Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 1

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374

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Go 974.701 Allp 1068047

GENEALOGY COLLECTION

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01149 9974

LANDMARKS

ALBANY COUNTY,

NEW YORK.

FURY WANE 6

COUNTY INU OF ALBANY, N. Y.

EDITED BY AMASA J. PARKER

SYRACUSE, N. Y. : D. MASON & CO., PUBLISHERS,

1897.

0 =

Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015

https://archive.org/details/landmarksofalban00park_0

B. Smith -$ 10.00

CONTENTS.

1068047

CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER II 5

CHAPTER III 10

CHAPTER IV 20

CHAPTER V

CHAPTER VI

CHAPTER VII 50

CHAPTER VIII

CHAPTER IX

CHAPTER X

103

CHAPTER XI, Civil List 121

CHAPTER XII, Judiciary and Bar 130

CHAPTER XIII, The Medical Profession 168

CHAPTER XIV, Journalism 233

CHAPTER XV, General Education 253

CHAPTER XVI, Public Institutions and Buildings

268

CHAPTER XVII, The City of Albany 281

CHAPTER XVIII, Town of Watervliet (now Colonie), West Troy (now Watervliet City), Green Island as Town and Vil- lage, and the City of Cohoes. 394

CHAPTER XIX, Town of Rensselaerville 461

CHAPTER XX, Town of Coeymans 472

CHAPTER XXI, Town of Bethlehem 486

CHAPTER XXII, Town of Berne 499

CHAPTER XXIII, Town of Guilderland 514

CHAPTER XXIV, Town of Westerlo 528

CHAPTER XXV, Town of Knox 537

CHAPTER XXVI, Town of New Scotland 545

PART II.

BIOGRAPHICAL

1-200

PART III.

FAMILY SKETCHES 1-376

INDEXES 377-500

PORTRAIT INDEX

Amsdell, George I. facing 378, Part I

Barnes, Thurlow Weed,

facing 159, Part II

Barnes, William, jr .__ facing 238, Part I Beattie, William facing 12, Part II Bendell, Herman, M. D.,

facing 168, Part I

Best, George N. facing 158, Part II Bigelow, John M., M. D., Ph. D.,

facing 203, Part I

Blair, Louis E., M. D., facing 10, Part II Blunn, James facing 420, Part I Borthwick, James M. .. facing 83, Part II Brady, Anthony N. facing 160, Part I

Brass, Richard W. facing 86, Part II

Briggs, John N. facing 480, Part I Bronk, Barent T. E. facing 166, Part II Brooks, Jonas H. facing 68, Part II Brown, Frank. facing 440, Part I

Brown, W. Howard_ facing 43, Part II Buchanan, Charles J .__ facing 166, Part I Burch, John G. facing 140, Part II Burke, Rt. Rev. Thomas

Burlingame, Eugene A., facing 352, Part I

facing 144, Part I Byington, William Wilberforce, facing 356, Part I

Cantine, Edward B .__ facing 54, Part II Carpenter, Charles Whitney,

facing 108, Part II

Clute, Jacob H. facing 143, Part I

Covert, James C. facing 422, Part I

Cox, James W., M. D., facing 217, Part I Curreen, George H .__ facing 130, Part II

Delehanty, John A ._ facing 82, Part II Dickson, Walter_ facing 113, Part II Doane, Rt. Rev. William Croswell, D. D., LL. D., facing 340, Part I Easton, Frederick facing 33, Part II Fisk, Frank H., M. D.facing 167, Part II Fitzgerald, David C .__ facing 49, Part II Fuller, Howard N ... facing 292, Part I

Griffin, Rev. William, D. D., facing 344, Part I

Hale, Matthew facing 130, Part I Harris, Hamilton facing 3, Part II Hastings, Hugh facing 73, Part II

Hornby, Ralph facing 118, Part II House, George A. facing 163, Part II Howell, George Rogers, facing 274, Part I

Jermain, James Barclay,

facing 8, Part I Jones, Charles Edmund, A. M., M. D., facing 155, Part II

King, Rufus H.

