Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 133

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 133

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The salerooms are on the corner of Lodge and Howard streets. About twenty-five workmen are employed. His biography in this work will give interesting facts in regard to the work and character of Mr Manson.

James Gazeley established his marble works in Albany in 1861. His steam granite works are now near the Rural Cemetery. He is the inventor and sole proprietor of the machine for cutting cylindrical forms from stone, and his work is seen among the best monuments in the cemetery.

John McClelland and Simon Graef, under the firm name of McClelland & Graef, conduct marble works at 133 Madison Avenue.

Edward Hanlon began the manufacture of marble and monumental work in this city in 1851, at the corner of State and Swan streets. Twenty- five years later he removed to 154 Madison Avenue, where liis premises cover an area of 33 by 100 feet, upon which suitable buildings are now lo- cated. Curbing posts and mantels are also made. Fifteen workmen are employed.

586

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

William Manson

Andrew McMurray and Charles Brooksby, under the firm name of McMurray & Brooksby, are ex- tensively engaged in cutting stone. They manufac- ture every variety of Italian and American marble, Ohio and Connecticut freestone monuments, and also in form suitable for building purposes. Their yard is located on the corner of Green and Westerlo Streets.

WILLIAM MANSON

was born in Glasgow, Scotland, March 28, 1827, a son of Donald and Ann (Weir) Manson. His father was a marble worker. While William was yet an infant, the family removed to Edinburgh, where he was reared, receiving his education in the parish schools, and served a five years' apprentice- ship to his trade with Mr. David Ness, a marble- worker of that city. In 1847, at the age of twenty, he married Miss Margaret Williamson, a native of Stirling, and they came to America immediately afterward. Arrived at New York, Mr. Manson found employment during the succeeeding two years with Joseph Oatwell, a Scotch marble- worker, who was doing business there. Later he removed to Albany, to become a partner of Mr. John Dixon's in the proprietorship and manage-

ment of the oldest and most important marble works in the city, and of which he became sole proprietor upon the death of Mr. Dixon in 1860.

This business was established by Mr. Dixon in 1826, at the same place where Mr. Manson is now carrying on business, at the corner of Lodge and Howard streets. Mr. Manson is regarded as an artist in his profession, and some of the finest work in the cemeteries throughout the country has em- anated from his establishment. As an instance, special reference may be made to the monument erected in Rural Cemetery in memory of the late Colonel Mills, which is a magnificent piece of work, and the recently completed monument for the estate of William Appleton, which was erected at a cost of $9,000, of solid granite; its cap-stone, weighing over twenty tons, being one of the largest pieces of granite ever used for a monument in this country. The superiority of the products of this establishment has led to a wide and growing trade, which extends throughout all parts of the country, and is annually increasing. In the show- rooms of Mr. Manson's establishment are to be found beautiful specimens of monuments, head- stones, statuary and memorials, all of designs em- bodying artistic taste and conception to a high de- gree. Besides monumental work, a leading feature

587

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

of his business is the manufacture of marble-work for interior decorations, such as mantels, tile-floor- ing, wainscoting, etc. The elaborately sculptured mantels in the Assembly Chamber and Court of Appeals in the New Capitol, and the beautiful wains- coting, made from a variety of American and im- ported marbles, in the corridor leading to the Court of Appeals, were all made at his works.

The premises occupied for show-rooms at the workshop are ample for any demands that may be made upon them. In the workshop about twenty-five skilled workmen are employed, who have at their command all the latest improved machinery and tools known to the trade, power being furnished by a twenty-horse power engine, Another shop is occupied near the cemetery. Mr. Manson is himself a practical marble-worker, familiar with all of the details of his business, to the supervision of which he brings much knowledge and long experience. He is in the prime of life, a thorough artist and able business man. His success is the natural consequence of the manifes- tation of ability, intelligence and integrity, while the genuine courtesy which he extends to all is an- other factor of his prosperity. One of the most gratifying evidences of the spread of correct artistic tastes among all classes of society is the great attention that is now paid to the production of beautiful designs in stone, slate, marble, and granite. The American productions in this line are not equaled by those of any other country, our natural excellence in this branch becoming more and more marked with each passing year. It is the aim of Mr. Manson to furnish strictly first-class work at reasonable prices, so that the public taste may be both gratified and educated ; and with this end in view he is prepared with all facilities and modern conveniences sufficient to turn out anything that may be desired in the way of marble or granite work. He has an advantage over most competitors in that he quarries all the marble he uses in West Rutland, Vt.

