Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 132

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452

USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations > Part 132

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Senator Thacher was married to Miss Emma Treadwell, daughter of George C. Treadwell, Esq., of Albany, September 11, 1872. He devotes much of his time to literature and collecting rare and forgotten books, especially those produced in the infancy of printing, of which sort he has one of the largest libraries known. His library of Biblio- graphical works, his examples of Americana, and his collection of autographs are notable.

ICE BOXES .- SAW SETS.

Charles and John Croissant, sons of M. Crois- sant, under the firm name of Croissant & Brother, began in 1884 the manufacture of Keller's Patent Saw Set and Maas' Ice Box, at 204 Washington avenue. They also make Maas' Ice Box Lever and Pull.

John Boys Thacker

581

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

WIRE GOODS.

A. Van Allen, Jr., 24 Beaver street, began man- ufacturing Wire Cloth and Wire Goods in this city in 1875, his concern being known as the Albany Steam Wire Works. His building is three stories, brick, 20 by 45 feet. About fifteen men are em- ployed. Bank, office, and counter-railings, win- dow screens, netting, arches, trellis frames, loco- motive spark cloth, florists' designs, bird cages, and such like, are made.

IRON BRACKETS, SHOE-HOLDERS, HEEL STIFFENERS.

Nelson Lyon, in 1872, began the manufacture of heel stiffeners, show brackets, and shoe-holders. The business has grown from one ton yearly to over thirty tons, and they are sold in nearly all countries.

The factory is five stories, brick, 35 by 80 feet. Forty workmen are employed, beside trading agents. George Lyons became a member in 1875.

HARNESS AND SADDLERY GOODS, TRUNKS, AND COACH FURNISHINGS.

The business house now managed by Lyman J. Lloyd in the manufacture and sale of harness, saddles and trunks, dates back to 1801. Mr. Lloyd has continued the business since 1832, and ranks among the first in extent, variety, and excel- lence of articles in his line. He is widely and favorably known, and takes an honest pride in the long and honorable record of his house in this city. The building occupied is situated at 340 and 342 Broadway, is four stories, 32 by 75 feet in ex- tent, and employs, besides salesmen, fifteen skilled workmen.

The business house of Woodward & Hill, dealers in carriage and saddlery hardware, was founded by Nathaniel Wright in 1819, on South Market street, now Broadway, a few doors north of the present location. Subsequently he moved to more preten- tious quarters at 414 Broadway, corner of Beaver street ; and in 1850, after the destruction of the Eagle Tavern by the great fire of 1848, to 324 Broadway, corner of Hamilton street. Mr. Wright was born in Wethersfield, Conn., and died in St. Peter's, Minn. February, 1854, the firm of Na- thaniel Wright & Co., consisting of Nathaniel Wright, John Woodward, Jr., and William Wash- ington Hill, was formed, continuing without change until the death of Mr. Wright, January, 1860, when the surviving partners, under the firm name of Woodward & Hill, continued the business, which has remained without further change to the present time. Their building is of brick, 30 by 120 feet, five stories and basement, erected by Edward C. Delevan.

W. W. HILL was born September 19, 1833, in Pittsfield, Mass. When three months old the family moved to Albany ; thence to Hudson ; back to Albany ; thence to Lynn, where he had several

terms of schooling at the Lynn Union Academy; and he returned with the family to Albany, entered the employ of Nathaniel Wright and became a member of the firm at the age of twenty. He is a student of nature as well as a business man, and has made extensive collections in entomology.

JOHN WOODWARD entered the service of the late Nathaniel Wright when about fifteen years of age, and after several years accepted an offer of a posi- tion from the late Roswell Steele in the same line of business. About seven years after he re-entered that of Mr. Wright, who in 1854 took him and Mr. Hill in as partners.

The coach and saddlery hardware now at 420 Broadway, was established fifteen years ago by Roswell Steele, and conducted by him until his death, in 1864 ; succeeded by Taylor, Wendell & Co. Mr. Wendell retired in 1866, the firm then becoming Taylor, Hamlin & Co. Upon the death of Mr. Hamlin in 1872, the present firm name was adopted. They import and manufacture all kinds of coach and saddlery hardware and trimmings, and are manufacturers of carriage woodwork. The latter branch is in New Albany, Ind., where they employ one hundred workmen. The premises here consist of a five-story brick building, 26 by 75 feet. The firm consists of Elvin Taylor and his two sons, Joseph E. and Benjamin K. Taylor. Six clerks are employed in the store, and two representatives on the road.

