Wood, George
Lockwood, Overseers of the Poor; Joseph Braman, Nathaniel
j'. Herrick, James Frost, John I. Lawyer, Matthew H. Rec
tor, David E. Wing, Inspectors of Election; George Conklin,
John Chilson, John S. Ladd, Constables.
1845 — Thomas Knight, Supervisor; John D. Wood,
Town Clerk; Marvin Strong, John Robison, Justices of the
Peace; Jacob Patterson, Town Superintendent of Schools;
JacobWhite, Joseph Eggleston, James Lendrum, Assessors;
Stephen V. Gaige, Collector; Isaac B. Gaige, James Tullock
2d, Johannes Houghtaling, Commissioners of Highways;
John Wood, Israel R. Green, Overseers ot the Poor; Bradlord
Bailey, Israel R. Green, Alonzo Ladd, Daniel T. Hoag,
Matthew H. Rector, John S. Van Aernam, Inspectors of

174

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Election; Miles Lester, George Conklin, Reuben T. Mcin
tosh, Constables.
1846. — Thomas Knight, Supervisor; John D. Wood,
Town Clerk; Marvin Strong, John Robison, Justices of the
Peace; Jacob Patterson, Town Superintendent of Schools;
Jacob White, Joseph Eggleston, James Lendrum, Assessors;
Stephen V. Gaige, Collector; Isaac B. Gaige, James Tullock
2d, Johannes Houghtaling, Commissioners of Highways;
John Wood, Israel R. Green, Overseers of the Poor; Bradford
Bailey, Israel R. Green, Alonzo Ladd, Daniel T. Hoag,
Matthew H. Rector, John S. Van Aernam, Inspectors of
Election; Miles Lester, George Conklin, Reuben T. Mcin
tosh, Constables.
1847. — Abraham Conklin, Supervisor; Matthew H.
Rector, Benjamin F. Wood, Justices of the Peace; William E.
Knight, Town Clerk; Jacob Patterson, Town Superintendent
of Schools; Joseph Bennett, Assessor; Benjamin Jones,
Alonzo Ladd, Simon S. Vedder, Commissioners of High
ways; Job J. Williams, Collector; John Wood, Joseph Bra
man, Overseers of the Poor; Charles Mosher, John Smith,
Constables; James Kearns, William Ladd, John Smith, Sen
eca Enders, Paul White, Peter H. Hallenbeck, Inspectors of
Election. 1848. — Abraham Conklin, Supervisor; William E.
Knight, Town Clerk; Bradford Bailey, Justice of the Peace;
William H. Morey, David Griffith, Assessors; James Tullock,
Jr., Commissioner of Highways; Charles Frisbee, Town Su
perintendent of Schools ; Joseph Braman, Jacob White, Over
seers of the Poor; Nathan J. Cornell, Collector; Charles T.
Mosher, Nathan J. Cornell, Constables; Nathaniel J. Herrick,
James Lester, Peter Overbaugh, Perry T. Briggs, Seneca
Enders, Benjamin Sheldon, Inspectors of Election.
1849. — Abraham Conklin, Supervisor; Job Cleveland,
Benjamin F. Wood, Justices of the Peace; William E. Knight,
Town Clerk; William H. Morey, Assessor; Alonzo Ladd,
Commissioner of Highways; John Wood, Ira Bennett, Over
seers of the Poor; John G. Smith, Collector; Charles T.
Mosher, Delos Sloan, John Bailey, Constables; Charles L.
Tullock, William Ladd, Charles A. Frisbee, Lester Mott,
Joseph D. Head, Hiram P. Allen, Inspectors of Election.
1850. — Alexander Liddell, Jr., Supervisor; Alonzo Mc-
Comber, Justice of the Peace ; Alonzo Ladd, Town Clerk;
John G. Smith, Collector ; William Conklin, Assessor ;
James R. Crawford, Town Superintendent of Schools ;
Nathaniel C. Jenkins, John Ladd, Overseers of the Poor ;
Simon S. Vedder, Commissioner of Highways ; James
Kearns, William Ladd, Charles Tullock, Miles Lester, Ad
dison Wilber, William Hunt, Inspectors of Election ; Griffin
Whipple, Nathan J. Cornell, Charles T. Mosher, Delos
Sloan, Miles Lester, Constables.
1 85 1 . — Alexander Liddell, Jr. , Supervisor ; Griffin Whip
ple, Town Clerk ; John W. Head, Justice of the Peace ;
David Griffith, Assessor ; James Tullock, Jr., Commissioner
of Highways ; Nathaniel C. Jenkins, John Ladd Jr., Over
seers of the Poor ; Asa Hurd, Collector ; William Ladd,
Thomas Black, Charles S. Tullock, Matthew H. Rector,
William Whipple, Lester Mott, Inspectors of Election ;
Stephen H. Abell, Benjamin Wilber, Griffin Whipple, Delos
Sloan, Constables.
1852. — Alonzo Ladd, Supervisor; Griffin Whipple, Town
Clerk ; Nathaniel J. Herrick, Justice of the Peace ; Hugh
H. McMillan, Assessor ; William B. Dorn, Commissioner of
Highways ; Alanson Lester, Superintendent of Schools ;
Asa Hurd, Collector ; N. C.Jenkins, John Ladd, Overseers
of the Poor ; James Lendrum, Charles S. Tullock, James
Murray, Simon S. Kidder, William E. Knight, Samuel Win
gate, Inspectors of Election ; David Hughes, John G.
Smith, Griffin Whipple, George P. Cramer, Constables.
1853.— Al™20 Ladd, Supervisor; Orlando Root, Town
Clerk ; Benjamin F. Wood, Justice of the Peace ; William
Conklin, Assessor ; Perry T. Briggs, Commissioner of High
ways : Nathaniel C. Jenkins, John Ladd, Overseers of the
Poor ; Asa Hurd, Collector ; Benjamin Van Deusen,
Charles S. Tullock, Charles Cady, William Young, David N.
Mericle, George Wright, William M. Gaige, Simon S. Ved
der, Edwin G. Wilber, Inspectors of Election ; Isaac Ladd,
David Hughes, Erwin C. N. Miller, Benjamin Wilber, Con
stables.

1854. — James Donnan, Supervisor; Bruce Jarvis, Town
Clerk ; Alonzo Macomber, Justice of the Peace ; Silas
Tripp, Assessor; Samuel Wingate, Commissoner of High
ways ; Alanson Lester, Town Superintendent of Schools ;
Israel R. Green, John D. Wood, Overseers of the Poor; Asa
Hurd, Collector; Charles S. Tullock, James Lendrum,
Elisha Chapman, Adam Cole, James Love, Stephen Badg
ley, Peter Overbaugh, Thomas Black, David Griffith, In
spectors of Election ; Jacob M. Swart, David Hughes, Or
lando Root, Eli Mickle, Constables.
1855. — Alexander Liddell, Jr., Supervisor; J. H. Case,
Town Clerk ; William B. Dorn, John W. Head, Justices of
the Peace; Henry Wilber, Collector; Hugh H. McMillan,
Assessor ; John D. Wood, John Ladd, Overseers of the
Poor ; Henry Mickle, Commissioner of Highways ; Charles
L. Tullock, George W. Lester William Ladd, H. P. Allen,
M. R. Victory, David Griffith, James Lendrum, John Mc
Dougal, William Young, Inspectors of Election ; Jacob M.
Swart, Eli Mickle, William Marsh, James I. Harris, Con
stables. 1856. — Angus Mcintosh, Supervisor; Orlando Root,
Town Clerk ; William B. Dorn, Justice of tne Peace ; Caleb
Frisbee, Assessor ; N. C. Jenkins, Commissioner of High
ways ; John D. Wood, David Griffith, Overseers of the
Poor ; Asa Hurd, Collector ; Alanson Lester, Superintend
ent of Common Schools ; M. R. Victory, William Young,
H. P. Allen, C. S. Tullock, Moses C. Avery, John S. Van
Aernam, William Wells, Ira Marsh, J. Lester Mott, Inspect
ors of Election ; Eli Mickle, James Volk, Jesse P. Chamber
lain, George Westfall, Constables.
1857. — Angus Mcintosh, Supervisor; James H. Case,
Town Clerk ; Benjamin F. Wood, Justice of the Peace;
David Griffith, M. R. Victory, Assessors ; John D. Wood,
Ebenezer Wright, Overseers of ihe Poor ; Joseph M. Lason,
Collector ; Samuel Wingate, Commissioner of Highways ;
T. R. Liddle, Lester Mott, Moses C. Avery, M. R. Victory,
Charles L. Tullock, Asa Hurd, William Ladd, Ebenezer
Wright, Hiram P. Allen, Inspectors of Election ; Benjamin
Wilber, Eli Mickle, Constables.
1 858. — Benjamin T.Wood, Supervisor; Alonzo Macom
ber, Justice of the Peace ; George Allen, Town Clerk;
Henry Wright, Asa Hurd, Assessors ; William Wells, Com
missioner of Highways; Benjamin , Wilber, Collector;
Ebenezer Wright, Truman Case, Overseers of the Poor;
M. R. Victory, M. R. Brumoghim, C. L. Tullock, John
S. Markle, William Ladd, Elisha Chapman, H. P. Allen,
Hugh H. McMillan, Lewis Hunt, Inspectors of Election;
Benjamin Wilber, David M. Limmer, James Volk, Smith
Conner, Constables.
1 859. — William Young, Supervisor; George Allen,Town
Clerk; John W. Head, Justice of the Peace; Asa Hurd,
Assessor; Nathaniel C. Jenkins, Commissioner of Highways;
Richard Walpole, Ebenezer Wright, Overseers of the Poor;
Charles Slawson, Collector; Peter A. Brumoghim, M. R.
Victory, Charles L. Tullock, John S. Markle, William
Ladd, George Priest, Hiram P. Allen, Hugh H. McMillan,
Lester Mott, Inspectors of Election; Henry Tripp, Adam V.
Snyder, Benjamin Wilber, John M. Bradt, Isaiah R. Con
nor, Constables.
1860. — Samuel Wingate, Supervisor; Oliver B.Wood,
Town Clerk; Richard Walpole, Justice of the Peace; John
McClure, Assessor; Henry G. Herrick, Commissioner of
Highways; Abraham Devenberg, Ebenezer Wright, Over
seers of the Poor; Benjamin Wiltse, Collector; M. R. Vic
tory, Peter A. Brumoghim, James W. Waddell, William
Ladd, John S. Markle, William R. McLean, Hiram P.
Allen, Ralph W. McDougall, Lewis W. Hunt, Inspectors of
Election; Benjamin Wilber, Henry Tripp, Constables.
1861 . — Samuel Wingate, Supervisor ; John L. Turnbull,
Town Clerk; John S. Van Aernam, Justice of the Peace;
Henry Wright, Assessor; James Harvey, Commissioner of
Highways; Ebenezer Wright, Overseer of the Poor; Ste
phen V. Gaige, Collector; M. R. Victory, Peter A. Brum
oghim, William B. Dorn, William Ladd, John S. Markle,
William R. McLean, Hiram P. Allen, Ralph W. Mc
Dougall, Lewis W. Hunt, Inspectors of Election; James A.
Love, Benjamin Wilber, Heath Markle, Hiram Munger,
Constables.

THE TOWNSHIP OF DUANESBURGH.

175

1 862. — Samuel Wingate, Supervisor; John L. Turnbull,
Town Clerk; Alonzo Macomber, Justice of the Peace; Asa
Hurd, Assessor; David Griffith, Commissioner of Highways;
Ebenezer Wright, John Berckley, Overseers of the Poor;
David V. Wilber, Collector; M. R. Victory, Peter A. Brum
oghim, Bradford Bailey, William Ladd, Stephen Badgley,
William R. McLean, Hiram P. Allen, Ralph W. Mc
Dougall, Lewis W. Hunt, Inspectors of Election ; James A.
Love, Benjamin Wilber, Constables.
1863. — Samuel Wingate, Supervisor; John L. Turn-
bull, Town Clerk; John Liddle, Justice of the Peace; John
McClure, Assessor; Hugh H. McMillan, Commissioner of
Highways; Ebenezer Wright, John Berckley, Overseers of
the Poor; John M. Bradt, Collector; M. R. Victory, Peter
A. Brumoghim, William B. Dorn, William Ladd, John S.
Markle, Elisha Chapman, Hiram P. Allen, Ralpli W. Mc
Dougall, Lewis W. Hunt, Inspectors of Election ; James A.
Love, Benjamin Wilber, Constables.
1864. — Samuel Wingate, Supervisor; John L. Turn-
bull, Town Clerk; Richard Walpole, Alonzo Ladd, Justices
of the Peace; Henry Wright, Assessor; James Harvey,
Commissioner of Highways; Ebenezer Wright, Cornwell
W. Bronk, Overseers of the Poor; M. R. Victory, Peter A.
Brumoghim, Nicholas Smith, Frederick W. Shute, Mott T.
Sheldon, Thomas R. McClure, Hiram P. Allen, R. W. Mc
Dougall, Philip J. Fredericks, Inspectors of Election; Ed
ward Reynex, Benjamin Wilber, William Marsh, Cornelius
L. Smith, John M. Bradt, Constables.
1865.— William Malloch, Supervisor; George Allen,
Town Clerk; John S. Van Aerman, Justice of the Peace;
John Turnbull, Assessor; Benjamin F. Ruff, Collector;
David Griffith, Commissioner of Highways; C. W. Bronk,
Ebenezer Wright, Overseers of the Poor; M. R. Victory,
P. A. Brumoghim, Charles L. Tullock, F. W. Shute. Mott
T. Sheldon, Thomas R. McClure, Jacob Tingue, Hiram P.
Allen, Lewis W. Hunt, Inspectors of Election; John Dean,
Benjamin Wilber, Edward P. Reynex, Constables.
1866. — William Malloch, Supervisor; George Allen,
Town Clerk; Addison Wilber, Justice of the Peace; David
Griffith, Assessor; Martin Bradt, Collector; Ebenezer
Wright, Cornell W. Bronk, Overseers of the Poor; M. R.
Victory, James A. Love, Charles L. Tullock, Frederick W.
Shute, Jacob J. Gardner, Thomas R. McClure, Hiram P.
Allen, Ralph W. McDougall, Lewis W. Hunt, Inspectors
of Election; Benjamin Wilber, Silas Gallup, James A. Love,
Edward P. Reynex, Constables
1867. — William Malloch, Supervisor; George Allen,
Town Clerk; Alonzo Ladd, Justice of the Peace; Asa
Hurd, Assessor; Martin Bradt, Collector; John D. Stillwell,
Commissioner of Highways; Ebenezer Wright, Cornell W.
Bronk, Overseers of the Poor; M. R. Victory, James A.
Love, William Conklin, William Ladd, Mott T. Sheldon,
John W. Head, Hiram P. Allen, Ralph W. McDougall,
Lewis W. Hunt, Inspectors of Election; Jacob J. Gardner,
James A. Tallock, Edward P. Reynex, Benjamin Wilber,
Luke Donohoe, Constables.
1868— William Malloch, Supervisor; George Allen,
Town Clerk; Richard Walpole, Justice of the Peace; John
Turnbull, Assessor; Richard Hunter, Commissioner of High
ways; Daniel W. Bronk, Collector; Jeremiah M. Deys,
William Wells, Overseers of the Poor; M. R. Victory, Peter
A. Brumoghim, William B. Dorn, Frederick W. Shute,
Adam Hunter, John W. Head, Hiram P. Allen, Ralph W.
McDougall, Duncan R. Coulter, Inspectors of Election;
Benjamin Wilber, Benjamin Rector, Edward P. Reynex,
Delas B. Denise, Constables.
1869— William Malloch, Supervisor; George Allen,
Town Clerk; John S.Van Aernam, Justiceof the Peace; David
Griffith, Assessor; F. W. Shute, Commissioner of High
ways; Elias Warner, Collector; Nathaniel C. Jenkins, Cor
nell W. Bronk, Overseers of the Poor; George Lasher, Peter
A. Brumoghim, William P. Dorn, John Blanchard, Adam
Hunter, Jr., John W. Head, Ralph W. McDougall, Hiram
P. Allen, Lewis W. Hunt, Inspectors of Election; Charles
Lenwood, Benjamin Wilber, Jacob J. Gardner, Constables.
1870— "William Malloch, Supervisor; George Allen,
Town Clerk; Alonzo Macomber, Justice of the Peace; Ste
phen H. Abell, Assessor; Abram Devenberg, Commissioner
of Highways; James H. Van Patten, Collector; John O.

Becker, Nathaniel C.Jenkins, Overseers of the Poor; George
Lasher, Henry C. McMaster, James Waddell, John C.
Blanchard, Henry G. Herrick, Clark W. Head, Hiram P.
Allen, Ralph W. McDougall, Lewis W. Hunt, Inspectors
of Election; Edward P. Reynex, John L. Barton, Benjamin
Wilber, Alonzo Van Patten, Delas B. Denise, Constables.
1871. — William Malloch, Supervisor; George Allen,
Town Clerk; John W. Head, Justice of the Peace; John
Turnbull, Assessor; Julius N. Kimball, Collector; Nathaniel
C. Jenkins, John 0. Becker, Overseers of the Poor; Marcus
Delamater, Henry P. McMaster, William B. Dorn, Henry G.
Herrick, William R. Baird, Ira E. Avery, Hiram P. Allen,
Ralph W. McDougall, Lewis W. Hunt, Inspectors of
Election; John L. Barton, Charles A. Lenwood, James Van
Patten, George Stevens, Constables.
1872 —Emmett O'Neill, Supervisor; Hicks W. Sheldon,
Town Clerk; Richard Walpole, Justice of the Peace ; David
Griffith, Assessor; Henry P. McMaster, Collector; Jesse B.
Carpenter, Commissioner of Highways; William Weaver,
John O. Becker, Overseers of the Poor; Zachariah Smith,
M. R. Victory, Nicholas Smith, Mott T. Sheldon, Richard
Hunter, Jr., Jirah Rockwell, Hiram P. Allen, Ralph W.
McDougall, Lewis W. Hunt, Inspectors of Election; John
L. Barton, Charles W. Lenwood, James Van Patten, Eli
Mickel, Constables.
1 873.— Emmett O'Neill, Supervisor; Hicks W. Sheldon,
Town Clerk; John S. Van Aernam, Justice of the Peace;
Elisha B. Morse, Assessor; Arthur D. Mead, Collector;
James W. Waddell, Commissioner of Highways; William
Weaver, John O. Becker, Overseers of the Poor; Cornell
W. Bronk, John Buckley, Nicholas Smith, Frederick W.
Shute, Andrew Hunter, Jirah Rockwell, William Chad
wick, Ralph W. McDougall, Lewis W. Hunt, Inspectors of
Election; John L. Barton, James A. Tripp, Jacob Gardiner,
George Mickel, Constables.
1874. — Emmett O'Neill, Supervisor; John L. Turnbull,
Town Clerk; Alonzo Macomber, George Lasher, Justices of
the Peace; Cornell W. Bronk, Assessor; Thomas Hem-
street, Collector; Spencer Christman, Commissioner of
Highways; William Weaver, Abram P. Bronk, Overseers
of the Poor; John H. Markle, John Buckley, George H.
Love, Joseph C. Wright, John Blanchard, Frank Chapman,
Ralph W. McDougall, Hiram P. Allen, Lewis W. Hunt,
Inspectors of Election; James A. Tripp, John L. Barton,
John C. Gilbert, Eli Mickel, Constables.
1875. — Arthur D. Mead, Supervisor; Duncan R. Coul
ter, TownClerk; JohnW. Head, Justiceof the Peace; David
Griffith, Assessor; Peter Smith, Collector; David Durfee,
Commissioner of Highways; Abram Wemple, John Conklin,
Overseers of the Poor; Austin Delamater, Nicholas Smith,
J. H. Love, Ralph W. McDougall, Hiram P. Allen, Lewis
W. Hunt, William S. Knight, W. G. Sears, Henry G. Her
rick, Inspectors of Election; Eli Mickel, John S. Barton,
William H. Becker, Constables.
1 876.— George Lasher, Supervisor; W. S. Knight, Town
Clerk; w! H. Barkhuff, Justice of the Peace; Andrew
Hunter, Assessor; James W. Waddell, Commissioner of
Highways; John L. Bronk, Nathaniel C. Jenkins, Over
seers of the Poor; Austin Delamater, John H. Marcley,
George Dennison, Charles B. Carpenter, Charles Liddle,
Oscar Durfee, John A. McClure, William Chadwick, Lewis
W- Hunt, Inspectors of Election; William Landers, Col
lector; John M. Bradt, Eli Mickel, George W. Patterson, J.
Chapman, Jirah Rockwell, Constables; Robert N. Durfee,
Game Constable.
1877. — Arthur D. Mead, Supervisor; William S-
Knight, Town Clerk; Chalmers Devenberg, Ralph W.
McDougall, Justices of the Peace; Nicholas Smith, Assessor;
John W. Feidler, Commissioner of Highways; Nicholas S.
Pangburn, Collector; Nathaniel C. Jenkins, John Bronk,
Overseers of the Poor; George Malloch, George H. Love,
Frederick Delamater, William H. Avory, George T. Mc
Farland, R. J. Liddle, William Chadwick, A. S. Liddle,
W. L. Schermerhorn, Inspectors of Election; John M. Bradt,
Hiram Hliton, Jacob Gardiner, Eli Mickel, Jacob Wag
goner, Constables; William McMillan, Game Constable;
John 6. Becker, Frederick Shute, A. H. Delavan, Auditors.
1878— George Lasher, Supervisor; George Mickel,
Town Clerk; John McClure, Assessor; George Love, Col-

176

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

lector ; Zerah Jenkins, John L. Bronk, Overseers of the Poor ;
David Walpole, John F. Marckley; John Smith, Orlando
Jones, Zachariah Smith, R. J. Liddle, Abraham Osterhout,
Elwood Moore, Wil iam L. Schermerhorn, Inspectors
of Election; H. P. McMaster, Jacob W. Gardiner, Jacob
Waggoner, George Fellows, Eli Mickel, Constables; Will
iam McMillan, Game Constable.
1879. — John W. Head, Supervisor; George Mickel,
Town Clerk; James Staly, Assessor; George H. Love,
Commissioner of Highways; J. W. Head, T. R. Herrick,
Justices of the Peace; Martin J. Wilber, Collector; G. D.
Durfee, John L. Bronk, Overseers of the Poor; Daniel S.
Pulver, Frederick Delamater, William Bronk, N. S. Pang
burn, R. L. Hunter, J. J. Gardiner, William L. Schermer
horn, Andrew Harbeck, Elwood Moore, Inspectors of Elec
tion; Eli Mickel, J. M. Bradt, Henry McMaster, Jonathan
Clayton, Jacob Waggoner, Constables; M. H. Sheldon,
Game Constable.
1880. — George Lasher, Supervisor; William L. Scher
merhorn, Town Clerk; Cornell W. Bronk, Assessor; John
W. Feidler, Commissioner of Highways; David W. Wal
pole, Justice of the Peace; Robert J. Liddle, Collector;
Gilbert D. Durfee, John L. Bronk, Overseers of the Poor;
James Quick, Robert Cullings, David N. Peek, F. W.
Shute, Orlando Jones, Robert J. Liddle, Andrew Harbeck,
Elwood Moore, J. M. S. Wilber, Inspectors of Election;
Henry P. McMaster, Jacob W. Gardner, Jonathan Clayton,
John L. Barton, John M. Brodt, Constables; William Mc
Millan, Game Constable.
1881.— James W. Waddell, Supervisor; John L. Turn-
bull, Town Clerk; A. H. Delevan, Assessor; Simon Dare,
Commissioner of Highways; Lewis A. Wilber, Justice of
the Peace; Robert J. Liddle, Collector; Eli Hart, John L.
Bronk, Overseers of the Poor; George Astrander, Henry
I. Smith, Edward Day, J. J. Gardner, John H. Shute,
Horace Avery, Abram S. Liddle, William Chadwick,
Hiram Hilton, Inspectors of Election; Henry McMaster, J:
J. Gardner, Howard Sperbeck, Abram Ostrander, Con
stables; George W. Mickel, Game Constable.
1882.— James W. Waddell, Supervisor; John L. Turn-
bull, Town Clerk; Jacob D. Patterson, Assessor; George H.
Love, Commissioner of Highways; John M. Delamater,
Justice of the Peace; David N. Peek, Collector; John Levy,
Eli Hart, Overseers of the Poor; Juan Pangburn, John
Buckley, Edward Deay, John H. Shute, Jay Abbey, Will
iam Tiffany, Andrew Harbeck, William T. Waddell, J. M.
Swart Wilber, Inspectors of Election; John L. Barton,
Obediah Stillwell, Howard Sperbeck, Newton J. Gardner,
Constables; William S. Knight, Game Constable.
1883.— James W. Waddell, Supervisor; John L. Turn-
bull, Town Clerk; Nicholas Smith, Assessor; William
Chadwick, Commissioner of Highways; Frederick W.
Shute, Justice of the Peace; Stephen Pratt White, Col
lector; John Levy, Charles B. Carpenter, Overseers of the
Poor; John Green, Marshall Wilkinson, John W. Smith,
John H. Shute, Jay Abbey, Edward T. Liddle, John A.
McClure, Edward Moore, Darwin E. Mott, Inspectors of
Election; John L. Barton, Obediah Stillwell, Howard
Sperbeck, Jacob J. Gardner, Constables; Austin Dela
mater, Game Constable.
1884.— John A. McClure, Supervisor; John L. Turn-
bull, Town Clerk; Spencer Churtman, Assessor; William
Tiffany, Commissioner of Highways; David W. Walpole,
Justice of the Peace; Robert J. Liddle, Collector; Charles
B. Carpenter, John Levy, Overseeis of the Poor; John
Turnbull, James Wells, Daniel Pulver, John H. Shute, Jay
Abbey, Horace Avery, Elwood Moore, William T. Wad
dell, J. M. Swart Wilber, Inspectors of Election ; John L.
Barton, James Durfee, Obediah Stillwell, Jacob J. Gardner,
William Levy, Jr., Constables; William McMillan, Game
Constable. L. Turn-
; William
. Romyne
Collector;the Poor ;
Peek, Jay
. Waddel,
Election ;

1 885.— John A. McClure, Supervisor ; John
bull, Town Clerk ; Jacob D. Patterson, Assessor
D. McMillan, Commissioner of Highways ; T
Herrick, Justice of the Peace ; Robert J. Liddle,
Charles B. Carpenter, John Levy, Overseers of
Jethro Rockwell, Theodore Vandescar, David N.
Abbey, John I-I. Shute, William Avery, William T
Elwood Moore, J. M. Swart Wilber, Inspectors of

James Durfee, Augustus Taber, Edward Montanye, John
Stebbins, Constables ; William McMillan, Game Constable.
EDUCATIONAL STATISTICS.
The whole number of schools in this town is twenty-two.
There are, besides, three joint districts— that is, districts
partly in Duanesburgh and partly beyond the town limits,
with school-houses beyond the lines. Two of the joint dis
tricts extend into Montgomery County, and one into Scho
harie County. The amount of State money appropriated
to the schools of Duanesburgh during the last fiscal year
was $2,163.70. The amount raised by district tax was
j>3, 359-85 The total was $5,523.55. The number of
scholars attending school in 1884 was 970.
CHURCH HISTORY.
Judge Duane, on his retirement, sought to establish in
Duanesburgh a home for his declining years. One of his
first thoughts was for a church. Centre Lot, or Square,
having failed in its purpose of becoming the center of
Duanesburgh village, he devoted it to the uses of this church,
and in its center he built the present house of worship, about
1792 and 1793. Before the date of its consecration it was
conveyed to the corporation. At a meeting of the rector
and inhabitants of the town of Duanesburgh, in communion
of the Episcopal Church of said town, on Tuesday, Septem
ber 22, 1793, the following instrument respecting the conse
cration, entitled "an act of the founder for consecrating
Christ's Church at Duanesburgh," was laid before the
vestry. "1, James Duane, proprietor of the town of Duanesburgh,
in the County of Albany, do hereby make known and de
clare that the edifice lately erected at the place called
Centre Square of the said town, and the ground on which
the said edifice is situated, are intended and hereby appro
priated for the public worship of Almighty God, according
to the rites and ceremonies of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in the State of New York, for which use they shall
always remain and continue. And that I have requested,
and do hereby pray the Right Reverend the Bishop of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the said State of New York
to consecrate and set apart the said edifice, with the ground
on which it is erected, by the name of Christ's Church in
Duanesburgh, according to the rights and ceremonies of the
said Protestant Episcopal Church. In Witness," etc.
(Signed)
[Seal.] James Duane.
The duplicate of this instrument was publicly delivered
by Mr. Duane into the hands of the Right Reverend Samuel
Provost at the chancel of the church, and there read and
published by the Rev. Mr. Ellison, rector of St. Peter's
Church, Albany, immediately before the consecration, to a
large audience, on Sunday, August 25, 1793. There was
also present, to assist at the service, the Rev. Leonard
Cutting, minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church,
U. S. *
The parish evidently had a corporate existence fpr some
years previous to 1795, and was in charge of the Rev. Mr.
Belden. It was admitted to the Convention of the Diocese
of New York in 1789. Under the State law then recently
passed, action was taken to comply with the new require
ments. "To all people to whom these presents shall come or
concern: The Rev. David Belden, minister of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the Town of Duanesburgh and County
of Albany, and William North, James C Duane, Edward
Cumpston and Joel Thompson of the said town, members
of the said church, do hereby certify and make known, that
on the twenty-third day of August, 1795, immediately after
divine service, they were present and assisted at a meeting
of the male adult persons of the congregation, or church in
communion, of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State
of New York, at Christ's Church in the said Town of Du
anesburgh, for the purpose of incorporating themselves
under- the act of the Legislature of this State, entitled 'An
Act for the Relief of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the
State of New York,' passed the 17th day of March, 1795.
That the said minister presided at the said meeting. That
Wilham North and James C. Duane, of the said town, were

THE TOWNSHIP OF DUANESBURGH.

