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A
HAND BOOK
FOR THE
Albany Rural Cemetery,
WITH AN
APPENDIX ON EMBLEMS.
V
BY EDWARD FITZGERALD. "
FEIT!
ALBANY : VAN BENTHUYSEN PRINTING HOUSE. 1871.
F129 A3F55
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, by EDWARD FITZGERALD, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
312
" And behold, there was a great earthquake, for the Angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and satupon it. His counte- nance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him, the keepers did shake, and became as dead men."-MATTHEW XXVIII, 2,.3, 4.
OFFICERS
OF THE
ALBANY CEMETERY ASSOCIATION.
President : THOMAS W. OLCOTT.
Secretary : CHARLES VAN BENTHUYSEN.
Trustees :
THOMAS W. OLCOTT,
I. W. VOSBURGH,
IRA HARRIS,
SAMUEL H. RANSOM,
WILLIAM H. DE WITT,
E. D. PALMER,
JOHN F. RATHBONE,
JAMES H. ARMSBY,
S. O. SHEPARD,
JOHN T. NORTON,
PETER GANSEVOORT,
THOMAS HILLHOUSE.
CHARLES VAN BENTHUYSEN.
Superintendent and Surveyor : JEFFREY P. THOMAS.
1
HINTS TO THE VISITOR.
A S we deem it superfluous to apologize to you- especially if it happens that you are a stranger to these highly diversified grounds, with their weirdly wrought net work of serpentine avenues and paths, so perfectly bewildering in the intensity of its complication-for introducing to you this little manual, and recommending it as an intelligent and agreeable companion for a ramble among the Silent, we will lose but little time in proceeding to ex- plain how you may avail yourself of its services to the best advantage.
We imagine that if, upon the occasion of your first visit, you undertake to explore the Albany Rural Cemetery entirely unassisted, you will find the task to involve a geographical puzzle about as intricate as any that can easily be condensed within the limits of two hundred and thirty acres. Now, permit us to show you how this puzzle can be quietly unraveled without the aid of an obtrusive or garrulous instructor.
In the first place we would suggest a look at the map that nestles just inside the nether cover of this book. A single glance will discover to you that the occupied portions of the grounds are sub- divided (nature herself has made three grand divisions) into a great many numbered sections, each one of which is circumscribed by a road or roads. It is obviously unnecessary to inform you
4
that these subdivisions are intended to facilitate the finding of any particular spot or object that you may wish to reach.
You will readily conceive that you can locate the vicinity of whatever you desire to find much easier by knowing what section it is in than by being told that it is on such or such an avenue, path, ridge or hill. An avenue or path may be of considerable length, and may bound upon one side or run through a number of sections. So it is evi- dent that such a clue is comparatively indefinite.
Then, again, the names of these upon the map may defy your closest scrutiny for a time, while a section number-particularly here for the numbers are very regular-will be quickly discovered.
Having given you a general idea of the utility of the section system, let us now request you to examine the map more minutely. In some part of every section you will notice a small cross. The significance of this and one of its uses we will ex- plain by illustration, as follows: Suppose that in wandering over the grounds you become bewildered and lose all knowledge of your location and of the points of the compass. In trying to untangle the snarl, in your judgment, you are moving along at random, when your attention is attracted by a low wooden post near the roadside surmounted by an iron cap which bears the abreviation "Sec." and the number-we will say, 100. You look at your map and find section 100. The cross or obelisk in that section shows the exact location of the post at your feet.
By this reference your absolute as well as your relative position is immediately determined, the kinks are nicely smoothed out of your organ of
5
locality, and off you go to-again get lost perhaps, and again to consult your undeviating land mark. You can never go far without finding it, as the sections are generally small, and each one is desig- nated by a section post conspicuously placed.
As to the superiority of the plan we have adopted in this manual with a view to giving you a good general idea of the beauties of the Cemetery, with- out unnecessary travel or loss of time, opinions may differ. The TOUR is the popular route (for carriages at least), but its appropriation does not suit our present purpose.