facing 24, Part I

Kinnear, Peter

facing 6, Part II

Lewi, Joseph, M. D. facing 172, Part I Lewis, T. Howard .._ facing 47, Part II Lieke, Henry facing 160, Part II

Marsh, Benjamin facing 56, Part I Marvin, Selden E., Gen., facing 375, Part I Marvin, Selden E., Col., jr., facing 32, Part II McCormic, Robert H., jr., facing 77, Part II

McCreary, Edward facing 17, Part II McKee, James B. facing 434, Part I Mckown, James A .__ facing 141, Part II Meegan, Edward J. facing 50, Part II Merrill, Frederick J. H.,

facing 271, Part I

Munson, Samuel L.

facing 358, Part I

Myers, Max

facing 14, Part II

Nead, William M., M. D.,

facing 210, Part I

Newman, John L.

facing 20, Part II

Oliver, Robert Shaw, Gen., facing 284, Part I

Parker, Amasa J. facing 143, Part II Parker, Amasa J. .__ facing 151, Part II Palmer, Edward De L.,

facing 320, Part I

Pasquini, Attilio facing 31, Part II Perry, Isaac G. facing 105, Part II Plympton, Lucy Ann __ facing 266, Part I Porter, Charles H., M. D., facing 178, Part I

Pruyn, John V. L., LL. D., facing 63, Part II

Root, Josiah G. facing 447, Part I

Sanford, John C. facing 452, Part I

Sisson, Noel E. facing 132, Part II

Slavin, Thomas facing 91, Part II

Slingerland, John I. facing 492, Part I Spalding, Nathaniel B., facing 87, Part II Stedman, George L ._. facing 40, Part II Stern, Louis facing 92, Part II

Story, George facing 168, Part II

Stowell, Charles F. facing 296, Part I

Sweet, Elias W facing 165, Part II

Sweet, Elnathan facing 386, Part I

Thacher, George Hornell,

facing 58, Part II

Townsend, Frederick, Gen.,

facing 361, Part I

Tracey, Charles facing 123, Part I

Tucker, Luther facing 239, Part I

Tucker, Luther H. facing 240, Part I Van Alstyne, Thomas J.,

facing 101, Part II. Van Alstyne, William C.,

Van Antwerp, John H., facing 288, Part I

facing 376, Part I Vander Veer, Albert, M. D., facing 179, Part I Van Loon, Arthur B., M. D., facing 25, Part II Van Rensselaer, Howard, M. D.,

facing 80, Part II

Van Wormer, John R., facing 110, Part II Vosburgh, Isaac W. facing 40, Part I Ward, Samuel Baldwin, M. D.,

facing 177, Part I Wilson, James H. _ facing 116, Part II Wooster, Benjamin W., facing 44, Part II Zeh, M. J., M. D. facing 412, Part I

Landmarks of Albany County.

CHAPTER I.

The history of Albany county begins in 1609, when, as far as can be known with certainty, the first Europeans visited this locality. If white men were here previous to that time the fact is not susceptible of proof; but thenceforward to the present, through a period of more than two hundred and eighty-five years the historic record may be clearly traced, and the story is filled with interesting details of events of great historical importance. The county of Albany was not formed until 1683, at which time the early history of this region was far ad- vanced and the great struggle for conquest and possession of this con- tinent was foreseen.

Albany county 1 was one of the ten original counties of the present State of New York, and the other nine being New York, West Chester, Ulster, Dutchess, Orange, Richmond, Kings, Queens, Suffolk. At the time of its erection the county embraced an immense area, from which the following counties were erected on the dates named :

Gloucester, March 16, 1770, including what is now Orange, Wash- ington, Caledonia, Orleans, Essex, Lamoille, Franklin and Grand Isle, all in Vermont.

Tryon, March 12, 1772 (name changed to Montgomery April 2, 1784), from which all the counties of the State west of Greene, Schoharie, Schenectady, Saratoga, Warren, Essex and part of St. Lawrence were formed.

Charlotte, March 12, 1772 (name changed to Washington April 2, 1784), from which were erected Warren, Clinton, St. Lawrence, Essex, and Franklin.