177

then and there respectively and unanimously elected and
chosen churchwardens of the said congregation or church-
and George Wasson, Joel Thompson, Edward Cumpston,'
John Thornton, Joseph Thompson, Nicholas Righter and
William Skeels, also of the said town, and John Dorn, of
Corrysbush, were in like manner respectively and unani
mously elected and chosen vestrymen of the said congrega
tion or church; and that it was further then and there
unanimously agreed and determined that on Tuesday in
Easter week the said offices of churchwardens and vestry
men of the said congregation or church shall yearly forever
hereafter cease, and their successors in office be elected and
chosen; and, lastly, it was then and there agreed, de
termined and declared, that the said congregation or church
shall forever hereafter be known and recognized in law by
the name, style or title of the Rector and Inhabitants of the
Town of Duanesburgh, in communion of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the State of New York. In testimony
whereof, the said David Belden, William North, James C.
Duane, Edward Cumpston and Joel Thompson have here
unto set their hands and seals this twenty-third day of Au
gust, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
and ninety-five.
" Sealed and delivered in presence of us,
James Duane, [seal.]
David Beldex, [seal.]
W. North, [seal. ]
J. C. Duane, [seal.]
E. Cumpston, [seal.]
Joel Thomson." [seal.]
In 1811 a tower and spire was added to the building and
a few changes were made in the interior. Since then no
changes have been made. The building has been kept in
excellent repair, and is the oldest church edifice in the Dio
cese of Albany which has preserved its primitive architect
ural design.
Immediately after the consecration of the church, Judge
Duane, "desirous to make some permanent provision for
the present and future incumbents of the said church," pre
sented a glebe of eighty acres near the church and parson
age. The land thus designated was a part of the Farm No.
116. Subsequently, the heirs of James C. Duane added a
number of acres, increasing the glebe to its present size.
Judge Duane also contributed materially toward the build
ing of Ihe parsonage house, and, at his instigation, the
vestry applied for further aid to Trinity Church, New York.
In answer to the request, Trinity Church furnished 300
pounds for this purpose. Before any further action was
. taken in the matter, Judge Duane died. It having been
deemed inadvisable to place the parsonage on the glebe, a
plot of ground was leased on the western side of the public
square, at an annual rent equal to the value of five "Span
ish milled silver dollars." The first parsonage was erected
on this lot. The present rectory stands in the glebe, facing
the turnpike.
On the 28th of January, 1811, Mary Duane, widow of
Hon. James Duane, transferred to Robert Troup, of the
City of Albany, and Peter A. Jay, of the City of New York,
fifty-three shares of the capital stock of the Merchants' Bank
of New York City, its income to be applied toward the uses
of this parish. At the death of the original trustees, the
fund was placed in the trust of the Protestant Episcopal
Society for the promotion of Religion and Learning, the
present trustee. By wise and judicious management the
fund has gradually accumulated, and now provides an an
nual income equal to nearly twice the amount of the origi
nal principal, not a dollar having been lost through bad in
vestment or otherwise. October 17, 1845, the heirs of
Elizabeth North, granddaughter of Hon. James Duane,
conveyed to the church all transferable interests, in fur
therance of her wish, in the farm known as lot 85, contain
ing 106 acres, occupied by Warren Fuller at a perpetual
rent of $200 a year, to be applied to the needs of this church.
She had given the rent to the church since 1834. It was
paid regularly until, in 1858, during the anti-rent move
ment, the tenant refused to pay longer, and removed from
the farm all the buildings and such other property as he
could conveniently secure. Unable to effect an amicable
settlement of the difficulty, the wardens and vestry insti
tuted legal proceedings, which eventually resulted favorably

to the church. The entire property was finally disposed of
and the proceeds invested in bond and mortgage. By the
will of Catharine L. Duane, a fund of $500 was left in trust,
its annual income to be divided equally between the Sunday-
school of Christ's Church and the Duanesburgh Library
Association. The entire fund was lost by the recent failure
of Emmet O'Neil. Several small funds obtained by sales of
timber are invested, the income from which is applied for
specific purposes.
There is no record of the first services held in Duanes
burgh. It is probable that the rectors of St. Peter's, Al
bany, from 1 7 10 to 1770, officiated when there was need.
The services of Christ's Church were, from the first, pro
vided for by the parish. The building was erected, the
organization effected, and all the essentials appertaining to
a formed parish were provided at the outset. The measures
then taken to maintain the services have, during the subse
quent history, demonstrated their wisdom and efficacy, there
having been no period during the more than ninety years of
its life when any difficulty existed in providing the support
of a rector.
The first minister after the incorporation under the then
new State Law was Rev. David Belden. Mr. Belden had
officiated as a deacon in Duanesburgh lor some time before
the organization and had presided at the business meetings
during the formative period. Upon his advancement to the
priesthood he was instituted rector. His official connection
with the parish is thought to have ceased in the early part
of 1797. On the 30th of July, 1798, Rev. Robert G. Wetmore
was called to the rectorship, the wardens agreeing "to be
come responsible for the payment of one hundred and thirty
pounds sterling. * * * and further to find a house for him
to live in from the lime he begin to preach in Duanesburgh. "
The right was reserved on the part of the vestry to make
such agreement with the church at Schenectady respecting
Mr. Wetmore's officiating there as they might deem advis
able, provided he should not be obliged to officiate in the
church at Schenectady oftener than once in three Sundays.
August 23, 1798, the vestry of Christ's Church agreed
"to allow, permit and enjoin on the said Robert G. Wet
more to preach in the Episcopal Church in Schenectady one
Sunday in three for and through the said year." November
8, 1800, the vestry having passed a resolution commending
most highly "the Rector of Christ's Church, Duanesburgh, "
for "his zeal, knowledge and integrity," declared that "no
deduction of his salary shall be made on account of any
disability that may take place during the ensuing year."
His health beginning to be impaired shortly after, he re
mained until April, though he was unable to minister pub
licly after the ist of February, 1801. He died soon after
ward. During his rectorship in Duanesburgh, he baptized
one hundred and performed eight marriages, the smallest
fee being eight shillings, the largest a guinea.
Between 1801 and 1817, the names of the following
clergy appear on the records as having officiated at various
times : N. Lilly, Mr. Burtess, R. Hubbard, Dr. Mansfield,
Gross Stebbins, F. Clowes. Of these, Mr. Hubbard is
thought to have been rector for some time. Rev. Nathaniel
F. Bruce, deacon, was called to be minister June 12, 1817,
at a salary of $400. He was advanced to the priesthood
between the latter part of March, 1818, and April 13, 1819,
at which date he signs himself as rector. He resigned about
the close of 1819. Rev. Charles W. Hamilton was called
to officiate as resident minister September 9, 1820. By
mutual agreement his connection terminated May 6, 1822.
Rev. Richard Bury began his services February 10, 1823,
at $400 per year, which was subsequently increased to S500.
He resigned about the last of December, 1827. Rev.
William B. Thomas succeeded him early in 1828 and re
mained until 1841. Rev. Kendrick Metcalf appears on the
records as rector October 26, 1S42, remaining until October,
1850. During the interim the vestry invited Rev. Mr. Bab
cock to officiate at the rate of ten dollars per Sunday. Rev.
William O. Jarvis was elected rector August 27, 1 85 1. A
suit at law was entered by the Reformed Presbyterian So
ciety against the rector, wardens and vestry, for a portion
of the glebe. The issue was in favor of the defendants.
The resignation of Mr. Jarvis took effect March 13, 1859.
Rev. Robert T. S. Lowell, D.D., was elected rector April
26, 1859. Dr. Lowell's ministry was successful, and he was
associated with many important improvements to the parish

178

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

property. At the earnest solicitation of the vestry he con
sented to withdraw his resignation, presented December 13,
1866, and remained until Easter, 1869. Dr. Lowell is well
and widely known as an author and poet of high rank.
Rev. George L. Weide was elected rector October 20, 1869.
In the summer of 1877, Trinity Chapel, near Esperance,
was erected on land given by Benjamin M. Duane. Ser
vices had been held in a school-house near, by Dr. Lowell
and Mr. Weide, for several years previous. A society of
women raised the building fund . The chapel was formally
deeded to Christ's Church, July 29, 1877, and consecrated
August 7th following by the Right Rev. William Crosswell
Duane, S. T. D., Bishop of the Diocese. Mr. Weide re
signed in the spring of 1881. Rev. H. L. Zeller was elected
rector October 15, 1881, and remained until August, 1883.
Rev. Ernest A. Hartman, the present incumbent, was elect
ed January 24, 1884, and assumed his duties March 16th fol
lowing. Below are the names and terms of service of the wardens
of Christ's Church from the foundation of the parish to
1885. William North, 1795-1821 ; James C. Duane, 1795-
1805 ; George W. Featherstonhaugh, 1805-25 ; Col. Will
iam S. North, 1821-45 ! JohnB. Duane, 1825-44 ; Benjamin
M. Duane, 1844-82 ; Ralph McDougall, 1845-57 ; Hugh
McDougall, 1857-79 ; Alexander McDougall since 1879 ;
Ralph McDougall since 1882.
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS, QUAKER STREET.
The Society of Friends of Duanesburgh was organized
about 1790, when its first meetings were held. Its first
meeting for discipline, subordinate to a monthly meeting,
was established by a committee sent from Nine Partners
Quarterly Meeting in Dutchess County in the fall of 1800.
This meeting was then a part of Coeymans Monthly Meet
ing. In 1806, by a division of Coeymans Meeting, Duanes
burgh Monthly Meeting was established and a provision made
to hold its meetings one-third of the time at Otego and
Burlington, in Otsego County, and two-thirds of the time in
Duanesburgh. Some time between 1800 and 1806, a lot of
land was deeded to Oliver Briggs, two acres of which was
to be held by the Society of Friends. In 1807 this lot was
exchanged for part of lot No. 360 in the village of Quaker
Street, where the Friends' log meeting-house then stood, by
four brothers, named Job, Jeremiah, Robert and Richard
Briggs, and was deeded by them to Jedediah Tallman and
Zaccheus Mead, who were to hold it in trust for the society
" to be used for a burying ground and for the erection of a
meeting-house thereon." In 1828 a new deed was given to
Nathaniel Wilber, James Shelden, Isaac Gaige, Zaccheus
Mead, Benjamin T. Estes, Joseph Moore, Michael Hoag and
Isaac Stevens, who were to act as trustees for the society and
transfer the property to their successors. A framed addition
of ten feet was built to the log meeting-house in 1804, and
in 1807 the meeting-house now standing was built. From
that time until 1828 the Meeting consisted of about two
hundred members. Prominent among these early Friends
were members of the families of Gaige, Estes, Hoag, Shel
den, Moore, Briggs, Wilber and Wing, and many of their
descendants now live in the vicinity. In tracing the history
of this society down to the present time, we find that
through the close proximity of other churches, and various
other causes, the membership has fallen off to nearly one-
fourth its former number. Yet, as a society, it still holds a
wide influence for good.
REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, DUANESBURGH.
The frame church building of this society is situated a
little more than a mile west of the village of Duanesburgh.
The cemetery adjoins the churchyard on the west, and the
parsonage grounds adjoin it on the north.
The nucleus of the Duanesburgh congregation was formed
in 1793 by Rev. James McKinney, who that year came from
Ireland, although the formal organization may not have
taken place for two or three years afterward. Rev. Mr.
McKinney was settled as pastor in 1797. The congregation
worshipped mostly in a stone church in Princetown. This
was a kind of union church, occupied by different denom
inations as they could arrange among themselves, though
finally occupied solely by the Presbyterians. Mr. McKin

ney resigned his pastorate in 1802 and removed to South
Carolina, where he died the same year.
For six years the congregation was without a pastor,
though not without preaching. In 1804 they built a sub
stantial frame church upon the present site. Before this
they often worshipped in private houses, and during the
summer in the woods; but more frequently in the barns of
Walter Maxwell and Robert Liddle. The land for the
church and burying ground was given by the Hon. James
Duane. The first elders were Walter Maxwell, Robert Liddle,
John Cullings and James Duquid, all natives of Scotland.
The second pastor was Rev. Gilbert MacMaster. He was
born in Ireland and came to this country when a boy. He
first entered the medical profession and engaged in that
work for a time in Pennsylvania, but feeling that he had a
call to the ministry, he fitted himself for it. He was or
dained and installed August 8, 1808. He remained
pastor of this congregation for nearly thirty-two years and
exerted a wide influence, not only in the town where he
lived, but throughout the country. He was one of the or
ganizers of the County Bible Society in 1823. He received
the title of Doctor of Divinity from Union College in 1828.
He wrote several volumes, all on religious topics. He re
signed and removed to Indiana in 1840. His death occurred
at New Albany, Ind., in 1854.
In the following year, Rev. Andrew Gifford Wylie became
pastor of the congregation, and was ordained and installed
August 29, 1841. He was born in the City of New York,
and was educated at the University of Pennsylvania, in Phil
adelphia. He remained for nearly thirty years, ending his
labors here with the close of 1870, when he accepted a call
to a church in Philadelphia. In 1880 he was called to a
church in Cincinnati, O , where he remained till his death
in December, 1884. Rev. S. M. Ramsey became the next
pastor, and is now (1885) occupying the pulpit. He began
his labors here in October, i873,_and was installed the 14th
of the following month.
The parsonage was built in 1829. The lot (some eight
acres) was given by Miss Catherine Duane. The present
church building was erected in 1836 and 1837, and was first
occupied for worship June 18, 1837. A Sabbath-school was
opened about 1834, and has been steadily carried on since.
Mr. Robert Liddle occupied the position of superintendent
for thirty-three years. The following persons have held the
office of Ruling Elder: First Elders, Walter Maxwell, Robert
Liddle, John Cullings, George Duquid; elected in 1811,
James Young, James McBean; in 1825, John Tulloch, John
Liddle, James Maxwell, Charles McClew; in 1839, Alex.
Liddle, Daniel Stuart, James Turnbull, Ebenezer Cullings ;
in 1856, Robert Liddle, Robert Cessford. Charles L. Tul
loch, John Cullings; in 1867, Daniel Stuart, Richard
Hunter, James McCallum, Andrew Hunter. The following
named persons have held the office of Deacon in the con
gregation: 181 1, John Liddle, James Maxwell, John Tulloch,
Thomas Kelly, Wm. Cummings; 1825, Daniel Stuart,
Ebenezer McMillan, Simon Kennedy; 1826, Alex. Liddle,
Samuel Young, James Ingersoll; 1839, Robert Cessford,
Walter Maxwell, Robert Liddle, Thomas Liddle, John Cul
lings; 1856, Daniel Stuart, Richard Hunter, Peter Cameron,
Andrew Hunter, James McCallum; 1867, Thomas R. Mc
Clew, James Liddle, Alex. Liddle, John E. Cullings, Richard
L. Hunter.
Dr. Alexander McLeod, who for thirty-two years, from
1801 to his death in 1833, ranked among the leading minis
ters of the City of New York, was for six years a member
of this congregation. Dr. E. D. McMaster, who in 1838 be
came President of Hanover College, Ind.; in 1845, President
of Miami University, Oxford, O.; in 1850, Professor in the
Presbyterian Theological Seminary at New Albany, Ind.;
and at the time of his death, in 1866, was at the head of the
Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Chicago, HI. ; spent
his boyhood days here, and early became a member of this
congregation. Dr. A. S. MacMaster, for nearly fifty years
a gifted Presbyterian minister, as also his brother Benjamin
J. MacMaster, editor of The Freeman's Journal, New York
City, were also members of the congregation. Through
Divine grace this congregation has been a blessing to many,
and the names of Maxwell, Cullings and Liddle, Tulloch,
Stuart and McCallum, McClew, Hays and Young, Cessford,
Hunter and Turnbull, with many others, will long be pre-
cious in Duanesburgh.

THE TOWNSHIP OF DUANESBURGH.

179

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF DUANESBURGH.
Concerning the origin of the First Presbyterian Church of
Duanesburgh, usually designated the Mariaville Presbyterian
Church, the records show that on May n, 1842, an appli
cation was made "To the Rev'd Classis of Montgom
ery," by the following named persons, for the organization
of a church agreeably to the Constitution of the Protestant
Reformed Dutch Church of North America. George
Lasher, S. H. Marsh, J. D. Brown, J. M. Lasher. Daniel
Nellis, James Haver, James Frost, Hiram Hansett, F. J.
Quackenbush, Alex. McGaugh, Jacob M. Pulver, Henry
Pulver, Philip Bronk, James Love, Thomas Gifford, Jere
miah Murray, Charles Dorn.
An entry in the records relates that,
" Whereas, by virtue of an act entitled 'An Act making
such alterations in the Act of Incorporating Religious Socie
ties, as to render the same more convenient to the Reformed
Protestant Dutch Congregation,' passed the 7th day of
March, 1788, we, the subscribers, Elders and Deacons of
the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, or Congregation,
formed or established in Duanesburgh, in the County of
Schenectady, having assembled together at the school-house
in Mariaville, on the 19th day of July, 1842, by virtue of the
said act, do by these presents certify that the Trustees Of
said Church or Congregation, and their successors forever,
shall, as a body corporate, be called, distinguished and
known by the name, style and title of the Minister, Elders
and Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church at
Mariaville, Duanesburgh, in the County of Schenectady.
" In witness whereof, we, the Elders and Deacons, have
hereunto set our hands the day and year above mentioned.
"George Lasher, Philip Bronk, Elders; Henry Pulver,
Hiram Hansett, Deacons.
"The above-named consistory were ordained to their re
spective offices after a sermon was preached from Phil. 2 :
15, by Rev. James Stevenson, of Minaville, Montgomery
County, on the 19th day of July, 1842."
George Lasher was elected President of the Consistory,
and Philip Bronk, Stated Clerk.
It appears that the movement toward the erection of a
house of worship somewhat preceded the petition to the
Classis of Montgomery asking the organization of a church.
A record of the proceedings of the Building Committee is
preserved, and opens as follows:
"At a meeting of the inhabitants of Mariaville and vicin
ity, held at the school-house on the 24th day of June, 1841,
convened for the purpose of taking into consideration the
propriety and necessity of erecting a church edifice in said
village, Silas H. Marsh was called to the chair and James
M. Lasher appointed secretary.
"On motion, it was resolved that a committee of six
persons be appointed to ascertain the terms upon which an
eligible site can be procured, and to report to the next meet
ing; and that said committee consist of the following named
persons, viz. : Silas H. Marsh, James Frost, Daniel Nellis,
Jeremiah Murray, Henry Pulver and James M. Lasher."
This committee reported, at a meeting held soon after,
that one of their number, Mr. James Frost, had tendered
them a square half acre in a locality so suitable that they
thought it unnecessary to make farther inquiry. Where
upon the donation of Mr. Frost was gratefully accepted by
the meeting At a meeting held in the same place five days
later, July 2, 1841, a committee of eight were appointed to
solicit subscriptions. This committee pursued their work
with varying success until they had secured sufficient to
warrant the commencement of the work.
"Whereupon Silas H. Marsh, James M. Lasher and
Daniel Nellis were appointed a building committee, with
authority to contract for the erection of an edifice upon the
best model they could find."
November 10, 1841, the committee entered into a contract
with Mr. Thomas Gifford for the erection and completion of
an edifice 38x50 feet, containing a gallery on three sides,
and furnished with pulpit and pews of the best style of such
country churches of that time.
The corner-stone was laid in June, 1842, and the building
completed in November following. The house was dedi
cated. December 7, 1842.
Rev. James Donald, a minister of the Presbyterian
Church, and a member of the Presbytery of Albany, was

called, and by the Classis of Montgomery duly installed as
pastor of this church on Wednesday, June 7, 1843. The
Rev. Charles Jukes preached the sermon and gave the
charge to the pastor, and the Rev. James Stevenson gave
the usual charge to the people. The first communion-
service of the church was held June 11, 1843. Previously
to this the communion roll had been prepared, and was as
follows: Received by certificate, from the Protestant Reformed
Dutch Church of Florida (the Minaville Church), Helen
Lasher, Margaret Pulver, Ann Hansett, Margaret Pulver,
Charlotte Pulver, Catherine Wiggins, Jemima Patterson,
Elisabeth Bronk, Mrs. Catherine Bronk, Miss Catherine
Bronk, Dorothy Dome, Jesse Piatt, Elsy Piatt, Hannah
Conklin, Israel Scriver, Rebecca Green, Dorothy Conklin.
From the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Sche
nectady, Daniel Nellis and Mary Nellis.
Received on confession of their faith and satisfactory evi
dence of their piety, Agnes Conklin, James Brown, Mar
garet Brown, Ann Maria Ryne, Margaret Templar, John
Dougall, Hannah Dougall, Maria Dennison, Susan McMas
ter, Eliza Clark, James M. Lasher, Catherine Clogston,
James H. Patterson, Prudence Patterson, making a com
munion roll of thirty-one members, exclusive of the four
members of consistory — a membership in all of thirty-five.
The Rev. Mr. Donald closed his services on the last
Sabbath of April, 1851. From this time until 1859 the
church had no pastor, depending altogether upon such pul
pit supply as could be obtained from Classis and otherwise.
At this point the records show the following:
' ' The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church Of Duanes
burgh having obtained leave of Classis to change their
ecclesiastical relation, made application to the Presbytery of
Albany to be received under their care at their annual meet
ing in January, 1859.
" After this they obtained leave of the Court to be known
by the title and to hold their property under the incorporate
title of the ' First Presbyterian Church of Duanesburgh.'
"On June 15, 1859, said church was fully received and
entered on the roll by the Presbytery of Albany.
"On February 13, 1861, the ecclesiastical name was, by
Presbytery, for the sake of convenience, and without inter
fering with the corporate title, changed on Presbytery Roll
to the church of Mariaville. ' '
During the year 1859 the Rev. David Edgar served the
church as stated supply. In i860 the Rev. David Lyon
was called, and remained until March, 1876.
In June, 1877, the church secured certain ministerial ser
vices of Rev. R. A. Hill, pastor of the Princetown Presby
terian Church. Mr. Hill retained his pastoral relation to
the Princetown Church, and in addition preached at Maria
ville on Sabbath afternoons, and performed such pastoral
services as lay in his power, continuing for five years,
and as long as he remained at Princetown. In June,
1882, he received a call from the Seventh Presbyterian
Church of Pittsburgh, Pa., which he accepted, and so sev
ered his connection with Princetown and Mariaville.
Again the church was dependent upon temporary supply
until November, 1883. At this time Rev. J. W. Johnston
became stated supply, and has so acted until the present
time. In the early part of the year 1885 an effort was made to
repair the old church. $2,500 were raised by subscription.
Rev. J. W. Johnston, J. W. Waddell and A. N. Bronk were
appointed a committee to have charge of the work, which
was completed in July of the same year, the church edifice
having been thoroughly renovated and modernized.
At the present time the session consists of Rev. J. W.
Johnston, Moderator; and Elders James M. Lasher, Joseph
Green, George Lasher and John Turnbull.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF DUANESBURGH.
But little is known of the history of the Baptists within the
bounds of this church previous to the commencement of the
present century, no records having been preserved of an
earlier date. But it is well understood that there were some
Baptist brethren and sisters among the early settlers who
came soon after the close of the revolution. One such emi
grant was Elijah Herrick, so well known fifty years ago as
"Father Herrick." He had taken an active part in the
struggle for independence, and soon after its termination

180

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

embraced Christianity, and subsequently entered the minis
try, beginning his labors with the sparse population by
which he was surrounded. He was one of those who early
proclaimed the truths of the Gospel to the inhabitants of
Duanesburgh. Having been inured to the privations and
rigid discipline of the camp, he was well prepared to meet
the fatigues and undertake the responsibilities of his new
vocation. To his military training is attributed a remark
able punctuality, which characterized him through life, for
he fulfilled his engagements regardless of weather or dis
tance. In 1800, according to the earliest record extant, there
was a small society of Baptists in the northern part of
Duanesburgh known as " Elder John Mudge's Church," but
destitute of a pastor, and another in the adjoining town of
Florida under the pastoral care of Rev. Reuben Mudge.
These small churches being too feeble to support two min
isters, mutually resolved to unite in a common organization.
This union was effected by the usual observances July
29, 1800, and the church of Duanesburgh and Florida was
constituted with seventeen members, nine of whom were
women. The fifth year after the new organization, the number of
the members had increased from seventeen to sixty-four,
and the sixth year witnessed the conversion of so many
that the membership was increased to nearly one hundred
by baptism. In 1809 nineteen were received by immersion,
and the total number amounted to one hundred and thirty.
Conversions occurred nearly every year subsequent to
this, varying in general from one to six and amounting in
the aggregate to about ninety in thirty years. But deaths,
removals and exclusions more than counterbalanced these
and reduced the number more than one-half in that period
of time. For many succeeding years but little transpired
that is worthy of notice. There was a union meeting-house
which the Baptists might occupy a part of the time, but
which was little used on account of its unfavorable location,
and in 1834 they were yet holding their meetings in school-
houses and private dwellings at different places as expe
diency suggested. In 1835 a house of worship was erected
sufficiently commodious for all' ordinary occasions at that
time. In 1840 there were only sixty communicants in the
church, and but sixteen male members who could be relied
upon to aid the organization steadfastly with their presence
and substance. Nearly all of these had passed the merid
ian of life, and the most efficient laborers had before them
but a few of their allotted " three-score years and ten. "
Fears were entertained that the church might be disrupted,
but during the winter of 1842 and 1843 sixty-two converts
were added to the church membership by baptism. A
large number of these were between the ages of fifteen and
twenty five, the extremes being twelve and seventy. In
the winter of 1853 another revival brought an accession of
forty-nine members, all but ten of whom were heads of
families. Previous to 1857 no rupture had occurred in the church,
but at this time internal dissensions arose. But in the
midst of these difficulties a revival began which resulted in
the addition by baptism of a number of new recruits
greater than that of those who had withdrawn. Those who
had not entirely departed from the church united hand in
hand in working for the common good. In 1864 a parson
age was purchased which had long been needed, and in
1868 the old meeting-house was sold and a larger and better
one was erected. Some slight repairs have been put on
them from time to time. Following is a list of the succes
sive pastorates:
Reuben Mudge, 1800-1805; Elnathan Finch, 1805-
1810; Rev. Mr. Bolton, 1810-1811; Reuben Mudge, 1812-
1813; Rev. Mr. Longworthey, 1813-1814; Bartimeus
Braman, 1814-1819; Charles Howe, 1823-1833; Calvin
Herrick, 1833-1843; Joseph Earl, 1843-1856; G. W.
Abrams, 1857-1859; David Corwin, 1859-1861; W. F
Benedict, March, 1861, to November, 1862; D. B. Collins
1863-1867; J. W. Starkweather, 1867-1870; E. Ashton
1870-1871; J. S. Johnson, 1871-1872; I. Powers, 1873;
Leonard Smith, April, 1878, to the present time.
THE TRUE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.
The church at Mariaville known by the above name, orig
inated about forty years ago with persons living in that

vicinity who were members of the church at Charlestown
under the pastoral care of Rev. Henry V. Wyckoff. They
met first as a reading society of worship at the house of Mr.
Henry I. Smith. After some time had elapsed, they called
Rev. Marcus Bellinger as their minister, and he preached
in a school-house for a number of years. About 1858 or 1859
Rev. Perry Devenburgh assumed the pastoral care, and re
mained about twenty- five years, till his death in December,
1882. The present house of worship was built about 1864 or
1865, and services have since been conducted therein. Since
the death of Rev. Mr. Devenburgh the church has been con
nected with the Classis of Hackensack of the True Reformed
Dutch Church, and has been supplied by ministers of that
Classis. THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF QUAKER STREET.
The Christian Church of Quaker Street was organized
after a series of meetings extending through February and
March, 1859, under the labors of Revs. Henry Brown and
B. F. Summerbell. Quite a number of persons united in
the organization, under a covenant declaring that Christian
character should be the test of their fellowship, and the
Bible their rule of faith and practice. The name Christian
was applied as pointing directly to Christ as the head of the
Church. Rev. Henry Brown was pastor until July, 1859, when, at
his urgent request, the church obtained the services of Rev.
Thomas Holmes, who remained until April, 1861. Since
that time the pulpit has been filled by a number of different
ministers, prominent among whom was Rev. Charles E.
Peake, who served two terms, aggregating seven years. He
was a victim of the wrecked steamer Narragansett, on Long
Island Sound. Among others may be mentioned Revs.
Philip Couchman and Henry Brown, and the present pas
tor, Rev. W. Jay Reynolds.
The church building was erected in 1859-60, and was
dedicated in June of the latter year. Rev. B. F. Summer-
bell preached the dedicatory sermon, and was assisted in the
services by Rev. John Ross, Rev. Henry Brown and Rev.
Thomas Holmes, the pastor. The house underwent repairs
about five years ago at an expense of about $1,500, and was
rededicated by Rev. Austin Craig.
THE CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER.
•
The Church of the Redeemer (Universalist) was organized
December 16, 1875, with sixteen members, as follows:
Dr. Joseph Braman and wife, Daniel Van Henn and wife,
George Lester and wife, Fayette Peek, Murray Peek, De-
Witt C. Chase, DeWitt C. Lester, Ida Belle Lester, Saxton
M. Cheeney, Eunice Cheeney, Benjamin K. Elton, William
Broeffle and Susannah Broeffle.
The organizat-'on was effected at the house of Dr. Joseph
Braman, under the ministrations of Rev. D. C. Davis. The
growth of this church was rapid and steady during the next
few months. The membership was soon increased to thirty,
and January 17, 1875, three persons were confirmed by bap-
tism. For a time the interest continued unabated, but at
length, owing to causes over which those most deeply inter
ested had no control, it abated until services were held ir
regularly, and then ceased altogether.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF MARIAVILLE.
The Mariaville Methodist Episcopal Church was organized
about twenty-five years ago. Solomon Pulver, Henry
Mickle, Evert Van An ken, and others were among the
early members. The ground upon which the church was
erected was given to the Society by Messrs. Marsh and
Delamater. During a portion of" the time this church has
been connected on one pastoral charge with the Methodist
Episcopal Churches of Minaville and Fort Hunter. It has
not for some time had a regular pastor, and is at present
supplied.THE METHODIST El'ISCOrAL CHURCH OF QUAKER STREET.
At Quaker Street there is a flourishing Methodist Epis
copal Church, of which Rev. Mr. De Vol is the pastor.
This organization owns a good-sized frame house of wor
ship, located at the foot of the rise ot ground separating the
two parts of the village. Early meetings were held on the
hill.