Upon coming to the United States, Mr. Manson sought, by association and by gaining a knowledge of American history and American public affairs, to identify himself thoroughly with the institutions of his adopted country; but he never sought to throw off a certain allegiance to his native land. No Scotchman ever does. The Scottish societies in Albany have found in Mr. Manson, since his resi- dence in this city, an earnest and liberal member and supporter. He was formerly President of St. Andrew's Society, and was for several years chief of the Caledonian Club. With an innate Scottish love of liberty he was not long in allying himself with the Republican party, at a period when it was entering upon the great work it has done; and, though not in any common sense a politician, he has taken a citizen's intelligent interest in public affairs and in the municipal affairs of Albany. In 1876-77, he represented the Sixth Ward in the Board of Aldermen, and he is now President of the Citi- zens' Association. For seven years he was a mem- ber of the Scotch company of light infantry which composed a portion of the twenty-fifth regiment,

and during four years of that period he was the company's first lieutenant. Raised in the Presby- terian faith, he was for years identified with that Church ; but latterly he has been united with the Dutch Reformed Church. Mr. Manson became a widower in 1866, and in 1868 was a second time married to Miss Eleanor L. Dixon, daughter of Mr. John Dixon. By this marriage he has three children.

POTTERY.

The pottery of S. Pepson was established by Mr. Orcutt on Hamilton street in 1861. Mr. Pepson purchased it, and in 1869 built his present store and ware-room at 222 Hudson avenue. His pot- tery manufactory is now located at Fort Edward.

The Messrs. Ammenheusers make vases and other fancy pottery for ornamentation, as well as plain pottery, on Hawk and Osborn streets.

BUILDINGS AND BUILDERS.

The public and private buildings of Albany re- flect the skill and proficiency of the artisans, who, in many notable instances, not only did the me- chanical work upon them, but also planned them, acting in the dual capacity of architect and builder. The biographical sketches of many of the foremost builders in this city, which appear elsewhere in this volume, will give the reader a fair idea of the gen- eral character and mechanical skill of these men. Among those at present actively engaged as build- ing contractors, either as carpenters or masons, are the following : C. De Tiere, James W. Eaton, W. H. Gick, William Sayles, Morton H. Havens, Cal- vin Holmes, Gibson Oliver, R. K. Oliver, John McCabe, Thomas Reilly, Thomas Stephens, Alex- ander Simpson, James A. Shattuck, J. Austin Van Patten, Richard Wickham, John H. & Edmund A. Walsh, W. E. Washburn, Patrick McCann, C. Van Wormer & Sons, Robert Bryce, Alfred Guy, William Kelly, John Skillicorn, Philip H. Smith, Richard Hunter, and Eugene S. Saxton.

William Freeman, of 118 Chestnut street, has been a mason and builder in this city since 1871.

John McCabe, mason, contractor and builder, Hawk street, south of Elm, began business in 1866. He built the German Catholic Church, corner of Central avenue and Robin street, in 1868; raised Calvary Baptist Church, North Pearl street, and constructed Perry Building in 1870 ; School 21 in 1875 ; Tabernacle Baptist Church in 1876; and other buildings in and out of Albany.

J. Austin Van Patten, contractor and builder, and carpenter, Central avenue, began business March 1, 1877. Mr. Van Patten is of Holland descent, and his ancestors were granted a coat of arms when they emigrated to this country. His

residence is at 352 Hamilton street.

In connection with the buildings of Albany the following table is interesting. It was made out by Clerk Boyle, of the Board of Assessors, and shows the number of the buildings in the city, frame and brick, and also the number of manufactories. The table is prepared from the data at hand before the

588

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

ALITTLE

John A. Sarten

last assessment began in April, 1885. It is prob- able, therefore, that the number of buildings in the city is larger than appears below. There has been no important change, however, in the aggregate of manufactories.

The total number of manufactories in the city is III, as will appear by the following table :

· WARDS.

BRICK BUILDINGS.

FRAME BUILDINGS.

MANUFACTORIES.

Ist.

142

613

2d.