1 At the time of the formation of Albany county nine others were erected from territory now embraced in the State of New York, and two, Dukes and Cornwall, from Massachusetts and Maine territory.

Cumberland, April 4, 1786, embracing the present counties of Ben- nington, Windsor, Windham, Rutland, Addison, and Chittenden, all in Vermont.

Columbia, April 4, 1786.

Rensselaer, February 7, 1791.

Saratoga, February 7, 1791.

Schoharie, April 6, 1795.

Greene, March 25, 1800. Schenectady, March 7, 1809.

Albany county took its name from the Scotch title of the Duke of York and Albany, who was afterwards King James II of England. It is situated between forty-two degrees, twenty-three minutes, and forty- two degrees, forty nine minutes north latitude, and between two de- grees, forty minutes, and three degrees, fifteen minutes, east longitude from Washington, and with the erection of the last county from its ter- ritory (Schenectady) it was left with an area of about 544 square miles, or 348,160 acres. Its northern boundary is formed by Schenectady and Saratoga counties; its eastern by the Hudson River; its western by Schoharie county, and its southern by Greene county.

The surface of this county has a general southeastern inclination and is undulating and hilly. An intervale of a width varying from a quar- ter of a mile to a mile extends along the Hudson River, which is bounded by a series of steep bluffs from 100 to 180 feet high; from the summit of these an undulating and slightly ascending plateau stretches westward to the foot of the Helderberg Hills,1 where it reaches an ele- vation of about 400 feet above tide. This range of hills rises to a height of from 400 to 800 feet above the plateau, with declivities some- times steep and precipitous on the east, but sloping more gradually on the west. Other minor hill ranges extend through portions of the county in a general northerly and southerly direction. The loftiest eminence in the county is in the Helderbergs in the northeast corner of the town of Berne, and is 1,200 feet above tide. These hill ranges are spurs of the Catskills, which are the northerly continuation of the Allegany Mountains.

The principal streams of Albany county are the Hudson, the Mohawk, the Catskill, the Schoharie, and the Norman's Kill. The streams trib- utary to the Hudson are the following, which come under the title of

I The name Helderberg signifies " Clear Mountain," from the fine prospect from the summit of these hills,

either river, creek, brook, or kill: The Catskill, Coeymans, Haana- Krois, Vlaman's, Norman's, Beaver, Rutten, Foxen, Patroon, Ralger, Cemetery, Dry, and Mohawk. Tributaries of the Mohawk are the Schoharie, Lisha's, Town, and Donker's. Those of the Catskill are Eight-Mile, Ten-Mile, Scrub, Fox, and Wilbur. Of the Schoharie, Beaver Dam, Foxen and Switz. There are other minor streams which will be mentioned later in the town histories. In the western part of the county the streams generally flow through narrow ravines, while those that flow into the Hudson have worn deep gullies in the soil, some of which are one hundred feet in depth and extend nearly to the river flats.

The eastern boundary line of this county is through the middle of the Hudson River, which gives all of the islands lying west of that line to the county. These are Van Rensselaer's, or Westerlo Island, the largest, containing 160 acres, lying east of the southern part of the city of Albany ; Haver Island, Van Schaick's Island, and Whale Island, all near the junction of the Mohawk with the Hudson; Green Island, di- rectly opposite Troy and now a thickly settled village; Pleasure Island, a short distance above Albany; Beeren, or Bear's Island, eleven miles below Albany and belonging to the town of Coeymans; Shad, Scher- merhorn (or Neifer), Wooden and Poplar, opposite Coeymans : Sill's (or Van Woert), Bear, Beacon (or Bisby), Cabbage (or Jolly), Marsh, and Bogart's, opposite Bethlehem; Lower Patroon, Patroon, Cuyler, Hill- house (or Glen), and Breaker, opposite Watervleit. On the Mohawk, above the Cohoes Falls, are Fonda and Cobble Islands. Some of these islands have an important history which will be found in its proper place.