Nature, as we have said, has made three grand divisions of the grounds, which are known respec- tively as the NORTH RIDGE, the SOUTH RIDGE and the MIDDLE RIDGE and we have concluded, in this instance, to take the cue from Nature by marking out a distinct route for each division.
This plan we consider the best for the guidance of a person unfamiliar with the grounds. He will be less liable to lose his bearings than if he follows the mystifying TOUR, and his interest in the attractions will not be diluted by the reflection that he has crossed and recrossed the same ravine and has been on and off the same ridge several times during his erratic journey.
After you have become acquainted with the grounds by the means we have indicated, we fancy you will find that a trip around the TOUR will admit of pleasurable repetition more frequently than if you had chosen this superficial route upon the occasion of your first visit, thereby skimming off the cream of attraction too rapidly for mental assimilation.
You will probably infer from the tone of our
1*
6
greeting that we are exclusively enlisted in the service of " The man who walks." If so, your sur- mises are well founded, for, in our humble opinion, the person who thoroughly enjoys the "contem- plative recreation " to be found within the limits of an extensive Rural Cemetery-that school of instruction, as a celebrated writer has called it, in architecture, sculpture, landscape gardening, arbor- iculture and botany-is in this connection essen- tially peripatetic.
The pedestrian only will find a short cut to an inviting eminence by mounting its acclivitous side. He will monopolize the privilege of traversing moss-clad ravines, whose perennial streams seem specially made to soften the midsummer's heat for his particular benefit. Many an extra " sermon in stones" will be read to him, many a chaste little gem of emblematic sculpture, that is rendered doubly interesting from its sequestered situation- from the disposition evinced to hide it away from unsympathizing scrutiny-will whisper to him of true love, or grief, or lasting remembrance, which a carriage ride will not reveal.
If you desire to obtain a good knowledge of what the Albany Rural Cemetery contains, we recom- mend that you devote at least two days to the object. An exploration of the SOUTH RIDGEalone, if you simply use the means of locomotion that were born with you, will probably give you suffi- cient physical and mental exercise for one day. Then the MIDDLE and NORTH RIDGES might sucessively be traversed upon the occasion of your next visit.
If you should prefer to ride you can, of course, accomplish the entire trip-although, no doubt,
7
with less satisfaction-in a single effort. If, in either riding or walking, you should choose to pick out a route of your own you will still find this manual useful, as its index will refer you to the page upon which you can see some allusion to any prominent object that attracts your attention. The perusal of this will also indicate to you the Sections in which lie many of the illustrious dead who are interred in the Cemetery.
Here it seems proper to mention, that in the preparation of this little companion for the visitor, we are indebted to the courtsey of several Albany gentlemen for data concerning the noted person- ages referred to. The valuable works of Mr. Joel Munsell have also been consulted, and have afforded pertinent information that was not otherwise ac- cessible.
CIFRES
Lith of G.W. Lewis 452 Broadway Albany
THE ALBANY RURAL CEMETERY.
300
SOUTH RIDGE.
TT is totally unnecessary to give, even to the - most perfect stranger, any specific directions for reaching the Albany Rural Cemetery. The grounds are located with sufficient precision when we tell you that they will be found not far from the western banks of the Hudson, about midway between the universally known and flourishing cities of Albany and Troy.
Almost any resident child ten years of age, in either of the places named, can inform you how to find the outer gate on the Watervliet turnpike; and assuming that you have already arrived there, we will request the pleasure of accompanying you through the splendid avenue that leads to the prin- cipal entrance.
Here we strike the TOUR, which bends to the northwest just beyond the Superintendent's office.
.
10
A few steps up this winding slope and we meet an avenue that diverges to the southwest, called MOUNT WAY-an avenue that is destined to open up to us the internal grandeur of the SOUTH RIDGE, to which division of the grounds we have already commenced to pay our respects.
But let us stop here a moment for a quiet survey of the initial attractions. In the first place, the neatly arranged foregrounds will receive an un- spoken compliment, and then we will turn our attention to the monuments which flank them on the west.