285

359

3d.

298

269

4th.

635

152

5th.

470

223

6th.

911

7th.

501

8th.

211

342

9th.

231

434

10th.

180

900

IIth.

347

618

12th.

327

431

13th.

425

274

14th.

828

15th.

531

365

16th.

523

576

17th.

188

805

6,833

6,581

III

Total

buildings.

13,525

The Tenth Ward has the largest number of buildings, 1,080, of which 900 are frame. The Fourteenth Ward has the least number of frame houses, 62; and the Sixth the greatest number of brick, 911.

The Ninth Ward leads in manufactories, having 21; and two wards, the Eleventh and the Seven- teenth, have none.

The Tenth Ward, which has the largest number of dwellings, has also the largest population. By the last census there were in the Ward 8, 345 people, an average of about eight to a house. The average for the city is about seven. In the Four- teenth Ward the average is only five.

JOHN N. PARKER,

who died November 11, 1885, was for many years a contractor and builder in Albany. He was born in Deal, County Kent, England, in 1821, and while yet an infant was brought to America by his pa- rents, who located in Utica, where his father, Will- iam Parker, was at one time engaged in the grocery trade. He received his education in the public schools of Utica, and learned his trade with a well- known carpenter of that town. In 1844 he came to Albany, where he became very successful as a contractor and builder, a business in which he embarked in 1849.

James & Shattuck

589

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

The Delavan House and the Geological Hall were among the earlier of his works; the beautiful Kenmore Hotel one of his most recent works. The printing-house of Weed, Parsons & Co., and many other business houses of lesser note, all bear evi- dence of his handiwork. In his active business life he found relaxation by taking an interest in politics. Originally a Whig, when the Republican party was formed he became one of its most earnest and devoted adherents. He was then a resident of what was known as the old Fifth Ward. In 1852, being then Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue, he was nominated by the Republicans of the Ward for Supervisor. In 1865 he was chosen to repre- sent the Ward in the Common Council and was re-elected in 1867, 1869; and when the charter of 1870 went into effect he was again elected as a representative of the Seventh Ward, serving for two years. In 1868 he was nominated for Mayor against Charles E. Bleecker, but, notwithstanding the vote he received demonstrated his popularity, he was defeated.

In all the positions of public trust which he held, Mr. Parker acquitted himself faithfully and con- scientiously, casting his vote for only such measures as were beneficial to the interests of the city at large.

He was a member of the Albany Burgesses Corps and at one time held the office of President of the Corps and served on its staff. He was a member of Temple Lodge, F. A. M., and the St. George Society, and a life member of the Utica Citizens' Corps and the Volunteer Fire Department of Utica. He was a life member of the Young Men's Association. He was a member of Eagle Engine Company No. 7, of the McQuade Associa- tion, and the Beaverwyck Club. Mr. Parker had been twice married. By his first wife, who was Catharine Murphy, of Albany, whom he married in April, 1849, he had two sons, John T. and Theodore J., and a daughter, who is now Mrs. George F. Durand, of London, Ont. There are four grandchildren.

His second wife was Harriet, daughter of Warren T. Williams, of Clinton, Oneida County, whom he married June 19, 1873.

Mr. Parker was pre-eminently a self-made man. His energy of purpose, perseverance, honorable character, high-minded principles, strict integrity, genial, sunny nature and kindliness to employees were the elements of the man which attained for him the success which crowned a busy life and made him esteemed among men.

JAMES A. SHATTUCK.

This gentleman ranks high among Albany's fore- most contractors and builders. He was born in Albany, August 29, 1840. His father was James A. Shattuck, Sr., himself a mason, who married Miss Hannah Hutchinson. Both his parents were natives of Vermont. He was educated in the common schools of Albany, and at the age of seventeen years was apprenticed to Henry Knight, then a well-known builder of Albany, to learn the

mason's trade, serving four years, mostly under the instruction of his father, who was, for nineteen years, Mr. Knight's foreman. At the time Mr. Shattuck attained his majority, the War of the Rebellion had begun. He enlisted as a private in Company B of the gist New York Regiment, Captain Stackhouse commanding. He was pro- moted to be successively Second Sergeant, First Sergeant, Second Lieutenant and First Lieutenant, having in the meantime been transferred to other companies in the same regiment. He served as Assistant Provost-Marshal at Fort Henry, Bal- timore, and as Assistant Ordnance Officer of the Thirteenth and Nineteenth Army Corps, with head- quarters at Brashear City, La. In 1864, his term of service having expired, he re-enlisted, and was with the Army of the Potomac until the war had closed, and he was mustered out of service July 7, 1865.