THE TOWNSHIP OF DUANESBURGH.

181

V^4 yV-<y£Us

KIRBY WILBER.
This well-known and highly-respected citizen of Quaker '
Street was born in that village September 25, 1820, a son
of Kirby and Mercy (Allen) Wilber. His father came from
Dutchess County about 1812, and was for a time engaged
in tanning on a small scale. Soon, however, he opened a
small custom shoe shop. In this shop, and with their fa
ther as an instructor, the Wilber brothers, R. P. U., E. G,
W. K. and Kirby, gained their first knowledge of that busi
ness with which they were destined to be so prominently
identified in after life.
Kirby Wilber was educated sparingly in the public schools
of the time and place, and taking more naturally to business
than to mechanical pursuits, at the age of fourteen he be
came a clerk in the old time store of Job Cleveland. Two
years later he went to Schenectady, and was for a short
time a clerk in the store of John Ohlen. Returning to his
native town, he became a salesman in the store of James E.
O'Neill in July, 1837. In the spring of 1840 he removed
to Brainard's Bridge, Rensselaer County, and entered a
store belonging to a manufacturing company, in which
Seth Hastings, late of Albany, was one of the partners.
There he was employed most of the time for about eight
years, at the expiration of which time he bought the stock

of goods of his former employers and engaged in trade for
himself, continuing during the succeeding five years.
In the spring of 1853, Mr. Wilber disposed of his interests
at Brainard's Bridge and returned to Quaker Street to take
an interest in the boot and shoe manufacturing business
which had been established by his brothers, his successful
connection with which is noticed elsewhere. The present
store of Wilber & Co. was opened in i860 and was owned
in connection with the factory until 1867, when the firm
dissolved and was reorganized. The successive owners of
the store since that date have been Kirby & E. G. Wilber ;
Kirby, E. G., E. & Charles C. Wilber ; Kirby, E. G. &
Charles C. Wilber ; and Kirby & Charles C. Wilber. E.
Wilber withdrew in the spring of 1874, and E. G. Wilber in
the spring of 1884, since when Kirby Wilber and his son,
Charles C. Wilber, have conducted the business under the
style of Wilber & Co.
In 1843 Mr. Wilber married Lucy Ann Crego, of Chat
ham, Columbia County, N. Y. She died in 1877. In 1880
Mr. Wilber married Mrs. P. J. Auchampaugh, of Quaker
Street, who is still living. He has five children— a son and
four (laughters — by his first marriage. The son is Mr.
Charles C. Wilber, his partner, mentioned above. Mr.
Wilber is a Democrat, and a staunch and conscientious de
fender of the principles of his party, but he is not, except

182

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

in the best and truest sense, a politician. Not an office
seeker nor a vociferous campaigner, he yet takes a proper
interest in the public welfare, and, politically and otherwise,
he has ever been actively interested in all measures calcu
lated to advance the public good. Since 1859 he has been
a member of the First Christian Church of Quaker Street.

So frequent mention is made of the name of the late R.
P. U. Wilber in these pages, that some reference to the per
sonal characteristics which made him so successful and so
popular seems to be demanded. He was a man of industry
and originality; a man of enterprise and perseverance; a
man of great public spirit, and an almost unconquerable de
sire to do something which would benefit the community in
which he lived. He was the originator of the business
which has made Quaker Street so well known, and an early
and liberal employer of skilled labor. It was his part to
pave the way for the triumphs which came after he was
gone from earth, and well and earnestly, and with wonder
ful forethought, did he perform his allotted task. During
his busy and useful life it is doubtful if there was one good
public interest that did not receive his moral support, his
kindly encouragement and his financial aid. A more pub
lic-spirited man never lived in Duanesburgh, his means and
opportunities considered. It has been nearly a third of a
century since he died, but he is remembered with kindly
regret by nearly every old resident of the town.
E. G. and W. K. Wilber's names will be long known in
Duanesburgh as those of men who nobly did their part in
the work of human progress as it came to their hands.
VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.
The villages and hamlets of this town are Quaker Street
(Village and Depot), Mariaville, Duanesburgh, Braman's
Corners, Patterson's Corners and Green's Corners.
QUAKER STREET.
This village is divided by a somewhat steep ascent into
two parts, known generally as Quaker Street and Quaker
Street Depot, though during late years the terms Old
and New Quaker Street have obtained some popularity.
One post-office, located at Quaker Street proper, suffices for
both villages. Their combined population is not far from
600. Evidences of thrift and enterprise are to be seen in all
directions. Quaker Street on the hill was early settled by the
Briggses, Moshers, Hoags, and others, and was so named
because the residences of numerous members of the Society
of Friends were scattered along the road running through
what is now its center. Quaker meetings were held there
early in the present century. For many years there was only
one store there, one of the first buildings erected after a few
dwellings having been a Quaker meeting-house. The sec
ond store was built at least forty. five years ago. A prom
inent merchant in the old store (now Wilber's) was Lewis
Freeman. Thomas Barnes, James Gale and Asa Marshall
were among its earlier keepers. It later had many occu
pants, one of whom was Daniel T. Hoag, now of New York,
till it passed into the hands of the Wilbers. The second
store was occupied by Job Cleveland, Seneca Enders,
Thomas Rushmore and Kirby Wilber, among others, and
has been open only a few months during the past twenty-
five years. The present store of Wilber & Co. has been in
the management of the family and firm with which they
have been connected since i860.
Robinson P. U. Wilber began making shoes at Quaker
Street for the retail trade in 1845. Three years later he be
gan manufacturing for wholesale orders, employing about
twelve men, and continuing until 1854, when he died.
While he was on his death-bed the sale of the enterprise to
his two brothers— Edwin G. and W. K. Wilber— was ar
ranged and consummated. In 1857 Messrs. DeWitt Duane
McDonald, Milton R. Hoag and Kirby Wilber became part
ners in the business, the firm name being changed to Wil
bers, Hoag & Co. Mr. McDonald withdrew two years later,
but re-entered the firm in 1861. In 1863 W. K. Wilber re-
tired, but resumed his interest in 1865. There were no fur.

ther changes in the style or personnel of the firm until 1867,
when Mr. Hoag sold his interest. About this time the gen
eral store, which had been run in connection with the factory
for about ten years, was taken into the building now owned
by Kirby and Charles C. Wilber, Kirby and Edwin G. Wil
ber purchasing that and W. K. Wilber and D. D. McDon
ald retaining the ownership of the factory under the style of
Wilber & McDonald. In 1872 the factory passed to the pro
prietorship of Mr. McDonald and William H. Davis, the
firm name being McDonald & Davis. Mr. Davis retired in
1875, when Mr. McDonald and his son (Seward McDonald)
became owners, under the firm name of D. D. McDonald
& Son. Thirty to thirty-five men find constant employment
in this factory, making heavy boots and shoes for men and
women. Twelve hundred cases are manufactured yearly,
and the monthly wage-list foots up to $600. In connection
with their factory the firm conduct a retail boot and shoe
store and a general grocery and flour and feed store. The
store proper is a frame building, two stories high, 22 x 55
feet, and the factory is a two-story frame building, 35 x 40
feet. The products of McDonald & Son are placed mostly
in Albany, Schenectady, Schoharie, Delaware, Otsego,
Greene and Ulster Counties, though large shipments are
made to Ohio. Mr. McDonald also owns a store at Quaker
Street Depot.
The grocery of Ira Estes on Main street was opened about
twelve years ago. The old W. S. Lang stand has been
occupied for several years by Melville W. Mead's tin, hard
ware and furniture store. Mr. Mead is an enterprising bus
iness man and a prominent citizen. Mr. Estes, above men
tioned, was a stock dealer of repute before he became a
merchant, and is known as a man of brains and progressive
ideas. Lewis Hunt conducted a paint shop here for many years.
Dying a few years since, he was succeeded by his son,
Chauncey B. Hunt.
The old hotel was occupied for many years by William
R. Wing, Simon Vedder, George Rich and others. It was
burned in 1875, and soon afterward the American Hotel, on
the same ground, was nearly completed by John J. Ladd.
It passed from his possession by legal process and was
finished by other parties. It has been occupied by E.
Bigelow, Frank Bigelow, John J. Wilber and others, and is
now in possession of Howland McCom£er.
In 1870 Arthur D. Mead & William McGraw began the
manufacture of carriages. Their works were on Main
street in the building now occupied by John Moon, black
smith. Ten men were employed and about seventy-five
wagons were made annually. A second blacksmith shop is
that of Christian Mackley. W. H. Harden has carried on
a small tailoring business for many years.
It was the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad which
gave activity and growth to the enterprising village known
as Quaker Street Depot and New Quaker Street. The first
store was erected there by Hicks W. Sheldon soon after the
completion of the railroad. He was succeeded by Mott
T. Sheldon, Mead Sheldon and Van Wagner, and the
building was finally closed as a store and converted into a
tin shop.
About five years ago a store was opened at the
Depot by W. K. Wilber & Son, which is now the
property of L. A. Wilber. Milo J. Auchampaugh built a
store here about ten years ago, and died not long afterward.
He was succeeded in its occupancy by Elias Jones, and he
by S. McKinney & Sons in 1885.
The tin shop in the old Sheldon store above mentioned
was established by Dexter Clement, whose successor was A.
Manchester, whom Manchester & Wilber succeeded. In
the spring of 1885, Elmer J. Fake opened a drug store ad
joining this establishment.
The Shoudy House was built by James Shoudy about
twelve yars ago. He has ever since owned it. The pres
ent lessee and keeper is John Boyce. The Central Hotel
was built in 1880 and managed until the spring of 1885 by
George Passage, whose successor was William Van Bens-
choten. Dexter Clement erected a hotel building in 1883,
and occupied it only a short time. It is now occupied as a
residence and meat market by Emmet Schermerhorn.
Whitney's railway eating saloon was opened, about two
years ago.
Quaker Street Depot is the terminus.

THE TOWNSHIP OF DUANESBURGH

183

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FRANCIS HOAG.
Francis Hoag was born in Duanesburgh September 27,
1820. His early life was passed upon a farm, and his edu
cational advantages were only such as were afforded by the
common schools near by. His parents were of the good old
Quaker stock, and his early religious training was in the
faith and doctrines of the Society of Friends, to which faith
he has clung through a long and successful life, and whose
pure teachings did much to develop in him a beautiful char
acter and an earnest, steadfast and thoughtful nature.
Active, energetic, persevering, he has surmounted obstacles
which seemed for the time to thoroughly block the way of
his advance; but no worldly ambition ever led him to forget
that strict integrity and honesty of purpose were called for at
his hands.
At the age of twenty, four, Mr. Hoag married Eliza D.
Carpenter, a young woman of rare merit, well calculated to
be a help and strength to him in all the relations of life. In
1858 they moved to Albany, where he engaged in the
wholesale provision trade, for a time in Exchange street and
afterward in Dean street, in which business he continued
successfully for nearly nineteen years. In business, as well

as in social life, he won many warm friends. His noble
manly, straightforward way of dealing, won him the confi
dence of men in leading business circles, and his credit was
almost unlimited. In 1861, the death of his beloved wife
brought to him the greatest sorrow of his life. Their union,
during a period of more than fifteen years, had been an un
usually harmonious one. The war of the rebellion had soon
afterward entered upon its dreadful career, and from his
private sorrows the mind of Mr. Hoag was providentially
drawn to the sorrows of a great people. His sympathies
were aroused, and he gave freely of his means and influence
to aid the Union cause and lend succor to the wounded he
roes in Southern fields and in Southern hospitals. Decem
ber 30, 1862, he married his second wife, Mary J. Case, of
Chatham, Columbia County, N. Y., and on the opening of
the new year (1863) he brought her to brighten his desolate
home. Two sons have been born to them: Francis Hoag, Jr.,
in January, 1867, and William M. Hoag, in September, 1874.
In 1877, having bought a farm near his old home at
Quaker Street, he disposed of his business in Albany and
moved his family to the country, building for himself a
handsome residence, and settled quietly down to the enjoy
ment of a peaceful old age.

184

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

-y-

HON. GEORGE LASHER.

Hon. George Lasher was born in Duanesburgh Septem
ber 20, 1834, a son of James McMillan Lasher, who was also
born in Duanesburgh July 4, 1811. George Lasher, his
grandfather, was one of the early settlers of the town. He
was a native of America. His wife, Helen McMillan, was
born in Scotland. Simon Kennedy, father of the wife of
James McMillan Lasher, and maternal grandfather of the
subject of this notice, was for a long time a resident of Sche
nectady County. His wife was Mary Perry, of Connecticut.
Mr. Lasher was educated in common schools and at East
man's Commercial College in Poughkeepsie. He has been
a merchant, and is at present engaged in farming. He cast
his first vote for John C. Fremont for President, and has
acted with the Republican party ever since. He has served
his townsmen as Justice of the Peace; was Supervisor in
1876, 1878 and 1880; and was elected to the Assembly in
1880 by a majority of 382 over Edward W. Paige (Demo
crat), the Democratic majority in 1879 having been 299. In
his responsible capacity as legislator he served with credit
to himself and to the gratification of his constituents. As a
private citizen he enjoys the fullest confidence of all who
know him.

DE WITT DUANE McDONALD.
De Witt Duane McDonald, son of Anson D. and
Hannah (Macomber) McDonald, was born in Wright, Scho
harie County, N. Y., December 15, 1827. He removed in
infancy to Quaker Street and has since lived there. His
educational facilities were limited to those afforded by the
common schools, and even those he was unable to attend
regularly, even the winter terms, after he was thirteen years
old. At that tender age, when most boys are yet treated like
children and have no thought of the stern duties of life,
young McDonald left home and began the battle of life in
the humble capacity of a farmer's boy of all work. He
grew from boyhood to manhood, still doing his daily labor
behind the plow, hoe in hand, or in the fields of grain ready
to be garnered, and became in all respects a practical and
well-informed farmer; but it was not as a farmer that he
was destined to make a place and name for himself among
his fellow men.
At the age of twenty he entered the service of R. P. U.
Wilber, at Quaker Street, to learn the trade of shoemaking.
He soon mastered all of its details and came to be con
sidered a thorough and skillful workman. He remained in

THE TOWNSHIP OF DUANESBURGH.

185

Mr. Wilber's employ until the latter's death and after that
event in the employ of Messrs. E. G. & W. K. Wilber
until the reorganization of the firm, when he became a
member of it. His subsequent business career is given
elsewhere in these pages. It only remains to us in this
connection to call attention to the sterling qualities of the
man, who, from a poor lad, illy educated and without means
or influential friends, has made his way against adverse
circumstances to the head of a large manufacturing bus
iness, and won the esteem and confidence of all who have
known him boy and man.
August 3, 1853, Mr. McDonald married Rebecca Weaver,
of Quaker Street, a daughter of Jacob and Deborah (Coffin)
Weaver, who has borne him eight children, five of whom
are living. Formerly an old-time Whig politically, Mr.
McDonald gradually developed such principles as to ally
him with the Republican party, of which he has been a
member since its inception. He is a member of the First
Christian Church of Quaker Street.
mariaville.
This small village was named in honor of a daughter ot
Judge James Duane.
This was the scene of some quite extensive business oper
ations by Hon. Silas H. Marsh, who was once County Clerk
of Schenectady County and represented his district in the
Assembly. He was a man of enterprise and business ability,
and was responsible for about all of the growth of the vil
lage up to the time his identification with it ceased. About
1830 he bought some land of "Katie " Duane and built a
store and a. grist-mill and a saw-mill. About fifteen years
afterwards he disposed of the mercantile business to Jacob
Quackenbush. After passing through other hands, it be
came the property of James M. Lasher & Sons in 1862. In
1879 it was purchased by Bronk & Bradshaw, and in 18S1
by A. N. Bronk, the present owner.
For a time Marsh was the proprietor of a trip-hammer
and shop, where the manufacture of axes was carried on on
a small scale, leasing it to other parties, and finally selling
it. It is now owned by Dr. Delameter and operated by
Marcus Delameter. An old grist-mill here had years before
been converted into a carding and fulling mill and been
operated by Jeremiah Murray and William Murray. This
was bought and torn down by Marsh, giving place to his
grist-mill, which, with the saw-mill and store, was sold in
1862 to James M. Lasher & Sons. This firm consisted of
James M., John K. and William M. Lasher. In 1865 John
K. Lasher removed to New York, William M. following
him in 1868, since when the firm has been James M. Lasher
& Son, the junior partner being Hon. George Lasher. These
gentlemen have done much to promote the prosperity of the
locality, and are reckoned among Schenectady County's
honored and substantial business men . Sixty or more years
ago Dr. Staley built a saw-mill. It changed hands several
times. Jeremiah Murray once owned it. It is now the
property of Abraham Devenburg. Another saw-mill, built
by Richard Walpole in 1844, has been converted into a cider
and vinegar and broom-handle factory, and is owned by
David W. Walpole. David Lander built a hotel about sixty
years ago which was kept by different parties, among them
the veteran landlord, Benjamin Wiltsie, until 1863, when it
was converted into a cheese factory by a stock company
who purchased it for that purpose. It was idle some time,
and was finally purchased by James M. Lasher and con
verted into dwellings. Formerly a hotel, which had been
made of two old dwellings moved together, was occupied
part of the time as a hotel and part of the time as a store.
It was reconstructed by Jeremiah Murray. About 1840 two
other dwellings were joined and remodeled for hotel use.
This public house was opened by Daniel Nellis. Many
landlords succeeded him. It has been kept during the past
twenty years by Benjamin Wiltsie, one of the oldest hotel
men in Schenectady County.
Patterson & Strong and John Van Housen were once prom
inent merchants here. Besides the store of A. N. Bronk,
the village now contains those of Miss Matilda Hansett, for

some time postmistress, and J A. Bradshaw, who began
trading during 1885. John Devenburgh is a carriage-maker.
duanesburgh.
This is a village of about one hundred inhabitants, located
on the Schenectady branch of the Delaware and Hudson
Canal Company's system of railways, and contains, be
sides its business places of different kinds, a small depot and
a post-office. The pioneer settlers of this place were of
Scotch, English and- Dutch stock, and their sturdy traits are
easily discernible in the residents of to-day. The place
was formerly called Jamesville, in honor of a wealthy Mr.
James, who once owned considerable landed property in the
vicinity. Its present name was adopted many years ago,
though it is generally called by residents and their neighbors
The Four Corners. As has been seen, the early attempts
of Judge Duane to make Centre Square, a mile distant, the
nucleus of a village, was a failure.
The house now owned and occupied by Dr. Stephen G.
Delamater as a residence, was seventy-five years ago kept
as a tavern by Joseph Gaige, who was for many years a
Justice of the Peace. Mr. Gaige sold the tavern to his ne
phew, John Gaige, about sixty years ago, and it was subse
quently owned by Julius Keyes and Henry C. Ham. The
latter sold it to Dr. Delamater.
The present hotel, nearly opposite the building whose
history has just been given, was built by John Post during
the closing years of the revolutionary war. About 1820 a
Mr. Edwards became the proprietor, and soon afterwards
John Hogh bought it and retained control until 1830, when
it was purchased by Truman Case, who owned and conduct
ed it till 1874, when he died and it passed into the possession
of his son, Josiah Case, who has since filled the roll of mine
host at Duanesburgh, greatly to the satisfaction of his
townsmen and the traveling public.
About sixty years ago, Mr. James E. O'Neill was sent
here in the employ of Messrs. Brodwick & Duane, of
Schenectady, widely -known merchants of their day. At first
he sold goods for them on commission, walking to Sche
nectady every Saturday night to render a report of the week's
business to his employers. It was not long before he was
enabled to enter business on his own account. He erected
the first store in the village and put in a stock of goods.
He also bought a tan-yard west of the village, which had
been established by one Gathan, and managed it successful
ly until 1840. His store was closed shortly after his death,
which occurred in February, 1878. Mr. O'Neill had ac
quired considerable wealth as the result of a long life's honest
industry and was a leading citizen of the town, well respected
throughout the county.
The leading store in Duanesburgh is the one now owned
and occupied by Mr. John L. Turnbull. The building was
erected by Philip James Fredericks a little less than twenty-
five years ago. He kept the store until his death, about
1870, when John S. Hoag purchased it, remaining in con
trol until 1872, when the present proprietor became the
owner. A general stock of dry goods and groceries is kept.
Mr. Turnbull has been Town Clerk of Duanesburgh most of
the time for the past decade, and is regarded as a stirring
and energetic man.
The village school-house was removed to its present loca
tion forty years ago. It was previously located down by
the creek, where it had stood for a time beyond the memory
of any citizen.
A century ago, Dr. Abraham Delamater was a practicing
physician in Duanesburgh and a surgeon as well. About
the year 1800, his brother, Dr. Peter Delamater, came and
for many years had an extensive ride. In 1843 Dr. Stephen
G. Delamater, son of Dr. Peter Delamater, began here the
practice of his profession, a service to the people which has
been continued uninterruptedly ever since. Among the
other early physicians were Dr. McDermott (1815-25) and
Dr. Wilson (1825-35). While generally this locality has
been remarkably free from those epidemics which rage from
time to time in less favored places, it has not wholly
escaped. Twenty years ago there was a diptheritic epidemic
which carried off twenty people in the immediate vicinity of
the village. BRAMAN'S, PATTERSON'S AND GREEN'S CORNERS.
These localities are named in honor of the families of
Braman, Patterson and Green. The first mentioned was

186

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

formerly known as Parlor Street, in honor of the Parlor fam
ily. Dr. Joseph Braman opened a store there as early as
1840, and fifteen years later sold it to Nathaniel Herrick.
George Bradford occupied it later. The present merchant is
George A. Snell. William Gardinier once kept a grocery
there. The Parlors once had a tannery and carried on
farming and other business.

We take pleasure in making mention of the following
well-known citizens, who by their guaranteed support have
helped to insure the publication of this valuable work:
H. P. Allen, Mrs. A. E. Abrams, Samuel Brown, Martin
Bradt, A. M. Bronk, C. W. Bronk, P. A. Brumagin, John

O. Becker, Delos Braman, William Chadwick, John E. Cul
lings, G. W. Conover, Frank M. Chapman, S. G.
De Lamater, D. C. Davis, Marcus De Lamater, C. I.
Dodge, John Davenburg, George Dennison, Ira Estes,
J. D. Featherstonhaugh, James Ferguson, A. M. Gaige,
Joseph Green, William J. Gardner, Francis Hoag, David B.
Hall, T. Roy men Herrick, John L. Jones, Alexander Liddle,
George H. Love, Robert Lidell, George Lasher, Melville
Mead, Alonzo Macomber, D. D. McDonald, R. W. Mc
Dougall, Alexander McDougall, James L. McMillan, J. K.
Rhinehart, W. F. & J. H. Shute, J. L. Turnbull, Darius
Tripp, J. H. Titus, E. G. Wilber, John D. Wood, I. R. T.
Wood, James Wright, David W. Walpole, Benjamin Wilt
sie, Kirby Wilber.

HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF GLENVILLE.

By Rev. K. K. TAYLOR.

GLENVILLE was named from the original pat
entee, Sanders Leendertse Glen. It was formed
from the fourth ward of Schenectady, April 14, 1820.
ft is the only town in the county north of the Mohawk.
In 1665 the country around Scotia was granted to
Glen, a native of Scotland, who had removed to
Holland in 1645 on account of religious persecu
tions. After several years spent there in mercantile
pursuits, he migrated to the New Netherlands.
The greater part of the surface is covered with a
thick deposit of drift, consisting principally of clay,
with an occasional outcrop of slate, and underlaid
with hard pan in the south and western part, and
sand and gravelly loam in the eastern. The
underlying rock is generally the shales of the Hud
son River group, which crop out in the valleys and
the bottom of ravines. In portions of this town
this is underlaid by bird's-eye limestone, from which
are obtained both lime and stone for building.
This rock crops out on the banks of the streams
and from the declivities of the steeper hills. The
central and western parts are occupied by rugged
and wooded hills, abruptly rising from the valley
of the river to a height of 300 feet. The eastern
part is nearly level. The Mohawk intervales are
very fertile, and have been, to a considerable ex
tent, devoted to the culture of broom corn.
The streams are Crabskill, Chaugh-ta-noon-da,
Aalplaats and Jan Wemp's Creeks, and Verf Kill.
Sanders Lake, in Scotia, is about a mile in cir
cumference. Van Slyck's Island was granted to Jacques Van
Slyck November 13, 1662, and later a new grant
to Jaques Cornelise and Jan Barentse Wemp.
Hoffman's Ferry was established about 1790 by
Harmanus Vedder, and called Vedder's Ferry
until 1835. It was bought in 1835 by John Hoff
man, from whom it took its present name. The
present owner is Jeremiah Vanderhyden. The
rate of passage is five cents for a single individual
and ten cents for one horse and carriage. This is
a railroad station of the Central Road, and is an in
significant place at present, with no hotel. It has

a small store, and has a hay barn for storing hay
in transit for the market. The business interests
center on the opposite side of the river, in Rotter
dam. In 1820, when the town of Glenville was set off
from the City of Schenectady, much of the unoccu
pied land that was held by the city was cut up and
sold in twenty-acre lots to residents of the city for
wood lots. This was sold in single lots only, and
but one to the same person. This rendered farm
ing on these lands for a long time impossible. It
was only in December of 1883 that the city sold
the last of its lots, and many of these twenty- acre
lots are still held. This has been one cause of
delaying the development of this part of the county.
Among the first settlers were the Glens, San-
derses, Vieles, Van Eppses, Ostroms, Tolls, Bar-
hydts, Browns, Johnsons and Carpenters.
The following are the names and occupations of
many of the principal persons in the town:
C. P. Sanders, farmer, milk business and gar
dener; ex-Judge W. T. L. Sanders; Charles P.
Sanders, Jr., attorney; John B. Wilson, specu
lator; W. C. Carpenter, carpenter ; Lorenzo Van
Patten, blacksmith ; Michael Whalen, blacksmith ;
J. V. Z. Weaver, farmer and Justice of the Peace ;
Lorenzo Lovett & Son, wholesale butchers ; Wil
lis C. Lovett, Justice of the Peace ; Jacob H. Hal
enbeck, dealer in tin-ware, and is Overseer of the
Poor ; N. S. Cheesman, practicing physician ;
William Channel", broom business ; G. F. Becktel,
shoe store ; James H. Gillett, cabinet-maker ;
Thomas Gould, Justice of the Peace ; S. V. R.
Ford, blacksmith, and has been Justice of the
Peace ; Lansing Slover, grocer ; James Collins
occupies one of the old Glen buildings, and is a
son of Charles Collins, railroad contractor, etc.;
Philip Becker, on the Reese Place ; Philip R. Toll,
farmer, two miles north of Scotia ; Charles I. Toll
and Philip R. Toll, farmers; Tunis Vrooman,
farmer, three miles north from Scotia ; Alexander
Van Eps, farmer, east from Scot;a ; John S. Lan
sing, farmer and milk dealer, two miles north of

THE TOWNSHIP OF GLENVILLE.