Immediately in front of us stands the granite obelisk of MOSES PATTEN, while away to the right, rearing its lofty head high up among the trees, we see a massive shaft ornamented by a medallion head. That is the memorial of JOEL RATHBONE, and enjoys the distinction of being the most pon- derous monument upon the grounds. You will scarcely realize from this distance that its size is more than ordinary, but if at any time you should feel disposed to ascend to the elevation upon which it
11
stands for a closer view, you will decide with us that it is no small affair.
As we are still standing in front of the PATTEN monument, we will take advantage of this favorable opportunity to call your attention to a plain illus- tration of the system of sectioning now in opera- tion here. On either side of the road you will notice a low section post-a feature of which we have already spoken in our "Hints." That one on the easterly division of the foregrounds shows, by the character on its face, that it designates Section Two. You perceive at once that Section Two con- sists of a portion of ground defined in its outlines by certain roads of the Cemetery, and naturally infer that the extent of every other section is simi- larly determined. This system was chosen and applied by Superintendent J. P. Thomas, during the year 1870.
Now let us resume our ramble. Turning into MOUNT WAYwe pass HOYT and VAN SCHAICK, and immediately find ourselves facing the stately free- stone of STEPHEN ALDEN. At the time of its erec-
12
tion this was considered the finest freestone monu- ment on the grounds. Bending round ALDEN northerly, still in MOUNT WAY, we pass the neat lot of A. WELLS, and on the opposite side we see a low monument, which, if for no other reason, is worthy of notice for having been the first granite structure erected in the Cemetery. It commemo- rates THOS. HILLHOUSE, who died ten years before the incorporation of the Cemetery Association. At that time the greater portion of what is now the SOUTH RIDGE was a part of the farm of Mr. HILLHOUSE. This portion of the grounds was subsequently deeded to the Association by his heirs; and the old gentleman, who was first buried outside the Cemetery, was finally brought here to stay. His son, JOHN HILLHOUSE, who still lives, was one of the first surveyors of this institution.
Passing the lot of WELLS and ADAMS, we meet the handsome BLEECKER freestone. Here let us call your attention to an unpretending lot just north of BLEECKER. which is surrounded by an iron fence
13
lined with low evergreens. That is where THUR- LOW WEED expects, eventually, to find lasting repose from the cares and excitement of public life. You see that here he is not inclined for dis- play-a peculiarity frequently found in men of his calibre.
Now we pass SLINGERLAND, and the pretty monument of GREGORY on the eminence before us, is seen. On the circular lot above and beyond the GREGORY monument stands the memorial of JARED L. RATHBONE, in design a counterpart of the Tomb of SCIPIO.
Here MOUNT WAY takes an abrupt turn to the southwest, and, after leading us up a steep grade past the monuments of HARRIS and NEWLAND and JAMES MCCLURE, again sweeps suddenly in the opposite direction. We follow its windings and, passing the memorials of Dr. GANNON and E. E. KENDRICK, find ourselves standing upon the north side of a richly carved Gothic pedestal sur- mounted by a figure of Faith. This is WM. H. DE WITT'S monument-an object that we will 2
14
contemplate with pleasure for a moment before turning northerly into the TOUR, which meets us here .*
Now if you feel disposed to leave us and follow the southerly divergence of the Tour, we will tell you something beforehand of the principal objects that will meet your eye. In passing between DE WITT and the modest monument of ISAAC W. VOSBURGH, you will stop a second time to admire the former, and will certainly commend the harmonious proportions and substantial appearance of the latter. You will also probably recog- nize in the names mentioned, that is if you are well informed concerning the existing prominent men of Albany, two gentlemen who have long been among the Trustees of the Cemetery Association. . Then you will leave SAFFORD behind and, bending round VOSBURGH to the west, will see successively the names of WISWALL, IRA JAGGER and P. McNAUGHTON, while almost directly back of the two last the monuments of DURANT and WATSON will appear. Farther on will be seen the vault of ARTEMUS FISH and that of the VAN BENTHUYSEN
* Where the coherency of the general narrative is broken by a paragraph or more in smaller type, a deviation from the continu- ous route is indicated. No digression is made unless warranted by the attractions of the avenue, path or road into which it leads you. If this inducement prompts you to deviate, we will be obliged to wait here for you until you have satisfied your curiosity, retraced your steps, and rejoined us at the point of departure. If you wish to adhere strictly to our continuous route, you have simply to skip the matter in small type and to defer, for the present, an inspec- tion of the objects mentioned therein.