DREDGES.

The Osgood Dredge Company has an office in this city at 37 State street. This Company makes the celebrated Osgood Boom Dredges, extensively used by the United States, Mexican and Chinese Governments, Panama Canal Company, New York State Canals, New York City Docks, Montreal Harbors, and the principal railroad and canal con- tractors throughout the country. It controls a number of American and foreign patents. This Company has been in existence over thirty years. Its machines are unsurpassed. Ralph R. Osgood, President ; James McNaughten, Vice-President ; and John K. Howe, Secretary and Treasurer.

Dredges are also made by the Townsend Furnace and Machine Shop.

EMERY WHEELS.

The Albany Emery Wheel Company was incor- porated in 1881, with a capital of $30,000. The buildings, on the corner of Hudson avenue and Dove street, are of brick, two-stories high, and 50 by 100 feet in dimensions.

Solid emery and corundum wheels are made, also emery grinding machinery. A specialty is made of furnishing emery and corundum wheels from special designs.

The officers are W. B. Melick, President ; E. Wackerhagen, Vice-President ; M. Wackerhagen, Secretary and Treasurer ; and James R. Melick, Superintendent.

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

TIN-PLATE GOODS AND JAPANNED WARE.

In 1847, John Hoy, Jr., and E. D. Goodrich commenced business at No. 15 Green street as dealers in and manufacturers of tin-plate goods and stamped and japanned ware. After the first year Mr. Goodrich withdrew his interest, and three years afterwards Mr. Hoy moved to No. 18 Green street, where he remained for twenty years, and eleven years ago took possession of his present quarters, No. 27 Green street. In May, 1850, Henry L. Wilson was taken into partnership. In 1853 Mr. Wilson withdrew from the firm, from which time, till 1873, Mr. Hoy conducted the business alone. At the latter date Thomas B. Kenney became a partner, and the firm as thus constituted remains. A business of $150,000 to $200,000 is done yearly, this trade extending to every part of the United States and Canada.

SILVER WARE.

The silver-ware manufactory of S. D. Brower & Son is one of the oldest of its kind in the country. The enterprise was established in 1815. In 1868 the present firm was organized, and consists of S. D. Brower and his son, Walter S. Brower. Their factory is located on Plain street, where employ- ment is furnished to from twelve to twenty men. The products include a general line of silver ware.

The firm of R. Strickland & Co. is also engaged in this line of business at 516 and 518 Broadway.

NICKEL WORKS.

The Capital City Nickel Works, 29 Herkimer street, was founded in 1880 by John P. Moore, the present manager. The premises occupied consist of a two-story brick-building, 40 by 50 feet. All kinds of nickel-plate work is done, a specialty be- ing the plating of stove ornaments, knobs, hinges, etc., etc .; polishing, grinding and finishing all work of this class. Twenty operatives are employed.

BRIDGES.

The Hilton Bridge Construction Company, build- ing wrought-iron and railway bridges, was organ- ized in 1880. The plant of the Company covers two acres, and consists of five buildings in which are 100 workmen, and 35 are employed on out- side bridge work. The main building is two-stories high, and 120 by 44 feet. The machine shop is 130 by 82 feet, one-story high, and the engine- house is 30 by 30 feet.

This Company built a number of bridges for the West Shore Railroad, the Boston and Albany, the New York Central, the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, the Boston and Hoosac Tunnel Route, and for the Canada Pacific Railroad.

The officers are E. Sweet, Jr., President; A. P. Palmer, Secretary and Treasurer; and Charles Hil- ton, Manager. Mr. Hilton had charge of the construction of the Boston and Albany Railroad Bridge across the Connecticut River at Springfield,

Mass., and the Vincent Place Viaduct at Rochester, N. Y. Mr. Hilton's death, which occurred last year, was much regretted by all who knew him.

BRICK MANUFACTURERS.

Among the very earliest industries of Albany was that of brick-making. The natural clay . in this vicinity was particularly adapted to this business, and was utilized for this purpose as early as 1656- 57, when Johan De Hulter, who came from Am- sterdam, Holland, in 1653, was engaged in brick- making. He was, without doubt, the first person to conduct this kind of business in this part of the New World. In 1657, his kiln was sold by his wife to Adrian Jansen Ilpendam. In 1662, Abraham Staets and Pieter Jacobsen each had a kiln at Al- bany. The Corporation of Albany in 1732, grant- ed to Lambert Radley and Jonathan Broecks, one acre of ground on Gallows Hill for the term of twenty years, for twenty shillings yearly, they to use the clay to make bricks. Near this site was the kiln of Luykas Hoghkerks. In 1736, Abra- ham Harpelse Van Deusen and Hendrick Gerritse Van Ness had a kiln on the north side of Foxen Creek. Wynant Vandenburgh made bricks near them.