187

Scotia ; A. A. Livingston, farmer and milk dealer,
four miles northeast of Scotia ; Joseph K. Passage,
farmer ; William Hasel, farmer, and occupies the
old Viele Place, near Charles H. Tolls, one and
one-half miles from Scotia, on the western turn
pike; B. H. Clute, farmer, three miles from Scotia ;
Adam Swart and many others of the same name,
six miles from Scotia, and descendants from first
settlers ; Charles H. Toll, extensive farmer, one
mile from Scotia ; Dan. Toll, farmer and broom
manufacturer, two miles from Scotia ; William
Rector, farmer, five miles from Scotia ; Charles W.
Merselles, farmer, one and one-half miles north
from Scotia ; James T. Wyatt, farmer, four miles
north from Scotia, and is now Supervisor ; John
Houck, farmer and Commissioner of Highways,
two miles northeast from Scotia. Eastward : Will
iam Dougal, farmer ; Charles Dawson, farmer,
and with his father in saw and grist-mill just over
the line in Charlestown; J. J. Van Eps, farmer, and
keeps hotel; James Van Vorst, farmer; J. H. See
ley, farmer, near the Freeman Bridge ; Henry Slo-
ver, farmer and milk dealer ; John Oliver, farmer ;
Henry Palmer and Joseph Birch, farmers. Charles
Closson keeps town house and has a store. The
building has been used as a town house for the
past twenty years. Dan. Frank, farmer; George S.
and Henry Cornell, farmers.
In the western part of the town, W. S. Hammond,
hotel and store ; Philip Green, farmer ; George P. ,
John H. and Thomas Conde, farmers, and de
scendants of first settlers ; Matthew R. Brown,
farmer ; J. D. Van Eps, farmer ; George H. Van
Buran keeps blacksmith and wheelwright shops ;
Peter Y. Vandeveer, farmer and assessor ; James
Ostrom, farmer ; Thomas Parks, harness-maker ;
Johnson and Spencer and T. R. Patten, farmers ;
Matthew Halenbeck, wagon-maker; Solomon
Halenbeck, farmer, and former Justice of the
Peace for several years; Rockwell Harmon, farmer;
Edwin Voung and L. B. Rulison, physicians.
Hoffman's Ferry : Latin Johnson, farmer ;
Aaron Bradt, farmer. WEST GLENVILLE.
West Glenville is a village ten miles from
Schenectady, containing twenty-eight dwellings,
two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, one har
ness shop, one shoe shop, one meat shop, one
hotel — now closed — and two churches. It is in
the northeast part of the town. The First Re
formed Church was organized in 1813, with an en
dowment from Schenectady. The church was
built at once, and. again rebuilt in 1872 at a cost
of $8, 500. There was half an acre connected for
a burial ground, and there has since been added to
it one and one-half acres, and the trustees are now
making arrangements to again enlarge it.
The minutes show the membership of 188310
be 278; and three Sunday-schools connected with
the church, with an aggregate of 200 scholars.
The different pastors and dates of their settlement
over the First Reformed Church, Glenville: 1. Rev.
Peter Van Zandt, installed September 8, 181 8, the
town then being embraced as the Fourth ward,

Schenectady; 2. Rev. Elbert Slingerland, installed
July 8, 1824; 3. Rev. Seth Bunnell, installed Decem
ber 8, 1835; 4. Rev. Wilson Ingalls, called Feb
ruary 4, 1840, and soon after installed; 5. Rev.
Abram H. Myers, called February 2, 1852, and
soon after installed; 6. Rev. Peter Burghardt,
called September 5, 1855, and soon after installed;
7. Rev. George H. Peck, called December 13,
1861, and soon after installed ; 8. Rev. John
Miner, called February, 1864, and soon after in
stalled ; 9. Rev. William Randell, called Febru
ary 9, 1874, and soon after installed ; 10. Rev.
William J. Hill, called May, 1882, and soon after
installed; 11. Rev. M. F. Nickerson has received
an informal call, and is expected to be installed
very soon.
The Methodist Episcopal Society of West Glen
ville was organized in 1822 by Rev. Roswell
Kelley, pastor, with seventy members. The first
house of worship was erected in 1823, and the
present house in 1848. The church is built of
brick, and valued at $2,500, and will seat two
hundred and fifty persons. This society was con
nected with the village of Charlton until 1877,
when it was connected with a flourishing society at
East Glenville, with a separate pastor. The present
membership of the charge is one hundred and
twenty-four. Its successive pastors have been
Reverends T. Dodgson, C. Pomeroy, R. Kelley,
John Fassett, W. Little, D. Poor, H. Williams,
George C. Wells, L. D. Sherwood, W. T. Heard,
H. Williams, John Thompson, J. S. Hart, J. F.
Cope, W. F. Tiffany, R. Washburn, J. B. Wood,
R. Patterson, S. S. Ford, William Earle, J. H.
Coleman, D. T. Elliot ; and since 1877  Sut
ton, F. R. Sherwood, Joel Martin, J. P. Crane,
W. W. Whitney, and the present pastor, Rev. H.
S. Allen. This church a year ago procured two
acres for a burial ground.
EAST GLENVILLE.
East Glenville contains a neat Methodist Episco
pal Church that has been lately rebuilt and refur
nished, with a burial ground attached, and a flourish
ing society and Sabbath-school, and a Lodge of
Good Templars.
The Town House is half a mile south of the
Methodist Church. It was formerly a hotel, but
at present has no license. A grocery store is kept
in one part of it. This is all there is of the place.
High Mills is in the northeast part of the town.
It is a small place, containing a grist-mill and saw
mill, a blacksmith shop, wagon shop, and a few
other small shops. The town lately built at this
place, across the Aalplaat Creek, a fine iron bridge
in place of the old wooden structure that formerly
existed here. SCOTIA.
The village of Scotia lies between the Mohawk
and Sanders Lake, about half a mile from Sche
nectady. Reeseville was a suburb of Scotia of
seven hundred and twenty-eight houses, and was
named after a wealthy gentleman by the name of
Reese who moved into that neighborhood. The
two places have since grown together, and are now

188

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

known only as Scotia. Scotia, the ancient name
of Scotland, was the name given by its first settler.
This tract commences at a point nearly opposite
the eastern extremity of the city, and extends west
erly along the north side of the Mohawk about
two miles. The first patent conveying it was
granted November 3, 1665, by Governor Richard
Niccols to Sanders Lendertse Glen (Anglice, Alex
ander Lindsay Glen). Mr. Glen was an immediate
descendant of the Earl of Crawford and Lindsey,
whose family had been on the peerage roll up to
1399. Mr. Glen took to wife Catharine McDon
ald, the daughter of a Highland chieftain. He
left Scotland in the year 1645, to avoid persecution
in consequence of the stand he had taken in refer
ence to certain religious disputes which then
agitated the country. He sided with the unfor
tunate Charles the First, who vainly strove to intro
duce the English liturgy into Scotland. Mr. Glen
first emigrated to Holland, and engaged in mercan
tile pursuits for a number of years. He finally
came to New York, in company with a number of
Dutch families. There and in Albany and in Sche
nectady he resided for several years. Some time
previous to 1690 he moved to Scotia. The coun
try seat of Mr. Glen is still owned by his descend
ants, the Sanders family. Although it bears the
advanced age of one hundred and seventy-two
years, it bids fair to outlive many of the flimsy
structures which characterize the American archi
tecture of the present century. The iron figures
showing the date of its erection (17 13) are still to
be seen. During the French wars it was rendered
defensible. At the foot of a small hillock a few
yards east of the mansion, tradition points to the
spot where the Mohawks occasionally performed
their sacrifices.
As is elsewhere related, Captain Daniel Toll,
during the French and Indian war, was the first
victim of the Beukendaal massacre.
Scotia contains about ninety dwellings, two
stores, one hotel, without license, two blacksmith
shops, shoe store, wagon-maker's shop, and a few
other places of business. It has a large district
school-house, two churches, fire department, and a
lodge of Good Templars.
The Sanders House in this village is one of its
principal attractions. It is built a few feet to the
north of where the first house stood, that was spared
from destruction by the French and Indians in the
terrible destruction and massacre at Schenectady in
1690, on account of favors shown previously by
Mr. Glen to the French and Indians in a time of
their suffering. The present stone house was
bailt in 1713, and is still owned and occupied by
the Sanders family. The present occupant is
Charles P. Sanders, of the seventh generation, with
a large household of Sanderses. Their present farm
consists of 1,000 acres, ico acres of which is used
for market garden. One hundred cows are kept
on the farm, besides a large quantity of other stock.
Thirty acres are used for berries. The yield of
these rich alluvial flats, thoroughly worked as these
are, is astonishing. Mr. Sanders has one acre that
yielded this year 1,300 bushels of carrots. Mr.

Sanders has three milk wagons and four vegetable
wagons for delivery daily to Schenectady, and
ships a large quantity of vegetables to New York.
In 1873 a fire department was organized by vol
untary subscriptions, two cisterns were built, one
hand engine was purchased, with 400 feet of hose
and cart. In 1877 this fire company was duly in
corporated by the Legislature of the State, and pro
visions made for its support, at an annual expense
not to exceed $250, to be levied and collected
upon the school district as usual school taxes are.
The organization of this company was the out
come of a series of incendiary fires, which will long
be remembered by those who were residents of
the village during the winter of 1873-74. For all
winter long, every resident in turn was fully armed
and determined to mete out justice on the spot to
the incendiary. From four to ten persons patrolled
the streets each night from dark to daylight, at
times through snow knee-deep and in blinding
storms, around every house, barn and outbuilding
in the place. In two years' time, within a radius
of less than one mile, four dwellings in which fam
ilies were living, one vacant house, two stores, one
broom shop, two blacksmith shops, one rope-walk
about 400 feet long, one straw barn, one large
broom-corn dry-house, three large barns, together
with other small outbuildings — all of these, with
their contents, furniture, horses, cows, hogs, fowls,
etc., were entirely destroyed, excepting one store
and dwelling, from which a portion of the contents
were saved. Several other buildings were set on
fire, and the fire was extinguished with small dam
age. The largest of these fires, and the most ex
citing, was on the night of November ist and
morning of the 2d, 1873, when the large rope- walk
and fifteen other buildings were on fire at the same
time. Since the organization of the fire company
the loss by fire has been very small.

The only bridges of note are across the Mohawk,
of which two are toll road bridges, and four rail
road bridges, all built of iron, of the latest style and
best construction. The road bridge from Scotia
to Schenectady deserves special mention. At this
crossing was the first ferry over the Mohawk from
Schenectady to Scotia. The first bridge was built
in about 1807, and was in two immense spans with
but one pier, which was in the center of the river.
(This pier still remains, and is the center pier of
the present bridge.) This first bridge when about
completed, before a team had crossed it, fell of its
own weight into the river.
A second structure was built in 1809, with two
additional piers. Burr, the justly celebrated archi
tect, planned and superintended the construction
of it. In 1 82 1 this bridge was reconstructed, having
passed into the hands of the President, Directors,
etc., of the Mohawk Bridge Co., by an Act of
the State Legislature; the cost was $49,000, divided
into $5 shares. Four additional piers were added,
and a cover was made over the entire length. By
these additions the appearance was very irregular,
and the new piers steadily settled and' leaned, so
that the bridge became as zig-zag as a rail fence,

THE TOWNSHIP OF GLENVILLE.

189

and its crazy appearance to those who passed
through it in its last days, will not soon be for
gotten. Yet so firmly was this wooden structure
put together, that the process of taking it down
was a task of great difficulty.
Over this bridge the Saratoga Railroad to Albany
first crossed in 1832, and continued until 1835,
when the Albany and Utica Railroad was built,
and united with the Saratoga and built a double-
track bridge half a mile below.
The Saratoga Railroad Company, when they
first built their road across the Scotia bridge, in
consideration of land furnished them by Mr.
Sanders on the Scotia side for depot, freight-
houses and repair shops, etc., bound themselves
to stop trains there twice a day forever, and to do
all their repairing there. The railroad company
soon after, with more forethought, bought Mr.
Sanders' claim against them for the sum of $1,500,
and, as before stated, united with the Utica Rail
road in 1835, and built a double-track bridge half
a mile below this.
By a special act of the State Legislature in 1874,
the town of Glenville came into possession of the
old covered bridge and took it down, and built
the present superb structure, an iron bridge of nine
spans, and now permits the inhabitants of Glen
ville to pass over it free, charging toll to all others.
This bridge was constructed by the Remington
Manufacturing Company, Ilion, N. Y., at a cost
of $61,000. C. P. Sanders, President; I. H.
Toll, T. C. ; Committee : S. Hallenbeck, I. W.
Pangburn, S. V. R. Ford, M. C. Dyer ; and C.
Hilton, engineer.
The Utica and Albany Railroad, to obtain their
charter, were required to build a dyke, for a high
way, from the Scotia bridge to the Sanders' resi
dence, a distance of half a mile, across the low
flats that overflow yearly, and to keep it in repair.
This dyke is fifteen feet high above the flats.
When the Utica Railroad became a part of the New
York Central, to obtain their charter they were
obliged to take this dyke and keep it in repair.
The Central is now trying to throw its maintenance
upon the town. Fifteen years ago, Rev. F. F.
Wilson secured sufficient funds, by voluntary sub
scription, to build a plank walk along this dyke,
and in 1874 it was replaced by a stone flag walk
through money obtained in the same manner.
There is an iron toll bridge three miles down
the river, connecting Glenville with Niskayuna.
The New York Central crosses from Schenectady
over a four-track bridge into Glenville, and runs
nine miles through the town along the Mohawk
westward. The Boston and Hoosac Tunnel Railroad, built
in 1883, runs three and one-half miles in this town,
and crosses on an iron bridge into Rotterdam,
there connecting with the West Shore road at Rot
terdam Junction. It is a single track, although
its charter and bridges provide for a double track.
The Delaware and Hudson Canal Company
runs three and one-half miles in the town, passing
out of Schenectady on a double-track iron bridge
of their own, having left the Central's bridge.

The Delaware and Hudson Canal Company have
also lately built another iron bridge across the
Mohawk, one and a half miles below the city, for
a side track. CHTJRCHES
The Second Reformed Protestant Dutch Church
of Glenville, at Scotia, was organized November 21,
1818. At its organization it was called the North
Branch of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church
of Schenectady, from the fact that its first members
who resided on this side of the Mohawk were for
merly connected with the Dutch Church in Sche
nectady. This name was retained till the year 1834,
when the present one was adopted. The organ
ization of this church was largely due to the efforts
of the Rev. Andrew Yates, D. D., a professor in
Union College, who for several years did mission
ary work among the people then settled here. The
names of the first consistory of this church were:
Cornelius De Graff, John Haverly, John Van Pat
ten and Aaron Van Antwerp, elders ; Alexander
Van Epps, Cornelius Viele, Simon Van Patten and
Aaron R. Schermerhorn, deacons. The church
edifice, built of brick, was completed and dedicated
July 14, 1822. There was no settled pastor until
the year 1826, it being supplied by Revs. Yates
and Proudfit, of Union College. The following is
the list of its pastors and the length of their pas
torates: Rev. James Murphy, eight years ; Rev.
Hermon B. Stryker, three years; Rev. A. J. Stuits,
four years; Rev. A. B. Crocker, six years; Rev.
N. D. Williamson, four years ; Rev. Elbert
Slingerland, three years ; Rev. Philip Berry,
eighteen months ; Rev. F. F. Wilson, six years ;
Rev. A. A. Bookstaver, about two years ; Rev. A.
Johnston, four years ; Rev. H. Van Derwart, six
years. The present pastor is Rev. D. K. Van
Doren. He took charge of the church May 1,
1883. The first parsonage for the use of the min
ister was purchased October, 1829, of Barent Cra
mer. It was located in the village of Scotia, and
cost three hundred dollars. The present parsonage
is situated upon the church lot, and occupies the
most beautiful and sightly location in this region.
It was built in the year 1870, and belongs to the
Ladies' Society connected with the church. This
society was organized in the year 1850, and was
incorporated in 1870.
In the rear and on either side of the church is
the cemetery, including about an acre of ground,
which was laid out in lots and inclosed by a stone
wall in the year 1849. This stone wall was the
work of John Chamberlain and John Sanders. The
burial place prior to the year 1849 was along
the highway that leads from the church to Scotia.
The interior of the church edifice has twice been
repaired; the first during the pastorate of Rev. F.
F. Wilson, when the high pulpit, that stood on pil
lars, and the old-fashioned square pews were re
moved; and again during the pastorate of Rev. H.
Van Derwart, when a thorough internal renovation
and remodeling took place at a cost of over $3,000.
It is a gem in its present internal arrangement. The
present consistory are: W. T. L. Sanders, William
Rector, John Lansing and John Houck, Elders;

190

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

and Joseph Cornell, Peleg Thomas, Anthony
Stalker, John McMichael, Deacons. The present
membership of the church is one hundred and
sixty-one. The Superintendent of the Sabbath-
school is Hon. W. T. L. Sanders, who has occu
pied that important position for twenty-five years.
The Scotia Baptist Church of Glenville was
organized July i, 1840, with a membership of
sixty-seven, which has increased to one hundred.
The value of church property is $9,000.
The pastors have been: S. McCollum, 1840
to 1842; H. J. Moshier, 1842 to 1843; Will
iam Bowen, 1849 to 1850; Almon Virgil,
1851 to 1852; Rev. Mr. Green, 1853 to death;
J. H. Kent, ordained January, 1S55, to May,
1857; J. W. Jones, 1856 to 1861; T. S. Rud-
gers, 1862 to 1864; Simeon Knapp, ordained
February, 1865 to death, May 15, 1867; C. L.
Van Allen, 1867 to 1871; H. W. Webber, 1871
to 1873; J- R- Merriman, 1873 to 1876; T
H. Judson, 1877 (six months); T. G. Lamb,
1877 to 1878; Edward Conover, 1879 to 1883.
The pastorate is now vacant.
The church for about twenty years has had a
burial ground of four acres. These facts are fur
nished by W. G. Caw, Esq. , clerk.
SCHOOLS.
There are eighteen districts and school-houses, of
which fourteen are in the town and four are joint
districts connecting with adjoining towns. School
buildings are generally good. Scotia has a fine two-
story brick structure, with two departments, employ
ing two first-class teachers. Mr. Wemple is principal.
It has 105 scholars. Whole number of scholars in
the town between the ages of five and twenty-one
years, 780. The pay of teachers is from one to
two dollars per day.
THE TOLL FAMILY.
Anterior to the arrival in America of Karel Haen-
sen Toll, nothing definite of the direct lineage is
recorded. The name, however, is not unknown
in foreign history.
In old records the name is variously written as
Toll, Toi, Van Toll, Van Tholl, and Tollins.
Henrich Toll, surnamed " the Valiant," com
manded the Dutch ship in which he bore the order
for the surrender of the New Netherlands to the
English, June 7, 1674.
Karel Haensen Toll was born in Norway about
1650. He was a mariner, and while on a cruise
was captured off the coast of Central America and
imprisoned in the fortress of Puerto Bello. He es
caped, swam to a vessel, and reached New York
probably in 1680. He soon came to Albany, and
there married Tyobert Binckhout. In 1684 they
removed to Schenectady and bought part of the
seventh flat. In 1694 he was a member of the
Dutch Church. He bought many parcels of land,
some of them quite extensive, and once owned
what is now the Court House lot in Schenectady.
In 171 5 he was elected to the first Assembly con
vened after the accession of George I, and served

until 1726. He died at his home at Maalwyck on
March, 1737. Much of the property of Karel Toll
is still in the possession of his descendants. Maal
wyck is retained by the heirs of his son Simon, and
those of his son Daniel occupy Beukendaal.
Captain Daniel Toll, born July, 1691, married
Grietje, daughter of Samuel Bratt, September 8,
1 71 7. Seven children were born, three of whom
were living when he made his will in 1747. His
wife died in 1743. He was the first victim of the
Beukendaal massacre. [An account of this mas
sacre will be found in connection with the French
and Indian Wars. J
Johannes Toll, son of Daniel, was born August
13, 1719, and married Eva Van Petten December
23, 1742. He died December 21, 1746, leaving a
wife and one child.
Carel Haensen Toll, son of Johannes, born
February 1745, married Elizabeth, daughter of
Philip Ryley, January 10, 1767. He inherited the
Beukendaal estate. He also purchased other lands.
Tunis Vrooman, John Winne and others now own
part of these lands. He died at the homestead
August 2 6, 1 83 2, and Elizabeth also died there Octo
ber 25, 1839. They had seven children, five daugh
ters, all of whom made desirable marriages, and two
sons, Johannes and Philip Ryley. Philip R. Toll
married the daughter of Judge Isaac De Graff, of
Schenectady. He served in the war of 181 2 under
General Wade Hampton. In 1834 he removed to
Michigan, where he subsequently died.
Johannes Toll (John C.) was born September
13, 1780. He graduated from Union College in
1799, and subsequently entered the ministry of the
Reformed Dutch Church. He lost his health in
1821, andremoved to his farm, where he died Octo
ber 21, 1849. His wife survived him until October
9, 1859. They had three sons and one daughter.
Philip Ryley Toll was born February 9, 181 1,
at Canajoharie, N. Y. , and married Maria De Graff,
of Amsterdam, N. Y., September 13, 1842. He
died at the homestead April 7, 1883. He left a
widow and one son and two daughters, the eldest
being married to Mr. E. D. Hill, of Albany, N.
Y., September 13, 1882.
The Toll homestead, now called Locust Vale, is
at present managed by Frank R. Toll. It is situ
ated on the New York Central and Hudson
River Railroad, four miles northwest from
Schenectady, and contains 180 acres. The
residence, farm buildings and soil make it one
of the finest homes in the section. The resi
dence is surrounded by thrifty orchards. Upon
the premises are Toll's Vinegar Works, where
during the last year 10,000 bushels of apples were
made into cider.
Miss Maria Antoinette Toll kindly furnished
a detailed history of the Toll family. ' We regret
that lack of space forbids our publishing it in full —
only a part appears above. Miss Toll is a daughter
of the late Philip R. Toll, Esq., Glenville, of the
Beukendaal (Beech Valley) Farm. She is a fine
artist, having studied under Mr. Palmer, of Albany,
and has lately opened a studio in Schenectady
that is attracting much attention,

THE TOWNSHIP OF GLENVILLE.

191

j^<jtorr

William Rector was born in Glenville (then
the fourth ward of the city of Schenectady) Decem
ber 4, 1806, a son of Zachariah and Maria (Moore)
Rector, natives of Schodac, Rensselaer County.
His education was limited to the course of instruc
tion then afforded by the common schools of his
native town. He was obliged to work to earn a.
living for himself, and also to aid his father's
family, from the time he was a mere lad. May 1 2,
1834, he married Miss Susan Haverley, of Glen
ville. His mother died December 24, 1841, and
his father November 15, 1845, when he inherited
the latter's farm. In December, 1847, he pur
chased his present homestead, and moved thereon
in March, 1848, from the family homestead, a
mile north, where he has since lived. Mr. and
Mrs. Rector have been spared through a long
period of married life. They have had three chil
dren, two of whom, Christian Rector and Mrs. J.
T. Wyatt, are living.
Mr. Rector has been a life-long Democrat, and
has taken a creditable interest in public affairs.
The concerns of his town have commanded his at

tention to a considerable degree, and he has served
his townsmen as Assessor, Commissioner of High
ways, and for twenty-seven years as one of the
Trustees of the Town Fund. He, as has his family,
has long been connected with the Dutch Reformed
Church of Scotia, to the interests of which he has
ever been a willing and liberal contributor.
BROOM CORN.
The first broom corn planted in the Mohawk
Valley was about fifty years ago.
Isaac Toll, father of Charles B. Toll, present
proprietor of the Maalwyck Farm, one and one-
half miles west from Schenectady, was one of
the first to engage in its production. George Can-
field, of New Jersey, came to Glenville about 1840.
He invented the hand-planter, the horse-planter,
and greatly improved the broom-winder.
Mr. Charles H. Toll was one of the largest
cultivators and consumers of broom corn in the
world. He planted 100 acres, and converted
into brooms the products of 1,000 acres yearly.
Mr. Toll invented a machine for winding brooms

192

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

by steam, one for sewing them, and also one
for inclosing bunches of brooms in manilla
sacks. His sales here have been 47,000 dozen
brooms annually, 20,000 dozen of which he
manufactured. Since 1877 the broom-corn interest has declined
in Glenville. The competition of western lands
is the cause. Parties from Glenville have gone to
different parts of the country and given instruc
tions in the business. Glenville farmers have
lately engaged quite extensively in the milk busi
ness, supplying the people of Schenectady, and

now only a few small broom factories remain in
the town. [In connection with the history of the
industries of Schenectady, a more general account
of broom corn appears.]

We take pleasure in making mention of the fol
lowing well-known citizens, who, by their guaran
teed support, have helped to insure the publication
of this valuable work : J. G. Lansing, P. A. Liv
ingston, C. W. Marcellus, Joseph K. Passage,
Wm. Rector, Charles P. Sanders, Jr., F. R. Toll,
James Van Vorst and J. D. Van Epps.

HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF NISKAYUNA.

By Rev. B. K. TAYLOR.

INTRODUCTION.
THE name of this town is said to be derived from
the term Nis-ti-go-oo-ne, or Co-nis-ti-glo-no,
by which it is known on the old maps. The
name signifies extensive corn flats. The term was
also applied to portions of Watervliet and Half-
moon, and the first ward of Schenectady. Upon
the advent of the whites, this place was occupied
by a tribe of Indians known as the Conistigione.
Niskayuna was formed from Watervliet, Albany
County, March 7, 1809, with a population of 681;
and a part of Schenectady was annexed in 1853.
Niskayuna contains 10,471 acres. It lies on the
Mohawk in the east part of the County. Its sur
face is mostly upland, terminating in steep bluffs
upon the river valley. The intervales are very rich
and productive. A strip of land, about a mile wide,
extending back from the summits of the bluffs, has a
hard clay soil, and a considerable portion of it is
swampy and unfit for cultivation; further south
the soil is sandy. Population of the town in 1880
was 990.
The following are the names, which tradition has
preserved, of a few of the chiefs of the Connesti-
giune band, who inhabited this section of country :
Ron-warrigh-wok-go-wa, signifying in English the
great fault-finder or grumbler; Ka-na-da-rokh-
go-wa, signifying a great eater; Ro-ya-na, a chief;
As-sa ve-go, big knife; A-voon-ta-go-wa, big tree.
Of these, the first made the greatest objections to
alienating their lands to the whites, and in every
deed was careful to have a covenant inserted, by
which the rights of hunting and fishing were pre
served to them. It was a common saying of his
that "after the whites have taken possession of
our lands, they will make kaut-sore (literally
' spoon food ' or soup) of our bodies. " Yet he
was on the most friendly terms with the whites,
and was never backward in extending to them his
powerful influence and personal aid during their
expeditions against the Canadians during the

French war. He took great delight in instructing
the boys of the settlers in the arts of war. He was
constantly complaining that the government did
not prosecute the war against the French with suf
ficient vigor. The council fire of the Connesti-
giune band was held about a mile south of the
village. Niskayuna was visited in 1687 by a spy from
the Adirondacks, the allies of the French. Hunger
drove him to the house of a Dutchman by ihe
name of Van Brakle, where he devoured an enor
mous quantity of the food set before him, which
happened to be pork and peas. Although his
movements had been marked with more than
usual caution, the eagle eye of " the Grumbler "
detected him. He waylaid him on leaving the
house of his entertainer, and after a short conflict
made him bite the dust. Having severed the head
of the corpse from the body, he repaired to the
house of Van Brakle, and threw the head into the
window, exclaiming to the owner, "behold the
head of your pea-eater."
The first settlement of this town was made by an
independent class of Hollanders — like the pioneers
of Schenectady — who located outside the manor
line to avoid the conflicting exactions of the Pa
troons, and the trading government of the New-
Netherlands. It was settled at an early date, about
the same time that Schenectady was.
early settlers.
Among the early settlers were the Clutes, Ved-
ders, Van Vrankens, Groots, Tymersons, Consauls,
Pearses, Van Brookhovens, Claas Jansen, and
Krygiers (now written Cregier).
From an old document it appears that Harmon
Vedder obtained a patent for some land here in
1664. The mention of Captain Martin Krygier revives
the memory of an old Holland soldier who is
buried on this soil, and was one of Governor
Stuyvesant's most trusted friends, ambassadors and

THE TOWNSHIP OF NISKAYUNA.

193

officers; who had fought for him in many battles,
and was his strong right arm in the front rank in
every hour of danger. His descendants still reside
in Niskayuna and some of them probably on the
old homestead farm.
Niskayuna is honored in holding such a deposit
of the old colonial times, and his descendants, who
are numerous in the State, should revere his
memory. Among others worthy of note are Johannes
Clute, who settled in Niskayuna in 1684 on lands
he received by will from his rich uncle, Captain
Johannes Clute, of Albany. He married Baata,
daughter of Garret Van Slichtenhorst, and grand
daughter of Brant Arantse Van Slichtenhorst, who
was director (head man) of the colony of Rensse
laerwyck in 1646, and who proved to be a foeman
worthy of Governor Stuyvesant's most bitter ani
mosity. She was also the granddaughter of the in
domitable Colonel Philip Pieterse Schyler. In
1629, her husband, Johannes, being a prisoner in
Canada, this remarkable woman, with great ability
managed all his business affairs. Johannes Clute
died November 26, 1725, and was buried in Nis
kayuna. He left surviving him three sons and five
daughters. John Duncan, a young Scotchman, with his
wife, Martha March, came to Schenectady in 1755.
He was possessed of a good capital, and opened
an extensive mercantile establishment on an im
proved and extensive scale, and was very success
ful. He subsequently purchased all of the present
town of Princetown and titles to lands; these are
now held under grants from himself and sons. He
built a country seat called the Hermitage (that after
his decease burned down) on his farm of 800
acres in the town of Niskayuna, a part of which is
at present owned and occupied by ex-Senator
Charles Stanford. The place is on the Schenectady
and Albany turnpike, about three miles from the
City of Schenectady. At the Hermitage, Mr. Dun
can died May 5, 1791, aged 69 years, much es
teemed for generous hospitality and unostentatious
benevolence. Shortly after the Hermitage was burned down,
the place came into the hands of the Schuylers,
who built a house on a rise of ground about one
hundred yard snorth of the site where the Hermit
age stood — the site of the Hermitage is distinctly
marked by its old well that stood by the door,
which the writer was shown while visiting the
place. The Schuylers, after living here a number
of years, sold the place to Captain Hand, and
after a few years he sold the place to John I.
Vrooman, and he sold it to Josiah Stanford in
March, 1859. Josiah Stanford died 1861, and in
1865 Senator Charles Stanford, son of Josiah,
bought the place of the heirs, rebuilt, enlarged and
modernized the dwelling, and converted the place

into a first-class stock farm. Mr. Stanford owns
several valuable farms, and is largely connected
with many leading enterprises in the City of Sche
nectady. He is a large stockholder in and a Direct
or of the Water-works, and in the McQueen Loco
motive works.
Spoor Jan Symonse lived in Niskayuna in 1664.
His daughter Antjo was killed by the French and
Indians at Schenectady in 1690.
Clute. — There were three individuals of this
name who early became residents of Albany or
Niskayuna — Captain Jan, his nephew Johannes,
and Frederick Clute.
Captain Jan Clute came to Beverwyck about
1656, from Nuremb urg, and became a trader and con
siderable land holder in Beverwyck, Loonenburgh
(opposite Hudson), Niskayuna, etc. He was held
in great esteem by the Indians, from whom he
obtained large grants of land. It is not known
that he had any other relative here than Johannes
Clute, his nephew, who on his death in 1683
became his heir.
Johannes Clute. — Through embarrassment,
caused either by his own or his uncle's debts,
Johannes was obliged to part with a portion of his
land soon after the death of his uncle. To add
to his other troubles he was taken prisoner in
1692 by the Indians and carried captive to Canada.
While absent, his affairs were managed by his wife,
Baata Van Slichtenhorst. On the 28th of June
she cited Sanders Glen and Barent Wemp, Admin
istrators of Sweer Teunise Van Vechten's estate,
before the Court of Albany, demanding of them
nine pounds six shillings and six-pence "for ye re
maining pay' of a negro named Jacob, sold by old
John Cloet to Sweer Teunise, and produce y" book
of sd John Cloet, Senior, kept by her husband,
John Cloet, Junior." The defendants asked time.
By his wife Baata, daughter of Gerret Van Slich
tenhorst, he had eight children. He was buried
in Niskayuna, November 26, 1725.
Frederick Clute came from Kingston to Nis
kayuna in 1703, and bought one hundred and
fifty acres of land from Johannes Clute. What
relationship, if any, existed between them is not
known. He married Francyntje Du Mond, or
Dumont, probably in Kingston, before removing
to Niskayuna with six children, and had four after
wards. All the Clutes in this region are believed to be
descendants from either Johannes or Frederick.
Robert H. Wendell, a son of Hendrick Wen
dell, Jr., of Albany, was born February 7, 1760.
He was an attorney-at-law, and married Agnes,
daughter of Peter Fonda. He died at his country
seat, on the Troy turnpike, within a short distance
of Schenectady, July 7, 1848, aged eighty-eight
years and five months.