The geological formations of Albany county belong to the Upper Silurian system, and comprise nearly all of the rocks of New York from the Utica slate to the corniferous limestone. Above the rocks in the eastern part of the county are thick deposits of drift consisting of sand, gravel and clay, while along the river bottoms are rich alluvial deposits. The lowest rock cropping out on the Hudson, Norman's Kill and Mo- hawk is the Utica slate. Next above are the graywacke and shales of the Hudson River group, appearing in the valleys of all the streams that flow into the Hudson, and probably underlying all of the eastern part of the county; this stone is quarried for flagging and building purposes. The base of the Helderbergs is evidently formed of the red Medina sandstone, and next above and forming the first terrace of the

mountains is the water lime group from fifty to two hundred feet thick, and supplying both water and quick lime. Next comes the pentamerus limestone, about fifty feet in thickness, and consisting of impure gray and black limestone intermixed with slate and shale. Overlying this is the Catskill limestone, from fifty to one hundred and eighty feet thick, the layers being alternated with thin layers of shale; this stone is also used for building purposes. The Oriskany sandstone is next in order in a thin stratum which is developed in the towns of Berne, Knox, and Bethlehem. This is followed by the cauda-galli grit of fifty to sixty feet in thickness. Although this has a fine grit resembling black and gray slates, it crumbles upon exposure to the air. Next above are the Onondaga and corniferous limestones, the latter crowning the summits of the mountains, and both furnishing excellent lime and building stone. The highlands west of the city of Albany are covered with a depth of forty feet of sand which rests upon a bed of clay probably one hundred feet deep. In this drift bog ore has been found, and springs of acidulous, chalybeate, and saline water exist. Sulphurous springs have been found near Albany city, at Coeymans Landing, in Guilder- land, in Watervleit, and in Rensselaerville. White sulphur springs exist in Berne and New Scotland which have been visited to some ex- tent by invalids with beneficial results.

The soil of Albany county is varied in character. Along the rivers is a rich alluvial loam which is very productive. In Watervleit, Al- bany, and the eastern part of Guilderland and Bethlehem it is almost pure sand, with strips of clay along the banks of the streams. Between this sandy region and the foot of the Helderbergs is a belt of land on which the soil is chiefly a clayey and gravelly loam, rich and productive. On the Helderbergs the soil is principally alternate layers of clay, slate, and gravel, usually with a subsoil of the tenacious clay known as "hard pan." Much of this latter region is cold, wet and only moder- ately productive. Pine, oak and chestnut were the principal forest trees of the sandy region, with a small quantity of red cedar in the southeast corner of the county. Westward of the sandy tract are the usual deciduous and evergreen trees of this State.

CHAPTER II.

The pioneers of civilization on the western continent found it inhab- ited by the native Americans whom we call Indians. The often-raised question of whence came this copper-colored race has never yet been answered; their origin is shrouded in mystery, and so it must remain. Unnumbered ages hence their disappearance from the earth may be enveloped in the deep oblivion that now hides their origin.

A detailed history of this race cannot be given in this volume, nor is it desirable that it should be; for it has been written of in the past by many gifted pens. As to the right or wrong of their conquest and their possible extinction by the white man, wise men differ. At the foundation of the question is the fact that in the world's history civili- zation advances, at whatever cost to the uncivilized; the ignorant go down before the educated, the weak before the strong; might, if not always right, triumphs.

The Iroquois Indians, as they were called by the French, but known to the English as the Five Nations (and as the Six Nations after their confederacy was joined by the Tuscaroras in 1714) had established themselves across the State of New York, beginning with the Mohawks on the east, and with the Oneidas (with whom the Tuscaroras subse- quently became amalgamated), the Onondagas, the Cayugas, and the Senecas next, in the order here stated. At the time the first white men came up the Hudson River these nations claimed most of the territory now constituting the State of New York and a part of Pennsylvania as their hunting grounds. The territory about the mouth of the Hudson and the valley of the Delaware River was occupied by the Delaware and Manhattan tribes of the Algonquins. Other nations were located in distant parts of the country. The Iroquois were superior in mental capacity to any of their native neighbors. Parkman, the historian, says, "both reason and tradition point to the conclusion that the Iro- quois originally formed one undivided people. Sundered, like count- less other tribes, by dissensions, caprice, or the necessities of a hun- ter's life, they separated into five distinct nations."