VOSEURGH
Lith. of G W.Lewis 452 Broadway, Albany.
15
family. In the latter, now surrounded by representa- tives of six generations, are the remains of OBADIAH R. VAN BENTHUYSEN, the first to successfully attach steam power to the printing press of America. The experi- ment in New York resulted in failure, and the project was abandoned, but Mr. VAN BENTHUYSEN soon solved the difficulties, and gave to Albany the credit of enlist- ing the weird power of steam, in behalf of the progress of civilization in this country that the press has ever been the first to lead. Following on we come to the monuments of JAMES D. WASSON, W. D. STEWART, JAMES RICHARDSON, CROCKER, and the low substantial freestone of S. M. FISH. Next come the monuments of J. P. WILSON, WM. V. MANY, C. MILLER and WOOD, and beyond is the vault of CATHARINE HAMILTON about which some incredible stories are told. Opposite are D. WOODWORTH and J. W. CRANNELL, and then the handsome DAVIDSON memorial will attract your attention.
You will shortly approach one of the most attractive lots on the ground; but before reaching it you will notice the names of N. ROGERS, CALLENDER, D. SMITH, EDWARD JAMES, SHONTS, READ, CRAPO, and the several neat brown headstones in the GRANT lot.
The three marble structures next ahead, in the lot of MONTEATH and HOWES, are those whose effect we have just been anticipating. There are many more expen- sive memorials here, but few more chaste and suggestive. The first is surmounted by a well executed figure of Grief. The elaborate drapery and floral embellishments of the second will challenge your admiration, and you will read an impressive lesson in the third-the pretty headstone that commemorates " GEORGIE." That life- like little figure in the flower-crowned niche explains itself,-the right hand holds a book, and upon the back of the left rests a butterfly, an emblem of a short life.
16
Now emerging from MOUNT WAY northeasterly into the TOUR, we curve round SAMUEL CRAW- FORD, and see a short distance ahead a cottage monument of Italian marble, with a medallion head; and in the same lot a granite sarcophagus. These are the memorials of the BENEDICTS-father and son. We will advance towards them, passing the monuments of WM. SMITH, S. VAN SCHAICK, and WICKES. We are now on MOUNT OLIVET.
That truthful medallion, by Palmer, represents LEWIS BENEDICT, the elder, who, in his day, was distinguished for his unselfish zeal in promoting public welfare, and who enjoyed the intimate acquaintance and profound respect of many of the master spirits of his time. A character of no less note than Horace Greeley, speaks of him as follows:
" When I first met LEWIS BENEDICT (in 1837) he was more than fifty years old. Directness, shrewdness, quickness of observation and inflexible decision, were his leading characteristics. He was eminently and emphatically a man of business.
17
He used no more words than were necessary, and having formed and expressed his opinion was not easily moved to reconsider the matter. His inter- est in public affairs was profound and eager; but he had no desire to be conspicuous even in move- ments which he inspired and directed. He had no dream of ever holding office, no wish to be known as a wielder of authority or power. He sought success through the diffusion of intelligence, the enlightenment of the masses."
The granite sarcophagus near the monument of the elder BENEDICT, to the memory of Brevet Brig- adier-General LEWIS BENEDICT, one of Albany's most famous Generals in our late war, is in the Roman style. The ornaments on the top are sym- bolical of his profession, and comprise an officer's sword, with a wreath of laurel. A scroll near the point of the sword bears the inscription, " Bene- dictus qui patitur."