194

HISTORY OE THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

\~ 'S^^iSfe-

uuilDS1

HENRY R. WENDELL.
The Wendell family, which is so creditably
represented at Schenectady, Albany and elsewhere
in this part of the county, is of Holland extraction,
and during many generations has ranked as one of
the leading families of Albany and vicinity. Three
brothers of the name were among the early settlers
in this county. In time a descendant of one of
these married Helen Van Rensselaer, daughter of
Hendrick Van Rensselaer and Catrina Van
Brough, his wife. Catrina Van Brough was the
daughter of Johannes Van Brough and Catrina
Jans, his wife. Catrina Jans was the daughter of
Roeloff Jans and Anneke Jans, his wife, who, after
his death, became the wife of Dominie Everhardus
Bogardus. Thus it will be seen that all of the de
scendants of Jacob Wendell and his wife, Helen
Van Rennselaer, are descendants from the cele
brated Anneke Jans, whose possessions, both in her
own right and through her marriage with Dominie
Bogardus, embraced much of what is now highly
valuable property in and near New York City,
including the Trinity Church property, which has

figured so prominently in the public prints for
many years. The unique coat of arms of the Wen
dell family is in possession of Miss Agnes L. Wen
dell, of Schenectady.
Henry Wendell was a son of Jacob Wendell
above-mentioned, and was born in Albany. He
married Mary Lansing, of the old Albany family of
that name, and to them was born Robert H. Wen
dell, father of Henry R. Wendell. Henry Wen
dell held under the crown, and later, under the sov
ereignty of the State, the office of High Sheriff, with
a jurisdiction quadruple the extension it has at
present. At the breaking out of the revolutionary
war, both he and his son, Robert H. Wendell (who
was born in Albany, February 7, 1760), joined the
cause of liberty, and engaged each year in the perils
of the same. Robert served in the counties of
Herkimer, Schoharie and Saratoga; was engaged
in the principal battles and skirmishes on the Mo
hawk, and more particularly at West Canada
Creek, where the British force from Canada, under
the command of Colonel Butler, Major Ross and
Brandt, was met and routed, and Butler killed.
The war over, he was educated professionally, and

THE TOWNSHIP OF NISKAYUNA.

195

at the age of twenty-four removed to Schenectady
and commenced practice as an attorney. He was
the oldest attorney on the list, and during his career
an active pleader as well as counselor. Schenec
tady then claimed Robert H. Wendell as her on
ward legal son, and at his decease an honored sire
in the legal circle. Some years he spent, now as
serting, now defending rights, till disease came and
he was forced to quit his profession. He removed
to College Hill and built his house and improved
his lands — changed pursuits, and brought to bear
on agriculture a sound and philosophic judgment;
and thus lived till he died (July 7, 1848), when in
the memory of those who knew his virtues, he left
a recollection sweet as pure, and a eulogy in their
hearts for one who cherished for his fellow-men
true benevolence, and for his country devoted pa
triotism. His wife, Agnes Fonda, was born in
Schenectady March 26, 1760, and died on College
Hill March 30, 1828.
Henry R. Wendell, son of Robert H. Wendell
and Agnes Fonda, his wife, was born at the cor
ner of State street and Mill lane, Schenectady
(now the Y. M. C. A. property), where his father
resided, September 18, 1784, and died on College
Hill, at the Wendell homestead, March 13, 1868,
aged eighty-three years. His youth was spent in
the house of his father at Schenectady, and in the
household of General Matthew Trotter, of Albany.
He prepared for college at the best schools in Al
bany, and in due time was graduated from Union
College. It is not strange that the son of one rev
olutionary patriot and the grandson of another
should have inherited a martial spirit, nor that it
should have been rendered active and intensified
by the events which preceded the outbreak of the
war of 181 2-14. He was one of the first to offer
his services in defense of his country, and on the 3d
of January, 181 2, he was commissioned as ensign
in the Sixth Regiment of Infantry. He was placed
in charge of a recruiting rendezvous at Schenec
tady soon afterward, and met with much success
in raising volunteers. In July following he re
ceived orders to close the recruiting station and
join Captain Nelson's company, then lying with
other troops at Greenbush. Not long afterward the
entire command was ordered to the Niagara fron
tier, and Mr. Wendell did gallant service and
braved many dangers at Black Rock, Queenston,
Lewiston and Fort Niagara, and later at Pitts
burgh and Sackett's Harbor. He was promoted to
be a second lieutenant January 12, 18 12, and to
be a first lieutenant March 27, 1814. His several
commissions are preserved by his daughter, Miss
Agnes L. Wendell, and a record left by him shows
that he did not terminate his military career until
August, 181 5, when hewas constrained to resign
by a probability of being brought into conflict with
the civil authorities of Schenectady, near which
place he was at that time stationed. Documents
which are still in existence show that he merited
and received the commendation of his command
ing officers. After the war he lived for a time at
Niskayuna, at Alexander's bridge (since the con
struction of the canal called the aqueduct), where

he combined the duties incident to attending to
the bridge — store-keeping, farming and tavern-
keeping. Later he removed to Schenectady and
passed the balance of his life on College Hill. No
vember 22, 1 817, he was married by the Rev.
Charles Stebbins, of Schenectady, to Miss Parmela
Perry, daughter of Benjamin and Love Perry, who
was born in Salisbury, Conn., April 11, 1790, and
died December 18, 1870, aged eighty years.
Children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry R.
Wendell as follows: Anna Maria, who married
Mr. James M. Moyston, and died February 4,
1865; Margaret, who married Mr. E. Willard
Trotter, and died March 13, 1868; Agnes L., who
is still living at the Wendell homestead; and Abby,
who died January 5, 1880.
Mr. Wendell is remembered by nearly all of the
older residents of the city as one of the few who
lived beyond the period of the old Schenectady
into that of the busy, enterprising Schenectady of
to-day. He was an interesting conversationalist,
and was rich in historical reminiscences of this
section. He was a man of good mental ability,
high honor and genial social qualities, and it is to
be regretted that he was the last male of his family
in direct line. WARS AND FORTIFICATIONS.
In 1746 Governor Clinton recommended to build
a line of block-houses for fortifications west from
Fort Massachusetts to the Mohawk Castle at Fort
Hunter, which was adopted. One of them was
built at Canastagioone (Niskayuna).
[See French and Indian Wars, and Forts and
Garrisons for complete account. ]
provincial interpreter.
Hilitie, the eldest daughter of Cornelis Antonisen,
married Peter Danielse Van Olinda, of Niskayuna.
She was for many years employed as provincial in
terpreter with the Indians by the government at
$50 per annum. The Mohawk sachems in 1667
gave her the Great Island in the Mohawk River at
Niskayuna. She and her husband sold the island
in 1669 to Captain Johannes Clute. The island is
now owned and occupied by the Quaker Com
munity of Watervliet. The sachems also gave
land at the Willow Flats below Port Jackson, and
at the Boght on the Mohawk in Watervliet. She
died February 10, 1807, leaving three sons, Daniel,
Jacob, and Matthew. The last died unmarried.
Daniel, the oldest son, born June 11, 1696, mar
ried Lysbeth Kregear, a granddaughter of the old
Burgomaster Martinus Gregier. Jacob, the second
son, married Eva, daughter of Class De Graff, and
left four sons, named Peter, William, Martin, and
Nicholas; also one daughter, Helena, who, on the
i6thofJune, 1723, married Johannes Quackenbos.
the xiskayuna patent.
This tract lay to the east and south of the Sche
nectady patent, and extended from the Ael-Plaats
south to the north line of the Manor of Rensselaer
wyck. On the 5th of August, 1738, a patent was ob
tained for this land by Arent Bradt and Jacob Glen,

196

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

in trust for the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church
of Schenectady. It was then estimated to contain
2,500 acres, but owing to an error in measurement,
rectified in 1788, fell considerably short of that
amount. [See Church History for account of land grants. J
river flats.
It is two centuries and a quarter since this valley
was settled. It lies in a beautiful intervale on the
margin of the Mohawk River, the great highway
to the West.
These flats were tilled for generations before 1661
by the Indians, and they still yield rich harvests, in
many cases to the descendants of the original white
settlers — indeed to some whose ancestors antedated
the Dutch regime.
The alluvial deposits of this valley are constantly
enriched by the annual floods. This constitutes
the widely known Mohawk Flats, which, though
cultivated by the white man for more than two
hundred years, have lost none of their unsurpassed
fertility. In the early period of the settlement no other
land was tilled, hence they were called the land,
arable land or bouwland, all else being denominated
woodland, and little valued. In addition to their
fertility, these flats presented another advantage to
the first settlers — they were mainly free from wood
and ready for the plough and seed. . For ages they
had been the native's corn land, whilst the adjacent
forests and rivers furnished him with flesh and fish.
The great sand belt which passes across the
towns of Rotterdam, Niskayuna, and Glenville,
from south to north, was once covered with a heavy
growth of pines, while the highlands lying north and
west of it produced the usual varieties of hard
wood. Arent Van Curler, in letters written at the time,
mentioned the many natural advantages of this sec
tion. That a few fur-traders, and bosloopers early roved
among the Mohawks, married, and raised families of
half-breeds, cannot be denied; indeed there are re
spectable families in the valley to this day whose
pedigree may be traced back to these marriages.

The Ballston Turnpike crosses the Mohawk at
Alexander's bridge, built in 1805, four miles be
low Schenectady, where there is a succession of
falls and a low rolling dam across the river. But
the mills are things of the past.
The Erie Canal is carried over the Mohawk here
into Niskayuna upon a magnificent aqueduct, 748
feet long and 25 feet above the stream, and falls
immediately by three locks 21 feet, running
through this town westward to Schenectady, a dis
tance of five miles.
The Troy and Schenectady Railroad, built in
1843, runs through this town a distance of ten
miles. It is a single-track road, and at present
runs four passenger trains a day each way.
Union Street, Schenectady, leading to Niska
yuna, was formerly known as Niskayuna Street,
and was so named in honor of the old Niskayuna

settlement just outside of the manor of Rensselaer
wyck, whose inhabitants were very intimate with
those of Schenectady, and many families were re
lated. College Hill was called Niskayuna Bergh.
The Aqueduct is a railroad station on the Troy
and Schenectady Railroad six miles from Schenec
tady. Across the Mohawk, on the opposite side is
the village of Rexford Flats, where the people of
this vicinity receive their mail.
Niskayuna is a small hamlet in the southeast
corner of the town. It contains the Reformed
Church, of eventful memory, a store and post-of
fice, and a hotel kept by William H. Miller, and
a few dwellings. There is also a flourishing lodge
of Good Templars of eighty members. The lodge
holds its meetings in the vestry of the church.
Shaker Island is a half mile east of the Niska
yuna post-office, containing eighty acres, owned and
occupied by the Shaker families of Watervliet. It
is used simply for farming purposes.
Shortly alter the revolution, the Albany and
Schenectady Turnpike Company built a stone
tramway from Albany to Schenectady, to expedite
the hauling of goods and for a stage road. This
road is much of it still in good repair, and toll is
still collected upon it. The road passes about
three miles through Niskayuna.
Lishakill Hamlet is situated near the eastern line
of this town, so that the people of this part of the
town get their mail and attend church at Lishakill.
The Second Reformed Church here is in the town
of Watervliet, but belongs to the Schenectady
Classis. The following novel marriage is said to have oc
curred somewhere in this vicinity, and is well
worth preservation. About 150 years ago, accord
ing to tradition, when clergymen were not as plenty
as they now are, a young gentleman and his affi
anced were anxiously awaiting the happy day
which was to see them united in the silken bonds
of matrimony. They resided on the north side of
the Tomhanncek Creek, and the clergyman who
had been engaged to tie the knot lived on the south
side of the same stream. As the fates would have
it, heavy rain fell the night previous to the nuptial
day, which rendered the creek impassable. Its
waters were rising and its current becoming more
rapid every, hour. The clergyman arrived at the
appointed time at a place where he had been in the
habit of fording the creek, but it was as much as
his life was worth to attempt to cross it then. He
turned his horse's head to return, when he was
hailed by two voices on the opposite side of the
stream. They were those of the groom and bride,
who intreated him to stay. After some debate
it was agreed that the ceremony should pro
ceed. In the meantime the friends of the be
trothed arrived from the bride's house in the
neighborhood. Then was presented a singular
spectacle; "the like thereof was never seen be
fore," and probably will not be again. The dom
inie read the marriage service on the margin of the
creek, while the parties stood and responded on
the opposite side. After the ceremony was over

THE TOWNSHIP OF NISKAYUNA.

197

the groom tossed a few guilders across the creek,
which the dominie picked up and pocketed as his
fee, mounted his horse and proceeded homeward,
and the married couple did the same.
District Schools. — There are in the town of
Niskayuna four school districts and as many school-
houses, with as many teachers employed. Average
cost of school-houses $600. There are annually
taught 298 scholars (besides many that attend the
school in the City of Schenectady). The average
price paid to teachers is $7. 50 per week. C. W.
Van Sanford is the School Commissioner.
Town Officers. — Supervisor, Thomas W.
Winne; Justice of the Peace, John H. Putnam;
Assessor, C. W. Miller; Collector, Henry C. Ran
kin; Town Clerk, Thomas D. Tree.
County Officers. — (See Officers.)
REFORMED CHURCH AT NISKAYUNA.
I. ITS organization.
The precise date of organization of the Reformed
(Dutch) Church of Niskayuna cannot be deter
mined. It was probably organized by the Classis
of Albany, to which it belonged until the organiza
tion of the Classis of Schenectady. The first book
of minutes of the Classis of Albany being lost by
fire, the facts and dates are for the most part lost
with it. The regular records of this church begin
with 1784. There is a list of baptisms dated 1783.
Among loose papers in the archives of the consis
tory, is a subscription list dated 1773. There must
have been records even before this, but they cannot
be found. From the fact that the first church
building was erected not later than 1 760, and that
before that there stood on the same spot a " Galat
House," or prayer-house, which was used for wor
ship on the Sabbath, and as a school-house during
the week,' it seems safe enough to date the formal
organization of the church at about 1750. In 1784
a Dutch Church was organized at the Boght, and
from the relations afterwards sustained with Niska
yuna, it was evidently a child of this church. In
the year 1803 that part of the congregation lying
upon the north side of the Mohawk was organized
into the Reformed (Dutch) Church of Amity, it
becoming the second child of Niskayuna Church. In
1852 the southern part of the congregation was or
ganized into the Reformed (Dutch). Church of
Lishas' Kill, which was the third and last child of
this church. Thus has this church become the
mother of churches and brought forth a three-fold
increase, still remaining strong and healthy in her
own home life. ITS BUILDINGS.
First of all we find the "Galat House," or prayer-
house, already mentioned. No record or tradition
of the date of its erection can be found. It stood
at the foot of the hill in Niskayuna Village, on the
old road from Troy to Schenectady. This building
o-ave way to a church, built on the same spot
about 1760. This church was a square building,
with four-sided roof running up to a point in the
middle. It had a gallery on the side opposite the
pulpit and below it had raised benches along the

walls for the men, and benches on the floor in the
middle for the women. It stood until 1828, when
a new church was erected upon the present site.
This new site and building was on the north
side of the Troy and Schenectady turnpike,
nearly half way between the two cities. The
church building was 50 x 65 feet. It was
dedicated March 6, 1829, and stood until
July, 1852. The present edifice then took its place.
It is a neat and substantial brick building, with
white bell-tower, and was put up at a cost of a little
over $4,000. There is a pleasant chapel and Sab
bath-school-room, the only one ever erected, stand
ing near the church, which was built in 187 1. In
1832 there was a parsonage built on the west side of
the church, the present site, at a cost of $626.27.
This house stood in constant use until 1873, when
the present large and handsome house was erected
ata cost of $2,725 and the material of the old
house. its ministry.
During the early period up to 1790, according
to an abstract of history deposited in the corner
stone of the present church building, the con
gregation enjoyed the labors of Rev. Sansom Oc
cum, a Mohican Indian, from Connecticut; "Lo
renzo Dow," the eccentric Methodist itinerant;
Rev. D. Romeyn, Rev. Mr. Westerlo, Rev. Elias
Van Benschoten, and others. This was the time
of desolation and suffering and privation caused by
the revolution. In 1790, in connection with the
church at the Boght, the Rev. John Demarest was
called. He served the two congregations until
1803, when he resigned and went to a new charge
in New Jersey. This same year the connection of
this church and the Boght was dissolved, and the
church of Niskayuna was vacant for three years. In
the meanfime the northern part of the congregation
was organized into the Church of Amity; and in 1806
the two congregations, Niskayuna and Amity, united
in calling Rev. Thomas Romeyn. He was pastor
of the joint charge for twenty-one years, from 1806
to 1827. Up to the beginning of his ministry the
service had all been in Dutch. He began preach
ing alternately in Dutch and English. In 181 1 it
was voted unanimously lhat the proportion should
be three of English to one of Dutch. In 1 8 1 6 it was
again unanimously decided to have all English
preaching. In the same year of Mr. Romeyn's removal,
1827, the two congregations of Niskayuna and
Amity again united in calling Rev. John McKel-
vey, a young graduate of the Theological Seminary
at New Brunswick. He left after a three years'
pastorate. In the next year, 1831, the churches,
still united, called Rev. John Van Wagnen. Dur
ing his pastorate, in 1834, the partnership with the
church of Amity was dissolved, and he remained
for one year pastor of Niskayuna alone. In 1835
he resigned, going to another chaige in Linlithgo,
N. Y. In 1836, the church of Niskayuna alone
called Rev. Henry A. Raymond. He had
a long, prosperous and acceptable ministry of
nearly fifteen years. He resigned in 1850, and
moved to the church of Owasco, N. Y. In 185 1

198

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

the church called Rev. Goyn Talmage. His min
istry was short, but full of lasting work. He
peacefully divided the unwieldy congregation into
two, and instead of the one old wooden church, he
left two of brick, each in its appropriate place and fit
to serve succeeding generations, all paid for. In
1855 he resigned, and went to Greenpoint, N. Y.
The two churches, Niskayuna and Lishas' Kill, then
united in calling Rev. Cornelius L. Wells, who re
mained with them two and one-half years, when he
was called to the Third Reformed Church of Jersey
City. In October of the same year, 1858, the two
churches called the Rev. John A. DeBaun, D. D.,
who remained their faithful and honored and loved
pastor for nearly twenty-five years, until April, 1883,
when he was called to Fonda, N. Y. , and resigned.
In October, 1883, the partnership between the two
churches was dissolved, and Niskayuna congrega
tion called the present pastor, Rev. C. P. Ditmars.
ITS GROWTH AND PRESENT STATUS.
During all these years the increase of the church
and community must of course have been great, else
from the mother church so many children could
not have been separated. When Rev. John Dema-
rest came in 1 790 he found 74 members During
all those years, from that date until now, there must
have been received into the church here at least
1,000 members.
The present statistics are as follows: families, 120;
members in full communion, 223; baptized non-
communicant members, no. Raised this year for
congregational purposes about $1,400; for benev
olence about $300.
The present consistory is as follows: Rev. C P.
Ditmars, President; Cornelius Van Vranken,
Fletcher Onderdonk, Garret I. Van Vranken,
Abram L. Vedder, Elders; W. H. H. Freleigh,
Wendall Milbanks, Benjamin H. Lansing, Wesley
Miller, Deacons.
There is a Sabbath-school connected with the
church, of about fifteen teachers and one hundred
and fifty scholars. Its Superintendent is Mr. G.
W. Freleigh; Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Jacob
V. Pearse; Treasurer, Mr. John V. Green.
There is also a cemetery adjoining the church
property, and belonging to it. Jt consists of three
acres, pleasantly situated upon the hillside and top,
and is kept in good condition, being under the care
of the sexton of the church. It may be noted
there is a residence for the sexton in one corner of
the church grounds, in which he lives, and there
are large and commodious horse-sheds, giving
shelter for more than fifty teams.
SOME OF THE PROMINENT RESIDENTS AT THE PRESENT
TIME.
C. 0. Hamlin, farmer, ex-Supervisor, four miles
from Schenectady, on Albany turnpike ; Thomas
W. Hinne, farmer and Supervisor, on the Troy
road, six miles from Schenectady ; Thomas D.
Tree, Town Clerk, four miles east of Schenectady ;
G. G. Maxon & Son, Aqueduct road, three miles
from Schenectady ; Cornelius & Aaron Van Vran
ken and other Van Vrankens, farmers, east of the

Troy road, from five to seven miles from Sche
nectady. The Van Vrankens are numerous, fifteen
of them in one part of this town, farmers. Their
residences are known as the Van Vranken neighbor
hood. Among them are: J. D. Van Vranken, Fre
leigh Van Vranken, and Mrs. A. M. Van Vranken,
all farmers. The Vedders are also a numerous
family. There are eight families of them, farmers.
Lewis Brewer, farmer and philanthropist, Troy road,
two miles from Schenectady; Clark V. Warden,
farmer and ex-Sheriff, near Senator Stanford's place;
Charles W. Whitbeck, farmer, near Rexford Flats;
Garret L. Whitbeck, on turnpike, four miles from
city ; P. E. Whitbeck, on turnpike, four miles from
city ; C. Reynolds, farmer, Troy road, six miles
from Schenectady ; George Reynolds, farmer, Troy
road, six miles from Schenectady; John Van
Antwerp, farmer, four miles northeast from city;
William Craig, farmer, on the top of the bluff
south of the Aqueduct on the old Craig Place ;
Jeff. Thompson, farmer, on the old Vedder Place,
one mile south of the Aqueduct ; Ezra, Casper and
Martin Ham are farmers, three and a half miles
east of Schenectady ; Conrad, Jacob, Thomas and
Frank Mesick are farmers, about five miles east of
Schenectady ; John McShea, Attorney of Niska
yuna Village, ex-County Clerk and Justice of the
Peace ; Henry Lansing is an old and respected
settler, and lives west of Lishas' Kill ; J. V. Clute,
farmer, on Troy and Schenectady turnpike;
Matthew Winne, Postmaster, Niskayuna Village.
Ex-Senator Charles Stanford is a native of
Watervliet, Albany County. His father, Josiah
Stanford, was a native of New England; he was a
man of sterling character and of unusual business
ability, and gained a competency by his business
successes. He died in 1862. His son inherited the
ambition of his father, and after receiving a good
practical education, he at once entered upon a life
of enterprise. In 1850 he went to California, and
there, with three others, opened the largest com
mercial house in California at' that time. In
1859, m connection with two of his brothers, he
established a large commercial house in Melbourne,
Australia, and soon after branches in Svdney and
New Zealand. One of his brothers, the Hon.
Leland Stanford, was elected Governor of the State
of California in 1861. He is the President of the
Central Pacific Railroad.
In 1854 the interests of his firm required that
one of its members should reside near New York
City, and in 1861 he took up his residence in
Schenectady County, purchased a large farm in the
town of Niskayuna, where he has since resided.
In 1863 he was elected member of Assembly, and
re-elected in 1864; in 1865 was elected Senator of
the Fourteenth District. During this campaign
he established the Schenectady Daily Union. Mr.
Stanford is now in feeble health and confined to
his home. Much of the enterprise in Schenectady
owes its existence to him.
G. G. Maxon, President of the Mohawk National
Bank has a fine summer residence on the Aqueduct
road, about two and a half miles from the City of

THE TOWNSHIP OF NISKAYUNA.

199

Schenectady. The house is surrounded with an
attractive park, containing some beautiful statuary.
There are two beautiful figures, one representing
Spring and the other Summer.
There is a farm connected with this residence of
127 acres, the whole costing $40,000. He has
also another farm, a little to the south of this, of
150 acres, valued at $20,000.
FRANCIS McCANN.
Francis McCann was born in County Dublin,
Ireland, January 15, 1813. In 1833 he came to
America, and located in Niskayuna, where he has
since lived. In 1837 he bought the old Vedder
Farm on the Troy road, and he has since bought
several other properties in Watervleit, Albany
County, and in the city of Schenectady. His prop
erty comprises about 300 acres, and some valuable
city lots and residences.
Mr. McCann is a Democrat and has long been
a staunch adherent to the leading principles of his
party. As a citizen he commands the respect of
all who know him and the confidence of all his

fellow-townsmen. He has held the offices of Com
missioner of Highways and Overseer of the Poor,
and at this time is an Excise Commissioner. He
is a member of St. John's Catholic Church of
Schenectady. In March, 1837, ,Mr. McCann married Maria
Bradt, of Niskayuna, who died December 15, 1879.
He has since made his home with his stepson, Will
iam V. Bradt, who occupies his house on the
Troy road. Now in his seventy-third year, hale
and robust, he is quietly passing the closing years
of his life, doing a little farm work now and then
for exercise and as a reminder of his more active
years. 

William Steers owns a fine farm of 1 50 acres,
opposite Senator Charles Stanford's place. Mr.
Steers has lived here for the last twenty-five years,
and has filled some of the principal town offices.
He and his brother established the express between
Albany and Schenectady. They continued it for
eighteen years, and then sold it to other parties.
It has continued to the present, and is now owned
by Pease & Waterman.

200

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

A. V. P. Lansing (lately deceased), commonly
known as "Uncle Lansing," was an old settler and
the father of a large and respectable family, living
near Lishas' Kill. Rev. Dr. John Lansing, of
Brooklyn (lately deceased), was a son of Uncle
Lansing.

We take pleasure in making mention of the fol
lowing well-known citizens, who, by their guarantee
support, have helped to insure the publication o
this valuable work : I. V. Clute, Francis McCann,
J. H. Putnam, J. D. Van Vranken, A. M. Van
Vranken, Freleigh Van Vranken, William Vedder,
Matthew Winne.

HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF PRINCETOWN.

By Rev. E. IH. TAYLOR.

PRINCETOWN was formed March 20, 1798,
from a portion of the patent of Schenectady,
which had been ceded to the Reformed Dutch
Church of that city, and from lands originally pat
ented to George Ingoldsby and Aaron Bradt in
1 737. This was subsequently sold to William Corry,
who formed a settlement there which was long-
known as Corry 's bush, and Corry sold his interest
to John Duncan. The town itself was named after
John Prince, of Schenectady, who was then in the
Assembly as a member from Albany County, and
resided at Schenectady.
John Duncan was a Scotchman, of Schenectady,
and about 1760 purchased nearly all the present
town of Princetown (then called Corry's bush), and
titles to lands there are now held under grants
from himself or his sons.
James Bradshaw, the father of Samuel Brad
shaw, and the grandfather of Walter Bradshaw,
was only one or two years old at this time, and at
that age was brought by his father and mother to
Princetown, where they settled upon the farm
which has ever since been in the possession of the
family. James Bradshaw died August 29, 1858,
aged eighty-three years five months and thirteen
days. James Bradshaw, Sr., and his wife, Eliza
beth Bullock, were married in England, and had
two children before they sailed for this country.
James Bradshaw, Jr., above referred to, was the
third child. There were ten children in all, three
daughters and seven sons. From these sons must
come the other branches of the Bradshaw family
settled throughout Princetown. These are nearly
all the principal names connected with the early
history of this town. About the time of the revo
lutionary war and previous thereto, is found in
connection with the history of the New Scotland
Church the following names, familiar now in
Princetown, Allen, Hunter and Van Valkenburgh.
The streams are Norman's Kill, in the south,
Piatt's Kill in the center, and Zantzee Kill in the
northwest. Upon this stream, on the farm of
Ebenezer Dougall, is a cascade sixty feet high, and
from this point to the Mohawk are numerous falls
or cascades. The soil is best adapted to grazing,
and hay and grain are the principal products.