The recollection of their common origin and a wise prevision of what

would conduce to their common welfare, led to the establishment of their celebrated Confederacy, or League, which insured harmony and prosperity to all, rendered them a dominant power and a terror to sur- rounding native nations and tribes, and in later times challenged the admiration of civilized statesmen. When this confederacy was formed is not known, but it is believed to have been early in the sixteenth century, while some students fix the date at 1635. It was probably long anterior to that date. The principal characteristics of this league are too well known to need repetition here.

Distinguished as they were for intelligence, endurance and cruelty to their enemies, it is still true that the Iroquois Indians received the first coming white men in the most friendly manner, even while wag- ing relentless war upon their savage enemies. In 1618 the Five Nations entered into a treaty of peace and alliance with the Dutch on the Nor- man's Kill, just south of the site of Albany, and this continued in ex- istence as long as it was mutually advantageous for purposes of trade.

In their war operations the policy of the Iroquois seems always to have been, not the extermination of their foes, but their subjugation and adoption. It is said that the Kakuas and the Eries, to the west- ward, were offered the alternative of extinction or adoption. This policy enabled them to constantly extend their power and influence, until about the year 1700, when they dominated a large part of the ter- ritory of the United States. Long prior to that they had carried terror into the wilds Canada; had gained victories on Lake Huron; had made tributary the Delawares and the Mohegans, until their name alone was a signal of conquest. At the time when Champlain was exploring the lake that bears his name, and Hudson was sailing up our noble river (1609) these Five Nations were carrying on relentless war against the Canada tribes. It was with the latter that Champlain joined in his first crusade against the Iroquois, teaching them the use of guns and pow- der. Delighted with these implements of destruction and smarting under the defeat inflicted upon them by Champlain, the Indians wel- comed the friendly Dutch and cheerfully entered into the alliance be- fore mentioned, by which the shrewd Hollanders obtained quiet pos- session of the valuable Indian trade, which was then all they wanted. The Iroquois with their 3,000 warriors kept the war-path warm with the blood of their enemies; Champlain was driven back, the Hurons were mercilessly harassed, the Andastes were exterminated and other nations defeated, and New France was made to suffer for many years from the bloody raids of these warriors.

At the time of the coming of the first white men the Mohawks had five of their so-called castles, one of which was Moenemines Castle, situated on Haver Island at the mouth of the Mohawk River; the others were at Schenectady, Fort Hunter, one called Caughnawaga in what is now Fulton county, and one at Canajoharie. This nation then numbered about three hundred warriors.

Their own self-interest and the friendliness of the Dutch, and later of the English, retained the fealty of the Iroquois, with little interrup. tion, through the one hundred and fifty years prior to the Revolution.

Meanwhile the vanguard of the Jesuits, those self-immolating French missionaries, arrived in the western world, the first of them in 1625; but their active work among the Iroquois in almost fruitless endeavors to convert them to Christianity, and at the same time aid in establish- ing French dominion, did not begin until about 1655. Conspicuous among these missionaries were Fathers Le Moyne, Brebeuf, Joseph Le Mercier, Paul Ragueneau, Pierre Joseph Chaumont, Jean de Lamber- ville, and many others Their work continued until about the year 1700. In 1671 the Mohawks of Caughnawaga were led by the Jesuits to migrate to Canada and remain thereafter allies of the French in their bloody incursions into the Mohawk valley. During the Revolution many of the Iroquois, and especially the Mohawks, allied themselves with the mother country and under the influence and leadership of Sir John and Guy Johnson, the Butlers and Joseph Brant, they left desola- tion and bloodshed in many settlements. Most of the Oneida nation were allies of the colonists during the Revolution, a result to be chiefly credited to the Rev. Samuel Kirkland, who labored among them many years as a missionary.