It is often remarked that the earliest brick struc- tures in this city were built of brick brought over from Holland. We think this is true of only a very few of them. The early Holland settlers un- derstood the art of brick-making and found the material for it in plenty. No doubt they supplied the usual demand by home manufacture. Brick- yards, small and large, were very numerous in the clay beds near the creeks from earliest times.

In the first quarter of the present century, brick- making had grown to be an important industry in Albany. The average yield for many years after 1832 amounted to 16,000,000. In 1840 one hundred and thirty-three persons were engaged in brick-making here, representing a business in which $190,000 was invested. There are now ten brick-yards in Albany, which produce annually 30,000,000 to 40,000,000 bricks, most of which are used in the city and vicinity. One hundred and fifty men are employed in this industry.

In 1708, John Bryant commenced the manufac- ture of bricks in Albany, which he sold by the pound. Bryant's business grew to be quite exten- sive, and at one time he was considered the largest manufacturer in the State, and employed over one hundred men. His bricks sold for $10 and $12 per thousand. He continued the business for thirty-five years, when he sold his yard to Angus McDuffie, who conducted the business very exten- sively for a number of years. He employed two hundred men, and succeeded in realizing a large fortune from his business. In the latter years of his life he entered public life, and held a number of elective and appointive positions. At one time was Sheriff of Albany County, and was for many years Superintendent of Sing Sing Prison. He died November 3, 1845, highly esteemed as a citizen and public servant.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

583

A.LITTLE. PA

James & Moore

WILLIAM MOORE .- For many years the name of Moore has been one well known in Albany in con- nection with the manufacture of bricks. The first of the name connected with this interest of whom we have any record, was William Moore, father of James C. Moore, the present prominent brick manufacturer. Mr. Moore was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1795. He came to this coun- try in 1822, and located in Albany soon after his arrival. For a time he was successfully engaged in carting, his business increasing gradually until it demanded the use of several wagons and teams. In 1844 he embarked in a small way in the manufacture of bricks at the head of Fourth avenue. His business rapidly assumed large pro- portions, and, after a time, in order to enlarge his facilities, he was compelled to remove his yard to the corner of Morton and Hawk streets. Mr. Moore retired in 1860, and was succeeded by his son, James C. Moore, who was so successful, that, about 1865, he found it expedient to establish a second yard south of Third avenue. Mr. Moore nndoubtedly manufactures more bricks than any other manufacturer in Albany. He makes both common and pressed brick; brings into requisition the latest and most costly facilities; and gives employment to not less than fifty workmen.

William Moore married Jane Campbell in Ire- land before he sought a home in America. She

bore him seven children, of whom only two are living. These are James C. Moore, who has been referred to above, and Robert H. Moore, of the firm of Moore & Zimmerman, lumber dealers. The former was born in 1831, and in 1875 was married to Anna Babcock, who has borne him one child. Mrs. William Moore died in 1869, her husband in 1876. Mr. Moore was a Whig, and later a Republican in politics. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Albany. James C. Moore is identified with the Third Reformed Church, upon the services of which he and his family are regular attendants. Politically he is inclined to be independent, holding principles above party, and advocating the choice of honest men for positions of public trust.

George Stanwix commenced brick-making at the corner of Warren and Elizabeth streets in 1799. He died in 1836. His son George succeeded to the business in 1825. He died in 1880. His son, Thomas C., assumed the business about 1860. He died in 1885. The yard was moved to its present location on Morton street in 1851. The business is still conducted by his heirs, who employ about fifteen men and manufacture about 1, 500,000 bricks annually.

John Artcher, at the age of eighty-five, is one of the oldest brick-makers of Albany. He was for-

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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

merly a stage-driver between Albany and Buffalo. He was engaged in the latter business as early as 1818. For a number of years he was an extensive manufacturer of bricks.

William Moore, Edward Fisher, George Briant Basset, and Ebenezer Wright were among the early brick manufacturers of Albany, none of whom are now in business.