Its surface consists of a broken upland, gently
descending toward the southeast, with a stiff argil
laceous mold resting on a compact of ponderous
hard-pan, with ledges of limestone, calcareous and
siliceous sandstone argillite.
The town contains 15,450 acres; is mainly an
oblong square, ten and a half miles long north and
south, and two and a half miles wide. It is seven
miles southwest of Schenectady, and sixteen miles
from Albany by the Cherry Valley turnpike that
runs through the town. It lies between the towns
of Duanesburgh on the south and Rotterdam on
the north. The town is a little west from the
center of the county.
Princetown Academy, a Presbyterian institution,
was opened here on an extensive scale in 1853
(an enterprise begun under the pastorate of the
Rev. David Tully, D. D. ) and was discontinued
in 1856 on account of financial embarrassments
and dissensions arising from the same.
Princetown Hamlet is a small borough contain
ing a post-office, a store, a blacksmith shop, the
First Presbyterian Church and burying ground,
and a few scattered houses.
Kelley's Station is a small hamlet in the southeast
corner of the town, eight miles south from Schenec
tady and three miles east from Duanesburgh Four
Corners, consisting of a railroad station of the
Schenectady and Quaker Street branch of the
Delaware and Hudson road, a store and post-
office kept by Andrew Kelley, a blacksmith shop,
two or three dwellings, and a Union cheese factory
in operation.
Gifford's is a small hamlet, situate on the Cherry
Valley turnpike about three miles northwest of
Kelley's Station, containing a hotel, kept by J.
Gifford, a store, blacksmith shop, Reformed
Church and parsonage, and a few dwellings.
Rynex Corners is a small hamlet on line of the
town of Rotterdam and Princetown, eight miles
west of Schenectady on the Fort Hunter road,
consisting of a store and post-office kept by Will
iam H. Mudge, hotel by James W. Gregg, a
Union cheese factory, not now in operation, a
blacksmith shop and six dwellings. Religious
services were held in the upper room of the cheese
factory once in two weeks in 1884, where a laro-e

202

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

tional school has been held in the church, with
most gratifying results. Number of scholars, 1 30 ;
teachers, 20; total, 150. Superintendent, John
T. Blessing. FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The First Presbyterian Church of Princetown,
Schenectady Co., N. Y., was organized under the
authority of the Presbytery of New York more
than one hundred years ago ; afterwards it came
within the bounds of the Presbytery of Dutchess,
which was formed from the New York Presbytery,
and finally was one of the few churches which in
1790 constituted the Presbytery of Albany. In
1790 the Presbytery of Albany was established by
order of the Synod of New York and New Jersey.
The Presbytery of Albany held its first meeting at
Albany on the 9th of November, 1790.
In a history of the Schenectady patents by Prof.
Pearson, is the following paragraph : " The first
minister who is known to have preached to the
congregation (First Presbyterian Church, Schenec
tady) statedly, is the Rev. Alexander Miller." Mr.
Miller was a pupil of Rev. James Findley, a grad
uate of Princetown College in 1764 ; a student of
theology under Dr. Rogers, of New York ; was
licensed 1767, and ordained by the Presbytery of
New York, 1770, which is the date of his settle
ment here. Mr. Kelley (an elder at that time)
states that Mr. Miller left in 1781, during the
summer. Mr. Miller also preached at Currie's
Bush (Princetown) in connection with his charge
here. The Currie's Bush Church in which Mr. Miller
preached, was the original First Presbyterian Log
Church of Princetown. At that time the building
was a log chuich located on what is known as the
old Boyd farm, the ground on which the church
stood being now owned by Jonathan Tem pier. It
was a two-acre lot, not far from the old hickory
tree which stands nearly on the line between Messrs.
Bradshaw and Templer, and east of the present
entrance to the Walter Bradshaw farm, the church
lot joining Mr. Bradshaw's east line at this place.
For a long time after the old log church had dis
appeared, the lot lay open to commons; it has
since been fenced and become a part of the Tem
pler farm. So far as can be ascertained, this log
church was built about 1770, the date of Mr.
Miller's settlement at Schenectady ; and the church
took its name, Currie's Bush Church, from the
settlement in which it was located. In this log
church Mr. Miller preached a stated supply, in
connection with his Schenectady charge, between
the years 1770 and 1781.
Mr. Miller was followed at Schenectady by Rev.
John Young in the year 1787, who was ordained
June 14, 1788. The records of the Presbytery
show that the Currie's Bush Church united with
the Schenectady Church in the call for the services
of Mr. Young, and that he was duly installed over
them both. He gave one-third of his time to Cur
rie's Bush (or Princetown) and was the second
minister of the Princetown Church. Mr. Young
requested a dissolution of the pastoral relation at
the meeting of the Presbytery, November 10, 1790,

on the ground of non-payment of salary (by the
Schenectady Church) and of ill-health. The church
had not yet settled its indebtedness lo Mr. Miller,
who was still seeking payment, and the church at
Currie's Bush applied to the Presbytery for two-
thirds of Mr. Young's time, on the ground that the
church in Schenectady was no longer able to sup
port him.
Mr. Young's pastoral relation was dissolved
December 9, 1790, but the impression obtains,
from the records of the Presbytery, that he contin
ued to supply Currie's Bush Church after that time,
and a subsequent call was made by that and the
New Scotland Church for his services, he to preach
two-thirds of his time at Currie's Bush and one-
third at New Scotland, and the churches each to pay
accordingly. But Mr. Young was dismissed from
Albany Presbytery to the Presbytery of Montreal,
Canada, June 25, 1793.
In the resolution of the Synod of New York, con
stituting the Presbytery of Albany, in connection
with the names of other ministers and churches,
about half a dozen in number, it is stated, "John
Young, of Schenectady and Currie's Bush, mem
bers of the Presbytery of New York, be set off as a
distinct Presbytery, by the name and title of the
Presbytery of Albany. " So that the Currie's Bush
Church was the first church set off to constitute
the Presbytery of Albany. Mr. John Young was
elected the first clerk of the Albany Presbytery. At
a meeting of the Presbytery December 9, 1790,
when Mr. Young requested the dissolution of the
pastoral relation, it is recorded that the Commis
sioners appeared from both the churches — Sche
nectady and Currie's Bush — and the dissolution
being effected, Currie's Bush requested of the
Presbytery supplies, and Mr. Young was appointed
as such supply until the next meeting of the Pres
bytery. Mr. John Crawford was the Elder from the Cur
rie's Bush Church at the first meeting of the Albany
Presbytery, November 9, 1790; Mr. Samuel Mc
Kee at the meeting of Presbytery December 8,
1790, and Mr. Walter Maxwell, March 1, 1791.
The following Elders represented the Currie's
Bush Church at the meeting of the Presbytery
held on the dates set opposite their respective
names : Samuel McKee, January 10, 1792; Walter
Maxwell, March 6, 1792; John Crawford, Septem
ber 4, 1792. These, then, were the three Elders
of the Currie's Bush Church at that time, but their
names do not appear on the records of the Albany
Presbytery after that time. The)- evidently about
that time united with the Presbytery of New York
of the Associate Reformed Synod (or United Pres
byterian Church), and secured the services of the
Rev. James Mairs for a part of his time.
Previous to this arrangement with Mr. Mairs,
and between July, 1792, and July, 1793, the Albany
Presbytery furnished the following supplies to the
Currie's Bush Church : Rev. Methuselah Baldwin,
Rev. Simeon Hosack, Rev. Messrs. McDonald,
Schenck, Lindsey, Sturgis and Judd.
Rev. James Mairs, who also preached at Gal-
way, Charlton and Florida, continued from Feb-

THE TOWNSHIP OF PRINCETOWN.

201

congregation were gathered in the summer of
1884 by Rev. E. E. Taylor, of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
District Schools. — There are in the town of
Princetown seven school districts and seven school-
houses, and as many teachers employed. The
average cost of school-houses is $600. There are
annually taught 273 scholars, besides many that
attend the schools in the City of Schenectady. The
average price paid to teachers is $6. 50 per week.
C. W. Van Sanford is the School Commissioner.
Town Officers. — Supervisor, James Weast; Jus
tices of the Peace, Lawrence Dougall, A. G.
Davis, I. A. Rynex; Assessor, J. A. Laws; Col
lector, James J. Weast; Town Clerk, G. P. Templer.
County Officers. — (See Officers.)
FIRST REFORMED CHURCH.
The history of this organization begins with the
year 1818, in which year Dr. Nott, President of
Union College, hel d occasional services in the school-
house on the State road. At this time there were but
two persons in the whole community who professed
to be Christians — Joseph Phillips and his wife, who
were members of the Presbyterian Church of Sche
nectady. Professor Macauley and Professor Yates, of
Union College, also occasionally preached. Ser
vices were held every two or three weeks, on the
Sabbath afternoon or evening. This continued
until Jeremiah Searl came and labored as a mis
sionary. He remained for a few months, and was
then called to the church at Rotterdam. Mr.
Searl was succeeded by Rev. Whyting, who re
mained about six months. The school-house had
now become too small to accommodate those who
wished to hear the Word of God explained, and it
was determined to build a church, and on July 8,
1 82 1, an association was formed and the following
elders and deacons were chosen: Elders, George
Passage, Philip G. Vought, George G. Passage and
Henry R. Furbeck; Deacons, James Phillips and
Henry Dutcher.
In the spring of 1822 the church building was
commenced, and completed the same year at a
cost of about twelve hundred dollars. For two
years after the completion of the church the pulpit
was supplied by different ministers, of whom are
mentioned in the records, Rev. Dr. Yates, of
Schenectady, and Rev. Mr. Halhday, of Duanes
burgh. On the twenty-eighth day of December, 1824,
James B. Hardenburgh was ordained to the pas
toral charge of the united congregations of Helder-
burgh and Princetown, and served six months.
Robert J. Blair was next called, November 1, 1825,
to serve these churches, and was ordained and
installed January 25, 1826. He remained here
until August, 1827, when, upon the 25th day of
the same month, at a meeting of the consistory, it
joined with him in an application to the Classis to
dissolve the pastoral connection, and to apply to
have the connection between the churches of Hel-
derburgh and Princetown severed, both of which
applications were granted.

From 1827 to 1830 the church of Princetown
did not have the regular services of a pastor. In
1830 Rev. Peter Stryker preached three months,
after which, there is no record of any stated supply
until 1833, when Lewis R. Lockwood was called,
who continued as pastor about one year. During
Mr. Lockwood's ministry, steps were taken to
secure a parsonage. One acre and three-quarters
of land were purchased, without any restrictions, of
Alex. Gifford, for the sum of one hundred dollars,
one-half paid on the delivery of the deed and the
balance the following spring. In 1834 Rev. John
Nott took charge of the church as stated supply.
This year the church was repaired and the society
.assumed the name of the First Reformed Protest
ant Dutch Church of Princetown. Mr. Nott
preached most of the time from 1834 to 1838. In
1838, Rev. Wilson Ingals, tutor in Union College,
supplied the pulpit. During the years 1839 to
1841, Rev. John Vandervogue, who resided within
the bounds of the congregation, was stated supply.
January, 1842, Rev. W. P. Davis was called,
who remained until October, 1847. Mr. Davis
was followed by Rev. Joseph Rosekrans, who re
mained until 1 85 1, and was followed by Rev. N.
Bogardus, who remained about eighteen months.
After Mr. Bogardus left, until 1855, Rev. John
Nott served them most of the time. In 1855
Rev. D. D. Hall preached as stated supply until
1863. In the spring of 1864 Rev. J. H. Rickett
was engaged as pastor, and remained a little
over a year. In October, 1865, Rev. I. B. Hall
began his labors the second time, and continued
as pastor until the spring of 1869. During the
year of 1 871 H. A. Raymond preached, and was
the last who occupied the pulpit in the old church.
The ist of July, 1873, the present pastor, Rev. J.
Kelley Rhinehart, began his labors, being the third
settled pastor, although many others have served
the church at different times. There have been
three special revivals — the first during the ministry
of the Rev. W. P. Davis; the second during the
ministry of Rev. D. B. Hall, who was assisted by
Rev. James B. Campbell; and the third under
the labors of the present pastor in 1876. As the
result of this last revival, seventy persons were
added to the church; and again in 1880, when
twenty-six more were added to the church.
The present membership is 243. Henry Smith,
Isaac Scrafford, William Blessing and William
Young, Deacons; Adam M. Blessing, John Young,
James T. Wemple and J. Quackenbush, Elders.
In 1869 the people began to manifest greater
activity and zeal, and sheds were built at a cost of
$952.64. This is in excess of much done by
the people. Next the parsonage was remodeled
and repaired at an expense of $1,500. Then
a new church was built at a cost of $8,114. 12.
Through the efforts of the ladies the church was
furnished; the amount raised by them was $700.
The church is now free from debt. The present
successful pastor, Rev. J. K. Rhinehart, has been
with this people nearly twelve years.
Previous to 1873, Sabbath-schools were held in
the several school districts ; since then a congrega-

THE TOWNSHIP OF PRINCETOWN.

203

ruary 19, 1794, to May 6, 1795, when the arrange
ment proving unsatisfactory to all concerned, it
was discontinued.
Then came Rev. James McKenney, who
preached principally in the Currie's Bush Church,
and may have taken Galway as a part of his charge.
Mr. McKenney 's object was the establishment of a
reformed Presbyterian Church, and for this he
worked. The result was a division, out of which
came an offshoot of the Currie's Bush Church, in
the shape of the Duanesburgh Presbyterian Church.
This division occurred in 1800, and the new
Duanesburgh enterprise flourished for a time, while
the Currie's Bush (Princetown) Church declined
and struggled hard for life. But on February 1 9,
1805, the Duanesburgh Church applied to the
Albany Presbytery and was taken under its care,
and united with Princetown in securing the ser
vices of Rev. William Boardman, who was or
dained and installed over these churches February
28, 1805, and continued in charge of the same
until February 21, 1809.
At the next meeting, held February 21, 1806,
the pastoral relation between Mr. Boardman and
the Princetown Church was dissolved. Mr. John
Robinson was the Elder from the Church at this
meeting of the Presbytery, and consented to the
dissolution upon the ground that the membership
was so small they could not continue to meet the
necessary expenses. On March 29,1809, the pastoral
relation between Mr. Boardman and the Duanes
burgh Church was dissolved for the same reason.
Rev. John J. Christie supplied the Princetown
Church for a part of the year 1809, and also Rev.
Kirby. Mr. James McMillan, of the Duanesburgh
Church, appearing as the Elder from Princetown,
at Presbytery, February 16, 181 3, indicates the
absorption of this church by that at Princetown.
Rev. Thomas Holiday, pastor of New Scotland
Church, supplied the Princetown Church from
1 813 to 1829, in connection with his New Scotland
charge. After Mr. Holiday came Rev. Thomas Fraser,
who supplied the church from June 10, 18-29, to
May 18, 1834; Rev. William Hamilton from
October 10, 1835, to June 2, 1838; Rev. James
Finley from January, 1839, to June, 1843; Rev.
Jeremiah Boice Coney from the fall of 1 843, to
May 16, 1848, when he died. He is buried in the
graveyard, on the north of the present church,
and the congregation erected a monument to his
memory, upon which is inscribed : "In memory
of the Rev. J. Boice Coney, pastor of the First
Presbyterian Church of Princetown, who died May
16, 1848, in the fifth year of his pastorate of this
church and the seventh of his ministry, and the
thirty-eighth of his age."
Rev. David Tully was the pastor from June,
12, 1850, to September 20, 1855; Rev. George
W. McMillen from November 17, 1857, to Janu
ary, 1863; Rev. George Harkness from September
17, 1865, to June 15, 1869. Under Mr. Harkness
the tokens at communion seasons were abolished.
Rev. Robert A. Hill from November 12, 1870,
to June 14, 1882. During the pastorate of Mr,

Hill the organ and the Presbyterian Hymnal took
the place of the " Old Version of the Psalms, " and
the ' ' rotary eldership " mode was introduced and
other measures of reform instituted. Of course
at the time there was some opposition to these in
novations, but in most cases time and familiarity
with these new customs have made them unobjec
tionable, and the church has been strengthened
and prospered thereby.
After Mr. Hill came Rev. Clarence W. Backus
as stated supply, from April 29, 1883, to July 14,
1884, at which time he accepted a call to Victor,
N. Y. During the different periods when the
church has been vacant, besides those already
named, the following ministers have acted as sup
plies: Rev. Dr. Eliphalet Nott, President of Union
College; Rev. Dr. Robert Proudfit, Professor at
Union College; Rev. Dr. J. Trumbull Backus,
Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Schenec
tady, until recently; Rev. Mr. Newcomb, about
one year, 1863; Rev. John Clancy, about one
year, 1856; Rev. David Lyon, Rev. David G. Bul
lions, Rev. William J. Blain, Rev. Jeremiah Wood,
of Mayfield.
During the last year the church has been mate
rially strengthened, as will be seen in the following
report to the presbytery at its last meeting.
"A new record book and a new register have
been purchased, the former being Vol. IV. The
roll of church members has been revised, rules for
the election of elders have been enacted, and a con
fession and covenant of this church adopted which
is to be publicly assented to by persons joining the
church on confession of their faith. A cornet has
been introduced as aid to the musical part of the
worship. "
This church stands out by itself among the
Princetown hills, without any village surroundings.
Owing to its high elevation; the hilly character
of its roads and their liability to become impassable
at certain seasons of the year owing to snow-drifts
and mud; the distance from the church of many
of their homes; and at times the inclemency of the
weather, there is of necessity some irregularity in
the attendance upon religious services — notwith
standing which, during the past year, the regular
Sabbath morning service has been uninterruptedly
observed. Twenty-six persons have been added
to the church upon confession of faith.
The Sabbath-school membership has increased
during the past year from 80 to 230. The Cate
chism is taught in the school.
The Elders who have served this church since
1820 are: John Young from 1800 to 1822; James
McMillan, 181 2, to August 11, 1836; Jas. Ferguson,
1820, to October 2, 1851; William Gordon, Jr.,
1820 to 1858; John Robinson, 1820, to March 24,
1833; Jonathan I. Clayton, 1812 to 1837; James
Cantley, May 20, 1821, to October 2, 1824;
James McMillan, October 16, 1836, to January
26, 1884; William Gifford, October 16, 1836, to
August 3, 1863; Samuel McMillan, October 16,
1836, to October, 1862; James McNee, October
16, 1863, to January 7, 1875; James Weast, Jan
uary 4, 1852, to February 4, 1873; William S.

204

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Kelley, January 4, 1852, to September 20, 1855;
John Conning, January 4, 1855, to January 20,
1877; James Wingate, January 4, 1852, to Janu
ary 14, 1869; Samuel J. McMillan, September 14,
1866, and took letter; Daniel M. Rogers, Septem
ber 14,1866, to February, 1874.
The present Elders are: James Turnbull, elected
September 14, 1866; Samuel A. Weast, elected
September 14, 1866; Hugh H. McMillan, elected
June 8, 1876; Walter Bradshaw, elected June 8,
1876. John A. Bradshaw, organist ; Frank Bradshaw,
cornet. The stone church was built about 1790. The
present church was built 1820. Since then it
has been enlarged once. The parsonage and
church are at the present time in good repair.
There is a burying ground connected with and ad
joining the church. The present pastor is the Rev.
John J. Henning, from Argyle, Washington
County, N. Y., who was duly ordained and in
stalled January 20, 1885. The Rev. T. G. Dar
ling, D. D. , of Schenectady, preached the opening
discourse, the Rev. Mr. Henning, father of the
new pastor, delivered the charge to the pastor, and
the Rev. Mr- Johnson, of Mariaville, gave the
charge to the congregation. All seems pleasant
and promising now to this congregation.
SOME OF THE PROMINENT RESIDENTS OF PRINCETOWN.
Andrew Kelley, store and post-office, Kelley's
Station; Duncan Ferguson, one mile southwest of
Kelley's Station, farmer; Richard Hunter, near
Kelley's Station, farmer; Frederick Springer, one
mile north of Kelley's Station, farmer; John Mar
tin, one mile north of Kelley's Station, farmer;
Thomas Wingate, one and a half miles north of
Kelley's Station, farmer; Solomon Kelley, one
mile north of Kelley's Station, farmer; Alexander
Gifford, hotel, Gifford's Post-office; Thomas Pas
sage, two miles northwest of Gifford's Post-office,
farmer; William Scrafford, near Gifford's Post-
office, farmer; Archibald Cullings, one and a half
miles north of Gifford's Post-office, farmer; James
Gregg, Rynex Corners, farmer; Andrew Gregg,
near Rynex Corners, farmer; Calvin Robison, near
Rynex Corners, farmer; Romaine Robison, near
Rynex Corners, farmer and Supervisor; Thomas
Ennis, near Rynex Corners, farmer; James Rynex,
near Rynex Corners, farmer and Justice of the
Peace; John W. Weast, one and a half miles west
of Rynex Corners, farmer and Supervisor; David
Houghton, two miles north of Rynex Corners,
farmer; Walter Bradshaw, two miles west of Rynex
Corners, farmer; Frederick Bradshaw, two miles
west of Rynex Corners, farmer; Jonathan Templer,
one mile west of Rynex Corners, farmer; Andrew
McMillin, two miles west of South Schenectady,
farmer; Robert Van Valkenburgh, south of South
Schenectady, farmer; Samuel A. Weast, one mile
west of South Schenectady, farmer; Alex. Don
nan, northwest part of town, farmer; Alex. Clog
ston, one mile west of Princetown Church;
William Lauder, near Mariaville, farmer; John A.'
Marlette, west part of town, farmer; James Smealie,

northwest part of town, farmer; William Staley,
northwest part of town, farmer; Archibald Tin
ning, west part of town, farmer; John Walker,
west part of town, farmer; Daniel Darron, south
part of town, farmer; John C. Flansburgh, near
Princetown Church, farmer; Charles Ostrander,
near Rynex Corners, farmer.
Duncan Ferguson represents one of the first
families of his town. From old documents in his
possession, it appears that his grandfather, John
Ferguson, purchased the homestead in 1775 of
Richard and George Duncan, once proprietors of
the town. This property is located about half a
mile southwest of Kelley's Station. The price then
paid was ten shillings per acre. He was a native
Scotchman, came from Perthshire, and built his
first log-cabin on the spot now occupied by the
family cemetery. He emigrated about 1773 or
1774. He brought with him his wife and daughter,
Jane. James, John, Alexander and Duncan were
born in Princetown. John died when young;
James located adjoining his father, and there lived
until his death, when he was seventy-two years of
age; Alexander succeeded to the ownership of the
homestead, and died at seventy-five years of age;
Duncan married Hannah, daughter of Thomas
Gifford, one of the original settlers of South Prince
town, who located on the place of Duncan Fer
guson's present home, and raised a family of eight
children, of whom Duncan is the oldest. He
was first married to Ann E., daughter of John
Bryant, of Fultonville, N. Y. She died in 1874,
and Minnie Turnbull, of Rotterdam, became his
second wife, and she died in the spring of 1881,
leaving one daughter, Leah. The family cemetery
before mentioned was furnished by the ancestors,
and is one of the best private cemeteries in the
country. James Ferguson, of Duanesburgh, was son of
Captain James Ferguson, who was a son of James,
the son of the original Duncan Ferguson. The
subject was born in Duanesburgh, June 26, 1848.
Captain John Ferguson was twice married, first to
Mrs. Eveline Curry, who died leaving three chil
dren, Mary, Helen and Martha, who are all mar
ried and living in the West. For a second wife
he married Arvilla Northrup, of the town of Berne,
Albany County. Her children were nine in num
ber, James, the subject of this sketch, being the
third. He married, December 24, 1874, Miss
Helen E., daughter of Elisha Hungerford, of
Colesville, N. Y., and they have two sons, Samuel
and John. Charles, the first-born, died in 1883,
at six years of age.
Andrew Smeallie is one of the representative
farmers of Princetown. He was born in that town
January 9, 18 14. His father, James Smeallie, was
a native of Scotland, born April 18, 1786; emi
grated to America 1 8 1 1. His mother, two brothers,
John and Andrew, and a sister, Agnes, followed in
1816. He married Mary, daughter of John
Smeallie, October 1, 1812. Andrew is the oldest
of their children. Others are: John, born March
3, 1816; William, May 1, 1818; James M., June

THE TOWNSHIP OF PRINCETOWN.

205

12, 1820; Robert, April 21, 1822; Peter G, June
5, 1824, and died August 21, 1827; Jane, born
December 22, 1826. Andrew married Ann E.,
daughter of Abram Dorn, one of the first settlers
of the town, August 21, 1851, and they have had
one son, Abram D., born January 21, 1853, who
died in Texas April 5, 1884.
John Marlette is a prominent and successful
farmer. He was born in Schoharie, N. Y., Sep
tember 2, 1802. His father, Giles Marlette, a
native of Montgomery County, was son of John
Marlette, a Frenchman by birth and a major in the
the revolutionary army under General La Fayette.
Giles was the youngest but one of six children, and
married Rachel, daughter of Garret Newkirk, of
Montgomery County. Of their nine children, John
Marlette is the oldest. He came to Rotterdam
April 21, 1 82 1, and worked for one Pulman in a
public house where now is the village of Patterson
ville. He was married in 1824 to Miss Nancy Mc
Master and located on his present home that same
year. Rachael (Mrs. L. M. Clements, of Schenec
tady); John A. and William, farmers of Prince
town; and T. Luther, of the mercantile firm of
Marlette & Clements, of Pattersonville, are his liv
ing children. Maria, William and Giles are de
ceased. T. Luther, the popular merchant at Pat
tersonville, married Miss Eveline, daughter of
Seely and Adeline (Montgomery) Patterson, August
12, 1869, and have one son, Seely.
Joseph Tinning, who owns and occupies one of
the first located and finest farms in Princetown, is
a native of the town of Glen, Montgomery County,
and is a son of James and Hannah (Bradt) Tinning.
He was born June 18, 1833. He married Ann,
daughter of William A. Milmine, of Florida,
Montgomery County. She died June 5, 1859, and
he was again married, to Miss Mary, daughter of
Thomas Coulter, of Duanesburgh, by whom he
has three sons and three daughters, Bertha, Archi
bald, Mary, Elizabeth, Louis, and William. His
father, James Tinning, was a native of Scotland,
and emigrated to America from Dumfries County
in 1 82 1. He married his wife in the town of Glen.
He died March 27, 1868.
George J. Holton is one of the enterprising
young farmers of Princetown, and at present the only
one of his family in the town. He was born October
2 7, 1 8 5 5. His father, George H olton, who died June
5, 1862, married Miss Margaret J., daughter of Nich
olas Peek, who was one of the first Dutch settlers
of the Mohawk Valley. George Holton had five
children: George J., Sarah L., Hannah, Thomas
S. (deceased), and William J. After Mr. Holton's
death, Mrs. Holton married Thomas Shipley, by
whom she had one daughter, Cora, born March 2,
1881. George J. Holton married Miss Emma J.,
daughter of Winslow Sterling, of Princetown. She
was born February 13, i860. They have a daugh
ter, Florence, born July 5, 1882, and a son, Mel-
vin, born May 20, 1884.
Daniel Taws located in Princetown during the
days of its very early settlement. He came from
Scotland to America some years previous to the

opening of the revolution, and was a soldier of that
war. Of his six sons James was the oldest, and mar
ried Jane Mulroy, and settled on the homestead and
had two sons, John (deceased) and David, who
now occupies the homestead. They had also two
daughters, Janet (deceased) and Sarah. The estate
now comprises 244 acres.
David Elder lives in the neighborhood of the
Scotch Church, and is a native of Scotland. His
father, William Elder, came from Kinrosshire,
Scotland, in 1827, bringing with him a family of
five sons, leaving a married daughter in Scotland.
He located in the town of Florida, Montgomery
County. His sons in due course of time entered
business life, John as a merchant in New York
City and later went to California; Robert became
a civil engineer and was employed by the United
States Government in the Western States; David
developed into a first-class school teacher, follow
ing the profession in Montgomery and Schenectady
Counties. He served as School Commissioner of
the latter county three years, 1883-85. He mar
ried March 15, 1848, Miss Janet, daughter of
Thomas Dougall, by whom he had four children:
Margaret, now Mrs. W. W. Barlay, of Des Moines,
Iowa; John A. ; Thomas D. ; and William J. James
Elder, the youngest brother of David, taught
school about twenty years in Montgomery County,
and is now a farmer in Minnesota.
Daniel Donnan was a Scotchman. He emi
grated to America in 1803. Was born in 1776.
He married in Princetown, Mary, daughter of John
McKerlie, also a Scotchman by birth, who emi
grated in 1774 and reached Princetown in 1775,
and purchased of George Wasson the farm in the
west part of the town now owned and occupied by
William Donnan, a grandson. The estate then
comprised one hundred and fifty acres ; the im
provements consisted of a small log house and
barn, and a small clearing. During the revolu
tionary war he was an active member of the Home
Guards. He had six sons and four daughters:
David married Mary McKerlie in 1805. They had
seven sons and one daughter ; John was born Octo
ber 15, 1806, and died 1882 ; James lives in Am
sterdam ; Andrew is in Livingston County, N. Y. ;
Alexander, Samuel and William are in Princetown;
and David is in Pennsylvania. William married
Catherine, daughter of James Tinning, of Florida,
Montgomery County, and has one daughter, Mary,
living, and Martha and Owen are deceased. He
lives on the old homestead. Alexander located
adjoining the homestead; married June 7, 1844,
to Miss Jane, daughter of William and Nancy
(McKev) Conning. Has had six children: David A.
(deceased), William, George, Essit and Nathan
W. David is at Independence, Iowa; John A. is a
farmer in Princetown; and William, assistant cashier
in a banking institution at Leroy, N. Y. Samuel's
place also joins the old homestead. He was mar
ried November 7, 1884, to Miss Helen, daugh
ter of Thomas and Margaret Dougall (deceased).
They were among the first settlers of Princetown.
Their children are William J., a farmer of Duanes-

206

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

burgh, Margaret A., Edwin G, Rensselaer and Mary
N. Mrs. Donnan died July 31, 1884.
James Bradshaw was the founder of the family
in this county. He was a native of Derbyshire,
England. Born September 25, 1743. Emigrated
to America in 1775 with his wife, Elizabeth Bul
lock, who was born in the same county August 23,
1743. They first located in Cherry Valley, Otsego
County, N. Y., and in 1777 lemoved to Prince
town, at what was known as Curry's Bush, and
located five hundred acres of land, a part of which
was in Princetown and a part in Duanesburgh.
He erected a large stone house about half a mile
west of the piesent house of Walter Bradshaw, of
Princetown. Of their ten children, three were born
in England: John, June 14, 1769; Helen, February
12, 1771, who married Thomas Wasson and lo
cated in Princetown; Elizabeth, January 6, 1773,
married John Barlow and located in Montgomery
County. James was born on the voyage to Amer
ica, March 17, 1775. George was the fifth of the
family, born in Princetown, November 10, 1776;
Thomas, September 28, 1778; Robert, July n,
1780; Benjamin, March 11, 1782; Mary, March
19, 1784, married Charles Tullock, of Duanes
burgh; Joseph, November 18, 1786. James, the
fourth of this generation, married Delana Briggs,
born in Rhode Island, June 20, 1776 They had
nine children: Charlotte, born March 12, 1804,
and married Henry Pulver; Samuel, born October
8, 1805; George, September 3, 1807 ; Martha M.,
December 31, 1809, married John M. Quick, of
Rotterdam; Ruth, February 27, 181 2, and married
James Mulach and located in Jackson County,
Mich.; Walter B., August 20, 1814, and died at
twelve years of age; Ann, born March 17, 1817, mar

ried Samuel Wingate and located in Duanesburgh;
JamesW., July22, 1820; Helen, October22, 1822,
and died at seven years of age. The venerable
Samuel Bradshaw, formerly of Princetown, now
living in Schoharie County, is in his seventy-ninth
year ; Mrs. Ann Wingate, of New York City; and
Mrs. Elizabeth Mallench, are the only ones of this
generation now living. Samuel B. Bradshaw mar
ried Sarah Kelley and they had three children, the
first of whom died in infancy. Walter B. was the
second, born January 8, 1837; he has been twice
married, first to Maria, daughter of James Allen,
of Rotterdam, March 5, 1857; she died December
17, 1857, leaving a son and daughter: Allen and
Maria (twins) ; the latter died when two years old.
In 1863, Allen married Miss Hannah E., daughter
of James B. Bradshaw, who was born August 25,
1842, by whom he has one daughter, Lorena.
Allen, his oldest son, married Emma, daughter of
Benjamin Wiltsie, June 26, 1879; their children
are Edith, Walter B. and Clarence W. Solomon
K. Bradshaw married Maria, daughter of James B.
Bradshaw, and has one son, Samuel, who lives in
the house of his birth in Rotterdam.