In their early dealings with the Indians the Dutch were, as before intimated, actuated solely by a desire to profit by trade. Hence there was almost no land negotiation until the purchase of Rensselaerwyck in 1629 and later, as described in the next chapter. The fur trade re- quired and received the entire attention of the Dutch, who extended it throughout New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and part of the Canadas and New England. Albany claimed a monopoly in this business and, through the influence and sagacity of some of the early traders there, controlled it to a great extent. Philip Pieterse Schuyler, of Amster- dam, settled in Beverwyck (as the little settlement on the site of Al- bany was called) as early as 1647, secured the warm friendship of the Indians by his honorable methods in trade, and was often visited by

their chiefs at his farm house four miles up the Hudson; he also had a building erected for their entertainment in Albany. He was influential in councils and negotiations with the Five Nations, and more than any other person was instrumental in establishing the policy of treating them with kindness and securing their alliance. He died in 1683, but his policy was continued by his son, Peter, who also acquired un- bounded influence among the Indians.

During the Dutch régime Indian affairs were managed by the direc- tor-general and council of New Netherland. In later years, after the English conquest in 1664, it became necessary to have an official resi- dent at Albany for immediate communication with the Indians and to act promptly in emergencies. This led to the establishment of the Indian Department in 1684, for which the magistrates of Albany were first appointed; in 1690 and thereafter a distinct board was constituted which acted under the governor. In 1755 the English crown assumed control of Indian affairs, divided the colonies into the northern and southern departments, and appointed Sir William Johnson superintend- ent in the northern department. Upon his death in 1774 he was suc- ceeded by his son, Col. Guy Johnson. Following is a list of commis- sioners of Indian affairs:

1684, the magistrates of Albany.

1690, Joachim Staats, Johannis Wendell, Johannis Bleecker, Peter Bogardus, Ryer Jacobz Schermerhorn, and the Mayor of Albany.

1691, Matthew Shankey, George Bradshaw, Peter Schuyler, John Tuder, Dirck Wessels.

1696, Peter Schuyler, Godfrey Dellius, Evert Bancker, Dirck Wessels, and the Mayor.

1698, the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen and Commonalty, Dirck Wessels, Hendrick House.

1706, Peter Schuyler, Captain Weems, the Mayor, Johannis Abeel, Kiliaan Van Rensselaer, Myndert Schuyler, Johannis Cuyler. Evert Bancker, Henry Holland, Peter Van Brugh, Hendrick Van Rensselaer.

1710, Kiliaan Van Rensselaer, John Abeel, Evert Bancker, Hendrick Hansen, Jo- hannis Cuyler, John Schuyler, Myndert Schuyler, Peter Van Brugh, Johannis Rose- boom.

1712, Peter Schuyler, Kiliaan Van Rensselaer, Richard Ingoldsby, Johannis Schuy- ler, Hendrick Hansen, Myndert Schuyler, Peter Van Brugh.

1715, Peter Schuyler, William Van Rensselaer, Peter Matthews, Hendrick Hansen, John Schuyler, Myndert Schuyler, Robert Livingston jr., John Cuyler, Peter Van Brugh.

1720, Peter Schuyler, Hendrick Hansen, John Cuyler, Peter Van Brugh. Evert Bancker, Henry Holland, Philip Livingston, John Collins, John Wendell, John Bleecker.

/1111

1724, Henry Holland, Peter Van Brugh, John Collins, John Cuyler, Evert Bancker, Philip Livingston, Johannis Wendell, Evert Wendell, Hendrick Van Rensselaer, David Van Dyck.

1726, Captain Cornwell, Captain Norris, Philip Livingston, Henry Holland, John Cuyler, Peter Van Brugh, Evert Bancker, John Collins, Henry Van Rensselaer.

1728, Philip Livingston, Myndert Schuyler, Evert Bancker, Rutger Bleecker, Henry Holland, Stephanus Groesbeck, Peter Van Brugh, Johannis Cuyler, Abraham Cuyler, Hermanus Wendell, Johannis Roseboom, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, Nicholas Bleecker, Evert Wendell, Philip Schuyler, Ryer Gerritse, Barent Sanders, Johannis Lansing.

1732, the preceding list, with Johannis Schuyler, Henry Van Rensselaer, and Dirck Ten Broeck.

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Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 1

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1374

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374