Capt. M. V. B. Wagoner, manufacturer of brick and slip clay for glazing of pottery, now conducts the business which was established by his father, near the present location, in 1845. The works are bounded by Lark, Canal, Orange and Knox streets; and a portion of the blocks west of Knox street. The present owner has been identified with the business since it was established, with the exception of about five years, when he and three of his brothers were engaged in the late civil war.

James Smith began the manufacture of bricks in Albany in 1870. In 1877 Mr. Roberts became a partner in the business, and continued as such until 1882, when he retired, since which Mr. Smith has conducted the business alone. His yard is located on Morton street, corner of Eagle. 1, 800,000 bricks are manufactured yearly, employ- ing the labor of twenty men.

James C. Moore carries on the manufacture of bricks at the corner of Morton and Hawk streets, as the successor of his father, William Moore. He manufactures pressed front, paving, and all kinds of common bricks.

The firm of Newton & Co., composed of Horace B., John M. and Walter M. Newton, manufacture, very extensively, fire-bricks of every variety and shape for stoves, ranges and heater linings. They are the sole manufacturers of iron- stone for hard or soft coal stoves. This firm has been engaged in this business for many years, requiring the labor of a large force of men, and constituting one of the leading industries of the city. They succeeded their father, John M. Newton, the founder of the business, and in honor of whom the village of Newtonville was named. The fac- tory is located on the corner of Rathbone and North Ferry Streets.

The following are either manufacturers or are prominent in connection with brick-making in- dustry : Alfred Hunter, Thomas Mccarthy, Robert Marcelis and Joshua Babcock.

Patrick H. McCall established a brick-yard in Albany in 1845, and furnished the bricks for the Albany Penitentiary, then in course of construc- tion. He was succeeded by the present proprietor, Edward Fisher.

JOHN ARTCHER.

Some time before the Revolution, William Art- cher came from the North of Ireland, and pur- chased and located on a tract of land which embraced the present site of Johnstown, N. Y. His wife was a woman named Joyce. The years succeeding his settlement were full of trouble, hardship and adventure, and after the outbreak of the war they were fraught with deadly peril. Leav-

ing his wife and his two sons, George and John, and his daughter at home, Mr. Artcher one day set out for Albany, driving some cattle to market. On the way he was attacked and killed by the Indians. About the same time the savages made a descent upon the pioneer's family at the site of Johnstown. The house was burned. Mrs. Artcher and her son John and her daughter made their escape to Albany, and George was made a captive by the Indians, who set out with him and other prisoners to Can- ada. At night the lad was confined with another boy in the wigwam. By some means he made his escape. What became of his companion he never learned. He returned home to find his house in ruins and supposed his mother and his brother and sister had been massacred. He made his way to Albany and was overjoyed to find all of the mem- bers of his family, except his father, alive and well.

They made their home in Albany from that time, their possessions at Johnstown having been lost through the fortunes of war, the death of their hus- band and father, and their inability to prove a title to the land. Mrs. Artcher taught school for many years and brought up her little family. She was long remembered by many prominent men in Al- bany who were once her pupils.

John Artcher, son of William, was the proprietor of a saw-pit in Albany, where he was well known until his death. William Artcher's daughter married Hill Wood, lived near Albany for a time, and finally removed to Ohio. George Artcher married Mary, daughter of Michael Bruce, of Guilderland. They had seven children, named William, James, George, Michael, Jane, John (the subject of this notice), and Edward. William lived and died in Albany; James became a farmer and removed to a point between Herkimer and Utica, where he owned a farm; George was known as a tavern-keeper on the Schenectady Turnpike; Michael became Sheriff of Albany County ; Jane became the wife of Dr. Jacob Miller, once prominent in Albany County; Edward became a merchant, and died in Albany.

John Artcher was born July 4, 1802, in a house which stood at the corner of Eagle and Pine streets, on the site of the State Hall. He received a plain, useful education in private schools, and, when but a boy, began to drive a team. While yet quite young, he made a memorable trip to Plattsburgh, N. Y., to carry two officers who were conveying medicines and other necessaries to the United States soldiers in that vicinity-for the War of 1812 was then begun. A companion of young Artcher at that time was William Lloyd, who afterwards, at Albany, fought and defeated Reynolds, the cham- pion pugilist of England. Mr. Artcher's reminis- cences of this encounter are most interesting, and deserve a permanent place in the records of the prize ring, though the fight was forced upon Lloyd and was waged with no hope of pecuniary gain on either side. For eleven years John Artcher drove a team over the old route between Albany and Buf- falo, and at times elsewhere, as occasion required. During that time he carried safely thousands and thousands of dollars in money, and millions of dol- lars' worth of merchandise. He refers to one six-

Thomas M. Carty

585

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

horse wagon load of silks as having been especially valuable. It was a labor requiring the highest skill as a horseman, united with the greatest personal courage, the most stable perseverance and the strict- est and most unyielding integrity, qualities com- bined in young Artcher to a remarkable degree.