We take pleasure in making mention of the fol
lowing well-known citizens, who by their guaran
teed support have helped to insure the publication
of this valuable work :
Walter Bradshaw, A. B. Cullings, Wm. Don
nan, Samuel Donnan, Alex. Donnan, Daniel
Darrow, David Elder, Duncan Ferguson, George
J. Holton, Andrew Kelly, John Marlette, Charles
Ostrander, J. K. Rhinehart, Romaine Robin
son, Andrew Smeallie, Joseph Tinning, David
Taws.

HISTORY OF THE TOWNSHIP OF ROTTERDAM.

By Rev. K. E. TAYLOR.

ROTTERDAM was formed from Schenectady,
April 14, 1820, and was formerly the third
ward. Another part of the city was annexed in
1853, and a part taken from the town and added
to the city in 1865. The town contains 24,422^
acres. Population in 1880, 2,326. It lies near the
center of the county, upon the south bank of the
Mohawk. The surface consists of a broken, hilly
region in the northwest, a level intervale extending
from the center towards the south, and a high plain
in the east. A part of the soil upon the west hills
is a tough clay, underlaid by shale, which frequently
crops out. The central valley or plain, five miles
in extent, was called by the Dutch the"Bouw-
lands," or farm-lands, The soil is a deep alluvial.
The east plateau is sandy and has formerly been
regarded as barren, but of late years has shown its
adaptation for orchards and especially for small
fruits.

Among the early settlers were Wilhelmus Van
Otto,  Van Curazoa (a native of the Island of
Curacao), Ryer Schermerhorn and Simon Veeder.
The house of Van Otto stood on the site of the one
afterward occupied by Simon Veeder. At the
time of the revolution there were families living
by the names of Delamont, Van Pelton, and
Braugham. SOME OF THE OLD LANDMARKS.
Arent Bradt, born 1684, built the ancient brick
house now standing southwest of the first lock
above the city, about 1730. Arent was a full cousin
of Captain Arent Andreas Bradt. He married
Catrina, daughter of Jan Pieterse Mabee ; she died
ln 1773, aged eighty-two years two months and
seventeen days.
The Van Guysling farm, situated on the bouw-
lands in Rotterdam, and occupied by the Van

THE TOWNSHIP OF ROTTERDAM.

207

Guyslings as early as 1664, remained in that family
until 1865, when Cornelius Van Guysling died
without issue. The Van Guysling house is a wood
en structure and is a remarkable specimen of early
Dutch architecture. It is the oldest house in the
valley, unless the Mabee House out-dates it.
A part of one of the buildings at the Schermer
horn Mills, near Schenectady, dates about 171 5 to
1720. The Mabee House. [A description and cut of
this ancient building is given in a previous
chapter.] Johannes Peek's house, built in 1711, and now
occupied by D. D. Schermerhorn, is situated a little
south of the junction of the Boston and Hoosac
Tunnel and West Shore Railroad.
Harman Albertse Vedder is the ancestor of all
the Vedders in this county. He settled in Sche
nectady in 1663. His farm covered what is now
known as the homestead of Col. D. D. Campbell.
ROTTERDAM FLATS.
In the summer of 1661, Arent Van Curler, or
Corlear, leader of the first settlement, made formal
application to Governor Stuyvesant for permission
to settle upon the Great Flats lying west of
Schenectady. The bouwlands, the great tract of bottom land
west of Schenectady, embracing several hundred
acres of arable land, was anciently called the
Groote Vlachte. It was mainly cleared land
when the white man first occupied it in 1662, and
had been the Mohawk's maize land for, perhaps,
centuries. This, and other parcels of like soil
along the Mohawk, formed the main inducement
for the Hollanders to settle here ; in them they
recognized the polders , or lowland of the Father
land. The bouwlands were originally divided into
twenty-three separate parcels and assigned to fifteen
individuals.

Broom corn was first introduced into this town
by the Shakers of Watervliet and Niskayuna, and
has been extensively cultivated upon the alluvial
flats and is still one of the most extensive products
of the soil.
Mr. Martin De Forrest, of Schenectady, now
seventy-two years old, says he well remembers
that, sixty years ago, the first piece of broom
corn planted in Rotterdam was on a morgen of
land, or 2.0076 acres, near the city of Schenectady,
¦f by the Shakers from Watervliet. It attracted much
attention and its peculiar adaptation to this alluvial
soil soon brought it into general cultivation. Mr.
Sanders Van Eps, then an extensive farmer in
Rotterdam, was one of the first to raise it in large
quantities and to manufacture it into brooms.
REMARKABLE FEAT.
It is said that Ryer Schermerhorn, the father of
Bartholomew and grandson of the first Ryer, was
a man of remarkable perseverance, energy and
determination. An illustration cannot be out of
place at this point. It is handed down by well

established authority, that shortly after the termi
nation of the revolutionary war, when the long
contested suit of Ryer Schermerhorn against the
Trustees of the Schenectady Patent was pending in
our Supreme Court, Ryer Schermerhorn, the plain
tiff, was unexpectedly informed, by his counsel,
Judge James Duane, that certain documents then
in the hands of one Apple, at New York, must be
in court at Albany within eight days from that
time, or his cause would be greatly endangered.
Bear in mind there were no telegraphs, no steam
boats, no stage routes; but miserable roads, only a
weekly mail, and that the sloops took generally
two weeks, sometimes three, to accomplish the
distance between Albany and New York. Nothing
daunted, Schermerhorn started, single-handed, in a
canoe from Albany ; went to New York, procured
the necessary documents, and on the morning of
the first session of court, much to the surprise and
gratification of his counsel, delivered him the
desired papers. This certainly would be called
something of a feat for a young man of the present
day.* THE ERIE CANAL.
The Erie Canal by three locks runs eight miles
through this town along the line of the Mohawk.
The Erie Canal was first completed as far as
Lockport, twenty-six miles from Lake Erie, and
soon after to Lake Erie. Mr. Peter Christler (an
ex-Canal Collector) in the Schtnectady Union,
January 18, 1885, gives the following table as to
the development of the canal:

Vears.

Depth

of Water.

Boat Tonnage

1824.

2 It. 6 in

to 3 ft.

16 to 40

1836.

3 ft.

to 3 ft. 6 in.

30 " 40

1846.

5 ft.

40 •• 70

1856.

6 ft.

to " 120

1862.

6 ft.

to 9 ft.

150 " 220

1883.

7ft.

250

Time from Buffalo to Albany has with little vari
ation averaged about eight days. Average cargo at
the present time is 160 tons.
In 1884 there was carried over the canal 5,666,-
057 tons. It was through this avenue, when other
ways were closed during the late war, that the
Government conveyed to the Western army a great
amount of their supplies in addition to what the
lailroads could do, and in this service the canal
was taxed to its utmost capacity. It is estimated
that at this time there were from 8,000 to 10,000
boats on the canal. RAILROADS.
The New York Central, with a four-track road,
runs about four miles in this town, coming in at
the east and going out at the City of Schenectady,
where it crosses over into Glenville and follows the
Mohawk westerly.
The Delaware and Hudson Canal Bianch Rail
road, from Schenectady to Quaker Street, with a
single track, runs seven miles in the town.
The West Shore, with two tracks, runs twelve
miles in the town and was built in 1883.

* Sanders' "Early History of Schenectady."

208

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

The Athens branch, from Schenectady to Athens,
built in 1868, was sold to the West Shore.

The Creeks of this town are the Zantzee, Plata,
Poenties and the Normanskill.
The Mohawk River runs along the northern
boundary for ten miles. About one mile above
the city is what has from the first been known as
the Sixth Flat's rift.
The Schermerhorn Flouring Mill is situated near
the city on the Plank road. This mill seat has
been occupied here for more than a century and a
half. Garret Veeder, second son of Simon Val-
kertse Veeder, the fourth named original pro
prietor of Schenectady, owned the lands about
the mill seat, and obtained a lease from the church
of Schenectady of this mill privilege about 1718,
which afterward became the Schermerhorn Mill
Farm. This mill is one of the best in the county,
and is highly prized by the town of Rotterdam.
Ryer Schermerhorn, during the revolution, built
the stone house opposite the grist-mill about 1770,
and the purpose was entertained at one time of
taking it for a fort.
There was a log house near the mill that was
used for a place of retreat in times of peril, and the
name of " Schuylenburgh" was' given to the place,
it signifying in Dutch the shelter or a place of
safety. SOUTH SCHENECTADY.
South Schenectady came into being by the
building of the West Shore Railroad in 1883,
which connected with and crossed the Delaware
and Hudson River Railroad two miles southwest
of Schenectady. South Schenectady has now a
large hotel called the Thompson House, built
and kept by William H. Fogerty. Its capacity for
boarders is quite large and it is well filled. The
West Shore Railroad has here a large round-house,
freight-house and depot. There are within half a
mile twenty dwellings; a grocery; a store and
post-office, kept by Andrew Kelley & Son;
a blacksmith shop; the butcher's shop of Allen
Estes; H. Herrick's watch-making and repairing
shop; a large hay barn for storage of hay in
transit, located beside the Delaware and Hudson
Railroad, owned by Smith Close & Alfred Ford,
who also have in connection with their business a
coal yard. James Turnbull is also erecting a hay
barn, and has also opened a coal yard near the
track of the West Shore Railroad.
Religious services were commenced in this place
in the summer of 1884 by Rev. E. E. Taylor, of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, who during that
season preached in the open air, the congregation
being gathered on the steps of the freight-house of
the West Shore Railroad, and later in the fall Mr.
Fogerty, of the Thompson House, built a hall in
connection with the hotel, and at once tendered it
to Mr. Taylor, and meetings have been held there
for a time.
The Delaware and Hudson Railroad have a large
reservoir here for watering their engines.

This place had a great opportunity in 1884, in
the offer by the West Shore Railroad to locate
their machine shops here, and the building
of the round-house was its commencement, but
the exorbitant price demanded, and a liberal
offer about the time from Frankfort, led them to
locate there, where they now employ several hun
dred men, and a large business is there being built
up. PATTERSONVILLE.
Pattersonville is a small village at Hoffman's
Ferry, at the west end of the county, containing
fifteen dwellings, a hotel called the Patterson
ville Hotel, two stores, a wagon shop, blacksmith
shop and shoe shop, a railroad depot and store
house. The Pattersonville Hotel, kept by W. H. Patter
son, is large and new, with ample accommoda
tions. W. H. Patterson is the proprietor of the
store at the west end of the village, near the depot ;
and T. L. Marlette & J. M. Clement are the
proprietors of the store at the Ferry. In connection
with their store they have a large hay barn, and
buy and export hay. They also have a coal yard,
and are doinga thriving business. Dr. Alexander
Ennis lives here, and is a practicing physician and
surgeon. The West Shore Railroad have erected
a fine depot and freight-house for themselves and
the Boston and Hoosac Tunnel Railroad, which
runs upon their track at this point. More than
one-half of this place has been built up since these
railroads reached here. The new buildings are of
a fine order, and the place bids fair for a more
rapid growth.
The Junction is two miles east of Pattersonville,
and is formed by the Boston and Hoosac Tunnel
and West Shore Railroads. The Boston and
Hoosac Tunnel crosses over the Mohawk from
the town of Glenville at this point into Rotter
dam, and unites with the West Shore. The West
Shore Railroad have built here a large round-house,
a railroad station, and offices for the joint delivery
and exchange of freight. These buildings are
used in common by both roads, the Boston and
Hoosac paying rent for the use of the same.
Duck & Fish, of Decatur, Illinois, have just
built extensive stock yards and barns here. The
capacity of the present yards is eight hundred
cattle ; these will no doubt be enlarged, and the
business become one of great importance.
The Mabee House is a fine new hotel, large
and commodious for boarding purposes, etc., and
a number of other fine buildings have been erected,
and others will soon be built. Thus by the intro'-
duction of the railroads into this town, South
Schenectady, the Junction and Pattersonville have
sprung into being.
MOHAWKVILLE.
Mohawkville commences from the terminus of
Centre street, Schenectady, and extends along the
highway about a mile into Rotterdam. There are
fifty-four dwellings, a grocery store, a school-house
and a Good Templars' building. At the top of

THE TOWNSHIP OF ROTTERDAM.

209

the hill, rising from the city, is what has been long
known as Engine Hill. It was here that a
stationary engine was placed in 1831, when the
first railroad of this part of the country was built
from Albany to Schenectady, and this engine drew
the railroad cars, with ropes, from Schenectady up
the hill, as it was too steep for the engine of the
train to draw them ; on this account it was called
Engine Hill. At the south end of Mohawk-
ville was located Crane's factories, and therefore
that was called Cranesville. The Good Tem
plars' building, for lodge purposes, is a neat struc
ture, erected last year at a cost of about $1,500.
It owes its existence mainly to the influence and
means of Mrs. John H. Chambers, who has taken
an unusually active part in organizing and main
taining a temperance society in this place, the
effect of which is there is not a drop of spirituous
liquor sold in the place or near it.
Jonathan Crane, of whom honorable mention
should be made, was born February 5, 1790, in
North Mansfield, Conn., and in 18 14 came to
Schenectady. In 181 9 he purchased lands in
Mohawkville, where he erected factories that to this
day constitute the chief industry of the place. In
connection with his factories an oil mill was erected,
and its first superintendent was Mr. Dillon, and
after him Peter Christler, now of Schenectady. A
brake factory was also established, and a screw
factory. Mr. Crane was the chief leader in trans
ferring the screw manufacturing from England to
this country. The main factory was afterward
turned into a flax and corn-husk factory, and then
again into a twine factory, which has continued
for the past thirty years to the present. The factory
was thoroughly repaired in 1882 by a company
known as The Mohawk Twine Company, and
business was pushed to the utmost capacity until
the latter part of 1884, when, on account of the
depression in the market, work was suspended.
There were thirty-five hands employed. The
present prospects indicate an early resumption of
business. Mr. Crane was a man of marked fidelity,
and of decided moral principles. He was a prom
inent temperance leader, and with others organized
the first temperance society in Schenectady. He
readily engaged in every good work. He formed
the first Sunday-school in the county in his own
house in Schenectady. He was emphatically a
good man, both as a citizen and a Christian, and
did much to advance the interests of mankind.
In the year 1830 the first passenger railway in
this country was building from Albany to Sche
nectady. Mr. Crane's home was near his mills,
and these were in the suburbs of the city, where
the railway was to pass, so that he frequently saw
the men at work. The slow, difficult process of
excavating the sand was noticed by him, and his
active mind immediately began seeking for_ a
remedy. At last it was found in an invention
which was named the circular receiver. Its
patent is dated October 1, 1830, and is signed by
the distinguished names of Andrew Jackson, Martin
Van Buren, and J. W. McPherson Berrian. The

principle of this machine is simple, and can be
seen to-day, somewhat modified, in the ordinary
turn-table used by all railroads.
The rapid increase in the number of railways
created a demand for this invention, and presented
a broad field for contractors. To put his invention
into practice, Mr. Crane took a contract on the
Albany road, and when this was finished he went to
New England and assisted in the construction of
many railways there, including the Hartford and
New Haven, the Providence and Stonington, the
Boston and Providence, the Boston and Albany
and the Boston and Maine Railways.
John R. Freeman & Brothers' oil mill is about
two miles from Schenectady, a little west from the
Duanesburgh road. Previous to 1855 the place
was occupied by Mr. Peek as a cloth factory. In
1855, Freeman & Bro. started an oil mill which ran
until 1871, when it was converted into a flax and
husk mill. The goods made are better known as
green tow. The mill continues the same to the
present time. Like most other industries at this
present time, work is suspended to a great extent.
The Freeman Bros, have a paint, etc., store on Wall
street, in Schenectady. They are among the most
respected of our citizens.
The McQueen Locomotive Works are located on
the Mohawk Flats, between the Jones Car Works
and the Westinghouse Agricultural Works, near the
City of Schenectady, on nine acres of land costing
$5,000, with a branch railroad track to the Dela
ware and Hudson Railroad. These works consist
of two immense brick structures, one 125 feet x 306
feet, the other 74 feet x 402 feet, and an annexed
engine-house 30 x 50 feet, erected at a cost of
$6o,oco. It is a stock company, capital
$300,000, 28 percent of which has been assessed.
Over half the stock is held by New York parties.
The principal stockholders of this company are
Walter McQueen, Charles Stanford, N. I. Scher
merhorn, and George G. Maxon. President, Charles
Stanford. Office is at 190 State street, Schenec
tady. Secretary, John De Remer; Treasurer, F. W.
Jessop. Trustees : George G. Maxon, Walter M.
McQueen, John McEncroe, Charles Stanford, N. I.
Schermerhorn, T. W. Jessop, and John D. Remer.
There is no machinery yet in the buildings, and
the directors are waiting for sufficient encourage
ment in business demand, above the pressure of
the present times, to expand and put in operation
these works. SCHENECTADY CAR COMPANY.
This company was organized in 1872, with a
stock capital of $400, 000. The company purchased
the farm of N. I. Schermerhorn for $50,000, and
erected buildings and purchased material at a cost
of $84,000. The buildings after erection stood
idle about four years, and then work was com
menced and carried on for about four months.
In 1875 J. M. Jones and Co. purchased the works —
including twelve acres of land, buildings, machin
ery and stock, valued at $90,000— for $25,000.
They at once resumed work making street cars,

210

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

with a force of 400 men up to about three years
ago, when the street car work was transferred to
the company's works at Troy, and the company
reorganized under the incorporated title of The
Jones Car Manufacturing Company, and com
menced building railroad and Wagner palace cars.
They put up five additional new buildings. The
works went into the hands of a receiver, Mr. E.
Nott Schermerhorn, in the spring of 1884, and
work was continued for the completion of. orders
on hand until the fall. An offer of sale by the
receiver and creditors was made for $85,000, for
buildings, machinery and stock.
These works are situated on the Mohawk Flats,
about half a mile from the City of Schenectady.
They have a branch track, connecting with the
Delaware and Hudson Railroad near by.
January 30, 1885, these works were leased to
Mr. Walter A. Jones, the legalized agent of the
Jones Car Manufacturing Company, for eighteen
months, with the privilege of purchase, within that
time, for $60, 000. Work was at once resumed
in the repairing and manufacture of Wagner's
palace and sleeping cars for the New York Central
Sleeping Car Company.
February 4, 1885, the Jones Car Works Com
pany was reorganized and incorporated with a cap
ital of $50,000 ; Walter A. Jones, President. In
June following, the New York Central Sleeping Car
Company purchased the lease of the Jones Com
pany, and at the present time manage the works,
under the direction of Dr. W. Seward Webb,
President, and T. H. Munsell, Superintendent.
SECOND REFORMED CHURCH OF ROT
TERDAM.
This church was organized by the Classis in 18 13.
The first book of records cannot at present be
found. March 15, 1824, the church was incor
porated under the State laws, the consistory
acting as trustees. A meeting of church members,
preliminary to incorporation, was held January 12th
and March 15th, the consistory including the Min
ister, Rev. Jeremiah Searle; Elders Lawrence
Schermerhorn, Peter Becker and Oliver Springer ;
Deacons John J. Vischer, Philip De Forest and
John Putnam. These went before Judge Henry
Yates, of Schenectady, and procured the necessary
papers, properly signed and attested, and the church
was duly incorporated. The articles of incorpora
tion are recorded in the County Clerk's office in
Church Book of Records, page 25.

Fifteen years after the organization, in 1828,
there were seventy-four members in full com
munion, and residing within the bounds of the
congregation. May 21, 1843, it is noted that one
hundred and twenty-five partook of the communion,
which probably approximated the membership of
the church at that time. After this date no account
is given of the church membership until 1875,
when there were fifty-two in communion and one
hundred families in the congregation. April, 1884,
there were seventy-seven in communion and fifty
families in the congregation. The church had one
remarkable revival in May, 1832, when fifty mem
bers were added to the church — forty-eight on con
fession of faith and two by certificate; Rev. Joshua
Boyd, pastor.
The church was incorporated under the title of
The Second Reformed Protestant Dutch Church
of the Third Ward of the City of Schenectady.
It is now known as The Second Reformed
Church, Rotterdam. (Rotterdam was the Third
Ward of Schenectady until 1820.) From 1823 to
1836, this church and the First Reformed Church
of Rotterdam were united and placed under the
same pastorate. Rev. Jeremiah Searle, a licentiate,
was called to the pastorate April, 1823, and con
tinued until 1827. After an interval of several
months, the two churches united in calling Rev.
Joshua Boyd. He began his labors February,
1828, and continued joint pastor until May, 1836,
when the relation of the two churches was dissolved
by the Classis. This second church immediately
called Rev. J. Boyd, who continued his labor from
May, 1836, to May, 1840. From June, 1840,
to May, 1 84 1, the Rev. John Nott was stated sup
ply, and in May, 1841, he was called to the
pastorate of the church, and continued to serve
as such until May, 1854. The succeeding two
years and a quarter the church was without a
pastor, depending upon such supplies as it could
obtain, and was at tbe same time rebuilding its
church edifice. August, 1856, Rev. Cyril Spauld
ing was called to its pastorate, and continued
therein until October, i860. Shortly after the dis
missal of Rev. Cyril Spaulding, Rev. R. L. Schoon
maker began preaching there, and was finally
employed as stated supply for one year, beginning
March 1, 1861, but before the year closed hewas
called to its pastorate. He began his pastoral
labors September, 1861, and continued therein
until January, 1869. The church, after he left,
made two ineffectual calls : one upon Rev. D.
Vermilye, March, 1869, and the other on Rev. s'.

THE TOWNSHIP OF ROTTERDAM.

211

F. Searle, May, 1869, and afterward succeeded
in getting Rev. William P. Davis, who began his
labors 1869, and ended them June, 1873. The
next three years the church was without a pastor.
August, 1873, an unsuccessful call was made upon
Rev. W. P. Davis. During the year April, 1874,
to 1875, a minister of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church, the Rev. M. J. Slover, acted as slated
supply. This pulpit was also supplied by different
preachers from Sabbath to Sabbath until May,
1876, when Rev. Ira Van Allen began his pastoral
labors; his pastorate continued until May, 1883,
when Rev. Lauren Vanderveer was called to the
pastorate, and still continues its earnest and success
ful pastor; thus from 1823 to the present — sixty-
three years — the church has had eight pastors,
besides supplies.
Consistory. — By charter the consistory was com
posed of seven members : the minister, three elders
and three deacons. This continued from 1824 to
1837. In 1837, by act of Legislature the charter
was amended, and the consistory enlarged to its
present size of nine members : the minister, four
elders and four deacons. In 1842, when Rev.
John Nott was pastor, two additional elders were
chosen contrary to the charter, and in 1883 two
additional deacons were chosen. This large and
illegal consistory of thirteen members continued
only two years. In 1845 they returned to the
charter number, and it has not been deviated from
since. Church Property. — November 27, 1820, the
Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of
Schenectady conveyed to the minister, elders and
deacons of the Second Reformed Protestant Dutch
Church, etc. , for the consideration of one dollar to
them paid, one acre two roods and five perches of
land situated south of the Princetown road and
the road now leading to South Schenectady, being
the land on which the church and sheds stand, and
including what is now known as the Old Ceme
tery. March 31, 1857, John Schermerhorn and
Rebecca, his wife, for the consideration of two
hundred dollars, conveyed to the church officers
two acres of ground situated north of Princetown
road, on which the parsonage and barn now stands,
known as the parsonage lot.
April 2, 1880, John Phillips, for the considera
tion of six hundred and eleven dollars, conveyed
to the church officers 6^ acres of land adjoin
ing the old cemetery on the southeast, now known
as the New Cemetery.
February 5, 1881, the church officers secured
from the trustees of the town of Rotterdam for
one dollar, a commutation release of the rental of,
and the virtual title to, thirty-seven rods of land
lying northeast of the old cemetery and south of
the public road.
The church now owns the cemetery plot of land,
containing about 7? acres; and the parsonage lot,
containing two acres.
During 1822 the first church edifice was built.
It was a wooden structure 38 x 32 feet, with a pro

jection eight feet deep in front, on which a steeple
was constructed. It fronted nearly northeast. It was
a plain structure The pulpit was high and boxed,
and the center of the church had high box-pews.
A gallery twelve feet wide ran along the sides.
The cost of this edifice was $1,200.
In 1855 the church edifice was remodeled. The
steeple had been blown off in a storm, and it
became necessary to make thorough repairs. The
building was enlarged to 46x32 feet, and in 1861
a bell costing $125 was placed in the belfry. The
total cost was about $2,200.
In 1870 the church was again remodeled by an
addition of eighteen feet, making the building now
64 x 32 feet, with an alcove for the pulpit, and the
whole neatly finished at a cost of about $2,000.
The seating capacity is 300. There are also a fine
lot of sheds 175 feet long, containing twenty-two
stalls, costing, in addition to much work being
done free, $400.
Parsonage. — The parsonage was built in 1857, a
two story and a half frame building, at a cost of
$1,643.72, and a two-story barn. The total ex
penses, $2,432.72. Total value of the entire
church propery is about $7,000.
Endowment. — The city of Schenectady sold cer
tain lands, the proceeds from which were devoted
to the support of the Gospel in the local churches.
This church received its share, $3,806.54, Febru
ary 5, 1820, which it solemnly covenanted to keep
unimpaired and for the sole purpose of the sup
port of the Gospel. Of this sum $1,000 is now
out at interest at six per cent. About $2, 500 was
used in building and completing the parsonage,
and the balance has been lost.
August 7, 1883, Dr. Andrew Truax, druggist,of
Schenectady, presented the church with $5,000;
the income to be used for the support of the minis
try. This is now in a mortgage bearing interest at
five per cent.
Sabbath-school. — The Sunday-school was first
commenced under the pastorate of Rev. Joshua
Boyd. Since 1870 it has been especially prosper
ous. Its report for 1884 was six officers, six
teachers, seventy-eight adult scholars, and thirty-
two primary; total, one hundred and eight. Average
attendance, sixty-four. Superintendent, John K.
Tullock; Assistant, John C. Perry; Secretary, Miss
Minnie V. Schermerhorn; Treasurer, Miss Mary E.
Robinson; Librarian, Mr. John Schermerhorn; As
sistant, Mr. William Marlette.
Present Officers of the Church. — Rev.
Lauren Vandeveer, Pastor; Robert Schermerhorn,
John C. Perry, Simon J. Schermerhorn, and Peter
W. Ham, Elders; J. Frank Sager, John Van Epps,
Albert Miller, and Abram P. Van Dyke, Deacons.
THE FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF
ROTTERDAM.
This was organized in 1784 by the Classis of
Albany under the title of Second Reformed Dutch
in the Patent of Schenectady, with John Wemple,
Martin Van Slyck, Harmanus Vedder, and Chris
topher Peek as the Elders.