If you wish to know what the younger BENE- DICT has done to entitle him to the enduring gratitude and veneration of every lover of his 2*
18
country, you may read an epitome in stone of his military history, upon the four sides of his memo- rial. In so doing you will sympathize with the captive in Williamsburgh, Libby and Salisbury prisons, glory in the hero of Port Hudson and Sabine cross-roads, and mourn the departed brave of Pleasant Hill.
At a meeting of the Bar of Albany, in May, 1864, Judge John K. Porter thus spoke of the last charge of General BENEDICT-the incident that sent him here to rest:
"When, at the historic battle of Pleasant Hill, the fortunes of the day rested for the time on the bearing of this chosen brigade of the Nineteenth Army Corps, every man in his command knew that, whoever else might fail, LEWIS BENEDICT would not fail-and that, in the bloodiest crisis of battle, his pulse would be even, his voice firm, his vision clear, his judgment poised, and his heart true. It was only such a man in command of our left wing who could have held that devoted band, a living breastwork from which the advan-
19
cing column of the rebel army more than once recoiled -and who, in the end, could move those ranks, unbroken save by death, to the final charge which bore our banner to victory. In that charge he fell, leaving a record which imparts lustre to his name, and confers honor on the city of his birth."
We will now proceed westwardly from BENE- DICT, on the TOUR, and skirt the southern bank of the ravine beside us for a bird's eye view of its rugged glories and a glimpse through the trees of the deep-embowered and picturesque CONSECRA- TION LAKE, a short distance ahead.
First we pass the small Egyptian marble of E. VAN SCHAICK, and the monuments of COULSON, NESSLE, POHLMAN, HALL, MORGAN, and HAL- LENBECK, and GAYLOR SHELDON.
Almost directly opposite SHELDON, a few feet from the road, we see a lot surrounded by an iron fence, which, although it contains little in the way of artificial adornment, we cannot pass with- out special notice. It is the lot of Rev. BARTHOL-
20
OMEW T. WELSH, one of the fathers of this insti- tution -its first president-and a gentleman who will long be remembered in this connection for the enthusiasm exhibited by him upon the ques- tion of a Rural Cemetery for Albany, when that question was first agitated.
His early history in the city named, is largely the early history of these enchanting grounds. He it was who first gave the project the stimulus, through a public address, that has carried it to a successful issue. To his cogent arguments, main- taining the rights of the dead to quiet rural sepul- ture, coupled with the hearty co-operation and continued support of the present presiding officer of the association, who has been its friend through- out, the existence of this paragon of mortuary gardens, is, in a great measure, due. The old gen- tleman now rests peacefully in the beautiful "City of the Silent," whose interests were formerly his tenderest care
Again we advance, passing the monuments of PHILLIPS and VAN BUREN. In the VAN BUREN
21
lot rests Doctor JOHN VAN BUREN, an eminent physician of Albany. Beyond VAN BUREN, on the opposite side, is FRIEND HUMPHREY'S memo- rial. This gentleman was one of Albany's most successful business men. Several handsome little headstones, adorned with emblematic flowers, grace the lot.
The symmetrical Doric Column of MCCAMMON, is next seen. It is crowned with a draped urn, and a wreath of roses encircles the shaft. In the same lot we notice the durable granite of BRUCE. Still farther on we observe the monument of OSWALD, and the free-stone of LEMUEL STEELE. Here let us turn towards the Ravine and look down upon CONSECRATION LAKE through the openings in the veil of foliage that partially inter- cepts the view. How romantic a spot it seems. And how delicious to drink in, at this little dis- tance, the melody of its music-breathing fountain as it sings a low alto in the morning chorus of the many-voiced birds. As we will soon have an opportunity for a closer view of the Lake, we will
22
dwell no longer here upon its attractions, but will resume our trip past JAMES CLARK, and on to the monument of. HARMANUS BLEECKER.
Mr. BLEECKER was a decendant of the celebrated JANS JANSEN BLEECKER, the ancestor of all who bear that name in this State. He was known throughout the State as an eminent advocate, and his name is frequently to be found on the pages of the reports of the days when Kent and Spencer, and Thompson and Van Ness, were the great lumi- naries of the law. He was a successful politician, and once officiated as Minister to the Hague.
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