Upon his return to Albany, he engaged in the grocery trade, in which he continued about a year. During this time he married Miss Katharine H. Sheppard, daughter of Samuel Sheppard, Esq., who has borne him twelve children, -ten sons and two daughters-of whom seven are living. In this venture in the grocery business Mr. Shattuck was only moderately successful, and he relinquished it to resume work at his trade. He labored as a journeyman a year, and in 1867 took his first contract.

His business ability proved to be so good that he gradually advanced to a leading place among the contractors of the city. He has done the mason work of hundreds of dwellings, numerous business blocks and stores, and many factories and public buildings in Albany and else- where.

Among the latter class may be mentioned Rathbone, Sard & Co.'s storehouse, the Kenmore Hotel and additions thereto; the Albany Hospital; additions to the Child's Hospital of St. Agnes' School; a large addition to the Albany Orphan Asylum; Dederick Brothers' agricultural machinery and hay-press factories; Pruyn & Lansing's saw works; the factories of the Bonsilate Company; two of the Public School Buildings of Albany; and the New State Normal School Building on Willett street, fronting the Park.

Mr. Shattuck is a Republican, and has been a Member of the Board of Supervisors of Albany County, representing the Sixteenth Ward. Since 1867 he has been connected with the Burgesses' Corps, the oldest military organization in the city, and at present serves on the Commander's staff with the rank of Major. He is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and of various other organizations, secret, social and beneficent, and as a citizen, is popular with all classes.

ROBERT K. OLIVER

was born in Albany in 1842, a son of Gibson and Lydia (Kelsey) Oliver, and was orphaned by the death of his mother when only two years old. His father, a native of England, came to America at the

590

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

4.L.IT TLE

Robert K. Oliver

age of nine years, learned the trade of carpenter in Albany, and has for many years been a leading con- tractor and builder; also an extensive dealer in real estate. He has erected hundreds of buildings in all parts of the city, and by building on lots and selling them upon advantageous terms has con- tributed not a little to the growth of the city. His son, Robert K., learned his trade with him and was identified with his business most of the time until 1871, when he established himself as a builder, and has since conducted an increasing and success- ful business. He has built, in different parts of the city and elsewhere, many fine residences, those of Colonel R. C. Pruyn, Charles E. Pruyn and John Keeler deserving special mention.

Educated in the public schools of Albany, and from his youth on familiar terms with many of the leading men in the city, both in social and business relations, Mr. Oliver has, by long association and by participation in local affairs, closely identified himself with Albany's most important public in- terests. With other Albanians he enlisted in the 9Ist Regiment New York Volunteers at the out-

break of the late war, and in 1862 re-enlisted in the 177th Regiment. He served until the expira- tion of his second term of enlistment, participating in the Banks campaign in Louisiana, and passing through other scenes of danger celebrated in the history of that great struggle. From 1863, to and including 1884, he has been a member of the Republican General Committee, and it may be worthy of note that he has attended every County, City, State and National Nominating Convention of his party from 1864 to 1884 inclusive. In 1874 he was elected to the Board of Aldermen, representing the Sixth Ward, and was re-elected in 1876. In 1879, he became one of the Assessors of the City of Albany and was reappointed in 1882.

In 1862, Mr. Oliver married Miss Sarah C. Hil- ton, a daughter of Philip Hilton, of Albany, who has borne him two daughters and a son. One of these, Miss Ritie H. Oliver, is a young lady pos- sessing unusual artistic talent, and has executed numerous fine oil paintings and crayon portraits that have caused her to be well known in art circles in Albany and elsewhere.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF ALBANY.

591

A.LITTI E.

Thomas Stephens

THOMAS STEPHENS.