212

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

It is impossible now to tell just who or how
many the first original members were, or how many
were received into the communion of the church
during the period before the first pastorate. Sev
eral names of families, however, who were then
prominent in the church are still represented in it.
Such are the Wemples, Vedders, Peeks, Van Slyks,
Bradts, and Veeders.
Tradition says that the first place where worship
was held was in the upper part of an old frame
building, the basement of which was used as a par
sonage, or as a residence for the sexton when not
occupied by the pastor. It was situated on the
north side of the Mohawk River, a short distance
back of the hotel at Hoffman's Ferry, on the road
leading to Glenville. The room was unfurnished,
without walls or pews, rough boards or benches
being placed around the sides of the building. In
this room services were held probably every three
or four weeks, as the same ministry supplied Mina
ville and a church in the town of Duanesburgh.
After some years this building was sold and re
moved to a farm now owned by Latin Johnson.
After standing there for a short time it was taken
down and some of the timbers are now in a shed
belonging to Aaron B. Bradt, one of the Elders of
the church at the present time, near Hoffman's
Ferry. The congregation began at once to build the
present church edifice, which is a plain wooden
structure with a tower, and located on the south
side of the Mohawk, about a mile east of where
the old building stood, on a fine lot donated by the
Veeder family, some of whose descendants are
still members of the congregation. The church
was not, however, finished until about the middle
of 1823, when a committee was appointed, con
sisting of Nicholas A. Bradt, Gavet Quackenbush,
Aaron Spitzer, and John W. Peek, to solicit funds
to complete it. During seven years the congrega
tion worshipped in it in this unfinished condition.
Like the former, this building had neither walls nor
pews, and was supplied only with benches brought
from the old place of worship.
During 1845 this building underwent quite ex
tensive repairs. The galleries were lowered, the
pulpit changed from the rear of the church to the
front, the upper and lower windows being united
and the building new roofed, and painted inside
and out. And again in 1856, and also in 1864,
some slight changes and improvements were
made. The first settled pastor of whom there is any
record, was the Rev. Thomas Romeyn. He was
pastor of the church, in connection with that
of Minaville and Duanesburgh, from 1 800, to Janu
ary 1, 1806, when the pastoral relation was dis
solved, and he took charge of the churches of Nis
kayuna and Amity, where he labored until 1827.
After leaving Niskayuna and Amity he retired to
his farm in Glenville, where he lived until his de
cease, 1857.
After the removal of Mr. Romeyn in 1806, the
church was destitute of a settled pastor until 1818,
when the Rev, Peter Van Zandt took charge as

pastor or supply in connection with the First Church
of the Fourth Ward of the City of Schenectady, now
the First Reformed Church of Glenville.
He continued his labors with this church until
1822, when he took charge of a mission at Oak-
hill, Green County, N. Y. The records show five
persons received into the communion of the church
on the confession of their faith, and seventy-one
infants were baptized during his ministry of five
years. Up to 1823 the church had borne the title
of the Second Reformed Dutch Church of Sche
nectady, when it was changed to that of the First
Reformed Dutch Church of Rotterdam.
During the year 1823 the Second Reformed
Church of Rotterdam was organized, when that,
together with the First Church, united in calling
the Rev. Jeremiah Searl, who had just been
licensed by the Classis of Albany to preach the
Gospel. He held the pastorate of the two churches
from April 26, 1823, to February 1, 1827. From
these churches he was called to the First Church,
Coxsackie, and continued there until 1851, being
almost a quarter of a century. After an interval
of a few months the two churches united in calling
the Rev. Joshua Boyd, who had graduated from
Union College in 18 14; studied theology with the
Rev. John McDowell, of Elizabethtown, N. Y. ;
and was licensed by the Presbytery of New Tersey
in 1826. After staying for a short time at Herki
mer and Fallsburgh he was called to the pastorate
of these churches, and continued with them until
May 3, 1836, when the two consistories applied to
the Classis of Schenectady for a dissolution be
tween them, and immediately after this Mr. Boyd
was recalled to the Second Church, where he con
tinued to labor until 1840.
During the ministry of these devoted and faithful
servants, for near half a century, there is no evi
dence of any marked revival of religion. There
was, however, some ingathering under the labors
of each. But the seed which they had sown was
destined to spring up and yield a plentiful harvest
during the period from 1837 to 1840, when the
Rev. John Nott supplied the church, and eighty-
two persons were received on confession of their
faith. This was the most extensive revival of which
there is any record in the history of this church.
Now again the church was destitute of a pastor
for about two years, but was supplied occasionally
by Prof. Andrew Yates, of Union College, and a
Rev. Mr. Callehan, of New York. On the last of
October, 1842, the consistory resolved to employ
the Rev. John Van Desolow, who continued to
supply the church until 1844, when, in June of
that year, Rev. Cornelius S. Mead, who had just
graduated from the Auburn Theological Seminary,
and was licensed by the Presbytery of Cayuga, was
called to the pastorate of the church. He re
mained until December, 1849, when he received
and accepted a call to the Reformed Church of
Herkimer. In 1850 the Rev. Charles Jakes, of
Stone-Arabia, was called, and on the 29th of Oc
tober of that year was installed by a committee of
the Classis of Schenectady. His pastorate con
tinued until November 10, 1862, when the Master

THE TOWNSHIP OF ROTTERDAM.

213

called him to his rest and reward. Since May i,
1863, Rev. J. C. Lowe has been the pastor of the
church. This church has been organized for
nearly, if not quite fully, a century, and has had
during that period seven pastors, the longest being
that of the present and three stated supplies. It is
impossible to tell the number of persons who have
been received into the communion of the church
during its existence, owing to the imperfect records
which have been kept. At no time during the his
tory of the church has the membership been large.
At the present time there are on the records one
hundred and twenty-one. The oldest living mem
bers of the church at the present time are Jeremiah
Schuyler, who is ninety years of age; Albert Ved
der, who is eighty-five; and Mrs. Eliza Bradt and
Mrs. Seeley Patterson, who are both over seventy.
While the Rev. John Nott was supplying the
church in 1840, it is probable that the first Sabbath-
school was organized, with John Marlette, a prom
inent and useful member of the church, as its
superintendent. His successors were Alexander
Dow, Winslow Steeling and John Wiltsie. The
number of scholars in the school at the present
time is about one hundred and thirty. The pres
ent church property, consisting of a comfortable
church building, lot and parsonage, is worth about
seven thousand dollars.
ROTTERDAM METHODIST EPISCOPAL
CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Rotterdam
was organized in 1846 by Presiding Elder Lindsey,
and consisted of sixty members. Rev. S. Coval
and William R. Brown were the first pastors. A
house of worship was erected about the same time.
The church was rebuilt and enlarged in 1846 at a
cost of about $4,000. James Fisher, Sr., pur
chased the site for the church and burying ground
of Daniel D. Campbell in 1844, and presented it
to the society. Mr. Fisher came from England in
1818. He had a large and respectable family. He
has now in the ministry one son-in-law, the Rev.
William J. Sands, now stationed at Crescent, N.
Y., and two grandsons, Rev. John C. Fisher and
Rev. Martin L. Fisher. He was an honored
citizen and an exemplary Christian. He died Feb
ruary 11, 1 87 1, aged eighty-seven years four
months and twenty-seven days, and is buried in the
cemetery adjoining the church.
This society was up to 1867 connected with the
church at Guilderland, and the Rev. E. E. Taylor
served both churches, assisted by Rev. John N.
Short. During this year, under the indefatigable

labors of Mr. Taylor, not only was this church re
built, but a new church was built at the State road
at a cost of about $4,000, known as the Parker
Church, Mr. Charles Parker, of the Dey street
eating-house, New York, having his residence near
by, and contributing largely toward the enterprise.
The church at Guilderland (near Sloan's Hotel) was
also rebuilt and enlarged at a cost of near $4,000,
and a new church built, three miles east of Sloan's
Hotel on the Plank road near McGowan's Hotel,
at a cost of $3, 500; the result was the erection of
two separate pastorates, Rotterdam and State road,
three miles apart, both having sustained themselves
uninterruptedly to this present time, and doing a
good work in these communities. The Rotterdam
Church is two and a half miles south of Sche
nectady. The following are the names of the several pas
tors in the order they have served this church since
1867. 1867-8, Rev. Stephen Palmer ; 1869-70,
Rev. Damos Brough; 1871-72, Rev. Manly
Witheral; 1873-4, Rev. P. F. Youlen ; 1875-6,
Rev. F. G Rainy; 1877-79, Rev. P. P. Har-
rower ; 1880, Rev. A. Lawrence; 1881-83, Rev.
E. E. Taylor ; and Rev. W. O. Tower, the present
pastor, who is exerting himself in building for the
society a beautiful parsonage on the corner near the
church, which is nearly completed. There has al
ways been connected with this church a Sunday-
school. The present membership of the church
is 130; Sunday-school scholars, 100.

Colonel Daniel D. Campbell occupies a fine
residence in Rotterdam about two miles from
Schenectady. Mrs. Campbell, widow of Judge
Daniel Campbell, made her will May 27, 181 1,
leaving considerable sums to her various relatives,
but made her great nephew, Daniel David Camp
bell Schermerhorn, her residuary devisee and legatee
on condition of changing his name Schermerhorn
to Campbell, which, after her decease, was accom
plished by legislative enactment ; and that great-
nephew, with many virtues, now resides among us,
known and respected as Colonel Daniel D. Camp
bell. plank road.
The only remains of once extensive plank roads
in various parts of this county, is a short piece of
about one mile, starting from the city of Schenec
tady, running south to part of the former plank
road to Duanesburgh. This road is now owned
by the widow Pearson, and a toll of two cents each
way is charged for one horse, and proportionately
for more.

214

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Simon J. Schermerhorn was born in Rotterdam,
N. Y., near the old Arant Bradt Place, Septem
ber 26, 1827, and is the seventh, and his children
the eighth, generation who have lived in the place
he now occupies. His ancestor, Jacob Janse Scher
merhorn, was one of the first settlers, who was born
in 1662 in Waterland, Holland. He came to
Beverwyck quite early in life, where he prospered
as a brewer and trader. In 1648 he was arrested
at Fort Orange, by order of Governor Stuyvesant,
on a charge of selling arms and ammunition to the
Indians. His books and papers were seized, and
himself removed a prisoner to Fort Amsterdam,
where he was sentenced to banishment for five years,
with the confiscation of all his property. By the
interference of some leading citizens the first part
of his sentence was struck out, but his property
was never recovered.
These severe proceedings against Schermerhorn
formed subsequently a ground of complaint against
Stuyvesant to the States General. Nothing daunt
ed by his misfortunes he began anew, and before
his death, in 1689, acquired a large property for

the times. He made his will May 20, 1688, and
the year following died at Schenectady, where he
had resided for some years.
The following is the pedigree to the present :
Ryer, son of Jacob Janse ; married Ariaantje,
daughter of Arant Arentse Brodt, in July, 1676.
Jacobus, son of Ryer, born January 31, 1720;
married Annatje P. Vrooman September 4, 1742.
He died July 28, 1762; she died September 7,
1770. He was the great grand-father of S. J.
Schermerhorn. Annatje P. Vrooman was a daughter of Peter
Vrooman, who was killed by the French and In
dians at the Beukendaal massacre in the town of
Glenville in 1690.
Johannes, son of Jacobus, married Catherine
Bradt November 13, 1778, daughter of Jacobus
Bradt, the owner and occupant of the old Bradt
House. He died January 7, 1814, aged 48 years
1 1 months and 8 days.
Jacob I., son of Johannes and father of Simon J.
Schermerhorn, married Maria Vedder. He died
April 20, 1849 in his sixty-first year; she died

THE TOWNSHIP OF ROTTERDAM.

215

August 19, 1832, in her forty-fifth year, leaving six
children, two boys and four girls : John J., Simon
J. , Catherine, Anna, Sarah, and Alida.
Simon J. Schermerhorn was married February 4,
1857, to Helen, daughter of Harmon Veeder, who
died in Wostina, July 31, 1850, aged fifty-two
years and six months. Mrs. Schermerhorn is
deserving of special mention as an efficient worker
in all the church interests coming within the range
of her proper relations ; and for her work's sake,
and the spirit in which it is performed, is entitled
to rank with "the honorable women." Their
children are: Jacob Edwin, born October 12, 1858-,
and died January 12, 1861; Mary Veeder, born
January 6, i860; Sarah, born March 19, 1862;
John, born July 12, 1863 ; Alice Augusta, born Jan
uary 23, 1865 ; Andrew Truax, born December 7,
1866; Jacob I., born June 7, 1870, died July 29,
1870; Simon, born April 3, 1874.
The homestead originally purchased by Jacob
Janse Schermerhorn has been occupied down to
the present by his descendants for seven genera
tions; and other lands of late have been purchased
(about 50 acres) a part of which is from the
Old Arent Bradt Estate, on which still stands,
in an excellent state of preservation, the oldest
building of the county, the Arent Bradt House,
described in a separate paragraph in the history of
this town.
The present farm is in a high state of cultiva
tion. The barns and out-buildings are new,
ample and well constructed. The dwelling, built
in 1857, is of brick, of modern construction, and
stands about 300 yards east of the Old Arent
Bradt House, on a rise of ground near the bluff
that rises about 100 feet above it to the High
lands rising toward the south. From the house
is an excellent view of the Mohawk Valley and the
country beyond, while itself stands also in full view
of the City of Schenectady.
The family burying ground of four generations
is about 200 yards east of the dwelling, but the
fine cemetery adjoining the second Reformed
Church of Rotterdam is now generally used.
Mr. Schermerhorn has held several important
positions in the gift of the people. He was a war
Democrat of persistent loyalty. He was elected
unanimously a member of the State Assembly,
1862, and evinced a commendable zeal for the
welfare of his country in that eventful time. He
has been a member of the Board of Supervisors
for three terms, and has served one term as School
Commissioner. So popular is Mr. Schermerhorn with his con
stituency, that he never had any opposition when
ever he consented to be a candidate for office, and
the people have sought and would have gladly
given him many other positions of trust if he had
consented, but his disinclination to office holding
and love of home, has led him to decline many
official honors. He has been an honored, and
active and consistent member of the Second Re
formed Church of Rotterdam for twenty-five years,
and is one of its elders, a faithful Christian, and
an upright and highly respected citizen.

Summer Residence of Dr. Backus. — Rev. J.
Trumbull Backus, D. D., of 6 Union street, Sche
nectady, has a beautiful summer residence in Rot
terdam, less than two miles southwest from the
city. Its commanding position excites admiration.
It stands upon the top of the bluff and near its
edge, surrounded by a thin forest. The bluff rises
about one hundred and fifty feet from the valley of
the Mohawk, and is about half a mile from the
riv.er. It affords one of the finest natural pros
pects in the whole country. It has a fine view of
the Mohawk Valley each way for several miles,
and takes in the whole of the City of Schenectady.
The view stretches out also across the river over
Glenville and a part of Saratoga County; and, turn
ing the gaze .southward, the vision sweeps over the
plains of Rotterdam and Guilderland beyond, and
takes in the Grand Old Helderberghs and Cats-
kill Mountains, .while to the left loom up the
Green Mountains of Vermont, and to the north a
spur of the Adirondacks.
Dr. Backus was installed Pastor of the First
Presbyterian Church of Schenectady December 6,
1832, and remained its popular and successful
pastor until June 18, 1873; and now, like a shock
of corn with golden hue, in the grand majesty of
life's success, he waits "The Harvest Home."
District Schools. — There are in the town of
Rotterdam 14 school-houses, 14 districts, and as
many teachers employed. The average cost of
school-houses is $600. There are annually taught
822 scholars (beside many who attend the schools
in Schenectady, that have superior advantages).
The average price paid to teachers is $7. 50 per week.
C. W. Van Santvoord is School Commissioner.
Town Officers. — Supervisor, John C. Myers;
Justice of the Peace, Peter McGee; Assessor,
Anthony Wallard: Collector, John J. Van Patten;
Town Clerk, Willis Burdick; Coroner, Dr. Alex.
Ennis, Pattersonville.
County Officers. — (See Officers.)
THE BRADT FAMILY.
Nicholas A. Bradt was born in the old Arant
Bradt House, near the first lock of the Erie Canal
west of Schenectady, August 18, 1773, and died
July 8, 1850. He married Margaret Mabee and
they had two children: Abraham N., born August
16, 1793, who married Maria Vedder in 18 19.
They had six children: Margaret, Jemima, Nicho
las, Simon, Sarah, and Harmanus.
Cornelius, the second son of Nicholas A., mar
ried Nancy Kerns in 1 830, and they had six children :
Margaret, Susan, Gazena, Nicholas, Rebecca, and
Cornelius. Nicholas, son of Abraham N., was born Sep
tember 14, 1824, and married Hester Bradt in
1857, and lives on the old Woe-Stina Place, seven
miles west of the City of Schenectady, near the
round-house of the West Shore Railroad. Farm
consists of one hundred and ten acres. He has
seven children, named Maria, Helen, Abram,
Frank, Maggie, Lizzie, and A. Vedder. Abram,

216

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

the last named son, owns the old family homestead
of one hundred and fourteen acres, formerly owned
by his great-great-grandfather, which adjoins that
of his father's.
Francis Bradt was born in Niskayuna January 3,
1833, and was brought to Rotterdam by his
parents and is a descendant of John. A. Bradt,
born March 9, 1770, and. died July 14, 1846. He
married Wilmot Mabee January 20, 1793, and she
died in the eighty-seventh year of her age. They
had six children: Cornelius, Abraham, Hester,
Aaron, Sarah, Catherine and Frederick, the latter
being the only one of the six now living. Aaron
Bradt was born August 12, 1800, and died in the
fifty-third year of his age. He married Eliza C.
Vedder, February 15, 1832. Eliza C. Bradt is the
sole survivor of a family of nine children and is in
the seventy-ninth year of her age. Has had five chil
dren: Francis, Hester, Helen, John and Aaron.
Francis Bradt was born January 3, 1832. He
married Maggie Veeder, November 18, 1874; had
one child, Aaron J. Bradt, now in the seventh year of
his age. Hester Bradt was born November 13,
1834, and married Nicholas Bradt November 28,
1857. Helen Bradt, born May 11, 1837, and
died at the age of twenty-one years. John Bradt,
born October 6, 1839, married M. Elenor Dorn
December 28, 1871. Aaron B. Bradt, born May
24, 1 84 1, married Catherine E. Gregg, 1867; had
one child, Cora Bradt, now in the seventeenth
year of her age.
Francis and John Bradt are now living on
the farm purchased by their great-great-grand
father, Abraham Bradt, in 1765, of Peter Daniel
Van Antwerp, containing about sixty acres, for
$2,500. A few years after the purchase, prod
uce brought a high price, but had to be sent to
New York for market. Wheat was from $3 to
$4 per bushel; peas, $2; etc.
The barn built by Abraham Bradt is still standing
and in use, and stands as firm and solid as ever ;
the timbers and siding are of yellow pine, the
shingles of white pine, three feet long and three-
quarters of an inch thick and are still of good ser
vice ; the nails were all made by hand, and are of
wrought-iron. The barn is 40 x 60 and was built
in 1775 and has cost the owners but a very
small amount for repairs. The place is seven
miles west of the City of Schenectady, in the Valley
of the Mohawk. THE DE FOREST FAMILY.
Jacob De Forest was born in Greenbush, Rens
selaer County, N. Y., May 28, 1771, and died in
Rotterdam, June, 1854.
He married Anna Lansing February 2, 1784,
by whom he had five children : Cornelia, Jacob,
Tennetta, Sarah, and Obadiah L.
He came to Rotterdam in 1 807 and soon after
his wife died. He married for his second wife
Mary Wiley, July 30, 1808, by whom he had four
children : Anna, John, Martin, and James.
Jacob De Forest, Jr., was born October 23,
1777, and married Ann Schermerhorn. They had
nine children, four daughters and five sons. These

five sons all enlisted in the Union army of the late
civil war, and by their valor gained marked distinc
tion. They are Colonel Jacob J. De Forest, now
of Duanesburgh ; S. De Forest, Quarter-master,
now in Cleveland, Ohio ; John De Forest, Lieu
tenant, deceased; William F. De Forest, now of San
Francisco, Cal.; and Martin J. De Forest, now in
the New York Post-office. He lost a leg in the
war. Martin De Forest, son of Jacob De Forest, of
Rensselaer County, N. Y., whose residence is
31 Church street, Schenectady, is the agent of
Hon. D. D. Campbell, of Rotterdam. His wife
was Elizabeth M. Schermerhorn, daughter of Hon.
Bartholomew Schermerhorn (deceased), late of the
town of Rotterdam. They have had five children,
two sons and three daughters. But two survive,
viz., Mary, wife of Chas. N. Yates, and Catherine
A., wife of Robert Moir, who is regarded by the
community where he resides as a respectable and
honorable business man.
Obadiah L. De Forest has been sheriff of Sche
nectady County, and his son Jacob has also held
the same office. Another of his sons, Henry S.,
is at present Recorder of the City of Schenectady.
The De Forests are a highly respected family.

Halsted Close is a farmer and speculator
known widely here and in the City of Schenectady.
He was born in Clifton Park, Saratoga County.
For five generations past the Close family have
been prominent in the social and business inter
ests of that town. Mr. Close was born in the
year 181 7. His father's name was Benjamin
Close and his mother's maiden name was Sarah
Morehouse. He came to Schenectady County in
1 86 1, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He
established the present business of Stearns & Co.,
and sold to them in 1868. He opened the pres
ent business of Losee B. Close in State street — a
flour and feed store, with a steam power for grind
ing. In this business he was financially success
ful. He married Phebe, daughter of Abram- G.
Losee, of Clifton Park. They have had four chil
dren: Mary E., deceased, who married Abram
Vedder, of Glenville, and after her death Mr. Ved
der married Mr. Close's second daughter, Saman-
tha; Losee B. Close, grain merchant in State
street; and Smith Close, Schenectady. Besides
city property he owns farms in Rotterdam and
in Saratoga County. Mr. Close's farm, where he
lives, is in South Schenectady, and he is now
taking an active part in developing a village at this
point. He has founded a large hay bain beside
the track of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad for
buying and transportation, and he also has a coal-
yard at the same place.
William H. Fogerty, of South Schenectady,
is the proprietor of the Thompson House, a large
and commodious hotel. He erected the Thomp
son House in the fall of 1883, and in the fall of
1884 added a hall for public purposes. It is used
for religious services once in two weeks. Mr.
Fogerty is a native of Montgomery County, born
at Port Jackson, and is a son of James Fogerty,

THE TOWNSHIP OF DUANESBURGH.

217

deceased, and was for many years an employee
of Colonel D. D. Campbell, He married Eliza,
daughter of James Lockwood. His father, James
Fogerty, married Maria, daughter of David J. Wil
liams (deceased), of Montgomery County. He
served in the war of 1812 under General Scott. He
was at the battle of Pittsburgh in 1-813. He was
captured by the Indians and carried into Canada,
but eventually returned. Mr. and Mrs. Fogerty
have one daughter, Bessie.
Elias Van Wormer, farmer, in the town of Rot
terdam. He was born in the town of Guilderland,
and is a son of Frederick Van Wormer and grand
son of Abram Van Wormer. Frederick Van
Wormer came to Rotterdam in the year 1828, and
located on what is now the H. Veeder Farm. He
brought with him four children: Harriet, Elias,
Elizabeth and Abraham, who were born in Guild
erland. Jacob, Frederick, Sarah J., Alexander and
Mary were born in Rotterdam. He died in 1876.
His wife's maiden name was Catharine Smith, of
Rotterdam. She died in 1854.
John M. Veeder, near Pattersonville, is a farmer
and fruit culturist. His farm of 150 acres adjoins
the property of the First Reformed Church. The
place was formerly owned by Mr. Veeder's father-
in-law, Daniel Johnson, who for several years kept
a hotel at this place. Mr. Veeder was four years
Supervisor of his town. The West Shore Railroad
and Erie Canal pass through his farm, which is
bounded on the north by the Mohawk River. He
is a descendant from the old Dutch families, as is
indicated by his name.
John M. Quick was born in New Scotland, Al
bany County, November 20, 1809, and married
March 24, 1836, to Martha M. Bradshaw, who
was born in Duanesburgh December 29, 1809. He
was a son of Gratus and Mary (McCoftry) Quick,
natives of Rhinebeck, N. Y., who were of Scotch
parents. He located and spent his life on the farm
now owned and occupied by his son, George G,
in Rotterdam, and died April 15, 1864. His wife
died June 14, 1877. He had five children : George
G., born December 25, 1843, who married Miss
Sarah Thayer, of Seneca Falls, N. Y., June 7,
1848. They had three children: Martha M.,
Jennie M., and John C. Mary married E. Shu
felt; Samuel W., born 1849, married Miss Hattie
Darrow, born June 10, 1852, daughter of H. B.
Darrow, who died in 1875. He owns and occu
pies the old Darrow homestead in Rotterdam. Has
one son, Andrew, born July 20, 1878. John M.
had three children, now deceased — William, Char
lotte and James. Ruth married J. W. Clark, of
Jackson County, Michigan.
Sebastian Putnam is one of the thrifty farmers
of Rotterdam, living on the road leading to Prince
town, on the corner where the Fort Hunter road
crosses, three miles from Schenectady. It is one
of the situations ever admired by the passer, by.
He is a son of John and Maggie (Vrooman) Put
nam. John was born in the city of Schenectady
August 31, 1780, and died May 1, 1881. His
wife was born in Niskayuna March 17, 1787, and

died December, 1830. They had seven sons and
three daughters, of whom Sebastian, Oliver and
Clarissa are all who now survive. Sebastian Putnam
married Margaret, daughter of David Waddell
(deceased), of Duanesburgh, and they have five
children living: Mary A. ; Maggie A.,.ji«ws!>Afc*'"*
Franklin Schermerhorn, of Rotterdam; Sarah
who is Mrs. Schermerhorn; Philip; Fordelia
Other children — Erastus, David and Mary— a
deceased. Mr. Putnam's grandparents, Aaron and Eliz
abeth (Spinster) Putnam, were among the first set
tlers of Rotterdam; and his grandfather Vrooman,
of Niskayuna. prominent residents. ~~
Pattersonville and vicinity, whose post-office is
Pattersonville :
Rev. J. G Low, Dr. Alex. Ennis, physician and
surgeon; Thomas L. Marlette, grocer, etc.; Jacob
Swart, wagon-maker; Jonathan Staley, farmer;
William Staley, farmer; J. W. Briggs, farmer and
grocer; John M. Veeder, farmer and Supervisor;
Simon Veeder, farmer; Oliver Putnam, farmer;
Thomas H. Trumbell, farmer; Nicholas Brodt,
farmer; Francis Brodt, farmer; John Brodt, farmer;
D. Schemerhorn, farmer; Tilfair C. Rynex, farmer,
Rynex Corners.
Post-office in Schenectady:
J. Crawford, hotel and grocer; H. M. Aken,
farmer, Supervisor, Justice of the Peace twenty
years, a School Commissioner six year, and Justice
of Sessions two years; John J. A. Schermerhorn,
farmer; Aaron Becker, farmer; John P. McCue,
farmer; N. M. F. Clute, farmer; A. J. Gregg,
farmer; Harmon Van Slyck, farmer; Jno. S. Van
Slyck, farmer; William Swanker, farmer; Edward
S. Santer, faimer; John V. Van Patten, farmer; N.
H.Van Potten, farmer; S. J. Schermerhorn, farmer,
has been School Commissioner and Member of
Assembly; John J. Schermerhorn, farmer; J. S.
Schermerhorn, farmer; Ebenezer Schermerhorn,
farmer; Daniel D. C. Schermerhorn, farmer;
John A. Van Epps, farmer; William Phillips,
farmer; Robert Schermerhorn, farmer; J. L. Coun
termine, farmer; John Putnam, farmer; John D.
Ladd, clerk; John Valkenburgh, farmer; Samuel
A. Brodt, farmer, has been School Commis
sioner and Supervisor; Willliam A. Wasson,
farmer, has been Commissioner of Highways three
years; William Osborne, hotel-keeper, five miles
west of Schenectady; Adam Masser, hotel-keeper,
two miles west of Schenectady; Hon. John D.
Campbell, two miles west of the city; L. S. Hutch
inson, hotel, two miles south of city; D. D. C.
Van Pattan, hotel, two and one-half miles south
of city; George W. Sigsbee, hotel, three miles
south of city; W. H. Fogerty, hotel, South Sche
nectady; Spencer Moore (G. Westonhouse &Co.),
one and one-half miles south of city; Thomas
Bullock, farmer, two miles south of city; William
Chambers, commercial traveler, two miles south of
city; Colonel D. D. Campbell, gentleman and
landholder, two miles south of city; Henry M.
Chrisler, two and one-half miles south of city;

218

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

Nicholas I. Clute, t\yo miles south of city; James
Countermine, two and one-half miles southwest of
city; George Fisher, three miles south of city;
James Fisher, three miles south of city; George S.
Hunt, three and one-half miles south of city; Sol-
**^<gj5fi— R,- .. Bradshaw, three and one-half miles
parahwest of city; William Phillips, three and one-
boif miles southwest of city; James A. Rynex, four
miles west of city; William T. Radcliffe, one mile
douth of city; George B. White, four miles south
bf city; William Scrafford, two miles south of city;
James Turnbull, four miles west of city; William
; Vandyke, three miles south of city; H. C. Weast,
' five miles southwest of city; S. W. Quick, farmer,
Ryjiex-Canteis.

We take pleasure in making mention of the fol
lowing well-known citizens, who by their guaran
teed support have helped to insure the publication
of this valuable work: Nicholas Bradt, Francis
Bradt, Abraham Bradt, Walter Bradshaw, D. D.
Campbell, J. L. Countermine, N. M. F. Clute,
Wm. H. Fogerty, Andrew Gregg, J. C. Low, John
D. Ladd, T. L. Marlett, Sebastian Putman, W. H.
Patterson, S. W. Quick, Tilfair C. Rynex, Simon
J. Schermerhorn, Daniel D. C. Schermerhorn, John
J. A. Schermerhorn, John J. Schermerhorn, John
S. Schermerhorn, Robert Schermerhorn, Edward
S. Santer, Jonathan Staley, William Staley, J. S.
& H. Van Slyck, John M. Veeder, John A. Van
Epps, Elias Van Wormer.

VALE UNIVERSITY

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