For two years afterwards he was engaged in cart- ing in Albany, a business which he relinquished to establish a brick yard on Chestnut street, south of State. Eleven years later he removed his business to Jay street, and from there to Hudson street (now Hudson avenue), occupying the two sites eleven years more. Thence he removed to Western ave- nue where he continued business eleven years, at the expiration of which he abandoned brick-mak- ing, in which it will be seen he had employed him- self and his capital for a period of thirty-three years. Establishing himself as a brewer on Western ave- nue, he continued successfully in that business for a few years until his brewery was burned. He then (1865) removed to his present residence on Madi- son avenue and engaged in the coal trade, in which he continued eight years, finally retiring from active life altogether.

In 1826, Mr. Artcher married Phebe Brice, of New Scotland, who died two years afterward. In 1829 he was again married; this time to Susan Turner, of Albany, who died about five years ago. Five of his children grew to manhood and woman- hood, and married and had children. One of them, a daughter, is dead. Mr. Artcher was early a Whig, and later a Republican. Though taking an intelligent interest in public affairs, he has kept out of political life, resolutely refusing every office ten- dered him. Though not a member of any religious body, he has always been a liberal supporter of the Gospel, and is an attendant upon the services of Rev. Dr. Holmes, of the Presbyterian Church.

THOMAS MCCARTHY.

Hon. Thomas Mccarthy was born near Newry, County Down, Ireland, February 14, 1833, a son of John and Elizabeth (McSorley) McCarthy. He was educated in private schools, and in 1852 came to America and located in Albany, where he found employment upon Fuller's old express line between Albany and Troy. A year later Mr. Mc- Carthy succeeded Mr. Fuller, and conducted a successful business for about three years, when he relinquished it to engage in trucking, which at that time seemed to offer superior inducements. In 1858 he embarked in the manufacture of bricks on Morton street, buying the old yard of John Mc- Evoy. In 1872 he removed to his present location on First Avenue, near South Pearl street, where he has done a large and constantly increasing business.

Mr. McCarthy was married in 1866 to Miss Ellen White, of Albany, who has borne him eight children,

six of whom are living. He is known as a wide- awake, enterprising, business man, with the interests of Albany, and the country at large, at heart; and his influence in the conduct of local and general politi- cal affairs is recognized and appreciated. His sym- pathies are with the great objects sought to be

gained by the Democratic party, and every measure calculated to purify and elevate politics receives his unqualified support. In 1861 he was elected Alderman from the Second Ward of Albany, and his re-election in 1863 followed. In the fall of the latter year he was chosen to represent the Third Assembly District of Albany County in the Legis- lature, and served with much honor to himself and greatly to the satisfaction of his constituents. Since then, though always active in public affairs, and using his influence to further the interests of the party of which he is a member, he has chosen to devote his undivided attention to his business rather than to accept any public trust. His iden- tification with various leading enterprises is well known, but it is deemed sufficient in this connec- tion to advert to the fact that he was the first Superintendent of the Albany Railway. A man of persevering energy, thrift and exceptional business capacity, he has made his way steadily from an humble beginning to a position which renders him conspicuous among the leading business men of the city, alive to every interest of the people at large, himself a large employer of labor, and a true friend of the laboring man everywhere.

DRAIN TILE.

The earliest manufacturer of drain tiles in Al- bany of whom we have authentic knowledge, was the father of George and John H. Jackson. The latter still carry on this business on Third avenue, above Sloan street, and are the only persons en- gaged in this industry in Albany.

MARBLE AND MONUMENTAL WORKS.

The oldest house in Albany that manufactures marble and granite monumental work is that of William Manson. This was founded in 1826 by John Dixon, who controlled the business until 1855, when Mr. Manson entered the film. Mr. Dixon died in 1860, when Mr. Manson became sole proprietor.

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Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 132

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1452

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452