Few of the contractors and builders of Albany are better or more favorably known than Thomas Stephens, who has been identified with the erection of numerous elegant and imposing public build- ings, business blocks and private residences, both in the city and elsewhere. Mr. Stephens was born in the Isle of Man, December 26, 1845, a son of Thomas and Jane (Christian) Stephens. He re- ceived his education in good private schools, and when still under fifteen years of age he began to serve his apprenticeship at his trade, which was finished in five years. At its expiration he re- moved to England and worked there one year as a journeyman. In April, 1866, he came to the United States, the New World seeming to offer him better opportunities for advancement than his na- tive land, and located in Albany, where he has since lived, with the exception of a short time spent in the West. For fifteen months he worked at his trade in Albany; then went to Chicago, where he was similarly employed for a year. Returning to Albany, he pushed his fortunes with such success, that he was soon enabled to begin business for himself, which he did April 1, 1870, establishing himself as a contractor and builder at 348 Madison avenue. About a year later he removed to 18 and

20 Hamilton street, above Knox, a point within the borders of the Park as now bounded. Here he was located from 1871 to 1880, when he re- moved to 277 Lark street, where he erected a factory and put into it all necessary machinery and the latest and most improved facilities for manu- facturing all kinds of wood-work required in build- ing the finest and most substantial structure, as well as in manufacturing to order the most ele- gant and expensive furniture and interior decora- tions, employing the most skillful and experienced wood-workers and carvers and numerous car- penters, his pay-roll often containing the names of from thirty to seventy employees. Attention may be directed to a few of the many familiar buildings in Albany, which Mr. Stephens has built wholly or in part. Among them are Stanwix Hall, the Lake House in the Park, Calvary Baptist Church, and the United States Custom House and Post Office Building. He has also done much fine work for Hon. Erastus Corning, rebuilding his country residence, building greenhouses and making other improvements; and has built many residences in Albany as well as in Rochester, Cobleskill, Troy, Hoosac Falls and other places. He has lately made extensive improvements and additions to the buildings occupied by St. Agnes' School.

592

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

RICHARD WICKHAM.

The subject of this memoir was born in Wetford, Ireland, in May, 1833. His father and mother both died when he was only nine years old. In 1850 he came to the United States, and apprenticed himself to Messrs. Crab & Doig, of Rome, N. Y., to learn the carpenter's trade and study architect- ure. His apprenticeship lasted four years, and during that time eight other boys began apprentice- ships with the same firm. It is a fact worthy of note, as illustrating young Wickham's sterling character, that of the whole number he was the only one who remained during the entire time covered by the agreement of the apprentices with their instructors. The knowledge of architecture which he obtained he has since found very service- able in many of his large and complicated jobs. Completing his apprenticeship, he came to Albany and has since been a resident of the city. He embarked in business as a builder in 1860, and his pushing, energetic character and great mechan- ical ability soon placed him in the front rank of builders, not only of Albany, but of the State of New York, and it is stated, that for twenty years his shop has ruled the wages paid both bosses and journeymen in Albany. He has employed on an average eighty men during the entire year, all the time providing work for from sixty to one hundred and thirty on the various jobs which he has had in progress. An idea of the extent of his operations may be gained from the fact that at one time, on a single building, he employed one hundred carpen- ters and thirty painters.

Mr. Wickham's factory and shop is the most complete establishment of the kind in the State. It is a large structure on Broadway, built of Croton brick, three stories high, with a large wing, the main building being 42 by 70 feet and the wing 15 by 38 feet in size. The engine and boiler are located in the wing, and the entire factory is heated by steam, there not being any fire in or about the main building. Here Mr. Wickham manufactures everything required on his jobs, and sells nothing to the trade, his own large business usually keep- ing the factory running to nearly or quite its full capacity. Everything necessary to building or furnishing is manufactured-from the heaviest fram- ing to the finest cabinet work-even to gilding, upholstering and carving.

Mr. Wickham has never sought political work, or jobs on public buildings, preferring to work for individuals and citizen corporations, to whom his work itself, irrespective of political or other influ- ence, would be his strongest recommendation. He can produce numerous complimentary letters from distinguished men, among them Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Rev. C. A. Walworth, Rev. Dr. Bridg- man, the late George Dawson, long the editor of the Albany Evening Journal, W. C. Little, Hon. G. S. Batcheller, and others. Careful and painstak- ing, and, above all, giving to all the details of his work his own thorough personal supervision, he has won the reputation for doing good, sub- stantial, 'and elegant work, whether he takes a

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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 133

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